scholarly journals Authentic Deception or the Ethos Paradox of Social Media Influencers: Female Emirati Consumers’ Perception of Instagram Models

Res Rhetorica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-143
Author(s):  
Gulnara Z. Karimova ◽  
Denisa Nicoleta Alexe
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Social Medium ◽  
Purchase Decisions ◽  
Women Consumers ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Effective Models ◽  
Advertising Content ◽  
Selection Of

Instagram is the fastest rising social medium used by young people in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and therefore constitutes a superb means for companies to advertise their brands. To better inform the selection of the most well-targeted and effective models for advertising products, this research first analyzed UAE-based Instagram posts to explore the types of models used for different types of advertising content on Instagram. Individual interviews were then conducted with Emirati women consumers to determine the criteria they use when reviewing Instagram models in terms of the intention to purchase. Results reveal that there are three archetypal models connected with product ranges relating to (1) beauty, (2) health, and (3) fashion. Four determining factors in purchase decisions emerged, namely, (1) product effect, (2) product display, (3) the modesty of the models, and (4) the pose of the models. These last two, and most notably, the modesty of the model, is perhaps somewhat uniquely relevant to the region given the primacy of female modesty within the Islamic canon. Moreover, the majority of women interviewed stressed that they favor models who exemplify a realistic lifestyle and authentic beauty. While the goal of effortless perfection is a common one, this objective may be more dominant in this socio-cultural region, given the Islamic prescriptions on female modesty. Such a desire for an effortless perfection and authentic deception characterizes the essence of the ethos paradox of Instagram models. The value of this empirical investigation is that it highlights a potential pitfall for advertisers in making the assumption that featuring strong influencers in their advertising is necessarily an enhancement of sales potential. Moreover, it illustrates how Instagram endorsement functions in this geopolitical context and offers guidelines for optimizing Instagram advertising.

A Grounded Theory of the Process of Spiritual Change Among Homicide Survivors

2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-65
Author(s):  
Shannon K. Johnson ◽  
Brooks Zitzmann
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Homicide Survivors ◽  
Spiritual Change ◽  
Theoretical Sampling ◽  
The World ◽  
Range Theory ◽  
Closed Theory ◽  
Renewal Movement ◽  
Selection Of

Grounded theory was used to generate a mid-range theory of the process of spiritual change in the lives of survivors of homicide victims. Theoretical sampling guided the selection of 30 participants from a larger study of spiritual change after homicide ( N = 112). Individual interviews were analyzed using a four-step sequence of line-by-line, focused, axial, and selective coding. Analysis generated a closed theory consisting of three fluids, consecutive but nonlinear stages. Each stage consisted of an overarching process and a state of being in the world: (a) Disintegrating: living in a state of shock; (b) Reckoning: living in a state of stagnation; (c) Recreating and reintegrating the self: living in a state of renewal. Movement through the stages was fueled by processes of spiritual connection that yielded changes that permeated the theory. Findings can be used to help practitioners address the processes that drive spiritual change in the lives of homicide survivors.

scholarly journals Evaluating COVID-19 Vaccination Website using DISCERN and QUality Evaluation Scoring (QUEST) Tools

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akash Gajanan Prabhune ◽  
Aishwarya Mallavaram ◽  
Sachin Bhat ◽  
Samridhi Pandey ◽  
Ayesha Mehar Shagufta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Member States ◽  
Critical Information ◽  
Minor Elements ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Background: The objective of this paper was to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine registration website across UN-recognized member states for their portal quality, reliability, Ease Use and help to the general population in informed decision making.Methods: 12 UN member states (Countries) were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned in the methodology section of this paper. PPS technique was used for sampling and selection of 12 countries from 193 UN member states. Post selection of UN member states the study used 2 step evaluation techniques, Step 1 The DISCERN checklist consists of 16 questions in three sections and is aimed to assess the reliability of information and quality of information; Step 2 The QUEST tool consists of 6 items with a subitem, Authorship, Attribution, Conflict of Interest, Complementarity, Currency, Tone. The authors developed a standard set of instructions for evaluating Vaccination Portals to bring uniformity in understanding and context setting.Results: DISCERN tool overall reliability score on the Likert scale of 0 to 5 was 4 (SD ± 1.28). On Quality of information regarding treatment choices, the average score was 3.4 (SD ± 1.67). The QUEST tool on ease of use, concision, and comprehensiveness demonstrated an average score of 18.1 (SD ± 8.3) out of 28.The vaccine registration portal of the Czech Republic was found to be most informative and was able to provide a piece of scientifically valid information on safety, efficacy, long-term short effects, choice of vaccine with attributable authors details. India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, South Africa scored relatively low to missing critical information on the website. The United Arab Emirates, Republic of South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, and Argentina had minor elements missing.Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination portals vary in the quality of information and many were found unable to provide critical information for decision making on getting vaccinated

Online Shopping in the United Arab Emirates

2018 ◽  
pp. 668-690
Author(s):  
Salam Abdallah ◽  
Bushra Jaleel
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Online Shopping ◽  
Purchase Decisions ◽  
Functional Characteristics ◽  
Online Purchase ◽  
Web Experience ◽  
Website Features ◽  
Transaction Value

The aim of this paper is to empirically explore the perception of a group of United Arab Emirates (UAE) web users towards e-commerce transactions, study their willingness to trade online, and isolate factors that drive these users towards purchase decisions. The study finds that web users largely use functional characteristics to assess the effectiveness of e-commerce websites, and are driven towards online purchase decisions by factors such as greater security, better value, and convenience. Overall, web experience was defined by the users in terms of three main dimensions; website features, credibility and trust, and transaction value. Practitioners can use these findings to improve their websites and online offers to better serve this market. The paper fills an identified gap in the literature by investigating the perceptions of the UAE web users, and makes a contribution towards studying the concept of online shopping in this region.

Multiagent Based Selection of Tutor-Subject-Student Paradigm in an Intelligent Tutoring System

2012 ◽  
pp. 47-71
Author(s):  
Kiran Mishra ◽  
R. B. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Tutoring ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Intelligent Tutoring System ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Tutoring System ◽  
Tutoring Systems ◽  
Analytical Reasoning ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Effective Models ◽  
Selection Of

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) aim at development of two main interconnected modules: pedagogical module and student module .The pedagogical module concerns with the design of a teaching strategy which combines the interest of the student, tutor’s capability and characteristics of subject. Very few effective models have been developed which combine the cognitive, psychological and behavioral components of tutor, student and the characteristics of a subject in ITS. We have developed a tutor-subject-student (TSS) paradigm for the selection of a tutor for a particular subject. A selection index of a tutor is calculated based upon his performance profile, preference, desire, intention, capability and trust. An aptitude of a student is determined based upon his answering to the seven types of subject topic categories such as Analytical, Reasoning, Descriptive, Analytical Reasoning, Analytical Descriptive, Reasoning Descriptive and Analytical Reasoning Descriptive. The selection of a tutor is performed for a particular type of topic in the subject on the basis of a student’s aptitude.

Multiagent Based Selection of Tutor-Subject-Student Paradigm in an Intelligent Tutoring System

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiran Mishra ◽  
R.B. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Tutoring Systems ◽  
Intelligent Tutoring ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Intelligent Tutoring System ◽  
Selection Index ◽  
Tutoring Systems ◽  
Analytical Reasoning ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Effective Models ◽  
Selection Of

Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) aim at development of two main interconnected modules: pedagogical module and student module .The pedagogical module concerns with the design of a teaching strategy which combines the interest of the student, tutor’s capability and characteristics of subject. Very few effective models have been developed which combine the cognitive, psychological and behavioral components of tutor, student and the characteristics of a subject in ITS. We have developed a tutor-subject-student (TSS) paradigm for the selection of a tutor for a particular subject. A selection index of a tutor is calculated based upon his performance profile, preference, desire, intention, capability and trust. An aptitude of a student is determined based upon his answering to the seven types of subject topic categories such as Analytical, Reasoning, Descriptive, Analytical Reasoning, Analytical Descriptive, Reasoning Descriptive and Analytical Reasoning Descriptive. The selection of a tutor is performed for a particular type of topic in the subject on the basis of a student’s aptitude.

scholarly journals Strategies for the Development of Smart Cities: The Case of Kalampaka-Greece

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Christos Stamopoulos ◽  
Eleni Theodoropoulou
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Construction Strategies ◽  
The City ◽  
Simple Selection ◽  
Selection Of

The present paper investigates the characteristics and best construction strategies of smart cities around the world, as well as the determining factors of the satisfaction of the quality of life and the importance of the value of environmental sustainability. A case study of the city of Kalampaka and its residents was examined. The survey was conducted between July 2016 and August 2016. The selection of the sample was done by using the method of simple selection and includes a random sample of N=150 individuals. Statistical analysis showed that resident’s knowledge about smart cities was fairly good (48% of sample knew the phrase “smart cities”). Furthermore, they believe that the appearance of the city of Kalampaka needs improvement (75% of sample is disappointed with the current appearance of the city). Regression analysis showed that the value of environmental sustainability is greatly influenced by the energy saving, as well as, innovation has an impact on the level of quality of life. Older people seem to be satisfied with administration’s efforts.

scholarly journals Herd Behavior in the Insurance Market: A Survey

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Information Sources ◽  
Collective Intelligence ◽  
Insurance Market ◽  
Purchase Decision ◽  
Herd Behavior ◽  
Purchase Decisions ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Use Of Information Sources ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Selection Of

We conduct a survey to examine herd behavior in the insurance market. Following prior studies on consumers’ use of information sources in their purchase decision-making processes we develop hypotheses that explore the relationship between selection of information sources and herd behavior among potential insurance buyers in the market. Our results strongly support contentions that insurance buyers are significantly influenced in their choices by recommendations from different information sources and they do use these as herd cues to infer insurance product quality when making their own purchase decisions. In particular, our findings suggest that potential insurance buyers are more likely to be influenced by collective intelligence than by insurance experts.

scholarly journals Female Consumers’ Attitude towards Natural Beauty Products: Malaysian Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 5099-5102
Author(s):  
Siti Nor Bayaah Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Women Consumers ◽  
Female Consumers ◽  
Health Consciousness ◽  
Intention To Purchase ◽  
Natural Beauty ◽  
Consumer Perspective ◽  
Beauty Products ◽  
Product Industry

There are numerous illnesses related to beauty products consumption have led many companies to plan for a better solution that emphasis on green, and natural products ingredients. Women consumers in beauty product industry is considered as one of the biggest populations that contribute significantly to economic growth worldwide. This study aims to investigate the female consumer perspective in relation to the health and environment. 200 were returned and usable. The findings indicated that factors like attitude, subjective norms and behavioral control do influence women consumer’s intention to purchase natural beauty product. Specifically, health consciousness and environment consciousness are significant in influencing their consumers’ purchase intention. Practically, the findings helped marketers to be creative when promoting the beauty products by highlighting on sustainability and product safety to feed into the women’s attitude toward natural beauty products.

scholarly journals Study and Implementation of the Fuzzy Mamdani and Sugeno Methods in Decision Making on Selection of Outstanding Students at the South Aceh Polytechnic

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-164
Author(s):  
Amsar Yunan ◽  
Muhammad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Education Student ◽  
The South ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Inference System ◽  
Fuzzy Method ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Selection Of

The selection of students who excel academically is a measure of the quality of education in an educational institution. In the implementation of education, student achievement becomes a measure of the success of education at the institution. Achievement is the result of hard work by following the rules given by a certain person or institution with certain criteria and conditions to determine if someone is eligible to be chosen as an award recipient. This research uses the Mamdani Fuzzy method or Fuzzy inference system and Sugeno Fuzzy, to design this decision-making system is to design the decision results from the rules compiled using Matlab software for testing. The South Aceh Polytechnic holds outstanding student elections every year, the selection of students with achievements that are carried out every year only focuses on the GPA value in academic achievement without looking at the determining factors which are more precise. In the research that will be conducted the selection must meet the eligibility criteria as a student who gets an award or as an outstanding student at the South Aceh Polytechnic involving variables in the form of Cumulative Achievement Index, Final Project value, Extracurricular, and Attendance. Research is expected to be a tool in the selection process for candidate participants who compete in the selection of outstanding students at the South Aceh Polytechnic so that relevant departments in universities can determine the eligibility of prospective students as award recipients as students with the best achievement scores by considering the appropriate determining factors. The expected output using the Mamdani and Sugeno fuzzy method can become an intellectual property system so that this system can be selected as a guideline by the South Aceh Polytechnic academic for determining outstanding students. The results of the research that have been obtained show that the level of truth is 86.82% for the Mamdani method while the implementation of Sugeno Fuzzy logic is obtained a level of truth of 71.88%

scholarly journals Unge jenters oppfatning av hvordan stress påvirker kroppen deres

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kjersti Steffenak ◽  
Mette Hjellestad Hauge ◽  
Else Berit Steinseth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Stress Influences ◽  
Selection Of

Målet med denne studien er å undersøke hvilke oppfatninger unge jenter har av hvordan stress påvirker kroppene deres. Blant jenter har det vært en økning av psykiske helseplager. De rapporterer mer stress og fysiske helseplager enn gutter. Studien er kvalitativ med en fenomenografisk tilnærming. Det ble gjennomført 23 individuelle intervjuer av jenter mellom 15 og 18 år. Utvalget var strategisk valgt. Stress, når det gjelder eksterne og interne krav, påvirker jentenes kropper og uttrykkes som smerte, ubehag og misnøye med kroppen. Jentene ignorerer eller merker ikke kroppssignalene. De forsømmer egen kropp og dens behov. Gjentatte vaner kan føre til ytterligere stress og ubehag som kan føre til psykisk lidelse. Young girls' conceptions of how stress influences their bodies Abstract The aim of this study is to describe young girls' conceptions of how stress can influence their bodies. There has been an increase in mental health complaints, especially among girls. They report more stress and physical health complaints than boys. The study is qualitative with a phenomenographic approach. Individual interviews were conducted with a strategic selection of 23 informants between 15 and 18 years. Stress, in terms of external and internal requirements, influence the girls` bodies and are expressed as pain, discomfort and dissatisfaction with their bodies. The girls ignore or do not notice body signals. They neglect their own body and what the body needs. Repeating habits can lead to further stress and discomfort, and this may eventually lead to mental distress.

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