Instant Messaging System Research Articles

Efficacy of WeChat Instant Messaging Platform for Peer Feedback on Undergraduate Students’ English Academic Writing Performance: A Systematic Literature Review

Peer feedback has become a crucial element in the field of English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) writing. There has been a notable scholarly interest in the integration of peer feedback in English writing instruction. Among Chinese undergraduate students, there is a growing tendency to use instant messaging systems, such as WeChat, for peer feedback. WeChat distinguishes itself from other platforms by its extensive usage in China, particularly owing to its user-friendly features. However, there is a lack of systematic research in the current literature to explore the effectiveness of using WeChat for peer feedback in English writing. In particular, there is a lack of research on five aspects of students’ English writing performance when using WeChat as a platform for peer feedback, such as content and idea, coherence and cohesion, grammar and form, word choice and vocabulary, and organization and structure. This article aims to provide an overview of the investigation of the effectiveness of using WeChat as an instant messaging platform through a literature review. The authors adhered to predetermined criteria for what literature were included and excluded. Ultimately, the authors reviewed a collection of 30 research articles from the year 2011 to 2023 that are directly related to the topic at hand. This review encompasses an evaluation of the research designs, findings, discussions, and gaps in research identified in these articles. This review offers a comprehensive comprehension of the present status of research in this field. Moreover, it emphasizes the need for additional academic investigation, specifically targeting the task of filling the recognized gaps in knowledge. Furthermore, the conclusion highlights the necessity of further studies, which needs to explore the long-term effects of incorporating WeChat and peer feedback on enhancing students’ writing performance. This encompasses various aspects, such as content and idea, coherence and cohesion, word choice and vocabulary, organization and structure, as well as grammar and form.

Medication dispenser with touch screen and consumption authenticator for monitoring adherence to medication in the elderly

The elderly population continues to grow, this population has many chronic conditions, which is why they take multiple pills at the same time, this situation makes it difficult for them to take their medications at the appropriate time, which can cause health complications and even death. death. The objective of this research is to improve medication adherence using a medication dispenser that allows authenticating medication consumption accurately with a high level of usability. To do this, we implemented a dispenser with an alarm system that can be configured from a graphical interface, with internet of things (IoT) to remotely monitor the intake of pills and authenticate their consumption through artificial vision that will use the instant messaging system to inform the caregiver about the situation and finally measure the dispenser usability.

Secure app-based secondary healthcare clinical decision support to deployed forces in the UK Defence Medical Services

BackgroundModern instant messaging systems facilitate reach-back medical support for Defence Medical Services (DMS) by connecting deployed clinicians to remote specialists. The mobile app Pando (Forward Clinical, UK) has been used...

Strategic Management Practices and Employee Performance in Non-Governmental Organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya

The growth and development of an organization are contingent upon the effective management of its human resources. However, the adoption of effective human resource management practices in many local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) NGOs operating in the development sector have received insufficient attention. This research aims to explore the impact of strategic management practices on employee performance within non-governmental organizations located in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives of this study are to assess the influence of communication, objective setting, strategic leadership, and training on employee performance in non-governmental organizations operating in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study was guided by expectancy theory, goal setting theory, contingency theory, and human capital theory. A descriptive research design was employed. The population was five prominent NGOs in Nairobi City County, namely Oxfam International, World Vision, USAID, Mercy Corps, and Amnesty International. The study targeted 742 respondents. Stratified sampling method was used and selection of respondents done using simple random sampling method. The sample size was 260 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires. Questionnaires were piloted to 26 respondents. Validity was ensured using content validity. In addition, Cronbach's alpha test was used to test reliability. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistical and inferential statistics. The results were presented using tables and figures. The study found that communication, objective setting, strategic leadership and training had a positive significant influence on employee performance in non-governmental organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study concludes that communication in the workplace is important because it boosts employee morale, engagement, productivity, and satisfaction. Training is important because it represents a good opportunity for employees to grow their knowledge base and improve their job skills to become more effective in the workplace. The study recommends that non-governmental organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya should focus on the implementation of effective communication channels and tools by including the use of technology such as intranet platforms, project management software, and instant messaging systems. The non-governmental organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya should ensure that goals are clearly defined, quantifiable, realistic, aligned with the overall objectives of the organization, and have a specific deadline for completion. The non-governmental organizations in Nairobi City County, Kenya should focus on building the skills and capabilities of current and future leaders through training in areas such as communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution, as well as opportunities for leaders to receive feedback and coaching on their performance. Create a culture of transparency and open communication within the organization.

Моральная конформность при разных формах виртуального давления

<p>The article presents the results of a study aimed at investigating the influence of two forms of virtual group pressure (depersonalized and personalized) on the manifestation of moral conformity. The experimental material consisted of two types of moral scenarios, where participants were asked to assess the acceptability of certain behaviors. Depersonalized pressure was implemented by informing participants, filling out an online form, about the percentage of people responding in a certain way to the presented moral scenarios. As for the personalized form of pressure, a situation simulating interactions among individuals in instant messaging systems (messengers) was utilized. The study involved 112 participants, with 20 of them forming the pilot study sample and 92 — the main experimental sample. The results indicate that social pressure in the virtual environment leads to the emergence of a conforming response, with personalized pressure in real-time having a stronger influence than passive exposure to depersonalized data. The obtained results are explained within the framework of the biological theory of social pressure, which views conforming behavior as a strategy to optimize metabolic costs. The manifestation of a conforming response for both types of moral scenarios and the absence of gender differences in its expression suggest the potential universality of this strategy.</p>

Are narcissists trolls? A cross-sectional study about aggression, trolling behavior, narcissism, and the moderating role of self-esteem

Whether in social media, in news services, or via instant messaging systems - in places where people communicate online, one can occasionally encounter internet trolls. Trolls are real people, who engage in destructive, aggressive, or disruptive behavior online, usually under the protection of anonymity. In this cross-sectional study the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, self-esteem, aggression, and trolling behavior was investigated on the basis of four assumptions. To test the hypotheses, data from 149 participants were analyzed. The results indicated that aggression and trolling behavior were positively related. Significant positive correlations of both forms of narcissism with aggression and trolling behavior were obtained. Finally, the extent to which self-esteem exhibits a moderating influence on the association between narcissism and trolling was examined. Specifically, high self-esteem was shown to weaken the correlation between narcissism and trolling behavior. Therefore, high self-esteem neutralized the unfavorable impact of high narcissism on trolling. The findings may serve to better understand the personality structure of trolls and the psychological mechanisms involved in their internet trolling behavior.

Workflow interruptions in an era of instant messaging: A detailed analysis

IntroductionThe complex practice environment and responsibilities incumbent on diagnostic radiologists creates a workflow susceptible to disruption. While interruptions have been shown to contribute to medical errors in the healthcare delivery environment, the exact impact on highly subspecialized services such as diagnostic radiology is less certain. One potential source of workflow disruption is the use of a departmental instant messaging system (Webex), to facilitate communications between radiology faculty, residents, fellows, and technologists. A retrospective review was conducted to quantify the frequency of interruption experienced by our neuroradiology fellows. Materials and methodsData logs were gathered comprising all instant messages sent and received within the designated group chats from July 5–December 31, 2021, during weekday shifts staffed by neuroradiology fellows. Interruptions per shift were calculated based on month, week, and day of the week. Results14,424 messages were sent across 289 total shifts. The 6 fellows assigned to the main neuroradiology reading room sent 3258 messages and received 10,260 messages from technologists and other staff. There was an average of 50 interruptions per shift when examined by month (range 48–53), and 52 interruptions per shift when examined by day of the week (range 40–60). ConclusionNeuroradiology fellows experience frequent interruptions from the departmental instant messaging system. These disruptions, when considered in conjunction with other non-interpretative tasks, may have negative implications for workflow efficiency, requiring iterative process improvements when incorporating new technology into the practice environment of diagnostic radiology.

Theory of radiologist interaction with instant messaging decision support tools: A sequential-explanatory study.

Radiology specific clinical decision support systems (CDSS) and artificial intelligence are poorly integrated into the radiologist workflow. Current research and development efforts of radiology CDSS focus on 4 main interventions, based around exam centric time points-after image acquisition, intra-report support, post-report analysis, and radiology workflow adjacent. We review the literature surrounding CDSS tools in these time points, requirements for CDSS workflow augmentation, and technologies that support clinician to computer workflow augmentation. We develop a theory of radiologist-decision tool interaction using a sequential explanatory study design. The study consists of 2 phases, the first a quantitative survey and the second a qualitative interview study. The phase 1 survey identifies differences between average users and radiologist users in software interventions using the User Acceptance of Information Technology: Toward a Unified View (UTAUT) framework. Phase 2 semi-structured interviews provide narratives on why these differences are found. To build this theory, we propose a novel solution called Radibot-a conversational agent capable of engaging clinicians with CDSS as an assistant using existing instant messaging systems supporting hospital communications. This work contributes an understanding of how radiologist-users differ from the average user and can be utilized by software developers to increase satisfaction of CDSS tools within radiology.

Implementation of an electronic health record-integrated instant messaging system in an academic health system.

Effective communication amongst healthcare workers simultaneously promotes optimal patient outcomes when present and is deleterious to outcomes when absent. The advent of electronic health record (EHR)-embedded secure instantaneous messaging systems has provided a new conduit for provider communication. This manuscript describes the experience of one academic medical center with deployment of one such system (Secure Chat). Data were collected on Secure Chat message volume from June 2017 to April 2023. Significant perideployment events were reviewed chronologically. After the first coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in March 2020, messaging use increased by over 25 000 messages per month, with 1.2 million messages sent monthly by April 2023. Comparative features of current communication modalities in healthcare were summarized, highlighting the many advantages of Secure Chat. While EHR-embedded secure instantaneous messaging systems represent a novel and potentially valuable communication medium in healthcare, generally agreed-upon best practices for their implementation are, as of yet, undetermined.

The effectiveness and challenges of online assessment using Interactive Teaching and Learning (ITEL) Platform in Nursing Education: A cross-sectional study

Background: Assessment is a crucial aspect of teaching and learning. Due to COVID-19, most assessments were changed to online mode. This sudden transition from traditional face-to-face to online assessment presented numerous challenges for nursing students. As such, this study determined student's perception of online assessment usage for their final semester exam using Interactive Teaching and Learning (ITEL) as their learning management system. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design, with the questionnaire administered via Google Forms. A purposive sampling method was employed to collect data from 165 undergraduate nursing students. The survey link was shared through WhatsApp's instant messaging system. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Results: The students believed online assessment is helpful in higher education (61.8%). However, only 46% of the respondents consider online assessment relevant to nursing education. Most (54.6%) find nursing education too complicated for online exams. In addition, most respondents (70.9%) are apprehensive about technical glitches that can challenge online assessment. As the method of online assessment, respondents prefer coursework or assignments over written tests (50.9%). The findings also highlighted that the ITEL quiz questions mainly focused on memorising the assessed content (56.4%). However, the students found immediate feedback in the ITEL quiz helpful in the learning process (50.3%). Conclusion: Using less paper and accessing immediate feedback from anywhere is convenient, but there have been some technological issues. Unfortunately, nursing students still hesitate to embrace online assessments due to fears of technical difficulties during exams. Respondents prefer online assessments for formative assessments, while traditional face-to-face exams are preferred for summative assessments. Considering strategies to improve hybrid assessment practices in the post-pandemic era is important.

Motor development in premature infants: Study protocol for an interdisciplinary hospital-home intervention.

Deviations occur in the neuropsychomotor development of premature infants; early interventions minimize delay motor. This study aimed to determine the effect of an interdisciplinary hospital-home intervention addressing motor development adaptation in premature infants in Colombia in comparison with traditional interventions. This study was based on a parallel design, with two groups, namely, experimental and control. The experimental group, hospital-home intervention (HHI) performed in two settings (i.e., hospital neonatal care units and homes), and the control group, traditional intervention, (TI) performed in institutions for premature infants. The sample will be composed of 130 randomly-allocated infants, 65 in the experimental group (HHI) and 65 in the control group (TI) of moderate to late preterm infants (gestational age between 34 and 37 weeks), weighing more than or equal to 1.800 g, who are hemodynamically stable and reside in the cities of Tunja and Bogotá-Colombia recruited between 2021 and 2022. For the pre- and post-intervention assessments, the TIMPSI and the CapDMP are the instruments used to assess motor development and the degree of parents' or caregivers' knowledge about motor development. The HHI is composed of 10 intervention strategies based on stimulation of motor development, performed twice a day for 10 min for two months, in combination with calls to a mobile device, using software (Baby Motor Skills) and an instant messaging system (WhatsApp). This hospital-home intervention program proposes an approach focused on the motor development of premature infants, based on sensory and motor stimulation strategies, in addition to follow-up performed at home with the use of a mobile application that improves the motor development of premature infants. Register Clinical Trial: NCT04563364. The HHI provides the opportunity to determine whether the individualized four-week from admission to follow up at home with parent training will improve the motor skills of premature infants.

Social media celebrities' influence on youths' diet behaviors: a gender study based on the AIDA marketing communication model

PurposeSocial media celebrities are getting popular in promotions, and more people have experienced social media to receive information on diet and health tips. This research presents a study showing how social media can influence young people's diet behavior through collaboration with social media celebrities.Design/methodology/approachThrough recruiting on various social media and online education forums, this research recruited 196 young Hongkongers to participate in an online survey developed based on the AIDA (Action, Interest, Desire, Attention) marketing communication model on how youths access diet information from social media celebrities in Hong Kong.FindingsHong Kong youths consume diet information from social media celebrities through instant messaging systems, social networking sites and online videos, and, in particular, information on food calories and nutrition. However, sponsorship from vendors would decrease their desire to agree with the messages from social media celebrities. After receiving this information, some participants would follow tips and guides from social media celebrities. However, they seldom share such information. Interestingly, males are more willing to follow these tips and guides.Originality/valueFirst, this study fills the gap of prior research, which did not study much on how social media celebrities contribute to diet promotion to youths in Asia. Second, through the AIDA Model, this study shows how social media can affect the awareness and accessibility of diet information by young Hongkongers, followed by initiating their interest in this topic and retrieving more relevant information. Furthermore, the authors further understand their desire to follow and improve their behavior as promoted by social media influencers and how they practice such behavior. Based on these findings, health-related brands could consider using social media influencers helping to promote their products and services, and these brands could further use social media to secure customer engagement.

Evolution of a Continuing Professional Development Program Based on a Community of Practice Model for Health Care Professionals in Resource-Limited Settings.

The Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) Network supports a network of independent nongovernmental organizations providing health care for children and families in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Using a community of practice (CoP) framework, a continuing professional development (CPD) program was created for health professionals to enhance knowledge and exchange best practices. An online learning platform (Moodle), videoconferencing (Zoom), instant messaging systems (Whatsapp), and email listserv facilitated learning and interaction between program participants. Target participants initially included pharmacy staff and expanded to include other health professionals. Learning modules included asynchronous assignments and review of materials, live discussion sessions, and module pretests and posttests. Evaluation included participants' activities, changes in knowledge, and assignment completion. Participants provided feedback on program quality via surveys and interviews. Five of 11 participants in Year 1 earned a certificate of completion, and 17 of 45 participants earned a certificate in Year 2. Most modules showed an increase in module pretest and posttest scores. Ninety-seven percent of participants indicated that the relevance and usefulness of modules were good or outstanding. Ongoing evaluation indicated changes in Year 2 for program improvement, and notable outcomes indicated how CoP added value in developing a true community. Using a CoP framework allowed participants to improve their personal knowledge and become part of a learning community and network of interdisciplinary health care professionals. Lessons learned included expanding program evaluation to capture potential value creation of the community of practice in addition to individual-level development; providing briefer, more focused programs to better serve busy working professionals; and optimizing use of technological platforms to improve participant engagement.

MANE: Organizational Network Embedding With Multiplex Attentive Neural Networks

Every organization has organizational networks for exchange of ideas and information. It is believed that organizational network analysis (ONA) can help the business be more effective. While considerable research efforts have been made for visualizing and analyzing relationships in organizational networks, it lacks a holistic way to model the complex social structures and rich semantic information of these networks. Indeed, employee behaviors can occur across different communication platforms, such as email and instant messaging systems, which naturally lead to the multiplex structure of organizational social networks. Meanwhile, it is also a challenge to model the impact of semantic information, such as employee attributes and organization charts, and the collaboration relationships of employees. To this end, in this paper, we propose a Multiplex Attentive Network Embedding (MANE) approach for modeling organizational social networks in a holistic way. Specifically, we first develop a multiple attributed random walk approach to jointly model multiple networks, with the integration of external work information. Then, we preserve the network structure by maximizing the probability of predicting the central node based on the surrounding context nodes. In particular, we introduce an attention mechanism to assign a weight to each context node in the training process, according to its attributed relation and structural relation with the central node by utilizing the k-core algorithm and the shortest path algorithm. In this way, the embedding results can be kept consistent with their structural relationships. Furthermore, to solve some department-level tasks, we introduce an attentive relational transition method to learn the representation of departments in the organizational networks. Finally, we evaluate the performance of MANE with extensive experiments on real-world data for three important talent management tasks, namely employee performance prediction, employee turnover prediction and department performance prediction. We also conduct a link prediction task to validate the effectiveness of employee embedding. Experimental results clearly show the effectiveness and interpretability of MANE for organizational network analysis.

Провакс- и антивакс- шейминг как один из видов конфликтной интернет-коммуникации

The article deals with the phenomenon of online shaming, which is one of the conflict types in the Internet communication due to its anonymity. The aim of the research is to study the specifics of this phenomenon presented in the comments of Internet communicators, considered by the authors of the article as a kind of “countertext”, the latter being the reaction of addressees to a particular stimulus text. The object of this study is the Internet texts of news channels in the Telegram-the cross-platform instant messaging system. The subject of the study is the comments to Internet texts generated by the recipients of these texts, i.e., the participants of the Internet communication. The analysis of Internet comments is carried out using the method of “counter-text” by A.I. Novikov, which makes it possible to identify general and individual mechanisms and strategies for the processes of understanding and interpreting the texts of Telegram channels, realized in written statements – comments produced by real participants of Internet communication. There are three groups of commentators who use the discriminatory practice of shaming against opponents. The results of the analysis confirm the assumption about the features of the Internet text being one of the most conflict-prone types of modern text. Communicative contacts that can lead to conflict in Internet communication and beyond are identified and described. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Internet communicators’ comments based on the “counter-text” method reveals the most frequent reactions that underlie shaming comments, such as evaluative opinion, emotional assessment, orientation, forecast, reflecting not only the state of individual linguistic consciousness of individual communicators, but also the specifics of the collective verbal consciousness of the society during the covid pandemic and the post-covid period reflecting the spiritual health of society and its problems.

Effectiveness of interactive text message service at the Thailand National Quitline: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Automatic instant messaging systems are currently a well-known smoking reduction tool for public health. However, smokers’ engagement is lacking, as many prefer to communicate with experts during the quitting period so they can receive advice on dealing with the consequences of nicotine abstinence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an interactive text messaging service at the Thailand National Quitline.

Unmasking the shadows: Investigating cyber scams and its strategies for prevention

Cybercrime is mainly related to online fraud and encompasses various criminal activities through computers and online platforms, posing significant challenges in today's technologically advanced world. The case study presented herein investigates the use of unsolicited mass email messages as a prominent method employed by cybercriminals. These messages, disseminated via instant messaging, text messaging, or other digital messaging systems, serve as a deceptive means to defraud unsuspecting individuals. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the techniques, motives, and impact of online fraud. Furthermore, it highlights the attractiveness of online fraud to advertisers, who exploit its low operating costs beyond managing mailing lists. This aspect underscores the complex interplay between cybercriminals, their targets, and the broader digital ecosystem where illicit activities intertwine with legitimate platforms. By delving into the realm of cybercrime, this case study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and individuals seeking to understand the evolving nature of cyber threats. It emphasizes the importance of heightened awareness, robust cybersecurity measures, and the need for continuous adaptation to mitigate the risks posed by cybercriminals in an interconnected world.

Comparing Competing Systems: An Extension of the Information Systems Continuance Model

Although individual adoption and use of a single system has been examined extensively, little is known about how people evaluate and compare competing systems. In this paper, we discuss and test three alternative models underlying user comparison of competing systems: separate, crossover effect, and relative comparison processes. The separate comparison process proposes that users develop separate cognitive, affective, and conative evaluations toward each system, and the between-system comparison only occurs at the point of choosing a preferred system. The crossover effect comparison process posits that users not only perform separate evaluations for each system, but also consider the competitive effects when proceeding across cognitive, affective, and conative evaluation stages. In contrast, the relative comparison process postulates that users directly compare competing systems within each of the cognitive, affective, and conative evaluation stages. Based on the IS continuance model, we tested each of these three models using data collected from users of two competing instant messaging systems. Our results showed that the relative comparison process is the most parsimonious and the best model in terms of explaining the mechanisms underlying the comparison of system use by individuals. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Mediated Communication and Customer Service Experiences

People around the world who seek to interact with large organisations increasingly find they must do so via mediated and automated communication. Organisations often deploy both mediated and automated platforms, such as instant messaging and interactive voice response systems (IVRs), for efficiency and cost-savings. Customer and client responses to these systems range from delight to frustration. To better understand the factors affecting people's satisfaction with these systems, we conducted a representative U.S. national survey (N = 1321). We found that people overwhelmingly like and trust in-person customer service compared to mediated and automated modalities. As to demographic attitude predictors, age was important (older respondents liked mediated systems less), but income and education were not strong attitude predictors. For personality variables, innovativeness was positively associated with mediated system satisfaction. However, communication apprehensiveness, which we expected to be related to satisfaction, was not. We conclude by discussing implications for the burgeoning field of human-machine communication, as well as social policy, equity, and the pullulating digital services divide.

How Much You Talk Matters: Cheap Talk and Collusion in a Bertrand Oligopoly Game

This study investigates the impact of cheap talk on price in a repeated Bertrand oligopoly experiment. Each participant plays 20 rounds. Participants are placed in three-person bidding groups where the lowest bid wins. During the first 10 rounds, participants are not allowed to communicate with each other. All three-person groups converged to the zero-profit equilibrium in the first 10 periods. We then play another 10 rounds where participants can text with one another using an instant message system. Some groups were allowed to text before every round, some to text before every other round, some to text every third round, some to text every fourth round, and some to text only every fifth round. When texting is allowed, All groups attempt to collude to raise the price after being allowed to text, but the only groups who can maintain the higher price and converge over time to the joint-profit maximum are the groups who can text before every period. Hence, cheap talk is only effective when subjects can continuously monitor or converse.