The Effects of Clarity of Decision Rule and Favorability of Verdict on Satisfaction with Resolution of Conflicts1

Favorability of outcome and clarity of decision rule were manipulated in a simulated conflict resolved by an impartial third party. Overall, subjects who received favorable outcomes were more satisfied than were those who received unfavorable outcomes. In addition, favorability of verdict and clarity of decision rule interacted in affecting overall satisfaction. Among subjects receiving an unfavorable verdict, those whose outcomes had been determined by a defined decision rule experienced greater satisfaction than those whose outcomes were based on an unclear, undefined rule. However, given a favorable outcome, the effects of clarity of decision rule were reversed-subjects reported greater satisfaction with the undefined than the defined rule. These results are discussed with reference to the particularism/universalism of defined and undefined decision rules.     

HIV, Sex, and Social Change: Applying ESID Principles to HIV Prevention Research

The HIV epidemic has been the most significant public health crisis of the last 2 decades. Although Experimental Social Innovation and Dissemination (ESID) principles have been used by many HIV prevention researchers, the clearest application is the series of model-building and replication experiments conducted by Kelly and colleagues. The model mobilized, trained, and engaged key opinion leaders to serve as behavior change and safe-sex endorsers in their social networks. This paper illustrates how ESID principles were used to develop, test, and disseminate an innovative social model and discusses the challenges of applying ESID methodology in the midst of a public health emergency.