Preferred Choice Research Articles

High overall values mitigate gaze-related effects in perceptual and preferential choices.

A growing literature has shown that people tend to make faster decisions when choosing between two high-intensity or high-utility options than when choosing between two less-intensity or low-utility options. However, the underlying cognitive mechanisms of this effect of overall value (OV) on response times (RT) remains controversial, partially due to inconsistent findings of OV effects on accuracy but also due to the lack of process-tracing studies testing this effect. Here, we set out to fill this gap by testing and modeling the influence of OV on choices, RT, and eye movements in both perceptual and preferential decisions in a preregistered eye-tracking experiment (N = 61). Across perceptual and preferential tasks, we observed significant and consistently negative correlations between OV and RT, replicating previous work. Accuracy tended to increase with OV, reaching significance in preferential choices only. Eye-tracking analyses revealed a reduction of different gaze-related effects under high OV: a reduced tendency to choose the longer fixated option in perceptual choice and a reduced tendency to choose the last fixated option in preferential choice. Modeling these data with the attentional drift-diffusion model showed that the nonfixated option value was discounted least in the high-OV condition, confirming that higher OV might mitigate the impact of gaze on choices. Our results suggest that OV jointly affects behavior and gaze influences and offer a mechanistic account for the puzzling phenomenon that decisions between options of higher OV tend to be faster, but not less accurate. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Neural correlates of choosing alcohol over a palatable food reward in humans.

In a population of light and heavy, nontreatment seeking drinkers, we recently showed that choice for alcohol versus a concurrently available snack reward was sensitive to the relative cost of alcohol. Here, we examined the neural substrates of alcohol choice using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a new sample of light and heavy drinkers. Participants were scanned during the Concurrent Alcohol Food Choice task, and collected points associated with the images of alcohol or snack rewards that they could redeem at the end of the experiment. As cost manipulation, point values were equal or varied so that they favored alcohol or the snack reward. Linear mixed-effects models were used for the analyses of behavioral and brain data. In a replication of prior findings, alcohol choice was sensitive to the relative value of alcohol in both groups. Neural activations in, among others, orbitofrontal cortex and insula were associated to relative value during choice. In addition, we observed that choosing alcohol as opposed to snack engaged two separate sets of brain regions. We did not replicate our prior finding of increased choice preference for alcohol in heavy compared to light drinkers and found no between-group differences in brain activity. Overall, we replicated intact sensitivity to relative costs of alcohol in heavy drinkers and found its associated brain activity regions involved in value and salience attribution. Alcohol choice engaged regions involved in value-based behavior while snack preference elicited activity in areas linked to externally oriented attention. The failure to replicate the between-group differences may be due to the artificial MRI environment or observed differences in personality traits.

Risk preferences in decision-making: A construal level perspective.

This study examines the impact of construal levels on preferences for risky choices in decision-making scenarios, focusing on how situational framing moderates these effects. We explored the role of construal level as a key moderator of the influence of risky-choice framing. Our findings show significant differences in preferences for risky options between gain- and loss-framing, especially in high-level construal contexts. This finding suggests that abstract thinking enhances framing effects, highlighting important implications for understanding decision-making processes and developing interventions to reduce bias. Conversely, this preference difference diminishes significantly under low-level construal, where focus on specific details, such as probability, is emphasized. The research reveals that framing influences attention allocation toward outcomes and processes in high-level construal but has a lesser effect in low-level construal. These results indicate that construal levels are crucial for shaping perception and framing effects. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications and recommendations for future research.

Supplemental Material for High Overall Values Mitigate Gaze-Related Effects in Perceptual and Preferential Choices

Supplemental Material for High Overall Values Mitigate Gaze-Related Effects in Perceptual and Preferential Choices

Entrepreneurial intention and education among high school and technical students from federal institutes in Brazil

ABSTRACT This study investigates entrepreneurial intentions and education among high school and technical institute students at federal institutes in Brazil. Data were collected through a digital survey distributed to 127 students and analysed using SPSS software, with the theoretical framework grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The findings indicate a predominant preference for career choices that enhance quality of life. Additionally, it was found that engagement in technical education positively correlates with entrepreneurial intentions. Students in their later academic years, as well as older students, display a heightened interest in entrepreneurship. Factors such as attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control were also significant predictors of entrepreneurial intentions within this cohort. The study underscores the need for a more robust integration of entrepreneurship education within the curricula of high schools and technical institutes.

Key Aspects in the Discussion on Legislative Regulation of Bullying

From the perspective of a legal and linguistic approach, the paper examines the issues related to the consolidation of a single concept of bullying in the legislation of the Russian Federation, the definition of the parties and responsibility for the commission thereof and other acts that contributed to its commission. The main problem is seen in an attempt to introduce special non-legal terms borrowed from other sciences into the legal field and use them in law enforcement activities without mapping them with the existing legal regulation and legal doctrine. The authors propose theoretically sound conceptual approaches concerning the need for legislative consolidation of the mentioned single concept (but not as a designation of a new corpus delicti, but as a generalizing term), its choice (preference is reasonably given to the term «bullying»), characteristics of existing legal structures providing responsibility for acts—individual manifestations of bullying. It is proved that the preferred direction of legislative regulation of bullying is the improvement of the mentioned structures, taking into account the consistency of the liability measures provided for by them. When defining bullying in a legal way, it is recommended to focus on the voluminous terms already available in the legislation, such as «extremist activity». As a measure aimed at preventing illegal activities (including bullying) in educational institutions, it is proposed to introduce an appropriate aggravating circumstance.

Choice Overload and the Long Tail: Consideration Sets and Purchases in Online Platforms

Problem definition: This paper examines frictions in the shopping funnel using empirical clickstream data from an online travel platform. We analyze (a) customers’ heterogeneous search and purchase behaviors and (b) their reactions to changes in assortment size. We then develop a consider-then-choose model to generalize our findings. Methodology/results: We characterize the online customer journey as a two-stage consider-then-choose framework. In the consider stage, we analyze the consideration set formation and show that heterogeneity—familiarity with the assortment—amplifies the number of options; in the purchase stage, it drives preferences for niche versus popular choices. A real-world high-stakes field experiment reveals that shrinking the menu produces mixed results: highlighting the market for the long-tail for some customers and reflecting choice overload for others. Finally, we build a psychologically rich consider-then-choose model with (a) heterogeneous preferences for product features and (b) heterogeneous search costs moderated by search fatigue, theoretically characterizing the impact on consideration sets and conversion rates. Managerial implications: Identifying frictions in the shopping funnel is critical for online platforms, especially when pain points hurt click-through or conversion rates. Which options matter to which users? What is the right assortment size? Although online platforms can offer virtually unlimited assortments, managers may assume frictionless environments—which is not always the case. Our findings offer insights into improving the customer journey by considering heterogeneous preferences and boundedly rational heuristics. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0318 .

Selpercatinib – a new option for a precision approach to the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer

Introduction. Multikinase inhibitors are used to treat nonresectable locally advanced and/or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). However they are characterized by high toxicity associated with kinase inhibition. Selective RET inhibitor selpercatinib demonstrates high selectivity and tolerance which makes it a promising agent for MTC treatment.Aim. To evaluate selpercatinib effectiveness and tolerance in patients with metastatic MTC associated with a mutation in the RET gene.Materials and methods. The study included 9 patients with metastatic MTC and mutation in the RET gene who received treatment with selpercatinib 160 mg 2 times a day. The drug effectiveness was evaluated every 2–3 months based on the results of multispiral computed tomography of the whole body and tumor marker (calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen) levels.Results. Median duration of therapy was 29 months overall response rate was 78 %; complete response was observed in 56 % of patients. After 12 months of therapy progression-free survival was 100 %; after 24 months it was 89 %. Persistent decrease in calcitonin level (by more than 90 %) was achieved in all patients. The most common adverse events were arterial hypertension and insignificant creatinine increase.Conclusion. The results of therapy show significant improvement in the rate of objective response and progression[1]free survival which makes selpercatinib a preferential treatment choice in this category of patients.

Choice preferences in drum tower design among the Dong people: Evidence from the five villages in Guangxi, China

Choice preferences in drum tower design among the Dong people: Evidence from the five villages in Guangxi, China

Exploration of the Cultivation Path of Vocational Values for Post-2000 Vocational College Students in the Context of the New Era

Career values are the specific manifestations of life goals and attitudes in career choices. In the context of the new era, post-2000 vocational college students exhibit characteristics such as diversified and personalized career values, economic value preferences in career choices, and a disconnect between career aspirations and reality. Based on this, this article proposes that the cultivation of vocational values for post-2000 vocational college students includes five aspects: education on socialist core values, education on career development and professional qualities, cultivation of professional spirit, education on the connotation and extension of vocational values, and education on network culture and vocational values. The cultivation path should focus on combining theoretical education with practical experience, creating campus culture and professional atmosphere, personalizing career guidance and career planning, cultivating social responsibility and craftsmanship spirit, etc., in order to meet the demand of society for high-quality technical and skilled talents and provide strong talent support for social and economic development.

Incidental affect influences choice preference among competing alternatives in a modified Affect Misattribution Procedure

Affective feelings exert a powerful influence on decision making, even when the source of those feelings is incidental, i.e., unrelated to the decision at hand. Research on the role of affect in decision making has typically focused on how incidental affect shapes evaluations of an individual target, and thus decisions about how to engage with that target. It is less clear, however, if and how individuals use their incidental affective feelings when evaluating and comparing multiple competing targets and deciding which one to choose. To investigate this, we modified the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) to include two competing targets, presented sequentially, that individuals needed to choose between. In two pre-registered studies (N = 196 and N = 214), participants were presented with pairs of landscape images (e.g., beaches, lakes) and asked to choose which image in the pair they liked more. Each landscape was preceded by an affective prime: a briefly flashed image of a face that was either smiling (a positive prime), scowling (a negative prime), or neutral (a neutral prime). We found that participants were significantly more likely to choose landscapes preceded by primes of more positive valence, and this effect was driven by trials on which the positive prime came second. Our studies demonstrate that decision makers use their incidental affective feelings when making choices among competing alternatives, and introduce a novel methodology for understanding the constructive role of affect in preference formation.

Selectivity in Buttress Drumming Tree Properties Among Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the Waibira Community in Budongo Forest, Uganda.

Wild chimpanzees drum on tree buttresses during dominance displays and travel, generating low-frequency sounds that are audible over distances of more than 1 km. Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in the Nimba Mountains of Guinea selectively choose trees and buttresses when drumming, potentially based on their resonant properties, suggesting that these chimpanzees are optimizing their drumming signals. We investigated whether male eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) from the Waibira community in the Budongo Forest, Uganda, also show preferences in tree and buttress choice, exploring whether selectivity is a species-wide feature. We tested chimpanzee preferences for tree species and diameter, number of buttresses, and buttress area and width, by comparing trees and buttresses used in drumming bouts with nearby unused trees and buttresses. Waibira chimpanzees drummed preferentially on two tree species: the tropical hardwood Cynometra alexandrii and the softwood Chrysophyllum albidum. Chimpanzees selected trees with a larger diameter over nearby trees with a smaller diameter, and buttresses were more likely to be used for drumming if they had a larger area or larger width. These results suggest that chimpanzees in the Waibira community select trees and buttresses based on physical properties, most likely related to acoustically relevant characteristics. These findings support the argument that buttress drumming is a goal-directed behavior and contributes to our understanding of chimpanzees' use and optimization of their long-distance acoustic signals.

Exploring Collocational Patterns and Genres: An Analysis of the Use of Poisonous and Venomous in American English

This research study explores the usage differences between the synonymous adjectives poisonous and venomous. Based on the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), comprising over one billion words, representing American English from 1990 to 2023 across eight genres, i.e., spoken language, fiction, magazines, newspapers, academic texts, webpages, weblogs, and TV/movie subtitles, this study investigates the distribution of both synonyms across genres and their collocational patterns. This study addresses: 1) the distribution of poisonous and venomous across genres, and 2) common noun collocates of these synonyms. The findings reveal both adjectives are prevalent in informal contexts, such as fiction and magazines. However, distinct collocational preferences emerge in that poisonous aligns with nouns related to gases, chemicals, substances, and food, while venomous is usually combined with nouns denoting actions, emotions, and food items. This study highlights the interplay among lexical choice, formality, and collocational preferences in English.

Dissecting the sustainable tourist experience: sustainable consumption theory and co-creation theory approach

PurposeTourists are increasingly co-creating meaningful experiences and demonstrating a growing preference for sustainable travel choices. In response, this study investigates the co-created sustainable tourist experience in the Bahamas.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on sustainable consumption theory and co-creation theory, it aimed to develop a more comprehensive framework that encompasses the entire spectrum of the sustainable tourist experience. Data from 25 in-depth interviews and participant observation were analyzed using an inductive-deductive method.FindingsThe analysis revealed multiple aspects of sustainable tourist experience, including sustainable consumption dimensions (environmental, social/individual, social/interactive, economic and institutional) and co-creation phases (co-production, value-in-use and co-creation), along with travel stages (pre-trip, on-site and post-trip). Based on these insights, this study developed a framework that delineates the mechanism of sustainable tourist experience.Practical implicationsThis study outlines managerial implications for the tourism and hospitality industry, highlighting sustainability as central to the tourist experience. Destination planners are encouraged to promote sustainable initiatives that align with tourists’ desires to co-create experiences, enhancing satisfaction, supporting destination sustainability and contributing to long-term industry viability.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to existing research on co-created, across-stage sustainable tourist experiences by presenting a holistic framework that elucidates the underlying mechanisms. This study extends existing conceptual studies by offering a deeper understanding of how tourists interact and co-create with destinations, emphasizing the need to integrate sustainability more effectively into the tourist experience across all stages of travel.

SK609, a novel dopamine D3 receptor agonist and norepinephrine transporter blocker with putative pro-cognitive actions, does not induce psychostimulant-like increases in risky choice during probabilistic discounting.

Psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPH), non-selectively elevate extracellular concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), and are common pharmacological strategies used to improve prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognitive dysfunction. However, this approach can be problematic given AMPH has been shown to increase preference for risky choices in a rodent assay of risk/reward decision making. SK609 is a novel NE reuptake blocker that selectively activates DA D3 receptors without affinity for the DA transporter. SK609 has been shown to improve cognitive performance without increasing psychostimulant-like spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting SK609 may benefit neurocognitive function without psychostimulant-like side effect liability. We compared AMPH, MPH, and SK609 within dose ranges that display their cognitive enhancing properties in a probabilistic discounting task (PDT) of risk/reward decision making behavior to assess their potential to increase risky choice preference. Rats chose between small/certain rewards delivered with 100% certainty and large/risky rewards delivered with descending probabilities across a session (100 - 6.25%) following administration of AMPH (0.25-1mg/kg), MPH (2-8mg/kg), and SK609 (4mg/kg). AMPH and MPH increased risky choice behavior at doses previously reported to enhance cognition, whereas SK609 did not. AMPH and MPH also reduced sensitivity to non-rewarded risky choices. These data highlight the combination of NE transporter blockade and selective D3 activation in pro-cognitive action without psychostimulant-like side effect liability. The absence of DA transporter blockade and non-selective dopaminergic activation are beneficial properties of SK609 that differentiates it from the traditional pro-cognitive psychostimulants.

Practitioner preferences in the analysis of cremation deposits in archaeology and biological anthropology: An overview of current osteoarchaeological practices with a focus on sex estimation.

Osteological data, such as biological sex, constitute a base for research in paleodemography and palaeopathology, as well as for understanding past socio-cultural practices. Despite extensive research efforts concerning cremated human remains over the past decades, an internationally acknowledged, standardized osteological protocol is not fully agreed upon. Furthermore, assessing cremation research practices from the literature is challenging because analysis reports are often written in the national languages of practitioners, which makes them difficult to access by an international audience. This study addresses this gap by directly reaching out to experts working with cremated human remains through an online questionnaire in Lime Survey. The aim is to identify and characterize patterns in cremation analysis practices. A particular emphasis was put on the methods of biological sex estimation. While the significance of these data is widely acknowledged, the ways in which they are obtained in practice are seldom examined. The results of this survey reveal an absence of standardization in protocols of analysis, and data collection, as well as in reporting on the cremated remains in publications and reports. Notably, the findings reveal regional preferences in methodological choices and inconsistent institutional training. A majority of respondents expressed a preference for traditional morphological methods over recently published metric and alternative methods for sex estimation. These variations underscore the complexity of establishing standardized cremation analysis protocols and highlight the importance of considering regional contexts and training in shaping future research practices.

Parental influence on career choice in Jos North Islamic Secondary Schools, Nigeria

This study sought to analyzed parental influences on career choice in Jos North Islamic secondary schools. A sample of ten schools was selected using simple random sampling technique and total of 323 student participated in the research. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result shows that there is positive but non-significant relationship between parental religiosity and career choice of their children. The result also reveals that there is positive and significant relationship between parental socio-cultural and economic influences and their children career choices at 5% and 10% significant level respectively. The study recommends the need to uplift career counseling unit in Islamic secondary schools. It also recommends the development of good relationship between parent and school counsellors towards guiding the students to Islamic career choice preference.

Individual preferences for food items within couples: Validating choice experiments predictions with real purchases data

AbstractDespite the popularity of choice experiments (CEs) for the valuation of environmental goods and services, some of its shortcomings have been only partially addressed by the literature. Among these, of particular saliency are the hypothetical nature of CEs and the lack of information on joint choices (e.g. choices made by couples) in traditional CEs. In this study, we contribute to filling these gaps by investigating joint choices concerning cheeses produced via different processes, involving environmental and social sustainability features. We use a two‐stage preference elicitation approach, using first stated and then real consumption choices collected from a sample of 90 couples. In the first stage, each member of the couples separately took part in a web survey with a hypothetical CE. In the second, these couples jointly engaged in a field experiment with monetary incentives in which they jointly chose the cheeses to purchase. This approach allows us to evaluate the role of individual preferences in shaping joint choices and to investigate whether predictions from stated choice data are congruent with, and validated by, real purchase data. We use CE data to estimate individual preferences with discrete choice models and use joint purchase data via the Multiple Discrete‐Continuous Nested Extreme Value model. Results suggest that joint real choices follow a substantively different decision process from that of individual stated choices.

Commuter choice of UAM-friendly neighborhoods

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) which provides swift intra- and intercity transportation services has the potential to induce shifts in individuals’ commuting and residential decisions. It is anticipated that, in residential areas, UAM services would enhance accessibility for residents. An UAM-friendly neighborhood represents a novel, integrated neighborhood concept that provides the infrastructure and travel environment required to facilitate UAM services, thereby promoting sustainable neighborhood development and improving accessibility. To gain a deeper understanding of commuters’ choice behavior in UAM-friendly neighborhoods, we designed a stated choice experiment. Using data collected in Beijing city, we estimated a mixed logit model with interaction effects to identify the choice preferences of different people while capturing the unobserved preference heterogeneity. We found that individuals generally prefer to reside in such neighborhoods where the access distance to UAM vertiports is within one kilometer, the parking fee is either low (5 yuan/day) or free, the commuting time by UAT is 15 min, and drone window-docking delivery services are available. Households with high incomes (>400,000 yuan/year) and those owning a car are likely to adopt these novel neighborhoods. There is a varying degree of heterogeneity observed regarding residential location and distance to UAM vertiports among individuals in different age groups. Results of the elasticity analysis indicate that UAT commuting cost has the greatest impact on the likelihood of residing in UAM-friendly neighborhoods.

Is Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht A New Alternative for Populist Voters?

Abstract In just five months, Bündnis Sarah Wagenknecht (BSW) progressed from its foundation to winning six seats in the European Parliament. Research has indicated that the party has significant potential, particularly among voters of Germany’s two populist parties: Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Die Linke. Since BSW is also classified as a populist party, this article explores the extent to which populist attitudes influence the vote choice preference for BSW. The analysis employs a three-dimensional populism scale, using data from a VAA-like website. The results reveal that voters intending to vote for BSW exhibit strong anti-elitist and people-centric views, but do not hold Manichean outlooks. This positions BSW voters ideologically between Die Linke and AfD voters in terms of populist ideation – albeit closer to the AfD, reflecting the party-level populism of BSW. Additionally, populist attitudes, particularly anti-elitism, are significant predictors of vote-switching from other parties to BSW.