Group Related Variables Research Articles

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors modulating vigilance and foraging in two gregarious foragers

Abstract A continuous balance between costs and benefits dictates individual vigilance and foraging dynamics. In group-living animals, understanding the resulting trade-off is often complicated by multiple confounding effects. Vigilance and foraging levels may be the result of intrinsic (e.g., body size, trophic ecology, migratory phenology) and extrinsic (e.g., flock size, edge effect, group dynamism) factors, potentially differing between species, individuals, and contexts. We explored this idea by investigating intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing vigilance and foraging behavior of two sympatric gregarious bird species that differ markedly in body size and foraging strategies (Greylag Goose Anser anser and Common Crane Grus grus), during their non-breeding period. Interspecific differences were detected in activity allocation and in response to group-related variables. For both species, time spent in vigilance decreased with increasing flock size and with increasing distance from the edge of the group. While cranes allocated the resulting time to foraging, the same did not occur in geese. Changes in individual position in the group (i.e., peripheral vs. central or vice versa) elicited a prompt behavioral change (i.e., vigilance vs. foraging or other activity). Temporal changes in activity budgets were reported for geese but not for cranes, with a decrease of vigilance and an increase of foraging as winter progressed. Results allowed to disentangle the role of multifactorial determinants of vigilance and foraging, in turn increasing our understanding of underlying forces driving the evolution of behavioral traits and of group-living.

Investigating in-class and after-class boredom among advanced learners of English: intensity, interrelationships and learner profiles

Abstract Although the number of studies into boredom in second and/or foreign language (L2) learning is evidently on the rise and our understanding of this negative emotion has been considerably extended, surprisingly, empirical evidence is still scant with respect to boredom experienced in out-of-school situations. This study addresses this gap by: (1) examining the relative contribution of factors underlying in-class and after-class boredom, (2) investigating relationships among these factors, (3) identifying distinct learner profiles connected with these factors, and (4) exploring the role of group-related variables in this respect. The data were collected from 107 Polish university students majoring in English through two tools designed for this purpose. The results demonstrated that in-class and after-class boredom are distinct yet multidimensional constructs and factors underpinning them cannot be easily separated. Four in-class and after-class boredom-specific cluster groups were identified and the impact of gender and attainment measures for some of these factors was found. Future research directions are discussed as well.

Immigrants’ political engagement: gender differences in political attitudes and behaviours among immigrants in Italy

Despite the relevance of the gender dimension of immigration, political engagement of migrant women has rarely been the focus of scholarly research. This article tries to fill this gap. Using secondary data from the “Condizione e integrazione sociale dei cittadini stranieri” [Social Condition and Integration of Foreign Citizens] survey carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in 2011–2012, we analysed the factors that at an individual level spur or inhibit migrants’ political engagement in Italy in terms of gender differences. We decided to use political interest and political participation separately as dependent dichotomous variables in logistic models that consider structural, situational, migratory, and group-related variables as independent factors. From our analysis, some relevant differences emerged both in terms of gender and in terms of political attitudes and behaviours. Our results confirm the existence of a gender gap in political engagement among migrants in Italy: migrant women are always less likely to be engaged in politics compared to men, both in terms of interest and participation. After controlling for some characteristics, this gap never disappears completely. Our results also suggest that there are some notable differences in the determinants of political engagement. Indeed, family workload inhibits the probability of political engagement only for migrant women. Furthermore, our results cast light on the crucial role of social capital in spurring political engagement for both women and men, thus contributing to reducing the gender gap.

Simultaneous Semiparametric Estimation of Clustering and Regression

ABSTRACT We investigate the parameter estimation of regression models with fixed group effects, when the group variable is missing while group-related variables are available. This problem involves clustering to infer the missing group variable based on the group-related variables, and regression to build a model on the target variable given the group and eventually some additional variables. Thus, this problem can be formulated as the joint distribution modeling of the target and of the group-related variables. The usual parameter estimation strategy for this joint model is a two-step approach starting by learning the group variable (clustering step) and then plugging in its estimator for fitting the regression model (regression step). However, this approach is suboptimal (providing in particular biased regression estimates) since it does not make use of the target variable for clustering. Thus, we advise the use of a simultaneous estimation approach of both clustering and regression, in a semiparametric framework. Numerical experiments illustrate the benefits of our proposition by considering wide ranges of distributions and regression models. The relevance of our new method is illustrated on real data dealing with problems associated with high blood pressure prevention. The proposed approach is implemented in the R package ClusPred available on CRAN. Supplementary materials containing the technical details and the R codes are available online.

Tracing roots of group representation among MPs with immigrant backgrounds: A content analysis on parliamentary questions in the Netherlands

This study investigates the representative patterns of MPs with immigrant backgrounds in the case of the Netherlands. Departing from existing literature on minority representatives, we claim that minority representatives can adopt suppressive, as well as supportive, framings when addressing constituencies with whom they share similar backgrounds. A content analysis was conducted on the parliamentary work of minority representatives to detect which frames those representatives adopt when they address cultural and/or religious rights and liberties. As for explanatory variables, we examined the role of the retreat from multicultural policies in the Netherlands on the one hand and individual and group related variables on the other. Our content analysis reveals no fundamental linear shift towards more suppressive framing during the 2002–2017 period. Minority MPs from progressive parties are more likely to use supportive frames than those MPs from conservative parties. Coming from a Turkish background – the most organized ethnic group with the highest social capital in the country – significantly adds to the likelihood of a supportive form of representation. Gender is another significant variable explaining where minority representatives stand, with male MPs being more inclined to use supportive frames on ethnic and/or religious rights and liberties than female MPs.

A review explanatory effects of self & group-orientations on acculturative stress and belongingness

The problem of being accepted in a cognitively culturally distant setting at a new institute presents difficulties for the person, both mentally and socially, with the experience of acculturation or subsequent adaptation to the new atmosphere being the most prominent. This research adds to the acculturation literature by integrating components that are important for people who are severely to moderately stressed when they meet a new institutional culture and therefore need to find a reference group to deal with the acculturative stress levels. The impact of self-verification, state self-esteem, or group-related variables like resemblance to others and reliance on others on the desire for reference group belongingness during acculturation is thoroughly investigated. The findings show that for stressed people, the desire to belong to a group is heightened as a consequence of a decrease in present self-esteem and a concurrent need to self-verify. Individuals also consider resemblance to other members of the reference group to be unimportant, while reliance on the reference group is crucial.

A review explanatory effects of self & group-orientations on acculturative stress and belongingness

The problem of being accepted in a cognitively culturally distant setting at a new institute presents difficulties for the person, both mentally and socially, with the experience of acculturation or subsequent adaptation to the new atmosphere being the most prominent. This research adds to the acculturation literature by integrating components that are important for people who are severely to moderately stressed when they meet a new institutional culture and therefore need to find a reference group to deal with the acculturative stress levels. The impact of self-verification, state self-esteem, or group-related variables like resemblance to others and reliance on others on the desire for reference group belongingness during acculturation is thoroughly investigated. The findings show that for stressed people, the desire to belong to a group is heightened as a consequence of a decrease in present self-esteem and a concurrent need to self-verify. Individuals also consider resemblance to other members of the reference group to be unimportant, while reliance on the reference group is crucial.

Mara forever? Factors associated with gang disengagement in El Salvador

ObjectiveThis study examines the factors associated with intentions to leave a gang in a context controlled by some of the most violent and structured street gangs in the Americas. It contends that group interactions better explain intentions to leave a gang in a place like El Salvador than life-course events. MethodBased on a series of logistic regressions using a cross-sectional survey with nearly 1196 active and former gang members in El Salvador, we identify the factors associated with disengagement intentions. We complement the analysis with 24 in-depth interviews with former gang members. ResultsWe find that group-related variables, such as the number of gang members in the clique, learning that a peer has successfully left the gang, incarceration, and affiliation with an Evangelical church are the most critical factors associated with attempts of disengagement. Intentions to leave the group are a direct function of the gang's ability to regulate the life and peer relationships of its members. ConclusionsSocial environments controlled by gang rule constrain the potential effects of life-course events. They curb the chances of disengagement, even among those with maturational tools required to desist from gang life.

Group Entity Belief: An Individual Difference Construct Based on Implicit Theories of Social Identities

Drawing from the implicit theories framework of Dweck (1986), we propose a new construct called Group Entity Belief (GEB), which is an individual difference construct reflecting the extent to which social identities are perceived as fixed and lasting aspects of the self. In this research, we tested the overarching hypothesis that high GEB is associated with stronger social identity effects. First, we examined the relationships between GEB and classic group-related variables such as collective self-esteem, commitment, and social identification. Second, we tested how much GEB predicts group-related outcome variables. Finally, we examined how GEB is associated with variables pertaining to past in-groups. These findings provide valuable insights into the psychological nature of GEB.

A Qualitative Investigation into Experiences of the Role Episode in Soccer

This study explored the phenomenon of the role episode in sport. Performance profiles and interviews were conducted with 11 male collegiate soccer players to identify the factors that contributed to the formation of positive perceptions of role states and the consequences for the individual and team. Role clarity developed via a combination of learning through implicit experiences in the sport and explicit instruction from role senders. Role acceptance formed through the focal person’s perceptions of the assigned performance role and the role sender. Positive perceptions of role states were suggested to improve performance by enhancing individual and group-related variables, including role satisfaction, group cohesion, and collective efficacy. The findings highlight the significance of understanding the factors that contribute to a positive role episode in sport and present implications for future team-building interventions.