ORMA: A strategy to reduce Psychology's replication problems

Because of their historical reliance upon null hypothesis statistical tests (NHST), the human sciences have developed a number of potentially problematic research literatures. While aware of the file drawer effect since the 1970s, scientists have been largely unsuccessful at addressing its pernicious effects. Because significant results have a greater likelihood of being published than do nonsignificant effects, many of our research literatures might currently be constructed upon a series of Type I errors and inflated effect sizes. A method (called Original Replication of Meta-Analyses or ORMA) has recently been developed for identifying problematic research literatures and offering a method to address the problems due to publication bias. Philosophers of science have long argued that a chief reason for science's preeminence as a source of knowledge rests in its ability to self-correct. Researchers in the human sciences are now able to empirically test their research literatures to ascertain which are in need of repair. The use of ORMA serves to lessen the problems that led to the recent calls for bans on significant/nonsignificant statistics in human science research. ORMA will also improve psychology's ability to successfully replicate its research findings.     

Robustness of the rule-learning effect in 7-month-old infants: A close,multicenter replication of Marcus et al. (1999)

We conducted a close replication of the seminal work by Marcus and colleagues from 1999, which showed that after a brief auditory exposure phase, 7-month-old infants were able to learn and generalize a rule to novel syllables not previously present in the exposure phase. This work became the foundation for the theoretical framework by which we assume that infants are able to learn abstract representations and generalize linguistic rules. While some extensions on the original work have shown evidence of rule learning, the outcomes are mixed, and an exact replication of Marcus et al.'s study has thus far not been reported. A recent meta-analysis by Rabagliati and colleagues brings to light that the rule-learning effect depends on stimulus type (e.g., meaningfulness, speech vs. nonspeech) and is not as robust as often assumed. In light of the theoretical importance of the issue at stake, it is appropriate and necessary to assess the replicability and robustness of Marcus et al.'s findings. Here we have undertaken a replication across four labs with a large sample of 7-month-old infants (N = 96), using the same exposure patterns (ABA and ABB), methodology (Headturn Preference Paradigm), and original stimuli. As in the original study, we tested the hypothesis that infants are able to learn abstract “algebraic” rules and apply them to novel input. Our results did not replicate the original findings: infants showed no difference in looking time between test patterns consistent or inconsistent with the familiarization pattern they were exposed to.     

A replication of the use of public posting in traffic speed control

In an attempt to replicate several previous studies, a reversal design was used to assess the effects of publicly posted feedback on vehicle speed reduction. The intervention phases consisted of daily posted feedback that supplied drivers with either accurate or inaccurate information regarding the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit on the road. Results from the two feedback conditions indicated no speed reduction in comparison to baseline levels. These results are discussed in light of previous studies that found strong effects for such feedback. Baseline levels of driver compliance and methodological differences may limit the effectiveness of posted feedback in reducing speeding.     

Laudato Si’: Care for Creation at the Center of a New Social Issue

This essay reviews the documents of the pontifical magisterium of the Church from the encyclical Mater et magistra ( 1961 ) to the exhortation Evangelii gaudium (2013), in order to show the Church’s historical commitment to the defense of the environment. It then argues that Laudato si’ elevates the theological status of the environmental crisis to that of a new social issue, much as Leo XIII did for the industrial crisis with his encyclical letter Rerum novarum ( 1891 ).     

心理咨询师在危机干预中的作用

危机干预工作中需要专业人员的参与,而心理咨询师就是这样的专业队伍。他们不仅应具备该职业的基本素质,如道德素质、反省能力和诚实品质,而且还应具备特殊的专业素质,如生活经验、镇静心态、灵活性、充沛精力、快速反应能力和换位思考能力等。当然,除去日常专业训练所养成的各种素质以外,心理咨询师也要掌握有关心理危机干预技术,如关注、倾听、评估以及某些具体的危机干预措施。最后介绍了国内外危机干预中心理咨询师的主要工作领域和服务形式,并探讨了我国心理咨询师参与危机干预工作的一些设想。     

突发性危机情景下抢购现象的发生及其应对策略

今年1到4月份,在我国一些地区出现了几次因SARS疫情恐慌导致的抢购风潮,其特点主要表现为突发性、群发性和快速平息的短暂性。这些特点与人们的风险认知机制有关。研究表明,情绪唤醒抑制人类认知中的控制性加工部分,但对自动化加工部分起促进作用。人们在危机情景下的快速应对行为主要是自动化的,事前培训和行为习惯决定了自动化反应的策略和方式。由于口传信息的高情绪唤醒水平和操作上的方便易行,恐慌性抢购便被引发出来。     

When Your Race Is Almost Run,but You Feel You're Not Yet Done: Application of the Propulsion Theory of Creative Contributions to Late‐career Challenges

The propulsion theory of creative contributions is a theory that focuses on how a creative act or product builds on and adds to knowledge in various fields. In this article, we apply the propulsion theory of creative contributions not to creative discoveries or inventions, but rather to late‐career decisions about future directions in which one can steer one's career. We consider eight different kinds of career decisions one can make—replication, redefinition, forward incrementation, advance forward incrementation, redirection, reconstruction/redirection, reinitiation, and synthesis. Each offers a viable option for closing out a creative career.     

Incidences de la (ré)organisation du (télé)travail en temps de crise du point de vue de l’encadrement intermédiaire

IntroductionThe Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the organization of work and represented a turning point in the deployment of mediated and remote work. Wherever the continuation of the activity was possible at a distance, telework was imposed. Nevertheless, it is exercised in new conditions and the organization of work modalities is defined according to the evolution of the situation and governmental health measures.ObjectiveIn this context, the objective of this study is to understand what are, from the point of view of middle managers, the impacts of telework in confinement and then during the progressive re-establishment of the activity on site, on the one hand, on the work, its organization and its conditions of realization and, on the other hand, on the work collectives, the relationship to work and the quality of life of the employees.MethodIn this perspective, we carried out an exploratory and comprehensive study through semi-structured interviews with 17 directors of service in a French public organization.ResultsThe lexical and morphosyntactic analysis performed shows that the modalities of work organization/reorganization at different moments of the crisis, their impact on work activity, the psychosocial experience of telework within the services and the managerial practices deployed (3 classes) could constitute opportunities but also generate risks.ConclusionThe results of this study allow us to identify the benefits but also the potentially deleterious effects of the use of telework in times of crisis and provide elements for consideration in its post-pandemic deployment.     

The Universal Principles of Evolution

Here we identify the core properties of genetic evolution with the intention of providing a unified definition of evolving systems that applies unequivocally in the natural and social sciences. Our definition is: evolution sustains organized systems through high fidelity replication of information. This definition can be broken down into five essential components: (1) high fidelity replication of information with 0% < survival rate < 100%; (2) expendable replication technology distinct from the replication information; (3) inert information that provides no kinetic energy to the replication process; (4) demonstrates a quantifiable resistance to entropy; (5) demonstrates intentionality.     

The economic crisis and its implications on same-culture identities and the therapeutic relationship

Although the need for multicultural competencies has been well documented, very few studies show the effect of the economic crisis or other socio-political events on the therapeutic relationship. Furthermore, usually studies focus on the need to be aware of ‘the other’ and research on the implications of same-culture dyads is scant. The case of Greece is particularly interesting because of the peculiarities of the Greek national identity and its connection to the country’s socio-political past. Furthermore, the economic crisis together with the social and political upheaval has had a significant impact on the Greek identity. We argue that practitioners in Greece are products of a mono-cultural society and they should be empowered to develop awareness of their personal and cultural identity in order to be able to freely interact with the identities of others. This paper makes specific suggestions about increasing awareness and reflexivity in psychotherapeutic practice and training programmes. The authors highlight the need for research to investigate the multifaceted impact of the economic crisis on the identity of the practitioner and the therapeutic relationship in Greece. We hope that this paper invites further discussions among Greek and international practitioners.