Heuristic Estimation of the Efficient Frontier for a Bi-Criteria Scheduling Problem

We examine a single-machine scheduling problem where the objective is to minimize the mean and the variance of the job completion times simultaneously. We seek to identify the efficient frontier which is obtained by parametrically solving a weighted combination of the two criteria. The identification of the true efficient frontier for this problem is notoriously difficult. To estimate the frontier, we propose a heuristic procedure which is quite general and can be applied to other bi-criteria problems as well. It involves repeated applications of a relatively new technique called beam search in an adaptive manner. To evaluate the proposed procedure, we introduce two measures of performance and conduct a computational study. The results of the study indicate that the procedure is highly effective.     

Optimal Delivery Time Quotation and Order Sequencing

This paper examines the problem of quoting a common delivery time for several orders. The decision maker responsible for the quote must trade off the cost associated with a long delivery time against the cost of tardy orders that might be induced by a short delivery time. First, an aggregate cost model is investigated where it is assumed that some cost is incurred if the quoted delivery time exceeds a given threshold and the cost of order tardiness is dependent on the order. Both exact and heuristic solution procedures are proposed for this model. Finally, for the situation where the costs cannot be quantified, a bicriteria formulation of the problem is pursued and the set of nondominated solutions is identified.     

EFFECTS OF CONFLICTING ANALYSES ON MANAGERIAL DECISION MAKING: A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

Researchers in a variety of disciplines have recommended the use of multiple conflicting data analyses to improve managerial decision making through the challenging of assumptions. This study deals with the effects of single data analyses and conflicting analyses on managers' solutions to a case analysis task. Results showed that managers who received conflicting analyses produced solutions with higher expected profits than those who received single analyses. Implications for the use of analytic decision aids are noted.     

THE MARBLE-DROP TECHNIQUE: A PROCEDURE FOR GATHERING SENSITIVE INFORMATION

This study investigates the efficiency of a ballot technique in reducing bias caused by nonsampling errors in studies designed to gather sensitive information. Findings reveal that the technique produces population estimates more accurate than conventional interviewing and as accurate as the randomized-response technique.     

COMPARING FORECAST ACCURACY FOR EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING MODELS OF EARNINGS-PER-SHARE DATA FOR FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING

This paper relates recent research in predicting accounting earnings per share (EPS) to an experiment comparing the performance of extrapolative forecasting models. The paper points out the usefulness of the results to decision-making processes such as those used in portfolio analysis or financial management. The statistical results of the experiment point to the usefulness of the Holt-Winter (HW) model in predicting EPS for a random sample of firms over a 20-year horizon. For short-term forecasting, the HW model provides relatively accurate forecasts in comparison to other methods used. HW is likely to be a costeffective alternative to more time-consuming and expensive techniques.     

Impact of T-ACASI on Survey Measurements of Subjective Phenomena

Numerous studies have shown that audio-computer-assisted self-interviewing (audio-CASI) and telephone audio-CASI (T-ACASI) technologies yield increased reporting of sensitive and stigmatized objective phenomena such as sexual and drug use behaviors. Little attention has been given, however, to the impact of these technologies on the measurement of subjective phenomena (attitudes, opinions, feelings, etc.). This article reports results for the seven subjective measurements included in the National STD and Behavior Measurement Experiment (NSBME). NSBME drew probability samples of USA and Baltimore adults (Ns = 1,543 and 744, respectively) and randomized these respondents to be interviewed by T-ACASI or telephone interviewer-administered questioning (T-IAQ). Response distributions for all subjective measurements obtained by T-ACASI diverge from those obtained by human telephone interviewers. For six of our seven ordinal-scaled measurements, this divergence involved shifting responses directionally along the ordinal scale, as opposed to a nondirectional redistribution among response categories. When interviewed by T-ACASI, respondents were more supportive of traditional gender roles and corporal punishment, less supportive of integrated neighborhoods and same-gender sex, and more likely to agree that occasional marijuana use is harmless and to describe themselves as attractive. The majority of these results suggest that telephone survey respondents may provide more "tolerant" and "socially liberal" responses to human interviewers than to a T-ACASI computer. Similarly, although the evidence is not entirely consistent, the impact of T-ACASI appears to increase with the social vulnerability of the population surveyed.     

Categorical Representation of Facial Expressions in the Infant Brain

Categorical perception, demonstrated as reduced discrimination of within‐category relative to between‐category differences in stimuli, has been found in a variety of perceptual domains in adults. To examine the development of categorical perception in the domain of facial expression processing, we used behavioral and event‐related potential (ERP) methods to assess discrimination of within‐category (happy‐happy) and between‐category (happy‐sad) differences in facial expressions in 7‐month‐old infants. Data from a visual paired‐comparison test and recordings of attention‐sensitive ERPs showed no discrimination of facial expressions in the within‐category condition, whereas reliable discrimination was observed in the between‐category condition. The results also showed that face‐sensitive ERPs over occipital‐temporal scalp (P400) were attenuated in the within‐category condition relative to the between‐category condition, suggesting a potential neural basis for the reduced within‐category sensitivity. Together, these results suggest that the neural systems underlying categorical representation of facial expressions emerge during the early stages of postnatal development, before acquisition of language.     

On boosting kernel regression

In this paper we propose a simple multistep regression smoother which is constructed in an iterative manner, by learning the Nadaraya–Watson estimator with _L2$L_2$ boosting. We find, in both theoretical analysis and simulation experiments, that the bias converges exponentially fast, and the variance diverges exponentially slow. The first boosting step is analysed in more detail, giving asymptotic expressions as functions of the smoothing parameter, and relationships with previous work are explored. Practical performance is illustrated by both simulated and real data.     

A Follow‐Up of Adult Career Counseling Clients of a University Extension Center

An unannounced, telephone follow‐up evaluation of 181 out‐of‐school adults who had enrolled in 1 of 2 programs of individual career counseling at a university extension center indicated that 78% were satisfied or very satisfied. Eighty‐five percent reported that they were following through on their counseling in a variety of ways, including pursuing further education (35%) and changing jobs or occupations (14%). Satisfaction was not related at a statistically significant level to completion of their allotted counseling interviews, program, gender, or education level. The discussion considers the implications for offering career counseling to adults and for future research.