scholarly journals Rural Citizens’ Perceptions on Microfinance Services Adoption in Tanzania: Moderating Effects of Demographic Factors

2017 ◽  
pp. 70-83
Author(s):  
Julius J. Macha
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Intention To Adopt ◽  
Multistage Sampling ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effects of demographic variables among the rural citizens in Tanzania on the association between perceived benefits and determinants of intention to adopt microfinance services by using the Theory of Reasoned Action. Stratified and multistage sampling techniques were employed to select respondents and survey questionnaire was administered to collect the data that resulted in a response rate of 82%. The structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to analyse the hypotheses of the core and moderating models. The study’s findings demonstrated that gender and education moderate the impact of perceived benefits and subjective norms on the rural citizens’ intention to adopt microfinance services. In addition, the findings suggest that perceived benefits, attitude and subjective norms significantly influence rural citizens’ intention to adopt microfinance services. The current study offers useful suggestions to policy makers to design relevant policies customised according to the strength of the demographic variables that influence determinants of rural citizens’ intention to adopt microfinance services.

scholarly journals Bored by bothering: A cost-value approach to pandemic boredom

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Martarelli ◽  
Wanja Wolff ◽  
Maik Bieleke
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Boredom Proneness ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact

In an effort to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have employed non-pharmaceutical containment measures. The effectiveness of such mitigation efforts relies on individual compliance (e.g., avoiding to travel or to gather). Crucially, adhering to the required behavioral recommendations places substantial burdens on those who are asked to follow them. One particularly likely outcome of adherence should be the experience of boredom. Thus, people might get bored by bothering. Drawing from research and theorizing on reward-based decision making, we conducted a high-powered study (N = 1553 US participants) to investigate whether the value and effort people ascribe to adherence to containment measures directly and indirectly (i.e., mediated by adherence) affects their experience of boredom. As expected, structural equation modeling revealed that high value and low effort predicted compliance with behavioral recommendations. Moreover, higher compliance was linked to more boredom, meaning that high value and low effort increased boredom via compliance. In contrast, high value and low effort had direct effects on boredom in the opposite direction (i.e., decreasing boredom). Attesting to their robustness and generalizability, these findings held for both prospective (with respect to upcoming winter holidays) and retrospective behavior (with respect to previous thanksgiving holidays), across US states which had or had not enforced behavioral restrictions, individual differences in boredom proneness, and demographic variables. Taken together, our results show that people can indeed get bored by bothering: Complying with nonpharmacological containment measures like avoiding to travel and to gather can come at the cost of getting bored, an experience that was strongly linked to negative affect in our study. While the observed levels of compliance were relatively high and those of boredom were relatively low, the data suggest that this could change over time because levels of boredom might rise. This might render maintenance of compliance in the general public increasingly difficult. However, we illustrate how policy makers can rely on theoretical models of boredom and behavior to maintain compliance and discuss the chances and pitfalls of doing so.

scholarly journals Factors influencing households' intention to adopt solar energy solutions in Zambia: insights from the theory of planned behaviour

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sambo Zulu ◽  
Ephraim Zulu ◽  
Mwansa Chabala
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Planned Behaviour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Intention To Adopt ◽  
Attractive Option

PurposeThis study examined the factors that influence households’ intention to adopt solar energy solutions in Zambia. This, in view of low adoption rates of solar energy solutions even in the wake of a widespread electricity power generation deficit across sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has plagued the region with daily electricity load shedding lasting several hours at a time. Given the vast potential for solar energy generation in the region, solar energy solutions have become an attractive option to grid-based electricity, and many households have intentions of adopting these solutions.Design/methodology/approachThrough the lens of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the study surveyed adult household members in Zambia who contributed towards the household’s income. The participants were selected using the snowballing technique, which yielded a sample of 961 respondents. The results were analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results show that attitude, trust, benefits and subjective norms influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions. Trust and benefits also influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions indirectly through attitude. Therefore, measures aimed at increasing the adoption of solar energy solutions should focus on improving the attitude, perceived benefits, trust in the solutions and consider subjective norms.Originality/valueThe findings add to the understanding of the factors that influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions in Zambia. Therefore, the findings can be used to inform measures aimed at improving solar energy uptake in Zambia. The study also reports on the previously unreported mediating role of attitude towards solar energy solution on the associations between perceived benefits and trust with solar energy solutions adoption intention.

Consumer behaviour towards willingness to pay for Halal products

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 492-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqar Ahmed ◽  
Arsalan Najmi ◽  
Hafiz Muhammad Faizan ◽  
Shaharyar Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Muslim Country ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the factors affecting Muslim consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for Halal food, products and operations by employing theory of reasoned action.Design/methodology/approachThis study has used quantitative research methodology and collected data from 350 questionnaires from a densely populated city of Pakistan. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results show that the concerns about Halal, religiosity, perception of usefulness of Halal and product ingredients have a significant impact on WTP for Halal foods, while attitude has an insignificant impact on WTP. Moreover, the extent of demand for Halal certification is significantly affected by WTP.Originality/valueThe study highlighted the concerns of the Muslim consumers with respect to Halalness of the products and operations despite living in a Muslim country. It is recommended that the policy makers, food authorities and health institutions should conduct regular inspections of foods, products and producers’/manufacturers’ operations to ensure that all the procedures from manufacturing of the raw material till the finished goods follow Islamic principles to make them completely Halal.

Modelling the significance of social support and entrepreneurial skills for determining entrepreneurial behaviour of individuals

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shoaib Farooq
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Behaviour ◽  
Entrepreneurial Skills ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Although entrepreneurial behaviour is considered a key element for economic development, yet very less is known about the determinants of factors leading towards entrepreneurial intention and behaviour. In order to bridge this gap, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of social support and entrepreneurial skills in determining entrepreneurial behaviour of individuals. Developing on the base of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study investigates the relationship between social support, entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurial behaviour along with existing constructs of the TPB (i.e. attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and entrepreneurial intention). Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 281 respondents using a simple random sampling method, and the variance-based partial least-squares, structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was used for testing the proposed conceptual model. Findings Findings of this study have validated the proposed model, which have an explanatory power of 68.3 per cent. Moreover, findings reveal that social support and entrepreneurial skills have a significant impact on entrepreneurial intention of individuals. However, an unanticipated and non-significant relation between subjective norms and entrepreneurial intention is also found. Research limitations/implications Due to the limited scope of this study, a multi-group analysis is not possible, which is considered as a limitation of this study. Moreover, due to time constraints, this study is conducted within a specified time-frame; however, a longitudinal study over a period of three to six years can overcome this limitation. Practical implications Findings of this study are expected to have substantial implications for policy makers, future researchers and academicians. Outcomes of this study can help to better understand the cognitive phenomenon of nascent entrepreneurs. Moreover, it is expected that this study can serve as a torch-bearer for policy makers to develop better entrepreneurial development programmes, policies and initiatives for promoting self-employment behaviour. Originality/value Findings of this study are a unique step forward and offer new insights towards a better understanding of the determinants of entrepreneurial behaviour. Moreover, this study extends Ajzen’s (1991) TPB in the context of entrepreneurial behaviour. By introducing and investigating the impact of two new variables, i.e. social support and entrepreneurial skills in the TPB and by validating the proposed model with PLS-SEM approach, this study makes a sizeable theoretical, methodological and contextual contribution in the overall body of knowledge.

The role of elaboration likelihood routes in relationships between user-generated content and willingness to pay more

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bekir Bora Dedeoğlu ◽  
Anil Bilgihan ◽  
Ben Haobin Ye ◽  
Yajun Wang ◽  
Fevzi Okumus
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Central Route ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of social media sharing on tourists’ willingness to pay more (WPM) at destinations. The moderating effects of tourists’ preferred route in decision-making or obtaining information (i.e. central or peripheral routes) were also examined. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model was developed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Moderating effects of central and peripheral routes were tested using PLS multi-group analysis. Data were collected from 478 tourists in Antalya, Turkey, a sea, sun and sand tourist destination. Findings Findings indicate that importance attached to participant sharing (IPS) and importance attached to non-participant sharing (INPS) are significant antecedents of tourists’ WPM intentions. Moderating effects of tourists’ preferred route in decision-making reveal that the effect of IPS on WPM intention is more influential for those with high central route preferences than those with low central route preferences. While the effects of INPS and IPS on WPM intention is more determinative for those with higher peripheral route preferences. Practical implications Although it is known by the practitioners that consumer-generated contents are important, this research suggests and supports that these contents trigger tourists to pay higher prices. Originality/value How WPM is motivated by others’ social media sharing was not very clear in the literature. Therefore, this research gap was addressed in part by examining the social media sharing structure in terms of whether others posted on organization-related sites or on personal sites.

The application of the theory of reasoned action on services of Islamic rural banks in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ihsan Effendi ◽  
Miftahuddin Murad ◽  
Ahmad Rafiki ◽  
Mitra Musika Lubis
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Theory Of Reasoned Action ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Services

Purpose The Islamic rural banks have the potential to grow in Indonesia. It is important to learn and study the consumer behaviors toward the Islamic rural banks’ services to plan for future strategies. The purpose of this paper is to test the applicability of the theory of reasoned action in predicting the customers’ decision to use the Islamic rural banks’ services. Design/methodology/approach The descriptive and structural equation model analyses were used to analyze the data. A random sampling technique is adopted with a sample size of 180 consumers of the Islamic rural banks. There are variables to be tested such as Sharia system compliance, product knowledge on Sharia, promotion, services, attitude, subjective norms, intention and customer decisions to use the Islamic rural banks’ services. Findings The results found that the Sharia system compliance, promotion, services, attitude, subjective norms and intention variables have a significant effect on the use of services at Islamic rural banks. Only product knowledge on Sharia variable has been found to be insignificant. Originality/value The model can be used to prepare better strategies to attract more customers as well as increase public awareness toward Islamic rural banks’ products and services. The results are useful as a benchmark for policymakers to improve the establishment of Islamic rural banks particularly in Indonesia.

scholarly journals Individual’s Resistance Regarding BPM Initiative: Case Study of the Insurance Company

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Pejić Bach ◽  
Vesna Bosilj Vukšić ◽  
Dalia Suša Vugec
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Resistance To Change ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Insurance Company ◽  
Initial Belief ◽  
Significant Barrier ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Shed Light

AbstractThough the individual’s resistance is very often considered a significant barrier to BPM success, the literature on that topic is quite scarce. With the aim to shed light on this topic, we have conducted research of a Croatian insurance company. We examined the impact of individual’s resistance regarding BPM initiative using the theory of reasoned action. Structural equation model was developed using the data collected by the survey among company employees. The results indicate that subjective norms are positively related to the individual’s resistance regarding BPM initiative, while positive initial belief regarding BPM initiative tends to decrease the probability of resistance to change.

scholarly journals The impact of higher education on entrepreneurial intention and human capital

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Passaro ◽  
Ivana Quinto ◽  
Antonio Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Entrepreneurial Process ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Impact Of Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of higher education on the emergence of entrepreneurial intention (EI) and human capital (HC) as a component of intellectual capital (IC) that strongly influences the entrepreneurial process. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of a literature review, a theoretical model that is focused on the theory of planned behaviour was defined to verify the impact of higher education on the development of EI and HC. To this end, the structural equation modelling methodology was applied to two samples of students and academics, which differ each other in terms of both education level and specific characteristics of entrepreneurship education activities. Findings The main results show that there are significant differences between the two considered samples. In particular, the level and specific characteristics of entrepreneurial education are the key factors for the development of EI and HC. Practical implications The research may be of relevance for universities and policy makers. Universities must devote more attention to training and practice-oriented entrepreneurial courses and collateral activities (projects, initiatives, actions), both for students (first mission) and academic aspiring entrepreneurs (third mission) to encourage the emergence of EI and HC formation. For policy makers, this study suggests the need to define policy guidelines and frameworks to support universities’ educational programmes and activities to strengthen the entrepreneurial process, so that they can be consistent with the EU and national entrepreneurship policies. Originality/value This explorative research intends to contribute to the scientific debate by filling the knowledge gap that is due to the very limited number of studies that analyse whether and how EI can mediate the relationship between higher education and HC as an IC component.

scholarly journals The Behavioral Intention of Micro Enterprises to Use the Integrated Cash Waqf Micro Enterprise Investment (ICWME-I) Model as a Source of Financing

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Asmy Mohd Thas Thaker ◽  
Mustafa Omar Mohammed ◽  
Jarita Duasa ◽  
Moha Asri Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Klang Valley ◽  
Enterprise Investment ◽  
Micro Enterprises

This study is designed to examine the behavioural intention of micro enterprises to use the Integrated Cash Waqf Micro Enterprise Investment (ICWME-I) model as a source of financing in Malaysia. The primary data are collected from the survey administered to micro entrepreneurs in the Klang Valley and the analysis is conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Furthermore, the model has validated its acceptance in the field by adopting the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). This study has revealed that both the attitude and subjective norms are found to have a positive impact on the intention of micro entrepreneurs to use the ICWME-I Model in the context of Malaysia.

scholarly journals Sustainable initiatives in the food industry: Role of businesses and regulators

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 88-102
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Tanakinjal ◽  
Alesia Gugkang ◽  
Haji Rithuan
Keyword(s):  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Environmental Awareness ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
The Impact

In response to global calls for environmental awareness, the Malaysian government enforced restrictions on plastic usage in the Malaysian foodservice industry in 2020. Despite the efforts of public awareness campaigns championing the detrimental effects of traditional plastic usage, the impact of measures taken by food traders remains inadequate. The paper seeks to explore the relationship between subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, attitude, and the intention to use biodegradable straws among food traders. Purposive sampling method, the Structural Equation Model (SEM), and Partial Least Squares (PLS) tools were employed. The sample included 270 respondents. The result found a significant correlation between the four variables, i.e., subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, attitude, and intention to use. Hence, results obtained indicate that conscientious consumers have a significant influence on businesses in their quest to reduce their overall impact on the surrounding environment. Consequently, their socially responsible decisions, i.e., initiatives of using biodegradable products, have advocated mindful consumerism and encouraged positive purchasing behaviors. The results predict increasing demands as an outcome of this accumulated synergy, and this in turn provides more opportunities for food traders and their associated counterparts. The contributions of this study extend toward both theoretical and practical knowledge: (a) better understanding of consumer attitude and how it influences purchase intention, and (b) government regulation and enforcement towards environmental awareness and activities associated with global contributions.

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