Lens Of Theory Research Articles

Issue ownership in the online campaign for Dutch general elections

Online political campaigns are often opaque, among other reasons because political parties often target their advertising to specific groups. Therefore, it is challenging for citizens, journalists, and academics to understand what political parties talk about in their campaigns, diminishing the public accountability of political parties. Through the lens of issue ownership theory, this study explores which issues Dutch political parties advertised on Meta during the 2021 national election. The study uses a relatively novel topic modeling process that is meant to limit human bias. We built a model that assigns issues to each ad (based on the ad text), creating a dataset of ad-issues matchings. The study is one of the first to present insights into the issues Dutch political parties communicated about during the national elections of 2021. Our findings show that issue owners are not the biggest advertisers on their issues and reveal that private gifts enable some political campaigns to claim ownership of many issues.

Mandating Women Board Members in Sport Organizations: Change via Coercive Institutional Pressure

Boosting board representation of women redresses structural unfairness and improves corporate governance and performance. The Change Our Game initiative, running over 3 years statewide in Victoria, Australia, mandated 40% representation of women on state sport boards. At the start, only 44% of state sport boards had 40% women representation; by the mandate deadline, this had increased to 93%. Using an institutional theory lens, the authors qualitatively analyzed four stakeholder groups: mandators, policy champions, operationalists, and mandate targets. Stakeholder sentiments were analyzed pre- and postmandate deadline over 3 years. Sentiments ranged from positive to equivocation to denigration. The mandate’s coercive pressure, supported by institutional legitimacy and work to accelerate changes, led to institutional change and achieved a significant increase in women board members. Change was grounded in strong ethical and cognitive support from mandate champions. Microsocial expressions of denigration and change resistance did not prevent successful change.

Revealing the hidden wealth in healthcare: an empirical study of intellectual capital disclosure in leading global hospitals

Purpose Under the lens of stakeholder theory, this study aims to explore the dissemination of intellectual capital (IC) information within the healthcare sector. Specifically, the primary objective is to investigate the extent of IC disclosure (ICD) among leading global hospitals and its underlying determinants. Design/methodology/approach This study conducts a manual content analysis of the official websites of 175 leading global hospitals, selected based on The World’s Best Hospitals 2022, and uses a linear regression model to test the research hypotheses. Findings The empirical results underscore an adequate dissemination of IC information by leading global hospitals through their official websites. Moreover, they reveal a positive association between hospital complexity, public status, and online visibility with the extent of IC information disclosed. Originality/value This study represents a pioneering contribution to the examination of determinants influencing online ICD within a global hospital context. It significantly enhances the existing literature on ICD and offers valuable practical implications.

Using benevolent leadership to improve safety behaviour in the construction industry: a moderated mediation model of safety knowledge and safety training and education

Objectives. Despite extensive regulatory reform, safety research and safety programmes over the past several decades, the construction sector remains notoriously dangerous in different regions across the world. Despite the fact that effective leadership is crucial for improving workplace safety behaviour (SB), there have been insufficient studies on how benevolent leadership (BL) affects such behaviour. Methods. Using a cross-sectional design, this research examines the influence of BL on employees’ SB. The mediating role of safety knowledge and the moderating role of safety training and education were also observed. Data obtained from 413 employees of construction firms in Turkey were used to verify the links. Results. BL has positive influences on employees’ SB and safety knowledge. Safety knowledge has a positive influence on SB and partially mediates the BL–SB link. At a low level of safety training and education, the BL–safety knowledge link is weaker for firms whose employees receive low safety training and education. At high levels of safety training and education, both the direct and indirect links between BL and SB are stronger for firms with high levels of safety training and education. Conclusion. The findings significantly extend safety literature through the lens of implicit followership theory.

Teachers’ basic psychological needs, (de)motivating styles and professional well-being

In this study we adopt the lens of self-determination theory to examine the interplay between teachers’ basic psychological needs, behaviors, and well-being. We investigate teachers’ classroom behavior in the form of their (de)motivating styles as mediators between their need satisfaction/frustration and levels of their emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. A total of 365 Croatian teachers completed an online survey filling out the Situations-in-School Questionnaire, Basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration scale, Short Index of Job Satisfaction and Emotional exhaustion scale. In line with the bright pathway, results showed that teachers with higher need satisfaction used more autonomy-supportive and structuring motivating styles and were more satisfied with their job. Teachers who used autonomy-supportive style were also more satisfied with their job, and this style partially mediated the relationship between need satisfaction and job satisfaction. In line with the dark pathway, teachers whose basic needs were more frustrated used more controlling and chaotic demotivating styles and reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion. Control and chaos as demotivating styles were not significant mediators between need frustration and emotional exhaustion, while teachers who used higher levels of the chaotic style reported lower levels of emotional exhaustion.

Gender Differences In Undergraduates’ Perceived School Support, Self-Esteem, Academic Fatigue, And Engagement In Nigerian Government-owned Universities

Various research results show that there are differences in perceived social support, self-esteem, academic fatigue, and academic engagement based on gender. Yet, at this current research location, pre-research data shows the contrary. This study examines undergraduates’ perceived school support, self-esteem, academic fatigue, and engagement in two public Nigerian universities. The cross-sectional quantitative research type of the non-experimental design was utilized for the study through the theory lenses of Self-concordance and Demands-resources. The population of the study was undergraduate students undertaking degree courses at two public universities in Southwest Nigeria (the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and the Ekiti State University), and these were selected using both the purposive and simple random sampling techniques. An instrument tagged "School Support and Undergraduates' Self-esteem, Academic Engagement, and Fatigue Questionnaire" was used for data collection with Cronbach alpha of 0.78, 0.81, 0.88, 0.89 for the four sections of the scales, respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages), and t-test at a 5% significance level. The study's findings have shown that undergraduates’ gender influences their perceived school support and academic fatigue, with gender differences in favour of males. Still, there was no significant gender difference in undergraduates’ self-esteem and academic engagement. The study recommends that efforts be concentrated on ensuring continued gender equity, equality, and gender-balanced dynamics within the school context. Implications of the study and future research suggestions are proffered.

Intrinsic Motivations and Religiosity of Christian Conference Attendees

Through the lens of social identity theory, this study aims to identify which motivations are pertinent for Christian conference attendance. It also aims to determine what constitutes religiosity for attendees and if Christian conference attendance is dependent on attendees’ religiosity, demographics, and/or ministry role. Based on survey responses (N = 209) collected at four Australian Christian conferences that were analyzed using correlation analysis, it was concluded that although motivations are largely correlated, spiritual encouragement and congregating with like-minded people are the dominant motivations for attendance. Religiosity comprised beliefs, emotions, and behavior. Chisquare analysis determined that attendees are of different ages, education, and ministry roles, and analysis‐of‐variance identified respondents that exhibited high religiosity are differentiated on their demographics. Binary regression identified that Christian conference motivation was largely dependent on attendees??? religious behavior. To further satisfy attendees, it is recommended that Christian conference organizers promote the need for togetherness and spiritual encouragement.

Implementaton of Strength Reimagined

The Strong Black Woman (SBW) stereotype has been consistently linked to poor mental health for African American women and its endorsement leads to anxiety, depression, and stress. African American women unknowingly subscribe to this stereotype through the exertion of strength and independence found necessary to combat oppression and gendered racism. This article explores existing literature on the SBW stereotype and suggests strategies for leveraging this stereotype to enhance mental health interventions for African American women. Utilizing an integrated conceptual framework that draws from the lens of Black Feminist Thought, Intersectionality, and Social Constructivism Theory, Strength Reimagined: A Therapeutic Framework for African American Women is proposed. This treatment framework incorporates five key aspects: therapist awareness, psychoeducation, culturally responsive psychotherapy, trauma-informed complementary interventions, and mutual support to improve mental health outcomes among African American women.

Strategic configurations and strategic management accounting: a longitudinal case study in the credit mediation industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between strategy, strategic management accounting (SMA) and performance. Specifically, it aims to explore how SMA alignment is achieved to support both the internal and external fit of organizational configurations and achieve superior performance. Design/methodology/approach This study has adopted a longitudinal case study approach, focusing on a leading company in the credit mediation industry, and uses the configurational theory and a network approach to understand how an alignment between organizational configurations and SMA leads to superior performance. Findings This study shows that the configurational fit involves interactions between environmental, strategic and structural elements and SMA. Moreover, it helps understanding the causal complexity of these interactions by showing how various organizational configurations, along with SMA, may lead to superior performance. Finally, from a longitudinal perspective, the study shows how SMA alignment continuously supports both the external and internal configuration fit. Research limitations/implications Case studies often lack generalizability due to their detailed, context-specific nature. In addition, the study assumes that aligning SMA practices with organizational configurations leads to higher performance, although outcomes may be affected by other unobserved factors. Practical implications This study also has practical implications for managers, as it provides a profound understanding of the role of SMA in supporting both the external and internal alignment of the organizational configuration. Managers should particularly leverage SMA to gather and analyze external environmental data, thereby enabling the organization to ensure the continuous consistency of its strategic priorities, as well as to support and reinforce both existing and emerging strategic imperatives. However, it is essential for managers to perceive SMA not as an isolated instrument, but as an integral component of the broader organizational system. Effective implementation necessitates the integration of SMA techniques with the strategic and structural elements of the organization, which complement their implementation, determining the actual contribution to external and internal fit. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study has been one of the first to adopt a qualitative approach to investigate the relationships between strategy, SMA and performance through the lens of the configurational theory. It elucidates the causal mechanisms underlying the relationships between configurations and SMA from a dynamic, change-oriented perspective, showing how SMA continuously contributes to configurational fit and performance.

Visualizemi: Visualization, Effect Size, and Replication of Measurement Invariance for Registered Reports.

Latent variable modeling as a lens for psychometric theory is a popular tool for social scientists to examine measurement of constructs. Journals, such as Assessment regularly publish articles supporting measures of latent constructs wherein a measurement model is established. Confirmatory factor analysis can be used to investigate the replicability and generalizability of the measurement model in new samples, while multigroup confirmatory factor analysis is used to examine the measurement model across groups within samples. With the rise of the replication crisis and "psychology's renaissance," interest in divergence in measurement has increased, often focused on small parameter differences within the latent model. This article presents visualizemi, an R package that provides functionality to calculate multigroup models, partial invariance, visualizations for (non)-invariance, effect sizes for models and parameters, and potential replication rates compared with random models. Readers will learn how to interpret the impact and size of the proposed non-invariance in models with a focus on potential replication and how to plan for registered reports.

Changing institutional culture to change student outcomes: Grant funding, change management, and student success at small institutions

AbstractThrough the lens of change management theory, this article focuses on transforming institutional culture at small institutions through grant opportunities. Federal discretionary grants, such as the Department of Education's Title III, Strengthening Institution Program (SIP), provide financial resources for new initiatives to improve student outcomes. Cultural shifts can be challenging at small institutions, where deep traditions and institutional inertia can create barriers to positive change. Initiative fatigue also can emerge, as staff and faculty carry multiple roles with limited resources while balancing increased grant reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Through an iterative assessment process resourced with grant funding, transformational cultural shifts can be leveraged while meeting grant objectives and establishing lasting change that will strengthen the institution and produce stronger student outcomes.

Digital technology and student engagement in online synchronous collaborative learning sessions / Tecnología digital y participación de los estudiantes en las sesiones de aprendizaje colaborativo en línea

This study examines students’ engagement in online synchronous collaborative learning (OSCL) sessions in a massive open online course (MOOC). The study focuses on the role of digital technologies in facilitating students’ agency in collaborative meaning-making activities. The primary data sources for the study were video recordings of OSCL sessions, which were analysed using the method of interaction analysis and interpreted through the lens of cultural-historical theory. The findings revealed four interconnected activities of collaborative meaning-making: establishing social connections and presence, reflecting on prior learning, sharing digital artefacts and reflecting on shared understanding. The progression from one activity to another unfolded as students contributed to collaborative learning activities using their own ideas and problem-solving approaches. The use of individually created digital artefacts, such as examination assignment drafts, deepened interactions and meaning-making processes, enhancing students’ agency in collaborative learning. The findings of this study provide insights into pedagogical strategies that can enhance student agency in MOOC environments, highlighting the crucial role of digital artefacts in developing students’ agency in collaborative learning.

Representation of Native Crowd in Alice Perrin’s Short Stories

The paper locates Alice Perrin’s short stories within the historical and literary contexts of the British Raj period and examines the representation of native crowds in order to understand India as a site of Anglo-Indian anxieties even during the period of “high imperialism” of the British Raj. Investigating her stories through the lens of the pragmatic theories of Elias Canetti, Le Bon Gustave, William Reddy, and Ann Laura Stoler, the paper demonstrates that Perrin colludes with the British Raj by nurturing negative emotional experiences via the representation of native crowds. In other words, the paper argues that her stories had imperial functions to play in the Empire and metropolitan Britain: to arrest the interracial romance; to reiterate the imperial policy of noninterference with native beliefs; to undermine New Woman ideals; to keep the memory of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 alive; to hint at the diplomatic use of labour force; and to discourage the dissolution of class and rank hierarchy.

Energy Citizenship: Revealing the Intrinsic Motivational Factors Suggested by Self-Determination Theory

This study investigated the motivational factors driving energy citizenship through the lens of self-determination theory. Utilizing data from a survey of 749 respondents, we examined the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in predicting energy citizenship. Our findings reveal that intrinsic motivations, such as personal responsibility for climate change, community involvement, and the desire to reduce one’s carbon footprint, significantly predict engagement in energy citizenship. Conversely, extrinsic motivations, including financial incentives and external pressures, were not significant predictors. The study underscores the importance of intrinsic motivations in fostering sustained pro-environmental behaviours, particularly as the complexity of these behaviours increases. These insights suggest that policymakers should focus on enhancing intrinsic motivations through education, community engagement, and autonomy-supportive initiatives to promote active participation in sustainable energy practices.

Social Infrastructure and Organizational Resilience - A Theoretical Model

Abstract Background Considering resilience as a necessity for health care organisations (HCOs), many researchers argue that fluidity is a must and that organisational structures (formal and informal) hinder the adaptability and resilience of health care organisations. Contrary to this statement, my thesis posits that fundamental adaptive processes leading to new equilibria depend on a stable core that persists amidst change, enabling and catalysing these transformations. Methods The phenomenon of resilience within healthcare organisations is examined through the lens of sociological systems theory. Rooted in Talcott Parsons’ assertion that social systems, including healthcare organisations, must perform four basic functions (Adaptation, Goal Achievement, Integration, Latency: AGIL) to survive and function, our research uses the deductive method to derive the necessary structural social components required to cope with external demands. Results The application of the methods yields four complex basic structures rooted in the social structure of healthcare organisations: adaptive structures (flexible structures & resource generating structures), goal achievement structures (governance enabling collective goal setting, decision making and persistence), integrative structures (social capital and social networks) and sustainability structures (socialisation structure, knowledge base, organisational culture). Conclusions As the core of stability, this ‘four-component social infrastructure’ is essential for facilitating higher-order forms of resilience, such as new equilibria. In its absence, healthcare organisations would flounder during change, posing risks to the resilience of these HCOs. Thus, structure is indeed inherent in the chaos of resilience activities. In other words, there is order in the chaos of resilience, and it is essential. Key messages • Fundamental adaptive processes leading to new equilibria depend on a stable core that persists amidst change, enabling and catalysing these transformations. • There is order and structure in the chaos of resilience.

The Art of Balancing Price and Plug: Developing a Theoretical Model for Dynamic Pricing in the Electric Vehicle Market

This study presents a novel approach to understanding the complex dynamics of the electric vehicle (EV) market through the lens of differential game theory. We developed a comprehensive model that captures the strategic interactions between EV manufacturers and charging network operators, while incorporating the effects of consumer behavior, market uncertainties, and reference price effects. Using differential game theory, we examined the impact of reference price effects and the charging network’s influence on pricing strategies, focusing on three distinct approaches: basic pricing, static pricing considering reference price effects, and dynamic pricing strategies. Our model offers new insights into consumer behavior and price expectations in the rapidly evolving EV market. The key findings reveal that under static or dynamic pricing strategies, the optimal pricing for EV manufacturers is positively correlated with the initial reference price. When the initial reference price is high (low), the optimal pricing strategy resembles skimming pricing (penetration pricing). As the effort level of charging network operators increases and their influence on consumers’ purchase decisions grows stronger, EV manufacturers tend to set higher prices. Notably, while dynamic pricing strategies can optimize EV manufacturers’ profits, the profits of charging network operators may decrease compared with static pricing strategies. This integrated approach significantly contributes to the field by bridging gaps among market dynamics, pricing strategies, and the infrastructure’s development in the context of electric mobility, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding and optimizing the EV ecosystem. Ultimately, this study advances sustainable business models that balance profitability, consumer behavior, and the infrastructure’s growth in the rapidly evolving EV market.

Managing Pharmaceutical Promotion Mix in the Rise of Social Media

ABSTRACTA manufacturer of a branded prescription drug typically uses traditional promotional tools to communicate with consumers (i.e., direct‐to‐consumer advertising) and physicians (i.e., detailing, sampling, and journal advertising). These promotions seek to enhance brand drug visibility and, eventually, increase brand sales. As medical communication norms generally dictate how healthcare information is communicated, the emergence of social media challenges such norms and potentially inflates (or deflates) the efficacy of pharmaceutical marketing communication. In such situations, a crucial research question revolves around how marketers will adjust their promotional strategies. In this study, the authors analyze the longitudinal data of 41 brand drugs from 7 therapeutic classes between 2007 and 2014. Through the lens of signaling theory, they empirically show that the volume and valence of social media posts can enhance or hinder the sales impacts of different promotional activities. Specifically, the volume and valence of social media posts have the potential to amplify the sales impact of detailing and direct‐to‐consumer advertising, while diminishing the effects of sampling and journal advertising. The volume and valence of brand drug mentions as well as consumer passion toward the brand drug display similar effects on the efficacy of pharmaceutical promotions. The findings shed new light on conventional pharmaceutical promotion practices in the presence of social media and provide novel implications for promotion mix management.

THE PORTRAYAL OF FEMALE VILLAINS: A REPRESENTATION STUDY ON CRUELLA

The portrayal of female villains in media and movies has evolved significantly, as evidenced through the lens of Stuart Hall's representation theory and film analysis concepts. Traditionally confined to one-dimensional roles perpetuating gender stereotypes, contemporary cinema showcases multi-dimensional characters like those in Cruella, challenging societal norms and defying traditional gender expectations. By employing narrative and non-narrative film analysis techniques, these characters are revealed as agents of subversion and empowerment, embodying a new archetype of female villains characterized by individual agency and autonomy. However, despite this progress, the lingering impact of gender stereotypes persists, influencing how female villains are depicted on screen. Thus, ongoing critical analysis and advocacy for more diverse and authentic representations of women in media remain crucial.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire: Deconstruction of Female Identity

Abstract: Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a drama film directed by Cline Sciamma and starring Adle Haenel and Nomie Merlant. The film centers on the passionate love story between Heloise, a bride on the brink of marriage, and Marianne, the painter commissioned to create her portrait. This paper analyses the construction and deconstruction of female identity in Portrait of a Lady on Fire through the lenses of gaze theory and feminist identity theory. It begins by exploring Heloise's resistance to the objectifying male gaze, illustrated through her defiance against the passive model identity and her challenge to the myth of Orpheus, which traditionally casts women in powerlessness and rescue role. The paper then delves into the film's critique of the roles of wife and mother within the patriarchal, heteronormative family structure, drawing on Simone de Beauvoir's ideas in The Second Sex to further contextualize the film's feminist discourse. Through these analyses, the paper reveals how the film reimagines and challenges traditional female identities, offering a detailed and subtle portrayal of women's autonomy and identity.

Understanding the rise in violent extremism in Pakistan through the lens of securitization theory

ABSTRACT Over the last three decades, the phenomenon of violent extremism, primarily religious and ethno-nationalist extremism, has emerged as one of the biggest security challenges for Pakistan. With continuous technological innovations and advancements, the nature of violent extremism is constantly evolving, and now more than ever, it is threatening Pakistan’s social fabric, causing domestic disharmony and leading to unrest and terrorism. More importantly, it adversely affects the state’s foreign relations. This study aims to comprehensively examine the complex interplay of factors contributing to violent extremism in Pakistan. By investigating both the root causes and the ensuing effects through the Securitization paradigm’s lens, this research seeks to develop effective policy strategies to combat this growing threat. The securitization paradigm is crucial for understanding how extremist ideologies are constructed as existential threats, shaping societal responses and informing counter-extremism measures. The paper follows a mixed approach based on descriptive and critical analytical qualitative research methods.