Utilizing Agent-Based Models to Explore the Effects of Maternal Care Trade-Offs in the U.S.

Description
In this paper, we conduct a review of the existing literature on maternal care trade-offs. From our research, we found that allomaternal care arose as the main strategy used by mothers to combat these trade-offs. In industrialized societies, the increased

In this paper, we conduct a review of the existing literature on maternal care trade-offs. From our research, we found that allomaternal care arose as the main strategy used by mothers to combat these trade-offs. In industrialized societies, the increased prevalence of women in the work force has given rise to systemic maternal support in the form of maternity leave. We used the 2022 American Time Use Survey Data to simulate the effects of such policies, as well as marital status on women’s time allocation. We created dependent variables to measure the agents’ career advancement, wellbeing, and child wellbeing. Across all of our models, those who had an unmarried partner had better career advancement and child wellbeing, whereas those who were single had the highest maternal wellbeing. We used an agent-based model and ultimately concluded that, over the span of 10 years, 12 weeks of paid maternity leave was not enough to impact the agents’ long-term time allocation behavior.
Date Created
2024-05
Agent

"Did You Turn It Off and On Again?" Assessing How Knowing the Digital Literacy of Laypeople Changes Expert Leaders' Decision-Making

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Description
This study demonstrates how knowing the digital literacy of those they serve helps information communications technology (ICT) leaders adjust their perspective-taking. Using a pre-and post-survey design assessing ICT leaders on changes in their thinking around key responsibility areas: support during

This study demonstrates how knowing the digital literacy of those they serve helps information communications technology (ICT) leaders adjust their perspective-taking. Using a pre-and post-survey design assessing ICT leaders on changes in their thinking around key responsibility areas: support during new software adoption, troubleshooting an issue and preparing for a system upgrade. The study used a self and other-rated paired survey model using Computer Attitude Scale and Computer Self-Efficacy instruments to measure ICT leaders and those they serve. 31 ICT leaders at a west coast university participated in this study, and 85 non-ICT workers whom the ICT leaders serve. 31 ICT leaders at a west coast university participated in this study, along with 85 non-ICT workers who the ICT leaders serve. This study indicates that ICT leaders did indeed view the laypeople's digital literacy differently than the laypeople did. And that by showing ICT leaders the differences, they adjusted their support expectations according to the laypeople's self-ratings.
Date Created
2022
Agent

Designing for Wellbeing in the Workplace

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Description
Employee wellbeing is a top concern for many organizations as its been linked to job performance and organizational commitment (Colquit, LePine, & Wesson, 2019). Research suggests that overall wellbeing is important to employees as well. Organizations are significantly investing into

Employee wellbeing is a top concern for many organizations as its been linked to job performance and organizational commitment (Colquit, LePine, & Wesson, 2019). Research suggests that overall wellbeing is important to employees as well. Organizations are significantly investing into upgrading workplace environments, and there is a need for a clear understanding of how those improvements truly impact employee wellbeing. Current workplace research reveals that the open-office floorplan accounts for more than 70% of office layouts in the United States and is most commonly used for the benefits of collaboration and efficiency (Gallup, 2017). However, the open office layout ranks poorly in current employee wellbeing studies with a number of office environment stressors such as noise, distractions, and privacy concerns noted to impact employee wellbeing (C. Bodin-Danielsson, 2016; Haynes, Suckley, & Nunnington, 2017). The knowledge work performed in office environments require high amounts of cognitive tasks and when combined with filtering distractions in the workplace it can increase strains caused by common office stressors, thereby impacting employee wellbeing (Bridger & Brasher, 2011). This study will examine common stressors from the open office environment and compare employee’s perceptions of their work environment before and after renovations, as well as observations and behavioral mapping that record how the built environment influences the behaviors of the occupants. This research seeks to understand how wellbeing in the open office is affected by its different physical environmental settings, and how this environment influences employee’s behaviors. The end research goal is to see if there is a significant correlation of physical work environment and workplace behaviors that are common in the open office to help understand how the designed interior workplace impacts the wellbeing of its users.
Date Created
2020
Agent

Contributing Factors to the Patient Burden of Work

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Description
Patients face tremendous challenges when attempting to navigate the United States health care system. This difficulty to navigate the system creates a burden that is placed on the patient and caregiver, in turn affecting the health outcomes of the patient,

Patients face tremendous challenges when attempting to navigate the United States health care system. This difficulty to navigate the system creates a burden that is placed on the patient and caregiver, in turn affecting the health outcomes of the patient, resulting in higher health care costs, less than desirable outcomes, and a large strain on the patient and caregiver's daily lives. There are several ways that people have tried to create a comprehensive theoretical framework to understand the system from multiple perspectives. This work will expand existing theoretical frameworks that observes the relationship between the patient, their social networks, and health care services such as the Burden of Treatment Theory. Consisting of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary literature review, research was derived from the disciplines of medicine, informatics, management, and ethics. In this paper, I attempt to identify key contributing factors and then develop and categorize these stressors into a typology. Since there are many contributing factors that affect the burden of work at multiple levels, a nested typology will be used which will link micro- and macro-leveled pressures to a single system while also showcasing how each level interacts and is influenced by the others. For the categorization of the contributing factors, they will be sorted into individual actors, organizational level, and macro-level factors. The implications of this work suggest that a combination of historical shifts, structural design, and secondary effects of policy contribute to patients' burden of work.
Date Created
2017-05
Agent