Getting it right takes time: response time and performance in secondary school students.

The relation between response time and performance in cognitive tasks is increasingly evident. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of participants' spontaneous speed when responding to a mental rotation task. We carried out a data reanalysis from a previous study where a training of 3 practice sessions of 100 trials each was applied. The procedure was applied to a sample of 21 high school students (11 boys, 10 girls). The relation between response time and performance (hits) across the training trials was analyzed. In addition, we carried out a regression analysis of performance on the learning task as a function of response time on that same task, as well as with the score on two previously applied tests of spatial intelligence and fluid intelligence. Results showed, (a) a significant relationship (r = 0.624) between response time and hits, (b) that the group of participants with longer response times performed better; (c) that participants' response time explained most of the variance of their score on the training task in the regression analysis, although spatial and fluid intelligence scores improved the prediction of performance. Our results suggest that the reflective style achieves greater performance in solving spatial tasks, which could have important practical implications to promote a slower and more reflective style when solving school tasks with spatial components.

Objective assessment of goal orientation, time management and learning outcomes

Las conductas dirigidas a lograr metas y a gestionar tareas en un periodo de tiempo determinado desempeñan un papel importante cuando las personas realizan actividades de aprendizaje. Estos comportamientos, denominados como orientación a metas y gestión del tiempo, han sido ampliamente estudiados desde los modelos de aprendizaje autorregulado. Estudios previos han empleado tradicionalmente auto-informes para estudiar estas variables. Sin embargo, esta metodología subjetiva presenta limitaciones, por lo que algunos autores han enfatizado las ventajas del empleo de medidas objetivas. En este trabajo, empleamos test objetivos para evaluar la orientación a metas, la gestión del tiempo y estudiar su relación con resultados de aprendizaje. Se emplea un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para examinar las relaciones. Los resultados muestran un buen ajuste del modelo a los datos. La orientación al aprendizaje muestra un efecto directo sobre la gestión del tiempo y ambas variables muestran un efecto directo sobre una tarea de aprendizaje. La gestión del tiempo mostró un efecto directo sobre el rendimiento académico. Se discuten las implicaciones teóricas y prácticas.(AU)

Behaviors directed to achieving goals and managing tasks in a set period of time play important roles when people engage in learning ac-tivities. These behaviors, labeled goal orientation and time management, have been widely studied as part of self-regulated learning models. Previ-ous works have traditionally employedself-reports to study these variables. However, these subjective methodologies suffer from limitations, and some researchers highlight the advantages of using objective measures. In the present work, we employ objective tests to study goal orientation, time management and their relation to learning outcomes. We propose a model and employ structural equation modeling to examine the hypothesized re-lations. The results provided a good fit to the data. Goal orientation (mas-tery) has a direct effect on time management, and both variables have di-rect effects on scores in a learning task. Time management also has a direct effect on academic performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.(AU)

Cómo construir un psicólogo-chatbot / How to create a psychologist-chatbot

El desarrollo de agentes conversacionales o chatbots se ha visto incrementado en las últimas décadas, especialmente en el sector comercial. No obstante, si bien el primer bot conversacional de la historia presentaba una apariencia de psicoterapeuta, son pocos los agentes virtuales con este tipo de funciones construidos hasta la fecha. En el presente trabajo, exponemos las bases para diseñar un chatbot psicólogo, concretamente, un bot con funciones de evaluación psicológica. Para ello, revisamos las herramientas disponibles para diseñarlo y configurarlo, y los conceptos básicos para su construcción. Asimismo, proponemos una serie de objetivos de evaluación que habrían de guiar el diálogo del agente conversacional. Finalmente, exponemos una reflexión acerca de las ventajas e inconvenientes de los chatbots y sobre las líneas de actuación que serían necesarias para desarrollarlos con garantías científicas

In recent decades, the development of conversational agents or chatbots has increased, especially in the commercial sector. Although the first chatbot in computational history was presented as a psychotherapist, few virtual agents with this type of function have been built since then. In the present article we describe the fundamental aspects of designing a psychologist-chatbot and,more specifically, a bot with psychological assessment functions. We review the available tools and the basic concepts for its construction. We also propose a series of assessment objectives that would guide the conversational agent's dialogue. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of chatbots and the scientific guarantees that they need to fulfill

Goal Orientation Test: An Objective Behavioral Test.

The aim of the present research is to assess goal orientation (mastery and performance) by developing an objective behavioral test. We elaborated the Mastery Performance-Goal Orientation Test, a task that allows assessment of goal orientation along a single dimension. We studied its reliability and validity by conducting two studies. In Study 1 (N = 293 adults), the distribution of scores along the goal orientation variable showed wide variability and high internal consistency. The mastery-oriented participants demonstrated higher levels of category learning, whereas the performance-oriented participants responded in a less discriminative way but achieved higher scores. In Study 2 (N = 41 undergraduate students), the mastery-oriented participants achieved higher scores on a learning task than the performance-oriented subjects. The results also showed that the test had the potential to predict subsequent learning. We conclude that it might be a useful instrument to assess goal orientation.

Category Learning in Schoolchildren. Its Relation to Age, Academic Marks and Resolution Patterns.

The aim of this research was to study the learning process using an objective and computerized task. The performance of 466 schoolchildren aged between 6 and 11 in a category learning task, the Category Learning Test (CLT), was examined. The results showed evidence of category learning throughout the trials for the whole sample, F(7, 469) = 29.979, p <.001. In addition, categorization performance improved with age, H(2) = 48.475, p <.001. However, there were old children that struggled with the task and young children that performed very well. The ability to learn the categories was related to the children's behavior when trying to solve the task: the response speed (r = -.217, p <.01) and the organization index (r = .247, p <.01). Nevertheless, performance in the task and academic marks were not related. We discuss the impact of these findings on the promotion and improvement of learning in schools: an intervention to promote slowness and organization might help some children to learn.

Category learning in schoolchildren. Its relation to age, academic marks and resolution patterns

The aim of this research was to study the learning process using an objective and computerized task. The performance of 466 schoolchildren aged between 6 and 11 in a category learning task, the Category Learning Test (CLT), was examined. The results showed evidence of category learning throughout the trials for the whole sample, F(7, 469) = 29.979, p <.001. In addition, categorization performance improved with age, H(2) = 48.475, p <.001. However, there were old children that struggled with the task and young children that performed very well. The ability to learn the categories was related to the children's behavior when trying to solve the task: the response speed (r = -.217, p <.01) and the organization index (r = .247, p <.01). Nevertheless, performance in the task and academic marks were not related. We discuss the impact of these findings on the promotion and improvement of learning in schools: an intervention to promote slowness and organization might help some children to learn

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