scholarly journals On the semantic representation of risk

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk U. Wulff ◽  
Rui Mata

There is great theoretical and applied interest in understanding the psychology of risk - but what are defining features of lay people's semantic representation of this concept? We contribute a new approach to mapping the semantics of risk based on word associations that promises to provide insight into individual and group differences. Specifically, we introduce a novel mini-snowball word-association paradigm and use the tools of network and sentiment analysis to characterize the semantics of "risk" from 1,205 respondents (age range = 18-86; 50\% female). We find that association-based representations extend those extracted from past survey- and text-based approaches to the semantics of risk. Crucially, we show that the semantics of risk vary systematically across demographic groups, with older and female respondents showing more negative connotations and mentioning more often certain types of activities (e.g., recreational activities) relative to younger adults and males, respectively. Our work has implications for the measurement of risk-related constructs by suggesting that "risk" means different things to different individuals.

1975 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Sheppard

In two studies children in the age range 6–11 years were given tests of verbal analogies, of word associations, and of concrete operations. Analogies used were at two levels of difficulty. The more difficult ones involved more advanced vocabulary, required more knowledge, or had a more unusual relation between terms. By refining the easier analogies items it was possible to remove the influence of a word association strategy which might have contributed to correct answers without involving the eduction of relations and correlates. Children successful on tests of concrete operations were able to demonstrate logical reasoning on these refined analogies items. The solving of verbal analogies can therefore be seen as related to concrete operational thought, rather than as requiring formal operational thought.


2006 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 121-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tess Fitzpatrick

Word associations have traditionally been used in linguistic research as a means of accessing information about the organisation of the mental lexicon. A number of important studies have revealed differences in word association behaviour in the L1 and the L2, but have failed to find consistent behaviour patterns. The study reported here suggests that this failure might be due to two factors: the choice of stimulus words and the categorisation of responses, which impose artificial constraints on both association behaviour and the exploration of response types. In order to move the investigation of L2 word associations forward, this study compares native speaker responses to a specific set of stimuli with those of advanced non-native speakers. The types of association response made by each group of subjects are investigated by means of a retrospective interview, and patterns in response types are mapped. This results in a new method of categorising word association responses, and provides more precise insight into the differences between L1 and L2 association patterns.


Economies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Renata Guobužaitė ◽  
Deimantė Teresienė

Systematic momentum trading is a prevalent risk premium strategy in different portfolios. This paper focuses on the performance of the managed futures strategy based on the momentum signal across different economic regimes, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic period. COVID-19 had a solid but short-lived impact on financial markets, and therefore gives a unique insight into momentum strategies’ performance during such critical moments of market stress. We offer a new approach to implementing momentum strategies by adding macroeconomic variables to the model. We test a managed futures strategy’s performance with a well-diversified futures portfolio across different asset classes. The research concludes that constructing a portfolio based on academically/economically sound momentum signals with its allocation timing based on broader economic factors significantly improves managed futures strategies and adds significant diversification benefits to the investors’ portfolios.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Marcell Virág ◽  
Tamas Leiner ◽  
Mate Rottler ◽  
Klementina Ocskay ◽  
Zsolt Molnar

Hemodynamic optimization remains the cornerstone of resuscitation in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock. Delay or inadequate management will inevitably lead to hypoperfusion, tissue hypoxia or edema, and fluid overload, leading eventually to multiple organ failure, seriously affecting outcomes. According to a large international survey (FENICE study), physicians frequently use inadequate indices to guide fluid management in intensive care units. Goal-directed and “restrictive” infusion strategies have been recommended by guidelines over “liberal” approaches for several years. Unfortunately, these “fixed regimen” treatment protocols neglect the patient’s individual needs, and what is shown to be beneficial for a given population may not be so for the individual patient. However, applying multimodal, contextualized, and personalized management could potentially overcome this problem. The aim of this review was to give an insight into the pathophysiological rationale and clinical application of this relatively new approach in the hemodynamic management of septic patients.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 347
Author(s):  
Jiabin Huang ◽  
Björn Voß

Studying the folding kinetics of an RNA can provide insight into its function and is thus a valuable method for RNA analyses. Computational approaches to the simulation of folding kinetics suffer from the exponentially large folding space that needs to be evaluated. Here, we present a new approach that combines structure abstraction with evolutionary conservation to restrict the analysis to common parts of folding spaces of related RNAs. The resulting algorithm can recapitulate the folding kinetics known for single RNAs and is able to analyse even long RNAs in reasonable time. Our program RNAliHiKinetics is the first algorithm for the simulation of consensus folding kinetics and addresses a long-standing problem in a new and unique way.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Till Schmäing ◽  
Norbert Grotjohann

This paper presents students’ word associations with terms regarding the Wadden Sea. A continuous free word-association method was used in which the students from secondary schools (n = 3119, average age: 13.54 years) reported their associations with the stimulus words Wadden Sea, mudflat hiking tour, and tides in written form. Data were collected from students living close to the Wadden Sea and from students living inland. We performed a quantitative content analysis including the corresponding formation of categories. In addition, students’ school, out-of-school with the class, and private experiences the Wadden Sea ecosystem were recorded. The study shows that not only subject-related concepts should be considered at different levels, but non-subject-related aspects as well. The associations of the inland and non-inland students are statistically significantly different. The Wadden Sea and its biome were found to be completely unknown to some students. Students’ school, out-of-school with the class, and private experiences of the wetlands are also very mixed, regarding their Wadden Sea visitation frequency, and surprisingly cannot be directly derived from their place of residence. This research makes an important contribution towards the design of future biology didactic studies on the Wadden Sea.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 449-449
Author(s):  
Victoria Chen ◽  
Alysson Light

Abstract Possible selves are defined as “personalized representations of one’s self in future states” (Cross & Markus, 1991). Research has also found that thinking frequently about possible selves predicts lower well-being, whereas thinking clearly about possible selves is associated with higher well-being (McElwee & Haugh, 2010). However, possible selves differ across the lifespan (Hooker & Kaus, 1994; Cross & Markus, 1991) and life stages can impact exploration of possible identities (Arnett, 2000). Thus we hypothesize that the relationship between thought about possible selves and well-being differs across the lifespan. In a cross-sectional survey, 240 participants (age range: 18-92) reported on frequency and clarity of possible selves, as well as general self-clarity (Campbell et al., 1996). Results indicate curvilinear moderation by age of the link between possible self-clarity and well-being, with the association being stronger among midlife adults than among younger adults and older adults. Also, as clarity of feared possible selves increases, self-concept clarity decreases. Similarly, frequency of thinking about feared possible selves was negatively correlated with self-concept clarity. However, clarity and frequency of thought about hoped-for positive possible selves had no correlation with self-concept clarity.


Author(s):  
Heather Johnston ◽  
Colleen Dewis ◽  
John Kozey

Objective The objectives were to compare cylindrical and spherical coordinate representations of the maximum reach envelope (MRE) and apply these to a comparison of age and load on the MRE. Background The MRE is a useful measurement in the design of workstations and quantifying functional capability of the upper body. As a dynamic measure, there are human factors that impact the size, shape, and boundaries of the MRE. Method Three-dimensional reach measures were recorded using a computerized potentiometric system for anthropometric measures (CPSAM) on two adult groups (aged 18–25 years and 35–70 years). Reach trials were performed holding .0, .5, and 1 kg. Results Three-dimensional Cartesian coordinates were transformed into cylindrical ( r, θ , Z) and spherical ( r, θ, ϕ) coordinates. Median reach distance vectors were calculated for 54 panels within the MRE as created by incremented banding of the respective coordinate systems. Reach distance and reach area were compared between the two groups and the loaded conditions using a spherical coordinate system. Both younger adults and unloaded condition produced greater reach distances and reach areas. Conclusions Where a cylindrical coordinate system may reflect absolute reference for design, a normalized spherical coordinate system may better reflect functional range of motion and better compare individual and group differences. Age and load are both factors that impact the MRE. Application These findings present measurement considerations for use in human reach investigation and design.


2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein Cremer ◽  
Daphne Dingshoff ◽  
Meike de Beer ◽  
Rob Schoonen

Differences in word associations between monolingual and bilingual speakers of Dutch can reflect differences in how well seemingly familiar words are known. In this (exploratory) study mono-and bilingual, child and adult free word associations were compared. Responses of children and of monolingual speakers were found to be more dispersed across response categories than responses of adults and of L2 speakers, respectively. Log linear analyses show that the distributional patterns of association responses differ among the groups. Age has the largest effect on association responses. Adults give more meaning-related responses than children. Child L1 speakers give more meaning-related responses than child L2 speakers. Form-based and ‘Other’ associations were mostly given by (L2) children. The different findings for mono- and bilingual children and for mono- and bilingual adults show the influence of bilingualism on the development of word associations. The prominent effect of age emphasizes the role of conceptual development in word association behavior, and makes free word association tasks less suitable as an assessment tool for word knowledge.


1968 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon H. Belcher ◽  
Joel T. Campbell

Two word-association lists of 50 words were each administered to 50 Negro college students. 41 words were taken from the Kent-Rosanoff list, 29 from the Palermo-Jenkins list, and 30 were words used in analogy items of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Comparisons with previous normative studies showed generally similar results. The present study did result in slightly smaller proportions of matching from class primary responses to noun, pronoun, and adverb stimulus words and of opposite responses to “opposite-evoking stimuli.” A number of the responses indicated reading difficulty or misunderstanding of the word.


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