Mediation incomplete information bargaining with filtered communication

We analyze a continuous-time bilateral double auction in the presence of two-sided incomplete information and a smallest money unit. A distinguishing feature of our model is that intermediate concessions are not observable by the adversary: they are only communicated to a passive auctioneer. An alternative interpretation is that of mediated bargaining. We show that an equilibrium using only the extreme agreements always exists and display the necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of (perfect Bayesian) equilibra which yield intermediate agreements. For the symmetric case with uniform type distribution we numerically calculate the equilibria. We find that the equilibrium which does not use compromise agreements is the least efficient, however, the rest of the equilibria yield the lower social welfare the higher number of compromise agreements are used.

Organisational structure, communication and group ethics

This paper investigates experimentally how organisational decision processes affect the moral motivations of actors inside a firm that must forego profits to reduce harming a third party. In a "vertical" treatment, one insider unilaterally sets the harm-reduction strategy; the other can only accept or quit. In a "horizontal" treatment, the insiders decide by consensus. Our 2-by-2 design also controls for communication effects. In our data, communication makes vertical firms more ethical; voice appears to mitigate "responsibility-alleviation" in that subordinates with voice feel responsible for what their firms do. Vertical firms are then more ethical than the horizontal firms for which our bargaining data reveal a dynamic form of responsibility-alleviation and our chat data indicate a strong "insider-outsider" effect.

Communication, cultural identities and the Olympic Games: the Barcelona���92 experience

This document includes the results of the research undertaken by the author on the media planning and coverage of the Barcelona'92 and its cultural implications.

Olympic cities and communication

Article published in Greek in the special issue "The Olympic Games: the mega sports and media event" of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens journal Communication Issues (2004, no.1), discussing the need for establishing a communication model for city-games relations.

Viol��ncia contra les dones: an��lisi de la situaci�� psicol��gica personal i interpersonal d'un grup de dones maltractades

Aquest projecte ��s la continuaci�� d'un estudi pilot finan��at per l'Institut Catal�� de les Dones (U/01-6). Es va anar incrementant la grand��ria de la mostra -avaluant les caracter��stiques del maltractament, la simptomatologia, la personalitat i la seva percepci�� de la relaci�� de parella-, fins que el 2003 -i gr��cies a l'ajut del Departament de Benestar i Fam��lia-, dins la Fundaci�� Vidal i Barraquer es va crear un servei d'assist��ncia p��blica especialitzat en atendre dones maltractades (UNADOM); lloc on durant el 2006 hem desenvolupat el treball que ara presentem. L'objectiu general d'aquest estudi transversal consistia en analitzar la situaci�� psicosocial d'un grup de dones maltractades que acudien a la UNADOM, afegint com a element noved��s l'avaluaci�� dels estils d'enfrontament que les dones fan servir despr��s de l'experi��ncia abusiva viscuda. Els instruments utilitzats s��n l'MCMI-II (Millon, 1999), la DAS (Spanier, 1976), el COPE (Carver et al., 1989) i una adaptaci�� de l���Entrevista Semiestructurada sobre Maltractament Dom��stic (Echebur��a et al., 1994). Es recull informaci�� d'un total de 50 dones, 17 de les quals han completat la mesura sobre l'enfrontament. Els resultats indiquen que les escales de personalitat que apareixen m��s alterades s��n l'esquizoide, la dependent i l'evitativa, i que aquestes s��n coherents amb les actituds defensives i les estrat��gies d'enfrontament predominants de les dones de la mostra. A nivell cl��nic, i segons l���experi��ncia assistencial, es conclou amb la import��ncia de realitzar entrevistes explorat��ries acurades ja que aix�� facilita la indicaci�� terap��utica m��s adient i la focalitzaci�� de l'ajuda.

Communication during brief intervention, intention to change, and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between patient's intention to change regarding future alcohol consumption following brief alcohol intervention (BAI) and changes in alcohol consumption 12-months later and the communication characteristics between patient and counselor during BAI. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Data from 367 patients (experimental arm) of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial were used to assess the effectiveness of BAI among hazardous drinkers attending an Emergency Department (Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland). Alcohol outcome measures at baseline and 12 months follow-up included usual number of drinks per week, monthly frequency of heavy episodic drinking (5 or more standard drinks for men; 4 or more for women), and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score. In addition, the communication characteristics between patient and counselor were analyzed via tape recordings using the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code (MISC) from 97 participants. Patient readiness and importance to change on a 10-point Likert scale (readiness/importance to change ruler) was asked during BAI, and patient intention to change alcohol consumption (yes/no) was asked at the last step. Differences in alcohol outcome at follow-up between the 367 patients who did or did not have an intention to change consumption at baseline were compared, as were differences between these two groups in communication characteristics for the 97 who completed tape recordings. RESULTS: Patients with an intention to decrease alcohol consumption reduced alcohol use and related problems more often, and reported higher levels of importance and readiness to change than did their counterparts. Analyses of MISC-coded data showed a significantly higher use of MI-consistent skills among those with a moderation intention, but no group differences on the 8 other counselor communication skills measures were found. Analyses of patient speech during the intervention indicated that those with an intention to change their alcohol consumption significantly more often self-explored personal ambivalence towards alcohol, expressed more intensely their ability, commitment, desire, need and reason to change their alcohol use than did those in the no decrease group. CONCLUSIONS: The intention expressed by hazardous drinkers when concluding BAI is associated with both patient change talk during BAI and drinking outcome 12 months later, but is mainly independent of counselor communication skills. This intention may be an important clinical indicator of which hazardous drinkers are most likely to improve after BAI.

A right to a national space of communication? : on Stateless nations, their right to a space of communication of their own

Hem establert les bases metodol��giques i te��riques per investigar la pregunta ���Tenen les nacions sense estat el dret de controlar el seu propi espai de comunicaci��?���. La investigaci�� ajusta el concepte d���espai de comunicaci�� a la teoria pol��tica, cercant els seus l��mits en els drets individuals i, des de la perspectiva del liberalisme 2, aportant la justificaci�� del seu control en quant que plataforma que incideix en la conservaci�� i superviv��ncia d���una cultura nacional. El primer article i fase de la tesi ��s l���adaptaci�� i definici�� del concepte espai de comunicaci��. Fins ara, la recerca ha proposat diferents models d���espai de comunicaci�� entenent si es tracta d���una visi�� emfatitzant la distribuci�� i la producci�� de material marcat amb els s��mbols de la identitat nacional de la societat emissora, o b�� si emfatitza la idea d���un espai de circulaci�� de fluxos comunicatiu ajustat a un territori tradicionalment vinculat a una identitat nacional o naci�� sense estat. Igualment, es distingeix la dimensi�� d���emissi�� ���sortir del territori al m��n- i la de recepci�� ���fluxos informatius rebuts des del m��n al territori, concretament, al ciutad��; el paper d���intervenci�� de les institucions democr��tiques ��s diferent en una dimensi�� o una altra i, per tant, tamb�� s��n diferents els drets afectats i les teories o principis que neguen o justifiquen el control de l���espai de comunicaci��. Tamb�� s���ha indagat en les teories sobre els efectes cognitius dels mitjans de comunicaci�� per relacionar-los amb la construcci�� nacional com a cohesi�� simb��lica i cultural. Si b�� els mitjans no poden fer canviar de pensament immediatament, s�� que poden conformar a llarg termini una percepci�� nacional general. Una comunitat ��s imaginada, donada la dist��ncia f��sica dels seus components, i la comunicaci�� social ��s, juntament amb l���educaci��, el principal factor de construcci�� nacional, avui en dia.

Incomunicabilidad de la Persona y Comunicaci��n interpersonal

Aquest treball de final de carrera tracta del concepte de la persona. Es contempla el concepte de la persona al llarg de la hist��ria i en l���actualitat. Se explica la metaf��sica de la persona des de un pl��nol antropol��gic, sobretot la incomunicabilitat que defineix la persona i el concepte de la dignitat que va lligat a ella. Es demostra la paradoxa del ser personal que ��s alhora incomunicable i interrelacionat amb altres persones pel mitj�� de la comunicaci��, ��s a dir, que posse��x una bipolaritat entre l���autonomia i la depend��ncia. Es conclou que la comunicaci�� ��s el producte de l���amor, de les relacions amistoses, de la fam��lia i de l���educaci��. Finalment, se explicita el cas de la incomunicaci�� que es basa en els conceptes moderns sobre la persona, sobretot des de un pl��nol psicol��gic.

Oncology clinicians' defenses and adherence to communication skills training with simulated patients: an exploratory study.

The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the impact of clinicians' defense mechanisms-defined as self-protective psychological mechanisms triggered by the affective load of the encounter with the patient-on adherence to a communication skills training (CST). The population consisted of oncology clinicians (N = 31) who participated in a CST. An interview with simulated cancer patients was recorded prior and 6��months after CST. Defenses were measured before and after CST and correlated with a prototype of an ideally conducted interview based on the criteria of CST-teachers. Clinicians who used more adaptive defense mechanisms showed better adherence to communication skills after CST than clinicians with less adaptive defenses (F(1, 29) = 5.26, p = 0.03, d = 0.42). Improvement in communication skills after CST seems to depend on the initial levels of defenses of the clinician prior to CST. Implications for practice and training are discussed. Communication has been recognized as a central element of cancer care [1]. Ineffective communication may contribute to patients' confusion, uncertainty, and increased difficulty in asking questions, expressing feelings, and understanding information [2, 3], and may also contribute to clinicians' lack of job satisfaction and emotional burnout [4]. Therefore, communication skills trainings (CST) for oncology clinicians have been widely developed over the last decade. These trainings should increase the skills of clinicians to respond to the patient's needs, and enhance an adequate encounter with the patient with efficient exchange of information [5]. While CSTs show a great diversity with regard to their pedagogic approaches [6, 7], the main elements of CST consist of (1) role play between participants, (2) analysis of videotaped interviews with simulated patients, and (3) interactive case discussion provided by participants. As recently stated in a consensus paper [8], CSTs need to be taught in small groups (up to 10-12 participants) and have a minimal duration of at least 3��days in order to be effective. Several systematic reviews evaluated the impact of CST on clinicians' communication skills [9-11]. Effectiveness of CST can be assessed by two main approaches: participant-based and patient-based outcomes. Measures can be self-reported, but, according to Gysels et al. [10], behavioral assessment of patient-physician interviews [12] is the most objective and reliable method for measuring change after training. Based on 22 studies on participants' outcomes, Merckaert et al. [9] reported an increase of communication skills and participants' satisfaction with training and changes in attitudes and beliefs. The evaluation of CST remains a challenging task and variables mediating skills improvement remain unidentified. We recently thus conducted a study evaluating the impact of CST on clinicians' defenses by comparing the evolution of defenses of clinicians participating in CST with defenses of a control group without training [13]. Defenses are unconscious psychological processes which protect from anxiety or distress. Therefore, they contribute to the individual's adaptation to stress [14]. Perry refers to the term "defensive functioning" to indicate the degree of adaptation linked to the use of a range of specific defenses by an individual, ranging from low defensive functioning when he or she tends to use generally less adaptive defenses (such as projection, denial, or acting out) to high defensive functioning when he or she tends to use generally more adaptive defenses (such as altruism, intellectualization, or introspection) [15, 16]. Although several authors have addressed the emotional difficulties of oncology clinicians when facing patients and their need to preserve themselves [7, 17, 18], no research has yet been conducted on the defenses of clinicians. For example, repeated use of less adaptive defenses, such as denial, may allow the clinician to avoid or reduce distress, but it also diminishes his ability to respond to the patient's emotions, to identify and to respond adequately to his needs, and to foster the therapeutic alliance. Results of the above-mentioned study [13] showed two groups of clinicians: one with a higher defensive functioning and one with a lower defensive functioning prior to CST. After the training, a difference in defensive functioning between clinicians who participated in CST and clinicians of the control group was only showed for clinicians with a higher defensive functioning. Some clinicians may therefore be more responsive to CST than others. To further address this issue, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the level of adherence to an "ideally conducted interview", as defined by the teachers of the CST, and the level of the clinician' defensive functioning. We hypothesized that, after CST, clinicians with a higher defensive functioning show a greater adherence to the "ideally conducted interview" than clinicians with a lower defensive functioning.

Contact and communication with healthcare providers regarding influenza vaccination during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.

Objective. The existence of two vaccines seasonal and pandemic-created the potential for confusion and misinformation among consumers during the 2009-2010 vaccination season. We measured the frequency and nature of influenza vaccination communication between healthcare providers and adults for both seasonal and 2009 influenza A(H1N1) vaccination and quantified its association with uptake of the two vaccines.Methods. We analyzed data from 4040 U.S. adult members of a nationally representative online panel surveyed between March 4th and March 24th, 2010. We estimated prevalence rates and adjusted associations between vaccine uptake and vaccination-related communication between patients and healthcare providers using bivariate probit models.Results. 64.1% (95%-CI: 61.5%-66.6%) of adults did not receive any provider-issued influenza vaccination recommendation. Adults who received a provider-issued vaccination recommendation were 14.1 (95%-CI: -2.4 to 30.6) to 32.1 (95%-CI: 24.3-39.8) percentage points more likely to be vaccinated for influenza than adults without a provider recommendation, after adjusting for other characteristics associated with vaccination.Conclusions. Influenza vaccination communication between healthcare providers and adults was relatively uncommon during the 2009-2010 pandemic. Increased communication could significantly enhance influenza vaccination rates. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Conseq����ncies de cr��ixer i madurar en condicions de dificultat social

El tema del projecte consisteix a treballar les habilitats de relaci�� interpersonal i de comunicaci�� dels interns del Centre Penitenciari de Joves de Barcelona com un possible ajut de cara a la seva reinserci�� i integraci�� social posterior, ja que un domini adequat de les habilitats socials ��s del tot imprescindible perqu�� qualsevol persona pugui encaixar socialment.

Creatividad y relaci��n interpersonal en el proceso de evaluaci��n

Un planteamiento inadecuado de una actividad de evaluaci��n propici�� un cambio radical en la manera de plantear la relaci��n pedag��gica aplicada a la evaluaci��n por parte del profesor de la asignatura

Carte routi��re du d��partement de la Dordogne : comprenant les routes royales, les routes d��partementales les chemins vicinaux de grande communication class��s par le Conseil g��n��ral / Dress��e par A. Bardon G��og[rap]he des Ponts et Ch[aus]s��es

��chelle(s) : [ca 1:200 000], ��chelle de 0,01 pour 2000 m��tres