The study of media effects has driven mass communication research for most of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Scholars have developed, tested, and supported various theories of media effects. The key to this research is uncovering the explanation for the way mass media exposure translates into effects. Over the history of our field, the study
Models are simplified representations of reality that help people to handle the largely undifferentiated mass of stimuli that impinges on their senses. Model, then, is a generic term for any systematic set of guesses or interpretations that people make about their surroundings. Some writers label these models as theories, hypotheses, theses, paradigms, propositions, or even
Lucy is among the most famous fossil skeletons believed to represent an early stage of hominid evolution following separation of the human lineage from its nearest living ape relative. At 3.2 million years, Lucy was the oldest and most complete hominid skeleton that clearly showed evidence of bipedal locomotion. The label “Lucy” provided a personal
There are two primary views of role models. One, the traditional view, depicts role models as persons critical to an individual’s career development process. They often occupy socially important roles, such as leaders, managers, teachers, and coaches. They offer individuals a way to refine their developing identity by providing an image of someone they would
Representation and explanation of complex communication phenomena are goals of communication research and theory building. To reach these goals, communication science uses simplified representations, also known as scientific models. Scientific models describe, in simplified form, the order of elements in a system and their relations to each other. These relations can be described as temporal
Several major models have been used to represent organic evolution on earth. These models include the arc, line, spiral, circle, pyramid, and tree or bush or coral of life forms throughout biological history. Aristotle (384-322 BCE), the father of biology, including morphology and taxonomy, taught that plants and animals represent a hierarchical line of eternally
A model is a simplified description in graphic form of some aspect of reality. A model of communication seeks to show the main elements of any structure or process of human social action and the relations between these elements, plus any flow or exchange that takes place. The main benefits are to organize disparate elements
Count data regression is now a well-established tool in econometrics. If the outcome variable is measured as a non-negative count, y, yϵN0= 0, 1, 2,…. and the object of interest is the marginal impact of a change in the variable x on the regression function E[y|x], then a count regression is a relevant tool of
Often one is interested in the time spent in a specific state and the effect of variables influencing the length of stay; for example, how long does a patient stay in a hospital and what is the effect of a medical intervention. The state can also be employment, and one may be interested in the
The term model is used in multiple ways in science and there are several different kinds of models. The most basic scientific models are material and conceptual analogues. They are copies that stand in for more opaque systems. Cloud chambers and cell cultures are examples of material models, whereas conceptual models are more abstract analogies
Ecological models of urban form describe and explain the spatial patterns taken by the distribution of people, buildings, and activities across a city’s terrain. This orderly set of spatial arrangements is known as the city’s land use pattern or spatial form. Through the years ecological researchers have identified three major models of the geometry of
Emotion is an integral part of human functioning and can enhance or hinder individual and team performance. This entry defines emotion and then provides an overview of theories and models that have been used to explain and describe the relationship between emotion and performance. These include multidimensional anxiety theory (MAT), the individual zones of optimal
This article delves into the realm of health psychology by examining the pivotal role of Risk Assessment Models derived from the Framingham Outcomes. Commencing with an elucidation of the background and significance of health psychology, the narrative navigates through the inception and objectives of the Framingham Heart Study. The first section delves into the foundational
This article delves into the intricate landscape of personal models of illness in healthcare within the realm of health psychology. Beginning with an exploration of the formative influences on personal models, including cultural, familial, and experiential factors, it elucidates the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components inherent in individual perceptions of health and illness. The subsequent
Occupational stress research refers to the study of the negative impact of organizational environments on employees. In the last half century, occupational stress has become an important topic within the field of industrial and organizational psychology, and there is no reason to believe this will change in the near future. In this entry, some of
This article explores the pivotal role of psychological models in patient education within the realm of health psychology. The introduction elucidates the significance of patient education in health psychology, paving the way for an in-depth analysis of theoretical frameworks such as the Health Belief Model (HBM), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM)
Relational Models Theory Definition The relational models theory describes the four fundamental forms of social relationships: communal sharing, authority ranking, equality matching, and market pricing. People in communal sharing relationships feel that they have something essential in common, whereas outsiders are different. Participants in an authority ranking relationship see themselves as ordered in a legitimate
This article delves into the intricate relationship between Managed Care Models and access to mental health services within the realm of health psychology. Beginning with a comprehensive introduction, the discourse elucidates Managed Care Models’ conceptual framework, emphasizing their pivotal role in modern healthcare systems. Subsequently, the narrative navigates through the intricacies of different Managed Care