What Truth Depends on

What kinds of sentences with truth predicate may be inserted plausibly and consistently into the T-scheme? We state an answer in terms of dependence: those sentences which depend directly or indirectly on non-semantic states of affairs (only). In order to make this precise we introduce a theory of dependence according to which a sentence φ is said to depend on a set Φ of sentences iff the truth value of φ supervenes on the presence or absence of the sentences of Φ in/from the extension of the truth predicate. Both φ and the members of Φ are allowed to contain the truth predicate. On that basis we are able define notions such as ungroundedness or self-referentiality within a classical semantics, and we can show that there is an adequate definition of truth for the class of sentences which depend on non-semantic states of affairs.     

父母因素、抵制效能感与青少年新媒介依赖行为的关系

以500名青少年手机拥有者为被试,采用问卷调查法考察青少年新媒介依赖(包括网络和手机依赖)的特点,并探讨父母因素和抵制效能感对青少年新媒介依赖的预测作用。结果发现:(1)40%的青少年至少存在边缘网络成瘾行为,19.8%的青少年为手机依赖者。青少年网络成瘾和手机依赖这两种新媒介依赖行为间具有显著的关联性,46.4%的青少年存在至少一种新媒介依赖行为。(2)青少年新媒介依赖行为与其抵制效能感、父母行为/态度及父母行为监控显著相关。青少年抵制效能感在父母行为/态度与青少年新媒介依赖行为之间起到完全中介的作用,在父母行为监控与青少年新媒介依赖行为间起到部分中介的作用。研究结果对提高青少年新媒介依赖行为预防干预活动的有效性和针对性具有重要的指导意义。     

On the explaining‐away phenomenon in multivariate latent variable models

Many probabilistic models for psychological and educational measurements contain latent variables. Well‐known examples are factor analysis, item response theory, and latent class model families. We discuss what is referred to as the ‘explaining‐away’ phenomenon in the context of such latent variable models. This phenomenon can occur when multiple latent variables are related to the same observed variable, and can elicit seemingly counterintuitive conditional dependencies between latent variables given observed variables. We illustrate the implications of explaining away for a number of well‐known latent variable models by using both theoretical and real data examples.     

民众收入不公平感的机制与对策——基于参照依赖和损失规避双视角

近年来,贫富差距的不断加大已引起民众较为强烈的收入不公平感,而导致收入不公平感产生的一个主要原因是人们对自己收入所得不如他人的相对比较。本项目基于预期理论价值函数的参照依赖和损失规避双视角,对当前民众收入不公平感的形成机制与管理对策进行系列实证研究;采用心理测量、实验室实验和干预研究相结合的方法,并借助神经电生理的ERP技术和心理生理学的多导生理记录仪(SCR),以检验民众收入不公平感的自我-他人参照、单参照点-多参照点比较的整合性参照依赖框架;探索损失规避对多得不均等和少得不均等的非对称不公平感的根源性作用和神经生理机制;选取社区居民,操纵参照对象、参照点和得失框架,进行多轮次和多变量的干预研究,以探索减少民众收入不公平感的应对策略,并据此提出切实有效的管理对策。     

The perceived criticality of different time headways is depending on velocity

Time headway (THW) presumably represents a velocity-independent measure of safe following distances during car-following. However, studies using on-road data show that drivers decrease their THWs as velocity increases (e.g., Brackstone, Waterson, & McDonald, 2009). This contradicts recent findings of simulator-based studies suggesting independence of velocity and chosen THW (Siebert, Oehl, & Pfister, 2014; Siebert, Oehl, Bersch, & Pfister, 2017). This study aimed at investigating the relationship between velocity and subjective risk of different THWs using an experimental setup with a motion-based driving simulator. N = 29 participants followed a preceding vehicle with five different velocities ranging from 30 km/h to 140 km/h in urban, rural and highway environments. At each velocity level, drivers were instructed to follow with three different THWs (0.7 s, 1.1 s and 1.5 s). Subjective criticality ratings were analysed for the different combinations of these independent variables (IV1: velocity, IV2: THW). Drivers rated situations with short THWs as more critical when following with slower velocities compared to higher velocities. These results show that the criticality of theoretically velocity-independent THWs is indeed depending on velocity. These findings have both theoretical implications, such as a better understanding of drivers’ car following behavior and risk acceptance, and practical implications as they may be used in the design of automated driving functions.     

行为公共管理学视角下公共决策的社会许可机制：“一提两抑”

公共管理的本质是公共决策。“公共决策的社会许可”指当地民众对于公共决策的持续接受和支持程度, 是公共决策合法性的基石。本研究借助“行为公共管理学”的理论视角, 通过两个调查实验(N = 354 + 354), 一个现场调查(N = 520), 全面考察公共决策透明(过程透明和内容透明)与社会许可之间的因果关系, 进而明确这一关系的作用边界。结果发现：1) 决策过程透明与内容透明正向影响社会许可; 2) 政府信任调节决策内容透明与社会许可的关系; 3) 结果依赖调节两类透明与社会许可的关系。基于这些结果, 作者总结出正性的“决策透明效应”以及“谨慎的不介意”和“有选择的忽视”之双缓冲作用, 即“一提两抑”, 以更好地理解公共决策的社会许可机制。     

Direction of dependence in measurement error models

Methods to determine the direction of a regression line, that is, to determine the direction of dependence in reversible linear regression models (e.g., x→y vs. y→x), have experienced rapid development within the last decade. However, previous research largely rested on the assumption that the true predictor is measured without measurement error. The present paper extends the direction dependence principle to measurement error models. First, we discuss asymmetric representations of the reliability coefficient in terms of higher moments of variables and the attenuation of skewness and excess kurtosis due to measurement error. Second, we identify conditions where direction dependence decisions are biased due to measurement error and suggest method of moments (MOM) estimation as a remedy. Third, we address data situations in which the true outcome exhibits both regression and measurement error, and propose a sensitivity analysis approach to determining the robustness of direction dependence decisions against unreliably measured outcomes. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess the performance of MOM-based direction dependence measures and their robustness to violated measurement error assumptions (i.e., non-independence and non-normality). An empirical example from subjective well-being research is presented. The plausibility of model assumptions and links to modern causal inference methods for observational data are discussed.     

初中生羞怯与手机依赖的关系:一个有调节的中介模型

为探讨初中生羞怯、疏离感、班级心理环境和手机依赖的关系,采用羞怯量表、青少年疏离感量表、班级心理环境量表和手机依赖指数量表对山东省两所学校的1077名初一至初三年级的学生进行调查。结果显示：（1）羞怯显著正向预测初中生手机依赖;（2）疏离感在初中生羞怯与手机依赖之间起完全中介作用;（3）班级心理环境对中介效应的后半段路径起调节作用,高班级心理环境会缓解疏离感对手机依赖的影响,但在极高疏离感水平下,高班级心理环境反而会加剧个体的手机依赖水平。研究有助于了解羞怯对手机依赖的复杂影响机制,对预防以及减少初中生手机依赖具有一定的现实意义。     

Measurement Equivalence of the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 for Chemically Dependent African American and Caucasian Women: A Preliminary Study

The Trauma Symptom Checklist-40 (TSC-40) is a brief self-report measure of trauma-related symptoms. Using a confirmatory factor analysis framework, this preliminary study examined whether the TSC-40 provided a good fit for 50 African American and 52 Caucasian economically and educationally disadvantaged women enrolled in a residential treatment program. A 5-factor structure of the TSC-40 appeared to be more applicable for our sample than the original 6-factor model. This 5-factor model includes negative mood, interpersonal problems, sleep disturbance, dissociative-like symptoms, and sexual problems. Equivalent factor structure and factor loadings emerged for the two ethnic and racial groups. Implications pertaining to trauma assessment are discussed.     

A behavioral economic analysis of concurrently available money and cigarettes.

In economic terms, consumption of a reinforcer is determined by its price and the availability and price of other reinforcers. This study examined the effects of response-requirement (i.e., price) manipulations on the self-administration of two concurrently available reinforcers. Six cigarette smokers participated in 4-hr sessions in which money and puffs on a cigarette were concurrently available according to fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement. Once stable responding was obtained with both reinforcers available at Fixed Ratio 100, the response requirement for one reinforcer was systematically varied (Fixed Ratio 1,000 and 2,500), while the other reinforcer remained scheduled at Fixed Ratio 100. Increasing the fixed-ratio size for a reinforcer decreased its consumption, with a greater decrease occurring for monetary reinforcement. This finding was quantified in economic terms as own-price elasticity, with elasticity coefficients greater for money than cigarettes. The effects of fixed-ratio size on response output also differed across the two reinforcers. Although greater responding occurred for money at Fixed Ratio 100, increases in fixed-ratio size (for money) decreased responding for money, whereas the same increase in fixed-ratio size (for puffs) increased responding for puffs. Finally, increasing the fixed-ratio size for one reinforcer had little effect on consumption of the other concurrently available reinforcer. This finding was quantified as cross-price elasticity, with elasticity coefficients near 0.0 for most subjects, indicating little or no reinforcer interaction. The results indicate that the reinforcing effects of cigarettes and money in the setting studied here differed, and that the effects produced by changing the price of one reinforcer did not interact with the consumption of the other concurrently available reinforcer.