scholarly journals Using Models to Predict Cultural Evolution From Emotional Selection Mechanisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-92
Author(s):  
Kimmo Eriksson ◽  
Pontus Strimling
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Research Paradigm ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Level Change ◽  
Selection Mechanisms ◽  
Directing Attention

Cultural variants may spread by being more appealing, more memorable, or less offensive than other cultural variants. Empirical studies suggest that such “emotional selection” is a force to be reckoned with in cultural evolution. We present a research paradigm that is suitable for the study of emotional selection. It guides empirical research by directing attention to the circumstances under which emotions influence the likelihood that an individual will influence another individual to acquire a cultural variant. We present a modeling framework to translate such knowledge into specific and testable predictions of population-level change. A set of already analyzed basic cases can serve as a toolbox.

Empirical foundations for an integrated study of language evolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-229
Author(s):  
Gareth Roberts ◽  
Betsy Sneller
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Language Change ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Similar Role ◽  
Level Change ◽  
Evolutionary Study ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary ◽  
Radical Shift ◽  
Integrated Study

Abstract Half a century ago, Uriel Weinreich, William Labov, and Marvin Herzog laid out a programmatic vision for the study of language change. This included establishing five fundamental problems for the field and a radical shift from a focus on idiolects to a focus on population-level change (grounded in their concept of orderly heterogeneity). They also expressed an explicit desire to see an integrated evolutionary study of language change. In spite of this, the newer fields of language evolution and cultural evolution make little contact with the field of sociolinguistics that emerged out of their work. Here we lay out a program, grounded in their five problems, for a more integrated future. We situate each problem in modern sociolinguistics and identify promising points for theoretical exchange, making comparisons with Tinbergen’s four questions, which play a similar role in the evolutionary sciences. Finally, we propose cultural-evolutionary experiments for making empirical progress.

scholarly journals A novel framework for classification of selection mechanisms in epidemiological research

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Bjork ◽  
Anton Nilsson ◽  
Carl Bonander ◽  
Ulf Strömberg
Keyword(s):  
General Framework ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Epidemiological Research ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Selection Mechanisms

Abstract Background: Non-participation, losses to follow up and other types of study-specific selection mechanisms can be serious concerns in epidemiological studies. There are also selection processes that result in non-random groupings and changes in the composition of populations. These are continuously on-going irrespectively of whether they are subject to sampling in empirical studies. Such population selections are often overlooked, but may lead to lack of comparability of exposed and unexposed populations or decrease study validity in other ways. The overall aim of this study was to develop a simple but general framework for classifying various types of selection mechanisms of relevance for epidemiological research. Methods: We classify selection mechanisms in three dimensions: i) selection at the population level vs. selection that is study-specific, ii) type of mechanism (selection causing exposure vs. selection in population at risk), iii) timing of the selection (pre-exposure, during exposure or post-outcome). Results: Examples from the epidemiological literature of selection mechanisms are discussed and classified according to the three dimensions of the proposed framework. Conclusions: Increased mechanistic understanding of when, how, and why confusion of effects can occur because of selection is an important step towards improved validity of epidemiological research.

scholarly journals Inferring individual-level processes from population-level patterns in cultural evolution

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 170949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kandler ◽  
Bryan Wilder ◽  
Laura Fortunato
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The One ◽  
Over Time

Our species is characterized by a great degree of cultural variation, both within and between populations. Understanding how group-level patterns of culture emerge from individual-level behaviour is a long-standing question in the biological and social sciences. We develop a simulation model capturing demographic and cultural dynamics relevant to human cultural evolution, focusing on the interface between population-level patterns and individual-level processes. The model tracks the distribution of variants of cultural traits across individuals in a population over time, conditioned on different pathways for the transmission of information between individuals. From these data, we obtain theoretical expectations for a range of statistics commonly used to capture population-level characteristics (e.g. the degree of cultural diversity). Consistent with previous theoretical work, our results show that the patterns observed at the level of groups are rooted in the interplay between the transmission pathways and the age structure of the population. We also explore whether, and under what conditions, the different pathways can be distinguished based on their group-level signatures, in an effort to establish theoretical limits to inference. Our results show that the temporal dynamic of cultural change over time retains a stronger signature than the cultural composition of the population at a specific point in time. Overall, the results suggest a shift in focus from identifying the one individual-level process that likely produced the observed data to excluding those that likely did not. We conclude by discussing the implications for empirical studies of human cultural evolution.

scholarly journals Inferring individual-level processes from population-level patterns in cultural evolution

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kandler ◽  
Bryan Wilder ◽  
Laura Fortunato
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The One ◽  
Over Time

AbstractOur species is characterized by a great degree of cultural variation, both within and between populations. Understanding how group-level patterns of culture emerge from individual-level behaviour is a long-standing question in the biological and social sciences. We develop a simulation model capturing demographic and cultural dynamics relevant to human cultural evolution, focusing on the interface between population-level patterns and individual-level processes. The model tracks the distribution of variants of cultural traits across individuals in a population over time, conditioned on different pathways for the transmission of information between individuals. From these data we obtain theoretical expectations for a range of statistics commonly used to capture population-level characteristics (e.g. the degree of cultural diversity). Consistent with previous theoretical work, our results show that the patterns observed at the level of groups are rooted in the interplay between the transmission pathways and the age structure of the population. We also explore whether, and under what conditions, the different pathways can be distinguished based on their group-level signatures, in an effort to establish theoretical limits to inference. Our results show that the temporal dynamic of cultural change over time retains a stronger signature than the cultural composition of the population at a specific point in time. Overall, the results suggest a shift in focus from identifying the one individual-level process that likely produced the observed data to excluding those that likely did not. We conclude by discussing the implications for empirical studies of human cultural evolution.

Studying Populations of Online Communities

2019 ◽  
pp. 173-193
Author(s):  
Benjamin Mako Hill ◽  
Aaron Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Information Diffusion ◽  
Diffusion Processes ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Large Majority ◽  
Community Processes ◽  
Published Research

While the large majority of published research on online communities consists of analyses conducted entirely within individual communities, this chapter argues for a population-based approach, in which researchers study groups of similar communities. For example, although there have been thousands of papers published about Wikipedia, a population-based approach might compare all wikis on a particular topic. Using examples from published empirical studies, the chapter describes five key benefits of this approach. First, it argues that population-level research increases the generalizability of findings. Next, it describes four processes and dynamics that are only possible to study using populations: community-level variables, information diffusion processes across communities, ecological dynamics, and multilevel community processes. The chapter concludes with a discussion of a series of limitations and challenges.

scholarly journals Osteopathic empirical research: a bibliometric analysis from 1966 to 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Morin ◽  
Isabelle Gaboury
Keyword(s):  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Body Part ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mesh Terms ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
System Body

Abstract Background Despite the increasing use of osteopathy, a manipulative complementary and alternative medicine therapy, in the general population, its efficacy continues to be debated. In this era of evidence-based practice, no studies have previously reviewed the scientific literature in the field to identify published knowledge, trends and gaps in empirical research. The aims of this bibliometric analysis are to describe characteristics of articles published on the efficacy of osteopathic interventions and to provide an overall portrait of their impacts in the scientific literature. Methods A bibliometric analysis approach was used. Articles were identified with searches using a combination of relevant MeSH terms and indexing keywords about osteopathy and research designs in MEDLINE and CINAHL databases. The following indicators were extracted: country of primary author, year of publication, journals, impact factor of the journal, number of citations, research design, participants’ age group, system/body part addressed, primary outcome, indexing keywords and types of techniques. Results A total of 389 articles met the inclusion criteria. The number of empirical studies doubled every 5 years, with the United States, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom being the most productive countries. Twenty-three articles were cited over 100 times. Articles were published in 103 different indexed journals, but more than half (53.7%) of articles were published in one of three osteopathy-focused readership journals. Randomized control trials (n = 145; 37.3%) and case reports (n = 142; 36.5%) were the most common research designs. A total of 187 (48.1%) studies examined the effects of osteopathic interventions using a combination of techniques that belonged to two or all of the classic fields of osteopathic interventions (musculoskeletal, cranial, and visceral). Conclusion The number of osteopathy empirical studies increased significantly from 1980 to 2014. The productivity appears to be very much in sync with practice development and innovations; however, the articles were mainly published in osteopathic journals targeting a limited, disciplinary-focused readership.

scholarly journals First-Generation College Students and Family Support: A Critical Review of Empirical Research Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Samantha LeBouef ◽  
Jodi Dworkin
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Research Narrative

The majority of empirical literature on first generation college students (FGCSs) in the U.S. asserts that because their parents did not attend college, FGCSs are lacking important resources to be successful in college. However, this results in a deficit-based approach to the study of FGCSs that tends to highlight the differences between first-generation and continuing-education students. However, FGCSs possess a wealth of resources from parents and families that make them successful, and that are often ignored in research. Asset-based approaches to the study of FGCSs are becoming more frequent in the form of books, book chapters, and white papers; however, published empirical research has yet to adopt this approach. As a result, a deeper understanding of FGCSs’ experiences is essential to advancing diversity and equity in higher education. To begin to address this gap, a systematic literature review of empirical studies following the PRISMA framework was conducted on first generation college students and family support; the literature was critically reviewed and future directions for the field were identified. Applying a critical, cultural, and familial lens to the study of first-generation college students will contribute to reframing the research narrative towards an asset-based narrative.

The Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effect

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Trautwein ◽  
Oliver Lüdtke
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Achievement Level ◽  
Educational Implications ◽  
Reference Group Effects ◽  
Group Effects

Summary: Reference group effects on self-concept have been examined in a multitude of empirical studies in various educational settings. Effects of this kind have been most rigorously demonstrated by Herbert W. Marsh, who introduced the term big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) to describe the finding that students' self-concept is negatively affected by the achievement level of other students in the same class or school. The phenomenon of the BFLPE is supported by a large body of empirical research. In this contribution, we first discuss mechanisms underlying the BFLPE. Second, we address reference group effects on educational outcomes other than self-concept. Finally, we briefly discuss educational implications of the BFLPE.

scholarly journals Migration, acculturation, and the maintenance of between-group cultural variation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Mesoudi
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
And Migration ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Social Learning Processes

AbstractHow do migration and acculturation (i.e. psychological or behavioral change resulting from migration) affect within- and between-group cultural variation? Here I answer this question by drawing analogies between genetic and cultural evolution. Population genetic models show that migration rapidly breaks down between-group genetic structure. In cultural evolution, however, migrants or their descendants can acculturate to local behaviors via social learning processes such as conformity, potentially preventing migration from eliminating between-group cultural variation. An analysis of the empirical literature on migration suggests that acculturation is common, with second and subsequent migrant generations shifting, sometimes substantially, towards the cultural values of the adopted society. Yet there is little understanding of the individual-level dynamics that underlie these population-level shifts. To explore this formally, I present models quantifying the effect of migration and acculturation on between-group cultural variation, for both neutral and costly cooperative traits. In the models, between-group cultural variation, measured using F statistics, is eliminated by migration and maintained by conformist acculturation. The extent of acculturation is determined by the strength of conformist bias and the number of demonstrators from whom individuals learn. Acculturation is countered by assortation, the tendency for individuals to preferentially interact with culturally-similar others. Unlike neutral traits, cooperative traits can additionally be maintained by payoff-biased social learning, but only in the presence of strong sanctioning institutions. Overall, the models show that surprisingly little conformist acculturation is required to maintain realistic amounts of between-group cultural diversity. While these models provide insight into the potential dynamics of acculturation and migration in cultural evolution, they also highlight the need for more empirical research into the individual-level learning biases that underlie migrant acculturation.

scholarly journals Modelling the influence of naturally acquired immunity from subclinical infection on outbreak dynamics and persistence of rabies in domestic dogs

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. e0009581
Author(s):  
Susannah Gold ◽  
Christl A. Donnelly ◽  
Rosie Woodroffe ◽  
Pierre Nouvellet
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Common Assumption ◽  
Canine Rabies ◽  
Low Levels

A number of mathematical models have been developed for canine rabies to explore dynamics and inform control strategies. A common assumption of these models is that naturally acquired immunity plays no role in rabies dynamics. However, empirical studies have detected rabies-specific antibodies in healthy, unvaccinated domestic dogs, potentially due to immunizing, non-lethal exposure. We developed a stochastic model for canine rabies, parameterised for Laikipia County, Kenya, to explore the implications of different scenarios for naturally acquired immunity to rabies in domestic dogs. Simulating these scenarios using a non-spatial model indicated that low levels of immunity can act to limit rabies incidence and prevent depletion of the domestic dog population, increasing the probability of disease persistence. However, incorporating spatial structure and human response to high rabies incidence allowed the virus to persist in the absence of immunity. While low levels of immunity therefore had limited influence under a more realistic approximation of rabies dynamics, high rates of exposure leading to immunizing non-lethal exposure were required to produce population-level seroprevalences comparable with those reported in empirical studies. False positives and/or spatial variation may contribute to high empirical seroprevalences. However, if high seroprevalences are related to high exposure rates, these findings support the need for high vaccination coverage to effectively control this disease.

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