Dealing with information about complex issues : the role of source perceptions

This thesis focuses on how the way people deal with information about complex issues depends of their perceptions of sources that provide the relevant information. The complex issue under consideration throughout this thesis is that of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). In short, CCS involves the capture of carbon dioxide in power plants, the transportation of the carbon dioxide to underground storage sites (e.g., depleted gas fields), and its subsequent storage in these sites. Overall, the current thesis shows that in order for communication about complex issues to be effective, relevant information sources need to be trusted. When trust in information sources is lacking, people’s information selection and their information evaluations are affected in a negative way, with detrimental consequences for the impressions of the issue people form. Additionally, the present work demonstrated the surplus value of having divergent sources provide information in collaboration, instead of separately. Findings are discusses in terms of their theoretical value for the literature on communication, and in terms of their applied value for designers of information campaigns

Dealing with information about complex issues : the role of source perceptions

This thesis focuses on how the way people deal with information about complex issues depends of their perceptions of sources that provide the relevant information. The complex issue under consideration throughout this thesis is that of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). In short, CCS involves the capture of carbon dioxide in power plants, the transportation of the carbon dioxide to underground storage sites (e.g., depleted gas fields), and its subsequent storage in these sites. Overall, the current thesis shows that in order for communication about complex issues to be effective, relevant information sources need to be trusted. When trust in information sources is lacking, people’s information selection and their information evaluations are affected in a negative way, with detrimental consequences for the impressions of the issue people form. Additionally, the present work demonstrated the surplus value of having divergent sources provide information in collaboration, instead of separately. Findings are discusses in terms of their theoretical value for the literature on communication, and in terms of their applied value for designers of information campaigns.LEI Universiteit LeidenSocial decision makin

Coronacrisis en bouwcontracten

Coherent privaatrech

Het meten van de gevolgen van aardbevingen op de leefbaarheid in Groningen: een methodologische review naar leefbaarheidsonderzoeken. Universiteit Utrecht/Universiteit Leiden onderzoeksrapport in opdracht van Nationaal Coördinator Groningen (NCG)

Social decision makin

How cat-behavior advisors can improve clients’ willingness to adopt their advice: an investigation of advice severity, advisor credibility, and clients’ self-identity

Feline behavioral problems can be treated successfully by good advice from cat-behavior advisors, but guardians often do not comply with their advice. An experimental survey under 703 cat guardians was used to investigate what advisors can do to increase their clients’ compliance with environmental enrichment advice. By systematically varying the credibility of the advisor and the severity of their advice, the hypothesis was confirmed that highly credible advisors elicit more positive attitudes and compliance intentions than less credible advisors. Also as expected, mild advice resulted in stronger compliance intentions than severe advice because guardians believed they were better able to incorporate the required actions. Finally, guardians who more strongly thought of themselves as cat guardians were more likely to adopt the advice because they believed that other cat guardians would do the same. The investigation of factors that can increase cat guardians’ compliance with advisors’ recommendations for the treatment of behavioral problems is crucial because the wellbeing of domestic cats lies in the hands of their guardians. Several practical recommendations for cat-behavior advisors are offered.Social decision makin

In vivo geometry of the kissing stent and covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configurations in aortoiliac occlusive disease

Objectives Various configurations of kissing stent (KS) configurations exist and patency rates vary. In response the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configuration was designed to minimize mismatch and improve outcome. The aim of the current study is to compare geometrical mismatch of kissing stent with the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configuration in vivo. Methods Post-operative computed tomographic data and patient demographics from 11 covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation and 11 matched kissing stent patients were included. A free hand region of interest and ellipse fitting method were applied to determine mismatch areas and volumes. Conformation of the stents to the vessel wall was expressed using the D-ratio. Results Patients were mostly treated for Rutherford category 2 and 3 (64%) with a lesion classification of TASC C and D in 82%. Radial mismatch area and volume for the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation group was significantly lower compared to the kissing stent configuration ( P &lt; 0.05). The D-ratio did not significantly differ between groups. Measurements were performed with good intra-class correlation. There were no significant differences in the post-procedural aortoiliac anatomy. Conclusions The present study shows that radial mismatch exists in vivo and that large differences in mismatch exist, in favour of the covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation configuration. Future research should determine if the decreased radial mismatch results in improved local flow profiles and subsequent clinical outcome. </jats:sec