Why are strangers trusted more during trade fairs? A literature review on the conceptual model of general trust formation

Purpose Considering that low-level general trust may hinder communication, this study aims to detect the factors that can influence general trust between exhibitors and visitors during business-to-business trade fairs. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review and stakeholders’ behavior analysis, a conceptual model of general trust formation between exhibitors and visitors is proposed. Findings The preconditions of strangers’ general trust patterns mainly include their early experience regarding trust, institutional trust in the environment and trust propensity. Stakeholders’ treatment, trust transfer, on-site restraints, reward and punishment expansion and on-site personnel arrangement may facilitate the formation of general trust between exhibitors and visitors. Research limitations/implications This paper is a conceptual article that requires further investigation to verify the main factors that influence general trust and the impact of general trust on other trust components between exhibitors and visitors. Practical implications Organizers, exhibitors and visitors should pay attention to participants’ selection, supervision, self-discipline and personnel management before and during trade fairs. International and small-scale, especially new trade fairs in developed and developing countries, must consider additional measures to improve general trust. Originality/value The existing literature has not focused on general trust in the trade fair context. In this paper, research on network and relationship marketing is further deepened in terms of a specific trust type. The interactions between stakeholders before and during fair may promote general trust among participants than in other settings, which partially explains why trade fair (even other two-sided markets) can increase social capital.

Predatory Journals: How Far Can They Go? An In-Depth Look at the Outliers = Grabežljivi časopisi: koliko daleko mogu ići? Temeljita analiza vrijednosti

For over a decade, predatory publishers, journals and conferences have continuously menaced the research community, preying on its resources, and diminishing the general trust in science, becoming an important research topic. Previous studies have focused on identifying their characteristics, in order to increase the academic awareness and help researchers not becoming a prey. At the same time, predatory publishers diversified their strategies; the academic community developed disparate reactions, which determined more and diverse predatory strategies, aimed at luring and deceiving the scientists. While the process is still ongoing, the present research is aimed at exposing the most extreme predation strategies, in an effort to make the line separating honest and predatory journals more traceable. The analysis of relevant samples focuses on the language issue, based on the hypothesis according to which the predatory publishers are located in countries where English is rarely spoken. The findings, including inventing English names, advertisements making no sense for the Western world, lack of quality control and a poor graphic language, confirm the hypothesis, and are also able to stand at the core of possible guidelines for exposing predatory publishers based on specific features of their calls. = Više od deset godina, grabežljivi izdavači, časopisi i konferencije kontinuirano su ugrožavali istraživačku zajednicu, loveći njene resurse i umanjujući opće povjerenje u nauku, postajući važna istraživačka tema. Prethodne studije bile su usredotočene na identificiranje njihovih karakteristika, kako bi se povećala akademska svijest i pomoglo istraživačima da ne postanu plijen. Istodobno, grabežljivi izdavači diverzificirali su svoje strategije; akademska zajednica razvila je različite reakcije, koje su odredile više i raznovrsnije predatorske strategije, usmjerene na mamljenje i obmanjivanje naučnika. Iako je postupak još uvijek u toku, ovo je istraživanje usmjereno na izlaganje najekstremnijih strategija grabežljivosti, nastojeći da linija koja razdvaja poštene i grabežljive časopise postane sljedivija. Analiza relevantnih studija slučaja usredotočena je na jezičko pitanje, zasnovano na hipotezi prema kojoj se izdavači nalaze u zemljama u kojima se engleski jezik rijetko govori. Nalazi, uključujući izmišljanje engleskih imena, reklame koje nemaju smisla za zapadni svijet, nedostatak kontrole kvaliteta i loš grafički jezik, potvrđuju hipotezu i takođe mogu stajati u srži mogućih smjernica za izlaganje predatorskih izdavača na osnovu specifičnih karakteristika njihovih poziva.

Trust, Sociability, and Quality of Life of Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Germany

Poor social integration is associated with poor quality of life among minority groups. The current study hypothesized that trust and sociability may significantly explain the quality of life performance among Sub-Saharan African migrants in Germany. Data from 518 migrants were analyzed. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were calculated to assess the predictive effect of trust and sociability on aggregate quality of life. Results show that general trust and sociability explained about 21% of the variance in quality of life score (adjusted R2 = .206; p < .001) for the total sample. Socioeconomic and demographic features suggested an added predictive effect of about 8% for total sample (adjusted R2 = .279; p < .001), 10% for male (adjusted R2 = .322; p < .001) and 4% for female (adjusted R2 = .211; p < .001). The results support trust and sociability as essential in connecting to a new environment and enhancing the quality of life.

Political Trust in Predicting Readiness to Comply with Governmental Restrictions During COVID-19 Pandemic

In the present paper, we try to answer the question of what makes a citizen to comply to health behaviour guidelines by comparing trust in government and past behaviour as predictors of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Through an online study of 316 respondents, we found that the judgment of government (indirectly, in terms of positive evaluation of government actions during COVID-19) does play an important role in the ratings of the extent to which one will follow restrictions during the pandemic in the future. This variable seems to be a central one in terms of uniting different variables, which predict the restriction following behaviour: an evaluation of the government’s competence, benevolence, integrity, general trust in government during the COVID-19, the perceived risk of government actions concerning oneself and one’s family, as well as with respect to the evaluation of future economic prospects.

Unleashing the mechanism between affect-based trust and employee creativity: a knowledge sharing perspective

Purpose Creativity has become essential for organizations to remain competitive. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the intervening role of knowledge sharing between affect-based trust and employee creativity. The study further investigates perceived organizational support as a conditional factor on the association between affect-based trust and employee creativity. Design/methodology/approach The study tackled the issue of common method variance by collecting data in dyads. Specifically, the study collected data from 368 employees and their supervisors working in various organizations in Pakistan through Google Forms in two waves. In the first wave, employees were approached on a convenience basis, whereas, in the second wave, data from their supervisors were collected. Findings Structural equation modeling was applied to test hypotheses. The study noted knowledge sharing as a mediator between affect-based trust and employee creativity. The study also noted that individuals with high perceptions of organizational support are more likely to strengthen the association between affect-based trust and knowledge sharing. Practical implications This study suggests management work on their employees’ affect-based trust-building. Employees who have relationships based on affect-based trust feel safe and are less afraid of being criticized for sharing their ideas and thoughts. This positively contributes to developing a cooperative environment which becomes the base for employee creativity. Originality/value Past studies have examined the association between general trust and employee creativity. To this backdrop, this study highlighted the importance of affect-based trust toward employee creativity. More specifically, drawing upon social exchange, this study is the first of its kind that examined the mediating role of knowledge sharing between affect-based trust and employee creativity, where perceived organizational support is examined as a conditional variable between affect-based trust and knowledge sharing.

Problem Talk in Adolescence: Temperament and Attachment as Predictors of Co-Rumination Trajectories in Boys and Girls

Co-rumination has consistently been shown to be maladaptive in the context of emotional well-being. However, not much is known about factors that predict one’s tendency to co-ruminate. The current study investigated temperament, attachment, and gender as predictors of co-rumination trajectories in a sample of 1549 early and middle adolescents from fifth to ninth grade (53.4% girls; Mage = 12.93). Analyses were performed on four waves of data with one-year intervals using multi-level modeling. First, girls were found to be more likely to co-ruminate. Second, high positive affectivity in boys and girls and high effortful control in boys was related to higher co-rumination. Third, high attachment anxiety and high general trust in the availability and support of a mother were predictive of higher co-rumination levels. High attachment avoidance was negatively related to co-rumination in boys. High positive affectivity in boys and girls and high trust in boys predicted decreases in reported co-rumination levels over time. Results highlight differences between boys and girls in factors that predict the tendency to co-ruminate. The current study adds to the literature by helping to identify factors associated with the development of co-rumination, which is a well-established risk factor of internalizing symptoms. Monitoring youth affected with these vulnerabilities may be recommended for prevention efforts.

Contrasting Public Perceptions of Government versus Certified Public Accounting Firm Oversight of Relief Packages

This study examines public perceptions of potential overseers charged with ensuring that relief packages are distributed to the intended audience. In an experiment, we assess perceptions of trustworthiness and fraud reduction ability between government and public accounting firm employees in the context of relief package oversight. While actual ability is important, public perceptions of overseer ability is also essential for relief packages to be fully effective. We find that people, regardless of their political party affiliation, rate public accounting firm employees as more trustworthy and better able to reduce fraud than government employees. For government oversight, participant political party affiliation influences perceptions of employee ability and is mediated by general trust in government. These findings suggest public accounting firms are a viable alternative to increase public perceptions that relief packages are distributed effectively. Initial evidence suggests educating the public on the role of career government employees may raise public opinion.

Prevalence and Factors of the Performed or Scheduled COVID-19 Vaccination in a Chinese Adult General Population in Hong Kong

Background: Globally, COVID-19 vaccination programs have been rolled out. To inform health promotion, this study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of performance or being scheduled to perform at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination (PSCV) in a Chinese adult general population. Methods: An anonymous, random telephone survey interviewed 500 adults aged 18–75 in Hong Kong, China from 14–27 May 2021. Results: The prevalence of PSCV was 21.0%, which was significantly lower among females and those aged ≤30. Positively associated factors of PSCV included perceived protection effect of vaccination, self-perceived physical fitness for vaccination, compulsory COVID-19 testing experience, perceived need to travel, general trust toward the government, and trust toward the governmental vaccination program, while negatively associated factors included perceived low efficacy of vaccination, concerns about side effects, and chronic disease status. Furthermore, the association between sex and PSCV was fully mediated by stronger concern about side effects and lower levels of self-perceived physical fitness for COVID-19 vaccination among females than males. Conclusion: Moderately low prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination was observed in Hong Kong, where there was no shortage of vaccine supply. To achieve herd immunity, health promotion is greatly warranted and may incorporate messages based on the findings of this study.