Strength Of Preference Research Articles

The effect of accent exposure on children's sociolinguistic evaluation of peers.

Language and accent strongly influence the formation of social groups. By five years of age, children already show strong social preferences for peers who speak their native language with a familiar accent (Kinzler, Shutts, DeJesus, & Spelke, 2009). However, little is known about the factors that modulate the strength and direction of children's accent-based group preferences. In three experiments, we examine the development of accent-based friendship preferences in children growing up in Toronto, one of the world's most linguistically and culturally diverse cities. We hypothesized that the speaker's type of accent and the amount of accent exposure children experienced in their everyday lives would modulate their preferences in a friend selection task. Despite literature suggesting that exposure leads to greater acceptance (Allport, 1954), we find no evidence that routine exposure to different accents leads to greater acceptance of unfamiliarly accented speakers. Children still showed strong preferences for peers who spoke with the locally dominant accent, despite growing up in a linguistically diverse community. However, children's preference for Canadian-accented in-group members was stronger when they were paired with non native (Korean-accented) speakers compared to when they were paired with regional (British-accented) speakers. We propose that children's ability to perceptually distinguish between accents may have contributed to this difference. Children showed stronger preferences for in-group members when the difference between accents was easier to perceive. Overall, our findings suggest that although the strength of accent-based social preferences can be modulated by the type of accent, these preferences still persist in the face of significant diversity in children's accent exposure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Stage 1 Registered Report: The relationship between handedness and language ability in children

Weak or inconsistent hand preference may be a risk factor for developmental language delay. This study will test the extent to which variations in language skills are associated with the strength of hand preference. Data are drawn from a large sample (n = 569) of 6- to 7-year-old children unselected for ability, assessed at two time points, 6 months apart. Hand preference is assessed using the Quantitative Hand Preference task (QHP) and five uni-manual motor tasks. Language skills (expressive and receptive vocabulary, receptive grammar, and morphological awareness) are assessed with standardized measures. If weak cerebral lateralisation (as assessed by the QHP task) is a risk factor for language difficulties, it should be possible to detect such effects in the large representative sample of children examined here.

What Do Veterans Want? Understanding Veterans' Preferences for PTSD Treatment Delivery.

Home-based delivery of psychotherapy may offer a viable alternative to traditional office-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by overcoming several barriers to care. Little is known about patient perceptions of home-based mental health treatment modalities. This study assessed veterans' preferences for treatment delivery modalities and how demographic variables and trauma type impact these preferences. Veterans with PTSD (N = 180) participating in a randomized clinical trial completed a clinician-administered PTSD assessment and were asked to identify their modality preference for receiving prolonged exposure: home-based telehealth (HBT), office-based telehealth (OBT), or in-home-in-person (IHIP). Ultimately, modality assignment was randomized, and veterans were not guaranteed their preferred modality. Descriptive statistics were used to examine first choice preference. Chi-square tests determined whether there were significant differences among first choice preferences; additional tests examined if age, sex, and military sexual trauma (MST) history were associated with preferences. The study includes 135 male veterans and 45 female veterans from all military branches; respondents were 46.30 years old, on average. Veterans were Caucasian (46%), African-American (28%), Asian-American (9%), American Indian or Alaskan Native (3%), Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (3%), and 11% identified as another race. Veterans experienced numerous trauma types (e.g., combat, sexual assault), and 29% had experienced MST. Overall, there was no clear preference for one modality: 42% of veterans preferred HBT, 32% preferred IHIP, and 26% preferred OBT. One-sample binomial tests assuming equal proportions were conducted to compare each pair of treatment options. HBT was significantly preferred over OBT (p = 0.01); there were no significant differences between the other pairs. A multinomial regression found that age group significantly predicted veterans' preferences for HBT compared to OBT (odds ratio [OR] = 10.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63, 61.76). Older veterans were significantly more likely to request HBT compared to OBT. Veteran characteristics did not differentiate those who preferred IHIP to OBT. Because there were fewer women (n = 45), additional multinomial regressions were conducted on each sex separately. There was no age group effect among the male veterans. However, compared to female Veterans in the younger age group, older female Veterans were significantly more likely to request HBT over OBT (OR = 10.66, 95% CI: 1.68, 67.58, p = 0.012). MST history did not predict treatment preferences in any analysis. Fewer than 50% of the sample preferred one method, and each modality was preferred by at least a quarter of all participants, suggesting that one treatment modality does not fit all. Both home-based care options were desirable, highlighting the value of offering a range of options. The use of home-based care can expand access to care, particularly for rural veterans. The current study includes a diverse group of veterans and increases our understanding of how they would like to receive PTSD treatment. The study used a forced choice preference measure and did not examine the strength of preference, which limits conclusions. Future studies should examine the impact of modality preferences on treatment outcomes and engagement.

Using discrete choice experiments to inform the design of complex interventions

BackgroundComplex health interventions must incorporate user preferences to maximize their potential effectiveness. Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) quantify the strength of user preferences and identify preference heterogeneity across users. We present the process of using a DCE to supplement conventional qualitative formative research in the design of a demand creation intervention for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) to prevent HIV in Tanzania.MethodsThe VMMC intervention was designed within a 3-month formative phase. In-depth interviews (n = 30) and participatory group discussions (n = 20) sought to identify broad setting-specific barriers to and facilitators of VMMC among adult men. Qualitative results informed the DCE development, identifying the role of female partners, service providers’ attitudes and social stigma. A DCE among 325 men in Njombe and Tabora, Tanzania, subsequently measured preferences for modifiable VMMC service characteristics. The final VMMC demand creation intervention design drew jointly on the qualitative and DCE findings.ResultsWhile the qualitative research informed the community mobilization intervention, the DCE guided the specific VMMC service configuration. The significant positive utilities (u) for availability of partner counselling (u = 0.43, p < 0.01) and age-separated waiting areas (u = 0.21, p < 0.05) led to the provision of community information booths for partners and provision of age-separated waiting areas. The strong disutility of female healthcare providers (u = − 0.24, p < 0.01) led to re-training all providers on client-friendliness.ConclusionThis is, to our knowledge, the first study documenting how user preferences from DCEs can directly inform the design of a complex intervention. The use of DCEs as formative research may help increase user uptake and adherence to complex interventions.

Applying user preferences to optimize the contribution of HIV self-testing to reaching the "first 90" target of UNAIDS Fast-track strategy: results from discrete choice experiments in Zimbabwe.

IntroductionNew HIV testing strategies are needed to reach the United Nations’ 90‐90‐90 target. HIV self‐testing (HIVST) can increase uptake, but users’ perspectives on optimal models of distribution and post‐test services are uncertain. We used discrete choice experiments (DCEs) to explore the impact of service characteristics on uptake along the testing cascade.Methods DCEs are a quantitative survey method that present respondents with repeated choices between packages of service characteristics, and estimate relative strengths of preferences for service characteristics. From June to October 2016, we embedded DCEs within a population‐based survey following door‐to‐door HIVST distribution by community volunteers in two rural Zimbabwean districts: one DCE addressed HIVST distribution preferences; and the other preferences for linkage to confirmatory testing (LCT) following self‐testing. Using preference coefficients/utilities, we identified key drivers of uptake for each service and simulated the effect of changes of outreach and static/public clinics’ characteristics on LCT.ResultsDistribution and LCT DCEs surveyed 296/329 (90.0%) and 496/594 (83.5%) participants; 81.8% and 84.9% had ever‐tested, respectively. The strongest distribution preferences were for: (1) free kits – a $1 increase in the kit price was associated with a disutility (U) of −2.017; (2) door‐to‐door kit delivery (U = +1.029) relative to collection from public/outreach clinic; (3) telephone helpline for pretest support relative to in‐person or no support (U = +0.415); (4) distributors from own/local village (U = +0.145) versus those from external communities. Participants who had never HIV tested valued phone helplines more than those previously tested. The strongest LCT preferences were: (1) immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) availability: U = +0.614 and U = +1.052 for public and outreach clinics, respectively; (2) free services: a $1 user fee increase decreased utility at public (U = −0.381) and outreach clinics (U = −0.761); (3) proximity of clinic (U = −0.38 per hour walking). Participants reported willingness to link to either location; but never‐testers were more averse to LCT. Simulations showed the importance of availability of ART: ART unavailability at public clinics would reduce LCT by 24%.ConclusionsFree HIVST distribution by local volunteers and immediately available ART were the strongest relative preferences identified. Accommodating LCT preferences, notably ensuring efficient provision of ART, could facilitate “resistant testers” to test while maximizing uptake of post‐test services.

Assessing societal and offender perspectives on the value of offender healthcare: a stated preference research protocol

IntroductionThe increasing burden that offenders place on justice and health budgets necessitates better methods to determine the benefits of and value society places on offender programmes to guide policy regarding...

Stage 1 Registered Report: The relationship between handedness and language ability in children.

Weak or inconsistent hand preference may be a risk factor for developmental language delay. This study will test the extent to which variations in language skills are associated with the strength of hand preference. Data are drawn from a large sample (n = 569) of 6- to 7-year-old children unselected for ability, assessed at two time points, 6 months apart. Hand preference is assessed using the Quantitative Hand Preference task (QHP) and five uni-manual motor tasks. Language skills (expressive and receptive vocabulary, receptive grammar, and morphological awareness) are assessed with standardized measures. If weak cerebral lateralisation (as assessed by the QHP task) is a risk factor for language difficulties, it should be possible to detect such effects in the large representative sample of children examined here.

Gender norms and housework time allocation among dual-earner couples

This paper studies the effect of parental gender norms on the allocation of household work among dual-earner couples. Using regional variation in the strength of son preference in Korea, we proxy parental gender norms with sex ratio at birth in one’s birthplace (POB SRB). We find that both the total and the wife’s housework time increase when the husband is from a province with higher sex ratio at birth, whereas the husband’s housework time is unaffected by the couple’s POB SRB. We explore potential mechanisms, including human capital accumulation, preference for household production, and selection in the marriage market. Findings suggest that differences in husbands’ preferences for wives’ household work seem to be an important channel.

Strength of Preference and Decision Making Under Risk

Influential economic approaches random utility models or quantal-response equilibria assume a monotonic relation between error rates and choice difficulty or of in line with widespread evidence from discrimination tasks in psychology and neuroscience. However, while the latter define difficulty through objective dimensions (weight, length, etc), for economic decisions under risk the appropriate dimension remains unclear, with candidates including payoff-irrelevant numerical magnitudes. The very existence of the effects remains largely untested, because fitting models which assume such relations to data simply produces spurious findings. We provide a systematic empirical validation relying on two parsimonious experimental designs. Strength-of-preference effects are explained by expected values objectively-correct answers exist, and by cardinal differences in independently-estimated utilities for preferential choices. Numerical magnitudes produce additional but minor effects. Finally, response times are inversely related to strength of preference, confirming that the observed relations are not as if explanations.

Negotiation for Time Optimization in Construction Projects with Competitive and Social Welfare Preferences

Construction time optimization is affected greatly by the negotiation between owners and contractors, whose progress is dictated by their desire to maximize system revenues. This paper builds an agent‐based model and designs an experimental scenario in which the contractor has competitive and social welfare preferences relevant to the Chinese context; we subdivide competitive preference into greed and jealousy components and subdivide social welfare preference into generosity and sympathy components. We analyze the impacts of these different contractor preferences on the revenue‐sharing coefficient, negotiation success rate, and negotiation time when negotiation reaches agreement. The results show that the jealousy component of competitive preference has an important influence on improving the income of the subject, while the greed component does not significantly enhance the revenue‐sharing coefficient. The sympathy component of social welfare preference does not have an influence on the revenue‐sharing coefficient no matter the strength of the generosity component. Increasing the greed component of competitive preference will lead to the extension of negotiation time and, to a certain extent, to the reduction of the negotiation success rate; the sympathy component of social welfare preference does not have an influence on negotiation time no matter the strength of the generosity preference.

Young people’s preferences for the use of emerging technologies for asymptomatic regular chlamydia testing and management: a discrete choice experiment in England

ObjectiveTo undertake a comprehensive assessment of the strength of preferences among young people for attributes of emerging technologies for testing and treatment of asymptomatic chlamydia.DesignDiscrete choice experiment (DCE) with sequential...

Fuzzy levels of preference strength in a graph model with multiple decision makers

A new hybrid preference structure combining multiple-level strength of preference and fuzzy preference is proposed to facilitate the modeling and analysis of strategic conflicts involving multiple decision makers (DMs) with complex preferences using the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR). The new preference structure, named fuzzy strength of preference, provides a more comprehensive and flexible representation of DMs' relative preferences among states. A key contribution of this paper is to redefine four graph model stability definitions for fuzzy preferences, fuzzy Nash stability (FNash), fuzzy general metarationality (FGMR), fuzzy symmetric metarationality (FSMR), and fuzzy sequential stability (FSEQ), as general stabilities, strong stabilities, and weak stabilities at each level, permitting deeper analysis of graph models with the new preference structure. The resulting methodology can be utilized to model and analyze complex multiple-DM conflicts, thereby enhancing the capability of the graph model to provide strategic insights. A graph model of the Zhanghe River water allocation conflict in China demonstrates that the method can find the evolution path of a conflict and give new strategic insights for both practitioners and researchers. The fuzzy strength of preference framework makes GMCR more capable for addressing a wider range of practical conflicts.

Willingness To Pay And Its Role In Health Economics

A stated preference which refers to the valuation of benefits in monetary terms to the health-related commodities or services are loosely termed as willingness to pay (WTP). Studies in health economics which are derived by surveys or experiments have been conducted addressing this issue. However, most economists have the view that stated preference or willingness to pay is an acceptable method if inclined with the aims of economic analysis. There has been a rapid growth of the health industry in the last few decades to meet the healthcare needs of an ever-growing population of the world with varying patterns of burden of disease and health related issues. This has escalated healthcare costs significantly putting pressure on governments to allocate additional finances in the health sector. In developing nations and some developed countries health services are mostly purchased privately as the governmental annual health budgets struggle to meet the healthcare demand of the communities. Its relevance is increased in countries where people are expected to contribute significantly towards the costs of healthcare. Similarly, the strength of preference of health-related commodities is an important indicator for making prudent choices in deciding between competing health program which may be publicly funded. Moreover, other advantages of using WTP as outcome measure include; demand for information, process utility, option value and altruistic value. Demand for information encompasses the utility gained by individuals from the information included in the WTP survey. To conclude willingness to pay methodology is a useful tool in health economics to capture the preference of individuals who are the direct beneficiaries of the proposed health services.

Patient Treatment Preferences for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Are Patients Willing to Trade Off Efficacy for Tolerability?

Patient Treatment Preferences for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Are Patients Willing to Trade Off Efficacy for Tolerability?

Effects of age, sex and manual task on hand preference in wild Rhinopithecus roxellana.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana), as typical arboreal group-living Old World monkeys, provide an appropriate animal model to research manual laterality and explore the factors affecting hand preference in non-human primates (NHP). This study investigated hand preference based on 63 subjects and four spontaneous manual tasks (including unimanual and bimanual feeding and grooming), and assessed the effects of age, gender and type of task on handedness in R. roxellana. A population-level left-handedness was found not only in the bimanual coordinated tasks (bimanual feeding and grooming), but also in one unimanual reaching task (unimanual feeding). There were no significant differences between the sexes in either direction or strength of hand preference among any task. However, a significant difference between adults and juveniles was found in the unimanual feeding task. This is the first report on handedness in unimanual and bimanual feeding tasks that require bipedal posture in wild R. roxellana. Furthermore, this study demonstrated spontaneous feeding tasks reported previously only in the quadrupedal posture in this species, supporting the importance of factors such as posture and task complexity in the evolution of primate manual lateralization.

Parametric Investigation of Metals (Au, Ag, Pt and Cu) Using Analytical Hierarchy Process

Metals especially gold, silver, platinum and copper are getting more attention for application in electronics field due to their versatile properties. In this paper, we selected the materials after comparison on the basis of their significant properties. Those properties are conductivity, physical properties, reactivity, cost and demand and supply. We investigate the conductivity of metals at various temperature values, their historically monthly prices along with their worldwide demand and supply. First, we compare their conductivity and resistivity for various values of temperature as well as by adding impurity into them. Secondly, we examined their responses when they are in contact with the atmosphere, their historically monthly prices, availability in the earth crust, and a brief discussion on the structure of these metals. These metals are widely used in electronics and jewelry because of their good conductivity, chemical stability and long lasting. We implemented the analytical hierarchy process for the parametric investigation of these metals which is a general theory of measurement. It has been used to derive ratio scales from both continuous and discrete paired comparison. This comparison is taken from actual measurement which reflects the relative strength of preferences. The metals are also useful to design electrical stimulator with low-frequency current to regulate the blood of the human body. By using the stimulator at acupuncture points to pass through small electrical signal is useful to control blood flow in the human body as well as provides relief in pain.

Patients', physicians', nurses', and pharmacists' preferences on the characteristics of biologic agents used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

ObjectiveTo estimate preferences in relevant treatment characteristics evaluated by different groups involved in the management of patients with rheumatic diseases.Subjects and methodsWe surveyed patients with rheumatic diseases, and rheumatologists, nurses, and pharmacists with experience in treatment with/provision of biologic drugs for these patients. Through a discrete choice experiment, participants evaluated 16 possible scenarios in which pairs of similarly efficacious treatments were described with six characteristics: 1) frequency of administration; 2) mode and place of administration; 3) manner, helpfulness, efficiency, and courtesy of health personnel; 4) frequency of reactions at the site of drug administration; 5) severity of generalized undesired/allergic reactions; and 6) additional cost. The direction and strength of preferences toward each characteristic level and the relative importance of each characteristic were estimated through a random-effects conditional logistic regression model.ResultsIn total, 513 patients, 110 rheumatologists, 51 nurses, and 46 pharmacists from 30 centers in Italy participated. Characteristics 3, 4, and 6 were the most important for every subgroup; 1 was least important for patients and rheumatologists, 2 was least important for pharmacists, and 2 and 5 were least important for nurses. For characteristic 2, pharmacists preferred subcutaneous self-injection with a syringe; nurses preferred assisted infusion at an infusion center close to the patient’s home; patients and rheumatologists preferred subcutaneous self-injection with a pen.ConclusionThe different preferences for some characteristics shown by the different groups can play an important role, together with purely clinical aspects, in the choice and consequent benefit of treatments, contributing also to a more satisfactory use of resources.

PCV148 - A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON HEALTH STATE UTILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH NON-FATAL STROKE

Cost-utility models require utilities, values representing the strength of preferences for various health states. This systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to identify and describe the utility values associated with non-fatal stroke reported in the available literature. An SLR was conducted to identify English publications in Embase®, MEDLINE® and the grey literature published in the last 10 years (2008-2017). Two reviewers independently conducted the screening, data abstraction, and the quality assessment with a third reviewer consulted in case of any discrepancies. Only primary studies reporting utilities for stroke in adult patients were included. Utilities were evaluated by geography, methodology, and severity. Sixty-five studies (sample size: 11 to 9,479) reported utilities across different geographies, including Europe (N=34), Asia (N=12), US (N=5), Australia (N=2), multinational (N=5) and other countries (N=4). Study country was not reported in 3 studies. EQ-5D was the most widely used instrument (N=51) to calculate utilities, followed by TTO (N=4), SF-6D (N=3), SG (N=3), HUI (N=3) and other scales (N=3). Average utilities ranged widely for stroke across all geographies (Europe: -0.19, 0.82; US: 0.33, 0.69; Asia: -0.23, 0.82; Australia: 0.46, 0.74; multinational: -0.48, 0.74; other countries: -0.09, 0.73; country NR: 0.34, 0.80) and methods of elicitation (EQ-5D: -0.48, 0.95; HUI: -0.23, 0.48; SF-6D: 0.66, 0.70; SG: 0.08, 0.93; TTO: 0.33, 0.90; other: 0.15, 0.83). Severity of stroke event was associated with lower utility values (severe: -0.48, 0.45; mild: 0.57, 0.95). Within studies, utilities were sensitive to time since stroke event. Utility values tend to reduce with age and female gender. The utility estimates for stroke varied greatly, likely due to differences in the assessment methodologies, patient populations, inconsistent definition of stroke and variability in time of assessment. This variability must be taken in consideration. However, the results from this SLR can be a valuable resource for future cost-utility analyses.

Preferences for linkage to HIV care services following a reactive self-test: discrete choice experiments in Malawi and Zambia.

The current research identifies key drivers of demand for linkage into care following a reactive HIV self-test result in Malawi and Zambia. Preferences are explored among the general population and key groups such as HIV-positive individuals and adolescents. We used discrete choice experiments (DCEs) embedded in representative household surveys to quantify the relative strength of preferences for various HIV services characteristics. The DCE was designed on the basis of a literature review and qualitative studies. Data were collected within a survey (Malawi n = 553, Zambia n = 388), pooled across country and analysed using mixed logit models. Preference heterogeneity was explored by country, age, sex, wealth, HIV status and belief that HIV treatment is effective. DCE results were largely consistent across countries. Major barriers for linkage were fee-based testing and long wait for testing. Community-based confirmatory testing, that is at the participant's or counsellor's home, was preferred to facility-based confirmation. Providing separated waiting areas for HIV services at health facilities and mobile clinics was positively viewed in Malawi but not in Zambia. Active support for linkage was less important to respondents than other attributes. Preference heterogeneity was identified: overall, adolescents were more willing to seek care than adults, whereas HIV-positive participants were more likely to link at health facilities with separate HIV services. Populations in Malawi and in Zambia were responsive to low-cost, HIV care services with short waiting time provided either at the community or privately at health facilities. Hard-to-reach groups could be encouraged to link to care with targeted support.

A Stochastic Model for Reproductive Isolation Under Asymmetrical Mating Preferences.

More and more evidence shows that mating preference is a mechanism that may lead to a reproductive isolation event. In this paper, a haploid population living on two patches linked by migration is considered. Individuals are ecologically and demographically neutral on the space and differ only on a trait, a or A, affecting both mating success and migration rate. The special feature of this paper is to assume that the strengths of the mating preference and the migration depend on the trait carried. Indeed, patterns of mating preferences are generally asymmetrical between the subspecies of a population. I prove that mating preference interacting with frequency-dependent migration behavior can lead to a reproductive isolation. Then, I describe the time before reproductive isolation occurs. To reach this result, I use an original method to study the limiting dynamical system, analyzing first the system without migration and adding migration with a perturbation method. Finally, I study how the time before reproductive isolation is influenced by the parameters of migration and of mating preferences, highlighting that large migration rates tend to favor types with weak mating preferences.