Architectural Coalescence : a Focus on Connectivity and Flow Within Socio-Spatial Networks

This thesis stems from an analysis of spatial morphology of the urban campus. The organization of the urban campus provides pockets for social interactivity amid public, private, and interstitial realms. Availability of collective activity contributes to the positive student experiences by fostering social interactivity and communal growth. Encouraging forms of collective activity, as well as connecting user circulation, plays a significant role in making students feel they are part of a larger whole. The focus is placed on how architectural design can provide the potential to explore the in-between condition of the public and private. This interstitial condition may be used as a platform to connect the two realms. Testing methods of socio-spatial and circulatory reconfiguration of Ryerson’s Kerr Hall may improve the understanding of how the built form impacts the movement and experience of user flow within the condition of the urban campus.

Architectural Coalescence : a Focus on Connectivity and Flow Within Socio-Spatial Networks

This thesis stems from an analysis of spatial morphology of the urban campus. The organization of the urban campus provides pockets for social interactivity amid public, private, and interstitial realms. Availability of collective activity contributes to the positive student experiences by fostering social interactivity and communal growth. Encouraging forms of collective activity, as well as connecting user circulation, plays a significant role in making students feel they are part of a larger whole. The focus is placed on how architectural design can provide the potential to explore the in-between condition of the public and private. This interstitial condition may be used as a platform to connect the two realms. Testing methods of socio-spatial and circulatory reconfiguration of Ryerson’s Kerr Hall may improve the understanding of how the built form impacts the movement and experience of user flow within the condition of the urban campus.

Examining the mediating role of social interactivity between customer engagement and brand loyalty

PurposeThis study aims at identifying and examining the mediating role of customer engagement behavior and social interactivity onbrand loyalty.Design/methodology/approachA correlational study design was adopted in this study to collect data (online survey) from 400 online participants active on Facebook pages.FindingsEmpirical results reveal that there is a significant and positive impact of social interactivity on consumer engagement behavior and brand loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings would help decision makers to make useful decisions in their everyday work practices, which would ultimately increase the market competition of brands.Practical implicationsDecision makers should focus on the entertainment and interactivity levels in advertisement designs that would allow customers to perceive the novelty of advertising.Social implicationsThe results are critical in developing consumers' attitude and perception toward a brand by providing them insights regarding the characteristics of brands.Originality/valueThe participation and social interactivity of consumers on the Facebook page drive consumer engagement behavior and brand loyalty.

Learner “Mixed Embodiment” in Face-to-Face, Blended, and Fully Online Learning

Is it accurate to suggest that face-to-face (F2F) learning involves learner “embodiment” (learners' physical presence) and fully online learning involves learner “disembodiment” (a lack of learner corporeality in the learning experience)? An exploration of the research suggests that the concepts of embodiment and disembodiment are not clearly defined and, further, that learners engage with “mixed embodiment” in all the contexts of F2F, blended, and fully online learning. There are not bright lines of embodiment and disembodiment in the separation between real and virtual spaces in learning. This work offers a basic definition of “mixed embodiment” and some early thoughts on the way the physical learner is engaged in online learning with a variety of factors: assignment types, social interactivity, group assignments, instructor interactivity, assignment sharing, self-representation creation, technological applications, and other factors. This work has implications on instructional and learning design for greater incorporation of learner embodiment in online learning.

Users on Social Network Sites—Flight from Reality and Its Effects on Acceptance of Social Network Advertising: A Gratification Perspective

Social network sites (SNSs) have emerged as a common place for social interactivity and communication in cyberspace. They have rapidly grown in fame and user acceptance globally. The business model of many of these SNS firms is based on advertising. Therefore, it is crucial that users accept social network advertising (SNA). Literature shows that users accept the advertising which is congruent with their motivations for using media. Many people participate in SNSs to forget the problems and worries of everyday life. Yet, empirical evidence is lacking which shows the effects of social escapism motivation on user acceptance of SNA. Grounded on the uses and gratifications theory, the present study proposes and tests a model which shows the effects of social escapism motivation on user attitudes toward SNA as well as on their SNS banner ad-clicking behaviour.