Social Level Research Articles

An Examination of the Ways in Which Transdisciplinary Research Could Be Used to Incentivize Local Communities to Combat the Illegal Wildlife Trade

The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is currently one of the most critical conservation concerns, given its direct impact on biodiversity loss, endangering local ecosystems, and adding pressure to all species at a point when they face dangers like deforestation and mass extinctions. This industry also significantly impacts local communities, many of which are compelled to engage in it as a result of their precarious socioeconomic conditions. While effective countermeasures to this global issue have been identified, successful implementation of these countermeasures require diverse disciplines and collaborators. This paper argues that a transdisciplinary approach that converges knowledge and skills from social and socioecological fields of study is required to develop strategies that effectively incentivize communities to combat the IWT. This is true because A) at the social level, criminal justice is needed for the retraining and participation in law enforcement efforts to mitigate support for poaching; B) at the socio-ecological level, environmental economics and ecosystem management are needed for the validation of community assets and profitable management of local wildlife; and C) ecology and business administration are needed for the implementation of conservation initiatives like ecotourism. This paper not only presents the implementation of a transdisciplinary approach but also details the most important disciplines needed, provides a review of the correlation between this industry and the locals who live in close proximity to wildlife and conservation areas, and proposes workable recommendations to supporting initiatives that combat the IWT and serve as pillars for sustainable action. Without adopting and reinforcing the position argued for in this research, the IWT would continue to pose a threat to local ecosystems, populations, and economies. This is a major risk to global sustainability and will exacerbate the loss of biodiversity that is already recognized as an imminent threat by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Black Men Writing, Reflecting, and Discovering Self: Personal Narrative Essays of College-aged African American Men at an All-male Historically Black College or University (HBCU)

<p>Personal narratives are studied in many disciplines, but theoretical analysis of the personal narrative in composition classes has lagged behind the research. This qualitative study examines the personal narratives of thirty Black college-aged men. This study presents the feelings and thoughts of Black males through their personal stories and perspectives; in the study, they detail their life experiences. The narratives were analyzed for elements of narrative discourse, which include (1) Thesis; (2) Transitions; (3) Use and Evaluation of Sources; (4) Audience, Tone, and Rhetorical Appeals; (5) Organization; (6) Claims, Warrants, and Support; (7)Paraphrases, Direct Quotes, and Summary; (8) In-text Citations and Works Cited Page; (9) Style and Syntax; and (10) Mechanics (see scoring procedures). Each narrative was analyzed according to the criteria described in the Personal Narrative Rubric; the number of elements was counted for each category. The researcher recommends additional narrative studies of Black men in different age groups, educational backgrounds, social and economic levels, and geographical regions.</p>

Happiness and Emigration as A Challenge to Albanian University Youth: A National Level Case

Aim: The research article aims to analyse happiness as the primary indicator of the current emigration potential of university youth. The challenges of decision-making of Albanian university youth to emigrate tease out the social, political and economic factors as indicators to decrease the level of happiness in terms of personal (being happy with life in general, with life, with family life in the last four years) and in social perspective such as being happy with economic status and house/shelter, the level of satisfaction with current life (standards of living), and the level of trust (in political and governmental institutions; in people, friends and media), as the pushing factors to potential emigration of youth. Methods: To guarantee a national-level measurement of the university youth emigration potential, due to the mentioned indicators, the empirical data gained from the quantitative online survey research on the measurement of opinions of (N=1010) Albanian university youth, at the national level of (N=7) (all) public universities in Albania, in (N=13) departments on social sciences profile, analysed by the Statistical program IMB SPSS 26, in different statistical approach analysis, such as descriptive, frequency, cross-tabs and Kurtosis. Results: Many measurement indicators show that personal and social levels of happiness reflect on a ‘low level of subjective well-being, unsatisfaction subjective well-being and dissatisfaction with life and living conditions that decrease the level of trust and security for life, and proxy dimensions of emigration decision (intention and concrete plan to migrate) of university youth. Conclusion: The low satisfaction (with life and living conditions), and low trust in the state bodies and political institutions, due to the current, social, political and economic conditions, formed an elation among the variables, on the conclusion that happiness is the main push factor and a challenge for potential emigration of university youth as high skilled worker, in the next years.

Digital Transformation and Public Administration: The Impacts of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure

ABSTRACT Over the past decades, digital technologies have become ubiquitous, impacting and changing the ways society operates. Immense public and economic value is being created by improving access to information and resources. Hence, many public administration units around the globe continue to focus on digital transformation. Although mostly associated with digitizing services and workflow via software platforms, India’s efforts have taken a “Lego building block approach” toward technology which can be repurposed and recombined to deliver solutions at the social level. These digital public infrastructure (DPI) blocks have had significant impact on socio-economic development. In this special issue, we explore the role of DPI in digitally transforming public service delivery and in creating public value. The issue aims to make an important contribution to public administration and digital government literature, by examining India’s DPI and its positive externalities, in particular its role in financial and health inclusion. These papers include vital knowledge that can support policy processes on digital transformation and public value creation for India and other developing countries of the global South.

Hubungan Parasosial Army di Weverse (Studi Pada Komunitas Army Balikpapan)

Parasocial relationships is the participation of fans who connect with an idol and become emotionally attached to them because the process satisfy each fan individually. The parasocial relationship that occurs between fans of the K-pop group BTS and their fans, namely ARMY, is established on the digital media Weverse. The aim of this research is to understand the description of parasocial relationships by looking at the levels of fan parasocial interaction: Entertainment Social Value, Intense Personal Feeling, Bonderline Pantalogical Tendency. This research employs the phenomenological method, a qualitative approach that allows for detailed observation and hearing of people's individual explanations and understandings based on their experiences. The sampling technique in this research used purposive sampling technique. Sampling took the form of observation, documentation and in-depth interviews as primary data analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model. According to the study's findings, fans' emotional attached to BTS were shown by ARMY's parasocial interactions, which included motivation aspect at the Entertainment Social Value level, intensity aspect at the Intense Personal Feeling level, and obsession aspect, willing to do anything behaviour, irrational and uncontrollble thinking at the Bonderline Pantalogical Tendency level.

Do we Need a ‘New Strategy Paradigm’? No

AbstractBansal et al. 's Point piece, "Strategy's Ecological Fallacy: How strategy scholars have contributed to the ecological crisis and what we can do about it," call for reforming the strategy field to focus on the natural environment, ecological cycles, and interconnections across natural and social levels, in service of value creation for ‘a defined ecosystem that comprises respect for the natural environment’. We doubt that such new foundations are necessary or useful. We argue that Bansal et al. misconstrue the evolution and content of strategy thinking; downplay the usefulness of existing tools for dealing with their issues of concern; overlook problems of measurement, collective action, government failure, and cronyism encouraged by their preferred policies; embrace an unnecessarily alarmist worldview; and underappreciate the social benefits of the market‐based institutions they criticize. We suggest instead that a market system based on clearly delineated property rights, prices that freely adjust to reflect scarcities, and an institutional environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation remains an underappreciated instrument for protection of the natural environment, one that is superior to centralized and regulatory alternatives.

Διαγλωσσικότητα και ταυτότητα: friend or gharīb?

This paper, titled “Translanguaging and identity: friend or gharīb”, is based on the experiences and challenges of some of the participants in my 2017 research, which led to the book SiDaYes: beyond bilingualism to translanguaging. Here I will attempt to highlight some aspects of being translingual, which I believe can be of interest and will most likely continue to concern us in the future, within the wider field of language and culture contact. Identity issues seem to be core issues within the area of translanguaging, both at an individual and a social level. One of the central notions that is discussed is that of being a ‘gharīb’, or an outsider, which seems to have negative and possible positive aspects, according to the individual experience and the overall context in which languages form a linguistic universe of translanguaging experience. 换句话说，多语言实践不断挑战我们对自我、身份的认知。我们研究这一领域的人需要不断寻求理解身份认同问题的新方法[i]。

The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioural Approach-Based Psychoeducation Program on Social Media Addiction

This study aims the examine of the effect of the psychoeducation program developed based on the Cognitive-Behavioural Approach (CBA) on the social media addiction levels of adolescents. The study involves the use of a quasi-experimental design with study group, in which pre-test, post-test, and follow-up studies were performed. The study group consists of 24 (12 experimental and 12 control) secondary school students selected from three different high schools and determined through random assignment. The experimental group received the psychoeducation program consisting of nine-seasons and no action was taken for the control group. Personal Information Form (PIF) and Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS) were used in the study as data collection tools. A pre-test two weeks before the application of the psychoeducation program, a post-test at the end of the application, and a follow-up test three months after the end of the application were performed among adolescents in the experimental group. Statistical analyzes revealed that there was a significant decrease in the social media addiction scores of the adolescents in the experimental group. In line with these results obtained from the study, it is possible to say that the psychoeducation program applied to adolescents in reducing social media addiction is effective in obtaining successful results in this process.

Individual and Collective Approaches of Students who are Members of Social Clubs at University to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts

Climate change is one of the most important global problems of our time. For the solution of this problem, the need for awareness and taking responsibility at individual and social level is quite high. The aim of this study, which was conducted on social club members, is to examine the level of hope for the prevention of climate change according to sociodemographic characteristics, club factors and taking responsibility variable. Relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. The research data were collected from the students studying at Ardahan University in the 2023-2024 academic year through a questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 27 and AMOS 24 statistical package programs. In this context, parametric tests such as Independent Samples T Test, One- Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation and Simple Linear Regression Analysis were applied due to the normal distribution of the data. When the results of the analysis are examined, it is seen that the mean scale scores of the sample group are high; there is a significant difference between the groups in terms of hope levels according to their education levels and club types; and the variable of taking responsibility has an effect of 26.7% on the level of hope. Thus, a one-unit increase in the level of responsibility causes a 0.301-unit increase in the level of hope for preventing climate change. In this context, club members' approaches to preventing climate change can be strengthened by conducting incentive studies to increase their sense of responsibility.

The quality of life of men experiencing infertility: a systematic review

BackgroundMen experiencing infertility encounter numerous problems at the individual, family, and social levels as well as quality of life (QOL). This study was designed to investigate the QOL of men experiencing infertility through a systematic review.Materials and methodsThis systematic review was conducted without any time limitation (Retrieval date: July 1, 2023) in international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search was performed by two reviewers separately using keywords such as QOL, infertility, and men. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the articles were evaluated based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. In the initial search, 308 studies were reviewed, and after removing duplicates and checking the title and abstract, the full text of 87 studies were evaluated.ResultsFinally, 24 studies were included in the final review based on the research objectives. Based on the results, men’s QOL scores in different studies varied from 55.15 ± 13.52 to 91.45 ± 13.66%. Of the total reviewed articles, the lowest and highest scores were related to mental health problems and physical dimensions, respectively.ConclusionThe reported findings vary across various studies conducted in different countries. Analysis of the factors affecting these differences is necessary, and it is recommended to design a standard tool for assessing the quality of life of infertile men. Given the importance of the QOL in men experiencing infertility, it is crucial to consider it in the health system. Moreover, a plan should be designed, implemented and evaluated according to each country’s contex to improve the quality of life of infertile men.

Spatial network characteristics and economic effects of element flow in the Lanxi urban agglomeration.

The spatial characteristics of element flow and its spillover are important topics in economics, sociology, and geography, and significant to the promotion of the coordinated development of urban agglomerations. To study element flow in the Lanxi urban agglomeration and its effect to economic development, the spatial network characteristics and economic spillover effect were studied using the methods of spatial network analysis, the spatial Durbin model, and spatial effect decomposition. The results showed that (1) the scale of element flow in the Lanxi urban agglomeration is in an unbalanced distribution state, the scale of element flow in Lanzhou and Xining is higher than that in surrounding cities, and the connection between surrounding cities is also higher than that between other cities; (2) the network structure of element flow in the Lanxi urban agglomeration is relatively intensive, with Lanzhou and Xining as the center of element concentration, which indicates an obvious 'center periphery' structure, and gradually spreads from the core area to the surrounding areas; and (3) the element concentration level of the Lanxi urban agglomeration has a significant positive spillover effect, which plays a significant role in driving the development of surrounding cities. Other factors, such as the social consumption level, have significant direct effects, whereas the industrial structure and residents' income have significant direct and spillover effects, and are the main factors that affect the coordinated development of the regional economy.

Are digital servitization-based Circular Economy business models sustainable? A systemic what-if simulation model

Manufacturing companies are struggling with the implementation of Circular Economy, especially due to the uncertainty regarding its potential sustainability benefits. In particular, and despite digital servitization is advocated by several studies as a way to achieve environmental gains, circular business models based on digital servitization are not always sustainable due to burden shifting and unexpected consequences which are difficult to assess before implementation. This is particularly relevant for the Electrical and Electronics Equipment industry, which suffers structural weaknesses such as the dependance on critical raw materials and an increasing waste generation. However, literature lacks models and tools able to address the complexity inherent in the systemic micro-macro perspective envisioned by Circular Economy, while studies that quantitatively assess the sustainability impacts and trade-offs of digital servitization-based circular scenarios are limited. This article aims to develop a better understanding of how the sustainability impacts of circular and servitized scenarios can be assessed and quantified at the economic, environmental, and social level, adopting a systemic perspective through the development of a what-if simulation model. The model is implemented in a spreadsheet tool and applied to a digital servitization-based Circular Economy scenario inspired by the case of a company offering long-lasting, high-efficient washing machines as-a-service. Results show that digital servitization can actually lead to a win-win-win situation with net positive effects to the environment, the society, and the economy. This result is based on the joint application of product design for digitalization and life extension, pay-per-use business models, and product reuse. These results are robust within a significant range of key parameters values. Practitioners and policymakers may use the model to support the evaluation of different circular and servitized scenarios before implementation.

How did the European Marriage Pattern persist? Social versus familial inheritance: England and Quebec, 1650–1850

The European Marriage Pattern (EMP), in place in NW Europe for perhaps 500 years, substantially limited fertility. But how could such limitation persist when some individuals who deviated from the EMP norm had more children? If their children inherited their deviant behaviors, their descendants would quickly become the majority of later generations. This puzzle has two possible solutions. The first is that all those that deviated actually had lower net fertility over multiple generations. We show, however, no fertility penalty to future generations from higher initial fertility. Instead the EMP survived because even though the EMP persisted at the social level, children did not inherit their parents’ individual fertility choices. In the paper we show evidence consistent with lateral, as opposed to vertical, transmission of EMP fertility behaviors.

Контаминация фразеологизмов как средство речевой характеристики персонажей в романе М.А. Шолохова «Поднятая целина»

This article dwells on the contamination of phraseological units in Mikhail Sholokhov’s works using his novel Virgin Soil Upturned as an example. The writer pays much attention to the choice of language units and the ways of their organization in the context. One of the most striking features of his style is the concentrated use of phraseological units within a short text fragment. Based on semantic identification and component analysis, it is concluded that the created sets of phraseological units are connected by paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations, which determine their interaction and the degree of influence on each other as well as contribute to structural and semantic contamination. The characters’ speech in the novel contains phraseological units that have been contaminated. Sholokhov’s use of contaminated units to describe characters allows us to identify such characteristics as their social status and level of education, as well as emotional state, temperament, etc. The image is being detailed, expanded and refined by shifting accents and adding semes and connotations. Sholokhov combines the features of various phraseological units, thus enhancing the aesthetic function of the text. Such categorical properties of phraseological units as integrity of meaning and constancy of structure as well as imagery and expressiveness of the original phraseological unit are reinterpreted and transformed during contamination, thereby updating the image and intensifying the aesthetic potential of language units in the context and, consequently, in the text as a whole. Contamination of phraseological units, which is a result of their concentrated use, in Sholokhov’s works is nothing other than a conscious departure from the traditional forms of text organization, aimed at achieving creative goals and implementing the author’s idea. Further research in this area may be of interest to specialists dealing with stylistics, text theory, phraseology and the study of linguistic personality.

Neuroticism personality, social contact, and dementia risk: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundPersonality traits, especially neuroticism, can influence susceptibility to dementia. Social contact mitigates stress and risk of dementia, the extent to which social contact can mitigate excess risk associated with neuroticism remains unclear. We aim to investigate whether active social contact is associated with lower neuroticism-associated excess risk of dementia. MethodsThis prospective cohort study examined 393,939 UK Biobank participants (mean [SD] age: 56.4 [8.1] years; 53.7 % female) assessed from 2006 to 2010 and followed up until December 2022. Neuroticism was measured using the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Social contact levels were assessed based on household size, contact with family or friends, and group participation. Dementia was determined using linked electronic health records. ResultsHigh neuroticism was associated with increased all-cause dementia risk and cause-specific dementia. Among high neuroticism participants, excess risk of all-cause dementia showed a stepwise decrease with increasing social contact (low: hazard ratios (HR) = 1.27, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–1.40; intermediate: HR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.12–1.28; high: HR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 1.00–1.15). High social contact similarly decreased excess risk of cause-specific dementia, comparable to those with low neuroticism. LimitationsNeuroticism and social contact information relied on self-report questionnaires at baseline, with a potential temporal relationship between these factors. ConclusionActive social contact is associated with a stepwise reduction in excess dementia risk and potentially eliminate excess risk of dementia with high neuroticism individuals, supporting social contact as a preventive strategy to attenuate excess risks of dementia from neuroticism personality trait.

Visual Identity Design to Support Media Promotion for the Digital Business Study Program at the Indonesian University of Education

In today's digital era, visual identity is an important point for creating a consistent visual identity. Especially as a promotional media which is an effective strategy in increasing student awareness in choosing study programs at higher education. Determining long-term choices that will have an impact on students' lives makes choosing a study program an important decision for prospective students. The student's future social life, profession, and level of personal satisfaction may be affected by this decision. Selecting a study program at a university is seen by prospective students as having the power to change the course of a person's life. Therefore, choosing a particular study program is a crucial choice. The visual identity attached to the product is very important for universities to facilitate media for the Indonesian Education University's Digital Business Study Program.

Now or Later? Examining Social and Financial Decision-Making in Middle-to-Older Aged Adults.

Contextually driven decision-making is multidimensional, as individuals need to contend with prioritizing both competing and complementary demands. However, data is limited as to whether temporal discounting rates vary as a function of framing (gains vs. loss) and domain (monetary vs. social) in middle-to-older aged adults. It is also unclear whether socioaffective characteristics like social isolation and loneliness are associated with temporal discounting. Temporal discounting rates were examined across monetary gain, monetary loss, social gain, and social loss conditions in 140 adults aged 50-90 during the Omicron stage of the pandemic. Self-report measures assessed loneliness and social isolation levels. Results found evidence of steeper temporal discounting rates for gains as compared to losses in both domains. Social outcomes were also more steeply discounted than monetary outcomes, without evidence of an interaction with the framing condition. Socioeconomic and socioaffective factors were unexpectedly not associated with temporal discounting rates. Community-dwelling middle-to-older aged adults showed a preference for immediate rewards and devalued social outcomes more than monetary outcomes. These findings have implications for tailoring social and financial incentive programs for middle to later adulthood.

The relationship between patient-reported and objective measures of physical function among cancer survivors receiving rehabilitation care: A correlation analysis.

Physical function is associated with cancer-related quality of life and survival. The correlation of patient-reported and objective measures of physical function has not been quantified previously in the cancer rehabilitation medicine setting. To correlate patient-reported physical function with objective measures of physical function. The secondary aim is to correlate fatigue and social participation levels with objective measures of physical function. Retrospective. Tertiary university cancer center. A total of 226 cancer survivors referred to an outpatient cancer rehabilitation medicine clinic. Not applicable. Correlation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Cancer Function Brief 3D Profile domains with objective physical function measured by the 30-second sit-to-stand and hand grip strength. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a moderate correlation between patient-reported physical function and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (r = 0.57; p <.001), and a weak correlation of patient-reported physical function and handgrip strength (r = 0.27; p <.001). Multivariable regression modeling controlling for age, gender, and receipt of systemic therapy demonstrated a significant association between patient-reported physical function and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (estimated confidence interval 0.76 [0.60, 0.92], p < .01), in addition to patient-reported function and handgrip strength (estimated 0.22 [0.10, 0.34], p < .01). Multiple myeloma but no other cancer type was inversely associated with lower physical function. Patient-reported physical function correlated moderately with the 30-second sit-to-stand test, whereas hand grip strength demonstrated a weak correlation. The 30-second sit-to-stand test is a suitable substitute for patient-reported physical function. Further work evaluating how measures relate to each other across cancer populations is needed before recommending a standardized set of outcome measures.

Research on the mechanism of enhancing digital innovation capability of strategic emerging enterprises-taking Haining manufacturing enterprises as an example

In the context of the digital economy era, digital transformation has become a key driving force for the development of strategic emerging enterprises. The enhancement of digital innovation ability is especially important for strategic emerging industries, which can not only improve the market competitiveness of enterprises, but also promote the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure. After investigation and analysis, strategic emerging industries face the challenges of imperfect management and organization system within enterprises, weak government support, and insufficient innovation atmosphere in the social environment on the road to digitalization, and the enhancement of their digital innovation capability often requires the synergy of internal enterprise mechanism and external support. To address the above issues, this study takes manufacturing enterprises in Haining City, Zhejiang Province, as the object of research, and investigates the mechanism of enhancing the digital innovation capability of strategic emerging enterprises from three levels: the enterprise level, the government level, and the social environment level. This study has important theoretical and practical significance for understanding how strategic emerging enterprises can enhance their competitiveness through digital means, and how governments can formulate effective policies to support enterprises' digital innovation.

The Moderating Effect of ESG Level in the Relationship between Digital Transformation Capability and Financial Performance: Evidence from Foreign Subsidiaries of Korean Firms

This study empirically analyzed the effect of digital transformation capability on the financial performance of foreign subsidiaries of Korean listed firms, focusing on the moderating effect of the ESG level. The results of an empirical analysis on data from 483 foreign subsidiaries of Korean listed firms collected through surveys from February to May 2021 are as follows. First, it was found that digital transformation capability had a positive effect on financial performance. Second, as a result of analyzing the moderating effect of the ESG level, it was found that the environmental (E) level and the social (S) level in ESG strengthened the positive relationship between digital transformation capability and financial performance. However, it was found that the level of governance (G) in ESG rather weakens the positive relationship between digital transformation capability and financial performance. The results of this study suggest that foreign subsidiaries need to actively build digital transformation capability in order to improve their financial performance. Since the results of this study suggest different moderating effects of ESG, practical implications can be suggested that foreign subsidiaries should consider the fact that different effects may occur for each ESG activity if they want to improve their financial performance through digital transformation capability.