Selection in a Snapshot? The Contribution of Visuals to the Selection and Avoidance of Political News in Information-Rich Media Settings

The psychological bases of the selection and attitudinal response to news media have received ample attention in political communication research. However, the interplay between three crucial factors in today’s online, high-choice news media settings remains understudied: (1) textual versus multimodal (text-plus-visual) communication; (2) attitude congruent versus attitude incongruent versus balanced content; and (3) political versus nonpolitical genres. Relying on an experimental study of refugee and gun control news in the United States ( N = 1,159), this paper investigates how people select and avoid, and also the extent to which they agree with, congenial, uncongenial, and balanced political news in a realistic multimodal selective-exposure setting in which political news is presented alongside sports and entertainment news. Although the findings partially depend on the issue, we find that the presence of multimodal (compared to textual) entertainment and sport items can increase avoidance of political news. Multimodal (compared to textual) political news augments attitude congruent selective exposure instead of encouraging cross-cutting selective exposure. Once selected, multimodal political news articles evoke stronger emotions and lead to higher issue agreement than textual news, regardless of an article’s attitude congruence. By linking research on text-alone to multimodal selective exposure, this study shows that visuals in high-choice media environments can contribute to the selective avoidance of political news generally and cross-cutting political news more specifically.

Workplace strategies for work burn-out prevention

A number of work burn-out strategies are being churned out by scholars. However, the most effective either by reason of culture diversity or non-clarity of thought, has not been reached. Although, the most rewarding strategy offered has been that of external prevention. The paper then argues that the most underlying cause of work place burn out is the intrinsic and as such, should earn more of the attention of the organizations. In other words, internal problem of the employee is the major cause for his burn out. The paper then surveyed 50 workers from 10 firms in Obio/Akpor Local Government area of Rivers State. Concern was to find out between external and intrinsic problems the most effective strategy in dealing with workers' burn out. Based on intrinsic arid self-determination theory, conclusion reached was that, out of the firms surveyed, eight employed the intrinsic approach wherein they first of all train their workers on how to handle and manage themselves internally, and not to personally depend on physical rewards as a means to handle burn out. The paper would then employed Likert's method in the analysis of result seeing that it was on the attitudinal response of workers on their everyday burn out.

Perspective taking can promote short-term inclusionary behavior toward Syrian refugees

Social scientists have shown how easily individuals are moved to exclude outgroup members. Can we foster inclusion instead? This study leverages one of the most significant humanitarian crises of our time to test whether, and under what conditions, American citizens adopt more inclusionary behavior toward Syrian refugees. We conduct a nationally representative survey of over 5,000 American citizens in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election and experimentally test whether a perspective-taking exercise increases inclusionary behavior in the form of an anonymous letter supportive of refugees to be sent to the 45th President of the United States. Our results indicate that the perspective-taking message increases the likelihood of writing such a positive letter by two to five percentage points. By contrast, an informational message had no significant effect on letter writing. The effect of the perspective-taking exercise occurs in the short run only, manifests as a behavioral rather than an attitudinal response, and is strongest among Democrats. However, this effect also appears in the subset of Republican respondents, suggesting that efforts to promote perspective taking may move to action a wide cross-section of individuals.

Assessing the Customer-Based Impact of Up-Selling Versus Down-Selling

This article evaluates customers’ postpurchase attitudinal and behavioral responses to two suggestive selling strategies employed in retail establishments: up-selling and down-selling. Our findings are based on a field study conducted among 2,381 customers from a large, national casual dining chain. We then followed up with 352 customers 1 month later to determine the impact of the suggestive selling strategy on future visitation. We find that while up-selling did improve short-term revenues, it had an adverse effect on customers’ attitudinal responses which resulted in a reduction in future brand patronage. Conversely, down-selling did not compromise short-term revenues as is commonly thought, and also led to a superior attitudinal response and increased brand patronage. We demonstrate that the effect of the suggestive selling strategy on satisfaction and brand loyalty is chain mediated through value and quality. Finally, our findings suggest that, under certain circumstances, employing a down-selling strategy may lead to superior long-term revenues.

A sequential process of brand tribalism, brand pride and brand attitude to explain purchase intention: a cross-continent replication study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and replicate the indirect effect of smartphone brand tribalism on purchase intent via brand pride and brand attitude. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data from 190 US (Study 1) and 432 Qatari (Study 2) smartphone consumers, path analysis is used to evaluate the hypotheses. Findings For these disparate samples, only the defense of the tribal brand dimension of brand tribalism influences brand pride, which in turn leads to a sequential process of brand attitude and purchase intention. Research limitations/implications Using only smartphone data from the USA and Qatar may hinder external validity. As effect sizes in this context are understood, researchers have additional benchmarks for future brand tribalism and brand pride research. Practical implications The psychological underpinning and presence of brand tribes in society cannot be overlooked by strategists. Such tribal-laden following is too evident within smartphone communities. By further understanding the effect of brand tribalism on brand pride and subsequent attitudinal response and behavioral intent, marketers and brand leaders are in an improved position to develop strategies that appeal to targeted customers, ultimately growing and strengthening their brand value. Originality/value Supported by the anthropological view of brand tribalism, this paper contributes to the branding literature by examining the indirect effect of brand tribalism on purchase intention via brand pride and brand attitude. The posited model, previously untested and replicated here across two ethnically diverse samples, shows more explanatory power for defense of the tribal brand on brand pride as compared to the other brand tribalism dimensions. A novel and valid, multi-item brand pride measure is also developed.

The Menace of Poverty and the Challenges of Public Policy Making in Nigeria

This study contends that poverty is a global phenomenon and no nation is immune to the scourge it is capable of causing especially when determined and clear policy measures are not put in place to check the menace. The objectives that interrogates the nerves of this discourse is to assess the rate of poverty in Nigeria as well as examine the role of government in poverty eradication. Also, to identify the various initiatives that governments in Nigeria have put in place since the pre; through and the post Structural Adjustment Programme era of the nation. Findings from the study reveals that attitudinal response and approach of both the government and the governed is appalling. Also, there exist a sharp disconnect between the government and the governed which has resulted into policy formulations that fail to meet the yearning, demand and desire of the people. Meanwhile, it was established that political and policy instability, poor targeting mechanism and inadequate coordination among the existing three tiers of government have done harm to programme implementation. The paper makes contribution by providing information and it adopt secondary source of data gathering. It concludes by recommending strengthened relationship/ communication between the governments and the governed to ensure proper and adequate policies that will meet their targets are made as well as enforcement of initiatives of governments directed at reducing poverty.

BEHAVIORAL AND ATTITUDINAL RESPONSES TO ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE MEDIATED BY JOB SATISFACTION WITH LOCUS OF CONTROL AS A MODERATOR: A STUDY OF TELECOM SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

The purpose of this study is to explore organizational justice outcomes in telecom sector of Pakistan. The tested model proposes a path through job satisfaction to improve organizational commitment among firms in the competitive industry. Data was collected from 120 telecom employees in three companies. Results from regression analysis show job satisfaction to explain attitudinal response to procedural justice. Mediation effects were not supported for absenteeism. Strict controlling measures in the private sector and fear of job loss do not enable employees in the sector to respond by being absent, despite being dissatisfied. No moderation was seen for procedural justice effects on job satisfaction. Overall implications for telecom sector managers are also discussed.