The functional approach to creating the self

Studying consumers is at the heart of the sub-discipline of consumer behavior; to truly understand the core of said consumers however, the marketing literature has focused on studying the self. The extant literature has discussed the self from several conceptual view points. As such, this study provides a rich theoretical review reaching back into the 19th century literature and extending into more recent developments related to cognitive social psychology. James\u27 (1890) global tripartite model of the self is adopted, and the various avenues by which consumers create their `selves\u27 are then explored, with particular focus on James\u27 material self (bodily creation). The latter phase of the study reintroduces Katz\u27s (1960) functional approach to attitudes as a conceptual lens to examine how matching consumers\u27 functional profiles to advertising messages, within the context of creating a self, influences the consumers\u27 overall attitudinal and behavioral responses to the particular message/brands being promoted. A multi-method approach including grounded theoretic and experimental studies is employed, and the findings show that different functions do fuel different individuals\u27 motives to create their `selves,\u27 and that when viewing an advertisement executed with functions differing from their functional profile, individuals experience mild cognitive dissonance and thus elaborate the message content more; this results in better attitudinal and behavioral responses to stronger over weaker arguments

A Guide for Early Career Success in Academic Research

Balancing the research, teaching, and service facets is important to achieving success in academia. Doctoral programs should prepare their students to successfully navigate and balance all three of these facets. We focus on the research facet in this study and draw from the experience of a panel of accomplished researchers within the discipline, to compile a set of guidelines for doctoral students and new faculty. Analyzing the qualitative results from the panel interviews, we find that to ensure success within the research facet, one must effectively manage three emergent focal distinctions; a relationship with: oneself, others, and with the work

Building positive internal and external stakeholder perceptions through CSR storytelling

In this paper, we propose organizations can leverage the storytelling process to convey corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions and events. In doing so, organizations may mitigate the major challenges that hinder positive returns from CSR initiatives–awareness and skepticism. We propose a conceptual model that demonstrates the effects of CSR storytelling. Specifically, we propose the storytelling process yields positive impacts on internal and external stakeholder outcomes including increasing employees’ thriving and meaningful work, as well as the attitudes and trust of multiple external stakeholders. To support the proposed relationships in our model, we apply narrative transportation theory and complement it with theory and literature on brand outcomes, CSR, positive organizational psychology, and communication. We discuss our contributions and highlight the value of continued research at the intersection of storytelling, CSR, and internal and external organizational outcomes

Effects of Organic And Inorganic Manures on The Yield Of Yam Tubers In Termite Infested Soils

A study on the effects of different organic and inorganic manures on the yield of yam tubers in termite infested soil of Owerri Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri in 2004 and 2005 cropping seasons respectively. The soil was naturally infested with three types of termite genera, namely: Microtermes, Ancistrotermes and Macrotermes. The variety of yam used was Dioscorea rotundata (white yam) cultivar (cv.) Obioaturugo, planted in May 2004 and 2005 respectively. The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were poultry manure at 1.5 tons ha-1 (PMI) and at 3.0 tons ha -1 (PM2), pig slurry at 1.5 tons ha-1 (PS1) and at 3.0 tons ha-1 (PS2), municipal waste at 1.5 tons ha-1 (MW1) and at 3.0 tons ha-1 (MW2), NPK 15:15:15, NPKMg 12:12:17:2, NPK 20:10:10 each at 400kgha-1 and control (no manuring). Result showed that highest fresh tuber yield was recorded in plots where NPK 15:15:15 and NPK Mg 12:12:17:12 were applied in both years while the least was in control plots. Also in both years of the experiment, plots treated with organic manures generally gave lower fresh tuber yield than inorganic but showed marked reduction in termite damage especially with municipal wastes when compared with other treatments. Similarly, plots treated with organic manures gave higher soil pH after tuber harvest than inorganic manures. Keywords: inorganic manure, organic manure, termites, and tuber yield. International Journal of Agriculture and Development Vol. 9 2007: pp. 66-7

Influence of Yam /Cassava Based Intercropping Systems

Abstract: The research showed that intercropping significantly suppressed weeds, reduced pest/disease infestation and thereby can play a leading role in integrated pest management. However, no pests and diseases were observed in all plots at 4WAP while low incidence of termite and stem borers were observed at 8 and 12 WAP respectively. Although, there were heavy weed weights at 4 and 8 WAP, indicating weed troublesome nature and how it constitutes a major limiting factor to food production if not checked. Early canopy cover shading the land area on stakes and fast spread of the landrace legumes covering the ground reduced weed incidence at 12 WAP and beyond while timely weeding also reduced weed and host for pest and diseases syndrome prevalent in unweeded farms in rainforest zones