Testing heterogeneous anchoring and shift effect in double-bounded models: The case of recreational fishing in Tasmania

This paper explores the extent and nature of anchoring and shift effects in a double-bounded contingent valuation of recreational fishing in Tasmania’s inshore saltwater fishery. In particular we model the situation where respondents, when answering the second valuation question, evaluate the bid amount partly with reference to the size of the first bid amount. The estimates of the coefficients and mean WTP for a day of fishing are compared across different contingent valuation models, including a single-bounded model, a conventional double-bounded model and models that control anchoring and exogenous shift effects in both homogeneous and heterogeneous forms. Overall we find consistent evidence of anchoring, but mixed evidence of a shift effect. Results show that both males and females anchor in the same way, but that respondents who have a mainstream view of what recreational fishing represents anchor more strongly than those whose view of fishing is not mainstream. The estimated mean WTP for a day’s recreational fishing is consistently higher in all models which account for bias in responses than in either the single-bounded or double-bounded models. We indicate the possibility that anchoring behaviour may be more complex than is captured in our models and suggest that this needs to be addressed if the results of contingent valuations are to reliably inform resource allocation decisions and recreational fishing management.Contingent valuation, anchoring bias, shift effect, heterogeneity, recreational fishing, Environmental Economics and Policy, C35, Q26,

A SEQUENTIAL CHOICE MODEL OF RECREATION BEHAVIOR

The travel cost model is the standard model used in the recreation demand literature. This model assumes that the decision on the number of trips to a particular site in a given period (a season, for example) is determined at the beginning of the period. For certain types of recreation activity, this decision may be more appropriately modeled as a sequential process, in which the decision of whether or not to take each additional trip is made after previous trips have occurred. This decision is dependent on the realization of random variables on previous trips as well as travel costs. A model is developed in which the choice of a discrete number of sequentially chosen trips to a given site is specified as function of site-specific variables and variables realized on previous trips. This models advantage over the traditional travel cost model is that it specifies discrete, nonnegative integer values for the number of trips and allows intraseasonal effects to determine the probability of taking each additional trip.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The dialectic of conscience within Hegel's philosophy of right

This thesis provides a detailed analysis of the dialectic of conscience within Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. It aims to show that Hegel provides a fundamental role for conscience within the state and, thus, that Hegel preserves the right to subjective freedom within ethical life. In doing so, it aims to unite divided opinion on the role of conscience within Hegel’s political philosophy and to further disarm the charge that Hegel’s state advocates repressive or authoritarian political structures. In order to pursue this argument, this thesis first examines the emergence of conscience within the morality section of the text. It presents the moral conscience as the fruition of subjective freedom; as possessing the right to produce its own convictions and determine for itself what is good. However, it then continues to highlight the necessarily formal nature of the moral conscience and claims that, because of this formality, the content of conscience is always contingent. As such, the moral conscience is always in danger of willing evil; and it is precisely this danger that necessitates the move into ethics. The moral conscience is sublated by the true, ethical conscience. This thesis presents its own reading of the Aufhebung from the moral conscience to the true conscience of ethical life, which it believes properly reflects the dialectical progression of freedom within the text. It argues that, during the process of Aufhebung, the essential moments of moral conscience are retained and only the negative aspects are lost. In particular, it claims that conscience’s right to produce its own convictions (and, thus, the right to subjective freedom) is preserved within ethical life, but that the contingency of conscience is not. As such, true conscience (unlike the moral conscience) wills the good both in and for itself. This does not mean that true conscience cannot make mistakes. But it does entail that true conscience cannot put its own convictions beyond criticism. For this reason, this thesis also maintains that the formal conscience of morality, in its non-aufgehoben form, has no place within the ethical realm. This thesis locates true conscience’s function in the disparity between the actual and the existing state. It argues that, in recognising the rational principles inherent in society and by transforming the existing world to conform more faithfully to these principles, true conscience plays an essential role in keeping the state in line with its own, rational essence. However, it also maintains that this type of immanent critique extends only to reform, and not to not radical, social criticism. The thesis concludes by describing true conscience’s role in the legislative power

Testing heterogeneous anchoring and shift effect in double-bounded models: The case of recreational fishing in Tasmania

This paper explores the extent and nature of anchoring and shift effects in a double-bounded contingent valuation of recreational fishing in Tasmania’s inshore saltwater fishery. In particular we model the situation where respondents, when answering the second valuation question, evaluate the bid amount partly with reference to the size of the first bid amount. The estimates of the coefficients and mean WTP for a day of fishing are compared across different contingent valuation models, including a single-bounded model, a conventional double-bounded model and models that control anchoring and exogenous shift effects in both homogeneous and heterogeneous forms. Overall we find consistent evidence of anchoring, but mixed evidence of a shift effect. Results show that both males and females anchor in the same way, but that respondents who have a mainstream view of what recreational fishing represents anchor more strongly than those whose view of fishing is not mainstream. The estimated mean WTP for a day’s recreational fishing is consistently higher in all models which account for bias in responses than in either the single-bounded or double-bounded models. We indicate the possibility that anchoring behaviour may be more complex than is captured in our models and suggest that this needs to be addressed if the results of contingent valuations are to reliably inform resource allocation decisions and recreational fishing management.Contingent valuation, anchoring bias, shift effect, heterogeneity, recreational fishing, Environmental Economics and Policy, C35, Q26,

Detection and emotional evaluation of an electric vehicle’s exterior sound in a simulated environment

Electric vehicles are quiet at low speeds and thus potentially pose a threat to pedestrians’ safety. Laws are formulating worldwide that mandate these vehicles emit sounds to alert the pedestrians of the vehicles’ approach. It is necessary that these sounds promote a positive perception of the vehicle brand, and understanding their impact on soundscapes is also important. Detection time of the vehicle sounds is an important measure to assess pedestrians’ safety. Emotional evaluation of these sounds influences assessment of the vehicle brand. Laboratory simulation is a new approach for evaluating exterior automotive sounds. This study describes the implementation of laboratory simulation to compare the detection time and emotional evaluation of artificial sounds for an electric vehicle. An Exterior Sound Simulator simulated audio-visual stimuli of an electric car passing a crossroad of a virtual town at 4.47 ms-1 (10 mph), from the perspective of a pedestrian standing at the crossroad. In this environment, 15 sounds were tested using experiments where participants detected the car and evaluated its sound using perceptual dimensions. Results show that these sounds vary significantly in their detection times and emotional evaluations, but crucially that traditional metrics like dB(A) do not always relate to the detection of these sounds. Detection time and emotional evaluation do not have significant correlation. Hence, sounds of a vehicle could be detected quickly, but may portray negative perceptions of the vehicle. Simulation provides a means to more fully evaluate potential electric vehicle sounds against the competing criteria

Exploring a cardio-thoracic hospital ward soundscape in relation to restoration

Hospitals can provide stressful experiences for both patients and medical staff. A well-designed hospital soundscape should avoid adding to negative emotional states (e.g. stress), limit any detrimental cognitive effects (e.g. attentional fatigue), and enable restoration. Experiences of the cardio-thoracic ward soundscape, in a UK public University hospital, were explored via semi-structured interviews with 11 patients and 16 nurses. Thematic coding analysis resulted in 11 key themes including notions of restoration and emotional responses. The themes were used to develop a conceptual model to describe the processes involved in the perception and evaluation of the soundscape. The language used by patients and nurses indicated the emotional response to the soundscape was at times stressful and at others potentially restorative. Coping methods of accepting and habituating to individual sounds were noted. The impact of the patients' and nurses' ability to maintain these coping strategies are discussed in relation to restoration and the temporal variation of the soundscape. A period of 'quiet time' was in operation at the hospital and the importance of this was noted through various responses relating to emotion and restoration. The results suggest the soundscape has potentially, a beneficial role in facilitating restoration thus helping patients' recovery and medical staff's ability to remain productive. This research supports the need to study hospital soundscapes further so that design implications can be considered for the production of a more restorative environment, possibly through the masking/removal of unwanted sounds and optimising positive sounds

Towards a methodology for assessing electric vehicle exterior sounds

Laws mandate that electric vehicles emit sounds to ensure pedestrians' safety by alerting pedestrians of the vehicles' approach. Additionally, manufacturers want these sounds to promote positive impressions of the vehicle brand. A reliable and valid methodology is needed to evaluate electric vehicles' exterior sounds. To help develop such a methodology, this paper examines automotive exterior sound evaluation methods in the context of experimental design and cognitive psychology. Currently, such evaluations are usually conducted on road or inside a laboratory; however, a virtual environment provides advantages of both these methods but none of their limitations. The stimuli selected for evaluations must satisfy legislative guidelines. Methods for presenting and measuring the stimuli can affect study outcomes. A methodology is proposed for conducting evaluations of an electric vehicle's exterior sounds, testing its detectability and emotional evaluation. An experiment tested the methodology. Thirty-one participants evaluated an electric car in a virtual environment of a town's T-junction with 15 exterior sounds as stimuli. The car's arrival time, direction of approach, and, thus, distance to pedestrian varied across conditions. Detection time of the sound and pleasantness and powerfulness evaluations of the car were recorded. The vehicle's arrival time and approach direction affected its detectability and emotional evaluation; thus, these are important elements to vary and control in studies. Overall, the proposed methodology increases the realistic context and experimental control than in existing listening evaluations. It benefits by combining two competing elements necessary for assessing electric vehicle exterior sounds, namely, pedestrians' safety and impressions of the vehicle brand

The dialectic of conscience within Hegel's philosophy of right

This thesis provides a detailed analysis of the dialectic of conscience within Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. It aims to show that Hegel provides a fundamental role for conscience within the state and, thus, that Hegel preserves the right to subjective freedom within ethical life. In doing so, it aims to unite divided opinion on the role of conscience within Hegel’s political philosophy and to further disarm the charge that Hegel’s state advocates repressive or authoritarian political structures. In order to pursue this argument, this thesis first examines the emergence of conscience within the morality section of the text. It presents the moral conscience as the fruition of subjective freedom; as possessing the right to produce its own convictions and determine for itself what is good. However, it then continues to highlight the necessarily formal nature of the moral conscience and claims that, because of this formality, the content of conscience is always contingent. As such, the moral conscience is always in danger of willing evil; and it is precisely this danger that necessitates the move into ethics. The moral conscience is sublated by the true, ethical conscience. This thesis presents its own reading of the Aufhebung from the moral conscience to the true conscience of ethical life, which it believes properly reflects the dialectical progression of freedom within the text. It argues that, during the process of Aufhebung, the essential moments of moral conscience are retained and only the negative aspects are lost. In particular, it claims that conscience’s right to produce its own convictions (and, thus, the right to subjective freedom) is preserved within ethical life, but that the contingency of conscience is not. As such, true conscience (unlike the moral conscience) wills the good both in and for itself. This does not mean that true conscience cannot make mistakes. But it does entail that true conscience cannot put its own convictions beyond criticism. For this reason, this thesis also maintains that the formal conscience of morality, in its non-aufgehoben form, has no place within the ethical realm. This thesis locates true conscience’s function in the disparity between the actual and the existing state. It argues that, in recognising the rational principles inherent in society and by transforming the existing world to conform more faithfully to these principles, true conscience plays an essential role in keeping the state in line with its own, rational essence. However, it also maintains that this type of immanent critique extends only to reform, and not to not radical, social criticism. The thesis concludes by describing true conscience’s role in the legislative power.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceArts & Humanities Research Council (Great Britain) (AHRC)GBUnited Kingdo

Radiocarbon Date List XI: Radiocarbon Dates from Marine Sediment Cores of the Iceland, Greenland, and Northeast Canadian Arctic Shelves and Nares Strait

Radiocarbon Date List XI contains an annotated listing of 178 AMS radiocarbon dates on samples from marine (169 samples) and lake (9 samples) sediment cores. Marine sediment cores, from which the samples for dating were taken, were collected on the Greenland Shelf, Baffin Bay, and the Eastern Canadian Arctic shelf. About 80% of the marine samples for dating were collected on the SW to N Icelandic shelf. The lake sediment cores were collected in northwestern Iceland. For dating of the marine samples, we submitted molluscs (117 samples), benthic and planktic foraminifera (45 samples), plant macrofauna (3 samples), and one serpulid worm. For dating of the lake cores, we submitted wood (8 samples) and one peat sample. The Conventional Radiocarbon Ages range from 294±9114C yr BP to 34,600±640 14C yr BP. The dates have been used to address a variety of research questions. The dates constrain the timing of high northern latitude late Quaternary environmental fluctuations, which include glacier extent, sea level history, isostatic rebound, sediment input, and ocean circulation. The dates also allowed assessment of the accuracy of commonly used reservoir correction. The samples were submitted by INSTAAR and affiliated researchers