Decision analysis model: An extension of the states of nature concept

The standard model of decision analysis is modified by showing that, in general, the state of nature concept can be usefully represented in terms of three components that may be called: (1) payoff relevant (2) payoff generating and (3) message generating. This modification allows a richer structure within which decision analysis problems can be formulated and thus allows a richer foundation for developing new concepts, classifying problems and revising existing concepts such as perfect information. It is shown that the unique payoff relevant domain of states and acts must, in any real decision, provide the initial basis for defining any payoff function (or, as appropriate, the loss function and opportunity loss function) that has a domain other than pay-off-relevant states.     

Misconceptions about strength exercise among older adults

The purposes of this study were to determine current opinions of strength exercise among older adults and whether knowledge of recommended protocols differs between strength-exercise participants and nonparticipants. One hundred twenty-nine older adults (77.5 +/- 8.6 years) responded to questions about their opinions, experiences, and knowledge of strength-exercise recommendations. Some misconceptions were identified in the sample, with 48.4% of participants responding "no" to "strength training increases muscle mass," 45% responding "no" to "increasing weight is more important than number of repetitions for building strength," and 37% responding that walking is more effective than lifting weights at building muscle strength. The number of correct responses was related to the number of years in school (semipartial r(2)= .046). More education is needed about the benefits and recommendations to ensure proper use of current strength-exercise protocols among older adults.     

Mothers' Representations of Relationships with their Children: Relations with Parenting Behavior, Mother Characteristics, and Child Disability Status

Representational models of mother-child relationships were assessed through interview for 112 mothers of children ages 14 to 52 months. Fifty-eight (51.8%) children had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, 19 (17%) were diagnosed with epilepsy, while the remaining 35 (31.3%) had no diagnosis. Relations were examined between dimensions of representations (compliance, achievement, secure base, enmeshment, worry, pain) and maternal age, education and stress; diagnostic group and child developmental status; and mother's behavior with the child in a problem-solving task. Mothers for whom boundary violations were represented were also less focused with child achievement and experienced more worry and pain in the relationship. More severe disability status was associated with less compliance and more pain in representations. Longer time since diagnosis was positively correlated with painful representations. Representations were unrelated to child gender, child age, maternal education or age, or parenting stress. With educational level controlled, mothers' support for the child and positive affect in a problem-solving task were negatively related to representations of worry about the child's future. Boundary concerns were predictive of mothers' pressuring behavior in the problem-solving task. Findings suggest representations are related to caregiving behavior apart from other maternal characteristics, and that mothers' representations reflect variability in their children.     

Contemporary Sociology: A Quarter Century of Book Reviews

Sociological Forum -     

Contemporary Social Policy Analysis Methods: An Incorporation of Ethical Principals and Implementation Processes

This article focuses on how policy analysts address complex social issues and problems by organizing them into ethic-based analytic components and utilizing an array of quantitative and qualitative methods, including program outcome and impact evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and assessments of local political influence on implementation process. Four articles generated by doctoral students under the guidance of their faculty instructor demonstrate how the strategies of connecting social ethical values in policy analysis enlighten the valuation of the policy process, its history, and outcomes.