Behavioral Decisions in Spatial Contexts
Using three empirical studies, I will demonstrate how the spatial context in which events unfold influence decisions that are made. The three decisions I will discuss are: (1) The decision of people to be screened for cancer—in the context of known values of cancer risk in local populations; (2) The decision to locate primary health centers in villages in India—in the context of existing locations of health centers and the decision-rules of the Government of India as well as local criteria and objectives; (3) The decision to locate “Area Education Agencies” and the areas they serve in Iowa—in the context of the geography of enrollments and requirements for minimum workloads. The spatial contexts in question are implemented in geographic information systems and decisions are projected in each case from theories of decision-making in spatial contexts.
Dr. Rushton is a Professor from The University of Iowa in the Departments of Geography and Health Management & Policy. You can read more about his research at http://www.uiowa.edu/~geog/faculty/rushton/
