Attributional Perspective Research Articles

Fish oil substitution with vegetable oils in diets for greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili): A consequential life cycle assessment approach

This study assessed the environmental impacts of substituting fish oil with vegetable oils in the diets of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), based on both attributional and consequential life cycle assessments. The dietary lipid source was either fish oil (FO diet) or a blend of vegetable oils (linseed oil, sunflower oil, and palm oil, 4:3:3; VO diet). From an attributional perspective, the production of 1 kg of the FO diet released 1.10 kg CO2-eq and 1.60 kg CO2-eq as for global warming potential with and without land-use change, and 8.6 g PO4-eq as for the eutrophication potential; the depleted stock fraction index was equivalent to 2.8E−07. Compared with the FO diet, the production of 1 kg of the VO diet increased global warming potential with and without land-use change (by 5% and 4%, respectively) and PO4-eq by 58%, and reduced depleted stock fraction index by 24%. Consequential modelling revealed that in a scenario using fish oil and fishmeal derived from fish by-products, the marginal production of 1 kg of the VO diet compared with that of the FO diet produced a lower global warming potential with (−19%) and without land-use change (−12%), a greater eutrophication potential (+33%), and reduced depleted stock fraction index (−23%). In a scenario using fish oil and fishmeal diverted from a pre-existing fish production system, compared with that of the FO diet, the marginal production of 1 kg of the VO diet yielded similar values of global warming potentials and depleted stock fraction index, and a considerably higher eutrophication potential (+44%) value. For both FO and VO diets, fish-derived products (oil and meal) notably contributed to global warming potentials, as determined using both the attributional and consequential approaches. In contrast, the two diets differed with respect to the major contribution to eutrophication potential, which originated from non-fish-derived constituents for the FO diet and from vegetable oils (particularly sunflower oil) for the VO diet. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the replacement of sunflower oil with an equal quantity of another oil, e.g. palm oil, could reduce the eutrophication potential of the VO diet. In conclusion, the substitution of fish oil in aquafeeds with a mixture of vegetable oils could contribute to reductions in the exploitation of wild fish stocks and greenhouse gas emissions, although potential trade-offs, such as increased eutrophication, should be taken into consideration to enhance the environmental sustainability of aquafeed production based on an integrated approach.

Electric vehicles adoption behaviour: Synthesising the technology readiness index with environmentalism values and instrumental attributes

Since the introduction of Electric Vehicles (EVs) into the consumer market, the most important question has been how to persuade people to adopt this product. This is a very challenging mission for the industry and governments due to the nature of the product. It is a revolutionary innovation which means that it imposes major shifts in driving behaviour. The adoption rate however is slowly growing worldwide. Previous studies have shed light on the mechanism in which consumers express willingness to purchase EVs, mainly from the perspective of instrumental attributes (the perceived functional aspects of EVs) and the environmentalism values. This paper includes some behavioural traits to previous prediction models as plausible drivers to purchase EVs: Technology Readiness Index (TRI), and Desire for Unique Consumer Products (DUCP). These traits were synthesised with the aforementioned instrumental attributes and environmentalism values to offer a broad perspective on what drives the purchase intention of EVs. This study was conducted in the UK through intercept survey, with a sample size of 336 individuals. The results suggest that TRI, manifested through innovativeness and insecurity towards technology, is a significant driver of EV purchase intention. In addition, three instrumental factors, namely driving range, convenience, and fuel costs, were found as significant predictors. Unlike previous studies that suggest EVs should be targeted towards environmentalist consumers, this study found weaker support for this claim. DUCP was also not found to be a significant factor, contrary to previous findings. The term EV in this article refers to battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV), which are fully electric vehicles with chargeable batteries.

Positive Source Attribution: Unpacking the Effect of Work-to-Family Enrichment on Work Engagement

Guided by the perspective of positive source attribution, this study examines the mediating role of work-to-family esteem, and the joint moderating effect of family motivation and gender in the relationship between work-to-family enrichment and work engagement using a mixed-method design. In study 1, we used a scenario-based experiment (N = 60), finding that work-to-family enrichment was positively related to work engagement, and work-to-family esteem mediated this relationship. Then, in Study 2, we collected survey data from 171 HR managers and professionals and their spouses, replicating the positive impact of work-to-family enrichment on work engagement and the mediating effect of work-to-family esteem. We also found that family motivation and gender play a joint moderating effect on the relationship between work-to-family enrichment and work-to-family esteem. The mediating e?ect of work-to-family esteem exists for men with high family motivation and women with low family motivation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The Underlying Mechanism and Behavioural Outcomes of Working from Home During the Lockdown

Purpose -This paper examines the implications of remote working on employees’ well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown. To this aim, we invoked boundary theory and source attribution perspective. We identified the underlying mechanisms and within-domain (i.e., family) behavioural outcomes when work and home are physically intertwined during the pandemic. Design-A theoretical model is proposed and empirically tested in a two-waves study of 141 university teachers in London, England (N = 282), who adapted remote working with computer-based assisted technology during the pandemic. Findings Our findings revealed that family-to-work interruption increases family-work conflict and the consequent spouse undermining behaviour. However, the extent to which employees engage in undermining behaviour at home depends on how these interruptions delay work goals achievement (Path A). In the alternative path, we observed that work interrupting during family time directly increases work-family conflict and is only partially explained by family goal obstruction (Path B). Originality/value This study was the first to use source attribution perspective to extend boundary theory and specify, in two asymmetrical paths, a different mechanism for the effect of work-to-family and family-to-work interruptions, WFC/FWC and their within-domain behaviour outcomes. Keywords-Boundary theory; Source attribution theory; Spouse undermining behaviour; Work-family conflict, Family-work conflict; London, UK, COVID-19 pandemic.

To predict and to explain: a multigroup analysis of gender on job and family satisfaction among hospitality employees

PurposeThe recent trends of work and family issues have prompted a proliferation of research in the work-family study; however, evidence from the hospitality industry is limited. This paper aims to examine the relationships between the work-family interface on job satisfaction (JS) and family satisfaction (FS). Additionally, the authors have adopted person-centered perspectives to determine if gender affects the magnitude of these relationships.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 295 hospitality employees, and the hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares method of structural equation modeling. Other than assessing the path model’s explanatory power, the authors examined the model’s predictive power using PLSpredict to predict new cases.FindingsThe results supported the originating domain view where the domain in which work-family enrichment (WFE) or conflict originates would have the immediate effect. Simultaneously, the authors found empirical evidence demonstrating the complimentary transfer of resources from the family domain to the work domain, enriching an individual’s satisfaction level. Finally, multigroup analysis reveals that women displayed higher job dissatisfaction than men when facing work-family conflict.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study that allows a better understanding of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees’ work-family dynamics. This is the first study relating WFE and conflict to matching-domain satisfaction in one model. By examining these constructs’ simultaneous pathways, the authors extend the body of knowledge by contrasting the source attribution perspective with the cross-domain theory of enrichment and conflict. Consequentially, the authors answer Premchandran and Priyadarshi’s (2020) call to examine work-family dynamics in different cultures on different genders.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Types of Honey from Banat Region, Romania.

Honey is a natural product with multiple health benefits. The paper presents the chemical characterization and the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of ten types of honey (knotweed, linden, wild cherry, acacia, honeydew, oilseed rape, sunflower, phacelia, plain polyflora and hill polyflora) from the Banat region, Romania. We studied the water content, dry matter, impurities, acidity and pH of honey. We also determined the content of reducing sugar, minerals and flavonoids and the total phenolic content. All honey samples analysed showed good nutritional characteristics according to the standard codex for honey. From the analysis of the mineral content of the honey samples, we observed a variability in the macro and microminerals, influenced by the botanical origin, ranging between 0.25% (wild cherry honey) and 0.54% (honeydew). The toxic metals’ (Cd and Pb) levels met the standard for almost all samples analysed except for knotweed. The flavonoid content of the samples ranged from 9.29 mg QE/100 g for wild cherry honey to 263.86 mg QE/100 g for linden honey, and for polyphenols between 177.6 mgGAE/100 g for acacia honey and 1159.3 mgGAE/100 g for honeydew. The best antioxidant capacity was registered in the case of linden honey (79.89%) and honeydew (79.20%) and the weakest in acacia (41.88%) and wild cherries (50.4%). All studied honey samples showed antimicrobial activity, depending on the type of honey, concentration and strain analysed. The novelty of this study is given by the complex approach of the study of honey quality, both from the perspective of chemical attributes and the evaluation of the antimicrobial potential on specific strains in correlation with the botanical and geographical origin of the analyzed area.

Source Attribution of Atmospheric CO2 Using 14C and 13C as Tracers in Two Chinese Megacities During Winter

AbstractIdentifying the sources of atmospheric Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important prerequisite for developing effective mitigation strategies. Here we conducted regular observations of the atmospheric CO2 mixing ratio and its carbon isotope compositions (i.e., Δ14C and δ13C) in Xi'an and Beijing during winter, to estimate source contributions of CO2 emissions in Chinese megacities. The results showed that CO2 emissions in both Xi'an and Beijing originated mainly from fossil‐fuel sources, which contributed 65 ± 3% and 82 ± 2% of the total CO2 enhancement, respectively, during the sampling period; the results also revealed a substantial biogenic CO2 contribution during winter. We further separated the fossil‐fuel sources into contributions from coal, oil and natural gas combustions. We found that coal combustion was the dominant anthropogenic source in Xi'an, accounting for 54 ± 4% of the total fossil‐fuel emissions, and oil and natural gas contribute almost equally to the emissions. In contrast, emission from natural‐gas combustion was the main fossil‐fuel source in Beijing, accounting for more than half of the total fossil‐fuel emissions, whereas, coal combustion contributed only 17 ± 10%. These top‐down results are generally consistent with emission inventory when seasonal variations of emissions are considered; some differences between the two methods indicated that the inventory for Xi'an might be underestimating the emissions from oil consumption. This pilot study confirms the potential of direct verification between top‐down and bottom‐up methods from the perspective of source attribution.

External corporate social responsibility promotes employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior: An attribution perspective

External corporate social responsibility promotes employees’ unethical pro-organizational behavior: An attribution perspective

When does work-family conflict occur?

The present research examines diurnal patterns of work-family conflict episodes in a sample of 106 working adults collected every two hours over three days. Using boundary theory, we explore the timing of work-family conflict throughout the day and examine daily and weekly transitions as predictors of work-family conflict occurrence. We contrast two theoretical perspectives which suggest that transitions are a point for potential spillover and regulation failure (Ashforth et al., 2000), and that transitions necessarily shift resources, creating conflict attributions (Matthews et al., 2014). Results show work-family conflict occurs at all times of the day, and that family-to-work conflict has a distinct diurnal pattern. The timing of work-family conflict can be predicted by temporal and spatial transitions, the start and end of scheduled work times, and standard evening transition times. Both spillover and attributional perspectives were supported for self-reported transitions, but only spillover rationale was supported for scheduled transitions. Follow-up analyses suggest temporal transitions and rapid transitions are particularly strong correlates of work-family conflict episodes. In addition, role flexibility and permeability did not modify the relationship between transition occurrence and work-family conflict occurrence. This study yields novel theoretical and practical insight into the timing of work-family conflict episodes, and rigorously tests boundary theory.

How and when frontline employees positively cope with supervisor ostracism: An attributional perspective

ABSTRACT Supervisor ostracism prevails in highly stressful workplace such as hospitality settings. However, the consequences of supervisor ostracism seem disparate. Some frontline employees (FLEs) experience psychological distress and choose to leave their jobs, while others tend to engage in positive behaviors to reshape their social environments. This study provides novel insights into the consequences of supervisor ostracism from a causal explanatory perspective. We propose that ostracized FLEs are likely to adopt the tactics of job crafting and supervisor-focused ingratiation to cope with supervisor ostracism, which subsequently leads to enhanced performance outcomes. Results from a two-wave and multisource survey reveal that FLEs are motivated to craft their jobs when they make internal attribution for supervisor ostracism, which, in turn, promotes their task performance. Furthermore, when FLEs attribute supervisor ostracism to relational factors, they are likely to ingratiate their supervisors, which improves citizenship performance. Contributions to literature and management practice are also addressed.

Social Value Evaluation of Ecosystem Services in Global Geoparks Based on SolVES Model

With the increasing demand for diverse ecosystem services, the assessment of ecosystem services has become a hot research topic. Taking Koktokay Global Geopark as the study area, the SoIVES model was used to quantitatively evaluate the various cultural services of the ecosystem in this area from the perspective of social attributes and spatial heterogeneity and to generate corresponding value index (VI) maps. The results show that aesthetic value index is the largest, while entertainment value index is the smallest. With the increase of distance from roads and water bodies, aesthetic value and entertainment value tend to decrease gradually. The value of popular science education still fluctuates slightly in locations far away from roads and water bodies. The value index of health care value fluctuates within a certain distance from the road and gradually decreases as the distance from the water body increases. The application of the SolVES model in a wide range of areas has achieved good results and provided a scientific basis for ecological construction and park planning.

Measuring the Intermediate Goods’ External Dependency on the Global Value Chain: A Case Study of China

In the face of the anti-globalization trend and the shrinking of the global value chain, ensuring the safety of the global layout of the industrial chain and the sustainability of each country’s internal intermediate product production cycle has become an important new development strategy for all countries. The sustainability of the internal and external cycles of production systems is closely related to global value chains. Based on the world input-output model, we define the trade pattern of intermediate goods in various countries from the perspective of trade intermediary attributes, and propose two indicators by which to measure the dependence of China on the global value chain in the process of “dual circulation” development: the degree of vertical specialization (VSD) and the import share of domestic total consumption (IMS); China’s super-large market leads to low values of both VSD and IMS. China’s high-tech industry has the highest degree of external dependence in the process of participating in dual circulation, and there has been a fluctuation cycle since 2009. The external dependence of different industries shows heterogeneity.

A Qualitative Study to Assess US Patient Preferences between new Transdermal System and Injectable Anabolic Therapies for Osteoporosis Treatment

Mini abstractUS patients with osteoporosis included in three focus groups identified efficacy, safety, cost, and convenience as important attributes of treatment when choosing between anabolic therapies with high stated preference for the solid Microstructured Transdermal System.ObjectiveThe current study evaluated patient perspective and relative importance of treatment attributes of in-home daily self-administration of abaloparatide-solid Microstructured Transdermal System (sMTS) compared with other anabolic agents (i.e. in-home daily subcutaneous self-injections, and monthly subcutaneous injections at doctor office) among a group of US patients with osteoporosis.MethodsThe current study included systematic literature reviews, experts’ consultation and three online patients focus groups (n=27), including patients ≥50 years of age at high risk for fracture. Nominal Group Technique was used by asking patients to (1) Individually identify characteristics that would be important for them when choosing between anabolic treatments, (2) Share ideas and discuss perspectives with other patients, (3) Review additional attributes generated from a systematic literature review, (4) Select and rank individually the 7 most important characteristics from the list and (5) Report their acceptability and stated preference ranking between the three treatment options.ResultsTwenty women and 7 men with a mean age of 65 (range 51-85 years) participated in the focus groups. Twenty-four treatment characteristics were identified through focus groups and literature review. Efficacy, safety, out-of-pocket costs, strength of evidence and the option to self-administer were ranked as the most important attributes. The majority of patients stated preference for a daily sMTS if prescribed by their doctor.ConclusionsThis study revealed that efficacy, safety, costs, and convenience are important attributes of osteoporosis treatment for US patients at high risk for fractures when choosing between anabolic therapies, with a high stated preference for sMTS.

Multichannel retailers' prominent attribute and product positioning strategies

PurposeThis paper studies how multichannel retailers choose the product quality level and decide which attribute to make prominent in their physical store in a competitive environment.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a game theoretic model, in which multichannel retailers' decisions are made in three stages. Using prominent experiential attributes (e.g. functionality) in their offline store and product quality decisions, multichannel retailers are capable of transferring the sales between different channels.FindingsThis analysis shows that making different attributes prominent in their physical store may be an equilibrium, and each multichannel retailer chooses the highest quality level for the prominent attribute. However, the prominent attribute of the highest quality level is not always optimal. Under certain conditions, multichannel retailers may make the experiential attribute prominent in their respective physical stores, which can result in equilibrium.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that multichannel retailers should avoid blindly highlighting high-quality attributes in a competitive environment, or falling into price completion.Originality/valueFrom the perspective of prominent attributes, this study designs the optimal product line based on channel characteristics. The results of the research can provide practical implications for multichannel retailers to increase sales.

Interacting with medical artificial intelligence: Integrating self-responsibility attribution, human–computer trust, and personality

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the medical industry. This paper first investigates the mechanism of patients' medical AI acceptance after experiencing AI service failure from the perspective of responsibility attribution. Using data from 249 patients in China, findings reveal that patients' self-responsibility attribution is positively related to human–computer trust (HCT) and sequentially enhances the acceptance of medical AI for independent diagnosis and treatment. This paper also investigates the moderating role of personality traits. Specifically, conscientiousness and openness strengthen the association between HCT and acceptance of AI for independent diagnosis and treatment; agreeableness and conscientiousness weaken the association between HCT and acceptance of AI for assistive diagnosis and treatment.

Perceived stability of depressive symptomology and willingness to help relational partners: An attributional perspective

Perceived stability of depressive symptomology and willingness to help relational partners: An attributional perspective

SME’s disinclination towards subcontracting in the public sector markets: an attributional perspective

PurposeThis study aims to examine the causes of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) disinclination towards subcontracting in public sector markets. Previous studies have revealed that UK SMEs are reluctant to do business with the public sector through the subcontracting route, but the reasons for this lack of enthusiasm have not been widely researched.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on semi-structured interviews with SMEs competing for public contracts in North West England, a qualitative study was performed, from which several themes emerged.FindingsThe findings were synthesised into a framework underpinned by attribution theory, to portray situationally and dispositionally caused factors that were used to interpret SMEs’ behaviour.Social implicationsThe findings can guide policy development and government interventions in developed and developing countries, aimed at using public procurement as a policy tool to develop the small business sector.Originality/valueThis paper contributes in a unique way to an emerging discourse on how subcontracting can facilitate the access of SMEs to government procurement spending. It adds to knowledge regarding the explanatory power of attribution theory – from its base in social psychology.

Human Resource Strength in Times of Crisis: Information Sharing from an Attributional Perspective

Human Resource Strength in Times of Crisis: Information Sharing from an Attributional Perspective

High‐Tech Industrial Agglomeration and Urban Innovation in China’s Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration: From the Perspective of Industrial Structure Optimization and Industrial Attributes

What is the interplay of high‐tech industrial agglomeration and urban innovation? How does high‐tech industrial agglomeration affect urban innovation? What are the heterogeneous effects of high‐tech industry agglomeration on urban innovation in different conditions? To answer these questions, this paper analyzes the interrelationship between high‐tech industry agglomeration and urban innovation based on panel data of China’s Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2019. We discuss the influence mechanism of high‐tech industrial agglomeration on urban innovation by exploring the mediating effect of industrial structure optimization and the threshold effect of industrial attributes. The heterogeneous impact of high‐tech industry agglomeration on urban innovation is also been further studied. We find that (1) the interaction relationship between high‐tech industry agglomeration and urban innovation output is positive. (2) The advancement of industrial structure plays a positive intermediary role between high‐tech industrial agglomeration and urban innovation output, while the rationalization of industrial structure shows a suppressing effect. (3) There are different threshold effects between capital intensity and technology intensity. The influence of high‐tech agglomeration on urban innovation is positive only when the capital intensity exceeds 1.125. However, the influence is always positive in different levels of technology intensity, significantly. When the technology intensity is higher than 9.012E − 06, the degree and significance of this positive impact would decrease. (4) There are heterogeneous impacts of high‐tech industry agglomeration on urban innovation output in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in different time stages, urban innovation development stages, and urban circles.

Algorithmic Decision-making, Employees’ Justice Perception and Deviant Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Decision Favorableness

Algorithms have been increasingly applied in decision-making in organizations. It is of theoretical significance and managerial relevance to explore how algorithmic decision-making affects employees’ psychological states and behaviors. Integrating the literatures of algorithmic management and justice, we adopt the attribution perspective to investigate how the type of decision-maker (algorithm vs. leader) and decision favorableness interact to affect employees’ justice perception and their subsequent organizational and social deviant behaviors. We propose that decision favorableness moderates the effect of the type of decision-makers on employees’ overall justice perception and the indirect effect of the type of decision-makers on employees’ deviant behaviors. Specifically, when the decision is unfavorable for employees, employees will perceive higher levels of overall justice if the decision is made by algorithms rather than by human leaders. In contrast, when the decision is favorable, employees’ overall justice perception will not differ significantly between the algorithmic decision situation and the leader decision situation. In addition, we propose that employees’ overall justice perception is negatively related to their deviant behaviors in both organizational and social settings. Furthermore, decision favorableness moderates the indirect effects of the type of decision-makers on employees’ organizational and social deviant behaviors via their overall justice perception, such that these indirect effects are stronger when the decision is unfavorable rather than favorable for employees.We conduct a qualitative pilot study and an experimental study to test the theoretical model. The results provide substantial support for our hypotheses. This research contributes to the emerging literature on the relationship between algorithmic decision-making and employees’ justice perception by identifying the moderating role of decision favorableness. In a broader scale, it also enhances the understanding on how algorithms affect employees’ perception. Moreover, by revealing the indirect effect of the type of decision-maker on employees’ deviant behaviors via justice perception, this research extends the scope of literature on how employees respond to algorithmic management. The findings also provide practical implications for management decision-making in the algorithm era.