Revisiting faultline conceptualization: measuring faultline strength and distance

The purpose of this research is to develop a conceptually and methodologically sound measure of group faultlines (demographic alignment of members along multiple attributes within a group). This measure takes into account the concept of faultline strength (the extent of a demographic alignment across members within a group) and, thus far neglected in past work, the concept of faultline distance. This faultline distance measure reflects how far apart the emerging subgroups are on demographic characteristics. This new, more elaborate conceptualization of faultlines is validated by presenting a number of hypothetical examples that demonstrate the distinct properties of faultline measures. We also validate our measures by empirically examining the relationships between faultline strength and distance, and active, or perceived, faultlines

Analytical Modeling in Complex Surveys of Work Practices

Quantitative industrial relations research frequently relies on data collected from large surveys of establishments that use complex sampling designs, such as stratified and unequal probability sampling. The authors analyze two complex surveys of establishments, the National Organizations Survey and the National Survey of Establishments. They discuss design-based (survey-weighted) and model-based (unweighted) strategies for analyzing these data. They show that the choice of strategy can affect inferences about parameters, and hence conclusions drawn from analyses. They discuss the advantages of model-based approaches that include independent variables corresponding to design features, such as functions of size measures or indicator variables for strata or clusters, relative to purely design-based approaches

Do workgroup faultlines help or hurt? A moderated model of faultlines, team identification, and group performance

informs doi 10.1287/orsc.1080.037

Assessing Drug Treatment Preferences of Patients with Crohn's Disease: A Conjoint Analysis

Background: Patient preference has been recognized as being of increasing importance when choosing a drug therapy for chronic conditions for which there are no cures and for which long-term treatment is needed. Objective: To quantify treatment preferences and priorities of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Methods: This was a prospective Internet-based survey of adult participants with moderate to severe CD who were recruited through two national survey panels in the US. The survey included questions about diagnostic and treatment histories, attitudes and perceptions related to CD, and CD therapy. In a discrete-choice-based conjoint exercise, respondents selected a preferred biologic treatment option from each of 16 pairs of drug profiles that systematically varied efficacy, convenience, and product history attributes. A hierarchical Bayes probit model was utilized to estimate respondent-level 'utility scores' for each of the attribute levels. In a separate exercise, respondents also directly ranked each specific attribute. Two-tailed tests were conducted to determine statistical significance at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 252 participants were surveyed, 202 (80%) of whom were biologic naive. Mean age was 44.1 years and mean disease duration was 11.6 years. The majority (71.8%) were female. In the conjoint exercise, the three attributes of greatest importance in accounting for patients' biologic therapy preference were (greater) proportion of patients achieving lasting remission, (decreased) frequency of medication administration, and (higher) proportion of patients responding in 2 weeks. In the direct ranking exercise, the proportion of CD patients achieving lasting remission was selected as the most important attribute by the most respondents (27%), followed by the proportion of CD patients responding in 2 weeks (23%). Conclusion: Achievement of lasting remission and a rapid clinical response were the biologic treatment characteristics highly valued by respondents in this survey. It is critical that physicians provide patients with balanced information regarding the benefits and risks, convenience, and medication history of each treatment option available to them in order for patients to make informed therapy choices that reflect their personal priorities.Adalimumab, therapeutic use, Conjoint-analysis, Crohn's-disease, treatment, Infliximab, therapeutic use, Patient-preference, Tumour-necrosis-factor-inhibitors, therapeutic use