Less is not more: Further observations on nonlinguistic strategies

In an attempt to clarify the role of nonlinguistic preferences in children's responses to the words more and less, children 3–4 years of age were administered three tasks. Two of these required the child to indicate which of two arrays had more or less items, as instructed; the third task required the child to point to any one of two arrays. Children consistently selected the arrays with more items on all three tasks. The present finding of a response bias necessitates a reinterpretation of earlier studies of more and less. The results are discussed in terms of the full and partial semantics hypotheses as articulated by E. Clark.     

Feature selection and classification: A developmental study

Two hundred and thirteen children between the ages of 4 and 16 sorted 30 complex objects freely into groups. These were either schematic faces, schematic imaginary animals, or histoform patterns and were constructed from 9 independently and continuously varying features, each with 10 levels. The three sets were equivalent in terms of underlying numerical structure. A new method of analysis of the groups formed yielded the following direct measures of subjective organization in the sorting of each child: the number of features used in sorting, the accuracy of sorting, and the number of independent dimensions of classification. Both the material and the analysis of sorting were devised on the assumption that only some of the component features of complex objects are used for classification, while others are ignored. Sorting performance differed markedly both with age and with different types of material. The improvement in sorting ability with age, except for the youngest children, could be attributed to an increase in the number of features used rather than an improvement in the accuracy of use. In contrast, the poor sorting of histoform patterns as opposed to faces and animals was due to a low level of sorting accuracy. The basic results on the development of classification confirmed previous studies, and hence suggest that it is valid to consider feature selection as a basic component of classification.     

Cerebral asymmetry in infants.

This paper examines the intercorrelation matrix of the subtests of the Porch Index of Communication Ability using a variety of factor analytic and rotational procedures. In addition to a general factor reflecting overall language dysfunction, verbal, graphic, and gestural factors were also found which accounted for 83% of the total variance. These factors were related to Schuell's Howes', and Wepman's models of aphasia. The impact of factor analytic methodology on the conclusions drawn from the same data was also examined and suggestions for clinical use of this battery were discussed.     

Empirically derived groups in the assessment of recovery from aphasia.

This paper examines the pretreatment intercorrelation matrix of the subtests of the Porch Index of Communication Ability to derive factors reflecting components of language impairment. In addition to a general factor reflecting overall language dysfunction, five specific factors reflecting verbal competency (fluency), graphic-verbal expression, gestural-verbal expression, gestural-nonverbal comprehension, and graphic-geometric comprehension were found which accounted for 90.6% of the total variance. A cluster analysis of the five pretreatment factor scores yielded six groups which accounted for 79% of the variance for these factors. These groups were differentiated primarily in terms of impairment and showed a high rate of accuracy prediction for group membership (97.5%). These groups were extremely stable, as shown by the 75% accurate prediction rate derived from the post-treatment factor scores. The effectiveness of this model in generating homogeneous and highly discriminable groups based on objective measures of the patient's language functions indicates that classification of patients into empirical groups should be a major concern of any research design. Implications for assessing effectiveness of therapeutic intervention and the design of test battery were also discussed.     

An international comparative study of self-reported driver behavior

Using a large data base of 20,725 questionnaires from 19 European countries, this article uses a combination of factor analysis and tree based regression to determine driver groups with homogeneous self-reported behavior and determine whether regional differences in driving behaviors exist. Self-reported behavior, including speeding, reckless driving, seat belt use, and drinking and driving are examined. The results suggest that speeding and general reckless (dangerous) behavior are related, perhaps capturing a driver's “risk taking” or “pre-trip violations” behavior. Similarly, seat belt use and driving under the influence of alcohol are also related and may represent a driver's “law abiding” tendency or “during-trip violations” behavior. Further, important regional differences and similarities between European drivers are uncovered. Northern European drivers report a significantly higher compliance with drinking and driving laws and seat belt use regulations than do Southern and Eastern European drivers.     

欧洲社会心理学的成长历程

论文以学科制度化过程和学科理智演化为分析视角 ,概要研究欧洲社会心理学的成长历程。论文结论是 :经过近 40年的不懈努力 ,欧洲社会心理学 ,已经成功地解构美国社会心理学的主宰地位 ,并和美国社会心理学一起 ,建构国际社会心理学新的研究范式。     

European starlings are capable of discriminating subtle size asymmetries in paired stimuli

Small deviations from bilateral symmetry (fluctuating asymmetries) are cues to fitness differences in some animals. Therefore, researchers have considered whether animals use these small asymmetries as visual cues to determine appropriate behavioral responses (e.g., mate preferences). However, there have been few systematic studies of animals' abilities to visually discriminate such minor asymmetries. If the asymmetries cannot be discriminated, fluctuating asymmetry can not be a visual cue. Here, we report an investigation of European starlings' (Sturnus vulgaris) abilities to discriminate small size asymmetries. We trained starlings, through operant conditioning in a free-flight aviary, to discriminate achromatic, symmetric paired stimuli from size-matched asymmetric stimuli. By starting the learning process with a large asymmetry and progressing through sequential trials of decreasing asymmetry, we elucidated a behavioral limit to asymmetry discrimination. We found that starlings are capable of discriminating a 10% size asymmetry. There was weaker evidence for discrimination of 5% asymmetry but no evidence for signal discrimination at 2.5% size asymmetry. This level of asymmetry discrimination suggests that many size asymmetry cues in nature can be discriminated by birds. At each level of asymmetry discrimination, we also tested whether starlings could generalize their learned symmetry preference to unreinforced novel images. Consistent with previous findings, we found that starlings could generalize their symmetry preferences.     

UNINTERRUPTED CENSORED DARWIN: FROM THE MIDDLE EAST TO THE MALAY-INDONESIAN WORLD

This essay outlines the significance of understanding the relationship between Islam and science, particularly from the twentieth century onward. It mainly revolves around the viability of Darwin's evolutionary thought in the Muslim world, which is confronted by various groups of Muslim commentators and scholars. This study goes through various original sources, official documents, former unpublished theses, and Qur’ānic commentaries in Islamic languages from north Africa to the Malay-Indonesian world to display the uninterrupted challenge of Muslims with European science in general and European evolutionary thought in particular; an act which is not going to stop now, nor tomorrow. Finally, this essay aims to inform readers how a philosophical reading of Islam and science would be crucial before approving or rejecting any form of connection between the two, particularly in future.