Gender bias in machine learning for sentiment analysis

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Emerald Publishing Limited in Online Information Review on 01/01/2018, available online: https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-05-2017-0153 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Purpose: This paper investigates whether machine learning induces gender biases in the sense of results that are more accurate for male authors than for female authors. It also investigates whether training separate male and female variants could improve the accuracy of machine learning for sentiment analysis. Design/methodology/approach: This article uses ratings-balanced sets of reviews of restaurants and hotels (3 sets) to train algorithms with and without gender selection. Findings: Accuracy is higher on female-authored reviews than on male-authored reviews for all data sets, so applications of sentiment analysis using mixed gender datasets will over represent the opinions of women. Training on same gender data improves performance less than having additional data from both genders. Practical implications: End users of sentiment analysis should be aware that its small gender biases can affect the conclusions drawn from it and apply correction factors when necessary. Users of systems that incorporate sentiment analysis should be aware that performance will vary by author gender. Developers do not need to create gender-specific algorithms unless they have more training data than their system can cope with. Originality/value: This is the first demonstration of gender bias in machine learning sentiment analysis

High School Graduates\u27 Perspectives on the Creation of Online Identities

Technological advancements continue to increase online accessibility and the virtual population. As students engage with these advancements, their lives and identities will be on a worldwide platform. The realities of online identities present a challenge for educators to teach students how to manage those online identities. Researchers have studied the after-effects of online identities, but there is a gap in understanding the individual\u27s thought process during the creation of online identities. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis was to understand the perspectives of working high school graduates regarding the creation of online identities. The research questions were designed to elicit recent high school graduates\u27 perceptions or viewpoints about creating online identities. The conceptual framework for this study included social identity theory and computer-mediated communication theory. Data were collected from 9 face-to-face interviews, including the creation of summary sheets, and were analyzed via member checking and extensive manual coding. Eight themes emerged, revealing that online identities were created to support social connections. The participants\u27 responses generated 4 types of online identities: real, desired, enhanced, and deceptive. Participants did not place consideration into the idea that they were creating an identity. Recommendations included an application for educators to model online behavior and to help students manage their online identities. Further studies could include a data gathering tool that uses an anonymous platform. These findings can inform curriculum and expand the landscape of the literature toward the social change goal of helping students grow and thrive in the online world in a safe, effective, and ethical manner

Examining Thai students' experiences of augmented reality technology in a university language education classroom

Descriptive mixed-methods were employed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Thai students in higher education in integrating Augmented Reality technology (AR) in their reading classroom. Participants were queried on their habitual use of computers and the Internet, their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of AR, their experiences in using AR, and their reflective reports of self-efficacy in using AR in creating English vocabulary flashcards as supplemental learning resources. A questionnaire on their use of computers and the Internet was employed with 48 EFL, English-major undergraduates. Subsequently, the participants underwent the Classroom Activity Treatment which comprised 1) the Teacher Showcase, 2) the AR Computer Tutorial, and 3) the Student Showcase, respectively. Classroom observation notes were taken during the three phases. Besides, at the end of each of these three phases, a questionnaire on the acceptance and self-efficacy of AR was administered. Subsequently, 24 students participated in semi-structured interviews to elicit further insights into their perceptions of the effectiveness of AR in EFL instruction and learning. The Technology Acceptance Model 3 (Vankatesh & Bala, 2008) was employed for theoretical perspective on the data. Findings revealed most participants had no prior knowledge or understanding about AR before the study. Participants reported AR as advantageous for stimulating student engagement and motivation, and for enhancing memory and memorization. AR was reported to promote learning and practicing digital literacy skills. Participants reported relatively high levels of self-efficacy in using AR, which were primarily driven by their self-satisfaction, creativity and enthusiasm, peer and teacher assistance, as well as technological training and infrastructure. Participants also reported that they would continue using AR in the future when necessary resources, time, and access were secured, for the purposes of professional productivity and development. Analysis suggested that English education curricula be improved and re-designed to integrate the implementation of AR technology to tailor the learning experiences to the students’ needs and learning styles. Professional development and training should also be provided for teachers and students to educate them in using AR in language education teaching and learning

La protección de la intimidad y vida privada en Internet: los flujos de información y la integridad contextual en las redes sociales, (2004-2014)

La presente tesis explora las actuales preocupaciones relativas a las intromisiones en la intimidad y vida privada de las personas producidas en los entornos digitales; concretamente, en las redes sociales. Con el objetivo de entender y explicar los principales riesgos en el uso de estos servicios de Internet, se pretende identificar y evaluar los flujos de información y la transferencia de datos personales que tienen lugar en dichos entornos. Asimismo, tras reseñar los problemas a los que habitualmente se enfrentan los usuarios para preservar, activamente, su esfera privada, se aporta una propuesta destinada a solventar dicha situación de vulnerabilidad, luchando contra la desinformación imperante en dichos contextos. Subrayamos, así, el papel esencial que ostenta el conocimiento, no sólo para prevenir las citadas injerencias, sino para posibilitar que los individuos ejerzan su autodeterminación informativa. Diseño/Metodología/Aproximación: En nuestro estudio haremos uso de las técnicas de análisis de contenido y comparativo aplicadas a una muestra de los más relevantes artículos e informes científicos relativos a las interacciones entre tecnologías digitales de la Web 2.0 e intimidad y vida privada (Existe una cantidad creciente y substancial de literatura que aborda la confrontación entre ambas variables). Ulteriormente, mediante el marco teórico de la “integridad contextual” aportado por Helen Nissenbaum, evaluaremos cómo la naturaleza de la Web 2.0 cambia la ecuación de lo público y lo que se considera privado. A través de las lentes de esta aproximación, analizaremos los flujos de información que se ocultan bajo la estructura de las herramientas de la Web 2.0, centrándonos, primordialmente, en la red social Facebook. Hallazgos/Resultados: Las principales contribuciones de nuestro estudio se resumen en dos. En primer lugar, se consigue ilustrar el papel esencial que el ostenta conocimiento en la propia protección que los usuarios ejercen sobre sus informaciones privadas; ayudándoles a tomar decisiones críticas y conscientes en lo que respecta a la preservación de su ámbito privado. Como segundo aporte, destacamos la presentación de una serie de recomendaciones, así como de un sistema para proporcionar a los individuos ese flujo de información necesario para satisfacer sus deseos de autodeterminación informativa..

Knowledge, attitude and practice on female sexual dysfunction ( mati putik) among women in Kuantan Pahang, Malaysia

Female sexual dysfunction or also known as ‘mati putik’ can be defined as women with lack of sexual desire, difficulty in arousal, inability to reach orgasm, pain during intercourse, failure to feel pleasure from sex or anxiety about sex performance. In Malaysia, infidelity or sexual relationship was the top reasons of divorce cases. Hence, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on female sexual dysfunction among females in Kuantan, Pahang. A total sample of 100 married women was randomly selected based on the classification in inclusive and exclusive criteria. The response from participants was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) with 95% confidence interval. The result of this study revealed that more than half of the respondents are found to have a high level of knowledge (n=59, 59.0%) only. Other than that, there was no significant association between the scores of knowledge, attitude and practice with socio-demographic characteristics. Besides, the correlation between knowledge-attitude and attitude-practice scores were identified to be significantly associated but not for knowledge-practice scores. In conclusion, this study has revealed that respondents possess good knowledge level regarding female sexual dysfunction differ from the level of attitude and practice. These findings proved that women in Malaysia were not aware of their sexual health and contribute to the number of divorce cases. Hence, it is recommended that future study may be able to increase the sample size and ought to emphasize the rural area more than an urban area for a better outcome. It is also suggested for the upcoming study to discover more factors that may contribute significantly to the level of knowledge, attitude and practice on female sexual dysfunction