Group risk-taking under various group decision schemes

This study examined individual choice behavior when it occurs in groups engaged in joint decision-making. Ninety-six subjects made binary choices between "risky" and "conservative" alternatives acting alone and acting as members of three-man groups in a series of 360 trials. The groups operated under the majority rule, unanimity, and the so-called "minimal quorum" rule. It was found that under unanimity and the minimal quorum rule there were strong pressures toward uniformity. However, individual members in these groups did not succumb to these pressures by modifying their overall choice preferences. Instead they arranged their sequences of choices so that the joint choice of all members would be congruent with their acceptable level of risk-taking. The findings also indicated that there was a slight shift toward conservatism when individuals joined groups. The results on individual risk-taking supported a parameter-free model, and the model also accommodated the present group data when some new assumptions were made about the effects of pressures toward uniformity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34182/1/0000471.pd

Individual and group risk-taking in a two-choice situation

Individual and group decision making under uncertainty was explored in an attempt to determine whether individual risk preferences change under group conditions. Subjects predicted which of two differentially probable stimulus events would occur, and were paid for correct anticipations in a series of 360 trials. The expected value of the choices was held constant by varying payoff inversely with the frequency of the two events. After 180 trials, individuals either continued alone or were formed into three-man groups. Groups showed consistent and significant shifts in the conservative direction, while individuals remaining alone did not shift. The data were examined in the light of various group-decision models and in the light of other explanations of the risky-shift phenomenon. Changes in individual risk preferences were interpreted as deriving from a change in subjective utilities of outcomes which occurs in the group situation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33235/1/0000625.pd

Group risk-taking in a two-choice situation: Replication, extension, and a model

In an attempt to determine if individual risk preferences change under group conditions, individuals and groups were observed when making binary decisions. The expected values of the outcomes were held constant while the probabilities of the two events varied across conditions. As previously, it was found that when the probabilities of the two events are .6 and .4, a conservative shift is obtained. When these probabilities are .8 and .2, however, there was a tendency for groups to shift toward risk. A two-stage parameter-free model was suggested to account for individual and group choices.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32987/1/0000371.pd

Social facilitation and imitation in group risk-taking

The role of social facilitation and imitation in group risk-taking was explored in two experiments. The first experiment tried to determine if individual risk preferences can be changed by the mere presence of others and if these changes can account for shifts toward risk. Subjects predicted which of two differentially probable stimulus events would occur in a series of 360 trials. Expected value of the choices was held constant by varying the payoff inversely with the frequency of the two events. After 180 trials alone, subjects were put into one of four conditions, Control, Audience, Coaction, and Group. In the two social facilitation conditions, Audience and Coaction, there was an enhancement of dominant responses (i.e., conservative choices). But the Group condition showed a change in the risky direction, indicating that social facilitation processes cannot account for risky shifts. Experiment II replicated the social facilitation effects found in Experiment I, but failed to find pronounced tendencies of individuals to make their choices consistent with those of others. These weak imitation effects were found for a situation in which only knowledge of others' choices was accessible to the subject and in a situation in which both this knowledge was accessible and others were actually present. The implications of these findings for theories of risky shift were discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32828/1/0000203.pd

Addressing Older Latinos’ Spiritual Needs in Hospital Settings: Identifying Predictors of Satisfaction

Many older Latinos use spirituality to navigate the challenges associated with hospitalization. Although spiritual assessments are typically recommended in such settings, little, if any, research has sought to identify factors that predict satisfaction with the process of addressing clients’ spiritual needs. Using a national sample of recently hospitalized older Latinos (N = 227), this secondary analysis identified predictors of older Latinos’ satisfaction with how well their spiritual needs were addressed during their hospitalization. Among the eight predictors examined, room quality, nursing staff, and physicians were positively associated with satisfaction, while the discharge process was negatively associated with satisfaction. By understanding the factors that predict satisfaction, practitioners are better positioned to provide culturally relevant and effective services to older Latinos

Ocular surface epithelia contain ABCG2-dependent side population cells exhibiting features associated with stem cells.

When cell populations are incubated with the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342 and subjected to flow cytometry analysis for Hoechst 33342 emissions, active efflux of the dye by the ABCG2/BCRP1 transporter causes certain cells to appear as a segregated cohort, known as a side population (SP). Stem cells from several tissues have been shown to possess the SP phenotype. As the lack of specific surface markers has hindered the isolation and subsequent biochemical characterization of epithelial stem cells this study sought to determine the existence of SP cells and expression of ABCG2 in the epithelia of the ocular surface and evaluate whether such SP cells had features associated with epithelial stem cells. Human and rabbit limbal-corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells were incubated with Hoechst 33342, and analyzed and sorted by flow cytometry. Sorted cells were subjected to several tests to determine whether the isolated SP cells displayed features consistent with the stem cell phenotype. Side populations amounting to \u3c1% of total cells, which were sensitive to the ABCG2-inhibitor fumitremorgin C, were found in the conjunctival and limbal epithelia, but were absent from the stem cell-free corneal epithelium. Immunohistochemistry was used to establish the spatial expression pattern of ABCG2. The antigen was detected in clusters of conjunctival and limbal epithelia basal cells but was not present in the corneal epithelium. SP cells were characterized by extremely low light side scattering and contained a high percentage of cells that: showed slow cycling prior to tissue collection; exhibited an initial delay in proliferation after culturing; and displayed clonogenic capacity and resistance to phorbol-induced differentiation; all features that are consistent with a stem cell phenotype

The development of status distinctions under conditions of inequity

To distribute a status, such as task responsibility, so as to maximize the expected value of its outcome, a group may be forced to violate standards of equity and thereby do harm to affective relations among members. The circumstances under which this is likely were specified as follows: If a rational distribution of responsibility requires marked discrepancies in status, inequities occur (1) as the individual differences in task proficiency decrease, and (2) as the status becomes an increasingly significant reward or cost. Dyads performed a group reaction-time task in which they decided how much each member's performance would count in determining the joint outcome. Initially each performed had equal responsibility for the joint outcome. The rational solution was to permit the superior performer to assume complete responsibility. Under conditions of maximal inequity there was a tendency to avoid such a distribution, to wit, the rate at which the inferior performer was divested of responsibility was considerably slower than under conditions of minimal inequity. Furthermore, the inferior performer seemed to compensate for his humiliation by taking the lead in advocating a rational reorganization of the status hierarchy, while the superior performer seemed to make amends to his partner by allowing him to control decisions to reorganize and by evidencing a personal preference for a status distribution that was relatively lenient on the latter, one that would not maximize the expected value of their outcome.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/33105/1/0000491.pd