Robust tests for multivariate factorial designs under heteroscedasticity

The question of how to analyze several multivariate normal mean vectors when normality and covariance homogeneity assumptions are violated is considered in this article. For the two-way MANOVA layout, we address this problem adapting results presented by Brunner, Dette, and Munk (BDM; 1997) and Vallejo and Ato (modified Brown-Forsythe [MBF]; 2006) in the context of univariate factorial and split-plot designs and a multivariate version of the linear model (MLM) to accommodate heterogeneous data. Furthermore, we compare these procedures with the Welch-James (WJ) approximate degrees of freedom multivariate statistics based on ordinary least squares via Monte Carlo simulation. Our numerical studies show that of the methods evaluated, only the modified versions of the BDM and MBF procedures were robust to violations of underlying assumptions. The MLM approach was only occasionally liberal, and then by only a small amount, whereas the WJ procedure was often liberal if the interactive effects were involved in the design, particularly when the number of dependent variables increased and total sample size was small. On the other hand, it was also found that the MLM procedure was uniformly more powerful than its most direct competitors. The overall success rate was 22.4% for the BDM, 36.3% for the MBF, and 45.0% for the MLM.     

On the role of the upper part of words in lexical access: evidence with masked priming

More than 100 years ago, Huey (1908/1968) indicated that the upper part of words was more relevant for perception than the lower part. Here we examined whether mutilated words, in their upper/lower portions (e.g., ), can automatically access their word units in the mental lexicon. To that end, we conducted four masked repetition priming experiments with the lexical decision task. Results showed that mutilated primes produced a sizeable masked repetition priming effect. Furthermore, the magnitude of the masked repetition priming effect was greater when the upper part of the primes was preserved than when the lower portion was preserved-this was the case not only when the mutilated words were presented in lower case but also when the mutilated words were presented in upper case. Taken together, these findings suggest that the front-end of computational models of visual-word recognition should be modified to provide a more realistic account at the level of letter features.     

The role of vision in auditory distance perception

In humans, multisensory interaction is an important strategy for improving the detection of stimuli of different nature and reducing the variability of response. It is known that the presence of visual information affects the auditory perception in the horizontal plane (azimuth), but there are few researches that study the influence of vision in the auditory distance perception. In general, the data obtained from these studies are contradictory and do not completely define the way in which visual cues affect the apparent distance of a sound source. Here psychophysical experiments on auditory distance perception in humans are performed, including and excluding visual cues. The results show that the apparent distance from the source is affected by the presence of visual information and that subjects can store in their memory a representation of the environment that later improves the perception of distance.     

Let me guess how old you are: effects of age, gender, and facial expression on perceptions of age

Perceptions of age influence how we evaluate, approach, and interact with other people. Based on a paramorphic human judgment model, the present study investigates possible determinants of accuracy and bias in age estimation across the adult life span. For this purpose, 154 young, middle-aged, and older participants of both genders estimated the age of 171 faces of young, middle-aged, and older men and women, portrayed on a total of 2,052 photographs. Each face displayed either an angry, fearful, disgusted, happy, sad, or neutral expression (FACES database; Ebner, Riediger, & Lindenberger, 2010). We found that age estimation ability decreased with age. Older and young adults, however, were more accurate and less biased in estimating the age of members of their own as compared with those of the other age group. In contrast, no reliable own-gender advantage was observed. Generally, the age of older faces was more difficult to estimate than the age of younger faces. Furthermore, facial expressions had a substantial impact on accuracy and bias of age estimation. Relative to other facial expressions, the age of neutral faces was estimated most accurately, while the age of faces displaying happy expressions was most likely underestimated. Results are discussed in terms of methodological and practical implications for research on age estimation.     

Examining the Psychometric Properties of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale in Two Spanish Multi‐occupational Samples

The aim of this study was to provide some evidence of reliability and validity of the 15‐item Spanish version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) between two multi‐occupational samples. In two different studies, 525 human services employees (study 1; males = 233; females = 292) and 409 multi‐occupational employees (study 2; males = 179; females = 230) completed the Spanish UWES. In study 1, our results revealed satisfactory levels of reliability for each subscale. In addition, the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three‐factor model fitted better than the one‐factor model and supported the theoretical three‐factor structure (vigor, dedication, and absorption). Furthermore, results from the multi‐sample analysis found strict factorial invariance of the Spanish UWES across gender, suggesting that the UWES factors show the same composition and interpretation in both groups. In study 2, our results once again confirmed the same three‐factor structure for the Spanish UWES. We found support for theoretically proposed two‐factor model including: (1) emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and (2) all three dimensions of engagement plus personal accomplishment. We also found evidence of convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity with respect to burnout, life satisfaction, and perceived stress. In short, our results provide empirical support for structural validity of the Spanish UWES in multi‐occupational workers.     

Beyond the Mean: A Flexible Framework for Studying Causal Effects Using Linear Models

Psychometrika - Graph-based causal models are a flexible tool for causal inference from observational data. In this paper, we develop a comprehensive framework to define, identify, and estimate a...     

Erratum to: Beyond the Mean: A Flexible Framework for Studying Causal Effects Using Linear Models

Psychometrika - The original version of the article contains the below listed errors.     

Vultures as an overlooked model in cognitive ecology

Animal Cognition - Despite important recent advances in cognitive ecology, our current understanding of avian cognition still largely rests on research conducted on a few model taxa. Vultures are...     

Resource-Building Processes Across Life Domains: Father-Child Interactions as Starting Points for Resource Caravans

Journal of Happiness Studies - In two studies, we examined preconditions of resource-building processes between family and work. Focusing on positive father-child interactions, we investigated...