Additivity pretraining and cue competition effects: developmental evidence for a reasoning-based account of causal learning

The effect of additivity pretraining on blocking has been taken as evidence for a reasoning account of human and animal causal learning. If inferential reasoning underpins this effect, then developmental differences in the magnitude of this effect in children would be expected. Experiment 1 examined cue competition effects in children's (4- to 5-year-olds and 6- to 7-year-olds) causal learning using a new paradigm analogous to the food allergy task used in studies of human adult causal learning. Blocking was stronger in the older than the younger children, and additivity pretraining only affected blocking in the older group. Unovershadowing was not affected by age or by pretraining. In experiment 2, levels of blocking were found to be correlated with the ability to answer questions that required children to reason about additivity. Our results support an inferential reasoning explanation of cue competition effects.     

Development and exploratory cluster-randomised opportunistic trial of a theory-based intervention to enhance physical activity among adolescents

This article reports the development and exploratory testing of a school-based intervention programme designed to enhance levels of physical activity in adolescents. The intervention is based on social cognitive theory (SCT), self-regulation theory (SRT) and planning as evidence-based mediators of physical activity changes. Two classes, paired on socio-economic variables, were selected from each of eight Portuguese schools and randomly assigned to an intervention or control group (N = 291). Primary outcome was ‘moderate to vigorous physical activity’ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) measured pre and post intervention and at three and nine months follow-up. SCT, SRT and planning variables were secondary outcomes measured pre and post intervention. At post test, participants in the intervention group reported 18 min per week more physical activity (PA), adjusted for pre-intervention, age and sex, than those in the control group (95% confidence interval ?10 to 46; p = 0.249). This difference increased to 33 min (95% CI–4 to 71; p = 0.082) at three months and to 57 min (95% CI 13 to 101, p = 0.008) at nine month follow-up. Moreover, the intervention resulted in changes of some of the theoretical target variables, including outcome expectancies and coping planning. However, no evidence was found for the changes in theoretical moderators to mediate the intervention effects on behaviour. Implications for theory and for future research are discussed.     

Indices of Laterality in Turner Syndrome

The present study explored the utility of manual laterality in predicting verbal and visual-spatial functioning and educational placement among girls and adolescents with Turner syndrome (TS). A significant curvilinear relationship emerged between derived Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ) and motor skill laterality such that either very strong or very weak laterality was less advantageous for visual-spatial skills than moderate laterality. A significant negative correlation, but no curvilinear relation, emerged between derived Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ) and degree of motor skill laterality, with more strongly lateralized participants showing lower verbal skills than weakly lateralized participants. Hand preference category showed no significant relationships with VIQ, PIQ, or educational placement.     

El proceso de contar: una perspectiva cognitiva

Resumen

Durante la pasada década la psicología cognitiva ha estudiado profunda y extensamente los conocimientos matemáticos tempranos, especialmente la habilidad de contar debido a su papel en el desarrollo de habilidades numéricas más sofisticadas. Esta investigación se ha enfocado desde distintas perspectivas aunque todas ellas pueden enmarcarse en la teoría general del desarrollo de integración de habilidades. En este trabajo se analizan los modelos de contar aparecidos en la literatura, agrupados en dos categorías: 1) modelos de ejecución, centrados en el aspecto procesual y 2) modelos de competencia, con mayor énfasis en el conocimiento conceptual subyacente a los procedimientos de contar.

Los diferentes enfoques en el estudio de esta habilidad cognitiva han contribuido a que se produzca un cambio importante en el área de los conocimientos numéricos tempranos así como una nueva orientación en la instrucción temprana. No obstante, existen todavía limitaciones tales como dificultades en la formalización del cambio de un nivel de la habilidad a otro, el limitarse a tareas específicas o la no inclusión de componentes perceptuales y creativos en los modelos de simulación de la tarea de contar.     

Distinguishing Direct and Indirect Effects of Executive Functions on Reading Comprehension in Adolescents

This study investigated direct and indirect effects of executive functions on reading comprehension in adolescents (N?=?87, M?=?14.0?years, SD?=?1.5) by testing for parallel mediation of effects of working memory, task-switching, and inhibitory control via decoding and text recall/inference. Working memory showed direct and indirect effects on passage comprehension, the latter mediated by text recall/inference. Task-switching was associated with decoding but its relation to passage comprehension was not significant. Inhibitory control showed indirect effects on passage comprehension via decoding and text recall/inference. Results indicate overlapping but distinct contributions of executive functions to reading skills.     

Spirituality,religiousness, personality as predictors of stress and resilience among middle-aged Vietnamese-Born American Catholics

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the predictive power of spirituality and religiousness in terms of well-being. Spirituality and religiousness were measured by the ASPIRES Scale. Participants in this study were 171 middle-aged Vietnamese-born American Catholics. Results indicated that both resilience and stress significantly related to Prayer Fulfillment, Religious Involvement, and Religious Crisis, and Universality related significantly to resilience. A series of hierarchical multiple regressions examined the incremental predictive validity of spirituality and religiousness over gender, religious status, and personality. Results demonstrated that spirituality and religiousness incrementally predicted stress overload and resilience in midlife over these other variables (Δ R² scores ranged from .02 to .06). These findings provided further support for the hypothesis that spirituality and religiousness are important resources for managing stress and maintaining resilience for middle-aged Vietnamese-born American immigrants.     

Culture,religion, and the underlying value dimensions of the metapersonal self-construal

The metapersonal self-construal (MPS) is presented in the context of a three-factor model of self-construal that is grounded in the literature on culture and values. The MPS is an understanding of the self as profoundly interconnected with all humanity and nature. It is distinct from the independent and interdependent self-construals and may emerge from one's cultural, religious, or spiritual background. Relating self-construal with a structural model of values, Study 1 indicated that while the independent and interdependent self-construals marked each end of a continuum, the MPS was associated with a unique cluster of values centred around universalism. Studies 2 and 3 found support for the predicted effects of membership in Buddhist groups and identification with Aboriginal culture on MPS. These results support the MPS as a unique understanding of the self that reflects surrounding beliefs and values. Implications for understanding the relationship between spirituality and well-being are discussed.     

The Relationship Between Athletic Identity and Career Decisions in Athletes

The present study examined the association between athletic identity, career decision-making self-efficacy, future time attitude, gender, and age to explore the process of future career selection in athletes. The sample was composed of 153 athletes, and variables were measured using the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale–plus, the Career-Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form, and the Time Attitude Scale. Results show that athletes with higher athletic identity have higher levels of career-decision-making self-efficacy and higher levels of optimism regarding the future. Furthermore, athletes with higher athletic identity are more likely intend to choose a sport-related profession in the future.     

Religiosity and Adolescents’ Involvement with Both Drugs and Sex

Previous research has shown that religion reduces adolescents’ risk of substance use, while having little impact on sexual risk-taking. However, few studies have examined how religion might mitigate adolescents’ involvement with both drugs and sex. Using the Child Development Supplement (CDS) in combination with the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we fill this gap by determining how adolescents’ involvement with both drugs and sex is related to religiosity. We find the statistically significant relationship between religiosity and adolescents’ involvement in both risk behaviors is accounted for by school attachment, but the relationship between religiosity and drugs is robust.