Institutional Factors Research Articles

Value orientations of youth and the formation of cultural memory in the region (On the example of the Chechen republic)

The article analyzes the characteristics of the Chechen youth, their value attitudes and roles in the formation of cultural memory. The methodological framework covers theoretical and methodological areas of research of two social phenomena that are important signs of the changing world at the beginning of this millennium: cultural memory and the attitude of the younger generation towards it. The analysis of these phenomena is studied on the example of a specific region as a social space at a certain stage of socio-public transformation, where the foundations of traditional society with the prevalence of vertical connections continue to play an important role. At the same time, young people have a special place in the perception and transformation of values, experiencing at the same time a great influence of globalization and information technologies. The empirical basis of the study was socio-demographic data on the Chechen Republic, quantitative and qualitative methods of surveying the youth of the republic: an online survey was conducted among students (N = 92) aged 19-24 years and in-depth interviews among young people (N = 21), whose average age was 30 years. Additional materials were data from the database of surveys and focus groups collected in recent years. The results of the study showed that the transformation of cultural memory in the region is influenced by both structural factors, primarily demographic, migration dynamics, socio-economic living conditions of the population, etc., and cultural and institutional factors that determine the value attitudes of various segments of the population, the discourses prevailing in the society, attitudes to history, politics, etc. The value landmarks of young people play an important role in the formation of the cultural memory of the Chechen society and act as means of stabilizing and renewing the society. A key feature of the Chechen society is a respect towards elders. The succession of values is under threat of breaking intergenerational ties and subject to an unprecedented information aggression. The issues of an objective attitude to history, developing a position on the modernization of the society are acute.

Interwoven processes in linguistic historiography

Summary This article presents an integrated perspective on the history of Chinese linguistics in Europe by examining the interplay of logistic, material, and institutional factors. Asking how knowledge related to the Chinese language was obtained, diffused, and preserved, it examines linguistic historiography through the prism of accessibility to China and its resulting corollaries for formulating and testing hypotheses about the Chinese language. The nineteenth century is seen as a time of professionalisation characterized by increased opportunities for engagement with China and its language, the creation of academic positions and teaching programs, technical advances in digraphic printing, and the return of competent speakers of the Chinese language.

Beyond Games: Unspoken Challenges of Pre- Service Physical Education Teachers – A Pilot Study

Studies on teacher preparation highlight the importance of practical experiences such as internships in adequately preparing pre-service teachers for the demands of the profession. However, there has been a lack of focus on the specific difficulties encountered by pre-service physical education (PE) teachers during internships. This study utilized qualitative methods to examine the specific obstacles encountered by eight pre-service physical education teachers while completing their internships at private secondary schools in the northern region of the Philippines. Through thematic analysis of weekly reflective journals, four main themes were identified: personal well-being and emotional strain, classroom management and student interactions, instructional practices and pedagogical challenges, and school environment and institutional factors. The results emphasize the importance of integrating well-being strategies into PE teacher education programs, improving PE-specific classroom management training, and promoting stronger partnerships between universities and schools to offer consistent support, resources, and practical experiences for future teachers navigating the complexities of the PE teaching environment. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the experiences of pre-service PE teachers and provide practical suggestions for enhancing teacher preparation and support systems.

Scoping review of marine fisheries governance in the Philippines: Goals, instruments, actions, opportunities and challenges

Effective fisheries governance has long been a challenge to achieve across the globe with critical implications for food security and livelihoods in coastal zones. This is especially true for the Philippines, an archipelagic country with abundant coastal biodiversity. While scholars have investigated specific elements of fisheries governance in the Philippines, none has sought to make holistic sense in terms of the coherence of its goals, instruments, actions, opportunities, and challenges. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted based upon 160 published articles. Results of the study reveal that marine fisheries governance in the Philippines is primarily dominated by participatory governance, specifically co-management, which encourages public-private partnerships. This collaborative arrangement is legally empowered by legislation that provides the mandate for the decentralization of fisheries governance – the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. Marine fisheries governance is primarily oriented towards biodiversity conservation, an overarching goal necessary to achieve other social, economic, and cultural goals. In order to achieve these goals, a combination of hard and soft instruments is typically employed in governance operations in tandem with, predominantly, surveillance and enforcement actions. Opportunities in fisheries governance are principally institutional factors (i.e. institutional linkages), whereas challenges are mostly resource-oriented factors (i.e. illegal fishing). More broadly, marine fisheries governance in the Philippines has evolved in response to historical political processes and especially the dynamics of power relations among key actors – the state, market and civil society - and the struggle for decolonization.

Challenges to Successful Thesis Completion among Postgraduate Students

This study utilized a descriptive quantitative approach to examine the key challenges that postgraduate students face in completing their thesis work. The target population for the research consisted of master’s, and doctoral students enrolled in various academic disciplines at Universities in Mogadishu, and a random sampling technique was employed to obtain a sample size of 124 participants. The findings of the study identified several major obstacles that graduate students encounter during the thesis process. The most significant factors were time management issues, limited access to critical research resources, and various institutional barriers that did not adequately support the thesis completion. Specifically, the study found that Institutional Factors (mean 3.49) and Time Management (mean 3.4) were considered "Highly Challenging" by the participants. Access to Resources (mean 3.38), Supervisor Support (mean 3.22), Discipline-Specific Factors (mean 3.31), and Language Factors (mean 3.25) were rated as "Moderately Challenging". Personal Obligations (mean 2.9) were also seen as "Moderately Challenging" by the graduate students. The results of this study underscore the need for universities to provide stronger support systems and address these multifaceted challenges to enable postgraduate students to successfully complete their thesis work. Recommendations for improving thesis support are discussed.

Investigating the links between questionable research practices, scientific norms and organisational culture

BackgroundThis study investigates the determinants of engagement in questionable research practices (QRPs), focusing on both individual-level factors (such as scholarly field, commitment to scientific norms, gender, contract type, and career stage) and institution-level factors (including industry type, researchers' perceptions of their research culture, and awareness of institutional policies on research integrity).MethodsUsing a multi-level modelling approach, we analyse data from an international survey of researchers working across disciplinary fields to estimate the effect of these factors on QRP engagement.ResultsOur findings indicate that contract type, career stage, academic field, adherence to scientific norms and gender significantly predict QRP engagement. At the institution level, factors such as being outside of a collegial culture and experiencing harmful publication pressure, and the presence of safeguards against integrity breaches have small associations. Only a minimal amount of variance in QRP engagement is attributable to differences between institutions and countries.ConclusionsWe discuss the implications of these findings for developing effective interventions to reduce QRPs, highlighting the importance of addressing both individual and institutional factors in efforts to foster research integrity.

Diverse perspectives on entrepreneurship: Analyzing gender and age-related differences in perceptions

Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and social development, yet perceptions of entrepreneurship can vary significantly across different demographic groups. Understanding these variations is crucial for developing effective education and support systems. This study investigates the differences in perceptions of entrepreneurship among various gender and age groups, focusing on aspects such as career opportunities, financial readiness, the attractiveness of entrepreneurial ventures, skill requirements, economic impact, educational effectiveness, and gender-specific views on entrepreneurship. Using a quantitative research design, the study analyzed data collected from 300 entrepreneurs in Greater Noida through a structured questionnaire. Independent samples t-tests and ANOVA were employed to identify significant differences in perceptions across genders and age groups. The findings reveal notable differences in perceptions related to the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education and the role of women in entrepreneurship. Specifically, females demonstrated greater confidence in the ability of the education system to prepare individuals for entrepreneurial careers than males did. Additionally, significant differences in perceptions of entrepreneurial opportunities and support were observed between different age groups. These results highlight the need for tailored education programs and support systems that address the unique needs of diverse demographic segments. The study underscores the importance of promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in entrepreneurship to foster a more dynamic and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. By addressing the specific challenges and opportunities identified, policymakers and educators can develop more effective and inclusive strategies to support aspiring entrepreneurs. Future research should further explore the sociocultural and institutional factors influencing entrepreneurial perceptions to enhance the overall effectiveness of entrepreneurship initiatives.

Barriers to Pro-Environmental Behavior Change: A Review of Qualitative Research

In recent decades, reports of deforestation, mass extinctions, biodiversity loss, and emergencies like floods and droughts have clearly highlighted the impact of human activities on climate change. This underscores the need for significant lifestyle changes to mitigate this impact. Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) change involves adopting actions that protect the environment and reducing environmentally harmful activities to promote sustainability. While qualitative research may provide unique insights into PEB barriers that are challenging to capture through quantitative methods, reports of qualitative studies are scattered across different literatures with little integration. With the present review, we bring together qualitative studies on PEB barriers and examine whether those studies reveal barriers compatible with existing barrier frameworks from environmental psychology. We identified 38 qualitative studies on barriers to PEB change. Our analysis revealed that most of the barriers to individual pro-environmental action identified in qualitative studies align with environmental psychology frameworks. These barriers were experienced not only by individuals in their role as consumer or citizen, but also by community-level actors (e.g., seeking to implement pro-environmental policies) and industrial decision-makers (e.g., aiming to reduce the ecological footprint of their business activities). Our findings underscore the multifaceted nature of barriers to PEB change and emphasize the importance of addressing structural and institutional factors alongside individual-level interventions.

The impact of institutional environment factors on foreign direct investment in provinces located in the Mekong delta region

The primary aim of this study is to explore the influence of institutional environmental factors on foreign direct investment (FDI) within the provinces of Vietnam's Mekong Delta region over the period from 2010 to 2022. The fixed-effect model (FEM) and random-effect model (REM) are used for estimating the impacts of the institutional environment's elements on the FDI of Vietnam's provinces. The Hausman’s test is applied to help determine a suitable and reliable model to perform analyses and discuss the empirical results. The research results indicate that institutional environment factors have a significant impact on FDI inflows in the provinces. Specifically, enterprise support and the number of FDI projects foster the FDI inflows in the provinces of Mekong Delta region. Furthermore, factors such as cost of market entry, information transparency, informal costs, the dynamics of the leaders at the provincial level, the level of labor training, and legal institutions do not significantly influence the FDI inflows into the provinces. Based on these findings, the main policy implications, including improving enterprise support and increasing the number of FDI projects to attract more FDI inflows to the provinces in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, have also been proposed.

Diversifying the teaching workforce: challenges and opportunities in initial teacher education (ITE)

ABSTRACT Globalisation and migration have led to increasingly diverse classrooms. Yet teachers from ethnic minority backgrounds continue to be disproportionally under-represented in the teaching workforce. While education policies often focus on addressing student differences and diversity, the attention is rarely extended to diversifying the traditionally homogenous teaching workforce. The result is the widening diversity gap between teachers and the students they teach. This has implications for social justice, equity and inclusive education. While the benefits of a diverse teaching workforce are widely recognised, efforts to increase teachers from ethnic minority backgrounds yielded limited results. This paper discusses the challenges that support the attraction and retention of teacher candidates in initial teacher education and their transition into teaching and recommends strategies addressing structural, institutional, and environmental factors that deter them from the teaching profession.

Loneliness in sport: A systematic mixed studies review

ABSTRACT Loneliness is an established risk factor for mental and physical health problems. Individuals involved in sport face many unique stressors, some of which could exacerbate the risk of loneliness. To bring clarity to published evidence in this area, inform future research, and develop applied recommendations to prevent and reduce loneliness in the sport community, we sought to systematically review, synthesise, and appraise research on loneliness in sport. Following electronic database and manual searches to identify literature on loneliness in the sport community up to August 2024, we included and thematically synthesised data from 194 studies (N = 88,516). Social loneliness was the most common conceptualisation of loneliness within the literature. We identified socio-cultural, institutional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal risk factors associated with loneliness. There was less evidence for protective factors, but the available evidence was categorised into interpersonal and intrapersonal factors. Finally, there was substantial evidence concerning adverse consequences associated with loneliness in sport, including: impaired mental health and well-being; adverse social outcomes; negative cognitive, affective, and motivational outcomes; and maladaptive behavioural outcomes. Overall, this review advances knowledge by synthesising, for the first time, evidence on loneliness in sport and offers theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions that extend understanding of loneliness.

Influence of Socio-Economic and Institutional Factors on the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bahi District, Tanzania

This study sought to establish the influence of socio-economic and institutional factors on the adoption of conservation agriculture in Bahi District, Tanzania. This study used a cross-sectional research design, using the sample of 176 farming households, where 89 households were CA adopters and the remaining 87 households were non-CA adopters. Data from a questionnaire was analyzed through a binary logistic regression model and descriptive statistics. The study concluded that gender, age market availability, credit accessibility and bylaw awareness influenced the adoption of Conservation Agriculture in the study area. If credit accessibility, extension service and bylaws are present, then adopting CA is done more easily. Therefore, before introducing CA, it is important to assess the presence of these factors for better results. Some of the recommendations are that collaboration between financial institutions and policymakers be encouraged as it is essential to increase farmers' credit accessibility by providing affordable loans and financial services. Extension services need to be improved and expanded by funding the extension programs and employing more extension workers. Information dissemination and training on CA should be tailored to consider the needs of female and young farmers. Additionally, cooperative farming groups or networks of young and female farmers should be created to facilitate resource pooling, knowledge sharing and collective investment in necessary equipment and inputs.

Cross-country comparison analysis of individual and institutional factors of anomie and online offending

This article addresses the gap in the literature by empirically assessing a cross-national comparison of institutional anomie theory (IAT) and self-reported cyberoffending. We used survey data from Finland, Hungary, and the United States to examine the relationship between institutional anomie and cybercrime. Each country represents different types of societies, which makes them interesting cases for cross-national comparison. With Hungary representing a conservative welfare regime, Finland a social democratic welfare regime, and the United States a liberal welfare regime, we predict that the more political regimes intervene in economic relations and support non-economic institutions, the less applicable IAT's variables will be in predicting cybercrime perpetration. In line with these predictions, binomial regression models suggest that IAT works best in the United States, where individualism, achievement, and fetishism of money increased the indices of cybercrime offending. IAT variables were less useful in predicting cybercrime offending in the other nations. Yet, also in line with our prediction, family has a strong external control function in Finland, protecting participants from cybercrime offending. However, no IAT indexes achieved statistical significance in Hungary, where a work-based welfare system suppresses family-related values. Education has a mixed effect on cybercrime offending. Thus, IAT is valuable for understanding cybercrime offending; however, it should be examined in more countries with social institutions and individual value systems different from that of the United States.

Do Good, Have Good: Mandatory CSR Policy and Foreign Subsidiary Performance in India

In 2013, the Companies Act in India mandated that foreign subsidiaries with specified profitability and size spend at least 2% of their net income on corporate social responsibility (CSR). The study uses this natural experiment to isolate the impact of CSR spending on multinational enterprise (MNE) subsidiary performance. Using a triple difference estimation method on 175 foreign subsidiaries from 2005 to 2020, this study finds a positive impact of the compulsory CSR regulation on the CSR spender subsidiaries. We also find that higher institutional distance and greater subsidiary age benefit affected subsidiaries, positively impacting their performance because of mandatory CSR spending. The findings offer suitable recommendations for managers and policymakers in emerging markets as navigating regulatory CSR policies in the host country requires considering both resource-based and institutional environment factors.

Economic openness, physical infrastructure, marketization, public governance, and MNE location strategy: An institution-based view of state mechanism

Drawing from the institution-based view of Mike W. Peng and related scholarship in economics, international business, and public administration, this study seeks to explore: what formal institutional factors in a host country drive multinational enterprises’ location choice by way of greenfield foreign direct investment? To answer this question, this study offers a state mechanism perspective in an emerging economy context, thus underscoring that the host country’s formal institutions, such as economic openness and good governance, are key determinants. Our proposed model reasons that countries with improved economic regulations, superior physical infrastructure provisions, and transparent and effective public governance systems, combined with the marketization of public goods and services, are very attractive for multinational ventures. In so doing, institutional transformation and economic achievements pertaining to aspirant economies like China are discussed. Finally, this study concludes with several practical implications. The novelty of this study is to design a state mechanism model and hypothesize key national and subnational-level formal institutional factors that strikingly influence multinational firms’ location strategy by explaining the host country’s attractiveness for foreign direct investment.

Examining Local Government’s Web-Based Climate Risk Transparency in Florida

The article draws from institutional and social vulnerability theories and examines the determinants of climate risk transparency by local governments. Using data from Florida cities, the study investigates the impact of membership in climate networks and local socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors on web-based climate risk transparency. The findings support the view that membership in climate compact organizations, such as the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact (SEFRCC), serve as institutional factors that lead to climate risk disclosures and contribute to improved adaptive governance and transparency. It also shows that college education, which likely enhances individuals’ ability to search for, interpret, and use information regarding climate risk, contributes to the decision to disclose information. Lastly, it reveals that bigger cities are more likely to disclose climate risk to mitigate these threats because disasters in large urban centers affect businesses and commuters and cause more significant damage than in smaller towns.

EFL Teachers’ Emotions Toward Online-Merge-Offline Teaching Mode in University

The Online-Merge-Offline (OMO) teaching mode has emerged as a prominent new approach in language education reform with the expansion of online teaching in China. Due to the emotional complexity involved in educational reforms, this study explores the emotions expressed by Chinese EFL teachers in OMO classes, investigates the situational causes, and examines emotion regulation strategies in English Language Teaching. A questionnaire was distributed to 48 Chinese EFL teachers teaching General English (GE) using OMO mode across three normal universities, followed by semi-structured interviews for deeper insights. After collecting and analyzing data from questionnaires and interviews, the findings revealed a spectrum of emotions were experienced by EFL teachers, with positive emotions prevailing, particularly in GE classes. Love, surprise, and joy were prominent across different settings. Situational triggers encompassed classroom dynamics, institutional factors and social influences; reflecting teachers’ beliefs and identities, students’ learning engagement, behavior and academic achievements, colleagues and administrators’ work support and emotional support, policy makers’ reform mandate, and the Confucian heritage cultures. To regulate positive and negative emotions, Chinese EFL teachers primarily employed appraisal, followed by situation modification and selection. This study underscores the importance of emotional awareness for both students’ learning achievement and teachers’ professional development in ELT. It encourages Chinese EFL teachers to recognize the significance of their emotions in teaching effectiveness and offers insights for educators and administrators into supporting teachers’ emotional well-being and professional growth.

Retail franchise ecosystem dynamics: Insights from countries of varied development levels

This study explores the influence of entrepreneurial ecosystems on international franchise expansion. We understand franchising as a part of retailing and reflect on various country-level factors that impact the international franchise growth in 52 developed and emerging markets. We classify developed and emerging markets based on the Human Development Index (HDI). Employing an entrepreneurial ecosystem framework initially applied to new business growth in cities, we investigate how cultural, institutional, economic, and infrastructure factors affect franchise growth. Our findings indicate that well-developed infrastructure, economic freedom, and supportive laws contribute to franchise expansion, while locations with high crime rates are less attractive to franchise expansion. Surprisingly, increased internet access or higher spending on research and development does not consistently further franchise expansion. Countries with higher levels of human development tend to have franchises that are expand more rapidly. However, we found little difference between countries with very high development and those with high development standards. This study helps us understand what makes franchise business expansion work and how they can succeed in different countries. Implications for businesses and governments looking to support franchise growth are explained. Finally, the results reflect the importance of understanding the unique dynamics of emerging markets and offers actionable insights for businesses and policymakers aiming to foster retail ecosystems and franchise on these specific markets entrepreneurship globally.

Taxation and entrepreneurship of migrant workers: evidence from China

PurposeMigrant workers play a vital role in the development of countries such as China. However, they often face greater barriers in entrepreneurship. Yet, few studies have focused on the effect of institutional factors on migrant workers' entrepreneurial behaviors. To address this gap, this study concentrates on the role of taxation.Design/methodology/approachThis study takes the agricultural tax abolition reform implemented in rural China since 2004 as an exogenous shock and uses the difference-in-difference (DID) method to examine its effect on migrant workers' entrepreneurship based on longitudinal data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).FindingsWe find that the reform significantly improves the probability of migrant workers engaging in entrepreneurship. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the reform exerts a notably more pronounced positive impact on male, younger and migrant workers in the Western region. Further analysis reveals that the three main mechanisms are increased household income, female human capital accumulation and increased social capital, including social networks and social trust.Originality/valueThis study is first to offers an institutional perspective on the determinants of migrant workers' entrepreneurship in China. Additionally, the study can provide insights for policymaking intended to support employment and entrepreneurship among low-skill migrant workers.

Strategic configurations: exploring MNEs’ commitment reduction in an emerging economy

AbstractCommitment reduction in the foreign investment process is a critical strategic decision for multinational enterprises (MNEs). Recognizing the complex nexus of drivers for MNE commitment reduction in an emerging economy, this study investigates the configurations of resource, industrial, and institutional factors that collectively influence the strategic decision of commitment reduction. We incorporated the strategic tripod framework to reveal the interactive patterns among various sets of factors influencing the investment reduction decisions of MNEs. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we analyzed foreign investment reduction by MNEs operating across nineteen industries in China between 2013 and 2019. Our findings identify configurational solutions leading to four propositions, applying the strategic tripod to explain MNE commitment reduction decisions. This study concludes with important theoretical and practical implications, suggesting ideas for pushing the research landscape further.