Online Context Research Articles

Using hands-on learning video assignments in online and in-person contexts: A longitudinal study

This study investigated the use of hands-on learning video assignments (HLVAs) among middle school students in China during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the results of HLVAs approach with seventh grade students at Jiefang Road School during the online learning phase, one class was selected to participate in an offline empirical, longitudinal study to further explore the impact of HLVAs approach on students’ biology learning. Two data collection instruments were used: hands-on learning students’ work evaluation instrument and model competence development instrument to detect changes in students’ modeling development. Questionnaire responses from the students in the experimental class two years later, when they were in high school, offer additional perspectives on this approach. Findings indicated that HLVAs approach improves students’ work quality, modeling skills, and biology learning outcomes. This study describes hands-on learning strategy based on embodied cognition theoretical perspectives, with implications for curriculum, instruction, and learning.

Effects of Context Cues on Chinese Consumer Cross-Border Purchase Intention: General vs. Low-Carbon Korean Goods

Purpose - Previous research has emphasized but not empirically investigated the precise effects of cross-border online shopping context cues and overall consumer perception on consumer cross-border purchase intention (CBPI). To address the gap, based on an S-O-R model and valence framework, this study investigates the structural relationship of online context cues →overall consumer perception → consumer CBPI. Design/Methodology - This study conducts a questionnaire study with 308 Chinese participants to test the all hypotheses. Findings - This study reveals that four context cues have positive effects on overall consumer perceived value and increases CBPI. On the contrary, four context cues have negative effects on overall consumer perceived uncertainty, which discourages CBPI for Korean goods. In addition, there is also a significant difference between the general and low-carbon goods shopping process in context cues → overall consumer perception relationship. Originality/value - This study focuses on online shopping context cues to elucidate Chinese consumer information processes for the CBEC marketing mix as a key to improving overall perception and CBPI. In addition, as the moderating role of good type addresses the significant different information process in general and low-carbon goods on overall consumer perception formation, this study scrutinizes how context cue effects are shaped by goods type.

Digesting Psychology: Metadiscourse as a Recontextualising Tool in the Digital Communication of Disciplinary Research

Abstract Metadiscourse was initially conceived as a tool to explore mainly academic, monologic, written texts. When applied to the study of digital discourse, metadiscourse may reveal itself as a rather frustrating exploratory framework, firstly because of the problematised interaction between writer and reader in an online context where audiences are not easily identifiable and, secondly, because of the multimodal character of digital texts. In the present study, the role played by interactive metadiscoursal resources in online communication has been explored. For such purposes, the focus has been placed on a corpus of digital research digests published on the website of the British Psychological Society, the most important representative body of the profession in the United Kingdom. The study revolves around the function of interactive metadiscourse as a recontextualising tool to facilitate the understanding of complex disciplinary knowledge for potentially less expert readers. Several interactive resources (code glosses, evidentials, transition markers, and frame markers) are identified, which strategically contribute to the mediation of specialised information and which also take advantage of the affordances offered by digital platforms.

Framing Facets of Social Participation: Older Adults' Experiences of "Social Online Meetings".

Changing demographics with an increased proportion of older adults indicate the need to develop new health-promoting interventions where the potential of digitization is considered. The aim was to explore and create an understanding of how social online meetings are experienced by older adults. Interviews with older adults generated data that were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. The participants were interviewed after participating in a digital health promotion group initiative provided in a municipality context. A core conceptual category and three subcategories reflected an intertwined process of discovering facets of social participation where internal reflections on personal values and needs were nurtured by an external driven process of becoming part of a group in an online context. Occupational therapists and other health and social care professionals need to consider the various facets of social participation when supporting older adults active and healthy aging.

Peer observation in ELT at higher education: the implementation in synchronous online teaching

PurposeOur paper examines how ELT lecturers perceive the feasibility of implementing Peer Observation (PO) in synchronous online settings, drawing on their prior experiences with offline PO. We also aim to identify potential areas for synchronous online PO.Design/methodology/approachWe employed semi-structured interviews with eight lecturers as participants. Data analysis included identifying keywords, transcribing and labeling responses, and sorting and categorizing the themes.FindingsFirstly, our findings indicate that lecturers reported several benefits from conducting offline PO, such as identifying teaching weaknesses, learning new techniques of teaching, gaining motivation, and receiving peer feedback. Participants also agreed that synchronous online PO is feasible and may offer greater benefits, especially with the shift to online teaching. Finally, the interview data highlighted potential areas for observation in synchronous online settings, including both pedagogical and technological aspects.Research limitations/implicationsFirstly, our study did not explore the potential and focus areas of synchronous online PO based on lecturers' actual experiences. Instead, we derived these potential and focuses from their experiences with offline PO. Secondly, the potential observation areas have not been validated.Practical implicationsThis study aims to contribute to the existing literature by exploring the potential of synchronous online PO and identifying key aspects for observation. Furthermore, in terms of practical implications, our findings may serve as a basis for developing validated guidelines for synchronous online PO, involving more practitioners. Additionally, lecturers and higher education institutions can consider implementing synchronous online PO to enhance teaching quality.Originality/valuePrevious literature has discussed ELT teachers' perceptions of offline PO, but limited research exists on its implementation in synchronous online contexts. Additionally, identifying potential areas for observation in synchronous online PO remains a concern.

Privacy decision‐making and the effects of privacy choice architecture: Experiments toward the design of behaviorally‐aware privacy regulation

AbstractThe current notice and choice privacy framework fails to empower individuals in effectively making their own privacy choices. In this Article we offer evidence from three novel experiments showing that at the core of this failure is a cognitive error. Notice and choice caters to a heuristic that people employ to make privacy decisions. This heuristic is meant to distinguish between a party's good or bad intent in face‐to‐face‐situations. In the online context, it distorts privacy decision‐making and leaves potential disclosers vulnerable to exploitation.From our experimental evidence exploring the heuristic's effect, we conclude that privacy law must become more behaviorally aware. Specifically, privacy law must be redesigned to intervene in the cognitive mechanisms that keep individuals from making better privacy decisions. A behaviorally‐aware privacy regime must centralize, standardize and simplify the framework for making privacy choices.To achieve these goals, we propose a master privacy template which requires consumers to define their privacy preferences in advance—doing so avoids presenting the consumer with a concrete counterparty, and this, in turn, prevents them from applying the intent heuristic and reduces many other biases that affect privacy decision‐making. Our data show that blocking the heuristic enables consumers to consider relevant privacy cues and be considerate of externalities their privacy decisions cause.The master privacy template provides a much more effective platform for regulation. Through the master template the regulator can set the standard for automated communication between user clients and website interfaces, a facility which we expect to enhance enforcement and competition about privacy terms.

Does it make a difference? COVID-19 and its effect on a factor structure of SRL in an EFL online context

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is considered an important skill for not only academic achievement, but also second language (L2) development. Proficient L2 speakers often display more developed SRL skills than novices, and it has been shown that SRL instruction can improve L2 learning results. In Japan, the context of this paper, little research had been done on SRL in online L2 learning environments prior to the emergency remote teaching (ERT) period during COVID-19, and the effects of that period are still forthcoming. This study aims to fill the gap by conducting a factor analysis of the SRL of 498 EFL learners across 12 Japanese universities at the end of the first year of ERT in 2021. The results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) indicated that four factors (goal setting, task strategies, environmental structuring, and classmate communication) were important with classmate communication being a new combined factor of help seeking and self-evaluation. Additional analysis based on prior online learning experience indicated that experience played a role in SRL in online L2 learning contexts. These findings suggest that instruction of SRL and carefully cultivated classroom environments could be beneficial for online L2 learning success.

Gender perspective on intercultural competence: Communication and student self‐perceptions in higher education

AbstractThis study is focused on the analysis of online intercultural competence from a gender perspective. It uses online communications and student self‐perceptions to explore similarities and differences. Videoconferencing was used as a tool for communication in higher education. A quantitative and qualitative methodologies were applied, including quantifying content analysis. The sample consisted of pairs of university students. The results show very similar scores between men and women in communication and self‐perception in affective aspects. Statistical differences were found in the behavioural communication and in cognitive self‐perception. Communications of negative nature are scarce in both groups. This study helps to understand the similarities and differences in students' communication and self‐perception in an intercultural online context.

Penciling: An Anonymization Method for Social Media Images

Penciling, a technique used to anonymize images for both human and machine vision, offers an opportunity to reduce technical traceability and retain visual data for online and social media research contexts. Drawing on methods for creating composite narrative and visual accounts to preserve participant anonymity, penciling enables researchers to edit images across a spectrum from photo-like quality to pencil sketch dependent on their ethical and methodological needs. Further, penciling reduces recognition to the naked eye and renders the image completely unrecognizable to search engine queries. We describe tested procedures for employing penciling and address benefits and challenges of the technique.

Business student problem-solving skills and e-learning management in Malaysia: mediating role of student psychological motivation and peer collaboration

PurposeE-learning has demonstrated its value as a powerful tool for enhancing students' educational experience. This paper uses a quantitative approach to examine the impact of students' cognitive problem-solving skills on their e-learning management ability. In addition, it investigates the parallel mediation role of student psychological motivation and peer collaboration. Moreover, the moderating role of gender was examined to identify the difference in e-learning management ability among male and female students.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 214 Malaysian business students using an online survey. For the analysis, the researcher utilized both SPSS and a SMART PLS software.FindingsThe results show that cognitive problem-solving skills directly impact student e-learning management. Moreover, psychological motivation and peer collaboration mediate the relationship between cognitive problem-solving and student e-learning management. The study's results reported that female students' psychological motivation is higher than males in managing their e-learning environment. The study found that an e-learning environment helps students develop cognitive problem-solving skills, and students can manage their e-learning independently.Originality/valueThe COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 worldwide has shifted the educational system from a traditional approach to an online context. There is a lack of studies examining students' cognitive problem-solving skills, their ability to manage e-learning and investigating gender differences. The findings reported here are novel in the context of Malaysia. Little evidence exists about the impact of problem-solving among business students on e-learning management ability while providing insight into gender differences.

Morality in the anthropocene: The perversion of compassion and punishment in the online world.

Although much of human morality evolved in an environment of small group living, almost 6 billion people use the internet in the modern era. We argue that the technological transformation has created an entirely new ecosystem that is often mismatched with our evolved adaptations for social living. We discuss how evolved responses to moral transgressions, such as compassion for victims of transgressions and punishment of transgressors, are disrupted by two main features of the online context. First, the scale of the internet exposes us to an unnaturally large quantity of extreme moral content, causing compassion fatigue and increasing public shaming. Second, the physical and psychological distance between moral actors online can lead to ineffective collective action and virtue signaling. We discuss practical implications of these mismatches and suggest directions for future research on morality in the internet era.

AI-Powered Augmented Reality App Satisfies My Beauty Needs and Want

Abstract Purpose: Online shopping is changing because of augmented reality technology. The study aimed to understand augmented reality’s impact on the consumer shopping experience in an online context and further understand how its information, service, and ease of use can impact its continuous intention. Design/Methodology/approach: This research is based on a sample of 348 from China and structural equation modeling using Smart-PLS. Findings: The study outcomes show that Chinese consumers are intrigued and feel engaged with the augmented reality makeup app. Most users have shown positive results towards different constructs, which shows the significance of this technology. Chinese consumers adopt such technologies because of their immersive power that enhances the real environment while shopping online for cosmetic products. Originality: Augmented reality is a disruptive technology that is changing the shopping experience. The current framework helps to understand consumer engagement with this technology and contributes to the AR literature and theory. The insights provide a strong base for future strategy development to integrate this technology in online and offline stores.

Look at what the real facts and experts say! The use of expert references and objectivity claims in disinformation: A qualitative exploration and typology

The popular assumption that mis- and disinformation are distinguishable from true information based on easy-to-identify content features is challenged in an online context where multiple claims of truthfulness compete for legitimacy. When conventional and alternative narratives both rely on seemingly objective and fact-based truth claims, it is difficult for citizens to separate false from true information. In this setting, we rely on an inductive qualitative analysis of social media and alternative media platforms to explore how mis- and disinformation refer to expertise and objectivity. Our main findings suggest that expertise and objectivity in mis- and disinformation can be legitimized by (1) quoting or involving message-congruent alternative experts; (2) selectively decontextualizing or quoting established experts; (3) contrasting ‘honest’ alternative experts/critical citizens to ‘dishonest’ established experts; (4) emphasizing people-centric expertise, common sense, and critical thinking as foundations of truth-telling; and (5) referring to visual information and lived experiences as direct reflections of reality. The typology aims to inform empirical research on the detection of mis- and disinformation and can be applied in the design of interventions to raise awareness about how false information signals legitimacy.

Comparative Study of Online and Face to Face Instructions

The study highlights several key findings regarding the differences in students' perceptions between face-to-face (F2F) and online learning methods, using course experience questionnaires (CEQ) and online course experience questionnaires (OCEQ). Here's a breakdown of the findings and implications: The study found significant differences in several factors between F2F and online learning methods. These include the total score of the questionnaire, the factor of good teaching (GT), the factor of clear goals (CG), and the factor of appropriate assessment (AA). These differences indicate that students perceive distinct qualities and effectiveness in these aspects depending on the learning method. The lack of social interaction in online learning compared to F2F settings is suggested as a potential reason for these differences. According to constructionist theory, social interaction plays a crucial role in learning, potentially explaining why students rate factors like good teaching, clear goals, and appropriate assessment differently in online contexts. Interestingly, the study found that the factor of emphasis on independence did not show significant differences between F2F and online learning methods. This contrasts with previous research findings, which might be due to the increasing flexibility and adaptability of blended learning approaches where both F2F and online components are integrated. In summary, while online learning has become a prominent alternative due to the pandemic, this study underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the differences in students' perceptions and experiences between online and face-to-face learning environments.

Vertical Screen Documentaries: Creating Masterpieces and Achieving Classics An Analysis of the Emergence and Development of Vertical Screen Documentaries, Using Talking to Strangers as a Case Study

As the number of short video users continues to grow, China is embracing the "mobile vertical screen era." To satisfy users' demands for a quicker immersive experience, major platforms are adopting a vertical screen format for micro-movies and videos, particularly given the maturity of the fragmented online context, initiatives for aging media adaptation, and the trend towards younger internet users. These factors provide a prime opportunity for the development of vertical screen video formats. Many short video platforms have begun experimenting with vertical documentaries. This paper takes the vertical documentary "Talking to Strangers" as a case study to discuss its strengths and weaknesses in conjunction with the future development of vertical screen documentaries. In today's era of fragmentation, where various types of work are emerging, how to make vertical screen documentaries into refined classics is a question worth considering and discussing deeply.

A multimodal contrastive analysis of regulations and instructions during the COVID-19 lockdown in the context of the Island of Madeira and the United Kingdom

Abstract The paper analyses aspects of multilingual and multimodal narratives employed during the COVID-19 lockdown, attempting to identify how they were used in professional and public environments. More specifically, the paper looks at editing choices, photography, design, drawing, colour, and writing to get a better understanding of multimodal communication, semiotics, image analysis, and their correlation with the written text and the way it has been perceived and interpreted, be it in online or print-based contexts. Methodologically, this is a contrastively inspired research project, looking specifically at Portuguese-speaking contexts of the Island of Madeira and English-speaking contexts of the United Kingdom, taking into account instructions about the COVID-19 pandemic. These are mainly bilingual English–Portuguese and multilingual texts, multimodal manifestations, and communicative and semiotic effectiveness.

Disentangling the mechanism of student engagement in online language classrooms from the perspective of Community of Inquiry

Previous studies have revealed that students' participation is a complex matter affected by pedagogical, environmental, and individual factors. However, there is still insufficient empirical evidence regarding how those factors work in shaping classroom participation in the online context. In the field of language education, moreover, it still remains unclear as to how social interactions among students and teachers may affect students' cognitive engagement. To further understand the complex relations between language students' online engagement and the influencing factors, the current study conducted in-depth interviews with 24 university students enrolled in three online English courses in an International university in China. Analyses and interpretation of the qualitative data were informed by the Community of Inquiry framework. The findings suggest that students' engagement in online classrooms is a situated process affected by 1) pedagogical practices and support from teachers, which determines students' cognitive presence and perceived teaching presence directly, and 2) students' perceived social presence, which was shaped by both group dynamics and the online environment. Notably, the physically isolated online environment seemed to have played an impeding role in some students' cognitive engagement, but a facilitating a role in some others’, as mediated by their preference for social presence or absence. Overall, our study highlights the importance of providing students with a constructive, supportive and interactive environment for online language teaching and learning.

MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODEL FOR DIGITAL TRUST OF DIGITAL SERVICES USERS: RESULTS OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

The paper addresses the development of a multidimensional model of consumer trust of online services users, including such dimensions as trust in the effectiveness of regulatory activities of the state, consumer trust in online services, interpersonal trust, and predisposition to trust. Consumer trust studies in Russia are conducted primarily either in an offline context, or with an emphasis on only one of the dimensions of trust, at the same time Russian studies are mainly conceptual. The presented study is the first in Russia conducted using empirical tools and analyzing consumer trust as a multidimensional construct in an online context. The object of the empirical study is the users of online services - representatives of generations Y and Z, with the sample of the pilot study of 388 respondents, the Structural Equation Modeling method (PLS-SEM) used for analysis. The study reveals a significant influence of the predisposition to trust and the perceived effectiveness of the regulatory activities of the state on interpersonal trust. A significant positive influence of trust predisposition on the trust in online service is also confirmed, but no significant influence of the perceived effectiveness of the regulatory activity of the state on the trust in the online service was found. The study reveals a significant influence of interpersonal trust on trust in online services and the influence of trust in online services on consumers’ intention to use the service. The present effects of mediation and moderation are tested in the model. The presented research is relevant not only from a theoretical point of view, but also from a practical one, since the developed model allows us to identify the factors that form consumer trust in the online service. The findings demonstrate the perceived characteristics of the company which form consumer trust, and the factors that can reduce the negative impact of consumer distrust on the intention to use the service.

Investigating the Relationship between Key Factors and Customer Satisfaction in an Online Shopping Platform

The COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020's has led to the rapid growth of e-commerce in recent years, which has necessitated a greater understanding of the factors that contribute to customer satisfaction in the online context. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between key factors and customer satisfaction in Lazada. The online survey was carried out to collect data and information from 100 respondents. In this study, five independent variables (efficiency, reliability, assurance, responsibility, and security) are investigated. The results indicate assurance and responsibility have a significant and positive influence on customer satisfaction whereas efficiency has a significant and negative impact on customer satisfaction. This study aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), as well as responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). In conclusion, this study contributes to the existing literature on ecommerce by providing empirical evidence on the impact of e-marketing strategies on customer satisfaction.

Beyond the Surface

This study uses the online disinhibition effect as a theoretical framework for understanding disclosures of ADHD on non-anonymous (Facebook) and anonymous (Reddit) channels. Specifically, a quantitative content analysis compared public Facebook and Reddit posts in terms of disclosure depth. Posts were coded as either peripheral, intermediate, or core disclosures. In this context, the results aligned with the online disinhibition effect; Reddit had greater disclosure and depth of disclosure compared to those on Facebook. The implications of this study demonstrate how self-disclosure depth varies within understudied groups (i.e., individuals posting on ADHD threads) in online contexts. This study also adds to prior research by examining anonymity on multiple channels.