scholarly journals Reactivity in social scientific experiments: what is it and how is it different (and worse) than a Placebo effect?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
María Jiménez-Buedo
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Placebo Effect ◽  
Placebo Effects ◽  
Causal Inferences ◽  
Scientific Experiments ◽  
Social Scientific ◽  
The Many ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
In Virtue Of

AbstractReactivity, or the phenomenon by which subjects tend to modify their behavior in virtue of their being studied upon, is often cited as one of the most important difficulties involved in social scientific experiments, and yet, there is to date a persistent conceptual muddle when dealing with the many dimensions of reactivity. This paper offers a conceptual framework for reactivity that draws on an interventionist approach to causality. The framework allows us to offer an unambiguous definition of reactivity and distinguishes it from placebo effects. Further, it allows us to distinguish between benign and malignant forms of the phenomenon, depending on whether reactivity constitutes a danger to the validity of the causal inferences drawn from experimental data.

Religious Narrative

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
Armin Geertz
Keyword(s):  
Special Issue ◽  
Human Communication ◽  
Religious Narrative ◽  
The Many ◽  
Definition Of

This introduction to the special issue on narrative discusses various ways of approaching religious narrative. It looks at various evolutionary hypotheses and distinguishes between three fundamental aspects of narrative: 1. the neurobiological, psychological, social and cultural mechanisms and processes, 2. the many media and methods used in human communication, and 3. the variety of expressive genres. The introduction ends with a definition of narrative.

Simultaneous heat and mass transfer during evaporation from a film of liquid into the turbulent gas

1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 766-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Kolář ◽  
Jan Červenka
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Liquid Film ◽  
Heat And Mass Transfer ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Proper Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Simultaneous Heat ◽  
Theory And Experiment

The paper presents results obtained by processing a series of published experimental data on heat and mass transfer during evaporation of pure liquids from the free board of a liquid film into the turbulent gas phone. The data has been processed on the basis of the earlier theory of mechanism of heat and mass transfer. In spite of the fact that this process exhibits a strong Stefan's flow, the results indicate that with a proper definition of the driving forces the agreement between theory and experiment is very good.

scholarly journals Has the Credibility of the Social Sciences Been Credibly Destroyed? Reanalyzing the “Many Analysts, One Data Set” Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237802312110244
Author(s):  
Katrin Auspurg ◽  
Josef Brüderl
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Causal Reasoning ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Skin Tone ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Many ◽  
Definition Of

In 2018, Silberzahn, Uhlmann, Nosek, and colleagues published an article in which 29 teams analyzed the same research question with the same data: Are soccer referees more likely to give red cards to players with dark skin tone than light skin tone? The results obtained by the teams differed extensively. Many concluded from this widely noted exercise that the social sciences are not rigorous enough to provide definitive answers. In this article, we investigate why results diverged so much. We argue that the main reason was an unclear research question: Teams differed in their interpretation of the research question and therefore used diverse research designs and model specifications. We show by reanalyzing the data that with a clear research question, a precise definition of the parameter of interest, and theory-guided causal reasoning, results vary only within a narrow range. The broad conclusion of our reanalysis is that social science research needs to be more precise in its “estimands” to become credible.

Placebos and Movies: What Do They Have in Common?

2021 ◽  
pp. 096372142110038
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Benedetti
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Common Sense ◽  
Placebo Effect ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
General Framework ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Placebo Effects ◽  
What Matters

Placebos are fake therapies that can induce real therapeutic effects, called placebo effects. It goes without saying that what matters for inducing a placebo effect is not so much the fake treatment itself, but rather the therapeutic ritual that is carried out, which is capable of triggering psychobiological mechanisms in the patient’s brain. Both laypersons and scientists often accept the phenomenon of the placebo effect with reluctance, as fiction-induced clinical improvements are at odds with common sense. However, it should be emphasized that placebo effects are not surprising after all if one considers that fiction-induced physiological effects occur in everyday life. Movies provide one of the best examples of how fictitious reality can induce psychological and physiological responses, such as fear, love, and tears. In the same way that a horror movie induces fear-related physiological responses, even though the viewer knows everything is fake, so the sight of a syringe may trigger the release of pain-relieving chemicals in the patient’s brain, even if the patient knows there is a fake painkiller inside. From this perspective, placebos can be better conceptualized as rituals, actions, and fictions within a more general framework that emphasizes the power of psychological factors in everyday life, including the healing context.

scholarly journals THE METHOD OF INCREMENTS — A WAVEFUNCTION-BASED AB-INITIO CORRELATION METHOD FOR SOLIDS

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (13n14) ◽  
pp. 2204-2214 ◽  
Author(s):  
BEATE PAULUS
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Ab Initio ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Infinite System ◽  
Correlation Energy ◽  
Correlation Method ◽  
Many Body ◽  
Hartree Fock ◽  
The Many ◽  
Good Agreement

The method of increments is a wavefunction-based ab initio correlation method for solids, which explicitly calculates the many-body wavefunction of the system. After a Hartree-Fock treatment of the infinite system the correlation energy of the solid is expanded in terms of localised orbitals or of a group of localised orbitals. The method of increments has been applied to a great variety of materials with a band gap, but in this paper the extension to metals is described. The application to solid mercury is presented, where we achieve very good agreement of the calculated ground-state properties with the experimental data.

The SWORFISH Project Approach for Modeling Wood Material Modifications in Timber Structures

2013 ◽  
Vol 778 ◽  
pp. 418-423
Author(s):  
Jakub Sandak ◽  
Anna Sandak ◽  
Mariapaola Riggio ◽  
Ilaria Santoni ◽  
Dusan Pauliny
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Surface Finishing ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Original Material ◽  
Timber Structures ◽  
Wood Material ◽  
Project Approach ◽  
Special Software ◽  
Definition Of

A special software simulating changes to wood due to various processes (either treatment or degradation) has been developed within the SWORFISH (Superb Wood Surface Finishing) project. The definition of the material modifications due to processes is based on the expert knowledge and/or experimental data. The dedicated algorithm simulates material modifications (with a special focus on surface) taking into account original material characteristics (evaluated by means of NDT techniques) and setting of process parameters. In this way, it is possible to analyze the sequence of processes (i.e. material modifications) and to estimate properties of the resulting product. Two case studies are presented for illustration of the potential uses of the SWORFISH approach in the field of timber structures.

Measurement of Angular Acceleration of a Rigid Body Using Linear Accelerometers

1975 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 552-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Padgaonkar ◽  
K. W. Krieger ◽  
A. I. King
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Rigid Body ◽  
Simple Procedure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Angular Acceleration ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Body Segments ◽  
Impact Biomechanics ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Definition Of

The computation of angular acceleration of a rigid body from measured linear accelerations is a simple procedure, based on well-known kinematic principles. It can be shown that, in theory, a minimum of six linear accelerometers are required for a complete definition of the kinematics of a rigid body. However, recent attempts in impact biomechanics to determine general three-dimensional motion of body segments were unsuccessful when only six accelerometers were used. This paper demonstrates the cause for this inconsistency between theory and practice and specifies the conditions under which the method fails. In addition, an alternate method based on a special nine-accelerometer configuration is proposed. The stability and superiority of this approach are shown by the use of hypothetical as well as experimental data.

The 3 C's of the Circular Economy for Food. A conceptual framework for circular design in the food system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Fassio
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Food System ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Circular Design

Food, the basic connecting unit of all the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, plays a crucial role in the ecological transition towards a circular economic paradigm. This paper takes scientific considerations as a starting point in order to contribute to the definition of a theoretical-operational framework in which to grow the Circular Economy for Food. This is a still-open question in a sector of the circular economy that is emerging as vital to sustainable development. The 3 C's of Capital, Cyclicality and Co-evolution offer a systemic, holistic vision of the food system's role. Within this conceptual framework, the designers can find the main boundaries of the system, within which to express their creativity. The aim must be to avoid damaging relationships with the best supplier of raw material known to humanity (Nature), respecting planetary boundaries and at the same time offering a fair space to civil society.

Bridging the Gap Between "Science" and "Security"

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64
Author(s):  
Jonathan Fighel
Keyword(s):  
Research Methodologies ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Concept Definition ◽  
Security Research ◽  
Is Security ◽  
The Many ◽  
Definition Of

Security is multidimensional in nature and diverse in practice. This diversity leads to difficulty in providing a single all-encompassing definition for the many applied domains of security. Security cannot be considered singular in concept definition, as definition is dependent on applied context. Security incorporates diverse and multi-disciplined actors, originating and practicing across many disciplines. This multidimensional nature of security results unclear understanding of a definition for the concept of security. Bridging the gap between the traditional definitions of science and the undefined definition of what is Security can be achieved through Scientific Security Research methodologies that will be engaged and implemented in the exploration, analysis and conclusions of the systematic and organized body of knowledge.

Reporting altered test results in hemolyzed samples: is the cure worse than the disease?

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 1112-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lippi ◽  
Gianfranco Cervellin ◽  
Mario Plebani
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Reliable Data ◽  
Test Results ◽  
The Past ◽  
Laboratory Test Results ◽  
Performance Specifications ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Many ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractThe management of laboratory data in unsuitable (hemolyzed) samples remains an almost unresolved dilemma. Whether or not laboratory test results obtained by measuring unsuitable specimens should be made available to the clinicians has been the matter of fierce debates over the past decades. Recently, an intriguing alternative to suppressing test results and recollecting the specimen has been put forward, entailing the definition and implementation of specific algorithms that would finally allow reporting a preanalytically altered laboratory value within a specific comment about its uncertainty of measurement. This approach carries some advantages, namely the timely communication of potentially life-threatening laboratory values, but also some drawbacks. These especially include the challenging definition of validated performance specifications for hemolyzed samples, the need to producing reliable data with the lowest possible uncertainty, the short turnaround time for repeating most laboratory tests, the risk that the comments may be overlooked in short-stay and frequently overcrowded units (e.g. the emergency department), as well as the many clinical advantages of a direct communication with the physician in charge of the patient. Despite the debate remains open, we continue supporting the suggestion that suppressing data in unsuitable (hemolyzed) samples and promptly notifying the clinicians about the need to recollect the samples remains the most (clinically and analytically) safe practice.

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