Empirical Research Research Articles

Investigating plant awareness: Methodologies, challenges and possibilities

Societal Impact StatementPlants are crucial for sustaining life on Earth, and understanding human relationships to plants is key to ensuring that the role of plants is recognized in biology research. This goal cannot be achieved without valid and reliable methods that describe, explain and predict how humans experience plants. Plant awareness is a useful concept that helps researchers understand the individual differences in how people perceive, evaluate and act towards plants. This paper aims to outline the many methodological approaches to researching plant awareness and to critically assess the role plant awareness plays in biology research. Through our suggested guidelines for further methodology development, we hope to strengthen the validity and reliability, and hence the applicability, of scientific work into everyday sustainability and teaching practices.Summary Understanding the relationships between plants and people is crucial because plants sustain life on earth. Plant awareness is one of the key concepts available that help us describe and understand this relationship. Having a strong and clear methodological framework for studying this phenomenon is a necessary condition for building the bridge between the theoretical concept and its application in educational and conservation contexts. Here, we explore and systematize methodologies applied in empirical research concerning the concepts of ‘plant blindness’, ‘plant awareness’ and ‘plant awareness disparity’. We examine 46 unique theoretical and empirical contributions. We discuss the availability and usefulness of existing methodological approaches, applied research designs and measurement tools used as indicators. We present suggestions for their development, and how new research designs could contribute to extant research on plant awareness and related concepts. We found that both qualitative and quantitative research approaches have been successfully applied in the field, and various indicators were used to measure plant awareness. We offer directions for further methodological development, in choice of research design and measurement tools choices.

Test-retest reliability of behavioral and computational measures of advice taking under volatility.

The development of computational models for studying mental disorders is on the rise. However, their psychometric properties remain understudied, posing a risk of undermining their use in empirical research and clinical translation. Here we investigated test-retest reliability (with a 2-week interval) of a computational assay probing advice-taking under volatility with a Hierarchical Gaussian Filter (HGF) model. In a sample of 39 healthy participants, we found the computational measures to have largely poor reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient or ICC < 0.5), on par with the behavioral measures of task performance. Further analysis revealed that reliability was substantially impacted by intrinsic measurement noise (indicated by parameter recovery analysis) and to a smaller extent by practice effects. However, a large portion of within-subject variance remained unexplained and may be attributable to state-like fluctuations. Despite the poor test-retest reliability, we found the assay to have face validity at the group level. Overall, our work highlights that the different sources of variance affecting test-retest reliability need to be studied in greater detail. A better understanding of these sources would facilitate the design of more psychometrically sound assays, which would improve the quality of future research and increase the probability of clinical translation.

Navigating Shifts in Europe-China Higher Education Cooperation: An Institutional Logics Perspective

Understanding the changing dynamics of Europe-China cooperation is essential, particularly against the backdrop of recent geopolitical shifts that have added layers of complexity to this relationship. This shifts underscore the need for a nuanced analysis of the drivers of such international collaboration, which represents a gap in both theoretical and empirical research. Our study explores the complex nature of this cooperation from the perspective of institutional logics, focusing on how societal changes have influenced the interaction of scientific, economic, and political logics underlying the cooperation from 1975 to the present. Through analysing relevant literature and policy documents, our findings uncover how varying logics' compatibilities between and within the two regions have influenced the course of Europe-China higher education collaboration. In doing so, this paper not only addresses a gap in the literature on the intricate factors shaping Europe-China academic relations but also establishes a theoretical foundation for future research on international higher education cooperation in a rapidly evolving global context.

Widening the Circle: Is There an Eighth Principle for Universal Design?

The advantage of Universal Design (UD) over mere barrier-free design is that it can benefit everyone, regardless of age or ability. The imperative to include design for personal safety even outranks accessibility as a design precept. Evolved almost four decades ago, Ron Mace's Seven Principles did not anticipate advanced standards of safety in today's world. Whilst Principle Five - 'Tolerance for Error', states that 'the design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions', this notion of 'error' implies that it is the user who is at fault, rather than the provider. This may lead to inhibition and fear, hampering one's lifestyle in a multitude of ways. Fear of falling, inhibition of being unable to find a public toilet, forgetting a password or simply being made to feel old and incapable can all have an adverse effect. A cross-disciplinary group of experts undertook a number of studies on design for age-friendly cities in Ireland, through empirical research, experiential exercises and dissemination into third-level design education. Studies on design and facilities that lead to an individual's lack of confidence are discussed, including a research programme undertaken for the National Disability Authority on the Universal Design of Fall Detection Technologies. The paper proposes that an additional Principle: "Reduction of Fear" should be a basic design parameter in all aspects of the built environment as well as IT and services. By broadening its scope and joining forces with health and safety issues, UD becomes more inclusive, desirable to client bodies and attractive to everyone. The paper identifies areas where improvement in design is urgently required, suggesting the breadth of benefits accruing from more inclusive design, particularly in reducing fear through safer home zone environments.

Becoming aware of taken for granted attitudes and prejudices: A pilot study of Information, Advice and Guidance Practitioners

This article reports on the early stages of my empirical research. It explores how the enquiry developed through doubts in my own practice as an Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) practitioner working outreach in East Lancashire. My early enquiry has developed out of emerging critical insights on my own ‘whiteness’ and further my ‘taken for granted’ attitudes. This resulted in the discovery of my ‘own reflexive voice’ which was captured in narrative, an example of which is included within this article. The research has been informed by theories on ‘whiteness’ and ‘taken for grantedness’. The research also considers possible limitations of some current careers guidance training, which could mean that some practitioners never reflect critically on their own taken for grantedness. It is suggested that if they were to engage in this deeper level of critical reflection, then they may develop a better understanding of the different world-views of their clients.

Krama Desa Adherence to Unwritten Awig-Awig in the Traditional Village of Bayung Gede, Bangli

The aim of this research to identify a model of “krama desa” (indigenous villagers) adherence to their awig-awig, which is still spoken (unwritten). This research examines why there was no attempt to put it in written law and why indigenous people obeyed the rules even though there was no written law. Penelitian dilakukan di desa adat tipe baliaga (tidak mendapat pengaruh dari kerajaan Majapahit dengan tata pemerintahan masyarakatya menggunakan pola ulu apad). The research was conducted in a baliaga-type customary village (uninfluenced by the Majapahit kingdom with community governance using the ulu apad pattern). This research is empirical legal research and primary data was collected with interview techniques. Based on the results of the research, it can be stated that the reason awig-awig is still maintained in unwritten form even though local regulations mandate that it be made in writing is that the ‘krama desa’ has never questioned it and from the past they have respected and obeyed it for generations without anyone daring to violate it. The village community respects and obeys awig-awig even though it is unwritten and is highly dependent on traditional leaders. When violating awig-awig, there is a psychological burden, namely kimud (shame for violating) because the consequences are stigmatized by the community.

Efektivitas Pelaksanaan Tugas Satuan Polisi Pamong Praja dalam Penertiban Asrama/Pemondokan di Kecamatan Ende Tengah Kabupaten Ende

This study aims to find out and analyze the effectiveness of the implementation of the duties of the civil police unit in the management of dormitories/lodging in Central Ende District, Ende Regency. This research is an empirical juridical research that uses three approaches, namely the socio-legal approach, the conceptual approach and the doctrinal approach using primary data and secondary data collected using observation, interview and literature study methods. This study uses a method of processing legal materials which is processed in several stages, namely inventory of legal materials, classification of legal materials, systematization of legal materials and verification of legal materials after which it is analyzed in a qualitative descriptive manner. The results of this study show that (1) the effectiveness of the implementation of the duties of the Pamong Praja Police Unit in controlling dormitories/lodging in Central Ende District, Ende Regency can be said to be effective, because the Satpol PP of Ende Regency in collaboration with other agencies carries out their duties and authorities following the existing procedures, even though the implementation is not perfect, (2) Obstacle factors for the implementation of Satpol PP's duties in ordering dormitories/lodgings, namely responsiveness and confrontation, compliance and understanding, limited resources, difficult cases and infrastructure constraints

ATTENTIONAL GUIDANCE TOWARDS AUDIOVISUAL SYNCHRONY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD): AN EYE TRACKING STUDY

In recent years, the study of alterations in sensorimotor and perceptual development in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has opened interesting avenues of empirical inquiry and has allowed the emergence of new explanatory hypotheses regarding the causal factors underlying the alterations present in this disorder. In this line of research, this paper is based on an interest in studying the relationship between the development of intersensory perception and that of social cognition in ASD. Specifi cally, the main objective has been to compare, by means of eye-tracking technology, attentional orientation and recognition of audiovisual synchrony (through linguistic judgment) of children with ASD and children with typical development (TD), in experimental tasks with dynamic stimuli (video clips) with social and non-social content, in which audiovisual temporal synchrony is experimentally manipulated. As a methodological strategy, three experiments have been designed focused on examining the recognition of audiovisual synchrony ) in speech; ) in object sounds and ) in point-light stimuli (Point Light Display [PLD]) that simulate human movement and interactions. The differences presented in the two groups were examined in relation to three variables: ) Number of fi xations on the synchronous stimulus; ) time spent looking at the synchronous stimulus; ) time elapsed until the synchronous stimulus was identifi ed by means of verbal report. The partial results associated with each of the groups and in each of the implemented experiments are presented. This research contributes to the knowledge of the characteristics of intersensory processing in ASD and the relationship that this has with the social competence indices of each group, recorded by means of standardized tests. The implications for evaluation and intervention that the fi ndings obtained may have are explored in depth.

How to Best Measure Academic Dishonesty in Students

Abstract: Addressing a pervasive problem in educational institutions, investigations into academic dishonesty by students have produced a vast body of empirical research, mostly based on self-report measures. However, the literature repeatedly points to inconsistencies in assessment methods and unclear measurement quality. We conducted a preregistered systematic review to compare and evaluate self-report assessments (including past cheating behavior and cheating intentions). Of 256 instruments in 231 studies, 70% were unique self-report measures and 38.7% of studies did not investigate or report psychometric quality criteria. As such, the academic dishonesty literature is no exception in questionable measurement practices, where reports often lack key measurement information, such as the full item list (missing in 32%) or the time frames for behavioral assessment (missing in 50.4%). Our findings illustrate the threat to interpretability and comparability due to a lack of psychometric understanding and inconsistent measurement approaches. Contrary to aiming at a unified measure, we propose a focus on best practices in measurement construction and reporting to address diverse contexts, populations, and research questions. To guide future research, we provide a selection of psychometrically validated scales, recommendations for analysis, operationalization, and reporting, and discuss methodological considerations to enhance the psychometric foundation of academic dishonesty research.

Bruno Latour from a French and fresh perspective

This response offers a slightly different perspective on the whole of Bruno Latour's thought, taking into account his first works, their reception in the French intellectual context and some later reorientations. It thus suggests a less holistic view of his work, of which ANT is but one dimension. It finally advocates a less theoretical use of concepts in order to use them as mere tools for empirical research rather than as ends in themselves.

Towards Recommendations for the Universal Design of Online Authentication Systems.

There is a growing body of research on the problems older and disabled people face with authentication systems and a range of solutions have been developed. However, this research has not been integrated across user groups and solutions usually only target one or two groups. This research has attempted to integrate the empirical research findings across studies conducted with people with visual, physical, and intellectual disabilities, people dyslexia and older people. It proposes an initial set of 15 recommendations for the universal design of authentication systems. Four recommendations are about authentication systems in general, six about password authentication, two about CAPTCHAs and three about biometric authentication. 40% of the recommendations address problems experienced by at least two different user groups and over 25% address problems experienced by three groups. However, much further work is needed to validate and refine the recommendations and integrate them into a universal design approach.

Research on Population Aging, Effectiveness of Monetary Policy, and Real Estate Prices

As the global trend of population aging intensifies, the multifaceted impacts of aging on the economy are becoming increasingly apparent, especially in the areas of monetary policy and the real estate market. This paper aims to explore the intrinsic relationship between population aging, the effectiveness of monetary policy, and real estate prices. By analyzing the impact of demographic changes on consumption, savings, and investment behavior, the paper further reveals how aging affects the transmission mechanism of monetary policy and examines the role of monetary policy in real estate price fluctuations. The paper begins by defining the current status of population aging and discussing its broad economic impacts, followed by an analysis of the tools and transmission mechanisms of monetary policy and its specific effects on the real estate market. Based on the construction of a theoretical model, this paper also empirically tests the responses of the real estate market to monetary policy in different countries and regions facing aging societies. Finally, based on both theoretical and empirical research results, policy recommendations are made regarding the adjustment of monetary policy and regulation of the real estate market in the context of an aging society. This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for policymakers to address the challenges that population aging brings to economic policy.

Bridging theory and data: A computational workflow for cultural evolution

Cultural evolution applies evolutionary concepts and tools to explain the change of culture over time. Despite advances in both theoretical and empirical methods, the connections between cultural evolutionary theory and evidence are often vague, limiting progress. Theoretical models influence empirical research but rarely guide data collection and analysis in logical and transparent ways. Theoretical models themselves are often too abstract to apply to specific empirical contexts and guide statistical inference. To help bridge this gap, we outline a quality-assurance computational workflow that starts from generative models of empirical phenomena and logically connects statistical estimates to both theory and real-world explanatory goals. We emphasize and demonstrate validation of the workflow using synthetic data. Using the interplay between conformity, migration, and cultural diversity as a case study, we present coded and repeatable examples of directed acyclic graphs, tailored agent-based simulations, a probabilistic transmission model for longitudinal data, and an approximate Bayesian computation model for cross-sectional data. We discuss the assumptions, opportunities, and pitfalls of different approaches to generative modeling and show how each can be used to improve data analysis depending on the structure of available data and the depth of theoretical understanding. Throughout, we highlight the significance of ethnography and of collecting basic cultural and demographic information about study populations and call for more emphasis on logical and theory-driven workflows as part of science reform.

Optimization of the cooperative electronic commerce model for sustainable development in the context of ecological environment conservation

AbstractThis study aims to explore how to optimize the cooperative electronic commerce model in a sustainable ecological environment to meet the needs of consumers while maximizing social and economic benefits. The empirical research method is adopted, which mainly includes a literature review, case analysis, and questionnaire. Firstly, through a literature review, this study introduces and analyses the concept of sustainable ecological environment and the development and optimization direction of cooperative electronic commerce model in detail, providing a theoretical basis and thought guidance for subsequent research. Secondly, this study selects several representative cooperative electronic commerce platforms for case analysis. It explores their operation mode, product characteristics, service quality, and social benefits to summarize the experience and lessons of optimizing cooperative electronic commerce model. Finally, a questionnaire is designed to sample the consumers of cooperative electronic commerce. By analysing the results of questionnaire, the following conclusions are drawn. (1) 54.3% of respondents said they had used the cooperative electronic commerce model, with agricultural products purchasing (23.5%) and community service (18.9%) using it more frequently. (2) The cognition level of sustainable development was high overall, with 62.6% believing that it was essential for the future. (3) A multiple linear regression model explored the relationship between using the cooperative electronic commerce model and sustainable development cognition. The results reveal that adopting cooperative electronic commerce model has a significant positive impact on the cognition of sustainable development, which indicates that the promotion and use of this model can promote cognition and practice of sustainable development.

DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIZATIONS: AN INTEGRATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

More than merely increasing diversity in the workforce, organizations need to learn how to manage multiple diversities. However, this is a complex challenge that requires appropriate knowledge and strategies. Therefore, this study aims to understand how organizations can implement what diversity management proposes. The methodology included an integrative systematic review, with searches in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering the period from 2019 to 2024. This resulted in the selection of 48 articles, which were synthesized and categorized by minority group. The results show that factors such as legislation, organizational culture, and social conditions affect the promotion of diversity. Moreover, human resources practices and inclusive leadership are fundamental to employee satisfaction, especially among minority groups. Organizations that invest in diversity reap benefits such as innovation, improved performance, and talent retention. The findings also revealed that 47.9% of the articles address diversity in a general sense, while those focused on specific markers are predominantly about gender and race or ethnicity. The global relevance of diversity management was also evident, regardless of the organization’s size, sector, or country, with the United States standing out in terms of the volume of empirical research. It is concluded that this study allowed the identification of research that contributes to the adoption of diversity management practices in organizations. For effective diversity management, it is necessary to adopt intersectional and multilevel approaches, considering both internal and external factors.

Industrial robots and export product quality: evidence from China

ABSTRACT In this study, we first construct a theoretical framework for a heterogeneous product quality model to analyse how robot adoption affects international trade through quality upgrading. Then, we use micro-level data from Chinese Customs Trade Statistics and the Annual Survey of Industrial Firms to examine the heterogeneous effects of industrial robots on export product quality. Both theoretical analysis and empirical research show that industrial robots promote export product quality upgrading through effectively improving firms’ total factor productivity and reducing marginal production costs. Moreover, industrial robots have different effects on firms based on product types, ownership properties, and factor intensity. The results show that the effects of industrial robots on export product quality are stronger for homogeneous products, foreign and private enterprises for homogeneous products, foreign and private enterprises, and labour-intensive industries. These findings align with the literature on the wide-ranging impact of industrial robots, while offering a distinct opportunity to empirically investigate enterprises’ diverse responses to a uniform general-purpose technology. This study also diverges from previous research by examining a previously overlooked dimension: productivity-boosting and marginal cost-reducing effects.

The Sensitivity of the Human Development Index to Assumptions about Income

The Human Development Index (HDI) aims to present a more robust picture of a country&amp;rsquo;s development status than that suggested by national income per capita. The HDI aggregates dimension indices based on transformed measures for the core values of health, education, and income per capita. Assumptions are made regarding the upper and lower bounds used to re-scale each core value into its dimension index, as well as the functional form used to create the HDI. The treatment of income in the HDI&amp;rsquo;s construction suggests incompatibilities with its underlying capability theory, which stresses the importance of individuals&amp;rsquo; abilities to make their own consumption and life choices. We examine the currently formulated HDI, as well as two influential proposed alternatives which generalize the aggregation functions of the pre-2010 HDI formulation and the current HDI, in light of recent empirical research into the relationship between well-being and income. We use underlying data for 2016, a representative year, to examine distributional changes as well as specific country rankings. We find that the income bounds used to calculate the income dimension index in the HDI should be changed. We also suggest that the three aggregation formulations, along with prominent descriptions of the assumptions and consequent implications of each approach, should be disseminated for policymakers and the public to consider.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES OF PARENTS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS PUPILS OF SENIOR SCHOOL AGE AS DETERMINANTS OF CHILDREN’S AGGRESSIVENESS (IN A PARADIGM OF ADAPTIVE AND MALADAPTIVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS)

Parents’ orientation towards autonomy, collaboration, cooperation and the desire to build relationships with the child on a democratic basis, as a rule, does not cause manifestations of malignant aggressiveness of children. In terms of content, this educational strategy and the type of parental relationships are revealed in such a way: the parent is interested in the child’s affairs and plans, tries to help, empathizes, trusts him/her, respects and encourages him/her, and takes into account the child’s opinion. Cooperation is a psychologically optimal and socially desirable type of parental attitude towards children. Our research has shown that the reluctance or inability of parents to establish positive emotional connections with their children largely determines the nature of manifestations of children’s aggressiveness. We have identified indicators of emotional manifestations of parental attitudes towards children: sympathy-antipathy, acceptance-rejection, respect-disdain, rejection and refusal. In our empirical research we identified some main components of general manifestation of parental love: the interest in our life and the development of the child, the manifestation of responsibility and care, close attention to the child’s interests, problems and attitudes, awareness of his/her uniqueness, unconditional acceptance of him/her as the child is. With a lack of these components in the manifestations of parental attitude towards children, the child begins to consider every request or demand as a duty and show resistance. The role of deprivation of a child’s basic needs, which forms a hostile personality is incapable of establishing trusting relationships, and it has to be emphasized in our further research. We think, that according to the theories of childhood aggressiveness, the child’s desire to establish himself/herself with the help of a universal instrument of superiority, such as direct aggression, is explained by his/her experience of a feeling of inferiority associated with a deficiency of parental love. According to our empirical research, a child’s psychological discomfort is due to a lack of parental love, and it increases the destructive element in his/her person, leading to the formation of low self-esteem, aggressiveness, and a tendency toward auto-aggression. Rejection is the most unfavorable, socially and psychologically unacceptable type of parental attitude, indicative according to the development of destructive manifestations of aggressiveness in the period of childhood for senior pupils.

Implikasi Perlindungan Pengunjung Wisata Sawah Padi di Desa Taman Sampang Berbasis Legal Education terhadap Peningkatan Pendapatan Asli Desa

The tourism potential in the Sampang Regency area is very good, one of which is rice tourism in Ataman village. Padi tourism offers beautiful views with typical village culinary attractions. However, in rice tourism there are still problems such as visitors not respecting the cultural values ​​and beliefs of the local community and managers also do not have tourist regulations. Therefore, this results in a decrease in tourist visitors so that the contribution of PADes automatically decreases. The research method used is empirical juridical research with a field study approach. Data collection in this research uses several methods including interviews, observation and literature search. The research location is Taman Village, Jrengik District, Sampang Regency. The data analysis method used in this research is descriptive-qualitative. The results of research during the MBKM KKNT show that the management of Rice Fields Tourism in Taman Village is still not well organized, considering that the management pattern of facilities and infrastructure is still lacking, especially the management does not have rules for tourist visitors, so tourism is quite quiet so that PADes decreases. Therefore, the MBKM KKNT program created a legal education program regarding the protection of tourist visitors within the framework of preventive protection. The results are quite satisfactory from the results of the socialization showing that understanding of village officials, tourism managers, the community and tourist visitors has increased, especially understanding of the substance of the Tourism Law and the Village Law. Apart from that, the management makes rules for issuing visitors based on statutory regulations and the management is improved gradually, so that tourist visitors will gradually increase and the Village Paddy will automatically increase and this will all make the Taman Village community prosperous.

Current Situation, Existing Problems and Prospect of the Study of Social Stratification in Contemporary China

Introduction. Under the backdrop of market economy and social transformation in China, the class structure of society has undergone profound changes, and the traditional class division is no longer relevant. However, there are still some unresolved problems in the study of social strata in China. The lack of diversity and comparability of research methods limits the depth and scope of research. Relatively few studies have been conducted on some emerging classes. Research on the relationship between social class and other social issues is insufficient, such as the relationship between class and education, class and income distribution, etc., are still limited. Methodology and sources. At present, a social classification model has been proposed to study social stratification in China, taking into account the characteristics of China's national conditions. A large number of empirical studies have revealed the evolution and characteristics of China's social class structure. The mechanism of social class formation and the factors influencing them have been studied, which has provided theoretical support for social development. Modern stratification models of Chinese authors have been used for the analysis in comparison with traditional models. Results and discussion. The study of social stratification in China inherited the theoretical framework and empirical research methods of Western social scientists, and there are also attempts to develop its own model of social stratification in combination with the actual situation in China. The structure of social stratification in China is characterized by the need to take into account the state redistribution system and the market economy model. However, there is a consensus that government officials are at the top of the social hierarchy, and the class of peasants and unemployed are at the bottom of society; mental workers (white collars) are higher than manual workers (blue collars). The results of studies on the impact of human capital on social stratification show that gender and educational level have universal significance in society; household registration system and housing type are special independent variables that affect social stratification in China more than in other countries, etc. However, there is a lack of relevant empirical studies that could provide specific quantitative data showing how independent variables affect social stratification in China. Many new social and professional groups have emerged in Chinese society. In recent years, some Chinese scholars have studied such specific social and professional groups, the most widespread and in demand in the labor market in China, taking into account the digitalization processes. Conclusion. It is necessary to further explore the methods and models of social stratification suitable for China's national conditions so as to cover the characteristics of social class diversity. It is necessary to strengthen the research on the relationship between social class and other social issues so as to provide more effective policy recommendations for social development. It is also necessary to strengthen the research on emerging classes, pay attention to their social status, mobility and responsibilities, and provide more effective support and guidance for their development.