DOCSLIB.ORG

Why It's As Much About Psychology (And Ballot Design) As Security

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Why It's As Much About Psychology (And Ballot Design) As Security PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE THE SURPRISING SOCIAL REMEMBERING APS PAST IN THE ERA OF INFECTIOUS UPSIDES OF CONSTANT PRESIDENT GORDON BOWER DISEASE CONNECTIVITY (1932–2020) ObserverVOL. 33, NO. 8 OCTOBER 2020 Why it’s as Plus: How an act as simple much about as redesigning psychology municipal forms (and ballot can make government design) more equitable as security a publication of Observer ISSN: 1050-4672 Published 10 times per year by the Association for Psychological Science, the © 2020 Association for Psychological Science Federal ID Number: 73-1345573 Observer educates and informs the Association on matters affecting the research, All rights reserved. academic, and applied disciplines of psychology; promotes the scientific values of PUBLISHER Aime M. Ballard-Wood APS Members; reports and comments on issues of international interest to the EDITOR Leah Thayer DESIGN AND PRODUCTION EDITOR Raquel Herrera Fernandes psychological scientist community; and provides a vehicle for the dissemination ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Kim Armstrong of information on APS. SENIOR SCIENCE WRITER Ludmila Nunes SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Candy Cruz REPRINT PERMISSION: Photocopying OBSERVER FORUM:The Observer Observer content for classroom use is welcomes your comments and feedback. APS Board of Directors permitted at no charge. Students may not For consideration in the Observer Forum, PRESIDENT be charged more than the actual cost of letters should be sent to apsobserver@ Shinobu Kitayama – University of Michigan producing the photocopy. Source citation psychologicalscience.org. Unless oth- PRESIDENT-ELECT must indicate that the materials are from the erwise indicated, all correspondence Jennifer L. Eberhardt – Stanford University Observer, a publication of the Association for received will be considered for publica- IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Psychological Science. tion. The Observer does not guarantee Lisa Feldman Barrett – Northeastern University publication and reserves the right to edit APS does not assist in copyright requests TREASURER all content for length and style. involving artwork obtained from a third Richard B. Ivry – University of California, Berkeley party. For all other permissions inquiries, SECRETARY SUBMISSIONS: The Observer accepts including requests to republish material original manuscripts, announcements, and Natalie Sebanz – Central European University in another work, please contact Copyright EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (EX OFFICIO) calendar items for publication; manuscripts Clearance Center at 222 Rosewood Drive, must be original and should not have been Aime M. Ballard-Wood – Association for Psychological Science Danvers, MA 01983, call +1 978.750.8400, MEMBERS-AT-LARGE published or scheduled to be published or visit www.copyright.com. Maryanne Garry – The University of Waikato, New Zealand elsewhere. The Observer editorial calendar Michele J. Gelfand – University of Maryland is at the discretion of the editor, and the ADVERTISING: The Observer accepts Ann M. Kring – University of California, Berkeley Observer does not guarantee publication. employment and commercial advertising. Vonnie C. McLoyd – University of Michigan Submissions should be sent via email to Information, rates, and calendar are available Seth Pollak – University of Wisconsin–Madison [email protected]. Janet F. Werker – University of British Columbia by calling +1 202.293.9300 or going online The Observer reserves the right to edit all to www.psychologicalscience.org/advertise. content for length and style. FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Alan G. Kraut – Association for Psychological Science PAST PRESIDENTS Send address changes to: Barbara Tversky 2018-2019 Henry L. Roediger, III 2003-2004 Association for Psychological Science Suparna Rajaram 2017-2018 Susan T. Fiske 2002-2003 1800 Massachusetts Ave, NW Suite 402 . Washington, DC 20036-1218 USA Susan Goldin-Meadow 2016-2017 John Darley 2001-2002 [email protected] C. Randy Gallistel 2015-2016 Robert A. Bjork 2000-2001 Nancy Eisenberg 2014-2015 Elizabeth D. Capaldi 1999-2000 www.psychologicalscience.org/members (click "Update Member Profile") Elizabeth A. Phelps 2013-2014 Elizabeth Loftus 1998-1999 Joseph E. Steinmetz 2012-2013 Kay Deaux 1997-1998 Douglas L. Medin 2011-2012 Sandra Scarr 1996-1997 Mahzarin R. Banaji 2010-2011 Richard F. Thompson 1995-1996 Linda Bartoshuk 2009-2010 Marilynn B. Brewer 1993-1995 Walter Mischel 2008-2009 Gordon H. Bower 1991-1993 John T. Cacioppo 2007-2008 James L. McGaugh 1989-1991 Morton Ann Gernsbacher 2006-2007 Janet T. Spence 1988-1989 Michael S. Gazzaniga 2005-2006 Charles A. Kiesler 1988 Robert W. Levenson 2004-2005 APS STAFF Acting Executive Director Aime M. Ballard-Wood Senior Director of Communications Leah Thayer Director of Media Relations & Public Information Charles Blue Design & Production Editor Raquel Herrera Fernandes Assistant Managing Editor Kim Armstrong Senior Science Writer Ludmila Nunes Director of Government Relations Andy DeSoto Visiting Behavioral Insights Scholar Heather Barry Kappes Government Relations Associate Kekoa Erber Managing Editor, Journals Brian P. Winters Managing Editor, Journals Rodney Atkins Director, Publications Amy Drew Peer Review Coordinator Ami Getu More than 3,000 psychological scientists have Peer Review Manager Becca White Senior Director of Meetings Nathalie L. Rothert Senior Manager, Meetings Elaine V. Watson joined the APS Wikipedia Initiative (APSWI). Senior Manager, Meetings Michelle Johnfinn Project Manager, Meetings Emily Proppe Project Manager, Meetings K. Ashley Phayme Project Manager, Meetings Nicholas Antunes Senior Director of Membership & Marketing Jill Treby Senior Manager, Marketing Lucy Hyde Get Started With Your Class Senior Graphic Designer Candy Cruz Assistant Director, Data Analysis & AMS Administration Lisa Lockman www.psychologicalscience.org/apswi Membership Assistant Dominique Matthews Digital Marketing Coordinator Fiona Maylath-Bryant Senior Manager, Internal Affairs Sarah L. Schroeder Senior Director of Digital & Technical Operations Asa Boy Finance & Administration Coordinator Marilyn Talley Office Coordinator Nelson Ruble Association for Psychological Science +1 202.293.9300; Fax: +1 202.293.9350 [email protected] psychologicalscience.org/observer IN THIS ISSUE Observer OCTOBER 2020 | VOLUME 33, NUMBER 8 26 Making Votes Count: 34 Addressing Racial Why It’s as Much About Equity Through Human- Psychology (and Ballot Centered Design Design) as Security An effort underway by the government of the District of Columbia demonstrates Poorly designed ballots can prevent how acts as simple as redesigning voters from understanding, seeing, using, municipal forms can make government and processing information correctly, more equitable for all residents. From which can lead to voting failures that driver's license applications to school alter the outcome of elections. Applied enrollments, the paperwork may be psychologists and human factors universal, but the experience and engineers can make a real difference in outcomes are not. ensuring that ballots accurately capture voter intent. 5 Presidential Column 36 Technology in Context: Psychological Science The Surprising Social in the Era of Infectious Upsides of Constant Disease Connectivity Amid the continuing spread of The very same technologies that make COVID-19, APS President Shinobu social distancing bearable in the age of Kitayama argues that three collective- COVID-19 have also been cited among level dynamics—risk assessment, selfish leading causes of social isolation and versus prosocial motivations, and mental health issues. Psychological interpersonal relationships—powerfully research suggests a more nuanced reality. influence the spread of the virus and other infectious diseases. He calls for basic research anchored in the urgent practical issues of society. IN THIS ISSUE OCTOBER 2020 42 Remembering APS Past President Gordon Bower “ Child marriage is really a The world-renowned scientist and complex intersection of recipient of the United States’s highest scientific recognitions was a longtime sociocultural layers.... There is a psychology professor at Stanford huge component of foundational University. Fifteen colleagues and friends reflect on his influence on them and his literacy and socioemotional legacy’s impact on the field. "He was a great mentor ... a model of honesty, care, skills. These are the beliefs, compassion, and giving," said one. attitudes, or behaviors that allow everyone—children, youth, 48 Teaching Current Directions in adults—to manage themselves Psychological Science and to manage relationships with Learning the Intricacies others, to make responsible of Intolerance By C. Nathan DeWall decisions. These skills have been tied to academic outcomes, Digital Emotion and also with long-term life Regulation: Using outcomes. Devices to Feel Different By Beth Morling —Ananya Tiwari,” Careers Up Close, Page 52 52 Careers Up Close Ananya Tiwari on How Education Can Deter Departments Early Marriage in India This PhD student studying educational psychology cofounded and runs an international nonprofit that works to Members in the Media 10 enhance the educational outcomes of adolescent girls in India who may Observer Forum 11 be prone to early marriage. Research Briefs 12 14 61 Back Page Observations Driven From Funding & Policy 25 Distractions Student Notebook 55 Lotte van Dillen, of Leiden University, studies the role of affect in consumption, Employment Network 57 financial decision-making, and judgment,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Developments Spring a Newsletter of the Developmental Psychology Area 2016
    Developments Spring A Newsletter of the Developmental Psychology Area 2016 forward to mentoring and learning Message from a new set of trainees in the Inside years ahead. I want to take this opportunity to This Issue from the highlight and celebrate the many ac- complishments of our students and Get to know our new faculty. Four students received PhDs students and post- Chair in the area this past year. They are docs BY CHRISTOPHER Patty Kuo, Ninive Sanchez (joint Professional and per- MONK with Social Work), Wylie Wan, and sonal milestones Amber Williams. In addition, stu- It has been an action- dents received many prestigious Conference Spotlight filled year for the Devel- awards. Maria Arredondo was on SRA opmental Area. In September 2015, we were awarded the Rackham Predoctoral Fellow- joined by an outstanding group of first year UM Living Lab ship, the Department of Psychology Disser- students, Josefina Banales, Kevin Constante tation/Thesis Grant and the Hagen- Toala, Vaness Cox, Petal Grower, Danielle La- Stevenson Dissertation Award –which is botka, Jazmine Powell, and Sarah Stilwell, funded by a generous gift from, Robert Kail, Newsletter who are all featured in this issue of the news- Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychol- letter. Also, I am pleased to welcome our new Committee ogy at Purdue University and a graduate of group of first-year students Valerie Freund, our program. Tissyana Camacho received Leigh Gayle, Change Kwesele (joint with So- the ISR Kahn Dissertation fellowship and the Editor: cial Work), Lolita Moss (joint with Social Patricia Gurin Award. In addition, Soraya Danielle Labotka Work) and Nicholas Waters.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Behavior in the Time of COVID-19 "Behavior Will Determine the Actual Public Health Risk in the End
    2020 APS JANET TAYLOR PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH... PRODUCTIVITY AMID SPENCE AWARDS ON MARS A PANDEMIC ObserverVOL.VOL. 33,33, NONO.. 25 FEBRUARYMAY/JUNE 2020 Human Behavior in the Time of COVID-19 "Behavior will determine the actual public health risk in the end. If we’re able to understand why behaviors are risky, and therefore follow appropriate guidelines, we will have a far better outcome than if we don’t." —Valerie Reyna, Cornell University Psychological scientists speak See page 34. a publication of psychologicalscience.org/observer Observer ISSN: 1050-4672 Published 10 times per year by the Association for Psychological Science, the © 2020 Association for Psychological Science Federal ID Number: 73-1345573 Observer educates and informs the Association on matters affecting the research, All rights reserved. academic, and applied disciplines of psychology; promotes the scientific values of PUBLISHER Sarah Brookhart APS Members; reports and comments on issues of international interest to the EDITOR Leah Thayer DESIGN AND PRODUCTION EDITOR Raquel Herrera Fernandes psychological scientist community; and provides a vehicle for the dissemination EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Kim Armstrong of information on APS. SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Candy Cruz REPRINT PERMISSION: Photo copying OBSERVER FORUM:The Observer Observer content for classroom use is welcomes your comments and feedback. APS Board of Directors permitted at no charge. Students may not For consideration in the Observer Forum, PRESIDENT be charged more than the actual cost of letters should be sent to apsobserver@ Lisa Feldman Barrett – Northeastern University producing the photocopy. Source citation psychologicalscience.org. Unless oth- PRESIDENT-ELECT must indicate that the materials are from the erwise indicated, all correspondence Shinobu Kitayama – University of Michigan Observer, a publication of the Association for received will be considered for publica- IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Psychological Science.
    [Show full text]
  • Developments Newsletter of the Society for Research in Child Development
    developments Newsletter of the Society for Research in Child Development Volume 58, Number 1 January 2015 Notes from the President Inviting your Participation in SRCD Events and in Planning for SRCD’s Future by Lynn S. Liben, President I imagine that you share my excitement in looking forward to the outstanding program that Catherine Tamis-LeMonda and Jeffrey Lockman have assembled as Co-Chairs of the 2015 SRCD Biennial Meeting. I know that many of you have already registered and have begun making travel arrangements, and, of course, are working on presentations, mak- ing plans to spend time with otherwise dispersed colleagues and friends, and perhaps picking out landmarks to visit while in Philadelphia. I am using this column to alert you to a few events or initiatives – ranging from the whimsical to the weighty – that need your attention well before you embark on your trip. First, the whimsical. In recognition of developmentalists’ shared belief in the impor- tance of thinking about change over time, this Biennial’s Welcome Reception will have a 1960s theme (plus or minus a decade or two), complete with dancing. Please think about packing your old (or retro) bell bottoms, beads, wide ties, or (if you go back that far) poodle skirts. (The reception will be held on Thursday, March 19, 5:45pm-7:15pm in the Grand Hall of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.) Also, while you are in planning mode, we have scheduled as the fi rst event an Opening Breakfast Reception followed by the Presidential Address. What you lose in sleep you gain in bagels.
    [Show full text]
  • Sgvita 12.24.20
    S. A. Gelman – p. 1 November 2020 SUSAN A. GELMAN Department of Psychology 1256 Ferdon Rd. 530 Church Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 The University of Michigan (734) 994-3960 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043 (734) 764-0268 E-mail address: [email protected] Education 1984 Ph.D., Psychology, with a Ph.D. minor in Linguistics, Stanford University 1980 B.A., Psychology and Classical Greek, Oberlin College 1978 (spring) Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome Professional Experience 2014-present Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2013-present Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2013-2014 Interim Dean, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2012-2013 Heinz Werner Collegiate Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2004-2007 Associate Dean for Social Sciences, College of LSA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1999-2012 Frederick G. L. Huetwell Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1991-2014 Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1989-1991 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 1984-1989 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Honors and Awards 2021 Henry Russel Lecturer, University of Michigan 2020 William James Fellow Award, Association for Psychological Science 2017 Graduate Mentoring Award, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan 2016 G. Stanley Hall Award, Division 7, American Psychological Association 2013 Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2013 Elected to Phi Kappa Phi 2012 Elected to the National Academy of Sciences 2012 Developmental Psychology Mentor Award, Division 7, American Psychological Association 2011 Elected Fellow, American Psychological Association 2010 Elected Fellow, Cognitive Science Society 2008 Elected Fellow, American Academy of Arts & Sciences 2008 Whitney J.
    [Show full text]
  • Generic Language in Parent-Child Conversations
    UC Irvine UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title Generic Language in Parent-Child Conversations Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26x2f4kw Journal Language Learning and Development, in press Authors Gelman, Susan A. Goetz, Peggy J Sarnecka, Barbara W et al. Publication Date 2007 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Generics in Parent-Child Conversations - p. 1 Running Head: GENERICS NOTE: THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE JOURNAL “LANGUAGE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT” AND IS COPYRIGHTED BY LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOCIATES, INC. PUBLISHERS (LEA) PLEASE CONTACT LEA FOR PERMISSION TO REPRINT OR USE THE ARTICLE IN ANY FORM. Generic Language in Parent-Child Conversations Susan A. Gelman University of Michigan Peggy J. Goetz Calvin College Barbara W. Sarnecka University of California – Irvine Jonathan Flukes University of Michigan Address for correspondence: Dr. Susan Gelman, University of Michigan, 530 Church St., Department of Psychology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1043; e-mail: [email protected]. Date: 3/9/2007 Generics in Parent-Child Conversations - p. 2 Abstract Generic knowledge concerns kinds of things (e.g., birds fly; a chair is for sitting; gold is a metal). Past research demonstrated that children spontaneously develop generic knowledge by preschool age. The present study examines when and how children learn to use the multiple devices provided by their language to express generic knowledge. We hypothesize that children assume, in the absence of specifying information or context, that nouns refer to generic kinds, as a default. Thus, we predict that (a) Children should talk about kinds from an early age.
    [Show full text]
  • Continuity and the Persistence of Objects: When the Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts
    COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 37, 28±59 (1998) ARTICLE NO. CG980688 Continuity and the Persistence of Objects: When the Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts D. Geoffrey Hall University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada In three experiments, a total of 480 participants heard a version of the story of the ship of Theseus (Hobbes, 1672/1913), in which a novel object, labeled with a possessive noun phrase, underwent a transformation in which its parts were replaced one at a time. Participants then had to decide which of two objects carried the same possessive noun phrase as the original: the one made entirely of new parts (that could be inferred to be continuous with the original) or one reassembled from the original parts (that could not be inferred to be continuous with the original). Partici- pants often selected the object made of new parts, despite the radical transformation. However, the tendency to do so was signi®cantly stronger (1) if the object was described as an animal than if it was described as an artifact, (2) if the animal's transformation lacked a human cause than if it possessed one, and (3) if the selection was made by adults or 7-year-olds than if it was made by 5-year-olds. The ®ndings suggest that knowledge about speci®c kinds of objects and their canonical transfor- mations exerts an increasingly powerful effect, over the course of development, upon people's tendency to rely on continuity as a criterion for attributing persistence to objects that undergo change. 1998 Academic Press This research was supported by an operating grant from the NSERC of Canada and by funds from the MRC Cognitive Development Unit, London, England.
    [Show full text]
  • Kazdin Heads New APS Journal: Clinical Psychological Science Observervol
    Kazdin Heads New APS Journal: Clinical Psychological Science ObserverVol. 25, No. 3 March 2012 ARCH ETHODS MADNESS a publication of www.psychologicalscience.org/observer 2012 APS CONVENTION CROSS-CUTTING THEME PROGRAMS Biological Beings in Social Context Joan Y. Chiao Elissa Epel Christine Dunkel Schetter Northwestern University University of California, San Francisco University of California, Los Angeles Annette Karmiloff-Smith Richard Lerner, Discussant Birkbeck College, United Kingdom Tufts University Disaster, Response, and Recovery George A. Bonanno Silvia H. Koller Edna B. Foa Columbia University Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, Brazil University of Pennsylvania Dirk Helbing Lisa M. Shin Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich Tufts University Music, Mind, and Brain Daniel J. Levitin Aniruddh D. Patel McGill University, Canada The Neurosciences Institute Carol L. Krumhansl Victor Wooten, Discussant Cornell University Five-Time Grammy Award Winner and Bassist for Béla Fleck & The Flecktones Including a special concert with Dale Boyle Daniel J. and featuring Kevin Feyen Levitin Victor Wooten Robert W. Bianca Levy Levenson BIGGESTCONVENTIONEVER! EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION Register and save now through MARCH 31, 2012 www.psychologicalscience.org/convention/registration www.psychologicalscience.org/convention ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE Call for Fellows Nominations Deadline: April 1, 2012 for Spring Review Fellow status is awarded to APS Members who have made sustained outstanding contributions to the science of psychology in the areas of research, teaching, service, and/or application. Fellow status is typically awarded for one’s scientific contributions. However, it may also be awarded for exceptional contributions to the field through the development of research opportunities and settings. Candidates will be considered after 10 years of postdoctoral contribution.
    [Show full text]
  • The Functional Organization of Linguistic Competition and Attentional
    A Bilingual Advantage? The Functional Organization of Linguistic Competition and Attentional Networks in the Bilingual Developing Brain by Maria Mercedes Arredondo A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology) in the University of Michigan 2017 Doctoral Committee: Assistant Professor Ioulia Kovelman, Co-Chair Professor Susan A. Gelman, Co-Chair Associate Professor Teresa Satterfield Associate Professor Daniel H. Weissman Maria Mercedes Arredondo [email protected] ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8343-299X © Maria M. Arredondo To my parents, whose love encouraged my curiosity. Para mis padres, cuyo amor estimuló mi curiosidad. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere and deepest gratitude to my primary advisor, Dr. Ioulia Kovelman, for her continuous support, patience, care, motivation, immense knowledge, and for providing me with an excellent atmosphere for doing research. None of this work would have been possible without her guidance and persistent help. Thank you for allowing me to grow into my own as a research scientist, and for all your personal and professional advice throughout the years! I would also like to thank my secondary advisor, Dr. Susan Gelman, whose mentorship, in research waters that were not her own, persisted through in her adventurous spirit for research and guided me to develop my own path. A deep thanks to Dr. Teresa Satterfield for her limitless words of wisdom and opportunities to be part of the Latino community in Ann Arbor; her belief in me pushed me past my insecurities and allowed me to better represent my community. Many thanks to Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity in the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
    Diversity in the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Abstract. This white paper focuses on issues of diversity in a broad sense and offers recommendations aimed at increasing diversity in SBE research. Our primary focus is on the benefits of multiple perspectives and new forms of research partnerships and networks. That is, our approach to diversity is driven not on considerations of fairness or equity alone, but rather by the argument that the quality and relevance of SBE research itself will benefit from diversity. We argue for building on the dramatic progress made in the SBE sciences in recent decades by thoughtfully and strategically increasing the range of our samples, so that boundary conditions on findings can be established, cultural processes can be better understood and application to real world problems can be put on a stronger foundation. We also call for increasing the diversity of the SBE scientists so that the design, methods, materials, theoretical questions and results benefit from multiple perspectives. Accomplishing these goals will require widespread institutional efforts across many of the experimental branches of the social, behavioral and economic sciences. Authors: Douglas Medin, Psychology and School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern U. (corresponding author) Scott Atran, Anthropology, University of Michigan Megan Bang, TERC; American Indian Center of Chicago Will Bennis, Psychology, Northwestern University Steven Heine, Psychology, University of British Columbia Joe Henrich, Psychology and Economics, University of British Columbia Ara Norenzayan, Psychology, University of British Columbia Norbert Ross, Anthropology, Vanderbilt University Sara Unsworth, Psychology, University of California, San Diego Sandra Waxman, Psychology, Northwestern University Co-Signers: Kathryn Anderson-Levitt, Anthropology, University of Michigan, Dearborn Robert Axelrod, School of Public Policy, University of Michigan Michael Baran, Harvard University H.
    [Show full text]
  • Adjectives (Acquisition Of) Adjectives Are Words That Denote Properties Of
    Adjectives (Acquisition of) Adjectives are words that denote properties of objects, such as size (big), shape (round), color (red), texture (rough), material (wooden), state (sleeping), aesthetic qualities (beautiful), among many others. As a grammatical category in English, adjectives modify nouns, appearing in either prenominal position (before the noun, such as What an adorable baby!) or in predicative position, often after a copular verb (as in, Your baby is adorable!). Their surface-level distribution is linked to their position in the syntactic structure and their semantic representation, and therefore distinguishes them from quantificational terms such as some and every and number words such as two, which have a partially overlapping distribution. Adjectives are among the first words produced by young children. Moreover, a range of adjectives appears frequently in child-directed speech, providing children with information about semantic differences within the category of adjectives. For example, gradable adjectives such as big are likely to appear in comparative constructions (X is bigger than Y) and are modified by adverbs such as very, indicating that size depends on a standard of comparison. Although number words and quantifiers also appear prenominally, neither can appear with the comparative morpheme –er or be preceded by the intensifier very. By contrast, these words can appear in partitive constructions (X of the Y), whereas adjectives cannot. Kristen Syrett and colleagues have shown that preschoolers are able recruit these distributional characteristics when learning new words. Even some gradable adjectives differ with respect to the adverbs allowed to modify them, as well as inferences based on their appearance in a comparative construction.
    [Show full text]
  • Developmental Newsletter 2020
    April 26, 2020 DEVELOPMENTS A NEWSLETTER OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AREA Developmental Area, Fall 2019 I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E Page 2 Page 16 Message from the Donor Impact & Warm Chair Congratulations Page 4 Page 17 Meet the New Faculty, Special Report: MSPICED Students, & Postdoc Page 11 Page 20 Professional & Special Report: Recent Personal Milestones book publications Developmental Psychology Area Newsletter 1 April 26, 2020 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Dear Friends, What a challenging and unprecedented time this is. As I write this letter, rates of COVID-19 are climbing, the State of Michigan is under a stay-at-home executive order from the governor, and outside the home we're wearing face masks while maintaining 6- foot social distances. An academic year that started off with great joy, energy, and excitement is coming to an end in ways that we never anticipated. Classes have been online since March 16th, labs have been closed or moved online, talks and brown bags have been postponed or canceled, prelims have been pushed back, university graduation has been postponed, and we communicate remotely via Zoom, BlueJeans, email, and old-fashioned phone calls. Our third biennial Arnold Sameroff Lecture in Developmental Theory--anticipated as the event of our area--unfortunately had “Amidst these to be postponed due to the difficulties, I am coronavirus. Dr. Megan Gunnar of the University of Prof. Susan Gelman profoundly Minnesota Institute of Child grateful for the Development was scheduled to support and Developmental Area Chair present
    [Show full text]
  • 2009 Conceptual Development Lab Newsletter
    Concepts and Theories in Human Development University of Michigan Dear Parents, We are writing to describe ongoing research projects at the Concepts and Theories in Human Development lab at the University of Michigan. In our studies, we examine children’s early language and concepts. Childhood is a period of remarkable learning and growth, and the ages from toddlerhood through early elementary school involve particularly exciting changes, for children and their families! During this period of development, children are learning words, organizing experiences into categories, and forming intuitive “theories” about the world around them. If you have previously participated in our research, we are very grateful for your help! Thanks to your participation, we are constantly making new discoveries about the nature of children’s thinking. We also wish to thank the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Michigan, which help support this work. This newsletter describes some of the studies we are currently working on or recently completed. We hope that you and your child enjoy your visit(s) to our lab! Susan A. Gelman Frederick G. L. Huetwell Professor of Psychology ****************************************************************************** Pictures Versus Objects (Liza Ware, Susan Gelman, Felicia Kleinberg) When parents and children spend time together, two of the most popular activities include looking at pictures (in books and photo albums) and playing with toys. Both
    [Show full text]