The Influence of Communication and Cosmopoliteness on Quality of Life Perceptions

The Influence of Communication and Cosmopoliteness on Quality of Life Perception

The Influence of Communication and Cosmopoliteness on Quality of Life Perceptions

The Influence of Communication and Cosmopoliteness on Quality of Life Perception

Videoblogging as an online news phenomenon : an exploratory study

This study explores the emergence of videoblogging as an online news phenomenon and investigates how this new technology is being adopted as a innovative mode of news diffusion. Rogers\u27 diffusion of innovations theoretical framework is being used to analyze the characteristics of this innovation and that of its adopters with particular reference to online news diffusion. Findings indicate that the early adopters tend to be predominantly young male adults located in the higher income regions of the world. Video content posted is predominantly related to arts and entertainment with a substantial minority related to current affairs and politics. While the majority of videos posted are produced by videobloggers themselves, a substantial minority of videos consist of images shot from television screens, extracted from other digital sources, or downloaded from other websites. Based on these findings, the impact of videoblogging in the online media environment is also discussed

Communications and cosmopolitanism.

The view that certain media, in their technological form, open up possibilities which foster or create a form of cosmopolitanism amongst their users or consumers finds its origin in the media theory of Marshall McLuhan

Relationship Between Foreign Film Exposure and Ethnocentrism

This study looked at the relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism by both considering individual differences factors and motives to watch foreign films, based on the uses and gratifications theoretical model. The individual differences factors include cosmopoliteness, access to foreign films and environmental ethnic diversity. The uses and gratifications theory posits that social and psychological factors influence individuals\u27 motives to use media and ultimately lead to different media effects. Accordingly, this research investigated how individual differences related to motives to view foreign films and how foreign film exposure affected people\u27s attitudes to other cultures. A pilot study was conducted first to check whether there was enough variance in foreign film exposure for American college student viewers, considering the limited release of foreign movies in the American market. Finally an online survey was conducted at an urban college in the US, where 205 undergraduate students participated. The individual difference factors cosmopoliteness and access were found to significantly and positively correlate with motives, while no significant relationship was found between environmental ethnic diversity and motives. These results indicate that individual differences in diversity of communication network and media content, and interests in other cultures, as well as accessibility of foreign films, do influence motivations to watch foreign movies. Also, motives and foreign film exposure were found to be related significantly, suggesting that different uses of foreign films lead to varying levels of exposure. Most interestingly, a negative relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism was significantly supported by the study. However, additional work needs to examine how foreign film exposure may reduce ethnocentrism. Furthermore, environmental ethnic diversity is not related to ethnocentrism either, suggesting physical integration with ethnic minorities cannot guarantee act

Relationship Between Foreign Film Exposure and Ethnocentrism

This study looked at the relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism by both considering individual differences factors and motives to watch foreign films, based on the uses and gratifications theoretical model. The individual differences factors include cosmopoliteness, access to foreign films and environmental ethnic diversity. The uses and gratifications theory posits that social and psychological factors influence individuals\u27 motives to use media and ultimately lead to different media effects. Accordingly, this research investigated how individual differences related to motives to view foreign films and how foreign film exposure affected people\u27s attitudes to other cultures. A pilot study was conducted first to check whether there was enough variance in foreign film exposure for American college student viewers, considering the limited release of foreign movies in the American market. Finally an online survey was conducted at an urban college in the US, where 205 undergraduate students participated. The individual difference factors cosmopoliteness and access were found to significantly and positively correlate with motives, while no significant relationship was found between environmental ethnic diversity and motives. These results indicate that individual differences in diversity of communication network and media content, and interests in other cultures, as well as accessibility of foreign films, do influence motivations to watch foreign movies. Also, motives and foreign film exposure were found to be related significantly, suggesting that different uses of foreign films lead to varying levels of exposure. Most interestingly, a negative relationship between foreign film exposure and ethnocentrism was significantly supported by the study. However, additional work needs to examine how foreign film exposure may reduce ethnocentrism. Furthermore, environmental ethnic diversity is not related to ethnocentrism either, suggesting physical integration with ethnic minorities cannot guarantee act

Catching the Video Virus

In the process of computer-mediated exchange, some online videos travel from one person to another resulting in the process of diffusion of the video. However, there are very few empirical investigations of the audience involved in the process. This exploratory research employs Rogers\u27 diffusion of innovations as a theoretical framework to study online video users. Theories from social networks on tie strength and homophily are applied to create an integrated diffusion model. Based on survey data from college students, online video audience was profiled in two ways: one based on individual characteristics and another on activities with video content. Participants in the viral transmission process were found to be novelty-seekers, highly connected to others and appreciative of entertaining videos. An integrated model exploring the antecedents of viral transmission of online videos identified age, sex, Internet usage, and network connectedness as significant predictors. Contrary to previous findings, strong and homophilous ties were found to significantly contribute toward the viral spread. The findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge on diffusion research by enhancing understanding of individuals involved in an evolving medium. A profile of online video users will help marketers identify and reach the right audienc

The Unprecedented Assimilation of Mobile Telephony in Ireland: a Phenomenon of the Celtic Tiger Era or a Result of Cultural Traits?

Following the universal acceptance of mobile telephony the once elitist gadget has become an indispensable democratic tool of everyday communications over the last three decades. Controversially, this thesis illustrates that its level of both adoption and usage did not develop in a similar homogenous pattern in selected OECD countries. In particular, the Irish performance is rather astonishing given the speed of adoption as well as the exceptional high revenue figures achieved by the wireless operators. Consequently, this work determines a selection of factors that drive and encourage both the adoption and usage of cellular telephony in Ireland. The Irish experience is examined in the light of Rogers‘ theory of adoption and diffusion of innovation and demonstrates that domestic socio-economic factors such as the traditional Irish family structure helped the adoption process as did its young demography following the launch of prepaid services. Similarly, historic events such as emigration and the policy of attracting overseas companies to settle in Ireland created traits of a cosmopolite and open economy society whereas the civil war and governmental policies hindered the adequate rollout of the PSTN which resulted in a migration towards cellular telephony. Significantly, by deploying a linear regression model this thesis showed that Hofstede‘s cultural dimension of uncertainty avoidance correlates the most with mobile telephony adoption. Controversially, while this dimension is generally link with protestant cultures this finding is rather contradictive when recalling Ireland‘s tradition of Catholicism and puts a long-cherished stereotype associated with Ireland into question. It was further demonstrated that the Irish benefited from their selection of the global TACS standard that promised economies of scale and subsequently reasonable-priced equipment. Due to this selection the incumbent establish some form of international roaming, which was a novelty outside the NMT system sphere at the time. With regard to the exceptional revenue figures which were seen as a result of a ‗rip-off‘ policy by the wireless carriers this thesis found proof that they were in fact a consequence of the Irish‘s enthusiastic mobile phone usage rather than a product of over-charging. It was further demonstrated that the stereotype of the talkative Irish is profound in their legacy of story-telling as well as a consequence of the British suppression when the mother tongue was used to both conserve and keep their culture alive. Following the independence from their occupiers this regained freedom can easily be observed by the extensive rate of speech and ‗pirate‘ radio broadcastings. Altogether, it was shown that the Irish society resonate most fortune with the adoption of an innovation such as mobile telephony. Therewith, underpinning the relevance of cultural and social factors in addition to traditional solely economic and marked-orientated models

Stakeholders’ Communication During Learning Analytics Implementation in Higher Education

Higher education institutions (HEIs) implementing learning analytics (LA) use student data to improve the learning experience. The problem for LA implementation originates from individuals responsible for analytic programs from different institutional departments and the lack of a framework for communication and productive dialogue about usages of data. As a result, LA implementation remains isolated and disparate, which impedes universal student benefit. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how HEI stakeholders use communication channels and engage in dialogue that occurs during the LA implementation process intended to improve student learning outcomes. The diffusion of innovation and let’s talk learning analytics (LTLA) frameworks were used for this study to provide a lens through which to view the innovation implementation process and the corresponding LA dialogue content. The research questions were developed to determine how stakeholders use different communication channels during LA implementation and engage in dialogue. In this qualitative case study, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 stakeholders from a single HEI institution. Data analysis involved inductive reasoning in identifying themes that addressed the research questions. The findings showed the stakeholders used interpersonal communication almost exclusively to share knowledge about the LA implementation. The topics of stakeholder dialogue included surface-level domains recommended in the LTLA framework. Positive social change could result from the findings through improved systems for student data use among stakeholders, leading to enhanced teaching and student performance and success postdegre

Cosmopoliteness in the Internet Age

The concept of cosmopoliteness previously has been associated with the diffusion of innovations. Previous research suggests that cosmopolites are earlier adopters of innovations (e.g., new media technologies) and that they use more diverse media sources. This paper details the history of the concept and identifies eight dimensions. Two surveys were employed to investigate the relationship between the concept of cosmopoliteness and new media technology usage. The results indicate that most Internet use behaviors are positively associated with cosmopoliteness. However, this pattern was not found for other media applications such as e-mail and watching DVDs. Implications of study findings are discussed