Expression Of Preference Research Articles

Gamified online survey to elicit citizens’ preferences and enhance learning for environmental decisions

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) requires a critical step, namely to elicit individual preferences. On the basis of learning theories, we formalize preference construction as learning about facts and values, and as a process; we also conceptualize an online preference elicitation survey that offers learning loops to increase factual learning and support preference construction. Another originality is gamification. Game elements (a narrative and non-player characters as motivational affordance) keep respondents engaged in the demanding task of weight elicitation. Our tool enables broad public participation in MCDA, allowing reliable online preference elicitation. The survey concept was tested with 107 students and a control treatment. Quantitative and qualitative data indicate that the concept works. Participants’ factual knowledge increased. The survey helped students to learn about their own preferences concerning the importance of objectives. The practical implication is that weighting can be reliably elicited by online surveys. Participants reported a positive experience; further ways to improve it are thoroughly discussed.

The role of emotions on tourists’ willingness to pay for the Alpine landscape: a latent class approach

ABSTRACTPrevious research suggests that landscape preferences vary systematically amongst people. While various sources of heterogeneity have been considered in landscape preference literature, the role of emotions on willingness to pay for landscape features has never been examined. This article presents results of a choice experiment carried out for eliciting tourists’ for Alpine landscapes. The emotional state of respondents was used to model heterogeneity in a latent class approach. The study area is a valley in the Italian Alps, characterised by a strong importance of the primary sector and a low number of tourists. Landscape management could attract new visitors, providing additional income for the local inhabitants. Results indicate that respondents prefer a variegated and multi-faceted landscape, with a mix of tree species, several agricultural crops and open areas with grazing animals and that incidental emotions play a role in the construction of landscape preferences and influence willingness to pay.

Word order preferences of Tagalog-speaking adults and children

This article investigates the word order preferences of Tagalog-speaking adults and five- and seven-year-old children. The participants were asked to complete sentences to describe pictures depicting actions between two animate entities. Adults preferred agent-initial constructions in the patient voice but not in the agent voice, while the children produced mainly agent-initial constructions regardless of voice. This agent-initial preference, despite the lack of a close link between the agent and the subject in Tagalog, shows that this word order preference is not merely syntactically-driven (subject-initial preference). Additionally, the children’s agent-initial preference in the agent voice, contrary to the adults’ lack of preference, shows that children do not respect the subject-last principle of ordering Tagalog full noun phrases. These results suggest that language-specific optional features like a subject-last principle take longer to be acquired.

Directional preference constructs for patients’ low back pain in the absence of centralization

ABSTRACTObjectives: A detailed description of how Directional Preference (DP) constructs are measured could accelerate research to practice translation and improve research findings for Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) stakeholders. A secondary analysis of a prospective, observational cohort study was conducted to understand (1) the type and prevalence of DP constructs at first examination and (2) the relationships between DP constructs and clinical outcomes at follow-up.Methods: Data were collected and analyzed from 1485 consecutive patients who presented to outpatient, private practice clinics with primary complaints of non-specific low back pain (LBP); 400 patients met the inclusion criteria and completed first examination and follow-up data. Statistical analysis determined prevalence and the relationships between DP constructs at first examination and clinical outcomes at follow-up.Results: The primary findings in this investigation were that (1) the most prevalent DP constructs at first examination were related to range of motion (ROM) and pain intensity (Patient Reported Improvement in ROM (74.8%), Increase in Spine ROM (29.5%), and Pain Intensity Change (17.3%)), (2) all groups improved and made clinically meaningful improvements in disability and pain intensity at follow-up, (3) no clinically significant differences in disability or pain intensity were found between the groups at follow-up, and (4) 26.5% and 6.5% of patients exhibited a relative increase in lumbar spine extension and flexion ROM, respectively, post repeated movement testing on the first examination.Discussion: The findings in this study assist providers in making assessment and treatment decisions with their patients by offering insight regarding the most prevalent DP constructs typically found at the first examination and their subsequent association with outcome when Centralization (CEN) does not occur. Recommendations for researchers have been made to further explore the DP framework used in this study.

Bending and compressive properties of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels made from Canadian hemlock

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an innovative engineering wood panel product made from gluing layers of solid-sawn lumber at perpendicular angles. Owing to the excellent structural rigidity in both orthogonal directions, CLT becomes a preferred construction material for shear walls, floor diaphragms, and roof assemblies. CLT is normally made of Spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber or Douglas fir-Larch lumber. Recently, attempts have been made to manufacture CLT with Canadian hemlock. This paper investigates the out-of-plane bending properties and compressive properties of CLT panels made from Canadian hemlock. The mechanical properties of the CLT panels in the major/minor strength directions were obtained through experimental tests, and numerical models were developed to predict bending stiffness and ultimate load resisting capacity of the CLT panels. Moreover, theoretical bending stiffness of the CLT panels was calculated according to the equations provided in different code provisions, and the calculated values were compared with the experimental data. Results show that CLT panels made from Canadian hemlock perform as well as those made from other common used lumber species (i.e. SPF or Douglas fir), and the bending stiffness and ultimate load resisting capacity of the CLT panels can be predicted by the developed numerical models. In addition, in the major strength direction, the global bending stiffness of the panels can be predicted using the theoretical bending stiffness. In the minor strength direction, the local bending stiffness of the panels can be predicted using the theoretical bending stiffness calculated according to the Shear Analogy theory. The results presented in this paper can provide fundamental basis for supporting the potential engineering application of CLT panel products made from Canadian hemlock.

Linking Consumers’ Food Choice Motives to their Preferences for Insect‐based Food Products: An Application of Integrated Choice and Latent Variable Model in an African Context

AbstractConsumers’ attitudes, perceptions, personalities and motives play important roles in shaping their food choices. These factors are not fully observed by analysts, so they should be treated as latent variables. A number of economic studies treat such variables as direct measures of consumers’ food choice behaviour, even though this might introduce measurement error and endogeneity bias. We investigate the latent link between consumers’ preferences and food choice motives (FCMs) in an African context. We use an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) model specification for data analysis to recognise the latent nature of the FCMs and address the measurement and bias problems. The data originate from an incentivised discrete choice experiment conducted in Kenya to elicit consumers’ preferences for insect‐based foods. Our findings show that consumers’ preferences and choices are influenced by their latent motivational orientation. The results illustrate the benefit of the ICLV approach in accounting for consumers’ latent preference constructs in food choice and valuation research.

Extreme malleability of preferences: Absolute preference sign changes under uncertainty

AbstractMalleability of preferences is a central tenet of behavioral decision theory. How malleable preferences really are, however, is a topic of debate. Do preference reversals imply preference construction? We argue that to claim preferences are construed, a demonstration of more extreme preference malleability than simple preference reversals is required: absolute preference sign changes within participants. If respondents value a prospect positively in 1 condition but negatively in a different condition, preferences cannot be considered stable. Such absolute preference sign changes are possible under uncertainty. In 2 incentive‐compatible experiments, we found participants were willing to pay to take part in a gamble and also demanded to be compensated to take part in a subsequent gamble with identical outcomes and probabilities. Such absolute preference sign changes within participants led to simultaneous risk aversion and risk seeking for the same risky prospect, suggesting that, at least in the domain of risky decisions, consumers' preferences are indeed malleable and construed.

The loss-bet paradox: Actuaries, accountants, and other numerate people rate numerically inferior gambles as superior.

Psychologists have convincingly demonstrated that preferences are not always stable and, instead, are often “constructed” based on information available in the judgment or decision context. In 4 studies with experts (accountants and actuaries in Studies 1 and 2, respectively) and a diverse lay population (Studies 3 and 4), the evidence was consistent with the highly numerate being more likely than the less numerate to construct their preferences by rating a numerically inferior bet as superior (i.e., the bets effect). Thus, the effect generalizes beyond a college student sample, and preference construction differs by numeracy. Contrary to prior thinking about preference construction, however, high expertise and high ability (rather than low) consistently related to the paradoxical phenomenon. Results across studies including Study 3's experimental modifications of the task supported the hypothesized number comparison process (and not a lack of expertise with monetary outcomes and probabilities or numeracy‐related differences in attention to numbers) as the effect's underlying cause. The bets effect was not attenuated by Study 4's instructions to think about what would be purchased with bet winnings. Task results combined with free‐response coding supported the notion that highly numerate participants have a systematic and persistent inclination for doing simple and complex number operations that drive their judgments (even after controlling for nonnumeric intelligence). Implications for 3 types of dual‐process theories are discussed. The results were inconsistent with default‐interventionist theories, consistent or unclear with respect to fuzzy trace theory, and consistent with interactive theories.

A review of water-related serious games to specify use in environmental Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Serious games and gamification are nowadays pervasive. They are used to communicate about science and sometimes to involve citizens in science (e.g. citizen science). Concurrently, environmental decision analysis is challenged by the high cognitive load of the decision-making process and the possible biases threatening the rationality assumptions. Difficult decision-making processes can result in incomplete preference construction, and are generally limited to few participants. We reviewed 43 serious games and gamified applications related to water. We covered the broad diversity of serious games, which could be explained by the still unsettled terminology in the research area of gamification and serious gaming. We discuss how existing games could benefit early steps of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), including problem structuring, stakeholder analysis, defining objectives, and exploring alternatives. We argue that no existing game allows for preference elicitation; one of the most challenging steps of MCDA. We propose many research opportunities for behavioral operational research.

Quality Parameters Perception of Modern Methods of Construction Based on Wood in the Context of Sustainability

Quality parameters are important for achieving sustainability and prosperity. A range of new and innovative construction systems is currently being developed, presented as modern methods of construction (MMC), which have an ambition to improve the performance parameters of buildings throughout their life cycle. As for the implementation of modern methods of construction in Slovakia, assembled buildings based on wood seem to be the most preferred construction system. In the study presented in the paper, we searched for already built and occupied wood-based family houses. The residents’ attitudes towards such a type of buildings in the context with declared design and qualitative parameters of efficiency and sustainability are overlooked. The methodology of the research study is based on a socio-economic survey. Due to the large amounts of data collected through a questionnaire, only selected parts of the survey results are evaluated and discussed in the paper. The presented parts of the survey focus on two research questions. The first is aimed at determining the preferred parameters of wooden structures with future users and the second is aimed at evaluating the quality of buildings in view of users of existing wooden buildings. An expectations survey aims the determine the attitudes of users during their use of wooden buildings as one of the innovative technologies, MMC, and their view of the quality of construction and comfort while living in them.

Critical Delaying Factors: Public Sector Building Projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Project delays are a large and prevalent problem in the Gilgit-Baltistan construction industry, and delays can distinctly affect project duration, budget, and also community needs. The purpose of this study is to highlight and rank delaying factors in the Annual Development Programme public sector building infrastructure projects and examine them through a relative importance index. A total of 52 delaying factors were identified through a detailed literature review and categorized into eight major groups, and a pilot study with 16 experienced construction experts was conducted. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the importance of each factor from public construction experts. In total, 102 respondents participated in the survey. The study determined that difficulties in financing projects by contractors, delays in progress payments, dispute on land usage, improper project feasibility studies, award project to the lowest bid price, extreme weather conditions, inadequate contractor experience, and insufficient data collection and survey before design were among the top eight critical delaying factors. In addition, Spearman’s rank correlation tests revealed that there was no difference in perception between owners and contractors. A comparison of the top five delay factors was done with eight preferred construction industries in Asia to validate the results of this study. The findings are likely to be a solid contribution to the Gilgit-Baltistan construction industry in mitigating future construction delays.

Algorithmic Challenges to Autonomous Choice

We then explore how autonomous algorithmic assistants affect the legal framework. Some issues challenge the very use of algorithmic assistants: Should the law place an age limit on the use of such algorithms? Should legal limits be placed on their use in certain spheres? Other issues arise from the construction of preferences by algorithms. To wit, in a market in which demand is driven by algorithms, can we necessarily regard the choices made as expressions of user preferences that serve our socio-political goals? Even if the answer is positive—does this new mode of user choice fit current legal assumptions, such as those that apply to the notions of consent or intent? And are our regulatory tools, which seek to ensure that individual consumers can make informed decisions, outmoded? It is therefore essential to determine whether the existing legal framework is sufficiently potent to deal with this brave new world, or whether we need new regulatory tools. Despite their importance and timeliness, these questions have not been dealt with in depth. This article seeks to fill this void. It proceeds as follows. Part II explores the lure and modes of operation of algorithmic assistants, and how these characteristics may affect human choice. Part III then analyzes the rationales for such choice and explores how these rationales are affected by the employment of autonomous algorithmic assistants. As shown, while some rationales are not harmed—and might even be strengthened— by the use of autonomous algorithmic assistants, others challenge us to reconsider the meaning and the role that choice plays in our lives and to deal with the conflict between the efficient fulfillment of short-term preferences and the long-term ability to form such preferences. Part IV analyzes the implications of these new private orderings on regulation, with a special focus on laws based on assumptions of human autonomous decision-making. We summarize our findings in a short conclusion.

What's It Like to Be Deaf? Reflections on Signed Language, Sustainable Development, and Equal Opportunities.

What's It Like to Be Deaf?Reflections on Signed Language, Sustainable Development, and Equal Opportunities Peter V. Paul (bio) The Constructs of Loss and Gain The question "What's it like to be deaf?" has engendered debates on whether deafness should be considered a loss, a gain, or both. It is doubtful that many scholars would agree that an adequate answer entails only a depiction of the degree of hearing acuity or loss, perhaps in conjunction with age at onset, thresholds for speech (i.e., for a spoken language), and hearing reception and comprehension. This might be a reasonable place to start, but it might not be the place to stop. Nevertheless, considering deafness as a hearing disability and focusing on attempts to remedy it through the development of spoken language(s) and literacy (or literacies) of mainstream society is deemed an appropriate route by a number of researchers, educators, and parents/caregivers (Paul & Moores, 2010; see also Wang & Andrews, 2014, 2015, for various perspectives on developing English literacy). There are scholars who would argue that this is the wrong place to start. Rather, the focus should be on the intertwinement of Deaf identity, signed language, and culture, which highlights the sociological or sociocultural dimensions (e.g., beliefs, mores, attitudes) of individuals in groups (De Clerck, 2012a, 2012b; Ladd, 2003; see also Young, chapter 3). Understanding signed language usage might provide a better understanding, for example, of the manner in which a number of d/Deaf (and some hard of hearing) individuals learn to read and write the spoken language of society without actually speaking or signing the through-the-air form (Wang & Andrews, 2014, 2015). Even more interesting, the preferred construct should be characterized as a gain (i.e., Deaf Gain), not loss, to understand and appreciate the contributions of d/Deaf individuals to society (Bauman & Murray, 2014). In my view, we can appreciate the diversity of what it means to be human from this perspective. It is also possible that the focus on gain might lead to creative solutions to promote inclusion, employment, and a better quality of life for many d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh) individuals. The dichotomy of loss and gain (i.e., clinical and cultural views; Paul & Moores, 2010, 2012b) and the subsequent reactions might be one way to view responses to "What's it like to be deaf?" However, both global views (i.e., loss and gain) are inadequate if each does not also consider other complex sociodemographic variables, such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual [End Page 471] orientation, culture(s), type of language(s), or communication usage. It is also important to mention the geographic location variable—being situated in either a developed or developing country with the varying nature of societal resources and attitudes toward disabilities or the condition of deafness or Deaf identity. The sociodemographics of d/Dhh individuals in a developed country might be quite different from those of individuals in a developing country, and this can affect guidelines for education and societal inclusion, not to mention equal opportunities and employment. Geography also makes it difficult to proffer intercultural or cross-cultural guidelines. In essence, it might be that the possible answers to "What's it like to be deaf?" can influence the development of guidelines for educational programs, curriculum, and methods, and for societal and other quality-of-life issues (Paul, 2014). However, can this question really be answered? Can any type of response address the needs of diverse d/Dhh individuals with a range of characteristics? Should there be specific or general guidelines? Who should answer this question—policymakers, theorists, researchers, educators/clinicians, parents/caregivers, d/Dhh individuals themselves, or some tricky mix of all of these? How do we maintain a balance between the needs/desires of a particular d/Dhh individual and the needs/desires of the larger society? Is balance the appropriate metaphor? I can support a combination of emic (individual/personal) and etic (scholarly/general) approaches and responses to this question. However, this should not be construed as an either-or situation (Paul, 2014). I acknowledge that either my emic or etic view represents a...

Evidence for hippocampal dependence of value-based decisions

Consistent decisions are intuitively desirable and theoretically important for utility maximization. Neuroeconomics has established the neurobiological substrate of value representation, but brain regions that provide input to this network is less explored. The constructed-preference tradition within behavioral decision research gives a critical role to associative cognitive processes, suggesting a hippocampal role in making consistent decisions. We compared the performance of 31 patients with mediotemporal lobe (MTL) epilepsy and hippocampal lesions, 30 patients with extratemporal lobe epilepsy, and 30 healthy controls on two tasks: binary choices between candy bars based on their preferences and a number-comparison control task where the larger number is chosen. MTL patients made more inconsistent choices than the other two groups for the value-based choice but not the number-comparison task. These inconsistencies correlated with the volume of compromised hippocampal tissue. These results add to increasing evidence on a critical involvement of the MTL in preference construction and value-based choices.

How salient pictures in magazine advertisements bias consumers' preference construction: A comparison with product pages in e‐stores applying dual system model

AbstractThis article compares the preference construction strategies that consumers adopt when reading magazine ads or browsing e‐stores. Decision processes are constrained by the structure of the context, so this research started with a pilot study that explored the use of salient background pictures in both contexts; the findings showed that magazine ads often featured dominant pictures, but product pages in e‐stores usually did not. In line with dual system theory, magazine ads thus may encourage picture‐based processing (System I), whereas product pages in e‐stores may encourage attribute‐based processing (System II). Two studies support these predictions. In Study 1, the product with the worst attributes but the most attractive background pictures was more likely to be chosen by consumers reading a magazine than by those browsing an e‐store. Study 2 affirmed that ad pictures, rather than product attributes, dominated evaluations. Together, these findings indicate that dominant pictures in magazine advertisements encourage intuitive processing and bias analytical processing.

Literature review of the benefits and obstacle of horizontal directional drilling

In this new era the construction industry not only need to be completed within budget, timely, at acceptable quality and safety but the stakeholders especially the local authorities and the public realises for the important need of sustainable construction method to be used for our younger generation to heritage if not better a safer world for them to live and raise up their children’s. Horizontal Directional Drilling method is the most commonly recognised trenchless utilities method as a preferred construction method in this age. Among the reasons HDD method offers less disturbance on traffic, the public, business activities and neighbourhood, lower restoration cost, less noise, dust and minimum import/export of the construction materials. In addition HDD method can drill through congested utilities areas with minimum cutting and shorter time. This paper aims to appraise the benefits and obstacle of HDD method in construction industry. It is an endeavour to fulfil the local authorities cry for alternative method that less damages to the roads, road furniture’s and public complaints compared to the conventional open cut method. In addition HDD method is seem to be in line with sustainable development requirements e.g. reduce, reuse, recycle and etc. Hence, it is important to determine the benefits and obstacle factors of HDD implementation. The factors are based on the literature review conducted by the author on the subject matters gathered from previous studies, journals, text books, guidelines, magazine articles, newspaper cutting and etc.

The Power of Preferences: Economic Elites and Light Taxation in Mexico

In recent years Mexico has had the lightest tax burden in Latin America. Using qualitative, historical analysis, this paper argues that a crucial cause of this phenomenon is the resistance of an exceptionally politically mobilized economic elite, which has resulted in the defeat or dilution of repeated attempts at reform. The intensity of elite resistance reflects, in turn, a strongly anti-state ideology constructed through conflict with the state, especially during the 1930s. This emphasis on the historical construction of preferences clarifies a central paradox of the literature on Latin American taxation: the fact that a number of authors agree that elite cohesion and political connections are important, but disagree on whether they hinder or facilitate revenue-raising reform.

What is the ideal working length for bridge plating osteosynthesis of a femoral shaft fracture? A multinational online survey evaluation.

to evaluate how orthopedic surgeons in Latin America define the working length for distinct patterns of femoral shaft fracture. a survey was developed presenting different options of working length in four femoral fracture patterns. The survey was submitted to the participants using Google Forms tool. The association between professional characteristics and medical management options according to each type of fracture was analyzed by Chi-square test, with 5% significance level. seven hundred and seven professionals from all Latin America answered the survey. The majority prefered a smaller working length for all situations presented in the study. There was a significant association between the main interest area and the medical preference for the management in fracture types AO 32-B3 and 32-C2 (p<0.05). Other professional characteristics had no significant association at the level of 5%. most of the study participants preferred constructions with smaller working length, representing approximately one-third of the total length of the plate, regardless of fracture pattern. There was a significant association between the main interest area (orthopedic trauma) and medical management options for fracture type AO 32-B3 and 32-C2. This can be attributed in part to the fact that these two types of fractures are considered, in the view of the authors, intermediate patterns in terms of strain. This study reinforces the importance of understanding the concept of working length, showing that its calculation remains more based on the surgeons' experience than grounded by strong biomechanical concepts governing the fracture healing process.

Toward a Behavioral Model of Shared Decision Making

Recently, shared decision making (SDM) has come forward as a primary framework for decision making in healthcare. While current works on SDM are mostly grounded on normative and static decision models, this body of research has largely overlooked individuals’ dynamic preferences, emotions and bounded cognitive capacities, which are instead compelling behavioral aspects of any decision space involving two or more individuals, like patients and physicians. In this paper, we address this gap by synthetizing and systematizing the current literature on SDM into key thematic domains. Building on this evidence, we advance a theoretical apparatus of SDM which integrates extant research with insights from the behavioral sciences. The resulting effort offers a behavioral model of SDM. It accounts for a social dimension in the construction of preferences as well as the constraints imposed by bounded rationality and their effects on patient-centered care. Overall, this work locates topical and practical insights as t...

Monitoring the Error Rate of Modern Methods of Construction Based on Wood

Abstract A range of new and innovative construction systems, currently developed, represent modern methods of construction (MMC), which has the ambition to improve the performance parameters of buildings throughout their life cycle. Regarding the implementation modern methods of construction in Slovakia, assembled buildings based on wood seem to be the most preferred construction system. In the study, presented in the paper, were searched already built and lived-in wood based family houses. The residents’ attitudes to such type of buildings in the context with declared designing and qualitative parameters of efficiency and sustainability are overlooked. The methodology of the research study is based on the socio-economic survey carried out during the years 2015 - 2017 within the Slovak Republic. Due to the large extent of data collected through questionnaire, only selected parts of the survey results are evaluated and discussed in the paper. This paper is aimed at evaluating the quality of buildings expressed in a view of users of existing wooden buildings. Research indicates some defects, which can be eliminated in the next production process. Research indicates, that some defects occur, so the production process quality should be improved in the future development.