Dissimilarity is used as evidence of category membership in multidimensional perceptual categorization: a test of the similarity-dissimilarity generalized context model

In exemplar models of categorization, the similarity between an exemplar and category members constitutes evidence that the exemplar belongs to the category. We test the possibility that the dissimilarity to members of competing categories also contributes to this evidence. Data were collected from two 2-dimensional perceptual categorization experiments, one with lines varying in orientation and length and the other with coloured patches varying in saturation and brightness. Model fits of the similarity-dissimilarity generalized context model were used to compare a model where only similarity was used with a model where both similarity and dissimilarity were used. For the majority of participants the similarity-dissimilarity model provided both a significantly better fit and better generalization, suggesting that people do also use dissimilarity as evidence

Effet de l'imagerie en rappel sériel immédiat

Cette étude s’intéresse à l'effet de l’imagerie en rappel sériel immédiat. Au plan théorique, deux propositions divergentes (DeLosh et McDaniel, 1996 ; Poirier et Saint-Aubin, 1996 ), considérant le rappel des items et de leur ordre, sont comparées. De plus, une vérification méthodologique concernant le type de devis utilisé (inter vs intra-sujets) est effectuée. Quarante-huit sujets sont soumis à l’une des trois conditions expérimentales ( haute puis basse imagerie, basse puis haute imagerie et haute et basse imagerie en alternance). Les résultats montrent que le rappel des items et de leur ordre est supérieur pour les listes à haut degré d’imagerie. De plus, ceux-ci montrent que l’utilisation d’un devis inter ou intra-sujets entraîne les mêmes conclusions au niveau des erreurs d’ordre

Showing Off and Going Out: China’s Vanity Project Phenomenon

In September 2018, Xi Jinping announced that BRI financing will not be spent on vanity projects. Despite and prior to this proclamation, using the AidData data set, I uncovered a vanity project phenomenon in Chinese development financing. Chinese financed vanity projects, or development projects that do not aid a country’s development needs, are present in 79 countries across the world, ranging from sports stadiums in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to community centers in the Pacific islands. In this thesis, I find that vanity projects are most likely to occur in fragile states with strong international political cooperation with China. This indicates that China uses these projects as a reward to its allies and to influence fragile states to continue cooperating with China