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Community construals of CSR for happiness: a mixed-method study using natural language

Austin Chia (Centre for Wellbeing Science, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia)
Kim Doyle (School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia)
Margaret L. Kern (Centre for Wellbeing Science, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia)

Society and Business Review

ISSN: 1746-5680

Article publication date: 8 November 2022

Issue publication date: 26 April 2023

247

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing upon a contractarian lens of corporate social responsibility (CSR), this study aims to explore community construals of happiness and evaluates conceptual boundaries of CSR for happiness.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a mixed-methods design, natural language processing and thematic analysis techniques were used to analyse large volumes of textual survey data collected from over 1,000 research participants through an online survey.

Findings

Results indicated that lay construals of happiness were primarily defined in terms of socioeconomic conditions and psychoemotional experiences. In explicating the boundary conditions, community perceptions regarding the extent of businesses’ social responsibilities for happiness were evidenced in five themes: that businesses have a responsibility not to harm happiness, a responsibility to enable conditions for happiness to occur, a responsibility to exercise awareness of happiness implications in decision-making, a responsibility for happiness that is limited by strategic purpose and resource capability and a responsibility for happiness that is limited by stakeholder proximity.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the theoretical and empirical foundation of CSR for happiness while simultaneously developing and applying a novel approach for processing and analysing large volumes of qualitative survey-based data.

Keywords

Citation

Chia, A., Doyle, K. and Kern, M.L. (2023), "Community construals of CSR for happiness: a mixed-method study using natural language", Society and Business Review, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 296-320. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBR-05-2022-0149

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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