Masaryk University Journals / Časopisy Masarykovy univerzity
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Effects of online multitasking on reading comprehension of expository text
No full textMuch of college students’ computer use, including for academic reading, occurs under conditions of multitasking. In three experiments, we investigated their technology use and habitual multitasking and the learning effects of multitasking with online communication while reading expository text. In Experiment 1 (n = 35), participants engaged in a primary content learning task and a secondary communication task either sequentially or concurrently. Experiment 2 (n = 90 ) used a modified primary learning task involving reading comprehension and recall with a within-subjects design, wherein task difficulty (easy, difficult) and condition (sequential, concurrent) were within-subjects factors. Experiment 3 (n=40) used a moderately difficult task with condition (sequential, concurrent) as a within-subjects factor and a filler task for participants in the concurrent condition. Our results suggested that our college student participants were comfortable with technology and reported that on average they multitasked with four other activities while reading. Across the three experiments, we found no evidence that multitasking while reading disrupted content learning, reading comprehension, and recall. On the contrary, we found a beneficial effect of multitasking for the easy task (Experiment 2) and a trend toward a beneficial effect for the moderately difficult task (Experiment 3). We discuss possible explanations for why multitasking might enhance performance at lower levels of cognitive load and identify future directions for research
Editorial: Cyberpsychology has more submissions and citations
No full textEditorial: Cyberpsychology has more submissions and citation
Norm and Decision. The Problem of the Realization of Law and the Concepts of Sovereignty and Legal Order in the Early and Weimar Writings of Carl Schmitt
Get PDFČlánek se zaměřuje na uchopení pojmů suverenity a právního řádu v decisionistické právní filosofii Carla Schmitta (1888–1985), jednoho z nejcitovanějších a současně mj. kvůli vstupu do NSDAP v roce 1933 také nejkontroverznějších právních filosofů 20. století, v té podobě, v níž byla představena v jeho raných a výmarských spisech. V předkládané studii argumentuji, že ačkoli Schmitt sám své myšlenky neformuloval jako systém, ale naopak často polemicky a (zdánlivě?) rozporuplně, je pomocí systematického výkladu jeho tezí obsažených zejména v Hodnotě státu a významu jednotlivce (1914), Diktatuře (1921) a Politické theologii (1922) a úvah o problému uskutečnění práva možné (i) rekonstruovat relativně stabilní myšlenkové jádro Schmittovy koncepce a pojmu právního řádu a (ii) ukázat, že jeho filosofie práva je méně radikální, než jak sugeruje řada jeho často přepjatých výroků, pokud je posuzujeme izolovaně. V textu se snažím ukázat, že Schmitt suveréna nechápe jako pouhého držitele moci, ale jako autoritu vztaženou k jí předcházejícímu právu, jejíž rolí je zajistit zprostředkování mezi normativitou a fakticitou a uskutečnění práva v empirické realitě, a to i v Politické theologii, o níž platí, že je považována za radikálnější ze Schmittových publikací a pohlíží se na ni nezřídka jako na zlom v jeho myšlení.In this paper, I focus on the concepts of sovereignty and legal order in the decisionist theory of Carl Schmitt (1888–1985), one of the most cited bud also, due to his entry into the NSDAP in 1933, one of the most controversial legal philosophers of the 20th century, as presented in his early and Weimar writings. I argue that although Schmitt's thoughts are not presented by him within a system, but mostly polemically and with (seeming?) contradictions systematic interpretation of his ideas expressed in The Value of the State and the Significance of the Individual (1914), Dictatorship (1921), and Political Theology (1922), as well as his reflections on the problem of the realization of law, makes it possible to (i) reconstruct a relatively stable core of Schmitt’s philosophy of law and concept of legal order, and (ii) show that his legal philosophy is less radical than many of his often exaggerated statements suggest when considered individually. I try to show that Schmitt does not understand the sovereign as a mere wielder of power, but as an authority related to preceding law, whose role is to mediate between normativity and factuality and to realize the law in empirical reality. Finally, I claim that this holds also for Political Theology, which is considered as one of more radical Schmitt's writings and is often seen as a turning point in his thinking
Self-comparison with influencers but not general Instagram use moderate upward and downward social comparisons to #fitspiration and #bodypositive images
No full textUsing an image-reactivity task, this study examined whether changes in body image (BI) dissatisfaction were more closely associated with specific social media interactions than with overall time spent online. A sample of 327 college women (ages 18–36; M = 20.82, SD = 2.98) viewed images of fit, thin, and plus-size female body types (the independent variable), as well as control and distractor food images, on Instagram using their smartphones. Image presentations were randomized and counterbalanced across participants. After viewing each image type, participants reported their desire to eat (distractor items), emotional reactions (valence and arousal checks), and self-perceived control and BI satisfaction (the dependent variables). Following the task, participants completed a survey about their overall Instagram use and their tendency to engage in social comparisons with Instagram influencers. Results showed that viewing images of fit and thin women reduced participants’ sense of control and BI satisfaction compared to control images. In contrast, viewing plus-size images increased both control and satisfaction, with these effects being stronger among participants who frequently compared themselves to Instagram influencers. However, overall Instagram activity did not correlate with or influence these effects. These findings emphasize the significant role of influencer culture and suggest that promoting diverse body types on social media could improve women’s self-worth
They shouldn’t be richer than me: How visual wealth exposure on social media increases relative deprivation
No full textPrevious research suggests there is a close link between social media use and individuals’ relative deprivation, but it remains unclear which specific activities on social media can increase individuals’ relative deprivation. Given that, three studies were conducted to examine how visual wealth exposure, a common phenomenon on social media, increased individuals’ relative deprivation, and the subsequent downstream consequences. By conducting an online questionnaire, Study 1 found a significantly positive relationship between visual wealth exposure on social media and relative deprivation, and upward social comparison played a mediating role between them. By conducting an online experiment, Study 2 found that participants in the wealth image exposure condition perceived higher relative deprivation than participants in the natural scenery image exposure condition, and upward social comparison played a mediating role between exposure condition and relative deprivation. The following Study 3 found that visual wealth exposure increased participants’ hostilities toward the rich via the mediating role of relative deprivation. Moreover, hostilities toward the rich further provoked aggressive behaviors. That is, visual wealth exposure increased participants’ aggressive behaviors via the chain-mediating role of relative deprivation and hostilities toward the rich. The present research deepens our understanding of how social media use increases individuals’ relative deprivation and social class antagonism, and also carries implications for how authorities alleviate the increasing conflicts between the poor and the rich in China-Mainland
Where you lead, I will follow: Developing a new measure for studying parasocial involvement with influencers
No full textParasocial involvement with influencers (PII) on social media has rapidly increased in recent years. Currently, little is known about the impact of this development, as psychometrically evaluated measurement instruments capturing nuances of PII are lacking. Building on theory and qualitative findings, we developed the 39-item Parasocial Influencer Involvement Scale (PIInS), which shows good internal consistency. It comprises seven subscales empirically substantiated by factor analysis and captures different dimensions of parasocial influencer involvement, such as gratification, self-soothing, identification and loyalty, comparison, self-expansion, social influence, and emotional bonding. A first validation study in a convenience sample of n = 484 individuals participating in an online survey provided preliminary evidence for construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a second study with n = 443 participants largely confirmed the structure of the scale found in Study 1. The PIInS was negatively associated with attachment security, relational identity centrality, and self-expansion. Also, parasocial involvement with influencers was positively linked with social identity centrality and empathy in parasocial processing. A multiple regression analysis revealed that attachment anxiety, empathy during parasocial interactions, social identity centrality, and the absence of relational identity centrality had the strongest predictive value for parasocial influencer involvement. These findings point toward potential psychological mechanisms and related risks of parasocial involvement with influencers and emphasize the need for prevention and further research
Comparative network analysis of nomophobia and mental health symptoms among college and middle school students
No full textWith the rapid advancement of technology, the number of smartphone users has increased dramatically, resulting in a rising prevalence of nomophobia. Previous research has indicated that nomophobia is particularly common among adolescents and young adults and has significant negative impacts on their mental health, including increased anxiety, stress, and depression. However, most existing studies have concentrated on single age group, lacking comparative analysis between adolescents and young adults despite their distinct developmental stages and associated psychological challenges. To address this gap, the present study recruited 693 middle school adolescents and 900 college students to compare the network structures of nomophobia and mental health symptoms between these two groups. Network analysis revealed several similarities across both groups, such as the consistently positive associations between the fear of being unable to access information and symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. However, significant differences were also identified. A network comparison test initially revealed five significant edge differences, two of which involved anxiety. To further examine these differences, the anxiety subscale was subdivided according to DSM-5 symptomatology. Subsequent network comparison tests identified seven edges that differed significantly between middle school and college students, including two edges specifically involving the relationship between nomophobia (particularly the fear of losing contact) and various anxiety symptoms. These findings enhance the understanding of the distinct network structures linking nomophobia with mental health symptoms in adolescents and young adults, offering valuable insights for designing age-specific interventions aimed at reducing its detrimental effects on mental health
Expert statements: Where science communication discourse meets peer review discourse
Get PDFWith the influx of scientific publications, journalists are often challenged in putting new research into context. The Science Media Centre (SMC) addresses this issue by publishing expert statements that review and explain new studies. As such, these statements combine elements of science communication discourse, which typically seeks wide outreach, and peer review discourse, which typically seeks privacy and anonymity. To explore how these two discourses with conflicting aims work together, this study examines all publications on the SMC UK from April 2002 to January 2024. It compares them through a keyword analysis to a corpus of academic press releases and open peer reviews. A sample of 23 articles is then analysed qualitatively using the popularization framework by Sterk and van Goch (2023). The results show the important role of the expert persona and the use of strong statements employing boosters and credibility evaluations while still adapting information to the audience. Expert statements thus bridge academic and media practices and allow experts to provide suggestions for society
Acceleration of Language Skills of High School and Universtiy Students: Motivation and autonomous learning strategies
No full textSchopnost dorozumět se cizími jazyky je v mezinárodně propojeném světě klíčová. Speciální postavení světové lingua franca přitom zaujímá angličtina. Ač je v České republice podle řady srovnávacích studií úroveň jazykových znalostí, angličtiny nevyjímaje, z globálního hlediska nadprůměrná (EF, 2023), perspektivou národních států EU se dlouhodobě pohybujeme na nižších příčkách (Eurydice, 2023; Smekalová, 2022). Přesto lze zaznamenat úsilí jednotlivců své jazykové dovednosti zdokonalovat, a to z velké míry využitím možností, které jim nabízí současný globální a technologický svět. To dokládá i rostoucí úspěšnost studujících VŠ v mezinárodně uznávaných zkouškách s dosaženou úrovní mnohdy vyšší, než je požadovaná úroveň státní maturitní zkoušky. Získání této úrovně předpokládá ochotu věnovat angličtině svůj volný čas. Motivace a nástroje vedoucí k této úspěšnosti jsou tématem této studie.
Předložený text se zaměřuje na studující vysokých škol, kteří v době svého nástupu ke studiu již získali nebo cílili na získání mezinárodního certifikátu na cílové úrovni C1 podle Společného evropského referenčního rámce pro jazyky (SEFR) (Council of Europe, 2011). Prostřednictvím smíšené strategie výzkumu kombinující data z dotazníkového šetření, polostrukturovaných rozhovorů a skupinových diskusí studie zjišťuje, jaké motivační faktory studující k samostudiu jazyků vedou, a současně zkoumá, jakými autonomními metodami požadované úrovně dosahují.In an internationally interconnected world, the ability to communicate in foreign languages, especially in English representing one of the world most wide used lingua franca, becomes crucial. Even though the standards of foreign language skills in Czechia, including English, exceed the global average (EF, 2023), the Czechs still lag far behind the EU nation states (Eurydice, 2023; Smekalová, 2022). A growing effort of individuals to improve their language skills, though, can be observed, mainly in activities utilizing the opportunities of the current global and technological world. This also reflects in the growing popularity and success of university students in the internationally recognized certification exams proving language levels often higher than the required level of the state high school graduation exam. Obtaining these levels, however, assumes their willingness to devote to English their free time. Motivation and strategies leading to these results are the topic of this text.
The presented study focuses on university students who, at the time of their enrolment, have already obtained or planned gain an international certificate with a target level of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (Council of Europe, 2011). Using a mixed research strategy combining data from a questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews and group discussions, the study investigates motivational factors the learners in their language study adopt, and at the same time, examines the methods they use to achieve the desired level
A Central European, Peter Demetz (1922-2024) : a somewhat personal memory
No full textStudie se zabývá dílem amerického germanisty a literárního vědce česko-německo-židovského původu Petera Demetze (1922–2024) a jeho postojem k středoevropské kulturní tradici. Příspěvek prostřednictvím interpretace klíčových textů i osobní vzpomínky rekapituluje jeho životopis, návštěvy Prahy po roce 1989 a také připomíná jeho blízký vztah k dalšímu emigrantovi a komparatistovi René Wellkovi (1903–1995), který stejně jako Demetz přednášel na Yale University. Badatel, který byl považován za jednoho z největších znalců pražské německé školy a R. M. Rilka, si dlouhodobě uchoval vztah k české kultuře, překládal J. Ortena, F. Halase, J. Seiferta ad. Demetzovy studie a monografie tvoří polyfunkční a vícevrstevnaté esejistické traktáty, které americkému čtenáři přiblížily prostřednictvím historizujících exkurzů i osobní zkušenosti genius loci Prahy, její multikulturní charakter.The study deals with the work of the American Germanist and literary scholar of Czech-German-Jewish origin Peter Demetz (1922–2024) and his attitude towards the Central European cultural tradition. Through the interpretation of key texts and personal recollection, the paper recounts his biography, his visits to Prague after 1989, and also recalls his close relationship with another émigré and comparatist, René Wellek (1903–1995), who, like Demetz, lectured at Yale University. The scholar, who was considered one of the greatest experts on the Prague German School and R. M. Rilke, had long maintained a relationship with Czech culture, translating J. Orten, F. Halas, J. Seifert, etc. Demetz's studies and monographs are polyfunctional and multi-layered essayistic treatises that brought the genius loci of Prague and its multicultural character closer to the American reader through historicizing excursions and personal experience