信度系数与观测分数和潜在特质的相关比

在经典真分数模型中,信度系数R=D(T)/D(X)。通常认为,信度系数与项目反应理论没有什么联系。事实上,信度系数恰好等于考生观测分数与潜在特质分数的非线性相关比η_(xθ)~2=1-MD(x|θ)/D(X),据此我们得出估计信度系数的一种新途径,同时讨论了x、θ的相关系数与相关比η_(xθ)~2的关系。     

认知诊断模型Q矩阵修正：完整信息矩阵的作用

Q矩阵是CDM的核心元素之一,反映了测验的内部结构和内容设计,通常由领域专家根据经验进行主观界定,因此需要对可能存在的错误进行修正。本研究提出了一种新的Q矩阵修正方法——基于完整经验交叉相乘信息矩阵的Wald-XPD方法。采用Monte Carlo模拟检验了新方法的表现,并与同类方法进行了比较。研究表明：新开发的Wald-XPD方法在Q矩阵恢复率、保留正确标定属性的比例以及修正错误标定属性的比例这3个主要指标上均有较好的表现,且整体上优于其他方法,尤其是在修正错误标定的属性方面。通过实证数据展示了Wald-XPD方法在Q矩阵修正中的良好表现。总之,本研究为Q矩阵修正提供了有效的方法。     

The role of body weight in resident-intruder aggression

The behavior of male NIH Swiss mice of various body weights in the resident-intruder test of aggression was investigated. Mice were housed individually for 10 days prior to the test, and allocated to six groups. In the first three groups body weights of residents and group-housed intruders were matched, and the animals were divided into light, average, or heavy groups. In the last three groups weights of the intruder mice were either matched with the residents, or intruders were lighter or heavier than the residents. We found that light residents spent significantly less time in aggressive behaviors and longer time in defensive behaviors than the other two groups. The heavy mice showed most social investigation. The body weights of intruders were also shown to affect the behavior in the test: those residents which had light opponents spent a longer time in aggressive behavior than those which had matched or heavy opponents. The resident mice with heavy opponents showed most defensive behaviors. To study whether pharmacological manipulation may have different effects on behavior in the resident-intruder test in mice having different weights, animals of light, average, and heavy body weight received a low dose (0.8 g/kg) of ethanol 30 min prior to the test. We did not note any effect of ethanol on aggressive behavior in the three groups. The results suggest that body weight plays a significant role in determining the level of aggression and defensive behaviors in the resident-intruder test.     

状元殿试对策的文化内涵

状元殿试对策有着深厚的文化底蕴。它既是对当时性文化现象的全面把握,又是对历时性文化内涵的深刻理解和灵活化用。状元殿试对策作为传统文化的重要载体之一,有着重要的文化研究价值,对当今考试文体也有着诸多启示和借鉴。     

Stepwise variable selection in factor analysis

It is very important to choose appropriate variables to be analyzed in multivariate analysis when there are many observed variables such as those in a questionnaire. What is actually done in scale construction with factor analysis is nothing but variable selection.In this paper, we take several goodness-of-fit statistics as measures of variable selection and develop backward elimination and forward selection procedures in exploratory factor analysis. Once factor analysis is done for a certain numberp of observed variables (thep-variable model is labeled the current model), simple formulas for predicted fit measures such as chi-square, GFI, CFI, IFI and RMSEA, developed in the field of the structural equation modeling, are provided for all models obtained by adding an external variable (so that the number of variables isp + 1) and for those by deleting an internal variable (so that the number isp – 1), provided that the number of factors is held constant.A programSEFA (Stepwise variable selection in Exploratory Factor Analysis) is developed to actually obtain a list of the fit measures for all such models. The list is very useful in determining which variable should be dropped from the current model to improve the fit of the current model. It is also useful in finding a suitable variable that may be added to the current model. A model with more appropriate variables makes more stable inference in general.The criteria traditionally often used for variable selection is magnitude of communalities. This criteria gives a different choice of variables and does not improve fit of the model in most cases.The URL of the programSEFA is http://koko15.hus.osaka-u.ac.jp/~harada/factor/stepwise/.     

Single Session Treatment of Test Anxiety with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

One session of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) appeared to be an effective treatment for test anxiety, reducing reported physiological distress, worry, and fears of negative evaluation. The research design included two components: a comparison study, comparing Immediate Treatment and Wait List groups, and a replication study, comparing the treatment response of Immediate and Delayed (Treated Wait List) groups. Seventeen test anxious university students were randomly assigned to one session of EMDR or Wait List. At post-test, the Immediate group demonstrated significant improvement, compared to the Wait List group, on the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI) and Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. Treatment effects were maintained at follow-up. The Wait List group received treatment after post-measures were taken. Treatment of the Delayed group replicated effects. Improvement was reflected by large treatment effect sizes and a decrease in percentile ranking on the TAI from the 90th to the 50th percentile.     

Utilizing response times in cognitive diagnostic computerized adaptive testing under the higher-order deterministic input,noisy ‘and’ gate model

Methods of cognitive diagnostic computerized adaptive testing (CD-CAT) under higher-order cognitive diagnosis models have been developed to simultaneously provide estimates of the attribute mastery statuses of examinees for formative assessment and estimates of a latent continuous trait for overall summative evaluation. In a typical CD-CAT environment, examinees are often subject to a time limit, and the examinees’ response times (RTs) for specific test items can be routinely recorded by custom-made programs. Because examinees are individually administered tailored sets of test items from the item pool, they may experience different levels of speededness during testing and different levels of risk of running out of time. In this study, RTs were considered during the item-selection procedure to control the test speededness and the RTs were treated as useful information for improving latent trait estimation in CD-CAT under the higher-order deterministic input, noisy ‘and’ gate (DINA) model. A modified posterior-weighted Kullback–Leibler (PWKL) method that maximizes the item information per time unit and a shadow-test method that assembles a provisional test subject to a specified time constraint were developed. Two simulation studies were conducted to assess the effects of the proposed methods on the quality of CD-CAT for fixed- and variable-length exams. The results show that, compared with the traditional PWKL method, the proposed methods preserve a lower risk of running out of time while ensuring satisfactory attribute estimation and providing more accurate estimates of the latent trait and speed parameters. Finally, several suggestions for future research are proposed.     

A developmental study of the bat/ball problem of CRT: How to override the bias and its relation to executive functioning

In two experiments, we explored the nature of the bias observed in the bat/ball problem of the cognitive reflection test (Frederick, 2005, J. Econ. Perspect., 19, 25), how to override it, and its relation to executive functioning. Based on the original bat/ball problem, we designed two additional isomorphic items. In Experiment 1, for four age groups, including 7-, 11-, and 15-year-olds and adults, we determined that the bias is related to the System 1 intervention; the performance in this item was not a matter of mathematical ability and it could be facilitated by changing the order in which the problems were presented. In Experiment 2, we determined that for 15-year-olds, good and bad performances in the item were related to executive functioning, particularly response-distractor inhibition, updating information in working memory, and the regulation of attention; however, subtle differences were identified when the problem was performed in a facilitative context compared with a non-facilitative context. The results indicated that cognitive abilities are a necessary but non-sufficient condition to resolve the problem.     

Comparing the effects of goal types in a walking session with healthy adults: Preliminary evidence for open goals in physical activity

ObjectivesGoal-setting is one of the most common strategies used to increase physical activity. Current practice is often based on specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) goals. However, theory and research suggests that this approach may be problematic. Open goals (e.g., “see how well you can do”) have emerged as a possible alternative, but are yet to be tested experimentally in physically active tasks. In a walking-based session, this study aimed to experimentally compare the effects of open, SMART and do-your-best goals with a control condition on distance walked and psychological variables related to engagement.DesignRepeated measures design (mixed model).MethodParticipants (N = 78; M_age = 55.88) were randomly assigned to one of four goal conditions: an open, SMART, or do-your-best goal, or a control condition (“walk at your normal pace”), before completing a baseline and two manipulated attempts of a 6-min walking test.ResultsOpen, SMART, and do-your-best goals achieved greater distance walked, and higher ratings of perceived exertion, than the control across both experimental attempts. Open and SMART goals led to greater enjoyment of the session. However, SMART goals led to higher pressure/tension, while open goals led to higher perceptions of performance and higher interest in repeating the session.ConclusionsThese findings provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of setting open goals in physical activity, and suggest that they may be more psychologically adaptive to pursue than SMART or do-your-best goals. Implications are discussed, and recommendations are made for future goal-setting research in physical activity.     

Validation of the Italian Remote Associate Test

The scientific approach to the study of creative problem-solving has shifted from using classic insight problems (e.g., the Nine-dots problem), toward sets of problems that have more robust psychometric properties, such as the Remote Associate Test (RAT). Because it is homogeneous, compact, quickly solvable, and easy to score, the RAT has been used more frequently in recent creativity studies. We applied the Item Response Theory (IRT) to develop an Italian version of this task. The final 51-item test was reliable (α = .89) and provided information over a wide range of ability levels, as revealed by the IRT analysis. The RAT correlated with five measures of creative performance: The Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), three classic insight problems, a set of anagrams purposefully developed, the fluency and flexibility scores of the Alternative Uses Task (AUT), and the Creative Achievements Questionnaire (CAQ). The new measure provided is meant to encourage the study of creativity and problem-solving in the Italian language.