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Questions to ask the interviewer in a job interview: Tips for newcomers

As a newcomer, landing your first job in Canada requires a lot of preparation and patience. Before you start applying to job openings, you’ll need to invest time in crafting a Canadian-style resume, perfecting your elevator pitch, and building your professional network. Even with all this work, it can sometimes take newcomers several months to get their first job interview in Canada. However, when that inevitable call does come, you want to be thoroughly prepared to ace your job interview. Typically, this means researching the company, practising your responses in advance, and having a ready list of questions to ask the interviewer to position yourself as a suitable candidate for the job. Why is it important to ask questions at the end of a job interview? At the end of job interviews in Canada, an interviewer usually asks if you have any questions for them. Many newcomers hesitate when it comes to asking the recruiter or hiring manager questions, or worry that it may make them seem unprepared or overenthusiastic. On the contrary, it’s completely acceptable—and even expected—that you’ll have questions for the recruiter. In Canada, interviewers will assess you not only based on how well you answer the interviewer's questions, but also on the questions you ask them. Having questions for the interviewer shows them you’re interested in the role. Well-researched, intelligent questions demonstrate that you’ve done your research about the organization and want to learn more about working there. A job interview isn’t meant to be one-sided. As a newcomer, asking questions is also an opportunity for you to gather information that’ll help you assess whether an organization, team, or the role are a good fit for you. Top questions to ask the interviewer in a job interview It’s always good to have a prepared list of questions to ask at the end of an interview. One rule of thumb to keep in mind while preparing for interviews is to steer clear of obvious questions that can easily be answered with a little bit of online research. In this section, we’ll share some indicative questions you can use or build upon, based on the role you’re applying for and your own interview discussions. Questions to ask about the job What will the person in this position be responsible for? This is a good question to ask if the job description doesn’t have a lot of information about the role and if the job responsibilities haven’t been discussed during the interview. Usually, you’ll have some information about what the job will entail to begin with, so phrase the question in a way that shows what you know. For instance, if you already know that the position is for a social media manager, you might want to ask what social media platforms you’ll be responsible for, or whether you’ll also be required to create video content. What are the qualities you’re looking for in a candidate? While a job description typically mentions some of the skills and qualities a role requires, this question allows you to assess how well your expertise and personality match what the hiring manager is looking for. It will also give you an idea of the qualities or soft skills valued by the organization, such as teamwork or being self-driven. This could be a good opportunity to showcase these same qualities through a well-chosen example. If you’re looking for your first job in Canada, this question can also give you insight into the qualities Canadian employers in a particular industry typically seek in applicants. What would my typical day in this role look like? This question serves a dual purpose. One, it subtly positions you as an insider and shows that you’re truly interested in the position and are already thinking about what working there will be like. Secondly, the response will give you additional information about the job, the stakeholders you’ll engage with, and the things you’ll be responsible for on a daily basis. What are the biggest challenges someone in this position will face? Questions like these are a great way to learn more about the role, potential roadblocks, or dealbreakers. Depending on the interviewer’s response, you may also get an opportunity to elaborate on ways in which you’ve dealt with that particular challenge in your prior roles, helping you to stand out as the ideal candidate. For instance, if managing tight timelines is a challenge you’ll be expected to deal with, sharing how you’ve used your organizational or delegation skills to deliver quality output ahead of time could give you an advantage. What will my immediate priorities or projects be in this role? In addition to giving you more insight into the work you’ll do, this question demonstrates your eagerness to get started. Even more, it allows the interviewer to imagine you in the role and think of you as part of the team. If, during your research, you uncover some exciting new projects the company is planning, such as a product launch, this can also be a good time to ask if you’ll be involved in those or express your interest in doing so. Questions to ask about the organization Can you tell me about the company’s growth plans over the next few years? Showing you’re interested in the organization’s future gives the interviewer confidence that you intend to stick around and aren’t looking at this job as a short-term arrangement. If you’ve read about an upcoming partnership the company is exploring or about the industry being impacted by economic changes, don’t forget to mention it. The recruiter’s response will also give you some idea about where the business is headed, possible team expansions, or new projects in the future. How does this team support the company’s overall objectives? If the job description doesn’t provide a lot of information, this question is a good way to learn both about the organization’s goals and your future team’s responsibilities. If the answer is obvious, like if you’re joining the accounting team, rephrase the question and ask about the team’s key performance indicators instead. This will also give you some insight on the metrics on which your individual performance will be evaluated in the role. How would you describe the company’s values? A company’s values are essentially the traits or beliefs that guide the organization and its people towards their ultimate goal. If you can relate to these values, you’ll be more likely to fit in and work well with others on your team. For instance, if humility is a core company value, it’ll be best not to boast about your achievements in front of your team. Refrain from asking this question if the company values are openly stated on the company website. What do you like the most about working with [company name]? Phrasing some of your questions in a way that asks for the interviewer’s opinion makes them feel that you value their personal insight. You’ll also be more likely to get more relatable answers that may not have been included in the job description. An alternative question along similar lines could be, “What do you find most challenging about working with [company name]?” What is the company culture like? OR How would you describe the company’s management/leadership style? When looking for your first job in Canada, it can be easy to focus on immediate priorities, such as salary, working hours, and travel time. However, it’s also important to keep in mind things that keep you motivated over the long run, such as a company’s culture and leadership style. Asking about these will give you a sense of your future work environment and help you adapt to the culture within your team. Questions to ask about growth and team What opportunities does the company offer for professional development? This question can help you assess if and how the company invests in the success of its people. As a newcomer, access to professional development resources, whether it’s a mentor, personalized training, or online courses, can help you bridge skill gaps, expand your areas of expertise, or prepare for the next step in your career path. Be careful how you phrase this question—it shouldn’t seem like you’re only interested in your own development and not in the position or company! What metrics, goals, or KPIs will be used to evaluate my performance? For most Canadian companies, success needs to be measurable and quantifiable. Asking how your success will be measured shows the interviewer that you’re serious and results-oriented. It also gives you insights about what your performance focus will be. For instance, if you’ll be assessed based on the number of new business prospects you bring in, you may have follow up questions about the average value per prospect. You may also be able to share some of your business development achievements from previous roles. What does the career path look like for someone in this position? When you interview with a company, you’ll likely do some research beforehand to get a glimpse into what your future in the company could be like. For instance, you may look up the interviewer or other team members on LinkedIn and track their career growth. In case this information is unclear or hard to find, it’s also perfectly acceptable to ask the interviewer about your potential career path in the organization. Try not to ask probing questions about lateral growth opportunities or the possibility of moving to another department, as it could lead them to question your interest in the role you’re actually interviewing for. Other questions for the interviewer during a job interview What are the next steps in the hiring process? The hiring process in Canada often involves multiple rounds of interviews to assess if you’re a technical and cultural fit. Once all your other questions are answered, ask what the next round will look like. If possible, get the names and designations of people you’ll meet next so you can research them in advance. If the next step is an assignment or test, ask about timelines so you can plan your week accordingly. When can I expect to hear from you on the next steps/decision? While asking whether you got the job is a big no-no, it’s perfectly okay to ask when you can expect to hear about the outcome of the interview. First, this will show the interviewer that you understand that the decision process takes time, but also that you’re excited to know if you’ve made it to the next step. Second, you may be able to get a subtle hint about how the interview went. If the interviewer seems eager to connect with you again, you likely have a good chance of being selected for the next round. However, these hints aren’t foolproof, so until you hear from the recruiter with a definite yes or no, don’t lose hope and keep up with your preparation. Do you have any concerns or final questions for me? Asking the interviewer if they have any concerns about your candidature gives you a final chance to address points that may negatively impact your chances. If the interviewer brings up a weak spot in your application, use this opportunity to give specific examples about your experience or transferable skills that’ll help you succeed in the role. Additional questions based on conversations during the interview While the list of questions we’ve shared is a good starting point, it’s also very important to listen to what the interviewer says during the interview and ask questions based on that. There’s nothing wrong with asking an occasional follow up question during the conversation to gather more information, as long as you’re not interrupting them or using up too much of the interview time. However, it’s usually best to save your questions for the end. It’s acceptable to take notes during an interview (although you’ll still want to prioritise making eye contact), and this can help you keep track of questions you may want to ask later on. Asking relevant questions based on your conversation is a great way to showcase that you’re an active listener, can think on your feet, and grasp key points on the fly. For instance, if the interviewer indicated that they’ve tried something in the past and it didn’t work, you may want to ask why they think it didn’t succeed or if they’re considering alternative approaches. These questions give you an opportunity to demonstrate what you already know about the company, the business environment, or the latest tools and technology. If you have experience with something similar, you may also want to talk about how you overcame challenges and solved the problem. A job interview isn’t just an opportunity for a potential employer to assess whether your skills are in line with what they are looking for. It’s also a chance for you to learn more about the company and decide whether it is the right fit for you. Towards the end of the interview, most hiring managers will ask if you have any questions for them. Going in prepared with intelligent questions is a great way to stand out as an ideal candidate and will help you land your first job in Canada. Original article located here, published by Arrive. About Arrive Arrive is powered by RBC Ventures Inc, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. In collaboration with RBC, Arrive is dedicated to helping newcomers achieve their life, career, and financial goals in Canada. An important part of establishing your financial life in Canada is finding the right partner to invest in your financial success. RBC is the largest bank in Canada* and here to be your partner in all of your financial needs. RBC supports Arrive, and with a 150-year commitment to newcomer success in Canada, RBC goes the extra mile in support and funding to ensure that the Arrive newcomer platform is FREE to all. * Based on market capitalization

The Rise and Fall of Cryptocurrency—Again

2021 saw a meteoric rise in the value of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. In addition, a reported 16% of Americans say they have invested in, traded or used cryptocurrency. But over the last two months, the value has dropped significantly. In September, El Salvador made Bitcoin a legal tender in the country and lost more than 20% of its investment in the four months since, resulting in the International Monetary Fund asking the country to stop its embrace of the currency. We have seen this song and dance before with cryptocurrency values dramatically rising and falling, but where do we go from here?  According to Villanova University's John Sedunov, PhD, an associate professor of finance, people might have invested in crypto as a hedge against rising inflation in the last year because there weren't alternatives to the stock market, which itself has seen its fair share of volatility. If that trend continues and inflation concerns aren't erased, more Americans could invest in crypto.  As crypto continues to work its way into the everyday vernacular, there could be an interesting player to help bring it more mainstream: traditional banks. Recently, JPMorgan announced a $12 billion investment into technology. JPMorgan, which has already launched one of its own digital coins, is ahead of the competition.  "I think if anything is going to lead the way, as backwards as it is, it will be the traditional banks, specifically JPMorgan," Dr. Sedunov said.  "Their reputation will bring competitors to market, allowing for the potential to become more mainstream." One of the key things, Dr. Sedunov notes, is that there needs to be wide knowledge and understanding about how cryptocurrency, and the blockchain where it's stored, actually works.  "Until it's easier to understand and explain and becomes common knowledge, it's going to be a rough ride. It has to get to the point where the utility and ease of use is not trivial. It's very easy to buy it, but to spend or move it, it's a painful process to avoid fees. It has to be easier to access."

Aston University and Alpharmaxim unite to revolutionise healthcare communications campaigns

Aston University has teamed up with Alpharmaxim Healthcare Communications to apply the latest behavioural psychology research to develop a unique prescribing behaviour tool for healthcare professionals. At present there is a growing recognition in the healthcare sector that measuring belief change and/or intent to change behaviour can determine the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. The Healthcare Belief-Barrier Identification Tool (H-BIT)will identify beliefs and barriers in prescribing behaviour of EU healthcare professionals in specific disease areas, enabling targeted communication strategies that maximise the reach of treatments. Alpharmaxim is a long-established specialist marketing communications agency in the healthcare sector that helps pharmaceutical companies create effective communication plans for their products or services. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) is a three-way collaboration between a business, an academic partner and a highly qualified graduate, known as a KTP associate. The UK-wide programme helps businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills. Aston University is the leading KTP provider within the Midlands. This KTP will combine Alpharmaxim’s rich history of harnessing behavioural psychology through their Belief Continuum® (BC) model with Aston University’s expertise in Nominal Group Technique (NGT), a structured method for group brainstorming that encourages contributions from everyone and facilitates quick agreement on the relative importance of issues, problems, or solutions. Applying NGT to objectively evaluate beliefs and behaviours that underpin behavioural change in a defined disease area will be unique in this field. The academic team from Aston University will be led by Dr Carl Senior, reader in psychology at Aston University. Dr Senior is a behavioural scientist with 20 years’ experience working at the interface between social psychology and organisational behaviour and was one of the first to develop a framework for applying NGT to understanding effective behaviour change. Commenting on the project, Dr Senior said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Alpharmaxim in this strategic relationship to lead change that is both focused and relevant to modern day health care.” Dr Senior will be joined by Dr Jason Thomas, senior lecturer in psychology at Aston University. Dr Thomas has spent the last ten years investigating novel approaches to encourage behavioural change, working with companies such as Direct Line and Starbucks to encourage their employees and customers to eat more healthily. William Hind, founder, controlling director and agency principal at Alpharmaxim, said: “We are delighted to be involved with this innovative KTP and hope the partnership will change the face of healthcare communications, ultimately improving the lives of patients with hard-to-treat diseases.”

Ask an Expert: Are airline concerns over 5G technology warranted?

Airlines around the world announced they were grounding planes this week as the rollout of 5G technology was set to begin. Major providers AT&T and Verizon halted their 5G rollout plans amidst the airlines’ claims that the technology would render a large swath of their aircraft unusable. Dr. Steven Holland, an associate professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering, helps sort out the validity of the airlines’ claims and explain why they are so concerned. Dr. Holland is an expert in electromagnetics, antennas and microwave/radio frequency circuits. “5G wireless systems promise transformational increases in wireless internet speed and connectivity. A key to the higher network speeds is increased 5G radio frequency spectrum usage. While reduced speed 5G has been operational in parts of the US for several years, new 5G frequency spectrum was set to become operational in early December 2021 and offer significantly higher network speeds. “However, rollout was delayed one month when the FAA raised warnings that 5G towers operating in this new spectrum could interfere with airplane radar altimeters, which operate at frequencies just above this new 5G spectrum. Altimeters are critical instruments in modern aircraft that measure a plane’s altitude, and thus potential interference could be disastrous. “While the altimeter and 5G frequency bands do not overlap, they are relatively close together, and the altimeter standards were set decades ago when the radio spectrum was far less crowded. As a result, the altimeter circuitry was not designed to operate in the vicinity of systems like the 5G towers that will transmit radio signals so close to the altimeter frequency range. “Due to limited testing, the FAA and FCC were not able to determine conclusively if the interference concern is warranted before the month-long delay expired in early January, and so an additional two-week delay was instituted. This brings us to today, January 19th – and still no conclusion has been reached by the FCC and FAA. To avoid further rollout delays, today several wireless carriers deployed the new 5G operating band on their networks except for those towers near airports. More extensive testing is needed to determine whether 5G interference is truly a risk to the altimeter systems.” Dr. Holland is available to speak with media about 5G technology and how it can impact aircraft. Simply click on his icon below to arrange an interview today.

Aston University bioenergy expert appointed to Department for Transport Science Advisory Council

Professor Thornley is director of the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University and the national Supergen Bioenergy Hub She is an international leader in assessing the sustainability of energy systems The Science Advisory Council provides independent, strategic advice and challenge to the Department for Transport. Bioenergy expert and director of the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University, Professor Patricia Thornley, has been appointed to the science advisory council of the Department for Transport (DfT). Professor Thornley is an international leader in assessing the sustainability of energy systems. Her work contributes to the understanding of how to best use low-carbon technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change. Her work is particularly influential in advising government on energy policy and supporting engineering deployment of low-carbon energy solutions in the UK and worldwide. The Science Advisory Council is a council of external experts who provide independent, strategic advice and challenge to the DfT on science and technology – speaking directly to decision-makers on some of the most important issues of the day that are relevant to the department’s policy and operations. Speaking on her appointment, Professor Thornley said: “I am delighted to take up this role and further develop the links between Aston University and the Department for Transport. "We already engage closely with departments across Whitehall to ensure policy is sustainable and fit for purpose in a net zero world. I’m excited to work with such esteemed colleagues on the DfT Science Advisory Council and to deepen the important relationship between policy and research.” The council examines how science and innovation can support policy in specific areas, working with officials to frame the policy issue and consulting additional subject-specific experts to bring new thinking and evidence into DfT. As a member of the Science Advisory Council Professor Thornley will support the Chief Scientific Adviser in ensuring departmental activity is informed by the best external expertise and evidence, advising and challenging the nature and quality of the DfT’s use of science and technology and identifying relevant emerging issues and trends. Professor Thornley has been recruited alongside four other new members and a new Chair, joining six continuing members. Department for Transport Chief Scientific Adviser, Sarah Sharples, said: “I’m pleased to welcome the new members appointed to the Science Advisory Council. They bring significant additional expertise in key areas that will support DfT’s effective use of science and engineering. "I look forward to working with them.” Professor Thornley’s appointment is for a four-year term ending in 2025.

Ask an Expert: Should Gaming Companies Release Their Latest, Greatest Platform Updates Early?

Late last year, Emory Business published an excellent article featuring research by Emory’s Ramnath K. Chellappa. An excerpt is included below and an attachment to the full article is attached as well. In June 2016, Xbox executive Phil Spencer told technology blog The Verge that it might be “crazy to announce something this early” as he unveiled the release of Xbox One X. It was a full year before the gaming console was set to hit the market. But Spencer, executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft, did so to arm customers with “as much information as possible.” He also wanted to communicate to developers what tools they’d have at their disposal. However, new research by Ramnath K. Chellappa, professor of Information Systems & Operations Management; associate dean and academic director for the MS in Business Analytics at Goizueta Business School, and Rajiv Mukherjee, assistant professor of information and operations management, Texas A&M University Mays Business School, shows that these types of preannouncements, no matter how informative, may not always be in a company’s best interests. According to Chellappa and Mukherjee, the value of preannouncing the latest and greatest features of a gaming console isn’t nearly as straightforward as the value gained by alerting customers to a new version of a Ford F150. While it may sound counterintuitive, as Chellappa and Mukherjee explain in their recent paper, “Platform Preannouncement Strategies: The Strategic Role of Information in Two-Sided Markets Competition,” sometimes the best way to announce new features in a platform-based world is by saying nothing at all. “We’re dealing with an ecosystem when we buy platforms,” Chellappa explains. “There’s a big difference between how products provide utility to an end-user versus how platforms provide utility to two sides of a market, one of which might be end-users.” When a company unveils a new version of a bicycle or television, there isn’t an ecosystem associated with those products. “But when you buy a gaming console, the value of you owning that console goes up as more of your friends play the same console,” Chellappa says. In their paper, the authors refer to this type of value as “same-side network effects.” In the platform world, Chellappa adds, there are also “cross-side network effects” in play—that the value of the gaming console goes up as more games are developed for that console. While many studies in marketing have focused on product preannouncements, the pair’s paper, published in Management Science earlier this year, is the first to study the use of preannouncements as a strategic lever for platforms rather than products. To conduct their research, the authors used game theoretic analysis to study three specific preannouncement strategies: formal (advertising, participating in tradeshows, developer training programs); informal (releasing information on a user or developer forum); and no announcement at all. The authors use Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation gaming consoles as the primary setup in their paper (although their findings are generalizable to similar platforms). What Chellappa and Mukherjee found was that there were scenarios where it made sense to preannounce, but other scenarios where companies would be better off making either a lackluster preannouncement or none at all. “You would think that if I’m going to put out a new platform that has a lot of new features, I should inform the market about all those things,” explains Chellappa. “But what we find is that sometimes the competitive effects can force you not to announce much about the products you’re releasing because it might create a kind of a price competition.” For instance, a headline in an August 2020 blog in tomsguide.com comparing Xbox One X to Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro, stated: “The Xbox One has more power than the PlayStation 4 Pro, but Sony fights back with an incredible game lineup and a lower price.” The article also includes insight including: Agents and Developers Create Business Model for Two-Sided Markets and Strategic Preannouncements Push Prices and Licensing Fees Higher The article is attached here – it’s well worth reading the entire piece. Gaming is a billion-dollar business – and if you are looking to know more about this subject – then let our experts help. Dr. Ramnath K. Chellappa is Associate Dean and Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program. He is also the Goizueta Foundation Term Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at the Goizueta Business School, Emory University. Ramnath is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

ExpertSpotlight: Georgia Southern researchers working to curb exposure to carcinogenic dust on construction sites

Research offers larger implications for health care environments Some of the most dangerous contaminants aren’t visible to the naked eye, but Georgia Southern University researchers are working to protect construction workers from this invisible danger. In the construction world, chronic exposure to crystalline silica, which is present in dust particles created from drilling, grinding and sawing on job sites, can lead to serious medical issues and preventable fatalities. Atin Adhikari, Ph.D, associate professor in Georgia Southern’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, has been awarded a $28,400 grant from Poma 22, LLC, to test new air curtain technology that could protect construction workers from hazardous fine dust particles. As the principal investigator (PI), Adhikari will work with co-PIs Aniruddha Mitra, Ph.D, professor of mechanical engineering, and Saman Hedjazi, Ph.D, assistant professor of civil engineering and construction management, from Georgia Southern’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. “This research is important and innovative because we will test a revolutionary technology against fine dust exposure in construction sites that integrates a filtered air duct system into a hard hat, creating an air curtain or armor,” said Adhikari. “If we get a promising result, then this technology can be applied against other types of particles including bioparticles present in healthcare work environments.” Graduate research assistant Victoria Clower, who is earning a Master of Public Health in environmental health sciences, values her involvement in life-changing research. “This study of new technology on dust exposure control in construction sites will be very valuable with the quantifiable results showing the effectiveness of the air curtain technology,” she said. “As someone who is interested in occupational health, I am excited to work on a study that may provide an opportunity for other innovations for workplace safety to improve.” The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational and Safety Health Administration estimates roughly 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work. Workers at risk can develop lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. In addition, approximately 500 preventable silica-related deaths occur each year. As an environmental public health researcher, Adhikari has published numerous peer-reviewed studies on air quality and filtration. This project will focus on testing a newly developed respiratory protection technology, the Z Flow Pro helmet, which provides a downward draft through the front of the helmet, creating an air curtain in front of the worker’s face. Previous research has found that the air curtain is strong enough to deflect larger, visible particles. Adhikari and his team will conduct comprehensive field testing of this new technology to determine if it is also effective protection against fine particles, providing valuable information and justification on the readiness level of this product to protect construction workers. If you’re a journalist looking to cover this new testing that Georgia Southern is a major part of – then let us help. Atin Adhikari is available to answer your questions - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

Experts in the Media: Check out how Georgia Southern is leading the way in groundbreaking cancer research

Recently, the expertise of Georgia Southern University’s researchers was featured in an in-depth piece by Business Insider Magazine. U.S. oncology company OncoTEX has made a significant leap in the future of cancer treatment. A part of the bioscience development portfolio The iQ Group Global, OncoTEX has licensed a gold compound platform technology, AuraTEX, that helps destroy cancer cells by using the body’s immune system. The gold-based compounds enter cancer cells and attack them from the inside. Through this process, the tumours are disrupted, and cancer cells are made visible, causing the human body’s immune response to kick in. With the immune system and gold compounds working together, killer T-cells and the drug destroy the remaining cancer. The futuristic technology was developed in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Southern University, and Wright State University, before being licensed to OncoTEX. In the coming months, OncoTEX and the University of Texas at Austin will test the gold compounds in rigorous studies to learn more about the treatment and its potential in fighting various forms of cancer.  December 16 - Business Insider The full article is attached. And, If you’re a journalist looking to cover this new research that Georgia Southern is a major part of - – then let us help. We have experts available to answer your questions - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

Is there such a thing as ‘a little cheating’ in American schools? Let our expert explain.

Cheating … it’s a universal tactic that seems to be a part of every academic institution regardless of subject, program or geography. Recently, Inside Higher Ed took a look at how students view cheating – and how their perspective of just what constitutes cheating is viewed. UMW’s David Rettinger provided his expert take on just what is going on in American schools. How acceptable is it to use study websites, or Google, to find answers to test or homework questions? What about using unapproved technology or tools to assist in an online exam? And would it be OK to give credit to another team member on a group project even if that person did not participate? These are a few ways the latest Student Voice survey, conducted in mid- to late October by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse with support from Kaplan, explored the nuances of academic integrity and what students view as unethical… When David Rettinger, president emeritus of the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), looked over the Student Voice data, he was drawn to the numbers that showed how much students realize certain actions would be considered cheating. “Some of [the unacceptable responses] are a little lighter for sure, but students generally would describe these behaviors as unacceptable,” says Rettinger, a professor of psychological science and director of academic integrity programs at the University of Mary Washington. “Their institutions talk about these things, and students know what they’re supposed to do, yet students cheat a fair bit.” He can imagine a stressed-out student saying, “I know it’s unacceptable, mostly I don’t do it, but in this situation, I’m going to do something I generally don’t believe in.” “That poses a problem for us as administrators,” he adds. December 07 – Inside Higher Ed Professor of Psychological Science David Rettinger oversees Academic Integrity Programs at the University of Mary Washington. He is available to provide expert insight into this study and the concept of students who cheat while attending at American colleges and universities. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Emory Experts - Why Companies Invest in Local Social Media Influencers

Companies seek local influencers to pitch products. Even though most influencers amass geographically dispersed followings on social media, companies are willing to funnel billions of sponsorship dollars to multiple influencers located in different geographic areas, effectively creating sponsorships that span cities, countries, and in some cases even, the globe. The desire to work with local influencers has spawned advertising agencies that specialize in connecting companies with influencers and may soon redefine the influencer economy. This trend has merit, our research team finds. In a new Journal of Marketing study, we show a positive link between online influence and how geographically close an influencer’s followers are located. The nearer a follower is geographically to someone who posts an online recommendation, the more likely she is to follow that recommendation. To investigate whether geographical distance still matters when word of mouth is disseminated online, our research team examined thousands of actual purchases made on Twitter. We found the likelihood that people who saw a Tweet mentioning someone they follow bought a product would subsequently also buy the product increases the closer they reside to the purchaser. Not only were followers significantly associated with a higher likelihood to heed an influencer’s recommendation the closer they physically resided to the influencer, the more quickly they were to do so, too. We find that this role of geographic proximity in the effectiveness of online influence occurs across several known retailers and for different types of products, including video game consoles, electronics and sports equipment, gift cards, jewelry, and handbags. We show the results hold even when using different ways to statistically measure the effects, including state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning techniques on millions of Twitter messages. We posit that this role of geographic proximity may be due to an invisible connection between people that is rooted in the commonality of place. This invisible link can lead people to identify more closely with someone who is located nearby, even if they do not personally know that person. The result is that people are more likely to follow someone’s online recommendation when they live closer to them. These online recommendations can take any form, from a movie review to a restaurant rating to a product pitch. What makes these findings surprising is that experts predicted the opposite effect when the internet first became widely adopted. Experts declared the death of distance. In theory, this makes sense: people don’t need to meet in person to share their opinions, reviews, and purchases when they can do so electronically. What the experts who envisioned the end of geography may have overlooked, however, is how people decide whose online opinion to trust. This is where cues that indicate a person’s identity, such as where that person lives in the real world, come into play. We may be more likely to trust the online opinion from someone who lives in the same city as us than from someone who lives farther away, simply because we have location in common. Known as the social identity theory, this process explains how individuals form perceptions of belonging to and relating to a community. Who we identify with can affect the degree to which we are influenced, even when this influence occurs online. Our findings imply that technology and electronic communications do not completely overcome the forces that govern influence in the real world. Geographical proximity still matters, even in the digital space. The findings also suggest that information and cues about an individual’s identity online, such as where he/she lives, may affect his/her influence on others through the extent to which others feel they can relate to him/her. These findings on how spatial proximity may still be a tie that binds even in an online world affirm what some companies have long suspected. Local influencers may have a leg up in the influence game and are worth their weight in location. For these reasons, companies may want to work with influencers who have more proximal connections to increase the persuasiveness of their online advertising, product recommendation, and referral programs. Government officials and not-for-profit organizations may similarly want to partner with local ambassadors to more effectively raise awareness of—and change attitudes and behaviors towards—important social issues. Goizueta faculty members Vilma Todri, assistant professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, Panagiotis (Panos) Adamopoulos, assistant professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, and Michelle Andrews, assistant professor of marketing, shared the following article with the American Marketing Association to highlight their new study published in the Journal of Marketing. To contact any of the experts for an interview regarding this topic, simply click on their icon to arrange a time to talk today.