A new 'virtual moderator' helps reach consensus in troubled negotiations
A new fuzzy ontology-based system acts as a virtual moderator to bridge positions in negotiations. The system can be applied to everyday decisions and complex EU discussions.
Decision Making
Articles tagged with Decision Making
Can computers save health care? IU research shows lower costs, better outcomes
A new AI framework using Markov Decision Processes and Dynamic Decision Networks has been developed to simulate treatment paths, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. The approach outperforms traditional models in both cost reduction and quality improvement.
Some stroke patients whose life support is withdrawn may have achieved a less-than-ideal
A new study found that up to 34% of stroke patients who had their life support withdrawn might have achieved an acceptable level of functioning if support had been continued. The study compared the outcomes of 78 patients whose life support was withdrawn with those of similar patients who remained on life support.
'Default' options influence patient choices in advance care directives, Penn study shows
A Penn study found that patients' end-of-life care preferences are heavily influenced by default options, with most preferring comfort-oriented care. The research suggests that clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon when recommending advance directives to their patients.
A 'nudge' can be the ethical choice
Decision aids are being reevaluated to determine when it's acceptable to provide a
Professional training 'in the wild' overrides laboratory decision preferences
A new study by Claire McAndrew and Julie Gore found that professional training in real-world scenarios can override laboratory decision preferences. The research suggests that trainers should focus on the professional, task, and environment to understand how decisions are made.
Good mood helps boost brain power in older adults
Researchers found that easy mood-boosters like candy helped seniors perform significantly better on tests of decision-making and working memory. The study showed that a good mood can help overcome some cognitive declines with aging, providing good news for older adults.
'Moral realism' may lead to better moral behavior
A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that priming participants with a belief in moral realism led to increased charitable donations, suggesting that considering objective moral facts can motivate people to behave better.
Digital diagnostic tools lead to patient dissatisfaction, says MU expert
Researchers found that patients view physicians who use decision aids as less capable and may assign them responsibility for negative health outcomes when using CDSSs. To mitigate this, healthcare providers can incorporate decision aids to engage patients and facilitate understanding of diagnoses.
When mom is the CEO at home, workplace ambitions take a back seat
A new UC Berkeley study suggests that women's domestic power reduces their desire for career advancement. Women who control household decisions reported lower life goals than those who shared decision-making with their spouses. This effect is specific to women and not observed in men.
UA explores promoting teen health via text message
A study of 177 teenagers found that most were open to receiving texts about health, but preferred tone and content over phrases like 'you should' or 'always.' Interactive quizzes, simple recipes, and links to websites were well-received. The study suggests text messaging as a supplement to in-person nutrition education for teens.
U-M to develop guide for parents of children with disorders of sex development
Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing a decision-making aid to support parents in making informed decisions about their child's diagnosis and treatment. The guide will educate families about sex development, genetic testing, and possible consequences of decisions on their child and entire family.
Are consumers with fewer friends more likely to take financial risks?
A study found that consumers feeling socially isolated are more likely to pursue riskier financial opportunities. This effect is mediated by the perceived instrumentality of money, as excluded consumers seek to value money as an alternative means to secure their desired outcomes.
Deal or no deal: 5 year olds make smart decisions in games of risk
Children aged 5 and over demonstrate rational decision-making skills when making choices to maximize profits, considering odds of winning and loss. Younger children struggle with similar tasks, exhibiting a 'better safe than sorry' approach that can lead to judgment errors.
Research: Bad news can spur strategic change in businesses
A study by University of Illinois professor Michael K. Bednar found that negative media coverage may trigger strategic change in firms with independent boards. The research suggests that corporate boards with outside directors are more strongly influenced by negative media coverage, leading to greater strategic change.
Website launched to help patients prepare for complex medical decisions
A new online resource called PREPARE has been developed to help people make complex medical decisions through user-friendly content, videos, and a step-by-step process. The website addresses key aspects of advance care planning and decision making, providing concrete examples and tools for patients and their families.
In decision-making, it might be worth trusting your gut
A new study published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that experts are more effective when making intuitive decisions, especially in tasks with less structure. In two studies, researchers compared expert and non-expert participants on basketball shot difficulty and designer handbag authenticity tasks. Resu...
In media coverage of nursing homes, negative stories predominate
A study published in Medical Care finds that negative news coverage of nursing homes outweighs positive stories by five to one. Negative articles often focus on negligence, fraud, or industry issues, while positive stories discuss quality of care and community impact.
People prefer leaders with more masculine voices, even in feminine leadership roles
Research found that both men and women prefer female candidates with masculine voices, regardless of the leadership role. The results suggest that voice pitch can influence perceptions of leadership capacity across different domains.
Need to move soon? Don't trust your emotions
A new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers make emotional assessments when making decisions closer to their future. The study suggests that companies should tailor their messages to appeal to feelings or objective assessments based on the proximity of the decision outcome.
Holiday shopping madness: When do consumers seek to punish fellow shoppers for behaving badly?
A new study reveals that consumers seek to punish fellow shoppers who break rules, yet make exceptions depending on the situation. Consumers are less likely to punish someone if they've been punished by a store employee or have experienced adversity themselves.
Researchers demonstrate that a saliva analysis can reveal decision-making skills
Researchers found that individuals with better decision-making skills have lower cortisol levels in saliva during stressful situations. The study used virtual reality technology to induce stress in healthy women and measured cortisol levels in saliva.
Closer look at consumers' gazes
A study by Concordia University researchers found that consumers' gazes naturally draw towards centrally placed products. This subconscious visual focus influences purchasing decisions. By understanding these unconscious habits, shoppers can make more informed choices and train themselves to thoroughly scan product displays.
Marketing analytics ups Fortune 1000 return on assets 8 percent, says operations research study
A recent study finds that Fortune 1000 companies using marketing analytics see an average 8% increase in return on assets, with potential gains of $70-180 million in net income. The research highlights the key role of management support and analytics skills in successful marketing analytics deployments.
Brief interventions can help college students return to a healthy lifestyle
A new study from the University of Missouri found that brief interventions, as short as 30 minutes, can significantly improve exercise habits in college students. Participants who received personalized feedback and set health goals reported increased physical activity compared to those who did not receive the intervention.
Neuroimaging study: Negative messages less effective on those who are substance dependent
A new neuroimaging study suggests that negative messages are not an effective way to deter drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among those who are substance-dependent. The study found that the brains of substance-dependent individuals show lower brain activity in response to negatively framed messages, leading to riskier decisions.
University of Maryland School of Medicine, NIH study pinpoints brain area's role in learning
A new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine has identified the orbitofrontal cortex as a critical brain area involved in value-guided behavior, decision-making, and learning. The research suggests that damage to this area can lead to decreased ability to use prior experience to make good decisions.
Teleconcussion validated in Mayo Clinic case study
A Mayo Clinic case study validates teleconcussion as a useful means to assess concussed patients in rural Arizona. The program uses telemedicine technology to bring concussion expertise to underserved areas, addressing the lack of access to neurological expertise in metropolitan areas.
Exploring the financial costs of sadness
Researchers found that subjects in a sadness condition exhibited impatience and myopia, leading to financial decisions that prioritized immediate gratification over future rewards. This study has implications for public policy, particularly in estate planning and credit card regulations.
Games may help train analysts to overcome bias
Researchers at Penn State used scenario-based games to detect confirmation bias in intelligence analysts. The study found that teams trained in considering alternative hypotheses outperformed others in identifying perpetrators and targets. The game was designed to mimic real-life situations faced by U.S. intelligence analysts in Iraq.
Policy considerations pose options for leaders to reduce costly disparities in diabetes
A new set of policy considerations was released by the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes to address systemic barriers and structural barriers that hinder effective diabetes care. The document proposes concepts to realign financial incentives, enhance patient self-management, and optimize healthcare systems.
Engaging parents leads to better treatments for children with adhd
Pediatricians at CHOP developed a three-part survey to help families and doctors make informed decisions about ADHD treatment. The results show that shared decision-making improves healthcare outcomes, but is not widely used in pediatric settings.
The future of Mongolian nomadic lifestyle under debate
A UK-based research project is debating the future of Mongolia's rural areas and its impact on herders' livelihoods. Herders face multiple pressures due to climate change, mining and new policies on land, threatening their traditional nomadic lifestyle.
24-hour ICU in-house staff intensivist improves mortality and decreases length of stay
The implementation of a 24-h ICU in-house staff intensivist coverage significantly improved mortality rates and reduced hospital length of stay by nearly half a day. This model also led to quicker decision-making and a positive trend in end-of-life care quality.
Elevated indoor carbon dioxide impairs decision-making performance
Researchers found that high indoor CO2 concentrations can impair people's decision-making performance, particularly in schools and other spaces with high occupant density. The study used a novel test to assess cognitive performance, revealing large reductions in decision-making ability at CO2 levels of 1,000 ppm.
Strategies proposed to improve impact of comparative effectiveness studies
A RAND Corporation study identified five causes that underlie the failure of many comparative effectiveness studies to create change, including misaligned financial incentives, ambiguous results, and limited use of decision support tools. The study recommends three approaches to improve the impact of such research, including developing...
Our preferences change to reflect the choices we make, even three years later
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that people tend to prefer the option they chose over the one they rejected, and this preference can last for years. The researchers used a vacation destination rating task to demonstrate this effect, which was only observed when participants made their own choices.
Less is more when choosing between groups of assorted items
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that rhesus monkeys prefer a highly-valued food item alone to the same item paired with a lower-value item. This behavior is similar to what has been seen in human studies, where participants rated a highly-valued item more highly than one with multiple items of lesser value.
Smoking clouds the brain after stroke
A Canadian study found that smoking after a stroke significantly affects problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Patients who quit smoking achieved the same scores as lifetime non-smokers, emphasizing the importance of quitting for cognitive health.
Research shows ants share decision-making, lessen vulnerability to 'information overload'
Researchers at Arizona State University found that ants use collective decision-making to handle complex choices, beating individual selection. By sharing the load, colonies avoid mistakes made by solo animals overwhelmed by too much information.
OU receives award from Council of Graduate Schools
The University of Oklahoma has received an award to develop a research ethics program for international students collaborating with US universities. The program aims to enhance students' awareness of cultural expectations and research policies in global research contexts.
Modeling Good Research Practices' guidelines for modeling in health care research available now
The Modeling Good Research Practices Task Force provides comprehensive guidance on designing, implementing, and validating model-based studies. The seven reports offer recommendations for conceptualizing models, dealing with uncertainty, and validating models transparently.
Study shows how consumers shift expectations and goals
A study by Gita Johar and Cecile K. Cho found that consumers often compare results to the highest potential outcomes, leading to low satisfaction even when goals are met. However, reminding participants of their original goals reverses this trend, making low performers as satisfied as high performers.
IU optometrist receives $1.9 million to assess street-crossing program
An Indiana University assistant professor will evaluate the effectiveness of a nationwide training program to aid people with impaired vision in making safe street-crossing decisions. The research aims to improve pedestrian safety and quality of life for elderly, visually impaired, or blind individuals.
Consumers differ in desire for explanation, says new CU-Brown University study
A new CU-Boulder study found that consumer preferences and willingness to pay are influenced by the depth of explanation about novel products. 'Explanation foes' prefer shallow explanations, while 'explanation fiends' require deep details.
Stanford faculty awarded $2.2 million for innovative energy research
Nine Stanford researchers received seed grants to explore promising new technologies in clean energy and energy efficiency. These projects include the development of high-performance batteries, ultrathin solar cells, and methods for capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The research has the potential to impact energy production and use...
Scientists use prosthetic device to restore and improve impaired decision-making ability in animals
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center used an electronic prosthetic system to tap into existing brain circuitry and record neural pulses. The device restored and improved decision-making ability in monkeys, even when exposed to a drug that disrupts cognitive activity.
Neural implant recovers ability to make decisions
Researchers developed a neural prosthesis to restore decision-making processes in monkeys with disrupted cognitive function. The device, which stimulated specific brain cells, improved performance and even surpassed normal conditions.
Large Europe-wide study confirms work stress linked to greater risk of heart disease
A large European-wide study has confirmed that work stress is associated with a small but consistent increase in the risk of experiencing a first coronary heart disease event. The study found that individuals with highly demanding jobs and little freedom to make decisions are 23% more likely to experience a heart attack.
Under the influence: Reminders of money impact consumer decision-making
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that reminders of money cause consumers to focus on primary features and brand name. This can lead to overlooking certain product attributes when making purchasing decisions.
Disaster is just a click away
A team of researchers at Kansas State University is working on a project to develop improved security warning messages that prompt users to make gut decisions about online safety. They aim to minimize traditional text warnings and icons, instead using visual images to convey the importance and danger level of certain choices.
Review: Altruism's influence on parental decision to vaccinate children is unclear
Researchers investigated whether altruism influences parental decisions to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases. Despite studies showing benefit to others motivates adults to vaccinate themselves, the review found no conclusive evidence that herd immunity plays a role in parents' decision-making.
When do we lie? When we're short on time and long on reasons
A study found that people under time pressure are more likely to lie, while those with time constraints are less likely. With more time, individuals can justify their behavior and refrain from dishonesty.
Introducing decision aids may lower surgery for arthritis
Group Health's video-based decision aids for arthritis patients led to a sharp decline in knee and hip replacement surgeries by 38% and 26%, respectively, over six months. The cost of caring for those patients also decreased by 12-21%.
Having to make quick decisions helps witnesses identify the bad guy in a lineup
A new lineup technique, 'deadline confidence judgments,' improves accuracy by 20-30% compared to traditional methods. Witnesses are presented with individual photos and must rate their confidence within seconds.
Managerial role associated with more automatic decision-making
Researchers found that managers and non-managers exhibit differential brain activation patterns during decision-making, with managers showing a more heuristic, automated approach. This study provides insight into the neural basis of managerial decision-making and its differences from non-managerial decisions.
Feedback can have a negative impact on performance
A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that people's performance worsened when they had to make sense of feedback while performing a main task. The research highlights the importance of considering task complexity when providing feedback to avoid hindering performance.
Let's talk: The nature of the health care surrogate-clinician relationship
A new study highlights the importance of frequent and coordinated communication between healthcare providers and family members who make decisions for hospitalized older adults with impaired cognition. Surrogate decision-makers crave detailed information, emotional support, and regular updates from clinicians to alleviate stress and an...
A new model for predicting recovery after spinal cord injury
A new prediction model for long-term functional outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury is presented, combining acute functional measures with imaging factors. The model has the potential to guide treatment decisions and improve patient care.
Study examines decision-making brain activity in patients with hoarding disorder
Patients with hoarding disorder showed abnormal brain activity when deciding about possessions, with reduced activity for items not belonging to them and increased activity for items that did. The study found that these patients had difficulty discarding possessions, with fewer items discarded compared to healthy individuals.