Motivated Errors

In three sets of experiments involving 5,432 subjects, we show that agents make more errors when doing so allows them to justify selfish behavior. We show that errors relating to addition arise when they can help to justify selfishness but are eliminated when selfish motives are removed. In addition, we show that selfish motives can either exacerbate or mitigate errors relating to correlation neglect and anchoring. Our results are consistent with individuals acting confused as a justification for selfish behavior

Information Avoidance and Image Concerns

A rich literature finds that individuals avoid information and speculates that avoidance is driven by image concerns. This paper provides the first direct test of whether individuals avoid information because of image concerns. We build off of a classic paradigm, introducing a control condition that makes minimal changes to eliminate the role of image concerns while keeping other key features of the environment unchanged. Data from 6,421 experimental subjects shows that image concerns play a role in driving information avoidance, but a role that is substantially smaller-less than half of the magnitude-than the common approach in the literature would suggest

A novel method for the age estimation of Saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) using Fourier Transform-near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was investigated as a potential rapid method of estimating fish age from whole otoliths of Saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus). Whole otoliths from 209 Saddletail snapper were extracted and the NIR spectral characteristics were acquired over a spectral range of 800–2780 nm. Partial least-squares models (PLS) were developed from the diffuse reflectance spectra and reference-validated age estimates (based on traditional sectioned otolith increments) to predict age for independent otolith samples. Predictive models developed for a specific season and geographical location performed poorly against a different season and geographical location. However, overall PLS regression statistics for predicting a combined population incorporating both geographic location and season variables were: coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.94, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 1.54 for age estimation, indicating that Saddletail age could be predicted within 1.5 increment counts. This level of accuracy suggests the method warrants further development for Saddletail snapper and may have potential for other fish species. A rapid method of fish age estimation could have the potential to reduce greatly both costs of time and materials in the assessment and management of commercial fisheries

Beyond price: individuals' accounts of deciding to pay for private healthcare treatment in the UK

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Delivering appropriate and affordable healthcare is a concern across the globe. As countries grapple with the issue of delivering healthcare with finite resources and populations continue to age, more health-related care services or treatments may become an optional 'extra' to be purchased privately. It is timely to consider how, and to what extent, the individual can act as both a 'patient' and a 'consumer'. In the UK the majority of healthcare treatments are free at the point of delivery. However, increasingly some healthcare treatments are being made available via the private healthcare market. Drawing from insights from healthcare policy and social sciences, this paper uses the exemplar of private dental implant treatment provision in the UK to examine what factors people considered when deciding whether or not to pay for a costly healthcare treatment for a non-fatal condition.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Qualitative interviews with people (n = 27) who considered paying for dental implants treatments in the UK. Data collection and analysis processes followed the principles of the constant comparative methods, and thematic analysis was facilitated through the use of NVivo qualitative data software.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Decisions to pay for private healthcare treatments are not simply determined by price. Decisions are mediated by: the perceived 'status' of the healthcare treatment as either functional or aesthetic; how the individual determines and values their 'need' for the treatment; and, the impact the expenditure may have on themselves and others. Choosing a private healthcare provider is sometimes determined simply by personal rapport or extant clinical relationship, or based on the recommendation of others.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As private healthcare markets expand to provide more 'non-essential' services, patients need to develop new skills and to be supported in their new role as consumers.</p

Measurement of respectful maternity care in exit interviews following facility childbirth: a criterion validity assessment in Nigeria

Background Valid methods for assessing women’s experiences of maternity care are essential to the global efforts toward providing positive childbirth environments for all women in all health facilities. Methods This criterion validity study used observation of childbirth as the reference standard compared to exit interviews with women upon discharge with a live baby, usually within 24 hours of childbirth. We investigated eight positive and sixteen negative maternity care experience indicators. Data were collected from ten primary healthcare facilities in Gombe State, northeast Nigeria, in August 2018 and August 2019. Data analysis involved tabulation of demographic characteristics of women and childbirth context, computation of individual level validity metrics including the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and estimating population level validity using the inflation factor (IF). Results A total of 724 women were observed and interviewed at the time of discharge (exit) following facility childbirth, 15% of whom were adolescents, 99% were married, 43% had no formal education, and a skilled birth attendant had attended only 12%. The prevalence of positive maternity care experience indicators ranged between 25% and 96% in childbirth observations. For these positive indicators, the agreement between childbirth observations and exit interviews ranged from 55% to 97%. Six of the eight positive maternity care experience indicators had high overall validity, meaning AUC≥0.70 and 0.75&lt;IF&lt;1.25, with high sensitivity (89% to 99%) and moderate to high specificity (44% to 84%). The prevalence of the 16 negative maternity care experience indicators ranged between 0.1% and 18% in childbirth observations. For these negative indicators, agreement ranged from 87% to 99%. Just six of the 16 negative maternity care experience indicators met the criteria for validation analysis; and these showed low to moderate sensitivity (32% to 74%), high specificity (97% to 100%) and moderate (0.60&lt;AUC&lt;0.70) to high (AUC≥0.70) individual-level validity. Conclusions In this high mortality setting with relatively low coverage of skilled attendance at birth, exit interviews with women following facility-based childbirth care provided responses consistent with the observation of childbirth for eight positive and six negative maternity care experience indicators

A reassuring presence: An evaluation of Bradford District Hospice at Home service

Within the United Kingdom, a developing role for primary care services in cancer and palliative care has resulted in an increase in palliative home care teams. The provision of professional care in the home setting seeks to provide necessary services and enhanced choice for patients whose preference is to die at home. A mismatch between patient preference for home death and the actual number of people who died at home was identified within Bradford, the locality of this study. In response to this mismatch, and reflecting the policy environment of wishing to enhance community service provision, the four Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the city sought to offer support to patients who wished to remain in their own homes through the final stages of a terminal illness. To offer this support they set up a dedicated hospice at home team. This would provide services and support for patients in achieving a dignified, symptom free and peaceful death, allowing families to maximise time spent together. The aim of the study was to evaluate the Bradford hospice at home service from the perspective of carers, nurses and General Practitioners. Postal questionnaires were sent to carers (n = 289), district nurses (n = 508) and GP's (n = 444) using Bradford's hospice at home service. Resulting quantitative data was analysed using the Statical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data was analysed using grounded theory techniques. The data from carers, district nurses and GPs provide general support for the Bradford hospice at home service. Carers valued highly the opportunity to 'fulfil a promise' to the individual who wished to be cared for at home. District nurses and GPs cited the positive impact of access to specialist expertise. This was a 'reassuring presence' for primary healthcare teams and offered 'relief of carer anxiety' by providing prompt, accessible and sensitive care. Carers and health professionals welcomed the increased possibility of patients being cared for at home. The study identified the need to focus on improving skill levels of staff and on ensuring continuity of care