Multiple options in the past and the present: The impact on inaction inertia

Inaction inertia is the effect that people do not act on an attractive opportunity only because they previously missed a more attractive opportunity. We investigated the effect of the presence of alternative options on the occurrence of this effect. We hypothesized and found that the likelihood to act on a current opportunity increases when evaluated in the context of another current option compared to when it is presented separately (Experiments 1 and 2). Likelihood of action decreases when the missed opportunity is presented next to another missed opportunity (Experiment 3). We conclude that when multiple options are currently present, the impact of the missed opportunity as a point of reference decreases, and that when multiple options are missed, the impact of these missed opportunities as a point of reference increases. These results are discussed in light of the literatures about inaction inertia and multiple options. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determining linkages between consumer choices in a social context and the consumer's values: a means–end approach

This paper presents a conceptual model of means–end theory. The proposed model, built on Gutman's (1982) contributions to means–end theory, consists of four conceptual categories that are linked together. The conceptual categories are context‐nested consumer choices, attributes of the consumer choices, consequences and values. The discussion uses results of four cases to illustrate the conceptual categories of the proposed explanatory means–end model. Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications Ltd.     

Implementation of Belief Change Operators Using BDDs

While the theory of belief change has attracted a lot of interest from researchers, work on implementing belief change and actually putting it to use in real-world problems is still scarce. In this paper, we present an implementation of propositional belief change using Binary Decision Diagrams. Upper complexity bounds for the algorithm are presented and discussed. The approach is presented both in the general case, as well as on specific belief change operators from the literature. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the empirical efficiency of the algorithms involved, a fault diagnosis problem on combinational circuits is presented, implemented and evaluated.     

数字记忆广度对策略应用模式的影响──中美儿童计算能力差异的比较研究

本研究旨在了解中美儿童在策略运用模式上的差异是否与数字记忆广度有关。为此,分别测验了中美幼儿园儿童的加法技能,数字记忆广度,并通过一组计算机呈现的加法作业评估儿童使用的解题策略。结果表明,中国儿童的基本算术技能和数学记忆广度均超过同龄的美国儿童。在解题时,中国儿童多使用效率较高的言语计算策略,美国儿童则多采用计数手指策略,在言语计数策略和检索策略的加工速度上中国儿童也超过美国儿童。相关分析表明．策略应用模式的文化差异与数字记忆广度有关。比较大的工作记忆容量增加了数字线索可利用的资源,为儿童早期言语计数能力的发展提供了有利条件。     

An estimating equations approach for the LISCOMP model

Maximum likelihood estimation is computationally infeasible for latent variable models involving multivariate categorical responses, in particular for the LISCOMP model. A three-stage generalized least squares approach introduced by Muthén (1983, 1984) can experience problems of instability, bias, non-convergence, and non-positive definiteness of weight matrices in situations of low prevalence, small sample size and large numbers of observed indicator variables. We propose a quadratic estimating equations approach that only requires specification of the first two moments. By performing simultaneous estimation of parameters, this method does not encounter the problems mentioned above and experiences gains in efficiency. Methods are compared through a numerical study and an application to a study of life-events and neurotic illness.The authors would like to thank Bengt Muthén for many helpful discussions and Scott Henderson for generously providing the Canberra data set. This work was supported in part by grant number GM49909 of the National Institutes of Health.     

Decomposition of a Rasch partial credit item into independent binary and indecomposable trinary items

For each Rasch (Masters) partial credit item, there exists a set of independent Rasch binary and indecomposable trinary items for which the sum of the scores and the partial credit score have identical probability density functions. If each indecomposable trinary item is further expressed as the sum of two binary items, then the binary items are positively dependent and cannot be both of the Rasch type. This paper was written while the author was working with Steve Ferrara and Hillary Michaels on some technical aspects of the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. The author had been puzzled by the fact that most MSPAP assessment items have three or less score categories. With a psychometric justification now being apparent, this paper is dedicated to both of them.     

中西方思维方式的文化差异研究——二元对立与连续统合的视角

目的:验证中西方在思维方式上存在二元对立与连续统合的差异。方法:通过自编的中西方思维特征问卷,对中国学生47名,以及西方留学生及访问学者43名施测,收回有效问卷中国被试34名,西方被试32名。结果:中西方在思维方式上存在着显著差异,思维方式不存在性别差异。结论:中国人的思维方式是倾向于连续统合的,而西方人的思维方式是倾向于二元对立的。     

Nucleation and growth of crystals at the intermediate stage of phase transformations in binary melts

An exact analytical solution of integro-differential equations, which describe the phase transitions in supercooled binary melts, is constructed with allowance for fluctuating rates of crystal growth. A complete solution of the corresponding Fokker–Planck and balance equations is found for arbitrary nucleation kinetics and growth rates of crystals. In limiting cases, the obtained solutions transform to earlier known solutions for a special form of diffusivity in the space of crystal sizes and purely kinetic and “diffusion-kinetic” growth rates of nuclei.     

Revisiting the Gain–Loss Separability Assumption in Prospect Theory

A fundamental assumption of prospect theory is gain–loss separability (GLS)—the assertion that the overall utility of a prospect can be expressed as a function of the utilities of its positive and negative components. Violations of GLS may potentially limit the generalization of results from studies of single‐domain prospects to mixed prospects and systematically distort the predictions of the theory. Violations also have implications for how choices with positive and negative components should be presented to decision makers. Previous studies, using different elicitation methods, have documented different rates, and types, of systematic violations of GLS. We discuss the differences between two specific elicitation methods—binary choice and certainty equivalents—and report results of a new study of GLS using both methods and randomly generated prospects. We compare the extent and nature of GLS violations under the two elicitation methods using between‐subject and within‐subject analyses. We find (i) systematic violations of GLS under both methods, (ii) higher rates of violations under choice, (iii) higher sensitivity to the outcomes for the certainty equivalents, which is consistent with the predictions of the scale‐compatibility hypothesis, and (iv) different patterns of violations under the two methods, which are explained by method‐specific preferences. We discuss the psychological mechanisms underlying the findings and the implications for presenting information with gain and loss components. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural heterogeneity in a binary Pd–Si metallic glass

A Pd₈₁Si₁₉ bulk metallic glassy rod with a diameter of 4.5 mm was produced by water quenching the fluxed alloy. Despite a negative heat of mixing between Pd and Si elements and very simple components constituting the binary Pd–Si glass-forming system, structural heterogeneity was induced either by slow cooling of a liquid or sub-T_g annealing of glassy ribbons. The sub-T_g annealing experiments evidenced that a more ordered amorphous phase emerged from the original glassy matrix. Our work provides an alternative way to tune the microstructure of metallic glasses by subsequent thermal treatment on an as-prepared single glassy phase.