IU Discussion Papers and Reports

Permanent URI for this collection:https://repository.iu.org/handle/123456789/493

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Zwischen Kreuz und Community: Entwicklung einer Ziel gruppentypologie für christliche Personenmarken in Deutschland auf Instagram
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-10-22) Mewing, Julia-Marie; Schaepe, Volker
Christian personal brands (Christfluencer) on social media platforms such as Instagram represent an increasingly relevant form of digital faith communication. To date, however, there has been no system- atic analysis of the various communication strategies they employ and the target audiences they ad- dress. This IU discussion paper examines how Christian personal brands in Germany design their verbal and visual communication on Instagram to engage specific audiences, deriving communicative types and audience approaches from these practices. Based on deductively developed coding schemes, 113 posts from five representative Instagram ac- counts were described and subsequently coded. The qualitative content analysis resulted in the devel- opment of the 3D Code, a framework for classifying communicative types of Christian personal brands. The framework is based on three dimensions with bipolar characteristics: self-presentation (institu- tional-authoritative to personal-authentic), tone/mood (objective-instructional to emotional-commu- nity-oriented), and narrative style (media-presentational to subjective-narrative). By synthesizing the findings with the Sinus Milieu Model and content marketing models, the study de- velops a practical audience typology that provides recommendations for recipient-oriented content design. The five communicative types identified — Intellectual Thought Leader, Public Proclaimer, In- stitutional Activist, Relatable Faith Coach, and Authentic Witness — differ in their hypothesised fit with the ten Sinus milieus. The Intellectual Thought Leader, for instance, shows the strongest conceptual fit with the Conservative Upper-Class and Post-Materialist milieus, whereas the Relatable Faith Coach cor- responds more closely to the Adaptive-Pragmatic and Consumer-Hedonistic milieus. As a content-ana- lytical study, the research identifies and classifies branding strategies; it does not provide evidence of their reach, effectiveness or actual reception, which remains a task for audience-side research. The resulting typology can serve as both an analytical and consulting tool for a wide range of Christian media practitioners, helping them ensure the strategic coherence of their content, reflect on organic reach strategies, and sharpen their positioning on Instagram.
Ludoratur: Zur ästhetischen Ereignisform des Spielvollzugs in digitalen Spielen
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-10-22) Burbach, Jörg
Digitale Spiele erzeugen Erfahrungen, deren konkrete Form weder vollständig im Spielartefakt angelegt noch allein den Spieler:innen zuzuschreiben ist. Regeln, Räume, Mechaniken und audiovisuelle Gestaltung eröffnen einen Möglichkeitsraum, der erst im Spielen aktualisiert wird. Dabei können Ereignisfolgen entstehen, die als komisch, spannend, tragisch oder melancholisch erfahren werden, ohne in dieser Form vorab gestaltet worden zu sein. Die Game Studies haben dieses Phänomen aus verschiedenen Richtungen beschrieben: als emergente Narration, als Alterbiographie, im Verhältnis von Mechanics, Dynamics und Aesthetics des MDA-Modells oder als Ästhetik des eigenen Handelns. Der Beitrag bündelt diese Ansätze im Begriff Ludoratur und gewinnt damit eine Analyseeinheit zwischen Spielartefakt und Rezeption, die sich über Kriterien prüfen lässt. Ludoratur bezeichnet weder eine Gattung noch eine Eigenschaft des Spielartefakts, sondern eine ästhetische Ereignisform: eine im Spielvollzug entstehende, als zusammenhängend und prägnant erfahrene Konfiguration, deren konkrete Gestalt nicht vorgeschrieben war. Der Beitrag grenzt den Begriff systematisch ab, formuliert vier Kriterien, unter denen ein Spielverlauf zur Ludoratur wird, erprobt sie an zwei Beispielen, diskutiert das Verhältnis von Vollzug und nachträglicher Erzählung und skizziert methodische Zugänge sowie Anschlussfragen für Forschung und Game Design.
Lebensbewältigung im Übergang in die Selbständigkeit
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-10-22) Bandura-Grosse, Karolina; Brück, Jasmin
Junge Erwachsene im Übergang aus stationären Erziehungshilfen stehen durch fehlende familiäre Netzwerke vor einer komplexen Anforderungsdichte, die eine erzwungene frühe Selbständigkeit verschärft. Diese qualitative Studie untersucht ihre individuellen Bewältigungsprozesse und die Wahrnehmung von Unterstützungsangeboten. Auf Basis von fünf leitfadengestützten Interviews und einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Kuckartz werden die Erfahrungen im Rahmen des Lebensbewältigungskonzepts nach Böhnisch analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ein Bewältigungshandeln zwischen Konstruktivität und Regression. Es wird deutlich, dass gelingende Autonomie im Leaving Care keine absolute Unabhängigkeit bedeutet, sondern als relationales Gefüge verlässlicher pädagogischer Beziehungen zu verstehen ist. Young adults transitioning out of residential care face a complex array of demands due to a lack of family networks, which exacerbates the pressure to become independent at an early age. This qualitative study examines their individual coping processes and their perceptions of support services. Based on five guided interviews and a qualitative content analysis following Kuckartz, the experiences are analysed within the framework of Böhnisch’s concept of life coping. The results reveal coping strategies that oscillate between constructiveness and regression. It becomes clear that successful autonomy in leaving care does not mean absolute independence, but should be understood as a relational framework of reliable educational relationships.
Gesund führen im Change. Die Pufferwirkung von Health-oriented Leadership auf Unsicherheit und Widerstand
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-09-30) Reinhart, Sophia Valentina; Berghammer, Anja
Organizational change frequently triggers psychological uncertainty among employees which can manifest as destructive resistance. Utilizing the concept of health-oriented leadership (staff-care), this article investigates the extent to which health-oriented leadership behavior can act as a buffer to mitigate the negative effects of uncertainty on active and passive resistance during change processes. Within a quantitative research design, an online survey was conducted, resulting in a finalized net sample of N = 121 employees. The statistical testing of the hypothesized moderation effects was carried out using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (model 1). The regression analyses provided highly consistent results across the three examined dimensions of staff-care (awareness, value, behavior). No significant interaction effects buffering mechanisms could be detected. Consequently, the moderation hypotheses had to be rejected. However, explorative post-hoc analyses revealed a significant mediation effect (PROCESS, model 4). Staff-care directly reduces organizational uncertainty, which in turn leads to a significant decrease in both active and passive resistance. These findings suggest that health-oriented leadership does not operate reactively as a buffer once uncertainty has manifested. Rather, the statistical mediation pattern illustrates the role of health-oriented leadership as a lever that directly reduces the emergence of uncertainty. For business psychology practice, this study highlights the crucial importance of implementing health-oriented leadership early on to actively reduce uncertainties and minimize resistance in change management.
Digitaler Minimalismus und seine Auswirkungen auf die Beziehungsqualität
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-09-30) Thomas, Pia Teresa; Tse, Emily; Fasold, Svenja; Hattula, Cansu
Digitalization has profoundly reshaped our everyday communication, social interaction, and relationship practices. Particularly smartphones have become deeply embedded in daily life, influencing attention, presence, and perceived relationship quality. In this context, the concept of digital minimalism — defined as a conscious, reflective, and value-oriented reduction of digital media usage — has gained increasing relevance. This study explores how digital minimalism relates to perceived relationship quality. Based on a qualitative research design, nine semi-structured interviews with participants aged 13 to 62 were conducted and analyzed using the Gioia methodology in line with grounded theory principles. In vivo coding was applied to remain close to participants’ language and perspectives. The findings reveal an ambivalent relationship to digital media: while participants rely heavily on smartphones for communication, they also experience distraction, emotional strain, and reduced presence in their social interactions. Indeed, face-to-face interactions are consistently perceived as more meaningful, emotionally rich, and relationally satisfying than digital communication. Although most participants express a desire to reduce their media use, they face both social and structural barriers in doing so. Supportive social environments emerge as a key enabling factor. Overall, the study suggests that digital minimalism can enhance relationship quality by fostering presence, attention, and shared time, particularly when it is socially supported and collectively practiced.
Food & Design: Gestaltung an der Schnittstelle von Ernährung, Nachhaltigkeit und Innovation: Studiengang Produktdesign Dokumentation Trimesterthema
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-09-25) Irle, Miriam; Schmitz, Caspar; Brockmann, Daniela; Buggenthin, Stella; Klingmüller, Felix; Irle, Miriam; Schmitz, Caspar
Design und Ernährung berühren sich auf unterschiedliche Weise. So kann bereits das Gericht selbst als ein zu gestaltendes Produkt betrachtet werden. Es ist zugleich eingebettet in ein Ökosystem von Produkten, die seiner Zubereitung und seinem Konsum dienen und schließlich rücken auch die systemischen Zusammenhänge und Auswirkungen der Lebensmittelproduktion in den Mittelpunkt gestalterischer Auseinandersetzung. Grund genug, Food and Design als erstes Trimesterthema im Studiengang Produktdesign der IU Internationale Hochschule zu erkunden. Mit diesem neuen didaktischen Format erhalten über ein Trimester hinweg alle praktischen Entwurfsprojekte ein gemeinsames Projektthema. Ziel ist es, den Austausch und Diskurs zwischen den Studierenden zu fördern, und Öffentlichkeit für ihre Arbeiten zu schaffen. Die Auslegung des ersten Trimesterthemas war dabei so breit wie die didaktischen Schwerpunkte der Kurse selbst und reichte von Produkten aus Lebensmittelresten über Entwürfe für neue Essgewohnheiten bis hin zu vernetzten Lösungen rund um Ernährung und Küche.
From Mass Tourism to Meaningful Travel: Unlocking the Potential of the German Market for Indigenous Tourism in Mexico
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-09-21) González Jiménez, Paulina J.; Barriga Ortiz, Pablo Andrés; Berrones-Flemmig, Claudia Nelly; Nouri-Fritsche, Neda
This study investigates the potential of the German tourism market to support Sustainable Indigenous Tourism (SIT) in Mexico. Against a backdrop of growing global demand for transformative, values-driven travel, Mexico’s reliance on mass tourism has generated severe environmental degradation and the marginalization of indigenous communities. Sustainable Indigenous Tourism—defined by indigenous ownership, cultural preservation, and community-led economic empowerment—offers a systemic alternative aligned with ethical consumption and sustainability goals. Grounded in an integrative theoretical framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior, Theory of Consumption Values, and Past Behavior, this mixed-methods research examines German travelers’ interest and willingness to pay (WTP) for SIT experiences. Quantitative findings from a structured survey of 204 respondents, analyzed via multiple regression and exploratory factor analysis, reveal that perceived value (β = 0.525, p < .05) and motivation (β = 0.317, p < .05) are significant positive predictors of WTP. One-way ANOVA confirms that prior experience with sustainable tourism further reinforces payment intentions. Qualitative insights from six in-depth interviews underscore cultural immersion, authenticity, and sustainability as primary motivators, while limited awareness and accessibility emerge as key barriers. The results identify a viable market segment—predominantly well-educated, environmentally conscious women from western Germany—with 68% of respondents willing to pay €250–€600 for a weekend SIT experience. The study concludes that strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, targeted marketing emphasizing social impact, sustainability certifications, and improved digital and physical accessibility are critical to positioning Mexican SIT as a differentiated, equitable alternative within the German tourism market.
The Behavior Change Wheel as a Complementary Implementation Framework for Heat-Health Action Planning
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-09-24) Wienert, Julian
Extreme heat is one of the most significant climate-sensitive public health challenges of the twenty-first century. In response, Heat-Health Action Plans (HHAPs) have become the principal framework for coordinating multisectoral adaptation measures. While the recently updated World Health Organization (WHO) guidance provides a comprehensive strategic framework for HHAP development, translating these strategic objectives into coordinated implementation across sectors remains a persistent challenge. This discussion paper proposes to use the existing Behavior Change Wheel (BCW; Michie et al., 2014) as a complementary implementation framework for Heat-Health Action Planning. Rather than introducing new heat-health interventions, the BCW provides an explicit behavioral implementation logic that systematically links behavioral diagnosis, intervention functions, and policy categories within a common analytical framework. This enables strategic HHAP objectives to be translated into context-specific implementation strategies across individual, organizational, and governance levels. By integrating behavioral diagnosis with intervention design and policy action, the BCW complements the WHO Heat-Health Action Planning guidance and supports the operationalization of existing HHAP core elements. The paper further illustrates how the BCW can facilitate behavioral diagnosis, intervention selection, and coordinated implementation across different implementation contexts. Conceptualizing Heat-Health Action Plans as implementation systems highlights the importance of explicitly addressing the behavioral processes through which heat-health interventions are delivered and coordinated. The proposed integration positions the BCW as a complementary implementation framework that can strengthen the coherence, feasibility, and coordination of HHAP implementation while providing a foundation for future empirical research on behavioral approaches to climate change adaptation.
Leadership neu denken. Veränderte Anforderungen an Führung in hybriden Arbeitsformen
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-09-24) Schwarzer, Beate; Berghammer, Anja
Discussions about changing work environments and the resulting demands on employees and leaders have become increasingly relevant (Van & Duy, 2020, p. 593). Current studies indicate that hybrid work will remain an important future of work (Hofmann et al., 2022, p. 11). Nevertheless, there remains a need for further research into the practical transformation of leadership: while numerous studies focus on hybrid work itself, the specific perspective and operational reality of leaders have received comparatively less attention. This study addresses this gap by investigating the specific challenges hybridity poses for leaders and the core competencies required to navigate them. To answer these questions, nine expert interviews were conducted with leaders and evaluated using qualitative content analysis. The empirical results indicate that the interviewed leaders perceive hybrid leadership as increasing operational and emotional complexity, leading to fragmented tasks and strained social relations. The findings point to a multi-dimensional competence profile that extends far beyond digital media and communication skills, placing a distinct emphasis on psychosocial capabilities and leaders' self-management. Finally, the study highlights that individual competencies must be backed by organizational frameworks, deriving concrete practical implications for corporate regulations and leadership culture.
Der Rundbrief für Kindergärtnerinnen (1938-1943): Erste quellenkritische Einblicke in ein Medium Nationalsozialistischer Frühpädagogik
(IU International University of Applied Sciences, 2026-09-02) Otto, Stephan
Der Beitrag untersucht den bislang kaum erforschten Rundbrief für Kindergärtnerinnen der Nationalsozialistischen Volkswohlfahrt (NSV) als organisationsinternes Kommunikations- und Steuerungsmedium des nationalsozialistischen Kindergartenwesens. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage, welche pädagogischen, fachlichen und ideologischen Leitvorstellungen über die Publikation vermittelt wurden. Zunächst wird der Rundbrief quellenkritisch hinsichtlich seiner Entstehung, Verbreitung und Funktion eingeordnet. Darauf aufbauend werden die Inhaltsverzeichnisse der zwischen 1938 und 1943 erschienenen Ausgaben systematisch ausgewertet, um thematische Schwerpunkte und Entwicklungen zu rekonstruieren. Ergänzend werden ausgewählte Beiträge und ihre Autor:innen exemplarisch analysiert, um die Verflechtung pädagogischer Argumentationen mit nationalsozialistischen Erziehungs- und Gesellschaftsvorstellungen herauszuarbeiten. Der Beitrag leistet damit einen ersten quellenkritischen Zugang zu einer bislang kaum beachteten Quelle der bildungshistorischen Forschung und erweitert die Perspektive auf die Rolle interner Fachkommunikation bei der ideologischen Ausrichtung frühpädagogischer Praxis im Nationalsozialismus.
Soziale Aneignung in offenen digitalen Spielräumen
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-08-27) Burbach, Jörg
This article examines how social order emerges in open digital game spaces when technical systems enable and structure a wide range of actions without fully determining their specific social meaning. Using Grand Theft Auto Online (GTA Online) as a case study, it argues that communal order emerges neither from formal game rules alone nor exclusively from platform governance. Rather, it develops through processes of social appropriation. The term refers to collective practices through which players socially structure a technically and institutionally framed space of possibilities by establishing shared meanings, expectations, roles, rituals, and rules. Methodologically, the article combines a qualitative-conceptual system analysis of GTA Online with an analysis of publicly accessible platform and community documents as well as the author’s previous research. It reconstructs exemplary cases including informal communities of practice such as car meets and photography groups, more enduring group structures such as crews, and institutionalized roleplay servers. These cases are not understood as necessary stages of development, but as ideal-typical positions along a continuum of increasing social consolidation. The analysis shows that actions must first be socially perceived, attributed, interpreted, and evaluated before repeated practices can give rise to situational expectations and, ultimately, communal norms. The effects of these norms remain ambivalent: they can foster reliability, cooperation, and belonging, but can also stabilize exclusion, hierarchies, and conflict. The article’s theoretical contribution lies in refining social appropriation as an analytical category for describing the transition from technical openness to ommunal order.
Serialization Trade-Offs in Distributed Systems: A Comparative Analysis of JSON, Protocol Buffers, and FlatBuffers Under Varying Width and Nesting Depth
(IU International University of Applied Sciences, 2026-08-12) Haberlah, Johannes; Linke, Knut
Serialization is a core operation in distributed systems, yet existing studies often compare individual formats without systematically controlling structural properties of the transmitted data. This paper presents a controlled comparison of three serialization paradigms: textual encoding represented by JSON, binary schema-based encoding represented by Protocol Buffers, and zero-copy representation represented by FlatBuffers. Using a Rust-based benchmark suite, the study systematically varies record width and nesting depth across four datasets and measures serialization latency, data-access latency, throughput, and serialized message size. Quantitative measurements are complemented by CPU profiling to identify low-level performance drivers. The results show that no format dominates across all dimensions. Protocol Buffers achieves the lowest serialization latency and the smallest message sizes across all datasets, supporting its suitability for write- and bandwidth-sensitive workloads. FlatBuffers provides substantially faster data access than both Protocol Buffers and JSON due to its zero-copy design, making it advantageous for read-dominated scenarios. JSON exhibits the highest access latency and generally larger payloads, but remains relevant where human readability, flexibility, and ecosystem compatibility are prioritized. Profiling attributes these differences to format-specific mechanisms: textual conversion and key emission in JSON, varint and field-wise byte encoding in Protocol Buffers, and offset/vtable resolution in FlatBuffers. The findings demonstrate that serialization format choice is a consequential architectural decision whose optimality depends on workload structure and read/write characteristics.
KI-Kompetenzen 2026: Welche Fähigkeiten sucht der Arbeitsmarkt?
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-08-12) Zettier, Fabian; Krickel, Frank; Linke, Knut
Dieses Discussion Paper untersucht, welche Kompetenzanforderungen im Kontext generativer künstlicher Intelligenz (GenAI) in deutschen Stellenausschreibungen sichtbar werden und wie diese Anforderungen mit bestehenden KI- und GenAI-Kompetenzrahmen übereinstimmen. Hierzu verbindet die Studie eine Synthese von 18 Kompetenzframeworks mit einer KI-gestützten qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse von 258 GenAI-relevanten Stellenanzeigen aus der Jobbörse der Bundesagentur für Arbeit, die am 14. März 2026 erhoben wurden. Methodisch folgt die Untersuchung einem deduktiv-induktiven Vorgehen: Zwölf literaturbasierte Kompetenzfelder werden auf das Datenmaterial angewendet, während ergänzende, bislang nicht hinreichend abgebildete Kompetenzanforderungen induktiv identifiziert werden. Ko-Vorkommens- und Clusteranalysen dienen zusätzlich dazu, typische Rollen- und Kompetenzprofile auf Stellenebene herauszuarbeiten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ein deutlich technologiezentriertes Nachfragemuster. Besonders häufig werden Programmierung, IT-Infrastruktur, Cloud und MLOps, Modellentwicklung, Fine-Tuning sowie Datenkompetenzen gefordert. Reflexive, ethische, governancebezogene und rechtlich-complianceorientierte Kompetenzen werden dagegen erheblich seltener explizit artikuliert, obwohl sie in Kompetenzrahmen und vor dem Hintergrund regulatorischer Anforderungen, insbesondere des EU AI Acts, eine zentrale Rolle spielen. Die Clusteranalyse identifiziert drei Rollentypen: ein technisches Engineering-Profil, ein anwendungs- und prozessorientiertes Profil sowie ein hybrides Profil, das technische Implementierungsfähigkeit mit strategischer und prozessualer Integration verbindet. Ergänzend werden fünf emergente Kompetenzfelder sichtbar: KI-Didaktik und Wissensvermittlung, branchenspezifisches Domänenwissen, KI-Tool-Evaluierung, UX/UI und Human-Centered Design sowie MCP und KI-Protokolle. Die Studie leistet einen Beitrag zur Verbindung theoriegeleiteter Kompetenzrahmen mit arbeitsmarktlichen Anforderungsdaten. Sie zeigt, in welchen Bereichen Stellenanzeigen mit bestehenden Kompetenzmodellen übereinstimmen und wo systematische Leerstellen bestehen. Für die Unternehmenspraxis ergeben sich daraus Implikationen für kompetenzbasiertes Recruiting und rollenspezifische Weiterbildung. Insbesondere sollten Governance-, Reflexions- und Compliancekompetenzen neben technischer Implementierungskompetenz explizit in Rollenprofile, Auswahlverfahren und Qualifizierungsprogramme integriert werden.
Diskriminierungssensible Nutzung von Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Personalentwicklung
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-08-12) Friese, Sarah; Störmer, Maja
This paper examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resource development, with a particular focus on discrimination-sensitive design. Drawing on legal frameworks, particularly the EU AI Act, as well as sociological and technical perspectives, the study analyzes both the potential and the risks of AI deployment. In human resource development, AI offers significant added value through personalized learning processes, competence analysis, and the evaluation of development measures. At the same time, there is a risk that socially embedded forms of discrimination may be reproduced through biased training data. The analysis shows that, to date, only a few technically effective fairness approaches exist, particularly for generative AI. Against this background, responsibility lies not only with developers but also with users of AI systems. The paper derives practice-oriented recommendations for the legally compliant, fair, and human-centered use of AI in human resource development and emphasizes the need for a holistic sociotechnical approach.
Big Five und Beziehungszufriedenheit: Eine dyadisch-explorative Analyse
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-08-12) Meißner, David; Schubart, Constantin
Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte dyadische Zusammenhänge zwischen Big-Five-Persönlichkeit, Persönlichkeitsdifferenzen und Beziehungszufriedenheit. Analysiert wurden 232 Personen aus 116 eindeutig zuordenbaren heterosexuellen Paaren auf Basis einer quantitativen Querschnittsstudie. Beziehungszufriedenheit wurde mit dem ZIP, Persönlichkeit mit dem BFI-2 auf Dimensions- und Facettenebene erfasst. Zusätzlich wurden paarspezifische absolute Differenzwerte berechnet und getrennt innerhalb von vier Beziehungsdauergruppen ausgewertet. Alle dyadischen Analysen waren explorativ angelegt. Die weibliche Beziehungszufriedenheit war sowohl mit eigenen Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen als auch mit Merkmalen des männlichen Partners assoziiert. Das Modell mit ausschließlich eigenen Merkmalen (Actor-Modell) sagte die weibliche Beziehungszufriedenheit signifikant vorher, F(2, 113) = 5.80, p = .004, R² = .09, korr. R² = .08. Die Aufnahme männlicher Partnermerkmale ergab ein signifikantes finales Modell, F(7, 108) = 3.86, p < .001, R² = .20, korr. R² = .15, und erhöhte die erklärte Varianz signifikant, ΔR² = .11, p = .017, wobei kein einzelner Prädiktor Signifikanz erreichte. Für die männliche Beziehungszufriedenheit war das Actor-Modell ebenfalls signifikant, F(5, 110) = 3.19, p = .010, R² = .13, korr. R² = .09; die explorative Ergänzung weiblicher Durchsetzungsfähigkeit führte zu keiner signifikanten zusätzlichen Varianzaufklärung, ΔR² = .03, p = .060. Über die Analysen hinweg zeigten vor allem neurotizismusbezogene Merkmale, insbesondere Neurotizismus, Niedergeschlagenheit und Unbeständigkeit der Gefühle, wiederholt negative Zusammenhänge mit Beziehungszufriedenheit. Aktivität, Verlässlichkeit, Verträglichkeit und Höflichkeit waren dagegen überwiegend positiv assoziiert. Persönlichkeitsdifferenzen zeigten beziehungsdauerabhängige Muster: Während Differenzen in Beziehungen unter zehn Jahren überwiegend negativ mit Beziehungszufriedenheit zusammenhingen, zeigte sich in Beziehungen über zehn Jahren ein positiver Zusammenhang für Offenheitsdifferenzen, ρ(22) = .65, p < .001. Da die Beziehungsdauer in getrennten Gruppen und nicht als Interaktionsterm analysiert wurde und da das Design querschnittlich, die dyadischen Teilstichproben klein und die Beobachtungen innerhalb der Paare nicht unabhängig sind, sind die Befunde als deskriptive, nicht kausale Hinweise zu lesen. Insgesamt sprechen die Ergebnisse dafür, Persönlichkeit in Partnerschaften als dyadisches, geschlechtsspezifisches und beziehungsdauersensitives Zusammenhangsmuster zu betrachten.
Künstlich, aber wirkungsvoll? Eine empirische Analyse zur Kennzeichnungspflicht von KI-generierten Bildern und ihren Konsequenzen auf die Werbewirkung
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-08-12) Perst, Florian; Schmitt, Noel; Schubart, Constantin
This study examined the effects of the labelling requirement for AI-generated image content, introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, on advertising effectiveness in commercial tourism marketing. The aim was to investigate whether the legally mandated transparency disclosure in an advertisement negatively influences key advertising effectiveness dimensions. The variables examined included recall, perceived credibility, attitude toward the ad, trust, and purchase intention. Using a quantitative online survey with an experimental A/B design (N = 144), consumer responses to an advertisement featuring a real photograph were compared with those to a visually equivalent advertisement labelled as AI-generated. The results revealed no significant differences between the groups, indicating that the transparency disclosure did not reduce advertising effectiveness for the visually high-quality stimulus used here. Companies may therefore be able to leverage the efficiency potential of generative AI without necessarily suffering losses in advertising effectiveness. However, the absence of significant differences does not constitute evidence of equivalence, and the transferability of these findings to other industries, motifs, and target groups requires further empirical investigation.
Zwischen Kompetenzgefühl und Handlungssicherheit: Die Kompetenz-Anwendungs-Lücke in digitalen IT-Lernformaten
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-07-27) Steinhardt, Sven; Dulgeridis, Marcel
Digital IT learning formats are often judged as successful too early. A format is used, content is understood, learners report an increased sense of competence, and initial tests produce positive results. However, this is not sufficient for vocational IT education. Acceptance, comprehensibility, and perceived competence are important intermediate steps. Yet they do not show whether learners will remain capable of acting later in ambiguous technical situations. This article addresses this threshold. Based on an exploratory quantitative study on digital IT learning formats, it introduces the competence–application gap as the perceived distance between perceived competence and expected application under realistic conditions. The study does not measure objective action security or actual transfer. However, it reveals a didactically relevant finding: perceived application competence does not automatically close the perceived application gap. Learners may feel more competent while at the same time recognizing more clearly that later application requires more than the learning moment itself can represent. Building on this, the article develops the principle of controlled application tension. Digital IT learning formats must not completely smooth out complexity if they are intended to prepare learners for professional action security. They must create situations in which learners work with incomplete information, contradictory indications, technical dependencies, and justified decisions. Not as a form of overload, but as targeted preparation for the realities of IT operations, security, infrastructure, and project work. The article does not provide conclusive evidence of impact but rather offers a didactic translation of an empirical impulse. Its core message is understanding does not yet mean being secure in action. Digital IT education must therefore not only convey content but deliberately shape the space between understanding and action.
KI-Impact-Scoring als Entscheidungsinstrument: Eine Priorisierungsmatrix zur Bewertung beliebiger KI- Anwendungen entwickelt am Use Case User Experience in Onlineshops
(IU Internationale Hochschule, 2026-07-27) Lange, Nico; Dulgeridis, Marcel; Cornelsen, Jens
Artificial intelligence applications increasingly promise efficiency gains, personalization, automation and improved user experiences. For medium-sized companies, however, the challenge is less the existence of potential use cases than the ability to prioritize them under resource constraints, heterogeneous data maturity and regulatory uncertainty. Building on a bachelor thesis on AI-supported user experience in online shops, this discussion paper reframes the developed prioritization matrix as a generic AI Impact Scoring Tool that can be applied to virtually any AI initiative. The proposed tool combines a value axis, a feasibility axis and a scenario-based sensitivity analysis. It draws on user-experience theory, technology acceptance, stimulus-organism-response reasoning, multi-criteria utility analysis and design-oriented model development. The e-commerce use case serves as a blueprint: AI-generated product imagery, personalized product recommendations and AI-based interaction systems are assessed to illustrate how different AI applications can be positioned as quick wins, strategic investments, experimental options or deprioritized initiatives. The central contribution lies in making AI investment decisions more transparent, comparable and adaptable. Rather than providing a one-time ranking, the model offers a reusable governance and decision framework for management teams that need to evaluate changing AI opportunities over time.
The Patagonia Vest as a symbol of status and group affiliation: A discussion of brand image, fashion communication and social identity
(IU International University of Applied Sciences, 2026-07-21) Schott, Franziska; Meißner, David; Schubart, Constantin
The Patagonia vest has increasingly moved beyond its original function as outdoor apparel and has become a visible symbol in business contexts, particularly in finance, consulting, and technology-related environments. This discussion paper examines whether the symbolic meaning of the Patagonia vest still aligns with Patagonia’s sustainability-oriented brand image or whether it is increasingly shaped by external social and professional influences. Drawing on concepts of fashion communication, social identity, brand image, and brand authenticity, the paper combines theoretical perspectives with findings from a quantitative online survey. The results indicate that the vest is perceived less as an expression of environmental consciousness and more as a marker of status, professional belonging, self-confidence, and success orientation. While Patagonia’s brand identity is strongly rooted in environmental responsibility, outdoor authenticity, and sustainable consumption, the vest’s meaning in business contexts appears to be shaped primarily by group affiliation and status symbolism. The findings suggest that symbolic meanings of branded garments can shift when products are adopted by specific professional groups and become embedded in social codes that differ from the original brand identity.
AI as a Study Partner in Mathematics Education: Evidence from a Multi-Program University Survey
(IU International University of Applied Sciences, 2026-07-21) Altin, Mehmet Evrim; Jäger, Kirsten; Jütte, Silke; Schneider, Florian
The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is fundamentally reshaping learning practices in higher education, particularly in mathematics and statistics courses. This study investigates how undergraduate students across multiple programs at IU International University engage with AI-based mathematics tools, which applications they prefer, and how they evaluate their performance. Drawing on survey data from 174 students enrolled in mathematics lectures during the spring term of 2025, we analyze awareness, usage intensity, and perceived usability, understandability, correctness, and value for money of leading AI tools. The results reveal a highly concentrated market structure: ChatGPT, Photomath, and Gemini dominate student awareness and usage. While ChatGPT is perceived as the most user-friendly and offers strong value for money, Photomath receives the highest ratings for correctness of results. Gemini, in contrast, is evaluated more cautiously across dimensions. Differences in awareness between math- intensive and non-math-intensive programs are small and statistically insignificant, suggesting that AI adoption in mathematics is broadly distributed across disciplines. The findings indicate that students integrate AI tools primarily as complementary learning aids rather than replacements for traditional materials. Overall, the study provides an empirical baseline for understanding how AI functions as a study partner in mathematics education and highlights the growing importance of evaluating not only usage frequency but also perceived reliability and pedagogical value.

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