Search results

This study aims to first explore the extent to which argumentativeness changed during the adaptation process among Muslim immigrants to France from 2006 to 2015 and, second, to examine the cultural fusion process. The study investigates the influence of intercultural contact on communication traits by exploring the extent to which members of the dominant cultural group adapt their argumentativeness over time.

Through a longitudinal panel study, the paper investigates the influence of intercultural contact on communication traits by exploring the extent to which members of the dominant cultural group adapt their argumentativeness over time. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling are used to assess the hypotheses and research question.

Results revealed a curvilinear relationship between argumentativeness and time. Argumentativeness increased from 2006 to 2009, remained constant from 2009 to 2012 and then decreased after 2012. Furthermore, data analysis revealed argumentativeness levels among members of the dominant culture did not change.

The results are potentially limited by the sample being a convenience sample and the presence of extenuating factors.

Argumentativeness is viewed by many researchers as a functional form of communication. However, few studies have longitudinally studied how this trait can change over time.

The construction industry's transformation of prefabrication into large-scale offsite manufacturing continues to grow. While the Offsite Construction (OSC) transition has brought positive changes to the industry, it also presents various challenges. Literature suggests that to address the challenges, advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be applied for effective mitigation. Nonetheless, the combined application of BIM and OSC is in its infancy and faces challenges in many countries. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing OSC and BIM integration, including challenges and strategies within the New Zealand construction industry.

This study explores which specific factors impact integration positively or negatively through a comprehensive literature review and confirmatory survey. Factor Analysis (FA) was used as the data analysis method, resulting in eight groups of underlying factors. Next, three Structural Equation Models (SEM) were developed and tested to analyze the impact of latent and observed variables on OSC and BIM integration.

Significant underlying factors affecting OSC and BIM integration were identified, and recommendations to enhance integration were provided. Specifically, the findings demonstrated that three underlying factors for challenges, two for strategies and three for integration were identified through EFA and confirmed by CFA. This step was followed by SEM, which employed three different path analysis models for integration variables. It clarified that not all variables have similar impacts on integration; some exhibit significant positive or negative effects, while others are not significant at all.

The identified challenges and strategies for OSC and BIM integration and their impact on integration factors can contribute to developing standardized integration guidelines and frameworks to assist stakeholders in focusing on their specific integration goals.