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This paper analyzes the influence of alternative voting technologies on electoral outcomes in multi-party systems. Using data from a field experiment conducted during the 2005 legislative election in Argentina, we examine the role of information effects associated with alternative voting devices on the support for the competing parties. We find that differences in the type of information displayed and how it was presented across devices favored some parties to the detriment of others. The impact of voting technologies was found to be larger than in two-party systems, and could lead to changes in election results. We conclude that authorities in countries moving to adopt new voting systems should carefully take the potential partisan advantages induced by different technologies into account when evaluating their implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to report results from an exploratory, empirical research study that describes personal values and attitudes toward women, two themes that strongly impact employment relations and a wide variety of management issues. Design/methodology/approach -- Well-established measures for the major themes for this paper were used in constructing a questionnaire. Data collection instruments were vetted for content, translated and back-translated, and applied by native researchers, who also contributed local expertise to the paper. Findings -- Female respondents across all four countries were more egalitarian in their attitudes towards women in the workforce than were men. Additionally, Colombian respondents had more egalitarian attitudes towards women scores, followed by Brazilians and Argentineans; Mexicans exhibited the least egalitarian attitudes toward women. Originality/value -- This is the first empirical study that links two well-validated constructs (personal values and attitudes toward women) in samples from the largest Latin American countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper addresses the following question: How can we advance in the knowledge of the past from the perspective of subjects? This presents an epistemological and methodological challenge posed to address forms of reasoning capable of involving the subject, secondly, distinguishing between what we call the "historical knowledge" as a heritage of the scholar, researcher, where the historical is placed between the facts of reality as an aspect of it, as an object; and the historical knowledge as a higher authority where the subject is incorporated as forgotten knowledge, and it is here where the social memory in the elaboration of history takes a different sense, because the social changes, the emergence of new actors and sensibilities and imaginary world involve transformations of the ways of the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzed the coping strategies and exam anxiety in 140 Psychology majors at the University of the Aconcagua, in the state of Mendoza. It also evaluated the differences and the relationship between these two variables according to gender, completed courses and academic year. Results showed that the coping strategies included the Search for Alternative Bonuses and Emotional Discharge; students also reported a low level of anxiety. Significant associations were found between these two variables, as well in relation to gender and the academic year. No significant results were found in the relationship with completed courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed at analyzing the cycling safety-related factors and the mental health indicators of elderly cyclists in comparison with other age groups. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of 911 bicyclists from two Latin American countries that have been experiencing a substantial growth of urban cycling during the last few years: Colombia and Argentina. Participants responded to an e-questionnaire on bicycling behaviors, mental health and cycling safety. Results: Aging adults reported lower rates of risky behaviors and traffic crashes (around .38 in five years), and, on the other hand, more cycling protective behaviors, a higher risk perception and a better knowledge of traffic norms than both other adults (26–50 years old) and young cyclists (<26). Cycling behaviors and crashes were found to be significantly related to mental health indicators, the latter being higher in aging cyclists. However, this population remains more prone to distractions experienced while cycling than other age groups. Conclusions: Although the behavioral features of aging adults were comparatively “safer” than the ones displayed by other age groups, factors such as cycling distractions and this population’s over-representation in traffic crashes suggest the need of enforcing policymaking for a better integration of this age segment in alternative transportation dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the ethnographic research conducted on Mbya communities in Argentina which examines the practices related to child rearing and development during the first stages of life. It explores the Mbya linguistic categories, values, and representations concerning growth and development processes as well as on motor function which is considered as a basis of growth and health. It examines the relationship between health, movement, and identity. It also highlights the results of the research within the frame of concepts and views from various disciplines including sociology, anthropology, and psychology.

Copyright of Universitas Psychologica is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Based on both archival research and two and a half years of ethnographic fieldwork in an Argentine shantytown with high levels of air, water, and ground contamination, this article examines the social production of environmental uncertainty. First, we dissect residents' perceptions of contamination, finding widespread doubts and mistakes about the polluted habitat. Second, we provide a sociologically informed account of uncertainty and the erroneous perceptions that underlie it. Along with inherent ambiguity surrounding toxic contamination, the generalized confusion about sources and effects of pollution is the result of two factors: (1) the "relational anchoring" of risk perceptions and (2) the "labor of confusion" generated by powerful outside actors. We derive two implications from this ethnographic case study: (1) Cognitive psychology and organizational sociology can travel beyond the boundaries of self-bounded communities and laboratory settings to understand and explain the collective production and reproduction of ignorance, uncertainty, and error. (2) Research on inequality and marginality in general, and in Latin America in particular, should pay close attention to the contaminated spaces where the urban poor live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]