Regret in Dynamic Decision Problems

The paper proposes a framework to extend regret theory to dynamic contexts. The key idea is to conceive of a dynamic decision problem with regret as an intra-personal game in which the agent forms conjectures about the behaviour of the various counterfactual selves that he could have been. We derive behavioural implications in situations in which payoffs are correlated across either time or contingencies. In the first case, regret might lead to excess conservatism or a tendency to make up for missed opportunities. In the second case, behaviour is shaped by the agent’s self-conception. We relate our results to empirical evidence

Fairness and desert in tournaments

We model the behavior of agents who care about receiving what they feel they deserve in a two-player rank-order tournament. Perceived entitlements are sensitive to how hard an agent has worked relative to her rival, and agents are loss averse around their meritocratically determined endogenous reference points. In a fair tournament sufficiently large desert concerns drive identical agents to push their effort levels apart in order to end up closer to their reference points on average. In an unfair tournament, where one agent is advantaged, the equilibrium is symmetric in the absence of desert, but asymmetric in the presence of desert. We find that desert concerns can undermine the standard conclusion that competition for a fixed supply of status is socially wasteful and explain why, when the distribution of output noise is fat-tailed, an employer might use a rank-order incentive scheme. Keywords; desert, equity, tournament, loss aversion, reference-dependent preferences, reference point, psychological game theory, status, relative performance evaluation

Dynamic Families: How Small Family Foundations Decide to Make Big Changes Through Public Policy

This investigation into the wide and varied world of family foundations reveals common patterns amongst those that have thrived in the world of public policy. Foundation structure, age and staffing were foundation to be key factors determining a foundation's activity in this area

Epidemiology of Hospital Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit: Fiscal Years 2008-2011

The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to assess risk factors contributing to hospital acquired methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) and gain a better understanding of the burden of HA-MRSA infection in patients with spinal cord injuries. The study was also conducted to see if new information would be found on HA-MRSA infections and validate or refute current research for patients in a dedicated spinal cord injury unit at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During the study period, the infection control department identified 95 cases of HA-MRSA. Additional data retrospectively collected were basic demographics, admitting diagnosis, presence of varying comorbidities, ASIA score, presence of indwelling medical device, BMI, LOS, MRSA colonization, and quarterly hand hygiene compliance. The patient population was described using appropriate univariate descriptive statistics and crude odd ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated. The most common sources of infection for cases were ulcer related (31.6%), from skin and soft tissue infections besides pressure ulcers (23.2%), 14.7% were Foley catheter related, 8.4% were blood stream infections and 22.1% were from other sites/sources. Assessment of risk factors for HA-MRSA for spinal cord injury patients in this study found that colonization (OR: 3), device use (Foley OR: 3.3, PICC OR: 39.4, use of both OR: 21.1) , paralysis (1.9), ASIA score A (OR: 4.5), amputee (OR: 3.5), decubitus ulcer (OR: 7.1), length of hospital stay \u3e 30 days (OR: 17.1) and a hand hygiene complianc

Learning Doesn’t STEM from Worksheets: Why STEM Learning Starts Beyond Paper and Pencil Tasks

The authors of this article explore the use of worksheets in STEM classrooms. This is viewed through the specific lens of a whole-child, constructivist approach, which suggests that learning is an active process where learners are challenged, and problems are solved through exploration and play. Worksheets create an environment where learners are seeking the answers from the teacher as opposed to creating space where students initiate learning. The authors discuss The National Science Teaching Associations three-dimensional teaching which supports learning through real world applications, engagement that moves from curiosity to interest to reason, and exploration of science, driven by student interest. Furthermore, allowing learners to truly play will help develop a sense of ownership throughout their learning. Finally, the current educational practices that rely heavily on worksheets are doing a disservice to learners and the environment. Moving towards activities that support investigation, experience, and student driven learning will create learners who ask questions and seek answers all around them

A Professional Development Program for the Mother Tongue-Based Teacher: Addressing Teacher Perceptions and Attitudes Towards MTBMLE

This study investigates teacher attitudes about language and education. The purpose of the study is to help program designers develop professional development efforts that successfully address some of the major identified challenges teachers face when transitioning into Mother Tongue Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTBMLE), including negative attitudes. It also suggests protocols and issues that trainers should consider when designing professional development for MTBMLE teachers. The research question guiding this study is: 1. Do teachers\u27 attitudes towards and knowledge about mother tongue-based instruction change after they participate in professional development that is consistent with good professional development practice? a. What were teachers\u27 knowledge and attitudes about MTBMLE before the professional development program? b. Did teachers\u27 knowledge and attitudes change after participating in the professional development program? c. Why did teachers hold particular attitudes towards MTBMLE prior to professional development and what factors influenced their change? I conducted this research during a three-month MTBMLE professional development program with a group of indigenous first grade teachers and their school principals in Save the Children\u27s outreach areas in rural Mindanao in the Philippines. I used a Q sort methodology for initial interviews conducted with a subset of five first grade teachers followed by a second interview after the professional development program. The interview data showed that teachers came into the trainings with two distinct viewpoints; mother tongue supporters and one mother tongue resister. After the professional development program, however, teachers were all more positive about using the mother tongue as the language of instruction. Interviews revealed that teachers were more positive and confident in teaching the mother tongue when they had the opportunity to: 1) spend time learning about their own language, 2) create mother tongue teaching and learning materials, and 3) reflect on their early learning experiences and experience what it is like to learn in a language that is not familiar. This paper will discuss the research findings in depth and will provide a clearer picture of how to train and support teachers who are transitioning into MTBMLE

Poster Introductions III--Aging with Long-Term Physical Impairment: The Significance of Social Support

As the population ages more people are reaching old age having lived with a long-term physical impairment. This vulnerable group of people has specific needs that are often different from those of someone who reaches old age without a pre-existing physical impairment. This paper focuses on the significance of social support in ameliorating the aging experience when living with long-term physical impairment. It is based on a qualitative study of the aging experiences of eight men and women living in Ontario, Canada who were between the ages of 50 and 68 and had lived with their physical impairment for more than 10 years. Two participants had impairments on account of multiple sclerosis, two on account of rheumatoid arthritis, one had loss of limb, one had muscular dystrophy, one had hip deterioration from age 12, and one had polycystic kidney disease. Data were gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that coping with long-term physical impairment may be a lonely experience when the person lacks a strong network of family and/or friends to offer emotional support as they deal with the constant changes that can occur. Participants felt their experiences of aging with long-term physical impairment were improved when they shared their thoughts, feelings and problems with others. The paper also discusses the significance of gender and marital status with regard to access to social support. Rebecca Casey is a PhD candidate in Sociology at McMaster University. Her research interests include aging, disability, health and policies. Her MA thesis, at Lakehead University, focused on the experience of aging with long-term physical impairment. The poster presentation is based on this research. Rebecca’s PhD dissertation will use data collected through the Research Action Alliance on the Consequences of Work Injury (RAACWI), to focus on poverty and to relate it to aging concerns, such as loss of pensions through employment changes, reduced income following an injury and lack of employment opportunities due to reduced physical abilities. Sharon Dale Stone is Professor of Sociology at Lakehead University, where she is also affiliated with the Women’s Studies, Gerontology, and Masters of Public Health programs. Her research focuses on experiences of living with chronic impairments and issues that arise as a result. She recently published A Change of Plans: Women’s Stories of Hemorrhagic Stroke (2007) and is writing an analysis of the experiences of women who survived a hemorrhagic stroke at a young age. She is currently working with a team of academic researchers and community activists to investigate the experiences of injured workers with the worker’s compensation system

Partner for Proven Results: A Model Partnership Impacting Academic Achievement and Post-Secondary Going

A 16 year partnership of a large urban school district and a graduate school counseling preparation program presents how this partnership resulted in higher grade point averages and increased college going rates of first generation, low-income students and, impacted graduate students to emphasize college/career readiness as practicing school counselors.Targeted audience: universities, district level administrators, counselor educators, school counselors

E-Cigarette Use Among Undergraduate Liberal Arts and Health Sciences Students: A Study Protocol

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery operated devices that deliver nicotine as an inhaled vapor. Use of e-cigarettes has gained in popularity since 2007, and their use is often promoted as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. A concern among public health experts is whether e-cigarettes can be used as an alternative method for tobacco cessation or whether they lead to nicotine dependence and use of other tobacco products. Several studies have shown a higher prevalence of use of e-cigarettes among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, but varying results on the association between their use and perceptions of harm. For the present survey, this age group was selected because, in this group, addiction to tobacco and the likelihood for adverse effects would be lower. Thus, for this group, the chances of not starting or consideration for quitting would be higher. The purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about using tobacco products, smoking, and e-cigarettes among undergraduate students on liberal arts and health sciences campuses of a university. Methods: Participants will be invited via email and directed to a secure website where the survey can be completed anonymously. To assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, the survey will include validated questions based on recommendations by the World Health Organization ((2000) appendix A)). Anticipated Results: We anticipate that the results will show an improvement in the behavioral aspect among undergraduates at the liberal arts and health sciences campuses. We also expect that results will show an improvement in knowledge among liberal arts students but less improvement in knowledge for health sciences students. Finally, we predict an overall improvement in attitudes about tobacco use and e-cigarette use