Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
A new report by the University of Delaware finds that sharing agreements among local TV stations lead to a loss of diversity and localism, as well as job losses. In eight American television markets, the agreements resulted in a significant number of stations using the same anchors, reporters, scripts, and graphics.
A recent study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers tend to choose products when marketers withhold some favorable information until late in the choice process. This approach can increase a product's overall probability of being chosen by shifting consumer priorities and creating a preference boost.
Researchers find that people's economic decisions change when survival or reproduction is on their minds. This contradicts the idea of humans making rational choices in finance, suggesting biases developed millions of years ago still affect us today. The study suggests these ancient biases can profoundly alter financial decisions over ...
A study comparing parental and healthcare professional preferences reveals a significant disparity in decision-making regarding palliative care for children with cancer. Parents favor aggressive chemotherapy, while healthcare professionals prefer supportive care.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins have quantified a cell's decision-making ability, finding it to be only two possible choices. Cells can overcome their individual limitations by forming multicellular organisms, which enables them to transfer information and make decisions together.
The thesis analyzes three national appellate asylum procedures in Europe, comparing their evidentiary standards and relating them to the EU legal order and international law. The study finds that national impacts play a significant role in adapting national procedures to external requirements.
Patients with advance directives specifying limits in treatment had significantly lower end-of-life Medicare spending and greater odds of hospice use than those without, particularly in high-spending regions. The study suggests that advance directives may be most impactful in regions where treatment norms are more aggressive.
A Vanderbilt University researcher is leading a $5.7 million study on the ethical and legal implications of sharing genomic research results with minors, seeking to establish best practices for such decisions.
A new study by the University of Michigan Health System found that subtle non-verbal clues exert an influence on medical care, with patients relying on these cues to evaluate the doctor-patient relationship and doctors using them to inform their medical judgments. The study's method shows promise for improving medical decision making.
The study identifies regions of the brain involved in tracking correlation, including the insula and anterior cingulate cortex. The researchers found that our brains learn to observe the outcome of one action and infer outcomes of other actions without needing to sample them individually.
A recent study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that married women's autonomy and decision-making power are linked to their sexual activity. Women who have more control over household decisions tend to have sex less often, with a significant increase in time since their last intercourse.
Researchers developed prediction models that accurately predict erectile function after prostate cancer treatment based on pretreatment sexual function and patient characteristics. The models found that men who underwent certain treatments had a higher chance of regaining functional erections suitable for intercourse.
Researchers at Emory and Johns Hopkins universities have quantified the data capacity of a biochemical signaling pathway for the first time, finding that it is significantly lower than expected. The study suggests that cells may use alternative methods to communicate when their primary pathways are insufficient.
A University of Alberta study finds that unconscious feelings about objects in the environment influence long-term goal pursuit. The unconscious continues to positively value objects related to goals, even after success or failure, making it a key motivator. Participants reacted neutrally to objects after a failure, indicating a shift ...
Research shows that older decision makers trounce their younger counterparts due to improved ability to evaluate options, develop strategies, and utilize pre-frontal cortices. This increased wisdom enables them to make more rational choices in complex environments.
A new study suggests that conflict levels in marriage don't change much over the course of a relationship. Low-conflict couples tend to be those where both spouses share decision-making and believe in traditional, life-long marriage, leading to higher marital happiness and lower divorce rates.
Consumers tend to focus on quality when faced with many choices, leading them to be willing to pay more for high-quality products. The study found that in controlled experiments and natural experiments, participants were prepared to pay up to 40% more for high-quality chocolates and wine when presented with a large assortment of options.
A study found that narcissistic leaders inhibit the free exchange of information, leading to poorer decision-making outcomes. Narcissism is not a trait beneficial for everyday leadership in organizations.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that acute care emergency surgical service (ACCESS) reduced surgical decision time by 15% and overall ED overcrowding by 20%. The implementation of ACCESS also improved length of stay for patients with appendicitis cases.
Research from Brown University economists finds that voters are more likely to support recommended candidates after newspaper endorsements, but credibility matters. Moderate voters are most influenced by endorsements. Key findings suggest voters filter out media bias when making informed decisions.
Researchers found that states of relaxation consistently increase the monetary valuations of products, with relaxed individuals valuing products more highly than their less-relaxed counterparts. This effect applies to a wide range of products, including luxury items and services.
Children who are excluded from discussions about their hospital care often feel scared and angry that no-one is listening to them or telling them what is going on. The study found that many children rely on their parents as advocates and face barriers such as rushed consultations and unintelligible language, hindering their participation.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that the opportunity to exercise control through choices activates the brain's reward areas. This suggests that choice may be an adaptive behavior, as it recruits reward-related brain circuitry. The research highlights the importance of perceived control in psychological well-being a...
Consumers in a positive mood make quicker and more consistent judgments than unhappy people. Positive affect conditions lead to faster response times and more consistent evaluations.
Up to 60% of consumers may reject the second-best option and choose a lower-rated item when given a choice between two close options. This phenomenon is known as the carryover effect, where attributes that were initially important become less relevant in subsequent decisions.
Research shows that feeling connected to one's future self motivates more patient financial decisions. A study found that individuals who felt a sense of continuity with their future selves made better choices regarding long-term rewards.
A study from Stanford University discusses how incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) can be used for individual-level decision-making. By tailoring cost-utility information, clinicians and patients can make more efficient and effective healthcare choices.
A three-year study of 668 adults found that surrogate decision-making significantly delays writing DNR orders, leading to shorter time frames between decision and cardiac arrest, reduced palliative care, and less time for families to cope with death. Surrogate decision-makers may struggle with complex ethical and communication issues.
A study by Columbia Business School researchers demonstrates 'complicating choice' – the process where decision-makers increase effort for unimportant attributes. This phenomenon is driven by the 'effort compatibility principle', which aims to match expected effort with perceived effort.
A study found that children who remain in the home after a report of abuse are at increased risk of further abuse if they have certain characteristics, such as behavior problems and developmental disabilities. The study identified groupings of characteristics that increase or decrease the likelihood of reabuse.
A study found that voting in elections increases cortisol levels, a hormone released under pressure, and affects decision-making. Voting was also emotionally arousing, with both positive and negative effects.
A new study highlights the importance of parental involvement in helping teenagers understand and prepare for workplace risks. The research found that most parents are unaware of the hazards their teens face on the job, but can play a critical role in ensuring good safety standards by asking the right questions.
A new Northwestern Medicine study finds that attending physicians in intensive care units can reduce mortality rates by 50% when using a checklist and prompted to address overlooked details. The prompting system cut ventilator-associated pneumonia cases and reduced ICU length of stay.
Researchers developed a brief exam to identify frontal and temporal dysfunction in ALS patients, which can impact decision-making and treatment planning. The Penn State Brief Exam of Frontal and Temporal Dysfunction Syndromes (PSFTS) has been used in over 200 patients and is now standard care at the Medical Center.
A new study by Temple University researchers found that teens still struggle to plan ahead, leading to riskier decisions. The study tested 890 individuals between 10-30 years old and showed improvements in impulse control with age, allowing for better problem-solving skills.
A new study found that Walmart proposed more stores in pro-business states near the borders of less friendly states, even in the face of protests. This discovery provides evidence of how firms engage in regulatory arbitrage and make decisions about where to open stores.
A recent study found that oncologists value life-prolonging treatments more than quality-enhancing ones when making chemotherapy decisions. The authors also noted that there is a lack of standardized methods for analyzing cost-effectiveness in healthcare. This disparity is particularly notable in the United States, where there are no g...
Researchers discovered that people tend to gamble on double-or-nothing wins when relying on past experiences, whereas they avoid risky choices for losses. This finding suggests a reversal in decision-making strategies based on abstract possibilities versus memory of past outcomes.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that CEOs who prioritize employee job satisfaction can significantly improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. The researchers discovered a strong link between high employee satisfaction and customer loyalty, with twice as strong a positive impact compared to low employee satisfaction.
A new decision aid aims to improve communication between families and clinicians about end-of-life care for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. The study found that the decision aid reduced uncertainty and improved agreement between surrogates and healthcare providers about patient outcomes.
Research from Rice University and the University of Delaware found that unverifiable information like personal stories enhances lending decisions. Borrowers who explain their circumstances but deny details have poor loan performance. Using a 'trustworthy' identity can lower costs by almost 30% and save $375 in interest charges.
New research finds that teens use peers as a metric for autonomy, with younger girls wanting more freedom than older boys. Teens consistently overestimate their peers' levels of autonomy, assuming they have more freedoms than themselves.
The Lancet series highlights Brazil's successes in healthcare, but also notes areas of concern such as high caesarean section rates and increasing obesity. The country's experience offers valuable lessons for addressing health inequities and implementing reforms to prioritize public health.
Pakistani public health experts express shock and dismay at the government's plan to abolish the Ministry of Health. The move is seen as a threat to national health functions and capacity, particularly in light of ongoing challenges such as polio eradication and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
A new survey finds that discussions surrounding feeding tube insertion are often inadequate, with 13.7% of family members stating medical providers inserted the tube without discussion first. Despite research questioning the value of feeding tubes, 32.9% of people in the survey reported improved quality of life for their loved ones.
Jack Levis, INFORMS Vice President and Director of Process Management at UPS, led his team to win the 2011 Gartner Business Intelligence Excellence Award. The award recognizes UPS's successful implementation of business intelligence and advanced analytics to improve operational efficiency and customer service.
New research from the University of Cincinnati suggests that small business owners who consult with outside advisors are more likely to achieve revenues sooner. By seeking input from respected colleagues, business owners can bring fresh perspectives and information into their decision-making process, leading to better outcomes.
A study published in the Journal of Business Research found that Chinese adolescents are heavily influenced by their parents, while Canadian teens are more likely to make independent decisions. Parenting practices and cultural values play a significant role in shaping teen outlooks and decision-making patterns.
A new study found that the brain has an automatic reaction to unfairness in financial fairness games, linked to increased amygdala activity. Targeting this region can reduce aggression and increase tendency to accept unfair distributions of money.
A study by UC Riverside psychologists found that potential users of direct-to-consumer genetic tests are influenced by perceived benefits and barriers to testing, as well as anticipated regret over testing versus not testing. Participants who received only positive information expressed greater intentions to pursue testing.
A Clemson University researcher is developing a new approach to designing more energy-efficient buildings by applying psychology concepts such as choice architecture and cognitive bias. His research aims to improve the decision-making process of engineers in building design, which could lead to widespread adoption of net-zero buildings.
A recent study published in Archives of Surgery found that patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders have a higher risk of poor surgical outcomes, including increased mortality rates and complication rates. The study analyzed data from over 120 hospitals and found that nearly a quarter of DNR patients died within 30 days of surgery.
Experts warn that disclosing quantitative data to patients can backfire due to numeracy problems and biases in interpreting data. Studies show that decision aids increase patient knowledge but may not always lead to informed decisions. Researchers advocate for further research on presenting risk information to aid decision-making.
A survey of US primary care physicians found that making treatment recommendations changes the way physicians think about medical decisions. In scenarios involving colon cancer and avian influenza, physicians chose different treatments for themselves versus those they recommended to patients.
A video-based decision aid helped patients weigh the pros and cons of bariatric surgery, leading to greater certainty and less conflict. The trial found that patients who watched the video felt more informed and confident in their decisions.
A new study found that young women with breast cancer have limited knowledge about fertility issues, causing confusion and conflict when planning for a family. The researchers suggest providing targeted fertility information may reduce uncertainty and increase informed decision-making.
A study by researchers at New York University found overlapping neurological mechanisms between goal-directed actions and habitual behaviors. The findings suggest that the brain's systems for different behaviors are more intertwined than previously thought, paving the way for addressing addiction and similar maladies.
A new study of small private firms in 21 emerging market countries found that those with higher quality accounting make better investment decisions. Firms with strong incentives to minimize taxes have poorer financial reporting and less efficient investment decisions.
A study found that sleep deprivation leads to increased activity in brain regions assessing positive outcomes and decreased activity in those processing negative outcomes. As a result, sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to choose options with potential gains over those with potential losses.
Researchers argue that IRBs often neglect reporting and methodological quality in preclinical experiments, leading to inadequate risk-benefit assessments. A proposed solution suggests considering evidence on risks and benefits of agents targeting related biological pathways.