Informal Interactions Research Articles

Tackling nomophobia: the influence of support systems and organizational practices

ABSTRACT This study investigates the growing issue of nomophobia, characterized by the anxiety of being without a mobile phone, in the workplace. Utilizing the broaden-and-build theory, this research examines the impact of supportive leadership, co-worker support, Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, and affective commitment on reducing nomophobia among employees. Data were collected from 393 employees across various educational organizations. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings reveal that supportive leadership significantly reduces nomophobia by enhancing HRM practices and affective commitment. However, contrary to expectations, co-worker support was found to increase nomophobia, suggesting that informal communication and social interactions via mobile devices might exacerbate smartphone dependency. HRM practices emerged as a critical factor in mitigating nomophobia, more so than affective commitment. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the complex dynamics of workplace relationships and offering practical insights for organizations aiming to reduce nomophobia and improve employee well-being.

A Comparative Study of Turn-Taking in Arabic and English Conversations: Implications for Language Learners

Early work in conversation analysis focused primarily on English conversations. During the past 20 years, conversation analysts started to investigate informal verbal interaction within communities with a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds (Sidnell, 2007). Although comparative studies have examined a wide range of languages, there seems to be no emphasis on Arabic conversations. This study aims to explore whether there are differences between informal Arabic and English conversations turn-taking system. Six participants, three native Arabic speakers and three native speakers of English, took place in this study. Data were collected through audio recording; seventeen minutes for Arabic conversations and 20 minutes for the English conversation. The study revealed that there were no major differences between Arabic and English informal conversations in terms of the turn-taking system. While English speakers used more filling words such as “mm”, “yeh”, and “so” to keep the conversation going, both Arabic and English speakers aimed to minimize the gap and overlap. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of cross-cultural interactions and offer implications for language teaching and learning.

What matters most to the perception of community resilience in Romania?

We aim to measure and explain the perception of community resilience in Romania. We use survey data from a country-representative sample of 1500 respondents. We rely on factor-based partial least squares path modeling to measure five reflective latent constructs from a CCRAM-type questionnaire. We use these constructs to extract a second-order formative latent construct representing an overall measure of community resilience. Next, we use three sub-dimensions of family resilience, along with individual resilience and several control variables to explain community resilience. Among the five sub-dimensions of the overall measure of community resilience, social trust exerts the highest contribution, followed by place attachment. The predictors of community resilience with the largest effect sizes are the three sub-dimensions of family resilience. The policies geared towards increasing community resilience might not be able to address the most important factors, at least in the case of Romania, because they pertain to informal group interaction, and lie outside the reach of formal administrative authority.

Exploring employment (de-)routinisation, premature deindustrialisation, and informal labour interactions: Evidence from Morocco

Exploring employment (de-)routinisation, premature deindustrialisation, and informal labour interactions: Evidence from Morocco

Enhancing Real-world Language Skills through Clil: A Study on Language Mastery and Everyday Applications

The study investigates how Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) enhances language proficiency and its practical application in professional, social and cultural contexts. The research aims to explore how CLIL impacts real-world language use by integrating subject-specific content with language learning. Using a mixed-methods approach involving 270 students, 12 educators and 3 curriculum developers across three educational institutions, data was gathered through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Key findings indicate that CLIL significantly improves students' communication confidence, particularly in professional and social settings and fosters greater intercultural competence. Students reported higher confidence in using language in everyday situations, including formal communication and informal social interactions. However, challenges such as the need for enhanced teacher training and alignment of resources and curricula were also identified. These findings provide important insights for educators and policymakers by demonstrating the potential of CLIL to transform language education, making it more relevant and applicable to real-life contexts. With adequate support and resources, CLIL can enhance language proficiency and intercultural skills, equipping learners to thrive in diverse social and professional environments.

The origins of ADNI.

A brief history of events surrounding the conceptualization and original implementation of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) as a public-private partnership (PPP) is provided from the perspective of three individuals directly involved from the outset. Potential barriers and how they were addressed are summarized, especially the decision to make all data freely accessible in real-time. Decisions made at the beginning of ADNI are revisited in light of what has been learned over the past 20 years, especially the importance of the investment in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood measures and the commitment to data sharing. The key elements of ADNI's success from the authors' perspective are also summarized. HIGHLIGHTS: Informal interactions among colleagues were the beginning of something big. An NIH Director's personal decision on open data sharing has had perhaps the greatest impact of any single decision in the past several decades in terms of advancing clinical biomarker research. After 20 years, blood-based biomarkers of brain disease may soon take the place of brain imaging for purposes of diagnosis and drug development.

Strengthening Business Collaborations in the Sidoarjo District MSME Community

Background: Effective communication is vital for group dynamics within communities, particularly in business networks. Specific Background: This study focuses on the communication practices of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) community. Knowledge Gap: While prior research exists, the dynamics of information sharing in such informal settings have not been thoroughly examined. Aims: The research aimed to analyze communication dynamics within an MSME community and identify factors affecting interaction. Results: Findings indicate that informal interactions strengthen relationships and enhance partnership potential, yet information sharing remains limited, with only a few members actively disseminating business-related news. Novelty: This study emphasizes the significance of informal communication in building relationships while highlighting the need for improved information dissemination. Implications: Recommendations include fostering a more flexible communication environment to enhance collaboration and information exchange within MSME communities. Highlights : Informal Interactions: Foster strong relationships among community members. Limited Information Sharing: Only a few members actively disseminate relevant business news. Need for Flexibility: A more inclusive communication environment is essential for collaboration. Keywords: communication, MSMEs, information sharing, community dynamics, partnerships

Giving space for self-direction

Abstract This article examines the sanctioning of problem behavior during family breakfasts. Such sanctionings are commonly initiated with declarative TCUs. These declarative TCUs work as a vehicle for flagging the problem, and thereby occasion behavior modification ‘indirectly’. While declaratives canonically ‘inform’, it will be shown that not all declarative TCUs in sanctioning turns are well analyzed as ‘informing’. What they share is an orientation to the wrongdoer’s agency: They give space for the other person to adjust their behavior ‘themselves’, without having been told to. The prioritization of flagging a problem (as opposed to telling the other what to do) is explored on the basis of sanctioning moves that are built with both an imperative and a declarative TCU. Both distributional and qualitative (self-repair) data support the analysis of a preference for self-direction (Hepburn, 2020). Data are in German and come from the Parallel European Corpus of Informal Interaction.

How does interprofessional education affect attitudes towards interprofessional collaboration? A rapid realist synthesis.

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in healthcare is regarded as important by professionals, as it increases the quality of care while decreasing costs. Interprofessional education (IPE) is a prerequisite for IPC and influences learners' attitudes, knowledge, and collaboration skills. Since attitudes shape behavior, understanding how they are formed is crucial for influencing IPC in learners' professional practice. We investigated what kind of IPE works, for which students, how, and in what circumstances to develop positive attitudes towards IPC. Using realist synthesis, we extracted causal mechanisms that produce positive attitude outcomes and the conducive contexts that trigger them. Our analysis resulted in six plausible context-mechanism-outcome configurations that explain positive attitude development. Positive IPC attitudes are more likely to arise in contexts where IPE provides time and facilities for formal and informal interactions, as this allows learners to get to know each other both professionally and personally, fostering trust, respect, and mutual liking. Additionally, positive attitudes are more likely in contexts where the IPE curriculum is perceived as career-relevant and boosts confidence. Key mechanisms of positive attitude development include getting to know the other learners professionally and personally, experiencing positive affect during IPE, and learners experiencing mutual dependence. Sustained positive attitudes are more likely to develop when there is organizational support for IPC and professionals attend IPE on an ongoing basis, allowing the attitudes and values expected in IPC to be positively reinforced and eventually integrated into the learners' personal value system.

They Do Not Eat a Wife’s Beauty: The Ethnopragmatics of Bette Proverbial Personal Names

Names and naming practices convey various nuances of meaning in the Bette sociocultural setting. Against this significant backdrop, this study examines proverbial names as figurative and overt communicative strategies among the Bette people of northern Cross River State in south-eastern Nigeria. The qualitative data were elicited through semi-structured interviews and informal interactions from purposively selected twenty name-givers and ten name-bearers of Bette proverbial names. Data were analysed using the ethnopragmatic theory, an approach to language study that sees culture as playing a central explanatory role in meaning-making. Besides functioning as discursive strategies through which people’s worldview is embedded, proverbial names serve as sociocultural sites through which interpersonal relationships are performatively constructed and maintained. This study enriches our understanding of how the Bette people use proverbial names as tools of social control to perform gender, strengthen communal bonds, enhance peaceful coexistence, and enact Indigenous worldview among themselves.

Diversity as Capital? Marginalized Identities and Subtle Inequality in Data Journalism

ABSTRACT This study examines the intersectional dynamics of gender, socio-economic status, and migration history in data journalism, applying Bourdieu’s field theory to explore how capital is accumulated and how social change can be pursued. Through in-depth interviews with 13 German-speaking data journalists with marginalized identities, the study reveals that their capital accumulation reflects adherence to existing norms and does not automatically lead to transformative agency. Minority characteristics can enhance symbolic capital through increased recognition in specific contexts, but these same characteristics also hinder the accumulation of economic, social, and cultural capital due to smaller networks and lack of social or cultural fit. Due to the paradoxical function of minority characteristics for capital accumulation, data journalists often adopt strategies to fit in by selectively revealing their minority identities. Yet, interviewed data journalists experience subtle discrimination in informal interactions, such as casual conversations with colleagues. While the data journalists want to increase diversity in who participates in playing the field, transformative change remains limited as these journalists primarily focus on succeeding within existing structures rather than altering them. The study advocates for newsroom diversity initiatives that go beyond mere representation, emphasizing the need to share responsibility for inclusivity across all newsroom members.

Managing supply chain disruptions in the construction industry: an institutional approach

Purpose This study aimed to explore the institutional theory as a lens for investigating how construction firms adapt to supply chain disruptions. Specifically, the paper evaluates the interactions and interdependencies amongst various organizations, participants and institutions in the construction industry as a basis for a holistic, adaptive response strategy for managing supply chain disruptions. Design/methodology/approach Following the tenets of relativist philosophy and qualitative research methodology, this study explores the lived experiences of senior-level managers across major construction firms in New Zealand through in-depth semi-structured interviews, as a basis for understanding how their respective organizations adapt to supply chain disruptions. Findings The research findings suggest that aside from the formal rules that guide the conduct of construction firms as they adapt to supply chain disruptions, informal interactions that exist amongst various organizations and players in the construction industry could also enhance the development of innovative and practical response strategies to supply chain disruptions. Originality/value This study makes original empirical contributions to the supply chain management literature by providing insights into how construction firms demonstrate normative, coercive and mimetic isomorphic tendencies amidst the complexity of supply chain disruptions. Insights from this study could enhance the adaptive response of construction firms to supply chain disruptions while also improving the overall resilience of the built environment.

Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme: An Overview.

To address the challenges posed by the globalization of regulatory agencies, it is essential to harmonize regulatory requirements, assess Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance, license production facilities, manage product recalls, and improve information exchange. The Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) provides a robust framework for tackling these global issues. Through the PIC/S GMP Forum, PIC/S facilitates informal interactions among non-member authorities, professionals, and various organizations with the Committee, fostering networking and collaboration. Furthermore, PIC/S has developed a comprehensive guide on GMP requirements for inspectorates and organizations, ensuring consistent standards across borders. The scheme collaborates with other organizations to enhance and complement collective efforts. With 56 countries involved in PIC/S, whether as members or through the Accession and Pre-Accession Process, the exchange of inspection reports among authorities verifies compliance with PIC/S standards, leading to fewer and more targeted inspections and reducing redundancy. This study's purpose is to establish uniform GMP standards by providing extensive training for inspectors and promoting collaboration and networking among regional and international bodies, regulatory authorities, and other relevant organizations. This approach seeks to build trust in inspections, optimize resource use, and foster a more efficient regulatory environment. Through these efforts, PIC/S continues to play a pivotal role in advancing global pharmaceutical regulatory practices.

How Do Formal and Informal Practices and the Interactions Between Stakeholders Shape the Formation of Host Event Zones?

Researchers primarily focus on the formal practices used by event organizers to establish temporary spaces like Host Event Zones, characterized as a unilateral process that ignores community interests. Yet little research investigates both the formal and informal interactions between stakeholders. Interviews with London 2012 senior organizers after the “fog of organizing” has lifted–and without political pressure to toe‐the‐line–reveals how two‐way dialogue was facilitated through various communicative mechanisms, from “road shows” to more inclusive Olympic Organizing Committee meetings. This counters previous arguments and contributes new knowledge by revealing–and more accurately representing–how event zones are cocreated through negotiation between the event and community. Consequently, scholars should be wary of extrapolating from formal practices on paper and interrogate the more complex and messy informalities of planning to improve veracity of claim(s).

People, Places, and Perceptions: Assessing Spatial Quality Attributes of Urban Third-place With Projective Survey

Urban third places, such as cafes, parks, and plazas, are integral to the social fabric of urban environments, providing spaces for informal social interaction outside of home and work. This study explores the spatial quality attributes that define these third places and their influence on user perceptions and experiences. By employing a projective survey, a qualitative research method utilizing ambiguous stimuli to reveal deeper user sentiments, the research identifies key characteristics that contribute to the desirability of these spaces. Findings highlight the significance of physical, functional, and social dimensions, including furniture design, spatial layout, and opportunities for social interaction. These attributes are shown to vary significantly across different age groups, with notable differences in preferences between younger and older participants. The study's insights inform urban designers and architects on creating inclusive, vibrant third places that enhance urban livability and economic vitality. The research underscores the need for a human-centric approach in urban design, emphasizing the importance of accommodating diverse user needs and preferences to foster a sense of community and well-being in urban settings. By understanding the nuanced relationships between spatial attributes and user perceptions, the study contributes to the development of more effective urban design strategies.

Students’ informal learning interactions in health professions education: insights from a qualitative synthesis

ABSTRACT Despite being recognised as complementary to formal learning, informal learning is not yet well understood. Using a qualitative synthesis approach, we systematically reviewed how students’ informal learning interactions are represented in health professions education research. Thirty-five articles were identified. Our three-stage analysis identified five themes: (1) conceptualisations and theoretical underpinning; (2) the what of informal learning; (3) contextualised and relational (the where and how); (4) enablers and threats; and (5) capabilities and dispositions that help make learning happen. The findings suggest that scholars need deeper engagement with concepts and theories related to informal learning; and greater attention is required to develop learner capabilities and dispositions, such as agency. Furthermore, there needs to be an increase in the connections between formal and informal learning, as the content often left to chance opportunities in informal learning contexts is too important not to be designed for and embedded in formal education.

Does compliance imply openness? An institutional analysis of open government reforms in three municipalities in Chile

Does compliance with open government reforms imply openness? Based on an institutional framework, this article analyses the implementation of two open government reforms – the Access to Information and Citizen Participation laws – in three Chilean municipalities. The results suggest that how formal rules interact with informal strategies could explain the different outcomes of open government reforms and that compliance does not necessarily lead to openness. In contrast, the complexity of formal and informal interaction, defined by the strength of formal laws and their convergence with local informality, can produce counterproductive results on local governance.

Pentingnya keterbukaan dan kejujuran dalam presentasi diri: Studi eksplorasi pengguna aplikasi Tinder

Humans realize the importance of having a partner. However, the process in achieving this goal is challenging. Online dating became a medium to build romantic relationships that can be done easily through an application. The recognition process between users starts with liking each other's profiles which is assisted by an algorithmic system. So, it is important for users to present themselves properly on their profile. This study aims to see how the user's self-presentation is formed. Through a thematic analysis of the results of a questionnaire involving 383 Tinder online dating users, it was found that actual self-presentation is an important point for online dating users who emphasize aspects of honesty and openness. Differences in the motivation of online dating users do not lead to different self-presentation views between them. Moreover, the actual self in online dating profiles is displayed selectively taking into account the climate of informal interaction on Tinder.

Leaked (Political) Telephone Conversation in Bangladesh: A Conversation Analysis

The paper analyses a selected number of ‘leaked’ telephone conversations by some political figures of Bangladesh. The analyses are rooted in the ideals of conversation analysis (CA), particularly in the CA of telephone interaction. Leaked conversations are politically sensitive, and thus are rarely discussed in the academia. The data for this study is, however, collected from an open source, i.e., YouTube on which the conversations were circulated. The aim of the study is to examine the organizational structure of the telephone conversations carried out by political figures, i.e., political telephone conversation (PTC). The paper explains how individual political actors conduct formal and informal interactions over telephone as they discuss different sensitive issues in relation to politics and society. The paper investigates how the politicians open and close their talk, maintain adjacency pairs, and construct topics as they legitimize their arguments within a conversation. The findings of this paper are expected to contribute to a better understanding of how we can analyze and comprehend the organization of political conversations through the mechanisms of conversation analysis, and at the same time to provide a helpful documentation for further research on this ‘highly neglected’ field.

Governing transit and irregular migration: informality and formal policies

ABSTRACT Informality has attracted significant attention in migration studies, yet a fresh look is needed given the succession of world crises over the past 15 years and the increasing use of informality to deal with them. This special issue considers informality as practices of governance that supplement, substitute, replace or operate beyond formal rules. It focuses on dissecting the governance of transit and irregular migration in the liminal space between formal policies and informal practices, and focuses on three major questions: Why and how has migration governance experienced informality’s expansion in policies and practices? What are the drivers, sites, temporalities, and implications of such an expansion? How do power relations among different stakeholders affect such governance compared to normative and institutional logics? This special issue ventures beyond existing constatations that the formal and informal are entangled. A core assertion is that informality can be a deeper structuring force, because informal interactions repeat over time, creating alternative or supplementary forms of governance beyond formal institutions. This collection of articles is original in shedding light on such governance from the perspective of world politics and political regimes, little discussed thus far in systematic ways. It is also at the forefront of theorizing on how stakeholders use mechanisms of power to govern polycentrically, that is from multiple centres related to each other but not hierarchically subordinated. This collection provides novel perspectives on socio-spatial and temporal aspects of informality’s use in such governance. Building on extensive fieldwork and data-driven secondary research, this collection covers Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, post-socialist countries in Eastern Europe, including Belarus and Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Turkey and Iraq in the Middle East, and Albania in the Balkans, as well as Thailand and Myanmar in Asia.