Current research trends on cognition, integrative complexity, and decision-making: a systematic literature review using activity theory and neuroscience.

Introduction: This article presents a systematic literature review that follows the PRISMA and PICOS guidelines to analyze current research trends on cognition, integrative complexity (IC) (a cognitive feature focusing on information processing in a person's response rather than its quantity or quality), and decision-making from the perspectives of activity theory and neuroscience. Methods: The study examines 31 papers published between 2012 and 2022 and 19 articles specifically related to neuroscience. We performed a content analysis using six categories within activity theory: subjects, objects, rules, community, division of labor, and outcomes. Results: The study investigates the relationship between decision-making outcomes and IC as a cognitive feature in various contexts. Additionally, content analysis on neuroscience and IC revealed significant research gaps, including understanding the nature of IC, challenges related to its measurement, and differentiation from other cognitive features. We also identify opportunities for investigating the brain's activity during decision-making in relation to IC. Discussion: We address the need for a more precise categorization of IC in studies of cognition, IC, and decision-making. We discuss the implications of our analysis for understanding the cognitive nature of IC and the potential of neuroscience methods for studying this attribute.

Cognitive modeling for understanding interactions between people and decision support tools in complex and uncertain environments: A study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in Computational Intelligence Tools and the escalating need for decision-making in the face of complex and uncertain phenomena like pandemics, climate change, and geopolitics necessitate understanding the interaction between these tools and human behavior. It is crucial to efficiently utilize the decision-makers cognitive resources in addressing specific problems. METHODS: The main goal of this present protocol is to describe the effect that CITs (Computational Intelligence Tools) have on decisions made during complex and uncertain situations. It is an exploratory study with a mixed methodology. Solomon's group experiment design includes a narrative analysis of cognitive features such as integrative complexity (IC), cognitive flexibility (CF), and fluid intelligence (FI). Additionally, measures of neural activity (NA), physiological measures (PM), and eye-tracking data (ET) will be collected during the experimental session to examine the marginal impact of these processes on decision outcomes (DO) and their relation to CIT capabilities. To achieve this objective, 120 undergraduate and graduate students involved in decision-making will participate as subjects. The approximate duration of the study will be 2 years. Strict adherence to the relevant ethical considerations will be maintained during the performance of the experimental tasks. DISCUSSION: The study will provide valuable information on CITs' effect on decision-making under complex and uncertain contexts. This will help to better understand the link between technology and human behavior, which has important implications. CIT designers can use future results and at the same time, it will be possible to understand cognitive, behavioral, physiological processes, and even the subjective assessment of individuals when they use technological tools to solve a problem.

Construcción y validación de un instrumento para medir la percepción de exclusión social en jóvenes / Development and validation of an instrument to measure social exclusion perception in young people

Resumen Introducción: La exclusión social es un fenómeno multifactorial que expone a las personas a desventajas económicas, institucionales y sociales. Frecuentemente los jóvenes padecen exclusión social que les genera amplias consecuencias negativas. Objetivo: Desarrollar y validar un instrumento para evaluar la percepción de exclusión social en jóvenes mexicanos. Método: Estudio centrado en la psicometría. En una primera fase se creó una versión preliminar del instrumento a partir de reactivos derivados de la literatura. La calidad de los reactivos fue evaluada por expertos y por un grupo de jóvenes de la población objetivo. En una segunda fase se incluyeron 415 jóvenes y se obtuvo la confiabilidad, validez y normas del instrumento. Resultados: La primera versión del instrumento contempló 60 reactivos evaluados en la segunda fase. La versión final del instrumento incluyó 35 reactivos agrupados en nueve factores que explicaron el 62,30 % de la varianza total. Esta estructura factorial mostró una consistencia interna alta (α= ,863). El análisis factorial confirmatorio indicó un adecuado ajuste (x2= 1,71; CFI= ,926; RMSEA= ,042) que brinda evidencia sobre la validez empírica del instrumento. Conclusión: El instrumento tiene adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para evaluar la percepción de exclusión social en jóvenes mexicanos, el cual puede ser empleado en la investigación psicosocial. El estudio de la exclusión social se lleva a cabo desde las ciencias políticas, la economía y la sociología; pero hasta el conocimiento de los autores, este estudio representa una de las primeras propuestas de su abordaje desde la psicología social considerando central la visión de los individuos y sus interacciones sociales con otros grupos.

Abstract Introduction: Social exclusion is a multifactorial phenomenon that involves economic, institutional and social disadvantages for diverse groups of people. Frequently, young people face social exclusion that causes them negative consequences. Objective: To develop and validate an instrument to evaluate social exclusion perception in young people from Mexico. Method: This is an article research result, which is based on psychometric principles. During the first phase, a preliminary instrument version was developed on the base of a literature review. Experts and a group of young Mexican people evaluate items' quality. During the second phase, 415 participants were enrolled and the instrument psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and interpretation) were estimated. Results: The first version instrument included 60 items which were evaluated in the second phase. The final version of the instrument has 35 items grouped in nine factors that explained 62,30 % of the total variance. This instrument's factorial structure showed high internal consistency (α=.863). The confirmatory factorial analysis indicated an acceptable fit (x2=1.71; CFI=.926; RMSEA=.042) which gave evidence of the instrument empirical validity. Conclusion: Instrument has good psychometric properties to evaluate social exclusion perception; therefore it can be used in the psychosocial investigation. Social exclusion phenomenon has been studied on base the politics, economic and sociology sciences; however until author knowledge, this is a pioneer proposal to study social exclusion based on the social psychology. This science is focused in the subject vision and their group social interactions.