1. Developmental differentiation and binding of mental processes with g through the life-spanAndreas Demetriou, George Spanoudis, Smaragda Kazi, Antigoni Mougi, Mislav Stjepan Žebec, Elena Kazali, Hudson Golino, Karin Bakračevič, Michael Shayer, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Integration/differentiation of mental processes is major mechanism of development. Developmental theories ascribe intellectual development to it. In psychometric theory, Spearman’s law of diminishing returns postulates that increasing g allows increasing differentiation of cognitive abilities, because increased mental power allows variable investment in domain-specific learning. Empirical evidence has been inconsistent so far, with some studies supporting and others contradicting this mechanism. This state of affairs is due to a developmental phenomenon: Both differentiation and strengthening of relations between specific processes and g may happen but these changes are phase-specific and ability-specific, depending upon the developmental priorities in the formation of g in each phase. We present eight studies covering the age span from 4 to 85 years in support of this phenomenon. Using new powerful modeling methods we showed that differentiation and binding of mental processes in g occurs in cycles. Specific processes intertwine with g at the beginning of cycles when they are integrated into it; when well established, these processes may vary with increasing g, reflecting its higher flexibility. Representational knowledge, inductive inference and awareness of it, and grasp of logical constraints framing inference are the major markers of g, first intertwining with in their respective cycles and differentiating later during the periods of 2–6, 7–11, and 11–20 years, respectively. The implications of these findings for an overarching cognitive developmental/differential theory of human mind are discussed.
Keywords: intelligence, cognitive development, individual differences, integration, differentiation, awareness
Published in DKUM: 21.06.2017; Views: 1094; Downloads: 389
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2. The impact of individual, social and cultural factors on the social entrepreneurial intentions of business studentsIrena Kedmenec, 2015, doctoral dissertation Abstract: Social entrepreneurship is a rather new concept in the scientific literature, with many definitions, due to numerous approaches to the phenomenon and its numerous manifestations. This thesis wants to contribute to the field by exploring the creation of social entrepreneurial intention. Building on the theory of entrepreneurial event, it was proposed that social entrepreneurial intention had three main antecedents: perceived desirability of social entrepreneurship, propensity to act and perceived feasibility of social entrepreneurship. Based on the literature, three sets of factors that facilitate the formation of social entrepreneurial intention were proposed: individual, social and cultural factors.
A questionnaire was created in order to collect the data. The questionnaire was completed by business students in five countries: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia.
Firstly, the regression model confirmed that the perceived desirability of social entrepreneurship and perceived feasibility of social entrepreneurship had a positive impact on social entrepreneurial intention. However, propensity to act was not a significant antecedent of social entrepreneurial intention.
Secondly, the impact of different factors on the perceived desirability and perceived feasibility of social entrepreneurship was explored. Three individual factors were proven to have a statistically significant positive impact on social entrepreneurship desirability: social entrepreneurship education, experience in prosocial behaviour, and empathy. None of the investigated social factors in the model had any statistically significant impact on social entrepreneurship desirability. Out of the analysed cultural factors, three of them had statistically significant impacts. These are power distance, masculinity and individualism.
In the next phase, it was examined which individual, social and cultural factors influence the perceived feasibility of social entrepreneurship. Of the analysed individual factors, experience in prosocial behaviour again proved to have statistically significant positive impact. Hardship in life and creativity also increase the perceived feasibility of social entrepreneurship. Having a social entrepreneur among family and/or friends made social entrepreneurship look more feasible to the respondents. Knowing the entrepreneurial environment also increased the confidence in one’s ability to pursue a career in social entrepreneurship. Out of our cultural dimensions, only the power distance had a small positive influence.
The research clearly establishes that an experience in prosocial behaviour strengthens social entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, social entrepreneurship education should include gaining some experience in volunteering, activism and making donations. One of the factors that influence social entrepreneurship feasibility is creativity. Educators should give their students various assignments that develop creative thinking. These assignments should include an analysis of social problems in the local community and the development of possible solutions by using the resources at hand. This research confirms that investing in entrepreneurship infrastructure is justifiable, since the students with greater understanding of its main components scored higher in social entrepreneurship feasibility. The impact would probably be even stronger if special funding schemes and incubators designed specifically for social entrepreneurs were developed. Students should also receive the message that social entrepreneurs’ efforts are appreciated in their society.
In future research, the model of social entrepreneurial intention should be upgraded with other possible factors of influence. Future studies should also explore the relationship between social entrepreneurial intention and behaviour by applying a longitudinal design.
Keywords: social entrepreneurial intention, social entrepreneurship, individual differences, social capital, culture
Published in DKUM: 16.06.2015; Views: 2567; Downloads: 323
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3. The issue of suggestibility in witness interviewing : graduation thesisTjaša Petek, 2014, undergraduate thesis Abstract: The interviewing of witnesses, victims and suspects normally forms an essential part of a police investigation into criminal activities. There are various factors that affect accuracy in the eyewitness testimonies, one of which are suggestive interviewing techniques (Williamson, 2007).
Suggestibility is a personality trait which is often referred to as a type of psychological vulnerability. Suggestibility can challenge the interviewee’s abilities to cope with the demands of the interview as well as the demands of following court procedures. It is due to these characteristics that suggestibility has an important impact on the outcome of the interview (Gudjonsson, 2010).
As shown through the work of Ridley and Gudjonsson (2013), there are several varieties of suggestibility and the effects of suggestive influence should be taken extremely seriously during investigations.
Our memories can be influenced and distorted in various ways because they are vulnerable and susceptible to decay, inner biases, social demands and expectations, leading questions, misleading information, conformity and mental disability. To support this, Bruck and Melnyk (2004) indicate that individual differences in the susceptibility to suggestibility make it harder to identify exactly where and when the effects of suggestibility are likely to manifest themselves. Reliable information about the types of people who are most likely to be tainted by suggestive interviewing has not been established yet and remains a subject for further research.
Keywords: suggestibility, witness interviews, criminal investigation, individual differences
Published in DKUM: 06.11.2014; Views: 1757; Downloads: 143
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