Theory Of Action Research Articles

Reverse symbolic action and quiescence: a critical exploration of anti-abortion rhetoric and movement activation

Abstract Following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision, the pro-choice movement had a clear spike in motivation and action. The Republican Party hosted a celebratory news conference following the decision, but rather than activating their own base they witnessed an unintentional activation of their opposing base. This article proposes a theory of reverse symbolic action which explores the possibility that extreme anti-abortion rhetoric caused the pro-life movement to fall into dormancy while causing the pro-choice movement to activate. Drawing on social judgment theory and politics as symbolic action, reverse symbolic action has three dimensions: policy action producing quiescence, rhetorical overreach, and unintentional activation of the oppositional base. A case study applies this new theoretical lens to the House Republican news conference held immediately after the announcement of Dobbs. Public responses are explored through analysis of Twitter activity following the conference and the 2022 midterm election results.

Hillforts – built by collective action or coercive leadership? Socio-economic and military organization in eastern Norway AD 1–600

In this article, we will examine the socio-economic and military landscape of the Early Iron Age (AD 1–600) in the historical county of Vingulmark, which consisted of the area from Eiker in the west to Bohuslän in the east. Our starting point is hillforts, which are usually interpreted as places of refuge for people in rural areas in times of unrest. In Norway, around 450 hillforts are known, mainly dated to the period AD 200–550. Vingulmark contains 109 of them, thus almost a quarter of the known hillforts. We discuss why there are so many hillforts in Vingulsmark, and the relation between hillforts and central farms / places in Vingulmark. Are the hillforts the result of community solutions in farming communities or was the construction of the hillforts controlled by elites from one or more centres, under threats of coercion? We will assess the hillforts in relation to socio-economic relations, settlement expansion, central farms and central places in a landscape perspective with the application of anarchist theories and collective action theory. Keywords: hillforts, conflict, socio-economic and military organization, communities, leadership

Multiscale characterisation on the adhesion and selective adsorption at bitumen–mineral interface

The adhesion between bitumen and minerals is essential for the durability of asphalt mixtures, influenced by bitumen composition and mineral structure. The chemical action theory suggests that polar components in bitumen are adsorbed onto the mineral surface, facilitating adhesion. In this study, environmental scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (ESEM-EDS) is used to analyse bitumen–mineral interfaces at a microscopic level. Elemental analysis reveals selective adsorption of polar substances from bitumen onto the surfaces of four types of minerals. Results show that alkaline rocks (limestone and albite) have a higher adsorption capacity than acidic rocks (granite and quartz). Additionally, treating mineral surfaces with alkaline solutions enhances adsorption. The adhesion properties of bitumen to various minerals are evaluated using the pull-off test. The correlation between ESEM-EDS and pull-off tests demonstrates that the macroscopic adhesion of bitumen to minerals is linked to the microscopic selective adsorption of polar substances.

Motions in Pictures: From Habermas’s Informal Political Sphere to Formal Politics in the Films Footloose, Land and Freedom and The Beguiled

This article analyses three historical fiction films, Footloose, Land and Freedom and The Beguiled, to help illuminate aspects of politics and political theory. We study them to explore the relationship between Habermas’s concepts of the lifeworld and political spheres, which analysts have critiqued as opaque. Drawing on Habermas’s theory of communicative action, we debate prevailing understandings of the implications of his work for deliberative democracy via an exploration of the films. By expanding the definition of the term ‘motion’ (otherwise known as ‘draft resolution’), we relate this concept to these Habermasian themes. Thus, this paper analyses feature film case studies as they incorporate motions into fictionalised accounts. We suggest that focusing on these movies’ motions, embedded in unfolding narratives, can help reconceive Habermas’s work to illustrate fluidity in how people and ideas may move between informal and more formal spheres. Ultimately, by showcasing the importance of motions in political participation, via these movies, we advance the idea that motions may be seen as part of a ladder of involvement, providing further opportunities for encouraging participation.

Bridging Theory and Practice: Applying Ostrom’s Law to Real-World Resource Management

This article aims to address the practical application of Elinor Ostrom's contributions to resolve issues related to collective action in three key areas: (1) the establishment of institutions, (2) adherence to collective obligations, and (3) mutual monitoring. The article explores the appropriate ways to implement Ostrom's theories across different regions and communities. The discussion begins by outlining Ostrom's significant contribution to economic theory, and this contribution is often referred to as "Ostrom's Law." This principle posits that a resource arrangement that works in practice can work in theory, challenging the prevailing belief that common-pool resources are inherently mismanaged and require either centralized regulation or privatization. The article further examines the potential for developing a practical model for future collective, coordinated actions, which would incorporate both the strengths and limitations of Ostrom's economic theory. Five models for the creation of new collective agreements, as proposed in Ostrom’s works are analyzed, alongside practical examples from countries such as Spain, Philippines, Nepal, and Turkey, where Ostrom's principles have been effectively applied in the management of natural resources. Ostrom's analytical methods and her conclusions regarding collective action theory hold significant value for developing practical tools for direct implementation, particularly in contexts of rapid development, such as those faced by nations, organizations, and smaller collectives. The methodology in 'Bridging Theory and Practice: Applying Ostrom’s Law to Real-World Resource Management' combines qualitative case studies, comparative analysis, and theoretical modeling to explore the practical application of Elinor Ostrom's theories of collective action and management.

Investigating climate change adaptation strategies among informal residents in Kumasi, Ghana, through the lenses of the social action and control theories

The urban poor in informal settlements in Ghana remain exposed and vulnerable to climate--induced hazards. Their exclusion from official adaptation interventions, undeniably calls for social mechanisms to enable them to adapt to climate change hazards such as heatwaves and floods. Individuals may contribute to exacerbating climate-induced hazards or employ adaptation measures as a common practice or due to their connectedness to a group, as hypothesised by the social action and social control theories, respectively. There is, however, no known study on the empirical and theoretical contributions of these theories to influencing climate change adaptation efforts in urban Africa. At best, studies have looked at the importance of individual and community skills, and assets to adapting to climate change hazards. Underpinned by the social action and social control theories, 367 household interviews, four focus group discussions and seven relevant agency interviews in two of Kumasi’s largest informal settlements – Aboabo and Asawase - were conducted to explore how elements of the theories shape hazard reduction and adaptation efforts, and discuss the barriers to building adaptation to climate impacts. We found that most households employed several adaptation measures because they saw other residents do the same which was confirmed by the Chi-square test statistic (χ2=4.968, p<0.000) and as hypothesised by the social action theory. Similarly, as hypothesised by the social control theory, we also found differences in the adaptation measures employed by households belonging to identified environment-related groups (χ2=21.465, p<0.001). This was, largely, because among other activities, the education and training exercises undertaken by the groups influenced the knowledge levels of members about climate change hazards and adaptation measures. The groups offer emotional, monetary, material, and practical support to cope within the short-term; first to the members, and the general residents, who are hit by disasters. Generally, adopted measures to reduce adverse impacts and build adaptation were unsustainable. This study is among few studies that demonstrate the contribution of social action and social control theories to managing and adapting climate change and its associated impacts in African cities.

THE THEORY OF ORGANIZATIONAL ACTION IN THE INTEGRATED WORKER HEALTH CARE SUBSYSTEM (SIASS): ELUCIDATING BEHAVIORS AND INTEGRATING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ACTIONS

This article investigates how the Theory of Organizational Action can improve work processes and management in the Integrated Subsystem for Employee Health Care (SIASS), focusing on employee behavior, organizational culture, and interactions between individual and collective actions. The research demonstrates that the principles of this theory can be applied to strengthen occupational health management in SIASS, highlighting the role of individual and organizational action, as well as social interactions in creating a more collaborative and efficient work environment. The results indicate that the Theory of Organizational Action offers a deeper understanding of internal dynamics, highlighting the need to align individual behaviors with institutional and collective objectives, aiming at optimizing management processes. In addition, the approach allows identifying critical points and opportunities for improvement in occupational health practices, contributing to a healthier and more productive work environment. The study recommends that future research carry out comparative analyses between different SIASS units, to expand the practical evaluation of theoretical concepts and provide support for the development of more effective management strategies, adapted to the specificities of each unit that makes up the SIASS network.

Mengungkap Kesadaran Peran Akuntan Pendidik : Perspektif Teori Tindakan Hannah Arendt

To produce accounting graduates that meet industry demands, the quality of their educators plays a significant role. If the quality of the accounting educators is high, then the quality of the graduates will also be high, and vice versa. In reality, the primary cause of the gap between the expectations of accounting graduates and their actual skills lies in the educators' lack of proficiency and competence in preparing graduates for successful careers. Based on this, the researcher seeks to explore the awareness of lecturers in the Sharia Accounting Study Program regarding their role as accounting educators. To examine this awareness, the researcher employs Edmund Husserl's transcendental phenomenology study. The results of this research indicate that the awareness of the role of accounting educators consists of providing engagement, training, and role modeling for students. When related to Hannah Arendt's theory of action, these roles are sequentially categorized as labor, work, and action awareness. On the other hand, when linked to Agus Mustofa's theory of consciousness, these roles align sequentially with sensory, rational, and spiritual theories. This research is expected to serve as a reference for Al Qolam University Malang in evaluating the role awareness of accounting educators in the learning process. After understanding this concept, the University should provide training and support to enhance the quality of accounting educators, enabling them to reach a higher level than they currently possess.

A Concentrated Analysis of the Situation of Flood Control Management: A Review

Floods are happening more often and with greater severity due to socioeconomic development and climate change. Flood control is widely acknowledged as an effective means of reducing the negative effects, and recent research has aimed to develop a more robust and sustainable approach to flood management. A thorough bibliometric examination of terms, keywords, and dates in the flood research field was employed in this work. It provides new insight into the flood research trends, by examining the research frontiers from 2000 to 2021. We conclude that there has been a shift in the focus of flood research from flood management to flood resilience. Flood resilience management offers a more resilient and sustainable plan to deal with flood disasters, while flood risk management offers an adaptation approach by adjusting mitigation measures. The review demonstrates how flood research has progressed from traditional flood management, which provides mitigation strategies, to flood resilience management. Along with reviewing the definition of risk, risk analysis techniques, flood resilience, flood management, and flood risk management, we also provide a thorough introduction of the field of flood research. We come to the conclusion that a preferable strategy for future flood control directions is to incorporate the idea of resilience into the risk management framework. Consequently, employing the theories of risk, resilience, and sustainability, sensible choices and actions made before, during, and after a disaster will successfully minimize the negative effects. Devastating floods brought on by swift urbanization and severe weather patterns have claimed millions of lives and continue to inflict direct economic losses estimated at tens of billions of dollars annually. Furthermore, as extreme precipitation events intensify (Tabari, 2020) and the population at risk of water-related disasters rises (Jongman et al., 2012; Paudel et al., 2014; Tellman et al., 2021), these losses will only rise in the future due to global warming (Bloeschl et al., 2019; CRED and UNISDR, 2020; Hallegatte et al., 2013). Even worse, severe compound flooding from excessive river flow, intense rainfall, and storm surges might arise from the simultaneous occurrence of flash floods, river flooding, urban flooding, and coastal flooding (Ming et al., 2022). Given that the causes of coastal, urban, and river flooding vary, determining the locations most vulnerable to these types of floods is a challenging. While flood risk is known to rise in response to population growth, climate change, and the accumulation of economic assets, it is also known that this risk is dynamic and ever-changing due to changes in underlying surface conditions (Hallegatte et al., 2013; Lai et al., 2020). Thus, it is critical to manage flooding in order to address the rising risk of flooding. Prior studies have demonstrated the pressing need to address flood events (da Silva et al., 2020), and future flood mitigation measures must be developed in order to lessen the negative effects and handle increasingly complicated flood kinds.

Unraveling the Hidden Costs: How Cable Theft and Vandalism Fuel Soaring Energy Tariffs in Emerging Economies

Escalating utility costs and challenging financial circumstances make it increasingly difficult for consumers to afford essential services. This financial strain also spills over into the workplace, where employees resort to pilfering company assets, resulting in significant annual losses for these utility firms. Our study aims to identify the organizational factors and individual personality traits that motivate employees to engage in cable theft and vandalism, subsequently driving up tariffs. Utilizing the frameworks of the Reasoned Action Theory (TRA) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we seek to elucidate the underlying motivations for such theft and destruction of property. Factors such as an unsatisfactory work environment, perceived unfair treatment by management, subpar wages, and easy opportunities for theft are identified as key motivators. To effectively mitigate these issues, targeted policy measures and strategies need to be implemented to influence employee attitudes and perceptions, thereby reducing incidents of theft and vandalism.

Autonomy as Practical Understanding

I offer a theory of autonomous agency that relies on the resources of a strongly cognitivist theory of intention and intentional action. On the proposed account, intentional action is a graded notion that is explained via the agent’s degree of practical knowledge. In turn, autonomous agency is also a graded notion that is explained via the agent’s degree of practical understanding. The resulting theory can synthesize insights from both the hierarchical and the cognitivist theories of autonomy with at least some aspects of the reason-responsiveness theories. Moreover, by treating practical knowledge and practical understanding as gradable notions, the paper offers a strategy to respond to enduring objections against cognitivism about intention, control, and autonomy.

An Analytical Theoretical Study of Terrorism According to the Social Action Theory of ‘Talcott Parsons’ as an Instance of Sociological Theories

The main focus of sociology is presenting the social life of people and their behaviours, whether in groups or societies. Sociology, usually, is defined as a field of research which studies the social interaction between people and their behaviours. Thus the sociological theories and scholars have given great importance to social action concept. In this study, which is an extract from a PhD dissertation, the terrorism has analysed sociologically according to the Talcott Parsons’ theory of social action. Since terrorism is one of the common social phenomena around the world, it has various factors and reasons that vary according to the communities’ nature of life. Terrorism, also, is a concept which used for any violent acts committed by an organization, an individual or a group. It has been experienced by humanity in many different ways throughout different eras. Therefore this study has tried to determine a theoretical framework for analysing and reviewing this phenomenon besides talking about it according to the reality of society and its most important causes and effects on the life of society and individuals. Because the Parsons’ theory serves the study aims and gives us the opportunity of conducting and analysing the study in a more detailed approach, it has been utilised for the current study. The main aim of the study is to analyse the phenomenon of terrorism from the perspective of “Talcott Parsons' theory of social action as a sociological theory”.

The Self-Control Ability Scale: Measuring a Key Construct of Situational Action Theory

The Self-Control Ability Scale: Measuring a Key Construct of Situational Action Theory

Integrating TRA and SET to Influence Food Waste Reduction in Buffet-Style Restaurants: A Gender-Specific Approach

As one of the major greenhouse gas emission contributors, the food service industry, particularly buffet-style restaurants, is responsible for reducing food waste. This study explores the factors that shape consumer behavior toward food waste reduction in buffet-style restaurants based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Social Exchange theory (SET), as well as analyzing the gender differences in these determinants, offering practical insights for the restaurant industry. This study also uses structural equation modeling and group analysis to examine a total of 547 valid responses gathered through an online survey, including 286 male (52.3%) and 258 female (47.2%) respondents. The findings underscore the attitudes, subjective norms, and establishment policies that emerge as critical drivers of consumer behavior in buffet-style dining settings. Notably, significant gender differences are observed in attitudes and establishment policies. In light of these results, we recommend strategies that include enhancing consumer attitudes and implementing penalty policies within restaurant operations. Restaurants could display visual signs and images related to reducing food waste, provide detailed portion size information, and apply monetary fines for excess waste to reduce consumers’ food waste intentions. These strategies are particularly effective for male consumers, who are more influenced by these factors compared to female consumers. This research contributes valuable guidance for the industry’s efforts to address food waste concerns, emphasizing gender differences and promoting environmentally responsible behavior among consumers.

Action-based explanations as a basis for the analysis and design of the social world.

In sociology, the question of what it means to explain social phenomena and how this relates to the purpose of the social sciences is important but nowadays rarely asked. This article elaborates on this question and provides an answer by outlining the program of "explanatory sociology" as a branch of the modern social science approach. It is shown that, in this framework, to explain means to uncover cause-effect relationships based on models of individuals who are assumed the central force in social life. This idea is taken further to uncover specific challenges that individuals face in social life and how and why they establish and manage (or do not) social forms that help to organize the world from the viewpoint of their abilities and needs. Such action-oriented explanations have been presented and developed in sociology since its very beginning. Two main forms or logics to construct action-based explanations are outlined and developed due to the form and function of the used action theory or model. The article contributes to the discussion about the form and task of sociological theorizing by presenting action-based explanations as a form of sociological theorizing that defines a clear task in exploring challenges in social life and assessing possible forms of coping with them from the perspective of individuals. By doing so, two main ways of broadening explanations are considered and compared in light of what the purpose of sociology might be.

Refugee Protection as a Public Good: What Benefits Do States Derive?

While a growing number of refugees is in need of humanitarian protection, most states are reluctant to admit them. For more than two decades, scholars have thought to understand this intricate challenge of international governance through the prism of collective action theory and the concept of refugee protection as an international public good. However, the specific benefits that states gain from refugee protection and that are assumed to constitute the public good remain surprisingly vague and under-specified. In this Reflection, we make three contributions to address this issue. First, we take stock of the literature and assess the evolution of the collective action theory in asylum governance. Second, we identify and conceptualize legitimacy, security, reputation, and development as four types of benefits that states derive from refugee protection. Third, we discuss the limitations of the dominant rational-choice approach and contend that the nature of refugee protection in the international realm is the product of international and domestic politics based on the contestation of interests and norms. These insights result in a series of recommendations for future research of refugee protection as a collective action problem.

Public Goods, Expressive Values, and Protest Participation: Evidence From a Conjoint Experiment in Hong Kong

In recent decades, there has been a revival of contentious social movements worldwide. Given the collective action problem, what factors motivate ordinary citizens to join protests? If the issue of a protest matters, what factors motivate people to weigh different issues differently? This paper devises a unified theory of collective action and argues that individuals are more likely to join a protest when they perceive higher values of the public good, higher expressive benefits, higher expected turnouts, and lower costs of participation. It contends that the effects of those factors are moderated by individuals’ post-materialist values and confidence in future personal freedom. Employing an online conjoint survey experiment to analyze protest participation among citizens in Hong Kong, this paper finds that protesters are more driven by liberal-democratic issues than socioeconomic issues. The findings highlight the mechanisms through which political beliefs increase protest participation. Political beliefs change the effects of public goods associated with certain issues, and to some extent alter the cost-benefit calculations of potential protesters.

Mutual gaze and movement synchrony boost observers’ enjoyment and perception of togetherness when watching dance duets

As social beings, we are adept at coordinating our body movements and gaze with others. Often, when coordinating with another person, we orient ourselves to face them, as mutual gaze provides valuable cues pertaining to attention and intentions. Moreover, movement synchrony and mutual gaze are associated with prosocial outcomes, yet the perceptual consequences of these forms of coordination remain poorly understood. Across two experiments, we assessed how movement synchrony and gaze direction influence observers’ perceptions of dyads. Observers’ behavioural responses indicated that dyads are perceived as more socially connected and are more enjoyable to watch when moving synchronously and facing each other. Neuroimaging results showed modulation of the Action Observation and Theory of Mind networks by movement synchrony and mutual gaze, with more robust brain activity when evaluating togetherness (i.e., active and intentional collaboration) than aesthetic value (i.e., enjoyment). A fuller understanding of the consequences of movement synchrony and mutual gaze from the observer’s viewpoint holds important implications for social perception, in terms of how observers intuit social relationships within dyads, and the aesthetic value derived from watching individuals moving in these ways.

A Multi-Organizational Network’s Evolving Efforts to Diversify the STEM Professoriate

AbstractMulti-organizational networks are increasingly understood as powerful levers for inducing change in higher education, particularly for fostering more diverse and inclusive organizations. Yet, there is limited scholarship on how these networks successfully change colleges and universities. This case study follows the evolution of one network effort, tracing how its theory of action changed over time. Through a close examination of semi-structured interviews and case-related artifacts, we generated a rich picture of network leadership, learning, and implementation. Future network leaders and funders will find this work useful. Scholars, too, will find that our work responds to numerous calls to examine how data-driven and equity-focused change efforts are successfully sustained in postsecondary education.

The Self-Control Ability Scale: Measuring a Key Construct of Situational Action Theory

Situational Action Theory (SAT) has emerged as a prominent theory of crime and delinquency. It includes a new conceptualization of self-control, which emphasizes its role in enabling individuals to adhere to their morality when deliberating about deviant and non-deviant action alternatives. However, existing self-control scales do not directly capture this role of self-control as a guardian of personal morality when externally challenged. To close this gap, we developed and validated the Self-Control Ability Scale (SCAS) to measure an individual’s self-perceived ability to withstand temptation, provocation, or social pressure when they conflict with their personal morality. We present the results of four studies that provide evidence for the three-dimensional structure of the SCAS, the reliability of its measures, its validity, and its measurement invariance across age, gender, and language. The SCAS promises more informative tests of SAT and new insights into individuals’ ability to adhere to their morality when challenged.