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Article
Publication date: 13 September 2023

Ashraf Khalil, Salam Abdallah, Rafiq Hijazi and Kundan Sheikh

This study aims to understand the patterns of content-sharing behaviour on major social media platforms by young adult users with reference to how these sharing patterns are…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to understand the patterns of content-sharing behaviour on major social media platforms by young adult users with reference to how these sharing patterns are influenced by two main sociocultural factors in their lives, religiosity and social conformity.

Design/methodology/approach

Online surveys including both the ATSCI test for social conformity as well as the Hoge test for religiosity were filled out by 590 participants. In-depth interviews with six participants representative of the same population were conducted to deepen analysis of key variables explored in the surveys. The design of the interviews was semi-structured, whereby the focus was to achieve a general overview of participants' intentions and habits regarding sharing information via social media.

Findings

The findings show a significant positive impact of religiosity and social conformity on users' sharing intention which, in turn, affects their inclination towards verifying the content they share.

Social implications

The authors' findings emphasise how users bear the onus of correcting the online information space. It paves the way for future research by recognising the value of independent corroboration amongst users.

Originality/value

This study lends key support to the growing body of research on social media use in societies in which shared religious and cultural values tend to clearly impact everyday social interaction.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2024

Yusuf Katerega Ndawula, Mori Neema and Isaac Nkote

This study examines the relationship between policyholders’ psychographic characteristics and demand decisions for life insurance products in Uganda.

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between policyholders’ psychographic characteristics and demand decisions for life insurance products in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a cross-sectional survey. Using a purposive sampling method, 389 questionnaires were administered to life insurance policyholders in the four geographical regions of Uganda. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the primary data, specifically to test the relationships between the dependent and independent variables.

Findings

The findings indicate a positive and significant influence of psychographic characteristics on demand decisions for life insurance products. In addition, the analysis indicates that the two first-order constructs of psychographic characteristics, namely price consciousness and consumer innovativeness, are positive and significant predictors of demand decisions for life insurance products. In contrast, the third first-order construct religious salience, exhibits a negative and nonsignificant effect on demand decisions for life insurance products.

Practical implications

For insurance practitioners, to influence demand decisions, they should emphasize premium-related appeals in their marketing messages (price consciousness) ignore product decisions based on religious beliefs and norms (religious salience). They should also ensure that insurance products are highly trustable and experiential (consumer innovativeness). For insurance policymakers, it offers an in-depth understanding of customer psychographic characteristics, which can be used to identify exploitative information embedded in certain marketing campaigns targeting specific psychographic characteristics, for better regulation.

Originality/value

The study provides a basis for understanding lifestyle and personality characteristics (psychographics), which may influence demand decisions for life insurance products in a developing country like Uganda, where the insurance industry is at an early stage of development.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2023-0440

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 September 2023

Ines Gharbi, Mounira Hamed-Sidhom and Khaled Hussainey

Prior research shows that religiosity affects the degree of managers' risk aversion. As a result, religious firms are less likely to invest in R&D activities. Moreover, US GAAP…

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research shows that religiosity affects the degree of managers' risk aversion. As a result, religious firms are less likely to invest in R&D activities. Moreover, US GAAP treats these investments as expenses. For this reason, religious firms have fewer expenses in their earnings and are less likely to be in financial distress.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from Worldscope and the Churches and Church Membership files of the American Religion Data Archive website from 1985 to 2018. With 18,199 observations in US context, the authors used the marginal effect to test the mediating effect of R&D accounting treatment.

Findings

The authors find that the marginal effect of religiosity on financial distress with US GAAP is higher than the marginal effect of religiosity on financial distress with capitalization of R&D costs, which means that accounting treatment can explain the relation between religiosity and financial distress in the US context.

Research limitations/implications

The authors used linear interpolation and linear extrapolation data to be able to conduct this research over a period of 1985–2018. For future researches, the authors propose to test other factors which can explain the relationship between religiosity and financial distress based on the ethics element.

Practical implications

These results should be of interest to regulators because treating R&D activities as expenses can destroy the accounting performance of firms that prefer investing in risky projects. This favoritism prevents the comparison between two firms in the same industry with different risk-taking behaviors. This problem is more prevalent if the authors have two firms with different ratios of religiosity. This paper suffers from a major limitation related to data availability.

Originality/value

This may be the first study that investigates why religious firms are less likely to be in financial distress. This paper notes that religious firms are less likely to be in financial distress because their conservative behavior towards R&D activities coincides with the conservative R&D accounting treatment. In fact, the mismatch between expenses and revenues from R&D activities can cause financial distress.

Details

Journal of Applied Accounting Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0967-5426

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 September 2023

Allah Wasaya, Catherine Prentice and Aaron Hsiao

This paper aims to review norms and their relationship with consumer behavior in the tourism sector. The review aims to identify gaps in relation to various norms and their impact…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review norms and their relationship with consumer behavior in the tourism sector. The review aims to identify gaps in relation to various norms and their impact on the literature to provide future research recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review method was used to analyze norms in consumer behavior research within the context of tourism and hospitality. The review focused on the research context, conceptualizations, roles, measurements, theoretical backgrounds and the major findings.

Findings

The review reveals that the conceptualizations and dimensionality of norms in the existing studies are inconsistent, and most research in the tourism context only adopted the concept partially without capturing the totality of the concept. The theoretical gaps and measurement of norms were also identified for future research.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to a better understanding of the role of norms in shaping tourist behavior and can guide practitioners in developing effective marketing strategies. The findings suggest the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the concept of norms in tourism in relation to theoretical underpinnings, measurement and application. The recommendations provided in this study can guide future research on norms and tourist behavior.

Originality/value

Norms have been extensively discussed in the literature. This paper is the first to systematically review norms and their influence on consumer behavior in the tourism sector.

目的

本文审视规范及其与旅游业消费者行为的关系。此审查旨在确定关于各种规范及其对文献的影响的差距, 并提供未来研究建议。

方法

采用系统文献综述方法, 分析了旅游和酒店消费者行为研究中的规范。审查侧重于研究背景、概念化、角色、测量方法、理论背景和主要发现。

研究结果

审查发现现有研究中规范的概念化和维度存在不一致性, 而大多数旅游环境下的研究只部分采用了该概念, 未能完整捕捉概念的整体。还确定了未来研究中规范的理论差距和测量问题。

意义

本研究有助于更好地理解规范在塑造游客行为中的作用, 并可以指导从业者制定有效的营销策略。研究结果表明, 需要更全面地理解规范概念在旅游中的理论基础、测量和应用。本研究提供的建议可以指导未来关于规范和游客行为的研究。

独创性/价值

规范在文献中已经广泛讨论。本文是第一个系统地审查规范及其对旅游业消费者行为的影响。

Propósito

Este artículo examina las normas y su relación con el comportamiento del consumidor en el sector turístico. El objetivo de la revisión es identificar brechas con relación a diversas normas y su impacto en la literatura, para proporcionar recomendaciones en futuras investigaciones.

Metodología

Se empleó un método de revisión sistemática de la literatura para analizar las normas en la investigación del comportamiento del consumidor en el contexto del turismo y hostelería. La revisión se centró en el contexto de investigación, conceptualizaciones, roles, medidas, fundamentos teóricos y los principales hallazgos.

Resultados

La revisión revela que las conceptualizaciones y la dimensionalidad de las normas en los estudios previos son inconsistentes, y la mayoría de las investigaciones en el contexto del turismo solo adoptaron parcialmente el concepto sin capturar la totalidad de este. También se identificaron lagunas teóricas y medición de las normas para futuras investigaciones.

Implicaciones

Este estudio contribuye a una mejor comprensión del papel de las normas en la formación del comportamiento turístico y puede orientar a los profesionales en el desarrollo de estrategias de marketing efectivas. Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de una comprensión más holística del concepto de normas en el turismo en relación con los fundamentos teóricos, la medición y la aplicación. Las recomendaciones proporcionadas en este estudio pueden guiar futuras investigaciones sobre normas y comportamiento turístico.

Originalidad/valor

Las normas han sido ampliamente discutidas en la literatura. Este artículo es el primero en revisar sistemáticamente las normas y su influencia en el comportamiento del consumidor en el sector turístico.

Article
Publication date: 12 October 2023

Oluseye Olugboyega, Obuks Augustine Ejohwomu and Emmanuel Dele Omopariola

As the foundation for understanding the dynamics of the construction sector's corruption, this study examines building contractors' experiences of the stifling of moral, communal…

Abstract

Purpose

As the foundation for understanding the dynamics of the construction sector's corruption, this study examines building contractors' experiences of the stifling of moral, communal and cultural values in the name of modern social and religious principles.

Design/methodology/approach

This study's objective was accomplished in two phases. First, a theoretical model was constructed. The theory is then tested using structural equation modeling in the second section. The theory suggests that, based on social norm and institutional theories, social disquietude and religious manipulation influence the interaction and types of corruption in the Nigerian construction sector. From this theory, it was deduced that social malaise (hypothesis 1) and religious manipulations (hypothesis 2) mediate the processes and forms of corruption in the construction sector. To validate the hypotheses, a structural equation model (SEM) was developed and tested.

Findings

Native intelligence, new values, social quests and poverty are the social malaises that are profoundly responsible for corruption manifestations in the construction industry. The findings confirmed that construction stakeholders are heavily influenced financially and spiritually by religious organizations. Construction stakeholders engage in corrupt activities as a result of the ravenousness and self-interest bestowed on them by religious manipulation and the significant contribution of social malaise. The study admits that social engineering is required to integrate local wisdom and values into Nigerian society in order to mitigate the negative consequences of social unrest and religious manipulations.

Research limitations/implications

This study has contributed to a branch of the literature on corruption in the construction industry that aims to identify the hidden factors that drive the sector's corruption dynamics. It has shown how many different problems in society and religious beliefs can make building contractors more likely to be dishonest. In order to improve project delivery, this study emphasized the importance of investigating the relationship between religious affiliations, religious doctrines and domination and religious competition on corruption in the construction industry.

Social implications

Following the findings of this study, the majority of construction stakeholders place their trust in unmerited favor, “spirit money,” prosperity gospels and the payment of offerings and “seed money” to win contracts. This implies that construction stakeholders will most likely be deceptive in their dealings, increasing the quantity of certified work, increasing variation claims and engaging in collusion. This is because their faith in inconceivable favors and the exchange of offerings for blessings would lead them to perceive fraudulent practices as a favor.

Originality/value

This study is unique in that it sought to determine whether construction stakeholders' corrupt tendencies stem from religious manipulations and complex social systems.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 September 2023

Zeev Shtudiner and Liza Zvi

Labor market studies show that job applicants are naturally inclined to embellish or omit information on their resumes, to gain advantage over other applicants. Religiosity can…

Abstract

Purpose

Labor market studies show that job applicants are naturally inclined to embellish or omit information on their resumes, to gain advantage over other applicants. Religiosity can reveal much about an individual's sense of right and wrong and it has importance as a social force with a foundational role in ethical development. The study’s objective is to clarify the relationship between personal religiosity and the intentional deceitful presentation of information on resumes, as well as the judgment of situations with ethical content.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is comprised of Jewish adult participants that submitted a resume in search of a job in the past 30 weeks in Israel. The questionnaire included questions regarding resume fraud, tolerance towards unethical and illegal behaviors and demographic and occupational questions.

Findings

The authors' results indicate that religious status may be a predictor of resume deception. Religious applicants reported more rigorous moral ethics, manifested by less tolerant attitudes toward unethical and illegal behaviors in comparison to seculars, which in turn, were associated with decreased tendency to deceive on resumes.

Practical implications

For many countries, and especially emerging markets, the Covid pandemic negatively affected the economy and creating sufficient employment may be a challenge. A better understanding of the personal factors associated with problematic job searching behaviors is relevant.

Originality/value

Despite the recognized importance of religion as a social force with a foundational role in ethical development, there is a lack of research on the impact of religiosity on ethical decisions in the labor market. The authors propose explanations for the results based on the theory of planned behavior and perceptions of normative beliefs.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 January 2024

C.A. Saliya

The purpose of this study is to explore the roles that sociocultural systems such as traditions, religious practices, and rituals play in upholding gender imbalance in Fiji.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the roles that sociocultural systems such as traditions, religious practices, and rituals play in upholding gender imbalance in Fiji.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study relies on results from semi-structured interviews with auditors, educationalists, academics, partners from leading accounting/audit firms, company directors and high-ranked government officers. Thematic analysis was conducted both manually and using MAXQDA software, and the themes that emerged from both analyses are complementary. A few more complementary analyses were also conducted such as Word Cloud.

Findings

The results support the claim that the religious traditions and rituals are strongly linked to gender-inequitable beliefs and suggest sociocultural factors impose on women experiencing self-effacing emotions and passive acceptance of lower status, contributing to the persistence of gender inequality. It also emphasizes the need to challenge certain sociocultural practices to promote greater gender equality, which is the theme emerged from thematic analysis. Additionally, this paper proposes four distinct types of attitudes in this regard as self-effacing feminist, self-effacing traditional, self-effacing modesty and talented driven.

Research limitations/implications

Respondents' openness authenticity may be limited by factors like selection bias, small sample size and other potential constraints in this study.

Practical implications

The findings might influence stakeholders to advocate for policy changes to promote women's representation in leadership positions. The results give voice to various segments of society who are advocating greater gender diversity on board representation in Fiji. The themes immerged and theories developed would make a substantial contribution to the existing literature.

Social implications

The findings highlight the importance of addressing gender inequality in leadership positions to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the less-explored domain of internal barriers to gender equality within Fiji. It adds a novel dimension to the understanding of how cultural norms intersect with individual perceptions to shape gender inequality.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 March 2024

Amir Ghazinoori, Manjit Singh Sandhu and Ashutosh Sarker

The purpose of this study is to examine how formal and informal institutions play a role in the Iranian context in shaping corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how formal and informal institutions play a role in the Iranian context in shaping corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multiple case-study approach combining comparative and cross-sectional methods with semi-structured interviews, primary data was collected from eight corporations that actively participated in CSR activities in Iran. A microanalysis approach was used to examine the meanings and dynamics in the data. Through thematic analysis and pattern-matching techniques, the authors separately examined the roles of formal and informal institutions. Cross-case analysis was used to highlight the cases’ similarities and differences.

Findings

This study demonstrates that both formal and informal institutional structures exist in Iran and that both types influence CSR. This study also shows that informal institutions (such as personal values, culture, religion, traditions, charity and philanthropy) play a more explicit role than formal institutions (such as legal regulations and laws) in shaping CSR adoption policies and practices. The results indicate that, among institutions linked to CSR, formal and informal institutions are complementary and potentiate each other in Iran. Nevertheless, compared to formal ones, informal institutions play a more prominent role in shaping CSR policies and practices.

Research limitations/implications

The authors recognize that, although the eight corporations are large, and although they interviewed their key personnel, they do not claim that these findings are generalizable, owing to the qualitative nature of the study and the small number of selected corporations.

Originality/value

This study makes relevant theoretical and empirical contributions. First, it contributes to the growing body of CSR literature that highlights the necessity of linking informal and formal institutions. Although the CSR literature lacks research on informal institutions in developing economies, researchers have yet to push forward and explore how the CSR adoption process works in developing economies that have influential informal institutions.

Details

Journal of Asia Business Studies, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1558-7894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 December 2023

Shilin Liu, Noor Adwa Sulaiman and Suhaily Shahimi

Using attribution theory, this study examined the effects of situational factors [time budget pressure (TBP), organisational ethical culture (OEC) and quality control procedures…

Abstract

Purpose

Using attribution theory, this study examined the effects of situational factors [time budget pressure (TBP), organisational ethical culture (OEC) and quality control procedures (QCPs)] and dispositional factors [auditor professional commitment (APC) and internal locus of control (ILOC)] on audit quality threatening behaviour (AQTB). In addition, it observed the moderating role of religiosity in the relationship between situational and dispositional factors and AQTB.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 189 external auditors responded to the survey questionnaire. This study employed structural equation modelling via SmartPLS to analyse the proposed model.

Findings

The results documented that the OEC and QCPs situational factors were negatively related to the incidence of AQTB, whilst TBP was positively linked to the incidence of AQTB. Dispositional factors APC and ILOC were negatively connected to AQTB. Furthermore, the findings recorded the moderating effect of religiosity on most of the situational and dispositional factors related to AQTB.

Practical implications

Regulators and accounting firms' efforts to promote high audit quality (AQ) may consider the theological/religious lens and reinforce ethical culture and quality control to reduce AQTB.

Originality/value

The findings provide further insights into situational and dispositional factors that may cause or impede the incidence of AQTB in auditing practices, as well as the moderating role of religiosity in curbing AQTB.

Details

Asian Review of Accounting, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1321-7348

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 March 2024

Acheampong Owusu, Tauringana Venancio and Nicholas Asare

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of manager attributes and psychological factors on the adoption of sustainability reporting (SR) among small and medium-sized…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of manager attributes and psychological factors on the adoption of sustainability reporting (SR) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a cross-sectional data gathered using questionnaires administered to managers of SMEs in Ghana. The data is analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results reveal that SME managers with requisite educational qualifications and knowledge about sustainability accounting adopt SR. The attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control of managers of SMEs on issues of sustainability also affect the adoption of SR. However, SMEs with old and long-serving managers do not adopt SR. SMEs with manager attributes such as professional education, gender and religious affiliation do not appear to adopt SR.

Practical implications

There is the need for regulators and other stakeholders to sensitize, persuade and provide awareness, training and educational certification to support managers of SMEs to enable them to adopt SR.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on SR by offering a clear understanding of how manager attributes and psychological factors influence the adoption of SR by SMEs in developing countries.

Details

Journal of Global Responsibility, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2041-2568

Keywords

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