Formal Decision Research Articles

Global synthesis of effects and feedbacks from artificial reefs on socioecological systems in recreational fisheries

AbstractArtificial reefs have been widely deployed with the intention of increasing fish habitat, enhancing recreational fishery opportunities and providing socio‐economic benefits to surrounding communities. Substantial work has been done to understand the ecology of artificial reefs but the efficacy of artificial reefs as a management tool hinges on socioecological feedbacks that are not well understood. Socioecological feedbacks are difficult to discern because they depend on multiple and complex interactions between fish, fishers, managers and habitats. To better understand the net effects of artificial reefs on recreational fisheries, we conducted a literature review to catalogue effects and feedbacks of artificial reefs. Our global synthesis revealed that artificial reefs may result in a net negative effect on fish populations, at least in the short‐term, as catch‐driven effects bolstering socio‐economic objectives occur more often or at greater intensities than positive biological effects. We have highlighted important effects of artificial reefs and feedbacks that need to be accounted for when considering their deployment in fishery management. There may be unintended consequences if biological benefits from habitat‐to‐fish and fish‐to‐fish feedbacks are outweighed by population losses due to greater socio‐economic benefits from fish‐to‐fisher feedbacks. Taken in concert with their semi‐permanent nature and apparent popularity with stakeholders, a view emerges of artificial reefs possibly functioning as a ‘social‐ecological trap’. This work emphasizes the need for robust assessments of the effects of artificial reefs, as well as more formal decision science approaches for implementing of these structures.

Financial Innovations in International Corporations. A Global Perspective

Theoretical background: Modernized technology and digital transformation in the economy has changed business paradigms and innovation. The prevalence of contemporary digital financial innovation makes it easier for businesses to grow. New services, processes, or business models made feasible by digital technologies are increasingly referred to as financial innovation. For many firms, the use of information technology (IT) systems and the associated software has progressed from being merely supportive to becoming a cornerstone of daily operations. Big shifts in society’s thinking accompany great innovations. The issues of financial innovations are examined in this research. We assume that financial breakthroughs will lead to a more effective use of resources, which will result in higher levels of capital productivity and economic expansion. This effect has been produced by numerous financial innovations. Purpose of the article: The main research objective of the study is to examine the effects of financial innovation on development of international corporations in connection with their national environments. Research methods: The analysis of the accounts of selected companies (case studies) was one of the research methods. We are focused on financial innovations in big Internet companies. There were conducted the macroeconomic comparison of the evolution of financial innovations over time (2010–2021) as well as correlation and regression analysis. The expenditure of financial innovation was used to gauge financial performance. In addition, cases and examples of financial innovations made by a small number of carefully chosen significant worldwide firms while taking into account the particulars of their operations were presented. We analyzed the application of several examples for our study. Main findings: The results indicate a more nuanced continuum of practices, from unstructured methods through informal to formal decisions. Our findings demonstrate that financial innovations significantly and favourably affect the financial development of international corporations such as Alibaba Group, Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Samsung.

Executability of the Constitutional Court's formal testing decision: Indonesia's Omnibus Law review

This legal writing analyses the incoherence in the use of Government Regulations in Lieu of Laws as an implementation of the Constitutional Court's Decision on the Formill Test of Laws by using Constitutional Court Decision Number 91 / PUU-XVIII / 2020 as a study material and trying to describe future precedents to the formal test decision, which Perpu continues to improve. It uses case, statute, and conceptual approaches to conduct normative legal research. The study found that: a. The Constitutional Court Decision Number 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 declared the Job Creation Law conditionally unconstitutional because its formation was not based on reasonable and correct procedures for the formation of laws and regulations or radically deviated from the principle of lawmaking. Constitutional Court Decision Number 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 requested that the Job Creation Law, which was declared conditionally unconstitutional, be revised through a good and correct mechanism for law and regulation formation, which includes community participation. In the context of the president's attitude towards using Government Regulation in Lieu of Law to comply with the Constitutional Court Decision No. 91/PUU-XVIII/2020, the use of the Perpu mechanism to improve the Job Creation Law negates public participation as a fundamental part of the process of forming good laws and regulations.

Involvement and Autonomy of Minors in Medical Settings: Perceptions of Children Undergoing Surgery and Parents.

Informed consent presupposes competence and represents a formal decision by an informed person who has the legal capacity to accept medical action or participate in research. Our aim was to analyze the perceptions of minors and their parents about the age at which they consider that a minor is competent for making health decisions. A descriptive observational study was carried out in 302 minors between 12 and 17 years of age undergoing elective surgery, and 302 parents (range 30 to 62 years). Two semistructured questionnaires were designed, one for the minors and the other, for the parents. A total of 20.1% of minors and 31.1% of parents believe that patients should not make decisions related to their health until they are 18 years old. A total of 74.9% of the minors surveyed consider that from 16 years of age, the minor is empowered to make decisions. In parents, this percentage is 60%. In the pediatric setting, each case and situation must be examined individually to determine if the minor meets the condition of maturity to decide. The ideal is to promote the minor's participation in decision-making, giving them the opportunity to participate in the process in a manner appropriate to their capacity.

Early marriage and its associated factors among women in Ethiopia: Systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Early marriage is defined as the union of one or both partners before reaching the age of 18 for the first time. This practice is widely prevalent in underdeveloped countries, particularly in Ethiopia, and has been observed to have detrimental effects on the educational and personal development of both male and female individuals. The present study conducted a comprehensive search of the Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. The data were extracted using Microsoft Excel (version 14) and analyzed using STATA statistical software. To examine publication bias, a forest plot, rank test, and Egger's regression test were utilized. Heterogeneity was assessed by calculating I2 and conducting an overall estimated analysis. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed based on the study region and sample size. The pooled odds ratio was calculated. Out of a total of 654 articles, 14 papers with 67,040 research participants were included in this analysis. The pooled prevalence of early marriage among women in Ethiopia was 56.34% (95% CI: 51.34-61.34), I2 = 78.3%). The Amhara region exhibited the highest prevalence of early marriage, with a rate of 59.01%, whereas the Oromia region demonstrated the lowest incidence, with a prevalence rate of 53.88%. The prevalence of early marriage was found to be 58.1% for a sample size exceeding 1000, and 50.9% for a sample size below 1000. No formal education (AOR = 5.49; 95%CI: 2.99, 10.07), primary education (AOR = 3.65; 95%CI: 2.11, 6.32), secondary education (AOR = 2.49; 95%CI: 1.60, 3.87), rural residency (AOR = 4.52; 95%CI: 1.90, 10.74) and decision made by parents (AOR = 2.44; 95%CI: 1.36, 4.39) were associated factors. In Ethiopia, there was a high rate of early marriage among women. The research findings indicate that early marriage is more prevalent among mothers who possess lower levels of educational attainment, reside in rural areas, and are subject to parental decision-making. Our stance is firmly in favor of expanding the availability of maternal education and promoting urban residency. Furthermore, the promotion of autonomous decision-making by clients regarding their marital affairs is of paramount importance to family leaders.

Generating actionable evidence from free-text feedback to improve maternity and acute hospital experiences: A computational text analytics & predictive modelling approach

Abstract Background Patient experience surveys are a key source of evidence for supporting decision-making and quality improvement in healthcare services. These surveys contain two main types of questions: closed and open-ended, asking about patients’ care experiences. Apart from the knowledge obtained from analysing closed-ended questions, invaluable insights can be gleaned from free-text data. Advanced analytics techniques are increasingly used to harness free-text data, yet existing approaches do not offer the rigour required to support formal decision-making through free-text. Methods This study addresses the challenge of effectively and rigorously analysing patients’ free-text feedback to improve maternity and acute hospital services in Ireland. Aspects of healthcare services (i.e. themes) that could be improved were determined using computational text analytics and predictive modelling. Themes extracted from comments were prioritised based on volume, the intensity of negative affect expressed in the texts, and the estimated influence of the themes on overall patient satisfaction. Results Results demonstrate the viability of producing rigorous evidence for prioritising interventions to improve healthcare services based on free-text feedback. Specifically, consistency in advice and support in breastfeeding were among the most important issues for maternity services. For acute hospital services, meals quality and access, A&E waiting time, ward hygiene and communication at discharge were among the most important issues. Women also wanted more emphasis on prior birth experience and complications in future maternity care surveys. Conclusions Advances in computational text modelling enable the extraction of concrete and actionable insights from the analysis of free-text data. This approach also allows decision-makers to prioritise emergent themes and inform actions that will positively impact overall patient satisfaction.

Advance care planning in perinatal settings: national survey of implementation using Normalisation Process Theory

BackgroundPerinatal advance care planning (PnACP) is a process of formal decision-making to help families plan for their baby’s care when recognised that they may have a life-limiting condition. While PnACP...

The development of UNESCO’s programmes for preventing violent extremism: educational norms, institutional politics and declining legitimacy

ABSTRACT Since 2015, UNESCO has developed a variety of programmes for preventing violent extremism through education (PVE-E), under the framework of Global Citizenship Education and Target 4.7 of Agenda 2030. There have been formal board decisions to promote PVE-E, regional and international conferences and three key publications: a Teacher’s Guide (2016), a Guide for Policy-makers (2017), and a Youth-Led Guide (2017 and 2018). Through a discourse analysis of these key documents and a critical engagement with the institutional politics of UNESCO, the paper delineates the discursive constructs of PVE-E that are mobilised and sheds light on the under-researched politics of production that affect the nature of these texts. Taking a comparative perspective, the paper shows how PVE-E is represented within and between these different texts, exposes the normative values and ideological assumptions underpinning these representations and argues that we are ultimately witnessing a declining legitimacy of UNESCO’s normative power.

Measuring the Compatibility of Conditional Decision in Formal Constitutional Review by the Constitutional Court

The existence of conditional decisions becomes dynamic in constitutional review, including their use in procedural constitutional reviews. Constitutional Court Decision No. 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 is the first decision to grant the petition and use a conditional decision model. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, using the conditional decision model in the decision results in discourse among various parties, including government institutions, law enforcers, academics, and the general public. With the growing discourse, this research aims to analyze the compatibility of the conditional decision model in formal constitutional reviews by examining various formal constitutional review decisions and the conditional decisions handed down by the Constitutional Court. This research indicates that the conditional decision is incompatible with formal constitutional review. This can be observed from the incompatibility of conditional decisions with the regulatory design of formal constitutional reviews and their legal consequences.

Measuring the Compatibility of Conditional Decision in Formal Constitutional Review by the Constitutional Court

The existence of conditional decisions becomes dynamic in constitutional review, including their use in procedural constitutional reviews. Constitutional Court Decision No. 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 is the first decision to grant the petition and use a conditional decision model. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, using the conditional decision model in the decision results in discourse among various parties, including government institutions, law enforcers, academics, and the general public. With the growing discourse, this research aims to analyze the compatibility of the conditional decision model in formal constitutional reviews by examining various formal constitutional review decisions and the conditional decisions handed down by the Constitutional Court. This research indicates that the conditional decision is incompatible with formal constitutional review. This can be observed from the incompatibility of conditional decisions with the regulatory design of formal constitutional reviews and their legal consequences.

Fuzzy Decision Rule-Based Online Classification Algorithm in Fuzzy Formal Decision Contexts

Formal concept analysis (FCA) extracts interpretable rules by using implication relationships between concepts, which is an effective method for acquiring knowledge. In this paper, a fuzzy decision rule-based online classification algorithm called OFRCA is designed by combining online learning theory and FCA in a fuzzy formal decision context. First, the original weight vector of all attributes is obtained by fusing the original deterministic decision rules. Second, incremental fuzzy decision rules are obtained according to the added objects. Then for the incremental fuzzy decision rules, OFRCA updates the weight vector based on minimizing the loss function. At the end of the process, all the rules are fused into an attributeweighted classifier with the final weight vector. In this paper, we employ the regret to obtain a learning guarantee for OFRCA. The growth rate of OFRCA's regret converges to 0 as the number of iterations increases in the ideal state, which provides an effective learning guarantee for OFRCA. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, this paper conducted numerical experiments and systematically analyzed the experimental results, which demonstrated that OFRCA achieved the highest advanced classification performance among the compared algorithms.

The Role of Behavioral Finance in Formal Debt Decisions Study of Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Semarang

This research is to examine behavioral finance and its effect on formal debt decisions to improve business performance in micro, small, and medium enterprises in Semarang. Many studies have been conducted related to behavioral finance, where overconfidence, the illusion of control, and availability will influence formal debt decisions. The characteristics of MSMEs in making debt decisions are strongly influenced by behavioral finance. The analytical method used is quantitative with Smart PLS. The results of the analysis of overconfidence have no significant effect on formal debt decision-making, the illusion of control and availability have a positive and significant effect on formal debt decisions, and formal debt decisions have a positive and significant effect on business performance.

Women Empowerment through Cooperative: A Case Study of Ichangu Mahila Jagriti Multipurpose Cooperative Limited

Women empowerment involves participation of women in political structures and formal decision-making and economic decision-making which is achieved through education, raising awareness, literacy, and training. Co-operatives in general and specifically women-led co-operatives, have played an important role in women empowerment. This study aims to identify the contribution of Ichangu Mahila Jagriti Multipurpose Co-operative Limited (IMJCL) located in Nagarjun municipality Kathmandu on economic, socio-cultural and political aspects of women empowerment who became its member. The study was conducted in Nagarjun municipality Kathmandu among the 124 women inheritors with 10 years of experiences and cooperative activities were randomly selected using lottery method for data collection. Primary data was collected via structured questionnaire, focus group discussion and key informant interviews. For the data analysis paired sample t-test was applied in three different domains of empowerment: economic, socio-cultural and political dimensions. The finding showed there was positive impact on women empowerment with significant difference in socio-cultural, economic and political empowerment of its member. The study shows there were significant changes after involvement in different programmes of IMJCL. Finally, its finding focusses on the crucial role of cooperative in the overall empowerment of women. Extension of cooperative organizations is indispensable for the nation.

COVID-19 Tedbirleri Sürecinde Öğrencilerin Tıbbi İngilizce Dersine Katılımı ile ilgili Düşünceleri

This study aimed to investigate undergraduate nursing students’ opinions on the instructional mode of attendance at Medical English classes during novel coronavirus (COVID-19) measures in the 2021-2022 academic term. Convenience sampling was utilized to obtain data. The data were collected using an online interview with three open-ended questions and highly structured observation accompanied by field notes (n=49). Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings showed that during COVID-19, the main reasons undergraduate nursing students preferred face-to-face education included being more effective and productive. During online learning, most of the nursing students’ conditions did not allow joining online classes, such as limited internet access, problems with the internet connection, and also their departmental programme that included face-to-face classes after online Medical English classes. The interview findings were consistent with the data obtained using observation in this study. The findings suggest that students’ opinions should be considered while making formal decisions. Hybrid education, synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions together, seems to be the best option. Each stakeholder, like teachers and managers, should be hand in hand with students when making decisions, especially in unexpected processes like COVID-19.

Decision Theory Unbound

AbstractCountenancing unbounded utility in ethics gives rise to deep puzzles in formal decision theory. Here, these puzzles are taken as an invitation to assess the most fundamental principles relating probability and value, with the aim of demonstrating that unbounded utility in ethics is compatible with a desirable decision theory. The resulting theory frames further discussion of Expected Utility Theory and of principles concerning symmetries of utility.

Development and preliminary usability testing of an electronic conversation guide incorporating patient values and prognostic information in preparation for older people's decision-making near the end of life

Initiating end-of-life conversations can be daunting for clinicians and overwhelming for patients and families. This leads to delays in communicating prognosis and preparing for the inevitable in old age, often generating potentially harmful overtreatment and poor-quality deaths. We aimed to develop an electronic resource, called Communicating Health Alternatives Tool (CHAT) that was compatible with hospital medical records software to facilitate preparation for shared decision-making across health settings with older adults deemed to be in the last year of life.The project used mixed methods including: literature review, user-directed specifications, web-based interface development with authentication and authorization; clinician and consumer co-design, iterative consultation for user testing; and ongoing developer integration of user feedback. An internet-based conversation guide to facilitate clinician-led advance care planning was co-developed covering screening for short-term risk of death, patient values and preferences, and treatment choices for chronic kidney disease and dementia. Printed summary of such discussion could be used to begin the process in hospital or community health services. Clinicians, patients, and caregivers agreed with its ease of use and were generally accepting of its contents and format. CHAT is available to health services for implementation in effectiveness trials to determine whether the interaction and documentation leads to formal decision-making, goal-concordant care, and subsequent reduction of unwanted treatments at the end of life.

The conception of Learner agency: its basic principles and perspectives of application in the educational process

The research focuses on describing the conception of Learner agency and its application in educational language practices. It is stated that the conception of Learner agency is aimed at the strategic and responsible development of the student’s personality and the role of the teacher as a mediator in the learning process. The conception is based on the student’s previous educational experience and prerequisites for the formation of their personality, namely social background, abilities, awareness of their educational goals, motivation, self-confidence, responsibility for choosing learning activities and hopes for future professional achievements. Sociocognitive and sociocultural factors are to be considered while acquiring a foreign language. The article emphasizes that the student acts depending on their individual intentions and social relations which constitute the community of practices. Given the social context, the degree of participation in such communities of practices is determined by the student’s activity and can be peripheral or complete. An imaginary or targeted community of practices is conductive to achieving results better than their current indicators. The article notes that the student’s activities are nevertheless limited by the framework of formal decisions and social code of practices, such as the teacher’s authority or parents’ ambitions, which may hinder the effective development of the student’s learner agency.

Rule acquisition of three‐way semi‐concept lattices in formal decision context

AbstractThree‐way concept analysis is an important tool for information processing, and rule acquisition is one of the research hotspots of three‐way concept analysis. However, compared with three‐way concept lattices, three‐way semi‐concept lattices have three‐way operators with weaker constraints, which can generate more concepts. In this article, the problem of rule acquisition for three‐way semi‐concept lattices is discussed in general. The authors construct the finer relation of three‐way semi‐concept lattices, and propose a method of rule acquisition for three‐way semi‐concept lattices. The authors also discuss the set of decision rules and the relationships of decision rules among object‐induced three‐way semi‐concept lattices, object‐induced three‐way concept lattices, classical concept lattices and semi‐concept lattices. Finally, examples are provided to illustrate the validity of our conclusions.

Decision analysis for seabird recovery: Navigating complexity across ecosystems, balancing competing values and bridging spaces between research and implementation

AbstractConservation management decisions are challenging due to multiple, competing values (objectives) held by various parties, complex management options (alternatives), potential irreversible consequences, ubiquitous uncertainty and opaque governance structures. These complications are exacerbated when target species are highly mobile, utilise aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and interact with human interests. Even when decisions are made, these challenges may still inhibit management implementation. Decision analyses offer solutions, but are rarely applied in conservation management, especially for highly mobile species across ecosystems.We applied a formal decision analysis for the conservation management of a highly mobile seabird (Kuaka; Whenua Hou Diving Petrel;Pelecanoides whenuahouensis) across ecosystems. Together with Māori (Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand), government staff and industry representatives, we identified seven fundamental objectives and 11 potential alternatives. We predicted consequences of alternatives across objectives using state‐of‐the‐art statistical models, including integrated population models, and expert elicitations hosted through Shiny apps. We then used various decision‐analytical tools to weigh trade‐offs and identify the preferred alternative.The preferred alternative across objectives consisted of a combination of mitigation of vessel‐based light pollution, plant and competition management and inter‐island translocations. This alternative was predicted to provide the most effective conservation outcomes across values and ecosystems and was rapidly implemented in a stepwise fashion following this decision analysis.Synthesis and application. We illustrate that decision analyses provide inclusive environments for all participants despite diverse backgrounds and views, enable rational navigation of complex decision landscapes and facilitate transparent identification of preferred management options across all fundamental values, including Māori value systems and industry concerns. Additionally, we show that decision analyses can rapidly bridge the spaces between research and implementation. Therefore, we argue that the application of decision analyses has great potential to improve the field of conservation.

Institutional context, innovations, and energy transitions: Exploring solar photovoltaics with hydrogen storage at a secondary school in Norway

Public administrative action is crucial in facilitating sustainability transitions. Although organizational structures, cultures and established practices have been shown to lead to differing innovation results and technological diffusion at various levels of governance, little attention has been paid to the role of local government and administration in sustainable energy transitions. This study analyses renewable energy innovation at the local level of public administration in Norway. Drawing on the institutional and entrepreneurial literature, we examine the key formal decisions and organizational culture development that, combined with policy entrepreneurship, ultimately led to an unlikely and risky decision: to include a costly and unusual local energy system in the construction of a new secondary school. Tracing the administrative processes over 20 years, and drawing on document data supported by 14 interviews, we find that the strong and politically shielded administrative section, backed by a firm mandate and an established internal culture of innovation anchored in historic and local identity among the population and local industry, led to this decision. These factors were further facilitated by acts of policy entrepreneurship at crucial moments, shaping the underlying structures and institutional culture. The independence and strong direction of the administrative section can be emulated in other contexts in order to facilitate innovation. With suitable adaptations to other contexts, our findings may help to accelerate energy transitions through system innovations elsewhere.