The Effectiveness of Different Representations for Managerial Problem Solving: Comparing Tables and Maps

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable decision makers to view tabular data geographically, as maps. This simple yet powerful visual format appears to facilitate problem solving, yet how it does so is not clear, nor do we know the types of problems that benefit from this representation. To begin to understand the contributions of geographic representations over tabular representations, we conducted a three-factor experiment in problem solving. The experiment contained two different representations (map and table), three different geographic relationships (proximity, adjacency, and containment), and three levels of task difficulty (low, medium, and high). We found that maps generally produced faster problem solving than tables, and that problem-solving time increased with task difficulty. Most importantly, for the proximity and adjacency geographic relationships we found that maps kept problem-solving time low, while tables tended to increase time dramatically. However, we found that the number of knowledge states for each task explains performance times quite well and is a useful tool for understanding performance differences and interaction effects. As tasks become more difficult, representing them as maps generally keeps the number of knowledge states small, while for tables, the number of knowledge states increases dramatically. Correspondingly, problem-solving times increase dramatically with tables, but not with maps. In sum, as difficulty increases, maps are more effective for problem-solving tasks. Using maps, the tasks are simplified using visual heuristics that keep problemsolving times and error rates from rising as quickly as they do with tables.     

科索沃民族问题的历史分析

科索沃是巴尔干半岛自我分裂的缩影。该地区缺乏必要的共同利益,而其历史发展进程中又缺乏各民族融和不可或缺的强制力量,缺乏长期而稳定的融合过程。直到13世纪初,拜占廷帝国通过传播东正教信仰和拜占廷文化力图统一巴尔干半岛的努力是成功的,一种被整个东欧世界承认的拜占廷斯拉夫传统基本形成。但是1204年西欧十字军骑士对君士坦丁堡的占领中止了这个刚刚完成但还有待发展巩固的过程,以拜占廷政治文化体系为核心的巴尔干半岛整合计划被打乱,拜占廷帝国失去了整合巴尔干半岛的主导权,巴尔干半岛各民族整合并形成更加稳定的现代民族国家生存基础的进程被中断。此后出现的奥斯曼土耳其帝国的统治只是强化了地区内的对立因素,特别是在巴尔干半岛民族解放斗争中激发起来的民族意识使该地区内部冲突更加激烈,彻底丧失了自我整合的能力。科索沃问题有其深刻的历史根源。     

Retailer's Response to Alternate Manufacturer's Incentives Under a Single‐Period,Price‐Dependent,Stochastic‐Demand Framework*

This article considers the joint development of the optimal pricing and ordering policies of a profit‐maximizing retailer, faced with (i) a manufacturer trade incentive in the form of a price discount for itself or a rebate directly to the end customer; (ii) a stochastic consumer demand dependent upon the magnitude of the selling price and of the trade incentive, that is contrasted with a riskless demand, which is the expected value of the stochastic demand; and (iii) a single‐period newsvendor‐type framework. Additional analysis includes the development of equal profit policies in either form of trade incentive, an assessment of the conditions under which a one‐dollar discount is more profitable than a one‐dollar rebate, and an evaluation of the impact upon the retailer‐expected profits of changes in either incentive or in the degree of demand uncertainty. A numerical example highlights the main features of the model. The analytical and numerical results clearly show that, as compared to the results for the riskless demand, dealing with uncertainty through a stochastic demand leads to (i) (lower) higher retail prices if additive (multiplicative) error, (ii) lower (higher) pass throughs if additive (multiplicative) error, (iii) higher claw backs in both error structures wherever applicable, and (iv) higher rebates to achieve equivalent profits in both error structures.     

The Paradoxes of Recovery Policy: Exploring the Impact of Austerity and Responsibilisation for the Citizenship Claims of People with Drug Problems

This article critically examines the implications accompanying the introduction and implementation of recovery‐based policy. The article draws upon research conducted in Lancashire, England, where commissioners have been at the forefront of recent developments in ‘whole system’ models of commissioning. Empirical data are drawn on to make a series of new arguments about the tensions and practice implications of the new recovery agenda. The article has three main objectives. First, it explores current shifts in England, in which drug service commissioning has moved from being centrally funded and directed, to locally determined. Second, it references the rise of the well‐informed user in the reconfigured landscape of recovery and the ways in which commissioning models may enhance or negate the contribution of user activists to local cultures of recovery. Third, it references the changing political context, in which austerity is being used to increase the pressure on provider services to demonstrate social value, utility and effectiveness. The article argues that there is a palpable need to re‐politicize drug debates and recognize the structural and demographic factors which frame problem drug use, as well as the social and cultural factors which support or negate their opportunities for recovery.     

问题解决策略及其在教学中的应用

问题解决是一种复杂的、高级的学习活动."算法"和"启发"是问题解决的基本策略.算法教学应基于对教学对象心理的分析和诊断,应把教授算法处方与教授算法过程有机结合.启发教学关键在于如何引发和重组教学对象已有的经验,构建新的认知结构,从而促进问题的解决.     

"李约瑟难题"的哲学反思

从三十多年来海内外学者关于"李约瑟难题"的一系列不同答案来看,其路径主要有四条,一是沿着李约瑟博士的思路走,正面解答;二是对"李约瑟难题"进行修正,然后解答;三是从中西方科学的本质不同出发解答;四是否定"李约瑟难题",宣称其为"伪问题",不论何种方式解答,都不可能找到一个简单明确的答案.但从认识论的角度看,参与大于求解,因此,"李约瑟难题"有其重要的学术价值.     

技术创新“熊彼得问题”文化批判及其活动建构

技术创新本质上是社会文化系统中的科技活动,源生于工业社会现代化过程中的技术创新"熊彼得问题"可以在后现代文化框架里批判和分析,但消解"熊彼得问题"则需要建立一种崭新的文化———资源节约型和环境友好型的文化,并在两型文化中通过重建伦理规范、技术选择、创新评价和转变技术创新模式来完成技术创新活动的社会建构。     

The Prevalence and Types of Gambling Among Undocumented Mexican Immigrants in New York City

Objectives To examine the prevalence of gambling and types of gambling activities in a sample of undocumented Mexican immigrants. Design Non-probability cross-sectional design. Setting New York City. Sample The 431 respondents ranged in age from 18 to 80 (mean age 32), 69.7% were male. Results More than half (53.8%) reported gambling in their lifetime and of those most (43.9%) played scratch and win tickets or the lottery. In multivariate analyses men reported gambling more than women [2.13, 95% CI = (1.03, 4.38)]. The odds of gambling in their lifetime were higher among those reporting sending money to family or friends in the home country [2.65, 95% CI = 1.10, 6.38)], and those who reported 1–5 days as compared to no days of poor mental health in the past 30 days [2.44, 95% CI = 1.22, 4.89)]. Conversely, those who reported entering the U.S. to live after 1996 were less likely to report gambling [0.44, 95% CI = (0.22, 0.89)] as compared to those who had lived in the U.S. longer. Conclusion There is a need to further explore both the prevalence and the severity of gambling amongst the growing population of undocumented Mexican immigrants in the U.S.     

Reasons for Seeking Help for a Gambling Problem: The Experiences of Gamblers Who Have Sought Specialist Assistance and the Perceptions of Those Who Have Not

This paper presents reasons for help-seeking data as reported by users of a national gambling helpline (help-seekers, HS, n = 125) as well as data pertaining to perceived reasons for seeking help as reported by gamblers recruited from the general population (non-help-seekers, NHS, n = 104). All data were collected via a structured, multi-modal survey. Participants in both groups considered help-seeking to be motivated by multiple factors (mean of 6.8 and 10.6 responses, respectively). Responses indicative of financial concern were most frequently reported by both HS and NHS participants (82 & 90%, respectively). Over a third of HS participants (35%) also identified financial concern as their primary reason for seeking help and 50% of NHS participants perceived financial concern to be the primary motivator for seeking help in a problem gambling context. Common types of secondary influence (other than financial concern) included psychological distress (HS & NHS participants), problem prevention (HS participants), rational thought (HS participants), physical health issues (HS participants), and relationship issues (NHS participants). The implications for promoting greater or earlier help-seeking activity amongst problem gamblers are discussed.

Barriers to Seeking Help for Gambling Problems: A Review of the Empirical Literature

This literature review summarizes recent empirical research on obstacles preventing problem gamblers from seeking treatment for their gambling problems. Relevant databases and bibliographies were searched for English-language papers and reports published since 1998. The only methodological requirement was that gamblers themselves be asked about reasons for not seeking help. Nineteen studies conducted in five countries were identified. All except one targeted adults. Despite differences in methodology, many of the same barriers to treatment were identified. Most commonly reported barriers were: wish to handle problem by oneself; shame/embarrassment/stigma; unwillingness to admit problem; and issues with treatment itself. The authors of the review argue that unwillingness to admit to the problem may be even more prevalent than is typically indicated by the results of barriers studies. Other frequently reported barriers included lack of knowledge about treatment options and practical issues around attending treatment. More research is needed on barriers to treatment-seeking experienced by subgroups of gamblers defined by culture, ethnicity, gender, age. Open-ended questioning methods can help provide insights into what barrier categories mean to different groups and individuals. Input directly from gamblers can be combined with information from other kinds of studies to devise better ways of reaching problem gamblers, especially those in underserviced populations. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.