Body Of Relevant Literature Research Articles

Seeking a reflective equilibrium in the face of disagreement

How is someone who seeks a reflective equilibrium to respond upon learning that others disagree with her? Regrettably, not much attention has been devoted to that question despite the extensive general discussion about the epistemic significance of disagreement that has taken place in recent years. This paper helps fill the lacuna by exploring possible connections between the relevant bodies of literature. More specifically, I claim that how users of the method of reflective equilibrium should respond to disagreement is crucial to the assessment of the method. According to a common objection, it is flawed because it may lead competent and rational inquirers to arrive at widely divergent and inconsistent equilibria. What I argue is that defensible assumptions about the significance of disagreement permit an advocate of the method to resist that objection.

Who is inclined to buy an autonomous vehicle? Empirical evidence from California

AbstractThis study aims to investigate people’s perceptions and opinions on Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and the key factors that influence their Behavioral Intention (BI) to purchase and use AVs. Data were sourced from the 2019 California Vehicle Survey to explore the determinants of AV purchase. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) of stated intentions is estimated to validate a theoretical framework drawn on relevant bodies of literature. The descriptive statistics show that many people are already aware of AVs. Many people also think that traveling by AVs is enjoyable, safe, and effective, although some of them would miss the joy of driving and would not entrust a driverless AV to shuttle their children. Results from the SEM indicate that being working-age adults, having children, household income, per capita income, and educational attainment are attributes positively associated with AV purchase intention. Similarly, psychological factors (e.g., perceived enjoyment, usefulness, and safety), prior knowledge of AVs, and experience with emerging technologies (e.g., electric vehicles) significantly enhance BI to purchase AVs. This study finds that family structure and psychological factors are the most influential factors of AV purchase intention, and more so than the built environment, transportation, and other socioeconomic factors.

The prosocial and pro-environmental aspects of authenticity and the mediating role of self-transcendence

ABSTRACT A considerable body of relevant literature has grown up around the theme of authenticity, showing the critical role it has in relation to a variety of indicators of individual well-being. The personal benefits of authenticity are now well documented. However, in this paper we hypothesize that authenticity is not only beneficial to the person themselves, but that it also promotes prosociality and ecological sensitivity. This study used cross-sectional data from one hundred and twenty-nine Turkish participants, who completed Turkish version of the Authenticity Scale, The Environmental Behavior Scale, The Helping Attitudes Scale and The Self-Transcendence Scale. The findings reported here show that greater authenticity was associated with more favorable attitudes to helping others and engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. Furthermore, the present research explored, for the first time, the effects of self-transcendence. The results showed that the associations between authenticity and helping attitudes of altruism as well as receiving and giving were mediated by self-transcendence. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed in terms of humanistic perspectives on authenticity.

Neurostimulation for Traumatic Brain Injury: Emerging Innovation.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant source of brain deficit and death among neurosurgical patients, with limited prospects for functional recovery in the cases of moderate-to-severe injury. Until now, the relevant body of literature on TBI intervention has focused on first-line, invasive treatment options (namely craniectomy and hematoma evacuation) with underwhelming focus on non-invasive therapies following surgical stabilization. Recent advances in our understanding of the impaired brain have encouraged deeper investigation of neurostimulation strategies, owed largely to its demonstrated livening of damaged neural circuitry and capacity to stabilize erratic network activity. The objective of the present study is to provide a scoping review of new knowledge in neurostimulation published in the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases from inception to November 2022. We critically assess and appraise the available data on primary neurostimulation delivery techniques, with marked emphasis on restorative opportunities for accessory neurostimulation in the interdisciplinary care of moderate-to-severe TBI (msTBI) patients. These data identify two primary future directions: 1) to relate obtained gain-of-function outcomes to hemodynamic and histological changes and 2) to develop a clearer understanding of neurostimulation efficacy, when combined with pharmacologic interventions or other modulatory techniques, for complex brain insult.

Factors influencing citizens’ adoption of e-government: an empirical validation in a Developing Latin American Country

ABSTRACT This study identifies the factors influencing citizens’ adoption of e-government in a distrustful region – where service complexity to prevent fraud and corruption is accepted – and bridges the gap in the relevant body of literature. We selected the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, extended with trust factors, using data from 362 respondents, to study an e-government service, in Colombia, a developing country. Trust was the primary influencing factor, followed by cost-benefit expectancy and facilitating conditions. While government support did not influence behavioural intention, the latter remained a strong predictor of use, even though facilitating conditions had no influence.

Exploring the Antecedents of Organic Food Purchase Intention: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Worldwide organic food consumption has registered a consistent rise in recent years. Despite the relevant body of literature on the topic, it is necessary to further understand the antecedents of purchase intention. This article aims to identify the factors that influence the consumer’s intention to purchase organic food. It extends the theory of planned behavior model by including environmental concerns, health concerns, and perceived quality as determinants of attitude toward organic food products. Additionally, it considers the effect of product availability on consumers’ perceived behavioral control. This article includes a quantitative study that was conducted in Portugal in 2020 (n = 206). Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed set of research hypotheses. In line with extant literature, this study confirmed that attitude toward organic food is the main determinant of purchase intention. Additionally, it demonstrates that health concerns and perceived quality have a significant impact on attitude toward organic food. The impact of environmental concerns on attitude was not confirmed by this study. Based on these findings, it is recommended that managers stress health benefits and quality of organic food in order to foster positive attitudes and consequently leverage purchase intention.

Dynamics and Emerging Trends in Genodermatology: A Scientometric Analysis

Dynamics and Emerging Trends in Genodermatology: A Scientometric Analysis

Sources of tax law in the Polish legal system

In the literature, the sources of law are considered to be “a formalised act of state authority containing legal provisions”.1 In order to assess the nature of a designated act of state authority as a source of law, its form and the appropriate procedure are important. Therefore, the basic objective of the article is to demonstrate the sources of making tax law, with a particular emphasis on their classification in the tax law system. In fact, the position of particular types of sources of law in the system depends on three types of factors, such as: the position in the system of public authorities from which the source of law comes, its contents and the mode of its creation. Only a cumulative analysis of these three factors allows the prioritization of the legal acts constituting the sources of tax law. Despite notable achievements in the body of relevant literature, an attempt was made to re-analyse it in order to systematize the concepts and principles related to the subject matter in question. Furthermore, the jurisprudence was examined to emphasize that the sources of tax law also constitute a matter of argument in the judicature. Analysis of legal regulations in force and empirical methods were used as the basis for the study.

Responsible mining and responsible sourcing of minerals: opportunities and challenges for cooperation across value chains

Abstract Responsible mining companies, manufacturers and other mineral value chain actors and stakeholders have a common interest in ensuring that the negative social, economic and environmental impacts of mining are minimized, that its benefits are maximized and shared equitably, and that good practice is recognized and encouraged by industrial users of minerals, investors and consumers. Joining up their respective efforts across long, complex and opaque supply chains is a significant challenge, which may be hampered by misalignment between different actors’ sustainability objectives and motivations. Discussions at two workshops convened by the Geological Society of London explored how barriers to progress might be addressed. These are reported and analysed in the context of several relevant bodies of literature. While assurance schemes and novel technologies can play a significant role in addressing these challenges, it is also vital to mobilize consumers’ awareness of the mineral resources they use, work in partnership with communities affected by mining, urge policy-makers to take greater responsibility, and develop a shared vision of what a sustainable global system of mineral production and consumption should look like. Such a holistic perspective is necessary to avoid well-intentioned but fragmented approaches resulting in harmful unintended consequences, and in some aspects of sustainability being overlooked.

Income level and healthcare utilization in Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria

Throughout the world, socio-economic status differentials of individuals have a lot of influence on privileges and opportunities enjoyed by society members. The different social and economic positions of individuals and income levels oftentimes hinder them from effective use of health care facilities. It is against this background, that the study was designed to investigate income differentials and its influence on utilization of healthcare services among the people of Calabar Metropolis in Cross River State, Nigeria. Relevant body of literature were reviewed and survey design method was adopted. The instruments used were the questionnaire, interview and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). A sample of 360 respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure for the study. Data was presented using simple percentage calculation while Chi-Square and ANOVA statistical tool was used to test and ascertain the relationship between income level and healthcare services usage at 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that level of income and occupational status of individual influence health care service utilization among people in Calabar Metropolis. At the end of the study, several recommendations were made among which were a general improvement of socio-economic status of the people in areas of availability and compulsory education, employment opportunities as well as equitable distribution of income and minimizing cost of health care services for effective and equal utilization.

Employment mismatch from a distributive justice perspective

PurposeEmployment mismatch is a significant problem in many countries. However, little conceptualization research has been conducted on employment mismatch from a social justice perspective. The purpose of this study is to shed light on social justice issues that have been obscured in the human resource development (HRD) literature through the lens of the distributive justice theory.Design/methodology/approachThis study first reviews the literature to identify the gaps in employment mismatch research by reviewing three relevant bodies of literature: education mismatch, immigrant mismatch and disability mismatch. It then provides a new conceptualization of employment mismatch by examining employment mismatch through the lens of Rawls’ (1971) distributive justice theory.FindingsThe author proposed a framework of healthy employment relations using the constructs of social system design, moral guidance, education reform and individual development. Implications were proposed for research and practice.Originality/valueThe new framework of healthy employment approaches employment mismatch from four aspects embraced by the distributive justice theory. This model can assist HRD professionals and policymakers in responding to the employment mismatch of different populations.

‘At some point it has been enough’ ‐ Processes of perceived failure of citizens’ initiatives

AbstractCitizens’ initiatives are believed to be a suitable alternative approach to service provision, especially in rural areas where services are under pressure because of depopulation and decentralisation measures of the state. To date, research has mainly focused on best practices and successful examples of these initiatives. However, understanding failure is equally important in order to learn more about the processes citizens’ initiatives go through, the chances of success and to develop tools for the support needed. This article focuses on the perception of initiators of citizens’ initiatives on failure. Within the relevant body of literature, six obstacles to the success of citizens’ initiatives stand out. In order to understand the processes of failure in more detail, we investigated three case studies on failed citizens’ initiatives in the Northern Netherlands. The following aspects seem to be of vital importance to whether or not a citizens’ initiative fails: 1) how governments and (semi‐) governmental organisations interact with the citizens’ initiative; 2) how people are able to balance the different needs for senses of ownership and responsibility; and 3) how participants are able to balance personal investments. Finally, the interviewed initiators justify failure as a discrepancy of scale caused by different scopes of actions of local and regional governments and housing corporations at the regional level, and citizens’ initiatives, at the local level. To overcome this discrepancy, citizens’ initiatives require tailor‐made and context‐specific support.

تحلیل ظاهرة بطالة خریجی التعلیم الجامعی المصری فی ضوء بعض المتغیرات المعاصرة المرتبطة بالتحول فی سوق العمل

ملخص عربى : استهدف البحث الحالي تقديم رؤية تربوية لما يمکن القيام به لتفعيل العلاقة بين مخرجات التعليم الجامعي المصري ومتطلبات سوق العملتحديد الاطار المفاهيمي لسوق العمل المصري .تحديد أهم التحولات الحادثة في سوق العمل والمؤثرة على عمالة خريجي التعليم الجامعي المصري .توضيح أهم التغيرات المعاصرة التي يشهدها التعليم الجامعي .وقداعتمد البحث على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي المرتکز على الاستناد للدراسات والدوريات والمراجع ذات الصلة بموضوع البحث ،وأيضا جمع وتحليل البيانات الصادرة عن الجهات الرسمية المختصة لبيان حجم ظاهرة بطالة خريجي التعليم الجامعي وعلاقة ذلک بالاختلالات في سوق العمل المصري .وقد توصلت الدراسة الى مجموعة من النتائج منها:1. ارتفاع معدلات البطالة ،بما يعکس عدم التوافق بين العرض والطلب عليه ،وخاصة بين الشباب المتعلمين . کما يتسم حجم التشغيل بعدم التوازن بين القطاعات الاقتصادية المختلفة .2. ترتبط ظاهرة بطالة المتعلمين بالعديد من الظروف والمتغيرات والسياسات منها الرکود الاقتصادي ،والأزمات المالية والاقتصادية ،وتناقص فرص العمل بالدول العربية بل وعودة الکثير منها ،وأخيرا جمود التوظيف الحکومي للخريجين منذ منتصف الثمانينيات .3. ضعف قدرة سوق العمل على استيعاب مخرجات التعليم الجامعي کما أنه يتطلب مستويات عالية من المعرفة فى مجالات متنوعة .کما أوصت باعداد :1. مخرجات التعليم الجامعي بطريقة ملائمة لتلبية الاحتياجات المستقبلية لسوق العمل وتحسين الروابط بينهما، بحيث يکون لديهم المهارات والکفاءات التي ستکون هناک حاجة إليها في الاقتصاد الحديث والمجتمع الحديث وبذلک تتوافر فرص عمل لهم في هذه الأسواق .2. تجديد سياسات القبول والقيد بالجامعات المصرية بما يتوافق مع احتياجات سوق العمل، ومراجعة سياسات وأساليب القبول ،والإجراءات والأنظمة ذات الصلة بالطاقة الاستيعابية لمؤسسات التعليم العالي. ملخص انجليزى : This research aimed to provide an educational vision of what can be done to activate the relationship between the outputs of the Egyptian Higher Education and the requirements of the labor market· Define a conceptual framework for the Egyptian labor market.· Identify the most significant changes to the labor market affecting the university graduates’ employment· Clarify the most important contemporary changes in university educationThe research used a descriptive analytical approach based on the relevant body of literature on the subject, as well as data collection and analysis issued by the competent official authorities to indicate the magnitude of unemployment phenomenon among university graduates and its relationship to imbalances in the Egyptian labor market.Following are some of the key findings of the study:1. High unemployment rates, reflecting the mismatch between supply and demand, especially among educated youth. The employment volume is also characterized by imbalances between different economic sectors.2. The phenomenon of educated unemployment is linked to many circumstances, variables and policies, including economic stagnation, financial and economic crises, shrinking of job opportunities in Arab countries and even the return of labourers from them. Finally, freezing all government hiring since the mid-1980s.3. The reduced capacity of labor market to absorb the increasing university output where the increasing complexity of the labour market also requires higher levels of knowledge in various fields.We also recommend preparing:· The outputs of higher education in an appropriate manner to meet the future labour market needs and strengthen the links between them, so that they have the skills and competencies that will be needed in the modern economy and modern society. Thus, most graduates can find the right jobs for them.The Ground for renewal of the admissions and enrollment policies in the Egyptian universities in accordance with the evident needs of the labour market, and to review the policies and methods of acceptance, procedures and regulations related to the absorptive capacity in higher education institutions

Learning to Lead from Chaos and Disruption & Offsetting For the Associated Negative Effects

This paper explores what we know about how leaders learn from their experience in environments where high levels of uncertainty, disruption and even chaos are present. While there are many theories about learning from experience there is a dearth of studies explaining how leaders learn when situations of uncertainty and disruption prevail. Yet, leaders require their learning experiences to be relevant when operating with the uncertainty that prevails in their world of work. Also, leaders benefit from the capacity to make sense of disruptive and unpredictable learning events, in breaking out of old regressive patterns and fostering new behaviors. Despite the potential benefits, learning from disruption in the context of leadership is negatively associated with difficult practices, such as being overwhelmed by anxiety producing events, or loss of psychological safety. I explore the intersection of the relevant bodies of literature on leadership education and experiential learning to see what insights they p...

The role of family meals in the treatment of eating disorders: a scoping review of the literature and implications.

Family meal research is a fast growing field that has significant implications for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders (ED). Using a scoping review procedure, this article overviewed major historical and clinical trends that have guided the use of family meals or lunch sessions in adolescent ED family therapy over the past 40years, and synthesized essential findings from current therapeutic family meal research. The relevant body of literature is reported within the framework of three models of family therapy (Maudsley model, family-based treatment, multi-family therapy), with a focus on their specific use of family lunch sessions and related empirical evidence. Although promising, current evidence remains contradictory, tentative and colored by therapists' convictions, resistance and fears. Future research priorities are discussed, including the need for a more direct examination of the impact of the family meal practice on therapeutic change, as well as a better understanding of its active ingredients and of the characteristics of patients/families that may benefit most from it. This review of the literature may help clinicians and family therapists (1) adhere more reliably and confidently to ED-focused treatment protocols that include a strong family meal component, and (2) make more informed decisions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of family meals in their practice. When feasibility or acceptability issues preclude their use, alternatives to family meals are also discussed, including family meal role-plays and drawings, coaching of home-based family meals and manual/DVD-based guidance.

When Strategy Meets Negotiation: the Negotiation Capability of Ryanair

This paper aims at answering the following research questions: How does the strategic positioning of a firm impact its negotiation practices? And, how do negotiation skills, behaviors and abilities impact the strategy of a firm? Such questions have been overlooked by the two relevant bodies of literature: strategy and negotiation. By taking a cross-field approach, we combine concepts from both literatures in a theoretical framework based on the integrated approach to negotiation and dynamic capabilities. By presenting and analyzing the case of Ryanair, in terms of its strategy and its negotiation approach, we argue that a negotiation capability of the firm plays a major role for competitive advantage. Our findings show how Ryanair employs an idiosyncratic approach to all its negotiations. Such approach is intertwined with its strategy and the consequent strategic positioning in the market. We conclude the paper with implications for both practice and research; particularly we call for an integrated study of negotiation and strategy to better understand the strategy making process and its foundations for success.

The Perceptions of Educators on Skilful Conversation As A Strategic Tool to Improve Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools

This article reflects on the quantitative study that was conducted with educators to examine their perceptions on skilful conversation as a strategic tool to improve teaching and learning in secondary schools. Drawing on the body of relevant literature and quantitative data the researchers discuss the potential and limits of skilful conversation and how it could be used as a strategic tool to improve teaching and learning in secondary schools. The researchers found the subjective theories and the theory of Senge et al. (2006) on team learning to be relevant as theoretical perspectives. A structured questionnaire was administered to educators in the selected secondary schools. Hypotheses are presented as data analysis and discussion of the results. Each hypothesis becomes a discursive conversation between data, analyses and theory and it is hoped that the findings arising from this study may offer meaning to and understanding of the importance of skilful conversation as a strategic tool for effective teaching and learning in secondary schools, despite bureaucratic control. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p256

Methodology discourses as boundary work in the construction of engineering education.

Engineering education research is a new field that emerged in the social sciences over the past 10 years. This analysis of engineering education research demonstrates that methodology discourses have played a central role in the construction and development of the field of engineering education, and that they have done so primarily through boundary work. This article thus contributes to science and technology studies literature by examining the role of methodology discourses in an emerging social science field. I begin with an overview of engineering education research before situating the case within relevant bodies of literature on methodology discourses and boundary work. I then identify two methodology discourses--rigor and methodological diversity--and discuss how they contribute to the construction and development of engineering education research. The article concludes with a discussion of how the findings relate to prior research on methodology discourses and boundary work and implications for future research.

Editorial

Editorial

Khat (Catha edulis): A systematic review of evidence and literature pertaining to its harms to UK users and society

The use of khat ( Catha edulis) has been associated with a large number of physiological and societal harms, leading to calls for it to be controlled in the UK. The evidence of these harms is often equivocal, limited by confounding factors, or entirely anecdotal: high-powered, quality-controlled studies are lacking. Regardless, the body of relevant literature indicates that the once socially-regulated use of khat has been eroded. Some individuals have developed excessive consumption patterns, either using khat daily or in binge-sessions, though daily consumption is not necessarily problematic per se. The majority of users seem to use khat in moderation, where the associated harms appear low. For excessive users, harms associated with khat are greater, particularly relating to mental health. Social harms also seem to be largely related to excessive khat use rather than khat use itself. Even in cases of excessive khat use, however, causal relationships between chewing and harms have not been described. More research is required to establish the role of khat in liver disease, coronary problems, cancers of the digestive tract and incidents of domestic violence. Studies should consider the likeliness that certain users are more vulnerable to developing patterns of excessive khat use due to an interwoven set of factors such as social health determinants and pre- and post-migration experiences.