Texas A&M International University: Research Information Online (RIO)
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Can Hofstede\u27s model explain national differences in perceived information overload? A look at data from the US and New Zealand
No full textHofstede\u27s cultural dimensions model has been widely used as a basic explanatory and predictive model in a variety of business studies, including studies addressing information management and electronic communication issues. This study aimed at assessing Hofstede\u27s model by looking into a key issue for information management and electronic communication-information overload. The study compared information overload-related data from the US and New Zealand. The sample involved 108 MBA students who held professional or management positions. Data analyses employed comparisons of means and partial least squares (PLS)-based structural equation modeling techniques. Information overload perceptions in the two countries appear to differ significantly. This finding seems to be inconsistent with the relatively small differences in cultural dimension scores between the US and New Zealand, and with those two countries being placed in the same country cluster in Hofstede\u27s model. The results call into question the adequacy of Hofstede\u27s model as a basis to explain information management phenomena. © 2008 IEEE
Esto sí es una pipa: sinergias interpretativas entre fotografías periodísticas de La Jornada y comunicados neozapatistas
No full textA más de una década desde que el Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional saltó a la luz pública, esta organización rebelde ha realizado varios esfuerzos de acercamiento con diversos sectores de la ciudadanía, que iniciaron con comunicados y declaraciones, y continuaron con marchas y encuentros. Los argumentos de los neozapatistas no eran otros más que denunciar y revertir formas de organización política, económica y cultural que históricamente han dejado fuera a las poblaciones indígenas de su participación activa en el proyecto de nación. Y en ese esfuerzo desplegaron una serie de imágenes, ideas y símbolos que iban a ir forjando la identidad de una guerrilla que se transformó en movimiento social
Clique partitioning for clustering: A comparison with K-means and latent class analysis
No full textThe clique partitioning (CP) model has been recognized for many years as a useful conceptual construct for clustering problems. Computational difficulty, however, has limited the adoption of this perspective as a useful model in practice. In this article, we illustrate the use of a new formulation for the clique partitioning problem that is readily solvable by basic metaheuristic methodologies such as Tabu Search. As such, this new model enables the widespread use of CP for clustering in practice. In this article, we present test results demonstrating that our CP model is an attractive alternative to well-known methods such as K-means and Latent Class (LC) clustering. Ours is the first article in the literature making such comparisons
International graduate training, digital inequality and professional network structure: An ego-centric social network analysis of knowledge producers at the global South
No full textBased on a face-to-face survey of 312 scientists from government research institutes and state universities in two Philippine locations - Los Baños, Laguna and Muñoz, Nueva Ecija - we examine how graduate training and digital factors shape the professional network of scientists at the Global South. Results suggest that scientists prefer face-to-face interaction; there is no compelling evidence that digitally-mediated interaction will replace meaningful face-to-face interaction. What is evident is that among none face-to-face modes of communication a reordering maybe in progress. The effect of digital factors - expressed through advance hardware-software-user interaction skills - lies on network features pertaining to size, proportion of male and of core-based alters, and locational diversity. International graduate training and ascribed factors (gender and number of children) also configure the professional network of scientists - actors traditionally viewed as the epitome of rationality and objectivity. We argue that these factors influence knowledge production through a system of patronage and a culture that celebrates patrifocality. We forward the hypothesis that knowledge production at the Global South closely fits Callon\u27s [1995] extended translation model of science. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V
Incorporating simulated animal attacks in human technology interaction interfaces: The predictive power of biosemiotics and evolutionary psychology
No full textEnhanced cognition within the temporal vicinity of animal attacks arguably allowed our hominid ancestors to better build and associate memories related to the animals and their typical habitat markers, which in turn increased their survival chances. This may be at the source of an unusual phenomenon with limited but interesting practical uses in the design of human-technology interaction interfaces for learning tasks; the phenomenon involves modern humans\u27 short-term memories being instantaneously turned into long-term memories through surprise in the form of simulated animal attacks. This study explores this phenomenon in the context of a computer-supported learning task, by testing the prediction that a simulated snake attack will lead to cognition enhancement within its temporal vicinity. In an experiment, those participants who were surprised by a Web-based snake screen did significantly better in the test questions for Web-based learning modules that were temporally adjacent to the snake screen. Copyright © 2008, IGI Global
International transmission mechanism of stock market volatilities
No full textWe investigate the volatility spillover effects of European equity markets to the equity markets of Mexico, Brazil, and Chile. The results of the E-GARCH and VAR models suggest that the stock markets of Spain and Germany have stronger volatility spillover effects on Latin American markets than do Italy, the United Kingdom, and France. We find that these spillover effects of Spain and Germany have a greater impact on Mexico and Brazil than on Chile. Moreover, in all these cases negative innovations increase volatility more than do positive innovations. We tie our results to the relative degree of openness of Latin American countries and their level of international trade with the European economies. Mexico and Brazil are relatively more open economies than is Chile. Also, these two Latin American economies have higher levels of international trade with Spain and Germany than with other European economies. Our results are consistent with the notion that, as an economy becomes more open and integrated with the world economy, its financial sector becomes more susceptible to external shocks. © 2008 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved
E-collaboration and E-commerce in virtual worlds: The potential of Second Life and World of Warcraft
No full textVirtual worlds can be defined as technology-created virtual environments that incorporate representations of real world elements such as human beings, landscapes and other objects. Recent years have seen the growing use of virtual worlds such as Second Life and World of Warcraft for entertainment and business purposes, and a rising interest from researchers in the impact that virtual worlds can have on patterns of e-collaboration behavior and collaborative task outcomes. This article looks into whether actual work can be accomplished in virtual worlds, whether virtual worlds can provide the basis for trade (B2C and C2C e-commerce), and whether they can serve as a platform for credible studies of e-collaboration behavior and related outcomes. The conclusion reached is that virtual worlds hold great potential in each of these three areas, even though there are certainly pitfalls ahead. Copyright © 2008, IGI Global
An experimental study of simulated web-based threats and their impact on knowledge communication effectiveness
No full textIt is evolutionarily adaptive for humans to have enhanced memories of events surrounding surprise situations, because in our ancestral past surprise situations were often associated with survival threats. Vividly remembering memories immediately before and after a snake attack, for example, allowed our hominid ancestors to be better prepared to avoid and deal with future attacks, which in turn enhanced their chances of survival. This study shows that such enhanced memorization capacity likely endowed on us by evolution can be exploited for knowledge communication through computer interfaces. A knowledge communication experiment was conducted in which subjects were asked to review web-based learning modules about International Commercial Terms (Incoterms), and then take a test on what they had learned. Data from six learning modules in two experimental conditions were contrasted. In the treatment condition, a web-based screen with a snake picture in attack position, displayed together with a hissing background noise, was used to create a simulated threat that surprised the subjects. In the control condition the simulated threat was absent. As expected, based on the evolutionary psychological view that surprise can enhance learning, the subjects in the treatment condition (i.e., with the snake screen) did approximately 28% better than those in the control condition (i.e., without the snake screen) at learning about Incoterms. This improvement occurred only for the two web-based modules immediately before and after the snake screen. Those two modules comprise what is referred to in this study as the surprise zone. There were no significant differences in learning performance between the two experimental conditions for modules outside the surprise zone. © 2008 IEEE
Beliefs of professional and family caregivers about the sexuality of individuals with intellectual disabilities: Examining beliefs using a Qmethodology approach
No full textThis investigation described the perceptions of involved adults concerning the sexuality of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Participants completed a Q-sort with a concourse of 36 items. Analysis produced four different belief systems: advocates, supporters, regulators, and humanists. These belief systems describe the respondents\u27 views on sex education, birth control methods, and sexual participation concerning individuals with intellectual disabilities. The representative respondents of the advocates can be described as strong supporters of human rights for the individual with intellectual disabilities. The typical respondent for the supporters can be described as an ardent supporter of sex education for the individual with intellectual disabilities. The regulators were similar to the supporters by showing strong favoritism toward educating individuals with intellectual disabilities concerning sex. However, in contrast the regulators also supported extensive birth control measures. Finally, the humanists can be described as being the strongest supporters of human rights for the individual with intellectual disabilities
Alfabetización digital dialógica
No full textEn la actualidad, diferentes actores políticos y sociales apuestan por impulsar acciones de formación que consigan la participación de todas las personas en la sociedad de la información y que dichas personas puedan ser protagonistas de las oportunidades que la SI nos ofrece. Como parte de estas acciones, se da una gran importancia al acceso a la tecnología. Dicho acceso implica tanto el acceso a ordenadores, ancho de banda y programario como la formación en habilidades para el tratamiento y la interacción con la información aunque, cada vez más, se vincula la alfabetización digital a la transformación social. Así pues, la inclusión digital se refiere tanto al acceso como a la competencia digital y a la motivación y ya hay quien habla de alfabetización digital 2.0. Los autores plantean que el éxito de los proyectos de alfabetización digital radica en el modelo educativo que los sostiene y que si se pretende ir más allá del acceso o la capacitación debe apostarse por un modelo educativo basado en la democracia y el diálogo. Estas consideraciones se apoyan en el desarrollo teórico y en los resultados de la investigación “Percepciones y posibilidades de los puntos públicos de acceso a Internet” desarrollada por CREA1y financiada por la Generalitat de Catalunya