Social Opinions Research Articles

Determinants of choice of delivery place: Testing rational choice theory and habitus theory

ObjectiveThe current study uses two antipodal social science theories, the rational choice theory and the habitus theory, and applies these to describe how women choose between intraclinical (i.e., hospital-run birth clinics) and extraclinical (i.e., midwife-led birth centres or home births) delivery places. Design, setting, participants, measurementsData were collected in a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey among 189 women. A list of 22 determinants, conceptualized to capture the two theoretical concepts, were rated on a 7-point Likert scale with 1 = unimportant to 7 = very important. The analytic method was structural equation modelling. A model was built, in which the rational choice theory and the habitus theory as latent variables predicted the choice of delivery place. FindingsWith regards to the choice of delivery place, 89.3% of the women wanted an intraclinical and 10.7% an extraclinical delivery place at the time of their last child's birth. Significant differences between women with a choice of an intraclinical or extraclinical delivery place were found for 14 of the 22 determinants. In the structural equation model, rational choice theory determinants predicted a choice of intraclinical delivery and habitus theory determinants predicted a choice of extraclinical delivery. Key conclusionsThe two theories had diametrically opposed effects on the choice of delivery place. Women are more likely to decide on intraclinical delivery when arguments such as high medical standards, positive evaluations, or good advanced information are rated important. In contrast, women are more likely to decide on extraclinical delivery when factors such as family atmosphere during birth, friendliness of health care professionals, or consideration of the woman's interests are deemed important. Implications for practiceA practical implication of our study is that intraclinical deliveries may be promoted by providing comprehensive information, data and facts on various delivery-related issues, while extraclinical deliveries may be fostered by healthcare professionals tailoring personal or social beliefs, attitudes and opinions. Our study advocates that legislation and policy- and decision-makers should support different delivery place options in order to accommodate the choices and preferences of different women. The study demonstrates the usefulness of theory for describing and explaining a complex decision-making process, here the choice of delivery place.

From buzz to bucks: The impact of social media opinions on the locus of innovation

Abstract Social media influences business practices such as innovation activities. This study is anchored in the theoretical paradigm of strategic information technology (IT) alignment and the literature on social media and its business value. We examine how the valence and volume of user-generated content (UGC) from social media influence firm-level innovation strategies. Based on an analysis of five years of panel data for 886 listed firms and their 6.2 million relevant microblogs, we observed three interesting results. First, the valence of social media UGC has a U-shaped relationship with firms’ innovation investments; and compared with neutral UGC, both negative and positive content lead to more innovation investment. Second, we found that this curvilinear relationship is mitigated as the volume of UGC increases. Third, we verified that increasing innovation investment improves firm performance. We then examined these findings using a series of strict robustness checks and discussed our study’s contribution to theory and practice.

Employment background influence on social media usage in the field of European project management and communication

Social Media is playing an important role in project work. Social Media Tools enable communication to and with stakeholders and support dissemination, thus adding to the sustainability of the project's results. The presented study was conducted with the aim to analyze the personal social media preferences and opinions, as well as social media features and their usage within projects. With a sample size of 137 answers from across Europe, all the respondents were employed people who are actively involved and participating in EU projects. The survey questionnaire had two parts: Part 1. Social media preferences and opinions. Part 2. Social media usage for project purposes. The results indicate the importance of social media for project related work and communication. The analysis shows gender differences when using Facebook for project work, but no gender differences were found when using other social media. In addition, we found statistically significant differences of social media usage and opinion in relation to the employment sector of the respondents.

A Generalized 2D-Dynamical Mean-Field Ising Model with a Rich Set of Bifurcations (Inspired and Applied to Financial Crises)

We analyze an extended version of the dynamical mean-field Ising model. Instead of classical physical representation of spins and external magnetic field, the model describes traders' opinion dynamics. The external field is endogenized to represent a smoothed moving average of the past state variable. This model captures in a simple set-up the interplay between instantaneous social imitation and past trends in social coordinations. We show the existence of a rich set of bifurcations as a function of the two parameters quantifying the relative importance of instantaneous versus past social opinions on the formation of the next value of the state variable. Moreover, we present a thorough analysis of chaotic behavior, which is exhibited in certain parameter regimes. Finally, we examine several transitions through bifurcation curves and study how they could be understood as specific market scenarios. We find that the amplitude of the corrections needed to recover from a crisis and to push the system back to “normal” is often significantly larger than the strength of the causes that led to the crisis itself.

Knowledge and social opinions about physiotherapists

Abstract Background: Physiotherapy is an integral part of medicine, both in terms of prevention and treatment. Despite the long history of healing with movement and other physical factors, physiotherapy is considered to be a young field of medicine, and the occupation of the physiotherapist in the social consciousness is in the building phase. The aim of the study was to investigate the interest in physiotherapist Material/Methods: The study involved 199 people, including 117 women (58.79%) and 82 men (41.21%), residents of the Silesian Voivodship. Age of respondents: 16-81 years (x = 46.22, SD = 13.45). The research tool was an original questionnaire. Closed questions concerned the interest in physiotherapist profession, self-assessment of knowledge and its sources, opinions on the availability and quality of services, and the social prestige and profitability of the physiotherapist profession. Results: Respondents most often declared that their interest in the profession is poor or average, but they evaluate their level of knowledge of the profession as high. The prevailing opinions are that the availability of physiotherapist services is large, but at patients own expense, and the cost-effectiveness of the profession is average. Women revealed greater interest and declared more knowledge of the profession than men. Differences also concerned the opinions on the profitability of the profession. Conclusions: The public interest in physiotherapist profession is on an average level, positive opinions about physiotherapists prevail, especially among older people. The profession is considered to be averagely profitable.

Are nonprofit prisons an alternative? Some experiences in the Netherlands

Outsourcing of detention is complex due to quality risks from incomplete contracts, the public responsibility for sentencing and execution, and related social opinions. In the Netherlands, prison services are extensively outsourced—particularly for juvenile detention and internal forensic psychiatric care—to nonprofit organizations. In the Dutch experience, we have not found differences between public and nonprofit execution with respect to the type of contract, costs, performance indicators such as escapes and violence against personnel. The Dutch experience shows that outsourcing to nonprofit organizations can be an alternative to outsourcing to private entrepreneurs.

Cultural Property in Kurdish Language - Bahdini Journal

Language as a cultural property, it can be the reflection of cultural problems at the same time it could be a component of culture. Genderism is also one of the natural and social properties of humanity, that is why it should be mentioned as an important part in cultural and linguistic researches.  The linguistic and genderism subject, determine the relationship between the language and its users opinions about males and females. Usually the physical properties of males and females have an effect on social opinions and they give different values to each and male and female genders, although the words ( male ) and ( female ) are used for biological differences between these two genders, sometimes these words are not used for biological differences but they are used to express the differences which are defined by community, it means for those aspects which are selected by community and the way that the community want them to act and these differences are mostly of cultural type. This research has tried to define genderism in Kurdish language_ Badinan dialect and talk about its genderism and non-genderism views. The research has been performed in the aspect of language and opinions on the basic of injustice in the language. This research also explain the effect of culture and community on the genderism.

An Investigation on Safety Accidents in Outdoor Sports on the Perspective of Ethics in China

With the rapid rise of outdoor sports in our country, the number of casualties increased dramatically. This article studies the moral issues behind the outdoor sports casualties in China from the perspective of ethics by using the literature data method and the investigation method. Starting from three perspectives: Individual participant, group participant and event organizer; this study looks for ethical issues in an accident, and discusses the causes. Furthermore, the author further analyzes the moral norms that our country outdoor sports should follow, and suggests that the following practices should be done to promote the harmonious developments of outdoor sports in China: 1) Strengthen moral education and the unity of knowledge and practice. 2) Improve self-discipline and improve personality. 3) Strengthen guidance of social public opinions, and value guidance. 4) Strengthen the moral evaluation and cultivation.

Community Resistance to Ebola Response Teams in North-Kivu, DR Congo

Resistance has become catastrophic for the tenth Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in DR Congo. This is preventing management, contact tracing and quarantine, allowing the spread of the virus. This paper seeks to understand why the Ebola response teams are encountering resistance and occasionally physical violence. The paper sketches the local beliefs of the population regarding the Ebola Virus Disease, how the resistance emerges from social, cultural and political divergent opinions. The community resistance has been enhanced by popular revolution due to war-tension in the region. Multifactorial causes of resistance to the Ebola Virus Disease response teams have proven the need for health anthropologists to be associated for encouraging the population to cooperate.

Подходы к разработке информационной системы мониторинга мнений и оценки социального самочувствия

Подходы к разработке информационной системы мониторинга мнений и оценки социального самочувствия

From collective representations to social imaginaries: How society represents itself to itself

ABSTRACTThis paper aims to reconsider the relevance of Cornelius Castoriadis’ concept of the social imaginary as a way of re-invigorating the study of ‘collective representations’ within the social sciences. The paper begins with a review of how social thought has been understood, from Durkheim's writing on collective representations onwards. A case is made for the utility of Castoriadis’ concept of social imaginary significations in restoring their centrality within the social sciences. In contrast to viewing social thought as ‘super-structural’ ideology, or as a constellation of social attitudes and opinions commonly shared, Castoriadis’ view of social imaginary significations articulates a view of social representations as under-determined by, though never articulated without reference to, social morphology. However the imaginative capacity of individuals and society to generate this surplus of signifiers is understood, Castoriadis’ thinking allies the study of social imaginary significations with the study of social morphology without reducing either to mere representations of the other. What is needed now is a methodology suited to the empirical exploration of the network of significations that constitute the ‘imaginary institution of society’.

The relationship between attitudes in Poland towards the decommodified welfare state with those on the communist economy and transition to a market economy

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is threefold: to examine social opinions in Poland towards the decommodified ideal type of welfare state, as developed by Esping-Andersen; to look at the extent to which this is correlated with opinions towards aspects of the Communist economy and the transition from this system; and to show how opinions on decommodification and the Communist economy and transition are multi-faceted and reflect differing socio-economic interests.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on data obtained from a questionnaire asked to a random sample of 1,001 respondents in Poland. A factor analysis of questions related to the topic is carried out and then bivariate correlation and multivariate regression analyses are performed to test the relationship between attitudes towards decommodification and the (post) Communist economy.FindingsIt is discovered that the opinions of Polish society are close to many aspects of the decommodified welfare model, although these are not homogenous. There is a significant correlation between opinions towards the Communist economy and transition with the decommodified welfare state, although this weakens when the respondents are asked about more specific issues of welfare that most directly relate to their everyday lives.Originality/valueThe paper uses high quality data from an original data source, to both examine opinions on the welfare system and the Communist economy and transition. This allows us to better understand opinions towards the welfare state in Poland and understand how the historical legacy of Communism influences these opinions.

A Generalized 2D-Dynamical Mean-Field Ising Model with a Rich Set of Bifurcations (Inspired and Applied to Financial Crises)

We analyse an extended version of the dynamical mean-field Ising model. Instead of classical physical representation of spins and external magnetic field, the model describes traders’ opinion dynamics. The external field is endogenised to represent a smoothed moving average of the past state variable. This model captures in a simple set-up the interplay between instantaneous social imitation and past trends in social coordinations. We show the existence of a rich set of bifurcations as a function of the two parameters quantifying the relative importance of instantaneous versus past social opinions on the formation of the next value of the state variable. Moreover, we present thorough analysis of chaotic behaviour, which is exhibited in certain parameter regimes. Finally, we examine several transitions through bifurcation curves and study how they could be understood as specific market scenarios. We find that the amplitude of the corrections needed to recover from a crisis and to push the system back to “normal” is often significantly larger than the strength of the causes that led to the crisis itself.

Information competition in product launch: Evidence from the movie industry

Abstract Social media is an important platform for product launch and generates rich information for decision making. However, few studies have considered social information to have a competitive effect. In this study, we focused on the competition effects of social information in different product launch stages. We refined social information analysis to the product-feature level. Using data from the Chinese movie market, we developed several models in experiments. Our results indicate that competitors’ social opinions are important for focused product sales. Search volume moderates the effect between social opinion and product sales. Simultaneously, incorporating product-feature-level social information regarding comparative products in the model will improve the model’s predictive power over product sales. These results have both theoretical and practical implications.

Researchers demonstrate how social networks and opinions interlink and evolve

Researchers combine opinion network focuses within an enhanced theory and simulation to better explain opinion networks.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ONLINE SHOPPING

Social media has revolutionised the ways of communication and sharing information and interests. The rapid growth of social media and social networking sites, especially, in developing country like India is providing marketer a new avenue to contact customers. The study attempts to assess the impact of usage of social media on purchase decision process. The study finds that the social media is most widely used in information source for entertainment, networking, and information on new brands. Also, the social media reviews and opinions affect the purchase decision process; however, tendency of share their experiences post purchase is surprisingly good.

1965-1973: Social work and human rights: An introduction

Introduction to:Powles, Guy, Ombudsman. (1968). Guest editorial. New Zealand Social Worker, News and Opinions, 4(4), 3-5.Jack, Miss Avery, (1968). Finland. New Zealand Social Worker, News and Opinions, 4(4), 9-13.

“Wholesale” and/or “retail”

General Principles of the Civil Law is orientated as “detailed retail of the contents of the General Provisions Volume of Civil Code” and “brief wholesale of the contents of the Specific Provisions Volumes of Civil Code”. The “Compilation of Civil Code” is the last phase of the fourth time of drafting of Civil Code which follows the transfer from “wholesale” to “retail” in the third time of the drafting of Civil Code, and the Decision to Rule by of Law realizes the historical transfer from “retail” to “wholesale” in time. In essence, the amendment of Criminal Code in 1997 is “Compilation of Criminal Code”. By reference to the “Compilation of Criminal Code”, the compilation of Civil Code is the exercise of “Amendment Right” provided in Paragraph 3 of Article 62 of the constitution rather than “Enactment Right”. Substantially, the legislative plan for the compilation of Civil Code in two steps is the “wholesale” of Civil Code in two steps, namely the first step “to wholly sell” the contents of the General Provisions Volume of Civil Code, that is the General Provisions of Civil Law. And the second step “to wholly sell” the contents of the Specific Provisions Volumes of Civil Code. The General Provisions of Civil Law has the dual natures of “wholesale” and “retail”. Most of the articles of the General Provisions of Civil Law are the “wholesale” of the contents of the General Provisions Volume of Civil Code, which falls into “definite wholesale” and “temporary tentative wholesale”. A few articles provisions of the General Provisions of Civil Law directly or indirectly “retail” the contents of the Specific Provisions Volumes of Civil Code, and are the legislative reaction to make response to political determination, social opinions and practical needs in time.

Discovering User Behavioral Features to Enhance Information Search on Big Data

Due to the emerging Big Data paradigm, driven by the increasing availability of intelligent services easily accessible by a large number of users (e.g., social networks), traditional data management techniques are inadequate in many real-life scenarios. In particular, the availability of huge amounts of data pertaining to user social interactions, user preferences, and opinions calls for advanced analysis strategies to understand potentially interesting social dynamics. Furthermore, heterogeneity and high speed of user-generated data require suitable data storage and management tools to be designed from scratch. This article presents a framework tailored for analyzing user interactions with intelligent systems while seeking some domain-specific information (e.g., choosing a good restaurant in a visited area). The framework enhances a user's quest for information by exploiting previous knowledge about their social environment, the extent of influence the users are potentially subject to, and the influence they may exert on other users. User influence spread across the network is dynamically computed as well to improve user search strategy by providing specific suggestions, represented as tailored faceted features. Such features are the result of data exchange activity (called data posting) that enriches information sources with additional background information and knowledge derived from experiences and behavioral properties of domain experts and users. The approach is tested in an important application scenario such as tourist recommendation, but it can be profitably exploited in several other contexts, for example, viral marketing and food education.

Public Opinion on Peace as a Reflection of Social Differentiation and Politicisation of Identity in Sri Lanka

This article provides a critical analysis of the public opinion on peace in Sri Lanka, with consideration to two determinants: social differentiation and politicisation of identities. Specifically, it aims at developing arguments about the correlations between public opinion, social position, and political mobilisation. Inspired by Bourdieu's concepts of habitus, social space, and political field, this article develops an empirical analysis of the links between ethnic identity and public opinion on peace, and between social differentiation and opinions within the Sinhalese majority community in Sri Lanka. This article argues that ethnic polarisation and politicisation were the foremost determinants of public opinion during the peace process in 2002-2009.