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Article
Publication date: 20 June 2024

Nigel MacLennan

This study aims to explore and document some of the phenomena that seem to have toxified the trans debate.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore and document some of the phenomena that seem to have toxified the trans debate.

Design/methodology/approach

To create a partial compilation of the phenomena most known to cloud human judgement and reasoning, using the trans debate as the prime example.

Findings

The trans debate seems to have been increasingly toxified in ways predicted by well-documented psychological phenomena.

Research limitations/implications

Although much is known about the psychological toxifiers on an individual basis, little is known about how they interact to cause the emergence and amplification of toxic debate.

Practical implications

It is anticipated by studying the emergence of the toxicity around the trans debate, that the descent into toxic discourse in many other contexts can be better understood.

Social implications

If lessons can be learnt from the descent into toxicity in the trans debate, and its participants become aware of their behaviour, perhaps they can better work towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Originality/value

By compiling the factors responsible for the toxification of debate, it is hoped that what appear to be the precursors of all conflict and war can be better understood, prevented or avoided.

Details

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-8308

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 13 August 2024

Henriikka Vartiainen, Teemu Valtonen, Juho Kahila and Matti Tedre

In 2022 generative AI took the Internet world by storm. Free access to tools that can generate text and images that pass for human creations triggered fiery debates about the…

Abstract

Purpose

In 2022 generative AI took the Internet world by storm. Free access to tools that can generate text and images that pass for human creations triggered fiery debates about the potential uses and misuses of generative AI in education. There has risen a need to check the popular utopian and dystopian narratives about AI against the diversity of hopes, concerns and future imaginaries that educators themselves associate with generative AI. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perspectives of Finnish teacher educators on the use of AI in education.

Design/methodology/approach

This article reports findings from a hands-on workshop in teacher training, where participants learned about how generative AI works, collaboratively explored generative AI and then reflected on its potential and challenges.

Findings

The results reveal nuanced, calm and thoughtful imaginaries rooted in deep understanding of educational policy, evaluation and the sociocultural context of education. The results cover teachers’ views on the impact of AI on learners’ agency, metacognition, self-regulation and more.

Originality/value

This article offers a unique exploration into the perceptions and imaginaries of educators regarding generative AI in specific (instead of “monolithic AI”), moving beyond dystopian views and instead focusing on the potential of AI to align with existing pedagogical practices. The educators contrasted the common techno-deterministic narratives and perceived AI as an avenue to support formative assessment practices and development of metacognition, self-regulation, responsibility and well-being. The novel insights also include the need for AI education that critically incorporates social and ethical viewpoints and fosters visions for a future with culturally, socially and environmentally sustainable AI.

Details

Information and Learning Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5348

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 September 2024

Grace Omondi

This paper presents a 10-year systematic review of research on the visual framing of crises to identify the priorities, theories applied and trends in the scholarship of visual…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper presents a 10-year systematic review of research on the visual framing of crises to identify the priorities, theories applied and trends in the scholarship of visual framing during crises. The gaps are analyzed to provide evidence-based recommendations for advancing future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 269 articles published in 156 peer-reviewed communication journals between January 2014 to December 2023 were reviewed. Data were analyzed using open and axial qualitative coding. A codebook was developed for the quantitative coding and data were analyzed in SPSS descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to answer the research questions.

Findings

The proportion of visual framing of crises has remained the same in the last 10 years – there is significantly more research on the visual framing of non-crises. Overall, research on the visual framing of crises is largely exploratory/descriptive and could benefit from a research agenda that is more theory driven. Additionally, there is a skewed focus for research on North America compared to other regions, and for political communication and climate compared to other themes. Environmental sciences and engineering are the most widely investigated journal fields, while disaster is the most common typology studied when looking at the visual framing of crises.

Research limitations/implications

The systematic literature review has some limitations – most particularly that the sample was drawn from a single publisher, which may not be exhaustive enough to represent the full population of articles in the field of visual communication. However, it is a systematic review of the publications that are officially aligned with three of the major communication organizations – the International Communication Association, National Communication Association and World Communication Association. However, future research considering the inclusion of an additional publishers, like Emerald, would further enrich scholarship in visual framing during crises. Second, manual coding of the articles could present potential differences in analysis and interpretation by other researchers. Despite the limitations, the study also provides some important insights into the present and future of the visual framing of crises.

Practical implications

Addressing gaps in the internationalization of visual crisis communication would expand studies for visual framing among underrepresented communities such as populations with low reading literacy, gender minorities and displaced communities and inform visual framing strategies for government and relevant institutions as primary information disseminators during crises.

Social implications

Addressing the gaps identified in this systematic literature review on the visual framing of crises is important for extending theory in this relatively nascent field and guiding crisis visual framing strategies to mitigate uncertainty and panic, threats to stakeholder relationships, social vulnerabilities and the visual framing of stakeholder-centric crisis responses.

Originality/value

Based on available literature, this is the first systematic literature review investigating the use of all types of visuals used during all crisis typologies, reflecting the ubiquity of crises and the increased focus on the use of visuals in crisis communication in the last decade.

Details

Corporate Communications: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1356-3289

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 August 2024

YJ Sohn, Heidi Hatfield Edwards and Theodore Petersen

This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the distinct origins, mechanisms, growth paths and societal impacts of misinformation and disinformation through the theoretical…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to enhance the understanding of the distinct origins, mechanisms, growth paths and societal impacts of misinformation and disinformation through the theoretical lens of Niklas Luhmann’s social systems theory, particularly focusing on structural coupling and penetration.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a conceptual study that investigates the phenomena of mis-/disinformation based on reviews of the literature on social systems theory, particularly focusing on structural coupling and penetration.

Findings

This theoretical analysis has led to the postulations that mis-/disinformation would cause social conflicts through divergent routes and that they do not necessarily have negative consequences in society. That is, conflicts or communication of contradictions serve for the reproduction and change in social systems and, furthermore, serve society as an immune mechanism. We speculate that similarities in the manifestation of mis-/disinformation could stem from the influence of amplifiers, such as moral intervention. Nevertheless, we posit that disinformation stemming from intentional penetration is more likely to cause societal dysfunction than misinformation, leading to conflict overload, polarized information ecosystems and potential system failures.

Originality/value

It provides a broader theoretical perspective for a better understanding of the roots and mechanisms of mis-/disinformation and their social consequences. It also engages with unresolved debates over structural couplings and penetration, showing how distinguishing these concepts enhance analytical clarity and explanatory power.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 June 2024

Liam Murphy

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature examining the relationship between automation and employment, with a focus on understanding the debates of…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature examining the relationship between automation and employment, with a focus on understanding the debates of automation displacement and enablement, and the mediating role of employee augmentation in driving organisational productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi-systematic literature review was conducted across the areas of automation, work-design and employee skills over the past 3 years.

Findings

The academic literature was found to still be in its infancy, with empirical evidence in an organisational setting scarce. However, research suggests that automation does not cause job displacement or a negative impact on employment. In contrast, data suggest that automation leads to new job creation, task enlargement and skills enhancement. The findings suggest that organisations should employ augmentation alongside automation to drive productivity, in a way that promotes strong work-design, builds trust and leverages human creativity. A further recommendation is made for organisations to focus on continuous upskilling to combat the shortening shelf-life of skills and adapt to the constant change brought around by advances in automation.

Originality/value

Through a synthesis of diverse perspectives and academic evidence, this paper contributes to the nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding automation and its impact on employment. This literature review underscores the need for organisational strategies that leverage augmentation to harness productivity savings, alongside a renewed focus on widespread employee skills enhancement. In addition to creating new recommendations for practitioners and organisational leaders, this paper also furthers the research agenda through a list of research gaps for scholarly attention.

Details

International Journal of Organizational Analysis, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1934-8835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 April 2024

Ihor Rudko, Aysan Bashirpour Bonab, Maria Fedele and Anna Vittoria Formisano

This study, a theoretical article, aims to introduce new institutionalism as a framework through which business and management researchers can explore the significance of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study, a theoretical article, aims to introduce new institutionalism as a framework through which business and management researchers can explore the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in organizations. Although the new institutional theory is a fully established research program, the neo-institutional literature on AI is almost non-existent. There is, therefore, a need to develop a deeper understanding of AI as both the product of institutional forces and as an institutional force in its own right.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors follow the top-down approach. Accordingly, the authors first briefly describe the new institutionalism, trace its historical development and introduce its fundamental concepts: institutional legitimacy, environment and isomorphism. Then, the authors use those as the basis for the queries to perform a scoping review on the institutional role of AI in organizations.

Findings

The findings reveal that a comprehensive theory on AI is largely absent from business and management literature. The new institutionalism is only one of many possible theoretical perspectives (both contextually novel and insightful) from which researchers can study AI in organizational settings.

Originality/value

The authors use the insights from new institutionalism to illustrate how a particular social theory can fit into the larger theoretical framework for AI in organizations. The authors also formulate four broad research questions to guide researchers interested in studying the institutional significance of AI. Finally, the authors include a section providing concrete examples of how to study AI-related institutional dynamics in business and management.

Details

Journal of Management History, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1348

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 November 2023

Bahareh Farhoudinia, Selcen Ozturkcan and Nihat Kasap

This paper aims to conduct an interdisciplinary systematic literature review (SLR) of fake news research and to advance the socio-technical understanding of digital information…

2740

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to conduct an interdisciplinary systematic literature review (SLR) of fake news research and to advance the socio-technical understanding of digital information practices and platforms in business and management studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies a focused, SLR method to analyze articles on fake news in business and management journals from 2010 to 2020.

Findings

The paper analyzes the definition, theoretical frameworks, methods and research gaps of fake news in the business and management domains. It also identifies some promising research opportunities for future scholars.

Practical implications

The paper offers practical implications for various stakeholders who are affected by or involved in fake news dissemination, such as brands, consumers and policymakers. It provides recommendations to cope with the challenges and risks of fake news.

Social implications

The paper discusses the social consequences and future threats of fake news, especially in relation to social networking and social media. It calls for more awareness and responsibility from online communities to prevent and combat fake news.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on information management by showing the importance and consequences of fake news sharing for societies. It is among the frontier systematic reviews in the field that covers studies from different disciplines and focuses on business and management studies.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 April 2024

Lu Xiao and Sara E. Burke

Scholars of persuasion have long made a distinction between appeals to logic, emotion and authority- logos, ethos and pathos- but ideas developed to account for live face-to-face…

Abstract

Purpose

Scholars of persuasion have long made a distinction between appeals to logic, emotion and authority- logos, ethos and pathos- but ideas developed to account for live face-to-face conversation processes must also be tested in new media. We aimed to test the effectiveness of these three strategies in one-to-one chats through different communication media.

Design/methodology/approach

With a 3 × 3 × 2 between-subject factorial design, we tested these three strategies in one-to-one chats (female–female or male–male pairs) through three communication media: face-to-face, Skype video or Skype text. The persuasion scenario was adapted from prior studies in which students were presented with the idea of requiring a comprehensive exam as part of their degree. The participants were all undergraduate students of a major university in USA.

Findings

Our results showed trivial differences between female–female and male–male conditions. The logos appeal worked best overall in persuading the participants to change their reported attitudes. Additionally, the explanations provided by the participants for their own opinions were most like the persuasion scripts in the logos condition compared to the other two appeal conditions. Separately, participants indicated some disapproval of the pathos appeal in the text-based chat condition, although this did not seem to make a difference in terms of actual attitude change.

Research limitations/implications

One major limitation of our study is that our subjects are college students and therefore are not representative of Internet users in general. Future research should test these three types of persuasion strategies on people of diverse backgrounds. For example, while logos seems to be most effective strategy in persuading college students (at least in our study), pathos or ethos may be more effective when one attempts to persuade people of different backgrounds.

Practical implications

Although it is enough for a statistical test, our sample size is still relatively small due to constraints on time, personnel and funding. We also recognize that it is challenging both conceptually and empirically to compare the effectiveness of three persuasion strategies separately.

Social implications

Our findings suggest it is helpful to use fact-checking tools to combat disinformation in cases where users may not have sufficient domain knowledge or may not realize the need to identify or examine the given information. Additionally, it may require more effort to negate the impact of the disinformation spread than correcting the information, as some users may not only believe false information but also may start to reason in ways similar to those presented in the disinformation messages.

Originality/value

Past studies on online persuasion have limitedly examined whether and how communication media and persuasion strategies interact in one-to-one persuasion sessions. Our experiment makes an attempt to close this gap by examining the persuasion process and outcome in three different communication media and with three different persuasion strategies.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2024

Petter Gottschalk

This article reviews 69 press releases published by the Norwegian Økokrim from June 2022 to November 2023. The presented research applies the theory of focal concerns to identify…

Abstract

Purpose

This article reviews 69 press releases published by the Norwegian Økokrim from June 2022 to November 2023. The presented research applies the theory of focal concerns to identify the main themes in the press releases.

Design/methodology/approach

Serious fraud offices such as the Norwegian national authority for investigation and prosecution of economic and environmental crime (Økokrim) are facing many challenges when combating white-collar and corporate crime. Press releases represent an element of facing such challenges, as the messages are an important vehicle for the organization to disclose organizational activities to the public.

Findings

Three themes emerged: offender conviction, impression management and crime deterrence. Offender prosecution followed by offender conviction is at the core of Økokrim's business. Impression management serves the purpose of emphasizing the important role of the national authority in society. The subjective perception of detection and prosecution by potential offenders can be influenced by crime deterrence messages.

Research limitations/implications

Press releases are signals that may be interpreted in other ways.

Practical implications

When politicians are to review national authorities, they may want a slightly different serious fraud office.

Social implications

The deterrence effect is often not real for alleged white-collar crime.

Originality/value

Understanding a national authority in terms of its focal concerns based on press releases from the authority.

Details

Policing: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 September 2024

Frank Houghton and Allen Edward Foster

ORCID is well recognised as a Persistent Identifier (PID) amongst the global academic community. The international literature is generally extremely positive towards this…

Abstract

Purpose

ORCID is well recognised as a Persistent Identifier (PID) amongst the global academic community. The international literature is generally extremely positive towards this development. A minority of vociferous critics however have continued to dispute its benefits. Particular concerns have been noted around the potential for ORCID to be used as a tool for evaluation and surveillance by University management structures. This research sought to critically evaluate in-depth perceptions of ORCID in the Technological University (TU) sector in Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved ten semi-structured interviews with academics and five with librarians in the TU sector. Reflexive thematic analysis informed by Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological principles was used to explore transcribed interview data.

Findings

The results demonstrate a clear difference in perceptions concerning ORCID, with library staff being very positive and uncritical, even arguing for mandatory adoption. Although some academics were using ORCID IDs in a performative manner, most were suspicious of, or resigned to their use. Concerns about ORCID ranged across various issues including employer surveillance, a lack of institutional autonomy and its inappropriateness for the sector. It is argued that academics in the TU sector have so far not had an opportunity to fully explore and articulate their vision for the future. In its current form ORCID represents a foreign, imposed and inappropriate tool that may facilitate willing or unwilling inclusion in the inequitable and crude “game” of global university league tables.

Originality/value

The paper offers an in-depth and critical analysis of ORCID adoption in Ireland based on perceptions amongst two stakeholder groups: academics and librarians.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

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