Cognitive Ability and Economic Decision Making - A study comparing cognitive reflection and intelligence quotient in decision time in various economic situations

Cognitive ability can be measured with several different instruments. The first thing that springs to mind is probably IQ or knowledge tests, such as the SAT. In 2005, a new test came out on the market, the cognitive reflection test (CRT). This test was constructed differently, namely to capture cognitive reflection, an ability to use system 2 in an effective way. System 2 is a concept from the dual-process theory, which states that our mind is processed with two main systems, system 1 and 2. System 1 is always active, and can be described as our intuitive system. However, when more difficult tasks need to be dealt with, system 2 needs to be activated. It is more complex, and also slower, than system 1. System 2 is deliberate, and thus, more often generates proper results, while system 1, sometimes can be sloppy. A high score on the CRT is assumed to be related to an active system 2, as the questions are constructed to generate an intuitive but incorrect answer. This study aims to examine whether there is a difference between an ordinary IQ measure and the CRT. We examine four different situations in the field of behavioural economics; decision making between lotteries (with and without losses), the public good game and the dictator game. We purpose to clarify and summarize the effects, as well as differences in effect, for CR and IQ in general, and fill out the gaps where previous research is scarce. This seems to be especially relevant for the decision time analysis, seeing that the CRT is a fairly young measure, in contrast to traditional IQ measures. Hence, our main focus is to examine the differences in decision times from these games, and whether these differences, in turn, are related to better answers and outcomes. The results we obtain do confirm that individuals with high CR have a slower decision speed for some tasks. It also confirms that these individuals make more rational and utility maximizing choices, even more so, than individuals with high IQ. We also found that CR can be a better predictor of behaviour in certain situations. Basically, we can confirm that there exists a difference between these measures, and thus, that they do capture different dimensions of cognitive ability

Alfavärdens stabilitet - En undersökning om alfavärdens hållbarhet över en längre tidsperiod

This study aims to contribute to solving the mystery associated with smart investment strategies. It seems impossible to find an extraordinary investment strategy that can outperform the usual returns on the market. Including 116 stocks from Stockholmsbörsens large and mid cap, this study examines if alpha values are stable over time, and if so an investment in a portfolio based on high alpha values could give a greater return than market index and preferably a greater return than expected, considering the risk taken. For the main purpose, to analyze whether or not alpha values are stable over time, we calculated Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for the first week of 2003 and every week to come for the remaining ten year study period (in total 520 weeks). This resulted in approximately 5.6 percent of the correlations to be significant. In addition to this result we found that a portfolio based on high alpha values, each week repositioned to consist of those ten stocks with the highest alpha values during the previous period, do not outperform market index. This implies that, even if alpha values would be stable over time, investing in a portfolio based on historically high alpha values would not be profitable; on the contrary, our results showed that these portfolios even performed worse than the market index. The bottom line is that alpha values are not stable over time and that portfolios based on high alpha values do not outperform market index, thus it seems better to invest in a passive investment strategy according to our outcomes

När makten blir din kompis - en studie i polisens kommunikation på Facebook

Today, many organizations, both within the private and the public sector, have developed a presence in different social media channels. It is of most importance to perpetually scrutinize entities because of their position of power in the society. This study examines how the Swedish Police use Facebook as a strategic tool to communicate with citizens, but also what the potential advantages and disadvantages could be with building a strong public sector brand. We have carried out a qualitative study, with empirical data gathered through observations and content analysis from three different Facebook pages, and their national social media guidelines. Our theoretical framework is based on theories regarding communications, corporate branding, legitimacy and transparency in the public sector. Our analysis shows that the Swedish Police, intentionally or unintentionally, use strategies from corporate branding, including brand-as-a-person and storytelling. Furthermore, we have found that too much transparency and informal communication can lead to citizens distrusting the Swedish Police’s competence and therefore undermine their legitimacy. Ergo, we stress the importance of well-defined social media strategies for a public sector organization to distinguish the real purpose of their social media presence.Idag har många organisationer, både inom privat och offentlig sektor, etablerat en närvaro på olika sociala medieplattformar. Det är av högsta relevans att granska aktörer i samhället som innehar en stor maktposition. Denna studie undersöker hur den svenska polisen använder Facebook som ett strategiskt verktyg för att kommunicera med medborgare, men också vilka möjligheter och faror som finns kopplade till byggandet av ett starkt varumärke inom offentlig sektor. Vi har genomfört en kvalitativ studie, med insamlat empiriskt material från observationer och innehållsanalyser av tre olika Facebook-sidor, samt polisen nationella handledningsdokument för sociala medier. Det teoretiska ramverket baseras på teorier om kommunikation, varumärkesbyggande, legitimitet och transparens inom offentlig sektor. Vår analys visar att den svenska polisen, medvetet eller omedvetet, använder strategier inom varumärkesbyggande, så som brand-as-aperson och storytelling. Vidare visar analysen att för mycket transparens och informell kommunikation kan leda till att medborgare tappar tron på den svenska polisens kompetens och därigenom undermineras deras legitimitet. Vi vill därför poängtera vikten av väldefinierade sociala mediestrategier för organisationer inom offentlig sektor, för att kunna urskilja deras egentliga syfte med en närvaro i sociala medier

A Diagnostic Post-Occupancy Evaluation of the Nacadia® Therapy Garden

The design of the Nacadia® therapy garden is based on a model for evidence-based health design in landscape architecture (EBHDL). One element of the model is a diagnostic post-occupancy evaluation (DPOE), which has not previously been fully developed. The present study develops a generic DPOE for therapy gardens, with a focus on studying the effects of the design on patients’ health outcomes. This is done in order to identify successes and failures in the design. By means of a triangulation approach, the DPOE employs a mixture of methods, and data is interpreted corroborating. The aim of the present study is to apply the DPOE to the Nacadia® therapy garden. The results of the DPOE suggest that the design of the Nacadia® therapy garden fulfills its stated aims and objectives. The overall environment of the Nacadia ® therapy garden was experienced as protective and safe, and successfully incorporated the various elements of the nature-based therapy programme. The participants encountered meaningful spaces and activities which suited their current physical and mental capabilities, and the health outcome measured by EQ-VAS (self-estimated general health) indicated a significant increase. Some design failures were identified, of which visual exposure was the most noteworthy. The DPOE model presented appears to be efficient but would nonetheless profit from being validated by other cases

Pain tolerance in chronic pain patients seems to be more associated with physical activity than with depression and anxiety

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between habitual self-reported physical activity, pain sensitivity and patient-reported outcomes (including pain intensity) in patients with chronic pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, experimental study. SUBJECTS: Patients (n = 78), age range 18–65 years, with different chronic pain conditions (> 3 months) were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 98). METHODS: Multivariate correlations between self-reported physical activity, pressure pain sensitivity, and patient-reported outcome measures were assessed. RESULTS: Lower perceived health status (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 2.34), higher levels of depression (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.77), and lower pain tolerance threshold (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.66) were the most prominent variables discriminating patients from controls. In patients, bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that higher pressure pain tolerance was associated with male sex, lower pain intensity and fewer painful regions, higher self-efficacy and more self-reported physical activity, but not with lower levels of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: Pain tolerance thresholds, as well as degree of depression and perceived health status discriminated between patients and controls, and there was an association between pain tolerance thresholds and level of self-reported physical activity in patients. This study highlights the importance of further research into how increased physical activity may improve pain sensitivity in patients with chronic pain

I Would Really like to Visit the Forest, but it is Just Too Difficult: A Qualitative Study on Mobility Disability and Green Spaces

There is growing evidence of the health benefits of visiting green spaces. However, research indicates that individuals with mobility disabilities visit green spaces less frequently than the able-bodied population. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences and related constraints of individuals with mobility disabilities visiting green spaces. The study’s qualitative research design employed group and individual interviews, which were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis and social geographical theory. The results indicate that, generally speaking, the interviewees valued green spaces highly. The serenity of and possibility for close physical contact with a green space were preferred and promoted experiences of insideness and identification with the space. Conversely, lack of accessibility led to feelings of exclusion and outsideness. To increase both the accessibility and positive experience of any green space, it is advisable to include the user group in the study design process