scholarly journals Eye images do not promote prosocial behaviour or norm compliance in an online Dictator Game

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichola Raihani ◽  
Redouan Bshary
Keyword(s):  
Prosocial Behavior ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Dictator Game ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Prosocial Behaviour ◽  
Descriptive Norm ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Norm Compliance

Evidence for the effect of eye images on prosocial behavior is mixed: some studies have found that images of eyes enhance cooperative behavior while others have not replicated this effect. In a recent meta-analysis, Nettle et al. (2013) argued that previous null results have occurred because data have been analysed incorrectly. Specifically, the authors predicted that eye images either (i) reduce variance in donation amount by reducing the likelihood that the Dictator will keep the entire endowment or (ii) increase compliance with cooperative norms. Since several previous studies have only looked at the effect of eye images on mean donation amount, they have not tested these predictions. We test both hypotheses here using a Dictator Game (n = 779) conducted over Amazon Mechanical Turk, a setup that has previously yielded negative results. We provided players with two types of descriptive norm information, by telling them how much others typically give in this setting. We compared donations under the norm treatments with decisions made under control conditions, where no norm information was supplied. In each setting, subjects were additionally shown images of eyes or a control image (flowers) so that any additional effect of eye images on prosocial behavior could be examined. Eye images did not increase Dictator Game giving, regardless of whether 'giving' was defined as mean donation or simply the tendency to make a non-zero donation. Furthermore, eye images did not increase compliance with a descriptive norm in this setting. Due to these negative results, we conclude that the conditions and underlying mechanisms that lead to positive effects of eyes on prosocial behaviour remain elusive.

scholarly journals Fish oil therapy for IgA nephropathy: efficacy and interstudy variability.

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1739-1744 ◽  
Author(s):  
J J Dillon
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Fish Oil ◽  
Iga Nephropathy ◽  
Medical Literature ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Immunoglobulin A ◽  
Sample Size Calculation ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Negative Results

Published reports examining the efficacy of fish oil for preserving renal function in immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy have yielded conflicting results. This investigation was a meta-analysis conducted to determine whether the medical literature supports this therapy. In addition, the sources of variability among published findings were examined. Studies were combined using a random effects model. Five controlled studies were identified, two with positive results and three with negative results. Forty-four percent of the between-study variance could be attributed to differences in follow-up times and, less significantly, the number of renal function measurements; a weighting procedure was developed, eliminating this variance from the combined result. When all studies were combined, the mean effect, +0.25 +/- 0.23 SD (positive effects indicate that treatment was superior to control), was not statistically significant; however, the probability of at least a minor beneficial effect was 75%. Mixed-effects regression suggested that this therapy may be more effective among individuals with more proteinuria. The medical literature, therefore, does not prove the efficacy of fish oil therapy in IgA nephropathy, but suggests that an additional placebo-controlled trial is warranted. A sample-size calculation indicated that such a trial should be larger than those to date or should attempt to increase the treatment effect, perhaps by treating for more than 2 yr or enrolling more severely proteinuric individuals.

scholarly journals Implicit and explicit influences of religious cognition on Dictator Game transfers

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 170238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Billingsley ◽  
Cristina M. Gomes ◽  
Michael E. McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Dictator Game ◽  
Prosocial Behaviour ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Bayesian Analyses ◽  
Reliable Effect ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Implicit And Explicit

Does religion promote prosocial behaviour? Despite numerous publications that seem to answer this question affirmatively, divergent results from recent meta-analyses and pre-registered replication efforts suggest that the issue is not yet settled. Uncertainty lingers around (i) whether the effects of religious cognition on prosocial behaviour were obtained through implicit cognitive processes, explicit cognitive processes or both and (ii) whether religious cognition increases generosity only among people disinclined to share with anonymous strangers. Here, we report two experiments designed to address these concerns. In Experiment 1, we sought to replicate Shariff and Norenzayan's demonstration of the effects of implicit religious priming on Dictator Game transfers to anonymous strangers; unlike Shariff and Norenzayan, however, we used an online environment where anonymity was virtually assured. In Experiment 2, we introduced a ‘taking’ option to allow greater expression of baseline selfishness. In both experiments, we sought to activate religious cognition implicitly and explicitly, and we investigated the possibility that religious priming depends on the extent to which subjects view God as a punishing, authoritarian figure. Results indicated that in both experiments, religious subjects transferred more money on average than did non-religious subjects. Bayesian analyses supported the null hypothesis that implicit religious priming did not increase Dictator Game transfers in either experiment, even among religious subjects. Collectively, the two experiments furnished support for a small but reliable effect of explicit priming, though among religious subjects only. Neither experiment supported the hypothesis that the effect of religious priming depends on viewing God as a punishing figure. Finally, in a meta-analysis of relevant studies, we found that the overall effect of implicit religious priming on Dictator Game transfers was small and did not statistically differ from zero.

scholarly journals Implicit and Explicit Influences of Religious Cognition on Dictator Game Transfers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. McCullough ◽  
Joseph Billingsley ◽  
Cristina Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Dictator Game ◽  
Prosocial Behaviour ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Reliable Effect ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Implicit And Explicit

Does religious cognition motivate generosity toward strangers? Divergent results from recent meta-analyses and pre-registered replication efforts suggest the issue is not yet settled. Additional uncertainty lingers around whether (a) the effects of religious cognition on prosocial behaviour obtain through implicit cognitive processes, explicit cognitive processes, or both; (b) whether religious cognition might increase generosity only among religious people; and (c) whether religious cognition might increase generosity only among people otherwise disinclined to share with anonymous strangers. Here we report the results of two experiments designed to address these concerns. In Experiment 1 we sought to replicate the classic demonstration of the effect of implicit religious priming on Dictator Game transfers, but in an online environment that maximises anonymity. In Experiment 2, we gave subjects the option to take as well as to give money, allowing greater expression of baseline selfishness. In both experiments, we sought to activate religious cognition implicitly and explicitly, and we investigated the possibility that religious priming depends upon the extent to which subjects view God as a punishing, authoritarian figure. Bayesian statistical methods supported the null hypothesis that implicit religious priming did not increase Dictator Game transfers in either experiment, even among religious subjects. Collectively, the two experiments provided support for a small but reliable effect of explicit priming, though among religious subjects only. Neither experiment offered strong evidence to support the hypothesis that the effect of religious priming depends upon viewing God as a punishing figure. Finally, in a random-effects meta-analysis of relevant studies, we found that the overall effect of implicit religious priming on Dictator Game transfers was small and not statistically different from zero.

The role of serum periostin in the diagnosis of asthma: A meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Lei Yang ◽  
Qingtao Zhao ◽  
Shuyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽  
True Negative ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Noninvasive Biomarker ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Serum Periostin

Background: Serum periostin has been proposed as a noninvasive biomarker for asthma diagnosis and management. However, its accuracy for the diagnosis of asthma in different populations is not completely clear. Methods: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of periostin level in the clinical determination of asthma. Several medical literature data bases were searched for relevant studies through December 1, 2019. The numbers of patients with true-positive, false-positive, false-negative, and true-negative results for the periostin level were extracted from each individual study. We assessed the risk of bias by using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. We used the meta-analysis to produce summary estimates of accuracy. Results: In total, nine studies with 1757 subjects met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratios for the detection of asthma were 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38‐0.76), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.74‐0.93), and 8.28 (95% CI, 3.67‐18.68), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.79‐0.85). And significant publication bias was found in this meta‐analysis (p = 0.39). Conclusion: Serum periostin may be used for the diagnosis of asthma, with moderate diagnostic accuracy.

Children selectively favor leaders and prosocial agents in an economic exchange

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Margoni ◽  
Elena Nava ◽  
Luca Surian
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Trust ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Dictator Game ◽  
Trust Game ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Antisocial Behaviors ◽  
Indirect Reciprocity ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
Child Friendly ◽  
Neutral Agent

Most cooperative interactions involve the expectation of mutual reciprocation and are based on interpersonal trust. Thus, understanding when and how humans acquire interpersonal trust can help unveiling the origins and development of children’s cooperative behavior. Here, we investigated whether prior socio-moral information about trading partners modulates the choice of preschool- (4-5 years) and school-age children (7-8 years) to share their own goods in a child-friendly version of the Trust Game. In this game, the trustee partner can repay the child’s initial investment or keep everything and betray the trustor. In two studies, we addressed whether trust is modulated by trustees exhibiting prosocial versus antisocial behaviors (Study 1, ‘helpers and hinderers’), or respect-based versus fear-based power (Study 2, ‘leaders and bullies’). Preschoolers trusted the leader more than the bully, and trusted the hinderer less than a neutral agent, but did not yet trust the helper more than the hinderer. The tendency to trust helpers more than hinderers increased with age as a result of the increased propensity to trust the prosocial agent. In Study 3, a group of preschoolers played the Dictator Game, a measure of pure generosity, with the same agents used for Study 1. Sharing rates were reliably lower than in Study 1, suggesting that the rates of investment in the trust game cannot be due solely to altruistic or indirect reciprocity motives. Overall, these findings indicate that, by age five, children understand complex cooperative exchanges and start relying on socio-moral information when deciding whom to trust.

Web-based interventions aimed at improving the mental health effects of home caregivers for dementia: Meta-analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Feng ◽  
Yinan Zhao ◽  
Mingyue Hu ◽  
Hengyu Hu ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Cochrane Database ◽  
The Web

BACKGROUND Dementia is one of the major cause of disability and dependency among the elderly worldwide, and there are general psychological distresses among caregivers in dementia, such as depression and anxiety symptoms. The physical and mental health of the caregiver is a prerequisite and a promise to help the elderly stay alive and promote health. Web-based interventions can provide for a more convenient and efficient support and education, OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of internet-based interventions on mental health outcomes of family caregivers with dementia, and exploring which components of the web-based interventions play an important role.which are likely to reduce caregivers’ negative outcomes associated with care. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database and CINAHL by using relevant terms such as web-based and caregiver as keywords, covering all studies published before June 2018. Two reviewers independently reviewed all published abstracts, according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria ，we extracted the information about participants, interventions and results, respectively, and reviewed the quality of articles on the methods of randomized trials using the approach recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for systematic review for intervention. RESULTS A total of 815 caregivers participated in 6 articles, and 4 of the studies use depression as an outcome, according to the research after different interventions based on network after the intervention, depression scores average drop of 0.23 (95%CI -0.38 to -0.07, p<0.01), 2 studies show caregivers anxiety symptoms, the average score for anxiety dropped by 0.32 points (95% CI -0.50 to -0.14, p< 0.01), but in terms of coping, pain and stress, the web-based interventions have shown a poor effect. On the whole, the addition of professional psychological support on the basis of education can improve mental health of carers. CONCLUSIONS Internet-based interventions were generally effective in reducing anxiety and depression in dementia carers, although negative results were found in some studies. But in terms of burden and stress, further research is needed.

scholarly journals Is Brief Exposure to Green Space in School the Best Option to Improve Attention in Children?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7484
Author(s):  
Asier Anabitarte ◽  
Gonzalo García-Baquero ◽  
Ainara Andiarena ◽  
Nerea Lertxundi ◽  
Nerea Urbieta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
School Children ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Statistical Design ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Gender Biases ◽  
Before And After

The positive effects of Green Spaces on health are thought to be achieved through the mechanisms of mitigation, instoration and restoration. One of the benefits of Green Spaces may be the restoration of attention and so the objective of this research is testing empirically whether exposure to a green environment improves attention in school children. For so doing, we first used a split-unit statistical design in each of four schools, then combined the primary results via meta-analysis. The Attention Network Test (ANT) was used to measure attention before and after exposure and a total of 167 seven-year-old students participated in the experiments. Overall, our experimental results do not support the hypothesis that students’ exposure to activities in green vs. grey spaces affected their performance in ANT. This was so despite the fact that neither age nor gender biases have been detected and despite that our experiments have been proved to be sufficiently statistically powerful. It would be advisable to consider air pollution and noise. We also recommend that participants attend the experiment with mental exhaustion to maximize the ability to detect significant changes.

scholarly journals The effects of clinical decision support system for prescribing medication on patient outcomes and physician practice performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharare Taheri Moghadam ◽  
Farahnaz Sadoughi ◽  
Farnia Velayati ◽  
Seyed Jafar Ehsanzadeh ◽  
Shayan Poursharif
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Physician Practice ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Practice Performance

Abstract Background Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) for Prescribing are one of the innovations designed to improve physician practice performance and patient outcomes by reducing prescription errors. This study was therefore conducted to examine the effects of various CDSSs on physician practice performance and patient outcomes. Methods This systematic review was carried out by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from 2005 to 2019. The studies were independently reviewed by two researchers. Any discrepancies in the eligibility of the studies between the two researchers were then resolved by consulting the third researcher. In the next step, we performed a meta-analysis based on medication subgroups, CDSS-type subgroups, and outcome categories. Also, we provided the narrative style of the findings. In the meantime, we used a random-effects model to estimate the effects of CDSS on patient outcomes and physician practice performance with a 95% confidence interval. Q statistics and I2 were then used to calculate heterogeneity. Results On the basis of the inclusion criteria, 45 studies were qualified for analysis in this study. CDSS for prescription drugs/COPE has been used for various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases, AIDS, appendicitis, kidney disease, malaria, high blood potassium, and mental diseases. In the meantime, other cases such as concurrent prescribing of multiple medications for patients and their effects on the above-mentioned results have been analyzed. The study shows that in some cases the use of CDSS has beneficial effects on patient outcomes and physician practice performance (std diff in means = 0.084, 95% CI 0.067 to 0.102). It was also statistically significant for outcome categories such as those demonstrating better results for physician practice performance and patient outcomes or both. However, there was no significant difference between some other cases and traditional approaches. We assume that this may be due to the disease type, the quantity, and the type of CDSS criteria that affected the comparison. Overall, the results of this study show positive effects on performance for all forms of CDSSs. Conclusions Our results indicate that the positive effects of the CDSS can be due to factors such as user-friendliness, compliance with clinical guidelines, patient and physician cooperation, integration of electronic health records, CDSS, and pharmaceutical systems, consideration of the views of physicians in assessing the importance of CDSS alerts, and the real-time alerts in the prescription.

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