Flattening Relations in the Sharing Economy

The sharing economy (SE) includes economic, social, and technological arrangements to promote collaborative relations between users and providers willing to share assets through digital platforms (DP). Even evolving fast, there is an opportunity to discuss how DP establishes connections between users and providers and uses a digital agency to mediate and flatten consumption relations in SE. Therefore, the authors propose a framework and future research directions that explore characteristics of the actants (roles, agency, behavioral attitudes) in the process of flattening consumption relations through DP in SE (connections, mediation, induction). To structure this framework, the authors consolidated the various definitions of its main elements and adopted the actor-network theory concept of translation as the theoretical-methodological approach to analyze the associations that determined how flattening consumption relations occur in SE.

The impact of positive and negative testimony on children’s attitudes toward others

Children can identify who is benevolent or malevolent not only through first-hand experiences and observations but also from the testimony of others. In this study, we investigated whether 5- and 7-year-olds (N = 128) would form their attitudes toward others after hearing testimony about that person’s past moral behavior and whether the valence of testimony would differently influence the children. In the positive condition, half of the participants gained information about three puppets: puppet A’s prosocial behavior by their own first-hand observation, testimony about puppet B’s past prosocial behavior, and testimony about puppet C’s past neutral behavior. In the negative condition, the other half also learned information about the three puppets: puppet A’s antisocial behavior by their own first-hand observation, testimony about puppet B’s past antisocial behavior, and testimony about puppet C’s past neutral behavior. Then they engaged in tasks that measured their behavioral attitudes toward the puppets and evaluated the goodness of each puppet to assess their attitudes at a cognitive level. Our results concluded that the children form their behavioral attitudes toward others based on testimony starting at the age of 7, and attitude formation at the cognitive level based on testimony is seen at age 5. Negative testimony, rather than positive testimony, influences the children’s attitudes toward others. In addition, the 7-year-olds’ use of testimony differs depending whether they are the allocators or the receivers of rewards. Our findings deepen understanding of how children rely on the verbal information around themselves when they navigate interactions with others.

The structural relationships among spatial presence, situational interest and behavioral attitudes toward online virtual museum navigation: a PLS-SEM analysis

PurposeThis study proposed a research model for verifying the structural relationships among users' perceived spatial presence (VR affordance), situational interest (affective factor) and behavioral attitudes (outcome) toward online virtual museum navigation. What role of situational interest plays in the relationships between spatial presence and outcomes was further examined.Design/methodology/approachThere were 141 adults invited to participate in the research trials on the navigation of the online virtual museum which was established by 3D space capture techniques. This study conducted a series of PLS-SEM to analyze the participants' quantitative responses to the surveys of spatial presence, situational interest and attitudes.FindingsThe testing of reliability and validity for the measurement model of this study was satisfied. The significance of users' perceived situational interest: attention demand, instant enjoyment and exploration intention when navigating the online virtual museum with perceptions of spatial presence were identified. The mediation of situational interest in the relationships between spatial presence and behavioral attitudes were also verified.Practical implicationsFor the practical design of desktop-based online virtual museums, it is suggested that more engaging strategies such as narrative storytelling and gamified interaction could be integrated to enhance users' situational interest including attention demand, instant enjoyment and exploration intention.Originality/valueThrough the examination of situational interest from multiple constructs, the research model of this study advanced the conceptual framework for understanding the consequences of VR affordance in online virtual museum navigation. The theoretical contribution to verifying the mediated role of situational interest was made.

Sociocultural specifics of Russia’s regions: common features and differences

There is abundant evidence of the correlation between culture (or sociocultural characteristics, by which we mean here values and behavioral attitudes shared by a certain community and changing slowly over time) and economic and innovation development. At present most studies have been carried out at national level. At the same time, sociocultural differences within the countries with a large territory and significant socio-economic and ethnic diversity (Russia, in particular) are understudied. The subject of the research is the differences in socio-cultural characteristics between Russia’s regions. The purpose of the paper is to determine the presence or absence of differences in socio-cultural characteristics according to G.Hofstede between the regions of Russia. The empirical basis for the study is data from representative polls, collected by the Russian Venture Company and the Institute for National Projects in 14 regions in 2018–2020. Econometric analysis (ecological approach) and univariate disperse analysis shows the existence of sociocultural heterogeneity between Russian regions measured with Hofstede characteristics: individualism and power distance (more pronounced differences) and uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation (less pronounced differences). Statistical differences between regions in masculine dimension are non-existent. Regions tend to form sociocultural clusters that are not explained by geographic, socio-economic or ethnic factors separately. The results are useful for the analysis of sociocultural drivers and barriers for regional development, as well as for institutional design, raising efficiency of formal institutions by harmonizing them with regional culture.

NON-ENGLISH STUDENTS ‘ATTITUDES TOWARDS LEARNING SPEAKING

The issue addressed in this research was attitudes of students taking non-English major towards English learning, especially speaking. The study involved 39 students from a compulsory English class at STKIP PGRI Banjarmasin. The data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaires were arranged to reveal students’ attitudes in three components namely affective, behavioral, and cognitive components. The interviews were conducted to clarify and strengthen the findings from the questionnaires. The results of study showed gaps between affective - cognitive components and behavioral one. Most participated students had positive attitudes towards English learning as seen from the affective and behavioral components; however, their behavioral attitudes showed otherwise. Students’ behavioral attitudes were still negative towards learning speaking. These positives attitudes were caused by several reasons including their career aspirations and awareness of the importance of English. Furthermore, the negative attitudes were caused by their study priorities and other personal reasons. In conclusion, what they felt and believed about English did not match their efforts to study the language.

Youth in the First Wave of a Pandemic: Features of Attitudes Towards Health and New Coronavirus Infection

The article is devoted to the study of the general and special in the attitude of young people to their health and the perception of the pandemic in the conditions of its first wave. The analysis is based on the results of a study conducted during the lockdown in June 2020. The study examines the understanding of the meaning of health and its meaning, behavioral attitudes and self-preservation practices of young people. Shown are gender differences in attitudes towards health and measures to protect it in the acute phase of a pandemic. The socio-cultural conditionality of the practices of selfpreserving behavior is revealed by their connection with attitudes towards individualism, solidarity, and paternalism. The semantic perception of instrumental values in women and men has a different degree of expression and different semantic content. Women showed less pragmatism and more anxiety, but more indifference to antiviral measures than men. The lack of readiness for extensive preventive measures and early diagnosis of the disease was found to be similar for both groups. The contradictions in the identified attitudes of the respondents the authors associate with the lack of communication between the authorities and the youth, as well as the weakness of cultural and educational work among young people. The results obtained correlate with the main differentiating features expressed in attitudes towards solidarity / individualism, paternalism / emancipation and an active life position, which indicates the relationship between life-meaning values and behavioral practices in the attitude of young people to health

Attitudes Towards Learning English Among The Aliya Madrasah Students in Bangladesh

Affective variables such as attitude, autonomy, motivation, self-esteem, and anxiety are crucial among the factors that contribute to learning a second/foreign language. Among them, one of the most important factors in inspiring learners to learn a language is their attitudes towards learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive, emotional as well as behavioral attitudes of Bangladeshi Aliya madrasah students towards learning English. The study also explored the differences in their attitudes towards learning English based on demographic profiles, that is, their gender, their parents’ monthly family income, and their parents’ education level. Data were obtained via questionnaire surveys and they were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, independent T-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results revealed that the participants demonstrated highly positive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral attitudes towards learning English. The analysis also showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the students’ attitudes towards learning English based on their parents’ monthly family income and their parents’ education level. However, the results presented no significant difference in the students’ attitudes towards learning English in relation to gender. This finding may help teachers to improve their classroom preparation by understanding their students’ attitudes better and making the learning activities easier for them. Moreover, it may inform the students’ attitudes to the authorities and policymakers responsible for devising policy for madrasah education, planning curriculum and designing materials for the madrasah students.

Representation of sexuality in Calvin Klein Jeans advertising campaigns (1980–2016): gender approach

The subject of this research is the means of representing sexuality in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein Jeans (1980 – 2016). The object of this research is the use of gender stereotypes (masculinity/femininity) in advertising as a way to manipulate collective consciousness for solution of marketing tasks. The aim of this article consists in determination of advertising strategies of the Calvin Klein brand for the period 1980 – 2016 and the techniques of representation of sexuality for the effective impact of advertising upon the target audience. Analysis is conducted on Calvin Klein Jeans advertising campaigns for the past 40 years by decade, revealing the methods of suggestive effect on the consumer for promoting the product. The main following conclusions were made: 1) selecting provocation as the advertising strategy since 1980 to the present, the Calvin Klein brand employs diverse methods of suggestive effect on the recipient, programming their needs and behavioral attitudes, thereby manipulating collective consciousness; 2) kinesic, proxemic, coloristic, phonatory, and speech means for representation of sexuality testify to the use of gender stereotype (masculinity/femininity) in order to produce effective impact upon the target audience; Calvin Klein Jeans advertising campaigns feature similar strategies for 40 years, which are intended to solve marketing tasks via provocation. The novelty of this research lies in the fact that the identified provocation techniques in Calvin Klein advertisings based on the use of gender stereotypes allowed creating the “portrait” of the brand and tracing the patterns in arrangement of advertising campaigns. The author's special contribution consists in analysis of the means for representation of sexuality used in jeans advertising, techniques influencing the recipient through arbitrary interpretation of gender stereotypes, as well as manipulative methods of creating Calvin Klein PR-campaigns.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE AND BEHAVIORAL ATTITUDE WITH UNDERGRADUATE FINAL YEAR STUDENT'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAREER

Entrepreneurship careers are increasingly widespread and well-suited for business as they contribute to the country's economic growth. However, studies show that most students think that the entrepreneurship field cannot provide a bright future and prefer to choose salary-based employment. Therefore, the study aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive, affective, and behavioral attitude with the entrepreneurship career choice among undergraduate final year students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). This study uses a quantitative approach and the survey method involved 336 undergraduate final year students from Bangi main campus and the questionnaire was used as a research instrument adapted from the previous study. Data were processed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) 23.0 software which involved descriptive and inferential analysis. The results of the study show that the level of application of cognitive, affective, and behavioral attitudes as well as the level of the tendency of entrepreneurial career choice of final-year students is moderate and there is no difference in entrepreneurial career choice between male and female students. In addition, the study also shows that there is a strong relationship between cognitive, affective, and behavioral attitudes with entrepreneurial career choice and also found that cognitive, affective, and behavioral attitudes influence the entrepreneurial career choice of undergraduate final year students. The implication of this study shows that final year students have a moderate entrepreneurial career tendency and can be enhanced with an emphasis on developing a positive cognitive attitude, affective attitude, and behavioral attitude. Therefore, entrepreneurship educators should also be committed to exposing students to entrepreneurial activities and strengthening their entrepreneurial education.

Civic Participation as Constitutional Lawful Behavior

The author proposes to consider civic participation as a lawful constitutional behavior. The concept of civic participation as a legal constitutional behavior includes goals and motives for participation, behavioral attitudes and a volitional component. It is noted that an important circumstance of civic participation is the combination of political-legal and public-social components in it. For the experience of theorizing socio-constitutional behavioral practices, it is proposed to conditionally distinguish between civic and public participation. On the example of such practices of civic participation as volunteering, it is noted that the constitutional legitimization of models of civic participation is important, as a result of which such behavior acquires legal significance.