Methodological Considerations in Cognitive Science

Language as a mental travel guide

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19003182 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

Author(s):

Charles P. Davis ◽

Gerry T. M. Altmann ◽

Eiling Yee

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Science ◽

Human Cognition ◽

Travel Guide

Abstract Gilead et al.'s approach to human cognition places abstraction and prediction at the heart of “mental travel” under a “representational diversity” perspective that embraces foundational concepts in cognitive science. But, it gives insufficient credit to the possibility that the process of abstraction produces a gradient, and underestimates the importance of a highly influential domain in predictive cognition: language, and related, the emergence of experientially based structure through time.

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Cognitive Science and Ancient Israelite Religion

10.1017/9781108767972 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Brett E. Maiden

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Science ◽

Israelite Religion

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Embodiment and Cognitive Science

10.1017/cbo9780511805844 ◽

2005 ◽

Cited By ~ 276

Author(s):

Raymond W. Gibbs, Jr

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Science

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Maternal Perception of Infants’ Expressions of Emotion

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000008 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 173-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Martin Krippl ◽

Stephanie Ast-Scheitenberger ◽

Ina Bovenschen ◽

Gottfried Spangler

Keyword(s):

Response Pattern ◽

Electrodermal Activity ◽

Startle Amplitude ◽

Caregiving System ◽

Parental Caregiving ◽

Opponent Process ◽

Opponent Process Theory ◽

Valence And Arousal ◽

Methodological Considerations

In light of Lang’s differentiation of the aversive and the approach system – and assumptions stemming from attachment theory – this study investigates the role of the approach or caregiving system for processing infant emotional stimuli by comparing IAPS pictures, infant pictures, and videos. IAPS pictures, infant pictures, and infant videos of positive, neutral, or negative content were presented to 69 mothers, accompanied by randomized startle probes. The assessment of emotional responses included subjective ratings of valence and arousal, corrugator activity, the startle amplitude, and electrodermal activity. In line with Lang’s original conception, the typical startle response pattern was found for IAPS pictures, whereas no startle modulation was observed for infant pictures. Moreover, the startle amplitudes during negative video scenes depicting crying infants were reduced. The results are discussed with respect to several theoretical and methodological considerations, including Lang’s theory, emotion regulation, opponent process theory, and the parental caregiving system.

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Effectiveness of Programs for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000379 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Amaia Del Campo ◽

Marisalva Fávero

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

New Zealand ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

The United States ◽

Sexual Abuse Prevention ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Methodological Considerations

Abstract. During the last decades, several studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of sexual abuse prevention programs implemented in different countries. In this article, we present a review of 70 studies (1981–2017) evaluating prevention programs, conducted mostly in the United States and Canada, although with a considerable presence also in other countries, such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The results of these studies, in general, are very promising and encourage us to continue this type of intervention, almost unanimously confirming its effectiveness. Prevention programs encourage children and adolescents to report the abuse experienced and they may help to reduce the trauma of sexual abuse if there are victims among the participants. We also found that some evaluations have not considered the possible negative effects of this type of programs in the event that they are applied inappropriately. Finally, we present some methodological considerations as critical analysis to this type of evaluations.

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Challenges of Fear Conditioning Research in the Age of RDoC

Zeitschrift für Psychologie ◽

10.1027/2151-2604/a000303 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 225 (3) ◽

pp. 189-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Tina B. Lonsdorf ◽

Jan Richter

Keyword(s):

Fear Conditioning ◽

Clinical Diagnosis ◽

Research Domain Criteria ◽

Major Focus ◽

The Future ◽

Definition Of ◽

Methodological Considerations ◽

Research Domain

Abstract. As the criticism of the definition of the phenotype (i.e., clinical diagnosis) represents the major focus of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, it is somewhat surprising that discussions have not yet focused more on specific conceptual and procedural considerations of the suggested RDoC constructs, sub-constructs, and associated paradigms. We argue that we need more precise thinking as well as a conceptual and methodological discussion of RDoC domains and constructs, their interrelationships as well as their experimental operationalization and nomenclature. The present work is intended to start such a debate using fear conditioning as an example. Thereby, we aim to provide thought-provoking impulses on the role of fear conditioning in the age of RDoC as well as conceptual and methodological considerations and suggestions to guide RDoC-based fear conditioning research in the future.

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