Humor appreciation and sensation seeking: Invariance of findings across culture and assessment instrument?

It was hypothesized that sensation seeking (SS) is able to predict both the structure and content of jokes and cartoons. Five hypotheses were derived and tested in two samples from Spain and Germany comprising a total of 434 participants. The basic pattern of correlations was replicated for the two samples, and for the different measures of humor appreciation (3-WD, EAHU) and sensation seeking (AISS, SSS). Experience Seeking and Novelty were predictive of low appreciation of incongruity-resolution humor and high appreciation of nonsense humor. Disinhibition and Intensity were positively correlated with funniness of sexual, black, man-disparagement and woman-disparagement humor, and negatively with their aversiveness. When the structure variance from the content categories was removed, the correlations between appreciation of humor contents and sensation seeking increased. This confirmed that structure and content have to be separated both theoretically and empirically in studies of appreciation of content categorie

Benevolent and corrective humor, life satisfaction, and broad humor dimensions: Extending the nomological network of the BenCor across 25 countries

Benevolent and corrective humor are two comic styles that have been related to virtue, morality, and character strengths. A previous study also supported the viability of measuring these two styles with the BenCor in 22 countries. The present study extends the previous one by including further countries (a total of 25 countries in 29 samples with N = 7813), by testing the revised BenCor (BenCor-R), and by adding two criterion measures to assess life satisfaction and four broad humor dimensions (social fun/entertaining humor, mockery, humor ineptness, and cognitive/reflective humor). As expected, the BenCor-R showed mostly promising psychometric properties (internal consistency and factorial validity). Consistent with previous studies, benevolent humor correlated positively with life satisfaction in most countries, while corrective humor was uncorrelated with life satisfaction. These relationships were only slightly changed when controlling for social fun/entertaining humor and mockery, respectively. Benevolent humor was mostly positively associated with cognitive/reflective humor, followed by social fun/entertaining humor and mockery. Corrective humor was mostly positively associated with mockery, followed by cognitive/reflective and social fun/entertaining humor, although these relationships differed between the countries. Overall, the present study supports the viability of benevolent and corrective humor, which has yet received insufficient attention in psychology, for cross-cultural investigations and applications of humor, well-being, and morality

Standards for the development and review of instrumental studies: considerations about test selection in psychological research

This paper discusses the criteria that should be considered when selecting psychological assessment tests in a research context. Traditionally attention has focused – and still does – on the stages that must govern any process of test construction/ adaptation. This work is guided by internationally accepted standards, whose scientific importance is agreed by the scientific community. However, beyond any construction/ adaptation process, the use of tests is a constant feature of psychological research, so it is of vital importance to select the tests adequately. For this reason, in this theoretical study we provide a summary of the criteria that should guide test construction/adaptation as well as some general guidelines to consider when selecting tests for psychological research. The information presented is organized into six sections, each of which corresponds to a different stage in the process of test creation: a) conceptual definition of the construct to assess; b) information about item construction and qualitative assessment; c) results of the statistical analysis of the items; d) empirical evidence of the internal structure of the test; e) results of the reliability estimation; and f) external evidence of score validity. The study ends with a reflection on the scope of the proposed guidelines and the importance of using clear criteria to select the tests used in research.En este trabajo se discuten los criterios a tener en cuenta a la hora de seleccionar tests de evaluación psicológica en un contexto de investigación. Tradicionalmente la atención se ha centrado y se centra sobre las fases que deben regir todo proceso de construcción/adaptación de tests. Estándares internacionalmente aceptados sirven para dirigir este trabajo, y la comunidad científica coincide en la importancia de éstos. No obstante, y más allá de cualquier proceso de construcción/adaptación, el hecho es que el uso de tests es una constante en la investigación psicológica, y una adecuada selección de las pruebas resulta un asunto de vital importancia. Por ello, y esquematizando en primer lugar los criterios que deben guiar la construcción/adaptación de tests, en este estudio teórico se desarrollan unas directrices generales a tener en cuenta a la hora de seleccionar tests para efectuar una investigación psicológica. La información va a presentarse organizada en un total de seis apartados, cada uno de los cuales corresponde a una fase distinta dentro del proceso de creación de tests: a) delimitación conceptual del constructo objeto de evaluación; b) información sobre la construcción y evaluación cualitativa de ítems; c) resultados del análisis estadístico de los ítems; d) evidencias empíricas de la estructura interna de la prueba; e) resultados de la estimación de la fiabilidad; f) evidencias externas de la validez de la puntuaciones. Se finaliza el trabajo reflexionando sobre el alcance de las directrices propuestas y sobre la importancia de seleccionar bajo criterios claros los tests que vayan a usarse en una investigación.Neste trabalho discutem-se os critérios a considerar na hora de seleccionar os testes de avaliação psicológica num contexto de investigação. Tradicionalmente a atenção tem-se centrado e centra-se sobre as fases que devem orientar todo o processo de construção / adaptação de testes. Critérios standards internacionalmente aceites servem para dirigir este trabalho, e a comunidade científica coincide na importância que lhes atribui. No entanto, e para além de qualquer processo de construção/adaptação, o facto é que o uso de testes é uma constante na investigação psicológica, e uma selecção adequada das provas torna-se num assunto de grande importância. Por isso, e esquematizando em primeiro lugar os critérios que devem guiar a construção / adaptação de testes, neste estudo teórico desenvolvem-se algumas directrizes gerais a ter em consideração na altura de seleccionar testes para efectuar una investigação psicológica. A informação apresentada está organizada num total de seis pontos, cada um dos quais corresponde a uma fase distinta dentro do processo de criação de testes: a) delimitação conceptual do construto objecto de avaliação; b) informação sobre a construção e avaliação qualitativa dos itens; c) resultados da análise estatística dos itens; d) evidências empíricas da estrutura interna da prova; e) resultados da estimação da fiabilidade; f) evidências externas da validade das pontuações. O trabalho termina com reflexões sobre o alcance das directrizes propostas e sobre a importância de seleccionar sob critérios claros os testes que venham a usar-se numa investigação

Using a structural equation model to assess the equivalence between assessment instruments: the dimension of sensation seeking as measured by Zuckerman's SSS-V and Arnett's AISS

The aim of this instrumental study is to analyze the degree of equivalence between the construct of sensation seeking as measured by Sensation Seeking Scale form V, SSS-V and Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking, AISS. A structural equation model is employed in order to analyze the equivalence. The study includes 322 participants aged between 18 and 77. First, the equivalence between the SSS-V and the AISS was analyzed using the total sample. Second, two different age groups were established (18- 30 years old age group, n = 183; and 40-77 years old age group, n = 84), assessing the degree of equivalence in both cases. Based on the total sample and the 40-77 years old age group the results suggest that both instruments are not measuring the same dimension. However, in the 18-30 years old age group the disattenuated correlation obtained by the structural equation model was estimated to be 1.00, which means that, the SSS-V and AISS measure essentially the same dimension for this age group. These results are discussed taking into account the theoretical proposal of Zuckerman and Arnett, and the content (items) of the SSS-V and AISS.El objetivo de este estudio instrumental fue analizar el grado de equivalencia entre dos instrumentos centrados en la evaluación de la búsqueda de sensaciones: la Sensation Seeking Scale form V, SSS-V y el Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking, AISS. Para ello, y con una muestra de 322 participantes con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 77 años, se ha aplicado un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales. En un primer momento se evaluó el grado de equivalencia entre ambos instrumentos usando el total muestral. Posteriormente se configuraron dos grupos de participantes teniendo como variable de asignación a la edad (de 18 a 30 años, n = 183; de 40 a 77 años, n = 84), y se evaluó de nuevo la equivalencia entre los instrumentos para ambos grupos. Los resultados ponen de relieve que los instrumentos no evaluarían el mismo constructo si se considera el total muestral y el grupo con edades entre los 40 y 77 años. Sin embargo, estos datos son debidos al efecto de la edad sobre las respuestas a las escalas. En el grupo con edades entre los 18 y 30 años, la correlación estimada a través de las ecuaciones estructurales indicaría que los instrumentos evalúan esencialmente el mismo constructo. Finalmente se discuten estos resultados en función de las propuestas teóricas de Zuckerman y Arnett, y del contenido (ítems) que define a la SSS-V y el AISS

Evaluating the reliability of NAND multiplexing with PRISM

Probabilistic-model checking is a formal verification technique for analyzing the reliability and performance of systems exhibiting stochastic behavior. In this paper, we demonstrate the applicability of this approach and, in particular, the probabilistic-model-checking tool PRISM to the evaluation of reliability and redundancy of defect-tolerant systems in the field of computer-aided design. We illustrate the technique with an example due to von Neumann, namely NAND multiplexing. We show how, having constructed a model of a defect-tolerant system incorporating probabilistic assumptions about its defects, it is straightforward to compute a range of reliability measures and investigate how they are affected by slight variations in the behavior of the system. This allows a designer to evaluate, for example, the tradeoff between redundancy and reliability in the design. We also highlight errors in analytically computed reliability bounds, recently published for the same case study

Assessing the Temperamental Basis of the Sense of Humor: Adaptation of the English Language Version of the State-Trait Cheerfulness Inventory Long and Standard Form

The State-Trait Model of Cheerfulness assesses the temperamental basis of the sense of humor with the traits and respective states of cheerfulness, seriousness, and bad mood. Cheerfulness is a dominant factor in current measures of the sense of humor and explains both, the disposition to engaging in smiling and laughter, as well as humor behaviors, and trait seriousness and bad mood are antagonistic to the elicitation of amusement (albeit for different reasons). Several studies have shown the validity and reliability of the STCI questionnaire in German and other language versions (i.e., Spanish). In this study, the English language version with 106 items (STCI-T <106>) was translated, checked for its item and scale characteristics, and tested with a confirmatory factor analysis approach (N = 1101) to investigate the factorial validity of the STCI-T <106> scale. Results show good psychometric characteristics, good internal consistencies, and a fit to the postulated underlying structure of the STCI-T. Then, the standard form with 60 items (STCI-T <60>) was developed and the psychometric characteristics initially tested. In an independent sample (N = 169), the characteristics of the standard form were compared to the parent form and German equivalent. It showed good psychometric characteristics, internal consistencies, as well as a good self- and peer-report congruence. To conclude, the STCI-T <106> is the measure of choice for the assessment of the temperamental basis of the sense of humor and the separate facets of the traits, while the standard form (60 items) allows of an economic assessment of cheerfulness, seriousness, and bad mood, free of context-saturated items and humor preferences

Sexist Attitudes in Online Video Gaming: Development and Validation of the Sexism Against Women Gamers Scale (SAWGS) in Spanish and English

Sexism is an increasingly prevalent problem in the gaming community. However, until now, assessment instruments focused on the construct “sexism against women gamers” are lacking. We present an 8-item self-report scale: Sexism Against Women Gamers Scale (SAWGS). We studied the reliability and validity of the scores of Spanish and English versions across five independent samples (N = 2,437), with participants from Spain and the United States. Scores on both versions demonstrated high reliability, while exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported their unidimensional structure. The analysis established configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender. SAWGS was invariant at the configural level across countries. SAWGS scores were independent of social desirability, positively correlated with myths about intimate-partner violence against women, sexism, and social dominance orientation, and correlated negatively with feminism. Using two fictitious scenarios of sexism in online gaming, we found that gamers with higher scores on SAWGS showed a greater tendency to downplay a sexist incident and proposed a less severe punishment for toxic gamers. The SAWGS explained additional variance on responses to scenarios beyond that explained by other measures. The detection of sexism should make it possible to develop programs for its eradication and avoid negative consequences for women gamers

Eye Contact and Fear of Being Laughed at in a Gaze Discrimination Task

Current approaches conceptualize gelotophobia as a personality trait characterized by a disproportionate fear of being laughed at by others. Consistently with this perspective, gelotophobes are also described as neurotic and introverted and as having a paranoid tendency to anticipate derision and mockery situations. Although research on gelotophobia has significantly progressed over the past two decades, no evidence exists concerning the potential effects of gelotophobia in reaction to eye contact. Previous research has pointed to difficulties in discriminating gaze direction as the basis of possible misinterpretations of others’ intentions or mental states. The aim of the present research was to examine whether gelotophobia predisposition modulates the effects of eye contact (i.e., gaze discrimination) when processing faces portraying several emotional expressions. In two different experiments, participants performed an experimental gaze discrimination task in which they responded, as quickly and accurately as possible, to the eyes’ directions on faces displaying either a happy, angry, fear, neutral, or sad emotional expression. In particular, we expected trait-gelotophobia to modulate the eye contact effect, showing specific group differences in the happiness condition. The results of Study 1 (N = 40) indicated that gelotophobes made more errors than non-gelotophobes did in the gaze discrimination task. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, the happiness expression did not have any special role in the observed differences between individuals with high vs. low trait-gelotophobia. In Study 2 (N = 40), we replicated the pattern of data concerning gaze discrimination ability, even after controlling for individuals’ scores on social anxiety. Furthermore, in our second experiment, we found that gelotophobes did not exhibit any problem with identifying others’ emotions, or a general incorrect attribution of affective features, such as valence, intensity, or arousal. Therefore, this bias in processing gaze might be related to the global processes of social cognition. Further research is needed to explore how eye contact relates to the fear of being laughed at.This research is part of the doctoral dissertation by JT-M, which is supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte with a predoctoral fellowship (FPU14/05755) and with research grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO) (PSI2014-52764-P to JL), and Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica- Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (DGICYT-MEC) (PSI2016- 78236-P to AA and PSI2016-79812-P to HC-D)

Influencia de la calidad de sueño sobre variables psicopatológicas: un análisis comparativo entre trabajadores sometidos a turnos y trabajadores con horario normal

Este estudio analiza los problemas psicológicos (calidad de sueño y rasgos psicopatológicos) derivados de un sistema de trabajo por turnos con horario nocturno, y la influencia que la calidad de sueño de los trabajadores pudiera tener sobre determinadas variables psicopatológicas. Para ello se comparó una muestra de trabajadores sometidos a rotaciones en el turno de trabajo (n = 197) con otra de trabajadores con horario normal (n = 40) del mismo contexto laboral. Los participantes contestaron el Índice de Calidad de Sueño de Pittsburg y el Cuestionario de 90 Síntomas-Revisado. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la mala calidad de sueño y los elevados niveles de psicopatología presentes en los trabajadores sometidos a turnos con respecto a los trabajadores con un horario habitual. Además, se demuestra que la calidad subjetiva del sueño, la disfunción diurna, la latencia de sueño y las perturbaciones del sueño explican el 35% de la varianza total del Índice Sintomático General. Se destaca la relevancia que tiene la mala calidad de sueño en la explicación de determinados rasgos psicopatológicos