Communication Practices Research Articles

Multimodal Academic Discourse Socialization: Examining Geoscience Students’ Disciplinary Knowledge Construction and Socialization at a Canadian University

Abstract This ethnographic multiple-case study examines how undergraduate students are socialized into the disciplinary norms, values, and practices of a geoscience course at a Canadian university. Transcending logocentric assumptions about academic discourse, this article advances a broader domain of inquiry––multimodal academic discourse socialization––which foregrounds the polysemiotic nature of academic socialization. This approach examines not only linguistic but also a wider range of semiotic resources, including gestural, visual, material, and spatial ones, among others. To understand geoscientists’ disciplinary norms, values, and communicative practices, ethnographic data (classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, course-related artefacts) were thematically analysed. Focal students’ geoscience poster presentation performances were also analysed using multimodal interaction analysis to scrutinize micro-level instantiations of disciplinary practices. Findings highlight how students were socialized into geoscience ‘observations and interpretations’ through a recurrent multimodal classroom activity, which was also reflected in micro-level multimodal practices enacted in students’ geoscience poster presentations. This study emphasizes that multimodal enactments constitute a crucial dimension of disciplinary practices and values connected with learning to think, view, and represent knowledge as geoscientists.

Best Practices in Supporting Inpatient Communication With Technology During Visitor Restrictions: An Integrative Review.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers around the world have experimented with technologies to facilitate communication and care for patients and their care partners. Our team reviewed the literature to examine best practices in utilizing technology to support communication between nurses, patients, and care partners while visitation is limited. We searched four major databases for recent articles on this topic, conducted a systematic screening and review of 1902 articles, and used the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Model & Guidelines to appraise and translate the results of 23 relevant articles. Our evaluation yielded three main findings from the current literature: (1) Virtual contact by any technological means, especially video visitation, improves satisfaction, reduces anxiety, and is well-received by the target populations. (2) Structured video rounding provides effective communication among healthcare workers, patients, and offsite care partners. (3) Institutional preparation, such as a standardized checklist and dedicating staff to roles focused on facilitating communication, can help healthcare workers create environments conducive to therapeutic virtual communication. In situations that require healthcare facilities to limit visitation between patients and their care partners, the benefits of virtual visitation are evident. There is variance in the types of technologies used to facilitate virtual visits, but across all of them, there are consistent themes demonstrating the benefits of virtual visits and virtual rounding. Healthcare institutions can prepare for future limited-visitation scenarios by reviewing the current evidence and integrating virtual visitation into modern healthcare delivery.

Communication and engagement for basic science: insights and practical considerations

Basic research underpins the innovations that power the global economy and shape society. It is the focus of scientific investment for both The Kavli Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Yet it has been rare to see basic research command much attention, practice, or scholarship in science communication. In December 2020, we launched the Science Public Engagement Partnership, or SciPEP, a limited term public-private partnership, to dive into basic science communication headlong. Our work through SciPEP has led to new insights about audiences’ relationship to basic science, as well as the needs and interests of those who communicate basic research. We see a path forward that involves forging more partnerships between scholars who study science communication and practitioners of basic science communication.

Medical Team Practices and Interpreter Alterations on Family-Centered Rounds.

Robust evidence demonstrates inequities in communication during family-centered rounds for families who use a language other than English (LOE) for health care. This study aimed to characterize the type of interpreter alterations occurring on family-centered rounds and identify medical team communication practices associated with alterations. In this observational study of interpreter-supported family-centered rounds, we recorded and transcribed family-centered rounds encounters for Spanish-speaking families. We assessed measures of medical team communication behaviors and interpreter alterations (omissions, additions, and substitutions) using previously described instruments. We used a content analysis approach to apply defined codes to each interpreted segment and to characterize the nature of interpreter alterations. We assessed the association between medical team communication behaviors and interpreter alterations using χ2 tests. We recorded, transcribed, and coded 529 interpreted segments of 10 family-centered rounds encounters. At least 1 alteration was present in 72% (n = 382/529) of interpreted segments. Omissions were the most common alteration (n = 242/529, 46%) followed by substitutions (n = 177/529, 34%) and additions (n = 71/529, 13%). Interpretation resulted in a potentially negative alteration in 29% (n = 155/529) and a positive alteration in 9% (n = 45/529) of segments. Greater number of sentences in the segment preceding interpretation was associated with an increase in loss of information (P < .001), loss of social support (P = .003), and loss of partnership (P = .020). To improve communication with families that use an LOE, medical teams must abide by best practices for using an interpreter such as frequent pausing to prevent loss of both biomedical and psychosocial information.

Moral challenges and understanding of clinical ethics in Tanzanian hospitals: Perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Healthcare professionals encounter many moral challenges in their daily clinical practice. However, there have been few studies on the subject matter in Tanzania. This study aims to provide an account of moral challenges faced by healthcare professionals in Tanzanian hospitals, their understanding of clinical ethics, and the ethics education they have received. Many participants reported receiving some kind of ethics training through formal education and on-the-job training. Some participants understood ethics in healthcare settings as adherence to established laws, regulations, guidelines, procedures, norms, and rules essential in clinical practice. Analysis of the data identified four themes of moral challenges. These challenges are related to 1) decision-making and communication in clinical practice, 2) scarcity of medical resources and prioritization in clinical practice, 3) withdrawal of curative treatment, and 4) conflicts between professional judgment, religious convictions and adherence to alternative treatments. Based on the findings, we suggest a context-sensitive form of clinical ethics training to prepare healthcare professionals to recognize and address these moral challenges.

The Impact of Strategic Leadership on the Advancement of SMEs in Rwanda

Small and medium-sized enterprises commonly referred to as SMEs are important in the 21st century research since they have stood out as the core players in ensuring economic growth, innovation and job creation in the 21st century's rapidly evolving global economy. The study was carried with the general aim of examining the impact of strategic leadership on the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda. The specific objectives of the study were: to examine the extent to which strategy formulation and planning influences the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda; to establish how strategic communication influences the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda; and to find out the influence of strategy evaluation of the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda. The study adopted a descriptive research design. A total of 500 headers of the SMEs in Kigali Rwanda classified as manufacturing, processing and service SMEs were chosen and a sample size of 150 used with a response rate from the questions used in data collection being 135 translating to 90% return rate. Results indicated that as the per the regression model, it is indicated that 25.8% (R2 =0.568) advancement on SMEs in Rwanda can be explained by a combined effect of the three variables of strategic leadership including strategic formulation/planning, strategic communication and strategic evaluations. This is clear indication of a strong predictive power of the independent variables of the dependent variable SMEs advancement. More narrowly, Strategy Formulation and Planning (B = 0.285, p &lt; 0.001) significantly influenced SME development when controlling for a co-efficient of R2 =.306, suggesting that by optimizing their planning practices an increase in such operations is causally related to greater performance of SME. This factor explained 30.6% of the total variance in SME progression. SME Advancement was likewise influenced significantly by Strategic Communication (B = 0.337, p &lt; 0.001) having the highest Beta borrowed value of 0.353 as summarized in Table 9. Better communication practices (defined as clear, consistent messaging and stakeholder engagement) explain 35.3% of the variation in SME growth and development. SME: Strategy Evaluation (B = 0.391, p &lt; 0.001) had the highest effect in SME advancement with Beta value of 0.376 This means that being continually evaluated and corrected according to performance indicators are one of the significant factors in SME success. It was the most powerful predictor of SME advancement, explaining 37.6% of variance in SME advancement. When the hypotheses were tested, the conclusions were made that: H1: There is a significant relationship between strategy formulation and planning and the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda. Result: Accepted (B = 0.285, p &lt; 0.001). Also, as per H2: There is a significant relationship between strategic communication and the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda. Result: Accepted (B = 0.337, p &lt; 0.001). Finally, H3: There is a significant relationship between strategy evaluation and the advancement of SMEs in Rwanda. Result: Accepted (B = 0.391, p &lt; 0.001). Based on these research findings, the study recommends that SMEs in Rwanda should invest in comprehensive strategy formulation processes, implement effective communication systems, continuously evaluate their strategic initiatives, and adopt innovative technologies to enhance their competitiveness and ensure sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving business environment.

Communicative Practices and Cultural Challenges in Kurikulum Merdeka: The District Teachers’ Voice

Kurikulum Merdeka, implemented across schools in Indonesia, emphasizes the development of students' communicative competence through a more flexible and contextual approach. However, its implementation faces significant challenges, particularly due to cultural differences across regions. This study aims to explore the cultural challenges faced by district teachers and to what extend fostering students' communicative practices in line with the new curriculum demands. It includes 50 English teachers from the Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP) Bahasa Inggris kabupaten Gowa, or English Teachers Assembly of Gowa District, representing diverse backgrounds and experiences. Data collection included surveys (n=50) using a Likert scale questionnaire and semi-structured interviews (n=6) constructed according to Han (2022) and Lei &amp; Medwell (2022). The study reveals communicative practices show moderate implementation with meaningful communicative practices (mean=3.37), humanistic values and learner autonomy (mean=3.66), and cooperative learning (mean=3.48). The highest approval is in adopting a task-based approach (mean=4.00). Cultural challenges in contextual alignment is strongly emphasized (mean=4.18), highlighting the importance of aligning educational practices with local contexts. Recommendations include targeted professional development, promoting collaborative learning, establishing clear assessment frameworks, leveraging technology for resource sharing, and strengthening local community partnerships.

Exploring and assessing issue communication – issue communication practices and consequences of issue response strategies for organizational reputation and legitimacy

PurposeAlthough issue management has received ample attention, changes in the media landscape and increased societal scrutiny are currently challenging organizations’ communicative handling of issues. This raises the question of how communication professionals currently perceive and communicatively deal with issues, and what impact issue response strategies have when organizations are addressed regarding their involvement in an issue.Design/methodology/approachWe explore issue communication perceptions and practices by communication professionals in two focus groups. A subsequent experimental study assesses the consequences of issue response strategies for corporate reputation and legitimacy and examines to what extent this relationship can be explained by skepticism while taking issue phase into account.FindingsAlthough most issue communication practices (still) resemble earlier descriptions, the focus groups also indicate the importance of timing and medium of issue communication. The experiment shows that organizations are better off responding to an issue than not responding at all. Organizations should choose for an accommodative or adaptive response to positively impact reputation and legitimacy, and should be aware of the phase of an issue. Remarkably, these empirical differences only apply for a sustainability issue, not for a social issue.Originality/valueThe focus group study illuminates current issue monitoring and communication practices in today’s challenging media and societal landscape. The subsequent experiment enhances our understanding of a sub-field of issue communication: the communicative options of organizations when they are the addressed actor in issues.

What are we talking about when we are talking about the audience? Exploring the concept of audience in science communication research and education.

The concept of 'audience' is central to research and practice in science communication. When asked by a scientist for help communicating their work, who among us has not responded with the time honoured question 'who is your audience?' Yet what we mean when we talk about audience is not always clear: implied and ambiguous, rather than explicit and precise. This article explores this ambiguity, drawing on a systematic review of 1360 science communication research articles and a survey of 45 science communication educators. We report 10 different conceptualisations, in three groups. Being conceptualisations include 'Demographic', 'Knowledge', 'Values' and 'Embodied'; Doing conceptualisations include 'Interaction' and 'Dynamic'. In Qualifiers, we found 'Diverse', 'Potential', 'Plural' and 'General' conceptualisations. These data allow tracking of how we have conceptualised audience over time, an understanding of the groups systematically under-serviced, and a pathway to a richer discussion of this key concept for our field.

Human agility management in Thai SMEs: A catalyst for enhancing employee value proposition

This study investigates the application of Operational Agility Management in Thai SMEs, examining its impact on Employee Dynamic Capability and the resulting Employee Value Proposition. Using a quantitative approach with a questionnaire survey targeted at Thai SME executives, the research analyzes the relationships between “Value of Work”, “Goal Orientation”, and “Network Communication” as independent variables, “Employee Dynamic Capability” as a mediating variable, and “Employee Value Proposition” as the dependent variable. The findings reveal that Thai Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) struggle particularly with “Network Communication” in enhancing their “Employee Value Proposition”, primarily due to their predominant hierarchical command structure. This challenge highlights the need for Thai SMEs to reassess their organizational structures and communication practices to improve employee dynamic capabilities and overall employee value proposition. The study provides novel insights into the application of Operational Agility Management in Thai SMEs, bridging the gap between high-performance management theories and the practical realities faced by SMEs in unpredictable business environments, thus offering a unique perspective on cultivating employee dynamic capabilities in this setting.

The Role of Workplace Communication on Employees’ Performance in Tanzania: A Case of Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO)

Effective workplace communication is pivotal in enhancing employee performance, particularly in today's global business environment characterized by diversity and remote work dynamics. This study aimed to examine the role of workplace communication on employee performance within Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), focusing on how communication influences job correctness, decision-making, planning, and overall employee productivity. The study utilized a descriptive research design to collect data. A total of 36 participants were sampled using simple random. Data were gathered through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS for quantitative data insights. The findings indicate a significant correlation between effective communication and enhanced employee performance. Specifically, open communication with supervisors was strongly linked to increased job correctness and performance (mean = 4.81). Communication was also found to facilitate decision-making and planning (mean = 3.53), and there was a recognized relationship between effective communication and overall employee performance (mean = 3.97). However, the traditional top-down communication approach was noted, with a mean score of 3.65, suggesting areas for improvement in adopting more inclusive communication practices. The study confirms the critical role of effective workplace communication in enhancing employee performance at TANESCO. Open and transparent communication, particularly with supervisors, significantly contributes to job accuracy and employee productivity. The study recommends that TANESCO implements structured programs to foster open dialogue, develops comprehensive communication strategies that balance hierarchical and inclusive approaches, and invests in regular training and assessment of communication practices. Additionally, adopting an 'open door' policy and engaging in active listening are suggested to enhance the communication framework within the organization.

The Role of Kinesics in the Formation of Idiomatic Expressions in Russian and English

The article explores the influence of kinesic phenomena, such as gestures and body movements, on the development of idiomatic expressions in both languages. It examines how culturally specific gestures and physical actions are verbalized and incorporated into idiomatic phrases, reflecting the unique cultural perceptions and communicative practices of Russian and English speakers. By conducting a comparative linguistic analysis, the study identifies similarities and differences in the way kinesics is integrated into idiomatic expressions, highlighting the role of nonverbal communication in language formation and its impact on the semantic richness of idioms. The findings of this research underscore the importance of understanding the cultural and linguistic contexts in which idiomatic expressions are used, offering insights for translators, linguists, and intercultural communication specialists.

The Influence of Communication Practices on Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Matuga Sub- County, Kwale County, Kenya

The Influence of Communication Practices on Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools: A Case Study of Matuga Sub- County, Kwale County, Kenya

Personal Values and Their Impact on the Opinion Leadership of Managers and Employees in Internal Communication

ABSTRACT Opinion leaders play a prominent role in the internal communication network of organizations, although the concept and its drivers have rarely been addressed in internal communication research. Based on a representative online survey of 1,030 managers and employees in German private and public corporations, this paper analyzes the impact of personal values on the opinion leadership of managers and employees. The results show that specific personal values positively predict opinion leadership and particularly harmonizing behavior, with some differences between managers and employees. Theoretical and empirical implications for internal communication research and practice are discussed.

Survival and Distinctiveness: The Impulses Shaping the Communication Practices and Rhetorical Strategies in Hunger Relief Organizations

ABSTRACT Nonprofit organizations exist in a unique tension between survival and distinctiveness. Relying on interviews with staff members at hunger relief nonprofit organizations, we investigate how these nonprofits’ communication and rhetorical practices are being shaped by the tension between survival and distinctiveness, as well as the pressures/impulses of civic action, voluntarism, professionalism, and commercialism. Ultimately, we present a more nuanced understanding of how technical communication happens within nonprofits, specifically within the hunger relief sector, as well as offer takeaways for researchers, instructors, students, and community partners.

The what and how of warning messages: An experimental examination of instructing information and linguistic features use

AbstractWe conducted a between‐subjects experiment (N = 1626) to examine the effects of instructing information, an important theoretical keystone in crisis communication research, in predicting two key outcomes in the literature—protective behavioral intentions and message retransmission intentions. Given the communicative context, high‐impact weather warnings, we additionally considered the moderating role of linguistic features use in predicting these outcomes. Based upon theory and research in this area, we examined the mediating roles of self‐efficacy and perceived instructing information in predicting protective behavioral intentions and message retransmission intentions, respectively. Results mainly support our hypotheses. The instructing information conditions predicted the proposed intervening variable, which in turn predicted both outcomes. Linguistic features use moderated the direct effect of instructing information in predicting protective behavioral intentions, but not message retransmission intentions. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for crisis communication theory and practice.

Need for Human Interaction and Acknowledging Communication-An Interview Study With Patients With Aphasia Following Stroke.

To explore stroke patients' experiences of the communicative practice during their hospitalisation and describe strategies and supporting communication techniques applied by patients and nursing staff from the patient's perspective. A qualitative descriptive study was undertaken. A qualitative approach was chosen; through a purposeful sample strategy, 13 semi-structed interviews with 12 patients who had aphasia following stroke, and one patient had dysarthria. The interviews were video-recorded and partially transcribed. Data were analysed according to Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis. Interview data were collected in 2022. The analysis generated one overarching theme; Being acknowledged as an equal human being as it appeared to be a pervasive and underlying trait across the four categories; Waking up to a new communicative reality, A task-oriented communicative agenda, Misunderstandings as a communicative dead end and Establishing a communication-friendly environment: peace, patience and supporting techniques, describing the immediate and descriptive level. The patients did not seem to encounter a systematic approach to communication. They perceived the health care staff's communication as primarily task and purpose-oriented, lacking deeper conversations, which seemed to leave several with unmet emotional and psychological needs. Emotional, relational and existential aspects seemed interwoven in communication. These findings contribute by illuminating an important patient perspective and ultimately, raising the point that from the perspective of patients the nursing staff's communication was primarily task and purpose oriented, and they lacked deeper conversations. Hence also raises the point that the use of supportive communication strategies alone will allow nursing staff to meet the existential needs of patients with aphasia. Supported communication needs to address compassionate and acknowledging aspects of communication. No Patient or Public Contribution in this paper.

‘There is so much we can learn from the mistakes of Covid-19’: service provider recommendations for more accessible crisis communication in multicultural Australia

ABSTRACT This paper presents the findings of a qualitative, reflexive investigation into the challenges facing Australia’s migrant and refugee communities when engaging with mediated communication during global crisis events. Informed through a Culture-Centred Approach, I present an interpretive thematic analysis of interview and focus group discussion with 16 service providers and community leaders who supported migrant and refugee communities during the Covid-19 pandemic in Melbourne, Australia. Participants discussed significant problems concerning the accessibility of Covid-related communication, noting numerous health equity implications, which many described as heightened for migrant and/or refugee communities with disabilities. These findings lend further credence to calls for more intersectional and participatory research and practice approaches, with participants advocating strategies that centre the embodied expertise of people with direct experience of both racialised exclusion and health inequity. I discuss these recommendations with careful consideration of documented challenges in global efforts to inform crisis communication scholarship, policy, and practice.

Buddhist participatory communication for rural development: a comparative analysis of case studies in Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Thailand and lessons learned for Vietnam

ABSTRACT Religion, the foundation of all cultures, can serve as a potential substitute for participatory communication and rural community development. This paper attempts to (1) analyse how the Buddhist approach is integrated into development communication initiatives in three countries, namely Sri Lanka, Lao PDR and Thailand, (2) identify the key principles and values of Buddhist philosophy that inform development communication practices in these countries, (3) examine similarities and differences in the Buddhist-based development initiatives and projects conducted in the three countries and (4) provide insights and recommendations for Vietnam through analysing how Buddhist-inspired approaches to development communication have been conceptualised and implemented in these Asian nations by making use of comparative case studies research method. The study reveals that while these initiatives share a philosophical basis centred on Buddhism and local culture integration where Buddhist monks/nuns play important roles, they vary notably in the methods applied due to differences in cultural context. This comparative analysis aims to inform future endeavours in Vietnam and beyond, advocating for culturally sensitive and spiritually grounded approaches to rural development.

Neural Network Algorithms in Current Processes of Transformation of Traditional Worldview and Ideological Systems.

This study is devoted to identifying potential risks, challenges, and threats of intensive development and active implementation of artificial intelligence technologies and in particular self-learning neural network algorithms in the current practice of socio-political communications associated with active information impact on mass consciousness. This study proves that contemporary digital technological transformations and the active spread of digital technologies most directly influence the transformation of traditional worldview systems and ideologies. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that with the help of digital tools, there is a significant information and communication impact on mass consciousness in terms of influencing traditional worldview and ideological systems. In this regard, the author puts forward the thesis about the need to form and maintain the digital sovereignty of contemporary states as a key conclusion. It is viewed as a critical condition for preserving and protecting national worldview and ideological spaces in the conditions of current global technological transformations