Berry College

About: Berry College is a education organization based out in Rome, Georgia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Politics. The organization has 530 authors who have published 1031 publications receiving 24133 citations.

Why people use social media: a uses and gratifications approach

Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to demonstrate the importance of uses and gratifications theory to social media. By applying uses and gratifications theory, this paper will explore and discuss the uses and gratifications that consumer receive from using social media. This paper seeks to provide a better and more comprehensive understanding of why consumers use social media.Design/methodology/approach – Exploratory study was conducted. 25 in‐depth interviews were conducted with individuals who use social media.Findings – This study identified ten uses and gratifications for using social media. The ten uses and gratifications are: social interaction, information seeking, pass time, entertainment, relaxation, communicatory utility, convenience utility, expression of opinion, information sharing, and surveillance/knowledge about others.Research limitations/implications – Limitations are small sample size. Research implications are that uses and gratifications theory has specific relevance to social media and shoul...

Cultural Variations in the Cross-Border Transfer of Organizational Knowledge: An Integrative Framework

Abstract: Little is known about the effectiveness of cross-border transfer of organizational knowledge involving dissimilar cultural contexts. We propose a theoretical framework for understanding the significance of four transacting cultural patterns, defined in terms of the dimensions of individualism-collectivism and verticalness-horizontalness, for their potential in moderating the effectiveness of cross-border transfer of organizational knowledge. Drawing foundational support for this new framework from recent research advances in the area of knowledge transfer, we explore implications for future research.

Older Consumers' Disposition of Special Possessions

Abstract: This article explores precipitating events, emotions, and decisions associated with older consumers’ disposition of special possessions. Findings are based on analyses of semistructured interviews with 80 older consumers, complemented by depth interviews with seven informants. Cherished possessions and their disposition play a significant role in older consumers’ reminiscence and life review. Concerns about disposition of special possessions involve strong and ambivalent emotions. Older consumers voice concern over avoiding intrafamilial conflict, reducing uncertainty, and exercising control over the future life of special possessions. We emphasize the storied nature of the meanings consumers attach to their cherished possessions and the way in which these storied meanings are bundled with life review and disposition concerns. Many older consumers attempt to control meanings transferred with cherished possessions. They seek to pass on personal and familial legacies, achieve symbolic immortality, insure a ...

Secondary Metabolites Of Fleshy Vertebrate‐Dispersed Fruits: Adaptive Hypotheses And Implications For Seed Dispersal

Abstract: We discuss seven hypotheses to explain the adaptive significance of secondary me- tabolites in ripe fleshy fruits and their implications for seed dispersal. These hypotheses are the attraction/association, seed germination inhibition, attraction/repulsion, protein assimilation, gut retention time, directed toxicity, and defense trade-off hypotheses. We examine evidence that supports or refutes these hypotheses and suggest further tests of each. In addition, we summarize recent work with Solanum fruit pulp glycoalkaloids that bears directly on three of these hypothe- ses (directed toxicity, gut retention time, and defense trade-off ). We conclude that evidence ad- dressing many of these hypotheses is either observational or indirect, but most hypotheses find at least some level of support. Because many of the hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, we also conclude that synergistic interactions and multifunctionality in secondary metabolites may provide economical evolutionary solutions for plants facing disparate and temporally variable se- lective pressures that impinge on fruits and seeds.

Asymmetric Broca's area in great apes

Abstract: Brodmann's area 44 delineates part of Broca's area within the inferior frontal gyrus of the human brain and is a critical region for speech production, being larger in the left hemisphere than in the right - an asymmetry that has been correlated with language dominance. Here we show that there is a similar asymmetry in this area, also with left-hemisphere dominance, in three great ape species (Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus and Gorilla gorilla). Our findings suggest that the neuroanatomical substrates for left-hemisphere dominance in speech production were evident at least five million years ago and are not unique to hominid evolution.