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Front-of-Package Food Labels: Consumer Knowledge and Purchase Decisions
No full textThis study was conducted to determine if a relationship exists between front-of-package food labels and consumer purchase decisions, and whether there is a difference in purchase decisions between those who believed they did versus those who believed they did not understand the meanings of the labels. The philosophical assumption of this research was framed around Aristotle’s Golden Mean (Aristotle, trans. 2014), which guided the study based on the virtue of moderation. Through the theoretical basis of the uses and gratifications theory by Elihu Katz (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1973), this study also compared food purchase decisions of participants who did and those who did not have a felt need or motivation to make healthier food choices. Through a survey instrument distributed via social media, the findings suggest there is a relationship between front-of-package food labels and consumer purchase decisions. Those who expressed a felt need or motivation to make healthier purchase decisions were slightly more likely to use the labels to make purchase decisions than those without a felt need or motivation. In addition, participants who believed they understood front-of-package food labels were more likely to use them to make food purchase decisions than those who did not believe they understood the labels. However, the majority of the latter group did claim to occasionally use the labels to make purchase decisions. This suggests that some consumers may attempt to use the labels to make purchase decisions, even when the meaning of the label is not clear. Additional research is needed to learn more about the use of front-of-package labels by consumers without a felt need or motivation to use front-of-package food labels
Challenges To Increasing Usage Of New Technology In An Aging Workforce
No full textExplanatory qualitative research has primarily focused on resistance to information and communication technologies (ICT) due to age of the user, computerphobia, lack of trust in computer usage, socio-economic barriers, organizational politics, and non-alphabetical language. Global organizations are utilizing ICT as their primary means of communicating with their workforce. Human communication has evolved as man has evolved and in today’s world communication is via multiple mediums. Verbal, Face-to-Face, non-verbal, written and electronic communications may all take place between one pair of individuals and their circle of friends, family and total strangers. Social Information Processing (SIP) theory by J. B. Walthers was developed to explain that relationships develop in proportion to the amount of information shared between individuals based upon first impressions. The development of these relationships is further challenged when it takes place electronically. Walthers also believed that with some additional electronic communications, approximately 40 minutes, computer-mediated communications (CMC) would be just as successful as Face-to-Face (FtF) communications. Social Presence theory suggests that the use of CMC challenges the receiver in determining if a human constructed the message. When employees choose to not read official emails it is imperative to the organization to find the cause and remedy it as soon as possible. Until the situation is remedied the workforce will create a work-around which may have a direct negative impact on the bottom line to the business of the organization. This study has provided insight on another type of resistance to ICT. Using open-ended interviews, the researcher sought to understand why there might be resistance to reading official emails on the part of blue-collar workers. Analysis of data provided by participants sheds light on their challenges to accessing official emails. The results indicated that, while some CHALLENGES TO INCREASING NEW TECHNOLOGY USAGE previously studied resistance was found, the prevalent response was two-fold: lack of time to access a shared computer, and lack of shared computers. Also provided are suggestions and recommendations for future studies
Mentoring African-American Women Through Inclusive Male Executive Suite
No full textWomen in corporate environments often operate under the glass ceiling, but the term ‘glass ceiling’ is limited in its perspective. It does not account for African-American women in corporate environments who operate under a stronger barrier – the concrete wall. In order to maneuver around the barrier, an action-oriented approach must be taken and mentoring is the structured tool that can help African-American women around this barrier. Through the use of the feminist standpoint theory, and methodical interviews to gain further insight about the position of African-American women in today’s work structure, a formal mentoring will be developed and implemented to help alleviate the burdens African-American women face within corporate environments, as well give them the foundation to overcome and enter the inclusive-male suite
Suggestion, Perception, Reality: A Study into the Relationship Between Suggestion and the Reality It May Produce, PERCEPTION, REALITY: A study into the relationship between suggestion and the reality it may produce.
No full textSuggestion is a part of communication that cannot be stripped from or be considered separate from verbal and nonverbal communication. It is through the need to view the communication processes from a complete understanding that this study investigated the possible influence that suggestion may have on an individual’s perception of reality. The existing literature was reviewed with various results from different researchers, however, much of the literature supported previous research done by Spanos et al. (1984) and Bartels et al. (2006). Their research showed some indications that suggestion, and possibly priming may have an influence on an individual’s perception. Using their research as a starting point this study developed a mixed-method approach in order to test some aspects of their research. Ten volunteers participated in a mixed-methods experiment. A Factorial Design of 2 x 2 enabled a testing of two treatments at the same time. The participants were tested for level of suggestibility using the Stanford Scale and were then divided into one of four groups. Groups consisted of high or low suggestible participants who were treated with a suggestion or priming words to determine their level of discomfort when their arm was placed in ice water. The results were measured on a scale from one to ten. The ANOVA showed no statistical difference in the groups. However, the number of individuals who were unable to complete the testing was all in the high suggestibility group and it appeared that individuals in the priming group, both high and low suggestible, had the greatest reduction in discomfort relative to their baseline
Multicultural Approaches to Communicating in the Classroom
No full textU.S. schools are becoming more racially and culturally different, yet in many places teacher diversity remains unchanged. This describes the social dynamics of the school under study, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) magnet school in southeastern North Carolina. Furthermore, success in the STEM fields of study are significantly lower for minority groups. The purpose of this study is to examine, via teacher testimony, the current multicultural attitudes and behaviors of educators working at an institution that, in recent years, has become more diverse. The main areas of focus include a) examining teachers’ self-perceptions regarding importance of creating a multiculturally inclusive classroom b) competence of knowledge regarding how to create multiculturally inclusive classrooms. Social constructionism and standpoint theory help give an understanding of how dominant ideologies sustain knowledge and continue to marginalize minority students instead of teaching from student knowledge base and cultural experience. A survey of 23 teachers and one-on-one interviews with 4 teachers, designed to measure multicultural attitudes and practices, found a gap between multicultural awareness/knowledge and current practices, specifically in relation to the mathematics and science disciplines. Formal diversity training is lacking, a deficiency echoed in literature on multicultural education. Institutional support and diversity training can help teachers learn new ways to incorporate multiculturalism on both macro and micro levels (curriculum development and individual classroom practices), especially for those teaching in disciplines that are not traditionally viewed as diverse
The Influence of Social Media Technology on Generation iY\u27s Ability to Communicate Face to Face in Their Academic Careers
No full textThis thesis investigates how Generation iY students perceive that social media and / or texting technology has influenced their ability to track and comprehend the subtleties of face-toface communication within an academic setting. Generation iY is defined as those born between the years 1982 to 2004. Also involved in this study are members of the faculty and staff that teach Generation iY. The theories being applied and examined in this study include, Postman’s Technology Ecology, McLuhan’s Media Ecology, and Ong’s Orality and Literacy. These theories while addressing different aspects of technological change, all agree that the change is all encompassing with every advancement in technology. The study consisted of four focus groups. Two groups consist of Generation iY, and two groups of faculty and staff. Comparative analysis was utilized to point out the similarities and differences between the focus groups. This study has revealed that while Generation iY said that they prefer face to face communication, they are intimidated, fearful of judgment, overwhelmed, and lack the sense of responsibility that is inherent with face-to-face communication. They find social media and texting a more comfortable means of communication because it requires less effort and minimizes consequences. The quotes given by the Generation iYers in this study are in accord with what Elmore (2010), writes about them, Generation iY is isolated yet connected. Generation iY has an overdeveloped attachment to their peer group via social media. The faculty of Generation iY cites this as a major reason why Generation iY struggle with critical thinking. Weiler (2004), supports these concerns as she indicates that they gather information for the wrong reasons. They use critical thinking in order to prove their beliefs right to their peer group instead of trying to find answers to problems
The Role of Interpersonal Communication in Multiracial Congregations of The United Methodist Church
No full textAs the racial make-up of the population in the United States has changed over the last 20 years, the racial make-up of The United Methodist Church has remained the same – 90% non-Hispanic white. As a result, the denomination has struggled with attracting members of other ethnicities, in turn resulting in a decline in overall membership. Recognizing that the future of the church is dependent upon diversifying its congregations, The United Methodist Church is now focusing its efforts on developing and growing multiracial congregations. In order to build and sustain these multiracial congregations, the church must figure out how to develop relationships among members of these diverse congregations. They must also determine how to ease the anxieties and uncertainties that members may have when encountering members of different races for the first time. This study evaluates how open dialogue and the development of social events/activities assist in managing anxiety and reducing uncertainty among strangers in multiracial United Methodist congregations. Additionally, this study examines how the management of personal anxiety and the reduction of uncertainty aid in building relationships among members of multiracial congregations of The United Methodist Church
Moral Clumsiness
Get PDFWhat would happen if one morning you wake up clumsy, as if your sense of touch were unreliable, arbitrarily on and off? And what would this clumsiness look like if we could transfer it to the moral sense? The article expounds an interesting analogy between the sense of touch, loosely construed, and the moral sense: just as a sort of consistency is necessary for the sense of touch to do its job, so it is for the moral sense to play its part. Touch enables us to navigate the everyday world of coffee pots and staircases; our moral sensibility comes into play when we act or when we judge our actions and those of others, and plays a directive role in what we feel, how we feel it, and how we react to it. Taking the analogy further, I will suggest that inconsistency causes, in both cases, a certain clumsiness, and that clumsiness is linked to arbitrariness – like the person that helps others in dire need, but only does so on some rainy days