Measuring Workers’ Perceptions of Algorithmic Control: Item Development and Content Validity Assessment

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Alizadeh, Armin; Hirsch, Felix; Benlian, Alexander; Wiener, Martin; Cram, W. Alec

Abstract: Algorithmic control (AC) refers to organizations’ use of increasingly intelligen ... Expand

Abstract: Algorithmic control (AC) refers to organizations’ use of increasingly intelligent algorithms and related digital technology to steer worker behavior. While previous studies have identified and conceptualized various forms of AC in both platform and traditional work contexts, the presented conceptualizations lack measurability. This key shortcoming hampers further empirical research on the current use of AC and its manifold consequences. In this study, we report on the item development process for a scale for measuring perceived AC from a workers’ perspective. Following well-established approaches, an initial item pool was developed. The items were discussed and refined with the support of five academic experts and three AC workers. A subsequent rating study with 98 workers was conducted to ensure the content validity of all items. On this basis, the study at hand presents a comprehensive set of items for both AC in general and its seven sub-dimensions. Collapse

Topics: platform worker organizational context technostress database system ride sharing platform

Methods: qualitative interview survey design card sorting computational algorithm survey

The effect of lockup and persuasion on online investment decisions: An experimental study in ICOs

2023 | Electronic Markets | Citations: 0

Authors: Bruckner, Moritz T.; Steininger, Dennis M.; Thatcher, Jason Bennett; Veit, Daniel J.

Abstract: Many firms use social media (SM) to solicit online investments. In this study, w ... Expand

Abstract: Many firms use social media (SM) to solicit online investments. In this study, we examine the interaction between SM attributes and online-investment attributes to determine how this interaction shapes users’ investment decisions. Specifically, we investigate initial coin offerings (ICOs) as an application domain of distributed ledger technology for peer-to-peer investment. We use signaling theory to develop a context-specific explanation for how the interplay of persuasion signals found in SM and technology-enforced lockups shapes individuals’ ICO investment decisions. To evaluate this interplay, we conducted a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with 473 participants. The results show that when an investment does not require a technology-enforced lockup, persuasion signals encourage investments in ICOs; however, when an investment requires a technology-enforced lockup, persuasion signals do not affect investments in ICOs. Furthermore, our analyses suggest that combining a technology-enforced lockup and persuasion signals reduces the ICO’s plausibility. This is the first study to investigate how the willingness to invest in ICOs is influenced by the relationship between technology-enforced lockups and persuasion signals. The findings have practical implications for individuals attempting to make sound decisions on ICO investments, policymakers regulating online investments, and firms seeking to attract investors. Collapse

Topics: internet technology crowdfunding crowdsourcing Facebook blockchain

Methods: experimental group parametric test repeated measures ANOVA experimental design cross sectional research

Theories: signaling theory

Credibility of Virtual Influencers: The Role of Design Stimuli, Knowledge Cues, and User Disposition

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Cornelius, Samia; Leidner, Dorothy; Benbya, Hind

Abstract: Virtual Influencers (VIs) are digital influencers that can look and behave like ... Expand

Abstract: Virtual Influencers (VIs) are digital influencers that can look and behave like human beings but project themselves as “robots”. They influence people’s attitudes and behaviors through their presence and interaction. While human-like design can lead to acceptance, additional information about machine-like description (robot) can create conflict about the influencer’s identity and lead to unfavorable social responses. Social perceptions are also subjective. In this study, we examine the influence of human-like design, knowledge cues, and user disposition on user perceptions of VI credibility. In doing so, we present a case for the substitution of human influencers by “lesser human” counterparts in the context of social media. Collapse

Topics: robotic social media Instagram social network digital platform

Methods: experiment laboratory experiment experimental design mediation analysis repeated measures ANOVA

Significance of Visual Realism – Eeriness, Credibility, and Persuasiveness of Virtual Influencers

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Cornelius, Samia; Leidner, Dorothy; Bina, Saman

Abstract: Though human-like design can increase favorable social behaviors like familiarit ... Expand

Abstract: Though human-like design can increase favorable social behaviors like familiarity and acceptance, it can also question the technology’s effectiveness, rationality, and functionality. With capabilities that allow technology to become more and more human-like, researchers and practitioners continue to delve over the efficacy and deployment of humanness in design. In this research paper, we measure positive and negative perceptions towards different levels of humanness among an emerging form of digital character: the virtual influencer. In doing so, we assess the efficacy of human-like design among virtual influencers by manipulating their visual realism and measuring the effect of this manipulation on their credibility and persuasiveness. Our experimental design also allows us to explore the existence of the uncanny valley in a novel technological context. Collapse

Topics: Instagram social media digital media logistics management word of mouth

Methods: experiment Wald test parametric test logistic regression binomial logistic regression

Theories: uncanny valley theory

What makes a Tweet so sweet: The neurocognitive effects of hedonic information consumption

2023 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Fadel, Kelly J.; Meservy, Thomas O.; Kirwan, C. Brock

Abstract: Hedonic information consumption (HIC) refers to the consumption of information f ... Expand

Abstract: Hedonic information consumption (HIC) refers to the consumption of information for non-task-oriented purposes such as entertainment or pleasure. With the explosive growth of information availability through online channels such as social media, HIC has become a common and growing phenomenon; however, most information systems research to date has focused on factors surrounding information consumption for utilitarian rather than hedonic purposes. In this paper, we take an initial step to inform theory in this area by applying a NeuroIS lens to explore HIC behavior. We postulate that information is more likely to be hedonically consumed when it is appraised as interesting, and that certain characteristics of the information involved in HIC, namely its novelty and valence, play a role in determining its interestingness. Moreover, we hypothesize that HIC is driven by the neurobiological reactions that take place in response to information novelty and valence. We report the results of a behavioral and an fMRI experiment designed to measure the relationship between these information dimensions and neu­ rocognitive responses in the context of a popular social media platform. Our results provide preliminary evidence for differential processing patterns related to novelty and valence that can inform ongoing theory building surrounding HIC behaviors. Collapse

Topics: Twitter social media social media site database system decision making

Methods: experiment functional magnetic resonance imaging theory development NeuroIS magnetic resonance imaging

Theories: theory of information information systems theory

When carrots and sticks meet: A mixed-methods study on internet taxi drivers’ job engagement in the IT-driven sharing economy

2023 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Hou, Tingting; Cheng, Xusen; Luo, Xin (Robert)

Abstract: Information technology (IT)-enabled taxi services facilitate people’s lives. How ... Expand

Abstract: Information technology (IT)-enabled taxi services facilitate people’s lives. However, little is known about how Internet taxi employees are motivated and how motivation relates to their job engagement. Using a mixedmethods design, this research explores intrinsic motivators and the effects of external regulations on intrinsic motivation and job engagement. The qualitative study identified three context-specific intrinsic motivators: stress reduction, self-efficacy, and job autonomy. A follow-up quantitative research revealed the significance of external regulations in determining intrinsic motivation and job engagement. The study contributes to knowl­ edge by emphasizing the role of intrinsic motivators and the significance of both monetary incentives and punishment. Collapse

Topics: internet technology intrinsic motivation self efficacy sharing platform missing data

Methods: qualitative interview mixed method survey partial least squares regression PLS tool

Theories: self determination theory

Empowering Users with Narratives: Examining the Efficacy of Narratives for Understanding Data-Oriented Conceptual Models

2023 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Hvalshagen, Merete; Lukyanenko, Roman; Samuel, Binny M.

Abstract: With the ongoing digitalization of human society, regular employees (e.g., nonin ... Expand

Abstract: With the ongoing digitalization of human society, regular employees (e.g., noninformation technology experts) become increasingly autonomous and proactive in using organizational data and information technologies to facilitate data-driven actions and insights. This growing autonomy of regular employees (dubbed here, empowered users) in using information technologies creates new challenges. As most empowered users lack sophisticated information technology skills, they struggle to find and access relevant data, understand their meaning, and extract and adapt them to meet their needs. We propose a powerful way to support empowered users with a combination of conceptual models and narratives. A data narrative is a descriptive and textual representation of one or more aspects of data in a domain that is organized and presented as a connected sequence of sentences in a natural language. We assess the efficacy of narrative representations for conceptual modeling cardinality constraints, which are an essential part of understanding data. We conducted two laboratory experiments and found a positive and strong effect for narratives: cardinality constraints that were described in the narratives were better understood than constraints only represented in the model (i.e., script). This effect was robust across cardinalities, measures, script complexities, and familiarity levels with the conceptual modeling grammar. History: Manju Ahuja, Senior Editor; Choon-Ling Sia, Associate Editor. Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1141. Collapse

Topics: data management data literacy database system IT workforce analytical information system

Methods: conceptual modelling experiment entity relationship modeling design science parametric test

Theories: cognitive load theory

How do consumers perceive and process online overall vs. individual text-based reviews? Behavioral and eye-tracking evidence

2023 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Jin, Jia; Wang, Ailian; Wang, Cuicui; Ma, Qingguo

Abstract: Building on the Heuristic-Systematic model, we use a survey and two eye-tracking ... Expand

Abstract: Building on the Heuristic-Systematic model, we use a survey and two eye-tracking experiments to investigate consumers’ perceived usefulness of overall and individual text-based reviews (OTRs vs. ITRs) for search vs. experience products, and the information processing features. Results indicate that OTRs show higher usefulness than ITRs, regardless of product type. ITRs are perceived to be more useful for experience products than for search products. Furthermore, two eye-tracking studies confirm these results from a physiological standpoint and reveal the attentional allocation during information processing. OTRs affect subjects’ processing of ITRs infor­ mation differently in purchase search and experience products. Collapse

Topics: perceived usefulness online review electronic commerce user-generated content web page

Methods: oculometry experiment survey parametric test ANOVA

Theories: information processing theory

The puzzle of experience vs. memory: Peak-end theory and strategic gamification design in M-commerce

2023 | Information & Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Li, Manning; Jiang, Zhenhui (Jack); Ma, Guanghui

Abstract: As businesses increasingly use gamified mobile marketing campaign (GMMC) systems ... Expand

Abstract: As businesses increasingly use gamified mobile marketing campaign (GMMC) systems to engage mobile shop­ pers, gamification in m-commerce systems warrants more attention in both IS research and design practices. Inspired by peak-end theory, this study focused on the puzzling differences between user experience vs. memory and empirically examined the impact of different experience orders of cognitive load on user perceptions and behavioral intentions. Overall, the outcomes of this research suggest that appropriate applications of the peakend effect, moderated via users’ regulatory focus styles, can alleviate the negative mental utility imagery of users, reducing their perceived uncertainties and opt-out intentions from the GMMC. Important implications for research and practice are then discussed. Collapse

Topics: electronic data interchange marketing management user experience gamification systems design

Methods: experiment electroencephalography survey multivariate analysis of variance survey design

Theories: technology acceptance model flow theory self determination theory theory of planned behavior

Positive or Negative Reviews? Consumers’ Selective Exposure in Seeking and Evaluating Online Reviews

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Lei, Zhanfei; Yin, Dezhi; Zhang, Han

Abstract: How and why positive and negative reviews influence product sales differently h ... Expand

Abstract: How and why positive and negative reviews influence product sales differently has critical implications for both research and businesses. Although earlier online word-of-mouth research empirically documented that negative reviews influence product sales to a greater extent than positive reviews (i.e., a negativity bias), later research has revealed that positive reviews are generally more helpful (i.e., a positivity bias). We propose that an answer to this conundrum may be that negative reviews get more exposure than positive reviews. As consumers are often overwhelmed by the massive number of online reviews, they need to be selective when searching for reviews. This research investigates consumers' preference for positive vs. negative reviews during both the information-seeking and information-evaluation stages of their decision-making process. Drawing on the motivated reasoning literature, we propose that consumers exhibit a negativity bias when they search for reviews to read but manifest a confirmation bias when they evaluate the helpfulness of reviews. We conducted three experiments and found consistent support for these hypotheses. Our findings expand the current understanding of consumers' processing of online reviews to the information-seeking stage, reveal differential biases at different stages, demonstrate a possible explanation for the negativity bias in product sales, and provide important practical implications.Zhanfei Lei is an assistant professor of operations and information management at the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her PhD in information technology management from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2019. Her research interests focus on user-generated content, biases and heuristics, and electronic commerce. She has published in Information Systems Research and Production and Operations Management.Dezhi Yin is an associate professor of information systems at the Muma College of Business, University of South Florida. He received his PhD in information technology management from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2012. His research interests include expressed and experienced emotions in online environments, user-generated content and crowds (e.g., online reviews, Q&A sites, crowdfunding), and AI technologies (e.g., virtual AI agents such as chatbots). Collapse

Topics: decision making online review user-generated content information management accounting

Methods: experiment parametric test ANOVA repeated measures ANOVA Student's t-test