DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY

Researcher : Au TKF

Project Title:

Rules to read by: building on bilingual children's phonological awareness

Investigator(s):

Au TKF

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2002

 

Abstract:

To study if bilingual children's advantage in phonological awareness become part of a solution for helping them learn to read English better.

 

Project Title:

Folkbiology meets microbiology: a study of conceptual and behavioral change

Investigator(s):

Au TKF, Chi I, Chan SSC, Chan CKK

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2003

 

Abstract:

To explore whether helping children and older adults build a coherent theory of colds/flu will help them reason more deeply and sensibly about cold/flu risks and practice more effective prevention, thereby reducing the number of cold/flu episodes; to address a fundamental issue in conceptual change: Can an entreched belief system (e.g., folkbiology of infection) coexist with a new one (e.g., microbiology of infection)? Or does the old resist the new? If so, does the degree of entrechment matter? To find out whether helping learners build a coherent theory of infection is better than asking learners to memorize a list of dos and don'ts--not only in reasoning about the colds/flu risks in everyday life situations, but also in terms of actual colds/flu prevention behaviors and health outcomes.

 

Project Title:

Folkbiology meets microbiology: a study of conceptual and behavioral change

Investigator(s):

Au TKF, Chi I, Chan SSC, Chan CKK

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

09/2003

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Can childhood experience with a language help adults relearn that language?

Investigator(s):

Au TKF, Oh J., Jun S.A.

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

02/2004

Completion Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

To address whether the memory of a childhood language can be re-activated via re-learning, even if the re-learners have not used the language for years so as to understand both human memory and language learning.

 

Project Title:

Just listening: can non-interactive linguistic input help young second-language learners?

Investigator(s):

Au TKF

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Incentive Award for RGC CERG Fundable But Not Funded Projects

Start Date:

07/2005

Completion Date:

06/2006

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Phonological Representations of Children with Dyslexia

Investigator(s):

Au TKF, Kidd JC, Ho CSH

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

Developmental dyslexia affects about 10% of the population worldwide. It impedes academic achievement and indirectly puts children's psychological well-being at risk. While research to date has revealed the importance of phonological processing skills in reading development, no attempt has yet been made to identify what causes poor phonological processing skills in Chinese dyslexia. With so many children (and adults) worldwide learning to read and write in Chinese, finding ways to help the 10% afflicted with Chinese dyslexia by identifying its root causes would be a worthwhile endeavour. Objective #1This project will examine a candidate cause, namely, indistinct or poorly specified phonological representations for words in order to look for the root causes of dyslexia. We will test the Phonological Representation Hypothesis-which has received some support in alphabetical languages such as English and Danish-in order to better understand dyslexia in Chinese (a logographic language). The proposed research can inform us whether the underlying causes of phonological skill deficits observed in children with dyslexia are language-specific or similar across languages despite fundamentally different writing systems (i.e., alphabetical vs. logographic).Objective #2We will develop new assessment tools to test the Phonological Representation Hypothesis. Current diagnostic tools for Chinese dyslexia are not only indirect but also cannot reliably diagnose children much younger than age 7 years. By contrast, our proposed phonological representation tasks are designed for use with very young children to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Au T.K.F., Folkbiology Meets Microbiology: A Study Of Conceptual And Behavioral Change, Symposium On "children's And Lay Adults' Understandings Of Illness: Implications For Health Education" at the 11th Biennial Conference Of The European Association For Research In Learning And Instruction (EARLI), Cyprus. Cyprus, 2005.

 

Au T.K.F., The Relationship Between Language And Cognition, In: Li, P., Tan, L., Bates, E., & Tzeng, O. , Handbook of East Asian Psycholinguistics (Vol. I: Chinese). Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press, 2006, 1: 281-286.

 

Oh J.S. and Au T.K.F., Learning Spanish as a heritage language: The role of sociocultural background variables. , Language, Culture & Curriculum. 2005, 18: 229-241.

 

Zamora A., Romo L.F. and Au T.K.F., Using Biology To Teach Adolescents About Std Transmission And Self-protective Behaviors, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. Elsevier, 2006, 27: 109-124.

 

Researcher : Blowers GH

Project Title:

The social construction of psychological knowledge in China: an analysis of the content of Chinese psychology journals from their inception to the present day

Investigator(s):

Blowers GH

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2003

 

Abstract:

To investigate some problems in the construction of psychological knowledge in China over the twentieth century using a content analysis of its journals.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Blowers G.H., Annual Report from the Hong Kong Institute of Analytical Psychology, In: P. Skar, International Association for Analytical Psychology Newsletter. 2006, 26: 109-111.

 

Blowers G.H., China, In: R.Skelton, The Edinburg International Encyclopaedia of Psychoanalysis. Edinburgh, Edibburgh University Press, 2006, 86.

 

Blowers G.H., Korea, In: R. Skelton, The Edinburgh International Encyclopaedia of Psychoanalysis. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2006, 273.

 

Blowers G.H., Remembering Joseph Brozek (1913-2004): Brozek's China Connection, History of Psychology. 2006, 9 (1): 75-78.

 

Blowers G.H., Rongge Fengxi Xinlixue Zai Zhongguo De Zhangwang , 容格分析心理學在中國的展望, In: Shen Heyong, Psyche: Analysis and Experience [Lingxing: Fenxi Yu Ti Yan]. Education Press [Touyu Chubanshe], Guangdong, 2006, 44-50.

 

Blowers G.H., The Origins of Scientific Psychology in China (1899-1949), In: A. Brock, Internationalizing the History of Psychology. New York, New York University Press, 2006, 99-111.

 

Blowers G.H., The Origins of Scientific Psychology in China: Social Thought and Institutionalization. Paper read in the Symposium "The Foundation of 'Scientific' Psychology within the Cultural, Social, and Institutional Contexts of European and Extra-European Countries between the 19th and 20th Centuries", XXII International Congress of History of Science. Beijing, 2005.

 

Blowers G.H., The Prospects for a Jungian Psychology in China, In: Shen Heyong, Psyche: Analysis and Experience [Lingxing: Fenxi Yuti Yan]. Education Press [Touyu Chubanshe], Guangdong, 2006, 50-60.

 

Researcher : Cham SL

List of Research Outputs

 

Cham S.L. and Hayes A., The 'encirclement' effect in an orientation search task, In: Richard Gregory, Editior-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 149-150.

 

Researcher : Chan CH

List of Research Outputs

 

Lee T.M.C., Zhang J.X., Chan C.H., Yuen S.L., Chu L.W., Cheung R.T.F., Chan Y.S., Fox P.T. and Gao J.H., Age-related differences in response regulation as revealed by functional MRI, Brain Research. 2006, 1076(1): 171-176.

 

Researcher : Chan FSF

Project Title:

Locomotion and assessment: new perspectives on Chinese self-regulatory competencies

Investigator(s):

Chan FSF, Chiu CY

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2002

 

Abstract:

To validate a Chinese translation of the regulatory mode questionnaire; to map out the relationship between these two dimensions and some pertinent psychological factors, such as self-esteem, self-consciousness, need for closure, achievement motivation, persistence; to base on the findings, further delineating the nature and theoretical significance of the self-regulation competencies in local culture.

 

Project Title:

Getting stuck and fitting in: a cross-cultural perspective on how perceived occupational immobility creates a reliance on personality factors in job success predictions

Investigator(s):

Chan FSF

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Getting stuck and fitting in: a cross-cultural perspective on how perceived occupational immobility creates a reliance on personality factors in job success predictions

Investigator(s):

Chan FSF, Chiu CY

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

Previous research has shown that compared to Westerners, Easterners consider personality factors to be less important in social judgment. Based on a social belief framework, we argue that Easterners may reply more heavily on personality fit in making job success judgments than do Westerners. We also contend that such cross-cultural difference arises from the perceived occupational immobility and the relative malleability of personality versusthe society in Chinese and East Asian societies. Accordingly, Easterners feel that they need to change their to match the personality expectations from their profession, rendering personality-profession fit an important factor to be considered in Easterners' job success predictions. In the current program of research, which consists of 5 main studies and 2 supplementary studies, we seek to provide evidence for these ideas. The proposed project will extend our previous works on the relationship of social belief and cultural cognition, and provide insights on the psychological effects of perceived occupational immobility, which is a topic of enormous practical importance for the successful restructuring of the economy and redeployment of human resources in a rapidly globalized labor market.

 

Project Title:

Identifying the best job-person fit: a cross-cultural study

Investigator(s):

Chan FSF

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

To investigate the roles played by qualification, personality and implicit beliefs in predicting job success. The project will provide insights on the psychological effects of perceived occupational immobility and job-person fit on job success predictions, a topic of enormous practical implications for the successful restructuring of the redeployment of human resources in a rapidly globalized labor market.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Chan JCY

List of Research Outputs

 

Chan J.C.Y., The effects of summative and formative feedback on students' vocabullary acquisition self efficiacy, 40th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference. Melbourne, Australia, 2005.

 

Researcher : Chan NM

List of Research Outputs

 

Hau K.T., Halpern D.F., Marin-Burkhart L., Ho I.T.F., Ku Y.L., Chan N.M. and Lun V.M.C., Chinese and United States students' critical thinking: Cross-cultural construct validation of a critical thinking assessment, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. 2006.

 

Ku Y.L., Chan N.M., Lun V.M.C., Halpern D.F., Marin-Burkhart L., Hau K.T. and Ho I.T.F., Chinese and United States undergraduates' critical thinking skills: Academic and dispositional predictors, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. 2006.

 

Researcher : Cheng C

Project Title:

Cultural differences in adaptation to the changing environment: A cultural-moderational model of coping flexibility

Investigator(s):

Cheng C, Tong YY

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

01/2005

 

Abstract:

To expand the scope of the current conceptualization of coping flexibility from an intra-personal to an interpersonal perspective; to formulate a new conceptual model to explicate cultural differences in coping flexibility and why such cultural differences exist; to develop and validate the various constructs of the proposed model; to adopt a multimethod approach for testing the assumptions and hypotheses of the new model with sophisticated methods.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Cheung CYC

List of Research Outputs

 

Cheung C.Y.C., Lee T.M.C., Yip J.T.H., King K.E. and Li L.S.W., The differential effects of thalamus and basal ganglia on facial emotion recognition, Brain and Cognition. 2006, 61: 262-268.

 

Researcher : Cheung MWL

Project Title:

A meta-analytic study on the higher-order factors of the five factor model

Investigator(s):

Cheung MWL

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

02/2004

Completion Date:

03/2006

 

Abstract:

To analyze the higher-order factor structure of the FFM meta-analytically.

 

Project Title:

A multi-method approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the statistical methods on controlling response bias

Investigator(s):

Cheung MWL

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

02/2005

 

Abstract:

To evaluate the effectiveness of these statistical methods on controlling response bias via multiple methods; first, the appropriateness and the effectiveness of the current practices on controlling response bias will be evaluated. This provides concrete evidence to support whether it is useful to adjust for response bias or not. Second, the best method in controlling response bias will be determined through computer simulation and real data analysis. The best method can then be recommended to researchers to handle data contaminated with response bias.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Cheng C. and Cheung M.W.L., Cognitive Processes Underlying Coping Flexibility: Differentiation And Integration, Journal of Personality. Blackwell Publishing, 2005, 73: 859-886.

 

Cheung M.W.L. and Au K., Applications Of Multilevel Structural Equation tidisciplinary+journal&1%2C%2C2">Structural Equation Modeling : A Multidisciplinary Journal. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005, 12: 598-619.

 

Cheung M.W.L. and Chan W., Classifying Correlation Matrices Into Relatively Homogeneous Subgroups: A Cluster Analytic Approach, Educational and Psychological Measurement. Sage Publications, 2005, 65: 954-979.

 

Researcher : Cheung WS

List of Research Outputs

 

Cheung W.S. and Ho M.Y., Death metaphors in Chinese, Death, dying and bereavement. A Hong Kong Chinese experience. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2006, 117-126.

 

Cheung W.S. and Ho M.Y., Psychological Exploration of Death and Dying, In: Cheung, C.F. Leung, M.Y., Grazing into Death: Multi-disciplinary Perspective (in Chinese). Hong Kong, The Chinese University Press, 2005, 337-422.

 

Researcher : Chow MC

List of Research Outputs

 

Chow M.C. and Ho C.S.H., Incidental learning among Hong Kong Chinese dyslexic children, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Chow M.C. and Ho C.S.H., Visual motion perception in Chinese dyslexic children, Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies. 2006, 6: 161-178.

 

Researcher : Chung KKH

Project Title:

Temporal processing and cognitive processing in Chinese dyslexic children: behavioral and electrophysiological investigation

Investigator(s):

Chung KKH, Penney TB, McBride-Chang CA, Ho CSH, Cheung H

Department:

Education Faculty

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

To evaluate the role of perceptual processing via auditory and visual temporal processing and cognitive processing play in the development of reading difficulties; to investigate the extent to which the auditory and visual temporal processing are related to visual/orthographic and phonological/morphological processing in dyslexic children; identify the profiles of developmental dyslexia in Chinese language; to use electrophysiological measures (event-related potentials - ERPs) to investigate various perceptual and cognitive aspects of the attentive and pre-attentive processes that underlie dyslexia.

 

Project Title:

Dyslexia in learning English as a second language

Investigator(s):

Chung KKH, Ho Suk-Han

Department:

Education Faculty

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

The present project is the first one to focus on how Chinese dyslexics learn English as L2. The main purpose of the present study concerns the following questions: 1) Do Chinese dyslexic children have difficulties in learning to read and write English as L2? 2) To what extent are the underlying cognitive and linguisitc skills in L1 and L2 different? 3) What are the typical profiles of Chinese dyslexic learners learning L2? and 4) How learners' affective and socio-contextual factors including home literacy support and practices affect both L1 and L2 acquisition success and failure?

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Chung LWM

List of Research Outputs

 

Lee T.M.C., Chi I., Chung L.W.M. and Chou K.L., Ageing and psychological response during the post-SARS period, Aging & Mental Health . 2006, 10: 303-311.

 

Researcher : Hayes A

Project Title:

An experimental investigation of coding of multi-scale structure of natural images by the human visual system

Investigator(s):

Hayes A

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Research Initiation Programme

Start Date:

02/2002

 

Abstract:

To investigate the relationship between 'local phase' descriptions of natural images and known properties of cortical neurones, building of the investigator's (and other investigators') 'wavelet' descriptions of visual coding.

 

Project Title:

An experimental investigation of coding of multi-scale structure of natural images by the human visual system

Investigator(s):

Hayes A

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

08/2002

Completion Date:

07/2005

 

Abstract:

The project investigates the relationship between 'local phase' descriptions of natural images and known properties of cortical neurones. It attempts to understand the statistical constraints of the input (natural images), the computational strategies of the process (to capitalise on redundancy particular to natural images), and the goals of the output (to make implicit structure explicit).

 

Project Title:

A psychophysical and computational investigation of human perception of global form and global motion in both image and stereo-depth planes using random dipole patterns ('Glass patterns') and random dot kinematograms

Investigator(s):

Hayes A

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Incentive Award for RGC CERG Fundable But Not Funded Projects

Start Date:

07/2004

Completion Date:

12/2005

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Human perception of global form and global motion in both the image plane (fronto-parallel) and the stereo-depth plane, using random dipole patterns ('Glass patterns') and random dot kinematograms

Investigator(s):

Hayes A

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Human perception of global form and global motion in both the image plane (fronto-parallel) and the stereo-depth plane, using random dipole patterns ('Glass patterns') and random dot kinematograms

Investigator(s):

Hayes A, Khuu KS

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

To investigate in human vision spatial and temporal mechanisms that globally integrate locally derived spatial and temporal information in the image plane and in the stereo-depth plane.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Cham S.L. and Hayes A., The 'encirclement' effect in an orientation search task, In: Richard Gregory, Editior-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 149-150.

 

Khuu S.K., Li A. and Hayes A., Global speed averaging is tuned for binocular disparity, In: D. M. Levi, Vision Research. The Netherlands, Elsevier, 2006, 46: 407-416.

 

Khuu S.K., Lee C.P.T. and Hayes A., Human perception of image speed derived from the simultaneous extraction and analysis of visual information in two- and three-dimensional space, In: A. B. Watson, Journal of Vision. USA, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2006, 6: 631.

 

Lee C.P.T., Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Flash lag in depth is induced by stereomotion but not looming: Distorted size and position perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 28-29.

 

Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Background motion affects global shape perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 176.

 

Or C.F.C., Khuu S.K. and Hayes A., The effect of contrast variations on the perception of Glass patterns, In: Andrew B. Watson, Journal of Vision. USA, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2006, 6: 583.

 

Or C.F.C., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., The interaction of motion and orientation in the perception of global structure, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 172-173.

 

Researcher : Hayward WG

Project Title:

An investigation of the independence of mental rotation and viewpoint-dependent object recognition

Investigator(s):

Hayward WG, Gauthier I, Harris IM

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2003

 

Abstract:

To establish the psychophysical boundaries for independence between mental rotation and viewpoint-dependent object recognition; to show distinct patterns of cortical activation using BOLD fMRI signal for mental rotation and viewpoint-dependent object recognition

 

Project Title:

Understanding cross-race deficits in face recognition

Investigator(s):

Hayward WG, Rhodes G, Schwaninger A

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

To determine whether participants in Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Australia show the cross-race recognition deficit; to examine whether participants are relatively impaired in their use of configural information in other-race face recognition; to examine whether participants are relatively impaired in their use of holistic information in other-race face recognition; to investigate the nature of part-based representations of other-race faces.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Favelle S.K., Palmisano S., Burke D. and Hayward W.G., The role of attention in change detection for novel objects., Visual Cognition. 2006, 13: 623-642.

 

Gauthier I., Wong A.C.N., Hayward W.G. and Cheung O.S., Font-tuning associated with expertise in letter perception., Perception. 2006, 35: 541-559.

 

Hayward W.G., Zhou G., Gauthier I. and Harris I., Dissociating viewpoint costs in mental rotation and object recognition, Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society. 2006.

 

Jaquet E., Rhodes G. and Hayward W.G., Figural aftereffects transfer, but are also contingent on, race categories, Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society. 2006.

 

Mou W., Hayward W.G., Zhou M., Zhou G. and Owen C.B., Spatial updating during locomotion does not eliminate viewpoint-dependent visual object processing, Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society. 2006.

 

Wong Y. and Hayward W.G., Repetition advantage: Effects of inter-target and target-distractor discriminability, Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society. 2006.

 

Researcher : Ho CSH

Project Title:

Developing an assessment battery for identification and diagnostic testing of secondary school students with specific learning difficulties in Hong Kong

Investigator(s):

Ho CSH, Chung KH, Chan W, Tsang SM, Lee SH

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Quality Education Fund

Start Date:

09/2004

 

Abstract:

To investigate the cognitive profiles involved in reading performance among students with and without previous diagnosis of dyslexia; to construct test materials; to establish local norms for the assessment battery.

 

Project Title:

Longitudinal predictors of literacy problems in Chinese children at family risk of developmental dyslexia

Investigator(s):

Ho CSH, Leung MT, Cheung H

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2004

 

Abstract:

To find out the longitudinal predictors of dyslexia in Chinese; to examine the genetic risk of dyslexia of Chinese children.

 

Project Title:

Longitudinal predictors of literacy problems in Chinese children at family risk of developmental dyslexia

Investigator(s):

Ho CSH

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

01/2005

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Syntactic Awareness of Chinese Dyslexic Children and Adolescents: Difficulties Beyond Word Level Processing

Investigator(s):

Ho CSH

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

03/2006

 

Abstract:

Generally speaking, around 5 to 10 percent of the school population in a country has developmental dyslexia, a severe and persistent difficulty in reading and spelling, which is not a result of any apparent intrinsic or extrinsic causes. Untimely and inappropriate intervention often results in learning, emotional, and behavioural problems in these children. Investigations into the literacy and cognitive difficulties of these children would help educators to design appropriate intervention programmes.Research in the area of developmental dyslexia has been focused on these children's difficulties at word level processing (e.g., word reading, word spelling, phonological processing skills, visual-orthographic skills, and morphological skills). Phonological deficit has been found to be the core cause of dyslexia in readers of alphabetic languages. Over 60% of dyslexic individuals in a British sample reported that their disabilities persisted into adult life (Fawcett, 2003). Although some adult dyslexic readers, espeically those with high cognitive functioning and intensive remedial support, do develop adequate sight vocabulary reading by utilizing some compensatory strategies, their problems in spelling, word decoding, and reading comprehension still persist (Hatcher, Snowling, & Griffiths). Text level processing may become a major problem for dyslexic readers at higher grades.Orthographic and morphological deficits have been found to be important cognitive contributors to Chinese dyslexia for children in lower primary grades (Ho et al., 2002, 2004; Luan, 2005). However, preliminary data of an ongoing local project show that these word-level cognitive skills are less important for Chinse dyslexic adolescents (Chung et al., in preparation). This leads me to think that the major hurdle of more matured dyslexic readers may be some difficulties beyond the word level. This proposed study will examine the role of syntactic awareness, a text-level metalinguistic awareness, in Chinese developmental dyslexia. Syntactic awareness is "the cognizance of grammatical patterns or structures" (Harris & Hodges, 1995), e.g., the pattern or structure of word order in sentences and phrases. This awareness should be important for reading comprehension.The popular Phonological Deficit Hypothesis has been challenged by the Verbal Deficit Hypothesis which was first proposed by Vellutino (1979). The idea that a broader range of language skills beyond phonology may contribute to the development of reading is supported by the findings of Nation and Snowling's (2004) five-year longitudinal study with ordinary children. Other studies also provide supporting evidence by showing that early language measures in children at familial risk for dyslexia are the best predictor of their later literacy development (e.g., Gallagher, Frith, & Snowling, 2000; Lyytinen, et al., 2004). Among the vaious early language skills, Scarborough (1990) has reported that children at-risk for dyslexia are deficient in length and syntactic complexity of their spoken language at 2.5 years of age. Similarly, these children were found to have considerable problems in the perception and production of grammatical morphology of their native language (van Alphen et al., 2004). This early syntactic difficulties may not be apparent when children focus on learning word decoding in the initial stage of reading acquisition. It may become more apparent in later stages when children read longer and more complicated text. However, syntactic awareness of dyslexic readers has rarely been examined. Recently, Ullman and Pierpont (2005) have suggested that the grammar deficit of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) may in fact be a processing impairment of the procedural memory system rather than a linguistic deficit. The procedural memory system implicates "the learning of new, and the control of long-established, motor and cognitive skills, habits, and other procedures" (Ullman & Pierpont, 2005). This system underlies aspects of rule-learning and is particularly important for acquiring and performing skills involving sequences. The authors have also located a brain area rooted in frontal/basal-ganglia curcuits that plays important role in the memory system. This Procedural Deficit Hypothesis will also be tested in this proposed project to see whether dyslexic children's syntactic difficulties, if any, are rooted in procedural memory impairment.It is noteworthy that different cognitive profiles were found among dyslexic readers of different language systems. For instance, phonological deficit is the main cause of reading difficulties in English (e.g., Rack, 1994), while rapid naming and orthographic deficits are dominant among Chinese dyslexic children (e.g., Ho et al., 2002, 2004). The different manifestations of dyslexia across languages are mainly due to their different language characteristics. Unlike English and other alphabetic languages, Chinese lacks explicit grammatical rules like tenses, plurals, or prepositions. Form-class classifications for many Chinese words are not clear. Because of the lack of inflections and word boundary in Chinese, the reader has to monitor the semantic relations of character sequence in a sentence. Word ordering therefore becomes an important aspect of syntax in Chinese. Grammar as such is not taught in Chinese schools. Ordinary readers may acquire these implicit syntactic rules through extensive reading. However, Chinese dyslexic children may find it difficult to discover these rules without explicit instruction.Specifically, the research questions of the proposed project are:1. Whether Chinese dyslexic children/adolescents have difficulties in syntactic awareness? Which syntatic aspects they would have particular difficulties?2. Whether the syntactic deficit, if any, represents a grammar-specific deficit or an impairment in the procedural memory system?3. What is the impact of the hypothesized syntactic deficit on text comprehension and production?4. What is the relationship among phonological, morphological and syntactic skills?

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Chan D.W., Ho C.S.H., Tsang S.M., Lee S.H. and Chung K.K.H., Exploring the reading-writing connection in Chinese children with dyslexia in Hong Kong, Reading and Writing. 2006, 19: 543-561.

 

Chan M.C.K. and Ho C.S.H., A set of Chinese Language curriculum for Hong Kong primary school children with specific learning difficulties, 走出文字的胡同 - 中文讀寫訓練課程, Society of Boys' Centre. Hong Kong, 2005.

 

Chow M.C. and Ho C.S.H., Incidental learning among Hong Kong Chinese dyslexic children, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Chow M.C. and Ho C.S.H., Visual motion perception in Chinese dyslexic children, Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies. 2006, 6: 161-178.

 

Ho C.S.H. and Fong K.M., Do Chinese dyslexia children have difficulties learning English as a second language?, Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. 2005, 34: 603-618.

 

Ho C.S.H., Chan D., Leung P.W.L., Lee S.H. and Tsang S.M., Reading-related cognitive deficits in developmental dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and developmental coordination disorder among Chinese children, Reading Research Quarterly. 2005, 40: 318-337.

 

Ho C.S.H., Chan D.W., Tsang S.M., Lee S.H. and Chung K.K.H., World learning deficit among Chinese dyslexic children, Journal of Child Language. 2006, 33: 145-161.

 

Leung N.K. and Ho C.S.H., The role of semantic radical awareness in reading among Chinese dyslexic children, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Luan V. and Ho C.S.H., Morphological deficit among Cantonese-speaking dyslexic children, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

McBride-Chang C. and Ho C.S.H., Predictors of beginning reading in Chinese and English: A two-year longitudinal study of Chinese kindergartners, Scientific Studies of Reading. 2005, 9: 117-144.

 

Waye M.M.Y. and Ho C.S.H., Should we invest in biobanking in Hong Kong? Using biobanking for dyslexic studies in Hong Kong as an example., ICASIV conference, Shanghai. 2005.

 

Wong E.Y.F., Ho C.S.H., Chung K.K.H., Tsang S.M. and Lee S.H., The Hong Kong Learning Behaviour checklist for Preschool Children (Parent Version), Hong Kong Specific Learning Difficulties Research Team. Hong Kong, 2006.

 

Wong W.L. and Ho C.S.H., Lexical information encapsulation of Chinese words among young readers with or without reading disabilities, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Researcher : Ho DYF

List of Research Outputs

 

Ho D.Y.F., Ho T.H. and Ng S.M., Investigative Research as a Knowledge-Generation Method: Disciplined, Naturalistic, and In-Depth Observations., The Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 2006, 36(1): 17+.

 

Researcher : Ho ITF

Project Title:

Effective strategies for social-communication intervention among young autistic children

Investigator(s):

Ho ITF

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Quality Education Fund

Start Date:

09/2004

 

Abstract:

To carry out effective strategies for social-communication intervention among young autistic children.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Hau K.T., Halpern D.F., Marin-Burkhart L., Ho I.T.F., Ku Y.L., Chan N.M. and Lun V.M.C., Chinese and United States students' critical thinking: Cross-cultural construct validation of a critical thinking assessment, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. 2006.

 

Hau K.T., Marsh H.W., Ho I.T.F., Li X. and Seaton M., Self-concept and academic motivation of Chinese students in Hong Kong, The Australian Assciation for Research in Education Annual Conference . 2005.

 

Ho I.T.F. and Lam L.M.O., An eclectic intervention-planning model for the development of social-communication skills in young children with autism spectrum disorders , Brainchild. HK Society of Child Neurology and Developmental Paediatrics, 2006, 6(2): 27-32.

 

Ho I.T.F., Hau K.T. and Lun V.M.C., Assessment of students' critical thinking, The 10th Chinese Psychological Association Conference. 2005.

 

Ku Y.L., Chan N.M., Lun V.M.C., Halpern D.F., Marin-Burkhart L., Hau K.T. and Ho I.T.F., Chinese and United States undergraduates' critical thinking skills: Academic and dispositional predictors, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. 2006.

 

Li X., Marsh H.W., Hau K.T., Ho I.T.F. and Martin A.J., Regression towards the mean artifacts and Matthew effects in multilevel value-added analyses of individual schools, The Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference. 2005.

 

Researcher : Ho MY

Project Title:

University of Hong Kong - Tsinghua University joint research center for psychological counseling

Investigator(s):

Ho MY, Chan CLW, Wong AMP, Fan F.M.

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

The University of Hong Kong Foundation Seed Grant

Start Date:

06/2001

 

Abstract:

To investigate the effectiveness of commonly used counseling approaches in Hong Kong and in the mainland; to develop evidence-based indigenous approach of counseling; to investigate and develop some indigenous approach of counseling compatible to and compatible with exiting Western models, to organize range of activities such as seminars, conferences, symposiums and publications.

 

Project Title:

Belief in emotional processing after trauma: a comparison among Hong Kong, Beijing, and USA

Investigator(s):

Ho MY, Fan F.M., Bonanno GA

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2004

 

Abstract:

To develop a common instrument to measure the belief in emotional processing after a traumatic event among participants in Hong Kong, Beijing and New York; to examine the variation in the belief in emotional processing after experiencing a traumatic event among three culturally distinct cities, viz. Hong Kong, Beijing, and New York.

 

Project Title:

Why People Report Positive Changes after Cancer Diagnosis? A Study on the Relationship between Attributional Style and Posttraumatic Growth among Cancer Patients

Investigator(s):

Ho MY, Ho JWC, Sham JST, Ngan HYS, Kwong YL

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

This study investigates the cognitive process of people reporting positive changes after the diagnosis of cancer. Its primary objective is to examine whether cancer patients' attributional style (i.e. their tendency to attribute positive and negative events as stable, internal and global) would affect their tendency to report positive changes after the diagnosis of cancer. Besides, this study would also explore:(1) the relationship between attributional style and psychological adjustments (indicated by happiness and posttraumatic stress);(2) the relationship between posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth.

 

Project Title:

Cognitive and emotional deficits of chronically bereaved individuals in Hong Kong

Investigator(s):

Ho MY

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Cognitive and emotional deficits of chronically bereaved individuals in Hong Kong

Investigator(s):

Ho MY, Bonanno GA, Chan CLW

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

To enhance our understanding of the cognitive and emotional deficits of chronically grieved individuals, with the results being to inform new directions in clinical intervention. Specifically, it aims at comparing chronically grieved versus resiliently bereaved versus non-bereaved adults on: (1) their mental representation of their spouse (deceased/living) and other contemporary attachment figures, and possible deficits in their ability to gain comfort (positive affect) from these attachment representations; (2) their ability to shift from negative to positive emotion, and their ability to flexibly regulate the expression and suppression of emotion.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Chan C.L.W., Chow A.Y.M., Ho M.Y., Tsui K.Y.Y., Tin A.F. and Koo B.W.K., The experience of Chinese bereaved persons: A preliminary study of meaning making and continuing bonds, Death Studies. 2005, 29(10): 923-947.

 

Cheung W.S. and Ho M.Y., Death metaphors in Chinese, Death, dying and bereavement. A Hong Kong Chinese experience. Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Press, 2006, 117-126.

 

Cheung W.S. and Ho M.Y., Psychological Exploration of Death and Dying, In: Cheung, C.F. Leung, M.Y., Grazing into Death: Multi-disciplinary Perspective (in Chinese). Hong Kong, The Chinese University Press, 2005, 337-422.

 

Chua H.D.P., Ho M.Y. and Cheung L.K., Cleft distraction versus orthognathic surgery - which one causes more distress?, 5th International Congress of Maxilofacial and Craniofacial Distraction, Paris, France. 2006, June: p62.

 

Ho M.Y., Chinese Positive Psychology, Fourth International Positive Psychology Summit, Washington D.C., USA, 28 September - 2 October, 2005. Washington D.C., USA.

 

Ho M.Y., From Positive Psychology to Positive Intervention - Some Reflections, The 1st Asian Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Conference: Evidence-based Assessment, Theory and Treatment. Hong Kong, China, 2006.

 

Ho M.Y., Positive Psychology and Positive Psychology Intervention, International Conference on Psychotherapy and Crisis Intervention. Hangzhou, China, 2006.

 

Ho M.Y., Posttraumatic Growth in Chinese, 113th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington D.C., USA, 18-21 August 2005. Washington D.C., USA.

 

Ho M.Y., Posttraumatic growth in clinical heatlh psychology, 1st Asia-Pacific Conference on Trauma Psychology: Life Adversities and Challenges, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Ho M.Y., Templeton Positive Psychology Fellows Program, Positive Psychology Centre, University of Pennsylvania. 2005.

 

Lai J.C.L., Evans P.D., Ng S.H., Chong A.M.L., Siu O.T., Chan C.L.W., Ho M.Y., Chan P. and Chan C., Optimism, positive affectivity, and salivary cortisol. , British Journal of Health Psychology.. 2005, 10(4): 467-484.

 

Lo P.H.Y., Ho T.H., Chan C.L.W., Lee P.W.H., Chow L.W.C., Ho M.Y. and Sham J.S.T., Differences in coping styles of breast cancer patients undergoing total or partial mastectomy, 12th Hong Kong International Cancer Congress, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Wing Y.K. and Ho M.Y., Mental health of patients infected with SARS, In: Chan, Jane CK Taam Wong, Vivian CW, Challenges of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Hong Kong, Elsevier, 2006, 526-546.

 

Researcher : Hui HCC

Project Title:

Personality in organizations: a cross-cultural perspective

Investigator(s):

Hui HCC

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Personality in organizations: a cross-cultural perspective

Investigator(s):

Hui HCC, Gelfand MJ

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

01/2006

 

Abstract:

To examine the validity of personality measures for predicting behaviors in organizations; to determine if the "frame of reference (FOR) effects" are universally valid or are culture-specific; to extent that personality is used to select and/or modify organizational environments, it is important to see if such contextualizing strategies are productive or even counterproductive in different cultures.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Wright P., Cascio W., wang Z. and Hui H.C.C., Guest co-editor for special issue "Human Resources Management", Management and Organization Review. 2006.

 

Yang W., Stokes G.S. and Hui H.C.C., Cross-cultural validation of Holland’s interest structure in Chinese population. , Journal of Vocational Behavior. 2005, 67: 379-396.

 

tse H.M., chiu W.C.K., Yu P.L.H., Hui H.C.C. and cheng K., Supervisor-subordinate agreement in perception of LMX quality: A beautiful misunderstanding. , 6th Australian Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. 2005.

 

Researcher : Khuu KS

List of Research Outputs

 

Lee C.P.T., Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Flash lag in depth is induced by stereomotion but not looming: Distorted size and position perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 28-29.

 

Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Background motion affects global shape perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 176.

 

Or C.F.C., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., The interaction of motion and orientation in the perception of global structure, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 172-173.

 

Researcher : Ku YL

List of Research Outputs

 

Hau K.T., Halpern D.F., Marin-Burkhart L., Ho I.T.F., Ku Y.L., Chan N.M. and Lun V.M.C., Chinese and United States students' critical thinking: Cross-cultural construct validation of a critical thinking assessment, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. 2006.

 

Ku Y.L., Chan N.M., Lun V.M.C., Halpern D.F., Marin-Burkhart L., Hau K.T. and Ho I.T.F., Chinese and United States undergraduates' critical thinking skills: Academic and dispositional predictors, American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. 2006.

 

Researcher : Lam SF

Project Title:

Motivation in the classroom: instructional practices of teacher interns

Investigator(s):

Lam SF, Law YK

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2003

 

Abstract:

To investigate the factors that contribute to the adoption of motivating teaching strategies among teacher interns, also to study how these practices related to students' motivation and learning.

 

Project Title:

Social identity and intergroup perceptions of Hong Kong adolescents a decade after 1997

Investigator(s):

Lam SF, Lau IYM, Chiu CY, Hong Y.Y.

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2004

 

Abstract:

To investigate the social identity and intergroup perceptions of Hong Kong adolescents in almost a decade after the handover; to compare the social identity and intergroup perceptions of Hong Kong adolescents one year before and nine years after the handover.

 

Project Title:

A Cross-cultural Investigation of Asymmetry in Judgments of Moral and Academic Norms

Investigator(s):

Lam SF, Chan , Lee , Law YK

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2005

 

Abstract:

Socialization of students in moral behaviors and academic achievement is one of the major goals of teachers. Almost all teachers want to nurture good citizenship (conduct) and good scholarship (achievement) in their students. To achieve these goals, teachers may adopt various strategies to reinforce students' desirable behaviors and discourage students' undesirable behaviors. How the teachers assign credit and blame for good and bad behaviors are indicators of societal standards for these behaviors. Credit for good deeds reflects fulfillment of the standards for which most people aspire to achieve. Blame for wrong deeds reflects violation of some norms that stipulate how people ought and ought not to behave. How teachers judge their students' performance in conduct and achievement reflects the adults' adoption of these societal standards. How students make judgments of moral and academic norms also reflects their internalization of these societal standards that are sanctioned by their teachers. To be effective agents of socialization, teachers need to know what standards they have adopted as well as what factors contribute to their students' internalization of these standards.Research in the West has shown that there is an asymmetry in judgments of academic and moral norms (e.g., Hamilton, Blumenfeld, & Kushler, 1988; Weiner & Peter, 1973). Achievement strivings are maintained primarily by social reward, whereas moral behaviors are controlled primarily by social punishment. For moral norms, more punishment is assigned for failure than reward for adherence; whereas for achievement norms, more reward is assigned for success than punishment for failure. In other words, people tend to assign more credit than blame in the academic domain but more blame than credit in the moral domain. However, results of cross-cultural research in achievement motivation (e.g., Stevenson & Lee, 1990), self-concept (e.g., Kitayama, Markus, Mastsumoto, & Norasakkunkit, 1997), and regulatory focus (e.g., Elliot, Chirkov, Kim, & Sheldon, 2001) suggest that the asymmetry in judgments of academic and moral norms may not be the same or may not even exist in Asian culture. Most psychological theories are developed in the West with empirical supports from the research targeted at Westerners. The accuracy of these theories in delineating the psychological mechanisms of people in other cultures is uncertain. In their seminal paper, Markus and Kitayama (1991) point out that culture plays an undeniable role in almost all psychological processes. In the last decade, there are strong voices from Asian societies for the need to conduct psychological research that can address the unique characteristics of Asian people (e.g., Kim & Berry, 1993). The current research is an attempt to address such a need.The present project is a cross-cultural investigation of the asymmetry in judgments of academic and moral norms. We shall compare how students and teachers in the United States and Hong Kong assign credit and blame for good and bad deeds in academic and moral domains. Specifically, we would like to address the following questions:1. Do Chinese students and teachers display an asymmetry in judgments of academic and moral norms as do their American counterparts?2. What are the factors that contribute to the subscription of a specific rule system in judgments of academic and moral norms? Do these factors function differently in the two cultures?3. What are the emotional consequences of subscribing to different rule systems for students and teachers? Does culture play a role in this respect

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Chan J.C.Y. and Lam S.F., The Effects of Summative and Formative Feedback on Students' Vocabulary Acquisition Self-Efficacy, Poster presented at the 30th Annual Conference of the Australian Psychological Society, Melbourne. 2005.

 

Jimerson S.R., Graydon K., Yuen M.T., Lam S.F., Thurm J.M., Klueva N., Coyne J.H., Loprete L.J. and Phillips J., The International School Psychology Survey: Data from Austraila, China, Germany, Italy and Russia , School Psychology International . London, UK, SAGE, 2006, 27: 5-32.

 

Lam S.F., Chiu C.Y., Lau I.Y.M., Chan W.M. and Yim P.S., Managing intergroup attitudes among Hong Kong adolescents: The effects of social category inclusiveness and time pressure, Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 2006, 9: 1-11.

 

Lam S.F., The growth and development of school psychology in Hong Kong, In: C. L. Frisby & C. Reynolds, Handbook of Multicultural School Psychology. Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2005, 1107-1127.

 

Lam S.F. and Law Y.K., What Make Interns’ Teaching Motivating and Effective? , 18th annual convention of the American Psychological Society, New York, 2006.

 

Researcher : Lau IYM

Project Title:

Understanding cross-cultural persusasion within a communication framework

Investigator(s):

Lau IYM

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

01/2003

 

Abstract:

To examine the processes underlying cross-cultural persuasion by applying a communication framework.

 

Project Title:

Cross-cultural adjustment of perspective

Investigator(s):

Lau IYM, Epley N.

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2004

 

Abstract:

To ascertain the nature of one of the basic processes in interpersonal interaction, that of perspective taking.

 

Project Title:

Bicultural experiences, cultural competencies, and subjective well-being: the mediating role of cultural sensitivity and cognitive flexibility

Investigator(s):

Lau IYM

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

07/2005

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Bicultural experiences, cultural competencies, and subjective well-being: the mediating role of cultural sensitivity and cognitive flexibility

Investigator(s):

Lau IYM, Chiu CY, Lee SL

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

07/2005

 

Abstract:

To offer an original theoretical perspective to the social-cognitive basis for cultural competence and subjective well-being. The current research focuses on two important facets of cultural compettence: (a) quality of intercultural interaction, and (b) creative synthesis of cultural ideas. We propose that accuracy in discerning the preferred thinking and motivational styles in a new culture enhances the quality of intercultural interaction, whereas cognitive flexibility enables creative synthesis.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Lam S.F., Chiu C.Y., Lau I.Y.M., Chan W.M. and Yim P.S., Managing intergroup attitudes among Hong Kong adolescents: The effects of social category inclusiveness and time pressure, Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 2006, 9: 1-11.

 

Researcher : Lee CPT

List of Research Outputs

 

Khuu S.K., Lee C.P.T. and Hayes A., Human perception of image speed derived from the simultaneous extraction and analysis of visual information in two- and three-dimensional space, In: A. B. Watson, Journal of Vision. USA, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2006, 6: 631.

 

Lee C.P.T., Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Flash lag in depth is induced by stereomotion but not looming: Distorted size and position perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 28-29.

 

Researcher : Lee SL

Project Title:

The role of knowledge estimation in social interaction

Investigator(s):

Lee SL, Law NWY, Chan CKK, Chiu CY

Department:

Education Faculty

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

11/2004

 

Abstract:

To study how knowledge estimation mediates interpersonal communication and affects the effectiveness of team work.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Lee TMC

Project Title:

Memory deficits following unilateral frontal or temporal brain lesion

Investigator(s):

Lee TMC, Fan YW

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Health Services Research Fund - Full Grants

Start Date:

05/2000

 

Abstract:

To develop an instrument for assessment of confabulation in prose memory.

 

Project Title:

Deception and its detection: brain activities associated with faking memory problems

Investigator(s):

Lee TMC, Broadhurst RG, Yang ES, Liu AHL, Gao JH, Fox PT

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

08/2002

 

Abstract:

The project attempts to investigate the potential application of brain activities to understand the phenomenon of deception and its detection. It will examine the generalizability of forced-choice testing situations, and also different brain activities associated with making genuine errors and feigning memory impairment.

 

Project Title:

The effect of emotional attachment on the brain activities associated with deception: an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study

Investigator(s):

Lee TMC

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

06/2005

Completion Date:

11/2006

 

Abstract:

The study is intended to investigate the role of emotional attachment on the brain activity patterns that are associated with deception.

 

Project Title:

Selective attention biases of people with major depressive disorder, and its relationship with brain damages.

Investigator(s):

Lee TMC, Leung K.K.

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Small Project Funding

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

Attention bias towards mood-congruent information has been postulated to be one of the essential psychological substrates of major depressive disorder. Attention biases could have at least two levels of meanings: a) initial orienting, i.e. attention being captured involuntarily to certain types of information; and b) difficulties in inhibiting or shifting the attention from the current attentional focus once certain types of information has been attended to, either voluntarily or involuntarily. However, research findings are inconsistent in demonstrating these phenomena in people with major depressive disorder. This study aims to investigate whether people with major depressive disorder exhibit these two types of attention biases. In addition, it has been postulated that major depressive disorder is associated with frontal-limbic dysregulation. In particular, various studies suggest that amygdala, prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and hippocampus are involved in depression. This study also attempts to investigate whether people with brain lesions arising from stroke or brain trauma at the above areas also exhibit the attention biases to depression-related information. It also follows that question of whether those who show these attention biases due to brain lesions also exhibit depressive features will also be examined.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Cheung C.Y.C., Lee T.M.C., Yip J.T.H., King K.E. and Li L.S.W., The differential effects of thalamus and basal ganglia on facial emotion recognition, Brain and Cognition. 2006, 61: 262-268.

 

Lee T.M.C., Zhang J.X., Chan C.H., Yuen S.L., Chu L.W., Cheung R.T.F., Chan Y.S., Fox P.T. and Gao J.H., Age-related differences in response regulation as revealed by functional MRI, Brain Research. 2006, 1076(1): 171-176.

 

Lee T.M.C., Chi I., Chung L.W.M. and Chou K.L., Ageing and psychological response during the post-SARS period, Aging & Mental Health . 2006, 10: 303-311.

 

Lee T.M.C., Brain Imaging of deception, In: Geller L, McGraw-Hill 2006 Yearbook of Science & Technology. New York,: McGraw-Hill Professional. . 2005.

 

Lee T.M.C., Liu H.L., Chan C.C.H., Ng Y.B., Fox P.T. and Gao J.L., Neural correlates of feigned memory impairment, NeuroImage. 2005, 28: 305-313.

 

Lee T.M.C., Liu H.L., Hung K.N., Pu J., Ng Y.B., Mak K.Y., Gao J.H. and Chan C.C.H., The cerebellum’s involvement in the judgment of spatial orientation: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, Neuropsychologia. 2005, 43: 1870-1877.

 

Li G., Cheung R.T.F., Gao J.H., Lee T.M.C., Tan L.H., Fox P., Jack Jr C.R. and Yang E.S., Cognitive Processing In Chinese Literate And Illiterate Subjects: An fMRI Study , In: Peter Fox, Hum Brain Mapp . 2005, 27: 144-152.

 

Qiu G., Lee T.M.C., Helmeste D.M., Tang S.W. and So K.F., The modulation of paroxetine to the suppressive effect of corticosteroid on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, Society for Neuroscience 2005. Program No. 552.3.

 

Wang K.A.I., Fan J., Dong Y., Wang C.Q., Lee T.M.C. and Posner M., Selective impairment of attentional networks of orienting and executive control in schizophrenia, Schizophrenia Research. 2005, 78: 235-241.

 

Xiao Z.W., Lee T.M.C., Zhang J.X., Wu Q., Wu R., Weng X. and Hu X., Thirsty heroin addicts show different fMRI activations when exposed to water-related and drug-related cues, Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2006, 83: 157-162.

 

Yip J.T.H. and Lee T.M.C., Selective impairment of sadness and disgust recognition in abstinent ecstasy users, Neuropsychologia. 2006, 44: 959-965.

 

Researcher : Leung NK

List of Research Outputs

 

Leung N.K. and Ho C.S.H., The role of semantic radical awareness in reading among Chinese dyslexic children, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Researcher : Li WO

List of Research Outputs

 

Lee C.P.T., Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Flash lag in depth is induced by stereomotion but not looming: Distorted size and position perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 28-29.

 

Li W.O., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., Background motion affects global shape perception, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 176.

 

Researcher : Lo LY

List of Research Outputs

 

Lo L.Y., Knowing or not knowing: children's concept of 'having life', COGSCI 2005 XXVII annual conference of the cognitive science scoeity. 2005.

 

Researcher : Mak BSK

Project Title:

How 12-14 month old infants perceive faces of same age peers and adult faces

Investigator(s):

Mak BSK

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

01/2005

 

Abstract:

This proposal aims at examining whether 12- to 14-month-old infants show preference for faces which look like their facial features, such as faces of same age peers, over those of adults. In early face perception, little has been done on why young infants show great interest in children's faces. Do they prefer children's faces because they perceive thrie faces as similar to self?

 

Project Title:

One-year-old infants' preference for faces of same-age peers

Investigator(s):

Mak BSK

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Incentive Award for RGC CERG Fundable But Not Funded Projects

Start Date:

07/2005

Completion Date:

06/2006

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Mak B.S.K., Motion and categroization: Parallels between human and nonhuman primates, CEU Summer University, Budapest, Hungary, 2005.

 

Researcher : Mak KY

List of Research Outputs

 

Lee T.M.C., Liu H.L., Hung K.N., Pu J., Ng Y.B., Mak K.Y., Gao J.H. and Chan C.C.H., The cerebellum’s involvement in the judgment of spatial orientation: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, Neuropsychologia. 2005, 43: 1870-1877.

 

Researcher : Or CFC

List of Research Outputs

 

Or C.F.C., Khuu S.K. and Hayes A., The effect of contrast variations on the perception of Glass patterns, In: Andrew B. Watson, Journal of Vision. USA, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2006, 6: 583.

 

Or C.F.C., Khuu K.S. and Hayes A., The interaction of motion and orientation in the perception of global structure, In: Richard Gregory, Editor-in-Chief, Perception. UK, Pion, 2005, 34S: 172-173.

 

Researcher : Pang MP

Project Title:

Depressive perceptions of others in social interaction

Investigator(s):

Pang MP

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

University Research Committee / Committee on Research and Conference Grants - General Award

Start Date:

07/1997

 

Abstract:

To investigate the impact of depressive mood on perception of people with whom the depressed person interacts socially.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Poon CSK

Project Title:

Self-predictions of health-protective behaviors: The case of screening for hepatitis B in Hong Kong

Investigator(s):

Poon CSK, Koehler DJ

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

02/2006

 

Abstract:

(1) One purpose of the proposed research is to investigate how people predict the likelihood that they will carry out health-protective behaviors in the future. Evidence suggests that people's self-predictions tend to be overly optimistic. For example, people overestimate the likelihood that they will exercise more (Newby-Clark, 2005), and adhere to a healthier diet (Polivy & Hermann, 2002). Smokers who want to quit overestimate the likelihood that they will succeed (Weinstein, Slovic, & Gibson, 2004). What gives rise to such an optimistic bias? When are self-predictions about future health-protective behaviors more or less optimistically biased? Applying our intention-based prediction model (Koehler & Poon, in press), overly optimistic predictions of health-protective behaviors can be attributed to people's tendency to overweight their current good intentions to perform such behaviors and underweight situational factors that influence how hard such intentions can be translated into actions. Self-predictions are expected to become more overly optimistic as current intentions strengthen and translation of intentions into actions becomes more difficult. This research will test the applicability of this model to self-predictions of health-protective behaviors. In the proposed research, we choose to focus on people's predictions of the likelihood that they will take a blood test to screen for hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is endemic among the Chinese population. In a study by Chang and Yeoh (1985), the overall prevalence of all serological markers of hepatitis B infection [i.e., hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs)] among Hong Kong Chinese was estimated to be about 49.9%. About 9.5% of Hong Kong Chinese was estimated to be hepatitis B antigen carriers. The association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC or liver cancer) is well-established; about 90% of liver cancer occurs in carriers of hepatitis B. Liver cancer ranks third among the leading causes of cancer deaths in Hong Kong (Department of Health, Hong Kong Government, 2004). Hepatitis B antigen carriers are also known to be at risk for liver cirrhosis, which can cause liver failure and death. Thus, HBV infection and its related diseases are major public health concerns in Hong Kong. Since 1988, the Hong Kong Government has been providing all newborns with a free course of hepatitis B vaccination. Starting from 1992, this free vaccination service has been extended to include all children born in 1986 and after. A large segment of the Hong Kong population, however, are at risk for HBV infection, and are unsure of their HBV status. Blood screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) is an essential step for determining an appropriate course of action to protect one's health. Specifically, those who tested negative for HBsAg and anti-Hbs are likely to benefit from hepatitis B vaccination, which is a safe and effective means to prevent HBV infection. Those who tested positive for HBsAg (i.e., hepatitis B antigen carriers) are likely to benefit from followup testing and treatments by medical specialists. Those who tested positive for anti-HBs can be informed that they have naturally acquired immunity against HBV and vaccination is not necessary. (2) If our intention-based prediction model is found to apply to health-protective behaviors (e.g., attending blood screening for hepatitis B), its implications for people's pursuit of their behavioral targets will be explored. As people underweight situational factors in self-predictions, they may also underestimate the usefulness of available external aids (or mechanisms) in bringing about the behaviors that they intend to perform in the future. Thus, we expect that people will under-utilize external aids if they have to incur some immediate costs in using them. The proposed research will empirically evaluate this hypothesis. (3) Past studies have shown that people tend to be unrealistically optimistic about their own susceptibility to health problems (e.g., Weinstein, 1987). The proposed research will investigate the potential role of intention-based predictions of future behaviors in health risk perception. We suggest that people's assessments of their lifetime risk of particular health problems is based in part on their self-predictions of those behaviors they perceive to be relevant to the health problems being evaluated. Although screening and vaccination for hepatitis B can reduce the risk of liver cancer under certain conditions, the notion of HBV infection is not necessarily part of laypeople's conception about liver cancer. The proposed research will identify laypeople's beliefs about liver cancer and assess their knowledge about hepatitis B. For those who believe that HBV is a major cause of liver cancer and that screening and vaccination can reduce the chances of HBV infection, their self-assessments of risk of liver cancer are expected to be based in part on their predictions of the likelihood that they will undergo screening and vaccination for hepatitis B some time in the future (assuming that they are currently unsure of their HBV status). For those who believe that liver cancer is caused by other factors (e.g., lack of rest) and that it is preventable by other personal actions (e.g., getting sufficient rest), their risk perception is expected to be based in part on their predictions of their likelihood that they will perform those preventive actions (e.g., getting sufficient rest) some time in the future. From our perspective, people's good intentions to carry out those actions that they believe to be health-protective (whatever they are) will contribute to unrealistic optimism regarding their health risks. In this research, we will take some preliminary steps in evaluating this proposal. Refereneces: Chang, W. K., & Geoh, F. K. (1985). Hepatitis B markers in Hong Kong: A serological study of a Chinese population. Journal of the Hong Kong Medical Association, 37, 27-30. Department of Health, Hong Kong Government (2004). Annual Report 2003-2004. Retrieved December 4, 2005, from http://www.info.gov.hk/dh/publicat/ar0304/start.swf Koehler, D. J., & Poon, C. S. K. (in press). Self-predictions overweight strength of current intentions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Newby-Clark, I. R. (2005). Plans and predictions for exercise frequency change. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 27, 97-106. Polivy, J. & Hermann, C. P. (2002). If at first you don’t succeed: False hopes of self-change. American Psychologist, 57, 677-689. Weinstein, N. D. (1987). Unrealistic optimism: About susceptibility to health problems: Conclusions from a community-wide sample. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 10, 481-500. Weinstein, N.D., Slovic, P. & Gibson, G. (2004). Accuracy and optimism in smokers' beliefs about quitting. Nicotine and Tabacco Research, 6, Supplement 3, S375-S380.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Koehler D.J. and Poon C.S.K., Self-predictions And The Intention-action Gap, Southern Ontario Behavioral Decision Research Conference. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2006.

 

Koehler D.J. and Poon C.S.K., Self-predictions Overweight Strength Of Current Intentions, Annual Meeting Of The Society For Judgment And Decision Making, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2005.

 

Poon C.S.K. and Koehler D.J., Lay personality knowledge and dispositionist thinking: A knowledge-activation framework, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Elsevier, 2006, 42: 177-191.

 

Poon C.S.K., Koehler D.J. and Leung A., Self-predictions Are Insensitive To The Validity Of Current Intentions As A Predictor Of Future Behavior, Annual Meeting Of The Society For Judgment And Decision Making, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2005.

 

Researcher : Spinks JA

Project Title:

Cognitive mechanisms and their neurocognitive bases for reading Chinese

Investigator(s):

Spinks JA

Department:

Psychology

Source(s) of Funding:

Outstanding RGC Projects

Start Date:

09/1998

 

Abstract:

To find evidence from imaging and ERP procedures that converges with behavioral data on the reading of Chinese characters; to find the functional neuroanatomy that is the basis for various word identification events in Chinese. Tasks and stimuli will bee designed to allow differentiation of the visual, phonological, and semantic components; to extend behavioral evidence to cases of bilingual reading by comparisons of Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong with Mandarin speakers of Beijing.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Tan L

Project Title:

Cognitive and brain processing of the Chinese language

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Yang ES, Shen GG, Perry C, Spinks JA, Yip V., Siok WT, Fox PT

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Central Allocation Vote - Group Research Project

Start Date:

02/2003

 

Abstract:

To investigate cognitive processes of Chinese reading and character recognition; to identify functional neuro-anatomical substrates of sub-lexical phonological computation; to determine the brain mechanism underlying Chinese language production.

 

Project Title:

Age of acquisition and language processing: cognitive and brain-mapping studies

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Perry C, Weekes B.S., Li P., Tao S.

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2003

Completion Date:

08/2005

 

Abstract:

To use age-of-acquisition effects (AoA effects) to investigate how cognitive and neural systems for Chinese language processing are developed. Two important theories that will be tested are the phonological completeness hypothesis and the arbitrary mapping hypothesis. Specially: By examing reading the picture naming in Chinese and comparing the results from Chinese reading with those reported previously from English reading, we will be able to discover how quality representations of lexical items are shaped with learning and practice. The effect of AoA will be further examined by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, identifying the areas that are activated and comparing them with previous research on semantic processing should allow us to evaluate the contribution of AoA to cortical localization of language processing.

 

Project Title:

Age of acquisition and language processing: cognitive and brain-mapping studies

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Perry C, Weekes B.S., Li P., Tao S.

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

09/2003

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Learning to read in Chinese: Possible intervention strategies implicated by fMRI studies

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Siok WT

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

02/2005

 

Abstract:

To address the question - "we suggesting motor programming is one of the most important facilitators of Chinese reading acquisition." by using a battery of behavioral-cognitive tasks. It will advance our understanding of how to improve the teaching and learning of the Chinese language.

 

Project Title:

Chinese character identification: cognitive processes and neural circuitry

Investigator(s):

Tan LH

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Incentive Award for RGC CERG Fundable But Not Funded Projects

Start Date:

07/2005

Completion Date:

06/2006

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Neuroimaging research on visual and attentional deficits in Chinese dyslexia

Investigator(s):

Tan LH

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Matching Fund for National Key Basic Research Development Scheme (973 Projects)

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

This proposed research is based on theories of visual perception and uses functional magnetic resonance imaging and advanced imaging analysis techniques to investigate the neurobiological origin of Chinese dyslexia (impaired Chinese reading). The project aims to define the nature of dyslexic reading in Chinese children and to lay scientific foundation for early diagnosis and treatment of Chinese dyslexia. The research will also generate important pathological data to test the prominent topological theory of visual perception that assumes that the perception of wholes of an object precedes the perception of tis constituents.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Tan LH

Project Title:

Cognitive and brain processing of the Chinese language

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Yang ES, Shen GG, Perry C, Spinks JA, Yip V., Siok WT, Fox PT

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Central Allocation Vote - Group Research Project

Start Date:

02/2003

 

Abstract:

To investigate cognitive processes of Chinese reading and character recognition; to identify functional neuro-anatomical substrates of sub-lexical phonological computation; to determine the brain mechanism underlying Chinese language production.

 

Project Title:

Age of acquisition and language processing: cognitive and brain-mapping studies

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Perry C, Weekes B.S., Li P., Tao S.

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG)

Start Date:

09/2003

Completion Date:

08/2005

 

Abstract:

To use age-of-acquisition effects (AoA effects) to investigate how cognitive and neural systems for Chinese language processing are developed. Two important theories that will be tested are the phonological completeness hypothesis and the arbitrary mapping hypothesis. Specially: By examing reading the picture naming in Chinese and comparing the results from Chinese reading with those reported previously from English reading, we will be able to discover how quality representations of lexical items are shaped with learning and practice. The effect of AoA will be further examined by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, identifying the areas that are activated and comparing them with previous research on semantic processing should allow us to evaluate the contribution of AoA to cortical localization of language processing.

 

Project Title:

Age of acquisition and language processing: cognitive and brain-mapping studies

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Perry C, Weekes B.S., Li P., Tao S.

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Merit Award for RGC CERG Funded Projects

Start Date:

09/2003

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Learning to read in Chinese: Possible intervention strategies implicated by fMRI studies

Investigator(s):

Tan LH, Siok WT

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Seed Funding Programme for Basic Research

Start Date:

02/2005

 

Abstract:

To address the question - "we suggesting motor programming is one of the most important facilitators of Chinese reading acquisition." by using a battery of behavioral-cognitive tasks. It will advance our understanding of how to improve the teaching and learning of the Chinese language.

 

Project Title:

Chinese character identification: cognitive processes and neural circuitry

Investigator(s):

Tan LH

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Incentive Award for RGC CERG Fundable But Not Funded Projects

Start Date:

07/2005

Completion Date:

06/2006

 

Abstract:

N/A

 

Project Title:

Neuroimaging research on visual and attentional deficits in Chinese dyslexia

Investigator(s):

Tan LH

Department:

Linguistics

Source(s) of Funding:

Matching Fund for National Key Basic Research Development Scheme (973 Projects)

Start Date:

09/2005

 

Abstract:

This proposed research is based on theories of visual perception and uses functional magnetic resonance imaging and advanced imaging analysis techniques to investigate the neurobiological origin of Chinese dyslexia (impaired Chinese reading). The project aims to define the nature of dyslexic reading in Chinese children and to lay scientific foundation for early diagnosis and treatment of Chinese dyslexia. The research will also generate important pathological data to test the prominent topological theory of visual perception that assumes that the perception of wholes of an object precedes the perception of tis constituents.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Tsui KYY

List of Research Outputs

 

Chan C.L.W., Chow A.Y.M., Ho M.Y., Tsui K.Y.Y., Tin A.F. and Koo B.W.K., The experience of Chinese bereaved persons: A preliminary study of meaning making and continuing bonds, Death Studies. 2005, 29(10): 923-947.

 

Researcher : Wong WL

List of Research Outputs

 

Wong W.L. and Ho C.S.H., Lexical information encapsulation of Chinese words among young readers with or without reading disabilities, The Eleventh International Conference on Processing Chinese and Other East Asian Languages, Hong Kong. 2005.

 

Researcher : Yip JTH

Project Title:

Effects of executive functions rehabilitation on language impairment

Investigator(s):

Yip JTH

Department:

Edu Fac-Speech & Hearing Sci Division

Source(s) of Funding:

Sik Sik Yuen Education Research Fund

Start Date:

03/2004

 

Abstract:

To study effects of executive functions rehabilitation on language impairment.

 

List of Research Outputs

 

Researcher : Yuen SL

List of Research Outputs