Direction dependence analysis: A framework to test the direction of effects in linear models with an implementation in SPSS

In nonexperimental data, at least three possible explanations exist for the association of two variables x and y: (1) x is the cause of y, (2) y is the cause of x, or (3) an unmeasured confounder is present. Statistical tests that identify which of the three explanatory models fits best would be a useful adjunct to the use of theory alone. The present article introduces one such statistical method, direction dependence analysis (DDA), which assesses the relative plausibility of the three explanatory models on the basis of higher-moment information about the variables (i.e., skewness and kurtosis). DDA involves the evaluation of three properties of the data: (1) the observed distributions of the variables, (2) the residual distributions of the competing models, and (3) the independence properties of the predictors and residuals of the competing models. When the observed variables are nonnormally distributed, we show that DDA components can be used to uniquely identify each explanatory model. Statistical inference methods for model selection are presented, and macros to implement DDA in SPSS are provided. An empirical example is given to illustrate the approach. Conceptual and empirical considerations are discussed for best-practice applications in psychological data, and sample size recommendations based on previous simulation studies are provided.     

Koffka's effect is mediated by figure thickness at the joining region

Three-quarters of a century ago Gestalt psychologist Kurt Koffka described a remarkable effect: when a contiguous gray ring is placed on a background half one shade of gray, half another, the ring appears homogeneous. However, if the ring is divided, the two halves of the ring appear different shades of gray, the half of the ring on the darker background appearing lighter than the half of the ring on the lighter background. The Gestalt principle of continuity is used to explain this effect. But what microscopic principles might be mediating this effect? Recently we found sufficiently thin rings (annuli) appear heterogeneous even when geometrically continuous. Here, using crescent-shaped figures instead of the circular annuli used for the traditional Koffka effect, we show that this effect of thickness of the ring is mediated by the thickness at the boundary of the region where the halves of the figure are joined.     

Conditional Direction Dependence Analysis: Evaluating the Causal Direction of Effects in Linear Models with Interaction Terms

Abstract

Direction dependence analysis (DDA) makes use of higher than second moment information of variables (x and y) to detect potential confounding and to probe the causal direction of linear variable relations (i.e., whether x?→?y or y?→?x better approximates the underlying causal mechanism). The “true” predictor is assumed to be a continuous nonnormal exogenous variable. Existing methods compatible with DDA, however, are of limited use when the relation of a focal predictor and an outcome is affected by a moderator. This study presents a conditional direction dependence analysis (CDDA) framework which enables researchers to evaluate the causal direction of conditional regression effects. Monte–Carlo simulations were used to evaluate two different moderation scenarios: Study 1 evaluates the performance of CDDA tests when a moderator affects the strength of the causal effect x?→?y. Study 2 evaluates cases in which the causal direction itself (x?→?y vs y?→?x) depends on moderator values. Study 3 evaluates the robustness of DDA tests in the presence of functional model misspecifications. Results suggest that significance tests compatible with CDDA are suitable in both moderation scenarios, i.e., CDDA allows one to discern regions of a moderator in which the causal direction is uniquely identifiable. An empirical example is provided to illustrate the approach.     

The Brief Problem Monitor (BPM-Y/BPM-P) Among Chinese Youth: Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance

The Brief Problem Monitor (BPM) is a 19-item instrument newly developed for screening children and adolescents for emotional and behavioral problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the youth-report and parent-report versions of the BPM (BPM-Y and BPM-P) among Chinese youth. Data was collected from two samples: a middle school student sample (n?=?1,246, girls?=?516 [41.4%]) and a community youth sample from families suffering adversity (n?=?383, girls?=?143 [37.3%]). We conducted a series of confirmatory factor analyses to test and compare the latent structures of the BPM-Y and BPM-P. Results suggested that the three-factor model of the BPM-Y and BPM-P fit the data best. And based on the omnibus fit indices and difference between them, the items of the BPM-Y and BPM-P support measurement invariance across informants (both youth- and parent-report) for the three-factor model. Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory (Cronbach's α?=?.73?~?.90). In terms of convergent validity, BPM factors and BPM scores showed expected correlations with strength and difficulties behavior, callous–unemotional traits, psychopathic traits, and social competence. In sum, our findings supported that the three-factor structuure of BPM-Y and BPM-P could be a promising instrument to screen emotional and behavioral problems in Chinese youth.

     

大学生宿舍人际关系与抑郁的关系:宿舍冲突应对方式的中介作用和性别的调节作用

本研究使用宿舍人际关系问卷、抑郁自评量表和宿舍冲突应对方式问卷,采取整群随机抽样的方法,从武汉市三所大学抽取了876名大一至大四的本科生进行调查,旨在考察宿舍冲突应对方式在大学生宿舍人际关系与抑郁之间的中介作用以及性别的调节作用。结果表明：（1）宿舍人际关系与抑郁显著负相关;宿舍冲突应对方式中的竞争、回避与抑郁显著正相关,合作与抑郁显著负相关;（2）竞争与合作在大学生宿舍人际关系与抑郁之间中介效应显著;（3）性别调节了宿舍人际关系通过竞争影响抑郁的中介过程的前半段路径。本研究以宿舍人际关系和宿舍冲突应对方式为切入点考察它们对抑郁的影响机制,这为预防和干预大学生抑郁提供了新的视角。     

Latent Profile Analysis of Psychopathy in Chinese Female Offenders

The present study aimed to identify meaningful subtypes of psychopathy among Chinese female offenders. A Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) based on the scores of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathic Scale was performed in a sample of Chinese female prisoners (N?=?279, M age?=?45.43, SD?=?8.62). The LPA yielded three profiles: “low psychopathy group” (27.6%), “moderate psychopathy group” (66.7%), and “high egocentricity and antisocial group” (5.7%). These profiles differed on all outcome variables including anxiety, depression, reactive aggression, and proactive aggression. The high egocentricity and antisocial group had a greater risk for anxiety, recidivism, impulsiveness, and aggression. Overall, the findings support the existence of psychopathy subtypes in non-Western cultural contexts, suggest gender similarities in the manifestation of psychopathy traits, and further the understanding of psychopathy typologies.

     

项目反应理论中模型-资料拟合检验常用统计量

项目反应理论(IRT)模型依据项目与被试的特征预测被试的作答表现, 是常用的心理测量模型。但IRT的有效运用依赖于所选用IRT模型与实际数据资料相符合的程度(即模型?资料拟合度, goodness of fit)。只有当所采用IRT分析模型与实际数据资料拟合较好时, IRT的优点和功能才能真正发挥出来(Orlando & Thissen, 2000)。而当所采用IRT模型与资料不拟合或选择了错误的模型, 则会导致如参数估计、测验等值及项目功能差异分析等具有较大误差(Kang, Cohen & Sung, 2009), 给实际工作带来不良影响。因此, 在使用IRT分析时, 应首先充分考察及检验所选用模型与实际数据是否相匹配/相拟合(McKinley & Mills, 1985)。IRT领域中常用模型?资料拟合检验统计量可从项目拟合、测验拟合两个角度进行阐述并比较, 这是心理、教育测量领域的重要主题, 也是测验分析过程中较易忽视的环节, 目前还未见此类公开发表的文章。未来的研究可以在各统计量的实证比较研究以及在认知诊断领域的拓展方面有所发展。     

Resting Heart Rate Mediates the Relationship between Parenting Style and Callous-Unemotional Traits in Chinese Children

Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology - Despite increasing knowledge of social and biological risk factors for callous-unemotional (CU) traits, relatively less is known about how these...     

Psychometric Properties of the Bullying Participant Behaviors Questionnaire (BPBQ) among Chinese Middle School Students

The Bullying Participant Behaviors Questionnaire (BPBQ) is an efficient self-report measure for investigating bullying participant role behaviors. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the BPBQ in a Chinese middle school sample. A total of 516 middle school students (47.7% girls; age range?=?12–14 years) were recruited from an urban middle school in China. Results revealed that a five-factor model fit the data best. Correlations between the BPBQ subscale scores and the external criterion variables, including empathy and sympathy, moral disengagement, and trait anger, provided evidence of criterion validity. Furthermore, the BPBQ had good alpha reliability and moderate to good test-retest reliability. In conclusion, the BPBQ is a promising assessment tool to measure bullying participant behaviors among Chinese middle school students.