Volume 6, Issue 2, April 2013 Edition
Public employees’ awareness of traditional korean administrative culture: An appraisal
Hongseok Lee
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the variance of public employees’ awareness of traditional Korean administrative culture including generalism, authoritarianism, formalism, and familism according to their socioeconomic status and work experience measured in terms of gender, age, rank, and job position. The results of the statistical analysis are as follows. First, public employees’ awareness of formalism and familism varies depending on their gender. Second, public employees’ awareness of generalism, formalism, and authoritarianism varies depending on their rank. Lastly, public employees’ awareness of generalism varies depending on their job position. Implications for a better understanding of public employees’ values as well as the effective management of government agencies are drawn from these results.
Key words: administrative culture, generalsim, authoritarianism, formalism, familism
Feelings toward the poor and beliefs about the causes of poverty: The role of affective-cognitive consistency in help-giving
Michael J. Tagler
Abstract
This study examined how affective-cognitive consistency moderates the strength of the relationship between attitudes toward the poor and help-giving intentions. Participant’s (N = 198) overall attitudes toward the poor and the consistency of their affect (feelings toward the poor) and cognition (beliefs about the causes of poverty) were mea- sured. Affective-cognitive consistency moderated the degree to which attitudes predicted welfare allocations and volunteering to help the poor, such that attitudes significantly pre- dicted these decisions among participants whose feelings toward the poor were consistent with their beliefs about the causes of poverty.
Key words: attitudes, attribution, poverty
A study of influence of gender differences of the children of working & non-working mothers in perception of parental behavior
Ms Bhawana Bhatt
Abstract
An attempt has been made to investigate the influence of gender differences of the children of the working and non-working mothers in perception of parental behaviour. The sample consisted of 180 boys and girls studying in the institutions of Dehradun District, Uttarakand. The perception of parental behaviour(mother’s behaviour) was assesses with the help of PCRQ developed by Dr. R.A. Sing (1981). The data were analysed by Mean, S.D. and ‘t’ ratio. The results indicate that parental behaviour (mother’s behaviour) changes with respect to gender. It was found that influence of gender difference of the children of working and non-working mothers different. However, significant difference was observed in non-working mothers behaviour on dominating, rejecting and disciplining variables for boys and girls. It was also found that girls perceived their working and non-working mothers more loving than boys.
Key words: working mother, perception, parental behavior
A century of Macondo: United States energy policy and the BP blowout catastrophe
Robert Gramling and William R. Freudenburg
Abstract
Since the discovery of oil well drilling, energy policy (particularly offshore petroleum policy over the past three decades) has led the United States, and indeed the industrialized world, into a cycle of dependency, profit, and risk taking that made a Macondo-like blowout likely, if not inevitable. This article examines the broad political, economic, technological, and environmental contexts surrounding the growth and development of both our ability to obtain petroleum and our dependency on it. The authors use the tools of environmental sociology, environmental history, and political ecology to trace the path to the current situation in which the myth of “energy independence” is used to justify practices that are counter to the very concept.
Key words: energy policy, offshore oil, blowout Gulf
Does Human Capital Matter? A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Human Capital and Firm Performance
David J. Ketchen, Jr.
Abstract
Theory at both the micro and macro level predicts that investments in superior human capital generate better firm-level performance. However, human capital takes time and money to develop or acquire, which potentially offsets its positive benefits. Indeed, extant tests appear equivocal regarding its impact. To clarify what is known, we meta-analyzed effects drawn from 66 studies of the human capital–firm performance relationship and investigated 3 moderators suggested by resource-based theory. We found that human capital relates strongly to performance, especially when the human capital in question is not readily tradable in labor markets and when researchers use operational performance measures that are not subject to profit appropriation. Our results suggest that managers should invest in programs that increase and retain firm-specific human capital.
Key words: capital, performance, resource-based theory, meta-analysis
Preferential trade agreements and the law and politics of GATT Article XXIV
Amin Alavi
Abstract
The tasks Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) perform are expressed in their scope and covered issues, thus in order to be WTO compatible these aspects of PTAs should comply with the relevant WTO rules. This paper examines which aspects of PTAs can violate these rules and therefore can be challenged before the WTO Dis- pute Settlement Body, who may initiate such cases and why there hasn´t been more cases dealing with this im- portant issue.
Key words: WTO, PTAs, GATT Art. XXIV, WTO Dispute Settlement
Fathers’ influence on children’s cognitive and behavioural functioning: A longitudinal study of Canadian families
Erin Pougnet, Lisa A. Serbin, Dale M. Stack, and Alex E. Schwartzman
Abstract
An emerging body of research illustrates the connections between fathers and their children’s develop- ment. This topic is particularly relevant in Que´bec, a demographically and culturally unique province in which female lone parenthood is relatively common; this pattern is related to socioeconomic disadvan- tages that predict negative cognitive and behavioural outcomes in youth. Using data from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, an intergenerational longitudinal data set collected in inner city areas of Montreal, the current study investigated the prospective relations between fathers’ presence and parent- ing, and children’s subsequent cognitive and behavioural functioning. The current sample included 138 families from lower to middle income backgrounds who participated in two waves of data collection: when children were in middle childhood and subsequently three to five years later in preadolescence. The results indicated that for girls only, fathers’ presence in middle childhood predicted fewer internalizing problems in preadolescence. For both boys and girls, fathers’ positive parental control predicted higher Performance IQ and fewer internalizing problems over six years later. These findings add to the increasing body of literature suggesting that fathers make important contributions to their children’s cognitive and behavioural functioning, and point to the benefits of developing policies that encourage fathers to spend time with their children (i.e., parental leave for men) and promote positive fathering and involvement through parenting courses.
Key words: fathers, behaviour problems, cognitive functioning, Canadian context, socioeconomic risk
Linking trust, perceived website quality, privacy protection, gender and online purchase intentions
Mona Afshardost,SepidehFarahmandian, Seyed Mohammad SadiqEshaghi
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate individual’s online purchase intention, Website trust, privacy protection, Website perceived quality and gender. The theory of reasoned action was employed to develop the conceptual framework. The research used a survey approach. Using cluster sampling, the respondents include active postgraduate students at the International Business School Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability test, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The study found that only Website content quality is significant in online purchase intention. Implications of the research are discussed herein.
Key words: online purchase intentions; trust; website quality; privacy; gender
Public employees’ awareness of traditional korean administrative culture: An appraisal
Hongseok Lee
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the variance of public employees’ awareness of traditional Korean administrative culture including generalism, authoritarianism, formalism, and familism according to their socioeconomic status and work experience measured in terms of gender, age, rank, and job position. The results of the statistical analysis are as follows. First, public employees’ awareness of formalism and familism varies depending on their gender. Second, public employees’ awareness of generalism, formalism, and authoritarianism varies depending on their rank. Lastly, public employees’ awareness of generalism varies depending on their job position. Implications for a better understanding of public employees’ values as well as the effective management of government agencies are drawn from these results.
Key words: administrative culture, generalsim, authoritarianism, formalism, familism
 [Full text-PDF]
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1080-1094 |
Feelings toward the poor and beliefs about the causes of poverty: The role of affective-cognitive consistency in help-giving
Michael J. Tagler
Abstract
This study examined how affective-cognitive consistency moderates the strength of the relationship between attitudes toward the poor and help-giving intentions. Participant’s (N = 198) overall attitudes toward the poor and the consistency of their affect (feelings toward the poor) and cognition (beliefs about the causes of poverty) were mea- sured. Affective-cognitive consistency moderated the degree to which attitudes predicted welfare allocations and volunteering to help the poor, such that attitudes significantly pre- dicted these decisions among participants whose feelings toward the poor were consistent with their beliefs about the causes of poverty.
Key words: attitudes, attribution, poverty
| [Full text-PDF]
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1095-1116 |
A study of influence of gender differences of the children of working & non-working mothers in perception of parental behavior
Ms Bhawana Bhatt
Abstract
An attempt has been made to investigate the influence of gender differences of the children of the working and non-working mothers in perception of parental behaviour. The sample consisted of 180 boys and girls studying in the institutions of Dehradun District, Uttarakand. The perception of parental behaviour(mother’s behaviour) was assesses with the help of PCRQ developed by Dr. R.A. Sing (1981). The data were analysed by Mean, S.D. and ‘t’ ratio. The results indicate that parental behaviour (mother’s behaviour) changes with respect to gender. It was found that influence of gender difference of the children of working and non-working mothers different. However, significant difference was observed in non-working mothers behaviour on dominating, rejecting and disciplining variables for boys and girls. It was also found that girls perceived their working and non-working mothers more loving than boys.
Key words: working mother, perception, parental behavior
| [Full text-PDF]
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1117-1120 |
A century of Macondo: United States energy policy and the BP blowout catastrophe
Robert Gramling and William R. Freudenburg
Abstract
Since the discovery of oil well drilling, energy policy (particularly offshore petroleum policy over the past three decades) has led the United States, and indeed the industrialized world, into a cycle of dependency, profit, and risk taking that made a Macondo-like blowout likely, if not inevitable. This article examines the broad political, economic, technological, and environmental contexts surrounding the growth and development of both our ability to obtain petroleum and our dependency on it. The authors use the tools of environmental sociology, environmental history, and political ecology to trace the path to the current situation in which the myth of “energy independence” is used to justify practices that are counter to the very concept.
Key words: energy policy, offshore oil, blowout Gulf
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1121-1148 |
Does Human Capital Matter? A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Human Capital and Firm Performance
David J. Ketchen, Jr.
Abstract
Theory at both the micro and macro level predicts that investments in superior human capital generate better firm-level performance. However, human capital takes time and money to develop or acquire, which potentially offsets its positive benefits. Indeed, extant tests appear equivocal regarding its impact. To clarify what is known, we meta-analyzed effects drawn from 66 studies of the human capital–firm performance relationship and investigated 3 moderators suggested by resource-based theory. We found that human capital relates strongly to performance, especially when the human capital in question is not readily tradable in labor markets and when researchers use operational performance measures that are not subject to profit appropriation. Our results suggest that managers should invest in programs that increase and retain firm-specific human capital.
Key words: capital, performance, resource-based theory, meta-analysis
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1149-1163 |
Preferential trade agreements and the law and politics of GATT Article XXIV
Amin Alavi
Abstract
The tasks Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) perform are expressed in their scope and covered issues, thus in order to be WTO compatible these aspects of PTAs should comply with the relevant WTO rules. This paper examines which aspects of PTAs can violate these rules and therefore can be challenged before the WTO Dis- pute Settlement Body, who may initiate such cases and why there hasn´t been more cases dealing with this im- portant issue.
Key words: WTO, PTAs, GATT Art. XXIV, WTO Dispute Settlement
| [Full text-PDF]
|
1164-1170 |
Fathers’ influence on children’s cognitive and behavioural functioning: A longitudinal study of Canadian families
Erin Pougnet, Lisa A. Serbin, Dale M. Stack, and Alex E. Schwartzman
Abstract
An emerging body of research illustrates the connections between fathers and their children’s develop- ment. This topic is particularly relevant in Que´bec, a demographically and culturally unique province in which female lone parenthood is relatively common; this pattern is related to socioeconomic disadvan- tages that predict negative cognitive and behavioural outcomes in youth. Using data from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, an intergenerational longitudinal data set collected in inner city areas of Montreal, the current study investigated the prospective relations between fathers’ presence and parent- ing, and children’s subsequent cognitive and behavioural functioning. The current sample included 138 families from lower to middle income backgrounds who participated in two waves of data collection: when children were in middle childhood and subsequently three to five years later in preadolescence. The results indicated that for girls only, fathers’ presence in middle childhood predicted fewer internalizing problems in preadolescence. For both boys and girls, fathers’ positive parental control predicted higher Performance IQ and fewer internalizing problems over six years later. These findings add to the increasing body of literature suggesting that fathers make important contributions to their children’s cognitive and behavioural functioning, and point to the benefits of developing policies that encourage fathers to spend time with their children (i.e., parental leave for men) and promote positive fathering and involvement through parenting courses.
Key words: fathers, behaviour problems, cognitive functioning, Canadian context, socioeconomic risk
| [Full text-PDF]
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1171-1180 |
Linking trust, perceived website quality, privacy protection, gender and online purchase intentions
Mona Afshardost,SepidehFarahmandian, Seyed Mohammad SadiqEshaghi
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to investigate individual’s online purchase intention, Website trust, privacy protection, Website perceived quality and gender. The theory of reasoned action was employed to develop the conceptual framework. The research used a survey approach. Using cluster sampling, the respondents include active postgraduate students at the International Business School Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability test, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The study found that only Website content quality is significant in online purchase intention. Implications of the research are discussed herein.
Key words: online purchase intentions; trust; website quality; privacy; gender
| [Full text-PDF]
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1181-1190 |
