Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Utility theory'
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1
Vairo, David L. "Elaborations on Multiattribute Utility Theory Dominance." VCU Scholars Compass, 2019. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5726.
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ELABORATIONS ON MULTIATTRIBUTE UTILITY THEORY DOMINANCE
By David L. Vairo
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019.
Major Director: Dissertation director’s name, Dr. Jason Merrick, Supply Chain Management and Analytics
Multiattribute Utility Theory (MAUT) is used to structure decisions with more than one factor (attribute) in play. These decisions become complex when the attributes are dependent on one another. Where linear modeling is concerned with how factors are directly related or correlated with each other, MAUT is concerned with how a decision maker feels about the attributes. This means that direct elicitation of value or utility functions is required. This dissertation focuses on expanding the types of dominance forms used within MAUT. These forms reduce the direct elicitation needed to help structure decisions. Out of this work comes support for current criticisms of gain/loss separability that is assumed as part of Prospect Theory. As such, an alternative to Prospect Theory is presented, derived from within MAUT, by modeling the probability an event occurs as an attribute.
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Gee, Max. "Rationality and Expected Utility." Thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3733384.
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We commonly make a distinction between what we simply tend to do and what we would have done had we undergone an ideal reasoning process — or, in other words, what we would have done if we were perfectly rational. Formal decision theories, like Expected Utility Theory or Risk-Weighted Expected Utility Theory, have been used to model the considerations that govern rational behavior.
But questions arise when we try to articulate what this kind of modeling amounts to. Firstly, it is not clear how the components of the formal model correspond to real-world psychological or physical facts that ground judgments about what we ought to do. Secondly, there is a great deal of debate surrounding what an accurate model of rationality would look like. Theorists disagree about how much flexibility a rational agent has in weighing the risk of a loss against the value of potential gains, for example.
The goal of this project is to provide an interpretation of Expected Utility Theory whereby it explicates or represents the pressure that fundamentally governs how human agents ought to behave. That means both articulating how the components of the formal model correspond to real-world facts, and defending Expected Utility Theory against alternative formal models of rationality.
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Hatush, Z. A. "Contractor selection using the multiattribute utility theory." Thesis, University of Salford, 1996. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/14813/.
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Literature and past research suggests that one of the reasons for the poor performance of the construction industry is due to the inappropriateness of the awarded contractor. In order to ensure a successful completion of a project, a comprehensive and careful assessment of contractors data in a prequalification stage is required. Appointing an appropriate contractor to carry out the construction work, therefore, becomes one of the most important tasks to ensure the success of a project. In this thesis the author has made a preliminary survey to investigate the bidding process currently used in the construction industry through literature survey, extensive interviews with the construction professionals and an industry wide questionnaire. The investigation has focused on the procedures of prequalification and bids evaluation, it also covers the list of criteria considered for selecting contractors in prequalification and bid evaluation stages. The thesis investigated the perceived relationship between contractor selection criteria (CSC) currently in use and predominant project success factors (PSF) in terms of time, cost and quality involving a sample of experienced construction professionals. This research is based on the premise that selection should concentrate on determining contractor potential for achieving project goals in terms of time, cost and quality. The study presented a quantitative technique to combine the contractor data in terms of these goals. The study also presented an evaluation strategy that involves the consideration both of the client goals as ends and contractor data as the means, the strategy based on the rnultiattribute utility theory for the frnal selection or rank ordering of the contractors. The selection is ultimately based on the preferences and the attitude of the decision maker toward risk. A real case study was used to validate the proposed methodology for contractor prequalification. The benefit of this work is that it provides a means using the PERT methodology to incorporate uncertainty andlor imprecision associated with the assessment of contractors data, this all in terms of the ultimate project success factors of time, cost, and quality. The utility technique proposed should help clients in selecting contractors and the contractors themselves for selecting sub-contractors in offering a means of broadening their analysis of tenderers beyond that of simply relying on tender values. It also alerts contractors to the importance of increasing their ability to satisfy the needs of the clients in terms of their ultimate project goals.
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Reina, Livia. "From Subjective Expected Utility Theory to Bounded Rationality." Doctoral thesis, Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2006. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:swb:14-1140624885934-50567.
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As mentioned in the introduction, the objective of this work has been to get a more realistic understanding of economic decision making processes by adopting an interdisciplinary approach which takes into consideration at the same time economic and psychological issues. The research in particular has been focused on the psychological concept of categorization, which in the standard economic theory has received until now no attention, and on its implications for decision making. The three experimental studies conducted in this work provide empirical evidence that individuals don not behave according to the perfect rationality and maximization assumptions which underly the SEUT, but rather as bounded rational satisfiers who try to simplify the decision problems they face through the process of categorization. The results of the first experimental study, on bilateral integrative negotiation, show that most of the people categorize a continuum of outcomes in two categories (satisfying/not satisfying), and treat all the options within each category as equivalent. This process of categorization leads the negotiators to make suboptimal agreements and to what I call the ?Zone of Agreement Bias? (ZAB). The experimental study on committees? decision making with logrolling provides evidence of how the categorization of outcomes in satisfying/not satisfying can affect the process of coalition formation in multi-issue decisions. In the first experiment, involving 3-issues and 3-parties decisions under majority rule, the categorization of outcomes leads most of the individuals to form suboptimal coalitions and make Pareto-dominated agreements. The second experiment, aimed at comparing the suboptimizing effect of categorization under majority and unanimity rule, shows that the unanimity rule can lead to a much higher rate of optimal agreements than the majority rule. The third experiment, involving 4-issues and 4-parties decisions provides evidence that the results of experiments 1 and 2 hold even when the level of complexity of the decision problem increases.
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Fennell, John. "An expected utility theory that matches human performance." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1983/f1a39859-1cb0-4978-8fcf-d56d0d3fca40.
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Maximising expected utility has long been accepted as a valid model of rational behaviour, however, it "has limited descriptive accuracy sim- ply because, in practice, people do not always behave in the prescribed way. This is considered evidence that either people are not rational, expected utility is not an appropriate characterisation of rationality, or combination of these. This thesis proposes that a modified form of expected utility hypothesis is normative, suggesting how people ought to behave and descriptive of how they actually do behave, provided that: a) most utility has no meaning unless it is in the presence of potential competitors; b) there is uncertainty in the nature of com- petitors; c) statements of probability are associated with uncertainty; d) utility is marginalised over uncertainty, with framing effects pro- viding constraints; and that e) utility is sensitive to risk, which, taken with reward and uncertainty suggests a three dimensional representa- tion. The first part of the thesis investigates the nature of reward in four experiments and proposes that a three dimensional reward struc- ture (reward, risk, and uncertainty) provides a better description of utility than reward alone. It also proposes that the semantic differ- ential, a well researched psychological instrument, is a representation or description of the reward structure. The second part of the thesis provides a mathematical model of a value function and a probabil- ity weighting function, testing them together against extant problem cases for decision making. It is concluded that utility, perhaps more accurately described as advantage in the present case, when construed as three dimensions and the result of a competition, provides a good explanation of many of the problem cases that are documented in the decision making literature.
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Waters, John Michael. "The Utility of Mathematical Symbols." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/52706.
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Explanations of why mathematics is useful to empirical research focus on mathematics' role as a representation or model. On platonist accounts, the representational relation is one of structural correspondence between features of the real world and the abstract mathematical structures that represent them. Where real numbers are concerned, however, there is good reason to think the world's correspondence with systems of real number symbols, rather than the real numbers themselves, can be utilized for our representational purposes. One way this can be accomplished is through a paraphrase interpretation of real number symbols where the symbols are taken to refer directly to the things in the world real numbers are supposed to represent. A platonist account of structural correspondence between structures of real numbers and the world can be found in the foundations of measurement where a scale of real numbers is applied to quantities of physical properties like length, mass and velocity. This subject will be employed as a demonstration of how abstract real numbers, traditionally construed as modeling features of the world, are superfluous if their symbols are taken to refer directly to those features.Master of Arts
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Carone, Michael Joseph. "Augmenting the product platform constructal theory method for multiple objectives." Thesis, Available online, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004:, 2003. http://etd.gatech.edu/theses/available/etd-04062004-164618/unrestricted/carone%5Fmichael%5Fj%5F200312%5Fms.pdf.
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Stauffer, Griffin K. "Design-build vs design-bid-build a procurement method selection framework." Thesis, (8 MB), 2006. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA471905.
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Thesis (M.S. in Civil Engineering)--Purdue University, 2006."August 2006." Description based on title screen as viewed on June 9, 2010. DTIC Descriptor(s): Decision Making, Construction, Game Theory, Procurement, Models, Facilities, Standards, Selection. DTIC Identifier(s): Construction Projects, Utility Theory, Thresholds, Frameworks, Procurement Criteria, Project Delivery, Procurement Methods, DB (Design-Build), DBB (Design-Bid-Build) Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-32). Also available in print.
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Schlomer, Gabriel Lee. "Evolutionary Theory and Parent-Child Conflict: The Utility of Parent-Offspring Conflict Theory." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194662.
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Parent-offspring conflict theory (POCT) has been underutilized by researchers interested in family relationships. The goal of these three manuscripts is to help remedy this problem.Manuscript one presents POCT in its original formulation and more recent developments. The theory is described and explained and four topical areas of human development are discussed in terms of how POCT has been applied and how the theory can help inform future research.Manuscript two tests hypotheses derived from POCT about mother-adolescent conflict. This study showed that coresidence with a younger half sibling significantly incremented conflict between mothers and their children. This effect was not explained by SES, maternal depression, number of children in the household, or stepfather presence. In addition, children in younger half sibling households demonstrate elevated levels of conflict compared to families with a younger full sibling indicating that this effect is not an artifact of coresidence with a younger sibling. Presence of a younger half sibling also partially mediated the relationship between biological parental disruption and mother-child conflict.Manuscript three sought to extend on the findings from manuscript two by examining how different family contexts affect trajectories of mother-child conflict across adolescence. A piecewise growth model was implemented to estimate linear conflict trajectories from early to mid and from mid to late adolescence. Results indicated that conflict tends to increase from early to mid adolescence but remain constant from mid to late adolescence, that biological parental disruption did not differentiate trajectories of conflict, nor did living with a stepfather. In addition, despite a large difference in regression coefficients between families with and without a younger half sibling, younger half sibling status did not differentiate conflict trajectories from early to mid adolescence. Families did differ in their trajectories from mid to late adolescence with younger half sibling families showing a reduction in conflict over this time period. Inclusion of family level covariates effectively nullified all significant results. Results are discussed in the context of parent-offspring conflict theory. It is concluded that a larger sample with more diverse family types is needed to achieve sufficient power for additional analyses and future research.
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ERKAN, ATILLA DJAN. "VALUATING ELECTRICITY SWAP CONTRACTS IN BRAZIL WITH UTILITY THEORY." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2013. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=22205@1.
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As impactantes transformações pelas quais o Brasil passou durante o início
da década de 1990 exigiram mudanças profundas no setor elétrico. O Decreto n
5.163/2004 introduziu ao mercado brasileiro de energia elétrica o Ambiente de
Contratação Livre (ACL), onde os agentes passaram a poder negociar livremente
contratos bilaterais de compra e venda de energia. No Brasil, os agentes
participantes estão expostos às bruscas variações do preço da energia no curto
prazo, chamado de Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças – PLD. Devido às
restrições existentes na malha de transmissão, os valores do PLD se distinguem
entre os quatro Submercados existentes: Norte, Nordeste, Sul e Sudeste/Centro-
Oeste. Ao fechar contratos em Submercados diferentes, o gerador deve vender a
energia ao PLD local e comprá-la ao preço spot do Submercado de destino. Desta
forma, o vendedor corre o risco de vender a um PLD mais baixo do que deverá
comprar. O swap de submercado pode ser utilizado para anular esta exposição,
mas cabe investigar o preço que cada parte deve estar disposta a pagar para fechar
o negócio. Assim, é proposta uma abordagem pela Teoria da Utilidade para se
chegar a estes valores. Dado que os Submercados Sudeste/Centro-Oeste e
Nordeste atualmente transacionam entre si a maior carga, estes foram
selecionados para avaliação. O ano de 2015 foi utilizado para delimitar o estudo.
Presume-se que ambas as partes são avessas ao risco de forma decrescente e que
há equilíbrio de forças na negociação. O valor final do contrato é estimado em
10,66 reais/MWh.The impacting transformations suffered by Brazil during the 1990s demanded profound changes in the eletrical sector.Decree 5.163/2004 established the Ambiente de ContrataçãoLivre (ACL), allowing participants to freely negotiate bilateral energy contracts. In Brazil, those who do so are exposed to extreme variations in spot prices, called Preço de Liquidação das Diferenças – PLD. Due to transmission capacity restrictions, PLD prices vary between the four existing submarkets: North, Northeast, South, and Southeast/Central-West. Dealing in different submarkets requires electricity generators to sell energy for local PLD and buy it for the spot price of the destination submarket. By doing so the seller may end up selling energy for a lower PLD than the buying price. Submarket swaps can be used for hedging, but what each party should be willing to pay requires investigation. Thus, to discover these prices, the Utility Theory is applied. Given that submarkets Southeast/Central-West and Northeast are currently the ones concentrating the greatest amount of transactions, these were selected for evaluation. Year 2015 was used to delimit the study. It is assumed that both parties are risk averse in a decreasing manner and that there is an equilibrium of forces in the negotiation. The final value of the contract is estimated at 10,66 reais/MWh.
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Stefancik, John. "Demand forecasting using Monte Carlo Multi-Attribute Utility Theory." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/104825.
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Thesis: S.M. in Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Technology and Policy Program, 2016.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 173-176).
Volatile commodity prices over the past decade, environmentally-focused policy initiatives and new technology developments have forced manufacturers to consider the idea of substituting towards alternative materials in order meet both consumer and societal needs. The threat of substitution has created the need for manufacturing firms and other members of the supply chain to have the ability to understand the implications of substitution on future product market shares and overall raw material demand. This thesis demonstrates how Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) can be extended to the group level to forecast future market shares by applying a distribution to the attribute weights and using a Monte Carlo simulation to capture the choices made by a heterogeneous set of decision makers. Unlike established demand forecasting techniques, such as discrete choice models, this methodology requires only a few data points from a handful of expert interviews and allows for systematic changes of preferences over time. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo MAUT methodology utilizes both revealed preference and stated preference data by integrating the two data types through a response surface methodology. Two case studies on underground distribution and overhead distribution power cables are explored in order to illustrate how the Monte Carlo MAUT methodology can be successfully applied in cases where there are diverse product types, limited numbers of decisions makers and historical market share data is sparse. Each case study illustrates how Monte Carlo MAUT can, on a regional basis, provide key insights into the impacts of changing commodity prices, changing product attribute levels, varying new technology learning rates and changing consumer preferences over time. Furthermore, an example of how Monte Carlo MAUT can be utilized to help policymakers evaluate the advantages, disadvantages and overall impact of different policy schemes within an environmental context is provided. Private firms and public governments alike can utilize Monte Carlo MAUT to improve their understanding of how market shares are likely to change over time, and more importantly, the key decisions needed on each party's behalf in order to maximize societal well-being.
by John Stefancik.
S.M. in Technology and Policy
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Wang, Chen. "Modeling multi-attribute utility theory with object-oriented programming." Master's thesis, This resource online, 1994. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-01122010-020130/.
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Skaar, Steinar. "The utility of coercion theory in the Afghan conflict." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2017. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/8872/.
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This thesis examines the utility of coercion theory in complex contemporary conflicts through a study of the Afghan conflict as it unfolded in the provinces of Faryab and Kunduz from 2005 to 2012. The last two decades have produced ample examples of incidents where the UN, international alliances or states have found it necessary to use force in order to coerce states or armed groups to stop unacceptable activities or change their behaviour. However, the potential of military force to induce behavioural change in such conflicts is understudied and poorly understood. In the Afghan conflict the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) together with the Afghan security forces applied force in order to influence the Taliban and other groups who violently opposed the elected government to change their behaviour. Although neither ISAF nor the participating nations had articulated a coercive strategy, force was used consistent with coercion theory on a number of occasions. Coercion theory consists of a number of assumptions and presuppositions, the existence of which should be present on the ground for theory to have utility. This thesis argues that these were generally not, or only to a limited degree present in the Afghan conflict. It further argues that in the cases where ISAF and its Afghan allies applied force consistent with theory, it did generally not translate to the desired outcomes, in particular when coercion represented the dominant effort. This thesis consequently argues that coercion theory is not well suited to provide explanatory power to or predict outcomes in conflicts that are comparable to the conflict in Afghanistan. In particular, theory’s presumption of unitary actors, the rationality presumption and the notion of the credible threat is insufficient. Theory’s notion of coercive mechanisms also assumes a connection between human behaviour and what may influence it that is overly simplistic. This consequently proposes a revised set of assumptions and presuppositions as well as a revised understanding of mechanisms that acknowledges that coercion alone is rarely sufficient to instil sustainable change.
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Libardi, de Carvalho Mateus. "An investigation into the elasticity of marginal utility." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2018. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/8396/.
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Prioritizing public investments is arguably one of the most important and complex tasks Governments face. In this thesis, I contribute to such a task by examining the Elasticity of the Marginal Utility (EMU). This parameter is central to the determination of the Social Discount Rate, which is the discount rate used for Cost-Benefit Analysis in the public sector. I estimate the EMU using an unprecedentedly large dataset and test variants of the estimation technique which include National Insurance Contributions and Supernumerary Income. I also test the robustness of the estimates obtained. I further investigate the validity of the estimates by testing for the first time the key assumption underlying the estimation technique that the degree of progressivity of the income tax schedule represents society's inequality aversion. Next, I examine causality between tax progressivity and income inequality, which is a theme that emerges from testing the assumption mentioned. Finally, I estimate the EMU in different contexts, relating the estimated values and their context-sensitivity to psychological traits. Overall, the results suggest an EMU of 1.5 and that the estimation methodology implemented is acceptable. They also show bidirectional causality between progressivity and inequality, and that the EMU values vary significantly with psychological traits.
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Almeida, Serra Costa Vitoria Pedro Miguel. "Topics on forward investment theory." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2015. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:158e9239-1385-4314-b337-3eed27c76dfc.
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In this thesis, we study three topics in optimal portfolio selection that are relevant to the theory of forward investment performance processes. In Chapter 1, we develop a connection between the classical mean-variance optimisation and time-monotone forward performance processes for infinitesimal trading times. Namely, we consider consecutive mean-variance problems and we show that, for an appropriate choice of the corresponding mean-variance trade-off coefficients, the wealth process that is generated converges (as the trading interval goes to zero) to the optimal wealth process generated by a time-monotone forward performance process. The choice of the trade-off coefficients is made in accordance to the evolution of the risk tolerance process of the forward performance process. This result allows us to provide a fresh view on the issue of time-consistency of mean-variance analysis, for we propose a method to update mean-variance risk preferences forward in time. As a by-product, our convergence theorem generalises a result by Gyöngy (1998) on the convergence of the Euler scheme for SDEs. We also provide novel results on the Lipschitz regularity of the local risk tolerance function of forward investment performance processes. The material in this chapter is joint work with Marek Musiela and Thaleia Zariphopoulou. Chapter 2 combines forward investment theory and partial information. Specifically, we construct forward investment performance processes in models where the drift is a random variable distributed according to a known distribution. The forward performance processes we consider are of the type U(t,x) = u(t,x, R_t), where R. denotes the process of cumulative excess returns, and u(t,x,z):[0,∞) × ℝ imes ℝN ⟶ ℝ is such that u(t,.,z) is a utility function satisfying Inada's conditions. We derive the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation for u(.). The HJB equation is linearised into the ill-posed heat equation; then, using the multidimensional version of Widder's theorem, we fully characterise the solutions to this equation in terms of a collection of positive measures; the result is an integral representation of the convex conjugate function of u(t,.,z). We construct several examples, and we show how these can be combined, in the dual domain, to generate mixtures of forward investment performance processes. We also show that the volatility of these processes is intrinsic, in that it is not generated by changes of numéraire/measure. In Chapter 3, we provide an extension of the Black-Litterman model to the continuous time setting. Our extension is different from, and complements that of, Frey, Gabih, and Wunderlich (2012) and Davis and Lleo (2013). Specifically, we develop a novel robust estimator of instantaneous expected returns which is continuously shrunk towards the predictions of an asset pricing theory, such as the CAPM. We derive this estimator fairly explicitly and study some of its properties. As in the Black-Litterman model, such an estimator can be used to make optimal asset allocation problems in continuous time more robust with respect to estimation errors. We provide explicit solutions to the problem of maximising expected power utility of terminal wealth, when our estimator is used to estimate the drift. As an example, we illustrate our results explicitly in the case of a multifactor model, where Arbitrage Pricing Theory predicts that alphas should be approximately zero.
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Bradshaw, R. A. "Application of high reliability theory in the water utility sector." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2008. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/4075.
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In the literature, a need was identified to consider the provision of drinking water to be a ‘high reliability’ societal service. This thesis reports on an investigation into the technical and organisational reliability of a defined section in the water utility sector and a Regional Water Utility. Here, the organisational reliability in operations and incident management, and, secondly, the management of technical reliability of water supply systems arising from risk-based asset management were the emphasis of this project. In order to substantiate this investigation, three main research components were designed and conducted: firstly, a characterisation of the nature of incidents and their impact on customers; secondly, an investigation into organisational capabilities to manage incidents and its role in maintaining a resilient water supply system that minimises the impact of incidents on customers, and thirdly, an investigation into riskbased asset management strategies that provide and maintain the technical reliability of the water supply system. In the latter perspective, the opportunity to learn from previous incidents to enhance asset risk assessments was investigated. In this study, it was found that many HRO principles are readily observable in the water utilities that participated in this research. Following the characterisation of incidents, it is demonstrated that the observation of HRO principles during incident management has a positive effect on the overall reduction of incident impacts on customers. Beyond the immediate effect of HRO principles in incident management, it could be demonstrated that ‘learning from failure’ provides a mechanism to understand and manage future risks. The concept of incident meta-analysis is introduced that compares series of past incidents with documented perceived, future risks. The statistical analysis of incident time series facilitated the monitoring of incident trends, the validation of the risk model used in the Regional Water Utility and the verification of risk data, in particular for the risk components ‘probability, cause, effect and impact’.
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Leventakis, Christos. "Pricing of options in interrupted markets using utility maximisation theory." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/11803.
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Back, Jonathan. "Predicting the utility of feedback judgements using cognitive load theory." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2003. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/34088.
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Results from laboratory testing suggest that user-based relevance feedback can significantly improve retrieval performance. However outside the laboratory, feedback systems are rarely utilised when implemented. This thesis explores why users are often reluctant to provide feedback. Modelling interaction involves reconciling the need for prediction with the seemingly individual-specific effect of information. Information behaviour is guided by heuristics and not by logical analysis or deduction. Heuristics impose assumptions that are used to address a problem in a way that is compatible with an individual's knowledge schemata. This thesis argues that feedback heuristics are influenced by the cognitive load imposed on an individual.
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El-Attal, Amgad Hassan. "Decision Model for Hydroponic Tomato Production (HYTODMOD) using utility theory." Connect to resource, 1995. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1145375451.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1995.Advisor: T.H. Short, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-152). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center
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Henrique, de Albuquerque Cassiano. "Decision Theory: a software implementation to educe the utility function." Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 2011. https://repositorio.ufpe.br/handle/123456789/5371.
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Previous issue date: 2011Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
A avaliação da função utilidade de um indivíduo (ou grupo de indivíduos) não é uma tarefa simples. Aspectos psicológicos, teóricos e práticos intervêm neste processo e é necessário ter muito cuidado na elaboração e implementação do protocolo. A edução (elicitação) da utilidade de acordo com a teoria da decisão é uma tarefa que pode ser limitada devido a duas razões principais: à mediação cognitiva e à falta de um suporte adequado a este fim, de acordo com a teoria de von Neumann e Morgenstern (1944). Realizou-se uma revisão das ferramentas computacionais existentes no contexto de suporte a decisão. Apresenta-se nesta dissertação o Sistema de Edução de Preferências (SEP), uma solução em termos de software que dá suporte a edução dos valores da utilidade usando apenas as hipóteses de Von Neumann e Morgenstern. No SEP foram desenvolvidos e implementados vários algoritmos e interfaces para tornar mais fácil, rápida, agradável e confiável a sistemática da edução da função utilidade. Eduz-se a utilidade via SEP para dinheiro e compara-se os resultados com o método tradicional em questionário de papel. Exemplifica-se a edução multiatributo via software minimiza os problemas inerentes ao processo de edução como mostrado nos experimentos práticos ao longo da dissertação
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Etawil, Hussein. "Convex Optimization and Utility Theory: New Trends in VLSI Circuit Layout." Thesis, University of Waterloo, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/813.
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The design of modern integrated circuits is overwhelmingly complicated due to the enormous number of cells in a typical modern circuit. To deal with this difficulty, the design procedure is broken down into a set of disjoint tasks. Circuit layout is the task that refers to the physical realization of a circuit from its functional description. In circuit layout, a connection-list called netlist of cells and nets is given. Placement and routing are subtasks associated with circuit layout and involve determining the geometric locations of the cells within the placement area and connecting cells sharing common nets. In performing the placement and the routing of the cells, minimum placement area, minimum delay and other performance constraints need to be observed. In this work, we propose and investigate new approaches to placement and routing problems. Specifically, for the placement subtask, we propose new convex programming formulations to estimate wirelength and force cells to spread within the placement area. As opposed to previous approaches, our approach is partitioning free and requires no hard constraints to achieve cell spreading within the placement area. The result of the global optimization of the new convex models is a global placement which is further improved using a Tabu search based iterative technique. The effectiveness, robustness and superiority of the approach are demonstrated on a set of nine benchmark industrial circuits. With regard to the routing subtask, we propose a hybrid methodology that combines Tabu search and Stochastic Evolution as a search engine in a new channel router. We also propose a new scheme based on Utility Theory for selecting and assigning nets to tracks in the channel. In this scheme, problem-domain information expressed in the form of utility functions is used to guide the search engine to explore the search space effectively. The effectiveness and robustness of the approach is demonstrated on five industrial benchmarks.
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Etawil, Hussein A. Y. "Convex optimization and utility theory, new trends in VLSI circuit layout." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape8/PQDD_0017/NQ56674.pdf.
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Langford, Melvyn. "Utility theory and its use in managerial systems : an NHS perspective." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2009. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/16710.
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This thesis originated from a research question created by a focus group of National Health Service (NHS) senior estates managers, who considered that the systems of internal control do not give adequate assurance that NHS healthcare building services engineering day-to-day maintenance activities conform to the national guidance. The initial aim of this research was to test their concerns against empirical evidence from NHS Trusts. This was achieved by identifying the gaps within the participating Trusts' maintenance managerial activities when assessed against national standards. Central to the methodology used to assess the level of dynamic risk being generated was the rejection of the NHS national standard 5x5 risk criticality grid in common use throughout the health service, in favour of a series of specific 'Utility Functions'. This has created greater transparency and robustness of the risk assessment process. To the researcher's knowledge, this is the first time that 'Utility Theory' has been used in such scenarios. The result of this analysis has shown their fear to be correct. And for each of the 31 NHS Trusts taking part, the multi-professional focus groups composed of their own senior managers confirmed that there are areas of non-conformance within their maintenance regime, which were previously unknown. In all cases the organisations considered that their failings were exposing their patients, staff, public and stakeholders to substantial/intolerable risk through a 'systematic' failure of the Trusts' governance systems. The aim of this research then expanded to design techniques that specifically assesses the resource needs to close these managerial gaps employing industry standard techniques. Then again employing 'Utility Theory' examined various revenue levels of directly employed maintenance artisan resource with respect to risk, via a specifically designed simulation model. This has proved that the historical NHS methodology for assessing workforce planning to be fundamentally flawed, as it seriously underestimates the resource need. This research then developed and designed a generic day-to-day monitoring assurance framework from reference to the research into High Reliability Organisations, Normal Accident Theory and managerial governance needs. The overriding recommendation from the research was that NHS Trusts must redesign their governance systems to ensure that they are aware of their estates department's non-conformances when assessed against national standards.
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Guyot, Nicolas E. "Fuzzy logic and utility theory for multiobjective optimization of automotive joints." Thesis, This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08292008-063415/.
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Oliver, Adam. "Valuing health outcomes under conditions of risk : foundations, flaws and some suggestions for the future." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.275407.
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Onur, Ozgur Deniz. "Optimal Video Adaptation For Resource Constrained Mobile Devices Based On Utility Theory." Master's thesis, METU, 2003. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/1124148/index.pdf.
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This thesis proposes a novel system to determine the best representation of a
video in the sense that, a user watching the video reaches the highest level of
satisfaction possible, given the resource capabilities of the viewing device. Utility
theory is used to obtain a utility function representing the user satisfaction as a
function of video coding parameters, and the viewing device capabilities. The
utility function is formulated as the weighted sum of three individual components.
These components are chosen such that, the satisfaction on any one of the
components is independent of the satisfaction on every other component. The
advantage of such decomposition is the ability to express individual components
as simple mathematical relations, modeling user satisfaction. Afterwards, the
unknown parameters of these models are determined by results of subjective tests,
performed by a multitude of users. Finally, simulated annealing is utilized to find the global optimum of this utility function representing the user satisfaction.
Simulation results based on subjective viewing tests on a resource limited mobile
device indicate a consistent user satisfaction by the determined optimal encoding
parameters of the video.
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Rusco, Franklin W. "Per unit bids and moral hazard in common value auctions : theory and evidence /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/7393.
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Werner, Katarzyna Maria. "Essays on non-expected utility theory and individual decision making under risk." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2015. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/essays-on-nonexpected-utility-theory-and-individual-decision-making-under-risk(e73bd3eb-8031-45f9-b34d-e5e9edb78e03).html.
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This thesis investigates the choices under risk in the framework of non-expected utility theories. One of the key contributions of this thesis is providing an approach that allows for a complete characterisation of Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) preferences without prior knowledge of the reference point. The location of the reference point that separates gains from losses is derived endogenously, thus, without any additional assumptions on the decision makers risk behaviour. This is different to the convention used in the literature, according to which, the reference point is preselected. The problem arising from imposing the location of the reference point is that the underlying preference conditions might not be alligned with the predictions made by the model. Consequently, it is difficult to verify such a model or to test it empirically. The present contribution offers a set of normatively and descriptively appealing preference conditions, which enable the elicitation of the reference point from the decision makers behaviour. Since these conditions are derived using objective probabilities, they can also be applied to settings such as health or insurance, where the continuity of the utility function is not required. As a result, the obtained representation theorem is not only the most general foundation for CPT currently available, but it also provides further support for the use of CPT as a modelling tool in decision theory and fi
nance. Another contribution that this thesis can be credited with is an application of rank-dependent utility theory (RDU) to the problem of insurance demand in the monopoly market affected by adverse selection. The present approach extends the classical model of Stiglitz (1977) by accounting for an additional component of heterogeneity among consumers, the heterogeneity in risk perception. Speci
fically, consumers employ distinctive probability weighting functions to assess the likelihood of risky events. This aspect of consumers' behaviour highlights the importance that the probabilistic risk attitudes within the RDU framework, such as optimism and pessimism, have for the choice of insurance contract. The analysis yields a separating equilibrium, with full insurance for a sufficiently pessimistic decision maker. An important implication of this result is that any low-risk individual who sufficiently overestimates his probability of loss will induce the uninformed insurer to o¤er him full coverage, thereby, affecting the high-risk type adversely. This outcome is consistent with the recent empirical puzzle regarding the correlation between ex-post risk and insurance coverage, according to which, agents with low exposure to risk receive a larger amount of compensation. By providing an explanation of this pattern of individual behaviour, the current work demonstrates that theory and practice of insurance demand can be reconciled to a greater extent. The paper also provides a behavioural rationale for policy intervention in the market with RDU agents, where the initial distortions in contracts due to unobservable risks are aggravated by the non-linear weighting of probability of a risky event.
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Lipscomb, Clifford Allen. "Resolving the aggregation problem that plagues the hedonic pricing method." Diss., Available online, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004:, 2003. http://etd.gatech.edu/theses/available/etd-04082004-180317/unrestricted/lipscomb%5fclifford%5fa%5f200312%5fphd.pdf.
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Wang, Xin. "Bounded Multiattribute Utility in Behavioral Decision Research: Theory, Estimation and Experimental Tests." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406821794.
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Agarwala, Edward K. "Food For Thought: When Information Optimization Fails to Optimize Utility." Cleveland, Ohio : Case Western Reserve University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1244147146.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2009Title from PDF (viewed on 19 August 2009) Department of Mathematics Includes abstract Includes bibliographical references Available online via the OhioLINK ETD Center
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Choe, Byung-Tae. "Essays on concave and homothetic utility functions." Uppsala : Stockholm, Sweden : s.n. ; Distributor, Almqvist & Wiksell International, 1991. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/27108685.html.
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Ong, Alen Sen Kay. "Asset location decision models in life insurance." Thesis, City University London, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.336430.
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Ebenstein, Alan Oliver. "The greatest happiness principle: an examination and critique of the theory of utility." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268170.
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Leung, Wilson (Wilson Wan Shun). "An evaluation of the prescriptive utility of psychological bias theory in international relations." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33686.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Political Science, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-87).
I evaluate the practical utility of psychological bias theory by examining two historical cases - the US decision to cross the 38th parallel in 1950 and the British policy of appeasement towards Germany in the 1930s - asking in each of these whether the theory could have helped policymakers to make better decisions. Drawing from the lessons of these two cases, I argue that psychological bias theory can help foreign-policymakers to improve their decisionmaking capabilities and hence increase their chances of achieving favorable outcomes in international politics. However, even if the prescriptions of the theory are adopted, there is no guarantee that positive outcomes will obtain in every case because outcomes are affected by at least two other factors that one largely cannot control: the availability of information and the misperceptions suffered by one's opponent. I also discuss other research methods that could be used to investigate the utility of the theory: examining how useful its prescriptions have been; looking at whether people can actually correct their psychological biases; and considering whether policymakers should attempt to rectify their biases.
by Wilson Leung.
S.M.
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Vajda, Joshua Lewis. "Evaluation and Selection of Oil Shale Extraction Methods Using Multi-Attribute Utility Theory." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2021. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=28256190.
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In the United States, on-site (in-situ) oil shale extraction methods are underutilized, leading to a potential loss of $20 billion per year in profit. On-site oil shale extraction methods are not considered when discussing large-scale oil shale extraction operations. Off-site (ex-situ) extraction remains the only commercialized method, but on-site extraction is showing considerable promise. The on-site methods allow for the exploitation of deeper oil shale prospects, which have the potential of producing up to 1.32 trillion barrels of oil. Oil shale is an unconventional hydrocarbon resource that must be considered part of the overall energy solution. There are two general methods for extracting oil shale resources: off-site extraction and on-site extraction. The off-site method consists of surface mining and above ground heating. The on-site methods consist of well drilling, well completion, and underground heating. Due to their technical differences, a comparison of the methods is difficult. This praxis seeks to inform the selection of oil shale extraction methods using a multi-attribute utility function as part of a decision tool. The tool consists of three components: the oil production model, the cost model, and the decision model. The practical application of the tool is to bring on-site extraction methods into the conversation. The Piceance Basin, located in western Colorado, is used to show the application of the tool in the field. With the ability to evaluate different extraction methods and process-heating options using the decision tool, the exploitation of more oil shale is possible. Multi-criteria decision-making methods have seen increased use in process industries. Decision making in mining and offshore oil and gas exploration provides useful insights into how decisions are made and how decision analysis could be used for oil shale projects. When evaluating distinct oil shale extraction alternatives, a decision tool, built around multi-attribute utility theory, simulation, and regression analysis provides the best vehicle for systematic decision making.
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Kammoun, Hilda. "Parameter-free measurement of the utility function and loss aversion under prospect theory." Paris, ENSAM, 2007. http://www.theses.fr/2007ENAM0025.
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Dans ce travail, les fonctions d'utilité des gérants de portefeuilles sont élicitées et leurs degrés d'aversion aux pertes mesurés sous l'hypothèse de la théorie des prospects (1992) et suivant la méthode non-paramétrique d'Abdellaoui et al. (2006). Les résultats obtenus sur le terrain corroborent les résultats obtenus par ces derniers au laboratoire quant à la concavité de la fonction d'utilité pour les gains et la convexité pour les pertes. En ce qui concerne l'aversion aux pertes, nos observations confirment son existence; néanmoins, le gérant de portefeuilles médian est moins averse aux pertes que l'étudiant médian. Les conditions qui caractérisent une expérience réelle du marché mais qui sont difficiles à reproduire dans le contexte artificiel du laboratoire pourraient expliquer les différences de comportement: notamment, la volatilité du marché boursier, les compensations incitatives de Wall Street et le fait que les gérants de portefeuilles acquièrent sur le terrain une gamme de formation et un haut niveau de connaissance qui font qu'ils évaluent les enjeux différenmment des étudiants. La fonction d'utilité doit néanmoins, refléter les préférences de l'individu et l'utilité ne doit pas changer selon la méthode utilisée. En effet, l'étude qualitative des préférences d'étudiants en MBA suivant la méthode non-paramétrique de Baucells et Heukamp (2006) confirme les résultats d'Abdellaoui et al. (2006) pour étudiants. Il est à noter cependant que les étudiants changent de préférence (ne sont plus averses aux pertes mais recherchent le gain) quand l'une des deux loteries offre une plus grande probabilité globale de gain ou une plus grande probabilité de gain maximal combinée avec une perte extrême limitéeThis work elicits the utility functions of financial practitioners and measures their loss aversion coefficients under prospect theory (1992) using the parameter-free method of Abdellaoui et al. (2006). The measurements in the field corroborate the latter's measurements in the laboratory regarding the concavity of the utility function for gains and convexity for losses. However, although loss aversion exists in the aggregate, the median practitioner is found to be less loss averse than the median student. Conditions that characterize a real market experience but are difficult to realize in the artificial context of the laboratory may account for the behavioral difference. Among them are the schooling in the assessment of prospects, the volatility of the market and the Wall Street's compensation incentives. An important proviso is that the preferences of the students/practitioners analyzed following another method reflect consistent preferences. The qualitative investigation of the preferences of MBA students using the parameter-free method developed by Baucells and Heukamp (2006) supports the results of Abdellaoui et al. 's (2006) for students. A noteworthy result is the strong tendency to shift from loss aversion to gain seeking for the higher overall probability of gain or the higher probability of maximal gain combined with a limited extreme loss
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O'Neill, Darragh. "Assessment and utility of interpersonal theory in a prison-based therapeutic community sample." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2011. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/843137/.
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The therapeutic community approach to psychological intervention has a long history of application in the context of offender rehabilitation. Its emphasis on the role of social interactions and interpersonal functioning in the encouragement and facilitation of change is one of this intervention's defining characteristics. However, the extent to which it actually effects change in offenders' interpersonal behaviour is still not fully understood. Interpersonal theory and the behavioural model that it proposes, the interpersonal circle, are founded on similar ideas to the therapeutic community concept, yet their relevance to the study of this intervention remains underexplored. The research described in this thesis has endeavoured to address this oversight. This work involved the longitudinal assessment of prisoners participating in a therapeutic community, principally using an observer-rated operationalisation of the interpersonal circle, the Chart of Interpersonal Relations in Closed Living Environments (CIRCLE). As the CIRCLE was employed in a novel setting and abbreviated form, the first stage in this research comprised an examination of its suitability to this application. Through a series of latent structural analyses, it was determined that the measure effectively operationalised the model upon which it was based. The next stage in this research involved an examination of how this interpersonal circle measure related to other assessment tools previously used in this setting. This study established that the CIRCLE was linked in a theoretically-consistent way with a number of these assessments, but also demonstrated that this measure provided an arguably more valid perspective compared to the primary assessment of interpersonal functioning previously used in this context. The final question addressed in this thesis concerned the interpersonal profile of the therapeutic community residents and how this changed in response to their participation in the intervention. This work established that such changes in interpersonal functioning were contingent on prisoners' completion of 18 months of therapy. The relevance of these changes to therapy engagement and subsequent recidivism were also examined. Ultimately, this work has established the applicability of interpersonal theory and its corresponding model of functioning to the study of prison-based therapeutic communities, and the utility of the insights that it can provide into both the process and outcome of this intervention approach.
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Hoffmann, Nimi. "The role of the instrumental principle in economic explanations." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002842.
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Economic explanations tend to view individuals as acting to satisfy their preferences, so that when given a choice between goods, individuals choose those goods which have greater utility for them – they choose those goods which they believe can best satisfy their preferences in the circumstances at hand. In this thesis, I investigate how utility theory works when it is used to explain behaviour. In theory, utility is a positive concept. It is intended to describe and explain an individual’s behaviour without judging or justifying it. It also seems to be regarded as non-hypothetical, for it explains an individual’s behaviour in terms of preferences which need not be shared by others, but may be wholly particular to her. This implies a distinctive way of approaching people’s behaviour as isolated from and immune to the judgements of a community, for utility cannot be used as a common standard by which we judge an individual’s behaviour as better or worse, appropriate or inappropriate. I argue that this theoretical treatment of utility is substantially different from the practice of using utility to explain behaviour. In the first place, when utility is used to explain behaviour as preference-guided, it treats this behaviour as rational action. An explanation of rational action is, however, necessarily governed by the instrumental principle. This principle is normative – it stipulates the correct relation between a person’s means and her ends, rather than simply describing an existing relation. The principle is also non-hypothetical – our commitment to the principle does not rely on the possession of particular ends, but on having ends in general. The instrumental principle therefore acts as a common standard for reasoning about how to act, so that when we explain an agent’s behaviour as rational action, we expect that her action will conform to standards that we all share in virtue of having ends. Thus, I contend, in order to explain the rational actions of an individual, marginal utility necessarily appeals to the judgements of a community.
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Pallos, Lorant Laszlo. "Estimating population totals with auxiliary information with applications to electric utility load research." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/24546.
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Atrill, Peter. "An examination of the role, content and utility of published interim financial reports." Thesis, Henley Business School, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.373084.
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Espinosa, Kristofer, and Tam Vu. "Graph theory applications in the energy sector : From the perspective of electric utility companies." Thesis, KTH, Skolan för industriell teknik och management (ITM), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-279516.
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Graph theory is a mathematical study of objects and their pairwise relations, also known as nodes and edges. The birth of graph theory is often considered to take place in 1736 when Leonhard Euler tried to solve a problem involving seven bridges of Königsberg in Prussia. In more recent times, graphs has caught the attention of companies from many industries due to its power of modelling and analysing large networks. This thesis investigates the usage of graph theory in the energy sector for a utility company, in particular Fortum whose activities consist of, but not limited to, production and distribution of electricity and heat. The output of the thesis is a wide overview of graph-theoretic concepts and their applications, as well as an evaluation of energy-related use-cases where some concepts are put into deeper analysis. The chosen use-case within the scope of this thesis is feature selection for electricity price forecasting. Feature selection is a process for reducing the number of features, also known as input variables, typically before a regression model is built to avoid overfitting and to increase model interpretability. Five graph-based feature selection methods with different points of view are studied. Experiments are conducted on realistic data sets with many features to verify the legitimacy of the methods. One of the data sets is owned by Fortum and used for forecasting the electricity price, among other important quantities. The obtained results look promising according to several evaluation metrics and can be used by Fortum as a support tool to develop prediction models. In general, a utility company can likely take advantage graph theory in many ways and add value to their business with enriched mathematical knowledge.Grafteori är ett matematiskt område där objekt och deras parvisa relationer, även kända som noder respektive kanter, studeras. Grafteorins födsel anses ofta ha ägt rum år 1736 när Leonhard Euler försökte lösa ett problem som involverade sju broar i Königsberg i Preussen. På senare tid har grafer fått uppmärksamhet från företag inom flera branscher på grund av dess kraft att modellera och analysera stora nätverk. Detta arbete undersöker användningen av grafteori inom energisektorn för ett allmännyttigt företag, närmare bestämt Fortum, vars verksamhet består av, men inte är begränsad till, produktion och distribution av el och värme. Arbetet resulterar i en bred genomgång av grafteoretiska begrepp och deras tillämpningar inom både allmänna tekniska sammanhang och i synnerhet energisektorn, samt ett fallstudium där några begrepp sätts in i en djupare analys. Den valda fallstudien inom ramen för arbetet är variabelselektering för elprisprognostisering. Variabelselektering är en process för att minska antalet ingångsvariabler, vilket vanligtvis genomförs innan en regressions- modell skapas för att undvika överanpassning och öka modellens tydbarhet. Fem grafbaserade metoder för variabelselektering med olika ståndpunkter studeras. Experiment genomförs på realistiska datamängder med många ingångsvariabler för att verifiera metodernas giltighet. En av datamängderna ägs av Fortum och används för att prognostisera elpriset, bland andra viktiga kvantiteter. De erhållna resultaten ser lovande ut enligt flera utvärderingsmått och kan användas av Fortum som ett stödverktyg för att utveckla prediktionsmodeller. I allmänhet kan ett energiföretag sannolikt dra fördel av grafteori på många sätt och skapa värde i sin affär med hjälp av berikad matematisk kunskap
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Burghart, Daniel Robert. "Demand for public goods /." view abstract or download file of text, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1421618221&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=11238&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007.Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-115). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.
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Marciniak, Anne Marie. "Utility of pain states : what influences the value people give to being in pain?" Thesis, Brunel University, 2016. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/13600.
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Pain has a significant burden on individuals and society; however challenges remain in the measurement of pain-related utility. Research was conducted to design a measurement framework for valuing pain states, for use in policy making. Within the theoretical framework of utility theory, the bio-psychosocial model of pain was used to select co-variates impacting the pain-utility relationship. The applicability of two utility theories (prospect theory and hedonist theory) to pain was evaluated, with EQ-5D-5L and utility values for scenarios of different pain intensities elicited using time-trade-off (TTO) and willingness-to-pay (WTP). Prospect theory was tested using the pain-utility relationship in 600 members of the general population (‘genpop’) by examining the presence of a reference point and the relationship between pain decreases/increases (gains/losses) and utility. Hedonist theory was tested through examination of predicted, experienced and remembered utilities, and ‘peak-end’ effects, principally using data from 56 university athletes experiencing training pain. Pain intensity had the greatest influence on EQ-5D values, with present and worst pain showing additive effects. Duration of the pain episode, general health, mood, age and gender also had significant impacts. In addition to pain intensity, TTO ‘genpop’ models included age, income, experienced pain and general health; WTP ‘genpop’ models included residual pain, age and income. The TTO and WTP models did not fit the athletes’ data well and alternative models were developed. The data did not confirm prospect theory: a reference point could not be identified (‘genpop’ and athletes) and the shape of the utility curve contradicted theory (athletes). Results for hedonist theory were inconclusive: predicted utility was consistently higher than experienced utility in athletes but the relationship depended on pain levels in ‘genpop’; remembered and experienced utility differed despite being consistent for pain levels; peak-end effects were not found. Further research in controlled environments is recommended for further theory testing.
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Donnelly, Laura Ferri. "Capturing utility judgments across jobs: toward understanding and generalization." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54285.
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The recent increase in utility research has provided improved methods for estimating the standard deviation of performance in dollars. Subjective estimates of an individual's overall worth to the organization allow the utility of various organizational interventions to be evaluated. However, this research does little to illuminate the dimensions underlying supervisory judgments of utility.
The recent increase in utility research has provided improved methods for estimating the standard deviation of performance in dollars. Subjective estimates of an individual's overall worth to the organization allow the utility of various organizational interventions to be evaluated. However, this research does little to illuminate the dimensions underlying supervisory judgments of utility.
The policies underlying judgments of overall worth were captured to a substantial degree, with cross-validated R² values ranging from .46 to .69. A unit weighting scheme was applied to the six predictors, resulting in r² values that exceeded the cross-validated R² derived from regression analyses. This substantial predictability of utility judgments provided the capacity to generalize utility information from a sample of jobs to the population of interest.
Analyses comparing validity-based and utility-based clustering schemes explored the degree of convergence between the two approaches to classifying jobs. These analyses indicated that there was some overlap, with validity information being useful in establishing broad categories of jobs associated with similar utility-relevant attributes. At the same time, these analyses demonstrated that the two approaches were not equivalent.
Implications of this research are discussed, and several possible directions for future research are noted. It is suggested that such policy capturing procedures can enhance our understanding of judgments of overall worth, and expand the knowledge base upon which organizational decisions are made.Ph. D.
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Eftekhari, Zahra. "Preana: Game-theory Based Prediction with Reinforcement Learning." OpenSIUC, 2014. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/1552.
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We have developed a game-theory based prediction tool, named Preana, based on a promising model developed by Professor Bruce Beuno de Mesquita. The first part of this work is dedicated to exploration of the specifics of Mesquita's algorithm and reproduction of the factors and features that have not been revealed in literature. In addition, we have developed a learning mechanism to model the players' reasoning ability when it comes to taking risks. Preana can predict the outcome of any issue with multiple stake-holders who have conflicting interests in economic, business, and political sciences. We have utilized game theory, expected utility theory, Median voter theory, probability distribution and reinforcement learning. We were able to reproduce Mesquita's reported results and have included two case studies from his publications and compared his results to that of Preana. We have also applied Preana on Iran's 2013 presidential election to verify the accuracy of the prediction made by Preana.
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Templeton, Douglas R. "Assessing the utility of work team theory in a unified command environment at catastrophic incidents." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2005. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion/05Mar%5F.pdf.
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Thesis (M.A. in Security studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2005.Thesis Advisor(s): Maria Rasmussen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-88). Also available online.
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Rüger, Maximilian [Verfasser], and Mathias [Akademischer Betreuer] Kifmann. "Risk Preferences Beyond Expected Utility Theory: Theoretical and Experimental Approaches / Maximilian Rüger. Betreuer: Mathias Kifmann." Augsburg : Universität Augsburg, 2011. http://d-nb.info/1077700253/34.
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Styring, Nicola. "Examining the predictive utility of the theory of cognitive adaptation in relation to alopecia areata." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.434455.
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Fuller, Beverly R. "Capital structure theory and flotation costs: an empirical analysis of utility debt and equity decisions." Diss., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74766.
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This research investigates which theory -- an optimal, irrelevance, or modified pecking order -- best explains a firm's capital structure. A sample of 457 debt and equity utility offerings made from 1973-1982 is used in logit regression analysis to test the predictions of the different theories and the relevance of flotation costs to the financing decision. Target leverage ratios are constructed as averages from industry and firm-specific data. These ratios change over time suggesting that leverage targets are moving in response to general economic conditions.
Miller's irrelevance and the modified pecking order theories (if utilities operate well below their debt capacity) are supported. In spite of using leading and lagging targets, no support is found for an optimal capital structure theory. Also, there is no support for flotation costs when measured as the savings from issuing debt rather than equity.
An anomalous finding that overlevered firms continue to lever with their next financing decision seems to be robust to the different measures of a target leverage ratio. This finding is inconsistent with the three capital structures theories tested.Ph. D.