Exam failures of the students in a specific network may influence not only the future performance of the student but also all students from their friendship networks, affecting the overall cohort's performance. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the whole network responses to failure. The difficulty of such analysis is incorporated in the probability of the failures being highly endogenous. In this paper, I am applying the novel identification and estimation approach to deal with such endogeneity. I am exploring the dynamic data on the students' networks in HSE, Nizhniy Novgorod. The results suggest that, on average, the exam failure of the friend have a negative effect on future performance. / Series: Department of Economics Working Paper Series

Diante das novas possibilidades de se relacionar socialmente propiciadas pelo advento das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação, em especial, via Facebook, levanta-se a necessidade de identificar, entre idosos, se os pressupostos das teorias gerontológicas se estendem às relações sociais online. Sendo assim, foram desenvolvidos três estudos empíricos que compuseram a presente Dissertação cujos dados foram interpretados à luz da Teoria da Seletividade Socioemocional (TSSE). Os objetivos dos estudos foram: 1) descrever características de utilização e motivações para uso do Facebook entre idosos; 2) verificar se um dos construtos associados à TSSE se mostra válido para idosos brasileiros; e 3) examinar o quanto a TSSE se estende às relações sociais de idosos estabelecidas por meio do Facebook. Os estudos foram baseados em dados coletados de 153 idosos usuários de serviços públicos de acesso à Internet na cidade de São Paulo (M= 68,1 anos; DP= 6,5; 77,8% feminino). Utilizou-se levantamentos a respeito de informações sociodemográficas, de utilização e motivações para o uso do Facebook e referentes às variáveis indicativas dos pressupostos da TSSE, a saber: idade, perspectiva de tempo futuro, tamanho das redes sociais, proximidade afetiva com os membros da rede e satisfação com a vida. A amostra, composta por alta escolaridade média e frequente utilização do Facebook, apontou motivos relativos à informação e socialização. Quatro perfis de usuários (Explorador, Solitário, Familiar e Sociável) puderam ser identificados com auxílio de Análise de Correspondência Multipla. O construto de Perspectiva de Tempo Futuro foi avaliado a partir da análise psicométrica de uma escala de medida do mesmo e revelou uma composição fatorial parcialmente semelhante à de estudos internacionais, com destaque para um terceiro fator explicativo e distinto. Por fim, um modelo de relações entre variáveis indicativas dos pressupostos da TSSE foi testado por meio de análise de equações estruturais (Path Analysis para variáveis manifestas) e parcialmente confirmado. Foram encontradas associações diretas e mediadas por PTF entre idade e satisfação com a vida, e relações diretas entre idade e tamanho das redes sociais, conforme predito pela Teoria. Indicadores de seletividade socioemocional, como redução no tamanho das redes e proximidade emocional não foram associadas a satisfação com a vida. Os dados sugerem que as relações sociais via Facebook pressupõem a atuação de um conjunto variado de motivações e de mecanismos adaptativos associados à satisfação com vida na velhice / Faced of new possibilities to relate socially, encouraged by the advent of Information and Communication Technologies, in particular by Facebook, there is a need to identify among the elderly if assumptions of gerontological theories are also valid for the virtual context. Thus, three empirical studies were developed what composed the present dissertation whose data were interpreted through Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST). The study objectives were 1) describe use characteristics and motivations for Facebook using among the elderly; 2) verifying if one of the constructs associated to the SST is valid for Brazilian elderlies; and 3) examining how much SST extends to the social relationships of olderly people established through Facebook. A survey was performed with elderlies, recruited from public Internet access services in the city of São Paulo (M= 68,1 years; SD= 6,5; 77,8% female). Surveys were used in relation to sociodemographic characteristics, Facebook usage and surveys were used regarding and referring to the variables indicative of the SST assumptions, namely: age, Future Time Perspective (FTP), network size, closeness affective with network and life satisfaction. The sample, composed of high average schooling and Facebook\'s frequent use, pointed motivations related to information and socialization. Four profiles of Facebook users (Explorer, Loner, Familiar and Sociable) could be identified by Multiple Correspondence Analysis. The concept of FTP was evaluated from the psychometric analysis of a measurement scale of the same and revealed a factorial composition partially similar to that of international studies, with emphasis on a third explanatory and distinct factor. Finally, a relationships model between variables indicative of the SST assumptions was tested by structural equation analysis means (Path Analysis for manifest variables) and partially confirmed. Were found direct and mediated FTP associations between age and life satisfaction, and the direct relationships between age and size of social networks, as predicted by Theory. Socioemotional selectivity indicators, such as networks size reduction and the emotional proximity were not related with life satisfaction. The data suggest social relations by Facebook presupposes the performance of a differentiated set of social goals and adaptive mechanisms associated with life satisfaction in old age

Social media is impacting the practice of public relations inmany different ways, but the focus of this dissertation is on the power of big data from social media to identify and assess the relationship that stakeholders have with the organization. Social media analytics have tended to measure reactions to messages, rather than the strength of the relationship, even though public relations is responsible for building strong relationships with the organization’s stakeholders. Yet, social media provides insight into the conversations that stakeholders have with other stakeholders about the organization and thus can reveal insight into the quality of the relationship they have with the organization.<div><br></div><div>This dissertation takes a networked approach to understandthe strength of the relationship that the organization has with its stakeholders, meaning it acknowledges that the relationships two entities have with each other are influenced by the relationships those entities have with others in common. In this case, the relationship that a stakeholder has with the organizationis influenced by the relationship the stakeholder has with other stakeholders. Thus, one way to study the relationship that a stakeholder has with the organization is to look at the conversation and the postings on social media among the various stakeholders. The ultimate aim of the dissertation is to show how the relationship can be assessed, so the organization can create strategies that develop mutually beneficial relationships over time.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The context for the study is based on two major events where companies deliberately gather together their stakeholders to interact in person and onsocial media about issues and products related to the organization’sfuture. The first event is Adobe Creative Max, which Adobe hosts each year for creative professionals. The second context for the study is Dreamforce, which is hosted by Salesforce.com and includes so many attendees that the company has to bring in cruise ships to dock in the San Francisco Bay during the event since all the hotels in the area sell out far in advance. These two events provide a specific situation where stakeholders interact with other stakeholders outside of a crisis, which represents the majority of day-to-day public relations practice. Twitter data was collected during for each week of each conference, and all company tweets were filtered out of the data sample. Atext-mining approach was then used to examine the conversations among the stakeholders at the events.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Findings indicate that the strongest relationship was developed by Salesforce.com with its stakeholders at the Dreamforce 2018 event in large part because ofthe CEO’s keynote andthe organizational commitment to social justice and sustainability. Granted, Salesforce hadalready worked to develop a culture among employees and customers based on the concept, “family,”or “Ohana.” However, the text of the conversations reveal that the focus at this conference was on societal issues presented by the CEO. In contrast, the findings from the Adobe conference suggest the organization has a transactional relationship with its stakeholders, in part because the CEO keynote focused heavily on products and technology. The implications of these findings indicate that big data from social media can be used to assess relationships, especially when social media data represents conversations and interactions among stakeholders. The findings also show the influence of CEO communications on the relationship and the vital role that public relations practitioners play in setting that CEO communications agenda.</div>

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation. Johannesburg, 2017 / South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, with youth unemployment sitting at 37.5 percent in 2016. In an attempt to remedy South Africa’s unemployment, the government sought entrepreneurship as a solution. The South African government has implemented various policies and established numerous institutional bodies to accelerate entrepreneurship. Some of these policies and bodies are aimed specifically at enhancing entrepreneurship among the youth. In order to understand the best approach to assist these young entrepreneurs, it is important to understand what drives performance in current young entrepreneurs’ enterprises. This paper evaluated the impact that entrepreneurial capital (human, social, and financial capital) had on the performance of youth-owned enterprises. It surveyed 199 young entrepreneurs (between 18 and 35 years old) to understand what drives performance within their enterprises. The research found that there were high levels of performance within youth-owned enterprises, when there were high levels of human capital and social capital. However, there was a negative relationship between financial capital and the performance of youth-owned enterprises. Overall, the research concluded that high levels of entrepreneurial capital had a positive relationship with the performance of youth-owned enterprises. The objective of this study was to understand what drives the performance of youth-owned enterprises, in order to best facilitate government assistance and support for young entrepreneurs. The outcome suggests that human capital and social capital drive performance of youth-owned enterprises, it would thus be advisable for the South African government to focus on those two variables when drafting policies and forming institutional bodies to enhance youth entrepreneurship. / MT2017

A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Johannesburg, 2017. / Migrant social networks and their effects have dominated international migration discourse over the past few decades. The importance of social networks and social capital in migration decision-making is underscored by large volumes of research across many disciplines. There are however few comparative analyses of the refugee experience across disparate geographical spaces particularly cities in the so-called global ‘South’. Drawing on original survey data collected from refugees in Pakistan, Turkey and Nairobi in mid-2016, this paper argues that access to social networks and the value of the social capital embedded in these networks, is strongly dependent on the pre-migration social, political, cultural and economic contexts of migrants and refugees. Social networks generate positive social capital in some contexts and negative social capital in others. Logistic regression and correlational tests of association were used to analyse the relationship between social networks, employment, and well-being of refugees in the three cities mentioned. The findings speak of the complex economic and social environments refugees often find themselves, and networks of personal relations either hamper or facilitate the ability of refugees to secure employment. / XL2018

L’apparition des réseaux socionumériques de lecteurs au tournant des années 2000, liée au développement du web social et aux innovations technologiques qui traversent l’industrie du livre, renouvelle les moyens par lesquels les lecteurs accèdentaux informations sur les oeuvres littéraires et en diffusent autour d’eux. Goodreads, aNobii, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Babelio, BdGest, Booknode, Critiques Libres, Entrée Livre, Lecteurs, Libfly, Livraddict, Lecture Academy, MyBoox et beaucoup d’autres plateformes dédiées à la critique de livres sont devenues des lieux incontournables de prescription littéraire. Cette thèse analyse la contribution des réseaux socionumériques de lecteurs à la prescription littéraire, à travers une approche inter‐dimensionnelle destinée à saisir les conditions de l’offre et de la demande de prescription sur Internet. D’un point de vue empirique, l’observation des sites, la réalisation d’entretiens, la diffusion d’un questionnaire et le recueil de traces d’usage, constituent autant de techniques qui nous permettent de recueillir les données nécessaires à la réalisation de l’étude. À l’arrivée, nous mettons au jour les logiques de sociabilité et les modes d’utilisation privilégiés par ces services numériques. Les stratégies, les modes de fonctionnement, les trajectoires de développement et les modèles de valorisation économique qui caractérisent les acteurs engagés sur ce secteur d’activité sont également analysés. En outre, nous portons un éclairage sur les profils et les usages des internautes qui fréquentent les réseaux socionumériques de lecteurs. Enfin, nous interrogeons leurs effets sur la visibilité en ligne des oeuvres littéraires. / The emergence of book social networks during the 2000s, linked to the development of social media and technological innovations in the publishing industry, renews the means by which readers access information about books and share it withothers. Goodreads, aNobii, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Babelio, BdGest, Booknode, Critiques Libres, Entrée Livre, Lecteurs, Libfly, Livraddict, Lecture Academy, MyBoox and many other platforms dedicated to book reviews have become key places of literaryprescription. This thesis analyzes the contribution of book social networks to the literary prescription, through an inter‐dimensional approach that allows us to understand the conditions of supply and demand of prescription on Internet. From an empirical point of view, we observed the websites, conducted interviews, distributed a questionnaire and collected traces of use to gather the data needed to conduct the study. Firstly, we identify the logics of sociability and the usage patterns of these digitalservices. Strategies, modes of operation, trajectories of development and business models that characterize the actors involved in this sector are also analyzed. In addition, we study the profiles and uses of people who visit book social networks. Finally, wequestion the effects of these networks on the online visibility of literary works.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Strategic Marketing Johannesburg, 2016 / Worldwide, visual content, such as photos and videos, have increased dramatically on social network sites (SNS), with South Africa being no exception. Due to these developments, marketers are increasingly interested in the factors that impact the usage of these sites, in order to develop branded content that will attract and engage users. However, there is a lack of academic research revealing how individual consumer factors, such as personality, influence SNS users’ preferences for different types of content on SNS, particularly within an emerging market such as South Africa. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between two personality traits – need for cognition (NFC) and need for affect (NFA) – and visual and verbal content preference on SNS in South Africa. The study also briefly examined whether demographic variables (gender and age) and SNS usage factors had an impact on the relationships between these variables. An online survey and pen-and-paper questionnaire were conducted. 307 social network site users were obtained primarily from two South African universities through convenience sampling. Data was analysed using correlation analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standard multiple linear regression on SPSS. The main findings showed that personality does have an influence (albeit small) on SNS users’ preference for visual or verbal content, and warrants consideration by marketing organisations in the design of SNS content. Visual content preference on SNS was found to have a positive relationship with NFA and a negative relationship with NFC. Verbal content preference had a positive relationship with NFC but no significant relationship with NFA. Demographic and SNS usage variables showed mixed results in their impact on SNS content preference. It was recommended that future studies include other variables that could affect SNS content preference, as well as use more objective measures (rather than self-reporting) to determine SNS users’ actual behaviour. Key words: Social network sites, personality traits, need for cognition, need for affect, visual content, verbal content, South Africa, emerging market / GR2018

Since the 17th century there has been a proliferation of discourse on sex and a host of sexual identities have been surfaced. One such sexuality that is particularly marginalised is transsexuality; central to which is the management of the transsexual self. The critical study of such practices has often been neglected in favour of ‘mainstream’ research on transsexuality’s deviance, aetiology and treatment. Furthermore, internet-based resources have been identified as a key site for the management of the transsexual self. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the constructions of transitioning in popular websites aimed at transsexuals and significant others, family, friends and allies of transgendered persons (SOFFAs). A search strategy was adapted to select the most popular websites for analysis. A discourse analysis – guided by Parker’s (1992) 20 ‘steps’ – was conducted on 12 webpages. The construction of transitioning was dominated by biomedicine and the ‘psy’ professions. Due to these hegemonic powers the transsexual identity was associated with distress and thus a number of technologies of self – particularly medical intervention – were ‘needed’ for the management of the transsexual self. This construction spoke to the rights and health of transsexuals but also appeared to limit their freedom and serve capitalist gain rather than the interests of trans persons. Uncovering these power dynamics may have important implications for the Standards of Care, the controversial status of gender identity disorder in the DSM and allowing for the creation of alternative power strategies which may permit more freedom in the care of the gendered self.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Arts (Development Studies), August 2017 / This study examines the new online phenomenon called Black Twitter and the publics that have been formed on this platform in regards to issues affecting black lives. Specifically, it not only introduces to the reader the South African Black Twitter market, but more importantly, it looks at how Black Twitter users construct and articulate their gender identities online. This is done through analyzing trending topics, particularly, through a specific hashtag (#IFApartheidDidntHappen) and accounts (@blak_terrorist and @KasiMlungu) which offer rich insight around racial identities and enables one to analyze the content and possible discourses that come into play on this Black Twitter platform. This paper also contributes to the growing literature on the growing black middle-class by exploring how Black Twitter is providing a voice to groups that were historically excluded from the mainstream media discourse. The key purpose of this paper was to explore, as has been suggested, Black Twitter as a public platform and how its young group of users are moving into spaces to challenge the status quo and change historically dominant discourses. / XL2018

Pesquisadores de diversos campos do conhecimento têm investigado o arranjo em redes, na medida em que essa forma de governança se consolida como opção estratégica de número crescente de organizações em diferentes ambientes, submetidas à égide da competitividade e ao isomorfismo institucional. Uma das faces desse fenômeno é a erupção das redes colaborativas de pesquisas, também no Brasil, a partir da segunda metade da década passada. A presente investigação tomou como objeto de estudo a rede subjacente ao Consórcio Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento do Café com o objetivo de aferir o poder explicativo e preditivo do construto do capital social, de larga aceitação na teoria de redes partindo da construção de um modelo dito aplicativo, que se pretende testável e passível de conferir relações substantivas à teorização, capaz inclusive de permitir o confronto de seus achados com tentativas semelhantes de outros acadêmicos. O estudo contou com duas fases. A primeira fase foi prospectiva e se deu pela imersão nas transcrições de 39 entrevistas, na observação participante em eventos patrocinados pelo Consórcio e na análise documental de material atinente à pesquisa. A segunda fase utilizou-se das análises sociométrica e multivariada para examinar os dados: (1) da rede de co-autoria de 1495 artigos publicados em anais de Simpósios e de Congressos, (2) de 889 pesquisas (subprojetos) financiadas pelo Consórcio e (3) de uma survey aplicada ao universo de 397 líderes desses subprojetos que envolveram mais de 50 entidades (institutos, universidades, empresas). Assumindo seu caráter hipotético-dedutivo, predominantemente quantitativo e com fins descritivos e explicativos, o estudo resultou em uma contribuição para o entendimento do Consórcio e das estratégias de ligação entre pessoas e entidades dentro de uma rede colaborativa de pesquisa, comprovando-se a viabilidade de seu modelo de capital social. Além de suprir uma descrição sociométrica do objeto de estudo, a pesquisa encontrou uma relação positiva entre prestígio, participação em órgãos do Consórcio e participação em projetos com o volume de recursos amealhado pelo pesquisador no que se constituiria em um efeito do capital social, que, no entanto, não se demonstrou eficaz em discriminar a visão dos pesquisadores em temas relevantes para a rede, favorecendo uma interpretação que confere maior grau de liberdade a esses agentes frente à estrutura, em contrário ao determinismo presente em outros estudos de rede. / Researchers from various fields of knowledge have investigated the arrangement in networks, to the extent that this form of governance is consolidated as a strategic option, of an increasing number of organizations in different environments, submitted to the auspices of competitiveness and institutional isomorphism. One facet of this phenomenon is the eruption of collaborative research networks, also in Brazil, from the second half of the last decade. This research has taken as a subject of study the network underlying the Consórcio Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento do Café in order to assess the explanatory and predictive power of the social capital construct, of wide acceptance in networks theory, starting from the construction of the so called \"aplicative\" model. It intends to be testable and capable of giving substantive relations to the theorization, including confronting its findings with similar attempts by other scholars. The study had two phases. The first stage was forward-looking and done by immersion in the transcripts of 39 interviews, participant observation in events sponsored by the Consortium, and the analysis of documentary material relating to the research. The second stage used sociometric and multivariate analyses to examine the data: (1) the network of co-authors of articles published in 1495 annals of symposiums and conferences, (2) 889 pieces of research (sub-projects) financed by the Consortium and (3) a survey applied to the universe of 397 leaders of these sub-projects involving more than 50 entities (institutes, universities, enterprises). Assuming its character as hypothetical-deductive, predominantly quantitative and with descriptive and explanatory purposes, the study resulted in a contribution to the understanding of the Consortium and the strategies for linking people and entities within a collaborative network of research proving the viability of its social capital model. Beyond supplying a sociometric description of the object of study, the research found a positive relationship between prestige, participation in bodies of the Consortium and participation in projects with a level of resources hoarded by the researcher - as would be a social capital effect, which however, did not prove to be effective in discriminating the vision of the researchers on topics relevant to the network, favoring an interpretation that gives greater degree of freedom to those agents in term of the structure, in contrast to other deterministic network studies.