Multi-theoretical Approach Research Articles

Bridging the agricultural extension gap: Insights from the teaching-learning theories and models

This article explores various theories and models that inform the design of teaching-learning frameworks to bridge the agricultural extension gap. It identifies the complexities surrounding the agricultural extension gap, emphasizing the need for a multi-theoretical approach to effectively address the diverse needs of farmers. The theories reviewed include Multimedia Learning Theory, Adult Learning Theory, Social Learning Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, Social Exchange Theory (SET), Resource-Based View (RBV), Actor-Network Theory (ANT), Information Systems Success Model, Contextual Integrity Theory, and Task-Technology Fit (TTF). The models discussed include the Diffusion of Innovations Model, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). By synthesizing these theories and models, the article provides a comprehensive understanding of how they can enhance agricultural extension services.

Community Legitimisation of Irish Republican Paramilitarism in Belfast: A Criminological Understanding

The present article assesses the extent to which a community context can play the role in legitimising engagement in paramilitary Irish republicanism. The research analyses this specifically in relation to Belfast. Using thematic analysis of 53 primary source interviews with former paramilitaries and community leaders the research identifies three core themes. These are: republican movement integral to community, distrust of criminal justice system and community legitimisation of paramilitary style attacks. The analysis focuses on the utility of criminological theories and approaches to explain the findings. Specifically, the research assesses the applicability of situational action theory. The research found that a multi-theoretical approach is best applied in the explanation of this process.

A multi-theoretical approach to supply chain management

The article examines the supply chain as a modeling object. The multi-criteria and contradictory goals in supply chain management are: on the one hand, the maximum level of service, on the other hand, minimizing logistics costs. Solving strategic optimization problems for this class of objects using classical optimization methods is difficult. The theoretical and methodological basis of the supply chain was considered from the perspective of a set-theoretic approach. The purpose of the study is to analyze the behavior of many different agents (suppliers, clients, etc.) with different needs and goals when making decisions. An agent is an active element of the system, possessing a certain autonomy and the ability to make independent decisions, relying on the information it has about the state of the environment and the actions of other agents. In turn, supply chains are a complex organizational (active) system, i.e. associated with human participation. The study of behavioral aspects and interorganizational interaction, the formation of new organizational forms are an extremely important aspect in the management and modeling of supply chains, a factor in the dynamic behavior of the logistics system. The conducted research represents an important contribution to the development of knowledge about the application of the set-theoretic approach in supply chain management. It demonstrates the applicability of this approach in practice through an analysis of a specific company, LLP «Knauf», on the Kazakhstan market.

Determinants of tweens’ saving intentions: a cross-sectional study

PurposeChildren are beginning to socialize as consumers earlier than ever, highlighting the importance of their saving behavior as an effective form of consumer protection. The paper explored the influence of parents, peers, attitudes, knowledge, past behavior, allowance and self-efficacy on saving intention.Design/methodology/approachWith the aim to explore a range of determinants of adolescent saving and to specify the potential mechanisms through which different determinants operate, we adopted a multitheoretical approach based on theories of planned behavior, consumer and financial socialization, and self-efficacy. The paper investigates the formation of the saving intentions on a sample of 1,476 children 10–15 years old in Croatia.FindingsThe results indicate strong importance of parental influence and self-efficacy, implying that saving intention among tweens requires a supportive family structure as well as beliefs in the tweens themselves that they are able to save money and face difficulties.Originality/valueThis paper investigates the very nature of saving intention formation at a crucial developmental stage; it investigates the interplay of mechanisms through which determinants of savings operate at that developmental stage; and it explores the age-variance of the mechanism and the interplay of relevant variables, shedding light on the nature of the mechanism of development.

Ethical leadership and public healthcare organizational and employee outcomes: the role of psychological meaningfulness

Purpose Based on the theories of social learning, social exchange and social identity, this study aims to examine the impact of ethical leadership on organizational attractiveness and diversity-valuing behavior as well as the mediating role of psychological meaningfulness in the public healthcare sector. Design/methodology/approach Data in this study was collected from 545 nurses working in Palestinian hospitals. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The results show positive effect of ethical leadership on organizational attractiveness and diversity-valuing behavior. The findings likewise support the mediating role of psychological meaningfulness on the focal relationships. Originality/value This study follows a more comprehensive and a multitheoretical approach and it uses a novel model in an underexamined setting, which is the nursing sector.

A relational approach to digital racism: Toward a theoretical model

In recent decades, anti-immigrant, racist and nationalist attitudes have become increasingly mainstream, transforming public debates on immigration and immigrants in Europe and beyond. These attitudes and sentiments have been widely disseminated and amplified through digital communication, including commercial social media platforms. To better understand the relationship between racism and digital communication, it is necessary to move beyond media-centric explanations and simplified discussions of online hate speech and platform regulation. Therefore, this paper proposes a multi-theoretical approach to digital racism, i.e., racist content produced and circulated online. The paper presents an understanding of digital racism in relation to four perspectives: networked affect, nationalism, masculinity and conspiracy thinking. It takes a relational approach to these theoretical perspectives and discusses how they could be utilized to understand and analytically approach digital racism at the macro, meso and micro levels.

Face-work in North American Presidential Debates: A Corpus-based Multi-theoretical Approach

As inherently confrontational contexts, North American presidential debates compel politicians to engage in image restoration efforts when targeted by a face-threatening act. Since the first televised debates in 1960, presidential campaigns have become increasingly mediatized and the need to defend against face-damage has increased, for there is still a need to uphold a favorable presidential image despite the prominence of impoliteness in these events. Although a longstanding tradition, there is still no framework for the combined analysis of threatening and defensive face-work in presidential debates. This paper presents a corpus-based three-fold analysis blending qualitative, quantitative and statistical methodologies to observe the evolution of facework in this context, focusing on impoliteness and image restoration manifestations. The selected corpus comprises the presidential debates of seven North American elections —one per decade—, providing an overview of the evolution of both phenomena. This methodology also allows insight into the frequency of specific strategies. The analysis adopts a multi-theoretical approach to demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating Impoliteness theory (Culpeper, 1996) and Image restoration theory (Benoit and Wells, 1996) to create a comprehensive new approach to the study of face-work in presidential debates. Supported by results from Pearson’s Chi-square test, the combination of these theories was shown to be possible. The recurrence of attack-defense pairings integrating strategies from both theories also pointed to their necessary combination. While the recent incorporation of a female presidential candidate hinted at the potential gender variation of face-work in the debates, further data is needed to obtain conclusive results.

The Mediating Effect of Managerial Competencies in the Relationship between Corporate Governance and Financial Performance of Companies in Uganda: A Multi-Theoretic Approach

Purpose: The dwindling financial performance of companies has attracted enormous attention globally for many years, and corporate governance remains a matter of public and academic debate. This study aimed to establish the mediating role of managerial competencies in the relationship between corporate governance and the financial performance of companies in Uganda. Materials and Methods: The study applied a positivist paradigm and a cross-sectional design. Data were obtained from a sample of 394 private companies drawn from central and western Uganda. Companies were stratified by region, sectors, and subsectors; and then selected using simple random sampling from each stratum. A structured questionnaire was distributed to board members, Chief Executive Officers, accountants, Internal Auditors, and managers who were selected purposively. Principle Component Analysis and varimax rotation were employed for data extraction and reduction. The hierarchical regression technique was employed for data analysis. Findings: The study results confirmed managerial competencies to be a partial mediator, of the relationship between corporate governance and financial performance of companies in Uganda. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Building on a multi-theoretical approach, the study advocates for the revision of corporate governance and recommends private companies prioritize managerial competencies in their recruitment processes and training programs to enhance their financial performance.

Enhancing public accountability in a city authority

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide a multi-theoretical explanation of the living practice of a public entity found in Uganda, an African developing country, which successfully enhanced public accountability.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative narrative enquiry through storytelling was used to portray the practices of public accountability. The perceptions of various individuals were obtained using in-depth interviews, from which a coherent story structured under the themes of context, actions, results and lessons was obtained.FindingsFindings show that public entities that put in place oversight mechanisms and management structures, involve stakeholders and create an ethical work climate enhance public accountability. The results further show that the integration of theories (agency, stewardship, stakeholder and ethical work climate) promotes public accountability.Research limitations/implicationsIn terms of limitations and areas for future research, the study has been conducted on a single city authority to explain public accountability. Perhaps there is a need to conduct similar studies with other city authorities or a combination of organizations. The study has used a qualitative methodology through narrative enquiry to explain public accountability. Future studies can use a quantitative methodology, more so to test the proposed conceptual model of public accountability. Despite the study limitations, the results of this study remain relevant.Practical implicationsThis study uses the positive story of a public entity from a developing country that successfully practiced public accountability. Consequently, from a practical perspective, the findings of this study can be used as a benchmark for promoting effective public accountability practices, especially in developing countries across the globe, where public accountability has proven to be a challenge. Furthermore, governments in developing countries can also use the study findings to strengthen public accountability policies in their respective countries.Social implicationsThe study suggests that enhancement in public accountability practice requires an approach that brings together a multiplicity of factors. The study affords public accountability practitioners an opportunity to replicate the successful accountability practices from the story. When public accountability is enhanced, service delivery in terms of social services by the public organizations is likely to improve, leading to better quality of life in the communities served.Originality/valueThe study is novel in its use of a positive story that depicts an entity from a developing country that successfully enhanced public accountability. To explain this phenomenon, the study uses a multi-theoretical approach, unlike prior studies.

The reflective positioning of Japanese EFL students in the negotiation of their own emergent bilingual identities

ABSTRACT Although the emergent bilingual status of foreign language (FL) students is often overlooked, that is not to say that students do not, on some level of consciousness, experience changes in their identity as a result of their emergent bilingualism. The continuous process of identity (re)negotiation, that is, the reorganising of one’s subject position in relation to contextualised linguistic and social factors, has a significant impact on FL students. The present study takes a multi-theoretical approach to investigate the factors involved in the negotiation of Japanese EFL students’ emergent bilingual identities through the use of a questionnaire. The results show that the majority of the participants perceived some level of change in their identity, unrelated to any specific determinants. Furthermore, those with longer EFL learning histories, higher proficiency levels, or those majoring in globally-minded studies were more likely to feel they belong to English-speaking (imagined) communities.

The Role of Brand Management on Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Selection Among the Unemployed Urban Class During the Covid-19 Era. A Conceptual Paper

Brand management is viewed as one of the marketing practices that may influence the choice of fast-moving goods among customers if effectively managed. Brand management research has been skewed towards the employed class thus leaving reaseach gaps among the unemployed urban class. Considering that pandemics can influence customer choice of produts based on the constrained income, it is vital for a research to be conducted to unravel the link between brand management and choice of fast-moving consumer goods and more specifically among the urban unemployed class. Despite extensive studies which have been carried out to unravel the association between brand management and consumer choices of fast-moving consumer goods, little is understood on how the variables of this study are associated thus the need for a study to clear the conceptual controversies. The main objective of this study was to establish the association between brand management and fast-moving consumer goods selection among the unemployed urban class during the Covid-19 Era. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of emographic, sychographic and contextual factors on fast-moving consumers goods selection among the unemployed urban class during the Covid-19 era. Further, the fourth objective was to evaluate the mediating role of Covid-19 pandemic between factors influencing consumer buying behaviour and fast-moving consumers goods selection. This study was anchored on thurstone model, reference price model, brand loyalty theory, theory of reasoned action, consumer motivation theories, social cognitive theory, life-cycle theory, prospect theory and consumer socialization theory. Exploratory research design was adopted by this study. Exploratory approachis considered appropriate because it facilitates discovery of new knowledge by establishing whether what is being observed can be explained by using existing body of knowledge such as theories and empirical studies in the related field. It lays the foundation that sheds light to future studies. The relationship between the variables of this study was explained based on the principles of the exploratory research design. This study purely relied on desktop analysis of published research papers on brand managemenrt in relation to product choices. Papers published between 1991 and 2021 were reviewed. Theses, projects, reports and journal articles relating to social marketing and promotion of products and services were comprehensively reviewed. The findings, conclusions and recommendations of this study were derived from meta-analysis. The meta-analysis in accordance with recommended protocols and guidelines as recommended in statistical literature. Based on the marketing management literature analysis, it is concluded that brand is a multifaceted concept that is perceived differently by individual customers. Considering different results about what triggers consumers to prefer or buy a particular offering in the market, future studies should seek to understand consumer buying behaviour by using a multi-theoretical approach rather than a single theoretical approach that gives partial explanations about consumer behaviour. Further studies are recommended in other sectors to unravel factors that influence consumer selection in the market.

Does Concentrated Shareholding Impact Family Firm Internationalisation?

This article investigates whether increase in concentrated shareholding impacts the internationalisation of family firms. Based on a multi-theoretic approach and using zero inflated beta model on a panel data set covering 307 largest Indian listed companies, we observe that concentrated ownership, adverse employee relations and business group affiliation discourage internationalisation. But as family shareholding exceeds 50%, concentrated ownership has an indirect positive balancing impact on internationalisation. Besides, status as a family firm has a significant favourable impact on internationalisation and it moderates the impact of concentrated ownership, adverse employee relations and group affiliation on internationalisation.

The Myth of the Altruistic University: Lessons From Universities’ Sponsoring of Events

Universities are hybrid organizations, which increasingly embark in entrepreneurial activities as a means of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). These include outreach and community engagement activities such as sponsoring cultural or sporting events. With our conceptual expository argument, taking a multitheoretical approach, we contribute to the event management and social entrepreneurship literatures by examining how and why universities engage in UNSDGs-oriented events. This is important as little is known about how they contribute to the UNSDGs and use events. We question the altruistic assumption underpinning their engagement. Informed by institutional theory and strategic management value-based literature, we explore why they have taken this route and suggest self-interest rather than altruism is driving their decisions to engage in social entrepreneurship. They are value-creating strategies. We argue it is serendipity that many interpret universities??? social entrepreneurship decisions and the events that flow from them as acts of altruism.

Understanding senior citizens’ intentions to use virtual reality for religious tourism in India: a behavioural reasoning theory perspective

ABSTRACT The study uses a multi-theoretical approach and the three behavioural theories of Behavioural Reasoning Theory (BRT), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) to analyze the motivation of senior citizens to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology for religious tourism. The survey was completed by 300 senior citizens, and PLS-SEM was used to evaluate the results. The study examined the moderating influence of place familiarity on senior citizens intentions to use VR technology. The findings show that the attitude and intention to adopt VR technology are influenced by perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, perceived usefulness, and immersion. Also, tradition and image barriers play an influencing role in forming a negative attitude toward adopting VR technology for religious tourism.

‘Till death do us part’: An integrated multi-theoretical approach to identify predictors of intimate partner homicide

This research aims to explore the factors associated with a lethal outcome in cases of intimate partner violence. We used four hypotheses – offender characteristics, victim vulnerabilities, environmental context, and crime escalation – to theoretically frame this study. The sample used in this study consists of 1485 cases of attempted or completed intimate partner homicide that occurred in the province of Quebec, Canada. Bivariate analysis as well as sequential binary regressions and conjunctive analysis of case configurations were computed. Findings showed that all four of these hypotheses were valid in explaining the lethal outcome of IPV, and they interacted with each other in complex ways. Results also revealed that the overall theoretical pattern held true, but there were some specific differences. From a theoretical standpoint, this study offers an initial empirical examination of the role and interplay of different theoretical approaches in explaining cases of completed intimate partner homicide.

Child abuse and individual traits related to developmental trajectories of bullying victimization: An integrated, multitheoretical approach.

Adolescents who experience prior victimization such as child abuse within the home and experience low self-esteem/depression are at higher risk of repetitive bullying victimization when compared to those without such experiences. Recent scholarship has explored growth trajectories of bullying during adolescent development; however, relatively little is known about distinct trajectory patterns of bullying victimization across adolescent development. The current study identifies unobserved subgroups thus capturing the heterogeneity in developmental pathways in bullying victimization. The current study uniquely utilized a multitheoretical approach to help explain the phenomenon of bullying victimization among a national sample of 2,190 youth in South Korea from 2010 to 2016. Theories tested include the integrated approach of target congruence, lifestyle and routine activities theories (LRAT), and the state dependence and population heterogeneity perspectives. To conduct this analysis, we performed a three-step latent class growth analysis. The study revealed three distinct trajectory groups. Korean adolescents who had higher levels of low self-esteem demonstrated greater odds of belonging to both the early-onset and decreasing and increasing and late peak groups. Those who had low-self-esteem and were depressed demonstrated greater odds of belonging to the early-onset and decreasing group. Prior experience of child abuse for the early-onset and decreasing group was fully mediated by the measures of target congruence and lifestyles. The current study contributes to research on developmental victimization by demonstrating the utility of integrating target congruence variables with lifestyle-routine activity concepts in explaining heterogeneity.

Local governance and financial distress in local governments: the mediating role of delivery system

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating role of local government delivery system (here after delivery system) in the relationship between local governance (hereafter, governance) and financial distress of local governments in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThis study is correlational and cross-sectional. It uses a questionnaire survey on a sample of 109 local governments (districts) of Uganda. The data are analysed using SPSS, partial least squares structural equation modelling and Jose’s MedGraph.FindingsResults indicate that government delivery system mediates the relationship between governance and financial distress. Delivery system in terms of capacity development and community participation causes positive variances in local government’s financial distress. Also, governance in terms of political clientelism significantly contributes to financial distress more than oversight mechanisms and audit quality. The study finds that delivery system causes more variance in financial distress than governance.Originality/valueThis study applies the new public management and network governance theory and tests the efficacy of delivery system and governance on financial distress in one-go and succeeded in explaining financial distress of local government using Uganda as the setting; the authors join previous scholars that root for multi-theoretical approaches. Also, this study’s design has allowed for the consideration of more than simply the main effects of governance and delivery systems by exploring the mediating role of delivery systems in the link between governance and financial distress. As such, the authors may now have a more accurate and detailed description of the relationships between governance, delivery system and local government financial distress.

Editorial Introduction: Contributing to the policy process literatures

Editorial Introduction: Contributing to the policy process literatures

Impact of stakeholders as board members on sustainability and social outreach of microfinance institutions in developing markets

The purpose of this study is to explore how stakeholders on the board contribute to sustainability and outreach of microfinance institutions (MFI). Stakeholders as board members can influence the social outreach and sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs). By applying a multi-theoretical approach to a longitudinal dataset from a developing country perspective, this study analyses stakeholder involvement on the MFI board and its impact on double-bottom-line performance. The results suggest that independent directors on the board have significantly positive effects on achieving microfinance institutions' dual missions: sustainability and outreach. However, some stakeholders have produced mixed results. Employees, donors, and female board members play significant roles, although their impacts are moderated by the age and size of MFIs. CEO duality contributes to MFI sustainability but inversely affects outreach. The results support the stakeholder, stewardship, and resource dependence theories. This study recommends the appointment of an independent board member as a social director to widen the range of stakeholders' involvement in the boards of MFIs and contribute to achieving its objectives in a developing market context.

An empirical analysis of facilitators and barriers to the hybrid work model: a cross-cultural and multi-theoretical approach

PurposeThis paper examines the influence of facilitators and barriers on employees’ preference to work in a hybrid model. The study uses the theoretical lens of stimulus-organism-response (SOR) and dual factor theory (DFT). It examines the influence of health consciousness (stimulus), facilitators (e.g. work flexibility, work–life balance and team building) (organism) and barriers (e.g. pandemic and travel stressor and role overload [organism] on employees’ preference to work in a hybrid model) (response). Further, it tests the moderating influence of organizational culture.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was conducted among employees in India, Sri Lanka and Germany, obtaining 281 usable questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using Warp PLS 7.0 was used as the analytical technique to examine the model fit and test hypotheses.FindingsThe findings reveal that health consciousness is essential in enhancing facilitators and motivating employees to prefer a hybrid working model. The study’s findings also prove the positive influence of work flexibility, work–life balance and team building as facilitators. The results suggest that pandemic and travel stressors inhibit employees’ preference for working in a hybrid model.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on a cross-sectional research design to generalise the findings. Future researchers can utilize longitudinal design to decipher the variation in response over time. The study has developed a model combining SOR with DFT; the authors suggest that future researchers use other theories in combination with SOR, like self-determination theory (SDT), to decipher the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of employees in the context of the hybrid working model.Practical implicationsThis study identifies the need for open communication with the employees to overcome their concerns regarding the hybrid working model. The study also suggests that human resource (HR) managers need to prioritize the task that needs to be accomplished from the office versus working from home. The authors recommend various measures, like water cooler breaks and a buddy system, to motivate employees to work in a hybrid model.Originality/valueThis study is among the first studies focused on the hybrid working model. The current study adds to the limited literature on the facilitators and barriers of working in a hybrid work model.