Competing for attention:An empirical study of online reviewers's strategic behavior
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An Empirical Perspective on the Duty to RescueI.介绍习惯法中的救助方法清楚而简单。
出了有限的几个例外情况,习惯法中没有救助责任,不论救助有多简单抑或是不救助可能的结果。
1通过限制救助者在侵权案中对于其遭到伤害的案件的胜诉的可能性,习惯法实际上是在抑制救助行为的。
一代代的法学专业学生了解无救助责任法则,他们主要是通过阅读假设的小孩溺水于浴缸案件以及实际的人们溺水与河渠或湖泊的案件,而旁观者则无所作为。
无责任法则在美国的四十七个州占优但是却不受欢迎。
当某个不救助案件广为人知,报纸社论以及电视评论员便会公开指责那些漠不关心的旁观者。
假如人们能够知道并认出那个不救助者,那么他将会成为众矢之的。
负责案件的检查官只能不情愿地承认在此情况下刑法是无约束力的,只能在道义上谴责不救助者。
如果不救助者真的遭到侵权起诉,那么法官将不会受理,但是会要求不救助者去向上帝解释未能救助的问题。
政治家会通过立法来改变习惯法的这一法则。
人们会将诸如Kitty Genovese案件的臭名昭著的不救助案件与之进行比较。
迅速地,在学术会议以及座谈会,与会者将会批评不救助法则以及那些漠不关心的旁观者。
提倡共产主义社会者会说美国的公民责任心不强,在乎社会的学者则会说不救助法则正向人们传达错误的极具感染性的信息。
女权主义者则会遣责男性主导的强调个人自治以及个人决策的侵权法。
心理学家以及进化生物学家则会提出来源于利他主义以及集体性缺乏的研究。
惩罚性法制学者会认为法律应该执行大众的道德直觉意志。
比较法学者则会建议美国应该学习其他世界文明国家采用救助责任。
法律以及经济学学者会争论不及尊责任是否是有效的。
教条学者会讨论处理对未来不救助者的刑事和民事侵权的制裁的优缺点。
谴责目前法律状态的法律评论文章与短文将会出版。
然后,这一案件的争论将会告一段落,直到下一不救助案件的出现。
在这一系列的愤怒表现中,每个人表现地好像不救助行为经常发生而救助法律急需确立。
全文分为作者个人简介和正文两个部分:作者个人简介:Hello everyone, I am an author dedicated to creating and sharing high-quality document templates. In this era of information overload, accurate and efficient communication has become especially important. I firmly believe that good communication can build bridges between people, playing an indispensable role in academia, career, and daily life. Therefore, I decided to invest my knowledge and skills into creating valuable documents to help people find inspiration and direction when needed.正文:总强调认识一致,又推崇见解读到的英语作文全文共3篇示例,供读者参考篇1Conformity: The Cornerstone of Unity, Yet Obstructed by the Siren Call of DiversityAs students navigating the tumultuous currents of academia, we are confronted with a paradoxical dilemma that challengesthe very foundations of our intellectual pursuits. On one hand, we are inundated with the clarion call for unity, a harmonious convergence of perspectives that fosters a sense of belonging and cohesion within our scholarly community. Yet, on the other, we are seduced by the alluring siren song of diversity, a celebration of divergent viewpoints that promises to broaden our horizons and enrich our understanding of the world around us.It is within this delicate balance that we must tread carefully, for the path we choose will inevitably shape the trajectory of our academic journey and, by extension, the very fabric of society itself. And it is through the lens of literature, that vast tapestry of human experience and expression, that we can glimpse the intricate interplay between these seemingly contradictory forces.In the hallowed halls of our institutions, we are taught to revere the pursuit of knowledge as a sacred undertaking, a quest for truth that transcends the boundaries of individual biases and preconceptions. It is here that the clarion call for conformity resonates most profoundly, a rallying cry for a unified front against the insidious forces of ignorance and divisiveness. For what is knowledge if not a shared understanding, a consensusforged through rigorous discourse and the relentless scrutiny of our peers?And yet, even as we revel in the comforting embrace of this collective wisdom, we cannot ignore the siren call of diversity that echoes through the pages of the literary masterpieces we study. It is within these timeless works that we encounter a kaleidoscope of perspectives, each one a unique prism through which the human experience is refracted, casting a multitude of hues upon the canvas of our understanding.Take, for instance, the seminal works of Shakespeare, those towering pillars of the English literary canon. In the tragic tale of "Romeo and Juliet," we are confronted with the devastating consequences of unyielding conformity, as the titular lovers are torn asunder by the unrelenting feud between their families, a clash of ideologies that ultimately leads to their untimely demise. Yet, in the same breath, we are presented with a poignant celebration of individuality, as the star-crossed lovers defy the conventions of their time, their love transcending the boundaries imposed by societal norms.Or consider the haunting prose of Toni Morrison's "Beloved," a searing exploration of the enduring legacy of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit. Here, we arechallenged to confront the harsh realities of a society built upon the subjugation of an entire people, a stark reminder of the dangers of conformity when it is wielded as a tool of oppression. And yet, amidst the harrowing tales of suffering and resilience, we are also invited to embrace the rich tapestry of cultural diversity that has woven itself into the very fabric of our nation.It is through these literary lenses that we are forced to grapple with the inherent tension between conformity and diversity, a tug-of-war that has shaped the course of human civilization since time immemorial. For every instance where conformity has been lauded as a unifying force, there is an equal and opposite reaction, a clarion call for the celebration of individuality and the embracement of diverse perspectives.And herein lies the crux of our dilemma: how do we reconcile these opposing forces, these competing ideologies that threaten to tear asunder the very foundations upon which our scholarly pursuits are built? The answer, I posit, lies not in the wholesale rejection of either principle, but rather in a delicate balancing act, a constant recalibration of our moral compasses to navigate the treacherous waters of academic discourse.We must embrace conformity as a guiding light, a beacon that illuminates the path toward shared understanding andcollective progress. For it is through the synthesis of our disparate viewpoints that we can forge a unified front against the forces of ignorance and division, a bulwark against the insidious forces that seek to undermine the very pursuit of knowledge itself.Yet, even as we revel in the comforting embrace of this collective wisdom, we must remain ever vigilant against the seductive allure of conformity taken to its extremes. For when conformity becomes dogma, when it is wielded as a cudgel to silence dissent and stifle the free exchange of ideas, it threatens to extinguish the very spark of intellectual curiosity that has propelled our species to the heights of enlightenment.It is here that we must turn to the siren call of diversity, that vibrant tapestry of perspectives and experiences that enriches our understanding of the world around us. For it is through the celebration of our differences, the embrace of divergent viewpoints, that we can truly expand the boundaries of our knowledge and challenge the status quo.In this endeavor, literature serves as our guiding light, a beacon that illuminates the myriad pathways of human experience and invites us to explore the rich tapestry of perspectives that have shaped our cultural landscape. Whether itbe the poignant explorations of identity and belonging in the works of Jhumpa Lahiri, or the searing indictments of social injustice that permeate the pages of James Baldwin's "The Fire Next Time," these literary masterpieces challenge us to confront the uncomfortable truths that lie beyond the realm of conformity.And it is through this constant interplay, this delicate dance between conformity and diversity, that we can truly unlock the full potential of our academic pursuits. For it is only by embracing the unifying force of shared understanding while simultaneously celebrating the richness of our differences that we can forge a path toward true enlightenment.In the end, our journey through the hallowed halls of academia is not a linear progression, but rather a winding path that meanders through the peaks and valleys of human experience. And it is through the lens of literature that we can navigate this treacherous terrain, guided by the dual beacons of conformity and diversity, each one illuminating a different facet of the human condition.So let us embrace this paradox, this delicate balance between the forces that seek to unite us and those that celebrate our individuality. For it is only by walking this tightrope, byembracing the inherent tensions that exist within the pursuit of knowledge, that we can truly unlock the full potential of our academic endeavors and forge a path toward a more enlightened, more inclusive, and ultimately, more human understanding of the world around us.篇2The Power of Groupthink and Individual InterpretationAs students, we are constantly bombarded with a multitude of ideas, perspectives, and ideologies, each vying for our attention and acceptance. In this vast sea of information, it can be tempting to simply conform to the prevailing narratives, adopting the views and opinions that seem most widely embraced. However, I would argue that true intellectual growth and personal development lie in striking a delicate balance between adhering to collective wisdom and cultivating our own unique interpretations based on diligent reading and critical analysis.The allure of groupthink is undeniable. There is a certain comfort in aligning oneself with the dominant paradigms, in embracing the safety and security of shared beliefs. After all, it is human nature to seek validation and acceptance from our peers,and to avoid the discomfort and potential ostracization that may arise from diverging too drastically from the norm. Moreover, there is a certain practicality in adopting widely accepted views, as they often represent the distillation of collective knowledge and experience.However, we must be cautious not to allow this pursuit of conformity to stifle our intellectual curiosity and independent thought. History is replete with examples of societies that succumbed to the tyranny of groupthink, stagnating in their development and even embracing harmful or oppressive ideologies simply because they were the prevailing narratives of the time.It is crucial, therefore, that we temper our desire for acceptance and validation with a willingness to question, to challenge, and to forge our own paths of understanding. This is where the importance of reading and interpretation comes into play.Through the act of reading, we expose ourselves to a vast array of ideas, perspectives, and worldviews. Each author, each text, offers a unique lens through which to perceive and comprehend the complexities of our world. By engaging withthese diverse voices and perspectives, we open ourselves to new possibilities, new ways of thinking and seeing.Yet, reading alone is not enough. It is imperative that we approach these texts with a critical eye, that we strive to interpret and analyze the ideas presented, rather than merely accepting them at face value. This process of interpretation is where our true intellectual growth occurs.As we read and interpret, we must be willing to challenge our preconceptions, to question our assumptions, and to engage in a constant dialogue with the text and with ourselves. We must be open to having our beliefs and perspectives evolve, to allowing new understandings to take root and flourish.This process of interpretation is not a solitary endeavor, however. It is enriched and deepened through discourse and collaboration with our peers. By sharing our interpretations, by engaging in respectful debate and discussion, we not only refine our own understanding but also contribute to the collective wisdom of our community.Yet, even as we engage in this collaborative process, we must remain vigilant against the siren song of groupthink. We must resist the temptation to simply adopt the prevailing interpretations, to conform to the dominant narratives, withoutsubjecting them to the same rigorous scrutiny and analysis that we apply to our own understandings.It is in this dynamic interplay between conformity and individuality, between embracing collective wisdom and cultivating personal interpretation, that true intellectual growth and personal development occur.By acknowledging and respecting the collective knowledge and experiences of our communities, while simultaneously fostering an environment that encourages critical thinking, independent analysis, and respectful discourse, we can create a rich tapestry of understanding that draws upon the strengths of both conformity and individuality.In this way, we can navigate the complexities of our world with a sense of shared purpose and understanding, while also remaining open to new perspectives, new interpretations, and new possibilities. We can honor the wisdom of our predecessors while simultaneously paving the way for future generations to build upon our collective knowledge and insights.Ultimately, the path to true intellectual growth and personal development lies not in blindly adhering to groupthink nor in stubbornly clinging to individual interpretations, but in striking a harmonious balance between the two. By embracing thecollective wisdom of our communities while also nurturing our own critical faculties and interpretive abilities, we can forge a path that is both grounded in shared understanding and open to constant evolution and growth.It is this delicate dance between conformity and individuality, between groupthink and personal interpretation, that will enable us to navigate the complexities of our world with wisdom, insight, and a deep appreciation for the richness and diversity of human thought and experience.篇3The Paradox of Consensus and IndividualityAs students, we are constantly bombarded with the notion that unity and consensus are paramount. Teachers, administrators, and even our peers incessantly drill into us the importance of aligning our thoughts and actions with the prevailing norms and ideologies. Conformity, they preach, is the pathway to success, the bedrock of a harmonious society. Yet, within the hallowed halls of academia, an opposing force tugs at our intellectual curiosity – the siren call of diverse perspectives found within the pages of great literary works.On one hand, we are urged to subsume our individuality to the collective will, to march in lockstep with the established order. Dissent, we are warned, breeds chaos and disunity, fracturing the delicate fabric of our educational institutions. Uniformity of thought and action is lauded as the epitome of academic excellence, the pinnacle of scholarly achievement.However, as we delve into the rich tapestry of literature, a paradox emerges. The very works that shape our understanding of the world and ignite our thirst for knowledge celebrate the virtues of independent thought and the exploration of alternative viewpoints. From the defiant musings of Thoreau to the searing social critiques of Orwell, the literary canon is replete with voices that challenge the status quo and dare us to question the boundaries of conventional wisdom.It is a perplexing dichotomy – the simultaneous exaltation of conformity and the veneration of dissenting perspectives. How can we reconcile these seemingly contradictory tenets? Do we surrender our individuality in pursuit of academic and social harmony, or do we embrace the intellectual diversity that great literature espouses?Perhaps the answer lies not in a binary choice, but in a delicate balance – a nuanced equilibrium where consensus andindividuality coexist in a symbiotic dance. For it is through the interplay of diverse ideas that true progress is born, that the boundaries of human knowledge are pushed ever outward.Consider the great scientific and philosophical revolutions that have shaped the course of human history. Were it not for the audacious thinkers who dared to challenge the prevailing paradigms, we might still cling to the geocentric model of the universe or the notion that the Earth is flat. It was the dissenting voices, the mavericks who refused to conform, that propelled us towards greater understanding and enlightenment.Yet, for every revolutionary idea that has reshaped our world, countless others have fallen by the wayside, consigned to the dustbin of history. It is here that the value of consensus asserts itself, acting as a filter to separate the wheat from the chaff, the profound from the prosaic. For not every dissenting voice is a harbinger of progress; some are mere echoes of misguided or even dangerous ideologies.Thus, the path forward lies in striking a delicate balance – a willingness to embrace diverse perspectives while simultaneously subjecting them to the crucible of rigorous scrutiny and collective wisdom. We must cultivate a culture of intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness, where dissentingvoices are not merely tolerated but actively encouraged and engaged with. Yet, we must also temper our individualism with a reverence for established knowledge and a commitment to the shared pursuit of truth.In this way, our academic institutions can become incubators of innovation and progress, where the symbiosis of consensus and individuality fuels the inexorable march of human understanding. We can honor the great literary works that have shaped our worldviews while simultaneously contributing our own unique perspectives to the ever-evolving tapestry of human knowledge.It is a challenging equilibrium to maintain, a tightrope walk that requires equal parts humility and audacity. But it is a path worth treading, for it is in the fertile intersection of conformity and dissent that the greatest intellectual achievements are born.As students, we stand at a crossroads – the confluence of individual expression and collective wisdom. Will we surrender to the siren song of blind conformity, sacrificing our intellectual independence on the altar of academic harmony? Or will we embrace the rich diversity of perspectives that literature has bequeathed us, daring to challenge the boundaries ofconventional thought while remaining grounded in the shared pursuit of truth?The choice is ours, and the ramifications will resonate far beyond the confines of our academic pursuits. For it is in our ability to navigate this paradox that the future of human progress lies – a future where consensus and individuality are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary forces, propelling us ever forward on the path of knowledge and enlightenment.。
empirical的用法和短语1. Empirical is such a cool word! It basically means based on experience or observation. For example, I told my friend, "I have an empirical knowledge of how to make the best chocolate chip cookies. I've made them so many times and learned from each attempt."2. You know what empirical is like? It's like a treasure chest full of real - life lessons. When my grandpa said, "I have empirical evidence that working hard always pays off. I've seen it in my own life and in the lives of those around me."3. Empirical can be a real game - changer. Imagine you're trying to figure out which route to work is quickest. You can't just guess. You need empirical data. Like my coworker who said, "I've been timing my different routes for weeks. That's empirical research right there."4. Empirical is the key to making smart decisions. It's not about what you think might work, but what has actually worked. I once told my sister, "Your idea for the party sounds fun, but we should also consider empirical facts. Last time we had a party like that, it was chaos."5. This word empirical is like a compass in the world of knowledge. My teacher said, "We use empirical methods in science to find the truth. Just like how sailors use a compass to find their way." For example, scientists study the empirical results of experiments to draw conclusions.6. Empirical knowledge is like gold. It's precious because it's been tested. I heard a mechanic say, "I have empirical know - how when it comes to fixing cars. I've fixed so many different problems over the years."7. Have you ever thought about how empirical evidence can save you from making big mistakes? I was thinking of buying a new phone just because it looked cool. But then my friend said, "Don't be silly. Look for empirical reviews online first. See what people who actually used it have to say."8. Empirical is a word that gives power to the practical. My dad always says, "I don't believe in just theories. I believe in empirical facts." For instance, when he was building our shed, he relied on his empirical skills from previous building projects.9. Empirical thinking can open up new worlds. It's like a magic key. My neighbor said, "I started using empirical thinking in my garden. I observed which plants grew well in which spots, and now my garden is amazing."10. Empirical data is like a map to success. I was trying to start a business. My mentor told me, "You need to gather empirical data about your potential customers. Know what they really want, just like you would read a map to find your destination."11. Empirical is not just a word; it's a way of life for some people. My aunt is a great cook. She says, "All my recipes are based on empirical testing. I adjust the ingredients according to how the dish turns out each time."12. You can't underestimate the value of empirical understanding. It's like having a superpower. I told my brother, "If you want to be good at sports, you need empirical awareness of your body's limits and capabilities."13. Empirical evidence is the voice of reality. I remember in a debate, someone said, "Don't just spout ideas. Show me the empirical evidence." Forexample, when discussing climate change, scientists present empirical data from years of research.14. Empirical knowledge is the fruit of experience. My grandma said, "I have so much empirical knowledge about raising children. I learned from raising my own and watching others."15. What would we do without empirical methods? It would be likesailing without a rudder. A scientist once told me, "We use empirical methods to stay on the right track in our research. Otherwise, we'd be lost."16. Empirical is a word that makes you stop and think about the real world. I was chatting with a friend about relationships. He said, "Youcan't rely on just feelings. There's empirical evidence about what makes relationships work."17. Empirical facts are like building blocks for wisdom. My uncle said, "I've collected a lot of empirical facts over the years, and they've built up my wisdom." For example, his knowledge of different cultures came from his empirical interactions with people from all over.18. Empirical research is like a detective's work. You have to dig deep and find the clues. I heard a researcher say, "I'm doing empirical research on ancient civilizations. I'm looking for all the little details that will tell the real story."19. Empirical knowledge is something you can trust. It's not flimsylike some wild guesses. I told my cousin, "The advice I'm giving you is based on empirical knowledge. I've been in your situation before and learned from it."20. Empirical is a word that lights up the path of knowledge. My librarian friend said, "When you read books based on empirical research, you're walking on a well - lit path of truth." For example, reading medical books based on empirical studies can give you reliable health information.。
The attractiveness and competitiveness of tourist destinations: A study of Southern Italian regions Abstract:The present paper aims to assess the relative attractiveness of competing tourist destinations on the basis of individual visitors' perceptions regarding a holiday destination. Using the feeling of tourist well-being achieved by individual tourists we evaluate indirectly the competitive ability of the tourist area to offer a compound tourist site attractiveness. The methodology employed here uses individual survey questionnaires on the tourists' evaluation of the quality of tourist facilities and attributes in a given area (the ‘regional tourist profile’) as the basis for constructing an aggregate expression for the relative attractiveness of that area. Using various multidimensional statistical techniques an estimation of the competitive attractiveness of the Southern regions in Italy is pursued. We also compare our findings with quantitative results on tourist competitiveness values obtained in a related previous study on tourist competitiveness in Italian regions. Finally, the paper highlights the need to use micro and macro data to analyse tourist attractiveness and to identify policies for improving regional tourist competitiveness.Keywords: Tourist attractiveness; Tourist competitiveness; Resource based view; Multi-attribute utility; Principal component analysis1. IntroductionDiscretionary time consumption has become an important activity for many people in a modern welfare society. As a consequence, the leisure sector has become a prominent economic industry in the Western world. The rise in disposable income and in free time in recent decades has created thefoundation for a new lifestyle, where recreation and tourism have become major elements of consumer behaviour. Today, in many regions and countries, tourism is regarded as one of the major growth industries that deserve due policy attention. Clearly, tourism has become a global socio-economic phenomenon in a mobile world.The new trend in modern tourism towards non-traditional and remote destinations is likely an expression of the passage from mass tourism to a new age of tourism, and illustrates a change in the attitudes and needs of many tourists towards tailor-made tourist facilities ([Fayos–Solà, 1996] and [Poon, 1993]). Nowadays, isolated or previously unknown destinations have become places to be explored, since they meet the tourists' expectations: namely, a unique or special leisure experience based on a specific tourist destination profile.A tourist destination (e.g. city, region or site) is at present often no longer seen as a set of distinct natural, cultural, artistic or environmental resources, but as an overall appealing product available in a certain area: a complex and integrated portfolio of services offered by a destination that supplies a holiday experience which meets the needs of the tourist. A tourist destination thus produces a compound package of tourist services based on its indigenous supply potential. This may also create fierce competition between traditional destinations seeking to maintain and expand their market share and new destinations that are trying to acquire a significant and growing market share. The success of tourist destinations thus depends on their regional tourist competitiveness in terms of the attractiveness characteristics (or quality profile) that make up the tourist strength of a certain area (see also [Agrawal, 1997], [Butler, 1980] and [Hovinen, 2002]).The dynamic nature of tourist channel competition requires destinations to be able to combine and manage their tourist resources in order to gain competitive advantage (see Teece, Pisano, & Shuen, 1997). The new needs of tourists impose destinations constantly to reconfigure, gain, and dispose of attractive resource able to meet the demand of a shifting market. This has led to the concept of dynamic capabilities; viz. organisation's processes (in our case tourist destination) that “integrate, reconfigure, gain and release resources to match and even create market change”(Eisenhardt & Martin, 2000: p. 1107).In the tourist field competition among territorial areas is usually not centred on the single aspects of the tourist product (environmental resources, transportation, tourism services, hospitality, etc.), but on the tourist destination as an integrated and compound set of tourist facilities for the client ([Buhalis, 2000] and [Ritchie and Crouch, 2000]). As a consequence, destinations have to face the challenge of managing and organizing their scarce resources efficiently in order to supply a holiday experience that must outperform alternative destination experiences on the tourist market. Consequently, in the recent literature the analysis and measurement of tourist destination competitiveness have attracted increasing interest ([Alavi and Yasin, 2000], [Crouch and Ritchie, 1999], [Enright and Newton, 2004], [Kozak, 2002], [Kozak and Rimmington, 1999], [Ritchie and Crouch, 2000] and [Ruhanen, 2007]).Our study seeks to provide an assessment of the relative competitiveness of tourist regions based on an analysis of tourists' judgements – or perceptions – of attractiveness profiles of destination areas. We will apply this approach to micro-based data from the Southern Italian regions.The paper is organized as follows. In section 2 we describe the rationale and context of our study, where we will use the Crouch and Ritchie (1999)model as our main reference framework. Section 3 is then devoted to a description of the database, while section 4 outlines the statistical methodology employed in this study. Next, in section 5 the empirical results are presented and interpreted. These results will be compared in section 6 with findings from a previous study by the present authors. Section 7 makes some concluding remarks.2. The rationale and context of the studyRecent tourism research has highlighted the multifaceted driving forces of modern tourism (see also Matias, Nijkamp, & Neto, 2007). Destination areas are, therefore, challenged to offer a balanced package of those tourist services which all together shape an appealing multidimensional profile for a tourist area. An example of research along these lines can be found in the ‘magic pentagon’ of Müller (1994), where attributes such as the visitors' satisfaction, the protection of natural resources, the sustainability of the local culture, and the like play a role in a balanced tourist portfolio.In our analysis, the multidimensional satisfaction of visitors/tourists is investigated in a broader setting. In the spirit of the resource based view (RBV) ([Barney, 1991], [Eisenhardt and Martin, 2000], Grant, (2005) and [Wernerfelt, 1984]), we consider tourist areas as set of specific physical, natural, cultural and human resources, which are rare, inimitable and non-substitutable and can generate capabilities which become useful to create and develop competitive advantage (Barney, 1991). The capabilities of a tourist place reflect the ability of a destination to achieve its goals; viz. providing better value to its stakeholders (tourists, residents, firms, etc.) (see Grant, (2005) and [Salaman and Asch, 2003]).3. Destination branding marketingEver since the brand literature commenced in the 1940s (see for example Guest, 1942), there has been consistent recognition that branding offers organisations a means for differentiation in markets crowded with similar offerings ([Aaker, 1991], [Gardner and Levy, 1955], [Keller, 2003] and [Kotler et al., 2007]). For destinations, effective differentiation is critical given the increasingly competitive nature of tourism markets, where many places offering similar features are becoming substitutable (Pike, 2005). For example, around 70% of international travellers visit only 10 countries, leaving the remainder of national tourism offices (NTOs) competing for 30% of total international arrivals (Morgan, Pritchard, & Pride, 2002). The pursuit of differentiation is explicit in brand definitions, which have most commonly been variations of that proposed by Aaker (1991, p. 7):A brand is a distinguishing name and/or symbol (such as a logo, trademark, or package design) intended to identify the goods or services of either one seller or a group of sellers, and to differentiate those goods from those ofcompetitors.However, in the foreword to the first issue of Place Branding and Public Policy, editor Simon Anholt (2004, p. 4) suggested “almost nobody agrees on what, exactly, branding means” in describing place branding practice as akin to the Wild West. There has been a lack of consistency in defining what constitutes destination branding, both within industry and within academia (see [Blain et al., 2005], [Park and Petrick, 2006] and [Tasci and Kozak, 2006]). The most comprehensive definition to date has been that proposed by Blain et al. (2005, p. 337), which followed Berthon, Hulbert,and Pitt's (1999) model of the functions of a brand from both the buyer and seller perspectives:Destination branding is the set of marketing activities that (1) support the creation of a name, symbol, logo, word mark or other graphic that readily identifies and differentiates a destination; that (2) consistently convey the expectation of a memorable travel experience that is uniquely associated with the destination; that (3) serve to consolidate and reinforce the emotional connection between the visitor and the destination; and that (4) reduce consumer search costs and perceived risk. Collectively, these activities serve to create a destination image that positively influences consumer destination choice.Branding is therefore considered mutually beneficial from both the supply and demand perspectives. Enhancing the ability of the brand to differentiate effectively can generate advantages for products and services, such as increased purchase intent (Cobb-Walgren, Beal, & Donthu, 1995), lower costs (Keller, 1993), increased sales, price premiums, and customer loyalty ([Aaker, 1991] and [Aaker, 1996]). Advantages for destination marketing organisations (DMO) include increased potential to differentiate against places offering similar benefits, increased destination loyalty and increased yield for stakeholders such as local tourism businesses and travel intermediaries. Benefits for the traveller include ease of decision making through reduced search costs, reduced risk, and possibly enhanced brag value.The focus of most research reported to date has been concerned with the development of destination brand identities and the implementation of campaigns (see for example, [Crockett and Wood, 1999], [Hall, 1999], [May, 2001] and [Morgan et al., 2002]). One area requiring increased attention is that of tracking the performance of destination brand positions overtime. That is, the extent to which destination brands' positioning and repositioning campaigns have been effective in enhancing brand equity consistent with that intended in the brand identity. This is an important gap, given: i) increasing competition (see Morgan, Pritchard, & Piggot, 2002), ii) the increasing level of investment by destination marketing organisations (DMO) in branding since the 1990s, iii) the complex political nature of DMO brand decision making and increasing accountability to stakeholders (see Pike, 2005), and iv) the long-term nature of repositioning a destination's image in the marketplace (see Gartner & Hunt, 1987). In terms of metrics for DMOs in general, a number of researchers in various parts of the world have pointed to a lack of market research monitoring effectiveness of destination marketing objectives, such as in Australia (see [Carson et al., 2003] and [Prosser et al., 2000]), North America ([Masberg, 1999] and [Sheehan and Ritchie, 1997]), and Europe (Dolnicar & Schoesser, 2003).4. Destination branding positioning and The rationale meaningThe aim of this study was to track the brand positions held by a competitive set of near-home destinations between 2003 and 2007. For this purpose the efficacy of a hierarchy of consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) was trialled. CBBE was first promoted by (Aaker, 1991) and (Aaker, 1996) and more recently by (Keller, 1993) and (Keller, 2003) to supplement traditional balance sheet brand equity measures. The rationale underpinning CBBE as a brand performance metric is that consumer perceptions of the brand underpin any financial estimate of future earnings estimated in the financial measure of brand equity. Since a financial balance sheet brand equity measure will be of little practical value to destination marketers, the concept of CBBE is worthy of consideration by DMOs. However, the potential of CBBE for destinations has only recently attracted theattention of academic researchers (see [Boo et al., in press] and [Konecknik and Gartner, 2007]).。
强调重要意义英语作文In the realm of English composition, the ability to emphasize the significance of a topic is paramount. It not only captures the reader's attention but also guides them through the writer's perspective. Here are some key points to consider when emphasizing the importance of a subject in an English essay:1. Introduction with a Bang:Begin your essay with an engaging introduction that sets the tone for the significance of the topic. Use a powerful statement, a question, or a quote to hook the reader and make them curious about what follows.2. Clear Thesis Statement:Your thesis statement should clearly articulate the importance of the topic. It should be concise, specific, and assertive, leaving no doubt about the significance of the subject matter.3. Use of Persuasive Language:Employ persuasive language to underscore the importance of your topic. Words like "crucial," "essential," "fundamental," and "vital" can help to elevate the significance of your subject.4. Logical Structure:Organize your essay in a logical manner that builds upon thesignificance of your topic. Each paragraph should contribute to the overall argument, reinforcing the importance of the subject.5. Evidence and Examples:Support your claims with concrete evidence and relevant examples. This not only strengthens your argument but also highlights the importance of your topic by showing its impact or relevance.6. Contrast and Comparison:Use contrast and comparison to emphasize the significance of your topic. By comparing it with less important subjects or contrasting it with opposing views, you can highlight its unique importance.7. Emotional Appeal:While maintaining a scholarly tone, don't hesitate to appeal to the reader's emotions. Stories, anecdotes, and vivid descriptions can make the significance of your topic more relatable and compelling.8. Reiteration:Reiterate the importance of your topic throughout your essay. This reinforcement can be done subtly through the development of your argument or more directly by summarizing the importance at key points.9. Conclusion with Impact:Finish your essay with a strong conclusion that leaves the reader with a lasting impression of the topic's significance.Summarize your main points and restate the importance of your subject in a memorable way.10. Revise and Refine:Finally, revise your essay to ensure that the emphasis on the topic's significance is clear and consistent. Look for areas where you can enhance the argument and remove any elements that may detract from the central message.By following these guidelines, you can craft an English composition that not only discusses a topic but also effectively emphasizes its importance, leaving a lasting impression on your readers.。
Respect is a fundamental aspect of human interaction,signifying an appreciation for the worth and dignity of others.It is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions,including respect for individuals,their beliefs,cultures,and the environment. Here is a detailed exploration of the importance of respect and how it can be demonstrated in various contexts.The Essence of RespectRespect is the cornerstone of a harmonious society.It is the recognition of the intrinsic value of every individual,regardless of their background,status,or beliefs.Respect fosters a sense of equality and promotes an environment where everyone feels valued and heard.It is a twoway street,requiring both the acknowledgment of ones own worth and the appreciation of others.Cultural RespectIn our increasingly globalized world,cultural respect is more important than ever.It involves understanding and appreciating the customs,traditions,and values of different societies.Cultural respect is not about agreement or acceptance of all practices but about acknowledging their significance to the people who hold them dear.It is about being openminded and learning from the diversity that enriches our world.Respect for the EnvironmentThe environment is a silent witness to human activity,and it deserves our respect and protection.Respecting the environment means recognizing its fragility and the impact our actions have on it.It involves making conscious choices to reduce waste,conserve resources,and support sustainable practices.By doing so,we ensure the health of our planet for future generations.Respecting Authority and EldersIn many societies,respect for authority figures and elders is deeply ingrained.This respect is not about unquestioning obedience but about acknowledging the wisdom and experience that these individuals often possess.It is about engaging in dialogue and learning from their insights while maintaining a respectful demeanor.Respecting DifferencesDiversity in thought,opinion,and lifestyle is a hallmark of a vibrant society.Respectingdifferences means accepting that people have the right to hold opinions that may differ from our own.It involves engaging in constructive dialogue,seeking to understand rather than to criticize,and finding common ground where possible.Respect in the WorkplaceThe workplace is a microcosm of society,and respect is crucial for a productive and positive work environment.It involves treating colleagues with courtesy,valuing their contributions,and fostering an atmosphere of collaboration.Respect in the workplace also means recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion,ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.Respect in EducationEducation is a space where respect is paramount.It is about creating a learning environment where students feel safe to express their thoughts and ideas without fear of ridicule or dismissal.Teachers play a crucial role in modeling respect,encouraging open dialogue,and valuing the unique perspectives that each student brings to the classroom. Respect in Personal RelationshipsIn our personal lives,respect is the foundation of any strong relationship.It involves listening to others,valuing their feelings and opinions,and treating them with kindness and consideration.Respect in personal relationships also means maintaining boundaries and ensuring that each persons needs and desires are acknowledged and respected.ConclusionRespect is a powerful force that can bridge divides,foster understanding,and create a more harmonious world.It is not just about what we say but also about how we act and the attitudes we hold.By practicing respect in all aspects of our lives,we contribute to a society that values diversity,promotes equality,and nurtures a sense of shared humanity.。
Steve PavlinaBeing an AchieverAugust 6, 2015You become an achiever by achieving your goals. If you achieve your goals, you’re an achiever. If you don’t achieve your goals, you’re not an achiever.This is a simple, binary way to think about achievement. To achieve means to reach, attain, or accomplish. What you choose to reach, attain, or accomplish is up to you.The difference between an achiever and a non-achiever is largely a matter of attention. Non-achievers give their goals little attention, if they bother to set goals at all. Achievers give their goals sufficient attention so as to reach, attain, or accomplish those goals.Non-achievers reach, attain, and accomplish something other than their goals. Quite often they will reach, attain, and accomplish someone else’s goals, without consciously making those goals their own.To be an achiever, you must give your goals sufficient attention to reach, attain, or accomplish them. This means you must withdraw much of your attention from activities that are not directly leading to the accomplishment of your goals.In a given week, where is your attention going? If you aren’t habitually obsessing over your goals, then what are you obsessing over instead?What do you normally put ahead of your goals?Do you manage to watch some TV or movies?Do you keep up with email, social media, and text messages?Do you attend to the social obligations that your family, friends, andco-workers expect from you?What exactly are you reaching, attaining, or accomplishing in a typical week? Are you making progress on your goals by giving them many hours of attention, or are you putting your attention elsewhere?Achievers accept that in order to achieve their goals, they must withdraw attention from non-goal activities. Achievers also accept that these competing interests may resist being put on the back burner.The cable company may try to talk you out of canceling. Starbucks may send you a reminder email if you don’t show up for too long. Your mother may nag you about something trivial. Achievers learn to decline these invitations for their attention by default. They keep putting their attention back upon their goals.You must especially be on guard for new invitations and opportunities that come up while you’re working on your goals. These hidden distractions can easily sidetrack you. If an opportunity aligns solidly with your goals, wonderful… take full advantage of it. But if it seemsoff-course with respect to your current goals, then stick to your path, and say no to the diversion. Generally speaking, it’s wise to be less opportunistic, so you can be more of a conscious creator. You’ll often make faster progress by creating your own opportunities instead of haphazardly chasing the random opportunities that others bring you.The Scarcity of AttentionAttention is a limited resource. The ability to consciously direct your attention with good energy and focus is even scarcer than the time you have available each day.In any given week, there may be many interests competing for your attention: friends, family, co-workers, random strangers, corporations, organizations, government agencies, media, and more. And these days they have many different ways to reach you.Internally you have some competition as well: your physiological needs, your emotional needs, your cravings, your habitual behaviors, etc. You need to eat, sleep, eliminate waste, bathe, and so on. These activities require some attention too.Somewhere among those competing interests is another voice seeking your attention. This is your goal-oriented nature, your greater intelligence, your desire to live a life rich in meaning and purpose. This part of you craves achievement, and it won’t be satisfied by anything less. It wants you to set your own goals and to reach, attain, and accomplish them.How much of your attention are you giving to your achievement-oriented self?If you starve this part of yourself for attention, it will punish you with low motivation, low self-worth, and a general scarcity of resources. But if you give it the attention it craves, you’ll be rewarded with high energy, drive, passion, abundance, and a sense of purpose and contribution.Directing Your AttentionFortunately you have the power to consciously direct your attention. You can let your attention float around aimlessly. You can focus your attention on something other than your goals, such as the goals other people have for you. Or you can focus your attention on your own goals.To really move your life forward requires a major commitment of attention. If you want to improve your finances, you must put your attention on creating value for people, sharing that value, and intelligently monetizing that value. If you want to positively transform your relationships, then give that part of your life some intense and prolonged attention.Unfortunately we have the tendency to remove attention from those areas of our lives that aren’t doing so well. In the short term, it’s wise to shift focus when we feel overwhelmed because temporary diversions can helprelieve stress. But for deeper transformation to occur, we need to put lots of attention squarely on those areas that scream for improvement.Setting goals requires focused attention. Planning out the action steps to achieve our goals requires even more attention. Executing those action steps takes more attention still. Achievers make such activities a priority in their lives. Non-achievers don’t.As you get older, keep raising your standards for what deserves your attention. Keep deleting and declining unnecessary fluff and obligations that might otherwise distract you from your magnificent goals. This will free up more attention to focus on your goals.Have you noticed that when you put your full attention on a goal and obsess about it, you can really move it forward quickly, and you do eventually achieve it? But when you let your attention become diluted by too many competing interests, then progress on your goal slows to a crawl, and you eventually lose your connection to the goal altogether. Goals require significant and prolonged nurturing until they’re achieved; otherwise they die.Say No to Almost EverythingThe difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.– Warren BuffetWhat does it mean to say no to almost everything?For me this means being able to work full-time on my goals, without letting anything get in the way. It means keeping my schedule free of distracting entanglements. It means that even when I work on goals that seem to be put on my plate by someone else, I must either make those goals my own (and say yes to them), or I must reject them and not give them any attention. If I cannot make a goal my own in some way, it doesn’t deserve my attention.Even a goal like doing your taxes, you can make your own. You can commit to keeping your finances up to date and in good order. You can choose to pay the tax contribution for whatever reasons appeal to you. But if you can’t make a goal your own, and you try to work on it anyway, then you’re fighting yourself, and your progress will be stunted and inconsistent, which is an enormous waste of precious attention.Don’t dwell in the land of half-commitments. Put your full attention on your own goals, including goals you’ve made your own. If you have a job, then either make the commitment to do your very best at that job, or vacate the position and let someone else do it better.Put Your Goals FirstMany achievers have jobs. Many achievers have families. Many achievers have competing commitments of various kinds. But achievers don’t use their job, kids, and other commitments as excuses for not giving sufficient attention to their goals. For everyone who uses these to excuse their inability to set and achieve goals, there’s a real achiever who started from a more challenging position and used those same elements to help motivate them to achieve their goals. Where non-achievers see excuses, achievers find drive.A good way to put your goals first is to set high-quality, holistic goals to begin with. Don’t squander your attention on shallow pursuits like making money for its own sake. Set goals that will help you grow, build your skills, create value for others, and do some good in the world. Ask yourself: Does the goal seem meaningful and intelligent when you imagine yourself 20 years past its achievement?Deliberately put your attention on your goals. When you catch yourself standing in line, dwell upon your goals. Visualize yourself taking the action steps. Make this your default behavior instead of pulling out your phone to attend to something trivial.Carefully plan out the action steps to achieve your goals. If you received my latest newsletter, you’ll find an extensive how-to article about planning the achievement of your goals.Clear time to work on your goals, and make this time sacred and inviolable. If you can only clear a small slice out of each week to work on your goals, then consider setting a goal to reach the point where you have the freedom to devote as many hours to your goals as your energy allows. What specific goals would you need to set and achieve to make that a reality? Imagine being able to devote most of your time every week to working on your most important goals, without anything getting in the way. Many people live this way, and they love it. Why not you?The Goal of FreedomOne of my past goals was to remove financial scarcity as a potential source of distraction, so I could spend most of my time each week working on my goals, whether they were income-generating or not. I want to center my life around personal growth pursuits and share what I learn as a legacy for others. I devoted a significant amount of attention to that goal over a period of years until it was achieved, and after that I could continue to maintain such a lifestyle with relative ease. I know that some people think it’s unusual to have the freedom to immerse oneself in setting and achieving goals that may have nothing to do with making money or having a job, like traveling around Europe for a month or going vegan or exploring open relationships, but this kind of freedom is important enough to me that I made achieving this goal my top priority for years, sticking with it until it was achieved. It was challenging but definitely worthwhile.I know many people who’ve achieved similar goals. Generally speaking, they tend to be the happiest people I know. Instead of taking orders from someone else as their daily routine, they put their attention on their goals, desires, and interests. They make it a priority to maintain this freedom. They don’t use a job, kids, or the lack of money as excuses — just the opposite in fact. From these people I commonly hear stories of setbacksrecalled with laughter and good cheer, not with fear or regret… like the time a couple of friends had to sleep in a park because they had no money for a place to stay. What non-achievers fear as roadblocks are merely stepping stones (and entertaining future stories!) for achievers.If lifestyle freedom is important to you, then make that your primary aim. Put the attainment of this goal first in your life. Working to achieve this goal must become more important to you than keeping up with social media, pleasing your parents, watching your favorite TV shows, and other distractions. If anything else is truly getting in the way, then either drop it from your life, or find a way to turn it into an advantage that increases your drive and motivation.It’s easy for me to tell the difference between people who are committed to achieving lifestyle freedom vs. those who aren’t committed. The ones who are committed are obsessed with the goal; they think of little else. I can’t get them to shut up about it! They’re constantly trying to figure out how to make it a reality. They work hard at it. They stumble and keep right on going. Usually the goal takes longer than they’d like. They often want it to take less than a year. It usually takes 2-5 years to reach the point of financial sustainability. The achievers make it obvious that they’ll get there no matter how long it takes. For them the goal is mandatory, not optional.The non-achievers talk about the goal as a distant f antasy. It’s a wish, a dream, a possibility… something that would be nice to have if and when the planets align properly. Their action plan consists mainly of reading books about the Law of Attraction and listening to Abraham-Hicks recordings. They treat the goal as a casual desire but not a serious commitment. They disrespect the tremendous force of will that’s required to achieve it. They virtually never get there.If the goal of lifestyle freedom matters to you, then drop, cut, and burn whatever distracts you from it. Put your attention squarely on that goal, and obsess about it until you achieve it. If you need more time, cancel cable TV, close your social media accounts, and keep your phonepowered off during daylight hours. Take breaks as you need them, but keep putting your attention back on this goal. If you do that, it’s a safe bet that you’ll achieve it.You’ll set yourself on the path to achieving lifestyle freedom when you stop putting other distractions ahead of that commitment.。
2024年6月大学英语六级考试真题和答案(第3套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay that begins with the sentence “Nowadays, cultivating independent learning ability is becoming increasingly crucial for personal development.” You can make comments, cite examples or use your personal experiences to develop your essay. You should write at least 150 words but no more than 200 words.You should copy the sentence given in quotes at the beginning of your essay.Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension (30 minutes)Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 to 4 are based on the conversation you have just heard.1. A) Read numerous comments users put online.B) Blended all his food without using a machine.C) Searched for the state-of-the-art models of blenders.D) Did thorough research on the price of kitchen appliances.2. A) Eating any blended food.B) Buying a blender herself.C) Using machines to do her cooking.D) Making soups and juices for herself.3. A) Cooking every meal creatively in the kitchen.B) Paying due attention to his personal hygiene.C) Eating breakfast punctually every morning.D) Making his own fresh fruit juice regularly.4. A) One-tenth of it is sugar.B) It looks healthy and attractive.C) One’s fancy may be tickled by it.D) It contains an assortment of nutrients.Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.5. A) How he has made himself popular as the mayor of Berkton.B) How the residents will turn Berkton into a tourist attraction.C) How charming he himself considers the village of Berkton to be.D) How he has led people of Berkton to change the village radically.6. A) It was developed only to a limited extent.B) It was totally isolated as a sleepy village.C) It was relatively unknown to the outside.D) It was endowed with rare natural resources.7. A) The people in Berkton were in a harmonious atmosphere.B) The majority of residents lived in harmony with their neighbors.C) The majority of residents enjoyed cosy housing conditions.D) All the houses in Berkton looked aesthetically similar.8. A) They have helped boost the local economy.B) They have made the residents unusually proud.C) They have contributed considerably to its popularity.D) They have brought happiness to everyone in the village.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A),B),C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.9. A) They have created the smallest remote-controlled walking robot in the world.B) They are going to publish their research findings in the journal Science Robotics.C) They are the first to build a robot that can bend, crawl, walk, turn and even jump.D) They are engaged in research on a remote-controlled robot which uses special power.10. A) It changes its shape by complex hardware.B) It is operated by a special type of tiny motor.C) It moves from one place to another by memory.D) It is powered by the elastic property of its body.11. A) Replace humans in exploratory tasks.B) Perform tasks in tightly confined spaces.C) Explore the structure of clogged arteries.D) Assist surgeons in highly complex surgery.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the passage you have just heard.12. A) She threw up in the bathroom.B) She slept during the entire ride.C) She dozed off for a few minutes.D) She boasted of her marathon race.13. A) They are mostly immune to cognitive impairment.B) They can sleep soundly during a rough ride at sea.C) They are genetically determined to need less sleep.D) They constitute about 13 percent of the population.14. A) Whether there is a way to reach elite status.B) Whether it is possible to modify one’s genes.C) Whether having a baby impacts one’s passion.D) Whether one can train themselves to sleep less.15. A) It is in fact quite possible to nurture a passion for sleep.B) Babies can severely disrupt their parents’ sleep patterns.C) Being forced to rise early differs from being an early bird.D) New parents are forced to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three recordings of lectures or talks followed by three or four questions. The recordings will be played only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard. 16. A) We have poor awareness of how many controversial issues are being debated.B) No one knows better than yourself what you are thinking about at the moment.C) No one can change your opinions more than those who speak in a convincing tone.D) We are likely to underestimate how much we can be swayed by a convincing article.17. A) Their belief about physical punishment changed.B) Their memory pushed them toward a current belief.C) The memory of their initial belief came back to them.D) Their experiences of physical punishment haunted them.18. A) They apparently have little to do with moderate beliefs.B) They don’t reflect the changes of view on physical punishment.C) They may not apply to changes to extreme or deeply held beliefs.D) They are unlikely to alter people’s position without more evidence.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the recording you have just heard.19. A) American moms have been increasingly inclined to live alone.B) The American population has been on the rise in the past 25 years.C) American motherhood has actually been on the decline.D) The fertility rates in America have in fact been falling sharply.20. A) More new mothers tend to take greater care of their children.B) More new mothers are economically able to raise children.C) A larger proportion of women take pride in their children.D) A larger proportion of women really enjoy motherhood.21. A) The meaning of motherhood has changed considerably.B) More and more mothers go shopping to treat themselves.C) More mothers have adult children celebrating the holiday.D) The number of American mothers has been growing steadily.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.22. A) Add to indoor toxic pollutants.B) Absorb poisonous chemicals.C) Beautify the home environment.D) Soak up surrounding moisture.23. A) NASA did experiments in sealed containers resembling thesuper-insulated offices of 1970s.B) It was based on experiments under conditions unlike those in most homes or offices.C) NASA conducted tests in outer space whose environment is different from ours.D) It drew its conclusion without any contrastive data from other experiments.24. A) Natural ventilation proves much more efficient for cleaning the air than house plants.B) House plants disperse chemical compounds more quickly with people moving around.C) Natural ventilation turns out to be most effective with doors and windows wide open.D) House plants in a normal environment rarely have any adverse impact on the air.25. A) The root cause for misinterpretations of scientific findings.B) The difficulty in understanding what’s actually happening.C) The steps to be taken in arriving at any conclusion with certainty.D) The necessity of continually re-examining and challenging findings.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.A rainbow is a multi-colored, arc-shaped phenomenon that can appearin the sky. The colors of a rainbow are produced by the reflectionand____26____of light through water droplets (小滴) present in the atmosphere. An observer may____27____a rainbow to be located either near or far away, but this phenomenon is not actually located at any specific spot. Instead, the appearance of a rainbow depends entirely upon the position of the observer in____28____to the direction of light. In essence, a rainbow is an____29____illusion.Rainbows present a____30____made up of seven colors in a specific order. In fact, school children in many English-speaking countries are taught to remember the name “Roy G. Biv” as an aid for remembering the colors of a rainbow and their order. “Roy G. Biv”____31____for: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The outer edge of the rainbow arc is red, while the inner edge is violet.A rainbow is formed when light (generally sunlight) passes through water droplets____32____in the atmosphere. The light waves change direction as they pass through the water droplets, resulting in two processes: reflection and refraction (折射). When light reflects off a water droplet, it simply____33____back in the opposite direction from where it____34____. When light refracts, it takes a different direction. Some individuals refer to refracted light as “bent light waves.” A rainbow is formed because white light enters the water droplet, where it bends in several different directions. When these bent light waves reach the other side of the water droplet, they reflect back out of the droplet instead of____35____passing through the water. Since the white light is separated inside of the water, the refracted light appears as separate colors to the human eye.A) bouncesB) completelyC) dispersionD) eccentricE) hangingF) opticalG) originatesH) perceiveI) permeatesJ) ponderK) precedingL) recklesslyM) relationN) spectrumO) standsSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with tenstatements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Blame your worthless workdays on meeting recovery syndromeA) Phyllis Hartman knows what it’s like to make one’s way through the depths of office meeting hell. Managers at one of her former human resources jobs arranged so many meetings that attendees would fall asleep at the table or intentionally arrive late. With hours of her day blocked up with unnecessary meetings, she was often forced to make up her work during overtime. “I was actually working more hours than I probably would have needed to get the work done,” says Hartman, who is founder and president of PGHR Consulting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.B) She isn’t alone in her frustration. Between 11 million and 55 million meetings are held each day in the United States, costing most organisations between 7% and 15% of their personnel budgets. Every week, employees spend about six hours in meetings, while the average manager meets for a staggering 23 hours.C) And though experts agree that traditional meetings are essential for making certain decisions and developing strategy, some employees view them as one of the most unnecessary parts of the workday. The result is not only hundreds of billions of wasted dollars, but an annoyance of what organisational psychologists call “meeting recovery syndrome (MRS)”: time spent cooling off and regaining focus after a useless meeting. If you run to the office kitchen to get some relief with colleagues after a frustrating meeting,you’re likely experiencing meeting recovery syndrome.D) Meeting recovery syndrome is a concept that should be familiar to almost anyone who has held a formal job. It isn’t ground-breaking to say workers feel fatigued after a meeting, but only in recent decades have scientists deemed the condition worthy of further investigation. With its links to organisational efficiency and employee wellbeing, MRS has attracted the attention of psychologists aware of the need to understand its precise causes and cures.E) Today, in so far as researchers can hypothesise, MRS is most easily understood as a slow renewal of finite mental and physical resources. When an employee sits through an ineffective meeting their brain power is essentially being drained away. Meetings drain vitality if they last too long, fail to engage employees or turn into one-sided lectures. The conservation of resources theory, originally proposed in 1989 by Dr. Stevan Hobfoll, states that psychological stress occurs when a person’s resources are threatened or lost. When resources are low, a person will shift into defence to conserve their remaining supply. In the case ofoffice meetings, where some of employees’ most valuable resources are their focus, alertness and motivation, this can mean an abrupt halt in productivity as they take time to recover.F) As humans, when we transition from one task to another on the job —say from sitting in a meeting to doing normal work—it takes an effortful cognitive switch. We must detach ourselves from the previous task and expend significant mental energy to move on. If we are already drained to dangerous levels, then making the mental switch to the next thing is extra tough. It’s common to see people cyber-loafing after a frustrating meeting, going and getting coffee, interrupting a colleague and telling them about the meeting, and so on.G) Each person’s ability to recover from horrible meetings is different. Some can bounce back quickly, while others carry their fatigue until the end of the workday. Yet while no formal MRS studies are currently underway, one can loosely speculate on the length of an average employee’s lag time. Switching tasks in a non-MRS condition takes about 10 to 15 minutes. With MRS, it may take as long as 45 minutes on average. It’s even worse when a worker has several meetings that are separated by 30 minutes. “Not enough time to transition in a non-MRS situation to get anything done, and in an MRS situation, not quite enough time to recover for the next meeting,” says researcher Joseph Allen. “Then, add the compounding of back-to-back bad meetings and we may have an epidemic on our hands.”H) In an effort to combat the side effects of MRS, Allen, along with researcher Joseph Mroz and colleagues at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, published a study detailing the best ways to avoid common traps, including a concise checklist of do’s and don’ts applicable to any workplace. Drawing from around 200 papers to compile their comprehensive list, Mroz and his team may now hold a remedy to the largely undefined problem of MRS.I) Mroz says a good place to start is asking ourselves if our meetings are even necessary in the first place. If all that’s on the agenda is a quick catch-up, or some non-urgent information sharing, it may better suit the group to send around an email instead. “The second thing I would always recommend is keep the meeting as small as possible,” says Mroz. “If they don’t actually have some kind of immediate input, then they can follow up later. They don’t need to be sitting in this hour-long meeting.” Less time in meetings would ultimately lead to more employee engagement in the meetings they do attend, which experts agree is a proven remedy for MRS.J) Employees also feel taxed when they are invited together to meetings that don’t inspire participation, says Cliff Scott, professor of organisational science. It takes precious time for them to vent their emotions, complain and try to regain focus after a pointless meeting—one of the main traps of MRS. Over time as employees find themselves tied up in more and more unnecessary meetings—and thus dealing with increasing lag times from MRS—the waste of workday hours can feel insulting.K) Despite the relative scarcity of research behind the subject, Hartman has taught herself many of the same tricks suggested in Mroz’s study, and has come a long way since her days of being stuck with unnecessary meetings. The people she invites to meetings today include not just the essential employees, but also representatives from every department that might have a stake in the issue at hand. Managers like her, who seek input even from non-experts to shape their decisions, can find greater support and cooperation from their workforce, she says.L) If an organisation were to apply all 22 suggestions from Mroz and Allen’s findings, the most noticeable difference would be a stark decrease in the total number of meetings on the schedule, Mroz says. Lesstime in meetings would ultimately lead to increased productivity,which is the ultimate objective of convening a meeting. While none of the counter-MRS ideas have been tested empirically yet, Allen says one trick with promise is for employees to identify things that quickly change their mood from negative to positive. As simple as it sounds, finding a personal happy place, going there and then coming straight back to work might be key to facilitating recovery.M) Leaders should see also themselves as “stewards of everyone else’s valuable time”, adds Steven Rogelberg, author of The Surprising Science of Meetings. Having the skills to foresee potential traps and treat employees’ endurance with care allows leaders to provide effective short-term deterrents to MRS.N) Most important, however, is for organisations to awaken to the concept of meetings being flexible, says Allen. By reshaping the way they prioritise employees’ time, companies can eliminate the very sources of MRS in their tracks.36. Although employees are said to be fatigued by meetings, the condition has not been considered worthy of further research until recently. 37. Mroz and his team compiled a list of what to do and what not to do to remedy the problem of MRS.38. Companies can get rid of the root cause of MRS if they give priority to workers’ time.39. If workers are exhausted to a dangerous degree, it is extremely hard for them to transition to the next task.40. Employees in America spend a lot of time attending meetings while the number of hours managers meet is several times more.41. Phyllis Hartman has learned by herself many of the ways Mroz suggested in his study and made remarkable success in freeing herself fromunnecessary meetings.42. When meetings continue too long or don’t engage employees, they deplete vitality.43. When the time of meetings is reduced, employees will be more engaged in the meetings they do participate in.44. Some employees consider meetings one of the most dispensable parts of the workday.45. According to Mroz, if all his suggestions were applied, a very obvious change would be a steep decrease in the number of meetings scheduled.Section CDirections:There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Sarcasm and jazz have something surprisingly in common: You know them when you hear them. Sarcasm is mostly understood through tone of voice, which is used to portray the opposite of the literal words. For example, when someone says, “Well, that’s exactly what I need right now,” their tone can tell you it’s not what they need at all.Most frequently, sarcasm highlights an irritation or is, quite simply, mean.If you want to be happier and improve your relationships, cut out sarcasm. Why? Because sarcasm is actually hostility disguised as humor.Despite smiling outwardly, many people who receive sarcastic comments feel put down and often think the sarcastic person is rude, or contemptible. Indeed, it’s not surprising that the origin of the word sarcasm derives from the Greek word “sarkazein” which literally means “to tear or strip the flesh off.” Hence, it’s no wonder that sarcasm is often preceded by the word “cutting” and that it hurts.What’s more, since actions strongly determine thoughts and feelings, when a person consistently acts sarcastically it may only serve to heighten their underlying hostility and insecurity. After all, when you come right down to it, sarcasm can be used as a subtle form of bullying —and most bullies are angry, insecure, or cowardly.Alternatively, when a person stops voicing negative comments, especially sarcastic ones, they may soon start to feel happier and more self-confident. Also, other people in their life benefit even more because they no longer have to hear the emotionally hurtful language of sarcasm.Now, I’m not saying all sarcasm is bad. It may just be better usedsparingly—like a potent spice in cooking. Too much of the spice, and the dish will be overwhelmed by it. Similarly, an occasional dash of sarcastic wit can spice up a chat and add an element of humor to it. But a big or steady serving of sarcasm will overwhelm the emotional flavor of any conversation and can taste very bitter to its recipient.So, tone down the sarcasm and work on clever wit instead, which is usually without any hostility and thus more appreciated by those you’re communicating with. In essence, sarcasm is easy while true, harmless wit takes talent.Thus, the main difference between wit and sarcasm is that, as already stated, sarcasm is often hostility disguised as humor. It can be intended to hurt and is often bitter and biting. Witty statements are usually in response to someone’s unhelpful remarks or behaviors, and the intent is to untangle and clarify the issue by emphasizing its absurdities. Sarcastic statements are expressed in a cutting manner; witty remarks are delivered with undisguised and harmless humor.46. Why does the author say sarcasm and jazz have something surprisingly in common?A) Both are recognized when heard.B) Both have exactly the same tone.C) Both mean the opposite of what they appear to.D) Both have hidden in them an evident irritation.47. How do many people feel when they hear sarcastic comments?A) They feel hostile towards the sarcastic person.B) They feel belittled and disrespected.C) They feel a strong urge to retaliate.D) They feel incapable of disguising their irritation.48. What happens when a person consistently acts sarcastically?A) They feel their dignity greatly heightened.B) They feel increasingly insecure and hostile.C) They endure hostility under the disguise of humor.D) They taste bitterness even in pleasant interactions.49. What does the author say about people quitting sarcastic comments?A) It makes others happier and more self-confident.B) It restrains them from being irritating and bullying.C) It benefits not only themselves but also those around them.D) It shields them from negative comments and outright hostility.50. What is the chief difference between a speaker’s wit and sarcasm?A) Their clarity.B) Their appreciation.C) Their emphasis.D) Their intention.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Variability is crucially important for learning new skills. Consider learning how to serve in tennis. Should you always practise serving from the exactly same location on the court, aiming at the same spot? Although practising in more variable conditions will be slower at first, it will likely make you a better tennis player in the end. This is because variability leads to better generalisation of what is learned.This principle is found in many domains, including speech perception and learning categories. For instance, infants will struggle to learn the category “dog” if they are only exposed to Chihuahuas, instead of many different kinds of dogs.“There are over ten different names for this basic principle,” says Limor Raviv, the senior investigator of a recent study. “Learning from less variable input is often fast, but may fail to generalise to new stimuli.”To identify key patterns and understand the underlying principles of variability effects, Raviv and her colleagues reviewed over 150 studies on variability and generalisation across fields, including computer science, linguistics, categorisation, visual perception and formal education.The researchers discovered that, across studies, the term variability can refer to at least four different kinds of variability, such as set size and scheduling. “These four kinds of variability have never been directly compared—which means that we currently don’t know which is most effective for learning,” says Raviv.The impact of variability depends on whether it is relevant to the task or not. But according to the ‘Mr. Miyagi principle’, practising seemingly unrelated skills may actually benefit learning of other skills.But why does variability impact learning and generalisation? One theory is that more variable input can highlight which aspects of a task are relevant and which are not.Another theory is that greater variability leads to broader generalisations. This is because variability will represent the real world better, including atypical (非典型的) examples.A third reason has to do with the way memory works: when training is variable, learners are forced to actively reconstruct their memories.“Understanding the impact of variability is important for literally every aspect of our daily life. Beyond affecting the way we learn language, motor skills, and categories, it even has an impact on our social lives,”explains Raviv. “For example, face recognition is affected by whether people grew up in a small community or in a larger community. Exposure to fewer faces during childhood is associated with diminished face memory.”“We hope this work will spark people’ s curiosity and generate morework on the topic,” concludes Raviv.“Our paper raises a lot of open questions. Can we find similar effects of variability beyond the brain, for instance, in the immune system?”51. What does the passage say about infants learning the category “dog”if they are exposed to Chihuahuas only?A) They will encounter some degree of difficulty.B) They will try to categorise other objects first.C) They will prefer Chihuahuas to other dog species.D) They will imagine Chihuahuas in various conditions.52. What does Raviv say about the four different kinds of variability?A) Which of them is most relevant to the task at hand is to be confirmed.B) Why they have an impact on learning is far from being understood.C) Why they have never been directly compared remains a mystery.D) Which of them is most conducive to learning is yet to be identified.53. How does one of the theories explain the importance of variability for learning new skills?A) Learners regard variable training as typical of what happens in the real world.B) Learners receiving variable training are compelled to reorganise their memories.C) Learners pay attention to the relevant aspects of a task and ignore those irrelevant.D) Learners focus on related skills instead of wasting time and effort on unrelated ones.54. What does the passage say about face recognition?A) People growing up in a small community may find it easy to remember familiar faces.B) Face recognition has a significant impact on literally every aspect of our social lives.C) People growing up in a large community can readily recognise any individual faces.D) The size of the community people grow up in impacts their face recognition ability.55. What does Raviv hope to do with their research work?A) Highlight which aspects of a task are relevant and which are not to learning a skill.B) Use the principle of variability in teaching seemingly unrelated skills in education.C) Arouse people’s interest in variability and stimulate more research on the topic.D) Apply the principle of variability to such fields of study as the immune system.。
mba 英语万能句式-回复在MBA英语写作中,虽然没有严格意义上的“万能句式”,但有一些经典且实用的句式结构可以提升你的论述质量和表达效果。
以下是一些常用的句式:1. 引入观点句式:- "A critical analysis of... reveals that..."- "It is widely acknowledged that..."- "One of the most compelling arguments for/against... is..."2. 表达个人观点或立场:- "From my perspective, I firmly believe that..."- "In my opinion, it is undeniable that..."- "Personally, I am convinced that..."3. 引述数据或事实:- "According to recent statistics, a staggering X of..."- "The empirical evidence suggests that..."- "Notably, several studies have demonstrated that..."4. 表达因果关系:- "The proliferation of... has led to..."- "A direct consequence of... is..."- "This trend can be attributed to the fact that..."5. 过渡句式:- "Furthermore, it is important to consider that..."- "On the other hand, one must not overlook..."- "Despite these advantages, there are also potential drawbacks in that..."6. 总结句式:- "To summarize, it is evident that..."- "In conclusion, we can infer that..."- "Hence, the overall picture suggests that..."请注意,虽然这些句式有一定的通用性,但在实际使用时,一定要结合具体的话题和内容进行适当调整,以保持论述的准确性和连贯性。
R ESEARCH A RTICLEC OMPETING FOR A TTENTION:A N E MPIRICAL S TUDY OFO NLINE R EVIEWERS’S TRATEGIC B EHAVIOR1Wenqi ShenVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 U.S.A. {shenw@}Yu Jeffrey HuScheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30308 U.S.A. {yuhu@}Jackie Rees UlmerKrannert School of Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 U.S.A. {jrees@}Top online reviewers who reliably gain consumers’ attention stand to make significant financial gains and monetize the amount of attention and reputation they have earned. This study explores how online reviewers strategically choose the right product to review and the right rating to post so that they can gain attention and enhance reputation. Using book reviews from Amazon and Barnes & Noble (BN), we find that reviewers on Amazon, where a reviewer ranking system quantifies reviewers’ online reputations, are sensitive to the competition among existing reviews and thus tend to avoid crowded review segments. However, on BN, which does not include such a ranking mechanism, reviewers do not respond to the competition effect. In addition, reviewers on Amazon post more differentiated ratings compared with reviewers on BN since the competition for attention on Amazon is more intense than on BN. Overall, reviewers on Amazon behave more strategically than reviewers on BN. This study yields important managerial implications for companies to improve their design of online review systems and enhance their understanding of reviewers’ strategic behaviors.Keywords: Online attention, scarcity of attention, competing for attention, online product reviews, user-generated content“Attention is the hard currency of cyberspace.”–Thomas Mandel and Gerard Van der Leun (1996)IntroductionConsumers increasingly rely on online opinions and experi-ences shared by fellow consumers when deciding what products to purchase. Deloitte (2007), for instance, finds that almost two thirds (62%) of consumers read consumer-written online product reviews; among consumers who read online reviews, 82 percent say their purchase decisions have been directly influenced by online reviews. Consumers also increasingly expect to find product reviews on retailer web-sites or manufacturer websites.2 Therefore, it is very impor-tant for companies developing or maintaining online review systems to understand the incentives for online reviewers to write product reviews and the effect of incentives on the content of product reviews.1Rajiv Kohli was the accepting senior editor for this paper. Paul Pavlou served as the associate editor.2Consumers expect to find product reviews on shopping websites (72%) while around half (47%) seek them out on company websites and 43% on price comparison sites, according to a recent study by Lightspeed Research (Leggatt 2011).MIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3, pp. 683-696/September 2015683Shen et al./Online Reviewers’ Strategic BehaviorsThere is a large body of literature on online product reviews, but most of the existing literature has overlooked the question of how online reviewers are incentivized to write reviews. Instead, the literature has focused on the numerical aspects of reviews such as volume, valence, or variance, and the impact of reviews on consumers’ purchases (e.g., Basuroy et al. 2003; Dellarocas et al. 2004; Liu 2006). Several recent studies investigate the development and evolution of review ratings rather than their influence on sales (e.g., Godes and Silva 2012; Li and Hitt 2008; Moe and Trusov 2011). Other studies investigate various factors that could influence online reviewers’ behaviors such as online reviewers’ characteristics (Forman et al. 2008), product types (Mudambi and Schuff 2010), previous review ratings (Moe and Trusov 2011), and product prices (Li and Hitt 2010). The literature seems to assume that online reviewers may be motivated to write pro-duct reviews simply because of altruism, product involve-ment, and self-enhancement, which are the major motives for offline consumers to provide word-of-mouth (e.g., Dichter 1966). Less attention has been paid to the fact that reviewers, by writing product reviews, can receive benefits such as online reputation and attention from other consumers. Our study is part of this emerging research stream, empirically investigating how online reputation and attention from other consumers affects reviewers’ contributions to online review systems.Users’ voluntary contributions have been studied in other online contexts such as open source software (Lerner and Tirole 2002), firm-hosted online forums (Jeppesen and Frederiksen 2006), and blogs (Faw 2012). Researchers have found that when lacking direct monetary incentives, incentives such as peer recognition and online reputation are important drivers for online users to contribute voluntarily (e.g., Lerner and Tirole 2002). Roberts et al. (2006) explore intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of voluntary developers in the open source software community and report that multiple types of motivation play a role in the decision to participate in the community and to what extent. In the context of firm-hosted online forums, firm recognition of users’ contributions is also reported as valuable to the users (Jeppesen and Frederiksen 2006). Positive reputation and peer recognition can motivate online users to continue contributing voluntarily (Pavlou and Gefen 2004, Resnick et al. 2000).For online reviewers, gaining online reputation and attention from other consumers is an important motivation for their contribution to the review systems.3 For example, Peter Durward Harris, a previous top 10 and hall of fame Amazon reviewer, mentioned that reviewers tend to use the helpfulness vote as a proxy for the attention gained by their reviews, and reported that “every reviewer cares at least a little about votes,” which “provide reviewers with reassurance that people are reading their reviews and assessing them” (Harris 2010). Top online reviewers who reliably gain consumers’ attention stand to make significant financial gains and monetize the amount of attention and reputation they have earned. For instance, Forbes reported that a top Amazon reviewer made thousands of dollars and frequently received free dinner offers and free travel offers; this reviewer also received up to 40 free books a day, communicated regularly with authors and his fans, and eventually launched a writing career (Coster 2006). The launch of Amazon’s Vine Program in 2007 (http://www. /gp/vine/help) has made it easier for top reviewers to receive products from manufacturers and pub-lishers. Similarly, top product bloggers who consistently attract consumer attention can make money, earn free pro-ducts, and even build up a career and become a celebrity through blogging (Faw 2012).Although online reviewers may desire to gain attention, it is not a trivial task since attention is arguably the most valuable and scarce resource on the Internet (Dahlberg 2005; Daven-port and Beck 2001; Goldhaber 1997). The ever-increasing amount of user-generated content creates a processing prob-lem for users seeking relevant and useful information and leads to a competition for attention (Hansen and Haas 2001; Hunt and Newman 1997; Ocasio 1997; Reuters 1998). Given the scarcity and value of attention, online reviewers are likely to compete for attention when contributing voluntarily to review systems.Drawing upon the aforementioned theories on online reputa-tion and consumer attention, this paper extends the literature on online product reviews by empirically investigating how incentives such as reputation and attention affect online reviewers’ behaviors. We argue that reviewers may write their reviews in such a way that it attracts the attention of other consumers. In particular, we study reviewers’ decisions on two levels. First, at the product level, given the status of the current review environment, we investigate the factors that affect a reviewer’s decision on whether to write a review for a particular product. Second, at the review level, we investi-gate factors that affect a reviewer’s rating decision on whether to differentiate from the current average rating based on the status of his/her online reputation.We use a rich data set of online reviews of books and elec-tronics collected from Amazon and Barnes & Noble (BN). The data was collected on a daily basis, which allows us to replicate the review environment when reviewers made the3Goldhaber (1997) has proposed an “attention economy” theory, stating that “obtaining attention is obtaining a kind of enduring wealth, a form of wealth that puts you in a preferred position to get anything this new economy offers.”684MIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3/September 2015Shen et al./Online Reviewers’ Strategic Behaviorsreview decisions. In addition, different from most of the prior studies focusing on one product category and one website, our data set allows us to compare across product categories and across different review systems.Our results indicate that reviewers’ review decisions are affected by the existence of a reputation system that amplifies the effect of reputation and consumer attention. Our compar-ison across two different review systems confirms that reviewers’ behaviors become more strategic in providing reviews when there exists a reviewer ranking system that makes each reviewer’s reputation very quantifiable and visible. We find that reviewers on Amazon, where a reviewer ranking system exists, become sensitive to the competition among existing reviews and tend to avoid crowded review segments. In direct contrast, on the BN website, which does not include such a reviewer ranking system, reviewers do not respond to the competition effect. In addition, reviewers on Amazon post more differentiated ratings compared with reviewers on the BN website, presumably because Amazon’s reviewer ranking system makes each reviewer’s reputation very quantifiable and visible and intensifies the competition for attention. Our findings yield interesting managerial impli-cations for companies interested in encouraging online reviewers’ contributions and in managing review activities on their websites. We discuss these details in the “Discussion and Conclusion” section and provide guidance for managers so that they can improve the design of their review systems in order to fulfill different business needs and goals.The rest of the paper is organized as follows. We present the data and the empirical model used to address our research question. The following section reports our empirical findings and is followed by additional analysis on Amazon reviewers’ rating strategies. Finally, we discuss the mana-gerial implications in the last section.Empirical MethodologyDataThis study uses book reviews on and to study reviewers’ behaviors. We selected Amazon and BN as they are the two largest online book retailers and, most importantly, have two different review environments. Amazon offers a reviewer ranking sys-tem that ranks reviewers based on their contributions. The reviewer ranking system builds up online reputation for reviewers, allowing top reviewers to build their online reputa-tion and to consistently gain future attention. In contrast, BN does not offer such a reviewer ranking system, and thus does not allow reviewers to build reputation and consistently gain future attention. Therefore, reviewers should behave more strategically within Amazon’s environment than within BN’s. Our sample includes all books released in September and October 2010, resulting in a sample of 1,751 books. At the end of the data collection period, there are 690 books on Amazon and 460 books on BN having more than 2 reviews. We have a total of 10,195 reviews in the data set.The data in our sample includes daily information on books, reviews, and reviewers. For books, we collect the book’s release date and its daily sales rank, which will be used as a proxy of its popularity. For reviews, we collect the date when the review was posted, the reviewer’s user name (which could be a real name or a pen name), the review rating, and the total helpfulness vote (this is used as a proxy of the amount of attention a review has captured). The votes are collected daily. We then obtain the reviewer rank from each reviewer’s online profile on Amazon (Amazon ranks reviewers based on the number of reviews and the quality of their reviews4). One unique feature of our sample is that we collect all the review information starting from the release date of each book. Therefore, we are able to observe the dynamics of reviewers’strategies over the time period of the sample. The data spans a three-month period from September 2010 through November 2010.Finally, we randomly selected about 500 electronic products on Amazon, including laptops, netbooks, tablets, Blu-Ray players, GPSs, TVs, and digital cameras. This data set is used for cross category comparison in order to generalize our results from books to other product categories. The data collected in the electronic product dataset is similar to that of the book dataset. The results are reported in the section “Additional Analyses on Amazon Reviewers.”Empirical ModelThe problem for consumers of finding the most useful reviews can be solved if consumers can allocate a sufficient amount of time and effort to read through all of the reviews. However, given the limited time and attention each consumer is able to spend, it is unlikely that a consumer will be able to process all of the available reviews before purchase, as some items may4Amazon uses the ratio of (Helpful vote)/(Total vote) to measure the quality of a review. In addition, they claim that they consider the relative magnitude of the amount of the total vote at the same time.MIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3/September 2015685Shen et al./Online Reviewers’ Strategic Behaviorshave literally hundreds of reviews (Chen et al. 2007; Forman et al. 2008). Consumers have to use heuristics to select a subset of the reviews to read rather than processing all of the reviews systematically (Forman et al. 2008). This constraint on consumers’ limited attention has implications for reviewers’ decisions on creating and posting reviews. Reviewers have to adopt the right strategy so as to compete for this scarce attention from consumers. The competition effect can be magnified when reviewers are able to quantify their online reputation through a reviewer ranking system. As mentioned above, with such a reputation system, reviewers are able to potentially monetize their online reputation and the amount of attention by receiving payments, free products, free travel or dinner offers, and even career opportunities (Coster 2006). Therefore, the competition for attention becomes more intense when there exists a reviewer ranking system to quan-tify a reviewer’s online reputation. The reviewer ranking system builds up online reputation for reviewers, allowing top reviewers to consistently gain future attention. In contrast, without a reviewer ranking system, reviewers are not able to build up reputation and consistently gain future attention. As a result, reviewers may behave more strategically so that they gain attention and enhance reputation when there is a mech-anism to quantify their online reputation.We study reviewers’ behaviors in two review mechanisms at two levels. At the product level, we study how two factors, popularity and crowdedness, affect a reviewer’s decision on whether to write a review for a product. At the review rating level, we study how reputation status affects reviewers’ deci-sions on whether to differentiate from the current consensus. Product ChoiceThe intention of this section is to study how two factors, popularity and crowdedness, affect reviewers’ decisions on choosing a product to review in two different review systems. In order to effectively compete for attention, reviewers may have to choose an appropriate product for which to post a review. This involves balancing the popularity of the product and the crowdedness of the review segment for that product. The popularity of a product is determined by the sales volume of the product. Since sales volume indicates the product awareness in the market (Godes and Mayzlin 2004, Liu 2006), it provides a good measurement of the amount of potential consumers who may pay attention to the reviews. Therefore, popularity indicates the total attention a product may attract. The crowdedness of a review segment is mea-sured by the number of preexisting reviews for the product. This measures the level of competition for attention in the review segment of that product.The data is unbalanced panel data for a three-month periodand is grouped at the book level. We construct a dependent variable, DailyReviewNumber, which is the count of the daily number of new reviews for each book. This variable directly measures how many reviewers choose to review a book each day knowing the popularity and the crowdedness of that book on that day. By understanding how these two factors can affect the arrival process of reviews, we can infer how reviewers make decisions based on these two factors in dif-ferent mechanisms.Since our dependent variable is a count variable, we cannot use the traditional ordinary least square model as the assump-tions of homoscedasticity and normal distribution of the errors are violated. A common model to account for the discrete and nonnegative nature of the count data is the Poisson model, which has been widely used in the marketing literature to study consumers’ purchasing behaviors (e.g., Dillon and Gupta 1996; Gupta 1988; Schmittlein et al. 1987; Wagner and Taudes 1986). We assume the arrival of reviews (i.e., the DailyReviewNumber) follows a Poisson distribution. Note that the Poisson model assumes equal mean and variance. Since we find over-dispersion in our data, we estimate a negative binomial distribution model that allows for over-dispersion of the count variable (Hausman et al. 1984).We performed the Hausman (1978) test to validate the use of a fixed effects model or a random effects model. The Haus-man test checks for violations of the assumption that the random effects specification is uncorrelated with the indepen-dent variables. Our result rejects the null hypothesis at the 1% significance level and is in favor of using a fixed effects model. Using a fixed effects model allows the error term to be correlated with the explanatory variables, making the estimation more robust. Moreover, it controls for the time-invariant unobserved characteristics, such as book quality or author name effects that are associated with each book, which may affect the arrival rate of the reviews.The independent variables include the natural log of book i’s sales rank at the previous day t-1(SalesRanki(t-1)) and the natural log of the number of existing reviews at the previousday t-1 (ReviewNumberi(t-1)). SalesRank measures the popu-larity of the book and ReviewNumber measures the crowdedness of the review segment for that book. We use the previous day SalesRank and ReviewNumber to directly estimate the impact of existing popularity and crowdedness on reviewers’ product choice decisions in the current period t. Amazon is a dummy variable that is 1 if the data is from Amazon and 0 if it is from BN. AmazonReviewNumber and AmazonSalesRank are interaction terms that measure the difference of main effects between the two mechanisms.686MIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3/September 2015Shen et al./Online Reviewers’ Strategic BehaviorsOur model is different from the models used in the online review literature that try to assess the impact of online reviews on product sales. First, the dependent variable in our model is the daily count of new reviews rather than the cumulative number of reviews. This variable does not have the cumulative effect of reviews that could potentially drive product sales. Second, we use the previous period’s sales rank rather than the current or the following period’s sales rank. Even if the daily count of reviews potentially affects sales, it would not be able to affect the previous period’s sales. Therefore, our model does not contradict previous findings that the cumulative number of reviews can drive product sales. In addition, we calculate the variance inflation factor (VIF) value for every variable in all models to check for potential multicollinearity. All of the VIF values are below 10, suggesting no serious multicollinearity in our results (Hair et al. 1995; Marquardt 1970; Mason et al. 1989). One may still argue that the number of daily reviews could be affected by the cumulative sales volume. That is, the number of potential reviewers is proportional to the existing adopters who have already purchased the product. High cumulative sales volume indicates more potential reviewers and could lead to additional future daily reviews. To control for this effect, we construct a variable, PotentialReviewers, to account for the possibility that the increasing number of daily reviews is simply due to the increasing number of potential reviewers over time. Since the SalesRank is a good proxy for the sales volume, the cumulative SalesRank can be used as a reason-able proxy for the existing adopters which indicates the number of potential reviewers. However, the sales rank is negatively correlated with the sales volume (i.e., the smaller the sales rank, the higher the sales volume). We use the inverse of the SalesRank to account for this effect. PotentialReviewers i(t-1) is defined as the sum of the inverse of SalesRank from book i ’s release date to the previous day t-1:(1)()PotentialReviewers i t SalesRank tt i −=−= 111ιιwhere t 0 = the release date of book i , and t = the current date. We use PotentialReviewers i(t-1) to control for the size effect of potential reviewers on the daily number of reviews.Finally, reviewers may lose interest in writing reviews for products that have been released for some time. Their enthu-siasm for writing reviews may decay over time, which can affect the number of daily reviews at different time periods. We construct a variable DaysElapsed it to control for the time effect. DaysElapsed it is the number of days since book i 's release date. We include interaction terms AmazonPotential Reviewers and AmazonDaysElapsed in the model as well.Figure 1 summarizes the key variables in the model.Review Rating ChoiceThe purpose of studying a reviewer’s rating choice is to examine how reviewers offer ratings differently under the two review systems. Reviewers may post more differentiated ratings when there is a reviewer ranking system to quantify their online reputation than when there is no such system. We use RatingDeviation ij(t-1) as the dependent variable to investi-gate reviewers’ rating behaviors. It is the squared difference between the average rating for book i at time t-1 and reviewer j ’s rating; that is, RatingDeviation ij(t-1) = (AvgRating i(t-1) –Rating ij )2. This variable measures the distance from the focal rating to the average rating. Therefore, it indicates how dif-ferentiated the rating is. A large value of RatingDeviation implies that the reviewer is trying to differentiate from others while a value close to zero indicates that the reviewer is fol-lowing the mass opinion. We estimate the following model by using data on the day before the review is posted (i.e., time t-1). Using data on the previous day allows us to replicate the environment when reviewers make rating decisions. β1, the coefficient of the dummy variable Amazon ij , is expected to be positive as reviewers on Amazon would post more differ-entiated ratings than those on BN. Meanwhile, we control for the effects of popularity and crowdedness at the book level.(2)()()()RatingDeviation Amazon SalesRank ij t ij i t i t ijt−−−=++++1012231ββββεReviewNumber ResultsWe estimate our empirical models using unbalanced panel data over a period of three months. The negative binomial distribution models are estimated via the maximum likelihood method. Table 1 provides descriptions of all variables and Table 2 summarizes the descriptive statistics for the relevant variables. Note that Rating and RealName are time invariant variables. All of the other variables change every day.Table 3 presents the fixed effects panel data estimation results for the model of choosing a book to review. Both coefficients of SalesRank are negative and significant at the 1% signifi-cance level for Amazon and BN as in columns (1) and (2),indicating that the more popular the book, the more potential buyers are aware of the product. Regardless of a reviewer ranking system, an individual review is able to share from more total attention. As a result, more reviewers will review the book (i.e., the coefficient for SalesRank is negative). NoteMIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3/September 2015687Shen et al./Online Reviewers’ Strategic BehaviorsVariableDescriptionVariables regarding booksDailyReviewNumber it The number of reviews that book i receives at day tReviewNumber it The natural log of the cumulative number of reviews of book i from its release date to day t SalesRank it The natural log of the sales rank of book i at day tAmazon iA dummy variable which indicates whether a book is on Amazon or BN 1 = book i is on Amazon 0 = book i is on BNPotentialReviewers it The sum of the inverse of SalesRank from book i ’s release date to day t DaysElapsed it The number of days from book i’s release date to day tVariables regarding reviewsRatingDeviation ijt The square of the difference between the rating of review j of book i and the average rating at day tRating ij †The rating of review j of book i (one-to-five scale)Variables for Amazon onlyDailyTotalVote ijt The number of votes that review j of book i receives at day tDailyUnhelpfulVote ijt The number of unhelpful votes that review j of book i receives at day tTotalVote ijtThe cumulative number of votes that review j of book i receives from the day it posted to day t TotalUnhelpfulVote ijt The cumulative number of unhelpful votes that review j of book i receives from the day it posted to day tReviewerRank jt The natural log of the reviewer’s reviewer rank of review j of book i at day tRealname j†A dummy variable measuring the real name identity of the reviewer of review j of book i 1 = the reviewer uses a real name,0 = the reviewer uses a pen name.†Variables are time invariant.688MIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3/September 2015Shen et al./Online Reviewers’ Strategic BehaviorsVariable N Mean Std. Dev.Min Max DailyReviewNumber 83,644.179 1.2930231 ReviewNumber83,644 1.419 1.1260 6.059 SalesRank83,6449.558 2.384.69315.438 PotentialReviewers83,644 3.656 2.761.06638.934 Amazon83,644.485.50001 RatingDeviation461,004 1.024 1.833015.793 DailyTotalVote461,004.083.7270248 DailyUnhelpfulVote461,004.032.5360236 TotalVote461,004 6.15420.8170925 TotalUnhelpfulVote461,004 2.22513.1020885Amazon(1)BN(2)Amazon & BN(3)SalesRanki(t-1)†-.460**(.023)-.668**(.051)-.668**(.051)ReviewNumberi(t-1)†-.073**(.014).473**(.031).473**(.031)PotentialReviewersi(t-1)†.165**(.023).129**(.036).129**(.036)DaysElapsedit -.018**(.001)-.036**(.002)-.036**(.002)AmazonSalesRanki(t-1)†.207**(.056)AmazonReviewNumberi(t-1)†-.547**(.035)AmazonPotentialReviewersi(t-1)†.035(.043)AmazonDaysElapsedi(t-1).018** (.003)Amazoni 1.786** (.143)N40,56826,53367,101 Log likelihood-21627.664-4981.676-26609.34Note: **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05†Variables are normalized using the following formula to allow comparison across two sites:(Variable – Mean)/Std. Devthat after controlling for the effect from the number of potential reviewers, we still observe a significant effect for popularity.Next, the higher the number of preexisting reviews indicating a higher level of crowdedness, the more severe the competi-tion for attention. Consequently, when there is a reviewer ranking system, we find that fewer reviewers will choose to review a book as the review segment becomes crowded (i.e., the coefficient of ReviewNumber is negative for Amazon). This indicates that reviewers tend to avoid crowded review segments so as to reduce the competition for attention. Note that after controlling for the time decay effect, we still observe a significant negative impact from crowdedness on aMIS Quarterly Vol. 39 No. 3/September 2015689。