An initial investigation on the use of ‘Return on Investment” in public relations practice

‘Return on Investment’ (ROI) is usually defined in management and marketing literature as a measure of financial effectiveness that is concerned with the returns on capital employed in business (profit-making) activities. In public relations practice, however, ROI appears to be used in a much looser form to indicate the results of activity. This quantitative research using an online survey instrument investigated practitioner understanding of the term, primarily in the UK, with the aim of preparing a benchmark on their understanding of the ROI concept and usage of ROI as a measurement of the effectiveness of public relations activity. These findings resulted: (1) two-thirds of PR practitioners regularly use the term ROI when planning and evaluating communication activity; (2) ROI is related mainly to communication objectives (66.7%) which are more widely used than financially related ROIs (12.8%); (3) there is a clear difference in ROI practices between consultants/freelances and in-house colleagues. Nearly three-quarters of consultants and freelances (73.1%) offered an ROI formula to clients but only 26.3% of in-house practitioners have one; and (4) on the oft-discussed question of an industry-wide ROI formula, only 35.6% supported the proposition with 64.4% opposed. The survey also found that practitioner concepts of ROI are very narrowly expressed, mainly in relation to media outputs.     

Conflicto,Identificacion y Poder en la Influencia Minoritaria

En 6 condiciones experimentales se presenta a los sujetos un texto minoritario extremamente favorable al aborto, siendo evaluada la influencia en una dimensión directa (actitud frente al aborto) y en una dimensión indirecta (actitud frente a la contracepción). En tres condiciones se introduce una pequeña amenaza y en las otras tres una fuerte amenaza que implica un fuerte costo social simbólico en caso de un eventual acuerdo con la minoría. En cada caso, o bien no se explica ninguna identificación (condiciones control) o bien se lleva a los sujetos a percibirse identificados ya a la Iglesia ya a la minoría. Los resultados principales muestran que a) en las condiciones sin identificación explícita, la minoría obtiene el efecto de conversión esperado por el modelo de la influencia minoritaria, en el caso de que el costo social es elevado; b) por el contrario, en caso de identificación explícita con la minoría el costo social disminuye tanto la influencia indirecta como la directa, lo que aboga en defensa del modelo del poder; c) en las condiciones en las que los sujetos son identificados con la Iglesia aparece un curioso efecto: cuanto mayor es el costo social más se acercan los sujetos a la minoría. Dado que las explicaciones divergen según la interpretación que los autores dan de este efecto paradójico y del conjunto de los resultados, se presentan dos interpretaciones complementarias, incluso aunque se contradigan entre ellas.     

The Romantic Detective in Two Kenyan Popular Novels

Abstract

Fiction meant for light reading or writing that is ostensibly intended for entertainment can also be a vehicle for critical political, cultural and social commentary. Popular genres such as the thriller or romance indeed have the capacity to combine the elements of excitement and assessment of social life. For instance, a romance story that tells of a relationship between a man and a woman can also be read as an allegory of the relationship between citizens and their nations. This essay examines the ways in which David Gian Maillu's thriller novels, Benni Kamba 009 in the Equatorial Assignment and Benni Kamba in Operation DXT have used the canvas of the romantic detective to highlight social, political and cultural tensions in contemporary Kenya/Africa whilst at the same time suggesting possible means of (re)solving these instabilities and restoring order in society.     

Food Self-Provisioning in Czechia: Beyond Coping Strategy of the Poor: A Response to Alber and Kohler’s ‘Informal Food Production in the Enlarged European Union’ (2008)

Food systems are of increasing interest in both research and policy communities. Surveys of post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) show high rates of food self-provisioning. These practices have been explained in terms of being ‘coping strategies of the poor’. Alber and Kohler’s ‘Informal Food Production in the Enlarged European Union’ (2008) offers a prominent account of this argument, supported by quantitative data. However, evidence from our case study of food self-provisioning in one CEE state–Czechia–contradicts their findings. Newly commissioned survey data, as well as a fresh look at the data they were working from, demonstrate that rather than being motivated by poverty, these widespread practices serve as a hobby and as a way of accessing ‘healthy food’. With food self-provisioning becoming an increasingly prominent subject in advanced industrial countries, in terms of both health and environmental policy, we propose that much greater care is taken in researching and interpreting the reasons for differences in food systems. Our findings are that environmentally sustainable and healthy self-provisioning in Czechia is motivated by a range of reasons, and practised by a significant proportion of the population across all social groups. This conclusion questions linear narratives of progress that figure ‘western’ practices as advanced or complete or automatically desirable, and contributes in a modest way to a decentring of narratives of progress.     

The smallest user campaign to decrease energy consumption in two Mid-South neighborhoods: A field experiment

This report describes a partnership and campaign to build awareness and support for energy conservation in a Mid-South community. The partners included a state university, the local power company, and two neighborhoods in the local community. This partnership led to a field experiment that built community esprit along with increased knowledge of and attitudes toward energy conservation. It did not result in lower electricity and gas consumption. This attempt to influence citizen behavior featured extremely powerful pre-and post-test measures of unit electric and gas consumption.     

An algorithm for the evaluation of the incomplete gamma function and the first two partial derivatives with respect to the parameter

A simple to use, straight coded, Fortran 4 algorithm, is presented. This algorithm has the ability to:

1) evaluate the Incomplete Gamma function, Y(r,λx), for parameter values in the range 0 < r < 20.0 and upper limit of integration values in the range 0 75.0;

2) evaluate both the first and second partial derivatives of y with respect to the parameter

3) evaluate both the Euler Di and Trigamma functions, ψ(r) and if ψ′(r)for 0<rf.20.0.

In all cases the accuracy is nine or more significant figures. The user has several choices of data output format     

‘Brilliant,bright, boiling words’: literary disability,language and the writing body in the work of Christopher Nolan

This article uses theory on disability, embodiment and language to explore the production, context and presentation of two pieces of life-writing by Christopher Nolan. It examines Nolan’s unusual use of language and form in his presentations of an experience of disability, and considers its literary and political significance. Consideration is given to the role played within language, and by extension society, by the disabled writing body, as a point of resistance to dominant discourse, and as a point of origin both for language that subverts dominant, disabling language and for ‘new’ language that might replace it.     

The Perspectives of Young Men and Their Teenage Partners on Maternity and Health Services During Pregnancy and Early Parenthood

This study discusses young couples’ interactions with maternity and health services paying particular attention to men’s perspectives. Findings are based on research conducted in Scotland with men (aged 16–25) and their teenage partners (aged 16–19). Most young men were very involved in their child’s life and provided support and care to their partner during pregnancy and in early parenthood. Men often felt excluded or judged when accessing services, although positive experiences were reported too. The study discusses ways in which maternity and health services can be better attuned to meet the needs of young couples and be inclusive of men.