scholarly journals A Uniform Conspiracy Mindset or Differentiated Reactions to Specific Conspiracy Beliefs? Evidence From Latent Profile Analyses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Frenken ◽  
Roland Imhoff
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Information ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Total N ◽  
Approval Ratings ◽  
Latent Profile Analyses ◽  
Item Endorsement ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
Small Parts ◽  
Latent Profile

Conspiracy theories arise for virtually any public event (e.g., pandemics, assassinations, disasters). In light of positively correlated endorsements of such beliefs, many have pointed to a more general mindset behind this. Others have argued against this notion of a consistent mindset. Applying Latent Profile Analyses, we examine the evidence for either uniform or differentiated response patterns to various items in five studies (reanalyzed datasets, total N = 7877). Overall, the results speak strongly to uniform reactions that could be summarized as a general mindset, but also revealed important qualifications. First, small parts of the samples show more differentiated patterns in relation to extraterrestrial cover-up narratives (Studies 2 to 4) or contradictory theories (Study 5). Second, indicators dealing with the general suppression of relevant information in the public were among the items with the highest approval ratings across all classes. One discussed implication is that existing scales are useful tools to measure conspiracy mindsets. Another implication is that the average endorsement of any conspiracy theory is a function of both the respondents’ conspiracy mindset and the item’s psychometric difficulty, strongly suggesting interpreting item endorsement only in relative terms, but refraining from interpreting a high agreement as an absolute number.

scholarly journals Do Distinct Groups of Reactively and Proactively Aggressive Children Exist? A Confirmatory Latent Profile Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk van Dijk ◽  
Julie A. Hubbard ◽  
Peter K. H. Deschamps ◽  
Wieteke Hiemstra ◽  
Hanneke Polman
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Latent Profile Analyses ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
Aggressive Children ◽  
Profile Approach ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Latent Profile

AbstractThe present study examined whether there are distinct groups of children with reactive versus proactive motives for their aggressive behavior. We extended previous research by using a person-based analytical approach on data from a questionnaire assessing children’s motives independently from the severity of their aggression. Two competing hypotheses were tested. The both subtypes hypothesis holds that both reactive and proactive subtypes exist, as well as a mixed subtype. The reactive only hypothesis holds that only reactive and mixed subtypes exist. Hypotheses were tested on existing data from a community sample of children displaying aggression (Study 1: n = 228, ages 10–13, 54% boys), and two clinical samples of children with aggressive behavior problems (Study 2: n = 115, ages 8–13, 100% boys; Study 3: n = 123, ages 6–8, 78% boys). Teachers reported on children’s reactive and proactive motives. We selected measures available from peers, parents, teachers, and children themselves to compare the supported subtypes on variables that previous literature suggests uniquely correlate with reactive versus proactive aggression. Confirmatory latent profile analyses revealed that the both subtypes hypothesis best fit the data of all three samples. Most children were classified as reactive (55.7–61.8% across samples), with smaller percentages classified as proactive (10.4–24.1%) and mixed (18.0–33.9%). However, these subtypes only differed in expected directions on 7 out of 34 measures. Overall, results support the existence of both reactive and proactive subtypes of aggressive children, but the distinctiveness of these subtypes in terms of social-emotional characteristics warrants further study.

Abstract 14276: A Pediatric Cardiology Handbook for the Digital Age

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Rochelson ◽  
Bradley C Clark ◽  
Kara Motonaga
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Cardiology ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Total N ◽  
Yield Information ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Almost All

Background: Pediatric cardiology (PC) fellows, tasked with studying a large and dynamic field, may benefit from a quick-access digital resource that reflects contemporary practice. Objective: To design a PC Handbook smartphone app and evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing the accessibility of information such as guidelines and treatment recommendations for PC fellows. Methods: The PC handbook app was designed for iPhone using XCode and Swift programming. A pre-app electronic survey and instructions for download were sent to U.S. PC fellows followed by a post-app survey within 3 months of use. Fellows were asked to rate the ease of rapid access to various types of information, such as guidelines and normal values, with responses given on a 4-point scale (1 = very difficult, 4 = very easy). Responses were compared pre- and post-app using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Two-hundred and thirty PC fellows were contacted; 23% (total n = 53) completed both the pre-app and post-app surveys and were included for analysis. Over half (57%) of fellows used the PC handbook app 1-3 times per month while 17% used it at least 1-3 times per week. After using the app, fellows found it easier to quickly access information in 8 out of 9 domains evaluated (Fig 1). All fellows found the app easy to use (100%), most felt that the app is well-organized (98%), contains reliable information (92%), and is useful for finding quick answers to clinical questions (87%). Almost all (91%) would recommend the app to a colleague. Conclusions: The Peds Cardiology Handbook iPhone app is a useful, reliable tool that provides quick access to high yield information, including various guidelines and references, in one location. Overall, PC fellows found it easier to rapidly access clinically relevant information after using the app, though future studies may be necessary to evaluate long-term use and impact on evidenced-based practice.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Mental Toughness as Antecedents of Academic Burnout among School Students: A Latent Profile Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Cheung ◽  
Chunxiao Li
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
School Students ◽  
Academic Burnout ◽  
Latent Profile Analyses ◽  
Current Survey ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Latent Profile

Background: The purpose of the current survey-based study was to identify patterns of academic burnout and their antecedents among secondary school students. Methods: Secondary school students (n = 1209) completed a survey measuring academic burnout, physical activity, and mental toughness. Results: Using latent profile analyses, three burnout profiles were identified: a “moderately engaged group” (n = 699; 57.8%), a “burnout group” (n = 389; 32.2%), and a “well-functioning group” (n = 121; 10.0%). Group comparisons revealed that the “well-functioning group” reported significantly higher levels of physical activity and mental toughness than the other two groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that lack of physical activity and mental toughness are potential risk factors for academic burnout. These findings may inform the development of intervention programs for academic burnout.

scholarly journals Interpersonal Self-Efficacy, Goals, and Problems of Persistently Depressed Outpatients: Prototypical Circumplex Profiles and Distinctive Subgroups

Assessment ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 988-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth D. Locke ◽  
Liliane Sayegh ◽  
Charlotte Weber ◽  
Gustavo Turecki
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Interpersonal Circumplex ◽  
Speaking Up ◽  
Latent Profile Analyses ◽  
Structural Summary ◽  
Latent Profile

Severely and persistently depressed outpatients ( n = 138) completed interpersonal circumplex measures of self-efficacy, problems, and values/goals. Compared with normative samples, patients showed deficits in agency: They reported less self-efficacy, especially for being assertive, tough, and influential; stronger goals, especially to avoid conflict or humiliation; and more problems, especially with being too timid, inhibited, and accommodating. Circular and structural summary indices suggested greater variability among patients in goal profiles than in efficacy or problem profiles; nonetheless, latent profile analyses identified coherent subgroups of patients with distinct patterns of efficacy (e.g., lacking confidence for speaking up vs. setting boundaries) and problems (e.g., being overly inhibited vs. self-sacrificing) as well as goals (e.g., to be included vs. unobtrusive). Women and those with more severe symptoms were overrepresented in the least agentic groups. The results show how observing patients through multiple circumplex surfaces simultaneously can help clarify their interpersonal dispositions and inform interventions.

scholarly journals The role of self-evaluation in predicting attitudes toward supporters of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories: A direct and a conceptual replication of Cichoka et al. (2016)

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 183449092110525
Author(s):  
Birte Siem ◽  
Benedikt Kretzmeyer, ◽  
Stefan Stürmer
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
Original Study ◽  
Total N ◽  
Specific Criterion ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
Different Sources

We examined the role of people’s self-evaluation in predicting their attitudes toward supporters of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories by replicating and extending the findings of a study by Cichocka et al. (2016, Study 3) in two preregistered studies (total N = 1179). Study 1, a direct replication, confirmed that narcissism and self-esteem—two different sources of people’s self-evaluation—differentially predicted their beliefs in a series of well-known conspiracy theories (not related to COVID-19), and served as mutual suppressor variables. Specifically, narcissism was positively related and self-esteem was negatively related to conspiracy beliefs, especially when the respective other predictor was controlled for. Study 2 extended Cichocka’s and our Study 1’s findings by testing the differential role of self-esteem and narcissism in predicting a COVID-19-specific criterion. Specifically, we focused on people’s rejection of supporters of COVID-19 conspiracy theories, a criterion we deem particularly important in curtailing the spread of these theories. Results were generally in line with previous findings, but effects were substantially weaker. As suggested by exploratory analyses, this might be due to the fact that the overall rejection of supporters measure comprises not only items capturing rejection of supporters but also items capturing low beliefs in conspiracy theories. These two distinct components differentially related to self-esteem and narcissism: the differential role of self-esteem and narcissism could only be replicated for the “low belief” subcomponent (thus replicating findings from the original study and from Study 1) but not for the “rejection of supporters” subcomponent. The present work thus contributes to recent research suggesting that low belief in conspiracy theories and the rejection of their supporters might be qualitatively different responses with unique antecedents.

scholarly journals Appraisal shifts during reappraisal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andero Uusberg
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Latent Profile Analyses ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Emotional Events ◽  
Latent Profile

How might we model the processes involved in regulating emotions via reappraisal? In two complementary studies, we tested the idea that reappraisal effects on emotion are mediated by shifts along appraisal dimensions. In an experimental Study 1, 437 students recalled a recent distressing event and rated their appraisals and emotions before and after using reappraisal to feel less negative about the event. Between 19% and 49% of changes to different emotions were statistically mediated by shifts along ten appraisal dimensions. Latent profile analyses suggested that the appraisal shifts reflected four distinct reappraisal tactics. These findings were conceptually replicated in a second intensive longitudinal study, where 168 participants rated their appraisals and emotions in relation to maximum of 3 emotional events for 7 days, first within an hour of the event and again in the evening when they also reported on emotion regulation use (1142 observations). Between 22% and 46% of changes to different emotions accompanying reappraisal use were mediated by shifts along appraisal dimensions. Appraisal shifts were significantly less relevant for otherwise regulated and spontaneous emotion changes. Relative to Study 1, the latent profile analyses of Study 2 revealed two similar and four novel reappraisal tactics reflecting a broader set of events. Across both studies, all appraisal dimensions were involved in at least one tactic and no dimension was involved in all of them, highlighting the importance of appraisal profiles. These findings suggest that appraisal shift profiles can be part of a useful model of cognitive processes underlying reappraisal.

scholarly journals Using Eye-Tracking to Understand Decision-Making in Conjoint Experiments

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-101
Author(s):  
Libby Jenke ◽  
Kirk Bansak ◽  
Jens Hainmueller ◽  
Dominik Hangartner
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Choice Data ◽  
Attribute Importance ◽  
New Information ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Conjoint experiments are popular, but there is a paucity of research on respondents’ underlying decision-making processes. We leverage eye-tracking methodology and a series of conjoint experiments, administered to university students and local community members, to examine how respondents process information in conjoint surveys. There are two main findings. First, attribute importance measures inferred from the stated choice data are correlated with attribute importance measures based on eye movement. This validation test supports the interpretation of common conjoint metrics, such as average marginal component effects (AMCEs), as measures of attribute importance. Second, when we experimentally increase the number of attributes and profiles in the conjoint table, respondents view a larger absolute number of cells but a smaller fraction of the total cells displayed. Moving from two to three profiles, respondents search more within-profile, rather than within-attribute, to build summary evaluations. However, respondents’ stated choices remain fairly stable regardless of the number of attributes and profiles in the conjoint table. Together, these patterns speak to the robustness of conjoint experiments and are consistent with a bounded rationality mechanism. Respondents adapt to complexity by selectively incorporating relevant new information to focus on important attributes, while ignoring less relevant information to reduce cognitive processing costs.

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