Laila Shin Rohani, May Aung and Khalil Rohani
– The purpose of this study is to examine the use of visual research methods in the area of recent marketing and consumer research.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the use of visual research methods in the area of recent marketing and consumer research.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis was used to investigate visual method in articles from Journal of Consumer Research; Journal of Marketing; Journal of Marketing Research; Journal of Marketing Management; Consumption, Markets, and Culture and Qualitative Market Research. Abstract, key words and methodology sections of all articles published in these six journals from 2002 to 2012 were scanned to identify which of them applied visual methods in their studies. The selected articles were then closely analyzed to discover how visual research methods were used and in what manner did they contribute to the marketing and consumer behavior discipline.
Findings
This study found that a growing number of marketing and consumer researchers utilized visual methods to achieve their research goals in various approaches such as cultural inventories, projective techniques and social artifacts. Visual method is useful when research deals with children who are not fully developed and able to comprehend text messages and also advantageous when investigating informants’ metaphorical thoughts about a subject or the content of their mind.
Originality/value
This paper examined how visual methods have assisted marketing and consumer researchers in achieving their goals and suggests when and how researchers can utilize the visual methods for future research.
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Radwan Alkebsee, Ghassan H. Mardini, Jamel Azibi, Andreas G. Koutoupis and Leonidas G. Davidopoulos
The objective of this study is to determine the impact of GHG assurance on firms’ carbon emissions performance (CEP) regarding curbing carbon emissions and the effect on such by…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to determine the impact of GHG assurance on firms’ carbon emissions performance (CEP) regarding curbing carbon emissions and the effect on such by the GHG assurance provider’s affiliation and reputation. It also explores whether the affiliation and reputation of GHG assurance providers imply the relationship between GHG assurance and the firm’s CEP. Further, this study examines the moderating effect of the country’s development level on the relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of international firms from 56 countries spanning the period from 2012 to 2020, this study utilizes the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. We also run the OLS regression at times t+1 and t+2 to verify the baseline results. To address the endogeneity concerns arising from self-selection bias and the causality effect, this study applies the generalized method of moment (GMM) and the Heckman test.
Findings
This study finds that GHG assurance leads to better CEP by firms. We also find that engaging with accounting assurance providers leads firms to a better CEP than non-accounting assurance providers. Our results show that Big Four auditors can help firms decrease carbon emissions. We also find that the positive effect of GHG assurance is prevalent in firms operating in developed countries.
Research limitations/implications
Our study only considers the influence of the assuror’s reputation and affiliation on CEP without examining other factors that may influence the quality of assurance services provided.
Practical implications
Our study provides a practical implication related to the influence of a GHG assurance provider’s affiliation and reputation globally by providing evidence that accounting and Big Four assurance providers do play a significant role in a firm’s carbon emission performance. This study offers great insights into the GHG assurance impact on CEP with the interplay between the assuror’s affiliation and reputation and the country’s development.
Originality/value
This paper enriches the limit evidence on GHG assurance and CEP by providing novel evidence on the relationship between GHG assurance and a firm’s CEP. Moreover, this study provides insights into the implication of a country’s development level on the role of GHG assurance in CEP.
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Maizaitulaidawati Md Husin, Noraini Ismail and Asmak Ab Rahman
This paper aims to address the influence of mass media (MM) and word of mouth (WOM) on subjective norm (SN) and the intentions to purchase a family takaful scheme among Muslim…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to address the influence of mass media (MM) and word of mouth (WOM) on subjective norm (SN) and the intentions to purchase a family takaful scheme among Muslim Malaysians.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 384 Muslim consumers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using a convenience sampling approach. The hypotheses were tested by applying structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results revealed that MM and WM were able to influence SN. In addition, the results also found that SN significantly influences intentions to purchase a family takaful scheme.
Practical implications
By examining MM and WM on SN, the study validated the importance of both constructs in affecting consumers’ SN and purchase intention. This study would be useful for takaful operators, as the findings would help them to formulate strategies for promotional activities.
Originality/value
This paper empirically justifies the relationship between MM and WM on SN and purchase intention of family takaful schemes in an integrated model.
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Nasibeh Hedayati, Elina Kuusisto, Khalil Gholami and Kirsi Tirri
This chapter studies how in Iranian schools the power of resistance is evident in female students’ moral dilemmas. The Islamic Revolution of Iran was a turning point in Iranian…
Abstract
This chapter studies how in Iranian schools the power of resistance is evident in female students’ moral dilemmas. The Islamic Revolution of Iran was a turning point in Iranian educational system in which the role of religion and the desire for Islamization of all aspects of the society was emphasized. The data was gathered from one girl and one boy school in Tehran in 2016, and it includes lower secondary school students’ essays (Female n=175, Male n=165) about moral dilemmas. The study reveals the impact of Islamic values in school life and that the power of resistance is weak since students cannot criticize Islamic values. However, female students’ moral dilemmas indicate aspects of resistance in terms of questioning the schools rules that are based on these religious values and principles. This chapter examines female cases in detail to discuss how issues related to gender and religion are interconnected in Iranian schools.
Maizaitulaidawati Md Husin and Asmak Ab Rahman
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence an individual’s intention to participate in the family takaful scheme based on decomposed theory of planned…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence an individual’s intention to participate in the family takaful scheme based on decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB). The central hypotheses for this study are that individual’s intentions to participate in family takaful scheme are a result of attitudes towards participation in family takaful scheme, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC). Awareness and knowledge, as well as exposure and religiosity, are integrated into the model.
Design/methodology/approach
Using primary data collection method, 384 questionnaires were distributed to target respondents comprising of Muslims in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and SmartPLS.
Findings
The DTPB model is effective in predicting individual’s intention to participate in family takaful scheme. Out of 15 hypotheses, 12 were found to be significant. Attitudes towards participation in family takaful scheme, PBC, knowledge, and exposure have significant influences on purchase intention. However, this study found the path from religiosity, awareness, and subjective norm to intention was insignificant.
Practical implications
The results of this study highlight the applicability of DTPB into takaful research and suggest marketing strategies for family takaful operators.
Originality/value
The value of this paper lies in its presentation of a model for factors that affect individual’s intention to participate in family takaful scheme.
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Elise E. Racine and Joanna J. Bryson
As illustrated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), epidemic models are powerful health policy tools critical for disease prevention and control, i.e. if they are fit for…
Abstract
Purpose
As illustrated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), epidemic models are powerful health policy tools critical for disease prevention and control, i.e. if they are fit for purpose. How do people ensure this is the case and where does health education fit in?
Design/methodology/approach
This research takes a multidisciplinary approach combining qualitative secondary and primary data from a literature review, interviews and surveys. The former spans academic literature, grey literature and course curriculum, while the latter two involve discussions with various modeling stakeholders (educators, academics, students, modeling experts and policymakers) both within and outside the field of epidemiology.
Findings
More established approaches (compartmental models) appear to be favored over emerging techniques, like agent-based models. This study delves into how formal and informal education opportunities may be driving this preference. Drawing from other fields, the authors consider how this can be addressed.
Practical implications
This study offers concrete recommendations (course design routed in active learning pedagogies) as to how health education and, by extension, policy can be reimagined post-COVID to make better use of the full range of epidemic modeling methods available.
Originality/value
There is a lack of research exploring how these methods are taught and how this instruction influences which methods are employed. To fill this gap, this research uniquely engages with modeling stakeholders and bridges disciplinary silos to build complimentary knowledge.
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Satyanarayana Pamarthi and R. Narmadha
Nowadays, more interest is found among the researchers in MANETs in practical and theoretical areas and their performance under various environments. WSNs have begun to combine…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, more interest is found among the researchers in MANETs in practical and theoretical areas and their performance under various environments. WSNs have begun to combine with the IoT via the sensing capability of Internet-connected devices and the Internet access ability of sensor nodes. It is essential to shelter the network from attacks over the Internet by keeping the secure router.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper plans to frame an effective literature review on diverse intrusion detection and prevention systems in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs) highly suitable for security in Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The literature review is focused on various types of attacks concentrated in each contribution and the adoption of prevention and mitigation models are observed. In addition, the types of the dataset used, types of attacks concentrated, types of tools used for implementation, and performance measures analyzed in each contribution are analyzed. Finally, an attempt is made to conclude the review with several future research directions in designing and implementing IDS for MANETs that preserve the security aspects of IoT.
Findings
It observed the different attack types focused on every contribution and the adoption of prevention and mitigation models. Additionally, the used dataset types, the focused attack types, the tool types used for implementation, and the performance measures were investigated in every contribution.
Originality/value
This paper presents a literature review on diverse contributions of attack detection and prevention, and the stand of different machine learning and deep learning models along with the analysis of types of the dataset used, attacks concentrated, tools used for implementation and performance measures on the network security for IoT applications.
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Behrooz Yousefi, Mohammad Reza Esfahani and Mohammadreza Tavakkolizadeh
This paper aims to develop a new multi-fiber element for predicting the structural behavior of planar-reinforced concrete (RC) members.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a new multi-fiber element for predicting the structural behavior of planar-reinforced concrete (RC) members.
Design/methodology/approach
In this work, an exact multi-directional stiffness matrix is analytically derived based on the post-cracking bond-slip interaction between concrete and steel bars. The approach is also extended for large displacement analysis using Green–Lagrange finite strain tensor. In the proposed formulation, the weak form of governed differential equations is approximated by a trial-function expansion based on a finite strain-description and an additional degree of freedom for steel bars.
Findings
The findings provide a realistic description of cracking in the concrete structure. Numerical studies are conducted to examine the accuracy of the suggested approach and its capability to predict fairly complex responses of RC models. The findings prove that the proposed element can evaluate local and global responses of RC members, and it can be used as a reliable tool to reflect bond-slip effects in large displacement level. This leads to a robust and precise model for non-linear analysis of RC structures.
Originality/value
The methodology is capable of simulating coupled inelastic shear-flexural behavior of RC members through local stress field theory and Timoshenko beam model.