Dual Drivers of Facebook Usage and Regret Experience in Networking versus Brand page Usage

In this article, we draw on Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) to identify the dual drivers (positive and negative) of two Facebook usage types: online networking versus brand page usage, and their potential respective effects on regret experience and on Facebook continuous intention. We also investigate the role played by perceived privacy concerns in these two mechanisms. Our findings indicate that exhibitionism, entertainment value and specific functional gratifications; i.e. interpersonal connectivity for social networking and information value for brand page usage; are significant drivers for both usage types. Whereas, regret experienced by users in these two contexts seem to follow divergent paths and affect differently Facebook continuance intention

Making and breaking relationships on social media : the impacts of brand and influencer betrayals

This study considers how the relationships between social media influencers, brands and individuals are intertwined on social media and analyses the spill-over effects of feelings of betrayal. An experimental design with two transgression scenarios (influencer vs. brand) was created, and 250 individuals were recruited to participate in the study. The results show that a perceived betrayal by a brand can negatively affect the perceived coolness of the social media influencer that has endorsed the brand, as well as the parasocial relationships that followers have with the influencer. Accordingly, a perceived betrayal by a social media influencer can negatively affect attitudes, trust and purchase intentions toward a brand that the influencer has endorsed. The current research helps in understanding brand and influencer transgressions and highlights the fact that both influencers and brands should have a sense of collaboration responsibility. It also introduces the concept of influencer coolness, understood here as a desirable success factor for social media influencers, which partly explains their desirability and influence, and a feature that can be endangered through both influencer and brand betrayals.Peer reviewe

Social Media Gains Importance after the COVID-19

This exploratory research examines how the COVID-19 pandemic led to increases in consumers’ social media marketing behaviors in the United States (U.S.). Previous research on the impact of a pandemic has focused on behavior for preventive health, however, little attention has been given to the impact of a pandemic on consumer behaviors. To bridge this gap, the Consumer Decision-Making Model was used as a framework to investigate changes in consumers’ social media behaviors as they perform various consumer decision-making processes. More specifically, a questionnaire was used to collect survey data from 327 U.S. consumers. Analysis of Variance tests were performed to examine mean differences in consumers’ use of social media as a consumer decision-making tool. The findings showed that consumers have increased their utilization of social media as a tool for identifying products, collecting information on products, evaluating products, and making product purchases. Thus, the findings demonstrate the growing importance of social media marketing since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is a global phenomenon, the findings likely can be extrapolated across many nations. Suggestions are provided to help businesses adapt to changes in consumers’ social media behaviors as they relate to the consumer decision-making processes

The role of flow consciousness in consumer regret

Purpose: This research aims to identify whether subsequent consciousness of having been in a flow state – that is, flow consciousness – regarding an earlier impulse purchase affects consumers’ post-purchase behaviours, specifically their feelings of consumer regret. Methodology: The study applied a mixed methodology. First, the authors conducted two qualitative studies (focus groups) to establish the relationships between flow, flow consciousness, and regret. Second, the authors conducted a quantitative study using data collected through an online questionnaire. Participants were asked to recall a recent shopping experience. To conduct confirmatory factor analysis, the authors gathered data from 304 consumers who had searched for, and purchased, a product on Amazon (www.amazon.com). Structural equation modelling, based on covariance, was used to test the hypotheses. Findings: Flow consciousness is found to reduce consumer regret after an impulse purchase. Originality: This is the first study to examine the effects of flow consciousness on consumer behaviour after an impulse purchase. In particular, research has not analysed the effects that flow consciousness has on negative feelings experienced after the impulse purchase of a product. Practical implications: Online retailers should make consumers aware of the flow state they have experienced. Flow states lead to increased impulse buying, and if consumers are made aware that they were in a flow state, it may reduce any regret they feel after the purchase

The influence of online professional social media in human resource management: A systematic literature review

Professional social media platforms (PSMs), including LinkedIn, have created better opportunities for students and employees to advance their career aspirations. Though PSMs seem to be an effective human resource management (HRM) tool, in order to leverage PSMs effectively, it is strategically essential to incorporate research inputs from both the employers' and the individuals’ perspectives. Realizing this, academic researchers have been interested in PSMs since the previous decade. However, research on PSMs and their effectiveness continues to be in the embryonic stage. To catalyze scholarly interest and provide a foundation for formulating sound theoretical propositions for the efficient use of PSMs, it is imperative to aggregate and critically evaluate prior findings and provide avenues for future research. Addressing this need, the current study undertakes a systematic literature review to comprehensively understand the influence of PSMs on one particular aspect of HRM—namely, hiring processes. Forty-five studies were selected from existing literature to examine the accumulated knowledge, assess current research boundaries, and derive ways to enrich this area of research further. The study is motivated by the fact that given the short life cycle of social media platforms and information systems, PSMs need to innovate and continuously offer value to their users. The study makes a concrete contribution to PSM literature by generating actionable research avenues for future researchers and providing practical insights for managers and service providers.</p

Equality in cognitive learning outcomes : the roles of educational practices

In the recent years, a decline in Finnish students’ learning outcomes has been reported in several investigations, such as in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Further, variance in learning outcomes between students coming from different backgrounds has increased in Finland. This dissertation investigated (i) whether self-directed learning practices, use of digital learning materials at school, and participation in early education and care (ECEC) are associated with students’ learning outcomes at 15 years of age and (ii) whether these associations are modified by students’ background factors. The participants (N=5660, 5037, and 4634 in Studies I‒III) came from the Finnish PISA 2012 and 2015 datasets that constitute a representative sample of the Finnish 15-year-old students. Learning outcomes in reading, mathematical, and scientific literacy and collaborative problemsolving were evaluated with a comprehensive set of standardized tests. The frequency of learning practices (student-oriented, inquiry-based, and teacher-directed practices, and use of digital learning materials at school) were evaluated with questionnaires fulfilled by students. Participation in ECEC was evaluated with age at entry into ECEC. Background factors under investigation included gender, repetition of a grade, truancy behavior at school, family wealth, maternal education, single-parent family, and immigrant status. The data were analyzed with structural equation models that were controlled for age, gender, and parents’ socioeconomic status (the index of economic, social, cultural status). Frequent use of self-directed teaching practices or digital learning materials at school were associated with students’ weaker learning outcomes in several knowledge domains. Instead, frequenct teacher-directed practices were related to students’ higher learning outcomes. Moreover, frequent use of self-directed teaching practices or digital learning materials had more negative impact on students’ learning outcomes in students with (vs. without) risky background. Additionally, participation in ECEC before preschool was not associated with learning outcomes at 15 years of age. This association was not significantly moderated by parental socioeconomic status (as measured with the index of ESCS). At a trend level, the impact of participation in ECEC before preschool was slightly more positive for offspring of parents with high (vs. low) socioeconomic status. In conclusion, some pedagogical practices within the school system, such as frequent use of self-directed learning practices or digital learning material, were found to increase variance in learning outcomes between students coming from different backgrounds in Finland. No evidence was found that participation in ECEC would be related to learning outcomes at 15 years of age or would increase equality between students coming from different family backgrounds.In the recent years, a decline in Finnish students’ learning outcomes has been reported in several investigations, such as in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Further, variance in learning outcomes between students coming from different backgrounds has increased in Finland. This dissertation investigated (i) whether self-directed learning practices, use of digital learning materials at school, and participation in early education and care (ECEC) are associated with students’ learning outcomes at 15 years of age and (ii) whether these associations are modified by students’ background factors. Frequent use of self-directed teaching practices or digital learning materials at school were associated with students’ weaker learning outcomes in several knowledge domains. Instead, frequenct teacher-directed practices were related to students’ higher learning outcomes. Moreover, frequent use of self-directed teaching practices or digital learning materials had more negative impact on students’ learning outcomes in students with (vs. without) risky background. Additionally, participation in ECEC before preschool was not associated with learning outcomes at 15 years of age. At a trend level, the impact of participation in ECEC before preschool was slightly more positive for offspring of parents with high (vs. low) socioeconomic status. In conclusion, some pedagogical practices within the school system, such as frequent use of self-directed learning practices or digital learning material, were found to increase variance in learning outcomes between students coming from different backgrounds in Finland. No evidence was found that participation in ECEC would be related to learning outcomes at 15 years of age or would increase equality between students coming from different family backgrounds

The Adoption of Pervasive Technology in Private Spaces: Exploring Pre-Exposure Beliefs and Post-Exposure Outcomes Using Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Ph. D. Thesis.The development of pervasive technology for homes has always revolved around ever-growing consumer needs for comfort, a better home experience and the convenience of technology operation. Smart home technologies promise to deliver financial, environmental and health-related benefits through real-time control and management of resource consumption, remote monitoring and support, and other tailored services for users. However, despite the benefits of the technology for its users, the adoption rate is still low. Low adoption incurs the risk that the technology’s potential will never be realised, decreasing its positive implications for individuals and society in general. Against the backdrop of the low implementation of smart homes and their fast-paced development, it is important to examine technology utilisation from the user’s perspective, focusing on beliefs that underpin the acceptance and the perceived outcomes of performance. Given that new technology raises high expectations, which may undermine post-performance evaluation, it is important to consider the psychological factors that the perception and experiences of the promised performance entail. This will provide valuable evidence about the conditions which lead people to continue with or abandon the technology. The academic community has intensified its efforts to examine the concept of the smart home, its technological capabilities, its implications and the impact on people’s lives, but the literature still lacks empirical evidence about the users’ perspective on the utilisation of technology. Users’ beliefs, such as the expected benefits and risks which may facilitate or inhibit trialling the technology in private spaces have been under-researched. Studies have examined interaction with technologies irrespective of the context, thus decreasing the validity of the analysis of situational behaviour. However, the utilisation of technology in private settings is contingent on psychological factors, the perception of outcomes, motives and beliefs. Those factors affect the perception of the values and risks that the use of the technology might entail. Secondly, there is still a lack of insight into the outcomes of the use of technology when the performance falls short of initial expectations. The behavioural and cognitive responses following poor technology performance and the coping mechanisms that users deploy to ameliorate negative consequences are under-researched. Given the gaps in the literature, the first focus of the thesis was to examine the user’s perspective on smart home utilisation by examining the beliefs that underpin the adoption of the technology. The research adopted the Task Technology Fit (TTF) model, integrated with the constructs that pertain to the users’ perception of technology performance, such as perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. While TTF stresses the importance of the “fit” factor when it comes to task-related behaviour, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use explain the attitudinal underpinnings of the behaviour. Additionally, the model aimed to explain whether utilitarian, hedonic values, privacy and financial risks influence the users’ perception of task-fit. The second focus of this thesis was to explore individuals’ behaviour when technology performance falls short of expectations. The hypotheses were drawn from the literature in the confirmation-satisfaction and cognitive dissonance domains. Such an approach made it possible to examine psychological, behavioural and cognitive factors following a negative experience with technology. Post-performance dissonance arousal reflecting the psychological discomfort induced by the discrepancy between performance and expectations was examined. Furthermore, the adoption of cognitive dissonance theory aimed to explore the role of different types of emotions associated with dissonance and their role in post-dissonance behaviour. The motivational roles of each emotion in predicting coping strategies for reducing dissonance, such as behaviour change, attitude change and information seeking, were investigated. Two online surveys were conducted to address the objectives of the thesis. The first survey focused on examining the antecedents of pervasive technology adoption by smart home users. The data for the first survey was collected from 422 respondents located in the United States. The focus of the second questionnaire was to examine the behaviour following disconfirmed expectations. Therefore, only smart home users who had had a negative experience with using smart home technologies were eligible to participate in the survey. After filtering non-eligible cases, the final sample consisted of 387 responses. Both questionnaires consisted of two parts: 1) questions related to the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, and 2) questions designed to measure the variables for the model. For the analysis of the data, structural equation modelling was utilised. Results indicated that hedonic and utilitarian beliefs are critical for the perception of task fit, whereas privacy and financial factors were found not to be significant. The fit between tasks and technology demonstrated its significant role in predicting perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, use behaviour and satisfaction. Lastly, use behaviour showed a positive correlation with satisfaction. When it came to examining the outcomes of performance following disconfirmed expectations, results indicated that weak technology performance induces dissonance due to the discrepancy between expected and actual technology performance. Dissonance triggered feelings of anger, guilt and regret. The arousal of those emotions activated distinctive dissonance reduction mechanisms aimed at reducing psychological discomfort through attitude change, behaviour change or information-seeking mechanisms. Behaviour change was selected when people felt anger and regret, while consonant information-seeking and attitude change were selected when people felt guilt. The coping mechanisms, in turn, had different effects on satisfaction and wellbeing. Satisfaction and wellbeing were achieved when people coped with dissonance by changing their attitude to the technology or searching for information to justify the use of the technology. The withdrawal of behaviour increased the likelihood of feeling dissatisfaction and reduced the likelihood of perceiving wellbeing. The results of this thesis make several contributions. The findings contribute to the literature on the acceptance of pervasive technology in private spaces. Evidence on the role of beliefs pertaining to technology utilisation (i.e. task-technology fit, perceived usefulness and perceived ease) in private spaces moves forward the theoretical front in the domain of smart homes. In addition, the examination of psychological beliefs (i.e. hedonic value, utilitarian value, privacy and financial risks) with the task-technology fit factor explained the facilitating and inhibiting conditions in which the technology is most likely to be perceived to be compatible with users’ needs. Secondly, insight into consumer experience after technology widens the boundaries of the research on innovative technology acceptance, which has predominantly focused on the underpinnings of adoption as opposed to the outcomes of initial use. The results of the thesis provide evidence about behavioural outcomes following the utilisation of technology when performance falls short of expectations. Such an approach adds to the literature adopting the expectation disconfirmation paradigm, by providing a different perspective on the behavioural outcomes of disconfirmed expectations. In contrast to prior research, the results indicate that the disconfirmation of expectations can lead to positive outcomes, such as satisfaction and perceived wellbeing. Thirdly, the results widen the application of cognitive dissonance theory, by identifying the complex psychological, cognitive and behavioural processes following the evaluation of technology performance. As far as practical implications are concerned, the results inform practitioners about the factors to focus on when developing technology to satisfy a broader user segment. Also, they provide suggestions on marketing and communication strategies that may eliminate the likelihood or the consequences of disconfirmed expectations

Automatic Detection of Sensitive Information in Educative Social Networks

[EN] Detecting sensitive information with privacy in mind is a relevant issue on Social Networks. It is often difficult for users to manage the privacy associated with their posts on social networks taking into account their possible consequences. The main objective of this work is to provide users information about the sensitivity of the information they will share when they decide to publish a message in online media. For this purpose, an assistant agent to detect sensitive information based on different types of categories detected in the message (i.e., location, personal data, health, personal attacks, emotions, etc.) is proposed. Entity recognition libraries, ontologies, dictionaries, and sentiment analysis will be used to detect the different categories. This agent is integrated into the social network Pesedia, aimed for children and teenagers, and through a soft-paternalism mechanism provides information to users about the sensitivity of certain content and help them in making decisions about its publication. The agent decision process will be evaluated with a dataset elaborated from messages of the social network Twitter.This work is supported by the Spanish Government project TIN2017-89156-R.Botti-Cebriá, V.; Del Val Noguera, E.; García-Fornes, A. (2020). Automatic Detection of Sensitive Information in Educative Social Networks. Springer. 184-194. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57805-3_18S184194Official legal text. https://gdpr-info.eu/Aghasian, E., Garg, S., Gao, L., Yu, S., Montgomery, J.: Scoring users’ privacy disclosure across multiple online social networks. 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