scholarly journals Who is reducing their material consumption and why? A cross-cultural analysis of dematerialization behaviours

2017 ◽  
Vol 375 (2095) ◽  
pp. 20160376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Whitmarsh ◽  
Stuart Capstick ◽  
Nicholas Nash
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Material Consumption ◽  
Green Consumption ◽  
Demand Reduction ◽  
Identity Model ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Taking Action ◽  
Structural Levels

The environmental and economic imperatives to dematerialize economies, or ‘do more with less’, have been established for some years. Yet, to date, little is known about the personal drivers associated with dematerializing. This paper explores the prevalence and profile of those who are taking action to reduce consumption in different cultural contexts (UK and Brazil) and considers influences on dematerialization behaviours. We find that exemplar behaviours (avoiding buying new things and avoiding packaging) are far less common than archetypal environmental behaviours (e.g. recycling), but also that cultural context is important (Brazilians are more likely to reduce their material consumption than people in the UK). We also find that the two dematerialization behaviours are associated with different pro-environmental actions (more radical action versus green consumption, respectively); and have distinct, but overlapping, psychological (e.g. identity) and socio-demographic (e.g. education) predictors. Comparing a more traditional value-identity model of pro-environmental behaviour with a motivation-based (self-determination) model, we find that the latter explains somewhat more variance than the former. However, overall, little variance is explained, suggesting that additional factors at the personal and structural levels are important for determining these consumption behaviours. We conclude by outlining policy implications and avenues for further research. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Material demand reduction’.

scholarly journals Amendments of 2020 to the Russian Constitution as an Update to Its Symbolic and Identity Programme

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Sadowski
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Current Version ◽  
Legal Text ◽  
The Past ◽  
Russian Constitution ◽  
Research Procedure ◽  
Historical Identity ◽  
Fundamental Law ◽  
Symbolic Content

AbstractIn the renewed Russian Fundamental Law, in addition to a number of provisions introducing changes to the political system, there are also statements of programmatic importance, as well as several provisions with symbolic and identity function. In this article these provisions are subject to functional and semiotic-cultural analysis. Particular emphasis has been placed on legally irrelevant content transmitted by the new regulations, on their semantic connections with the content of the preamble and on their cultural context. The research procedure carried out allows us to state that, compared with the 1993 text, the Russian Constitution in its current version participates to a much greater extent in the complex system of transmission of symbolic content, as well as the narratives that contribute to social memory, cultural and historical identity. In doing so, it goes beyond its genre limitations, opening the basic text to the functions assigned to the preamble. In the fragments I have analysed in the paper there are undoubtedly functional and genre disturbances, and with them changes the mode of semiosis of the legal text, both in its normative and programmatic form. Renewed Constitution is the case in which a legal text, by its very nature designing the possible future world, does so through ideas about the past.

scholarly journals Developing A Cross-Cultural Conceptual Framework for the Validation of the Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS)-SP: Assessing Social Perception in Latinx Populations

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1298-1298
Author(s):  
M Forte ◽  
P Nestor
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Social Perception ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Cultural Intelligence ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Communication Styles ◽  
Normative Sample

Abstract Objective Develop a cross-cultural conceptual framework for the validation of the Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS) Social Perception subtest to effectively assess Latinx populations. Method The framework serves to examine and evaluate the composition of the normative sample of the ACS-SP using eight key variables taken from the ECLECTIC framework, specifically education (e.g., literacy), acculturation levels (e.g., race, ethnicity), language (e.g., proficiency), economics (e.g., SES), communication styles, testing comfort, intelligence conceptualization, and context of immigration (Fujii, 2018). In addition, the model assesses the normative sample in reference to the intersectionality of identities (Cole, 2009; Wadsworth et al., 2016) across cultural and demographic variables that may influence the expression of emotion, and consequently, the interpretation of ACS-SP results. The model applies an Etic-Emic approach to address the question of cross-cultural validity of the ACS-SP (Cheung, van de Vijver & Leong, 2011). Finally, the model can be applied to examine the ACS-SP in relation to cultural intelligence (CQ), a more recently established construct defined as an individual’s ability to function effectively inter-culturally (Ang, Rockstuhl, & Tan, 2015). Discussion A large body of research has shown that the expression and measurement of social cognitive abilities are greatly influenced by cultural factors (Elfenbein & Ambady, 2002). For example, studies have shown that the expression of these abilities may be greatly influenced by cultural differences in display rules. Likewise, it is equally important to consider key cultural variables such as those related to socioeconomic status (SES), demographics, and identity in the neuropsychological assessment of social perception in Latinx populations. Therefore, the model conducts a cross-cultural analysis of the ACS-SP. References Ang, S., Rockstuhl, T., & Tan, M. L. (2015). Cultural intelligence and competencies. International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 433-439. Cheung, F. M., Leung, K., Fan, R. M., Song, W. Z., Zhang, J. X., & Zhang, J. P. (1996). Development of the Chinese personality assessment inventory. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 27(2), 181-199. Cole, E. R. (2009). Intersectionality and research in psychology. American psychologist, 64(3), 170. Elfenbein, H. A., & Ambady, N. (2002). On the universality and cultural specificity of emotion recognition: a meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), 203. Fujii, D. E. M. (2018) Developing a cultural context for conducting a neuropsychological evaluation with a culturally diverse client: The ECLECTIC framework. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 32(8), 1356-1392, DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2018.1435826. Wadsworth, L. P., Morgan, L. P., Hayes-Skelton, S. A., Roemer, L., & Suyemoto, K. L. (2016). Ways to boost your research rigor through increasing your cultural competence (part 1 of 2). The Behavior Therapist.

Complementarity of capabilities across cultures

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Anning-Dorson
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Complementarity Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Customer Involvement ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how service firms across two different cultural contexts use their customer involvement capabilities to create competitive advantage. The study further assesses the possible complementarity effect of innovation and involvement capabilities in enhancing firm competitiveness. Lastly, the study draws on the complementarity of capabilities and social institutions to examine whether different cultural contexts explain the use of involvement capability among service firms. Design/methodology/approach The study sampled service firms from an emerging economy (India) and high-income economy (The UK), which have different cultural contexts (collectivism/individualist) to assess the hypothesized relationship. Data collection processes were adapted to the contexts to optimize reliability and relevance. Multi-group structural equation modeling was used in analyzing the data. Findings The study finds that cultural contexts explain the positive relationship between customer involvement capability and firm competitiveness such that in collectivist cultures, involvement capability is more positively related to competitiveness but negative in individualistic contexts. However, in both contexts, service firms can through capability bundling increase firm competitiveness. The study found that the complementarity effects of innovation and involvement capabilities were found to be positive in both contexts. Originality/value This study departs from previous studies by arguing that customer involvement is a complementary capability that helps exploit the potential of innovation capability of service firms. This study further demonstrates that cultural context defines the effectiveness of involvement capability in achieving firm competitiveness.

scholarly journals Examination of Heterogeneous Societies

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumiko Kano Glückstad ◽  
Mikkel N. Schmidt ◽  
Morten Mørup
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Relational Model ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
World Value Survey ◽  
Applied Model ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Cultural Data

The recent development of data analytic tools rooted around the Multi-Group Latent Class Analysis (MGLCA) has enabled the examination of heterogeneous datasets in a cross-cultural context. Although the MGLCA is considered as an established and popular cross-cultural data analysis approach, the infinite relational model (IRM) is a new and disruptive type of unsupervised clustering approach that has been developed recently by cognitive psychologists and computer scientists. In this article, an extended version of the IRM coined the multinominal IRM—or mIRM in short—is applied to a cross-cultural analysis of survey data available from the World Value Survey organization. Specifically, the present work analyzes response patterns of the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ) representing Schwartz’s 10 basic values of Japanese and Swedes. The applied model exposes heterogeneous structures of the two societies consisting of fine-grained response patterns expressed by the respective subpopulations and extracts latent typological structures contrasting and highlighting similarities and differences between these two societies. In the final section, we discuss similarities and differences identified between the MGLCA and the mIRM approaches, which indicate potential applications and contributions of the mIRM and the general IRM framework for future cross-cultural data analyses.

Is there a black and minority ethnic third sector in the UK?

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Black Community ◽  
Asylum Seeker ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Immigrant Community ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Community Organisations ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Minority Ethnic

Can the BME third sector be considered a distinctive sector in its own right? Contributing towards building a foundation of knowledge on the black minority ethnic (BME) third sector, this chapter offers an introductory resource on research in this field. The paper begins with discussion on the contested concept of a BME third sector (BME TS) and its 'distinctiveness' from the wider third sector. It highlights the importance of robust comparative analyses to identify the differences between subsectors, in order to examine the policy implications for these different organisations. The chapter provides brief overviews of material about different types of organisation that might constitute the BME TS. These include: refugee and asylum seeker organisations (RCOs), faith based organisations, diasporic immigrant community organisations, and Black community organisations. In closing, the paper identifies gaps in the current research base that will be of interest to the wider research community.

“It just goes against the grain.” Public understandings of genetically modified (GM) food in the UK

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Modification ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Scientific Innovation ◽  
Understanding Of Science ◽  
The Uk

This paper reports on one aspect of qualitative research on public understandings of food risks, focusing on lay understandings of genetically modified (GM) food in a UK context. A range of theoretical, conceptual, and empirical literature on food, risk, and the public understanding of science are reviewed. The fieldwork methods are outlined and empirical data from a range of lay groups are presented. Major themes include: varying “technical” knowledge of science, the relationship between knowledge and acceptance of genetic modification, the uncertainty of scientific knowledge, genetic modification as inappropriate scientific intervention in “nature,” the acceptability of animal and human applications of genetic modification, the appropriate boundaries of scientific innovation, the necessity for GM foods, the uncertainty of risks in GM food, fatalism about avoiding risks, and trust in “experts” to manage potential risks in GM food. Key discussion points relating to a sociological understanding of public attitudes to GM food are raised and some policy implications are highlighted.

scholarly journals Description of Linguistic and Cultural Situation (LCS) as Theoretical Issue and Practical Task

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-799
Author(s):  
Lyubov Mikheyeva
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Russian Language ◽  
Theoretical Issue ◽  
Object Of Study ◽  
Youth Language ◽  
Youth Discourse

The article substantiates relevance of study of the Russian language current state from the standpoint of linguo-culturology as complex and interdisciplinary science. Historical and regional language particularities, temporal cultural context of a linguistic situation are considered. The study is conducted within the framework of the contemporary linguistics: cognitive science, sociolinguistics, ethno-linguistics, psycholinguistics, etc. Linguo-cultural description of a situation as theoretical concept and as object of a linguo-cultural analysis contributes to the development of LCS-theory and poses a problem of practical study of specific linguo-cultural cases. Any radical changes in a language are historically and culturally dependent. Directly or indirectly, they reflect socio-political or ideological transformations in the life of a society, and are related to language consciousness and language worldview of native speakers. Hence, space-time circumstances have crucial influence on a particular linguo-cultural situation and require a comprehensive analysis. Youth discourse, being a rapidly changing and constantly updated issue, is affected by the time period and the cultural environment in which it develops. It gives grounds to choosing youth discourse as the main object of study in the description of the current linguo-cultural situation. The linguo-cultural approach to the analysis of youth language (particularly, that of students as large and socially active layer in the modern society) is aimed at enhancing the forecast of some development trends both in the language and in the linguo-cultural situation in the country. Besides, it helps to determine both general regularities of linguo-cultural development and features of LCS as one of key linguo-cultural concepts.

The Effect of Farmer Capacities, Farm Business Resources and Perceived Support of Family, Friends and Associational Networks on Intentions to Invest in Renewable Energy Ventures in the UK

2013 ◽  
pp. 1072-1088
Author(s):  
Aurelian Mbzibain
Keyword(s):  
Positive Influence ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Farm Diversification ◽  
Land Tenancy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
Investment Intentions

The specific role of farmers and their actual or potential involvement with RE adoption and the wider community is potentially important but has not been addressed by research. This research carried out a postal survey of 2000 (response rate of 20.1%) farmers in the West Midlands region of the UK to investigate some of the factors affecting farmers’ intentions to invest in RE production and associated enterprises. Multivariate linear regressions showed that the farmer’s level of education, level of farm diversification, land tenancy status and farm business turnovers were the most important factors affecting intentions. It also emerged that perceived support of family, friends and associational networks was a significant positive influence on farmer’s investment intentions. The policy implications for these results are discussed.

Conclusion

2021 ◽  
pp. 307-322
Author(s):  
Jonathan Bradbury
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Labour Party ◽  
Constitutional Reform ◽  
Constitutional Change ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Social ◽  
Territorial Politics ◽  
The Uk

The book has provided four sets of conclusions. First, the examination of territorial strain, the nature of territorial problems and the characteristics of background conditions gives us a lens through which to evaluate critically the social, economic and cultural context to territorial politics. The second set of conclusions relate to the approaches used in the movements for territorial constitutional change in exploiting the support they did have and overcoming those weaknesses that still existed. As part of the reality of how territorial change happens it is to be expected that in the particular case of the UK that all territorial movements emerged out of party political contestation and self-interested party choices, and then had to define approaches heavily determined by party constraints. The third set of conclusions relate to UK central government. The UK centre was also in part defined by the pursuit of party power, and the key party at the UK level ready to address territorial constitutional reform — the Labour Party — faced large challenges and anxieties after 18 years out of office when they prepared for the 1997 general election. The final set of conclusions relate to the importance of constitutional policy processes to the resolution of conflicts in centre–periphery relations. Approaches to the development of devolution policy were followed which made the best efforts to achieve territorial balance under the constraints that they faced. The policy processes in Scotland and Northern Ireland achieved sometimes high, but at least sufficient, levels of inclusiveness in their mechanisms of negotiation.

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