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Consumer Perception of Product Risks and Benefits
by Gerard Emilien Rolf Weitkunat Frank LüdickeThis book reflects the current thinking and research on how consumers’ perception of product risks and benefits affects their behavior. It provides the scientific, regulatory and industrial research community with a conceptual and methodological reference point for studies on consumer behavior and marketing. The contributions address various aspects of consumer psychology and behavior, risk perception and communication, marketing research strategies, as well as consumer product regulation. The book is divided into 4 parts: Product risks; Perception of product risks and benefits; Consumer behavior; Regulation and responsibility.
Give Peace a Chant: Popular Music, Politics and Social Protest
by Dario MartinelliThis monograph offers a unique analysis of social protest in popular music. It presents theoretical descriptions, methodological tools, and an approach that encompasses various fields of musicology, cultural studies, semiotics, discourse analysis, media studies, and political and social sciences. The author argues that protest songs should be taken as a musical genre on their own. He points out that the general approach, when discussing these songs, has been so far that of either analyzing the lyrics or the social context. For some reason, the music itself has been often overlooked. This book attempts to fill this gap. Its central thesis is that a complete overview of these repertoires demands a thorough interaction among contextual, lyrical, and musical elements together. To accomplish this, the author develops a novel model that systemizes and investigates musical repertoires. The model is then applied to four case studies, those, too, chosen among topics that are little (or not at all) frequented by scholars.
Psychosocial Health, Work and Language: International Perspectives Towards Their Categorizations at Work
by Stéphanie Cassilde Adeline GilsonThis volume deals with the construction of categorizations of health at work on the basis of individuals’ perceptions and analyses of the psychosocial health effects at their work. The volume approaches the subject from the point of view of those who have experienced psychosocial risks at work, either by being under constraints themselves or by being witness to such constraints. Each chapter sheds light on their representations by examining how the individuals label these constraints. The book compares official categorizations of psychosocial health effects of work to unofficial categorizations, built or expressed. It shows how taking into account subjective narratives may reinforce existing strategies. By giving a central place to language in the analysis of the representations of psychosocial health at work, the volume provides additional information about the various prevention and coping strategies that can be used for dealing with the issue. Beyond some international comparisons, the book covers various national case studies, including in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chechnya, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and Russia.
Economic Stress and the Family (Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research #6)
by Sampson Lee BlairIn the fall of 2008, a global recession struck, leaving many families in dire financial situations. Families around the world found themselves experiencing forms of economic stress unlike any which had been seen in recent generations. This volume focuses on how families and family members have been affected by economic and financial stress. Using a variety of methodological and theoretical perspectives, the family scholars in this volume examine the various ways in which families have adapted in the face of financial stress. Through research studies from around the world, it provides a comprehensive examination of how economic stress and financial difficulties affect family structures, family behaviours, and family relationships. Topics covered include: the persistent economic consequences of single motherhood; financial stress and child care subsidies; the American family 2012; migration and family; parental discipline style and academic achievement; economic stress and marital quality; family financial stress and adolescent substance use; and poverty and family well-being.
Water and Scriptures: Ancient Roots for Sustainable Development
by K. V. Raju S. ManasiThis collection of papers aims to draw lessons and apply indigenous knowledge, wisdom and cultural traditions to suit policy contexts describing the (a) role of individuals (b) communities, and (c) the state to ensure effectively manage water resources. Readers will discover ways in which water was conceptualized, conserved and managed. Contributions will also shed light on the historical, functional and futuristic perspectives of water resources management, and readers will be able to draw lessons and evolve policy guidelines.There are some studies related to scriptures across religions and their perceptions regarding ecological conservation. However, religious studies and their socio-economic and environmental relevance to society, more specifically to the current policy contexts, are limited. This book attempts to bridge this gap, in terms of learning lessons from the past to effectively address the challenges of the present and future. The book will be useful for historians and research scholars studying the place of water in different cultures, water pricing and water sharing; as well as ecologists and environmental scientists.
The Role of the Economic Crisis on Occupational Stress and Well Being (Research in Occupational Stress and Well-being #10)
by Pamela L. Perrewe Jonathon R. Halbesleben Christopher C. RosenWorkers experience an increasingly uncertain future and many have been forced to search for jobs in a highly competitive market. In this volume, we call upon the field's leading researchers to examine how economic conditions relate to occupational stress and well being.
Looking Back, Moving Forward: A Review of Group and Team-Based Research (Research on Managing Groups and Teams #15)
by Elizabeth A. Mannix Margaret Ann NealeThis fifteenth volume reviews the current status of many of the major themes that this series has explored. In each chapter, we challenged the authors to provide a succinct review of a particular area while maintaining the culture of this series by suggesting new directions and interesting questions to pursue. The authors, many of whom were thematic editors as young assistant professors, responded with explorations in the areas of Dynamics within Groups, Leadership, Micropolitics, Power, Ethics, Conflict, Political Correctness, Diversity, Group Learning, Technology, Engagement, Time Pressure, Culture, and Intergroup Processes - all reflecting the unique take on these topics within the context of groups and teams.
Theorizing Modern Society as a Dynamic Process (Current Perspectives in Social Theory #30)
by Professor Harry F. Dahms Lawrence HazelriggWhile it was evident to the classics of social theory that modern societies are highly dynamic forms of social organization, and that this dynamic nature must be reflected explicitly and confronted directly in modes of analysis across the social sciences, over the course of the twentieth century, the acknowledgement of this fact has been weakening. As the social sciences became increasingly concerned with issues of professionalization and standards of validity inspired by more established disciplines, especially the natural sciences and economics, the focus on dynamic processes gave way to efforts to illuminate structural (i.e., static) features of modern social life. In recent decades, however, this preoccupation with structure has begun to give way to more process-oriented research orientations. In part, this renewed interest in dynamics rather than statics is reflective of the growing influence of Continental European traditions, especially in Germany and France. In this follow-up volume to "Theorizing the Dynamics of Social Processes (vol. 27)", the emphasis is placed on recent trends in Continental European social theory, and on the importance of political analyses to theorizing modern societies.
Iranian Entrepreneurship: Deciphering the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Iran and in the Iranian Diaspora
by Shahamak Rezaei Leo-Paul Dana Veland RamadaniThis book presents a comprehensive, state-of-the-art portrait of entrepreneurship and small business management issues in Iran, and among the Iranian Diaspora. The major contributions in this book address topics such as innovation, female entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, migrant entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship, institutional support of entrepreneurial initiatives and more. This book is the outcome of an extensive research endeavor spanning several years and includes the latest contributions from highly respected authors and experts from Iran and beyond.
Jane Addams: Progressive Pioneer of Peace, Philosophy, Sociology, Social Work and Public Administration (Pioneers in Arts, Humanities, Science, Engineering, Practice #10)
by Patricia ShieldsThis book examines the life and works of Jane Addams who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1931). Addams led an international women's peace movement and is noted for spearheading a first-of-its-kind international conference of women at The Hague during World War I. She helped to found the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom. She was also a prophetic peace theorist whose ideas were dismissed by her contemporaries. Her critics conflated her activism and ideas with attempts to undermine the war effort. Perhaps more important, her credibility was challenged by sexist views characterizing her as a “silly” old woman. Her omission as a pioneering, feminist, peace theorist is a contemporary problem. This book recovers and reintegrates Addams and her concept of “positive peace,” which has relevancy for UN peacekeeping operations and community policing. Addams began her public life as a leader of the U.S. progressive era (1890 - 1920) social reform movement. She combined theory and action through her settlement work in the, often contentious, immigrant communities of Chicago. These experiences were the springboard for her innovative theories of democracy and peace, which she advanced through extensive public speaking engagements, 11 books and hundreds of articles. While this book focuses on Addams as peace theorist and activist it also shows how her eclectic interests and feminine standpoint led to pioneering efforts in American pragmatism, sociology, public administration and social work. Each field, which traces its origin to this period, is actively recovering Addams’ contributions.
Urban Areas and Global Climate Change (Research in Urban Sociology #12)
by William Holt Ray HutchisonExamining urban environmental issues at the macro, municipal level down to the micro community and individual level, this volume features cities and metropolitan regions across the global north and south with case studies from the United States, Canada, Eastern and Western Europe to India, Central America, South America and Africa. Contributions on the global north examine: the role of governing processes in sustainable cities; local growth machines and their carbon consequences; tackling climate change adaptation through community participation; climate protection and the participation and engagement of citizens; the importance of networking; and assessing the success of the environmental justice within emissions trading schemes. Case studies on the global south look at such topics as: how resource-constraints shape climate adaptation; the emergence of low-carbon development; urban vulnerability and adaptation to the health impacts of air pollution and climate extremes; global environmental changes and impacts on fishing activities; environmental justice and the social construction of space in urban poor communities; and the inverse connection between gender and climate change.
Routine Outcome Monitoring in Couple and Family Therapy: The Empirically Informed Therapist (European Family Therapy Association Series)
by Terje Tilden Bruce E. WampoldThis research-to-practice manual introduces Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM), a feedback-based approach to preventing impasses and relapses in couple and family therapy as well as within other psychotherapy approaches. This book discusses how ROM has been developed and experienced within the Norwegian couples and family therapy community in line with international trends of bridging the gap between clinical practice and research. Locating the method in evidence-based systemic practice, contributors describe the core techniques, tools, and process of ROM, including examples of effective uses of feedback over different stages of therapy, with individuals in family context, and implemented in different countries. Giving clients this level of control in treatment reinforces the concept of therapy as a collaborative process, fostering client engagement and involvement, commitment to treatment, and post-treatment progress. ROM is applicable across clinical settings and clinician orientations for maximum utility in work with clients, and in building therapeutic self-awareness.Features of the book:•Theoretical and empirical context for using ROM with families and couples.•Tools and procedures, including the Systemic Therapy Inventory of Change.•Guidelines for treatment planning, implementation, and evaluation.•Common challenges in using ROM with couples and families.•Supervisory, training, and ethical issues.•Examples and vignettes showing ROM in action.With its deep potential for promoting client progress as well as therapist development, Routine Outcome Monitoring in Couple and Family Therapy: The Empirically Informed Therapist will attract practitioners and research professionals particularly interested in clinical practice, client-directed methods, and couple or family therapy.
Transition and Change in Collectivist Family Life: Strategies for Clinical Practice with Asian Americans (AFTA SpringerBriefs in Family Therapy)
by Karen Mui-Teng Quek Shi-Ruei Sherry FangThis research-to-practice volume grounds clinicians in a robust, culturally-informed framework for conducting effective therapy with Asian-American couples, families, and individuals. Family, cultural, social, and spiritual dynamics are explored across ethnicities, generations, relationships, and immigrant/citizen experience to reflect a diverse, growing population. Discussion and case examples focus on contrasts, conflicts, and balances involved in acculturation and change, notably the shift from collectivist cultural tradition to a more independent view of the self, gender, choices, and relationships. The contributors’ finely shaded guidance and accessible approach will help therapists provide appropriate services for Asian-American clients without minimizing or pathologizing their experiences.Included in the coverage:How Asian American couples negotiate relational harmony: collectivism and gender equality.Through religion: working-class Korean immigrant women negotiate patriarchy.The role of Chinese grandparents in their adult children’s parenting practices in the United States.Balancing the old and the new: the case of second generation Filipino American women.Bicultural identity as a protective factor among Southeast Asian American youth who have witnessed domestic violence. Transition and Change in Collectivist Family Life is a cogent clinical resource for practitioners and mental health professionals with interests in Asian-American family therapy, psychotherapy, collectivism, and faith-based community and counseling.
How Good Policies and Business Ethics Enhance Good Quality of Life: The Selected Works of Alex C. Michalos
by Alex C. MichalosThis volume provides bridges from the social sciences to business ethics and from the latter to the quality of life, by connecting the research themes of quality of life, social sciences, including public policy-making, and business ethics or corporate responsibility. It builds on the premise that public policy making is essentially a species of good decision making, as explained in the first volume. It shows that, because most developed countries function as market economies whose governments depend on taxation to pay for their services and because a large proportion of government revenue comes from well-regulated, responsible corporations, the quality of people’s lives is highly dependent upon good public policies, taxation and business ethics. The volume presents and examines ethical/moral problems arising in market economies since the first century BCE, including the first appearance of the business case for business ethics, fourteen arguments concerning the neglect of business ethics, business ethics issues for the 1990s and beyond, the loyal agent’s argument, advertising, the importance of trust, public opinion polling, public program evaluation, and a critique of the relatively new monster of super-capitalism. In addition, it deals with connections among the concepts of efficiency, morality, and rationality related to decision making in general and public policy making in particular. Finally, it explains relationships between outcomes measurement and performance indicators in general and performance-based management in public administration, the taxation of net wealth and financial transactions.
Philosophical Foundations of Quality of Life: The Selected Works of Alex C. Michalos
by Alex C. MichalosThis first volume has as its main focus the philosophical foundations of Michalos’ work and describes it in the broad context of the study of logic, the philosophy of social sciences, and a general theory of value. After distinguishing things that have value from the value that things might have, it describes the foundations of a pragmatic theory of value. This theory plays a key role in the author’s research on the quality of life and connects his empirical research to the philosophical tradition of the American pragmatists William James, Ralph Barton Perry, John Dewey and Clarence Irving Lewis. The volume addresses various aspects and issues concerning decision making, including decision procedures used in committees, used for assessing the acceptability of scientific theories and new technologies, procedures for a science court, ethical issues involved in the formation of beliefs, some limitations of classical economists’ alleged postulates of rational preference, and the importance of analytic guides to decision making. Finally, it describes the organization of the Social Sciences Federation of Canada and a formal accounting system for scientific research.
Nonviolent Conflict and Civil Resistance (Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change #34)
by Sharon Erickson Nepstead Lester R. KurtzThis volume of Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change analyzes examples of nonviolent resistance from across the globe. It covers how regime changes, political movements and nonviolent unrest develop and then shape the political decisions of both civil society and the state. Section one is focused on the strategic interactions between nonviolent movements and the state. This includes discussions on the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, youth movements in Post-Communist states and nonviolent Islamic movements in Turkey. The second and third sections examine regime conflicts and the global diffusion of nonviolent movements. Here chapters center on the Iranian Revolution, social psychological approaches to nonviolent civil resistance, the Palestinian human rights movements, the efforts of nonviolent INGOs and the Nashville civil rights movement. This volume introduces new analytical concepts and theoretical frameworks for understanding nonviolent resistance, merging social movement scholarship with nonviolent studies in fresh and exciting ways.
Ecological Liberation Theology: Faith-Based Approaches to Poverty and Climate Change in the Philippines (SpringerBriefs in Geography)
by William Holden Kathleen Nadeau Emma PorioClimate change-related effects and aftermaths of natural disasters, such as Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, have wreaked havoc on local peoples’ lives and livelihoods, especially in impoverished coastal communities. This book looks at local-level responses to the effects of climate change from the perspective of ecological theology and feminism, which provides a solution-based and gender-equitable approach to some of the problems of climate change. It examines how local social and religious action workers are partnering with local communities to transform and reconstruct their lives and livelihoods in the 21st century.
The Brutalization of the World: From the Retreat of States to Decivilization
by Josepha LarocheThis book focuses on the current, chaotic world stage, which is characterized by new forms of global violence and new types of actors, such as terrorist networks. Based on interdisciplinary analysis combining political science and psychoanalysis, history and political philosophy, it delves down to the deepest roots of this process of the globalization of non-state violence and offers a new framework for understanding it. The first part of the book addresses the construction of the State and the process of civilization, while the second explains why this process is now being bypassed by processes of brutalization in the form of communitarianism and extreme hate, as well as series of mass murders on a widespread basis.
Data Protection and Privacy: (Law, Governance and Technology Series #36)
by Ronald Leenes Rosamunde Van Brakel Serge Gutwirth Paul De HertThis book features peer reviewed contributions from across the disciplines on themes relating to protection of data and to privacy protection. The authors explore fundamental and legal questions, investigate case studies and consider concepts and tools such as privacy by design, the risks of surveillance and fostering trust. Readers may trace both technological and legal evolution as chapters examine current developments in ICT such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things. Written during the process of the fundamental revision of revision of EU data protection law (the 1995 Data Protection Directive), this volume is highly topical. Since the European Parliament has adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679), which will apply from 25 May 2018, there are many details to be sorted out. This volume identifies and exemplifies key, contemporary issues. From fundamental rights and offline alternatives, through transparency requirements to health data breaches, the reader is provided with a rich and detailed picture, including some daring approaches to privacy and data protection. The book will inform and inspire all stakeholders. Researchers with an interest in the philosophy of law and philosophy of technology, in computers and society, and in European and International law will all find something of value in this stimulating and engaging work.
Standard Setting in Education: The Nordic Countries in an International Perspective (Methodology of Educational Measurement and Assessment)
by Sigrid Blömeke Jan-Eric GustafssonThis book summarizes the international evidence on methodological issues in standard setting in education. By critically discussing the standard-setting practices implemented in the Nordic countries and by presenting new methodological approaches, it offers fresh perspectives on the current research. Standard setting targets crucial societal objectives by defining educational benchmarks at different achievement levels, and provides feedback to policy makers, schools and teachers about the strengths and weaknesses of a school system. Given that the consequences of standard setting can be dramatic, the quality of standard setting is a prime concern. If it fails, repercussions can be expected in terms of arbitrary evaluations of educational policy, wrong turns in school or teacher development or misplacement of individual students. Standard setting therefore needs to be accurate, reliable, valid, useful, and defensible. However, specific evidence on the benefits and limits of different approaches to standard setting is rare and scattered, and there is a particular lack with respect to standard setting in the Nordic countries, where the number of national tests is increasing and there are concerns about the time and effort spent on testing at schools without feedback being provided. Addressing this gap, the book offers a discussion on standard setting by respected experts as well as profound and innovative insights into fundamental aspects of standard setting including conclusions for future methodological and policy-related research.
Environmental Accounting and Reporting: Theory and Practice (CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance)
by Maria-Gabriella Baldarelli Mara Del Baldo Ninel Nesheva-KiossevaThis book discusses the foundations of social and environmental accounting and highlights local differences in countries like Italy and Bulgaria. It also describes the institutional environment, which affects the development and application of environmental accounting and reporting, as a basis for evaluating current achievements and the future steps that need to be taken to develop and spread environmental accounting. The book is unique in presenting exemplary cases from different emerging and developed countries. It is a valuable resource for theorists in the field, practitioners in companies, as well as investors and other stakeholders. Moreover, it provides students with the necessary theoretical constructs, empirical studies as well as practical and managerial tools to allow for a quick orientation in the methodology, techniques and selected practices used in environmental accounting and reporting.
Processes of Believing: The Acquisition, Maintenance, and Change in Creditions (New Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion #1)
by Hans-Ferdinand Angel Lluis Oviedo Raymond F. Paloutzian Anne L.C. Runehov Rüdiger J. SeitzThis volume answers the question: Why do we believe what we believe? It examines current research on the concept of beliefs, and the development in our understanding of the process of believing. It takes into account empirical findings in the field of neuroscience regarding the processes that underlie beliefs, and discusses the notion that beyond the interactive exploratory analysis of sensory information from the complex outside world, humans engage in an evaluative analysis by which they attribute personal meaning and relevance to the probabilistic representations of objects and events. Beliefs exert a strong influence on behaviour, decision-making, and identifying and solving problems. Despite their importance, beliefs have until recently not been at the centre of scientific interest. In fact, “belief” is an ill-defined phenomenon. From a transdisciplinary perspective the actual approaches to understanding belief seem incompatible as they attempt to highlight such different topics as “belief – religion”, “belief – spirituality”, “belief – faith”, “belief – knowledge”, “belief – attitude”, “belief – disbelief”, “belief – illusion”, and “believing – brain function”. This situation contradicts the idea that belief is close to pathological phenomena and that it should be eliminated from scientific discussions. Rather, believing is fundamental for understanding the many problems of every-day life. In fact, the book shows that beliefs are relevant for politics, international affairs, economy, law, or religions also in modern societies. This book presents the increasing scientific interest in beliefs and believing, and reflects the change in focus from the content aspect of belief towards the fluid nature of believing.
New Developments in Theoretical and Conceptual Approaches to Job Stress (Research in Occupational Stress and Well-being #8)
by Daniel C. Ganster Pamela L. PerreweThe objective of this series is to promote theory and research in the increasingly growing area of occupational stress, health and well being, and in the process, to bring together and showcase the work of the best researchers and theorists who contribute to this area. Questions regarding work stress span many disciplines and many specialized journals. It is increasingly difficult to track, and even harder to integrate, the work from these diverse fields. Our plan is to provide a multidisciplinary and international collection that gives a thorough and critical assessment of knowledge, and major gaps in knowledge, on occupational stress and well being. Furthermore, because we will be publishing monograph-length conceptual papers, our interest is in promoting the careful development of truly path-breaking contributions that can significantly advance theory and provide specific directions for future work.
Societies, Social Inequalities and Marginalization: Marginal Regions in the 21st Century (Perspectives on Geographical Marginality #2)
by Raghubir Chand Etienne Nel Stanko PelcThis book provides an overview of marginality or marginalization, as a concept, characterizing a situation of impediments – social, political, economic, physical, and environmental – that impact the abilities of many people and societies to improve their human condition. It examines a wide range of examples and viewpoints of societies struggling with poverty, social inequality and marginalization.Though the book will be especially interesting for those looking for insights into the situation and position of ethnic groups living in harsh mountainous conditions in the Himalayan region, examples from other parts of the world such as Kyrgyzstan, Israel, Switzerland and Finland provide an opportunity for comparison of marginality and marginalization from around the world. Also addressed are issues such as livelihood, outmigration and environmental threats, taking into account the conditions, scale and perspective of observation. Throughout the text, particular attention is given to the context and concept of ‘marginalization’, which sadly remains a persistent reality of human life. It is in this context that this book seeks to advance our global understanding of what marginalization is, how it is manifested and what causes it, while also proposing remedial strategies.
Prediction and Inference from Social Networks and Social Media (Lecture Notes in Social Networks)
by Jalal Kawash Nitin Agarwal Tansel ÖzyerThis book addresses the challenges of social network and social media analysis in terms of prediction and inference. The chapters collected here tackle these issues by proposing new analysis methods and by examining mining methods for the vast amount of social content produced. Social Networks (SNs) have become an integral part of our lives; they are used for leisure, business, government, medical, educational purposes and have attracted billions of users. The challenges that stem from this wide adoption of SNs are vast. These include generating realistic social network topologies, awareness of user activities, topic and trend generation, estimation of user attributes from their social content, and behavior detection. This text has applications to widely used platforms such as Twitter and Facebook and appeals to students, researchers, and professionals in the field.