Understanding Recidivism in the Aftermath of Wrongdoing

Behavioral ethics research generally suggests that after making a small transgression there is a “slippery slope” that leads people to make bigger transgressions in the future (Gino & Bazerman, 2009; Tenbrunsel & Messick, 2004). In contrast to this dominant lens, I am interested in how transgressors might change their behavior after committing an offense, instead of repeating their offenses or engaging in more serious offenses. Paper 1 consists of an archival study and an experiment that explore how transgressors’ evaluations of their past transgressions influence their likelihood of recidivism. Paper 2 consists of a series of five studies (i.e., one survey and four experiments) that explore how people’s beliefs about moral character influence their motivation to change in the aftermath of wrongdoing. Overall, my dissertation aims to makes several theoretical contributions. First, it contributes to the conversation on the downstream consequences of wrongdoing, complementing the existing literature’s focus on the antecedents of wrongdoing. Second, it adds to the emerging perspective that ethical judgments and decisions are person-centered (i.e., moral behaviors are used as cues to make evaluations about the person who performed those behaviors). This complements the existing literature’s behavioral or act-centered perspective. Finally, my dissertation draws attention to the positive change that transgressors can experience in the aftermath of wrongdoing.PHDBusiness AdministrationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135908/1/ongm_1.pd

Addressing the COVID-19 Nutrition Crisis in Vulnerable Communities: Applying a Primary Care Perspective

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent public health interventions have disrupted food systems all over the world. In the Philippines, where stringent lockdown rules have been implemented, households living in poverty have had to rely largely on food aid in the form of food packs distributed by local governments and private donors. An evaluation of the commonly distributed food items reveals a diet that addresses acute hunger but does not contain sufficient nutrients to promote and maintain health. Such a diet puts low-income households at a greater risk of acute and chronic disease. The negative health impact of commonly distributed food packs on food aid-dependent households shine a light on how the COVID-19 pandemic and public health policies exacerbate health inequities. A primary care perspective is essential in creating food security policies that can effectively address acute hunger and malnutrition without contributing to the long-term deleterious effects of inadequate nutrition on the health of indigent communities

Understanding Recidivism in the Aftermath of Wrongdoing

Behavioral ethics research generally suggests that after making a small transgression there is a “slippery slope” that leads people to make bigger transgressions in the future (Gino & Bazerman, 2009; Tenbrunsel & Messick, 2004). In contrast to this dominant lens, I am interested in how transgressors might change their behavior after committing an offense, instead of repeating their offenses or engaging in more serious offenses. Paper 1 consists of an archival study and an experiment that explore how transgressors’ evaluations of their past transgressions influence their likelihood of recidivism. Paper 2 consists of a series of five studies (i.e., one survey and four experiments) that explore how people’s beliefs about moral character influence their motivation to change in the aftermath of wrongdoing. Overall, my dissertation aims to makes several theoretical contributions. First, it contributes to the conversation on the downstream consequences of wrongdoing, complementing the existing literature’s focus on the antecedents of wrongdoing. Second, it adds to the emerging perspective that ethical judgments and decisions are person-centered (i.e., moral behaviors are used as cues to make evaluations about the person who performed those behaviors). This complements the existing literature’s behavioral or act-centered perspective. Finally, my dissertation draws attention to the positive change that transgressors can experience in the aftermath of wrongdoing.PHDBusiness AdministrationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136948/1/ongm_1.pd

A study of customer retention and churn rate management through data mining and customer profiling of Malaysian mobile user

This study aims to investigate the needs and wants of prepaid mobile service subscribers in Malaysia and identify usage patterns of industry churners, ultimately to offer the right product and value to target customers within a highly competitive market. This paper discusses the challenges faced by mobile companies in relation to high churn rates (sometimes called attrition rate), maintaining customer loyalty and the presence of stiff competition. Data was collected through database extraction from a telecommunication company in Malaysia which includes available demographic and behavioral data of the subscribers. Apriori association algorithm was employed to determine product bundling and C&R decision trees were used for customer profiling. It was discovered that there were three main product bundles subscribed by the prepaid mobile consumers. A brief look at the behavioral usage pattern of churners was also discussed. These information help mobile service providers to be more aware of their customer needs and to intelligently predict potential market churners

Public Trust and the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign: Lessons from the Philippines as it Emerges from the Dengvaxia Controversy

While the entire world prepares and begins to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, the Philippines is still reeling from the consequences of the Dengvaxia controversy in 2016. Those highly political events led to the erosion of public trust in leaders and a significant damage to vaccine confidence in the country, now potentially impacting the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. We discuss how public trust and confidence can be rehabilitated through accountability, transparency, and proper communication from the most trusted sources of the population. We also highlight key lessons for policymakers and leaders on allowing science to take the front seat, and politics behind, for the safety and well-being of the people during this public health crisis

Blame the shepherd not the sheep: Imitating higher-ranking transgressors mitigates punishment for unethical behavior

Do bad role models exonerate others’ unethical behavior? Based on social learning theory and psychological theories of blame, we predicted that unethical behavior by higher-ranking individuals changes how people respond to lower-ranking individuals who subsequently commit the same transgression. Five studies explored when and why this rank-dependent imitation effect occurs. Across all five studies, we found that people were less punitive when low-ranking transgressors imitated high-ranking members of their organization. However, imitation only reduced punishment when the two transgressors were from the same organization (Study 2), when the transgressions were highly similar (Study 3), and when it was unclear whether the initial transgressor was punished (Study 5). Results also indicated that imitation affects punishment because it influences whom people blame for the transgression. These findings reveal actor-observer differences in social learning and identify a way that unethical behavior spreads through organizations

Analysis of guideline recommendations for treatment of asthma exacerbations in children: a Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN) study

Rationale: There is significant practice variation in acute paediatric asthma, particularly severe exacerbations. It is unknown whether this is due to differences in clinical guidelines. Objectives: To describe and compare the content and quality of clinical guidelines for the management of acute exacerbations of asthma in children between geographic regions. Methods: Observational study of guidelines for the management of acute paediatric asthma from institutions across a global collaboration of six regional paediatric emergency research networks. Measurements and main results: 158 guidelines were identified. Half provided recommendations for at least two age groups, and most guidelines provided treatment recommendations according to asthma severity. There were consistent recommendations for the use of inhaled short-acting beta-agonists and systemic corticosteroids. Inhaled anticholinergic therapy was recommended in most guidelines for severe and critical asthma, but there were inconsistent recommendations for its use in mild and moderate exacerbations. Other inhaled therapies such as helium-oxygen mixture (Heliox) and nebulised magnesium were inconsistently recommended for severe and critical illness. Parenteral bronchodilator therapy and epinephrine were mostly reserved for severe and critical asthma, with intravenous magnesium most recommended. There were regional differences in the use of other parenteral bronchodilators, particularly aminophylline. Guideline quality assessment identified high ratings for clarity of presentation, scope and purpose, but low ratings for stakeholder involvement, rigour of development, applicability and editorial independence. Conclusions: Current guidelines for the management of acute paediatric asthma exacerbations have substantial deficits in important quality domains and provide limited and inconsistent guidance for severe exacerbations

Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of “leaving no one behind”. Understanding today’s gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), we measured 37 of the 50 health-related SDG indicators over the period 1990–2016 for 188 countries, and then on the basis of these past trends, we projected indicators to 2030