Identification of Influential Social Networkers

Online social networking is deeply interleaved in today\u27s lifestyle. People come together and build communities to share thoughts, offer suggestions, exchange information, ideas, and opinions. Moreover, social networks often serve as platforms for information dissemination and product placement or promotion through viral marketing. The success rate in this type of marketing could be increased by targeting specific individuals, called \u27influential users\u27, having the largest possible reach within an online community. In this paper, we present a method aiming at identifying the influential users within an online social networking application. We introduce ProfileRank, a metric that uses popularity and activity characteristics of each user to rank them in terms of their influence. We then assess this algorithm\u27s added value in identifying influential users compared to other commonly used social network analysis metrics, such as the betweenness centrality and the well-known PageRank, by performing an experimental evaluation on a synthetic and a real-life dataset. We also integrate all three metrics in a unified metric and measure its performance

Why do doctored images distort memory?

Doctored images can cause people to believe in and remember experiences that never occurred, yet the underlying mechanism(s) responsible are not well understood. How does compelling false evidence distort autobiographical memory? Subjects were filmed observing and copying a Research Assistant performing simple actions, then they returned 2 days later for a memory test. Before taking the test, subjects viewed video-clips of simple actions, including actions that they neither observed nor performed earlier. We varied the format of the video-clips between-subjects to tap into the source-monitoring mechanisms responsible for the ‘doctored-evidence effect.’ The distribution of belief and memory distortions across conditions suggests that at least two mechanisms are involved: doctored images create an illusion of familiarity, and also enhance the perceived credibility of false suggestions. These findings offer insight into how external evidence influences source-monitoring

Bowling online : the Internet and the new social capital.

The decline thesis proponents in the social capital literature have largely ignored the fastest growing venue for new social capital formation – the Internet. We argue that the Internet is making a larger impact than the current research acknowledges. Using survey data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project combined with a survey of college students, we confirm a strong positive relationship between online social networking and political participation. Further, we present evidence that, at least in 2008 election, there was a bias toward voting for Democrats among those who utilized online social networking services including Facebook and Twitter. The implications of these results are discussed

GENDER AND NETWORKING: BUILDING AND BENEFITING FROM HIGH STATUS TIES IN THE WORKPLACE

While organizations have significantly reduced the overt and intentional forms of sex discrimination that impeded women’s careers in the past, a great deal of research suggests women continue to face informal barriers in the workplace. One such arena in which women tend to be disadvantaged is in their workplace networks. In many ways, men and women have similar networks, yet women are less likely than their male counterparts to have personal relationships with high status coworkers. Scholars have long suggested that these strategic connections are valuable and may be especially beneficial to or necessary for women. Networking has long been touted as one way women can overcome workplace disadvantage by strategically developing and/or capitalizing on such networks, which can enable their success and satisfaction at work. However, networking is a considerable investment. Indeed, networking has been called women’s third shift, after work and family responsibilities. As such, it is vital that we understand how women and men can best capitalize on their investments in networking. This research seeks to add to our scholarly understanding by examining the extent to which men and women can translate their networking behaviors into high status connections and capitalize on those connections to enhance their performance and job satisfaction. Results suggest networking behaviors enable men and women to have friends with higher informal status. However, while men’s networking behaviors are related to having higher ranking (formal status) friends, women’s networking behaviors are related to having lower ranking friends. Post-hoc analyses begin to explore the possibility that these gender differences are due to choices made by or others’ reactions to male and female networkers. Results also distinguish between employees’ gender and legitimacy to shed light on how and why men and women can develop and capitalize on high status connections, providing practical implications for employees and organizations seeking to intervene to enable women and men to develop high status connections. This research uses multimethod data to illuminate ways in which both women and men can translate their networking behaviors into high status connections, workplace performance, and job satisfaction

Chinese Migrant Parents and Complementary Schooling in Germany. A Sociolinguistic Ethnography

How do parents cooperate with each other, what value do they attach to their interaction and how is the degree of cooperation related to social status? The study takes a close look at the social relationships among various groups of Chinese parents at a Chinese Mandarin language school in a metropolitan city in Germany. Taking an ethnographic approach, it captures a vivid picture of the parental social interactions in and outside the Chinese school setting. The study reveals the significance of social interactions, discussing it in relation to the parents’ socioeconomic backgrounds and individual migrant trajectories. (DIPF/Verlag

Chinese Migrant Parents and Complementary Schooling in Germany

Wie kooperieren Eltern miteinander, welchen Wert messen sie ihrer Interaktion bei und wie hängt der Grad der Kooperation mit dem sozialen Status und zusammen? Die Studie nimmt die sozialen Beziehungen zwischen verschiedenen Gruppen chinesischer Eltern an einer chinesischen Mandarin-Sprachschule in einer Großstadt in Deutschland unter die Lupe. Mit Hilfe eines ethnographischen Ansatzes wird ein lebendiges Bild der elterlichen sozialen Interaktionen innerhalb und außerhalb des chinesischen Schulumfelds gezeichnet. Die Studie zeigt die Bedeutung sozialer Interaktionen auf und erörtert sie im Zusammenhang mit dem sozioökonomischen Hintergrund ihrer Migrationsverläufe; How do parents cooperate with each other, what value do they attach to their interaction and how is the degree of cooperation related to social status? The study takes a close look at the social relationships among various groups of Chinese parents at a Chinese Mandarin language school in a metropolitan city in Germany. Taking an ethnographic approach, it captures a vivid picture of the parental social interactions in and outside the Chinese school setting. The study reveals the significance of social interactions, discussing it in relation to the parents’ socioeconomic backgrounds and individual migrant trajectories

Electronic Word of Mouth (Ewom) and the Travel Intention of Social Networkers Post-COVID-19: A Vietnam Case

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to quantitatively determine the impact of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on the travel intention of Vietnamese social network users. The study proposes solutions to develop online marketing strategies in tourism to quickly restore the tourism industry after the COVID-19 pandemic.   Theoretical framework: This study combines two theoretical models, the Information Acceptance Model (IAM) and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), to explore how electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) impacts travel intentions in Vietnam, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. IAM focuses on factors like information quality and credibility, while TRA addresses additional behavioral factors. By integrating these models, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of eWOM's influence on travel intentions among social media users in Vietnam during the pandemic.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was conducted in Vietnam. The questionnaire was administered to respondents via an online survey. The results were 262 valid feedback forms conducted in 2023. Linear structural modeling (SEM) was used to measure the relationship between factors in the research model.   Findings: Research results show that all factors have a positive impact on travel intention through other factors, or will directly impact travel intention of social network users in Vietnam.   Research,  Practical  &  Social implications: It is critical to focus on building marketing channels that support electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in order to successfully promote trip ambitions. The Tourism Office has adopted digital marketing as a cutting-edge strategy for promoting the region's tourism potential (Burhan, 2023). Furthermore, because travel intentions are positively related to information acceptance, these channels must prioritize improving the quality and dependability of eWOM information. Furthermore, channel managers should keep a careful eye on customers' opinions regarding eWOM-related concerns. Finally, administrators should create unique, context-based solutions that might increase travel intentions among social network members while taking Vietnam's cultural context into consideration. This proactive strategy enables rapid revisions and customized solutions to successfully engage with the Vietnamese audience.   Originality/Value: The unique contribution of this paper lies in its innovative introduction of a modified theoretical model of rational action. This model aims to elucidate factors influencing tourist travel behavior in a way that has not been explored in previous research. Specifically, it amalgamates elements from three existing models (TRA, IAM, and TPB) and introduces an additional eWOM factor to enhance the understanding of behavioral intentions. This novel factor, devised by the authors in their research model, holds particular relevance for a country like Vietnam, characterized by its developing technological landscape and strong traditional culture. This novelty significantly enhances our ability to analyze the impact of eWOM on travel intentions among social media users in Vietnam, especially during the prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic