scholarly journals On The Use Of Writing Assignments In Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 25-36
Author(s):  
Patrick B. O’Neill

A typical writing assignment in upper level required courses is a term paper. However many economics majors, particularly those in business schools, need to develop skill at writing shorter pieces. In this paper I describe numerous examples of shorter writing assignments that I have incorporated into an Intermediate Microeconomic Theory course. The assignments include such activities as comparison of competing theories; non-traditional applications of theory; book reviews; and explorations of the nuances of the standard consumer choice model. In addition to describing the details of the various assignments, the paper presents both student and instructor assessment of them.

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prof. Amit Shrivastava ◽  
Prof. Sushil Kumar Pare ◽  
Prof (Dr) Saumya Singh

Inadequate is the empirical research on store choice model in view of retail store attributes with endogenous construct of store patronage intention of consumer. Conventional wisdom and social science research-based insights for underpinning the design of store environment established elements such as music, scent, crowding and physical attractiveness of the store. Earlier empirical findings lack on key anterior, which include consumers’ time and effort as well as the psychological costs such as convenient, economical, risk mitigated shopping experience. The premise on which overall effects in our model rests, is that store attributes influence consumers' cognitive process and develop perceptual framework of store choice criteria — namely, convenience, reputation of outlet, branded merchandise (mediated through perceived quality). This research presents a formal test of the linear regression equation model in the context of store choice behaviour, involving one product category. The present paper explores these attributes and their affect on consumer from different socio-economic classes, willingness to purchase and to patronize if these factors are modified. Questioning the earlier conclusions that all attributes aforementioned are equally important in consumer decision making, the current results indicate that consumers place differential significance on each attribute, and the level of significance placed on each attribute varies with different socio economic class. These findings are significantly important to the retail industry as they identify the critical attributes responsible for building consumer choice and patronage among different socio economy classes. This model also paves way for another premise of empirical research, that shoppers might develop category-wise store choice or patronage behaviour model.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiko Karle ◽  
Georg Kirchsteiger ◽  
Martin Peitz

We analyze a consumer-choice model with price uncertainty, loss aversion, and expectation-based reference points. The implications of this model are tested in an experiment in which participants have to make a consumption choice between two sandwiches. Participants differ in their reported taste for the two sandwiches and in their degree of loss aversion, which we measure separately. We find that more-loss-averse participants are more likely to opt for the cheaper sandwich, in line with theoretical predictions. The estimates in the model with rational expectations are slightly more significant than those with naïve expectations. (JEL D11, D12, D84, M31)


Sociologija ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ognjen Radonjic

Neoclassical theory of consumer choice needs to be reformed. Assumption that consumer choice is not influenced by the choice of others is in collision with reality. New and better theory of consumer choice is unimaginable without incorporation of intersubjective factors into the model of derivation of individual and aggregate (market) demand functions. Goal of this study is to underline widely neglected sociological factors that have significant influence on motivation and behavior of consumers. Inclusion of these factors into modern microeconomic theory is of essential importance if we are about to construct theoretical model aimed to describe reality in which we daily exist better than its predecessor did.


2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. E917-E935
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Kumjian ◽  
Kevin A. Bowley ◽  
Paul M. Markowski ◽  
Kelly Lombardo ◽  
Zachary J. Lebo ◽  
...  

Abstract An engaged scholarship project called “Snowflake Selfies” was developed and implemented in an upper-level undergraduate course at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). During the project, students conducted research on snow using low-cost, low-tech instrumentation that may be readily implemented broadly and scaled as needed, particularly at institutions with limited resources. During intensive observing periods (IOPs), students measured snowfall accumulations, snow-to-liquid ratios, and took microscopic photographs of snow using their smartphones. These observations were placed in meteorological context using radar observations and thermodynamic soundings, helping to reinforce concepts from atmospheric thermodynamics, cloud physics, radar, and mesoscale meteorology courses. Students also prepared a term paper and presentation using their datasets/photographs to hone communication skills. Examples from IOPs are presented. The Snowflake Selfies project was well received by undergraduate students as part of the writing-intensive course at Penn State. Responses to survey questions highlight the project’s effectiveness at engaging students and increasing their enthusiasm for the semester-long project. The natural link to social media broadened engagement to the community level. Given the successes at Penn State, we encourage Snowflake Selfies or similar projects to be adapted or implemented at other institutions.


Author(s):  
Kirsten A. Davis ◽  
William A. Mogg ◽  
David P. Callaghan ◽  
Greg R. Birkett ◽  
David B. Knight ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Lin He ◽  
Christopher Hoyle ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Jiliang Wang ◽  
Bernard Yannou

Usage Context-Based Design (UCBD) is an area of growing interest within the design community. A framework and a step-by-step procedure for implementing consumer choice modeling in UCBD are presented in this work. To implement the proposed approach, methods for common usage identification, data collection, linking performance with usage context, and choice model estimation are developed. For data collection, a method of try-it-out choice experiments is presented. This method is necessary to account for the different choices respondents make conditional on the given usage context, which allows us to examine the influence of product design, customer profile, usage context attributes, and their interactions, on the choice process. Methods of data analysis are used to understand the collected choice data, as well as to understand clusters of similar customers and similar usage contexts. The choice modeling framework, which considers the influence of usage context on both the product performance, choice set and the consumer preferences, is presented as the key element of a quantitative usage context-based design process. In this framework, product performance is modeled as a function of both the product design and the usage context. Additionally, usage context enters into an individual customer’s utility function directly to capture its influence on product preferences. The entire process is illustrated with a case study of the design of a jigsaw.


2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 944-945

Hal R. Varian of the University of California, Berkeley reviews “Revealed Preference Theory,” by Christopher P. Chambers and Federico Echenique. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Presents mathematical models that capture the preferences revealed through consumer choice behavior, addresses the relation between theory and data, and studies situations in which empirical observations are consistent or inconsistent with theories in economics. Discusses mathematical preliminaries; classical abstract choice theory; rational demand; topics in rational demand; practical issues in revealed preference analysis; production; stochastic choice; choice under uncertainty; general equilibrium theory; game theory; social choice and political science; revealed preference and systems of polynomial inequalities; and revealed preference and model theory.”


2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (02) ◽  
pp. 298-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gamze Çavdar ◽  
Sue Doe

AbstractTraditional writing assignments often fall short in addressing problems in college students' writing as too often these assignments fail to help students develop critical thinking skills and comprehension of course content. This article reports the use of a two-part (staged) writing assignment with postscript as a strategy for improving critical thinking in a lower-division political science course. We argue that through well-designed writing assignments, instructors can encourage students to reconsider concepts, critically evaluate assumptions, and undertake substantive revisions of their writing.


1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl A. Rickabaugh

Guided writing assignments can encourage critical thinking in undergraduate psychology classes. Students (N − 96) were surveyed to assess the effectiveness of the method. Results suggested that the assignments were at an appropriate level for the course. Students indicated that they were able to relate the assignments to the course convent and that the assignments made the lecture and text material easier to understand. Overall, students thought that the assignments were integrated into the course content. Perhaps most important, students indicated that the assignments helped develop their individual interests in the subject matter. Finally, these assignments were overwhelmingly preferred to a traditional term paper.


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