Low Preference Research Articles

Little Lies and Blind Eyes – Experimental Evidence on Cheating and Task Performance in Work Groups

We investigate cheating in work groups, to empirically test the idea of an honest workplace environment as a determinant of performance. Three individuals receive team-based performance pay for executing a real-effort task. In addition, two of them have the opportunity to obtain a bonus in a dice game, which allows cheating without exposure by misreporting a secret die roll. We are particularly interested in the behavioral response of the bystander as the potential witness to the dishonest action. To identify the implications of lies at work, the rules of the bonus game were altered to randomly prevent cheating, or not, across treatment conditions while holding the monetary consequences constant. Survey data enables us to analyze effect heterogeneity and to explore mechanisms underlying behavioral responses. We begin our analysis by estimating the mean lying rate and find that the opportunity-to-cheat is exploited in roughly 42% of cases. The probability of misreporting increases if the cheater's partner in crime is male. Contrary to claims on the importance of honesty at work, we do not observe a reduction in performance when cheating takes place, neither for the bystander nor for the whole team. Bounded awareness could be an explanation, as we find substantial evidence for effect heterogeneity along the lines of information preferences. Bystanders with higher preferences for inconvenient information provide relatively low task performance, compared to those with lower information preferences, who seem to turn a blind eye to the dishonest action of their co-workers by putting increased effort into their work.

Dynamic incentives for inhibiting private sectors' opportunistic effort diversion in infrastructure PPP projects: an optimal control perspective

PurposeAn optimal control model is built considering the private sector's opportunistic effort diversion and reciprocal effort improvement, while a numerical study is conducted to draw some managerial implications.Design/methodology/approachIn infrastructure PPP projects, private sectors may opportunistically divert part of their effort from the current projects to other projects to allocate their limited human resources. Nevertheless, this effort diversion can be inhibited by dynamic incentives since the private sectors reciprocally exert greater effort into the current projects when receiving the dynamic incentives. This article investigates how the government specifies the output standard that the private sector should meet and offers dynamic incentives to mitigate the private sector's opportunistic effort diversion.FindingsThe output standard for the private sector to acquire the dynamic incentives should be specified as the output level corresponding to the private sector's optimal long-run stationary equilibrium (OLSE) effort level, which decreases with its reciprocal preference level but increases with its effort-diverting level. The optimal dynamic incentives comprise an initial incentive and a periodic OLSE incentive, which declines with the reciprocal preference level but improves with the effort-diverting level. Besides, the numerical study reveals that the government should distinguish whether the bidders have high effort-diverting levels and, if so, should focus on their reciprocal preference levels and decline the bidders with low reciprocal preference to avoid utility loss.Originality/valueThis article provides a theoretical model combining opportunistic behavior with reciprocal preference through an optimal control lens, thus embedding the problem of incentive design into a broader socioeconomic framework.

Medical interns' views on the strategies for reducing antibiotic misuse in the hospitals-what guidelines do they follow?

Although the topic of antibiotic misuse is taught in medical schools, interns (fresh medical graduates) still encounter barriers to appropriate antibiotic prescription when they practice in hospitals under supervision. The impact of teaching in medical school, antibiotics stewardship program (ASP), and prescription guidelines was uncertain. This study explored the medical interns' views on antibiotic use and resistance, and their perceived enablers to appropriate antibiotic prescription. Two focus groups were conducted among medical interns with rotation experiences in different public hospitals of Hong Kong. The identified themes about attitudes to antibiotic resistance and enablers to appropriate antibiotic prescription were further examined by a questionnaire survey with 77 respondents. The interns had lower preferences for tackling antibiotic resistance as they feared of delayed prescriptions. Guidelines provided by international evidence-based clinical resources and the interns' working hospitals were stronger enablers to appropriate antibiotic use than education materials from schools and the government. Qualitative findings revealed that the interns were aware of the existing ASP but doubted its effectiveness as it failed to get the prescribers' attention. They followed guidelines in their wards but perceived guidelines from local health authorities user-unfriendly. Knowledge from medical school was not very applicable. Varying prescribing practices between hospitals and the densely placed hospital beds made it difficult to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Minimizing delayed prescription is of a higher priority than tackling antibiotic resistance in medical interns' perspective. Interventions should target guidelines in hospitals and simplify the interface of local guidelines.

Telework in Baltic Countries during the Pandemic: Effects on Wellbeing, Job Satisfaction, and Work-Life Balance

As a result of the rapid and unplanned adoption of telework by European companies during the pandemic, specific telework characteristics have arisen. Thus, employees’ experience of telework requires further analysis. Based on the “Living, Working, and COVID-19” results for Baltic countries, this paper studies the effect of telework experience on wellbeing, both directly and mediated by Work-Life balance and job satisfaction, through structural equation modelling. After verifying the significant differences in telework preferences, the model is also tested in high versus low telework preference groups. The main findings corroborate the effect of a positive telework experience on perceived wellbeing, but only indirectly via Work-Life balance. Additionally, data from the group with a high telework preference best fits the proposed model, revealing not only the mentioned indirect effect, but also the direct positive effect of telework experience on wellbeing. Thus, employees with a negative experience of telework during the pandemic will be more reluctant to accept telework over more traditional work arrangements. The implications as well as some limitations to be examined in further studies are also presented.

Gauging Public Attitudes and Preferences Toward a Hypothetical Future Public Shared Automated Vehicle System: Examining the Roles of Gender, Race, Income, and Health

We use data from an originally designed survey instrument administered in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area to gauge general attitudes and design preferences for a hypothetical shared automated vehicle (SAV) system. Design considerations include seating, payment and booking logistics, security, and extra space and amenities. We pay particular attention to the role of gender, race, health, and income in shaping these attitudes and preferences. Specifically, we use multiple regression models to uncover general willingness-to-use SAV technology, finding that women are overall less comfortable with the technology, Black and Hispanic participants are more willing to pay for SAV technology and generally display lower magnitude preferences for design considerations. Although results are mixed in both sets of analysis for health status, higher income individuals display higher willingness to pay and higher magnitude preferences for design considerations.

Consumer preference for selected roots and tubers among urban households

ABSTRACT Consumption of roots and tubers (R&Ts) among urban households can be low. Understanding factors influencing consumption decisions for R&Ts is important in enhancing their utilization. This study assessed determinants of consumer preference for selected R&Ts using a multivariate Probit model. A stratified multistage sampling technique was adopted to select 385 respondents, and data collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) had the highest preference level (70%), followed by sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) at 61%. Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L.) had a preference of 42%. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and yams (Dioscorea alata L.) were the least preferred at 22% each. Education, monthly income, cultural orientation, nutritional knowledge, Covid-19 pandemic, market distance, farming of R&Ts, retail prices, production location, availability of R&Ts, size, quality, taste, and preparation time influenced preferences for R&Ts by urban households. Inadequate time to prepare R&T meals at home and availability of conveniently prepared alternatives likely explains their low preference by urban residents.

Brain Activation in Response to Low-Calorie Food Pictures: An Explorative Analysis of a Randomized Trial With Dapagliflozin and Exenatide.

Background and AimSodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) induce less weight loss than expected. This may be explained by SGLT2i-induced alterations in central reward and satiety circuits, contributing to increased appetite and food intake. This hyperphagia may be specific to high-calorie foods. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are associated with lower preferences for high-calorie foods, and with decreased activation in areas regulating satiety and reward in response to high-calorie food pictures, which may reflect this lower preference for energy-dense foods. To optimize treatment, we need a better understanding of how intake is controlled, and how [(un)healthy] food choices are made. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dapagliflozin, exenatide, and their combination on brain activation in response to low-calorie food pictures.MethodsWe performed an exploratory analysis of a larger, 16-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty-eight subjects with obesity and type 2 diabetes were randomized to dapagliflozin, exenatide, dapagliflozin plus exenatide, or double placebo. Using functional MRI, the effects of treatments on brain responses to low-calorie food pictures were assessed after 10 days and 16 weeks.ResultsDapagliflozin versus placebo decreased activity in response to low-calorie food pictures, in the caudate nucleus, insula, and amygdala after 10 days, and in the insula after 16 weeks. Exenatide versus placebo increased activation in the putamen in response to low-calorie food pictures after 10 days, but not after 16 weeks. Dapagliflozin plus exenatide versus placebo had no effect on brain responses, but after 10 days dapagliflozin plus exenatide versus dapagliflozin increased activity in the insula and amygdala in response to low-calorie food pictures.ConclusionDapagliflozin decreased activation in response to low-calorie food pictures, which may reflect a specific decreased preference for low-calorie foods, in combination with the previously found increased activation in response to high-calorie foods, which may reflect a specific preference for high-calorie foods, and may hamper SGLT2i-induced weight loss. Exenatide treatment increased activation in response to low-calorie foods. Combination treatment may lead to more favorable brain responses to low-calorie food cues, as we observed that the dapagliflozin-induced decreased response to low-calorie food pictures had disappeared.

Supplementation with sodium butyrate protects against antibiotic-induced increases in ethanol consumption behavior in mice.

We have recently reported that oral treatment of adult male C57BL/6J mice with a non-absorbable antibiotic cocktail resulted in an increase in ethanol intake and in significant reductions in butyrate-producing gut microbiota populations. This work led us to hypothesize that reduction in butyrate levels within the gut is linked to antibiotic-induced increases in voluntary ethanol consumption. This study tested whether ad libitum sodium butyrate supplementation can prevent antibiotic-induced ethanol consumption in mice. Sodium butyrate was provided to adult male C57BL/6J mice in drinking water alone or in combination with antibiotic cocktail. Effects on ethanol (20%) intake were measured using drinking in the dark and modified 2-bottle choice paradigms. Body parameters, food and liquid intake, cecum, and adipose tissues were measured during and/or at the conclusion of the drinking in the dark study. Cecal 16s rRNA was analyzed for microbiota diversity and changes in specific bacterial phyla/species. In drinking in the dark, sodium butyrate supplementation prevented antibiotic-induced increases in ethanol intake without altering basal ethanol consumption. Furthermore, sodium butyrate supplementation lowered ethanol preference in the 2-bottle choice study. Ethanol intake was correlated to specific bacterial phyla/species. Sodium butyrate did not affect the changes in microbiota diversity and composition induced by antibiotic cocktail. The findings support a role of gut microbiota-derived butyrate in regulating alcohol-induced behaviors. Additionally, the work contributes to efforts in development of novel microbiome-based strategies as novel preventative and intervention-based therapeutics to address alcohol use disorder.

Exercise Attenuates Hindpaw Hypersensitivity, Depression-like Behaviors, and Morphological Changes in the Hippocampus of Mice Exposed to Early Life Stress

Early life stress (ELS) is associated with the development of chronic pain and mood disorders. Exposure to ELS has been correlated with suppressed hippocampal neurogenesis across the lifespan. Conversely, exercise promotes hippocampal neurogenesis, as well as prevents pain-like behaviors in ELS mice. Here, we are using an established mouse model of ELS, neonatal maternal separation (NMS), to test the hypothesis that increasing physical activity can attenuate ELS-induced pain- and depression-like behaviors and increase hippocampal neurogenesis. NMS was performed by separating whole litters from the dam for 3h/day from postnatal day 1 (P1) to P21. Mice were weaned and pair-housed with same-sex littermates on P22 and remained in sedentary caging (-Sed) or were given running wheels (-Ex) at 4 weeks of age. Mice underwent monthly hindpaw von Frey and Hargreaves testing for 4 months and were subsequently tested for sucrose preference and nest building. Ethynyldeoxyuridine (EdU) was used to quantify hippocampal neurogenesis at 5 months of age. A significant impact of NMS and exercise was observed on mechanical sensitivity in female mice, such that NMS-Ex mice had higher thresholds compared to NMS-Sed and naive-Ex mice. Male NMS-Sed mice had significantly lower withdrawal thresholds compared to naive-Sed mice, only at the end of the study. A significant impact of exercise and an NMS/Ex interaction was observed on female thermal latency with naive-Ex mice having lower withdrawal latencies. Male NMS-Ex mice had significantly lower sucrose preference compared to NMS-Sed and naive-Ex mice. Exercise significantly increased nest construction quality in female mice, with NMS-Sed mice having lower scores than naive-Sed or NMS-Ex mice. Finally, exercise increased the number of EdU-immuno-positive cells in the hippocampus of NMS mice. Taken together, our results suggest that increased voluntary physical activity can prevent the development of ELS-associated outcomes, including hypersensitivity, depression-like behaviors, and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. This work was supported by RO1DK099611 (JAC), RO1DK103872 (JAC), T32HD057850 (BML), COBRE grant P20GM104936, IDeA grant P20GM103418, core support from IDDRC grant P30HD002528.

Acceptability of self-sampling for etiological diagnosis of mucosal sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among transgender women in a longitudinal cohort study in São Paulo, Brazil

This study conducted among transgender women in São Paulo, Brazil assessed the acceptability and suitability of screening sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, by sampling multiple anatomical sites (i.e. urethral, anorectal, oropharyngeal, and neovaginal), and utilizing self- or provider-collection methods. First, a convenience sample of 23 cohort participants were recruited during a scheduled study visit between October and November 2018. Data collection was through a short investigator-led quantitative survey in Portuguese, and included presentation of investigator-designed, gender-neutral instructional diagrams to guide self-sampling. Three supplemental focus group discussions (FGDs) with a total of 30 participants guided by semi-structured script were conducted in Portuguese between September and October 2019. All participants reported being assigned male sex at birth and self-identified with a feminine gender identity at time of study. All survey respondents (100%; n = 23) indicated willingness to provide samples for STI screening during a future study visit. Preference was for self-collection of urine samples (83%; n = 19), urethral swabs (82%; n = 18), and anorectal swabs (77%; n = 17). A lower preference for self-collection of oropharyngeal swabs (48%; n = 11) was observed. Most respondents (78%; n = 18) indicated that they would not prefer specimens to be collected by a health professional, mainly due to ‘more privacy’ (72%; n = 13). All respondents indicated that they would feel comfortable to provide a self-collected sample based on instructional diagrams shown. In FGDs, although the collection by a health professional was described as a technically safer option for some participants, there was a preference for self-collection to avoid discomfort and embarrassment in exposing the body. Overall, this sub-study suggested acceptability among transgender women of introducing self-sampling for etiological diagnosis of STIs from potential infection sites. Uptake and usability will be explored further in a cross-sectional STI prevalence study of transgender women in Brazil.

자치경찰위원회의 역할이 자치경찰사무 선호도에 미치는 영향

There have been many issues since the implementation of the autonomous police system, and one of the most important issues was the issue of the police's preference for the work of the autonomous police after the implementation of the autonomous police system. The importance of the implementation of the self-governing police system is growing in terms of two key goals: democracy and citizen-centered security services. This is because the police, who perform their duties with a low preference for autonomous police work, may not only lower the quality of public security services provided to citizens, but also greatly affect the work capacity. In this study, after the implementation of the self-governing police system, the factors affecting the preference of the self-governing police were considered to be in the role of the self-governing police committee, and an empirical verification was attempted. As a result of the analysis, it is concluded that the higher the recognition of the high level of democracy and internal operation of the autonomous police committee, the more significant it is that the preference for the autonomous police work of the police increases. The model explanatory power of the assumption that the role of the autonomous police committee affects the preference of autonomous police officers is 32.3%, which has a very high model explanatory power. Therefore, it was possible to prove that the role of the autonomous police committee is a very important part in the police's preference for the autonomous police work. Based on these results, an integrated attempt to enact ordinances for organic cooperation and internal operation with the heads of local governments and local governments, and proposals for budget and work systems were attempted.

Evaluation of the Additive Power of Ethanol Obtained from Angola Grass in Direct Distillation Gasoline Samples, Case Study: Straight Run (SR) Gasoline Produced at Luanda Refinery

Alongside the process of blending naphtha, fuel anhydrous ethyl alcohol is an additive recurrently used to adjust commercial properties such as the octane index of gasolines during its formulation. This additive is environmentally recommended due to the promotion of decarbonization in gasolines that is evidenced in its consumption with the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, compared to the consumption of other gasolines. There are several ways to obtain the respective additive, the research leads to obtaining it from the Angolan grass (Brachiaria purpurascens "Forsk" Stapf). Angola grass has a low fiber and protein content, thus becoming with low preference in the choice for animal feed and has a significant content of nonnitrogen extractives giving it a high energy potential to be raw material for biofuel production Through an experimental study and on a laboratory scale, alcohol was produced, then the quantities of the two components of the mixture were determined using additive calculations, and then mixed in samples of Straight run (SR) gasolines direct distillation produced in Luanda Refinery. Next, octane index tests were performed in the final mixture by the RON method following ASTM D22699 and adulteration potencies were verified in the samples. The octane index defined to be reached was 95 octane and it was proven that alcohol produced from Angola grass has the potential to promote improvements in octane index, as we found increases in the octane index of additive gasoline shows. We recorded an improvement of the rate of 91% for sample 1 namely the mixture of anhydrous alcohol of grass and light gasoline (SR) of the Luanda Refinery and finally an improvement in the order of 81% for sample 2 namely the mixture of anhydrous alcohol of heavy gasoline grass of the Luanda Refinery. However, it is demonstrating in the first instance starting methodologies for the additive of gasoline samples, and in the second instance the "effect" of a fuel anhydrous alcohol derived from a "differentiated matter" called Angola grass, when used as an additive in direct distillation gasoline, which is concluded to be positive.

Expression of stable and reliable preference and aversion phenotypes following place conditioning with psychostimulants.

Drug-seeking behavior occurs more readily in some individuals than others. This phenomenon is considered in studies of drug self-administration in which high drug-seeking/taking individuals can be identified. In contrast, studies of conditioned place preference (CPP) often involve a random sample of drug-naïve rodents that includes phenotypes not considered relevant to addiction. The main objective of the current studies was to determine if a priori identification of different conditioning phenotypes could improve the validity and sensitivity of CPP expression as a preclinical test for vulnerability to addiction. Analysis of cocaine place conditioning data from 443 Swiss-Webster mice revealed a trimodal distribution with peaks corresponding to means of k = 3 clusters. The cluster means occurred at high, low, or negative preference scores, the latter suggesting a phenotype acquiring conditioned place aversion (CPA). The same clusters were identified in mice conditioned with methamphetamine, MDPV, or amphetamine, and these clusters remained stable and reliable during three additional expression tests spaced at 24h. A meta-analysis of effect sizes obtained from CPP literature revealed a positively skewed distribution affected by sample size, consistent with the existence of a CPA phenotype within the populations tested. A dopamine receptor antagonist, flupentixol, blocked cocaine CPP expression in a group containing all phenotypes, but sensitivity improved markedly when CPA phenotypes were excluded from the dataset. These studies suggest that taking phenotype into consideration when designing place conditioning studies will improve their application as a preclinical tool in addiction biology and drug discovery.

Preference for Consistency as a Moderator of the Low-Ball Technique

This study aims to fill the knowledge gap related to the role of the preference for consistency in understanding the effectiveness of sequential social influence techniques. Previous research has shown, at least in part, that these effects are moderated by the preference for consistency. For those who prefer consistency in their beliefs and behaviors, the foot-in-the-door technique will be a more effective tool of inducing compliance while people with a low preference for consistency, who value unpredictability, are more susceptible to the door-in-the-face technique. So far, there has been no research on the role of preference for consistency in the effectiveness of the third sequential request technique—low-ball. Our results suggest that, indeed, the preference for consistency is a strong moderator of the latter mentioned technique. While the low-ball technique was generally successful in inducing compliance, the strongest effect was noticed among people with a high preference for consistency.

Consumer acceptance of fungus-resistant grape wines: Evidence from Italy, the UK, and the USA.

While there is evidence of consumers’ interest in wine sustainability, acceptance of innovations in wine production is not guaranteed. The current study addresses this issue by analyzing consumers’ acceptance of fungus-resistant grape (FRG) wines, a sustainable innovation that can substantially reduce the need for chemical inputs in viticulture. To do so, by means of an online survey including large samples of regular wine drinkers in Italy (N = 752), the UK (N = 858) and the USA (N = 856), the study compares individuals’ preferences for conventional wines with preferences for FRG wines. The study also explores whether FRG wine acceptance is influenced by informal or formal purchase occasion, by different types of information regarding the product, and by individual attitudinal characteristics. The findings show a general acceptance of FRG wines among consumers. In particular, consumers’ preferences for FRG wines on formal occasions are not significantly different from their preferences for conventional wine, whereas on informal occasions, consumers prefer FRG wines over conventional wines. Regarding the impact of information on participant choice, participants informed about the potential effects of FRG on sensory wine characteristics had lower preferences for FRG wines than those who read an information script regarding crop biodiversity. Last, individuals’ sustainability concerns and food technology neophobia had positive and negative influences on FRG acceptance, respectively. Overall, this research provides wineries, nurseries and policy-makers with important insights concerning the market potential of FRG wines in three key markets.

The (Bounded) Role of Stated-Lived Value Congruence and Authenticity in Employee Evaluations of Organizations

A growing body of research documents that audiences reward organizations perceived to be authentic with positive evaluations. In the current work, we adopt a mixed-methods approach—using data collected from Glassdoor.com and two experiments—to establish that perceptions of authenticity are elicited by perceived congruence between an organization’s stated values (i.e., the values it claims to hold) and its lived values (i.e., values members perceive as embodied by the organization), which in turn lead to more positive organizational evaluations. We then explore the conditions under which audiences are less likely to respond favorably to organizational authenticity, finding that the positive effects of stated-lived value congruence on evaluations are attenuated when audiences have a lower preference for stated values. Although scholars have often explored whether and how organizations can successfully make themselves appear authentic to reap rewards, our findings suggest that the perceived authenticity that results from stated-lived value congruence may not prove fruitful unless the audience holds a higher preference for an organization’s stated values.History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory.Funding: This research was supported by the Interdisciplinary Research Award from the Management and Organizations Department at the Kellogg School of Management and by the Michael-Lee Chin Institute for Corporate Citizenship Research Grant from the Rotman School of Management.Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1578 .

All opinions are not equal: Toward a consensual approach to the development of drug policy

AbstractDrug policy has been subjected to much scrutiny from different stakeholder groups who present sometimes very different opinions on solutions to address a problem. Reconciling such differences, that are underpinned by both anecdotal and empirical evidence, is a priority yet to be fully achieved. In this study, we examine: (i) whether differences exist among actor groups regarding their perceived importance in policymaking; (ii) whether those who dominate the decision process value the input of laypeople or minority actors; and (iii) whether differences exist, with regard to i and ii, between study sites (i.e. Australia and Hong Kong) that have markedly different drug strategies. Overall, differential preference weightings between dominant groups reveal a strong influence of political orientation. Results suggest that decisions made by health professionals were regarded as the most important, while most of the respondent groups gave a low preference toward policy decisions made by law enforcers. Dominant groups also tend to discount the inputs of laypeople and other minority groups. Our study highlights the importance for policy actor groups to consider such a differential weighting of inputs when synthesising knowledge and gathering opinions for the development of drug policy.

Epoxide Hydrogenolysis Catalyzed by Ruthenium PNN and PNP Pincer Complexes

The metal-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of epoxides to give alcohols has advanced rapidly in the past several years, with some catalysts selectively giving linear (anti-Markovnikov) products and other catalysts providing branched (Markovnikov) products. The currently known branched-selective catalyst systems require catalyst loadings of 1% or higher and typically require a strong base additive. We report herein that PNN- and PNP-ruthenium pincer complexes containing N–H functional groups are highly active for branched-selective hydrogenolysis of epoxides. When isopropyl alcohol is used as the solvent, excellent yields of the branched alcohol products are obtained without strongly basic additives, using catalyst loadings as low as 0.03%. Epoxides with a directly attached secondary carbon give a very high (>99:1) selectivity for the branched products. Aryl-substituted epoxides give branched:linear ratios ranging from 2.7 to 19.0. For aryl epoxides, a PNP-Ru catalyst showed a greater preference for the branched product than a PNN-Ru catalyst, and substrates with electron-rich aryl substituents showed a lower preference for the branched product.

Risk sensitivity mediates the relationship between construal level and ethical decision making

Although researchers have proposed that construal level has a substantive impact on decision making in ethical scenarios, the internal mechanism underlying this relationship is yet to be fully explored. Drawing on construal level theory and risk sensitivity theory, we conducted two ethical dilemma experiments to test the mediating role of risk sensitivity in the relationship between construal level and ethical decision making. In Study 1 we found that individuals with a high (vs. low) construal level were more likely to intend to behave ethically. In Study 2 we tested the mediating effect of risk sensitivity in this relationship. Individuals with a high (vs. low) construal level demonstrated lower risk preference and were sensitive to the change in level of risk, which resulted in decisions for behaviors that were more ethical. Conversely, individuals with a low construal level focused more on short-term interests and showed insensitivity to risk level, resulting in self-interested and unethical decisions. The practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed.

Gerontological nursing in Ghana: Preferences and perceptions of nursing students

ABSTRACT Undergraduate nursing students in developed countries are reported to have poor perceptions and low preference for gerontological nursing. However, perceptions and preferences of undergraduate nursing students toward gerontological nursing in low-income countries have not been well explored. This study explored the perceptions and preferences of undergraduate nurses in Ghana toward gerontological nursing. A mixed method study design was used to explore Ghanaian undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions and preferences for caring for older people. One hundred and seventy-four nursing students were surveyed and 30 of them were interviewed. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 27. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data to generate themes. Response rate in the study was 73%. The majority of participants (95.4%) were below the age of 29. Gerontological nursing was ranked as the least preferred nursing specialty among graduating undergraduate nurses. Poor perceptions and inadequate knowledge about the care of older people were largely responsible for the lack of preference for gerontological nursing. Improving undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge about gerontological nursing is critical in correcting poor perceptions about gerontological nursing.