Established Theory Research Articles

People’s understanding of inflation

This paper studies people’s understanding of inflation—their perceived causes, consequences, trade-offs-and the policies supported to mitigate its effects. We design a new, detailed online survey based on the rich existing literature in economics with two experimental components — a conjoint experiment and an information experiment — to examine how well public views align with established economic theories. Our key findings show that the major perceived causes of inflation include government actions, such as increased foreign aid and war-related expenditures, alongside rises in production costs attributed to recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, oil price fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions. Respondents anticipate many negative consequences of inflation but the most noted one is the increased complexity and difficulty in household decision-making. Partisan differences emerge distinctly, with Republicans more likely to attribute inflation to government policies and foresee broader negative outcomes, whereas Democrats anticipate greater inequality effects. Inflation is perceived as an unambiguously negative phenomenon without any potential positive economic correlates. Notably, there is a widespread belief that managing inflation can be achieved without significant trade-offs, such as reducing economic activity or increasing unemployment. These perceptions are hard to move experimentally. In terms of policy responses, there is resistance to monetary tightening, consistent with the perceived absence of trade-offs and the belief that it is unnecessary to reduce economic activity to fight inflation. The widespread misconception that inflation rises following increases in interest rates even leads to support for rate cuts to reduce inflation. There is a clear preference for policies that are perceived to have other benefits, such as reducing government debt in progressive ways or increasing corporate taxes, and for support for vulnerable households, despite potential inflationary effects.

Fraud Prevention Strategies and Financial Stability of Insurance Companies in Kenya

Insurance companies play a crucial role in reducing risks and uncertainties, making them a vital part of the economy. However, they are vulnerable to various types of fraudulent activities, such as false claims, premium misuse, and financial record manipulation. While efforts have been made to address these challenges, more investigation is needed to determine the effectiveness of fraud prevention methods in maintaining financial stability. This research project aims to bridge this gap by exploring the empirical connections between internal control frameworks, transaction monitoring processes, financial audit procedures, and the overall financial stability of insurance companies in the Kenyan market. The goal is to understand how these techniques can deter fraud, promote regulatory compliance, and strengthen the organizational structures in the industry. Additionally, the study examines established theories like agency theory, risk management theory, institutional theory, and game theory to clarify the theoretical basis supporting these tactics and their impact on the financial stability and longevity of insurance companies. The conclusion of the study offers valuable insights regarding the correlation between fraud prevention measures and financial stability within the insurance sector.

Aligning spatial ecological theory with the study of clonal organisms: the case of fungal coexistence.

Established ecological theory has focused on unitary organisms, and thus its concepts have matured into a form that often hinders rather than facilitates the ecological study of modular organisms. Here, we use the example of filamentous fungi to develop concepts that enable integration of non-unitary (modular) organisms into the established community ecology theory, with particular focus on its spatial aspects. In doing so, we provide a link between fungal community ecology and modern coexistence theory (MCT). We first show how community processes and predictions made by MCT can be used to define meaningful scales in fungal ecology. This leads to the novel concept of the unit of community interactions (UCI), a promising conceptual tool for applying MCT to communities of modular organisms with indeterminate clonal growth and hierarchical individuality. We outline plausible coexistence mechanisms structuring fungal communities, and show at what spatial scales and in what habitats they are most likely to act. We end by describing challenges and opportunities for empirical and theoretical research in fungal competitive coexistence.

Unethical pro-organizational behavior: a systematic literature review and research agenda

Purpose The literature on unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPOB) has experienced significant growth in the past decade. However, there is limited research on the effects of organizational, team and malleable individual factors on UPOB. It is also necessary to explore its adverse effects for theoretical advancement and to uncover unexplored opportunities. This study aims to systematically examine the existing body of literature on UPOB, providing thorough theoretical, contextual and methodological insights. Design/methodology/approach Using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis technique, the authors identified 43 articles on UPOB from journals included in the ABDC-2019 list. The authors conducted an analysis of the identified articles and categorized them using a modified version of Paul and Rosado-Serrano’s (2019) TCCM framework. Findings Existing literature primarily focuses on attitudinal and contextual antecedents of UPOB, neglecting individual differences and their consequences. The review suggests that certain desired employee attitudes may also lead to UPOB. In addition, the study highlights underutilization of established behavioral theories, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive theoretical framework. The exploration identifies research gaps, including in multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies, aiming to broaden the research scope in this field. Research limitations/implications The study highlights the need for a more comprehensive theoretical framework to understand UPOB. Practical implications It cautions organizations fostering positive employee attitudes, such as job satisfaction, workplace spirituality and organizational commitment, as these may inadvertently promote UPOB. Social implications Socially, the paper highlights how engaging in UPOB affects the lives of involved employees. Originality/value This paper’s originality arises from its methodical review and categorization of prior research on UPOB using a distinctive, multidisciplinary research framework.

Job Satisfaction and Change Readiness: Moderating Role of Gender

Failing to assess employees' readiness for change can lead managers to waste significant time and effort managing resistance. This time could otherwise be spent productively. This study attempts to make a rigorous empirical examination of the effects of job satisfaction on change readiness along with assessing the moderating role of gender. The primary collection of data is done through likert scale and were analyzed by using IBM SPSS statistics version 23. On the other hand, the secondary data were taken from the articles, journals and website. Through a simple and dummy indicator regression analysis of the variables, it talks about the analysis's findings, which show that job satisfaction had a positive and significant impact on change readiness. This study implies that the value of coefficient of multiple determination is 0.299 which implies that the variation in CR can be explained by JS was 9.9%. Similarly, gender was no moderating the effects of job satisfaction on change readiness shown by the dummy indicator regression analysis. While acknowledging that there is no established theory describing the relationship between these two major constructs in organizational behavior, this study attempts to provide some of the empirical support that there was positive significant association between job satisfaction and change readiness. This study determined the value of R is to be .547a. This paper includes with the number of implications and research direction for both academic and organizational managers, Job satisfaction plays a critical role in determining employees' readiness for change, with higher satisfaction leading to increased acceptance and enthusiasm for change efforts.

Geospatial analysis of contagious infection growth and cross-boundary transmission in non-vaccinated districts of North-East Indian states during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India implemented a nationwide lockdown, sealing borders across states and districts. The northeastern region of India, surrounded by three international borders and connected to mainland India by a narrow passage, faced particular isolation. This isolation resulted in these states forming a relatively closed population. Consequently, the availability of population-based data from Indian Council of Medical Research, tracked through national identification cards, offered a distinctive opportunity to understand the spread of the virus among non-vaccinated and non-exposed populations. This research leverages this dataset to comprehend the repercussions within isolated populations. The inter-district variability was visualized using geospatial analysis. The patterns do not follow any established grounded theories on disease spread. Out of 7.1 million total data weekly 0.35 million COVID-19-positive northeast data was taken from April 2020 to February 2021 including "date, test result, population density, area, latitude, longitude, district, and state" to identify the spread pattern using a modified reaction-diffusion model (MRD-Model) and Geographic Information System. The analysis of the closed population group revealed an initial uneven yet rapidly expanding geographical spread characterized by a high diffusion rate α approximately 0.4503 and a lower reaction rate β approximately 0.0256, which indicated a slower growth trajectory of case numbers rather than exponential escalation. In the latter stages, COVID-19 incidence reached zero in numerous districts, while in others, the reported cases did not exceed100. The MRD-Model effectively captured the disease transmission dynamics in the abovementioned setting. This enhanced understanding of COVID-19 spread in remote, isolated regions provided by the MRD modelling framework can guide targeted public health strategies for similar isolated areas. This study is Funded by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Development and Rasch evaluation of the Focusing Skills Inventory (FSI): if you adopt an attitude of Body Listening, Trusting precedes Felt Sensing

ABSTRACT The Focusing Manner Scale cross-culturally faced challenges regarding factor and item discrimination. To address them, we revised and contrasted the Focusing attitudes we now call Trusting, Felt Sensing and Distancing. Consequently, we developed the 30-item questionnaire Focusing Skills Inventory (FSI) and evaluated it using Rasch analysis in a German student sample (N = 747; N3-month retest = 117). Rasch validity was proven, reliability indices were at least acceptable (all ≥ .76, except Distancing r 3-month retest = .65). Concurrent evidence was established with the ‘Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale’. Dimensionality analysis and correlations with the ‘Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness’ indicated that Distancing was successfully contrasted from Trusting and Felt Sensing. Trusting and Felt Sensing however still highly converged. Rasch analysis additionally indicated that Trusting precedes Felt Sensing when combined into a Body Listening scale. Overall, the FSI can be regarded as reliable, valid, and true to the established theory. Our Body Listening model further suggests that teaching Trusting before Felt Sensing may be beneficial.

Is there a place for young children in the modern-day UK church? Investigating approaches to faith nurture in the early years

ABSTRACT This phenomenological study examines lived experiences and perceptions of Christian parents of young children to investigate their approaches to faith activity and nurture and the extent to which this includes authenticity of welcome for young children in the modern-day church. Online survey data was analysed thematically through the lens of established theories regarding the nature of faith in the early years. Findings revealed that families with young children do wish to engage with their local church and wider Christian community, but often find existing approaches unsupportive and unhelpful. Significant adjustments are therefore required to church-led ethos and approaches to faith nurture to better serve the needs of young children. Recommendations are made for more flexibility and inclusivity within the church environment, enhanced partnership with parents, and greater church focus on co-constructing faith nurturing pathways within the home and church context to align more with relationships within the child’s microsystem.

Return volatility and trading volume of GameFi

Focusing on GameFi, we test theories regarding the relationship between return volatility and trading volume. These theories include the Mixture of Distribution Hypothesis (MDH) and the Sequential Information Arrival Hypothesis (SIAH). Empirical results indicate rejection of MDH and support for SIAH. These results are robust to alternative measurements of trading volume and return volatility. Subperiod analysis further reveals that SIAH is more pronounced during periods of high investor attention and low economic uncertainty. The results will be of interest to scholars interested in the robustness of established financial theories for revolutionary financial products.

From home to boardroom: Marital status and its influence on ESG disclosure

AbstractThis research article investigates the relationship between the marital status of board members and organizations' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure, with Jordan as the study context. The investigation, grounded in established governance theories, primarily agency theory, stewardship theory, and social identity theory, adds a novel dimension to the discourse on corporate governance perspective. The study sample included 81 nonfinancial companies listed on the Amman stoke exchange from 2012 to 2021. The findings disclose a pronounced positive relationship between married board members and ESG disclosure separately and collectively, pointing to a normative commitment emanating from their personal lives that extends into their roles as corporate stewards, influencing corporate sustainability, and ethical governance. Conversely, the results did not indicate a relationship between single board members and ESG disclosure. The study underscores the importance of considering the personal attributes of board members in shaping corporate governance and ESG practices. Also, it encourages a broader perspective on how diverse personal backgrounds can enhance sustainability and ethical values within organizations by advocating for boards that reflect diverse marital statuses and a commitment to family values, benefitting not only shareholders but also society at large.

Nurse Practitioner Education: Recommending Theories and Frameworks for Simulation-Based Experiences and Research

Simulation-based education is an evidence-based strategy to address learning and evaluation of outcomes in the updated American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials. Currently, there is a dearth of rigorous research on nurse practitioner education simulation. Studies on the topic often neglect a sound theoretical or conceptual framework beyond the National League of Nursing Jeffries Simulation Theory. This article aims to explore and distinguish the implementation of various theories and frameworks to determine how these elements can be stand-alone or used in combination to explore simulation-based experience competency outcomes. Specific recommendations for simulation research are (a) to include learning theories, (b) level learning and track competency progression using a framework, and (c) use a framework for measuring outcomes. Simulation science for nurse practitioner education can be advanced through united and consistent use of established theories and frameworks. These efforts will inform emerging best practices of simulation-based learning to address competition-based learning initiatives, validity of high-stakes simulation evaluation, and how to credit learners for simulation activities.

A Critical Review of Constitutive Models Applied to Ice-Crushing Simulations

In marine engineering, understanding the compressive behaviour of ice is crucial for accurately modelling ice loads on ships and offshore structures in ice-prone waters. Over the past few decades, numerous studies have focused on numerically simulating the ice-crushing process using various material models. A significant source of contention among these models lies in the representation of ice strength envelopes and their evolution with pressure and strain rate. Moreover, there is ongoing debate regarding whether plasticity or viscoelasticity more effectively captures the rheology of ice. Additionally, various flow rules have been implemented in plasticity models and different damage models have been used in viscoelasticity models, all of which play a critical role in simulating ice loads. This critical review aims to shed light on the reasons behind these disagreements and to evaluate the advantages and limitations of the most commonly used models, based on established theories in ice mechanics and empirical evidence.

Geocentric Finance Equity to Improve Financial Institution Performance

This study aims to bridge the research gap as a solution to improve the performance of financial institutions by using a qualitative research approach by analysing and synthesising established literature and theories. The researcher determined a theme that links equity with financial institutions by examining equity materials, geography and the performance of financial institutions with a locus in West Nusa Tenggara Province. This research succeeded in finding a new concept that is expected to be a bridge to overcome the research gap. The new concept with the name Geocentric Finance Equity is expected to improve the performance of financial institutions The government and the private sector have developed BPRs in each Regency and City with the aim of providing banking services. The government and the private sector have developed BPRs in each Regency and City with the aim of providing banking services.

A cost-effective enzyme kinetics and inhibition model for biochemistry education and research.

Enzyme kinetics and inhibition studies are crucial in biochemistry education and research. Conventional methods often require expensive equipment and reagents, potentially limiting their accessibility in limited resource settings. Our approach sought to develop a cost-effective experimental design for studying enzyme kinetics and inhibition. Lactase was chosen as a protein model and its activity was investigated by measuring glucose production from lactose hydrolysis. In the study, commercially available lactase pills were used as an enzyme source, while milk was used as a substrate. Instead of scientific equipment, glucometers were used to measure lactase activity. Enzyme kinetics were evaluated using Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk plots. In the study, the effects of temperature, pH, and inhibitors were also investigated. The results of our study aligned with established enzyme kinetics theories and previous studies. Lactase showed temperature and pH-dependent activity, with decreased activity observed at both low and high extremes. Results also showed that galactose acts as a competitive inhibitor of lactase. The approach presented here offers a cost-effective procedure for studying enzyme kinetics and inhibition. It can act as a valuable tool for educational purposes and for preliminary research in settings with limited resources.

Designing count‐based studies in a world of hierarchical models

AbstractAdvances in hierarchical modeling have improved estimation of ecological parameters from count data, especially those quantifying population abundance, distribution, and dynamics by explicitly accounting for observation processes, particularly incomplete detection. Even hierarchical models that account for incomplete detection, however, cannot compensate for data limitations stemming from poorly planned sampling. Ecologists therefore need guidance for planning count‐based studies that follow established sampling theory, collect appropriate data, and apply current modeling approaches to answer their research questions. We synthesize available literature relevant to guiding count‐based studies. Considering the central historical and ongoing contributions of avian studies to ecological knowledge, we focus on birds as a case study for this review, but the basic principles apply to all populations whose members are sufficiently observable to be counted. The sequence of our review represents the thought process in which we encourage ecologists to engage 1) the research question(s) and population parameters to measure, 2) sampling design, 3) analytical framework, 4) temporal design, and 5) survey protocol. We also provide 2 hypothetical demonstrations of these study plan components representing different research questions and study systems. Mirroring the structure of hierarchical models, we suggest researchers primarily focus on the ecological processes of interest when designing their approach to sampling, and wait to consider logistical constraints of data collection and observation processes when developing the survey protocol. We offer a broad framework for researchers planning count‐based studies, while pointing to relevant literature elaborating on particular tools and concepts.

Semantic associative abilities and executive control functions predict novelty and appropriateness of idea generation

Novelty and appropriateness are two fundamental components of creativity. However, the way in which novelty and appropriateness are separated at behavioral and neural levels remains poorly understood. In the present study, we aim to distinguish behavioral and neural bases of novelty and appropriateness of creative idea generation. In alignment with two established theories of creative thinking, which respectively, emphasize semantic association and executive control, behavioral results indicate that novelty relies more on associative abilities, while appropriateness relies more on executive functions. Next, employing a connectome predictive modeling (CPM) approach in resting-state fMRI data, we define two functional network-based models—dominated by interactions within the default network and by interactions within the limbic network—that respectively, predict novelty and appropriateness (i.e., cross-brain prediction). Furthermore, the generalizability and specificity of the two functional connectivity patterns are verified in additional resting-state fMRI and task fMRI. Finally, the two functional connectivity patterns, respectively mediate the relationship between semantic association/executive control and novelty/appropriateness. These findings provide global and predictive distinctions between novelty and appropriateness in creative idea generation.

Linear quadratic optimal control problems of infinite‐dimensional mean‐field type with jumps

AbstractIn this paper, we formulate and investigate a framework for the theory of the linear quadratic optimal control problem (LQ problem) for infinite‐dimensional mean‐field stochastic evolution systems with jumps. We ensure the well‐posedness of the investigated problems by establishing the existence, uniqueness, and a priori estimates for mild solutions to general infinite‐dimensional mean‐field forward stochastic evolution equations (MF‐SEE) and mean‐field backward stochastic evolution equations (MF‐BSEE) with jumps. Leveraging the Yosida approximation theory, we establish a dual theory between MF‐SEE and MF‐BSEE with jumps, overcoming the challenge posed by the inapplicability of Itô's formula in the context of mild solutions. Our main results regarding the existence and uniqueness of the optimal control, along with corresponding dual characterizations and state feedback representations, are obtained through convex analysis techniques, our established dual theory, and decoupling methods.

Analysis of Laminated Composite Plates: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Review

Laminated composite plates have become a crucial point of interest in the industry, with the need to ensure sustained and stable structures throughout the plates’ lifespan. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database, gathering 8221 documents for further scrutiny based on the linked meta-data. Utilizing the VOS viewer software version 1.6.19, maps were generated from scientific publishing network data, illustrating connections between researchers’ nations and keywords. The investigation into co-occurring phrases associated with laminated composite plates employed author keywords. The results reveal a significant and close relationship among top authors, suggesting a strong research connection, with the United States and China leading the field. Top cited documents and keyword correlations are examined to gauge current research interests. These critical reviews serve as essential resources for scholars and practitioners in the field. Additionally, the review discusses the advancements in and practical applications of different theories for laminated composite plates, with a focus on a bibliometric study using the Scopus database. This paper categorizes models within the context of an equivalent single-layer laminate, analyzing variations in established theories and methodologies for modeling laminated composite plates to offer a nuanced understanding of approaches and assessments in this field.

Preferential Nucleation of Dislocation Loops under Stress Explained by A15 Frank-Kasper Nanophases in Aluminum.

The asymmetric distribution of geometrically equivalent defects is a long-standing problem in materials science. In this study, we investigate the preferential nucleation of interstitial dislocation loops in specific planes in stressed aluminum, commonly observed experimentally, and seek to clarify the underlying mechanism. For this purpose, we consider a structural change in the geometry of defects, specifically the transformation of 3D compact A15 clusters into 2D Frank loops. Using object kinetic MonteCarlo and abinitio calculations, we show that a symmetry breaking in the transformation of A15 clusters significantly impacts the dislocation loop distributions, resulting in the emergence of a preferential orientation when the material is under stress. This discovery not only calls for a critical revision of established theories but also has tangible applications for materials under extreme conditions.

A Credibility Framework for Extreme Value-at-Risk

Value-at-risk estimates derived from extreme value data by fitting fat-tailed distributions can be so large that their validity is open to question. In this paper, an objective criterion, and a framework from which it was developed, are presented in order to decide whether or not a fitted distribution is inappropriate for the purpose of value-at-risk calculation. That criterion is based on established extreme value theory (principally the Pickands-Balkema-deHaan Theorem), which is used to calculate a sequence of reference value-at-risk estimates using Generalised Pareto distributions. Those estimates are used to develop a closed-form formula for calculating a theoretical ’maximum’ value-at-risk. The method is validated by generating 100 random data sets and testing them against the framework for varying input parameter values. Approximately 75% of those cases passed the validation test.