Evaluation of the accuracy of personality judgments based on written verbal production

The process of personality judgment occurs in daily social interactions and represents an attempt to identify characteristics of someone else's personality, in the way to explain past and predict future behaviors. The results of this process have implications on future decisions and actions of people. This research aimed to examine the accuracy of non-expert ratings of Extraversion and Conscientiousness based on short written texts. The sample consisted of 215 participants (M-age = 28.58, SD = 10.30; 80.5% females). The exclusion criterion was that participants were psychologists or psychology students, i.e., individuals familiar with personality research and taxonomies. Participants rated Extraversion and Conscientiousness, based on the texts written by five different individuals. Criteria used to estimate the accuracy of judgments were the agreement between self-report measures on HEXACO PI-R from people who wrote the texts and ratings from participants, as well as the agreement between multiple raters. The results showed that there was a moderate self-other agreement for Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Also, the results showed that there was a high between-raters agreement for Extraversion and Conscientiousness. This study indicates that it is possible to judge one's personality based on written verbal production, as well that raters tend to form similar impressions about the personality from written texts

Effects of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation on Gambling and Gaming: A Systematic Review of Studies on Healthy Controls, Participants with Gambling/Gaming Disorder, and Substance Use Disorder

Gambling disorder (GD) and internet gaming disorder (IGD) are formally recognized behavioral addictions with a rapidly growing prevalence and limited treatment options. Recently, transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) techniques have emerged as potentially promising interventions for improving treatment outcomes by ameliorating cognitive functions implicated in addictive behaviors. To systematize the current state of evidence and better understand whether and how tES can influence gambling and gaming-related cognitive processes, we conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic review of the literature, focusing on tES effects on gaming and gambling in a diverse range of population samples, including healthy participants, participants with GD and IGD, as well as participants with substance abuse addictions. Following the literature search in three bibliographic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus), 40 publications were included in this review, with 26 conducted on healthy participants, 6 focusing on GD and IGD patients, and 8 including participants with other addictions. Most of the studies targeted the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and assessed the effects on cognition, using gaming and gambling computerized cognitive tasks measuring risk taking and decision making, e.g., balloon analogue risk task, Iowa gambling task, Cambridge gambling task, etc. The results indicated that tES could change gambling and gaming task performances and positively influence GD and IGD symptoms, with 70% of studies showing neuromodulatory effects. However, the results varied considerably depending on the stimulation parameters, sample characteristics, as well as outcome measures used. We discuss the sources of this variability and provide further directions for the use of tES in the context of GD and IGD treatment

Test višestrukih rešenja - deo I - razvoj i psihometrijska evaluacija

As people outside the context of testing seldom find themselves in situations where they are presented with limited options and a single correct answer, with all others being equally wrong, a modification of traditional intelligence tests (in terms of increasing its flexibility), can potentially provide a more comprehensive and a more valid measure of intelligence. Therefore, the aim of this study is the development and psychometric evaluation of the figural reasoning test in the form of matrices with multiple solutions. Unlike conventional intelligence tests, in this test the subjects are faced with more than one task, i.e., to detect: 1) the best solution - a figure that completes a given matrix best; 2) the second-best solution - a figure that would complete the matrix in the best way if the best answer was absent; 3) the least accurate option - a figure that completes the given matrix in the least accurate way. In the process of test development, an initial set of 80 items was designed and administrated to a sample of 41 participants, with the goal of gaining insight into the quality and the need for adjustments of the initial item pool. Psychometric characteristics of the instrument consisting of 74 items with three types of tasks have been evaluated on a sample of 263 participants, after which the short version of the instrument is proposed. All three tasks within the test and test as a whole have shown good internal psychometric properties (α the best = .92, α the second-best = .90, α the least accurate = .87; α full-scale = .95) offering a possibility of reliable measurement of intelligence with a brother scope.Kako se ljudi van testovnog konteksta retko nalaze u situacijama gde su suočeni sa ograničenim opcijama i samo jednim tačnim odgovorom, pri čemu su svi ostali odgovori podjednako pogrešni, izmena tradicionalnih testova inteligencije (u smislu povećanja fleksibilnosti) može potencijalno da obezbedi obuhvatniju i validniju meru inteligencije. Stoga, cilj ove studije je razvoj i psihometrijska evaluacija testa figuralnog rezonovanja u formi matrica sa višestrukim rešenjima. Za razliku od konvencionalnih testova inteligencije, u ovom testu ispitanici su suočeni sa više od jednog zadatka, tj. oni treba da otkriju: 1) najbolje rešenje - figuru koja najbolje kompletira datu matricu; 2) drugo najbolje rešenje - figuru koja bi najbolje upotpunila matricu ukoliko ne bi bilo prvog, najboljeg odgovora; 3) najmanje tačnu opciju - figuru koja upotpunjava datu matricu na najmanje tačan način. U procesu razvoja testa, konstruisan je početni skup od 80 stavki i zadat uzorku od 41 ispitanika, sa ciljem sticanja uvida u kvalitet i potrebu za prilagođavanjem početnog skupa stavki. Psihometrijske karakteristike instrumenta koji se sastoji od 74 stavke sa tri tipa zadataka proverene su na uzorku od 263 ispitanika, nakon čega je predložena kratka verzija instrumenta. Sva tri zadatka unutar testa, kao i test u celini pokazali su dobra interna psihometrijska svojstva (α najbolje rešenje = .92, α drugo najbolje rešenje = .90, α najmanje tačno rešenje = .87; α ukupni skor = .95) nudeći mogućnost pouzdanog i obuhvatnijeg merenja inteligencije

A six-factor model of brand personality and its predictive validity

The study examines applicability and usefulness of HEXACO-based model in the description of brand personality. Following contemporary theoretical developments in human personality research, Study 1 explored the latent personality structure of 120 brands using descriptors of six personality traits as defined in HEXACO model: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness. The results of exploratory factor analyses have supported HEXACO personality six-factor structure to a large extent. In Study 2 we addressed the question of predictive validity of HEXACO-based brand personality. Brand personality traits, but predominantly Honesty-Humility, accounted for substantial amount of variance in prediction of important aspects of consumer-brand relationship: attitude toward brand, perceived quality of a brand, and brand loyalty. The implications of applying HEXACO-based brand personality in marketing research are discussed

Test višestrukih rešenja - deo II - evidencija o konstrukt i prediktivnoj validnosti

In this study, we complement data on Multiple solutions test (MST) by examining its construct and predictive validity. Unlike conventional matrices where a single solution is required, MST sets three types of problems before the participants, requiring them to solve matrices for the best, the second-best, and the least accurate solution. A total sample of 235 individuals (age M = 22.65, SD = 3.33, 199 females) participated in the study. Construct validity of each task within MST was tested in relation to the KOG9 battery of intellectual abilities (N = 156), while predictive value of individual tasks and full-scale performance was tested in relation to scholastic achievement measured by GPA (N = 235). The results have shown high between-task correlations, but also pointed to the specificities of each of them. Additionally, differential difficulties among the tasks were found with the least accurate task being the most difficult, followed by the second-best, and the best one. The test showed satisfactory convergent validity in relation to Gf/Gv test markers within KOG9 battery. Furthermore, MST has shown predictive validity, along with the incremental value of alternative tasks above the standard one (when the scholastic achievement was taken as a criterion), as well as incremental validity in predicting GPA above the KOG9 battery. In general, MST has shown to be a valid instrument for an intelligence assessment, and its alternative tasks have a potential to be a useful addition to standard matrices with one type of solution.U ovom istraživanju dopunjujemo podatke o Testu višestrukih rešenja (eng. Mutiple solutions test - MST) ispitujući konstrukt i prediktivnu validnost instrumenta. Za razliku od konvencionalnih matrica gde se traži samo jedno rešenje, MST pred ispitanike postavlja tri tipa problema, tražeći od njih da reše matricu navodeći najbolje, drugo najbolje i najmanje tačno rešenje. U istraživanju je učestvovalo ukupno 235 ispitanika (starosti M = 22.65, SD = 3.33, 199 ženskog pola). Konstrukt validnost svakog od zadataka MST testirana je u odnosu na bateriju intelektualnih sposobnosti KOG9 (N = 156), dok je prediktivna validnost pojedinačnih zadataka i postignuća na testu u celini testirana u odnosu na školsko postignuće koje je operacionalizovano kao prosečna ocena (N = 235). Rezultati su pokazali visoke korelacije između zadataka, ali i ukazali na specifičnosti svakog od njih. Dodatno, dobijene su i razlike u težinama između zadataka, pri čemu je zadatak nalaženja najmanje tačnog rešenja bio najteži, potom zadatak nalaženja drugog najboljeg rešanja i naposletku zadatak nalaženja najboljeg rešenja. Test je pokazao zadovoljavajuću konvergentnu validnost u odnosu na testovne markere Gf/Gv iz KOG9 baterije. MST je pokazao i prediktivnu validnost, kao i inkrementalnu vrednost alternativnih zadataka u odnosu na standardni (kada se školski uspeh uzme za kriterijum), kao i inkrementalnu validnost u predviđanju prosečne ocene u odnosu na KOG9 bateriju. U celini, MST se pokazao kao valjan instrument za procenu inteligencije, a njegovi alternativni zadaci pokazuju potencijal da budu koristan dodatak standardnim matricama sa jednom vrstom rešenja

Transcranial Electrical Stimulation for Associative Memory Enhancement: State-of-the-Art from Basic to Clinical Research

Associative memory (AM) is the ability to bind new information into complex memory representations. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), especially transcranial electric stimulation (tES), has gained increased interest in research of associative memory (AM) and its impairments. To provide an overview of the current state of knowledge, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines covering basic and clinical research. Out of 374 identified records, 41 studies were analyzed—twenty-nine in healthy young adults, six in the aging population, three comparing older and younger adults, as well as two studies on people with MCI, and one in people with Alzheimer’s dementia. Studies using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) as well as oscillatory (otDCS) and high-definition protocols (HD-tDCS, HD-tACS) have been included. The results showed methodological heterogeneity in terms of study design, stimulation type, and parameters, as well as outcome measures. Overall, the results show that tES is a promising method for AM enhancement, especially if the stimulation is applied over the parietal cortex and the effects are assessed in cued recall paradigms

Gamma-Range Auditory Steady-State Responses and Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review

The auditory steady-state response (ASSR) is a result of entrainment of the brain's oscillatory activity to the frequency and phase of temporally modulated stimuli. Gamma-range ASSRs are utilized to observe the dysfunctions of brain-synchronization abilities in neuropsychiatric and developmental disorders with cognitive symptoms. However, the link between gamma-range ASSRs and cognitive functioning is not clear. We systematically reviewed existing findings on the associations between gamma-range ASSRs and cognitive functions in patients with neuropsychiatric or developmental disorders and healthy subjects. The literature search yielded 1597 articles. After excluding duplicates and assessing eligibility, 22 articles were included. In healthy participants, the gamma-range ASSR was related to cognitive flexibility and reasoning as measured by complex tasks and behavioral indicators of processing speed. In patients with schizophrenia, the studies that reported correlations found a higher ASSR to be accompanied by better performance on short-term memory tasks, long-term/semantic memory, and simple speeded tasks. The main findings indicate that individual differences in the gamma-range ASSR reflect the level of attentional control and the ability to temporary store and manipulate the information, which are necessary for a wide range of complex cognitive activities, including language, in both healthy and impaired populations

Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective Due to the wide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, the need for scalable interventions that can effectively reduce psychological distress has been recognized. Expressive writing (EW) can be beneficial for different conditions, including depression, suicidal ideation, and coping with trauma. Therefore, we aim to assess the applicability and effectiveness of an online format of EW in the reduction of psychological distress in context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods In this parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, participants (n = 120) were randomly allocated to (1) the intervention group-who completed five EW sessions over the 2 week period-or (2) the control group-who received treatment as usual (TAU). Participants were assessed for primary and secondary outcome measures at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up-1-month after the treatment. The primary outcome was severity of psychological distress assessed at post-treatment, operationalized as Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) summary score. Secondary outcomes were severity of depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS subscale scores), well-being (WHO-5), subjective perception of quality of life (SQOL), and subjective evaluation of difficulties coping with pandemic, which were also assessed at post-treatment. Per protocol, analysis was conducted with available cases only. Results A less favorable outcome was found in the intervention group on psychological distress, and symptoms of stress, after controlling for baseline scores. Increased stress was recorded in the treatment group, with no effect in the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups on depression, anxiety, well-being, and subjective quality of life. No group effect for any of the outcomes measures was recorded at follow-up. Additional analysis revealed moderation effects of age and gender with older and male participants scoring higher on distress measures. Conclusion Engaging in EW during the pandemic was found to elevate stress; thus, when applied in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be harmful. Hence, EW or similar self-guided interventions should not be applied without prior evidence on their effects in the context of a pandemic and similar stressful and unpredictable circumstances

Blinding in tDCS Studies: Correct End-of-Study Guess Does Not Moderate the Effects on Associative and Working Memory

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has become a valuable tool in cognitive neuroscience research as it enables causal inferences about neural underpinnings of cognition. However, studies using tDCS to modulate cognitive functions often yield inconsistent findings. Hence, there is an increasing interest in factors that may moderate the effects, one of which is the participants’ beliefs of the tDCS condition (i.e., real or sham) they received. Namely, whether participants’ correct guessing of sham condition may lead to false-positive tDCS effects. In this study, we aimed to explore if participants’ beliefs about received stimulation type (i.e., the success of blinding) impacted their task performance in tDCS experiments on associative (AM) and working memory (WM). We analyzed data from four within-subject, sham-controlled tDCS memory experiments (N = 83) to check if the correct end-of-study guess of sham condition moderated tDCS effects. We found no evidence that sham guessing moderated post-tDCS memory performance in experiments in which tDCS effects were observed as well as in experiments that showed null effects of tDCS. The results suggest that the correct sham guessing (i.e., placebo-like effect) is unlikely to influence the results in tDCS memory experiments. We discuss the results in light of the growing debate about the relevance and effectiveness of blinding in brain stimulation research