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1 – 10 of over 33000Mingyan Han, Maolong Zhang, Enhua Hu and Hongmei Shan
This study aims to examine how Chinese rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status was associated with their decent work.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how Chinese rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status was associated with their decent work.
Design/methodology/approach
Grounded in the psychology of working theory (PWT), this study tested the path from rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status to decent work via work volition, with this path moderated by environmental uncertainty and trade union support. 470 rural-urban migrant workers from four manufacturing enterprises were investigated.
Findings
Results indicated that rural-urban migrant workers' socio-economic status was positively associated with rural-urban migrant workers' decent work through work volition. In addition, environmental uncertainty weakened the impact of socio-economic status on work volition while trade union support strengthened the relationship between socio-economic status and work volition.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the growing research on the PWT by testing its utility among rural-urban migrant workers in the Chinese context. The study also identifies the crucial effects of environmental uncertainty and trade union support, which are distinctive characters of contemporary China, in the formation process of rural-urban migrant workers' decent work. A detailed explanation of the results and implications is discussed in the end.
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The aim of the study is to group consumers according to their own perception of socio‐economic status and to determine consumption habits, behaviors, approach and tendency towards…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study is to group consumers according to their own perception of socio‐economic status and to determine consumption habits, behaviors, approach and tendency towards food products.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, consumers in urban areas of Van, in Turkey, were grouped according to their self‐perceived social‐economic status and their behaviors and attitudes on purchase of food products are examined according to that social‐economic status. The study was conducted in Van province, Turkey, during 2007‐2008. Face to face interviews with 300 consumers work through the survey data was collected. Participants were asked to indicate their socio‐economic status from a choice of top, middle and bottom level groups.
Findings
Within the top and middle level of this grouping, the percentage of high school graduates is high; at the bottom level of this status, the proportion of university graduates is high. A large percentage of the consumers are public servants and business owners. It was observed that as the socio‐economic status increased, the proportion of business owners increased as well. Consumers in lower status groups spend the biggest portion of their income on food products. As the wages increase, the level of spending on food product decreases proportionally and the ability to make savings increases. The highest status consumers always check the price labels of the food products with a high percentage (66.67 percent). More than half of consumers do not believe that producers write all information and ingredients of the products on the packaging. A total of 77 percent of study participants stated that they were open to trying new food products. Consumers within the top socio‐economic groups are most careful about food ingredients.
Originality/value
In this study, the consumers themselves are classified according to their socio‐economic status. These are the top, middle and bottom status as determined. Consumers are clustered according to the general characteristics of the correspondence analysis.
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Naome Otiti, Kjetil Andersson and Roy Mersland
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there exists employee-client matching at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) and the most favourable employee-client categorization…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine whether there exists employee-client matching at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) and the most favourable employee-client categorization in terms of employee productivity when serving the BOP market. This is important in a bid to determine how to effectively operate at the BOP given the market’s unique characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses two methods depending on the research question. First, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to determine the different employee-client categories based on socio-economic status. Second, fixed effects analyses are performed based on these categories to determine the most suitable employee-client category.
Findings
The results show the existence of employee-client matching based on similar socio-economic status. However, multivariate testing reveals that the mismatch category, where employees are of higher socioeconomic status than the clients, generates more favourable employee productivity. Moreover, this result may be contingent on the geographical location of the firm.
Practical implications
The findings are important for human resource management particularly the employment strategy of BOP firms. It suggests the need to consider employee profiles and client profiles when deciding which new markets to target.
Originality/value
The paper uses a global database of microfinance institutions as a case of BOP firms to investigate employee-client matching at the bottom of the pyramid.
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Social structural and cultural theories suggest that social stress induced from socio‐cultural status patterns varies across the world's cultures. The purpose of the study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Social structural and cultural theories suggest that social stress induced from socio‐cultural status patterns varies across the world's cultures. The purpose of the study is to compare subjective social stress in connection with objective socio‐cultural status patterns among Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Rasulpur of Bangladesh.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted in Rasulpur, Bangladesh. Preliminarily, 760 male arrack drinkers who were stressful in their socio‐cultural status patterns were selected by snowball process from the study area. Of the respondents, 391 arrack drinkers (109 Muslim, 103 Hindu, 89 Santal and 90 Oraon) were intensively interviewed by semi‐structural questionnaire to examine and compare the research purpose.
Findings
The results of Pearson's χ2 test suggested that there were significant differences (p<0.01) in subjective social stress in connection with socio‐cultural status patterns, except income among the communities, among the ethnic communities. The results of Spearman bivariate correlation coefficients revealed that there were significant relationships (p<0.01 and p<0.05) between socio‐cultural status patterns and its social stress, except occupation and income among the communities studied.
Research limitations/implications
Although the findings of the study have been successful in understanding differences in social stress in the context of socio‐cultural status patterns among the Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Rasulpur, Bangladesh, further empirical research is needed on how personality factor, familial and community coping and social support from social service system influence the differences in subjective social stress associated with socio‐cultural status patterns among the communities. In spite of the limitations, the findings may provide valuable information for cross‐cultural social health policy and programs to manage the problem.
Originality/value
This paper is original in linking its theory, policy and practice to reduce subjective social stress in the context of socio‐cultural variations among the Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Bangladesh.
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This paper seeks to examine the roles of personality, vocational interests, academic achievement and some socio‐cultural factors in educational aspirations of secondary school…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to examine the roles of personality, vocational interests, academic achievement and some socio‐cultural factors in educational aspirations of secondary school adolescents in southwestern Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey research design was adopted. The sample comprised 430 (males = 220, females = 210) secondary school students. Data personality, vocational interests, academic achievement, socio‐cultural factors and educational aspiration were obtained from the students. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data.
Findings
The paper finds that specific personality, interest dimensions, academic achievement, socio‐economic status and demands from extended family were significantly related to the students' educational aspirations.
Research limitations/implications
The cross‐sectional correlational research design does not permit cause‐and‐effect inferences to be made. Use of a single‐item survey to assess educational aspirations may limit the results. Future research may add more items to assess educational aspiration.
Practical implications
The adolescents' personality, vocational interests, academic achievement and socio‐cultural factors should be identified and included in the career counselling process by counselling psychologists.
Originality/value
This research provides basis for the need to consider personality, interests and socio‐cultural factors in addition to cognitive attainment when explaining the adolescents' educational aspirations.
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Tomi Oinas, Petri Ruuskanen, Mari Hakala and Timo Anttila
In this study, the authors examine whether social capital embedded in individuals' social networks is connected to employees' long-term income development in Finland.
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, the authors examine whether social capital embedded in individuals' social networks is connected to employees' long-term income development in Finland.
Design/methodology/approach
Analyses are based on 25–35-year-old employees from the Finnish Living Conditions Survey of 1994 combined with register data on earned incomes from 1995 to 2016. The authors used questions addressing the frequency of meeting parents or siblings, spending free time with co-workers and participation in associational, civic or other societal activities as measures of the extent of network capital. Ordered logistic model was used to examine whether the size and composition of social networks differ by gender and socio-economic status. Linear growth curve models were employed to estimate the effect of social capital on long-term income development.
Findings
Results indicate minor differences in network composition according to gender, but large differences between socio-economic groups. The authors found that income development was faster for those who participated in civic activities occasionally or who met their relatives or co-workers on a monthly basis, that is, for the “middle group”.
Research limitations/implications
Results are generalizable only to Finnish or Nordic welfare state context. The authors’ measures of social capital come from cross-sectional survey. Thus, the authors are not able to address the stability or accumulation of social capital during life course. This restriction will probably cause the authors’ analysis to underestimate the true effect of social capital on earned incomes.
Practical implications
Moderate-level investments to network capital seem to be the most beneficial with regard to the long-term income development.
Social implications
The study results give support to the idea that social capital can be transformed into economic capital. The results also imply that in economic terms it is important to balance diverse forms of social capital. At the policy level, a special emphasis should be directed to employees with low-socio-economic position. These people are especially vulnerable as their low level of income is combined with network composition that hinders their further income development.
Originality/value
The combined survey and register data give unique insight on how the social capital embedded in individuals' social networks is connected with long-term income development.
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Meng-Hsiang Hsu, Shih-Wei Tien, Hsien-Cheng Lin and Chun-Ming Chang
Drawing upon the literature of Uses and Gratifications (U & G) Theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose that entertainment, information seeking, socialization, and…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon the literature of Uses and Gratifications (U & G) Theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose that entertainment, information seeking, socialization, and self-presentation are the motivational factors affecting continuance intention of social media. This paper further investigates the moderating effects of cultural difference and socio-economic status on the link between these motivational factors and continuance intention.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collected from the 493 active users of Facebook in five countries (Australia, Austria, Japan, Taiwan, and the USA) were used to test the proposed model. Partial least squares method was used to assess the relationships in the model and the subgroup analysis method was employed as well to examine the moderating roles of cultural difference and socio-economic status.
Findings
Information seeking exerts stronger effect on continuance intention for users from individualistic cultures, while socialization, and self-presentation has stronger influence on continuance intention for users from collective cultures. Entertainment has stronger influence on continuance for high educated users, whereas self-presentation has stronger influence on continuance intention for users with lower level of education. Finally, the effect of entertainment, information seeking on continuance intention is stronger for users with higher level of income, while self-presentation has stronger influence on continuance intention for users with lower level of income.
Originality/value
This study is one of first studies to extend the research context of U & G Theory from adoption of social media to continuance intention of social media. This study is also the first to investigate the moderating roles of cultural difference and socio-economic statuses in social media usage behavior simultaneously.
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The aim of this study is to understand how social barriers might result in people with specific learning difficulties coming in contact with the criminal justice system in the UK…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to understand how social barriers might result in people with specific learning difficulties coming in contact with the criminal justice system in the UK. The study seeks to apply the social model of disability to conceptualise a statistical relationship between socio‐economic status and key life events for people with specific learning difficulties (i.e. diagnosis, educational achievements, and employment).
Design/methodology/approach
A cluster sample was used to obtain statistical data from a questionnaire based survey. The study collected quantitative and qualitative data on the life experiences of people with specific learning difficulties (n=77). The paper analyses the quantitative data and discovers statistically significant relationships (p≤0.05) concerning socio‐economic status, specific learning difficulties and crime.
Findings
Within the data findings age of diagnosis is significantly (p≤0.00) affected when comparing socio‐economic status with the offender and non‐offender group in the study. Furthermore, the educational achievements (p≤0.00) and employment/unemployment levels (p≤0.00) are dramatically altered by socio‐economic status specifically for offenders with specific learning difficulties. These relationships have been conceptualised using the social model of SpLD in terms of barriers to exclusion.
Originality/value
To date very few studies have used the social model of disability to understand pathways into offending for people with learning difficulties. To the author's knowledge this is the first study to apply a quantitative analysis to the concept of disabling barriers and criminality.
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Niyaz Panakaje, Habeeb Ur Rahiman, S.M. Riha Parvin, Abbokar Siddiq and Mustafa Raza Rabbani
This research aims to explore the significance of cooperative efforts in promoting financial participation to enhance the socio-economic empowerment of the rural Muslims.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to explore the significance of cooperative efforts in promoting financial participation to enhance the socio-economic empowerment of the rural Muslims.
Design/methodology/approach
The primary study with a structured questionnaire has been conducted taking a sample of 398 rural Muslim respondents from various rural regions of south India through proportionate stratified sampling techniques. Regression analysis, paired sample t-test and structural equation modelling (SEM) through statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) 26 & SPSS analysis of moment structures (AMOS) 23 software have been implemented to test the relationship.
Findings
The research outcome demonstrated a remarkable difference in the rural Muslim’s socio-economic conditions before and after availing the loans from cooperatives. Consequently, an extension of cooperative efforts widens the scope of financial participation which again has positively enhanced rural Muslim’s socio-economic empowerment.
Practical implications
This study will help various policymakers, academicians and communities to take necessary action for the upliftment of a particular community. The research further adds on to the existing research on the need and importance of cooperative efforts as an alternative finance for marginalised community in developing and emerging countries.
Originality/value
The result of this study is only confined to south India, posing a limitation for the study. Apart from the geographical restriction, the study solemnly covers the rural Muslim community extracting other sections of the society. Hence, for more generalisable pictures of the current results, further research is recommended from other stakeholders’ perspectives.
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The debate concerning the relationship between maternal education and child nutritional status is not a foregone conclusion. This paper aims to contribute to the existing debate…
Abstract
Purpose
The debate concerning the relationship between maternal education and child nutritional status is not a foregone conclusion. This paper aims to contribute to the existing debate by examining this relationship for the case of Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
Theoretically, the study was based on household models of optimization, just like in the standard consumer theory, to gain insights into household demand for the health good. Empirically, the paper employed maximum-likelihood probit models and computed marginal effects in order to obtain logically interpretable results.
Findings
The paper finds that once the socio-economic factors are controlled for, the significance of maternal education, especially primary and secondary levels, in influencing child nutrition status decays but post-secondary education persists. Therefore, if mothers are exposed to the same socio-economic conditions, it is education of the mother beyond secondary level that generates a difference in the child nutrition outcomes.
Practical implications
These findings suggest that efforts to improve the child health outcomes in the future need to target measures that aim to educate women beyond secondary level. The government program to extend free education at the secondary level is a good start and should be strengthened.
Originality/value
Literature presents no consensus on the effect of maternal education and child nutritional status. It is often argued that maternal education is simply a proxy for the socio-economic conditions and geographical area of residence such its significance decays once these are controlled for. Yet others argue that maternal education is a single most important factor influencing child nutritional outcomes. The debate is still very hot and this study sought to contribute to this debate for the case of Uganda.
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