The role of inhibition and speed of processing in mathematics

The current study highlights the importance of inhibitory ability in facilitating performance in mathematics. To understand the role of inhibition in mathematical knowledge, this study tested 102 college students on a series of standardized complex math exercises. Inhibition tasks varied by task and stimuli (letters, numbers, and arrows). The result showed stronger associations between math abilities and strength of inhibition with more inhibition found for the flanker task (involving inhibition of peripheral stimuli) than for the Navon task (requiring inhibition of a potential response). The results supported the view that Inhibition in general (which is not unique to numerical stimuli) is associated with math abilities. General, rather than specific inhibition was associated with math abilities and finally, speed of processing masked the relationship between math and inhibition. These results confirm the assumption that the relation between inhibition and math performance is modulated by the task that measures the inhibition, and by additional predictors such as processing speed.     

Approximately counting and sampling knowledge states

Approximately counting and sampling knowledge states from a knowledge space is a problem that is of interest for both applied and theoretical reasons. However, many knowledge spaces used in practice are far too large for standard statistical counting and estimation techniques to be useful. Thus, in this work we use an alternative technique for counting and sampling knowledge states from a knowledge space. This technique is based on a procedure variously known as subset simulation, the Holmes–Diaconis–Ross method, or multilevel splitting. We make extensive use of Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and, in particular, Gibbs sampling, and we analyse and test the accuracy of our results in numerical experiments.     

Dynamics properties of knowledge acquisition

Repeated counteraction of current knowledge and reality observation generates new knowledge and can be viewed as a dynamic process. When observed objects are not results of human activity, the dynamics results in acquisition of new knowledge, usually as a refinement of the existing one. Otherwise, adjustment between incomplete knowledge and reality can be a result of intentional modification of objects in question, as it happens in design of any artifact. In this case convergence of the process is questionable, for example, it may imply the end of the technical progress. In worst case scenario, the same computable criteria used simultaneously to modify objects and evaluate the result quality causing drift from an established goal and devaluation of acquired knowledge.     

病患行为、地方性知识与治疗体系——以西部宁夏山区洼村为例

基于西部宁夏山区一个传统村落的鲜活案例,从患者对疾病认知治疗的感受和经历开始,包括患者自己对疾病的认知、求医的行为、求医方式选择、治疗物（医学药品和非医学药品）的文化属性,到医生与患者之间的互动关系,医疗场域的村医地方性知识实践,进行逐一剖析,揭示村民的整个求医过程中的疾病治疗逻辑。力图从医疗场域的患者动态治疗变化中,寻求文化传统在疾病治疗、健康维护中的参与行为和价值体现,并折射出洼村村民对待病患选择的生活逻辑和态度。

     

Googling Politics: How Offloading Affects Voting and Political Knowledge

Studies suggest that individuals are less likely to process information they can easily look up. Instead of committing information to memory, they rely on the Internet to store information for them—a phenomenon known as “offloading.” We examine the effects of offloading on political knowledge and voting behavior. Using data from a 10-wave panel experiment designed to study information processing in two distinct information environments, we demonstrate that people whose environment is conducive to offloading learn more during an election campaign than individuals whose information environment is not conducive to offloading, even though they look at less information during the campaign. Individuals in the offloading condition also make better vote choices despite examining less information. These results suggest that offloading reduces cognitive load, thereby freeing up processing space in working memory, which can increase learning of information that is accessed, and improve decision-making.     

The Near-Death Experience: Knowledge and Attitudes of College Students

There is a considerable literature documenting the effects of a near-death experience (NDE) on persons who actually undergo the experience, in terms of their attitudes and opinions about NDEs. However, investigations of how much nonexperiencers know about NDEs and their attitudes towards them are in short supply. This study examined the relationship in people who have not had an NDE between attitudes toward and knowledge of near-death experiences. Subjects were undergraduate students, with a mean age of 32 years. The Near-Death Phenomena Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire was employed to assess attitudes toward and knowledge of NDEs. Results indicated that both knowledge and attitudes were relatively normally distributed, and that level of knowledge significantly predicted attitudes towards NDEs, accounting for 34 percent of the common variance.     

中学生知识学习观研究

采用自编的《中学生知识学习观量表》,探讨了中学生知识学习观的现状和特点。结果表明:(1)中学生的知识学习观在总体上还是建设性的;(2)不同性别、文理科学生在知识学习观各维度上存在显著差异;(3)初中生的知识学习观比高中生的知识学习观更具建构性;(4)不同成绩水平的学生在知识学习观各维度上存在显著的差异,知识学习过程观、知识价值观、知识学习态度观是中学生学习成绩的有效预测变量。