Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
A University of Alberta researcher says that when it comes to deciding on issues from human rights to balancing conflicting rights, cooler, secular heads should prevail. The emergence of Western democratic states gave rise to a separation of church and state, which guarantees freedom of religion and conscience for all.
The American College of Physicians recommends against routine electrocardiogram (ECG) screening for asymptomatic adults at low risk for coronary heart disease, as it may lead to unnecessary procedures and overtreatment. The Task Force also found inadequate evidence that ECG screening in this population reduces the risk for CHD events.
Researchers propose a mechanism of individual interaction to understand collective macroscopic behavior, finding power-law tails in some models. The diversity of saving propensity among individuals plays a role in shaping the distribution of wealth.
Research finds that experiencing awe can alter an individual's subjective experience of time by slowing it down. Awe also influences decisions, makes life feel more satisfying, and increases willingness to volunteer time to help others.
A recent study by Clemson University psychologist Richard Pak found that humanizing computer aids can significantly alter perceptions of their reliability, leading to increased trust and dependence among adults. The design of decision-support aids on consumer devices plays a crucial role in shaping user behavior.
A study published in Biology Letters found that humans punish cheats only when they end up better off than the punisher, challenging the notion of revenge-based motivation. The researchers aimed to clarify the relationship between punishment and cooperation by investigating underlying motivations.
A new study reveals that consumers frequently face situations where competing goals struggle for dominance, causing conflicts and changing preferences. This phenomenon, known as goal reversion, occurs when ignored goals resurface stronger than initially thought.
A new study found that consumers focus on unique features when evaluating services based on faith due to greater uncertainty. This increased uncertainty undermines consumer confidence and leads to a greater emphasis on standard attributes.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers perceive longer time periods when facing greater spatial distances, influencing impatience and decision-making choices.
Experts say lack of privacy, safety fears and ageism deny elderly care home residents the right to consensual sex. Formal policies are needed to address this, despite research showing residents want their sexual expression acknowledged.
Researchers at University of Calgary developed a biometric security system that combines different measurements like eye colour and fingerprints to create a learning system simulating the brain. The algorithm can learn new patterns and adapt to changing conditions, improving accuracy and recognition process.
The EUREAPA tool analyzes environmental impacts of different policies and scenarios, allowing policymakers to investigate how different policy changes affect future environmental pressures. It also helps track effects of decisions and ensure meeting of environmental goals.
The First Responder Support Tools (FiRST) application provides critical information to first responders in bomb threat scenarios, including safe distances, roadblock analysis and HAZMAT response guidance. The app is available for smartphones and laptops and can be used by anyone responding to a potential bomb or HAZMAT spill.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute found two brain signals involved in predicting others' decisions, enabling humans to balance expected and observed rewards and choices. The signals, located in distinct prefrontal circuits, strike a balance between the other's values and their own, allowing for accurate predictions.
A global collaboration led by the University of York is examining key areas of reproductive, maternal and newborn care within midwifery services. The project will culminate in a special series on midwifery in The Lancet, providing evidence to guide national decision-making and improve midwifery services.
Researchers found that high trust in feelings amplifies emotionally driven responses, even when faced with compelling information favoring the opposite choice. The study suggests that relying on feelings as information can lead to irrational decisions.
A new study found that consumers' preference for larger selections decreases when making choices involving the distant future. Consumers tend to focus on end goals and less about how to get there, leading them to prefer smaller and simpler assortment of options.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers underestimate how often they make 'exceptional' purchases, leading to overspending. The authors suggest that understanding these differences can help consumers make wiser budgeting decisions.
A recent study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science found that color-blind policies can backfire, leading to increased racial bias and tension. The authors propose a multicultural approach as an alternative, which has been shown to improve understanding and spotting of discrimination., Minority applicants perceive d...
The High Value Healthcare Collaborative will use the grant to implement shared decision making for patients facing hip, knee or spine surgery and for those with diabetes or congestive heart failure. The project aims to reduce utilization and costs by $64 million over three years through patient engagement and activation.
Training participants to inhibit simple movements reduced risk-taking in a simulated gambling situation, with effects lasting at least two hours. The study suggests that controlling motor responses can influence high-level decision-making, paving the way for potential treatments for addictions and impulse-control disorders.
Researchers developed a web-based service that simulates pandemic flu spread, forecasts hospitalizations, and determines optimal ventilator placement. The Texas Pandemic Flu Toolkit uses data from the Outpatient Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network and factors like humidity predictions to inform public health interventions.
Research suggests that fantasizing about idealized future scenarios can influence people's preferences for learning about the positives over negatives. This can impact decision-making, even for those considering careful deliberations. Positive fantasies can mimic the effects of intentions and lead to biased information acquisition.
Researchers discovered that people are equally good at finding the right balance between task completion time and reward points, regardless of task complexity. This suggests that humans may not be intrinsically bad or good at making decisions, but rather capable of adapting to different situations.
Researchers found that dual-occupation professionals change their moral judgments based on their expected role, often without realizing it. The study suggests that subtle cues and training can help employees make more informed ethical decisions.
A study found that doctors who rarely meet with pharmaceutical sales representatives are slower to change prescriptions based on new information, taking up to four times longer than their peers. The study suggests that limiting access to reps can result in serious information gaps and affect prescription behavior.
A Wayne State University researcher has developed a web-based decision support system to help people with disabilities select wheelchairs that suit their needs. The system improves the selection process by enabling remote assessment of wheelchair alternatives, providing a reusable information repository and systematic evaluation.
Researchers found that people who feel good about themselves are more likely to choose functional products over attractive ones. However, choosing highly aesthetic products can make people more open-minded and less prone to 'throwing good money after bad'.
Researchers found that consumers choose brands to identify with their in-group but differentiate by selecting unique features, such as colors or styles. This balance between assimilation and differentiation is key to understanding consumer behavior.
Simulation training improved ER residents' leadership, problem-solving, and situational awareness skills. The study showed a sharpened overall performance in real-life emergency procedures.
A recent study in PLOS Medicine challenges the widely-held view that foreign aid for health displaces government funds in recipient countries. Experts Rajaie Batniji and Eran Bendavid re-analysed data to find no straightforward negative relationship between government spending on health and foreign aid for health.
A study by Penn State researchers found that users increase their interactivity and develop a greater sense of community when they can express themselves through blog posts, site customization, and gadget selection. However, too many functional gadgets lead to decreased satisfaction.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has contracted with Archimedes Inc. to provide the advanced mathematical modeling tool, ArcheS, to its agencies for large-scale analyses of healthcare spending, treatment, and effectiveness. This will enable policymakers to make informed decisions on health care interventions.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new smart gas sensor that can detect airborne chemicals with higher sensitivity and consume less power. The sensor uses a novel approach to separate chemicals in the gas mixture, allowing for more accurate identification and analysis.
Concordia engineers develop a decision-making approach that considers factors like traffic, drainage system efficiency and seismic risk to prioritize bridge maintenance. The new method has the potential to reduce costs by avoiding costly repairs later on and promoting sustainability.
A brain-mapping study found that aging adults' ability to make decisions in novel situations decreases as white matter pathways decline. The research suggests that strengthening these connections through cognitive training may be effective in intervening this age-related decline.
TNT Express won the 2012 Franz Edelman Award for its successful application of operations research to modernize its operations and reduce its carbon footprint. This led to significant operational benefits, including €207 million in savings between 2008 and 2011.
Researchers found that consumers who feel financially deprived prefer scarce products over abundant ones. Financial deprivation prompts heightened visual sensitivity to scarce goods, influencing purchasing decisions.