Propositions Of Theory Research Articles

The Mechanisation of Inference: Venn’s Logical-Diagram Machine

It is well known that John Venn introduced an ingenious diagrammatic scheme in his 1880 paper “On the Diagrammatic and Mechanical Representation of Propositions and Reasonings.” It is less known that Venn also described there two plans for logical machines, inspired by his diagrams. These machines were said to be analogous to the machine that William S. Jevons constructed a few years earlier. However, Venn had “no high estimate . . . of the interest or importance” of such machines. He argued that such devices perform only a small part of the process required to solve logical problems. Consequently, the help that is offered is very slight. Given that Venn’s machine is founded on his diagrams, one may wonder what Venn’s discussion of logic machines teaches us about his diagrams. The paper argues that Venn failed to notice that his diagrams are vulnerable to the same criticisms that he raised against logic machines.

ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND SAFETY (RESULTS INDICATED BY VARIANCE ANALYSIS)

This study aims to acknowledge whether there is a relationship between democracy and safety parameters through democratic country categories. For this purpose, this study compares the averages of the four subgroups. These four subgroups are full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime, and authoritarian regime subgroups. The study's conceptual framework comprises democracy, safety, and democratic peace theory. In the study, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is performed for independent groups to compare multiple group averages. ANOVA results indicate whether there is a statistically significant difference between groups as a whole. The study proposes that people living in democratic countries live in a much safer environment. Data indicate that crime is universal and point out the positive effects of high-income level, prosperity, education and low population density on crime. However, it should be kept in mind that the evaluations in this paper are valid for crimes included in the safety index including theft, violence, bribery, and so on. The results, based on data between 2018 and 2022, reveal that the expanded propositions of democratic peace theory can only be valid for full democracy.

An Optimized Method for BMI in Environmental Projects Based on the Value-Oriented AHP

Effective rural solid waste management (RSWM) is crucial for sustainable rural development, particularly in developing countries, which face dual challenges from economic growth and environmental protection. To build a more sustainable business model for RSWM, this study employs a value proposition analysis approach to systematically analyze the multi-level requirements of various stakeholders involved in the current models of RSWM. It then proposes a novel optimizing approach for RSWM models from the perspective of business model innovation (BMI) by integrating the value proposition (VP) theory with the algorithm of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to fill the research gap. In this study, an AHP-based evaluating algorithm is firstly proposed based on the viewpoints of multiple stakeholders’ value propositions. Using this method, four typical pilot RSWM models across China are assessed and ranked, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the results and the incorporation of hierarchical criteria from multiple value dimensions. Building on the analysis of the results, optimization strategies for a novel RSWM model are proposed by constructing a conceptual framework of the business model. In addition, the analysis also indicates that both phases of sorting and collection and transportation are the main factors for fulfilling the overall satisfaction of the RSWM models. Lastly, this paper concludes by summarizing the relevant theoretical and managerial implementations of the proposed approach, providing a foundation for the scientific development of appropriate RSWM models by providing a new idea for BMI especially for environmental management projects that include multiple stakeholders.

Is the Necessary Someway Possible?

The aim of this essay is to reexamine an argument by Aristotle (De Interpretatione) and its reconstruction by Jan Lukasiewicz, who used the tools of modern logic. The Modal Logic has been the object of refined analysis by Jan Lukasiewicz. He fulfilled this project in his classic book, Aristotle’s Syllogistic. He introduced modal “functors” to reconstruct Aristotle’s modal logic. I will discuss Lukasiewicz’s way to solve the questions concerning Aristotle’s modal logic. Consequently, I will present a new symbolic representation of propositions concerning the modalities of necessity and possibility, and I will try to discuss the ontological status of such propositions and to answer the question: is the necessary someway possible?

The Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility

Objective: Recognize as concepts, from a set of statements considered as concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility, those that fit into the propositions of the Analytical Theory of Concepts, with the aim of identifying what is a concept about Corporate Social Responsibility in a group of previously selected statements. Theoretical Framework: Dahlberg's Analytical Concept Theory (1978a. 1978b) stands out, supported by Dixit (2023), Ewanlen & Yuosou (2023), İzmir (2023) and others mentioned in their own subsection, in addition to Elkington (2012) and Hjørland (2009), providing a solid basis for understanding the context of the investigation. Method: The methods used in this research include qualitative and descriptive research with content analysis, collected from 97 documents published in 2023, collected from the Capes database; Ebsco and Google Scholar; in addition to other compositions directly from free search engines and publishers' websites. Results and Discussion: The conceptual meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) follows the managerial positioning in its environment, seeking to maximize profitability, directly reflecting on the society that surrounds it, with the human factor as the final process. Of the concepts raised and accepted as concepts, the following aspects were: continuous and regular commitment; organizational behavior; ethical standards; self-regulation and strategic management. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the academic field, with the formation of corresponding theoretically based concepts, entering the applied area by enabling the decision-maker to better understand the actions of Social Responsibility. These implications can cover areas such as Information Science, Knowledge Science and other areas. Originality/Value: By observing the conceptual formation of Corporate Social Responsibility, this study contributes to the literature by providing interested parties with the appropriate positioning of what a concept is in Corporate Social Responsibility with the inclusion of 10 validated authors/concepts. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by bringing to light the understanding that not everything that is considered a concept of Corporate Social Responsibility can be classified as a concept, since for the proper construction it is necessary to observe parameters that fit it into one of the theories of concepts – in this particular case, the Analytical Theory of Concept.

Nash meets Łukasiewicz: computing equilibria through logic

Abstract A Nash equilibrium is a strategy profile of a game in which none of the players involved has any gain by changing alone his/her own strategy. Given a two-player game, we show a codification of all of its Nash equilibria into Łukasiewicz infinitely-valued logic, that is, we derive a propositional theory in this logic whose models codify all the Nash equilibria. Based on such propositional theory, we derive a polynomial reduction from the problem of computing a Nash equilibrium to the problem of satisfiability of (sets of) formulas of Łukasiewicz infinitely-valued logic. These applications of logic to game theory lead to new methods for computing Nash equilibria.

Constructing a Conformer–Explorer Identity in Pandemic Narratives: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Emerging Adults

Existing research indicates that social crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped young people’s sense of self, but little is known about what identities emerging adults construct in their pandemic narratives. Following propositions of narrative identity and Terror Management Theory, this qualitative study investigated Chinese emerging adults’ identity construction in their narratives of the national outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2022. Participants were 62 college students invited to share their pandemic experiences with reflections. Thematic analysis of the data suggests that the participants shared their pandemic experiences as a process of managing their death terror activated in the pandemic which threatened their sense of self and meanwhile motivated them to reconstruct who they are in the world. Based on their meaning-making capacities, the participants disclosed death awareness and vulnerabilities, adopted a temporal perspective in storytelling, emphasized their interpersonal and social connections, and made meaning out of the pandemic experiences to defend against death terror. As an outcome of their narration, a conformer–explorer identity was constructed in their pandemic narratives and we proposed a dialectical model to capture the dynamics of the construction. Although with limitations, this study contributes to our understanding of the functions of mortality salience on narrative identity among emerging adults in collectivist cultures during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exposure to diverse ethnic-racial media: Black, Latinx, and White Parents’ attitudes toward media-based ethnic-racial socialization

ABSTRACT An exploratory study surveyed 367 US Black, Latinx, and White parents of children (ages 4–7) and tested theoretical propositions of social identity gratifications theory and multicultural theory to determine the influence of ethnic-racial identity on media selection of ethnic-racial diverse content. The findings partially support both SIG and multicultural theory. Approximately two-thirds of the participants recalled watching a diverse ethnic or racial portrayal in the media with their child. Results indicated that Black and Latinx parents reported stronger ethnic-racial identity relative to White parents. Ethnic-racial identity predicted attitudes but not beliefs toward diverse ethnic and race portrayals; ethnic-racial identity, attitudes, and beliefs predicted media endorsement of such portrayals to their children. Implications for future research on media based ethnic-racial socialization practices are discussed.

Commentary on Juval Portugali's ‘Bohm's theory of orders as a basis for a unified urban theory’

Portugali's proposal to unify urban theory based on Bohm's theory of quantum phenomena is discussed. The propositions of complexity theory and phenomenology are compared, and it is argued that their ontologies and epistemologies cannot be easily reconciled. It is argued that Bohm's theory is compatible with complexity theory but does not help bridge the differences between complexity theory and phenomenology. A grand unification of urban theory, the way Portugali envisions it, does not seem to be possible.

Geopolitical Risk and Corporate ESG Performance: Evidence from China

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of geopolitical risk (GPR) on corporate ESG performance. Using a large sample of A-share listed firms in China from 2009 to 2020, we find that firms tend to perform better in ESG practice when faced with high GPR. Analyzing the mechanisms, we find that firms engage in ESG more actively during uncertain periods to hedge risk and gain reputation. In addition, we find that the positive impact of GPR on ESG is more prominent for state-owned firms, heavily polluting firms, firms with managers holding strong environmental awareness, and firms located in highly foreign-trade-dependent areas. Finally, we find that corporate ESG practice can alleviate the adverse effects of GPR on a firm’s risk and reputation, and also enhance the interests of relevant stakeholders, thereby affirming the results of the mechanism analysis and the propositions in the stakeholder theory. Our results are robust to alternative GPR and ESG measures and different estimation methods and samples after correcting for endogeneity using an IV approach. This study highlights the value of ESG practice during uncertain periods.

Exploring the Impact of Routine Activity and Financial Strain on Fraud Victimization During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fraud victimization in Hong Kong, providing valuable insights beyond the Western context. Drawing on general strain theory and routine activity theory, this research explores the influence of economic recession at the local and adjacent societal levels, as well as residential duration (refers to relative time spent at residences), on fraud victimization in Hong Kong. Utilizing 10 years (120 months) of monthly police-recorded victimization data, this study employs various methodologies, including ARIMA forecasting, single-group interrupted time series analysis (ITSA), and Poisson regression, to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fraud victimization in Hong Kong. The ARIMA framework reveals an unexpected and significant increase in fraud victimization during the COVID-19 period, surpassing the predicted levels. The ITSA results demonstrate that the pandemic had a short-term and long-term effect on fraud victimization in Hong Kong. To further understand the factors contributing to this change, a Poisson regression analysis is conducted. The findings highlight the positive and significant impact of residential duration and the unemployment rate in mainland China on fraud victimization, aligning with the propositions of routine activity theory and general strain theory. Limitations and policy implications at both the local and international levels are discussed.

Avicenna’s logics with sentence-type terms: 1. Wholly muttaṣil syllogisms

Abstract We study an early and neglected logical work of Avicenna from around the years AD 990–1000, known as Short Epitome in Logic. In this work Avicenna introduces a new form of hypothetical logic, based on the categorical syllogisms of Aristotle but with terms that are sentences rather than nouns. His reading of the sentences of this logic anticipates the ‘adverbs of quantification’ of David Lewis, and the design of the new logic is close to that of George Boole’s ‘theory of Secondary Propositions’.

Effect of silica aerogel incorporation on electrical characteristics and strain-sensing capability of nano-porous CNT/PDMS sensors

The present study focuses on investigating the effect of incorporating silica aerogel on the electrical characteristics and sensing capabilities of carbon nanotube (CNT)-embedded PDMS nanocomposites. Initially, the concept of developing nanohybrid clusters composed of CNT and silica aerogel was introduced, followed by comprehensive evaluations of their formation including zeta potential, Raman spectra and FT-IR spectrum. Subsequently, the nanocomposites with varied silica aerogel contents from 0.5 to 2 % by polymer mass were assessed for their sensing capability. It is observed that porosity has exerts perceptible influence on the overall effective electrical conductivity of the sensor below the percolation thresholds, while it does not have any impact beyond this threshold. In addition, the effective medium proposition theory has been modified to analyze both the effective electrical conductivity and the piezoelectric properties of the sensors fabricated. Based on the theoretical and experimental results, the developed CNT@aerogel nanohybrid clusters displayed the potential to enhance sensing sensitivity and increase linearity during stretching condition.

Response to commentaries on What Babies Know.

Twenty-five commentaries raise questions concerning the origins of knowledge, the interplay of iconic and propositional representations in mental life, the architecture of numerical and social cognition, the sources of uniquely human cognitive capacities, and the borders among core knowledge, perception, and thought. They also propose new methods, drawn from the vibrant, interdisciplinary cognitive sciences, for addressing these questions and deepening understanding of infant minds.

Explaining Substance Use among Puerto Rican Older Adults: Impact of Perceived Discrimination, Perceived Stress, and Social Activities

Background: Despite Puerto Ricans having one of the highest rates of substance use among Hispanic groups in the United States, limited research has focused on the impact of perceived discrimination and stress on substance use among older adults. Individuals who experience stressful events are inclined to engage in harmful behaviors as a coping mechanism. Objectives: Based on the propositions of the General Strain Theory, the current study explores the relationship between perceived discrimination, perceived stress, social activities, and the use of alcohol and cigarettes. Methods: Baseline data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study collected in 2014 was used to conduct a logistic regression analysis. Results: The findings reveal that while perceived discrimination is significantly linked to both types of substance use, social activities may serve as a protective factor for cigarette use. Conclusion/Importance: Our study findings emphasize the need to examine perceived discrimination as a stressor impacting the health and well-being of Puerto Ricans in later adulthood. Policy implications for reducing substance use and directions for future research are discussed

It’s not just what you say: the impact of message tone on intra-party endorsements

This study expands previous research on political endorsements by focusing on the tone of the endorsement, rather than the endorser or the presence/absence of any endorsement at all. Using a 2×2 experimental design and a sample of 906 registered voters from a midwestern U.S. state, this study measures the effect of positive and negative endorsements on the voter perceptions of the endorsee, endorser, and unendorsed candidate during a partisan primary election campaign. Results support the idea that positive endorsements generally improve voters’ attitudes toward the endorsee and the endorser and negative endorsements generally hurt voters’ perception of the unendorsed candidate. Further interaction analyses show that factors such as a voter’s existing enthusiasm for politics, government, and politicians can moderate the effect of endorsements. The findings are in line with the proposition of the Social Judgment Theory and support the existing literature on the effect of endorsements.

How expressive ties energize competitive performance in DanceSport dyads: unraveling the role of athlete engagement in an innovatively applied actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

This study explores the significant impact of expressive ties (EI) between DanceSport couples on their competitive performance (CP). Utilizing a dyadic approach, we examined the performance achievement processes of DanceSport couples in relation to their EI. Participants comprised 67 dyads of Chinese elite dancers aged between 16 and 30 years. The dyadic analysis was carried out using a structural equation model based on the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. With regard to actor effects, both male (β = 0.292, p = 0.012) and female (β = 0.443, p < 0.001) dancers' perceived quality of EI had a positive correlation with CP. The males' athlete engagement (AE) partially mediated the impact of EI on CP [indirect effect = 0.144, SE = 0.072, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.020, 0.283]. Regarding partner effects, females' perceived EI quality positively influenced the male's CP (β = 0.26, p = 0.023) and mediated this association through the male's AE [indirect effect = 0.086, SE = 0.041, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.003, 0.149]. Similarly, the females' AE mediated the effect of males' perceived EI quality on the females' CP [indirect effect = 0.152, SE = 0.074, 95% confidence intervals (CI) =0.002, 0.256]. We not only validated the propositions of the self-determination theory but also provided valuable insights to further enrich it. Our findings underscore that self-determination theory must account for individual gender characteristics.

Research Guided by the Theory of Care-Seeking Behavior: A Scoping Review.

A particular Theory of Care-Seeking Behavior was developed to explain care-seeking behavior with psychosocial concepts, external conditions, and clinical and demographic factors. Having a careful review of studies based on this theory could guide future research on care-seeking behaviors. With a scoping review: describe characteristics of studies guided by a Theory of Care-Seeking Behavior, summarize support for the relationships of proposed, explanatory variables with care-seeking behaviors, and examine support for propositions in the theory. Searching 5 electronic databases, we sought studies that were: full-text, peer-reviewed, in English, data-based, guided by the theory, and published from January 1, 1992, to January 1, 2022. Across 18 identified articles, the behaviors studied included: symptomatic screening (n = 8), asymptomatic screening (n = 7), and care-seeking behaviors for either screening or symptoms (n = 3). A total of 3328 adults participated in the studies. In 16 studies, all participants were female. In 60% to 83% of studies, researchers had reported findings that supported the relationships of explanatory concepts with care-seeking behavior. Among the 7 studies that tested the 2 propositions of theory, all 7 tests failed to support the proposition that clinical and demographic factors influence care-seeking behavior indirectly through psychosocial variables. Six tests supported the proposition that psychosocial variables influence behavior conditionally, on external conditions. Relationships of these explanatory variables with care-seeking behaviors were supported, as was 1 of 2 propositions. The Theory of Care-Seeking Behavior can be applied to new clinical situations to continue to build knowledge of the theory and understanding of care-seeking behaviors.

The Components of Multilevel Engagement Theory

This article presents the components (i.e., assumptions, concepts, and propositions) of the Multilevel Engagement Theory. Raza provided specific examples to describe the components of the theory and discussed these components in relation to the existing literature. The components of Multilevel Engagement Theory are also discussed in relation to three contemporary theories (i.e., family systems theory, feminist theory, and social exchange theory) to demonstrate similarities and differences between the Multilevel Engagement Theory and the other theories used in mainstream research. The author provided examples from his graduate level course assignments to further explain the componets of Multilevel Engagement Theory and demonstrate the use and application of this theory. The Multilevel Engagement Theory considers culture and diversity as the central aspects to the understanding of family relationships and functioning and provides researchers with a comprehensive conceptual framework to conduct research on contemporary families, understand multilevel phenomena, and explain complex real-life situations.

Satisfiability Threshold of Random Propositional S5 Theories

Modal logic S5, which isan important knowledge representation and reasoning paradigm, has been successfully applied in various artificial-intelligence-related domains. Similar to the random propositional theories in conjunctive clause form, the phase transition plays an important role in designing efficient algorithms for computing models of propositional S5 theories. In this paper, a new form of S5 formula is proposed, which fixes the number of modal operators and literals in the clauses of the formula. This form consists of reduced 3-3-S5 clauses of the form l1∨l2∨ξ, where ξ takes the form □(l3∨l4∨l5), ◊(l3∧l4∧l5), or a propositional literal, and li(1≤i≤5) is a classical literal. Moreover, it is demonstrated that any S5 formula can be translated into a set of reduced 3-3-S5 clauses while preserving its satisfiability. This work further investigates the probability of a random 3-c-S5 formula with c=1,2,3 being satisfied by random assignment. In particular, we show that the satisfiability threshold of random 3-1-S5 clauses is −ln2(1−Pd−Ps)ln78+Ps·ln34, where Ps and Pd denote the probabilities of different modal operators appearing in a clause. Preliminary experimental results on random 3-1-S5 formulas confirm this theoretical threshold.