B. Littleboy and G. Mehta
The great stimulus to macroeconomic theory provided by Keynes is well recognised, but much less is said about his views on scientific methodology and his influence there. There is…
Abstract
The great stimulus to macroeconomic theory provided by Keynes is well recognised, but much less is said about his views on scientific methodology and his influence there. There is a widespread belief among economists that Keynes was an a priori thinker who dealt with “facts” and empirical material in a cavalier and high‐handed manner. We question the validity of this interpretation and give evidence to show that Keynes' methodology was not hostile to empiricism.
Mitali Desai, Rupa G. Mehta and Dipti P. Rana
Scholarly communications, particularly, questions and answers (Q&A) present on digital scholarly platforms provide a new avenue to gain knowledge. However, several studies have…
Abstract
Purpose
Scholarly communications, particularly, questions and answers (Q&A) present on digital scholarly platforms provide a new avenue to gain knowledge. However, several studies have raised a concern about the content anomalies in these Q&A and suggested a proper validation before utilizing them in scholarly applications such as influence analysis and content-based recommendation systems. The content anomalies are referred as disinformation in this research. The purpose of this research is firstly, to assess scholarly communications in order to identify disinformation and secondly, to help scholarly platforms determine the scholars who probably disseminate such disinformation. These scholars are referred as the probable sources of disinformation.
Design/methodology/approach
To identify disinformation, the proposed model deduces (1) content redundancy and contextual redundancy in questions (2) contextual nonrelevance in answers with respect to the questions and (3) quality of answers with respect to the expertise of the answering scholars. Then, the model determines the probable sources of disinformation using the statistical analysis.
Findings
The model is evaluated on ResearchGate (RG) data. Results suggest that the model efficiently identifies disinformation from scholarly communications and accurately detects the probable sources of disinformation.
Practical implications
Different platforms with communication portals can use this model as a regulatory mechanism to restrict the prorogation of disinformation. Scholarly platforms can use this model to generate an accurate influence assessment mechanism and also relevant recommendations for their scholars.
Originality/value
The existing studies majorly deal with validating the answers using statistical measures. The proposed model focuses on questions as well as answers and performs a contextual analysis using an advanced word embedding technique.
Details
Keywords
Muniva Islam, Mohammed Ziaul Haider and Sk. Faijan Bin Halim
This study examines mosquito-borne diseases and health hazard of using mosquito repellents in Bangladesh. This study also targets to explore the use of different mosquito…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines mosquito-borne diseases and health hazard of using mosquito repellents in Bangladesh. This study also targets to explore the use of different mosquito repellents and associated health hazard between slum and residential people.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has applied a stratified systematic sampling technique taking 120 adult individuals from residential and slum areas covering users and non-users of mosquito repellents of Khulna city, Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire has been used to collect data from respondents.
Findings
Econometric techniques are exercised to examine the occurrence, severity and duration of different respiratory diseases. Results exhibit that poor and less-educated slum people are more prone to face respiratory diseases compared to residential people. The health cost of slum and residential people is estimated US$ 134 and US$ 9, respectively.
Practical implications
Relevant stakeholders under public health programs should spread awareness among people regarding the negative health effect of using mosquito repellent, encourage them to limit the use of harmful repellent and instead use herbal product (neem coil), avoid using repellent in living room rather use outside of room and close window and use proper bed net at night.
Originality/value
This study underpins arranging public health programs and taking averting actions as an impetus to raise consciousness toward the negative health effect of using mosquito repellents.
Details
Keywords
Innocent Chigozie Osuizugbo and Olalekan Shamsideen Oshodi
The awareness and practice of buildability is still at its infancy stage in the construction sector of developing countries. Information gleaned from literature shows that…
Abstract
Purpose
The awareness and practice of buildability is still at its infancy stage in the construction sector of developing countries. Information gleaned from literature shows that embedding buildability into practice is beneficial to construction projects. This study seeks to examine the buildability attributes that are important for improving the practice of construction management.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was developed to address the aim of the study. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaires to purposively selected group of architects, engineers, builders and quantity surveyors. A total of 368 questionnaires were administered and a response rate of 60% (219 questionnaires were returned) was achieved. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analysing the data.
Findings
The results revealed that discussion centred on buildable designs among builders and designers as the most critical attribute of buildability for improving the practice of construction management in the Nigerian construction industry. The finding also revealed that, there is a statistically significant agreement between different groups of construction organisations in Lagos state, Nigeria concerning buildability attributes for improving the practice of construction management.
Originality/value
This study highlights the buildability attributes which are important for improving the practice of construction management. An understanding of these attributes is essential for improving and embedding buildability as a practice in the construction industry.
Details
Keywords
Payam Shojaei and Ana bolvardizadeh
The construction industry has a significant function in improving the quality of life in the urban environment; meanwhile, greening the supply chain is becoming a seriously…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry has a significant function in improving the quality of life in the urban environment; meanwhile, greening the supply chain is becoming a seriously pressing issue in the construction industry. This paper seeks to select green suppliers in construction projects implemented at Iranian state universities via multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) models through rough set theory.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methodology design was conducted through a literature review of studies concerned with green suppliers to identify the related criteria and the rough MCDM techniques. As such, 15 criteria were finalized through content validity ratio (introduced by Lawshe, 1975). The weights of the criteria were calculated through the rough AHP and the suppliers were prioritized using the rough TOPSIS to contribute to the Construction Department.
Findings
The study proposed a hierarchical structure of the decision process for green supplier selection in construction projects. According to the weighting results, environmental awareness, green social responsibility and the environmental management system were the most important criteria.
Research limitations/implications
Because the scope of the study was limited to state universities and the methods worked according to the experts' views, the results should be generalized with more caution. The validity of the results should be examined by applying the model to similar contexts.
Originality/value
The study conceptualizes green supplier selection in construction projects at state universities. Furthermore, the method used makes it possible to deal with the uncertainty arising from experts' limited awareness of only part of the problem rather than the whole system under investigation.
Details
Keywords
Oluwatobi Nurudeen Oyefusi, Victor Adetunji Arowoiya and Melissa Chan
The construction industry in developed countries is witnessing a paradigm shift towards modular construction methods, driven by the need for efficiency, sustainability, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The construction industry in developed countries is witnessing a paradigm shift towards modular construction methods, driven by the need for efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the realization of these benefits in the context of developing countries is hindered by numerous barriers. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to contribute insights into the barriers hindering the adoption of modular construction in developing countries, specifically Nigeria, and further formulate effective strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough review of existing literature was conducted to identify the multifaceted barriers hindering the adoption of modular construction and the corresponding strategies. Subsequently, a panel of 13 experts were invited to utilize the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) approach to systematically evaluate these barriers based on their impact. Furthermore, the experts implored the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach to select and prioritize the most suitable strategies to mitigate these barriers.
Findings
The study revealed that the most critical barriers to modular construction are Client resistance to change and innovation, Limited experience in module installation, and Transportation constraints. Additionally, the study prioritizes 13 strategies, with the Development of effective guidelines, standards, and policies ranked highest. The insights from the ranking using the FAHP and TOPSIS approach were adopted to develop a framework for modular implementation in developing countries.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to Nigeria due to its status as the country with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa, and it is considered a suitable representation of the region as most of the countries in Africa are categorized as developing nations.
Practical implications
By highlighting the most critical barriers and prioritizing effective strategies, the study provides actionable insights for overcoming obstacles to modular construction adoption. Decision-makers can use this information to develop targeted policies and training programs to promote the adoption of modular construction in developing countries.
Originality/value
The research provides valuable insights by not only identifying critical barriers but also presenting prioritized strategies, distinguishing itself from previous studies, and establishing itself as a novel resource for developing countries. This adopt a novel hybrid MCDM approach for modular construction in developing countries such as Nigeria which can serve as reference point to other developing countries seeking to adopt modular construction and leverage its numerous benefits.
Details
Keywords
Joseph R. Priester and Monique A. Fleming
The phenomenon of creativity spans research topics across Marketing and Consumer Behavior. Interest in, and research on, creativity has grown over the past several decades. With…
Abstract
The phenomenon of creativity spans research topics across Marketing and Consumer Behavior. Interest in, and research on, creativity has grown over the past several decades. With this heightened attention comes the question of how best to conceptualize and measure creativity. This question is addressed by reviewing the conceptualizations and measures used in the psychological study of creativity. From this review, we build a framework by which to analyze papers from the Journal of Consumer Research and the Journal of Marketing Research. Based upon this analysis, we provide recommendations and best practices for future research. Of particular importance, we recommend the use of convergent problem-solving tasks in combination with ratings of novelty and usefulness reported separately. Such measures allow one to distinguish between instances of effective-creativity (when an idea is both novel and useful) and instances of quasi-creativity (when an idea is novel but lacks usefulness). The importance of the framework to research and analysis beyond the experimental paradigm is discussed.
Details
Keywords
Rachel S. Rauvola, Cort W. Rudolph and Hannes Zacher
In this chapter, the authors consider the role of time for research in occupational stress and well-being. First, temporal issues in studying occupational health longitudinally…
Abstract
In this chapter, the authors consider the role of time for research in occupational stress and well-being. First, temporal issues in studying occupational health longitudinally, focusing in particular on the role of time lags and their implications for observed results (e.g., effect detectability), analyses (e.g., handling unequal durations between measurement occasions), and interpretation (e.g., result generalizability, theoretical revision) were discussed. Then, time-based assumptions when modeling lagged effects in occupational health research, providing a focused review of how research has handled (or ignored) these assumptions in the past, and the relative benefits and drawbacks of these approaches were discussed. Finally, recommendations for readers, an accessible tutorial (including example data and code), and discussion of a new structural equation modeling technique, continuous time structural equation modeling, that can “handle” time in longitudinal studies of occupational health were provided.
Details
Keywords
This paper evaluates the existing main workplace spirituality concept specifications and points out their inadequacies and the resulting adverse implications. It also outlines a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper evaluates the existing main workplace spirituality concept specifications and points out their inadequacies and the resulting adverse implications. It also outlines a set of workplace spirituality concept specifications as a resolution.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper does a detailed evaluation of chronologically evolved existing main workplace spirituality concept specifications to point out their inadequacies and outlines a resolution to address the inadequacies.
Findings
This paper reveals that there are differences, inconsistencies, and inadequate clarity in workplace spirituality concept specifications and that these have had adverse implications. This paper yields a proposed resolution with its associated merits.
Research implications
This paper can potentially improve the future workplace spirituality research as reflected in its six theoretical implications and three directions for future research.
Practical implications
This paper’s description of the inadequacies in the existing workplace spirituality concept specifications and the proposed resolution can improve the practice of workplace spirituality research.
Social implications
Improvement in the research on a socially relevant topic of workplace spirituality is likely to benefit the society.
Originality/value
This is, to the author’s best knowledge, the first paper to evaluate workplace spirituality concept specifications and to propose a resolution to address their inadequacies.
Details
Keywords
This study empirically explores one of the important channel issues – the relationship between various channel support given to channel partners and the perceived (by managers…
Abstract
This study empirically explores one of the important channel issues – the relationship between various channel support given to channel partners and the perceived (by managers) goal‐orientation of a firm. Results from an emerging market, India, indicate that perceived orientation towards both profitability and market share is not associated with any of the channel support considered. Growth orientation however is strongly associated with most of the channel support activities – both business (e.g., business advice, pricing and ordering assistance, and personnel training) as well as marketing (advertising support, sales promotional material, and inventory management assistance) oriented activities. In contrast, perceived sales volume orientation is only associated with advertising support and business advice, however, the relationship is negative. These findings have interesting implications for channel management and channel motivation.