基于多层结构方程模型的情境效应分析—— 兼与多层线性模型比较

多层(嵌套)数据的变量关系研究, 必须借助多层模型来实现。两层模型中, 层一自变量Xij按组均值中心化, 并将组均值 置于层2截距方程式中, 可将Xij对因变量Yij的效应分解为组间和组内部分, 二者之差被称为情境效应, 称为情境变量。多层结构方程模型(MSEM)将多层线性模型(MLM)和结构方程模型(SEM)相结合, 通过设置潜变量和多指标的方法校正了MLM在情境效应分析中出现的抽样误差和测量误差, 同时解决了数据的多层(嵌套)结构和潜变量的估计问题。除了分析原理的说明, 还以班级平均竞争氛围对学生竞争表现的情境效应为例进行分析方法的示范, 并比较MSEM和MLM的异同, 随后展望了MSEM情境效应模型、情境效应无偏估计方法和情境变量研究的拓展方向。     

The effect of signaled reinforcement on rats' fixed-interval responding

Four experiments examined the effect on rats' response rate of presenting a brief (500 ms) stimulus simultaneously with the delivery of food on fixed-interval (FI) schedules. In Experiment 1, reinforcement signals that were spatially diffuse (both tones and lights) elevated rates of responding, but responding was attenuated by localized visual stimuli. The remaining experiments examined the signal-induced potentiation of responding. In Experiment 2, a tone reinforcement signal potentiated response rates on an FI schedule, but attenuated response rates on a variable-interval (VI) schedule. This difference was obtained even though the overall rate of responding was equated on the two schedules before the introduction of the signal. Signal-induced potentiation of responding occurred over a range of FI values employed in Experiment 3. In Experiment 4, presenting a reinforcement signal when high local rates of response had occurred immediately before reinforcement resulted in potentiated rates of responding on an FI schedule. The opposite effect on response rate occurred when the reinforcement signal followed only low local rates of response. These results indicate that a variety of factors influence the effects of a reinforcement signal. They imply, however, that the local rate of response at the time of reinforcement is a key factor in establishing the nature of the signaling effect.     

Evidence against a constant-difference effect in concurrent-chains schedules

Savastano and Fantino (1996) reported that in concurrent-chains schedules, initial-link choice proportions remained constant as terminal-link durations increased as long as the subtractive difference between the two terminal-link schedules remained constant. Two experiments with pigeons were conducted to examine this constant-difference effect. Both experiments used equal variable-interval schedules as initial links. The terminal links were fixed delays to reinforcement in Experiment 1 and variable delays to reinforcement in Experiment 2. The durations of the terminal links were varied across conditions, but the difference between pairs of terminal links was always 10 s. In both experiments, preference for the shorter terminal link became less extreme as terminal-link durations increased, so a constant-difference effect was not found. It is argued, however, that this choice situation does not provide clear evidence for or against delay-reduction theory versus other theories of choice.     

青少年人格、人口学变量与主观幸福感的关系模型

采用分层随机抽样的方法,抽取了379名中学生和大学生样本,在多元相关分析的基础上,结合文献分析,采用结构方程建模技术,探讨了我国青少年学生人口学变量、人格维度和主观幸福感(SWB)的结构关系。结果表明,人口学变量中的年级和经济状况变量既与SWB有直接的关系,又通过大五人格中的神经质维度或外倾性维度对SWB有间接的效应,其中,经济状况对主观幸福感的正面效应较大,而性别和城乡变量则仅通过神经质和外倾性对SWB有微弱的间接效应;大五人格维度中,宜人性与SWB没有显著关系,开放性和严谨性通过神经质或外倾性与SWB存在间接效应,神经质和外倾性则对SWB有较强的直接预测力;结构方程模型验证了人格、人口学变量与SWB的这种关系。     

初中生诚实性测验中社会赞许反应研究

运用马洛-克罗恩社会赞许量表(MCSD)和儿童社会期望量表(CSD),采用3×3设计,测查了高、中、低三类赞许动机水平的246名初中生在高、中、低三种不同赞许情境下完成诚实性测验的差异,以考察社会赞许性反应。结果显示低赞许动机被试比高赞许动机被试整体上更诚实,他们在三种情境下的诚实性行为差异不显著;高赞许动机水平被试在三种赞许情境下诚实性行为差异显著。说明前者更多依从自己内部判断,后者更多依从外界评价。     

Transverse shear surface wave in a functionally graded material infinite half space

The variable substitution and power-series techniques are used for the asymptotic analytical derivation of the governing equation of a transverse surface wave. The results reveal that the transverse wave can propagate along the surface of a functionally graded infinite half space in various modes, and that their dispersion relations are normal. For certain cases, energy is concentrated on the surface region to a depth of several wavelengths. A new theoretical foundation based on the transverse surface wave can be provided for graded-material characterization by experimental measurement. Some phenomena of seismic wave propagation may also be explained.     

What makes a hypothetical construct “hypothetical”? Tracing the origins and uses of the ‘hypothetical construct’ concept in psychological science

The “hypothetical construct” has been an important concept in philosophy of science for the past half century. References to the concept date as far back as 1943 (Loomba, 1943). Inconsistencies in the use of the term and the related ‘intervening variable’ concept prompted MacCorquodale and Meehl (1948) to distinguish the two concepts and propose conventions for their employment in psychological discourse. They recommended that ‘hypothetical construct’ designates theoretical concepts that “refer to processes or entities that are not directly observed” and, thus, fail to meet the requirements of intervening variables (p. 104). It is interesting to speculate what makes a hypothetical construct “hypothetical.” The motivation for attaching “hypothetical” to constructs is not always immediately apparent. The aim of this paper is to trace the origins of the expression ‘hypothetical construct’, delineate its employment in psychology, and explore the ontological and epistemological presuppositions that underlie conceptions of hypothetical constructs.     

Illegitimate concept equating in the partial fusion of construct validation theory and latent variable modeling

There has come to exist a partial fusion of construct validation theory and latent variable modeling at the center of which is located a practice of equating concepts such as construct, factor, latent variable, concept, unobservable, unmeasurable, underlying, hypothetical variable, theoretical term, theoretical variable, intervening variable, cause, abstractive property, functional unity, and measured property. In the current paper we: a) provide a structural explanation of this concept equating; b) provide arguments to the effect that it is illegitimate; c) suggest that the singular reason for the presence of construct in the literature of the social and behavioral sciences is to mark an allowance taken by the social and behavioral scientist to obliterate the concept/referent distinction that is foundational of sound science.     

Preference as a function of active interresponse times: a test of the active time model

In this article, we describe a test of the active time model for concurrent variable interval (VI) choice. The active time model (ATM) suggests that the time since the most recent response is one of the variables controlling choice in concurrent VI VI schedules of reinforcement. In our experiment, pigeons were trained in a multiple concurrent similar to that employed by Belke (1992), with VI 20-s and VI 40-s schedules in one component, and VI 40-s and VI 80-s schedules in the other component. However, rather than use a free-operant design, we used a discrete-trial procedure that restricted interresponse times to a range of 0.5-9.0 s. After 45 sessions of training, unreinforced probe periods were mixed with reinforced training periods. These probes paired the two stimuli associated with the VI 40-s schedules. Further, the probes were defined such that during their occurrence, interresponse times were either "short" (0.5-3.0 s) or "long" (7.5-9.0 s). All pigeons showed a preference for the stimulus associated with the relatively rich VI 40-s schedule--a result mirroring that of Belke. We also observed, though, that this preference was more extreme during long probes than during short probes--a result predicted by ATM.