The Effects of Native Advertising Disclosure and Advertising Recognition on Perceptions of News Story and News Website Credibility: A Consumer Neuroscience Approach

The use of Native Advertising has sparked ethical concerns, due to its controversial nature inherent in its definition - a paid form of advertising that disguises persuasive communications as the editorial content of the publishing media outlet. The growing popularity of Native Advertising practices over the past decade in online news publishing has contributed towards the increasingly blurred lines between commercial and editorial content which in turn engenders feelings of deception in consumers and threatens to lower the trustworthiness of news publishers as an objective source. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to undertake theory testing guided by the tenets of the Persuasion Knowledge Model [PKM] (Friestad & Wright, 1994) to uncover insights on whether disclosure serves as an effective measure in publishers' efforts of mitigating the potential of consumer deception. In particular, this study investigated the relationships between: (1) effect of disclosure label positioning on advertising recognition; (2) mediating influence of visual attention on the aforementioned relationship; and (3) effect of advertising recognition on Inference of Manipulation [IMI] and perceptions of the online news publishers' credibility. The study used a quantitative multi-methodology research approach. An innovative Neuromarketing approach was undertaken through a psychophysiological-based analysis of visual attention to disclosure, measured as Fixation (ms/m) using eye-tracking technology, in addition to self-reported measures obtained via an online survey. In line with similar past studies, this study used convenience non-probability sampling and random assignment of participants to experimental groups, on a sample of 87 students between the ages of 20-29 years from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Findings showed no significant difference in the likelihood of advertising recognition, neither between the groups presented with a disclosure and those not, nor between the varying positions of disclosure. Additionally, advertising recognition had a positive influence on perceptions of credibility, contrary to theory and evidence from past studies (described in the Literature Review). Thus, it was concluded that disclosure and advertising recognition are necessary antecedents for critical processing and formation of judgement, but by themselves are not sufficient for perceived transparency and subsequent evaluations of the publisher's credibility. This study presents design implications for practitioners in the online news publishing industry and marketers: the perceived utility of the sponsored content, along with sponsorship transparency through disclosure, plays an important role in minimizing the negative influence of advertising recognition on perceived credibility

Investigating Avatar Customization as a Motivational Design Strategy for Improving Engagement with Technology-Enabled Services for Health

Technology-enabled services for physical and mental health are a promising approach to improve healthcare globally. Unfortunately, the largest barrier for effective technology-based treatment is participants' gradually fading engagement with effective novel training applications, such as exercise apps or online mental health training programs. Engaging users through design presents an elegant solution to the problem; however, research on technology-enabled services is primarily focused on the efficacy of novel interventions and not on improving adherence through engaging interaction design. As a result, motivational design strategies to improve engagement---both in the moment of use and over time---are underutilized. Drawing from game-design, I investigate avatar customization as a game-based motivational design strategy in four studies. In Study 1, I examine the effect of avatar customization on experience and behaviour in an infinite runner game. In Study 2, I induce different levels of motivation to research the effects of financial rewards on self-reported motivation and performance in a gamified training task over 11 days. In Study 3, I apply avatar customization to investigate the effects of attrition in an intervention context using a breathing exercise over three weeks. In Study 4, I investigate the immediate effects of avatar customization on the efficacy of an anxiety reducing attentional retraining task. My results show that avatar customization increases motivation over time and in the moment of use, suggesting that avatar customization is a viable strategy to address the engagement barrier that thwarts the efficacy of technology-enabled services for health

Having a firm-er grip:The impact of leader gender, leadership styles, and follower gender on leadership effectiveness

This research examined how and under what conditions gender affects leadership effectiveness. Grounding the analysis in the Social Identity Theory of Leadership (SITL), a set of hypotheses was developed which predicted that the effect of leader gender on leadership effectiveness will be mediated by leadership group prototypicality. Stemming from the Expectancy Violations Theory and the Uncertainty Reduction Hypothesis, leadership group prototypicality was hypothesized to be a function of firstly the interaction between leader gender and leadership styles (directive versus participative), and secondly between leader gender, leadership styles (directive versus participative), and follower gender. Three studies were conducted to test this. Study 1 collected data from 151 participants who sat through a video manipulation. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that female leaders were considered more prototypical and thus more effective than male leaders when they engaged in directive leadership, and that this relationship was particularly pronounced with male followers. Regardless of follower gender, male leaders were not considered more prototypical than female leaders when they engaged in participative leadership, and the moderated mediation hypotheses were not supported. Study 2 attempted to replicate this finding by utilizing a written scenario manipulation. Data was collected from 170 participants although moderated mediation analyses did not reveal a significant effect of leader gender on leadership effectiveness through leadership group prototypicality. While the findings were in line with the Role Congruity theory, they were also in line with the SITL. Finally, Study 3 replicated the findings of the first experiment in a field setting. Data was collected from 126 employees in the services sector. As in Study 1, moderated mediation analyses showed that female leaders who engaged in directive leadership were more prototypical and ultimately more effective than male leaders who engaged in equivalent behaviour. Study 3 also did not find support for the moderated mediation hypotheses under participative leadership. In sum, the studies conducted provide internal and external validity to the proposed research model

International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022

This conference proceedings gathers work and research presented at the International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022 (IASSC2022) held on July 3, 2022, in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. The conference was jointly organized by the Faculty of Information Management of Universiti Teknologi MARA Kelantan Branch, Malaysia; University of Malaya, Malaysia; Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia; Universitas Ngudi Waluyo, Indonesia; Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Philippines; and UCSI University, Malaysia. Featuring experienced keynote speakers from Malaysia, Australia, and England, this proceeding provides an opportunity for researchers, postgraduate students, and industry practitioners to gain knowledge and understanding of advanced topics concerning digital transformations in the perspective of the social sciences and information systems, focusing on issues, challenges, impacts, and theoretical foundations. This conference proceedings will assist in shaping the future of the academy and industry by compiling state-of-the-art works and future trends in the digital transformation of the social sciences and the field of information systems. It is also considered an interactive platform that enables academicians, practitioners and students from various institutions and industries to collaborate

A tale of two countries: adapting Chinese leadership styles to a South African context

The status of multinational organisations continues to expand, as global opportunities increase. In particular, Chinese manufacturing companies continue to grow and expand overseas. Given the fact that Chinese Paternalistic Leadership performed by Chinese managers is rooted in Chinese culture, that is different from that practised in other countries of the world. Cross-cultural acumen plays a vital role in leadership success or failure in globalizing organizations. Without cultural adaptation, Chinese managers would be less effective and efficient, when dealing with employees from other cultural backgrounds. Thus, there appears to be a need for the adaptation of Chinese leadership, in order to optimize the outcomes of leadership in the organization in various multicultural settings. This study posits a new research context for Chinese Paternalistic Leadership; and it attempts to explore the question of the leadership-adaptation challenges of Chinese managers, working in a South African Zulu cultural context. The study has used a mixed-methods research approach to collect the data, and for the analysis thereof. Quantitative data were collected by means of surveys from Chinese workers and South African Zulu workers, who were working in Chinese clothing factories – in order to compare their cultural values and perceptions of Chinese leadership behaviours. Qualitative data were collected by semistructured, in-depth interviews with Chinese managers, who were the leaders of Zulu subordinates, in order to investigate their cross-cultural experiences and perspectives. The results from the cultural-values survey data confirmed the distinct differences of cultural dimensions: Power Distance (PDI), Individualism (IDV), Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI), Masculinity (MAS) and Long-Term versus ShortTerm Orientation (LTO) between Chinese and Zulu people. Additionally, no significant difference between the two groups was found on Indulgence versus Restraint (IVR). When compared with Chinese people, the Zulu people hold the characteristics of being low in power distance, collectivism, feminism, high in uncertainty avoidance, short-term orientation, and restraint. On the perceived leadership behaviours scale, the differences between Chinese and Zulu people were shown in all the three dimensions of Chinese leadership behaviours. Compared with Chinese employees, Zulu employees perceived Chinese leadership behaviours as being high on authoritarian leadership behaviour, but low on benevolent and moral leadership behaviour. In addition, it was proved that culture caused different perceptions of authoritarian leadership behaviour in relation to power distance. In interviews, Chinese managers overwhelmingly indicated that the characteristics of Zulu employees were very different from those of Chinese employees. Meanwhile, the Chinese managers confessed that they were confronted with difficulties and challenges in South Africa, including communication barriers, legal constraints, and differences in collective relationships and work ethic. However, they recognised that they were in a different culture, and have identified the need to adjust their leadership behaviours. The participants suggested that they have made progress in establishing relationships, and in improving communication with the Zulu employees. Overall, this study concluded with a discussion of the various strategies for the adaptation of Chinese leadership styles concerning authority/decision-making, relationships and communication in authoritarian leadership styles, benevolent leadership styles, and moral leadership styles respectively. The outcomes of this study are expected to contribute to the theories of Chinese leadership, as well as to Chinese-management practices in South Africa. Nevertheless, future research is recommended, in order to validate the current results, and also to further explore various issues that are beyond the scope of this study

Program Evaluation on the Kids First Program

This study is a program evaluation of the Kids First program, an eight-week psychoeducation program, on parents and children who have experienced a divorce and/or separation. This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of specific program interventions as it relates to parental insight, co-parenting, and child adjustment. A descriptive analysis was conducted to examine results of the evaluations. Results indicated over 85% of the sample rated program satisfaction as moderately or very valuable, suggesting parents gained some knowledge and saw value in the program. Results also endorsed 95% of parents moderately or highly valued the effectiveness of the program’s presentation methods, suggesting the program presented material in an effective, comprehensible manner. It was concluded that a majority parents reported increased knowledge of effective co-parenting strategies and of personal insight/responsibility following program participation. However, results were inconsistent regarding parents’ communication with their child and awareness of their child’s adjustment post-intervention. These findings suggest future research should be studied to fully identify and address the needs of the children and parents as they correlate with each other

Body satisfaction and weight-related appearance management in a two-way mirror: mother-daughter interactions as mediation of the mass media\u27s thin female ideal

The purpose of this study was to explore the reciprocal socialization process between adolescent girls and their mothers and how this process shapes daughters\u27 and mothers\u27 media use, body-related feelings and behaviors, and beliefs about the thin female ideal in the media. An interpretive approach was used to explore these issues. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with 20 mother-daughter pairs;Grounded theory analysis revealed two overarching (major) themes within the data: (a) mothers\u27 and daughters\u27 personal and interpersonal experiences with the female body and (b) mothers\u27 and daughters\u27 experiences with the female body as it is culturally situated in the media;Five minor themes emerged as related to the major theme of personal and interpersonal experiences with the body: (a) appearance orientation, or the role of appearance in the everyday lives of the participants, (b) body cathexis, or degree of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the body, (c) individual diet-related behaviors, (d) interpersonal approaches to (i.e., mother-daughter interactions related to) the body and dieting, and (e) body malleability, or the extent to which participants perceived the appearance of their bodies as changeable. ;Five minor themes emerged as related to the major theme of experiences with the female body as it is situated in the media: (a) media involvement, (b) perceived realism of media presentations of the female body, (c) identification with media presentations of the female body, (d) idealization of media presentations of the female body, and (e) social comparison processes, or comparisons of one\u27s own appearance with media presentations of the female body;Findings from this study indicated that mothers and daughters did symbolically interact with respect to issues encompassed by each of these minor themes, thereby contributing to each other\u27s (a) feelings about and behaviors toward the body and (b) interpretations of body-related media. The data also supported theoretical linkages among interpretations of body-related media, personal and interpersonal body-related feelings and behaviors, and social comparison tendencies and outcomes. At the conclusion of this study, these relationships are modeled and/or discussed and implications for future research are addressed

The challenges of implementing and sustaining an adult and vocational education curriculum on an isolated island

The island of Cascara is a dependent overseas territory of a European metropole. Access to the island is currently only by sea though there are plans to construct an airport. To prepare the island for the economic-related activities that will arise from air access, an Adult and Vocational Education Strategy was developed. This Strategy paved the way for the establishment of the island’s Adult and Vocational Education Service and informed the contents of the curriculum it provided. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges associated with implementing and sustaining the curriculum on this isolated island. In order to do this, the study examined the curriculum on offer; its current state of implementation and its associated challenges within the Adult and Vocational Education Service; it also investigated the extent to which the current curriculum met the needs of the island by aiding workforce development to support economic growth; and finally, it explored the challenges relating to the sustainability of the Adult and Vocational Education Service in providing a relevant vocational curriculum. A qualitative research approach was adopted using case study methodology. The purposive research sample comprised stakeholders across the public and private sectors at various levels. Qualitative research elicitation instruments were employed to gather data. These included questionnaires, unstructured, semi-structured and focus group interviews. In addition to these instruments, various official documents were analysed and the island’s local print and audio media were used to gather data. The research findings indicated that there needs to be more integration of resources (human, physical and financial) in the provision of adult and vocational learning. The data also showed that the integration of available resources has the potential to aid in more sustainable and meaningful learning that will benefit both the individuals and the economy. The data further suggested that a collaborative approach should aid in stabilising and expanding the provision of adult learning on the island. The need to improve the provision of distance learning opportunities with more internationally accredited courses being offered locally; the need for quality in the provision of learning to be formalised; and the need for the curriculum and staffing structures of the Adult and Vocational Education Service to be reconsidered were also highlighted. The research findings have already begun to serve as the basis for addressing the priorities of the Adult and Vocational Education Service on the island. By informing future learning policy and the contents of the curriculum on offer, the research findings could also potentially benefit the provision of adult and vocational education on other islands, small states and rural communities with limited human and financial resources.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.Education Management and Policy StudiesUnrestricte

Moderating role of management support in the relationship between human resource practices and employee performance: A study of academics in Nigerian Polytechnics

Organisation performance centres on human resource because it has the skills, knowledge and competencies required for the execution of organisational strategy and planning. Considerable numbers of HRM research have indicated positive effects of HR practices on employee performance. Nevertheless, some other studies indicate otherwise, which suggests that findings of the extant research are seemingly inconclusive. Thus, this study investigated the effect of HR practices involving recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, performance appraisal, and succession planning on employee performance with management support as a moderator. A cross-sectional survey approach was used in which data were collected from 424 employees of six state-owned polytechnics in the north central zone of Nigeria. Partial Least Squares Method (PLS) algorithm and bootstrap techniques were used to test the study's hypotheses. The results provided support for all the hypothesised relationships, except compensation-employee performance relationship and performance appraisal-employee performance relationship. The overall findings signified a positive effect of recruitment and selection, training and development, and succession planning on employee performance. The finding indicated that effective HR practices (recruitment and selection, training and development, and succession planning) enhanced employee performance; thus, organisations should entrench such HR practices in an effective manner. Besides, competitive compensation system, performance appraisal and succession planning weighted with management support would enhance employee performance, given that management support is recognized as a constant driver of employee creativity and innovation. Also, employee performance can be improved through management support because it gives employees a sense of involvement necessary for inspiring creative ideas, discovering new opportunities and converting them to action without losing efficiency at work. Limitation and recommendations of the study are also discussed