1,720,988 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Mental representation derived from spatial descriptions: Can nature-based sounds make a difference?
No full textThe aim of this study is to investigate the role of nature-based environmental features in the formation of spatial representations. Spatial representations, also called cognitive maps (Tolman, 1948), can be formed not only from direct experience but also from spatial descriptions. Indeed, after learning route descriptions, it is possible to form mental representations with spatial features. The formation of these representations involves spatial abilities and processes (Gyselinck & Meneghetti, 2014; Denis et al., 2018). More recently, spatial cognition studies have shown that emotions evoked during navigation, specifically by emotionally-laden landmarks, impact the final recall. Positive and/or highly arousing emotions favor spatial memory accuracy compared to when landmarks are negatively laden or neutral (Palmiero & Piccardi, 2017; Ruotolo et al., 2018; 2021; Redhead et al., 2023). It should be noted that negative emotions (Balaban et al., 2017), as well as both positive and negative emotions, can positively impact spatial recall (Palmiero & Piccardi, 2017; Ruotolo et al., 2021). This evidence provides an opportunity to explore more deeply the positive-value features of an environment and their impact on cognition, as can be the memory of paths within the environment. Inspiring from of environmental psychology, there are models and principles that are worth considering in the context of path learning. In environmental psychology, human-environment interaction theories (Stress Reduction Theory, Ulrich, 1983; Attention Restoration Theory, Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) offer a framework for understanding which environmental features can favor wellbeing and reduce stress. Within this framework, studies have shown that natural features of an environment or landscape, compared to build features, tend to promote positive emotions and well-being (e.g., Gaekwad et al., 2023). There is also evidence that natural landscapes enhance cognitive abilities (such as attention and working memory; Stevenson et al., 2018). Our innate tendency to focus on life and life-like forms is called biophilia (Wilson, 2002). This tendency can be stimulated not only by visually presented natural elements (e.g. animals, vegetation) but also by their sounds. The use of soundscape, in addition to visual scenarios, in experimental studies offer the multisensory experience that can enhance the emotional state, potentially benefiting cognition. Among the studies that have used visual and/or sound stimuli to examine the effect on emotional state and cognition, several have demonstrated the role of both visual input (scenarios, stimuli) and sound (Abbott et al., 2016; Stobbe et al., 2023; Van Hedger et al., 2018). Results showed that using natural sounds alone relates to greater wellbeing (positive emotional state, perceived restoration; Abbott et al., 2016; Stobbe et al., 2023), while built sounds (e.g., traffic, noise) negatively impact emotional state (Benfield et al., 2009). Furthermore, there are results, although not homogeneous, that support the positive impact of natural scenarios and/or sounds on cognitive tasks such as attention and memory (Benfield et al., 2010; Ruotolo et al., 2012; 2024; Stobbe et al., 2023). However, in some cases, the effect on cognitive tasks is not detectable (Emfield & Neider, 2014; Stobbe et al., 2023). Benfield et al. (2010) found that introducing built-based or voice-based sounds during the descriptions of a natural park (while viewing the park scene) decreased memory scores compared to natural sounds (nature-based) or no sound during the description.
Overall, these results are encouraging for examining whether the presence of natural sounds can enhance emotional state and produce benefits for cognition. The current study conjugating environmental psychology and spatial cognition approach specifically examines whether a natural soundscape (nature-based) can be related to environment path learning acquired from description in terms of perceived emotions and restorativeness, as well as spatial memory.
This study is an advancement of the previous one (https://osf.io/g5bux) where the environmental scenario was manipulated by working on landmark visual features (nature-based, built-based) and control (function-based). Given the impact of sound alone on emotion (Abbott et al., 2016; Benfield et al., 2009), with some evidence on cognition (such as recall of descriptions, Benfield et al., 2010), this study mainly manipulates the sound (nature, built vs. noise) during the listening of a route description. The aim is to examine whether soundscapes produce benefits for emotional state and cognition (in terms of environment learning).
The aim of the study is to examine the role of soundscapes (nature-based, built-based, and white noise as control) on path learning from descriptions in terms of affective state (positive/negative), perceived restorativeness, and spatial memory. Three descriptions will be used according to the listener's point of view (route description), using egocentric terms and presenting spatial information sentence by sentence. Three different open environments are used (taken and adapted from Meneghetti et al., 2014; https://osf.io/g5bux). The descriptions are similar in number of landmarks (14) and in their recall.
In the present study, participants will listen twice to each of three path descriptions. Each description will be matched with nature-based, urban-based, and white noise (control) sounds. The sounds were identified through a pilot study (N = 36). Fifteen natural and 15 built sounds (20 sec. each) were selected from the https://osf.io/r8yv6/ database; five white noise samples were also identified. Each sound was listened to once and then evaluated for valence and arousal using the Affective Slider (AS; Betella et al., 2016). Four natural and four urban sounds were selected with low and high valence (negative and positive, respectively) and medium level arousal. Four white noises were also selected, with a medium level of arousal and valence.
The soundtrack matched with each description is a combination of 4 natural sounds,4 built sounds or4 white noise samples (20 seconds per track). The single track endures c.a. 160 sec. (each track is repeated twice). This is matched with one of the three route descriptions. A 3 (sound type) x 3 (environment type) soundtrack design is created.
Two sessions are planned. In the first session (individual): Demographic questionnaire, connectedness to nature, and trait affect (emotional disposition) will be assessed. The 12 sounds pre-selected from the pilot study will be evaluated individually (using the Affective Slider; AS) as a further control of their valence and arousal. In the second session (in small groups), participants will be required to: evaluate their initial emotional state (valence and arousal); listen twice to one description; re-evaluate their emotional state; report their perception of restorativeness; perform a map drawing task (objective indexes will be obtained from the Gardony Map Drawing Analyzer, GMDA; Gardony et al., 2014); report recalled features for each landmark (free recall); evaluate the pleasantness and vividness of each landmark. This procedure will be repeated for the second and third descriptions
Urban environments, emotions, and mental representations
No full textResearch has investigated the role of exposure to natural environments and the resulting beneficial effects on humans. Some environments indeed seem to have regenerative effects on the cognitive resources of the individual. For example, natural environments or urban environments with the presence of greenery or water are places that offer their visitors the opportunity to recover from stress and renew their personal attention resources. Furthermore, other evidence has shown that some environmental characteristics may instead arouse negative feelings (such as lack of care and ordinary architecture). However, no study has systematically analyzed whether different urban environments (for example, with different levels of greenery) can influence the affective state reported by people and whether this, in turn, influences their perceived restorativeness and their mental representation of the environment. The study aims to investigate the relationship between the individual's affective state and perceived restoration in urban environments (with different characteristics) on the ability to mentally represent a path (in terms of distance and time estimation) and the role played by individual factors. Participants will participate in two sessions. In the first session, they will perform individual differences measures: demographic questions, trait affective state (PANAS), mental rotation test, wayfinding inclinations questions, connectedness to nature. In a second session, they will walk in urban environments (pedestrian areas: streets or urban parks) going straight forward in paths between 70 and 130 meters (six paths selected randomly among 18). After each walk, they will complete the PANAS state , the distance and time estimation tasks, and they will complete the restorativeness scale. Participants could also add a note about the walk (eg, what impressed them) and answer a question about their familiarity with each route. In the end, a debriefing on the strategy used and a sketch map task as a control measure
Mental representation derived from spatial descriptions: Can nature-based landmarks make the difference?
No full textThe aim of this study is to investigate the role of nature-based elements serving as landmarks on the formation of environment representations. Spatial representations, also called cognitive maps (Tolman, 1948), can be formed from direct experience or indirectly through symbolic sources, such as maps or descriptions. Landmarks are key elements of our environment, serving as reference points and playing a crucial role for spatial learning and navigation. Studies in spatial cognition have shown that the features of landmarks impact the recall of the environment and surrounding, as the paths (Denis et al., 2018).
Recent studies have examined the emotionally-laden landmarks in relation to environment representations. These studies have shown that landmarks laden with positive affect, when encountered during navigation, increase spatial memory accuracy respect to when landmark are negatively laden or neutral (Palmiero and Piccardi, 2017; Ruotolo et al., 2018; 2021; Redhead et al., 2023).
This evidence provides an opportuny to delve deeper into the features of positive-value landmarks. Inspiring from the field of environmental psychology, there are models and principles that are worth considering in the context of path learning. In environmental psychology, the human-environment interaction theories (Stress Reduction Theory, Urlich, 1983; Attention Restoration Theory, Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) offer a frame for understanding which elements and their features can favor wellbeing and reduce stress. Within this framework, the role of biophilic elements and their designs becomes relevant. The biophilic elements are natural elements (e.g. plants, animals)) and elements or buildings made with natural materials (wood, straw) (Kellert & Calabrese, 2015). The experience of these elements promotes well-being, a state of pleasantness and restorativeness and also have an impact on cognitive aspects (as attention; Barbiero et al., 2021). These elements of the environment can serve as landmarks during path learning. However, their role as nature-based landmarks in spatial memory accuracy, i.e. in the formation of the environment representation after the path learning, has not been examined yet.
Therefore, it is new (and a challenge) to examine whether, among the factors that can favor the path learning (a spatial cognition issue), the presence of elements that serve as landmarks with biophilic characteristics (nature-based) can positively impact spatial memory; they may assume a distinctive role in spatial memory in comparisons to elements that serves as landmarks built with artificial products or when only functions or other information are presented. The aim of the study is to examine the role of nature-based landmark on path learning, using description, to assess their impact on spatial memory. Specifically, we will compare path learning descriptions of outdoor environments with nature-based landmarks (natural elements or build with natural material) vs. artificial-based landmarks (artificial elements or buildings with artificial material) vs. function/use-based landmark. After each description learning the spatial memory accuracy (map drawing) will be assessed. Others state and inclinations measures were included. In the present study, participants listened to twice each of three path descriptions. These descriptions present spatial information according listener point of view using egocentric terms, and by presenting spatial information sentence by sentence. Three different environments are used (taken and adapted from Taylor and Twersky, 1992; Meneghetti et al., 2014). Each environment includes 14 landmarks. For each environment, three type of descriptions are created: nature-based, artificial-based, function/use-based (neutral). Before participants listen to each description, their affect state will be assessed. After each description listening, participants will be asked to: report their affect state, and their spatial memory will be assessed with map drawing accuracy (objective indexes will be obtained from the Gardony Map Drawing Analyzer, GMDA, Gardony et al., 2014); they evaluate for each landmark if they recall it, its pleasantness and vividness, and asked to recall its characteristics. Finally, at the end of all tasks the learning strategies used, route (person-point of view-based), survey (map-based)-, verbal-(repetition-based) will be assessed (Meneghetti et al., 2014).
Individual differences measures in wayfinding inclinations (pleasure and self-efficacy in exploration, spatial anxiety, sense of direction), connection with nature, and visual-, spatial- imagery preference will be assessed. As control, we will also consider the trait affect (emotional disposition)
Urban environments, emotions, and mental representations
No full textResearch has investigated the role of exposure to natural environments and the resulting beneficial effects on humans. Some environments indeed seem to have regenerative effects on the cognitive resources of the individual. For example, natural environments or urban environments with the presence of greenery or water are places that offer their visitors the opportunity to recover from stress and renew their personal attention resources. Furthermore, other evidence has shown that some environmental characteristics may instead arouse negative feelings (such as lack of care and ordinary architecture). However, no study has systematically analyzed whether different urban environments (for example, with different levels of greenery) can influence the affective state reported by people and whether this, in turn, influences their perceived restorativeness and their mental representation of the environment. The study aims to investigate the relationship between the individual's affective state and perceived restoration in urban environments (with different characteristics) on the ability to mentally represent a path (in terms of distance and time estimation) and the role played by individual factors. Participants will participate in two sessions. In the first session, they will perform individual differences measures: demographic questions, trait affective state (PANAS), mental rotation test, wayfinding inclinations questions, connectedness to nature. In a second session, they will walk in urban environments (pedestrian areas: streets or urban parks) going straight forward in paths between 70 and 130 meters (six paths selected randomly among 18). After each walk, they will complete the PANAS state , the distance and time estimation tasks, and they will complete the restorativeness scale. Participants could also add a note about the walk (eg, what impressed them) and answer a question about their familiarity with each route. In the end, a debriefing on the strategy used and a sketch map task as a control measure
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