Action-Related Thoughts and Beliefs Regulate the Effect of Age Stereotypes on Aging Preparation

Thinking about old age stereotypically affects one’s engagement in age-related behaviors and developmental regulation. We hypothesized that positive or negative aging stereotype (AS) would be associated with more or less aging preparation, while action-related thoughts and beliefs might exert influence thereon. We used the AAF online-study dataset consisting of 591 German, 348 Chinese, and 139 American adults (aged 18−93 and 55% female). Using a count measure of 15-preparatory-activities, we first explored the role of AS measured by a bipolar scale and how perceived utility and risk of aging preparation differentiate this association. Findings revealed that perceiving more utility buffered the impact of negative AS, which suggests that one’s action-related thoughts are more proximal and self-relevant predictor of aging preparation. Besides, Chinese and Americans were more susceptible to the presence of AS than Germans, implying that cultural background or societal conditions might also shape one’s belief system and thereby regulate behaviors.

Nuclear Energy Perception and Ecological Attitudes

This paper focuses on the analysis of trends in the development of nuclear energy in selected European and non-European countries in the context of the pace of renewable energy development in the world. The perception of Poles related to their openness to various energy sources against the background of European trends was also examined, as well as their ecological approach to the quality of the environment in this context. The survey was carried out using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) technique. The total number of correctly completed forms was 923. To identify the ecological attitude, purchasing attitude, and the perception of nuclear energy, the research tool contained a number of statements on the issues studied, and the respondents assessed compliance with their opinion using a seven-point bipolar scale. The semantic differential was also used to gather opinions on the characteristics of nuclear energy. This paper shows that global trends are promoting the development of unstable renewable energy sources and the reduction of the share of nuclear power plants as an energy source. It has also been shown that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are more skeptical about nuclear power than countries that do not belong to the OECD (for example, China and Africa).

Cross-Modal Perceptual Organization in Works of Art

This study investigates the existence of cross-modal correspondences between a series of paintings by Kandinsky and a series of selections from Schönberg music. The experiment was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, by means of the Osgood semantic differential, the participants evaluated the perceptual characteristics first of visual stimuli (some pictures of Kandinsky’s paintings, with varying perceptual characteristics and contents) and then of auditory stimuli (musical excerpts taken from the repertoire of Schönberg’s piano works) relative to 11 pairs of adjectives tested on a continuous bipolar scale. In the second phase, participants were required to associate pictures and musical excerpts. The results of the semantic differential test show that certain paintings and musical excerpts were evaluated as semantically more similar, while others were evaluated as semantically more different. The results of the direct association between musical excerpts and paintings showed both attractions and repulsions among the stimuli. The overall results provide significant insights into the relationship between concrete and abstract concepts and into the process of perceptual grouping in cross-modal phenomena.

Measuring Income (In)equality: Comparing Survey Questions With Unipolar and Bipolar Scales in a Probability-Based Online Panel

In social science research, unipolar and bipolar scales are commonly used methods in measuring respondents’ attitudes and opinions. Compared to other rating scale characteristics, scale polarity (unipolar and bipolar) and its effects on response behavior have rarely been addressed in previous research. To fill this gap in the literature, we investigate whether and to what extent fully verbalized unipolar and bipolar scales influence response behavior by analyzing observed and latent response distributions and latent thresholds of response categories. For this purpose, we conducted a survey experiment in a probability-based online panel and randomly assigned respondents to a unipolar or bipolar scale condition. The results reveal substantial differences between the two rating scales. They show significantly different response distributions and measurement non-invariance. In addition, response categories (and latent thresholds) of unipolar and bipolar scales are not equally distributed. The findings show that responses to unipolar and bipolar scales differ not only on the observational level but also on the latent level. Both rating scales vary with respect to their measurement properties, so that the responses obtained using each scale are not easily comparable. We recommend not considering unipolar and bipolar scales as interchangeable.

Comparing self-categorisation approaches to measuring gender identity

This article compares two different measures of gender identity. Drawing on an online survey conducted with a representative sample of Americans that included both a single bipolar scale and separate masculinity and femininity scales, we compare how the same people respond depending on how gender identity is measured. The results of validation tests suggest that a single bipolar scale performs just as well in differentiating among those with sex-typical gender identities but separate masculinity and femininity scales are needed for studies investigating the political behaviour and preferences of those with sex-atypical identities.<br /><br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>Self-categorization is the appropriate way of capturing a gendered sense of self.</li><br /><li>Using separate femininity and masculinity scales has theoretical advantages.</li><br /><li>A single bipolar scale works as well as separate masculinity and femininity scales for differentiating those with sex typical gender identities.</li><br /><li>Separate femininity and masculinity scales are optimal for measuring sex atypical gender identities.</li></ul>

«Actitud hacia el parto vertical en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Mëdicas y la Facultad de Educación del VII ciclo UCV- Trujillo, Marzo-Junio 2009»

«Actitud hacia el parto vertical en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Mëdicas y la Facultad de Educación del VII ciclo UCV- Trujillo, Marzo-Junio 2009» «Vertical attitude towards the birth of students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences Faculty of Education and the cycle VII UCV-Trujillo, March-June 2009» Fany Espinola, Franshesca Lavado, Zoraida Montoya, Ana Saavedra, Patricia Varas, Cinthia Ysla DOI: https://doi.org/10.33017/RevECIPeru2009.0019/ RESUMEN En el siglo XX se dejó de práctica común del parto vertical y se cambió al parto horizontal. El MINSA ha dispuesto la atención del parto vertical con interculturalidad, costumbre que permanece en nuestra zona andina y amazónica. Es importante conocer la actitud de quienes en el futuro cumplirán una función sanitaria y educativa en la población. El objetivo fue comparar la actitud hacia el parto vertical de estudiantes de las Facultades de Ciencias Médicas y de Educación de la UCV-Trujillo. Estudio comparativo y de corte transversal realizado en estudiantes del VII-Ciclo, 63 estudiantes de ciencias médicas y 53 de educación. La mayoría es costeño y profesa religión católica. El 54.0% en ciencias médicas y 80.4% en educación desconocía su práctica en centros de salud. Se empleó una escala de ítems bipolares, con puntuaciones de 1-7 puntos, validada por dos obstetrices, el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach fue 0.699. Se usó SPSS-17.0 y Minitab-15.0, test Chi-Cuadrado y T-Student. La actitud favorable hacia el parto vertical fue 73.0% en ciencias médicas y 82.1% en educación (p=0.235>0.05). Indistintamente, alrededor del 50% concordaba con tener (o que su pareja tenga) parto vertical, pero ciencias médicas (76.2%) recomendaría más el parto vertical (p=0.010<0.05) que educación (53.6%). Los primeros mostraron mejor actitud al mayor sangrado que se produciría en el parto vertical (p=0.005<0.05) y los segundos al pudor durante el mismo (p=0.007<0.05), no mostrando diferencias en otros aspectos (p>0.05). Se concluye que la actitud hacia el parto vertical entre ambos grupos de estudiantes difiere parcialmente. Palabras clave: Actitud, Parto, Posición vertical. ABSTRACT In the twentieth century it was common practice in the vertical and horizontal confinement was changed. The Ministry has ordered the attendance vertical interculturality habit that remains in our Andean and Amazon. It is important to know the attitude of those in the future play a role in health and education the population. The objective was to compare the attitude towards the vertical of students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Education of the UCV-Trujillo. Comparative study conducted in cross-Cycle VII students, 63 students and 53 medical education. Most are coastal and professes Catholicism. 54.0% in the medical sciences and 80.4% unknown practice in education in health facilities. Used a bipolar scale items, with scores of 1-7 points, validated by two midwives, the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.699. We used SPSS-17.0-15.0 and Minitab, Chi-Square and T-Student. The favorable attitude toward the vertical was 73.0% in medical sciences and in education 82.1% (p = 0.235> 0.05). Indiscriminately, some 50% have matched (or your partner has) vertical, but medical science (76.2%) would recommend the more vertical (p = 0.010 <0.05) to education (53.6%). The former showed a better attitude to the higher bleeding that would occur in the vertical (p = 0.005 <0.05) and the second molestation for the same (p = 0.007 <0.05), showing no differences in other aspects (p> 0.05). We conclude that the attitude toward the vertical between the two groups of students differed in part. Keywords: Attitudes, Childbirth, vertical position.

Decision Making Approach Based on Competition Graphs and Extended TOPSIS Method under Bipolar Fuzzy Environment

A wide variety of human decision-making is based on double-sided or bipolar judgmental thinking on a positive side and a negative side. This paper develops a new method called bipolar fuzzy extended TOPSIS based on entropy weights to address the multi-criteria decision-making problems involving bipolar measurements with positive and negative values. The extended bipolar fuzzy TOPSIS method incorporates the capability of bipolar information into the TOPSIS to address the interactions between criteria and measure the aggregate values on a bipolar scale. In practical problems, this method can be used to measure the benefits and side effects of medical treatments. We also discuss some novel applications of bipolar fuzzy competition graphs in food webs and present certain algorithms to compute the strength of competition between species.

The Effect of Visual Attention Factors on Visual Field Testing for Maintenance of Gaze Fixation

The maintenance of gaze fixation during visual field testing is needed to accurately measure the functionality of the optic nerve. The present study is intended to analyze the performance of gaze fixation and evaluate five gaze fixation induction methods (GFIM) including black dot (BD; conventional method), changing color dot (CCD), alphanumeric characters (AC), flashing black dot (FBD), and bulls-eye with cross hair (BECH). Recruiting 32 participants (16 in 20s and 16 in 30s), the experiment was conducted in four steps: (1) preparation, (2) exercising the visual field testing, (3) main experiment for five GFIMs, and (4) debriefing. The performance of gaze fixation was analyzed in terms of correct fixation rate (CFR), and subjective satisfaction was evaluated in terms of ease of gaze fixation (EGF), eye fatigue (EF), and overall satisfaction (OS) using a 11-point Likert bipolar scale. The CFRs of the four new GFIMs were all higher than that of BD (BD = 86.7%, CCD = 87.9%, AC = 88.8%, FBD = 91.5%, and BECH = 88.0%). However, there was no statistically significant difference among the CFR averages of the five GFIMs, but the variances of CFR of the newly proposed GFIMs were all lower than that of BD. The subjective satisfaction of BECH (EGF = 2.0, EF = -0.4, OS = 1.6) was highest. Therefore, BECH was recommended for an effective GFIM to maintain the examinee’s gaze fixation during a visual field testing in both aspects of the performance and the subjective satisfaction.

Naturally Biased Associations Between Music and Poetry

The study analyzes the existence of naturally biased associations in the general population between a series of musical selections and a series of quatrains. Differently from other studies in the field, the association is tested between complex stimuli involving literary texts, which increases the load of the semantic factors. The stimuli were eight quatrains taken from the same poem and eight musical clips taken from a classical musical version of the poem. The experiment was conducted in two phases. First, the participants were asked to rate 10 couples of opposite adjectives on a continuous bipolar scale when reading a quatrain or when listening to a musical clip; then they were asked to associate a given clip directly with the quatrains in decreasing order. The results showed the existence of significant associations between the semantics of the quatrains and the musical selections. They also confirmed the correspondences experienced by the composer when writing the musical version of the poem. Connotative dimensions such as rough or smooth, distressing or serene, turbid or clear, and gloomy or bright, characterizing both the semantic and the auditory stimuli, may have played a role in the associations. The results also shed light on the accomplishment of the two diverse methodologies adopted in the two different phases of the test. Finally, the role of specific musical components and their combinations is likely to have played an important role in the associations, an aspect that shall be addressed in further studies.