33659 research outputs found
Sort by
Provision of brand information and critical reasoning predict advertising literacy
Full text linkThis study investigated students’ critical reasoning about commercials, as an aspect of advertising literacy. Critical reasoning was examined under two different experimental conditions. That is, students were tasked with watching four different commercials with 1) brand information provided or not, and 2) asked to engage in critical reasoning or not. The commercials chosen used various production techniques (e.g., socially conscious marketing) to mask their persuasive message. Students provided with brand information within commercials had significantly higher critical reasoning scores when viewing two, out of the four, commercials, and significantly higher overall Analysis of Persuasive Intent (API) scores and brand recall. Students asked to engage in critical reasoning during viewing had lower brand recall, with no other differences identified. Conclusions from this study include that the provision of brand information within commercials activated students’ advertising schema, supporting their recognition of persuasive intent
Assessing Media and Information Literacy: Scale development and measurement among college students
Full text linkMedia and Information Literacy (MIL) is a topic discussed by many authors in recent years. Several authors have developed measurement scales and validated them mainly among students and teachers who have media and information literacy knowledge. Although no evidence is tracked for any research conducted, MIL has been an unexplored field in the Western Balkans region. This article delves into developing and testing a scale for measuring the level of Media and Information Literacy among students in Albania. Firstly, it employs an exploratory qualitative approach, with the use of focus groups, the results of which contributed to the design of a measurement scale. Secondly, the developed scale was tested among a larger sample. 270 students from three universities in Albania participated in the study. Findings indicate that the built scale is valid for measuring MIL. Based on students’ self-perception, Albanian students show high media and information literacy level. The study proposes a self-perception of media and information literacy (SPMIL) approach for evaluating the literacy level of the audiences
Cartoons from the 2000s: The representation of disability and a culture of inclusion
Full text linkRepresentations of diversity and otherness in cartoons offer metaphors for identity that can affect children’s perceptions and attitudes towards the potential and challenges associated with various forms of disability. This contribution analyses a corpus of animations made up of feature films, series, and short films with a focus on how disability is represented. It examines the role that characters with physical or mental disabilities play in the story, the structure of narratives in which disability is presented as an integral part of reality, and the types of disability explored in the stories. The image that emerges is one in which children are offered positive identification models and useful relational tools. This article aims to help teachers and parents select and enjoy cartoons
High organofluorine concentrations in municipal wastewater affect downstream drinking water supplies for millions of Americans
Full text linkWastewater receives per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from diverse consumer and industrial sources, and discharges are known to be a concern for drinking water quality. The PFAS family includes thousands of potential chemical structures containing organofluorine moieties. Exposures to a few well-studied PFAS, mainly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), have been associated with increased risk of many adverse health outcomes, prompting federal drinking water regulations for six compounds in 2024. Here, we find that the six regulated PFAS (mean = 7 to 8%) and 18 measured PFAA (mean = 11 to 21%) make up only a small fraction of the extractable organofluorine (EOF) in influent and effluent from eight large municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Most of the EOF in influent (75%) and effluent (62%) consists of mono- and polyfluorinated pharmaceuticals. The treatment technology and sizes of the treatment facilities in this study are similar to those serving 70% of the US population. Despite advanced treatment technologies, the maximum EOF removal efficiency among facilities in this work was \u3c25%. Extrapolating our measurements to other large facilities across the United States results in a nationwide EOF discharge estimate of 1.0 to 2.8 million moles F y−1. Using a national model that simulates connections between wastewater discharges and downstream drinking water intakes, we estimate that the sources of drinking water for up to 23 million Americans could be contaminated above regulatory thresholds by wastewater-derived PFAS alone. These results emphasize the importance of further curbing ongoing PFAS sources and additional evaluations of the fate and toxicity of fluorinated pharmaceuticals
Coastal Community Perspectives on Marine Resource Conservation and Access in Rote Island, Indonesia
Full text linkIndonesia’s coastal and marine environment supports high marine biodiversity, with conservation efforts aimed at sustainable management. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), such as the Savu Sea MPA, play a key role in these efforts. Rote Island, located on the eastern side of this MPA, has coastal communities heavily reliant on marine resources, primarily fishing and seaweed farming. While conservation measures impact local resource access, there is limited research on their socio-cultural dimensions, particularly from the perspective of local stakeholders. Although conservation should prioritize local communities, studies indicate minimal involvement in planning and implementation. This study examines how marine conservation affects Rote’s coastal communities from their perspective. Fieldwork in October 2024 involved over 50 key informant interviews with local representatives, government officials, and conservation practitioners, alongside field observations. Findings reveal that while most respondents are aware of marine conservation, their understanding is largely limited to habitat and species protection, with many unaware of the MPA’s existence. Community involvement is often limited to sporadic events, though some villages have resource monitoring groups and customary governance mechanisms. Concerns include the lack of conservation authority presence and enforcement, as well as emerging ocean grabbing in tourism areas, where non-local actors dominate marine tourism, restricting community access. While tourism offers an alternative livelihood, its negative impacts on conservation and resource access remain overlooked. These findings highlight the need for inclusive conservation strategies, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and greater community participation to ensure sustainable and equitable marine resource management in Rote
Sustainable Consumer Behavior: Identifying Behavior Change Stages in Recycling in the USA
Full text linkSustainable consumer behavior refers to any behavior that benefits environmental protection and social justice. Previous research has shown that sustainable consumer behavior is positively associated with consumer wellbeing. Recycling behavior is a type of sustainable behavior that has been studied extensively. However, research on behavior change in recycling is limited. The purpose of this study is to identify the change stages for recycling behavior among American consumers. Using national data collected in the U.S. and under the guidance of the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM), the results showed that most Americans engage in recycling behavior, but a minority of them do not. Among them, 13% have never considered recycling in the near future. We also identified the differences in behavior change stages in terms of psychological, cognitive, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. The findings have implications for policy makers, business professionals, and consumer educators to develop strategies to encourage consumer recycling behavior
Feminist Digital Center: Building an Online Hub for Undergraduate Feminist Scholarship
Full text linkThis paper is about The Feminist Digital Center (FDC). We begin by briefly theoretically situating our project in discussions of feminist and open pedagogy, high impact practices, and digital scholarship. Next, we discuss how the FDC came to be, institutionally and digitally, with particular emphasis on the assignments students did to fill the site. We close with why the site matters. We hope readers will attempt some version of this project at your institutions and find value in the model we share
Libraries at the End of the World
No full textSince 2021, libraries have become a target of organized forces seeking to suppress the stories of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people and our histories. Attempts to remove books from library shelves have reached record numbers while legislation in states from Florida to Idaho has enshrined censorship into law. Such restrictions on the right to think, write, and read place libraries at the center of the fight for American democracy.
Emily Drabinski is Associate Professor at the Queens College (CUNY) Graduate School of Library and Information Studies. She edits Gender and Sexuality in Information Studies, a book series from Library Juice Press/Litwin Books. Drabinski served as the 2023-24 President of the American Library Association.
This lecture was co-sponsored by the Carlson Lecture Series and Department of Gender and Women’s Studies Mellon Committee