University of Nicosia

About: University of Nicosia is a education organization based out in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 988 authors who have published 2765 publications receiving 30748 citations.

In-law preferences in a post-industrial society: What parents want in an in-law and how this differs from what their children want in a spouse

Abstract: Across human societies parents exercise considerable influence over the mate choices of their children. Consequently, spouses are selected not only on the basis of whether they appeal to mate-seekers' preferences, but also on whether they appeal to parents' preferences. Our knowledge of in-law preferences is rather thin, however, particularly when it comes to post-industrial societies. Focusing on a Western society (Cyprus), and with the use of an open-ended instrument, this study attempts to identify the qualities that parents desire in a prospective son-in-law and daughter-in-law. It aims further to explore how parents' preferences differ from the respective preference of their children. Evidence from a sample of 211 families (321 parents and 246 children) revealed a hierarchy of 23 traits at the top of which lie personality-related traits. It was also found that in-law preferences are contingent upon the sex of the in-law, but they are independent of the sex of the parent. Finally, comparisons between ...

Student Generated Content in higher education technology-related blogs

Abstract: This interdisciplinary study integrates technology, linguistics and language teaching theories and methods and highlights the effectiveness of technology-related blogs, created and maintained by students. For the purpose of this paper, various aspects of the Student Generated Content (SGC) postings quality as well as certain technical writing skills (e.g. relevance and exemplification) are examined. SGC has been analyzed using discourse analysis as a methodological tool. Student informal conversational interviews have also been used as supportive evidence. The results of the study indicate that while the students possess certain technical writing skills (e.g. relevance), they lack exemplification-an essential skill in technical written communication. The study highlights the dual pedagogical significance of student technology-related blog development both a) as a highly motivating student learning activity and b) as a valuable source of data collection (SGC Discourse) useful for educators and researchers to assess students' written language expression.

The relation of orthorexia with lifestyle habits: Arabic versions of the Eating Habits Questionnaire and the Dusseldorf Orthorexia Scale.

Abstract: Some of the commonly used tools to assess orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) do not allow a meaningful interpretation of the scores or yield mixed results about the dimensions needed to represent orthorexia. Since no advancement in the theoretical knowledge can be made without a thorough examination of the measurement aspects, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) and lifestyle habits, notably alcohol drinking, cigarette and waterpipe smoking, and physical exercise, and to validate and assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic versions of the Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ) and Dusseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS). A total of 456 adult participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation models were used to test the internal structure of the instruments. Shorter and more explicit versions were proposed for instruments. Pearson and partial correlations were computed between orthorexia scores and healthy behaviors scores. Regarding the internal structure of both EHQ and DOS, evidence favored the bi-dimensional construct of orthorexia. Both tools presented two theoretically clearly interpretable factors (OrNe and Healthy Orthorexia—HeOr—). The two questionnaires presented a high convergent validity, as dimensions with the same interpretation were correlated around 0.80. While OrNe was positively correlated with the use of unhealthy substances (higher alcohol use disorder, cigarette, and waterpipe dependence), HeOr was negatively associated with these behaviors. Our results emphasize the idea that further attention should be paid to the multidimensional structure of orthorexia, as OrNe and HeOr present an opposite pattern of associations with healthy behaviors. An OrNe etiopathogenesis common to eating disorders can explain these differences. The term “orthorexia nervosa” (OrNe) denotes a possible pathological fixation on a health-conscious diet. Some of the commonly used tools to assess orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) do not allow a meaningful interpretation of the scores or yield mixed results about the dimensions needed to represent orthorexia. In this study, some items were simultaneously tapping both dimensions of orthorexic tendencies, and shorter versions of the DOS and EHQ scales were proposed to offer instruments with a more explicit structure. The final versions still presented high reliabilities. While HeOr was negatively associated with the consumption of unhealthy substances (higher alcohol use disorder, cigarette, and waterpipe dependence), OrNe was positively correlated with these behaviors. After controlling for OrNe or HeOr (partial correlations), the associations were even higher; the pattern of associations was more explicit, showing the importance of considering the multidimensional structure of orthorexia.

A marketing communications framework for small political parties in developed countries

Abstract: Purpose – This research aims to undertake a business theory application into the political marketing context, examine the degree and nature of its theoretical and practical compatibility, and develop a preliminary conceptual marketing communications (MCs) framework for small political parties (SPPs) in developed countries.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is conceptual and incorporates and interrelates the findings of existing business marketing research as applied to the context of political marketing. Through a comprehensive literature review, it adopts a multi‐perspective analysis and interrelation of three dimensions of existing theory: the behavioural, the contextual and the operational dimension. The paper eventually bridges the fields of political and business marketing, identifies the underlying causes of voter behaviour, and distils the critical factors of SPPs' marketing communications success.Findings – The research identifies a number of critical factors of SPPs' marketing communications...

Recognizing Driving Behaviour Using Smartphones

Abstract: In this chapter at first we will present our methodology for recognizing driving patterns using smartphones, and then we will present in detail the android-based application we have developed to this end, which can monitor driving behavior. The latter can be achieved either using data only from the accelerometer sensor or using a sensor fusion method, which combines data from the accelerometer, the gyroscope and the magnetometer. We can recognize events like hard acceleration, safe acceleration, sharp left turn, safe right turn, sharp left lane change, etc. The application to improve the driving behavior of the driver, displays some hint messages to him after each bad-driving event. All the data from the trips (e.g., driving events that take place during a trip), are stored in a database and the driver has the opportunity to review and analyze them whenever he wants. We believe that organizing drivers in some form of a social network and involving them in a game-like procedure for promoting and rewarding the best driver among them, can motivate drivers to more secure driving customs.