Persuasion in 140 characters: Testing issue framing,persuasion and credibility via Twitter and online news articles in the gun control debate

Using a 2 × 2 × 4 experimental design, this study examined the framing of the pro and anti-gun control arguments posited after the Sandy Hook shooting and the resultant effect on persuasion and credibility. Overall, pro-gun control frames were more persuasive and more credible than anti-gun control frames. Arguments transmitted via online news articles elicited more persuasion than those transmitted via Twitter. News article sources were deemed more credible too. I discuss the ramifications within.     

论现代教育技术在网络思想政治工作中的作用

互联网给传统的思想教育工作模式和思维模式带来了极大的挑战,而信息技术和现代教育技术的发展则给网络思想政治工作带来了一个良好的发展契机。因此,用现代教育技术的有力武器来武装网上思想政治教育工作阵地,开展广泛的网络教育,进行网上思想政治工作宣传势在必行而且大有可为。     

The Mediatization of E‐Campaigning: Evidence From German Party Websites in State,National, and European Parliamentary Elections 2002–2009

The rise of e‐campaigning is often associated with its ability to circumvent journalistic principles of news selection and presentation. By this, parties and candidates are said to free themselves from the discretionary power of the mass media and to reach voters in an unfiltered way. This conventional wisdom is tested through a comparative content analysis of German party websites in state, national, and European parliamentary elections between 2002 and 2009. The results show that e‐campaigns in all elections adhere in their messages to the media logic. Specifically, they replicate those patterns of offline coverage that have been held accountable for rising political alienation and civic apathy. Moreover, the mediatization of German e‐campaigning grows over time.     

An examination of disposition, motivation, and involvement in the new technology context computers in human behavior

This study investigated the relationship among dispositions (i.e., Internet self-efficacy, Internet anxiety), Internet motives, and involvement (i.e., media involvement, interaction involvement). By integrating mass communication and interpersonal communication research, the author found the dispositions played a more important role in explaining involvement than demographics did. Interpersonal utility motive and pass-time motive were important predictors of involvement. An interesting finding is that interpersonal utility motive negatively predicted interaction involvement, and positively predicted cognitive media involvement. In addition, this study provided insight into the Internet motives typology proposed by Papacharissi and Rubin [Papacharissi, Z., & Rubin, A. M. (2000). Predictors of internet use. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 44, 175–196.].     

Harmonious and obsessive Internet passion,competence, and self-worth: A study of high school students in the United States and Russia

This study uses a dualistic model of passion to examine the relationships between Internet passion and perceptions of competence and general self-worth among high school students in the United States and Russia. Indirect relationships between harmonious and obsessive Internet passion and general self-worth, and the mediating roles of cognitive and social competence were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The majority of the findings were identical in both the U.S. and Russian samples. Harmonious Internet passion was found to be positively related to cognitive and social competence, and general self-worth, while obsessive Internet passion was negatively related to the three constructs. Culture-specific findings include the mediating role of social competence on the relationship between harmonious and obsessive Internet passion and general self-worth in the United States, but not in Russia. This research contributes to the ongoing debate about whether excessive Internet use is good or bad by demonstrating that it can be both depending on the type of passion involved. This study provides direction for high school administrators and parents about how to effectively capitalize on the benefits of Internet use by encouraging harmonious passion and discouraging obsessive passion.     

A longitudinal study of the effects of Internet use and videogame playing on academic performance and the roles of gender, race and income in these relationships

In this research we examined the effects of Internet use and videogame playing on children’s academic performance. Gender, race, and income were also considered. Participants were 482 youth, average age 12 years old. One-third were African American and two-thirds were Caucasian American. All measures were completed twice, first in Year 1 and then one year later, Year 2. Results indicated that greater Internet use was associated with better reading skills, but only for youth initially low in reading skills. Videogame playing was associated with better visual-spatial skill but also with lower GPAs. Gender, race and income influenced Internet use, videogame playing and academic performance but not the relationships between using these technologies and academic performance. Implications of the results for increasing the benefits of technology use are discussed.     

Quaternion representations of the O(3) group, and their applications in robotics

Abstract algebraic methods for solving different mathematical tasks have found widespread applications in theoretical physics and in several technical applications. Though group theory can be used to achieve the most simple and transparent formulation of different tasks, it is not very well known by engineers. The aim of this paper is to discuss quaternion representations of the O⁺(3) Lie group from the aspect of robotics. The main features of these representations, as well as their advantages over the pure 3 × 3 matrix (self-)representation, are discussed in the formulation and solution of the direct and inverse kinematic tasks for robots of general wrist-joint structure. To illustrate the convenience of quaternion formulations a particular solution of the inverse kinematic task has been developed on the basis of the concept of non-Euclidean (curved) spaces. A possible Hopfield-type neural-network application appropriate to the proposed solution is also considered.     

Cultural Cues in Students' Computer‐Mediated Communication: Influences on E‐mail Style,Perception of the Sender,and Willingness to Help

Computer‐mediated communication among university students with different cultural backgrounds has become widespread. In this study, we examine how undergraduates (N = 130) react to cultural cues when responding to an e‐mail request for cooperation sent by a peer. Participants rated the sender's personality and stated their willingness to help. In the inquiry, 2 types of cultural cues were varied, resulting in a 2 × 2 factorial design: ethnicity (German vs. Chinese name) and communication style (Western vs. Asian). Results showed that participants aligned their responses to the communication style; however, the ethnicity cue influenced the wording of their response, their perception of the sender's personality and their willingness to help. Results are discussed regarding communication accommodation and social judgment theories.