title: Judgement Bias in Hens

authors: ter Veer-Burke, Stacey

subjects: Judgement bias

abstract: When an animal has learned a discrimination between two stimuli on the same dimension, exposing the animal to intermediate stimuli will produce a generalisation gradient. Events that that shift responding from this baseline are said to bias responding. Shifts in gradient which show more responding to intermediate stimuli are called positive judgement biases; while shifts in gradient showing reduced responding on intermediate stimuli are called negative judgement biases. While initial studies showed that exposure to poor conditions prior to testing produced negative biases, not all of the literature has supported this. This study aimed to clarify inconsistencies in the literature, using a within-subjects design and a short-term aversive event. Chickens were trained under two-component multiple schedules with each component associated with a stimulus location. Phase 1 involved 15 min exposure to white noise at 100dB, followed immediately by judgement bias testing. Phase 2 involved exposure to white noise at the same dB level, but for the duration of the test. Phase 3 involved judgment bias testing, interrupted by 15 min white noise at 100dB, following which the test resumed. According to early studies, chickens would show a negative bias in Phase 1 and in the second half of Phase 3. However, if release from stressful conditions produces a positive judgement bias, then a negative judgement bias would be expected in Phase 2 only. Results showed negative biases for some birds in Phase 1, and for all birds in Phase 2. No statistically significant bias was observed in Phase 3. The author argues that idiosyncratic differences may have influenced the direction of bias observed in Phase 1, and suggests further investigations be conducted.

text: Judgement Bias in Hens When an animal has learned a discrimination between two stimuli on the same dimension, exposing the animal to intermediate stimuli will produce a generalisation gradient. Events that that shift responding from this baseline are said to bias responding. Shifts in gradient which show more responding to intermediate stimuli are called positive judgement biases; while shifts in gradient showing reduced responding on intermediate stimuli are called negative judgement biases. While initial studies showed that exposure to poor conditions prior to testing produced negative biases, not all of the literature has supported this. This study aimed to clarify inconsistencies in the literature, using a within-subjects design and a short-term aversive event. Chickens were trained under two-component multiple schedules with each component associated with a stimulus location. Phase 1 involved 15 min exposure to white noise at 100dB, followed immediately by judgement bias testing. Phase 2 involved exposure to white noise at the same dB level, but for the duration of the test. Phase 3 involved judgment bias testing, interrupted by 15 min white noise at 100dB, following which the test resumed. According to early studies, chickens would show a negative bias in Phase 1 and in the second half of Phase 3. However, if release from stressful conditions produces a positive judgement bias, then a negative judgement bias would be expected in Phase 2 only. Results showed negative biases for some birds in Phase 1, and for all birds in Phase 2. No statistically significant bias was observed in Phase 3. The author argues that idiosyncratic differences may have influenced the direction of bias observed in Phase 1, and suggests further investigations be conducted.

year: 2016

title: Rural tourism development in Lithuania (2003–2010) — A quantitative analysis

authors: Baležentis, Tomas

abstract: The objectives of the Rural Development Programme for Lithuania for the period 2007 to 2013 are to: (a) preserve natural and cultural heritage objects, (b) support complementary activity in the rural areas, and (c) generate rural tourism as an economic sector. The aim of this study is to identify current trends specific to the Lithuanian rural tourism sector and propose potential means of development. This study focuses on an inter-county assessment of rural tourism flows within Lithuania by the means of an index decomposition analysis. Consequently, an analysis was undertaken covering factors including the number of the rural tourism farmsteads, spatial distribution of those farmsteads, and capacity, an amended Defert Index, and duration of stay effects. The analysis suggests that the Lithuanian rural tourism sector was negatively affected by the 2008 recession. Indeed, the impacts exhibited relatively high elasticity of demand for rural tourism. Hence, there is a need for the further development of appropriate marketing and information dissemination strategies aimed at both middle and lower income consumers.

text: Rural tourism development in Lithuania (2003–2010) — A quantitative analysis The objectives of the Rural Development Programme for Lithuania for the period 2007 to 2013 are to: (a) preserve natural and cultural heritage objects, (b) support complementary activity in the rural areas, and (c) generate rural tourism as an economic sector. The aim of this study is to identify current trends specific to the Lithuanian rural tourism sector and propose potential means of development. This study focuses on an inter-county assessment of rural tourism flows within Lithuania by the means of an index decomposition analysis. Consequently, an analysis was undertaken covering factors including the number of the rural tourism farmsteads, spatial distribution of those farmsteads, and capacity, an amended Defert Index, and duration of stay effects. The analysis suggests that the Lithuanian rural tourism sector was negatively affected by the 2008 recession. Indeed, the impacts exhibited relatively high elasticity of demand for rural tourism. Hence, there is a need for the further development of appropriate marketing and information dissemination strategies aimed at both middle and lower income consumers.

year: 2012

title: Māori women and intimate partner violence: Some sociocultural influences

authors: Hoeata, Chloe

subjects: intimate partner violence

abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been acknowledged as a worldwide phenomenon, with approximately one in four intimate relationships containing some form of violence. This study explores the interaction between relationship dynamics, IPV and whānau and community influences. We completed narrative interviews with two Māori women in December 2010. Our findings confirm the results of earlier studies which have found that childhood experiences of violence, actual or witnessed, have a powerful effect that reverberate within adult lives and into the formation of intimate relationships. Our interviews show that Māori whānau and women are textured by the same patriarchal expectations that privilege men in the Pākehā world. We also found that seeking help from whānau to escape a violent relationship may not be the most welcomed course of action. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions.

text: Māori women and intimate partner violence: Some sociocultural influences Intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been acknowledged as a worldwide phenomenon, with approximately one in four intimate relationships containing some form of violence. This study explores the interaction between relationship dynamics, IPV and whānau and community influences. We completed narrative interviews with two Māori women in December 2010. Our findings confirm the results of earlier studies which have found that childhood experiences of violence, actual or witnessed, have a powerful effect that reverberate within adult lives and into the formation of intimate relationships. Our interviews show that Māori whānau and women are textured by the same patriarchal expectations that privilege men in the Pākehā world. We also found that seeking help from whānau to escape a violent relationship may not be the most welcomed course of action. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions.

year: 2011