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1 – 10 of 112Thomas E. Jones, Lindsay Mack and Oscar A. Gómez
As UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) are integrated across Asia-Pacific Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), the purpose of this descriptive and exploratory study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
As UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) are integrated across Asia-Pacific Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), the purpose of this descriptive and exploratory study is to investigate undergraduates’ own self-stated commitment to the SDGs and their perceived feasibility by the 2030 target.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-methodology approach covered quantitative and qualitative approaches facilitated by purposive selection of an Asia-Pacific HEI via a Japanese liberal arts college where a questionnaire survey was administered in Autumn 2021. Responses were monitored from freshmen students in twin courses within the same major (introduction to “Environment” and “Development” studies, respectively; n = 177) that both integrated SDGs within their respective curricula.
Findings
Students in both classes rated the SDGs as a useful learning tool but were sceptical of their feasibility by 2030. A self-stated commitment was high, especially among environment studies students. Multiple regression was run to predict SDGs commitment from gender, major, perceived SDGs’ usefulness and feasibility. These variables partially predicted SDGs commitment but only gender and major variables added statistical significance. Moreover, the same variables were less equivocal in terms of predicting the self-stated belief that the SDGs could be achieved by 2030.
Practical implications
The findings can inform instructors of students’ perceptions towards SDGs. Significant differences raise academic and applied discussion points, such as how to engage male students, for example, by setting up sustainability “business case” practicums.
Originality/value
As global HEIs grapple with effective ways to vertically integrate SDGs into a university’s curriculum, students’ opinions are often underrepresented. This paper’s originality and value address these gaps by exploring a holistic student-centric perspective on SDGs in the context of commitment. This paper also has implications for more effective cross-curricula integration of the SDGs.
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Stephen Michael Croucher, Stephanie Kelly, Mark Burkey, Anthony Spencer, Oscar Gomez, Carmencita Del Villar and Nadirabegim Eskiçorapçı
The argumentativeness measure has been used in more than a 100 studies since 1982. The measure was developed and validated within a US university/college student sample. Despite…
Abstract
Purpose
The argumentativeness measure has been used in more than a 100 studies since 1982. The measure was developed and validated within a US university/college student sample. Despite its intended use, the measure is regularly used outside of the US and outside of the university/college setting without tests of validity. There is also intense debate as to the dimensionality of the measure, with one camp defending the bi-dimensionality of the measure and another proposing uni-dimensionality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the utility of the measure outside of its intended population.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of seven samples were collected (n = 1860) from the UK, Germany, France, Turkey, the Philippines, Nicaragua and the US. In this study, Infante and Rancer’s (1982) original 20-item argumentativeness measure was used to assess argumentativeness. Confirmatory factor analyses was used to test content validity.
Findings
Fit statistics were consistently poor for the unidimensional factor structure. As there is debate as to whether the measure is uni or bi-dimensional, a bi-dimensional fit was also analysed. The measure performed slightly better in each sample using a bi-dimensional factor structure. However, fit statistics were still poor for each sample.
Research limitations/implications
Specifically, the seven samples are convenience samples. While such a sampling technique does limit the generalizability of a study’s findings, convenience samples are common when using the argumentativeness measure. These results present avenues for exploring the dimensionality of the argumentativeness measure and for revisiting cross-cultural examinations of argumentativeness.
Practical implications
Factor structure is a critical issue in validity. Whether authors specify their prediction or not, factor structure is always hypothesized as part of a study when measurements are used, and therefore, should be examined in every study as part of the scientific process. Making claims about human behaviour based upon measures with mis-specified factor structures or other validity issues can lead to the perpetuation of misinformation within the literature.
Originality/value
This is one of the few studies to empirically explore the psychometric properties of one of the most used measures in argument/conflict research. In doing so, this study enhances the understanding of decades of argumentativeness research.
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José Arias-Pérez, Joaquin Alegre and Cristina Villar
There has been a great interest in the literature in understanding the incidence of information technology capabilities (ITC) on innovation performance (IP). Recently, it has been…
Abstract
Purpose
There has been a great interest in the literature in understanding the incidence of information technology capabilities (ITC) on innovation performance (IP). Recently, it has been proven that this relationship is mediated by organizational factors requiring an additional effort in terms of information processing in a rational and analytical manner, including strategic market orientation and absorptive capacity; however, the role of emotions in this discussion has not been widely addressed. A scenario in which emotions are inhibited, in particular, emotional capability (EC), prevents the activation of other forms of cognition relating to intuition, experience and empathy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the mediating effect of EC on the relationship between ITC and IP.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyzed the statistical significance of the indirect effects through structural equations.
Findings
The results show the existence of partial mediation of EC. Therefore, it is evidenced that less rational constructs, such as EC, serve as a bridge between ITC and IP, on account of the improvement in information processing, the level of information technology (IT) use and virtual communication.
Originality/value
This finding is quite significant because it forces innovation researchers and practitioners to reconsider the prevailing study perspective that explores only analytical mediators, which implies an additional effort in terms of rational processing of information. All this because there is a risk of accentuating the cognitive overload and increasing the levels of stress that lead employees to stop receiving and using information provided by IT services, which compromises the possibility of obtaining better results in innovation.
Propósito
En la literatura ha habido un gran interés por analizar la incidencia de las capacidades de tecnologías de información (CTI) en el desempeño innovador (DI). Recientemente ha quedado claro que esta relación está mediada por factores organizacionales que implican un esfuerzo adicional en términos de procesamiento racional y analítico de información, entre ellos, la orientación estratégica al mercado y la capacidad de absorción. Sin embargo, el papel de las emociones en esta discusión no ha sido considerado. Un escenario en el que la capacidad emocional (CE) no está siendo considerada supone la no activación de otras formas de cognición relacionadas con la intuición, la experiencia y la empatía. Por lo tanto, el propósito de este artículo es analizar el efecto mediador de CE en la relación entre CTI y DI.
Metodología
Se analizó la significancia estadística de los efectos indirectos mediante ecuaciones estructurales
Resultados
Los resultados muestran la existencia de una mediación parcial de CE. Por lo tanto, queda evidenciado que constructos menos racionales como la capacidad emocional sirven como un puente entre CTI y el DI, por cuenta de la mejora en el procesamiento de la información, el nivel de uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación virtual.
Originalidad
Este hallazgo es bastante interesante dado que obliga a los investigadores y profesionales dedicados a la innovación a reconsiderar la perspectiva de estudio hegemónica que explora únicamente mediadores analíticos, lo cual implica un esfuerzo adicional en términos de procesamiento racional de la información. De este modo, se maximiza el riesgo de acentuar la sobrecarga cognitiva e incrementar los niveles de estrés que llevan a los empleados a dejar de recibir y utilizar la información proveniente de los servicios de TI, lo que compromete la posibilidad de obtener mejores resultados en innovación.
Palabras claves
Transformación digital, Procesamiento de información, Pensamiento intuitivo y analítico, Innovación digital, Inteligencia emocional, COVID-19
Tipo de papel
Trabajo de investigación
Objetivo
Tem havido um grande interesse, na literatura, em compreender a incidência das capacidades das tecnologias da informação (CTI) no desempenho da inovação (DI). Recentemente, ficou comprovado que esta relação é mediada por fatores organizacionais que demandam um esforço adicional em termos de processamento da informação de uma forma racional e analítica, incluindo a orientação estratégica do mercado e a capacidade de absorção. Contudo, o papel das emoções nesta discussão não tem sido amplamente abordado. Um cenário em que as emoções são inibidas, em particular, a capacidade emocional (CE), impede a ativação de outras formas de cognição relacionadas com a intuição, a experiência e a empatia. Portanto, o objetivo do documento é analisar o efeito mediador da capacidade emocional na relação entre a CTI e a DI.
Desenho
Analisámos o significado estatístico dos efeitos indiretos através de equações estruturais.
Resultados
Os resultados mostram a existência de uma mediação parcial da CE. Portanto, é evidenciado que construções menos racionais como a CE servem de ponte entre o CTI e a DI, devido à melhoria do processamento da informação, do nível de utilização das TI e da comunicação virtual.
Originalidade
Esta descoberta é bastante significativa porque obriga os investigadores e profissionais da inovação a reconsiderarem a perspectiva de estudo predominante que explora apenas os mediadores analíticos, o que implica um esforço adicional em termos de processamento racional da informação. Tudo isto porque existe o risco de acentuar a sobrecarga cognitiva e aumentar os níveis de estresse que levam os funcionários a deixarem de receber e utilizar a informação fornecida pelos serviços de TI, o que compromete a possibilidade de obter melhores resultados na inovação.
Palavras-chave
Transformação digital, Processamento da informação, Pensamento intuitivo e analítico, Inovação digital, Inteligência emocional, COVID-19
Tipo de manuscrito
Artigo de pesquisa
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Yuri Merizalde, Luis Hernández-Callejo, Oscar Duque-Pérez and Víctor Alonso-Gómez
Despite the wide dissemination and application of current signature analysis (CSA) in general industry, CSA is not commonly used in the wind industry, where the use of vibration…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the wide dissemination and application of current signature analysis (CSA) in general industry, CSA is not commonly used in the wind industry, where the use of vibration signals predominates. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the use of generator CSA (GCSA) in the online fault detection and diagnosis of wind turbines (WTs).
Design/methodology/approach
This is a bibliographical investigation in which the use of GCSA for the maintenance of WTs is analyzed. A section is dedicated to each of the main components, including the theoretical foundations on which GCSA is based and the methodology, mathematical models and signal processing techniques used by the proposals that exist on this topic.
Findings
The lack of appropriate technology and mathematical models, as well as the difficulty involved in performing actual studies in the field and the lack of research projects, has prevented the expansion of the use of GCSA for fault detection of other WT components. This research area has yet to be explored, and the existing investigations mainly focus on the gearbox and the doubly fed induction generator; however, modern signal treatment and artificial intelligence techniques could offer new opportunities in this field.
Originality/value
Although literature on the use of GCSA for the detection and diagnosis of faults in WTs has been published, these papers address specific applications for each of the WT components, especially gearboxes and generators. For this reason, the main contribution of this study is providing a comprehensive vision for the use of GCSA in the maintenance of WTs.
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Óscar Martín Rodríguez, Francisco González-Gómez and Jorge Guardiola
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the relationship between student assessment method and e-learning satisfaction. Which e-learning assessment method do students prefer? The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the relationship between student assessment method and e-learning satisfaction. Which e-learning assessment method do students prefer? The assessment method is an additional determinant of the effectiveness and quality that affects user satisfaction with online courses.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs data from 1,114 students. The first set of data was obtained from a questionnaire on the online platform. The second set of information was obtained from the external assessment reports by e-learning specialists. The satisfaction revealed by the students in their responses to the questionnaire is the dependent variable in the multivariate technique. In order to estimate the influence of the independent variables on the global satisfaction, we use the ordinary least squares technic. This method is the most appropriate for dependent discrete variables whose categories are ordered but have multiple categories, as is the case for the dependent variable.
Findings
The method influences e-learning satisfaction, even though only slightly. The students are reluctant to be assessed by a final exam. Students prefer systems that award more importance to the assessment of coursework as part of the final mark.
Practical implications
Knowing the level of student satisfaction and the factors that influence it is helpful to the teachers for improving their courses.
Originality/value
In online education, student satisfaction is an indicator of the quality of the education system. Although previous research has analyzed the factors that influence e-student satisfaction, to the best of authors’ knowledge, no previous research has specifically analyzed the relationship between assessment systems and general student satisfaction with the course.
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Julio César Acosta-Prado, Julián Andrés Gómez Sánchez, Oscar Hernán López-Montoya and Arnold Alejandro Tafur-Mendoza
This study aims to analyze the influence of sustainable value creation (composed of social, economic and environmental dimensions) on organizational performance in Colombian…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the influence of sustainable value creation (composed of social, economic and environmental dimensions) on organizational performance in Colombian industrial manufacturing companies.
Design/methodology/approach
This study had a sample of 1,572 companies belonging to the Colombian manufacturing industrial sector. These companies were consulted by the survey of technological development and innovation in the manufacturing industry EDIT IX. For this study’s purpose, a model was developed from a variance-based structural equation modeling or partial least squares.
Findings
The results indicated that the associated mechanisms of the social, economic and environmental dimensions contribute in a significant, positive and large way to the creation of sustainable value for the companies studied. The findings show the importance of the social, economic and environmental dimensions in the creation of sustainable value and in turn, their influence on organizational performance.
Social implications
The findings obtained provide industrial companies and society with resources to understand that economic development can respond to business logic different from those imposed by current neoliberal models.
Originality/value
This study provides an understanding of the value capture mechanisms of small- and medium-sized companies considering the environmental needs of the territory and the community where the business activities take place while generating economic profitability for the other stakeholders.
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Karen Arzate Quintanilla, Gehan Selim and Pam Birtill
This study explores how physical factors foster a supportive and welcoming atmosphere conducive to learning and personal development. The research highlights the relevance of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores how physical factors foster a supportive and welcoming atmosphere conducive to learning and personal development. The research highlights the relevance of “spatial belonging” as a novel concept associated with the materiality of buildings in higher education institutions, explaining how the physicality of architectural space directly impacts students’ success and learning experience.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methods included the use of cartographies created by undergraduate students, which provided a platform for them to articulate their perspectives on the educational spaces within their school.
Findings
The findings show a relationship between well-designed educational spaces and students’ heightened sense of belonging. Implications for educational policy and campus design are included as areas for future research, emphasizing the need for architects, educators and policymakers to collaborate in creating spaces that meet functional academic requirements.
Research limitations/implications
Spatial belonging has been studied through the architectural student perspective, however, there should be a different approach toward materiality from students of different disciplines. The study could be replicated in different institutions and multiple career paths.
Practical implications
Spatial design for higher education has been a matter of importance especially after COVID-19, since the sudden change of educational learning migrating to online platforms, the meaning and value of space should be revisited. HEIs should be prepared for multiple events that our society and environment may experience in the foreseeable future. Guidelines of spatial design for belonging and well-being should be at hand of educators and stakeholders.
Social implications
Spatial design is involved with psychological processes where emotions are being experienced in different places. A physical space should provide students with what they need in order to fulfill their needs as human beings who are experiencing multiple changes in their academic and personal life. Moreover, as seen in previous research, through the pandemic many students presented anxiety and depression which was related to isolation. Therefore, their life in campus is important not only for their academic development but for personal reasons.
Originality/value
The concept of sense of belonging has been studied through the perspective of psychology, geography, education and multiple disciplines. However, there is a lack of research that relates sense of belonging with materiality and architecture. The relationship physical spaces, has not been considered as essential for the development of basic tasks. Who designs the spaces we inhabit? Why are they designed in that particular way? Why are people not involved in the design of the spaces they work and live? Space is essential for social relationships to be developed, and at the same time social relations create different spaces, therefore, architecture supports the way we experience these spaces and promotes different relationships where there are no hierarchical levels but every aspect rather spatial or social have the same level of importance.
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Guillermo Guerrero-Vacas, Jaime Gómez-Castillo and Oscar Rodríguez-Alabanda
Polyurethane (PUR) foam parts are traditionally manufactured using metallic molds, an unsuitable approach for prototyping purposes. Thus, rapid tooling of disposable molds using…
Abstract
Purpose
Polyurethane (PUR) foam parts are traditionally manufactured using metallic molds, an unsuitable approach for prototyping purposes. Thus, rapid tooling of disposable molds using fused filament fabrication (FFF) with polylactic acid (PLA) and glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG) is proposed as an economical, simpler and faster solution compared to traditional metallic molds or three-dimensional (3D) printing with other difficult-to-print thermoplastics, which are prone to shrinkage and delamination (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polypropilene-PP) or high-cost due to both material and printing equipment expenses (PEEK, polyamides or polycarbonate-PC). The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the ease of release of PUR foam on these materials in combination with release agents to facilitate the mulding/demoulding process.
Design/methodology/approach
PETG, PLA and hardenable polylactic acid (PLA 3D870) have been evaluated as mold materials in combination with aqueous and solvent-based release agents within a full design of experiments by three consecutive molding/demolding cycles.
Findings
PLA 3D870 has shown the best demoldability. A mold expressly designed to manufacture a foam cushion has been printed and the prototyping has been successfully achieved. The demolding of the part has been easier using a solvent-based release agent, meanwhile the quality has been better when using a water-based one.
Originality/value
The combination of PLA 3D870 and FFF, along with solvent-free water-based release agents, presents a compelling low-cost and eco-friendly alternative to traditional metallic molds and other 3D printing thermoplastics. This innovative approach serves as a viable option for rapid tooling in PUR foam molding.
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Oscar Robayo-Pinzon, Sandra Rojas-Berrio, Patricia Núñez-Gómez, Blanca Miguélez-Juan and Ligia García-Béjar
The use of mobile devices by children and adolescents is increasing significantly; therefore, it is relevant to research the level of advertising literacy (AL) of parents who act…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of mobile devices by children and adolescents is increasing significantly; therefore, it is relevant to research the level of advertising literacy (AL) of parents who act as mediators between children and mobile advertising. This study aims to explore the conceptual, moral and attitudinal dimensions of AL and its relationship with different styles of parental control.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was applied simultaneously to a sample of parents with children between 5 and 16 years old in three Spanish-speaking countries: Mexico, Spain and Colombia. Participants from the three countries were recruited via online social media networks and were asked to fill in an online survey. A questionnaire, which has been adapted from previous literature to suit the mobile advertising context and the population of interest, was designed. Cross-country samples of varying sizes, with a predetermined quota of 200 participants for each country, were used. The total sample consisted of 1,454 participants.
Findings
Four factors of mobile AL were found, which, to a greater extent, correspond to the dimensions of AL proposed in the literature. The following are the dimensions that were identified: cognitive, moral, attitudinal and an emerging factor is known as “children’s perceived mobile AL.” Differences in parents’ perceived knowledge of mobile advertising, parental control styles and AL levels in the three countries were identified. Parents with an authoritative style were identified to have more knowledge than those with an indulgent style. Differences were also identified between countries concerning the amount of exposure that children have to mobile advertising, while no significant differences were found in the moral dimension.
Practical implications
Marketing practitioners and public policymakers must consider that parents differ in some dimensions of AL. Parents also seem to lack adequate knowledge about the advertising tools available to announcers that affect children and adolescents in a mobile communication environment. Therefore, government agencies should consider developing mobile digital media literacy programs for parents.
Originality/value
This paper explores the dimensions of AL applied to the mobile context and identifies the level of parental mobile AL in three Spanish-speaking countries, as well as the differences between these sub-samples concerning parental mobile AL profiles and parental control styles, thus expanding the literature on AL with a cross-cultural approach.
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