Foundations Of Theory Research Articles

Importance of alternative pathways to STEM through analysis of longitudinal student dataset

Using a longitudinal national educational dataset, data science methods were applied to explain students’ educational trajectories and determine the most predictive variables in STEM degree attainment. Challenging the notion of the STEM pipeline, an Alternative Pathways to STEM (APS) model was proposed. Using a foundation of Social Cognitive Career Theory, academic, demographic, and economic variables were selected for analysis and Imbalanced dataset and random forest data analytic techniques were implemented. Results supported the consideration of the Alternate Pathways to STEM model given the varied educational pathways identified throughout STEM matriculation. Additionally, multiple academic variables, except for career interest, were found to be most predictive of STEM graduation, while demographic and economic variables were not significant. These findings have important implications for recruiting STEM students and increasing STEM graduation rates. Additional research is recommended using these data extraction and analysis methodologies on other datasets to further test the efficacy of the Alternative Pathways to STEM model.

Interlinkage between Integration Management, Risk Factors, and Project Management Performance in the Construction Industry of UAE

Introduction: The key purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of integration management, technical risk, social risk, and project management risk in determining the performance of United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) construction sector, grounded in the theoretical foundations of agency theory and resource-based view (RBV).Methods: Data was collected through a survey questionnaire from various respondents linked with the UAE construction industry. A final valid sample of 288 respondents was utilized for both descriptive and inferential statistics. Measurement model and structural model assessments were conducted using Smart PLS.Results: The study findings showed a significant positive impact of integration management on project management performance within the construction sector. Conversely, technical risk and project management risk were found to be adversely and significantly linked with project performance.Conclusions: For achieving peak performance in the construction industry, project managers and related individuals need to mitigate the adverse impacts of the identified risk factors. Additionally, promoting integration across different functional departments and project-related activities can enhance project management performance. The study also discusses meaningful policy implications, future research directions, and limitations.

Psychodynamics of Dreams

The discovery of psychodynamics formed the foundation of psychoanalytic theory, the core of which was S. Freud’s work “The Interpretation of Dreams.” The passage of the psyche through three key psychodynamic points (cathexis, catharsis and basic anxiety) determines the “scene” and character of dreams. For researchers of psychoanalysis and the psychoanalytic theory of dreams, this factor is one of the fundamental ones in practical work.

Sociological and Political Origins in IBN Khaldun's State Theory

AbstractEven after centuries, the social and political insights of Islamic scholar Ibn Khaldun remain pertinent. The most important concepts in state theory are social interactions and classifications. Khaldun used sociological deductions to evaluate how society and the state have changed. He linked the transformation of the Badavi social structure to the Hadari society's economic structure through Alm Al‐Umran. In Badavi Alm Al‐Umran, a particular chief's leadership is the cornerstone of governance, and a strong sense of unity and brotherhood prevails. From a social, cultural, and economic perspective, Badavi society is less developed than Hadari society. The reason Asabiyyahh and the lineage Asabiyyahh are two types of Asabiyyahh that serve as the cornerstone of state theory. While the reason Asabiyyahh is based on a country's shared language, history, culture, and physical location, the lineage Asabiyyahh is based on ancestry. Asabiyyahh is crucial to the maintaining and preserving of social ties. According to the organismic perspective of society, which views the social structure as a living organism, a reduction in economic and social upheaval signals the implosion of the condition. The fundamental dynamic that provides political legitimacy is the Asabiyyahh dynamic, which creates the social substructure of the state system. This study aims to assess the scientific concept of umran and the political idea of asabiyyahh, which are the foundations of Khaldun's state theory. Umran is a social phenomenon. This study applies the literature review approach to analyze Khaldun's state theory, paying particular attention to its political and administrative aspects. The political and administrative aspects of Khaldun's state theory are examined in this study using a literature review approach, focusing on how social structure integration or loosening affects the political structure.

What are the drivers of sustainable development web-reporting in Portuguese local governments?

Purpose Local governments (LGs) play a crucial role as policymakers and catalysts for change at the local level, making them well-positioned to connect the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda goals with local communities. Therefore, LGs should collect and analyze data to monitor progress toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and report on the outcomes. In this regard, webpages on the internet stand out as a valuable tool to enhance accountability in LGs and to promote stakeholder engagement with the community. Thus, this paper aims to analyze whether Portuguese municipalities disclose information regarding the SDGs on their websites, and to identify the main drivers of SDG web-reporting. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the theoretical foundation of legitimacy theory, this study examines the relationship between SDG reporting and the characteristics of several municipalities (such as geographical location, municipality size, financial performance, political ideology and gender), as well as adherence to some programs/networks/platforms (such as CESOP_Local and ODSLocal). The websites of 306 Portuguese municipalities were analyzed using the content analysis technique. A bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis was applied. Findings Bivariate analysis shows that coastal, larger and financially efficient municipalities are more likely to disclose SDG information on their websites due to visibility and stakeholder pressure. Contrary to extant literature, left-wing municipalities are not necessarily more inclined to embrace the 2030 Agenda. However, the presence of women in decision-making bodies and adherence to networks and sustainable programs positively influence SDG disclosure. In multivariate analysis, logistic regression identifies two significant factors impacting online SDG disclosure: the representation of women in municipal plenaries; and adherence to the CESOP_local network. Other factors show no significant influence, highlighting these two variables as the main drivers for SDG information disclosure. Practical implications The findings are in line with the literature review and lead us to conclude that SDG reporting in LGs is still in its infancy. Therefore, policymakers and regulators need to work together to implement and standardize sustainability reporting within LGs. Social implications Considering the significance of the gender variable, the findings could have implications for policy formulation, promoting gender diversity and its impact on the quality of SDG reporting. Originality/value Empirical research on SDG reporting remains limited, particularly within the context of LGs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous studies have delved into the reporting of SDGs specifically in this Portuguese context.

A topological proof of the Riemann–Hurwitz formula

The Riemann–Hurwitz formula is generally given as a result from algebraic geometry that provides a means of constraining branched covers of surfaces via their Euler characteristic. By restricting to the special case of compact Riemann surfaces, we develop an alternative proof of the formula that draws on topology and manifold theory as opposed to more advanced algebraic machinery. We first discuss the foundation in manifold theory, defining Riemann surfaces and providing an example of the complex projective line. We then discuss the local topological structure of holomorphic maps between Riemann surfaces, introducing the notion of a branched cover and of branch points. Next, we discuss triangulations of a topological space and use this to intro- duce the Euler characteristic of Riemann surfaces. Using these definitions, we explicate and prove the Riemann–Hurwitz formula on compact Riemann surfaces. To conclude, we discuss consequences of this formula for adjacent fields such as algebraic topology. We provide visual intuition and examples throughout, drawing primarily on Szameuly’s Galois Groups and Fundamental Groups (2009), as well as Forster’s Lectures on Riemann Surfaces (1981), Guillemin and Pollack’s Differential Topology (1974), and a few other supplementary sources. The main prerequisite for this paper is a background in topology and covering spaces.

The factors driving industrial integration: A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis

The integration of modern service and advanced manufacturing industries represents deep industrial reform and profound change in quality concepts, mechanisms, and practices. Integrating these two industries is important for achieving high-quality development and is an area of interest for policymakers and academia. This study analyzes the data of 11 regions in 2021 in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area using the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method from the configuration perspective. This study explores the effects of multiple factors, such as economic efficiency, technological innovation, and the policy environment, on improving the coupling coordination level of the modern service and advanced manufacturing industries, and analyzes the path selection of industrial integration development. Overall, economic efficiency, technological innovation, and policy environment factors are not necessary conditions for the integration development of the modern service and advanced manufacturing industries. The multiple impacts of economic efficiency, technological innovation, and policy environment form a multi-restructuring path that drives the integration of the two industries. Owing to the economic development level and resource endowment of different regions, the path dictating the degree of integration between the two industries varies by region. From a holistic perspective, all regions should strive to coordinate the multiple conditions of economic efficiency, technological innovation, and policy environment to break through objective constraints such as the government's conditions and external environment based on their own organizational conditions and resource endowments. Additionally, all regions should strengthen exchanges, cooperation, and integration mechanisms and implement complementary development and distinctive development in core cities in the Greater Bay Area. The results clarify the factors affecting industrial convergence in the Greater Bay Area, enriching existing research methods and laying a foundation for a decision-making theory of industrial integration development.

Taking Advantage of Their Seniority: How the Misbehavior of Senior Tourists Influence Young Adults’ Prosocial Behavior Towards Them

Although the senior tourism sector is widely recognized as a growing market, misbehaviors by elderly tourists is an under researched issue within the field of tourism. This paper offers insights into inappropriate behaviors by senior tourists and explores the responses of young adults toward such instances of misbehavior. Through a multimethod approach, we reveal that the intentional (vs. unintentional) misbehavior by senior tourists results in reduced prosocial behavior in young adults. The social class signifiers of senior tourists who intentionally misbehave significantly influence the responses of young adults, with those perceived to be of a high social class drawing harsher judgements. This effect holds for young adults with high benevolent ageism but is constrained by low benevolent ageism in young adults. Our findings extend the application of expectancy violation theory and moral foundations theory to tourist misbehaviors and we conclude by offering suggestions for improving intergenerational relationships at tourist destinations.

The Ebb and Flow of Morality: The Role of Purity in the Public Perceptions of Fukushima's Processed Water Release

AbstractThe Japanese government's decision to discharge treated water into the ocean has drawn citizens' attention, and the evaluation of this issue remains controversial. The themes underlying social issues are connected to the moral foundation of Haidt's moral foundations theory. Accordingly, these foundations appeal to individuals' subjective approval of their moral foundations. The treated water issue is related to the purity foundation; thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of the purity foundation on the support for the treated water issue by collecting data from 1,291 Japanese participants immediately after the first discharge of treated water. To measure the purity‐related concept, the Purity Orientation–Pollution Avoidance Scale (POPA) was employed. The results of our multiple regression analysis showed a negative association for the Mental Purity subscale and a positive association for the Respect for Religion subscale of POPA. The different aspects of Japanese purity highlighted by POPA are discussed. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in people's attitudes toward social issues.

Surface oxygen vacancy regulation and active metal doping for Cu-Al based spinel catalysts synthesis toward high-efficiency reverse water-gas shift reaction

The reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction is of great significance to convert CO2 to valuable feedstocks. Reasonable design and preparation of catalysts is necessary to achieve high CO2 conversion and CO selectivity. In this study, a series of Cu-Al based spinel catalysts were synthesized by coprecipitation-calcination method or A-site doped with active metal (Co, Zn, Mg, and Fe) for the RWGS reaction. The results indicated that the surface oxygen vacancies and crystal structure of CuAl2O4 can be regulated by calcination temperature. Remarkably, the CuAl-800 catalyst exhibits the highest CO2 conversion rate (62.7 %) with 100 % CO selectivity at 500 °C. Excessive calcination temperatures (> 800 °C) resulted in a well-defined spinel structure, but decreased surface oxygen vacancies and CO2 conversion rate. At calcination temperatures < 800 °C, surface oxygen vacancies increased, but the formation of CuO impurities which irreversibly converted to Cu2O during reduction, decreased catalytic activity. Compared with Zn, Mg and Fe, Co doping can significantly improved the reactivity of CuAl2O4 catalyst in RWGS reaction at 500 °C, increasing the CO2 conversion rate by 8 % while maintaining 100 % CO selectivity. The main reason is that Co doping not only effectively improves the integrity and stability of spinel structure of CuAl2O4, but also enhances its ability to dissociate and activate H species through interfacial sites of CuO-OV-CuXCo1-XAl2O4, thus further enhancing its catalytic conversion ability of CO2 to CO. These results enrich the understanding of surface chemistry of CuAl2O4 spinel and lay an important theory foundation for design of spinel-based catalysts for RWGS reaction.

The Elimination of Rupture: Social Authority's Attempt to Transcend Binary Distinctions

As a representative work of Coleman's theory of rational action, "Foundations of Social Theory" contains Coleman's ideological intention of building a bridge between the macro and the micro, in which the theory of social authority, as an integral part of the theory of rational action, is also an attempt to construct the micro-macro dichotomy in the generation of its authority relationship and authority system. Therefore, based on the methodology and research framework of Coleman's rational action theory system, we select the authority idea of the book "The Foundations of Social Theory" as the object of exposition, and try to comprehensively discuss Coleman's social authority idea through analyzing its middle-level theory of social authority from the aspects of foundation of social authority theory, the granting of authority, the social performance of authority and the overall characteristics of Coleman's social authority thoughts. It seeks to reveal Coleman's attempt to transcend the binary distinction between micro and macro at the authority level.

Unleashing the black-box between high-performance work systems and employee flourishing-at-work: an integrative review

Purpose This study aims to unravel the black-box mechanism between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and the multifaceted well-being construct, flourishing-at-work (FAW). Moreover, this paper aims to bring in a positive psychological mechanism that can reduce the potential negative impact of HPWS on FAW. Design/methodology/approach A synthesis analysis of existing literature was carried out to formulate managerial and practical propositions. Findings Drawing upon the theoretical foundations of social exchange theory, conservation of resource theory, signalling theory and resource-based view (RBV), this study proposes a conceptual framework that connects HPWS, psychological capital (PsyCap), employee work passion (EWP), organisational trust (OT) and flourishing-at-work (FAW) with the possible moderating effect of OT in the relationship between HPWS and PsyCap. Practical implications Although the proposed conceptual framework is not empirically validated, the study provides several significant practical implications in terms of the integrated framework consisting of HPWS, PsyCap, OT, EWP and FAW. Originality/value This study represents a pioneering contribution by proposing an indirect relationship between HPWS and FAW. Moreover, none of the studies so far have unleashed the black-box mechanism between HPWS and FAW. The study provides a set of propositions that explain the relationships between the study variables, which enrich the understanding of strategic human resource management practices and their potential effects on employee well-being.

Transformative Learning in the Era of Post-Reflexivity

This article collects over 20 years of studies, encounters, and conversations around Transformative Theory and reflective practices, which have characterized my identity as a scholar and the Italian Transformative Learning Network’s identity. I am going to trace the main challenges that, starting from practice-based studies and situated learning theory, have established the foundation for our research group's discussion on Transformative Learning. I am going to venture into open dialectical arenas with new perspectives that have amazed and questioned me. The posthuman, sociomateriality, and post-qualitative inquiry interrogate some of the foundations of Transformative Theory and urge us to create a creative space to share challenging epistemic constructions.

Examining the Connection Between Attachment and Risk for Psychopathology in Adolescents : A Comprehensive Review

The foundation of attachment theory is the notion that early relationships – such as the one between a child and primary caregiver – play a crucial role in patterns of emotional regulation, interpersonal behaviors and adult functioning. This review explores how attachment styles are associated with psychopathology in adolescents by systematically assessing research studies up to May 2024. Studies have shown that insecure attachment styles are risk factors for adaptation and psychopathology in adolescence, including anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, borderline personality disorder, conduct disorder and substance use. Securely attached adolescents have better mental health outcomes. Longitudinal studies have also confirmed that early attachment affects later psychopathology. Insecure infant attachment is linked to depression, suicidality, substance use and dissociation in adolescents. Emerging attachment-based interventions – including, for example, Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) – have demonstrated promise in treating adolescent mental health by targeting attachment disorganization level. Ultimately, working on reflective functioning, parental sensitivity and emotion regulation skills can help adolescents repair their attachments. Even in light of these findings, attachment does not appear as straightforwardly explanatory as one might expect, given the developmental importance of attachment entering a new stage. Attachment researchers should consider participants’ experiences of early attachment, in light of patterns of change during individual development, as well as in light of a family systems perspective – for instance, understanding that some adolescents who become disaffected from their families have parents who tend to be dismissive of their emotional needs. All of these could help in effective prevention and treatment of adolescent psychopathology.

Thermodynamically consistent diffuse-interface mixture models of incompressible multicomponent fluids

The prototypical diffuse-interface model for incompressible fluid mixtures is the Navier–Stokes Cahn–Hilliard (Allen–Cahn) model. Despite its foundation in continuum mixture theory, it is not fully compatible with this theory due to the diffusive flux approximation. This paper introduces a class of thermodynamically consistent diffuse-interface incompressible fluid mixture models that is fully compatible with the continuum theory of mixtures. The proposed models can be formulated in either constituent or mixture quantities, enabling a direct comparison with the Navier–Stokes Cahn–Hilliard (Allen–Cahn) model with non-matching densities. This comparison reveals the key modelling simplifications employed in the latter.

A joint diffusion/collision model for crystal growth in pure liquid metals

The kinetics of atomic attachments at the liquid/solid interface is one of the foundations of solidification theory, and to date one of the long-standing questions remains: whether or not the growth is thermal activated in pure liquid metals. Using molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning, I have demonstrated that a considerable fraction of liquid atoms at the interfaces of Al(111), (110) and (100) needs thermal activation for growth to take place while the others attach to the crystal without an energy barrier. My joint diffusion/collision model is proved to be robust in predicting the general growth behaviour of pure metals. Here, I show this model is able to quantitatively describe the temperature dependence of growth kinetics and to properly interpret some important experimental observations, and it significantly advances our understanding of solidification theory and also is useful for modelling solidification, phase change materials and lithium dendrite growth in lithium-ion battery.

Reviewing feminist macroeconomics for the twenty-first century

Feminist macroeconomics draws on the notion that the gender system is both cause and consequence of macroeconomic structures, outcomes, and policies. In contrast, mainstream and heterodox macroeconomics have done little to integrate gender as an analytical tool in macro-modelling. This paper defines the subfield of feminist macroeconomics, explores its origins, and provides a systematic review of its literature. Drawing on Seguino (2013), the paper divides the subfield in three main strands: (i) feminist growth theory and gender dimensions of macro-level policies, (ii) macro-modelling and theoretical foundations of the care economy, and (iii) social infrastructure and intra-household allocation. The paper discusses potential ways to expand the foci of feminist macroeconomic research and considers challenges to the subfield such as methodological issues regarding male-biased metrics and limited data availability and the tensions with mainstream approaches to gender and the macroeconomy.

Weight bound constraints in mean-variance models: a robust control theory foundation via machine learning

Using an innovative representation of the weight bound constrained Markowitz's (Portfolio selection. J. Finance, 1952, 7, 77–91) mean-variance model, developed using the support vector data description, a machine learning algorithm introduced by Tax and Duin (Support vector data description. Mach. Learn., 2004, 54, 45–66), we provide an innovative interpretation of the robustness of these bound constraints in terms of robust control theory in the sense of Hansen and Sargent (Robust control and model uncertainty. Am. Econ. Rev., 2001, 91, 60–66). Building on these insights, firstly, we detail the method for quantifying the degree of misspecification in Markowitz's (1952) mean-variance model using its counterpart with weight upper bounds. Additionally, we show that this degree of misspecification is a decreasing piecewise linear function of the bound. Secondly, we empirically investigate two simulation-based methods, inspired by Michaud's (The Markowitz optimization enigma: Is ‘optimized’ optimal? Financ. Anal. J., 1989, 45, 31–42) resampling technique, for choosing the bound. Thirdly, we compare the robustness of the weight upper bound constrained mean-variance model with that of Goldfarb and Iyengar's (Robust portfolio selection problems. Math. Oper. Res., 2003, 28, 1–38) robust maximum return model.

Statistical wave field theory.

In this paper, we introduce the foundations of the Statistical Wave Field Theory. This theory establishes the statistical laws of waves propagating in a closed bounded volume, that are mathematically implied by the boundary-value problem of the wave equation. These laws are derived from the Sturm-Liouville theory and the mathematical theory of dynamical billiards. They hold after many reflections on the boundary surface, and at high frequency. This is the first statistical theory of reverberation which provides the closed-form expression of the power distribution and the correlations of the wave field jointly over time, frequency, and space inside the bounded volume, in terms of the geometry and the specific admittance of its boundary surface. The Statistical Wave Field Theory may find applications in various science fields, including room acoustics, electromagnetic theory, and nuclear physics.

Evaluation of Theory of Remedial Secession in International Law and Its Corresponds to the Demand for Independence of the Kurdistan Region

The main subject of this study is “Remedial secession,” which emerged associated with the global development and promotion of human rights in a non-colonial context as a new theory of the principle of external self-determination right. In this respect, this study aims to analyze the direction and history of the Remedial secession paradigm and explain how the doctrine of this theory has formed and turned into conventional practice. Besides, in addition to a description of the foundation of remedial succession theory, several successful practical patterns of implementation of this theory all around the world have been introduced. Finally, the conventional position and legislation process of the theory of remedial succession in international law were evaluated and based on the current theory, the separation of the Kurdistan Region from Iraq was studied.