Quality Indicators of Online Cancer Communities from the Perspective of Cancer-Affected People

Online cancer communities established by non-profit cancer organisations help cancer-affected people seeking information and facing emotional and psychological challenges to communicate and interact with a network of people suffering from similar issues. However, the quality features of online cancer communities from the perception of users of the information are under-researched. Using the factors credibility, content, and design, this study adopted a multi-theory perspective by integrating the Information Quality (IQ) assessment framework, the source credibility model, and the two-factor theory for website design to develop a framework to examine the quality indicators of online cancer communities. Data collected via semi-structured interviews with 14 participants showed that dimensions underlying content and credibility factors are crucial for using the online community. All dimensions underlying the design factor were essential factors, except for the visualisation of the website and privacy and data protection that constituted motivating factors for using the online community

Perceived Quality Indicators of Cancer-Related Podcasts Provided by Non-Profit Cancer Organisations

Non-profit cancer organisations aim to reduce the illness caused by cancer by providing emotional support and practical information using different online resources. Cancer podcasts are one type of resource provided by those organisations to support cancer-affected people by transmitting information via audio in the form of interviews, conversations, and panel discussions. However, little is known about the quality features of these podcasts from the perspective of users. This is important to provide insights into designing podcasts that can meet the needs of cancer-affected people. Integrating the IQ assessment framework, source credibility theory, and two-factor theory of website design, this study collected data via semi-structured interviews with 14 participants to develop a framework to assess the quality of cancer-related podcasts. Results showed that all features underlying the credibility, content, and design constructs were fundamental, except for the visual appearance of the website which constituted a motivating factor for using podcasts

University Homepage Affordances: The Influence of Hyperlinks on Perceptions of Source Credibility

The technology affordances of university website homepages were evaluated to inform the development of prototypical examples of accessible public university and exclusive private university homepages. Affordances are characteristic of the environment that, when perceived, afford or provide opportunities for action (Gibson, 1986). In addition, affordances, such as hyperlinks, also prompt heuristic processes that lead to judgments that are based on peripheral cues rather than substantive information. Integrating the MAIN model (Sundar, 2008) and the Two-Factor Theory (Herzberg, 1966; Zhang & Von Dran, 2000), eye tracking and survey methodology were used to assess differences in perception and credibility judgments of the prototypes developed to represent the website homepages of accessible and exclusive universities. A content analysis was used to assess hyperlinks and other design features of the website homepages of the 10 most accessible and 10 most exclusive Ohio universities. Consistent with prior research, results indicated relatively little variation among the hyperlinks and design elements of university website homepages. The features were used to develop prototypes representative of the two types of university homepages. Those prototypes served as the manipulated independent variable in an experiment and, although the manipulation was correctly perceived, the differences were not statistically significant. Correspondingly, the credibility measures, although consistent with theoretical predictions, were not statistically significant based on the type of prototype viewed. This study thus did not provide evidence of a relationship between number of hyperlinks and credibility. Perceived hygiene and motivator factors however, were significantly positively associated with credibility, consistent with two-factor theory. Additionally, prior experience, particularly with university websites, was associated with the extent to which credibility assessments were not neutral. Participants with more experience were significantly more likely to make non-neutral assessments of credibility than those with less experience, results which are consistent with theory underlying the MAIN model and provide evidence of heuristic processing. This work provides evidence that two-factor theory complements the MAIN model, with potential theoretical and practical benefits. Universities can apply them to develop websites that better meet with user expectations and are thus perceived more favorably

Integrating Users’ Perceptions to Identify Features Indicating the Quality of Cancer-Related Podcasts Provided by Non-Profit Cancer Organisations

While cancer podcasts are valuable for support and information, there is a significant gap in understanding their quality features from users’ perspectives. Understanding quality features from users’ perspectives is important to ensure that cancer-affected people receive the support they need. This study addresses this gap by combining multiple theoretical perspectives: a. the IQ assessment framework, source credibility theory, two-factor theory of website design to assess the quality of podcasts, and b. reception theory to highlight listeners’ perception of quality. These perspectives, together, enrich the concept of information systems quality and provide a comprehensive understanding of podcasts’ quality. Through semi-structured interviews with 17 cancer-affected individuals, the research found that credibility, content, and design were essential quality features, with the visual appearance serving as a motivational factor. The integration of Reception Theory highlights users’ active role in shaping quality perceptions, offering new insights into the effective design of cancer-related podcasts. This novel approach bridges a critical research gap, illuminating the complex interplay of technical and human factors in assessing podcast quality from the perspective of users

Developing a Theory of Website Usability: An Exploratory Study to Identify Constructs and Nomological Networks

Developing a usable website is pivotal for e-business success, yet previous studies have reported that current websites contain numerous usability problems. There are many reasons for poorly designed websites, but this research focuses on the lack of a good theory of website usability, a theory that explains and predicts the effects of website usability on online customer perceptions. To propose a good theory of website usability, this exploratory study first investigated website usability constructs by integrating the findings of previous studies and the results of interviews with website usability experts. Instruments to measure the constructs were developed and empirically validated. Then nomological networks between website usability constructs and online customer perceptions, focused on purchase intention and purchase, were examined. Three field studies including two questionnaire surveys and a causal mapping analysis were conducted. This study identified 10 website usability factors with strong psychometric properties through conducting a confirmatory factor analysis. Factors include consistency, navigability, supportability, learnability, simplicity, interactivity, telepresence, content relevance, credibility, and readability. Based on these constructs, this study found nomological networks that explain a large amount of variance of purchase intention and purchase through performing a causal mapping analysis and a path analysis (see Figure 1). This research could aid researchers and practitioners of website usability by providing useful knowledge for usable website design. From a theoretical perspective, this study proposed and validated the nomological networks which could be used to develop alternative theoretical models of website usability or enhance the current theoretical models to provide a better understanding of the website usability phenomenon. From a practitioner perspective, using the identified instruments and nomological networks, management of e-business companies can evaluate the usability level of their own website and at the same time, compare the usability level of a company’s website with that of competitors to establish industrial standards. By gauging website usability levels and comparing with competitors’ sites, e-business companies can make strategic decisions on how to improve current websites

Integrating Users’ Perceptions to Identify Features Indicating the Quality of Cancer-Related Podcasts Provided by Non-Profit Cancer Organisations

While cancer podcasts are valuable for support and information, there is a significant gap in understanding their quality features from users’ perspectives. Understanding quality features from users’ perspectives is important to ensure that cancer-affected people receive the support they need. This study addresses this gap by combining multiple theoretical perspectives: a. the IQ assessment framework, source credibility theory, two-factor theory of website design to assess the quality of podcasts, and b. reception theory to highlight listeners’ perception of quality. These perspectives, together, enrich the concept of information systems quality and provide a comprehensive understanding of podcasts’ quality. Through semi-structured interviews with 17 cancer-affected individuals, the research found that credibility, content, and design were essential quality features, with the visual appearance serving as a motivational factor. The integration of Reception Theory highlights users’ active role in shaping quality perceptions, offering new insights into the effective design of cancer-related podcasts. This novel approach bridges a critical research gap, illuminating the complex interplay of technical and human factors in assessing podcast quality from the perspective of users

Examining the influence of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer company identification and loyalty: a study of consumers’ perception in the context of the financial setting in the United Kingdom and Russia

The main aim of this study is to add to the current knowledge about the corporate website favourability within the discipline of marketing by developing a rigorous conceptual framework of factors that influence corporate website favourability, and to explore how corporate website favourability contributes to building corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty within the context of the financial setting in the UK and Russia. This research addresses two main questions: 1) what is the impact of the specific antecedents of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? 2) what are the main favourable influences of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? To achieve the goals of this research, the thesis adopts a mixed method research design - a predominantly quantitative approach, which is supported by insights from an exploratory phase that embodies in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The thesis draws on attribution, social identity and signalling theories. Based on the multi-disciplinary approach, this study resulted in the introduction of a validated conceptual framework that explains the phenomenon of corporate website favourability. The conceptual framework was supported and enhanced by a qualitative study (in-depth interviews and focus groups) that added three factors which influence corporate website favourability: customer service, website credibility and perceived corporate social responsibility. The conceptual framework was empirically evaluated through the insights from 555 questionnaires in the UK and 563 questionnaires in Russia. The sample of respondents permitted multivariate data analysis to be conducted in both contexts. The data from two contexts (consumers from HSBC in the UK and Sberbank in Russia) were analysed separately. This research employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA), cronbach’s alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to ensure that the scales developed and adapted were robust in terms of validity and reliability. Afterwards, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to conduct the hypothesis testing for each context. The model confirmed a good fit to the data, good convergent, discriminant and nomological validity and stable reliability in both contexts. The proposed conceptual model showed that 17 hypotheses in the UK and 14 hypotheses in Russia were supported out of the 19 hypotheses. Thus, overall, the research framework was generally supported in both contexts. The results indicated that navigation, information, security, availability, perceived corporate social responsibility, and perceived corporate culture influence corporate website favourability in the UK and Russia. Furthermore, the findings showed that the usability factor does not influence corporate website favourability in either country. Unexpectedly, the visual, customisation, website credibility, and customer service factors were rejected in Russia, but accepted in the UK. Additionally, corporate website favourability was found to have a direct positive affect on corporate image and satisfaction in both the UK and Russia. However, the relationship between attractiveness and corporate image was only supported in Russia, and not in the UK. In addition, in both contexts, corporate image was positively related to corporate reputation, corporate reputation was positively connected to consumer-company identification, and, finally, consumer-company identification was positively related to loyalty. This study is the first systematic research which has conceptualised and operationalised the notion of corporate website favourability, its antecedents and its consequences. It is anticipated to be of value in advancing existing knowledge by proposing a threefold theoretical contribution to the literature: 1) theoretical extension (level of conceptualisation and measurement); 2) assessment of theory; and 3) investigation of generalisation. Additionally, it is hoped that the findings of this research would make a substantial managerial contribution to the understanding of marketing and communication managers and website designers regarding the entire association among corporate website favourability, its antecedents and consequence. Furthermore, it is expected that this examination will enhance the knowledge of company decision-makers, communication professionals and website specialists about the building of a favourable corporate website in line with the corporate identity strategy of the company. Corporate website favourability should be adopted by companies, as part of the overall corporate identity management

An improved negative selection algorithm based on the hybridization of cuckoo search and differential evolution for anomaly detection

The biological immune system (BIS) is characterized by networks of cells, tissues, and organs communicating and working in synchronization. It also has the ability to learn, recognize, and remember, thus providing the solid foundation for the development of Artificial Immune System (AIS). Since the emergence of AIS, it has proved itself as an area of computational intelligence. Real-Valued Negative Selection Algorithm with Variable-Sized Detectors (V-Detectors) is an offspring of AIS and demonstrated its potentials in the field of anomaly detection. The V-Detectors algorithm depends greatly on the random detectors generated in monitoring the status of a system. These randomly generated detectors suffer from not been able to adequately cover the non-self space, which diminishes the detection performance of the V-Detectors algorithm. This research therefore proposed CSDE-V-Detectors which entail the use of the hybridization of Cuckoo Search (CS) and Differential Evolution (DE) in optimizing the random detectors of the V-Detectors. The DE is integrated with CS at the population initialization by distributing the population linearly. This linear distribution gives the population a unique, stable, and progressive distribution process. Thus, each individual detector is characteristically different from the other detectors. CSDE capabilities of global search, and use of L´evy flight facilitates the effectiveness of the detector set in the search space. In comparison with V-Detectors, cuckoo search, differential evolution, support vector machine, artificial neural network, na¨ıve bayes, and k-NN, experimental results demonstrates that CSDE-V-Detectors outperforms other algorithms with an average detection rate of 95:30% on all the datasets. This signifies that CSDE-V-Detectors can efficiently attain highest detection rates and lowest false alarm rates for anomaly detection. Thus, the optimization of the randomly detectors of V-Detectors algorithm with CSDE is proficient and suitable for anomaly detection tasks

Critical Success Factors for Positive User Experience in Hotel Websites: Applying Herzberg's Two Factor Theory for User Experience Modeling

This research presents the development of a critical success factor matrix for increasing positive user experience of hotel websites based upon user ratings. Firstly, a number of critical success factors for web usability have been identified through the initial literature review. Secondly, hotel websites were surveyed in terms of critical success factors identified through the literature review. Thirdly, Herzberg's motivation theory has been applied to the user rating and the critical success factors were categorized into two areas. Finally, the critical success factor matrix has been developed using the two main sets of data.Comment: Journal articl