Constructive Attitude Research Articles

The Consumer Acceptance of Novel Foods on Potential Markets using An Extended Behavior Model

This research aims to determine the purchase intention of cultured meat using an expanded planned behavior theory approach. The development of science has encouraged scientists to look for the latest innovations known as novel foods with the aim of alternative food in the future. Research on consumer acceptance of cultured meat has been carried out in many developed countries by looking at the potential for various consumer acceptance of cultured meat. Indonesia, as one of the potential markets for novel foods, is necessary to also look at the potential for consumer acceptance of novel foods, especially on cultured meat. This research used an online survey method on 231 young respondents in Indonesia. The results show that constructive attitudes and subjective norms significantly affect the purchase intention of cultured meat. Environmental beliefs also significantly affect the purchase intention of cultured meat. The results of this research can be used as a reference for marketing strategies for cultured meat in the future, especially in the young age segment in potential markets in developing countries.

Understanding Financial Literacy, Financial Resilience and Investment Decisions: A Case of Two Cities from India

The present study assessed the status of the financial literacy (FL) levels and examined its impact on the investment decisions of the investors from the cities of Ahmedabad and Vadodara in Gujarat state. We measured FL using a multi-dimensional construct of financial behaviour, attitude and knowledge. Investment decisions were analysed taking the six proxies – neutral information, personal financial need, macroeconomic indicators, accounting information, advocate information and firm image. The study revealed a high level of FL among the respondents with 62.50% of the respondents being highly financially literate and the remaining having a comparatively lower degree of FL. Though, respondents exhibited a higher level of financial literacy, they still lacked required degree of understanding of advanced financial and investment topics. Using simple linear regression, we found that investors’ investment decisions were significantly positively impacted by their levels of FL. This study has implications for employers, policymakers, regulatory authorities and financial education providers to achieve financial inclusion and well-being goals by devising appropriate strategies and interventions for individuals with varying level of FL.

The Fall of Constantinople: A Critical Analysis of Its Bearing on Islamophobia Discourse

This essay examines the fall of Constantinople in 1453 as a critical juncture for the playing out of Chrisitan-Muslim relations. Particularly, this historical moment demonstrates the significant theological schism between Orthodox and Latin Christianity that overshadowed the external threat posed by the Ottomans. The fall marked the end of the Eastern Roman Empire and highlighted the deep-rooted theological tensions within Christianity, tensions that were so profound that many Orthodox Christians preferred Ottoman rule over submission to the Latin Church. This preference stemmed from a desire to maintain theological autonomy and avoid the doctrinal compromises required by the Latin Church. The essay critically assesses the contemporary scholarship on Christian Islamophobia, arguing that it often overlooks the internal Christian divisions and portrays Christianity as a monolithic entity united against Islam. By focusing on the diverse Christian attitudes towards the Ottomans, particularly the Orthodox perspective, the essay demonstrates that the fear of theological compromise with the Latins was considered a worse fate than Muslim conquest. This analysis challenges the prevailing narratives in Islamophobia literature by highlighting the necessity of acknowledging intra-Christian tensions to fully understand the historical dynamics of Christianity and Islamophobia. Through an exploration of various Christian responses to the Ottoman threat and the subsequent establishment of the millet system, the essay advocates for a more nuanced portrayal of Christianity’s internal divisions and their impact on the construction of Christian identity and attitudes towards Islam.

Validade de Construto e Confiabilidade da Escala de Atitudes perante as Avaliações Externas Aplicadas em Larga Escala

Abstract The Scale of Attitudes towards External Assessments applied on a Large-Scale was developed to capture what basic education teachers think, feel, and how they behave in response to this type of assessment. Considering the potential of the instrument to support management decisions in the field of educational assessment policies, this article aimed to evaluate construct validity, via factor analysis, as well as scale reliability, via composite reliability of the scale, based on its application to a sample of teachers affiliated with the Education Department of Espírito Santo/Brazil. This is a quantitative, nonexperimental, instrumental study that involved 405 teachers from the public school network, whose results indicate adequate psychometric indices and a satisfactory factor structure consistent with the proposed three-dimensional attitude construct. The statistical coefficients found at the level of the analyses performed legitimize its use for the development of public policies and effective practices in the educational field.

RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKIYE AND UZBEKISTAN: POSTKARIMOV PERIOD

The chance to forge new ties between Uzbekistan and Turkiye emerged in 2016 with the change of leadership, following about 20 years of ups and downs. The strained relations were due to several political hiccups like Turkiye’s asylum to Uzbek dissidents, Currencycrisis of Turkiye, banning of Gulen schools and the Andijan event. This study focuses on the relations between Turkiye and Uzbekistan in the post-Karimov period. The focus will be on the development of political relations and the opening of new ventures due to current geopolitics in Turkiye-Uzbekistan relationship dynamics. The geo-strategic position of Turkey enables it to become transit hub as it is situated in between energy scarce European market and energy rich countries on the other side. Uzbekistan needs to diversify its export partners where Turkey as a transit hub can play crucial role. The construction of trans-Caspian pipeline to move energy from Central Asia and the Caspian sea region to Turkey and for European markets, is primary strategic goal. Both sides needed constructive attitudes to further the relations. There have been a number of high-level political visits and signing of important strategic cooperation agreements. Both heads of the state frequently refer to Turkic-Islamic symbols of shared identity while addressing their relationship. The bilateral relations have been improving in all the fields majorly in trade. To deepen and strengthen the relations further the trade goal of $10 billion is set. In 2022, the relationship was elevated to a "comprehensive strategic partnership level".

The need for mandatory autopsy teaching in Forensic Medicine for medical students.

The effectiveness of the autopsy as an educational tool in forensic medicine courses has been widely acknowledged, and medical students were expected to attend regularly. Nevertheless, the use of autopsies for teaching has dramatically declined in recent years and worldwide despite their high-value benefits. This study aims to understand the importance and relevance of attending autopsies during forensic teaching sessions and identify any challenges that may impede attendance. A self-administered online questionnaire that assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to autopsies attendance was distributed to fourth-year medical students at the National Defence University of Malaysia and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. A total of 99 respondents were involved in this study. Our findings indicate that most respondents (over 85%) demonstrated good knowledge of forensic medicine. Pearson's statistical test revealed a significant correlation between the knowledge and students' attitudes toward autopsy. This study demonstrates the need to strategically integrate autopsy attendance into medical curricula to encourage constructive attitudes and practices among medical students. Students gain the most benefits from frequently attending autopsies. Passionate educators can conduct preparatory sessions to set expectations and address concerns, encourage students to process their experiences, and reinforce learning outcomes in the mortuary setting. Mandatory autopsy teaching should be integrated into the curriculum to ensure medical students have the necessary skills and knowledge to become competent doctors.

The temporality of psychological constructs, suicidal ideation and emotional dysregulation: a longitudinal study in Mexican adolescents

Background. Adolescence could be considered a period of crisis (emotional and cognitive) where the permanence of psychological discomfort is expressed in different risk factors. That is why it is necessary to evaluate the temporality of psychological constructs. Objective. Analyse, over time, the permanence of emotional dysregulation, suicidal ideation and psychological constructs (emotional disorders, perceived social support, hopelessness, impulsivity, and attitudes and beliefs). Method. Study 1 was a cross-sectional, descriptive-comparative type of 109 teenaged participants from upper secondary education who completed a Scale for the Detection of Suicidal Ideation in Young People and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation that evaluate emotional dysregulation, suicidal ideation and psychological constructs. Study 2 is a longitudinal comparative study of 85 teenaged participants of the original 109. Results. Differences were found for the psychological construct of emotional disorders, where young women obtained a higher average than young men (p < .05). The psychological constructs of emotional disorders, hopelessness, attitudes and beliefs, and impulsiveness, as well as suicidal ideation and emotional dysregulation remained stable over two years. Discussion and conclusion. Emotional regulation as a psychological resource would foster flexibility, tolerance and acceptance in preventing the intensity of psychological distress.

Measuring criminal thinking among convicts imprisoned in Punjab prisons of Pakistan

PurposeThis study aims to differentiate crime-related characteristics (such as the number of cases filed against current convictions and criminal history) based on the criminal thinking prevailing among convicts. However, because of the low reliability of subscales and poor structural validity of indigenous and translated versions of international instruments, a new instrument criminal attitude measure (CAM) was extracted to measure criminal thinking patterns among convicts incarcerated in central prisons of Punjab.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional research design was used. Data was collected from 1,949 male convicts (extracting mutually exclusive data from 649 respondents for EFA and 1,300 respondents for confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]). Both data samples were collected from convicts incarcerated in the nine (all) central jails of Punjab, Pakistan.FindingsThe results of this study showed poor model fit for both the indigenous criminal thinking scale and the translated version of criminogenic cognition scale. CAM was extracted through principal component analysis and proposed as a 15-item questionnaire with five factors extracted through varimax rotation. Those five factors are power orientation, mollification, entitlement, mistrust toward authorities and short-term orientation. The results of CFA for CAM confirmed the proposed five-factor structure for the construct. Findings based on MANOVA further found that CAM differentiates between the thinking patterns of recidivists, convicts with multiple charges filed against them in current convictions and convicts with a familial criminal record. The findings of this study showed that CAM is a practical, valid and reliable instrument for measuring criminal thinking among convicts.Research limitations/implicationsIn this study, using the survey method was inevitable because of the restrictions imposed by the granted permission. However, this time duration was extended because of the courtesy of the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of each jail. This study is focused on a male sample only, and the findings cannot be generalized to females. The phenomena proposed (based on large data sets) in this study can further be elaborated using qualitative research designs and methods (using a small sample with an in-depth study). So, it is also suggested to test this new instrument on a comparative study between prisoners and non-prisoners to explore whether scale can differentiate between these two groups.Practical implicationsA short-scale and easy-to-administer instrument was developed for assessing major criminogenic needs among convicts for prison management, i.e. assigning barracks, allocating treatment and also detecting changes in attitude after imprisonment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study to explore and validate the construct of criminal attitudes among convicts using both the EFA and CFA. A small and valid instrument facilitates the measurement of criminogenic needs among prisoners. Data was collected from all central jails in Punjab. This study explored comparatively less researched crime characteristics in a relatively large sample.

Field Expert Assessment on the Inventory of Science Teacher Readiness in Implementing Classroom-based Assessment

Teacher readiness is the willingness of a teacher to implement a programmed Classroom-Based Assessment (CBA) successfully, which is crucial to ensure that a program can be implemented at the individual or organizational level. The readiness of science teachers to implement CBA determines the direction and success of primary school assessments in Malaysia. However, there are limitations in measuring science teachers' readiness to implement CBA. Therefore, there is a need to develop an instrument that can measure the ability. This study was conducted to validate the Science Teacher Readiness Inventory in CBA (ISTRI-CBA) using a Multi-Faceted Rasch Measurement Model (MFRM). A sample of five officers from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, served as a panel of field experts in assessments, science education, psychometrics, psychology, and language. Based on applying the MFRM, 162 items were retained from an initial pool of 185 items. The panel of field experts was good, with all five having a level of leniency and severity not too far when rating the item across the five dimensions. Expert evaluation using four-point rating scale criteria was used for clarity, accuracy, reasonableness, and brevity. The Results show ISTRI-CBA for the constructs of CBA knowledge, CBA skills, Attitudes, and Professionalism Values were considered unidimensional, while the resource support construct was multidimensional. Overall, the item reliability was satisfactory, ranging between 0.70 to 0.87 and the chi-square value (0.00) was significant, thus demonstrating that the items contained in the Science Teacher Readiness Inventory in the Classroom-Based Assessment dimension have good internal consistency.

Precursory elements of safety culture: Exploratory analyses of engineering students’ safety attitudes

Introduction: Safety culture as a concept has been well-researched in the literature. There is less work, however, on how individuals entering the workforce acquire and partake in safety culture over time and how they might be primed to partake in the positive elements of safety culture. Method: We begin this exploration by surveying engineering students’ attitudes toward safety and experiences with safety education at the Georgia Institute of Technology (n = 316). Results: We find disparities among engineering disciplines, where some majors have more negative views toward safety than others. This may point to the need for more [effective] safety education to prevent negative attitudes toward safety in the workplace. In addition to describing trends among engineering students’ attitudes, this study also uses factor analysis to characterize the latent constructs of precursory safety culture: the safety-related attitudes that may direct how people engage with safety culture as early-career engineers. Practical Applications: The analysis provides a conceptual construction of precursor safety culture attitudes, which can serve as a guide to future measurement efforts.

Intention to use pre-exposure prophylaxis in men who have sex with men in Chile: a view from the planned behavior theory

Introduction: pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively prevents HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM). Chile recently incorporated PrEP as a strategy against HIV/AIDS. Despite its effectiveness, worldwide PrEP utilization among MSM is low. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is one of the most popular psychosocial models used to predict and explain sexual risk behaviors. Objective: to analyze the intention to use PrEP among MSM using the TPB in Chile. Methods: 183 MSM were recruited online. The TPB constructs (attitude, subjective norms, behavioral control, and intention to use) were measured in addition to knowledge variables, sociodemographic aspects, and sexual risk behaviors. We use linear regression models to analyze the relationship between intention to use and other variables. Results: the perception of favorable social norms (B=0,356 p<0,01), higher perception of behavioral control (B=0,4 p<0,01), and positive PrEP attitudes (B=0,189 p<0,01) were significantly related to intention to use PrEP. Knowledge, the presence of sexual ri.sk behaviors, and sociodemographic variables were not associated with intention to use PrEP. Conclusion: the TPB contributes to understanding the intention to use PrEP in MSM in Chile

Rising and falling on the social ladder: The bidimensional social mobility beliefs scale.

Recent works in the field of Social Psychology have shown the importance of studying subjective social mobility from different perspectives. In the literature about subjective societal mobility, most of the research is focused on the mobility-immobility framing. However, several authors suggested studying social mobility beliefs effects differentiating according to mobility's trajectory, that is, upward (i.e., improving status over time) and downward (i.e., getting worse in status over time). The present research was motivated by the lack of measures that discriminate between beliefs in upward and downward societal mobility. Across two studies using different samples of the Spanish adult population, we examined both dimensions of social mobility beliefs and tested their predictive validity on other related constructs. In Study 1 (N = 164), with an EFA, we corroborated the independence between the two types of mobility. The internal structure was confirmed by a CFA in Study 2 (N = 400). Furthermore, it was shown that upward and downward mobility beliefs are differently related to other related constructs. The results from Studies 1-2 showed good convergent validity. In all correlations with the different constructs (attitudes towards inequality, meritocratic beliefs, justification of the economic system, and status anxiety) we found opposite direction effects for both types of societal mobility (upward and downward). The development of this new instrument can help to deepen our understanding of the psychosocial consequences of subjective social mobility, as well as to differentiate two processes that may have different consequences.

Assessing Natural Childbirth Intention Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior and Social Support in Pregnant Women in Northern Iran

Introduction: Childbirth is the most challenging physiological and psychological event in a woman’s life. Despite the recommendations of the Iranian Ministry of Health on having natural childbirth, no favorable statistics have been reported yet. Objective: This study aims to determine the predictors of natural childbirth intention based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) and social support in pregnant women referred to selected hospitals in Rasht, northern Iran. Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 353 pregnant women aged 15-45 years referred to four hospitals in Rasht city in 2020 who were selected by systematic random sampling method proportional to the size of the study population. A researcher-made self-report questionnaire measuring the demographic information, the TPB constructs, social support, and natural childbirth intention was used. Data was analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation test, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Most of the pregnant women had a high school diploma (43.6%) and were housekeepers (83.3%), living in the city (80.5%). Most of them were in the third trimester of pregnancy (37.7%) and had pregnancy for the first time (44.8%). Their mean age was 28.90±5.8, and 58.8% intended to give birth naturally. The mean score of the natural childbirth intention was 6.71±2.50. This intention had a direct correlation with all TPB constructs and social support (r=0.526-0.829; P=0.001). Based on results social support, and participation in childbirth education classes predicted 72% of changes in natural childbirth intention (R2 =0.72). Attitude alone was able to predict natural childbirth intention by 69% (β=0.12, 95% CI; 0.09%, 0.15%, P=0.001) Conclusion: The power of the TPB constructs for predicting the natural childbirth intention in pregnant women in northern Iran is high. The attitude construct is the best predictor of natural childbirth intention. To increase the tendency to choose natural childbirth, educational interventions based on the TPB with an emphasis on attitudes can be useful. In addition, measures should be taken for the active participation of pregnant women in childbirth preparation classes.

Unpacking the behavioral intentions of ‘emergent farmers’ towards mechanized conservation agriculture in Zambia

Conservation Agriculture (CA) continues to gain relevance among small and medium-scale farmers in African countries, including Zambia, in response to food insecurity and the adverse effects of climate change. The rise in the number of market-oriented farmers, known as ‘emergent farmers,’ who acquire and utilize tractors and associated implements for agricultural production, has brought new dynamism to Zambian agriculture. While prior studies emphasize the significance of considering socio-economic and psychological factors in understanding farmers’ adoption decisions, the underlying socio-economic and psychological determinants influencing emergent farmers’ interest in CA have not been explored. This study examined the behavioral intentions of Zambian emergent farmers concerning Mechanized Conservation Agriculture (MCA) using the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior constructs: attitudes, perceived behavior control, subjective norms, and farmers’ background factors. We surveyed 119 emergent farmers from selected districts and analyzed their responses through descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. We employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships among behavioral constructs (attitude, perceived behavioral control, and social norms) and the intention to adopt MCA. The results indicated that the positive attitude of Zambian emergent farmers had a significant impact (path coefficient = 0.24) on their intention (mean = 4.51) to adopt MCA on at least part of their farms. Perceived behavioral control, which measures perceived ability, resources, and skills for practicing MCA, also had a significant impact on intention (path coefficient = 0.37). Factors such as media influence, social influence, technical training, and extension services had positive but insignificant effects on farmers’ intention to adopt MCA. Background factors, including overall farm size, farmer’s age, area under CA, and years of CA use, showed a positive and significant correlation with farmers’ intention to adopt MCA. These findings underscore the crucial socio-psychological facets of emergent farmers, which can be valuable for policymakers and practitioners aiming to harness their potential in promoting and enhancing sustainable agricultural approaches like MCA in Zambia.

Barking up which tree? Characterizing farmers, farms, and a behavioral framework regarding livestock guardian dog use in South Africa

Livestock guardian dogs are one of several predator control methods employed by livestock farmers around the world, but little is known about the factors that predict their use. Here we aim to understand the dimensions which influence guardian dog use by farmers. In a quantitative survey among 113 livestock farmers in South Africa, using Boosted Regression Trees, we explored and characterized the factors associated with guardian dog use. We showed that practical factors (e.g., predator type, number of farming enterprises, mitigation methods, and the frequency and extent of specific predator problems) were more likely to be significant determinants of guardian dog use than sociodemographic factors. However, psychosocial constructs relating to wildlife value orientations, empathy for predators, tolerance to predators, tangible and intangible cost, benefits of predators, like or dislike of predators, and number of positive experiences, were also determinants of guardian dog use. Utilizing the foundational constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Wildlife Tolerance Model (WTM) we built upon these findings to show that constructs of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control explained 49 % of the variance in behavioral intention to use or continue using a guardian dog. The relationship between attitude and the behavioral intent to use or continue using a guardian dog had less significant association with guardian dog use than either perceived behavioral control or subjective norms had. Nonetheless, attitude was most strongly associated with the constructs of belief in a specific non-governmental organization, mutualistic Wildlife Value Orientations and perceptions of affordability, ease of use and the effectiveness of guardian dogs. The TPB model, incorporating elements of the WTM, provides a framework to guide and improve adoption of guardian dog programs or other intervention strategies within conservation contexts.

Exploring Parents' Decisions Regarding HPV Vaccination for Their Daughters in Jakarta, Indonesia: A Qualitative Study.

Cervical cancer, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Although many countries have introduced national HPV vaccination programs, many girls worldwide remain unprotected. As part of a demonstration project in 2016, the Indonesian government provided the HPV vaccination for free to all year five and six female students in Jakarta and several other cities, with a plan to roll out the program nationally in the future. Understanding parents' decision-making regarding whether they will allow their daughters to receive the HPV vaccine is important to ensure optimum uptake. <br /><br />Methods: Twenty-four parents in Jakarta were interviewed. Data were analysed thematically using The Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs of attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. <br /><br />Result: Some parents had limited knowledge about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine; others did not even realise that the free HPV vaccination program had been offered in their daughter's schools. Those who had better knowledge and positive attitudes trusted their health professionals as a source of information. Peer approval, trust in the government and having the vaccine through a school-based program was important for trust, eliminated cost barriers, and increased access.<br /><br />Conclusion: Parents' attitudes towards cervical cancer and HPV vaccination are influenced in part by their knowledge. Shaping positive initial attitudes is important, as once formed, attitudes are often difficult to change. Our findings suggest that a free school-based vaccine accompanied by sufficient and non-ambiguous information from trusted sources is vital to uptake.

The Behavioral Finance of MSME in Indonesia: Financial Literacy, Financial Technology (Fintech), and Financial Attitudes

The study investigates the critical factors affecting financial behavior in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It analyzes the role of financial literacy, attitudes, and financial technology (Fintech) on financial management behavior among 1.1 million DKI Jakarta MSME stakeholders in 2020 through random sampling. The study reveals that heightened financial literacy positively influences financial management behavior. A solid foundation in financial knowledge, encompassing personal and corporate finance, leads to improved financial practices. This validates theories about cognitive biases, heuristics, and practical financial decision-making. Additionally, it emphasizes the pivotal role of positive financial attitudes in shaping financial management behavior. Stakeholders with constructive attitudes, such as financial self-control and proactive financial approaches, make sound financial decisions. This aligns with theories of planned behavior, which underscore attitudes in guiding future financial actions. Conversely, the influence of financial technology (Fintech) on MSME financial behavior is limited, primarily due to a lack of awareness and understanding among small and micro-enterprise operators regarding Fintech products and services. This study underscores the importance of promoting financial literacy, nurturing positive financial attitudes, and enhancing Fintech awareness among MSMEs. It offers actionable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and business support organizations, enabling them to bolster MSMEs’ financial knowledge and practices, thereby supporting their role as economic powerhouses.

Modeling the environmental performance by focusing on environmental behavior rural farmers

In light of the crises and changes rooted in agricultural activities and environmental problems, farmers' environmental behaviors are important. Hamedan and Kermanshah provinces are major agricultural regions in Iran that supply strategic crops. These provinces have witnessed environmental issues. The present study aimed to analyze environmental performance with an emphasis on farmers' environmental behaviors. The study population consisted of all rural farmers of the two provinces (n = 27860), and 666 farmers were selected from 89 county centers through stratified sampling. Data gathering was done by questionnaire and its validity and reliability were supported by Cronbach's alpha, AVE, and CR indices. To design the theoretical framework, a combination of the theory of planned behavior, self-efficacy theory, and the theory of user acceptance was used. Data processing was done using ArcGIS, SPSS, AMOS, and MATLAB. The results indicated that the environmental behavior of the farmers was not in a preferred state. The results indicated that the intention had a direct and positive association with the environmental behavior of the farmers. The construct's attitudes toward environment, self-efficacy, and the chance of observing social norms had the highest indirect effects, in ascending order, on the environmental behavior. 53% of changes in environmental behavior were attributed to the constructs covered in the study. Part of environmental damage is caused by the absence of farmers' behavior that takes care of the environment that must be change through behavioral intentions. Local and state policy-makers can use the proposed environmental behavior model to lead farmers to proper environmental behavior.

Attitude Construction toward Invasive Species through an Eco-Humanist Approach: A Case Study of the Lesser Kestrel and the Myna

The green school in northern Israel has embraced an eco-humanist approach with the aim of mitigating the animosity displayed by fifth-grade students towards invasive species. This antipathy arose due to the negative impact of these invasive species on a local species that the students were monitoring as a component of their environmental education curriculum. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine to what extent, if at all, there is a difference in the ethical attitude of the 188 fifth-grade students (10–11 years old) towards the conflict between the Lesser Kestrel (local species) and the Myna (invader species) and the solution to this conflict following the change to an eco-humanist teaching approach. The study, based on content analysis methodology of written self-reflection, and thematic analysis indicated that the fifth-graders’ knowledge was not adversely affected, but the solutions they proposed for resolving the conflict between the Myna and the Lesser Kestrel were more holistic, ethical, and moral after adopting the eco-humanist approach. Eco-humanism encourages an ethical attitude and environmental responsibility toward nature’s fate, including invasive species.

Understanding Entrepreneurial Intentions among University Students: An Empirical Investigation

In most nations, entrepreneurship has been crucial to economic growth and social stability. India has the world’s biggest proportion of young people in its population, and it is struggling with the high rates of youth unemployment. In this jobless situation, finding new jobs is challenging for students. Therefore, having an entrepreneurial goal is the most crucial mechanism for doing a new business and being self-employed. This research aims to evaluate the perceptions of the Berhampur University students toward entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control on entrepreneurial intentions by using Aizen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and data validation in the state of Odisha setting. This research study population was 1048 students of Berhampur University, and 319 students participated in data collection for research sample but 294 usable sample responses received as of the 2021-2022 academic year. The study used a cross-sectional research design. Purposive sampling was used to gather the data, and a closed-ended questionnaire was given to respondents. Data was cleaned and analysed by applying statistical tool of structural equation modelling to examine at the relationships between the constructs and variables. The research findings revealed a positive relationship between perceived behavioural control and entrepreneurial intentions. Surprisingly, the outcome results were somewhat contrary to TPB because the construct of personal attitude and subjective norm with entrepreneurial intentions did not have any significant relationships with the population of university students. This research will offer fresh perspectives on both academics and policymakers. Universities today play a key role in impacting students’ views and behaviours by offering a platform and an atmosphere that encourage an entrepreneurial spirit. In order to emphasise the advantages of being a young entrepreneur, policymakers should concentrate on establishing a new business and funding start-ups.