The association of environmental,individual factors,and dopamine pathway gene variation with smoking cessation

This study aimed to examine whether dopamine (DA) pathway gene variation were associated with smoking cessation, and compare the relative importance of infulence factors on smoking cessation. Participants were recruited from 17 villages of Shandong Province, China. Twenty-five single nucleotide polymorphisms in 8 DA pathway genes were genotyped. Weighted gene score of each gene was used to analyze the whole gene effect. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) of the total gene score for smoking cessation. Dominance analysis was employed to compare the relative importance of individual, heaviness of smoking, psychological and genetic factors on smoking cessation. 415 successful spontaneous smoking quitters served as the cases, and 404 unsuccessful quitters served as the controls. A significant negative association of total DA pathway gene score and smoking cessation was observed (p < 0.001, OR: 0.25, 95% CI 0.16–0.38). Dominance analysis showed that the most important predictor for smoking cessation was heaviness of smoking score (42%), following by individual (40%), genetic (10%) and psychological score (8%). In conclusion, although the DA pathway gene variation was significantly associated with successful smoking cessation, heaviness of smoking and individual factors had bigger effect than genetic factors on smoking cessation.     

The Flynn effect in South Africa

This is a study of secular score gains in South Africa. The findings are based on representative samples from datasets utilized in norm studies of popular mainstream intelligence batteries such as the WAIS as well as widely used test batteries which were locally developed and normed in South Africa. Flynn effects were computed in three ways. First, studies where two different groups take the same test, with several years in between, using representative or comparable samples were used. Second, studies where the same group takes two different test batteries at a specific time were used. Third, the score differences between English- and Afrikaans-speaking Whites in South Africa in the 20th century were compared. The Flynn effect in White groups in South Africa is somewhat smaller than the Flynn effect in Western, industrialized countries (total N = 6534), and the Flynn effect in Indian groups is substantially smaller (total N = 682). Non-verbal IQ scores surpassed increases in verbal IQ scores. The findings from English- and Afrikaans-speaking Whites evidence a leveling out of differences in score gains over the 20th century (total N = 79,310). A meta-regression analysis showed no clear support for the moderators a) method used for computing the Flynn effect gain, b) type of test battery, c) time span, d) quality of the sample, and e) average age of sample.     

人员选拔中人格问卷可用性之争

个性调查问卷旨在通过一系列专门设计问题的施测结果来预测候选人的工作绩效。以往的研究由于对工作绩效内涵及对应参照效标的界定、问题设计的逻辑基础等方面存在各自的局限, 一直以来对个性调查问卷的有效性存在分歧。文章对此进行了全面综述与分析, 并提出了从平衡计分卡四个维度定义工作绩效参照效标, 采用内嵌并纵贯模式跟踪候选人工作绩效参照效标, 应是检验并提升个性调查问卷预测效度值得探索的研究方向。     

Evaluating a model of global psychophysical judgments—I: Behavioral properties of summations and productions

The research presented is a partial empirical evaluation of the second author's proposed psychophysical theory [Luce (2002). Psychological Review, 109, 520-532; Luce (2004). Psychological Review, 111, 446-454]. The theory deals with the global percept of subjective intensity, in which there is a psychophysical function Ψ that maps pairs of physical intensities onto the positive real numbers and represents, in an explicit mathematical way, subjective summation and a form of ratio production. A number of behavioral properties have been shown to follow from these specific representations, and in the presence of certain plausible background assumptions these properties are also sufficient for the representations. In four auditory experiments, key behavioral properties of summation over the two ears and a form of generalized ratio production are evaluated empirically. Considerable support is reported for particular forms of Ψ for summations and ratio productions separately. A second article, Steingrimsson and Luce (Journal of Mathematical Psychology, in press), explores the behavioral properties that link summations and productions.     

差异分数的信度分析

本文提出差异分数的信度变化问题,并以模拟数据分析了差异分数的信度在不同情况下的变化规律。结果指出：1．当两次测试得分的信度系数相等或相近时,两次测试的标准差相差越大,差异分数的信度越高。2．当两次测试得分的信度系数不等时,只要两次施测中任何一次的信度和标准差同时大于另外一次,那么差异分数的信度也比较高。3．无论两次测试的信度关系如何。两次测试相关越低,差异分数的信度越高。     

Might “unique” factors be “common”? On the possibility of indeterminate common–unique covariances

The present paper shows that the usual factor analytic structured data dispersion matrix Λ Ψ Λ′ + Δ can readily arise from a set of scores y = Λ η + ε, where the “common” (η) and “unique” (ε) factors have nonzero covariance: Γ = Covε,η) ≠ 0. Implications of this finding are discussed for the indeterminacy of factor scores, and for the issue of invariance of factor analytic covariance models. The size of the problem is explored with numerical examples. I would like to acknowledge the large amount of effort and stimulating input supplied on the previous drafts of this paper from the reviewers, Associate Editor, and Editors of Psychometrika. Particular thanks go to William Meredith for his assistance with the final draft. Requests for reprints should be sent to Dave Grayson, 14 Poplar Grove, Lawson, NSW 2783, Australia     

算术应用题的分类结果与数学成绩关系研究

以算术应用题为材料,探讨了不同年级、不同数学成绩学生对算术应用题的分类结果及其与数学成绩的关系。结果表明:不同年级学生对算术应用题分类结果差异显著;数学成绩优生与数学成绩差生对算术应用题分类结果存在差异。     

Forgiveness and psychological adjustment following interpersonal transgressions: A longitudinal analysis

Forgiveness is often assumed to be adaptive for psychological adjustment following interpersonal transgressions. Three hundred and forty seven individuals who had experienced a recent interpersonal transgression were surveyed on four occasions over the course of six weeks. Forgiveness was assessed with scales measuring interpersonal avoidance and revenge motivation and psychological adjustment was assessed with scales measuring depression and rumination. Latent growth curve analyses showed that intraindividual changes in forgiveness were positively correlated with changes in adjustment. Latent difference score analyses indicated that adjustment predicted subsequent change in forgiveness, but that forgiveness did not predict subsequent change in adjustment. The results suggest that adjustment facilitates forgiveness, but not that forgiveness facilitates adjustment.     

一种新的等值方法：核等值法

该文介绍了一种新的等值方法一核等值法。首先介绍了核等值法的研究过程、它的主要特点以及五个步骤（前平滑处理、估计分数概率、连续化、等值、计算等值标准误）。之后,介绍了核等值法与其他传统的观察分等值方法的差异,最后是对核等值法的评价。     

Short-term effects of grade retention on the growth rate of Woodcock-Johnson III broad math and reading scores

We investigated the effects of grade retention in first grade on the growth of the Woodcock-Johnson broad mathematics and reading scores over three years using linear growth curve modeling on an academically at-risk sample. A large sample (n = 784) of first grade children who were at risk for retention was initially identified based on low literacy scores. Scores representing propensity for retention were constructed based on 72 variables collected in comprehensive baseline testing in first grade. We closely matched 97 pairs of retained and promoted children based on their propensity scores using optimal matching procedures. This procedure adjusted for baseline differences between the retained and promoted children. We found that grade retention decreased the growth rate of mathematical skills but had no significant effect on reading skills. In addition, several potential moderators of the effect of retention on growth of mathematical and reading skills were identified including limited English language proficiency and children's conduct problems.