幼儿预见能力的发展及与抑制控制、心理理论的关系

预见是预测未来会发生什么或者需要什么的能力,是对未来自我状态进行的推理。该研究由两部分实验组成。实验1以3～5岁幼儿为研究对象,采用Atance和Meltzoff(2005)的非言语研究范式,探讨了预见能力的发展特点。结果表明,4岁以后,幼儿能够根据未来的需要选择适宜的物品。实验2以4～6岁幼儿为研究对象,考察了预见与抑制控制和心理理论能力的关系。结果发现,抑制控制对幼儿的预见能力存在直接的预测效力,而心理理论则是通过抑制控制作为中介变量间接地作用于预见过程。     

群体水平IRT模型及其应用——兼与IRT的比较

传统上,群体评估都是以个体的评估结果的平均值为基础进行的。而群体水平IRT理论则可以避开对个体的评估,直接实现对群体的评估,它具有许多传统方法难以企及的优点。本文将群体水平IRT模型应用于2007年某省高考英语阅读理解的410所学校的能力评估,评估结果发现：410所学校的英语阅读理解能力几乎都在[-1,1]区间内,没有能力极高或极低的学校。对这些学校而言,测验中所有项目的难度较易,区分度适中。所有的评估结果与IRT模型的评估结果在 的水平上相关显著,表明GIRT模型在实践中是可以选择的一种群体评估方法。     

视知觉压力在基本心理能力老化中的作用

信息降格说认为, 感觉功能老化使认知系统难以获得良好的信息输入, 并必须牺牲有限的认知资源获得更好的刺激信息, 使能用于认知加工的资源不足, 造成认知老化。为探讨感觉功能对基本心理能力老化的作用, 该研究采用2(年龄组：年轻、老年组)×4(视知觉压力水平：高、中、低、无噪音)的混合设计, 考察年轻、老年组在相同视知觉压力下基本心理能力的年龄差异。结果发现和无噪音条件相比, 相同视知觉压力下基本心理能力(数字能力、归纳推理能力)的年龄差异减小, 甚至消失, 一定程度上支持信息降格说。视觉功能衰退可能是影响基本心理能力老化的重要因素, 但这种作用受认知资源的调节。     

Intolerance of uncertainty and perceived threat

The present study examined the relations between dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty (i.e., desire for predictability and uncertainty paralysis) and perceptions of threat (i.e., perceptions of the probabilities and costs of future undesirable outcomes) in a sample of 239 college students. Uncertainty paralysis was positively associated with both perceived probabilities and perceived costs for negative outcomes. Desire for predictability was positively associated with perceived costs for negative outcomes but was not associated with perceived probabilities for negative outcomes. When probability estimates for low base rate outcomes were examined separately, desire for predictability was negatively associated with perceived probabilities. Finally, perceived threat partially mediated the relations between dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty and worry. The results of the present study suggest mechanisms through which dimensions of intolerance of uncertainty might lead to excessive worry.     

Working memory and arithmetic calculation in children: the contributory roles of processing speed, short-term memory, and reading

The cognitive underpinnings of arithmetic calculation in children are noted to involve working memory; however, cognitive processes related to arithmetic calculation and working memory suggest that this relationship is more complex than stated previously. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relative contributions of processing speed, short-term memory, working memory, and reading to arithmetic calculation in children. Results suggested four important findings. First, processing speed emerged as a significant contributor of arithmetic calculation only in relation to age-related differences in the general sample. Second, processing speed and short-term memory did not eliminate the contribution of working memory to arithmetic calculation. Third, individual working memory components--verbal working memory and visual-spatial working memory--each contributed unique variance to arithmetic calculation in the presence of all other variables. Fourth, a full model indicated that chronological age remained a significant contributor to arithmetic calculation in the presence of significant contributions from all other variables. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research on working memory in arithmetic calculation.     

儿童句法意识与阅读能力发展的关系

文章总结了近几十年来关于句法意识与阅读能力发展关系的研究。首先概括了句法意识的含义及其研究方法,包括口头完形填空、句子判断和句子纠正、错误模仿、分析句法一致性效应和句法启动等,然后总结了70年代以来关于句法意识与阅读能力发展关系的理论及其实验证据,最后提出了有待进一步研究的问题     

小学生创造性科学问题提出能力的发展研究

运用实验的方法,对371名小学生创造性科学问题提出能力的发展进行了研究。结果表明:(1)小学生创造性科学问题提出能力整体呈上升趋势;(2)男女生的创造性科学问题提出能力发展趋势基本相同,男生整体上要略高于女生,差异不显著;(3)小学生创造性科学问题提出能力的学校类型差异主要表现在发展趋势上,城市小学二到三年级停滞不前,乡村小学则迅速发展,之后发展趋势相同;(4)三到四年级是小学生创造性科学问题提出能力发展的“关键期”。     

小学生数学应用题解题水平影响因素的研究——视空间能力、认知方式及表征方式的影响

研究采用3(年级)×2(场认知方式)×2(视空间能力水平)×3(问题表征方式)四因素混合实验设计,探讨了这四种因素对小学生数学应用题解题水平的影响。结果表明:年级、认知方式、空间能力以及问题表征方式均是影响小学生应用题解决水平的关键因素;问题表征方式、认知方式、空间能力以及年级四个因素对小学生解题水平存在交互作用,其中图形提示有利于场依存性学生解题水平的提高,低空间-场依存型的学生更适合图形提示;高空间-场依存型的学生随年级升高解题能力发展较快,而低空间-场依存型的学生解题水平提高较慢;随着年级的升高,图式表征对小学生问题解决的促进作用增强。     

Empirical underidentification in estimating random utility models: The role of choice sets and standardizations

A standard approach to distinguishing people’s risk preferences is to estimate a random utility model using a power utility function to characterize the preferences and a logit function to capture choice consistency. We demonstrate that with often-used choice situations, this model suffers from empirical underidentification, meaning that parameters cannot be estimated precisely. With simulations of estimation accuracy and Kullback–Leibler divergence measures we examined factors that potentially mitigate this problem. First, using a choice set that guarantees a switch in the utility order between two risky gambles in the range of plausible values leads to higher estimation accuracy than randomly created choice sets or the purpose-built choice sets common in the literature. Second, parameter estimates are regularly correlated, which contributes to empirical underidentification. Examining standardizations of the utility scale, we show that they mitigate this correlation and additionally improve the estimation accuracy for choice consistency. Yet, they can have detrimental effects on the estimation accuracy of risk preference. Finally, we also show how repeated versus distinct choice sets and an increase in observations affect estimation accuracy. Together, these results should help researchers make informed design choices to estimate parameters in the random utility model more precisely.