台灣目前已邁入高齡化社會，因高齡人口持續攀升，面對中高齡者認知能力衰退，我們提議利用遊戲的方式進行注意力訓練。相較於一般以娛樂為主要目的的遊戲，悅趣化學習遊戲(Serious Game)是在遊戲設計除時以娛樂為目的外，另附加學習目標，這種遊戲設計方式常廣泛運用於教育、軍事、健康、都市規劃、宗教、工程與政治等領域上，以達成某種訓練或觀察目的。我們以心理學理論為基礎，透過悅趣化學習遊戲在平板電腦上設計了一個系統，邀請年長者分為兩組來擔任此一系統的受試者，並觀察使用我們所設計的遊戲系統前後其注意力變化的狀況。我們在此系統上進行了視覺搜尋(Visual Search)和注意力網絡作業(Attention Network Task, ANT)的前後測驗，並加入了自適應性(Adaptive)及導入干擾(Interference)以觀察受試者排除干擾的狀態。我們觀察此系統是否能影響測試者的認知能力與其影響的程度，並比較受試者之注意力在實驗前後變化是否因遊戲系統而改變。而經過實驗後共有21位高齡受試者完成所有實驗流程，實驗組的受試者經過分析後發現他們在視覺搜尋的在正確率以及在注意力網絡作業中的正確率、警覺性分數和導向性分數皆有顯著的改變，而在實驗後透過問卷調查另可發現高齡受試者對於遊戲學習亦是給予正面的回饋且有意願繼續使用。因此我們認為我們所設計的悅趣化學習遊戲系統能提升高齡受試者的使用意願並進而有效提升其注意力。 / Since the last decade, Taiwan has entered the aging society. However, the proportion of the elderly population has continued to increase in recent years. Our primary purpose is to use serious game as a means of training the attention of the elderly and delay the decline of cognition. Serious game has a primary purpose other than pure entertainment and has been used in the past for various applications such as national defense, education, scientific exploration, healthcare, emergency management, city planning, engineering, religion, and politics. Our goal in this work is to design a customizable serious game based on cognition psychology on the Android tablet PC platform for the elderly. We invited 21 elderly subjects to play the game and perform tests done before and after the playing. In the pre- and pro-tests, we adopted a Visual Search task and the Attention Network Task (ANT) tests to study how the proposed serious game can affect the cognition abilities, especially attention, of a subject. The experimental results reveal that the accuracy of visual search, accuracy of attention network test, scores of alerting and orienting of the participants in the experiment group have significantly improved after the trainings on the serious game system. We also have received positive feedback on the gameplay from the participants, which shows that the proposed system is well accepted and can serve as an effective means for cognition training.

This Ph.D. thesis in Economics consists of five self-contained chapters that investigate the role of gender and family background in generating socioeconomic inequality. Occupational segregation by sex: The role of intergenerational transmission studies the persistence of the occupational sex segregation by investigating intergenerational associations in the sex composition of occupations. Gender differences in initiation of negotiation: Does the gender of the negotiation counterpart matter? experimentally examines how the gender difference in the willingness to enter a negotiation is affected by the gender of the counterpart in the negotiation. The importance of family background and neighborhood effects as determinants of crime estimates sibling and neighborhood correlations in criminal convictions and incarceration. IQ and family background: Are associations strong or weak? examines sibling and intergenerational correlations in IQ. Gender and inequality of opportunity in Sweden explores to what extent income inequality is due to factors beyond individuals' control, such as gender and parental income. / <p>Diss. Stockholm :  Stockholm School of Economics, 2014. Introduction together with 5 papers.</p>

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine whether across-trials inconsistency in reaction time (RT), in addition to level of cognitive performance, is predictive of older adults’ performance on a measure of everyday problem solving through a series of three investigations. A sample of community dwelling non-demented older adults, ranging in age from 62 to 92, completed the Everyday Problems Test (EPT), a measure of everyday problem solving that indexes instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Performance on the EPT varied according to age, cognitive status, and education, and was significantly predicted by measures of global cognitive status, cognitive decline, and various basic cognitive abilities (i.e., speed of processing, fluid abilities, episodic memory, crystallized abilities). Both inconsistency and mean latencies on measures of RT were found to be significantly associated with concurrent EPT performance, such that slower and more inconsistent RTs were associated with poorer everyday problem solving abilities. Finally, inconsistency in RT made a unique contribution in predicting performance on the EPT two years later, over and above age, education, and various basic cognitive abilities. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that the relationship between inconsistency in RT and future EPT performance was mediated by fluid and crystallized abilities. Neither inconsistency nor cognitive functioning were significantly associated with changes in EPT performance across two years. Examination of the relationships between IADL functioning, as assessed through self- and informant-report, and inconsistency and basic cognitive abilities demonstrated that everyday problem solving and measures of IADLs tap into related but distinct constructs. The overall pattern of results obtained lends support to the idea that inconsistency in RT represents a behavioural marker of neurological dysfunction. In addition, the present investigation is the first to suggest a relationship between inconsistency in RT and real-world outcomes, such as everyday problem solving and IADL functioning.

I used annual killifish Nothobranchius orthonotus to investigate two separate questions related to behavioural aspects of their life history. The first study focused on spatial cognitive ability of two N. orthonotus populations that originated from temporary pools that varied in their expected duration due to differences in annual precipitation patterns (dry and humid region). Test of cognition was based on the ability to learn to find food in a dichotomous test. It was assumed that learning ability differs between populations when tested in young and old age along with their difference in captive lifespan. Additionally, association between cognitive ability and other life history traits was tested. It was found that: (1) there was no difference in the ability to learn spatial task between populations; (2) both populations had similar lifespan with no cognitive decay in older age, and older fish from dry region population had committed even less errors in the learning task than they did as young fish; (3) fish were able to effectively learn the task but (4) solitary fish had lower learning ability than group-reared fish; (5) longer- living fish were quicker learners; (6) high resting metabolic rate was associated with more effective learning; (7) hesitant fish found the food reward in learning task...

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine whether across-trials inconsistency in reaction time (RT), in addition to level of cognitive performance, is predictive of older adults’ performance on a measure of everyday problem solving through a series of three investigations. A sample of community dwelling non-demented older adults, ranging in age from 62 to 92, completed the Everyday Problems Test (EPT), a measure of everyday problem solving that indexes instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Performance on the EPT varied according to age, cognitive status, and education, and was significantly predicted by measures of global cognitive status, cognitive decline, and various basic cognitive abilities (i.e., speed of processing, fluid abilities, episodic memory, crystallized abilities). Both inconsistency and mean latencies on measures of RT were found to be significantly associated with concurrent EPT performance, such that slower and more inconsistent RTs were associated with poorer everyday problem solving abilities. Finally, inconsistency in RT made a unique contribution in predicting performance on the EPT two years later, over and above age, education, and various basic cognitive abilities. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that the relationship between inconsistency in RT and future EPT performance was mediated by fluid and crystallized abilities. Neither inconsistency nor cognitive functioning were significantly associated with changes in EPT performance across two years. Examination of the relationships between IADL functioning, as assessed through self- and informant-report, and inconsistency and basic cognitive abilities demonstrated that everyday problem solving and measures of IADLs tap into related but distinct constructs. The overall pattern of results obtained lends support to the idea that inconsistency in RT represents a behavioural marker of neurological dysfunction. In addition, the present investigation is the first to suggest a relationship between inconsistency in RT and real-world outcomes, such as everyday problem solving and IADL functioning.

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The current study attempted to show the relationship of paternal sensitivity and maternal sensitivity and their possible influences on child cognitive and behavioral development. This study used data collected as part of the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care, which is a longitudinal, multi-site study. Correlation and regression analyses were computed to examine relationships between the variables at child age 6 and 36 months. Results indicated paternal sensitivity was a significant positive predictor of child cognitive abilities and a negative predictor of both fathers' reports of children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Maternal sensitivity was a significant negative predictor of mothers' reports of children's externalizing behaviors. Interpretations of these results and directions for future research are discussed.

Vortrag auf der ICPS-Convention 2019 in Paris zu internationalen Unterschieden in Studien zu kognitiven Fähigkeiten, ihren Ursachen, Folgen sowie ihre Bedeutung im Kontext komplexer bildungssystemischer Zusammenhänge. Ein zusätzlicher Fokus wird auf methodische Ansätze zur Untersuchung des Forschungsgegenstandes gerichtet. / Presentation at the ICPS Convention 2019 in Paris on international differences in studies on cognitive ability, their causes, consequences and their importance in the context of complex causalities in educational systems. An additional focus lies on methodological approaches to investigate the research subject.

Cognitive ability has a strong and important relationship with academic performance. Numerous factors, however, affect a student’s performance, including among others; learning style, or the way in which students typically receive and process information, and learning strategies, or the level at which students approach learning and studying. Current studies are, however, divided in their findings regarding the relationship between learning styles and strategies and academic performance as well as the mediatory role they may play. The study sought to investigate the role of students’ learning styles and strategies in the relationship between cognitive ability and academic performance, in order to advance an understanding of the role that they play in this relationship. The study was conducted using a correlational research design within a cognitive psychology framework. Using convenience sampling, a total of 172 university students completed cognitive tests (Raven's Progressive Matrices and the Letter-N-Back) and a learning style and strategy survey. Structural equation modelling (SEM), specifically path analysis in combination with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), was then used to test relationships between constructs. Results from the first model suggest that higher cognitive abilities and the use of rehearsal (the surface learning strategy) each play a unique role in predicting academic performance (÷2 (67, N = 172) = 145.31, p < .001). It, in additio, seems as if various components of learning style and strategy do not predict academic performance at all. A refined model of the relationship between constructs confirmed this (÷2 (64, N = 172) = 70.51, p < .05). Learning styles along with the deep and metacognitive learning strategies were found to have no meaningful relation with academic performance. Cognitive abilities and rehearsal however were key predictors of performance. Mediation analysis further identified rehearsal as a mediator in the relationship between cognitive ability and academic performance (÷2 (65, N = 172) = 74.10, p >.05). Results show that cognitive ability indirectly affects academic performance through the surface learning strategy rehearsal). Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Psychology / unrestricted

Bakgrund: Många personer med demenssjukdom riskerar att bli undernärda när de kognitiva förmågorna minskar. Förmågan att äta påverkas av minne, förmågan att utföra viljemässiga rörelser, koncentrationssvårigheter och tugg- och sväljsvårigheter. Allt detta tillsammans med svårigheter att kommunicera gör att måltidssituationen blir en utmaning. Detta har stor påverkan på både hälsa och välbefinnande. Syfte: Syftet var att skapa en översikt över måltidsmiljöns betydelse för att främja hälsan hos personer med demenssjukdom på äldreboende. Metod: En allmän litteraturöversikt, där elva kvalitativa och kvantitativa artiklar har analyserats. Resultat: I resultatet framkom tre teman. Under atmosfärens betydelse hade hemkänsla och traditioner en betydande roll. Avslappnad atmosfär utan störande moment såsom ljud från diskning och hög ljudvolym bidrog till en bättre måltidssituation.Måltidpresentationens betydelse visade att utseende, konsistens och doft på maten är viktiga aspekter att ta hänsyn till för att öka matintaget. Social betydelse ökade förmågan att äta självständigt hos personer med demenssjukdom då gemenskapen vid matborden gjorde att de speglade varandra, dock kunde sociala interaktioner även bidra till oro och förvirring. Slutsats: Individuell anpassning vid måltidssituationen genom hemlik atmosfär och individuella hjälpmedel ökar självständigheten och hälsan hos personer med demenssjukdom. Vårdpersonalens medvetenhet kring måltidsmiljöns betydelse för hälsan hos personer med demenssjukdom är betydelsefull. / Background: Many people with dementia have a risk becoming malnourished when their cognitive abilities decrease. The ability to eat is affected by memory, the ability to perform voluntary movements, concentrationdifficulties and chewing- and swallowingdifficulties. All this, together with difficulties in communicating, makes the mealsituation a challenge. This has a major impact on both health and well-being. Aim: The aim was to create an overview of the importance of the mealenvironment in promoting the health of people with dementia in nursing homes. Method: A general literature review, in which eleven qualitative and quantitative articles have been analyzed. Results: The results revealed three themes. Under the importance of the atmosphere, feeling at home and traditions played a significant role. Relaxed atmosphere without disturbing elements such as noise from washing dishes and high soundvolume contributed to a better mealsituation. The importance of the mealpresentation showed that the appearance, texture and aroma of the food are important aspects to take into account in order to increase foodintake. Social significance increased the ability to eat independently among people with dementia as the fellowship at the dining tables made them reflect each other, but social interactions could also contribute to anxiety and confusion. Conclusion: Individual adaptation to the mealsituation through a homely atmosphere and individual aids increases the independence and health of people with dementia. The carestaff's awareness of the importance of the mealenvironment for the health of people with dementia is significant.