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The purpose of this study was to test whether different survey delivery conditions made a difference in assessing college students' practices, affect, and conceptions of academic and nonacademic writing. The delivery conditions represented combinations of three underlying factors: survey format (online versus paper-and-pencil), location (classroom, lab, home), and supervision (proctored or not). Participants (N=268) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) a paper version of the survey administered in classrooms at scheduled proctored sessions; (2) an online version administered in scheduled proctored sessions in a computer lab; (3) an online version at a location and time of the students' choice. The survey had 103 closed-ended and three open-response questions. Results showed different participation rates across conditions and more variability in time spent for the ''home online'' group. However, there were few differences by condition to substantive questions regarding the students' practices, conceptions, and affective responses associated with writing. The only place where responses differed by condition was in response to the optional open-ended evaluation of the survey.

Whether recruiters accurately infer personality from resumes is currently a topic of great interest in the light of technological advancements and new types of resume formats (like video resumes) that are increasingly being used. Based on predictions from the realistic accuracy model and the media richness theory, we investigated whether real recruiters (N=296) are able to infer applicants' Big Five personality characteristics more accurately from video and audio resumes than from less information-rich resume formats (like paper resumes) and whether applicants' perceived attractiveness (physical/vocal) affects accuracy judgments. As expected and with the exception of extraversion, personality was not accurately judged from paper resumes. Interestingly, information-rich resume formats and applicants' perceived attractiveness did not affect accuracy judgments. Despite recruiters' stubborn reliance on their capacity to infer personality from resume information, study findings clearly showed that different types of resumes also the new, more information-rich ones are no valid tools to infer candidates' personality from. New types of resume formats (video resumes) emerge and become increasingly popular.Whether recruiters accurately infer personality from resumes is under-researched.Personality judgments should be more accurate when applicants use a video resume.Results show that richer resume formats do not lead to more accurate judgments.Resumes (incl. video resumes) are no valid tools to infer applicants' personality.

Research is lacking on the equivalence of paper-and-pencil and computer-administered surveys in older adult samples. In addition, few comparability studies have used best practices for examining equivalence. The current study investigated quantitative (means), qualitative (internal consistency and intercorrelations), and auxiliary (missing items, completion time, and comfort) equivalence for completing self-report surveys in paper-and-pencil or computerized conditions in an older adult sample. One hundred and eight older adults ages 60 and over were randomly assigned to a paper-and-pencil or computer condition and completed questionnaires assessing personality, social desirability, and computer self-efficacy. Results generally showed qualitative equivalence, with some notable differences for quantitative and auxiliary equivalence. The authors examined paper-and-pencil and computer data collection in older adults.The authors investigated the equivalence of these methods for self-report surveys.The authors tested for quantitative, qualitative, and auxiliary equivalence.As expected, results supported qualitative equivalence.As expected, results were mixed for quantitative and auxiliary equivalence.

The NEO-FFI and ARHQ in Icelandic were tested for measurement equivalence between paper and web modes.A randomized crossover design was applied to control for confounding by selection.Psychometric properties were equivalent for both measures in the respective modes.Response style bias may incur mode effects not detected by traditional psychometric methods.Both NEO-FFI and ARHQ in Icelandic can be administered in paper and web mode. Mixed-mode questionnaires are increasingly used in research. Psychological measures, developed for paper-and-pencil (paper) administration require measurement equivalence testing when administered in an alternative mode. Here, Icelandic translations of the NEO-FFI personality measure and Adult Reading History Questionnaire (ARHQ) were tested for equivalence of measurement and data quality between paper and web mode. Perceived sensitivity of data and preference for survey mode were also assessed. One hundred adults were recruited to answer both modes in a randomized, crossover design. Eighty-eight participants completed both administrations with an average of 63.8days (SD=2.2) between them. Within-subjects comparisons of means between modes demonstrated measurement equivalence for both measures. However, differing invalidity coefficients by mode observed by multi-trait multi method (MTMM) analysis suggested systematic effects not captured by traditional psychometric evaluation. Of note was a greater tendency for acquiescence responding to the NEO-FFI observed in web mode. Neither personality traits nor ARHQ reading difficulty scores were associated with preference for survey mode. However, 36% of participants who considered their personality data moderately to highly sensitive scored higher in neuroticism and lower in agreeableness compared to those rating their personality data of low sensitivity.While the Icelandic NEO-FFI and ARHQ have demonstrated measurement equivalence in paper and web mode, mode equivalence of psychometric measures may require ongoing evaluation as perceptions of web privacy continue to evolve.

Internet based data collection methods have many advantages for psychological assessment when compared with more traditional paper formats, including, reduced costs, and greater convenience for both the researcher and the participant. However, prior to the wide-spread adoption of these methods, equivalence with paper tests formats must be established. The present study compared questionnaire data from the computer with that from a traditional paper format in a sample of college students both directly and through an opinion survey. Three types of questionnaires that represent distinct areas commonly assessed in psychological research included: quality of life (SF-36), depression (BDI-II) and personality (NEO). A within-subjects design counterbalanced order across the computer and paper formats. Overall the findings showed no differences for the Neuroticism and Extraversion facts of the NEO, for the BDI and for the subscales and composite scores of the SF-36. Significant differences were found between the paper and computer formats for the Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness facets of the NEO. Additionally, the computer was perceived to be convenient, user-friendly, comfortable, and secure. Results suggest that a computerized format is an efficient way to conduct quality of life research, especially for the assessment of distress levels and quality of life.

This study compared the measurement invariance of paper-and-pencil (PP) and web-based (WB) administration formats through a humor survey. Participants were 401 undergraduate students divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D), and each group completed one of the four testing conditions (group A: PP->PP, group B: PP->WB, group C: WB->PP, and group D: WB->WB). The WB and PP versions of the revised Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (Wang, Cheng, Liu, & Ho, 2011), which measure humor production, attitudes toward humor, and humor coping, were administered to the participants. The results indicated that both of the PP and WB survey formats were practically invariant. No significant differences across administration situations were found for humor production or humor coping. Interestingly, the mean score of the WB format was significantly higher than that of PP format on attitudes toward humor. The findings suggest that researchers should carefully examine the measurement invariance and the effect of characteristics of the construct on measurement results when using a WB-format instrument.

The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors priority health-risk behaviors among US high school students. To better understand the ramifications of changing the YRBSS from paper-and-pencil to Web administration, in 2008 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study comparing these two modes of administration. Eighty-five schools in 15 states agreed to participate in the study. Within each participating school, four classrooms of students in grades 9 or 10 were randomly assigned to complete the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire in one of four conditions (in-class paper-and-pencil, in-class Web without programmed skip patterns, in-class Web with programmed skip patterns, and ''on your own'' Web without programmed skip patterns). Findings included less missing data for the paper-and-pencil condition (1.5% vs. 5.3%, 4.4%, 6.4%; p

The purpose of this study was to clarify the strengths and weaknesses of both computer based and paper-pencil methods of sensitive data collection in various administrative settings. A total of 180 students signed-up for optional course-credit and were randomly assigned to complete a questionnaire using either a paper-pencil, or a computer based method, and in one of the following administration settings: group, alone in a designated office, or being emailed/mailed the information and filling it out when/where they pleased. Results show that perceptions of anonymity and confidentiality were strongly correlated with self-reported accuracy. However, although perceptions of anonymity and confidentiality differed by condition, this had no statistically significant impact on responses. Though perceptions of anonymity and confidentiality differ between methods, neither method appears to be superior in the context of overall response bias.

This study reports results from a format comparison between Web-based and pencil and paper questionnaires measuring two well-validated measures of psychological distress among 530 frequent Internet users studying at an on-line University (Open University of Catalonia, UOC). A four-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and a seven-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CESD) were randomly administered in Web-based and pencil and paper format. Internal consistency analyses showed that these two brief versions were reliable for on-line assessment. Also, no differences in Cronbach αs were found between formats. Exploratory as well as multigroup factor analysis techniques showed that factor structures were invariant across formats. Overall, results revealed that respondents did not bias their responses in the Web-based condition. As these findings suggest, when familiarity with technology is high among respondents and sample procedures are followed to maximize control for potential participants, Web-based and paper and pencil formats are virtually equivalent, as in the two brief measures of psychological distress used in this study.

Two experiments were performed to investigate the influence of VDT (video display terminals) and paper presentation of text on consumption of information (Study 1) measured in the form of convergent production and production of information (Study 2) measured in form of divergent production. The READ test of reading comprehension was used as the convergent task whereas the “Headlines” test was used as the divergent task. Several other factors pertaining to performance were also studied including the PANAS test of positive and negative affect, the STH test of stress, tiredness and hunger, the TRI (Technology Readiness Inventory) and the SE test of stress and energy.The results show that performance in the VDT presentation condition where inferior to that of the Paper presentation condition for both consumption and production of information. Concomitantly, participants in the VDT presentation condition of the consumption of information study reported higher levels of experienced stress and tiredness whereas the participants in the VDT presentation condition of production of information study reported only slightly higher levels of stress.Although the results are discussed in both physiological and psychological terms arguments are made that the incremental effects of VDT text presentation stem mainly from dual-task effects of fulfilling the assignment and working with the computer resulting in a higher cognitive workload.

This study investigated whether submitting resumes in electronic versus paper form affects attributes associated with job applicants. One hundred participants reviewed a resume, either in paper or electronic form, of a journalist applying for a vacant position at a newspaper. Participants also reviewed a job description for that position either specifying the need for Internet research experience (technical reference group) or not (non-technical reference group). The participants then rated the applicant on seven attributes (intelligence, technical skills, interpersonal skills, leadership ability, motivation, resourcefulness, and overall qualifications). Analyses revealed the paper resume applicant was perceived as more friendly while the electronic resume applicant was viewed as more intelligent, technologically advanced, and possessing better overall qualifications. In addition, the applicant in the non-technical reference group was perceived as more intelligent, more technologically advanced, and possessing better overall qualifications compared with the applicant in the technical reference group.

The main objective of this study was to examine Steel's [Advances in Experimental Social Psychology 21 (1988) 261] self-affirmation theory, by checking the effects of different levels of manipulated control on participants' performance on personality tests. Specifically, we assessed the impact of participants' level of control (i.e. prior familiarity of questionnaire's items, choosing of test content) and anonymous or identified data collection on two different forms of socially desirable responses: impression management and self-deception [Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 46 (1984) 598]. Second, we compared these effects on paper-and-pencil versus computerized testing conditions. In Study 1 ( N =91) we showed that perceived control can be manipulated in computerized tests and that higher level of control is related to more positive attitudes towards the test and to lower levels of anxiety experienced during test taking. In Study 2 ( N =200) we found a significant positive relationship between manipulated control and impression management. The hypothesis claiming a significant relationship between controllability and self-deception has not been corroborated. In addition, no differences were found between the paper-and-pencil and the computerized mode of administration on measures of perceived control, trust, candor, and social desirability.

Internet-based data collection is becoming an increasingly popular method of conducting psychological research. A growing number of studies have investigated the equivalence of data collected over the Internet and data gathered using traditional assessment methods. Many of these studies, however, have had methodological limitations such as using non-equivalent comparison groups and inappropriate data analytic strategies. In this study, 213 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to complete attractiveness ratings via traditional paper-and-pencil methods or through an Internet site; data were analyzed using equivalency testing methodology. Results indicated that mean ratings of physical and sexual attractiveness between the two conditions were equivalent for the full sample. However, when examined separately by respondent gender, ratings of same gender targets were significantly higher for the paper-and-pencil methodology. Implications are discussed.

A total of 113 university undergraduates completed paper-and-pencil versions of the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire ( Balistreri, Busch-Rossnagel, & Geisinger, 1995 ) and the Identity Style Inventory ( Berzonsky, 1992b ) in a group-testing format. Another 100 undergraduates from the same university and with the same general demographic characteristics completed the same measures in an individually administered, computerized form. Results show significant differences in identity status and style variables between the two methodologies. The individual-testing, computer-managed approach appeared to increase the frequency of foreclosure and to raise reported use of all three identity processing styles for non-exploring participants, whereas for exploring participants, the mean exploration score was greater in this condition. In paper-and-pencil testing, much more diffusion was expressed. The results suggest that the presence of authoritative structure may be important in identity measurement and identity manifestation generally. Also, individual differences in identity status and style may produce differential response tendencies between computer-managed and paper-and-pencil modes of administration of identity formation measures.

The literature on computer-assisted and paper-and-pencil administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPIs) was reviewed. Both computer-assisted and paper-and-pencil administered formats for the MMPI-2 were then investigated. Results found the two formats to be quite comparable. Neither the validity nor the clinical scales differed by format in terms of means and standard deviations. Groups also showed homogeneity of variance across formats. Test-retest reliabilities between the two formats were significant and compared favorably with those reported for repeated paper-and-pencil testings. Stability of high-point codes appeared comparable with past research. Equivalence concerning the presence or absence of clinical elevations across the two formats appeared quite good, showing 92–97% agreement. Subjects expressed preference for the computer-assisted format, reporting more comfort with its pace and that they found it more interesting, less difficult, and more enjoyable. Results suggested that the absence of an overt ‘cannot say’ option may be the optimum presentation choice for this scale.

A current issue in personality assessment is whether computer versions of personality tests are psychometrically equivalent to paper-and-pencil originals. A total of 52 male inmates were randomly assigned to computer or paper-and-pencil administration conditions. The following measures were administered to the inmates in either computer or paper-and-pencil formats: the trait section of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1979), the Anger Expression Scale (Spielberger et al., 1986), the Belief Scale (Malouff & Schutte, 1986), and the Vengeance Scale (Stuckless & Goranson, 1992). No mean or variance differences were found indicating that computer and paper-and-pencil versions of these instruments are essentially equivalent. Analyses which examined the effects of computer anxiety, preference for computer administration and social desirability also indicated equivalency. The findings of this study, although indicating the equivalency of a number of measures, do not support the use of computer versions of other paper-and-pencil instruments without prior demonstration of their equivalency with the population of interest. The pervasive social desirability contamination found in this study brings into question the validity of assessments of incarcerated individuals regardless of administration modality.

This study compared responses to two versions of an end-of-course evaluation instrument completed by graduate students: the traditional printed form completed using pencil and paper, and a microcomputer-based form that presented equivalent items and accepted student responses. A finding of no significant difference in favorableness of composite ratings between the two versions prompted the researcher to perform item-by-item analyses of the two instruments. These analyses revealed that ratings of the individual items on one instrument were highly correlated with the ratings of their matched corresponding items on the other instrument. The paper-and-pencil and computerized evaluation instruments were found to be of almost identically high reliability. Possible limitations of the findings and areas for future research are discussed.

The equivalence of the mode of administration was studied using the paper-pencil (PP) and computer-based (CB) versions of the Strong—Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII); the results provide evidence of increased reliability and decreased administration time for the CB version.

This paper proposes a new approach to study fear of isolation (FOI), with special attention to psychological motivations/gratifications sought in the online sphere (opinion congruency-seeking and anonymity-preference), which may lead to political expression via social media. We posit that individuals with FOI will display a tendency to want to match their opinions with the majority and will also actively utilize online platforms as they offer anonymity. This empirical study collected data from a random sample of 1107 participants in South Korea, a frontrunner in terms of political expression on social media. The results demonstrated that FOI is associated with opinion congruency as well as anonymity-preference and further, political use of social media which prompts offline political engagement. Findings of this paper goes beyond conventional paradigms on political psychology (selective exposure based on partisanship or ideology) and contribute to a better understanding of how anonymous, online behaviors generate political engagement.

Harnessing social media such as Facebook is now considered critical for electoral success. Although Facebook is widely used by the electorate, few have Liked the Facebook pages of the political candidates for whom they vote. To provide understanding of this discrepancy, the present paper offers the first investigation on the role of audience diversity on Liking behavior, as well as its association with varying degrees of social anxiety that may arise from Liking political candidates. A survey of potential voters who used Facebook preceding the 2016 Presidential Election was conducted (n=1027). Using the lens of Self-Presentation Theory, results found that for those who had not already Liked Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, their intention to do so before the election was negatively associated with the diversity of their Facebook audience. This relationship was mediated by their expected degree of social anxiety from Liking the candidate. A comparison of audience diversity of participants who had Liked a candidate vs. those who had not Liked a candidate also showed that increased audience diversity hinders Liking. This paper contributes to the knowledge of engagement with politicians through social media as well as the study of audience diversity more generally. Implications for managers are provided. Examination of the effect of audience diversity on Liking political candidates.Survey of 1027 potential voters prior the 2016 US presidential election.Increased audience diversity is associated with a reduced Liking.Increased audience diversity predicts greater social anxiety.Non-Likers have a more diverse audience than Likers.

This paper analyzes review efficacy on Amazon.com. Specifically, review efficacy is conceptualized as the readership and the helpfulness of reviews submitted on the website. Informed by the Matthew effect and the Ratchet effect— “the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer,” the paper examines if reviews submitted by reputed reviewers are deemed more efficacious compared with those contributed by novices. A research framework is proposed to identify antecedents that could promote review efficacy. The antecedents include both quantitative and qualitative aspects related to review titles and descriptions. Three key findings are gleaned from the results. First, the antecedents of review readership are not necessarily identical to those of review helpfulness. Second, both titles and descriptions of reviews are related to review efficacy. Third, the antecedents of review efficacy are different for reputed and novice reviewers. The paper concludes by highlighting its theoretical contributions and implications for practice.

A behavior genetics perspective suggests both social and biological forces influence human behavior, including highly specialized media and communication behaviors. In this paper, I use a behavior genetics framework and twin study data from the 2013 Midlife in the United States (MIDUS III) survey to examine how both environmental and genetic factors contribute to social media use. By applying a straightforwardand easily replicableanalytical extension to linear regression called DeFries-Fulker (DF) regression, I demonstrate that approximately one-to two-thirds of variance in social media use is attributable to additive genetic traits; unique and shared environmental factors account for the remainder of variance. In addition to showing social media use is partially motivated by underlying genetic traits, this paper, more importantly, provides an analytical blueprint for using DF regression in future investigations of genetic influence on communication behaviors and media effects. DeFries-Fulker (DF) regression is used to assess genetic influence on social media use.One-to two-thirds of variance in social media use is explained by genetic traits.Genes are shown to play a latent role in guiding complex media behaviors.This article offers a blueprint for exploring other genetic effects using DF regression.

The growth of social media has open a new dimension of research in the domain of human Psychology. The data generated by virtue of various available social media platforms is enormous, dynamic, unstructured, imprecise and most of the time uncertain. Facebook has emerged as one of the most successful media of social interaction and thus, contributing a lot to understand various aspects of human behavior. In this paper, a specific and crucial aspect of human nature is being explored- Going Private in Public. This aspect deals with some unexploited trend of human psychology and the research work presented in this paper is planned such as to investigate the data that eventually helps to understand this aspect to a great extent. A questionnaire to capture some behavioral trends of Facebook user was designed and filled up using both online and offline mode. The questionnaire included sets of non-identifying demographic questions, Facebook Intensity scale, Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adult, Perceived Stress Scale and NEO-PI-R model. Filling of the forms was made voluntarily and anonymously to avoid any biasing. A total of 312 responses were received and analyzed using Independent-Sample t-test, Cronbach's alpha test, Exploratory factor analysis, and MANOVA etc. Openness personality trait is quiet like to adopt behaviour shift.Gender plays crucial role in FB usage.Behavioral shift doesn't depend upon no. of hours of FB usage.Male have more virtual friends than female.

Users of Social Network Sites (SNS) use the networks to share content and information about themselves. In particular for “nonymous” SNS, such as Facebook, profiles are connected to real names and appearances: this increases the connection between online and offline identities and the relevance of audiences to the information users share. This can lead users to feel as though they are under someone's constant observation, which can have consequences on how they present themselves on the platform. In this paper, we explore how the perception of an imaginary audience, i.e. the “others” adolescents perceive to be as concerned with themselves as they are, can inform the impression management strategies of adult Facebook users. Based on a Dutch empirical sample, and through a hierarchical regression, we explore the relationship of imaginary audience to impression management (both content-based, such as self-censorship, and audience-based, such as audience restriction). We also investigate the roles of privacy concerns, self-monitoring, age and gender on the self-presentation of users. Our results find positive effects for both imaginary audience and privacy concerns on both content and network-based impression management, while self-monitoring appears to have no effect. The age of respondents also appears to influence content-based impression management strategies, but not network-based strategies. Our paper represents a first attempt at applying the concept of imaginary audience to an adult sample of Facebook users. As imaginary audience and privacy concerns appear to have a stronger effect on content-based, rather than audience-based impression management, more research is necessary to understand how the feeling of being observed influences the information users share about themselves.

Open Diary was the first online diary service to be created, in existence from 1998 to 2014. An ethnographic case study was performed in 2006-2008 to explore community-creation on the site, using the theory of sense of virtual community (Blanchard & Markus, 2002, 2004) to analyse site practices and the member experience. The study describes a cohesive community based on a culture of support, empathy and open sharing of personal lives enabled by anonymity and privacy protections. The article discusses these results in terms of community-creation online and compares Open Diary to current forms of life writing online, blogging in particular, arguing that it was the members' and designers' understanding and experience of the traditional pen-and-paper diary that enabled the building of a unique community on the site, creating an experience that is perhaps no longer possible to replicate due to the social and cultural changes that have occurred on the web since 1998. Bringing the personal diary online created a strong and stable community.The site's social and technical features distinguished Open Diary from blog sites.Member behaviour was influenced by their experience of pen-and-paper diaries.Expectations of privacy and respect created a culture of support on the site.The culture of support and feeling of security created a sense of community.

The recent history shows that computers have a significant effect in society. The benefits from Information Technology (IT) reach both enterprises and people. When small firms use IT resources to create unique capabilities, even indirectly they improve their conditions to meet Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). Considering this scenario, the aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of IT use on the CSR of small firms. We tested the relationships between the constructs using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, with a database comprised of 173 Brazilian small firms. Our results showed a positive and significant relationship between IT use and the four categories of CSR. In this way, we observed that IT contributes to companies, and also affects people that work in these enterprises. Corporate social obligations of firms and IT investments should be combined to generate unique capabilities, improving competitive advantage through the interaction of technology and people. The results of the paper extend the discussion about IT benefits to companies and to society. This paper analyzes the effect of IT use on Corporate Social Responsibilities of small firms.We tested and analyzed a database comprised of 173 Brazilian small firms.Results showed relationships between IT use and the four categories of Corporate Social Responsibilities.Investments in IT presented a positive effect on legal obligations.The most significant impact of the IT use was in the economic responsibility.

Lacking the presence of human and social elements is claimed one major weakness that is hindering the growth of e-commerce. The emergence of social commerce might help ameliorate this situation. Social commerce is a new evolution of e-commerce that combines the commercial and social activities by deploying social technologies into e-commerce sites. Social commerce reintroduces the social aspect of shopping to e-commerce, increasing the degree of social presences in online environment. Drawing upon the social presence theory, this study theorizes the nature of social aspect in online SC marketplace by proposing a set of three social presence variables. These variables are then hypothesized to have positive impacts on trusting beliefs which in turn result in online purchase behaviors. The research model is examined via data collected from a typical e-commerce site in China. Our findings suggest that social presence factors grounded in social technologies contribute significantly to the building of the trustworthy online exchanging relationships. In doing so, this paper confirms the positive role of social aspect in shaping online purchase behaviors, providing a theoretical evidence for the fusion of social and commercial activities. Finally, this paper introduces a new perspective of e-commerce and calls more attention to this new phenomenon of social commerce. Social commerce increases the degree of social presences in online environment.This study proposes a multi-dimensional model of social presence.The social presence factors are found to have positive impacts on trust in sellers.The model delineates a full picture of online buyer behaviors in social commerce.

Notwithstanding the importance of metaphors in organizational research, this paper recognizes that few empirical studies examining the multiple metaphors elicited by stakeholders (for instance, teachers, administrators and managers) in the context of IS/IT implementation within an educational setting have been conducted. Using a total of 30 in-depth interviews carried out within a further and higher educational college in the United Kingdom, the broad aim of this paper is to examine the metaphors produced from organizational members in their accounts of IS/IT implementation. The analysis reveals a number of dominant metaphors that feature in IS literature on which participants drew-journey, military, machine, bodily/illness, sports and religion-as well as a number of additional, novel metaphors not widely acknowledged within IS literature, namely nautical, horticultural and child-like metaphors. The paper proposes that practitioners and managers should be aware of the multiple metaphorical expressions members of an organization use as it may help to clarify the tensions arising during IS/IT implementation. Furthermore, an exploration of these metaphors generates fresh insights into implementation practices, which may otherwise go unnoticed. Examines metaphors elicited by people surrounding IS/IT implementation practices.Reveals that metaphors are prevalent in people's use of language.Identifies a number of dominant and novel metaphors which participants drew upon.Acknowledges that metaphors can generate fresh insights into IS/IT implementation.

Respondents of online surveys may exhibit some answering behaviors, which lead to inconsistent survey results between online surveys and traditional paper surveys. Extant research has not yet devoted sufficient effort to the mechanisms of different answering behaviors on the inconsistent results, especially in cross-cultural survey contexts. For this reason, this study examines how shirking behavior (i.e., a form of disengaged behavior that the respondents expend insufficient mental effort on the questionnaire) and socially desirable responding result in incomparable responses between online surveys and paper surveys. We especially investigate how the cultural constructs of individualism and collectivism relate to shirking and social desirability. Our results reveal two different pathways leading to inconsistent results across different survey modes. Respondents from collectivistic cultures are more likely to shirking in online surveys. Consequently, they are more likely to provide varying responses than respondents from individualistic cultures. Collectivists are more likely to engage in impression management in paper surveys than in online surveys, while individualists have a greater tendency to provide inflated assessments of their skills and abilities in both survey modes. Shirking and Socially Desirable Responding are common answering behavior in online surveys.This study investigates how cultures relate to shirking and social desirability.Collectivists show larger discrepancies in shirking behavior across survey modes.Collectivists are more likely to engage in impression management in paper surveys.Individualists have a greater tendency to provide inflated assessment in surveys.

Trust is essential for Mobile Banking (MB) adoption and usage. MB technology has the potential to improve people's quality of life and to bring efficiency to banks. In this paper, MB trust was addressed in Brazil, a developing country that has an enormous potential for expansion of banking services. We used Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the database, which was composed of 1077 questionnaires. In this study sample, determinants of trust had similar behavior when compared to determinants of trust previously pointed out in the literature. Our discussion indicated a kind of information asymmetry that could be mitigated in order to build trust in MB and promote its adoption. However, we observed a negative relationship between trust in MB and undergraduate course area (dummy variable for undergraduate courses in technology). The inclusion and analysis of this new variable, especially in developing countries, may contribute with the literature on MB adoption. We studied mobile banking trust in Brazil where has a high potential for expansion of banking services.We analyzed the database, which was composed of 1077 questionnaires using structural equation model.We found the information asymmetry for trust in mobile banking and promote its adoption.We observed a negative relationship between trust and undergraduate course area.Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the paper.

M-learning usage intention is explained with six and satisfaction with two variables.Intention and satisfaction both predict the actual use of m-learning.Subjective norm and perceived image are found to be the most important drivers.Perceived usefulness mediates the relationship between ease of use and intention. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, subjective norm, perceived image, personal innovativeness, individual mobility, absorptive capacity, and self-efficacy on user intention and satisfaction, alongside the mediating effect of usability towards use of m-learning in Iran. Based on the m-learning user data collected through a survey, structural equations modeling (SEM) and path analysis were employed to test the research model. The results revealed that "intention" and "user satisfaction" both predicted the actual use of m-learning. "Subjective norm" and "perceived image" were found to be the most important antecedents of user intention towards use of m-learning. At last, "perceived usefulness" mediated the relationship between ease of use and user intention. The sample consisted of e-learning users of only four public universities in Iran and private universities were not studied. Past studies have seldom examined the proposed antecedents in the context of m-learning based on an integrated model of TAM and ECT in developing countries. Moreover, this paper tries to provide a literature review of recent published studies in the field of m-learning.

The effect of social and parasocial relationships in loyalty to SNSs is examined.The model was tested by SEM with data from a convenience sample of 320.Social relations are directly influencing consumers' loyalty to SNSs.Parasocial relationships precedes social in SNSs which it turn lead to loyalty. Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have become mainstream and increasingly attract research and managerial attention. However, there is a lack of research on the social factors that determine consumers' loyalty to SNSs. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to develop and estimate a conceptual model of how different aspects of social and parasocial relationships developed in social networking sites influence consumers' loyalty. The paper examines how parasocial relationships consumers developed with SNSs members precede and contribute to the creation of social relationships expressed as (a) identification with the SNS group and (b) engagement with the SNS group which in turn lead to (c) SNS related behavioral intentions and (d) SNS loyalty. This is one of the few studies available in the literature that takes a social approach in the study of SNSs and examines the applicability of theories developed offline in the online social environment of SNSs. The proposed hypotheses are tested by estimating a structural equation model with survey data from a convenience sample of 320 members of various online social networks. The findings of the study partially confirm the proposed conceptual sequence of effects and provide important theoretical and practical implications.

Two-study paper with American and Dutch adolescent samples.Constructs of adolescent development relate to adolescents' Facebook activity.There is a relationship between Facebook use and Personal Fable ideation.Behavioral rehearsal and Imaginary Audience mediate this relationship.Heightened Personal Fable does not necessarily relate to risky self-disclosure. Research has begun to examine adolescents' motivations for using social networking sites. The present set of studies supplement this literature by considering the relationships between characteristics of adolescent development and media use. Using American and Dutch samples of adolescents, the paper examines predictors and consequences of a developmental construct, Personal Fable, which is characterized by feelings of uniqueness and invulnerability. Overall, results indicate that Facebook use is associated with Personal Fable ideation, which is then related to certain media use behaviors such as posting a new photo or status update. By nature, these practices constitute self-disclosure; however, results from the second study indicated that Personal Fable does not moderate the relationship between Facebook use and problematic self-disclosure, contrary to predictions. Such findings provide important information about the link between Facebook use and constructs of adolescent development, with implications for researchers' understanding of predictors of adolescents' online behaviors.

Universities are interested in attracting students, but they do not usually have data relating to students intentions. Furthermore, both general and subjective factors are taken into account by students when choosing a degree and a university. This paper presents a psychometric study of a questionnaire which aims to assess variables relating the aspects involved in the selection process and accessing the Spanish university system. This questionnaire considers six factors: Consideration of the University; Perceived Usefulness; Social Impact; Vocational Aspects; Influence of Surroundings and Geographic Location. The item analysis (discrimination index) reduced the questionnaire to 25 items, and the reliability and validity of this final questionnaire was analyzed using a sample of 1532 students from eight Spanish universities. The results showed that the reliability as internal consistency of the six factors was high; the construct validity showed a structure of six first order factors clustered in two second order factors and finally, there was high discriminant validity between groups defined by variables such as gender or academic area. Applying predictive analytics to the results of this questionnaire will then enable specific recruiting policies to be applied, which target the type of students that universities are looking for, while reducing costs., This work forms part of the project entitled "A Longitudinal Model Impact Assessment of Variables Involved in selecting Studies and University. Academic achievement in high school and university entrance exam, as predictors of initial performance at University", financed by the ICE at the University of Barcelona in the Redice 2012, with Code Number 1641-01. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain

This study investigates an integrated model of TAM and IS success model.E-learning satisfaction and usage intention both are explained with four variables.Intention and satisfaction both predict the actual use of e-learning.System quality and information quality are found to be the most important drivers.Perceived usefulness mediates the relationship between ease of use and intention. The purpose of this paper is to examine an integrated model of TAM and D&M to explore the effects of quality features, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness on users' intentions and satisfaction, alongside the mediating effect of usability towards use of e-learning in Iran. Based on the e-learning user data collected through a survey, structural equations modeling (SEM) and path analysis were employed to test the research model. The results revealed that "intention" and "user satisfaction" both had positive effects on actual use of e-learning. "System quality" and "information quality" were found to be the primary factors driving users' intentions and satisfaction towards use of e-learning. At last, "perceived usefulness" mediated the relationship between ease of use and users' intentions. The sample consisted of e-learning users of four public universities in Iran. Past studies have seldom examined an integrated model in the context of e-learning in developing countries. Moreover, this paper tries to provide a literature review of recent published studies in the field of e-learning.

Decision-making biases may influence risk-taking strategies and re-trust in eWOM.Inertia and overconfidence biases positively affect the re-trust in eWOM.Consumers with a stronger illusion of control bias place less trust in eWOM again.Different strategies lead to different associations with re-trust in eWOM. This study examined the role of decision-making biases (i.e., inertia, overconfidence, illusion of control) in consumer retrust in electronic word of mouth (eWOM) recommendations and the risk-reducing strategies of consumers. An online survey was conducted. Of the 592 questionnaires collected, 567 responses were suitable for analysis. The response rate was 95.78%. This study revealed that inertia and overconfidence biases affect retrust in word-of-mouth recommendations. In addition, consumers with a stronger illusion of control bias place less trust in eWOM after having a negative experience. Furthermore, the results indicated that the associations between risk-reducing strategies and retrust in eWOM differ. On the theoretical level, this paper provides an understanding of the effects of inertia, overconfidence, and the illusion of control on eWOM retrust. In addition, this paper fills a gap in the literature, thus advancing knowledge on how and why consumers retrust eWOM. The results of the current study provide useful knowledge enabling firms to understand decision-making biases and, thus, manage relationships with potential customers and improve the quality of their products and services. For example, relying on an eWOM Web site image was determined to be the primary risk-reducing strategy in retrusting eWOM. Firms should continually track the flow of eWOM on eWOM-posting Web sites.

Metacognitive monitoring that accompanies a learning task reflects self-prediction of achievement at test. Well-calibrated monitoring is important because it is by this subjective assessment that people allocate their learning efforts. Previous studies that compared learning outcomes and calibration of monitoring when learning texts on screen and on paper have found screen inferiority: screen learners performed worse and were more overconfident about their success. However, learning from one’s preferred medium was associated with attenuated overconfidence. The present study examined two methods for overcoming screen inferiority in these respects. First, practicing the study-test task allowed overcoming screen inferiority, but only among those who preferred reading from screens. Second, in-depth processing was encouraged by having participants generate keywords at a delay, before monitoring their knowledge and taking the test. This method eliminated screen inferiority even for the first-studied texts, but after practicing it, screen inferiority was re-exposed among those who preferred studying on paper. This study makes a practical contribution to educational practice by suggesting directions for overcoming screen inferiority. From a broader perspective, the study demonstrates that experience with the task and in-depth processing can attenuate overconfidence and that the effectiveness of learning-enhancing methods depends on the study context and learners’ preferences.