Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
Thomas L. Saaty, inventor of AHP, revolutionized decision-making with a breakthrough methodology that's widely used in business and government. His work has had a broad practical impact on operations research and related fields.
Research funded by the Wellcome Trust found people with autism spectrum disorders tend to be more consistent in their decision-making due to reduced emotional influence. This attention to detail can help them avoid irrational choices but may hinder social interactions that require gut instincts.
A study published in Psychological Science found that people who rely on their emotions during negotiations tend to make simpler and cleaner offers, but still achieve good outcomes. This suggests that emotional decision making may be both simpler and more lucrative than traditional calculation-based approaches.
Researchers found that web search activity stimulates key centers in the brain, controlling decision-making and complex reasoning. This triggers a greater extent of neural circuitry, indicating potential benefits for cognitive function in older adults.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers are more likely to make a purchase when given complete information about products. Marketers can apply these strategies to reduce the number of customers who leave empty-handed and increase sales.
A new report highlights the issue of statistical illiteracy in health, with misleading presentation of relative risks and lack of absolute risk information. The problem affects both doctors and patients, leading to incorrect decisions and actions.
A study found that sequential withdrawal of life support is more common than thought and associated with higher satisfaction among surviving family members. The study suggests that improving communication between physicians and families is key to better care.
A new study finds that companies in Democratic states tend to have higher corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings than those in Republican states. The research analyzed the 2004 presidential election results of communities where corporate headquarters are located, revealing a correlation between political views and CSR ratings.
A new study published in Journal of Consumer Research found that ad placement influences consumer perception, with experts reacting differently to positive and negative context. The researchers discovered that knowledgeable consumers evaluate products more favorably when presented with relevant context ads.
Researchers found that people who are presented with vague information after making a decision tend to feel more optimistic about their choice. In three studies, participants were shown to be more optimistic when given incomplete nutritional information or sketchy reviews on products like chocolates and hand lotions.
A new study finds that brief interruptions can alter purchasing decisions, causing a shift from detail-oriented, price-conscious thinking to goal-oriented, price-insensitive consideration. Participants who were interrupted in decision-making processes prioritized qualities like satisfaction and desirability over feasibility and price.
Dr. Torke, an assistant professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, will conduct a large study on surrogate decision making for hospitalized older adults. The two-year, $200,000 award is sponsored by the John A. Hartford Foundation and supports physician-scientists focused on improving healthcare for older adults.
A new study in Strategic Management Journal reveals that Boards of Directors commonly make faulty hires when they hire CEOs from outside the firm. Creating nominating committees with leadership by outside directors can help avoid this problem and increase the chances of a newly appointed CEO succeeding.
Researchers developed a tool, Distribution Builder, to help investors understand their risk attitudes and make informed decisions. The tool estimates unacceptable risk levels using probability distributions, enabling users to construct better preferences.
Research reveals physicians often grapple with balancing patient needs with those of surrogates in medical decision-making. Surrogate decision-makers' wishes can sometimes take precedence over patient prior wishes, highlighting the complexity of this process.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered that laboratory rats' brains signal uncertainty when making decisions, reflecting their level of confidence. The study found that rats preferentially abort uncertain trials, indicating that confidence plays a crucial role in guiding behavior.
A new study found that referees tend to award more points to tae kwon do competitors dressed in red than those dressed in blue. The researchers discovered a split-second bias toward red-clad athletes when competitors are evenly matched in skill.
Researchers created a new prognostic model for traumatic brain injury using patient characteristics from the IMPACT database, including age, motor component of Glasgow coma score, and pupillary reactivity. The model also includes haemoglobin and glucose measurement, providing a more comprehensive prediction of outcomes.
A study published in The Lancet Neurology found that telemedicine consultations resulted in more accurate decision-making compared to telephone consultations for patients with acute stroke. The study showed a 98% correct treatment decision rate for telemedicine versus 82% for telephone consultations.
Minority women were significantly less likely to be aware of their odds of survival after five years, regardless of surgeon volume or hospital setting. Women who asked about treatment options had better knowledge, highlighting the need for clear communication from surgeons.
A new software has been developed to delete confidential patient data from medical records, leaving essential information intact. The system was tested on a large database of nursing notes and successfully removed over 94% of sensitive information, with only 0.2% of useful content mistakenly deleted.
The US EPA has funded three interdisciplinary teams to explore the links between biodiversity and human health, focusing on Lyme disease and West Nile encephalitis. Research will investigate how environmental factors and people's behaviors contribute to disease transmission.
Researchers from the University of Bristol found that mammals have two decision-making systems: a fast-but-inaccurate sub-cortical brain and a slow-but-accurate outer cortex. The study suggests that the older system may still be beneficial in modern situations, potentially preventing atrophy and smaller brains in future humans.
A study published in Decision Analysis warns that long-term climate change policy is likely to change slowly, requiring stronger short-term goals. The researcher argues that considering path dependence in decision-making justifies greater near-term emissions reductions as a hedging strategy.
Expressing fuel efficiency in gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon can help consumers choose more fuel-efficient cars. This format reveals the actual gas savings from improvements in fuel efficiency, making it easier for families to identify the most efficient option within their chosen car class.
Roger Schroeder examines Six Sigma's effectiveness in cutting costs and improving profitability. He defines the methodology and builds an academic framework, identifying consistent elements such as parallel-meso structures, strategic project selection, leadership engagement, and structured methodologies.
A team of Cornell researchers has created a computer program to optimize ambulance deployment and reduce response times. The program estimates the best way to spread ambulances across a municipality to maximize coverage at all times.
Researchers from Cardiff University challenge the reliability of Hawk-Eye's line call accuracy, suggesting that sports decision aids should come with a 'health' warning. The study proposes the Automated Decision Principle, which states that automated systems should reproduce human systematic errors rather than correcting them.
A researcher at Penn State is examining how users choose a search engine, evaluate its performance, and react to individual results. The study aims to build a multi-layer model of branding in search engine selection and final web page evaluation.
A study by Matthew T. Billett and Yiming Qian found that CEOs who exhibit self-attribution bias tend to overcredit their role in successful deals and underestimate the impact of luck, leading to more value-destructive acquisitions. The authors advise CEOs to be cautious and boards to ensure proposed deals are judged on their own merits.
A new study reveals that individuals with higher working memory capacity are more likely to make consistent moral judgments and consider consequences of their actions. This capacity helps control emotional reactions, allowing for deliberate processing and rational decision-making.
A study found that patients with heart failure significantly overestimated their remaining life span, with median overestimation of 40% compared to clinical predictions. Younger patients and those with more severe disease were more likely to make longer predictions, while depression was not a predictive factor.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers with highly developed emotional sensibilities are better at making product choices. The authors developed a scale to assess consumer emotional ability, which predicts overeating and other unhealthy behaviors.
A novel method for measuring people's abilities to consider the consequences of their actions has been developed, with high scores associated with more consequence-related thoughts. Consumers who think about pros and cons before making decisions report improved health outcomes and better financial habits.
Studies revealed that people's brains respond differently to unfairness, with the orbital frontal cortex reacting to giving and the insula processing inequity. The findings suggest that a basic impulse to be fair is hardwired in humans, driven by emotional responses.
A new study reveals that ICU physicians are less comfortable discussing end-of-life issues and do it less frequently with African-American patients than with Caucasian patients. Researchers analyzed data from over 1,200 physicians and found a significant disparity in prognostic conversations with patients of different racial backgrounds.
A qualitative study of English family practice found that pay-for-performance programs reduce continuity of care and increase fragmentation. The programs also changed the nature of patient consultations, leaving physicians feeling less skilled and disconnected from patients.
A study using fMRI scans found that people prioritize equity over efficiency in allocating donations, with the brain responding differently to both. The insula region was activated by changes in equity, while the putamen responded to efficiency, with the caudate integrating both factors after a decision was made.
A study explores the causes of diagnostic errors in medicine, revealing that overconfidence and complacency are major contributing factors. The research suggests developing systems to provide physicians with better feedback on their own errors can help reduce misdiagnoses.
A study by UC Irvine researchers found that a majority of participants did not realize their treatment preferences had changed over time, leading to false memories. The study highlights the need for ongoing dialogue among individuals, families, and physicians about end-of-life treatment options.
Researchers developed a graphical language, VCM, to convey medical knowledge and reduce prescribing errors. The system uses iconic signs akin to road signs to build simple sentences conveying information on drug properties.
Research at University of Cambridge reveals high morning testosterone levels increase City traders' profits for the rest of the day. Testosterone is found to boost confidence and appetite for risk, leading to a positive-feedback loop that can be detrimental if excessive.
A study by University of Kentucky researchers found that targeted mass media campaigns can be successful alone in convincing young adults to adopt safer sex practices. The campaign effectively increased condom use and intentions to use condoms, resulting in a significant reduction in unprotected sex occasions.
Researchers found that erotic images stimulated a positive emotional response, increasing activation in the nucleus accumbens and leading to bigger financial risks. The study's findings have implications for effective emotional appeals in various fields, including finance and marketing.
The study reveals that the switch is bistable, maintaining its on state even without external signals, and provides clues for novel drug targets for cancer and other diseases. The findings have implications for understanding cell fate decisions and the process of cell death.
A study by Case Western Reserve University psychologist found that skills play a significant role in winning at poker, rather than luck. The research involved college students playing multiple rounds of Turbo Texas Hold'em, with those given strategies performing better and improving their games.
A study by Ritesh Saini and Ashwani Monga found that consumers use heuristics to make decisions when spending time, rather than money. This approach leads to differences in decision-making, with a greater reliance on intuitive judgments.
A genetic circuit in HIV controls whether it turns on or stays dormant. Researchers have discovered how this circuit works and can be used to force the virus into dormancy. This finding has shown promise as an avenue for HIV therapy.
The Swiss Systems Biology Initiative has announced eight Flagship Projects involving 79 research groups from 11 universities and institutions. The projects focus on basic biological questions, including lipid roles in cells and decision-making mechanisms in the brain. Funding for these initiatives will be at least CHF90 million.
A review of published literature on women's expectations and experience of pain and pain relief in labour reveals a gap between expectations and reality. Most women underestimate the intensity of pain they will experience and may not be prepared for the possibility that they might need pain relief.
Researchers found that using a blood test and decision algorithm to determine antibiotic therapy duration in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock can reduce treatment time by up to 6 days. This approach also resulted in shorter ICU stays, averaging three days less for treated patients.
A study by Thomas Kramer and Lauren Block found that consumers are more disappointed when a supposedly
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) advises that clinicians provide information on potential benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening to men, especially those with family history or African-American background. Patient-clinician discussion is crucial for informed decision-making about screening.
Researchers Rick Dale and Michael Spivey discovered a cognitive bias where people tend to favor true statements, even in the face of ambiguity. Arm movement data showed participants' bodies moved more towards 'no' responses, indicating a general bias toward assuming statements are true.
Researchers found that consumers experience greater conflict and decision difficulty when choosing between unattractive options, but easier times rejecting them. This suggests that changing the decision task can control the level of difficulty experienced.
Recent research by Natalie Denburg and colleagues found that 35-40% of healthy older adults exhibit poor decision-making abilities, which is associated with increased vulnerability to deceptive advertising. The study suggests that these individuals may experience disproportionate aging of the brain region critical for decision-making.
The use of medications in psychoanalysis is a topic of debate among professionals, with some advocating for cautious approach while others see its potential benefits. The American Psychoanalytic Association hosts a panel discussion to explore the uses of medications in analysis.
Researchers found a 40% decrease in pilot error-related mishaps between 1983-2002, attributed to enhanced training and technology. However, the study also revealed an increase in ground-related mishaps, highlighting areas for further improvement.
Most general surgeons fail to discuss breast reconstruction with breast cancer patients before surgery. Researchers found only 33% of eligible patients had this conversation. Younger, more educated patients were more likely to have the discussion, leading to greater willingness to consider mastectomy.
The new ecosystems approach to fishery regulation requires consideration of various uses of maritime resources and interactions between different sectors. The study highlights the need for interactive decision-making processes to promote versatile use of information about the maritime environment.