Examining recognition criterion rigidity during testing using a biased-feedback technique: Evidence for adaptive criterion learning

Recognition models often assume that subjects use specific evidence values (decision criteria) to adaptively parse continuous memory evidence into response categories (e.g., "old," "new"). Although explicit pretest instructions influence criterion placement, these criteria appear extremely resistant to change once testing begins. We tested criterion sensitivity to local feedback using a novel biased-feedback technique designed to tacitly encourage certain errors by indicating they are the correct choices. Experiment 1 demonstrated that fully correct feedback had little effect on criterion placement, whereas biased feedback during Experiments 2 and 3 yielded prominent, durable, and adaptive criterion shifts, with observers reporting that they were unaware of the manipulation in Experiment 3. These data suggest that recognition criteria can be easily modified during testing through a form of feedback learning that operates independently of stimulus characteristics and observers' awareness of the nature of the manipulation. This mechanism may be fundamentally different from criterion shifts following explicit instructions and warnings, or shifts linked to manipulations of stimulus characteristics combined with feedback highlighting those manipulations.     

Cultural orientation in Southeast Asian American young adults

The study assessed cultural orientation in a group of 188 Southeast Asian American American-born and early-arriving (by age 5) young adults using the General Ethnicity Questionnaire--Southeast Asian and American versions. The sample included 98 Vietnamese, 45 Cambodian, and 45 Hmong college students in California. As hypothesized and in support of the bidimensional model, overall orientation to ethnic and American cultures were independent of each other, and predicted, respectively, by ethnic and American cultural domains. The three ethnic groups did not vary on level of cultural orientation, but their endorsement of ethnic and American cultures differed across domains. Specifically, they enjoyed American mass media and cultural activities more than ethnic media and activities, and were more fluent in English than their ethnic language. However, they expressed greater ethnic pride and a stronger overall Southeast Asian orientation than American pride and orientation.     

Performative contradiction and the regrounding for philosophical paradigms

As a unique method of philosophical argument, performative contradiction attracted general attention after the change in direction of pragmatics in the twentieth century. Hintikka used this method to conduct an in-depth analysis of Descartes’ proposition “I think, therefore I am,” providing a proof which is a model in the philosophical history; Apel absorbed performative contradiction into his own framework of a priori pragmatics; and Habermas introduced it into the theory of formal pragmatics and rendered it an effective weapon of debate. Wittgenstein, who had fallen into the trap of performative contradiction in Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, later managed to extract himself from it and indeed used the methodology of performative contradiction to cure the ills of philosophy, making it a general philosophical method. Through analysis of its connotations and classic examples of its use we can see that it is crucial in refuting extreme relativism and skepticism, and hence provides methodological support for a new foundation for philosophical paradigms. Translated by Wang Xuan from Zhongguo Shehui Kexue 中国社会科学 (Social Sciences in China), 2007, (3): 67–76     

Neuroendocrine regulation and physical and relational aggression: the moderating roles of child maltreatment and gender

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the association between circadian rhythms of cortisol and physical and relational aggression. Morning arrival, prelunch, and afternoon predeparture salivary cortisol were assessed among 418 maltreated and nonmaltreated children (52% maltreated; 49% female) attending a summer day camp. Counselors and peers rated participants' involvement in physically and relationally aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that physical aggression was associated with heightened cortisol following morning arrival and relatively steep declines in cortisol over the day, whereas relational aggression was associated with low cortisol following morning arrival and blunted diurnal change in cortisol. Moreover, maltreatment was a significant moderator of this relationship such that aggression was related to greater cortisol dysregulation among nonmaltreated than among maltreated children. The findings suggest that physiological correlates of aggression may differ for physical and relational forms of aggression and among maltreated versus nonmaltreated populations.     

两种呈现速度下整字及声旁命名

问题与方法：探讨在快、慢速两种速度呈现条件下,声旁的组字频率和使用频率在整字和部件识别中的作用。结果表明,命名整字时在两种呈现条件下声旁的两类频率都表现在易化作用;命名声旁则依赖于加工时间：快速呈现刺激时声旁组字频率有抑制作用,慢速呈现刺激时声旁使用频率有易化作用。声旁命名任务中,速示条件下其组字频率作用突出,非束示条件下其使用频率更突出。呈现速度在声旁命名时与声旁两类频率有交互作用,但在数字命名时没有。     

中小学生交往成败结果的归因分析

从小三、初二、高二随机选择有效被试406名,探讨了中小学生对交往成败结果的归因和期望特点。结果表明：中小学生对交往成败有不同的原因认知;成败结果差异显著;成功后的期望显著地高于失败情境。     

启动效应的ERP研究综述

近年来,国内外学者以ERP为工具,对启动效应进行了不少研究,并得到一些有意义的结果。例如,在知觉启动方面,发现视觉运动启动的神经机制不同于其它知觉型启动,它既涉及视觉加工的较早阶段,也涉及到较晚阶段。再如,词的重复效应不同于物体的重复效应等等。关于语义型启动的ERP研究,主要围绕N400和N450进行。本文对该领域的一些重要研究进行了介绍和总结,并对该领域中的一些基本研究范式问题进行了讨论。     

论自我同一性概念的整合

自我同一性是西方心理学一个重要的概念,但至今没有一个普遍接受的定义。通过对自我同一性概念内涵不一得归因分析,指出了整合自我同一性概念应关注的几个范畴,进而提出自我同一性是一个与自我、人格的发展有密切关系的多层次、多维度的心理学概念。本质上,它是指人格发展的连续性、成熟性和统合感,它包含三个层面的内涵：(1)最基本的层面,即ego-idernity;(2)个人同一性;(3)社会同一性。     

听觉呈现条件下汉语双字词语义和语音启动的ERP研究

在词汇决定实验中研究语义启动和语音启动,材料为通过听觉呈现的汉语双字词组成的词对(间隔600ms),记录行为数据和ERP数据,结果发现：(1)启动词与目标词之间的语义联系可显著改善对目标词的加工,表现为错误率降低、反应时缩短,以及N400波幅降低;(2)启动词与目标词之间的语音一致对目标词的加工既有干扰作用,又有促进作用。表现为错误率提高,但反应时趋向缩短,N400波幅亦呈下降趋势;(3)启动词与目标词首音相同比尾音相同有更大的干扰作用。