A probabilistic multidimensional scaling with unique axes1

Abstract: A probabilistic multidimensional scaling model is proposed. The model assumes that the coordinates of each stimulus are normally distributed with variance Σ_i = diag(σ²₁, … σ²_Ri). The advantage of this model is that axes are determined uniquely. The distribution of the distance between two stimuli is obtained by polar coordinates transformation. The method of maximum likelihood estimation for means and variances using the EM algorithm is discussed. Further, simulated annealing is suggested as a means of obtaining initial values in order to avoid local maxima. A simulation study shows that the estimates are accurate, and a numerical example concerning the location of Japanese cities shows that natural axes can be obtained without introducing individual parameters.     

真实火灾和模拟火灾情境下小鼠的逃生决策比较*

探讨并比较真实火灾和模拟火灾情境下小鼠是否采用直觉性逃生决策。研究包括一个预备训练和两个主实验。预备训练的目的：首先训练小鼠获得有关迷宫路线及出口的经验,然后再经过遗忘处理使它们遗忘相关经验。两个主实验均采用3(情境：真实火灾,模拟火灾,普通情境)×2(记忆：遗忘前和遗忘后)混合实验设计,因变量均为逃生决策。实验组被试为72只经过训练的小鼠,控制组为24只未经过训练的小鼠。通过考察小鼠在不同情境和不同记忆条件下的逃生时间和对逃生出口的选择探测并比较真实火灾和模拟火灾情境下小鼠的逃生决策差异。主要结果：(1)实验组在真实火灾情境下的逃生时间无论遗忘前后都明显比模拟火灾情境下短;(2)实验组在真实火灾和模拟火灾情境下的逃生时间都明显比控制组短;(3)当熟悉和陌生出口均开启同时熟悉出口处有烟雾条件下,真实火灾组在遗忘前后均倾向于选择熟悉出口逃生,其他两组则倾向于选择陌生出口离开。结论：真实火灾和模拟火灾情境下小鼠的逃生决策存在明显差异：真实火灾情境下受过训练的小鼠倾向于直觉性逃生决策;模拟火灾情境下受过训练的小鼠不倾向于直觉性逃生决策。     

An overview of malingering and deception in neuropsychiatric cases

Forensic practitioners must shoulder special responsibilities when evaluating over-stated pathology (e.g., malingering) as well as simulated adjustment. Such determinations may modify or even override other clinical findings. As a result, practitioners must be alert to their own misassumptions that may unintentionally bias their conclusions about response styles. Detection strategies for malingering—based on unlikely or markedly amplified presentations—are highlighted in this article. Given page constraints, assessment methods for feigning are succinctly presented with their applications to administrative, civil, and criminal referrals.     

变革型领导力和交易型领导力：团队绩效的预测指标

在高不确定,高度竞争,高度挑战的任务情景下,领导力在团队中将扮演怎样的角色？变革型领导力与交易型领导力又是如何预测团队任务绩效的？为了回答这些问题,该研究对130名学生被试,31个团队,用ERP沙盘模拟游戏来进行模拟实验。通过高度模拟现实中企业经营的情景,从而提高实验结果的外部效度。实验结果表明,变革型领导力与交易型领导力都能够积极地预测团队任务绩效,消极领导力与任务绩效呈负相关,虽然并没有达到统计学显著水平,但研究结果的方向都支持了实验假设。     

Patterns of change in fairness perceptions during the hiring process: A conceptual replication in a controlled context

The present paper tackles a problem in the candidate reactions literature: the replicability of results that emerge when using in vivo and in vitro designs. The current study was designed to provide a conceptual replication of a dynamic model of change in fairness perceptions during the hiring process, using a different research design, different measures, and a different sample than the original paper. A sample of 209 participants in a simulated selection process reported their level of perceived fairness three times: before the testing, after the testing, and after the results were communicated. These results support the results of the original that the construction of fairness perceptions declines in a nonlinear way over time, with high initial levels of fairness perception corresponding to a lower rate of decline, and vice versa. Further analysis revealed no change in the individuals’ conceptualization of perceived fairness nor any shift in the respondents’ use of the measurement scale (i.e., no beta and gamma change were detected).     

决策策略与个性特征关系的模拟实验

本研究以实验室模拟实验和现场模拟实验为手段,以大学本科生和工厂管理人员为被试,分两部分进行。第一部分,以企业新产品开发为决策内容,考察这类决策情景的不确定性和决策策略的关系。结果发现,决策策略随不确定状态而改变;决策情景的不确定程度和决策策略没有严格的一一对应关系;在四类不确定决策情景下,都有被试采用混合型策略,从而验证了先前研究的结果。第二部分,我们考察了决策策略与个性特征的关系。结果发现,偏离决策策略的规定性理论所预测的被试同没有偏离的被试在CPI量表的三种个性特征上,即成熟度、成就动机与管理潜能,有显著性差异;对实验室实验被试和现场实验被试而言,均发现管理潜能这一个性特征一致性的显著影响。文章最后提出了有待进一步探索的课题。     

Effects of textual prompts and feedback on social niceties of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in a simulated workplace

Previous research demonstrates the efficacy of behavioral skills training with a textual prompt to establish greetings and conversational skills. This study examined the efficacy of a brief intervention of textual prompts with performance feedback for increasing social niceties of adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder in a simulated workplace. Target social niceties included “Do you have a minute?” when a participant initiated an interaction and “Thank you for your time” when a participant ended the interaction. Results revealed this intervention was effective for 7 of 9 participants. This study expands upon previous studies by showing the efficacy of a resource-efficient training on acquisition and generalization of social niceties by people with autism spectrum disorder.     

A one-boundary drift-diffusion model for time to collision estimation in a simple driving task

ABSTRACT

Driving is a complex everyday task. Every year a huge number of driving accidents around the world causes serious physical and mental injuries and deaths. The correct estimation of the remaining time to reach the other vehicles on the road, known as time to collision (TTC), is an important factor to avoid accidents. In this study, we aimed to use a drift-diffusion model (DDM) to better understand the participants’ estimation of TTC in two driving experiments. Both experiments were the same, except that in one of them participants were asked to finish the experiment as fast as they could, while in the other experiment there was no time constraint. DDM fitted the data from all participants well in both experiments according to the chi-square goodness of fit criterion. Also, results showed that time pressure increases subjects’ estimated TTC, the rate of accumulation of sensory information and the response threshold.     

情绪诱发方法述评

对被试的情绪进行实验诱发已经成为情绪研究的标准方法之一。对情绪材料诱发法(图片诱发法、音乐诱发法、气味诱发法)和情绪性情境诱发法(电脑游戏诱发、博弈游戏诱发和表情/姿势反馈诱发)进行了详细阐述, 并对被试个体差异等情绪诱发的影响因素进行了分析。最后, 在总结和评价现有自豪诱发技术的基础上, 对虚拟竞赛这一经过改良的自豪诱发方法做了简要的介绍。     

A simulated annealing methodology for clusterwise linear regression

In many regression applications, users are often faced with difficulties due to nonlinear relationships, heterogeneous subjects, or time series which are best represented by splines. In such applications, two or more regression functions are often necessary to best summarize the underlying structure of the data. Unfortunately, in most cases, it is not known a priori which subset of observations should be approximated with which specific regression function. This paper presents a methodology which simultaneously clusters observations into a preset number of groups and estimates the corresponding regression functions' coefficients, all to optimize a common objective function. We describe the problem and discuss related procedures. A new simulated annealing-based methodology is described as well as program options to accommodate overlapping or nonoverlapping clustering, replications per subject, univariate or multivariate dependent variables, and constraints imposed on cluster membership. Extensive Monte Carlo analyses are reported which investigate the overall performance of the methodology. A consumer psychology application is provided concerning a conjoint analysis investigation of consumer satisfaction determinants. Finally, other applications and extensions of the methodology are discussed.