Sender's Perspective Research Articles

Vocal recognition of distance calls in a group-living basal bird: the greylag goose, Anser anser

Vocal communication in group-living animals represents a major challenge when multiple individuals call simultaneously and generate a complex soundscape. Decoding relevant information from a vocal signal and its emitter can determine the survival of the receiver. In hierarchical social groups, information on sex, size and age can provide relevant context for vocal signals. Ultimately, individual vocal recognition is a keystone in vocal communication systems, especially in the context of sociality. Greylag geese (Aves: Anseriformes) are a basal, gregarious and highly social species, and adults produce a distance call when approaching or leaving the flock. In this study we (1) quantified the acoustic properties of distance calls to test whether they can provide information on the sex, size and age of the emitter, (2) evaluated whether distance calls have individual properties, from the sender's perspective, (3) tested whether receivers discriminate distance calls depending on the emitter's identity and (4) explored whether an individual's response strength towards its partner's distance call is associated with fitness-related traits (i.e. pair bond duration and average number of offspring per year). We recorded distance calls of individually marked geese, quantified the variation in call acoustic properties and carried out a playback experiment in the wild. Distance calls encoded information about the sex of the goose, but not its age or size. From the emitter's perspective, we found some support for individuality in distance calls. From the receiver's perspective, geese were capable of recognizing distance calls from different individuals. Finally, the response strength towards playback of the partner's call was positively correlated with pair bond duration. Vocal recognition has been proposed to be tightly related to social structure, the evolution of sociality and vocal learning. Here, we uncovered vocal recognition of individual affiliative calls in a social bird from the most basal avian group studied so far. • We studied acoustic variation in affiliative distance calls in wild greylag geese. • Geese were able to recognize distance calls from different individuals. • Fitness-related traits were correlated with vocal responses.

Sustainable Interpersonal Interaction: Research on Instant Message and Helping from the Perspective of Sender

Instant Messaging is widely used in people’s daily life because of its convenience and timeliness. People have to deal with this communication almost every day. At present, most of the researches focuses on the instant messages of the receiver, but rarely explores the perspective of the sender. Based on the conservation of resources theory, we propose a model that initiates communication indirectly affects one’s own follow-up helping behavior. The results showed that (a) Instant Message sent has a positive correlation with perceived work goal progress; (b) Perceived work goal progress mediates the relationship of Instant Message sent and helping; (c) The mediating effect of perceived work goal progress on the relationship between Instant Message sent and helping will be moderated by the usefulness of reply. Our study builds a framework to explain how sent instant messages can increase helping via perceived goal progress, broaden the knowledge of Instant Messaging and helping. The practical implications are further discussed.

Handover in Nursing: A Concept Analysis.

The broad use of the term handover to describe any activity involving the transfer of professional responsibility from one person to another has led to an ambiguous understanding. Recently, handover has become a process central to the delivery of high-quality and safe patient care. The aim of this analysis was to clarify the concept of handover within the context of nursing practice. Rodgers's evolutionary approach was used as the analysis method along with some aspects of the dimensional analysis guided by Caron and Bowers, to understand the perspectives of senders and receivers. The analysis revealed four attributes of handover: transfer of information, interaction for disambiguation, process, and strategy. Handover is defined as a process for transferring responsibility from sender to receiver through communication through the transfer of information, the interaction for disambiguation, and the context-sensitive strategy for accomplishing the continuity and safety of patient care. The salient dimension of handover was process, and the sub-dimensions were transfer of information, interaction for disambiguation, and strategy. From the sender's perspectives, it is the process of transferring information organized by the sender, and from the receiver's perspective, handover is the process establishing care plan through interactive strategy. The definition and identified attributes serve as a heuristic for designing strategies and further developing the construct of handover in nursing.

To Whom Should I Send it? Sender Perspective on Incentivized Word of Mouth

This paper examines how consumers’ WOM-related activity can be steered by marketing measures. By conducting an experimental study using mobile coupons as a novel tool of word of mouth, we specifically investigate how monetary incentives foster senders’ decision in targeting particular receivers. Our results show that senders tend to share incentivized WOM with receivers deemed to be close to them when the amount of the incentive is unequal between sender and receiver, and information on the incentive is revealed to both sides. The different amount of incentive for senders and their receivers also leads senders to target receivers who are deal prone.

The path from brand communities through word of mouth to the intentions to adopt video streaming services: a two-stage framework

Word of mouth has been praised as a marketing tool that fosters business growth. This paper analyses the links between brand communities, word of mouth, and intention to adopt online services. We first model word of mouth as a consequence of users' interaction into brand communities, that is, the WOM sender's perspective. Afterwards, we analyse the influence of word of mouth on consumer attitudes and further behavioural intention to adopt an interactive service, i.e., the WOM receiver's perspective. Through the use of two samples and structural equations, we test the two-stage framework for the product category online video streaming platform. Results show that word of mouth is explained by the brand community commitment on the sender's perspective and that word of mouth has a more prominent role than perceptions on innovation attributes in influencing user's attitudes and intentions to continue using the video streaming platform. Implications for marketing managers are offered.

The Role of Communication Complexity in Adaptive Contextualization

Research problem: Adding contextual information to a core message has been shown to be critical in improving communication quality, especially in computer mediated communication. This paper models how people contextualize messages in the face of changing communication complexity. Research question: Can changes in communication complexity that occur during the communication process explain and predict contextualization? Literature review: Theories of human communication and studies of computer supported collaboration suggest that communication complexity reflects potentially problematic conditions resulting from 1) the difference in perspective and context held by the collaborators; 2) the incompatibility between the message representation and the way it is interpreted and used by the receiver; and 3) the intensity of information exchanged between communicators. We use this definition as a basis of for developing a measure of cognitive communication complexity. The literature further suggests that higher communication complexity induces higher contextualization. Methodology: First, we conducted a pilot study to develop and validate measures of communication complexity. Second, we conducted a laboratory experiment, in which 258 participants working in pairs collaborated on a sixteen-step assembly task. They used a tailored system that structured each message as core (the essence of the message) and context (additional information that explains the core and the sender's perspective). We used unbalanced panel data analysis to examine the repeated measures of contextualization and communication complexity associated with each step of the task. Results and discussion: We found that collaborators respond to changes in communication complexity at the expense of higher collaborative effort. We offer a cost-benefit framework in which, at the step level, people contextualize to reduce the communication complexity, and at the task level, they additionally consider the impact of contextualization on task performance. The main limitation of this study was the need to structure the communication between collaborators, to control and measure contextualization. Future research can adapt and extend our measure of communication complexity to less structured communication.

Guyanese remittance motivations: altruistic?

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the remittance behavior of Guyanese immigrants living in three communities of New York City, USA to assess their remittance behavior and if these are motivated by altruism or the intent to return to live in Guyana. Over the last two decades, remittances accounted for approximately 17 percent of the GDP of the Guyanese economy and continue to grow. The bulk of these remittances are significant from its native sons and daughters residing in the USA. Design/methodology/approach – This case study uses non-experimental survey research design with survey data collected from 300 participants living in New York, with 236 selected for analysis. Findings – Guyanese living in New York City remit monies to Guyana because of a pure altruistic motive as well as believing that their contributions have a positive impact on the economic development of their nations regardless of their intention to return to Guyana. These findings support the altruistic model on remittance motivation. Research limitations/implications – The data gathered for this survey are restricted to three communities in the USA where Guyanese are significant in numbers, thus limiting generalizations and findings to other countries such as Canada, England, where there are significant enclaves of Guyanese immigrants. Practical implications – New York-based Guyanese deem their remittances as contributing to the economic development of their country. This suggest that there may room for a coordinated policy on the part of the Government of Guyana to develop a coordinated plan to engage overseas-based Guyanese to remit more to help with Guyana economic development efforts. Originality/value – This is the first study to survey Guyanese in their host countries to gather information on remittances motivation and the perceived impact of these remittances from the sender's perspective. The paper highlights the significant remittance contributions of US-based Guyanese and their net private flows to Guyana.

Interruptions to Clinical Work: How Frequent Is Too Frequent?

Interruptions to Clinical Work: How Frequent Is Too Frequent?

Unravelling the debate over orthopaedic trauma transfers: The sender's perspective

IntroductionThe increasing frequency of orthopaedic trauma patient transfers is an issue at the centre of the current orthopaedic “call crisis” that has the potential to inundate resources at tertiary care centres. Appropriateness of transfer has been investigated only from the perspective of receiving surgeons. This study investigates the suitability and reasons for orthopaedic trauma patient transfer from the viewpoint of transferring surgeons. MethodsA questionnaire was e-mailed to a random sampling of 500 active members of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. Surgeons were split into three groups: senders of trauma patients (senders); orthopaedic traumatologists who receive transfers (traumatologist receivers); and other trauma transfer receivers that are not traumatologists (non-traumatologist receivers). The perceived complexity and appropriateness for transfer of eight virtual case scenarios were determined, along with the specific reasons mitigating transfer. Results51 Senders, 90 traumatologist receivers, and 98 non-traumatologist receivers completed 239 surveys. There was agreement between groups for case complexity and appropriateness for transfer in five of eight case scenarios (p<0.05). Fracture complexity was cited as the primary reason for transfer by 28% of senders. However, just as common was a lack of resources at the sending hospital; OR equipment (18%), critical care services (18%), and inability to handle the immediacy of the case (7%) were also cited. Likelihood of uninsured status was the least common reason for transfer (1%). ConclusionsIn most cases, both senders and receivers of orthopaedic trauma have similar viewpoints regarding fracture complexity and appropriateness of transfer. Sending surgeons cite case complexity and a lack of hospital resources as the primary reasons for patient transfer. Mandating increased call for orthopaedic surgeons at non-trauma centres without a concomitant increase in hospital resources is unlikely to substantially reduce unnecessary patient transfers to higher level facilities.

Contextual constraints in media choice: Beyond information richness

In today's dynamic environment, managers and organizations are faced with varied choices in communicating information for enhanced decision making. In business, the selection of the appropriate media needs to be efficient and effective for decision making and can be crucial in certain circumstances. Recent studies have relied on numerous theories to explain media choice. This research work goes beyond the traditional task characteristics of equivocality and uncertainty from the media richness theory. It addresses additional contextual constraints including the needs for urgency, confidentiality, accountability, social interaction, and information integrity from the sender's perspective and how these interact with equivocality and uncertainty in the choice of a medium for communication. Results demonstrate a significant change in media selection under all five contextual constraints, although not always in the direction predicted. Email was consistently the top preference, contrary to theoretical expectations. The study adds empirical support to the growing trend of moving beyond media and information richness in order to explain media choice in organizations.

Hormones and acoustic communication in anuran amphibians

Circulating hormone levels can mediate changes in the quality of courtship signals by males and/or mate choice by females and may thus play an important role in the evolution of courtship signals. Costs associated with shifts in hormone levels of males, for example, could effectively stabilize directional selection by females on male signals. Alternatively, if hormone levels affect the selection of mates by females, then variation in hormone levels among females could contribute to the maintenance of variability in the quality of males' signals. Here, I review what is known regarding the effects of hormone levels on the quality of acoustic signals produced by males and on the choice of mates by females in anuran amphibians. Surprisingly, despite the long history of anuran amphibians as model organisms for studying acoustic communication and physiology, we know very little about how variation in circulating hormone levels contributes to variation in the vocal quality of males. Proposed relationships between androgen levels and vocal quality depicted in recent models, for example, are subject to the same criticisms raised for similar models proposed in relation to birds, namely that the evidence for graded effects of androgens on vocal performance is often weak or not rigorously tested and responses seen in one species are often not observed in other species. Although several studies offer intriguing support for graded effects of hormones on calling behavior, additional comparative studies will be required to understand these relationships. Recent studies indicate that hormones may also mediate changes in anuran females' choice of mates, suggesting that the hormone levels of females can influence the evolution of males' mating signals. No studies to date have concurrently addressed the potential complexity of hormone-behavior relationships from the perspective of sender as well as receiver, nor have any studies addressed the costs that are potentially associated with changes in circulating hormone levels in anurans (i.e., life-history tradeoffs associated with elevations in circulating androgens in males). The mechanisms involved in hormonally induced changes in signal production and selectivity also require further investigation. Anuran amphibians are, in many ways, conducive to investigating such questions.

Song matching, overlapping, and switching in the banded wren: the sender's perspective

Interpreting receiver responses to on-territory playback of aggressive signals is problematic. One solution is to combine such receiver-perspective experiments with a sender-perspective experiment that allows subjects to demonstrate how their choice of singing strategies is associated with their approach behavior. Here we report the results of a sender-perspective study on the banded wren (Thryothorus pleurostictus), and combine information on context and results of previous receiver-perspective experiments to clarify function. Territorial males were presented with a 5-min playback consisting of song types present in their repertoire. We assessed the degree to which the subjects' song matching rate, overlapping rate, and song-type versatility were correlated with their approach latency, closeness of approach, latency to first retreat, and time spent close to the speaker. Male age, breeding stage, and features of the playback stimuli were also considered. Song matching was associated with rapid and close approach, consistent with the receiver-perspective interpretation of type matching as a conventional signal of aggressive motivation. Overlapping was associated with earlier retreat, and together with the aversive receiver response to our previous overlapping playback experiment suggests that overlapping is a defensive withdrawal signal. High versatility was associated with slower first retreat from the speaker and high levels of reciprocal matching between subject and playback. Males with fledglings sang with particularly low versatility and approached the speaker aggressively, whereas males with nestlings overlapped more and retreated quickly. Finally, older males matched more but overlapped less.

謝罪場面における伝達メディアの適切さ

The purpose of this study was to explore the appropriateness of the communication media for apology as a function of the feeling of guilt, the position difference, and the viewpoint of a sender and a receiver. Thirty three office workersparticipated in the two parts of the experiment:(a) to rate the feeling of guilt for the assumed situations and appropriateness of each communication media from a sender's perspective, and (b) to rate the appropriateness of each media from a receiver's perspective. The results showed that face to face communication was the most appropriate and that the least was leaving message to some other person in the apology situation. Other results were also discussed from the point of pros and cons of each media and asymmetry of communication process.

ENGAGING EMBEDDED INFORMATION: TOWARD A HOLISTIC THEORYOF KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN ORGANIZATIONS.

This paper proposes a holistic theory of knowledge transfer within organizations. Ourtheory has two components: 1. the externalization and diffusion of information (theperspective of the sender; knowledge as stock), and 2. the individual and socialengagement of the embedded information (knowledge as flow). The process ofengagement focuses on the receiver and leads to the development of knowledge within an individual or group. We argue that embedding information in the system and making it available to others is important. However, we show that most of the emphasis in knowledge transfer should focus on how the receiver engages, learns, and uses theinformation. The paper starts with an original definition of knowledge as situated, reusable human awareness leading to effective action, and knowledge transfer as the effective sharing of individual and collective experience. Then, we describe knowledge transfer from the perspective of the receiver and present a model that shows the centripetal movement of the newcomer from the periphery of observation to the core of engagement. Following a discussion of knowledge transfer from the sender's perspective, we present an original theory and model of knowledge transfer. After presenting examples of applications of our model, we discuss the current gaps in current knowledge transfer models: a focus on the difference between tacit and explicit knowledge, a focus on the sender, a focus on efficiency, and a focus on information diffusion. We show how our theory fills those gaps, and discuss the implications of our theory for researchers and managers.

When one cannot not communicate: A challenge to motley's traditional communication postulates

In a recent article, Motley (1990) challenges the popular axiom that one cannot not communicate by advancing five postulates from a sender perspective. From this perspective, communication is intentional, is interactive, is encoded, requires symbols, and has a fidelity dimension. After detailing nine possible types of communication, the present article offers a receiver perspective, concluding that scholars should be interested in at least six types of communication. The receiver perspective holds that communication can be unintentional, noninteractive, and symptomatic, spontaneous, and nonsymbolic, and without a fidelity requirement. Implications of these perspectives for the study of communication are provided.