Effects of input device and motion type on a cursor-positioning task

Many studies have investigated the performance of using nonkey-board input devices under static situations, but few have considered the effects of motion type on manipulating these input devices. In this study comparison of 12 mens' performance using four input devices (three trackballs: currently used, trackman wheel, and erectly held trackballs, as well as a touch screen) under five motion types of static, heave, roll, pitch, and random movements was conducted. The input device and motion type significantly affected movement speed and accuracy, and their interaction significantly affected the movement speed. The touch screen was the fastest but the least accurate input device. The erectly held trackball was the slowest, whereas the error rate of the currently used trackball was the lowest. Impairments of the random motion on movement time and error rate were larger than those of other motion types. Considering objective and subjective evaluations, the trackman wheel and currently used trackball were more efficient in operation than the erectly held trackball and touch screen under the motion environments.     

Predicting item exposure parameters in computerized adaptive testing

The purpose of this study is to find a formula that describes the relationship between item exposure parameters and item parameters in computerized adaptive tests by using genetic programming (GP) – a biologically inspired artificial intelligence technique. Based on the formula, item exposure parameters for new parallel item pools can be predicted without conducting additional iterative simulations. Results show that an interesting formula between item exposure parameters and item parameters in a pool can be found by using GP. The item exposure parameters predicted based on the found formula were close to those observed from the Sympson and Hetter (1985) procedure and performed well in controlling item exposure rates. Similar results were observed for the Stocking and Lewis (1998) multinomial model for item selection and the Sympson and Hetter procedure with content balancing. The proposed GP approach has provided a knowledge‐based solution for finding item exposure parameters.     

Students' perceptions of constructivist Internet learning environments by a physics virtual laboratory: the gap between ideal and reality and gender differences.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of Internet users of a physics virtual laboratory, Demolab, in Taiwan. Learners' perceptions of Internet-based learning environments were explored and the role of gender was examined by using preferred and actual forms of a revised Constructivist Internet-based Learning Environment Survey (CILES). The students expressed a clear gap between ideal and reality, and they showed higher preferences for many features of constructivist Internet-based learning environments than for features they had actually learned in Demolab. The results further suggested that male users prefer to be involved in the process of discussion and to show critical judgments. In addition, male users indicated they enjoyed the process of negotiation and discussion with others and were able to engage in reflective thoughts while learning in Demolab. In light of these findings, male users seemed to demonstrate better adaptability to the constructivist Internet-based learning approach than female users did. Although this study indicated certain differences between males and females in their responses to Internet-based learning environments, they also shared numerous similarities. A well-established constructivist Internet-based learning environment may encourage more female learners to participate in the science community.     

Socialized reflexivity and self‐exertion: Mandala Model of Self and its role in mental health

The Mandala Model of Self (MMS) refers to the well‐functioning self leading to ultimate happiness in various cultures. This research provides the first empirical examination of the role of MMS in mental health in Confucian societies. The MMS Scale (MMSS) was developed, and its psychometric properties are described. A correlational study demonstrated that the MMSS, along with its two factors—socialized reflexivity and self‐exertion—validly measures certain mental health constructs. A quasi‐experimental study reliably distinguished persons engaged in the cultivation of the Mandala self from those who had not. Finally, a study with adolescents demonstrated that the scores of the MMSS are a better predictor of resilience than is extroversion or neuroticism. The present research provides empirical support for the theory underlying the MMS and its key contribution to mental health.     

Ten-year-old girls' and boys' body composition and peer victimization experiences: prospective associations with body satisfaction

This study examined prospective associations between 10-year-olds’ weight and height, their perception of shape and stature, frequent experiences of peer victimization, and different aspects of body esteem at age 13. Participants were 474 girls and 400 boys participating in a two-wave longitudinal questionnaire study. Main results were that whereas actually being heavier built at age 10 was associated with girls’ increments in body dissatisfaction, the mere perception of being too heavy was associated with boys’ poorer body satisfaction. Also, boys who believed that they were too short were more dissatisfied at follow-up. Whereas frequent peer victimization had long-term associations with girls’ weight-esteem, teasing targeted towards appearance was associated with boys’ more negative beliefs about what others think about their appearance. Finally, participants had become significantly more dissatisfied at age 13, suggesting that this is a time in life when both girls and boys risk becoming increasingly critical towards their appearance.     

The psychotherapy adaptation and modification framework: application to Asian Americans

Although effective treatments for many mental disorders have been developed, little research has been conducted to determine whether these interventions are effective in treating those from diverse backgrounds. Recent reports have suggested that ethnic minorities are less likely to receive quality health services and that they evidence worse treatment outcomes when compared with other groups. To improve care for those from diverse backgrounds, Western-developed psychotherapies may need to be culturally modified or adapted to become more effective in treating ethnic minorities. This article addresses the need for adapting psychotherapy and provides a conceptual framework for making such modifications. The psychotherapy adaptation and modification framework model is applied to recent Asian American immigrants as an illustrative example. However, it may also serve as a point of departure to adapt therapies for other ethnocultural groups.     

A Japanese short form of the Swanson Cognitive Processing Test to measure working memory: reliability, validity, and differences in scores between primary school children of the United States and Japan

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a Japanese short form of the Swanson Cognitive Processing Test, which assesses capacity of working memory. Test-retest reliability was acceptable (r = .76). Concurrent validity was suggested through comparison of scores on the Reading Span Task (r = .55). Means on the Japanese short form were comparable with means for the 3 subtests for the older group and 2 subtests for the younger group. With the exception of the Auditory Digit Sequence, results suggested that both the Japanese short form and the initial Swanson Cognitive Processing Test measured comparably the working memory in the two samples of children.     

Advances in magnetic resonance imaging methods for the evaluation of bipolar disorder

This article reviews the current state of magnetic resonance imaging techniques as applied to bipolar disorder. Addressed are conventional methods of structural neuroimaging and recently developed techniques. This latter group comprises volumetric analysis, voxel-based morphometry, the assessment of T2 white matter hyperintensities, shape analysis, cortical surface-based analysis, and diffusion tensor imaging. Structural analysis methods used in magnetic resonance imaging develop exponentially, and now present opportunities to identify disease-specific neuroanatomic alterations. Greater acuity and complementarity in measuring these alterations has led to the generation of further hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Included in the summary of findings is consideration of a resulting neuroanatomic model. Integrative issues and future directions in this relatively young field, including multi-modal approaches enabling us to produce more comprehensive results, are discussed.     

On a test of dimensionality in redundancy analysis

Lazraq and Cléroux (Psychometrika, 2002, 411–419) proposed a test for identifying the number of significant components in redundancy analysis. This test, however, is ill-conceived. A major problem is that it regards each redundancy component as if it were a single observed predictor variable, which cannot be justified except for the rare situations in which there is only one predictor variable. Consequently, the proposed test leads to drastically biased results, particularly when the number of predictor variables is large, and it cannot be recommended for use. This is shown both theoretically and by Monte Carlo studies.The work reported in this paper was supported by Grant A6394 to the first author from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.     

A comparison of coping factors in Western and non-Western cultures

This study presents convergent support for the use of three empirically constructed factors, across four samples, from the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Planning, Positive Reappraisal, and Distancing factors were congruent for comparisons made between U.S. healthcare workers, Chinese healthcare workers, Chinese teachers, and Taiwanese teachers. Additional evidence of congruency was provided on specific factors between specific pairs of groups. The results support the usage of common factors across languages, cultures, and occupational groups but also highlight the importance of not administering a test in a different cultural setting without assessing its dimensionality.