scholarly journals The Dynamics of Cognitive Performance: What Has Been Learnt from Empirical Research in Science Education

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Stamovlasis
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Attitude Change ◽  
Catastrophe Theory ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamical ◽  
State Variable ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
Dynamical Hypothesis

This paper discusses investigations in science education addressing the nonlinear dynamical hypothesis. Learning science is a suitable field for applying interdisciplinary research and predominately for testing psychological theories. It was demonstrated that in this area the paradigm of complexity and nonlinear dynamics have offered theoretical advances and better interpretations of empirical data. Research showed that besides linear modes of behavior, sudden transitions occur in cognitive performance and this has questioned basic theoretical and epistemological assumptions. The neo-Piagetian framework and motivational theories offering constructs for serving as predictors in various model are the local theories which are embraced by the CDS meta-theory. Sudden transitions are modeled by catastrophe theory (CT) the analyses of which reveal the crucial role of certain variables, namely the bifurcation factors. Beyond a critical value of the bifurcation factor, the state variable splits into two-attractor regions and becomes bimodal. The bifurcation effect induces uncertainty and unpredictability in the system, which oscillates between two states entering the regime of chaos. Then in state variables such as learning outcomes and achievement, sudden transitions from success to failure are expected. Catastrophe theory explains unexpected phenomena associated with school failure, dropouts, illicit behaviors, sudden attitude change, and creativity. Moreover CT could contribute in elucidating theoretical debates and conflicting empirical evidences.

Catastrophe Theory in Explaining Price Dynamics on the Real Estate Market

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 51-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirosław Belej
Keyword(s):  
Real Estate ◽  
Catastrophe Theory ◽  
Open Systems ◽  
Real Estate Market ◽  
Sensitivity Threshold ◽  
State Variables ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
The Real Estate Market ◽  
External Stimuli

Abstract The real estate market is an open system, which implies that it is able to exchange signals with other open systems and dynamic systems. The evolution of a market system over time can be described mathematically. If the system's sensitivity threshold to external stimuli is exceeded, it becomes destabilized and moves from a near-balanced state to a state that is far from equilibrium. Those dynamic processes often induce key changes in the system's trajectory of evolution. In search of equilibrium, the system becomes transformed in a process of discontinuous and discrete changes in state variables. The above statement constitutes the research hypothesis in this article. In this study, an attempt was made to develop a mathematical model for visualizing the evolutionary path of the real estate market in the form of continuous changes interrupted by discontinuous changes. The qualitative transformation of the system will be evaluated with the use of the catastrophe theory.

ROLE OF HARDWARE STARTUPS IN FACILITATING ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR KIDS: SURVEY OF HARDWARE PRODUCTS

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Slim Chtourou ◽  
Mohamed Kharrat ◽  
Nader Ben Amor ◽  
Mohamed Jallouli ◽  
Mohamed Abid
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Computer Science Education

scholarly journals Changes in perceptions of media bias

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 205316802098744
Author(s):  
Kirby Goidel ◽  
Nicholas T. Davis ◽  
Spencer Goidel
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Change ◽  
Media Bias ◽  
Congressional Election ◽  
Election Study ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
Individual Perceptions ◽  
2016 Election ◽  
The Media

In this paper, we utilize a module from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study to explore how individual perceptions of media bias changed over the course of the 2016 presidential campaign. While previous literature has documented the role of partisan affiliation in perceptions of bias, we know considerably less about how these perceptions change during a presidential election. Consistent with existing theories of attitude change, perceptions of bias polarize with strong Democrats moving toward believing the media were biased against Hillary Clinton (and in favor of Donald Trump) and independent-leaning Republicans moving toward believing the media were biased against Donald Trump. At the end of the 2016 election, more individuals believed the media were biased against their side. These effects were moderated by how much attention individuals paid to the campaign.

scholarly journals Anatomy of a Psychological Theory: Integrating Construct-Validation and Computational-Modeling Methods to Advance Theorizing

2021 ◽  
pp. 174569162096679
Author(s):  
Ivan Grahek ◽  
Mark Schaller ◽  
Jennifer L. Tackett
Keyword(s):  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Construct Validation ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Modeling Methods ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Convergence And Divergence

Discussions about the replicability of psychological studies have primarily focused on improving research methods and practices, with less attention paid to the role of well-specified theories in facilitating the production of reliable empirical results. The field is currently in need of clearly articulated steps to theory specification and development, particularly regarding frameworks that may generalize across different fields of psychology. Here we focus on two approaches to theory specification and development that are typically associated with distinct research traditions: computational modeling and construct validation. We outline the points of convergence and divergence between them to illuminate the anatomy of a scientific theory in psychology—what a well-specified theory should contain and how it should be interrogated and revised through iterative theory-development processes. We propose how these two approaches can be used in complementary ways to increase the quality of explanations and the precision of predictions offered by psychological theories.

scholarly journals Eye contact effect: The role of vagal regulation and reactivity, and self-regulation of attention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Niedźwiecka
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Autonomic Regulation ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Contact Effect ◽  
The Individual

AbstractEye contact is a crucial aspect of social interactions that may enhance an individual’s cognitive performance (i.e. the eye contact effect) or hinder it (i.e. face-to-face interference effect). In this paper, I focus on the influence of eye contact on cognitive performance in tasks engaging executive functions. I present a hypothesis as to why some individuals benefit from eye contact while others do not. I propose that the relations between eye contact and executive functioning are modulated by an individual’s autonomic regulation and reactivity and self-regulation of attention. In particular, I propose that individuals with more optimal autonomic regulation and reactivity, and more effective self-regulation of attention benefit from eye contact. Individuals who are less well regulated and over- or under-reactive and who do not employ effective strategies of self-regulation of attention may not benefit from eye contact and may perform better when eye contact is absent. I present some studies that justify the proposed hypothesis and point to a method that could be employed to test them. This approach could help to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying the individual differences in participant’s cognitive performance during tasks engaging executive functions.

Insomnia symptom severity and cognitive performance: Moderating role of APOE genotype

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrée‐Ann Baril ◽  
Alexa S. Beiser ◽  
Erlan Sanchez ◽  
Vincent Mysliwiec ◽  
Susan Redline ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Insomnia Symptom ◽  
Moderating Role

scholarly journals Theorems and Application of Local Activity of CNN with Five State Variables and One Port

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Gang Xiong ◽  
Xisong Dong ◽  
Li Xie ◽  
Thomas Yang
Keyword(s):  
Bifurcation Diagram ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamical Systems ◽  
Reaction Diffusion ◽  
Cellular Neural Network ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamical ◽  
Local Activity ◽  
Homogeneous Lattice ◽  
Coupled Cells

Coupled nonlinear dynamical systems have been widely studied recently. However, the dynamical properties of these systems are difficult to deal with. The local activity of cellular neural network (CNN) has provided a powerful tool for studying the emergence of complex patterns in a homogeneous lattice, which is composed of coupled cells. In this paper, the analytical criteria for the local activity in reaction-diffusion CNN with five state variables and one port are presented, which consists of four theorems, including a serial of inequalities involving CNN parameters. These theorems can be used for calculating the bifurcation diagram to determine or analyze the emergence of complex dynamic patterns, such as chaos. As a case study, a reaction-diffusion CNN of hepatitis B Virus (HBV) mutation-selection model is analyzed and simulated, the bifurcation diagram is calculated. Using the diagram, numerical simulations of this CNN model provide reasonable explanations of complex mutant phenomena during therapy. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the local activity of CNN provides a practical tool for the complex dynamics study of some coupled nonlinear systems.

scholarly journals The role of lipoprotein profile in depression and cognitive performance: a network analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiu-fang Jia ◽  
Han-xue Yang ◽  
Nan-nan Zhuang ◽  
Xu-yuan Yin ◽  
Zhen-hua Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
High Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipid Profile ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Serum Lipid ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Profile ◽  
Depressive State

AbstractLipid profile (total cholesterol and lipoprotein fractions) has been found to correlate with depression and cognitive impairment across the lifespan. However, the role of lipid levels in self-rated depressive state and cognitive impairment remains unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and cognition in adults with and without self-rated depression. Four hundred and thirty-eight healthy participants completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and a serum lipoprotein test. Using multivariate ANOVA, partial correlation and network analysis, a network linking lipoprotein profile, depressive state and cognition was constructed. A significant difference in serum lipid profile between the high and low depressive groups was detected. Depressive state had a strong negative correlation with cognitive performance. Of the lipid profile, only high-density lipoprotein was positively correlated with depressive symptom severity, whereas the other three indices showed negative correlation with both depressive state and cognitive performance. Our results suggest that serum lipid profile may be directly linked to self-rated depression and cognitive performance. Further studies recruiting larger clinical samples are needed to elucidate the specific effect of lipoprotein on cognitive impairment in mood disorder.

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