QMPE: Estimating Lognormal, Wald, and Weibull RT distributions with a parameter-dependent lower bound

We describe and test quantile maximum probability estimator (QMPE), an open-source ANSI Fortran 90 program for response time distribution estimation.¹ QMPE enables users to estimate parameters for the ex-Gaussian and Gumbel (1958) distributions, along with three “shifted” distributions (i.e., distributions with a parameter-dependent lower bound): the Lognormal, Wald, and Weibull distributions. Estimation can be performed using either the standard continuous maximum likelihood (CML) method or quantile maximum probability (QMP; Heathcote & Brown, in press). We review the properties of each distribution and the theoretical evidence showing that CML estimates fail for some cases with shifted distributions, whereas QMP estimates do not. In cases in which CML does not fail, a Monte Carlo investigation showed that QMP estimates were usually as good, and in some cases better, than CML estimates. However, the Monte Carlo study also uncovered problems that can occur with both CML and QMP estimates, particularly when samples are small and skew is low, highlighting the difficulties of estimating distributions with parameter-dependent lower bounds.     

Do positive illusions predict overconfidence in judgment? A test using interval production and probability evaluation measures of miscalibration

We address the question as to whether judgmental overconfidence, as assessed by probability miscalibration, is related to positive illusions about the self. We first demonstrate that judgmental overconfidence measured with interval production procedures can be considered a trait, due to correlations observed in miscalibration scores in two sets of general‐knowledge questions of varying difficulty administered at different times. In addition, the hard‐easy effect operated in different ways on overprecision and self‐placement of one's performance relative to others: The more difficult the calibration task, the greater the over precision but the greater the under placement of one's performance. Finally, there was no evidence that miscalibration was related to dispositional optimism and self‐efficacy. A second study extended these results by including further measures of disposition to experience positive illusions such as unrealistic optimism, a general tendency to consider oneself “better‐than‐average,” and two indexes of dispositional perception of control. The positive illusion measures showed considerable inter‐correlations, but did not correlate with miscalibration on the interval production task, and correlated negatively with optimism concerning societal risks. A final study replicated this pattern of findings, but showed that disposition to positive illusions did predict miscalibration on the same questions measured with a probability evaluation technique. Our research demonstrates that “overconfidence” is not a unitary construct, but a series of overlapping ones. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Women accused of sex offenses: a gender-based comparison

Sexual offenses committed by women are likely underestimated and under-reported. This exploratory study compares and contrasts women accused of sexual offenses and their male counterparts. Data were retrospectively compiled on all alleged female and age-matched male sex offenders who were referred for psychiatric evaluation to a large Midwestern city's court psychiatric clinic over a six-year period. Data were abstracted regarding their crimes, charges, demographics, social history, medical history, legal history, violence history, substance use, sexual history, psychiatric history and their victims. Like the men, women were most frequently referred for sexual predator classification evaluations. Ages ranged from 19 to 62 years, and the majority had children. Most had prior arrests. One-third had a past history of psychiatric hospitalization, and most were given a non-paraphilic psychiatric diagnosis. The majority of the women reported past histories of sexual or physical victimization. While there were many similarities between female and male sex offenders in this psychiatric sample, women more frequently had victims of both genders.     

大学生生命认知和生命价值取向的发展特点

在生命教育的社会背景下,以上海四所高校的一年级和三年级的812名在校本科生为研究对象,运用造句和模拟遗书等投射方式,并结合小组访谈等形式,旨在测查大学生对生命过程与死亡现象的认知特征,及对生命意义的价值取向,以此探究当代大学生的生命认知和生命价值取向的发展特点。结果发现：（1）当代大学生对生命的认知以表达态度为主,具有积极向上、珍爱生命的特点;而在对死亡的认知上,则主要采用本质认知的方式进行表述,以中性、概括、简洁为主要特点;（2）总体来看,女生比男生对生命过程和死亡现象的认知更为积极,体悟更深;（3）在生命价值取向方面,当大学生更多地表现出关顾他人的价值取向,并伴有强烈的家庭责任意识。     

情绪对工作记忆影响的研究综述

情绪在我们的生活中扮演着十分重要的角色,各种认知活动都或多或少的受其影响。有关情绪与工作记忆相互作用的研究中,很多的证据表明,情绪对认知表现的影响可能是通过工作记忆完成的。本文对情绪分类,情绪影响工作记忆的相关理论及以往的相关研究进行了介绍,同时提出存在的问题并进行展望。     

Reconsidering vocational interests for personnel selection: the validity of an interest-based selection test in relation to job knowledge, job performance, and continuance intentions

Although vocational interests have a long history in vocational psychology, they have received extremely limited attention within the recent personnel selection literature. We reconsider some widely held beliefs concerning the (low) validity of interests for predicting criteria important to selection researchers, and we review theory and empirical evidence that challenge such beliefs. We then describe the development and validation of an interests-based selection measure. Results of a large validation study (N = 418) reveal that interests predicted a diverse set of criteria—including measures of job knowledge, job performance, and continuance intentions—with corrected, cross-validated Rs that ranged from .25 to .46 across the criteria (mean R = .31). Interests also provided incremental validity beyond measures of general cognitive aptitude and facets of the Big Five personality dimensions in relation to each criterion. Furthermore, with a couple exceptions, the interest scales were associated with small to medium subgroup differences, which in most cases favored women and racial minorities. Taken as a whole, these results appear to call into question the prevailing thought that vocational interests have limited usefulness for selection.     

Guidelines for Multicultural Assessment: An Asian Indian American Case Study

Accurate assessment of ethnic minority clients is often hindered by clinician bias and lack of culturally sensitive instruments. Multicultural guidelines can enhance clinician awareness and sensitivity in conducting assessments with diverse populations. These guidelines are illustrated using an Asian Indian American character from Lahiri's (2008) novel Unaccustomed Earth. La evaluación precisa de clientes pertenecientes a minorías étnicas se ve con frecuencia dificultada por el sesgo de los especialistas clínicos y la falta de instrumentos culturalmente sensibles. Las directrices multiculturales pueden ampliar la conciencia de los especialistas y su sensibilidad al llevar a cabo evaluaciones con poblaciones diversas. Estas directrices se ilustran usando un personaje indoasiáticoamericano extraído de la novela Unaccustomed Earth de Lahiri (2008).     

实现医学整合,满足门诊患者新需求——“一站式”多学科综合门诊

为了在门诊落实"一切以病人为中心"的服务理念,通过调查、了解病人的需求,改变传统的就医模式,将多学科整合,推出创新的"一站式"多学科综合门诊。改善了就诊流程,简化了就诊手续,对疑难杂症提供全方位、多学科综合诊疗,同时缩短患者就诊等候时间和多次往返各门诊的不便,减少就诊环节,实现医学整合,满足患者需求。     

进展性脑梗死的形成机制与防治策略

进展性脑梗死是临床上常见的一种缺血性脑卒中,其发病率高,致残率高,预后较差,严重危害患者的生命和健康,成为临床卒中治疗的一大难题.本文结合近年来的有关研究文献,就进展性脑梗死的临床分型、形成机制、可能的危险因素及其防治策略等方面的研究进展作一综合性介绍.