Negative numbers in simple arithmetic

Are negative numbers processed differently from positive numbers in arithmetic problems? In two experiments, adults (N?=?66) solved standard addition and subtraction problems such as 3?+?4 and 7 – 4 and recasted versions that included explicit negative signs—that is, 3 – (–4), 7?+?(–4), and (–4)?+?7. Solution times on the recasted problems were slower than those on standard problems, but the effect was much larger for addition than subtraction. The negative sign may prime subtraction in both kinds of recasted problem. Problem size effects were the same or smaller in recasted than in standard problems, suggesting that the recasted formats did not interfere with mental calculation. These results suggest that the underlying conceptual structure of the problem (i.e., addition vs. subtraction) is more important for solution processes than the presence of negative numbers.     

Processing negative numbers by transforming negatives to positive range and by sign shortcut

Numerals are processed by a phylogenetically old analogue magnitude system. Can culturally new negative numerals be processed using this same representation? To find out whether magnitude representation could be used, we contrasted three possible processing mechanisms: an extended magnitude system for both positive and negative numbers, a mirroring mechanism that could transform negative values to the positive range to be processed on the positive magnitude system, and a sign shortcut strategy that can process the signs of numbers independently of the absolute values of numerals. To test these three hypotheses, a comparison task was used and the reaction time pattern, numerical distance, and Spatial-Numerical Association of Response Codes (SNARC) effect was analysed. The results revealed a mirroring process along with a sign shortcut mechanism. The SNARC effect was observed only when positive numbers were compared.     

The absence of numbers to express the amount may affect delay discounting with humans

Human delay discounting is usually studied with experimental protocols that use symbols to express delay and amount. In order to further understand discounting, we evaluated whether the absence of numbers to represent reward amounts affects discount rate in general, and whether the magnitude effect is generalized to nonsymbolic situations in particular. In Experiment 1, human participants were exposed to a delay‐discounting task in which rewards were presented using dots to represent monetary rewards (nonsymbolic); under this condition the magnitude effect did not occur. Nevertheless, the magnitude effect was observed when equivalent reward amounts were presented using numbers (symbolic). Moreover, in estimation tasks, magnitude increments produced underestimation of large amounts. In Experiment 2, participants were exposed only to the nonsymbolic discounting task and were required to estimate reward amounts in each trial. Consistent with Experiment 1, the absence of numbers representing reward amounts produced similar discount rates of small and large rewards. These results suggest that value of nonsymbolic rewards is a nonlinear function of amount and that value attribution depends on perceived difference between the immediate and the delayed nonsymbolic rewards.     

易学思想与中国传统建筑

本文从卦象、易数与阴阳合德三方面论述了易学思想与中国传统建筑之间不可分割的联系,中国建筑作为中华文明的重要组成部分,其本源是来自<周易>,与易学思想的发展变化密切相关.     

多维Rasch模型在维度分数报告中的应用—对带宽-保真度困境的解决

分别采用四维度和十五维度Rasch模型分析包含项目内多维度结构的科学测验数据,估计两种维度结构下维度分数的信度.结果表明,对比相应的单维模型而言,四维度与十五维度Rasch模型均能够极大提高各内容维度上分数估计的信度.四维度与十五维度Rasch模型拟合结果的比较表明,对于总长度固定的测验,维度数目的增加能够补偿子维度长度减少引起的信度损失.但是这一作用必须以维度间较高的相关性为前提.     

国有大中型企业职工满意感研究

本文在对山东省国有大中型企业职工进行大规模抽样问卷凋查的基础上．分析了满意感调查表的信度和效度。并探讨了运用该调查表所得出的～些重要结论。对所获数据的分析表明：(1)满意感量表具有良好的再测信度和结构效度;(2)国有大中型企业职工总体满意感和五个方面的具体满意感不太平衡;(3)国有大中型企业职工满意感受到职工个人的性别、年龄、受教育程度、婚姻状况、工作性质、进厂方式,以及职工所属企业所在地区、企业规模、效益、转轨情况等因素的影响。     

大学生SCL－90测试结果的研究

采用ＳＣＬ－９０临床症状自评量表,对随机抽取的安徽大学１－４年级２００名学生进行测试,结果表明：大学生心理健康总体水平低于全国成人常模;生源于城市和农村的大学生相比,总体差异不显著;生源于应届高中毕业生和历届高中毕业的大学生相比,在恐怖和精神病性两因子上,前者的均分显著高于后者;男女大学生相比,女大学生在抑郁和恐怖两个因子上的均分显著高于男大学生。