Reader Engagement Research Articles

Beyond the Text: Comparative Analysis of Paratextual Elements in the Arabic Translations of Toni Morrison’s Paradise

This study investigates the paratextual elements in the Arabic translations of Toni Morrison’s Paradise, focusing on the translations by Tawfiq Al-Asadi and Ali Basha. Paratextual elements, including introductions, book covers, titles, forewords, and footnotes, play a crucial role in shaping reader reception and interpretation, particularly in translated literary works. This study aims to analyze how these elements influence the reception and interpretation of the novel within the Arabic-speaking world. Through a comparison of the visual and semantic interfaces between the source text (ST) and the target texts (TTs), this research reveals how paratextual elements are adapted or transformed to suit the cultural context of the target audience. The analysis encompasses book covers, title translations, forewords, dedications, and footnotes, highlighting the impact of these elements on reader engagement and understanding. The findings suggest that the translators’ choices reflect their cultural, ideological, and gendered perspectives, influencing their interpretative strategies and the final reception of the translated text. These paratextual elements highlight literary translation's obstacles and translators' active participation in crossing cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Social Media News Headlines and Their Influence on Well-Being: Emotional States, Emotion Regulation, and Resilience.

Today, many individuals read the daily news from social media platforms. Research has shown that news with negative valence might influence the well-being of individuals. Existing research that examined the impact of headlines on individuals' well-being has primarily focused on examining the positive or negative polarity of words used in the headlines. In the present study, we adopt a different approach and ask participants to categorize the headlines themselves based on the emotions they experienced while reading them and how their choice impacts their well-being. A total of 306 participants were presented with 40 headlines from main news sites that were considered popular based on the number of public reactions. Participants had to rate their emotional experience of the headlines following five emotional states (i.e., happiness, anger, sadness, fear, and interest). Emotion regulation strategies and resilience were also measured. In line with our hypotheses, we found that participants reported experiencing negative emotions more intensively while reading the headlines. Emotion regulation was not found to influence the emotional states of individuals, whereas resilience did. These findings highlight that individuals can experience heightened emotions without reading the entire news story. This effect was observed regardless of the headline's emotional valence (i.e., positive, negative, or neutral). Furthermore, our study highlights the critical role of interest as a factor in news consumption. Interest significantly affects individuals' engagement and reactions to headlines, regardless of valence. The findings underscore the complex interplay between headline content and reader engagement and stress the need for further research into how headlines are presented to protect individuals from potential emotional costs.

SOCIOLINGUISTIC FEATURES OF CLICKBAIT IN ENGLISH AND ARMENIAN WEBSITES

In this highly developed technological world, newspapers and news shows have mostly been replaced by online news. The world-renowned news agencies, as well as social media platforms, report their news online, providing information to the public. However, readers are sometimes disappointed to find a misleading headline with quite different web content. This deceiving technique called clickbait uses ambiguity to provoke the user into clicking a link. The present article explores the sociolinguistic strategies employed in Armenian and English clickbait headlines by bloggers, vloggers, and news reporters. The study aims at revealing how language is manipulated to engage and persuade users in online media. The exploration conducted from a sociolinguistic perspective unveils the intricate interplay between language, culture, and societal norms in English and Armenian clickbait headlines. The findings contribute to the understanding of how linguistic styles, word choices, and persuasive techniques vary across different languages and cultures. It also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between clickbait and regular headlines, as well as the potential impact of clickbait on trust and reader engagement in the digital media landscape.

Influence of Character Development Techniques on Reader Engagement in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of character development techniques on reader engagement in Kenya. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Well-developed characters tend to evoke stronger emotional responses from readers, fostering a deeper connection to the narrative. This emotional resonance can lead to increased empathy and investment in the characters' journeys. Secondly, techniques such as character arcs, internal conflicts, and growth over the course of the story contribute to a sense of realism and complexity, enhancing reader immersion. Additionally, relatable and multi-dimensional characters are more likely to captivate readers, as they can see aspects of themselves reflected in the characters' struggles and triumphs. Furthermore, the effectiveness of character development techniques varies depending on genre and target audience, highlighting the importance of tailoring strategies to fit the specific demands of the narrative. Overall, skillful implementation of character development techniques plays a crucial role in engaging readers and enhancing their overall reading experience. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social cognitive theory, schema theory and narrative transportation theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the influence of character development techniques on reader engagement in Kenya. Authors and storytellers can benefit from the findings of empirical studies by strategically employing character development techniques to enhance reader engagement in their narratives. While the influence of character development techniques on reader engagement primarily resides within the realm of creative expression, policymakers and educators can play a role in promoting literacy and fostering a culture of reading.

Impact of Narrative Structure on Reader Interpretation in South Africa

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of narrative structure on reader interpretation in South Africa. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Narrative structure profoundly influences how readers interpret a story. Linear narratives, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, tend to guide readers through a predictable trajectory, offering a sense of closure and coherence. In contrast, nonlinear structures challenge readers by presenting events out of chronological order or through multiple perspectives, inviting them to actively piece together the story's meaning. The study suggest that while linear narratives may be more accessible and easier to follow, nonlinear structures often provoke deeper engagement and critical thinking, as readers grapple with the complexities of fragmented timelines and shifting perspectives. Additionally, the emotional impact of a narrative can vary depending on its structure, with nonlinear narratives often evoking heightened suspense and intrigue. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Reader-response theory, cognitive literary theory and narratology may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the impact of narrative structure on reader interpretation in South Africa. Practical recommendations involve applying research findings to inform the creation, analysis, and teaching of literature. Policy recommendations entail advocating for initiatives that promote diverse and inclusive narratives and support research in literature and reader engagement.

Relationship between Setting Description and Immersion in Fiction in Algeria

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between setting description and immersion in fiction in Algeria. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that vivid and detailed depictions of settings significantly enhance reader immersion. The Study have shown that richly described settings contribute to a more immersive reading experience by allowing readers to mentally visualize and emotionally connect with the story world. Moreover, descriptive passages that engage multiple senses, such as sight, sound, smell, and texture, have been found to deepen immersion by creating a more sensory-rich environment. Additionally, the effectiveness of setting description in fostering immersion seems to be influenced by factors such as reader preferences, genre conventions, and the narrative context. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of thoughtful and evocative setting descriptions in enhancing reader engagement and immersion in fictional narratives. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Schema theory, transportation theory and reader-response theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the relationship between setting description and immersion in fiction in Algeria. In terms of practical implications, findings from research on setting description and immersion can inform authors, educators, and practitioners in the fields of literature, media, and education. From a policy perspective, research on setting description and immersion in fiction can inform initiatives aimed at promoting literacy, cultural diversity, and media literacy.

The Hero of This Novel Is a Tree: Biocentric Narrative Strategies in Contemporary Eco-fiction

Abstract This article considers the novel's possibilities for depicting and responding to the climate crisis by analyzing Richard Powers's efforts to write a biocentric perspective in The Overstory (2018). In biocentric narratives, humans, typically the focal point of the novel, are decentered in favor of perspectives that attempt to encompass more of the living world. Efforts to evade narrative anthropocentrism, which are often encouraged by ecocritics, may not offer an effective frame through which to articulate the climate crisis. The article defends narrative anthropocentrism against the charge that it is unambiguously problematic and challenges the claim that it is potentially avoidable through the adoption of a theoretically biocentric narrative perspective. Rather, strategic awareness of narrative anthropocentrism can help novelists foster visions of strong connections to our environments and inspire reader engagement with environmental concerns. Powers's effort to move beyond anthropocentrism, which is motivated by positive intentions to impact reader interest in environmental issues, is stymied by the inevitability of the human perspectives and interests that attend the construction of any narrative. The article concludes that some instances of anthropocentrism in novels like The Overstory, in which Powers cannot altogether supplant anthropocentrism with a biocentric perspective, are more constructive and positive vis-à-vis nonhuman nature and the environment than others, such as Powers's portrayal of reverence for nonhuman nature. If reverence reveals the attachment of human values and emotions to nonhuman entities, it suggests how anthropocentrism might be harnessed for the benefit of the wider environment.

Indirect translation explained

Although largely ignored by earlier researchers or examined only to a limited extent, indirect translation—translation from or for a translation—has come to be recognized as a noteworthy area, which can open a wide field for researchers. It would be fair to assert that it has experienced a significant upswing in research attention in the past few years with the publication of three special issues in the journal Target (Pięta et al., 2022), Translation Studies (Rosa et al., 2017), Perspectives (Davier et al., 2023) and also encyclopedic entries and books (Andre, 2020; Hadley, 2023; Pięta, 2021) and numerous research articles. Despite all efforts so far, “research on indirect translation [is] lagging so far behind other subfields that focus on adjacent phenomena (e.g. retranslation or self-translation […])” (Davier et al., 2023, p. 824). Therefore, the volume under review will considerably contribute to the extant literature. This book, co-authored by renowned scholars of indirect translation and in an accessible style, explores indirect translation across various domains, such as news translation, interpreting, and audiovisual translation, from both theoretical and practical perspectives. As such, it expands beyond the traditional focus on written and literary translation (Pięta et al., 2023). Packed with practical exercises, helpful tips, and effective solutions for learners, this volume is an essential read for translator trainers, trainees, scholars, and researchers of indirect translation. The book comprises seven core chapters, along with an introduction and a conclusion. Each chapter presents learning outcomes and suggests thought-provoking activities, which aim to enhance reader engagement with the text. The book also contains a glossary, which defines key terms for readers.

Handling Hazardous Biographical Materials: Dealing with Questionable Character Traits through Poetic Biography

ABSTRACT As a (poetic) biographer who has dedicated considerable time to wading through archives and other research materials, I have often found myself wanting my biographical subjects to reveal themselves not only to be interesting, intelligent, accomplished, but to be ‘good people’ also, perhaps sharing my own artistic and political views of the world. Occasionally, however, I have been confronted with information that has stopped me short. And I have asked myself ‘How do I deal with that?’ Percy Grainger, for example, thought that blue-eyed composers were superior. And George Balanchine’s name is frequently associated with poor treatment of female dancers (though many have jumped to his defence). Of course, life stories are much more complex than a singular focus on such details will allow, and a biographer must consider all angles. As this article will discuss – through reference to my own work and that of other poets – I am interested in how poetry’s many affordances have enabled me to approach difficult material in ways that adequately distance my own moral judgement from the text and instead encourage a more active readerly engagement with facts and/or ambiguous information.

Does Reader Engagement with Neurosurgery Journal Websites Correlate with the Number of Citations Received by Articles?

Medicine has begun adapting to new information-sharing paradigms in the hyper-connected social media era. In this milieu, the role of journal websites in the dissemination of clinical and research information needs to be reevaluated. We sought to explore whether reader engagement with neurosurgical journal websites, reflected by the number of article views and downloads, correlated with the eventual number of citations received by the articles. The websites of all Medline indexed neurosurgical journals were screened to identify those that provided information regarding the number of abstract and full text views and downloads. Articles published in these journals between July 2010 and June 2011 were included in this analysis. Various article attributes were identified and the number of citations per article was obtained from Google Scholar. The impact factors of the selected journals for the year 2010 were obtained from the Journal Citation Reports. Twenty-two journals that had published 2527 articles were finally included in this analysis. The number of abstract views, full-text views, and downloads all correlated strongly with the journal impact factors in 2010 as well as the eventual citations per article. The number of article downloads independently predicted the citations per article on multivariate analysis. Neurology India had significantly higher article views and downloads but lower citations per article than the other journals. Readers were found to engage significantly with neurosurgical journal websites and therefore, open access to articles would lead to increased visibility of articles, resulting in higher citation rates.

Curiosity in news consumption

AbstractWe analyze how curiosity drives news consumption. We test predictions of the information‐gap theory of curiosity using over 100,000 WeChat news articles, applying NLP methods to construct measures of salience, importance, and surprisingness associated with news headlines, experimentally validating these measures, and using them to predict clicks. Our findings confirm that people tend to consume news when: the headline sparks a salient question; the content appears more important (e.g., emphasized by the headline's position on the webpage or an exclamation mark); the headline refers to more surprising topics (measured as the KL‐divergence from a baseline topic distribution); and the headline has lower valence. Information‐gap theory helps predict aggregate news consumption. Yet our data also reveal a small negative correlation between the number of clicks and the ratio of likes to clicks, suggesting that while inducing curiosity can drive short‐term news consumption, it doesn't necessarily enhance long‐term reader engagement.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF PRAGMATICS: LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT

This article delves into the realm of pragmatics, a branch of linguistics focused on the relationship between language and context, and its significance in literary analysis through speech act theory. It outlines the foundational aspects of pragmatics, drawing on the contributions of scholars such as E.S. Aznaurova and J.K. Adams, who stress the role of context and communicative conditions in language interpretation. The historical origins of pragmatic study are traced back to ancient rhetoric, highlightingearly considerations of effective communication. Central to the discussion is speech act theory, introduced by J.L. Austin and expanded by John Searle, which differentiates between locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts in language. This theoretical framework is applied to literature, illustrating how speech acts within narratives extend beyond conveying information to actively shaping the story and influencing reader engagement. The article argues for the importance of pragmatics in providinga richer comprehension of literary texts, positioning language as a dynamic force in the construction of meaning and social interaction within narratives.

#SharingHEOR: Developing Modern Media for Communication and Dissemination of Health Economics and Outcomes Research.

Questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of health interventions and allocation of health care resources are frequently discussed in mainstream and social media. Additionally, government and foundation funders are increasingly mandating that results be disseminated to the lay public and patients may benefit from being able to digest scientific research regarding their health conditions. Therefore, it is important to widely disseminate and clearly communication health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) findings to a range of interested parties. Digital media features such as graphical or visual abstracts, infographics and videos are informative and add value to research articles by improving reader engagement with articles, potentially increasing their impact, and allowing results to be more widely disseminated. However, use of novel digital media for research dissemination has been relatively limited to date. In this article, we discuss the rationale for developing novel media to communicate and disseminate research findings and offer practical advice for doing so. We conclude by outlining a future agenda for research regarding HEOR communication and dissemination.

Transformation of Print Media Management Into Online Media (Case Study on Bengkulu Ekspress Daily Media)

This study examines the management transformation process carried out by print media in switching to online media platforms. The research focuses on understanding media management carried out by print media in adapting information technology and its content into the online realm. Qualitative research methods were used, including an in-depth interview with the editor-in-chief of Media Harian Bengkulu Ekspress, which has transformed into online media. Data analysis was carried out to determine the management changes made by the Bengkulu Ekspress Daily media when switching to online media. The results highlight the transformation of media management of Bengkulu Ekspress Daily, starting from the formation of a special team that handles this online media itself, changes in news language that follow the tastes of the community, adjustments to the layout on the web, and interaction with readers through communication media. The implications of this transformation show significant changes in business models as well as increased reader engagement through online platforms

Science & Technology Studies

The first edition of Science & Technology Studies, then named Science Studies, became available in 1988. Over the past 35 years, the journal has established itself as a prominent international publication, experiencing significant growth in publication volume, manuscript submissions, and readership. This editorial commemorates these achievements and reflects on the journal's evolution. A key aspect of this exploration is our journal's role in the Open Access movement, which both enhances transparency and offers new tools for the analysis. The sections delve further into the topic of the scholarly impact of STS, starting with a discussion of impact factor metrics followed by insights from our Editorial Team. The paper then utilizes the extensive archives of the journal and the capabilities of new tools to explore reader engagement with our publications. The editorial concludes with a discussion of our way forward into the next years and decades.

Which Is More Important, Marketing or Sales?

Marketing and sales roles have substantially changed in today's fast-paced corporate climate. This paper examines how marketing and sales evolve, emphasizing understanding their significance and interaction inside contemporary organizations. To shed light on the intricate dynamics of these crucial roles, the study evaluates essential literature, analyses case studies from real-world situations, and assesses current state-of-the-art research. The report examines the case study of "The New York Times" in depth to show how marketing and sales methods may be used in real-world situations. It emphasizes how dynamic pricing and data-driven advertising dramatically affect reader engagement, retention, and income. The research offers insightful analysis of the efficacy of these methods in the digital era, which is characterized by altering customer expectations and behavior. This paper also recognizes marketing and sales drawbacks, such as data privacy issues, algorithmic bias, environmental issues, and ad weariness. The paper projects a future molded by immersive technology, voice search optimization, sustainability-focused practices, and artificial intelligence. However, this study highlights how sales and marketing work together to drive corporate success. It emphasizes how organizations must change, work together, and take advantage of new trends to succeed in a market that is undergoing fast change. Businesses may put themselves in a position for long-term success and excellence in customer service by recognizing the importance of both roles and their symbiotic connection.

From text to visual: Analyzing the influence of graphic design on english language storytelling

This paper employs a mixed-method design to examine the impact of graphic design elements on reader engagement, comprehension, and overall experience in English language storytelling. Through a series of carefully controlled experiments, participants are exposed to different versions of the same short story, each featuring varying levels of graphic design integration, including typography, layout, color, and imagery. By comparing participant responses across these conditions, the study seeks to uncover how graphic design can either enhance or detract from the narrative experience. Results from the experiments demonstrate that strategically incorporating graphic design elements can significantly improve reader engagement and comprehension, thereby transforming the storytelling landscape. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between graphic design and English language storytelling, underscoring the potential of this interdisciplinary collaboration to redefine and expand the boundaries of narrative expression.

Quantifying the Information Flow of Long Narratives: A Case Study of Jane Austin’s Works

This study employs digital humanities to analyze the information flow in Jane Austen’s classic literature using the GPT-2 XL model. Entropy, a measure of unpredictability, quantifies the narrative’s dynamic engagement with readers. By calculating the entropy of each sentence, the research reveals unique patterns of information gain across Austen’s novels, reflecting the ebb and flow of reader surprise. Peaks in entropy correspond to narrative climaxes, while declines indicate more predictable plot developments. The findings suggest that digital tools can offer fresh insights into literary analysis, highlighting the interplay between predictability and surprise in narrative structure. This exploratory approach to literature enriches traditional literary studies and opens new avenues for understanding reader engagement with classic texts.

Towards a News Recommendation System to increase Reader Engagement through Newsletter Content Personalization

In the big data era, recommendation systems (RS) play a pivotal role to overcome information overload. In the digital landscape publishers need to optimize their editorial strategies to increase reader engagement and digital revenue. Newsletters emerged as an important conversion channel to engage readers as they provide a personalized experience by building habits. However, the lack of human resources and the need for more content assertiveness per reader lead publishers to search for an advanced analytics solution. We address this problem by proposing a research agenda on news recommendation algorithms inspired in the table d’hôte approach and the concept of ‘personalized diversity’. Thus, the reader receives a personalized newsletter where he can discover informative and surprising content. The goal is to offer a self-contained package that retains readers, increases loyalty and consequently, the propensity to subscribe. A live controlled experiment with readers from the Portuguese newspaper Público was performed and a new approach is proposed. We study the effects of content recommendations on the behavior of newsletter subscribers. Findings reveal that serendipitous content tends to increase reader engagement. Finally, we propose a table d’hôte approach and new challenges are identified for future research.

Pre‐service teacher knowledge of children's literature and attitudes to Reading for Pleasure: an international comparative study

AbstractReading for Pleasure (RfP) acknowledges the importance of reader engagement and the role of the teacher as a reader of children's literature. The foundational work of the Teachers as Readers (TARs) programme successfully illustrated the impact of RfP activities on student learning. Previous studies of teachers' reader identities have shown a strong need for professional learning to boost teachers' confidence with children's literature. However, less emphasis has been placed on the adoption of RfP pedagogy within initial teacher education (ITE) to develop pre‐service teachers' (PST) knowledge of children's literature, as well as their understanding of teachers as reading role models for future students. This paper analyses data from research into RfP undertaken in two ITE programmes for primary teachers informed by contrasting policies in Scotland and Australia. Though both countries aim to improve school student literacy success, the curriculum mandates differ, shaping the potential pathways available in ITE courses. It is within this context that we report on 3 years of data on PST reader knowledge collected from 300 students using survey tools adopted from the original TARs study. Emerging findings provide evidence that teacher educators need to act as circuit breakers to alter PST attitudes to reading.