Perception Gap Research Articles

An updated examination of gender differences in sexual harassment perception: A meta-analysis and a survey study.

Twenty years ago, Rotundo et al. (2001) meta-analyzed the gender differences in sexual harassment (SH) perception. They found an overall d of 0.30: Women are more likely than men to label certain behaviors as SH. Much has changed since then, including the increased social awareness and the prevalence of SH training. Given the prevalence of SH in the workplace and the importance of SH perception in SH research, we conducted a mixed-methods research program to explore possible changes in the gender gap. In Study 1 (k = 72, N = 27,767), we meta-analyzed the perceptual gender differences to compare with those in Rotundo et al. and examined several moderators of the differences. We found an overall mean d of 0.33, implying a similar gender gap in SH perception as 20 years ago, yet none of the moderators examined in this study showed significant results. In Study 2, we empirically examined gender differences in mean levels of SH perception using the same measurement scales used in two older studies and compared with the differences found in these two studies. We found higher levels of SH perception for both men and women, but no difference in the mean d between men and women, suggesting that no change over time in mean d does not mean no change in SH perception. The implications of our findings are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring social contracts of disaster risk through twitter narratives during a major storm

Social contracts are evolving relationships between the government and the public; they describe the rights and responsibilities of each party in catastrophic hydroclimatic events. As the climate crisis unfolds disaster losses continue to increase and the need for new infrastructure is becoming more apparent. Research suggests that incorporating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into infrastructure adaptations may reduce exposure and loss and improve social well-being. While researchers and policy makers push for NbS, it is unclear whether they adequately recognize contemporary social contracts and whether these contracts are shifting sufficiently to accept the differences. We operationalize social contracts and test a conceptual approach through analysis of tweets before, during and after Hurricane Ida. Our results indicate a social contract of inequalities manifested through experience, perceptions and expectations of citizens. There is a great deal of uncertainty and feelings of insecurity about the public's perception of government response and resource provisions. Although our results indicated a gap in public perception of NbS, uncertainty about the effectiveness of conventional infrastructure was expressed. Public expectations include an evolving social contract that addresses the challenges related to inequalities while also adapting to climate change. We discuss how this twitter data can be used to understand the role of social contracts in responding to disaster risk and infrastructure adaptation and how inadequacies in current protection measures can inform potential use of NbS.

An Exploration of the Role of HR Departments in Optimizing Employee Mental Wellness in the Face of Organizational Risks

Purpose Considering mental health in organizations is crucial for several reasons, as it directly impacts the well-being and productivity of employees. This paper aims to delve into the role of the human resource (HR) department (HRD) in promoting mental health and mitigating associated organizational risks within emerging markets, with a specific focus on organizations in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative research approach, 21 semistructured interviews were conducted with employees from diverse organizations and industries in Jordan. Findings The study’s findings illuminate a constrained role of HRD in supporting employees’ mental well-being, attributable to several factors: (i) a perceptual gap between the actual and desired roles of HRD in fostering mental health according to employees; (ii) institutional factors dictating initiatives for mental health support at work; and (iii) societal and cultural norms shaping attitudes toward mental health, both pre- and post-COVID-19. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the intersection of HR practices and mental health support in the workplace in emerging markets, providing valuable insights for both academic and practical considerations. As organizations navigate the evolving landscape of employee well-being, this study’s findings offer a foundation for future research and the development of evidence-based strategies to enhance mental health support within organizational contexts and mitigate organizational risks. Originality/value This study illuminates the current landscape of human resources management development in fostering mental health at work in Jordan, serving as a foundation for future research agendas in the country and potentially the wider region.

Assessing creative outcomes in studio-based learning: a comparative assessment of analytical rubrics

ABSTRACT This research investigates the level of agreement between instructors and their students regarding analytical rubrics within a creative design context. Current literature reports some tension and balance between users’ perspectives regarding key characteristics of rubrics which affects the learning process. Therefore, this paper compares instructors’ and students’ views regarding a) usability, b) design, and c) management of rubrics in three design programs. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires, results were presented as mean scores and relative importance rates (RII%), then ranked and compared. Findings showed more disagreement than agreement between the two user groups in several aspects regarding rubrics’ 1) perceived comprehension, 2) effectiveness, and 3) support of creative design learning. A noticeable gap was found in views about the functions of a rubric; while instructors recognized its evaluative role, students appreciated its reflective role in supporting meta-cognitive learning. Assessing design creativity held contradicting views, while more areas of agreement were found in terms of the rubrics’ design and perceived comprehension. Finally, this research highlights several pedagogical approaches to reduce perception gaps and create a shared understanding of the rubrics’ roles in supporting studio-based design learning, hence, optimizing its educational value to effectively assess creative design outcomes.

Bridging Perceptual Gaps: Designers vs. Non-Designers in Urban Wayfinding Signage Preferences

As urban environments become increasingly complex and the costs and challenges of infrastructure upgrades continue to rise, wayfinding signage has become an effective solution to cope with urban dynamics due to its low cost and high flexibility. Although the functionality of wayfinding signage has been extensively studied, the perceptual differences between designers and non-designers have not been adequately explored. Ignoring these differences may lead to the overlooking of users’ real and diverse needs, resulting in suboptimal signage performance in practical applications and ultimately a reduction in the overall functionality and user experience of urban spaces. This study aims to bridge this perceptual gap. For this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey in China to compare the visual preferences of designers and non-designers regarding text, shape, color coding, and patterns. The results indicate that designers prioritize functionality and clarity to ensure the effective use of signage in complex urban environments, whereas non-designers prefer wayfinding signages that reflect local cultural symbols and characteristics. Our conclusions suggest that the public’s expectations for wayfinding signage extend beyond basic navigational functions, with an emphasis on cultural expression and visual appeal. Understanding these perceptual differences is crucial in developing design strategies that balance functionality, esthetics, and sustainability, thereby facilitating the sustainable integration of signage into urban landscapes.

Comparing elite and citizen attitudes towards the differentiated implementation of EU law: evidence from a large-N survey of citizens, politicians and bureaucrats

Transnational regulatory harmonisation is a key building block of the international legal order. However, little is known about how elite and citizen views of it differ. Using data from a Norwegian survey from 2023 this article finds both citizen-elite and intra-elite gaps in perceptions of legal harmonisation. First, citizens are significantly less likely to support legal harmonisation than bureaucrats. In contrast, the article finds that their views of it are similar to those of all but the most Eurosceptic politicians. Furthermore, while the attitudes of bureaucrats only differ significantly from those of strongly Eurosceptic politicians, bureaucrats with a ministry or legal background hold views of legal harmonisation significantly different from those of other civil servants. Future studies of public and elite opinion of international cooperation must thus theorise more clearly how the elite-citizen gap may vary for different elites, and empirically test how these differences manifest across policy areas.

Gender Swap in Virtual Reality for Supporting Inclusion and Implications in the Workplace

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS We explored the potential impacts of a virtual gender swap on perceptions toward sexual harassment, which is a harmful behavior that lacks respect and inclusivity. Given that perceptions of harassing behaviors can vary, and that gender may influence one’s interpretation of such behaviors, we implemented gender swap in virtual reality (VR) to examine changes in sensitivity to harassment across genders. Participants reported harassing behaviors as more inappropriate when embodying female avatars, regardless of their own gender. Our results suggest that gender swap in VR may raise awareness and narrow the gender gap in harassment perceptions, showing potential of VR-based interventions for immersive workplace training to effectively address biases and promote inclusivity among diversity, equity, and inclusion training. Our study also shows the potential of VR to simulate diverse scenarios and perspectives for tailored training experiences that cater to the specific needs and challenges of different occupational settings.

Young women's perceptions of cervical screening in the UK: a qualitative study.

To understand young women's views of cervical screening, what obstacles they face, and what encourages them when considering attending their cervical screening. Cervical screening figures have been steadily decreasing in the United Kingdom (UK). There is limited research on this trend, especially around views and knowledge of young women, aged 20-24 years, have before they are eligible for cervical screening. This qualitative study conducted 15 semi-structured Zoom in-depth interviews to discuss young women's knowledge and perceptions of cervical screening in 2022. Participants were based in the UK. Thematic analysis was used to systematically manage, analyse, and identify themes including cervical screening knowledge; perceptions of cervical screening; barriers to cervical screening; and facilitators of cervical screening. The findings demonstrate significant gaps in knowledge and negative perceptions of cervical screening. Barriers to attending cervical screening were perceived pain and embarrassment. Facilitators suggested to promote attendance were ensuring access to appointments, creating pop-up clinics, and utilising incentives. The level of knowledge demonstrated by the participants, their negatively framed perceptions; and the vast number of barriers identified present substantial factors that could affect future attendance to cervical screening. Overall, action needs to be taken to prevent decreasing cervical screening attendance rates and eradicate any barriers women may experience.

Exploring Perspectives on Data Science Competency: Insights from Students, Professionals, and Employers

Graduate-level data science programs at iSchools have increased in recent years in response to growing needs in the field and demand for professionals with data-related skills due to technology advancements and the ubiquity of information and data. However, a perception gap still exists regarding skills taught in classrooms and those needed in the workplace. Hence, we systematically analyzed graduate-level data science programs and courses and conducted a survey of relevant stakeholders (current students, data professionals, and employers) on their perceptions of the skills and knowledge necessary for an effective data science professional or data librarian. In the questionnaire, 116 participants rated the importance of data science competencies and topics using a seven-point Likert scale. The survey participants rated most data competency areas as important, very important, or extremely important, indicating a strong consensus among respondents regarding the significance of technical skills like data analysis, foundational skills like problem-solving, and soft skills like communication. Overall, students rated the importance of most technical skills higher than employers and professionals did. However, employers rated the importance of soft skills, such as communication, higher than students. A Kruskal-Wallis H test confirmed significant differences in the rating of multiple data competency importance among the three groups. When asked about the importance of data topics, participants rated topics like data ethics, privacy, and access as important. These findings could inform and assist administrators and faculty at LIS and iSchools with curricula design for graduate programs while working to prepare students for careers in the information professions.

Feature extraction contributing to risk-acceptance prediction by machine learning models in food benefit-risk communication in Japan

To protect public health, it is crucial to reduce the perception gap that exists between experts and the public. This can ensure appropriately informed food choices based on scientific evidence. This study aimed to build a machine learning model to predict public risk acceptance to ensure the promotion of effective food risk communication between experts and the public for bringing peace of mind to the public. We developed a machine learning model for public risk acceptance and evaluated its accuracy with risk acceptance as the output data and background information and included age, gender, health status, numeracy score, trust in public institutions, personal characteristics (self-motivation, controllability, involvement, and anxiety), favorability toward fish, risk perception, benefit perception, frequency of fish consumption, and message type as input data. We used the data from a randomized controlled study conducted in 2022 in Japan among 7200 participants. In total, 3324 of 3600 men and 3295 of 3600 women were in the top (high-benefit and low-risk) perception category. The accuracy of the machine learning model for the prediction of risk acceptance of the public was high for both men and women with F values of 0.926 (SD: 0.000) and 0.911 (SD: 0.000), respectively. This is the first study using a machine learning approach in food safety. The accuracy of the risk-acceptance estimation model was high. The findings can help public agencies pre-design communication before disseminating health information, thereby contributing to effective benefit-risk communication via a machine learning model.

Gender Equity Perceptions Among Social and Administrative Sciences Pharmacy Faculty: An AACP-APhA Task Force Report

ObjectiveThe American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Social and Administrative Sciences Section and the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science’s Economic, Social and Administrative Sciences Section formed a Gender Equity Task Force to determine if there is evidence to suggest that there is gender disparity in pay; responsibilities; treatment by peers/colleagues, students, and administration; leadership opportunities; and rank, tenure status, and career advancement for Section members; and to develop recommendations to address existing disparities. MethodsA Qualtrics survey was emailed in December 2020 to all American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Social and Administrative Sciences and American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science’s Economic, Social and Administrative Sciences Section members. The questionnaire included items regarding favorability toward men or women in various academic domains (research, teaching, service, recruitment, mentoring, and advancement). Participants were asked if they had experienced gender inequity, and if so, at what type of institution and academic rank. The χ2 tests of independence and post hoc comparisons were used to assess item responses according to gender. ResultsOf the respondents, 72% indicated that they had experienced gender inequity. Women and persons of color were more likely to do so. Women commonly reported that men received more favorable treatment in nearly all academic domains, whereas men reported that women and men were treated equally. ConclusionPharmacy faculty specializing in social and administrative sciences reported experiences of gender inequity and perceptions of gender inequity. Perception gaps existed between male and female faculty in numerous academic domains. Colleges and schools of pharmacy should increase awareness of, and strive to self-assess, gender inequity in their institutions.

Gender gaps in perceptions of social protection: Insights from the OECD Risks that Matter Survey

AbstractReflecting their weaker labour force attachment and lower earnings, women consistently report feeling greater economic insecurity than men across the Member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD). Similar gender gaps emerge in perceptions of social protection systems: women are far less confident than men in their ability to access benefits and services and receive adequate income support when they need it, both in working age and old age. Results from the cross‐national OECD Risks that Matter (RTM) Survey illustrate that, on average, across countries, about half of women feel that they could not easily receive public benefits if they needed them, compared to 43 per cent of men. This perceived inaccessibility likely reflects gender gaps in perceived “hassle costs” associated with social programme applications and the intra‐household allocations of administrative burden, but it also likely reflects women’s lower social security contributions. This article illuminates gender gaps in the design of social programmes and suggests ways by which governments can better mainstream gender when improving the accessibility and adequacy of social protection.

Health literacy and tobacco cessation among hypertensive individuals: A mixed method study

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and tobacco addiction are two major public health challenges in India that frequently coexist. About 30% of Indian adults have hypertension, while over one-fourth use some form of tobacco. So, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of tobacco consumption and identify associated socio-demographic factors among hypertensive patients in urban India and also further explored patient perspectives regarding tobacco use through qualitative interviews. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This mixed-method study was conducted among 305 hypertensive adults recruited from an urban tertiary hospital using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Additionally, 15 tobacco-consuming patients were purposively sampled for in-depth interviews regarding perceptions and behaviors related to tobacco. Descriptive statistics and multi-variable logistic regression models were applied for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis for qualitative data. RESULTS: The prevalence of ever tobacco use among hypertensive patients was 21%. Smokeless tobacco was the predominant form used. Male gender, urban locality, illiteracy, and lack of knowledge about tobacco hazards had a higher likelihood of tobacco consumption. Qualitative interviews provided complementary insights into triggers like peer influences and stress, barriers to quitting including withdrawal effects and system gaps, and participant perspectives on facilitating cessation. CONCLUSION: Tobacco consumption among hypertensives is higher than national averages. Tailored educational, motivational, and policy-level interventions addressing gaps in knowledge, risk perceptions, addiction behaviors, and cessation support systems can enable the promotion of tobacco abstinence and hypertension control in this vulnerable sub-group. The multi-method data provide actionable inputs for planning targeted control and prevention strategies addressing this dual burden.

Human-robot collaborative decision method of hexapod robot based on prior knowledge and negotiation strategy

Against the unstructured terrain environment, human drivers often rely on remote operating patterns to accomplish tasks with robots. With the gradual improvement in robot intelligence, a key problem that urgently requires attention is how to bridge cognitive and perceptual differences between human and robot in collaborative decision-making processes. Particularly effective resolution of differences in decision outcomes is crucial. Therefore, this paper utilizes the decision logic process and prior knowledge model of human drivers to form a robot's decision framework, narrowing the cognitive differences between human and robot. Besides, embedding the human-robot-environment features that affect the decision-making process as prior knowledge into the robot's decision-making system can effectively reduce perceptual gaps. Under the same decision framework, a negotiation strategy is proposed for forming a unified decision outcome between human and robot by finding an optimal concession rate. This study utilizes a hexapod robot simulated driving platform to gather experimental data and develop prior knowledge for robots. It also leverages virtual reality equipment and visual augmentation technologies to establish a remote human-robot collaborative decision-making experimental system. The experimental results conducted in complex obstacle terrain demonstrate the effectiveness of adopting the negotiation strategy for human-robot collaborative decision-making. Compared with the individual human or robot decision, the human-robot collaborative decision method significantly enhances robot stability, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes collisions.

Risk perceptions and preventive preparedness toward anthrax re-emergence within the lens of one health in Northcentral Nigeria.

Anthrax has re-emerged in domestic ruminants in Nigeria with public health concerns. This study assessed stakeholders' perceptions and preventive preparedness toward further resurgence and spread at the human-animal-environment interface. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Nigeria. Descriptive and analytical statistical analyses were performed at 95% confidence levels. All the 384 recruited stakeholders responded. The majority (96.2%) of animal health practitioners (AHPs) and 56.7% of pastoralists were aware of the recent anthrax re-emergence in Nigeria (p < 0.001). Noteworthy, 88.5% of the AHPs and 32.2% of pastoralists mentioned that anthrax has an environmental component in its transmission to humans and animals. From the environmental perspective, 87.7% of AHPs and 24.0% of pastoralists significantly perceived that soil and aerosol contamination with anthrax spores are highly plausible explanation routes for its re-emergence. Extreme weather events (high rainfall, flooding, winds, and drought) (p = 0.001); grazing of livestock on pastures grown on contaminated soil (p < 0.001), transboundary movement and trade of animals (p = 0.001); introduction of new animals into the herds without quarantine (p = 0.001); and bioterrorism (p < 0.001) were more likely to influence the re-emergence and spread of anthrax. To tackle gaps in knowledge and risk perceptions, and address the socio-economic and anthropogenic drivers, cooperation and collaborations through the lens of the One Health approach are needed. The partnership will promote an integrated disease surveillance system from planning to implementation for the realization of elimination or reduction of the burden of anthrax and other zoonoses in Nigeria and contribute to achieving food safety, food security, and public and ecosystem health.

Perceptions of risk sharing agreements in South Korea from the viewpoints of key stakeholders: a convergent parallel mixed approach

ABSTRACT Objectives In 2013, South Korea introduced risk-sharing agreements (RSAs) as a new reimbursement mechanism to enhance access to new medicines and to manage pharmaceutical expenditures. This study evaluates RSAs in South Korea from the viewpoints of key stakeholders. Methods In 2022, a survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Study participants were recruited from academia (n = 3), domestic (n = 4) and foreign (n = 6) manufacturers, and government agencies (n = 6) using a purposive sampling method. Results Key stakeholders perceived the objective of RSAs to be ‘access to medicines’ and understood RSAs to manage uncertainty about ‘expenditures.’ They responded that financial- and performance-based RSAs address uncertainty about ‘expenditures’ and ‘clinical effectiveness,’ respectively. All stakeholders agreed that RSAs have increased the likelihood that new medicines will be listed and have reduced out-of-pocket expenditures for patients. However, foreign manufacturers insisted that the benefits of RSAs are marginal, while the administrative burden on manufacturers is high. Conclusion The gaps in perception between stakeholders could be narrowed by conducting a comprehensive evaluation. Financial- and performance-based RSAs need to be clearly distinguished and aligned to address the uncertainties of a new medicine in health systems.

REVOLUTIONIZING POWER TRANSFORMER FAULT DIAGNOSIS THROUGH COGNITIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DISSOLVED GAS ANALYSIS INTEGRATION

The research introduces a cognitive artificial intelligence (CAI) model that leverages dissolved gas analysis (DGA) to investigate power transformer faults. Conventional fault interpretation methods using DGA are limited in accuracy and uncertainty. In response, the proposed CAI model utilizes cognitive learning and direct interaction to achieve remarkably accurate fault identification without the need for supervised training. By extracting fault features through key gas ratio limitations. However, the CAI model also has a gap in data perception due to the information sensory challenges. Using gas ratios based on the conventional fault interpretation methods in the latest study still limited data perception of the CAI model to only three or four gas ratios. Thus, this study aims to increase data perception by extracting fault features through ten gas ratio limitations. The proposed CAI model's performance is validated, outperforming traditional methods like the Duval triangle method, Duval pentagon method, Doernenburg ratio method, and Roger ratio method, as well as common AI approaches including artificial neuron network, long short-term memory, nearest neighbor classifiers, support vector machine, ensemble classifiers, and decision trees. Notably, the CAI model's success rate in fault type identification stands at an impressive 98.04%. A distinctive trait of the CAI model is its autonomous knowledge accumulation and enhancement, enabled by inferring-fusion information and sensor-based knowledge integration. This intrinsic learning ability further contributes to its exceptional fault diagnosis accuracy. The proposed CAI model showcases promising potential for revolutionizing power transformer fault investigation and diagnosis, mitigating unplanned outages, and ultimately bolstering power system reliability.

Diagnosis journey for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a qualitative study

ObjectiveThe objective is to explore the journey to diagnosis and referral pathway from the onset of symptoms to the initial assessments at paediatric rheumatology (PR) centres, based on the experience...

Exploring Social Media to Understand Perceptions of Milk Quality among Farmers, Processors, and Citizen-Consumers.

Milk consumption is crucial for a balanced diet, yet recent trends indicate a decline, especially in Italy. A significant factor in this decline is the altered perception of milk quality among consumers, which has created a communication gap between them and other stakeholders. This study aimed to explore the discourse on social media and sentiment towards the concept of milk quality among consumers, farmers, and processors. The research adopted social media analysis to examine online-community messages. A sample of 19,906 Italian comments and posts mentioning keywords "milk", "quality", "cow", and "vaccine" was collected and categorized using term-frequency analysis, correspondence analysis, and sentiment analysis. Results highlighted gaps in perceptions of milk quality: farmers focused on economic issues, consumers on animal welfare and health, and processors on lactose content. For farmers, almost all comments were negative, while for processors, nearly all comments were positive. Consumers presented a more mixed picture. This work contributes to the literature by expanding research on milk quality, using social media as a source of information. The findings suggest that enhancing communication and understanding among these groups could lead to more effective strategies for addressing consumer concerns, potentially reversing the decline in milk consumption.

Why do politicians perceive the same financial conditions differently?

AbstractBehavioral public administration research has provided empirical evidence of several perception biases when individuals process information. Building on these findings, we seek to advance the literature by analyzing politicians' financial perceptions of their own government. Drawing on the theory of motivated reasoning, we examine the context of Swedish municipalities and find financial perception gaps associated with politicians' party affiliation (establishment or anti‐establishment), parliamentary position (opposition or governing party), and formal hierarchical rank. Specifically, politicians representing anti‐establishment and opposition parties, as well as those occupying lower positions in the political hierarchy—and thus having less influence over and less responsibility for municipal affairs—tend to perceive the financial situation more negatively. These findings suggest the presence of a motivationally driven bias in politicians' perceptions of financial conditions; moreover, they illustrate that these perceptions are influenced by factors beyond the traditional financial, socioeconomic, and demographic ones examined in previous research.