Categorical Level Research Articles

An Exploratory Study on the Influence of Activities on Public Space Users' Descriptions of Their Auditory Environments on Site: The Case of Amsterdam

This paper is an exploration into whether public space users performing different activities describe their auditory environments in noticeably different ways. Building on soundscape and psycholinguistic literature, a questionnaire study was conducted in a large park in Amsterdam (NL), where 92 park users described, in writing, their activities and auditory environments. Users' self-reported activities were categorized based on their level of social interaction (solitary vs. socially interactive), and using open coding, generating categories of activities grouped by semantic range. The written corpus on auditory environment descriptions was analysed through a proposed classificatory framework, coding descriptions at three semantic and one syntactic level. We preliminarily tested whether there are associations between various categories of activities and of auditory environment descriptions, categorized at different levels. Our results suggest that, while for detailed levels of activity categorization there were no non-distinct patterns, the level of social interaction of users' activities has an observable effect over users' descriptions of their auditory environments. This holds particularly in relation to types of sounds listed, as well as for differences in descriptions at a syntactic level. These findings point towards subtly diff erent auditory experiences in the same public space for users performing solitary or socially interactive activities.

The Communicative Modes Analysis System in Psychotherapy From Mixed Methods Framework: Introducing a New Observation System for Classifying Verbal and Non-verbal Communication.

Communication represents the core of psychotherapy. The dynamic interaction between verbal and non-verbal components during patient-therapist exchanges, indeed, promotes the co-construction of meanings bringing about change within a process of reciprocal influence of participants. Our paper aims to illustrate the building of a new observational instrument of the therapeutic discourse, the Communicative Modes Analysis System in Psychotherapy (CMASP), and its reliability study from Mixed Methods framework. The CMASP is a single classification system analyzing the communication features within therapeutic exchanges. Born to overcome the limits of traditional psychotherapy research which considers verbal and non-verbal dimensions of communication as in polar opposition, the CMASP building was based on the performative function derived from the Speech Act Theory. We used this function as a comprehensive theorization to interpret the communication components in psychotherapy as an integrated and interacting system. In fact, the instrument detects and classifies, at the overall and dimension level, the verbal and extra-linguistic components of psychotherapeutic communication implemented by the therapist and patients in the form of communicative modes. From the observational methodology framework, it was built an instrument able to record and analyze verbal, vocal and interruption behaviors by combining elements of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The sample consisted of 30 psychotherapy audio recordings and verbatim transcripts of psychotherapy sessions (for a total of 8327 speaking turns). Four main dimensions were elaborated (Verbal Mode-Structural Form, Verbal Mode-Communicative Intent, Vocal Mode, and Interruption Mode) according to the agency role of communication components. The instrument is a field format combined with category systems. For each dimension, we built a category system that is exhaustive and mutually exclusive. From all dimensions, we have a total of 33 categories. Intra-and inter-judge reliability among four independent judges was computed on a total of 503 speaking turns coded through Cohen’s κ and Krippendorff’s canonical agreement coefficients (Cc), respectively. The CMASP showed high intra-and inter-judge agreement at the global, dimensional, and categorical level providing researchers and professionals with a single and flexible classification system, able to give multiple and concurrent information about the psychotherapy process.

It\u2019s a match!? Appropriate item selection in the Concealed Information Test

BackgroundWhile the Concealed Information Test (CIT) can determine whether examinees recognize critical details, it does not clarify the origin of the memory. Hence, when unknowledgeable suspects are contaminated with crime information through media channels or investigative interviews, the validity of the CIT can be compromised (i.e. false-positive outcomes). Yet, when the information was disclosed solely at the category level (e.g. the perpetrator escaped in a car), presenting specific items at the exemplar level (e.g. Citroën, Opel, or Volkswagen) might preclude this problem. However, diminished recollection for exemplar-level details could attenuate the CIT effect for knowledgeable suspects, thereby leading to false negatives. The appropriate item level for memory detection to reach an optimal balance between sensitivity and specificity remains elusive. As encoding, retention, and retrieval of information may influence memory performance and thereby memory detection, the current study investigated the validity of the CIT on both categorical and exemplar levels.ResultsParticipants planned a mock robbery (n = 165), with information encoded at the category (e.g. car) or exemplar (e.g. Citroën) level. They were tested immediately or after a one-week-delay, with a response time-based CIT consisting of questions at the categorical or exemplar level. An interaction was found between encoding and testing, such that CIT validity based on reaction time was higher for “matching” (e.g. exemplar-exemplar) than for “mismatching” (e.g. exemplar-categorical) items, while immediate versus one week delayed testing did not affect the outcome.ConclusionCritically, this indicates that what constitutes a good CIT item depends on the way the information was encoded. This provides a challenge for CIT examiners when selecting appropriate items.

Friendship Quality in Youth With and Without Disruptive Behavior Disorders: The Role of Empathy, Aggression, and Callousness.

Youth with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD; Oppositional defiant disorder and/or conduct disorder) are known to show impaired social relationships. Little is known about positive (PFQ) and negative best friendship quality (NFQ) in youth with DBD, and their relations with DBD specific symptoms such as aggression subtypes, empathic abilities, and callous unemotional (CU)-traits. The current study includes N = 115 youth with and N = 146 without DBD (Mage = 13.98, SD = 2.2). A diagnostic interview and self-rating questionnaires assessed ODD/CD diagnosis, friendship quality, aggression, empathy, and CU-traits. When examined on a categorical level, youth with and without DBD did not differ in friendship quality. On a dimensional level across groups, perspective taking was positively associated with PFQ. Proactive aggression was positively associated with NFQ. CU-traits in females were positively, while CU-traits in males were negatively, associated with NFQ. Results highlight that behavioral and cognitive symptoms, rather than clinical categories, are important to consider when discussing friendship qualities.

Conceptual Confusion in Psychological Therapy: Towards a Taxonomy of Therapies

This paper addresses confusion apparent in the discussion of psychological therapies. Such confusion relates to the differentiation, or lack of, of therapy constructs across categorical levels. Conceptual confusion is identified in terms of an apparent failure to differentiate theoretical frameworks of human functioning, specific therapy packages, and individual techniques from one another. Confusing to which level various concepts belong results in misunderstandings in psychological research, practice and education. The paper further sets out to provide a framework to help delineate these conceptual levels and to highlight the problems arising from confusing them.

Vanishing of Categorical Obstructions for Permutation Orbifolds

The orbifold construction $A\mapsto A^G$ for a finite group $G$ is fundamental in rational conformal field theory. The construction of $Rep(A^G)$ from $Rep(A)$ on the categorical level, often called gauging, is also prominent in the study of topological phases of matter. Given a non-degenerate braided fusion category $\mathcal{C}$ with a $G$-action, the key step in this construction is to find a braided $G$-crossed extension compatible with the action. The extension theory of Etingof-Nikshych-Ostrik gives two obstructions for this problem, $o_3\in H^3(G)$ and $o_4\in H^4(G)$ for certain coefficients, the latter depending on a categorical lifting of the action and is notoriously difficult to compute. We show that in the case where $G\le S_n$ acts by permutations on $\mathcal{C}^{\boxtimes n}$, both of these obstructions vanish. This verifies a conjecture of M\"uger, and constitutes a nontrivial test of the conjecture that all modular tensor categories come from vertex operator algebras or conformal nets.

Time for a Drink? A Mathematical Model of Non-human Primate Alcohol Consumption.

We simulate a non-human primate’s alcohol drinking pattern in order to better understand temporal patterning of alcoholic drinks that can lead to the excessive intakes associated with alcohol use disorder. A stochastic mathematical model of alcohol consumption pattern is developed, where model parameters are calibrated to an individual monkey’s drinking history. The model predicts a time series that simulates a monkey’s alcohol intake in time, and we analyze this drinking pattern to understand the variations in day and night drinking, the lengths of drinks (intake in 5 or more consecutive secs), and lengths of bouts (1 or more drinks per 5 min occasion). This time series can predict a lifetime categorical drinking level (light, binge, heavy, or very heavy), thus correlating an individual monkey’s parameters with distinct long term drinking classifications.

Relative evaluation of regression tools for urban area electrical energy demand forecasting

Load forecasting is the most fundamental application in Smart-Grid, which provides essential input to Demand Response, Topology Optimization and Abnormally Detection, facilitating the integration of intermittent clean energy sources. In this work, several regression tools are analyzed using larger datasets for urban area electrical load forecasting. The regression tools which are used are Random Forest Regressor, k-Nearest Neighbour Regressor and Linear Regressor. This work explores the use of regression tool for regional electric load forecasting by correlating lower distinctive categorical level (season, day of the week) and weather parameters. The regression analysis has been done on continuous time basis as well as vertical time axis approach. The vertical time approach is considering a sample time period (e.g seasonally and weekly) of data for four years and has been tested for the same time period for the consecutive year. This work has uniqueness in electrical demand forecasting using regression tools through vertical approach and it also considers the impact of meteorological parameters. This vertical approach uses less amount of data compare to continuous time-series as well as neural network techniques. A correlation study, where both the Pearson method and visual inspection, of the vertical approach depicts meaningful relation between pre-processing of data, test methods and results, for the regressors examined through Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). By examining the structure of various regressors they are compared for the lowest MAPE. Random Forest Regressor provides better short-term load prediction (30 min) and kNN offers relatively better long-term load prediction (24 h).

Perspective-taking and pretend-play: Precursors to figurative language use in young children

At what point do children move from literal uses of language to figurative ones, making use of metonymy and metaphor, for example? In this paper, I explore the contributions of perspective-taking and pretend-play as precursors to the emergence of figurative language in children. Speakers mark conceptual perspective with lexical choices to indicate kind and level of categorization (for example, Siberian tiger vs. tiger vs. animal), membership in orthogonal domains (bear vs. mailman, in a Richard Scarry book), and re-categorization (waste-basket vs. hat). In pretend-play speakers assign roles and make use of props (e.g., I'm the daddy and this is my baby [holding teddy-bear]; Fill up my cup [holding out a block]; This is my sword [waving paper roll]). In short, pretend play typically involves re-categorization – viewing participants and objects in new roles. This in turn requires that children extend their uses of conventional terms in talk. Perspective-taking emerges in the second year, along with early pretend-play: these abilities, I suggest, provide a foundation for figurative uses of language in children.

An Efficient Sentiment Analysis Approach for Product Review using Turney Algorithm

Sentiment analysis can be done by means of Classification and its most important tasks are text categorization, tone recognition, image classification etc. Mostly the extant methods of supervised classification are based on traditional statistics, which can provide ideal results. The main aim is to increase the accuracy and to report the manufacturer about the negatives of the product. The major problem is categorization of sentiment polarity, which is the problem of sentiment analysis. There are two levels of categorization and they are Review-level Categorization and Sentence-level Categorization. Categorization of review-level becomes arduous when we attempt to classify the reviews respect with their specific rating related to star-scaled. Second, Review-level Categorization has a drawback in Implicit-level sentiment analysis. Mostly SVM, Naïve Bayesian and Decision Tree are mainly used to improve the efficiency of classification. Amazon Dataset is used as Dataset in proposed system to improve the accuracy of Turney algorithm. Semantic Orientation (SO) with Point wise Mutual Information yields good results than other classification methods. The review level gets subjected as positive value, on acquaintance of positive average SO. On the other hand, the review level acquires a negative level in accordance with attainment of negative average SO.

Metaorder of categories vs/and metacategories of order

The article is devoted to the theoretical study of theory as an order of production of this theory at the categorical level. Based on historical and sociological material and conceptual analysis, the author explores the logic of the development of sociology as a science using the metacategory of order as an example. The author analyzes a number of views prevailing in sociology on issues of abstraction and specificity, empiricism and theory, generalizations and refinements, universalist conceptualism and particular applicability. It is emphasized that the abstraction, selection and construction of metacategories is the main way not only in the “normal sciences” (according to T. Kuhn), but also in the sciences that can oppose themselves to them, including in various sociology projects. As an example of metalanguages the development of N. Luhmann’s theory and actor-network theory are studied. The ways of introducing metacategories into sociology, their abstraction and approval are investigated. Three key sources of metacategories for sociology are identified (selfmovement of sociology, borrowing from philosophy, extraction from other sciences). An important distinction between metacategories, categories and official words in sociological theorizing is introduced. Separate emphasis is placed on the analysis of how metacategories are practiced in sociological discourse. The author’s hypotheses and preliminary conclusions are verified on the basis of material metacategories of the social order in the interpretation of a number of leading theoretical sociologists. For verification, P.A. Sorokin, T. Parsons, P. Bourdieu and E. Goffmann theories were used. The conclusion about the epistemological significance of metacategories for sociology and about their role in the scientific order of the organization of knowledge is drawn. In particular, the author proves that the study of the metacategory of order allows to reveal the metaorder of categories in theoretical sociology. Order as one of the most abstract, least “colored” and methodologically biased metacategories in this sense has a high potential for explicating the logic of the development of sociology.

SpillOver: A new tool for ranking the risk of viral spillover to humans using big data

SpillOver: A new tool for ranking the risk of viral spillover to humans using big data

Masking Effects of Irrelevant Visual Information under Conditions of Basic and Superordinate Categorization of Complex Images

We analyzed the accuracy and reaction time (RT) of basic and superordinate image categorization under forward masking conditions in 41 healthy subjects. Images of man-made objects and animals were used as target stimuli, while images of man-made objects, animals, faces, and buildings were used as masks. The comparison of the psychometric characteristics of the basic and superordinate categorization showed the influence of mask and stimulus semantic similarity on the forward masking effectiveness, which depended on the type of experimental task performed by the subject (the level of categorization of the target stimulus). The masking effect at the basic-level categorization was more pronounced at a greater semantic similarity between the mask and the target stimulus. In contrast, a greater masking effect at the superordinate-level categorization was observed when the mask and the stimulus belonged to different categories. The images of faces and buildings had a less pronounced masking effect compared to the images of animals and man-made objects, regardless of the type of task. For basic-level categorization, the increase in RT under semantically related conditions was caused by distributional skewing. In contrast, for superordinate categorization, semantically unrelated conditions led to distributional shifting towards greater values. The results of this study suggest a hypothesis of temporal and spatial division of cognitive processes of the basic and superordinate categorization.

ИНТЕРПРЕТАЦИЯ НЕИСКРЕННОСТИ В КОЛЛЕКТИВНОЙ КОГНИЦИИ (НА МАТЕРИАЛЕ АНГЛИЙСКОГО ЯЗЫКА)

The article claims that insincerity interpretation in collective cognition is based on the categorization process. According to the results of the analysis of explanatory dictionaries and corpus data, the paper determines that insincerity includes many categories. It is proved by the circular character of definitions, where the content of concepts is explained through specifying concepts and language descriptions. The author defines the levels of insincerity categorization: superordinate, basic and subordinate. The work ascertains that insincerity categorization and interpretation are realized not only in language but also in discourse, while the individual cognition of the speaker/writer is based on the format of knowledge about insincerity developed in collective cognition.

What Is an “Ethnic Group” in Ordinary People’s Eyes? Different Ways of Understanding It Among American, British, Mexican, and Polish Respondents

Although the term “ethnic group” (EG) is often used in social studies, its definition differs among researchers. Moreover, little is known about ordinary people’s subjective understanding of this term, even though it is often used in social discourse. We examined this issue in a cross-sectional study of 273 American, British, Mexican, and Polish students using an open-ended questions approach. Results revealed cultural differences in patterns of “ethnic group” definitions across the four countries. U.S. respondents predominantly connected EG to “race”; British participants frequently related it to “race,” but more often to “common culture” and “customs/traditions.” Both latter categories were overwhelmingly dominant in Mexico and Poland. However, “nation,” “shared history,” “religion,” “language,” and “territory” were also very popular as EG understandings in Poland. Although most participants used the newer definition of EG (referring to all groups in a society, including minority and majority groups), a few in each country used the term only to refer to minorities and people different from themselves (an older, “minus one” definition). Unexpected definitions of EG also appeared (e.g., people having similar hobbies, having similar work goals, or living in the same city). The results also indicate that for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, “ethnic group” was more a subgroup within a nation, whereas in Poland, they represented the same level of categorization. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.

Levels of categorization in animal idiomatic expressions

The departure point for the considerations presented below is Lakoff’s (1982, 1987) remark about the “greater cultural significance” of categories of the basic level of cognition, which can be recognized by a variety of criteria, among others – the criterion of their lexical labels functioning as basic terms in language. To verify that idea and to apply it to the important aspect of the cognized world constituted by the fauna, it is assumed that cultural significance should be confirmed by the occurrence of images of animals representing a certain level of classification in pictorial art and, also, by the occurrence of basic animal terms referring to basic animal categories in some kinds of literary works of art and, above all, in idiomatic expressions typically representing metaphorical meaning. The survey of a sample of English idioms provided by a selected dictionary largely confirms Lakoff’s statement as, indeed, basic category terms are the most common ones functioning in established idiomatic English animal expressions, although more specific subcategory names, especially as regards the class of birds, also appear in them in a significant number. What can also be concluded from the analyzed material is the fact that the basic level of categorization, termed by Lakoff the folk generic level only very loosely corresponds to the scientific generic level, which is basic in the Linnaean taxonomy. The scientific levels corresponding to the folk basic one can range from those of class (birds), through order (bats), family (hares), genus (rats), to species (dogs, cats, horses). The reason seems to be the fact that folk animal categories are determined by properties which are relevant in casual, practical-use-oriented cognition, which, nevertheless, need not be significant for establishing scientific taxonomies.

Having an Eating Disorder and Still Being Able to Flourish? Examination of Pathological Symptoms and Well-Being as Two Continua of Mental Health in a Clinical Sample.

Introduction: Eating Disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric disorders, impacting physical and psychosocial functioning, often with a chronic course and high mortality rates. The two continua model of mental health states that mental health is a complete state, that is, not merely the absence of mental illness, but also the presence of mental health. This model was studied among ED patients by examining the presence and correlates of well-being and psychopathology. In addition, the levels of well-being were compared to the Dutch general population.Method: A total of 468 female ED patients participated in this study during application and intake at a specialized ED treatment Center in the Netherlands. They filled out questionnaires about well-being (MHC-SF), general psychopathology (OQ-45), and ED psychopathology (EDE-Q). Categorical andmean well-being levels were calculated. Also, the relationships between these variables were examined with Pearson correlation and multiple hierarchical regression analysis.Results: ED patients showed lower levels of emotional, psychological, and social well-being on average compared to the general population. About 26% of the ED patients experienced low levels of well-being (languishing). However, also 13% experienced high levels of well-being (flourishing), varying between 9% in Anorexia Nervosa to 25% in Binge Eating Disorder. ED psychopathology and general well-being showed a moderate negative correlation. For patients with Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder however no such correlation was found. Lower general psychopathology, not having a history of hospitalization for the ED, and adaptive personal functioning were correlated with well-being among ED patients.Conclusion: This study shows initial support for the two continua model of mental health among ED patients. Psychopathology and well-being should be considered as related, but distinct dimensions of mental health in ED patients. Further research should focus on the possible reciprocal relationships between psychopathology and well-being during recovery. It is recommended to monitor well-being during treatment and to implement interventions for well-being to realize complete recovery for those patients with inadequate levels of well-being.

Conjoint differences in inhibitory control and processing speed in childhood to older adult cohorts: Discriminant functions from a Go/No-Go task.

To investigate differences in inhibitory control and processing speed over the life span, participants in 7- to 8-, 10- to 11-, 12- to 15-, 18- to 25-, and 54- to 80-year-old age cohorts completed a Go/No-Go task requiring varying levels of semantic categorization. Discriminant function analysis of correct rejection rates (CRRs), hit rates (HRs), and reaction times (RTs) revealed a function on which CRR loaded positively and RT loaded negatively, across categorization levels. Scores increased from youngest to the younger adult cohort and decreased for the older adult cohort. On a second function, CRR and RT loaded positively and HR loaded negatively across categorization levels. Scores were highest for the older adult cohort and higher for the youngest cohort than for the younger adult cohort. The results suggest change along 2 dimensions might underlie cognitive development: (a) combined increased inhibitory control and processing speed and (b) combined increased speed and decreased biased responding for better inhibitory control. In addition, 2 dimensions might underlie senescence: (a) combined decreased inhibitory control and processing speed and (b) combined decreased speed and increased biased responding for better inhibitory control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Between-hospital and between-neighbourhood variance in trauma outcomes: cross-sectional observational evidence from the Detroit metropolitan area

ObjectiveDisparities in treatment outcomes for traumatic injury are an important concern for care providers and policy makers. Factors that may influence these disparities include differences in risk exposure based on...

The Domain of Desert Principles for Taxation

Joseph Heath (2018) makes a strong case that the principles of fairness or desert that arise in social interactions have at best a loose connection to economic outcomes in decentralized markets. However, there is evidence that when people are given the opportunity—say, in collective bargaining situations—they will try to alter these market outcomes in favor of their own perceptions of justice, fairness, or desert. Taxation is an important domain in which the public can alter market outcomes. This paper explores to what extent desert can be used as a principle of tax policy. It analyzes tax policies that can be used to implement both individualized and categorical assessments of desert. I argue that there might be some room for tax policy at the broad, categorical level. Finally, using the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 as a case study, I explore whether merit or other bases for desert were embedded in the recent legislation. While there was evidence of attempts to implement ideas based on principles of deservingness in the legislation, they were not of the type necessary to sustain a merit-based society.