Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 215-219).

Background: Multidirectional interactions in social networks can have a profound effect on mate choice behavior; e.g., Poecilia mexicana males show weaker expression of mating preferences when being observed by a rival. This may be an adaptation to reduce sperm competition risk, which arises because commonly preferred female phenotypes will receive attention also from surrounding males, and/or because other males can copy the focal male's mate choice. Do P. mexicana males indeed respond to perceived sperm competition risk? We gave males a choice between two females and repeated the tests under one of the following conditions: (1) an empty transparent cylinder was presented (control); (2) another ("audience") male inside the cylinder observed the focal male throughout the 2nd part, or (3) the audience male was presented only before the tests, but could not eavesdrop during the actual choice tests (non-specific sperm competition risk treatments); (4) the focal male could see a rival male interact sexually with the previously preferred, or (5) with the non-preferred female before the 2nd part of the tests (specific sperm competition risk treatments). Results: The strength of individual male preferences declined slightly also during the control treatment (1). However, this decrease was more than two-fold stronger in audience treatment (2), i.e., with non-specific sperm competition risk including the possibility for visual eavesdropping by the audience male. No audience effect was found in treatments (3) and (5), but a weak effect was also observed when the focal male had seen the previously preferred female sexually interact with a rival male (treatment 4; specific sperm competition risk). Conclusion: When comparing the two 'non-specific sperm competition risk' treatments, a very strong effect was found only when the audience male could actually observe the focal male during mate choice [treatment (2)]. This suggests that focal males indeed attempt to conceal their mating preferences so as to prevent surrounding males from copying their mate choice. When there is no potential for eavesdropping [treatment (3)], non-specific specific sperm competition risk seems to play a minor or no role. Our results also show that P. mexicana males tend to share their mating effort more equally among females when the resource value of their previously preferred mate decreases after mating with a rival male (perceived specific sperm competition risk), but this effect is comparatively weak.

The aim of the study was to investigate secondary school students´ preferences and experiences towards HIV/AIDS- education. A cross- sectional study was carried out in Dodoma region on five different secondary schools. Data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire, which was completed by 380 informants. The sample was made from the independent variables; gender, school location and school ownership. The result showed that 93 % of the students thought they need more information about HIV/AIDS. Only 51 % of the students felt that they had enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS to protect themselves from being infected by the virus. Half of all the students felt that there is a lack of support from the school to students living with HIV/AIDS. The students selected teachers, parents and doctor or health worker as the key persons in the HIV/AIDS- education. The conclusion is that there is a need of more information about HIV/AIDS among secondary school students. To reach out with the message to the students, the key persons have to interact and struggle towards the same goal. Further research should have a qualitative approach to examine secondary school students´ preferences and experiences towards HIV/AIDS- education.

Music has always been an important form of communication and it can be found in many different contexts including aesthetical, cultural and emotional forms. In the globalized society of today music can be distributed fast through radio, TV, CD: s and the Internet. For many people consumption of music is an important part of the daily life and it can contribute to shape an individual’s attitudes and personality. The main purpose of this study is to find out whether there are any differences between men and women’s musical preferences. I will apply an explorative approach using qualitative interviews to describe what causes the differences. My results show that there is a difference between men and women’s musical preferences at least on the surface. Men preferred listening to rock and women favoured pop to a greater extent. These results could be affected by socialisation which refers to common norms in the society describing how women and men should behave. Socialisation can be linked to musical preferences and clearly both sexes are affected by this. It can be problematic to break these norms fearing exclusion from certain social groups. Some factors that effects musical preferences are socialisation, gender and identity.

Preference for palatable and energy-dense foods may be a risk factor for body weight gain and has both genetic and environmental components. Once obesity develops in an individual, weight loss is difficult to achieve. Indeed, obesity is often characterized by repeated attempts to reduce the overconsumption of energy-dense foods, followed by food craving and relapse to overconsumption. Relapse and loss of control over intake are observed also in drug addicts, and it has been shown that obesity and drug addiction not only share behavioural features but also neural circuitry, e.g. the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. In this thesis, we sought to investigate the mechanisms related to food preferences and craving using animal models previously used in addiction research. The risk of gaining weight may implicate behavioural traits and emotional states. We showed in rats that a risk-taking behavioural profile was associated both with increased preference for a high-fat (HF) diet and with increased motivational response to a palatable high-sucrose (HS) diet. Hypothalamic urocortin 2 expression was associated with the preference for the HF diet. We also tested the hypothesis that consumption of HS and HF diets separately or provided simultaneously (HFHS) affect anxiety-like behaviour and locomotion. Furthermore, we showed that withdrawal from HFHS food affects diet-induced obesity-prone (OP) and obesity-resistant (OR) animals differently. OP animals had increased motivation (craving) for HS food pellets as measured by the operant self-administration technique during withdrawal. Dopamine receptor expression in the striatum differed between OP and OR animals both at access to HFHS and during withdrawal. This strongly implicates dopaminergic signaling in the OP phenotype. In humans, food preferences may be monitored using questionnaires. We analyzed food preference data from parents of preschool children, and identified an inverse association of parental preference for high-fat high-protein food and overweight in children. In conclusion, we have employed animal models previously used in the addiction field to identify molecular mechanisms related both to food preference and vulnerability to obesity, and to food craving associated with withdrawal from palatable food. These findings add to our current understanding of obesity.

Should economists depart from the neoclassical assumption of independent preferences and admit that people do not only care about absolute consumption, but also about relative consumption? Three different motives for relative preferences are explored, an instrumental perspective most often grounded in signalling incentives, a view where people care about identity and self-image and finally a theory based on the information content in consumption. The central concern is positional goods, typically seen as status-goods, of particular relevance in signalling contexts. The consumption patterns arrived at give rise to wasteful competitive consumption; the desire to advertise wealth produce a pareto-inferior outcome with an overconsumption of positional goods. In relation to this, we briefly discuss some policy implications as well as survey the available empirical evidence.

Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med barn i förskoleklass och genom enkätundersökningar hos pedagoger har jag fått svar på mina frågeställningar som handlar om pojkar, flickor och deras leksaksval då det gäller teknikbaserade leksaker. Syftet var att försöka se om det fanns skillnader i valet och användandet av dessa leksaker och i så fall försöka tydliggöra dem, och dessutom ta reda på varför barnen är olika i sina leksakspreferenser. Resultatet påvisar att för barnen i denna förskoleklass är konstruktionsleksaker ett frekvent val i verksamheten. Alla barn leker med dessa leksaker, dock skiljer sig preferenserna åt beroende på om man är flicka eller pojke, både i hemmet och i förskoleklassen. Hur barnens preferenser uppkommer finns det delade meningar om, dock är huvudteorin enligt de forskarna/författare jag tagit del av, socialt betingat. Pedagogiska slutsatser är att som pedagog måste man arbeta på ett målmedvetet sätt då det gäller leksaker och genus, man skall alltid ha med sig att leken har stor betydelse i barnens utveckling. Nyckelord: genus, leksaker, preferenser, teknik / Through interviews with children in preschool class and through inquiries by questionnaire with their teachers, I have received answers of my question at issue about boys, girls and their choices of technical toys. The purpose was to see if there were any differences in choosing and using these toys, and also to find out if and why the children have different preferences. The results indicate that for the children in this preschool class the choice of construction toys is common in the activities. All the children play with these toys, but still there are different preferences among girls and boys, both at home and in preschool class. There are differences in opinion among earlier researchers what causes boys and girls to differ in preferences of toys, but the main theory is still that gender differences depend on the family and the community. Pedagogical conclusions are that as a teacher of young children, you have to work with awareness when it comes to toys and gender. You must never forget the important role toys play in the development of the children. Keywords: gender, technical, toys, preferences

This paper investigates political representation by exploring the relationship between citizens' preferences and the preferences of their elected representatives. Using Swedish survey data, the empirical analysis shows that voters and politicians have significantly different preferences for local welfare services, implying that voters do not elect representatives with the same preferences as their own. The results show that when comparing a politician of a certain age, gender, educational level and marital status, with a voter with identical characteristics, the politician still has preferences for a significantly higher level of spending on the locally provided services. Hence our results indicate that the representation of different socio-economic groups does not necessarily lead to a larger degree of representation of these groups' agendas. Moreover, we find the observed difference to be largest for the least salient expenditure item. We do, however, not find any evidence for differences in preferences between the two groups being associated with a decline in trust for politicians among voters

Climate and weather have a major influence over seasonality in nature-based tourism by determining the availability and quality of certain outdoor recreational activities (Butler, 2001). Climate and weather act as central motivators involved in the travel decisions of tourists (Mintel International Group, 1991; Kozak, 2002). Climate as an attraction is also an integral component considered in destination choice among tourists (Lohmann and Kaim, 1999; Hamilton and Lau, 2005; Gössling et al. 2006). Due to the relationship between climate, weather and outdoor recreation, climate change is expected to have a direct impact on park visitation and camper decision-making (Jones and Scott, 2006a; 2006b). This study contributes to the understanding of weather sensitivity for different tourism segments across varying climate zones world-wide which can contribute to more informed park tourism planning and climate change adaptation in Ontario. Using a survey-based approach, this study identified and compared the stated weather preferences and weather related decision-making of campers from two different provincial parks in Ontario. The two provincial parks selected as case studies, based on differing park characteristics and perceived climatic requirements, were Pinery and Grundy Lake. Statistically significant differences (at the 95 percent confidence level) were observed in stated weather preferences and weather related decision-making, based on differences in respondent characteristics. Most notably, activity participation, length of planned stay and age of the respondent had the most significant and widespread effect on weather preferences and camper decision-making. Temperature preferences between the two parks were strikingly similar. However, differences in weather related decision-making were statistically significant showing campers at Pinery to be more sensitive to weather than those at Grundy Lake. Overall, parks that are more beach-oriented, closer to tourism generating areas and are characterised by visitors with shorter than average lengths of stay, are likely to be the most sensitive to weather variability. As such, it will be most important for parks that rely on similar tourism generating markets and share similar park characteristics as Pinery, to place a greater planning emphasis on climate change adaptation, as these parks are likely to be most affected by the impact of climate change on park visitation in Ontario. Climatic warming was not perceived by campers as a major threat to park visitation in Ontario. Instead, heavy rain, strong winds and unacceptably cool temperatures were the most influential weather variables in relation to camper decision-making. In response to the perceived threat of heavy rain and strong winds to camping in Ontario, and in association with projected increases pertaining to the frequency and intensity of these weather events under climate change, a number of recommendations have been made, which could be implemented by Ontario Parks in an effort to reduce camper vulnerability to extreme weather and improve overall trip satisfaction.

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