Cross-national Study Research Articles

The perception and use of generative AI for science-related information search: Insights from a cross-national study.

Publicly accessible large language models like ChatGPT are emerging as novel information intermediaries, enabling easy access to a wide range of science-related information. This study presents survey data from seven countries (N = 4320) obtained in July and August 2023, focusing on the perception and use of GenAI for science-related information search. Despite the novelty of ChatGPT, a sizable proportion of respondents already reported using it to access science-related information. In addition, the study explores how these users perceive ChatGPT compared with traditional types of information intermediaries (e.g. Google Search), their knowledge of, and trust in GenAI, compared with nonusers as well as compared with those who use ChatGPT for other purposes. Overall, this study provides insights into the perception and use of GenAI at an early stage of adoption, advancing our understanding of how this emerging technology shapes public understanding of science issues as an information intermediary.

Gender influence on business students’ expectations for sustainability transformations in higher education: a cross-national study

Purpose This study aims to examine how male and female students’ sustainability expectations of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) differ in various cultural contexts. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample of 239 business students from the USA and Germany, a mixed qualitative-quantitative research design is employed combining content analysis and Kano analysis to examine gender- and country-different students’ sustainability expectations. Findings Female students across countries have higher sustainability expectations than males. Gender equality and inclusion are more important to female than male students. While male students considered most attributes as indifferent, female students in the US considered many sustainability attributes as one-dimensional, and those in Germany considered production and consumption and equity and inclusion as must-be attributes. Research limitations/implications A larger, more representative sample could provide deeper insights into students’ sustainability expectations. The Kano model may not fully capture the complexity of these expectations due to its reliance on predefined definitions. More comprehensive and dynamic approaches are needed to understand and predict students’ sustainability expectations. Practical implications Grouping HEIs’ sustainability transformation attributes based on students’ basic, performance and excitement needs supports quality and expectation management at HEIs by prioritizing measures and aligning sustainability communication. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to apply Kano analysis to examine and compare students’ future-oriented normative sustainability expectations of their HEIs across different gender groups and countries. It enables more profound and realistic insights into barriers and enablers of HEIs’ sustainability transformations and highlights how unmet expectations can impact stakeholder behavior across different country contexts.

Education for Global Citizenship Towards the New European Education Area

Over the last decades, many European educational systems have been reviewing the citizenship education model that they have been developing, trying to deepen the meaning of democratic citizenship practice today or the social demand inspired by the creation of adequate conditions for its exercise. Thus, it is challenging for educational systems to face education for global citizenship, and international organizations have been promoting the development of citizenship education and conducting research in this field. New research and educational practices are expected for global citizenship, and their meaning in our European societies is a point of reference for the study of the different policies that national and supranational institutions promote in this matter. The Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education from 2010 and its counterpart framework from UNESCO in 2015 have actively promoted the idea of citizenship education on a global scale through its Global Citizenship Education Model. The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) conducted a series of reports on social and civic competencies to investigate the extent to which young people are prepared to assume their role as citizens, which recently has been reviewed by Schulz et al. Based on its main findings and the latest survey by the European EACEA/Eurydice from 2023 that covers 15 member countries of the Eurydice Network, this paper presents a cross-national study of the global citizenship education (GCE) between European Countries that updates recent national information and research developments in this field. Based on the analyzed data and the criteria established by UNESCO, the comparative study allows us to determine the dimensions and trends in global citizenship education in order to address its implications within the European education area.

Contingent gender gap: a cross-national study of female attitudes toward economic globalization

This article examines the contingent differences between female and male attitudes towards economic globalization. Although global market forces provide more employment opportunities for women, gender inequalities persist and systematically disadvantage women in the workplace and society. I argue that whether women, relative to men, are more pro or anti-globalization depends on a country’s degree of modernization. Long-term economic development contributes to self-expression, emancipative and postmaterialist cultures which socialize women to stand for egalitarian and redistributive policies that promote their rights. In postindustrial knowledge societies, women are thus more economically left-leaning and anti-market/globalization than their male counterparts. However, the attitudinal gender gap is much narrower or reversed in low-income countries characterized by low living standards and patriarchal societal norms. Analyses of the Pew Global Attitudes Project Survey, World Values Survey and Asian Barometer Survey lend empirical support to the contingent differences between women and men in globalization attitudes.

Visual design effects in a cross-national context: Are Indian and US respondents differently affected by the number of text boxes?

Research indicates that multiple text boxes for list-style open-ended questions and probes yield a better response quality than a single box. However, these findings are based on single-country studies from Europe and the US. In the current cross-national study, we evaluate the stability of visual design effects across two countries (US and India), and three languages (American-English, Indian-English, Hindi). In our web survey, we implemented a between-subject design comparing hard nonresponse, soft nonresponse, mismatches, and the number of themes across 1 and 5 answer box designs at two specific probes. The survey was fielded in the US (N=415) and India (N=537) between December 2022 and May 2023. In India, the survey was available in English (N=327) and Hindi (N=247). We found that in India and the US, the number of substantive themes significantly increased with multiple answer boxes. For one of the probes, multiple answer boxes also significantly reduced soft nonresponse and mismatches. Only for hard nonresponse were significant differences between languages found.

A comparative case study of learners experiencing interdependent empowered care in marginalizing contexts

This comparative case study’s purpose is to explore how multi-age learners, both adults and children, from immigrant backgrounds experienced care in two educational settings in the United States and Ireland. Using data from two separate qualitative studies, this paper draws on the authors’ conceptualization of interdependent empowered care (IEC) to argue that the settings exemplified three separate, but interrelated, care elements: 1) identity-affirming counterspaces; 2) interdependency and reciprocity; and 3) a means to achieve greater empowerment and agency. This cross-national study illuminates the role of care in educational settings to understand how it helps multi-age learners from immigrant backgrounds create nurturing communities, and it explores implications for educators.

Resilience and Well-Being of Children in Malaysia: Towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Objective: This study investigates the resilience and happiness of Malaysian children during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to understand their coping mechanisms compared to peers in other Asian countries. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, which emphasizes the impact of various environmental systems on child development. This framework helps explore how families, societal and policy factors influence children's well-being. Method: A cross-national comparative study was conducted with seven Asian countries, led by the Child Research Network Asia, Japan. Participants included Malaysian children aged 5 and 7, with data collected through structured questionnaires on resilience and happiness. Results and Discussion: Findings revealed that Malaysian children aged 5 and 7 have the lowest resilience levels among the countries studied. Only 60% and 67% of these children reported feeling happy, compared to an average of 75% and 81% in other countries. The discussion highlights potential long-term impacts on development and future competencies, considering cultural differences and sample size as limitations. Research Implications: This research provides insights for Malaysian policymakers and educators on the need for improved support systems to enhance resilience and well-being, crucial for future competitiveness. These improvements align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Originality/Value: The study offers a comparative analysis of children's resilience and happiness across Asian countries during a crisis, highlighting areas for policy intervention to improve child development outcomes.

Green Industrialization and Economic Growth: Assessing Pakistan’s Path to Sustainable Development

This research paper aims to analyze the impact of green industrialization on economic growth of Pakistan with especial reference to the challenges faced in green industrial sectors. By conducting an extensive analysis of relevant literature and cross-national case studies, we identify literature challenges to green programs and provide appropriate mitigation measures suitable for Pakistan economic environment. We assess the correlation between green policies, renewable energy production, and GDP growth using a comprehensive econometric model. Our findings demonstrate that the efficient use of green technology not only improves environmental sustainability but also promotes economic resilience. This study enhances the discussion on sustainability in emerging economies and offers practical insights for policymakers seeking to facilitate the transition to a greener economy.

Sleep problems were unrelated to social media use in the late COVID-19 pandemic phase: A cross-national study.

Sleep problems are commonly related to stress and mental health problems. However, social media use has become widespread in the general population during recent years, and their addictive potential may influence people's sleep routine. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to substantial mental health problems in the population, and restrictions in social life gave social media a unique position as means for both entertainment and interpersonal contact. The aim of the study was to examine sleep problems in relationship to social media use in a cross-national sample two years after the COVID-19 outbreak. Participants were 1405 adults from four countries who completed a cross-sectional online survey. The data were analyzed with independent samples t-tests, Chi Squared tests of independence, and single and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Of the 858 (61.1%) participants who reported sleep problems during the past weeks, a substantial proportion (n = 353, 41.1%) related their sleep problems to their experience with COVID-19. With adjustments for age, gender, employment, and psychological distress, more hours of daily social media use was not significantly associated with sleep problems. However, higher age (OR: 1.13, p = 0.01), female gender (OR: 1.69, p<0.001), having employment (OR: 1.34, p = 0.04), and higher levels of psychological distress (OR: 1.20, p<0.001) were independently associated with sleep problems. While the debate about the pros and cons of social media use continue, this study suggests that higher levels of social media use was not of great concern for people's sleep quality in the late COVID-19 pandemic phase. However, other aspects of social media use (eg, time of the day, content of interactions, associated stress experience) may be more relevant for understanding sleep problems and may be taken into consideration for people who experience such problems.

Parents' Need for Support From Family and Friends During Their Preterm Infants' Hospitalisation: A Cross-National Qualitative Study.

To explore the need for support from family and friends among parents of preterm infants within neonatal intensive care. A cross-national qualitative study. In autumn 2019, 73 parents of preterm infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units in Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden were interviewed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The infant's hospitalisation created a complex context for parental support from family and friends. Social, emotional and practical support were crucial but often hindered by challenges related to the environment, timing, individual circumstances and relationships. Parents emphasised the need for family and friends to be supported in understanding the situation. Encouraging the presence and involvement of family and friends, implementing adaptive unit policies and sensitivity of staff are pivotal in fostering a supportive environment. By better understanding parents' need for support, neonatal units can further develop their practices and enhance the parental support. This can be achieved by enabling the presence and involvement of family and friends at the level the parents desire. This study addressed a knowledge gap regarding parents' support need from family and friends during their preterm infant's hospitalisation. This study's results will offer important knowledge to develop unit practices and comprehensive support systems for parents. This study followed the relevant EQUATOR guidelines and COREQ checklist. No patient or public contribution.

Income inequality and the erosion of democracy in the twenty-first century

Among the most pressing problems societies face today are economic inequality and the erosion of democratic norms and institutions. In fact the two problems-inequality and democratic erosion-are linked. In a large cross-national statistical study of risk factors for democratic erosion, we establish that economic inequality is one of the strongest predictors of where and when democracy erodes. Even wealthy and longstanding democracies are vulnerable if they are highly unequal (though national wealth might provide some resiliency). The association between inequality and risk of democratic backsliding is robust, and holds under different measures and structures of both income inequality and wealth inequality. The association is unlikely to be a case of reverse causation. For concerned citizens seeking to understand why so many democracies are eroding and how to stop this process, our study indicates that policies for ameliorating inequality are a promising path forward.

Findings from a European, cross-national project study on service user participation: Implications for social work policy, practice and education

This article reports on a European project that sought to explore the relationships between social work and service user participation, using a five-country (Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland and Portugal) case study approach. It revealed areas of comparison and contrast depending upon respective histories of social work development, organisation, education and research that determined forms of service user participation. It is argued that such cross-national case study approaches can enhance our understanding of vital aspects of social work organisation, practice, education and research in the social work research, policy and practice community in areas of service user participation.

Cross-National Findings of Factors Affecting the Acceptance of AI-Based Sustainable Fintech

This study utilized mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods to discover the current research trends for AI in sustainable Fintech and to validate a research model through empirical analysis. The primary purpose of this research is to explore the factors influencing the acceptance of AI tools within the sustainable Fintech industry through a cross-national perspective, identifying key benefit and sacrifice dimensions, along with sustainability considerations, that affect users’ intentions to adopt AI tools. Drawing on a bibliometric keywords approach, we first conducted an overall review of academic literature using Web of Science and VOSviewer (version 1.6.17), covering areas related to AI applications in Fintech and sustainable Fintech practices. Additionally, for a cross-national study, this study built and validated a conceptual framework on the intention to use AI tools by selecting subjects from Republic of Korea and China. As core theoretical premises of the conceptual framework, the study drew on the Value-Based Adoption Model (VAM) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Furthermore, we extended the TAM to embrace sustainable dimensions (perceived responsibility and perceived transparency). Overall, the study concludes that AI not only improves Fintech efficiency but also significantly contributes to sustainable development, suggesting collaboration between experts in AI, finance, sustainability, and other relevant fields for more research on AI integration with sustainable Fintech management. This research contributes to existing literature by highlighting the synergistic benefits of combining AI and sustainable Fintech and offers practical insights for industry practitioners and policymakers.

Cultural context shapes the selection and adaptiveness of interpersonal emotion regulation strategies.

In everyday life, we commonly experience, express, and regulate our emotions in interpersonal contexts. However, much of the existing research on utilizing others for modulating one's emotions has focused on Western, individualistic cultures, leaving a significant gap in understanding how the selection and adaptiveness of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) strategies vary across cultural contexts. This cross-national comparison study aims to bridge this gap by examining intrinsic IER in 1,187 participants from Turkey and Germany, which are characterized by different cultural norms, values, and socialization practices regarding emotional experience and expression. All participants completed measures of intrinsic IER strategies alongside measures of adaptive outcomes, including depression, anxiety, negative affect, and positive affect. The results revealed cross-national differences between Turkish and German individuals in terms of the intrinsic IER strategies most frequently selected and their associations with depression, anxiety, negative affect, and positive affect. These findings emphasize the significance of cultural context in intrinsic IER and offer insights into the conditions under which these strategies are linked to adaptive outcomes. By recognizing the cultural nuances in how people navigate their emotions via social interactions, clinicians and researchers can develop more culturally sensitive interventions tailored to the specific needs of individuals in diverse cultural contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

National identity, institutional trust, and beliefs in COVID-19 origin conspiracies: A cross-national comparative study

Conspiracy theories flourished during the COVID-19 outbreak. The present study takes a cross-national comparative perspective to understand the relationships among people's national identities, trust in institutions, and their beliefs in COVID-19 origin conspiracy theories blaming other nations. Four cross-national surveys were conducted in China, South Korea, Spain, and the United States with a total of 1642 respondents. The results revealed that two dimensions of national identities—national hubris and restrictive views of legitimate membership—are positively related to beliefs in conspiracy theories targeting other nations. This relationship was supported in three countries with different social, political, historical, and cultural contexts and diverse meanings attached to national identities. Also, people's trust in mainstream media, governments, and scientists was found to moderate the relationships between national identities and beliefs in conspiracy theories; yet, this moderating effect was not consistent across the selected nations.

The Sustainability Spillover: Uncovering the Link between Informal Elder Care and Eco-Conscious Behaviors across the European Union

Abstract Background and Objectives This study explores the association between informal caregiving for older adults and environmentally sustainable behaviors across the 27 European Union countries, aiming to identify how the gendered and domestic nature of environmentalism relates to elder care. Research Design and Methods Data from 41,742 respondents aged 16–74 were analyzed from the Survey of Gender Gaps in Unpaid Care, Individual and Social Activities and conducted by a scientific consortium in 2022. Frequency of sustainable behaviors was measured across 10 indicators. Multilevel mixed-effects linear regressions examined associations between caregiving and sustainable behaviors, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and attitudinal covariates. Results Informal caregivers engaged in eco-friendly actions significantly more frequently than non-caregivers across all 10 sustainable-behavior indicators (p&amp;lt;0.001). The “caregiver effect” was strongest for sustainable-consumption choices like buying eco-friendly (β=0.16), fair-trade (β=0.15), and used products (β=0.17), and weaker for household practices such as recycling (β=0.05) and mindful resource consumption (β=0.06). Caregivers attained higher composite environmental behavior scores (33.93±8.23) than non-caregivers (31.88±8.00; p&amp;lt;0.001). This association remained robust after adjusting for gender, age, education, employment, household size, attitudes, and other covariates. Caregiving had the strongest association with buying used items (β=0.20) and eco-friendly products (β=0.14). Country-level analyses revealed consistent caregiver vs. non-caregiver differences, with the largest gaps in Southern and Eastern Europe. Discussion and Implications This is the first large-scale cross-national study that demonstrates a consistent association between older-adult caregiving and a wide range of environmentally sustainable behaviors. Results suggest the experience of caring for a vulnerable family member is closely related to a broader sense of social and environmental responsibility. Caregivers’ heightened engagement in sustainable consumption positions them as potential early adopters and change makers. Findings highlight new avenues for environmental education and caregiver support initiatives that synergistically promote interpersonal and environmental care.

Exploring the effect of family–work conflict on employee productivity in teleworking during crisis: a cross-national comparative study

PurposeThe new teleworking conditions imposed by extreme events such as the COVID-19 pandemic blur the border between home and official working space, amplifying the conflicting demands of family and work life experienced by employees across national cultures. Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study explores cross-national variances in the underlying mechanism of how family–work conflict (FWC) affects employees’ operational and marketing productivity in the global epidemic-induced teleworking context.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a large-scale and cross-national survey of 710 remote employees who worked from home partially or fully during the COVID-19 outbreak across three countries: the USA, the UK and Vietnam.FindingsThe results show that FWC drives affective commitment, leading to greater employees’ operational and marketing productivity when teleworking. We also find distinct moderating effects of organizational factors (i.e. task control) and employees’ psychological factors (i.e. emotional exhaustion) on the FWC–operational productivity link across the three countries. Moreover, centralization positively moderates the effect of operational productivity on marketing productivity in the teleworking context in Vietnam, while it is not the case in the USA and the UK.Originality/valueThis study fills a gap in the literature by revealing cross-national differences in the underlying mechanism of the FWC effects on employees’ operational and marketing productivity in the pandemic-induced teleworking conditions. It extends extant studies in the work–family literature by introducing affective commitment as an important mediator in translating the negative consequences of FWC to operational and marketing productivity gain in crisis-driven teleworking across national cultures. We also provide insights into the distinct moderating roles of task control and emotional exhaustion in determining the FWC effect on operational productivity as well as that of centralization in driving marketing productivity. The findings have substantive implications for teleworking design and management to improve employee productivity across different national settings.

Cross-National Study of Non-Communicable Diseases Among the Elderly: A Focus on Kenya and India

Cross-National Study of Non-Communicable Diseases Among the Elderly: A Focus on Kenya and India

What predicts a country’s proportion of adolescents with health career expectations? A cross-national study

What predicts a country’s proportion of adolescents with health career expectations? A cross-national study

Has digital infrastructure accelerated enterprises' specialization? Evidence from China

PurposeThis paper intends to explore the impact and mechanism of digital infrastructure development on enterprises vertical specialization. The following questions are discussed: (1) What is the impact of digital infrastructure on enterprise vertical specialization? (2) If the digital infrastructure serves to raise the level of vertical specialization of enterprises, does the impact differ depending on the level of city, industry and enterprise?Design/methodology/approachThe research employs the “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment for digital infrastructure development, with a multi-period difference-in-difference model constructed to test the research hypothesis. The study examined data from Chinese A-share enterprises listed between 2007 and 2019.FindingsThe study’s findings indicate that the construction of digital infrastructure significantly increases firms' vertical specialization. According to the mechanism analysis, digital infrastructure can increase vertical specialization by lowering market transaction costs. This study employs group regressions in terms of cities, industries and companies to gain a better understanding of the heterogeneity of this effect. The results indicate that digital infrastructure contributes more significantly to higher levels of vertical specialization among enterprises in areas with higher levels of innovation and entrepreneurship as well as in eastern and central cities, service industries, and mature firms.Research limitations/implicationsThere are two shortcomings to this study that warrant investigating further. The first limitation is the mechanism. This study simply looked at the mechanism between variables in terms of transaction costs, using existing theories. As the level of technology continues to improve, the process of digital infrastructure’s impact on vertical specialization requires greater investigation. Another weakness of this study is its country-specific focus. The effect of digital infrastructure on vertical specialization differs by country, reflecting disparities in economic growth. Further discussion of cross-national comparative studies is required.Originality/valueThe study’s marginal contributions are largely represented in the two aspects listed below: (1) This paper includes a comprehensive theoretical study of the influence of digital infrastructure development on vertical specialization, focusing on transaction costs. This provides a theoretical foundation for the empirical study presented in this paper; (2) this study fills the gap in earlier research in this field, and the findings broaden research findings in areas such as digital infrastructure development and vertical specialization.