Showing papers on "Interpersonal communication published in 2017"

Interpersonal Autonomic Physiology A Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract: Interpersonal autonomic physiology is defined as the relationship between people's physiological dynamics, as indexed by continuous measures of the autonomic nervous system. Findings from this field of study indicate that physiological activity between two or more people can become associated or interdependent, often referred to as physiological synchrony. Physiological synchrony has been found in both new and established relationships across a range of contexts, and it correlates with a number of psychosocial constructs. Given these findings, interpersonal physiological interactions are theorized to be ubiquitous social processes that co-occur with observable behavior. However, this scientific literature is fragmented, making it difficult to evaluate consistency across reports. In an effort to facilitate more standardized scholarly approaches, this systematic review provides a description of existing work in the area and highlights theoretical, methodological, and statistical issues to be addressed in future interpersonal autonomic physiology research.

Preferred Interpersonal Distances: A Global Comparison

Abstract: Human spatial behavior has been the focus of hundreds of previous research studies. However, the conclusions and generalizability of previous studies on interpersonal distance preferences were limited by some important methodological and sampling issues. The objective of the present study was to compare preferred interpersonal distances across the world and to overcome the problems observed in previous studies. We present an extensive analysis of interpersonal distances over a large data set (N = 8,943 participants from 42 countries). We attempted to relate the preferred social, personal, and intimate distances observed in each country to a set of individual characteristics of the participants, and some attributes of their cultures. Our study indicates that individual characteristics (age and gender) influence interpersonal space preferences and that some variation in results can be explained by temperature in a given region. We also present objective values of preferred interpersonal distances in different regions, which might be used as a reference data point in future studies.

Role of the emotions and classroom environment in willingness to communicate: applying doubly latent multilevel analysis in second language acquisition research

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations between emotions, classroom environment, and willingness to communicate (WTC) using the advanced quantitative methodological procedure of doubly latent multilevel analysis. To this end, 1528 secondary school students from 65 different classrooms in Iran participated in the study. Results of the doubly latent multilevel analysis showed that a positive classroom environment is related to fostering WTC and enjoyment, while it reduces anxiety among students. Moreover, enjoyment was found as an important factor in increasing WTC at both student and classroom level, while anxiety reduced WTC only at the student level. Finally, the results of the study are discussed and pedagogical implications are provided for language teachers.

Pornography Consumption and Satisfaction: a Meta-Analysis

Abstract: A classic question in the communication literature is whether pornography consumption affects consumers' satisfaction. The present paper represents the first attempt to address this question via meta-analysis. Fifty studies collectively including more than 50,000 participants from 10 countries were located across the interpersonal domains of sexual and relational satisfaction and the intrapersonal domains of body and self satisfaction. Pornography consumption was not related to the intrapersonal satisfaction outcomes that were studied. However, pornography consumption was associated with lower interpersonal satisfaction outcomes in cross-sectional surveys, longitudinal surveys, and experiments. Associations between pornography consumption and reduced interpersonal satisfaction outcomes were not moderated by their year of release or their publication status. But analyses by sex indicted significant results for men only.

Recruitment, Promotion, and Retention of Women in Academic Medicine: How Institutions Are Addressing Gender Disparities.

Abstract: Objective Greater numbers of women in medicine have not resulted in more women achieving senior positions. Programs supporting the recruitment, promotion, and retention of women in academic medicine could help to achieve greater advancement of more women to leadership positions. Qualitative research was conducted to understand such programs at 23 institutions and, using the social ecological model, examine how they operate at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, academic community, and policy levels. Methods Telephone interviews were conducted with faculty representatives ( n = 44) of the Group on Women in Medicine and Science, Diversity and Inclusion, or senior leaders with knowledge on gender climate in 24 medical schools. Four trained interviewers conducted semistructured interviews that addressed faculty perceptions of gender equity and advancement, which were audiotaped and transcribed. The data were categorized into three content areas—recruitment, promotion, and retention—and coded a priori for each area based on their social ecological level of operation. Findings Participants from nearly 40% of the institutions reported no special programs for recruiting, promoting, or retaining women, largely describing such programming as unnecessary. Existing programs primarily targeted the individual and interpersonal levels simultaneously, via training, mentoring, and networking, or the institutional level, via search committee trainings, child and elder care, and spousal hiring programs. Lesser effort at the academic community and policy levels were described. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that many U.S. medical schools have no programs supporting gender equity among medical faculty. Existing programs primarily target the individual or interpersonal level of the social ecological interaction. The academic community and broader policy environment require greater focus as levels with little attention to advancing women's careers. Universal multilevel efforts are needed to more effectively advance the careers of medical women faculty and support gender equity.

Leader Humor as an Interpersonal Resource: Integrating Three Theoretical Perspectives

Abstract: We integrate theoretical perspectives on humor to test the processes through which leader humor (LH) facilitates subordinate organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). In doing so, we argue that humor is a key interpersonal resource for leaders and derive our comprehensive model with logic from three individual-resource-related theories—social exchange theory, conservation of resources theory, and broaden-and-build theory. Leader-triggered positive emotion and subsequent social exchange, operationalized as leader–member exchange (LMX), functioned as key sequential mechanisms mediating the relationship between LH and subordinate OCBs. LH induced positive emotion in subordinates, which fostered high-quality LMX and, in turn, OCBs. Contrary to expectations, the stress relief explanation of LH was not supported. This research contributes to knowledge of humor in organizations, and particularly LH, as it is the first to establish a link between LH and OCBs and also represents the first integration and concur...

It doesn't hurt to ask: Question-asking increases liking.

Abstract: Conversation is a fundamental human experience that is necessary to pursue intrapersonal and interpersonal goals across myriad contexts, relationships, and modes of communication. In the current research, we isolate the role of an understudied conversational behavior: question-asking. Across 3 studies of live dyadic conversations, we identify a robust and consistent relationship between question-asking and liking: people who ask more questions, particularly follow-up questions, are better liked by their conversation partners. When people are instructed to ask more questions, they are perceived as higher in responsiveness, an interpersonal construct that captures listening, understanding, validation, and care. We measure responsiveness with an attitudinal measure from previous research as well as a novel behavioral measure: the number of follow-up questions one asks. In both cases, responsiveness explains the effect of question-asking on liking. In addition to analyzing live get-to-know-you conversations online, we also studied face-to-face speed-dating conversations. We trained a natural language processing algorithm as a "follow-up question detector" that we applied to our speed-dating data (and can be applied to any text data to more deeply understand question-asking dynamics). The follow-up question rate established by the algorithm showed that speed daters who ask more follow-up questions during their dates are more likely to elicit agreement for second dates from their partners, a behavioral indicator of liking. We also find that, despite the persistent and beneficial effects of asking questions, people do not anticipate that question-asking increases interpersonal liking. (PsycINFO Database Record

The impact of the teachers' non-verbal communication on success in teaching.

Abstract: Introduction: Non-verbal communication skills, also called signlanguage or silent language, include all behaviors performed in thepresence of others or perceived either consciously or unconsciously.The main aim of this review article was to determine the effectof the teachers’ non-verbal communication on success in teachingusing the findings of the studies conducted on the relationshipbetween quality of teaching and the teachers’ use of non-verbalcommunication and also its impact on success in teaching.Methods: Considering the research method, i.e. a review article,we searched for all articles in this field using key words suchas success in teaching, verbal communication and non-verbalcommunication. In this study, we did not encode the articles.Results: The results of this revealed that there was a strongrelationship among the quality, amount and the method of usingnon-verbal communication by teachers while teaching. Based onthe findings of the studies reviewed, it was found that the morethe teachers used verbal and non-verbal communication, the moreefficacious their education and the students’ academic progresswere. Under non-verbal communication, some other patterns wereused. For example, emotive, team work, supportive, imaginative,purposive, and balanced communication using speech, body, andpictures all have been effective in students’ learning and academicsuccess. The teachers’ attention to the students’ non-verbalreactions and arranging the syllabus considering the students’mood and readiness have been emphasized in the studies reviewed.Conclusion: It was concluded that if this skill is practicedby teachers, it will have a positive and profound effect on thestudents’ mood. Non-verbal communication is highly reliable inthe communication process, so if the recipient of a message isbetween two contradictory verbal and nonverbal messages, logicdictates that we push him toward the non-verbal message and askhim to pay more attention to non-verbal than verbal messagesbecause non-verbal cues frequently reveal the intention of thesender of the information and reflect his/her emotional reactions.Based on the obtained results of this study, it is recommendedthat attention to non-verbal communication skills can make apositive change in the future of a student’s life. It seems necessaryfor the teachers to practice and learn effective communicationskills, especially for those who always interact with a largegroup of students. One of the factors contributing to the success or failure of students is the quality of the relationship and howthe teacher builds this relationship with students. Especially, itis more effective for students who are more responsive to humanrelations and communication skills. Finally, it is recommendedthat the teachers should improve their communication skills tohave better communication with their audience. The authoritiesare recommended to help improve the teachers’ level ofcommunication skills through holding training courses.Keywords: Communication; Teacher; Teaching

Clinician behaviors in telehealth care delivery: a systematic review.

Abstract: Literature on telehealth care delivery often addresses clinical, cost, technological, system, and organizational impacts. Less is known about interpersonal behaviors such as communication patterns and therapeutic relationship-building, which may have workforce development considerations. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to identify interpersonal health care provider (HCP) behaviors and attributes related to provider–patient interaction during care in telehealth delivery. Electronic searches were conducted using five indexes/databases: CINAHL, ERIC, PsychInfo, ProQuest Dissertations, PubMed; with hand-searching of the immediate past 10 years of five journals. Search concepts included: communication, telehealth, education, and health care delivery. Of 5261 unique article abstracts initially identified, 338 full-text articles remained after exclusion criteria were applied and these were reviewed for eligibility. Finally, data were extracted from 45 articles. Through qualitative synthesis of the 45 articles, we noted that papers encompassed many disciplines and targeted care to people in many settings including: home care, primary and specialist care, mental health/counseling, and multi-site teams. Interpersonal behaviors were observed though not manipulated through study designs. Six themes were identified: HCP-based support for telehealth delivery; provider–patient interactions during the telehealth event; environmental attributes; and guidelines for education interventions or evaluation of HCP behaviors. Although unable to identify current best practices, important considerations for practice and education did emerge. These include: perceptions of the utility of telehealth; differences in communication patterns such as pace and type of discourse, reliance on visual cues by both provider and patient especially in communicating empathy and building rapport; and confidentiality and privacy in telehealth care delivery.

Opinion Climates in Social Media: Blending Mass and Interpersonal Communication

Abstract: Social media's capacity for users to generate, comment on, and forward content (including mass media messages) to other users has created new forms of mass interpersonal communication. These systems render observable processes underlying the formation of opinion climates. Five attributes of contemporary electronic opinion environments can alter the way users gauge, form, and express opinions on topics of public interest: the juxtaposition of mass media and user-generated content, ideological homogeneity and heterogeneity of online networks, technical ease with which to express opinions, the reach of messages, and networked audiences. These attributes facilitate analysis of theoretical and empirical works from different scholarly traditions, suggesting lines of inquiry that can enrich the analysis of (public) opinion formation via current communication technologies.

Team Sports Performance Analysed Through the Lens of Social Network Theory: Implications for Research and Practice

Abstract: This paper discusses how social network analyses and graph theory can be implemented in team sports performance analyses to evaluate individual (micro) and collective (macro) performance data, and how to use this information for designing practice tasks. Moreover, we briefly outline possible limitations of social network studies and provide suggestions for future research. Instead of cataloguing discrete events or player actions, it has been argued that researchers need to consider the synergistic interpersonal processes emerging between teammates in competitive performance environments. Theoretical assumptions on team coordination prompted the emergence of innovative, theoretically driven methods for assessing collective team sport behaviours. Here, we contribute to this theoretical and practical debate by re-conceptualising sports teams as complex social networks. From this perspective, players are viewed as network nodes, connected through relevant information variables (e.g. a ball-passing action), sustaining complex patterns of interaction between teammates (e.g. a ball-passing network). Specialised tools and metrics related to graph theory could be applied to evaluate structural and topological properties of interpersonal interactions of teammates, complementing more traditional analysis methods. This innovative methodology moves beyond the use of common notation analysis methods, providing a richer understanding of the complexity of interpersonal interactions sustaining collective team sports performance. The proposed approach provides practical applications for coaches, performance analysts, practitioners and researchers by establishing social network analyses as a useful approach for capturing the emergent properties of interactions between players in sports teams.

Social Acceptance and Word of Mouth: How the Motive to Belong Leads to Divergent WOM with Strangers and Friends

Abstract: Consumers are increasingly sharing product experiences with strangers and friends online. Despite the prevalence of word of mouth (WOM), little is known about how and why WOM differs based on whether people are talking to strangers or friends. The current article theorizes that one important motivation for WOM is social acceptance. To fulfill this motivation, people form and maintain existing relationships with others. Building on research in interpersonal relationships, we theorize that when communicating with strangers, people attempt to self-enhance to attract strangers into forming relationships with the self; when sharing with friends, on the other hand, people attempt to connect emotionally in order to maintain existing ties. A series of seven studies provide backing for this simple yet encompassing framework. Results of the current article provide insights into the motivations behind WOM, synthesize prior findings, and show that people systematically share different content with strangers versus friends. The current work makes theoretical contributions to research in interpersonal communication, social influence, and WOM, and holds practical implications for marketers interested in understanding consumer word of mouth.

Body sway reflects leadership in joint music performance

Abstract: The cultural and technological achievements of the human species depend on complex social interactions. Nonverbal interpersonal coordination, or joint action, is a crucial element of social interaction, but the dynamics of nonverbal information flow among people are not well understood. We used joint music making in string quartets, a complex, naturalistic nonverbal behavior, as a model system. Using motion capture, we recorded body sway simultaneously in four musicians, which reflected real-time interpersonal information sharing. We used Granger causality to analyze predictive relationships among the motion time series of the players to determine the magnitude and direction of information flow among the players. We experimentally manipulated which musician was the leader (followers were not informed who was leading) and whether they could see each other, to investigate how these variables affect information flow. We found that assigned leaders exerted significantly greater influence on others and were less influenced by others compared with followers. This effect was present, whether or not they could see each other, but was enhanced with visual information, indicating that visual as well as auditory information is used in musical coordination. Importantly, performers' ratings of the "goodness" of their performances were positively correlated with the overall degree of body sway coupling, indicating that communication through body sway reflects perceived performance success. These results confirm that information sharing in a nonverbal joint action task occurs through both auditory and visual cues and that the dynamics of information flow are affected by changing group relationships.

Bridging the communication gap between Generation Y and the Baby Boomer generation

Abstract: Interpersonal communication has changed since the inception of the internet. Face-to-face communication moved to computer-mediated communication (CMC). CMC users are mostly younger people such as G...

Preferred and Promising Practices for Social Skills Instruction

Abstract: Teaching children and youth to be socially competent is a central theme within schools. As Odom, McConnell, and McEvoy (1992) stated, \"Humans enter a social world at birth and make their way through the world by successfully negotiating decades of social exchange\" (p. 7). An estimated 10% of school-age children, however, have social skill difficulties significant enough to lead to peer rejection (Asher, 1990). For children with disabilities, the problem is even worse. Early education teachers have indicated that up to 75% of children with disabilities need remediation in social skills (Odom et al., 1992). Teaching social skills directly is one strategy to provide children with the social behaviors they need to successfully interact socially with peers with and without disabilities (Hops, Finch, & McConnell, 1985). Most published social skills curricula fail to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities and lack information about assessment, teaching, and generalization strategies (Maag, 1989). The need for effective social skills curricula is highlighted by teacher surveys that overwhelmingly indicate that special and regular educators alike believe social skills training should be an integral part of the curriculum (Bain & Farris, 1991; Fuller, Lewis, & Sugai, 1995; Meadows, Neel, Parker, & Timo, 1991). The focus of this article is on the strategies and structures necessary for fostering social competence in all children, and, in particular, children who are at risk of academic or social failure. These include strategies for assessing and understanding social skills problems, strategies for teaching social skills, and preferred practices for achieving generalized responding. Guidelines for developing, examining, and selecting a social skills curriculum are provided.

Classroom Nonverbal Communication

Abstract: The classroom context children's non-verbal abilities and their development signals of dominance and uncertainty attention, positive and negative conveying enthusiasm interpersonal distance and classroom layout the use of space differences between groups implications for teacher training.

Understanding Communication and Aging: Developing Knowledge and Awareness

Abstract: Part I. Introduction to the Study of Aging and Intergenerational Communication 1. Perspectives on Aging Why Study Aging? Approaches to Aging Methods for Studying Aging Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 2. A Communication Approach to Aging Decline in Communication Counterpoint: A Positive Research Agenda on Aging Approaches to Communication and Aging Key Propositions Guiding the Book: A Communication Approach Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography Part II. Attitudes About Aging and Interpersonal Communication 3. Stereotypes and Attitudes About Aging and Intergenerational Communication Distinguishing Stereotypes and Attitudes Attitudes Concerning Aging Stereotypes of Aging Age Identity-Talkin' 'Bout My Generation Cognitive Representations of Intergenerational Communication Why Do Negative Attitudes and Stereotypes Matter? Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 4. Aging, Identity, Attitudes, and Intergenerational Communication Communication Accommodation Theory The Communication Predicament of Aging (CPA) Model The Age Stereotypes in Interaction Model Supporting Dependency Other Dimensions of Accommodation Age Identity: Disclosing and Concealing Age in Communication Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 5. Intragenerational Relationships in Older Adulthood Marital Relationships in Old Age Intragenerational Friendships in Old Age Sibling Relationships Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 6. Intergenerational Relationships in Older Adulthood Grandparenting The Parent-Child Relationship in Older Adulthood Intergenerational Friendships Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 7. Enhancing Communication with Older Adults Change in Young People: The Influence of Intergenerational Contact on Attitudes Ending the Predicament: The Communication Enhancement Model Change in Older Adults: Confronting Patronizing Talk Communication Skills and Communication Training Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography Part III. Social Representations and Mass Communication 8. Mass Communication Portrayals of Older Adults Underrepresentation Negative Representation Positive Portrayals The Media Industry Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 9. Uses and Effects of Media Age Differences in Media Use Uses and Gratifications Theory Media Effects Older People as "Embracers" of Television? Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 10. Culture, Communication, and Aging East Asia South Asia (India) United States Latino Cultures Native American Cultures Globalization and Transcultural Themes Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography Part IV. Contexts of Communication in Older Adulthood 11. Health and Health Care Physician-Older Patient Interaction Support Groups for Caregivers Elder Abuse Additional Topics Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography 12. Technology Stereotypes of Older Adults-Technological Competence The Reality of Older Adults-Computer Use What Do Older People Do on the Internet? Technology and the Workplace Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography Part V. Conclusion 13. Conclusion A Model of Aging in Individual and Societal Context What Can You Do Now? Summary Keywords and Theories Discussion Questions Annotated Bibliography

Individual, interpersonal, and organisational factors of healthcare conflict: A scoping review

Abstract: Unresolved conflicts among healthcare professionals can lead to difficult patient care consequences. This scoping review examines the current healthcare literature that reported sources and consequences of conflict associated with individual, interpersonal, and organisational factors. We identified 99 articles published between 2001 and 2015 from PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Excerpta Medical Database. Most reviewed studies relied on healthcare professionals' perceptions and beliefs associated with conflict sources and consequences, with few studies reporting behavioural or organisational change outcomes. Individual conflict sources included personal traits, such as self-focus, self-esteem, or worldview, as well as individuals' conflict management styles. These conflicts posed threats to one's physical, mental, and emotional health and to one's ability to perform at work. Interpersonal dynamics were hampered by colleagues' uncivil behaviours, such as low degree of support, to more destructive behaviours including bullying or humiliation. Perceptions of disrespectful working environment and weakened team collaboration were the main interpersonal conflict consequences. Organisational conflict sources included ambiguity in professional roles, scope of practice, reporting structure, or workflows, negatively affecting healthcare professionals' job satisfactions and intent to stay. Future inquiries into healthcare conflict research may target the following: shifting from research involving single professions to multiple professions; dissemination of studies via journals that promote interprofessional research; inquiries into the roles of unconscious or implicit bias, or psychological capital (i.e., resilience) in healthcare conflict; and diversification of data sources to include hospital or clinic data with implications for conflict sources.

Beyond Description in Interpersonal Construct Validation: Methodological Advances in the Circumplex Structural Summary Approach

Abstract: The interpersonal circumplex is a well-established structural model that organizes interpersonal functioning within the two-dimensional space marked by dominance and affiliation. The structural summary method (SSM) was developed to evaluate the interpersonal nature of other constructs and measures outside the interpersonal circumplex. To date, this method has been primarily descriptive, providing no way to draw inferences when comparing SSM parameters across constructs or groups. We describe a newly developed resampling-based method for deriving confidence intervals, which allows for SSM parameter comparisons. In a series of five studies, we evaluated the accuracy of the approach across a wide range of possible sample sizes and parameter values, and demonstrated its utility for posing theoretical questions on the interpersonal nature of relevant constructs (e.g., personality disorders) using real-world data. As a result, the SSM is strengthened for its intended purpose of construct evaluation and theory building.

Gamification and Game-Based Learning

Abstract: In the last 10 years, gaming has evolved to the point that it is now being used as a learning medium to educate students in many different disciplines. The educational community has begun to explor...

Re-Examining Teacher Translanguaging: An Ecological Perspective

Abstract: A growing body of recent scholarship has demonstrated that translanguaging is a natural and characteristic practice of bilinguals that also has great promise as a pedagogical tool. This ethnographic study examines the use of translanguaging by two teachers in a suburban high school ESL program. There, teacher translanguaging played an important role in increasing students’ participation and access to class content and yet did not achieve the interpersonal and emancipatory ends that have been reported elsewhere. Using an ecological approach, the author investigates this contradiction, mapping how teacher translanguaging fit in with other pedagogies, language policies, ideologies, and interpersonal relationships. The analysis suggests that the pedagogical and interpersonal potential of translanguaging may only be fully realized when connected to other practices in and beyond the classroom that affirm and support bilingualism and bilingual learners.

Sexuality in Older Adults (65+)—An Overview of The Recent Literature, Part 2: Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction

Abstract: Objectives: the aim of the paper is to provide an overview of the literature published 2005-2015 on sexual satisfaction and body image in older adults. Method: A narrative literature search using the PsycINFO database was conducted. Results: Although women in general seem less satisfied with their bodies than men, particularly in sexual contexts, older women appear to be less vulnerable to body-related dissatisfaction than younger women. Despite the age-specific dynamics of sexual satisfaction and sexual well-being, which parallel age-related decrease in the frequency of sexual activity, research findings from different countries show that substantial proportions of aging men and women are satisfied with their sex life. There is some limited evidence that this proportion may be increasing across cohorts. Gender differences in factors that influence sexual satisfaction among older adults appear marginal. Conclusion: Older age can affect sexual satisfaction on individual, interpersonal, and culture-...

The Validity of the Interpersonal Behaviors Questionnaire (IBQ) in Sport

Abstract: According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), basic psychological needs will be influenced by other individuals’ interpersonal behaviors. The objective of the present research is to extend the validity of the Interpersonal Behaviors Questionnaire (IBQ and IBQ-Self) to the sport context. The measure was designed to assess perceptions of interpersonal behaviors of others (IBQ) or self-reports of interpersonal behaviors (IBQ-Self) in the context of SDT. This measure consists of 24 items and six subscales looking at autonomy-supportive, autonomy-thwarting (controlling), competence-supportive, competence-thwarting, relatedness-supportive, and relatedness-thwarting interpersonal behaviors. In Study 1, athletes were asked to report on their perceptions of their coaches’ interpersonal behaviors (IBQ). In Study 2, coaches were asked to report on their interpersonal behaviors when they coach their athletes (IBQ-Self). The results supported that the scale had a strong factor structure, internal consistency, ...

Predicting psychotherapy outcome based on therapist interpersonal skills: A five-year longitudinal study of a therapist assessment protocol

Abstract: Objective: In the past decade, variation in outcomes between therapists (i.e., therapist effects) have become increasingly recognized as an important factor in psychotherapy. Less is known, however, about what accounts for differences between therapists. The present study investigates the possibility that therapists' basic therapy-related interpersonal skills may impact outcomes. Method: To examine this, psychotherapy postgraduate trainees completed both an observer- and an expert-rated behavioral assessment: the Therapy-Related Interpersonal Behaviors (TRIB). TRIB scores were used to predict trainees' outcomes over the course of the subsequent five years. Results: Results indicate that trainees' with more positively rated interpersonal behaviors assessed in the observer-rated group format but not in a single expert-rated format showed superior outcomes over the five-year period. This effect remained controlling for therapist characteristics (therapist gender, theoretical orientation [cognitive be...

Negative hotel reviews on TripAdvisor: A cross-linguistic analysis

Abstract: In this empirical study, we investigate whether English-, Dutch- and Italian-written negative hotel reviews on TripAdvisor show similar or divergent characteristics. The main goal is to find out whether users writing in different languages constitute differentiated speech communities with different discursive norms or rather share the same norms and discourse habits. To answer this question, we examined 100 reviews for each language and analysed three features, namely the types of speech acts that they use, the specific topics that they evaluate and the extent to which they up-scale or down-scale their evaluative statements. The main conclusion of the cross-linguistic analysis is that there is a general trend towards similarity between the three language user groups under examination. We found analogous (although not identical) patterns for the three features. Within this overall trend towards similarity, specific divergences can be detected, for example regarding the status of positive comments in English-written reviews, or the status of the ‘interpersonal’ topic in Italian-written reviews.