Ambulatory assessment of language use: Evidence on the temporal stability of Electronically Activated Recorder and stream of consciousness data

The ambulatory assessment offers a wide range of methods enabling researchers to investigate psychological, behavioral, emotional, and biological processes. These methods enable us to gather data on individual differences in language use for psychological research. Two studies were conducted with an aim to evaluate and compare the temporal stability of language measures extracted by LIWC software form data obtained by two frequently used methods for assessment of language use, i.e., Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) and stream of consciousness (SOC) task. Additionally, we examined the amount of variance in language use (assessed by both methods) that can be attributed to intra-individual variability and stable individual differences. Study 1 was focused on investigating language use obtained from 74 respondents using the EAR for 3 consecutive days. Study 2 was conducted on 250 respondents participating in a SOC task where verbal production was collected at ten time points over a 2-month period. Results show that measures obtained using the SOC task have higher temporal stability and consistency, and to a certain extent enable better detection of individual differences. Taking into account certain situational variations improves the reliability of EAR measures

Psychometric evaluation of the Serbian dictionary for automatic text analysis - LIWCser

LIWC (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count) is widely used word-level content analysis software. It was used in large number of studies in the fields of clinical, social and personality psychology, and it is adapted for text analysis in 11 world languages. The aim of this research was to validate empirically newly constructed adaptation of LIWC software for Serbian language (LIWCser). The sample of the texts consisted of 384 texts in Serbian and 141 texts in English. It included scientific paper abstracts, newspaper articles, movie subtitles, short stories and essays. Comparative analysis of Serbian and English version of the software demonstrated acceptable level of equivalence (ICCM=.70). Average coverage of the texts with LIWCser dictionary was 69.93%, and variability of this measure in different types of texts is in line with expected. Adaptation of LIWC software for Serbian opens entirely new possibilities of assessment of spontaneous verbal behaviour that is highly relevant for different fields of psychology

Consumer ethnocentrism under the circumstances of the COVID-19 virus pandemic

Background: The new circumstances of life due to the proclamation of the COVID 19 virus pandemic have caused numerous changes both in general people's lives and in consumption. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to identify changes in the degree of consumer ethnocentrism when choosing products during the COVID 19 virus pandemic, compared to the period before its occurrence. In addition, differences in consumer preferences for certain domestic products and services before and during the pandemic were analyzed. The paper also deals with differences in ethnocentric tendencies during the pandemic between different socio-demographic consumer segments. Study design/methodology/approach: The primary data were collected from 176 respondents by using the survey method. A paired samples t test is used for hypotheses testing. Independent samples t test and Anova, post hoc Scheffe test, were conducted for analysing differences in ethnocentric tendencies between observed consumer segments during the pandemic. Findings/conclusions: Higher level of consumer ethnocentrism is confirmed in period during the pandemic, especially when it comes to choice of domestic medical products. On the other hand, lower level of consumer ethnocentrism is observed for fashion products and insurance during the pandemic. Older consumers and pensioners exhibit stronger ethnocentric tendencies during the pandemic. Limitations/future research: The main limitation of the paper relates to the use of only a few of the 17 statements within the CET scale for measuring ethnocentric tendencies before and during the pandemic. Also, the research did not cover all categories of domestic products and services. According to the limitations, future studies are recommended to fully apply the CET scale for measuring consumer ethnocentrism. Also, the recommendation is to observe higher number of categories of products and services, and to break down the categories into several subcategories. Finally, future studies can also include some of the determinants of consumer ethnocentrism in the research model

Konstrukcija i empirijska provera testa homofobije

The paper presents development and empirical evaluation of the Homophobia scale (H25). The Homophobia scale consists of 25 items with a five-point Likert type scale. The sample of 476 subjects participated in the research. The results shown good psychometric properties of the H25 (KMO = .99, α = .97). Factor analysis revealed two highly correlated underlying dimensions of homophobia, which can be interpreted as 'homosexuality as a threat to a society' and 'homosexuality as a threat to me'. Convergent and predictive validities of the scale were also demonstrated. The H25 correlated with alternative measures of homophobia (feeling thermometer and connotative differential) as well as with discriminatory attitudes toward homosexuals. Additionally, homophobia was related to gender, political orientation, religiousness, contact with homosexuals and basic personality traits (i.e., Openness and Conscientiousness). In conclusion, the H25 proves to be a reliable and valid measure of homophobia in heterosexuals, which can be used for both research and practical purposes.U ovom radu predstavljena je konstrukcija i evaluacija Testa homofobije koji u sadržinskom smislu objedinjuje dosadašnja znanja i ideje o prirodi ovog fenomena. Test homofobije (H25) sastoji se od 25 stavki u formi tvrdnji kojima je pridružena petostepena skala Likertovog tipa. Na uzorku od 476 ispitanika proverene su psihometrijske karakteristike testa i njegova faktorska struktura. U celini test pokazuje dobre psihometrijske karakteristike (KMO = .99, α = .97). Faktorskom analizom ekstrahovana su dva visoko korelirana faktora, koja su interpretirana kao 'homoseksualnost kao pretnja za društvo' i 'homoseksualnost kao pretnja za mene'. Takođe, test je pokazao zadovoljavajuću konvergentnu validnost spram dve alternativne mere homofobije, kao i visoku predikciju diskriminatornih stavova prema osobama homoseksualne orijentacije. Dodatno, pokazano je da homofobija, merena konstruisanim instrumentom, ima veći broj socio-demografskih i personalnih korelata. Homofobiji su sklonije osobe muškog pola, religiozne osobe, osobe konzervativne političke orijentacije, zatim osobe koje imaju manje kontakta sa homoseksualnom populacijom, i osobe nižih skorova na dimeziji Otvorenosti, a viših na dimenziji Savesnosti. U celini, konstruisani instrument predstavlja pouzdanu i validnu meru heteroseksualnog stava prema homoseksualnoj populaciji, te predstavlja ekonomičan instrument pogodan za primenu, kako u istraživačke tako i u praktične svrhe

Risk factors in the development of anorexia nervosa

Anoreksija nervoza predstavlja složen poremećaj ishrane čije su osnovne karakteristike voljno smanjivanje i održavanje telesne težine na nivou ispod 85% od optimalne, iracionalan strah od hrane i gojaznosti, kao i poremećaj doživljaja telesne težine i oblika tela. Na razvoj, održavanje i kompleksnost simptoma utiču različiti biološki, psihološki i socijalni faktori. Cilj rada jeste predstavljanje faktora rizika koji mogu značajno doprineti razvoju i izraženosti simptoma anoreksije nervoze. Reč je o preglednom radu u kojem su prikazani ključni faktori koji utiču na nastanak i održavanje poremećaja. Posebno detaljno diskutovani su stilovi afektivnog vezivanja, perfekcionizam i zabrinutost povodom oblika tela, što predstavlja sržne psihološke faktore koji utiču na razvoj i izraženost simptoma dominantno prisutnih u kliničkoj slici. Nedostatak samopoštovanja i samopouzdanja, nerazrešeni emocionalni problemi, visoki, nerealistični standardi i ideali fizičkog izgleda kojih se osoba rigidno drži i uporno i dosledno pokušava da dostigne, nezadovoljstvo oblikom tela, odnosno izražena diskrepanca između doživljaja opaženog i zamišljene slike idealnog tela - povezani su sa maladaptivnim stavovima i navikama u vezi sa ishranom i često prethode dijagnozi anoreksije nervoze. Istraživanja ukazuju na to da su nesigurni stilovi emocionalnog vezivanja, perfekcionizam i zabrinutost povodom oblika tela značajno povezani sa simptomima anoreksije nervoze i da predstavljaju značajne predisponirajuće i održavajuće faktore. Fokusiranje na navedne probleme može značajno doprineti sveobuhvatnijoj prevenciji i tretmanu poremećaja.Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder characterized by the voluntary reduction, and subsequent maintenance, of body weight at a level below 85% of optimal body weight, a pathological fear of food and weight gain, and disturbance of experience of weight and body shape. Development, sustainability and complexity of symptoms depend upon different biological, psychological and social factors. The aim of the paper is to present risk factors that can significantly contribute to the development and severity of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. This review paper presents the key factors in the development of the disorder. Attachment styles, perfectionism and concerns about body shape, as core psychological factors for development and severity of symptoms, are the principle areas discussed. Lack of self-esteem and self-confidence, unresolved emotional issues, high, unrealistic standards and ideals of physical appearance to which people rigidly hold and which they persistently and consistently attempt to reach, dissatisfaction with body shape, and significant discrepancy between perceived and ideal body image are all associated with maladaptive behavior and attitudes towards food, and often precede the diagnosis of the disorder. The review of research indicates that insecure emotional attachment styles, perfectionism and concern about body shape significantly correlate with symptoms of anorexia nervosa and represent risk and maintaining factors of the disorder. Focus on these problems can significantly contribute to more comprehensive prevention and treatment of the disorder

Modeling of bioimpedance for human skin based on fractional distributed-order modified cole model

Eksperimentalni podaci otpornosti i računa necelobrojnog reda koriste se za modeliranje bioimpedansnih osobina ljudske kože. Uveli smo i predložili modifikovani Kole model koristeći pri tom operator distribuiranog necelog reda koji je zasnovan na Caputo-Weyl-ovim izvodima necelog reda.Naš predloženi model predstavlja izmenjen jedno-disperzijski Kole model, jer uvodi nove parametre k i σ u jedno-disperzijskoj Kole impedansnoj jednačini. Ovi parametri karakterišu širinu intervala oko frakcionog indeksa α i oni su važni za precizniji opis bioimpedansnih osobina ljudske kože. Predloženi modifikovani Kole model mnogo bolje daje fitovanje date eksperimentalne krive u datom frekventnom opsegu u poređenju sa sa postojećim Kole modelima. Fitovanje je urađeno primenom Levenberg-Marquardt algoritma nelinearnih najmanjih kvadrata.Electrical impedance measurement data and fractional calculus have been utilized for modeling bioimpedance properties of human skin. We introduced and proposed revisited Cole model using modified distributed order operator based on the Caputo-Weyl fractional derivatives. Our proposed model presents essentially modified single-dispersion Cole model, since it introduces a new parameters k and σ in single-dispersion Cole impedance equation. These parameters characterize the width of interval around fractional index α and they are important for more accurate describing bioimpedance properties of human skin. The impedance spectrum was measured in a finite frequency range up to 100 kHz. Our proposed modified Cole model fits much better to experimental curve in a given frequency range compared to existing Cole models. The fitting is done using the Levenberg-Marquardt nonlinear least squares

Modeling of bioimpedance for human skin based on fractional distributed-order modified cole model

Eksperimentalni podaci otpornosti i računa necelobrojnog reda koriste se za modeliranje bioimpedansnih osobina ljudske kože. Uveli smo i predložili modifikovani Kole model koristeći pri tom operator distribuiranog necelog reda koji je zasnovan na Caputo-Weyl-ovim izvodima necelog reda.Naš predloženi model predstavlja izmenjen jedno-disperzijski Kole model, jer uvodi nove parametre k i σ u jedno-disperzijskoj Kole impedansnoj jednačini. Ovi parametri karakterišu širinu intervala oko frakcionog indeksa α i oni su važni za precizniji opis bioimpedansnih osobina ljudske kože. Predloženi modifikovani Kole model mnogo bolje daje fitovanje date eksperimentalne krive u datom frekventnom opsegu u poređenju sa sa postojećim Kole modelima. Fitovanje je urađeno primenom Levenberg-Marquardt algoritma nelinearnih najmanjih kvadrata.Electrical impedance measurement data and fractional calculus have been utilized for modeling bioimpedance properties of human skin. We introduced and proposed revisited Cole model using modified distributed order operator based on the Caputo-Weyl fractional derivatives. Our proposed model presents essentially modified single-dispersion Cole model, since it introduces a new parameters k and σ in single-dispersion Cole impedance equation. These parameters characterize the width of interval around fractional index α and they are important for more accurate describing bioimpedance properties of human skin. The impedance spectrum was measured in a finite frequency range up to 100 kHz. Our proposed modified Cole model fits much better to experimental curve in a given frequency range compared to existing Cole models. The fitting is done using the Levenberg-Marquardt nonlinear least squares

Further results on modeling of bioimpedance of the human skin: calculus of non-integer order approach

The fractional integro-differential operators are a generalization of integration and derivation to non-integer order (fractional) operators [1]. Fractional calculus is the essential analytical approach for modeling any kind of complex systems. Further, bioelectro-physical properties of human skin tissue, like most other soft tissues, exhibit electrical behavior [2,3] where human skin consists of several layers with distinct dielectric properties. Today, bioimpedance measurements provide an important method for the noninvasive investigation of tissue structure and properties or for monitoring physiological change (i.e., ‘‘static’’ or ‘‘dynamic’’ human organism properties). Moreover,the complex modulus concept is a powerful and widely used tool for characterizing the electrical behavior of materials in the frequency domain. In this case, according to the proposed concept, bioimpendance moduli can be regarded as complex quantities. In the field of bioimpedance measurements, the Cole (Cole model) impedance model [4] is widely used for characterizing biological tissues because of its simplicity and good fit with measured data, illustrating the behavior of tissue impedance as a function of frequency.In this study, we apply fractional calculus to modeling of electrical properties of biological systems and derive a new class of models for electrical impedance of human skin. According to literature data, the human skin is usually observed as a relative simple structure, and equivalent electrical model of skin doesn’t include tissue lamination. Such relaxation processes occur because the epidermis is a mosaic in which layers of laminated, inhomogeneous cell structure pile up on top of one another. Frequency-dependent components such as CPE (constant phase element), that exists in the single-dispersion Cole model, can be considered composed of an infinite number of lumped components. Recently, authors [5] suggested using the three-layer skin numerical model in the MHz frequency range where each layer of skin is represented by the corresponding Cole–Cole model. So, we proposed the skin structure as a more complex system, consisting of several layers(Fig.1). In relation to our experimental in vivo conditions, structure and complexity of the human skin, we suggested that bio-electrical behavior of the human skin can be described by the series layer Cole model using modified fractional distributed-order based on the Caputo-Weyl fractional derivatives. Our proposed model presents essentially modified single-dispersion Cole model, since it introduces a new parameters k and σ in single-dispersion Cole impedance equation. These parameters characterize the width of interval around fractional index α. Comparing our model to well-known Cole models, we conclude that these parameters are important for more accurate describing bioimpedance properties of human skin. Our modified Cole model much better fit to experimentally curve in given frequency range in compare to existing Cole models. The fitting is done using Levenberg-Marquardt nonlinear least squares. In that way, one may conclude that the electrical properties of skin can be modeled using a more discrete Cole impedance element rather than one discrete Cole impedance element.Last, some our results are related to generalized Cole element as well as constant phase element (CPE). These generalizations is described by the novel equation which presented parameter (β ) and corrected four essential parameters ( R0 , R oo, α , tau α ). Using serial combinations of the primary model elements we may obtain two new models and defined them by the appropriate equations and electrical schemes.http://www.mi.sanu.ac.rs/projects/booklet_of_abstracts.pd

Fractional order Cole model of bioimpedance of the human skin: new results

In this paper, electrical impedance measurement data and fractional calculus have been utilized for modeling bioimpedance properties of human skin. In relation to our experimental in vivo conditions, structure and complexity of the human skin, we suggested that bio-electrical behavior of the human skin can be described by the series layer Cole model based on modif ied fractional distributed-order based on the Caputo-Weyl fractional derivatives. The equivalent total impedance Zc(w) of this new electric circuit is given by the next equation. The impedance spectrum was measured in a nite frequency range up to 100kHz. Our proposed modi ed Cole model much better t to experimentally curve in given frequency range in compare to existing Cole models. The tting is done using Levenberg-Marquardt nonlinear least squares.http://www.biomath.bg/2012/ConferenceBook.pd

Razvoj srpske verzije rečnika za automatsku analizu teksta (LIWCser)

Automatic text analysis is a methodological approach in the analysis of individual differences in verbal behaviour. It enables extraction of statistically manipulable information about intensity and/or frequency of thematic and stylistic characteristics of verbal output. LIWC (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count), one of the widely used software solutions for automatic text analysis, performs analyses by matching word stems from incorporated software dictionary with those from text input. It provides information about the percentage of each of the predefined categories in the analyzed text. Research suggests that data obtained by automatic text analysis have potential in explaining the relationship between implicit and explicit measures, independently of the object of measurement (attitudes, pathological potential, assessment of basic personality traits etc.). The topic of this paper is the development of the Serbian LIWC dictionary. Development of the dictionary was performed in four phases: translation of English LIWC dictionary, forming lemmas, classification of word stems according to absolute consensus among four independent raters (where word stems could be categorized in more than one category, depending on the context), and revision of the content of categories and creation of final set of word stems. The final version of the LIWCser dictionary contains 12103 word stems classified into 65 categories (linguistic, psychological and personal concerns). Only four word stems (0.03%) were classified into eight categories, 22 (0.2%) into seven, 147 (1.2%) into six, and 568 (4.7%) into five. 1531 (12.6%) word stems were classified into four categories, 2913 (24.1%) into three, 4800 (39.7%) into two, while 2188 (17.5%) word stems were classified into only one category. Development of the LIWCser dictionary allows researchers to collect and analyze data on verbal behaviour and to study the relationship between implicit and explicit measures in different fields of psychology.Automatska analiza teksta je metodološki pristup analizi individualnih razlika u verbalnoj produkciji (ponašanju) koji omogućava ekstrakciju statistički manipulabilnih informacija o intenzitetu i/ili frekvenci tematskih i stilističkih karakteristika verbalnih produkata. LIWC (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count) jedan je od najzastupljenijih programa za automatsku analizu teksta, koji analizu obavlja upoređivanjem odrednica u rečniku sa odrednicama u tekstu i beleženjem relativne zastupljenosti svake od kategorija u datom uzorku teksta. Istraživanja ukazuju na to da mere dobijene obradom verbalnog ponašanja imaju potencijal da objasne odnose između mera dobijenih primenom implicitnih i tradicionalnih eksplicitnih mera, nezavisno od predmeta merenja (stavovi, psihopatološki potencijal, procena bazičnih dimenzija ličnosti itd.). Cilj ovog rada jeste konstrukcija rečnika za srpski jezik LIWCser. Konstrukcija rečnika odvijala se u četiri faze: prevod sadržaja engleskog rečnika, kreiranje odrednica, klasifikacija odrednica pomoću apsolutnog konsenzusa između četiri nezavisna procenjivača (jednu odrednicu moguće je klasifikovati u više kategorija u zavisnosti od konteksta u kojem se upotrebljava) i revizija sadržaja kategorija i formiranje konačnog skupa odrednica. Konačna verzija rečnika LIWCser sadrži 12103 odrednice, klasifikovane u 65 kategorija (lingvističkih, psiholoških i tematskih). Od ukupnog broja odrednica, samo četiri (0,03%) je klasifikovano u osam kategorija, 22 (0,2%) u sedam, 147 (1,2%) u šest, a 568 (4,7%) u pet kategorija. U četiri kategorije klasifikovano je 1531 (12,6%) odrednica, u tri 2913 (24,1%) odrednica, u dve 4800 (39,7%) odrednica, dok je 2118 (17,5%) odrednica klasifikovano samo u jednu kategoriju. Razvojem rečnika LIWCser otvara se mogućnost prikupljanja mera verbalnog ponašanja i dalja istraživanja odnosa implicitnih i eksplicitnih mera u različitim oblastima psihologije