Behavioral Perspective Research Articles

Evaluating factors influencing visit intention towards birding tourism: an extended theory of planned behaviour perspective

ABSTRACT Birdwatching, also known as avitourism, has become the fastest-growing segment of ecotourism, which contributes significantly to socio-economic development as well as the protection and development of threatened natural areas around the world. Despite the potential benefits of avitourism, only a few countries have fully exploited such opportunities. Hence, this study aims to understand the factors influencing the intentions to visit avitourism destinations. To improve the conceptual model, this study extended the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) by integrating environmental awareness, concern, knowledge and the Big-Five personality traits. A quantitative methodology via questionnaire was employed to gather data from 389 respondents across Malaysia. The results reveal that environmental awareness, environmental knowledge, openness to experience, introversion, and emotional stability significantly influence Malaysians’ intention to visit avitourism destinations. Notably, this study also highlights the demographic profile as a crucial factor influencing the visit intention towards avitourism. Older males with lower education and job positions are more likely to visit avitourism destinations than younger females with higher education and job positions. These insights are anticipated to assist tourism organisations, educators, and policymakers in devising strategies to foster avitourism amongst the Malaysian population. The limitations and future studies were also discussed in this study.

Putting an Integrated Theoretical Framework of Student Engagement into Practice: A Case Study of Three Student Initiatives at the Technical University of Munich

AbstractStudent engagement is perceived as an increasingly important but complex phenomenon in medical education. Recently, integrated theoretical frameworks have been introduced to conceptualize student engagement from a psychological, behavioral, and psychosocial perspective. The body of literature underpinning the development of the frameworks is enormous, but there is a relative paucity of reports detailing the use of the frameworks in practice. Here, we present a case study of three de novo student initiatives at the Technical University of Munich. The initiatives cover various topics, from case-based learning tutorials to extracurricular offerings on mental health and mentoring. We will map each project to the integrated framework proposed by Kassab et al. (Med Teach 45:949–965, 2023) and assess its usefulness in capturing student engagement. We conclude that the framework holistically describes the engagement profile of each project but does not consider the different roles students assume when participating in a project or incentivizing it.

Performance of complementor’s complementary goods on platform ecosystems: the perspective of individual complementors' complementary goods development behavior

The purpose of our study was to examine how individual complementors' development behaviors (specifically, diversity- and distinctiveness-oriented development behaviors) impact the performance of complementary goods on the platform. To achieve this, we employed fixed-effects regression analysis and utilized panel data obtained from the free music platform “DOVA.” This study examines two aspects of the performance of complementor’s complementary goods: the highest performance related to the success of the platform ecosystem and the lowest performance related to platform ecosystem sustainment. The findings indicate that a high focus on diversity-oriented development behavior is positively correlated with the complementor's highest performance and negatively correlated with complementor's lowest performance. Additionally, distinctiveness-oriented development behavior also positively correlated with complementor's highest performance. However, low distinctiveness-oriented development behavior is negatively correlated with complementor's lowest performance. We reveal desirable development behaviors for complementary goods related to both content innovation and platform ecosystem sustainability. Based on these understandings, platform owners can target platform governance.

The Post Office Scandal: Implications for Management, Leadership, and Governance

Many have become more aware of the Post Office (PO) scandal because of the screening of the docudrama Mr Bates vs The Post Office in 2024 (ITV, 2024) and coverage of the recent Public Inquiry (Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, 2024). However, there are also now several publications concerning the case which highlight key failures in governance, leadership and management that can be addressed. This working paper reviews the case from documented sources and applies critical insight to understand the case from the perspective of both business ethics and organisational behaviour. The author is a former Manager of Ethics and Responsible Business Practices for a global professional services firm, and the co-author of the Economist book, Business Ethics (Moon and Bonny, 2001). The paper highlights the need to build ethical and responsible decision-making cultures from the top down. However, setting the ‘tone at the top’ is no longer a useful paradigm. Too often senior leaders’ distance themselves from the actual running of the enterprise to be fully aware of potential risks that need to be managed. In the case of the PO, key learning points are highlighted in this regard with reference to the work of the investigative journalist Nick Wallis (2021, 2022) and other key authors.

Metaverse Metamorphosis: Fintech's Evolution Catalyzing New Era of Consumer Behavior

ABSTRACTAll facets of society may enter the virtual world more quickly due to the rapid development of digital technology, which would blur the boundary between the real and the digital realms and encourage the creation of a Metaverse. In the upcoming decades, metaverse technology—which allows immersive experiences in virtual and real environments—will be the next revolutionary force in society. The Fintech industry has been one of the first to adopt it, and it is one of those that uses technology to resolve problems. The study begins by conceptualizing the Metaverse as being defined explicitly by the convergence of its essential components and its influence on the fintech sector. It further discusses how Metaverse could create value in consumer behaviour in three vicinities: social perception, user identity and advertising & consumer psychology. Finally, the study presents the various implications and future scope of this research by doing the thematic analysis to enhance our understanding of the Metaverse economy and how it influences consumer behaviour. This study provides an overview of the shift occurring in the marketplace and contemplates the various changes that it may bring, all through the perspective of consumer behaviour which can be used to create predictive models that recognize emerging trends in customer behaviour, market activities, and other aspects of the business.

Evaluating Treatment Characteristics and Outcomes for Juvenile Sexual Offenders: A Review

Improving treatment effectiveness for adolescent sexual offenders is believed to be able to reduce the number of recidivism. This review aims to evaluate treatment characteristics and outcomes for the juvenile sexual offender. Existing treatments focus on sexual behavior management, primarily with cognitive behavioral theory and social learning theory. This study used EBSCO databases related to psychology science, such as Academic Search Complete, APA PsycArticles, MEDLINE, and APA PsycINFO. The search was for peer-reviewed empirical studies published between January 2010 and February 2020 with the inclusion criteria that focus on the treatment outcomes evaluations. Eleven studies categorized as mixed therapy programs, family-based treatments, and other specific treatments were reviewed and revealed limitations in methodology, which contributes to the obstruction of treatment evaluation. The key finding of this study suggests the developmental aspect of juvenile sexual offenders when designing interventions and effectivity measurements. Previous treatments for juvenile sexual offenders have developed with several approaches, such as cognitive behavioral perspectives and social learning theory. Keywords: juvenile sexual offender ( JSO), treatment, treatment evaluation

An Analysis of How Smart Home Product Attributes Influence Older Adults' Avoidance Psychology: The Sequential Mediation Role of Product Identity and Trust.

As an effective method of improving the quality of life of older adults, smart home products have seen significant development and increased popularity in recent years. However, studies on the anti-consumption behaviors of older adults regarding these products remain relatively limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the avoidance behavior of older adults toward smart home products by investigating product attributes. The study proposes a theoretical model, "product attributes-product Identity-trust-avoidance behavior", to explore the underlying mechanisms of avoidance behavior from both the psychological and the behavioral perspectives. Based on data from 506 valid questionnaires, the findings reveal that product attributes, product identity, and trust can significantly and negatively impact the avoidance behavior toward smart home products. In addition, product identity and trust play significant mediating and serial mediating roles between product attributes and smart home product avoidance behaviors. These findings provide valuable insights for smart home product manufacturers seeking to understand the avoidance behavior of older adults concerning their products. They also offer valuable guidance on design concepts, marketing strategies, and market formulation, providing new theoretical and practical recommendations for expanding the smart home market for older adults.

The Influence of Behavioral and ESG Drivers on Consumer Intentions for Online Fashion Renting: A Pathway Toward Sustainable Consumption in China’s Fashion Industry

As the fashion industry faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impact, collaborative consumption models such as online fashion renting offer potential solutions for fostering sustainability. This study examines the role of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors alongside behavioral drivers in shaping consumer intentions toward online fashion renting in China, a model of collaborative consumption that contributes to sustainability by reducing new product demand and promoting the reuse of fashion items. The data was gathered from 403 Chinese customers using a standardized questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the given study hypotheses. The current study empirically demonstrates that customers’ attitudes, past sustainable behavior, and subjective norms are significant indicators of consumers’ intentions toward online fashion renting. The results further indicate that relative advantage, compatibility, perceived ownership, psychological risk, green self-identity, and experience value are the key drivers of consumers’ attitudes toward online fashion renting. Additionally, the ESG factors were found to have a significant positive impact on consumer attitudes toward online fashion renting, underscoring their importance in driving sustainable consumption patterns. By integrating behavioral and ESG perspectives, the study contributes to the growing discourse on how sustainable consumption patterns can be encouraged within the fashion industry, offering theoretical and managerial implications for fostering sustainable behavior. Directions for future research are also suggested.

Mitigation measures for pinniped-fisheries interactions based on knowledge of animal behavior

Abstract A rise in pinniped-fisheries interactions has been observed due to the global decline in fish populations primarily attributed to overfishing, and/or due to the recent population recovery of several pinniped species. Although many studies have quantified these interactions, a limited number delve into their behavioral aspects. We consulted 374 studies on pinniped-fisheries interactions from 1980 to 2020 and analyzed which of them addressed the interaction from a behavioral perspective. Additionally, we examined the role of learning in pinnipeds and their ability to capture prey from fishing gear. The stimulus-reward relationship in operational interactions was addressed in 51 (14%) studies, involving 10 (19%) of the world’s 54 pinniped species or subspecies. Depredation behavior (43%) and attack behavior (35%) were frequently reported during fishing interactions. Understanding associative and non-associative learning mechanisms has the potential to reduce economic losses from fishing activity, advance efficient mitigation measures to minimize conflicts, and establish pragmatic conservation priorities based on a better understanding of the behavioral aspects of these interactions. More research is needed to explore the effectiveness of deterrents in different species, improve methods of reducing habituation, and evaluate long-term behavioral effects, fostering effective strategies for minimizing conflicts and promoting coexistence between humans and pinnipeds.

Determinants of Mobile Phone Usage Among Young Adults in Zanzibar

Mobile phones have become a ubiquitous communication tool, particularly among young adults. What was once a simple technological device has now transformed into a social tool, deeply embedded in the daily lives of these individuals. This paper explores mobile phone usage among young adults in Zanzibar from behavioral, economic, and psychological perspectives. Data was collected from 375 participants, consisting of Zanzibar youth aged 16 to 40, residing in both rural and urban areas, through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that young adults utilize mobile phones for various purposes, including communication with family and friends, browsing the internet, consuming media, and playing games. The study also delved into the extent of mobile phone dependency, as well as the positive and negative attitudes surrounding its use. It was found that many young adults spend excessive time and money on mobile phones, sometimes prioritizing airtime and data bundles over basic necessities. The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at fostering balanced mobile phone usage among the younger generation

External corporate venturing in family firms: a behavioural perspective

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to investigate the proclivity of family businesses to engage in external corporate venturing, specifically investments targeted at exploratory searches in ventures in their early stages of development. From a behavioural perspective, we investigated whether family control influences the likelihood of engaging in such risky initiatives and to what extent key organizational contingencies, i.e. financial slack and risk-taking endeavours, shift socioemotional wealth preservation as a reference point. We tested our hypotheses on a sample of 12,320 firm-year observations gathered from 2,548 European listed firms in the period 2011–2018. We found that despite family firms engaging less than nonfamily firms in external corporate venturing, their risk attitudes change under both extremely favourable and uncertain organizational contingencies.

Dynamic policy in the presence of social norms

AbstractIndividual actions can depend on prevailing social norms. We investigate how optimal policy to promote pro‐social action should exploit the underlying social dynamics. We develop a dynamic model of prosocial action in which conformist consumers repeatedly choose whether to engage in some prosocial activity. Whereas individual behavior is not observed, the overall participation rate in the previous period is common knowledge. We demonstrate how conformity can lead to multiple steady states and how their selection depends on starting conditions and discount factors. We further show that the optimal subsidy path can be non‐monotonic and can decrease before reaching the steady state‐level. Our model thus provides a rationale for introductory subsidies to promote environmentally friendly behavior from a behavioral perspective.

Reprint of: Smoking and pulmonary health in women: A narrative review and behavioral health perspective

ObjectiveCigarette smoking prevalence has declined slower among women than men, and smoking-related pulmonary disease (PD) has risen among women. Given these trends, there is a critical need to understand and mitigate PD risk among women who smoke. The purpose of this narrative review and commentary is to highlight important evidence from the literature on smoking and PD among women. MethodsThis review focuses broadly on examining cigarette smoking and PD among women within six topic areas: (1) demographic characteristics and prevalence of smoking, (2) smoking behavior, (3) lung cancer, (4) obstructive PD, (5) diagnostic and treatment disparities, and (6) gaps in the literature and potential directions for future research and treatment. ResultsGrowing evidence indicates that compared to men, women are at increased risk for developing smoking-related PD and poorer PD outcomes. Gender disparities in smoking-related PD may be largely accounted for by genetic differences and sex hormones contributing to PD pathogenesis and presentation, smoking behavior, nicotine dependence, and pathogen/carcinogen clearance. Moreover, gender disparities in smoking-related PD may be exacerbated by important social determinants (e.g., women with less formal education and those from minoritized groups may be at especially high risk for poor PD outcomes due to higher rates of smoking). ConclusionRising rates of smoking-related PD among women risk widening diagnostic and treatment disparities. Ongoing research is needed to explore potentially complex relationships between sex, gender, and smoking-related PD processes and outcomes, and to improve smoking-cessation and PD treatment for women.

Relationship between Investor's Regret Aversion and Stock Returns

This study analyzes the impact of investor regret and regret aversion on stock returns from a behavioral finance perspective. Regret occurs when investors compare the outcomes of their choices with alternative outcomes. Assets with returns lower than the highest potential return achievable within the same period are defined as assets causing significant regret for investors. Such assets, causing either high or low regret, influence investor demand. Investors tend to avoid adding assets with high regret to their portfolios, and demand additional compensation to hold them. Conversely, investors prefer assets with lower regret, and are willing to accept relatively lower returns. This study utilizes the regret variables proposed by Arisoy et al. (2024) to examine the existence of regret aversion and regret premiums in Korean stock markets, along with their impact on asset pricing. It investigates the relationships with variables such as individual investors’ trading volume, disposition effect, and psychological price barriers, while analyzing periods when regret aversion intensifies, considering market conditions and dynamics. This study contributes to the empirical analysis of regret aversion in the Korean stock market. Moreover, it enhances the understanding of investor decision-making and asset pricing.

Packaging optimization model using cost-based behavioral perspective approach in food and beverage industry

The high competition in the food and beverage industry in Indonesia, where packaging has a very important function, with the main function to protect the product, as well as being a factor in attracting consumers' interest in making purchases. Packaging production is dominated by several companies, which when categorized are divided into middle-up manufacturing and middle-low manufacturing. The research is necessary to create an optimal packaging design model by considering the culture and habits of consumer. Capturing customer behavior and costs has a control function. Ethnographic studies are used to explore packaging elements that are important to consumer and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for data processing. The result provides a conceptual model as well as recommendations for food and beverage manufacturers in terms of the packaging used. Seven elements of packaging that deserve primary attention: design, image, typography, color, size, material and quality. Using habit and cost factors has the control variables, with maximum profit as the objective function. Recommendations for middle-up manufacturing are focused on four packaging elements: design, image, color and quality. It is recommended to maximize strategies for customer retention and improving customer loyalty. Middle-low manufacturing is focused on four packaging elements: color, size, material and quality. It is recommended to maximize strategies to encourage repeat business and boost productivity. The features identified in this research are very possible to be implemented by food and beverage manufacturer, along with recommended strategies. For example, at the middle and low manufacturing level, it is very important to pay attention to product availability in several sizes

Vaccine hesitancy: a structured review from a behavioral perspective (2015–2022)

ABSTRACT Vaccine hesitancy, a complex behavioral phenomenon, poses a significant global health threat and has gained renewed attention amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper scrutinized peer-reviewed literature on vaccine hesitancy published from 2015 to 2022, with a specific focus on behavioral perspectives, utilizing a Theories-Constructs-Variables-Contexts-Methods (TCVCM) framework. The study highlighted prominent theoretical approaches, abstract concepts, research variables, global contexts and academic techniques employed across a selected sample of 138 studies. The result is a consolidated overview of research and schematization of the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy and vaccination behaviors. These include individual-level, contextual, vaccine-specific, organizational, and public-policy-related dynamics. The findings corroborated the complexity of vaccine hesitancy and emphasized the difficulties of pursuing vaccine advocacy. The analysis also identified several directions for future research, and the need to conduct more contextual studies in low- and middle-income nations to bring out the cross-cultural nuances of vaccine hesitancy.

Effect of B4C nanoparticles addition on the refinement of Fe-rich phase in ZL108 alloy

Refining effect of B4C nanoparticles in ZL108 alloy on Fe-rich phase was studied in this work. It was observed that B4C nanoparticles apparently refines the size of the Fe-rich phases and partially transforms Fe-rich phases morphology from hollow polyhedron to petal-like shape. The DSC results show that B4C nanoparticles does not affect the initial nucleation temperature of the Fe-rich phase. However, the addition of B4C nanoparticles to ZL108 alloy inhibits the growth of Fe-rich phase. The TEM results confirm that the addition of B4C nanoparticles alters the lattice parameter of Fe-rich phase due to incorporation of C atoms, thereby suppressing the growth of the Fe-rich phase and ultimately leading to its refinement. From the perspective of fracture behavior, the addition of B4C nanoparticles remarkably reduces the stress concentration of Fe-rich phase, and the elongation of the alloy increases by 25.3%. These findings provide a new perspective for further research and development to refine Fe-rich phase.

Research on the Factors That Influence and Improve the Quality of Informal Learning Spaces (ILS) in University Campus

Currently, with the intensification of global education competition, how to cultivate innovative and versatile talents has become the focus of education today. Informal learning spaces (ILS) have received widespread attention due to their benefits for interdisciplinary interaction. Many forms of ILS have been built, and coffee shops are one of them. However, there is no uniform standard for the design of cafes as ILS, and there are many problems with the spatial quality. This study took a university cafe as a case study and conducted research on the environmental quality and influencing factors from the perspective of environmental behavior. In terms of research methods, this study adopted a combination of ultra-wideband positioning, questionnaire surveys, and environmental data measurements. This research method could obtain the complete relationship between user behavior, time, and location, which improved the shortcomings of traditional research methods of fragmented and accidental data acquisition, and helped to obtain more accurate research results. The study identified the impact proportions of four criteria layer elements and 26 scheme layer factors, which was also the main contribution of this study. In terms of four criteria layer elements, the physical elements had the highest proportion, accounting for 32.46%. The ontology elements ranked second, accounting for 27.07%. The atmosphere elements ranked third, accounting for 24.19%. Finally, facility elements accounted for 16.29%. The top three scheme layer factors were equipment and facilities, noise, and illumination, with weights of 11.18%, 10.71%, and 8.35%, respectively. The study summarized the development directions of cafes as ILS, such as considering the learning needs of different groups, installing sound-absorbing and soundproof devices, adding grilles to external windows, and improving glare problems.

Automated home cage monitoring of an aging colony of mice-Implications for welfare monitoring and experimentation.

Our understanding of laboratory animal behavior and the implications of husbandry activities on their wellbeing remains incomplete. This is especially relevant with an aging colony as their activity patterns may change as they mature. Home Cage Monitoring (HCM) provides valuable insights into mouse activity within the animal's own environment and can shed light on acclimatization periods and responses to husbandry activities such as cage changing. The aim of this study was to monitor and explore changes in the activity and rest disturbance (RDI) patterns of an aging colony of male and female C57/BL6 mice. The mice were housed in the Digitally Ventilated Cage® system, for up to 18 months of age. Data was then downloaded to investigate how the activity patterns and RDI of the mice changed over time. Habituation, aging and cage change assessments were conducted using linear mixed models, while cage separation and stereotypic behavior investigations were conducted by visual inspection of the data. As expected during the study, mice were less active during the light phase compared to the dark phase. However, on arrival mice displayed heightened activity and RDI during the light phase and reduced activity and RDI during the dark phase, taking several days to adjust to baseline "acclimatized" patterns. With age, overall activity significantly decreased from 5 months until 14 months of age, after which it increased back toward baseline levels. We also observed activity spikes during our monitoring of this colony. Prolonged housing can lead to alarming stereotypic behaviors in animals. Cages of mice flagged for potential stereotypy displayed sustained activity spikes in the light and dark phases. Spikes in activity during the dark phase were much more pronounced than in the light phase. Cage changing led to an increase in the light phase activity and RDI compared to the previous day, with no observed difference in the dark phase post-cage change. This effect remained consistent as the animals aged. This study explores changes in the activity patterns of an aging colony of male and female C57/BL6 mice housed in the Digitally Ventilated Cage® system. We identified distinct aging phases concerning activity and RDI differences and a potential new welfare application for the DVC®, specifically for early detection of stereotypy. In conclusion, the adoption of HCM systems should be considered for long-term animal housing from both a welfare and behavioral perspective.

A behavioural perspective on pandemic preparedness

Abstract Driven by lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the RIVM Behavioural Unit is working on the preparedness of social and behavioural sciences. This includes establishing and maintaining a stakeholder network and a knowledge base on pandemic preparedness and behaviour. Using the socio-ecological model and the emergency management cycle, we propose a conceptual framework for a behavioural perspective on pandemic preparedness. The multilevel (individual, community, organisational, national and supra-national), time-dependent (cold, acute, recovery phase) structure of the framework can be helpful in explicating who has to do what, when. In addition, to explain and understand what different actors require for those behaviours prior to or during a pandemic, we propose an adapted version of the COM-B model (Michie et al., 2011), including determinants of behaviour related to motivation, capabilities and opportunities. Based on these frameworks, various monitoring tools are developed. Here we present the Pandemic Preparedness and Behaviour (PPb) survey aimed at cold phase monitoring behaviour on an individual level (i.e. hygiene behaviours, social activity, preparedness behaviours) and their determinants. With this survey we will obtain baseline measurements ahead of a possible future pandemic and will have developed the appropriate tools to be used in a hot phase for as much as possible. In addition, results on cold phase determinants can help to identify where communities, organisations and governments can provide support to improve pandemic preparedness. In this presentation, the proposed conceptual framework and the PPb survey will be discussed, together with their relevance for preparedness of the social and behavioural sciences.