Communication network influences on information diffusion and persuasion

Communication networks' influences on the information diffusion process and the effects of 2 virtually identical communication programs were studied. These programs were implemented in 2 Dutch neighborhoods with different levels of cohesion. It was expected that information diffusion would be related to the number of network ties, whereas program effects would be related to the strength of network ties. Data were collected from a representative sample of the target group by means of pre- and posttest surveys and 5 small process surveys. The data confirm the main hypothesis and also provide some support for the strength-of-weak-ties hypothesis (Granovetter, 1973). No significant interaction effects of neighborhood and network variables were found. The results provide some insight on how people restrain each other from adoption and how this is related to the strength and number of communication ties. We thank René van der Vlist, Henk Wilke, and five anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on this article. We also thank Leo van der Kamp and Ivo van der Lans for their methodological advice. Finally, we are indebted to Donald Warren for his contribution to this work. Department of Social and Organizational Psychology/Center for Energy and Environmental Research, University of Leiden, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden Leiden, The Netherland

Using negative and positive social feedback from a robotic agent to save energy

In this paper we explore the persuasive effects of social feedback, as provided by an embodied agent, on behavioral change. In a lab setting, two experiments were conducted in which participants had the opportunity to conserve energy while carrying out washing tasks with a simulated washing machine. The experiments tested the effect of positive and negative social feedback and compared these effects to more widely used factual feedback. Results of both studies indicate that social feedback has stronger persuasive effects than factual feedback (Experiment 1) and factual-evaluative feedback (Experiment 2). In addition, an effect of feedback valence was found, demonstrating more conservation actions following negative feedback (social or factual) as compared to positive feedback. Interestingly, especially negative social feedback had the strongest persuasive effects. The predicted perceived agency effect could not be demonstrated. These findings have several implications for theory and design of persuasive robotic agents

A persuasive robotic agent to save energy:the influence of social feedback, feedback valence and task similarity on energy conservation behavior

\u3cp\u3eIn this paper we explore the persuasive effects of social feedback provided by a robotic agent, on behavioral change. In lab experiments, participants had the opportunity to conserve energy while carrying out washing tasks with a simulated washing machine. Three experiments tested the effect of positive and negative social feedback and compared these effects to more widely used factual feedback. Results of these studies indicate that social feedback has stronger persuasive effects than factual feedback (Experiment 1) and factual-evaluative feedback (Experiment 2). In addition, an effect of feedback valence was found, demonstrating more conservation actions following negative feedback (social or factual) as compared to positive feedback. Interestingly, especially negative social feedback had the strongest persuasive effects (Experiment 1, 2, & 3), and task similarity enhanced the effects of negative feedback (Experiment 3). These findings have several implications for theory and design of persuasive robotic agents.\u3c/p\u3

Persuasive robots can help save energy : the influence of the agency of a robot on its power to influence sustainable behavior

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