Empirical Advances (empirical + advance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Group Identification and Prejudice: Theoretical and Empirical Advances and Implications

JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES, Issue 3 2010
Cheryl R. Kaiser
This article reviews theoretical perspectives explaining the positive relationship between group identification and perceptions of prejudice. In particular, we focus on the prejudice distribution account, which contends that highly identified minorities report more frequent experiences with prejudice than weakly identified minorities, in part, because majority group members do in fact react more negatively toward highly identified minorities than they do toward the weakly identified. We describe evidence revealing that people accurately detect minority identification, even given minimal information. Further, majority group members use these inferences about identification to guide their attitudes and behaviors toward minorities. We discuss the implications of this research for theoretical perspectives on within-category approaches to the study of prejudice. We also discuss practical implications and offer suggestions for addressing this type of prejudice. [source]


INVITED REVIEW: Plant self-incompatibility in natural populations: a critical assessment of recent theoretical and empirical advances

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 10 2004
VINCENT CASTRIC
Abstract Self-incompatibility systems in plants are genetic systems that prevent self-fertilization in hermaphrodites through recognition and rejection of pollen expressing the same allelic specificity as that expressed in the pistils. The evolutionary properties of these self-recognition systems have been revealed through a fascinating interplay between empirical advances and theoretical developments. In 1939, Wright suggested that the main evolutionary force driving the genetic and molecular properties of these systems was strong negative frequency-dependent selection acting on pollination success. The empirical observation of high allelic diversity at the self-incompatibility locus in several species, followed by the discovery of very high molecular divergence among alleles in all plant families where the locus has been identified, supported Wright's initial theoretical predictions as well as many of its later developments. In the last decade, however, advances in the molecular characterization of the incompatibility reaction and in the analysis of allelic frequencies and allelic divergence from natural populations have stimulated new theoretical investigations that challenged some important assumptions of Wright's model of gametophytic self-incompatibility. We here review some of these recent empirical and theoretical advances that investigated: (i) the hypothesis that S -alleles are selectively equivalent, and the evolutionary consequences of genetic interactions between alleles; (ii) the occurrence of frequency-dependent selection in female fertility; (iii) the evolutionary genetics of self-incompatibility systems in subdivided populations; (iv) the evolutionary implications of the self-incompatibility locus's genetic architecture; and (v) of its interactions with the genomic environment. [source]


How is female mate choice affected by male competition?

BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 4 2005
Bob B. M. Wong
ABSTRACT The plethora of studies devoted to the topics of male competition and female mate choice belie the fact that their interaction remains poorly understood. Indeed, on the question of whether competition should help or hinder the choice process, opinions scattered throughout the sexual selection literature seem unnecessarily polarised. We argue, in the light of recent theoretical and empirical advances, that the effect of competition on mate choice depends on whether it results in the choosy sex attaining high breeding value for total fitness, considering both direct and indirect fitness benefits. Specifically, trade-offs may occur between different fitness benefits if some are correlated with male competitive ability whilst others are not. Moreover, the costs and benefits of mating with competitive males may vary in time and/or space. These considerations highlight the importance of injecting a life-history perspective into sexual selection studies. Within this context, we turn to the sexual selection literature to try to offer insights into the circumstances when competition might be expected to have positive or negative implications for pre-copulatory female choice. In this regard, we elaborate on three stages where competition might impact upon the choice process: (i) during mate detection, (ii) mate evaluation, and (iii) in dictating actual mating outcomes. We conclude by offering researchers several potentially rewarding avenues for future research. [source]


Toward a Theory of Entertainment Persuasion: Explaining the Persuasive Effects of Entertainment-Education Messages

COMMUNICATION THEORY, Issue 3 2008
Emily Moyer-Gusé
A growing body of research indicates that entertainment-education programming can be an effective way to deliver prosocial and health messages. Some have even speculated that entertainment-education may be more effective than overtly persuasive messages in certain circumstances. Despite empirical advances in this area, more work is needed to understand fully what makes entertainment-education unique from a message-processing standpoint. To this end, the present article has three objectives. First, the article examines the involvement with narrative storylines and characters that is fostered by entertainment programming. This includes a much-needed explication and separation of several related constructs, such as identification, parasocial interaction, similarity, and others. Second, the article reviews and synthesizes existing theories that have addressed entertainment-education message processing. Third, the article builds on these theories, presenting an expanded theoretical framework. A set of propositions is advanced and directions for future research are discussed. In total, the article offers a clarification of existing concepts that are critical to the study of entertainment-education, a synthesis of relevant theory, and a set of propositions to guide future research in entertainment-education message effects. Résumé Pour une théorie de la persuasion spectacle : Une explication des effets persuasifs des messages ludoéducatifs Un nombre croissant d,études indiquent que la programmation ludoéducative peut être une façon efficace de transmettre des messages à caractère social et sanitaire. Certaines ont même supposé que dans certaines circonstances, les messages ludoéducatifs pouvaient être plus efficaces que les messages ouvertement persuasifs. Malgré des avancées empiriques dans ce domaine, plus de travaux sont nécessaires pour bien comprendre ce qui rend les messages ludoéducatifs uniques du point de vue de leur traitement. À cette fin, cet article a trois objectifs. Premièrement, il examine l'engagement envers l,intrigue narrative et les personnages qui est généré par la programmation ludique. Cela inclut une explication et une séparation, fortement nécessaires, de plusieurs construits liés, comme l'identification, l,interaction parasociale et la similarité, entre autres. Deuxièmement, l'article passe en revue et synthétise les théories existantes qui ont abordé le traitement des messages ludoéducatifs. Troisièmement, l,article met à profit ces théories pour présenter un cadre théorique élargi. Un ensemble de propositions sont soumises et des éléments de recherche future sont commentés. Dans l'ensemble, l,article clarifie les concepts cruciaux pour l'étude des messages ludoéducatifs. Il offre également une synthèse des théories pertinentes ainsi qu,un ensemble de propositions pouvant guider la recherche future sur les effets des messages ludoéducatifs. Abstract Zu einer Theorie unterhaltender Persuasion. Die Erklärung persuasiver Effekte von Entertainment-Education Botschaften Immer mehr Studien zeigen, dass Entertainment-Education Programme ein effektiver Weg sein können, prosoziale und gesundheitsrelevante Botschaften zu vermitteln. Dabei wird sogar spekuliert, dass Entertainment-Education unter bestimmten Umständen möglicherweise effektiver als offensichtlich persuasive Botschaften ist. Trotz der empirischen Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet braucht es mehr Forschung, um zu verstehen, was Entertainment-Education bezogen auf die Verarbeitung der Botschaft so einzigartig macht. Dieser Artikel hat daher drei Ziele: Erstens untersucht dieser Artikel das Involvement mit narrativen Storylines und Figuren, das durch unterhaltende Programme befördert wird; dazu gehört die Explikation und Abgrenzung verschiedener verwandter Konstrukte wie Identifikation, parasoziale Interaktion, Ähnlichkeit und anderen. Zweitens bewertet und erläutert dieser Artikel bestehende Theorien, welche die Verarbeitung von Entertainment-Education Botschaften betrachten. Aufbauend auf diese Theorien präsentiert dieser Artikel drittens einen erweiterten theoretischen Rahmen. Eine Reihe von Propositionen wird fortgeschrieben und zukünftige Forschungsrichtungen werden diskutiert. Zusammengefasst bietet dieser Artikel die Klärung bestehender Konzepte, welche zentral für die Untersuchung von Entertainment-Education sind und eine Synthese relevanter Theorien und Propositionen, die forschungsleitend für die Untersuchung von Entertainment-Education Botschaftseffekten sind. Resumen Hacia una Teoría del Entretenimiento Persuasivo: Explicando los Efectos Persuasivos de los Mensajes de Entretenimiento Educativo Un cuerpo de investigaciones creciente indica que la programación de entretenimiento educativo puede ser una manera efectiva de enviar mensajes pro-sociales y de salud. Algunos han especulado que el entretenimiento educativo puede ser más efectivo en ciertas circunstancias que los mensajes abiertamente persuasivos. A pesar de los avances empíricos en esta área, se necesita más trabajo para comprender totalmente qué hace al entretenimiento educativo único desde el punto de vista del procesamiento del mensaje. Con ese objeto, el artículo presente tiene tres objetivos. Primero, el ensayo examina la implicación emocional de los guiones narrativos y los personajes que es fomentada por la programación de entretenimiento. Este incluye una explicación muy necesaria y la separación de varios constructos relacionados, tales como identificación, interacción para social, similitud, y otras. Segundo, este ensayo revisa y sintetiza las teorías existentes que tratan el procesamiento de los mensajes de entretenimiento educativo. Tercero, el artículo se construye sobre esas teorías, presentando un marco teórico ampliado. Un grupo de proposiciones es promovido y direcciones para la investigación futura son discutidas. En total, este ensayo ofrece una clarificación de los conceptos existentes que son críticos para el estudio del entretenimiento educativo, una síntesis de la teoría relevante, y un grupo de proposiciones para guiar la investigación futura sobre los efectos de los mensajes de entretenimiento educativo. ZhaiYao Yo yak [source]