Preference Survey Research Articles

Perspectives on Drug Product Design Among Patients with Lung Cancer in the United Kingdom.

The use of oral anticancer medications has become more prevalent in cancer therapy. This is particularly the case in the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, when the treatment delivery interaction between the patient and the healthcare provider is removed, the risk of non-adherence increases. Insights into patient preferences can allow drug product formulation scientists to design more patient-centric medications that may promote an increase in adherence which, in turn, may lead to more beneficial health outcomes. We conducted an advisory board with patients with NSCLC in the United Kingdom to elicit and understand preferences for drug product attributes related to appearance, instructions, and modality. The advisory board was preceded by a quantitative preference survey that included three object-case best-worst scaling exercises and was followed by administering the same survey to a broader group of patients to confirm the results. Patients strongly prefer once-daily dosing over more frequent dosing, regardless of the number of pills because taking tablets or capsules multiple times each day can disrupt daily activities. In addition, patients place high importance on surface smoothness because a rough surface implies decreased swallowability. Finally, food restrictions involving directions regarding taking medication with or without food represent difficulties for patients with cancer. Results of the follow-up survey confirmed these results. Drug developers should attempt to limit the dosing of these medications to once-daily regimens, avoid surface roughness, and develop formulations that can be taken without regard to the timing of meals to the greatest extent possible.

Enhancing last mile connectivity using shared mobility: A stated preference survey of business park commuters

An important step towards more sustainable transport is to reduce the use of private cars. There is a significant unrealized potential of replacing car-based commute with public transportation, especially to and from business parks where many people are co-located, and where the use of private cars are quite common. This study examines the potential of shared mobility solutions to enhance the appeal of public transportation by addressing the last mile challenge. Various types of shared mobility are evaluated and compared in a stated preference survey conducted at the Sluppen business park in Trondheim. Results show that more people may choose the bus if there is a shared mobility solution available to complete the last mile of the commute. The respondents prefer e-scooters if there is no extra cost, but to a lesser degree if they must pay 20NOK. Car commuters who are willing to shift to from car to public transport and shared mobility, are also more willing to both wait and pay extra for a shuttle.

Survey on acoustic preferences in Korean music practice spaces

.In 2021, the acoustic quality criteria for music practice rooms was standardized as ISO 23591. This standard will be very useful in constructing and utilizing music education facilities to train excellent music players. "Gugak," Korea's traditional music, is taught and related performers are trained at major national educational institutions. Recently, a variety of Korean music content has been introduced internationally. The Korean traditional music practice room is used similarly to a general music practice room. However, the acoustic characteristics of traditional houses where Korean traditional music is played do not have a long reverberation time and are flat across frequency bands, so we investigated what acoustic characteristics actual Korean traditional music players prefer as a practice space. The room acoustic characteristics of Korean music practice spaces at Seoul National University were measured, and a preference survey was conducted on professional performers who actually use the practice spaces. In the future, we plan to investigate preferences for Korean traditional music practice spaces using real-time sound audibility technology.

Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers' professional development needs in educational contexts: Exploring the challenge of reflective practice.

This study investigated Iranian, English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' attitudes toward reflective teaching compared with their classroom assessment preferences and up-take of strategy-based instruction. It compared their views in the two key higher education provider contexts of the university and institute. In this cross-sectional correlational study, a total of 90 teachers, half drawn from each university in a major city in Iran, were selected using controlled quota sampling. Data were collected through a four-part survey. Besides gathering demographic data (Part A), the survey drew upon three established instruments that used a Likert Scale format. Part B comprised the Teacher Reflectivity questionnaire, and Part C focused on the Classroom Assessment Preferences Survey Questionnaire for Language Teachers. Also, part D administered the Teachers' Beliefs Inventory for Strategy Instruction. The reliability of this and the CAPSQ-LT was confirmed by the researchers using Cronbach's alpha at 0.842 and 0.951, respectively. A total of 90 questionnaires were distributed, with 72 fully completed (80%) and returned. the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed to analyze the data, using the independent sample t-test and ANOVA. Also, Pearson product-moment correlations were used to measure the association between the variables. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. As shown in findings, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the teachers' reflective teaching scores and classroom assessment preference scores (r=0.473, p0=.001). This correlation was moderately high and positive, thus supporting that higher teacher reflective practices reflect a broader application of classroom assessment. The Table also shows that there was no significant correlation between the teachers' attitudes toward reflective teaching and their uptake of strategy-based instruction (r=0.094; p=0.434). Similarly, there was no statistically significant correlation between the teachers' attitudes toward classroom assessment preferences and their beliefs about strategy-based instruction (r=0.038, p=0.752). As shown, no statistically significant difference was observed between the teachers' attitudes toward reflective teaching and their uptake of strategy-based instruction (p<0.05). This study draws attention to the need for teachers in EFL contexts, such as this, to have access to professional development opportunities that deeply engage and guide them to be reflective practitioners who can make the connections between assessment techniques, strategy-based instruction, and students' improved language learning outcomes.

Exploring intercity travel decision-making in a developing country: Insights from COVID-19 impacts in Iran

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on intercity travel mode choices in Mazandaran province, Iran, addressing critical gaps in understanding how pandemics affect travel behavior in developing countries. The research focuses on how socio-economic factors, perceived health risks, and travel time influence individuals’ choice of transportation modes during the pandemic. Using a stated preference survey method with 669 participants, the study assessed how concerns about virus transmission and adherence to health protocols shape travel decisions. Discrete choice modeling was employed to predict travel mode shares between public transport and personal vehicles. The findings reveal that COVID-19 risk perception, socio-economic factors, and travel time significantly impact travel behavior. Specifically, heightened perceived risk of infection resulted in a 25% reduction in public transportation use, with individuals increasingly opting for personal vehicles. Additionally, strict adherence to health protocols, such as mask-wearing and vehicle cleaning, improved safety perception, leading to a 40% increase in confidence in public transport. The study also found that socio-economic factors like age, income, and education significantly shaped travel preferences. These insights provide valuable guidance for public health policymakers and transportation authorities to enhance the safety and management of intercity travel during ongoing and future pandemics.

Analysis of Low-Carbon, Energy-Saving, and Emission Reduction Models Based on Rail Transit

It is difficult to define scientific applicability conditions when dealing with different evaluation objects and scope. This article is based on multi-source big data such as the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFC) of urban rail transit, comprehensively considering the multidimensional impact of urban rail transit on the urban transportation system, and conducting a quantitative analysis of the energy-saving and emission reduction effects of urban rail transit. This study adopts a traffic emission model based on specific driving forces and a traffic demand prediction model, coupling the model and data to establish an urban rail transit energy conservation and emission reduction evaluation model suitable for different urban rail transit setting scenarios. Finally, this study selected six districts in Beijing as model application cases and used a combination of RP (display preference) survey and SP (state preference) survey to complete model parameter calibration for application cases.

Correction to: Disability and risk preferences Experimental and survey evidence from Vietnam

Correction to: Disability and risk preferences Experimental and survey evidence from Vietnam

Understanding the post-pandemic evolution of telecommuting preferences by using a panel stated preference survey

This study's objective is to assess the telecommuting implementation during the protracted COVID-19 disruption to extrapolate our comprehension of telecommuting's options and obstacles for the future. To accomplish this, we investigated employees' desire to continue telecommuting in the post-pandemic era and their work arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from two cross-sectional travel surveys with a one-year gap from the same group of people in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. A joint SP (Stated Preference) model is estimated to determine the influential workplace decision-making variables. Results suggest that the increase in telecommuting would decelerate as the risk of the pandemic decreased. However, employees are still interested in telecommuting if given the option. Education level, childcare duties, occupation type, and access to technological and communicational tools are found to influence the decision to telecommute. The hybrid work arrangement was found to be the optimal solution for satisfying all the employees' requirements. Based on findings, an employee's perspective of telecommuting preferences, obstacles, and options are portrayed, and policy implications are presented.

Rural residential choices: unravelling the nexus of accessibility and preferences

ABSTRACT As rural residents increasingly migrate to urban areas to improve living conditions, employment, and education, closely examining the relationship between residential choices and accessibility becomes crucial. This study employs a Stated Preference Survey (SP) with an orthogonal experimental design and uses the Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) to explore the preferences of rural residents for accessibility in the built environment when choosing new residences, including potential disparities between residents on the urban fringe and those in suburban areas. The findings reveal a strong inclination among residents for proximity to essential services such as education, transportation, healthcare, markets, recreation, and amenities. Preferred residential locations include within a 2-kilometre radius of schools, 300 metres from bus stops, 500 metres from medical facilities, 2 kilometres from markets, between 500 metres and 1 kilometre from leisure facilities, and within 1 kilometre of supermarkets. Additionally, commuting time preferences vary, with rural residents favoring a 15-minute commute, peri-urban residents preferring 5 minutes, and distant suburban residents showing no clear preference for commute times ranging from 5 to 15 minutes. These insights carry significant implications for urban and rural planning and development.

Movements, foraging and habitat selection of southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) in a tropical ecosystem altered by an invasive seagrass

This study provides some of the first evidence of how a common Caribbean fish species that relies on seagrass and sand habitats interacts with an invasive seagrass. The invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea, first documented in the Caribbean in 2002, has rapidly expanded its range, displacing native seagrasses, and overgrowing bare sand. The southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) uses shallow seagrass and sand habitats for foraging. This paper examined the impacts of the invasive seagrass, H. stipulacea, on southern stingray behavior, foraging and movement patterns using acoustic telemetry and visual observations. From 2015 to 2018, 15 southern stingrays (14 juveniles of unknown sex and 1 female) were tagged with acoustic transmitters and passively monitored within an acoustic array in Brewers and Perseverance Bays, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. The residence time, rates of movement and activity spaces for 50% and 95% utilization distributions (UD) were calculated for day and night periods. Tagged southern stingrays were detected within the array on average for 260 d (range 11–801 d) and residency for all individuals averaged 53% over the monitoring period (1079 d). Mean rates of movement per individual ranged from 40 to 150 m h−1, was lowest during the nighttime and were significantly higher during crepuscular periods. Activity spaces during day and night periods were nearly identical and averaged 0.05 km2 and 0.25 km2 for 50% and 95% UD, respectively. Distances between day and night 50% UD activity spaces was 148 m (range 8–409 m) and mean percent overlap was 38%. In addition to acoustic monitoring, benthic cover of available habitats and visual surveys of stingray behavior and habitat preferences were conducted along fixed transects. Monotypic stands of the invasive H. stipulacea seagrass represented 42% of benthic cover, followed by bare sand (27%), mixed patches of native and invasive seagrasses (23%) and the native Syringodium filiforme (7%). A habitat selection index (HSI) comparing the percent cover of available habitats and habitats occupied by stingrays found a strong preference for the native seagrass S. filiforme (HSI = 2.30) and bare sand (HSI = 1.79) compared to H. stipulacea (HSI = 0.70). Visual surveys also revealed that 50% of foraging stingrays were in S. filiforme, while 28% and 17% were foraging in H. stipulacea and bare sand, respectively. Our results are an important baseline for examining how further expansion of H. stipulacea may affect southern stingray movement patterns and foraging preferences.

Public’s Visual Preferences Survey Facilitates Community-Based Design and Color Standards Creation

According to research, there is a disparity in the aesthetic design preferences of the public and architects. This is especially noticeable in urban areas environments, where there is a wide range of demographic variables and a lack of active public involvement in decision-making. The study included a visual preference survey to evaluate the perception and ranking of two dominant color schemes in local development projects in Stockholm across different age, ethnicity, and gender groups from Sweden. Over 400 people participated in the survey, which used photo-elicitation and a literature review. The objective was to determine the extent of divergence and disparities in the ranking of color schemes. The first dominant color schemes are a group of four analogous colors related to the Natural Color System’s (NSC’s) basic colors. The second is a group of four neutral colors that are related to grayscale colors. The study demonstrates that one could also measure building color schemes using visual preference ranking. Moreover, the research introduced a unique method for city planners to understand diverse ethnic, gender, and age group perceptions of color schemes in current projects, promoting active participation in decision-making and providing valuable insights. These insights can enhance people’s sense of belonging, a prerequisite for social sustainability, and improve the quality and profitability of future projects.

A survey of intraocular lens preferences of UK refractive surgeons for cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange

BackgroundTo explore intraocular lens (IOL) preferences of United Kingdom-based (UK) refractive surgeons in cataract and refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery.MethodsAn online survey on IOL preferences (and reasons for their choice) in cataract and RLE surgery was distributed. It also enquired about implementing mini-monovision with extended depth of field (EDoF) IOLs, about utilising IOL mix-and-match (different IOL types in each eye), and at what level of corneal astigmatism they prefer toric lenses.ResultsFollowing an 81.6% response rate, thirty responses were analysed; median years of refractive surgery experience was 12.5. The most popular IOL choices for cataract surgery were EDoF lenses (30%), monofocals (20%), and trifocals (20%). The most cited reason for each was better overall visual outcomes (88.9%), fewer unwanted symptoms (66.7%) and best spectacle independence (66.7%), respectively.For RLE, EDoF remained most popular (36.7%), followed by trifocals (30%), and multifocals (16.7%) with the same reasons for choice cited above.Mini-monovision with EDoF lenses was well-regarded (83% recommend for most/select patients), unlike utilising IOL mix-and-match (60% did not recommend). 40% prefer toric IOLs for astigmatism of 1 dioptre (D) or higher, whilst 30% opt for them at < 1D.ConclusionsExperienced UK refractive surgeons prefer newer IOLs with enhanced optics; ≥50% of respondents favoured either EDoF or trifocals for a ‘typical’ cataract or RLE patient. Notably, respondents have a low corneal astigmatism threshold for toric lenses. Mini-monovision with EDoF IOLs was well-regarded, whilst mix-and-match of different IOL types was less recommended.

Designing microtransit services in suburban areas: A case study in Palermo, Italy

Poor quality of Public Transport (PT) services is one of the main causes of social exclusion for people living in the suburbs. Public transport companies usually allocate few financial resources to these areas, providing transport services with low frequency, poor accessibility, poor reliability, and high waiting times at stops. Recently, microtransit has emerged as an effective solution to improve the travel experience in suburban areas, particularly for non-commuting trips during off-peak hours. This paper presents an integrated methodological approach for designing microtransit services to meet the mobility needs of people living in low-density suburbs. By conducting a Reveled Preference (RP) and Stated Preference (SP) survey and developing a travel demand model, the demand was estimated and used as input to simulate and size the service. Combining GIS and simulation models, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were assessed; fleet size to meet the trip requests was identified and the fare was selected using a sensitivity analysis. The method was applied to a real case study to design a new microtransit service with flexible routes and on-demand stops in a suburban area in Palermo, Italy. The results highlight how introducing a microtransit service with 30 nine-seater vans could change the mobility habits of people living in the suburban area, being attractive and financially sustainable if costing 2 €, or just a little more than the existing fixed-route bus service. It could improve the travel experience by reducing the average waiting time at stops to around 5 min and improve access to amenities and PT hubs by guaranteeing a walking time of maximum about 8 min.

Evaluating the influence of cyclists’ route choices incorporation into travel demand modelling: A case study in greater Helsinki

Cycling is a sustainable transport mode that endorses an active lifestyle. While cycling shows great potential, it is essential for urban planning to consider attributes influencing the choices that cyclists act upon. Cyclists’ route choices have been studied since the Eighties with knowledge being applied in cycling network planning. Yet, the role of cycling as a sustainable transportation mode has been largely absent from travel demand modelling. This paper researches cyclists’ route choice preferences and evaluates the opportunity of incorporating route choice modelling into travel demand modelling to improve the accuracy of cycling route choice. To this end, a route choice framework is developed in which a stated preference survey for data collection is conducted, a multinomial Logit model is applied to the data to identify the factors that significantly influence cyclists’ route choice behaviour. The generated route choice utility models are further integrated into an existing regional travel demand model to evaluate the performance of cyclists’ route choice modelling in the presence of additional factors. Then, the route choice model outputs are validated against two sets of external data. The results show that bike facilities, traffic volume, and trip length are the key factors influencing cyclists’ route choice preferences, and the generated route choice models can be an applicable improvement in incorporating the influences of cyclists’ preferences into travel demand modelling.

Consumer Acceptance and Sensory Properties of Wheat- Millet Composite Biscuits Fortified with Moringa oleifera and Camellia sinensis Leaves Powder

This study investigated the consumer acceptability of biscuits prepared with millet-wheat composite flour and enriched with Moringa oleifera and green tea leaves in Karachi, Pakistan. Cereals, especially wheat, and millet are crucial in global food trade. Moringa oleifera and green tea, rich in essential nutrients and phytochemicals, are of growing interest for their potential health benefits when added to food products. Sensory analysis and preference survey were conducted to evaluate the acceptance of these fortified unconventional biscuits. The results showed that biscuits made with pearl millet, moringa, and green tea were generally well-received by the panelists (p≤0.05). However, biscuits with green tea had slightly lower acceptability, likely due to their higher moisture content impacting texture and taste. A consumer perception survey revealed a notable interest in moringa-fortified biscuits among health-conscious consumers. While some consumers expressed a willingness to try biscuits made with pearl millet flour, there is an opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of this grain. These findings underscore the potential for fortified biscuits, rich in essential nutrients, to provide healthier alternatives and address food insecurity, particularly among undernourished populations. The study highlights the importance of creating value added products by underutilized grain with acceptable organoleptic profiles to facilitate their adoption in the market.

The effect of brief in-survey product experience on preferences for smart energy technologies

Survey research on the adoption of smart energy technologies is growing rapidly, generating important knowledge about factors on the consumer side that may help facilitate transition towards sustainable energy systems. However, much of this research uses survey measures to elicit consumer preferences without explicit consideration of whether and how in-survey experience with the technologies affects preference estimates. For this reason, we experimentally test (for the first time) whether brief in-survey product experience, mainly in the form of additional time spent deliberating about relevant products, influences stated consumer preferences for smart energy monitoring and management apps. Findings obtained in our first experiment conducted in the United Kingdom suggest modest effects of in-survey product experience on consumer preferences, where consumer preferences can be both strengthened or weakened depending on the type of in-survey product experience. These findings are, however, not replicated in our second experiment conducted in Spain. The Spanish experiment, nonetheless, suggests that brief in-survey product experience can help participants make more reasoned choices better reflecting their environmental concern and income constraints. Our results point to possible ways how to improve the reliability of stated preference surveys by providing respondents with adequate in-survey experience with unfamiliar products.

Impact assessment of future fleet compositions in vehicle emissions in urban areas: A methodological framework and a case study

This study explores the impact of emerging vehicle technologies on direct urban traffic emissions. It investigates emission reduction potential from shifts in fleet compositions and modal choices, especially considering climate change. To achieve this, three key research areas are explored for historical, current, and future scenarios (up to 2050): mode choice, emission factors for different vehicle categories, and diverse vehicle propulsion technologies. The estimation of the modal split is pivotal, developing a methodology utilizing Stated Preference survey data, discrete choice modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, and macroscopic traffic simulations. Future scenarios derive from the reference year’s modal split, and emission factors and fleet compositions are predetermined via an extensive literature review, aiding the assessment of their respective emissions. A subsequent sensitivity analysis identifies the impact of specific parameters on emissions, guiding future research focus. Study results underscore differences in greenhouse gas emissions and primary air pollutants between base and future scenarios.

Systematic Study of Battery Electric Vehicle Ownership in England

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) form a big part of the UK’s agenda for decarbonizing road transport. Although there have been various policies such as purchase grants and vehicle tax exemptions, the BEV penetration rate in the UK was only 2.5% in September 2023. Most research analyzing electric vehicle (EV) ownership in the UK is either based on stated preference survey data or includes plug-in hybrid vehicles in the analysis because of the sparsity of BEV ownership data; there is limited research based on household revealed preference (RP) data. This paper develops a BEV ownership model using RP household-level data from England to discover influential factors, to validate the findings in the literature, or both. Specifically, this paper uses the subset of the UK National Travel Survey (NTS) special license data to estimate a series of binary logit models of BEV ownership as a function of several sociodemographic, regional, and temporal factors, and discusses the related policy implications. Household income, multivehicle ownership (resulting from range anxiety), and overnight parking on street (resulting from insufficient public charging infrastructure) are influential factors found in this study that align with previous studies. On the other hand, households with a mortgage loan, geographical attributes (such as population density), and household composition (e.g., number of adults and children) are new factors identified in this study. We also present a future BEV ownership prediction model for regions of England which clearly suggests that improving public charging infrastructure, especially in the north, is required to achieve widespread growth in BEV ownership.

Patient Preferences for First-Line Treatment of Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: An Application of Multidimensional Thresholding.

Patient preferences have the potential to influence the development of new treatments for locally advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC), and therefore we explored how patients with la/mUC value different attributes of first-line treatments. An online preference survey and multidimensional thresholding (MDT) exercise were developed following a targeted literature review and qualitative interviews with physicians, patients with la/mUC, and their caregivers. Treatment attributes included two benefits (overall response rate [ORR], pain related to bladder cancer [scored 0-100; 100 being the worst pain possible]) and four treatment-related risks (peripheral neuropathy, severe side effects, mildtomoderate nausea, mildtomoderate skin reactions). A Dirichlet regression was used to estimate average preference weights. Marginal utility and the reduction in ORR that patients would accept in exchange for a 10-pointdecrease or a10% decrease in other attributes were calculated. A total of 100 patients were recruited and self-completed the survey and MDT. Mean patient age was 64.9 years (standard deviation, 7.6), 54% were female, and 38% identified as white. All included treatment attributes had a statistically significant impact on preferences. Changes in ORR had the largest impact, followed by cancer-related pain and treatment-related risks. Patients were willing to accept an 8.4% decrease in ORR to reduce their pain level by 10 points or a 7.8% decrease in ORR to reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy by 10%. For a 10% decrease in severe side effects, mildtomoderate nausea, or skin reaction, patients would accept decreases in ORR of 5.5%, 3.7%, or 3.4%, respectively. Of the attributes tested, changes in ORR were most important to patients. Patients made tradeoffs between treatment attributes indicating that a lower ORR may be acceptable for an improvement in other attributes such as reduced cancer-related pain or the risk of treatment-related adverse events.

Utilization of Three Species of Mangrove Wood Branches for Briquettes and Its Preference as Alternative Solid Biofuel

Wood briquettes - one of the biomass energies - were produced from three species of mangrove wood branches, namely mata buaya (Bruguiera sexangula), buta-buta (Excoecaria agallocha), and bakau minyak (Rhizophora apiculata) using three types of starch adhesives made from tapioca, maize, and potato. This study aimed to evaluate user preferences for the kind of fuel, and responses to acceptance of the use of briquettes, and to analyze the effect of attributes on interest in using wood briquettes from mangrove wood branches. Cylindrical briquettes were produced in dimensions of 3 cm diameter and 4 cm thickness. After obtaining all the data, variance analysis and chi-square analysis were conducted. Before conducting the preference survey, evaluations of calorific value and color performance were carried out. The wood briquettes of this study have a calorific value that has met the ISO 17225-3:2-2020 standard of class A2. Even though the three types of wood briquettes differ in their L* (brightness), a* (red/green), and b* (blue/yellow) values, each briquette has a neutral color. A survey was conducted on 60 respondents using a questionnaire to evaluate user preferences for the type of fuel, responses to acceptance of the use of briquettes, and the effect of attributes on interest in using wood briquettes from mangrove wood branches. The results showed that gas is still the most preferred fuel by respondents, with as many as 35 people (58.33%). Meanwhile, 54 respondents (90%) stated they would use wood briquettes. Wood briquettes made of Bakau minyak wood species were the most preferred, with as many as 28 people (46.67%). The chi-square analysis results suggested no relationship between the preference for using wood briquettes from mangrove wood branches and fuel attributes. Based on this study, wood briquettes of mangrove wood branches have the potential to be an alternative fuel as long as their availability is easy to obtain.