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Problematic smartphone use (PSU) is a growing concern that hurts users' daily lives and activities. Previous studies have emphasised the importance of developing mindfulness and self-efficacy concerning smartphone use rather than solely focussing on reducing usage. However, there has been little research developing and evaluating digital interventions specifically targeting absent-minded smartphone use. There is also little knowledge on how best mindfulness practice using digital technologies can be integrated with persuasive designs which have been widely studied and implemented for behaviour change. In this paper, we developed a live wallpaper application for Android lock and home screens as a mindfulness-based intervention for absent-minded smartphone use. The application was evaluated over two weeks with 121 participants. This was followed by a semi-structured interview with 15 participants. The results of our analysis show that the intervention reduced absent-minded smartphone use overall. While participants found the various features (especially the customisation features) of the intervention to be persuasive, we found no correlation between perceived persuasiveness and behaviour change. This work provides valuable insights for advancing human-computer interaction (HCI) research on PSU. Additionally, the results raise important questions for future research, such as the relationship between perceived persuasiveness and behaviour change. Finally, we contribute to the discussion on the applications of mindfulness in persuasive technology, challenges and future research areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental change must be addressed as an urgent matter that directly affects each one of us, rather than being viewed solely as a future concern. Indeed, when combined, the actions of individuals can make a significant difference in addressing the global climate crisis. To achieve this, besides raising awareness about the issue and the potential impact each individual can have, a collective endeavor is necessary. This entails a shift, ranging from subtle to substantial, in people's mindsets, behaviors, and habits concerning consumption, mobility, and other crucial facets of daily life. The design of interactive technologies, especially mobile applications, can play a pivotal role in this context. This is due to the growing dependence individuals have on these personal tools to enhance various aspects of their lives. Starting from an overview of key theories regarding human behaviors and habits, we examine insights gained from persuasive technologies, interventions targeting digital behavior change, nudges, and gamification. Subsequently, we formulate design guidelines for mobile applications with the objective of cultivating more sustainable behaviors and habits (referred to as SBAM—Sustainable Behavior Applications for Mobile devices). We prototype an exemplary mobile application compliant with the guidelines and validate them in terms of their expected efficacy in fostering sustainable behaviors and habits by means of a focus group with 9 green users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online gambling is relatively easier to access compared to traditional one, so it can pose specific risks to individuals such as causing isolation, lack of interruption and dissociation. Intermittent interactions that require cognitive process can interrupt a task and capture the attentional focus which can help to break the dissociative state of players while playing. This study proposes an approach of using digital tasks to interrupt the dissociation of players during online gambling. We investigated the effectiveness of the approach through mixed methods where participants (N = 50) were invited to the computerised lab experiment and randomised to five conditions. Participants received digital tasks as an interruption while playing online slot gambling and their response time to the interruptions was measured. After the play, participants completed the Jacob's Dissociation Questionnaire, and the Acceptability Questionnaire (both Likert scale and open-ended questions). The analysis revealed that there was a significant main effect of the interruptions in terms of response times, and a significant interaction between the interruptions and the digital tasks. Five main themes were generated after Thematic Analysis of the qualitative data: (1) Distraction, (2) Awareness, (3) User experience, (4) Considerations for design and (5) Considerations for technology. Digital tasks could be potentially useful tools to interrupt players' dissociation during online gambling and support behavioural awareness and change towards more conscious and responsible gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful weight maintenance after weight loss is challenging. Digital interventions may facilitate behaviour change to prevent weight regain, however little is known about the acceptance and use of digital interventions in support of weight maintenance. This mixed methods study aims to evaluate user experiences, system use, and preliminary efficacy of eCHANGE, an application based self-management intervention for weight loss maintenance. A 3-month multi-site single group feasibility pilot study was conducted among adults (N = 60) with BMI ≥30 kg/m2, aiming to maintain weight after weight loss of ≥8%. User experiences and system use were examined through validated questionnaires, system use log data, and individual interviews (n = 15). Preliminary efficacy testing included body weight and patient reported outcome measures. Participants rated eCHANGE usability and usefulness as good in support of weight maintenance, with variation in usage. Analysis indicated that higher behavioural engagement scores were statistically significantly associated with frequency of technology usage. Weight loss was maintained by 83% of the participants at 3-months (i.e. defined as weight change of <3% of baseline body weight (kg)). Digital interventions, combining persuasive system design principles and behaviour change techniques, supporting self-regulation and maintenance of health behaviours, have the potential to facilitate weight maintenance after weight loss.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04537988 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04537988 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study identifies barriers all stakeholders face in the returns management process. The pressing issue of online product returns significantly erodes the net profit margins, demanding urgent action. Existing returns management systems are often complex, time-consuming and costly, failing to address this issue effectively. In this regard, persuasive technologies like gamification can effectively influence behaviour and enhance motivation towards reducing return by striking a balance between psychological and behavioural factors. Therefore, the study proposes a framework that combines the theory of planned behaviour and Octalysis to identify intentions to reduce product return rates in the e-commerce business. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative exploratory research design using a multiple case study-based approach with in-depth interviews conducted with 96 varied stakeholders was used to provide insights into the behavioural aspects for reducing return rates in e-commerce. Findings: The results reveal three facets of effective returns management in e-commerce. Customers and delivery partners prioritize return processes, policies and rewards, emphasizing efficiency. Meanwhile, mid- and strategic-level employees are optimistic about return process enhancements. Interdepartmental integration and cross-functional communication are found to be vital, suggesting the need for a gamified framework in returns management. Originality/value: This research enriches the returns management literature on gamification solutions and responds to the need for theoretical anchoring by applying the theory of planned behaviour at the organizational level to improve efficiency and customer centricity in the return process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate users' perspectives on the significance of the library website features missing from an academic library website according to PD criteria. Based on a valid and reliable checklist of the PD criteria and their features, an academic library website was carefully explored to identify the features under each PD criterion which were missing from the website. The resulting data was used to design a researcher-developed questionnaire to investigate users' views on the significance of these missing features. The findings highlighted the significance of the PD criteria features missing from the library website. Finally, several courses of action for librarians and website designers are suggested. They can be used as a guide to designing more effective library websites, and this can ultimately result in the increased use of libraries and their services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWomen are increasingly turning to mHealth apps as primary sources for breastfeeding education and support. The rising prevalence of mHealth apps presents a unique opportunity to explore their impact on women’s breastfeeding experiences. Understanding user perspectives of these apps, especially focusing on their persuasive design aspects, can offer valuable insights for enhancing maternal and child health outcomes. These insights can optimize these technologies to align with user values and promote sustained healthy behaviors. This study aimed to undertake an empirical exploration of users’ experiences with the persuasive design features employed in the Milky Way mHealth app and align the findings with human values within the value-sensitive design (VSD) framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a group of women who had used the Milky Way app. Interview data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. To provide insight into users’ values mediated by the app, a deductive analysis complemented by a data-driven inductive approach was performed. Data analysis was supported by NVivo data-management software. Findings from the study demonstrate that the persuasive design elements in the Milky Way app significantly influence users’ experiences. The analysis provided four primary themes: Informative, Easy to use, Credible, and Social connection. Overall, participants praised the app’s trustworthy educational content and support features as valuable resources for addressing breastfeeding challenges and obtaining reliable support. Participants expressed concerns about information overload and emphasized the importance of personalized support and evidence-based tailored recommendations. The results demonstrated that users’ values were expressed and embedded within the app. The analysis indicated an alignment between the app design features and the values and opinions of the users within the VSD framework. This study interprets women’s perspectives utilizing the Milky Way app and highlights the significance of its evidenced-based educational and support features. Further investigation into potential user values like privacy, remains crucial for a comprehensive user-centered app design. The empirical insights gained from this study contribute to future research, informing the development and design of ethically considerate persuasive mHealth apps to maintain their relevance in promoting positive user experiences and facilitating meaningful behavior change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenging others who post misinformation is a type of social correction that complements algorithm-based approaches. However, participation rates in such social acts remain limited. In this paper, we study design techniques that leverage principles of persuasive system design and communication theories to foster such prosocial behaviour across two distinct cultural contexts: the British and the Arab. A total of 462 participants completed an online survey (250 UK, 212 Arabs). The study compared the two cultural contexts regarding willingness to challenge misinformation and the persuasiveness of seven design techniques to increase that willingness, namely predefined question stickers, thinking face reaction, sentence openers, fact checker badge, social norm messages, tone detector, and private commenting. Moreover, it explores the impact of individuals' characteristics on their perception of the techniques as being more or less persuasive than a standard comment box. The study found that the willingness to challenge misinformation was significantly higher in the Arab context than in the UK context. Moreover, except for the private commenting, all techniques were more impactful in the Arab context than in the UK context. Some techniques, such as predefined question stickers, were more effective in both cultures compared to the standard comment box, while others, like the fact checker badge, were more effective only in the Arab context. However, in the UK, sentence openers had a lower impact. Furthermore, personality traits, age, and perspective-taking showed the potential but also the varying impacts on the persuasiveness of the techniques on users' correction of misinformation across both cultural contexts while pointing to the need for considering both personal and cultural factors in designing social-correction-based solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe importance of physical activity (PA) for overall health and well-being cannot be overstated, especially in today’s fast-paced and sedentary society. Engaging in enjoyable activities like dancing can significantly enhance PA levels and positively affect one’s mood. Advances in technology have the potential to increase individuals’ engagement in more physical activities. This work explores the effectiveness of augmented reality-driven persuasive intervention in enhancing users’ physical activity and mood. To achieve our goal, we developed AR Dancee, a mobile-driven intervention combining Augmented Reality, Machine Learning, and persuasive technology to encourage adults to increase their PA through dancing, ultimately improving their mood. A 15-day user study with 104 participants showed that the intervention effectively increased PA levels, with equal effectiveness across genders and a stronger impact on younger adults. The results also show that the intervention improved participants’ mood while reducing anxiety levels, demonstrating its potential for stress management. Overall, the contribution of this work to the HCI fields is threefold: (1) the design and development of an AR-driven persuasive mobile app, (2) providing design recommendations, and (3) pinpointing limitations and providing suggestions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we explore the rhetorical dimension of Pierre de Coubertin's discourse, and analyze the implicit traces and mentions-reprisals of the Olympic ideal conceived by this author, within official digital publications in connection with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We focus our attention on the persuasive strategies deployed within promotional tools, particularly educational ones such as the PEVO (Programme d'éducation aux valeurs olympiques), but also through labels, and guides (such as the Guide opérationnel du Design actif). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a critical global issue that requires effective communication and public engagement to drive necessary actions and policy changes. Despite the critical importance of climate change communication, this topic has been limited in its coverage within discourse analysis research, making this study's investigation particularly significant. This study aims to examine the communication strategies used by a prominent public figure, namely Sir David Attenborough, in addressing climate change issues. To achieve that, this study conducts a qualitative analysis of Sir David Attenborough's discourse on climate change, with a specific focus on the role of presuppositions in framing his communication strategies. Through analyzing a corpus of his public speeches, this investigation identifies and categorizes the presuppositional triggers employed by Attenborough, particularly those that elicit existential presuppositions triggered by definite descriptions (78% of observed triggers) and structural presuppositions such as restrictive relative clauses (14% of observed triggers). This analysis provides insights into how Attenborough effectively conveys notions of ownership, shared responsibility, and inspires action through strategic use of presuppositions. Examining the persuasive strategies of a prominent public figure, this study makes a valuable contribution to the field and future investigations on climate change communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis research delves into the dynamics of active school transport (AST) by utilizing a two-stage co-design process and leveraging persuasive technology within a game for promoting AST called Battleship-AST. The primary aim of this research is to thoroughly investigate the two-stage game co-design process employed in creating a Battleship-AST game. Moreover, our research aims to evaluate participants’ perceptions regarding the motivating and engaging potential of the persuasive technology and gamification features embedded within the final iteration of the game. This evaluation aims to understand how these features influence participants’ motivation to increase their usage of AST through gameplay. In pursuit of these objectives, the research builds upon the existing Battleship-AST prototype and actively engages school children in a collaborative two-stage co-design process. Their valuable insights and preferences were harnessed in refining the game, which was subsequently tested during a tech event in Skellefteå, Sweden. The findings shed light on various aspects of the game’s impact, from its reception to the gamification features integrated within. Notably, the research highlights the positive impact of the co-design process, with increased motivation and engagement observed among the participants. Their involvement in shaping the game’s design resulted in a more engaging and enjoyable experience. The persuasive technology features, encompassing competition, collaboration, auditory cues, a virtual reward system, and an emphasis on similarity, played a pivotal role in sustaining engagement and motivating players. Elements such as rewards, leaderboard progression, and badges proved highly effective in encouraging continued participation and fostering a positive feedback loop. However, the study also identifies areas for potential improvement, including the need to measure real-life progress and refine the game’s levelling system. The research indicates that refining feedback mechanisms and tailoring game content to individual preferences could create an even more engaging experience. Additionally, long-term playtesting is proposed to assess the game’s extended impact. The findings offer promising avenues for enhancing motivation and engagement in AST, which can contribute to the promotion of healthier and more sustainable transportation choices among school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explored undergraduate college students' opinions of the CDC's online "Solve the Outbreak" (StO) game, a recommended aid in higher education for teaching concepts epidemiological outbreak investigations. Methods: The study was conducted as a game debriefing, in which 16 students enrolled in an undergraduate-level epidemiology course were interviewed to receive feedback about their experiences of StO after completing the game. Results: A total of four common themes emerged from the interveiews as framed by the Persuasive Game Design model: (1) Enjoying the Game World, (2) Cheating the Game's Elements, (3) Suggesting Improvements to the Game's Elements, and (4) Inverted Transfer Effect. Conclusions: Students reported that they enjoyed playing StO, and that it was effective for applying their knowledge of epidemiology course content on the process of investigating outbreaks. However, students found ways to cheat the game's answers, and they recommended ways that the game's elements could be improved. Instructors should consider using StO as a tool for teaching their students about investigating infectious outbreaks. Designers of the game should consider adapting the game based on students' constructive feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging from the field of microgrids is an efficient and persuasive transitional technology with great promise for easing energy crises, environmental worries, and economic limitations in seaports. When it comes to high-performance ports, this technology becomes even more important. One example is smart ports, which use state-of-the-art ICT applications to completely revamp container and vessel management. Strengthening national economic sustainability and global competitiveness are both impacted by this invention. Reducing the environmental impact of the maritime transport business is no easy feat. In this study, we take a look at how seaport microgrids are becoming more important in the quest for environmentally friendly marine transportation. We take a look at the major problems that contemporary seaports are facing, such as the ever-increasing need for energy, the contamination of both the air and water from ship emissions and the unpredictable cost of electricity. The goal is to bring together current information about smarter ports by giving examples and to encourage new ideas and research in this field. As part of our efforts to inspire new research into smart port development, we also outline certain open questions that need answering. This report could serve as a valuable resource for future research on seaport microgrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile apps have become a go-to solution for interventions in many health areas that aim to influence user behavior, such as physical activity or nutrition. However, many apps still fail to bind users long-term. Although research has been conducted on individual mechanisms aiming to improve long-term user adoption, such as gamification, we lack an understanding of different approaches at the time of this research. Thus, in this research, we investigate different approaches and persuasive technology that aim to keep the users' engagement with the app in use. Therefore, this study reviews existing literature and tries to identify how motivational mechanisms can be successfully implemented. In the course of this, identify 14 major motivational mechanisms to increase long-term user adoption of mobile apps. Based on these insights, we want to give advice on how to improve their impact through combination as well as give advice on future implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAn inactive lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of health problems. The combination of mobile step-trackers and persuasive strategies can be considered useful tools for encouraging physical activity. This paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of a culturally tailored persuasive app to motivate physical activity. For this research, we developed a step-tracking app, StepsBooster-S, that is tailored to be culturally appropriate for Saudi adults using the user-centred design approach. A 10-day in-the-wild study was conducted with 30 participants to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the app using a mixed-methods approach. Results showed that StepsBooster-S is generally effective; however, it led to a highly significant increase in physical activity among the Saudis compared to Canadians. Our results also showed that the Saudi audience engaged more with the app, reported more positive experience from using the app, and enjoyed the collectivists-oriented features such as cooperation more than the Canadian audience. We conclude that persuasive health apps, especially those that are targeted at physical activity, are more effective if they are tailored to be culturally appropriate for the target audience. These findings reinforce the importance of cultural factors for designing technologies that motivate behaviour change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer privacy information is used to target persuasive advertising in E-commerce, which raises consumer privacy concern. Consumer privacy concern is relative to consumer's intrinsic privacy concern and social concern over the application of consumer privacy information, known as the anchoring effect of privacy. The anchoring effect of privacy influences targeted persuasive advertising competition. With a game-theoretical model, this paper studies how asymmetric duopolistic firms compete with targeted persuasive advertising considering the anchoring effect of privacy. The results indicate that when the advantageous firm increases its advertising level, the advantageous firm gets more profit, and the disadvantageous firm gets less profit only if the anchoring effect of privacy is greater than zero. Otherwise, the disadvantageous firm gets more profit, but the advantageous firm gets less profit. Then, in equilibrium, the increase in the expected anchoring effect of privacy, expected consumer's intrinsic privacy concern, and advertising influence power reinforce the competition asymmetry. Whereas, the increase in social concern over the application of consumer privacy information weakens the competition asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do people select targets when tasked with persuading a group of people? One approach would be to prioritize getting people in support of the persuader's position to hold relatively extreme attitudes—an extremity strategy. An alternative approach would be to prioritize getting as many people as possible to support the persuader's position, regardless of how extreme they are—a consensus strategy. Although some situations might allow persuaders to combine these strategies, the present work examines how people select targets and strategies when a natural trade-off exists between acquiring fewer people with more extreme attitudes versus more people with less extreme attitudes. Prior work suggests that potential advantages exist for both extremity and consensus strategies. However, the current research finds that people exhibit a strong preference for a consensus strategy when tasked with selecting targets in group persuasion contexts. Further, this preference prevails even when consensus strategies would backfire and cause one's persuasive efforts to fail. This allure of consensus is demonstrated across eight primary experiments, which also reveal why people are drawn to a consensus strategy as well as explore potential boundary conditions for this preference. This work has implications for understanding how persuaders select targets and strategies in the context of group persuasion. In addition, the paradigms and results invite a host of new avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This original teaching idea for a semester-long course encompasses a team-based project in which students worked together to create persuasive campaign materials for a local community health organization. The purpose of this project was for students to apply learned concepts related to theories and principles of persuasion to a real-world situation. As a team, students engaged in working sessions to develop persuasive messages related to a health issue and create campaign materials that could be used by the organization to reach target audiences. Students produced a comprehensive final report and presentation documenting the development process and showcasing their work. Overall, while there are opportunities to shrink, expand, and otherwise customize this type of project, it produced an exciting and engaging experience for students. They reported development of their small-group communication skills, greater confidence in their unique leadership capabilities, and a greater understanding of how to connect communication theory to professional experiences. Persuasion or related graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses focusing on message design, social influence, or public communication campaigns. This semester-long, team-based project, designed for a seminar on persuasion, required a graduate class to partner with a local community health center to: identify a specific, relevant community health concern; develop theoretically grounded, evidence-based persuasive campaign materials suitable for the organization to use on social media platforms and/or in print format; and deliver a comprehensive project report and presentation of the materials to the community organization at the end of the semester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the factors that increase the persuasive impact of entertainment – education (EE) narrative messages designed to improve attitudes toward immigrants. Specifically, the effect of the demographic similarity between the protagonist of the narrative message (a transitional character) and the audience is studied. Three online experiments were carried out simultaneously in Greece (N = 286), Italy (N = 295), and Spain (N = 294) to evaluate the indirect effect of demographic similarity on identification with the protagonist through perceived similarity, as well as the specific indirect effects on attitude, perceived threat, intergroup anxiety, and prosocial behavior toward immigrants, while including perceived similarity, identification, meaningful affect, and cognitive elaboration as mediating mechanisms. The results obtained in the three countries were in accordance, indicating that demographic similarity increased perceived similarity and, in turn, identification. Furthermore, identification was associated with greater cognitive elaboration and meaningful affect, and both processes, in turn, were associated with more positive attitudes toward immigrants (in all three countries) and also with less perceived threat and more prosocial behavior (in two countries). The findings are discussed in relation to the reduction of prejudice using EE narratives that inspire audiences through cognitive and emotional processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with Autism face several significant challenges, including deficits in both verbal and nonverbal communication, difficulties with concentration, limited interest in their surroundings, non-responsiveness, and struggles with adapting to new situations. It is imperative to consider and address these challenges when implementing technological interventions aimed at enhancing the skills of children with Autism. This study aims to identify the research emphasis on the following four determinants of technological interventions for children with Autism - (i) involvement of caregivers, (ii) design considerations, (iii) persuasive technology, (iv) psychological and physiological effects of technologies. These determinants address their deficiencies in communication, coping with new situations, responsiveness and effects of using technologies respectively. A total of seventy six review articles from 2010 to 2022 have been selected through PRISMA guidelines for this study. Most of the selected review articles have not evaluated these four determinants in their studies. This study discusses this research scope and presents future research directions to bridge this gap to develop effective technological solutions to upskill the children with Autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the external effects of adjudicative activity of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, structural questions emerge regarding the influence of IACtHR precedent in judicial branches of the Parties to the American Convention on Human Rights. In this sense, this paper seeks to apply the theoretical typologies developed by Ryan Goodman and Derek Jinks to the analysis of operative mechanisms of influence of international law inside the States' jurisdictions. In this regard, it was necessary to create new specific categories (eg, acculturative persuasive precedent, selective persuasive precedent), to test whether they suitably describe the application of Inter-American precedents, in an attempt to categorize the recent performance of the highest courts in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. Additionally, the concept of double control of conventionality has presented essential perspectives for the compliance with IACtHR judgments by demanding States, as well as the interpretation and application of national laws deemed compatible, or not, with the Pact of San José. In the end, quantitative analysis played an important role in measuring each national court's assimilation of international precedents as it outlined scenarios of explicit adoption of Inter-American Court precedent by national judicial branches. Sampled States were classified as follows: a) Brazil: selective persuasive IACtHR precedent with low performance; b) Colombia: acculturative persuasive IACtHR precedent with high performance; c) Argentina: selective persuasive IACtHR precedent with moderate performance; d) Chile: selective persuasive IACtHR precedent with high performance; and e) Bolivia: acculturative persuasive IACtHR precedent with moderate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrospectively, an organization's capacity to comprehend the distinct needs of its clients will undoubtedly provide it with a competitive advantage in terms of delivering targeted client services and tailoring personalized marketing initiatives. This research investigated the efficiency of the k-means clustering algorithm as a technique for efficient consumer segmentation. The k-Means algorithm consolidated with RFM analysis is globally accredited as a profound partitioning clustering technique that has proven to be highly efficient in various business settings. The experimental outcomes provided persuasive evidence of the algorithm's performance in terms of consumer segmentation. The overall cluster purity evaluation was computed to be 0.95. This value demonstrated that the k-Means clustering algorithm incorporated with the RFM analysis attained a relatively high accuracy rate of 95% in terms of precisely and accurately segmenting the consumers based on their shared behaviors and characteristics. The high purity value of 0.95 illustrated the efficiency of the k-Means clustering algorithm in terms of accurately segmenting and categorizing the clients. This showcased that the algorithm efficiently organized and pinpointed consumers into distinct clusters based on their similarities, facilitating targeted marketing strategies and personalized approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective persuasive messages are indispensable when it comes to using technology to motivate behavior change. However, no scoping or systematic review has explored the landscape of using conceptual frameworks to design and evaluate persuasive messages for effective persuasive communication in different domains. The primary aim of this review is to map published articles on conceptual frameworks that aid effective persuasive message design and evaluation in technology-driven interventions with a view to uncovering their potential and unfilled research gaps. The secondary aim is to uncover how persuasive message design and evaluation frameworks have been applied to address behavior change using the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals as an analytical lens. Our results show that about three-quarter of the articles on persuasive message design and evaluation frameworks were published in the last decade. While the reviewed user studies were not longitudinal, the presented frameworks show strong promise in fostering behavior change among the target audiences if implemented correctly. However, there is a need to (1) conduct more research among underrepresented groups (e.g., in lower-to-middle-income countries in Africa, South America, and Asia) and in unexplored domains related to other United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals other than Good Health and Wellbeing; and (2) move away from ad hoc design principles, use of only behavior theories, and non-use of validated frameworks towards using established behavioral theory-driven frameworks to design and evaluate persuasive messages to make them more effective.

Persuasive technologies, in connection with human factor engineering requirements for healthy workplaces, have played a significant role in ensuring a change in human behavior. Healthy workplaces suggest different best practices applicable to body posture, proximity to the computer system, movement, lighting conditions, computer system layout, and other significant psychological and cognitive aspects. Most importantly, body posture suggests how users should sit or stand in workplaces in line with best and healthy practices. In this study, we developed two study phases (pilot and main) using two deep learning models: convolutional neural networks (CNN) and Yolo-V3. To train the two models, we collected posture datasets from creative common license YouTube videos and Kaggle. We classified the dataset into comfortable and uncomfortable postures. Results show that our YOLO-V3 model outperformed CNN model with a mean average precision of 92%. Based on this finding, we recommend that YOLO-V3 model be integrated in the design of persuasive technologies for a healthy workplace. Additionally, we provide future implications for integrating proximity detection taking into consideration the ideal number of centimeters users should maintain in a healthy workplace.

Although a range of relationship enhancement interventions have shown benefits, programs involving trained facilitators are difficult to scale and self-directed programs tend to suffer from low rates of adherence (i.e., nonuse/disuse attrition). The present study evaluated Agapé, a relationship wellness smartphone app optimized for broad dissemination through 4 years of persuasive system design driven by user feedback. Agapé builds moments of connection by providing daily prompts to couples and then showing them one another's answers when both partners have responded. To evaluate Agapé, a single-arm, pilot study followed 405 couples (n = 810 partners; 68% non-Latinx White; 50% female; Mage = 29; 50% cohabiting; 31% married; 33% dissatisfied/distressed) through their first month of using the app. Agapé had high engagement (99%, completing M = 27 daily prompts dyadically) and 88% of couples provided follow-up data. The results among completers supported the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of Agapé, suggesting that partners found the app easy (74%) and enjoyable (93%) to use, particularly if they perceived their partners to be responsive. Most partners saw improvement in their relationships (80%) and in their individual well-being (70%). Repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed significant within-person improvement on relationship functioning (decreases in relationship negative qualities and increases in relationship satisfaction, relationship positive qualities, and dedication) and on individual functioning (increases in vitality and quality of life with decreases in psychological distress and depressive symptoms) among completers (Cohen's ds ranging from |.14 to.42|). Dosage effects demonstrated that gains in relationship quality were stronger for couples completing more daily prompts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn recent years, there has been a notable rise in the development of mobile apps to deliver stress management interventions. However, the prevailing design of most available stress management apps leans towards an emotion-focused coping approach, primarily targeting the regulation of stress-induced negative emotions. Given that the perception of time shortage is a major source of stress among students in higher education, we adopted a problem-focused coping approach that targets tackling student stress via time management. Our work evolved through four main phases. First, we previously conducted a large-scale study involving 502 students, constructing five structural equation models (SEMs) to pinpoint the most effective time management factor in promoting the perception of control over time. Second, based on the findings, we designed and developed a persuasive mobile app (SortOut) to promote effective time management behavior among the target users. Before the development phase, the initial app prototype was evaluated and refined with students (n = 69). In the final phase, this paper focuses on the culmination of our work, wherein we assessed the app’s effectiveness through a 4-week field study involving 34 students. Subsequently, we conducted one-on-one interviews with 11 students to delve into their experiences and feedback. The results revealed that, after using the app, students demonstrated improvement in time management behavior, higher academic self-confidence, and lower stress compared to the baseline. Students in the early and later stages of behavior change (based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM)) reported similar positive outcomes. Moreover, students perceived the app as straightforward and easy to use; they were not tense or pressured while using the app, which is especially vital for stress management interventions. Thematic analysis showed that the app encouraged organizational thought and behavior and aided students in managing their time and workload, increasing the commitment toward task completion. The study findings suggest that the app helped students engage in effective time management behavior with an improved perception of control over time. Such improved perception is instrumental in promoting student confidence and well-being. Guided by the study findings, we provided actionable design recommendations and future research directions to facilitate the development of impactful persuasive time and stress management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persuasive effectiveness of implicit strategies, associated with reduced epistemic vigilance, may lead to their exploitation in conveying doubtful information in advertisement and propaganda. In political communication, presuppositions tend to specialize for the conveyance of questionable opinions and self-praise, while implicatures reveal a preferential association with face-threatening contents in general, where implicitness can allow speakers to count less evidently as offenders, at the same time being able to convey contents that can discredit the opponent. In public debates, speakers do not necessarily aim at convincing the opponent, but at shaping the beliefs of the public at home. In Italian broadcast political debates, implicatures and presuppositions are used exactly with this function. Confirming this pattern, participants in public debates often "intercept" the opponent's implicatures and make them explicit in order to reduce the persuasiveness effected by their being implicit. Sometimes this also offers the opportunity to provide explicitations that are different from the original implicature, caricaturizing the position of the opponent with a strawman effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SAP) in Nigeria is often not evidence based. The aim of this study is to test if the GADSA application can change prescription behaviour of surgeons in Nigeria. In addition, the study aims to identify AMS strategies and policies for the future. Methods: The GADSA gamified decision support app uses WHO and Sanford prescribing guidelines to deliver real-time persuasive technology feedback to surgeons through an interactive mentor. The app can advise on whether clinician's decisions align with SAP recommendations and provides the opportunity for clinicians to make adjustments. Twenty surgeons actively participated in a 6-month pilot study in three hospitals in Nigeria. The surgeons determined the risk of infection of a surgical procedure, and the need, type and duration of SAP. The study used a longitudinal approach to test whether the GADSA app significantly changed prescribing behaviour of participating surgeons by analysing the reported prescription decisions within the app. Results: 321 SAP prescriptions were recorded. Concerning the surgical risk decision, 12% of surgeons changed their decision to be in line with guidelines after app feedback (p < 0.001) and 10% of surgeons changed their decision about the need for SAP (p = 0.0035) to align with guidelines. The change in decision making for SAP use in terms of "type" and "duration" to align with guidelines was similar with 6% and 5% respectively (both p-values < 0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that the GADSA app, with its game based and feedback feature, could significantly change prescribing behaviour at the point of care in an African setting, which could help tackle the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has enabled AI agents to take on various roles as communicators, such as virtual assistants, robot journalists, and AI doctors. This study meta-analyzed 121 randomized experimental studies (N  =   53,977) that compared the effects of AI and human agency on persuasion outcomes, including perceptions, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors. The results showed that AI agents were as persuasive as humans in terms of overall persuasion outcomes. With regard to different types of outcomes, AI was less effective than humans at shaping behavioral intentions, but did not differ significantly from humans in eliciting perceptions, attitudes, or actual behaviors. Additionally, heterogeneous patterns were observed for different roles of AI communicators, directions of communication, experimental settings, and demographic segments. The implications of these findings for human–machine communication and persuasion in the era of AI are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to improving the health of the general population, mHealth technologies with self-monitoring and intervention components hold a lot of promise. We argue, however, that due to various factors such as access, targeting, personal resources or incentives, self-monitoring applications run the risk of increasing health inequalities, thereby creating a problem of social justice. We review empirical evidence for "intervention-generated" inequalities, present arguments that self-monitoring applications are still morally acceptable, and develop approaches to avoid the promotion of health inequalities through self-monitoring applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of knowledge on how persuasiveness of influence strategies affects students' behaviours when using online educational systems. Persuasiveness is a term used in describing a system's capability to motivate desired behaviour. Most existing approaches for assessing the persuasiveness of a system are based on subjective measures (questionnaires) which are static and do not allow for automatic measurement of systems persuasiveness at run-time. Being able to automatically predict a system's persuasiveness at run-time is essential for dynamic and continuous adaptation of the system to reflect each individual user's state. In this study, we investigate the links between persuasiveness of influence strategies and students' behaviour in an online educational system for a course. We implemented and tested Machine Learning (ML) classification models to determine whether persuasiveness had a significant impact on students' usage of a learning system. Our findings revealed that students learning data can be applied to predict the persuasiveness of different influence strategies. The implications are that by using machine learning classifiers powered with learning sessions data, online educational systems would be able to automatically adapt their persuasive strategies to improve students' engagement and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few development taxonomies of persuasive techniques that unify the key disciplines involved in the design of persuasive technology have been proposed. With most prior taxonomies existing in silos, it is difficult to see how different disciplines fit together to realize a persuasive system. The objective of this conceptual paper is to propose a unified taxonomy of persuasive techniques for persuasive technology design, called “ComTech,” that encompasses communication design, user experience design, and persuasive design by extending, refining, breaking down, and integrating relevant existing standalone taxonomies and frameworks. “Com” stands for the “communication design” aspect of persuasive technology, subdivided into two broad types: framing- and appeal-based. From the existing literature, we teased out six categories of communication design: non-equivalenT, Equivalence- and Modality-based framing, and Pathos-, Logos-, and Ethos-based appeal (TEMPLE). Moreover, “Tech” stands for the “technology design” aspect of persuasive technology, subdivided into two major components: user experience and persuasive design. Building on Walter's hierarchical model of user needs, we teased out seven dimensions of user experience design from the literature: Hedonic Quality, Usability, Efficacy, Dependability, Credibility, Utility, and Protectability (HUED CUP). Similarly, extending Oinas-Kukkonen and Harjumaa's Persuasive System Design taxonomy, we teased out six categories of persuasive strategies—Collaboration, Adaptation, Learning, Facilitation, Incentive, and Nudging (CALFIN)—grounded in sociopsychological theories. The six categories can be regarded as six pillars of persuasive technology, which, combined with communication and user experience design, can be employed to stimulate, motivate, and facilitate behavior change. The main contribution of the conceptual paper is theoretical in nature with practical applications in the persuasive technology domain. The ComTech taxonomy can help researchers and designers to visualize how the various persuasive techniques spanning communication design, user experience design, and persuasive design fit together to foster behavior change. Moreover, it can help behavior change stakeholders find, make sense of, and use the right persuasive techniques and strategies efficiently and effectively in the design, implementation, and evaluation of technological interventions aimed at changing behaviors in different domains such as health, education, and energy conservation.

This study focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of SafeSteps, a mobile application dedicated to child pedestrian safety. Employing multimedia elements, SafeSteps imparts knowledge on pedestrian safety to children, with an integrated quiz module enhancing learning activities. The project development adhered to the Waterfall Model Methodology, encompassing distinct stages of analysis, design, implementation, testing, and documentation. Guided by the principles of persuasive technology and multimedia, the application was developed using Android Studio as the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tool. A User Experience Testing (UXT) involving 31 children aged six to twelve aimed to assess engagement, identify usability concerns, and discover areas for enhancement. Utilizing the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), the study gathered feedback, revealing a majority expressing a positive perception of SafeSteps in terms of attractiveness, efficiency, perspicuity, dependability, stimulation, and novelty. The UXT findings offer significant insights into user perceptions and interactions with SafeSteps. This information will be instrumental in identifying potential areas for improvement, implementing design modifications, and enhancing the overall user experience of the mobile application, emphasizing the importance of incorporating multimedia and interactive elements in child pedestrian safety interventions.

Objective: This research serves a dual purpose: To construct a predictive model for low-carbon behavior among Thai millennials and to analyze the interplay between socio-demographic variables and eco-conscious actions. Methods/Analysis: By employing PLS-SEM and surveying 150 Thai millennials through purposive sampling, this study reaffirms the influence of persuasive technology and incentives on low-carbon behaviors. It highlights the significance of perceived behavioral control within the TPB framework and reveals intricate pathways by which persuasive technology and incentives shape attitudes, perceived control, and social norms, thereby driving eco-friendly actions. Findings: Among Thai millennials, positive attitudes and perceived control drive low-carbon behavior, while social norms and accessible low-carbon infrastructure also impact eco-conscious actions. Persuasive technology shows promise for attitude adjustment, but incentives' relationship with low-carbon behavior is complex. Interestingly, mature women exhibit more low-carbon behavior, whereas education and income show an inverse relationship. Novelty/Improvement: This study contributes novel and substantial insights into the drivers of low-carbon behavior among Thai millennials by integrating diverse theoretical frameworks. It enriches our understanding of the mediating role of TPB factors and socio-demographic dimensions, offering invaluable guidance for stakeholders in crafting effective interventions while aligning seamlessly with Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9, 12, and 13. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2023-04-03-02 Full Text: PDF