Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Although social comparison has been studied for over 60 years, little research has been done to determine the effects it has on the workplace. Moreover, the explosion of social networking sites and their potential impact on the workplace have been largely overlooked by organizational researchers. Therefore, this study will attempt to evaluate the effect social comparison, specifically through social media, has on work relevant outcomes such as one’s job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and entitlement, moderated by materialism (relevance) and job expectations (attainability) of the referent other. Participants selected from an alumni database of a large Midwestern University were asked to view a manipulated Facebook newsfeed page and then complete a brief survey (N=290). A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to assess the hypotheses. Results, implications, and limitations are also discussed.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Loneliness is a known risk factor for poor mental and physical health outcomes in the general population, and preliminary research suggests that loneliness is linked to poorer health in cancer patients as well. Various aspects of the cancer experience (e.g., heightened existential concerns) lend themselves to making patients feel alone and misunderstood. Furthermore, loneliness theory suggests that negative social expectations, which may specifically relate to the cancer experience, precipitate and sustain loneliness. Thus, loneliness interventions in cancer should be tailored to address illness-related social conditions and negative social expectations. Prior to the development of loneliness interventions for cancer populations, cancer-specific tools are needed to assess: (1) loneliness attributed to cancer (i.e., cancer-related loneliness), and (2) negative social expectations related to cancer. In the current project I developed measures of cancer-related loneliness and cancer-related negative social expectations for use in future theory-based loneliness research. A mixed-methods study design was employed. First, I developed items for the measure of cancer-related loneliness (i.e., the Cancer Loneliness Scale) based on theory, prior research, and expert feedback. Second, I conducted a clinic-based qualitative study (n=15) to: (1) obtain cancer patient feedback on the Cancer Loneliness Scale items, and (2) inform development of the item pool for the measure of negative social expectations (i.e., the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale). Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and then transferred to Atlas.ti for analysis. Content analysis was used to analyze data regarding patient feedback and theoretical thematic analysis was used to analyze data regarding negative social expectations. Overall, patients said they liked the Cancer Loneliness Scale and no changes were made to the items based on patient feedback. Based on results, I also created five content domains of negative social expectations that were represented in the item pool for the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale. Third, I conducted a telephone and mail-based quantitative study (n=186) to assess psychometric properties of the two new measures. Dimensionality was determined using confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed by examining internal consistency coefficients and construct validity was assessed by examining theoretical relationships between the Cancer Loneliness Scale, the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale, and existing reliable and valid measures of health and social well-being. The final products of the project included a 7-item unidimensional Cancer Loneliness Scale and 5-item unidimensional Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale. Excellent evidence for reliability and validity was found for both measures. The resulting measures have both clinical and research utility.

[ES] La percepción pública de la ciencia es un aspecto social ampliamente estudiado mediante encuestas a la población para evaluar la comprensión de la ciencia y las actitudes hacia la misma. Sin embargo, existen críticas robustas hacia los supuestos teóricos que sustentan el diseño de estos sondeos y hacia la metodología empleada. La presente tesis pretende aportar vías de análisis más innovadoras a la discusión. En primer lugar, se proporciona un marco introductorio que esboza las relaciones más destacables entre ciencia y sociedad en el mundo moderno, incluyendo los enfoques de participación, considerados más democráticos. En segundo lugar, se profundiza en el marco del nuevo escenario de la vida digital, en particular con la finalidad de complementar los estudios clásicos de percepción social de la ciencia con la propuesta de una herramienta metodológica adaptada a la sociedad digital que abra nuevas direcciones de investigación orientadas hacia los espacios de participación ciudadana que constituyen las redes sociales digitales. Para ello, se diseña un algoritmo capaz de analizar tendencias en el impacto de la comunicación de la ciencia en Twitter a partir de conjuntos representativos de tuits utilizando técnicas computacionales de minería de datos, combinadas con una valoración cualitativa de los tipos de contenido ¿categorizado como: «ciencia», «cultura», «político-social», «creencias», «medios» y «emocional»¿. Para probar la herramienta, se examina una variedad de discursos en abierto sobre temas científicos presentes en la plataforma, aplicando el algoritmo sobre perfiles de distinta naturaleza ¿científicos famosos, instituciones y otros¿ y sobre conversaciones no centralizadas en usuarios específicos, sino recabando la información relativa a cuestiones científicas de las que los medios se han hecho eco. El resultado es una herramienta de bajo coste fácilmente reproducible por otros investigadores que revela aspectos sobre las estrategias de comunicación científica que generan mayor impacto. Se requerirán estudios más profundos, a gran escala, para corroborar si las tendencias preliminares identificadas con el método de análisis propuesto pueden extrapolarse a un marco más general. / [EN] Public perception of science is a widely studied social aspect through population surveys to assess understanding of science and attitudes towards it. However, there are strong criticisms of the theoretical assumptions behind the design of these surveys and the methodology used. This thesis aims to provide more innovative ways of analysis to the discussion. Firstly, it provides an introductory framework outlining the most remarkable relationships between science and society in the modern world, including approaches to 'engagement' in science, which are considered to be more democratic. Secondly, it delves into the framework of the new scenario of digital life, in particular with the aim of complementing the classic studies of the social perception of science with the proposal of a methodological tool adapted to the digital society that opens up new directions of research oriented towards the spaces of citizen participation that constitute social networks. To this end, an algorithm is designed that is capable of analyzing the impact of science communication on Twitter from representative sets of tweets using computational data mining techniques, combined with a qualitative assessment of the types of content; categorized as «science», «culture», «political-social», «beliefs», «media» and «emotional». To test the tool, a variety of open discourses on scientific topics present in the platform are examined, applying the algorithm on profiles of different nature (famous scientists, institutions and others) and on conversations not centralized on specific users, but gathering information on scientific issues that have been echoed by the media. The result is a low-cost tool that can be easily reproduced by other researchers and that reveals aspects about the science communication strategies that generate the greatest impact. As a next step, more in-depth, large-scale studies are required to corroborate whether the preliminary trends identified with the proposed method of analysis can be extrapolated to a more general framework. / [CA] La percepció pública de la ciència és un aspecte social àmpliament estudiat mitjançant enquestes a la població per avaluar la comprensió de la ciència i les actituds de la ciutadania. No obstant això, hi ha crítiques robustes cap als supòsits teòrics que sustenten el disseny d'aquests sondejos i cap a la metodologia utilitzada. La present tesi pretén aportar vies d'anàlisi més innovadores a la discussió. En primer lloc, es proporciona un marc introductori que esbossa les relacions més destacables entre ciència i societat en el món modern, incloent els enfocaments de participació ¿o engagement¿, considerats més democràtics. En segon lloc, s'aprofundeix en el marc de el nou escenari de la vida digital, en particular amb la finalitat de complementar els estudis clàssics de percepció social de la ciència amb la proposta d'una eina metodològica adaptada a la societat digital que obri noves direccions de investigació orientades cap als espais de participació ciutadana que constitueixen les xarxes socials. Per a això, es dissenya un algoritme capaç d'analitzar l'impacte de la comunicació de la ciència a Twitter a partir de conjunts representatius de tuits utilitzant tècniques computacionals de mineria de dades, combinades amb una valoració qualitativa dels tipus de contingut ¿categoritzat com: «ciència», «cultura», «politicosocial», «creences», «mitjans» i «emocional»¿. Per provar l'eina, s'examina una varietat de discursos en obert sobre temes científics presents a la plataforma, aplicant l'algoritme sobre perfils de diferent naturalesa ¿científics famosos, institucions i altres¿ i sobre converses no centralitzades en usuaris específics, sinó recaptant la informació relativa a qüestions científiques de les que els mitjans de comunicació s'han fet ressò. El resultat és una eina de baix cost fàcilment reproduïble per altres investigadors que revela aspectes sobre les estratègies de comunicació científica que generen major impacte. Com següent pas, es requereixen estudis més profunds, a gran escala, per corroborar si les tendències preliminars identificades amb el mètode d'anàlisi proposat poden extrapolar-se a un marc més general. / Denia Navarro, E. (2020). Percepción social de la ciencia y participación digital: impacto de la comunicación científica en Twitter [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/153797

近年來，全球女性保養品市場呈現穩定成長，雖然保養品以往都被視為屬於「女性領地」的產品，但全球男性保養市場不僅從2012年起就持續成長，未來前景也是相當看好。 有別於以往以性別（sex）做為市場區隔，消費者的性別認同及性傾向，已逐漸被用於區隔目標消費者，且同性戀消費者更因為其相較於一般異性戀男性的消費能力較強，而被視為「夢幻市場 （Dream Market）」。然而，現今台灣在該領域相關的研究文獻，卻往往只探討生理性別，忽略生理性別和性別認同之間的落差，如此將導致與性別相關的行銷研究有扭曲或偏頗的現象。 因此本研究希望能將性別認同與性傾向等因素，納入研究消費者購買保養品行為之考量因素，彌補理論和實際狀況的落差，期能研究出不同性別認同、性傾向的消費者，對不同定位保養品購買意願的差異，並根據該研究結果，給予保養品廠商一些行銷上的建議，讓其在釐清品牌定位時更有方向，並以更有效率、更適切的方式與顧客溝通。 本研究將影響保養品的購買意願從「性別認同」、「性傾向」、「獨特性需求」、「從眾行為」、「產品涉入」、「在意社會觀感程度」、「品牌知覺」、「品牌性別」、「品牌態度」等九大方面著手。 本研究以問卷方式獲取初級資料，收獲有效問卷共 375份，經過統計迴歸分析後發現，「性別認同」、「在意社會觀感程度」、「品牌知覺」和「品牌態度」此四項，最顯著影響消費者購買保養品意願。另外，雖然「性傾向」並沒有對購買意願產生影響，但卻有可能透過「在意社會觀感程度」干擾購買意願。而還有其他顯著影響因素待於研究中一一闡述。 / Recently, the global market of female skin care products has grown a steady pace. Although, the skin care products are usually regarded as female products, the global market of male skin care products has grown fastly since 2012 and market analysts are optimistic about its future. In the past, we usually only use “sex” to segment a market, but gender identity and sexual orientation are gradually used to target customers now. Moreover, gay customers are regarded as a “Dream Market” because they have greater purchasing power than heterosexual men do. However, existing studies still tend to probe into sex and neglect the differences between sex and gender identity. Therefore, this research takes gender Identity and sexual orientation into consideration when conducting the behavior of purchasing skin care products, and the dependent variable” purchase intention” is leveraged by “Gender Identity”, “Sexual Orientation“, “Product Involvement”, “Need for Uniqueness”, “Conformity Behavior”, “the Degree of Concerning with Social Perception”, “Brand Attitude”, “Brand Gender”, “Brand Perception”. Among influential factors, “Gender Identity”, “the Degree of Concerning with Social Perception”, “Brand Attitude”, and “Brand Perception” contribute significantly to purchase intention. Although sexual orientation does not lead to purchase intention, it may affect purchase intention through influencing the factor of “the degree of concerning with social perception”. Other factors affecting the behavior of purchasing skin care products will be further discussed in this research.

Most black rural schools in South Africa are beset with discipline and relationship problems attributed to the way children interpret and exercise their rights. Children's misconceptions of rights impede the operation of educational institutions. A literature study investigated the implications of children's rights on their relationships and behaviour. A qualitative investigation of the socio-educative implications of children's rights was conducted in two rural secondary schools in Mpumalanga. Data gathering was done through participant observation, in-depth interviews with two principals and a tribal chief, and focus group interviews with two groups of teachers, parents and learners. Data were analysed, discussed and synthesised. The major findings emerged: limited understanding of rights and concomitant responsibilities and misconceptions of rights leading to the subversion of authority and morality. Recommendations include that rights-education be introduced in schools to improve children's understanding ofrights and to address negative social behaviour. Educators need to be empowered to handle human rights issues within socio-educational institutions. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / While the Arab spring succeeded in ousting the long-term dictator led governments from power in many Arab countries, leading the way to a new democratic process to develop in the Arab world, it did not end the old suspicions between Arab Muslims and the West. This research investigates the beginning of the relations between the Arab Muslims and the West as they have developed over time, and then focuses its analysis on perceptions from both sides beginning with 9/11 through the events known as the Arab spring. The framework for analysis is a communication perspective, as embodied in the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM). According to CMM, communication can be understood as forms of interactions that both constitute and frame reality. The study posits the analysis that the current Arab Muslim-West divide, is often a conversation that is consistent with what CMM labels as the ethnocentric pattern. This analysis will suggest a new pathway, one that follows the CMM cosmopolitan form, as a more fruitful pattern for the future of Arab Muslim-West relations. This research emphasizes the factors fueling this ethnocentric pattern, in addition to ways of bringing the Islamic world and the West to understand each other with a more cosmopolitan approach, which, among other things, accepts mutual differences while fostering agreements. To reach this core, the study will apply a direct communicative engagement between the Islamic world and the West to foster trusted relations, between the two.