Situational Factors Research Articles

What would affect drivers’ stop-and-go decisions at yellow dilemma zones? A driving simulator study in Hong Kong

Yellow dilemma, at which a driver can neither stop nor go safely after the onset of yellow signals, is one of the major crash contributory factors at the signal junctions. Studies have visited the yellow dilemma problem using observation surveys. Factors including road environment, traffic conditions, and driver characteristics that affect the driver behaviours are revealed. However, it is rare that the joint effects of situational and attitudinal factors on the driver behaviours at the yellow dilemma zone are considered. In this study, drivers’ propensity to stop after the onset of yellow signals is examined using the driving simulator approach. For instances, the association between driver propensity, socio-demographics, safety perception, traffic signals, and traffic and weather conditions are measured using a binary logit model. Additionally, variations in the effect of influencing factors on driver behaviours are accommodated by adding the interaction terms for driver characteristics, traffic flow characteristics, traffic signals, and weather conditions. Results indicate that weather conditions, traffic volume, position of yellow dilemma in the sequence, driver age and safety perception significantly affect the drivers’ propensity to stop after the onset of yellow signals. Furthermore, there are remarkable interactions for the effects of driver gender and location of yellow dilemma.

Understanding Police Use of Force and Subject Injuries: From Unarmed Physical Force to Firearms

Police use of force (UOF) can involve a variety of methods and tools. To better understand how operational and situational factors play a role in UOF injuries, it is important that police, criminologists, and medical experts work together. Data from three police departments in the United States (US) indicate that police UOF is rare. When forceful actions were applied by officers, subjects usually experienced no injuries or mild injuries. The likelihood of sustaining an injury was influenced by the UOF method. Understanding UOF events is vital for addressing public misconceptions and it enables officers to make informed decisions when selecting a UOF option by better understanding the potential outcomes associated with each option.

Determination of Nursing Students' Levels of Knowledge in Sexual Health/Reproductive Health during Emergency Status and Influencing Factors

Aim: The aim is to determine nursing students' sexual/reproductive health knowledge levels and affecting factors in extraordinary situations. Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 356 nursing students between November-December 2023 at ……. University of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing. Data were collected through a survey including the Introductory Information Form and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge Scale in Emergencies (SRHKSE). Results: The mean age of nursing students was 20.53±2.57. The average score on the SRHKSE was 84.90±7.91. The sub-dimensions of the SRHKSE revealed the following average scores: women's health empowerment 46.17±4.72, material supply for implementing the minimum initial service package in emergencies 17.79±2.42, basic knowledge of the minimum initial service package in emergencies 10.07±1.27, and strategy and education for the minimum initial service package in emergencies 10.87±1.72. Nursing students who were female, in their 3rd year, had income exceeding expenses, had mothers with primary/secondary education, and had knowledge in reproductive and sexual health showed significantly higher SRHKSE scores (p<.001). Conclusion: In our study, nursing students exhibited high levels of knowledge in sexual and reproductive health during emergency status. The levels of knowledge in sexual and reproductive health during emergency status were found to be affected by gender, academic year, income level, maternal education, and awareness of reproductive and sexual health. It is recommended to conduct different research on the subject and develop the literature.

In Search of Informed Discretion (Revisited): Are Managers Concerned about Appearing Selfish?

ABSTRACT Managers can undertake a costly search to gather additional information about employee performance. Previous management accounting research attributed these actions to inherent social preferences, such as fairness and reciprocity. To further refine this explanation, we conducted a replication and extension of prior experimental work. Our findings suggest that managers’ willingness to gather additional information at their own expense also depends on situational factors, particularly situational factors altering managers’ concerns of being perceived as selfish if they do not gather additional information. These findings align with insights from behavioral economics and social psychology, indicating that situational factors may induce self-interested individuals to exhibit prosocial behavior. The implication of our result is that creating working conditions that increase managers’ concerns about appearing selfish may encourage them to make more informed performance evaluation and compensation decisions. Data Availability: Experimental instrument and software are publicly available on the Open Science Framework platform. Data are available on request. JEL Classifications: C92; D91; M40; M41.

A Multidimensional Assessment of Malaysian Polytechnic Students' Communication Apprehension in Oral Presentations

Focusing on situation, audience, context, and trait-based factors, this study examined the multidimensional aspects of Malaysian polytechnic students' communication apprehension during oral presentations. A total of 116 engineering and business diploma students enrolled in an English communication course at a polytechnic in Sarawak were selected to participate in a survey based on McCroskey's (1984) Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA). The results revealed that situation and audience-based communication apprehension in oral presentations were more prevalent than context and trait-based communication apprehension, indicating the significant influence of the communicative environment and audience dynamics on students' speech anxiety. Hence, the need for targeted pedagogical strategies by educators and administrators to alleviate students' communication apprehension and specific training programmes simulating various speaking scenarios and audiences is pivotal.

Determinants of parents’ readiness for face-to-face learning among elementary school children during the new normal

Introduction: This study aimed to identify factors influencing the readiness of parents with elementary school-age children for face-to-face learning using the Health Promotion Model (HPM). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of parents of elementary school students in Surabaya. A purposive sampling method was used to select 395 respondents. The independent variables included motivation, parental knowledge, perceived benefits, perceptions of barriers, self-efficacy, interpersonal factors, situational factors, and commitment. The dependent variable was parental behavior in face-to-face learning readiness. Data were collected using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using a logistic regression test, with a significance level of α ≤ 0.05. Results: Most parents were 37 years old, and children in the 5th grade of elementary school. Most of the parents' motivation was in the sufficient category (57%). The parents’ knowledge of COVID-19 was good (66.8%). Most parents had a good perception of benefits (68.4%), and the perception of barriers was sufficient (59.7%). Good self-efficacy was observed in only 49% of cases, and interpersonal and situational factors accounted for 99.7% and 100%, respectively. Meanwhile, regarding parental readiness for face-to-face learning, the majority exhibited good behavior (96.2%). The factors that influenced parental behavior in face-to-face learning readiness were parental knowledge (0.010), perceived benefits (0.019), and commitment (0.029). Conclusions: Good knowledge, perceived benefits, and parental commitment are factors that influence parents' readiness to participate in face-to-face learning. Keywords: COVID-19, face-to-face learning, good health and well-being, Health promotion model (HPM), parents

Maladaptive Personality Characteristics, Coping and Situational Factors Predict Symptoms of Complicated Grief and Health Difficulties.

Grief responses range from minimal changes in functioning to debilitating, prolonged, complicated grief. The objective of the current study was to clarify the relationship between maladaptive personality characteristics, coping and situational factors associated with symptoms of complicated grief and health difficulties among bereaved individuals who had lost a loved one within the past six months to two years (N = 304; 59% male; M age = 33.49, SD = 9.98, range 20-81). Situational risk factors, coping (self-distancing, denial, substance use, positive reframing, acceptance, religion, self-blame, behavioral disengagement, venting and humor) and maladaptive personality traits significantly predicted either symptoms of complicated grief or health difficulties. Coping strategies partially mediated the relationship between maladaptive personality traits and symptoms of complicated grief and health difficulties. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of maladaptive personality traits and coping strategies in the conceptualization of complicated grief and should be a greater focus of clinical intervention.

Team Factors in Ethical Decision Making: A Content Analysis of Interviews with Scientists and Engineers

The ethical decision making of researchers has historically been studied from an individualistic perspective. However, researchers rarely work alone, and they typically experience ethical dilemmas in a team context. In this mixed-methods study, 67 scientists and engineers working at a public R1 (very high research activity) university in the United States responded to a survey that asked whether they had experienced or observed an ethical dilemma while working in a research team. Among these, 30 respondents agreed to be interviewed about their experiences using a think-aloud protocol. A total of 40 unique ethical incidents were collected across these interviews. Qualitative data from interview transcripts were then systematically content-analyzed by multiple independent judges to quantify the overall ethicality of team decisions as well as several team characteristics, decision processes, and situational factors. The results demonstrated that team formalistic orientation, ethical championing, and the use of ethical decision strategies were all positively related to the overall ethicality of team decisions. Additionally, the relationship between ethical championing and overall team decision ethicality was moderated by psychological safety and moral intensity. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

AN ANALYSIS OF CODE-MIXING USED BY ENGLISH TEACHER IN CLASSROOM INTERACTION AT NINETH GRADE MTS ANAK BANGSA

The research entitled "Analysis of the Use of Code Mix by English Teachers in Classroom Interaction" aims to identify the types of code mixing used by English teacher as well as the reasons behind their use in the teaching process. This research uses descriptive qualitative method, with the research subject being an English teacher at Mts Anak Bangsa. Data were gathered through observation, documentation, and interviews, and then analyzed using techniques for data reduction, data display, and drawing and verifying conclusions, as outlined by Sugiyono. The research findings show that there are three types of code mix used by teachers in classroom interactions, namely intra-sentential code mixing (77.16%), intra-lexical code mixing (12.34%), and involving change of pronunciation (10.50%). Among the three types, intra-sentential code-mixing is the most frequently used. English teachers use code-mixing due to situational factors, intrinsic messages and language attitudes which include dominance and security. The study concludes that teachers' use of code-mixing helps bridge language gaps between teachers and students, thereby enhancing students' comprehension of the subject matter.

Simulated fire video collection for advancing understanding of human behavior in building fires.

The goal of the present research was to develop a video collection of simulated fires to investigate how people perceive growing building fires. In fire safety science, a critical factor to occupant responses to building fires is the pre-movement period, determined by how long it takes an individual to initiate taking protective action with an incipient fire. Key to studying the psychological processes that contribute to the duration of the pre-movement period is presenting human subjects with building fires. One approach used in previous research is to present videos of building fires to individuals via scenarios. The numerical simulations used to model fire dynamics can be used to render videos for these scenarios. However, such simulations have predominantly been used in fire protection engineering to design buildings and are relatively inaccessible to social scientists. The present study documents a collection of videos, based on numerical simulations, which can be used by researchers to study human behavior in fire. These videos display developing fires in different types of rooms, growing at different rates, different smoke thickness, among other characteristics. As part of a validation study, participants were presented with subsets of the video clips and were asked to rate the perceived risk posed by the simulated fire. We observed that ratings varied by the intensity and growth rate of the fires, smoke opacity, type of room, and where the viewpoint was located from the fire. These effects aligned with those observed in previous fire science research, providing evidence that the videos could elicit perceived risk using fire simulations. The present research indicates that future studies can utilize the video library of fire simulations to study human perceptions of developing building fires as situational factors are systematically manipulated.

Naturalistic driving analysis of situational, behavioral, and psychosocial determinants of speeding

The present analysis used full-trip naturalistic driving data along with driver behavioral and psychosocial surveys to understand the individual and contextual predictors of speeding. The data were collected over a three-week period from 44 drivers and contain 3,798 full trips, with drivers speeding 7.8 % of the time. Speeding events were identified as periods when participants traveled at a velocity greater than five mph over the speed limit for at least five seconds. Data were analyzed using the Comprehensive Driver Profile (CDP) framework which uses principal component analysis (dimensionality reduction), random forest (predictive modeling), k-means clustering (grouping and profiling), and bootstrapping (profile stability) to decompose the predictive variables and driver characteristics. The final dataset included 188 candidate independent variables from the CDP framework and one dependent variable (speeding). Nine variables emerged as significant predictors of speeding onset with an AUC of 0.88, including the percent of trip time spent idling and speeding, highway driving in low traffic conditions, and positive attitudes toward phone use. Percent of trip speeding was associated with a higher likelihood of speeding by up to 42 percent, and percent trip idling was associated with it by up to 30 percent. Driver profile clusters revealed four types: Traffic & Idling Speeders, Infrequent Speeders, Frequent Speeders, and Situational Speeders. The present analysis demonstrates the importance of situational factors and individual differences in motivating speeding behavior. Countermeasures targeting speeding may be more effective if they address the root causes of the behavior in addition to the behavior itself.

Factors affecting deep learning of EFL students in higher vocational colleges under small private online courses‐based settings: A grounded theory approach

AbstractBackgroundThe introduction of Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs) in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction at Higher Vocational Colleges (HVCs) signifies a shift in education. Understanding the factors that affect deep learning in this SPOC context is crucial for improving educational outcomes.ObjectivesBy employing grounded theory, we seek to explore the key factors that shape deep learning experiences for students in SPOC learning environments at HVCs and clarify the interrelationships among these influencing factors.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 18 EFL students and 4 teachers and NVivo 11 software was utilised to aid in the qualitative analysis of the collected data. Through a rigorous three‐tier coding analysis, an “environment‐person‐mediation ‐behaviour” (EPMB) model was constructed, aiming to clarify the mechanisms that influence deep learning among EFL students in HVCs.ResultsOur findings reveal that intrinsic motivation and cognitive abilities are crucial for deep learning among EFL students in HVCs. Blended learning settings, English curriculum satisfaction, and English teachers' teaching methods serve as situational influencing factors. These factors are interconnected, mediating positive or negative effects on deep learning through various intermediaries like continuity, attraction, guidance, motivation, and regulation.ImplicationsThe findings offer pedagogical insights for HVC stakeholders, enabling them to enhance students' deep learning experiences.

Location, location, location! An application of situational action theory to phone use while driving in different environments

Situational action theory (SAT) is a comprehensive theory that explains offending behaviour from the context of the interaction between interpersonal factors, such as morals, self-control, and habits, with situational factors, such as environmental risk and social conditions. Illegal hand-held mobile phone use while driving (MPUWD), a prevalent and risky road behaviour, has yet to be examined under the SAT framework. Therefore, by utilising SAT, this exploratory study sought to investigate the interpersonal and situational factors preceding hand-held MPUWD in three distinct road environments (highways, built-up areas and stopped-at-traffic lights). To achieve this, Queensland drivers aged over 18 who owned a mobile phone (N = 821, Mage = 41.7 years, SD = 20.9 years) were invited to complete an online survey. Repeated measures ANOVAs demonstrated significant mean differences for participants’ perceived risks associated with MPUWD and subsequent likelihood of offending across the three environments, with traffic lights being more conducive to MPUWD behaviours. Three hierarchical multiple linear regressions also revealed that age, attitude, risk of judgement, and self-control were significant predictors of MPUWD across all environments, while the results for gender, risk of injury and risk of being apprehended varied across the different driving contexts. Together, these factors explained 38.5–39.6 % of the variance in the perceived likelihood of illegally engaging in MPUWD. Overall, the findings indicated that the application of SAT has predictive utility in determining MPUWD engagement and can provide a more comprehensive framework for approaching and intervening in MPUWD behaviour.

Examining the Use of Address Terms among Postgraduate Students in an Online Speech Community and Their Implication

This paper examined the terms of address as an important part of verbal behavior through which the behavior, norms and practices of a society can be identified. As a classic study in sociolinguistics, Brown and Gilman (1960) pronominal address system highlighted the semantic power and solidarity in relation to address terms. Since then, several studies have emerged on address terms in various social domains notably academia, religion, politics and many more. However, most of these studies did not give much consideration to online speech communities. This study therefore focuses on sociolinguistic analysis of address terms among postgraduate students in an online speech community using ethnographic approach. The study selected three (3) postgraduate online groups from the University of Cape Coast. One hundred and fifty chats (150) were collected from each group and studied to reveal the key address terms used by the students to address each and also the factors influencing the choice of the address terms. The study revealed that the key address terms used among postgraduate students are personal names, descriptive phrases and titles. Again, the study revealed the following as the factors influencing the choice of address terms: situational and socio-cultural factors, level of formality, innovativeness and playfulness, gender and age variations.

Exploring factors influencing late evening eating and barriers and enablers to changing to earlier eating patterns in adults with overweight and obesity

Late evening eating is a potential risk factor for overconsumption and weight gain. However, there is limited qualitative research investigating the complex factors that influence late evening eating in adults living with obesity. Identifying the factors that influence late evening eating can inform interventions to reduce late evening eating and associated health risks. Therefore, this study aimed to: i) explore factors that contribute to eating late, and ii) apply the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model to understand the barriers and enablers to changing to earlier food intake timings in UK adults who report eating late. Semi-structured interviews with seventeen participants [32.47 ± 6.65 years; 34.68 ± 7.10 kg/m2; 71% female (n = 12); 41% White (n = 7)] investigated reasons for late evening eating and the potential barriers and enablers to changing to earlier eating patterns. Thematic analysis identified four main contributors to late evening eating: 1) internal signals (e.g., feeling hungry in the evening); 2) external and situational factors (e.g., work schedules and the food-rich environment); 3) social factors (e.g., interactions with family) and 4) behavioural and emotional factors (e.g., personal preferences and negative feelings in the evening). Time constraints and work schedules were identified as main barriers to changing to earlier eating patterns. Whereas, having high motivation (e.g., contentment with eating earlier in the evening) and interpersonal support were identified as main enablers to eating earlier. This study provides in-depth insights into the psychological, social, and environmental factors contributing to late evening eating. The findings highlight potential targets for future interventions to facilitate earlier eating times in individuals at risk of overweight and obesity.

COVID-19 and speeding: Results of population-based survey of ontario drivers

Introduction: During COVID-19, increased speeding was observed in many jurisdictions. Yet, evidence is limited on what factors predicted increased speeding during the pandemic. This study’s purpose was to examine speeding, and person and situation factors associated with increased speeding since the start of the pandemic. Methods: An online panel survey sampled 1,595 drivers using sex, age, and region quota sampling and weighting to approximate the Ontario, Canada adult population. Measures included: (1) person factors: socio-demographics (age, sex, region); psychological trait of risk propensity (Competitive Attitudes Toward Driving Scale (CATDS)); psychological states (distress - general and COVID-19-related); and behaviors (kilometers driven, alcohol use, police stops and collisions); and (2) COVID-19-related situation factors: perceived changes in (traffic volume, police enforcement). Results: 67.2% of respondents reported speeding; 7.2% reported increased speeding since the start of the pandemic. Bivariate analyses indicated that person factors of younger age, male sex, higher CATDS, higher distress, more alcohol use, more kilometers traveled, police stops, and collisions since the start of the pandemic were associated with increased speeding. Situation factor of perceived less traffic volume since the start of the pandemic was associated with increased speeding. Logistic regression analysis identified odds of reported increased speeding during the pandemic was significantly higher for drivers with higher scores on the CATDS, higher kilometers traveled, and more alcohol use during the pandemic. Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher risk propensity as well as the more kilometers driven and increased alcohol consumption were risk factors for increased speeding. Practical Applications: COVID-19-related factors of lower traffic volume and enforcement are less predictive of increased speeding than driver personality and pandemic-related behaviors of more driving and drinking. Interventions to reduce speeding still need to focus on these person factors through education, enforcement, and strong sanctions for speeding.

Responding to the Heat and Planning for the Future: An Interview-Based Inquiry of People with Schizophrenia Who Experienced the 2021 Heat Dome in Canada.

People with schizophrenia have died at disproportionately higher rates during recent extreme heat events (EHEs) in Canada, including the deadly 2021 Heat Dome in British Columbia (B.C.). However, to date, little research has qualitatively focused on how people with schizophrenia experience and respond to EHEs. This study aimed to (i) explore how people with schizophrenia experienced and were impacted by the 2021 Heat Dome physically, cognitively, and emotionally and (ii) understand their level of awareness and health-protective actions taken in response to the EHE. Between October 2023 and February 2024, interviews were conducted with 35 people with schizophrenia who experienced the 2021 Heat Dome in a community setting within B.C., Canada. The semi-structured interviews were guided by pre-defined questions to explore the participant's background, living situation, social network, awareness and access to heat-mitigation measures. The transcripts were analyzed using a descriptive form of thematic analysis. Participants shared critical insights on how the EHE impacted them, including descriptions of mild to severe physical manifestations of heat stress (e.g., fainting, heat rashes), the triggering of schizophrenia-related symptoms (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations), and the detrimental effects on their energy levels and emotional stability, which further caused disruptions to their everyday life. Participants also illustrated gaps in knowledge and challenges experienced with accessing information, which hindered their ability to manage the heat exposure effectively and, for some, resulted in no actions (or counter-intuitive actions) being taken to mitigate the heat. These findings demonstrate the complex ways that individuals with schizophrenia experienced and responded to the 2021 Heat Dome and revealed various situational and contextual factors that further compounded the challenge of heat mitigation. These findings can support the development of tailored individual and community-level heat response and communication initiatives and strategies for people with schizophrenia.

A moderated mediation analysis of the quality of life, gambling craving, escape expectancies and problem gambling relationships

The easy access to Internet through increased availability and ownership of Internet-enabled facilities such as smart/android phones and communication data by adolescents have increased their vulnerability to problem gambling (PG). There is therefore need to understand the relationship between PG and some psychological and situational factors that have the capacity to influence its development and severity. The present study is a test of a moderated mediation model in which the effect of quality of life (QoL) on PG was mediated by escape, and this mediation effect was further moderated by gambling craving (GAC). Participants (N = 197: 83% male, Mage = 24.05 years, SD age = 7.23 years) online gamblers took part in the survey and responded to the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), GQoL scale, Gambling Outcome Expectancies Scale-Escape (GOES-E), and the GAC scale. PROCESS macro analysis result reveals a significant moderated mediation effect of the escape-PG path by GAC. The findings provide support for escape as a potential pathway through which the QoL-PG association may thrive, and this support was further influenced by GAC. This is a significant contribution to the QoL-PG literature. However, we emphasize the need for further investigation of GAC as a criterion for PG.

Immune response and intergroup bias: Vaccine-induced increases in cytokine activity are associated with worse evaluations of resume for Latina job applicant

Situational factors can increase people’s vulnerability to intergroup bias, including prejudicial attitudes, negative stereotyping, and discrimination. We proposed that increases in inflammatory activity that coincide with acute illness may represent a hitherto unstudied situational factor that increases intergroup bias. The current study experimentally manipulated increases in inflammatory activity by administering the seasonal influenza vaccine or a saline placebo. We quantified inflammatory activity by assessing change in salivary pro-inflammatory cytokines and assessed intergroup bias using a resume evaluation task and self-reported ethnocentrism. Primary analyses focused on a subsample of 117 participants who provided high quality data; robustness analyses included various permutations of lower quality participants. Findings revealed that changes in the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in response to the vaccine were associated with greater intergroup bias. Among participants who received the vaccine, IL-1β change was negatively associated with evaluation of a Latina (but not a White woman) applicant’s competency and recommended starting salary. Moreover, IL-1β change was positively associated with ethnocentrism. Overall, results provide support for the hypothesis that acute illness, via the mechanistic role of inflammatory cytokines, affects social cognition in ways that can increase intergroup bias.

How to measure and model personality traits in everyday life: A qualitative analysis of 300 big five personality items

Personality traits are often described with reference to momentary patterns in experiences and behaviors. In this paper, we consider how such personality manifestations can be measured and modeled more directly within intensive-longitudinal research. Specifically, we evaluated 300 items from the international personality item pool with respect to: a) how the described behavior relates to situational factors; and b) which statistic most accurately quantifies the implied pattern. Our results give rise to three critical observations. First, most patterns only occur within certain contexts, rather than being context independent. Second, traits are mostly described as dynamic patterns on differing timescales. Third, the mean of a person across many repeated measures is poorly suited to capture most patterns of personality in daily life.