MANAGING THE DECISION SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY: A CASE FOR ETHICAL ANALYSIS?*

After ten years of rapid, if sometimes chaotic growth, it is time to reflect upon where Decision Sciences is headed. At stake are the essential questions of (1) should the growth of the discipline be managed, and if so (2) how should it be managed and who should do the managing? I argue that the growth of the discipline should be managed rather than be dictated by the technological imperative that states that any envisioned application of quantitative methods should be implemented. Moreover, I argue that, since to a large degree the implementation decision is an ethical question, the individual decision scientist must ultimately be held accountable. Finally, I suggest that Glenn Stassen's social ethic paradigm may be a useful vehicle for resolving intradiscipline conflicts. These abstract ideas are concretized by examining the growth of the area of artificial intelligence.     

Experiences and Perceptions of Problem Gamblers on Cognitive and Exposure Therapies When Taking Part in a Randomised Controlled Trial: A Qualitative Study

In South Australia (SA) problem gambling is mainly a result of the widespread availability of electronic gaming machines. A key treatment provider in SA offers free cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT) to help-seeking problem gamblers. The CBT program focuses on the treatment of clients’ urge to gamble using exposure therapy (ET) and cognitive therapy (CT) to restructure erroneous gambling beliefs. The aim of this study was to explore treatment specific and non-specific effects for CT alone and ET alone using qualitative interviews. Interviewees were a sub-sample of participants from a randomised trial that investigated the relative efficacy of CT versus ET. Findings revealed that all interviewees gained benefit from their respective therapies and their comments did not appear to favour one therapy over another. Both treatment specific and treatment non-specific effects were well supported as playing a therapeutic role to recovery. Participants’ comments in both therapy groups suggested that symptom reduction was experienced on a gambling related urge–cognition continuum. In addition to symptom improvement from therapy-specific mechanisms, ET participants described a general acquisition of “rational thought” from their program of therapy and CT participants had “taken-over” their gambling urges. The findings also highlighted areas for further improvement including therapy drop-out.     

ON THE INEFFECTIVE EDUCATION OF DECISION SCIENTISTS

There is general agreement that the training of decision scientists during the past ten years has left much to be desired. This note presents nine rules relating to the fundamental reasons for the failure of training programs, along with suggestions for improving the present state of affairs.     

Peak Exposures in Epidemiologic Studies and Cancer Risks: Considerations for Regulatory Risk Assessment

We review approaches for characterizing “peak” exposures in epidemiologic studies and methods for incorporating peak exposure metrics in dose–response assessments that contribute to risk assessment. The focus was on potential etiologic relations between environmental chemical exposures and cancer risks. We searched the epidemiologic literature on environmental chemicals classified as carcinogens in which cancer risks were described in relation to “peak” exposures. These articles were evaluated to identify some of the challenges associated with defining and describing cancer risks in relation to peak exposures. We found that definitions of peak exposure varied considerably across studies. Of nine chemical agents included in our review of peak exposure, six had epidemiologic data used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in dose–response assessments to derive inhalation unit risk values. These were benzene, formaldehyde, styrene, trichloroethylene, acrylonitrile, and ethylene oxide. All derived unit risks relied on cumulative exposure for dose–response estimation and none, to our knowledge, considered peak exposure metrics. This is not surprising, given the historical linear no‐threshold default model (generally based on cumulative exposure) used in regulatory risk assessments. With newly proposed US EPA rule language, fuller consideration of alternative exposure and dose–response metrics will be supported. “Peak” exposure has not been consistently defined and rarely has been evaluated in epidemiologic studies of cancer risks. We recommend developing uniform definitions of “peak” exposure to facilitate fuller evaluation of dose response for environmental chemicals and cancer risks, especially where mechanistic understanding indicates that the dose response is unlikely linear and that short‐term high‐intensity exposures increase risk.     

CORRESPONDENCE OF FAMILY THERAPISTS' PERCEPTIONS WITH FRCCCS CODING RULES FOR TRIADIC INTERACTIONS

Family therapy theory, practice, and research across many orientations are concerned with multiperson interactional phenomena such as intercepts, disconfirmations, and indirect communications. This study reports a successful criterion validity test of the rules for coding these triadic features in the Family Relational Communication Control Coding System (FRCCCS) (Friedlander & Heatherington, 1989). Thirty-five experienced family therapists observed two videotaped family therapy interactions and reported their perceptions of each of 25 communications. These perceptions-the criterion-significantly corresponded with the FRCCCS coding rules about the relational control aspects of triadic communications. Discussion focuses on the future use of the FRCCCS in research on family therapy.     

THE COMMUNICATION RAPID ASSESSMENT SCALE: DEVELOPMENT OF A BEHAVIORAL INDEX OF COMMUNICATION QUALITY

The development of a rapid, easy to use, behaviorally oriented communication assessment scale is traced. A series of studies designed to determine its validity, reliability, and usefulness as an outcome measure are summarized. The current and potential uses of the scale are outlined along with guidelines for its application.     

The rest room and equal opportunity

Encouragement and assistance was provided by Howard Becker, Gayle Binion, and Beth Schneider.