Novelty Effect Research Articles

Beyond the novelty effect: EFL learners' attitudes towards ICT use in the classroom

AbstractThe present study explores high school students' (aged 16–17) attitudes towards the use of technology Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the English as foreign language (EFL) classroom. While digital competence has become one of the core skills in our society, ICT is gaining more presence in the EFL teaching and learning. However, it is not widespread in the mainstream education, as it is the case of Spain, especially at high school level. There is also still some reticence on the part of the teachers to let the ICT be part and parcel of their daily practice. Since adolescents often experience a motivational drop as far as learning a foreign language (FL) in school setting is concerned, EFL teachers should promote the integration of ICT in classroom activities, as research has shown that technology-supported activities may contribute to engaging students in the process of learning a FL and act as a motivating factor. This paper examines 77 EFL learners' responses to a questionnaire administered before and after the implementation of an 18-month ICT-based intervention in their classroom. The main findings reveal that attitudes towards technology were positive and they were maintained beyond the possible “novelty effect”, which supports the claims in favor of ICT's integration in EFL teaching.

A novelty-retrieval-extinction paradigm leads to persistent attenuation of remote fear memories

Exposure to a novel environment can enhance the extinction of recent contextual fear in mice. This has been explained by a tagging and capture hypothesis. Consistently, we show in mice that exposure to a novel environment before extinction training promoted the extinction of recent auditory fear. However, such a promoting effect of novelty was absent for remote memories. In the present study, we replaced the regular extinction training with a retrieval-extinction session which capitalized on a reconsolidation window. When novelty exposure was followed by a retrieval-extinction session, remote fear was distinguished more easily and permanently. We have termed it as a “novelty-retrieval-extinction” paradigm. This paradigm played a greater role in the extinction of remote fear when fear conditioning and retrieval-extinction occurred in two different contexts other than in one identical context. The mechanism underlying the facilitating effect of this paradigm might involve up-regulation of histone acetylation in the hippocampus, which has been reported to increase functional and structural neuroplasticity. The present work proposes an effective, drug-free paradigm for the extinction of remote fear, which could be easily adapted in humans with least side effects.

A picture is worth a thousand words! How visual storytelling transforms the aesthetic experience of novel designs

Purpose This study aims to provide a holistic understanding of how visual storytelling influences the objective and subjective cognitive responses of consumers, namely objective aesthetic impression and subjective aesthetic association, and aesthetic judgments in response to differing levels of novelty in design innovations. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-factorial experimental study manipulating the novelty of chair designs (moderate/high) and visual design stories (present/absent) was conducted among 263 female US consumers to test the proposed research model. Findings With respect to the main effects of novelty and visual design stories, consumers had more positive cognitive responses and aesthetic judgments to: product designs with moderate (vs high) novelty; and products with visual design stories than without. A significant interaction effect uncovered that visual design stories particularly aided products with high (vs moderate) design novelty with respect to objective aesthetic impressions. Examination of the structural relationships between the variables revealed that subjective aesthetic associations mediate the relationship between objective aesthetic impressions and aesthetic judgments. Practical implications To mitigate risk in radical design innovations, marketers should use visual storytelling to communicate product form associations and enable consumers to successfully decode the meaning of novel designs during initial encounters. Originality/value By examining a holistic model involving both perceptual and conceptual product concepts, this study fills a critical research void to develop insightful implications on bridging the gap between novel product designs and consumer understanding.

The younger, the better? Speech perception development in adolescent vs. adult L3 learners

Abstract Whereas the belief “the younger, the better” regarding foreign language learning seems to hold tenaciously, studies comparing learners of different starting ages attest that in instructed (as opposed to naturalistic) learning contexts, a younger age of onset does not automatically yield better results. However, little is known about how multilingual learners from different age groups develop in their non-native languages over time. The present study thus investigates the understudied domain of perceptual development with seven adolescents aged 12–13 and seven adults aged 19–39 (L1 German, L2 English) over the first year of L3 Polish instruction (tested after one, three, five, and ten months). The sound contrast under scrutiny was /v–w/, which only exists in the learners’ L2 and L3. As expected, in the ABX task, adults performed better than adolescents in both languages at most testing times and generally showed a slight upward trend in both their L2 and L3 learning trajectories. For the adolescents, development was more non-linear. Further, a boosting ‘novelty effect’ was found for the younger learner group: After only a few hours of L3 instruction, they perceived the contrast more consistently and faster than in L2 and at any other testing time, performing within the adults’ range.

Non-invasive brain and spinal cord stimulation for motor and functional recovery after a spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is a traumatic or non-traumatic event that causes an alteration of sensory, motor or autonomic functioning and ultimately affects the physical, psychological and social well-being of the person who suffers it. A comprehensive approach to spinal cord injury requires many health resources and can place a considerable financial burden on patients, their families and the community. To review the literature published to date on the use of non-invasive brain stimulation, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcutaneous non-invasive spinal cord stimulation (tcSCS), as therapeutic strategies to improve the functionality of patients with spinal cord injury. The studies were grouped as addressing either non-invasive brain stimulation or non-invasive spinal cord stimulation. Altogether 32 studies were identified: 21 involving brain stimulation (14 in rTMS and 7 in tDCS) and 11 with spinal cord stimulation (tcSCS). All the studies were conducted in adult patients who had undergone a spinal cord injury. Despite significant variability in treatment protocols, patient characteristics and clinical assessment, the changes observed were reported in almost all the studies without producing any side effects and with motor or functional improvement. Non-invasive brain stimulation, as well as spinal cord stimulation, are promising techniques for the rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury due to their novelty, effectiveness and minimal side effects.

Использование устойчивых сочетаний в речи современного школьника

We consider the issue of fixed combinations associated with their use, the relationship with the system of phraseological units and memes in the speech of a modern student. We determine the semantics and function of some popular speech units formed due to the influence of Internet communication, this affects the state of the language culture of the people. We reveal the most frequent memes in students’ oral speech. The reasons why memes in oral speech have replaced phraseological units become expression mean constantly using these fixed combinations on the Internet. It was found that students, among whom the majorities are active users of the network, react to the repetition of memes, their brightness, and relevance for the expression of the emotions. Short-term, constant updating gives these combinations the novelty effect. The desire for adequate communication in school society, lacking sufficient experience of speech creativity form its own system of language expression of students, as well as the productivity of the fixed combinations use. The constant use of fixed units of a new type introduces them into the limits of personal relationships, acquires the character of a system, so it negatively affects not only the culture of communicants.

Determinants of Attendance in Major League Soccer

This study examines the determinants of Major League Soccer team attendance during the league’s recent era of growth. The estimates indicated that regular-season on-field performance is positively associated with attendance, but the returns to success are diminishing. The estimates identified positive novelty effects for newer teams and soccer-specific stadiums, but not for stadium age. Income and attendance were positively correlated, which indicates that Major League Soccer matches are a normal good. The population size, Hispanic share of the population, presence of other major-league franchises, and number of designated players on a team did not appear to be strong determinants of seasonal attendance.

Financial Returns in a Single-Entity League: Evidence from Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top-tier professional soccer league serving the United States and Canada. This study examines factors hypothesized to impact consumer demand for professional sports on team revenue in this nascent league. The estimates are consistent with positive returns to performance, novelty effects from newer teams, and varying impacts from roster quality and composition. Other factors hypothesized to be important for MLS teams (e.g., stadium quality and market demographics) are not associated with team revenue. The estimates are similar to findings in other major North American sports leagues, even though MLS operates with a unique single-entity ownership structure that has the potential to disincentivize individual team investments by league owners.

Перспективи перформативної художньої дидактики у метамодерністичному середовищі

Представлено результати дослідження перспектив оновлення дидактики сучасної мистецької школи. Проаналізовано зміст (закономірності, принципи, форми, методи і критерії результативності) енантної постмодерністської теорії навчання, зосередженої на еґоцентричному індивідуалізмі, що спонукає майбутнього фахівця до рефлексії доцільності своєрідного машинного кенозису – трансгресії у «тіло» трансформера, кіборга, робота-андроїда. В якості альтернативи пропонується авторська перформативна концепція професійної підготовки, яка передбачає надситуативну активність майбутнього акціоніста під час моральнісно-смислового опосередкування принципів організації надскладних естетичних метасистем в умовах а-топічного метаксису. Миследіяльнісна методологія пропонованого дослідження реалізувала феноменологічно-герменевтичний і семіотичний підходи, методи коґерентного моделювання і експертної оцінки теорії концептуальної інтеграції, коннективної теорії метафоричної інтерпретації, концепцію нелінійної епістемології, принципів антиномічності, верифікації, комплексності, диз’юнктивного синтезу. Наукова новизна матеріалу полягає у розкритті сратегій упровадження перформативної дидактики вищої школи і технології метаної для їх реалізації у сфері метафоричної когнітивістики.

Overcoming the novelty effect in online gamified learning systems: An empirical evaluation of student engagement and performance

AbstractLearners in the higher education context who engage with computer‐based gamified learning systems often experience the novelty effect: a pattern of high activity during the gamified system's introduction followed by a drop in activity a few weeks later, once its novelty has worn off. We applied a two‐tiered motivational, online gamified learning system over 2 years to a total number of 333 students. In a mixed methods research design, we used 3‐year worth of longitudinal data (333 students for the treatment group and 175 in the control group) to assess students' engagement and performance in that period. Quantitative results established that students engaged and performed better in the gamified condition vis‐à‐vis the nongamified. Furthermore, students exhibited higher levels of engagement in the second year compared with the first year of the gamified condition. Our qualitative data suggest that students in the second year of the gamified delivery exhibited sustained engagement, overcoming the novelty effect. Thus, our main contribution is in suggesting ways of making the engagement meaningful and useful for the students, thus sustaining their engagement with computer‐based gamified learning systems and overcoming the novelty effect.

Ecosystem functioning in urban grasslands: The role of biodiversity, plant invasions and urbanization.

Urbanization is driving the transformation of natural and rural ecosystems worldwide by affecting both the abiotic environment and the biota. This raises the question whether urban ecosystems are able to provide services in a comparable way to their non-urban counterparts. In urban grasslands, the effects of urbanization-driven ecological novelty and the role of plant diversity in modulating ecosystem functioning have received little attention. In this study, we assessed the influence of biodiversity, abiotic and biotic novelty on ecosystem functioning based on in situ measurements in non-manipulated grasslands along an urbanization gradient in Berlin (Germany). We focused on plant aboveground biomass (AGB), intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and 15N enrichment factor (Δδ15N) as proxies for biomass production, water and N cycling, respectively, within grassland communities, and tested how they change with plant biogeographic status (native vs alien), functional group and species identity. Approximately one third of the forb species were alien to Berlin and they were responsible for 13.1% of community AGB. Community AGB was positively correlated with plant-species richness. In contrast, iWUE and Δδ15N were mostly determined by light availability (depicted by sky view factor) and urban parameters like the percentage of impervious surface or human population density. We found that abiotic novelty potentially favors aliens in Berlin, mainly by enhancing their dispersal and fitness under drought. Mainly urban parameters indicating abiotic novelty were significantly correlated to both alien and native Δδ15N, but to AGB and iWUE of alien plants only, pointing to a stronger impact of abiotic novelty on N cycling compared to C and water cycling. At the species level, sky view factor appeared to be the prevailing driver of photosynthetic performance and resource-use efficiency. Although we identified a significant impact of abiotic novelty on AGB, iWUE and Δδ15N at different levels, the relationship between species richness and community AGB found in the urban grasslands studied in Berlin was comparable to that described in non-urban experimental grasslands in Europe. Hence, our results indicate that conserving and enhancing biodiversity in urban ecosystems is essential to preserve ecosystem services related to AGB production. For ensuring the provision of ecosystem services associated to water and N use, however, changes in urban abiotic parameters seem necessary.

Mobile learning device increased study efficiency for radiology residents but with risk of temporary novelty effect.

BackgroundDigital resources in learning are increasingly available and offer new possibilities in education. Mobile learning devices (MLD) such as tablets provide easy and flexible access for users.PurposeTo investigate whether the introduction of MLDs in radiology education affected time spent on studies over a longer time frame and whether learning behavior and attitudes changed.Material and MethodsThe radiology residents employed during 2015–2016 were invited to participate in this 12-month MLD intervention study. Results were evaluated using online questionnaires at six months (6 m) and 12 months (12 m).ResultsThirty-one residents were included, of whom half were in the early stages of residency (<2 years). After the MLD introduction, most participants (91% [6 m] and 83% [12 m]) estimated increased time spent on studies. Of these, 32% stated “a lot more” at 6 m but only 8% at 12 m (P = 0.12). The MLDs showed positive effects on the experience of radiology studies, as a majority of participants stated better quality and effectiveness in their studies (100% [6 m]–92% [12 m]), that MLD facilitated access to educational materials to a high degree (83% [6 m]–75% [12 m]), and that studies had become better and more fun (96% [6 m]–100% [12 m]).ConclusionThe use of MLDs seems to facilitate learning effectively for radiologic residents. However, a larger scale study is required as a trend of decreasing figures in the longer term was seen, but our results did not show a significant reduction of time spent on radiology studies.

Beauty in the eyes of its beholders: Effects of design novelty on consumer preference

In this research, we propose that promotion- (vs. prevention-) focused consumers should prefer a novel product design, an effect that we attribute to increased processing fluency. In addition, we propose that the effect of consumers’ regulatory focus should be moderated by product type, such that promotion- (prevention-) focused consumers should prefer more (less) novel designs only for utilitarian products; for hedonic products all consumers should prefer a novel design regardless of their regulatory foci. We obtain empirical evidence for these predictions across four experiments that use different operationalizations of regulatory focus and product type. We conclude by discussing the theoretical contributions and managerial implications of our research.

자극추구성향과 노블티, 감성적 반응이 OOH 광고태도에 미치는 영향

본 연구는 미국의 타임스퀘어에 집행한 삼성전자 갤럭시7의 광고를 대상으로 국내 소비자의 감성과 태도에 미치는 영향성을 알아본 연구이다. 삼성전자는 갤럭시7을 발표하면서 타임스퀘어 전광판을 동기화 기술을 통해 연결하여 광고를 집행하였다. 본 연구는 이러한 새로운 형식의 광고에 대한 소비자의 감성적 반응인 즐거움과 각성, 그리고 광고태도에 미치는 요인을 연구모델화하여 검증한 것이다. 연구결과 소비자의 심리적인 요인인 자극추구성향은 광고 노블티에 긍정적인 영향을 미치고 있었고 자극추구성향은 즐거움과 각성에도 긍정적으로 연결되었다. 본 연구의 핵심적인 변인인 노블티는 즐거움과 각성에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는 것은 물론 광고에 대한 태도에도 긍정적인 영향성을 보였다. 소비자 감성 차원 중에서 즐거움은 광고태도에 직접적으로 영향을 미쳤지만 각성과 광고태도 사이의 관계는 검증하지 못하였다. 이러한 연구 결과는 새로운 광고표현으로 소비자의 주목을 끌고 있는 디지털 사이니지가 소비자에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지에 대한 실질적인 이해에 도움을 주고 디지털 사이니지 광고 집행에 있어서 실무적으로도 시사점을 제공하고 있다.

The presence of a social stimulus reduces cocaine-seeking in a place preference conditioning paradigm.

One challenge in the treatment of substance use disorders is to re-engage the interest toward non-drug-related activities. Among these activities, social interaction has had a prominent role due to its positive influence on treatment outcome. Our aim was to study whether the presence of a social stimulus during the cocaine-induced conditioned place preference test was able to reduce the time spent in the drug-paired compartment. For that purpose, mice were trained for four days on a conditioned place preference task with one compartment paired with cocaine and the opposite with saline. On the test day, we introduced an unfamiliar juvenile male mouse into the saline-conditioned compartment (inside a pencil cup) to analyse the animal preference towards the two rewarding stimuli (cocaine vs mouse). Additionally, to discard the possible effect of novelty, as well as the housing condition (social isolation) on social preference, we decided to include a novel object during the test session, as well as perform the same conditioned place preference protocol with a group of animals in social housing conditions. The social stimulus was able to reduce the preference for cocaine and enhance the active interaction with the juvenile mouse (sniffing) compared to the empty pencil cup paired with the drug. The introduction of a novel object during the test session did not reduce the preference for the cocaine-paired compartment, and interestingly, the preference for the social stimulus was independent of the housing condition. c-Fos immunohistochemistry revealed a different pattern of activation based on cocaine-paired conditioning or the presence of social stimulus. These results suggest that social interaction could constitute a valuable component in the treatment of substance use disorders by reducing the salience of the drug.

Incentive-based extinction of safety behaviors: Positive outcomes competing with aversive outcomes trigger fear-opposite action to prevent protection from fear extinction

Maladaptive safety behavior maintains fear and anxiety by prohibiting inhibitory learning about the non-occurrence of feared outcomes (known as protection from extinction). Not engaging in safety behavior, however, requires to act opposite to fear-motivated behavioral tendencies. The initiation of such fear-opposite action by positive outcomes, which were in conflict with safety behavior, was tested. Following fear acquisition to a warning signal (CS+), participants acquired safety behavior to prevent the aversive outcome (n = 48). Next, safety behavior also prevented gaining rewards. In a control group (n = 50), neutral outcomes were presented to control for novelty effects of the second outcome. Subsequently, no aversive outcome occurred anymore. Phases with safety behavior were intermitted by phases without safety behavior being available to examine cognitive and physiological indicators of fear and anxiety. Without competing positive outcomes, safety behavior was frequently executed, persisted in absence of the aversive outcome, and prohibited extinction learning. Positive outcomes clearly reduced safety behavior despite equal levels of acquired fear. This enabled fear extinction as soon as the aversive outcome was absent. Importantly, this extinction learning resulted in attenuated fear and anxiety responses when safety behavior became unavailable. Post-hoc findings indicated that the mere anticipation of positive outcomes slightly reduced safety behavior. Thus, competing positive outcomes triggered fear-opposite action that prevented persistent safety behavior and protection from extinction.

Gamification in the classroom: Examining the impact of gamified quizzes on student learning

Gamification is emerging as a method aimed at enhancing instructional contents in educational settings. However, theoretical underpinnings of the proposed effects of gamification are lacking. This paper applies the theory of gamified learning and extends research exploring the benefits of gamification on student learning through the testing effect. In a quasi-experimental design, university students (N = 473) prepared for three tests using traditional quizzes (i.e., a question, four response options) or gamified online quizzes (i.e., a wager option, a progress bar, encouraging messages). We assumed that students completing gamified quizzes would complete more quizzes and, through the benefits of the testing effect, would demonstrate better learning. Findings supported the testing effect in that students who completed more quizzes performed better on subsequent tests. Furthermore, students who completed the gamified quizzes had significantly better scores on the first test. However, this effect was not due to students completing more quizzes in the gamification group. Additionally, the beneficial effect of gamification did not persist for subsequent tests. This supports that gamification might work through a novelty effect where its influence may not be sustainable. Further analyses showed that higher achieving students benefited more from gamification than lower achieving students. Overall, the results (a) imply that gamification may be a viable option for short-term assignments, (b) highlight concerns of a novelty effect possibly recommending instructors not to use the same gamification method permanently, and (c) indicate that there are contexts where gamification might not be adequate to target low achieving students. Given these results we call for longitudinal studies investigating the novelty effects of gamification and research examining individual differences moderating the effects of gamification.

A longitudinal study to understand students’ acceptance of technological reform. When experiences exceed expectations

This study investigates technology acceptance over time of two specific technologies in a university setting, namely interactive quizzes and screen sharing. This topic is investigated in the framework of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that includes the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention as main concepts. This study also add experience or actual use to this framework. Although previous research investigated the relation between technology acceptance and actual use, no longitudinal study of TAM variables has been previously conducted in the context of interactive quizzes and screen sharing from a student perspective. This study aims to meet this research gap and investigated students’ expectations towards educational technology at the start of the project and students’ experiences with educational technology throughout the academic year. Results reveal that students started out with a positive predisposition to the usefulness, ease of use, and behavioural intention of using educational technology in university settings. The TAM perceptions after experiencing the technology were significantly higher than before using the technology. This was the case for both interactive quizzes and screen sharing technology. The longitudinal results even counter a novelty effect. Although educational reform is also related to organizational processes, students’ acceptance is critical to make sure that technologies might contribute to improve learning and teaching.

The Beckham Effect: Examining the Longitudinal Impact of a Star Performer on League Marketing, Novelty, and Scarcity

Research question: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) league marketing strategy to make a significant investment in an international star athlete. Soccer star David Beckham’s impact was examined longitudinally to assess changes in consumer preference over time. Novelty seeking behavior and scarcity were two theories used to hypothesize consumer preference during Beckman’s tenure in MLS, and to understand the potential return on this substantial league investment. Research methods: The sampling frame for this study was all MLS games that occurred during David Beckham’s tenure, from 2007-2012. A total of 1,473 game observations were examined in this investigation. A censored panel regression was estimated using both random and fixed effects models. A total of 25 determinants of attendance were examined, including Beckham’s overall impact, home and road impact, and year by year impact. Results and findings: Findings showed David Beckham’s presence had a significant impact on MLS attendance. Specifically the biggest impact was seen in attendance at road games, providing evidence of a return on the marketing investment made by the league. Additionally, when examining the year by year impact of Beckham, both a novelty and scarcity effect were present. Implications: These findings contribute to the marketing literature on the impact of star performers in the sport and entertainment industry. The current investigation extends the knowledge on strategic marketing at the league level, particularly for a single-entity ownership model. Additionally, this examination highlights the factors that help to explain consumer preference changes over a prolonged period, such as novelty and scarcity.

Novelty Before or After Word Learning Does Not Affect Subsequent Memory Performance.

In humans, exposure to novel images and exploration of novel virtual environments before the encoding of words improved subsequent memory performance. Animal studies revealed similar effects of novelty, both before and after learning, and could show that hippocampus-dependent dopaminergic neuromodulation plays an important role. Here, we further investigated the effects of novelty on long-term memory in humans using a novel paradigm employing short sequences of nature movies presented either before or at two time points after learning of unrelated words. Since novelty processing is associated with a release of dopamine into the hippocampus, we hypothesized that novelty exposure primarily affects hippocampus-dependent memory (i.e., recollection) but not hippocampus-independent memory (i.e., familiarity). We tested 182 healthy human subjects in three experiments including a word-learning task followed by a 1-day delayed recognition task. Importantly, participants were exposed to novel (NOV) or familiar movies (FAM) at three time points: (experiment 1) directly after encoding of the word list, (experiment 2) 15 min after encoding, (experiment 3) 15 min prior to encoding. As expected, novel movies were perceived as more interesting and led to better mood. During word recognition, reaction times were faster for remember as compared to familiarity responses in all three experiments, but this effect was not modulated by novelty. In contrast to our main hypothesis, there was no effect of novelty – before or after encoding – on subsequent word recognition, including recollection and familiarity scores. Therefore, an exposure to novel movies without an active task does not affect hippocampus-dependent and hippocampus-independent long-term recognition memory for words in humans.