Asymptotic bias of normal-distribution-based maximum likelihood estimates of moderation effects with data missing at random

Moderation analysis is useful for addressing interesting research questions in social sciences and behavioural research. In practice, moderated multiple regression (MMR) models have been most widely used. However, missing data pose a challenge, mainly because the interaction term is a product of two or more variables and thus is a non-linear function of the involved variables. Normal-distribution-based maximum likelihood (NML) has been proposed and applied for estimating MMR models with incomplete data. When data are missing completely at random, moderation effect estimates are consistent. However, simulation results have found that when data in the predictor are missing at random (MAR), NML can yield inaccurate estimates of moderation effects when the moderation effects are non-null. Simulation studies are subject to the limitation of confounding systematic bias with sampling errors. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analytically derive asymptotic bias of NML estimates of moderation effects with MAR data. Results show that when the moderation effect is zero, there is no asymptotic bias in moderation effect estimates with either normal or non-normal data. When the moderation effect is non-zero, however, asymptotic bias may exist and is determined by factors such as the moderation effect size, missing-data proportion, and type of missingness dependence. Our analytical results suggest that researchers should apply NML to MMR models with caution when missing data exist. Suggestions are given regarding moderation analysis with missing data.     

Supervisors’ work-related and nonwork information sharing: Integrating research on information sharing,information seeking,and trust using self-disclosure theory

Although significant scholarly attention has been devoted to understanding subordinates’ information seeking from supervisors, researchers have not paid adequate attention to information sharing by supervisors. Moreover, research on supervisors’ information sharing behavior has focused almost exclusively on work-related information sharing, disregarding supervisors’ sharing of information not related to work (e.g., that related to family). Drawing on self-disclosure theory, we argue that supervisors share both work-related and nonwork information with their subordinates and propose that these two forms of information sharing are conceptually distinct. Furthermore, to unravel the role of supervisors’ nonwork information sharing, we develop an interactive model to test how it may be associated with important employee outcomes. We conducted pilot studies using five samples and, through a sixth study, tested the hypothesized model using a four-wave data collection design. This study makes three major contributions to research and theory. First, it integrates information sharing and information seeking literatures. Second, it underlines the importance of supervisors’ nonwork information sharing in organizations by testing its direct and interactive effects. Third, it contributes to theory by presenting trust as a mechanism that links information disclosure in dyads. Results obtained using structural equation modeling generally supported the proposed model.     

关注肝炎的"过度医疗"

肝炎诊疗领域存在的过度医疗现象是最具代表性的,集中体现为过度使用联合治疗、过度进行化验等辅助检查、过度使用新特药物、虚假广告泛滥等等,肝炎患者承担了额外风险,不但身心受损,而且经济支出严重超标,因病返贫、因病致贫的现象比比皆是.过度医疗是目前不规范的经济大环境的必然产物,救死扶伤、人道主义本应是医疗工作的准则,现在拜金主义、经济效应第一成为医疗活动的目的,过度诊疗在所难免.另外患者的无知和盲目,以及尚不规范的市场环境加剧了过度医疗现象.制定行业规范,建立社会监督机制,与国际肝炎诊疗指南接轨,是克服和纠正诊疗过度的有效方法.     

法医学鉴定循证实践的局限性及其对策

循证法医学实践尚处于起步阶段,存在循证意识薄弱、循证素养有待提高、证据资源匮乏、专业信息共享平台缺乏等局限性.要用发展的眼光看待循证法医学,知其优劣,寻找对策,将其理论辩证地应用于法医学实践中.     

手机短信与大学生人格特征关系的研究

采用自编式手机短信（SMS）问卷及NEO—PI—R人格测试,以280名大学生为研究对象,该研究考察了SMS使用情况与大学生人格特征的关系。结果表明：（1）神经质与使用SMS的担心时间、幻觉经验、作息时间有显著负相关,与SMS对交往的影响呈显著的正相关;（2）外倾性与SMS使用数量和作息时间显著正相关;（3）宜人性与SMS使用时间有显著负相关,而与SMS比例呈显著正相关;（4）认真性与总费比例有显著负相关,与幻觉经验和作息时间存在显著正相关。     

关于科学与宗教关系研究的现状与思考

虽然我们现在生活的时代,科学无疑占据着主导地位。但是,随着宇宙大爆炸理论、基因工程和克隆技术的进展,一些新的宗教和伦理问题被提了出来。大众目前普遍困惑的问题:为什么科学家中很多人信仰宗教?为什么近代科学产生在以基督教文化为背景的国家?究竟是什么因素产生和推动着科学的发展?     

大学生人格因素的性别差异研究

本研究通过对246名大学生施测16PF,分析了16种人格因素的性别差异现象。结果表明：在恃强、怀疑、幻想、紧张这四个因素上存在性别差异,表现为男生比女生更好强、固执,更爱怀疑、紧张,女生比男生更富于幻想;在世故性上,女生的变异率大于男生,女生表现出两极分化特征;经探索性因素分析结果表明,男女生所提取出的因子数量相同,但男女生的因子结构有些差异。     

童年期虐待对网络成瘾的影响:有调节的中介效应

本研究基于有限自制力理论考察童年期虐待对网络成瘾的影响及其作用机制。以1162名大学生为被试,采用童年期虐待量表、自我控制量表、感恩量表和网络成瘾量表进行测试,结果发现：（1）童年期虐待和自我控制、感恩呈显著负相关,与网络成瘾成显著正相关;自我控制与感恩呈显著正相关,与网络成瘾呈显著负相关;感恩与网络成瘾呈显著负相关。（2）自我控制在童年期虐待和网络成瘾之间起中介作用。（3）“童年期虐待→自我控制→网络成瘾”这一中介路径的前半段受到感恩的调节;与高感恩个体相比,童年期虐待对低感恩个体的自我控制的影响更小。感恩不仅不能缓冲童年期虐待对自我控制的负面影响,反而会增强这一过程,提示我们注意积极特质在特定情境下的消极作用。     

自我决定动机对考试焦虑的影响：拖延行为的不同中介作用

我国约有一半的大学生经受着考试焦虑的困扰。结合国内外已有研究成果,本研究以624名大学生为被试,考察了自我决定动机的3种类型和拖延行为的2种类型对考试焦虑的忧虑性、情绪性的影响。结果发现：(1) 无动机对考试焦虑的2种类型都有正向的直接影响。(2) 唤起性拖延仅对情绪性有正向直接影响,而回避性拖延仅对忧虑性有正向直接影响。(3) 唤起性拖延在无动机影响考试焦虑的情绪性中起了重要的部分中介作用,而回避性拖延在无动机影响考试焦虑的忧虑性中起了重要的部分中介作用。     

Taking control of violence against doctors

Violence against healthcare professionals is a serious but understudied global problem and one that lacks evidence-based solutions. The current research offers a novel explanation and intervention for addressing this issue: We propose that low feelings of control among patients and their family members play an important role in shaping doctor-patient relationships. To regain a sense of control, we suggest that patients attribute responsibility to doctors for their suffering, which may in turn lead to aggressive behavioural intentions against one's doctors. We conducted three studies to understand whether individuals with low perceived control blame doctors more, and whether threats to their sense of control cause participants to attribute more responsibility to doctors. Study 1 found that feelings of lack of control were an important predictor of attributing responsibility for negative illness-related incidents to doctors in a manner consistent with blame. Study 2 specified that the chaotic and unpredictable nature of illness, and not just its negative valence, is what drives attributions of increased responsibility to doctors. Study 3, which utilized a field setting in hospitals, found that an experimental intervention to increase feelings of control decreased frustration against (Study 3a/3b) and intention to harm doctors (Study 3b). These findings suggest that increasing feelings of control among patients can improve patient-doctor relationships. We also discuss the role of control and scapegoating during the COVID-19 pandemic.