One facet of group decision making that has escaped close scrutinization is the effect of individual biases and group biases on group work. In this paper we present a theoretical framework for using data mining based group memory to overcome the biases in group decision making situations. By studying the patterns extracted from the group memory data, the group members can develop a better under...

This paper presents a procedure that allows us to determine the preference structures (PS) associated to each of the different groups of actors that can be identified in a group decision making problem with a large number of individuals. To that end, it makes use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) (Saaty, 1980) as the technique to solve discrete multicriteria decision making problems. This...

Juvenile court judges are asked to determine what is in the best interest of the child in every case they hear. As Judge Cindy S. Lederman writes, making these decisions without an awareness of the science of child development can be detrimental to the mental and physical well-being of the child. Yet until about a decade ago, court decisions were routinely made without taking into consideration...

For animals living in groups, one of the important questions is to understand what are the decisionmaking mechanisms that lead to choosing a motion direction or leaving an area while preserving group cohesion. Here, we analyse the initiation of collective departure in zebrafish Danio rerio. In particular, we observed groups of 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 zebrafish swimming in a two resting sites arena an...

There is a paucity of experimental data addressing how peers influence adolescent risk-taking. Here, we examined peer effects on risky decision-making in adults and adolescents using a virtual social context that enabled experimental control over the peer "interactions." 40 adolescents (age 11-18) and 28 adults (age 20-38) completed a risk-taking (Wheel of Fortune) task under four conditions: i...

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis is a tool widely used to help in decision making in complex systems. It suits to exploring the issues and measures related to the conservation and development of local breeds, as it allows the integration of many driving factors influencing breed dynamics. We developed a quantified SWOT method as a decision-making tool for identif...

HIV vaccine trials (HVTs) are ethically complex, and sound informed consent processes should facilitate optimal decisionmaking for participants. This study aimed to explore representations of critical HVT-related concepts to enhance the consent process. Four focus group discussions were conducted with participants from key constituencies at a South African HVT site. Thematic analysis was employ...