Examining the role of narratives in civic crowdfunding: linguistic style and message substance

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Heon Lee ◽  
Yiyang Bian ◽  
Rajaa Karaouzene ◽  
Nasreen Suleiman
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Dual Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Linguistic Style ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Likelihood Model ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how linguistic style and message substance influence persuasion in civic crowdfunding marketplaces in which written narrative pitch become a vital communication to attract private contributions to public goods and services. Drawing on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM), the authors operationalize the linguistic style of the narrative pitch as language power and message substance as issue-relevant argument quality. In this paper, the authors examine how characteristics of both style and message are related to the outcome of civic crowdfunded projects. Design/methodology/approach The data on civic crowdfunding projects were retrieved from Spacehive, the platform that dedicated mainly to civic projects ranging from community programs, social-oriented enterprises, to infrastructure or facility development. Each of the narrative samples is analyzed using a computerized text analysis package called the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count to extract the features of the linguistic style and message substance in the narratives. The logistic regression models are estimated to assess the impact of both linguistic style and message substance on crowdfunding decisions. Findings The results show that funding outcomes can be improved with psychological language dimensions (i.e. positive affective and perceptual language). However, extensive use of social language does not help project creators to increase their chance of funding performance; but instead, such language reduces the likelihood of project success. Additionally, message substance or issue-relevant information such as money and risk language influences funding outcome. Originality/value Very few empirical studies investigated the differential effects of language style and message substance on funding performance of crowdfunding campaigns. The authors draw upon the dual process of persuasion as a theoretical base to identify a comprehensive set of linguistic style and message substance and to examine the role of such features in an emerging civic crowdfunding market. This study advances the application of the dual process in ELM by identifying and examining distinct persuasive cues originating from linguistics styles and message contents.

How can leader humor enhance subordinates’ service creativity? The moderator of subordinates’ SFIT and the mediator of role modeling

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 865-882
Author(s):  
Leiqing Peng ◽  
Shaohui Lei ◽  
Yulang Guo ◽  
Fei Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Role Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moderated Mediation Model ◽  
Path Analyses ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeAs an essential personality charm of leaders, humor can bring a series of positive outcomes to both users and receivers. However, there is also evidence that the impact of leaders’ humor (LH) is constrained by individuals, teams and organizational factors. The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between LH and subordinates’ service creativity. Based on social learning theory and previous literature on LH, this paper identifies role modeling as the mediator and suggests that subordinates’ sensitivity to favorable interpersonal treatment (SFIT) moderates these relationships.Design/methodology/approachIn order to test the proposed moderated mediation model, this study employed hierarchical multiple regression and path analyses with valid data of 348 samples.FindingsResults revealed that LH positively affects role modeling and service creativity of subordinates, while subordinates' SFIT positively moderates the relationship between LH and subordinates' service creativity via role modeling.Practical implicationsIn compliance with these findings, this research suggests that enterprises should pay attention to the role of humor from middle managers and strengthen managers' role modeling through multiple measures to establish a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere in the workplace.Originality/valueBuilt on the conceptual framework, this study contributes to the literature on LH and employees’ service creativity by treating role modeling as the mechanism and SFIT as the moderator. This research is one of the first few empirical studies to investigate the relationship between LH and service creativity of service personnel in the service industry.

The impact of language on retweeting during acute natural disasters: uncertainty reduction and language expectancy perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 120 (8) ◽  
pp. 1501-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Heon Lee ◽  
Heng Yu
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Uncertainty Reduction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Linguistic Style ◽  
Language Style ◽  
Language Expectancy ◽  
Concrete Language ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Language Content

PurposeSocial media have increasingly gained credibility as information sources in emergencies. Retweeting or resharing nature has made Twitter a popular medium of information dissemination. The purpose of this article is to enhance our understanding of both linguistic style and content properties (i.e. both affective and informational contents) that drives resharing behavior or virality of disaster messages on Twitter. We investigate this issue in the context of natural disaster crisis.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors develop, drawing upon language expectancy and uncertainty reduction theories as an enabling framework, hypotheses about how the language (i.e. style and content) influence resharing behavior. They employ a natural language processing of disaster tweets to examine how the language – linguistic style (concrete and interactive language) and linguistic content (information- and affect-focused language) – affects resharing behavior on Twitter during natural disasters. To examine the effects of both linguistic style and content factors on virality, a series of negative binomial regressions were conducted, particularly owing to the highly skewed count data.FindingsOur analysis of tweets from the 2013 Colorado floods shows that resharing disasters tweets increases with the use of concrete language style during acute emergencies. Interactive language is also positively associated with retweet frequency. In addition, neither positive nor negative emotional tweets drive down resharing during acute crises, while information-focused language content has a significantly positive effect on virality.Practical implicationsAgencies for public safety and disaster management or volunteer organizations involved in disseminating crisis and risk information to the public may leverage the impacts of the linguistic style and language content through the lens of our research model. The findings encourage practitioners to focus on the role of linguistic style cues during acute disasters. Specifically, from the uncertainty reduction perspective, using concrete language in the disaster tweets is the expected norm, leading to a higher likelihood of virality. Also, interactively frame disaster tweets are more likely to be diffused to a larger number of people on Twitter.Originality/valueThe language that people use offer important psychological cue to their intentions and motivations. However, the role of language on Twitter has largely been ignored in this crisis communication and few prior studies have examined the relationship between language and virality during acute emergencies. This article explains the complex and multifaceted nature of information resharing behavior using a multi-theoretical approach – including uncertainty reduction and language expectancy theory – to understand effects of language style and content cues on resharing behavior in the context of natural crisis events.

The impact of intellectual capital on start-up expectations

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Matricano
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Research Trend ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The Impact

Purpose According to an emerging research trend, which seeks to apply the concept of intellectual capital (IC) to the field of entrepreneurship, the purpose of this paper is to test whether IC can affect the start-up expectations of aspiring entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach Binary logistic regression models, based on empirical data derived from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor website and referring to Italy over the years 2005-2010, are used to test the influence of IC (comprising human, structural and relational capital) on start-up expectations. Findings Binary logistic regression models reveal robust results. Human, structural and relational capitals affect start-up expectations in Italy. Only in 2010 did structural capital fail to do so. Research limitations/implications This study has three main limitations. The first concerns the need for further research to confirm the influence of IC on start-up expectations. The second concerns in-depth, more exhaustive analyses that cannot be carried out due to the use of second- hand data. The third deals with the reference only to Italy, over a limited time-span (2005-2010). Originality/value To the best knowledge of the author, this is one of the first empirical studies that investigate whether IC can affect start-up expectations. Results revealed by the regression models might steer other scholars’ interest toward this research path (linking IC and entrepreneurship) that has not yet been properly considered.

Dealing with initial success versus failure in crowdfunding market

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1190-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Heon Lee ◽  
Ananth Chiravuri
Keyword(s):  
Attribution Theory ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Campaign Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
The Impact ◽  
New Industry ◽  
Failure Experience

Purpose Serial crowdfunding is becoming a common phenomenon as entrepreneurs repeatedly return to online crowdfunding to raise capital. In this study, the authors focus attention on serial crowdfunders, that is, entrepreneurs who experience launching more than one crowdfunding project. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of past experience on subsequent crowdfunding performance. This study also examines whether initial success vs initial failure leads serial crowdfunders to engage in more explorative behaviors (i.e. switching industry) and to take exploitative actions (i.e. adjusting campaign strategies in terms of goal setting and funding option). Design/methodology/approach Data on serial crowdfunding projects was retrieved from Indiegogo platform. The logistic regression models are estimated to assess the impact of past entrepreneurial experience on subsequent crowdfunding decisions, and to estimate the effects of the three strategies on subsequent funding performance. Findings The results show that serial creators who experienced successful initial crowdfunding are more likely to explore a new industry or product category in the crowdfunding market and to set a higher target capital for the subsequent campaign when they change a project category. Originality/value Despite the fact that there are a considerably large number of serial crowdfunders in crowdfunding market, relatively little research has been conducted to investigate the presence of learning benefits from a previous to a subsequent crowdfunding project. Two competing hypotheses, drawn from the attribution theory and hubris theory of entrepreneurship, were tested in this study to determine the impact of prior success vs failure experience on both subsequent crowdfunding decisions and funding performance.

CSR types and the moderating role of corporate competence

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 1358-1386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoye Chen ◽  
Rong Huang ◽  
Zhiyong Yang ◽  
Laurette Dube
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the impact of different types of corporate social responsibility (CSR; i.e. value-creating CSR, promotional CSR and philanthropic CSR) on consumer responses and the moderating role of corporate competence.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested the hypotheses by using two empirical studies – a survey and an experimental study. The evidence is generated based on generalized linear model repeated-measures ANOVAs for the survey study and two-way factorial ANOVAs for the experimental study.FindingsThe findings show that in general, consumers respond to value-creating CSR more favorably than to philanthropic CSR or promotional CSR. In addition, corporate competence moderates consumers’ responses to different types of CSR in such a way that promotional CSR is more likely to have the desired effects when carried out by low-competency rather than by high-competency firms, whereas value-creating CSR is more effective for high-competency firms than for low-competency ones. Philanthropic CSR works equally in both types of firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis research answers a long-term call to study the differential consumer effects of various CSR types. It also identifies perceived corporate competence, an important consumer-based corporate factor, as a potential moderator of consumers’ response to CSR types.Practical implicationsArmed with the findings, companies can choose CSR practices that fit with their company characteristics. This research offers important and specific managerial implications to firms with different company profiles on their CSR choices.Originality/valueGiven that today’s managers are faced with the challenge of selecting desirable CSR activities from a group of options, the authors answered the call by studying the differential effects of a wide array of CSR choices and provide important practical guidance to managers. For the first time in the literature, the study also investigates the potential interactive effects between specific CSR types and corporate competence on consumer reactions. This inquiry bears significant relevance to the ongoing discussions concerning whether and how company characteristics generate influences on the outcomes of CSR strategies.

Gender gap and ecological footprint: are there country variations? Evidence from quantile panel regression

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Elish
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Institutions ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of the gender gap on the ecological footprint (EFP) corresponding to its different quantiles. Design/methodology/approach Quantile panel regression for 24 countries from the period 2006 to 2017 will be used, for the gender gap and other determinants of EFP. Findings Each factor affecting EFP differs in its impact depending on the level of EFP quantile it corresponds to. Gender gap was found to be increasing EFP for the higher quantiles and decreasing EFP for the lower quantiles. Research limitations/implications Environmental institutions should be considering the role of gender equality as a factor affecting the environment. Socioeconomic factors sometimes hamper the role of the female gender in preserving the environment. There are variations on how EFP factors differ between individual countries and this opens areas for further studies. Originality/value This research contributes to the current research studies by testing the impact of the gender gap on EFP instead of CO2 emission which is widely used in the literature. This topic is considered understudied and one of the few that uses the quantile panel regression to investigate this impact, none of which is used in gender and environment studies. Finally, the model used in the study uses a more comprehensive extension of the “Stochastic Impact by Regression on Pollution, Affluence and Technology” model compared to the existing empirical studies in this area.

The role of maqasid al-Shariʿah in applying fiqh muamalat into modern Islamic banking in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2137-2154
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shahrul Ifwat Ishak ◽  
Fathullah Asni
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Advisory Council ◽  
Islamic Finance ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Floating Rate ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Banking Operations

Purpose This paper aims to explore the practical role of maqasid al-Shari’ah in applying fiqh muamalat to the reality of modern banking practices. As the modern financial environment is complicated and not too conducive for Islamic banking operations, a special approach based on maqasid al-Shari’ah is needed to harmonize between revelation and reality. Design/methodology/approach The data of this study are obtained through literature and empirical data. As for the empirical, the exploratory qualitative approach is applied in which three members of the Shari’ah Advisory Council (SAC) of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) as well as three Shari’ah committees (SC) of Islamic Finance Institutions are selected as interviewees. As a result, several themes are defined from the interview data before they are analyzed based on the concept of maqasid al-Shari’ah. Findings The findings reveal that several practices are prevalent in developing Islamic banking products, including replicating conventional products to be Islamic ones, imposing wa’ad (unilateral promise) to strengthen the combination of different contracts into one product, and adopting floating rate with ibra’ (rebate) for financing price, which are needed to sustain this industry in modern financial system. In this regard, maqasid al-Shari’ah is applied to reconcile between rulings in fiqh muamalat and banking environments, so that these rulings can be adopted pragmatically without compromising Shari’ah principles. Research limitations/implications This study has its limitations, as it focuses on the extent of the role of the maqasid al-Shari’ah in Islamic banking operations, excluding other segments of Islamic finance such as Islamic capital markets and Islamic insurance. Moreover, as data are collected from only six interviewees from SAC and SC of Malaysia, the results cannot be represented for the whole Islamic banking practices of this country. Practical implications This study provides several policy recommendations regarding the practice of the maqasid al-Shari’ah in Islamic banking. These may be useful for all Islamic finance players, including regulators and bankers in introducing policies and products in this area. Social implications This study has the potential to enhance the confidence of the Muslim community, particularly in Islamic banking to support its existence and practices. The impact of such optimism will lead to an increase in demand for Islamic banking products, hence encouraging Islamic banking to sustain and update its activities in line with maqasid al-Shari’ah. Originality/value This paper offers a practical approach as regards to how the maqasid al-Shari’ah can play a significant role in sustaining the Islamic banking industry, particularly in circumstances that are not favorable to its progress. It is indispensable to prevent the Islamic rulings from being diverted in the name of human well-being and to avoid basing them on a literal textual approach. Moreover, as it provides empirical studies on the issue of replication, wa’ad, floating rate and ibra’, the discussion on this subject becomes more practical.

The effect of innovative food products on shaping the image of their offerors

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Izabela Baruk ◽  
Sebastian Białoskurski
Keyword(s):  
Innovation Management ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Market Success

PurposeThe main purpose of this article is to determine the significance of selected reasons for the market success of a new food product depending on the perception of the offeror.Design/methodology/approachA cognitive-critical analysis of the literature on marketing, innovation management and image management were used to prepare the theoretical section. The results of the analysis indicate a cognitive and research gap regarding the role of innovative food products in creating their offerors' image. In order to reduce the gap, empirical studies were conducted on a sample of young Polish consumers, in which a questionnaire was used to gather primary data. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using the following methods and statistical tests: exploratory factor analysis, Kruskal–Wallis test, Pearson chi-square independence test and V-Cramer coefficient analysis.FindingsThe results of the analysis conducted indicated, inter alia, that there are no statistically significant dependencies between opinions on the importance of individual components to achieve market success by a new food product (NFP), and on the relationship between the perception of the NFP and the image of the offeror. Opinions on the impact of an offeror's image on the perception of an NFP are a feature that differentiates the factors indicating the success of NFPs in the case of three variables only.Originality/valueThe results obtained from the research have a cognitive and applicability value, characterized by originality. Until now, the role of innovative food products in creating their offerors' image has not been analyzed.

Discovering the underlying dynamics of crowdfunding networks: entrepreneurs’ ties, crowdfunders’ connections and community spin-offs

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-298
Author(s):  
Ciro Troise
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Online Spaces ◽  
Funding Success ◽  
Research Stream ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the underlying dynamics of crowdfunding networks. The study examines the impact of actors’ connections, i.e. entrepreneurs’ ties and connections between crowdfunders, on funding success, i.e. the funding amount collected at the end of crowdfunding campaigns. Furthermore, this research explore the role of communities within crowdfunding platforms. Design/methodology/approach The study leverages the network theory and uses a quantitative methodology based on a regression analysis (ordinary least squares). Data collection was done through Ulule, a leading crowdfunding platform in Europe. Findings The research provides a description of the structure of crowdfunding networks and their communities. The results show that actors’ connections play a key role in affecting the funding success. Both the entrepreneurs’ ties, i.e. the connections of the entrepreneur before the launch of the campaign and the connections between crowdfunders, i.e. the ties established within crowdfunding communities (redundancy and effective size), positively affect the funding amount collected at the end of the campaign. Research limitations/implications This paper has useful implications for several stakeholders such as entrepreneurs, platform managers, communities’ managers, policy makers and authorities. Entrepreneurs should expand and strengthen their ties before the launch of the online call, while managers of platforms/communities should stimulate connections between actors, in particular between crowdfunders within communities, and improve the online spaces of campaigns with new dedicated sections or specific forums. Policy makers and authorities should design specific policies, favor the rise of new types of entrepreneurship (e.g. community spin-off) and support the development of new tools and communities. Originality/value This is one of the first empirical studies that explore the underlying dynamics of crowdfunding networks. Results revealed by the analysis might steer other scholars’ interest towards this research path. The connections between crowdfunders within the communities have been neglected so far. This research proposes an original network approach based on typical network parameters. The study sheds some light on the importance of actors’ connections and adds new knowledge in a recent research stream that is still in its infancy.

Role of “perceived risks” in adopting mobile government (m-government) services in India

foresight ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuti Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Risks ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of “perceived risks” in adopting mobile government (m-government) services in India. Design/methodology/approach Conceding that “privacy risks” are one of the major factors that influence the adoption of e-services, the impact of “perceived risks” alongside “social efficacy,” “influence” of significant others and “attitude” on the adoption of m-government services in India has been underlined here. Specifically, the study has been conducted with 311 actual m-government users and constructs have been derived from existing theories like Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Multiple regression analysis has been conducted to analyze the data focused on constructs as: Perceived Risks (PR), Influence (I), Self-efficacy (SE), Attitude (ATT) and Behavioral Intention to Adopt m-government services (BI). Findings Results show that while the respondents perceive that adoption of m-government services is risk-free and safe, there is no impact of the interpersonal relationships on m-government adoption. There is more inclination to adopt m-government services conceding that the respondents perceive that they have the self-efficacy to operate such services. M-government services are being tapped regularly by the respondents and there is more inclination to adopt m-government services among the public sector employees and self-employed respondents in comparison with the ones who are students or unemployed. In terms of age, those in the age group of 31–50 are more inclined to adopt m-government services in comparison with the rest. Originality/value Exploration of “perceived risks” and other factors has been less in the context of m-government studies. The present study fills the gap in two ways: first, it undertakes the investigation in a developing country conceding that empirical studies on m-government adoption are few in Indian context, and second, it throws light on the role of “adoption” of m-government services in contrast with the “use” of e-government services.

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