Publications

You can also find my articles on my Google Scholar profile.

Swipe or subscribe: Do youth really prefer an ad-free Instagram?

Published in index.comunicación, 2025

This study examines how Generation Z engages with personalised advertising and privacy concerns, focusing on Instagram’s new subscription model. An online survey of 479 young people revealed that only 12.5% would be willing to pay for a subscription. Although many of the participants find advertising over-whelming and distracting and express significant concerns about data protection in social media use, neither advertising saturation nor privacy concerns appear to influence their willingness to subscribe.

Recommended citation: Sáez-Linero, C., Rodríguez-de-Dios, I., & Jiménez-Morales, M. (2025). Swipe or subscribe: Do youth really prefer an ad-free Instagram? index.comunicación, 15(1), 125-151.
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Reducing transphobia with the narratives of transgender youTubers

Published in Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 2024

Following Contact, Narrative Persuasion, and Queer Intercultural Theories, two experiments were conducted among cisgender people to investigate which types of narratives (positive, neutral, or negative) shared by trans YouTubers are more effective for reducing prejudice towards trans people, and whether this effect depends on the YouTuber’s gender (Study 1) and/or their ethnic background (Study 2).

Recommended citation: Rodríguez-de-Dios, I.,& Soto-Sanfiel, M. T. (2024). Reducing transphobia with the narratives of transgender YouTubers. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 18(5), Article 2.
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Motherhood and sexuality in women’s football news: Effects on interest in the article, engagement and perception of the player

Published in International Journal of Sport Communication, 2024

To investigate the influence of players’ motherhood and sexuality in the context of news, a 2 (sexuality) × 2 (motherhood status) between-subjects online experiment (N = 395) was conducted. The research examined the impact on interest in the news article, women’s football engagement, perception of the footballer (i.e., expected performance, impression, and perceived commitment), and attitudes toward lesbian athletes.

Recommended citation: Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. & González-de-Garay, B. (2024). Motherhood and sexuality in women’s football news: Effects on interest in the article, engagement and perception of the player. International Journal of Sport Communication Advance online publication
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The 3D sound power of immersion processing and psychophysiological effects of binaural versus stereo audio stories

Published in Media Psychology, 2024

This study analyzes the impact of binaural sound in audio stories compared to their stereo versions on the listeners’ cognitive processing and physiological responses. An experimental study was conducted among fifty participants. Results showed the effectiveness of the binaural sound, which induces greater narrative engagement, enjoyment, imagery, and information recognition than the stereo stories. The psychophysiological responses also indicated the highest attention and arousal in binaural stories..

Recommended citation: Rodero, E. & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2024). The 3D Sound Power of Immersion Processing and Psychophysiological Effects of Binaural versus Stereo Audio Stories. Media Psychology,27(5), 715–736. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2023.2281545.
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Effects of narrative-persuasive frames on Twitter regarding blood donation: pride versus empathy and people versus numbers

Published in Profesional de la Información, 2022

This study analyzes the effectiveness of different frames of a persuasive narrative in the format of a Twitter thread to increase blood donation. An experimental study with a 2 (emotional appeal: empathy awakened by a recipient protagonist vs. pride experienced by a donor protagonist ) x 2 (beneficiary of the donation: identifiable victim vs. generic beneficiary) between-subject design was conducted among 600 participants. Results showed the effectiveness of the emphatic appeal, which induces greater identification among participants. This outcome in turn increases the donation intention. On the contrary, no evidence was found that the use of an identifiable beneficiary in the donation appeal had any effect.

Recommended citation: Durántez-Stolle, P., Martínez-Sanz, R., & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2022). Effects of narrative-persuasive frames on Twitter regarding blood donation: pride versus empathy and people versus numbers. Profesional de la Información, 31(4).
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The Expressive Balance Effect: Perception and Physiological Responses of Prosody and Gestures

Published in Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 2022

This study analyzes the direct and interaction effects of intonation, speech rate, and hand gestures on the speakers’ credibility and effectiveness and the participants’ psychophysiological response (attention and arousal). Results showed that the best combination was a moderate intonation at a medium speech rate with a moderate number of hand gestures. These results supported the so-called Expressive Balance Effect. Speakers must maintain the expressive load of the different nonverbal cues in balance to be more effective and credible and enhance the listeners’ cognitive processing.

Recommended citation: Rodero, E., Larrea, O., Rodríguez-de-Dios, I., Lucas, I. (2022). The Expressive Balance Effect: Perception and Physiological Responses of Prosody and Gestures. Journal of Language and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0261927X221078317.
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CSR communication on social media: the impact of source and framing on message credibility, corporate reputation and WOM

Published in Corporate Communications: an International Journal, 2022

The main goal of this study is to analyse how the type of source and message framing on social media influence message credibility, corporate reputation, and word-of-mouth. An online experiment with 2 (source: influencer vs corporate) x 2 (CSR frame motives: values-driven vs performance-driven) between-subject design was conducted among 200 participants. Results showed that the type of source does not affect message credibility or corporate reputation, but a corporate source generates more word-ofmouth. Moreover, values-driven motives increase corporate reputation and generate more word-of-mouth. However, the type of frame motives does not impact message credibility.

Recommended citation: Dalla-Pria, L. & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2022). CSR communication on social media: the impact of source and framing on message credibility, corporate reputation and WOM. Corporate Communications: an International Journal,27(3), 543-557 .
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Competencias de comunicación oral en la educación primaria / Oral communication skills in elementary school

Published in Profesional De La Información, 2021

Writing and reading have long been considered to be the two most important skills that pupils must master perfectly. For this reason, written competence has been the protagonist in education, while oral communication via listening and speaking has traditionally remained in the background. Given the lack of data and the importance of oral communication nowadays, the aim of this study is to determine the current weight of oral skills in primary education. For this purpose, 433 teachers answered an online questionnaire to determine the importance of each skill, the work dedicated to each, the activities to develop them, and the students’ perceptions.

Recommended citation: Rodero, E. & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2021). Competencias de comunicación oral en la educación primaria. Profesional De La Información, 30 (6).
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Narrative Persuasion in a Mobile Environment: Effectiveness of a Mobile Application for Promoting Digital Skills and Coping Strategies in Adolescents

Published in International Journal of Communication, 2021

Digital skills and coping strategies have emerged as key competences for adolescents because of concerns about online risks and opportunities. A mobile application with narrative content was developed for teaching digital skills and coping strategies. A quasi-experiment conducted among 245 adolescents showed that the application was effective. Its use raised the level of personal security skill and intention to use active coping strategies when facing contact online risks. Identification with the main character and mobile acceptance predicted the impact of the app, but narrative transportation did not. This study suggests that narratives in mobile apps can be effective for adolescents.

Recommended citation: Rodríguez-de-Dios, I., Igartua, J. J., & d’Haenens, L. (2021). Narrative Persuasion in a Mobile Environment: Effectiveness of a Mobile Application for Promoting Digital Skills and Coping Strategies in Adolescents. International Journal of Communication, 15, 1637–1658.
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The contact hypothesis during the European refugee crisis: Relating quality and quantity of (in direct intergroup contact to attitudes towards refugees.

Published in Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 2021

This study analyses the relationship between the frequency and valence of direct intergroup contact with people with a migration background, the frequency of indirect contact with news on refugees, and the perception of realistic and symbolic threat, and attitudes towards refugees among adults in four European countries (N = 6,000). Findings indicate that interethnic contact is positively related to attitudes towards refugees. Moreover, valence of direct contact is found to be more important to attitude formation than its frequency. Regarding indirect contact, exposure to news on refugees and public news consumption are positively related to attitudes.

Recommended citation: De Coninck, D., Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. & d’Haenens, L. (2021). The contact hypothesis during the European refugee crisis: Relating quality and quantity of (in)direct intergroup contact to attitudes towards refugees. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 24 (6), 881-901.
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A study of the relationship between parental mediation and adolescents’ digital skills, online risks and online opportunities

Published in Computers in Human Behavior, 2018

The first goal of this study was to examine how adolescents' digital skills are related to their online opportunities and online risks behaviours. A second goal was to examine the influence of two ways of parental mediation (active and restrictive) on the level of teenagers’ digital skills, and subsequently their online opportunities and online risks. Finally, we intended to establish the validity and the structure of the Digital Literacy Scale. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 1.446 Spanish secondary school pupils, we found that more digitally skilled adolescents take more opportunities, and experience more risks. Digital literacy mediates the relationship between restrictive (but not of active) parental mediation and online risks and opportunities. Furthermore, the Digital Literacy Scale was shown to be valid in terms of construct validity.

Recommended citation: Rodríguez-de-Dios, I., van Oosten, J. M. F., & Igartua, J.-J. (2018). A study of the relationship between parental mediation and adolescents’ digital skills, online risks and online opportunities. Computers in Human Behavior, 82, 186–198.
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Identity implications in the spreading of cultural heritage through the Internet: a study from the framing theory

Published in Communication & Society, 2018

The aim of this study was to locate the heritage components that receive the greatest coverage on Spanish municipal websites, to then point out the approach that predominates in their characterization, a frame based on the dialectics between the local and the global. With this goal in mind, we performed a content analysis of a sample of 500 websites throughout Spain. In light of the results, it can be postulated that heritage identity in Spain has a religious tenor, as the manifestations most presented are usually ecclesiastical constructions (on the tangible plane) and liturgical events (on an intangible level).

Recommended citation: Piñeiro-Naval, V., Igartua, J. J., & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2018). Identity implications in the spreading of cultural heritage through the Internet: a study from the framing theory. Communication & Society, 31 (1), 1-21.
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Efecto de la similitud con el protagonista de narraciones contra el racismo en las actitudes hacia la inmigración. El rol mediador de la identificación con el protagonista / Eﬀect of Similarity with the Protagonist of Narratives Against Racism in Attitudes Toward Immigration. The Mediating Role of Identification with the Protagonist

Published in Anuario Electrónico de Estudios en Cominicación Social “Disertaciones”, 2017

The main goal of this experimental study was to generate new knowledge about the processes of narrative persuasion and its application to reduce the prejudice towards highly stigmatized immigrants. We analyzed the eﬀect of similarity between the protagonist of a narrative designed to reduce the prejudice and the audience of the message on the identification with the protagonist and on the attitudes towards immigration. Results showed that similarity positively influenced the identification with the protagonist which, in turn, was associated with more favorable attitudes toward immigrants.

Recommended citation: Igartua, J. J., Guerrero-Martín, I., Cachón-Ramón, D., & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2017). Efecto de la similitud con el protagonista de narraciones contra el racismo en las actitudes hacia la inmigración. El rol mediador de la identificación con el protagonista. Anuario electrónico de estudios en Comunicación Social "Disertaciones", 11 (1), 56.
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Skills of Digital Literacy to Address the Risks of Interactive Communication

Published in Journal of Information Technology Research, 2016

New technologies are fully integrated into the lives of children, so every day they spend more and more time using them. It is noteworthy that technologies offer many opportunities and benefits for children, but they are also associated with disadvantages and dangers. In this situation, the authors suggest that we should not deprive minors of the use of digital technologies. Nevertheless, the solution is to provide them with digital skills so they become digital literate and can use these tools safely. Therefore, through this study they sought to identify the skills that compound digital literacy: technological or instrumental, communication, information, critical, and security.

Recommended citation: Rodríguez de Dios, I., & Igartua, J. J. (2016) Skills of Digital Literacy to Address the Risks of Interactive Communication. Journal of Information Technology Research, 9 (1), 54-64.
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Motivational correlates of use and satisfaction with Facebook

Published in Cuadernos Info, 2016

This study, linked to the theory of uses and gratifications, analyzes the reasons for using Facebook and contrasts how those motives predict behavioral and attitudinal patterns. The questionnaire used, applied to a sample of Spanish students (n=268), included a scale about the reasons to use Facebook, and information on the consumption and satisfaction with that social network. An exploratory factorial analysis revealed six motivational dimensions: entertainment, virtual community, relationships maintenance, coolness, companionship and self-expression; the first three are the main reasons of use. Moreover, the search for entertainment showed the stronger statistical relationship with satisfaction with Facebook.

Recommended citation: Igartua, J.J., & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2016). Motivational correlates of use and satisfaction with Facebook. Cuadernos Info, 38, 107-119.
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La información turística a escala local. Un análisis de contenido de los portales web municipales de España

Published in TELOS. Revista de Pensamiento sobre Comunicación, Tecnología y Sociedad, 2015

El presente trabajo muestra los resultados de un análisis de contenido realizado sobre 500 sitios web institucionales, para conocer la clase de información turística que los municipios españoles ofrecen a través de Internet.

Recommended citation: Piñeiro-Naval, V., Igartua, J. J. & Rodríguez-de-Dios, I. (2015) La información turística a escala local. Un análisis de contenido de los portales web municipales de España. TELOS. Revista de Pensamiento sobre Comunicación, Tecnología y Sociedad, 102, 77-87.
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Isabel Rodríguez de Dios

Publications