Understanding information communication in word of mouth behaviours

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Business.Word of Mouth (hereafter, ‘WOM’) communication is one of the most pervasive and influential mediums consumers use to learn about products and services in markets (Alexandrov & Sherrell, 2006; Balter, 2008; Cotte, Coulter, & Moore, 2005; Grewal, Gotlieb, & Marmorstein, 1994; Whyte, 1954). Despite this acknowledgement little is known about the nature of the information that is typically communicated by WOM (Frenzen & Nakamoto, 1993). This research aims to provide this insight by examining a sender’s decision to communicate by WOM. Drawing on Random Utility Theory, a general model of WOM communication is proposed (Brown & Reingen, 1987; Louviere, Hensher, & Swait, 2000; Roloff, 1981; Thurstone, 1927). This model emphasises the sender of information as the controller of the flow of information in WOM networks. It accommodates the influence of context and the resulting motivations on the sender’s choice of communication behaviour. At the heart of this model is the idea that a sender will choose to pursue rewards from a WOM exchange, thereby motivating them to participate. They will then choose behaviour that maximises the probability of obtaining these rewards. This allows the linking of the literature regarding motivation and behaviour in WOM communication. This model was proposed within a choice based experimental framework. The advantage of using such a framework is that it allows precise measurement of individual level behaviours. The outputs of the models from this are also the probabilities of specific communication behaviours. These outputs are able to be used as inputs in systems and network based models of aggregate level WOM phenomenon. This offers one of the first methodological approaches to link the individual and aggregate level aspects of the WOM literature. To test the robustness of this model two particular classes of WOM are considered: assisting and covering. Assisting refers to the typical form of WOM in which a sender will offer genuine assistance to the receiver to help them make the ‘best’ decision given their preferences. Covering refers to a less typical form of WOM in which a sender wishes to appear to be offering help but in fact is attempting to be as obstructive as possible. These two classes of WOM offer a strong test of this new model. The results of this research indicate that there is strong support for the underlying model used to link WOM context, sender motivation and sender behaviour. The estimation approach using Individual level scale adjusted Feasible Generalised Least Squares (FGLS) regression offered choice predictions that correlated 0.79 v/ith the observed choice probabilities. The specific results regarding assisting and covering type WOM also provide new insight into these WOM forms. It is found that a sender generally provides helpful information when assisting. This is achieved by providing information about relatively important product features, by confirming a receiver’s existing knowledge to make them more certain in their beliefs, by expressing the facts in the information with certainty, and by using language that is unambiguous, i.e. terminology consistent with previous communications. Each of these types of information would allow the receiver to improve the quality of their decisions. One exception can be noted; the sender also chooses to communicate information of lower economic value even when assisting. More recent research into interpersonal communication suggests that this may be a manifestation of risk averse behaviour, whereby a sender does not wish to be responsible if a receiver suffers losses as a result of a decision (Young, Donald, Freeman, & Benn, 2008). With regard to covering type WOM it is found that senders exhibit largely the same behaviour as when assisting with two critical exceptions. These are choosing to communicate information in an uncertain manner, and using marginally more ambiguous language, that is, language using terminology less consistent with prior communications. The effect of both of these would be a dramatic reduction in the usefulness of the information for the receiver; however, the remaining similarity to assisting type WOM prevents the receiver from detecting this covert action. Results from this research offer new insights into how consumers use WOM communication each day. Furthermore, a number of additional gender specific insights are obtained offering even greater detail regarding how individuals choose to communicate by WOM

Postdisciplinary Knowledge, Edited by Tomas Pernecky

Where does postdisciplinarity stand in relation to the other forms of non-disciplinarity? What critiques of academia does it launch? Postdisciplinary Knowledge edited by Tomas Pernecky, aims to theorise postdisciplinarity as a rebellious and subversive movement. This article reviews this work with the aim of finding out what makes postdisciplinarity unique and whether there is a need for it? It also provides an evaluative description of the individual chapters of the book. I conclude that the input of postdisciplinarity is a necessary contribution to discussions surrounding the nature of academia and the university

The Politics of Transdisciplinarity

This paper aims to theorize the role of transdisciplinarity in politics. I do this by arguing for an ontological pluralism, using the ideas of Basarab Nicolescu, suggesting a political view can equate to a layer of reality. Nicolescu’s thought indicates that we should think beyond and transcend the political spectrum- a political view is not just a view but an actual part of reality. Next, I use ‘Mode 2’ Science to suggest we should adopt a distributed epistemology which sees everyone as bearers of knowledge, I suggest that politics should take this into consideration. This fits with the pluralism indicated by Nicolescu. Furthermore, I suggest ‘Mode 2’ Science also says that institutions should be permeable- the difference between state, science and society should not be seen as solid. Institutions should also be seen as transitory in nature. Next, I argue Edgar Morin’s complex thinking indicates how we should gather knowledge and how society should be governed. Particularly, it shows that governance should consist of teams, in which the state acts as a catalyst for bringing a wide group of people together. These ‘teams’ and the state can be activated or deactivated depending on the situation, therefore preventing an accumulation of power, while also allowing effective governance if required. Finally, I use complex network theory to characterize how the pertinent temporary configurations of relations would work and the factors that might affect them. Using network theory allows us to conceptualize these relations as dynamic, connected, vulnerable, clustered and yet also having a few figures (in this case the state) that can connect people. Following all of this, we come to a new pluralistic, egalitarian, transitory, but most of all transdisciplinary view of governance

Early hours of treatment in a neonate nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) rescued from illegal trafficking in Ecuador

This paper presents the case of a baby nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), which was rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking in the province of Pastaza (Ecuador) and was delivered to the Center for Wildlife Rescue Flor de la Amazonia Wayra Urku (Km.35 via Arajuno, Puyo-Pastaza, Ecuador). This animal had at the time of rescue, severe hypothermia and dehydration, was treated and later was introduced to a change in diet ideal for raising it. In this review we discuss the different ways to approach the case and the treatment chosen to avoid premature death of the animal. It is believed that proper protocol was chosen to correct the initial unstable state and start hand rearing.En este trabajo se expone el caso de una cría de armadillo de nueve bandas (Dasypus novemcinctus) que fue rescatado del tráfico ilegal de especies en la provincia de Pastaza (Ecuador) y que fue entregado al Centro de Rescate de Fauna Silvestre Flor de la Amazonía Wayra Urku (Km.35 vía Arajuno, Puyo-Pastaza, Ecuador). Dicho animal presentaba en el momento del rescate una severa hipotermia y deshidratación de la que fue tratado y posteriormente se instauró el cambio de dieta ideal para la crianza a biberón del neonato. En este trabajo se discuten las diferentes formas de abordar el caso así como los tratamientos elegidos para evitar la muerte prematura del animal. Se considera que se eligió un correcto protocolo para corregir el estado inestable inicial y comenzar con la crianza a mano de la cría

Risk of Congenital Anomalies after the Opening of Landfill Sites

Concern that living near a particular landfill site in Wales caused increased risk of births with congenital malformations led us to examine whether residents living close to 24 landfill sites in Wales experienced increased rates of congenital anomalies after the landfills opened compared with before they opened. We carried out a small-area study in which expected rates of congenital anomalies in births to mothers living within 2 km of the sites, before and after opening of the sites, were estimated from a logistic regression model fitted to all births in residents living at least 4 km away from these sites and hence not likely to be subject to contamination from a landfill, adjusting for hospital catchment area, year of birth, sex, maternal age, and socioeconomic deprivation score. We investigated all births from 1983 through 1997 with at least one recorded congenital anomaly [International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), codes 7400–7599; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), codes Q000–Q999]. The ratio of the observed to expected rates of congenital anomalies before landfills opened was 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75–1.00], and this increased to 1.21 (95% CI, 1.04–1.40) after opening, giving a standardized risk ratio of 1.39 (95% CI, 1.12–1.72). Enhanced congenital malformation surveillance data collected from 1998 through 2000 showed a standardized risk ratio of 1.04 (95% CI, 0.88–1.21). Causal inferences are difficult because of possible biases from incomplete case ascertainment, lack of data on individual-level exposures, and other socioeconomic and lifestyle factors that may confound a relationship with area of residence. However, the increase in risk after the sites opened requires continued enhanced surveillance of congenital anomalies, and site-specific chemical exposure studies

Complete genome sequence of an astrovirus identified in a domestic rabbit (\u3cem\u3eOryctolagus cuniculus\u3c/em\u3e) with gastroenteritis

A colony of domestic rabbits in Tennessee, USA, experienced a high-mortality (~90%) outbreak of enterocolitis. The clinical characteristics were one to six days of lethargy, bloating, and diarrhea, followed by death. Heavy intestinal coccidial load was a consistent finding as was mucoid enteropathy with cecal impaction. Preliminary analysis by electron microscopy revealed the presence of virus-like particles in the stool of one of the affected rabbits. Analysis using the Virochip, a viral detection microarray, suggested the presence of an astrovirus, and follow-up PCR and sequence determination revealed a previously uncharacterized member of that family. Metagenomic sequencing enabled the recovery of the complete viral genome, which contains the characteristic attributes of astrovirus genomes. Attempts to propagate the virus in tissue culture have yet to succeed. Although astroviruses cause gastroenteric disease in other mammals, the pathogenicity of this virus and the relationship to this outbreak remains to be determined. This study therefore defines a viral species and a potential rabbit pathogen

Large-Area Electrodeposition of Few-Layer MoS2 on Graphene for 2D Material Heterostructures

Heterostructures involving two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides and other materials such as graphene have a strong potential to be the fundamental building block of many electronic and opto-electronic applications. The integration and scalable fabrication of such heterostructures is of essence in unleashing the potential of these materials in new technologies. For the first time, we demonstrate the growth of few-layer MoS2 films on graphene via non-aqueous electrodeposition. Through methods such as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy and wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopies and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we show that this deposition method can produce large-area MoS2 films with high quality and uniformity over graphene. We reveal the potential of these heterostructures by measuring the photo-induced current through the film. These results pave the way towards developing the electrodeposition method for the large-scale growth of heterostructures consisting of varying 2D materials for many applications.Comment: 11 pages and 6 figure

On the Schoenberg Transformations in Data Analysis: Theory and Illustrations

The class of Schoenberg transformations, embedding Euclidean distances into higher dimensional Euclidean spaces, is presented, and derived from theorems on positive definite and conditionally negative definite matrices. Original results on the arc lengths, angles and curvature of the transformations are proposed, and visualized on artificial data sets by classical multidimensional scaling. A simple distance-based discriminant algorithm illustrates the theory, intimately connected to the Gaussian kernels of Machine Learning

Dominant cognitive frames and the innovative power of social networks

In this paper, we illustrate the link between social network structures, dominant cognitive frames on network purpose and the innovative power of a network, through a mixed-method comparative analysis of two Knowledge Translation Networks (KTNs)in the English National Health Service (NHS). Our findings illustrate several challenges for networked forms of organization linked to different manifestations of social networks (centralized/decentralized) and dominant cognitive frames (polarizing/loosely clustered). Our paper contributes a better understanding of how dominant frames on network purpose emerge alongside the development of network structure itself, and explores how this interplay between dominant frames and social networks impacts upon the collaborative work that supports the networks’ innovative power