Title: HOW DO I SAY “SAD?” BUILDING A DEPRESSION-LEXICON FOR PSYCHOLOGIST IN A POCKET

Submission code: OP_145

Authors: Roann Munoz Ramos, Paula Glenda Ferrer-Cheng,  Jó Ágila Bitsch
& Stephan Michael Jonas

Abstract: Language can be used as an indicator of psychological health. The study of language, particularly text analysis, assumes, among others, that mental states are reflected in the words we use and that certain language features can provide markers for mental illnesses. In studying depression and its characteristic symptoms, everyday language may reveal cognitive mechanisms, such as negative schemas and self-focus ruminations. An emerging trend in health care, mobile health (mHealth) uses wireless (mobile) technology in medicine and public health. Extending its functions in the field of psychological health, mental mHealth augments clinical assessment via real-time measurements. It also reduces clients’ recall bias and fear of being stigmatized. Although mental mHealth software application have been largely concentrated outside Asia, the popularity of mobile phones in the Philippines is perceived as a promising aspect in the development of mental mHealth applications, such as the Psychologist in a Pocket (PiaP) (Ramos, Winter, Smith & Bitsch, 2012). Despite the growing recognition of depression in the Philippines, apprehension surrounding mental illness prevents individuals from taking necessary steps towards depression assessment and treatment. To partially address this, PiaP, as an adjunct to initial psychological assessment, aids in screening depressed mood non-intrusively using text analysis technology on the smartphone device itself. Text inputs are gathered and logged in real time and compared against a predefined set of keywords indicative of depression. The language behavior is captured over a longer period of time, thereby creating a more complete picture of the user’s experience and reducing recall bias. This study presents the first part of our on-going validation of PiaP. In building the PiaP lexicon in English and in Filipino, we utilized two general approaches in order to represent the entire domain of depression and its 13 symptom categories based on DSM and ICD: top-down (deductive) and bottom-up (inductive). Words for analysis were derived from focus group discussions with university students, interviews with mental-health professionals and the review of psychological tests. In addition, we considered cultural idiosyncrasies in text writing (e.g., use of spelling variations/shortened words) and current expressive styles found in social media (e.g., use of emoticons and emojis). As a result, the lexicon of the current PiaP prototype is composed of over 11,400 main keywords and its derivatives and more than 800,000 spelling variations.

Keywords: depression, Psychologist in a Pocket, mHealth, lexicon development, text analysis.

File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)

 

Title: TIME PERSPECTIVE AND TENDENCY TO ABUSE SUBSTANCES IN ADOLESCENCE GIRLS

Submission code: VP_033

Authors: Maryam Shafikhani, Fatemeh Bagherian & Omid Shokri

Abstract: Purpose: This research was conducted to study the relationship between time perspective and the tendency to abuse substances in adolescents. Time perspective is a cognitive style about how people link their past, present and future and how it influences behavior and thoughts and attention (Bonivell & Zimbardo, 2004). Time perspective includes Future Time, Present Fatalistic and Present Hedonistic, Past Positive and Past Negative. Future time perspective refer to future goals and rewards, present fatalistic drives a person toward helplessness and hopelessness about the future and life, present hedonistic search immediate pleasure in life and shows little concern about future consequences, past positive is generally positive, warm and emotional about the past (Zimbardo & Boyd,1999). And past negative means being negative about the past and perhaps experiencing traumatic events (Bonivell & Zimbardo, 2004). This study examined the relationship between time perspective and tendency to use substance among female adolescents. Methods: The participants were all high school girls in Tehran. Among them, 405 students were selected by multistage sampling. They were administered the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory and the Addiction Potential Scale. Results: Pearson correlation and stepwise regression were used to analyze the data. The results of Pearson correlations showed significant positive correlations between Past Negative, Present Hedonistic, and Present Fatalistic with the tendency to abuse substances. The results also showed a significant negative correlation between Future Time perspective and the tendency to abuse substances. In addition, regression analysis revealed that among dimensions of time perspective, four dimensions of Past Negative, Present Hedonistic, and Present Fatalistic are predictor variables with conditions of entry in the final regression to the equation to explain the tendency to abuse substances. Conclusion: Time perspective is an important and key factor in the tendency to use substances. The study suggests training one toward future time perspective and educating one how to delay immediate enjoyment by considering the consequences of present actions in order to have a balanced time perspective can be effective in preventing substance abuse in adolescents.

Keywords: time perspective, tendency to abuse substances, adolescents.

File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)

 

Title: THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY GARDENS AN EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN FLORENCE

Submission code: VP_112

Authors: Camilla Borsini & Patrizia Meringolo

Abstract: Introduction. Community Gardens are plots cultivated and cared by members of a community. Usually people choose public abandoned urban area. In the past the phenomenon developed during wars as it was a good strategy to face famine. Then it increased in the 70’s mainly in the U.S.A and Australia due to the environmental movement’s growth and a new awareness about ecological problems. Considering the current historical and social condition, the phenomenon increased during the last decade also in Europe becoming also a form of social aggregation. Purpose. In this study the aim is to explore the growing phenomenon in a town in order to describe it and compare the results with other studies and experiences. Methods. In order to reach our purpose we decided on a qualitative method. Participants: 33 people (21 female, 12 male; average age 36) who participate in the activity and in the organization of 3 Community Garden in Florence. Instruments: we carried out 20 semi-structured interviews and 3 focus groups to gather qualitative data. The main area explored were: the birth, the structure and management of the garden; participation; personal expectations of participants; perceived advantages on an individual and community level. Results. The qualitative analysis of the content allowed us to explore the emerging phenomenon in the city of Florence, comparing the results with the existing literature, although it is still limited. It turns out that the phenomenon may have a role in promoting wellness of both individuals and the community. In fact, the participation in the activities of the Community Garden seems to affect: health through diet, contact with nature and physical activity; psychological wellness through the development of feelings as the psychological sense of community, a sense of belonging and responsibility among the community and a sense of self-efficacy; social wellness promoting networking. Conclusions. We can affirm that the phenomenon can have a larger impact thanks to its influence on wellness and its role in the requalification of degraded areas, promoting in that way the transformation of these areas following a bottom-up process, including the community.

Keywords: Community Garden, wellness, participation, environment, sense of community.

File Extension: Video Clip (.avi)

 

Title: THE IMPACT OF DWELLING’S FUNCTIONALITY ON HOME ATTACHMENT

Submission code: P_058

Authors: Sofya Reznichenko, Sofya Nartova-Bochaver, Natalya Dmitrieva,
Aleksandra Bochaver & Ekaterina Braginets

Abstract: In terms of increasing social mobility, migration processes and weakening of territorial and socio-cultural identity, it is important to study place (home) attachment. Based on the environmental psychology researches of place attachment phenomenology (Scannell & Gifford, 2010) and home environment preferences (Coolen, 2011) we define home attachment as close emotional and cognitive bonds with one’s home environment and functional satisfaction with its content leading to the individual desire to maintain closeness with home. The aim of the study was to examine how home attachment is interconnected with the ideal (desired) and actual home environment’s multilevel functionality. Our tools were: developed by authors Functionality of Home Environment Questionnaire, The Personal Relevance of Home Environment and Home Attachment Scale. In total, 13 variables were investigated. Participants were 346 adults (M_age=26,6, SD=10,5; 138 males, 208 females), living in Moscow. There has been found that: home attachment is strongly predicted by the real image of home, while the ideal image has little effect on home attachment. The relationship between home attachment and home environment’s functionality is gender-specific: women’s are more sensitive to the affordances of real home environment than men, whereas ideal home has a stronger impact on men’s home attachment; men’s and women’s home attachments are predicted by the different functional characteristics. People with low level of home attachment are more sensitive to the factors of personal relevance.

Keywords: ecological psychology, home attachment, home environment, questionnaire, functionality.

File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)

 

Title: INTRAGROUP STATUS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY OF SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Submission code: P_209

Authors: Galina Kozhukhar & Ekaterina Gozhaya

Abstract: Many contemporary investigators believe that studying interpersonal relations in the school environment and their characteristics are one of the key factors in creating safe and comfortable educational environment for every pupil. In this paper the main research question was: “What are the connections between the psychological safety of educational environment and the different types of students intragroup status?” The sample consisted of 171 school students of the seventh, eighth, tenth and eleventh years. The data was collected via Sociometric (Moreno) and Referentometric (Chedrina) procedures, and with the help of the “Power structure” technique (Kondratiev). Also the method “Psychological safety of the school environment” (Baeva, 2002) and the scale “Estimation of safety in the interpersonal interaction” (Kozhukhar, 2011) were used. The empirical results showed that pupils with high sociometric, referentometric status and with high informal position in class had high level of freedom and sincerity in dialogue; they were ready to manifest trust and openness in communication. Moreover, they gave higher estimation of the communicative psychological safety, in comparison with the pupils with a low status. We discovered that pupils with high status had high estimates concerning school psychological safety and the students with a high level of referentometric and sociometric (business) status gave high appreciation of the psychological comfort of communication. We did not find out any links between satisfaction with the school environment, calculated as the total score of the characteristics of the school social environment, and different kinds of status.

Keywords: psychological safety, sociometric status, referentometric status, informal power, educational environment.

File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)

 

Title: EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHER TRAINING ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ATTITUDES OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER

Submission code: P_159

Authors: Elenita M. Tiamzon (Ph.D.), Jose Roberto Alegre (Maed) & Lourdes Abiog (Edd)

Abstract: The study focused on the effectiveness of teachers’ training on professional development and attitudes of public elementary school teacher. In order to thresh- out effectiveness of training, variables such as instructional abilities, classroom management , interpersonal relationship, and work values were considered. The main sources of data came primarily from the response of 126 teachers that underwent trainings from three public schools on the same division. The researchers utilized the descriptive survey method wherein the data needed for the study were gathered by administering the questionnaire/ checklist to the teachers in three consecutive days and retrieving back the questionnaire/ checklist forms same day of the administration. Purposive sampling was used in the study. The study was anchored on four different theories; first is the theory of the dignified man by Sharon Y. Bringos; second theory is the Cognitive Theory; third theory is the Incentives Theories of Motivation; and the Expectancy Theory. The study used the weighted mean, ANOVA, F- test, t- test and chi square in the treatment of the data to arrived at the results and findings of the study. The study reveals that on the Instructional Abilities, the training was effective in the application of new teaching strategies learned from the training and inculcating breakthroughs through examples. On the Classroom Management aspect, the training was effective in the motivation of pupils interests in every lesson and maintenance of an ideal classroom environment. On the Interpersonal Relationship aspect, the training was effective in the participation in academic tasks by sharing of knowledge and collaboration with peers during free time. On the Work Values aspect, the training was effective in the performance of job to the fullest expecting nothing in return and doing other related work without the supervision of principal. Based on the findings, the researchers drew the following conclusion: that there exists significant difference on the aspects pertaining to effectiveness of training affecting the professional development and attitudes of public elementary teachers. When subjected to getting the relationship with the demographic profile, sex was negatively related to the professional development. Female had higher levels of professional growth and better job performance compare to the male counterparts. Regardless of age, respondents have the same teaching competencies which could be attributed to the higher level of learning experience obtained through various training and seminar.

Keywords: instructional abilities, classroom management, interpersonal relationship, work values and professional development and attitude.

File Extension: MP4 Video (.mp4)

 

Cognitive and Experimental Psychology:

Title: CAN REWARD REDUCE SUBSEQUENT SEARCH MISSES?

Submission code: VP_247

Authors: Margit Höfler, Ronja Faßbender & Anja Ischebeck

Abstract: Visual search, i.e., the search for a target object among distractor objects, is an essential human behavior. Although visual search typically is very fast and effective, it is difficult to find a second target in an environment once a first target was found. In other words, when a target is detected, the probability to miss a further target in the same environment increases. This phenomenon is referred to as ‘satisfaction of search’ or ‘subsequent search misses’ (SSMs). Obviously, SSMs can have serious consequences; for instance, when radiologists miss tumors or airport security staffs miss dangerous objects in the luggage. Here, we were interested in whether it is possible to reduce SSMs by positive reinforcement. To this end, we had our participants search displays that included 18 to 20 (‘L’-shaped) distractor items of different saliency. There could be 0, 1 or 2 (‘T’-shaped) targets in the display. Most of the targets were highly salient targets (i.e. easy to find) and only a minor amount were less salient targets. The task of the participants was to search for all of the targets and mark them by a mouse click. Critically, on half of the trials, participants received a small reward if they found a less salient target whereas on the other half of the trials, no such reward was provided. The results showed that, in general, positive reinforcement led to better search performance: The participants found less salient targets more reliably in the reward condition than in the control condition. However, we still observed an SSM effect: If the salient target was found first, the detection rate for the second (less salient) target decreased. This effect obtained regardless of the reward condition. These findings suggest that, although positive reinforcement can increase search performance in general, it cannot prevent participants from missing relevant objects.

Keywords: attention, visual search, subsequent search miss, satisfaction of search, positive reinforcement.

File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)

 

Title: MOOD AND EMOTIONAL STATES PREDICTION BY TIME SERIES METHODS

Submission code: VP_253

Authors: Mani Mehraei & Nimet Ilke Akcay

Abstract: Mood and emotion prediction plays an important role in diverse topics such as emotion variety impacts on behavior and decision making, bipolar manic depression disorder in psychology, and virtual character development in artificial intelligence and artificial psychology. In this paper, we present a model to predict emotional states for the seventh day and the mood state at end of the same day based on brief information related to personality and emotion history. The emotional states were recorded hourwise for twelve times a day in the previous six days for three distinct individuals without knowing about their emotional states in the seventh day. The model is constructed by integrating current known appraisal theories and exploiting mood history probability distribution and statistical forecasting methods such as time series, seasonal time series, and Holt-Winter’s additive model. The experience has applied on only three individuals and the model was designed the way to anticipate mood and emotional states based on the lowest input information possible.

Keywords: mood prediction, emotion forecasting, time series, decision making.

File Extension: Windows Media Audio/Video file (.wmv)