Democratic Answers to Complex Questions – An Epistemic Perspective

This paper addresses a problem for theories of epistemic democracy. In a decision on a complex issue which can be decomposed into several parts, a collective can use different voting procedures: Either its members vote on each sub-question and the answers that gain majority support are used as premises for the conclusion on the main issue (premise based-procedure, pbp), or the vote is conducted on the main issue itself (conclusion-based procedure, cbp). The two procedures can lead to different results. We investigate which of these procedures is better as a truth-tracker, assuming that there exists a true answer to be reached. On the basis of the Condorcet jury theorem, we show that the pbp is universally superior if the objective is to reach truth for the right reasons. If one instead is after truth for whatever reasons, right or wrong, there will be cases in which the cbp is more reliable, even though, for the most part, the pbp still is to be preferred.     

Difficult Patients in Group Analysis: The Personification of (ba) I:A/M

Following a discussion of the treatment of difficult patients in group analysis, two theories are proposed concerning a fourth basic assumption in the unconscious life of groups, called Incohesion: Aggregation/Massification or (ba) I:A/M and the personification of basic assumption processes, in particular that of (ba) I:A/M by difficult patients. These theories are illustrated with clinical data. Special attention is given to crustacean and amoeboid forms of encapsulation as a defence against the fear of annihilation within the context of the traumatogenic process. It is suggested that for difficult patients the treatment of choice is dyadic psychotherapy/psychoanalysis followed by group analysis.     

A Comprehensive Literature Review of the Rank Reversal Phenomenon in the Analytic Hierarchy Process

During the last few decades, several multi‐criteria decision analysis methods have been proposed to help in selecting the best compromise alternatives. Among them, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and its applications have attracted much attention from academics and practitioners. However, since the early 1980s, critics have raised questions regarding its proper use. One of them concerns the unacceptable changes in the ranks of the alternatives, called rank reversal, upon changing the structure of the decision. Several modifications were suggested to preserve ranks. In this paper, a classification scheme and a comprehensive literature review are presented in order to uncover, classify and interpret the current research on AHP methodologies and rank reversals. On the basis of the scheme, 61 scholarly papers from 18 journals are categorized into specific areas. The specific areas include the papers on the topics of adding/deleting alternatives and the papers published in adding/deleting criteria. The scholarly papers are also classified by (1) year of publication, (2) journal of publication, (3) authors' geographic location and (4) using the AHP in association with other methods. It is hoped that the paper can meet the needs of researchers and practitioners for convenient references of AHP methodologies and rank reversals and hence promote the future of rank reversal research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correcting Overestimated Effect Size Estimates in Multiple Trials

In a simulation study, Brand, Bradley, Best, and Stoica (2011 Brand, A., Bradley, M. T., Best, L. A. and Stoica, G. 2011. Multiple trials may yield exaggerated effect size estimates. The Journal of General Psychology, 138: 1–11. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) have shown that Cohen's d is notably overestimated if computed for data aggregated over multiple trials. Although the phenomenon is highly important for studies and meta-analyses of studies structurally similar to the simulated scenario, the authors do not comprehensively address how the problem could be handled. In this comment, we first suggest a corrective term d ^′ _c that includes the number and correlation of trials. Next, the results of a simulation study provide evidence that the proposed d_c′ results in a more precise estimation of trial-level effects. We conclude that, in practice, d ^′ _c together with plausible estimates of inter-trial correlation will produce a more precise effect size range compared to that suggested by Brand and colleagues (2011 Brand, A., Bradley, M. T., Best, L. A. and Stoica, G. 2011. Multiple trials may yield exaggerated effect size estimates. The Journal of General Psychology, 138: 1–11. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]).     

Multiple-attribute decision making based on single-valued neutrosophic Schweizer-Sklar prioritized aggregation operator

Single-valued neutrosophic (SVN) sets can successfully describe the uncertainty problems, and Schweizer-Sklar (SS) t-norm (TN) and t-conorm (TCN) can build the information aggregation process more flexible by a parameter. To fully consider the advantages of SVNS and SS operations, in this article, we extend the SS TN and TCN to single-valued neutrosophic numbers (SVNN) and propose the SS operational laws for SVNNs. Then, we merge the prioritized aggregation (PRA) operator with SS operations, and develop the single-valued neutrosophic Schweizer-Sklar prioritized weighted averaging (SVNSSPRWA) operator, single-valued neutrosophic Schweizer-Sklar prioritized ordered weighted averaging (SVNSSPROWA) operator, single-valued neutrosophic Schweizer-Sklar prioritized weighted geometric (SVNSSPRWG) operator, and single-valued neutrosophic Schweizer-Sklar prioritized ordered weighted geometric (SVNSSPROWG) operator. Moreover, we study some useful characteristics of these proposed aggregation operators (AOs) and propose two decision making models to deal with multiple-attribute decision making (MADM) problems under SVN information based on the SVNSSPRWA and SVNSSPRWG operators. Lastly, an illustrative example about talent introduction is given to testify the effectiveness of the developed methods.     

Familial Aggregation of ADHD Characteristics

Patterns of familial aggregation of ADHD symptoms in parents of ADHD and non-ADHD children were examined. Within the ADHD sample, symptom aggregation was examined as a function of biological relationship, parent and child gender, and children's comorbid diagnoses. Participants consisted of parents of 579 children with ADHD, Combined Type participating in the multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD and parents of 288 normal control participants. Adult symptoms of ADHD were measured by both self-report and report of a significant other. Results indicated that the parents of children with ADHD had higher ratings of inattention/cognitive problems, hyperactivity/restlessness, impulsivity/emotional lability, and lower self-concept than parents of children without ADHD on both self-report and other-report ratings. Within the ADHD sample of children, other-report ratings of inattention/cognitive problems and impulsivity/emotional lability were higher for biological parents compared to nonbiological parents whereas self-ratings were not related to biological status. These findings support previous research documenting familial aggregation of ADHD and appear to strengthen the hypothesis that there is a genetic contribution to ADHD.     

Levels of aggregation: Relative time allocation in concurrent-schedule performance

The proportion of time allocated to one component of a concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedule was computed for groups of interchangeover times (aggregates) within several intact time series. Variability in obtained proportions decreased as the number of interchangeover times within each aggregate increased; however, modal proportions failed to correspond to overall relative time allocation computed over the course of an entire experimental session, even at the largest aggregate size. The aggregated time series showed periodicities at small aggregate sizes and general trends in local preference at larger aggregate sizes. It is suggested that overall relative time allocation represents a molar extreme in the aggregation of behavior that may not accurately reflect central tendency in the allocation of time to available alternatives within the context of ongoing behavior.