Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
Researchers argue that companies must provide explanations for algorithmic decision-making processes, as this is an ethical obligation apart from performance impact. They propose that companies can achieve transparency while maintaining trade secrets by hiring data interpreters or implementing explainable AI.
A US study suggests that delaying the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines for people under 65 could result in lower mortality rates, with estimates suggesting a 20% reduction in deaths. The strategy is optimal when vaccine efficacy from one dose is 80% or higher and vaccination rates are low.
A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers has developed a new extension called Skeema, which helps users group their browser tabs into tasks and organize, prioritize, and switch between them. This tool addresses the issue of tab overload and improves online productivity by merging tab management and task management in a browser.
A recent study published in the Journal of Law and Society suggests that children are more prone to pleading guilty even when innocent due to their brain development and information processing abilities. The researchers argue that this can lead to inaccurate convictions and recommend tailored protection for young defendants.
A study by University of Cambridge researchers found that credit officers are less likely to approve loan applications at midday, resulting in missed opportunities for customers and financial losses for the bank. The study suggests that regular breaks during working hours can improve performance and productivity.
A study found that consumers with high need for cognition prefer content-based recommendations, while those with low need for cognition prefer collaborative filtering. The type of product also plays a role, with experience products being more appealing to consumers with high need for cognition.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Human Development discovered that the brain rapidly shifts from a rhythmic to a 'noisy' state when task demands increase. This shift enables flexible information processing, allowing individuals to adapt to changing environments and make better decisions.
KICT has developed an effective structural monitoring technique to monitor massive infrastructures, such as long-span bridges. The method uses multi-fidelity data fusion to combine point and distributed strain sensors for accurate responses over whole infrastructures.
Researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine found that primary care practitioners significantly overestimated the likelihood of conditions such as cardiac ischemia and breast cancer. The study highlights the need for better decision-making tools to help doctors estimate risk based on laboratory findings.
Research from University of Gothenburg shows Brexit may change EU cooperation structure, with neighboring countries and similar ideologies taking precedence. After the referendum, member states with similar economic and political systems have stronger partnerships.
A new approach to solving multiagent decision making problems using agent-by-agent optimization leads to reduced computational complexity, performing at par with standard rollout algorithms. The result is a dramatic reduction in computation cost with linear growth in computation with the number of agents.
Employees perceive prosocially motivated supervisors as fairer and are more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt, even when they make mistakes. Research from the University of Notre Dame found that supervisor motives impact fairness judgments and that focusing on prosocial motives can buffer the negative effects of low justice ...
A new study finds that climate change is a major consideration for people deciding whether or not to have children, with many citing concerns over resource depletion and population growth. The research identifies three themes: overconsumption, overpopulation, and an uncertain future, which can evoke feelings of guilt and moral obligation.
Researchers at Penn State found that providing explanations for online symptom checker recommendations can increase user confidence and trust in the diagnosis. The study showed that users were more likely to trust the symptoms checker when they received clear explanations of how the system generated its probable diagnoses and suggestions.
A new synthetic framework, TB-ResNet, combines discrete choice models and deep neural networks to improve individual decision-making analysis in travel behavior research. The framework has been proven to be highly predictive, interpretable, and robust.
Portland State University has been awarded the Karen Hunter Memorial Award for its innovative open access textbook publishing initiative, PDXOpen. The award recognizes the university's efforts to reduce student costs and improve learning outcomes through openly licensed textbooks.
A recent study by University of Georgia researchers found that people are more likely to rely on algorithms for decision-making, even when faced with complex challenges. As the task becomes harder, people prefer algorithm-generated suggestions over human advice or 'wisdom of the crowd', according to the study.
In a study published by Ohio State University, men are more likely to be designated as the most knowledgeable about household finances, especially in wealthy households. The study found that among households in the top 1% of net worth, husbands were designated as the most knowledgeable in 90% of the households.
Researchers found that fruit flies use decision-making, learning and memory to escape heat, a process that challenges traditional thinking on self-driving cars. The study's findings suggest that simple navigation can contain complex behavior, paving the way for future work in this area.
Two studies from Indiana University and Regenstrief Institute found discrepancies between recorded POLST orders and current treatment preferences among nursing home residents. Regular review and update of these documents are crucial to ensure they reflect changing situations and patient wishes.
A new study published in Marketing Science reveals that customized seller recommendations are more powerful than discounting in increasing conversion rates. The research also found that auction-based pricing mechanisms improve the efficiency of retargeting campaigns, especially when consumers have high search intensity for specific pro...
A new study found that subsistence consumers' effective participation in markets requires knowledge and skills, leading to increased wellbeing and entrepreneurship. Brief programs can aid the development of marketplace literacy and generate substantive outcomes.
A new study by William Bazley found that using the color red to represent financial data affects individuals' risk preferences, expectations of future stock returns, and trading decisions. The effects are not present in people who are colorblind, and they're muted in China, where red represents prosperity.
Southwest Research Institute is developing an AI-based integrated corridor management decision support system for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The system uses machine learning algorithms to optimize traffic flow and improve collaboration among transportation agencies.
Researchers at PNNL are developing explainable AI expertise to tackle national security challenges. They use techniques like feature importance to understand why AI systems make certain decisions, ensuring trust in predictions made with slim and incomplete data.
Psychologist Darya Zabelina is researching how attention and executive functions relate to creative thinking. She aims to develop training protocols to improve creativity in military personnel, who face unpredictable situations.
Researchers at UOC are developing a system to analyze and digitize agricultural data, using machine learning and intelligent algorithms to personalize customer targeting and improve sales processes. The project aims to give small enterprises more competitive tools, with potential impact on other sectors.
Researchers found that marketplace literacy education improved psychological wellbeing, consumer confidence, and entrepreneurial behavior among 1,000 people in 34 remote villages. Those with limited access to marketplaces benefited most from the education.
In snowy plover species, females often abandon their broods to mate with new partners, a behavior that may be beneficial for parental reproductive success. The study found that females desert their broods primarily due to poor environmental conditions or when chicks have a good chance of survival without them.
Researchers found that objective and subjective memory can function independently and involve different parts of the brain. People tend to make decisions based on how they feel about a memory rather than its accuracy.
A recent study found that biases arise from unconscious tendencies towards certain decisions, affecting wellbeing. The research used mathematical models and neural recordings in primates to understand how biases are formed, revealing two types of bias: slow and fast, which can be difficult to eradicate.
A new study examines the application of a risk assessment tool in child welfare decision-making and finds drastically different approaches between two states. The 'Goldilocks problem' highlights the challenges of standardizing a complex process, where too much rigidity can lead to inaccurate outcomes.
A study led by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya finds that lockdowns reduce cognitive capacity, leading to poorer choices and decreased altruism. The shock from restrictions impairs decision-making, causing people to prioritize short-term benefits over long-term consequences.
A University of Queensland and Nature Conservancy study reveals that women's voices are critically lacking in conservation, with gender discrimination being systemic and consistent. The research found positive impacts when women were involved in conservation, but existing gender roles and dynamics limit their participation.
A UTA civil engineering assistant professor is developing a multi-level dynamic model to measure the resilience level of transportation infrastructure networks in natural disasters. The project will create a decision-support tool and quantitative models to enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure before disasters occur.
Research finds that people's reason for swiping right is primarily based on attractiveness and the race of a potential partner. Decisions are often made quickly, with only personality, approach style, or long-term goals mattering slightly.
A new study from the University of Washington reveals that people's brains have parallel learning systems for avoiding bad options and finding good ones. The research suggests that being able to 'turn down the volume' on irrelevant signals is critical to complex problem-solving.
Top managers in Fantasy Premier League showcase consistent skillful play, outperforming others with strategic decisions. The study's findings highlight the importance of skill over luck in fantasy football success.
The Wellcome Trust, a top funder of health research, holds significant investments in companies producing covid-19 treatments. This has raised questions about the charity's independence and conflicts of interest in pandemic response efforts. Experts weigh in on the implications of private charities' financial interests on global health.
A new study predicts that the Southeastern United States is at high risk of extreme drought, which could expose its water-supply infrastructure to stress beyond its design limit. The researchers used short-term climate modeling forecasts to highlight the urgency of drought risk and inform policymakers' actions.
A new framework allows designers to assess environmental impact early in the design process, reducing costs and increasing sustainability. By rapidly simulating tens of thousands of design iterations, architects can make more informed decisions and achieve greater efficiency.
Researchers have identified how Physarum polycephalum, a single-celled organism, stores and retrieves information about its environment through its network architecture. The slime mold weaves memories of food encounters into the architecture and uses stored information to make future decisions.
A recent study from Cornell University-led research highlights the risk of overvaluing prototypical leaders and undervaluing management skills. Participants preferred to hire a CEO with strong leadership qualities over those with more managerial expertise, despite the organization's need for management skills.
Researchers at Indiana University Kelley School of Business found that observing others make decisions can help reduce bias and improve decision-making. The study used computer games to decrease bias and showed that watching others solve problems helped observers learn about decision biases and improve their own.
New research suggests that observing others' decision-making can teach people to make better decisions themselves. The study, co-authored by Professor Irene Scopelliti, tested the effectiveness of a new debiasing training strategy and reports first evidence that watching others make decisions can improve our own decision making.
A new study in Frontiers in Communication demonstrates the impact of subtle messaging and cues on encouraging people to show socially desirable behaviors. Travelers were more likely to demonstrate environmentally conscious actions when given a 'nudge' towards the desirable action, whether framed positively or negatively.
The five winners are recognized for their accomplishments in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, as well as their commitment to leading and mentoring young scientists. The awards aim to support the careers of women researchers from developing countries and promote diversity in STEM fields.
A new study found that traffic noise and man-made sounds significantly impact the mating choices of female field crickets. In noisy environments, females are unable to detect differences in male quality, leading to a reduction in offspring viability.
A new model developed by a Washington University mathematician helps estimate the relative risk of different in-person activities, such as traveling or attending events. By breaking down individual factors and adding their contributions to relative risk, the model allows for informed decision-making about participation.
A study found that voters tend to view candidates with disabilities as capable, honest, and caring. The research suggests that increasing support for candidates with disabilities is key to addressing under-representation in politics.
Scientists are using brain recordings, flight analyses, and computational modeling to uncover the neural mechanisms behind insect decision-making. The study aims to inform autonomous robotics, computational neuroscience, and other fields by understanding how insects utilize movement to simplify information sampling.
Seventy experts argue that misunderstandings around attachment research are hampering its accurate implementation in family courts. The group outlines three principles from attachment research to guide decision-making, including the child's need for familiar caregivers and the benefits of networks of familiar relationships.
A study of potential jurors found they are more favorable towards physicians who accept standard AI medical recommendations. The study suggests the threat of legal liability may be smaller than commonly thought, influencing physician behavior and AI adoption.
Researchers developed an online risk-stratification tool to predict COVID-19 patients' likelihood of deterioration, using 11 measurements including age, oxygen levels, and laboratory tests. The '4C Deterioration Score' provides clinicians with a percentage risk score to support decision-making and potentially save lives.
In a recent study, researchers showed that the ability to use social information can depend on an individual's cognitive skills. Female collared flycatchers who mastered a learning task faster were more likely to copy the nest site choices of great and blue tits.
A study found that a traffic light system reduced clinical uncertainty by 70% and improved treatment decisions for doctors. The system, which uses green, yellow, and red lights to indicate risk levels, was shown to decrease pupil dilation and improve treatment outcomes.
A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that irrelevant information and unavailable options often lead to poor choices. The researchers discovered that consumers carry cognitive costs when making decisions in environments with excess information.
A special issue of Information Polity explores the transparency challenges of using algorithms in government decision-making, highlighting potential benefits and drawbacks. Experts emphasize the need for regulations, organizational policies, and individual training to ensure transparent and responsible algorithm use.
A new study explores how human decision-making impacts engineered systems. Researchers found that people often overestimate their abilities and succumb to biases, leading to inefficiencies in system design.
Researchers predict soybean maturity date within two days using drone images and artificial intelligence, greatly reducing the need for boots on the ground. The developed model performs well independent of data collection frequency, accounting for variables such as image quality and location.