Risky Research Articles

An analysis of the importance of pursuing the BA Hons (English) degree programme in Sri Lanka

Introduction: Second language learning has become a socially valued vital learning process since it has the influencing potential to form, manipulate and change the social individual identities towards positive recognition. In Sri Lanka, English has become the most prestigious language in society and competence in English is required as the most obligatory qualification for a person to be recognized in society. Thus, the educational process of learning English as a second language has become a highly acknowledged and vital section of the Sri Lankan educational system. Objectives: The study aimed to analyze the impact of the BA (Hons) in English programme in facilitating individuals with a pedagogy through which they will be able to enrich their knowledge of the study of language, fields of linguistics, diverse domains of literature, philosophy and research. Methodology: The study was conducted as secondary research and within the secondary data collection process, the information was gathered and analysed discursively based on selected secondary sources of information such as scholarly articles, books, reports etc. The theoretical perspectives and ideologies of Bonny Norton, Pierre Bourdieu, Chris Weedon, Susan M. Gass, Larry Selinker, Dudley- Evans, Maggie Jo St John etc. were applied. Results: Literature studies are considered an integral part of the BA English curriculum since they can be considered a source which triggers social empowerment and develops critical and analytical skills of the students while enabling them to perceive the world through diverse perspectives. Computational linguistics, an emerging science in the current educational sphere, strengthens the quality of the BA Hons in English degree programme by facilitating the coordination between two disciplines, linguistics and computer science, in producing an innovative language teaching and learning platform embedded with computer applications and programs. The undergraduates who follow the BA English degree programme are expected to develop communication skills in English and other competencies which are needed for lifelong learning. Conclusion: The Bachelor of Arts in English degree can be identified as the most productive educational programme in providing students with a greater improvement from communicative competence to mastery of English proficiency. It was observed that graduates with a BA in English are given more preference than conventional business-minded graduates since English graduates are identified as super thinkers, individuals with skills in teamwork, problem solvers with rich analytical skills and risk takers who handle challenges strategically

Retracted: Prediction of Risk Takers in Arterial Hypertension Patients with Data Mining Application

Retracted: Prediction of Risk Takers in Arterial Hypertension Patients with Data Mining Application

Deskripsi Preferensi Risiko dan Partisipasi Petani Dalam Asuransi Tanaman Padi di Desa Simpang Datuk Kecamatan Nipah Panjang Kabupaten Tanjung Jabung Timur

The research was conducted in Simpang Datuk Village, Nipah Panjang District, East Tanjung Jabung Regency with the aim of describing rice farmers' risk preferences, and the factors that determine farmers' participation in rice crop insurance (AUTP). The research method was conducted by survey. The research sample consisted of 20 farmers who took rice farming insurance (AUTP) and 43 farmers who did not take AUTP insurance from a population of 430 farmers. The method of analysis through simplification and tabulation is carried out, and logit regression is used to look at the factors that influence rice farmers to take rice farming insurance (AUTP). In general, rice farmers in Simpang Datuk Village have a risk averse preference. The risk preferences of farmers participating in AUTP are risk averse, while farmers who are not participating in AUTP show that they are not risk averse (risk takers). The variables of farmer age, duration of rice farming, and risk preferences significantly influence farmers' decisions to participate in the rice crop insurance program (AUTP) in Simpang Datuk Village, Nipah Panjang District, East Tanjung Jabung Regency.

Characteristics of business, pleasure, and VFR segments who travel during risky times

PurposeThis study aims to explore what may have contributed to risk-taking travel behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and what may be the drivers of satisfaction and intention to travel again. The study compares travelers based on their travel purposes (business, pleasure and visiting friends and relatives [VFR]) and explore the influence of subjective well-being received from their travel activities.Design/methodology/approachData from a structured survey of 323 US residents who traveled during the COVID-19 pandemic were collected on MTurk. Respondents were asked travel behavior questions related to their favorite trips and to rate several multi-item scales measuring the benefits expected and received from their trip, the trip’s contribution to their positive mental and subjective psychological well-being, as well as their satisfaction with the trip and intention to travel in the future. In addition, personality measures focused on risk-taking, thrill-seeking and self-confidence, as well as additional risk-related concepts of optimism bias, probability neglect and proximity to self.FindingsData analysis revealed some differences among respondents who traveled for business, pleasure and VFR purposes. Business travelers were more risk takers and thrill seekers; pleasure travelers achieved more well-being benefits from their favorite trips during the pandemic; however, VFR travelers’ satisfaction and intention to go on similar trips were explained more by the benefits they received from their favorite trips.Originality/valueAlthough several studies addressed consumers’ travel motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lack of empirical research comparing the characteristics of travelers based on their travel purposes, as well as their sociodemographics, personality traits and the expected and perceived well-being benefits from traveling.

Risk takers: PDS partners developing and sustaining antifragile teachers

PurposeThe ever-changing educational landscape, exacerbated by recent events surrounding COVID, political and cultural unrest, necessitates educators who are antifragile, able to withstand pressures and thrive amidst uncertainty. To this end, the pilot study reported here aims to examine mathematics educators’ initial reflections on what it means to be a risk-taker in the classroom, what prevents them from engaging in instructional risks and what would support their instructional risk-taking.Design/methodology/approachThe pilot study utilized interviews with participants, including four pre-service teachers who were enrolled at the university and seven in-service teachers who were employed on active PDS campuses within the school district.FindingsPreliminary findings suggest teacher beliefs concerning risk-taking, the barriers to engaging in such behaviors and the support needed to be able to take instructional risks. Results highlight the role of school–university partnerships in cultivating a culture of risk-taking through active collaboration and dialogue.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings have important implications for universities and PDS partners engaged in preparing teachers for an educational field that is unpredictable and continually changing. Additional research should be completed in varying PDS settings.Practical implicationsFindings highlight the role of school–university partnerships in cultivating a culture of risk-taking through active collaboration and dialogue.Originality/valueEducators are currently faced with an unprecedented instructional landscape. Antifragile, risk-taking teachers are needed who are adaptable and innovative, thus better equipped to enter the challenging and uncertain realities of education.

NEXUS BETWEEN INVESTOR’S RISK BEARING CAPACITY AND INVESTORS' CHOICE OF PORTFOLIOS

An attempt is made through this study to identify the risk bearing capacity of retail investors and to evaluate how it affects the portfolio choices of those investors. In addition to examining the variations in investment avenues that investors choose to include in their portfolios due to their risk-bearing capacity, this study aims to investigate the influence of various demographic characteristics on risk bearing capacity. The current study was conducted among individual investors in Kerala by conducting a survey among 120 individual investors in Kerala using a structured questionnaire. The results of this study showed that an investors ability to take on risk depends on their gender, line of work, and monthly income. Further it was found that investors who are ready to take high risk invests more in real estate and shares compared to other risk categories. Investors who are moderate to high risk takers made their investment in mutual funds. All other investors made their investments in safe avenues like bank deposits, postal savings, provident fund, insurance, etc. KEYWORDS: Investors, investments, portfolio, risk, risk-bearing capacity

Deconstructed entrepreneurial orientation and export performance: mediating role of differentiation and cost leadership strategy from the developing country context

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the effects of innovativeness (INN), proactiveness, (PRC) and risk-taking (RIT) on the export performance of apparel small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of differentiation and low-cost leadership (LCL) strategies as mediating effects between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) dimensions and the performance of exporting firms. INN, RIT and PRC are considered EO dimensions.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey was carried out by providing a questionnaire to the owners, directors and senior managers of the apparel SMEs – the primary data of 550 treated by structural equation modeling (SEM) technique for final data analysis.FindingsThe study has revealed the positive dimensional effect of EO on export performance. For the mediation effects of differentiation and LCL, differentiation strategy (DS) positively mediates between INN, PRC and export performance. However, no mediation has been found between RIT and export performance. On the other hand, LCL has found positive effects between INN, RIT and export performance. However, the mediation effect was absent between PRC and export performance.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations/implications- This study has been conducted on only Muslim owners, senior export managers and directors of apparel SMEs in Bangladesh. It has examined the two main competitive strategies as a mediator between EO dimensions and export performance. The findings of this study are based on one country data analysis.Practical implicationsEO, differentiation and low-cost leadership (LCL) strategy are resources and capabilities of an organization to create a competitive advantage to enhance performance. The factors of this research are helpful for SME practitioners.Originality/valueThe direct and indirect effects (differentiation and LCL strategy) of EO dimensions on export performance in an emerging country, i.e. the South-Asia region, is a pioneer study. Therefore, current research has theoretical and managerial implications for the international business and strategic management literature.

Clustering of health risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

BackgroundAdolescents frequently engage in risky behaviors that negatively influence their health and pose a serious public health concern. This study aimed to examine the clustering pattern of health risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 April to 27 June 2022 among 412 school-going adolescents in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh through a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using a modified Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2021 questionnaire. Cluster membership was identified using the k-means clustering algorithm. The chi-square test was adopted to explore the association between sociodemographic variables and each cluster membership. The ordinal logistic regression model was employed to examine the predictors associated with cluster membership.ResultsMost of the respondents were female (55.3%) and belonged to the 16-19 years (74.5%) age group. Three behavioral clusters were identified, including Cluster 1: Low-risk taker (50.2%), Cluster 2: Moderate risk taker (39.6%), and Cluster 3: High-risk taker (10.2%). Influential factors of high-risk behavior among adolescents were significantly associated with their age (p = 0.03), father’s education who were illiterate (p = 0.02), monthly family income >30000 BDT (p = 0.04), parent’s those were understanding their child’s problems in most of the time (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThe study found that high-risk behaviors are significantly higher among late adolescents, those whose fathers are illiterate, whose monthly income is higher, those whose parents or guardians never realize their child's complications and worries, and those whose parents or guardians never recognize what they did in their leisure time. These findings will help to develop intervention programs, policies, strategies, and curricula in school by the experts following the necessity to adopt the adolescent toward healthy behavior and help to reduce the prevalence of health risk behavior.

Perceived Attitudes & Disquiets on the Adoption of Enterprise Application Architecture for Supply Chain Management in SMEs

Background: Throughout the history of information systems, perceived attitudes and concerns (PADs) have been seen as a key factor in actual adoption (AA) of Enterprise Application Architecture (EAA), in this case for supply chain management. Systems development life cycle by John Zachman, who explains seven steps for systems development by Hay (1997), which include: strategy, analysis, reactance theory, design, construction, documentation, transition and production. Objectives: This research aims to determine whether PADs affect the AA of EAA for SCM. In addition, the impact of the systems development life cycle is determined by the following factors: communication and common language, commitment, governance, scope and purpose, business-oriented and approach. Methodology: To provide statistical analysis of diagnostic tests and data analysis, a quantitative research design was adopted. A stratified random sample was considered for two parameters: information technology users, resource optimizers, risk takers, customer-centric approaches, and malleability. The sample was compressed to 310. For the first estimation, the linear regression model using IBM SPSS software version 26 was used. Results: The results showed that PADs have a negative impact on the AA of EAA as indicated by the negative-slope linear regression. However, personal perspectives such as techie, determinism, romanticism, and scepticism result in a negative bias. Findings: These results cannot be extrapolated to all SME owners and managers as they act on the basis of different characteristics such as: Information system components, internet connectivity and contextual information technology. Nonetheless, the modus operandi for mitigating negativity includes: intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, social factors, system complexity, and social factors. Keywords: perceived attitudes and disquiets, enterprise application architecture, supply chain management, actual adoption, small and medium enterprises.

Rock climbers: Deliberate or precautionary risk takers in relation to sensation-seeking

Rock climbers: Deliberate or precautionary risk takers in relation to sensation-seeking

Effects of prepayment policy on equilibrium of the retailer-dominated channel considering manufacturer effort

Although upstream manufacturers with small- and medium-sized are gradually willing to invest green efforts for stimulating market demand, they have been encountering the challenge of securing sufficient working capital to develop the green supply chain. Thus, this paper systematically incorporates two types of prepayment policies including risk-free (RF) and risk-taking (RT) into a retailer’s dominated channel. Via deriving operational and financing equilibrium of the green supply chain, a series of interesting findings can be offered. Specifically, (1) this paper identifies a threshold value regarding the manufacturer’s own capital, and proposes two scenarios for assisting the retailer to decide whether offers the manufacturer prepayment policy. (2) The effectiveness of RF for the capital-constrained manufacturer depends on how well its green effort can be implemented. That is, provided that the quality effect is large enough, the manufacturer can get more upfront capital from the retailer, which may entirely cover its total production and green effort costs. (3) Under RT, if the manufacturer’s capital is relatively lower, RT enables the manufacturer to obtain sufficient capital and the retailer is willing to share partial of the manufacturer’s default risk. Otherwise, RT may not be the best prepayment policy for the retailer.

Discriminating factors in financial risk tolerance: investors' economic perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the variables responsible for classifying the investors into risk takers (RT) and risk avoiders (RA) across their economic perspectives.Design/methodology/approachThe research offers a novel and unobtrusive measure of classifying investors into RT and RA based on a set of financial risk tolerance (FRT) questions. The authors have investigated the causes of discrimination across economic perspectives over a sample of 552 investors exposed to market risk.FindingsThe authors identify that out of the total of 11 risk assessment variables, only three are responsible for classifying investors into RA and RT. The variables are risk return trade-off, comfort level dealing with risk, and understanding short-term volatility. Financial literacy is considered as an emerging cause of discrimination. Further, the authors highlight the most striking finding to be the discriminating factors across wealth and source of income of the investors.Originality/valueExisting research on FRT can be loosely segregated into three groups: the relationship between an individual's financial and non-FRT, estimation of FRT score (FRTS), and perceived self-assessed FRTS. The current research roughly falls into the third category of study where the authors have not only studied the self-assessed risk tolerance but also evaluated the predictors. Most of the studies have focussed on estimating self-assessed FRT with the help of one direct question to the respondent. However, the uniqueness of this study is that the researchers have used an instrument comprising a series of direct and indirect questions that can easily estimate the self-assessed risk perception and also discriminate the role of the economic factors that have any impact on self-assessed FRTS.

Entrepreneurial Marketing Practices and the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kogi State

Purpose: This study is aimed at the entrepreneurial marketing practices (EMP) and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kogi State.Methodology:A survey research design was used for the study. The researchers gathered data from 208 participants. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.Findings: Findings showed that SMEs' proactive-ness (PROA) and customer satisfaction have a negative association. However, the relationship is insignificant (p>0.05). Risk-taking (RSKT) and innovativeness (INVT) of SMEs and customer satisfaction have a favorable link that is statistically significant (p<0.05).Implication:The study concludes that SME owners and managers must properly evaluate their EMP, which may be the possible cause of the inability to cope with the dynamic and competitive business climate. The study recommended, among others, that SME owners and managers embrace more innovativeness and risk-taking disposition to achieve improved performance relative to customer satisfaction and combine entrepreneurial marketing skills of risk-taking and innovativeness.

Knowledge Development About The History And Basic Principles Of Health Insurance Business In Indonesia

The health insurance in Indonesia is something new for most Indonesians because the term health insurance itself, until now after the pandemic, has not become a word that is commonly understood. The understanding of what is called health insurance is still very varied so it is not surprising, for example, in the past, many people said that the Community Health Maintenance Guarantee (JPKM) in Indonesia was not health insurance but only the name was used without using the word insurance. The Indonesian population is generally a risk taker in terms of health and death. The economic condition of the Indonesian population from independence until now has been able to have a per capita income per year, which has not allowed the Indonesian population to set aside funds to buy health insurance or life insurance. Meanwhile, from the supply side, not many insurance companies offer health insurance products. The Indonesian government has been relatively slow in introducing the concept of insurance to the public through ease of licensing and legal certainty in the insurance business ordeveloping social health insurance for the wider community. This study uses a qualitative method that aims to analyze the relationship between the development of knowledge about the basic history of health insurance related to the basic principles of health insurance in Indonesia which is expected to increase knowledge about the history of health insurance and the basic principles of health insurance. The goal of this research is to find out things that can provide compensation for losses originating from ignorance of health insurance knowledge.

Time-varying tail risk connectedness among sustainability-related products and fossil energy investments

In this paper, we analyse the dynamic transmission of tail risk across a set of well-established sustainability-related financial indices & equities and energy assets using a novel CAViaR-TVP-VAR connectedness measure on daily data from 14 October 2014 to 31 August 2022. Findings suggest that the total risk connectedness is at medium level and the short-run effect of COVID-19 on the risk transmission was mild. Furthermore, ESG and green equities are persistent net risk transmitters, while green bond, carbon asset, and energy commodities are tail risk takers. The role of renewable energy stocks is inconclusive due to distinct time-varying characteristics. With reference to pairwise relationship, we show that sustainability equities strongly interact with crude oil futures and fossil energy equities. Furthermore, green bond, carbon, natural gas and coal futures weakly associate with the remaining assets in the system. Finally, we find that EPU, OVX, VIX, GPR, and the spread of US Treasury have asymmetric impact on the spillovers. Altogether, our results offer insightful implications for policymakers and especially for “green” and “brown” products investors in risk diversification from the VaR perspective.

Spatio-temporal variability and rainfall trend affects seasonal calendar of maize production in southern central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Understanding rainfall variability is important to establish crop calendar related agronomic decisions. To this end, we defined start and end of seasons, analyzed dry spell and evaluated conditional risks of alternative planting dates using a thirty years daily rainfall data across southern central rift valley of Ethiopia. Results showed that the probability of annual rainfall being greater than 1000 mm was 97, 24, 94, and 61%, in Dilla, Bilate, Shamana, and Hawassa clusters, respectively. The variability of annual total rainfall in the lowland areas of Dilla and Bilate was above 25%, whereas for Shamana and Hawassa was below 20%. Variability of seasonal rainfall during FMAM was 33.7%, which is higher than ONDJ (27.1%) and JJAS (27.9%), which could lead to maize plants suffering moisture stress during FMAM season. The onset of rains had variability of 29.2, 19.5, 17.5 and 26.5%, and also LGP showed variability of 22.8, 22.1, 21.2 and 20.3% in Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa, and Dilla clusters, respectively. Moreover Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa and Dilla clusters are hit by agricultural drought in one out of 2.61, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.5 years, respectively. Model based analysis of conditional risk of farmers planting dates also showed a success rate of less than 10, 7, 40 and 63% for maize variety in Shamana, Bilate, Hawassa and Dilla clusters, respectively. However, the success rate of risk taker farmers’ is higher than anticipated by the model. The farmers who take risk were encouraged in Shamana cluster by local edaphic, physiographic, socioeconomic and climatic differences. Hence, there is a need to seek real time local agro-metrological advisory and follow the necessary tactical and strategic farming decisions. Moreover, there is also a need to incorporate local factors with modern climate models to obtain synchronized calendar estimates.

Entrepreneurial Intention of Saudi Women in the Covid-19 Pandemic Era: The Role of Personality Traits

Purpose: This study examines the relation between personality traits and entrepreneurial intention among Saudi women during the COVID-19 pandemic era (c. 2020-2022). Theoretical framework: Previous studies indicate that personality traits can stimulate entrepreneurial intention (EI). This study examines the relationships between personal traits in terms of three major dimensions: risk-taking (RT), need for achievement (NfA), locus of control (LoC), and EI. Design/methodology/approach: This study applied a quantitative research method. A total of 919 electronic questionnaires were received from Saudi women via non-probability sampling using emails and social media. Findings: The results showed that the studied personality traits (LoC, NfA, and RT) can positively affect entrepreneurial intention of Saudi women. Research, Practical & Social implications: Entrepreneurship has attracted research interest due to its great role in development and economic growth. Therefore, the study of the factors that stimulate people to become entrepreneurs has been of a great interest to many researchers. The findings of this study provide insights about the mechanisms of promoting female entrepreneurial intention in Saudi Arabia. Originality/value: Few studies have examined personality traits, including LoC, NfA, and RT as determinants of EI. The current study addresses this research gap by examining the relationship between these personality traits and entrepreneurial intention among Saudi women during the COVID-19 pandemic era in Saudi Arabia.

The Analysis of Risk Measurement and Association in China’s Financial Sector Using the Tail Risk Spillover Network

This study focused on analyzing the complexities and risk spillovers that arise among financial institutions due to the development of financial markets. The research employed the conditional value at risk (CoVaR) methodology to quantify the extent of tail risk spillover and constructed a risk spillover network encompassing Chinese financial institutions. The study further investigated the characteristics, transmission paths, and dynamic evolution of this network under different risk conditions. The empirical findings of this research highlighted several important insights. First, financial institutions play distinct roles in the risk spillover process, with the securities and banking sectors as risk exporters and the insurance and diversified financial sectors as risk takers. The closest risk spillover relationships were observed between banking and insurance and between securities and diversified financial sectors. Second, in high-risk scenarios, there is significant intrasectoral risk transmission between banks and the diversified financial sector, as well as dual-sectoral risk contagion between banks and securities, with the most-common transmission occurring between diversified financial and securities sectors. Finally, the securities sector acts as the pivotal node for risk spillovers, being the main transmitter of intersectoral risks. The formation and evolution of risk spillover networks are influenced by endogenous mechanisms, in particular the convergence effect.

From Financialization to Derivative Fascisms

Abstract The last forty years of financialization have laid the groundwork for a resurgence of fascist cultural politics. This article expands Hito Steyerl's notion of derivative fascism by placing it in dialogue with Enzo Traverso's theory of postfascism and Randy Martin's exploration of the sociality of the derivative. Such a conjunction allows us to gain a better understanding of how financialization encourages the transformation of social subjects in ways that lend themselves to fascistic dispositions. Far-right authoritarian actors and movements find sympathy and adherents among people who are expected to become competitive, creative, and self-interested risk takers but find themselves in a world where, for the vast majority, risks are proliferating and unmanageable. This approach can offer a useful supplement to other critical theorizations of the recent resurgence of fascist cultural politics that focus on race, gender, and the longer lineages of reactionary thought. In the first place, it helps us account for the particular financialized context for these cultural politics. Second, it helps us account for how they thrive on highly constrained and speculative forms of decentralized creative agency, entrepreneurship, and conviviality.

Significance of Internal Business Processes on Entrepreneurial Orientation in Kenya Business Hotels

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to examine the significance of internal business processes on the entrepreneurial orientation of Business hotels in Kenya.
 Methodology: The study used a mixed-method design. Both Qualitative methods were used. A survey questionnaire was used and focus group discussions were also employed in the study. The target population was business hotels in Kenya where 246 hotels were sampled. The data was analyzed using, mean and standard deviation and binary logistic regression model to test the significance of business process to entrepreneurial orientation.
 Findings: The findings indicate that hotels were risk takers when it came to projects involving their business processes. These daring moves were risky because there was no guarantee that the profits would cover the cost of their establishments. Hotels were moderately proactive in initiating and implementing changes as the market demanded. To maximize their returns on process innovations, hotels actively sought new processes, placed emphasis on them, and marketed their process offering to customers. When faced with uncertainties, the hotels took aggressive approaches to maximize opportunities on business processes. The focus group discussion revealed that although the processes were practiced by employees most hotels did not have documented processes. Hotels with the more structured business process are more likely to be proactive than those with fewer business processes. Business processes were found to be a significant predictor of Entrepreneurial Orientation.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The study provides insights into the Entrepreneurial Strategic Posture idea by explaining how the hotel uses its business process to create strategic positioning of its products and services. As a service industry, the hotel industry relies on the processes it employs to provide services in order to create memorable experiences for guests. These processes provide a significant interpretation of service quality to guests, which is critical to the hotel business. Being proactive or reactive to these processes gives hotels a competitive advantage, which benefits hotel performance. Hotels are encouraged to continuously improve and innovate their processes to ensure they remain competitive in their industry competition landscape.