Preferences For Different Modes Research Articles

Analysing policy actors’ preferences for different modes of governing in local government

Effective citizen participation in policy decision making depends on the support of all democratic actors involved: citizens, but also politicians and civil servants. Drawing on data from over 4,000 respondents, we explore the existence of so-called ‘multi-actor clusters’, that is, groups of people who are characterised by a positive (or negative) stance towards different modes of local policy decision making, irrespective of their formal-institutional role (politician, civil servant or citizen). Cluster analysis shows two large clusters of respondents that clearly prefer participatory over representative policy decision making. The analysis also highlights a substantial cluster of respondents who clearly prefer representative policy decision making modes over participatory ones. Further analysis shows that a democratic actor’s cluster membership is better predicted by individual (ideological) variables (such as left-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation), compared to contextual variables (like governing capacity, democratic quality, and social capital of the municipality in which the actors work and/or live). This research is important because it challenges the assumption that citizen participation is to be considered primarily as (part of) the solution for local governance problems like a lack of governing capacity, low social capital or decreased democratic quality in/of specific local communities. In this way, it contributes to our understanding of participatory forms of governance.

Exploring preferences for different modes of cannabis use during early pregnancy: A qualitative study

ObjectiveRates of prenatal cannabis use are rising, yet little is known about modes of cannabis use during pregnancy. This focus group study with pregnant individuals aimed to examine use patterns and perceptions regarding common modes of prenatal cannabis use. MethodKaiser Permanente Northern California pregnant adult patients who identified as White or Black and self-reported cannabis use during pregnancy were recruited to participate (N = 53; 40% Black, 60% White; Meanage = 30.3, SD = 5.2). Eighteen focus groups with race-concordant facilitators followed a semi-structured format that queried participants on their prenatal cannabis use, including preferred modes of use (e.g., vapes, blunts, dabs, joints, edibles, topicals, pipes). Focus group discussions were coded and analyzed using a general inductive approach. ResultsA range of modes were preferred, with no single mode predominant. Participants’ preferences aligned with four themes: perceived effects and benefits of cannabis, health and safety, convenience and familiarity, and partner and friend influences. Participants sought modes that were accessible and familiar, provided consistent and quick relief for pregnancy-related symptoms, were aligned with partners or friends, and minimized perceived risks while also providing symptom relief. Participants desired evidence-based information about mode safety to better inform mode selection during pregnancy. ConclusionsA range of personal and social factors influenced mode preferences during pregnancy. Many participants desired to reduce harms and use cannabis more safely in pregnancy but received little mode-specific information to guide these preferences. Further research identifying mode-specific risks is needed to guide harm reduction approaches during pregnancy.

Affection preference, enactment, and relationship satisfaction: A dyadic analysis of love languages.

Despite its popularity, The Five Love Languages relationship self-help book has received little empirical investigation. This may result in a disconnect between clinicians and clients with preconceived notions based on the book. The current research sought to evaluate love languages through the lens of responsiveness by examining if an accurate or biased understanding of partner preferences for different modes of affection were associated with enacted affectionate behavior, the perception of partner behavior, and relationship satisfaction. The results from a sample of 84 couples indicated that individuals tend to have a biased understanding of partner preferences and these biases influenced expressions of affection. In addition, accurately understanding partner preferences was associated with greater relationship satisfaction. The findings suggest that helping clients understand both their own and their partner's preferences for expressions of affection, may reduce bias and lead to more partner-preferred expressions of affection and, ultimately, greater relationship satisfaction.

Exploring preferences of different modes of administration of hypomethylating agent treatments among patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

About half of patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) are not eligible for Standard Induction Chemotherapy (SIC). Hypomethylating Agents (HMAs) intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously (SC) in a clinical setting are typically offered as an alternative. However, injectable HMAs may be burdensome for patients given the frequent hospital visits and side effects. This study explored patient treatment preferences for different modes of administration (MOA) and the relative importance of treatment-related characteristics that influence treatment decisions. Semi-structured 1:1 interviews were conducted with 21 adult patients with AML in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain, who are not eligible for SIC, had experience with HMAs or were scheduled to be treated with HMAs. After discussing their experience of living with AML and its treatments, patients were presented with hypothetical treatment scenarios to explore their preferences, and a ranking exercise to assess the relative importance of treatment characteristics that influence their treatment-decisions for AML. Most patients reported an overall preference for oral administration over parenteral routes (71%), mostly due to convenience. Those preferring IV or SC routes (24%) reasoned with faster speed of action and onsite monitoring. When presented with a hypothetical situation of a patient having to choose between two AML treatments that were identical except for their MOA, the majority preferred the oral route (76%). Regarding treatment characteristics that influence treatment decisions, patients most frequently reported efficacy (86%) and side effects (62%) as important, followed by mode of administration (29%), daily life impacts (24%) and location of treatment (hospital versus home) (14%). However, only efficacy and side effects were rated as number one deciding factors (67% and 19%, respectively). Patients most frequently rated dosing regimen (33%) as least important. The insights gained from this study may help support patients with AML who are receiving HMA treatment instead of SIC. A potential oral HMA with similar efficacy and tolerability profiles to injectable HMAs could influence treatment decisions. Furthermore, an oral HMA treatment might decrease the burden of parenteral therapies and improve patients' overall quality of life. However, the extent of influence MOA has on treatment decisions requires further investigation.

Laser therapy for treating hypertrophic and keloid scars.

Laser therapy for treating hypertrophic and keloid scars.

Using Whole Brain® thinking to inform lecturer identity in family medicine

This paper serves as a conceptualisation of how the principles of Whole Brain® thinking can be used to inform lecturer identity. The objective of this position paper is to engage discourse on the educational professional development of early-career academics in health sciences. It is about laying a scholarly foundation for self-study. As a scholarly community of practice in family medicine we wanted to determine to what extent the literature – theoretical framework – is silent on innovative means to ensure that academics take responsibility for their development, using self-regulated learning and self-empowerment. In our search for literature on theories of professional learning we came across the theory about Whole Brain® thinking. Our action research initiatives revolve around the notion of individuals’ preferences for different modes of thinking. Our preferred modes of thinking inform our teaching practice and lecturer identity.

Insights into the choice between intravenous infusion and subcutaneous injection: physician and patient characteristics driving treatment in SLE

Introduction/objectivesMultiple modes of administration are available for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatments. This study examined patient and physician characteristics associated with the choice of weekly subcutaneous (SC) injection or monthly intravenous (IV) infusion for an unspecified SLE treatment.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, US web-based survey using a direct elicitation, stated-preference methodology (HO-16-16706). Two hundred patients and 200 physicians were asked to choose between IV or SC administration in a hypothetical scenario. Pairwise and multivariate analyses estimated the odds ratio (OR) for the likelihood of choosing SC over IV for respondent characteristics.ResultsAmong patients, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increased the likelihood of choosing SC injection (OR 3.884), whilst having SLE-related skin problems, a fear of needles or self-injection, and never needing help around the house decreased the likelihood (OR 0.28, 0.13, 0.12, respectively; all p ≤ 0.05). Among physicians, > 95% recommended SC injection for patients who live or work far from an infusion center, prefer SC administration, and never or rarely miss medication doses. Physician characteristics including age and treatment practice also influenced choice.ConclusionsPatient and physician characteristics influence choice of SC versus IV therapy for SLE. These findings might inform shared decision-making, which could lead to improved patient outcomes.Key Points• Data regarding patient and physician preference for different modes of administration of SLE therapy are sparse.• This cross-sectional, US web-based study showed that patient and physician characteristics influence choice of SC versus IV therapy for SLE.• A degree of disconnect exists between how factors influence patients’ choice and how those characteristics influence physicians’ choice of SLE treatment mode of administration.• The findings from this study might inform shared decision-making, which could improve alignment between treatment choice and patient preferences, treatment satisfaction, adherence, and improved patient outcomes.

Learning-by-Doing and Preference Discovery in Video Game Play

In this paper we investigate how players learn about their preferences for different modes of play and how this influences their engagement in a popular franchise video game. An important aspect of players' session-level data from a specific generation of the game is that they budget their game time between competitive and non-competitive modes of play. Player behavior over time is consistent with learning and initial competition aversion; shares of time spent in competitive modes tend to drop upon adoption of a new game generation and then rise with time played. To study how the firm can increase player engagement, and to understand preferences for competitive and non-competitive play, we formulate and estimate a structural model that nests Bayesian learning within a multiple-discrete continuous framework. This allows us to explain behavior along the extensive (whether to play a mode) and intensive (how long to play that mode) margins for the multiple modes of play. With this model, we find that users can, broadly speaking, be categorized as high types (hardcores) who tend to be competition-seeking and are more naturally engaged; and low types (casuals) who are more likely to be competition-averse and who drop out before learning their true preferences for the modes. We consider actions the firm can undertake to improve consumer engagement--in particular, we perform counterfactual analysis on advertising and console switching (by bundling the game with a new console) policies. We find that low types tend to be more responsive to both policies and primarily respond by increasing usage along the extensive margin. Console switching has a significant positive effect on total play, but causes players to substitute away from competitive levels. This is consistent with the learning framework, where players pay a skill or familiarity cost when switching consoles. Finally, we discuss the value of engagement to the firm, both qualitatively and with respect to future purchasing (adoption of a new version).

Assessing the association between thinking dispositions and clinical error

BackgroundDual-process theory suggests that type 1 thinking results in a propensity to make ‘intuitive’ decisions based on limited information. Type 2 processes, on the other hand, are able to analyse...

Mode Choice Behaviour Analysis and Exploring Public Preferences for Introducing Bicycle: A Case Study in Rajshahi City

In public transport planning and management system, mode choice behavior analysis of the people is an important element. Public demand and preferences for different modes of travel can be identified through it. This paper gives a detail description about mode choice behavior of the people for the selected para-transit modes like rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, cycle and Emma. This also aims to explore public preference for using bicycle over other para-transit modes in Rajshahi city of Bangladesh. Bicycle is an environmental friendly vehicle. As a mode of transportation bicycle has many advantages for cyclists as well as society as a whole. Primary and secondary data was collected for analyzing some factors regarding the particular mode choice. Primary data was collected through household survey, Origin-Destination survey and stated preference survey. Household survey is used for demographic information, O-D survey is used for making trip diary and stated preference survey is used for taking public preference for introducing bicycle. Questionnaire survey has been conducted in the selected locations named Talaimari, Sheroil and Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi city. Microsoft Excel software is used for some simple statistical data analysis and SPSS software is used for multinomial logistic analysis. A total of five variables were considered in the model estimation of which are quantitative such as Travel cost, Access time, Egress time, Waiting time and In-Vehicle time. From the analysis it is found that the utility and probability for using bicycle is higher among the various modes of transportation. It is also found that people demand bicycle infrastructure such as bicycle lane, secure parking, improved connection, better intersection etc. for safe and comfortable cycling system. The findings indicate that the majority of the people prefers to use bicycle for travelling. So, it is evaluated that bicycling can be introduced in Rajshahi city if all needed facilities are given for the cyclists.

Exploring the communication preferences of MOOC learners and the value of preference-based groups: Is grouping enough?

Approximately 10 % of learners complete Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs); the absence of peer and professor support contributes to retention issues. MOOC leaders often form groups to supplement in-course forums and Q&A sessions, and students participating in groups find them valuable. Instructors want to assist in the formation of groups, creating multi-national collaborations, an asset possible in MOOCs that is generally sacrificed when students form their own groups. Little is known about how people from various cultures prefer to communicate with each other, or about the value of groups formed by MOOC leaders. To understand MOOC leaners’ grouping preferences, we administered a pre-course online survey to volunteers registered in the “Creativity, Innovation, and Change” MOOC offered by Penn State University via Coursera and assigned volunteers to groups based on their preferences. We also examined whether assigning learners to groups based on their preferences enhanced their performance or completion of the course. This paper reports MOOC learners’ preferences for different modes of online communication with group members (asynchronous text posts, synchronous text chats, or synchronous video and audio). Statistically significant relationships were found between learners’ preferred communication modes and their level of English proficiency, gender, level of education, and age. Although placing learners in groups based on their preferences and introducing them to each other did not improve course performance or completion, our findings on preferred communication modes, combined with more formal instruction of how to function as group members may prove to enhance learning and engagement in MOOCs.

The Interplay of Learning Approaches and Preferences for Methods of Assessment of Iranian EFL Learners in academic Context

Abstract. The present study aimed at making inquiries about the relationships between Iranian EFL students’ learning approaches, and their preferences for different modes of assessment. A sample of one hundred and ten junior and senior EFL students majoring in English Translation and English Literature at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, participated in this study. Participants were both male and female. In order to gather required data, two questionnaires were used: The Revised two factors Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) by Biggs et al. (2001), Assessment Preferences Inventory (API) by Birenbaum (1994). As the results showed; first, deep learning approach had significant positive relationships with both summative and formative assessments; second, surface learning approach had significant positive relationship with summative method of assessment.

A cross-sectional study assessing Australian general practice patients' intention, reasons and preferences for assistance with losing weight.

BackgroundThe high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population is concerning, as these conditions increase an individual’s risk of various chronic diseases. General practice is an ideal setting to target the reduction of overweight or obesity. Examining general practice patients’ intentions to lose weight and preferences for assistance with managing their weight is likely to be useful in informing weight management care provided in this setting. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) identify the proportion and characteristics of patients intending to change weight in the next six months; 2) reasons for intending to change weight and preferences for different modes of weight management assistance in overweight and obese patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,306 Australian adult general practice patients. Consenting patients reported via a touchscreen computer questionnaire their demographic characteristics, intention to lose weight in the next six months, reasons for wanting to lose weight, preferred personnel to assist with weight loss and willingness to accept support delivered via telephone, mobile and internet.ResultsFifty six percent (n = 731) of patients intended to lose weight in the next six months. Females, younger patients, those with a level of education of trade certificate and above or those with high cholesterol had significantly higher odds of intending to lose weight. “Health” was the top reason for wanting to lose weight in normal weight (38%), overweight (57%) and obese (72%) patients. More than half of overweight (61%) or obese (74%) patients reported that they would like help to lose weight from one of the listed personnel, with the dietitian and general practitioner (GP) being the most frequently endorsed person to help patients with losing weight. Almost 90% of overweight or obese participants indicated being willing to accept support with managing their weight delivered via the telephone.ConclusionsMost overweight or obese general practice patients intended to lose their weight in the next six months for health reasons. Younger females, with higher level of education or had high cholesterol had significantly higher odds of reporting intending to lose weight in the next six months. An opportunity exists for GPs to engage patients in weight loss discussions in the context of improving health. Interventions involving GP and dietitians with weight management support delivered via telephone, should be explored in future studies in this setting.

Within-Individual Variation in Preferences

The purpose of this research was to explore how the values of travel time (VTT) and preferences for different modes vary within individuals compared with the variation between observed trips. With 6-week revealed preference panel data and stated preference data from a mode choice context, both collected in Switzerland, a revealed–stated preference logit mode choice model was estimated. The model was applied to simulate how VTT and change in consumer surplus vary across trips within and between individuals over the 6 weeks in response to a hypothetical congestion-charging scheme. The variation in VTT arising from income differences was found to be substantially smaller than the variation in VTT between trips. Moreover, the variability in VTT averaged over all trips within each individual was considerably smaller than the variability in VTT for all observed trips. Therefore, the assumption that variation in VTT between observed trips reflects the variation in the average VTT between individuals, which is usually made in equity analyses, will overstate the between-individual variation. The results suggest that if intra-individual variation in preferences is not taken into account, the negative equity effects of congestion charges are likely to be overestimated.

An evaluation of student performance and preference for traditional and online delivery modes

Although use of interactive online activities is now common within higher education, it is not clear whether or not its use is associated with subsequent attainment. Additionally, it is not clear whether student preferences for, and satisfaction with, different styles of module delivery is associated with their performance. This paper reports two studies exploring student preferences for different learning methods and the relationship between use of online activities and test performance. In the first, student satisfaction with modules was recorded in addition to their preferences for different modes of delivery. In the second, the relationship between student engagement with online activities and their subsequent performance was assessed. In Study 1, three regression analyses demonstrated that a number of factors predicted overall module satisfaction including both general course and specific module factors. Lectures were found to be the preferred method of module delivery, followed by practical classes: a preference for online learning was not found. In addition a number of differences in preferences were observed across gender and level of study. In Study 2, completed assessment, web links, content and files were regressed against grade attained. Only engagement in e-learning was associated with enhanced performance. Although a preference for traditional methods of delivery was found, it appears that engagement in online activities is associated with the obtainment of higher grades. However, this study was unable to establish whether or not engagement leads to higher attainment or whether high attainers are more likely to engage in online activities. The implications of these two studies are that although e-learning may not be the preferred mode amongst students, engagement with aspects of it is associated with better performance, reinforcing the important role of blended learning in the delivery of in Higher Education.

Heterogeneous Decision Rule Model of Mode Choice Incorporating Utility Maximization and Disutility Minimization

With the advent of more flexible discrete choice models, the analysis of heterogeneity at the observed and unobserved levels is receiving increasing attention. However, heterogeneity in decision rules has hardly been investigated in the mode choice context. This study proposes a heterogeneous decision rule model of mode choice incorporating utility maximization and disutility minimization using empirical data from Chennai City, India. The two decision rules may yield different estimates of mode choice probabilities if the error structure is not symmetric. Therefore, a heterogeneous decision rule model is estimated by postulating separate choice behaviors for each decision segment. Because the decision rule remains latent, individuals are probabilistically assigned to the two segments. The membership propensity of belonging to each class is modeled by using a binary logit form. The performance of the proposed heterogeneous decision rule (HDR) model is compared with the pure utility maximization, pure disutility minimization, and heterogeneous latent class models. The results reveal that the HDR model outperforms these alternative specifications. Further, significant differences are observed across the decision segments for aggregate modal shares, intrinsic preference for different modes, sensitivity to modal attributes, role of subjective factors, and the effect of activity patterns and accessibility. Factors influencing the decision-segment membership propensity are also identified. These findings have important behavioral and practical implications for analysis and evaluation of travel demand management measures aimed at sustainable urban transportation systems, congestion mitigation, and transit improvement.

The demand for intercity public transport: the case of business passengers

Using a stated preference survey on business passengers travelling by rail or air between the two largest cities in Sweden, business passengers' preferences for different modes of transport and their corresponding attributes are investigated. Compared to what previous studies have found, the values put on attributes are very high, this including the environmental impact of the modes. This is largely explained by the fact that business passengers do not bear the cost of the trip, but still have the possibility of deciding the mode of transport. The usefulness of a more flexible specification of the demand for transport is explored using a random parameter logit model. It is found that there is a gain in using a random parameter model compared to a standard logit model, in the sense that it provides richer information about passengers' preferences. However, no consistent pattern is found in the differences in willingness to pay for attributes between the econometric specifications.

Using a dual method needs assessment to evaluate the training needs of public health professionals.

A dual method research approach was used to identify the training needs of the public health professionals in Washington. A mail questionnaire was implemented, followed by focus groups with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and local health department (LHD) professionals. Focus groups were used successfully to enhance and clarify the survey findings by identifying the specific content of the highest rated training needs (interpersonal communication, cross-culture and cross-age communication, participatory teaching/training skills, and electronic communication) and by pinpointing preference for different modes of training delivery for different training needs.

A STUDY OF ATTITUDES TOWARDS MATHEMATICS IN RELATION TO SELECTED STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS

SUMMARY. Attitudes towards mathematics of over 300 first‐year sixth‐form students were studied in relation to the type of mathematics curriculum previously followed by them, to their choice of sixth‐form courses and the students' intelligence, personality and mathematical achievement. The main findings are that no significant differences in liking for mathematics and in views about the difficulty of learning mathematics were found between students who had followed a ‘modern’ or ‘traditional’ mathematics curriculum, but that attitudes to mathematics were strongly correlated with students' mathematical bias as inferred from their choice of sixth‐form subjects. As an additional aspect of the study, students' preferences for different modes of presenting mathematical information were examined, with three presentation modes being used: symbolic, graphical and verbal. Students' mathematical bias was found to be strongly associated with preference for the symbolic communication mode and anti‐preference for the verbal mode.

The attitude of high school students towards the use of filmed experiments

The authors wanted to examine the reactions and attitudes towards the different approaches to laboratory work utilized in the study, a questionnaire survey was conducted among the participants to ascertain their: (1) perception of certain aims and objectives of laboratory work of the extent to which these had been achieved by the different instructional approaches used and (2) preference for different modes of instruction in chemistry.