The Effects of Academic Programs and Institutional Characteristics on Postgraduate Civic Engagement Behavior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to pursue the following two objectives. First, this study examines how social capital indicators (reciprocal norm and social network) cause ethical consumption behavior by conceptualizing it as value co-creation specific to socially responsible firms. Second, it aims to verify whether corporate trust, which is another core indicator of social capital, mediates between social capital indicators and ethical consumption behavior. Design/methodology/approach For study subjects, the author selected general public located in the city of Seoul. A total of 307 respondents were used for statistical analysis after discarding unusable questionnaires. For the purpose of judgment sampling, the author selected those respondents who had prior purchase experience of the products or services provided by socially responsible firms. Findings This study tested core elements of social capital (reciprocal norm, social network and corporate trust) as predictors of ethical consumption behavior. In particular, the study newly conceptualized and validated ethical consumption behavior as one encompassing the civic engagement behavior whose premise is well encapsulated by value co-creation principle. The results demonstrate that the social network and reciprocal norm significantly influence ethical consumption behavior directly as well as indirectly through corporate trust. Research limitations/implications The significance of this study may be that it adds to current literature on ethical consumption behavior by validating an empirical model of ethical consumption behavior from the perspective of consumer engagement paradigm. No previous studies of ethical consumption behavior empirically tested this model previously, only offering conceptual similarity between ethical consumption and consumer engagement. The study’s result may provide some insights as to the utility of value co-creation strategy for socially responsible firms as a useful way to promote ethical consumption behavior. Practical implications This study’s result may provide some useful insights as to how socially responsible firms can improve their performance by understanding what makes their customers voluntarily engage in favor of the firms to create shared values. In particular, the finding on the corporate trust mediating between bonding network and ethical consumption behavior sheds useful insights for the firms on how they should garner customer trust to trigger ethical consumption behavior. In this sense, socially responsible firms need to focus their resources on publicity or endorsements by highly respected celebrities designed to stress the firms’ trustworthiness and create favorable corporate image. Social implications The finding that reciprocal norm has a significant impact on ethical consumption behavior also provides strategic implications on how to enhance the effectiveness of corporate messages. That is, the socially responsible firms should implement some corporate strategies designed to raise authentic corporate image of the firms by hiring the socially disadvantaged and returning some portion of profit back to society. By doing this, the socially responsible firms can expect to instill some sense of reciprocity into their current as well as potential customers. Originality/value Despite this conceived linkage, no previous research has empirically approached ethical consumption from the perspective of civic engagement to examine whether ethical consumers voluntarily engage in firm-specific engagement behavior that fulfills their civic responsibility. Therefore, the present research embarks on a new approach to conceptualize ethical consumption as a construct that embodies civic engagement that is conceptually encapsulated by the principle of value co-creation.

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Youth Civic Engagement Behavior on Facebook: A Comparison of Findings from Malaysia and Indonesia

Journal of Global Information Technology Management ◽

10.1080/1097198x.2016.1187527 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 128-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anne Marie Warren ◽

Noor Ismawati Jaafar ◽

Ainin Sulaiman

Keyword(s):

Civic Engagement ◽

Youth Civic Engagement ◽

Engagement Behavior

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Cracks in the Bedrock of American Democracy: Differences in Civic Engagement Across Institutions of Higher Education

Educational Researcher ◽

10.3102/0013189x18809053 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 31-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Brent J. Evans ◽

Christopher R. Marsicano ◽

Courtney J. Lennartz

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Civic Engagement ◽

Research Funding ◽

Institutional Isomorphism ◽

Data Sources ◽

Institutional Characteristics ◽

Institutions Of Higher Education ◽

American Democracy ◽

Institutional Control ◽

Effective Instrument

Preparing educated and active citizens is one of the primary goals of higher education, yet colleges and universities may neglect civic engagement due to the prioritization of labor market preparation. Drawing on neoinstitutional theory, this paper examines the missions, infrastructure, activities, and outcomes related to civic engagement across postsecondary institutional characteristics. By combining several data sources on a diverse set of institutions, we empirically demonstrate institutional isomorphism with respect to civic engagement mission and decoupling of mission from infrastructure and activities. Our most striking finding is that a residential student population is strongly associated with an increased emphasis on civic engagement even after controlling for institutional control, selectivity, research funding, and student services spending. Given the growing number of students attending nonresidential institutions, this finding has important implications for whether higher education is an effective instrument for preparing civically engaged citizens in our society.

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Examining Civic Outcomes Between 2- and 4-Year Colleges: A Case Study of Two Postsecondary Institutions

Education and Urban Society ◽

10.1177/0013124520986961 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 001312452098696

Author(s):

Wonmai Punksungka ◽

Takashi Yamashita ◽

J. Kevin Eckert

Keyword(s):

Community College ◽

Civic Engagement ◽

Social Science ◽

Postsecondary Education ◽

Academic Programs ◽

Postsecondary Institutions ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Civic Mindedness

While postsecondary education appears to promote civic mindedness and engagement, relatively little is known about the association between civic outcomes and types of postsecondary education, as well as across different academic programs. Using a convenience sample from two postsecondary education institutions in the Mid-Atlantic U.S., this research examines the differences in civic mindedness and civic engagement between 2-year community college and 4-year university students, as well as students in different majors. Despite no significant difference between 2- and 4-year institutions, social science majors have greater civic outcomes in the specific areas compared to other majors.

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Human Rights Attitude and Civic Engagement Behavior Among University Students

Journal of Human Rights and Social Work ◽

10.1007/s41134-020-00128-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 174-184

Author(s):

Ilan Kwon ◽

Jaewon Lee ◽

Cristy E. Cummings ◽

Daria P. Shamrova ◽

Catherine A. Macomber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Civic Engagement ◽

University Students ◽

Engagement Behavior

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Civic Engagement and Well-Being: Examining a Mediational Model Across Gender

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/08901171211001242 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089011712110012

Author(s):

Natalie Fenn ◽

Mark L. Robbins ◽

Lisa Harlow ◽

Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Young Adults ◽

Civic Engagement ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Men And Women ◽

Engagement Behavior

Purpose: The relationship between civic engagement and mental health is generally positive, yet particularly complex among those from low socioeconomic backgrounds and women. The current study examined pathways between civic engagement and well-being to clarify its merit as a health promotional tool for young adults. Design: Cross-sectional design using an online questionnaire. Setting: Participants were recruited at a mid-sized Northeastern US university. Sample: Participants ( N = 438) were primarily White (78%) and female (72%). Measures: Demographics, socioeconomic status, civic engagement behavior, well-being, meaning in life, self-efficacy toward service, and social support. Analysis: Structural equation modeling to test an a priori model of civic engagement behavior and well-being in young adults. Models were conducted across men and women, covarying for social support. Results: The full effects model fit well, demonstrating positive relationships between civic engagement and well-being for both men and women with mediation by service self-efficacy and meaning in life (χ2(2) = 1.05, p = .59; CFI = 1.0; RMSEA = .00, 90% CI [.00, .07]; R 2 = .46). Type of engagement (civic, electoral, sociopolitical) showed mixed results in relation to well-being. Conclusion: Civic activity was associated with well-being when mediated by service self-efficacy while sociopolitical voice correlated to stronger well-being when mediated by meaning in life. Future longitudinal studies should be conducted among more socioeconomically diverse populations to verify the role of civic engagement in health promotion.

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