Mind,consciousness, and cognition: Phenomenology vs. cognitive science

I would like to thank Steven Crowell from Rice University (Philosophy Department) for helpful comments and suggestions about my discussion of Husserl and other phenomenologists, and Edouard Philippe, also from Rice University (Electrical Engineering Department), for offering me the opportunity to formulate my views on cognitive science and artificial intelligence.     

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.     

Damage to the lateral and central, but not other, amygdaloid nuclei prevents the acquisition of auditory fear conditioning

It is well established that the amygdala plays an essential role in Pavlovian fear conditioning, with the lateral nucleus serving as the interface with sensory systems that transmit the conditioned stimulus and the central nucleus as the link with motor regions that control conditioned fear responses. The lateral nucleus connects with the central nucleus directly and by way of several other amygdala regions, including the basal, accessory basal, and medial nuclei. To determine which of these regions is necessary, and thus whether conditioning requires the direct or one of the indirect intra-amygdala pathways, we made lesions in rats of the lateral, central, basal, accessory basal, and medial nuclei, as well as combined lesions of the basal and accessory basal nuclei and of the entire amygdala. Animals subsequently underwent fear conditioning trials in which an auditory conditioned stimulus was paired with a footshock unconditioned stimulus. Animals that received lesions of the lateral or central nucleus, or of the entire amygdala, were dramatically impaired, whereas the other lesions had little effect. These findings show that only the lateral and central nuclei are necessary for the acquisition of conditioned fear response to an auditory conditioned stimulus.     

Strategic environmental assessment for planning mangrove ecosystems in guinea

Located between the cities of Conackry, Dubréka and Boffa the Sangarea Bay is home to mangrove-type forests undergoing various forms of pressure. In 1992, a forest management plan was put into place in order to manage the resources. It aimed at promoting socioeconomic activities while keeping the mangrove ecosystem in balance. This plan was assessed in 1999. The results showed that even though it integrated environmental and economic objectives, it failed to include the social as well as cultural contexts and it did not involve the social actors in the decision process. Hence, the plan did not meet the expected results. Still today, the economic, environmental, social and cultural criteria and effective actor involvement in the resource management have to be taken into account to maintain the fragile balance of the Bay. This study is an attempt to include these criteria while opting for a new approach for a sustainable management of the resources of the Bay. This study is a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) based on the use of the multi-criteria decision tool in a context where there are several actors involved. Structuring objectives and issues at stake allows the criteria to be identified. Using the sociological data available simulated the value-system of each actor involved, and subsequently, they were all put into a model by giving various weights to the criteria. The SEA compares the existing plan (sector-wise approach) with alternative scenarios including an “integrated management plan” scenario (holistic approach), or “a complete protection of the area” scenario. The scenarios were assessed according to the quantitative and qualitative data available. The results illustrate how the multi-criteria method can be relevant as a decision tool when choosing a sustainable way to manage natural resources. Karim Samoura is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Quebec at Montreal, and Director of SIFéE (Francophone Secretariat for Impact Assessment). In addition, he is a member of the interdisciplinary Study group in geography and regional environment (GEIGER) and a member of CERESCOR (Research Group on Mangrove and Coastal Ecosystem in Africa). His research interests are in the area of coastal environment, multi-actor decision-making aid, especially in Africa. Anne-Laure Bouvier is a member of the interdisciplinary study group in geography and regional environment (GEIGER) and a private environmental consultant. Her research interests are environmental impact assessments in the energy sector and the social impacts of natural resource projects (hydroelectricity, mining), as well as the use of sustainability assessments. Jean-Philippe Waaub is professor at the Department of Geography, University of Quebec at Montreal, and member of the Interdisciplinary Research Group in Geography and Regional Environment (GEIGER). His research focuses mainly Strategic Environmental Assessment, decision aid tools applied to territorial and environmental management (multicriteria decision aid, ecological mapping, Integrated System for Decision Aid, Group Decision Support Systems) and techno-economic modeling of industrial systems in connection to climate change.     

Reexamining the Nature of Learner Control: Dimensionality and Effects on Learning and Training Reactions

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to advance learner control as a psychological construct by reexamining its dimensionality and effects on learning and reactions in the context of technology-delivered training.

Design/methodology/approach

Learners (n=384) completed a 2-h web-based Microsoft Excel training. The amount of instructional and scheduling control was manipulated in order to introduce variance in control perceptions. Outcome measures included off-task attention, declarative knowledge, and training reactions.

Findings

Learner control is a multidimensional construct with differential effects on training outcomes. By focusing on learners’ perceptions of control, we found that instructional control perceptions decreased learning by increasing off-task attention, while scheduling control perceptions increased learning.

Implications

Though both dimensions of perceived learner control are positively related to training reactions, they differentially predict learning. Combined with factor analytic evidence, our study suggests that learner control research should differentiate between objective and perceived learner control, and between instructional and scheduling control perceptions. Organizations should consider how learner control affects learning prior to designing training.

Originality/value

Scheduling control is an often used but rarely researched form of learner control. We address this gap by expanding the construct domain of learner control to include scheduling control. Further, this study provides the first empirical examination of learner control perceptions. Despite calls for learner control literature to differentiate between objective and perceived control, no study had previously examined control perceptions directly. Our results may be used to inform organizational decisions regarding the amount and type of control included in training.     

Cheating,Reactions, and Performance in Remotely Proctored Testing: An Exploratory Experimental Study

Purpose

We sought to provide empirical insight and develop theory for a new organizational phenomenon: remote proctoring for Internet-based tests. We examined whether this technology is effective at decreasing cheating and whether it has unintended effects on test-taker reactions, performance, or selection procedures.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants (582) were randomly assigned to a webcam proctored or honor code condition and completed two (one searchable, one non-searchable) cognitive ability tests online. Complete data were collected from 295 participants. We indirectly determined levels of cheating by examining the pattern of test-score differences across the two conditions. We directly measured dropout rates, test performance, and participants’ perceived tension and invasion of privacy.

Findings

The use of remote proctoring was associated with more negative test-taker reactions and decreased cheating. Remote proctoring did not directly affect test performance or interact with individual differences to predict test performance or test-taker reactions.

Implications

Technological advances in selection should be accompanied by empirical evidence. Although remote proctoring may be effective at decreasing cheating, it may also have unintended effects on test-taker reactions. By outlining an initial classification of remote proctoring technology, we contribute to the theoretical understanding of technology-enhanced assessment, while providing timely insight into the practice of Internet-based testing.

Originality/value

We provide timely insight into the development and evaluation of remotely proctored tests. The current study utilizes a unique randomized experimental design in order to indirectly determine levels of cheating across two conditions. Following the results of the current study, we outline an integrative model for future research on remotely proctored tests.     

Lunar Lies: The Impact of Informational Framing and Individual Differences in Shaping Conspiracist Beliefs About the Moon Landings

Two studies examined the role of informational framing and individual differences on acceptance of the moon landings conspiracy theory (CT). In Study 1, participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups in which they were exposed to different forms of information about the moon landings CT. Results showed that information critical of the moon landings CT resulted in attenuated conspiracist beliefs and that information supportive of the CT resulted in stronger conspiracist beliefs. In addition, stronger belief in the moon landings CT was associated with participants' belief in other CTs and openness to experience. In Study 2, participants completed a survey measuring their belief in the moon landings CT and a range of individual difference factors. Results showed that acceptance of the moon landings CT was associated with the adoption of a conspiracist worldview and schizotypal tendencies. Possibilities for conceptualizing the functional roles played by CTs are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.