scholarly journals The association of cultural and contextual factors with social contact avoidance during the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261858
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Messner
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Business ◽  
Future Orientation ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
First Line ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
High Social Support ◽  
High Power Distance ◽  
Pathogen Exposure

As a first line of defense to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, people reduced social contacts to avoid pathogen exposure. Using a panel of countries, this research suggests that this was amplified in societies characterized by high social support and future orientation. People reacted more strongly in dense environments; government orders had more effect in high power distance societies. Conversely, a focus on accomplishments was associated with lower changes. Understanding people’s actual behaviors in response to health threats across societies is of great importance for epidemiology, public health, international business, and for the functioning of humanity as a whole.

scholarly journals Individual social contact data reflected SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics during the first wave in Germany better than population mobility data - an analysis based on the COVIMOD study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damilola Victoria Tomori ◽  
Nicole Ruebsamen ◽  
Tom Berger ◽  
Stefan Scholz ◽  
Jasmin Walde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Contact Data ◽  
Contact Survey ◽  
T Values

Background The effect of contact reduction measures on infectious disease transmission can only be assessed indirectly and with considerable delay. However, individual social contact data and population mobility data can offer near real-time proxy information. Aim To compare social contact data and population mobility data with respect to their ability to predict transmission dynamics during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany. Methods We quantified the change in social contact patterns derived from self-reported contact survey data collected by the German COVIMOD study from 04/2020-06/2020 (compared to the pre-pandemic period), and estimated the percentage mean reduction in the effective reproduction number R(t) over time. We compared these results to the ones based on R(t) estimates from open-source mobility data and to R(t) values provided by the German Public Health Institute. Results We observed the largest reduction in social contacts (90%, compared to pre-pandemic data) in late April corresponding to the strictest contacts reduction measures. Thereafter, the reduction in contacts dropped continuously to a minimum of 73% in late June. R(t) estimates based on social contacts underestimated measured R(t) values slightly in the time of strictest contact reduction measures but predicted R(t) well thereafter. R(t) estimates based on mobility data overestimated R(t) considerably throughout the study. Conclusions R(t) prediction accuracy based on contact survey data was superior to the one based on population mobility data, indicating that measuring changes in mobility alone is not sufficient for understanding changes in transmission dynamics triggered by public health measures.

Determinants of Public Service Career Choice in Developing Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Yongjin Chang
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Social Recognition ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Bureaucratic Power ◽  
High Power Distance

This study examines factors influencing public service career choice in developing countries through case studies and a survey. Based on the results of these case studies and survey, I conclude that job security, public service motivation, social recognition and status, and the opportunity for career development are important determinants in why individuals in developing countries choose a public service career. Bureaucratic power and family-related factors also play a role and reflect the high power distance and collectivist culture of developing countries.

scholarly journals The Cultural Factors in the MOOC Design in China from Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 13201325
Author(s):  
Xin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Hofstede’S Cultural Dimensions ◽  
High Power Distance ◽  
Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Features

With their massiveness and openness, Moocs have become one of the most widespread and influential online learning forms, which leads to the fact that more and more designers with different cultural backgrounds are getting involved in the course design. As a result, the Mooc design such as the styles of the organization and presentation may correspondingly be influenced by cultural values of the designers, and then become barriers for learners. In order to locate the cultural influence reflected in the Mooc design in China, the introductory videos of three courses published on Coursera, which are designed by three well-known universities in China, are sampled for analysis from the aspects of power distance, individualism/collectivism and masculinity/femininity within the framework of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. The findings indicate that the cultural features of the high-power distance, collectivism and femininity have shown their influence on the designing of these courses.

scholarly journals The influence of risk perceptions on close contact frequency during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Wambua ◽  
Lisa Hermans ◽  
Pietro Coletti ◽  
Frederik Verelst ◽  
Lander Willem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Public Health Communication ◽  
Contact Behaviour ◽  
Contact Frequency ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Human behaviour is known to be crucial in the propagation of infectious diseases through respiratory or close-contact routes like the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. Intervention measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus mainly aim at limiting the number of close contacts, until vaccine roll-out is complete. Our main objective was to assess the relationships between SARS-CoV-2 perceptions and social contact behaviour in Belgium. Understanding these relationships is crucial to maximize interventions' effectiveness, e.g. by tailoring public health communication campaigns. In this study, we surveyed a representative sample of adults in Belgium in two longitudinal surveys (8 waves of survey 1 in April 2020 to August 2020, and 11 waves of survey 2 in November 2020 to April 2021). Generalized linear mixed effects models were used to analyse the two surveys. Participants with low and neutral perceptions on perceived severity made a significantly higher number of social contacts as compared to participants with high levels of perceived severity after controlling for other variables. Furthermore, participants with higher levels of perceived effectiveness of measures and perceived adherence to measures made fewer contacts. However, the differences were small. Our results highlight the key role of perceived severity on social contact behaviour during a pandemic. Nevertheless, additional research is required to investigate the impact of public health communication on severity of COVID-19 in terms of changes in social contact behaviour.

scholarly journals Consequences of cultural practices on advertising: Rethinking the role of individual’s values versus social norms for cross-cultural research

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-111
Author(s):  
Salman Saleem
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Normative Values ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Cross Cultural Research

The study has contributed to the current debate on the significance of cultural referenced practices over self-reported values in the identification of culture (e.g., Fischer & Schwartz, 2011; Kirkman, Lowe, & Gibson, 2017). The study has examined whether there is a difference in the self-reported values versus cultural-referenced practices concerning masculinity and power distance. Also, which facet of masculinity and power distance, i.e., self-referenced and/or cultural referenced ratings predict the manifestation of such values in the advertising. The study has used a survey method and ask 200 respondents to report masculinity and power distance in their individual behavioural preference, in their social context and the manifestation of masculinity and power distance in advertising. The results show that self-reported and cultural-referenced rating of masculinity and power distance differ significantly. Moreover, the regression analysis shows that the culture-referenced masculinity and power distance predicts the reflection of respective values in advertising, but no such effect of self-reported values are found. Obtained results strengthen the argument that self-reported values did not identify the culture, instead, the normative values did identify the culture. Future international business and cross-cultural corporate governance research should consider the cultural practices of masculinity and power in their cross-cultural investigation.

scholarly journals Assessing the scaling of a blockchain-based social contact tracking system

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 0
Author(s):  
Ilya Shmelev
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Hybrid Architecture ◽  
Unresolved Issue ◽  
Source Information ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Contact Tracking ◽  
The Common

During a pandemic, one of the most important tasks is to track social contacts with those who are sick. This article categorizes projects that track these contacts. Projects are classified by architecture and the common components of such systems are highlighted. It is concluded that the hybrid architecture of such a solution based on an exclusive blockchain will have several advantages, and a conceptual model of such a system is described. However, an analysis of existing blockchain projects showed that their main problem is the unresolved issue of scaling such kinds of systems, which is becoming a key issue in the context of creating a global digital infrastructure of society. Further, the scaling of the system's conceptual model is assessed based on open-source information about the Moscow metro, and the main conclusions about the selected architectural solutions are confirmed.

Remediation of the challenges of reporting corporate scandals in governance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Kris Hilton ◽  
Helen Arkorful
Keyword(s):  
High Power ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Scandals ◽  
High Power Distance

Purpose The barrage of corporate scandals has become pervasive such that it collapsed high-profile organizations worldwide. Prior studies show that reporters of corporate scandals encounter a number of challenges which discourages them from disclosing wrongful acts to appropriate authorities to effect action. Thus, this study aims to examine the remediation of the challenges of reporting corporate scandals in governance. Design/methodology/approach The study used cross-sectional survey design. Primary data was obtained from 400 employees of selected organizations and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques in Statistical Package of Social Science. Findings The results confirm that reporters of corporate scandals are confronted with challenges such as victimization, fear, suspension/dismissal, sideline and high power distance. However, these challenges can be remediated through award, code of conduct, free expression, participation/consultation and safeguard regulations to encourage and protect reporters of corporate scandals. Practical implications The findings imply that there should be an award scheme for reporters, and this must be made known to all employees. Furthermore, code of conduct for employees should include reporting of scandals together with its associated benefits and sanctions. Also, organizations would have to practice consultative/participatory governance system to minimize the effect of high power distance. Finally, regulations should be enacted and enforced to safeguard reporters of corporate scandals. Originality/value This research consolidated the challenges associated with reporting corporate scandals and provides remedies to curtail such challenges so as to encourage employees to report corporate scandals.

A Model for Global Governance of Platforms

2021 ◽  
pp. 255-279
Author(s):  
Robert Fay
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Work Shop ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Governance Arrangements ◽  
Current Governance

Digital platforms such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and a more recent entrant, Zoom, have provided core societal functions that have enabled us to work, shop, educate ourselves and our children, run businesses, maintain social contact, and receive and disseminate information. At the same time, the uses of these technologies have led to elevated concerns in areas such as surveillance, cyber risks, democracy, public health, competition and monopoly power, and economic prosperity. Current governance arrangements are incoherent and fragmented nationally and internationally—where they even exist. At the same time, they typically reflect vested state and corporate interests that can be very difficult to challenge. The way forward is to create a new institution for the digital realm: a Digital Stability Board (DSB) that would be a multi-stakeholder forum with a remit to create global governance for big data, AI, and the digital platforms, while allowing national variation to reflect different values and cultures while avoiding a race to the bottom in governance. Taking concerted and coordinated action on global governance under a structure such as a DSB will help to ensure that the benefits of the platforms are magnified, and the risks minimized individually and globally.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document