scholarly journals Lay Americans’ views of why scientists disagree with each other

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 824-835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branden B. Johnson ◽  
Nathan F. Dieckmann
Keyword(s):  
Political Ideology ◽  
Scientific Reasoning ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Class Structure ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Problem Complexity ◽  
Class Membership ◽  
The Past ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Scientific Positivism

A survey experiment assessed response to five explanations of scientific disputes: problem complexity, self-interest, values, competence, and process choices (e.g. theories and methods). A US lay sample ( n = 453) did not distinguish interests from values, nor competence from process, as explanations of disputes. Process/competence was rated most likely and interests/values least; all, on average, were deemed likely to explain scientific disputes. Latent class analysis revealed distinct subgroups varying in their explanation preferences, with a more complex latent class structure for participants who had heard of scientific disputes in the past. Scientific positivism and judgments of science’s credibility were the strongest predictors of latent class membership, controlling for scientific reasoning, political ideology, confidence in choice, scenario, education, gender, age, and ethnicity. The lack of distinction observed overall between different explanations, as well as within classes, raises challenges for further research on explanations of scientific disputes people find credible and why.

scholarly journals Fraction errors in a digital mathematics environment: Latent class and transition analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-188
Author(s):  
Sarah Marina Karamarkovich ◽  
Teomara Rutherford
Keyword(s):  
Mathematics Achievement ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Latent Transition Analysis ◽  
Class Structure ◽  
Class Membership ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Curricular Design ◽  
Whole Number ◽  
Error Profiles

Student struggles with fractions are well documented, and due to fractions’ importance to later mathematics achievement, identification of the errors students make when solving fraction problems is an area of interest for both researchers and teachers. Within this study, we examine data on student fraction problem errors in pre- and post-quizzes in a digital mathematics environment. Students (n = 1,431) were grouped by prevalence of error types using latent class analysis. Three different classes of error profiles were identified in the pre-quiz data. A latent transition analysis was then used to determine if class membership and class structure changed from pre- to post-quiz. In both pre- and post-quiz, there was a class of students who appeared to be guessing and a class of students who performed well. One class structure was consistent with the idea that early fraction learners rely heavily on whole number principles. Identification of co-occurrence of and changes to fraction errors has implications for curricular design and pedagogical decisions, especially in light of movements toward personalized learning systems.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY AS AN EVOLUTIONARY SYSTEM (TO THE THEORY OF COGNITIVE-IDEOLOGICAL MATRICES)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Konstantinov
Keyword(s):  
Political Ideology ◽  
Evolutionary System ◽  
Consciousness Level ◽  
The Past ◽  
Political Ideologies ◽  
Morphological Approach ◽  
Main Gene ◽  
Individual Consciousness ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Sociological Studies

The aim of the article is to concretize the concept of political ideology in the aspect of its matrix structure and in the context of the cognitive-evolutionary approach. Based on Michael Frieden's morphological approach to the analysis of ideological consciousness, the concept of cognitive-ideological matrices is introduced, which allows us to describe the process of transition from proto-ideological to ideological concepts proper, especially at the level of individual consciousness. The identification of the ideological concept as the main “gene” of conceptual variability and inheritance made it possible to describe the main parameters of the evolution of political ideologies and associate it with changes taking place at the individual consciousness level. The described concept was tested in a series of sociological studies of youth consciousness conducted in 2015-2016 and 2018-2020. As a result of the study, it was possible to first identify the “zero level” of ideology, at which the minds of young respondents are potentially open to the influence of diverse and often mutually exclusive ideological orientations, and second, to pinpoint the changes that have occurred in the cognitive ideological matrices of Rostov-on-Don students over the past five years. This study was conducted by scientists from the southern Federal University.

Health Care Utilization, Transition Readiness, and Quality of Life: A Latent Class Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A Traino ◽  
Christina M Sharkey ◽  
Megan N Perez ◽  
Dana M Bakula ◽  
Caroline M Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Utilization ◽  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Class Membership ◽  
Transition Readiness ◽  
High Utilization

Abstract Objective To identify possible subgroups of health care utilization (HCU) patterns among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with a chronic medical condition (CMC), and examine how these patterns relate to transition readiness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods Undergraduates (N = 359; Mage=19.51 years, SD = 1.31) with a self-reported CMC (e.g., asthma, allergies, irritable bowel syndrome) completed measures of demographics, HCU (e.g., presence of specialty or adult providers, recent medical visits), transition readiness, and mental HRQoL (MHC) and physical HRQoL (PHC). Latent class analysis identified four distinct patterns of HCU. The BCH procedure evaluated how these patterns related to transition readiness and HRQoL outcomes. Results Based on seven indicators of HCU, a four-class model was found to have optimal fit. Classes were termed High Utilization (n = 95), Adult Primary Care Physician (PCP)-Moderate Utilization (n = 107), Family PCP-Moderate Utilization (n = 81), and Low Utilization (n = 76). Age, family income, and illness controllability predicted class membership. Class membership predicted transition readiness and PHC, but not MHC. The High Utilization group reported the highest transition readiness and the lowest HRQoL, while the Low Utilization group reported the lowest transition readiness and highest HRQoL. Conclusions The present study characterizes the varying degrees to which AYAs with CMCs utilize health care. Our findings suggest poorer PHC may result in higher HCU, and that greater skills and health care engagement may not be sufficient for optimizing HRQoL. Future research should examine the High Utilization subgroup and their risk for poorer HRQoL.

scholarly journals Eating behaviour, physical activity, TV exposure and sleeping habits in five year olds: a latent class analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Mattsson ◽  
Deirdre M. Murray ◽  
Mairead Kiely ◽  
Fergus P. McCarthy ◽  
Elaine McCarthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Class Membership ◽  
Active Play ◽  
Food Avoidance ◽  
Cluster Membership

Abstract Background Diet, physical activity, sedentary behaviours, and sleep time are considered major contributory factors of the increased prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. The aims of this study were to (1) identify behavioural clusters of 5 year old children based on lifestyle behaviours, (2) explore potential determinants of class membership, and (3) to determine if class membership was associated with body measure outcomes at 5 years of age. Methods Data on eating behaviour, engagement in active play, TV watching, and sleep duration in 1229 5 year old children from the Cork BASELINE birth cohort study was obtained through in-person interviews with parent. Latent class analysis was used to identify behavioural clusters. Potential determinants of cluster membership were investigated using multinomial logistic regression. Associations between the identified classes and cardio metabolic body measures were examined using multivariate logistic and linear regression, with cluster membership used as the independent variable. Results 51% of children belonged to a normative class, while 28% of children were in a class characterised by high scores on food avoidance scales in combination with low enjoyment of food, and 20% experienced high scores on the food approach scales. Children in both these classes had lower conditional probabilities of engaging in active play for at least 1 hour per day and sleeping for a minimum of 10 h, and higher probability of watching TV for 2 hours or more, compared to the normative class. Low socioeconomic index (SEI) and no breastfeeding at 2 months were found to be associated with membership of the class associated with high scores on the food avoidance scale, while lower maternal education was associated with the class defined by high food approach scores. Children in the class with high scores on the food approach scales had higher fat mass index (FMI), lean mass index (LMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) compared to the normative class, and were at greater risk of overweight and obesity. Conclusion Findings suggest that eating behaviour appeared to influence overweight and obesity risk to a greater degree than activity levels at 5 years old. Further research of how potentially obesogenic behaviours in early life track over time and influence adiposity and other cardio metabolic outcomes is crucial to inform the timing of interventions.

scholarly journals Public Preferences for Targeted and Universal Preschool

AERA Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 233285841775312
Author(s):  
Erica H. Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Universal Preschool ◽  
Public Preferences ◽  
The Past ◽  
Public Preschool ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Rich Data ◽  
Past Half ◽  
Targeted Approach

For the past half century, debate over income-targeted and universal approaches to American preschool policy has divided advocates, policymakers, and practitioners. This is the first paper to inform the debate with evidence from public opinion. It begins with the design and fielding of a nationally representative poll of preferences for targeted and universal preschool (N = 1,000). This poll yields rich data with which to assess the causes and correlates of support for each approach. Results indicate that preschool preferences are conditioned by financial self-interest and egalitarian values and that a savvy policymaker should not necessarily endorse universal over targeted preschool. In fact, Americans facing the possibility of tax increases to fund public preschool and those who prioritize equality of opportunity prefer a targeted approach.

Legal Reform and Social Construction: Violence, Gender, and the Law

1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 829-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Frohmann ◽  
Elizabeth Mertz
Keyword(s):  
Social Construction ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
The Political ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Legal Reforms ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
The Social

As scholars and activists have addressed the problem of violence against women in the past 25 years, their efforts have increasingly attuned us to the multiple dimensions of the issue. Early activists hoped to change the structure of power relations in our society, as well as the political ideology that tolerated violence against women, through legislation, education, direct action, and direct services. This activism resulted in a plethora of changes to the legal codes and protocols relating to rape and battering. Today, social scientists and legal scholars are evaluating the effects of these reforms, questioning anew the ability of law by itself to redress societal inequalities. As they uncover the limitations of legal reforms enacted in the past two decades, scholars are turning—or returning—to ask about the social and cultural contexts within which laws are formulated, enforced, and interpreted.

scholarly journals The Rise of Political Influencers— Perspectives on a Trend Towards Meaningful Content

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Riedl ◽  
Carsten Schwemmer ◽  
Sandra Ziewiecki ◽  
Lisa M. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Communication ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
Opinion Leaders ◽  
Important Research ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The Past ◽  
Important Research Topic

Despite an increasing information overflow in the era of digital communication, influencers manage to draw the attention of their followers with an authentic and casual appearance. Reaching large audiences on social media, they can be considered as digital opinion leaders. In the past, they predominantly appeared as experts for topics like fashion, sports, or gaming and used their status to cooperate with brands for marketing purposes. However, since recently influencers also turn towards more meaningful and political content. In this article, we share our perspective on the rise of political influencers using examples of sustainability and related topics covered on Instagram. By applying a qualitative observational approach, we illustrate how influencers make political communication look easy, while at the same time seamlessly integrating product promotions in their social media feeds. In this context, we discuss positive aspects of political influencers like contributions to education and political engagement, but also negative aspects such as the potential amplification of radical political ideology or conspiracy theories. We conclude by highlighting political influencers as an important research topic for conceptual and empirical studies in the future.

scholarly journals Mental disorders pattern in staff of a military unit in Iran: the role of metabolic syndrome on latent class membership

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Abbasi-Ghahramanloo ◽  
Mohammadkarim Bahadori ◽  
Esfandiar Azad ◽  
Nooredin Dopeykar ◽  
Parisa Mahdizadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Class Membership ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Military Unit

Abstract Introduction Mental disorders are among the most prevalent health problems of the adult population in the world. This study aimed to identify the subgroups of staff based on mental disorders and assess the independent role of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the membership of participants in each latent class. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 694 staff of a military unit in Tehran in 2017. All staff of this military unit was invited to participate in this study. The collected data included demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, biochemical parameters, and mental disorders. We performed latent class analysis using a procedure for latent class analysis (PROC LCA) in SAS to identify class membership of mental disorders using Symptom Checklist-90. Results Three latent classes were identified as healthy (92.7%), mild (4.9%), and severe (2.4%) mental disorders. Having higher age significantly decreased the odds of belonging to the mild class (adjusted OR (aOR = 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05–0.83) compared to the healthy class. Also, obesity decreased the odds of membership in mild class (aOR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01–0.92) compared to healthy class. On the other hand, being female increased the odds of being in severe class (aOR = 9.76; 95% CI: 1.35–70.65) class in comparison to healthy class. Conclusion This study revealed that 7.3% of staff fell under mild and severe classes. Considering educational workshops in the workplace about mental disorders could be effective in enhancing staff’s knowledge of these disorders. Also, treatment of comorbid mental disorders may help reduce their prevalence and comorbidity.

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