Averaging to minimize or eliminate regression toward the mean to measure pure experimental effects

This paper explains how regression toward the mean can contaminate diary data, making it difficult to measure the pure effects of an experimental variable over time. Using a large scale real-life database collected by AT&T, a method of measuring this mathematical artifact is advanced. It is shown to manifest very quickly as a result of a spontaneous reaction toward happenstance, with the most extreme initial values gravitating most toward the mean. Then averaging over longer and longer periods of time to define use categories is shown to dilute happenstance increasingly, and therefore progressively minimizes or eliminates regression toward the mean. Finally, regression toward the mean is very pervasive and very persistent.     

Skin conductance as an indicator of anticipated concealed knowledge

The present study investigated the effects of anticipation on skin conductance while participants were answering a set of questions which included one of concealed knowledge. Two experiments were conducted. In Exp. 1, 26 participants completed one experimental session. Each participant was asked to choose one two-digit number from 10 to 99 and was presented 19 other randomly generated two-digit numbers. The list of numbers was then presented to the participant on a computer screen, with a 60-sec. interval occurring every two questions. The participant-selected number was defined as the target question which was randomly placed within the 4th to 17th item of 20 questions stated as follows: "Is your selected number?" The participant was asked to answer "No" to all questions. The skin-conductance response to each question was measured. In Exp. 2, the experimental procedure was the same as that in Exp. 1 except each participant first answered 10 nontarget questions, then answered a target question with the participant's selected number, and then answered another 10 nontarget questions. There were a total of 21 questions. Analysis indicated participants in both experiments generated the highest mean skin conductance while answering the target questions, followed by lower amplitudes to questions prior to and after the target question. The skin-conductance response pattern can be used to identify the psychological process of anticipation of concealed information.     

聋童执行功能发展：聋童与正常儿童的比较

利用标准Dimensional Change Card Sort任务(DCCS),对76名智力正常的3~8岁聋童和78名3~5.5岁的正常儿童进行了对比测试,旨在考察聋童执行功能发展的年龄特征与发展水平。结果发现,3岁组的聋童和正常儿童在DCCS任务上的表现没有显著性差异,但正常儿童在4~4.5岁时进入一个迅速发展期,而聋童要在6岁时才有快速的发展,到7岁后才相当于正常儿童5岁的发展水平,大约滞后2年。研究认为,造成聋童执行功能发展滞后的原因主要有：（1）语言符号系统和聋童特有的符号系统之间可能存在的差异;（2）聋童可能存在计划和灵活性的缺陷;（3）聋童可能存在命名和标识策略上的困难和注意机制的缺陷。结合关于聋童心理理论发展滞后于正常儿童7年以上的报道,心理理论发展和执行功能发展在聋童身上表现出较大的不一致性。     

毛泽东与毛泽东思想的宣传

人们对毛泽东思想的学习、宣传与毛泽东本人有密切关系。在民主革命时期,毛泽东对毛泽东思想宣传有发起作用。1950年以后,从大规模普及毛泽东思想到“文化大革命”期间大力宣传毛泽东思想,都与毛泽东努力捍卫自己的思想使之在实践中不受干扰分不开。只有正确说明毛泽东怎样看待人们对自己思想的宣传和学习,才能真正完整叙述毛泽东思想及对其宣传的历史。     

从个体主义到文化主义--心理学研究范式的转向与整合

西方心理学存在两种不同的研究范式,即个体主义和文化主义。文章拟以库恩的“范式”为标准,阐述西方心理学个体主义范式到文化主义范式的演变,剖析二者的基本观点及其优势和局限。在此基础上提出两者整合的构思。     

论孟子伦理思想的务实精神

历史上孟子一直被误解为“迂远而阔于事情”。其实,孟子的思想是非常注重实际的,尤其是他的伦理主张,更强调物质生活和人们的生存环境对道德行为的影响。孟子认为贴近日常生活的道德才是正常的,他坚持从生活来理解道德,其伦理思想体现出浓郁的生活气息。     

化学概念心理表征的初步研究

化学概念表征是化学教育心理学的重要研究对象。化学概念是以命题、表象、产生式和图式等方式表征的。化学概念表征有表象优先性、丰富性、相关性、个体性、可变性等特点。学习者对化学概念理解的本质是形成恰当的心理表征,用“正确度”、“深度”和“速度”等概念,对化学概念的表征可作更为精致的描述。     

质性比较专家与新手的物理学知识结构

通过质性比较方法,本实验刻画了专家与新手在物理学欧姆定律上的知识差异,并发现,与新手相比,专家的知识结构有如下特点:(1)精致化,即拥有更多公式且生成了新公式,表示他们在知识之间形成了更多联系;(2)限制化,即添加更多恒定条件于知识中,从而产生更为明确的行动。此外,本实验在方法学上为细致描述和解释专长的实质提供了可能。     

关于体育高职生心理健康影响因素的研究

本文以117名体育高职生为研究对象,采用心理测量、访谈等方法对在校体育高职生的心理健康现状作了调查,在此基础上分析了影响体育高职生心理健康的主要因素。研究表明:(1)自编的“体育高职生心理健康影响因素问卷”具有良好的信度和效度;(2)体育高职生心理问题的检出率为9.4%;(3)体育高职生心理健康的影响因素在不同专业学生间不存在显著差异,但在不同类别学生间存在显著差异,三校生(来自职校、技校和中专学校的学生)在学校因素和学习因素上的得分显著高于来自普通高中的学生;(4)人际交往因素和学习因素对体育高职生的心理健康水平有显著的回归效应。建议体育职业技术院校在学生中大力加强心理健康教育工作,做到因材施教,对症下药。     

小学生创造性科学问题提出能力的发展研究

运用实验的方法,对371名小学生创造性科学问题提出能力的发展进行了研究。结果表明:(1)小学生创造性科学问题提出能力整体呈上升趋势;(2)男女生的创造性科学问题提出能力发展趋势基本相同,男生整体上要略高于女生,差异不显著;(3)小学生创造性科学问题提出能力的学校类型差异主要表现在发展趋势上,城市小学二到三年级停滞不前,乡村小学则迅速发展,之后发展趋势相同;(4)三到四年级是小学生创造性科学问题提出能力发展的“关键期”。