Statistical Semantics : Methods and Applications

"This book discusses the application of various statistical methods to texts, rather than numbers, in various fields in behavioral science. It proposes an approach where quantitative methods are applied to data whereas previously such data were analyzed only by qualitative research methods. To emphasize the quantitative aspects of semantics, and the possibilities of conducting scientific interferences, the book introduces the concept of statistical semantics and presents the reader with a subset of techniques found in that domain. More specifically, the book focuses on methods that allow the investigation of semantic relationships between words, based on empirical corpus data. It shows the reader how to apply various statistical methods on texts, for example statistical tests to ascertain whether two sets of text are statistically different, ways to predict variables from text, as well as how to summarize and graphically illustrate texts. Thus, the book presents an accessible hands-on introduction to a selection of techniques, indispensable for cognitive psychologists, linguists, and social psychologists."-- Prové de l'editor Front Matter ....Pages i-xvi Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Introduction to Statistical Semantics (Sverker Sikström, Danilo Garcia)....Pages 3-9 Creating Semantic Representations (Finn Årup Nielsen, Lars Kai Hansen)....Pages 11-31 Software for Creating and Analyzing Semantic Representations (Finn Årup Nielsen, Lars Kai Hansen)....Pages 33-51 Semantic Similarity Scales: Using Semantic Similarity Scales to Measure Depression and Worry (Oscar N. E. Kjell, Katarina Kjell, Danilo Garcia, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 53-72 Prediction and Semantic Trained Scales: Examining the Relationship Between Semantic Responses to Depression and Worry and the Corresponding Rating Scales (Oscar N. E. Kjell, Katarina Kjell, Danilo Garcia, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 73-86 SemanticExcel.com: An Online Software for Statistical Analyses of Text Data Based on Natural Language Processing (Sverker Sikström, Oscar N. E. Kjell, Katarina Kjell)....Pages 87-103 Front Matter ....Pages 105-105 Neuroscience: Mapping the Semantic Representation of the Brain (Larissa Langensee, Johan Mårtensson)....Pages 107-123 A Ternary Model of Personality: Temperament, Character, and Identity (Danilo Garcia, Kevin M. Cloninger, Sverker Sikström, Henrik Anckarsäter, C. Robert Cloninger)....Pages 125-142 Dark Identity: Distinction Between Malevolent Character Traits Through Self-Descriptive Language (Danilo Garcia, Patricia Rosenberg, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 143-164 The (Mis)measurement of Happiness: Words We Associate to Happiness (Semantic Memory) and Narratives of What Makes Us Happy (Episodic Memory) (Danilo Garcia, Ali Al Nima, Oscar N. E. Kjell, Alexandre Granjard, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 165-189 Space: The Importance of Language as an Index of Psychosocial States in Future Space Missions (Sonja M. Schmer-Galunder)....Pages 191-207 Social Psychology: Evaluations of Social Groups with Statistical Semantics (Marie Gustafsson Sendén, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 209-218 Implicit Attitudes: Quantitative Semantic Misattribution Procedure (Niklas Lanbeck, Danilo Garcia, Clara Amato, Andreas Olsson, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 219-236 Linguistic: Application of LSA to Predict Linguistic Maturity and Language Disorder in Children (Kristina Hansson, Birgitta Sahlén, Rasmus Bååth, Sverker Sikström)....Pages 237-248 Political Science: Moving from Numbers to Words in the Case of Brexit (Annika Fredén)....Pages 249-262