Social Decision Research Articles

Personal Branding Influencer di Media Sosial Denngan Kepustusan Pembelian Produk

This study aims to examine the relationship between personal branding influencers on social media and product purchasing decisions among teenagers. The subjects of this study were 75 students from MAN 4 Jombang. The sampling method used in this study was Purposive Random Sampling, with sample criteria being students aged 17 to 19 years. Data collection used in this study was a questionnaire and a Google form consisting of a 35-item personal branding influencer scale and a 45-item purchasing decision scale. Based on the Pearson Product-Moment statistical analysis, it is known that the correlation value rxy = 0.473, p = 0.000, where p <0.05 means that the higher the personal branding influencer on social media, the higher the consumer's purchasing decision on the product. Therefore, it can be concluded that the hypothesis in this study is accepted, namely that there is a relationship between personal branding influencers on social media and product purchasing decisions among teenagers.

Balancing Roles: The Impact of Multitasking, Work and Social Adjustment on Decision Making among Married Working Women

This study conducted to investigate the relationship and explores how multitasking and ability to adjust to work and social environment impact the decision making among married working women in Pakistan. A cross sectional correlational design is used and collection of data is accomplished through a structured-questionnaires including Everyday Multitasking Scale (EMS), Work and Social Adjustment (WSAS) and Decision Style Scale (DSS) which measure both intuitive and rational decision styles. Questionnaire were distributed by using a purposive sampling among 500 married working women from different job sectors including educational sector that encompassing teachers, lecturers and from medical profession that include nurses, lady health workers, bankers and from women who are in business profession. This study provide insight on women who married more than ten years and their work experience more than eleven years are better in multitasking and performance and their rational decision making strong who have work experience from six to ten year and have less than two years of marriage and work experience from 0-2 years showed better adjustment also strong rational decision making. This study give insight to monitor development over time and investigated how decision making quality of married working women is affected by multitasking and adjustment skills.

Integration of social and depth information during affiliative behavior in zebrafish.

Integration of social and depth information during affiliative behavior in zebrafish.

A Transformation Method of Noncooperative to Cooperative Behavior by Trust Propagation in Social Network Group Decision Making

A Transformation Method of Noncooperative to Cooperative Behavior by Trust Propagation in Social Network Group Decision Making

Flexible ability-willingness trade-offs in cooperative partner choice: Evidence from a drift-diffusion model and ERP data.

Flexible ability-willingness trade-offs in cooperative partner choice: Evidence from a drift-diffusion model and ERP data.

The Citizens' Distributional Preferences for Health Care Resource Allocations: The Non-Negligible Role of Option Value.

The stated preference literature on equity in health aims to enhance our understanding of the public's preferences for allocation of health resources to promote fairness and justice in the distribution of healthcare. This paper explores how different elicitation approaches impact on the elicited distributional preferences in the context of health. We randomly allocated respondents to one of two elicitation approaches: the ex post social decision maker perspective and the private ex ante insurance perspective. Respondents were asked to make choices between healthcare resource allocation distributions that follow different priority rules regarding maximization and equality. We find that preferences differ across the two approaches with the health maximization objective receiving less support under the ex ante perspective. The contribution of this paper is to demonstrate that option value, in addition to inequality aversion, provides an important argument for average citizens' distributional preferences, and that both sets of preferences may represent important inputs to policy making.

Assessing TikTok for Language Learning and Pedagogy: Challenges of Public Hoax Information

Purpose This research aims to find out the impact on the spread of hoaxes on social media, especially TikTok. How the TikTok recommendation algorithm affects the spread of hoax news, how TikTok user behavior, including interaction, sharing and content consumption, is related to the spread and control of hoax news and to find out what impact hoax news spreading via TikTok has on public trust, public opinion and social decisions. Methodology This research uses descriptive qualitative research methods as the main research methodology. This qualitative descriptive research uses an online survey method in the form of a questionnaire distributed via platforms such as Google Forms. Apart from the survey, face-to-face in-depth interviews were also conducted at a predetermined place. The sampling technique used in this research was purposive sampling. Result/Findings The finding of this research indicated that a majority of respondent’s report using Tik Tok for 1 to 2 hours, with 26.5% using it for more than 2 hours. The majority of social media users use Tik Tok for entertainment, including dance and music videos (2.9%). However, Tik Tok has also developed into a platform that provides all kinds of information, including hoaxes that can spread widely. In the respondents' opinion, false information is something that is very detrimental if it continues to circulate on TikTok. One respondent stated that TikTok hoaxes have the potential to cause hatred or fear and have the potential to exacerbate political, social or religious conflict. Implication This research contributed to address this critical gap in the literature by examining the influence of TikTok social media in curbing and filtering hoax news. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of Tik Tok's content ecosystem, user behaviors, and its approach to content moderation, this study aims to shed light on TikTok's role in the broader discourse surrounding miss information and the promotion of factual information in the digital era.

Development of a methodology for measuring the quality of statutory social workers' complex decision-making.

Registered social workers in English Local Authorities are required to have an expertise in the complex decision-making needed to promote well-being when an adult's own judgement about their well-being and wishes about how to promote it might, in the circumstances, put their well-being at risk. Such circumstances are complex partly because core professional values - promoting autonomy and protecting from harm - can come into conflict. Given the consequential nature of social workers' decisions, it is essential to be able to evaluate the quality of social workers' decision-making. In this paper, we set out the systematic development, in collaboration with expert social workers, of a bespoke methodology to measure decision-making quality and investigate underpinning cognitive processes. Central to our methodology was social workers' consideration of key legal principles. First, we reviewed the research literature to identify existing measurement schemes aspects of which might be suitable for incorporating into our methodology. No existing measurement schemes were found, but we identified a factorial survey vignette-based scheme which seemed promising as the basis for our own methodology. Second, by reviewing statute and case law, we identified 40 key legal principles which social workers should consider in their decision-making. Next, based on these principles, we developed four hypothetical case vignettes to activate decision-making. Finally, we developed four scoring templates, one for each vignette, setting out exemplar judgements and decisions against which practitioners' judgements and decisions could be compared and scored. Our new methodology provides a means of assessing the quality of social workers' decision-making and, as prior- and post-intervention quality can be measured, has the potential to generate evidence of the impact of policy and practice interventions on decision-making.

Assessing the impact of virtual workplaces on collaboration and learning

IntroductionThe shift toward remote work and digitization has driven the widespread adoption of virtual collaboration tools. While these technologies offer opportunities for enhanced remote interaction, they also present challenges related to communication, security, and social dynamics. Understanding how different digital environments impact collaboration and learning is crucial as workplaces evolve.MethodsThis study investigated the impact of four workplace environments—physical presence, videoconferencing, non-immersive Metaverse, and immersive Metaverse—on task performance, cognitive engagement, ergonomics, and social dynamics. A total of 103 participants performed an “active” social decision-making task and a “passive” information retention task. Behavioral and electrophysiological data (EEG-based indices of concentration, fatigue, and relaxation) were collected to assess cognitive and emotional states.ResultsVirtual environments supported collaboration comparably to physical presence. However, immersive environments (Metaverse VR+) were associated with reduced concentration and increased cognitive load, particularly during passive learning. Female participants exhibited higher attentional focus across conditions, and older participants outperformed younger ones in certain tasks. Ergonomic factors such as device comfort and ease of use significantly influenced concentration and relaxation.DiscussionWhile virtual platforms can replicate many aspects of physical presence, key differences persist in cognitive load, comfort, and engagement—especially in immersive settings. These findings highlight the potential and limitations of technologies like the Metaverse in supporting remote collaboration and learning, emphasizing the need for thoughtful design to reduce fatigue and enhance usability.

Intranasal oxytocin increases cooperation of heterosexual men with women.

Intranasal oxytocin increases cooperation of heterosexual men with women.

The Best Interests of Juveniles: Evaluating Jordanian Juvenile Law Against the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Background: The principle of the "best interest of juveniles" is a cornerstone of Jordanian law, reflecting the country's commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of children. Anchored in the Juvenile Law No. 32 of 2014 and international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), this principle ensures that the rights, development, and protection of juveniles are prioritised in judicial, social, and administrative decisions. Jordanian law emphasises rehabilitation over punishment, focusing on the social reintegration of juvenile offenders while considering their psychological and developmental needs. Methods: This paper examines how the best interest of juveniles is operationalised in Jordanian law, analysing its strengths, challenges, and alignment with international standards. It highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving legal, social, and psychological perspectives to ensure that juveniles' rights are upheld in all phases of criminal proceedings. Given the nature of the study, multiple research approaches were employed, including an analytical approach to examine all legislative Articles related to the subject, aiming to identify their content, implications, and objectives. Additionally, a comparative approach was used to analyse relevant domestic laws and international conventions concerning juvenile offenders, providing critical analysis and commentary. Results and Conclusions: The paper's findings indicate that the principle of the child's best interest functions as a fundamental right, a key interpretative legal standard, and a procedural framework. Yet, its application varies across the stages of criminal proceedings under Jordanian law, with the trial stage exhibiting the strongest adherence to this principle compared to earlier stages of the criminal process. It is recommended that the Jordanian Juvenile Law be revised to include explicit provisions ensuring legal representation for juveniles at all stages of criminal proceedings, covering all types of offences, rather than limiting it to felonies during the trial phase. The law should also restrict the authority of public prosecutors to extend juvenile detention, expand the jurisdiction of juvenile conciliation courts to include all misdemeanours not only those punishable by up to two years of imprisonment—and exempt juveniles from the application of flagrante delicto rules.

Social cognition and decision-making in people with methamphetamine use disorder.

Impairments in social cognition and social decision-making play an important role in the disease burden experienced by individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). They are also assumed to play a role in the vicious cycle of MUD development and hinder its successful psychotherapy. However, research typically focuses on examining specific types of social cognitive deficits in MUD, rather than profiling the multidimensional social cognition and decision-making impairments that coincide with MUD. Our study, thus, estimated the socio-cognitive and social decision-making profile of people with MUD and compared this profile with a methamphetamine-naïve control group. Cross-sectional case-control comparison of social cognition and decision-making between participants with MUD recruited from clinical services and methamphetamine-naïve controls (CTRL) recruited from the community. Drug treatment clinics in Melbourne, Australia. 52 participants with MUD (moderate or severe; 77% identified as male) between April 2019 and September 2021 and 51 demographically matched CTRLs (no history of methamphetamine use; 54% identified as male) between May and September of 2021. We implemented a social cognition battery that assessed a participant's sensitivity for perceiving emotion from faces (emotion recognition) and their ability to detect accurately the emotional state of others (cognitive empathy) and experience the emotions of others (emotional empathy). We also characterised the propensity to engage in higher-order social decision-making by assessing a participant's willingness to engage in interpersonal trust and aggression in experimental simulations. Compared with matched controls, people with MUD had a bias toward perceiving happier facial expressions as neutral [Estimate = -5.05, standard error (SE) =2.05, P = 0.016, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) =(-9.12 to -0.98)], showing lower sensitivity to perceiving happy emotions [Estimate = -6.34, SE =3.09, P =0.043, 95% CI =(-12.47 to -0.20)]. People with MUD also showed a propensity to enact more intense punishments [Estimate =1.48, SE =0.38, P < 0.001, 95% CI =(0.73-2.23)] and lower levels of trust to others in their decisions [Estimate = -0.11, SE =0.04, P =0.002, 95% CI =(-0.18 to -0.04)]. In a clinical research study, people with methamphetamine use disorder appeared to show lower sensitivity to happy emotions, reduced trust and increased aggression toward others, relative to a matched control group.

USER INVOLVEMENT IN POVERTY POLICY STRUCTURES AS AN APPROACH TO GIVE A VOICE TO PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY AND TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL COEHISION

Solidarity and social inclusion, which are often used as synonyms in professional discourse on social work, are understood to date with too little focus on the structural level in politics, economics and social services. Furthermore, in the implementation of projects to promote social cohesion, marginalized groups such as people affected by poverty have so far been insufficiently involved in identifying commonalities between groups of people and in joint activities. Therefore, following the user involvement approach and on a structural level, I argue that political, economic and social conditions as well commitment must be in place. In the case of people affected by poverty, who are a very heterogeneous group, at least in Switzerland, mechanisms are needed to enable these groups to identify and voice their concerns and bring them to the attention of the appropriate political, economic or social decision-makers in a targeted manner. Using two research-based projects from poverty policy in Switzerland, I follow to answer the research question: How can people affected by poverty be given a voice in the structures and decision-making processes of poverty policy? The theoretical framework is based on the user involvement approach. Using participative, qualitative and quantitative research methods I answer the question with the potential impact, challenges and conditions of an implementable platform and training courses for professionals from politics, economics and social services, as well as for people affected by poverty. This differentiated knowledge of people affected by poverty and the fulfillment of the requirements of all those involved, a structure of exchange supported by social policy and led by external professionals, willingness to learn and work together, clear communication, or reimbursement of travel expenses, are necessary to strive for a truly sustainable and inclusive society, rather than one that merely appears to be so. However, it should be noted that potential impact has been identified and that further long-term impact and international comparative analyses are necessary to gain comprehensive knowledge.

Impact of Consumer Behaviour on Sales and Marketing

Abstract Understanding consumer behaviour is vital for effective marketing and sales strategies. This study examines how psychological, social, and digital influences shape consumer decisions and how these insights are used by businesses to drive marketing success and boost sales performance. A mixed-method approach combining survey data and secondary research was applied. Findings show that digital platforms, price sensitivity, emotional factors, and brand perception significantly influence both consumer behaviour and business outcomes. The study concludes with strategic recommendations for integrating consumer insights into marketing and sales functions.

Intuitionistic Fuzzy Quasi-Supergraph Integration for Social Network Decision Making

This study explores the complexities of intuitionistic fuzzy (hyper) graphs, considering them as complex (hyper) networks, and presents a unique idea for intuitionistic fuzzy (quasi) superhypergraphs. The extension considers intuitionistic fuzzy superhypergraphs to be complicated superhyper networks to establish particular and general links between labeled items. These intuitionistic fuzzy (quasi) superhypergraphs arrange labeled object groups and analyze them in several relational aspects at the same time, including part-to-part, part-to-whole, and whole-to-whole groupings. The research investigates the characteristics of intuitionistic fuzzy (quasi) superhypergraphs utilizing positive real numbers, such as valued intuitionistic fuzzy (quasi) superhypergraphs and their complements, permutation-based isomorphism notation, and isomorphic (self-complemented) valued intuitionistic fuzzy (quasi) superhypergraphs. It also presents the concept of impact membership value for intuitionistic fuzzy (quasi) superhypergraphs and demonstrates how it may be used to solve real-world problems. Finally, the research demonstrates the use of intuitionistic fuzzy valued quasi superhyper graphs in addressing social network analysis, emphasizing their practical use.

Exploring National-Level Determinants of Sustainability Practices in the UK Banking Sector

In recent years, sustainability has become a central concern for the global financial sector, with increasing emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues shaping investment decisions, risk management, and corporate strategy. This study explored national-level determinants influencing sustainability practices in the UK banking sector. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 191 respondents and analyzed through mean, standard deviation, and t-test statistics. Findings showed that while respondents agreed that international agreements and financial incentives influence sustainability, they disagreed on the role of government-led initiatives, ESG integration, and public awareness. However, t-test analysis revealed no statistically significant effect of any of these factors, supporting the null hypothesis. This suggests limited influence of national-level policies and public engagement on sustainable banking practices. The results imply the need for improved regulatory frameworks, stronger government support, and better public engagement to enhance sustainability efforts across the UK banking sector. The study concludes that national policies and regulations alone are insufficient to drive sustainability in the UK banking sector. It recommends enhanced government commitment, stronger enforcement of ESG standards, and improved public engagement strategies to support sustainable finance. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable development by highlighting gaps in national-level interventions and proposing pathways for more effective sustainability integration in the banking industry.

Parental Influence, Career Counselling, and Role Models in Girls’ STEM Career Choices: Evidence from Three Public Universities in Ghana

Girls’ participation in STEM careers remains low despite global efforts to close the gender gap. This study examines the factors influencing girls’ pursuit of STEM-related careers in three public universities in Ghana, focusing on parental educational attainment, parental involvement, career counselling, and exposure to role models. Using the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a framework, the study explores how personal, contextual, and social influences shape career decisions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting quantitative data from 424 female tertiary students and qualitative insights from 15 semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that parental involvement, career counselling, and role models significantly impact girls’ STEM career choices, explaining 38%, 41%, and 49.8% of the variance, respectively. However, parental educational attainment did not significantly influence STEM career selection. The study highlights the critical role of mentorship, career guidance, and family support in shaping STEM aspirations. It recommends policy measures to strengthen career counselling, increase access to STEM role models, and enhance parental engagement in career discussions.

Can community‐based conservation improve social acceptance of invasive species management? Lessons from New Zealand

Abstract Invasive species management (ISM) is often met with social conflict, particularly around lethal control methods. A key source of conflict is mistrust in government and other authorities undertaking ISM. Community‐based conservation (CBC) therefore holds potential for implementing ISM with reduced social conflict. Community groups are playing an important role in New Zealand's (NZ's) Predator Free 2050 (PF2050) goal, which aims to eradicate three taxa of introduced predators. We undertook a survey and focus groups with community predator control groups working towards PF2050 in NZ to understand: (1) How community‐based ISM projects select lethal control methods, particularly how social acceptability shapes decision making; and (2) how these groups build and maintain social acceptability. Survey respondents ranked efficacy as the most important factor when choosing lethal control methods. Focus groups indicated that further considerations included local ecology and ease of use given community groups' reliance on volunteers. Humaneness was important, for aligning with community groups' own values and for maintaining a positive reputation within communities, as well as ensuring dead animals would not be visible to the public. The primary finding from focus groups was that method selection is constrained by social acceptability. Several groups expressed a wish that they could use controversial toxins, but sensed that doing so would be socially unacceptable following decades of conflict, especially around 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate). This suggests that the legacy of a controversy may continue even after government‐led conservation ceases, shaping how CBC projects can operate. Community groups recognised the central importance of social acceptability and discussed numerous strategies for building and maintaining trust. These included engagement before projects began and co‐design with key stakeholders. PF2050 community groups indicated that social acceptability is central to their operations, suggesting that recommendations for centring community engagement in ISM have, at least in some cases, been followed. While efficacy and other practical considerations were central to lethal control decision making, choices were fundamentally constrained by social acceptability and by legacies of previous government‐led ISM efforts. This finding further highlights the importance of seeking to prevent conflicts in ISM before they arise. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Disinformation and democratic threats: Insights from the 2019 Canadian federal election

News and social media shape voter decisions by influencing which political issues receive attention and how they are presented. This study examines how exposure to social media and disinformation impacted voter behaviour during the 2019 Canadian federal election. A survey was designed and delivered via various social media channels to collect data from Canadians who voted in the 2019 election (N = 182). Participants were presented with a mix of real and fake news headlines, and their responses were analyzed using binary logistic regression to assess the impact of media exposure on voting decisions. The results highlight that time spent on social media, particularly Instagram, significantly increased the likelihood of participants changing their voting decisions. Even when not widely circulated, exposure to fake news profoundly influenced voting decisions among respondents. Interestingly, real news headlines showed no statistically significant effect on voting behaviour, suggesting a reduced impact of credible journalism compared to other media types. This study emphasizes the necessity to create well-informed strategies to mitigate the spread of fake news and enhance media literacy to safeguard democratic processes in the digital age. This research contributes to theoretical advancements in understanding disinformation’s impacts and provides relevant insights for policymakers, educators, and media platforms working to mitigate the influence of disinformation.

An Innovative Social Life Cycle Decision‐Making Model for Assessing Social Sustainability: A Case of Green Hydrogen Production

ABSTRACTThe energy sector is shifting to clean energy sources to achieve the goal of global carbon neutrality. Green hydrogen is considered a key player in decarbonizing various sectors due to its high energy density and environmentally friendly combustion. However, the social implications of green hydrogen production (GHP) remain underexplored. Particularly, there is a lack of studies on developing a comprehensive social life cycle decision support framework to assess its social sustainability performance. To address this gap, a novel decision‐making framework was developed by integrating a social sustainability assessment criterion system taken from the Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) database, a trapezoidal‐fuzzy set (TrFS)‐based Level‐Based Weight Assessment (LBWA), and a TrFS‐Multi‐Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC) model for assessing S‐LCA indicators and social sustainability performance of the GHP supply chain, focusing on a case study. The findings revealed that the “Fair salary” is the most critical social sustainability indicator for the GHP supply chain, with a weight of 0.1232. The social sustainability performance assessment of various regions using literature‐based S‐LCA data depicted that “Australia” outperformed other regions. The study highlighted the importance of addressing social sustainability issues for the GHP supply chain to ensure a just and inclusive energy transition. Through case studies and sensitivity analysis, the model demonstrates its applicability in guiding policymakers and industry stakeholders toward socially responsible GHP supply chain development. This research contributes to sustainable energy discourse by offering a robust tool for balancing social sustainability objectives in the hydrogen economy.