bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethnic stereotypes among Bosniak and Serbian youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Turjacanin Vladimir
Published: July 2008

This research, which used a sample of 407 members of both Bosniak and Serb nationality in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, analyzes the structure and content of ethnic stereotypes of Bosnia and Herzegovina's youth. The results reveal significant negative stereotypes of Bosniak and Serb youth toward one another, but also show conspicuous similarities regarding their stereotypes toward other ethnic groups. The concluding remarks set forth theoretical and pragmatic consequences of the results obtained. It can be concluded that people are clearly divided into groups based on the ethnicity criterion. This, substantiated by the earlier history of conflict, creates perceptions and assessments saturated by negative attributes, and can lead to potential conflicts in future. The research suggests that possible solution lies in a conflict resolution education, greater interethnic communication.
Contribution to assessment of effects of Rational emotive behaviour therapy
Authors: Popov Boris
Published: July 2008

Three main problems dealt with in this study are the following: 1. what effects attain REBT in 6 sessions in treating clients with various psychopathology?; 2. Does the level of training and experience of therapists play any role in REBT intervention outcomes?; 3. Does the sex of clients play any role in REBT intervention outcome? ANOVA showed that REBT was effective with most number of clients demonstrating statistically significant improvements on a third measurement comparing with the first one; also, very small number of clients responded negatively to the treatment, showing stagnation or intensifying of symptoms. Thus we conclude that REBT can be effective in treating clients with various psychopathologies. T-test also showed that more experienced therapists were statistically significantly more effective than less experienced in one out of four measures. The treatment was equally effective to clients of both sexes. This study was conducted in naturalistic conditions with certain flaws and limitations; future controlled evaluations are more than welcome.
The acquisition of prepositions in Serbian: Factors and mechanisms of development
Authors: Savic Maja , Andjelkovic Darinka
Published: July 2008

The study proceeds from the results of the previous studies showing that the distributional characteristics (frequency) of language input are crucial for the acquisition of prepositions (Savic & Andjelkovic, 2005, in preparation). The authors analyze deviations in the distribution of prepositions in children's spontaneous speech from the prediction made on the basis of the distributional characteristics of prepositions in adult language. The results show that, in comparison with adult language, only the prepositions "kod" (at, by, near, beside) and "sa" (with, from, off) deviate from the prediction. It was also found out that the unexpectedly early and frequent use of the preposition "kod" in child speech stemmed from the frequent use of this preposition in child-directed speech. On the other hand, the preposition "sa", which is very frequent in child-directed speech, is not present in children's production at the earliest age, because its homonymy makes it cognitively complex. The analysis of the reasons for such a deviation provided a basis for the discussion about the possible factors and mechanisms of development: the distributional characteristics of adult language are the major factor of acquisition, but the effects of conceptual and structural complexity were recorded as well.
Predicting depressive symptoms in unemployed
Authors: Maric Zorica
Published: July 2008

In this study we review recent research literature focused on relationship between unemployment and depression, and theories emphasizing the mechanisms by which unemployment may contribute to increased levels of depression. Our research investigated depressive symptomatology and its predictors among unemployed people (N = 453) varying in length of unemployment. Results showed that self - mastery, self - esteem, financial strain, gender, intensity of job - seek behavior and length on unemployment were significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Results are discussed in light of current theories of unemployment and mental health and recommendations are made for practice.
Assertiveness training: Effects of treatment, maintenance of change and therapists' contribution in therapy outcome
Authors: Tovilovic Snezana
Published: July 2008

In this research is shown part of results concerning evaluation study of group assertiveness training. Treatment, which has been organized as structured program of assertiveness training, has been applied on 18 groups of subjects during 9 group sessions. This treatment has been adjusted to non-psychiatric clients from our country. Groups were lead by two therapists. During 20 months of our research 215 voluntary participants of full age have joined training groups. Final sample consisted of 158 subjects who had finished treatment and who had fulfilled criteria for taking repeated measurement. Subjects had taken battery of questionnaires before the treatment and eight weeks after they had completed treatment. Subsample, which included 35 subjects from one therapist?s groups, took retest after twice longer time period. Results of conducted research have confirmed the hypothesis concerning the potentiality of assertiveness training to produce expected and significant improvements of treated subjects. Therapy effect is found on symptomatic level through reduction of symptoms of non-assertive behaviors, which were target of the treatment. Contrary to expectation interactive effect of treatment and therapist to reduction of symptoms of non-assertive behavior has been found, which implies need for further investigation of variables that are related to therapists. Through the medium of treatment therapeutic changes in structural level, in domain of general assertiveness, social anxiety and treated subjects' self-concept are produced. The effect of therapy we might consider stabled and maintained after 16 weeks of finishing the treatment.
Some psychometric characteristics of the Beck's Hopelessness Scale
Authors: Novovic Zdenka , Gavrilov Vesna , Tovilovic Snezana , Biro Miklos
Published: July 2008

The study tested reliability and construct validity of Serbian translation of Beck's Hopelessness scale on a sample of patients diagnosed as a depressive, anxious and anxious-depressive disorder. Scale was found to have a high degree of internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.91). Principal component analysis, with Scree-test as the criterion of extraction, provided single factor as the best solution. Hopelessness Scale highly correlated with symptoms of depression, low self-concept and depressive automatic thoughts which the authors interpreted as the confirmation of Beck's theory. The hypothesis that hopelessness is construct specific to depression and not to anxiety is, also, confirmed.
PTSD and depression after the NATO air campaign: Individual differences in stress reactions
Authors: Zotovic Marija
Published: July 2008

The research was conducted to provide answers to two research questions: (1) what is the level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents; and (2) which variables correlate with PTSD and depression level, in a way that they present risk factors for development of symptoms. Research was conducted fourteen months after the end of the bombing, on the sample of 629 children and adolescents from Vojvodina. It was registered that significant extent of PTSD symptoms exists in almost 60% of children and adolescents exposed to the bombing (59.6%). For the prediction of PTSD level, a tendency for using specific coping strategies appeared especially important. The best predictors of depression level were personality characteristics, which form a pattern known as negative affectivity.
Towards reconciling with ourselves and others
Authors: Srna Jelena
Published: July 2008

In the first section of the paper, by reviewing the contemporary literature in this field, the author searches for answers to the following questions: What is reconciliation? Should it occur, why, and when? Who should participate in this process and how? What are the instruments of reconciliation? By examining the process of reconciliation, on an internal and external level, from an interpersonal and collective perspective, the author in the second section tries to bring together two reconciliation instruments, closely tied to the field of clinical psychology. Focusing on ?healing by dealing with the past,? the author develops the framework for reconciliation. This framework involves three issues: the relevant facts of living in this region within the historical and socio-cultural context, a model that connects those facts, and the strategies to be undertaken for the path of recovery.
European identity in Serbia and Montenegro
Authors: Francesko Mirjana , Kodzopeljic Jasmina , Mihic Vladimir
Published: July 2008

The aims of this research are the establishment of the level and the structure of European and national identity of the citizens of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as the establishment of relations between socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects (regional belonging, age, level of education) and European identity. The sample consisted of 2853 subjects from four regions (Vojvodina, Sumadija with Belgrade, Southern Serbia, and Montenegro), divided into two age groups and two levels of education. To evaluate certain components of national and European identity, we applied EUROID2002 scale (Francesko et al., 2002). The application of the cluster analysis method defined three groups of subjects of various social identity profile: 1. multi-layered identity (European and national), 2. national exclusivity and 3. undifferentiated social identity. As factors of differentiation of subjects in the respect of European and national identity, there emerged regional belonging, age and educational level. Besides, the results show that the level of education is the most important factor in the creation of this form of social identity.
Voting preferences and political attitudes in Vojvodina
Authors: Mihic Vladimir
Published: July 2008

This paper deals with political attitudes of voters in the Vojvodina region and some correlates of these attitudes. Sample was 302 people, all voters of either six of the parties currently in the Serbian parliament (DSS, SRS, SPS, G17+, DS or SPO), or three of the other major parties in Vojvodina (LSV, PSS or SVM). Instruments used were: political attitude scale, social dominance orientation scale (SDO), and a questionnaire dealing with several important issues, such as support for the integration of Serbia into European Union. Factor analysis extracted six factors at the political attitudes scale-antimilitarism, support for the better minority status in the society, support for the different social issues, openness to the world, liberalism and conservativism. All differences concerning the voters? preferences were statistically significant (p < .01). Also, differences at the SDO scale also proved to be significant, as well as correlations between SDO scale and all of the political attitudes factors (correlation varied from .17 to .39). All of these correlations were negative, except for the SDO-conservativism scale. Another difference has been found at the perceived importance of different group identification. Groups were- person's ethnic group, Vojvodina, Serbia and Europe. Most important identification was with the Europe and the least one with the Serbia. Finally, more than 77% of the people in the sample said that they would vote ?yes? at the Serbia joining the EU referendum.
Psychobiological model of temperament and character: Validation and cross-cultural comparations
Authors: Dzamonja-Ignjatovic Tamara , Knezevic Goran
Published: July 2008

The paper presents research results regarding Psychobiological model of personality by Robert Cloninger. The primary research goal was to test the new TCI-5 inventory and compare our results with US normative data. We also analyzed the factor structure of the model and the reliability of basic TCI-5 scales and sub-scales. The sample consisted of 473 subjects from the normal population, age range between 18-50 years. Results showed significant differences between Serbian and American samples. Compared to the American sample, Novelty seeking was higher in the Serbian sample, while Persistence Self-directedness and Cooperativeness were lower. For the most part results of the present study confirmed a seven factor structure model although some sub-scales did not coincide with basic dimensions as predicted by the theoretical model. Therefore certain theoretical revisions of the model are required in order to fit in the empirical findings. Similarly, the discrepancy between the theoretical and empirical was also noticed regarding the reliability of TCI-5 scales. They also need to be re-examined. Thus the results of the study showed satisfactory reliability of Persistence (.90), Self-directedness (.89) and Harm avoidance (.87), but low reliability of the Novelty seeking (.78), Reward dependence (.79) and Self-transcendence (.78).
Cognitive content structure of anxious and depressive patients
Authors: Novovic Zdenka , Gavrilov Vesna , Biro Miklos , Tovilovic Snezana
Published: July 2008

There were three aims of the study: to determine psychometric properties of Serbian translation of Beck's Cognition Check List, to analyze factor structure of both subscales of Check List and to check the relationship among determined dimensions of the subscales. Patients with depressive anxiety and mixed diagnoses participated. Results suggest that subscale of depressive cognitions is of satisfactory reliability and both concurrent and divergent validity. Subscale of anxious cognitions has satisfactory internal consistency, but is weakly correlated with anxiety symptoms and is not discriminatively valid. Principal components analysis of depressive cognitions subscale yielded three factors that corresponded to the elements of Beck's "Negative Cognitive Triad". Analysis of anxious subscale did not provided dimensions hypothesized by Beck, but three dimensions, which correspond to three groups of anxious symptoms, where identified. Results indicate possibility of applying Beck?s Content Specificity Hypothesis on separation of specific anxiety or phobic disorders.
Psychological effects of the body maturation rate in the puberty
Authors: Stojkovic Irena
Published: July 2008

During the last decades a large number of studies on the effects of pubertal timing on psychological functioning of adolescents have been published. This review of the literature indicates that early maturation in girls and off-time maturation in boys are associated with problems in psychological adaptation. The methodological causes of the inconsistency of the results in this field of study are examined. Some of the possible directions for future research in this area are considered.
The changes in connotative meaning of politically relevant terms in Belgrade highschoolers
Authors: Kuzmanovic Bora , Petrovic Nebojsa
Published: July 2008

In this paper, we have tried to ascertain connotative meaning of some relevant political concepts, like: democracy, nation, political left and right, nationalism, etc. and to compare obtained results with a similar research conducted eight years ago (1997.) Those concepts are used in strong emotional contexts, and consequently level of their affective meaning often become stronger by process of emotional conditioning. It is possible to ascertain attitudes toward examined concepts by using this kind of meaning. Therefore, it is possible to ascertain influence of important events and social changes to attitude changes, by such kind of comparation. The sample consisted of 171 subjects, fourth year students of Belgrade's high schools (the same as in 1997.), and adapted Osgood scale of semantic differential was an instrument. Results show that cognitive meaning of some concepts stayed unchanged (socialism, nationalism, political right, present and future), and others had minor (democracy) or more significant changes (nation, leader, peace, left, past). Evaluative changes are negative except in case of leader and left. This could be understand as a kind of disappointment after great expectations after 2000. changes. Results are specified by independent variables, too. They include: type of school, sex, authoritarianism, importance of national belongings, are subjects and their families transitional losers or gainers, etc. It has also pointed out that evaluative dimension of connotative meaning does not express only attitude, but also other emotions and states: anxiety, care, insecure feelings.
Achievement motive and locus of control as motivation factors of European identity
Authors: Mihic Vladimir , Sakotic-Kurbalija Jelena , Francesko Mirjana
Published: July 2008

The research presented in this paper is a part of the project "Condition, Factors and Development of European Identity in Serbia and Montenegro" which is financed by the Ministry for Science and Protection of Environment of the Republic of Serbia. The goal of this research is to determine the relation between the achievement motive and locus of control on the one hand, and European identity on the other. These motivational factors were selected as the indicators of the active orientation of persons, which is a psychological prerequisite for the development of consciousness of the people and the society as a whole. The research was carried out during 2003 with the sample of 2635 subjects from four regions of Serbia and Montenegro, of both sexes, different levels of education, 18 to 43 years old. The scale EUROID2002 was applied to measure the European and national identity. The achievement motive was measured with the MOP2002 scale, and locus of control with LOKKON2002. All these instruments were created at the Department of Psychology in Novi Sad. The canonical correlation analysis was used to process the data. The results point to the existence of two statistically significant regularities in the relation between the achievement motive and European identity. The achievement of the goal, which is experienced as a source of pleasure and followed by the need to compete with others, was related to two factors of social identity, namely with the need to preserve national identity and with the exclusive national attachment. Thus, the results indicate that the persons for whom competition with others is a significant goal also express a higher degree of nationalism. Furthermore, the results indicate that the degree of nationalism is higher with the higher degree of persistence in the competition with others. In the relation between the locus of control and European identity, three statistically significant regularities were obtained. If the faith in the power of destiny is more pronounced, the need to preserve national identity and exclusive national attachment is also more pronounced. Stronger internal locus of control is related to greater openness for technological progress. Furthermore, the results indicate that those who in achievement situations attach great importance to the activities of other people also have a more pronounced pro-European orientation.
Microgenetic analysis of hidden figures
Authors: Markovic Slobodan , Gvozdenovic Vasilije
Published: July 2008

In this study the phenomenological and processual aspects of the perception of hidden figures were compared. The question was whether the more probable percepts of hidden figures, compared to the less probable percepts, were generated in earlier stages of the perceptual process. In the pilot study the subjects were asked to say what they see in a complex linear pattern. The three most frequent and the three least frequent perceptual descriptions were selected. In the experiment the microgenesis of the perception of hidden figures was investigated. The primed matching paradigm and the same-different task were used. In each experiment two types of test figures were contrasted: the more frequent and the less frequent ones. There were two prime types: identical (equal to test figures) and complex (the pattern with hidden test figures). The prime duration was varied, 50 ms and 400 ms. The main result indicates that in the case of complex priming the more frequent test figures were processed significantly faster than the less frequent ones in both prime duration conditions. These results suggest that the faster the processing of a figure, the more probable the perceptual generation of this figure.
Judgement of abstract paintings
Authors: Dakulovic Sandra , Markovic Slobodan
Published: July 2008

In two experiments the judgement of twenty one abstract paintings was investigated. In Experiment 1, subjects were asked to make similarity judgements of 210 pairs of paintings on a 7 step bipolar scale (similar-dissimilar). The Multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) method was used for data analysis. The distribution of paintings within MDS 2-D space suggested two grouping criteria: colorfullness (e.g. from Klee to Kline) and geometrization (e.g. from Vasarely to Kandinsky). In Experiment 2, subjects were asked to judge the same paintings on three factors of the instrument SDF 9 (Markovic et al., 2002b): Evaluation, Arousal and Regularity. The purpose of this experiment was to specify the subjective criteria on which the (dis)similarity judgements were based. In the regression analysis the three factors of SDF 9 were defined as predictors, whereas the x and y coordinates of MDS 2-D space were defined as dependent variables. The results have shown that the dimension x was reducible to the Evaluation factor, and dimension y is reducible to the Regularity factor.
T-value and mutual information as measures of the association strength in Serbian language
Authors: Lisac Jelena , Milin Petar
Published: July 2008

Since the study of Meyer and Schvaneveldt (1971), a large number of researches have shown facilitation effect in cognitive processing of a given word when it is preceded by a semantically (i.e. associatively) related word. In this study, we examined influence of association strength between context and target on visual word processing in Serbian language. Primary goal was to test cognitive relevance of the t-value and mutual information (MI) as measures of the association strength. The results showed that the mutual information affects response latencies in the visual lexical decision task: the higher the mutual information for two words (bigram), the shorter the reaction time. Contrariwise, cognitive relevance of the t-value as a measure of the words' association strength was not confirmed.
Time effect of stimulus exposure in semantic verification task
Authors: Injac Bozana , Kostic Aleksandar
Published: July 2008

The effect of stimulus exposure in semantic verification task within the framework of two levels of complexity of experimental context was examined in nine experiments. The complexity of experimental context was defined in terms of number of constitutive elements of a statement (subject, predicate and copula) which vary in the course of an experiment. Four experiments with different exposure duration have been performed within the framework of minimal complexity (where only one element of statement varies), while five experiments with different exposure duration have been conducted within the framework of medium complexity (where two elements of statement vary). Systematic manipulation of the two variables (i.e. complexity and exposure duration) provides variation of processing load in verification process, thus influencing the efficiency of working memory during the verification task. The obtained results indicate that the cognitive load variation (defined in terms of variation of exposure duration) affects processing of subject-predicate congruency, which is an obligatory step in statement verification. The shorter the exposure duration, the bigger the difference in processing latencies between ?congruent? and ?incongruent? statements. The effects are more pronounced for statements presented in the framework of medium complexity. Also, the reduction of exposure duration affects the error rate as well as processing of statement?s quality (i.e. affirmative vs. negative form of a statement).
Eksperimental evaluation of efficacy of the strategies for the persuasion resistance
Authors: Zezelj Iris , Jovic Svetlana , Mihajlovic Brankica , Savic Snezana , Tadic Marija , Vucetic Ana
Published: July 2008

The present research took an experimental approach to examining strategies of resistance to persuasion. We tested the effects of two strategies (counterarguing and source derogation) and their relation to channel through which a message is received (print, audio and video). The experiment is based on modified experimental paradigm used in one previous research (Cameron et al, 2002) in order to retest their findings and examine the role of communication modality in inoculation. Persuasive message generated statistically significant effects- attitude towards abortion was significantly changed. Both resistance strategies, on the other hand, failed to elicit resistance and measured attitude change wasn't significantly related to communication channel.
Cognitive functioning of educationaly deprived pre-school children
Authors: Biro Miklos , Novovic Zdenka , Tovilovic Snezana
Published: July 2008

The research has included 96 Roma elementary-school pupils from the first grade, 7 years and 6 months old on average, and 78 pre-school children, (6 years and 1 month old on average), out of which number there were 37 Roma pupils and 41 non-Roma pupils. The cognitive functioning has been tested with a battery consisted of 5 tests, which was based on the (adapted) Wechsler?s scales and the linguistic competence test. The results have shown a significant lagging of Roma children behind the control group and test norms. The Analyses of Covariance have pointed to a significant influence of the father?s educational background on the test score, but the difference between groups remained notable even when that variable was kept under control. However, the Item Analyses revealed a number of items that turned out to be evidently "unfair" toward Roma children, and their elimination contributed to the annulling of differences among groups in the Analyses of Covariance for a particular number of tests. The data has been interpreted by the authors as a proof of necessity and possibility to adapt tests for the needs of testing the educationally neglected children. The fact that the greatest differences have been noticed in the tests saturated with the factors of visual-motor coordination and memory has been justified by the authors with the Roma children?s lack of experience of manipulation with toys and possible attention deficit as a consequence of absence of stimulative environment.
Development of mathematical and language literacy among Roma students
Authors: Baucal Aleksandar
Published: July 2008

The main goal of the paper is to analyze educational achievements of Roma students in the lower grades of compulsory education in Serbia, as well as to find out what is the influence of the socio-economic status and the quality of education on the educational achievements. The main source of data is the Grade 3 National Assessment Study which is implemented in Serbia during year 2004. The results show that there is big gap regarding to the educational achievements between Roma and non-Roma students (average score of Roma is more than 130 points behind of national average; about 50% of Roma students do not develop even the basic mathematical and language literacy; and the repeating rate is about 11%). Secondary analysis of the results shows that about 40% of this gap can be explained by the lower socio-economical status of Roma, and about 60% is determined by the lower level of education quality delivered to Roma students in Serbian schools. Moreover, based on the analysis, some aspects of the lower education quality are determined: Roma students are in higher extent than non-Roma students into the classes with the lowest education quality, teachers have lower expectations from Roma students and support them in less extent, curriculum is "shortened" and "simplified" for Roma, etc. The conclusion of the study is that without waiting for general improvement of living and social conditions in which Roma population live in Serbia, there is big space for improvement of education quality delivered to Roma students in Serbian schools.
Conservation or conversation: A test of the repeated question hypothesis
Authors: Baucal Aleksandar , Stepanovic Ivana
Published: July 2008

The main goal of the paper is to reanalyze the results of previous studies on the repeated question effect in the conservation task, and to create a more direct test of the repeated question (RQ) hypothesis (repeating of question in the conservation task may mislead concrete-operational children to give the wrong answer since they interpret the repeating as an implicit sign that their first answer is wrong). Reanalysis of previous studies shows that some original conclusions need to be modified, and that a more direct test of the RQ hypothesis is needed. Each participant (N=58, mean age 7;10) was tested by two tasks (conservation of liquid), a standard and modified version. In the modified task, liquid was poured into the same glass, so that the child?s answer was not under influence of his or her level of cognitive development, but only by the repeated question (child who was misled by the RQ would give a wrong answer). According to the RQ hypothesis, children who change their answer on the modified task also need to change their answer on the standard task. Moreover, children who resist the RQ on the standard task do not need to change their answer on the modified task. Results show a different pattern than expected by the RQ hypothesis.
Colors and geometric forms in the work process information coding
Authors: Cizmic Svetlana , Zupunski Brankica
Published: July 2008

The aim of the research was to establish the meaning of the colors and geometric shapes in transmitting information in the work process. The sample of 100 students connected 50 situations which could be associated with regular tasks in the work process with 12 colors and 4 geometric forms in previously chosen color. Based on chosen color-geometric shape-situation regulation, the idea of the research was to find out regularities in coding of information and to examine if those regularities can provide meaningful data assigned to each individual code and to explain which codes are better and applicable represents of examined situations.
Short-term memory of movements at the children age 11 and 12
Authors: Marjanovic Anka , Lalovic Dejan
Published: July 2008

Pantomimed actions recall has been examined on the sample of 11-12 years old school children, employing the standard technique that requires reproduction of pantomimed meaningful and meaningless actions. Forward and backward digit span tasks have been used in the same experimental session to provide a rough estimate of the short-term storage and working memory capacity. Correlation between meaningless actions reproduction and backward digit span has been established, while the difference in meaningful and meaningless actions reproduction remained insignificant. The examined data have been discussed in the frame of short-term working memory role in actions remembering debate.
Identification based on facial parts
Authors: Stevanov Zorica , Zdravkovic Suncica
Published: July 2008

Two opposing views dominate face identification literature, one suggesting that the face is processed as a whole and another suggesting analysis based on parts. Our research tried to establish which of these two is the dominant strategy and our results fell in the direction of analysis based on parts. The faces were covered with a mask and the participants were uncovering different parts, one at the time, in an attempt to identify a person. Already at the level of a single facial feature, such as mouth or eye and top of the nose, some observers were capable to establish the identity of a familiar face. Identification is exceptionally successful when a small assembly of facial parts is visible, such as eye, eyebrow and the top of the nose. Some facial parts are not very informative on their own but do enhance recognition when given as a part of such an assembly. Novel finding here is importance of the top of the nose for the face identification. Additionally observers have a preference toward the left side of the face. Typically subjects view the elements in the following order: left eye, left eyebrow, right eye, lips, region between the eyes, right eyebrow, region between the eyebrows, left check, right cheek. When observers are not in a position to see eyes, eyebrows or top of the nose, they go for lips first and then region between the eyebrows, region between the eyes, left check, right cheek and finally chin.
Symbolic distance: Unfamiliar versus familiar space
Authors: Stojanovic Radmila , Zdravkovic Suncica
Published: July 2008

The symbolic distance effect was investigated using both realistic distances and distances represented on the map. The influence of professional orientation and sex on mental visualization was measured. The results showed that an increase of distance leads to an increase in reaction time. The slope for realistic distances was steeper. Male subjects always had longer reaction times, although the effect differs for the two types of distances. Professional orientation did not play a role. The obtained relation between reaction time and distance is a confirmation of theories proposing that mental representations encompass structure and metric characteristics. The confirmed role of the effect of symbolic distance additionally supports Kosslyn?s theory: there is a linear relation between the time and distance.
Logical and epistemological approach to critical thinking
Authors: Pesic Jelena
Published: July 2008

Two main approaches in the conceptualization of critical thinking, logical and epistemological, are presented and analyzed in this paper. The review of logical approach begins with defining its general framework (relationship between critical thinking and informal logic) and afterwards we analyze abilities and skills which are seen as basic constituents of critical thinking. In the review of epistemological approach we analyze four conceptions that present the main directions in criticizing logical approach, and also in developing the broader perspective on critical thinking that includes specific view of knowledge and its development, noncognitive dispositions and the role of subject based knowledge. At the end, we discuss the relationship between logical and epistemological approach. We claim and justify that they should be understood as complementary approaches, and we consider specific contribution of each approach to comprehensive definition of critical thinking. .
Valence framing of political preferences and resistance to persuasion
Authors: Zezelj Iris , Skoric Milan , Bogdanovic Slaven , Hristic Dejan , Stokic Dusan
Published: July 2008

This study tested the "valence framing effect": an assumption that negatively conceptualized attitudes (as opposing the non-preferred alternative) are more resistant to later persuasion attempts. In the experiment we created choice between two political candidates and experimental subjects were led to conceptualize their political preferences in one of two possible ways: either as supporting the preferred candidate or as opposing the non-preferred candidate. The data indicate that negative preferences show less overall change when exposed to counterarguments. This finding can be incorporated in two theoretical frameworks: dual process theories of attitude change (Elaboration likelihood model) and descriptive decision making theories (Prospect theory). Results are discussed for their implications for the efficacy of political communication. .
Primordialistic concept of national identity in Serbia
Authors: Milosevic-Djordjevic Jasna
Published: July 2008

Usually, two rivaling concepts of national identity are taken into consideration: primordialism, stemming from the principle that national identity is an unchangeable, unyielding and basic human category, given by birth and colored with irrational feelings; and instrumentalism, claiming that national identity is changeable, fluid and gain producing. This study investigated the dominant concept of national identity in Serbia and was based on two surveys conducted in August 2003 (n = 1004) and August 2006 (n = 1005) on representative samples of eligible voters. Both studies confirmed dominancy of the primordial concept of national identity in contemporary Serbia. Data from the 2006 survey point an even more homogenized primordial concept (defined by a single factor) of national identity relative to the data from the 2003 survey. Primordial concept of national identity suppresses the importance of the state, culture and politics. In times of strong social turbulences, individual is moving away from the socially dependent concept of national identity towards an individualistic, familial concept of national identity. .
Family as a context for development of formal operations
Authors: Stepanovic Ivana
Published: July 2008

This paper is focused on the family as a context for development of formal thinking. Parents? mediation and cultural tools in family environment were investigated through relationship between formal thinking and the two basic dimensions of family interaction. Psychological autonomy-giving vs. psychological control and emotional exchange were examined in the context of the family's cultural status. For this purpose, the Scale of parents? mediation means was constructed, inspired by Piaget's concept of formal operations and by Vygotsky?s concept of genetic law. The scale quantifies forms of parent?s behaviors/attitudes towards the child that could serve as mediation means for specific development of formal thinking. The data show: (1) that there is no significant relationship between the two basic dimensions of family interaction and development of formal thinking; and (2) that cultural status of the family and specific parents? mediation are relevant for child's development of formal operations. .
The structure of the lexical personality descriptors in Serbian language
Authors: Smederevac Snezana , Mitrovic Dusanka , Colovic Petar
Published: July 2008

Two studies, both originating from a larger psycholexical study in Serbian language, are presented here. Two questionnaires, Lexi and PL have been constructed in the psycholexical study. The questionnaires differ by the formulation of their respective items: while the items of the Lexi contain adjectives, the items of the PL are in the form of statements. The first study presented in this paper examines the latent structure of the Lexi questionnaire, while the second one deals with the latent structure of the PL. In both studies, principal component analysis was applied, and the number of components to be retained in the analysis was determined according to the Scree criterion. Also, Promax rotation was applied in both studies. Seven components which were extracted in the first study have been interpreted as Negative Valence, Negative Emotionality, Aggressiveness, Conscientiousness, Positive Emotionality, Positive Valence and Openness to Experience. The content of these dimensions is obviously similar to the dimensions of Tellegen and Waller?s Big Seven model. In the second study, five components were extracted, and interpreted as Sociability, Anxiety, Aggressiveness, Activity and Impulsivity. The content of the dimensions extracted in the second study corresponds with the dimensions of Marvin Zuckerman?s Alternative Five - Factor Model.
Stressful life experiences and attachment in adolescence
Authors: Mihic Ivana , Zotovic Marija , Petrovic Jelica
Published: July 2008

The research presented in this paper aimed to explore relations between stressful life experiences and attachment in adolescence. The sample included 279 adolescents of both sexes, who were students of first two years at the University of Novi Sad. Attachment styles were assessed by RQ (Relationship Questionnaire, Bartolomew & Horowitz, 1991), and stressful experiences by Risk Scale (Grossman et al., 1990). The average score on the Risk scale indicated that participants had relatively small number of stressful events; but majority had at least two stressful experiences. The most frequent event was loss of family member (61,2% of participants) and traffic accident (40,6% of participants). Participants with secure and insecure attachment styles had similar number of stressful experiences in their lives. Difference between these groups was significant only in the case stressors that origin from the characteristics of the family and intrafamilial relations, which was more frequent experience in participants with insecure attachment styles. However, the results showed that stressful experiences may have negative influence on security of attachment, i.e. on positivity of model of self. The highest and statistically significant contribution was made by separation from family and by family characteristics. The results are discussed in context of attachment theory and previous research data on effects of stressful and traumatic events on security of attachment.
Lightness constancy: Object identity and temporal integration
Authors: Zdravkovic Suncica
Published: July 2008

Studies of lightness constancy typically involve the comparison of two objects of the same shade that have been placed under different illuminations. In this study, we introduce factors such as object identity and immediate prior experience to measure the effect of these manipulations on constancy. In the first experiment, conditions sufficient to reproduce classical constancy failure (illumination difference, target values, articulation level) were determined. In the second experiment a lightness judgment was made for a gray target that was then seen to move into another illumination level for the second match. Motion was used in an attempt to stress the target?s identity. The shade was still judged significantly lighter when placed under the higher than under the lower illumination. Failure of constancy thus occurred even when object identity was not in question. In the third experiment a priming paradigm was used, to assess the strength of constancy: one shade would appear in one illumination level and another shade in the other illumination level. Motion was used to trick observers into thinking that only a single object was presented. The estimated shade varied as a function of the shade of the prime. In the last experiment, observers were asked to make another match when the object was removed from view: the match of its true color independent of illumination. The value of this match-from-memory was based on the value obtained in the higher illumination level. Taken together, the experiments show that through object identity, immediate prior experience can influence lightness in systematic fashion.
Visual search of illusory contours: Shape and orientation effects
Authors: Gvozdenovic Vasilije
Published: July 2008

Illusory contours are specific class of visual stimuli that represent stimuli configurations perceived as integral irrespective of the fact that they are given in fragmented uncompleted wholes. Due to their specific features, illusory contours gained much attention in last decade representing prototype of stimuli used in investigations focused on binding problem. On the other side, investigations of illusory contours are related to problem of the level of their visual processing. Neurophysiologic studies show that processing of illusory contours proceed relatively early, on the V2 level, on the other hand most of experimental studies claim that illusory contours are perceived with engagement of visual attention, binding their elements to whole percept. This research is focused on two experiments in which visual search of illusory contours are based on shape and orientation. The main experimental procedure evolved the task proposed by Bravo and Nakayama where instead of detection, subjects were performing identification of one among two possible targets. In the first experiment subjects detected the presence of illusory square or illusory triangle, while in the second experiment subject were detecting two different orientations of illusory triangle. The results are interpreted in terms of visual search and feature integration theory. Beside the type of visual search task, search type proved to be dependent of specific features of illusory shapes which further complicate theoretical interpretation of the level of their perception.
The effect of polysemy on processing of Serbian nouns
Authors: Filipovic-Djurdjevic Dusica , Kostic Aleksandar
Published: July 2008

It has been shown that while multiple unrelated meanings of a word (e.g. bank) increase processing latency, polysemy, that is multiple related word senses (e.g. paper) produce faster responses (Rodd, Gaskell & Marslen-Wilson, 2002; Klepousniotou, 2002). The goal of this study was to explore the effect of polysemy on word processing in Serbian. The outcomes of three lexical decision experiments have shown that polysemous words are processed faster. In addition, lemma frequency and number of related senses did not interact. Finally, a measure that combines lemma frequency and number of related senses into a single metric is proposed. This measure is information residual, initially applied on derivational morphology (Moscoso del Prado Mart?n, Kostic & Baayen, 2004). In this study the information residual is a difference between the amount of information (bit) derived from lemma frequency and the entropy of a polysemic cluster. Since relative frequencies of different word senses of a given word in Serbian are currently not available, maximum entropy (log N) was used as an approximation. The outcome of this study indicates that cognitive system is sensitive not only to the entropy of derivational clusters, but polysemic clusters as well.
Measuring selfhood according to self-determination theory: Construction and validation of the Ego Functioning Questionnaire (EFQ)
Authors: Majstorovic Nebojsa , Legault Lisa , Green-Demers Isabelle
Published: July 2008

The goal of this research was to develop and validate an instrument designed to measure the three types of self proposed by Hodgins and Knee (2002): integrated, ego-invested, and impersonal. This measure was termed The Ego Functioning Questionnaire (EFQ). In Study 1 (N=202), the factorial structure of the EFQ was examined by means of an exploratory factor analysis, and the metric properties of its subscales were documented. In Study 2 (N=300), the 3 factor structure of the EFQ was successfully corroborated using a confirmatory factor analysis. In Study 3 (N=131), associations between the EFQ and a variety of cognitive, affective, and social variables were found to display meaningful patterns, thereby providing support for the EFQ?s construct validity. Also, the EFQ was not susceptible to socially desirable responding. Results are discussed in terms of their fundamental and applied implications.