Preferences For Different Methods Research Articles

Citizen science reveals the distribution of the invasive harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis Pallas) in Argentina

The harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) was introduced in numerous countries around the world as a biological control agent but nowadays it is considered as a pest itself. It is a highly invasive species that has negative impacts on native biodiversity, may affect some crops, and causes a nuisance to humans. Despite its relevance worldwide, the invasion by H. axyridis in South America has received little attention. Here we used a citizen science approach to study the distribution of H. axyridis in Argentina where the species was intentionally introduced in 1986. We also informally tested and evaluated the preferences for different methods for reporting records: iNaturalist website, Google form, email, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Most records were reported through WhatsApp and iNaturalist. We found that H. axyridis is widely distributed in Argentina but there are large gaps, particularly in arid regions. The invasion seems to be recent in the south of the country. Citizen science is a valuable tool for mapping invasive alien species in a large country like Argentina, and will help to monitor the continuous expansion of H. axyridis.

Comparing three approaches for involving patients in research prioritization: a qualitative study of participant experiences

BackgroundBy participating in priority-setting activities in research, patients and members of the public help ensure that important questions are incorporated into future research agendas. Surveys, focus groups, and online crowdsourcing are increasingly used to obtain input, yet little is known about how they compare for prioritizing research topics. To address this gap, the Study of Methods for Assessing Research Topic Elicitation and pRioritization (SMARTER) evaluated participant satisfaction with the engagement experience across three prioritization activities.MethodsRespondents from Back pain Outcomes using Longitudinal Data (BOLD), a registry of patients 65 years and older with low back pain (LBP), were randomly assigned to one of three interactive prioritization activities: online crowd-voting, in-person focus groups using nominal group technique, and two rounds of a mailed survey (Delphi). To assess quality of experience, participants completed a brief survey; a subset were subsequently interviewed. We used descriptive statistics to characterize participants, and we analyzed responses to the evaluation using a mixed-methods approach, tabulating responses to Likert-scale questions and using thematic analysis of interviews to explore participant understanding of the activity and perceptions of experience.ResultsThe crowd-voting activity had 38 participants, focus groups 39, and the Delphi survey 74. Women outnumbered men in the focus groups and Delphi survey; otherwise, demographics among groups were similar, with participants being predominantly white, non-Hispanic, and college educated. Activities generated similar lists of research priorities, including causes of LBP, improving physician-patient communication, and self-care strategies. The evaluation survey was completed by 123 participants. Of these, 31 across all activities were interviewed about motivations to participate, understanding of activity goals, logistics, clarity of instructions, and the role of patients in research. Focus group participants rated their experience highest, in both the evaluation and interviews.ConclusionCommon methods for research prioritization yielded similar priorities but differing perceptions of experience. Such comparative studies are rare but important in understanding methods to involve patients and the public in research. Preferences for different methods may vary across stakeholder groups; this warrants future study.Trial registrationNICHSR, HSRP20152274. Registered 19 February 2015.

Investigation of thermal comfort and behavioral adjustments of older people in residential environments in Beijing

Aged population is growing rapidly and aging in place is the major endowment pattern for older people. This study focused on the thermal living environments and thermal comfort of older people in their own homes. Special attention was paid to their behavioral adjustment characteristics. The longitudinal investigation was conducted from March 2018 to March 2019 in a residential community in Beijing, China, and the participants involved 5 households with 10 older respondents. The investigation included a yearlong continuous environmental measurement, behavioral monitoring, and a monthly collection of subjective evaluations. Face-to-face interviews on behavioral adjustments were also conducted with 102 older respondents in different communities in Beijing. The field investigation involved the observation of seasonal variation in the indoor environments and subjective evaluations. The prediction accuracy of the predicted mean vote (PMV) model was found to be inconsistent for thermal sensations of older people between the cold side and hot side. With regard to the behavioral adjustments of older people, this study described the effect of the outdoor temperature on window opening behavior and air conditioner use, and the effect of indoor temperature on clothing behavior. The preference for the adjustment methods were studied, and the personal characteristics of older people (including sex, age, educational background, and time spent at home) were found to influence their preference for different methods. The differences in behavioral adjustments between older and non-older people and between older people in different climate zones were discussed by comparing this study to previous field studies.

Variation in postpartum contraceptive method use: results from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

ObjectiveThe National Survey of Family Growth has been a primary data source for trends in US women’s contraceptive use. However, national-level data may mask differences in contraceptive practice resulting from variation in local policies and norms. Study DesignWe used the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a survey of women who are 2–4 months postpartum. Information on women’s current method was available for 18 reporting areas from 2000 to 2009. Using the two most recent years of data, we computed the weighted proportion of women using specific contraceptive methods according to payment for delivery (Medicaid or private insurance) and examined differences across states. We used log binomial regression to assess trends in method use in 8 areas with consecutive years of data. ResultsAcross states, there was a wide range of use of female sterilization (7.0–22.6%) and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC; 1.9–25.5%). Other methods, like vasectomy and the patch/ring, had a narrower range of use. Women with Medicaid-paid deliveries were more likely to report female sterilization, LARC and injectables as their method compared to women with private insurance. LARC use increased ≥18% per year, while use of injectables and oral contraceptives declined by 2.5–10.6% annually. ConclusionsThe correlation in method-specific prevalence within states suggests shared social and medical norms, while the larger variation across states may reflect both differences in norms and access to contraception for low-income women. Surveys of postpartum women, who are beginning a new segment of contraceptive use, may better capture emerging trends in US contraceptive method mix. ImplicationsThere is considerable variation in contraceptive method use across states, which may result from differences in state policies and funding for family planning services, local medical norms surrounding contraceptive practice, and women’s and couples’ demand or preference for different methods.

Microanalytical characterization of decorations in handmade ancient floor tiles using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)

In this study a total of 114 glazed decorations of 42 ceramic floor tiles, manufactured in Sicily from the 16th to the 21th AD, were investigated. The micro sampling method, proposed by us, using a cotton swab soaked in hydrofluoric acid, includes advantages of high sensitivity, high selectivity, simplicity, speed, not expensive and can be considered non-destructive because the point of sampling remains invisible to the human eye. ICP-OES technique was used in this study. Twenty-four elements (Al, As, B, Be, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Sn, Ti, V and Zn) were determined in each colored enamel.Enameled decorations in Sicilian tiles were varied in tones and chromatic effects, obtained with a limited number compounds of cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, tin, and in the artifacts following the year 1920, also titanium. An important remark is that some of the colors, such as black, orange, purple and brown were prepared using the same metals, while white, light blue, blue and green were obtained with different elements. The adoption of different recipes for the same color suggests the presence of several laboratories of ceramists working in Sicily who had preferences for different methods for the production of their enameled artifacts.Concerning the opacifier, the high amounts of lead and antimony, only in a case, indicate the use of lead antimonate (Pb2Sb2O7). Black decorations were present in several of the analyzed samples and in most of them were identified mixtures of black iron and manganese oxides. The green decorations appear to have been prepared with copper oxide; lighter hue samples contained additional amounts of zinc and/or barium compounds. Considering all the samples, meanly, iron predominates in yellow decorations, only a sample contains large amounts of Cd, Zn and very little Sb, which suggests the use of the pigments ZnO (as white) and CdS as cadmium yellow. For all samples, except one, we can exclude the use of pigments containing chromium.

Comparing Individual Preferences for Four Meditation Techniques: Zen, Vipassana (Mindfulness), Qigong, and Mantra

A significant number of studies have been published examining the mind-body effects of meditation and its clinical efficacy. There are very few studies, however, which directly compare different meditation methods with each other to explore potentially distinct mechanisms and effects, and no studies comparing individual preferences for different methods. As preference is seen as an important factor in consumer healthcare decision making, greater understanding of this aspect is needed as meditation becomes a more widely used therapeutic modality. For this reason a pilot study was conducted to compare four meditation techniques for personal preference. A within-subjects comparison design was employed. A convenience sample of 247 undergraduate university students participated in the study. Participants learned two open observing meditation techniques-Vipassana (Mindfulness) and Zen, and two focused attention techniques-Mantra and Qigong Visualization, practicing one method per week. At the end of a six-week training period participants ranked the four meditation methods in order of personal preference. Ranking of subjective preference of meditations practiced. A within subjects comparison revealed that significantly more participants chose Vipassana or Mantra meditation as their preferred techniques compared with Qigong Visualization and Zen. This study provides information on differences in preference for type of meditation. As the benefits of meditation accrue over time, selecting a method that motivates sustained practice is a critical objective if therapeutic effects are to be achieved.

How would you like to be evaluated? The correlates of students’ preferences for assessment methods

This study is concerned with individual correlates of students’ preferences for different examination methods. The aim was to examine the incremental validity of learning approaches, intelligence and personality (Big Five traits) in predicting the preferences for six different assessment methods. Four hundred and ten British students from three British Universities completed a general intelligence test, a personality test, a measure on their Approach to Learning and a University assessment method preference test that specified six different methods. Students favoured multiple choice and continuous assessment most and Oral and Group work least. Deep learning style and Openness to Experience were the most consistent predictors of assessment preferences. The three sets of measures accounted for between 9% and 29% of the variance in preferences for different methods. Specific learning approaches and personality traits, but not intelligence is clearly linked to preferences for assessment.

Preferences for different methods of communicating information regarding adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

Many patients play an active role in determining their cancer treatments, and the communication of medical information influences patient decision-making. This study examined participants' preferences between various methods of communicating quantitative risks and benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy. Using clinical vignettes, participants were first asked to decide whether or not to endorse chemotherapy and were subsequently asked about their preferences for the methods used to communicate the risks and benefits. Participants preferred the absolute survival benefit method over negatively framed methods, such as relative or absolute risk reduction. We also present analysis of qualitative data which supports the conclusions drawn from quantitative analyses. In summary, the absolute survival benefit was shown to be the superior method of communicating quantitative risks and benefits of chemotherapy. Failure to use clear and concise methods of communicating quantitative risk and benefit information may compromise efforts to obtain informed consent for treatment.

Comparison of acceptability of and preferences for different methods of measuring blood pressure in primary care

Primary care p 254 Blood pressure is probably the most common measurement used in clinical practice and the most common reason for initiation of long term treatment. Recent guidelines for...

Consumer Rankings of Risk Reduction Methods

When a buyer perceives risk in a purchase he can pursue different strategies of risk resolution. This article presents research findings which indicate that consumers have preferences for different methods of risk reduction associated with various types of loss.