Naturalistic Investigations Research Articles

Synaptic plasticity through a naturalistic lens.

From the myriad of studies on neuronal plasticity, investigating its underlying molecular mechanisms up to its behavioral relevance, a very complex landscape has emerged. Recent efforts have been achieved toward more naturalistic investigations as an attempt to better capture the synaptic plasticity underpinning of learning and memory, which has been fostered by the development of in vivo electrophysiological and imaging tools. In this review, we examine these naturalistic investigations, by devoting a first part to synaptic plasticity rules issued from naturalistic in vivo-like activity patterns. We next give an overview of the novel tools, which enable an increased spatio-temporal specificity for detecting and manipulating plasticity expressed at individual spines up to neuronal circuit level during behavior. Finally, we put particular emphasis on works considering brain-body communication loops and macroscale contributors to synaptic plasticity, such as body internal states and brain energy metabolism.

An Analysis on the Speech Act of Prilly Latuconsina "Break the Glass Ceiling" in English Speech Youtobe Channel

This study aims to analyze types of speech acts and classification of illocutionary speech acts occuring in Habibie and Ainun's conversation in film entitled Habibie and Ainun 2012. This is a qualitative descriptive study conducted on naturalistic investigations of social phenomena. Data were analyzed based on theory of speech acts types put forward by Yule (1996). Analysis of classification of illocutionary speech acts put forward by Searle (1977) which consists of, representative, directive commissive, expressive and declaration. Results of this study indicate that there are five classifications of illocutionary speech acts. It was found that there were a total of 42 utterances analyzed as illocutionary where 5 utterances were representative, 9 declarative utterances, 23 directive utterances, 5 expressive utterances, and no commissive (0%) . This study shows that speech "Break the Glass Ceiling" by Prilly Latuconsina contains various types of speech acts that aim to influence, inspire, and motivate listeners. This speech had a strong impact in raising awareness on gender equality issues and encouraging positive action to achieve success. Implication of this research is studying and mastering pragmatics, especially in speech act theory to be able to understand intent of the speaker so that communication expressed can be fulfilled.

A Novel Exploratory Graph-Based Analytical Tool for Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Naturalistic Experiments: An Illustrative Application in Typically Developing Children.

Naturalistic paradigms are being increasingly applied to investigate human brain function. Compared with resting-state and task-based paradigms in neuroimaging, naturalistic stimuli and situations can be potentially more readily translated to daily-life applications. Among neuroimaging modalities, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is particularly suitable for naturalistic investigations and applications. However, specific and tailored statistical analysis to interrogate brain function using naturalistic fNIRS is warranted. Here, we describe an exploratory graph-centrality-based approach to investigating participants' spatiotemporal similarities from the fNIRS signal. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach in a sample of typically developing children (10 males and 9 females; mean age of 5.2 years old; sd = 0.78) while they watch the Inscapes movie designed for neuroimaging acquisition. A node in the left dorsal prefrontal cortex presented similar responses across children, and those fNIRS responses were in line with scene transitions in the movie stimulus. Our results suggest the feasibility of applying centrality graph-based measures to investigate brain function in naturalistic fNIRS during development.

An experimental study of the job demand–control model with measures of heart rate variability and salivary alpha-amylase: Evidence of increased stress responses to increased break autonomy

We assessed in an experimental design whether the stress response towards a work task was moderated by the autonomy to choose a break during the assigned time to complete the task. This setting is defined in accordance with the theoretical framework of the job-demand-control (JDC) model of work related stress. The findings from naturalistic investigations of a stress-buffering effect of autonomy (or 'buffer hypothesis') are equivocal and the experimental evidence is limited, especially with relation to physiological indices of stress. Our objective was to investigate if increased autonomy in a particular domain (break time control) was related with adaptive physiology using objective physiological markers of stress; heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary alpha amylase (sAA). We used a within-subject design and the 60 female participants were randomly assigned to an autonomy (free timing of break) and standard conditions (fixed timing of break) of a word processing task in a simulated office environment in a random order. Participants reported increased perceptions of autonomy, no difference in demand and performed worse in the task in the break-time autonomy versus the standard condition. The results revealed support for the manipulation of increased autonomy, but in the opposing direction. Increased autonomy was related with dysregulated physiological reactivity, synonymous with typical increased stress responses. Potentially, our findings may indicate that autonomy is not necessary a resource but could become an additional stressor when it adds additional complexity while the amount of work (demands) remains unchanged. Further, our findings underscore the need to collect objective physiological evidence of stress to supplement self-reported information. Self-report biases may partially explain the inconsistent findings with the buffer hypothesis.

Naturalistic Flying Studies

Measuring the performance of operators, and how they interact with complex systems is a key issue in identifying risks and improving safety. Naturalistic studies in some transport domains, chiefly road driving, have yielded significant advances in our understanding of road user behavior and road safety. Naturalistic studies of flying are only starting to develop around the world. This discussion panel focuses on the challenges and opportunities presented by “naturalistic flying studies”, in which pilot behavior is automatically recorded continuously by video, GPS, accelerometers and other sensors. Data acquisition systems for recording pilot behavior in light aircraft are now available, at reasonable cost. This panel will facilitate the sharing of experiences across road and aviation domains of this relatively new data collection and analysis method, and the building of collaborations with, and learning from, naturalistic human factors investigations in these and other domains. Naturalistic flying studies can provide a unique range of information including: exposure data; quantification of risk; the nature and rate of system violations; accident and incident data; normative data by age, experience and operator state; the opportunity to validate simulator, performance and self-reported data; and the ability to evaluate the relative efficacy of new equipment, procedures and safety interventions (see Regan et al 2013). Considering the capabilities of naturalistic human factors investigations, panelists will reflect on the priority research areas for naturalistic flying studies and the unique opportunities they present for aviation safety. Issues that may distinguish the aviation context from other domains in which naturalistic studies have been conducted will also be considered.

Making an Impact: Cultural Studies, Media and Contemporary Work

Making an Impact: Cultural Studies, Media and Contemporary Work

Religious motivation and cardiovascular reactivity among middle aged adults: is being pro-religious really that good for you?

Religiousness has been observed to have a beneficial relationship with blood pressure, however, specific aspects of religiousness that interact with physiological mechanisms to influence this relationship are not known. This study explored laboratory cardiovascular reactivity (blood pressure, heart rate) to psychological stress among middle aged community dwelling individuals grouped by religious motivation (Intrinsic, Pro-religious, Non-religious). Measures of personality, cynical hostility, aggression, sense of coherence, and compassion were administered. Results indicated that the Pro-religious group demonstrated dampened reactivity compared to the other research groups. However, the Pro-religious also demonstrated a less positive psychological profile (e.g., greater cynicism, aggression, and neuroticism; less compassion and sense of coherence) and poorer self-reported health compared with the Intrinsic group and behavioral observations demonstrated that the Pro-religious were unreliable in keeping appointments and appeared rushed during the experiment. These findings indicate a complicated interface between personality, coping, and religious motivation in response to stressors and emphasize the need for naturalistic and longitudinal investigations of individuals who vary in terms of religious motivation.

Intergenerational possession transfers and identity maintenance

AbstractResearch suggests that older consumers hope to transfer their cherished possessions, bundled with their carefully edited personal history, to younger family members. Further, researchers have found that older consumers worry that their younger loved ones will not care about these cherished, transferred possessions. Using a random, national US sample, this research investigates these findings, examining the pervasiveness of some of the most common themes emanating from previous naturalistic investigations, thus broadening our understanding of intergenerational possession transfers.Findings indicate that many of the key themes in intergenerational possession transfers conducted in naturalistic investigations can be generalized to a majority of the adult population in the US. That is, in this random, national US sample, a majority of respondents report: that they hope their loved ones will care about their cherished possessions, that they plan to pass their family possessions on to subsequent generations, and that their familial possessions reflect their family identity. Findings also indicate that this was significant among all adult age groups, and that females value cherished possessions more than males. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Naturalistic investigations and models of reasoning about complex indeterminate causation

This chapter focuses on reasoning about the causal explanation of events and human activities that are indeterminate and complex. We first consider some classical ideas about physical causation from David Hume and John Stuart Mill, who had significant impact on the psychology of reasoning, and we find in their writings some notions that carry over into modern analyses of cause-effect relations and causal reasoning. We then present the macrocognition paradigm, which is empirically grounded in studies of naturalistic decision making, and approaches the analysis of causal reasoning through investigation of the functional purposes of various forms of causal reasoning. This sets the stage for presentation of our research on how people interpret the causal reasoning that is presented in newspaper articles. Findings include new patterns and models of causal reasoning. We conclude with a discussion of some myths about causation that characterize theories but that do not match well to our research findings.

The need for methodological development within qualitative clinical caring research

The need for methodological development within qualitative clinical caring research

Clark and Hatfield's Evidence of Women's Low Receptivity to Male Strangers' Sexual Offers Revisited

Although frequently cited, there has been no published scientific replication of Clark and Hatfield's (1989) and Clark's (1990) findings concerning women's low receptivity to male strangers' offers of casual sex. Consistently across three identically designed naturalistic experiments (aggregated N = 144), these authors reported a 0% acceptance rate by women. The present research analyzed an informal "real-life" journalistic project (N= 100) initiated by an Austrian magazine, in which results indicated a 6.1% acceptance rate (95% CI: 2.8-12.6%) for a complete stranger offering women immediate sexual involvement. Various contextual differences, such as setting, subjects' age and attractiveness, and age differences between requestor and receiver, probably contributed to the observed difference in outcome between the journalistic project and the original experiments. The present findings point to the importance of contextual effects in naturalistic investigations of women's receptivity to sexual offers.

Self Management of Medication and Diabetes: Cognitive Control

The healthcare industry strives to improve the technical work of healthcare providers in hospitals. In contrast, the more common home treatment tasks like managing prescription medications and complying with the complex demands of life-threatening diseases such as Type II Diabetes receive little attention. Treatment and prevention decisions are in the hands of patients and often mismanaged. Available commercial information sheets, designed to support prescription self management, are incompatible with patient perceptual and cognitive capacities. We show that material that is sensitive to the perceptual and cognitive capacities of potential users is more usable and is preferred. A review of existing training for diabetics identified compliance barriers. Many patients do not understand the dynamics that controlled their disease and so make poor decisions. Available training provides rules and procedures, but little about the dynamic demands of maintaining stability within parameters. We explored using control theory and incorporating a mental model of diabetes into rule-based training. This promises to improve the effectiveness of self management. These two naturalistic investigations confirm the importance of field studies and of using patient informants to understand the demands and opportunities that accompany medical self management.

Design-Based Research: Putting a Stake in the Ground

The emerging field of the learning sciences is one that is interdisciplinary, drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives and research paradigms so as to build understandings of the nature and conditions of learning, cognition, and development. Learning sciences researchers investigate cognition in context, at times emphasizing one more than the other but with the broad goal of developing evidence-based claims derived from both laboratory-based and naturalistic investigations that result in knowledge about how people learn. This work can involve the development of technological tools, curriculum, and especially theory that can be used to understand and support learning. A fundamental assumption of many learning scientists is that cognition is not a thing located within the individual thinker but is a process that is distributed across the knower, the environment in which knowing occurs, and the activity in which the learner participates. In other words, learning, cognition, knowing, and context are irreducibly co-constituted and cannot be treated as isolated entities or processes. If one believes that context matters in terms of learning and cognition, research paradigms that simply examine these processes as isolated variables within laboratory or other impoverished contexts of participation will necessarily lead to an incomplete understanding of their relevance in more naturalistic settings (Brown, 1992).1 Alternatively, simply observing learning and cognition as they naturally Correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to Sasha A. Barab, School of Education,

The effects of self-esteem and ego threat on interpersonal appraisals of men and women: a naturalistic study.

A naturalistic study examined the effects of self-esteem and threats to the self on interpersonal appraisals. Self-esteem scores, ego threat (operationalized as a substantial decrease in self-esteem across an average of 9 months), and their interaction were used to predict likability and personality perceptions of college men and women. The results revealed a curvilinear function explaining likability: Moderate to low self-esteem men and women were higher in likability when threatened, whereas high self-esteem men were seen as less likable when threatened. Personality ratings indicated that high self-esteem men and women who were threatened were rated highest on Antagonism (i.e., fake, arrogant, unfriendly, rude, and uncooperative). Mediational analyses revealed that differences in Antagonism statistically accounted for differences in likability. These patterns are interpreted with respect to gender and time in interpersonal perceptions as well as naturalistic versus laboratory investigations.

A Subgroup Analysis of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Studies

SummarySeveral studies of graded activity-oriented cognitive behavioral treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), all conducted in England, have reported dramatic improvements in functioning and substantial reductions in symptomatology. On the other hand, cognitive behavioral intervention studies conducted in Australia and the United States have not found significant improvements in functioning or CFS symptoms. Based on a review and synthesis of data from these clinical trials, naturalistic outcome investigations, and illness comparison studies, this articles argues that two CFS subgroups, distinguished by functional status and symptom severity, may account, in part, for the differences in outcome in cognitive behavioral treatment studies. It is also argued that differences in treatment duration may have influenced clinical outcomes. This article concludes with recommendations for specific cognitive behavioral interventions in CFS.

SOME PROBLEMS OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

The content and methodology of personality development research, like those of the total field of child development research, vary tremendously. Past personality development studies have ranged from empirical normative surveys to theory-oriented hypothetical-deductive ones, and from naturalistic observational investigations to controlled laboratory experiments. No attempt will be made in the present paper to survey all, or even most, of the current theoretical and methodological problems in this area of child development research. Rather, a limited number of these problems will be selected for discussion, with special emphasis on their implications for future research. A number of personality development studies in the recent past have employed projective techniques as research tools. While some of these techniques have been very useful for studying certain problems, projective techniques have often, unfortunately, been employed in an uncritical fashion. Too frequently the tail has wagged the dog, with research problems being determined by available projective methods rather than by specific theoretical questions. It is the belief of the writer that this state of affairs can be, and probably will be, eradicated as research in this area becomes less empirical and more theoretically oriented. Ideally, in theory-oriented research, hypotheses under consideration should dictate behaviors to be studied and thus, indirectly, determine the choice of assessment techniques to be used. Existing projective techniques may or may not be appropriate for such investigations. In sheer number there is no shortage of potentially useful projective tests; the growth of these assessment methods has been almost weed-like. However, since many of these techniques were originally developed with little regard for existing personality theories, few may be found useful in future personality development research in their present form. New techniques will have to be developed and/or old ones modified. As the writer suggested in a recent symposium on the use of projective tech