Survey questions about party competence: Insights from cognitive interviews

Voter assessments of party competence have become a key explanation of electoral decision-making. However, there are at least three important aspects to understanding responses to questions on issue-specific party competence: comprehension difficulties; a lack of well-formed attitudes and relevant information; and the use of response heuristics. We used 20 cognitive interviews carried out in Austria in 2011 to test competence questions. The interviews show us how respondents explain their responses. We find evidence that many people (1) may hold only weak opinions and have little information on issue-specific party competence and (2) may make use of distinct but related concepts, particularly salience and position, when answering questions about competence. We provide recommendations for researchers and survey designers based on our findings.     

中国传统文化中的心理学挖掘

近些年,中国传统文化越来越受到人们的重视。在心理学界,很多西方心理学家曾受到中国传统文化的启发。然而在中国,中国传统文化并未得到应有的重视,中国文化经过几千年的发展,是中华民族智慧的结晶,需要更加系统地进行挖掘开发,并发扬光大。     

对犯罪心理学研究取向的思考

犯罪心理学的研究 ,需要明确它的学科性质是偏向于社会科学的中间科学和带有浓厚人文色彩的边缘科学。因此 ,在研究方法上 ,不能拘泥于自然科学式的实验室实验研究的方法 ,而应更多地采用社会科学的以社会为背景的实践检验方法 ;既要注意到人的生物性方面 ,更要侧重研究人的社会性方面 ,在此基础上 ,提出犯罪心理学的研究原则、研究方法和具体的研究方向问题。     

论文艺接受中的民俗心理

民俗心理是支配文艺接受主体的潜在的巨大合力,且渗透在文艺接受过程的每一个环节。接受主体的民俗心理对审美客体有筛选和吸附、同化功能,即主体对客体的认同或排斥或吸收。民俗心理结构是一个开放性的结构,它不断发展、扩充自己的内涵,因而生机勃勃,具有强盛的生命向力。尊重民俗心理是创作精典式艺术作品的基础。     

Some conditions maximizing eyewitness accuracy: A learning/memory analogy

Jurors continue to rely heavily on eyewitness testimony despite numerous demonstrations that it is often inaccurate. As part of the effort to provide jurors with good estimates of the accuracy of any specific testimony, a study was designed to test the proposal that eyewitness accuracy is governed by the same variables and in the same way as is retention of much simpler material in classical learning and memory paradigms. Prior exposure to the criminal (trials), arousal value of the incident (drive), and delay between prior exposure and incident, and between incident and test (inner-trial intervals) all affected eyewitness accuracy in the expected manner. Correct recognitions of the criminal in a line-up ranged from 14 percent to 86 percent, depending on the particular conditions under which the incident was observed.     

艺术的精神价值之维

艺术精神的问题是触及到人的本体存在和精神生成的深层次问题。西方艺术精神大体可分为四个层次:文本精神;个体精神;文化精神;天地精神。在人的精神成长史上,人的存在与艺术精神在本体论上连为一体,从而使人获得诗意栖居的可能性。     

Producing facial composite sketches in remote Cognitive Interviews: a preliminary investigation

Justice systems around the world are increasingly turning to videoconferencing as a means to reduce delays and reduce costs in legal processes. This preliminary research examined whether interviewing a witness remotely – without physical co-presence of the witness and interviewer – could facilitate the production of quality facial composite sketches of suspects. In Study 1, 42 adults briefly viewed a photograph of a face. The next day they participated in Cognitive Interviews with a forensic artist, conducted either face-to-face or remotely via videoconference. In Study 2, 20 adults participated in videoconferenced interviews, and we manipulated the method by which they viewed the developing sketch. In both studies, independent groups of volunteers rated the likeness of the composites to the original photographs. The data suggest that remote interviews elicited effective composites; however, in Study 1 these composites were considered poorer matches to the photographs than were those produced in face-to-face interviews. The differences were small, but significant. Participants perceived several disadvantages to remote interviewing, but also several advantages including less pressure and better concentration. The results of Study 2 suggested that different sketch presentation methods offered different benefits. We propose that remote interviewing could be a useful tool for investigators in certain circumstances.     

The cognitive distortions of child molesters are in need of treatment

Abstract

This paper forms the second part of a debate led by Marshall, Marshall, and Kingston (2011) regarding the need to address so-called cognitive distortions in sexual offender treatment. In their paper, Marshall et al. argue that so-called cognitive distortions may not necessarily require intense and focused attention or challenge throughout treatment. In evaluating Marshall et al.'s arguments, we highlight some inherent differences in how both Marshall et al. and ourselves choose to define the term “cognitive distortion”. We surmise that these key definitional differences appear to account for many of the issues that we “debate”. In particular, for example, Marshall et al. focus their arguments regarding cognitive distortions more explicitly upon excuses, denial and minimisations, whereas we choose to focus upon schemas and higher-order belief structures. Thus, we argue that the broadness and vagueness of the term “cognitive distortion” can lend itself to quite different interpretations and research foci. We offer some alternative views to Marshall et al.'s position and advocate the consideration of cognitions with an aetiological role in offending. We conclude with some suggestions for future research and treatment.     

犯罪心理定数系统说

目前,犯罪心理学的研究仍然存在着“过程论”理论的断阻与空白,严重地影响了本学科基础理论的发展。为能走出这种认识的困顿,就藉犯罪心理活动过程里不可缺少的“纵三数”与“横三数”系统为目来探讨犯罪心理现象的定数系统。