Higher response rates at the expense of validity? Consequences of the implementation of the ‘forced response‘ option within online surveys

Poster (2015)

Due to the low cost and the ability to reach thousands of people in a short amount of time, online surveys have become well established as a source of data for research. As a result, many non ... [more ▼]

Due to the low cost and the ability to reach thousands of people in a short amount of time, online surveys have become well established as a source of data for research. As a result, many non-professionals gather their data through online questionnaires, which are often of low quality due to having been operationalised poorly (Jacob/Heinz/Décieux 2013; Schnell/Hill/Esser 2011). A popular example for this is the ‘forced response‘ option, whose impact will be analysed within this research project. The ‘forced response’ option is commonly described as a possibility to force the respondent to give an answer to each question that is asked. In most of the online survey computer software, it is easily achieved by enabling a checkbox. Relevance: There has been a tremendous increase in the use of this option, however, the inquirers are often not aware of the possible consequences. In software manuals, this option is praised as a strategy that significantly reduces item non-response. In contrast, research studies offer many doubts that counter this strategy (Kaczmirek 2005, Peytchev/Crawford 2005, Dillman/Smyth/Christian 2009, Schnell/Hill/Esser 2011, Jacob/Heinz/Décieux 2013). They are based on the assumption that respondents typically have plausible reasons for not answering a question (such as not understanding the question; absence of an appropriate category; personal reasons e.g. privacy). Research Question: Our thesis is that forcing the respondents to select an answer might cause two scenarios: - Increasing unit non-response (increased dropout rates) - Decreasing validity of the answers (lying or random answers). Methods and Data: To analyse the consequences of the implementation of ‘forced response’ option, we use split ballot field experiments. Our analysis focuses especially on dropout rates and response behaviour. Our first split ballot experiment was carried out in July 2014 (n=1056) and we have planned a second experiment for February 2015, so that we will be able to present our results based on strong data evidence. First results: If the respondents are forced to answer each question, they will - cancel the study earlier and - choose more often the response category “No” (in terms of sensitive issues). [less ▲]

PraxisBüro BSSE

Poster (2015)

Assessing the cerebral correlates of number processing with Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation

Poster (2015)

Assessing subjective university success with the Subjective Academic Achievement Scale (SAAS).

Poster (2015)

Mother and father competence and child attachment representations in a sample of internationally adopted adolescents

Poster (2015)

BT Quantization on K3 Surfaces

Poster (2015)

Horizontal tuning of face-specific processing from childhood to elderly adulthood.

Poster (2015)

Face recognition in adults recruits specialised mechanisms that are selectively driven by horizontal information. This range indeed conveys the most optimal and stable cues to identity. Whether the ... [more ▼]

Face recognition in adults recruits specialised mechanisms that are selectively driven by horizontal information. This range indeed conveys the most optimal and stable cues to identity. Whether the horizontal tuning of adult face recognition reflects horizontal bias already active at infancy and/or whether it also results from the extensive experience acquired with faces over the lifespan is elusive. Answering these questions is crucial to determine the information constraining the developmental specialisation of core visual functions such as face perception. Participants aged between 6 and 74 years matched unfamiliar faces that were filtered to retain information in narrow ranges centred on horizontal (H), vertical (V), or both orientation ranges (HV). H and V ranges respectively maximize and minimize the recruitment of face-specific mechanisms (Goffaux and Dakin, 2010). Stimuli were presented at upright and inverted planar orientations and the face inversion effect (FIE; i.e., better performance for upright than inverted faces) was taken as a marker of face-specific processing. In H and HV conditions, FIE size increased linearly from childhood to adulthood, manifesting the progressive specialization of face perception. FIE emerged earlier when processing HV than H faces (FIE onset: 6 and 12 years, respectively) indicating that until 12 years horizontal information is necessary but not sufficient to trigger face-specialised processing. Partial correlations further showed that FIE development in HV condition was not fully explained by FIE development in H condition. Besides a progressive maturation of horizontal processing, the specialization of the face processing system thus also depends on the improved integration of horizontal range with other orientations. In contrast, FIE size was small and stable when processing V information. These results show that the face processing system matures over the life span based on the refined encoding of horizontally-oriented (upright) face cues. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015. [less ▲]

A Multi-Year Combination of Tide Gauge Benchmark Monitoring (TIGA) Analysis Center Products: Preliminary results

Poster (2014, December 16)

Reproducible Research Results R3

Poster (2014, December)

Cardiff/Luxembourg Computational Mechanics Research Group

Poster (2014, November)

Field-Induced Spin Helix Chirality in Nanocrystalline Ho

Poster (2014, November)

In situ single-cell investigations of substrate utilisation by Candidatus Microthrix parvicella

Poster (2014, October 16)

Impact of Station GNSS Antenna Phase Centre Calibrations on Satellite Orbits and Station Coordinates: Preliminary Results

Poster (2014, October 14)

The electromagnetic phase centre of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna does not coincide with the physical one and depends on the azimuth and elevation of the incoming signals. To improve ... [more ▼]

The electromagnetic phase centre of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna does not coincide with the physical one and depends on the azimuth and elevation of the incoming signals. To improve processing results, the International GNSS Service has developed antenna phase centre corrections (PCC), which include models for constant and variable biases, i.e. phase centre offsets and phase centre variations. By assuming that the small differences in PCCs between antenna/radome combinations of the same type/model are negligible, so called type-mean PCCs have been generated and, for practical reasons, have been widely applied. The type-mean PCCs are averaged corrections, which are composed from several individual PCCs. Contrary to the general assumption, individual PCCs may sometimes be significantly different for antennas of the same type and it can be argued, that the use of type-mean instead of individual calibrations may degrade GNSS-derived products, such as satellite orbits and station coordinates. Furthermore, through simple geometric considerations it can be shown that inaccuracies in the PCCs may propagate into time series of GNSS solutions and may contribute some power at the orbital frequencies and their harmonics. In this study we assess the impact of the applied antenna PCCs on satellite orbits and station coordinates. As the availability of individual PCCs for GNSS stations is very limited, we analyzed a global network with stations mainly located in Europe. We used 10 years of GPS data in our processing. Despite the limitations imposed by the poor network geometry, we observed improvements in orbit overlaps at day boundaries when individual antenna PCCs were used compared to the respective type-mean solutions. Additionally, we analyzed the impact of the applied PCCs on Precise Point Positioning (PPP) station coordinates using our computed orbits. Our preliminary results showed that out of two PPP runs, the one with individual PCCs and respective orbit set reduced the noise in solutions compared to the other PPP run. We conclude that the use of individual PCCs is advantageous for derived GNSS products, as improvements are observed both in the estimated satellite orbits and station coordinate time series. [less ▲]

Vagally mediated heart rate variability is a predictor for the occurrence of the thermal grill-induced pain illusion

Poster (2014, October)

Aim: Unpleasantness and negative affect accompany the sensory experience of pain. Both components of pain are heavily influenced by cognitive and emotional processes. In this framework, alterations in ... [more ▼]

Aim: Unpleasantness and negative affect accompany the sensory experience of pain. Both components of pain are heavily influenced by cognitive and emotional processes. In this framework, alterations in baroreceptor reactivity and concomitant changes in cardiac rhythm and blood pressure related to these processes contribute to the modulation of pain sensitivity. Furthermore, self-regulatory capacity has been shown to play a major role in the regulation of cognitive, affective, and behavioural reactions to adverse contexts. These regulatory mechanisms include adjustment of cardiovascular activity and heavily depend on prefrontal cortical processing. Vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) at rest is an indicator of the prefrontally modulated vagal activation and has been used as a psychophysiological marker for self-regulatory capacity. The present study investigated the predictive value of the trait self-regulation in the triggering of the thermal grill-induced pain illusion (TGI). We hypothesized inter-individual differences in paradoxical pain perception to be predicted by self-regulatory capacity in a way that participants displaying lower levels of self-regulation should be more likely to perceive the painful grill illusion than subjects with relatively higher self-regulation ability. Methods: A total of 54 healthy participants were recruited among university students and staff. A custom-built, water-bath driven thermal grill device, with interlaced cold and warm glass tubes, was used for the induction of the TGI. A pre-set temperature combination of 15°C and 41°C was applied to the palm of the dominant hand with stimulus durations of 1 min. Subsequent control conditions consisted in the interlaced combination of a baseline temperature of 32°C with one of the stimulus temperatures mentioned above. The procedure was repeated three times. The volunteers used numerical rating scales ranging from 0-100 to rate sensory and affective pain perceptions in intervals of 15 seconds. Vagally mediated HRV at rest was assessed prior to the thermal stimulation protocols. Results: Time-domain components of HRV used as graded indicators of parasympathetic activity and of the extent of self-regulation significantly predicted the possibility of an occurrence of pain and unpleasantness sensations in response to thermal grill stimulation (p <.05). Participants characterized in this way were more likely to express paradoxical pain than subjects not displaying similar levels of HRV. Conclusion: The present results support previous findings indicating an impact of several psychological traits on the individual disposition to paradoxical pain perceptions. Self-regulation ability, operationalized as vagally mediated heart rate variability, can partially explain the probability of perceived pain in response to non-noxious thermal grill stimulation. [less ▲]

ROS-management in Parkinson’s disease: Dynamic blue-print domino-based model and design principles study. Dynamic modelling of ROS management and ROS-induced mitophagy

Poster (2014, October)

A comprehensive integrative analysis of the transcriptional network underlying the zebrafish heart regeneration

Poster (2014, September 08)

Despite a notable reduction in incidence of acute myocardial infarction (MI), patients who experienced it remain at risk for premature death and cardiac malfunction. The human cardiomyocytes are not able ... [more ▼]

Despite a notable reduction in incidence of acute myocardial infarction (MI), patients who experienced it remain at risk for premature death and cardiac malfunction. The human cardiomyocytes are not able to achieve extensive regeneration upon MI. Remarkably, the adult zebrafish is able to achieve complete heart regeneration following amputation, cryoinjury or genetic ablation. This raises new potential opportunities on how to boost heart healing capacity in humans. The objective of our research is to characterize the transcriptional network of the zebrafish heart regeneration and underlying regulatory mechanisms. To conduct our investigation, we used microarray data from zebrafish at 6 post-cryoinjury time points (4 hours, and 1, 3, 7, 14 and 90 days) and control samples. We thereon looked for the gene co-expression patterns in the data and, based on that, constructed a weighted gene co-expression network. To detect candidate functional sub-networks (modules), we used two different network clustering approaches: a density-based (ClusterONE) and a topological overlap-based (Hybrid Dynamic Branch Cut) algorithms. The visualization of the expression changes of the candidate modules reflected the dynamics of the recovery process. Also we aimed to identify candidate “hub” genes that might regulate the behavior of the biological modules and drive the regeneration process. We identified eighteen distinct modules associated with heart recovery upon cryoinjury. Functional enrichment analysis displayed that the modules are involved in different cellular processes crucial for heart regeneration, including: cell fate specification (p-value < 0.006) and migration (p-value < 0.047), ribosome biogenesis (p-value < 0.004), cardiac cell differentiation (p-value < 3E-04), and various signaling events (p-value < 0.037). The visualization of the modules’ expression profiles confirmed the relevance of these functional enrichments. For instance, the genes of the module involved in regulation of endodermal cell fate specification were up-regulated upon injury until 3 days. Among the candidate hub genes detected in the network, there are genes relevant to atherosclerosis treatment and inflammation during cardiac arrest. These and other findings are currently undergoing deeper computational analyses. The top promising targets will be independently validated using our zebrafish (in vivo) model. In conclusion, our findings provide insights into the complex regulatory mechanisms involved during heart regeneration in the zebrafish. These data will be useful for modelling specific network-based responses to heart injury, and for finding sensitive network points that may trigger or boost heart regeneration. [less ▲]

Analysis of local grid stability by Hydrokinetic Turbines around a Hydropower Plant in India

Poster (2014, September 08)

Indian proverb, “the utmost darkness is under the oil lamp”, is indeed true in relation to present scenario in places under local distribution grids in India, situated around the Hydropower plants. These ... [more ▼]

Indian proverb, “the utmost darkness is under the oil lamp”, is indeed true in relation to present scenario in places under local distribution grids in India, situated around the Hydropower plants. These conventional hydropower plants use hydrostatic energy for power generation with a conversion efficiency of 85-95%, whereas the energy possessed by available body of moving water around the plant, known as “Hydrokinetic energy”, is difficult to extract due to low flow rates. This poster, prepared in collaboration with Smart Hydro Power GmbH, Germany presents the impact of “ Combined Cycle Hydroelectric Power System”- a combination of hydropower plant and hydrokinetic turbines, to provide additional power to the local grid situated around an existing hydropower plant. It intends to show that, for water rich areas, hydrokinetic turbines are an inexpensive option and offer a viable solution for securing reliable power and stabilizing the local grid situated around a hydropower plant. [less ▲]

Near Field Dynamic, Co-seismic and Post-seismic Deformations Associated with the 2013, M7.8, and 2003, M7.6, South Scotia Ridge Earthquakes Observed with GPS

Poster (2014, September)

The South Scotia Ridge (SSR) left-lateral transform/strike-slip (S-S) fault defines the Scotia plate’s (SP) southern boundary separating it from the Powell Basin (PB), South Orkney Microcontinent (SOM ... [more ▼]

The South Scotia Ridge (SSR) left-lateral transform/strike-slip (S-S) fault defines the Scotia plate’s (SP) southern boundary separating it from the Powell Basin (PB), South Orkney Microcontinent (SOM), and the Weddell Sea sections of the Antarctic plate (AP). The SP developed as a space filling accommodation zone for S. America-Antarctica relative motions, mostly during the last 40 m.y. The SSR also hosts several restraining and releasing bends. The SP, PB and SOM have complex evolution histories including large-scale displacement and stretching of the SOM, as well as other continental fragments within the SP, all of which were incorporated into a background of changing sea floor spreading geometries. The SOM defines an ~300 km segment of the SSR opposite a section of the SP that is primarily oceanic crust with a few small, stretched continental fragments. Two large earthquakes, M7.6 and 7.8, with aftershock zones largely confined to the northern SOM boundary, occurred on the SSR in 2003 and 2013. Moment tensor solutions show they occurred on faults dipping ~30 and 45° to the south. The 2013 event was almost pure, left-lateral strike-slip, while the 2003 event was oblique but predominantly strike-slip. This is an unusual combination of fault dip and slip direction for a strike-slip plate boundary. The half duration of both events is also relatively long. A continuous GPS (CGPS) station on Laurie Island is located immediately west of the rupture zone of the 2003 event and at the approximate center, and close to the surface projection, of the finite fault models for the 2013 earthquake. We present co-seismic static offsets and post-seismic transients for both earthquakes from GPS daily position estimates. In addition, the CGPS station now records at 1 Hz and we present the GPS displacement seismogram for the 2013 event. This record contains a complex signal that includes the passage of the Love and Rayleigh surface waves, with max displacements of ~70 cm, over an ~80 second time interval during which a ~50 cm static offset developed. [less ▲]

Intergenerational relations between adult children and their older parents: A comparison between host nationals and Portuguese immigrants in Luxembourg

Poster (2014, September)

Migration and ageing have become key topics of the contemporary world. In the next years, many western countries will be confronted with specific challenges of an ageing society. Among these, the ... [more ▼]

Migration and ageing have become key topics of the contemporary world. In the next years, many western countries will be confronted with specific challenges of an ageing society. Among these, the situation of older migrants is of particular interest in many European countries. Only few studies have, however, focused the relationship quality between adult children and their ageing parents in host national compared to immigrant families. Within this context, expectations of different generations towards one another may be of specific importance. As ageing parents approach a critical period of their life span, they may in general more likely experience a need for intergenerational support and solidarity and develop specific expectations about support exchange. These expectations may be challenged when families migrate from a culture of interdependence to a culture of independence, since cultural contact might lead to core changes in value orientations. As these changes are often more pronounced in the second generation than in the first, a generation gap between ageing parents and their adult children might result out of this process. A major question in this context refers to mutual expectations and obligations between family members of different generations as far as emotional and financial support are concerned. Adult children from immigrant families might, for instance, be subject to the experience of ambivalent or conflictual feelings regarding the desire to become independent from their parents; at the same time, they may feel the urge to conform to parental expectations or to support their parents in accordance to the values of their parents’ culture of origin. However, older parents may also undergo changes in their perception of intergenerational support and lower their expectations in the process of acculturation. In the present study, a cross-cultural comparison between Luxemburgish and Portuguese triads of adult children and their older parents living in Luxembourg (N = 120) will be realized. We will focus on different key issues regarding intergenerational family relations between first and second generations of host nationals and immigrants. One of the main issues will be to examine interdependent and independent self-construals comparing both cultural groups and both generations, presuming that there might be an intergenerational or an acculturation gap. Another research question concerns the potential consequences of divergent expectations about support and solidarity between family members of different generations, such as ambivalent or conflictual feelings. Finally, we will analyse in how far changes in the ideas about intergenerational relations might have affected and be affected by the life-long goal pursuit of older parents of both cultural groups. Results will be discussed within the framework of an integrative model of intergenerational family relations in the light of migration and ageing, which will be presented as a heuristic to explain similarities and differences in adult child-parent relationships by comparing two culturally different groups. [less ▲]

Emergence of Sovereign Wealth Funds

Poster (2014, September)

The role of affective instability on daily chronic pain outcomes

Poster (2014, August 21)

Intergenerational relations between older parents and their adult children: Effect on subjective well-being

Poster (2014, August)

In the near future, many western nations will be confronted with specific issues regarding ageing populations and their physical and psychological well-being. Ageing persons might experience a greater ... [more ▼]

In the near future, many western nations will be confronted with specific issues regarding ageing populations and their physical and psychological well-being. Ageing persons might experience a greater need for intergenerational support and solidarity, especially in the context of migration. The acculturation process may entail an increased intergenerational gap possibly leading to conflicts and ambivalences between family members. This might in turn cause a diminished feeling of their well-being. A cross-cultural comparison is envisaged between Luxemburgish and Portuguese triads of adult children and their older parents living in Luxembourg (N = 120). Participants will report on their mutual relationship quality and subjective well-being by using a standardized questionnaire. Similitudes and differences in mutual expectations of the participants as well as the effects of an intergenerational gap in ideas about intergenerational solidarity on relationship quality and on subjective well-being (SWB) of family members will be examined. Results will be discussed regarding the relevance of intergenerational family relations for subjective well-being in the light of migration and ageing. [less ▲]

The Luxembourg Workplace Mobbing Scale: Psychometric properties of a new instrument

Poster (2014, July 17)

Age of Acquisition Norms for Nouns and Verbs in 22 Languages

Poster (2014, July 15)

Word characteristics such as frequency, imageability, concreteness and length are considered good predictors of performance in lexical tasks like picture naming, word comprehension or lexical decision ... [more ▼]

Word characteristics such as frequency, imageability, concreteness and length are considered good predictors of performance in lexical tasks like picture naming, word comprehension or lexical decision-making. There is also evidence that the age of acquisition (AoA) of words can partly explain aspects of word processing behaviour in later childhood and adulthood (Morrison et al., 1992; Brysbaert & Cortese, 2010).In the present study, we collected AoA norms for 158 nouns and 142 verbs in 22 languages: Afrikaans, British English, Catalan, Danish, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Irish, IsiXhosa, Italian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Maltese, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, South African English, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. In a preparatory picture naming procedure, adult native speakers of 34 languages were asked to name 508 object and 504 action pictures. Words shared among the target languages were retained for the final corpus. Our study followed the typical procedure for establishing AoA (see Morrison et al. 1997) and was performed on-line (see www.words-psych.org). 804 adult participants (at least 20 for each language) were asked to specify the age at which they learned the words in their native language. The vast majority of words were rated as acquired by the age of 7 years, demonstrating overlap in early vocabulary across diverse languages. Significant correlations between all language pairs point to a similar developmental sequence for the words under investigation. No previous study has compared AoA judgements on a shared set of words in a wide range of languages. 'The AoA data collected in the 22 languages provides word characteristics that should assist the design of cross-linguistic psycholinguistic experiments and the preparation of materials for use in the assessment and treatment of language disorders in preschool children. The AoA data are currently being used to control for AoA in the construction of cross-linguistic lexical tasks assessing word knowledge in monolingual and bilingual children. [less ▲]

Frustration and anger regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder

Poster (2014, July)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and difficulties regulating emotions. Emotion regulation is an important aspect of children’s emotional ... [more ▼]

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication and difficulties regulating emotions. Emotion regulation is an important aspect of children’s emotional and social development. It maximizes learning and allows the development of trusting relationships. In the present study we aimed at studying how children with ASD regulate frustration and anger. Participants were 17 children diagnosed with ASD aged between 5 and 12 years old (14 boys and 3 girls) and their parents. Emotion regulation was assessed by parents’ reports of their child’s emotion regulation (Emotion Regulation Checklist, Shields & Cicchetti, 1998) and through the observation of children during the episode “Attractive toy placed behind a barrier”. The purpose of this episode was to elicit frustration and anger by placing a toy, with which the child had been playing, behind a barrier. Anger was coded as verbal and physical action against the barrier or persons present. Results revealed that children with more autistic symptoms were evaluated by their parents as having more difficulties regulating their emotions. Furthermore, parents’ evaluations of their child’s emotion regulation were positively correlated to the expression of anger during the frustration and anger regulation episode. However, no significant differences were observed in terms of autistic symptoms during the frustration and anger regulation episode. In conclusion, results show that children with more autistic symptoms are seen by their parents as having more difficulties regulating their emotions but do not show differences in terms of their emotion regulation during a frustration and anger eliciting episode. [less ▲]

A signal processing method to remove environmental effects for damage detection in bridge structures

Poster (2014, July)

This paper consists in damage diagnosis for several real bridges in Luxembourg. Before, different analysis methods were applied to the data measured from these structures showing interesting results ... [more ▼]

This paper consists in damage diagnosis for several real bridges in Luxembourg. Before, different analysis methods were applied to the data measured from these structures showing interesting results. However, some difficulties are faced, especially due to environmental influences (temperature and soil-behaviour variations) which overlaid the structural changes caused by damage or confuse damage levels. These environmental effects are investigated in detail and removed in this work through Principal Component Analysis. Damage index is based on outlier analysis [less ▲]

SUGAC: Sofia University GNSS Analysis Center

Poster (2014, June 25)

The Sofia University GNSS Analysis Centre (SUGAC, suada.phys.uni-sofia.bg) is a new analysis centre established via collaboration between the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics of Sofia University ... [more ▼]

The Sofia University GNSS Analysis Centre (SUGAC, suada.phys.uni-sofia.bg) is a new analysis centre established via collaboration between the Department of Meteorology and Geophysics of Sofia University, the IPOS - BuliPOS GNSS network in Bulgaria and the University of Luxembourg. In April 2014, the first processing campaign took place. One year GNSS data from 7 stations of the BuliPOS network are processed in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg. Tropospheric products (Zenith Total Delay and gradients) with 5 min temporal resolution are obtained using the NAPEOS software, developed by ESA. The tropospheric products from this campaign will be used for validation of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model as well as for case studies during intense precipitation events and fog. In this work the WRF model validation for Bulgaria will be presented. Future work will be the establishment of autonomous near real-time processing of the regional ground-based GNSS network in Southeast Europe in support of the EUMETNET E-GVAP and COST ES1206 ”Advanced Global Navigation Satellite Systems for Severe Weather Events and Climate” projects. [less ▲]

Dynamic modelling of ROS management and ROS-induced mitophagy

Poster (2014, June)

Educational Opportunities through Scholarships? The Social Status of Scholarship Holders of Germany's Hans Böckler Foundation

Poster (2014, June)

Les scores de compétences PISA sont prédictifs des résultats et carrières scolaires

Poster (2014, June)

…And when there is no correct answer? Methodological and scoring challenges when dealing with non-correct answer concepts: a preliminary look at individual differences in expressive flexibility ability

Poster (2014, June)

Différence de genre en mathématiques chez les élèves de 3ème et 9ème année d’étude : Etude à grande échelle au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

Poster (2014, June)

ÉpStan (Épreuves Standardisées) est une étude annuelle à grande échelle réalisée à Luxembourg depuis 2009. Les ÉpStan ont pour objectif d’évaluer le système éducatif luxembourgeois, en particulier le ... [more ▼]

ÉpStan (Épreuves Standardisées) est une étude annuelle à grande échelle réalisée à Luxembourg depuis 2009. Les ÉpStan ont pour objectif d’évaluer le système éducatif luxembourgeois, en particulier le niveau de compétences atteint en mathématiques des élèves de 3ème et de 9ème année d’étude (âgés en moyenne de 8 ans vs. 14 ans). A partir des résultats mathématiques ÉpStan 2013 du primaire et du secondaire, cette recherche vise d’une part, à examiner si l’écart de performance mathématique entre les sexes constaté par PISA 2012 chez les élèves de 15 ans luxembourgeois est confirmé chez les élèves de 14 ans et chez les élèves plus jeunes (8 ans), (Robinson, & Theule Lubienski, 2011) et d’autre part, à tester si les écarts de performance entre les sexes reflètent des différences de motivation et de confiance en soi et d’anxiété. [less ▲]

Experiencing trilingual Master study programs at uni.lu. Perceptions of multilingualism: a Grounded Theory

Poster (2014, May 02)

A model of guidance and counselling for young people with few qualifications

Poster (2014, May 01)

The aim of the European Leonardo da Vinci project Acrojump is to create a web-based E-profile for young people aged 16-25, who have few qualifications, no diploma and limited professional experience. All ... [more ▼]

The aim of the European Leonardo da Vinci project Acrojump is to create a web-based E-profile for young people aged 16-25, who have few qualifications, no diploma and limited professional experience. All relevant information about the past experience of these young people will be put online with the help of counsellors trained to elicit all pertinent facts that can be put into an electronic résumé (sports, participation in projects, field interventions, etc.). These details can represent different levels of competencies which may or may not tie to the professional domain. [less ▲]

The role of relative motion information during observational learning in sports

Poster (2014, May)

Rapport au savoir et support éducatif: La valeur du vrai dans la littérature enfantine

Poster (2014, May)

Chaque éducation est balisée de valeurs (Reboul, 2005). La famille élève l’enfant et l’entoure de valeurs d’affection. L’école transmet des valeurs liées au raisonnement et au sens de l’effort. La vie ... [more ▼]

Chaque éducation est balisée de valeurs (Reboul, 2005). La famille élève l’enfant et l’entoure de valeurs d’affection. L’école transmet des valeurs liées au raisonnement et au sens de l’effort. La vie professionnelle apprend un métier. L’échange crée des tensions, provoque des confrontations idéologiques et forme l’identité. Le concept complexe de l’éducation des valeurs s’exprime à travers la littérature enfantine, créée par des adultes pour transmettre à l’enfant des conceptions jugées importantes (Schmitz, 1997). La littérature enfantine transmet une conception psychosociale à l’enfant, celle-ci s’inscrivant dans un environnement ayant ses valeurs et ses références (Prince, 2009). La littérature enfantine représente ainsi un support de transmission éducative (Schneider, 2005). Sous forme de poster, la communication résume une étude qualitative menée sur la transmission de la valeur du vrai dans la littérature enfantine. Le vrai est la valeur relative à la vérité qui s’exprime dans la recherche des connaissances. La quête de cette valeur est mise en œuvre par le questionnement sur nos convictions et idéologies qui forgent notre vérité (Pourtois & Desmet, 2002). En effet, dans la littérature enfantine, le « vrai » est essentiellement défini par les concepts de la vérité dans les relations interpersonnelles et le rapport de l’homme au savoir. Concernant la transmission du message, le support éducatif du livre enfantin propose le questionnement direct et explicite du message. Les livres se centrent sur le jeune lecteur et suscitent sa réflexion en proposant plusieurs manières d’aborder la valeur du vrai. De cette manière, la littérature enfantine se présente comme un outil d’appropriation active du discours. Le poster présente une partie du travail de fin d’études, sous la direction de Prof. Willy Lahaye, défendu par Céline Dujardin en vue de l’obtention du diplôme de Master en Sciences de l’éducation à l’Université de Mons. Dans l’année académique 2009-2010, le travail de fin d’études a été rédigé sous l’intitulé « L’éducation des valeurs en album pour enfants. Une voie pour transmettre le patrimoine culturel dans la société actuelle ». Le travail de master utilise la méthode qualitative d’analyse structurale pour examiner le contenu des livres pour enfants. Pour définir la valeur du vrai dans la littérature enfantine, trois mises en opposition peuvent être retenues, à savoir la vérité versus le mensonge, le savoir s’opposant à la méconnaissance et le savoir dit « scientifique » se distinguant du savoir dit « commun ». La littérature enfantine offre un rapport au savoir varié et constitue ainsi un support éducatif diversifié. L’utilisation éducative de l’album pour enfants dépend du parent, de l’enseignant ou de tout autre éducateur. En termes d’accrochage scolaire, le support éducatif du livre enfantin philosophique s’accorde avec des approches pédagogiques culturelles et multiréférentielles proposant plusieurs identifications à l’enfant et acceptant plusieurs vérités pour construire le savoir. Ce cadre d’apprentissage s’avère favorable à la reconnaissance du raisonnement de l’enfant et donc également à son accrochage scolaire. [less ▲]

The influence of emotional instability on daily pain outcomes in chronic pain patients

Poster (2014, May)

Canonical finger numeral configurations are perceived holistically

Poster (2014, April 04)

Sooner or later human beings represent or see numerosities represented by hands. This handling of small numerosities by prototypical finger configurations has been the focus of many experiments ... [more ▼]

Sooner or later human beings represent or see numerosities represented by hands. This handling of small numerosities by prototypical finger configurations has been the focus of many experiments investigating the possibility that semantic representations of numbers are motor-rooted. Canonical finger configurations (i.e. the culturally determined way to express numerosity with fingers) are for instance recognized faster (Di Luca et al., 2006), and give direct access to number semantics (Di Luca et Pesenti, 2008). It is also known that these effects are not due to a visual facilitation of canonical configurations (Di Luca et Pesenti, 2010), but to a different inner representation (Di Luca, Lefèvre and Pesenti, 2010). However, a precise characterization of their visual processing is currently lacking. We addressed this shortcoming by using an eye-tracking method based on gaze-contingent stimulus presentation (Van Belle et al., 2010). While participants named numerosities expressed by canonical and non-canonical finger numeral configurations presented in upright or inverted orientations, we selectively impaired analytical or holistic visual perception by respectively masking (in real time) peripheral or focal vision. Our data confirm the results found in literature: canonical configurations are processed faster than non-canonical ones, upright configurations are processed faster than inverted ones and holistic perception is faster than analytical one. Most importantly, we also demonstrate that canonical configurations are impaired by the peripheral mask (i.e. holistic vision hindered) whereas non-canonical ones are impaired by the foveal mask (i.e. analytical vision hindered). These results confirm that the practice of finger numeral configurations modifies not only the way human beings process and represent numerosities but especially the way to visually perceive them. [less ▲]

Dynamic change of host gastrointestinal microbiome and immune status in relation to mucosal barrier effects during chemotherapy and immune ablative intervention in humans

Poster (2014, April)

The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by communities of endogenous microbes, commonly referred to as the microbiome. Here, the microbiota are in close contact with the host intestinal mucosa and ... [more ▼]

The human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by communities of endogenous microbes, commonly referred to as the microbiome. Here, the microbiota are in close contact with the host intestinal mucosa and its innate and adaptive immune systems. The fact that certain stimuli induce an inflammatory response whereas others induce tolerance suggests, that the host immune system interacts with the microbiota and vice versa in different ways. However, the exact details of theses interactions remain largely unknown. It is known that cancer treatment can result in severe adverse effects like mucositis and in combination with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Tx), in graft-versus host disease (GvHD). However, there is at present only sparse information available on the effects of chemotherapy on the intestinal microbiota and resulting changes in microbiome-immune system interactions. Almost no data exists on the effect of allogeneic stem cell Tx on the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota. In this project, we are studying the complex interactions between the host and the intestinal microbiota after chemotherapy with or without allogeneic Tx and the occurrence of severe adverse side effects such as mucositis and GvHD. Using a systems biology approach including metagenomics and RNAseq, fecal samples and blood plasma samples from patients undergoing these treatments for malignancies will be analysed to identify the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome and bacterial small RNAs. The main research hypothesis is that there are quantitative and qualitative changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome following chemotherapy and allogeneic Tx which are linked to the immune status of the patients and possible treatment side-effects, in particular mucositis and GvHD. We aim to provide knowledge on how the host's intestinal mucosa and immune system influence the gastrointestinal microbiome and on the role and involvement of the gastrointestinal microbiota in development in mucositis and GvHD. Importantly, this could help in the formulation of measures to prevent mucositis and GvHD development. [less ▲]

Field-induced spin helix chirality in nanocrystalline Ho

Poster (2014, April)

Task instructions determine the visuo-spatial and verbal-spatial nature of number-space associations

Poster (2014, April)

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times (RTs) to small/large digits with the left/right ... [more ▼]

Evidence for number-space associations comes from the spatial-numerical association of response-codes (SNARC) effect, consisting in faster reaction times (RTs) to small/large digits with the left/right hand respectively. Classically, they are thought to result from numerical coding along a left-to-right-oriented mental number line (visuo-spatial account; Dehaene et al., 1993). Recently, an association between the verbal concepts “small”/“left” and “large”/“right” has been suggested as an alternative explanation (verbal-spatial account; Gevers et al., 2010). Since the predominance of these accounts remains debated, we aimed to determine whether task instructions influence their extent of explaining the SNARC effect. A magnitude comparison task where the verbal labels “left”/“right” were displayed on the left/right response side alternatively allowed us to directly contrast the two accounts by comparing verbal SNARC slopes (based on differences in RTs to the labels “left” and “right”) with classical spatial SNARC slopes (based on differences in RTs to the left and right response side). In the verbal condition, participants (41 students, 20 female, mean age=21.6) responded to the assigned labels irrespective of their side of appearance, whereas the spatial condition required responding to the left or right response side irrespective of the displayed label. Under verbal instructions, only the verbal slope was significantly negative (verbal slope=-67.54, spatial slope=-4.82). Conversely, no significant difference was observed between verbal and spatial slopes under spatial instructions – both slopes being significantly negative (verbal slope=-15.12, spatial slope=-29.39). Taken together, number-space associations arise from verbal coding regardless of task instructions, while spatial coding only occurs under spatial instructions. [less ▲]

The effect of languages on the production and recognition of numbers in German-French bilinguals

Poster (2014, April)

How do bilinguals produce and recognize two-digit number words? We investigated this question at different language proficiency levels in German-French bilinguals. German two-digit number words indeed ... [more ▼]

How do bilinguals produce and recognize two-digit number words? We investigated this question at different language proficiency levels in German-French bilinguals. German two-digit number words indeed follow the unit-decade order, whereas in French the order is decade-unit. Our study was conducted in Luxembourg where pupils learn both languages at primary school. Moreover mathematics are taught in German at primary school but in French at secondary school. Pupils from grades 5 (primary school), 8 (beginning of secondary school) and 11 (middle of secondary school) performed two numerical tasks: In the number recognition task, participants were presented a spoken number word that they had to recognize among four visually presented Arabic numbers. In the number production task, participants had to pronounce visually presented Arabic numbers. Both tasks were performed in German and in French and we compared language-related performance differences for the 3 levels of language proficiencies. Participants of all levels recognized and produced number-words more efficiently in their dominant language (i.e. German). However, this advantage for the dominant language was especially prominent at the lowest level of language proficiency when mathematics education was implemented in the dominant language (i.e. German). Furthermore, performance levels decreased with increasing number size, but over and above this general trend, participants of all proficiency levels showed specific difficulties with the complex structure of French number words over 60. Taken together, these results support the view that number and language processing are tightly associated, since language proficiency and language structure influence very simple and basic numerical tasks. [less ▲]

Strain-induced low-frequency relaxation in colloidal DGEBA/SiO2 suspensions

Poster (2014, March)

Comparison of the metastable and the stable phase of eicosane via thermal analysis

Poster (2014, March)

Selectivity of face perception to horizontal information over lifespan (from 6 to 74 year old)

Poster (2014)

Gradient Smoothing for Nearly Incompressible Hyperealsticity

Poster (2014)

Preservice teachers implicit and explicit attitudes and judgments of students with secial educational needs from different backgrounds

Poster (2014)

Addressing Technical Replicate Variance in Omics Data Analysis

Poster (2014)

High-throughput omics datasets often contain technical replicates, included to account for technical sources of noise in the measurement process. Although summarizing these replicate measurements by using ... [more ▼]

High-throughput omics datasets often contain technical replicates, included to account for technical sources of noise in the measurement process. Although summarizing these replicate measurements by using robust averages may help to reduce the influence of noise on downstream data analysis, the information on the variance across the replicate measurements is lost in the averaging process and therefore typically disregarded in subsequent statistical analyses. We introduce RepExplore, a web-service dedicated to exploit the information captured in the technical replicate variance to provide more reliable and informative differential expression and abundance statistics for omics datasets. The software builds on previously published statistical methods, which have been applied successfully to biomedical omics data but are difficult to use without prior experience in programming or scripting. RepExplore facilitates the analysis by providing a fully automated data processing and interactive ranking tables, whisker plot, heat map and principal component analysis visualizations to interpret omics data and derived statistics. The web-based software is freely available at http://www.repexplore.tk. [less ▲]

Die Erstellung quantitativer Sozialindikatoren im transdiziplinären Diskurs: Empirische Fallanalyse der European Expertgroup on Youth Indicators

Poster (2014)

In postindustriellen Gesellschaften und insbesondere im Zeitalter der Wissensgesellschaft greift die Politik zur gesamtgesellschaftlichen Steuerung v.a. in Krisensituationen immer häufiger auf externes ... [more ▼]

In postindustriellen Gesellschaften und insbesondere im Zeitalter der Wissensgesellschaft greift die Politik zur gesamtgesellschaftlichen Steuerung v.a. in Krisensituationen immer häufiger auf externes Expertenwissen zurück, um: • Alternativen abzuwägen, • Entscheidungen zu treffen, legitimieren, bewerten und • als Frühwarnsystem zu fungieren. Auf EU-politischer Ebene wird dieses Treffen von Entscheidungen auf Basis von fundiertem Wissen als „evidence-based-policy-making“ bezeichnet. Was die Organisation und Produktion von Wissen angeht, beschreiben zahlreiche Studien einen Wandel dieser Prozesse in den heutigen modernen Gesellschaften, auch im politikberatenden Kontext. Die Art der Wissensdiffusion und die Rollenaufteilung haben sich verändert. Die traditionell lineare Vorgehensweise wird zumeist durch hybride Kooperationsmodelle, in denen unterschiedliche transdisziplinäre Akteure (wie Wissenschaft, Politik und Praxis) Wissen ko-konstruieren/-produzieren, abgelöst. Studienschwerpunkt: Während die klassischen akademischen Routinen und Methoden der Wissensgenerierung soziologisch gut erforscht sind, besteht jedoch Forschungsbedarf zu der Art und Weise, wie Wissen in diesem transdisziplinären Diskurs generiert wird. Schwerpunkt dieser Studie ist die Wissensgenerierung über quantitative Sozialindikatoren. Sie sind eine Form externen Wissens, welches hervorgebracht wird, um politische Entscheider im Entscheidungsprozess zu entlasten und ihre Entscheidung zu legitimieren. Das zentrale Ziel dieser Studie ist, die Einflüsse des Wissensdiskurses auf die traditionell wissenschaftlichen Methoden der Sozialberichterstattung zu erforschen. In einer empirischen Fallanalyse wird die Arbeit der transnationalen und -disziplinären Expertengruppe European Expert Group on Youth Indicators mittels einer Mehrfachtriangulation rekonstruiert. Sie operationalisiert die Indikatoren des European Dashboard on Youth Indcators im Diskurs zwischen Politik, Praxis und Wissenschaft (disziplinäre Interessen) sowie nationalen und internationalen Interessen, Zielen und kulturellen Identitäten. [less ▲]

„For the Most Part, Teachers Are Very Friendly and Fair—But Not All of Them!“ Negative teacher behavior in the classroom.

Poster (2014)