Revisiting predictive bias of cognitive ability tests against Hispanic American job applicants

Previous studies have concluded that cognitive ability tests are not predictively biased against Hispanic American job applicants because test scores generally overpredict, rather than underpredict, their job performance. However, we highlight two important shortcomings of these past studies and use meta-analytic and computation modeling techniques to address these two shortcomings. In Study 1, an updated meta-analysis of the Hispanic–White mean difference (d-value) on job performance was carried out. In Study 2, computation modeling was used to correct the Study 1 d-values for indirect range restriction and combine them with other meta-analytic parameters relevant to predictive bias to determine how often cognitive ability test scores underpredict Hispanic applicants’ job performance. Hispanic applicants’ job performance was underpredicted by a small to moderate amount in most conditions of the computation model. In contrast to previous studies, this suggests cognitive ability tests can be expected to exhibit predictive bias against Hispanic applicants much of the time. However, some conditions did not exhibit underprediction, highlighting that predictive bias depends on various selection system parameters, such as the criterion-related validity of cognitive ability tests and other predictors used in selection. Regardless, our results challenge “lack of predictive bias” as a rationale for supporting test use.     

大学生自尊和宽恕的关系:一个有调节的中介模型

采用问卷法对550名大学生进行调查研究,考察自尊对大学生宽恕的影响,同时考察共情在其中的中介作用,以及该过程是否受到特质愤怒的调节。结果表明:(1)大学生自尊与宽恕存在显著的正相关;(2)共情在大学生自尊和宽恕关系中起到完全中介作用;(3)特质愤怒在共情和宽恕之间具有调节效应,特质愤怒越高,共情对宽恕影响越小。     

Concentration-dependent effects of protein phosphatase (PP) inhibitors implicate PP1 and PP2A in different stages of memory formation

Numerous studies have demonstrated roles for protein phosphorylation and for specific kinases in memory formation; however, a role for specific protein phosphatases has not been established. Previous studies using pharmacobehavioral methods to implicate protein phosphatase activity in memory formation have been unable to discriminate between protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), as available cell-permeable agents generally inhibit both enzyme classes. To address this difficulty the present study exploited differences in the potency of the selective phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, toward PP1 and PP2A. Within the context of a temporally precise animal model of memory, developed using the day-old chick (Gallus domesticus), acute administration of various concentrations of okadaic acid was found to disrupt two temporally distinct stages of memory formation. When administered bilaterally into an area of the chick brain implicated in memory formation, concentrations of okadaic acid known to selectively inhibit PP2A in vitro disrupted memory from 50 min posttraining. Higher concentrations, reported to inhibit both PP2A and PP1 in vitro, produced significant retention deficits from 20 min posttraining. Identical temporally specific effects were also obtained by varying the concentration and time of administration of calyculin A, a phosphatase inhibitor with equal potency toward both enzyme classes. Hence, different phosphatase enzymes may contribute to different stages of the enzymatic cascade believed to underlie memory formation.     

消费者抱怨行为的比较

不满意购买发生以后,消费者可能采取的抱怨方式并不相同。通过对冰箱、空调和洗衣机行业2966位消费者的问卷调查,采用单因素多变量方差分析方法对消费者抱怨行为进行比较研究,发现直接抱怨的消费者在品牌形象感知、满意度和再次购买倾向上都显著地高于负面口碑和沉默抵制的消费者。继而,运用认知心理学理论对抱怨行为方式的选择及影响进行解释,并指出企业应该鼓励消费者进行直接抱怨。     

学习不良儿童的策略研究

策略作为目标指向的旨在解决问题的心理操作,负责对基本信息加工的执行和控制,影响着个体的学习效果,因而被引入到学习不良领域。对学习不良儿童的策略研究具有重要价值。文章分析和综合了已有研究,阐述了学习不良与策略的关系、学习不良儿童的策略表现以及学习不良儿童策略低下的原因,提出了当前研究中存在的问题以及今后的发展趋势。     

关于校内欺负行为中受欺负者研究的述评

该文从概念、研究方法、受欺负类型、研究对象的特点等方面,评述了关于中小学校同伴之间相互欺负中的受欺负者的研究,尤其是对自陈法、提名法、直接观察法、日记法、个体访谈法这些研究方法的利弊进行了分析;区分了受欺负的不同形式;归纳了家庭、同伴和学校风气对受欺负的影响,同时提出了研究中的一些问题,并对今后的研究方向作了一些探讨     

实践社区成员的面子意识对知识传播的影响

为研究中国人面子意识是否影响实践社区及其成员的知识传播过程,采用自编实践社区成员面子意识问卷以及知识传播过程与效果问卷对重庆、银川、南京和上海等地企业的430名实践社区成员进行测量。结果表明:问卷具有良好的信度和效度;男性的面子意识显著高于女性;工作年限为11~15年的被试"面子—能力学识"得分显著高于其他组别;"面子—人际交往"对"投入程度"、"区外获取"及"传播效果"的预测作用都为正向,而"面子—能力学识"对这三项的预测作用均为负向;"面子—人际交往"和"面子—能力学识"是面子的两个独立维度。     

儿童的孤独感及与同伴交往的关系

孤独感是当一个人的社会关系网络比预期的更小或更不满意时产生的一种不愉快的情绪体验,儿童长期处于此状态会导致适应不良。孤独感的社交需要理论认为孤独感是对社交需要未满足的反应,强调孤独感的情感或感受层面;认知加工观主张孤独感的产生是因为个体对觉知到的人际关系现状不满意,强调孤独感的认知成分。同伴交往4个水平上的变量会影响到孤独感的产生,而孤独感作为一种消极的情绪体验,也会对同伴交往产生不良影响。未来研究应该多从家庭功能与同伴交往相结合的角度探讨孤独感的产生机制,对孤独儿童的干预研究也有待开展     

城邦、民众和广场

作者分析了希腊城邦制度所提出的政治哲学问题,其中最重要的是公共领域问题,这也是当代最重要的政治问题之一。作者还分析了民主制度的内在矛盾,指出在苏格拉底的“知识论迷茫”之外还存在另一个更严重的知识论迷茫。     

计算机辅助教学对英语阅读能力的影响

通过回顾与总结CAI英语阅读教学程序由普适化向具体阅读技能转化的发展历程,总结了英语阅读中最重要的能力、技能和主要应解决的问题,阐述了CAI程序对于阅读教学的有效性研究成果:发现相关的CAI程序有五大范畴。最后就教学语言、课程设计、教师对CAI程序的运用等问题进行了探讨与展望。