The effect of development and individual differences in pointing comprehension of dogs

In spite of the rather different procedures actually used in comparative studies to test the ability of different species to rely on the human pointing gesture, there is no debate on the high performance of dogs in such tasks. Very little is known, however, on the course through which they acquire this ability or the probable factors influencing the process. Important developmental questions have remained unsolved and also some methodological concerns should be addressed before we can convincingly argue for one interpretation or another. In this study we tested 180 dogs of different age (from 2 months to adults) to investigate their performance in the human distal momentary pointing gesture. The results, analyzed at both the group and the individual levels, showed no difference in the performance according to age, indicating that in dogs the comprehension of the human pointing may require only very limited and rapid early learning to fully develop. Interestingly, neither the keeping conditions nor the time spent in active interaction with the owner, and not even some special (agility) training for using human visual cues, had significant effect on the success and explained individual differences. The performance of the dogs was rather stable over time: during the 20 trials within a session and even when subsamples of different age were repeatedly tested. Considering that in spite of the general success at the group level, more than half of the dogs were not successful at the individual level, we revealed alternative “decision-making rules” other than following the pointing gesture of the experimenter. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

间接HCD范式下的态度形成

采用间接隐含共变关系探测(HCD)范式探讨了态度形成的内隐学习效应.被试在学习阶段先后接触唐涛作者知名程度与押韵程度,以及押韵程度与唐诗呈现位置的两种共变关系;在测验阶段以不同位置呈现新的唐诗,结果发现被试的对唐诗评价受到呈现位置的影响,即产生间接HCD效应,而且出现了HCD效应"自我强化"的现象.以主观测量标准考察被试知识的意识性,表明间接HCD效应是一种内隐学习效应.     

Men's ratings of physical attractiveness,health, and partner suitability simultaneously versus separately: Does it matter whether within- or between-subjects designs are used?

Previous studies have documented moderate-to-large associations between ratings of physical attractiveness and other interpersonal traits, but this research has invariably relied on within-subjects designs that leave open the possibility of halo effects or response biases. In the present study, 40 men completed the Photographic Figure Rating Scale in a within-subjects design, rating the figures for physical attractiveness, health, and suitability as a long-term partner. In addition, 108 men completed the same scale in a between-subjects design, being randomly allocated to one of three subgroups where they rated the figures for attractiveness, health, or suitability as a long-term partner. Results indicated no significant differences in ratings for the within-subjects participants. In contrast, there were significant differences in ratings for the between-subjects design. These results highlight the importance of considering halo and response bias effects when designing studies of interpersonal judgements and interpreting their results.     

网络测验和纸笔测验的测量不变性研究：以生活满意度量表为例

以生活满意度量表为例,运用实证性因素分析,考察在中国文化下网络测验和传统纸笔测验之间的测量不变性。结果显示,网络测验和纸笔测验之间存在弱不变性,即网络测验和纸笔测验有着相同的测量单位;但网络测验和纸笔测验只存在部分的强不变性和部分的严格不变性,测验实施环境对结果的影响不可忽视。该研究表明,恰当设计的网络测验是可靠的,同时还提示,当一个测验在不同情境下运用时,检验测量不变性十分必要     

初中生生活事件、即时通讯与孤独感之间的关系

个体使用互联网对其心理与行为的影响一直是研究者关注的焦点,同时互联网世界是丰富多彩的,不同的互联网服务对使用者的影响是不同的。该研究采用问卷法抽取北京市两所中学初一、初二年级学生进行调查,目的是考察初中生生活事件、即时通讯服务使用偏好与孤独感之间的关系。结果表明:生活事件带来的主观压力能够显著正向预测孤独感;即时通讯能够显著负向预测孤独感;客观压力不能够预测孤独感,但是它可以通过即时通讯间接地影响个体的孤独感水平。从结果中可以看到互联网的使用对个体的发展不全是消极的,即时通讯服务的使用能够缓解生活事件对个体产生的消极影响,对个体起到一定的保护作用。     

视频材料诱发情绪的效果评价

该文对预期可诱发快乐、愤怒、厌恶和恐惧4种具体情绪以及中性状态的视频材料进行效果评价,探讨此类情绪诱发材料的应用价值。首先参照James.J.Gross量化评定情绪电影片段的方法收集和粗选视频材料,再以大学生为被试,使用情绪主观报告法评价视频的情绪诱发效果。结果表明,所选的大部分视频材料情绪诱发效果较好,表现为靶情绪诱发强度、分化度和区分度均比较理想。研究证明视频材料可以成功诱发个体产生具体情绪,具有较强的应用价值。     

Sequential congruency effects in implicit sequence learning

We deal with situations incongruent with our automatic response tendencies much better right after having done so on a previous trial than after having reacted to a congruent trial. The nature of the mechanisms responsible for these sequential congruency effects is currently a hot topic of debate. According to the conflict monitoring model these effects depend on the adjustment of control triggered by the detection of conflict on the preceding situation. We tested whether these conflict monitoring processes can operate implicitly in an implicit learning procedure, modulating the expression of knowledge of which participants are not aware. We reanalyze recently published data, and present an experiment with a probabilistic sequence learning procedure, both showing consistent effects of implicit sequence learning. Despite being implicit, the expression of learning was reduced or completely eliminated right after trials incongruent with the learned sequence, thus showing that sequential congruency effects can be obtained even when the source of congruency itself remains implicit.     

Usage-based account of the acquisition of liaison: evidence from sensitivity to the singular/plural orientation of nouns

This study investigates whether children’s production and recognition of obligatory liaison sequences in French depend on the singular/plural orientation of nouns. Certain nouns occur more frequently in the plural (e.g., arbre “tree”), whereas others are found more often in the singular (e.g., arc-en-ciel “rainbow”). In the input, children more frequently encounter these plural-oriented nouns after determiners that indicate plurality (e.g., les,des “the”, deux “two”) and that are often associated with a /z/ liaison (e.g., deux arbres [døzarbr] “two trees”). In Experiment 1, 122 children (3 years 2 months to 6 years 3 months of age) were asked to produce nominal phrases with either /z/ liaisons (i.e., in plural contexts such as deux ours [døzurs] “two bears”) or /n/ liaisons (i.e., in singular contexts such as un ours [nurs] “one bear”). We found correlations between the plural orientation of the nouns and (a) the probability that they will be preceded by an incorrect /z/ liaison in the singular context and (b) the probability that they will be preceded by a correct /z/ liaison in the plural context. This result was, however, restricted to the younger children. In Experiment 2, 20 children (5 years 5 months to 6 years 3 months of age) were asked to monitor target words in auditorily presented sentences. The results showed shorter reaction times for singular-oriented nouns when preceded by a singular determiner than when preceded by a plural determiner. Conversely, plural-oriented nouns were responded to faster when preceded by a plural determiner than when preceded by a singular determiner. Results are discussed within the framework of a two-stage model of liaison acquisition recently proposed by Chevrot, Chabanal, and Dugua (Journal of French Language Studies,17 [2007] 103-128) as well as by Chevrot, Dugua, and Fayol (Journal of Child Language [in press]).     

Effects of songs with prosocial lyrics on prosocial thoughts, affect, and behavior

Previous research has shown that exposure to violent media increased aggression-related affect and thoughts, physiological arousal, and aggressive behavior as well as decreased prosocial tendencies. The present research examined the hypothesis that exposure to prosocial media promotes prosocial outcomes. Three studies revealed that listening to songs with prosocial (relative to neutral) lyrics increased the accessibility of prosocial thoughts, led to more interpersonal empathy, and fostered helping behavior. These results provide first evidence for the predictive validity of the General Learning Model [Buckley, K. E., & Anderson, C. A. (2006). A theoretical model of the effects and consequences of playing video games. In P. Vorderer, & J. Bryant, (Eds.), Playing video games: Motives responses and consequences (pp. 363-378). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates] for the effects of media with prosocial content on prosocial thought, feeling, and behavior.