SOCIAL ACTIVITY OF STUDENTS: EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH OF SEMANTIC IDEAS

В статье рассматривается социальная активность молодежи в контексте смысловых представлений студентов вузов. На основании материалов регионального эмпирического исследования были проанализированы смыслы, которыми наделяется активность и которые имеют высокую значимость в саморегуляции общественно направленной и индивидуализированной активности студентов. Выявлено, что смысл социальной активности в восприятии вузовской молодежи соотносится с приоритетами органов исполнительной власти, занимающихся реализацией молодежной политики; определена зависимость между частотой участия студентов в практиках социальной активности и готовностью воспринимать данную деятельность посредством институционально организованных форм. Определены доминирующие мировоззренческие установки среди вузовской молодежи и описана их связь с мотивацией социальной активности в исследуемой группе. Выявлено противоречие между смысловым представлением о социальной активности и проявляемой деятельностью: образ определяется студентами через доминирование альтруистических ценностей, а в основе реальной активности молодых людей находятся гедонистические и инструментальные ценности. The article attempts to analyze the social activity of youth in the context of semantic representations of university students. Based on the materials of a regional empirical study, the meanings of activity are analyzed, as well as those meanings that are significant in the self-regulation of socially directed and individualized activity of students. The research shows that the meaning of social activity in the perception of university youth correlates with the priorities of executive authorities involved in the implementation of youth policy; the dependence between the frequency of students' participation in social activity practices and the willingness to perceive this activity through institutionally organized forms is determined. The dominant ideological attitudes among university youth are analyzed and their connection with the motivation of social activity is described. The contradiction between the semantic idea of social activity and the activity manifested is revealed: the students determine this activity basing on the altruistic values, but in practice, hedonistic and instrumental values are at the heart of the activities of young people.

Value orientations of vkontakte users with different strategies for meanings transferring

The paper presents the results of a study of strategies for transferring the meanings and the value orientations of young people in social networks. The Internet is so firmly rooted in our everyday life that we can no longer imagine our life without it. It is penetrating into an increasing number of human life spheres, becoming the environment in which communication, educational and work processes, leisure and shopping take place. Its hard not to notice that the youth audience is especially interested in the virtual environment. The Internet and, in particular, social networks are becoming the environment that influences the formation and development of society, the dissemination of ideas, news, trends. On the Internet, one can observe both the amazing consolidation of users who are able to create a news agenda, and the disunity of many contradictory judgments, meanings and forms of their presentation. The purpose of this study is to identify the strategies for the translation of meanings that Internet users resort to when commenting on posts on social networks, and to study the value orientations of young people using various strategies for the translation of meanings. The study includes the authors questionnaire, the method of diagnosing M. Rokichs value orientations, methods of mathematical statistics (H-Kruskal-Wallis criterion, 22-criterion). Terminal and instrumental values characteristic of the 6 strategies of meanings transferring have been determined; the strategies most often used by users with abstract and concrete terminal values are revealed. The research helps to understand how the transferring of meanings takes place in a network and according to which characteristics of the value sphere users with different strategies for the meanings transferring differ.

Political Participation and Varying Understandings of Democracy

This chapter focuses on the behavioral implications of popular conceptions of democracy, that is, the attitude-to-behavior connections and in particular, conventional and unconventional political participation. The chapter shows that overall, compared to their fellow citizens emphasizing the instrumental values of democracy, people embracing the procedural understanding of democracy are significantly more likely to cast ballots, help with electoral campaigns, contact political and government agencies or agents, join a demonstration, march in a protest, or use violence for a political cause. Meanwhile, this impact varies significantly, depending on the features of the regime in a society: it is much stronger in authoritarian regimes than in democracies. In some cases, the impact even reverses as we move from autocracies to democracies. The chapter argues that such patterns are primarily driven by the expressive values served by political participation, which people embracing the procedural conception of democracy are more sensitive to.

Introduction

Privacy matters because, in an information society, information is power. The introduction opens with “the privacy conversation,” a conversation the author frequently has had with people he’s just met, in which the other person suggests that “privacy is dead.” Privacy is not dead, it turns out; it is just our society’s way of dealing with the social consequences of the power that human information provides to governments, companies, and other people who collect and use human information. The introduction lays out a plan of the book. Part 1, “How to Think About Privacy,” explains what privacy is and what privacy isn’t and dispels several pernicious myths about privacy. Part 2, “Three Privacy Values,” explores three of the instrumental values that good privacy rules can secure: identity formation, political freedom, and consumer protection.

The Direct and Indirect Influences of Human Values on Consumer Choices

<p>The aim of the present thesis is to develop a conceptual framework of how consumers' choice of products may be influenced by the human values that they endorse. The framework combines a traditional model of human value influence based in expectancy-value theory (e.g., Scott and Lamont's (1973), Gutman's (1982) and Lindberg, Garling and Montgomery's (1989) attribute-mediation approach), with a new approach based on product meanings, judgements and psychological functions. From the union, a product meaning approach to value influence is suggested which outlines two structures of the value-attitude-behaviour system. Firstly, when consumers are evaluating a product's utilitarian meaning and making a piecemeal judgement, human values may influence the importance of the product's tangible attributes that in turn influence product preference. Secondly, when consumers are evaluating a product's symbolic meaning and making an affective judgement, human values may influence product preference directly. The meaning and judgement elements of the conceptual framework and the traditional attribute-mediation approach were examined in three studies; Study 1 found that the attribute-mediation approach could not fully account for the influence of human values on product preference (Hypothesis 1) and that the inability was greatest for products, such as red meat and overseas holiday destinations, which are likely evaluated on their intangible attributes of symbolic meanings and aesthetics (Hypothesis 2). The second and third studies tested whether the two routes of value influence uncovered in Study 1, that is, the route proposed in the attribute-mediation approach and the alternative, direct route, result from consumers evaluating different product meanings and making different types of judgements. Study 2 developed scales that measure the general publics' product meaning and judgement preferences, and Study 3 associated the meaning and judgement preference scales with the influences of human values on automobile and sunglasses ownerships; confirming the product meaning approach hypothesis that a consumer's preference for utilitarian meaning and for a piecemeal judgement to symbolic meaning and an affective judgement should be greater when his or her human values have an indirect influence on product preference (e.g., via the importance of the product's tangible attributes) than when his or her human values have a direct influence. Besides modelling the cognitive structure through which human values operate when consumers attend to utilitarian and symbolic meanings and make piecemeal and affective judgements, several propositions were made that consumers have a cross-product tendency to prefer the same meanings, judgements and routes of value influence, and that each route of value influence serves a specific psychological function. Concerning the latter, the propositions were made that when consumers attend to symbolic meaning and directly apply their human values, the application serves an expressive psychological function (e.g., self-consistency and social approval), and hence should be associated with greater psychological identification with the product, greater importance assigned to human values in general (e.g., value relevance), and a preference for terminal values to instrumental values. Conversely, when consumers attend to utilitarian meaning and indirectly apply their human values via tangible attribute importances, the application serves an instrumental psychological function (e.g., utility maximisation and control of the environment), and hence should be associated with a weaker psychological identification with the product, weaker value relevance, and a preference for instrumental values to terminal values. Study 4 assessed these propositions by examining the results of Studies 1-3 in detail and by analysing a fourth data set. Support was found for most of the propositions. Qualifications and limitations of the product meaning approach to the influences of human values on consumer choices are discussed, as are the implications of the approach for human value theory and consumer research.</p>

The Direct and Indirect Influences of Human Values on Consumer Choices

<p>The aim of the present thesis is to develop a conceptual framework of how consumers' choice of products may be influenced by the human values that they endorse. The framework combines a traditional model of human value influence based in expectancy-value theory (e.g., Scott and Lamont's (1973), Gutman's (1982) and Lindberg, Garling and Montgomery's (1989) attribute-mediation approach), with a new approach based on product meanings, judgements and psychological functions. From the union, a product meaning approach to value influence is suggested which outlines two structures of the value-attitude-behaviour system. Firstly, when consumers are evaluating a product's utilitarian meaning and making a piecemeal judgement, human values may influence the importance of the product's tangible attributes that in turn influence product preference. Secondly, when consumers are evaluating a product's symbolic meaning and making an affective judgement, human values may influence product preference directly. The meaning and judgement elements of the conceptual framework and the traditional attribute-mediation approach were examined in three studies; Study 1 found that the attribute-mediation approach could not fully account for the influence of human values on product preference (Hypothesis 1) and that the inability was greatest for products, such as red meat and overseas holiday destinations, which are likely evaluated on their intangible attributes of symbolic meanings and aesthetics (Hypothesis 2). The second and third studies tested whether the two routes of value influence uncovered in Study 1, that is, the route proposed in the attribute-mediation approach and the alternative, direct route, result from consumers evaluating different product meanings and making different types of judgements. Study 2 developed scales that measure the general publics' product meaning and judgement preferences, and Study 3 associated the meaning and judgement preference scales with the influences of human values on automobile and sunglasses ownerships; confirming the product meaning approach hypothesis that a consumer's preference for utilitarian meaning and for a piecemeal judgement to symbolic meaning and an affective judgement should be greater when his or her human values have an indirect influence on product preference (e.g., via the importance of the product's tangible attributes) than when his or her human values have a direct influence. Besides modelling the cognitive structure through which human values operate when consumers attend to utilitarian and symbolic meanings and make piecemeal and affective judgements, several propositions were made that consumers have a cross-product tendency to prefer the same meanings, judgements and routes of value influence, and that each route of value influence serves a specific psychological function. Concerning the latter, the propositions were made that when consumers attend to symbolic meaning and directly apply their human values, the application serves an expressive psychological function (e.g., self-consistency and social approval), and hence should be associated with greater psychological identification with the product, greater importance assigned to human values in general (e.g., value relevance), and a preference for terminal values to instrumental values. Conversely, when consumers attend to utilitarian meaning and indirectly apply their human values via tangible attribute importances, the application serves an instrumental psychological function (e.g., utility maximisation and control of the environment), and hence should be associated with a weaker psychological identification with the product, weaker value relevance, and a preference for instrumental values to terminal values. Study 4 assessed these propositions by examining the results of Studies 1-3 in detail and by analysing a fourth data set. Support was found for most of the propositions. Qualifications and limitations of the product meaning approach to the influences of human values on consumer choices are discussed, as are the implications of the approach for human value theory and consumer research.</p>

Collective capabilities shape the co-production of nature’s contributions to people in the alpine agricultural system of the Maurienne valley, France

Nature’s contributions to people (NCP) do not flow automatically from ecosystems to society, but they result from a co-production process of interactions between societal and ecological systems. In this study, we used the collective capabilities approach to address the social dimensions of co-production of the material NCP of cheese. These are the benefits collective structures retrieve from social-ecological interactions that individuals could not have achieved on their own and which frequently exceed pure instrumental values. Collective structures mobilise different types of social capitals in order to generate these collective capabilities. Here, we specifically investigated linkages between collective capabilities and their contributions to common perceptions and local identities. We conducted 44 semi-structured interviews with two distinct different actors’ groups in a French Alpine agricultural system surrounding the production of the quality labelled Beaufort cow cheese. We analysed the interviews qualitatively and conducted quantitative analyses as well as content and sentiment analysis to identify the different levels and types of collective investment mobilised by actors to generate collective capabilities. We found that collective capabilities involved in NCP co-production contributed to common perceptions and to specific dimensions of local identities. These can be viewed as the results of relational value construction. Further, the analysis suggests that collective capability relies on dense social interactions between actors that contribute to a good quality of life in itself. This study advances previous attempts to further investigate the role of intra-societal relations for NCP co-production.

Identifying a value-based framework of teaching from the point of view of modern so-cio-professional teachers’ community

Introduction. The authors investigate the problem of discrepancy between regulations imposed by Federal state educational and professional standards and professional values and beliefs significant for modern educators. The aim of this article is to define and clarify value-based frameworks from the point of view of modern socio- professional teacher’ community. Materials and Methods. Methodological basis of the present research is a system approach connected with the concept of systemogenesis of the activity, designed by academician V. D. Shadrikov. Adopting the systemogenesis approach to academic research, the authors employed methods of morphological and psychological analysis of teaching and the method of operationalization of existing educational and professional standards, regulating the requirements for the level of teacher education and teacher functions. Empirical data were collected via a questionnaire developed by the authors. In order to process the obtained data, the methods of initial descriptive statistics, correlation, systemic-structural and factor analysis were applied. Results. The research findings show the most important instrumental values for teachers which are closely connected with value-based aims of such categories as ‘child’, ‘environment’ and ‘profession’. The analysis of empirical data highlighted such significant values as ‘profession’, ‘environment’, and ‘child’. The common structure of teachers’ instrumental values consists in significant quality-centered values, less important knowledge-centered values and the least important relationship-centered ones. Therefore, the authors have identified the predominance of external professional values for modern educators. It contradicts the educational standards which emphasize learner-centered approach and focus on fulfilling learners’ potential. Conclusions. The study concludes that socio-professional community of modern teachers does not consider the child as the main priority of teaching. Instead, they emphasize the values of ‘profession’ and ‘environment’.

Psychological peculiarities of sport activity motivation in judo athletes

The article analyzes the specific features of motivation of sport activity as a certain type of labor activity and studies the peculiarities of psychological factors that influence the type of motivation, the level of its manifestation and the duration of its preservation. The basic features of the judoist athlete's personality motivation, in particular the motivation for success and fear of failure, communicative and organizational inclinations, locus of control, internalizing, directivity, indicators of terminal and instrumental values are considered. Experimental work allowed to reveal connection of various forms of behavior and personality parameters with externality-internality. Conformal and compliant behavior is more peculiar to judoists with an externalistic locus. Internals, in contrast to externals, are less likely to submit to pressure from others, to resist when they feel manipulated, and they react more strongly than externals to the loss of personal freedom. Athletes from internalizing loci of control perform better at the independent level than they do under supervision or videotaping. The opposite is true for externals. Internals and externals differ in the way they interpret various social situations, particularly in the way they receive information and in their causal explanation mechanisms. Internals are more active in seeking information and are usually more aware of the situation than externals. Internals attribute more responsibility to the individuals involved in the same situation. Internals are more likely to avoid situational explanations of behavior than externals. According to the results of the study, the motives that determine attitudes toward actual circumstances are of the greatest interest. Almost all athletes are dissatisfied with the level of material provision, solution of domestic issues. Among the measures to increase the level of sports motivation the majority names the proper use of means of material and moral encouragement, improving the organization of work, the possibility of discussion and independent decision-making on their use.