Elaborating the motivational attributes of information need and uncertainty

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Towards an alternative paradigm of consumer behavior

This paper explores Scitovsky’s contribution to behavioral economics and examines in particular the changes his theory based on the findings of human brain psychophysiologists has brought to choice theory. The evidence here gathered points out how Scitovsky was making his suggestions for an alternative to the rationalist-based theory of choice model as far back in the early 1970s. The same evidence singles out Scitovsky as one of the most influential forerunners of a successful program of psychologically-based economic research which has only recently been acknowledged as a promising field for further investigation.Scitovsky, behavioral economics, arousal, comfort, pleasure, satisfaction, rational-choice theory

Personal influence in information-seeking behaviour of art students

Abstract: This article investigated personal influence in the information-seeking behaviour of art students. A qualitative approach was followed, and the data were collected by means of interviews with 11 art students of The Open Window School of Visual Communication, located in Pretoria, South Africa. The Open Window offers degrees and postgraduate honours degrees in Visual Communication. The key findings revealed that the personal dimension in information-seeking behaviour has a significant influence on art students’ information needs and is prevalent in their personal interests and preferences and their motivation to seek information. The findings provided insight into how the art students’ information-seeking behaviour might influence the library as an information service

Affect and Group Attachments: The Role of Shared Responsibility

This paper theorizes the role of shared responsibility in the development of affective group attachments, interweaving ideas from social exchange and social identity theories. The main arguments are that (1) people engaged in task interaction experience positive or negative emotions from those interactions; (2) tasks that promote more sense of shared responsibility across members lead people to attribute their individual emotions to groups or organizations; and (3) group attributions of own emotions are the basis for stronger or weaker group attachments. The paper suggests that social categorization and structural interdependence promote group attachments by producing task interactions that have positive emotional effects on those involved

Mental toughness: progress and prospects

Mental toughness (MT) has become a popular area of investigation and practice within sport and exercise psychology over the past two decades. Since the turn of the twenty first century, there have been hundreds of studies published on mental toughness, yet concerns remain about the conceptualisation and measurement of mental toughness. In this paper, I take stock of past work with the goal of clarifying and elaborating the most fundamental and common aspects of MT. I also look to the future and outline key substantive and methodological issues that may offer the greatest potential for refining the conceptualisation of MT and contributing to theory building on this concept. My hope is that this information will provide a platform from which to foster coherent and systematic scholarly work on MT

Role of marketing in improving didactic activity quality in higher education

Increasing the competence level in teaching services has to be based on a thorough knowledge of both customer needs and the way they are willing to receive the information contents.Applying rigorous scientific marketing principles to the organization and operation of education services offers the fundaments of such a development.The present article outlines the results of a qualitative research – focus group – conducted on a sample of Spiru Haret University students, which had as a main goal identifying the most effective ways of communication in the student-professor relationship in order to design creative teaching materials, perfectly adapted to present educational needs.The conclusions of the research emphasized both the perception of the students regarding the definition of their own position during the education process, and the willingness to actively take part in developing the informational support suitable for educational services. The study also revealed aspects regarding the perception of scientific research, of the willingness to be involved in such a systematic and complex effort

Formal Education as the Predictor of the Quality of Consumer Decisions Made Under Pressure. The Mediating Role of the Need for Cognitive Closure

It was hypothesized that training received during formal education fosters the mental mindset of the need to avoid cognitive closure and leads to more efficient information search characteristics. Despite time pressure, consumers collect more unique information, postpone freezing phase, and arrive at better decisions. The assumptions were mostly confirmed, which gives partial evidence to the idea that formal education teaches open-mindedness and increases the adaptation of consumers to the environment rich in the need to engage in complex decisions. The research holds implications for Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility strategists

Does Product Type Affect Electronic Word-of-Mouth Richness Effectiveness? Influences of Message Valence and Consumer Knowledge

Drawing on the information richness theory, this study attempts to address how valence of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), product type and consumer knowledge will yield different levels of eWOM richness. The results based on an experimental study suggest that negative eWOM has a stronger effect in producing eWOM information richness than does positive eWOM, and such effect is more pronounced for a leisure farm tour (experience goods) than for digital camera (search goods). The tendency that negative eWOM will provide richer information for the leisure farm tour is more evident for high-knowledge consumers than for low-knowledge consumers. The study’s results caution against the aggravated harm of negative eWOM incurred from the dissatisfactory experience of a leisure farm tour