Focus Theory Research Articles

Layered superconductors as nonlinear lenses for laser beams tunable by dc magnetic field

We develop a theory of focusing of a THz Gaussian laser beam by a layered superconducting slab of finite thickness in the presence of an external dc magnetic field in a nonlinear regime. We show that focusing abilities of the slab, which originate from the specific nonlinearity of the medium, can be flexibly tuned by the external magnetic field providing a way to control THz waves. We analytically study the main characteristics of the Gaussian beam transmitted through such a nonlinear lens, namely, a beam waist and a focusing distance, as functions of radiation frequency, beam intensity, and dc field magnitude. The results of analytic calculations are supported by the numerical simulation of the electromagnetic field distribution in the beam propagating through the superconducting slab. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Influence of environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures on consumer brand perceptions and behavioral intentions

PurposeThis study investigates how consumers’ perceptions of brand prominence and credibility are influenced by companies’ disclosure of transparency and quality of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information. It also examines how regulatory focus influences the relationship between purchase intention and brand credibility.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a quantitative approach, utilizing an online survey of 464 Taiwanese consumers. The data collected is analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of perceived ESG information transparency and quality on brand prominence, brand credibility and purchase intentions.FindingsThe findings reveal that perceived transparency and quality of ESG information significantly enhance brand credibility and prominence. Consequently, increased brand credibility and prominence have a significant positive impact on consumer purchase intentions. Additionally, the study identifies a moderation effect, wherein a prevention regulatory focus strengthens the influence of brand credibility on purchase intentions.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on brand management and consumer behavior by integrating regulatory focus theory with the impacts of ESG information. It provides new insights into how ESG-related communications influence consumer behavior, highlighting the importance of transparent and high-quality ESG data in fostering consumer trust and positive brand evaluations.

Blockchain in Luxury Resale: The Impact of Blockchain Technology Through Regulatory Focus and Uncertainty Reduction Theories

ABSTRACTThe exponential growth of the online luxury resale market has spurred a notable shift toward a circular economy, reflecting the increasing consumer preference for pre‐owned luxury items. Nevertheless, this growth presents challenges related to product authenticity and seller credibility. In response to these concerns, blockchain technology (BT) emerges as a promising solution, leveraging a decentralized ledger to enhance transparency and reduce information asymmetry. This allows for the traceability of pre‐owned luxury goods, addressing issues of provenance and authenticity in the online resale space. By incorporating regulatory focus theory into the uncertainty reduction theory, this study examines how approach and avoidance motivations impact evaluations of BT‐enabled platforms to effectively mitigate consumer uncertainties and influence trust. The collected data (N= 511) was analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM; study 1), and a complementary qualitative study (study 2) was additionally conducted. Results reveal that distinct motivations coexist, each following separate pathways to build consumer trust. Findings indicate that an approach orientation mindset highly values the reliability of BT‐enabled information, while an avoidance orientation focuses on risk mitigation and expresses heightened uncertainty in online transactions. Consequently, BT is found to be instrumental in reducing consumer concerns about purchasing pre‐owned luxury products. The study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the psychological dynamics influencing consumer trust in BT‐enabled platforms, has implications for luxury retailers contemplating BT integration, and offers insights into consumer behavior that can inform strategies to enhance perceived trust in online luxury resale.

“I” Value the Future, but “We” Value the Past: The Impact of Self‐Construal on Nostalgia Versus Forestalgia Narrative Ads

ABSTRACTMarketers often use narrative ads as a powerful tool to shape consumer attitudes. These ads deliver key messages through storytelling, but what makes a story effective in the eyes of the consumer remains largely unexplored. Using a Facebook field study and a series of four experimental studies, we examined the interaction between the narrative's temporal type (nostalgia vs. forestalgia) and the characters' self‐construal (interdependent vs. independent) on consumer attitudes. Drawing on regulatory focus theory and regulatory fit theory, we found that consumers prefer forestalgia (vs. nostalgia) narrative ads when paired with an independent (vs. interdependent) character. In addition, this effect was mediated by narrative transportation, which enhanced consumers' attitudes toward the ad. These findings advance our understanding of effective narrative advertising and offer practical insights for marketers by highlighting the importance of aligning the narrative temporal type with the character's self‐construal to create more impactful ads.

Research on the Matching Mechanism Between E-Commerce Channels and Advertising Appeals

An increasing number of enterprises are adopting a dual-channel business strategy that combines short video e-commerce with traditional e-commerce in their online activities. Previous research on advertising appeals has primarily focused on ad content, products, and consumers. However, the lack of attention given to shopping channels raises a question for the retail industry: How can enterprises create differentiated ads that cater to the needs of consumers in different channels? Across three studies, this research builds upon the regulatory focus theory to demonstrate that consumers on e-commerce platforms, as opposed to short video platforms, are more likely to adopt a prevention-focused mindset rather than a promotion-focused one and vice versa. This positive consumer response arises from the flow experience generated by the regulatory fit between e-commerce channels and advertising appeals. The findings of this research offer both theoretical and practical contributions to the realms of marketing and e-commerce.

A little gratitude goes a long way: how customer gratitude promotes employee customer-oriented organizational citizenship behavior

PurposeDrawing upon affective events theory and regulatory focus theory, the current study examines the relationship between customer gratitude and customer-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (customer-oriented OCB), and the mediating role of positive affect and the moderating role of trait promotion focus.Design/methodology/approachThree-wave time-lagged data from 674 nurses nested within 125 department supervisors was collected. Multilevel modeling and Monte Carlo simulation were performed using Mplus 7.1 software to test all hypotheses.FindingsCustomer gratitude was positively associated with nurses’ customer-oriented OCB, and the relationship was mediated by positive affect. Nurse trait promotion focus strengthened the positive relationship between patient gratitude and positive affect, such that the relationship was stronger for those with a higher level of trait promotion focus.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper extends research on the effects of customer gratitude by extending our understanding of customer gratitude as a positive workplace event that can potentially promote employees’ positive behaviors toward customers, especially those with a stronger promotion focus.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first to examine the relationship between customer gratitude and employee customer-oriented OCB and uncover potential mechanisms to understand how this relationship unfolds and to whom this relationship is stronger. These findings can inform practices for service organizations.

How and when negative mentoring experiences influence craftsmanship spirit in new apprentices: The roles of occupational identity and regulatory focus.

Although research suggests that mentors largely shape apprentices' work attitudes and behaviors, questions remain as to how and when negative mentoring experiences can influence the formation of craftsmanship spirit among apprentices. This study, grounded in social exchange theory and regulatory focus theory, proposed and empirically examined the mediating role of occupational identity and the moderating role of regulatory focus (i.e., promotion focus and prevention focus) in the relationship between negative mentoring experiences and craftsmanship spirit. Using three-wave data among 345 apprentices and their immediate mentor in manufacturing companies in China, we employed SPSS PROCESS macro to examine the mediating role of occupational identity and the moderating role of regulatory focus. The main results demonstrated that occupational identity partially mediated the link between negative mentoring experiences and craftsmanship spirit. Moreover, regulatory focus moderates the relationship between negative mentoring experiences and occupational identity, such that the relationship is stronger among employees with a higher prevention focus, and weaker among employees with a higher promotion focus. Organizational managers need to be aware of the negative impact of masters' negative mentoring on apprentices' occupational identity and craftsmanship, especially for individuals with a high prevention focus, where this negative effect is more pronounced.

Positioning Strategies in B2B Marketing: The Regulatory Focus Orientation

ABSTRACT Purpose Relying on regulatory focus theory (RFT), this study examines the mechanisms that guide managers’ positioning-related decisions in business-to-business contexts. Specifically, this research answers two main questions: what motivates managers to recommend specific positioning strategies and what motivates related decisions regarding contextual and market conditions? Design/methodology/approach Two studies are undertaken in this research. Using the Delphi method, Study 1 adopted an online scenario-based experimental design related to the positioning decisions of three companies. A panel of expert informants assisted in the design process. Study 2 tested the stability of the results from Study 1 and then extended the analysis through the introduction of an additional dependent variable and market feedback. The results of the scenario-based online surveys are subjected to partial least squares structural equation analyses. Findings The findings are in line with regulatory focus theory and show that RFT can provide motivationally derived answers to questions regarding inter-manager differences in positioning decision-making under similar market and company conditions. The results further show that decisions made by marketing managers in B2B contexts are guided by a desire to achieve congruity (fit) between their regulatory focus and their positioning strategy. Moreover, there is a differential impact of the regulatory foci on the likelihood of changing a recommended strategy. Originality/value This paper investigates the moderating effects of involvement, valence framing, and market feedback. The study finds that the valence of the recommendation of a positioning strategy moderates the relationship between regulatory focus and the type of positioning strategy.

Sweetening the Deal: The Political Economy of Land Redistribution in South Africa’s Sugar Sector

Under what conditions do land transfers occur under land reform? Theories of land redistribution focus on demand-side explanations for land transfers where the state allocates land in exchange for support from voters or rural elites. In this article, I argue that land transfers under market land redistribution are driven by supply-side characteristics of landholders. Using the case of South Africa’s sugar sector, I show that landholders chose to sell their land via redistribution when they had the economic incentive to preserve existing state-support frameworks and had collective capacity from centralized institutions. To understand when and why land redistribution occurs, one must pay attention to the landholders’ relationship to the state and their internal sectoral organization. In some cases, landholders may have an incentive to redistribute their land.

Workplace ostracism and counterproductive work behaviour: parallel mediation of felt accountability and emotional exhaustion

PurposeThe study aims to address the limited understanding on the role of cognitive mechanisms in workplace ostracism (WO) and negative workplace behaviours (such as counterproductive workplace behaviours (CWBs)) relation. Although the affective routes of this relationship have been extensively studied, the role of cognitive routes remains largely unexplored.Design/methodology/approachA parallel mediation model was developed to study the affective (emotional exhaustion) and the cognitive (felt accountability) mechanisms within the WO and CWBs relation. Regulatory focus theory was used to explain how these routes may influence CWB. Data for the study were gathered cross-sectionally, with common method bias checks. We analysed through Smart PLS for the measurement model and SPSS Hayes PROCESS macros for the structural model.FindingsStudy results corroborated the proposed model on the salience of the newly proposed cognitive pathway in relation to the affective route of the WO–CWB model.Originality/valueThis research underscores a novel cognitive pathway, felt accountability, in the WO–WB relation, expanding upon the predominantly affective-focused extant literature. Furthermore, the study outlines both theoretical and practical implications, along with highlighting limitations and potential directions for future inquiries.

Fit Effect of Health Regulatory Focus on Exercise and Healthy Diet: Asymmetric Moderating Role of Scarcity Mindset.

Health is an intrinsic goal strongly related to individuals's well-being. Many individuals make efforts to achieve their health goals through different means. Based on the health regulatory focus theory, we proposed a health regulatory fit effect to understand individuals's health behaviors, and further examined the moderating role of scarcity mindset on these relationships. Using a two-wave longitudinal design, our research recruited a sample of 453 adult participants (350 Women, Age = 20.39 ± 2.30 Years) from China via an online survey platform. The results indicated that health individuals with health promotion-focus were more likely to exercise, whereas those with health prevention-focus were more inclined to prefer a healthy diet. Notably, such effect was moderated by scarcity mindset. Specifically, individuals with low promotion-focus were more susceptible to the impact of scarcity mindset, thus exhibiting less health-promoting behaviors. This research suggested a health regulatory fit effect for two health behaviors. Intriguingly, our findings reveal an asymmetric impact of the scarcity mindset on this fit effect. These results hold significant implications for developing health promotion strategies to mitigate the negative impact of scarcity mindset on healthy behaviors.

Promotion or prevention: regulatory foci as moderators in the job demands–resources model

BackgroundBuilding on the job demands–resources (JD–R) model and regulatory focus theory, this study examined how regulatory foci shaped the effects of different job demands and resources on both negative and positive workplace outcomes among medical staff.MethodsTwo independent studies (NStudy 1 = 267; NStudy 2 = 350) were designed for cross-validation. Participants completed a battery of measures evaluating job demands (workload, emotional demands, interpersonal stress), job resources (psychological safety, perceived organizational support, servant leadership), and well-being (job burnout, affective commitment, job satisfaction).ResultsMultiple linear regression analyses showed employees’ well-being was affected by job demands and resources through energetic and motivational processes, respectively. The deleterious effect of emotional demands on job burnout was pronounced in individuals with weak prevention focus (B = 0.392, standard error [SE] = 0.069, p < .001). Psychological safety (Study 1) and servant leadership (Study 2) had stronger positive associations with motivational outcomes among individuals with weak promotion focus than those with strong promotion focus (B = 0.394, SE = 0.069, p < .001; B = 0.679, SE = 0.121, p < .001; and B = 0.476, SE = 0.072, p < .001, respectively).ConclusionWe used two samples to examine and cross-validate the joint effects of job characteristics and personal traits on workplace well-being among Chinese medical staff. Although heterogenous, the results showed regulatory foci were especially important in determining the effects of job demands and resources on well-being when there was (autonomous) self-regulation in the workplace.

How to motivate employee green behavior in the Chinese context: a configurational study integrating the AMO framework with regulatory focus theory

How to motivate employee green behavior in the Chinese context: a configurational study integrating the AMO framework with regulatory focus theory

Assessing the effects of sustainable supply chain management practices on operational performance: the role of business regulatory compliance and corporate sustainability culture

PurposeThis study examines the mediating and moderating effects of business regulatory compliance (BRC) on the association between sustainable supply chain management practices (SSCMP) and operational performance (PERFOP), and how corporate sustainability culture (CSC) serves as a boundary condition to BRC.Design/methodology/approachThis research draws data from 245 firms operating in multiple industries in Ghana. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) was employed to test the direct effects, while Hayes Process Macros was employed to test the indirect and conditional effects among the study variables using a structural equation modelling approach.FindingsThe results showed that SSCMP has a direct positive effect on PERFOP. The study further revealed that BRC mediates the relationship between SSCMP and PERFOP. This study found that BRC negatively moderates the association between SSCMP and PERFOP, suggesting that high levels of BRC generate unintended adverse effect on the SSCMP- PERFOP link. However, the results revealed that CSC serves as a boundary condition to BRC.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that emphasizes how the resource-based view and regulatory focus theory interact to explain how different degrees of CSC and BRC impact SSCMP performance outcomes. This study advances research in the sustainability literature, in response to calls for further research in this domain. This study draws decision-makers attention on the need to make sustainability practices an integral part of corporate culture in order to set a business tone that stimulates easy compliance to sustainability requirements.

Ring-array Ultrasound CT Reflection Imaging Applied to Breast Tumor Detection

Abstract Breast tumor is one of the most common malignant tumors among women worldwide. Ultrasound imaging is a widely used modality for its detection and diagnosis. In this study, we derived the theory of focusing and steering technique based on curved array and verified it by simulation. We proposed an ultrasound CT imaging method based on ring-array with multi-subarray simultaneous transmission and reception. We performed simulation and experimental tests and evaluated the images using SSIM, PSNR and image entropy. The simulation results showed that the proposed focusing and steering technique could accurately focus on the set position. And when the ring-array diameter was 200 mm, the imaging effect reached a better level when the number of array elements increased to 1024, and increasing the number of elements had little effect on the imaging effect. In the experimental test, the best result was obtained when the sub-aperture element number of the ring-array was 1, and the result was better when the ring-array element number was 1024. This result provides an effective significance for ultrasound CT imaging of breast cancer.

A regulatory focus theory perspective on the dynamics between action and power.

Building on the strong consensus that the experience of power motivates individuals to take action, prior research postulates a positively reinforcing cycle wherein taking action leads to power, which in turn leads to subsequent actions. Applying regulatory focus theory, we differentiate between promotion-oriented and prevention-oriented actions to develop a within-person theory of when and why promotion-oriented and prevention-oriented actions should relate to power, and vice-versa. Across two studies, we find that when employees engaged in promotive voice behaviors, they were more likely to experience a sense of power; this effect was amplified for employees with trait promotion focus. When employees engaged in prohibitive voice behaviors, employees with trait prevention focus were less likely to experience a sense of power. The experience of power subsequently motivated employees to engage in promotive voice behaviors, but not prohibitive voice behaviors. By elucidating the differences between promotion and prevention pathways of action and power, our research challenges the notion that action and power positively reinforce each other. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

온라인 선물하기 플랫폼에서 조절초점과 선물증여동기가 선물만족과 행동의도에 미치는 영향: 국내 대학생들을 중심으로

Online gift-giving market has been experiencing unprecedented growth, along with the development of the platform industry and the rise non-face-to-face transactions after COVID-19. The domestic online gift-giving market has developed with the launch of the Kakaotalk gift- giving service. As competition has intensified in recent years as various online retailers have added the gift-giving function, it is very important for the growth of a company to understand which variables affect gift satisfaction and repurchase behavioral intentions. In this study, we analyzed how individual disposition and gift-giving motivation affect gift satisfaction and behavioral intention. The regulatory focus theory was applied to measure the individual's disposition, and the gift-giving motivation which is important variable in gift-giving situation was divided into voluntary and obligatory cases. As a result of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), when the gift- giving motivation is voluntary, it has a positive effect on gift satisfaction and the interaction effect of the regulatory focus and gift-giving motivation on gift satisfaction and behavioral intention was found. In order to survive in the growing online gift-giving market, it is necessary for online gift service providers to understand that different satisfaction and behavioral intentions may appear depending on individual consumer characteristics and gift motivation.

Online opinion leadership styles and purchase intention in livestreaming e-commerce

ABSTRACT As online opinion leaders and persuaders, livestreamers enable the widespread success of livestreaming e-commerce by substantially impacting viewers’ online purchase intention. Yet, extant studies have overlooked online opinion leadership styles exhibited by livestreamers and how these influence viewers’ online purchase intention. We explore this issue by developing a comprehensive framework of livestreamers’ online opinion leadership styles, comprising authentic, ethical, servant, and participative dimensions, based on both livestreaming and opinion leadership literature. Then, drawing on regulatory focus theory, the partial least square-structural equal modeling analysis of survey data collected from 321 Chinese viewers revealed that livestreamers with authentic and ethical online opinion leadership styles promote viewers’ prevention focus. Next, livestreamers with the servant and participative styles promote viewers’ promotion focus. Finally, viewers’ prevention and promotion focus propel their online purchase intention. Our findings contribute to the development of a comprehensive framework of online opinion leadership styles in computer-mediated livestreaming e-commerce.

Customer mistreatment and employees’ coping strategies: A Meta-SEM analysis

Despite the numerous studies on customer mistreatment, our understanding of the effectiveness of coping strategies for customer mistreatment remains limited. This research provides a meta-analytic structural equation modeling (meta-SEM) analysis to explore the distinctive coping types that employees may use when encountering customer mistreatment, as well as the subsequent outcomes. Drawing on the regulatory focus theory and the coping toward customer mistreatment, we categorize various coping strategies into three types (i.e., goal-oriented promotive coping, confrontation-oriented promotive coping, and preventive coping), and propose that these coping types have differential relationships with outcomes. Through a meta-SEM analysis based on 143 articles and 155 independent samples (N = 44,378), we found that these three coping types significantly mediated the mistreatment–outcomes relationships, and that goal-oriented promotive coping was a more beneficial type of coping. This research provides significant implications for employees and organizations to effectively cope with customer mistreatment.

Can frontline employees help consumers improve their financial planning behavior? Implications from triadic analysis

PurposeAs consumer debt can substantially impair subjective well-being, it is crucial for research to gain insights into how consumers can be motivated to improve financial planning. This paper aims to investigate how frontline employees in financial services can help consumers regulate their financial planning behaviors and how financial service providers can effectively support their frontline employees in this effort through leadership and organizational climate.Design/methodology/approachWe incorporate regulatory focus theory and conservation of resource theory to develop a conceptual model that we test in a triadic study with a unique dataset collected from consumers, frontline employees, and managers in the banking sector.FindingsWe find that frontline employees must pay attention to the details of consumers’ needs and customize the service to those needs to trigger consumer promotion focus and stimulate consumers’ financial planning behaviors. Moreover, our results emphasize that the organization must act as an integrated entity. Thus, a manager’s servant leadership and an organizational climate of customer stewardship are crucial for frontline employees to transform consumers’ financial planning behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsThe study highlights frontline employees’ key role in motivating consumer financial planning behavior, offering a new perspective in transformative service research on enhancing financial well-being.Practical implicationsThe findings provide financial service providers with actionable implications for enhancing consumers’ financial planning. This benefits both consumers and financial institutions, as customers with greater spending power can buy more financial products.Originality/valueThis study advances transformative service research on consumer financial planning behavior, which has largely focused on consumer-related or society-level variables, by exploring the role of frontline employees and organizational support in terms of leadership and climate.