Equal Preference Research Articles

Humanization promotes equality over efficiency preference in carbon allocation

Decisions regarding international carbon allocation present an efficiency–equality dilemma. In addition to serving national interests, recent studies have shown the moral value foundations of carbon allocation preferences. Nevertheless, concentrating only on the moral values of the allocator is insufficient; the allocator's moral concern for the allocatees often plays an equally or even more crucial role. Inspired by the moral concern model of humanization, we propose that the humanization of allocatees boosts empathy toward them, thereby promoting equality (versus efficiency) preference in carbon allocation. The results of three studies (N = 911) reveal that humanization increases selection of more equal (versus efficient) allocation proposals (Studies 1–3) and decreases credit allocation differences between allocatees (Studies 2 and 3). Further, enhanced empathy is found to mediate these effects (Studies 2 and 3). By identifying the roles of humanization and empathy in carbon allocation preferences, this research provides a moral concern framework for understanding international carbon allocation controversies and has important implications for promoting climate governance cooperation.

Nutrient screening of Chlorella vulgaris and C. variabilis using high-throughput biolog phenotype arrays

Microalgae, particularly Chlorella species, are versatile microorganisms with significant scientific potential in various domains, including recombinant protein production, wastewater treatment, biofuel production, bio-fertilizers, food source, pharmaceuticals, and carbon capture. However, conventional growth media have often been the default choice for Chlorella cultivation. This study utilizes Biolog phenotype array plates to explore the growth responses of Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella variabilis to a broad spectrum of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur sources. The growth dynamics were captured by integrating the area under the OD-time curve. The results revealed growth preferences for both Chlorella species, emphasizing their unique nutrient source requirements and illuminated some unexpected growth behaviors. C. vulgaris exhibited equal preference for trehalose as glucose, and C. variabilis was unable to metabolize nitrate or sucrose, two staples of modified BBM media most commonly used for its cultivation. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the metabolic capacities of C. vulgaris and C. variabilis, informing potentially more efficient and tailored microalgal cultivation practices across diverse applications.

Influence of the fundamental frequency and number of harmonics on preference judgements for fan sounds

Fan sounds are often heard in everyday life. Besides broadband noise, the sounds often contain one single or multiple tonal components, which can render the sound rather unpleasant and annoying. In this study, level adjustments for equal preference were measured in listening experiments for synthetic fan sounds compared to a fixed reference sound. The stimuli were based on two different background noises with one embedded single tone, or a multitone with eight partials. The tonal components had fundamental frequencies of either 80 or 240 Hz. All sounds containing tones needed level reduction to become equally preferred as the reference sound. The tonal configuration, as well as its fundamental frequency, did typically influence the effect. Additional level reductions for signals containing higher harmonics were necessary to reach equal preference compared to signals that contained only a single tone. For a fundamental frequency of 80 Hz, the additional level reductions were only 1.5 dB on average, for a fundamental frequency of 240 Hz up to 9.7 dB were necessary. The level reductions for equal preference were larger for sounds using a background averaged across real fan sounds compared to using bandlimited synthetic noise.

Optimal taxation under status consumption and preferences for equality

Optimal taxation under status consumption and preferences for equality

From surviving to thriving: How preferences shift in helping resource allocation.

The helper's allocation of helping resources to multiple recipients often involves a trade-off between equality and efficiency. This research examines how the condition of potential recipients ("survival" or "development") influences the preferences for helping resources allocation in terms of equality and efficiency. Through seven studies, including a field study (Study 6), we discovered that helpers show a higher preference for equality over efficiency when recipients are in a survival situation (i.e., below the survival line) as opposed to in development situation (i.e., above the survival line). This phenomenon is attributed to the different priorities of deontological and utilitarian perspectives in survival and development situations (Studies 3 and 4). Our findings offer insights into the existing research on helping decisions and enhance the understanding of the trade-off between efficiency and equality among helpers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Here for good? The unique nature of public attitudes toward highly skilled immigrants in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Most studies on immigration attitudes assume that natives overwhelmingly welcome highly skilled immigrants. I argue that this assumption, which commonly focuses on the economic benefits of immigrants’ skills, is problematic for two reasons. First, it neglects the incentives and conditions that countries need to offer to win talent. Second, natives prioritize different moral principles when evaluating high– and low-skilled immigrants. Based on 54 in-depth interviews conducted in Hong Kong, supplemented by an original online survey (N = 1,432), I show that public support for highly skilled immigrants is heavily driven by concerns about loyalty and equality. Specifically, natives reject highly skilled immigrants when they perceive them as opportunists who take advantage of the host economy or who stay only briefly. These perceptions are shaped by trust, preferences for equality, and, at the macro level, immigration policies. My findings underscore the need for greater attention to the distinct nature of public opinion about highly skilled immigration and, as the competition for global talent intensifies, to the public backlash against it.

Individualism, collectivism, and emotion regulation: a cross-cultural examination among young adults from seven countries

Individualism and collectivism are dimensions of cultural variation thought to shape differences in emotion regulation tendencies, yet research to date has examined these cultural dimensions as country-level features, emphasizing variability across nations. The present study takes the approach of examining cultural differences within nations as predictors of emotion regulation strategies, shifting the perspective instead to individual differences. This present study aimed to address how individual endorsement of individualism-collectivism (i.e. prioritizing individual versus group goals) and vertical-horizontal attitudes (preference for hierarchy versus equality) are associated with use of emotion regulation strategies (i.e., reappraisal and suppression) among college students from seven countries (n = 5,900; female = 70.80%). Overall, we found that individual differences in individualism-collectivism and vertical-horizontal attitudes had strong connections with young adults’ emotion regulation styles. Results of our multivariate (i.e., all variables were simultaneously examined) regression model revealed: a) higher endorsement of horizontal individualism and horizontal collectivism were associated with higher use of reappraisal strategies; b) higher endorsement of horizontal individualism and vertical collectivism were associated with higher use of suppression strategies; while higher endorsement of horizontal collectivism was associated with lower use of suppression strategies. A multi-group model supported the generalizability of these associations across countries. These findings demonstrate the value of approaching cultural differences in emotion regulation from an individual differences framework, and not assuming country-level differences are representative of individuals’ affective experiences. Further work is needed examining models within-country to examine cultural variation in individualism vs collectivism compared to country-level norms.

What Types of Continuing Professional Development Training Courses Do Healthcare Assistants Employed in Community Care Settings Think Should Be Conducted Face-To-Face or Online?

Aim: This study was undertaken to explore what types of continuing professional development (CPD) clinical training courses Healthcare Assistants think should be conducted by face-to-face or online methods. Methodology: A purpose-built piloted questionnaire was utilised to collect data. A total of 71 completed questionnaires were included in the data analysis. The participants were all consenting adults aged between 20 - 61 years. Results: The face-to-face learning method was thought of as the preferred method by 45/71 (63%) of the participants while 9/71 (14%) of the participants thought of online learning as their preferred method. Interestingly, 17/71 (23%) thought of blended learning as their preferred method. Among 20 popular CPD courses, participants preferred 16/20 (80%) for the face-to-face training method and 3/20 (15%) of the courses for online training methods. There was an equal preference for 1/20 (5%) course. Conclusion: The face-to-face training/learning method remains the dominant preference for HCAs, but online training/learning is gaining popularity, especially among younger computer-literate learners. A blend of the two methods may satisfy proponents of traditional teacher-centric training/learning styles on one hand and those supporting digitally aided student-centric training/learning on the other.

Nest Site Preference of Lonchura striata acuticauda, in Semi Urban Areas of Kollam District, Kerala, India: A Case Study

Disturbances caused by man-made structures significantly influence the nest site selection of birds. However, the remarkable adaptability of Lonchura striata acuticauda to such disturbances is a fascinating aspect of its behaviour. This adaptability leads to the unique nest distribution of a bird’s community, often favouring human-associated bird species. The present investigation into the nesting preference of Lonchura striata acuticauda for garden plants was conducted in a semi-urban village, Tazhava of Kollam district in Kerala, between August 2021 and September 2022. Nesting affinity of white-rumped munia to different garden plants, the number of nesting attempts and renovation on different plant species, and nesting parameters, such as the number of completed and incompleted nests, clutch size, egg predated, and chick fledged on each plant species were recorded during their breeding period. A total of 45 nests of Lonchura striata acuticauda were observed on different garden plant species in 25 homes with well-maintained gardens; thirty-seven were completed, while eight nests were abandoned in the helmet stage. Lonchura striata acuticauda showed varying nest site preferences; with the highest nest site preference of 36 % on Callisia repens, followed by Epipremnum aureum (27%), Cleodendrum thomsoniae (18%), Bambusa multiplex (7%) and an equal preference of 4% for Plumeria pudica, Ixora taiwanensis and Melia azadirachta. Most of the nests recorded an average clutch size of 3-5 eggs. Eighty-eight percent of the nests constructed on Callisia repens were completed, with 87% of eggs hatched and chick-fledged, with a predation rate of 13%. Nesting munias are protected from the dense foliage and vines of the garden plants where the birds build a nest which also minimises the energy wastage in finding materials for nest building. Repeated nesting attempts and nest renovation on the same plant were observed mainly in hanging ornamental plants.

Win-win or lose-lose: Children prefer the form of equality

In middle childhood, children's sense of fairness further develops, they are willing to pay a cost to maintain equality. Win-win and lose-lose are two forms of equality. Win-win equality refers to both parties maximizing benefits, while lose-lose equality means both parties incurring the maximum loss. Win-win equality allows third party upholding fairness to gain more reputational benefits without the violator being punished, embodying the principle of “benefiting oneself without harming others”. On the other hand, lose-lose equality is a more deterrent form of fairness with the violator getting punished, and the third-party might experience a situation of “effort without appreciation.” However, the specific form of equality which school-aged children prefer still requires further exploration. Therefore, adopting the dictator game paradigm of third-party punishment, we design two experiments to investigate the fairness preference of first to fourth-grade children when acting as a third party and to clarify patterns of age-related changes. Study 1 (N = 111) explored children's preferred form of fairness under advantageous inequity conditions. Study 2 (N = 122) further examined children's fairness preferences in disadvantageous inequity situations. The findings suggest that when confronted with inequitable distributions, whether rooted in disadvantageous or advantageous inequity, children display a notable tendency to utilize third-party punishment to achieve an equal allocation. Meanwhile, this tendency strengthens as they progress in grade levels. Notably, children consistently manifest a preference for win-win equality, highlighting their inclination towards mutually beneficial outcomes.

Do You Like Heroes or Villains? The Association between Preference for Media Characters and Behavioural Characteristics in Preschoolers

ABSTRACT Exposure to heroes and villains via media may influence individuals’ behavioural characteristics, but little is known about its effects on the developmental process. Especially, it is unclear whether preferences for heroes or villains are associated with behavioural characteristics in preschoolers, when exposure to TV rapidly increases. We categorised children aged 3–6 years (N = 200) into three groups—hero preference, villain preference, and equal preference– based on their preference for popular Japanese media characters. We compared the groups’ persistence, prosociality, and empathy through a cross-sectional study, which revealed that children in the hero group exhibited higher levels of persistence and prosociality than children in the villain group. Furthermore, children in the villain group displayed greater total difficulties and lower persistence than children in the hero and equal groups. This suggests that preschoolers’ behavioural characteristics differ depending on their preferences. Children who liked justice heroes tended to exhibit behavioural traits that were considered socially good. In contrast, children who liked villains tended to exhibit behavioural traits that were considered socially bad. The possible influence of media characters on children’s behavioural characteristics is discussed from the perspective of behavioural modelling.

Student views on the assessment medium for General Certificates of Secondary Education in England: insights from the 2020 examination cancellations

ABSTRACT In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) has been for the last 35 years the most common qualification by which students’ attainment at age 16 has been measured. The range and balance of processes by which the GCSEs’ programmes of study have been assessed have varied over the decades, to include both teacher-assessed coursework and modular or end-of-programme timed written assessments (examinations). The necessary replacement in 2020 of GCSE written examinations with teacher-led assessment provided a unique opportunity to explore students’ perceptions of the validity and utility of both examination and teacher-led assessment media for this high-stakes award. This research reports part of a survey that explored the experiences of GCSE candidates in 2020, with particular focus upon students’ perceptions of preparing for written examinations, and then for teacher-led assessment. 216 students responded to a mixed quantitative/qualitative methods survey that invited opinion and reflection on the relative affordances and shortcomings of written examinations and teacher-led assessment, both for the individual respondent and the wider student cohort. Responses revealed a balance of both positive and negative evaluations of both assessment media, with an almost equal preference for either, albeit many respondents indicated consideration of some other assessment medium (e.g. modular assessment; combined assessment media). We re-emphasise the attested value of ongoing ‘dialogue’ and consultation with student stakeholders to inform planning for optimisation of assessment utility and validity.

The influence of the reference level on loudness and preference judgements for spectrally manipulated fan sounds.

Fan sounds are often quantified using A-weighted sound pressure levels, silently acknowledging their limitations to fully capture the perceived unpleasantness. To overcome this limitation, level adjustments are a way to quantify the subjective preference of spectrally different sounds in listening experiments by adjusting the level of a test sound until it is equally preferred to a fixed reference sound. Since equal loudness contours differ, depending on the overall level, level adjustments might vary for different levels of the reference sound. This study aims to quantify the effects of spectral manipulations on level adjustments for loudness and preference judgements at reference sound pressure levels of either 45, 60, or 75 dB(A). Level adjustments of up to 12 dB were measured to make the stimuli equally preferred to the reference, particularly for sounds with prominent high-frequency components. The loudness and preference judgements were closely linked with each other, but an offset of about 3.5 dB at a reference level of 45 dB(A) indicates that equal loudness is not synonymous with equal preference. A linear regression model to predict level adjustments based on the reference level and an index reflecting the ratio of mid- to high-frequency loudness explains 73% of the variance.

Tradeoff between Gender and Class Equality: An Analysis of Tax Policy in Japan

Abstract Although conservative parties in developed countries are becoming more positive about women’s labor force participation, serious economic gender gaps persist in some conservative welfare regimes. By focusing on Japan as a most-likely case, this article reexamines the view that emphasizes conservative parties’ preference for traditional gender roles as a key factor contributing to policies that negatively affect gender equality. Analyses using text data from parliamentary statements reveal that parties’ preference for class equality, held by both conservative and leftist parties, contributes to a tax policy that suppresses women’s labor force participation. The findings illuminate a tradeoff between class and gender equality and provide implications for how conservative welfare regimes can achieve higher levels of economic gender equality.

Digital visualization in graduate transport phenomena

AbstractThe use of contour flood plots and color digital movies is investigated for teaching fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer at the first‐year graduate student level. The color visualizations are intended to not only stimulate curiosity but also encourage enthusiasm and determination in learning difficult material. Although there is a significant amount of finite‐difference material, the focus is on analytical solutions. In particular, the mathematical problems involve error functions and Fourier series, which generally prove uninteresting and unpopular. Students are encouraged to produce the visualizations themselves, in addition to being provided with digital results in various forms. Excel can be used to generate both the analytical and finite difference calculations, but Python or another computer language can be employed. While software, such as Matplotlib with Python, Gnuplot, or Tecplot, can create excellent contour flood plots, results from Excel are also good, and Powerpoint will produce movies from individual frames. Student response is positive, although quantifying their reaction is difficult based on the small class sizes. Not surprisingly, the use of color appeals to students and adds to their interest. In addition, students claim increased understanding with contour plots and movies, but the visualizations should be used in conjunction with more traditional graphs, perhaps augmented with consistent use of color. However, the impact on motivation due to color presentation is harder to establish. Interestingly, both graduate and senior undergraduate students showed about equal preference for the rainbow and viridis color palettes.

КОМПЛЕМЕНТАРНЫЕ И РОДСТВЕННЫЕ СОЧЕТАНИЯ ОТТЕНКОВ КАК ОСНОВА ЦВЕТОВОЙ ГАРМОНИИ

The article presents the results of an experiment, the purpose of which was to find an answer to the question, which colour consonances are preferred more often: those composed of complementary colours or those based on related contrast. The research was conducted among first-year students of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Folk Crafts at the Federal State University of Education. The paper describes the algorithm for conducting the experiment by means of the author’s methodology and presents the results of analysing the obtained data using the chi-square criterion. It is revealed that some colour combinations based on the contrast of complementary colours are significantly preferable to combinations of related colours, and vice versa: some combinations based on the contrast of related colours are significantly preferable to complementary harmonies. Certain areas of the colour wheel have equal preference for both complementary and related combinations. The findings of the study contribute to the scientific block of theoretical knowledge about colour and aid the awareness of various issues in art and art education. The materials can be used in educational practice.

Achieving isopropenyl-enriched polyisoprene: unraveling the role of bidentate vs. tridentate iron precatalysts through ligand framework design.

The coordination sphere and steric variations in iron catalysts present a fascinating strategy for adjusting monomer regio- and stereoselective enchainment, leading to the development of novel polymer structures in isoprene polymerization. This study investigates a range of iron complexes with variations in the coordination spheres (bidentate and tridentate) and steric/electronic properties of side arms to evaluate their impact on isoprene polymerization. X-ray analysis revealed that the tridentate Fe-NMe2 complex has a dinuclear structure with a μ2-O bridge, where each iron center is monoligated in an octahedral geometry. In contrast, the bidentate Fe-NHPh crystallizes as an ion pair, consisting of a trisligated [L3Fe]2+ cation and counteranions [FeCl4]- and [Cl]-. Toward isoprene polymerization, iron complexes with tridentate ligands bearing NMe2 or NiPr2 side arms exhibited high catalytic activity, whereas those with NH2 or OH side arms showed significantly lower activity. In addition, both bidentate iron complexes were also highly active precatalysts, with activities reaching up to 1.8 × 105 g (IP) per mol (Fe) per h. Variations in the ligand framework led to significant differences in polymer molecular weights, ranging from 37.5 × 103 g mol-1 to 272.8 × 103 g mol-1, with narrow to broad dispersities. Of significant note, tridentate iron complexes were particularly effective for 3,4 monomer addition (up to 63%), resulting in isopropenyl-enriched polyisoprene. In contrast, bidentate complexes showed a nearly equal preference for both 1,4 and 3,4 additions (1,4/3,4 ≈ 50/50). Polyisoprenes with a high number of isopropenyl pendant groups are highly sought after for post-functionalization and the production of high-performance resins.

2-Anilidomethylpyridine-Derived Three-Coordinate Zinc Hydride: The Journey Unveils Anilide Backbone's Reactive Nature.

Low-coordinate heteroleptic zinc hydrides are catalytically important but rare and synthetically challenging. We herein report three-coordinate monomeric zinc hydride on a 2-anilidomethylpyridine framework (NNL). The synthetic success comes through systematically screening a few different routes from different precursors. During the process, the ligand's anilide backbone interestingly appears to be more reactive than Zn's terminal site to electrophilic Lewis and Brønsted acids. The proligand NNLH reacts with [Zn{N(SiMe3)2}2] and ZnEt2 to give [(NNL)ZnA] (A = N(SiMe3)2 (1), Et(2)). Both are inert to PhSiH3 and H2 but react with HBpin only through the internal Zn-Nanilide bond to give the borylated ligand NNLBpin (3). The reactions of 1 and 2 with Ph3EOH (E = C, Si) afford a series of divergent compounds like [(NNLH)Zn(OSiPh3)2] (4), [Zn3(OSiPh3)4Et2] (5), and [EtZn(OCPh3)] (6). But in all cases, it is invariably the Zn-Nanilide bond protonated by the -OH with equal or higher preference than the terminal Zn-N or Zn-C bonds. A DFT analysis rationalizes the origin of such a reactivity pattern. Realizing that an acid-free route might be the key, reacting [(NNL)Li] with ZnBr2 gives [(NNL)Zn(μ-Br)]2 (7), which on successively treating with KOSiPh3 and PhSiH3 gives the desired [(NNL)ZnH] (8) as a three-coordinate monomer with a terminal Zn-H bond. Estimating the ligand steric in 8 shows the openness in Zn's coordination sphere, a desired criterion for efficient catalysis. This and a positive influence of the pyridyl sidearm is reflected in 8's superior activity in hydroborating PhC(O)Me by HBpin in comparison to Jones' two-coordinate anilido zinc hydride.

Dispositional compassion shifts social preferences in systematic ways.

How people attach value to the outcomes of self and other-social preferences-is central to social behavior. Recently, how dispositional and state emotion shape such social preferences has received researchers' attention. The present investigation asked whether and to what extent dispositional and state compassion predict shifts in social preferences across 4 samples: two correlational samples (final ns 153 & 368, study 1a and 1b) and two experimental samples (final ns: 430 & 530, studies 2 and 3). In keeping with recent accounts of compassion, dispositional compassion predicted general preference for equality, expressed as dispreference for both monetary advantage over another (interaction βs = -0.36, -0.33, -0.25, -0.22; all p < 0.001) and monetary disadvantage relative to others (βs: 0.26, 0.27, 0.28, 0.17; all p < 0.01; positive coefficients imply dispreference). This dispositional effect persisted when controlling for prosociality, positivity, agreeableness, and respectfulness. Furthermore, these dispositional compassion effects were relatively unchanged by experimental emotion inductions in studies 3 and 4. The experimental inductions of state compassion and state pride showed little evidence of systematic effects on social preferences relative to each other or a neutral condition. Discussion focused on individual differences in emotion and social preferences.

Cooperation Preference Aware Shapley Value: Modeling, Algorithms and Applications

The Shapley value is a cornerstone in cooperative game theory and has been widely applied in networking, data science, etc. The classical Shapley value assumes that each player has an equal preference to cooperate with each other. Since the cooperation preference is an important factor of a variety of networking applications, we first generalize the classical Shapley value to allow general degree of the cooperation preference. In particular, we develop mathematical models to solicit two types of cooperation preferences, i.e., (1) group-wise preferences and (2) pair-wise preferences, and extend the classical Shapley value to capture this feature. Our second contribution is tackling the intrinsic computational challenge because even for the classical Shapley value, it is computationally expensive to evaluate. We design computationally efficient randomized algorithms with theoretical guarantees to fully cover the computational space of our generalized Shapley value. We also extend our models and algorithms to divide payoffs for multiple coalitions with dynamic preferences. We demonstrate the versatility of our framework by applying it to divide the revenue among ISPs in deploying new Internet architectures, as well as to divide the reward among workers in crowdsourcing systems.