Zoekresultaten

The added value of behavioural information in crime scene investigations

Forensic and behavioural science are often seen as two different disciplines. However, there is a growing realization that the two disciplines should be more strongly integrated. Incorporating psychological theories on human behaviour in forensic science could help solving investigative problems, especially at the crime scene. At the crime scene it is not just about applying scientific methods to analyse traces; these traces must first be perceived and categorized as relevant. At the crime scene, the behavioural perspective of an investigative psychologist could play an important role. In this study, we examine to what extent (1) investigative psychologists detect deviant behavioural cues compared to forensic examiners when investigating a crime scene, (2) forensic examiners can find the relevant traces that can be associated with this behaviour and (3) the availability of a psychological report highlighting these behavioural cues helps forensic examiners in finding more relevant traces. To this end, a total of 14 investigative psychologists and 40 forensic examiners investigated a virtual 3D mock crime scene. The results of this study show that investigative psychologists see significantly more deviant behavioural cues than forensic examiners, and that forensic examiners who receive a psychological report on these cues recognize and collect significantly more traces that can be linked to deviant behaviour and have a high evidential value than examiners who did not receive this information. However, the study also demonstrates that behavioural information is likely to be ignored when it contradicts existing beliefs.

A consumer behavioural approach to food waste.

Gewoonten en tijdsdruk leidend bij keuzes voor mkb-financieringen

Samenvatting:Behavioural finance maakt inzichtelijk door welke sociaal-psychologische drijfveren mensen zich laten leiden bij financiële beslissingen. In onze exploratieve studie naar financiering van het mkb laten wij zien hoe financiële professionals worden geleid door gewoonten en routines. Het blijkt dat hun afweging veel componenten kent en dat niet alleen de kapitaalkosten belangrijk zijn. Adviseurs hebben een sterke voorkeur voor reguliere bancaire producten, kiezen uit een beperkt aantal opties en worden erg gedreven door de haalbaarheid van een financieringsaanvraag en de aansluiting van de financier bij de ondernemer. Daarmee negeren zij belangrijke inzichten vanuit financieringstheorieën, zoals de Pecking Order en Growth Cycle Theory.

The use of games and simulations in higher education can improve students' cognitive and behavioural skills

Validation of Nedap Smarttag Leg and Neck to access behavioural activity level in dairy cattle

The last decades, the number of dairy cows per farm has increased and the time spent on individual cows by the farmer has been reduced. To help the farmer detect changes in activity of cows associated with health issues, activity monitoring systems are being developed. The systems can help with daily farm management decisions, thus increasing farm profitability. Besides this economic benefit there is a social benefit: farmers highly value the herd being under continuous surveillance. Nedap Livestock Management (the Netherlands) introduced a leg activity meter and a neck activity collar: Smarttag Leg and Smarttag Neck. By registering activity of individual cows, the Smarttags help the farmer to detect oestrus and give alerts when activity deviates from normal patterns. The objective of this study was to validate results from the Smarttag Leg and Smarttag Neck, by comparing them with results from live observations and video recordings. Eight lactating dairy cows were observed for 22.5 hours each and video recordings were made of six dry dairy cows for 5.5 hours each. Lying, standing, walking, eating, standing up and ruminating were recorded. Data were compared with results from the Smarttag Leg and Smarttag Neck by calculating Cohen’s Kappa, univariate linear regression analysis, Pearson’s correlation and concordance correlation coefficient. Visual observations and video observations show correlation coefficients of >0.85 with the results of the Smarttags for all behaviours except walking. Correlations between visual and video observations and Smarttag results for walking were 0.45 and 0.50 respectively, possibly due to low incidence and difficulties in observing this behaviour. These results provide strong evidence that the Smarttag Leg and Smarttag Neck can reliably be used to monitor specific behaviours. With this system, the farmer can monitor behaviour and detect behavioural changes.

Actor Behaviour and Robustness of Industrial Symbiosis Networks: An Agent-Based Modelling Approach

Industrial Symbiosis Networks (ISNs) consist of firms that exchange residual materials and energy locally, in order to gain economic, environmental and/or social advantages. In practice, ISNs regularly fail when partners leave and the recovery of residual streams ends. Regarding the current societal need for a shift towards sustainability, it is undesirable that ISNs should fail. Failures of ISNs may be caused by actor behaviour that leads to unanticipated economic losses. In this paper, we explore the effect of these behaviours on ISN robustness by using an agent-based model (ABM). The constructed model is based on insights from both literature and participatory modelling in three real-world cases. It simulates the implementation of synergies for local waste exchange and compost production. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used to model agent behaviour in time-dependent bilateral negotiations and synergy evaluation processes. We explored model behaviour with and without TPB logic across a range of possible TPB input variables. The simulation results show how the modelled planned behaviour affects the cash flow outcomes of the social agents and the robustness of the network. The study contributes to the theoretical development of industrial symbiosis research by providing a quantitative model of all ISN implementation stages, in which various behavioural patterns of entrepreneurs are included. It also contributes to practice by offering insights on how network dynamics and robustness outcomes are not only related to context and ISN design, but also to actor behaviour.