Its own reward: lessons to be drawn from the reversed-reward contingency paradigm

This is a review of the reversed-reward contingency (RRC) paradigm in animals and the cognitive functions on which it is founded. I shall present the RRC basic paradigm and the ensuing modifications it underwent, the animals tested, the results obtained and the analyses offered within the literature. Then I would the claim that RRC is a case of a compound cognitive behavior, one that is the result of interactions between three other cognitive functions: crude numerical assessment and economic choice (uniting value assignment and behavioral inhibition). I will present data concerning these three fields and will demonstrate how they are both affecting and affected by the findings of the RRC scheme. RRC is treated here as a test case for a broader type of analysis, one which, hopefully, will show that in order to fully understand composite and complex behavior we need to meticulously explore its building blocks and their dynamic interplay.

The Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ): A psychometric evaluation of the 36-item Norwegian version

The Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) was designed specifically to study possible changes that occur during menopause. The purpose of this study was to perform a psychometric evaluation of the Norwegian version of the WHQ by examining the factor structure and construct validity of the instrument. Data used for the evaluation were collected at baseline of the ACUFLASH study, a randomized, controlled clinical trial that evaluated the effect of acupuncture treatment on menopausal symptoms. Altogether, 267 women with a very high frequency of hot flushes were included in the study. Some deficiencies in the WHQ questionnaire were observed when applied to this sample, including an unclear factor structure, low alpha values for some dimensions, and a strong floor effect in the vasomotor symptoms dimension. The total scale score appears reliable, but care should be taken when interpreting some of the subscales.     

大学生人际关系质量的影响因素研究

采用Rosellberg自尊量表、EMBU、大学生价值观问卷、自编"大学生人际关系主观因素问卷"及"人际关系质量量表"为工具,对1,137名本科生进行调查,以探讨大学生自尊、价值观、父母教养方式及人际关系的主观因素与大学生人际关系质量的关系.结果表明,父母教养方式、价值观与自尊对人际关系质量的直接效应很低,它们对人际关系质量的影响要以人际关系的主观因素为中介.因此,要构建大学生和谐人际关系,应特别重视影响其人际关系质量的主观因素教育.     

Strategy choice for arithmetic verification: effects of numerical surface form

Canadian university students (n=48) solved simple addition problems in a true/false verification task with equations in digit format (3+4=8) or written English format (three+four=eight). Participants reported their solution strategy (e.g. retrieval or calculation) after each trial. Reported use of calculation strategies was much greater with word (41%) than digit stimuli (26%), and this difference was exaggerated for numerically larger problems. Word-format costs on reaction time (RT) were correspondingly greater for large than for small problems, but this Format×Size RT effect was bigger for true than for false equations. The results demonstrate that surface format affects central, rather than only peripheral, stages of cognitive arithmetic.     

Quality of Life and Sense of Coherence in People with Arthritis

This study investigated the physical and psychological impact of arthritis on people's quality of life. A range of variables were examined in a sample of 375 participants who comprised three groups: people with arthritis receiving a support-based service from the Arthritis Foundation of Victoria, people with arthritis receiving standard treatment, and a group of people from the general population. The results revealed that the two arthritis groups reported a significantly higher level of functional impairment, pain, and negative affectivity, and lowered mood, positive affect, and Sense of Coherence, compared to the general population group. They also reported normal levels of importance, but lower levels of satisfaction on various life domains. After statistically controlling for pain however, group differences were eliminated on all variables except for functional impairment and for all satisfaction domains except health. These data are interpreted as evidence that the combination of low domain satisfaction coupled with high domain importance yields a negative psychological state. This, then suggests the possibility of a therapy based on reducing the perceived importance of health.     

Marital Quality, Family Patterns, and Children's Fears and Social Anxiety

This study examined relationships among marital quality, family patterns, and children's fears, and social anxiety. Two types of family patterns were studied, adaptability and cohesion. Mothers of children aged 5–6, drawn from kindergartens in northern Israel, completed Hebrew versions of the ENRICH scale (abridged, for marital quality), FACES-III (adaptability and cohesion), the FSSC-R (fears), and the SASC-R (social anxiety). Family cohesion was negatively correlated with marital quality and positively correlated with children's social anxiety. Marital quality and family adaptability were inversely related to specific children's fears. Children's social anxiety was highly correlated with specific fears. These findings suggest that children from rigid, fused families or low quality marriages may be at risk for high levels of fears and social anxiety.     

How well can the theory of planned behavior account for occupational intentions?

We tested the capacity of an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to account for intentions to work for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) as a nurse, physiotherapist or radiographer amongst three groups: professionally unqualified (N = 507), in professional training (N = 244), and professionally qualified (N = 227). We found strong support for the three core TPB variables attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control as predictors of behavioral intention, and limited support for two additional variables: moral obligation and identification. There were some differences in the relative importance of TPB variables between groups. We conclude that the TPB has utility for more complex behaviors as well as simpler ones that are more frequently researched. However, more attention should be paid to differences in people’s circumstances, particularly regarding past vocational decisions and behavior, and to obstacles to implementing an intention.     

论临床医师创新能力的培养和人生道路的选择

临床医师创新能力培养的关键应该包括医学理论知识和实践经验的积累,但要更加注重培养独立思考和敢于纠错的精神;在基本理论融会贯通的基础上,广泛涉猎是创新思想产生的基础,要能够大道至简,抓住复杂系统中的关键问题,全面地了解科学发展史和发明史,积极谦虚地与他人交流;勤于动脑和善于思考,重视"再发明"训练和思想实验,克服跨专业创新的思想障碍;对临床医师的人生哲学和人生道路的选择提出了一些感悟。     

提高医学生法律素质促进医患关系健康发展——由“佛山弃婴”案引发的思考

“佛山弃婴”案反映了当前医患关系的紧张和医务人员法律素质的缺乏,唤起了高等医学教育对医学生法律素质培养的重视,由此提出深化医学生对医患关系的理解、提高医学生的人文执业能力、提高医学生的职业道德修养三个培养目标,并从完善教育体系、创新教育模式和搭建实践平台三个层面提高医学生法律素质、促进医患关系健康发展的构想.     

乳腺癌患者自我管理行为与生活质量的相关性研究

探讨乳腺癌患者自我管理行为、生活质量及两者之间的相关性.应用慢性病自我管理研究测量表中的自我管理行为量表、乳腺癌患者生活质量测定量表调查260例乳腺癌患者的自我管理行为和生活质量.乳腺癌患者自我管理行为及生活质量现状均不理想,自我管理行为与生活质量呈正相关（P＜0.05）.乳腺癌患者自我管理行为与生活质量间有密切关系,临床护理工作中可对患者进行护理干预来增强其自我管理行为,进而提高生活质量.