Articles tagged with Decision Making
Michigan State University professor Bruce Dale says that while EROI (energy return on energy invested) is a useful method of measurement, it alone is not enough. He argues that we need to consider differences in energy quality and critical materials required for various energy alternatives, such as lithium for electric vehicles.
Researchers are creating computer models to study how cells process information and make decisions, with potential implications for understanding cancer. By analyzing molecular mechanisms and interactions, scientists aim to develop more effective cancer treatments.
Arnim Wiek, an assistant professor at Arizona State University, is working to develop solutions for the sustainability challenges facing society. His research focuses on scenario building and visualizations of future pathways, with a goal of empowering decision-makers to think in alternatives.
Canadian researchers review 16 studies to find telenurses struggle with balancing medical advice and limited service gatekeeping. Key findings include the need for specific training in telephone consultation skills and addressing job demands such as heavy workloads and stress.
A new report by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that 66 percent of Marylanders without advance medical directives may face deficiencies in end-of-life care across the US. The results indicate a disconnect between what people want for their medical decisions and their actions to ensure those preferences are carried...
A study by Brown University researchers highlights the need for better decision-making in end-of-life care, particularly for hospitalized nursing home residents with advanced dementia. The study found that feeding tubes are used variably among hospitals, with larger or for-profit hospitals using them more frequently.
Researchers studied patients with amygdala lesions to understand how decisions are made and what influences risk-taking behavior. The results show that a fully functioning amygdala makes people more cautious, while impaired amygdala activity leads to reduced loss aversion and increased willingness to gamble.
A new checklist called CURVES (Choose and Communicate, Understand, Reason, Value, Emergency and Surrogate) has been developed to quickly assess a patient's decision-making capacity in emergency situations. The acronym helps physicians determine whether a patient is able to make decisions in life-or-death situations.
A soft intelligence approach can help solve problems in healthcare, defense, economics, engineering, and science where definitive answers are rare. Soft metrics use shades of gray and judgments to provide justifiable answers that aren
A study found that individuals with higher blood glucose levels tend to be more future-oriented, while those with lower glucose levels focus on the present. Fluctuations in blood sugar may affect our decisions for immediate versus delayed rewards.
Researchers at UT Knoxville discovered that Azospirillum brasilense has 48 receptors, enabling it to detect changes in its environment and make complex decisions. This understanding could lead to tailored medicines and new agricultural applications.
A study by K-State psychologists found that future-minded individuals are more likely to make positive decisions about their health. They tend to exercise more and smoke less than present-minded people.
Tom Bowman has developed a series of graphics that translate key figures from the IPCC report for public audiences, making scientific information accessible. The new format aims to help institutions, corporations, educators, and consumers understand climate change risks and opportunities.
Researchers have found that moral dilemmas are often influenced by general biases rather than abstract moral principles. The study highlights the need for more diverse methods in studying moral judgments, moving beyond the use of moral dilemmas.
Scientists applied physics techniques to study bacteria's survival strategies, gaining insights into human decision making. The study found that bacteria's game theory decision making process is more advanced than the Prisoner's Dilemma, enabling them to weigh pros and cons in complex environments.
A study by Shalini Bahl and George R. Milne found that consumers engage in an inner dialogue with multiple perspectives, including a 'desirable self' that promotes positive consumption behaviors. However, this self can also lead to overstretching and burnout when allowed free reign.
Researchers discovered that people invest more effort in current tasks when anticipating future difficult tasks, a phenomenon dubbed the 'get ready mindset'. This behavior is driven by mental preparation for upcoming challenges, which carries over to current tasks.
The US Preventive Services Task Force now recommends against routine breast cancer screening for women under 50 due to insufficient evidence. However, women between 40-49 at high risk should discuss biennial mammography with their doctor. The task force also suggests changing the screening interval from one year to two until age 74.
A study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that moderate sleep deprivation can lead to a decline in information-integration thought processes, critical for quick decisions. This affects individuals who shift from an automatic process to a more controlled approach, leading to negative effects on performance.
Researchers found that when people imagine future events, activity in a dopamine-laden part of the brain tracks their estimates of expected pleasure. The study suggests that manipulating dopamine levels can alter people's expectations and choices.
A new study from Columbia University found that US patients are almost five times more likely to spend their last hospital days in the ICU than patients in England. The research also revealed that ICU usage among terminal patients is eight times higher in the US than in England, particularly among those over 85.
A relative utility curve is a simple method to evaluate risk prediction in medical decision-making frameworks. The author illustrates its application in analyzing previously published data involving breast density and risk prediction models for invasive breast cancer.
A new facial expression recognition system is being developed to help autistic children recognize emotions of surrounding people. The portable device uses boosting classifier and derivative-based filtering to locate the face region and classify emotional expressions.
A new decision aid tool, developed by Mayo Clinic clinicians and designers, helps patients with type 2 diabetes make informed decisions about their medication. The tool, a set of cards, involves patients in the decision-making process and leads to better patient-centered care.
The study found that uncertainty regarding clinical effectiveness is a key issue in coverage decisions. The agencies make recommendations consistent with evidence on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness but other factors often play important roles.
A survey found that men largely make decisions about prostate cancer screening based on conversations with clinicians, but these discussions often do not include information about the risks of testing. Statistical modeling suggests that benefits and harms of PSA screening vary with age and risk level, with higher-risk men having more p...
A new report argues that current governance activities on nanotechnology are limiting public debate and may repeat mistakes made in managing GMOs. The report recommends innovative ways to involve the public in decision-making, such as treating their views with respect and using them to inform science policy.
A Mayo Clinic survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that most physicians agree on their professional obligation to address health policy issues and expand access to basic healthcare. However, some physicians oppose measures such as underinsuring patients or using cost-effectiveness data in treatment decisions.
A new study from the University of Alberta found significant differences in leisure experiences between two group homes. Women with intellectual disabilities who were given support and autonomy had more independent leisure activities, while those with staff-directed leisure had limited choices.
A Kansas State University geographer is researching how rural communities define and implement sustainability to improve civic and business leader decisions. She found that some leaders have a clear understanding of the term, while others struggle with its meaning.
A study published in PNAS found that adolescent rats exposed to alcohol showed a bias towards uncertain rewards, while control group rats made more informed decisions. This research suggests a causal link between early heavy drinking and later adult decision-making impairments.
Researchers found that incidental mood is generally not incorporated into memory-based judgments made after the mood has passed. However, if the mood effects are 'locked in,' such as through real-time evaluations, participants' memories can be influenced.
Michigan State University researchers aim to help people sort out complex environmental problems in developing regions. They are testing a new survey method that taps recent insights from behavioral decision research to capture people's full willingness to make trade-offs.
A new study finds that cognitive stress can significantly impact decision making, leading participants to overlook information predicting negative outcomes. Under pressure, individuals may rely on past rewards rather than rational considerations, resulting in irrational biases.
A new study found that personal connections can lead to further investment in failing programs, even to one's own financial detriment. Business leaders and organizations should carefully consider integrating a true outsider to make more decisive decisions.
A study found that one in five doctors are uncomfortable working with surrogates, reporting ineffective communication and increased stress levels. The lack of clear guidelines for surrogate decision makers can lead to difficult decisions, causing distress for both physicians and families.
A study using virtual reality and real-world hide-and-seek found that people tend to look closer to their starting location when searching for objects. When hiding objects, they disperse them over a wider area. This research could lead to more realistic game environments and advanced search-enhancing tools for law enforcement.
A new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that women's decisions on breast cancer surgery are often influenced by family and friends. The study discovered that when patients take a more active role in decision-making, they are more likely to choose mastectomy over breast-conserving surgery.
Researchers found that presenting risk as natural frequencies and using bar charts helped participants make decisions consistent with their values. The studies also showed that different data presentations can be more persuasive, regardless of the participant's values. Healthcare providers should strive to maintain objectivity while re...
NOAA has awarded over $2.7 million in competitive grant funding to the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association to develop a comprehensive ocean observing system for the Mid-Atlantic region. The funding will support efforts to improve data coordination, forecasting, and regional data management.
Surrogates are divided on how much guidance they want from doctors when making end-of-life medical choices for critically ill patients. While a slight majority prefer doctor's advice, many feel burdened by guilt and value patient's values over physician input.
Physicians warn that mandated treatments in healthcare reform can misalign doctor-patient goals, leading to financial conflicts. The authors advocate for a 'shared decision-making' model that incorporates medical humanism to ensure patient autonomy and cultural values are respected.
A study in Medical Decision Making found that a large-scale anthrax attack would overwhelm hospital resources even with an effective public health response due to expected delays. Researchers developed best practices guidelines for modeling disaster responses, including striking the right balance between simplicity and complexity.
Researchers discovered that rewarding correct decisions can enhance brain function in the cortex and improve learning. Targeted manipulation of dopamine levels may lead to new possibilities in treating patients after a stroke or improving cognitive abilities.
Researchers at Arizona State University and Princeton University found that ants can accomplish a task more rationally than humans due to their collective decision-making process. By minimizing individual mistakes, the 'wisdom of crowds' approach emerges, leading to more accurate outcomes.
The IOM CER Committee recommends prioritizing research on high-priority topics, including improving the uptake of new knowledge and its translation into better decision-making. The committee aims to create a sustainable national CER initiative that can improve healthcare for individual patients and communities.
Researchers at Penn found that people ignore crucial information when making decisions, leading to miscalculations of body weight and calories. The 'Unit Bias' heuristic causes participants to focus solely on certain dimensions, neglecting others.
A new online decision tool allows prostate cancer patients to weigh their own preferences against medical data to personalize treatment plans. The tool considers multiple factors, including life expectancy and side effects, to guide treatment decisions.
Researchers uncover neural mechanism supporting adaptability and decision-making under uncertainty, with the frontal lobe playing a critical role in tracking evidence and switching behavior.
A study led by Michigan State University's Chris Melde found that children who join gangs report a decrease in fear of victimization, even though they face greater risks. The researchers suggest that intervening during this critical period could impact gang members' decisions to stay or leave the group.
A Swedish study found that 70% of extremely preterm infants born alive between 22-26 weeks survived at least one year. Proactive perinatal management likely contributed to this outcome, making it crucial to reassess decision-making for these infants.
Researchers used fMRI to study participants engaging in a complex risky choice task, revealing different brain regions predicting specific choices and individual strategic biases. The findings indicate that the neural mechanisms of choice reflect more than competition between decision variables.
The American Pain Society has issued a new clinical practice guideline for low back pain, recommending noninvasive treatments over interventional procedures and shared decision making. The guideline provides eight recommendations to help determine the best way to treat patients with persistent back pain.
Researchers found that learning from experience changes brain circuitry, enabling quicker categorization and decision-making in uncertain situations. The study suggests that previous experience is retained in brain circuits, influencing flexible decisions and actions.
A study by NUI Galway found that older people living in residential care need a holistic approach to maintain a good quality of life. Key factors include the ethos of care, sense of self and identity, connection with others and activities.
Researchers found that brain cells in the lateral intraparietal cortex predict direction choice and uncertainty, revealing a link between decision making and certainty. The study suggests a simple mechanism underlying both, bringing certainty under the same rubric as choice and reaction time.
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals that a person's susceptibility to biased economic decision-making is influenced by their genetic make-up. The research found that variation in the serotonin transporter gene affects how individuals respond to framing effects, with those carrying the 'short' variant being more...
A University of Haifa study found that exposure to stories about successful risk-taking decisions influenced investment advisors' perceptions of a Nasdaq-traded stock. The study suggests that psychological factors, such as priming, can shape financial decision-making. This phenomenon highlights the importance of considering psychology ...
A new study examines how distraction affects product decisions and finds that it can be helpful for those with a configural mindset. Consumers who focus on overall impressions of products make more accurate evaluations after being distracted.
A study published in Psychological Science found that acute stress impairs rational thinking, causing individuals to become more conservative in financial decisions but riskier when losses are involved. This can have significant implications for personal finance and decision-making under stress.