A Social Version of Gerotranscendence: Case Study

This article reexamines the concept of gerotranscendence in the light of anthropological findings. Particular social patterns in a nursing home reveal a unique reality communal to its tenants. The author assumes that the tenants' spontaneous patterns of social gathering construct a collective death consciousness which is spiritual in its nature. Tornstam's term another paradigm seems suitable not only for a developmental shift in old age but also for the situational shift in the daily life of the subjects. Anthropological concepts, as well as contextual and inter-subjective parameters, join to indicate that some gerotranscendence dimensions are experienced in what the author terms as sitting and giving episodes.     

Yielding behavior of Israeli drivers: interaction of age and sex

The main objective of the present study was to explore the yielding behavior of Israeli drivers. A series of observations were carried out at a busy crosswalk during rush hour to determine the association between demographic factors, i.e., the sex and age of both pedestrians and drivers and the rate of compliance with yielding regulations. The rate of yielding observed did not exceed 53%. Drivers within the 26-50 age range, excluding other age groups, tended to exhibit a higher yielding rate towards the members of their own age group.     

From understanding to insight: using reflexivity to promote students’ learning of qualitative research

Reflexivity is qualitative researchers’ thoughtful and self-aware examination of the intersubjective dynamics between themselves and study participants, evoking insightful understanding of others. Novice qualitative researchers need to acquire reflexive skills for their professional development. In this article, we examine reflexivity among Israeli students on a qualitative research course. We conducted thematic content analysis of the data gathered from the students’ written reflexive journals. Reflexivity was demonstrated by three dimensions in each stage of the students’ experience of learning qualitative research: (1) ‘I as a person’, relating to students’ critical personal perspective; (2) ‘I as a researcher’, referring to the students’ insights about their evolving competencies as researchers; and (3) ‘I as an individual in a sociocultural context’, stressing students’ awareness of their values, beliefs and norms. These findings are discussed, highlighting four key concepts in qualitative research: Taken-for-Granted Expectations; Experience of Discovery; Resonance, and Meaning Making and Insights.     

Looking at Both Sides of the Coin: Mixed Representation Moderates Attribute‐framing Bias in Written and Auditory Messages

Objects and events are often evaluated more favourably when presented in a positive frame than when presented in the complementary negative framing. Recent studies show that this attribute‐framing bias can be moderated when both positive and negative frames are represented in the message. Most attribute‐framing studies used written messages, although important messages are often conveyed auditorily. Unlike written messages, recipients cannot reread auditory messages and have to rely on their memory when evaluating them; consequently, the moderating effect of mixed representation may depend on memory constraints. The current study compared the framing bias in single‐attribute versus mixed‐attribute representations in written and auditory messages. In both written and auditory messages, single‐attribute representation yielded substantial framing bias whereas mixed‐attribute representation moderated the bias. The results are discussed in terms of the role of memory and attention in the attribute‐framing bias. Theoretical and practical implications are considered, and future research is suggested. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Message framing of products causes a preference shift in consumers' choices

• Using two experiments, this paper demonstrates that framing causes a preference shift when consumers choose between a better and more expensive product and an inferior and cheaper alternative product. In Experiment 1, car owners chose between original parts and non‐original parts to replace parts they were told had broken down. Participants could either save money by choosing a cheaper and inferior non‐original part (positive framing) or lose money by choosing a better and more expensive original part (negative framing). Consumers preferred the original parts in the positive framing condition relative to the negative framing condition. Experiment 2 replicated this finding using other products – an expensive well known, international brand of high quality vs. a cheaper private brand of lower quality. Experiment 2 included an additional two experimental groups in which the quality characteristic of these products was framed positively (gain quality) or negatively (lose quality). The results showed that participants chose the better and more expensive product more when presented with negative framing relative to positive framing of the quality. The results of both experiments can be explained using Kahneman and Tversky's ( 1979 ) value function presented in their Prospect Theory: Because losses are experienced more intensely than gains of similar objective magnitude, consumers exhibit a preference shift regarding the two products. The significance of these findings for both retailers and consumers considering two alternative products that differ in price and quality are discussed.

Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Framing on Applicants' Reactions to Personnel Selection Methods

This research demonstrates the effect of framing on applicants' reactions to two personnel selection methods: undergraduate grade point average and personnel interview scores. Presenting a selection situation framed positively (to accept applicants) caused applicants to rate both selection methods more favorably relative to presenting them with an identical selection situation framed negatively (to reject the remaining applicants). Framing affected reactions that emphasized distributive justice aspects of the selection situation and procedural justice aspects. The results are consistent with Prospect theory and with Fairness Heuristic theory. The paper offers a theoretical explanation for the effect of framing on applicants' reactions to personnel selection methods, discusses the implications of this effect, and suggests directions for future research.     

The body as narrator: Body movement memory and the life stories of holocaust survivors

The present study explores the interaction between two narrative worlds of substance: verbal life stories and body movement expressions among Holocaust survivors. A narrative phenomenology approach was used to investigate the way in which people organize their lives, granting them meaning through their life stories and narratives. Sixteen Holocaust survivors participated in this study: men and women aged 73–93. Qualitative open and unstructured interviews were conducted and videotaped. Six major clusters were found. Each cluster presents unique characteristics of verbal and movement expressions: activity, passivity, arousal, self-reassurance, deadlock, and suffocation. These findings shed new light on the survivors’ traumatic life stories.     

The moderating role of objective and subjective numeracy in attribute framing

Previous research has found that objective numeracy moderates framing effects: People who are less numerate were found to be more susceptible to goal‐framing and attribute‐framing effects than people who are highly numerate. This study examined the possibility that subjective numeracy likewise moderates attribute framing in contexts where participants are presented with percentages of success or failure. The results show that compared with highly numerate participants, less numerate participants were more susceptible to the effect of attribute framing. Interestingly, this moderating effect was revealed only when using objective numeracy measures, and not when subjective numeracy measures were used. Future research is suggested to replicate these findings, to establish the generalizability of numeracy as a moderator of other cognitive biases, and to examine several possible theoretical explanations for the differential moderation of attribute‐framing bias.     

A within-subject design of comparison of waiting time of pedestrians before crossing three successive road crossings

This study is a partial replication of the work of Hamed (2001) who found a negative correlation between waiting time of pedestrians before crossing the first and the second stage of a road divided by an island. The innovation of the current study is an addition of testing the waiting time before crossing a third successive crosswalk. The research is based on examining the correlation between the waiting times of pedestrians before each stage of crossing a triple-crossing. The research was conducted in two different types of three successive crossings: (1) with a narrow or (2) with a wide refuge island dividing between the two parts of the main road. We hypothesized that in a narrow island condition the correlation between the waiting time of the first and the second crossings will be negative; a finding that would have replicated Hamed’s finding. However, in a wide island condition, so that the two-stage crossing will be perceived by the pedestrian as two separate units, the correlation between the waiting time in the first and the second crossings would be positive. More than 750 people (of which 54% were female) were observed crossing junctions with a triple-stage crossings in three different locations in the center of Israel (two with wide islands and one with a narrow island). The waiting time before crossing each part of the road was measured by two experienced observers. The mean waiting time beyond individual differences was 6.00, 5.76 and 0.79 s at the first, second and third crossings respectively. Our results are not in line with those of Hamed (2001). At the junction with the narrow island no correlation between the waiting time of the first and the second crossing was found. A positive correlation has been found between the waiting time of the first and the second crossing in the condition of the wide refuge island. In all locations a positive correlation has been found between the waiting times at the second and third crossings. These findings lead to an optional explanation that the width of the refuge island determines the way in which the pedestrian perceives the task of crossing two-stage crossings. These findings support a possible explanation by a newly suggested model – Renewed Patience Model. The implications of the research and other methodological issues are discussed.