Between-groups Experimental Design Research Articles

Mobile virtual reality distraction reduces needle pain and stress in children?

Virtual reality (VR) technology is a remarkably effective method for distracting attention from painful stimuli. This is particularly important for children who undergo painful and stressful medical treatments. The main aim of the present study was to examine whether the type of VR distraction had an effect on reducing pain and stress in children during a short blood sampling treatment, and to investigate the effectiveness of mobile VR.Fifty-seven patients of a pediatric nephrology clinic (Mage = 12, range: 7–17) participated in a between-group experimental design study. Participants in the treatment group (active vs passive VR) underwent a venipuncture procedure with VR distraction. Mobile VR (Samsung gear) was used in this study. Participants in the active VR experimental condition played a game based on the multiple object tracking task paradigm. In the passive VR experimental condition, participants watched a film similar to the presented game. All participants rated their pain and stress levels on the Visual Analogue Scale and completed a short questionnaire.Both VR groups reported significantly lower pain and stress intensity than the control group. When comparing the two experimental groups, no statistically significant differences were found, although participants differed in their level of perceived pain and stress, with greater benefits in the active VR. The present study focused on comparing the effect sizes of active and passive VR interventions. Additionally, the study confirmed feasibility of using Multiple Object Tracking paradigm as a method of attention distraction in VR.

The Effects of Precision Teaching and Self-regulated Learning on Early Multiplication Fluency

Fluent recall of basic facts is essential to the development of more complex math skills. Therefore, failure to develop fluency with basic facts may impede the development of these skills. The present study used a between-group experimental design to investigate whether a basic facts fluency program, implemented within a self-regulated learner (SRL) framework, could lead to increased fluency with multiplication facts for Year 5 and Year 6 New Zealand students (9–10 years old). This study also investigated the extent to which the SRL program altered students’ basic facts practice behavior outside of school hours. The study found that the SRL program resulted in rapid fluency development that was maintained over time. Nomothetic and idiographic analysis confirmed that the program was suitable for use within Tier 1 of the response to intervention framework. In addition, the study also found that students who received the program altered their practice behavior outside school hours. The results from this study show how elements of self-regulated learning and precision teaching can be successfully combined to enhance students’ mathematics achievement.

Improving Patient Safety and Patient–Provider Communication

Purpose Many hospitalized patients experience barriers to effective patient–provider communication that can negatively impact their care. These barriers include difficulty physically accessing the nurse call system, communicating about pain and other needs, or both. For many patients, these barriers are a result of their admitting condition and not of an underlying chronic disability. Speech-language pathologists have begun to address patients' short-term communication needs with an array of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies. Method This study used a between-groups experimental design to evaluate the impact of providing patients with AAC systems so that they could summon help and communicate with their nurses. The study examined patients' and nurses' perceptions of the patients' ability to summon help and effectively communicate with caregivers. Results Patients who could summon their nurses and effectively communicate—with or without AAC—had significantly more favorable perceptions than those who could not. Conclusions This study suggests that AAC can be successfully used in acute care settings to help patients overcome access and communication barriers. Working with other members of the health care team is essential to building a “culture of communication” in acute care settings. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9990962

The Power of Conformity in Citizens’ Blame: Evidence from a Survey Experiment

The authors examine whether conformity towards prevailing public opinions and preexisting blame influences citizens' attribution of blame for public service failure, by using a between-group experimental design with five groups. Two groups received information cues mentioning different public opinions. Two additional groups received information on preexisting blame or the absence of such blame. One control group did not receive any information. The empirical analysis reveals that public opinion in favor of blame leads to increased blame attribution, while a contrary public opinion decreases citizens’ blame. Likewise, the expected increase in citizens' blame resulting from preexisting blame is supported. However, the absence of blame has no effect. Overall, the experiment supports the impact of conformity on citizens’ blame. In addition, the literature on citizens' blame is extended by utilizing a citizen-centered perspective and taking social psychological theory into account.

Mindfulness and Paranoia: A Cross-Sectional, Longitudinal and Experimental Analysis

ObjectivesThe purpose of this article was to examine the role of mindfulness, and its facets, in predicting (Studies 1 and 2) and attenuating (Study 3) paranoia in students.MethodsStudy 1 used cross-sectional questionnaire-based methodology (N = 410) to examine the association between mindfulness and paranoia whilst controlling for their shared association with anxiety and depression. Study 2 used longitudinal design to test the prospective influence of mindfulness facets on state paranoia over a 2-week period (N = 84). Study 3 used a single-blind between-group experimental design to examine the effects of 1-week self-administered mindfulness training (N = 34) versus 1-week self-administered guided visual imagery (GVI) training (N = 34) on state paranoia.ResultsIn study 1, controlling for anxiety and depression, low levels of non-judgement were significantly associated with high levels of paranoia (p < .001). In study 2, high levels of non-judgement buffered the impact of trait paranoia on daily experiences of state paranoia, whilst statistically controlling for the influence of rumination (interaction: p = .02). In study 3, both mindfulness and GVI significantly reduced state paranoia (p < .001).ConclusionFindings highlight the importance of mindfulness, and non-judgement specifically, in understanding paranoia in students and provide further evidence for mindfulness and relaxation as effective methods for reducing paranoia. Across studies, participants were predominantly white female students. Findings cannot, therefore, be assumed to generalise to other populations.

Robust Systems of Cooperation in the Presence of Rankings: How Displaying Prosocial Contributions Can Offset the Disruptive Effects of Performance Rankings

Sustaining systems of cooperation in the face of strong self-interest is a subject of long-standing inquiry in the social sciences. Much of this work has focused on understanding the antecedents and outcomes associated with cooperation, noting that the inertial properties of a system should sustain cooperation over time. This paper shifts the focus toward examining how cooperation is maintained in the face of potentially disruptive forces. To advance theory, research, and practice on how to maintain cooperation over time, we examine how systems of cooperation interact with, withstand, or succumb to a potentially disruptive force that is commonplace in organizational contexts: rankings. Using a longitudinal, no-deception, between-groups experimental design, we assess how systems of cooperation respond to the introduction of performance rankings. Examining data from more than 11,000 rounds of decision making from 592 participants clustered in 74 teams, we find that cooperation plummets when performance-rank information is introduced. However, the addition of reputation information—individuals’ histories of prosocial contributions—enables a system of cooperation to withstand the disruptive effects of performance rankings. Actors use reputation information to make decisions that reduce perceived inequity. Our study contributes to theories of cooperation, performance feedback, macrolevel prosocial behavior, and management practice.

Examining stealing thunder as a new service recovery strategy: impact on customer loyalty

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how stealing thunder, apology and compensation influence customer loyalty in a service failure context, and how trust mediates these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a scenario-based between-group experimental design involving 300 customers.FindingsThe results indicated that stealing thunder, apology and compensation have a joint effect on customer loyalty. Specifically, this study found a significant positive impact of stealing thunder on loyalty; a two-way interaction effect of compensation and stealing thunder on loyalty; and a three-way interaction effect on loyalty. Additionally, trust mediated the relationship between service recovery attributes (stealing thunder, apology and compensation) and customer loyalty.Originality/valueThis study introduces a new service recovery method called Stealing Thunder, which is commonly used in the fields of law and communication and is the first to assess stealing thunder as a proactive/preemptive strategy to handle service failures and its impact on customer loyalty. The study found that when stealing thunder was present, compensation had no influence on customer loyalty. Moreover, when stealing thunder was present, compensation had no impact on loyalty when apology was not present. However, compensation had a significant effect on loyalty when stealing thunder and apology were not present. This study finds the value of including proactive/preemptive strategies (stealing thunder) along with regular service recovery strategies (e.g. apology and compensation) in the service recovery process. Results show that service recoveries that include stealing thunder help service failure recovery significantly by increasing customer’s trust.

Robust Systems of Cooperation in the Presence of Rankings: How Displaying Prosocial Contributions Can Offset the Disruptive Effects of Performance Rankings

Sustaining systems of cooperation in the face of strong self-interest is a subject of longstanding inquiry in the social sciences. Much of this work has focused on understanding the antecedents and outcomes associated with cooperation, noting that the inertial properties of a system should sustain cooperation over time. This paper shifts the focus toward examining how cooperation is maintained in the face of potentially disruptive forces. To advance theory, research, and practice on how to maintain cooperation over time, we examine how systems of cooperation interact with, withstand, or succumb to a potentially disruptive force that is commonplace in organizational contexts: rankings. Using a longitudinal, nodeception, between-groups experimental design, we assess how systems of cooperation respond to the introduction of performance rankings. Examining data from more than 11,000 rounds of decision-making from 592 participants clustered in 74 teams, we find that cooperation plummets when performance rank information is introduced. However, the addition of reputation information — individuals’ histories of prosocial contributions — enables a system of cooperation to withstand the disruptive effects of performance rankings. Actors use reputation information to make decisions that reduce perceived inequity. Our study contributes to theories of cooperation, performance feedback, macro-level prosocial behavior, and management practice.

A Surprising Source of Self-Motivation: Prior Competence Frustration Strengthens One's Motivation to Win in Another Competence-Supportive Activity.

According to self-determination theory (SDT), competence is among the three basic psychological needs essential for one’s well-being and optimal functioning, and the frustration of these needs is theoretically predicted to induce a restorative response. While previous studies have explored the restoration process of autonomy and relatedness, empirical evidence for such a process is still lacking for competence. In order to explore this process and to examine the effect of prior competence frustration on one’s motivation to win in a subsequent competence-supportive task, we adopted a between-group experimental design and manipulated one’s competence frustration through task difficulty in an electrophysiological study. Participants in both groups were instructed to work on the time-estimation task and the stop-watch task in two successive sessions respectively. Participants in the experimental group were asked to complete a highly difficult task in the first session and a task of medium difficulty in the second session, while those in the control group were instructed to work on tasks of medium difficulty in both sessions. In the second session, an enlarged feedback-related negativity (FRN) loss-win difference wave (d-FRN) was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group, indicating that the competence-frustrated participants have an enhanced motivation to win in a subsequent competence-supportive task. Thus, results of the present study provided original neural evidence for the restoration process of frustrated competence, which provided important guidelines for the managerial practice.

Etourism advertising effectiveness: banner type and engagement as moderators

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze advertising effectiveness in terms of self-reported memory (recall) by measuring customers’ visual attention, including consumer engagement with e-tourism 2.0 tools and the banner type used as moderating variables.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a within-subject, between-groups experimental design based on eye-tracking methodology, followed by a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were instructed to visit three e-tourism tools, namely, a hotel’s blog, a social network (i.e. Facebook) page and a virtual community (i.e. TripAdvisor) page.FindingsThis research uncovers the main determinants of consumers’ self-reported recall of banner ads. The study offers empirical insight regarding the positive impact of fixation counts and visit duration on consumer recall. The findings also reveal that the impact of these measurements on consumer recall is moderated by the level of animation of the advertisement, while the number of fixations is moderated by the level of consumer engagement. Overall, the results suggest the usefulness of eye-tracking methodology in assessing the advertising effectiveness of e-tourism tools.Research limitations/implicationsThe practical implications identified in this research, along with its limitations and future research opportunities, are of interest both for further theoretical development and practical applications. Scholars are therefore encouraged to further test the research propositions, including in longitudinal or mobile/smartphone-based research.Originality/valueThe authors offer a pioneering attempt in the application of eye-tracking methodology to online, e-tourism-based service innovations and examine the possible impact of visual marketing stimuli and their effects on user social network-related behavior.

An Empirical Study of Visitors’ Experience at Kuching Orchid Garden with Mobile Guide Application

This empirical study was conducted to measure visitors’ experiences with a mobile guide application at Kuching Orchid Garden (KOG). A between-group experimental design with 114 participants was conducted to test three groups;(1)a group using the mobile guide application as an information aid,(2)a control group (with no information aid), and(3)a group using pamphlets to explore the KOG. The Museum Experience Scale (MES) was used to evaluate visitors’ experience for all participants, whilst the Multimedia Guide Scale (MMGS) was used to evaluate the visitors’ experience with the mobile guide group. The most notable result from the Museum Experience Scale (MES) showed an impact on the visitors in terms of knowledge and learning when using the mobile guide application. However, the study found that enhancing visitors experience goes beyond simply providing interactive technologies in public settings to aid with information delivery. A limitation was providing relevant information in a timely and seamless manner due to inaccuracies of mapping between physical and digital environments. Future works should consider beacons and other Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology to address the issues with location based devices. It is also important to highlight that the use of one’s own device had a significant impact on learnability and control of the device, thus suggesting that the BYOD concept should be widely used in informal educational settings implementing mobile guide applications. The use of MES and MMGS informs future researches with an understanding of the different dimensions of visitors’ experiences with mobile guide technology in public spaces to inform mobile application development that may further boost visitors’ engagement, emotional connection, and meaningful experience.

The Unfair Selection: A Study on Skin-Color Bias in Arranged Indian Marriages

Underlying the growing popularity of skin-lightening or fairness cosmetics in India is one of the most baseless biases experienced and practiced. Yet, the overriding importance of skin-color especially in context of marriage has been largely unaddressed. This exploratory study examined the influence of skin-color on preference for potential marriage partner. A 2 × 2 (gender × skin-color) between-group experimental design was used. Mothers ( N = 108) of individuals of marriageable age group were presented with an option of five marital profiles containing education and work information only. The participants were shown profiles of either males or females depending on whether they had a son or a daughter. Once a profile was chosen, the participant was either shown a photograph of highly attractive fair girl/boy or a highly attractive dark girl/boy. The light-skinned and dark-skinned photograph was of the same person, except their skin tones were manipulated with the use of computer software. Participants were asked to rate how strongly would they recommend the girl/boy as potential bride/groom for their children. As expected, fair-skinned highly attractive people received higher ratings than dark-skinned highly attractive people. However, contrary to our expectations, ratings received for dark-skinned woman were not significantly lower than the ratings received for dark-skinned man. This study shows that the color of skin has the potential to even overpower traits such as general competency and physical attractiveness in both men and women.

Attitudes Toward Euthanasia for Patients Who Suffer From Physical or Mental Illness.

This study examined whether attitudes toward euthanasia vary with type of illness and with the source of the desire to end the patient's life. The study used a 3 (illness type: cancer, schizophrenia, depression) × 2 (euthanasia type: patient-initiated, family-initiated) between-groups experimental design. An online questionnaire was administered to 324 employees and students from a Australian public university following random assignment of participants to one of the six vignette-based conditions. Attitudes toward euthanasia were more positive for patients with a physical illness than a mental illness. For a patient with cancer or depression, but not schizophrenia, approval was greater for patient-, than, family-, initiated euthanasia. Relationships between illness type and attitudes were mediated by perceptions of patient autonomy and illness controllability. Findings have implications for debate, practices, and legislation regarding euthanasia.

IMPACT OF SELFDISCLOSURE AND AUTHENTICITY OF INFLUENCER ON CONSUMER REACTION FOCUSING ON MEDIATING EFFECT OF ENVY

In the world of SNS, once ordinary users get recognized for discriminated fashion taste, they affect other users’ choice of fashion products. Fashion companies capture the importance of these influencers and tries to take advantage of their ability. However, the benefits offered to influencers such as financial compensation may provoke negative consumer reactions. The purpose of this study is to identify what aspects of SNS influencers and how they influence other fashion consumers. We suggest that influencers’ self-disclosure and authenticity of posts are important factors which elicit positive response from consumers. We also investigate the psychological mechanism of envy which can mediate the impact of self-disclosure and authenticity on consumer response. This study was conducted by an online survey of 120 Korean women in their 20s and 30s with a 2 x 2 between-group experimental design. The data was collected from 28 November to 5 December 2016. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 23.0 for ANOVA analysis and regression analysis.The results were as follows. The main effect of authenticity was confirmed, while self-disclosure did not play a significant role, which indicates authenticity is the main factor in exercising influence on consumer response. The interaction of authenticity and self-disclosure was also observed. The participants of high in both self-disclosure and authenticity showed the strongest consumer reaction. However, the participants of high self-disclosure and low authenticity induced the weakest consumer response. For the impacts of self-disclosure and authenticity on envy, the participants exposed to the condition of both high self-disclosure and authenticity showed benign envy. On the other hand, malicious envy was aroused when both self-disclosure and authenticity were low. In relations between authenticity and consumer response, partial mediating effect of benign envy and malicious envy was confirmed. But, there was no mediating effect between self-disclosure and consumer response.This research on consumer response to influencers’ posts will provide key implications to fashion companies in building marketing strategies. In order for influencers' posts displaying their daily lives to have a positive impact on consumer response, not only self-disclosure but authenticity has to be considered. Such posts can induce benign envy and subsequently impact consumers indirectly. Influencers’ posts which narrow the gap between daily lives and products and raise the authenticity are important keys to successful marketing.

Does A Brief Mindfulness Intervention Impact Quiz Performance?

Mindfulness practices improve cognition, emotional balance, and well-being in clinical and non-clinical populations. The bulk of mindfulness research in higher education has focused on improving psychological and cognitive variables, leaving academic performance largely unexplored. We investigated the effects of a brief mindfulness intervention on quiz performance in two sections of an undergraduate upper-level human development class ( N = 67). We used a between-group experimental design (waiting control group) and compared student quiz scores. Students assigned to practice mindfulness performed better on the first two quizzes than the control group. When the control group received the mindfulness intervention, there was no significant difference on quiz performance between the two groups. Mindfulness training did not impact state mindfulness or exam scores. Taken together, our results suggest that small doses of mindfulness training can briefly enhance students' knowledge retention of lecture content.

Neurolinguistics and second language teaching: A view from the crossroads

The topic of this article is the link between research on the neurocognition of the teaching–acquisition interface and research on second language teaching. This recent scientific enterprise investigates whether and how different aspects of second language instruction may change both the anatomy and the functioning of an adult learner’s brain even in a short period of time. In this article, I analyse how neurolinguists have operationalized three aspects specifically related to second language teaching: (1) learners’ proficiency; (2) the between-groups experimental design; (3) the implicit vs. explicit teaching dichotomy. I suggest that the degree of replicability of such neurolinguistics studies can be increased by adopting non-circular operational definitions. Such definitions should not be based on psycholinguistic or neurolinguistic metrics, but on standards that are commonly discussed in the literature on instructed second language acquisition, second language teaching, and assessment. Finally, I suggest that for future research neurolinguists should consider the advantages of welcoming on board more developmental linguists and teachers.

Using Olfaction and Unpleasant Reminders to Reduce the Intention-behavior Gap in Hand Washing.

Lack of hand washing is a leading cause of food borne illnesses. To successfully increase hand hygiene compliance, interventions must have continual engagement with employees. This study used a real-time prospective memory (PM) scenario to measure the effectiveness of a control and sensory reminders of disgust to influence hand washing behavior and performance. First, a model of hand washing performance was built by having six participants’ hands contaminated with GermGlo (a florescent micro-particle) and then washed their hands using predetermined protocols while monitored by an electronic hand hygiene verification (HHV) system. Next, eighty Hispanic/Latino participants, in a between-group experimental design, performed a PM experiment while one of four reminders were present (hand washing poster, disgusting image, disgusting sound, and disgusting odor) as the HHV recorded their hand washing performance. Visual cues, typical of hand washing campaigns, were not as effective at increasing hand hygiene compliance as disgust-induced sensory cues. Furthermore, olfactory disgust showed a significantly higher probability that individuals would engage in hand washing behaviors than all other conditions. This study provides new insight into the effectiveness of different senses and emotion to reduce the intention-behavior gap associated with modifying behaviors, and broadens current PM research to a real-time application.

Hypnosis therapy using augmented reality technology: treatment for psychological stress and anxiety

This study identified a positive role of augmented reality (AR) hypnosis in the field of psychotherapy. The study utilised a 2 (gender: male vs. female) × 2 (hypnosis mode: AR hypnosis vs. ordinary hypnosis) between-groups experimental design. The psychological perception utility was significantly higher in females than in males, and the psychological perception utility of AR hypnosis was significantly higher than that of ordinary hypnosis. Differences existed between AR hypnosis and ordinary hypnosis for both males and females. The results show that AR hypnosis is effective in the psychotherapy of psychological stress and anxiety. This study serves as an important reference regarding psychotherapy based on AR.

Efecto del holograma Power Balance® sobre el equilibrio, la flexibilidad, la fuerza y la velocidad-coordinación en estudiantes universitarios (Effect of the Power Balance® hologram on balance, flexibility, strength and speed-coordination among university

Basados en el campo de energía del cuerpo, los inventores de Power Balance® han creado un holograma que teóricamente funciona a través de frecuencias que se encuentran en nuestro ambiente natural. Sus creadores aseguran que las personas podrían experimentar una mejora del equilibrio, fuerza, flexibilidad, resistencia, concentración, coordinación y tiempo de recuperación, entre otros. El propósito de la presente investigación será evaluar el efecto del holograma Power Balance® sobre el equilibrio, la flexibilidad, la fuerza y la velocidad-coordinación en estudiantes universitarios. Una muestra de 105 jóvenes voluntarios estudiantes universitarios de educación física (edad 20,91±3,36 años; masa 69,69±11,35 kg; talla 171,70±8,07 cm) fue utilizada. Un diseño experimental mixto con grupo control y a doble ciego fue usado para evaluar los posibles efectos del holograma Power Balance® sobre el equilibrio dinámico, la flexibilidad, la fuerza-resistencia abdominal y la velocidad-coordinación medidos con el Test de Equilibrio Dinámico, Sit and Reach, Abdominales en 30 s y Carrera de ida y vuelta 10 x 5 m, respectivamente. Una t de Student para muestras independientes y dependientes fue usada para evaluar los posibles efectos entre-grupo e intra-grupo, respectivamente. El holograma Power Balance® no produce efectos significativos sobre el equilibrio, la flexibilidad, la fuerza y la velocidad-coordinación en estudiantes universitarios. Palabra clave: Power Balance, Equilibrio Dinámico, Flexibilidad, Fuerza Resistencia, Velocidad-coordinación, Jóvenes.Abstract: Based on the body’s energy field, the inventors of Power Balance® have created a hologram that theoretically runs through frequencies that are in our natural environment. Its creators say that people may experience improve balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, concentration, coordination and recovery time, among others. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effect of Power Balance® hologram on balance, flexibility, strength and speed-coordination in university students. A sample of 105 young volunteers’ physical education students (age 20.91 ± 3.36 years, mass 69.69 ± 11.35 kg, height 171.70 ± 8.07 cm) was used. A between-group experimental design with double-blind control group was used to evaluate the possible effects of the Power Balance ® on the dynamic balance, flexibility, abdominal strength, endurance and speed-coordination measured with the Dynamic Balance Test, Sit and Reach, Sit-ups in 30 seconds and Race 10 x 5 m, respectively. A t of Student for independent and dependent samples was used to assess the potential effects between-group and intra-group, respectively. Power Balance®’s hologram produces no significant effects on the balance, flexibility, strength and speed-coordination among university students.Key words: Power Balance, Dynamic Balance, Flexibility, Endurance Strength, Speed-coordination, Young.

Does informal learning benefit from interactivity? The effect of trial and error on knowledge acquisition during a museum visit

Informal learning settings, such as museums and cultural heritage locations, have employed interactive mobile applications. Educators and museum curators recognise the value of interactivity, but the optimum level of interactivity in informal learning remains unclear. We developed an informal learning activity with quiz questions about art theory, which we integrated in a between-groups experimental design with three groups of high-school students at an art gallery. Each of the three groups received a different treatment: (a) an interactive mobile-based learning activity, (b) a paper-based version of the same learning activity, and (c) a self-guided museum tour. Students who enrolled with the interactive version showed higher performance in the post-assessment test when compared to the paper-based version. Notably, the benefits of the interactive version are attributed to the immediate feedback of the quiz application during the visit. Further research should perform similar controlled experiments in order to assess the learning benefit of more immersive interactive systems, such as three-dimensional graphics and augmented reality.