Preference for unsegmented interreinforcement intervals in concurrent chains

Five pigeons were trained under concurrent-chain schedules in which a pair of independent, concurrent variable-interval 60-s schedules were presented in the initial link and either both variable-interval or both fixed-interval schedules were presented in the terminal link. Except for the baseline, one of the terminal-link schedules was always a two-component chained schedule and the other was either a simple or a tandem schedule of equal mean interreinforcement interval. The values of the fixed-interval schedules were either 15 s or 60 s; that of the variable-interval schedules was always 60 s. A 1.5-s changeover delay operated during the initial link in some conditions. The pigeons preferred a simple or a tandem schedule to a chain. For the fixed-interval schedules, this preference was greater when the fixed interval was 60 s than when it was 15 s. For the variable-interval schedules, the preferences were less pronounced and occurred only when the changeover delay was in effect. For a given type of schedule and interreinforcement interval, similar preferences were obtained whether the nonchained schedule was a tandem or simple schedule. The changeover delay generally inflated preference and lowered the changeover rate, especially when the terminal-link schedules were either short (15 s) or aperiodic (variable-interval). The results were consistent with the notion that segmenting the interreinforcement interval of a schedule into a chain lowers the preference for it.     

How can Asian social psychology succeed globally?†

The present article is inspired by the provocative ideas of Atsumi, Hofstede, Leung, and Ward expressed in this Special Issue on the past achievements, current status, and future opportunities and challenges of Asian social psychology as an international (vs a regional) endeavour. I believe that the success of Asian social psychology as a new voice and emerging perspective in social psychology hinges upon several factors: (i) adoption of an international (vs regional) outlook; (ii) not letting arbitrary geographical or intellectual boundaries restrict creative expansion of research ideas; and (iii) striving to craft a global identity with an Asian character by developing communicable theories that describe and explain important Asian social psychological phenomena for the benefits of Asia and beyond.     

前列腺素E1注射液治疗早期2型糖尿病肾病临床观察

比较不同剂量的前列腺素E1注射液在早期2型糖尿病肾病患者中的临床疗效.最终随机纳入91例早期2型糖尿病肾病患者,分别接受10μg/d(A组,n=47)与20μg/d(B组,n=44)的前列腺素E1治疗,2周后观察8小时尿微量白蛋白排泄率(UAER)、血尿素氮(BUN)和肌酐(Cr)的变化.结果显示,两组患者治疗后UAER、BUN、Cr均较治疗前明显下降,都具有统计学差异(P均<0.05),但A、B两组之间UAER下降幅度不一,B组较A组下降幅度更明显,具有统计学差异(P<0.001);两者之间BUN下降幅度相比没有统计学差异(P>0.05).两者之间的Cr下降幅度相比有统计学差异(P<0.05).由此推断,前列腺素El治疗早期糖尿病肾病,降低尿蛋白确实有效,而且前列腺素E1 20μg/d的剂量要比10μg/d降低尿蛋白效果更好.     

Catching up with wonderful women: The women‐are‐wonderful effect is smaller in more gender egalitarian societies

Inequalities between men and women are common and well‐documented. Objective indexes show that men are better positioned than women in societal hierarchies—there is no single country in the world without a gender gap. In contrast, researchers have found that the women‐are‐wonderful effect—that women are evaluated more positively than men overall—is also common. Cross‐cultural studies on gender equality reveal that the more gender egalitarian the society is, the less prevalent explicit gender stereotypes are. Yet, because self‐reported gender stereotypes may differ from implicit attitudes towards each gender, we reanalysed data collected across 44 cultures, and (a) confirmed that societal gender egalitarianism reduces the women‐are‐wonderful effect when it is measured more implicitly (i.e. rating the personality of men and women presented in images) and (b) documented that the social perception of men benefits more from gender egalitarianism than that of women.     

Transitions in sleep problems from late adolescence to young adulthood: A longitudinal analysis of the effects of peer victimization

Adolescence is a developmental period with high vulnerability to sleep problems. However, research identifying distinct patterns and underlying determinants of sleep problems is scarce. This study investigated discrete subgroups of, changes in, and stability of sleep problems. We also examined whether peer victimization influenced sleep problem subgroups and transitions in patterns of sleep problems from late adolescence to young adulthood. Sex differences in the effects of peer victimization were also explored. In total, 1,455 male and 1,399 female adolescents from northern Taiwan participated in this longitudinal study. Latent transition analysis was used to examine changes in patterns of sleep problems and the effects of peer victimization on these changes. We identified three subgroups of sleep problems in males and two in females, and found that there was a certain level of instability in patterns of sleep problems during the study period. For both sexes, those with greater increases in peer victimization over time were more likely to change from being a good sleeper to a poor sleeper. The effects of peer victimization on baseline status of sleep problems, however, was only significant for males, with those exposed to higher levels of peer victimization more likely to be poor sleepers at baseline. Our findings reveal an important role of peer victimization in predicting transitions in patterns of sleep problems. Intervention programs aimed at decreasing peer victimization may help reduce the development and escalation of sleep problems among adolescents, especially in males.

     

Effects of varying numbers of Likert scale points on factor structure of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale

Likert‐type rating scales are among the most widely used tools in psychological research. Different numbers of response categories would likely affect response style, data distribution, reliability, and construct validity. There is a lack of research in factor structure invariance under Likert scales with different numbers of categories. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of varying numbers of Likert points (4–11) on scale properties such as factor structure, external validity, and latent means based on the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, 1989 ). The sample consists of 1,807 students from secondary schools in Macau. Confirmatory factor analysis shows that the correlated two‐factor model is the most appropriate one; longitudinal invariance analysis reveals that measurement invariance across Likert scales was satisfied at the scalar level. In addition, latent mean scores on the two factors as well as observed means on the subscales are comparable across Likert scales. Moreover, the measurement model across Likert scales exhibit similar external validity. Although psychometric properties are mostly similar among a different number of points, the 4‐point Likert scale is not recommended for its higher skewness and lower loadings; the 11‐point Likert scale from 0 to 10 is slightly preferred for its higher loadings and composite reliability.     

甘精胰岛素注射时段对2型糖尿病患者空腹血糖的影响

比较甘精胰岛素在不同时段注射对2型糖尿痛患者空腹血糖的影响.最终选择89例2型糖尿病患者随机分为两组接受甘精胰岛素早餐前(A组,n=46)和夜间睡前(B组,n=43)注射治疗,观察两组患者空腹血糖的变化.结果显示,所有患者使用甘精胰岛素治疗以后,空腹血糖水平较治疗前均有明显下降,具有统计学差异(P均<0.001).但B组的空腹血糖水平下降幅度更为明显,两者相比具有统计学差异(P<0.001).故在相同剂量的情况下,夜间睡前注射甘精胰岛素较晨间注射具有更强的降糖幅度,效果更好.     

甘精胰岛素注射时段对2型糖尿病患者空腹血糖的影响

比较甘精胰岛素在不同时段注射对2型糖尿病患者空腹血糖的影响。最终选择89例2型糖尿病患者随机分为两组接受甘精胰岛素早餐前（A组,n=46）和夜间睡前（B组,n=43）注射治疗,观察两组患者空腹血糖的变化。结果显示,所有患者使用甘精胰岛素治疗以后,空腹血糖水平较治疗前均有明显下降,具有统计学差异（P均〈0.001）。但B...     

Emotional reactions to scandals: When does moral character make a difference?

A scandal can evoke public outrage when it is widely publicized and involves an individual who is perceived to have a high level of cultural representativeness. Two experiments showed that when the scandalous target's moral character was highlighted, emotional responses towards the target were least negative when the scandal was widely circulated and when the target was seen as a representative of his culture. These results suggest that when a cultural symbol is implicated in a widely‐circulated scandal, the negative emotions directed towards the scandalous individual can be alleviated when the public remains confident in his or her commitment to morality.