Asymmetrical attention allocation to dissimilar and similar attitudes

Evaluations of others are sometimes influenced more by their dissimilar than similar attitudes. The authors investigated this similarity–dissimilarity asymmetry at the level of stimulus processing. In a variant of the Stroop task in Experiment 1 (N = 50), dissimilar attitudes of the participants interfered more with their color-naming performance than did similar attitudes. In a dual-task paradigm of Experiment 2 (N = 92), a greater attention allocation to dissimilar than similar attitudes disappeared when the cognitive load was low, but not when it was high. Findings illustrated the similarity–dissimilarity asymmetry at the level of stimulus processing, and presented the asymmetry as another case of the fundamental positive–negative asymmetry. Implications and alternative interpretations of these findings are discussed.     

Exploring the role of augmented reality as a new brand advocate

Augmented reality (AR) has proven to be a potential source of disruption in the marketing discipline. Abundant research has attested to AR's potential by exploring the impact of AR attributes on behavioral intentions and users' attitudes. However, AR's potential to spark customer interactions, co-create value, and foster brand advocacy remains poorly understood. This study explores whether and how AR can turn users into brand advocates. Applying structural equation modeling to a sample of 502 AR users, the study finds that AR empowers users during their shopping experience, creating strong brand attachment and engagement and ultimately leading to brand advocacy. This brand-focused study, which goes beyond the technical aspects of AR, is unique and has the potential to inform the strategic decision-making of managers aiming to enhance the customer experience by means of AR implementation.     

Stimulation and microswitch‐based programs for enhancing indices of happiness: a maintenance assessment

This study assessed whether stimulation and microswitch‐based programs maintained their positive impact on indices of happiness over time. Three people with multiple disabilities, who had participated in a study comparing these programs, continued to be exposed to them over a maintenance period of 5 or 6 months. Maintenance data showed that the frequencies of indices of happiness increased or remained unchanged for two participants and declined for the third. The frequencies of microswitch activations were higher for two of the participants and largely unchanged for the other. Procedural aspects of the study, implications of the findings, and relevant issues for new research are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Association of Depression with Complications of Diabetic Pregnancy: A Retrospective Analysis

The goal of this study was to determine whether an association between histories of depression and adverse pregnancy outcome could be established using a retrospective analysis. Participants were a convenience sample of 152 pregnant diabetic women for whom prior pregnancy data were available. Prior pregnancy outcome, depression history, and other clinical characteristics were determined from chart review and medical history questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to determine which of the measured clinical factors, including history of depression, had a significant association with history of pregnancy complications. Thirty-nine patients (26%) had a past history of depression. Three pregnancy complications (preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, fetal prematurity) were more common in the group having a history of depression as was the proportion of participants requiring Caesarean section p( < .05 for each comparison). A history of depression was associated with prior pregnancy complications independent of the effects of parity, prepregnancy BMI, tobacco use history, diabetes type, and presence of diabetes complications (OR = 3.6; 95% CI = 1.5–9.0, p = .006). These retrospective data indicate that depression is linked to complications of diabetic pregnancy and support the need for prospective studies to clarify the effects of depression and its treatment on diabetic pregnancy.     

Sales profession and professionals in the age of digitization and artificial intelligence technologies: concepts,priorities, and questions

Recognizing the rapid advances in sales digitization and artificial intelligence technologies, we develop concepts, priorities, and questions to help guide future research and practice in the field of personal selling and sales management. Our analysis reveals that the influence of sales digitalization technologies, which include digitization and artificial intelligence, is likely to be more significant and more far reaching than previous sales technologies. To organize our analysis of this influence, we discuss the opportunities and threats that sales digitalization technologies pose for (a) the sales profession in terms of its contribution to creating value for customers, organizations, and society and (b) sales professionals, in terms of both employees in organizations and individuals as self, seeking growth, fulfillment, and status in the functions they serve and roles they live. We summarize our discussion by detailing specific research priorities and questions that warrant further study and development by researchers and practitioners alike.