María M Richard´s

Problemáticas experimentales en la investigación con emociones y su evaluación en población infantil

The field of research in emotions has grown considerably, and its evaluation has become one of the main objectives of research in contemporary psychology. However, the measurement of emotions presents a set of difficulties, some more general and shared with other psychological constructs, and others of a specific nature, specific to the field of study. In this paper, we analyze the methodological aspects of research in emotions, the selection of stimuli that elicit emotions and the differences associated with age. Based on this analysis, an integrative approach is proposed to the discrete and dimensional models of emotions and the use of different measurement tools to be able to record the different levels of emotional response. In addition, we propose the use of standardized visual stimulus bases as a more efficient tool to elicit emotions, and the need to have an extensive and appropriate basis for working with children. Finally, ethical aspects are taken into account both for the procedure and for the selection of emotional stimuli in children.

Cognitive predictors of reading comprehension levels using discriminant analysis

Reading comprehension is a complex skill, which involves different cognitive processes such as monitoring, working memory, interference suppression and resolution inferences. The aim of this work is to evaluate the discriminative ability of these processes, to differentiate levels of reading comprehension, in children between 8 and 9 years of age (N = 89) of public, and private, schools, in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina. For this, specific tests were administered to each of these processes. The results distinguished two discriminant functions; the first one was the only that distinguished between individuals with good or bad comprehension abilities. A good level of reading comprehension implied to be efficient in the use of language skills (monitoring, inference, vocabulary), and, also, having abilities of processing (working memory). In contrast, the failure in general processing skills, such as phonological working memory or deficit in the ability to relate concepts (vocabulary), appeared to be characteristic of individuals with bad comprehension skills.