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Preserving older pedestrians' navigation skills in urban environments is a challenge for maintaining their quality of life. However, existing aids do not take into account older people's perceptual and cognitive declines nor their user experience, and they call upon sensory modalities that are already used during walking. The present study was aimed at comparing different guidance instructions using visual, auditory, and haptic feedback in order to identify the most efficient and best accepted one(s). Sixteen middle-age (non-retired) adults, 21 younger-old (young-retired) adults, and 21 older-old (old-retired) adults performed a navigation task in a virtual environment. The task was performed with visual feedback (directional arrows superimposed on the visual scenes), auditory feedback (sounds in the left/right ear), haptic feedback (vibrotactile information delivered by a wristband), combinations of different types of sensory feedback, or a paper map. The results showed that older people benefited from the sensory guidance instructions, as compared to the paper map. Visual and auditory feedbacks were associated with better performance and user experience than haptic feedback or the paper map, and the benefits were the greatest among the older-old participants, even though the paper-map familiarity was appreciated. Several recommendations for designing pedestrian navigation aids are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a risk reduction model based on signalling theory to investigate how the platform- and user-oriented signals affect perceived risks, which in turn affect users' actual engagement and purchase behaviours in social commerce. The moderating effects of perceived effectiveness of social commerce institutional mechanisms (PESIM) on the relationships between signals and perceived risks are also considered. Longitudinal data from 226 users of Xiaohongshu were collected to test the proposed hypotheses. We identify signals oriented from platforms and users significantly influence users' perceptions of commerce and participation risks. We also demonstrate that commerce and participation risks influence users' actual engagement and purchase behaviours, respectively. Furthermore, we also verify that PESIM negatively moderates the relationship between signals and perceived risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public-facing social media platforms, such as Facebook and WeChat, are increasingly being embedded into corporate processes and routines. The use of public social media by employees has aroused widespread interest among scholars in recent years. This study summarises published theories and models and proposes a causal-chain framework for research exploration into employee usage of public social media platforms by systematically analysing the antecedent variables, mediators, moderators, and outcome variables used in 59 quantitative papers. The representative theories include: Social Capital Theory, Job Demands-Resources Model, Boundary Theory, Media Synchronicity Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, Technology Acceptance Model, Self-Determination Theory, and Media Richness Theory. Historically, researchers have studied social media usage behaviours as antecedents, rather than social factors, with many focusing on outcome variables such as job performance and job satisfaction, while the impact of employee social media usage on physical and mental health is less studied. In terms of moderators, variables such as use behaviour, user characteristics and job characteristics receive most attention. With regards to mediators, social capital, job satisfaction, and work conflict are most significant. This study proposes future research directions for this field, including topics relating to platform attributes, social power, organisational culture, and employee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a reinforcement learning (RL) mechanism for social robots to select an action based on users' learning performance and social engagement. We applied this behavior selection mechanism to extend the emotion and memory model, which allows a robot to create a memory account of the user's emotional events and adapt its behavior based on the developed memory. We evaluated the model in a vocabulary-learning task at a school during a children's game involving robot interaction to see if the model results in maintaining engagement and improving vocabulary learning across the four different interaction sessions. Generally, we observed positive findings based on child vocabulary learning and sustaining social engagement during all sessions. Compared to the trends of a previous study, we observed a higher level of social engagement across sessions in terms of the duration of the user gaze toward the robot. For vocabulary retention, we saw similar trends in general but also showing high vocabulary retention across some sessions. The findings indicate the benefits of applying RL techniques that have a reward system based on multi-modal user signals or cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of multiple brands involved and users' original content, facilitate a brand-new online platform's emergence, that is, a product-experience-shared community (PESC), being distinguished from the brand community that has been extensively studied. While popular nowadays, PESC still involves limited research. Mainly, why users volunteer to write a flow of content remains unclear. Our purpose is to analyse the effects of different motivational factors on different participation behaviours, which further influence continued generating intention in the PESC context. Employing the theory of Uses and Gratification (U&G) on a sample of 729 users and using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the study deeply identified the participation behaviour into three levels, i.e. content consuming, reacting, and generating, as well as investigated their relations with motives (utilitarian, recreational, cultural and social motives) and continued generating behaviour. The results show that different participation behaviours are relevant to utilitarian, recreational, cultural, and/or social motives. Furthermore, users continued generating intention is affected by their complete satisfaction with their participation experience. This paper also gives theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has proven that having high level of emotional intelligence (EI) can reduce the chance of getting mental illness. EI, and its component, can be improved with training, but currently the process is less flexible and very time-consuming. Machine learning (ML), on the other hand, can analyse huge amount of data to discover useful trends and patterns in shortest time possible. Despite the benefits, ML usage in EI training is scarce. In this paper, we studied 92 journal articles to discover the trend of the ML utilisation in the study of EI and its components. This survey aims to pave way for future studies that could lead to implementation of ML in EI training, and to rope in researchers in psychology and computer science to find possibilities of having a generic ML algorithm for every EI's components. Our findings show an increasing trend to apply ML on EI components, and Support Vector Machine and Neural Network are the two most popular ML algorithms used in those researches. We also found that social skill and empathy are the least exposed EI components to ML. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research direction of ML in EI domain, and EI in ML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effect of users' personality traits and emotions expressed through textual communications on YouTube to detect cyberbullying using a series of ensemble classifiers. Personality traits were determined using the Big Five model whereas emotions were based on Ekman's basic emotion theory. Annotated YouTube textual comments in English (N = 5152; i.e. 2576 number of bullying versus 2576 non-bullying instances) were used to detect cyberbullying incidents using several ensemble classifiers, including Random Forest and AdaBoost. Performance metrics revealed both personality traits and emotion to significantly improve the identification of cyberbullying presence, with accuracy and F-score values of more than 95%. Further fine-grained analysis revealed anger and openness to be more profound compared to other emotions and personalities. Further, neurotic individuals tend to be driven to cyberbullying by joy, disgust and fear. The findings show that personality and emotions play pertinent roles in cyberbullying, and the identification of specific traits and emotions can help in designing a more strategic intervention programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive cognitive load theory (CLT) has been conceived for improving instructional design practices. Although researched for many years, one open problem is a clear definition of its cognitive load types and their aggregation towards an index of overall cognitive load. In Ergonomics, the situation is different with plenty of research devoted to the development of robust constructs of mental workload (MWL). By drawing a parallel between CLT and MWL, as well as by integrating relevant theories and measurement techniques from these two fields, this paper is aimed at investigating the reliability, validity and sensitivity of three existing self-reporting mental workload measures when applied to long learning sessions, namely, the NASA Task Load index, the Workload Profile and the Rating Scale Mental Effort, in a typical university classroom. These measures were aimed at serving for the evaluation of two instructional conditions. Evidence suggests these selected measures are reliable and their moderate validity is in line with results obtained within Ergonomics. Additionally, an analysis of their sensitivity by employing the descriptive Harrell-Davis estimator suggests that the Workload Profile is more sensitive than the Nasa Task Load Index and the Rating Scale Mental Effort for long learning sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although software engineers extensively use a component-based software engineering (CBSE) approach, existing usability questionnaires only support a holistic evaluation approach, which focuses on the usability of the system as a whole. Therefore, this paper discusses a component-specific questionnaire for measuring the perceived ease-of-use of individual interaction components. A theoretical framework is presented for this compositional evaluation approach, which builds on Taylor's layered protocol theory. The application and validity of the component-specific measure is evaluated by re-examining the results of four experiments. Here, participants were asked to use the questionnaire to evaluate a total of nine interaction components used in a mobile phone, a room thermostat, a web-enabled TV set and a calculator. The applicability of the questionnaire is discussed in the setting of a new usability study of an MP3 player. The findings suggest that at least part of the perceived usability of a product can be evaluated on a component-based level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychological tendency to behave socially with a computer is quite well documented in the literature. But does the short-term socialness of human-computer interaction extend over to long-term social relationships with computers? In particular, do we show loyalty to particular computer terminals over a period of time? An electronic observation of campus computer laboratories provided an affirmative answer, following which a survey of computer lab users was conducted to understand theoretical mechanisms governing self-reported loyalty to computers. In particular, it explored whether individual differences relating to psychological anthropomorphism and/or preference for consistency played a role in human loyalty toward computers. Results indicate that anthropomorphism more strongly predicts 'hardcore loyalty' to computers whereas consistency is more strongly associated with 'reinforcing loyalty.' This paper discusses theoretical and practical implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The explosion of information and the miniaturisation of mobile devices seems to be an oxymoron. A large amount of information means a wider information space, and a smaller screen means a more limited display capacity. 'Small screen-big information' can often be disorienting, especially for older adults. Treating it as navigation in information space, we explored solutions in terms of spatial cognition and gesture motor control. First, we introduce a concept from cognitive psychology, visual momentum (VM). In terms of gesture control, we propose the device-based method that differs from traditional touch-based methods. To test their roles, two experiments were conducted among 30 older adults and comparatively tested 30 younger adults. Experiment 1 examined the contribution of high VM and a device-based method. Experiment 2 further examined an important property of view translation, smoothness, in touch-based and device-based methods. Results show that increasing the VM by adding grids and using a device-based method can help users find targets faster and more accurately, which is particularly effective for the older group. Meanwhile, differences in navigation strategies between touch-based and device-based methods were proposed. Finally, the smoothness of a device-based method in visual information processing is also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficulty balance in the game level design is particularly important for user experience (UX). This study uses cognitive control and flow theory as a starting point, and based on the functional near-infrared spectroscopy technology, this research obtained oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (ΔHbO2) signals from three brain areas in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), namely the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the ventral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), and the frontal area (FPA). Combined with the subjective flow state scale to explore the reaction difference between the video game players (VGPs) and the non-video game players (NVGPs) during the entire period of playing video games and the moment of game difficulty changes. The results show that VGPs and NVGPs have significant differences between flow state and HbO2 signals in different brain regions of the PFC. The players' flow state is affected by the game difficulty. The HbO2 signals in the players' DLPFC and FPA have a linear dependence relation with the flow state. This research proves that VGPs and NVGPs have different UX with game difficulty changes from the cognitive perspective. The results provide a reference for the future game level design about game difficulty balance to achieve a better UX in the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As e-commerce transactions increase, impulsive purchases also significantly rise. Although many studies on impulse purchasing behaviours have been conducted, limited studies investigate the effect of unmindfulness on impulse purchasing behaviours in the context of online shopping. In this study, using the three key stages (i.e. cognition-affection-conation) of the classical attitude theory as an overarching framework, we propose a research model to explain the direct and indirect influences of unmindfulness on online consumers' impulse purchasing behaviours. This study mainly examines the relationships among online consumer's unmindfulness and purchasing impulsiveness traits as individual consumer's cognitive characteristics in the cognition stage, emotional attention to the visual appeal and shopping enjoyment of an e-commerce site in the emotional affection stage, and urge to purchase impulsively as a conative factor of online consumers' impulse purchasing behaviour in the conation stage of the theory. Using the Partial Least Square (PLS) technique, we test the proposed model with empirical data collected from online consumers. Based on the findings of the study, we discuss theoretical contributions for e-commerce researchers and practical contributions such as marketing strategy for e-commerce managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Users rely heavily on mobile phones as multi-purpose devices to support all kinds of tasks. This study conceptualises mobile phone deep structure use and aims at unveiling such behaviour. Towards this end, this study goes beyond the traditional technology usage theories based on rationality and instrumentality. It is replaced by a relationship-based theory, the attachment theory, to investigate how users' attachment to mobile phones is formed and how such attachment influences mobile phone deep structure use. A survey approach was adopted to test the research model empirically. The results showed that mobile functional dependence and mobile identity constituted the two dimensions of mobile attachment, which significantly affected mobile phone deep structure use. Mobile functional dependence was formed based on the two enabling factors (perceived functional flexibility and perceived mobility). Mobile identity was formed based on the two enriching factors (self-expressive symbolism and categorical symbolism). Both mobile functional dependence and mobile identity were influenced by the gratifying factor, design aesthetics. This study has made contribution to the literature of mobile phone usage by clarifying the special characteristics of mobile phone usage context, proposing a new theoretical perspective and constructing a nomological network of the mobile attachment construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-care support is a key cornerstone of treatment for patients with a cardiovascular disease. The success of any supportive intervention requires adaptation to the distinct needs of individuals. This requirement also applies to eHealth interventions. This study investigates how experts from multiple fields of science assess the potential success of different eHealth design strategies when matched to key self-care needs. An online vignette survey experiment was conducted. Nine vignettes representing different combinations of self-care needs (maintenance, monitoring, management) and eHealth persuasive design strategies (primary task support, dialogue support, social support) were evaluated. In total, 118 experts from 18 different countries participated in the survey. Their evaluations show primary task support as a promising design strategy across all self-care needs. In contrast, dialogue support and social support showed more promise for specific self-care needs. Above all, according to experts, the success of design strategies could be enhanced by (i) personalising the pacing of the intervention and (ii) tailoring the information to the literacy and culture of the person. Adding to that, self-care support should distinctly (iii) support the three self-care needs, be (iv) patient-centered, (v) support the collaboration with caregivers, and (vi) be aligned to the life goals and values of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within a Learning and Teaching Support platform, Janis and Mann's (1977). "Emergency Decision Making: A Theoretical Analysis of Responses to Disaster Warnings." Journal of Human Stress 3 (2): 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/0097840X.1977.9936085) model of decision making was used to examine relationships between people's decisional styles, objective measurements of file use and the subsequent quality of their work. A total of 95 Undergraduate Psychology students consented to the monitoring of their online study behaviours, and completed the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire. Better online grades were linked to the general ability and better decisional self-esteem. Greater amounts of file access were associated with hypervigilance and more time spent online. The number of missed supplementary online quizzes was related to poorer decisional self-esteem, fewer files accessed online but less procrastination. While good decisional styles were associated with better quality outcomes, defective decisional styles can manifest online as greater file access or fewer tasks completed. An absence, inappropriate or an excess of online activity can indicate students are defensively avoidant or panicking and need assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promise of fitness tracking technology in promoting positive health behaviours lies in its ability to allow users to track their physical activity, receive personalised feedback, and connect with other users. Previous studies have examined predictors of fitness tracker use and antecedents of user engagement. However, little is known about how technology affordances of fitness trackers motivate individuals to engage with the technology and whether the engagement can lead to fitness tracker use. Guided by the Motivational Technology Model (MTM) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study examines the interplay among technology affordances (interactivity, navigability, and customisation) and psychological needs (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) to predict engagement with and use of fitness trackers. Using a sample of 970 American adults, we found that technology affordances significantly increased individuals' sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which in turn led to increased engagement with and use of fitness trackers. Among the three technology affordances, customisation had a direct effect on user engagement. Theoretical implications related to the MTM and the design implications of fitness tracking technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The messenger-based social network (Msg-SN), e.g. WeChat Moments, has emerged as a new type of social networking with unique characteristics. Msg-SN plays a strikingly important role in people's daily lives and has gradually become a battleground for advertisers to win consumers. This is especially the case in China. Unlike conventional social network sites (SNSs), Msg-SN offers a semi-closed space in which traditional advertising strategy based on Key Opinion Leaders may become infeasible. Drawing from self-construal theory, this study offers a new angle to understand the antecedents of advertising involvement in the context of Msg-SN. It conducted an empirical study with respondents from users of WeChat Moments, which reveals the different impacts of each facet of a user's self-construal, including interdependent self-construal (InterSC), independent self-construal (IndepSC) and individualist self-construal (IndivSC), on adverting involvement, partially mediated by frequency of user activities. This study enriches the research of advertising involvement in the context of Msg-SN from a new angle. It also offers practical implications for marketers to achieve highly targeted advertising according to psychographic segmentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a self-construal framework containing both individual- and social-level variables to explain bloggers' inner motivations to create contents voluntarily. With the aim of bridging the gaps in previous blogger-related studies, this research explores intrinsic and psychological benefits behind voluntary bloggers' sharing behaviour via social network sites or weblogs. The proposed structural equation model is tested with survey data from 414 bloggers, and all hypotheses are statistically supported. The findings indicate that voluntary bloggers' involvement results from self-reassurance, which is induced by a self-construction process comprising both independent and interdependent selves. This study enriches extant literature on bloggers' behaviour by incorporating self-construal theory into the sphere of creating contents. In essence, the self-construal model paves the way for future comprehensive psychological frameworks, which can help researchers and practitioners deepen their understanding of blogger enthusiasm in self-building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how website specific factors promote prosocial behaviours in website visitors. After reviewing the literature, we hypothesise a structural model involving seven perceptions (ease of use, trust, negative affect, positive affect, aesthetics, information quality, and argument strength) and an interaction between positive and negative affect. We test our model by recording participants' perceptions and prosocial behaviours after their use of a website promoting volunteering and philanthropy. Two websites ('Amnesty International', and 'Casa Guatemala') are used. We find that website based appeals to both the head (i.e. perceptions of argument strength) and the heart (i.e. perceptions of positive and negative affect) motivate online prosocial behaviour, (i) that appeals to the heart are more effective than appeals to the head, (ii) that positive and negative appeals to the heart have similar effectiveness, and; (iii) that mixed appeals to the heart (i.e. simultaneous perceptions of both positive and negative affect) are ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamification can be an effective mechanism of engaging individual users (i.e. solvers) in task solving on competitive crowdsourcing platforms. However, past literature lacks a nuanced understanding of how gamification elements can affect solvers' crowdsourcing behaviour via intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. We conceptualised two typical gamification elements (points and immediate performance feedback). Borrowing from self-determination theory, we modelled the effects of points and immediate performance feedback on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations that, in turn, affect solvers' crowdsourcing participation. Using a survey data of 295 solvers from a large competitive crowdsourcing platform in China, we found that points are positively related to intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, while immediate performance feedback only enhances intrinsic motivation. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations positively affect solvers' crowdsourcing participation. The findings of this study enrich our understanding of the mechanisms of the two gamification elements and provide practical insights on how to enhance solvers' participation in crowdsourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on theories about curiosity and subjective well-being (SWB), this study proposes a research model for how participation and browsing initiate different routes to satisfying members' diverse needs, thus increasing their SWB and their continuance intention in knowledge-based virtual communities (VCs). Two curiosity constructs, informational deprivation epistemic curiosity (D-EC) and interest-type epistemic curiosity (I-EC), moderate the wanting route and liking route, respectively. The research model is tested with data from 476 members of one knowledge-based VC using a web survey. Results show that member participation stimulates the wanting route to satisfaction by activating the need for reflective learning and uncertainty reduction, whereas browsing stimulates the liking route to member satisfaction by eliciting enjoyment. Both routes thus increase member SWB and, ultimately, continuance intention. Along the wanting route, D-EC reinforces relationships related to reflective learning but attenuates those related to uncertainty. I-EC alleviates the relationships along the liking route. Comparisons of the relative importance of hypothesised relationships between participants and lurkers indicate that participants feel more satisfied with knowledge sharing, enjoy greater SWB, and maintain higher continuance intention than lurkers. These results can therefore help managers of VCs leverage learning- or fun-oriented mechanisms, depending on member curiosity type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Players report losing some games can be as much fun, or more than winning. It is imperative to identify what motivates a player to pursue failure in games due to the importance of many games now used for educational and health purposes. The game's intended outcomes can be entirely undermined if players would rather lose than win the game. To achieve reliable predictions on the win/lose dilemma, we propose a new model of challenge, Dynamic Probability Response, which quantifies the degree and type of challenge. Many previous studies focus on individual differences in play. This study focuses on how different play motivations interact. Three conceptualisations of winning were tested against each other by giving players a mutually exclusive choice between challenge, gratuitous feedback from interaction (juice hypothesis), and compliance with visual cues denoting victory (game value adoption hypothesis). Each potential motivation for play was derived from psychological theory that is prevalent in the game design literature. Using a within-subject ANOVA, the three hypothesised motivations investigated were each individually supported. Some hypotheses about which motivations can disrupt the game's goal were supported. Others were not. The applications of these results to game and simulation design are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortly after fixating on webpages, users form initial impressions. These initial impressions influence how much users will use and return to websites. Researchers have understudied how objective design features (e.g. visual complexity) influence subjective perceptions of website content and the favorability of initial user impressions. In the present study, the influence of two dimensions of visual complexity – feature complexity and design complexity – were tested within the boundaries of the persuasive model of web design. More specifically, the study examined how visual complexity influences perceptions of visual informativeness, cues for engagement, favourable initial impressions, and behavioural intentions in a sample of young adults (N = 277). Results suggest relationships for both dimensions of visual complexity on all outcome variables using ANOVA and OLS regression procedures and that perceptions of visual informativeness and cues for engagement mediate the relationship between visual complexity and favourable initial impressions and behavioural intentions. The study offers support for the utility of the persuasive model of web design for linking objective design features with subjective design perceptions to better understand favourable initial user impressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals, (media-) organisations, and crisis responders who are involved in ad hoc crisis communication steadily deploy social media to contribute to collective sense-making as an endeavour to create meaning in highly uncertain situations. Exerting sense-giving in order to shape others' conceptions is causally preceded by an initial breakup of existing understanding. This study aims to explore patterns of sense-breaking in social media crisis communication and its impact on collective sense-making and sense-giving. To this end, we conducted a case study of the Manchester bombing in 2017, including a social network analysis of 708,147 Twitter postings and a content analysis of 2006 original tweets. We found individual role types to be initiators of sense-breaking in early crisis stages when uncertainty is at its height. Exerting successive sense-giving becomes more challenging if the collective sense-making has progressed along with the sequence of events. This understanding aims to encourage emergency management organisations to move their sense-giving actions closer to the point in time when sense-breaking occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study are to investigate climates that could facilitate innovative use of information systems (IS), and to examine how psychological climate and individual goal orientation interact to promote employees' innovative IS use. A total of 174 questionnaires were collected from enterprise resource planning (ERP) users from nine firms in China. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the research hypotheses. The empirical results suggest that (1) psychological climates (psychological autonomy climate and psychological innovation climate) are positively associated with IS users' innovative use, (2) avoidance orientation weakens the relationship between psychological autonomy climate and innovative use, (3) learning orientation weakens the relationship between psychological innovation climate and innovative use, and (4) learning orientation strengthens the relationship between psychological autonomy climate and innovative use. This study contributes to IS literature by identifying psychological climate as a critical antecedent of innovative use. The findings also fulfil an identified need for more empirical studies of the combined effect of individual and environmental factors on employees' innovative behaviour in the workplace, especially in the context of IS innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile instant messaging is experiencing immense growth, and using emoticons has become a prevalent and highly popular means of communication. The small digital images are ubiquitous, from smartphone applications to social media, and people delight in sending them. Drawing from construal level theory, the aim of this research is to examine the underlying mechanism that drives the usage of emoticons and its usage enjoyment. People with experience using mobile instant messaging were recruited to participate in an online survey, resulting in 202 usable questionnaires. The research model was tested empirically. Covariance-based structural equation modelling was used to analyze the data. The findings highlight that the determinants of individual's emoticon usage are driven by a dual-route path. One is the self-concept route, where self-image congruity between emoticons and individuals drives psychological ownership, which in turn influences word of mouth (WOM) intention and perceived enjoyment of emoticon use. The other is the utility route, driven by emoticons' familiarity and perceived synchronicity. The findings reveal the importance of emoticon usage through a contextual lens that shows that a dual-route path has a prominent impact upon these digital-based communication behaviours, which provides important managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To succeed in the rapidly growing and highly competitive e-commerce environment, it is important to understand the relationship between the cognition and continued usage behaviour of online shopping customers as they relate to enhancing customer conversion and retention. A longitudinal perspective is adopted in this study and expectation disconfirmation theory is applied to examine how disconfirmation influences the relationship between customer expectations and repurchase intentions when considering the effect of time. This work aims at (1) identifying the relationships between the pre-purchase expectations and post-purchase attitudes of online consumers; (2) elucidating how previous purchase experience influences subsequent purchase intention; and (3) examining the moderating role of disconfirmation in an online shopping context. The results provide useful implications for the management of customer expectations and future purchase behaviour in customers with different levels of disconfirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study used Gestalt theory to examine the effects of colour similarity on blurring the boundary between banner advertising and web page content, as well as how colour similarity can elicit unconscious scanning behaviour and improve attitudes towards brands advertised using banner advertising at the pre-attention stage. An eye tracking device was used to record and analyse participants’ eye movement, and a psychological scale was used to measure the participants’ brand attitudes. The results suggested that using banner advertisements with background colours similar to those of the web page content increases the fixation time and fixation count. In addition, the results revealed that a longer fixation time and a higher fixation count increase positive attitudes towards a brand advertised in a banner advertisement. The results clarify the relationship between unconscious exposure and brand attitudes and provide physiological information relevant to e-commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Increasingly sophisticated interactive devices are being developed to meet the requirements of healthcare services that place greater emphasis on self-management. This article considers the importance of the relationships that users form with technology from the perspective of the human–computer interaction literature and the clinical psychology literature. It is argued that users are often willing to engage in relationships with technology that share many features of relationships between humans. Furthermore, within human-delivered healthcare, the quality of the relationship formed with a clinician predicts the effectiveness of the treatment. Thus, the effectiveness of interactive healthcare technology is, in part, dependent on the relationship the user forms with the technology. Applying psychological theory to the relationship between user and technology provides a way of understanding these human–computer interactions and thus improving the process of developing self-management technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisations require good performance from individuals to achieve their objectives. In view of the growing presence of technology, it becomes necessary to understand performance in the context of information systems. However, the research streams that study performance (e.g. industrial psychology or the impact of technology on performance) focus primarily on a single component (the individual or the technology). The systemic perspective, for its part, considers all three components (technology, the individual and the task) and their relationships in order to explain performance. From this perspective, this article develops a research model where individual (knowledge of the task and the technology), task (ease) and technology (usefulness and ease) factors determine performance. Links are also established between these factors. Data were collected from 246 individuals and the results show that the proposed links are significant. This research highlights that management should take into account all three components to boost performance. The study emphasises in which factors of these components special care should be taken. The lack of improvement in performance after the introduction of an information system may not be solved merely by tackling the features of the technology but also by simplifying the tasks or reviewing the users’ knowledge gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]