Trends in anecdotal fox sightings in Tasmania accounted for by psychological factors

There has been little evaluation of anecdotal sightings as a means to confirm new incursions of invasive species. This paper explores the potential for equivocal information communicated by the media to account for patterns of anecdotal reports. In 2001, it was widely reported that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) had been deliberately released in the island state of Tasmania (Australia), although this claim was later revealed to be baseless. Regardless, by 2013 a total of 3153 anecdotal fox sightings had been reported by members of the public, which implied their distribution was wide. For each month in 2001–2003, we defined a monthly media index (MMI) of fox‐related media coverage, an index of their relative seasonal abundance (abundance), and a factor denoting claims of fox evidence (claimed evidence) regardless of its evidentiary quality. We fitted a generalized linear model with Poisson error for monthly totals of anecdotal sightings with factors of year and claimed evidence and covariates of MMI, abundance, and hours of darkness. The collective effect of psychological factors (MMI, claimed evidence, and year) relative to biophysical factors (photoperiod and abundance) was highly significant (χ² = 122.1, df = 6, p < 0.0001), whereas anticipated changes in abundance had no significant influence on reported sightings (p = 0.15). An annual index of fox media from 2001 to 2010 was strongly associated with the yearly tally of anecdotal sightings (p = 0.018). The odds ratio of sightings ranked as reliable by the fox eradication program in any year decreased exponentially at a rate of 0.00643 as the total number of sightings increased (p < 0.0001) and was indicative of an observer‐expectancy bias. Our results suggest anecdotal sightings are highly susceptible to cognitive biases and when used to qualify and quantify species presence can contribute to flawed risk assessments.     

复杂人机系统班组人误模型与量化分析

讨论一个班组人员行为模型,即包括:任务模型、事件模型、班组模型和人-机交互模型4个模块,并用其模拟和分析事故状态下的运行班组对异常事故的响应过程;利用班组认知过程流程图模型表征事件发展过程中班组成员对事故的征兆识别、决策、计划和行动执行的响应过程;采用CREAM的量化分析技术,对核电站的蒸汽发生器管道破管事故的班组认知失误事件进行量化分析。     

驾驶员自身因素对限速标志识别能力的影响分析

以研究城市道路限速标志下驾驶行为的变化为主要目的,基于认知心理学知识,采用实地观测和问卷调查等手段,研究了驾驶员经过限速标志时的心理及反应过程。依据认知工效学中的注意和记忆等机制对驾驶员的限速标志认知过程进行了解析;从驾驶员自身角度分析了影响驾驶员识别限速标志的主要因素;利用因子分析方法对调查数据和调查项目进行统计分析;最终提取了影响驾驶员识别限速标志的6个自身因素为主因子,作为限速标志对驾驶行为影响较大的因素。该研究结果可为城市道路限速标志的设计与设置提供科学依据。     

基于人的认知可靠性(HCR)模型的人因操作失误研究

以人的认知可靠性(HCR)模型为指导,选择包含技能型、规则型和知识型3种认知类型,结合大连化工集团公司影响运行安全的17个异常事件,对54名操纵员的时间响应状况和允许操作时间进行录像、记录与分析;依据IAEA提供的指标[1],找出操纵员在生产过程中可能出现的操作失误类别及其可能造成的危害;基于3参数威布尔模型推导出操纵员操作响应失误概率模型,并从人机工程学角度提出了具体预防事故的安全对策措施。结果表明,基于HCR模型的大化集团公司操纵员的人因操作失误模型实用、有效,为实现操作者与机器系统相协调的目标、正确评估操作着实时操作的响应时间提供了重要参考依据。     

Clarifying values,risk perceptions,and attitudes to resolve or avoid social conflicts in invasive species management

Decision makers and researchers recognize the need to effectively confront the social dimensions and conflicts inherent to invasive species research and management. Yet, despite numerous contentious situations that have arisen, no systematic evaluation of the literature has examined the commonalities in the patterns and types of these emergent social issues. Using social and ecological keywords, we reviewed trends in the social dimensions of invasive species research and management and the sources and potential solutions to problems and conflicts that arise around invasive species. We integrated components of cognitive hierarchy theory and risk perceptions theory to provide a conceptual framework to identify, distinguish, and provide understanding of the driving factors underlying disputes associated with invasive species. In the ISI Web of Science database, we found 15,915 peer‐reviewed publications on biological invasions, 124 of which included social dimensions of this phenomenon. Of these 124, 28 studies described specific contentious situations. Social approaches to biological invasions have emerged largely in the last decade and have focused on both environmental social sciences and resource management. Despite being distributed in a range of journals, these 124 articles were concentrated mostly in ecology and conservation‐oriented outlets. We found that conflicts surrounding invasive species arose based largely on differences in value systems and to a lesser extent stakeholder and decision maker's risk perceptions. To confront or avoid such situations, we suggest integrating the plurality of environmental values into invasive species research and management via structured decision making techniques, which enhance effective risk communication that promotes trust and confidence between stakeholders and decision makers. Clarificar los Valores, Percepciones de Riesgo y Actitudes para Resolver o Evitar Conflictos Sociales en el Manejo de Especies Invasoras     

Sea otters,social justice,and ecosystem‐service perceptions in Clayoquot Sound,Canada

We sought to take a first step toward better integration of social concerns into empirical ecosystem service (ES) work. We did this by adapting cognitive anthropological techniques to study the Clayoquot Sound social‐ecological system on the Pacific coast of Canada's Vancouver Island. We used freelisting and ranking exercises to elicit how locals perceive ESs and to determine locals’ preferred food species. We analyzed these data with the freelist‐analysis software package ANTHROPAC. We considered the results in light of an ongoing trophic cascade caused by the government reintroduction of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) and their spread along the island's Pacific coast. We interviewed 67 local residents (n = 29 females, n = 38 males; n = 26 self‐identified First Nation individuals, and n = 41 non‐First Nation individuals) and 4 government managers responsible for conservation policy in the region. We found that the mental categories participants—including trained ecologists—used to think about ESs, did not match the standard academic ES typology. With reference to the latest ecological model projections for the region, we found that First Nations individuals and women were most likely to perceive the most immediate ES losses from the trophic cascade, with the most certainty. The inverse was found for men and non‐First Nations individuals, generally. This suggests that 2 historically disadvantaged groups (i.e., First Nations and women) are poised to experience the immediate impacts of the government‐initiated trophic cascade as yet another social injustice in a long line of perceived inequities. Left unaddressed, this could complicate efforts at multistakeholder ecosystem management in the region.     

Experiencing Biodiversity as a Bridge over the Science–Society Communication Gap

Drawing on the idea that biodiversity is simply the diversity of living things, and that everyone knows what diversity and living things mean, most conservation professionals eschew the need to explain the many complex ways in which biodiversity is understood in science. On many biodiversity‐related issues, this lack of clarity leads to a communication gap between science and the general public, including decision makers who must design and implement biodiversity policies. Closing this communication gap is pivotal to the ability of science to inform sound environmental decision making. To address this communication gap, we propose a surrogate of biodiversity for communication purposes that captures the scientific definition of biodiversity yet can be understood by nonscientists; that is, biodiversity as a learning experience. The prerequisites of this or any other biodiversity communication surrogate are that it should have transdisciplinary relevance; not be measurable; be accessible to a wide audience; be usable to translate biodiversity issues; and understandably encompass biodiversity concepts. Biodiversity as a learning experience satisfies these prerequisites and is philosophically robust. More importantly, it can effectively contribute to closing the communication gap between biodiversity science and society at large. Experimentando la Biodiversidad como un Puente sobre el Vacío entre la Comunicación Ciencia‐Sociedad     

空气污染对中老年人认知能力的影响

利用中国健康与养老追踪调查(CHARLS)数据,采用两阶段最小二乘法评估了空气污染对我国中老年人认知能力的影响及其传导路径,并进一步分析了不同类型污染物的影响差异性.研究发现:空气污染与中老年人的认知能力显著负相关,且通过一系列稳健性检验表明研究结果具有稳健性;机制分析与异质性分析显示,空气污染通过影响个人的情绪和状态、运动、社交活动、健康和记忆力来间接影响其认知能力,且空气污染对年长者、女性、有不良健康行为以及社会经济地位较低人群的认知能力负面影响更大;进一步研究发现,PM_2.5、PM₁₀、SO₂、CO具有显著的认知功能折旧效应.本文聚焦于我国空气污染和人口老龄化问题,识别了空气污染对我国居民认知能力的潜在健康影响,这在一定程度上为国家健康环境治理和实现健康老龄化提供了现实依据和政策借鉴.     

Learning to Drive: Learners’ Self-Reported Cognitive Failure Level Predicts Driving Instructor’s Observation Rating of Driving Performance

Objectives. Evidence increases that cognitive failure may be used to screen for drivers at risk. Until now, most studies have relied on driving learners. This exploratory pilot study examines self-report of cognitive failure in driving beginners and error during real driving as observed by driving instructors. Methods. Forty-two driving learners of 14 driving instructors filled out a work-related cognitive failure questionnaire. Driving instructors observed driving errors during the next driving lesson. In multiple linear regression analysis, driving errors were regressed on cognitive failure with the number of driving lessons as an estimator of driving experience controlled. Results. Higher cognitive failure predicted more driving errors(p < .01) when age, gender and driving experience were controlled in analysis. Conclusions. Cognitive failure was significantly associated with observed driving errors. Systematic research on cognitive failure in driving beginners is recommended.     

商场工作人员自我效能感与火灾时行为的结构方程模型分析*

为充分发挥商场工作人员在火灾风险下的疏导作用,提高疏散效率。引入火灾安全意识、行为选择动机、火灾认知能力为中介变量,研究商场工作人员自我效能感与火灾时的有利行为、不利行为之间的关系,构建结构方程模型;对西安市某大型商场212名工作人员进行问卷调查,运用Amos24.0软件进行分析。研究结果表明:自我效能感主要通过火灾安全意识、行为选择动机、火灾认知能力对商场工作人员发生火灾时的行为产生影响,这3个中介变量对商场工作人员发生火灾时的有利行为呈显著正相关,对不利行为呈显著负相关;火灾认知能力对商场工作人员发生火灾时的有利行为影响最大,行为选择动机对商场工作人员发生火灾时的不利行为影响最大。研究结果可为商场火灾安全疏散管理提供有效依据,对商场火灾疏散具有重要意义。