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The purpose of this paper is to consider the interface of research methodology paradigms (which are commonly conventionally perceived as being juxtaposed when conducting research) through the application of textual analytical software.

The argument develops matrices and applies these to the human resource (HR) context of individual and career group sense-making so as to better understand the inherent career dynamics and sense-making in a sample derived from a French media agency context.

The paper’s findings comprise a range of insights from the respondent managers (n = 26). The results suggest that a better understanding of methodologies facilitates the development of theories based on textual data analysis.

The limits of the approach are important. Indeed, it is necessary to make compromises and arrangements with epistemological orthodoxy. Indeed, at first and to be able to process the data with the Alceste© and Tropes©, the interviews were recorded, transcribed and considered as “definitive”. This potentially contradicts the methods of collecting data prescribed by the thematic analysis or the method of cognitive maps. These two interpretive approaches imply a process of co-construction of the results that would not theoretically rely solely on a recording.

It provides insights on how, and to what extent, can data analytical software packages facilitate a better understanding of paradigm (interpretive-positivistic) interoperation and commensurability.

Importantly, the study provides a novel means by which to study the important HR issue of career perception and trajectory.

The methodology-driven approach shows that there is potent scope to map and develop valuable and complementary data perspectives on research issues by interfacing paradigms and textual data analysis tools.

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the EGame- flow scale in a Mexican sample, presenting evidence of construct validity (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis), reliability (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega) and discriminant validity (mean variance extracted).

Participants: Of the 255 Mexican participants in the non-probabilistic sample who had previously interacted with the LOST logistics simulator, 166 (65%) were men and 89 (35%) were women; their ages ranged from 22 to 45. The statistical packages SPSS 25, JASP 0.16 and AMOS 23 facilitated the corresponding analyses. First, we calculated the means and standard deviations of the scale items. Next, we performed an exploratory factor analysis to examine the measurement model’s internal structure and a confirmatory factor analysis to confirm the structure proposed in the exploratory factor analysis. To analyze the internal structure of the measurement model so that the estimates were not affected by multivariate normality problems, we utilized the AMOS bootstrap method (with 500 repetitions, 95% CI), the maximum likelihood (MV) estimation method, and the fit indices: X2, p (chi-square and associated likelihood), Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), standardized statistical mean square residual (SRMR), comparative fit index (CFI) and root mean Square error approximation (RMSEA) with its confidence interval, the values of X2 with p < 0.001; TLI, CFI, AGFI = 0.95; RMSEA and SRMR = 0.08 (Byrne, 2016). Finally, we estimated the reliability of the measurement model with Cronbach’s alpha (a), McDonald’s omega (ω) coefficient and the mean variance extracted (VME).

An exploratory factor analysis with the MV method and obliminal rotation showed a good fit of the data to the model, which aligns with the significance of the Barlette sphericity test (X2 = 8443.2, p < 0.000) and the Kaiser–Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.94. The indices confirmed the fit of the data to the six-dimensional model for measuring the users' level of enjoyment of online games (X2 = 678.2 gl = 411, p = 0.000; SRMR = 0.05; TLI = 0.95, CFI = 0.95 and RMSEA = 0.05, IC 90% [0.04, 0.05]).

The self-reporting format of the scale increases the social desirability of the responses, but the sample only collects information from a specific geographic location, so these findings cannot extrapolate to populations with very marked cultural differences. Finally, the study did not measure other validity evidence, such as predictive and concurrent validity, which should be considered in future studies.

From a practical perspective, the study offers a measurement scale with fewer items and robust psychometric evidence that ensures the fit of the data to the EGame-flow measurement scale. Further research must continue to learn about the behavior of the EGame-flow scale in different samples that new evidence of psychometric properties continues to appear and that other factors associated with the users' gaming enjoyment experience are analyzed.

The value and originality of the study lie in the type of evidence of psychometric properties that the instrument has and particularly in the style of sample in which the study is carried out, in this case, in the context of Mexico, where there are not enough instruments that measure the flow experience of users.

The paper has a twofold purpose: (1) to test the application of means-end theory to providers of hospitality goods and services, and (2) to explore this question in the context of winery tasting rooms when they had a unique opportunity to restructure their hospitality experience due to government restrictions in response to COVID.

A qualitative approach was adopted, and a convenience sample was used to conduct semi-structured laddering interviews. Forty interview transcripts were coded as means-end ladders, which were analyzed using a custom computer program to develop the implication matrix and the hierarchical value map.

This paper demonstrates that means-end is a useful approach to investigate the values and behaviors of the producer, specifically hospitality hosts. It finds that the principal goal of tasting rooms is to generate sales, and offering a compelling guest experience is the characteristic that contributes the most to achieving that goal. The staff and the atmosphere created for the guests are the two factors with the greatest influence on the guest experience.

This is the first paper to use means-end theory to study the hospitality host, or the producer of goods and services in general, and the first to study winery hospitality primarily through the lens of means-end theory. The study also helps fill a gap in research on tasting room sales focused on the winery’s goals.

This study aims to examine the phenomenon of climate variability and its implications for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists food security in Amibara and Awash Fentale districts of the Afar region, Ethiopia.

The study relied on meteorological records of temperature and rainfall in the study area between 1988 and 2018. Besides, literature on the topic was reviewed to make caveats on the literal picture that comes from quantitative data, and that is the contribution of this study to the existing debate on climate change and variability. The spatiotemporal trend was determined using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator, while variability was analyzed using the coefficient of variation and standardized anomaly index, and standardized precipitation index/standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index were applied to determine the drought frequency and severity.

The result reveals that the mean seasonal rainfall varies from 111.34 mm to 518.74 mm. Although the maximum and minimum rainfall occurred in the summer and winter seasons, respectively, there has been a decrease in seasonal and annual at the rate of 2.51 mm per season and 4.12 mm per year, respectively. The study sites have been experiencing highly seasonal rainfall variability. The drought analysis result confirms that a total of nine agricultural droughts ranging from moderate to extreme years were observed. Overall, the seasonal and annual rainfall of the Amibara and Awash Fentale districts showed a decreasing trend with highly temporal variations of rainfall and ever-rising temperatures, and frequent drought events means the climate situation of the area could adversely affect pastoral and agro-pastoral households’ food security. However, analysis of data from secondary sources reveals that analyzing precipitation just based on the meteorological records of the study area would be misleading. That explains why flooding, rather than drought, is becoming the main source of catastrophe to pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods.

The analysis of temperature and rainfall dynamics in the Afar region, hence the inception of all development interventions, must take the hydrological impact of the neighboring regions which appears to be useful direction to future researchers.

The research is originally conducted using meteorological and existing literature, and hence, it is original. In this research, we utilized a standardized and appropriate methodology, resulting in insights that augment the existing body of knowledge within the field. These insights serve to advance scholarly discourse on the subject matter.

This paper aims to assess the impact of regulatory changes on corporate environmental disclosure practices in Europe. More specifically, the authors perform a difference-in-differences analysis to study the impact of the Paris agreement (United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21) and of the French Law 2015-992 on energy transition for green growth.

The sample consists of the listed companies belonging to the Euro Stoxx 50 index, and they are analysed over the 2010–2019 time horizon by means of an expert validated environmental disclosure dictionary and difference-in-differences analysis.

The main results show that both regulatory interventions contributed to improving corporate environmental disclosure. The authors also show that firms belonging to the most polluting sectors tend to provide more information on environmental matters, likely in an attempt to divert stakeholders’ attention.

By analysing an under-investigated topic, the paper calls for significant efforts by regulators to find the most suitable solutions to induce firms to increase their levels of transparency on the impact of environmental risks and on how these risks are managed.

This study aims to investigate earnings management practice of classification shifting of revenues in Chinese-listed firms.

The study employs a dataset of 2,920 A-listed firms from Chinese stock exchanges of Shanghai and Shenzhen for the period of 2003–2019. We apply both univariate and panel regression analysis by using fixed effect estimation with robust standard errors.

Our findings reveal that firms misclassify revenues by taking advantage of the flexibility provided by applicable financial reporting standards. The empirical evidence obtained through regression analysis suggest that managers reclassify non-operating revenues as operating revenue to alter the economic reality while seeking the advantage of financial reports users’ vulnerability for valuing the upper half of income statement items more as compared to lower part. The results further indicate that international financial reporting standards adoption inhibits the earnings management practices using classification shifting of revenues. It is also concluded that firms, which are suffering losses or having low growth, are more persistently involved in misclassification of revenues.

The study is unique from the point of view that it investigates earnings management from the prospective of revenue’s classification in an emerging market characterized by various market imperfections such as lower investor protection and higher information asymmetry.

The purpose of this paper is to identify different types of resource and capability configurations among Hungarian family and nonfamily firms and explore which compositions can be considered competitive. In a rivalrous, dynamic world, understanding which sets of resources and capabilities lead to a higher level of competitiveness is vital.

This paper is based on a quantitative competitiveness survey carried out between November 2018 and July 2019 in Hungary. The authors used the Firm Competitiveness Index (FCI) to measure competitiveness and the resource-based view (RBV) approach to understand which configurations of resources and capabilities are responsible for a higher level of competitiveness based on 32 variables. An exploratory factor and cluster analysis were conducted to analyze the ownership's effect on firm competitiveness. The final sample size contained 111 companies, of which 53 were identified as family and 58 as nonfamily firms.

Factor analysis reveals five factors determining resources and capabilities: “operational,” “leadership,” “knowledge management,” “transformation” and “networking.” Based on these factors, the cluster analysis identified five groups in terms of types of family and nonfamily firms: “Lagging capabilities,” “Knowledge-based leadership,” “Innovativeness and transformation-oriented management,” “Relationship-oriented management” and “Business operation-oriented management.” Results show that nonfamily businesses focus on operational and leadership capabilities, reaching a higher FCI than family businesses, which are likely to invest more in their networking, transformation and knowledge management capabilities.

By defining the different configurations family and nonfamily firms rely on to reach competitiveness, the paper applies an essential element to the Hungarian and Middle Eastern European contexts of family business research. The findings contribute to developing family business literature and point out specific resources and capabilities family firms should focus on to shift toward reaching a higher level of professionalization and competitiveness. The characterization of different types of competitiveness comparing family and nonfamily firms enables the firms to assess customized implications.

The transtheoretical model (TTM) has been applied to varying areas of physical health, e.g. diabetes. However, research into its applicability to psychotherapy is mixed. The TTM is applied through the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA). Investigating the utility of the URICA is needed to improve patient care and outcomes. This study aims to assess whether the URICA scores relate to patient outcomes; patient attendance; practitioner ratings of patient readiness, appropriateness, insight, motivation and potential for improvement; and to explore practitioner’s perspectives on the URICA.

Correlational methods were used to assess the relationship between the URICA and therapeutic outcome, attendance and practitioner-rated areas. Content analysis was used to analyse practitioner qualitative data.

The URICA did not correlate with either therapeutic outcome or attendance. A significant negative correlation was found between the URICA and practitioner-rated appropriateness of the referral. This means practitioners perceived individuals with lower URICA scores to be a more appropriate referral, despite the score indicating a reduced readiness to change. Qualitative categories included positive views, negative views, ambivalence and changes to measure and process. To conclude, the URICA does not explain a patient’s outcome or attendance. The URICA may not be appropriate to use in its current format in mental health services; therefore, assessing the TTM verbally may be more helpful.

This study provides research into suitability of using the URICA to assess the TTM and its applicability to attendance and outcome in psychological therapies.

The objective of this study is to determine the efficiency of tourist accommodation companies located in the main tourist area of southern Europe as one of the three elements of the local sustainable development triangle.

The analysis, carried out using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology on 130 companies, has obtained that from the CCR perspective (results-oriented method when companies present constant returns on the input variables).

The companies involved are quite inefficient, while which from the BCC perspective (where the input and output variables used in the company respond to a variable and not constant scale) are quite efficient. The efficiency of these companies in the seven provinces of Andalusia has also been analysed to determine if there are patterns that differentiate them and thus be able to propose strategies that improve the sustainability of these territories. The conclusions of the study indicate the need to improve the operational efficiency of rural accommodation companies.

The analysis of efficiency in the hotel sector and even more so in the rural tourism sector is relatively scarce in the literature, especially in Spain. More specifically, Rubio and Román (2006) have demonstrated the existence of scale inefficiencies in hotels, but no evidence has been found in previous studies that this behaviour carries over to accommodation establishments located in the destinations under study.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the differences in employer branding between the companies that participate and those that do not participate in employer ranking.

Quantitative data were collected through a survey from 188 companies operating on the Russian labour market. Descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, correlation analysis and multivariate analysis of variance were used to analyse the collected data.

The findings revealed specific profiles of the companies that participated and did not participate in employer ranking. Companies differed in their employer branding orientation, internal branding, employer branding strategy, employer branding programmes and employer branding communications tasks. At the same time, brand orientation did not differ between participants and non-participants of employer ranking.

This study integrates the employer brand equity theory and the signalling theory to better explain the differences between participants and non-participants of employer ranking.