Social Cognitive Perspective Research Articles

Demographics, social norms, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention: a social cognitive perspective on secondary students

PurposeFramed by social cognition theory, this study examines the impact of environmental factors (e.g. social norms) on students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ES) and entrepreneurial intention (EI).Design/methodology/approachWe obtained responses to a survey from 811 senior secondary students in Hong Kong. We then employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the proposed hypothesis. We removed non-significant parameters in testing the model and obtained the final SEM.FindingsAmong these students, those who were male or spoke English at home showed stronger social norms of entrepreneurship and greater entrepreneurial SE, which was linked to greater EI. Among students perceiving stronger social norms of entrepreneurship, those who lived in private housing or spoke English at school showed greater entrepreneurial intention.Originality/valueThe study provides a new social cognitive perspective for examining EI that emphasizes learning and development through the interaction of environmental and cognitive factors. It supplements previous research by demonstrating the significant influence of social norms and the conditional role of parental influence, adding complexity to our understanding of how these factors' interplay.

Identifying Social-Cognitive Factors Influencing Aggression in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Indian Study

Adolescence is a critical period during which the likelihood of experiencing self-regulation failures like aggressive outbursts is increased. Recent Indian studies on adolescents have reported an increasing incidence of aggressive acts during this time of transition, which is a threat to the adolescent, the victim and society in general. This study focuses on the social-cognitive perspective, implying that aggression is a social behaviour that is largely affected by one’s beliefs about the acceptability of aggression and the degree of cognitive and effortful control they have over their emotions. Such beliefs are likely to be influenced by emotion socialisation, wherein parents and peers act as key agents. With this perspective, the current study, through a mediational model, explains the social-cognitive factors predicting aggressive behaviour in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out on a sample of 475 adolescent students from the Delhi-NCR region recruited through purposive sampling. The data were collected through self-report questionnaires from schools and colleges. The model was tested using SPSS AMOS and was found to be a good fit for the data. The findings of this study are crucial from a risk and intervention perspective. It emphasises the need to build socially and emotionally competent students who not only have the skills needed to succeed but also nurture healthy social relationships and maintain positive mental health through adaptive emotion regulation skills.

Luxury values and the perceptions of Japanese female shoppers: An evaluation based on the social cognitive theory perspective

Luxury values and the perceptions of Japanese female shoppers: An evaluation based on the social cognitive theory perspective

Key Factors in Virtual Gift Buying Behaviour in the Live Game Category Streaming: A Social Cognitive and Cultural Perspective

As live streaming based on a variety of content is growing globally, viewers are becoming accustomed to a model that allows them to interact with content creators in real time; as a result, commercialization businesses based on live streaming are proliferating. These commercialization businesses include live-streaming platforms offering virtual gifts that viewers can purchase to give to content creators, purchasing a streamer's fan badge to show continued support for the streamer, or purchasing merchandise from the streamer's merchandise window, among others. Among them, virtual gifts are the paying behaviour with the highest percentage of viewers. Based on this background, studying what influences consumers' decisions about virtual gifts is essential. This paper adopts a literature review approach to analyze several academic literatures as well as identify the key factors, social, cultural, and psychological, of virtual gift purchasing behaviours of consumers in the live gaming industry, and comb through the key findings of these current studies. In addition, this paper also proposes future research directions and relevant suggestions for specific practices based on the above factors, providing ideas and references for researchers and practitioners of virtual gift marketing. Due to the diverse perspectives of existing related research, the integration, analysis and recommendations in this paper will be of significance to future researchers and stakeholders in systematically understanding viewer behaviour, helping the function of virtual gift rewards on live broadcasting platforms in China, and enhancing the economic benefits as well as live broadcasting viewers' experience.

How could you think that? Supervisor misattribution leads to reduced subsequent employee organizational citizenship behavior

PurposeFrom a social cognitive perspective, the current study examines how the relationship between the employee and the organization changes following supervisor motive misattribution of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB).Design/methodology/approachThe current study utilizes an experimental vignette methodology (EVM), linear regression and Hayes' (2017) Process Version 4 macro in SPSS to examine the relationships between supervisor misattribution of employee OCB, personality and individual differences and future organizational citizenship behavior intentions.FindingsResults indicate that supervisor misattribution of employee OCB, specifically when the act is attributed to impression management, will reduce the intention to engage in future OCBs. Results also indicate that this negative relationship is enhanced when subordinates are high in openness.Research limitations/implicationsThis study extends social exchange theory by demonstrating how the misattribution of motivation to perform OCBs creates a negative social exchange and discourages future organizational citizenship behavior from the employee. The current research demonstrates the importance of supervisors understanding employees' motivations for engaging in (OCB). If an employee engages in OCB based on intrinsic motivation, such as a desire to help others, and their motivation is attributed to external motivation, such as impression management, the employee may feel misunderstood and believe their values and motivations are incorrectly perceived, leading to reduced OCB.Originality/valueThe current research is examined using EVM. By immersing participants in realistic hypothetical scenarios, experimental vignette methodology allows researchers to explore the intricacies of decision-making across unique scenarios, unraveling both the “why” and the “what next” behind decision-making.

A mixed-methods investigation into complex components of multilingual international students' self-regulated learning in English as a foreign language context: A social cognitive perspective

Self-regulated learning serves as a fundamental framework for understanding the cognitive, motivational, and emotional dimensions of learning. Recently, a growing body of studies on such cognitive processes appears in multilingual populations. Applying a mixed-methods approach, this study examined the key components of the self-regulated learning process among 233 multilingual international students in China, specifically within the context of English as a Foreign Language learning. Qualitative data was analyzed through Pearson's correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and path analysis, while semi-structured interviews were conducted to further confirm the results of the qualitative data analysis. 15 students were purposefully selected through purposive sampling to participate in follow-up interviews. Within the framework of social cognitive theory, the findings revealed that metacognition, motivation, self-efficacy, and feedback loops are the primary components of self-regulated learning. Additionally, path analysis confirmed that the four factors are positive predictors of self-regulated learning proficiency of multilingual international students in China. The interview outcomes further validated the integral role of these primary components in the self-regulated learning process within the context of multilingual study. This study underscores the significance of incorporating translanguaging backgrounds into teaching strategies and language policy. Findings may offer some insights for multilingual international students, language teachers, and language policymakers in the field of Chinese language instruction.

The Role of Social Cognitive Perspective on Investment Intentions in Sharia Stocks in Indonesia

The majority of Indonesia's population recorded in 2024 will be Muslims, reaching 85% with a figure of 263 million out of a total population of more than 278 million people. However, the level of public investment in shares is still low, especially in sharia shares. The aim of this research is to examine the impact of attitudes, social influence, and self-confidence on Indonesian investors' intentions to invest in sharia shares. This will be achieved by exploring further with Social Cognitive Theory. This research uses a quantitative methodology which is used to collect data from a minimum sample size of 85 respondents. This research was conducted by giving questionnaires to investors who have knowledge about sharia shares in Indonesia. The expected result of this research is to increase understanding of the determining factors that influence investment intentions in sharia shares. Therefore, this research is expected to provide a significant contribution to policy makers in their efforts to increase the number of investors in Islamic stocks.

Ethical leadership and reporting behavior of employees: social cognitive perspective of morality on the bases of emotions

Ethical leadership and reporting behavior of employees: social cognitive perspective of morality on the bases of emotions

The role of teachers’ direct and emotional mentoring in shaping undergraduates’ research aspirations: a social cognitive career theory perspective

PurposeThis study investigated the influence of teachers on undergraduate students’ development of research aspirations and the mechanisms behind this process.Design/methodology/approachEmploying social cognitive career theory, the study gathered data from 232 undergraduates, developed a structural equation model via the maximum likelihood method and executed empirical testing.FindingsThe findings reveal that neither direct nor emotional mentoring independently satisfies students’ needs for self-efficacy and aspiration in research nor significantly influences research interest. Specifically, the study demonstrates that (1) research self-efficacy, outcome expectations and research interest significantly shape research aspirations; (2) an overemphasis on direct mentoring might impede research aspiration development and (3) a focus on emotional mentoring, while overlooking direct mentoring, could result in diminished research self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis research pioneers a comprehensive analysis of the role of teachers in shaping undergraduate research aspirations through the lens of social cognitive career theory. It underscores the critical need to both balance mentoring approaches and foster intrinsic research motivation.

Leveraging social media capabilities and digital fluency to foster employee green innovation behavior: from a social cognitive theory perspective

Leveraging social media capabilities and digital fluency to foster employee green innovation behavior: from a social cognitive theory perspective

Barista robots with human appeal: Unraveling the impact of anthropomorphism, human presence, and perceived financial constraints on consumer behavior

While consumer acceptance of anthropomorphized robots has gained significant attention, limited research has examined the effectiveness of anthropomorphizing robots from a social cognitive perspective. This paper delves into the specific conditions and individual characteristics where the anthropomorphism strategy is most effective. Specifically, Studies 1 and 2 explore the moderating roles of human staff presence and consumers’ perceived financial constraints on the robot anthropomorphism effect on consumer visit intention. Both studies employ multiple regression analyses. The findings reveal that the robot anthropomorphism effect on consumer visit intention is more pronounced when a human staff is deployed alongside a robot (Study 1) and for consumers with higher levels of perceived financial constraints (Study 2). Moreover, perceived humanness and effort of service robots explain the underlying mechanism. Managerially, anthropomorphized robots are recommended especially for operations where human staff is present and for budget-friendly businesses that cater to consumers experiencing financial constraints.

The effects of knowledge sharing, self-efficacy and performance: does initiation of structure leadership matter?

PurposeThis study aims to examine the mediating effect of self-efficacy on the knowledge sharing and management accountant performance relationship. In addition, it also investigates the moderating effect of initiating structure leadership (IS-leadership style) on the relationship between self-efficacy and management accountant performance. In the literature, there is a reciprocal relationship between environmental, cognitive and personal factors, making self-efficacy unable to be maintained without environmental support, which in this research is captured through the construct of leadership style.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative methodology with a self-administration survey. This research involved 100 management accountants in Indonesia. Regression Macro Process carried out data analysis.FindingsThe findings of this study indicate that knowledge sharing in cognitive psychology encourages increased self-efficacy, which has an impact on improving management accountant performance. Self-efficacy mediates the effect of knowledge sharing on management accountant performance. The existence of induced environmental factors in the form of IS-leadership style has the potential to weaken the impact of self-efficacy on management accountant performance.Practical implicationsThis study provides recommendations to companies, especially the human resources division, to consider individual psychological factors in the recruitment process. Thus, companies can carry out preventive control to manage management accountant performance behavior.Originality/valueThis study provides new empirical evidence for reducing the overlap between knowledge sharing and performance by applying personal, organizational and environmental factors simultaneously. This study also enriches knowledge-sharing literature on performance from a social cognitive perspective.

Factors impacting college students’ collaborative learning intention: a social cognitive theory perspective

ABSTRACT Understanding students’ intentions towards collaborative learning (CL) is crucial for efficiently using related learning activities inside and outside the classroom. Based on social cognitive theory (SCT), we propose a framework to explore the impact of contextual and individual factors on students’ intent to engage in CL. We performed structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine the relationships among three environmental factors (fairness, innovation, and social relationships), two intrinsic motivational factors (self-efficacy, outcome expectations), and students’ intent to engage in CL. The findings indicate that building a collaborative climate where students perceive fairness, innovation, and warm social relationships in the classroom facilitates their intention to engage in CL. In addition, students’ intent is influenced by their belief in their ability to engage in CL activities (self-efficacy) and their outcome expectations. The findings have several implications for developing the theory of CL and educational policymaking.

The effect of growth mindset on motivation and strategy use in Hong Kong students’ integrated writing performance

Growth mindset (GM) theory conceptualizes that one’s ability can be improved with effort (Dweck, Self-theories: Their role in motivation, personality, and development, Taylor & Francis, 1999) from a social-cognitive perspective. Self-determination theory (SDT) emphasizes the motivational source of learning, i.e. autonomous motivation (AM) and controlled motivation (CM). The two motivational theories can both lead to strategy use (SU) in writing contexts. To provide a more comprehensive understanding of motivation, this study investigated GM, AM, CM and SU through an integrated writing task. Participants were 465 secondary-four students in Hong Kong. Structural equation modelling showed that GM indirectly promoted writing performance through the mediation of AM and SU. Besides, neither motivations exerted direct effect on writing performance, whereas both did so via the mediation of SU. The findings unveiled the importance of GM in Hong Kong secondary school students’ writing performance since it contributed to AM and SU. Regarding pedagogical implications, we encourage the proliferation of GM in every-day classroom.

Exploring gender dynamics in cybersecurity education: A self-determination theory and social cognitive theory perspective

The cybersecurity industry is facing two major challenges as cyber threats get more serious: a shortage of skilled workers to defend against these attacks and a noticeable underrepresentation of women in the field, underscoring the critical need for diversity and skill development. This research explores variations in cybersecurity learning based on gender using the frameworks of self-determination and social cognitive theories. Conducted over two years, the research utilized a Capture The Flag (CTF) platform to facilitate learning and assess outcomes. This study explores the gender disparities in key areas such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, conceptual grasp, and performance across five distinct cybersecurity subdomains: web exploitation, cryptography, cyber forensics, binary exploitation, and reverse engineering. The comprehensive evaluation included participant interaction with learning materials, their adeptness in practical exercises, and their achievements in a comprehensive contest covering five essential cross-domain cybersecurity concepts. Pre- and post-study surveys were instrumental in tracking shifts in motivation and self-efficacy levels. Findings pointed to notable gender-based differences in motivational aspects and self-belief following the learning phase, with conceptual understanding and the ability to replicate challenges also varying significantly between genders, highlighting disparities in educational outcomes. Domain-based analysis reveals notable gender differences: male participants excelled in solving reverse engineering and cryptography problems, whereas female participants performed better in cyber forensics and web exploitation challenges. These findings underscore the importance of tailored educational strategies in cybersecurity training to bridge the gender gap and foster a more diverse and capable workforce, addressing both the skill shortage and the need for broader representation in the field.

Leader humility and follower prosocial behaviours: Integrating three theoretical perspectives

AbstractIntegrating social cognitive perspective, social exchange perspective, and social identity perspective, we developed a research model examining how leader humility affects follower prosocial behaviours via three psychological mechanisms (i.e., self‐efficacy, affective trust, and perceived insider status). We used two field survey studies to examine our research model. Using a three‐wave lagged design, Study 1 (N = 221) found that leader humility had positive indirect effects on employee knowledge exchange, an information‐based indicator of prosocial behaviours, through all three mechanisms. To constructively replicate and extend our findings, Study 2 (N = 230) used a multi‐source and three‐wave lagged design and incorporated two additional indicators of prosocial behaviours: helping behaviour and voice behaviour. The results showed that affective trust mediated the positive effects of leader humility on all indicators of prosocial behaviours, indicating that social exchange is a powerful theoretical lens in explaining the implications of leader humility. Self‐efficacy mediated the positive effect of leader humility on knowledge exchange and helping behaviour. However, perceived insider status did not exhibit any significant mediating effect. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for leadership.

Foreign language proficiency, career behaviors, and turnover‐related outcomes: A social cognitive career theory perspective of host country national employees in foreign subsidiaries

AbstractWhile the majority of employees in foreign subsidiaries are host country nationals (HCNs) who use English as a second language in their work tasks, little research focuses on the impact of English proficiency on their career‐related behaviors and outcomes. This paper applies social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to link HCN employees' English proficiency to their career‐related behaviors and outcomes in two time‐lagged studies in foreign subsidiaries. Study 1 conducted with 542 HCN employees in the Philippines suggests that career environment exploration mediates the positive English proficiency–turnover intention relationship. Study 2 conducted with 493 HCN employees in Japan suggests self‐initiated headhunter contacts to mediate the positive English proficiency–voluntary turnover relationship and job embeddedness moderate the self‐initiated headhunter contact‐turnover relationship.

The Role of AI Self-Efficacy in Religious Contexts in Public Sector: The Social Cognitive Theory Perspective

The Role of AI Self-Efficacy in Religious Contexts in Public Sector: The Social Cognitive Theory Perspective

Does government food demonstration interventioninfluence household dietary diversity in the Upper West Region of Ghana?

Dietary diversity is crucial in ensuring food and nutrition security. In low-middle-income countries, people frequently prioritize the quantity of food they consume over its quality due to a lack of availability and financial limitations. As a result, achieving dietary diversity is often overlooked in favor of ensuring adequate caloric intake. Through a social cognitive theory perspective, our study examines the relationship between food demonstrations and household dietary diversity in Ghana's Upper West Region utilizing cross-sectional survey data from 517 smallholder farmer households. The results from ordered logistic regression presented in odds ratio (OR) show that participating in food demonstrations (OR: 2.585, p<0.01), engaging in home gardening (OR: 1.932, p<0.001), having access to credit (OR: 1.609, p<0.01), self-rated good nutritional status (OR: 1.747, p<0.01), and Waala ethnicity (OR: 3.686, p<0.001) were all positively associated with high household dietary diversity. Conversely, living in the Wa West district was associated with lower dietary diversity (OR: 0.326, p<0.001). Our research findings suggest that policymakers may want to consider implementing community-based educational programs, such as home and school visits for food demonstrations and sensitizations, promoting mother-to-mother support groups for dietary diversity education, nutrition counseling services, and using role-play and local media. In addition, strengthening local agricultural policies through food banks, indigenous seed development, and mobile food markets and enhancing public-private partnerships like the Ghana Schools Feeding Programme and National Food Buffer Stock company could improve the supply chain and distribution networks for diverse food items. Implementing these interventions in the Upper West Region of Ghana could improve health, well-being, food security, and nutritional outcomes.

Between social cognition and material engagement: the cooperative body hypothesis

AbstractIn recent years, social cognition approaches to human evolution and Material Engagement Theory have offered new theoretical resources to advance our understanding of the prehistoric hominin mind. To date, however, these two approaches have developed largely in isolation from one another. I argue that there is a gap between social- and material-centred approaches, and that this is precisely the sociomateriality of the appearance of ancestral hominin bodies, which evolved under selective pressure to develop increasingly complex, cooperative sociality. To get this sociomaterial body in focus, I develop an esthesiological framework, appropriated from Merleau-Ponty (2003), for interpreting the expressive body in an evolutionary and comparative context. The guiding hypothesis of esthesiology is that before being rationality (social or material), “humanity is another corporeity” (Merleau-Ponty, 2003, p. 208). Esthesiology studies the appearance of the body and its sense organs as an intertwining locus of a sensing power (the ability to see, to touch, etc.) and a sensible character (the visible, touchable body). It is this dual-aspect character of the body that facilitates the most basic affective and sensorimotor modes of sociality. Examining these features from a comparative perspective, we find that the human body is distinctively suited to prosocial communication and cooperation: a more cooperative eye, an exposed and communicative skin. I thus propose a cooperative body hypothesis, by analogy with the cooperative eye hypothesis (Tomasello et al., 2007). Esthesiology provides a framework for integrating and interpreting a wide range of otherwise disconnected facts concerning human and nonhuman animal bodies, forms of life, cognition, and evolution, thereby bridging the gap between social cognition and material engagement perspectives. In doing so, however, it not only solves problems and proposes new directions of investigation, but also demands theoretical revisions from each.