Using mixed realities to explore consumers behaviors

The ongoing and future research focus on exploring how mixed realities, especially virtual reality, may be used for changing consumers’ behaviours in complement or substituting traditional advertising means. With this main aim the group of researchers submitted a research proposal for FCT (call May 2017), are co-advising a master thesis and have several targets for future research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Portuguese-speaking community in Lambeth: a scoping study

This report presents the findings from research with the Portuguese-speaking community in Lambeth commissioned by the London Community Foundation. It is designed to inform the work of the Lambeth Community Fund Grant Committee which makes decisions regarding the distribution the Portuguese Speakers Community Fund. Based mainly on semi-structured, face to face interviews with community representatives and local service providers, it provides a snapshot of the Portuguese-speaking community in Lambeth, its make-up, needs and support structure

Impacto econômico de pesquisa da Embrapa no bioma caatinga com variedade de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) resistente à bacteriose.

Neste artigo é analisada a viabilidade econômica de investimento em pesquisa pública da Embrapa para o desenvolvimento de variedades de mandioca resistentes à bacteriose e adaptadas ao bioma caatinga. A bacteriose é a principal doença da mandiocultura na microrregião de Guanambi, no Estado da Bahia, e o estresse hídrico um dos grandes desafios ao incremento do rendimento e da produção na região Nordeste. Com base nesse conhecimento e com o objetivo de evitar o avanço da bacteriose e simultaneamente revitalizar a mandiocultura da microrregião de Guanambi, a Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura (CNPMF), com a colaboração da Embrapa Cerrados (CPAC) e agricultores familiares da microrregião, uniram esforços num programa participativo de seleção de variedades de mandioca resistentes à bacteriose e adaptadas às condições locais. O programa teve início em 1997; ano em que a doença foi identificada na microrregião por uma equipe de pesquisadores da Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura. Desse esforço conjunto foi selecionada a variedade de mandioca de nome BRS Formosa; que atualmente está sendo utilizada em escala comercial por agricultores familiares da microrregião de Guanambi

Making energy visible: sociopsychological aspects associated with the use of smart meters

This study aims to improve the understanding of the sociopsychological and technological aspects that influence the use of smart meters—innovative electricity meters that provide real-time data on consumption and are instrumental in increasing energy efficiency. Few studies have examined the sociopsychological factors that influence their use. We argue that the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and other specific factors from the social psychology literature, such as perceived procedural justice and risk perception, can help understand what determines the use of smart meters. To empirically examine that, first a quantitative survey was conducted with 515 households with smart meters installed. Results indicate that smart meter use is influenced by subjective norms, perceived utility, health-related risk perception, procedural justice, and time of usage. In a second study, internet blogs discussing smart meters were analyzed. This study corroborated some of the results of the first study and suggested additional factors—such as perceived distributive injustice and loss of control and privacy-related risk perception—that may influence the use of smart meters.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

On IT risk management ontology using DEMO

Nowadays, organisations use and rely on Information Technology (IT) solutions. However, despite their benefits, IT solutions induct risks. Consequently, organisations implement Risk Management (RM), more specifically Information Technology Risk Management (IT RM), in order to maximize the effectiveness of IT usage while dealing with IT risks. Nevertheless, IT RM's implementation is not easy, since numerous standards and frameworks propose multiple RM processes to deal with IT risks. Moreover, these processes are composed of different activities causing confusion. In the end, organisations are not capable of managing risks successfully due to IT RM's complexity. To overcome IT RM diversity, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted. The goal is to identify which are the most essential IT RM activities. The SLR results were then integrated with ISO 31000 and PMBOK standards in the form of an ontology using Design and Engineering Methodology Ontology (DEMO). The contributions of this study are: the aggregate analysis of IT RM activities through the SLR; the identification of reasons and benefits of using DEMO; a description of an IT RM's essential model designed as an ontology; and a critical view of the benefits of the ontological model proposed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

I am attracted to my Cool Smart Assistant! Analyzing attachment-aversion in AI-human relationships

The conversation between humans and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled intelligent voice assistants (IVA) can create bonds that go beyond a mere utilitarian purpose. The emotional cues in a Human-AI conversation can lead consumers to feel connected with the AI-agents and even consider such a relationship as cool. Although brand coolness is known to affect consumer behavior, little is known about how consumers perceive a close relationship with IVAs and what the drivers of their use or avoidance are. Therefore, the current paper adds to the literature by analyzing how AI-enabled voice assistant experience affects IVA coolness and customer-brand relationships using the attachment-aversion (A-A) theory. A total of 308 consumers showed that affective, behavioral, and intellectual experiences with the intelligent voice assistant affect IVA coolness. IVA coolness was also found to affect A-A relationships positively, influencing consumers’ motivational strength to adopt, maintain and enhance the relationship in the future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adolescents who stay, parents who migrate: gender inequalities, resilience and coping strategies in Tajikistan

Studies on the consequences of migration often ignore the perspectives of children and adolescents who remain in the origin country while their migrant parents are absent. This is the case in Tajikistan, one of the poorest and most remittance-dependent countries in the world. Using a qualitative methodology, microethnography, we interviewed eight teenagers aged between 12 and 18, in the city of Khorugh, Tajikistan, to explore the impact of migration from their perspective. Findings reveal that these adolescents ‘understand’ the reasons for their parents’ migration in a way that both gives coherence to this migration and invests young people with resilience and coping strategies. As a result, all the young people naturalised having to live with sadness, reflecting the ‘normalisation’ of this social cost in wider Tajik society. However, the experiences and coping strategies of those interviewed are gendered; boys were more likely to ‘rationalise’ their experience and be aloof; girls more likely to express emotional upset. In practical terms, boys also received more benefits from remittances while girls reported feeling overwhelmed by domestic chores expected of them. Through this study, we contribute to the recent literature on the lived experiences and agency of non-migrant teenagers.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Aceptacion de la publicidad a través de altavoces inteligentes

Purpose: The influence of technology on marketing communications is rising in both applications and value created. Artificial intelligence (AI) and, as a result, smart speakers are benefiting both brands and customers at many levels. In particular, AI opens up the possibility to establish human-like dialogs with customers and to advertise brands in a new and engaging way. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to understand why and how consumers would accept receiving advertising (ad) via AI-enabled devices such as smart speakers. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 326 individuals participated in a study that explored the factors influencing ad acceptance in smart devices. A partial least squares-structural equation model technique was used to validate the results. Findings: The findings show that customer acceptance of ads via smart assistants is influenced by smart assistant usefulness and hedonic motivations. However, privacy risk moderates the relationship between smart speaker ease of use and smart speaker usefulness. Originality/value: This paper explores the main drivers of ad acceptance via smart speakers and goes beyond the existing knowledge of smart speaker acceptance to further explore how this can become an important channel for brands to communicate.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Past, present, and future of pro-environmental behavior in tourism and hospitality: a text-mining approach

Scholars have been interested in examining what drives pro-environmental behavior. However, only a few scientific studies have been devoted to analyzing and understanding the pro-environmental behavior of those that are on vacation. Therefore, the current paper contributes to the existing literature by employing a text-mining approach to conduct a full-text analysis of 210 articles and (1) describes pro-environmental conceptualization, (2) presents the important topics and studies that have emerged from the literature, and (3) suggests directions for future research. The eight core topics that were uncovered contributed to discussion of the content of publications, related theories, core constructs, methodologies, main authors, and journals. The paper shows that the literature on pro-environmental behavior uses more quantitative than qualitative approaches and uses structural equations or regression analysis to explore the data. The findings also show that researchers tend to employ well-known theories arising from psychology, sociology, and biology.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Understanding the role of visual attention on wines’ purchase intention: an eye-tracking study

Purpose: Wine bottles compete for consumers’ attention in the shelf during the decisive moment of choice. This study aims to explore the role that visual attention to wine labels has on the purchase decision and the mediating role of quality perceptions and desire on such purchase behaviours. Wine awards and consumption situation are used as moderators. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted in Portugal and 36 individuals participated in a 2 × 2 within subjects design (awarded/not awarded × self-consumption/social-consumption). For each scenario, individuals’ attention, perceptions of quality, desire and purchase intentions were recorded. Findings: Data from eye-tracking shows that, during the purchase process, the amount of attention given to a bottle is determinant of individuals’ purchase intentions, a relationship that increases in significance for bottles with awards and for when consumers are buying wine for a consumption situation involving a social environment. In addition, both quality perceptions and desire are confirmed to positively influence wines’ purchase intentions. Originality/value: By using an eye monitoring method, this paper brings new insights into the wine industry by highlighting the impact that wines’ labels and different consumption situations have on individuals’ attention and purchase intention. Wine producers and retailers may benefit from the insights provided by the current study to refine their communication strategies by either highlighting product characteristics and pictorial elements, as it is the case of the awards, or communicating about their products for different consumption situations.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio