Personality trait change and life satisfaction in adults: The roles of age and hedonic balance

This paper examines whether changes in personality traits influenced life satisfaction (LS). This involved investigating whether these associations were moderated by age and mediated by hedonic balance (i.e., positive and negative affect). Participants included 11,104 Australian adults aged 18–79 years, with data available from two time points (baseline and 4-year follow up). Latent difference score modeling indicated that increased neuroticism was associated with lower LS, whereas increased extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were associated with higher LS. These relationships were moderated by age, and were less evident in older adults. Hedonic balance partially mediated the relationships between change in neuroticism and extraversion with LS. These findings provide important insights into longitudinal associations between personality change and LS.     

Examining methodological variation in response inhibition: The effects of outcome measures and task characteristics on age-related differences

This study addressed methodological issues common to developmental studies on response inhibition. Age-related differences were investigated using two Stroop-like tasks with different levels of complexity and comparing different outcome measures in a sample of 340 children and adolescents aged 7–15 years. First, speed and accuracy of task performance were examined; the results showing that improvement in speed continued until age 13 in both the basic naming task and the two inhibition tasks. Improvement in accuracy was less consistent and continued until age 9 or 13 years. Second, two different algorithms were employed to control for the effects of basic processes in inhibition tasks. The difference algorithm indicated age-related differences similar to those for speed. The ratio algorithm, however, suggested earlier deceleration of development of response inhibition at 9 or 11 years of age. Factors related to the cognitive requirements and presented stimuli also had an effect on the results. The present findings shed light on the inconsistencies in the developmental studies of response inhibition and demonstrated that the selection of outcome measures and task characteristics are critical because they affect the way development is depicted.     

BODE指数评价慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者戒烟效果的研究

采用BODE评分系统评价慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者的戒烟效果.248例吸烟的稳定期COPD患者进行随机分组,一组除常规治疗外给予戒烟干预(即戒烟组),一组给予常规治疗(即对照组).所有患者在入组时和观察结束时均给予肺功能检测、六分钟步行试验(6MWT)、呼吸困难评分(mMRC)、测量身高和体重,观察各指标的变化情况.至1年观察结束时,戒烟组和对照组在BMI(26.70±3.74 vs.25.17±3.63)、FEV1％pred (50.29±12.54 vs.46.68±15.37)、mMRC(1.64±0.90 vs.2.53±1.07)、6MWD(306.84±27.71 vs.257.84士30.34)方面分别比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);戒烟组患者研究结束时除FEV1％ pred之外,其余观察指标BMI(26.70±3.74 vs.23.11±3.51)、mMRC (1.64士0.90 vs.2.18士0.91)、6MWD(306.84±27.71 vs.281.15±32.40)与基线值比较均有所改善(P＜0.05);对照组患者研究结束时除BMI之外,其余观察指标FEV1％ pred(46.68±15.37 vs.51.91±17.22)、mMRC(2.53士1.07 vs.2.01±0.97)、6MWD(257.84±309.34 vs.285.14±30.98)与基线值相比均有所下降(P＜0.05).COPD患者戒烟后其BODE评分系统中包括体重指数、肺功能指标、呼吸困难程度和运动能力在内的各个因素均得到一定程度的改善,生活质量显著提高.     

Psychological components of responses to interest inventory items

This study tests the relevance of 10 psychological traits that are assumed to exemplify responses to the items of INFORIZON, an occupational interest inventory. To accomplish this goal, the author analyzed the responses to the interest items based on a sample of 824 participants (17–25 years old), with an assessment of the items based on psychological traits using another French sample (147 participants) in the same age category. The results of multiple linear regression analyses supported most of the hypotheses presented in this study.     

Extending the Debate Between Spearman and Wilson 1929: When do Single Variables Optimally Reproduce the Common Part of the Observed Covariances?

The covariances of observed variables reproduced from conventional factor score predictors are generally not the same as the covariances reproduced from the common factors. We sought to find a factor score predictor that optimally reproduces the common part of the observed covariances. It was found algebraically that—under some conditions—the single observed variable with highest loading on a factor reproduces the non-diagonal elements of the observed covariance matrix more exactly than the conventional factor score predictors. This finding is linked to Spearman's and Wilson's 1929 debate on the use of single variables as factor score predictors. A population-based and a sample-based simulation study confirmed the algebraic result that taking a single variable can outperform conventional factor score predictors in reproducing the non-diagonal covariances when the nonzero loading size and the number of nonzero loadings per factor are small. The results indicated that a weighted aggregation of variables does not necessarily lead to an improvement of the score over the variable with the highest loading.     

On the Mathematical Relationship Between Latent Change Score and Autoregressive Cross-Lagged Factor Approaches: Cautions for Inferring Causal Relationship Between Variables

The present paper focuses on the relationship between latent change score (LCS) and autoregressive cross-lagged (ARCL) factor models in longitudinal designs. These models originated from different theoretical traditions for different analytic purposes, yet they share similar mathematical forms. In this paper, we elucidate the mathematical relationship between these models and show that the LCS model is reduced to the ARCL model when fixed effects are assumed in the slope factor scores. Additionally, we provide an applied example using height and weight data from a gerontological study. Throughout the example, we emphasize caution in choosing which model (ARCL or LCS) to apply due to the risk of obtaining misleading results concerning the presence and direction of causal precedence between two variables. We suggest approaching model specification not only by comparing estimates and fit indices between the LCS and ARCL models (as well as other models) but also by giving appropriate weight to substantive and theoretical considerations, such as assessing the justifiability of the assumption of random effects in the slope factor scores.     

Two-group classification in latent trait theory: Scores with monotone likelihood ratio

This paper deals with two-group classification when a unidimensional latent trait,, is appropriate for explaining the data,X. It is shown that ifX has monotone likelihood ratio then optimal allocation rules can be based on its magnitude when allocation must be made to one of two groups related to. These groups may relate to probabilistically via a non-decreasing functionp(), or may be defined by all subjects above or below a selected value on.In the case where the data arise from dichotomous items, then only the assumption that the items have nondecreasing item characteristic functions is enough to ensure that the unweighted sum of responses (the number-right score or raw score) possesses this fundamental monotone likelihood ratio property.     

Magnitudes of score differences produced within sessions in a cooperative exchange procedure

Interest centered on maximal score differences produced within sessions during two-party exchange. Subjects chose between earning money independently or through potentially higher-paying exchange. In the exchange option, only one person could produce points for the other on a trial. Because each exchange response (“give”) required the giver to forego earning points independently, the larger the score difference produced (i.e., the further ahead in earnings the other person was put), the greater the reduction in the giver's earnings if the other person did not reciprocate. Results showed that scores were usually equal at the end of each session, and that subjects maintained close equality of scores throughout each session. When a response-cost contingency that punished the alternation of giving was introduced, however, large within-session score differences developed. These large differences continued to be produced after the response-cost contingency was removed. Finally, when subjects were told that the session could end at any moment, score differences were sharply reduced, indicating that production of score differences remained under the control of discriminative stimuli associated with the likelihood of reciprocation. The study suggests that with appropriate procedures, an experimental analysis of behavioral phenomena associated with the concept of “trust” may be possible.     

A modified beta binomial model with applications to multiple choice and taste tests

A modified beta binomial model is presented for use in analyzing ramdom guessing multiple choice tests and certain forms of taste tests. Detection probabilities for each item are distributed beta across the population subjects. Properties for the observable distribution of correct responses are derived. Two concepts of true score estimates are presented. One, analogous to Duncan's empirical Bayes posterior mean score, is appropriate for assessing the subject's performance on that particular test. The second is more suitable for predicting outcomes on similar tests.This research was made possible by a grant from the Center for Food Policy Research, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University.     

A nonrandomized minimax solution for passing scores in the binomial error model

A nonrandomized minimax solution is presented for passing scores in the binomial error model. The computation does not require prior knowledge regarding an individual examinee or group test data for a population of examinees. The optimum passing score minimizes the maximum risk which would be incurred by misclassifications. A closed-form solution is provided for the case of constant losses, and tables are presented for a variety of situations including linear and quadratic losses. A scheme which allows for correction for guessing is also described.This work was performed pursuant to Grant No. NIE-G-78-0087 with the National Institute of Education, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Huynh Huynh, Principal Investigator. Points of view or opinions stated do not necessarily reflect NIE position or policy and no official endorsement should be inferred. The editorial assistance and comments of Anthony J. Nitko and of Joseph C. Saunders are gratefully acknowledged.