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Public libraries quickly transitioned their storytime programs during the pandemic to virtual formats to continue connections with their patrons. Library directors across the United States responded to a survey exploring their rationales, goals, necessary supports, promotion strategies, and challenges associated with offering virtual storytimes. The survey findings revealed that the primary motivations for virtual storytimes included sustaining connections with patrons and supporting children's literacy development. Virtual storytimes aimed to address broader library missions, attract new patrons, and reach diverse groups of people in communities. Essential support to the effectiveness of virtual storytimes included sufficient preparation time, dedicated staff, professional development, and technological resources, among others. The survey responses identified various challenges, such as securing caregiver interest, availability of devices and internet, and technological expertise. This study highlights the significant roles of virtual storytimes in advancing library missions, particularly for remote and marginalized communities, both during and beyond the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parcel hub (PH), as one of the logistic system entities, plays a significant role in delivering packages. PH operations are identical to a cross-docking system. Numerous studies were conducted to examine solutions in PH and cross-docking in general. This paper aims to investigate scientific references published within the last fifteen years through a systematic literature review (SLR). The objectives are to determine the critical decisions related to PH problems, classify the applied solution approach, and identify the future challenges regarding the transformation towards intelligent logistics. This study implements an SLR methodology that consists of five stages: planning, searching, screening, analysing, and reporting. This study utilises two publication databases and one reference management system. More than four thousand documents were collected in the searching stage. Then, five assessments are conducted to sort the most relevant papers. One hundred and forty-six articles are included in the further analysis. This study classifies four important decisions associated with PH problems: truck scheduling, internal process planning, facility planning, and technology selection. In addition, this study categorises ten solution approaches employed to find the best decision in the prior research. Moreover, this study explains the future research directions and managerial implications of managing parcel hub systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many public libraries offered virtual storytimes (VSTs). Who proposed, authorized, and developed these programs? What impact did they have in the short term and long term? To find out, we created a survey on the decision and evaluation processes behind VST. We received 415 responses from children's librarians throughout the United States. Our findings indicate that children's librarians exercised keen administrative and management skills in launching VSTs and the programs prioritized children's socioemotional development and learning. However, assessment of the programs is somewhat lacking as libraries tended to focus on outputs like the number of views rather than more meaningful indicators of program value for the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industry has embraced digitalisation leading to a greater reliance on models derived from data. Understanding and getting insights into the models generated by machine learning algorithms is a challenge due to their non-explicit nature. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is to enhance understanding of the digital models and confidence in the results they produce. The paper makes two contributions. First, the XRule algorithm proposed in the paper generates explicit rules meeting user's preferences. A user may control the nature of the rules generated by the XRule algorithm, e.g. degree of redundancy among the rules. Second, in analogy to federated learning, the concept of federated explainable artificial intelligence (fXAI) is proposed. Besides providing insights into the models built from data and explaining the predicted decisions, the fXAI provides additional value. The user-centric knowledge generated in support of fXAI may lead to discovery of previously unknown parameters and subsequently models that may benefit the non-explicit and explicit perspectives. The insights from fXAI could translate into new ways of modelling the phenomena of interest. A numerical example and three industrial applications illustrate the concepts presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that process models of criminal decision-making require not only data capturing the inputs (person and setting characteristics) and outputs of a decision process (intention/action), but also data pertaining to the decision process itself. It further proposes a rigorous methodological framework, referred to as the virtual reality process tracing approach (VRPTA), which allows researchers to test predictions not only about what decisions people make but also about how they make them. It brings together the process tracing methodology used in the cognitive, social and behavioural sciences and combines it with experimental VR scenarios used in criminology. The result is a versatile methodological framework that utilises real-time decision-making by study participants immersed in experimentally manipulated VR environments, along with process tracing techniques that allow researchers to open the black box of decision-making. To make the contribution as tangible as possible, this article discusses the novel methodological approach by reference to its application in the context of situational action theory’s (SAT) perception choice process (PCP). With some modification it may also be used for a range of other process-oriented theories in criminology and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis commentary revisits Patsy Healey and colleagues’ 1980s–1990s work on property development within the context of urban change, examining its relevance to contemporary property-led urban planning theory and research. The commentary furthers structure and agency debates by introducing an analytical framework to focus on actors’ risk perceptions and the materialisation of risk within the built environment. This approach aims to bridge diverse theoretical and disciplinary perspectives in contemporary urban research, integrating economic and non-economic depictions of the city. The article furthers Healey’s call for a robust framework to understand the character of property markets and urban change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFew studies examine the role of structural racism as a driver of racial disparities in the criminal-legal system, likely owing to the lack of validated measures. We developed a tool to measure relative disadvantage as it relates to disproportionate likelihood of criminal-legal system involvement. We used exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis to develop and validate full- and short-form versions of the Relative Disadvantage Tool in two quota samples of U.S. adults (N = 510 and N = 209). EFA results showed a 4-factor solution with 20 items representing distinct domains: early criminal-legal system exposure; early relationships; perceptions of systemic barriers; and socioeconomic well-being. CFA results confirmed the factor structure across both tools and samples. Findings supported the construct and criterion validity of both tools. Use of the tool in research and practice may advance understanding of drivers of disparities and promote equitable decision-making in the criminal-legal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication of volcano information is critical for effective volcanic risk management. A variety of information is communicated to inform decisions and guide actions for planning, preparedness, and response. Such information needs to be reliable, and fit-for-purpose across different stages of volcanic activity (quiescence, unrest, short or long-term eruptive stages, and the post-eruptive stage). However, an understanding of communication across these different stages of volcanic activity remains limited. We undertook a narrative review of New Zealand literature to explore what information is communicated about volcanoes, across which stages of activity and by whom. Results highlight that NZ literature only documents certain aspects of volcano information and communication, specifically regarding certain locations, stages of volcanic activity (i.e. quiescence or unrest), or hazards. Literature gaps exist regarding volcano communication during unrest and post-eruptive stages, as well as how volcano information evolves between these phases, and how decision-makers use such information. Additional work would be useful to document existing examples of volcano information for different stages of activity. Further research could help in understanding the information needs of decision-makers during each of these stages to improve information and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As marine spatial planning becomes established, attention is turning to the influence of plans on coastal and marine decisions. A study of marine licencing in the East Marine Plan Areas in England, UK, revealed that little reference is being made to plans. A technical approach to licencing has persisted despite the broader perspectives that spatial planning can offer. Also, plans may not be sufficiently specific and tested to guide licencing. Reforms to integrate planning and decision-making are needed, including plans designed to help with setting conditions and spatially allocating marine uses. Increased dialogue between planners and decision-makers is also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote appearances for courtroom proceedings have become common practice in recent years. When a court participant appears remotely, they introduce new and often tangential cues as part of their video background. We have seen varying (and at times, controversial) background cues across virtual court members, with scholars and legal professionals noting the potential effects these cues may have on decisions and impressions (e.g. Bandes & Feigenson, 2020). Advice is often provided for how people should appear to virtual court, but this is often made with no direct link to empirical evidence. In this piece, we review psychological literature exploring how and why background cues may influence impressions and decision-making. In particular, we examine the role of cognitive factors such as schema activation and consequences for memory and truth assessment. We further consider social factors such as the connection between physical spaces and personality in shaping impression formation and decision-making. Finally, we highlight future research opportunities to target unanswered questions and ongoing innovations in virtual courts, in addition to considering policies and procedures that can be implemented to avoid background cue effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School infrastructure affects the quality of education and the performance of children and youth. Natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and landslides, threaten critical infrastructure such as school facilities. Additionally, problems related to the functionality of these facilities are common in the region, such as an inadequate number of classrooms, poor lighting, and insufficient ventilation, among others. At a national level, the decision-making process to prioritize schools' interventions becomes even more challenging due to limited resources and lack of information. Furthermore, there is a lack of a systematic approach to address the need of improving existing infrastructure taking into consideration limited resources. Considering this, a novel decision-making framework is proposed that prioritizes school infrastructure investment with limited budgets, using clustering procedures, a multi-criteria utility function, and an optimization component. This framework allows better public policy decisions and benefits students in terms of buildings quality with a multi-criteria perspective, improving both safety and functional conditions. The framework is illustrated with a case study applied to the public-school infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the textile industry is crucial to economic development, it is a significant polluter of global water sources through its wastewater discharge, which endangers aquatic ecosystems and neighboring communities. This study focuses on stakeholder perceptions from farming and fishing communities related to wastewater management in the Bangladesh textile industry. Using focus group discussions with stakeholders that focused on sustainability values and a Resource Nexus framing, the results emphasise the adverse effects of textile wastewater on neighbouring communities, spanning agriculture, livestock, and ecological resources. The findings also underscore a significant need for collaboration between the textile industry and neighbouring communities, emphasising the ongoing obligation of governance resources, such as monitoring, regulations, and proactive measures and advocates for engaging different stakeholders in the formulation of robust policies, stringent regulations, and concerted efforts across industry, government, and communities to deliver improved governmental monitoring, enforcement of regulations and transparency in wastewater management practices in the textile industry of Bangladesh. The study suggests that a Water-Energy-Ecosystems-Food (WEEF) Resource Nexus approach can enhance decision-making, promoting sustainable energy infrastructure, encourage increased treated wastewater reuse, and facilitate effective management for environmental resilience and socio-ecological systems sustainability. This study contributes valuable insights elicited from a WEEF Resource Nexus approach, offering guidance for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers in the textile industry and beyond, aiding in the understanding of resilient industry-community ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating organised human trafficking criminality is neither easy nor straightforward. Among the complexity is the need to balance and secure multiple, and often competing, investigative goals. Using case studies of actual human trafficking investigations in England, the present exploratory study provides insights into the tensions between safeguarding victims while also (at the same time) building up evidence against those who exploit them in order to secure a successful prosecution. Findings reveal that factors associated with the assessed level of risk of victims, the intelligence available at the start of the investigation and police resources (balanced with opportunities and risk to secure the investigative goals) influence the investigative approach followed and strategies implemented, particularly those aiming to engage with victims. The exploratory findings illustrate the importance of intelligence in risk assessment and decision-making processes during police operations, but also the need to conduct yet further research on risk assessment within the context of human trafficking investigations to inform policy and decision-making policing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the often-overlooked phenomenon of immobility within migration studies, focusing on the Governador Valadares Region of Brazil. Despite the region's history of significant outmigration to the United States, there needs to be more investigation into why some young people remain in their communities instead of pursuing the American Dream. Using ethnographic methods, the study search surpasses simplistic dichotomies of mobility-immobility, recognizing that decisions to leave or stay are complex and influenced by various interconnected factors. By employing the perspectives of 'linked lives' and 'life-course situatedness', the study provides nuanced insights into how individual choices are affected by familial, social, and economic contexts over time. The findings shed light on the diverse experiences of young people while revealing the carry of involuntary immobility. Furthermore, it contests assumptions that remaining in a particular location signifies immobility or a lack of ambition. It contributes to a more nuanced comprehension of migration agency and well-being, underscoring the multifaceted nature of aspirations and capabilities. The results illuminate the intricate interplay between personal aspirations and the environment in shaping migration decisions, emphasizing the significance of viewing (im)mobility as a relational and temporally situated phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple time-series graphs are commonly used for data visualisation, but few scholars have investigated the impact of graphical attributes on decision-making efficiency. This study explores the effects of graphical attributes of varying redundancy conditions on decision-making efficiency. Two experimental conditions were developed for the experiment: non-redundant (independent graphical attributes: colour, linear and marker) and redundant (combinations of two and more graphical attributes: colour and linear, colour and marker, etc.). A total of 60 people took part in both experiments and performed two tasks: maximisation and discrimination. The experiments revealed that the addition of attributes, such as colour, marker or linear, decreased response time (RT), but the combination of colour & linear & marker increased RT. This is more significant in discrimination tasks. We provide empirical evidence for the design of time-series data visualisations and encourage the combination of two of these graphical attributes, such as colour & linear, colour & marker or linear & marker, when conditions allow, to improve decision-making efficiency. Practitioner Summary: Few scholars have studied the impact of graphical attributes on decision-making efficiency in data visualisation. This study explores the effect of graphical attributes with different redundancy levels on decision-making efficiency through behavioural experiments. It has been found that moderately redundant graphical attributes in difficult tasks can significantly improve decision-making efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many work-related decisions involve choosing between alternatives that differ in value (e.g., $100 or $1,000) and temporal availability (e.g., now or four years). Prior studies suggest workers prefer immediate outcomes due to organizational resource uncertainty. However, it remains unclear whether this preference stems solely from the organizational environment or is influenced by a worker’s reinforcement history. This study examined differences in monetary discounting across delays in two contexts: organizational (money allocated to work-related activities) and personal (money spent freely). Conducted in a private security corporation, participants completed two discounting tasks, each testing two amounts across seven delays. Results showed participants systematically favored immediate outcomes in the organizational context. Smaller amounts were discounted more, regardless of context, and personal discounting patterns predicted organizational decisions. Job experience was unrelated to discounting. Findings suggest immediate preferences at work may result from both organizational uncertainty and reinforcement history shaping decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionWe describe discussions about the lung cancer treatment decision-making process across the patient journey from the perspective of patients and caregivers with diverse experiences of living with lung cancer.Patient preference studies show individuals with lung cancer usually favor more aggressive treatments despite adverse events (AEs), in pursuit of better survival. However, patients are frequently passive in treatment decisions, suggesting there are barriers impairing patients’ abilities to engage in shared decision-making. To explore this further, we asked patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-positive lung cancer and their caregivers to complete surveys and participate in focus group discussions facilitated by research specialists.US patients with lung cancer (n = 11) and caregivers (n = 4) took part in exploratory focus groups. While initial treatment decisions were mostly led by healthcare providers, participants became more engaged in their treatment over time. As in other studies, participants prioritized survival over AEs when selecting treatments and shared fears of being switched to less efficacious treatments or reduced dose if they disclosed AEs. Participants emphasized the importance of shared decision-making, early discussions about AEs, and access to patient advocates.Healthcare providers should distribute reliable educational materials and have early conversations with patients on individual lung cancer treatment, health-related quality of life goals, potential AEs, and distinguishing AEs from disease progression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examined how dark patterns (confirmshaming and trick-question), user knowledge, number of services owned and usage frequency impact users' decision-making and service reputation using a subscription-based streaming website as proof-of-concept. Overall, users perceived both patterns as manipulative. However, this negative perception did not adversely impact the perceived trustworthiness and credibility of the website. While in the confirmshaming condition, 68% of those without knowledge of dark patterns selected the expensive plan promoted by the service over the cheap (standard) plan, the reverse is the case among those with knowledge, 35% of whom selected the expensive (premium) plan. This finding indicates that as users become knowledgeable about dark patterns, they are more likely to reject the service-promoted choice, as 40% of knowledgeable users in the trick-question condition edited their initial choice, compared with 10% and 6% in the confirmshaming and control conditions, respectively. Moreover, low-frequency and low-services users in the trick-question condition were most likely to fall for the expensive plan. However, high-frequency and high-services users in the confirmshaming condition were most likely to fall for the expensive plan. The findings highlight the need to raise awareness about dark patterns to prevent unsuspecting users from making financial decisions against their best interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is associated with executive functioning impairments linked to serotonergic function. Previous studies reported efficacy with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram in reducing cocaine use.Objectives: The current study explored moderation and mediation of citalopram effects on cocaine use by performance across executive function domains.Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Bayesian adaptive trial investigating citalopram efficacy in CUD treatment-seeking adults. At baseline and mid-treatment, participants completed assessments of decision-making (Iowa Gambling Task; IGT), attention, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. Outcomes were longest duration of abstinence (LDA; count of consecutive cocaine-negative urine tests) and Treatment Effectiveness Score (TES; count of cocaine-negative urine tests from study midpoint to endpoint). Bayesian models estimated independent moderation and mediation effects of cognitive ability on the association between treatment (citalopram 40 mg vs. placebo) and LDA/TES.Results: Of the four assessments, only the IGT demonstrated concurrent moderation and mediation in the sample (N = 80; 82% males). Treatment effects on LDA (IRR = 1.02) and TES (IRR = 1.03) were strongest in participants with higher baseline IGT scores, which indicate less risky decision-making (posterior probabilities >93%). Models supported a positive indirect effect of treatment on TES (IRR = 1.12, posterior probability = 81.6%), with 52.3% of the total effect mediated by changes in IGT scores from baseline to mid-treatment.Conclusion: We found evidence for IGT as a moderator and mediator of citalopram’s effects on cocaine use. Decision-making ability may play a role in predicting who responds to citalopram and how. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients and families facing the end of life deal with constant health changes, making their ongoing involvement in care decisions vital yet often overlooked. The iLIVE project conducted a qualitative study across 10 countries, exploring the experiences of patients, family members, and healthcare professionals, enabling a comprehensive exploration of the experiences of end-of-life decision-making. The findings suggest that common emotionally driven motives among patients – to avoid suffering, to have agency and be engaged with others, to give and receive care – significantly drive decision-making. Secondly, patients and families need support in determining what is best for them over time, minimising unnecessary uncertainty through subtle communication that requires skills and time, considering multiple motives, and the likely future, while also acknowledging its inherent uncertainty. This frames decision-making as a process to determine the most optimal course of actions in a specific context to meet these needs as much as possible and cope with the distress arising from growing challenges to do so. However, these needs are often marginalised in settings dictated by systemic and contextual characteristics, heightening distress for everyone involved. The complexity of end-of-life decision-making, particularly when time is limited, poses challenges in finding the right focus, yet it remains imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of recent advancements in the field of AI, this paper investigates the impact of recommender systems and generative models on human decisional and creative autonomy. For this purpose, we adopt Dennett’s conception of autonomy as self-control. We show that recommender systems can play a double role in relation to decisional autonomy: as information filter, they can augment self-control in decision-making, but also act as mechanisms of remote control that clamp degrees of freedom. As for generative models in AI, we show that they can be seen as a powerful system of selection and suggestion (similar to standard recommender systems) but also as an instrument for information production. We suggest that the latter perspective opens new possibilities in terms of creative autonomy. Additionally, for both systems we propose a distinction between “extrinsic” and “intrinsic” mechanisms and effects. Through Dennett’s theory of self-control, this paper offers new insights into the relation between AI and human autonomy by framing it in terms of remote or self-control and by addressing the impact of generative models on creative autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPlain language summaryAbortion is an indispensable healthcare service for women of all reproductive ages. Research on abortion is often focused on younger women, neglecting those who are closer to the end of their reproductive lifespan. This study presents findings from qualitative interviews with Belgian women who had an abortion at the age of 40 or older, conducted between May 2022 and April 2023. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we explored the experiences and decision-making processes of women who had abortions later in life. We identified three main themes. First, the women’s families were at the centre of their abortion decisions, with some women also presenting advanced age as a significant factor in their decision-making. This emphasis on age was connected to perceived social norms about appropriately timed childbearing. Second, the women experienced their unplanned pregnancies as both physically and emotionally demanding, and desired to terminate them as soon as possible. Some participants felt additional emotional burdens because of delays caused by the mandatory waiting period and/or busy schedules at abortion centres. Third, the women expressed feelings of self-blame for their unplanned pregnancies. This self-blame was closely tied to their expectation of social disapproval, which made them cautious to share their abortion experience with people in their social circle. This study enhances our understanding of the experiences and meaning-making of abortion in women of advanced reproductive age. It highlights the need to destigmatise the topic and the importance for professionals and researchers to consider family preservation and advanced reproductive age as potential factors shaping abortion decision-making.Abortion is a crucial healthcare service for women of all ages. However, research on abortion often focuses on younger women. Therefore, we do not know much about the abortion experiences of those who are of more advanced reproductive age. For this study, we have conducted interviews with eight Belgian women who had an abortion at the age of 40 or older. These interviews allowed us to explore in-depth the women’s experiences and motivations to have an abortion at this stage in their lives. Based on their stories, we identified three main themes. First, we describe how the women’s abortion decisions centred around their families. Some participants also considered their older age an important reason to have the abortion. Second, we explain that our participants described their unplanned pregnancies as physically and emotionally tough. This was the reason why they all wanted to have the abortion as soon as possible. In the third theme, we discuss how the women blamed themselves for becoming pregnant unplanned. They also said that they expected to receive negative comments from people in their social circle. Thus, most participants decided to remain silent about their abortion experience. We want to share these findings with research communities, Belgian and international abortion centres, and individuals interested in the topic. This way, we hope to contribute to an open debate about abortion, and the unique circumstances in which people make abortion decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Deficits in decision-making (DM) are a significant risk factor for suicidal behaviors. However, specific patterns of DM aspects have rarely been examined. This study examined the profiles of DM and their relationship with suicide ideation and attempts. Methods: A total of 175 young adults participated in an online survey and the Cambridge Gambling Task between October and November 2021. Results: Based on the latent profile analysis with four aspects of DM—risk DM, risk adjustment, DM speed, and delay-discounting—as indicators, three profiles were identified: (1) no deficit class, (2) high risk DM class, and (3) slow DM speed class. Higher use of an avoidant and dependent DM styles was associated with a greater likelihood of being in the slow DM speed class. Younger age and psychache was associated with a greater likelihood of being in the high risk DM class. The rates of lifetime suicide ideation (i.e., wish for death, suicide intent, and suicide plan) and lifetime suicide attempt were higher in the high risk DM class than in the no deficit class. The rate of lifetime wish for death was higher in the slow DM speed class than in the no deficit class. Conclusions: Suicide prevention may benefit from addressing DM, which is characterized by high risk and slow speed. HIGHLIGHTS: High risk decision-making is associated with lifetime suicide ideation and attempts. Slow speed in decision-making is associated with lifetime wish for death. Psychache is associated with high risk decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 in university affiliates to inform future COVID-19 policies and practices. Participants: Undergraduate students, graduate students and university employees at a large public university. Methods: Semi-structured focus groups and interviews were conducted between December 2020 and January 2021. Data were analyzed via inductive thematic analysis. Results: Analysis of data from the 36 participants generated five themes: COVID-19 knowledge, stress and coping, trust, decision-making, and institutional feedback. Misunderstanding of COVID-19 preventive behaviors was common, which appeared to compound high levels of stress and presented an educational opportunity. University investment in an asymptomatic testing program was reported to increase perceived safety. Conclusions: Participants' experiences with a large university's COVID-19 response suggest a desire for consistent and transparent communication and an opportunity for institutions to examine the effectiveness of their communication strategies, public health protocols, and mechanisms for assessing and mitigating stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification, a fundamental data analytics task, has widespread applications across various academic disciplines, such as marketing, finance, sociology, psychology, education, and public health. Its versatility enables researchers to explore diverse research questions and extract valuable insights from data. Therefore, it is crucial to extend familiarity with classification methods to non-STEM students, who will encounter such problems in their professional careers. To address this need, this article presents a data science course for non-STEM students on classification methods. The course's difficulty level is influenced by factors such as students' backgrounds and the prerequisites and requirements set by the offering department. The suggested course framework begins with data preparation and provides students with a comprehensive toolbox comprising methodical techniques and software tools for classification. This course guides students toward discovering new knowledge and insights about classification and interpretation. The teaching approach emphasizes the dynamic process involved in classification, encompassing grasping the analytical task, understanding terms and concepts, visualizing the classification, analyzing data, interpreting results, and drawing conclusions. This course also combines project-based learning, open discussions, and even competitions among class participants. Incorporating practical projects that involve interaction and decision-making within a quantitative course can be highly beneficial. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing optimization decision-making approaches for pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) ignore the construction length of preventive maintenance (PM) projects, and its negative effects are difficult to be transformed into cost. To address this issue, this study proposes a bi-objective decision-making model that incorporates the problem as the second objective into the two-stage bottom-up approach. The proposed model contains selection of performance indicators, Bayesian neural network-based probabilistic deterioration model, evaluation of initial M&R actions on a segment level, and bi-objective decision-making. It is solved by the enumeration method and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II. Finally, the Pareto solutions are obtained. A solution is an M&R plan, where an initial action (treatment type) is selected for a pavement segment. Among the Pareto solutions, the one with the second objective greater than or equal to and closest to the shortest construction length, is the optimal M&R plan. In addition, compared with the model that converts the problem into a constraint, the proposed model recommends a better plan that can achieve higher performance at lower cost, which validates the strength of the proposed model. Decision-makers can adopt the proposed model to optimize pavement M&R plans that consider the construction length of PM projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing and responding to risks to children's safety is a primary concern of the child protection system (CPS), and decision-support tools have been developed to assist child welfare workers (CWW). Yet, a limited understanding of CWWs' decision-making experiences impedes our efforts to effectively support them. This qualitative study examines the unique characteristics of decision-making in CPS through focus groups involving CWWs from an agency in California. Five themes emerged: CWWs' responsibilities, decision-making characteristics, domain-specific complexities, and CWWs' perspectives on fairness in decision-making. The findings highlight the need to incorporate CWWs' experiences and insights in developing future decision-support tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child welfare professionals use structured decision-making models (SDMs) to increase consistency in decision-making. The current study examined the relationship between safety and removal decisions of case managers in Florida. Secondary data from a previous study were used. Results indicated that participants identified the home as "unsafe" 50% of the time, while recommending in-home services 75% of the time. This inconsistency in identifying a home as unsafe yet opting for in-home services was unexpected. Although limited in generalizability and interpretability, this study demonstrates the inconsistencies in decision-making and the need for a more comprehensive examination of components impacting decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, 600,000 U.S. children were victims of maltreatment. Decisions to report suspicions of child maltreatment can be influenced by one's attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 15 social workers navigating decisions to report or not report suspicions of child maltreatment. Findings indicate the influence attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge have in the decision-making process. Three distinct decision-making group processes were identified, varying primarily in beliefs and knowledge, those who "always err on the side of caution," those who believe "suspicion is a gray area" and those who consider "imminent danger as a factor." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined potential biases in decisions to use force in a unique way using the shooter task (shoot/don't shoot a Black or White target as quickly as possible) while tracking eye movements. Results showed that participants shot an unarmed White target faster and more often than an unarmed Black target. When examining participants' eye movements, the results showed that when a target was armed, participants may have utilized the stereotype that Blacks are dangerous. On the other hand, when unarmed, the data suggests a story that goes against the stereotype that Whites are safe. This data suggests that biased eye movements may be important in decision-making, which helps us identify what may need to be taught to eliminate shooter biases. This information could assist in police training exercises to reduce bias or "unlearn" stereotypical responses and, thus, have beneficial consequences on the decision to shoot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the burgeoning popularity of winter backcountry leisure, there has been an increased interest in implementing education to prevent avalanche related accidents. Yet little research has explored whether avalanche education actually improves avalanche risk awareness. The current study examined why participants enrolled in avalanche education, what they learned, and whether participation led to changes in risk perceptions, risk perception confidence, and decision-making. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders enrolled in an introductory avalanche course in Montana (N = 184, 47.28% female) completed surveys before and after the course that included randomized photos of regional avalanche terrain. Multi-level models demonstrated that participants became more conservative in their risk perceptions and their stated willingness to ski uncertain terrain between pre- and post-test. Perception confidence increased, with larger gains for women, novices, and risk averse skiers. The results provide preliminary evidence that avalanche education may impact risk perceptions and provide useful hands-on skills for winter backcountry recreationalists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is an attempt to evaluate directly the effect of explicit, implicit and analogy instruction on decision-making skills among novices under stress conditions. 60 young novices, aged 10–11, were randomly selected and assigned to three experimental groups and a control group. A field and a laboratory test were conducted to evaluate decision-making on the volleyball serve skill (decide and move). Once the four groups completed the pre-test, the three experimental groups participated in the intervention programme consisting of 12 training units (4 weeks × 3 times per week). A post-test, a retention test, and a stress test were also applied to all groups. All experimental groups improved and retained decision-making scores in both the laboratory and the field tests. Comparing the groups showed that the analogy learning group achieved a higher score than the implicit, explicit, and control groups in the post-test and retention test. Analogy and implicit learners appear to be unaffected by stress conditions, while the opposite is true of the explicit learners' performance, which decreased in both the laboratory and the field tests. Ιt seems that if taught by analogy-based instructions, novices may perform better at both decision-making and motor skills, which indicates that they are under less cognitive demand, even under stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are the main contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, and communities are crucial for implementing urban low-carbon emissions. As a result of the controversies surrounding existing transformation technologies and the varying conditions faced by different targets for transformation, an effective method is required for application in specific target communities to achieve good carbon reduction effects. We propose a method that utilizes the knowledge graph and scenario analysis to systematically screen and evaluate community low-carbon technologies. First, a comprehensive knowledge map spanning multiple fields was constructed, and the correlations were analyzed using CiteSpace. Additionally, we categorized the transformation technologies into nine scenarios to assess their effectiveness and feasibility across different community contexts. Finally, the near-zero carbon emission community pilot area of Shenzhen City was selected as a case study, and the method was applied as a demonstration. The total carbon emissions of the pilot community were reduced by 43% after applying the proposed method. This method is helpful for technical screening at the low-carbon transformation stage and also provides a useful reference for the low-carbon construction stage of communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of higher education studies is a key moment for students with disabilities. In this line, the progressive increase in the number of students with disabilities at Spanish universities implies an imminent need to delve further into the reasons that have led them to choose university studies. A total of 91 university graduates with disabilities from different Spanish universities participated in this study. The data were obtained through semi-structured individual interviews and, subsequently, a mixed methods analysis was carried out. On the one hand, the obtained qualitative results indicate that decision-making is mainly based on personal interest. A significant proportion of respondents also referred to other factors, including family, disability and specialisation. On the other hand, the quantitative results define significant associations between various factors, such as gender, type of disability and area of expertise. In conclusion, these results are relevant in terms of guaranteeing the university success of students with disabilities, since, although the choice of degree is a complex issue due to the diversity of factors involved, having this information would allow universities to anticipate in order to favour their vocational development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research proposes and tests a model to select the best enterprise social network for teaching. An emic approach is employed, and a Delphi study based on an analytic hierarchy process is developed. The results show that Viva Engage® is the most appropriate enterprise social network for teaching business administration subjects, and the most important factors that affect teachers’ selection are related to teachers’ profiles, students’ profiles, and the platform’s pedagogical features. This study extends the literature on educational technologies by presenting enterprise social networks as new learning management systems. Additionally, it provides a list of potential enterprise social networks together with a customising decision-making model. Starting from these, teachers can decide the best enterprise social network for teaching, given their objectives and preferences. Therefore, it helps teachers choose the best platform for their needs and make the transition from socio-constructivism learning to social network learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a novel methodology that combines legal and psychological approaches to analyse a large set of Canadian refugee status rejections (n = 120). It distinguishes legal inferences from their underlying psychological assumptions and quantifies both inferences and assumptions in a set of 89 written decisions. Its findings yield new insights that inform the use of social science in the evaluation of deception findings in this field: it identifies the most important categories of legal inference that support these findings (inferences drawn from observations of ‘inconsistency’, ‘non-probative supporting evidence’ and ‘risk response’), and it is the first study to identify the most significant kinds of assumption that underlie the finding that a refugee claimant is lying. These include assumptions that have been observed in previous studies: assumptions about the consistency of truthful and deceptive accounts and about how people act when they are at risk. Perhaps most importantly, this study has identified a new and significant category of psychological assumption operating in these decisions: assumptions about the robustness of a claimant’s metacognition, their ability to understand and explain their own cognitive processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study objective was to investigate how health care providers in stroke teams reason about their clinical reasoning process in collaboration with the patient and next of kin. Materials and methods: An explorative qualitative design using stimulated recall was employed. Audio-recordings from three rehabilitation dialogs were used as prompts in interviews with the involved staff about their clinical reasoning. A thematic analysis approach was employed. Results: A main finding was the apparent friction between profession-centered and person-centered clinical reasoning, which was salient in the data. Five themes were identified: the importance of different perspectives for a rich picture and well-informed decisions; shared understanding in analysis and decision-making – good intentions but difficult to achieve; the health care providers' expertise directs the dialog; the context's impact on the rehabilitation dialog; and insights about missed opportunities to grasp the patient perspective and arrive at decisions. Conclusions: Interprofessional stroke teams consider clinical reasoning as a process valuing patient and next of kin perspectives; however, their professional expertise risks preventing individual needs from surfacing. There is a discrepancy between professionals' intentions for person-centeredness and how clinical reasoning plays out. Stimulated recall can unveil person-centered practice and enhance professionals' awareness of their clinical reasoning. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The findings provide insights into the clinical reasoning process of interprofessional stroke teams, which can increase awareness and support the development of competencies among health care providers. To increase patient participation in the clinical reasoning process, stroke teams are recommended to clarify the function of goals and the decision-making process in management. Stimulated recall is recommended as a reflective activity in the work of stroke teams to develop awareness and skills in clinical reasoning performed in collaboration between health care providers and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People typically enhance their online personas by sharing favourable personal information. Nevertheless, sharing of unfavourable information about oneself still occurs and is essential in some online contexts (e.g. allowing negative reviews). It remains unclear why people reveal potentially damaging information. We conducted an online experiment ($N = 462$ N = 462) to explore the effects of feedback properties and individual characteristics on online information sharing in two contexts (social and socioeconomic) where personal ratings are essential. We allowed users to conceal their personal rating if it dropped below a threshold. The context was the primary determinant of the threshold users chose. Control availability and feedback content triggered additional considerations and caused some users to change their (non)disclosure choices. However, many users relied on their priors (experience, assumptions) rather than on new information. Our findings show how people may fail to identify the impact of nondisclosure, which may signal undesirable information to others. These findings challenge the reliance on holding users solely accountable for their 'informedness' vis-à-vis disclosure of their personal information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, notable attention has been paid to the governance aspects of standard-setting organizations and their implications for the legitimacy of standardization. The recent European Commission policy on standardization has fuelled this interest by requesting ETSI, one of the three formal European Standardisation Organisations, to make changes to its governance and voting rules. This raises the question of how important voting actually is and when and how it is used. This paper contributes to the debate on legitimacy by providing an empirical analysis of voting at ETSI, the European standards body for telecommunications, and by reflecting on the significance of the recent reforms in the light of decision-making at ETSI. We conclude that, despite all the attention to voting, this mechanism is used in only 4.6% of all decisions taken by the General Assembly (GA), the highest authority in ETSI and responsible for its governance, and 95.4% of such decisions are taken via the consensus mechanism instead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a collaboration between a university and a local child welfare agency in the development and delivery of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) child welfare course featuring lived experience knowledge and learning situated in community-based child welfare sites. We present results of an exploratory mixed methods pre-post survey and focus group evaluation which examined changes in student general knowledge, perceptions of skills for decision- making and orienting beliefs about child welfare families. The results did not yield uniform significant results. The discussion delves into lessons learned about the importance of supporting students to develop skills for respectfully gathering and critically analyzing information and how to break through what we observed as student reluctance to learn about child welfare wrongdoings. We reflect on why, despite centering curriculum on lived experience knowledge, we were not successful in overturning students' negative orienting beliefs about families and children receiving child welfare services. We conclude with considerations for new directions in BSW child welfare curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractInternational financial institutions (IFIs) are central actors shaping global development. Scholarship on these institutions’ governance has primarily explored unequal voting rights and informal channels of decision-making. Much less is known about the actual decision-making processes that transpire in the IFIs’ formal governance structures, where votes are rarely taken. This article redirects academic scrutiny to these structures to reveal hitherto unobserved state behavior. Empirically, we examine decision-making at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a key actor in the diffusion of market-oriented reforms. We introduce a novel dataset systematizing all comments of IMF Executive Board members over 3,111 developing-country-specific discussions between 1995 and 2015. First, regression analysis reveals that the interventions by the IMF’s most powerful member-states—the United States, Germany, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom—correlate with their bilateral trade and aid interests. Second, these countries frequently reference each other in debates, demonstrating how coalitions work in practice. Third, we find that the preferences they express for market liberalization vis-à-vis countries in the Global South are associated with an increase in market-liberalizing conditions in subsequent lending programs. Taken together, this article reveals the usefulness of examining formal deliberations in IFIs, contributing to a fuller understanding of decision-making processes in the international political economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adventure sports coaches must make sound judgements and effective decisions to ensure they can manage the significant risks present in an operating environment that is hyper-dynamic and has significant environmental complexity (Collins & Collins, 2013). High-level stakeholders in adventure sports require coaches demonstrate competency to fulfill their responsibilities to look after their clients. Most adventure sports qualifications identify the importance of decision making, however, by using competence-oriented syllabi they may not provide effective methods to evaluate a prospective adventure sport coach's decision making. This paper identifies the need for expertise-oriented evaluation of decision making and explores decision support tools and educational validity theories in the evaluation process. It also considers how Collins and Collins' (2021) Big 5 style approach represents an exemplar decision support tool and may provide educational assessment validity, so presenting a sound methodology for coach educators to evaluate the quality of an adventure sports coaches' decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental governance outcomes hinge on the design and implementation of management decisions. Yet, available research methodologies can be limited in their ability to capture the complexity of decision-making and implementation processes and in turn predict and explain environmental governance outcomes. We present participatory process mapping as a method for examining the pathways that emerge and evolve over time that result in natural resource management decisions and on-the-ground outcomes, as perceived by participants in collaborative processes. The approach leverages a large-N comparative design, participatory diagraming within semi-structured interviews, and mental modeling toward a method that can fit into both quantitative and qualitative research designs and analysis. The method is highly flexible, offering a pathway toward capturing causal relationships while also enabling incorporation of diverse elements and relationships. Natural resource management is nonlinear and is shaped by diverse social-ecological elements, and process mapping diagrams elicited through this method reflect that reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina is decentralized, thus facing patients with unequal access to healthcare services especially for medicines. We attempted to develop a tool for assessment of the stakeholders' opinion, and with the further research we will propose the model that can bring equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The developed tool will examine the attitudes and opinions for introducing new methods in the decision-making process during the listing of medicines for the reimbursement list in Bosnia and Herzegovina. An update of the country's legislation can be presented based on the research results. The tool was developed using the Delphi method. The experts who were included in the Delphi panel are qualified for rating and discussing questions. The questionnaire was validated on a 5-point Likert scale, and additional comments or clarification are optional. Introductory interviews were held face to face with each expert individually; after that the panel was anonymous. After 3 rounds of Delphi, the created tool was checked through a pilot study. The developed tool was categorized into three groups based on the KAP survey (Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions). All questions were verified in pilot and with the results for Cronbach's alpha 0.96. This shows sufficient reliability of the created questionnaire, and it can be administered to a larger group of respondents, which has been planned for further research. The findings provide reliable information useful for planning the country's legislation updates and planning for the introduction of a new approach in the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Involvement in honors programs provides students an opportunity to grow academically, connect with like-minded peers, and reap tangible and intangible benefits. Understanding the motivations driving this involvement is a crucial task for honors program administrators and faculty alike as different motivations may influence how students engage and succeed in their honors pursuits. This study analyzes student motivating factors, organizing them into a five-factor framework that highlights different motivational groupings, including a non-intentional factor. While past studies have relied on student characteristics and survey information to understand honors program involvement, this study takes a qualitative approach, drawing on focus groups with current and incoming honors students to delve into the various motivations that honors students indicated as compelling for their participation in an honors program at a private mid-size liberal arts institution. The findings provide insight into key motivations which may inform efforts to increase the diversity of and involvement in honors programs. These eleven motivations are grouped into instrumental factors, personal factors, nudges, relationships, and accidental, with the majority of students noting more than one motivation for their involvement in the honors program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holistic judgement is an appealing approach for many assessment contexts due to its perceived simplicity and efficiency. However, it has been somewhat under-explored conceptually. Drawing on examples from assessment contexts including vocational performance, comparative judgement and the use of holistic judgement in teacher assessment for high stakes grading, we explicate a three-part definition of what holistic judgement constitutes. Holistic judgements result in singular outputs, derive from a comprehensive consideration of relevant constructs and acknowledge that the elements considered within them interconnect. However, holistic judgements may be made using considerably different processes by different judges without contravening this definition, and the ways in which different elements are weighted may vary. We then explore some factors, specific to assessment contexts, that might make holistic judgements more challenging, including materials being very different from one another, non-uniform candidate performance across materials and the presence of construct-irrelevant material. We set this assessment-specific discussion in the context of literatures on decision-making in psychology, medicine and other contexts. We conclude with some recommendations for when holistic judgement should and should not be used, and how holistic judgements can be made less cognitively challenging through the use of appropriate guidance and feedback to judges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work assessments are ubiquitous in daily practice, containing justifications for interventions and decisions. This article seeks to bring to the fore the extensive influence of the social work team in shaping the document and the resulting decisions. Assessments are not solely the work of the allocated social worker, supported person, and linked professionals; rather, they also represent collective actions involving multiple authors within the social work team. Drawing upon ethnographic data from a local authority adult social work team in Scotland between December 2019 and January 2021, this article explores the social life of the social work assessment. The findings outline the following themes: 1) team engineering; 2) the reader; 3) writing and rewriting; and 4) story building. The article builds a nuanced understanding of social work assessment work and provides new insight into the level and significance of team interactions within the assessment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to address the contributions of the Chilean economist Carlos Matus to the field of Latin American Thought in Science, Technology and Development, considered the pioneering STS field in the region. To this end, it focuses on the affinities between Matus' early writings (1970–1980) and various exponents of the first generation of STS scholars. Two key dimensions are analyzed: the link between dependency, human creativity, and technology as defined by a certain style of development, and strategic calculation as a method of rationalizing political decisions. While the former is an aspect shared by Matus and other PLACTED members, the latter is his specific contribution. Two aspects are considered: the "strategic procedure" as a non-mathematical formalization to estimate political feasibility, and the "quasi-structured" problems as a theorization that attempts to account for social and political reality. The paper concludes that Matus' significant contribution to the field is strategic calculation, a means of rationalizing decisions and enabling profound social transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces a mathematical tool for the semi-automatic design of multiple layout alternatives for a road, and the selection, between all of them, of the most suitable option in each particular case study. This tool is based on a mathematical programming model that includes the required technical constraints to ensure safe and comfortable driving (fulfilling the current Spanish legislation) and automates the process of selecting the connecting points to the former road. This optimization module is completed by two other modules: a clustering one, that groups the layouts obtained in corridors, and a decision-making aid one, which assists the engineer in the selection of a layout alternative in each corridor and, subsequently, in the choice of the optimal overall layout. The numerical results show the usefulness of this tool in a real-life case study that consists in designing a bypass on the Spanish road N-640 that circumvents the urban area of Meira (Lugo). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unintended pregnancies are a worldwide health issue, faced each year by one in 16 people, and experienced in various ways. In this study we focus on unintended pregnancies that are, at some point, experienced as unwanted because they present the pregnant person with a decision to continue or terminate the pregnancy. The aim of this study is to learn more about the decision-making process, as there is a lack of insights into how people with an unintended pregnancy reach a decision. This is caused by 1) assumptions of rationality in reproductive autonomy and decision-making, 2) the focus on pregnancy outcomes, e.g. decision-certainty and reasons and, 3) the focus on abortion in existing research, excluding 40% of people with an unintended pregnancy who continue the pregnancy. Method: We conducted a narrative literature review to examine what is known about the decision-making process and aim to provide a deeper understanding of how persons with unintended pregnancy come to a decision.Results: Our analysis demonstrates that the decision-making process regarding unintended pregnancy consists of navigating entangled layers, rather than weighing separable elements or factors. The layers that are navigated are both internal and external to the person, in which a 'sense of knowing' is essential in the decision-making process. Conclusion: The layers involved and complexity of the decision-making regarding unintended pregnancy show that a rational decision-making frame is inadequate and a more holistic frame is needed to capture this dynamic and personal experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]