Consumer Information Research Articles (Page 1)

ABSTRACT Policymakers have little time left to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and limit global warming to well below two degrees. However, a systematic assessment of the available scientific evidence—that is up to date—is not always available to understand what climate policies work, to what extent, in what context, why, and for whom. This is also true for demand‐side policies, including those that use behavioral change to reduce energy demand and the related carbon emissions. There is an ever‐burgeoning literature on policy interventions that target behavioral change among households, with new insights and evidence of their efficacy in different contexts. This living systematic review (LSR) and network meta‐analysis (NMA) synthesizes this evidence to provide timely, rigorous and up‐to‐date insights on this topic. Our LSR and NMA integrate the evidence available from multiple disciplines to answer the following questions: (1) to what extent can information, behavioral (including feedback, social comparison and motivation), and monetary based interventions reduce energy consumption of households; (2) what the relative effectiveness of interventions is; and (3) how effective are the combinations of different interventions. In doing so, we also pilot an LSR for climate policy solutions and share learnings with the community. To fulfill these objectives, we searched the academic and gray literature for experimental and quasi‐experimental studies that quantitatively assessed the impact of either behavioral, monetary, or information interventions (or a combination of these) on energy consumption (including electricity and heat) of the households in residential buildings. We searched the relevant databases: Web of Science Core Collections Citation Indexes, Scopus, JSTOR, RePec, Google Scholar, and gray literature repository Policy Commons to retrieve over 109,000 potentially relevant article abstracts and apply machine learning algorithms to identify the most likely relevant papers. Note that with this update, that includes the relevant literature published till end of December 2024, we added roughly 53,000 potentially relevant documents to the previously existing pool of potentially relevant literature from Khanna et al. (2021). A team of four reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of studies identified as being potentially relevant by the machine learning algorithm, with full‐text assessments and double‐coded data collection following for a set of included studies. The effect sizes reported by different studies were harmonized to Cohen's d for synthesis. We used a multilevel random effects model and NMA for calculating the average intervention effect. We adjust our estimates for possible small‐study effects (publication bias). The NMA allows us to visualize the relative efficacy of the interventions through rankograms and cumulative ranking probability plots. Unlike previous meta‐analyses in this field of research, this study also implements a comprehensive risk of bias criteria for assessing the quality of each study using a modified version of the framework recommended by the Center for Environmental Evidence. We identified 213 relevant studies and conducted meta‐analyses on 192 studies that provide quantitative estimates of the relationship between behavioral, monetary, and information incentives and reduction in energy consumption of households. The studies together represent evidence from 40 countries and 6,528,923 households (average total sample size of 33,216). The studies were of varying quality, with the presence of methodological weaknesses across the included studies. We find an overall average effect size of Cohen's d = 0.22 or 0.13 after adjusting for potential small‐study bias across. Such an effect corresponds to approximately a 4%–6% reduction in energy consumption. Monetary incentives have the largest average effect, followed by some behavioral (motivation) and information interventions. Combining interventions can also increase effectiveness; for example, combining information, social, and behavioral (motivation) interventions has high average effects. Our analysis finds that behavioral, monetary and information interventions taken together on average have a small‐moderate effect on energy consumption of households. Some intervention combinations yield substantially larger impacts—especially when considered at scale. However, the practical consequences of the average effect sizes reported in this review depend on at least three factors: how often a person makes decisions that could be influenced by the interventions under investigation, the scalability and cost of interventions, and the welfare consequences of the interventions. The fast‐growing literature on behavioral, information, and monetary interventions in household energy consumption makes this field a fitting case study for a “living” review assessment. Of the 663 effect sizes used for synthesis, about half come from studies produced after 2020 that were not included in previous reviews on the topic. However, there are significant challenges with consistently updating a review, most importantly, in terms of maintaining consistency in the identification and coding of studies, given resource constraints and changing personnel. Applying machine learning algorithms during abstract‐level document screening helped us significantly reduce the manual effort involved in identifying the relevant literature.

This teaching case portrays the predatory exploitation of the psychological weaknesses in the digital marketing process in three jaw-dropping stories in the swirling half-trillion-dollar digital economy in India, in the age of algorithms that predict our desires even before we know we have them. The case follows the lives of Priya, a marketing professionals whose shopping frequency had risen to thrice a week and whose satisfaction had declined to 40-percent; and Rajesh, another data engineer whose study became his control system; and Anita, a social media influencer whose expenditure had tripled to 18,000 a month with no concept that she was a manipulator of her 400 followers. These narratives expose the vulnerability algorithm—exploiting time, emotional, social, cognitive, and financial insecurity and faking scarcity, artificial social proving, gamified decision-making, and mood-controlled advertising in the given scenario of 700 million internet users, frictionless UPI payments, and inbuilt social commerce. The case provides a challenge to the simple economic idea of consumer rationality, illustrating how platforms construct preferences rather than fulfilling them. It teaches the relationships between consumer psychology, behavioral economics, information technology, and business ethics to enable students to attain the principles of decoding the processes of manipulation and develop essential digital literacy. Students argue about burning issues, by means of discussion questions that are well designed: Where does the persuasion and manipulation begin and end? So what then shall we do in order to preserve human agency in the algorithmic worlds? The ultimate awakenings of the protagonists by means of digital detox, reverse-engineering of algorithms, and moral reckoning give hope and contribute timely information to IT, marketing, and ethics courses as future leaders redefine the boundary between profitable persuasion and unethical exploitation.

ABSTRACT In the era of big data and AI, consumers are confronted with an overwhelming amount of information and a wide range of choices when purchasing agri‐food products online. This can significantly impact their decision‐making processes. However, there is currently insufficient comprehensive understanding regarding how information overload influences consumer purchasing decisions in the agri‐food sector and whether differences in personal cognition and knowledge moderate this effect. This study aims to address this knowledge deficiency. Drawing on the stimulus‐organism‐response (S‐O‐R) theory, an influence mechanism model is developed to examine the impact of information overload on consumers' decision deferral. A situational experiment involving 430 agri‐food consumers is conducted to empirically test the proposed model. The results show that information overload significantly affects the level of consumer confusion. This, in turn, causes a deferral of purchase decisions. Furthermore, both cognitive need and consumer knowledge negatively moderate the relationship between information overload and consumer confusion.

Plastic straws have led to environmental concerns due to their limited reusability and poor recyclability. In response, alternative straws made from materials such as paper, polylactic acid (PLA), and bamboo have been introduced as sustainable options. However, the chemical safety of these alternatives, particularly regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), remains unclear. This study investigated the occurrence of PFAS and other potentially hazardous compounds in disposable straws marketed in Korea. A total of 64 straw samples representing various materials were analyzed. Quantitative analysis of 33 PFAS compounds was conducted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and suspect screening was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF). Among the 33 PFAS, 16 compounds were detected above the limit of detection. Paper straws exhibited the widest variety and highest concentrations of PFAS, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA). Several precursor compounds with potential for environmental transformation were detected exclusively in paper straws. PFAS concentrations significantly differed by material, with higher levels in paper straws than in plastic and PLA (p < 0.05). In the suspect screening, dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and oleamide were tentatively identified in two paper straw. However, due to the limited sample size and lack of standard confirmation, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Although paper straws are promoted as environmentally friendly, they may still pose chemical risks to human health. Further studies are needed to assess migration, exposure risks, and inform future regulatory and consumer safety efforts.

AI-driven corporate reputation measurement in digital ecosystems: A systematic literature review.

The article is devoted to the issues of literary education of students in the digital age and outlines the potential of virtual reality as a didactic resource and innovative educational environment. Special attention is paid to the pedagogical aspects of using VR in teaching literature: developing critical thinking, forming skills in interpreting literary texts, increasing motivation and active participation of students in the educational process. Emphasis is placed on the material from V. Gibson's works «Neuromancer» and «Mona Lisa Overdrive», which provides the opportunity to form a digital chronotope that allows future teachers to interpret the artistic space and interact with the text in a new way. The article proves that virtual reality, combined with literary analysis of cyberpunk contributes to the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. It is emphasized that didactic work using VR contributes to expanding the possibilities of personality-oriented learning and the formation of an inclusive educational environment. A special emphasis is placed on access to equal conditions for interpreting and mastering literary texts. The need for methodically balanced and moderate use of VR technologies is noted and emphasized, which guarantees the preservation of academic values and psychological and pedagogical safety of applicants. It is emphasized that virtual reality is considered a promising tool for the modernization of literary education, which transforms the learner from a passive consumer of information into an active researcher of the artistic chronotope. The article outlines ways to realize the pedagogical potential of using virtual reality as a didactic resource and analyzes its impact on the formation of reading competence and the development of critical thinking of higher education students. The essence of the chronotope as an integrative unity of spatial and temporal coordinates of a work of art is revealed. The article focuses on criticism and the history of literary studies. It is noted that within the discipline "Introduction to Literary Studies", literary education of higher education students in the digital age involves the study of key concepts of literary theory, which can be applied to the analysis of virtual reality as a didactic resource and artistic chronotope. It is emphasized that the task is to identify the pedagogical potential of VR as a didactic resource.

Over the last decade, there has been a significant growth in life cycle assessment (LCA) research on oil palm production around the world, with an emphasis on the stages of the life cycle from oil palm plantation to crude palm oil (CPO). However, there is still a research shortage in the downstream section, which includes CPO and cooking oil production. This study addresses the gap by utilizing LCA to evaluate the environmental impacts using recent field data collected from selected sites in Sumatra. The study aims to examine the environmental impacts associated with the quality of palm cooking oil and compare them with those of other vegetable cooking oils. The system boundary is defined as cradle-to-gate, comprising land preparation, plantation, CPO production, and refinery of cooking oil. The results indicate that higher-quality palm cooking oil with iodine value (IV) 60 is associated with increased environmental impacts across several categories, including global warming, eutrophication, acidification, ozone layer depletion, and marine ecotoxicity. Furthermore, palm cooking oil with IV 56, which represents the most often consumed quality level, has a lower carbon footprint than cooking oils made from rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, peanut, canola, coconut, and maize. These findings provide useful information for consumers, industry, and politicians seeking to reduce the environmental effects of vegetable cooking oil.

Introduction: The perception of functional foods (FF) is influenced by available information, sociocultural influences, and sensory and nutritional characteristics, while their consumption is determined, to a greater extent, by cost and accessibility. Objective: This exploratory study analyzed the perception of FF in 752 undergraduate students in nutrition and postgraduate students in health at the Facultad de Salud Pública y Nutrición (FaSPyN) at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL). Material and method: A questionnaire was applied that evaluated: 1) association of words with FF, 2) perception of benefits, accessibility, and consumption, and 3) source of information and reason for consumption. Results: The term most associated with FF was "health." More than one-third of students related FFs to wellness and health benefits, and 43.8% gained knowledge about them in school. In addition, the consumption of omega-3, prebiotics and fiber, the latter as a component of functional foods, was significantly associated with the level of education. Conclusion: Graduate students show a clearer perception of FF compared to undergraduate students, which shows the need to strengthen teaching on this topic in undergraduate programs to improve their understanding and encourage informed consumption.

Background/Objectives: The increasing presence of “no added sugar” products in the Polish food market provides consumers and nutritionists with access to products with varying nutritional compositions. Comparing the nutritional and energy values of products with and without added sugar provides objective data on their composition, which is important for informed diet planning and for monitoring differences between product groups. Methods: The research material included a total of 1278 food products, including 744 labeled “without added sugar” and 534 containing added sugar, obtained from four online stores and three offline retail outlets in Poland in the second and third quarters of 2023. The product assessment was based on an analysis of the nutritional and energy value, expressed per 100 g of each product. Results: The quantitative analysis revealed that products with added sugar were characterized by a higher energy value and a statistically significantly higher content of saturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, and sugars. Conclusions: Comparison of selected product groups revealed significant differences in nutritional and energy values. Analyzing these differences provides a practical overview of product composition and can be a useful source of information for consumers and nutritionists.

ABSTRACTIntroductionAdvance care planning (ACP) provides a person‐centric approach for discussing future care wishes that is responsive to individual preferences and needs. People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have substantially lower opportunities for engagement in ACP, contributing to less person‐centred care, particularly towards the end of life. This study aimed to identify and describe the currently available resources in Australia that support healthcare staff and people from CALD backgrounds in engaging with ACP.MethodsAltheide's document analysis approach was used to systematically search and select eligible publicly available resources published between January 2013 and June 2023 from websites of government health departments and registered non‐government organisations that focused on facilitating ACP with people from CALD backgrounds. A narrative synthesis was performed to report the characteristics and scope of resources. Thematic analysis was employed with the content to identify considerations and recommendations for engaging with individuals from CALD backgrounds in ACP.ResultsA total of 30 eligible resources were identified, of which 21 resources (70%) originated from government sources. Most of the resources targeted consumers (21/30, 70%), and a total of 91 community languages were covered across 15 resources that were offered in translated versions. Five resources were available in easy‐to‐read English. Thematic analysis of the ten resources that included considerations or recommendations for CALD populations identified four themes: practising culturally sensitive and person‐centred approach, supporting communication needs, staff recruitment and training, and provision of collaborative and multidisciplinary support.ConclusionsWhilst a large number of resources have been developed to facilitate uptake of ACP among the general population, a limited number of resources provide specific recommendations or support for working with CALD communities. Few resources reported the use of co‐design with communities despite recommendations to do so. Targeted information both for consumers and care providers is required to provide culturally relevant and inclusive support that promotes engagement in ACP towards person‐centric care.Patient and Public InvolvementThe iCanCare Project described includes consumer investigators who have contributed to conceptualisation and design of the project, in addition to a Project Steering Group including consumer members who have guided the research process.

Social media platforms such as Pinterest are a popular medium for locating and consuming health and mental health information, as well as educational resources to assist struggling learners. Despite parents and educators being frequent consumers of education-related information on Pinterest, no studies to date have explored the accuracy of intervention information for dyslexia on Pinterest-linked web pages, meaning that the extent to which it aligns with evidence-based practice and the science of reading is unclear. This study reviewed online information about interventions for dyslexia from 41 Pinterest-linked web pages to evaluate accountability, presentation, alignment with evidence-based practice, and readability using a set of standardized criteria. The quality of intervention information was generally poor, with websites meeting less than 10% of the standardized criteria. Further, most information was published by unspecified authors or authors without formal experience providing evidence-based interventions for dyslexia. Most sites also neglected to reference their sources or recommend follow-up with a professional. These findings suggest that psychologists should be steering educators away from Pinterest as a resource and towards more reliable websites. Possibilities for future research, and practical implications for school psychologists are discussed.

Implicit (unintentional) biases related to social categories (including race, gender, and age) are often seen as impediments to belonging and success in diverse organizations. Indeed, organizations around the world expend considerable effort and resources to implement educational programs with the stated goal of addressing — and even eradicating — such biases. However, in recent years, implicit bias education has come under scrutiny for several reasons, including via claims that implicit bias ( a ) is inherently unchangeable, ( b ) has no real-world analogs, ( c ) is unrelated to, and detracts focus from, biased behaviors, ( d ) provides an excuse for discrimination, and ( e ) is a structural problem and thus requires structural solutions. After refuting these critiques, this review introduces the MAIBE checklist to help organizations decide if implicit bias education is worth their investment based on whether it ( a ) includes m easurable benchmarks (rather than assuming success), ( b ) foregrounds epistemic a gency (rather than treating individuals as passive consumers of information), ( c ) is i ntegrated into a larger toolbox (rather than administered in isolation), ( d ) is b road (rather than light-touch), and ( e ) is e vidence-based (rather than unscientific). The article concludes by calling for extended collaboration between academic psychologists and organizational decision-makers to synergistically improve both basic science and institutional practices.

Abstract Maintaining a competitive advantage in today’s global market requires effective strategic alignment between business strategy and human resource (HR) practices. This study examines how leading international companies integrate their business models with HR strategies to foster growth, drive innovation, and enhance employee engagement. The research employs a qualitative comparative analysis of major firms across sectors including information technology, automotive, consumer goods, and electronics. Data from corporate reports and existing literature were analysed to identify patterns in how these organizations align workforce management with broader strategic objectives. Key findings indicate that, despite industry differences, high-performing companies share common approaches: they emphasize continuous innovation, global expansion, talent development, and an organizational culture that treats human capital as a strategic asset. These aligned HR practices—such as targeted training, diversity initiatives, and performance management—are closely linked to achieving business goals. The study’s insights underscore the significance of synchronizing HR and business strategies, demonstrating that such alignment is crucial for organizational agility, resilience, and sustained competitive advantage. This research contributes to the strategic management and human resource management fields by highlighting best practices in strategic alignment and providing actionable insights for practitioners seeking to leverage human resources for competitive success. Keywords: Strategic alignment, Business strategy, Human resource practices, Competitive advantage, Strategic management, Talent development

Background Media and information literacy (MIL) is one of the most essential competencies people need in the 21st century. Although extensive research has focused on children and students, the MIL status of mothers, who are not only huge seekers and consumers of media and information but also crucial interventionists in family MIL, remains in its infancy.Objective The objective of this scoping review is to systematically map the existing studies on mothers’ MIL in the 21st century. Specifically, it aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of relevant research; clarify the condition of mothers’ MIL in the 21st century; summarize the theoretical frameworks and measurement methodologies; and identify key influencing variables.Inclusion criteria All primary or peer-reviewed articles on mothers’ MIL published after 2000 will be included, regardless of language or region. There are no participant restrictions, such as age, region, marital status, etc. All relevant concepts, such as “computer literacy,” “digital literacy,” “Information and Communications Technology (ICT) literacy,” “information literacy,” “MIL,” “media literacy,” “news literacy,” “social media literacy,” “technology literacy,” and “visual literacy” are included.Methods The review will adhere to the JBI’s Scoping Review Guidelines and utilize the PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. A comprehensive search strategy based on the PCC framework will be applied across four databases: Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCOhost and Taylor& Francis. Two reviewers will separately search the databases in a two-round screening and extract data using a designated extraction instrument to respond to review queries. The search strategy and the instrument had been refined through a pilot test. A PRISMA flow diagram will be used to depict the entire screening procedure.Registration This scoping review protocol has been registered in the Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2N5V7).

Misinformation poses serious risks for democratic governance, conflict, and health. This study evaluates whether sustained, classroom-based education against misinformation can equip schoolchildren to become more discerning consumers of information. Partnering with a state government agency in Bihar, India, we conducted a field experiment in 583 villages with 13,500 students, using a 4-month curriculum designed to build skills, shift norms, and enhance knowledge about health misinformation. Intent-to-treat estimates demonstrate that treated respondents were significantly better at discerning true from false information, altered their health preferences, relied more on science, and reduced their dependence on unreliable news sources. We resurveyed participants 4 months post-intervention and found that effects persisted, as well as extended to political misinformation. Finally, we observe within-household treatment diffusion, with parents of treated students becoming more adept at discerning information. As many countries seek long-term solutions to combat misinformation, these findings highlight the promise of sustained classroom-based education.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;The purpose &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;of the article is to identify the features of managing PR projects to popularize media culture by civil society institutions during the period of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Research methodology&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;To solve the research tasks, we used the following general scientific research methods: descriptive method - when considering the representation of the implementation of public relations in the public sector; analytical method - when studying the features and specific features of managing PR projects within the framework of communication support for the implementation of programs for the implementation of media culture in Ukraine by civil society institutions during the war, generalization method - when identifying common features of the studied PR projects and formulating conclusions regarding the specifics of their implementation.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Results.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; Attention is focused on the fact that PR projects to popularize media culture by civil society institutions are an effective and efficient tool for the dissemination and implementation of the basic principles of competent and critical perception of mass media information. Such projects allow establishing effective connections with target audiences or reference groups, especially during crises, when the need for critical analysis of messages by citizens of a country that is at war and is under constant threat of the consequences of disinformation from the aggressor country increases.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The concept of media culture of the recipient of mass media information is revealed, which in the information society becomes an important lever in shaping his worldview, in the ability to create, as far as possible, an objective picture of the course of events and their consequences. This is due to the fact that a person who possesses truthful, unbiased, not distorted by propaganda and hostile information technologies information is able to build a more adequate model of his own behavior in the conditions in which he finds himself and take care of his own danger. The introduction and popularization of media culture are becoming a trend, including due to effective PR support.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;It is noted that the management of PR projects for the popularization of media culture by public sector organizations includes a classic scheme, which includes the stage of project initiation, analytical intelligence, planning of actions and communication activities, implementation of the project plan, control and monitoring and determining its effectiveness. The life cycle of a PR project in the field of popularization of media culture is mainly modeled according to the «waterfall» principle, which provides for its linear and sequential implementation.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;It was found that the features of PR projects that spread the meaning of media culture among consumers of mass media information include a mandatory focus on explaining to the target audience the relevance of critical perception of information messages, the ability to distinguish between propaganda and fake messages from the aggressor country, the formation of trust in official, authoritative and truthful sources of information, the involvement of experts and public opinion leaders in the popularization of skills in the perception of information messages.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Novelty &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;lies in determining the relevance of the use and features of managing PR projects within the framework of communication support and popularization of programs for the implementation of media culture in Ukraine by civil society institutions during the war, which consists in using the classical scheme of project formation with an emphasis on the communication component, which is implemented through the use of modern social and communication technologies and can be considered as a separate powerful direction of public relations in the public sector.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Practical significance&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;. The practical significance of the research results lies in the possibility of their use during the implementation of PR projects to promote media culture and literacy by civil society institutions, the preparation of educational programs in public relations, the training of specialists in the field and public relations, and the development of educational and scientific courses on the specified problem.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Key words:&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; communication project, public relations, PR project, project management, media culture, civil society institutions, information, disinformation.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The adherence of a number of 20th-century intellectuals to the concept and term “estrangement” (Verfremdung) unites writers, playwrights, sociologists, and philosophers in their striving for the renewal of humanitarian thought, for politi­cal nonconformism, and for the substantiation of the autonomy of the individual. Viktor Shklovsky, Bertolt Brecht, Albert Camus are vivid examples of such authors. Most of them had to go through difficult times, in particular, in emigra­tion, which formed cognitive and existential attitudes close to those described by A. Schütz in the sociological essays “The Stranger” and “Homecomer”. The arti­cle shows that the idea of estrangement is a core of the certain epistemology of art shaped by the socio-political and cultural atmosphere of geopolitical crises and human tragedies, so characteristic of Europe in the first two-thirds of the 20th century. Contrary to the widespread tradition of considering the phi­losophy of art and existential philosophy as a slightly smoothed-over emotional-affective discourse that says little about cognition and is practically inapplicable to the analysis of science, the article offers a purely epistemological and positive view of such concepts as estrangement, absurdity and rebellion. Man must prove his right to be called a knowing subject, not just a semi-conscious recorder and consumer of information. The genuine goal of knowledge does not always con­sist precisely in the dispassionate revelation of the essence of reality as it is in it­self. Knowledge is hardly possible unless man is induced to take responsibility for knowledge in order to overcome the automatism of everyday existence, to achieve clarity of his own consciousness, to join in the dignity of knowledge and free action, i.e. such creative cognition that goes against circumstances, is not humbled and is not justified by them. This creative and research attitude can enrich modern epistemology with the heuristic and existential content.

This paper investigates the demographic information and buying behaviour of textile consumers in Cuddalore district and the major dimensions of the buyer awareness such as brand awareness, product awareness and price awareness are analyzed. Information was collected from 100 respondents in different age groups, occupations, income levels, and family structures by means of a structured questionnaire. Results indicate that consumer awareness of brands and products is low on the whole but that price awareness and perceptions are mixed. A pronounced disparity in the awareness level was noticed in terms of living residence. The research also brings out consumer favorites regarding how often they venture out to shop, by what means they travel, how much money is parted with, and time of transaction. The findings have important implications for textile retailers, marketers and policy makers who seek to enhance consumer participation and information processing in local markets.

This panel explores how school librarians are transforming their roles through evolving practices while elevating libraries' essential position in educational ecosystems. Burress and Li as co-conveners of the School Library SIG will facilitate the presentations and lead Q and A. Spanning evidence-based practice, information literacy in charter schools, diverse representation in collections, culturally responsive online learning, and professional development, these studies illuminate librarians' journey toward decolonizing pedagogies. School librarians prioritize student identity, challenge traditional power structures, center marginalized voices, and build professional agency through reflective practice. Together, these works demonstrate school librarianship's shift toward practices that honor diverse knowledge systems while asserting school libraries' indispensable role as catalysts for educational transformation and student learning. Cahill, Moore, and Kodama will present “Not a problem, a challenge, something to work with”: School Librarians’ Difficulties Collecting, Analyzing, and Sharing Evidence of Practice which discusses the idea that school librarians should be collecting, analyzing, and sharing evidence of practice both to inform decision making and to increase the visibility and value of school library programs. Prior studies suggest that school librarians struggle with these practices. To pinpoint school librarians’ difficulties with evidence, our research team engaged in focus groups and individual interviews with secondary school librarians and educational administrators at the school, district, and state levels. Analyses of those interviews reveal four areas of challenge in this realm of evidence-based practice: resources, knowledge and skills, dispositions, and alignment with stakeholder values. Pryde will present, “Preparing School Librarians: Reflection on Practical Experiences within Professional Learning Networks for Preservice Librarians”. This presentation will discuss school librarian field experience. Preservice librarians require support and training to develop their own professional learning networks and engage in reflective practice for growth and improvement. By designing practicum and student teaching coursework and expectations that require regular reflective practice and engagement with a PLN, students learn about the benefits of these practices and also develop habits that continue in their careers. Preparing school library students to successfully manage their own professional growth and continued learning upholds the ideals of the AASL School Library Standards (2018) and ensures school librarians will have the necessary tools to successfully manage the multiple roles of school librarians. Greene and Johnson will present, “Online Ready Year One: Culturally Competent and Impactful K-12 Online Learning”. The present study is the second phase of a national grant funded research project that aims to thoroughly capture and assess the institutional structures, pedagogical practices, and learner needs found in the first cycle of iterative design, development, and testing of a professional development learning product targeting that knowledge gap. Findings address the ways school librarians define and actualize their role in culturally responsive K-12 virtual learning, and how these change through professional development. Krutka will present “Looking into Mirrors and Windows: School Librarians’ Perspectives on Diverse Representation in Book Collections”. This study, based on a survey of 142 school librarians, centered Rudine Sims Bishop’s concept of books as windows and mirrors and furthered a greater understanding of school librarians’ practices. Findings revealed four themes: librarians prioritize students, recognize the power of books, curate messages thoughtfully, and strive for continuous improvement. Librarians' voices are essential for developing equitable library practices that affirm all student identities and experiences. School librarians are expected to develop collections reflecting diversity, yet the practices related to and significance concerning multicultural literature is understudied. Challenges related to this topic include bans and policies jeopardizing student access to literature. Klein will present, “Information Literacy in Charter School Cultures” a study of information literacy in US charter schools. In our current media and technology saturated culture, K-12 students learn a lot about navigating, evaluating, and using information at school. However, how charters with their unique cultures and approaches do this important work with their students is not understood. This study looked at how educators prepare students to be wise information consumers and creators in classrooms, schools, and across the charter sector. Institutional ethnography, an apt methodology and theory to study this aspect of charter schools, was used to learn how work around information literacy is organize.

Purpose To motivate supplier to exert more carbon reduction efforts, we study the interaction between carbon information acquisition methods (audit vs blockchain) and the information disclosure strategies. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines a supply chain involving a supplier with the capability to evade and a dominant retailer who manages the supplier by setting carbon reduction targets (CRT). The retailer must decide on an information acquisition method – either audit or blockchain – and whether to disclose the supplier’s carbon information. Using a Stackelberg game framework, we analyze the optimal strategies for supply chain members through four models that capture the equilibrium outcomes. Findings First, with audit, the retailer’s disclosure strategy improves the supplier’s CRT achievement only if the evasion cost exceeds a threshold, while with blockchain, it always improves the supplier’s CRT achievement regardless of evasion cost. Second, the retailer prefers blockchain when CRT is high and prefers audits when CRT is low. Third, blockchain and disclosure lead to a “win–win” outcome when consumers information acquisition ability is low and CRT is high; audit and concealing achieve a similar “win–win” outcome when consumers’ information acquisition ability is high. Originality/value As far as we are aware, this paper is pioneering in conducting an analytical study to investigate the interplay between information acquisition methods and information disclosure strategies to motivate supplier to exert more carbon reduction efforts.