The paper presents some consequences of using semi-open lists, including the preferential vote mechanism, in parliamentary elections in Poland. The Authors discuss whose role in assigning parliamentary seats is greater: that of party organizations’ leaders, who decide on the order of candidates on electoral lists, or that of citizens who cast preferential votes. The paper focuses in the elections in the years 2001–2011, in which, according to poll data, party voting dominated over personal voting. The results of parliamentary elections in Poland show that ballot position effects are persistently present and that people tend to vote for list leaders in their constituencies. However, a simulation of a closed-list mechanism shows that in 2001–2011, ca 20 per cent of parliamentary seats were assigned as a result of the interventionist impact of the preferential vote on the
candidate lists established by parties. The ability to vote for a specifi c candidate is rather important for Poles. The Authors also point out that the candidates from the top of party lists may obtain such good results because voters resort to simple reasoning and vote for those from the top of a list, irrespective of the nature of the list itself. (However, the effect does not seem to be very signifi cant).

The major purpose of the paper is considering the possibility of using conjoint analysis in postponed lotteries research. The role of conjoint measurement theory in mathematical psychology is reviewed. Next, the conjoint data analysis method is elaborated; this method is derived from conjoint measurement theory and it is very popular in market research. The focus is on two versions: traditional Conjoint Value Analysis (CVA) and Choice-Based Conjoint (CBC). The results of this research show that changes in the scope of the likelihood of payment, rather than changes in the dimension of deferral, more strongly determine the choices made.

This article presents a case study touching on the subject of the relationships occurring between events, which are not of economic nature, and the rates of return of the listed companies. The subject of the research concerns the relationship between sport and the stock exchange. The case study used sporting results and bookmakers’ expectations (betting odds) for the matches played by Borussia Dortmund, whose shares are quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It was assumed that this relationship stems from the emotions of football fans who may be stock market investors. This assumption is justifi ed by the highest TV ratings of BVB matches both "live" and in front of the TV screens as well as the high attractiveness of securities issued by the BVB GmbH & Co. KGaA. The data used in the study came from the web service transfermarkt.de and Xetra market for the period of 2011–2014. Research methods employed for this study were the econometric models, including models of (G)ARCH type, and statistical tests of signifi cance.

The aim of the paper is to analyse group characteristic related to the problem of bullying, from a game-theoretical perspective. Bullying is a specific type of violence that happens in schools and it is a group phenomenon. The behaviour of bystanders can either encourage or discourage potential bullies. The paper presents a game-theoretical model of bystanders’ behaviour. It is assumed that bystanders feel morally obliged to defend the victim (internalised norm) but they also want to conform (conformity). In order to analyse the factors that can infl uence the scope of group reaction, a structurally embedded sequential coordination game was played for different initial conditions. Computer
simulations were conducted for networks of a specifi c type (Erdős–Rényi random graph). The main aim of analyses was to identify structural features of the group that can enable or block the intervention of bystanders. There is a non-linear relationship between network density and the scope of reaction. Both low and high density can make it harder for the bystanders to oppose the bully. Interactions between structural and non-structural features of the group have been observed. Depending on the strength of the internalized norm and conformity level, different structural characteristics may improve or lower the
chances of group intervention. As far as non-structural group characteristics are concerned, there is a positive relationship between the scope of group reaction and the strength of the internalized norm, whereas the level of conformity affects the chances of group intervention in a negative way.