Effect of Technostress on academic productivity- E-engagement through persuasive communication

The focus of most of the existing studies on technostress is with regard to working professionals. In spite of the explosion of digital device use in education, not many studies have identified its effects on students. This study examines the presence of technostress among management students aged 22-29 years. Using a sample of 300+ students of a management college of India, this study validates the technostress instrument. With the pandemic, education has seen a paradigm shift. Sessions including classes, interactions, discussions, team projects, assignments, examinations, have gone online and this has ushered the compulsion of spending more time with technology and digital devices (laptops, mobile phones, desktop etc). It examines the effect of technostress on academic productivity of students. The study further explores the students’ expectations from the college to control their technostress, thereby indicating the need of enhancing e-engagement through persuasive communication.

Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on Knowledge Management Practices in Sultanate of Oman

This research was conducted with the aim of identifying various changes made to knowledge management (KM) practices implemented by organizations in the Sultanate of Oman following the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. Further, the study focused on identifying the impact of those changes on various aspects of human resources management. Snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to collect relevant data from 110 line managers in various organizations in the Sultanate of Oman. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-squared and post-hoc tests. The Bonferroni correction method was adopted to reduce the risk of Type I error. The findings indicated that organizations started utilizing an inside-out approach to KM after the COVID-19 crisis began, shifted KM process from manual to computer-based and spending from conventional to e-KM activities. Key finding is that the organizations demonstrated an increased dependency on internal knowledge sources. In addition, line managers began measuring the effectiveness of KM practices, a metric which had been mostly neglected in the pre-pandemic period. Perceived benefits of these changes included increased employee motivation and engagement, increased employee learning and job-related skill, along with an enhanced knowledge-sharing culture across the organization. Important measures taken to mitigate the perceived negative impact of these changes, or enhance the perceived positive impact, included consistent persuasive communication with employees and identifying alternate financial resources to support KM activities. This research contributes to the field of KM and projects it as a supportive discipline to effective crisis management. Findings of this research can help in identifying the areas of training and improvements in the KM framework. This research is global and topical in nature as it relates to the e-KM practices during the ongoing global COVID-19 crisis and portrays the changing e-learning scenario in the organizations in Oman, one of the prominent countries in the middle east and represents the middle east regional culture and economy.

Trust as a Determinant of Success in Public Diplomacy

The article investigates the concept of trust as a factor for success in public diplomacy initiatives. It explores the field through the theoretical frame of persuasive communication. First, the evolution and connotations of the term trust are examined through a broad theoretical review. Subsequently, the applications and the meaning of the phenomenon in the field of public diplomacy are analyzed. The article probes into an academic debate which has been mostly neglected by the Bulgarian scientific community. It relates to increasing the effectiveness of diplomatic actions in the public sphere by strengthening the trust in the legitimate communicator. The presented theoretical perspectives can be relevant to researchers and practitioners alike.

The role of social influencers for effective public health communication

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to explore the suitability of social media influencers (SMIs) for communicating public health messages via social media platforms. The study identifies key persuasive communication components that influence individuals' attitudes and, subsequently, intentions to follow health-related information shared by SMIs.Design/methodology/approachQualitative interviews with healthcare workers and interactions with 332 active social media users via structured online questionnaires were used for data collection. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse responses.FindingsResults indicate that SMIs' credibility, SMI–individual homophily and quality of information shared by the SMI are the significant factors determining individuals' attitudes towards the information received. Furthermore, the individual's attitude significantly impacts their intention to follow information shared by the SMI. The study thus verifies the mediating role of attitude in persuasive communication.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study can serve as a foundation for future work to examine the suitability of SMIs for tasks other than marketing.Practical implicationsThe study provides insights for planning and implementing SMI-sourced communication in the public health context. The study enhances the understanding of the tested relationships and thereby increases scholars' and practitioners' ability to leverage SMIs for health-related communication.Originality/valueWhilst SMIs are attracting increasing attention in consumer markets, the study suggests that they can be used in public health communication. Considering the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation, the empirical study provides insights into SMIs' role in persuasive public health communication amid a health crisis.Peer reviewThe peer review history for the article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-01-2021-0012

The Application of Persuasive Communication Theory to Promote Visitor Conservation Behaviour at Wellington Zoo

<p>Zoos can play a key role in conservation by facilitating behaviour change in their 600 million visitors annually. However, while numerous articles reinforce the potential zoos have in influencing conservation behaviour in visitors, only a few zoos have quantified the impact a visit has on visitor conservation behaviour. In this thesis, I applied a persuasive communication framework to develop a conservation communication campaign at Wellington Zoo, New Zealand. My results make a significant contribution to the body of literature that evaluates communicating conservation behaviour to zoo visitors and suggest future directions zoos can take to achieve their goal of facilitating conservation behaviour in their visitors. In Study 1, I determined visitor perceptions of conservation wildlife threats and the corresponding actions that could be taken to alleviate these threats. Visitor perceptions were biased towards global awareness of conservation threats with less awareness of local threats, a condition referred to as environmental hyperopia. Furthermore, there was an expert-lay discrepancy in the perception of local and global threats and mitigating actions. Based on these results, two conservation behaviours were selected to advocate to zoo visitors. To determine the content of the message, I applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour in Study 2 to identify the variables (attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioural control) linked to behavioural intention. The variance in visitor intentions for bringing cats in at night and for purchasing FSC wood products were explained by the TPB constructs, with visitor attitudes and norms both strongly linked to intention. Past behaviour also played a role in the habitual behaviour of bringing cats in at night, but not the non-habit forming behaviour of purchasing FSC wood products. In Study 3, I tested which method of communication (signs or animal talks) was the most effective for communicating conservation behaviours. I also tested if talks and signs based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, implemented after a staff training programme, were more likely to increase visitor satisfaction, relevancy, and elaboration, all key cognitive components that ultimately influence behaviour change. Signs were an ineffective method to communicate conservation messages but animal talks were much more effective in communicating conservation messages to visitors. However, elaboration did not increase after the training programme. This could reflect that the training programme was ineffective and a more intense training programme may need to be implemented in the future. It is also possible that visitors enter the zoo with an already high level of elaboration and attending a keeper talk is not sufficient to increase visitor elaboration above the threshold. Results of this thesis have implications for how zoo programming to enhance zoos’ abilities to foster conservation action in their visitors. Additionally, my results also have broader implications to the field of conservation psychology and provide insight for environmental communication community.</p>

The Application of Persuasive Communication Theory to Promote Visitor Conservation Behaviour at Wellington Zoo

<p>Zoos can play a key role in conservation by facilitating behaviour change in their 600 million visitors annually. However, while numerous articles reinforce the potential zoos have in influencing conservation behaviour in visitors, only a few zoos have quantified the impact a visit has on visitor conservation behaviour. In this thesis, I applied a persuasive communication framework to develop a conservation communication campaign at Wellington Zoo, New Zealand. My results make a significant contribution to the body of literature that evaluates communicating conservation behaviour to zoo visitors and suggest future directions zoos can take to achieve their goal of facilitating conservation behaviour in their visitors. In Study 1, I determined visitor perceptions of conservation wildlife threats and the corresponding actions that could be taken to alleviate these threats. Visitor perceptions were biased towards global awareness of conservation threats with less awareness of local threats, a condition referred to as environmental hyperopia. Furthermore, there was an expert-lay discrepancy in the perception of local and global threats and mitigating actions. Based on these results, two conservation behaviours were selected to advocate to zoo visitors. To determine the content of the message, I applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour in Study 2 to identify the variables (attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioural control) linked to behavioural intention. The variance in visitor intentions for bringing cats in at night and for purchasing FSC wood products were explained by the TPB constructs, with visitor attitudes and norms both strongly linked to intention. Past behaviour also played a role in the habitual behaviour of bringing cats in at night, but not the non-habit forming behaviour of purchasing FSC wood products. In Study 3, I tested which method of communication (signs or animal talks) was the most effective for communicating conservation behaviours. I also tested if talks and signs based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, implemented after a staff training programme, were more likely to increase visitor satisfaction, relevancy, and elaboration, all key cognitive components that ultimately influence behaviour change. Signs were an ineffective method to communicate conservation messages but animal talks were much more effective in communicating conservation messages to visitors. However, elaboration did not increase after the training programme. This could reflect that the training programme was ineffective and a more intense training programme may need to be implemented in the future. It is also possible that visitors enter the zoo with an already high level of elaboration and attending a keeper talk is not sufficient to increase visitor elaboration above the threshold. Results of this thesis have implications for how zoo programming to enhance zoos’ abilities to foster conservation action in their visitors. Additionally, my results also have broader implications to the field of conservation psychology and provide insight for environmental communication community.</p>

The emerging green destination: An empirical study of Phatthalung’s value-based identity

Regarding as a unique natural wetland where biogeographic region is under Ramsar convention, Phatthalung is also well-known for its iconic natural landmarks and geographical origin. However, the city itself are deemed to be either a short-visit destination or a secondary tourism destination amongst visitors. The aim of this paper is to explore a strategy of green branding on an emerging destination and to identify a value-based identity as a medium of persuasive communication tool. The paper establishes the conceptualization by a thorough case study analysis of Phatthalung’s destination brand from a geographic perspective to deep-rooted characteristic of local people. In order to critically find out the factors which have an effect on eco-tourism driven, the correlation between the influence of place equity and sense-of-place is analytically reviewed. Thus, it is clear that strategic place branding and destination branding play an important role in multidimensional meaning towards Phatthalung’s identity.

Upaya Masyarakat dalam Mengatasi Dekadensi Moral Remaja di Gampong Beunot, Syamtalira Bayu, Aceh Utara

Adolescence is a phase of life experienced by every individual from childhood to adulthood, at this time adolescents are very vulnerable to negative influences, such as theft, drug use, and other things that trigger deviant behavior. The surrounding environment greatly influences the formation of a teenager's character, because teenagers generally spend more of their time in association with their friends or with the surrounding community. Gampong Beunot is the most densely populated village in Syamtalira Bayu District, its heterogeneous population makes the Gampong Beunot community more open. Even though society is more open, social phenomena are also unavoidable, especially with regard to teenagers, from 2010 to 2017 Gampong Beunot is the Gampong with the most frequent occurrence of moral decadence, this causes public unrest and discomfort then the condition changes to a more better over time compared to the past. This is undeniable because the community has made various efforts and efforts, from the preventive, persuasive to the repressive stages which of course will face various obstacles. This type of research is a qualitative research that uses field research methods using primary and secondary data. The data collection techniques used are observation, interviews and documentation. The findings of this study indicate that the preventive measures taken by the Gampong Beunot community in overcoming the moral decadence of adolescents are by holding regular recitations, counseling, sports programs, women's programs, and curfew rules, while Persuasive steps taken by the Gampong Beunot community are persuasive communication and exclamation banners, and also for repressive actions carried out by the Gampong Beunot community, namely by giving customary sanctions, criminal penalties, besides that the Gampong Beunot community also has several obstacles in overcoming the moral decadence of teenagers namely the apathy of society, uncooperative parents of teenagers, and teenagers who have a brutal and aggressive nature.

Household Waste Separation Intentions in Mongolia: Persuasive Communication Leads to Perceived Convenience and Behavioral Control

This study contributes by developing a set of household waste separation (HWS) attributes to address waste mishandling and to enhance waste separation intentions in households. In Mongolia, a lack of waste separation at the household level needs to be addressed to improve municipal solid waste management systems. However, prior studies have not established attributes in a hierarchical structure, nor do they understand their cause-effect interrelationships. First, the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) was used to screen out the unnecessary attributes in qualitative information. The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL) was then applied to understand the hierarchical structure of the attributes and their cause-effect interrelationships. The study identifies a valid set of attributes consisting of five aspects and 17 criteria under uncertainties. A hierarchical framework consisting of environmental attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived convenience, and persuasive communication is provided. The findings reveal that persuasive communication and environmental attitudes are causal group aspects. Furthermore, persuasive communication has a strong causal impact and higher importance in improving HWS intentions, and it leads to perceived convenience and behavioral control. For policymakers, credibility of information, knowledge and information, awareness of consequences, willingness to sort, and perceived policy effectiveness are the key causal criteria for enhancing HWS intentions. Theoretical and practical policy implications are discussed.

Improving Research Dissemination to Black Sexual Minority Men: Development of a Community-Led and Theory-Based Dissemination Plan

Background. Although research dissemination to participants and community stakeholders is a fundamental component of translational research, it rarely occurs. The objective of this study was to create a community-led, theory-based dissemination plan to engage local Black sexual minority men in an active dissemination process throughout a sexual health research study. Method. Seven focus groups ( N = 38) were conducted with Black, cisgender sexual minority men aged 18 to 45 years. Findings were analyzed through thematic content analysis guided by McGuire’s persuasive communication theory. Findings were used to draft a dissemination plan, which was then reviewed and edited by the study’s community advisory board (CAB). The plan continues to be updated in response to community needs through CAB discussions. Results. Participants preferred messages concerning syphilis and other health concerns as well as information on local resources. Preferred sources included researchers working with trusted community organizations and leaders. Preferred channels included community events and social media, implemented with consistency. CAB feedback included expanding the target audience of dissemination efforts as well as the development of ideas for channels (i.e., events) and sources (i.e., community organizations and leaders). Additional revisions occurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion. Given the continued lack of research dissemination to participant and community stakeholders, the process of developing a community-led, theory-based dissemination plan may benefit and help guide researchers to adopt this practice. It is critical that participant and community stakeholder dissemination become more highly prioritized as we strive for public health improvements and the elimination of health disparities.