The concept of preference intensity has been criticized over the past sixty years for having no substantive meaning. Much of the controversy stems from the inadequacy of measurement procedures. In reviewing the shortcomings of existing procedures, we identify three objectives for developing a satisfactory procedure: (1) the capability of validating expressed preference differences by actual cho...

At this stage in the development of diagnosis-related groups (DRG's), there is an imperfect record of the value and amount of nursing resources used by individual patients during a single hospital stay. Previous attempts to isolate the costs of nursing care in relationship to DRG's are reviewed. A research strategy to attain such relative measurements is proposed. Such inquiries are necessary i...