Thesis advisor: Ana M. Martínez Alemán / Through a qualitative case study of Butler University, this study seeks to understand how high-profile athletic success—in this instance, a Cinderella run in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament—can be leveraged to develop other institutional functions and elevate the profile of the university as a whole. The story of Butler’s investment in men’s basketball, culminating in two successive trips to the Final Four in 2010 and 2011, spans nearly three decades and offers an extreme yet instructive case of the potential synergy between a serious academic institution and a big-time college sports program. Through interviews with faculty and administrators, document analysis, and field observations on Butler’s campus, a picture emerges of the Cinderella story as a university resource that can be developed and managed through the decision-making of administrators in a variety of offices, including admissions, advancement, athletics, and marketing and communications. At Butler, the narrative begins in 1989 with the intentional decision to build men’s basketball into a flagship program for the institution, peaks with the twin Final Four appearances, and then consists of efforts to leverage this success as part of the university’s pursuit of a national profile after a long history as a regional institution. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

Thesis advisor: David Scanlon / Family member-educator collaboration is envisioned as the "cornerstone" of the educational decision-making process for students with disabilities (e.g., Harry, 2008; Olivos, Friend and Cook, 2007, Gallagher and Aguilar, 2010). In the case of immigrant and refugee families, however, the ideal of coequal collaboration is often elusive for a variety of reasons (e.g., language barriers, disparate ideas about what familial involvement should be in educational decisions) (e.g., Lo, 2012). This qualitative multiple case study design (Yin, 2009) relied on interviews with family members and educators as well as observations of IEP meetings to examine the educational decision-making process in the context of Somali-American families of boys with autism. Findings from the present study echo many conclusions of previous research in terms of factors that facilitate (e.g., thoughtfully designed IEP meetings, frequent family-educator communication) and impede (e.g., divergent beliefs about the cause and course of autism, language barriers) family-educator collaboration in special education decision-making. The results, meanwhile, extended and challenged other aspects of existing literature. Analysis revealed, for example, the each school has a unique institutional culture whose norms (e.g., norms of parent participation in school activities, from dances and races to PTA meetings and in-class volunteering) can profoundly influence the ways in which family members and educators interact and engage in educational decision-making. In addition, while existing literature emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity among special educators (e.g., Harry, 1992; Lo, 2013), the present study suggests that in some cases, over-emphasis on cultural sensitivity can cause educators to be overly deferential and reluctant to actively engage with family members, in turn, leading to diminished or inauthentic communication. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

Thesis advisor: Kathleen McInnis-Dittrich / The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of decision-making in formulating anti-poverty policies in Palestine. Particularly, this study was concerned with exploring the key decision makers, their roles, and how the power relationship among them influences the process of formulating anti-poverty policies. In addition, this study was intended to investigate the knowledge about the dynamics of decision making within the Palestinian National Authority (PNA): how actual decisions are made about anti-poverty policies and who is making decisions. Moreover, the scope of this study also included how the unique economic, social, and political contexts of Palestine influence the process of formulating anti-poverty policies. Further, this study explored how anti-poverty policies impact the lives of everyday poor Palestinians. This study utilized political theories, colonialism theory, and hegemony theory, to understand the external factors that affect the formulation of anti-poverty policies. Also, it used public policy theories, elitism, pluralism, and bounded rationality theory, to explore how anti-poverty policies are made and who made such policies in Palestine. This study employed a qualitative approach with a social constructivist paradigm of inquiry. This case study focused on two major sites that are responsible for formulating social policies in Palestine: the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) and the Ministry of Planning and Administrative Development (MOPAD) in Ramallah. The findings of this study indicated that significant changes have occurred as regards who the key decision makers are and what roles they play in the formulation of anti-poverty policies. In analyzing the power relationship among the key decision makers, the findings showed that although the PNA has increased its control over the decision-making process, the international donor agencies continue to significantly influence this process. The data also revealed that unlike the models of policy making in democratic countries (such as elitism or pluralism), the approach to developing anti-poverty policies in Palestine reflects the participatory model. Consistent with the theory of bounded rationality, the findings revealed that anti-poverty policies have been made with financial, material, political, and other limitations. Implications for formulating anti-poverty policies and for future research are discussed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Incentives are fundamental and often powerful motivators of human behavior. Considerable research has focused on financial rewards as a tool to encourage “good” decisions. This dissertation examines the psychology and efficacy of monetary incentives—compared to multiple nonmonetary incentives—with respect to individuals’ choices, performance, and habits. I document and explore a variety of interrelated effects that cash, relative to noncash, incentives can incur in four major areas of behavior: habit formation, choice (specifically, tradeoffs involving risk and delay), goal setting, and integrity. In three longitudinal field experiments, I devise and empirically test a novel incentive program based on self-reward, where individuals defined and administered their own rewards for reaching a goal. I find that this system outperforms cash on several consequential metrics, including task engagement and longer-term persistence. I further place these behaviors in the context of a greater focus on compensation when incentivized with cash: People become fixated on attaining the reward over the process of expending effort. Although this mentality fuels efficient goal attainment, it can also lead to—as I show using a series of online studies—distortionary effects on other aspects of goal pursuit, such as the tendency to choose easier effort streams and the willingness to forgo a reward’s magnitude for its certainty or immediacy. Combined, these findings suggest that practitioners seeking to motivate their constituents may do well to reconsider the use of cash incentives.

Purpose: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to identify what factors have been investigated as correlates of the 4 key domains of treatment decision making capacity (TDMC) in people who have experienced psychosis (understanding, reasoning, appreciation, communication) and to provide estimates of the magnitude of these correlations, taking into account study quality. A novel empirical study was conducted to test the hypothesis that variance in psychosis-specific cognitive biases (including the well-established ‘jumping to conclusions’ bias) would account for unique variance in TDMC domains in those with psychosis, after taking into account the known contribution of symptoms and insight. A secondary aim of the empirical study was to examine for the first time the relationship between TDMC and personal recovery in this group, and post hoc analyses of the relationship between cognitive biases, emotional distress and TDMC were also conducted. Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for literature on the schizophrenia and psychosis and treatment decision making capacity. Pooled estimates of correlation were estimated for factors with data from three or more studies, and both study and outcome quality were systematically assessed. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, and individuals with psychosis completed measures of TDMC, cognitive biases, psychotic symptoms and recovery. Multiple regression was used to examine the primary and secondary hypotheses, and mediation analyses were used to conduct the post hoc analyses. Additional data from a parallel study was incorporated to increase power. Results: Twenty-four studies met inclusion criteria for the systematic review and meta-analysis. Low to moderate quality evidence suggested that the ability of people with psychosis to understand treatment-relevant information was strongly associated with overall psychotic symptom severity, verbal cognitive functioning and years of education, but not depression (moderate quality evidence). Low quality evidence suggested reasoning was strongly associated with verbal cognitive functioning and moderately associated with symptoms. Appreciation was associated with symptoms, but it and communication were generally poorly studied. Findings from the empirical study suggest that cognitive biases, and the Jumping to Conclusions bias in particular, predicts a moderate amount of the variance in the understanding and reasoning TDMC domains, but did not add predictive power to a model containing symptoms, insight, and cognition. The appreciation domain was strongly predicted by cognitive biases, insight, and cognition. TDMC was not found to be correlated with personal recovery and post hoc analyses did not find that emotional distress mediated any relationship between cognitive biases and TDMC. Conclusions: The meta-analysis confirms there is a robust association between symptoms and TDMC in psychosis, as currently conceived. The empirical study suggests cognitive biases may be related to TDMC, even after taking into account the contribution of symptoms. Larger studies, perhaps employing experimental procedures, are required to clarify the exact nature of this relationship. The lack of any relationship between TDMC and service-user defined recovery from psychosis is notable, and lends support to those calling for a conceptualisation of TDMC that takes greater account of this concept.

No description available.

This thesis examines cultural variations in time perception, as well as the possible influences on mental representation and decisions. Building on prior research on cultural differences in time-related perceptions, two main time perceptions were identified and focused on, namely temporal orientation and the use of time metaphor. The temporal orientation line of investigation explores the implications of a stronger future versus past orientation among English and Mandarin-speakers respectively. Based on Construal Level Theory, temporal orientation is expected to be related to psychological distance, which in turn affects the mental representations individuals form. The findings supported a stronger future orientation among English-speakers which is also evident in their mental representations that vary as a function of temporal orientation. However, Mandarin-speakers exhibited neither a strong past nor future orientation. A study examining the possible influence of temporal orientation on value judgment revealed a complex association between culture and value judgment. The time metaphor line of inquiry investigates the use of time metaphors among English and Mandarin-speakers and also the possible implications of such tendencies. Although previous psychological research implies a possible connection between the use of time metaphor and sense of personal control, this relationship is yet to be established. The findings showed supportive evidence of a frequent use of ego and time-moving metaphors among English and Mandarin-speakers respectively. However, studies examining the relationship between the use of time metaphor, perceived personal control, and decisions (optimism bias and risk-taking) revealed little supportive evidence of an association between them. The findings and a range of methodological and theoretical implications are discussed in the closing chapter.

How can people's risk preferences be understood? Work from prospect theory (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979) claimed that not only are people risk averse in the gain domain, but people are also risk seeking in the loss domain. Nonetheless, different opinions have appeared (e.g. March & Shapira, 1987; Sitkin & Pablo, 1992) casting doubt on the claim that people seek risk only in the loss domain; this is considered a fundamental disagreement about prospect theory. In order to bridge this gap, theoretical justification was examined in this study and it was found this disagreement originated from the arbitrary criterion of evaluating utility that was from an assumption on which prospect theory relied. Therefore, risk taking also exists in the gain domain. Based on this argument, three studies were developed to investigate risk preference when the decision making is framed in the gain domain. In order to predict people's risk preference in the gain domain, an Affect Venture Decision Making Model was proposed and examined in study one and two. On the basic of a dynamic learning experiment design, the third study found that not only are people able to be risk taking in the gain domain, risk preference even is reversed (most of people select to taking a risk) under some conditions of when individual's prior experience and knowledge are controlled for. The Affect Venture Decision Making Model was also systematically supported by the three studies. This suggests potential theoretical advances and presents new empirical evidence in this domain. / In study one, the decision of new venture creation is framed in the gain domain. 217 undergraduate students at The Chinese University of Hong Kong undertook the study. As a result, 30 percent of participants selected to create new venture, the risky choice. Further, in order to predict rather than describe people's risk preference between creating new venture and working in a stable firm, an affect venture decision making model was proposed. The results support the affect venture decision making model. It is found that subjective probability moderates the association between subjective value and risk preference; the association between the intensity of immediate anxiety and risk preference is also moderated. / In study three, the theoretical question arises to justify whether emotions are rational or irrational in explaining the decision making and judgment. The decision making performance does not draw a convincing conclusion in judging emotion as rational and irrational. Therefore, different accounts of rationality were reviewed in this conceptual work. With the fading of instrumental rationality in understanding people's rationality, bounded rationality, adaptive rationality, and game rationality have appeared in the literature. After reviewing the terminology of rationality, this study proposed that emotions are able to be rational since it holds expressive rationality and functional rationality. Cognition can not solve the issue of uncertainty completely. In order to examine the proposed argument, 206 undergraduate students at The University of Queensland were recruited to take part in the online experiment. Three conditions were manipulated. The results replicated the findings in study one and two, which examine that the proposed affect venture decision making model can be generalized into different decision scenarios and different samples. / Keywords. Risk preference, gain domain, affect, new venture creation, rationality / Study two examines emotional process in predicting the decision parameters proposed in the affect venture decision making model. Multiple expected emotions on the possible success or failure of creating new venture are studied to address (1) How much influence do the discrete multiple emotions have on the decision making process of creating new venture? (2) How is subjective judgment affected by these emotions? The empirical results support the affect decision making model. It is found that hope, regret, and surprise significantly predict the judgment of the subjective value and subjective probability. The study found that value judgment is more tasks specific. Probability judgment is influenced by both trait emotions and expected emotions elicited by the possible outcome of starting-up. / Li, Yan. / Adviser: David Ahlstrom. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: 2134. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-142). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

by Cheung Kwai-yeung. / Includes bibliographical references / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1986

by Tso Tze Kwong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves [121]-[123]. / Acknowledgments / Abstract --- p.A-1 / Table of Figures --- p.F-1 / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Group Factors and Their Impacts / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Why Group --- p.1-3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Effectiveness --- p.1-3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Efficiency --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Knowledge --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Social Bias Reduction --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Commitment --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Communications --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Quality of Decision --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Risk Taking --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Social Factors --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.6 --- Problems on Groups --- p.1-9 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Group Decision Support Systems / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2 --- Group Decision Making / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Definition of Decision-making Group --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- An Information-Exchange View --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Group Interaction --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Group Decision Making Process --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Group Decision Making Process Model TC-l --- p.2-7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Group Decision Support System --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Current Research Trend --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Definition of GDSSs --- p.2-10 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Comparisons of Major Features of GDSSs in Practice --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- The GDSS Software Models / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- The Software Components --- p.2-19 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Mapping Group Decision Making Concepts into GDSS Model --- p.2-23 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- The GDSS Design / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- System Overall Objectives --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Assumptions --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.4 --- System Scope / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Design Scope --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.5 --- Objectives / Chapter 3.5.1 --- User's Perspective --- p.3-4 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- System's Perspective --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Decision Support Perspective --- p.3-7 / Chapter 3.6 --- The Conceptual Design of Our GDSS --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- The Information Exchange Subsystem --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- The Decision Making Subsystem --- p.3-10 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- The Communications Framework of The System --- p.3-12 / Chapter 3.7 --- The Physical Design of The System / Chapter 3.7.1 --- The Network Structure --- p.3-14 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- The Communications Flow --- p.3-16 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- The Overall System Structure / Chapter 3.7.3.1 --- The Setup Module Its Functions and Components --- p.3-17 / Chapter 3.7.3.2 --- The Monitor Module Its Functions and Logic --- p.3-19 / Chapter 3.7.3.3 --- The Private Module Its Functions and Logic --- p.3-22 / Chapter 3.7.3.4 --- The Common Module Its Functions and Logic --- p.3-24 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- The System Overall Control Logic --- p.3-26 / Chapter 3.8 --- Aids in Group Decision Making / Chapter 3.8.1 --- The Nominal Group Technique --- p.3-29 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Decision Tree --- p.3-30 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Multi-Attribute Utility Technique (MAU) --- p.3-32 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Adjusted Multi-Attribute Utility Model --- p.3-35 / Chapter 3.8.5 --- Compromise Rules / Chapter a. --- Simple Majority --- p.3-38 / Chapter b. --- Borda Rule --- p.3-39 / Chapter c. --- Weighting --- p.3-40 / Chapter 3.9 --- The Information-Exchange Phase --- p.3-41 / Chapter 3.10 --- The Decision Making Phase / Chapter I --- Factors to Consider --- p.3-41 / Chapter II --- The Solution of Finalizing / Chapter Chapter 4. --- The Implementation of GDSS / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2 --- The Mechanism of Exchanging Information --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.3 --- The Implementation of NGT --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.4 --- The Forming of The Decision Structure --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Finalizing of Node Details --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.6 --- Methods in Evaluating A Final Choice --- p.4-12 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- A Practical Application / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2 --- Background --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.3 --- Objective --- p.5-2 / Chapter 5.4 --- Decision Analysis Rationale --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.5 --- The Decision Tree --- p.5-4 / Chapter 5.6 --- Decision Making Process --- p.5-8 / Chapter 5.7 --- The Feedback on Use of The System --- p.5-10 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.6-1 / Chapter 6.2 --- System Feedback --- p.6-2 / Chapter 6.3 --- The Practical Means of The System --- p.6-5 / Chapter 6.4 --- The Limitation of The System --- p.6-6 / Chapter 6.5 --- The Future Perspective of The System --- p.6-6 / References --- p.ref-1