Causal Chain Model Research Articles

THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS IN EMPOWERING BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID GROUPS (BoP) (Case Study of Koperasi Kasih Indonesia)

This article aims to analyze the social impact of Koperasi Kasih Indonesia (KKI) as a microfinance institution (MFI) in terms of the benefits received by its members and how to measure them. Conventionally the parameters of range expansion (outreach) in disbursing microcredit are widely used to measure the social impact of MFIs. The more extensive reach also indicates the potential benefits that can be obtained by MFIs. Therefore, if it is separate from the social mission, the target reach will only encourage the commercial motive of the MFI. Measuring the social impact of MFIs takes work and requires more funding. Social Impact Causal Chain model used to see the social impact of KKI on its members. The results found that there are two types of social impacts of KKI, quantitatively and qualitatively. They explain the transformation process of members who originally received benefits more in material form (tangible) to be more immaterial benefits (intangible). The research also found that there are superior KKI factors such as the commitment to the social mission which is implemented in programs innovatively, supported by organizational governance and values instilled in officers and members strongly.

Kawai vs. Whimsical: The influence of cuteness types of luxury brands on consumers’ preferences

<p id=C2>Cute brand styles are being used by increasing number of luxury brands in their marketing to interact with consumers. Cuteness can be divided into two types, including kindchenschema and whimsical. The majority of current studies are focused on the effects of single kindchenschema cuteness on consumer psychology and behavior. So, how does the adoption of various cute styles by luxury brands influence consumer preference? What is the internal mechanism? We have contributed to the literature on luxury brands by investigating how consumers react to various cute styles of luxury brands in the current study. <break/>In order to achieve their various objectives, luxury brands can deliver specific messages to the market by selecting brand images of various cute styles. In this case, the cuteness type of luxury brands (kindchenschema vs. whimsical) can influence consumers’ brand preferences through their perception of the brand’s ideal self-expression. The ideal self of an individual is generally characterized by high autonomy. According to the theory of the ideal self, the cuteness styles of luxury goods can influence consumers’ ideal self-expression through the autonomy of luxury brands. When the cuteness style is whimsical, luxury brands demonstrate high brand autonomy, which is conducive to consumers’ ideal self-expression, thereby improving consumers’ preferences for luxury brands. However, there are boundary conditions for the applicability of main effects, and self-monitoring moderates the relationship between luxury brands’ cuteness styles and consumers’ preferences. In other words, when the level of self-monitoring is low, the cuteness styles of luxury brands will not significantly affect the individual’s brand preferences. <break/>To test our hypotheses, we conducted four experiments. Experiment 1 preliminarily shows that different cuteness styles of luxury brands can significantly influence consumers’ brand preferences. The findings validate the causal chain model, which tests the theoretical logic of main effects, from cuteness styles of luxury brands, brand autonomy, ideal self-expression, and consumer preference. Experiment 2 clarifies the main effect’s boundary. The results indicate that the influence of luxury brand cuteness styles on consumer preferences is only effective in the context of luxury brands. Experiment 3 examined the moderating effect of individual self-monitoring level on the main effect and discovered that for individuals with low self-monitoring, the cuteness styles of luxury brands could not effectively influence their brand preferences. Experiment 4 investigated the moderating effect of the individual development stage on the main effect. Adults preferred whimsical cuteness elicited over kindchenschema cuteness. Kindchenschema cuteness triggered a more positive response than whimsical cuteness in children. <break/>According to our findings, adopting the whimsical cuteness style in luxury brands can improve consumers’ brand preferences more than kindchenschema cuteness style. When the cuteness style is kindchenschema, luxury brands demonstrate low brand autonomy, which is not conducive to consumers’ ideal self-expression, reducing consumers’ preferences for luxury brands. When the cuteness style is whimsical, luxury brands demonstrate high brand autonomy, which is consistent with the consumers’ ideal self and improves their preferences for luxury brands. When individuals have low self-monitoring, the cuteness styles of luxury brands have no effect on consumers’ preferences. These findings provide novel insights into the cuteness styles and ideal self-expression of luxury brands, implying that brands should carefully consider consumers’ level of self-monitoring before displaying various cuteness types of luxury brand styles.

Examining the Role of Trust in Regulators in Food Safety Risk Assessment: A Cross-regional Analysis of Three Chinese Societies Using an Integrative Framework

Considerable efforts have been made to depict the causal patterns of trust, risk perception, and risk acceptance. Yet, it remains far from clear whether the established models are over-simplistic and to what extent the observed associations are contingent upon risk contexts. Extending the theorizing based on the Causal Chain model, this study adopts a comparative approach to examining the role of trust in regulators in the case of post-Fukushima food imports in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan. Consistent with the proposed integrative framework, all three samples exhibited indirect relationships between trust in regulators and behavioral intentions through two types of risk perception (affective and cognitive risk perceptions) and risk acceptance. Findings showed that risk acceptance was the most prominent mediator in explaining the extended model and supported the necessity of distinguishing risk acceptance and behavioral intention as two self-contained constructs working in sequence. Moreover, trust in regulators showed the strongest predictivity in behavioral intentions in the Mainland China sample, while risk perception played a more important role in explaining outcome variables in the Hong Kong and Taiwan samples. In addition to contributing to theory building by presenting the external validity of the integrative framework across different political and food regulatory systems, the study demonstrates practical implications for regulatory authorities and risk communicators.

Drivers of the peaking and decoupling between CO2 emissions and economic growth around 2030 in China.

Reaching the peak of carbon dioxide emissions is the basis and premise of carbon neutrality. In this paper, the factor decomposition model was used to analyze the influencing factors and effects of carbon dioxide emissions. Causal chain model of elastic decoupling was established. The historical decoupling state between carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth and the decoupling effect of its influencing factors were analyzed. The prediction model of carbon dioxide emissions was used to explore the change trend of China's carbon dioxide emissions and its peak in the short and medium term in the future. The elastic decoupling trend between carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth was predicted. The results show that economic growth is the main force driving carbon dioxide emissions. Both energy intensity and energy consumption structure have a strong inhibiting effect on carbon dioxide emissions except for a few years, but the former has a more significant inhibiting effect than the latter. In general, the elastic decoupling between carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth has experienced a state from weak decoupling to growth linkage and then to weak decoupling. And this weak decoupling trend will continue to increase in the short and medium term. During the 14th Five-year and 15th Five-year period, if the average annual economic growth rate will be maintained at 4.61 to 5.85%, energy intensity will be reduced by 16.14 to 18.37%, and the proportion of non-fossil energy in the energy consumption structure at the end of the 14th, 15th, and 16th Five-Year Plan period will be around 19.9%, 23.2%, and 26.1%, respectively, and then the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions will continue to decline. It is expected to reach the peak of carbon dioxide emissions between 10,453 and 10,690 billion tons from 2025 to 2027. And the earlier the peak time is, the smaller the peak is, which would provide valuable time for carbon neutrality and room to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the medium and long term.

Human ecological analysis of farmers’ pro‐environmental behaviour in the face of drought: Application of Norm Activation Theory

AbstractThis study aims to investigate farmers’ pro‐environmental behaviour (FPB) under drought conditions. The epistemological perspective of the study was centred on human ecology and Norm Activation Theory (NAT). The study was designed as descriptive‐correlational research of causal relationships and was conducted using the survey method. The statistical population includes farmers who live around Lake Hamoun on the Iran‐Afghan border in the Sistan region. With NAT serving as the basis, the causal chain model of the impact of awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility, subjective norms and personal norms on FPB was presented and tested. The proposed causal model is able to explain 34% of changes in FPB. The results of this study highlight the need for special attention to the fundamental changes that must be made in the environmental views of farmers as the most important stakeholders of water resources under drought conditions.

A human ecological analysis of water conflict in rural areas: Evidence from Iran

Access to water has always been a source of tension and has been and continues to be a conflict among stakeholders. In the meantime, villagers and farmers have a major stake in analyzing water conflicts. Water conflicts investigation is possible from different perspectives, one of the most important being the human ecological angle. This research aimed to study the human ecological analysis of water conflict in Iran’s rural areas. For this purpose, ethical approach and VBN theory were used to measure water conflict behavior (WCB). This study is a descriptive-correlational, ex-post facto and causal relationship that was conducted using a survey. The statistical population was rural people in Zarrineh River watershed basin, Kurdistan province, Iran (N = 14910) which 380 of them were selected as a sample using stratified random sampling method. The research instrument was a questionnaire which was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was determined using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The findings showed that most of the villagers were at open water conflict level and their dominant environmental attitude was egoistic and WCB was significantly higher in them. Based on VBN theory the causal chain model of environmental value attitudes (EVA), beliefs and norms affecting WCB was presented and tested. The results indicate a crisis in water resources management, especially from the point of view of human ecology, which further reveals the need for fundamental changes to create and establish appropriate environmental insights in water stakeholders.

Sequential Changes Advancing from Exercise-Induced Psychological Improvements to Controlled Eating and Sustained Weight Loss: A Treatment-Focused Causal Chain Model.

Behavioral (nonsurgical/nonpharmacologic) weight loss treatments have been overwhelmingly unsuccessful beyond the short term. Rather than incorporating accepted behavioral change theory, most have inadequately relied on providing exercise and nutrition information. Although adherence is a challenge, exercise has emerged as the most robust predictor of sustained weight reduction. However, exercise might be more associated with long-term weight loss through the relationship of its associated psychological changes with improved nutrition than through direct effects of energy expenditures, which are typically minimal in deconditioned individuals. To facilitate improved helping methods through a proposed theory-based causal chain model in which supported exercise predicts sustained weight loss through successive changes in exercise-related, then eating-related, self-regulation, self-efficacy, and mood. Segments of the model predict that 1) exercise and eating behaviors will be sequentially improved through increased self-regulatory skill use and self-efficacy and 2) exercise-induced mood improvements will foster greater self-regulation and reduced emotional eating. Short-term psychosocial changes can be leveraged to carry over to longer-term changes and maintained weight reductions. Suggested interventions emerging from the model and supporting research include using self-regulation to enable a habit of regular moderate exercise, facilitating a transfer of self-regulatory skills from an exercise to eating context, and leveraging mood improvements associated with manageable volumes of exercise to improve eating behaviors. The model presents an evidence-based explanation of the exercise-weight loss association through psychosocial mechanisms. It also informs the development of practical methods to facilitate sustainable reductions in weight and health risks in adults with obesity.

The mechanisms and processes of connection: developing a causal chain model capturing impacts of receiving recorded mental health recovery narratives

BackgroundMental health recovery narratives are a core component of recovery-oriented interventions such as peer support and anti-stigma campaigns. A substantial number of recorded recovery narratives are now publicly available online in different modalities and in published books. Whilst the benefits of telling one’s story have been investigated, much less is known about how recorded narratives of differing modalities impact on recipients. A previous qualitative study identified connection to the narrator and/or to events in the narrative to be a core mechanism of change. The factors that influence how individuals connect with a recorded narrative are unknown. The aim of the current study was to characterise the immediate effects of receiving recovery narratives presented in a range of modalities (text, video and audio), by establishing the mechanisms of connection and the processes by which connection leads to outcomes.MethodA study involving 40 mental health service users in England was conducted. Participants were presented with up to 10 randomly-selected recovery narratives and were interviewed on the immediate impact of each narrative. Thematic analysis was used to identify the mechanisms of connection and how connection leads to outcome.ResultsReceiving a recovery narrative led participants to reflect upon their own experiences or those of others, which then led to connection through three mechanisms: comparing oneself with the narrative and narrator; learning about other’s experiences; and experiencing empathy. These mechanisms led to outcomes through three processes: the identification of change (through attending to narrative structure); the interpretation of change (through attending to narrative content); and the internalisation of interpretations.ConclusionsThis is the first study to identify mechanisms and processes of connection with recorded recovery narratives. The empirically-based causal chain model developed in this study describes the immediate effects on recipients. This model can inform selection of narratives for use in interventions, and be used to support peer support workers in recounting their own recovery narratives in ways which are maximally beneficial to others.

Compulsory Schooling and Returns to Education: A Re-Examination

This paper re-examines the instrumental variable (IV) approach to estimating returns to education by use of compulsory school law (CSL) in the US. We show that the IV-approach amounts to a change in model specification by changing the causal status of the variable of interest. From this perspective, the IV-OLS (ordinary least square) choice becomes a model selection issue between non-nested models and is hence testable using cross validation methods. It also enables us to unravel several logic flaws in the conceptualisation of IV-based models. Using the causal chain model specification approach, we overcome these flaws by carefully distinguishing returns to education from the treatment effect of CSL. We find relatively robust estimates for the first effect, while estimates for the second effect are hindered by measurement errors in the CSL indicators. We find reassurance of our approach from fundamental theories in statistical learning.

Contributions of Causality Processing Models to the Study of Discourse Comprehension and the Facilitation of Student Learning

Discourse comprehension involves the establishment of semantic or meaningful causal connections. The aim of this paper is to review four models that have contributed to the study of the establishment of these connections: the Causal Chain Model, the Causal Network Model, the Causal Inference Maker, and the Landscape Model. These models contribute to the facilitation of student learning, given that they provide useful tools for improvement of texts structure in order to promote the establishment of meaningful connections and the revision of students’ prior incorrect ideas, and for the design of interventions that promote the generation of inferences and the monitoring of comprehension. The presentation of their key ideas, of empirical support for their psychological validity, and of applications to education will allow us to highlight the contributions that these models make to our understanding of the importance of the processing of causality for discourse comprehension and the facilitation of student learning.

Consumer-brand relationships’ development in the mobile internet market: evidence from an extended relationship commitment paradigm

Purpose Given its importance in the brand management of service firms, the present research initiative primarily concerns the investigation of the formation process of consumer-brand relationships in the service industry. By considering a chain of effects’ model, this paper aims to integrate two brand commitment paradigm’s perspectives with service evaluation theory, representing the attitudinal and behavioral aspects of the relationship building process, to better explain the way consumers relate to a service brand. The proposed conceptual model is tested in the context of mobile broadband internet services. Design/methodology/approach A survey of 573 customers of mobile internet services was conducted using a structured questionnaire with established scales. Data were analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicated that brand loyalty is determined by relationship commitment, which, in turn, is influenced by the consumer-brand relationship components – trust, satisfaction, investment size and quality of alternatives – as well as by the service brand’s perceived value. Finally, the relationship quality components of the brand, trust and satisfaction to a large extent, and investment size to a lesser extent, mediate the relationships between service brand evaluation and brand commitment. Research limitations/implications The sample is industry-specific, and this may affect generalizability of findings. Also, the cross-sectional design adopted does not reflect temporal changes. Practical implications From a practical point of view, the findings suggest that providers can improve their loyalty figures through the establishment of strong consumer-brand relationships as a result of the development and delivery of high quality, valuable services and other relationship-building tactics that support the consumer-brand binding. Originality/value Although there are previous studies that extend either the relationship investment model or the commitment-trust theory with the service evaluation theory, the proposed model is the first to combine the previous three research streams into one causal chain model, to explain the development and flow of events in the consumer-brand relationship process toward brand loyalty.

Do supermarkets contribute to the obesity pandemic in developing countries?

Many developing countries are undergoing a nutrition transition with rising rates of overweight and obesity. This nutrition transition coincides with a rapid expansion of supermarkets. The objective of the present research is to study whether supermarkets directly contribute to overweight and other changes in nutritional status. This research builds on cross-sectional observational data. Household- and individual-level data were collected in Kenya using a quasi-experimental survey design. Instrumental variable regressions were employed to analyse the impact of supermarket purchase on nutritional status. Causal chain models were estimated to examine pathways through which supermarkets affect nutrition. Small towns in Central Province of Kenya with and without supermarkets. A total of 615 adults and 216 children and adolescents. Controlling for other factors, buying in a supermarket is associated with a significantly higher BMI (P=0·018) and a higher probability of overweight (P=0·057) among adults. This effect is not observed for children and adolescents. Instead, buying in a supermarket seems to reduce child undernutrition measured by height-for-age Z-score (P=0·017). Impacts of supermarkets depend on many factors including people's initial nutritional status. For both adults and children, the nutrition effects occur through higher food energy consumption and changes in dietary composition. Supermarkets and their food sales strategies contribute to changing food consumption habits and nutritional outcomes. Yet the types of outcomes differ by age cohort and initial nutritional status. Simple conclusions on whether supermarkets are good or bad for nutrition and public health are not justified.

Exploring the 'Black Box' of HRM-performance Relationship: Evidence From China

Drawing on the suggestions of literature, this research builds a causal chain model to explore the i®black box' of the HRM- performance linkage, which was tested using empirical data collected from...

Understanding the process of motivational interviewing: A review of the relational and technical hypotheses

Objective: The current study systematically reviews evidence for a causal chain model suggested by Miller and Rose to account for the efficacy of Motivational Interviewing (MI). Method: Literature searches were conducted to identify studies delivering MI in an individual format to treat various problem areas. Results: Thirty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. The results suggest that when clinicians utilise MI consistent behaviours, clients are more likely to express language in favour of change. Furthermore, this client language was consistently related to positive client outcome across studies. Conclusions: While the results support some parts of the Miller and Rose model, additional research is needed to confirm the findings in diverse populations. Understanding the mechanisms of MI's effectiveness may maximise the implementation of MI, potentially contributing to better client outcomes.

Restoring drinking water acceptance following a waterborne disease outbreak: the role of trust, risk perception, and communication

AbstractAlthough research shows that acceptance, trust, and risk perception are often related, little is known about the underlying patterns of causality among the three constructs. In the context of a waterborne disease outbreak, we explored via zero‐order/partial correlation analysis whether acceptance predicts both trust and risk perception (associationist model), or whether trust influences risk perception and acceptance (causal chain model). The results supported the causal chain model suggesting a causal role for trust. A subsequent path analysis confirmed that the effect of trust on acceptance is fully mediated by risk perception. It also revealed that trust is positively predicted by prior institutional trust and communication with the public. Implications of the findings for response strategies to contamination events are discussed.

Understanding social impacts by using new variables and a causal model diagram in New England fisheries

This paper reviews the applicability of the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) process within the framework of US national environmental policy used in New England fishery management. Its aim is to develop a new approach to SIA that goes beyond identifying impacts through guidelines, to include an understanding and portrayal of causality and emergent relationships. The emphasis is on creating a new list of variables identifying social impacts and social change processes. These variables are used in a causal chain model to diagrammatically portray impact dynamics over time and scale. This approach intends to fulfill a need for an accurate and timely methodology used in fishery management to identify potential social impacts of management actions, in order to achieve ecological and socioeconomic sustainability.

Factors influencing IT-Business Strategic Alignment and Sustainable Competitive Advantage: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Preceding research attributed the lack of direct causal impact of Information Technology (IT) on firm’s sustainable competitive advantage. Numerous missing links include antecedents of the ITbusiness strategic alignment (also known as strategic alignment) and the sustainable competitive advantage. Furthermore, reviewers of recent literature have called for more research into the factors that affect strategic alignment, and the linkage between alignment and sustainable competitive advantage. In this paper, we develop and empirically test specific forms of management structures and processes which are required to drive strategic alignment. Further, we propose a causal-chain model to examine the impacts of six antecedents on strategic alignment. The data are collected from over 172 Jordanian public shareholding firms. Using structural equation modeling for data analysis, this study finds general support for the hypotheses that leadership, values and belief, IT managerial resources, service quality, and IT implementation successes significantly impact IT-business strategic alignment. However, no relationship is found between structure and process and strategic alignment.

Ghost Stories: Accounting for the Silences in Narrative Inquiry

During the early 20th Century, female athletes who did not fit into the model of feminine beauty and grace, represented through select models of sport, were often not considered in media reports and newspapers. Through an examination of the use of narrative inquiry in the exploration of women's experiences in 20th Century Canadian sport, a lack of representation and gaps in information concerning women's participation in sport has been identified. In order to discuss how these gaps can be accounted for, the examination of narrative inquiry as an epistemological methodology is required. Building on this analysis, this paper compares and contrasts the use of a causal chain model versus the use of the story as an explanation. Through this discussion, an assessment of how an application of this school of inquiry can be used to account for the experiences of female athletes will be discussed.

Mechanisms of change in motivational interviewing: a review and preliminary evaluation of the evidence

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an efficacious treatment for substance use disorders. However, little is known about how MI exerts its therapeutic effects. This review is a first attempt to summarize and evaluate the evidence for purported within-session mechanisms of change. The primary question of interest was: which MI constructs and variables appear to be the most promising candidates for mechanisms of change? Literature searches were conducted to identify studies delivering MI in an individual format for the treatment of substance use disorders. Our search identified a total of 152 studies for review; 19 studies met inclusion criteria by providing data on at least one link in the causal chain model under examination. Effect size estimates were calculated for every possible step in the causal model where sufficient data were provided by study authors. Four constructs of therapist behavior were evaluated: MI-Spirit, MI-Consistent behaviors, MI-Inconsistent behaviors and therapist use of specific techniques. Five constructs of client behavior were evaluated: change talk/intention, readiness to change, involvement/engagement, resistance and the client's experience of discrepancy. The absence of experimental and full mediation studies of mechanisms of change was notable. Effect sizes were generally mixed. The most consistent evidence was found for three constructs: client change talk/intention (related to better outcomes); client experience of discrepancy (related to better outcomes); and therapist MI-Inconsistent behavior (related to worse outcomes). Regarding therapist use of specific techniques, use of a decisional balance exercise showed the strongest association to better outcomes.

Analysis of survival curve configuration is relevant for determining pathogenesis and causation

Improving technology helps us to identify more and more defects at the level of genes or proteins (event) as potential sources of a disease (effect), hopefully allowing more targeted cures with a "magic bullet". However, the complex interference of genes by the environment hinders the detection of strict causal relationships between defect and disease. We consider causality as temporal relationship between event and effect, thus causation is reflected by the configuration of "survival" curves. This is indicated by several survival curves of diseases with known causal relation. Furthermore, we discuss three theoretical models: a causal chain model, a causal field concept and a causal chain model with variable order, and present three assumptions about the specific consequences for configuration of outcome curves. Clinical examples of diseases that are caused by single hits reveal an S-shaped curve of cumulative incidence. In contrast, for diseases with numerous interacting pathogenetic effectors the superposition of all contributions results in widely linear cumulative incidence curves. The rare S-shaped deformation in the survival curves in patients with recurrent cancer is in conflict with our current view of recurrent cancer as mainly being a consequence of residual tumour cell load. The assumption of a "web of causation" instead of a "causal chain" reflects a more real situation for many clinical problems and can explain the widely seen absence of decisive, causally relevant conditions. As consequences for our current treatment of cancer is not insignificant, a careful analysis of the configuration of outcome curves with recognition of an S-shape may either help to identify causal therapies or may encourage more comprehensive approaches that consider the complexity of the disease.