Cognitive Antecedents Research Articles

Modeling cognitive antecedents of tolerance for black bears: The roles of direct experience, knowledge, and risk perceptions

ABSTRACT Understanding tolerance for wildlife requires accounting for the multiple cognitive antecedents of this concept and its contextual factors. We examined whether direct experience was associated with four antecedent dimensions of tolerance for black bears (antipathy, connection, lethal control [damage], lethal control [danger to self, pets, and economics]), both directly and indirectly via risk perception, self-assessed knowledge, and factual knowledge. We collected data using intercept surveys at trailheads in western Oregon, United States (n = 210). Risk perception was most strongly related to antipathy (cost-related beliefs) and connection (benefit-related beliefs) toward black bears. Self-assessed knowledge was most strongly associated with an individual’s assessment that bears are a nuisance (lethal control [damage] and a safety concern [danger to self, pets, and economics]). Direct experience was related to all four antecedents, whereas factual knowledge was not related to any dimension. Identifying drivers of tolerance can inform actionable recommendations that promote tolerance for wildlife.

Unveiling the role of entrepreneurial knowledge and cognition as antecedents of entrepreneurial intention: a meta-analytic study

Although entrepreneurial intention has been regarded as one of the most important drivers of creativity, innovation, and performance in firms, a comprehensive framework that integrates the relevant influential factors has yet to be developed. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior and the social cognitive career theory, this study investigates the critical antecedents, mediators, and moderators of entrepreneurial intention. A meta-analytic approach is employed to validate the proposed hypotheses, and 89 primary studies with a total sample size of 51,919 are analyzed. The results indicate the existence of differences in the manner in which entrepreneurial knowledge influences cognitive antecedents in the individuals who participate in new ventures. Furthermore, personal attitude and self-efficacy play a vital role in predicting entrepreneurial intention. Demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, and education background) significantly moderate the relationship between cognitive antecedents and entrepreneurial intention, indicating that men tend to adopt more entrepreneurial behaviors than women, that older individuals with more positive attitudes have a higher propensity to start ventures than younger ones, and that those with higher education attainment tend to have lower self-employment. These findings offer several recommendations. They could provide valuable references for further academic work, which should aim to extend and validate them. The findings are also very beneficial for professional experts tasked with the design of effective programs for enhancing entrepreneurial behavior.

Cognitive antecedents and formation pathways of confined feeding mode adoption by herders in China

Along with the implementation of the Rangeland Ecological Subsidy and Award Scheme, a modal shift of livestock production from open grazing to confined feeding is now encouraged in China's pastoral regions, in the hope of relieving grazing pressure meanwhile sustaining herders' livelihood. What cognitive factors and how they affect the adoption of confined-feeding mode by herders are yet unanswered. Drawing on the theory of planned behaviour and using a field survey dataset of 250 herder households in Qinghai Province, this study explores the critical cognitive antecedents and formation mechanisms of herders' behaviour towards the new mode. The results of structural equation modelling suggest that the confined-feeding adoption is a reasoned action, whereby both perceived behavioural control and subjective attitude exert significantly positive impacts. For the former, economic rationality is the main driving force, whereas for the latter, the acquisition of financial and technical support is the key. Two pathways, namely ‘attitude → intention → behaviour’ and ‘perceived control → intention → behaviour’, stand out in forming the adoption behaviour. Although subjective norms show no significant impact on intension, they serve as contextual factors that help shape perceived control and attitude. The findings contribute to improve understanding on the behavioural responses of herders to novel technologies, practices and policy interventions, and have important implications for informing the design of intervention initiatives in pastoral regions of China and beyond.

An expanded model of bank reputation in the context of the Covid-19 crisis: a vietnamese contribution.

Reputation is a crucial intangible asset of any business. The model of corporate reputation determinants, including both cognitive and emotional dimensions and their interactions, may vary in different contexts and industries. The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of bank reputation in the context of the Vietnam banking sector during the Covid-19 crisis. The conceptual framework was developed from both exploratory research with in-depth interviews and the literature. A structural equation model linking both emotional and cognitive antecedents to each other and bank reputation is tested using data from a sample of 318 Vietnamese individual bank customers. The research results indicate that apart from customers’ perceptions about their banks’ products and services, social responsibility, vision and leadership, financial capacity, customer satisfaction and trust which are suggested from the literature, banks’ ability to provide risk management solutions to customers also has a positive impact on bank reputation. In addition, customer trust totally mediates the effects of customers’ perceptions about their banks’ offerings and social responsibility on bank reputation. The findings imply multiple ways in which both cognitive and emotional variables should be considered to build bank reputation, in which, building customer trust and providing risk management solutions to customers are the keys. The study is noteworthy that given a special research context, it finds the invalidity of some bank characteristics in signalling bank reputation though they have been repeatedly mentioned as determinants of corporate reputation from the relevant classical postulates.

An Antecedent Study of Mobile Social Game Addiction vs. Virtual Goods Purchase

This study aims to investigate how cognitive antecedents impact on social game addiction and virtual properties purchase among Generation Y players in Malaysia. Using a quantitative method with 341 Generation Y gamers and analysed via structural equation modeling through a two-step analysis approach, the results demonstrate that social game addiction is influenced by enjoyment, play intensity and self-control. The purchase intention of virtual goods is affected by flexibility and play intensity. However, social game addiction has no impact on a gamer’s intentional purchase of virtual items. A player’s income level interacts with the relationship between flexibility and likelihood of virtual property purchase, which could be insightful for gaming publishers and vendors.

Using psychometrics to characterize the cognitive antecedents of tolerance for black bears

ABSTRACT Tolerance for wildlife can be informed by a person’s beliefs, attitudes, norms, or other characteristics. Although theoretical papers emphasize the interrelations of these multiple antecedents of wildlife tolerance, empirical studies have not tested them using a rigorous scale development process. We used psychometrics to characterize the cognitive antecedents of tolerance toward black bears (Ursus americanus). Proposed scale items were tested via web-hosted questionnaire (n = 240) and refined into 29 items representing five antecedent dimensions of tolerance for black bears. We then administered these items to a different sample of recreational trail users in western Oregon (n = 210). Second-order confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a 19-item measure representing four distinct yet related antecedent dimensions of tolerance: antipathy, connection, lethal control (damage), and lethal control (danger to self, pets, and economics). These dimensions help better explain why people may be more or less tolerant toward black bears and, potentially, other wildlife.

Understanding herdsmen's rangeland rent-in behaviour under current rural land tenure system of China

Current rural land tenure system in China, characterized by the so-called “separation of three rights”, i.e., the division and parallel of collective ownership, household contract right and transferable management right, provides a solid legal basis for rangeland transfer, which is deemed crucial for addressing a range of sustainability challenges. Drawn on the theory of planned behaviour and applying structural equation modelling to analyse a survey dataset, we investigate the effects of cognitive antecedents, and their possible interactions, on herdsmen's intention and behaviour in regards to rangeland rent-in. Our results show that the most important antecedent is subjective attitude, mainly influenced by herders' economic rationality regarding scale operation and expected benefit. This is followed by perceived behavioural control, in turn largely affected by herders' familiarity with policies and access to transaction information. Finally, subjective norms influenced by the opinions of relatives and friends are weighted stronger than those of authorities. Positive correlations are also found between the three antecedents. The findings are improving our understanding of factors influencing herders' heterogeneous responses in regards to rangeland rental, and can help inform policy interventions to harness individuals' psychology in the development of more prosperous rangeland transfer systems in pastoral regions of China.

An Antecedent Study of Mobile Social Game Addiction vs. Virtual Goods Purchase

This study aims to investigate how cognitive antecedents impact on social game addiction and virtual properties purchase among Generation Y players in Malaysia. Using a quantitative method with 341 Generation Y gamers and analysed via structural equation modeling through a two-step analysis approach, the results demonstrate that social game addiction is influenced by enjoyment, play intensity and self-control. The purchase intention of virtual goods is affected by flexibility and play intensity. However, social game addiction has no impact on a gamer’s intentional purchase of virtual items. A player’s income level interacts with the relationship between flexibility and likelihood of virtual property purchase, which could be insightful for gaming publishers and vendors.

The ROAD to continuous business model innovation: A longitudinal study unveiling patterns of cognitive sensing dynamic capabilities

The dynamic capabilities of sensing, seizing and transforming enable business model innovation. The emerging literature on the cognitive antecedents of business model innovation identifies several sensing capabilities that could facilitate the design of a new business model. However, little attention has been paid to the configuration of different patterns of sensing capabilities as enablers of business model innovations over time. This longitudinal case study uses a cognitive perspective to explore such sensing dynamic capabilities across three generations of business owners of a butcher's shop that has engaged in four business model innovations over 80 years. The innovations allowed the firm to grow, whereas most of its competitors faced severe crises or even failed because they decided to retain the same business model. Our cognitive perspective allows us to unveil different patterns of four sensing capabilities (i.e. Responding, Overturning, Anticipating and Dribbling) that allowed us to describe the ‘ROAD’ the business owners travelled to initiate their business model innovation processes. This ROAD to business model innovation and the detailed patterns underlying the four capabilities may help other small business owners develop viable business models and overcome the challenges of business model innovations.

A System Justification Theory of Entrepreneurial Attitudinal Change During a Crisis

Entrepreneurship resilience during a crisis is an important research area. However, prior research has not examined cognitive antecedents of entrepreneurial resilience. Using the 2014 oil price crisis in the Middle East as a natural experiment, we draw on system justification theory to understand why and how entrepreneurs differ in the extent of their attitudinal changes toward corruption. We find foreign entrepreneurs substantially increased their willingness to engage in corruption whereas local entrepreneurs did not. Among foreign entrepreneurs, corruption willingness increases more among those from countries where corruption is not the norm, than those from more corrupt home countries.

Membangun Ekuitas Merek Berbasis Konsumen Melalui Kepribadian Merek Di E-Commerce

Brand is the reason that consumers consider important in choosing a product or service. Building brand equity is a strategic step that is able to provide competitive value for e-commerce companies in the midst of intense competition. This study assesses the impact of the CBBE antecedent instrument of cognitive factors (internal consumers) and marketing (external) factors on the formation of brand equity through brand personality in e-commerce companies. The study was conducted with a quantitative approach by distributing questionnaires as many as 153 respondents who are active users and have frequently made purchases through e-commerce in Indonesia which are then processed using SPSS 25. The results of the study indicate that cognitive antecedents have a positive effect on brand personality and brand equity. Marketing antecedents in e-commerce companies in Indonesia have no effect on brand equity but have an influence on brand personality. Brand personality is proven to be able to partially mediate cognitive factors and fully mediate marketing factors on brand equity. This research provides the latest contribution to the development of a digital industry strategy to build brand equity in e-commerce companies

Linking the behavioral immune system to COVID-19 vaccination intention: The mediating role of the need for cognitive closure and vaccine hesitancy

Vaccination has become one of the most effective ways of controlling the spread of COVID-19. Consequently, revealing the evolutionary and cognitive antecedents of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and vaccination intention has become crucial. Drawing on the theory of behavioral immune system (BIS), we investigate whether perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) is associated with vaccination intentions through the need for cognitive closure (NCC) and vaccine hesitancy. The data was collected from 525 adults from Turkey. The structural equation modeling results indicate that of the two dimensions of PVD, germ aversion predicts COVID-19 vaccination intention through sequential mediation of NCC and vaccine hesitancy. Perceived infectability, on the other hand, is directly and positively related to vaccination intention. By showing the mediating role of NCC, our results offer an insight as to why germ aversion translates into vaccine hesitancy, and low vaccination intention. We discuss the potential benefits of considering the roles of BIS and NCC in campaigns and policies targeted at increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake and suggest implications for such practices.

Individuals' Perception of Organizational Capabilities in Times of Environmental Change

We investigate the drivers of individuals’ perception of organizational capabilities in times of environmental change. Prior research suggests that organizations need to reconfigure their capabilities in times of environmental change and that the outcome of this process is strongly affected by which (potential) capabilities organizational members are aware of in the process of organizational change. Thus far, however, there is a lack of studies that provide systematic, quantitative evidence of how organizational members differ in their perception of organizational capabilities and why. To address this shortcoming, we draw on unique data from a two-stage survey among 357 organizational members of an incumbent electric utility company during the energy transition to test which factors influence whether organizational members perceive capabilities associated with the new versus the old world. We show that individuals who perceive changes in organizational routines and a more exploratory ideal organizational identity are more likely to perceive novel capabilities. Contrary to expectations, we do not find evidence that differences in the perception of the current organizational identity explain differences in capability perception. Our study advances the literature on the micro-foundations of capabilities, which has started to investigate the relationship between cognition and capabilities. Moreover, by shedding light on the antecedents of capability cognition, our study bears important implications for the literatures on organizational change and identity.

Relational and Cognitive Antecedents of Workplace Incivility: Impacts of Negative Relationships, Affective Trust, and Group Identity

Relational and Cognitive Antecedents of Workplace Incivility: Impacts of Negative Relationships, Affective Trust, and Group Identity

A Risky Way of Doing Good – Combining Personality and Cognitive Variables in a New Hierarchical Model of Investment Risk-taking in Social Entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT Social entrepreneurship (SE) combines the aspirations to create financial and social values. However, an SE-career is also considered risky and susceptible to failure. Despite a growing body of research examining the motivation of social entrepreneurs, studies on antecedents of investment risk-taking in SE are rare. The current study aims at crafting and empirically testing a hierarchical model comprising personality and cognitive antecedents of SE investment risk-taking. Using structural equation modeling and a sample of 411 business students, we find several direct effects of cognitive and indirect effects of personality variables. SE-scholars and educators should pay attention to this complex interplay in future studies and SE-courses.

From teachers’ implicit theories of intelligence to job stress: The mediating role of teachers’ causal attribution of students’ academic achievement

AbstractTo better understand the cognitive antecedents of teachers’ stress in the school setting, the effects of teachers’ beliefs regarding intelligence and their causal attributions of students’ academic performance on teachers’ job stress were examined in the current study. We recruited 271 teachers who voluntarily filled out an anonymous questionnaire. Findings demonstrated that teachers who endorsed the entity theory of intelligence tended to attribute students’ poor performance to students’ inability but not lack of effort. Results showed a positive relationship between teachers’ fixed view of intelligence and job stress, and this relationship was mediated by teachers’ attributing students’ poor performance to students’ lack of ability, even after controlling for teacher efficacy. We suggest to promote the psychological health of teachers by incorporating intelligence mindset and attribution training programs in preservice teacher education, professional development, and cognitive behavioral stress intervention for in‐service teachers.

Cognitive mechanisms underlying interaction and contribution in online health communities: the perspectives of doctors and patients

PurposeActive interaction and knowledge contribution are vital yet challenging elements of the sustainable development of online health communities (OHCs). To investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying these behaviours in doctors' and patients' use of OHCs, this study develops a theoretical model to examine the relationships among cognitive modes, patterns of interaction, perceived usefulness, and contribution behaviour and the impact of user identity on these relationships.Design/methodology/approachTo test the research hypotheses, structural equation modelling and multiple-group analysis were used to analyse survey data from 207 doctors and 213 patients.FindingsThe results indicate that dual processes and perceived usefulness are the key cognitive antecedents of interaction and knowledge contribution, respectively. However, the correlation of the rational mode and instrumental interaction is significantly stronger in the doctors' group than in the patients' group, while a stronger correlation between the experiential mode and instrumental interaction is observed in the patients' group.Practical implicationsThese findings support the development of information and system strategies to support the operation of dual processes underlying doctors' and patients' instrumental and affective interactions, facilitate evaluation and sense-making of interaction activities, and motivate knowledge contribution.Originality/valueThis study uncovers the invariance and variability in the relationships between salient cognitive activities and behavioural responses in doctors' and patients' use of OHCs and the impact of user identity on variability.

The amoral atheist? A cross-national examination of cultural, motivational, and cognitive antecedents of disbelief, and their implications for morality.

There is a widespread cross-cultural stereotype suggesting that atheists are untrustworthy and lack a moral compass. Is there any truth to this notion? Building on theory about the cultural, (de)motivational, and cognitive antecedents of disbelief, the present research investigated whether there are reliable similarities as well as differences between believers and disbelievers in the moral values and principles they endorse. Four studies examined how religious disbelief (vs. belief) relates to endorsement of various moral values and principles in a predominately religious (vs. irreligious) country (the U.S. vs. Sweden). Two U.S. M-Turk studies (Studies 1A and 1B, N = 429) and two large cross-national studies (Studies 2–3, N = 4,193), consistently show that disbelievers (vs. believers) are less inclined to endorse moral values that serve group cohesion (the binding moral foundations). By contrast, only minor differences between believers and disbelievers were found in endorsement of other moral values (individualizing moral foundations, epistemic rationality). It is also demonstrated that presumed cultural and demotivational antecedents of disbelief (limited exposure to credibility-enhancing displays, low existential threat) are associated with disbelief. Furthermore, these factors are associated with weaker endorsement of the binding moral foundations in both countries (Study 2). Most of these findings were replicated in Study 3, and results also show that disbelievers (vs. believers) have a more consequentialist view of morality in both countries. A consequentialist view of morality was also associated with another presumed antecedent of disbelief—analytic cognitive style.

Effects of behavioural skill training on cognitive antecedents and exercise and sport behaviour in high school students: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT School-based physical education is a preferred setting to lay the foundations of a physically active lifestyle. However, the potential of behaviour skills to foster leisure-time physical activity has rarely been addressed in a physical education context. The goal of this paper was to replicate a prior cluster-randomised controlled trial, in which behavioural skill training resulted in significant improvements in adolescents' self-reported exercise/sport behaviour, exercise/sport intention, motivation, coping planning and self-efficacy. Students were recruited from a Swiss academic high school. One hundred and twenty eight students (52% girls) had complete data at post-intervention, and 108 students (53% girls) at 3-month follow-up. The intervention lasted six weeks and included three sessions. The same questionnaires were used as in the original study, and physical activity was assessed via accelerometry. Mixed linear regression models were used to examine the data with a random intercept for school classes. The results showed that the intervention did neither result in increased self-reported exercise/sport participation, objectively assessed physical activity, nor in improvements in the assessed cognitive antecedents of exercise/sport behaviour compared to the control condition. There seems to be considerable heterogeneity regarding the effects of physical education-based interventions, even in apparently similar populations. Timing might be critical for the success of a physical activity intervention, and interventions at the beginning of the academic year or in autumn might be more successful than interventions close to the students’ final exams or spring/summer.

Emotional competencies and entrepreneurial intention: An extension of the theory of planned behavior case of Ecuador

This study analyzes the relationship between emotional competencies and entrepreneurial intention of students from public higher education institutions in Ecuador, supported by an extended model of Ajzen’s Theory of planned behavior. The results are derived from a questionnaire applied to students of last semester of careers with academic business training. To analyze the results, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The findings show that emotional competencies are significant factors in the configuration of entrepreneurial intentions and have a direct and positive relationship with the cognitive antecedents of entrepreneurial attitude and self-efficacy. It is suggested that students with a higher degree of emotional competencies cope in a better way with the cognitive bias that can make it difficult to recognize business opportunities. The main contribution of this study was to give generality to the results that have been obtained in the use of emotional competencies to promote the intentionality of entrepreneurship in the context of emerging economies.