bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rise of Barotse Separatist Nationalism in Zambia: Can Its Associated Violence Be Prevented?
Authors: Maundeni Zibani , Bwalya Edgar , Kwerepe Phana
Published: November 2015

This paper explores the idea that poor governance explains the rise of separatist nationalism in situations such as Zambia, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia (in Africa) that had previously been independently governed during the colonial times, but later joined other states at independence to enjoy normal politics, but later degenerated into violent separatist nationalism. Our argument is that centralisation of power in an environment in which cultural groups are calling for regional autonomy, for even development, and for the international community to intervene on the side of peace, create grounds that explain the rise of violent separatist movements. The Barotseland Protectorate negotiated for autonomous development and, after securing constitutional guarantees in its favour, voluntarily joined Zambia in what was expected to be a one nation, two states system. After four decades of resisting constitutional amendments in favour of the centralisation of power, the Barotse of Zambia abandoned the politics of autonomous development and started calling for a separate state. Their resolve to remain peaceful is not aided by the international community that is reluctant to intervene, exposing the political process to radicals who consider violence as an alternative. The paper argues that violent separatist politics is preventable.
Bringing Institutional Economics to Bear in Understanding Ghana’s Performance on Multi-Stakeholder Interventions
Authors: Ocloo Kafui Afi , Oduro Charles Yaw , Adamtey Ronald
Published: November 2015

Existing literature on Ghana’s performance on the decentralized planning system hardly explores the role of individual rationality and organizational rationality in explaining performance on development efforts. This article examines whether the proposition of the New Institutional Economics (NIE) that decisions that individuals make constitute trans-actions in which costs and debts are incurred has a bearing on the performance of institutions involved in endogenous development processes at the local level. The case study methodology was employed using two purposively selected water supply schemes in Ghana. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Secondary data was obtained from project reports. The findings indicated that even during the pursuit of an endogenous development strategy at the local level, the performance of the local stakeholders was determined by the state of intra-stakeholder structures. This in turn, was a sum of the decisions and actions of the individual members of the entities that were the main actors (i.e. the stakeholders). The NIE’s proposition that trans-action cost is key basis for individuals’ decisions and action was clearly evident in the decisions and actions of individuals (i.e. staff of the main actors), but it also was evident in the decisions and actions of the main actors (the entities that were the stakeholders). The study recommends that key development actors and the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing devote more attention to researching into how internal organizational conditions affect and shape the performance of stakeholders on the systems and how the existing intra and inter-stakeholder mechanisms can be improved to foster the success of development efforts at the local level.
Does GRI Reporting Impact Environmental Sustainability? An Industry-Specific Analysis of CO2 Emissions Performance between Reporting and Non-Reporting Companies
Authors: Bernard Sneha , Abdelgadir Samih , Belkhir Lotfi
Published: November 2015

The stated goal of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting framework is two-fold: to make it easier for organizations to communicate their sustainability performance to stakeholders, and to drive companies to become more sustainable. Our aim in this paper is to assess if GRI-reporting has any direct and positive impact on sustainability performance, and more specifically on CO2 emissions of the reporting companies. This study is the first that attempts to answer this question in a quantitative and systematic manner. We analyze the CO2 emissions data from 40 A-level GRI-reporting companies, over a period of six years and across five industry sectors, comparing them with a control group of 24 non-reporting companies, to assess any direct impact of reporting on emissions. We perform an industry-specific analysis of the CO2 emissions of both reporting and non-reporting companies for each industry sector. We find that amongst all reporting companies and industries, only the Utilities industry exhibits a dramatic decrease in emission intensity between 2007-2012, while the others show only minimal reductions, while the overall absolute emissions levels have grown significantly for both sets of companies. On the more qualitative side, we also note, based on our own experience in undertaking this study, that the GRI reports are not conducive to providing stakeholders with a coherent, user-friendly or transparent structure of a company’s sustainability performance in general, or improvement thereof, concluding that neither of the GRI stated goals are currently attained. Finally, we provide constructive recommendations on how the GRI reporting process could better achieve its stated purpose. Academics, investors and analysts alike might find the review, the analysis as well as the recommendations of this paper useful, as they directly address the core objectives of the GRI reporting process and how it could be improved to have the desirable impact.
Social Perception of Wind Energy in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
Authors: Mendoza Eduardo Martinez , Rovar Luis Arturo Rivas , Lambert Gregorio Fernandez , Martinez Paola Selene Vera , Rios Franciso Ballina
Published: November 2015

This article discusses the perception that landowners in Oaxaca, Mexico have about wind farms and their related environmental, social, and economic impact. Taking as ref-erence international studies, a wind farm developer, owners and academics, a question-naire was designed to gather information. We found that landowners have positive opinions to changing their agricultural activity and support wind energy because it appears to generate jobs and incomes. It is also considered a clean source of generating energy. Overall, respondents expressed attitudes supporting the installation of the wind farm.
Development of the Smaller Local Communities in Slovenia Depends on the School as the Socio-Cultural Center
Authors: Mursak Janko , Mazgon Jasna
Published: November 2015

The local schools have always been the centers of the cultural and social life of the Slovenian communities. Functioning as a socio-cultural center of the local community, the school greatly surpassed its primary role of providing education to children. The process of urbanization that reached rural areas as well as the secularization of lifestyles brought about very interesting changes to the previously expanded function of local schools. In the research study we conducted in 2014 and 2015 we examined how contemporary schools perceive the need for collaboration and participation in their local environments. The results of qualitative analysis indicate that merging or closing of local schools could have negative demographic and socio-cultural consequences. Furthermore, the analysis has also revealed the underused potential of the localities lacking tradition, such as new urban areas where the school could be the crucial element in the social organization of the local community.
The Achimota Transport Terminal in Accra: A Model Urban Regeneration Project in Ghana?
Authors: Asante Lewis Abedi , Sasu Alexander , Ayitey Jonathan Zinzi , Boakye-Agyeman Naana Amakie
Published: November 2015

Over the years, government has spent millions of taxpayer’s monies to undertake urban regeneration projects (URPs) with the aim of combating the challenges of urban decay in Ghana. Several studies have argued that a number of these URPs have been left to deteriorate because there was no proper plan to maintain them. Amidst these challenges, the Achimota Transport Terminal (ATT) has been tagged as a ‘model URP in Ghana’. This paper finds out the reasons for the tag put on ATT. We adopted purposive, convenience and stratified sampling techniques to select the respondents for this study. We found two reasons for the tag on ATT – one being that the managers of ATT strictly adhere to routine and preventive maintenance practices. However, corrective maintenance was deferred. The other reason is that the terminal meets the physical (adequate parking space, availability of waiting sheds), social (creation of employment, reduction in theft cases and available cars to all destinations in Accra and beyond) and environmental (improved sanitation) dimensions of urban regeneration. Nevertheless, same cannot be said about the economic dimension (low daily sales, high maintenance cost). About 90 percent of the drivers complained vehemently of low daily sales at the terminal. We believe that delaying corrective maintenance when needed may not only mean additional cost when repairs are finally done but has the likelihood of plunging the terminal into a poor state within a short period. Additionally, since the terminal in question is serving as a model for future terminals, planning and designing of such future terminals should aim at meeting all the dimensions of urban regeneration to enhance its usage and sustainability.
Studying the Motivations of Choosing Foreign Tourism Destinations: Case Study of Thailand
Authors: Fard Maryam Mosahebipoor , Saberi Hamid
Published: November 2015

Nowadays tourists choose their destinations according to their taste, conditions and provided facilities. Aimed at psychologically understanding the reasons of travelling and the attraction of trip destinations, the scientists have presented different patterns for the travelling and the choice of trip destination. This study has been done in order to realize the motivations of choosing Thailand as a trip destination by tourists departed from Isfahan. The study is methodologically descriptive-analytic and is done in 2014. In total, 384 people were chosen through Cochran formula among the whole population –including all the tourists departed from Esfahan to Thailand- in order to achieve the goals of the research. The results of the research show that the existence of cheap attractive centers and proper currency of Iran and Thailand and also on the other hand beach attractions in Thailand affect the choice of this country as a tourist destination but the men’s and women’s motivation of choosing this country as a tourist destination differs significantly.
Factors Affecting the Fertilizer-use Decision of Maize Farmers in Ghana
Authors: Hill Alexandra , Kirwan Barrett E.
Published: November 2015

This work examines the factors that influence whether or not a farmer applies inorganic fertilizer in the Ghanaian context. Current maize yields in Ghana average only one-third of their estimated potential, but this yield gap can be reduced by improving farming practices and growing conditions in Ghana; specifically, yields in Ghana can likely be increased by intensifying the use of inorganic fertilizer, other inputs, and irrigation systems. Recently, Ghana introduced a fertilizer subsidy program to help increase fertilizer-use rates. This paper examines alternate instruments for increasing fertilizer use by determining farm-holder characteristics correlated with inorganic fertilizer use. The results show that the farmer's distance from the closest weekly market, whether the farmer has a pre-harvest contract, and whether the farmer has property rights on the field have a significant effect on fertilizer use.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 8, No. 9
Authors: Sun Sherry
Published: November 2015

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 8, No. 9, 2015
The Influence of Design Parameters on Straight Bevel Gear Dynamics
Authors: Hsieh Chiu-Fan , Zhu You-Qing
Published: November 2015

This study analyzes the influence of design parameters on the dynamics of straight bevel gears by constructing a model that allows variation in the shaft angle, pressure angle, and backlash. According to the statistical analysis, the order of influence of these parameters on weight is shaft angle > pressure angle > backlash. When the shaft angle is 90°, the statistical results show the drive is stable and the stress fluctuation level is low. The pressure angle, on the other hand, can affect the gear’s dynamic property by influencing the driving component force on the gear and the component force on the shaft. The results for the shaft and pressure angles are used to determine the appropriate backlash. Overall, the analysis not only provides designers with an important reference but explains the dominance in the market of gear designs with a 90° shaft angle and a 20° pressure angle.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Different Configurations of Combined Cycle Power Plants
Authors: S. Y. Ebaid Munzer , Z. Al-hamdan Qusai
Published: November 2015

Several modifications have been made to the simple gas turbine cycle in order to increase its thermal efficiency but within the thermal and mechanical stress constrain, the efficiency still ranges between 38 and 42%. The concept of using combined cycle power or CPP plant would be more attractive in hot countries than the combined heat and power or CHP plant. The current work deals with the performance of different configurations of the gas turbine engine operating as a part of the combined cycle power plant. The results showed that the maximum CPP cycle efficiency would be at a point for which the gas turbine cycle would have neither its maximum efficiency nor its maximum specific work output. It has been shown that supplementary heating or gas turbine reheating would decrease the CPP cycle efficiency; hence, it could only be justified at low gas turbine inlet temperatures. Also it has been shown that although gas turbine intercooling would enhance the performance of the gas turbine cycle, it would have only a slight effect on the CPP cycle performance.
Probabilist Set Inversion using Pseudo-Intervals Arithmetic
Authors: KENOUFI Abdelouahab
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we present how to use an interval arithmetic framework based on free algebra construction, in order to build better defined inclusion function for interval semi-group and for its associated vector space. One introduces the psi-algorithm, which performs set inversion of functions and exhibits some numerical examples developed with the python programming langage.
Equivalent Boundary Conditions for Heterogeneous Acoustic Media
Authors: De Castro Manuela Longoni , Diaz Julien , Perón Victor
Published: December 2015

In this work, we have worked on possibilities to model artificial boundaries needed in the simulation of wave propagation in acoustic heterogeneous media.  Our motivation is to restrict the computational domain in the simulation of seismic waves that are propagated from the earth and transmitted to the stratified heterogeneous media composed by ocean and atmosphere. Two possibilities were studied and compared in computational tests: the use of absorbing boundary conditions on an artificial boundary in the atmosphere layer and the elimination of the atmosphere layer using an equivalent boundary condition that mimics the propagation of waves through the atmosphere.
The Influence of Temporal Migration in the Synchronization of Populations
Authors: Manica Vanderlei , Silva Jacques Aveline Loureiro da
Published: December 2015

A discrete metapopulation model with temporal dependent migration is proposed in order to study the stability of synchronized dynamics. During each time step, we assume that there are two processes involved in the population dynamics: local patch dynamics and migration process between the patches that compose the metapopulation. We obtain an analytical criterion that depends on the local patch dynamics (Lyapunov number) and on the whole migration process. The stability of synchronized dynamics depends on how individuals disperse among the patches.
Fuzzy modeling of reoccupation of a leaf-cutting ants’ trail
Authors: Jafelice Rosana Sueli da Motta , Almeida César Guilherme
Published: December 2015

In this paper we model the reoccupation of a trail by leaf-cutting ants.
The mathematical modeling consists in studying the leaf-cutting ants’ displacement
towards an attraction area and their return to the nest. To carry out this research,
we utilized the diffusion-advection equation, where the dispersion and velocity to-
wards x and y, are fuzzy parameters. The experts affirm that the pheromone is an
important variable concerning trail reoccupation because it influences leaf-cutting
ants dispersion and velocity of displacement. The numerical simulations took into
account the pheromone through the Fuzzy Rule-Based System (FRBS). The numer-
ical results are compatible with the biological phenomenon studied.
Auxiliary subunits of the CKAMP family differentially modulate AMPA receptor properties
Authors: Farrow Paul , Khodosevich Konstantin , Sapir Yechiam , Schulmann Anton , Aslam Muhammad , Stern-Bach Yael , Monyer Hannah , von Engelhardt Jakob
Published: December 2015

AMPA receptor (AMPAR) function is modulated by auxiliary subunits. Here, we report on three AMPAR interacting proteins—namely CKAMP39, CKAMP52 and CKAMP59—that, together with the previously characterized CKAMP44, constitute a novel family of auxiliary subunits distinct from other families of AMPAR interacting proteins. The new members of the CKAMP family display distinct regional and developmental expression profiles in the mouse brain. Notably, despite their structural similarities they exert diverse modulation on AMPAR gating by influencing deactivation, desensitization and recovery from desensitization, as well as glutamate and cyclothiazide potency to AMPARs. This study indicates that AMPAR function is very precisely controlled by the cell-type specific expression of the CKAMP family members.
Head raising analysis and case revaluation
Authors: Gondra Ager
Published: December 2015

This paper shows that Basque relative clause construction follows the Head Raising Analysis: the CP of the relative clause is a complement to the external D and the Head of the relative clause, base-generated inside the TP, moves to the specifier position of the CP. This analysis predicts that the raised DPwill show a TP-internal Case. However, this is not the case, and the DP manifests the Case associated with the main clause. In order to address these Case inconsistencies, Precariousness Condition is proposed. This condition states that a DCase valued u-feature is precarious until it is sent to Spell-Out and therefore, the value is visible for further targeting by a c-commanding Probe.  Evidence for this multiple Agree operation comes from a DP long distance extraction.
Adjectival 'cuco / cuqui' as "cute" and "astute"
Authors: Jódar Sánchez José Antonio
Published: December 2015

In this squib, we present an analysis of the nowadays commonly used adjective cuco/cuqui in Spanish. We hypothesize that its two adjectival meanings, as “cute” and as “astute”, are metonymically derived  from the meanings of cuco as “carrycot” and “bird/card game”, respectively. Blending theory accounts for how these emergent meanings are combined with new referents in speech. This analysis can be extended to other frequently used colloquial adjectives in Spanish like panoli and choni.
Pyrrole‐Imidazole Polyamides: Automated Solid‐Phase Synthesis
Authors: Fang Lijing , Pan Zhengyin , Cullis Paul M. , Burley Glenn A. , Su Wu
Published: December 2015

In this unit, the fully automated solid‐phase synthetic strategy of hairpin Py‐Im polyamides is described using triphosgene (BTC) as a coupling agent. This automated methodology is compatible with all the typical building blocks, enabling the facile synthesis of polyamide libraries in 9% to 20% yield in 3 days. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Polymeric Cryogel‐Based Boronate Affinity Chromatography for Separation of Ribonucleic Acid from Bacterial Extracts
Authors: Shakya Akhilesh Kumar , Srivastava Akshay , Kumar Ashok
Published: December 2015

Three‐dimensional monolithic columns are preferred stationary phase in column chromatography. Conventional columns based on silica or particles are efficient in bioseparation though associated with limitations of nonspecific interaction and uneven porosity that causes high mass transfer resistance for the movement of big molecules. Cryogels as a monolith column have shown promising application in bioseparation. Cryogels column can be synthesized in the form of a monolith at sub‐zero temperature through gelation of pre‐synthesized polymers or polymerization of monomers. Cryogels are macroporous and mechanically stable materials. They have open interconnected micron‐sized pores with a wide range of porosity (10‐200 μm). Current protocol demonstrated the ability of poly(hydroxymethyl methacrylate)‐co‐vinylphenyl boronic acid p(HEMA‐co‐VPBA) cryogel matrix for selective separation of RNA from the bacterial crude extract. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Immunofluorescence Staining
Authors: Donaldson Julie G.
Published: December 2015

This unit provides a protocol for indirect immunofluorescence, which is a method that provides information about the locations of specific molecules and the structure of the cell. Antibody molecules for a specific target molecule are exposed to the cell or tissue being investigated. The binding of these molecules is detected by incubating the sample with a secondary antibody specific for immunoglobulin molecules and conjugated to a fluorophore. This provides both a visible signal and amplification of the signal and the results are observed with a fluorescence microscope. This unit describes the widely used and powerful technique of localization of proteins in cells by immunofluorescence. The location can be determined by double labeling with an antibody directed against a protein of known location. The technique can be used as a supplement to immunolocalization by electron microscopy and subcellular fractionation. It allows not only identification of the antigen distribution in the cell but also a survey of the dynamic aspects of protein movements in the cell—on and off membranes, into and out of the nucleus, and through membrane traffic pathways. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Natural and unnatural oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: MacDonald I. R. , Garcia‐Pineda O. , Beet A. , Daneshgar Asl S. , Feng L. , Graettinger G. , French‐McCay D. , Holmes J. , Hu C. , Huffer F. , Leifer I. , Muller‐Karger F. , Solow A. , Silva M. , Swayze G.
Published: December 2015

When wind speeds are 2–10 m s−1, reflective contrasts in the ocean surface make oil slicks visible to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) under all sky conditions. Neural network analysis of satellite SAR images quantified the magnitude and distribution of surface oil in the Gulf of Mexico from persistent, natural seeps and from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) discharge. This analysis identified 914 natural oil seep zones across the entire Gulf of Mexico in pre‐2010 data. Their ∼0.1 µm slicks covered an aggregated average of 775 km2. Assuming an average volume of 77.5 m3 over an 8–24 h lifespan per oil slick, the floating oil indicates a surface flux of 2.5–9.4 × 104 m3 yr−1. Oil from natural slicks was regionally concentrated: 68%, 25%, 7%, and <1% of the total was observed in the NW, SW, NE, and SE Gulf, respectively. This reflects differences in basin history and hydrocarbon generation. SAR images from 2010 showed that the 87 day DWH discharge produced a surface‐oil footprint fundamentally different from background seepage, with an average ocean area of 11,200 km2 (SD 5028) and a volume of 22,600 m3 (SD 5411). Peak magnitudes of oil were detected during equivalent, ∼14 day intervals around 23 May and 18 June, when wind speeds remained <5 m s−1. Over this interval, aggregated volume of floating oil decreased by 21%; area covered increased by 49% (p < 0.1), potentially altering its ecological impact. The most likely causes were increased applications of dispersant and surface burning operations.
Assessing Cognition in Mice
Authors: Hölter Sabine M. , Garrett Lillian , Einicke Jan , Sperling Bettina , Dirscherl Petra , Zimprich Annemarie , Fuchs Helmut , Gailus‐Durner Valerie , Hrabě de Angelis Martin , Wurst Wolfgang
Published: December 2015

Genetically modified mouse models have proven useful to study learning and memory processes and the neurocircuitry and molecular mechanisms involved, as well as to develop therapies for diseases involving cognitive impairment. A variety of tests have been developed to measure cognition in mice, and here we present those established and regularly used in the German Mouse Clinic. The test paradigms have been carefully chosen according to reliability of results and disease relevance of the cognitive functions assessed. Further criteria were time efficiency and ease of application. All tests assess slightly different but also overlapping or interacting aspects of learning and memory so that they can be used to complement each other in a comprehensive assessment of cognitive function. The five protocols described are for spontaneous alternation in the Y‐maze, social discrimination, object recognition, automated assessment of learning and memory using the IntelliCage, and olfactory discrimination learning. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Uncertainty and Communication in Organizations
Authors: Kramer Michael W.
Published: December 2015

Uncertainty is a constant experience for individuals in organizational settings, not only for newcomers joining an organization but for established members as well as they face changes in their organizational situation. At the interpersonal level, individuals cope with different types of uncertainty including work requirements, relationships to others, and organizational issues among others. They manage the uncertainty by seeking information through a variety of strategies, such as direct requests or observation, and from a variety of internal (e.g., peers and supervisors) and external sources (e.g., family and friends). Reducing uncertainty leads to various positive outcomes like more job clarity and satisfaction. Recent developments suggest managing uncertainty does not always mean reducing it and is sometimes accomplished without seeking information. Competing motives also may inhibit information seeking when facing uncertainty. At the organizational level, leaders making decisions also face uncertainty as they cope with uncertainty from stakeholders and the environment.
Demand–Withdrawal Sequences in Conflict
Authors: Caughlin John P. , Reznik Rachel M.
Published: December 2015

Demand/withdraw is a conflict pattern in which one person nags, criticizes, or complains while the target of such demands tries to avoid the issue. This pattern is related to several negative outcomes for relationships and individuals in those relationships. Demand/withdraw is typically studied via individuals self‐reporting on conflict behaviors or outside observers rating these behaviors. Several distinct explanations for demand/withdraw have been proposed, and there is at least partial support for each, yet no single perspective explains the pattern fully.
Serial Arguing
Authors: Reznik Rachel M.
Published: December 2015

Serial arguments occur when individuals in a relationship extend an argument beyond a single episode resulting in multiple argumentative episodes over time about the same issue. The degree to which the parties perceive that they will eventually resolve the argument impacts their satisfaction with their relationship and their physical and mental health. Individuals have different goals that they want to enact during the episodes and these goals impact how parties communicate during the argument. Different communication patterns may be enacted in a single episode and over the life course of the argument. Individuals cope with arguments in different ways and these strategies impact how resolvable the argument is perceived to be as well as individuals’ well‐being.
Request Production
Authors: Johnson Danette Ifert
Published: December 2015

Interpersonal request production focuses on messages individuals create to obtain resources, attitude shifts, or behavioral change from others and the cognitive processes underlying such message construction. Research on request production has evolved from identifying lists of message strategies to addressing how request producers identify relevant goals, make decisions about the best request strategies to employ, and enact specific request messages.
Verbal Aggressiveness
Authors: Rancer Andrew S.
Published: December 2015

Communication traits have been found to explain much of a person's communication behavior. Verbal aggressiveness is one of two aggressive communication traits which influence people's behavior when engaged in interpersonal conflict. Verbal aggressiveness is the predisposition to attack the self‐concept of another person in order to inflict psychological pain, hurt, and embarrassment. The consequences of trait verbal aggressiveness and the use of verbally aggressive messages have been found to result in negative outcomes in a variety of interpersonal communication contexts including family, dating, marital, and instructional. As such, verbal aggressiveness is considered a destructive communication trait.
End‐of‐Life Communication
Authors: Keeley Maureen P.
Published: December 2015

End‐of‐life communication focuses on verbal and nonverbal communication that occurs between individuals following the diagnosis of a terminal illness until the point of death. It is the context of an impending death that shapes the communication for the participants. The communication encompasses personal conversations with family and friends through final conversations, clinical‐task focused conversations with palliative healthcare professionals, as well as interactions with caregivers and Hospice volunteers.
Relational Dialectics Theory
Authors: Baxter Leslie A. , Norwood Kristen M.
Published: December 2015

Relational dialectics theory is a theory of how meanings are constructed through speaker utterances, whether verbal or nonverbal, oral or written. The theory views meaning‐making as a fluid, polemic process in which different, often competing discourses or worldviews struggle for dominance. Sometimes, emergent from this struggle, new transformative meanings are constructed. The theory moves away from a psychologized view of interpersonal communication, in which the individual is centered, to an approach in which discourses become the focus of attention.
Cross‐Generational Communication
Authors: Harwood Jake
Published: December 2015

This entry addresses age‐related changes that influence communication between younger and older people. These include physical and psychological aspects of aging, as well as social and identity related concerns, as well as addressing contexts of cross‐generational communication such as family, healthcare, and culture. The entry discusses positive and negative aspects of aging and attempts to differentiate myth from reality in understanding when and why cross‐generational communication succeeds and fails.
Communal and Exchange Relationships
Authors: Roloff Michael E. , Chiles Benjamin W.
Published: December 2015

Relationships are a means by which individuals acquire needed resources. Indeed, resource acquisition is a reason for creating and maintaining relationships. Relationships differ with regard to the norms that guide how benefits are provided. Theories focused on communal and exchange relationships have been used to understand these differences and how they are related to communication. This entry looks at the assumptions and research associated with these literatures.
Romantic Relationships in the Workplace
Authors: Sias Patricia M.
Published: December 2015

Romantic workplace relationships sometimes occur between two people who work at the same organization and share a mutual attraction. Research has focused on identifying types of relationships, how employees initiate and develop such relationships, and how workplace romantic relationships influence the attitudes and job performance of the relationship partners as well as their coworkers. Studies have also examined the types of formal and informal policies organizations implement to manage workplace romance.
Power and Negotiation
Authors: Roloff Michael E.
Published: December 2015

When negotiators have divergent interests, they must find some way to deal with them and power plays in important role in how that is done. Their control of resources is related to how parties influence each other during a negotiation as well as the final outcome. Because of the integral role that power plays in negotiation, a large literature has focused on it and it is scattered across a variety of fields and disciplines including communication, social psychology, management, and sociology. This entry describes nine approaches that have been used to study power and negotiation.
Arguing
Authors: Hample Dale
Published: December 2015

Interpersonal arguing is the exchange of divergent views accompanied by reasons. This activity takes on the character of interpersonal communication in general, but its distinctive feature is the focal presence of reasons given and tested. Attention is given to argument production, the argumentative exchange itself, and the outcomes of arguing for the people and their relationship.
Uncertainty Reduction Strategies
Authors: Berger Charles R.
Published: December 2015

Although there may be conditions under which individuals involved in communication with others may not wish to reduce their uncertainties about those with whom they are communicating, when individuals wish to do so, they can employ three classes of uncertainty reduction strategies. Passive strategies entail the unobtrusive observation of others. Active strategies employ indirect means for gathering information. Interactive strategies are deployed during ongoing social interactions. Specific strategies subsumed under each of these three classes are discussed and their strengths and weaknesses considered with respect to their efficiency and social appropriateness. Strategies for resisting these information acquisition attempts are also considered. Implications for the management of uncertainty are identified.
Communication Styles
Authors: de Vries Reinout E.
Published: December 2015

Communication styles refer to the characteristic way a person sends verbal and nonverbal signals during social interactions. In many areas of life, communication styles are deemed to be important, for instance in interactions among partners, friends, colleagues, parents and children, leaders and subordinates, doctors and patients, and sales representatives and clients. Recent research suggests that communication styles can be described using six main dimensions: Expressiveness, Preciseness, Verbal Aggressiveness, Questioningness, Emotionality, and Impression Manipulativeness. These six dimensions are intimately tied to personality, although cultural norms, habitual interpersonal interaction patterns, and communication channel usage may also have an impact on an individual's communication style. Communication situations, such as Explaining, Exploring, Socializing, Supporting, Influencing, and/or Negotiating situations, are likely to determine which communication styles will have an effect on communication outcomes (e.g., communication effectiveness and satisfaction).
Communication in Support Groups
Authors: Guthrie Jennifer A. , Kunkel Adrianne
Published: December 2015

Support groups are collections of people who provide mutual support for each other regarding a shared characteristic or dilemma (Cline, 1999). Members can empathize with each other and legitimize experiences, share coping strategies and information, and provide a sense of community. Traditionally, support groups are small groups of people who meet face‐to‐face, but with today's technological advances, thousands of support groups have been created online. Although some investigations of the efficacy of support groups suggest that there are potential drawbacks of attending them, support groups can nonetheless provide a vast array of benefits for members.
Weak and Strong Tie Relationships
Authors: Parks Malcolm R.
Published: December 2015

Over the past 40 years interpersonal communication researchers have often focused on stronger, more highly developed social relationships at the expense of weaker, less developed relationships. Weak ties are characterized as less frequent, less intimate, less developed relationships that are often contextually bound. Weak ties make distinctive contributions to fundamental processes including social comparison, social support, the diffusion of new ideas and information, and large‐scale collective action.
Action Assembly Theory
Authors: Greene John O.
Published: December 2015

Action Assembly Theory is a group of theories that seek to explain verbal and nonverbal message behavior by describing the system of cognitive structures and processes that gives rise to those behaviors. Central to these theories is the idea that a person's behavior at any moment is an amalgam of a great many elemental features that are selectively retrieved from memory and integrated, or assembled, to form thoughts and overt action. Specific details of three action assembly theories are discussed, and research based on the various theories is reviewed.
Sibling Communication
Authors: Myers Scott A.
Published: December 2015

The sibling relationship is one of most pervasive and important relationships in which individuals will participate during their lives. Generally, siblings view their relationships favorably and actively work toward maintaining their relationships with each other. They do so by utilizing positive communication behaviors such as self‐disclosure and affectionate communication; they also communicate in ways that reveal their closeness and commitment. Not all sibling communication is positive; at times, siblings engage in verbal aggressiveness toward one another.
Communal Coping
Authors: Afifi Tamara D.
Published: December 2015

When people experience something stressful, they often turn to others for social support. But, what happens when an entire group, community, or couple experiences the same stressful situation? Many times people experience stressful situations with others. For example, natural disasters have become increasingly common across the world, forcing entire communities to address the uncertainty and stress that comes in their wake. People living in war inflicted countries and refugee camps experience chronic stress and uncertainty and must learn to adapt. Family members experience numerous other stressful situations together, including divorce, the loss of a home or job, and illness. When several individuals experience a stressful situation together and a stressor is appraised and active upon as “our problem and our responsibility,” it is referred to as communal coping.
Parental Conflict and Child Functioning
Authors: Afifi Tamara D.
Published: December 2015

Parents’ conflict can have a profound impact on children—in good and bad ways. There are parental conflict patterns that can be debilitating for children, but effective conflict management skills can also facilitate problem‐solving, cohesion, resilience, and other adaptive family dynamics. Conflict is a natural part of relationships and can be an opportunity for growth. How the conflict is managed is what is really important. This entry outlines what constitutes destructive and constructive conflict, and discusses some of the research on the impact of parental conflict on children.
Humor
Authors: DiDomenico Sara R.
Published: December 2015

The study of humor is an interdisciplinary one, but as humor is essentially communicative, the field of interpersonal communication is uniquely suited to explore the many facets of humor as it relates to interaction. To facilitate a review of humor, it is useful to regard it as a process, beginning with the origination of humor (individual motivation); detecting a purpose in the communication (social function); and exploring the effects of a message as it relates to the individual, the audience, and their relationship (others’ impressions and individual and relationship outcomes). In addition to close relationships research, communication scholars have investigated humor use within workplace, healthcare, and classroom settings, and continue to identify the positive and negative effects of humorous communication in everyday life.
Communication in Immigrant Communities
Authors: Kam Jennifer A. , Wang Ningxin
Published: December 2015

Interpersonal communication plays a crucial role in migrants’ ongoing and heterogeneous cultural adaptation processes. Migrants experience enculturation, acculturation, deculturation, assimilation, and/or biculturalism through interpersonal communication with people and exposure to media from their country of origin and receiving country. When residing in another country or region, many migrants may encounter several key family communication experiences, which include family separation and reuinification, acculturation gaps, and language brokering. Interpersonal communication has profound implications for the behavioral, relational, and psychological well‐being of migrant families in the process of cultural adaptation.
Emotional Appraisal/Reappraisal in Social Support
Authors: Holmstrom Amanda J.
Published: December 2015

Emotional appraisal refers to processes by which individuals’ cognitions about events predict their emotional reactions to those events. Reappraisal refers to changing the way that one thinks about events and their relationship to the self, which may then alter emotional reactions. Based on appraisal theories, social support scholars forward a theoretical explanation for why some supportive messages are more effective than others: they help recipients work through the reappraisal process, which in turn improves recipients’ emotional state. Stemming from the appraisal theory forwarded by Lazarus, theories of supportive communication processes have been proposed and tested, including the theory of conversationally induced reappraisals and the cognitive‐emotional theory of esteem support messages.
Violence, Aggression, and Abuse
Authors: Olson Loreen N.
Published: December 2015

Interpersonal aggression takes many forms, including, but not limited to, acts of physical violence, emotional/psychological abuse, verbal aggression, rape, battering, bullying, incest, neglect, stalking, coercion, entrapment, and harassment. While varied in type and context, all of these behaviors can be considered examples of the dark side of interpersonal communication. Communication is the means by which aggression is enacted. Often, the terms abuse, aggression, and violence are used interchangeably. However, researchers have noted important distinctions among them. This entry examines the different ways in which scholars conceptualize aggression, violence, and abuse. Moreover, various typologies of violent couples and male batterers are reviewed as well as a summary of interaction‐based, communication‐focused theories that have been created to explain different relationships characterized by aggression, violence, and abuse.
Facework
Authors: Samp Jennifer A.
Published: December 2015

Facework reflects the communication strategies that people use to establish, sustain, or restore a preferred social identity to others during interaction. Concerns for positive versus negative face and speaker versus hearer concerns motivate different strategies by which to manage or repair desired identities via communication. Thus, face management and negotation is not a static process, but is rather dependent on the dynamics of the individuals and experience of interaction.
Social Networks and Relationships
Authors: Parks Malcolm R.
Published: December 2015

Individual social relationships are embedded in larger social networks whose structure both reflects and influences basic interpersonal processes. Individuals vary in terms of their reach and centrality within networks and networks vary in size and the degree of connectedness. Variations in these parameters play a role in shaping personal attitudes such as prejudice, how innovative people are, how their personal relationships develop, and how much social support is available to them. Interpersonal networks are being reshaped by technologies such as the internet, mobile telephones, and social network applications.
Emotion and Negotiation
Authors: Olekalns Mara
Published: December 2015

Emotion is influential in shaping negotiation outcomes. Positive emotions increase trust and cooperation and, when conveyed to opponents, facilitate deal‐making and agreement, and build stronger relationships between negotiators. In disputes, the reciprocation of positive affect is critical to settlement. Negative emotions decrease trust and encourage a competitive approach. Anger, when conveyed to opponents, elicits greater concessions in negotiations but elicits anger and delays settlement in disputes. Anger expressions are most effective when they are perceived as authentic (rather than strategic), and when they occur early and are followed by expressions of happiness. Anger also spills over from one negotiation to the next, continuing to elicit concessions. In multi‐party negotiations, anger blocks coalition formation, thereby reducing negotiators’ outcomes. The impact of emotional expressions is influenced by context. Anger expressions are less effective in eliciting concessions when behavioral norms emphasize social relationships, for example in Asian cultures or when negotiators are female.
Information Manipulation Theory
Authors: McCornack Steven
Published: December 2015

Information manipulation theory (IMT) is a theory of deceptive discourse design, authored by interpersonal communication scholar Steven McCornack. IMT argues that when deceiving others, people play with or “manipulate” relevant information in myriad ways within their discourse. According to IMT, the particular ways in which people manipulate information align with the conversational maxims suggested by philosopher Paul Grice, in his theory of conversational implicature. Although influential in impacting subsequent research, IMT also has drawn criticism, most notably for not being a testable theory. In response to this criticism, McCornack presented an elaboration of IMT, IMT2. IMT2 is a propositional theory of deceptive discourse production that is rooted in cognitive neuroscience, artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology, and speech production. IMT2 consists of a central premise and 11 propositions deriving from this premise, grouped into three propositional sets: intentional states, cognitive load, and information manipulation.
Communication in Stepfamilies
Authors: Johnson Amy Janan
Published: December 2015

A stepfamily is a family unit in which at least one child is not the biological or adopted child of one member of the married (or cohabiting) couple. Stepfamilies often have to negotiate such complexities as being spread across multiple households, dealing with stigma, clarifying unclear roles for family members, and negotiating a lack of legal status between the stepparent and stepchildren. The ways that stepfamilies develop, co‐parent, and self‐disclose have been found to be affected by these factors and often differ from nuclear family dynamics. Less is currently known concerning how stepfamily members communicate with individuals outside the stepfamily system.