Showing papers on "Credibility published in 1997"

The Determinants of Trust and Credibility in Environmental Risk Communication: An Empirical Study

Abstract: This study examines a key component of environmental risk communication; trust and credibility. The study was conducted in two parts. In the first part, six hypotheses regarding the perceptions and determinants of trust and credibility were tested against survey data. The hypotheses were supported by the data. The most important hypothesis was that perceptions of trust and credibility are dependent on three factors: perceptions of knowledge and expertise; perceptions of openness and honesty; and perceptions of concern and care. In the second part, models were constructed with perceptions of trust and credibility as the dependent variable. The goal was to examine the data for findings with direct policy implications. One such finding was that defying a negative stereotype is key to improving perceptions of trust and credibility.

Dimensions and Levels of Trust: Implications for Commitment to a Relationship

Abstract: Previous research has found that trust is positively related to commitment in buyer-seller relationships. However, the validity of this finding is questionable because trust has been operationalized in many different ways. For example, prior research has not distinguished among levels of trust (interpersonal or organizational trust) and dimensions or motives of trust (credibility or benevolence). In this study, we distinguish among the levels and dimensions of trust. The results indicate that trust in a sales representative (interpersonal credibility) is more strongly related to commitment than trust in an organization (organizational credibility). In contrast, trust based on organizational benevolence is a stronger predictor of commitment than interpersonal benevolence.

How to report statistics in medicine : annotated guidelines for authors, editors, and reviewers

Abstract: This new edition makes many of the basic and advanced concepts of biostatistics more accessible to readers. It is one of the few books that focus on how appropriate statistical presentation can enhance both comprehension and credibility. This is a perfect reference guide for those with either a rudimentary or an advanced statistical background.

Credibility of Rules and Economic Growth: Evidence from a Worldwide Survey of the Private Sector

Abstract: An indicator of the credibility of rules is constructed from broad cross-country survey data and it is shown that low credibility is associated with lower rates of growth and investment. Economic theory and case study evidence have long suggested that institutional factors, such as well-defined property and contract rights, may be crucial in explaining differences in economic performance across countries. Much of the recent discussion about governance has, for example, focused on the role of corruption and its consequences for investment and growth. By comparison, the empirical literature relating institutional factors with growth has been relatively scarce and has mainly concentrated on crude proxies such as political instability and macroeconomic volatility. The problem of most of these variables in that they inadequately capture the uncertainties that are relevant for entrepreneurs. Brunetti, Kisunko, and Weder propose new measures of institutional uncertainty based on the subjective evaluations of entrepreneurs. They surveyed the private sector in a broad cross-section of countries. The survey was designed to capture institutional factors such as the predictability of rules, entrepreneurs' fears of policy surprises and reversals, their perception of safety and security of property, the reliability of the judiciary, and their problems with bureaucratic corruption. The authors construct and test a summary indicator of the credibility of rules, as well as its components in standard cross-country growth and investment regressions. The main findings: The overall indicator of credibility is significantly related with higher rates of investment and growth. The credibility indicator calculated for the subsample of small local companies is even more closely related to the growth performance. The subindicators security of persons and property and predictability of rule-making are most closely associated with growth. The indicators of corruption, perceived political instability, and predictability of judiciary enforcement are most closely associated with investment. Preliminary results for an extended sample - including transition economies - indicate that institutional factors may also help to explain differences in economic performance in these countries. This paper - a product of the Office of the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Development Economics- was produced as a background paper for World Development Report 1997 on the role of the state in a changing world. The study was funded in part by the Research Support Budget under the research projects Cross-Country Indicators of Institutional Uncertainty (RPO 680-51), and Indicators of Government Quality as Perceived by the Private Sector (RPO 681-52).

When does it take a Nixon to go to China

Abstract: Substantial policy changes, like market-oriented reforms by populist parties and steps towards peace by 'hawks,' are sometimes implemented by 'unlikely' parties. To account for such episodes, this paper develops a framework in which incumbent politicians have better information about the state of the world than voters. The incumbent is unable to credibly transmit all this information since voters are also imperfectly informed about his ideology. The paper identifies conditions under which an incumbent party's electoral prospects increase the more atypical the policy it proposes. Popular support for a policy, or its 'credibility,' depends on the policymaker-policy pair. Copyright 1998 by American Economic Association.

Political Economics and Macroeconomic Policy

Abstract: This paper surveys the recent literature on the theory of macroeconomic policy. We study the effect of various incentive constraints on the policy-making process, such as lack of credibility, political opportunism, political ideology, and divided government. The survey is organized in three parts. Part I deals with monetary policy in a simple Phillips curve model, and focuses on credibility, political business cycles, and optimal design of monetary institutions. Part II deals with fiscal policy in a dynamic general equilibrium set up; the main topics covered in this section are credibility of tax policy, and political determinants of budget deficits. Part III studies economic growth in models with endogenous fiscal policy.

Trust in the Balance: Building Successful Organizations on Results, Integrity, and Concern

Abstract: Acquire the best asset of allYour business is either enhanced by the presence of trust or held back by the presence of distrust. Robert Shaw gives conviction and advice to the leader who recognizes that trust becomes a performance multiplier only when the leader is prepared to go first. -- Craig E. Weatherup, president, PepsiCo, Inc.If you've never examined how trust affects your organization, maybe you should. In this engaging book, Robert Shaw moves past the right thing to do argument and focuses on trust as a critical issue successful managers cannot take for granted. He shows how lack of trust is compromising more and more organizations in today's highly competitive environment. And he offers a way out. Drawing on a variety of examples from real business situations, Shaw explains trust's increasing importance at four key levels: individual credibility, one-to-one collaboration, team effectiveness, and organizational vitality. He then provides an assessment survey to help you determine how you and your organization measures up trust-wise, and offers action steps for overcoming trust dilemmas such as those that arise during reinvention efforts. A vital handbook for leaders, change agents, and anyone interested in building high trust for high performance.

The elaboration likelihood model and communication about food risks

Abstract: Factors such as hazard type and source credibility have been identified as important in the establishment of effective strategies for risk communication. The elaboration likelihood model was adapted to investigate the potential impact of hazard type, information source, and persuasive content of information on individual engagement in elaborative, or thoughtful, cognitions about risk messages. One hundred sixty respondents were allocated to one of eight experimental groups, and the effects of source credibility, persuasive content of information and hazard type were systematically varied. The impact of the different factors on beliefs about the information and elaborative processing examined. Low credibility was particularly important in reducing risk perceptions, although persuasive content and hazard type were also influential in determining whether elaborative processing occurred.

Performance information and programme evaluation in the Australian public sector

Abstract: Performance measurement and programme evaluation have been promoted as a central mechanism of recent Australian public sector (APS) reform. Outlines recent reforms in the APS and identifies links between evaluation and performance information. Identifies the major issue of credibility, when performance information is produced internally and not verified externally. A lack of performance systems and standards can create difficulties for both internal and external programme evaluations. Concludes that: reforms introduced to evaluate performance in the APS were promoted with high expectations which have only partially been fulfilled; the present system is internally focused with a narrow role for evaluation and a lack of credibility because of the independence issue; the present systems associated with the performance approach and its evaluation are not providing enough information to deal with the tough questions of the effectiveness of government programmes. Proposes that a middle ground between internal and external programme evaluation strategies be adopted. This allows the strengths of internal evaluation to be retained. At the same time, it allows the possibility of improving programme evaluation by adding external independent verification and an extended effectiveness role.

Feedback falling on deaf ears: residents' receptivity to feedback tempered by sender credibility

Abstract: We interviewed internal medicine residents to characterize their perceptions of effective feedback. These semi-structured interviews also explored aspects of the person sending the feedback which m...

Credibility of optimal monetary delegation

Abstract: While optimal monetary policy is subject to a credibility problem, it is often argued that the government should appoint a central banker whose incentives differ from the government's. The author argues, however, that such delegation does not overcome credibility problems given that delegation is discretionary and without costs. 'Reappointment costs' of delegation are shown to improve suboptimal outcomes but credibility of optimal monetary policy turns out be worsened. At best, delegation therefore has no effects on credibility, but only if reappointment has no costs. Copyright 1997 by American Economic Association.

The Credibility and Comparability of Standards

Abstract: To carry out their charge of protecting the public, licensing and certifying organizations must develop and administer examinations that distinguish between examinees with adequate and inadequate levels of knowledge and skill. Pass-fail decisions must be made, and such decisions need to be the same over time and for different forms of the test. If the results of the credentialing or licensure-certification process are to be useful, it is essential to develop a body of evidence relating to the credibility of the standards and to their comparability. This article reviews the major forms of evidence that are supportive of a standard's credibility and outlines what can be done over time and forms to enhance its comparability in a credentialing setting.

A Credibility Equation for IT Specialists

Abstract: Why are IT groups frequently left out of decision making that involves IT? When companies decide to outsource IT, why are CIOs out of the loop? Bashein and Markus suggest these oversights are due to IT specialists' low credibility. Business people who don't understand what IT specialists contribute to the business simply do not trust them. Two elements of credibility are perceived trustworthiness and perceived expertise. Trust is based on similarity and likability, prolonged interaction, appropriate behavior, and consistent behavior. According to the authors, IT specialists frequently fail to gain coworkers' trust. Bashein and Markus studied two organizations in the midst of major business process change to determine whether their view was correct. At Advanced Healthcare Systems, which was reengineering to reduce costs and improve patient care, they found that the IT department had been left out of the initial planning. By the end of the project, however, the perception of IT had changed. Although IT people attributed the change to new technologies and solutions, the business people attributed it to the IT specialists' ability to be team players, speak their language, be patient, and support them throughout the process. They began to feel comfortable with people they had formerly distrusted. At American Electronics Corporation, there were similar themes, as IT was left out of the initial planning but established rapport through one-on-one meetings, team participation, and efforts to understand the business. The authors conclude that IT specialists should focus primarily on creating a reputation for trustworthiness before emphasizing expertise. They should meet one on one with managers; listen well and ask questions; use business, not technical, jargon; allow for plenty of time with clients; and survey customers for suggestions. Once they establish trustworthiness, they can enhance credibility by, for instance, explaining systems, introducing technical terminology gradually, and maintaining problem logs.

Credibility and Economic Value in the Visual Arts

Abstract: The paper states that the quality of visual arts cannot be measured objectively. An artist must be credible to the public in order to generate economic value. How is credibility and thus economic value generated on the market? To judge the quality of arts, it takes experts. They form a worldwide network relationship and apply cultural knowledge, a highly specific type of knowledge which requires lifelong learning. Cultural knowledge is only in part of a factual nature and includes subjective elements. Since the public cannot in general ascertain the quality of an artist's oeuvre directly, experts must themselves be credible to the public in order to lend credibility to a given oeuvre. It is shown that the process by which experts generate public credibility for a given oeuvre is path dependent, i.e., may by chance end up at inferior solutions.

Credible threats in extortion

Abstract: There is a fundamental credibility problem in the extortion business: will the gang retaliate if I refuse to pay? Unlike reputation models, we emphasize the up-front investment choice by the gang of which potential victims are uncertain. For small numbers of victims only a no-extortion equilibrium exists. However, as the number of potential victims becomes large, this equilibrium disappears. The only subgame-perfect equilibria have extortion and expected loss from violence. We justify and examine the properties of one particular set of equilibria. The model can also shed light on credibility problems in settings other than extortion.

Activism, Drug Regulation, and the Politics of Therapeutic Evaluation in the AIDS Era: A Case Study of ddC and the `Surrogate Markers' Debate:

Abstract: This paper presents an extended case study to demonstrate that the interpretation of clinical trials of antiviral AIDS drugs is significantly shaped by a widely dispersed allocation of scientific credibility. Specifically, the participation of AIDS activists in claims-making about AIDS trials and AIDS drugs complicates the politics of therapeutic evaluation, even as it challenges the monopolization of credibility by credentialed researchers. The paper tracks the social construction of belief about the efficacy of the combination therapy of AZT and ddC, between 1990 and 1995 in the United States. By intervening simultaneously in interpretative debates about the results of the clinical trials of this therapy and in methodological debates about how efficacy might best be measured in such trials, activists have helped to shape what is believed to be known about these drugs.

Students’ perceptions of instructors’ socio‐communicative style and the influence on instructor credibility and situational motivation

Abstract: This study investigated whether instructors with different socio‐communicative styles differed in their students’ perceptions of their credibility and their students’ Situationen motivation. Students (N = 260) completed a questionnaire on the class/instructor they had immediately before their current class. The questionnaire consisted of measures of assertiveness, responsiveness, credibility, and situational motivation. Instructors with the socio‐communicative style of competent were perceived highest in all three dimensions of credibility (expertise, character, and caring) and in students’ situational motivation. Instructors classified as noncompetent were perceived as lowest in caring and expertise, while instructors classified as aggressive were perceived as lowest in character. Additionally, situational motivation was positively correlated to all three dimensions of credibility. The results support the importance of instructors being able to display assertive and responsive communication behaviors.

Conditionality as an Instrument of Borrower Credibility

Abstract: Fund member countries that adopt market-friendly policies often encounter a credibility problem—market-friendly policies are not effective in stimulating private investment as long as there remains a significant risk of policy reversal. The root of this risk lies in the discretionary policy-making authority of governments. Committing to a program with the Fund, and endorsing its conditionality, is one instrument available to governments to overcome this difficulty. The paper develops this interpretation of conditionality and indicates some of its operational implications for Fund programs.

Credibility without rules? : monetary frameworks in the Post-Bretton Woods era

Abstract: This paper is the story of the search for a better trade-off between flexibility and credibility undertaken by authorities around the world in the last 25 years. It provides detailed information on how monetary frameworks - that is the set of announced rules and institutions affecting monetary policy - evolved in 100 countries, examining the forces that molded such evolution and focusing on how developments in economic theory affected the choices of policy-makers.

Clarifying goals, reporting results

Abstract: The evaluation profession has been affected by two crises during the last two decades: the evaluation crisis, characterized by a deficit in evaluation utilization, and a more important governance crisis, characterized by deficits in government performance and credibility. Tactics and tools for evaluators to use in addressing these challenges are described in this chapter, and recommendations are offered for evaluators and program managers to better define, measure, and improve government performance.

The credibility of nonprofit boards: a view from the 1990s and beyond.

Abstract: The wrongdoings of nonprofit organizations have become grist for the media mill. The authors explore five of the more recently publicized cases of nonprofits gone wrong: the United Way of America, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Foundation for New Era Philanthropy, Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, and Upsala College, and their significance in regard to the role and functioning of the board. Discussion focuses on the implications of these cases in regard to nonprofits' credibility and strategic options for enhancing accountability. Unless governing boards address some of their deficiencies, tighter government regulations, increased donor skepticism, and greater demands and expectations upon them will result.

Student perceptions of verbal and nonverbal cues leading to images of black and white professor credibility

Abstract: A qualitative case study investigated the definition of professor credibility and the influence of a professor's race on student perceptions of classroom credibility at a predominantly White university. This article focuses on the research question that asked what verbal and nonverbal communication cues used by professors led students to view them as credible. Nonparticipant observation, semi‐structured interviews, and open‐ended questionnaires were used to collect data from 6 male professors (3 Black, 3 White) and 28 students. Professor credibility was defined by the study participants as being either knowledgeable or knowledgeable and a good teacher. The data indicated that students used the same verbal and nonverbal communication cues to assess the credibility of Black and White professors; however, they sought more evidence of the exact nature of the academic and experiential credentials from Black professors. Professor credibility is rarely studied in instructional communication; yet credibility may ...

Political business cycles and macroeconomic credibility: a survey

Abstract: There is clear evidence that government popularity and election performance is affected, in part, by economic performance, suggesting that governments may manipulate the economy to political advantage. Simple models incorporating adaptive expectations which allowed the government to exploit this relationship were developed in the 1970s, but fell out of fashion with the advent of new-classical economics. However, modern theories of the political business cycle, which are closely related to the macroeconomic policy game literature, assume rational expectations, and lead to forms of political business cycle, driven by the existence of uncertainty of one type or another. The international evidence suggests that some aspects of the theories apply, although definitive conclusions are – as we might expect – hard to come by.

Fundamentals for establishing a risk communication program.

Abstract: This paper provides a suggested outline for developing a risk communication organizational plan that could be used by a variety of federal, state, or private agencies. Drawing on various techniques presented in the literature and on the authors' insights, suggestions are provided as to how to formulate and convey risk messages. First, the paper provides a few risk communication fundamentals including definitions, the goal of informing vs. influencing, the importance of public participation in risk management, building trust and credibility, the consideration of outrage, and the importance of oral and visual communications. Second, a stepwise approach synthesized by the authors is presented that can be applied in developing a risk communication program. The approach is a 13-step method based on the premise that the risk communication program should be dynamic, flexible, and involve interaction with the public at every possible step.