• Title/Summary/Keyword: Random Utility Theory

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An Investigation on the Effect of Utility Variance on Choice Probability without Assumptions on the Specific Forms of Probability Distributions (특정한 확률분포를 가정하지 않는 경우에 효용의 분산이 제품선택확률에 미치는 영향에 대한 연구)

  • Won, Jee-Sung
    • Korean Management Science Review
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.159-167
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    • 2011
  • The theory of random utility maximization (RUM) defines the probability of an alternative being chosen as the probability of its utility being perceived as higher than those of all the other competing alternatives in the choice set (Marschak 1960). According to this theory, consumers perceive the utility of an alternative not as a constant but as a probability distribution. Over the last two decades, there have been an increasing number of studies on the effect of utility variance on choice probability. The common result of the previous studies is that as the utility variance increases, the effect of the mean value of the utility (the deterministic component of the utility) on choice probability is reduced. This study provides a theoretical investigation on the effect of utility variance on choice probability without any assumptions on the specific forms of probability distributions. This study suggests that without assumptions of the probability distribution functions, firms cannot apply the marketing strategy of maximizing choice probability (or market share), but can only adopt the strategy of maximizing the minimum or maximum value of the expected choice probability. This study applies the Chebyshef inequality and shows how the changes in utility variances affect the maximum of minimum of choice probabilities and provides managerial implications.

AXIOMATIC CHARACTERIZATIONS OF SIGNED INTERVAL-VALUED CHOQUET INTEGRALS

  • Jang, Lee-Chae
    • Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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    • v.24 no.1_2
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    • pp.489-503
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    • 2007
  • In this paper, we define signed interval-valued Choquet integrals which have numerous applications in mathematical economics, informatiom theory, expected utility theory, and risk analysis on interval-valued random variables, for examples: interval-valued random payments and interval-valued random profiles, etc. And we discuss axiomatic characterizations of them. Furthermore, we fine some condition that comonotonic additivity of symmetric Choquet integrals on interval-valued random payments is satisfied and give two examples related the main theorem.

Utility Maximization, The Shapes of the Indifference Curve on the Characteristic Space and its Estimation: A Theoretical Approach (개인여객 효용의 극대화 및 운송특성공간상의 무차별곡선의 형태와 그 추정)

  • Kim, Jong-Seok
    • Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.157-168
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    • 2009
  • The random utility theory and the multinomial logit model (including a more recent variant--the mixed multinomial logit) derived from it have constituted a back bone for theoretical and empirical analyses of various travel demand features including mode choice. In their empirical applications, however, it is customary to specify random utilities which are linear in modal attributes such as time and cost, and in socio-economic variables. The linearity helps easy derivation of important information such as value of travel time savings by calculating marginal rate of substitution between time and cost. In this paper the author focuses on the very linearity of the random utilities. Taking into account the fact that the mode chooser is also labour supplier, commodity consumer as well as leisure-seeker, the author sets up a maximization model of the traveller, which encompasses various economic activities of the traveller. The author derive from the model the indifference curve defined on the space of modal attributes, time and cost and investigate under what conditions the random utility of the traveller becomes linear. It turns out that there exist the conditions under which the random utility is really linear in modal attributes, but the property does not hold when the traveller has a corner solution on the space of modal attributes, or when the primary utility function of the traveller is directly affected by labour provided and/or the travel time itself. As a corollary of the analysis, a random utility is suggested, approximated up to the second order of the variables involved for empirical studies of the field.

Application of Random Regret Minimization Model in the Context of Intercity Travel Mode Choice (지역간 수단선택에 있어서 확률적 후회 최소화 모형의 적용 연구)

  • Jin, Woo-Jeong;Lee, Jang-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.87-96
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    • 2016
  • The multinomial logit model, based on random utility maximization (RUM) theory, has been the predominant model used in travel mode choice contexts. In this paper, the travel mode choice model based on random regret minimization (RRM) theory is proposed as an alternative to the RUM model, and the applicability of the RRM model is examined. The presented model is applied to the case of inter-city travel mode choice in Korea. The empirical results show that the RUM model and RRM model have parameters that are consistent with the intuition. The goodness of fit statistics in the RRM model improved compared with the results of the RUM model. Consequently, these results show the possibility of using the RRM model in the context of travel mode choice.

Robust Design Method for Complex Stochastic Inventory Model

  • Hwang, In-Keuk;Park, Dong-Jin
    • Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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    • 1999.04a
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    • pp.426-426
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    • 1999
  • ;There are many sources of uncertainty in a typical production and inventory system. There is uncertainty as to how many items customers will demand during the next day, week, month, or year. There is uncertainty about delivery times of the product. Uncertainty exacts a toll from management in a variety of ways. A spurt in a demand or a delay in production may lead to stockouts, with the potential for lost revenue and customer dissatisfaction. Firms typically hold inventory to provide protection against uncertainty. A cushion of inventory on hand allows management to face unexpected demands or delays in delivery with a reduced chance of incurring a stockout. The proposed strategies are used for the design of a probabilistic inventory system. In the traditional approach to the design of an inventory system, the goal is to find the best setting of various inventory control policy parameters such as the re-order level, review period, order quantity, etc. which would minimize the total inventory cost. The goals of the analysis need to be defined, so that robustness becomes an important design criterion. Moreover, one has to conceptualize and identify appropriate noise variables. There are two main goals for the inventory policy design. One is to minimize the average inventory cost and the stockouts. The other is to the variability for the average inventory cost and the stockouts The total average inventory cost is the sum of three components: the ordering cost, the holding cost, and the shortage costs. The shortage costs include the cost of the lost sales, cost of loss of goodwill, cost of customer dissatisfaction, etc. The noise factors for this design problem are identified to be: the mean demand rate and the mean lead time. Both the demand and the lead time are assumed to be normal random variables. Thus robustness for this inventory system is interpreted as insensitivity of the average inventory cost and the stockout to uncontrollable fluctuations in the mean demand rate and mean lead time. To make this inventory system for robustness, the concept of utility theory will be used. Utility theory is an analytical method for making a decision concerning an action to take, given a set of multiple criteria upon which the decision is to be based. Utility theory is appropriate for design having different scale such as demand rate and lead time since utility theory represents different scale across decision making attributes with zero to one ranks, higher preference modeled with a higher rank. Using utility theory, three design strategies, such as distance strategy, response strategy, and priority-based strategy. for the robust inventory system will be developed.loped.

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Stochastic response spectra for an actively-controlled structure

  • Mochio, Takashi
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.32 no.1
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    • pp.179-191
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    • 2009
  • A stochastic response spectrum method is proposed for simple evaluation of the structural response of an actively controlled aseismic structure. The response spectrum is constructed assuming a linear structure with an active mass damper (AMD) system, and an earthquake wave model given by the product of a non-stationary envelope function and a stationary Gaussian random process with Kanai-Tajimi power spectral density. The control design is executed using a linear quadratic Gaussian control strategy for an enlarged state space system, and the response amplification factor is given by the combination of the obtained statistical response values and extreme value theory. The response spectrum thus produced can be used for simple dynamical analyses. The response factors obtained by this method for a multi-degree-of-freedom structure are shown to be comparable with those determined by numerical simulations, demonstrating the validity and utility of the proposed technique as a simple design tool. This method is expected to be useful for engineers in the initial design stage for structures with active aseismic control.

The Impact of Latent Attitudinal Variables on Stated Preferences : What Attitudinal Variables Can Do for Choice Modelling (진술선호에 미치는 잠재 심리변수의 영향: 초이스모델링에서 심리변수의 역할)

  • Choi, Andy S.
    • Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.701-721
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    • 2007
  • A key issue in the development and application of stated preference nonmarket valuation is the incorporation of unobserved heterogeneity in utility models. Two approaches to this task have dominated. The first is to include individual-specific characteristics into the estimated indirect utility functions. These characteristics are usually socioeconomic or demographic variables. The second employs generalized models such as random parameter logit or probit models to allow model parameters to vary across individuals. This paper examines a third approach: the inclusion of psychological or 'latent' variables such as general attitudes and behaviour-specific attitudes to account for heterogeneity in models of stated preferences. Attitudinal indicators are used as explanatory variables and as segmentation criteria in a choice modelling application. Results show that both the model significance and parameter estimates are influenced by the inclusion of the latent variables, and that attitudinal variables are significant factors for WTP estimates.

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Effect of uncertain information on drivers' decision making (Application of Prospect Theory) (불확실한 정보에 대한 운전자의 의사결정행태 연구)

  • CHO, Hye-Jin;KIM, Kang-Soo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.77-90
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    • 2003
  • This paper explores the way and the extent to which drivers' route choice was influenced by uncertain information. In particular, this paper investigates the effect of qualitative information on route choice when drivers face a choice with different degrees of uncertain information. The SP survey was conducted and route choice legit models were estimated. We also applied Prospect Theory to the analysis of drivers' decision making under uncertain information. The main findings are firstly, drivers tend to prefer a route with information than(to) one without information. This indicated that providing charge information encouraged drivers to choose the routes for which information is provided in preference to those for which it is not provided. Secondly, drivers also prefer a route with a certain and precise information over one with uncertain and imprecise information. Thirdly, when the information is given as a range, the size of the range of the information influenced route choice slightly and as the range of the charge increases, the route becomes slightly less unattractive. Fourthly, when the information is given as a range, drivers' route choices are influenced more by the median value of the ranges than by the size of the overall ranges of the information. Application of Prospect Theory to the results explains the way drivers may be interpreting the choice situation and how they make a route choice in response to uncertain information. The results of this paper implicate that drivers' decision making under uncertainty seem to be very complicated and flexible, depending on the way drivers interpret the choice situation. Therefore, it is recommended to apply wider related theories to the analysis of the drivers' behaviour.

Development and Testing of the Model of Health Promotion Behavior in Predicting Exercise Behavior

  • O'Donnell, Michael P.
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.31-61
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    • 2000
  • Introduction. Despite the fact that half of premature deaths are caused by unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking tobacco, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol and drug abuse and poor nutrition, there are no theoretical models which accurately explain these health promotion related behaviors. This study tests a new model of health behavior called the Model of Health Promotion Behavior. This model draws on elements and frameworks suggested by the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, the Theory of Planned Action and the Health Promotion Model. This model is intended as a general model of behavior but this first test of the model uses amount of exercise as the outcome behavior. Design. This study utilized a cross sectional mail-out, mail-back survey design to determine the elements within the model that best explained intentions to exercise and those that best explained amount of exercise. A follow-up questionnaire was mailed to all respondents to the first questionnaire about 10 months after the initial survey. A pretest was conducted to refine the questionnaire and a pilot study to test the protocols and assumptions used to calculate the required sample size. Sample. The sample was drawn from 2000 eligible participants at two blue collar (utility company and part of a hospital) and two white collar (bank and pharmaceutical) companies located in Southeastern Michigan. Both white collar site had employee fitness centers and all four sites offered health promotion programs. In the first survey, 982 responses were received (49.1%) after two mailings to non-respondents and one additional mailing to secure answers to missing data, with 845 usable cases for the analyzing current intentions and 918 usable cases for the explaining of amount of current exercise analysis. In the follow-up survey, questionnaires were mailed to the 982 employees who responded to the initial survey. After one follow-up mailing to non-respondents, and one mailing to secure answers to missing data, 697 (71.0%) responses were received, with 627 (63.8%) usable cases to predict intentions and 673 (68.5%) usable cases to predict amount of exercise. Measures. The questionnaire in the initial survey had 15 scales and 134 items; these scales measured each of the variables in the model. Thirteen of the scales were drawn from the literature, all had Cronbach's alpha scores above .74 and all but three had scores above .80. The questionnaire in the second mailing had only 10 items, and measured only outcome variables. Analysis. The analysis included calculation of scale scores, Cronbach's alpha, zero order correlations, and factor analysis, ordinary least square analysis, hierarchical tests of interaction terms and path analysis, and comparisons of results based on a random split of the data and splits based on gender and employer site. The power of the regression analysis was .99 at the .01 significance level for the model as a whole. Results. Self efficacy and Non-Health Benefits emerged as the most powerful predictors of Intentions to exercise, together explaining approximately 19% of the variance in future Intentions. Intentions, and the interaction of Intentions with Barriers, with Support of Friends, and with Self Efficacy were the most consistent predictors of amount of future exercise, together explaining 38% of the variance. With the inclusion of Prior Exercise History the model explained 52% of the variance in amount of exercise 10 months later. There were very few differences in the variables that emerged as important predictors of intentions or exercise in the different employer sites or between males and females. Discussion. This new model is viable in predicting intentions to exercise and amount of exercise, both in absolute terms and when compared to existing models.

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