Capturing moment-to-moment changes in multivariate human experience

In this article, we aim to shed light on a technique to study intra-individual variability that spans the time frame of seconds and minutes, i.e., micro-level development. This form of variability is omnipresent in behavioural development and processes of human experience, yet is often ignored in empirical studies, given a lack of proper analysis tools. The current article illustrates that a clustering technique called Kohonen’s Self-Organizing Maps (SOM), which is widely used in fields outside of psychology, is an accessible technique that can be used to capture intra-individual variability of multivariate data. We illustrate this technique with a case study involving self-experience in the context of a parent–adolescent interaction. We show that, with techniques such as SOM, it is possible to reveal how multiple components of an intra-individual process (the adolescent’s self-affect and autonomy) are non-linearly connected across time, and how these relationships transition in accordance with a changing contextual factor (parental connectedness) during a single interaction. We aim to inspire researchers to adopt this technique and explore the intra-individual variability of more developmental processes, across a variety of domains, as deciphering such micro-level processes is crucial for understanding the nature of psychological and behavioural development.

Download Full-text

The application of social innovation in healthcare: a scoping review

Infectious Diseases of Poverty ◽

10.1186/s40249-021-00794-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lindi van Niekerk ◽

Lenore Manderson ◽

Dina Balabanova

Keyword(s):

Social Relations ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Social Innovation ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Health Sector ◽

Time Frame ◽

Cost Of Care ◽

Health Coverage ◽

Conceptual Clarity

Abstract Background Social innovation has been applied increasingly to achieve social goals, including improved healthcare delivery, despite a lack of conceptual clarity and consensus on its definition. Beyond its tangible artefacts to address societal and structural needs, social innovation can best be understood as innovation in social relations, in power dynamics and in governance transformations, and may include institutional and systems transformations. Methods A scoping review was conducted of empirical studies published in the past 10 years, to identify how social innovation in healthcare has been applied, the enablers and barriers affecting its operation, and gaps in the current literature. A number of disciplinary databases were searched between April and June 2020, including Academic Source Complete, CIHAHL, Business Source Complete Psych INFO, PubMed and Global Health. A 10-year publication time frame was selected and articles limited to English text. Studies for final inclusion was based on a pre-defined criteria. Results Of the 27 studies included in this review, the majority adopted a case research methodology. Half of these were from authors outside the health sector working in high-income countries (HIC). Social innovation was seen to provide creative solutions to address barriers associated with access and cost of care in both low- and middle-income countries and HIC settings in a variety of disease focus areas. Compared to studies in other disciplines, health researchers applied social innovation mainly from an instrumental and technocratic standpoint to foster greater patient and beneficiary participation in health programmes. No empirical evidence was presented on whether this process leads to empowerment, and social innovation was not presented as transformative. The studies provided practical insights on how implementing social innovation in health systems and practice can be enhanced. Conclusions Based on theoretical literature, social innovation has the potential to mobilise institutional and systems change, yet research in health has not yet fully explored this dimension. Thus far, social innovation has been applied to extend population and financial coverage, principles inherent in universal health coverage and central to SDG 3.8. However, limitations exist in conceptualising social innovation and applying its theoretical and multidisciplinary underpinnings in health research. Graphic abstract

Download Full-text

Beyond a Dichotomous Understanding of Online Anonymity: Bridging the Macro and Micro Level

Sociological Research Online ◽

10.1177/13607804211019760 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 136078042110197

Author(s):

Lina Eklund ◽

Emma von Essen ◽

Fatima Jonsson ◽

Magnus Johansson

Keyword(s):

Empirical Studies ◽

Online Auctions ◽

Future Research ◽

Plural Form ◽

Contentious Issue ◽

Online Anonymity ◽

Complex Process ◽

Theoretical Synthesis ◽

Micro Level ◽

Different Levels

Anonymity on the Internet is a contentious issue; by some seen as an important freedom to be protected, while others argue for increased identification to protect groups at risk of exploitation. The debate reflects a dichotomous view of online anonymity; you are, or you are not anonymous. However, anonymity is a complex process played out on different levels and defined by various actors. While empirical studies show this, theoretical synthesis is lacking. This essay provides perspective on anonymity online by comparing two critical cases, online auctions and online gaming, we corroborate results from a 4-year interdisciplinary project with researchers from sociology, economics, and computer and system sciences. We argue that one should talk about anonymities in plural form, as online anonymity is not a state but a relational process. We put forth a conceptual model, which unpacks online anonymity as interdependent macro structures – legal, commercial, and technological – and micro/meso facets – factual, social group, and physical – to be used in future research.

Download Full-text

Numerical Analysis of Unsteady Laminar Flow past a Pentagonal Obstacle

International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering ◽

10.30534/ijatcse/2021/691022021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 968-974

Keyword(s):

Laminar Flow ◽

Flow Direction ◽

Rectangular Channel ◽

Time Frame ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Fluid Inertia ◽

Time Step ◽

The Face ◽

Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽

Current Article

The current article dispenses the numerical investigation of a two dimensional unsteady laminar flow of incompressible fluid passing a regular pentagonal obstacle in an open rectangular channel. The centre of attention of this work is the comparison of drag coefficients estimated for two distinct cases based on the orientation of face and corner of an obstacle against the flow direction. The numerical results shows that the corner – oriented obstacle bring about 42% larger value of drag coefficient at Re = 500 than face – oriented obstacle. The substantial growth in the expanse of vortex behind obstacle (presented as a function of fluid inertia 25 < Re < 500) is analyzed through the contours and streamline patterns of velocity field. The two eddies in the downstream become entirely unsymmetrical at Re = 500 for both the cases, whereas; the flow separation phenomena occurs a bit earlier in the face – oriented case at Re = 250. Two dimensional Pressure – Based – Segregated solver is employed to model the governing equations written in velocity and pressure fields. The numerical simulations of unsteady flow are presented for 50 seconds time frame with time step 0.01 by using one of the best available commercial based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, ANSYS 15.0.

Download Full-text

Inspiring Poor Women to Empower Themselves

Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-1207-4.ch053 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 955-970

Author(s):

Keitseope Nthomang

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Intervention Strategies ◽

Policy Recommendations ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Poor Women ◽

Key Policy ◽

Micro Level ◽

The Impact ◽

Depth Interviews

Empirical studies on the impact of micro level intervention strategies on poverty among poor women in Botswana are lacking, yet women are a valuable asset for the economy of the country. Continued marginalization and disempowerment of women has become a serious problem which merit urgent attention. This article investigates the potential of the Grow Model in transforming the lives of 14 women who belong to the Kgopolano GROW Group in Molepolole, Botswana. Data was collected in May 2014 using primarily in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The analysis utilized both content and thematic approaches. The results showed how the Grow Model has inspired women to empower themselves and self-transform into productive and prosperous lives. The results affirm the strength of the GROW model in promoting empowerment for social change in marginalized contexts. Key policy recommendations recognizes the limitations of the GROW model and build on its strengths.

Download Full-text

Comparing Timber and Lumber from Plantation and Natural Stands of Ponderosa Pine

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/24.3.137 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 137-143

Author(s):

Eini C. Lowell ◽

Christine L. Todoroki ◽

Ed Thomas

Keyword(s):

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Small Diameter ◽

Tree Height ◽

Time Frame ◽

Active Management ◽

Natural Stand ◽

Crown Length ◽

Pine Trees ◽

Natural Stands

Abstract Data derived from empirical studies, coupled with modeling and simulation techniques, were used to compare tree and product quality from two stands of small-diameter ponderosa pine trees growing in northern California: one plantation, the other natural. The plantation had no management following establishment, and the natural stand had no active management. Fifty trees of similar diameter classes were selected from each site, measured, bucked into logs, and sawn into boards, and the boards were scanned for defects. Trees from the plantation stand demonstrated less variability in tree height, crown length, and age structure. The plantation trees were on average 4 years younger than their natural cohorts, yet for all but the smallest diameter there were no significant differences between mean tree height or crown length. Predicted merchantable volumes differed significantly for the largest diameter class. Merchantable volume was estimated to be 5% greater for the plantation trees than for the natural stand trees. More logs were bucked from the plantation stands, resulting in greater lumber production and greater value overall. Butt logs from the plantation stand had an average of 9 whorls per log, whereas natural butt logs averaged 10 whorls per log. The most numerous defects, outnumbering knots and wane, were needle traces. These occupied some 31% of natural board surface area, in comparison with 19% for plantation boards. Given the shorter time frame required to grow plantation trees, the greater merchantable volumes, and more consumer-acceptable defects, plantation stands, even with a minimal level of management, offer greater product potential than natural stands.

Download Full-text

Peacekeeping and development in fragile states: Micro-level evidence from Liberia

Journal of Peace Research ◽

10.1177/0022343320912813 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 002234332091281

Author(s):

Eric Mvukiyehe ◽

Cyrus Samii

Keyword(s):

Administrative Data ◽

Coming Out ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Macro Level ◽

Fragile States ◽

Exact Matching ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Fear Of Victimization ◽

Micro Level ◽

Peacekeeping Missions

Peacekeeping operations are integral to multilateral strategies to help establish stable, self-sustaining peace and development in countries coming out of civil war. While we know, from macro-level empirical studies, that these operations contribute to the durability of peace, the evidence on their effectiveness at the micro level remains scant. Using surveys and administrative data from postwar Liberia, we test the hypothesis that peacekeeping deployments build peace ‘from the bottom up’ through contributions to local security and local economic and social vitality. The hypothesis reflects official thinking about how peacekeeping works via ‘peacebuilding’. We create a quasi-experiment by applying coarsened exact matching to administrative data used in mission planning, identifying sets of communities that were similarly likely to receive bases. We do not find effects on local security measured in terms of physical victimization, fear of victimization, or migration patterns. We find only modest effects on socio-economic vitality. NGOs tend to work in areas where deployments are not present, contrary to the hypothesis. Thus, we are less inclined to believe that peacekeepers build peace from the bottom up, leaving macro-level mechanisms such as signaling and deterrence at the level of leaders as worthy of more attention. In terms of policy, peacekeeping missions should re-evaluate their methods for providing local security.

Download Full-text

How much bilingual experience is needed to affect executive control?

Applied Psycholinguistics ◽

10.1017/s0142716414000265 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 925-928 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Janet G. van Hell ◽

Gregory J. Poarch

Keyword(s):

Executive Control ◽

Musical Training ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Control Functions ◽

Age Related ◽

General Recommendation ◽

Key Issues ◽

Multiple Languages

A wealth of research on experience-related plasticity has shown that specific experiences, such as musical training (Herholz & Zatorre, 2012) or juggling (Draganski et al., 2004), can modify brain function and structure and induce long-term changes in cognitive behavior throughout the life span. In their comprehensive Keynote Article, Baum and Titone focus on the neural and cognitive implications of lifelong experience with multiple languages. They discuss empirical studies on bilingualism, executive control, and aging to enhance our understanding of the frequently observed executive control advantages in bilinguals and how lifelong bilingualism may contribute to the development of cognitive reserve and buffer age-related declines in executive control functions. In reframing these issues in terms of neuroplasticity, Baum and Titone propose to “embrace the inherent individual variability among bilinguals in all its glory” and identify key issues related to individual variability to pave the way to new avenues of research. We fully concur with Baum and Titone's general recommendation to embrace variability among bilinguals to advance our understanding of bilingualism, aging, and neuroplasticity, but we would like to particularly highlight the importance of the earlier stages of second language (L2) learning and the emergence of executive control advantages, a topic we believe has been understudied in this domain. How much bilingual experience is needed to affect executive control?

Download Full-text

Liquidity Risk and the Credit Crunch of 2007–2008: Evidence from Micro-Level Data on Mortgage Loan Applications

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis ◽

10.1017/s0022109016000740 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (6) ◽

pp. 1795-1822 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Adonis Antoniades

Keyword(s):

Important Determinant ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Liquidity Risk ◽

Mortgage Market ◽

Mortgage Loan ◽

Asset Risk ◽

Level Data ◽

Micro Level ◽

Credit Demand ◽

Loan Officers

Recent empirical studies have shown that during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, banks that were more heavily exposed to liquidity risk contracted their supply of credit more sharply. I contribute to the identification of this effect by relying on the use of micro-level data on U.S. mortgage loan applications, which allows me to identify liquidity risk as an important determinant of the contraction of credit in the mortgage market but as separate from the precipitous fall in credit demand, disruptions in the securitization and subprime markets, shifts in asset risk, and changing risk aversion among loan officers.

Download Full-text

A multi-methodological approach to studying time-pressure in written translation: Manipulation and measurement

Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies ◽

10.52034/lanstts.v19i0.548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

Author(s):

Yu Weng ◽

Binghan Zheng

Keyword(s):

Time Pressure ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Time Frame ◽

Subjective Time ◽

Translation Research ◽

Psychological Measures ◽

Task Instructions ◽

Psychometric Instruments ◽

Skin Response

The effect of time pressure on task performance of written translation has been researched since the 1990s. However, little attention has been paid to the methodological issues of manipulating and measuring time pressure in these empirical studies. To bridge this gap, we propose a methodological framework involving diverse approaches to time-pressure manipulation and measurement. Specifically, in addition to objectively constraining the time frame for a task, we present three subjective time-pressure manipulation strategies: giving pre-task instructions about time, increasing participants’ intrinsic motivation for the task, and visualizing the elapse of time. Meanwhile, a range of feasible methods of time-pressure measurement is structured from the physiological, psychological and behavioural perspectives. This includes physiological measures such as galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation and salivary cortisol test, psychological measures such as psychometric instruments and retrospective questionnaires, and behavioural measures such as eye movements and keystroke activities. Based on a thorough survey of existing studies and the merits borrowed from neighbouring disciplines, this article aims to strengthen and enrich the methodology of time-pressure studies and benefit future translation research on relevant topics.

Download Full-text