Empirical Research Research Articles

A theory of innovation diffusion: a simulation study

ABSTRACT This study uses the agent-based modeling technique to discover propositions on innovation diffusion that are empirically testable. It finds the adoption rate is positively related to (1) the size of the population, (2) the degree of heterogeneity in consumer learning in the population, (3) the degree of heterogeneity in consumer innovativeness in the population, and (4) the fit-in- desire in the population for innovation. This research adds insights to the innovation diffusion literature and lays the groundwork for future empirical research.

A Learning Measurement Model for English Comprehensive Ability Based on the Background of Educational Informatization

The purpose of this study is to explore the learning measurement model of English comprehensive ability based on the background of educational informatization. With the rapid development of educational information technology, English education is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Under the background of information technology, this study discusses the application of educational information technology in English teaching, the composition and evaluation criteria of English comprehensive ability, the role change of teachers and students in the information environment and the ability training. Through in-depth research and empirical research, this study aims to provide theoretical support and practical experience for the innovation and promotion of English education, promote the wide application of educational information technology in English teaching, and provide more effective support and guidance for the development of students' comprehensive English ability.

A psychological “how-possibly” model of repression

ABSTRACT In recent philosophical and (neuro)psychological discussions of phenomena such as motivated forgetting, memory inhibition, self-deception, and implicit bias, various authors have suggested that repression might be a useful notion to make sense of these phenomena, or that these phenomena indeed provide evidence for repression. However, surprisingly, these claims usually do not rely on any explicit model of repression. Consequently, it remains unclear whether invoking repression in these discussions is justified. In this paper, I propose a psychological “how-possibly” model that can serve as a basis for scientific research that I call the hybrid model of repression. This model combines the advantages while avoiding the problems of two types of models of repression – the higher-order model and the separation model – that have been discussed and defended by different authors and that both have their origin in Freud. This “how-possibly” model may then set the stage for further empirical research, which can form the basis for a “how-actually” model in the longer run.

Adat Upah-Upah setelah Khitanan di Masyarakat Labuhan Bilik Menurut Tokoh Muhammadiyah dan Tokoh Al-Washliyah

In Islamic law, tradition/custom is known as Urf, which is ‘something that is considered good and accepted by common sense’. The patterns and differences in the customs of each community in a particular area are caused by the cultural values that underlie the life of the local community. Similarly, the customs adopted by the Labuhan Bilik community in Central Panai Sub-district have a variety of cultures, one of which is the wage-upah custom. This wage-upah custom received two different responses from Islamic mass organisation leaders, namely Muhammadiyah leaders of Panai Tengah Subdistrict and Al-Washliyah leaders of Panai Tengah Subdistrict. This research aims to find out how the implementation, the value contained in the wage-upah custom in the Labuhan Bilik community, how the opinions of Muhammadiyah Leaders and Al-Washliyah Leaders of Central Panai District, as well as which opinion is more relevant in relation to the chronology in Labuhan Bilik Central Panai District. This research uses a comparative empirical sociological research method, qualitative research type with an anthropological approach. The results show that the opinion of Muhammadiyah leaders is more relevant to be applied in Labuhan Bilik, because the wage-upah custom is a form of practice that is a hereditary custom that was not taught by the Prophet, as well as customs that resemble the culture of another religion, namely Hinduism, if you want to show affection or want to give encouragement, just pray directly to Allah swt without going through other intermediaries.

Patterns of environmental regulation and green innovation in China

Green technology innovation is an important means to achieve sustainable development. The study is an exploration of the bilateral perspective on the relationship between different types of environmental regulations and green innovation. Based on the data set of 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2018, the two-sided effects of command-and-control environmental regulation and market-based environmental regulation on green innovation are analysed and the net effects are calculated by using the two-tier stochastic frontier models. First, empirical research shows that the effects of command-and-control environmental regulation and market-based environmental regulation on green innovation are both highlighted by negative characteristics. Command-and-control environmental regulation has a smaller effect on green innovation, with an average positive effect of 0.00005, which is smaller than the average negative effect of 0.0008. Meanwhile, the positive effect of market-based environmental regulation on green innovation is 0.00291, smaller than the negative effect of 0.00461. Second, the negative impact of command-and-control environmental regulation on green innovation underwent a "back-to-N" change process in 2006–2018, while the negative effect of market-based environmental regulation on green innovation did not decline until after 2011. Third, the provinces where command-and-control environmental regulation policies have a greater negative effect are concentrated in the energy-intensive regions of central and western China, while the provinces where market-based environmental regulation policies can promote green innovation are from the energy-intensive or developed eastern regions of China. Based on the research conclusions, to better promote green innovation, there is a need to implement environmental regulatory policies that address regional differences and to establish a national system of green innovation markets.

Strategic flood risk management over time. Applying a temporal lens to see how flood risk management measures are (or are not) implemented

ABSTRACT Strategic flood risk management of river catchments involves significant increases in the complexity both of the contents (e.g. the aims and measures) of a given strategy and also its social, spatial, and temporal scales. Conceptually, flood risk management research to date has underestimated the importance of time and temporality. This paper, which is based on ‘historical Institutionalism,’ introduces a temporal lens to focus on strategic flood risk management; it highlights issues of duration and timing as well as tempo and change in tempo with respect to the implementation of measures to reduce flood risk at catchment level. The application of a temporal lens is illustrated through empirical research into strategic flood risk management for the medium-sized Aist river catchment in Austria. The paper uses a longitudinal qualitative research design to analyze the changes in strategic flood risk management in the catchment. The analysis shows that strategy efforts in reaction to an extreme flood event in the catchment in August 2002 can be differentiated into three phases. Phase 1 is characterized by the design of ambitious catchment-wide management; Phase 2 by struggles to implement the strategy due to institutional conditions and protests by citizens; and Phase 3 by redesign of the initial strategic plan to make it less ambitious and by changes to the actor constellation supporting the plan. The present paper offers a process-oriented institutional explanation for this pattern of phases, and it highlights issues of timing and tempo. It concludes with general suggestions for enhancing the temporal dimension in flood risk management.

Humanitarian organization culture and humanitarian organization usage of digital cash-based assistance: the mediating role of financial service providers’ technology readiness

PurposeThe study examined the influence of humanitarian organizations’ culture and financial service providers’ technology readiness on the usage of digital cash-based assistance by humanitarian organizations, the influence of Humanitarian Organization Culture on Financial providers’ technology readiness and the mediating role of financial service providers’ technology readiness on the relationship between the culture in humanitarian organizations and their usage of digital cash-based assistance.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used. The target population consisted of humanitarian organizations that were members of the Uganda Cash Consortium (UCC). The research hypotheses were tested using SMART PLS version 4.FindingsThe culture in humanitarian organizations and financial service providers’ technology readiness positively influences the usage of digital cash-based assistance by humanitarian organizations during humanitarian crises, and humanitarian organizations’ culture positively influences financial service providers’ technology readiness. Financial service providers’ technology readiness fully mediates the relationship between the culture of humanitarian organizations and the usage of digital cash-based assistance by humanitarian organizations during humanitarian crises.Research limitations/implicationsThe study mainly focuses on culture in humanitarian organizations and financial service providers’ technology readiness when examining the usage of digital cash-based assistance during humanitarian crises. Further, financial service providers’ technology readiness is examined using a humanitarian organization, financial service provider and beneficiary/persons of concern’s point of view rather than the government’s point of view.Originality/valueResearch examining determinants for digital cash-based assistance usage in humanitarian crises is scarce. Further, empirical research examining the influence of the humanitarian organizations’ culture and financial service providers’ technology readiness in promoting the usage of digital cash-based assistance in humanitarian crises, the impact of humanitarian organizations’ culture on financial service providers’ technology readiness and the mediating role of financial service providers’ technology readiness on the relationship between the culture of humanitarian organizations and usage of digital cash-based assistance in humanitarian crises are non-existent. The majority of research and grey literature focuses on how digital cash-based transfers can be used to enhance financial inclusion in refugee contexts.

Which project management knowledge areas do SME’s managers value the most? - The case of Lourinhã municipality

SMEs play a significant role in economic activity through employment, innovation, and growth, undertaking projects as an engine to survive. However, project management standards are considered bureaucratical for those environments of scarce resources where the manager usually act as project manager. Therefore, due to unfamiliarity or resource constraints, managers may perform the processes they are most familiar with or that are easier to perform instead of those with a higher impact on project success. Hence, this study aims to understand the degree of knowledge, importance, and extent of use of each knowledge area to the SMEs managers in Lourinhã municipality in order to provide training guidelines to foster the development of the region’s SMEs. Quantitative research was undertaken with a survey for the empirical research. Results show a nescience regarding Project Management; that areas with a strong link to costs are prioritized; and that SMEs managers learn and understand the importance of project management practices mainly by applying them. Introductory level workshops and the creation of entity to support managers on project management practice were proposed.

Digital technologies for bowel management: A scoping review

The use of digital technologies in managing bowel conditions has been a topic of interest among healthcare practitioners. The objectives of this paper were to provide information about the types of digital technologies that have been used for bowel management and the context of the studies; identify the gaps and challenges in digital technologies for bowel management and propose new methods and techniques for the application of digital technologies in bowel management. A scoping review was conducted following the principles of Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A search was conducted on six academic databases. 1891 papers were retrieved from the initial search; however, 6 papers were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings suggest that published work focused mainly on a research context and with a narrow focus targeting sub-categories of bowel conditions and not implemented in the context of everyday use. The findings also illustrate the variety of early-stage developments focused on increasing support for severe bowel dysfunction, for example, through biofeedback to aid muscle control training, or the placement of artificial anal sphincters to increase rectal perception. However, technology to support bowel management for broader populations with less severe or variable symptoms appears limited. Future work would be to conduct empirical research in the application of advanced technologies such as on-organ sensors in managing bowel conditions.

Systematic review of software project success criteria from future software practitioners’ perspective

Over and above technical skills, software development graduates need to also poses team-based skills, such as, leadership, oral communication and project management by the time they graduate from tertiary institutions. In order to fulfil this requirement, institutions introduced a project-based module, generally referred to as capstone, to be undertaken by students on the their final year. The essence of this module, amongst other things, is to expose students to the real-world professional experience through partnership with industry. Much research has been conducted on students software projects, but very little investigation has gone into understanding how students evaluate the success of their projects. In is in this light that this study was conducted. A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed on empirical studies published between 2000 and 2022, to establish criteria used by students in evaluating software project success. The investigation led to the discovery of one (1) paper, which identified three most important success criteria used by students. However, this study identified some short-comings (eg students had to pretend to be employed graduates when evaluating the imaginary projects) with the approach used by the abovementioned research paper in determining the students’ success criteria. Beside the fact that there is only one study that was found that addresses the study’s phenomenon, the identified short-comings on the paper indicate that there is a need for empirical research studies on this matter.

PAOLO SYLOS-LABINI’S CONTRIBUTION TO AND AFFINITIES FOR INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMIC THOUGHT

The text proposes a study of Sylos-Labini’s interdisciplinary orientation and how this relates to the institutional approach. Sylos-Labini’s multi-disciplinary approach seems to stand between Old Institutional Economics and New Institutional Economics. He states that an interdisciplinary approach, in which economic theory is juxtaposed with history, sociology, anthropology, and empirical research, is realistic and does not entail any limitation on the production of scientific knowledge. Thus, Sylos-Labini seems to be more interested in the old institutionalist school and sociology than new institutional economics and the theory of firms and contracts. Therefore, this paper investigates whether Sylos-Labini’s multidisciplinary approach to economics can represent a possible bridge between Old Institutional Economics and New Institutional Economics.

Protocol for a meta-analysis of stereotype threat in African Americans.

Stereotype threat is a well-known construct in psychology wherein individuals who belong to a negatively stereotyped demographic group underperform on cognitive or academic tasks due to the detrimental effects of a stereotype. Many psychologists have suggested that stereotype threat may be one of the reasons that some demographic groups are underrepresented in advanced academic programs and STEM fields. However, others have raised concerns about the quality of the stereotype threat research, suggesting that its apparent effects are inflated and that the phenomenon may be an illusion of questionable research practices and publication bias. The purpose of this proposed meta-analysis is to evaluate the existence of stereotype threat by (1) identifying the average effect size of stereotype threat studies in different types of studies, (2), investigating whether publication bias and p-hacking are present in the empirical research on stereotype threat, (3) testing for the influence of theoretical and methodological moderators, (4) assessing the overall quality of the research on stereotype threat, (5) and identifying the average effect in the methodologically strongest studies. This meta-analysis will be limited to studies that report data from African Americans because this population is a theoretically important group in stereotype threat research, and the size of score gaps between the African American and non-stereotyped populations in the United States should make the stereotype threat effect easiest to detect.

Analysis of Non-Road Mobile Machinery Homologation Standards in Relation to Actual Exhaust Emissions

This article presents issues related to the current approval procedures in the group of off-road vehicles. Our research aimed to demonstrate significant differences between actual railway vehicle operation and stationary homologation tests regarding exhaust emissions. The research cycle consisted of analyzing emissions of toxic compounds from exhaust systems under real operating conditions, supplemented by a temporal share analysis based on the denormalized NRTC test upon which the tested object was homologated. Based on the conducted analyses, a significant difference was found between the actual operation of the tested railway vehicle and the stationary homologation test. By interpreting emission intensities within the parameter ranges of the propulsion unit’s operation, key areas with a significant impact on the vehicle’s overall emissions were identified. Based on the obtained results, a critical opinion is expressed regarding current homologation standards for the off-road vehicle group and the necessity for further empirical research in the area of actual operation of the tested vehicle group.

Participatory Guarantee Systems: structure, benefits and reasons for participation – insights from the Italian case study of Campi Aperti

Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) have emerged from initiatives introduced by farmers and civil society to ensure the organic quality of products by directly involving producers, consumers, and other stakeholders in the guarantee process. While actor participation in PGS provides the foundation for these systems, it also presents challenges, yet little empirical research on this has been undertaken. This study used a framework to analyze four dimensions of participation in PGS: who, how, what kind, and why? The Italian case study of Campi Aperti was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by means of: (1) research of internet documents, (2) semi-structured interviews with seven key members and one expert, and (3) an online survey of PGS members (N = 614 members, survey respondents: n = 16 producers and 45 co-producers). Participation took the form of two main activities: management of the guarantee process and organization of farmers’ markets. Discussions are held and decisions made at assemblies and market meetings. The growing number of producers joining the PGS has added to organizational tasks, and hence increased costs. Participants stated that the reasons for joining the Campi Aperti PGS and the benefits of being a member were to gain access to city markets and to send a political message. Building trust between members was an additional benefit cited. Time constraints emerged as the main drawback preventing participation by members, with producers taking on more roles and investing more time in the PGS than co-producers. However, co-producers provided evidence of other ways in which they participated in the PGS, in particular by making purchases and socializing at the markets.

How does the anthropomorphism of service robots impact employees’ role service behavior in the workplace?

The rapid adoption of service robots has altered employees’ role boundaries and tasks. Anthropomorphism plays a key role in understanding human responses to robots. However, empirical research on how anthropomorphism influences employees’ cognitive and behavioral responses is lacking. Based on the transactional model of stress and coping, this study builds a conceptual model to reveal how the anthropomorphism of service robots affects employees’ service behavior. An analysis of 295 valid questionnaire responses shows that the anthropomorphism of service robots affects employees’ service behavior through warmth and smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and algorithms (STARA) awareness. Further, a competitive psychological climate strengthens the impact of the anthropomorphism of service robots on STARA awareness and weakens its effect on warmth.

Distributed pedagogical leadership practice for sustainable pedagogical improvement: A literature review (2010–2023)

AbstractLeadership from a distributed pedagogical perspective involves engaging multiple professionals in implementing shared responsibilities. In educational organizations, leadership responsibility structures have changed, with researchers advancing a more decentralized leadership system for sustainable pedagogical improvement. These global changes in education systems have informed the demand for sustainable quality teaching, the desire for 21st‐century learning skills, and rapid progress in education. As a result, traditional individual ‘heroic leadership’ is no longer tenable in any learning environment that intends to achieve quality pedagogical outcomes. Therefore, this narrative review paper aims to examine the essence of distributing pedagogical leadership responsibilities among multiple professionals to understand how the concept is perceived in diverse educational contexts and settings. This study reviewed relevant empirical research studies conducted to investigate the concept of distributed pedagogical leadership in Finland, Norway and Singapore. The findings revealed some gaps that informed our understanding of the concept and recommended further research studies.

Digital Finance, Research and Development Investment, and Corporate Green Technology Innovation

The development of digital finance is anticipated to alleviate the dilemma of corporate green technology innovation. This study selects manufacturing enterprises that are publicly listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges as well as the Growth Enterprise Market in China, as research samples, of which the data spans from 2011 to 2020. An empirical research using a matched dataset of this period demonstrates that the growth of digital finance has a significantly positive impact on the promotion of green technology innovation in Chinese manufacturing companies. This result remains valid even after conducting rigorous testing to ensure its reliability and taking into account the potential influence of endogeneity. Moreover, this promoting effect exhibits heterogeneity due to differences in enterprise size and property rights. In the future, governments, financial institutions, and enterprises should collaborate to promote the improvement of digital finance infrastructure, bolster policies and financial support for enterprise green technology research and development (R&D) investment, and effectively foster the improvement of corporate green technology innovation capabilities.

Teaching Students to Read: A Call to Action for Social Justice in School Psychology

Although the accurate diagnosis and effective instruction for reading disorders through multi-tiered systems of support is one of the most foundational components of school psychology training and practice, there are significant opportunities for innovation, renewed excitement, and social justice. In this article, we identify reading assessments, interventions, and systems-level policies shown to be effective through rigorous, empirical research. These effective practices are not well known by school psychologists or commonly implemented in schools. We propose four areas to better align school psychology training and practice with the most cutting-edge reading research to improve student outcomes in the future: (a) building knowledge of reading development, (b) increasing the commitment to school-based careers, (c) implementing more instructionally-useful reading screening and special education assessment practices (including using the hybrid model of identification), and (d) promoting evidence-based reading instruction and intervention. Throughout each of these four areas, we highlight the need for multi-disciplinary collaboration.

Wpływ narzędzi cyfrowych na zarządzanie dobrostanem użytkowników na przykładzie aplikacji Kwarantanna Domowa

The subject of the article is to draw attention to the aspect of mental well-being of users in the context of digital technology during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The article presents the perspective of the critical trend along with the author’s own empirical research. The study used qualitative techniques in the form of interviews with people using the government application during quarantine Home Quarantine (several case studies) as part of the so-called incidental trial. The purpose of the work is to show attempts to maintain mental well-being and the impact on this well-being of the respondents through the Home Quarantine application in the context of creating a new pandemic imagination and the phenomena and consequences related to it, indicated. By the respondents. The study will discuss human relations with “Others” and the aspect of digital media management, focusing on the well-being of users of the Home Quarantine application, which will allow for a partial understanding of aspects related to the quality of recipients’ well-being and the balance in their level of immersion during the coronavirus pandemic, i.e. a time of increased demand and a surge in digital goods.

Internationalization of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Best Practices and the Emerging Concept of Foreign Champion, an Empirical Investigation

This article introduces a new theoretical concept, the “foreign champion”, which attempts to solve the principal–agent problem and improve academic understanding of foreign market entry decisions by analyzing what experts in the field consider to be best practices. Based on empirical research into the determinants of SME internationalization success, semi-structured interviews (n = 12, t = 5 h 10 min.) were conducted with industry experts, including one academic, government officials, chamber and association leaders, a venture capitalist, and several CEOs, and key testimonies were studied using qualitative analysis software. The results shed light on effective internationalization strategies and common market entry mistakes. Despite the perception of saturation, the prominence of the experts, and the large sample, there may be limitations, such as not covering several regions. The originality of this study lies in its conceptual framework, the insights gained from the select interviews, and a new concept of foreign market entry.