A Comparison of Marginal Likelihood Computation Methods

In a Bayesian analysis, different models can be compared on the basis of theexpected or marginal likelihood they attain. Many methods have been devised to compute themarginal likelihood, but simplicity is not the strongest point of most methods. At the sametime, the precision of methods is often questionable.In this paper several methods are presented in a common framework. The explanation of thedifferences is followed by an application, in which the precision of the methods is testedon a simple regression model where a comparison with analytical results is possible

Modelling the evolution of distributions : an application to major league baseball

We develop Bayesian techniques for modelling the evolution of entire distributions over time and apply them to the distribution of team performance in Major League baseball for the period 1901-2000. Such models offer insight into many key issues (e.g. competitive balance) in a way that regression-based models cannot. The models involve discretizing the distribution and then modelling the evolution of the bins over time through transition probability matrices. We allow for these matrices to vary over time and across teams. We find that, with one exception, the transition probability matrices (and, hence, competitive balance) have been remarkably constant across time and over teams. The one exception is the Yankees, who have outperformed all other teams

Cultural self-assessment and intersectionality: decolonizing tools in psychological teaching and training

Se propone la autoevaluación cultural y la interseccionalidad como estrategias para facilitar la integración de la perspectiva decolonizadora en el campo de la psicología. La autoevaluación cultural aboga por la examinación sincera y profunda de la influencia de los mensajes culturales dominantes sobre el género, la edad, la etnia, la habilidad, la clase social y la religión, entre otras variables, en nuestras creencias, actitudes y acciones. La interseccionalidad considera el cruce o intersección de las distintas dimensiones de diversidad social, presentando así un análisis mucho más complejo y dinámico en comparación con la perspectiva tradicional unidimensional. La perspectiva decolonizadora acoge y unifica una diversidad de movimientos críticos que fomentan la deconstrucción de los discursos dominantes con el propósito de desarrollar una psicología anclada en los valores de justicia e inclusión social. Las estrategias de autoevaluación cultural e interseccionalidad reafirman estos valores, fundamentando el desarrollo de una perspectiva decolonizadora.A autoavaliação cultural e a interseccionalidade são propostas como estratégias para facilitar a integração da perspectiva descolonizadora no campo da psicologia. A autoavaliação cultural defende o exame sincero e aprofundado da influência das mensagens culturais dominantes sobre gênero, idade, etnia, habilidade, classe social e religião, entre outros, em nossas crenças, atitudes e ações. A interseccionalidade considera o cruzamento ou interseção das diferentes dimensões da diversidade social, apresentando assim uma análise muito mais complexa e dinâmica do que a perspectiva unidimensional tradicional. A perspectiva descolonizadora, embora não apresente uma análise inovadora, acolhe e unifica uma diversidade de movimentos críticos que preconizam a desconstrução dos discursos dominantes para o desenvolvimento de uma psicologia ancorada nos valores de justiça e inclusão social. As estratégias de autoavaliação cultural e interseccionalidade reafirmam esses valores, fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de uma perspectiva descolonizadora.Cultural self-evaluation and intersectionality are proposed as strategies to facilitate the integration of the decolonizing perspective in the field of psychology. Cultural self-assessment advocates the sincere and in-depth examination of the influence of dominant cultural messages on gender, age, ethnicity, ability, social class and religion, among others, in our beliefs, attitudes and actions. Intersectionality considers the crossing or intersection of the different dimensions of social diversity, thus presenting a much more complex and dynamic analysis compared to the traditional one-dimensional perspective. The decolonizing perspective welcomes and unifies a diversity of critical movements that advocate the deconstruction of the dominant discourses in order to develop a psychology anchored in the values of justice and social inclusion. The strategies of cultural selfevaluation and intersectionality reaffirm these values and are fundamental for the development of a decolonizing perspective.Dossier: Psicología, colonialidad y procesos de decolonización.Facultad de Psicologí

Autoavaliação cultural e interseccionalidade: ferramentas de descolonização no ensino e formação psicológica

Cultural self-evaluation and intersectionality are proposed as strategies to facilitate the integration of the decolonizing perspective in the field of psychology. Cultural self-assessment advocates the sincere and in-depth examination of the influence of dominant cultural messages on gender, age, ethnicity, ability, social class and religion, among others, in our beliefs, attitudes and actions. Intersectionality considers the crossing or intersection of the different dimensions of social diversity, thus presenting a much more complex and dynamic analysis compared to the traditional one-dimensional perspective. The decolonizing perspective welcomes and unifies a diversity of critical movements that advocate the deconstruction of the dominant discourses in order to develop a psychology anchored in the values ​​of justice and social inclusion. The strategies of cultural self-evaluation and intersectionality reaffirm these values and are fundamental for the development of a decolonizing perspective.Se propone la autoevaluación cultural y la interseccionalidad como estrategias para facilitar la integración de la perspectiva decolonizadora en el campo de la psicología. La autoevaluación cultural aboga por la examinación sincera y profunda de la influencia de los mensajes culturales dominantes sobre el género, la edad, la etnia, la habilidad, la clase social y la religión, entre otras variables, en nuestras creencias, actitudes y acciones. La interseccionalidad considera el cruce o intersección de las distintas dimensiones de diversidad social, presentando así un análisis mucho más complejo y dinámico en comparación con la perspectiva tradicional unidimensional. La perspectiva decolonizadora acoge y unifica una diversidad de movimientos críticos que fomentan la deconstrucción de los discursos dominantes con el propósito de desarrollar una psicología anclada en los valores de justicia e inclusión social. Las estrategias de autoevaluación cultural e interseccionalidad reafirman estos valores, fundamentando el desarrollo de una perspectiva decolonizadora.A autoavaliação cultural e a interseccionalidade são propostas como estratégias para facilitar a integração da perspectiva descolonizadora no campo da psicologia. A autoavaliação cultural defende o exame sincero e aprofundado da influência das mensagens culturais dominantes sobre gênero, idade, etnia, habilidade, classe social e religião, entre outros, em nossas crenças, atitudes e ações. A interseccionalidade considera o cruzamento ou interseção das diferentes dimensões da diversidade social, apresentando assim uma análise muito mais complexa e dinâmica do que a perspectiva unidimensional tradicional. A perspectiva descolonizadora, embora não apresente uma análise inovadora, acolhe e unifica uma diversidade de movimentos críticos que preconizam a desconstrução dos discursos dominantes para o desenvolvimento de uma psicologia ancorada nos valores de justiça e inclusão social. As estratégias de autoavaliação cultural e interseccionalidade reafirmam esses valores, fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de uma perspectiva descolonizadora

Cultural self-assessment and intersectionality: decolonizing tools in psychological teaching and training

Se propone la autoevaluación cultural y la interseccionalidad como estrategias para facilitar la integración de la perspectiva decolonizadora en el campo de la psicología. La autoevaluación cultural aboga por la examinación sincera y profunda de la influencia de los mensajes culturales dominantes sobre el género, la edad, la etnia, la habilidad, la clase social y la religión, entre otras variables, en nuestras creencias, actitudes y acciones. La interseccionalidad considera el cruce o intersección de las distintas dimensiones de diversidad social, presentando así un análisis mucho más complejo y dinámico en comparación con la perspectiva tradicional unidimensional. La perspectiva decolonizadora acoge y unifica una diversidad de movimientos críticos que fomentan la deconstrucción de los discursos dominantes con el propósito de desarrollar una psicología anclada en los valores de justicia e inclusión social. Las estrategias de autoevaluación cultural e interseccionalidad reafirman estos valores, fundamentando el desarrollo de una perspectiva decolonizadora.A autoavaliação cultural e a interseccionalidade são propostas como estratégias para facilitar a integração da perspectiva descolonizadora no campo da psicologia. A autoavaliação cultural defende o exame sincero e aprofundado da influência das mensagens culturais dominantes sobre gênero, idade, etnia, habilidade, classe social e religião, entre outros, em nossas crenças, atitudes e ações. A interseccionalidade considera o cruzamento ou interseção das diferentes dimensões da diversidade social, apresentando assim uma análise muito mais complexa e dinâmica do que a perspectiva unidimensional tradicional. A perspectiva descolonizadora, embora não apresente uma análise inovadora, acolhe e unifica uma diversidade de movimentos críticos que preconizam a desconstrução dos discursos dominantes para o desenvolvimento de uma psicologia ancorada nos valores de justiça e inclusão social. As estratégias de autoavaliação cultural e interseccionalidade reafirmam esses valores, fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de uma perspectiva descolonizadora.Cultural self-evaluation and intersectionality are proposed as strategies to facilitate the integration of the decolonizing perspective in the field of psychology. Cultural self-assessment advocates the sincere and in-depth examination of the influence of dominant cultural messages on gender, age, ethnicity, ability, social class and religion, among others, in our beliefs, attitudes and actions. Intersectionality considers the crossing or intersection of the different dimensions of social diversity, thus presenting a much more complex and dynamic analysis compared to the traditional one-dimensional perspective. The decolonizing perspective welcomes and unifies a diversity of critical movements that advocate the deconstruction of the dominant discourses in order to develop a psychology anchored in the values of justice and social inclusion. The strategies of cultural selfevaluation and intersectionality reaffirm these values and are fundamental for the development of a decolonizing perspective.Dossier: Psicología, colonialidad y procesos de decolonización.Facultad de Psicologí

Assessing the response of ground-dwelling beetles communities to different land-uses in Mediterranea cork oak systems

In our study, we assessed the response of beetles communities at low taxonomical resolution to different Mediterranean cork oak land-use systems. Spatial variation of dung-beetles communities was also analyzed because of their potential role as ecological indicators in grazed areas

Right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, empathy, and materialistic value orientation as predictors of Intergroup prejudice in Argentina

The study of individual differences in prejudice has received significant attention in the psychological literature. However, very little research has been published on Latin American countries. To address this gap, 300 residents from the general population in Mar del Plata, Argentina, were surveyed. The main objective of the study was to assess the contributions of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), social dominance orientation (SDO), empathy, and materialistic value orientation (MVO) to the prediction of ethnic prejudice, heterosexism, hostile sexism, and benevolent sexism after controlling for impression management and socio demographic factors. Multiple regression analyses identified RWA as the most relevant variable predicting intergroup prejudice; as it contributed to the prediction of all dependent variables. The contributions of SDO, empathy, and MVO depended on the specific type of prejudice assessed. SDO and empathy made a significant statistical contribution to the prediction of ethnic prejudice and heterosexism; while a materialistic value orientation contributed only to the prediction of hostile sexism. Introducción: El estudio de las diferencias individuales en el prejuicio ha recibido mucha atención en la literatura psicológica. Sin embargo, han sido muy pocas las publicaciones de investigaciones en Latinoamérica. Objetivo : evaluar las contribuciones del autoritarismo de derecha (RWA), la orientación a la dominancia social (SDO), la empatía, y la orientación hacia valores materiales (MVO) a la predicción del prejuicio étnico, el heterosexismo, el sexismo hostil, y el sexismo benevolente luego de controlar para el manejo de impresión y los factores socio-demográficos. Método: fueron encuestados 300 participantes en Mar del Plata, Argentina, con edad entre 19 y 71 años, a través de las Escalas de Autoritarismo de Derecha, Escala de Valores Materiales, y Actitudes hacia la Homosexualidad. Resultados: Los análisis de regresión múltiple identificaron al RWA como la variable más importante en la predicción de prejuicio intergrupal; ya que aportó a la predicción de todas las variables dependientes. Las contribuciones de SDO, empatía, y MVO dependieron del prejuicio evaluado. La SDO y la empatía aportaron estadísticamente a la predicción del prejuicio étnico y el heterosexismo; mientras que la orientación hacia los valores materiales solamente a la predicción del sexismo hostil. 

“If it’s a broad spectrum, it can shoot better”: inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in Cambodia

Abstract Background Cambodia is affected by antibiotic resistance but interventions to reduce the level of resistance require knowledge of the phenomena that lead to inappropriate prescribing. We interviewed physicians working in public hospitals to explore the drivers of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Methods Hospitals participating in a knowledge, attitudes and practices survey prior to this study were purposively selected and physicians were randomly recruited to participate in focus group discussions. Nvivo version 10 was used to inductively code the qualitative transcripts and manage thematic data analysis. Results Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing was a common practice and driven by seven factors: prescribing habit, limited diagnostic capacity, lack of microbiology evidence, non-evidence-based clinical guidelines, perceived patient demand, poor hygiene and infection control, and perceived bacterial resistance to narrow spectrum antibiotics. “Every day, doctors are not performing appropriately. We have made lots of mistakes with our antibiotic prescribing.” When a patient’s clinical condition was not responsive to empiric treatment, physicians changed to a broader spectrum antibiotic and microbiology services were sought only after failure of a treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. This habitual empirical prescribing was a common practice regardless of microbiology service accessibility. Poor hygiene and infection control practices were commonly described as reasons for ‘preventive’ prescribing with full course of antibiotics while perception of bacterial resistance to narrow-spectrum antibiotics due to unrestricted access in the community resulted in unnecessary prescribing of broad spectrum antibiotics in private practices. Conclusions The practice of prescribing antibiotics by Cambodian physicians is inappropriate and based on prescribing habit rather than microbiology evidence. Improvement in prescribing practice is unlikely to occur unless an education program for physicians focuses on the diagnostic capacity and usefulness of microbiology services. In parallel, hygiene and infection control in hospital must be improved, evidence-based antibiotic prescribing guidelines must be developed, and access to antibiotics in community must be restricted