bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stop using d′ and start using da: Part I. Simulation explorations of single- and multi-point recognition measures of sensitivity
Authors: Levi Adva , Rotello Caren M. , Goshen-Gottstein Yonatan
Published: March 2024

In this article, we address the seemingly high prevalence of false discoveries in recognition-memory research. Our challenge is to find a valid measure that effectively separates the contribution of sensitivity (accuracy) from that of bias. A stark realization emerged through Monte Carlo simulations, that in a myriad of tasks, sensitivity is confounded with bias. This is true for tasks that involve binary judgments for single items that are presented at test (Rotello et al., 2008). As a solution, we propose a version of a lesser-known measure, d-sub-a (da). Through comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations, we systematically evaluated the validity of common measures Pr = HR - FAR, A′, and d′, alongside da. We randomly sampled signals from Lure and Target distributions and used t-tests to compare iso-sensitive conditions differing in bias, across thousands of simulations iterations. For valid measures, significant results should be found at a rate of approximately 5%. We investigated the influence of different parameters, including the form of the distributions, their variability, the distance between them, the placement of response criteria, the sample size and the number of trials. Results revealed that common measures exhibited alarmingly high false discovery rates, exceeding 5%. The rates rose to 100% with larger sample sizes and a large number of trials. In contrast, with only a few minor exceptions, da was not affected by changes in bias. Our findings support the notion that da should be adopted as the default measure of sensitivity.
Government Policy in Tackling Illegal Foreign Worker Issues in Indonesia: Complexity, Uncertainty and Divergence
Authors: Bawono Sri Kuncoro , Arifin Ridwan , Aji Koesmoyo Ponco , Wiraputra Anindito Rizky , Purnomo Agung Sulistyo , Syahrin M. Alvi
Published: March 2024

The influx of illegal foreign workers to Indonesia is one of the fundamental issues which has become serious concern for the Indonesian government. Debates on the international migration phenomena ccontribute to an increasing number of the illegal foreign workers issue. This qualitative research analyses the foreign worker issues in Indonesia by the document analysis from government policies from 2015 to 2018, organizational reports, and journal articles. This study examines the wickedness of the illegal foreign workers issues in Indonesia based on the Brian Head's wicked problem concept. This study discusses the characteristics of wicked problems: complexity, uncertainty, and divergence in illegal foreign worker issues in Indonesia. The study finds the illegal foreign worker issues in Indonesia are only resolved by the law enforcement taskforce among agencies in relation to collaboration, cooperation and national security. A conceptual framework is proposed the immigration enforcement team is urged to improve the use of technology, citizen participation, interagency partnership, equipment, vehicles and boats. Further research extends the involvement of citizen’s participation and the use of technology in enforcing the immigration law and handling the illegal foreign workers.
This Picture Does Not Portray Reality: Developing and Testing a Disclaimer for Digitally Enhanced Pictures on Social Media Appropriate for Austrian Tweens and Teens.
Authors: Naderer Brigitte , Seeger Christina , Karsay Kathrin
Published: March 2024

Research has shown that idealized beauty presented in mass media can have a detrimental effect on body satisfaction, and these idealized images often stem from digital alterations. Consequently, countries like France and Israel employ disclaimers that inform viewers about the use of such modifications. Previous research, primarily conducted with adult women, has pointed out that these disclaimers are ineffective in reducing the perceived realism of the presented images, leading to negative effects on women’s body satisfaction. However, we know little about the effectiveness of such disclaimers for tweens and teens (TT). Using a two-study design, we firstly developed an adolescent-inspired disclaimer in two cocreation workshops with students (N = 47; aged 12-14 years). Secondly, we examined the effectiveness of this newly developed disclaimer in an experimental setting (N = 186; participants aged 10-19 years). We compared the new disclaimer to the existing one as well as to a condition in which there was no disclaimer. Results indicated that disclaimers are a rather unsuccessful way of disclosing the lack of realism of media images for TT, underlining the urgency of developing more effective media literacy measures.
The efficacy of computerized cognitive training in patients with coronary heart disease and cognitive impairment, no dementia: a randomized controlled trial（COG-T CHD）Statistical Analysis Plan
Authors: Zeng Yong , Ye Yi , Li Ruixuan , Chen Qing , Ma Changsheng
Published: March 2024

Statistical analysis plan of The efficacy of computerized cognitive training in patients with coronary heart disease and cognitive impairment, no dementia: a randomized controlled trial（COG-T CHD）
Addressing the Impact of Immigration Policy on Children’s Well-Being after Forced Migration
Authors: Purnomo Agung Sulistyo , Bawono Sri Kuncoro , Ryanindityo M , Wiraputra Anindito Rizky , Syahrin M. Alvi , Mulyawan Budi , Pramudito Dimas
Published: March 2024

Migration stands as an urgent and current global phenomenon, given the escalating challenges of climate change and political instability. As these issues persist, more populations will be compelled to relocate. It is crucial to establish effective strategies that can facilitate the smooth transition of vulnerable groups, particularly children. Strategic interventions should be developed with a profound understanding of their distinct needs and vulnerabilities. The objective of this research is to address the mental well-being of immigrant children. It sought to identify common patterns in their emotional and behavioral responses after migration while compiling an extensive inventory of factors that can either protect or jeopardize their mental health. To get the big picture, this research uses Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory as the tool of analysis. The findings underscored that several migration-related factors significantly influenced the mental health of the children. Immigration policymakers should prioritize inclusivity and equity to ensure that all children have access to the support and resources they need to thrive. This includes implementing policies that address systemic barriers and promote a supportive and nurturing learning environment for all immigrant children. By incorporating these implications into social practices and policies, the government can create environments that foster resilience in children and support their overall well-being and development.
Price-, Taste-, and Convenience-Competitive Plant-Based Meat Would Not Currently Replace Meat (journal version)
Authors: Peacock Jacob Robert
Published: March 2024

Plant-based meats, like the Beyond Sausage or Impossible Burger, and cultivated meats have become a source of optimism for public health, environmental and animal welfare advocates hoping to mitigate the myriad harms of animal-based foods by replacing them with perfect alternatives. Some have proposed that these substitutes might soon replace animal-based meats based on the supposition that price, taste and convenience are the primary drivers of food choice. Thus, it is hypothesized that if a plant-based meat matches (or exceeds) its animal-based counterpart on the basis of these three criteria, consumption will largely shift from animal-based to plant-based. However, this hypothesis has received little critical attention. To fill this gap, we will review evidence testing the PTC hypothesis, including cross-sectional surveys, hypothetical discrete choice experiments, a field experiment and commercial case studies. Ultimately, given current consumer preferences, we do not find support for the PTC hypothesis. However, PBMs may still have important potential as a tool for reducing meat consumption.
Future Me: Promoting a future-oriented outlook through conversation with our future self.
Authors: Lash Eva , Dechant Martin , O'Driscoll Ciarán
Published: March 2024

Large language models (LLM) transform the development of conversational agents for therapeutic purposes yet the benefits for mental health interventions have not fully been explored. Therefore, this study investigates the usage and acceptability of Future Me, a prototype of a chatbot harnessing generative AI, to facilitate future-oriented thinking. As part of an exploratory deployment study 20 participants engaged in short self-directed conversations with Future Me about current life obstacles. Following these conversations, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants to assess the overall user experience, and acceptability, and to understand how participants used Future Me and how Future Me facilitated prospection. A thematic analysis of the suggestions of the system as well as the requests and reflections of the user indicates that participants used Future Me to explore barriers related to their own capability, opportunity, and motivation: Future Me responded by facilitating users to contemplate and prepare for behaviour change and providing positive reinforcement. Users reported positive outcomes such as improved mental clarity, enhanced self-reflection, and an increased sense of companionship and support. Limitations identified included user hesitancy around artificial intelligence for therapeutic purposes. This work contributes to a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of chatbots harnessing LLMs for the improvement of the user's mental health.
Banking the Unbanked Spurs Payday Loan Usage among Black Households
Authors: Hu Bowei
Published: March 2024

This study examines the impact of bank account ownership on racial disparities in the use of alternative financial services (AFS) such as nonbank check cashing, pawn shops, and payday lending. Using data from the National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households (2015–2021), I employ causal decomposition analysis to investigate the counterfactual effect of banking the unbanked on AFS usage across racial groups. Findings reveal a complex relationship between bank account ownership and AFS usage. While increasing account ownership among the unbanked reduces racial gaps in nonbank check cashing and pawn shop loans, it paradoxically leads to increased payday loan usage among banked Black households. This trend persists even after controlling for local banking environments and state payday lending policies. The results suggest a distinct dual effect of owning bank accounts. On one hand, it substitutes for check cashing services and reduces the need for pawning items. On the other hand, bank account ownership, often a prerequisite for payday loans, may grant Black households with inadequate credit records more access to this alternative credit market. This research suggests that addressing both financial inclusion and the underlying causes of credit inequality is necessary, rather than simply focusing on banking the unbanked.
A Study on the Bioremediation Using Oscillatoria Tenuis on Domestic Sewage Water
Authors: KrishnanK
Published: March 2024

Algae has been using as a source of phycoremediation in many areas like industrial, textile, pharmacological, nuclear and cosmetics industry. Being autotrophic and efficient in growing the adverse conditions, algae can be reared in multiple scale for the pollution treatment. In addition to this a lot of value added products can also be segregated from these algae. In this study, a waste-water isolated alga has been used for the study. It has been treated with domestic sewage collected from the natural water bodies dumbed in the highly populated area. The study had been carried out for 30 days and the water quality variations studied at restricted laboratory conditions. In this study we can found out that the algae can reduce the pollution and BOD, COD of the sewage water and the treated water can be reused for other purposes like irrigation.
Capturing the Spatio-Temporal Diffusion Effects of Armed Conflict: A Non-parametric Smoothing Approach
Authors: Racek Daniel , Thurner Paul , Kauermann Goeran
Published: March 2024

Facilitated by advancements in conflict event databases, studies have moved towards predicting armed conflict and understanding its determinants subnationally. However, existing statistical models do not capture the diffusion of armed conflict, and hence do not adequately account for its dependence across both time and space, thus inducing potential biases in the estimates of covariates of interest. To address this, we introduce a regression approach that simultaneously captures both spatial and temporal dimension of the diffusion of armed conflict through non-parametric smoothing. Using fine-grained conflict data on Africa, we demonstrate the importance of accounting for this dependence, capturing conflict diffusion up to 550km in distance and 24 months in the past, and observe that diffusion decays exponentially in both space and time. We illustrate the flexibility of our fully interpretable method by studying the role of population in the transmission of conflict. We find that conflict typically breaks out in densely populated areas, and from there diffuses, specifically to lower population areas.
Talent Development in Rural Contexts: Predicting Reading Performance from Primary School Achievement, Creativity, and Motivation
Authors: Rambo-Hernandez Karen E , Hebda Maryann R. , Brigandi Carla , McClanahan Z. Remeri , Yuan Jiangmei
Published: March 2024

Rural students from economically disadvantaged households are identified as gifted at lower rates than their rural or suburban counterparts. To increase the number of students served, this study looked at how well early literacy scores and teacher assessments of student abilities in a rural, low socioeconomic district predicted third grade state reading scores. Results showed that prior achievement and teacher evaluations could predict about 50% of third grade state reading scores. Centered in the Talent Development in Achievement Domains framework (TAD; Preckel et al., 2020), these results provide a context for meeting the academic needs of rural students while illustrating that eventual student performance is not wholly predetermined when students enter school and that talent should be cultivated over time.
Photonic signal processor based on a Kerr microcomb for real time video image processing
Authors: Moss David
Published: March 2024

Digital signal processing has become central to many fields, from coherent optical telecommunications where it is used to compensate signal impairments, to video image processing. Image processing in particular is important for observational astronomy, medical diagnosis, autonomous driving, big data and particularly artificial intelligence. Digital signal processing is mainly performed electronically, but new applications, particularly those involving real time video image processing, are creating unprecedented demand for ultrahigh performance, including bandwidth and reduced energy consumption. Here, we demonstrate a photonic digital signal processor operating at 18 Terabits/s and use it to process multiple simultaneous video signals in real-time. The system processes 400,000 video signals concurrently, performing 34 functions simultaneously that are key to object edge detection, edge enhancement and motion blur. As compared with spatial-light devices used for image processing, our system is not only ultra-high speed but highly reconfigurable and programable, able to perform many different functions without any change to the physical hardware. Our approach, based on an integrated Kerr soliton crystal microcomb, opens up new avenues for ultrafast robotic vision and machine learning.
A demography opportunity set that brings prosperity
Authors: Sun Tianyu
Published: March 2024

The total fertility rate in China has fallen to 1.1 in 2021, which is not only below the replacement level, but also below that of the high-income group. This paper analyzes the characteristics of China in perspective from the demography opportunity set that originated in Sun and Wei (2022). Using genetic algorithms to estimate the parameters and comparing them to those of the high-income group, we found that Chinese characteristics are primarily reflected in higher education cost and lower parenting stress. By combining characteristics of China and the high-income group, we propose a demography opportunity set that allows for higher total fertility rate and expected years of schooling at the expense of a reasonable loss of parental time share. To achieve this demographic prosperity, China should lower the education cost, and the high-income group should lower parenting stress.
Attributional and attentional patterns in the perception of ambiguous harmful encounters involving peer and authority figures
Authors: Zajenkowska Anna , Duda Ewa , Bodecka-Zych Marta
Published: March 2024

AbstractSelf-construal influences the way people ascribe blame to victims, but it is not clear whether the same applies to harm doers, especially those in a position of authority. We examined (N=122, men n=60) participants’ ascriptions of both blame and intentionality to harm doers (authority figure versus peer) while priming self-construal (relational versus individual self). Using eye-tracking, we explored if priming relational self, compared to individual self, affects the allocation of attention to the faces versus objects. Although the effects of priming were not found, the type of harm doer influenced the way people interpreted harmful social encounters. Participants attributed both greater intentionality and blame to peer than authority perpetrators. Also, in the case of peer perpetrators, blame ascription was higher than judgements of intentionality, which was the opposite pattern for authority perpetrators, where judgements of intentionality was greater than ascribed blame. In regard to encoding, participants independently of the type of harm doer looked significantly longer at faces than at objects in violent scenes. Our results suggest the status of perpetrator influences judgements of harm independent of intrapersonal factors, like primed self-construal. Moreover, people perceived as authority figures are not blamed for the hurtful action, despite attributed intentionality.
Data Hazards as an ethical toolkit for neuroscience
Authors: Roman Garcia Susana , Welsh Ceilidh , Di Cara Nina H. , Sterratt David , Romano Nicola , Stefan Melanie I
Published: March 2024

The Data Hazards framework is intended to encourage thinking about the ethical implications of data science projects. It takes the form of community-designed data hazard labels, similar to warning labels on chemicals, that can encourage reflection and discussion on what ethical risks are associated with a project and how they can be mitigated. In this article, we explain how the Data Hazards framework can apply to neuroscience. We demonstrate how the hazard labels can be applied to one of our own projects, on the computational modelling of postsynaptic mechanisms.
Gender role portrayals in television advertisements: Do channel characteristics matter?
Authors: Karsay Kathrin , Matthes Jörg , Fröhlich Valerie
Published: March 2024

With the present study we investigated the role of channel characteristics in regard to gender role portrayals in television advertisements. Drawing on cultivation theory and social cognitive theory, we investigated six key variables in this line of research. We sampled a total of N = 1022 advertisements from four Austrian television channels: a public service channel, a commercial channel, and one commercial special interest channel for men and for women, respectively. Our results replicate well-known stereotypic gender role portrayals prevalent in television advertisements. The public service channel and the private channel did not differentiate from each other with regards to gender stereotyping. We found that a channel with a female target group aired advertisements containing the same or even amplified stereotypes compared to a male channel. The potential negative effects of stereotypic gender role portrayals in television advertisements are discussed.
Framing for action? Assessing microplastic-related threat potential for planetary health as a political participation catalyzer
Authors: Bruckmann Robert Wolfgang , Huber Janina , Maur Kira
Published: March 2024

As the 1.5-degree goal threatens to grow more distant, the need to address human behavior in strategies to mitigate climate change further increases. With recent evidence indicating harmful effects of microplastic exposure to human and natural systems, we tested based on Rogers’ Protection Motivation Theory whether planetary health framing, which is considered a promising tool for climate change communication, is suitable for raising concerns about the issue. Following a mixed-methods design, we employed a 2 x 2 between-subjects vignette experiment (N = 898) to explore the connection between planetary health framing and one’s intention to participate politically across different levels of psychological distance, while strengthening the understanding of the behavior itself. Therefore, we subjected 1,992 open-text responses to a qualitative analysis assessing which dimensions of political participation are considered relevant, and what obstacles populate the gap between intention to participate and actual participation. The experimental data shows that varying the planetary health condition does not result in significant differences, whereas distance framing showed an inversed effect pattern contrary to what our hypotheses expected. This highlights the urgent need for further research on planetary health as a framing subject. The qualitative findings on behavior dimensions provide an enriched proposal for adapting existing instruments to measure political participation in a variety of public life contexts. Data on barriers to political participation show various internal and external reasons that can be used to develop a scale for response costs, which could lead to a more comprehensive model of political participation readiness in the context of planetary health framing.
Spacetime (in)attention for applied psychology
Authors: Horne George , Mogridge Christoper , Sharpe Benjamin T
Published: March 2024

Applied psychology is fragmented and often looked down upon by other more research-driven disciplines. This is perhaps understandable with clinical, sports, performance psychology articles habitually lacking clear theoretical underpinnings and thus trying to understand and change behaviour without defining what behaviour is. We look to remedy these issues by building on existing meta-theories of applied psychology and providing an alternate theoretical underpinning of cognitive psychology. We present attention as our core behaviour process to meaningful behaviour and behaviour change and model (in)attention as a contextual process across time and space. In line with previous applied psychology research, we also identify two distinct (in)attention processes - how much initial attention people give an activity, and how quickly that wanes. We then apply our spacetime theory to inattention within neurodiversity to highlight how contextual differences can influence attention at different levels. With this article, we hope to unify and strengthen applied psychology fields within a process-based approach to behavioural change.
Intelligence: From sensations to Contrast, Opposition and Numbers
Authors: Raykowski Wes
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTWhile neuroscience dissects the brain's intricate circuitry, and psychology studies the intricate interplay of internal thoughts and external actions, cognitive linguistics delves into the embodied expressions through which private sensations and thoughts are transformed into public forms in arts, engineering, science, mathematics, and natural language. This approach seeks to understand how the body shapes the communication of knowledge, concepts, and experiences among people and contributes to the extended concept of intelligence.
Partner selection and evolution of out-group avoidance
Authors: Takesue Hirofumi
Published: March 2024

The preferential treatment of in-group members is widely observed. This study examines this phenomenon in the domain of cooperation in social dilemmas using evolutionary agent-based models that consider the role of partner selection. The model considers a repeated prisoner's dilemma game, in which agents belong to one of two groups that are distinguished by the continuation probability of pair interactions. On the basis of the behavior in the last round and the group affiliation of the partner, each individual selects to cooperate, defect, or stop interactions and search for a different partner. The results of simulation demonstrated that agents adopt cooperative strategies, including tit-for-tat and out-for-tat, toward in-group members. By contrast, agents stop interactions immediately after pair formation without observing their partner's behavior when they are paired with an out-group individual. Higher continuation probability with in-group partners hinders interaction with out-group individuals. Our results imply the importance of avoidance in intergroup interactions in social dilemmas and might explain in-group favoritism without enmity toward out-groups.
Efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy versus case management for psychological distress in help-seeking adolescents and young adults in Singapore: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Foo Cheryl Yunn Shee , Tianyi Hui , Ngaiman Nur Khairunisa Binte , Dahjalarrajah Darshan s/o , Chian Chua Yi , Ping Lee Yi , Abdin Edimansyah , Vaingankar Janhavi , Zheng Charmaine Tang Yu
Published: March 2024

Introduction: There are insufficient scalable, evidence-based treatments to meet the increasing mental health needs of young persons in Singapore. Offering interim, brief interventions for distressed treatment-seekers can improve care access and mitigate adverse effects of long waiting times. This study proposes to test the efficacy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), a strengths-based, goal-directed intervention, for psychological distress in help-seeking adolescents and young adults. Methods: We will conduct a fully-powered, randomised, single-centre, two-armed, parallel, superiority, controlled trial. From September 2023 to March 2025, the study will recruit 124 participants (ages 16-30) presenting at a national youth mental health service in Singapore (CHAT, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health) with clinically-assessed non-specific psychological distress, subthreshold or prodromal symptoms, or a first episode of a mood disorder. Participants will be excluded if they have high suicidal risk, psychosis, cognitive impairments, or current psychological treatments. Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive six-session, case manager-delivered SFBT or treatment as usual (TAU), case management. Participants receiving SFBT are hypothesized to have greater improvements in self-reported psychological distress, from baseline to eight weeks, compared to the control group. Secondary outcomes are self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment. The study will additionally explore if SFBT is associated with: 1) increased self-efficacy and decreased hopelessness; 2) decreased downstream referrals at post-intervention; and 3) sustained clinical gains at three months post-intervention, compared to TAU. Significance: Results have implications for expanding capacity of mental health services and enhancing capabilities of frontline case managers to provide timely and low-intensity evidence-based interventions to improve the mental health of young persons in Singapore.
Supporting multilingualism in immigrant children: An integrative approach
Authors: Weisleder Adriana , Reinoso Alejandra , Standley Murielle , Alvarez-Hernandez Krystal , Villanueva Anele
Published: March 2024

Immigrant children are a growing and demographically important segment of the world's population. One key aspect of immigrant children's experience is navigating multiple languages, creating both opportunities, and challenges. However, the literature on bilingualism rarely centers the experiences of immigrant children. Focusing on immigrant children in the United States, this article brings together cognitive science research on bilingualism with the integrative risk and resilience model of adaptation in immigrant-origin children to elucidate how common contexts that immigrant children encounter can support or discourage multilingualism. Policy must consider immigrant children's intersecting identities—both as immigrants and as learners of minoritized, and often racialized, languages. A proposed framework can guide policies to support multilingualism in immigrant children, with downstream consequences for their health and development.
Public Harassment of Runners in the United States: Differences by Gender and Sexual Orientation
Authors: Davis Cassandra Nicole , Huber Kayla A , Frazier Pat
Published: March 2024

We investigated runners’ experiences of public harassment and the association between gender and sexual orientation and harassment. We hypothesized that cisgender women and LGBQ+ individuals would report more harassment, fear of harassment, and behavioral changes than cisgender men and straight individuals. Adult United States runners (N = 1,645, primarily cisgender women) completed an online survey assessing lifetime and past-year experiences of harassment, fear, behavioral changes, and harassment attributions. Most participants (84.2%) reported at least one form of harassment while running (M = 3.55 types). Gender interacted with sexual orientation such that sexual minority cisgender women reported significantly more lifetime and past-year harassment than straight cisgender women (gs = 0.44–0.45). For fear and behavioral changes, only gender was significant, with cisgender women reporting more fear and behavioral changes than cisgender men (gs = 0.99–1.06). Cisgender women also were more likely than cisgender men to attribute the harassment to gender (ϕ = .70). LGBQ+ individuals reported significantly more attributions to sexual orientation (ϕ = .16) than straight individuals but not more fear or behavioral changes. This study, the largest investigation of harassment among runners, highlights the need for prevention campaigns to make public spaces safer for all runners.
6-Point Self-Discipline Formula for mastering self-discipline very effectively
Authors: Krishna Gopal
Published: March 2024

I propose a new 6-Point Self-Discipline Formula for mastering self-discipline very effectively in this paper. I invented it after finding my own self-discipline being less than perfect thanks to distraction due to internet and social media. But I made it so good that I genuinely feel that anyone can use this formula to develop any good habit and give up any bad habit in at most 30 days to 100 days of sincere practice. My own self-discipline has become quite satisfactory now thanks to this formula and, hence, I am publishing this to the wider psychology research community for them to do RCTs on it and for popular dissemination!
Math language matters: mathematical verbal skills, not analog representation of nonsymbolic magnitudes, predict symbolic fraction abilities in primary school children
Authors: Park Yunji , Matthews Percival G
Published: March 2024

Fractions knowledge is widely recognized as a key building block for developing mathematical competence. However, many children face difficulties learning fractions. Recognizing these challenges, researchers have sought potential leverage points to enhance children’s fraction learning. In the present study, we investigated the relative contributions of verbal skills vs. non-verbal, nonsymbolic number processing to 5th- and 6th- grade children’s fractions skills. Specifically, we compared two mathematical verbal skills—transcoding and mathematics vocabulary—and two skills representing nonsymbolic analog magnitudes—approximate number sense acuity and acuity for processing non-symbolic ratios. To assess children’s symbolic fraction abilities, we used an experimental fraction arithmetic error detection task alongside a fraction magnitude comparison task, with fractions stimuli composed of two-digit components. Critically, mathematics vocabulary was the only predictor of interest that significantly predicted performance on both the error detection and comparison tasks. Our findings underscore the importance of mathematical verbal skills in supporting children’s fraction abilities, perhaps implicating their role in fostering conceptual understanding, while indicating a limited role for analog representational skills.
The Web-based Open-access Reliable Decision on Synonyms (WORDS) English Vocabulary Test
Authors: Chen Po-Heng , Hulme Rachael Catherine , Blott Lena Maria , Rodd Jennifer M
Published: March 2024

A quick and reliable test of vocabulary knowledge is a vital component of many studies looking at a range of language processing skills. Recent proliferation of online (web-based) research has generated a growing need for reliable open-access vocabulary tests that can be administered online. This data report presents the newly developed 30-item Web-based Open-access Reliable Decision on Synonyms (WORDS) English Vocabulary Test. In Experiment 1, we tested 109 participants (age range: 18-69 years) on an initial set of 51 potential multiple-choice test items in which participants read a target word (e.g., ubiquitous) and selected a (near-)synonym (e.g., omnipresent) from among three semantically unrelated foils (e.g., interpersonal, catatonic, voluminous). We conducted an item response theory analysis of participants’ accuracy data to select an optimal subset of 30 items to include in the final version of the test. In Experiment 2, we verified the reliability of this 30-item version in a different sample (N = 121; 18-79 years); reliability (internal consistency) was good (Cronbach’s α = 0.82). We confirmed that, consistent with numerous previous studies, (1) responses were more accurate and quicker for more frequent compared to less frequent words, and (2) older adults showed greater vocabulary knowledge compared to younger adults. The WORDS test takes on average 4 minutes (5 minutes 40 seconds including consent/debrief) to complete. It can be freely accessed via Gorilla Open Materials (https://app.gorilla.sc/openmaterials/694887), allowing ease of use and for useful comparisons between data collected by different researchers.
Multi-Level Interventions that Protect and Promote Youth Autonomy Could Reduce Depression at Scale
Authors: Schleider Jessica L. , Fox Kathryn
Published: March 2024

Depression is a major public health problem among adolescents and pre-adolescents in the United States (US). Clinical scientists have spent considerable resources designing and testing depression interventions. However, due to low access to treatment for depression (more than 50% of adolescents with depression symptoms never access treatment at all) and the heterogeneity of depression itself (a major depression diagnosis reflects >1400 possible symptom combinations), none have led to meaningful declines in depression’s overall burdens for adolescents. Rates of depression appear to be increasing, potentially more rapidly in adolescents compared to older groups in the US. Status-quo approaches are unlikely to sustainably improve adolescent depression. We propose that a critical and often overlooked contributor to this shortfall is youth autonomy—a key, developmentally-aligned need for adolescents—to reduce rates of depression at the population level. During adolescence, individuals begin to separate from their parents, guardians, and caregivers (hereafter caregivers), and make decisions independently. This process is critical for healthy identity formation, self-efficacy, and mental health—including prevention and reduction of depression. Youth autonomy is among myriad multi-level factors relevant to depression trajectories. However, unlike many social and structural contributors to depression, youths’ perceived autonomy is relatively modifiable through individual-level intervention, making it a promising intervention target. The psychosocial importance of youth autonomy stands in sharp contrast to modern policies and structures which undermine youth independence and control—including within many existing depression interventions. We summarize how existing youth depression interventions and mental health systems may inadvertently undermine youth autonomy. We then suggest strategies for redesigning existing interventions and policies in ways that directly promote adolescent autonomy, and in turn, help reduce depression at scale.
Models of human learning should capture the complexity of natural communication
Authors: Kosie Jessica Elizabeth , Nencheva Mira L , Junge Justin , Lew-Williams Casey
Published: March 2024

Children do not learn language from language alone. Instead, children learn from social interactions with multidimensional communicative cues that occur dynamically across timescales. A wealth of research using in-lab experiments and brief audio recordings has made progress in explaining early cognitive and communicative development, but these approaches are limited in their ability to capture the rich diversity of children’s early experience. Large language models represent a powerful approach for understanding how language can be learned from massive amounts of textual (and in some cases visual) data, but they have near-zero access to the actual, lived complexity of children’s everyday input. We assert the need for more descriptive research that densely samples the natural dynamics of children’s everyday communicative environments in order to grasp the long-stand mystery of how young children learn, including their language development. With the right multimodal data, researchers will be able to go beyond large language models to build developmentally-grounded efficient communication models that truly take into account the complexity of children’s diverse environments.
Cognitive performance in functional neurological disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Millman L. S. Merritt , Williams Isobel A , Jungilligens Johannes , Pick Susannah
Published: March 2024

Background: Cognitive complaints are common in functional neurological disorder (FND), but it is unclear whether objective neurocognitive deficits are present. This systematic review summarised validated/standardised cognitive test performance in FND samples across cognitive domains. Methods: Embase, PsycInfo and MEDLINE were searched from inception to 15th May 2023, combining terms for FND and cognitive domains (e.g., attention, memory, executive functioning). Studies included a range of FND phenotypes (seizures, motor, cognitive disorder, mixed), compared to healthy or clinical controls. Risk of bias was assessed with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and a qualitative synthesis/narrative review of cognitive performance in FND was conducted. Test performance scores were extracted, and random-effects meta-analyses were run where appropriate. This review was registered on PROSPERO, CRD42023423139.Results: Fifty-six studies including2260 individuals with FND were eligible. Although evidence for some impairments emerged across domains of executive functioning, attention, memory, and psychomotor/processing speed, this was inconsistent across studies and FND phenotypes. Common confounds included group differences in demographics, medication, and intellectual functioning. Only 24% of studies objectively assessed performance validity. Meta-analyses revealed higher scores on tests of naming (g=.67, 95%CI [.50, .84]) and long-term memory (g=.43, 95%CI [.13, .74]) in functional seizures versus epilepsy, but no significant differences in working (g=-.08, 95%CI [-.44, .29]) or immediate (g=.25, 95%CI [-.02, .53]) memory and cognitive flexibility (g=-.01, 95%CI [-.29, .28]). Conclusions: There is mixed evidence for objective cognitive deficits in FND. Future research should control for confounds, include tests of performance validity, and assess relationships between objective and subjective neurocognitive functioning.
Intergroup Exclusion Elicits Levels of Distress and Hostility Similar to Interpersonal Exclusion
Authors: Vidal Luis Marcos , Todorova Boryana , Atran Scott , Pretus Clara
Published: March 2024

Marginalizing social groups has been identified as one of the main drivers of violent extremism across countries. However, most psychological research has focused on interpersonal rather than intergroup effects to understand the link between social exclusion and aggression. We compared the effects of intergroup and interpersonal using RateME, a new task designed to dissociate both types of exclusion, and Cyberball in a sample of 1200 UK residents. Intergroup exclusion elicited by RateME and interpersonal exclusion elicited by both RateME and Cyberball were independently associated with increased psychological distress and state hostility, regardless of participants’ degree of identification with the group. Exclusion of either type also increased collective narcissism, especially in participants who had experienced higher levels of psychological distress. Our work reveals similar detrimental psychological effects of intergroup exclusion compared to interpersonal exclusion, highlighting intergroup exclusion as a risk factor for mental health with potential implications for violent extremism.
Neural Signatures of Promotion and Prevention Goal Activation in Adolescence
Authors: Daffre Carol , Detloff Allison , Brewster Ann , Strauman Timothy J.
Published: March 2024

Adolescence is a period of profound growth in self-evaluative and interpersonal capacities, as youth seek to develop their identity. One such capacity is the pursuit of personal goals, which is a fundamental psychological activity for both adults and adolescents. Functional MRI studies in adults have identified patterns of BOLD activation associated with self-regulation of personal goal pursuit, but to our knowledge there are no studies to using fMRI to examine BOLD responses to personal goals in adolescence. Using regulatory focus theory, which distinguishes between self-regulation modes of promotion and prevention, Detloff and colleagues (2020) observed both shared and unique regions of activation associated with idiographically assessed promotion vs. prevention goal priming, as well as variations in BOLD response depending on whether participants believed they were or were not making progress toward attaining the goal. We conducted a replication study using the identical procedures as Detloff et al. in a sample of 47 healthy adolescents. We observed significant overlap between adolescent and adult neural activation during promotion and prevention priming in regions associated with higher-order cognition such as the insula, thalamus, and the post-central gyrus. Nonetheless, adolescents also demonstrated unique neural activation in regions related to the processing of social stimuli, such as the temporoparietal junction, medial prefrontal cortex, and the angular and supramarginal gyrus. The findings enrich and extend our understanding regarding the nature of personal goal pursuit and identity-related self-regulation during adolescence.
Priming (dis)Belief in Free Will with Illusionism
Authors: Peng Wei , Cracco Emiel , kuhn Gustav , Pailhes Alice , Brass Marcel
Published: March 2024

AbstractPrevious research underscores the significance of free will belief in influencing a spectrum of socially relevant behaviors. To dissect the causal dynamics underpinning this belief, numerous paradigms have been devised. Yet, these interventions often yield marginal and nonspecific effects in free will belief. This study aims to pioneer a novel approach, employing illusionism-based approach, to manipulate free will belief and examine its downstream effects on social behaviors. In our initial exploration, we utilized an illusionist technique, transcending mere magic tricks, to cultivate or diminish free will belief among participants, aligning them with pro- or anti-free will stances, respectively. This intervention demonstrated a moderate, yet targeted, impact on the belief in free will, distinctively affecting it without spilling over to associated beliefs like determinism and dualism. A subsequent experiment sought to validate these effects and probe their potential influence on social bias, particularly the fundamental attribution error. Results echoed the manipulation's consistent sway on free will belief, albeit without extending to influence the fundamental attribution error. Collectively, our findings illuminate the capacity of illusionism to finely tune free will belief, albeit revealing scant evidence for a direct conduit from such beliefs to social behavior patterns.
A student’s guide for effective study strategies: Theoretic background to hands-on ideas for implementing effective study strategies.
Authors: Blankestijn Jori , Braam Myrthe , McCabe Nathan , Wilschut Thomas
Published: March 2024

In "A Student's Guide for Effective Study Strategies” we provide insights in both theoretical backgrounds and practical applications of learning strategies that support efficient learning. The paper discusses methods such as spaced practice, interleaving, elaboration, dual coding, and retrieval practice, and underlines the benefits of the combination of these strategies for optimal learning. We also cover common pitfalls such as procrastination and cramming.The paper offers solutions to these common problems such as task breakdown, creating a conducive study environment, and treating mistakes as learning opportunities. The text also introduces hands-on ideas for implementing practice strategies, such as free recall, early testing, using flashcards, and personalized learning algorithms. By combining theoretical insights with practical tips, the whitepaper offers students a useful guide to improving their study efficiency and promoting long-term retention.