Contextual Dimensions Research Articles

The Role of Individual Income in Modulating the Impact of Health Determinants: Exploring the Interplay between Socioeconomic Factors and Health Outcomes

This article analyses the self-perceived health of the population surveyed by the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), with 316,277 observations. The main novelties of this research are: first, we use the econometric technique of quantile regression, which will allow us to distinguish the respondent’s income level. Second, the personal, social, lifestyle and macroeconomic context dimensions of the respondents are considered simultaneously as determinants of self-perceived health. In this way, we will be able to see what the determinants of health are, and whether they vary with income. Finally, it is evident that there are indeed different responses to the same stimulus depending on the level of income, especially in the elasticity of the response, seeing how the higher the income, the more or less the same stimulus influences a person. In addition, it is established that age, nationality and employment status are the most influential variables in self-perceived health.

Pegaruh PhET Terhadap Literasi Sains Materi IPA Kelas VI SDN Socah 3

This study was prompted by the inadequate grasp of students' comprehension in various dimensions of science, encompassing content, context, processes, and scientific attitudes, alongside the limited availability of laboratory resources within the school setting. The primary objective was to discern variations in the attainment of scientific literacy scores among sixth-grade students studying Natural Sciences at UPTD SDN Socah 3. The research enlisted 23 sixth-grade students from UPTD SDN Socah 3 as participants. Employing a pre-experimental approach, the study utilized the One Group Pretest Posttest Design. Upon analyzing the data using paired sample t-test at a significance level of 0.05, the null hypothesis (Ho) was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis (Ha) was accepted. The noteworthy disparity between pre-test and post-test outcomes was substantiated by the computed t-value (13.445), surpassing the critical t-table value (2.074). Consequently, it can be deduced that employing PhET Simulation media yielded a considerable impact in augmenting students' scientific literacy skills pertaining to the comprehension of Natural Science material among sixth-grade students at SDN Socah 3.

‘사회적 공감’ 교육 모형을 활용한 대학 글쓰기 수업 방안 연구

Objectives This study was applied to college writing classes using the social empathy education model. The purpose is to improve students' empathy ability. Accordingly, a teaching method for writing criticism and a class case are presented.
 Methods For 163 college students, three of the <Basic Writing> liberal arts classes conducted in the second semester of 2022 and the first semester of 2023 were presented. The theory of ‘social empathy’ argued by Elizabeth Segal was used as a research method. And the ‘social empathy’ educational model and teaching method for writing criticism were explained. We looked at the students' writings and looked at whether they recognized social problems in a social context dimension and sought solutions.
 Results To this end, writing criticism was conducted based on group activities. Students recognized the necessity and value of social empathy. And they showed personal empathy and social empathy ability to the subject of analysis. A solution was created by applying this to reality. Critical literacy improved and grew into a mature global citizen.
 Conclusions It proved that ‘social empathy’ education and critical writing classes are one of the alternatives that can solve indifference, discrimination, and disgust. In addition, it was confirmed that training critical thinking and reflection skills can develop empathy.

Mixed-Effects Contextual Bandits

We study a novel variant of a contextual bandit problem with multi-dimensional reward feedback formulated as a mixed-effects model, where the correlations between multiple feedback are induced by sharing stochastic coefficients called random effects. We propose a novel algorithm, Mixed-Effects Contextual UCB (ME-CUCB), achieving tildeO(d sqrt(mT)) regret bound after T rounds where d is the dimension of contexts and m is the dimension of outcomes, with either known or unknown covariance structure. This is a tighter regret bound than that of the naive canonical linear bandit algorithm ignoring the correlations among rewards. We prove a lower bound of Omega(d sqrt(mT)) matching the upper bound up to logarithmic factors. To our knowledge, this is the first work providing a regret analysis for mixed-effects models and algorithms involving weighted least-squares estimators. Our theoretical analysis faces a significant technical challenge in that the error terms do not constitute martingales since the weights depend on the rewards. We overcome this challenge by using covering numbers, of theoretical interest in its own right. We provide numerical experiments demonstrating the advantage of our proposed algorithm, supporting the theoretical claims.

Institutional Constraints Affecting Small Businesses in South Africa

This study explores the perception of institutional constraints in South Africa. It delineates the constraints into critical socio-cultural, political, and economic dimensions that impact entrepreneurs and their micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The paper utilises an exploratory interview approach with thirty-two entrepreneurs from Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg and the emergent themes generated with ATLAS.ti. The study identified fourteen constraints that might affect the enterprise development process. The paper is original, with three main contributions. It first identifies constraints along institutional dimensions of socio-cultural, political, and economic contexts. Second, deriving the constraints through qualitative methodological inquiries with inductive and deductive analytical tools according to institutional variables is a unique methodological contribution. Third, the paper proposed context-specific focused policy interventions. The findings promote an understanding that South African MSMEs require continuous, needs-based, responsive, and adaptive institutional support.

Association of Perceived Thermal Comfort and Air Quality with Building- and Occupant-Related Characteristics and Environmental Parameters in Sweden

The aim of the article is to analyze the perceived thermal comfort and indoor air quality of occupants and establish associations between these responses and the building-related, occupant-related characteristics, and environmental parameters of residential buildings (a total of 38 variables). The analysis is focused on the Swedish building stock as investigated during the latest national survey in 2008. The analysis covers 1035 residential buildings (multifamily and single-family dwellings). Analytical statistical analysis has been conducted, and logistic regression models have also been developed for the identification of statistically significant covariates. The analysis showed that users in this study demonstrated a significantly positive response to perceived thermal comfort and indoor air quality conditions. Perceived ratings were also highly correlated with each other. As the regression models indicated, the majority of the significant variables were related to the buildings. Nevertheless, this study also underscores the significance of contextual occupant attributes and behaviors as a crucial element influencing the subjective perception of indoor environments. Policymakers, guided by these insights, are encouraged to integrate considerations of occupant attributes into design and urban planning.

A Comparative Analysis of Student Perceptions of Recommendations for Engagement in Design Processes

Abstract Engineering designers are tasked with complex problems necessitating the use and development of various supports for navigating complexity. Prescriptive design process models are one such tool. However, little research has explored how engineering designers perceive these models' recommendations for engagement in design work. In this exploratory study, we analyzed data from individual semi-structured interviews with 18 mechanical engineering students to identify participant perceptions of design process models. As many design process model visualizations lack explicit attention to some social and contextual dimensions, we sought to compare perceptions among two models drawn from engineering texts and one model that was developed with the intent to emphasize social and contextual dimensions. We identified perceptions of the recommendations from the design process models related to starting and moving through a design process, gathering information, prototyping, evaluating or testing, and what they should consider. Participant perceptions across the three process models suggest different design process models make perceptions of certain recommendations more salient than others. However, participant perceptions also varied for the same process model. We suggest several implications for design education and training based on participant perceptions of the process models, particularly the importance of leveraging multiple design process models. The comprehensive descriptions of participant perceptions provide a foundation for further investigations bridging designers' perceptions to intent, behavior, and, ultimately, design outcomes.

Exploring the Cloud Storage Service Adoption Through the Dual Perspectives: Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Extended Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance Model (UTAUT2)

Cloud computing is spreading rapidly, but little research has been conducted to understand the effects of the protective perspective on acceptance by individuals. The goal of this study was to explore the impact of protective behavior on individuals’ adoption of cloud computing. Specifically, the study will concentrate on personal cloud storage service (CSS), widely recognized as a protective technology. Our theoretical framework endeavored to combine protection motivation theory with the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and focused on the effect of threat in the context of CSS. This study tested two proposed models (Model A, Model B) by structural equation modeling using data from 392 individuals. Data were collected for people in voluntary CSS-usage settings through an online survey. Model A and model B explained 61.0% and 60.4% of the variance in the behavioral intention to accept CSS, respectively. Results showed that CSS adoption is a protective measure against data loss and identified that threat influence CSS adoption. Threat elements directly do not influence behavioral intention to adopt CSS. Threat elements mostly acted as antecedents of independent variables; perceived severity and perceived vulnerability directly influenced technology attributes (performance expectancy, effort expectancy), and showed slightly different results in contextual attributes (facilitating conditions, social influence) and consumer attributes (hedonic motivation, habits). Our study offers a unique perspective for researchers and professionals in understanding the impact of threat factors on information technology domains where protective technologies are operated. Thus, we recommend that academics and business practitioners in the realm of cloud computing should consider user’s protective motivation view of adopting CSS when designing, developing, delivering and spreading it.

Religion Matters: Religion and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

With 85% of this planet’s population adhering to a religion, faith communities are the largest transnational civil society actors in the world. This accords them a major role in societal processes, aincluding current global challenges as spelled out in the 17 SDGs, the core of the Agenda 2030. After decades of neglect, recent years have seen a rise in interest in the role of religion in the public agenda. Academics, policymakers and practitioners alike increasingly acknowledge the significance of faith actors for the SDGs. Key terms such as “Common Home”, shared by faith and secular actors, already indicate their mutual relevance. At the same time, there is a lack of religious literacy in recognizing and interpreting religious dimensions in a given development context. This paper therefore seeks to shed light on the often nebulous “religious factor” in the SDGs in two consecutive steps. At first, the historical part traces the rise of religion in development. In the second step, an analytical part then provides a seven-dimensional model to enhance religious literacy and to provide a better understanding of both the potential and the problems of religion in the global quest for implementing the SDGs.

“Moderate” vs “Extremist” Muslims? How a decontextualized distinction can trigger a contradictory assessment of security and radicalization in Malaysia

Abstract This article demonstrates how the application of a broad and decontextualized distinction between “moderate” and “extremist” Muslims can undermine our assessment of an Islamic identity, security, and radicalization. It compares how this distinction has been used by the British colonial administrators (in Raffles, Crawfurd, Marsden, and Swettenham) in nineteenth-century Malaya and by Malaysia's Prime Ministers (Mahathir, Badawi, and Najib) in the late-twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries. This comparison demonstrates that both groups, despite their very different backgrounds (Western non-Muslim and Muslim non-Western), introduced a similar distinction between “moderate” and “extremist” driven more by socio-political objectives than by religious ones. Furthermore, the article stresses the importance of considering the socio-political and contextual dimensions of Islamic identity before attempting to explain the process of radicalization and its implications for security. Such an approach discourages reference to broad categories such as “moderate,” “extremist,” “Islamism,” or “Salafism,” and allows for discussion of their contextual and socio-political connotations.

Analisis Kemampuan Literasi Sains Siswa SMA Negeri Makassar

This study aims to determine the level of science literacy skills of Makassar State High School students. The population in this study were students from public schools in Makassar city class XI with 28 research subjects from SMA 11, SMA 2, MAN 2 and SMA 5 Makassar. Data collection techniques using science literacy tests developed based on the PISA framework. Based on the results of the analysis of science literacy of Makassar State High School students, the science literacy skills of Makassar State High School students are in the medium category with a low average score of 86%. The science literacy ability of students in the context dimension in the personal aspect of the medium category, the social aspect of the very low category, and the global aspect of the medium category. The science literacy ability of students in the knowledge dimension is less than 50% very low category for content aspects, moderate category for procedural aspects, and very low category less than 50% for epistemic aspects. Science literacy skills in the competency dimension on aspects of interpreting scientific phenomena in the medium category with an average of 70%, aspects of designing projects in the very low category of less than 50%, and aspects of interpreting and collecting scientific evidence in the medium category with an average of 60%.

Examining Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions in Iranian and Chinese Context: A Mixed Methods Approach

This study investigated key cultural value dimensions in samples of undergraduate business students from Iran (n = 40) and China (n = 40). Hofstede’s national culture framework spans Power Distance, Individualism/Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Masculinity/Femininity. A survey measured and compared cultural dimension scores between countries. Classroom observations also qualitatively assessed how societal norms shape teaching and learning. Results showed that Iranians accepted greater power inequality, showed more discomfort with unstructured situations, and were more individualist than the strongly collectivist Chinese sample. Both countries were distinctly masculine. Observation data reflected high Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance in Iranian classrooms, with professors tightly controlling discourse and censoring student opinions. Chinese classrooms demonstrated more collaboration and student debate. Findings update Hofstede’s country rankings with generational data. Insights can inform educational reforms catering teaching practices to cultural orientations while developing needed competencies. Limitations include sample size and generalizability. Further cross-cultural research should track evolving youth attitudes, translate macro-culture into micro-domains like academia, and leverage understanding to optimize learning systems. This mixed methodology comparing Iranian and Chinese university students on cultural dimensions and academic manifestations makes a novel contribution. Practical implications span cross-cultural understanding, organizational leadership, policy, and culture-specific social initiatives.

Multiple strategies based Grey Wolf Optimizer for feature selection in performance evaluation of open-ended funds

The methods for selecting the features in evaluating fund performance rely heavily on traditional statistics, which can potentially lead to excessive data dimensions in a multi-dimensional context. Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), a swarm intelligence optimization algorithm with its simple structure and few parameters, is widely used in feature selection. However, the algorithm suffers from local optimality and the imbalance in exploration and exploitation. This paper proposes a Multi-Strategy Grey Wolf Optimizer (MSGWO) to address the limitations, and identify the relevant features for evaluating fund performance. Random Opposition-based Learning is applied to enhance population quality during the initialization phase. Moreover, the convergence factor is nonlinearized to coordinate the global exploration and local exploitation capabilities. Finally, a two-stage hybrid mutation operator is applied to modify the updating mechanism, so as to increase population diversity and balance the exploration and exploitation abilities of GWO. The proposed algorithm is compared against 6 related algorithms and verified by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test on 12 quarterly datasets (2020-2022) of Chinese open-ended funds. The results inform that MSGWO reduces the feature size as well as the classification error rate.

Measuring interpersonal trauma: Development and validation of the German version of the victimization experience schedule (VES)

ObjectiveInterpersonal victimization experiences (VEs) significantly affect mental and physical health, particularly in disorders associated with life-time adversities, like fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, assessing VEs comprehensively remains challenging due to limited tools that encompass sub-traumatic events, such as bullying or discrimination, and contextual dimensions. We aimed to address this gap by validating the Victimization Experience Schedule (VES) in German, examining its reliability, and assessing VEs in clinical populations with FMS and MDD. MethodsWe investigated the relationship between VEs and clinical symptoms in individuals with FMS, MDD and healthy controls (N = 105) in a case-control study. We also analyzed correlations between different types of VEs and categories of early childhood abuse and posttraumatic-stress-disorder instruments. Additionally, we validated our findings in an independent sample of individuals with FMS (N = 97) from a clinical study. ResultsWe observed excellent inter-rater reliability (Kw = 0.90–0.99), and VEs assessed using the VES were in alignment with subcategories of early childhood abuse. The prevalence of VEs extended beyond the categories covered by traditional survey instruments and was higher in individuals with MDD (4.0 ± 2.6) and FMS (5.9 ± 3.1) compared to controls (1.5 ± 1.7). We consistently identified a significant association between the number of VEs, the associated subjective distress, and clinical scores. Furthermore, distinct correlation patterns between VEs and clinical outcomes emerged across different cohorts. ConclusionOur study emphasizes the VES's value in understanding VEs within MDD and FMS. These experiences span from traumatic to sub-traumatic and correlate with posttraumatic-stress and clinical symptoms, underscoring the VES's importance as an assessment tool.

Qualitative Analysis of Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Iran.

Early diagnosis of hearing loss and timely interventions are important to minimize the consequences of this condition, especially for children. This research was conducted to analyze the newborn hearing loss screening program in Iran. This qualitative study was conducted using the content analysis method and based on the CIPP model in 2023. The snowball method was used to recruit a sample with maximum diversity. The criteria for selecting people for interviews included having at least three years of experience in the newborn hearing loss screening program and sufficient knowledge in the field. To ensure the reliability of the results, four criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba were used. Data analysis was conducted by MAXQDA2022 software. In the current research, using content analysis in the form of the CIPP model, based on the viewpoints of the interviewees (40 people), the management requirements of the newborn hearing loss screening program were categorized into the four main categories of context (texture), input, process, and output. Eight subcategories were identified in the context dimension, four subcategories in the input dimension, seven subcategories in the process dimension, and four subcategories in the output dimension. According to the findings of this research, in order to properly implement the newborn hearing loss screening program, there is a need to conduct pilot studies, need assessments, evidence-based programs, and epidemiological studies and to prioritize services and resources. Also, communication between service delivery levels needs to be improved, and attention should be paid to personnel motivation and screening programs.

A Comprehensive Literature Review of Global Leadership Styles: Assessing Universality and Impact on Workforce Motivation

In the contemporary landscape of global business, the dynamics of leadership within multicultural organizations have become increasingly complex. The emergence of globalization has brought new workplace realities that require a better understanding of how to lead and motivate groups to maximize the quality of multicultural group work. While the concept of leadership is inherently universal, transcending borders, and epochs, the diversity of cultures and settings prompts exploration into distinct leadership traits and approaches. This prompts the fundamental question of whether leadership styles possess universal applicability and how the leadership styles can serve as motivating factors in multicultural settings. The study delves into an extensive literature to unravel the intricacies of leadership embedded in various models. It explores the global, cultural, and social contexts within different leadership models considering the global, cultural, behavioral, and contextual dimensions, questioning the extent to which universal leadership principles can be applied in a global context. The interplay of diverse cultures and settings requires a thoughtful consideration of unique leadership approaches. By examining the complexity of leadership, the study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the adaptability and universality of leadership principles in multicultural organizations, emphasizing that leadership is not merely a conceptual framework but a lived reality.

Systematic Review Examining the Behavior Change Techniques in Medication Adherence Intervention Studies Among People With Type 2 Diabetes.

Although previous systematic reviews have studied medication adherence interventions among people with Type 2 diabetes (PwT2D), no intervention has been found to improve medication adherence consistently. Furthermore, inconsistent and poor reporting of intervention description has made understanding, replication, and evaluation of intervention challenging. We aimed to identify the behavior change techniques (BCTs) and characteristics of successful medication adherence interventions among PwT2D. A systematic search was conducted on Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials with BCT-codable interventions designed to influence adherence to anti-diabetic medication for PwT2D aged 18 years old and above and have medication adherence measure as an outcome. Fifty-five studies were included. Successful interventions tend to target medication adherence only, involve pharmacists as the interventionist, contain "Credible source" (BCT 9.1), "Instruction on how to perform the behaviour" (BCT 4.1), "Social support (practical)" (BCT 3.2), "Action planning" (BCT 1.4), and/ or "Information about health consequences" (BCT 5.1). Very few interventions described its context, used theory, examined adherence outcomes during the follow-up period after an intervention has ended, or were tailored to address specific barriers of medication adherence. We identified specific BCTs and characteristics that are commonly reported in successful medication adherence interventions, which can facilitate the development of future interventions. Our review highlighted the need to consider and clearly describe different dimensions of context, theory, fidelity, and tailoring in an intervention.

How enterprise social media usage contributes to employee resilience: moderating role of individual adaptability

ABSTRACT Earlier research on the ways in which enterprise social media (ESM) usage contributes to employee resilience is rather limited. Using boundary spanning theory, this paper proposes a research model for investigating how enterprise social media usage contributes to employee resilience. Using Smart PLS 4.0 to analyze the survey data from 370 employees, this study found that, first, when enterprise social media is used for work and social purposes, it has a positive effect on employee boundary spanning, while the effect of social-related ESM usage on employee boundary spanning is larger than work-related ESM usage. Second, employee boundary spanning has the greatest effect on the behavioural dimension of employee-level resilience, followed by the cognitive dimension of employee-level resilience and the contextual dimension. Third, employees’ boundary spanning acts as a partial mediator between enterprise social media and employees’ different levels of resilience. Finally, it is interesting to find that individual adaptability can weaken the relationship between work-related ESM usage and employee boundary spanning, while individual adaptability can strengthen the relationship between social-related ESM usage and employee boundary spanning. The research findings suggest ways of using enterprise social media for specific purposes to increase employees’ different levels of resilience in organisations.

The Role of Teamwork and Employee Empowerment in Enhancing Organizational Performance in the Pakistan Software Industry

This study examines the impacts of human resource planning (HRP) practices relating to teamwork and employee empowerment on the organizational performance of software firms in Pakistan. While prior research shows bundles of HRP initiatives can benefit outcomes like innovation and financial growth, there is limited focus on specific mechanisms, especially in developing country IT sectors facing talent pressures. Through a survey of 105 software companies, regression modeling indicates teamwork and empowerment together explain 48.7% of performance variation. Both practices display significant positive relationships, validating social exchange, human capital, and ability-motivation-opportunity theories positing that progressive HR systems boost competencies, creativity, and motivation to drive organizational success. However, teamwork has a relatively stronger effect. These findings carry important implications. Theoretically, they provide granular insights beyond broad HRP bundles on how contextual practices like collaboration and autonomy-support stimulate software sector outcomes. For practice, they underscore the need for targeted investments in team initiatives, empowerment policies, and complementary HRM ecosystems beyond efficiency, as software human capital is a vital asset for innovation and growth. Nonetheless, limitations of the cross-sectional design point to opportunities for longitudinal and qualitative research on mediating mechanisms and integrative bundles tailored to software industry dynamics. Overall, by highlighting the performance returns of contextual HRP dimensions in Pakistan’s burgeoning software space, this study offers actionable guidance for harnessing human capital while also elucidating theoretical linkages between targeted HR practices and organizational effectiveness.

Data phronesis and the duality of care in the air quality data politics

ABSTRACT This article delves into the intricate dynamics of air datafication as matters of care within the distinctive context of air quality data politics in Poland. It focuses on the implementation of data-mediated care for air quality, scrutinizing two interconnected dimensions: data practices and data phronesis. The former involves the meticulous handling of air quality data, while the latter explores the phronetic valuation of more-than-human realms, including data standards, air sensing technologies, and a diverse array of actors integral to the datafication process. Data phronesis is conceptualized as the situated and context-dependent practical wisdom demonstrated by various actors, shaping the definition of ‘good’ data-mediated care for air quality. The article emphasizes the duality of care, highlighting the interplay between data phronesis and data practices. It underscores the ongoing negotiation surrounding air quality concerns, intricately mediated through data, within relational and contextual dimensions. Through an in-depth qualitative examination and Reflexive Thematic Analysis, four key themes, related to data-mediated air quality care, are identified: ‘caring about data,’ involving the valuation of situated data practices; ‘caring for data,’ translating polluted air into reliable data, while considering dominant standards; ‘caring by data,’ defining data usage methods within dynamic contexts; and ‘data for caring,’ exploring practical applications, particularly activist practices integrating diverse local contexts with European air quality standards. The article enriches our understanding of datafication as matters for care, shedding light on the interconnections between hands-on data practices and the contextual wisdom steering strategic action.