scholarly journals Introducing the Brief Reverse Correlation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Schmitz ◽  
Marine Rougier ◽  
Vincent Yzerbyt

The reverse correlation (RC) is an innovative method to capture visual mental representations (i.e., classification images, CIs) of social targets that has become increasingly popular in social psychology. Because CIs of high quality are difficult to obtain without a large number of trials, the majority of past research relied on CIs extracted from samples of participants (average CIs). This strategy, however, leads to inflated false positivity rates. Using the representation from each participant (individual CIs) offers one solution to this problem. Still, this approach requires large numbers of trials and is thus economically costly, time demanding, demotivating for the participants, or simply impractical. We introduce a new version of the reverse correlation method, namely the Brief-RC. The Brief-RC increases the quality of individual (and average) CIs and reduces the overall task length by increasing the number of stimuli (i.e., noisy faces) presented at each trial. In two experiments, assessments by external judges confirm that the new method delivers equally good (Experiment 1) or higher-quality (Experiment 2) outcomes than the traditional method for the same number of trials, time length, and number of stimuli. The Brief-RC may thus facilitate the production of higher-quality individual CIs and alleviate the risk of false positivity rate.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Michael Michalak ◽  
Joshua Ackerman

How do people mentally represent distinct interpersonal threats? Across human history, interpersonal threats such as infectious disease and violence have posed powerful selection pressures. Such pressures selected for psychological systems that help identify and reduce threats posed by other people. In the case of infectious disease, psychology researchers have found that such systems respond to a variety of infection cues (e.g., rashes, swelling) as well as cues that merely resemble infection cues (e.g., birthmarks, obesity). Are such cues part of people’s mental representations, and if so, are those cues unique to infection representations or are they included in representations of other threats? Using a multi-method approach, we find that when participants listed traits or drew mental representations of threat, they perceived infected and violent others to differ along threat-specific features. However, when using a data-driven, reverse correlation method that restricted participants from deliberating on and editing their representations, participants generated mental images that were similar on many of the features that both researchers and laypeople expect to distinguish infection and violence threats. These findings suggest our understanding of threat processing may suffer from a disconnect between the threat cues derived from the expectations of researchers and those revealed when expectations are constrained.


2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Robert Busching ◽  
Johannes Lutz

Abstract. Legally irrelevant information like facial features is used to form judgments about rape cases. Using a reverse-correlation technique, it is possible to visualize criminal stereotypes and test whether these representations influence judgments. In the first step, images of the stereotypical faces of a rapist, a thief, and a lifesaver were generated. These images showed a clear distinction between the lifesaver and the two criminal representations, but the criminal representations were rather similar. In the next step, the images were presented together with rape scenarios, and participants (N = 153) indicated the defendant’s level of liability. Participants with high rape myth acceptance scores attributed a lower level of liability to a defendant who resembled a stereotypical lifesaver. However, no specific effects of the image of the stereotypical rapist compared to the stereotypical thief were found. We discuss the findings with respect to the influence of visual stereotypes on legal judgments and the nature of these mental representations.


Author(s):  
Seunghwa Park ◽  
Inhan Kim

Today’s buildings are getting larger and more complex. As a result, the traditional method of manually checking the design of a building is no longer efficient since such a process is time-consuming and laborious. It is becoming increasingly important to establish and automate processes for checking the quality of buildings. By automatically checking whether buildings satisfy requirements, Building Information Modeling (BIM) allows for rapid decision-making and evaluation. In this context, the work presented here focuses on resolving building safety issues via a proposed BIM-based quality checking process. Through the use case studies, the efficiency and usability of the devised strategy is evaluated. This research can be beneficial in promoting the efficient use of BIM-based communication and collaboration among the project party concerned for improving safety management. In addition, the work presented here has the potential to expand research efforts in BIM-based quality checking processes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Farrell ◽  
Jonathan H. Grenier ◽  
Justin Leiby

ABSTRACT Online labor markets allow rapid recruitment of large numbers of workers for very low pay. Although online workers are often used as research participants, there is little evidence that they are motivated to make costly choices to forgo wealth or leisure that are often central to addressing accounting research questions. Thus, we investigate the validity of using online workers as a proxy for non-experts when accounting research designs use more demanding tasks than these workers typically complete. Three experiments examine the costly choices of online workers relative to student research participants. We find that online workers are at least as willing as students to make costly choices, even at significantly lower wages. We also find that online workers are sensitive to performance-based wages, which are just as effective in inducing high effort as high fixed wages. We discuss implications of our results for conducting accounting research with online workers. Data Availability: Contact the authors.


1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-73
Author(s):  
Coenraad Hendriksen ◽  
Johan van der Gun

In the quality control of vaccine batches, the potency testing of inactivated vaccines is one of the areas requiring very large numbers of animals, which usually suffer significant distress as a result of the experimental procedures employed. This article deals with the potency testing of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, two vaccines which are used extensively throughout the world. The relevance of the potency test prescribed by the European Pharmacopoeia monographs is questioned. The validity of the potency test as a model for the human response, the ability of the test to be standardised, and the relevance of the test in relation to the quality of the product are discussed. It is concluded that the potency test has only limited predictive value for the antitoxin responses to be expected in recipients of these toxoids. An alternative approach for estimating the potency of toxoid batches is discussed, in which a distinction is made between estimation of the immunogenic potency of the first few batches obtained from a seed lot and monitoring the consistency of the quality of subsequent batches. The use of animals is limited to the first few batches. Monitoring the consistency of the quality of subsequent batches is based on in vitro test methods. Factors which hamper the introduction and acceptance of the alternative approach are considered. Finally, proposals are made for replacement, reduction and/or refinement (the Three Rs) in the use of animals in the routine potency testing of toxoids.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 491-508
Author(s):  
Daniel Stellato ◽  
Marroon Thabane ◽  
Caitlin Eichten ◽  
Thomas E. Delea

(1) Background: Past research suggests that patients with advanced breast cancer prefer treatments with improved clinical outcomes and lower risk of side effects. Evidence on preferences of Canadian patients and physicians for treatments for advanced breast cancer is limited. (2) Methods: Patients’ and physicians’ preferences for treatments for HR+/HER2−, pre-/peri-menopausal advanced breast cancer were assessed by an online discrete choice experiment (DCE). Treatment alternatives were characterized by seven attributes regarding dosing, efficacy, and toxicities, with levels corresponding to those for ribociclib plus a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (NSAI), NSAI, and tamoxifen. For patients, impacts of advanced breast cancer on quality of life (QOL) and ability to work/perform activities of daily living also were assessed. Patients were recruited by a Canadian breast cancer patient advocacy group through email and social media. Physicians were recruited by email. (3) Results: Among 118 patients starting the survey, 23 completed ≥ 1 DCE question (19%). Among 271 physicians who were sent the e-mail invitation, 21 completed ≥ 1 DCE question (8%). For both patients and physicians, the increased probability of remaining alive and without cancer progression over 2 years was the most important attribute. A treatment with attributes consistent with ribociclib plus NSAI was chosen by patients and physicians in 70% and 88% of the time, respectively. A substantial proportion of patients reported worrying about future diagnostic tests and their cancer getting worse; (4) Conclusions: Canadian patients and physicians are generally concordant in preference for advanced breast cancer treatments, preferring ribociclib plus NSAI to other options.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-705
Author(s):  
Robert P Agans ◽  
Quirina M Vallejos ◽  
Thad S Benefield

Abstract Past research has shown that commonly reported cultural group disparities in health-related indices may be attributable to culturally mediated differences in the interpretation of translated survey questions and response scales. This problem may be exacerbated when administering single-item survey questions, which typically lack the reliability seen in multi-item scales. We adapt the test-retest approach for single-item survey questions that have been translated from English into Spanish and demonstrate how to use this approach as a quick and efficient pilot test before fielding a major survey. Three retest conditions were implemented (English-Spanish, Spanish-English, and English-English) on a convenience sample (n = 109) of Latinos and non-Latinos where translated items were compared against an English-English condition that served as our control. Several items were flagged for investigation using this approach. Discussion centers on the utility of this approach for evaluating the Spanish translation of single-item questions in population-based surveys.


Author(s):  
Е.Е. Ульянченко

Исследовано влияние приема прорезания средней жилки на основные качественные показатели табачного сырья. Исследования проводили на листьях основных сортотипов табака Трапезонд и Остролист по массовым ломкам. Прорезание жилки осуществляли на инновационном оборудовании экспериментальном образце линии подготовки листьев табака к сушке ЛПТС360 (ВНИИТТИ, Краснодар). Качество табачного сырья с прорезанной жилкой определяли по товарным сортам, технологическим и курительным свойствам, химическому составу по методикам лабораторного контроля ВНИИТТИ. Инновационный способ подготовки табака к сушке в едином потоке с применением технологического оборудования, включающего прорезатель, выявил положительный технологический результат. Установлена эффективность приема прорезания средней жилки: срок естественной сушки листьев с прорезанной жилкой сократился в 2,5 раза выход 1го товарного сорта сырья составил 74,60 87,93 выход волокна сырья с прорезанной жилкой превышает минимальное значение технологических норм (75) в 1,15 1,26 раз условный расход сырья на единицу курительных изделий меньше норматива на 6 25 улучшен основной показатель химического состава табачного сырья (число Шмука) в 1,6 4,6 раза у сортотипа Трапезонд, в 1,2 1,5 раза у сортотипа Остролист дегустационные свойства сырья не ухудшились. Инновационный способ подготовки листьев табака к сушке, включающий прием прорезания средней жилки, рекомендуется для применения в производстве табачного сырья. The influence of middle vein cutting method on the main quality indicators of tobacco raw materials is studied. Studies were carried out on the leaves of the main varieties of tobacco Trapezond and Ostrolist, on mass breakdowns. Vein cutting was carried out on the innovative equipment of the line of preparation of tobacco leaves for drying LPTS360 (GNU VNIITTI RAA, Krasnodar). The quality of tobacco raw materials with a cut vein was determined by commercial grades, technological and Smoking properties, chemical composition in accordance with the methods VNIITTI. An innovative method of preparing tobacco for drying in a single stream with the use of technological equipment, including a cutter, revealed a positive technological result. The period of natural drying of leaves with cut veins decreased by 2,5 times. The yield of the 1st commercial grade of raw materials was 74,60 87,93. The output of the fiber raw material with cut vein exceeds the minimum value of technological norms (75) in 1,15 1,26 times. Conditional consumption of raw materials per unit of Smoking products is less than the norm by 6 25. The method of cutting the middle vein of the leaves improves the main indicator in the chemical composition of tobacco raw materials (Schmuck ratio) 1,6 4,6 times in the variety Trapezond and 1,2 1,5 times in the variety Ostrolist. The tasting properties of raw materials have not deteriorated. Analysis of raw material quality indicators showed that the innovative method of cutting the middle vein is effective and recommended for use in the production of tobacco raw materials.


2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 1463-1479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Kimura ◽  
Izumi Ohzawa

Responses of a visual neuron to optimally oriented stimuli can be suppressed by a superposition of another grating with a different orientation. This effect is known as cross-orientation suppression. However, it is still not clear whether the effect is intracortical in origin or a reflection of subcortical processes. To address this issue, we measured spatiotemporal responses to a plaid pattern, a superposition of two gratings, as well as to individual component gratings (optimal and mask) using a subspace reverse-correlation method. Suppression for the plaid was evaluated by comparing the response to that for the optimal grating. For component stimuli, excitatory and negative responses were defined as responses more positive and negative, respectively, than that to a blank stimulus. The suppressive effect for plaids was observed in the vast majority of neurons. However, only ∼30% of neurons showed the negative response to mask-only gratings. The magnitudes of negative responses to mask-only stimuli were correlated with the degree of suppression for plaid stimuli. Comparing the latencies, we found that the suppression for the plaids starts at about the same time or slightly later than the response onset for the optimal grating and reaches its maximum at about the same time as the peak latency for the mask-only grating. Based on these results, we propose that in addition to the suppressive effect originating at the subcortical stage, delayed suppressive signals derived from the intracortical networks act on the neuron to generate cross-orientation suppression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Grange ◽  
Henri Barki

Researchers and practitioners have long been interested in identifying the criteria that users consider important in assessing whether a system is worth using. However, past research in this domain has not taken into account the characteristics of a system's design and their quality in a systematic and comprehensive manner, which is likely to have limited the development of actionable design guidelines. The article addresses this issue by suggesting a research model that links user beliefs—which have traditionally been used in IT acceptance and success research (i.e., information quality, system quality, usefulness, and ease of use)—to their beliefs regarding the quality of three categories of a system's design (i.e., visual quality, page layout quality, and navigation quality) and testing it in the context of organizational intranets. The analysis of data collected from 159 intranet website users in three organizations supported the model, suggesting that the three categories of design quality beliefs significantly influenced users' assessment of their system's information quality and system quality.


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