Effects of knowledge about cross-language equivalents on children's use of mutual exclusivity in interpreting novel labels

Young children seem to assume that words pick out mutually exclusive object categories. This assumption of mutual exclusivity can be useful in word learning, but it is fallible. This study examined the effects of knowledge about cross-language equivalents on children's use of mutual exclusivity in interpreting a novel label coming from a foreign language and in interpreting a novel label within their first language. It was found that 4-year-olds with such knowledge suspended the assumption of mutual exclusivity in interpreting a novel label coming from a foreign language. Furthermore, they were willing to accept multiple labels for an object even within a language, as long as the context suggested that they should do so. In contrast, 3-year-olds did not seem to make use of such knowledge in either case. Thus, it appeared that 4-year-olds could make use of knowledge about language to fine tune the use of mutual exclusivity, but that this seemed to be difficult for 3-year-olds.     

Ethical issues in communicating science

Most of the publicized work on scientific ethics concentrates on establishing professional norms and avoiding misconduct. The successful communication of science is the responsibility of all involved in the process. In one study, the increased incidence of autism and other social developmental disorders in males was investigated by examining individuals with Turner's syndrome (XO females). In the national newspaper this became "Genetic X-factor explains why boys will always be boys". The steps by which a study on developmental disorders, published in a highly prestigious journal, was transformed into an article in the science section which 'explained' the socially expected gender-based behavior of genetically normal children are fascinating and, unfortunately far too typical. The scientists wrote an excellent article that has just one sentence at the end that hesitantly suggests that the findings might, with further study, have some relevance to understanding normal behavior. The general interest article in the front of the journal gave a good account of the research, but suggested more strongly that there could be an in-built biological dimorphism in social cognition. This was misrepresented in the press as proof of gender differences that "undermines the trend towards sexual equality", and both illustrates cultural bias and provides fodder for feminist critiques of science. The study has been made to appear to be biased in favor of justifying the social structure of society, and yet it was the translation from the scientific study to national news that produced this transformation to biased genetic determinism. It is poor communication of the actual science, coupled with a lack of skepticism on the part of the public, that contributes to such a misapplication of science. Scientists should resist the urge to generalize their results to make them more compelling. The science community should not allow misconstructions of scientific facts to go unchallenged. Journalists, for both the scientific publication and the newspaper, should resist the inclination to embellish the finding with social significance that is not present. For their part, readers must be doubly skeptical of any finding that appears to underwrite any current social hierarchy. We are all responsible for a communication and interpretation of science that is as accurate and socially responsible as possible.     

Selective exposure and decision framing: The impact of gain and loss framing on confirmatory information search after decisions

When people make decisions, they often prefer to receive information that supports rather than conflicts with their decision. To date, this effect has mainly been investigated in the context of decisions about gains, whereas decisions about losses have received less attention. Based on Prospect Theory, we expected information search to be differently affected by whether people previously have decided about gains or losses. Three studies have revealed that selectivity of information search is stronger after gain-framed rather than after loss-framed decision problems. An investigation of the underlying psychological processes revealed that gain decisions are made with increased subjective decision certainty (i.e. they are easier and less effortful to make), which in turn systematically increases confirmatory information search.     

Entitativity and prejudice: Examining their relationship and the moderating effect of attitude certainty

Previous research suggests that perceived entitativity, which represents the degree to which groups are perceived to possess unity, coherence, and organization, predicts intergroup stereotyping and bias. The present research yielded complementary evidence that prejudice (toward Muslims in Study 1 and toward South Asians in Study 2) can also predict groups’ perceived entitativity. In particular, Study 1 found that the relationships of two predictors, intergroup contact and social dominance orientation, with perceived entitativity were mediated by prejudice. Study 2 demonstrated, as predicted, that this set of relationships occurred primarily for intergroup attitudes of relatively high certainty. Neither study found support for models in which entitativity mediated the relationships of the predictors with prejudice. Conceptual and analytical factors that may account for evidence of the potential bi-directionality of the bias-entitativity relationship are considered.     

青年学生自信问卷的编制

自信是指对自己的信任,对自己身体、心理和社会性的信任,表现为有信心,不怀疑。为了编制青年学生自信问卷,首先采用开放式问卷对130名大学生和高中学生进行了调查,内容分析表明青年学生自信包含五类行为,在此基础上编制了青年学生自信预试问卷。391份有效问卷的探索性因素分析表明,青年学生自信问卷测查的是个五因素结构,包括才智自信、人际自信、品质自信、应对自信和成就自信。为了进一步检验青年学生自信问卷的构想效度,并考察其效标效度,1084名青年学生完成了该问卷和五项效标的测查。验证性因素分析支持青年学生自信问卷的结构,结合信度分析和多元回归分析的结果,表明青年学生自信问卷具有较好的信度与效度。     

5·12地震灾民安全感与PTSD的关系

对地震灾民安全感状况进行调查并探讨其与PTSD的关系。方法：使用自编地震灾民安全感问卷（Perceived Security Questionnaire for Earthquake Victims, PSQ-EV）和创伤后应激障碍筛查量表平时版（PTSD Checklist Civilian Version, PCL-C）,在震后一个月时对德阳、绵竹和什邡等地290名灾民进行测查。结果：安全感问卷的三个维度:安全需要、归属需要和确定控制感之间存在显著差异;‚在安全需要维度上,不同年龄段存在显著差异;ƒ安全需要和确定控制感与PTSD 回归显著。结论：地震灾民在灾后安全需要的满足程度偏低;灾民安全感与创伤后应激反应有密切关系     

Replicated alternatives and the role of confusion,chasing, and regret in decisions from experience

The current paper explores choice among alternatives that can be classified into distinct classes. All the members of a particular class were ‘replicated alternatives’: they promised the same payoff distribution. Information to decision makers was limited to feedback concerning the realized (obtained and foregone) payoffs. Experiment 1 demonstrates that increasing the number of replicated alternatives creates confusion (which facilitates random choice) and changes the implications of the tendency to chase recent returns (i.e., select the alternative with the best recent outcomes). This effect, termed ‘confused chasing,’ facilitates risk seeking even when this behavior impairs expected earnings. Experiment 2 reveals that increasing the number of replicated alternatives can reduce (but does not eliminate) the tendency to underweight rare events. Experiment 3 shows that the relative importance of chasing and confusion is sensitive to the likelihood of realizing lower payoffs than the forgone payoffs. The main results are summarized with a simple model assuming that payoff sensitivity decreases with experienced regret. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Client's Perspective of Genetic Counseling—A Grounded Theory Study

Previous studies of genetic counseling have mainly focused on outcomes defined by researchers or service providers, and have frequently related to changes in reproductive behavior and/or client knowledge. A longitudinal study of 43 families referred to a clinical genetic service was undertaken to ascertain client needs and expectations of the service, and to identify relevant outcomes from the clients' perspective. Semistructured interviews were conducted with each client, prior to and after genetic counseling. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using grounded theory. The need for certainty emerged as a powerful factor that motivated clients to pursue the genetic referral. The client's lay knowledge of the condition, satisfaction of the need for certainty, and the formation of a personalized relationship between the client and the genetics staff significantly influenced the central outcome, identified as a change in the client's psychological adaptation to the genetic condition in the family.     

选择集大小对网购决策态度和行为的影响

研究探讨网络购物中选择集大小对决策态度和行为的影响,以及目标确定性和产品类型对该关系的调节作用。采用2(大选择集vs.小选择集)×2(目标明确vs.目标不明确)×2(体验型产品vs.搜索型产品)的组间设计,发现大选择集组选择满意度、自信心更高,但延迟选择更多,出现态度-行为分离。目标不明确时,大选择集组延迟选择更多。     

How regulatory focus–mode fit impacts variety-seeking

Variety-seeking research has examined antecedents in terms of contextual factors and individual differences. However, it does not consider the interaction of individual difference factors such as regulatory focus (promotion vs. prevention) and regulatory mode (locomotion vs. assessment) to predict variety-seeking. Drawing on regulatory fit theory, this study introduces a new kind of regulatory fit based on the interaction between regulatory focus and mode (i.e., regulatory focus–mode fit), thereby extending previous work examining fit based on either regulatory focus or regulatory mode in isolation. Results from five studies, including field data from 10,547 music app consumers (text analysis), two preregistered studies, and two online experiments, show that regulatory focus–mode fit (vs. non-fit) decreases variety-seeking. Engagement and attitude certainty serially mediate regulatory focus–mode fit effects. Findings provide implications for consumer segmentation and message framing.