Public Role Research Articles

A Review of Research Progress on the Impact of Information Asymmetry on Green Consumption

Abstract: This paper discusses the impact of information asymmetry on green consumption and sustainable consumption. It emphasizes the importance of information in promoting green consumer behavior and highlights the role of media publicity and evaluation systems in shaping consumer perception and decision-making. The paper also explores the influence of government policies and subsidies on green consumption, noting that government intervention can benefit the entire green product industry chain. The authors suggest that in order to reduce the impact of information asymmetry, comprehensive and high-quality information should be provided to consumers, and consumers should be educated on information filtering and processing. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for further research on the quantitative assessment of green information dissemination, the influence of green information on consumer psychology and behavior, and the role of government information in promoting green consumption. It calls for a multi-party linkage mechanism to drive the sustainable development of green consumption.

Exploring the Role of Public and Private Partnerships in Educational Development of Nepal

The education system of Nepal has undergone significant transformation in the last few decades. The transition is observed from a primarily government-driven model to one that increasingly incorporates public-private partnerships (PPPs). This paper aims to explore the role of these partnerships in enhancing educational quality, access, and equity in Nepal. By examining case studies, policy frameworks, and outcomes of various initiatives, it is assessed the efficacy of PPPs in addressing the systemic challenges faced by the Nepali education sector. The research also provides critical insights into how these partnerships can be leveraged to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. Additionally, this paper also explores the role of PPPs in enhancing Nepal's educational development by improving infrastructure, access to education, teacher training, and overall quality of education. Through a review of existing literature and case studies, this study assesses the effectiveness, challenges, and potential of PPPs in transforming educational landscape of Nepal. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 11, Issue-4: 136-140.

Higher education and public good in England

AbstractIn the Anglophone jurisdictions, higher education policy is over-determined by economic policy and subjected to neoliberal regulation based on quasi-market competition between corporatised institutions, regulated by performative comparisons, tuition fees, and outputs imagined as commodities. England installed marketisation in successive policy changes between the Thatcher government’s introduction of commercial fees for international students in 1979 and the full-fee market for domestic students, supported by subsidised income-contingent loans, in 2012. Policy commitment to public good outcomes (the collective and non-pecuniary individual benefits of higher education) was largely emptied out, leaving only attenuated proxies such as widening participation and research impact. Responsibility for public good outcomes was transferred from government to institutions. Following a discussion of Anglophone concepts of ‘public’ and an overview of key policy reports from 1963–2019, the paper reports on qualitative research into approaches to higher education and public good in England. There were 24 semi-structured interviews, with middle and senior manager-leaders in two universities and policy professionals. Nearly all advocated a broad public good role, in contrast to policy in England, and provided examples of public outcomes in higher education. However, these concepts lacked clarity, while at the same time the shaping effects of the market were sharply understood.

LGBTQ+ themed public art: promoting an expanded view on genders and advancing gender education

This essay explores the transformative role of LGBTQ+ themed public art in promoting an expanded view of genders and advancing gender education. By engaging with Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity, I want to stress how public art both serves as a medium for aesthetic expression and also acts as a crucial participant in the performative act of gender identity construction. From the vibrant defiance of rainbow crosswalks to the poignant narratives of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and the impactful murals by Keith Haring, LGBTQ+ themed public art challenges traditional gender roles and identities, offering alternative visions that resist binary classifications. These public artworks create inclusive spaces that foster community engagement, historical commemoration, and activism, effectively enhancing public pedagogy in gender education. By embedding diverse and non-normative expressions of gender and sexuality in public consciousness, such art prompts a reevaluation of societal norms, thereby contributing to a broader understanding and acceptance of gender diversity. This essay emphasizes the potential of LGBTQ+ -themed public art to serve as a dynamic medium for communicative pedagogy, manifesting its significance in shaping social consciousness and advancing the cause of gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Influence of Volunteerism to the Relationship of Academic Environment and Social Entrepreneurship Intentions: Empirical Evidence from a University in the Philippines

Research on social entrepreneurship intentions (SEI) focuses on personal predispositions but lacks examination of external factors. We investigated public sector volunteerism's role in mediating the academic environment's influence on SEI. Cross-sectional data from surveys with 300 university students, selected through stratified random sampling at a Philippine public university, was analyzed using Sobel mediation analysis. Results show positive impact of the academic environment on SEI, and public sector volunteerism significantly mediates this influence. Volunteerism in universities may enhance students' inclination to take on future social entrepreneurship roles in addressing societal issues and engaging with stakeholders. We suggest that such approach empower next generations to foster positive social change through social entrepreneurship.

Theoretical and Methodological Justification of the Public Danger of an Act in Criminal Law

Public danger is a fundamental category of criminal law that defines its essence and social purpose. At the same time, science has not yet developed a unified view on the nature of public danger, its place and role in the structure of criminal law knowledge and law enforcement. In particular, the following questions remain unresolved: the legal boundaries of public danger, the correlation of the principle of legality with the social foundations of criminal liability, the correlation of the concept of harm with public danger, the possibility of its objective cognition, the impact on the assessment of public danger of acts of social values and personality, determining the quality of a crime. The paper analyzes the phenomenology of social perception of public danger in the aspect of law enforcement assessments of real harm. For this purpose, dialectics is used in the categories of reality and possibility. Harm is considered as a category of reality, and public danger as a category of opportunity. At the same time, the author understands harm and public danger not in a universal, but in a legal sense. The essence of harm means an encroachment on social values and a response to it from society and the state — a moral rebuke of the act, elevating it to the degree of social threat (danger). The public danger of a crime is constructed by the legislator, therefore this property (public danger) is associated with the reality of harm and is an important and necessary criminal law construct filled with real social meaning. The modern problem, actualized by the security paradigm, is the definition of moral criteria for the validity of socially dangerous harm.

Legitimation strategies in emerging ecosystems: The case of advanced air mobility in Hamburg

This study provides insights into the legitimation process of emerging ecosystems and strengthens the conceptual link between entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic geography. It examines existing theoretical frameworks on legitimation strategies in emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems by inquiring into advanced air mobility (AAM), an area in which innovation faces exceptionally high legitimation challenges. The initial integration of drones for logistics and air taxis for passenger transport is surrounded by ambiguous future visions that range from high expectations to concerns about developing a mobility form that is neither sustainable nor socially acceptable and affordable. Empirically, this article offers an analytical understanding of the collective legitimation strategies within the emerging AAM ecosystem in Hamburg, Germany. For this, we used multiple qualitative methods and data sources: (1) a contextualizing network analysis, (2) semi-structured interviews with 22 representatives of tech and policy development, and (3) participatory observation from applied research projects. Based on the empirical material, we find that the current conceptual debate underestimates the public sector's role in ecosystem emergence and legitimation. As AAM depends on fundamental regulatory change, authorities and state-owned companies in the aviation sector have a decisive influence on the emergence of the ecosystem. Furthermore, our findings highlight how global discourses shape local practices and expectations. By combining cross-sectoral knowledge, entrepreneurs and policymakers aim to identify feasible use cases for their place-specific context. Nevertheless, the lack of a collective identity within the ecosystem, which comes largely from the uncertainties of AAM, poses numerous challenges for ecosystem participants addressing their liability of newness.

Respiratory Isolation for Tuberculosis: A Historical Perspective.

Although tuberculosis is an ancient disease, recognition of its airborne route of transmission, with implications for respiratory isolation, is only relatively recent. Since the time of Hippocrates, the dogma among health practitioners was that the disease was hereditary or that it could be contracted by inhaling "miasma", or corrupted air. Consequently, isolation of patients was not routine practice, and, in fact, patients with scrofula (morbus regius, or "king's evil) sought to be cured by the "royal touch" throughout the middle ages. The sanatorium, which emerged in the mid-19th century, initially served as a place of healing, where patients could receive the appropriate diet, rest therapy, graduated exercise, and abundant fresh air. Major scientific breakthroughs, including Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of the tubercle bacillus as the disease's etiological agent and early 20th century experimental evidence that the organism could be transmitted via expectorated droplet nuclei, helped to reinforce the important public health role of sanatoria and tuberculosis hospitals in preventing disease transmission through isolation. The advent of highly efficacious and oral antitubercular regimens in the mid-20th century and the concurrent declining incidence of the disease contributed to the closure of tuberculosis sanatoria and hospitals in the US and western Europe. Over the past several decades, tuberculosis treatment in the US has been conducted in the outpatient setting under the supervision of local public health departments. Patients receiving treatment are required to remain in respiratory isolation in the home until they are deemed noninfectious based on multiple sputum samples. This historical review demonstrates that despite changing medical knowledge, drug therapies, and social conditions over time, the role of isolation remains an important topic of debate in the treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Relationship between state-provided Islamic education and Islamism

Abstract This article examines the relationship between state-provided religious education and support for Islamists. It first provides a historical overview of this debate in the Egyptian context. It then examines a survey of young adults from post-Arab-Spring Egypt, the largest education market in the Middle East and North Africa region. The findings show that recipients of state-provided Islamic education, Azharites, are more likely to hold favorable views of Islamists. This is likely attributed to the ideological alignment between Azharites and Islamists, since both favor a bigger public role of religion and stricter adherence to conservative social norms. However, the analysis does not support the notion that Azharites view Islamists as competitors in the religious market for followers. These results inform policy debates on Islamic education in Muslim countries and illustrate the limitations of mass indoctrination in authoritarian settings.

Discursive AI Infrastructures: Envisioned and Overlooked Museum Futures

ABSTRACTPrompted by recent innovations, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being discussed across the museum sector regarding its implications for institutional roles and practices. However, AI in particular, is an ambiguous term, a ‘black box’ which is capable of containing and reflecting numerous values and ideals (Crawford, 2021). This paper positions discourse around AI as a ‘discursive’ infrastructure, capable of not only embodying ideals but also shaping and justifying certain institutional practices and roles. This paper thematically analyses 115 pieces of grey literature produced and shared by professional governance bodies in the museum sector from 1995–2023, mainly across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In doing so, it identifies four preliminary themes encompassing shifts in discourse over time which give shape to a contemporary discursive infrastructure. This prompts timely critical reflections of museum professionals and stakeholders on both imagined and overlooked public roles, responsibilities, and practices of the museum in relation to AI.

Analysis of foreign practice of forming indicators for auditing the efficiency of government agencies' activities

The article highlights the topical problem of analysing and managing the effectiveness of public bodies' performance on the basis of international experience. The introduction argues the significance of effective public administration to ensure socio-economic stability and security of national resources. The aim of the study is to adapt foreign methodologies and practices to optimise the use of public funds in Kazakhstan. The literature review presents performance audit as a result of the development of result-oriented budgeting and a factor contributing to the efficiency of public bodies. Key aspects are considered: the role of publicity and transparency in governance, the effectiveness of public audit bodies and the reduction of irregularities in budget spending. Special attention is paid to international standards and practical experience of performance audit, emphasising adaptation to the specifics of Kazakhstani legal regulation and national traditions. The article analyses the challenges faced by Kazakhstani authorities in implementing a system of performance audit indicators, including the choice and methodological justification of indicators, as well as their role in assessing the performance of state structures.

Teaching civics for sustainability in post-authoritarian order: The challenges of developing progressive citizenship in new democracies – Lessons from Poland

Civics courses have a great significance – they are supposed to train new cohorts of citizens to engage in multiple public roles in (democratic) society. How it is done depends on a multitude of factors, and teachers’ performance and program contents are among the most important. In post-authoritarian order like Poland, civic contents of educational curricula acquire particular significance: they must lay foundation for new forms of citizenship necessary for the consolidation of democracy. In new democracies, defining development is a lot more than talking about economic or political formulas. Ideas of sustainable development belong in a package of ideas which may anchor people in progressive world order, yet they meet resistance from the traditions and mindsets inherited from the previous system (homo sovieticus). SDG Civics, that is, that part of the catalogue of Sustainable Development Goals which directly refers to political agency, becomes a set of patchwork ideas incorporated into democratic citizenship. Through the study of academic curricula, textbooks, and government policies, this paper addresses the complexity of the problem of civics education in new democracies. It sees sustainable development as a concept wrestling with pressures coming from different ideologies, institutions, actors, and visions of the future. This article should be seen as a contribution to the discussions about the political nature of sustainability.

LASPO 2012: ten years and beyond – a socio-legal study of the impact of legal aid cuts on service providers in England and Wales

ABSTRACT Major reforms via the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012 and subsequent reforms have reduced the legal aid budget and the scope of eligibility in criminal as well as civil cases. According to Mansfield et al., the principles of justice that embody the legal aid provision has been neglected by governments for over a decade and as such; created a gap that emasculates the most vulnerable in society, such as recipients of legal aid. This study employs an interview-based approach to investigate alternative perspectives in terms of the cuts and widespread impact on service providers in England and Wales, such as barristers, and solicitors. Detailed qualitative data were collected to provide insights into the diminishing legal aid scheme through the lived experiences of both civil and criminal legal aid providers. The study examines the concerns of service providers regarding their future as public defenders and the future of the judicial system post-LASPO 2012, focusing on safeguarding the rights of individuals facing litigation and ensuring that newly qualified lawyers are not deterred from public defence roles due to the long-term effects of ongoing legal aid cuts.

Transitioning to Private Dental Practice: An In-depth Exploration of Dental Graduates' Perspectives in Saudi Arabia.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program meet the qualifications set by Saudi universities and pass the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties License Examination to practice dentistry. However, ambiguity persists concerning their preparedness for private dentistry. This study explored how dental graduates perceive their readiness to operate in the private sector. A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing dental graduates from different dental schools across Saudi Arabia using a semistructured interview guide with convenience sampling until thematic saturation was achieved. All interviews were verbatim transcribed and analyzed manually by two researchers working independently using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. A total of 35 participants from Saudi dental schools across five distinct regions (North, South, East, West, and Central) were included in the study. Data analysis revealed four prominent themes believed to influence participants' readiness for private practice: (1) communication skills-concerns regarding proficiency in areas crucial for ensuring patient satisfaction, (2) technical management skills-uncertainty in aspects such as practice setup and dental insurance, (3) pedagogical curriculum design-primarily tailored to public sector roles, and (4) legal and ethical issues-concerns about legal and ethical issues intrinsic to dental practice. The transition of Saudi dental graduates into private practice is influenced by multiple obstacles, encompassing factors related to their knowledge and skills in patient communication, technical management, education curriculum design, and familiarity with legal intricacies. Exploring dental graduates' perceptions in relation to private practice is clinically significant as it highlights specific areas, including communication skills, where effective communication with both children and parents is paramount in private dentistry; technical management; curriculum adaptation; and legal/ethical awareness, where targeted interventions can enhance the quality and safety of dental care provided in private practice. These insights can lead to improvements in dental education and practice management, ultimately benefiting both dentists and patients in the private dental sector. Moafa I, Jafer A, Almashnawi M, et al. Transitioning to Private Dental Practice: An In-depth Exploration of Dental Graduates' Perspectives in Saudi Arabia. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(7):777-782.

A Study on the Use of New Media in Museums to Forge the Consciousness of Chinese National Community: A Case Study of Museums in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

In the era of "Internet +," the vigorous development of digital media technology has provided a new way and a new method for forging a sense of community in the Chinese nation. As an important cultural position, museums should conform to the trend of The Times, give full play to the advantages of new media communication, and play an active role in education and publicity. This paper takes the Museum of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as Guangxi Museum) as an example, sorts out the application of short videos in Guangxi Museum, and puts forward the path for Guangxi Museum to use short videos to spread awareness of the community of the Chinese nation. The first is to refine the short video theme in-depth exploration of different cultural themes. Second, we should optimize the short video content, pay attention to the innovation of form and content, and give play to the advantages of interactivity and fun. Third, it is necessary to enrich the presentation of short videos and use the platforms of major institutions to allow the public to experience the charm of culture without leaving home. Fourth, it is necessary to expand the transmission channels of short videos and use the combination of online and offline methods to display cultural content in a three-dimensional manner. Guangxi Museum integrates the consciousness of building the Chinese national community into the whole process of organizing the exhibition, and it empowers Guangxi Museum through short videos to strive for a better communication effect.

Penggambaran Peran Gender dalam Keluarga di Film Noktah Merah Perkawinan

This study aims to examine the depiction of gender roles in the 2022 film version of Noktah Merah Perkawinan, which is a remake of the 1996 television series. The focus of the film is the dynamics of the marriage of a couple who have been married for 11 years. This research employs a qualitative approach with text analysis methods. The analysis technique used is Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis technique which consists of three stages, namely denotation, connotation, and myth. Meanwhile, the theory used in this research is symbolic interactionalism theory which emphasizes the concepts of roles and values. The data used include documentation of film scenes that meet the predetermined analysis criteria as well as related published journals. The results show that the depiction of gender roles in this film is still not ideal. Although both men and women are portrayed in domestic and public roles, domestic roles are predominantly held by women. This is due to the persistent traditional stereotypes, where women are seen as responsible for the domestic sector, while men are encouraged to take responsibility in the public sector. In conclusion, this film still maintains traditional stereotypes in the depiction of gender role distribution.

The Unique and Important Jewish Responses to Proposition 8 and Marriage Equality

ABSTRACTMarriage equality is a nascent and fragile civil right in the United States. To protect this civil right we must articulate and preserve diverse religious, ethical, and legal positions from the marriage equality debates. Sadly, and incorrectly, both the popular and scholarly narratives of religions' public role and ethics on marriage equality have been told with a Christocentric and “God versus Gay” framing. Here I push the borders of that frame to include the crucially important story of Judaism and the Prop 8 marriage equality debates. Judaism made and still makes vital and unique contributions to the battle for marriage equality: the majority of Jewish congregations and organizations are in favor of marriage equality, as opposed to the majority of Christianities which are against it. Judaism models diversity within the tradition, for example how to be opposed to same‐sex marriage but not expect that it will be illegal. Jewish positions on marriage equality in the public sphere model how the civil rights of marriage equality and religious liberty can coexist and thrive.

A scoping review about the portrayal of depression and anxiety in mainstream and social media.

Media portrayal of mental disorders has a significant impact on awareness and stigma. Given the high prevalence of depression and anxiety as mental disorders, it is crucial to understand how they are represented. This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on the portrayal of depression and anxiety in mainstream and social media. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and PsychInfo, resulting in the inclusion of 20 records that predominantly examined social media and newspapers. Findings indicate that social media discussions on depression were mostly supportive and non-stigmatising. Public figures and role models played a significant role in encouraging open communication. Research on newspapers and other media forms yielded mixed results yet leaning towards positive portrayals. Limited studies explored anxiety portrayal. While acknowledging potential limitations in generalisability, this review emphasises the importance of accurately depicting mental health in media, particularly on social media platforms, while highlighting the need for broader investigations into anxiety representation.

The Notion of Accountability in the Public Sector

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to investigate the various views, perceptions and attitudes of people with regards to the notion of accountability within the public sector with the hope of suggesting, recommending and creating knowledge base that can be utilized to enhance best accountability practices in the public sector. Players in the public sector accountability roles should be helped to take an active role in shaping the notion of accountability for public effectiveness and efficiency. The current employment accountability system is top-down and excludes players at the bottom to contribute to the formulation of accountability parameters and standards. The notion stems from the assumption that individuals in organizations are held to a certain standard of excellence, hence responsible for their actions and be answerable for the results of their actions. Implementers at the receiving end just receive parcels of finished products for implementation .This creates platforms for those in management positions to take advantage of their counter parts and abuse them in effecting accountability as a tool for control and appraisal .The current practice has opened up avenues for practice of unprofessional and the unethical practices to prevail in work places .Thus , the presentation came up with mitigatory measures to shift the current perception of accountability to a user-friendly approach that will promote unity among players and ensure quality work and service delivery in work places if adopted Material and Methods: This presentation used the qualitative survey methodology to gather data on, ‘The Notion of Accountability in Public Sector. The interpretivist approach was taken on body in this presentation. This philosophy of qualitative survey was selected for use in this presentation as it is powerful when it comes to individual in-depth interviews or questionnaires to collect analyze and interpret data on what people see, believe hear or think about the notion of accountability in the public sector. The methodology clearly reports on the meaning, perceptions, characteristics and descriptions of phenomena. Actually it was chosen for use due to its open endedness and exploratory nature which are basic fundamentals of depth research. Questionnaires were chosen for their ability to solicit definitive information without allowing chances of data ambiguity. Conversely, the interviews were taken on board in this presentation due to their upper hand in gathering qualitative thick descriptive data hence providing the researcher with the much needed data to warranty research finding generalization. The approach allowed random sampling from the study population leading to data gathering, presentation, analysis and discussions. Findings: The research findings revealed a wide range of scenario coming out of the notion of accountability in the public sector. The major finding emanates from the theory x of the trait theories where those in management view employees as naturally lazy and unwilling to do their jobs or task assignment. As such management and public in general expect employees to account for their performance so that they can be appraised where work outcomes are positive to pre-determined goals and be punished where performance fall short of set expectations and goals. Concerns and perceptions of those at the bottom who happens to account to top management are often neglected and not taken seriously leaving those who are supposed to account feeling worthless and not owning the entire process of accountability. Some of the tasks given to employees to carry out are not feasible but the door for grievance and challenge handling is closed since there is a one way information flow system which is predominantly top-down. The long chain of bureaucracy is a barrier to information communication which should be two way. Those in lower levels of management lack clarity of some specific issues but are compelled to ensure task accomplishment by those in top management who have no time and mandate to receive instruction from people at the bottom lines of the accountability chain. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The presentation recommended best accountability practices where people at the lower level of accountability are offered opportunities to contribute to the construction and formulation of accountability guidelines so that they do not become strangers in implementation of tasks meant for them so as to account. This can be achieved through making reviews on basic assumptions under pinning decision making in areas of accountability within the public sector.

Exploratory Analysis on the Livability of a City with Digital Placemaking in Jakarta Timur, Indonesia

Abstract People who work in Jakarta to prefer suburban areas as their homes, such as Jakarta Timur. Urban livability directly influences the quality of life of the citizens. The purposes of this study on Jakarta Timur: 1) understanding the public space roles and values; 2) finding out the types of public spaces; 3) understanding the connection between livability and the value of public spaces; and 4) exploring new placemaking research method of using big data. The methodology included data collection (government documents, news articles from trusted sources, Google Reviews via Octoparse 8, and Google Map), data visualization (wordclouds and QGIS), and data analysis (word frequency, sentiment, and accessibility). The area’s socio-demographic study estimated that the reviews are dominantly written informatively and expressively by locals with certain characteristics (must be proven in future studies). It was also revealed that Jakarta Timur is comprised of more yellow zones (housing) with only a little green zone (already including the selected public spaces). The recurring motives for visitation included doing sport and playing with family/children and the sentiment analysis reflected overall positive values on the citizens. Regarding accessibility, it was found that despite preferring private transportation, the willingness to ride the public transportation still existed.