scholarly journals Applying Behaviour Change Models to Policymaking: Development and Validation of the Policymakers’ Information Use Questionnaire (POLIQ)

Author(s):  
Keiko Shikako-Thomas ◽  
Reem El Sherif ◽  
Roberta Cardoso ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Jonathan Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Policymakers’ Information Use Questionnaire (POLIQ) to capture the intention of individuals in decision-making position, such as health policymakers, to act on research-based evidence, in order to inform theory and the application of behaviour change models to decision-making. MethodsThe development and validation comprised three steps: item generation, qualitative face validation, and factorial construct validation. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to estimate item-domain correlations for five pre-defined constructs relating to content, beliefs, behaviour, control and intent. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated to assess overall consistency of questionnaire items with the pre-defined constructs. Participants in the item generation and face validation were health and policy researchers and two former decision-makers (former assistant deputy ministries) from Canadian provincial level. Participants in the construct validation were 39 Canadian decision-makers at various positions of municipal, provincial, and federal jurisdiction who participated in a series of policy dialogues focused on childhood disability research. ResultsInternal consistency of items belonging to the respective questionnaire domains was moderate to high with estimated Cronbach’s α values ranging from 0.67 to 0.84. Estimated item-domain correlations indicated moderate to high measurement performance for the domains norm, control and beliefs, whereas weak to moderate correlations resulted for the constructs content and intent. Estimate imprecisions of factor loadings (95% confidence interval widths) were considerable for the questionnaire domains content and intent. ConclusionThe study findings provide initial evidence on face validity and appropriate measurement properties of the POLIQ based on a convenient sample of decision-makers in social and health policy. Larger validation studies in relevant populations are needed to further establish psychometric properties and utility of the POLIQ.

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 4041-4058
Author(s):  
Fang Liu ◽  
Xu Tan ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
Hui Zhao

Intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations (IFPRs) have the natural ability to reflect the positive, the negative and the non-determinative judgements of decision makers. A decision making model is proposed by considering the inherent property of IFPRs in this study, where the main novelty comes with the introduction of the concept of additive approximate consistency. First, the consistency definitions of IFPRs are reviewed and the underlying ideas are analyzed. Second, by considering the allocation of the non-determinacy degree of decision makers’ opinions, the novel concept of approximate consistency for IFPRs is proposed. Then the additive approximate consistency of IFPRs is defined and the properties are studied. Third, the priorities of alternatives are derived from IFPRs with additive approximate consistency by considering the effects of the permutations of alternatives and the allocation of the non-determinacy degree. The rankings of alternatives based on real, interval and intuitionistic fuzzy weights are investigated, respectively. Finally, some comparisons are reported by carrying out numerical examples to show the novelty and advantage of the proposed model. It is found that the proposed model can offer various decision schemes due to the allocation of the non-determinacy degree of IFPRs.


Author(s):  
Karno Pandu Wibowo

This study aims to determine the usefulness level of accounting information (on cash basis and accrual basis) in central goverment agencies internal decision-making process. In addition, this study also aims to determine the influence of the organization’s external factors, the organization's internal factors and Individual Actor’s Characteristic Related Factors on the level of use of accounting information in central goverment agencies internal decision making.The research show that  level of accrual accounting information use in the context of internal decision making is high. In addition it showed differences between  level of cash-based accounting information use and accrual-based accounting information use. This study also addressed that the organization’s external factors, the organization's internal factors and individual actor’s characteristic related factors significantly influence both level of accounting information use  on cash basis and accrual basis in the internal decision-making. Except for the organization’s external factors  did not significantly affect the level of accrual accounting information use  in the internal decision-making.   Abstrak Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui tingkat kegunaan informasi akuntansi (berbasis kas dan akrual) dalam proses pengambilan keputusan internal Unit Akuntansi Kuasa Pengguna Anggaran (UAKPA). Selain itu penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh faktor eksternal organisasi, faktor internal organisasi dan faktor karakteristik individu pengguna terhadap tingkat penggunaan informasi akuntansi dalam pengambilan keputusan internal Unit Akuntansi Kuasa Pengguna Anggaran (UAKPA).Temuan peneliti menunjukan bahwa tingkat penggunaan informasi akuntansi berbasis akrual tinggi dalam rangka pengambilan keputusan internal. Selain itu penelitian menunjukan adanya perbedaan tingkat penggunaan antara informasi akutansi berbasis kas dan informasi akutansi berbasis akrual. Penelitian juga menujukan bahwa faktor eksternal organisasi, faktor internal organisasi dan faktor karakteristik individu pengguna berpengaruh signifikan terhadap tingkat penggunaan informasi akuntansi (berbasis kas dan akrual) dalam pengambilan keputusan internal. Kecuali untuk faktor eksternal organisasi tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap tingkat penggunaan informasi akuntansi akrual dalam pengambilan keputusan internal.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suci Handayani Handayani ◽  
Hade Afriansyah

Decision making is one element of economic value, especially in the era of globalization, and if it is not acceptable in the decision making process, we will be left behind. According to Robins, (2003: 173), Salusu, (2000: 47), and Razik and Swanson, (1995: 476) say that decision making can be interpreted as a process of choosing a number of alternatives, how to act in accordance with concepts, or rules in solving problems to achieve individual or group goals that have been formulated using a number of specific techniques, approaches and methods and achieve optimal levels of acceptance.Decision making in organizations whether a decision is made for a person or group, the nature of the decision is often determined by rules, policies, prescribed, instructions that have been derived or practices that apply. To understand decision making within the organization it is useful to view decision making as part of the overall administrative process. In general, individuals tend to use simple strategies, even if in any complex matter, to get the desired solution, because the solution is limited by imperfect information, time and costs, limited thinking and psychological stress experienced by decision makers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1and2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev Dhingra ◽  
Preetvanti Singh

Decision problems are usually complex and involve evaluation of several conflicting criteria (parameters). Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) is a promising field that considers the parallel influence of all criteria and aims at helping decision makers in expressing their preferences, over a set of predefined alternatives, on the basis of criteria (parameters) that are contradictory in nature. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a useful and widespread MCDM tool for solving such type of problems, as it allows the incorporation of conflicting objectives and decision makers preferences in the decision making. The AHP utilizes the concept of pair wise comparison to find the order of criteria (parameters) and alternatives. The comparison in a pairwise manner becomes quite tedious and complex for problems having eight alternatives or more, thereby, limiting the application of AHP. This paper presents a soft hierarchical process approach based on soft set decision making which eliminates the least promising candidate alternatives and selects the optimum(potential) ones that results in the significant reduction in the number of pairwise comparisons necessary for the selection of the best alternative using AHP, giving the approach a more realistic view. A supplier selection problem is used to illustrate the proposed approach.


Axioms ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Dragiša Stanujkić ◽  
Darjan Karabašević ◽  
Gabrijela Popović ◽  
Predrag S. Stanimirović ◽  
Florentin Smarandache ◽  
...  

Some decision-making problems, i.e., multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) problems, require taking into account the attitudes of a large number of decision-makers and/or respondents. Therefore, an approach to the transformation of crisp ratings, collected from respondents, in grey interval numbers form based on the median of collected scores, i.e., ratings, is considered in this article. In this way, the simplicity of collecting respondents’ attitudes using crisp values, i.e., by applying some form of Likert scale, is combined with the advantages that can be achieved by using grey interval numbers. In this way, a grey extension of MCDA methods is obtained. The application of the proposed approach was considered in the example of evaluating the websites of tourism organizations by using several MCDA methods. Additionally, an analysis of the application of the proposed approach in the case of a large number of respondents, done in Python, is presented. The advantages of the proposed method, as well as its possible limitations, are summarized.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Marović ◽  
Monika Perić ◽  
Tomaš Hanak

A way to minimize uncertainty and achieve the best possible project performance in construction project management can be achieved during the procurement process, which involves selecting an optimal contractor according to “the most economically advantageous tender.” As resources are limited, decision-makers are often pulled apart by conflicting demands coming from various stakeholders. The challenge of addressing them at the same time can be modelled as a multi-criteria decision-making problem. The aim of this paper is to show that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) together with PROMETHEE could cope with such a problem. As a result of their synergy, a decision support concept for selecting the optimal contractor (DSC-CONT) is proposed that: (a) allows the incorporation of opposing stakeholders’ demands; (b) increases the transparency of decision-making and the consistency of the decision-making process; (c) enhances the legitimacy of the final outcome; and (d) is a scientific approach with great potential for application to similar decision-making problems where sustainable decisions are needed.


Author(s):  
Christian Hauser

AbstractIn recent years, trade-control laws and regulations such as embargoes and sanctions have gained importance. However, there is limited empirical research on the ways in which small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) respond to such coercive economic measures. Building on the literature on organizational responses to external demands and behavioral ethics, this study addresses this issue to better understand how external pressures and managerial decision-making are associated with the scope of trade-control compliance programs. Based on a sample of 289 SMEs, the findings show that the organizational responses of SMEs reflect proportionate adjustments to regulatory pressures but only if decision-makers are well informed and aware of the prevailing rules and regulations. Conversely, uninformed decision-making leads to a disproportionate response resulting in an inadequately reduced scope of the compliance program. In addition, the results indicate that SMEs that are highly integrated into supply chains are susceptible to passing-the-buck behavior.


2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-274
Author(s):  
Sameer Kumar ◽  
Thomas Ressler ◽  
Mark Ahrens

This article is an appeal to incorporate qualitative reasoning into quantitative topics and courses, especially those devoted to decision-making offered in colleges and universities. Students, many of whom join professional workforce, must become more systems thinkers and decision-makers than merely problem-solvers. This will entail discussion of systems thinking, not just reaching “the answer”. Managers will need to formally and forcefully discuss objectives and values at each stage of the problem-solving process – at the start, during the problem-solving stage, and at the interpretation of the results stage – in order to move from problem solving to decision-making. The authors suggest some methods for doing this, and provide examples of why doing so is so important for decision-makers in the modern world.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-84
Author(s):  
John Pullinger

Statistics are the currency of debate and the basis for sound decisions. If they are misused the currency of debate is devalued and the basis for decision making is undermined. Without confidence in statistics, decision makers are flying blind when they make their choices and citizens are in the dark in seeking to hold those decision makers to account. Misuse of statistics undermines trust and by doing so it undermines democracy. This paper explores the safeguards available to protect against misuse of statistics. It describes the nature of the threats and how they are changing before assessing the responses. It concludes that there is unfinished business to be taken forward.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
Megan Seeley ◽  
Gregory P. Asner

As humans continue to alter Earth systems, conservationists look to remote sensing to monitor, inventory, and understand ecosystems and ecosystem processes at large spatial scales. Multispectral remote sensing data are commonly integrated into conservation decision-making frameworks, yet imaging spectroscopy, or hyperspectral remote sensing, is underutilized in conservation. The high spectral resolution of imaging spectrometers captures the chemistry of Earth surfaces, whereas multispectral satellites indirectly represent such surfaces through band ratios. Here, we present case studies wherein imaging spectroscopy was used to inform and improve conservation decision-making and discuss potential future applications. These case studies include a broad array of conservation areas, including forest, dryland, and marine ecosystems, as well as urban applications and methane monitoring. Imaging spectroscopy technology is rapidly developing, especially with regard to satellite-based spectrometers. Improving on and expanding existing applications of imaging spectroscopy to conservation, developing imaging spectroscopy data products for use by other researchers and decision-makers, and pioneering novel uses of imaging spectroscopy will greatly expand the toolset for conservation decision-makers.


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