Individual Choice Research Articles

The privilege to play: race, gender, & SES advantages in boys’ high school athletic opportunities

ABSTRACT In this study, with an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, we considered the components and implications of a habitus that (re)produces racial/ethnic, social class, and gender differences in US interscholastic sport participation. We drew from independently collected qualitative (N = 19 men and 47 total college athletes) and quantitative (N = 4,097 high school boys) data and noted and investigated dynamic links between individual choices; family, community, and school contexts; and power structures that inform interscholastic athletics. Findings positioned sports as offering valuable institutionalized cultural capital but being rife with reproductive struggles. Schools serve as fields that co-construct unequal athletic opportunity structures by nurturing and rewarding a cultivated athletic habitus associated with masculinity, whiteness, and affluent dispositions. These processes situate athletic advantages and successes as purely meritorious but restrict who is most likely to receive the individual and social benefits of high school sports participation.

Investigating Factors Influencing the Selection of Micro-Mobility in a Tourist City: Focus on Jeju City

This study provides an analysis of micro-mobility use in Jeju City, focusing on how individual choices between e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-motorcycles are influenced by a combination of personal, environmental, and contextual factors. Drawing on data from a local micro-mobility provider from April to December 2022, the research employs multinomial logistic regression to examine the impact of various determinants on the selection of micro-mobility options. The results reveal unique findings, with significant variations in mode choice correlating with gender, age, and region. Also, usage time of micro-mobility emerged as a crucial determinant, suggesting a relationship between trip length and selected mobility. Additionally, environmental variables, particularly temperature, were found to substantially impact users’ choices, reflecting the sensitivity of micro-mobility demand to weather fluctuations. Insights from this study suggest the importance of integrating responsive service design for micro-mobility that addresses the multifaceted needs of users in tourist cities, emphasizing environmental considerations.

Public attitudes towards social media field experiments.

The growing use of social media field experiments demands a rethink of current research ethics in computational social science and psychological research. Here, we provide an exploratory empirical account of key user concerns and outline a number of critical discussions that need to take place to protect participants and help researchers to make use of the novel opportunities of digital data collection and field studies. Our primary contention is that we need to elicit public perceptions to devise more up-to-date guidelines for review boards whilst also allowing and encouraging researchers to arrive at more ethical individual study design choices themselves. To ground our discussion in real-world examples of online experiments, we focus on recent social media studies in the field of misinformation, polarization, and hate speech research. We conclude by discussing how we can better strike a balance between meeting ethical guidelines and the concerns of social media users alongside maximizing scientific impact and credibility.

Self-determination and self-affirmative paths of trans* and gender diverse people in Portugal: Diverse identities and healthcare

Abstract Background Trans* and gender diverse (TGD) people are very heterogeneous. While legal contexts and healthcare practices have been growingly endorsing self-determination and consent for gender affirmative care in some countries, gender affirmation trajectories need to be understood as unique and fluid processes, constructed and negotiated by each individual in a given social and cultural context. This study aimed to characterize diverse profiles of TGD people in Portugal, regarding individual choices and trajectories in social, legal, and medical gender affirmative processes. Methods A questionnaire, first developed in France and used in Brazil, Italy, Norway, and Chile, was adapted to the Portuguese context. The conducted survey is comprised of 120 questions, organized into six sections: 1) sociodemographic variables; 2) gender affirmation processes and medical and psychological care; 3) general health and sexual health; 4) mental health; 5) sexuality and sexual concerns; 6) experiences of discrimination and gender identity. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 115 adults who identified as TGD. Content analysis was performed on the written responses, and later categorized. Results Approximately 21% of people identified as men, 17% as trans men, 7% as women, 12% as trans women, 26% as non-binary persons, and 17% as agender or other identifications. Differences were calculated among profiles of TGD participants and their choices for affirmative care, social, and legal transition, revealing an association between the way people self-identify and the request for legal recognition of gender identity, as well as the choices of procedures (or aspirations) for medical affirmation (i.e., hormonal treatments, top surgery, bottom surgery). Conclusions The provision of health care practices consistent with the principles of self-determination requires training of health care professionals and adjustment of public policies, to allow for unique trajectories and profiles.

Distrust and reflexive impotence in the net zero transition: findings from a longitudinal deliberative mini-public

Responding to climate change requires that people engage in different forms of climate citizenship. These span from individual consumption choices, to taking part in forms of collective action to steer the behaviour of governments and in the private sector. Here we analyse data from the Net Zero Diaries project to explore how attitudes to different forms of climate citizenship develop as people become more aware about the scale of societal change required to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Net Zero Diaries project was a deliberative mini-public, composed of 41 citizens broadly representative of the UK adult population, which convened over five months between 2021 and 2022 to debate the UK policies for reaching net zero emissions by 2050. We show that people identify government as the prime actor needed to drive the transition, but doubt that they will act due to a range of constraints vis-à-vis the public and private sector. This tension provides a novel explanation for why some people prioritise forms of individual and consumption focused climate citizenship, whilst also doubting the efficacy of such actions. We conclude by suggesting that efforts to drive more engaged forms of climate citizenship need to attend to underlying feelings about state efficacy, rather than focus on just how the issue of climate change is framed.

Impact of Areal Factors on Students’ Travel Mode Choices: A Bayesian Spatial Analysis

A preliminary analysis of the 2018/2019 Austin Travel Survey indicated that most off-campus students in Travis County, TX, tend to use cars rather than more sustainable transportation modes, significantly contributing to traffic congestion and environmental impact. This study aims to analyze the impacts of areal factors, including environmental and transportation factors, on students’ choices of travel mode in order to promote more sustainable transport behaviors. Additionally, we investigate the presence of spatial correlation and unobserved heterogeneity in travel data and their effects on students’ travel mode choices. We have proposed two Bayesian models—a basic model and a spatial model—with structured and unstructured random-effect terms to perform the analysis. The results indicate that the inclusion of spatial random effects considerably improves model performance, suggesting that students’ choices of mode are likely influenced by areal factors often ‘unobserved’ in many individual travel mode choice surveys. Furthermore, we found that the average slope, sidewalk density, and bus-stop density significantly affect students’ travel mode choices. These findings provide insights into promoting sustainable transport systems by addressing environmental and infrastructural factors in an effort to reduce car dependency among students, thereby supporting sustainable urban development.

Existential Buddhism: embracing life's uncertainties and finding meaning within

This study explores the profound questions surrounding the pursuit of Nirvana in Buddhism, examining whether it arises from the cycle of rebirth, present suffering, or future pain as depicted in early Buddhist scriptures. It also investigates the potential convergence of Buddhism with existentialism, a philosophy emphasizing individual experience, freedom, responsibility, and life’s inherent uncertainties. The primary inquiry examines whether Buddhism can harmonize with existentialist perspectives, which emphasize individuality amidst life’s enigmas. This research comprehensively investigates the reasons driving individuals in mainstream Buddhism to seek Nirvana, delving into their quest for liberation, and emphasizes the existential essence of Buddhism. Finally, It explores the plausibility of an alternative form of Buddhism that incorporates existential philosophy. Using a literature analysis approach with a thematic focus, this study critically examines the writings of prominent Buddhist scholars, existential philosophers, and researchers on the intersection of Buddhism and existentialism. The analysis reveals that Buddhists aspire for Nirvana to escape the cycle of suffering and find solace and serenity. Moreover, the juxtaposition of Buddhism and existentialism offers a fresh perspective, highlighting individual autonomy and choice in confronting life’s complexities, and providing an early Buddhist account of existential nature. By deepening the understanding of how mindfulness and meditation connect to core Buddhist principles, this research fosters more authentic engagement with Buddhist practices, enriching personal well-being. This research has vital implications for understanding the pursuit of meaning and liberation from suffering amidst life’s chaos, challenging conventional perceptions of Buddhism, and elucidating potential alignments with existential thought, inviting further research.

An online interactive physics-informed adversarial network for solving mean field games

We propose an online interactive physics-informed adversarial network (IPIAN) to address mean field games (MFGs) from the perspective of physics-informed interaction. In this study, we model the interaction between agents as a physics-informed exchange process, quantifying the evolution and distribution of individual strategy choices. We utilize the variational dyadic structure of MFGs to transform the dynamic game problem into a static optimization problem, subsequently employing the adversarial network to solve the mean field games. Based on the generative adversarial framework, two online physics-informed networks solve the value and density functions. These networks are trained to approximate the solution of MFGs through adversarial means. Additionally, a self-attention mechanism is introduced to enhance the focus on strategic physics-informed, thereby improving the expressiveness of IPIAN. Numerical experiments validate the effectiveness of IPIAN in solving high-dimensional mean field game models, as demonstrated by obstacle avoidance experiments with a quadrotor in various scenarios.

Psychological Determinants of Investment Decisions: Analyzing Financial Behavior in Personal Investments

Understanding the psychological factors that influence investor behavior is critical in the dynamic world of financial markets. Financial conduct encompasses the decisions and behaviors individuals exhibit in managing their finances, including investments in various asset classes. Factors such as risk tolerance, cognitive biases, emotional influences, and financial knowledge significantly shape investment outcomes. Gaining long-term financial success requires mastery over these behavioral aspects. This study investigates the influence of three psychological factors—information asymmetry, problem framing, and risk propensity—on the investment decisions of 220 active investors trading on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data. Statistical analyses, including regression and correlation analysis, were used to assess the relationships between these psychological variables and investment behaviors. The results reveal significant correlations between psychological factors and investment decisions. Information asymmetry, problem framing, and risk propensity were found to strongly influence individual investor choices. These findings shed light on the intricate role that cognitive biases and psychological processes play in shaping financial decision-making. The study's findings offer valuable insights into the psychological drivers behind investment behavior. By highlighting the impact of these factors, the research contributes to both academic understanding and practical applications for financial professionals. The results underscore the importance of enhancing financial literacy and investor education, enabling more informed decision-making and promoting improved financial outcomes.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF FREEDOM AND ITS LIMITS: UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of this research is a philosophical reflection on the category of freedom in the context of Ukraine’s democratic development, with a focus on its limits in light of current political and social challenges, particularly war and crises. The study analyzes the historical stages of the concept of freedom in Ukraine, the legal and ethical constraints placed on it, and the existential dimension of responsibility tied to individual choice. The research methods include critical analysis of philosophical and political works, synthesis of approaches from different philosophical schools (particularly liberalism and existentialism), comparative analysis of freedom and responsibility concepts, and systematic analysis of the legal and ethical challenges facing modern Ukrainian society. The results of the study reveal that the concept of freedom in Ukraine has specific historical features, related to the ongoing struggle for national independence, and dynamically changes under the influence of external threats and internal political processes. It is determined that the limits of freedom are shaped not only by legal norms but also by ethical and societal factors that actively shape Ukrainian public discourse. Special attention is given to the existential dimension of freedom as responsibility, which manifests in complex moral choices in the context of war. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the combination of historical, legal, and existentialist approaches to understanding freedom in the context of Ukrainian democratic development, providing deeper insights into the relationship between freedom and responsibility during periods of social crises. The theoretical significance of the work lies in expanding the philosophical understanding of the category of freedom within the Ukrainian context, its interaction with legal and ethical norms, which is essential for further research in political philosophy and law.

Evidence-based recommendations regarding risk reduction practices for people at risk of or with breast cancer-related lymphedema: consensus from an expert panel.

Several recent studies have investigated the validity of precautionary practices for lymphedema risk reduction after breast cancer treatment, such as avoidance of blood pressure measurements, skin puncture, blood draws, and use of prophylactic compression during air travel. Other studies have elucidated risk factors for breast cancer-related lymphedema, such as axillary lymph node dissection and skin infection (cellulitis). Combining the current evidence base with the consensus opinion of lymphatic experts assembled at the American Cancer Society/Lymphology Association of North America Summit in October 2023, updated evidence-based risk reduction recommendations are presented for those with or at risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema. Recommendation topics include prospective surveillance, patient education, individual risk factors, exercise, blood pressure, skin care and hygiene, skin puncture and blood draws, surgical procedures, prophylactic compression, air travel, and hot climate and sauna. These recommendations will help inform education and medical choices for individuals treated for breast cancer who are at risk of or diagnosed with breast cancer-related lymphedema. More high-quality evidence is required to allow the development of risk reduction recommendations for other cancer types such as gynecological, melanoma, and head and neck. It is recommended that clinicians and organizations serving people at risk of or with lymphedema align risk reduction guidelines with the evidence-based recommendations provided within this consensus document and companion manuscripts from the American Cancer Society/Lymphology Association of North America Lymphedema Summit: Forward Momentum: Future Steps in Lymphedema Management.

Exploratory Study on Various Types of Leisure Activities of Indian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder- A Qualitative Analysis

The purpose of this study was to identify the important components of leisure and to comprehensively assess various leisure time activities, that entail the overall well-being of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with indispensable demanding care of children with autism. A cross-sectional design with interpretivism and an inductive approach on a sample of 61 mothers of children with ASD, in India was used to explore various leisure time activities. Mothers engaging in the leisure of individual choice for self-replenishment, social connectedness, and happiness in life despite the demanding care of the child with autism were identified. The face, content, and construct validity are maintained in its preliminary stage. This study aimed to explore various leisure activities in the lives of mothers of children with ASD. The 7 categories of Leisure activities (LA) are Entertainment activities, Outings, Social events, Sports and physical exercises, Homemaking and other fruitful involvements, Arts, and intellectuals, Resting and relaxation, as diversionary activities to energize, divert, and relax as fun and free-time identified in the context of Indian mothers.

Blood Draw Training in Okapi ( Okapia johnstoni )

Abstract Sedating any species in a zoological setting for veterinary procedures, including blood draws can have negative implications for the individual animal, both physiological and psychological both during and after the procedure. In addition, these can take a lot of staff time and resources and can impact the long-term relationship between the individual and keepers. Training individuals to take part voluntarily in their own health care can help to reduce these negative implications; helping to reduce stress, improve welfare, and give individuals choice and control while developing the future management of the species. This case study describes the training of four okapi individuals, a notoriously flighty species, for voluntary blood draws and how training plans should always be adaptable for individuals to encourage successful progression and development. Information © The Authors 2024

Narrativa, tempo e memória: subjetividades sobre vacina e seus efeitos políticos na saúde

Narratives are produced, put into circulation and serve as references for social actors to give meaning to their actions. Based on this communication circuit and the way the so-called commercial media constructs its statements, we have been interested in observing how the meanings about the vaccine and vaccination, compulsory or not, that have circulated during the covid-19 pandemic in the newspapers Correio Braziliense, O Globo and O Estado de São Paulo have been constructed and how much these meanings are immersed - and to what extent they can be understood - in a field of disputes. Understanding this process from the perspective of the field of Communication and Health, it becomes possible to identify traces, clues, signs of a complex game that is established around the way in which the right to health can be exercised. These narrative strategies, intertwined with time and memory, configure forms of action in the world whose marks are very long-lasting. By using the aesthetic-expressive paradigm to identify these characteristics, it becomes possible to understand that resorting to a certain immunizer over others is less than a simple individual choice. Rather, it is an effect of the way in which health, and especially the Brazilian Unified Health System, has been presented for almost four decades.

The capability approach in mental health research: A scoping review

Abstract The capability approach (CA), which focuses on individual freedom and choices in the conceptualization of well-being, is gaining traction in recent studies of well-being. At the same time, mental health researchers are increasingly adopting a holistic definition of mental health that encompasses both the absence and presence of mental health. Despite the fit between CA and the latest definition of mental health, limited studies examine mental health through the CA lens. To promote CA-based mental health research, this scoping review provides an overview of the mental health studies that utilized CA. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) guidelines, we reviewed 61 studies published between 2007 to 2023 and written in English from Ovid PsycINFO, Ovid Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. Included studies used CA as a theoretical framework underlying the interventions of interest, to guide research processes or to inform the development and validation of well-being measurements. Most studies conceptualized mental health as a continuum while a few studies focused solely on the presence or absence of psychological disorders. The included studies primarily utilized the cross-sectional design and qualitative (48.1 percent) and quantitative (34.4 percent) data collection methods. The results point to the future directions in CA-based mental health research.

Beyond the American dream: unveiling the complexity of young people’s (im)mobility in Governador Valadares, Brazil

This study explores the often-overlooked phenomenon of immobility within migration studies, focusing on the Governador Valadares Region of Brazil. Despite the region’s history of significant outmigration to the United States, there needs to be more investigation into why some young people remain in their communities instead of pursuing the American Dream. Using ethnographic methods, the study search surpasses simplistic dichotomies of mobility-immobility, recognizing that decisions to leave or stay are complex and influenced by various interconnected factors. By employing the perspectives of ‘linked lives’ and ‘life-course situatedness’, the study provides nuanced insights into how individual choices are affected by familial, social, and economic contexts over time. The findings shed light on the diverse experiences of young people while revealing the carry of involuntary immobility. Furthermore, it contests assumptions that remaining in a particular location signifies immobility or a lack of ambition. It contributes to a more nuanced comprehension of migration agency and well-being, underscoring the multifaceted nature of aspirations and capabilities. The results illuminate the intricate interplay between personal aspirations and the environment in shaping migration decisions, emphasizing the significance of viewing (im)mobility as a relational and temporally situated phenomenon.

Reaching the cognitive-motor interface: effects of cognitive load on arm choice and motor performance after stroke.

A vexing characteristic of motor disability after stroke is that many individuals fail to use their affected arm effectively despite having the capacity to do so, a phenomenon termed arm nonuse. Based on the hypothesis that nonuse is influenced by the competing cognitive demands of many daily activities, we examined the effects of cognitive load on arm choice and motor performance in individuals with stroke using a novel virtual reality paradigm that mimics the demands of real-life visual search, object selection, and reaching to targets. Twenty individuals with single left or right hemispheric chronic stroke (11 left cerebrovascular accident; 9 right cerebrovascular accident) and 10 age-matched neurotypical participants completed the Virtual Reality Arm Choice task, in which they reached for target objects in an array under varied cognitive demand. To manipulate cognitive demand, we varied the semantic similarity of objects in the reaching space and the presence or absence of a secondary task. The results showed reduced use of the paretic arm under increased demand. Under cognitive load, participants with stroke also showed slower reach initiation, slower movements, increased reach curvature, and increased performance differences between the paretic and non-paretic arms. The arm choice of neurotypical individuals was also modulated under cognitive load. These data indicate that cognitive factors influence arm choice and motor performance in naturalistic reaching tasks in individuals with chronic stroke. Performance decrements under cognitive load may in turn influence reduced paretic arm use during daily activities.

A machine learning classifier-based approach for diabetes mellitus risk prediction.

Currently, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) can be life-threatening due to the dietary habits and lifestyle choices of individuals. Diabetes is characterised by elevated levels of glucose in the blood and an excess of protein in the blood. Poor eating habits and lifestyles are largely responsible for the rise in overweight, obesity, and various related conditions. This study investigated many diabetes-related risk forecasting techniques and algorithms. The eight machine learning (ML) algorithms used the diabetes dataset to test various prediction techniques, including a Support Vector Classifier, gradient-boosting, multilayer perceptron, random forest, K-nearest neighbors, logistic regression, extreme gradient boosting, and decision tree. To enhance the diabetic prediction ability of the model, we suggested using Feature Engineering (FE) and feature scaling. For our investigation, we utilized the Mendeley dataset on diabetes to assess the capacity of the model to predict diabetes. We developed a model by using Python programming and eight classification techniques. The Random Forest with 99.21%, Gradient Boosting with 99.61%, Extreme Gradient Boosting, and Decision Tree achieved the highest F1 score (99.81%), accuracy rate (99.80%), precision (99.81%), and recall (99.81%) of all classification approaches.

Dilemma of Individualism and Freedom in Neoliberal Understanding

There is a clear tension in the neoliberal approach to individualism and freedom. Focusing on the process of individualization and individual self-determination in markets, neoclassical approaches recognize that individuals are committed to social mobility and responsibility to act within market rules on, individual autonomy and the ability to set self-determined goals appear to be limited to market participation. The market is seen as an inherently dynamic system developed over time. According to Hayek, individualism refers to social progress and conformity to society. The aim of this paper is to respectfully examine the apparent inconsistencies and limitations of how individual freedom and choice have been conceptualized by neoliberal thinkers, through an analysis of the works of Hayek and Friedman. Neoliberal policies articulate the notion of free will and question the definition of freedom from a purely economic perspective. By further examining these nuances, the study hopes to reflect on the personal and societal political implications associated with neoliberalism’s more limited understanding of self-government and voluntarism. Finally, an examination of balanced perspectives can add to the ongoing discussion on how best to organize social policies that maximize individual dignity and collective well-being in the long run at in a constructive manner.

When failure is the option: Unravelling sexual assault outcomes

We investigate the concept of “criminal failure” in sexual crimes and the relevance of various theoretical frameworks for its understanding: individual offender's rational choice, environmental influences and routine activities, victimological characteristics from lifestyle theory, and crime interaction factors. We examined a sample of 1121 “failed” cases (i.e., attempted but not completed) and 1500 “successful” cases (i.e., completed) of sexual assault that occurred in France between 1990 and 2018. We used 32 predictors that mapped on the four theoretical frameworks and conducted bivariate followed by multivariate analyses. Multiple theoretical frameworks are relevant to understand criminal failure, which is a product of perpetrator, environmental, victimological, and interactional factors. Two distinct patterns are specifically associated with failure: lack of preparation and lack of social skills. In addition, failure was best understood not as a unitary concept, but as multifactorial by distinguishing between different types of failure, specifically: offender intentionally released the victim before completion, victim escaped or third party rescue. Finally, patterns of failure were different in sexual crimes against children compared to those against adults. Criminology should pay closer attention to failure in crime. This understudied area can yield important theoretical knowledge and practical implications regarding the prevention of sexual crimes.