scholarly journals The Cognitive Estimation Task is nonunitary: Evidence for multiple magnitude representation mechanisms among normative and ADHD college students

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-246
Author(s):  
Sarit Ashkenazi ◽  
Yulia Tsyganov
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Numerical Estimation ◽  
Estimation Task ◽  
Cognitive Estimation ◽  
Hebrew Version ◽  
Shared Variance ◽  
A Current

There is a current debate on whether the cognitive system has a shared representation for all magnitudes or whether there are unique representations. To investigate this question, we used the Biber cognitive estimation task. In this task, participants were asked to provide estimates for questions such as, “How many sticks of spaghetti are in a package?” The task uses different estimation categories (e.g., time, numerical quantity, distance, and weight) to look at real-life magnitude representations. Experiment 1 assessed (N = 95) a Hebrew version of the Biber Cognitive Estimation Task and found that different estimation categories had different relations, for example, weight, time, and distance shared variance, but numerical estimation did not. We suggest that numerical estimation does not require the use of measurement in units, hence, it represents a more “pure” numerical estimation. Experiment 2 found that different factors explain individual abilities in different estimation categories. For example, numerical estimation was predicted by preverbal innate quantity understanding (approximate number sense) and working memory, whereas time estimations were supported by IQ. These results demonstrate that cognitive estimation is not a unified construct.

Under- and Over-Estimation

2011 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie Crollen ◽  
Julie Castronovo ◽  
Xavier Seron
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Numerical Estimation ◽  
Production Task ◽  
Estimation Task ◽  
Reproduction Task ◽  
Perception Task ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Mapping Hypothesis ◽  
Task Perception

Over the last 30 years, numerical estimation has been largely studied. Recently, Castronovo and Seron (2007) proposed the bi-directional mapping hypothesis in order to account for the finding that dependent on the type of estimation task (perception vs. production of numerosities), reverse patterns of performance are found (i.e., under- and over-estimation, respectively). Here, we further investigated this hypothesis by submitting adult participants to three types of numerical estimation task: (1) a perception task, in which participants had to estimate the numerosity of a non-symbolic collection; (2) a production task, in which participants had to approximately produce the numerosity of a symbolic numerical input; and (3) a reproduction task, in which participants had to reproduce the numerosity of a non-symbolic numerical input. Our results gave further support to the finding that different patterns of performance are found according to the type of estimation task: (1) under-estimation in the perception task; (2) over-estimation in the production task; and (3) accurate estimation in the reproduction task. Moreover, correlation analyses revealed that the more a participant under-estimated in the perception task, the more he/she over-estimated in the production task. We discussed these empirical data by showing how they can be accounted by the bi-directional mapping hypothesis ( Castronovo & Seron, 2007 ).

How do working memory, general anxiety and math anxiety affect female students’ math performance?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nachshon Korem ◽  
Orly Rubinsten
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Math Anxiety ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Math Performance ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Shared Variance ◽  
Numeric Information

Current evidence suggests that math anxiety and working memory govern math performance. However, these conclusions are largely based on simple correlations, without considering these variables as a network or examining correlations at the latent variables level. Thus, questions remain regarding the role of the unique and shared variance between math anxiety, working memory and math performance. The purpose of the current study was to (i) uncover the underlying relationships between the variables to understand the unique contribution of each element to the network; (ii) measure the shared variance and identify the interactions between affect and cognition that control math performance. Our analytical approach involved both network analysis approach and structural equation modeling, with a sample of 116 female students.Results show that math anxiety and working memory affect math performance by different mechanisms. Only working memory tests that included numeric information were correlated to math anxiety. Each of the various working memory tasks correlated differently to math performance: working memory as a single latent variable was a better predictor of math performance than visuospatial and verbal working memory as two separate latent variables. Overall, both working memory and math anxiety affect math performance. Working memory tasks that include numeric information can affect performance in math anxious individuals.

scholarly journals Doorways do not always cause forgetting: a multimodal investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica McFadyen ◽  
Christopher Nolan ◽  
Ellen Pinocy ◽  
David Buteri ◽  
Oliver Baumann
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
False Alarm ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Working Memory Load ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
False Alarm Rates ◽  
Location Updating

Abstract Background The ‘doorway effect’, or ‘location updating effect’, claims that we tend to forget items of recent significance immediately after crossing a boundary. Previous research suggests that such a forgetting effect occurs both at physical boundaries (e.g., moving from one room to another via a door) and metaphysical boundaries (e.g., imagining traversing a doorway, or even when moving from one desktop window to another on a computer). Here, we aimed to conceptually replicate this effect using virtual and physical environments. Methods Across four experiments, we measured participants’ hit and false alarm rates to memory probes for items recently encountered either in the same or previous room. Experiments 1 and 2 used highly immersive virtual reality without and with working memory load (Experiments 1 and 2, respectively). Experiment 3 used passive video watching and Experiment 4 used active real-life movement. Data analysis was conducted using frequentist as well as Bayesian inference statistics. Results Across this series of experiments, we observed no significant effect of doorways on forgetting. In Experiment 2, however, signal detection was impaired when participants responded to probes after moving through doorways, such that false alarm rates were increased for mismatched recognition probes. Thus, under working memory load, memory was more susceptible to interference after moving through doorways. Conclusions This study presents evidence that is inconsistent with the location updating effect as it has previously been reported. Our findings call into question the generalisability and robustness of this effect to slight paradigm alterations and, indeed, what factors contributed to the effect observed in previous studies.

A direct neural measure of variable precision representations in visual working memory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Merkel ◽  
Mandy Viktoria Bartsch ◽  
Mircea A Schoenfeld ◽  
Anne-Katrin Vellage ◽  
Notger G Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Working Memory ◽  
Recall Performance ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Item Information ◽  
Estimation Task ◽  
Active Representation ◽  
Contralateral Delay Activity ◽  
Memory Representations ◽  
Precision Estimation

Visual working memory (VWM) is an active representation enabling the manipulation of item information even in the absence of visual input. A common way to investigate VWM is to analyze the performance at later recall. This approach, however, leaves uncertainties about whether the variation of recall performance is attributable to item encoding and maintenance or to the testing of memorized information. Here, we record the contralateral delay activity (CDA) - an established electrophysiological measure of item storage and maintenance - in human subjects performing a delayed orientation precision estimation task. This allows us to link the fluctuation of recall precision directly to the process of item encoding and maintenance. We show that for two sequentially encoded orientation items, the CDA amplitude reflects the precision of orientation recall of both items, with higher precision being associated with a larger amplitude. Furthermore, we show that the CDA amplitude for each item varies independently from each other, suggesting that the precision of memory representations fluctuates independently.

scholarly journals The Influence of Conversational Content on College Students’ Safe Sex Intentions: A Mixed Method Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
Lennie Donné ◽  
Carel Jansen ◽  
John Hoeks
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Safe Sex ◽  
Sex Behavior ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Campaign ◽  
Behavioral Determinants ◽  
The Social ◽  
Conversation Partner

Even though health campaign designers are advised to specifically focus on triggering conversations between people about health issues, there is still a lot unknown about what aspects of a conversation may contribute to safe sex behavior and intentions. Empirical research in this field so far has mainly focused on conversational occurrence rather than conversational content, and where content is taken into account, this mostly concerns self-reports. In this mixed method study, we looked into the quantitative effects of real-life conversations about safe sex, triggered by a safe sex message, on college students’ intentions related to safe sex. We then used a qualitative analysis to try and identify content-related aspects that may be related to the quantitative effects. Two weeks after filling in a questionnaire on their safe sex-related intentions, participants (N = 24) were instructed to watch and talk about a safe sex video with a conversation partner of choice, followed by filling in a questionnaire. The conversational data were analyzed qualitatively. The results suggest that the conversations increased safe sex-related intentions compared to pretest scores, and that content-related aspects such as conversational valence, type of communication behavior and behavioral determinants were related to these effects. Thus, our findings provide enhanced insight into the social norms and behavioral patterns related to safe sex, and indicate that it is important to look at conversational content in detail rather than to focus on mere conversational occurrence or quantitative effects.

scholarly journals SPEAKING – WRITING MODE: STRATEGIES IN TRANSFORMING SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Siska Amelia Maldin
Keyword(s):  
Spoken Language ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Written Production ◽  
Good Writing ◽  
A Current

There is a tendency of cases in transforming spoken and written language. A current debate was proposed about the role. This debate derives from current phenomenon which shows evidence which is related with learner mastery in the particular skills. Some learners are able to produce spoken form of language fluently, however, when it comes to writing, it is seen that they find difficulties and get disturbance to put down ideas and elaborate the ideas into a good writing.  Hence, two questions arise. First, to what extent is the nature of spoken and written language? Second, what are strategies to help learners in transforming their spoken language to the written production? Therefore, this article is proposed to explain the nature of spoken and written language and present any strategies to help learners in transforming their spoken language into the written forms.

scholarly journals ESTUDIO EMPÍRICO PARA DETERMINAR EL NIVEL DE ANSIEDAD HACIA LA MATEMÁTICA EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS. EMPIRICAL STUDY TO MEASURE ANXIETY TOWARD MATHEMATICS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo García Santillán ◽  
Milka Elena Escalera Chávez ◽  
Josefina Carmen Santana Villegas ◽  
Bertha Yolanda Guzmán Rivas
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
College Students ◽  
Mathematics Anxiety ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Math Anxiety ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mathematical Problems ◽  
Para Determinar

Abstract.Mathematical knowledge is very important in the lives of people, therefore, it is necessary understand it and make good use of mathematics in everyday life. Therefore, the aim of this work is to identify whether there is a set of latent variables that allow explain the anxiety toward math on students at Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. The study is quantitative; and the study sample was formed of 303 college students from several profiles of the social sciences and engineering areas. The instrument utilized, is the scale of Munoz and Mato (2007) and was applied face to face to sample of study, in order to get data that allow us measure mathematics anxiety. The results show that students consider about the exposed variables that, the most prominent variable is the anxiety toward mathematics when faced in real life situations. The results allow us to observe that the studied variables explained 81% of variance that explains the math anxiety; the remaining 19% is explained by other variables that have not been considered in this research. Hence, if the student increases their anxiety in one of those, for example toward compression of mathematical problems, other variables also increase as the results show that there is a direct relationship between them.Keywords: Anxiety, Mathematics, Attitude toward mathematics, mathematics evaluationResumen.Los conocimientos matemáticos son de suma importancia en la vida de las personas, por lo tanto en la actualidad es necesario entender y hacer buen uso de las matemáticas en la vida diaria. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar si en los alumnos del Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, existe un conjunto de variables que pueden explicar la ansiedad frente a las matemáticas. El estudio es cuantitativo, la muestra de estudio se conformó de 303 estudiantes del nivel universitario del Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, de varios perfiles de ciencias sociales e ingeniería. Se utilizó el cuestionario Muñoz y Mato-Vázquez (2007), para medir la ansiedad a las matemáticas. Los resultados muestran que los estudiantes consideran que de las variables expuestas, la más preponderante es la ansiedad que les causa las matemáticas cuando se encuentran en situaciones de la vida real. Los resultados dejan ver que las variables analizadas contribuyen con el 81% a determinar la ansiedad hacia las matemáticas, el 19% restante es explicado por otras variables que no han sido consideradas en esta investigación. De ahí que, si el estudiante incrementa su ansiedad en una de ellas por ejemplo hacia la compresión de los problemas matemáticos, las otras variables también se incrementan ya que los resultados muestran que hay una relación directa entre ellas.Palabras clave: Ansiedad, Matemáticas, Actitud hacia las matemáticas, Evaluación matemática.

Junior doctors' experience and knowledge of procedures in compulsory psychiatric admissions in Ireland

2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Swift ◽  
M Nasir ◽  
John D Sheehan ◽  
Patricia R Casey
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Legal Requirements ◽  
Training Scheme ◽  
Psychiatric Admissions ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Health Legislation

AbstractObjectives: Prompted by the current debate in Ireland regarding involuntary detention, we undertook a survey of psychiatric trainees to examine their level of knowledge of the legislation governing such admissions.Method: Eighty psychiatric trainees working in centres affiliated to a particular training scheme were invited to complete a purpose-designed instrument.Results: Response rate was 52/80. Trainees were well informed concerning the procedures necessary to initiate detention. Their knowledge of the legal indications for involuntary detention and restrictions on its duration was patchy.Conclusions: We suggest that training in the area of mental health legislation needs to be increased and to focus on satisfying legal requirements in real-life scenarios.

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