Positive Intentions Research Articles

How Do Ethically Minded Consumers Explain Intention-Behavior Gap? Barriers to Ethical Purchasing in Turkey

Although consumers usually have positive attitudes and intentions towards purchasing ethical products, the rate of actual ethical purchasing behavior is relatively low. This research aims to identify barriers to ethical purchasing behavior faced by ethically minded consumers. In order to determine the factors that prevent behavioral intention from translating into actual behavior, a qualitative research was conducted. In-depth interviews indicate that ethically minded consumers face four different barriers in terms of ethical purchasing behavior, which are: (1) search difficulty and availability, (2) price, (3) skepticism, and (4) functional expectations. In addition to in-depth interviews, quantitative data was obtained from a larger sample (n = 349) of ethically minded consumers in order to understand the importance of identified barriers. Descriptive statistics of the responses to Ethical Purchasing Barriers Scale items confirm that ethically minded consumers need to overcome information search difficulty, low availability, high prices, low trust and insufficient functional features which are beyond individual factors and need to be solved at the institutional level.

Assessing Antecedents of Behavioral Intention to Use e-LMS: A Case From a Private Institution in the Northern Region of India

Students' and instructors' adoption of “e-learning management systems (e-LMSs)” is critical to their success in a “virtual learning environment”. Students can use “e-learning” to obtain instructional materials to supplement “traditional classroom” instruction. This study intends to highlight important factors of e-learning adoption in higher education institutes. The aim is to determine the factors forming positive intention towards using e-LMS based on “individual characteristics” (“Instructor Quality (IQ)”, “Course Quality (CQ)”, “Learning Value (LV)”, “Social Influence (SI)”, “Facilitating Condition (FC)”, “System Quality (SQ)”, “Perceived Usefulness (PU)”, and “Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU)”). The questionnaire-based survey based on 369 responses from LMS users. The proposed research model was tested using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Initially, Post Adoption Behavior was required to be investigated. The original measurement model contained eight independent constructs. A modified measurement model was created after the initial model was enhanced using exploratory factor and principal component analysis. The results of this study will help practitioners and policy makers in the effective development and implementation of e-Learning Management Systems in HEI's especially in developing countries like India. From the theoretical point of view, the result of this study will further enrich the IT adoption literature.

Fostering future pioneers: Unveiling the entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate students in Oman

This study aimed to examine the entrepreneurial intentions of Omani students. Because this study used analytical methods to provide measurable data, it adopted a quantitative approach to research and a deductive methodology. Purposive sampling, a non-probability sampling method, was used in this study. The Venesaar et al. (2014) standard questionnaire was modified to collect the data. 478 respondents provided data. The results showed that students were motivated to pursue business. The findings demonstrate that students have positive intentions toward entrepreneurship. I am willing to go to any length to become an entrepreneur (4.06), which had the highest mean score for student entrepreneurial intentions. Because all values were greater than 0.05, there was no evidence to reject the null hypothesis. This implies that the entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate students in Oman are unaffected by factors such as family income, father's profession, education, or program of study.

Attitude Factor in Increasing Intention to Come to The Integrated Service Post

Integrated Healthcare Center (integrated service post) is the government's effort to make it easier for the Indonesian people to obtain maternal and child health services. The main problem of this research is the low number of visits by toddlers to Integrated Healthcare Center service posts. This study analyses the relationship between attitudes about the Integrated Healthcare Center and intention to come to the Integrated Healthcare Center. The researcher wants to apply the theory of planned behaviour that intentions influence behaviour while attitudes towards an object, subjective norms and behavioural control influence intentions. Rangacanga correlation research, with a cross-sectional approach. The population of mothers under five is 135 people, and the sample size is 101 people. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling. The data collection instrument was in the form of attitude and intention questionnaires. The independent variable is attitude, and the dependent variable is the intention to visit the Integrated Healthcare Center. In statistical analysis with the Pearson product-moment statistical test, the error rate is set at 0.05. The results showed that 51.28% of mothers under five had a positive attitude, and 51.28% had positive intentions. Statistical test results obtained p: 0.00 <α 0.05 concluded that there is a relationship with the correlation coefficient value of 0.670. This study concludes that the mother's positive attitude positively impacts Integrated Healthcare Center visits by mothers of toddlers. So, it is suggested that community leaders or health workers motivate and empower the community to participate in Integrated Healthcare Center activities.

중국 항일전쟁 영화 포스터 타이틀 로고의 서체적합도가 관람객의태도 및 관람 의도에 미치는 영향

This study investigated the impact of typographic suitability of movie titles and logos on movie posters, as well as viewers' preferences for movie genres, on viewers’ attitudes toward and intentions to watch movies. Empirical research results revealed that higher typographic suitability of movie titles and logo fonts on movie posters led to more positive attitudes and intentions toward watching the movies. Furthermore, a significant positive influence of movie genre preferences on movie attitude and intention to watch was observed. Lastly, a meaningful mediating effect was found between typographic suitability of movie posters and viewers’ attitudes and intentions toward watching movies.

The Effect of Social Media Influencers (SMIs) on Consumers’ Purchase Intention

Social media has led to the emergence of Social Media Influencers (SMIs), a group of influential individuals who hold significant sway over consumer behaviours and play a crucial role in shaping their decision-making. Understanding how SMIs convey their messages to endorsed brands and influence positive behavioural intentions among consumers is essential. This study addresses this research gap by investigating the impact SMIs’ trustworthiness and para-social relationship on consumers’ purchase intentions, considering attributes such as expertise, physical attractiveness, authenticity, attitude homophily, and social attractiveness. Data was collected from social media users through self-administered online surveys, resulting in 179 valid responses, which were analysed using SPSS. The findings reveal that SMIs’ expertise, physical attractiveness, authenticity, and attitude homophily are critical factors in determining their trustworthiness. Additionally, attitude homophily and social attractiveness of SMIs are important predictors of para-social relationships. Furthermore, a strong para-social relationship between influencers and their followers positively influences consumers’ purchase intentions. This research contributes to the literature on SMIs by identifying the antecedents of SMIs’ trustworthiness and para-social relationships, and by examining their influence on followers’ purchase intentions.

A CITY IN THE HILL OR A DUNGEON IN THE VALLEY: WHERE ARE WE HEADING WITH OUR PRESENT PUBLICATION CULTURE

Many academic practices are questionable yet gaining increased practice. As a call of their responsibility, people concerned about such anomalies have expressed their agony on the issues in forums that have looked into some with a positive intent while ignoring others. Unfortunately, the ignored ones are growing daily, making ethically and intellectually sound minds cringe. This situation is largely due to a lack of corrective action in most cases due to lack of resources and few cases due to a lack of intent. This is a genuine review on the matter so far without highlighting any great institution (to undermine their reputation) or undermining the ignoramus ones (considering their lack of resources) worldwide. Instead, this article aims to highlight some of these anomalies for the attention of concerned intellectuals so that they can react quickly before it is too late for any remedial action.

Design of a Sensor-Technology-Augmented Gait and Balance Monitoring System for Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Hong Kong: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

Routine assessments of gait and balance have been recognized as an effective approach for preventing falls by issuing early warnings and implementing appropriate interventions. However, current limited public healthcare resources cannot meet the demand for continuous monitoring of deteriorations in gait and balance. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a prototype surrogate system driven by sensor technology and multi-sourced heterogeneous data analytics, for gait and balance assessment and monitoring. The system was designed to analyze users' multi-mode data streams collected via inertial sensors and a depth camera while performing a 3-m timed up and go test, a five-times-sit-to-stand test, and a Romberg test, for predicting scores on clinical measurements by physiotherapists. Generalized regression of sensor data was conducted to build prediction models for gait and balance estimations. Demographic correlations with user acceptance behaviors were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. Forty-four older adults (38 females) were recruited in this pilot study (mean age = 78.5 years, standard deviation [SD] = 6.2 years). The participants perceived that using the system for their gait and balance monitoring was a good idea (mean = 5.45, SD = 0.76) and easy (mean = 4.95, SD = 1.09), and that the system is useful in improving their health (mean = 5.32, SD = 0.83), is trustworthy (mean = 5.04, SD = 0.88), and has a good fit between task and technology (mean = 4.97, SD = 0.84). In general, the participants showed a positive intention to use the proposed system in their gait and balance management (mean = 5.22, SD = 1.10). Demographic correlations with user acceptance are discussed. This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of using a sensor-technology-augmented system to manage the gait and balance of community-dwelling older adults. The intervention is validated as being acceptable, viable, and valuable.

The Impact of Social Media Influencer (SMI) Characteristics on Consumer Purchase Intention (CPI) of Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) Products in Sri Lanka

Influencer Marketing is a form of social media promotion that incorporates the promotion of products and the placement of influencers' endorsements. These influencers are known for having a high level of expertise and attractiveness. It is common for people to misunderstand this and confuse Influencer Marketing with celebrity marketing. There may be some overlap, but a person's perceived popularity alone is insufficient to create successful influencer marketing. Many influencers have built huge communities to whom they promote an agreed product or activity. Different SMIs’ characteristics lead consumers to have positive purchase intentions towards the products in which they are promoting. However, such effects of influencer characteristics on purchase intention of various products in the Sri Lankan market have not been adequately researched. Moreover, it appears that the BPC product market has not been investigated as well. The purpose of this study is to bridge this research gap by examining the impact of SMIs’ characteristics on the purchase intention BPC products among Sri Lankan consumers, with an emphasis on identifying if there are significant impact on the consumers’ attitudes towards the influencers as well. The data was obtained using a self-administered structured questionnaire from 202 consumers who uses social media in Sri Lanka. It was later analyzed using various statistical techniques such as descriptive analysis, simple linear regression, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis. The findings demonstrated that credibility is having a more impact on purchase intention of BPC products promoted by SMIs than the attractiveness of them. The findings also revealed that consumers’ attitude towards the SMIs is having a major impact on purchase intention of BPC products promoted by the SMIs through the significant complete mediation.

The Impact of Familiarity with a Communicator on the Persuasive Effectiveness of Pandemic-Related Fear Appeals Explained Through Parasocial Relationships

ABSTRACT Parasocial relationships can improve the effectiveness of persuasive messages such as advertising. However, little is known about the role of parasocial relationships in the processing of fear appeals—a communication strategy that, despite its popularity, often evokes unwanted responses such as reactance. Perceived self-efficacy is one key variable that determines whether a fear appeal improves attitudes/behavior or has unwanted boomerang effects. In a two-level between-subjects experiment (N = 91), we show that a COVID-19-related fear appeal promoting anti-coronavirus measures from a familiar communicator (compared to an unfamiliar communicator) evokes more perceived self-efficacy explained by media users’ parasocial relationship with the familiar communicator. A second two-level between-subjects experiment (N = 239) replicates these findings and shows that perceived self-efficacy inhibits reactance responses (message derogation and perceived threat to freedom) and fosters positive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward anti-coronavirus measures.

Entrepreneurial Intentions in Crisis: Shaping Through the Triad of Influence - Government, Education, and Environment

Purpose: The COVID-19 outbreak’s effect on the world has been unparalleled, its consequences generated unpredictable behavioral changes in individuals’ perceptions, which can affect entrepreneurial activities. This paper aims to analyze the motivating factors, challenges, and youths' perspectives regarding factors that affect their intention to engage in entrepreneurial activities in Lebanon, a country dealing with one of the worst global economic and financial crises in the middle of the nineteenth century. Design/methodology/approach: Data were gathered from a valid sample of 992 university students as part of a quantitative approach to data collection that covered seven different districts in Lebanon. In order to analyze the contextual elements in connection to students’ intention to engage in entrepreneurial activity using planned behavior theory, a structural equation modelling was used. Findings: The results provide evidence that three experiences—attitude towards entrepreneurship, perceived behavioral control, and social norms— have a direct impact on the likelihood of future entrepreneurial initiatives. Nevertheless, the desire of students to be entrepreneur was not directly impacted by the support provided from the university, government and business environment. Theoretical and Practical Implications: Theoretical and practical implications can be made from this study’s results. Theoretically this study adds to the literature by examining different factors that may have an impact on enterpreneurial intention of university students during time of crisis. Practically, results found provide suggestions to policymakers to reassess the current policies and programs in order to encourage positive intentions towards entrepreneurship among Lebanese university students. Originality/ value: The examination of factors affecting entrepreneurial intention of university students in Lebanon is a first of its kind, which could be implied for further investigation.

The Influence of Interactivity and Ephemerality of Instagram Advertisements in Shaping Perceived Value and Behavioral Intention

Instagram stands out as a prominent platform, offering companies a valuable space to promote their offerings to a vast and diverse audience. To capture consumer interest, Instagram advertisements now incorporate innovative interactive features and ephemeral effects, enhancing their appeal and engagement. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of interactivity and ephemerality of instagram advertisements in shaping perceived value and behavioral intention. A quantitative research approach was employed in this study. Data from 239 participants were gathered through an online survey and analyzed utilizing SmartPLS 3.2.9 software employing Structural Equation Modeling. The findings indicate that the interactivity and ephemerality of Instagram Stories advertisements significantly influence three types of perceived value such as utilitarian, hedonic, and social value among female consumers of the fashion brand HeyLocal. Furthermore, these perceived values motivate positive behavioral intentions such as the intention towards social media activities, online search, and brand purchase. In contrast to social value, it was found that utilitarian and hedonic value do not directly impact brand purchase. In addition, our research revealed that consumers’ purchase decisions can be reinforced through their engagement in social media activities and online information search.

Ecotourism Capital as an Enabler of Positive Change in Tourism Sustainability

Despite a global commitment to minimise the impact of tourism on the environment and maximise its benefits for local communities, the pressure of tourism on natural resources is still increasing. In this context, ecotourism becomes key to safeguarding the integrity of the ecosystem while producing economic benefits that can ultimately encourage the conservation of the environment. However, despite its benefits, there is still a need to develop the market presence of ecotourism strategies and initiatives. Thus, tourists' positive intention toward ecotourism and organisations that seek to meet the demand of the increasingly environmentally conscious market are key to the success of ecotourism initiatives. In the context of the information era, organisations may create a trustworthy relationship with ecotourists by providing them with accurate and engaging information on their environmental policies and actions. This relationship may result in the emergence of a critical intangible asset such as eco-tourism capital as tourists' decisions are based on image, perception and recommendations from social groups. For organisations to benefit from eco-tourism capital, they should use social media to generate opportunities for eco-tourists to experience and appreciate nature, respect local cultures, support local communities and minimise and mitigate their negative impact on the environment. Based on the above, the aim of this study is to explore, via a descriptive analysis of data collected from international ecotourists, how social media can be used to create eco-tourism capital. To that aim, we explore factors relating to ecotourism knowledge, green trust, and exposure to information on social media provided by ecotourism service providers.

Pathways to informed choices: The impact of freedom of choice and two-sided messages on psychological reactance and vaccination intentions among individuals who express concerns

BackgroundReducing the spread of infectious diseases through vaccination faces the challenge of vaccine hesitancy: referring to questions, concerns and doubts arising when making a vaccine-related decision. A motivational state often arising within people exposed to health messages supporting informed decision making is psychological reactance, functioning as a driver to behavior opposed to the one recommended through the health message. Hence, there is a pressing need for communication strategies effective in counteracting reactance to health messages. MethodsThis study tested two communication strategies that can potentially reduce psychological reactance and ameliorate evaluations of the message and subsequent behavioral vaccination intentions in the context of COVID-19. These were: (1) explicitly reminding individuals of their freedom of choice (to either accept or refuse the vaccine) and (2) providing a two-sided message, including, apart from evidence-based information on the necessity of vaccines, a set of concerns, and questions (about the vaccines) which are refuted immediately. A total of 234 participants who indicated having concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine participated in a 2 (freedom of choice: no choice vs. choice) × 2 (message sidedness: one-sided vs. two-sided) between-subjects online experiment where they received an informational brochure about COVID-19 vaccination. ResultsThe results show that emphasizing freedom of choice significantly increased perceived credibility of the message, perceived information utility, and ultimately, vaccination intentions. A decrease in psychological reactance mediated these effects. Message sidedness did only show a significant direct effect on perceived information utility. No interaction effect was found. ConclusionThese findings indicate the importance of freedom of choice in reducing psychological reactance, which in its turn can lead to an increase of positive message evaluations and vaccination intentions among individuals who express concerns. The opportunities of message sidedness as an efficacious vaccination communication strategy should be further investigated.

Influence of Instagram fan pages on intention to revisit and recommend in beach tourism settings: The mediating effect of positive attitude

The literature on social media marketing (SMM) elucidates how SMM can improve consumer behavior within the tourism industry. However, the lack of empirical examination of the mediating role of behavior attitude is still evident in leisure literature. This study investigated the relative impact of fan page following of beaches on the intention to recommend and revisit by considering the mediation role of positive attitude in these relationships. A convenience sample method was employed to collect data from young customers (18–24 years old). The data was collected from 363 respondents, and structural equation modeling was conducted to test the conceptual model hypotheses. The results reveal that fan page following positively predict positive attitudes and intention to recommend and revisit. Moreover, the results also confirm that a positive attitude mediates the relationships between Instagram fan page following and the intention to recommend and revisit. This research developed a theoretical model to understand how Instagram fan page following might enhance intention to recommend and revisit in the beach context by invoking positive attitudes as a mediator variable in the relationship fan page following and behavior intention.

The impacts of social needs and game playing type on esports consumers' positive eWOM sharing: applying the FIRO theory

PurposeThe current study aims to examine esports consumers' social needs (inclusion, affection and control) as antecedents of positive eWOM intention. Additionally, the moderating effects of game playing type (individual-based competition vs. team-based competition) were tested to determine whether the inherent socializing opportunities provided by each game playing type have different effects on the relationship between social needs and eWOM communication of esports consumers.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey design was applied to 387 responses collected from an online survey platform. After checking several assumptions, a series of regression analyses were performed to test the suggested hypotheses.FindingsThe results revealed that the needs for inclusion, affection and control were positively associated with eWOM intention. Furthermore, the relationships between inclusion and eWOM intention and affection and eWOM intention were moderated by game playing type.Originality/valueThe current study extended the fundamental interpersonal relations orientation theory from conventional interpersonal relationships to interpersonal communication in online platforms. This research also suggested that eWOM communication in esports could be supplemental social opportunities, especially for individual-based competition games.

Boosting entrepreneurial intentions: A novel EEG-guided protocol

This research proposal aims to explore the driving factors of an entrepreneurial mindset and develop pedagogies to boost entrepreneurial intention (EI) in entrepreneurially unmotivated individuals. Using an electroencephalogram (EEG) cap, the study will map the cognitive processes associated with entrepreneurship in both entrepreneurially motivated and unmotivated individuals. The expected outcomes include identifying crucial factors for a positive entrepreneurial intention and discovering effective teaching methodologies. The implications of this research extend to educational institutions, policy-making bodies, and incubation centers, supporting initiatives such as Start-up India and Stand-up India. Overall, this study contributes to entrepreneurship education and practical training for individuals lacking motivation.

Trust and Health Information Exchanges: Qualitative Analysis of the Intent to Share Personal Health Information.

Digital health has the potential to improve the quality of care, reduce health care costs, and increase patient satisfaction. Patient acceptance and consent are a prerequisite for effective sharing of personal health information (PHI) through health information exchanges (HIEs). Patients need to form and retain trust in the system(s) they use to leverage the full potential of digital health. Germany is at the forefront of approving digital treatment options with cost coverage through statutory health insurance. However, the German population has a high level of technology skepticism and a low level of trust, providing a good basis to illuminate various facets of eHealth trust formation. In a German setting, we aimed to answer the question, How does an individual form a behavioral intent to share PHI with an HIE platform? We discussed trust and informed consent through (1) synthesizing the main influence factor models into a complex model of trust in HIE, (2) providing initial validation of influence factors based on a qualitative study with patient interviews, and (3) developing a model of trust formation for digital health apps. We developed a complex model of the formation of trust and the intent to share PHI. We provided initial validation of the influence factors through 20 qualitative, semistructured interviews in the German health care setting and used a deductive coding approach to analyze the data. We found that German patients show a positive intent to share their PHI with HIEs under certain conditions. These include (perceived) information security and a noncommercial organization as the recipient of the PHI. Technology experience, age, policy and regulation, and a disposition to trust play an important role in an individual's privacy concern, which, combined with social influence, affects trust formation on a cognitive and emotional level. We found a high level of cognitive trust in health care and noncommercial research institutions but distrust in commercial entities. We further found that in-person interactions with physicians increase trust in digital health apps and PHI sharing. Patients' emotional trust depends on disposition and social influences. To form their intent to share, patients undergo a privacy calculus. Hereby, the individual's benefit (eg, convenience), benefits for the individual's own health, and the benefits for public welfare often outweigh the perceived risks of sharing PHI. With the higher demand for timely PHI, HIE providers will need to clearly communicate the benefits of their solutions and their information security measures to health care providers (physicians, nursing and administrative staff) and patients and include them as key partners to increase trust. Offering easy access and educational measures as well as the option for specific consent may increase patients' trust and their intention to share PHI.

The pro-environmental behavioral intention of villagers in rural tourist destinations under China’s environmental remediation policy

This study examined villagers’ intention of pro-environmental behavior while supporting the Landcare Policy in China. The research team conducted field surveys of villagers from four famous scenic spots of Cili, which is near the world natural heritage site of the Zhangjiajie natural landscape core area. This area has developed rural tourism, many local villagers rely on tourism to obtain their livelihood income. However, the area is now affected by the environmental remediation policy called Landcare Policy. Cultivated land near the tourist area needs to be repaired, which affects the tourism income of some local villagers. Therefore, local villagers are facing a contradiction between tourism development and environmental protection. The study chose the change in local villagers’ pro-environmental intention as the research content. Then we adopted an empirically validated norm activation model (NAM) from Schwartz, and merged the NAM with the expectancy theory of Vroom, based on 511 valid responses from the field questionnaire surveys, we aimed to develop a theoretical framework for researchers to understand the change in villagers' pro-environmental behaviors, concerning the balance between rural tourism livelihood benefits and environmental remediation behavior. Structural equation modeling was conducted for each index of the responses, the findings showed that the merged model had 76.46% better predictive accuracy of villagers’ pro-environmental intentions than applying Schwartz’s NAM independently. This study found that the motivational force of this new theory significantly influences environmental personal norms due to the joint impact of valence, instrumentality, and expectancy. Villagers with a positive pro-environmental behavior intention expect good tourism benefits and environmental living conditions under the impact of the Landcare policy in rural tourism destinations near the famous natural heritage site.

Understanding experiences in metaverse: How virtual nature impacts affect, pro-environmental attitudes, and intention to engage with physical nature

The metaverse which is constructed by virtual reality (VR) can afford immersive experiences that are more vivid and attractive than those in the physical world. In this research, we focus on virtual nature experiences in the metaverse, and investigate how its exposure influences affective states and attitudes towards physical nature. Two studies were conducted, and results consistently showed that through the mediation of connectedness to nature, experiencing virtual nature resulted in more positive affect, pro-environmental attitudes, and intention to engage with physical nature, compared to experiencing a virtual art museum. These findings highlight how experiences in the metaverse may affect our emotions and behaviors in the physical world and have important implications for human-nature relations in the age of the metaverse.