Straightforward Communication Research Articles

Comparative analysis of communication strategies in promoting csr programs: Pertamina vs Petronas

This research contrasts the digital strategic communication approaches employed by Pertamina (Indonesia) and Petronas (Malaysia), two prominent Southeast Asian oil and gas corporations, in disseminating their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects. As environmental concerns and climate change intensify, these companies have advanced significantly in sustainable development. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is highly valued in modern society, particularly for oil and gas enterprises catering to regional energy demands. While Pertamina and Petronas fulfil national roles, they also confront global sustainability challenges. The methodology involves analysing the Instagram profiles of @pertamina and @petronas. The study employs qualitative content analysis to scrutinise visual rhetoric, engagement metrics, message framing, the frequency of CSR posts, and audience responses, including likes, comments, and shares. The results indicate distinct approaches by each company in utilising Instagram for their sustainability campaigns. Pertamina adopts straightforward communication techniques to elucidate its CSR initiatives, while Petronas employs storytelling to link business activities with societal issues. These insights could influence the digital communication strategies of other firms in CSR efforts. The study suggests that cultural relevance and societal significance can enhance stakeholder involvement on Instagram. It concludes that proficient digital strategic communications can mould public perceptions of a business's commitment to sustainability.

Social Workers’ Experiences of Working with Partner Violence

Abstract In this study, we investigated social workers’ use of risk assessments and risk management in cases concerning intimate partner violence. The study examined social workers’ experiences of work performance, organizational conditions, internal and external collaboration and challenges and opportunities at work. We interviewed twelve respondents in Swedish social work offices about what structures, supports and foundations they found essential for work sustainability and resilience. Support from colleagues and managers, experience, openness and trust were critical factors for work satisfaction. The study showed that work experience created trust and security, partly because the social worker became better at translating laws and regulations into practical work. Concerning the severity of the cases, collaboration was essential for building workplace confidence and well-being. A well-functioning internal and external collaboration was described as trust, reducing stress and access to open and straightforward communication with others. Sustainable routines and access to guidelines facilitated the work. An unsupportive work climate included a culture of silence, a lack of trust and generated feelings of stress. Feelings of vulnerability in the professional role arose when the workgroup and/or the management did not take a supportive approach to operational work.

Self-powered, anti-detectable wireless near-field communication strategy based on mechano-driven Maxwell’s displacement current

The information (info) propagation via mechanical process, such as acoustic signals, is a ubiquitous and straightforward communication paradigm in our everyday interactions. Nevertheless, this process inevitably confronts obstacles arising from the absorption and reflection exerted by the medium. Herein, a concept of tribo-charge-driven Maxwell’s displacement current-based near-field wireless communication (TMNWC) is proposed. Typically, a triboelectric nanogenerator actuated by dynamic mechano-info is connected to the emission electrode, facilitating the transmission of the coupled displacement current. Subsequently, an electric signal is induced at the near-field receiver electrode, culminating in the realization of info penetration through the obstacle. Furthermore, the influence of electrode structure parameters on signal transmission attenuation is systematically studied both in theory and experiment. Compared to traditional wireless communication strategies, TMNWC possesses unparalleled stealth and anti-detection capabilities, attributes derived from its inherent simplicity, material versatility, and passive operation. Leveraging these features, the efficacy of TMNWC in security applications is exemplified by its successful implementation in hostage rescue and intelligence listening. This TMNWC scheme may provide an alternative toolkit for the transmission of mechanical information in specific scenarios.

Integrating Project-Based Learning in Preparing Students' Interpersonal Communication Skills on Speaking Courses in Indonesia

Interpersonal communication competence plays a crucial part in the educational interaction space, as it directly impacts the behaviour of students who require a straightforward communication flow. This study aims to analyse the integration of project-based learning (PjBL) in preparing students' interpersonal communication skills in speaking courses in Indonesia, the proficiency of students' interpersonal communication skills, and the challenges of achieving them. The design of this study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in May 2023, involving 315 college students from six English Study Programmes at six universities across three provinces. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and were then analysed with the assistance of Jeffreys Amazing Statistics Program. The total number of interviewees was 60, with 10 from each university. The data indicate that the interpersonal communication profiles of the 315 respondents fell into the Medium category (mean = 3.26), and the most common obstacle (mean = 4.6) in achieving interpersonal communication skills on a speaking course is a difficult-to-understand speech partner's accent. This finding has implications for college students, as these interpersonal communication skills should be strengthened through PjBL and communicative competence understanding. Both micro and macro components of communication competence are essential for English learners and speakers. Syntax, morphology, semantics, and phonology are all areas where micro components perform. The three macro components also strongly contribute to the achievement of communicative competencies, including discourse competence, sociolinguistics, and communication techniques. These two components are essential for creating a more dynamic and enactive educational interaction space and are mutually reinforcing.

(S)Talking women: portrayal of females in online discourse of social media in Albania

The aim of this paper is to explore Albanian social media discussion threads, prioritizing the way women are portrayed. The development of social media discourse has been empowered through the increasing influence of digital media, permeating all areas of life recently. ‘Privacy is no longer a social norm’, and intentional abuse of media-derived power has led to malicious intentions infiltrating online social media discourse, threatening loyal and straightforward communication, and giving rise to denigration, negativity, and dismay. Based on the current view of scholars in the field of language and digital communication that text-based studies need to move forward by incorporating other modes of communication and the fact that all human communication is, after all, multimodal, we intend to bring examples to illustrate the choice of language and images by Albanians in online social media in reaction to current popular events. The common thread that unites all examples is related to the depiction of females, unfortunately, in derogatory terms, and gendered culpability. It is hoped that the paper will raise awareness about such dominating problematic approaches toward females in Albania, as manifested in the language used.

Sense and Consent in Cocreating with Earth Others

AbstractRecent debates around multispecies communities emphasize collaboration across difference for fostering intimate relations with the world. The basic premise is simple: a richer understanding of the ways in which we are connected to the world will yield greater care for the world. However, while collaboration across difference might close conceptual and material gaps between self and other, and nature and society, it is not always clear whether or how collaboration should take place. Indeed, largely absent in these debates are matters concerning cross-species consent. It can be challenging to obtain consent or ascertain agreement in the absence of straightforward communication. To address the whether and how of collaboration across difference, this article draws on ethnographic research on dowsing—a traditional method for finding underground water and other invisible or intangible resources—in the United States and the United Kingdom. This research shows how dowsers establish dialogue by attuning to Earth Others (e.g., water, plants, spirits) using various tools, such as dowsing rods, pendulums, and their own bodies. This article addresses how practitioners apply dowsing as a technique for communicating across human and more-than-human divides through ethical inquiries that tend to the agency and seek the consent of Earth Others in matters concerning land use. This research suggests that dowsing offers a reciprocal and dialogic strategy for collaborating with that which is often unseen, unheard, or ignored.

Persistence of Vaccine Hesitancy and Acceptance of the EU Covid Certificate Among French Students

Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among young adults is a current public health issue that needs to be addressed considering the seasonally driven waves of disease and the administration of vaccine boosters. As a prevention measure, the EU Covid certificate had been implemented to increase vaccine uptake, but its application was controversial. Our study investigated students’ opinions and attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccination and the EU Covid certificate through a mixed-methods design. An 18-item questionnaire was administered to 200 students during a vaccination campaign in September 2021 at the University of Bordeaux, France. Simultaneously, 30 students attended a semi-structured interview. Collected data were analyzed separately then discussed together through a parallel and convergent approach. Results showed that vaccine hesitancy was high among students, mostly from fear of short-term side effects. However, respondents decided to get vaccinated to obtain the EU Covid certificate, even if they considered it as a violation of their freedom. Straightforward communication about Covid-19 vaccination did not reach students, although this was a strong expectation from governmental and health institutions. Findings suggest that key health personnel should provide evidence-based information about vaccines in efforts of building trust with young people.

THE DECADE OF OCEAN SCIENCE: THE IMPORTANCE OF “REDISCOVERING” THE TINY AND INVISIBLE WORLD OF PLANKTON

The Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) has just started, and multiple stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, civil society, funders, and the private sector will join transnational efforts to reverse the severe cycle of ocean biodiversity decline. This viewpoint article emphasizes goal number 14 that refers to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, and will particularly discuss the challenges of plankton research in the ongoing Anthropocene and methods to promote a true societal understanding of these species. There are many challenges for this “tiny and invisible world”, especially because they are understudied and their importance in marine trophic webs, global biodiversity, and many plankton-mediated ecosystem services is often overlooked. This article discusses and highlights the ecological aspects of plankton communities according to the seven outcomes of the Ocean Decade. Although the impacts on benthic and nekton components (such as fish and corals) are more commonly known and recognized by society, plankton worldwide are also threatened by the loss of suitable habitats, range shift of species, organic pollution, invasive species, plastics, and globalclimate change (e.g., extreme floods and droughts, heat waves, and warming). Ocean literacy is currently challenged in terms of the understanding of plankton, and it is important to explain the relevance of this “invisible world” to people of all ages, cultures, and school levels. Rapid, straightforward, and appropriate communication is required to engage the public and improve awareness and science-based policies related to this important, overlooked, and threatened component of marine life.
 Keywords: marine plankton, marine food web, ocean decade, sustainable development, marine biodiversity.

To meet or not to meet welfare outcome thresholds: a case-control study in dairy cow herds

Recently published thresholds allow classifying dairy cattle herds according to target, caution and alert ranges for welfare outcomes. Such normative thresholds provide one way to transparently assess production practices and are a straightforward communication tool with farmers. In an ordinal response case-control study, we investigated associations of animal, management and resource-related indicators with the risk of exceeding thresholds of prevalence for lameness, claw disorders, integument alterations and leg cleanliness. To this end, we used cumulative logistic regression models on 264 tethered and 392 loose-housed Austrian dairy herds. In tethered herds, the risk indicator average lactation milk yield was positively associated with the probability to exceed thresholds for integument alteration prevalence but negatively regarding leg cleanliness. Associations were also found for operation type regarding integument alterations (lower risk on organic vs conventional farms), for herd size regarding lameness (negative association) and dirty upper hind leg (positive association), and for percentage of fifth or higher parity cows in the herd regarding dirty lower hind leg (positive association). Stall type was identified as risk indicator regarding claw disorders (lower risk of long vs short stands). In loose housing systems, none of the analysed risk indicators was associated with the probability to exceed thresholds for total lameness and claw disorder prevalence. Negative associations with the probability to exceed caution or alert thresholds were identified for lifetime milk yield (dirty upper hind leg), lactation milk yield (dirty upper and lower hind leg), percentage of cows in the herd with a fat-protein-ratio <1 (integument alterations), and percentage of cows in the herd with a fat-protein-ratio >1.5 (dirty upper hind leg). Pasture access showed negative (severe lameness, integument alterations) and herd size positive associations (severe lameness) with the probability to exceed thresholds. Deep litter cubicles compared to raised cubicles with rubber mats showed a lower probability to exceed thresholds (integument alterations, dirty lower hind leg) as well as solid rubber compared to concrete slatted flooring in alleyways (integument alterations). Assessments carried out during the pasture period compared to during winter housing were associated with a lower risk of exceeding thresholds for leg cleanliness measures in both, tethered and loose-housed herds, and for integument alteration prevalence in tethered herds. In conclusion, no principal risk indicator was identified which consistently determined the probability of exceeding predefined thresholds of considered welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, outcome-specific factors show sufficient impact on the categorisation of farms according to prevalence ranges.

Quantifying the effect of multiple load flexibility strategies on commercial building electricity demand and services via surrogate modeling

The expansion of commercial building demand response as a demand-side management resource for the electric grid necessitates new decision support resources for customers seeking to assess the benefit–risk tradeoffs of possible strategies for energy flexible building operations. To address this need, we develop surrogate models that predict the impacts of several load flexibility strategies on commercial building electricity demand and indoor temperature, focusing on offices and retail buildings at multiple scales. The surrogate models are fit to a synthetic database generated via whole building simulations, which establish the relationships between the key operational features of a given strategy and potential changes in building demand and temperature across a variety of contexts. The surrogate models are translated to a Bayesian framework to allow straightforward communication of uncertainty and parameter updating given new evidence. We find strong predictive performance across the suite of models, underscoring the usefulness of the approach in guiding decisions about implementing load flexibility strategies under a particular set of operational and environmental conditions.

Wearable Tool for Breathing Pattern Recognition and Exacerbation Monitoring for COPD Patients via a Device-to-Cloud Communication Model

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has become one of the major causes of disability in the Philippines today. COPD is incurable and would also be one of the most painstaking diseases because it progresses over time. Patient self-monitoring, especially breathing patterns and frequency has become an increasingly recognized process which is beneficial for the ongoing care of COPD. Many potential technologies for the diagnosis and monitoring of COPD have been developed, but focusing on telehealth, imaging, and spirometry. This study has designed and created an IoT based system that could recognize and monitor the respiratory rate through breathing patterns and provide a means for doctors to remotely monitor the patient. The prototype device that has been developed was named X-Hale. X-Hale is a cost-effective and portable remote monitoring IoT-based tool, integrated within a wearable oxygen mask responsible for recognizing and recording accurate breathing frequency patterns. The system was designed to interweave underlying elements of Device-to-Cloud model for a straight-forward communication used in remote monitoring. The wearable device was tested using an HT50 ventilator that delivers machine-controlled dummy breathing in an actual hospital setting. Results show high accuracy in detecting breathing patterns in Slow, Normal and Fast respiratory rate per minute. X-Hale was also tested in actual patients to facilitate the remote monitoring of breathing patterns via the IoT communication model used.

Facilators and Barriers to Advance Care Planning Engagement among Chronic Kidney Patients in Taiwan

This study examines older couples’ dyadic patterns of informal and formal advance care planning (ACP) and determines the associations of these patterns with their own and spousal characteristics. Using data from the 2014 and 2016 Health and Retirement Study, we performed a) latent class analysis to identify distinctive ACP engagement patterns and b) multinomial regression models to describe related characteristics of older couples (N = 1,545 couples). We identified four dyadic patterns of ACP engagement: a) high ACP engaging couple (45%); b) high engaging husband – low engaging wife (13%); c) high engaging wife – low engaging husband (11%); and d) low engaging couple (31%). Engagement in informal and formal ACP was associated with both individual and spousal factors: Older couples with advanced age or higher levels of education and wealth were more likely to engage in both informal and formal ACP, whereas only wife’s high level of constrain or husband’s greater number of depressive symptoms was associated with discordant ACP engagements. Couple-based approach to promote ACP merits older couples with limited resources or poorer psychological health in both or either spouse.

Data Shepherding in Nanotechnology: An Antimicrobial Functionality Data Capture Template

In this paper, we exhibit how to construct a template for capturing antimicrobial capacity data of nanomaterials or nanoenabled products. The template promotes the principles of making data scientifically findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), encouraging scientists to reuse it. The template construction roadmap entails the following steps: (1) recognize appropriate stakeholders, (2) allocate surveys to collect a general explanation of the data that will be created, (3) comprehend each stakeholder’s requirements, (4) cooperating and using straightforward communication with the participants for the selection of the minimum data requirement reporting and (5) template layout and ontological annotation. We provide an annotated template for capturing antimicrobial data, increasing their interoperability while populating it with real measurements as an example. By applying the roadmap or by utilizing the template portrayed herein, in the case of a safe-by-design nanoproject (Anticipating Safety Issues at the Design of Nano Product Development (ASINA)), data creators of antimicrobial assessments can store the data using the FAIR approach. Furthermore, data shepherds and scientists can skip the lengthy template generation process and speed up the community’s progress on the FAIR route.

Familiars in a Strange Land

Familiars in a Strange Land

The Omran Daqneesh imagery from the streets of Aleppo to international front pages: Testimony, politics and emotions

This article studies the virality and assigned iconicity of visual icons by examining the roles and interplays between photographers and other media actors contributing to early phases of making and sharing the Omran Daqneesh images from Aleppo, 2016. We draw on theoretical frameworks concerning the mobilization of iconic imagery in today’s digitalized and globalized media landscape as well the interpretive continuum of documentary evidence and emotional appeal typically applied to iconic imagery of children. Empirically, we take our point of departure in interviews with photographers, NGO workers, editors and journalists involved in facilitating, producing and initially disseminating the Omran Daqneesh imagery, to explore how – in contrast to the seemingly straightforward communication offered by visual icons – they are in effect the result of an intricate interplay between these actors, which in different ways and for different reasons contribute to spreading the images and determining their significance and meaning.

An Analysis of Maxims Violation Acted by the Main Characters in the "Tilik" Short Film

The maxims violation often occurred intentionally or unintentionally in daily human conversation. This study analyzes the maxim violation in one of the Indonesian short films, 'Tilik,' in which Bu Tejo and Yu Ning were the main characters. This present study aims to describe the phenomena of maxim violation by the main characters. It is qualitative descriptive research. The technique used in collecting speech was the note-taking technique, and data were taken from the transcript of the main characters' utterances. Then, to analyze the maxim violation revealed in the short film, the researchers used the Cooperative Principles from Grice's theory, which has four kinds: quality, quantity, relevance, and manner. The findings indicated that the main characters carried out all four maxim types violations. The highest maxim violation found were the quantity and quality maxim. Some certain implicatures were contained when the main character of this short film reckoned to convey the implicit message, ensure the hearer, award astonishment, take for concern, and evade the problem. The study also exposed the rationales behind violating maxims, which helped create more straightforward communication and developing further explanations. Further studies can include more extensive data to obtain more robust findings.

Emerging Adult Military-Connected Students Express Challenges Transitioning into Higher Education: Implications for Helping Professionals

ABSTRACT Emerging adult (EA; aged 18–29) military-connected students experience major developmental changes, often coupled with the transition into the civilian sector and higher education. This conglomeration may exacerbate anxiety, stress, and negative coping mechanisms, including substance use. Substance use rates are highest among EAs, across the lifespan. To our knowledge, limited research has looked at EA military-connected students’ transition into higher education during this developmental stage. We qualitatively interviewed 16 EA military-connected students who reported high-risk substance use behaviors. To our knowledge, no student veteran research study has considered this characteristic. This is important since military members are more likely to misuse substances and encounter related consequences than their civilian counterparts, and these developmental and transitional stressors put them at higher risk for misusing substances. In 74-minute interviews, we asked participants about (1) challenges transitioning into higher education and (2) techniques helping professionals should use to support EA military-connected students. Two coders employed Thematic Analysis to identify themes using NVivo. We found challenges include: (1) starting over, (2) unable to relate to others, (3) lacking a purpose or plan, (4) support system changes, and (5) people view you as only a veteran. EA military-connected students’ suggestions for helping professionals include: (1) use straightforward communication, (2) show a genuine interest, (3) offer guidance on creating a support system, and (4) treat me as a human, not only a veteran. This study provides translational examples for helping professionals such as encouraging involvement in military and veteran community organizations to promote a sense of belonging.

The Continuum of Sexual and Reproductive Health Talk Types Daughters have with Mothers and Siblings.

Although sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is considered an important discussion topic for parents and their children, there is great variance in communication style and contradictory results on the effects of these contrasting styles. Research has explored SRH topics, yet still needs to investigate the types of parent-child SRH conversations to investigate how content gets relayed, and their effects, particularly among college-aged children. Data come from qualitative interviews in 2013 with 20 undergraduate Latina students about SRH conversations they had with their mothers and siblings. Analysis revealed that mother-daughter SRH conversation types fell along a four-category continuum, irrespective of daughters' sexual practices, with open (n = 4) and no talk (n = 3) at the poles. The two middle categories, be careful (n = 6) and responsible sex (n = 7), were limited conversations that provided little guidance and tended to use risk language. Daughters in the no talk and be careful conversation categories tended to be more religious and have higher rates of sexual activity. Daughters' conversations with their siblings, particularly sisters, directly reflected the conversation types that they reported having with their moms. Most daughters made assumptions about their mothers' statements and views due to the lack of straightforward communication and reported that most mothers did not alter their conversation styles to match their daughters' specific sexual histories. Moreover, these conversation styles could potentially affect the whole household due to siblings being other sources of sexual socialization and having talk types that reflected parental talk types, irrespective of siblings' sexual activity. We recommend more attention and funding for SRH education programs that include extended family, especially siblings, given their importance in sexual socialization, and include college-aged children who still desire, and need, SRH information. Programs should equip parents and children with the tools to navigate multiple SRH conversations that evolve with and are sensitive to children's specific behaviors and circumstances.

Designing a state‐of‐the‐art monitoring system in challenging operating conditions

AbstractThe construction joint venture NouvLR is constructing the new light rail network in Montreal. One of the major challenges is the advance below the existing runways and taxiways of the Montreal‐Trudeau International airport and the construction of the subway station below the airport. The airport must remain under operation during the construction, and very tight requirements have been imposed regarding the tolerable surface settlements and availability of the monitoring data. The regulations regarding operations of the airport and possible presence of foreign objects in vicinity of its runways and taxiways represent an additional challenge, requiring usage of less straightforward monitoring concepts. The works for the installation of the monitoring equipment must be closely coordinated with airport operations and require a reliable schedule.The final geotechnical monitoring design has been performed in close cooperation with the contractor and in tight coordination with the airport authority. In order to allow more straightforward communication, 3D modelling and BIM‐methodology have been used to clearly represent the monitoring equipment, as well as the works required for their installation. The line‐of‐sight considerations in case of tachymeter measurements have been thus directly incorporated and dealt with. The monitoring design has to fulfil the aims of real‐time monitoring of the system behaviour during the construction and the long‐term monitoring of the newly built tunnel, demonstrating the compliance of the structure with the design. The paper is concluded by a summary of ”lessons learned“ regarding the issues of adverse accessibility and a challenging, high risk general environment.

Mobile geriatric team for older people: A qualitative descriptive study of relatives’ views on what creates senses of security and quality of care

Multimorbidity tends to increase with age. Providing care that is individualized and that focuses on the whole person rather than on separate health issues is a challenge for healthcare, due to a lack of coordination and information exchange. In the future, relatives will need to take even more responsibility for their next of kin. The aim of this study was to explore relatives’ views of aspects that create a sense of security and feelings of quality of care related to acute mobile geriatric care for older people in their own homes. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews analysed using content analysis. This study is reported in accordance with the COREQ checklist. Interpersonal factors such as straightforward communication, empathy, having time for the person, a focus on the person, and having a few known caregivers who are easy to contact, rather than more clinical factors, have been identified as central to creating a sense of security and quality of care.