Physiological Correlates of Choice‐Induced Dissonance: An Exploration of HPA‐Axis Responses

Choice can produce a negatively arousing cognitive conflict (called dissonance), which is thought to motivate the chooser to spread their preferences for the relevant options (called Spreading of Alternatives, or SA). The current work aimed to determine the relationship between HPA‐axis activity and both choice‐induced dissonance and its reduction (i.e. SA) among individuals with varying cultural backgrounds. European–Americans and Asians made a choice between two equally attractive CDs either in the presence of a cue indicative of social eyes (i.e. public‐choice condition) or in the absence thereof (i.e. private‐choice condition). As predicted, European–Americans and Asians showed a reliable SA primarily in the private and public choice conditions, respectively. Importantly, a sharp decline of salivary cortisol was observed over the span of 30 min, and, moreover, this decline was reliably predicted by the magnitude of SA regardless of either culture or the choice being private vs. public. These results suggest that although choice‐induced dissonance is too weak to elicit an HPA‐axis stress response, SA is associated with variability in the decline of salivary cortisol during the laboratory task. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhanced saccadic control in young people with Tourette syndrome despite slowed pro‐saccades

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Tics are repetitive and uncontrolled behaviours that have been associated with basal ganglia dysfunction. We investigated saccadic eye movements in a group of young people with TS but without co‐morbid ADHD. Participants performed two tasks. One required them to perform only pro‐saccade responses (pure pro‐saccade task). The other involved shifting, unpredictably, between executing pro‐ and anti‐saccades (mixed saccade task). We show that in the mixing saccade task, the TS group makes significantly fewer errors than an age‐matched control group, while responding equally fast. By contrast, on the pure pro‐saccade task, the TS group were shown to be significantly slower to initiate and to complete the saccades (longer movement duration and decreased peak velocity) than controls, while movement amplitude and direction accuracy were not different. These findings demonstrate enhanced shifting ability despite slower reflexive responding in TS and are discussed with respect to a disorder‐related adaptation for increased cognitive regulation of behaviour.     

哪个测验Q矩阵更合理:基于DINA模型测验Q矩阵合理性侦查指标及其比较与应用

本研究对多个测验Q矩阵的相对合理性的比较与选用开展研究,采用Monte Carlo模拟与实证研究相结合的范式,探讨R_square、HCI、-2LL、AIC、BIC、residual、ABS_residual及本研究新开发的BIC2等八项指标在测验Q矩阵合理性侦查效果及其比较。研究发现:八项指标中,除BIC和BIC2两项指标的对测验Q矩阵相对合理性的平均正确识别率在95%以上,其余指标的平均正确识别率不足90%,整体而言,考虑样本容量及参数个数双重加权的BIC和BIC2两项指标的表现总体上优于其它几项指标;各项指标在不同Q矩阵错误类型下其正确识别率也不尽相同。     

靶子-靶子任务中认知控制对返回抑制的反转

使用冲突色词作为外源性线索,通过3(任务类型)×2(线索有效性)×2(色词一致性)混合设计考察认知控制对返回抑制(IOR)的影响。结果:(1)线索-靶子任务(CT)和靶子-靶子任务(TT)均产生正值IOR,CT的IOR效应量(32ms)显著大于TT(12ms)。(2)线索有效性和任务类型交互作用显著。按键反应组IOR效应量(11.85ms)显著大于颜色反应组(-18.5ms)和词意反应组(-25.65ms)。证实冲突色词在CT任务中做为线索可产生IOR,这种范式上的新尝试同样适用于TT任务。在TT任务中对认知冲突的觉察和控制导致IOR效应反转,支持注意的非盲性机制。研究为主动操纵被试对线索的认知控制程度,考察复杂任务下实施认知控制对注意定向的影响提供了一条可行途径。     

Career optimism: The roles of contextual support and career decision-making self-efficacy

Drawing from the social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986), we examined the role of parental support, teacher support, and career decision-making self-efficacy as sources of career optimism. We tested our proposed model using 235 computer science majors from a large university in the Philippines. Surveys were conducted over two measurement periods (1 year apart). Results revealed that Time 1 parental and teacher support were positively associated with Time 2 career optimism. Furthermore, we found that these direct relationships were fully mediated by Time 1 career decision-making self-efficacy. These results remained significant even after controlling for neuroticism and past performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

Heuristic cognitive diagnosis when the Q‐matrix is unknown

Cognitive diagnosis models of educational test performance rely on a binary Q‐matrix that specifies the associations between individual test items and the cognitive attributes (skills) required to answer those items correctly. Current methods for fitting cognitive diagnosis models to educational test data and assigning examinees to proficiency classes are based on parametric estimation methods such as expectation maximization (EM) and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) that frequently encounter difficulties in practical applications. In response to these difficulties, non‐parametric classification techniques (cluster analysis) have been proposed as heuristic alternatives to parametric procedures. These non‐parametric classification techniques first aggregate each examinee's test item scores into a profile of attribute sum scores, which then serve as the basis for clustering examinees into proficiency classes. Like the parametric procedures, the non‐parametric classification techniques require that the Q‐matrix underlying a given test be known. Unfortunately, in practice, the Q‐matrix for most tests is not known and must be estimated to specify the associations between items and attributes, risking a misspecified Q‐matrix that may then result in the incorrect classification of examinees. This paper demonstrates that clustering examinees into proficiency classes based on their item scores rather than on their attribute sum‐score profiles does not require knowledge of the Q‐matrix, and results in a more accurate classification of examinees.     

A Primer on Psychotherapy Process Research: A Review of Cognitive Therapy of Depression

Researchers conducting psychotherapy process research aim to understand the process by which efficacious psychotherapies achieve therapeutic benefits. A key challenge in this research is how to maximise what can be learned from naturalistic longitudinal data. We provide a selective overview of research examining the process of change in cognitive therapy of depression. While the efficacy of this treatment is widely recognised, a consensus regarding how the treatment reduces depressive symptoms and provides protection from relapse and recurrence has yet to be reached. We review the current state of the research addressing the process of change in cognitive therapy, highlighting how specific methodological features can be used to better understand the process by which this treatment achieves its effects. We highlight the importance of two key challenges to making causal inferences from a process–outcome relation: (a) establishing the temporal precedence of predictors to outcome variables, and (b) evaluating whether any relations identified could be spurious. We argue that methodologically rigorous studies tend to support key claims of the model underlying cognitive therapy of depression. We conclude by considering future directions. For example, we highlight the importance of efforts to understand patient characteristics that may moderate process–outcome relations and could ultimately prove useful in tailoring treatment to best suit individual patients.     

Counselor Cognitive Complexity: Correlating and Comparing the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator With the Role Category Questionnaire

This study examined personality types and cognitive complexity levels in counseling trainees. Data from graduate‐level counseling students were collected (N = 74). Cognitive complexity levels were measured using the Role Category Questionnaire (RCQ) and personality types were measured using the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator. Results showed that perceiving types tended to perform better on the RCQ than judging types, and that those who were highly differentiated in all preferences overall tended to score higher on the RCQ. These findings have implications for employment and career counselors and their clients who are, or aspire to be, in the helping profession.     

Dignity,Capability, and Profound Disability

Martha Nussbaum has sought to establish the significance of disability for liberal theories of justice. She proposes that human dignity can serve as the basis of an entitlement to a set of capabilities that all human beings either possess or have the potential to develop. This article considers whether the concept of human dignity will serve as the justification for basic human capabilities in accounting for the demands of justice for people with profound learning difficulties and disabilities. It examines the relationship between dignity and capabilities, suggesting that Nussbaum fails to distinguish between several conceptions of human dignity, whilst also identifying one of these conceptions as coming close to meeting several of her demands. It is difficult enough, however, to show how dignity is related to just one of our basic entitlements, and even that requires more than the resources available in Nussbaum's approach.