For many people the concept of addiction involves taking drugs. Therefore it is perhaps unsurprising that most official definitions concentrate on drug ingestion. Despite such…
Abstract
For many people the concept of addiction involves taking drugs. Therefore it is perhaps unsurprising that most official definitions concentrate on drug ingestion. Despite such definitions, there is now a growing movement which views a number of behaviours as potentially addictive, including many behaviours which do not involve the ingestion of a drug. But do behavioural addictions really exist? Answers this question by examining the various commonalities (psychological, sociological and cultural) between excessive behaviours (behavioural and chemical) and by drawing on the author’s own work into fruit‐machine addiction. Concludes that addictions are not just restricted to drug‐ingestion behaviours and that evidence is growing that excessive behaviours of all types do seem to have many commonalities.
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Oche A. Egaji, Ikram Asghar, Mark G. Griffiths and David Hinton
This study aims to evaluate the usability of the augmented reality-based Evoke Education System (EES) to improve service operations in educational settings. The EES uses an…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the usability of the augmented reality-based Evoke Education System (EES) to improve service operations in educational settings. The EES uses an animated character (Moe) to interact with children in a classroom by reproducing their teacher's movements and speech.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a quantitative approach for the system usability evaluation. The ESS was evaluated by 71 children aged 6–8 years old, from two primary schools. After interacting with the EES, they completed a system usability questionnaire and participated in a knowledge acquisition test.
Findings
The knowledge acquisition test undertaken on the initial day showed statistically significant improvements for children taught with the EES, compared to children taught through traditional teaching approaches. However, the retest nine days later was not statistically significant (as only one school participated) due to low power. This study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), resulting in the identification of five essential factors (likeability, interactiveness, retention, effectiveness/attractiveness and satisfaction) that contribute to the EES's usability. The comparison with existing literature shows that these factors are consistent with the definition of system usability provided by the International Organization for Standardization and current academic literature in this field.
Research limitations/implications
The findings presented in this study are based on the data from only two schools. The research can be extended by involving children from a greater number of schools. Mixed methods and qualitative research approaches can be used for future research in this area to generalise the results.
Originality/value
This study proposes an innovative augmented reality-based education system to help teachers deliver their key messages to the children in a fun way that can potentially increase their knowledge retention.
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Remya Lathabhavan and Mark D. Griffiths
Working from home (WFH) was one of the major changes that occurred in many organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This also led to online training being conducted during this…
Abstract
Purpose
Working from home (WFH) was one of the major changes that occurred in many organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This also led to online training being conducted during this WFH period. The present study investigated the role of technology, manager support and peer support on self-efficacy and job outcomes (i.e. training transfer, work engagement and job satisfaction) of employees while WFH.
Design/methodology/approach
The study framework incorporated Bandura's self-efficacy theory. Data were collected from 852 employees in India, and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.
Findings
The study found positive relationships between ease of technology use, manager support and peer support on self-efficacy and a negative relationship between self-efficacy and technostress. The study also found significant positive relationships between self-efficacy and training transfer, work engagement and job satisfaction. Moreover, the study also identified the moderating effects of WFH and technical issues in the relationships of self-efficacy with training transfer, work engagement and job satisfaction.
Originality/value
The study is novel in that it extended self-efficacy theory regarding the WFH context with influencers such as technology, managers and peers as organizational factors. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of remote working and online training considering the potential antecedents while WFH. Moreover, the study highlighted the simultaneous role of technology and people (managers and peers) in enhancing job outcomes by increasing self-efficacy among employees.
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Joshua Fairbanks, Mark Griffiths and Drew Winters
The purpose of this paper is to examine programs designed to support the commercial paper market during the financial crisis.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine programs designed to support the commercial paper market during the financial crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper analyzes the participants in the two programs to determine why domestic financial institutions chose one program over the other.
Findings
Domestic financial institutions chose the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program over the Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) while foreign financial institutions chose the CPFF.
Practical implications
The analysis is intended to support future policy debate on how to address a liquidity crisis in the money markets.
Originality/value
The authors are the first paper to examine the participants in these two programs. The value is the policy implications of this study.
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Jill Kickul, Mark D. Griffiths, Colleen C. Robb and Lisa Gundry
Given the previous research on the disparities of lending rates and their relationship with lending institutions for women-owned and minority-owned businesses, the study poses the…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the previous research on the disparities of lending rates and their relationship with lending institutions for women-owned and minority-owned businesses, the study poses the research question: How much Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding was distributed to women-owned and minority-owned businesses in comparison to other firms? Additionally, as the purpose of the PPP funding was to assist small businesses in retaining their workforce, the authors pose a second research question: Of those who received PPP funding, how many jobs on average were retained? And importantly related to our first research question, are there differences across gender and race in the average number of jobs retained?
Design/methodology/approach
This is one of the first empirical studies with an initial sample size of 661,218 loans from July 2020 that examines whether the United States PPP had the intended impact to save jobs in small businesses and to examine any reported differences across gender and race in loans issued and jobs saved.
Findings
The authors find that significant differences exist between women- and men-owned businesses across all five loan categories, with male-owned firms receiving over 80% of PPP loans. However, women-owned firms saved more jobs on average across all but the largest loan category. Significant differences were also found between minority- and White-owned businesses with minority-owned businesses generally saving more jobs on average across most loan categories.
Research limitations/implications
A limitation of this study pertains to certain missing data that were not reported by participants. While a participant may have included their gender, they may not have included their race. Therefore, the varying sets of data may not be a reflection of the same individuals. Additionally, the industries were not included in this analysis, which may shed light on the job creation differences across gender and race.
Practical implications
Many of the industries that have been significantly impacted have been the tourism, restaurant and hospitality sectors, and knowing “where the money was allocated” can assist policymakers in allocating additional funds to those businesses, especially those who did not receive funding in the initial first waves of PPP.
Originality/value
This is one of the first empirical studies that examine over 600,000 loans and found that women-owned firms saved more jobs across all loan categories except the largest loans. Significant differences were also found between minority- and White-owned businesses with minority-owned businesses generally saving more jobs on average across most loan categories.
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Stephen Hay, Wendi Beamish and Mark Tyler
Political, historical and socio-demographic conditions in Australia have shaped the implementation of inclusive education and backgrounded current responses to Sustainable…
Abstract
Political, historical and socio-demographic conditions in Australia have shaped the implementation of inclusive education and backgrounded current responses to Sustainable Development Goal 4 of the Education 2030 Agenda. The analysis presented in this chapter highlights Australia's patchy endeavours to provide inclusive and equitable programmes at all levels of education and vocational training, particularly in relation to diverse learners and those with Indigenous backgrounds. Findings point to the need for Australian federal and state governments to collaborate, legislatively and financially, to better support policy enactment around the Education 2030 Agenda in partnerships with stakeholders at national, state and local levels.
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Craig R. Brown and Drew B. Winters
The State of Delaware recently passed a new banking law that allows banks and bank affiliates chartered in Delaware to sell and underwrite insurance nationwide. The new laws…
Abstract
The State of Delaware recently passed a new banking law that allows banks and bank affiliates chartered in Delaware to sell and underwrite insurance nationwide. The new laws provide two potential benefits to banks; (1) increased profits from selling insurance and (2) reduced interest rate risk exposure from underwriting insurance. We find support for increased profit potential to banks from the law, but we fail to find a reduction in the interest rate risk exposure of the banks.
This paper seeks to overview the issues, concerns and challenges relating to gambling – and more specifically internet gambling – in the workplace.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to overview the issues, concerns and challenges relating to gambling – and more specifically internet gambling – in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
Using psychological literature, this paper outlines a number of important and inter‐related areas including brief overviews of gambling and problem gambling, internet gambling, social impact of internet gambling, types of gambling in the workplace and associated issues, and the effects of gambling in the workplace.
Findings
The paper reveals that issues surrounding gambling and internet gambling in the workplace are a neglected but important area for employers and employees.
Research limitations/implications
The empirical base for the paper was based on a small number of peer‐reviewed papers.
Practical implications
Using the findings of the psychological literature, guidelines for managers on the issue of gambling and internet gambling in the workplace are presented.
Originality/value
Research on internet gambling is sparse and there is almost nothing in the literature concerning implications of internet gambling in the workplace.
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This paper seeks to overview the issues, concerns and challenges relating to internet abuse and internet addiction in the workplace.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to overview the issues, concerns and challenges relating to internet abuse and internet addiction in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
Using psychological literature, the paper outlines a number of important and inter‐related areas including brief overviews of internet abuse, and the most extreme form of internet abuse in the workplace (i.e. internet addiction).
Findings
The paper reveals that internet abuse is a relatively neglected area of research and that internet abuse is a potentially serious cause of concern for employers. It also highlights that there are many different kinds of internet abuse in the workplace (e.g. cybersexual internet abuse, and online friendship/relationship abuse, internet activity abuse, online information abuse, criminal internet abuse). It is concluded that internet abuse has the potential to be a serious occupational issue.
Research limitations/implications
The empirical base for the paper was based on a relatively small number of peer‐reviewed papers and relies heavily on the author's own work in the area.
Practical implications
Using the findings of the psychological literature, some guidance for managers on the issue of internet abuse in the workplace are presented.
Originality/value
Research on internet abuse and internet addiction is sparse and there is very little in the empirical literature concerning implications internet abuse in the workplace.
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Carla Haynes and Mark Rhys Kebbell
The purpose of this study was to determine if outcome bias and hindsight bias impact police performance ratings and perceptions of the likelihood and foreseeability of intimate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine if outcome bias and hindsight bias impact police performance ratings and perceptions of the likelihood and foreseeability of intimate partner homicides. In addition, the authors wished to see if taking the perspective of police mitigates any effects.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 200 university students read vignettes describing an incident from a police officer’s perspective or from their own perspective. Participants also read risk assessments of the offender’s risk of committing violence. They were randomly assigned to receive either information that the offender later committed a homicide or no outcome information.
Findings
The results demonstrated an outcome bias and hindsight bias, wherein participants who received information about the homicide rated it as more likely and foreseeable and gave lower performance ratings to the police, compared to those who did not receive outcome information. Participants who took police perspective still showed this bias.
Practical implications
The findings indicate that people are likely to be biased in their perceptions and judgements of police performance when they know a homicide occurred. This bias seems to be difficult to overcome.
Originality/value
This paper provides empirical evidence to show people may be unfairly critical of police performance when a homicide is perpetrated.