Empirical Part Research Articles

Социальные представления современной молодежи об успешной женщине

The issue of success in modern individuals is a pertinent subject of scientific inquiry. It acquires special importance in the context of considering the ideas of the younger generation as a part of society that determines the prospects for its development and is most responsive to social changes. The article examines the peculiarities of the ideas about the success of residents of various urbanized environments – metropolises and small towns belonging to the youth age group. Emphasis is placed on studying the phenomenon of female success and the representation of the corresponding image in public consciousness. The empirical part of the article presents the specifics of how modern youth from metropolises and small towns perceive a successful woman. The data collection methods employed in the study included the semantic differential and the free association technique. The results were processed using both qualitative methods (prototypical association analysis) and quantitative methods (Mann – Whitney U–test, factor analysis by the principal component method). As a result of the study, the hypothesis that there are differences in the ideas of a successful woman among young people in large and small cities was confirmed at a statistically significant level.

Teachers and Teaching Assistants – Teamwork as Prevention of School Failure of Pupils During Primary Education

This paper investigates the topic of teacher-teaching assistant collaboration in supporting pupils who are at risk of school failure. This topic was addressed, as one of the subtopics, by a longitudinal research study investigating the causes of school failure/success among primary school pupils in the Czech Republic. The aim of the present study is to describe the activities that teaching assistants pursue in relation to “at-risk” pupils or in relation to other pupils in the classroom. The descriptive part of the paper also reviews various forms of teacher-teaching assistant collaboration during the teaching process. This empirical study consists of two parts. In the theoretical introduction, we describe the system of support and advisory services used to implement inclusive education in Czech schools. We also describe the legislative definition of the teaching assistant position and present his/her job description. The empirical part of the paper presents the conclusions of our research survey, which captures how teaching assistance is currently practiced in Czech primary education.

Unleashing the role of knowledge absorptive capacity and relationship quality: exploring the outcomes of digital supply chain transformation in new norms

PurposeThis study aims to explore the potential role of supply chain digital transformation on collaborative knowledge creation, supply chain innovation, and value co-creation in new norms. It also examines the impact of collaborative knowledge creation and supply chain innovation on value co-creation. Furthermore, the study examines the impact of collaborative knowledge creation on supply chain innovation. Finally, it investigates the possible mediating role of knowledge absorptive capacity and relationship quality in shaping these interactions.Design/methodology/approachTo establish the empirical part of this study, the collection of data involved distributing a questionnaire to 247 managers working in manufacturing companies. The measurement model assessment and hypothesis testing were performed employing the PLS-SEM approach.FindingsThe findings indicate that supply chain digital transformation significantly impacts collaborative knowledge creation, supply chain innovation, and value co-creation. This study also confirms the significant impact of collaborative knowledge creation on supply chain innovation and value co-creation. Furthermore, it reveals that knowledge absorptive capacity mediates the impact of supply chain digital transformation on collaborative knowledge creation. It also shows that the impact of collaborative knowledge creation on supply chain innovation and value co-creation is mediated by relationship quality among participants.Originality/valueThe findings of this study make significant contributions to academic theory, existing literature, and the scholarly community within the realms of supply chain management, innovation, knowledge management, and value co-creation. It also offers practical implications for managers to strategically navigate the evolving norms of supply chain management. Companies can use these insights to improve their innovation processes and knowledge management, while policymakers can consider the study's findings when developing supportive frameworks for the manufacturing sector.

The Influence of Trust in Tax Administration and Gender on Tax Compliance in Slovenia

The OECD urges governments to improve tax systems by studying taxpayers’ behavior to prevent tax non-compliance. This study focuses on individual Slovene taxpayers aiming to investigate the impact of trust in Tax Administration and gender on tax compliance. In the empirical part of the study, trust and tax compliance were the subject of descriptive statistical analysis, exploratory factor analysis and Spearman correlation coefficients. A Mann-Whitney U test and independent samples median test were performed to evaluate compliance gender differences in tax compliance. The findings unveil that trust in tax administration exhibits a statistically significant and positive correlation with tax compliance intentions in Slovenia while the differences in tax compliance between genders were not confirmed. Taxpayers' fairness perception to gain higher trust should be increased through sufficient information about tax laws and regulations.

Quality of instructor, fear of COVID-19, and students’ anxiety as predictors of student satisfaction and academic effort in online classes

The online form of education has been intensively used worldwide for many years and gains additional importance in emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and wars, when it becomes the dominant form of class delivery. Besides the recent pandemic, the world is now facing wars and the threat of their spread, making the research on the impact of fear and anxiety on human behavior relevant. The student population already faces increased depression and anxiety, which affect their behavior; therefore, it is crucial to investigate their impact on academic behavior in an online context during disruptions to the educational process. Consequently, this research focuses on analyzing student satisfaction and their academic effort and performance with online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The empirical part of the study involves investigating the impact of instructor quality, fear of COVID and students’ anxiety on student satisfaction with online classes and students’ effort and performance at the higher education institutions in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 359 respondents, students from two universities in Croatia. Results showed that the quality of instructor has a positive effect on student satisfaction and that student satisfaction positively affected students’ academic effort. Results also suggested that emotional reaction in fear of COVID-19 affected anxiety reported by students, but emotional fear reactions to COVID-19, and anxiety alike, did not affect academic effort of students, nor their satisfaction with online classes.

Student’s perception of sustainable university – on the example of Bialystok University of Technology

Measuring university sustainability is an important tool for assessing and monitoring progress towards more sustainable practices and outcomes at Higher Education Institutions (HEI). This article contributes to the development of research based on stakeholders theory in universities (Miller et al., 2014), taking into account the perception of the main group of university stakeholders, i.e. students, towards sustainable university. The research objective is to empirically verify perceptions and compare the level of implementation of the sustainable university concept among students of Bialystok University of Technology. In the theoretical part, a systematic literature review was conducted. The most frequent keywords related to the topic of sustainable university were also extracted as a part of the bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software. In the empirical part, descriptive statistics and difference tests (U-Man Whitney) were used to identify statistically significant differences between different groups of students in terms of perception of the sustainable university concept. In light of the research conducted, it can be concluded that Bialystok University of Technology is making efforts in various areas of sustainable development. However, there are specific areas where improvements can be made, such as enhancing awareness among students about the university's sustainable development strategy, promoting critical thinking, and addressing uncertainties about certain campus activities and management policies. In the article, a new scale was developed to examine students' perceptions of a sustainable university. It includes 30 items, is based on the areas of sustainable development of universities discussed in previous studies, and takes into account new criteria, in particular, those related to ESG factors.

Reshaping future museums through innovativeness: the views of locals and tourists

ABSTRACT Innovations play a key role in museum development. However, there remains a gap regarding the extent to which museums’ innovativeness enhances the appeal for both locals and tourists. This study offers insights into museums’ innovativeness, visitor satisfaction, and behavioural intentions by adopting a demand-side perspective. The aim is to examine and compare the impact of museums’ innovativeness on the behaviour of locals and tourists applying consumer-centric views. A face-to-face survey of visitors (N = 344) in one of the technical museums of Saint-Petersburg was conducted. The empirical part is based on the CFA and SEM techniques. This research reveals the strong impact of the perceived innovativeness of a museum on visitors’ satisfaction and revisit intention (for locals and tourists separately). The study facilitates the comprehension of the impact of museum innovations on the behaviours of visitors and their decision-making processes.

Utilization of Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence Tools in the Election Campaign in the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Slovakia – Analysis of Case Studies

The article focuses on the issue of using artificial intelligence tools and algorithms in parliamentary election campaigns in Poland and Slovakia. In the first part of the article, the process of the conceptualization of the terms artificial intelligence and microtargeting was carried out. This was followed by an analysis of the legal conditions related to the use of artificial intelligence in election campaigns. The empirical part of the paper presents the results of the conducted research, presenting examples of the use of artificial intelligence in the 2023 parliamentary campaign. Campaigns in Poland and Slovakia were the subject of analysis. The main research question of the paper is as follows: how does artificial intelligence influence democratic processes in Poland and Slovakia? For the purposes of the paper, several research methods were used: institutional-legal analysis, comparative method and empirical research – analysis of content published on the Internet.

Valuation and hedging of cryptocurrency inverse options

Currently, the most liquidly traded options on the crypto underlying are the so-called inverse options. An inverse option contract is quoted and traded in the units of the underlying cryptocurrency. The main economic reason for the popularity of inverse contracts in the crypto exchanges (such as Deribit) is that inverse contracts enable traders to operate without maintaining fiat cash accounts. For the theoretical part, we show that inverse options are just regular vanilla options considered under the martingale measure using the forward of the underlying as the numéraire. This measure requires an adjustment to option delta. For the empirical part, we use Deribit options data of past five years to backtest delta-hedged option strategies. We introduce USD and Coin accounting of trading Profit&Loss (P&L) which is important for designing strategies in crypto options. We show empirically that USD and Coin accounting rules are equivalent when performance is measured is Coin and USD units, respectively. We establish that the risk-premia observed in options on Deribit is negative and significant so that strategies selling volatility are expected to generate positive risk-adjusted performance in the long-term.

Cyber influence defense: Applying the DISARM framework to a cognitive hacking case from the Romanian digital space

One of the main lessons learned in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine starting in February 2022 is that for- eign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) operations are closely coupled with cyber threats. Regardless of whether cyberattacks are followed by an information manipulation compo- nent and vice versa, the merger of the two can be an early indica- tor of the potential for a conflict to escalate from the cyber area to the ground. Our article is premised on the idea that today’s highly technologised information ecosystem is a fertile ground for cyberattacks and information manipulation in the context of FIMI; more specifically, it enables cognitive hacking, meaning hacking the human mind and human cognition altogether through techno- logical disruption and cyber pressure. Starting from this premise, the aim of the article is to highlight the technological determi- nants of cognitive hacking and identify silent or emerging threats that bypass technological sensors and seek to disrupt and manip- ulate the information environment. The empirical part is based on observation as a descriptive method, which is used to analyse a case of cognitive hacking carried out via a YouTube malvertis- ing campaign targeting Romanian users. This case study is anal- ysed qualitatively by matching the DISinformation Analysis & Risk Management (DISARM) framework with evidence collected through Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools, following an innovative analysis structured according to the purposes, actions, results and techniques (PART) model. The extensive analysis of the identified case shows that applying the DISARM framework to cyber-enabled operations can be useful for anticipating and responding to FIMI threats, even when such operations do not appear to have a spe- cific, immediately identifiable purpose.

Comparison of the Performance of Structural Break Tests in Stationary and Nonstationary Series: A New Bootstrap Algorithm

AbstractStructural breaks are considered as permanent changes in the series mainly because of shocks, policy changes, and global crises. Hence, making estimations by ignoring the presence of structural breaks may cause the biased parameter value. In this context, it is vital to identify the presence of the structural breaks and the break dates in the series to prevent misleading results. Accordingly, the first aim of this study is to compare the performance of unit root with structural break tests allowing a single break and multiple structural breaks. For this purpose, firstly, a Monte Carlo simulation study has been conducted through using a generated homoscedastic and stationary series in different sample sizes to evaluate the performances of these tests. As a result of the simulation study, Zivot and Andrews (J Bus Econ Stat 20(1):25–44, 1992) are the best-performing tests in capturing a single break. The most powerful tests for the multiple break setting are those developed by Kapetanios (J Time Ser Anal 26(1):123–133, 2005) and Perron (Palgrave Handb Econom 1:278–352, 2006). A new Bootstrap algorithm has been proposed along with the study’s primary aim. This newly proposed Bootstrap algorithm calculates the optimal number of statistically significant structural breaks under more general assumptions. Therefore, it guarantees finding an accurate number of optimal breaks in real-world data. In the empirical part, structural breaks in the real interest rate data of the US and Australia resulting from policy changes have been examined. The results concluded that the bootstrap sequential break test is the best-performing approach due to the general assumption made to cover real-world data.

“Especially in This Free Country”: Webs of Empire, Slavery, and the Fur Trade

Spanning the years from late 1600s and into the early 1800s “‘Especially in This Free Country:’ Webs of Empire, Slavery and the Fur Trade” challenges a historiography that positions what has come to be known as the Canadian fur trade as exceptional in its relationships between colonizers and Indigenous peoples, where interactions between Indigenous producers and non-Indigenous traders are presented as largely cooperative and peaceful and as rooted in relationships that operated in the absence of coerced or unfree labour. In fact, the fur trade, connected as it was through webs of family/business relationships to the rest of the colonial world was not exceptional. Across northern North America the fur trade world experienced the same sorts of violence, including chattel slavery, as the rest of the empires with which these webs connected. Far from absent, colonial violence was a part of the Canadian fur trade just as it was a part of empire. Located in the pre-history of Canada, this thesis responds to Harvey Amani Whitfield’s observation that, although there have been some excellent studies of slavery in Canada recently, “slavery has not become part of the Canadian national narrative” 1 by arguing that chattel slavery in the fur trade in what would become Canada was linked to the empires it was a part of, pervasive, integrated into all aspects of the fur trade, and occurred across the northern North American continent.

WELFARE ABUSE IN POLAND: A RESEARCH PERSPECTIVE AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Welfare abuse is a complex and multidimensional problem. In this article, the subject of interest is the abuse committed by individuals of take-up welfare benefits. The theoretical part presents the author's concept of the term "welfare abuse"; with discussion of the essence and categories of this problem. Then, in the empirical part, we present the results of the survey study. On this basis, we evaluate the level of tolerance for particular abuses, and also calculate a synthetic indicator showing the general level of social acceptance for the abuse of welfare benefits in Poland.

Financial aspects of the functioning of executive agencies in Poland

Public tasks are carried out by entities forming the public finance sector. The article focuses on executive agencies and has been limited to the financial aspects of their functioning. The aim of the study is to determine the sources of financing of executive agencies operating in Poland and the share of subsidies from the state budget in them. The comparative descriptive analysis method was used in the study. The first part of the article is theoretical in nature. It presents the general principles of financial management of executive agencies as well as the specificity of the operation of individual agencies and the sources of their revenues. In the empirical part, the financial data of executive agencies for the years 2020-2022 was analysed. The total financial condition of the study group should be assessed positively. The analysis of the generated revenues, including subsidies from the state budget and the financial result, showed a significant differentiation of this group of public finance sector entities in the examined area.

Bukovyna as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its socio-economic development on the eve of rail way construction

This article examines how the socio-economic conditions in Bukovyna influenced the formation and development of the railway network in the region. It explores whether these processes aligned with the global trends of the time. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, memoirs, and archival materials, it was found that the topic of the formation and functioning of the railway network in Bukovyna had not been systematically studied. It was revealed that the Austrian authorities, by turning Bukovyna into an internal colony of the Habsburg Empire, kept the region in the position of a raw material appendage and a market for the industry of the empire's central provinces. The tariff, customs, credit, and tax systems introduced by the imperial government supported this process, acting in the interests of Austro-Hungarian capital. The development of the railway network was aimed at ensuring the economic interests of the empire, which affected the socio-economic development of Bukovyna. In particular, the construction of railways improved the transport infrastructure, leading to increased trade and higher volumes of raw material and goods transportation. However, this development had a dual nature. On one hand, it promoted economic growth and modernization of the region, but on the other hand, it intensified Bukovyna's dependence on the central provinces of the empire, limiting its economic autonomy and the development of local industry. The article also analyzes the impact of railway construction on the social aspects of life in Bukovyna. The railway became an important factor in migration, contributing to urbanization and the growth of the working class. However, at the same time, social tensions increased due to the unequal distribution of economic benefits and the intensification of local population exploitation. The conclusions of the article emphasize the need for further research to fully understand the impact of railway development on Bukovyna in the context of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and to compare these processes with similar developments in other parts of the world.

Exploring the interplay of corporate and ecosystem change

PurposeCorporate changes not only impact the firms involved but also have consequences for their ecosystems. However, the existing literature on ecosystem change is limited. This paper describes and discusses the interconnected patterns between corporate and ecosystem change, shedding light on the various forms these changes take.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical part of the paper is based on the case study of two previously merged organizations' separation.FindingsThe paper reveals intensifying and dissipating change patterns, illustrating the linkages between rapid and gradual corporate and ecosystem changes within and across various ecosystem spheres. Three spheres are conceptualized: sphere of control, sphere of interdependency and sphere of negotiation, each indicating a separate change pattern.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper lies in its discussion on interconnected corporate and ecosystem changes, offering valuable insights for situating corporate change within the ecosystem and establishing a vocabulary for ecosystem change. Moreover, through the empirical study of a corporate divorce, the paper enhances our understanding of this specific form of change.

The indicators included in ISO 37120 and performance measurement in smart cities

Purpose: Local government units are undergoing a shift in management practices driven by the implementation of the New Public Management (NPM) doctrine. One element of NPM is the measurement of performance in local government. As cities grow, the new concept of ‘smart cities’ is rapidly developing. However, it is difficult to determine how to measure the level of ‘smartness’. This paper focuses on measuring the performance of smart cities using the indicators included in ISO 37120. Methodology/approach: In the theoretical part, we overview the aims of performance measurement within NPM and the idea of smart cities. Meanwhile, the empirical part includes statistical data to analyse performance measurement using the indicators included in ISO 37120. Findings: Performance measurement is possible using the indicators included in ISO 37120. The indicators make it possible to compare the results of cities in various countries. Thus, standardising the indicators is the key to the development of smart city performance measurement. Originality/value: Our findings will be of value for future research about using ISO standards for the performance management of smart cities. Our research is also important for implementing NPM in local government. Research limitations: Due to a lack of data, the observation period is too short to make a more in-depth analysis.

Mean Absolute Directional Loss as a new loss function for machine learning problems in algorithmic investment strategies

This paper investigates the issue of an adequate loss function in the optimization of machine learning models used in the forecasting of financial time series for the purpose of algorithmic investment strategies (AIS) construction. We propose the Mean Absolute Directional Loss (MADL) function, solving important problems of classical forecast error functions in extracting information from forecasts to create efficient buy/sell signals in algorithmic investment strategies. MADL places appropriate emphasis not only on the quality of the point forecast but also on its impact on the rate of achievement by the investment system based on it. The introduction and detailed description of the theoretical properties of this new MADL loss function are our main contributions to the literature. In the empirical part of the study, based on the data from two different asset classes (cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin and commodities: Crude Oil), we show that our new loss function enables us to select better hyperparameters for the LSTM model and obtain more efficient investment strategies, with regard to risk-adjusted return metrics on the out-of-sample data.

Features of the value-semantic sphere of personality in students prone to using psychoactive substances

The article is devoted to the study of the value-semantic sphere of the personality of students who are prone to the use of psychoactive substances. The importance of timely organization of corrective work to overcome addictive behavior is noted. The article examines the factors determining the occurrence of dependent behavior, the classification of motives for the formation of dependent forms of personality behavior in college age. Theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of the emergence of addictive forms of personality behavior are considered. The empirical part of the study describes the structure, methods and results of the study of the student's personality attitude to psychoactive substances. The relationship between value-semantic characteristics and attitude to psychoactive substances has been established.

Quality Objectives in Standardized Quality Management Systems.

The effectiveness of a quality management system consistent with the ISO 9001 standard depends on how quality objectives are established and pursued. The aims of this article are to identify quality objectives in selected certified organizations providing medical services, assess their compliance with the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, and determine factors influencing such objectives. The first theoretical part of the article is based on a systematic literature review. The empirical part contains an analysis of documentation related to quality management systems and conducted audits. The data were collected during 42 quality management system audits conducted in 16 health care organizations in the years 2015-2020. Uncategorized interviews were conducted with quality management system representatives. The data were verified by interviews with 6 management system auditors having at least 15 years' experience in auditing health care organizations. The assessment of the methodological correctness is based on the ISO 9001:2015 standard criteria. The most frequently formulated quality objectives include improving customer satisfaction, task-based objectives related to planned works, improvements, and development of new medical services. The quality objectives fulfill the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. However, they are not ambitious. The most significant factors influencing the processes of goal setting are economic (financial incentives, available resources for modernization), social (community needs), and managerial (the scope of performed analyses, the quality of the audit process, and the calculation of necessary effort). Health care organizations need to pursue more ambitious objectives, intensify the use of performed medical analyses, and integrate quality objectives into management remuneration systems.