Articles tagged with Written Communication
The book uses a 'history from below' approach to center the voices of petitioners, revealing how they framed their demands using language like justice, rights, and equity. Through over 4,000 petitions, Dr. Bright Alozie shows the significance of this genre in shaping colonial society and influencing decision-making.
Researchers from the University of Bologna identified correlations between ancient cylinder seal designs and proto-cuneiform signs in southern Iraq. The study, published in Antiquity, sheds light on the birth of writing and may help decipher unknown signs.
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that humans create more diverse and nuanced stories than generative AI tools like ChatGPT. While AI shows improvement, it still struggles with complexity and clichés.
A new study published in JCOM identified the characteristics of polarized scientific digital messages, proposing a system to codify and characterize polarized discourses. The research found that simplifying and presenting scientific information as unquestionable can limit critical thinking and hinder scientific progress.
A recent study reveals that when people are told a story was written by AI, they rate it poorly, suggesting a distrust of AI-generated art. Researchers believe this could hinder the use of AI in public health campaigns to encourage healthy behaviors.
Studies analyzed nearly 30,000 shows, movies, novels, and crowdfunding pitches to find that more and bigger narrative reversals led to better ratings and increased downloads. The research supports Aristotle's idea of peripeteia as a key feature of a good story.
A study published in Autism in Adulthood found that British newspapers often portray autistic people negatively and stereotypically. The researchers analyzed sentiments towards autism and autistic people in 1,000 quotes from newspapers between 2011 and 2020 and found that identity-first language was linked to more positive sentiments.
A new study by Lancaster University highlights that women are more likely than men to experience 'digital overload' and burnout due to their greater use of digital technologies in both work and family lives. The research emphasizes the need for gender-egalitarian work-from-home arrangements and policies to address this issue.
A recent study published in Science Advances found that simpler headlines tend to be clicked on more than complex ones. Researchers evaluated over 30,000 real-world field experiments from the Washington Post and Upworthy, finding that simplicity was a key factor in attracting online readers. The study identified three hallmarks of simp...
A new interface developed by researchers at the University of Sydney aims to reduce the spread of misinformation on social media. The tool adds a 'more information' button to posts, linking users to details about retracted science claims, which can help them make informed decisions about their health.
462 medieval manuscripts from Speyer, Worms, and Mainz to be digitized for public access, providing new insights into cultural heritage of seven centuries. High-quality digital reproductions will facilitate exploration of historical textual traditions.
Text messaging and bulk ordering can significantly increase mammogram completion rates for breast cancer screening outreach. The study found that these interventions are effective in improving adherence to recommended screening guidelines.
A literature review of 124 studies on virtual impressions offers research-based suggestions on how to make a digital best foot forward. Researchers found that timely responses matter and using emoticons and emojis can increase feelings of warmth and likeability but risk making others seem less intelligent.
The MIT Press is accepting applications for its shift+OPEN initiative, which provides funding and support to convert subscription-based journals to diamond open access. Selected journals will receive three-year funding, professional publishing services, and sustainable funding model development support.
A study analyzing 17,490 Wikipedia articles found that articles about high-income countries receive more attention than those from low-income countries. Political events and disasters are disproportionately covered on Wikipedia compared to cultural and sports events.
A meta-analysis of studies found guilt has only a small persuasive effect, making it less effective than previously thought. Existential guilt appeals better for broader issues like environmental and educational topics, while personal responsibility-based guilt is less effective in health communications.
A team of researchers from Cambridge University has decoded over 100 French love letters written in the 18th century, revealing universal human experiences and emotional struggles. The letters were sent to sailors on a ship captured by Britain during the Seven Years' War, but never reached their recipients.
A multilevel primary care intervention, including electronic health record reminders and patient outreach, improved timely follow-up of overdue abnormal cancer screening test results for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer. The intervention was found to be effective in reducing missed screenings.
A new dictionary provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare's language, revealing words with reduced mental ability and plant hybrids. The Arden Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's Language offers insights into the linguistic thumbprints of plays and characters, as well as the networks of character interaction.
A study by researchers at Cell Press found that nearly 50% of environmentally-oriented users abandoned Twitter after Elon Musk took over the platform. This mass exodus has serious implications for public communication surrounding topics like climate change, biodiversity, and natural disaster recovery.
Research reveals non-native English speakers need up to twice as much time to read and write papers, with 2.5 times higher rejection rates for papers written in English. This disproportionately affects early career stage researchers from lower income countries.
A new computer science tool is applied to examine Judeo-Christian relations in literature from the early first centuries CE, yielding wondrous results. The study reveals that Jewish sources are familiar with early Christian sources, but show wider geographical familiarity with both eastern and western Christian sources in later periods.
Researchers argue that emoji-based language systems can improve communication between patients and physicians, particularly for vulnerable populations such as those with stroke or vocal impairments. The use of emoji can condense surveys and questionnaires, increasing response rates and appealing to patients.
A study analyzed emoji and emoticon use in secure clinical texting systems, finding they primarily convey new and interactionally significant information. The results suggest that emoji use may not undermine professionalism as much as initially thought.
Researchers found that syntactic surprise, a measure of unexpected word arrangement, significantly improves marketing message efficacy. The optimal level of syntactic surprise falls within the middle range, with messages being most effective at a medium level.
A new study explores how language shapes attention and engagement, finding that easier-to-process language and emotional triggers like anxiety, excitement, and hope encourage readers to persist. Language, meanwhile, can discourage readers from continuing to read.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that exposure to a pro-sustainability opinion in conversation can persuade people with anti-sustainability views to support environmentally friendly initiatives. In contrast, individuals with a pro-sustainability viewpoint remain unpersuaded by opposing viewpoints.
A study by the University of Arizona found that when participants were in a negative mood, they were more careful and analytical, scrutinizing what was stated in a text. In contrast, a happy mood led to a less analytical state, with participants relying on default world knowledge.
An automated texting program supported primary care patients after hospital discharge, resulting in significant reductions in acute care resource use. The patient-centered approach may serve as a model for improving post-discharge care.
A new study from the University of Kansas found that racial and ethnic minority populations in the US faced unique challenges while seeking COVID-19 information online, including misinformation, harassment, and hostility. Younger and healthier individuals were more resistant to vaccination due to lower perceived risk and benefit.
A new study by Professor Vike Plock found that Virginia Woolf's husband Leonard negotiated deals with Penguin Books to make her work widely available. The arrangement allowed Penguin to publish Woolf's essays and non-fiction at affordable prices, increasing her cultural capital and making her works accessible to a broader audience.
A study published in Early Education and Development journal found that preschoolers with stronger vocabulary skills at the start of the year display more positive engagement with teachers and peers. The researchers also discovered that inhibitory control is crucial for classroom engagement and learning.
A study led by McGill University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that Ukrainians who engage in more analytic thinking are less likely to believe pro-Kremlin disinformation. Analytical thinking helps curtail belief in disinformation, according to the researchers.
A study by Stephen T. Casper examines how sports slang, such as 'punch-drunk,' influenced the conceptualization and treatment of brain injuries. The research reveals a culture that stigmatized sufferers and normalized male violence, making it difficult for medical professionals to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers from Dartmouth College used artificial intelligence to draft wine and beer reviews, finding agreement between human and machine-generated reviews. The team also developed a system to write review syntheses, aggregating elements from existing reviews to provide limited but relevant information about products.
A new study from Brown University's Policy Lab found that text-message vaccination campaigns work better when sent early, as all state residents ages 16 and up had been eligible for a shot four weeks before the campaign. Despite this, the messages' ineffectiveness was due to poor timing rather than the content.
New research at MU shows that women's use of humor is perceived differently than men's, with factors like status and target influencing judgments. Women who use humor directed towards a man are seen as positive, but those targeting a lower-status woman are viewed negatively.
Researchers found that societies without written languages could still be large and complex, but those with elaborate writing systems tended to have less shared power. Writing was often used to convey messages between high-status individuals rather than facilitating communication across vast distances.
A study published in Risk Analysis found that individuals who endorse libertarianism and anti-egalitarianism attitudes are more likely to disregard COVID-19 risks. This suggests that simply identifying as liberal or conservative may not capture the full scope of political ideology's impact on attitudes toward science issues.
A recent study published in the journal Risk Analysis found that increased voting by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic did not jeopardize election safety. The research analyzed potential risks identified in a mail voting attack tree and concluded that expanding mail voting increases voter access and reduces adversarial interference.
A study of the Vai script found that it became visually simpler with each passing year, as letters were designed for efficient reading and writing. This pattern of simplification can be observed in other ancient writing systems, suggesting a predictable evolutionary process.
Researchers found that Americans were less likely to respond to an email survey from a person believed to be Black than from a person believed to be white. The study, which analyzed responses from over 250,000 people, suggests that racial bias can influence everyday communication behaviors.
Researchers analyzed hundreds of thousands of secure email messages between doctors and patients to find that most doctors use language too complex for their patients' low health literacy. Effective communication can improve patient outcomes by tailoring electronic messages to match the complexity of the patient's language.
A Baylor University-led study found significant deficiencies in organizational listening, particularly among women and non-managers. The survey revealed that employees are reluctant to share concerns due to a lack of responsive management and inauthentic approaches to feedback.
Researchers at the Missouri School of Journalism explored how people value digital news, finding that print newspapers moved to digital platforms without understanding the differences between mediums. The study identified eight affordances of digital news readers, including the importance of design elements like color and hyperlinks.
The IPCC has endorsed new communication recommendations for addressing climate change, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and dialogue. The organization is keen to engage with experts and audiences in a two-way conversation to ensure effective information dissemination.
A study from the University of Texas at Dallas found that governments downplay pandemic severity if they prioritize economy over public health, while exaggerating it when prioritizing public health. The researchers suggest transparent information policies are key for balanced objectives.
A science communications internship at MUSC helps scientists in training share research with the general public, improving laywriting skills and restoring trust. The program has produced over 100 science news stories and exposed interns to diverse career paths related to science communication.
A Massachusetts General Hospital physician suggests that emoji could facilitate communication between patients and doctors, particularly in emergency medical settings. The use of emoji has the potential to improve patient-doctor communication, especially for those with disabilities or language barriers.
Researchers provide generalized communication principles for successful bid writing in the gig economy, including moderate call length, task information focus, and concreteness. By managing uncertainty through bids, freelancers can increase their chances of winning gigs and achieving price premiums.
A new University of Central Florida study found that using deadline-ism messaging in climate change communications increases perceptions of the threat and support for government action. Participants who read articles with deadlines supported more political climate change action than those without deadlines.
A pan-Canadian randomized controlled trial is using digital communication to target common reasons for vaccine hesitancy, including age, language, and education level. Family physicians will receive tailored information to share with patients through email and text message, aiming to improve vaccine uptake.
QUT researchers identified external recognition and professional development as crucial strategies for getting shortlisted. Applicants with earned professional recognition or awards were four times more likely to be shortlisted than those without such recognition.
A new study found that men are over-cited and women are under-cited in Communication journals, with papers authored by men showing a 14% overcitation rate compared to papers authored by women, who are under-cited by 20%. The researchers propose tools to help academics evaluate their citation practices and promote gender equality.
A Tokyo University of Science researcher analyzed 8,000 infant names and found that common boys' name "大翔" has at least 18 readings, while girls' name "結愛" has at least 14. The study shows that parents use various readings, including non-existent ones, and abbreviate common readings.
A study by University of Göttingen sports sociologist Dr. Marcel Reinold analyzes autobiographies of professional cyclists, revealing they use complex techniques to manipulate information and conceal doping. The results show athletes play down the extent of the doping problem and portray themselves as victims to avoid suspicion.
Researchers found that face masks obstruct facial cues, a crucial aspect of effective communication. The loss of visual information significantly impacts native and non-native speakers' ability to understand each other.
Researchers at the University of Missouri developed a narrative writing exercise to encourage people to reduce political polarization. The study found that this exercise can foster different perspectives and create a sense of common identity, reducing angst toward those with opposing views.
A large-scale study found that communication increases the likelihood of reaching a target by almost two-fold, confirming its role in promoting cooperativeness. Players who communicate are more persistent and refuse to give up, while genuine free riders pay little attention to communication.
University of Houston Law Center Professors Jim Hawkins and Jessica L. Roberts call for stronger consumer safeguards to protect personal information collected online by health-related companies. The authors suggest several options, including mandatory notice, opt-out provisions, and user consent for significant changes.