It can be observed that the anti-normative behaviors occur more frequently in Computer-Mediated-Communication than in face-to-face communication. Internet often let people feel less restraint to use rude or threatening language, leashing harsh criticisms, venting anger or hatred. Thus, the issues surrounding ¡§Toxic Disinhibition¡¨ have attracted more and more concern from society and academia. Our empirical study tries to get the whole picture and proposed a more comprehensive model integrating diverse factors and involving the synthesis of different viewpoints. Accordingly, this paper proceeds to examine and integrate the two important aspects, (1) Internet attributes in which reduced social cue, social presence, controllability, and the fluidity of the identity and (2) psychological state, especially theories of deindividuation.Moreover, different from most prior researches, we consider deindividuation as an important mediating role, not just an antecedent of toxic disinhibition. An empirical survey methodology is applied to test the research model and six hypotheses are developed in this study, and then we use PLS to analyze it. Our empirical results showed that the essential mediating role of deindividuation, also confirming the highly significant with toxic disinhibition. Moreover, we identify major factors that may affect deindividuation. We find that except for reduced social cue, reduced social presence, controllability and fluidity of identity also has significant impact on deindividuation, and then cause toxic disinhibition. In sum, unlike much prior research that has focused on only a limited aspect of toxic disinhibition, we take integrated view and proposed a more comprehensive model therefore be useful to a better understanding of the nature of toxic disinhibition. And this study provides some suggestions for the online disinhibition research.

Studien har funnit flera faktorer som påverkar deltagarnas upplevda möteseffektivitet i hybridmöte. Dessa inkluderar rätt utrustning, vara i en störningsfri miljö, ha en agenda, tydligt mötesmål, spelregler, feedback samt möjlighet till socialisering före och efter mötet. Andra viktiga faktorer är att vara punktlig, hålla mötet kort samt skicka sammanfattning efter mötet. Mötesstorlek och vilka som bjuds in, närvaron av mötesledare och aktivt deltagande från alla deltagare kan öka den upplevda möteseffektiviteten. En central faktor som påverkar alla andra faktorer är teknisk kompetens. / The study has identified several factors that affect participants'perceived meeting effectiveness in hybrid meetings. These include having the right equipment, being in a disturbing-free environment, having an agenda, clear meeting goals, rules, feedback and opportunities for socializing before and after the meeting. Other important factors are punctuality, keeping the meeting length short, and sending a summary after the meeting.Meeting size, relevant attendees, the presence of a chairperson and active participation from all attendees can enhance the perceived meeting effectiveness. A central factor that influences all other factors is digital literacy.

Datum: 2022-06-01 Nivå: Kandidat/Magisteruppsats Företagsekonomi, 15 hp Akademi: Akademin för Ekonomi, Samhälle och Teknik, Mälardalens Universitet Författare: Hennström Moa (99/02/24)     Jarmteg Emma (00/05/25) Titel: IDAG, IMORGON OCH I FRAMTIDEN - En kvalitativ fallstudie om digitala externa möten och mötesledarskap Handledare: Johan Grinbergs Nyckelord: Social Presence Theory, Giddens Struktureringsteori, Digitala Möten, Externa Möten, Mötesledarskap, Externt Ledarskap, Utmaningar med Digitala Externa Möten  Forskningsfrågor: Vilka utmaningar upplever mötesledare att det finns med digitala externa möten? Vilka förmågor och beteenden använder sig mötesledare av i de digitala externa mötena och hur kan de utvecklas i framtiden?  Syfte: Syftet med denna fallstudie är att ur ett mötesledarperspektiv undersöka hur utmaningarna med digitala externa möten manifesteras i praktiken samt att explorativt undersöka om det finns ytterligare utmaningar i denna studerade praktik utöver de som redan identifierats i den existerande forskningen. Vidare syftar denna studie till att ge en förståelse för hur mötesledarskapet utövas i det digitala externa mötet och utifrån detta skapa ett underlag för hur det kan utvecklas i framtiden. Metod: I denna studie användes en fallstudie i kombination med en explorativ undersökning, där det empiriska materialet samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Det användes en induktiv forskningsansats där den teoretiska referensramen fastställdes för att kunna ligga till grund för den insamlade empirin. Det genomfördes totalt tio intervjuer där den empiriska datan analyserades utifrån två valda huvudteorier, för att avslutningsvis kunna besvara undersökningens syfte och forskningsfrågor. Slutsats: Resultatet av studien visar att det finns ett flertal utmaningar med digitala externa möten som mötesledare ställs inför i den studerade kontexten. Respondenterna ger varierande svar på de utmaningar som de upplever manifesteras i praktiken och dessa svårigheter är såväl överensstämmande med tidigare forskning som helt nya. Det kan därför konstateras att det finns utmaningar i denna studerade kontext som inte har identifierats tidigare i forskningen. Mot bakgrund av detta har mötesledarnas nuvarande förmågor och beteenden i de digitala externa mötena identifierats, kartlagts och analyserats. Som resultat har behov av nya förmågor och beteenden identifierats, vilka i framtiden kan tillämpas av mötesledarna för att kunna bemöta och hantera utmaningar med digitala externa möten. / Date: 2022-06-01  Level: Bachelor/Master thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University Authors: Hennström Moa (99/02/24)         Jarmteg Emma (00/05/25) Title: TODAY, TOMORROW AND IN THE FUTURE - A qualitative case study about digital external meetings and meeting leadership Supervisor: Johan Grinbergs  Keywords: Social Presence Theory, Giddens Structuration Theory, Digital Meetings, External Meetings, Meeting Leadership, External Leadership, Challenges with Digital External Meetings  Research questions: What challenges do meeting leaders experience when holding a digital external meeting? What abilities and behavior skills do meeting leaders need to use in external digital meetings and how can they develop them in the future? Purpose: The purpose of this case study is to examine, from a meeting leader’s perspective, how the challenges of leadership in digital meetings are manifested in practice, and also, to examine whether this form of meeting has extra challenges in addition to those already identified by existing research. Furthermore the aim of this study is to create an understanding of how the leadership in a digital meeting is exercised and, based on this study, to create the basis for future development. Method: This study was conducted using a combination of a case study and an exploratory study, where the empirical material was collected through semi-structured interviews. An inductive research approach was used where the theoretical frame of reference was established in order to form the basis for the collected empirical data. To be able to finally answer the survey’s purpose and research questions, a total of ten interviews were conducted to collect empirical data, which were then analyzed based on two selected main theories. Conclusion: In the context studied, the results show that there are a number of challenges that meeting leaders face with external digital meetings. The respondents give varying answers to how the challenges they experience are manifested in practice. Those interviewed describe previously known challenges, but our study has also identified new challenges not seen in past research. It can therefore be stated that there are challenges in this study that have not been identified in earlier research. Against this background, the meeting leaders’ current abilities and behavior skills, in external digital meetings have been identified and analyzed. As a result, the need for new abilities and behavior skills, which in future can be applied by the meeting leaders to enable them to meet and handle the challenges of external digital meetings have been identified.

This research addresses the growing applications and impacts of AI-generated digital human avatars from software suites like HeyGen. By exploring the role of trust in mediating user interaction with such technology, this study establishes a basic hierarchical model which supports some foundational theories of human-computer interaction, while also calling into question some more recent theories and models previously used to evaluate avatar technology. By modeling user behavior and user preference through the lens of trust, this study is able to demonstrate how this emerging technology is similar to its predecessors and their relevant theories, while also establishing this technology as something distinctly new and largely untested. This research serves as an exploratory study, using notions of social presence, anthropomorphic design, social trust, technological trust, and human source-bias to separate this generation of AI Avatar technology from its predecessors, and determine what theories and models govern the use of this new technology. The findings from this study and their impacts on use-cases are then applied, speculating on prosocial as well as potentially unethical uses of such technology. Finally, this study problematizes the loss of “primary trust” that this technology may afford, highlighting the importance not only of continued research, but also rapid oversight in the deployment of this emerging technology.

The expansion of YouTube into the mainstream media and its place as the second most-used website in the world makes it a prime place for health information seeking. However, content can be created and uploaded by anyone and thus, the threat of misinformation on YouTube is high. Medical researchers have established that videos created by health professionals on YouTube promote accurate information whereas videos by non-professionals promote generally inaccurate or misleading information. Yet, videos created by non-professionals have more views and higher relevance rankings on YouTube. To begin to understand this phenomenon, a descriptive study is used to lay a foundation for this area of health communication This study focused on the ostomy community of non-professional content creators on YouTube to. The goal of this study was to thoroughly describe the innate features of the videos using media richness theory, and to describe social support and illness narrative using the framework of social presence theory. The results from the study provide deep description into this particular community of non-professional health influencers and make way for a new line of research in the communication of health information.

The role of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) is coming under increased scrutiny as their online prowess grows. The objective of this research work is to investigate the students’ perception of this reality and try to understand their understanding of the SNSs potential for learning. The theory of Social Presence provides the academic impetus as the main conceptual framework for the study. Students of the Virtual University, Pakistan, were interviewed to understand their sense making of the SNSs role as platforms for learning in a virtual setting. The results highlight the importance of social presence dependent on myriad other factors, significant in their own right but extremely potent when they act together and thus influence the role of SNSs as virtual online conduits. It also indicates that our understanding of these networks, in the context of online learning especially in a developing country environment is still in its infancy and the numerous external environmental factors equally play a significant impact on the students’ perception of the role of these SNSs.

M.. Tech. (Information Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology) / The Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training states that higher education and training institutions are faced with the challenge of teaching underprepared students. Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Ekurhuleni has experienced an increase in the number of underprepared first year students from basic education to higher education, similar to other higher education institutions (HEIs) and training centres, and most of these students are familiar with messaging service applications. The purpose of this research is to determine if messaging service applications have a constructive role to play in supporting tertiary education. A variety of journals, books and other online materials were reviewed to learn and confirm the current information on messaging service applications and electronic communication interaction in higher education. A mixed methods research methodology has been adopted comprising of both qualitative and quantitative research. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews as well as questionnaires with structured questions to address the objectives of the study. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed to students and the sample (N=212) resulted in a response rate of 84.8%. Interviews were conducted targeting students doing a bridging course in Information Technology. In addition, data was collected from one of the messaging service applications, Whatsapp, for one semester with one class. For the analysis of the data, two theories—Social Presence Theory and Context Awareness Theory—were adopted. This research found that students who partook in the study displayed a positive perception of using messaging service applications in an educational environment. Furthermore, the textual interaction analysis indicates that students were able to successfully interact and use messaging services as educational supporting tool outside the classroom. From the findings a model has been developed which demonstrates how student learning outside the formal classroom learning environment can be supported through the use of messaging service applications. The research contributes to a better understanding of using of messaging service applications as an educational supporting tool in higher education. Messaging service applications enable students to forget about gender and cultural differences; it encourages them to work together as an online community. This research furthermore provides a basis for HEIs and academic leaders to initiate the discussion and consider the possibility of introducing messaging service applications as educational supporting tool outside the classroom.