Gaps in sustainability education

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Brian Fisher ◽  
Erin McAdams
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Environmental Attitudes ◽  
Sustainability Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Integrated Or ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how both the amount and type of coursework impact students’ conceptualizations of sustainability. Previous research demonstrates that academic coursework influences students’ environmental attitudes, yet few studies have examined the impact of coursework on how students conceptualize “sustainability”. Design/methodology/approach – Data are examined from the 2011 Sustainability Survey, which yielded a sample of 552 students at a medium-sized university in the southeastern USA. A series of four linear regression models estimate the impact of academic coursework on students’ conceptualizations of sustainability (ecosystems/nature, eco-efficiency, community/well-being and systemic change/innovation). Findings – The results indicate that the type of course that students take significantly impacts the way in which students conceptualize this term; the number of courses taken has no statistically significant impact. This suggests that mere exposure to a particular theme in a class, rather than continued exposure to courses related to sustainability, is more important in shaping students’ perceptions. Originality/value – This study expands on previous research by examining the influence of the number and type of academic coursework on students’ conceptions of sustainability and provides a framework for understanding the varied ways in which sustainability is defined. This has important implications for how students approach ways to achieve a sustainable future. The results suggest that students may be exposed to particular messages within an academic division that encourage students to emphasize particular elements of sustainability. While not problematic on its face, the data demonstrate that students lack an integrated or holistic understanding of sustainability. They usually view sustainability through the same prism as the academic division where their coursework was located, and this has implications for students’ continued perceptions of sustainability, academic programming of sustainability and the practice of it.

Ramadan’s impact on the optimism of analysts’ recommendations

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 727-742
Author(s):  
Harit Satt ◽  
Sarah Nechbaoui ◽  
M. Kabir Hassan ◽  
Selma Izadi
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Multivariate Regression ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Stock Exchanges ◽  
Information Uncertainty ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
World Religions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to document the impact of Ramadan on the optimism of analysts’ recommendations taking as a sample the countries of the MENA region during the period between 2004 and 2015. The choice of these countries can be explained by the fact that their population is predominantly of a Muslim faith (The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050, 2015). Design/methodology/approach The authors used univariate and multivariate regression models to highlight the existence of the Ramadan effect on the optimism of analysts. They have found that pre-holiday optimism is significantly lower than post-holiday optimism. Findings This paper also documented the effect of analysts’ experience and information uncertainty on the analysts’ optimism level that allowed us to infer that low experience enhances optimism, while environment with low information uncertainty tends to decrease the level of optimism. Originality/value Previous research on this topic has investigated the effect of months of the year, turns of the month and days-of-the-week on the behavior of stock exchanges. Another strand of the literature also analyzed the effect of holidays on the latter. However, this is the first attempt to investigate this effect on analysts’ recommendations optimism when the holiday period is related to Islam.

Theorising the impact of COVID-19 on the fraud victimisation of older persons

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Cross
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how COVID-19 may alter the vulnerability levels of older persons, and how this may change their potential for fraud victimisation. This is particularly focused on the government’s use of isolation, restrictions on activity and physical distancing to combat the virus. Design/methodology/approach In the absence of statistics, this paper examines what is currently known about older persons and fraud, as well as the recent knowledge of COVID-19-related fraud. On this basis, the paper hypothesises the conceivable changes to vulnerability that potentially expose older persons to fraud. Findings This paper argues that COVID-19 has not seen “new” fraudulent approaches, rather offenders have used COVID-19 as a context to their existing schemes. Further, the current response to COVID-19 can substantially increase the number of older persons experiencing levels of vulnerability, and therefore increase their fraud risk. Research limitations/implications The current paper applies existing knowledge into the current circumstances of COVID-19 and lays the foundations for empirical work to be conducted in this area. Practical implications This paper provides an impetus to target the well-being and connectivity of older persons, (regardless of the COVID-19 context), to reduce their vulnerability to fraud victimisation. Social implications This paper highlights the importance of connectivity for older persons, and the need to focus on overcoming social isolation and loneliness. Originality/value This paper is the first to hypothesise the effects of COVID-19 and its associated government responses to the overall vulnerability of older persons, with a focus on the potential for fraud victimisation.

Spiritual quotient towards organizational sustainability: the Islamic perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohail Akhtar ◽  
Mohd Anuar Arshad ◽  
Arshad Mahmood ◽  
Adeel Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Organizational Sustainability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spiritual Awareness ◽  
Islamic Perspective ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of spiritual quotient (SQ) on the organisational sustainability from the Islamic perspective. Till date, many organisations around the world are facing environmental, social and economic issues affecting their organisational sustainability. Design/methodology/approach The present paper is conceptual paper based on literature review on employee’s behavioural issues and role of SQ for organisational sustainability. Findings This present paper argues that SQ must be considered as the important factor for employee development in the organisation. It develops spiritual awareness among employees which enhances their productivity within the organisation. Furthermore, SQ is necessary means of identifying and harnessing deeper inner resources with the capacity to care for the well-being of the organisation and advance its development. Research limitations/implications The paper suggests SQ and its multi-dimensions with the implication for future research in organisational sustainability. Originality/value The paper discusses the development of the concept of SQ from the Islamic perspective.

The impact of strategy on public sector set-aside programs: the case of the state of Ohio

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Y. Blount ◽  
Jay Seetharaman ◽  
Trevor L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Program Implementation ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Implementation Strategy ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Program Strategy ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of program strategy on the implementation of the efficacy of a procurement set-aside program at the state level. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the impact of program implementation strategy across two administrations considering the most compelling alternative arguments for what drives agency purchasing through contracts with MBEs. Findings The results of mixed effects linear regression models on the procurement expenditures of 70 state agencies in Ohio from 2008-2015 show significantly higher rates of procurement expenditures with MBEs under the Kasich administration. Originality/value These results provide support for the argument that changes in program implementation strategy led to substantive increases in the use of MBEs by state agencies in Ohio.

scholarly journals Provider Communication and Loneliness in Senior Living Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 721-721
Author(s):  
Lindsay Wilkinson ◽  
Julie Masters ◽  
Julie Blaskewicz Boron
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Provider Communication ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Resource Substitution ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Prior research has demonstrated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on feelings of loneliness, but relatively little is known about loneliness in the context of senior living communities (SLCs). Indeed, the pandemic has led SLCs to enact new safety precautions, including visitor restrictions, intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19, which may have serious consequences for the psychosocial well-being of residents. Drawing on a sample of 733 adults ages 54 to 100 living in one of nine SLCs in December 2020 (response rate = 60%), linear regression models were used to examine whether perceived communication between SLCs and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced feelings of loneliness. Analyses also considered whether this association varied as a function of education. Our findings reveal that 53% of respondents were very lonely during the pandemic. However, older adults who perceived that their SLC had been helpful to their understanding of the pandemic were significantly less lonely (p < 0.01), adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Moreover, we found that less educated older adults derived the greatest benefit from effective communication about the pandemic (p < 0.05). Those with less education reported feeling lonelier if they did not perceive that their SLC communicated in a way that helped them better understand the pandemic; there was no such association for those with higher education. The findings from this study provide support for the resource substitution hypothesis and demonstrate the importance of communication in alleviating feelings of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colour of food as a vector for children’s well-being

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-679
Author(s):  
Pascale Ezan ◽  
Gaelle Pantin-Sohier ◽  
Caroline Lancelot-Miltgen
Keyword(s):  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Product Packaging ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Children’S Behaviour ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A product colour plays an important role in consumers’ preferences. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of the three-dimensional character of colour (brightness, saturation and vividness) on children’s behaviour towards a food product and as a source of well-being. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments were conducted. Study 1 was conducted with 62 children and used four visuals of syrup presenting two colours (red/green) and two variations of vividness (vivid/dim). Study 2 was conducted with 70 children and used four pictures of stewed apples and four pictures of pouches to test the influence of each dimension of colour on children’s preferences for the product and the product packaging. Findings Results show that the three-dimensional character of colour plays an important role in children’s gustatory inferences and well-being. Research limitations/implications The study is restricted to one food product (in each study) habitually consumed by children. Other products could be investigated to show how colour can contribute to children’s well-being. Practical implications The paper addresses the issue of well-being as a potential brand-positioning element. Social implications The paper suggests new avenues to use the brightness/saturation or vividness of a product or packaging colour as a potential element to arouse positive sensations that generate children’s well-being even when the product is not a preferred one. Originality/value This works initiates creative thinking concerning the impact of a product colour on children consumers.

Effective ways to improve the well-being of employees

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Abusive Supervision ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Harmful Effects

Purpose Use of various discretionary HR practices can enable a firm to positively influence employee perceptions of the different dimensions of well-being. The impact of such practices can be enhanced further when organizations take appropriate steps to eliminate abusive supervision and its harmful effects. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Use of various discretionary HR practices can enable a firm to positively influence employee perceptions of the different dimensions of well-being. The impact of such practices can be enhanced further when organizations take appropriate steps to eliminate abusive supervision and its harmful effects. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

The impact of Zika on local businesses

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 452-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy F. Page ◽  
Mark L. Williams ◽  
Graziana Cassella ◽  
Jessica L. Adler ◽  
Benjamin C. Amick, III
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Impact ◽  
Outbreak Areas ◽  
The Usa ◽  
State And Local ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose In June 2016, the first cases of Zika were reported in the USA in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey of Wynwood businesses about their perceptions of their financial well-being and the government and media’s responses to the Zika outbreak. Design/methodology/approach A survey instrument was developed, and 44 owners/managers of Wynwood businesses were interviewed by telephone or in-person during the period when the outbreak was being managed. Findings Businesses reported downturns in revenues, profits, and customer traffic following the Zika outbreak. Believing that the downturn would be temporary, few businesses laid off workers or reduced prices. All businesses reported dissatisfaction with the government’s response to the outbreak. Originality/value This is the first study to document the impact of Zika on businesses located in outbreak areas. The findings highlight the business impact of Zika outbreaks and suggest a need for improved communication and response from state and local governments to business concerns when future outbreaks occur.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of the stranded seafarers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Pong Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vaccination Rate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Working Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Key Worker

PurposeThis study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being and mental health of the seafarers who had to overstay on ships after their contracts expired, identifies topics that affect their mental distress, and recommends measures to overcome these.Design/methodology/approachFour research questions about the impacts on the seafarers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were raised. A literature review and a questionnaire survey were conducted to find answers. Ship officers were asked to assess and fill in the questionnaires for the stranded seafarers onboard in order to collect sufficient samples rapidly for this study.FindingsDespite the guidelines provided by the shipping companies are adequate to protect the seafarers from COVID-19, their mental distress levels have been worsened under the pandemic. The crew change crisis causes anxiety and negatively impacts on their working performance; however, the repatriation expectation of the stranded seafarers is of the highest concern. Three topics were identified as having impacts on the mental health of the stranded seafarers: crew change crisis, low vaccination rate, and the lack of key worker recognition. While international stakeholders are advocating for support in these issues, the shipping companies and the seafarers need to do their parts to exacerbate the mental distress, and to survive and thrive beyond the pandemic.Originality/valueThe findings of this study will help the shipping companies to navigate the challenges, and the seafarers to overcome issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Welfare as political morality: right-based, duty-based or goal-based?

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 424-433
Author(s):  
Verena Risse
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Gross Domestic Product ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Political Morality ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Subjective Rights

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate new welfare indicators, which no longer rely solely on the gross domestic product but provide a more holistic understanding of welfare encompassing aspects such as health status, social inclusion or environmental quality. So far, it remains, however, questionable to what degree these new indicators can serve as an actual political morality. Design/methodology/approach – To assess this question, this paper proposes to turn to the distinction between right-based, duty-based and goal-based approaches. Assessing welfare in these terms not only suggests itself because of the consequentialist connotations of those alternative formulations that call for happiness or well-being, but also because the distinction allows to consider them in view of some of the central social goods and concerns. Findings – The analysis shows mixed results. It, first, shows that welfare as political morality is best captured in terms of goals. Still, whatever new indicator one chooses, it must not be conceived as a mere aggregation of particular interests, nor should individuals be sacrificed for the sake of an overall good. This makes it important that subjective rights that function as a counterweight are strengthened. Originality/value – The assessment of the new welfare indicators in these terms has not been undertaken so far, although they fit the purpose ideally. Thus, from the originality of the method, the originality of the findings follows so that the analysis provides neat categories and conclusions.

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