Exploring farmers’ orientation towards multifunctional agriculture: Insights from northern Iran

The multifunctional agriculture (MFA) concept, namely, the fact that agricultural activity may also have several other functions beyond its role of producing food and fiber, has emerged as a key notion in scientific and policy debates regarding the future of agriculture and rural development. However, the relationship between undertaking multifunctional activities and farmers’ perceptions of farming is to a great extent unknown. A survey of 209 randomly selected farmers was conducted in Masal County of Guilan province, Iran to describe farmers’ perceptions of MFA and provide a better understanding of factors shaping these perceptions. Several factors were considered in the study, including traditional farming practices of small-scale farmers in the area (e.g. manual soil tillage, use of livestock manure and by-products for soil improvement, multiple cropping, family livestock), good agricultural practices at farm level related to environmental protection (e.g. low use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides), and also local traditions and heritage. Exploratory factor analysis was used to categorize agricultural functions based on the collected data and cluster analysis was used for sorting out farmers regarding six extracted factors. These factors were: multiple cropping, social acceptability, environmental health, stability and continuity, food security, and local traditions and heritage. About half of the respondents (48.3%) showed highly positive perceptions of MFA, putting emphasis on social acceptability and environmental health for food security, including also preservation of local traditions (named: guardians of culture and traditions). Almost a third (31.1%) showed moderately positive perceptions of MFA, with mainly a socio-environmental orientation, whereas a sizeable proportion (20.6%) was indifferent to MFA. Data offer useful insights to decision makers regarding the design and implementation of territorial planning strategies. Food production remains a key element in farming systems, but besides mainstream agriculture, the positive perceptions of MFA support that alternative farming systems could be implemented. However, the most successful farming systems adapted to specific contexts and needs should be promoted, taking into account existing facilities and sufficiency for appropriate rural management.     

Evaluation of passengers' buying behaviors toward low cost carriers in Southeast Asia

The purpose of this paper is to examine how Southeast Asian passengers' attitudes and behaviors affect their buying intention and actual purchase of Low Cost Carrier (LCC) tickets. A research model was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. A survey of 791 passengers was conducted in two major airports in Thailand to test the hypotheses. Results indicated the important role of passengers' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in LCC passengers' buying behaviors. The paper provides LCCs with useful information about passengers’ attitudes and behaviors toward using LCC services, which will help the carriers form necessary strategies to attract more customers.     

Illegal hunting and protected areas: Tourist perceptions on wild animal poisoning in Hwange National Park,Zimbabwe

Tourists visiting protected areas for leisure often have perceptions based on pre-conceived knowledge and awareness about wildlife conservation obtained through various media. However, these perceptions are rarely tapped into for management and policy reviews. To understand tourists' perceptions on conservation, we surveyed 76 tourists in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, using a questionnaire administered through convenience sampling. Our results showed significant differences (χ² = 11.8; df = 1; P = 0.001) between tourists who acknowledged awareness (69.7%, n = 53) of the use of chemical poisoning to kill wild animals prior to their visit and those who were unaware (30.3%, n = 23). We conclude that some tourists are concerned about the state of wildlife conservation at their destinations of choice. We recommend the consideration of tourists concerns in conservation policies and strategies.     

A mediated model of the effects of human resource management policies and practices on the intention to promote women: An investigation of the theory of planned behaviour

This study investigates the role of supportive human resource management policies and practices in senior HR managers’ intention to promote women to senior management positions. Based on the theory of planned behaviour, we argue a model in which supportive HR policies and practices affect managers’ attitudes towards the promotion of women to senior positions and their perception of organisational norms and control over the decision. We employ partial least squares based structural equation modelling to investigate data from a sample of 183 firms in Bangladesh. Our results support the utility of the theory of planned behaviour in understanding the positive effects of HR practices on the intent of senior managers to promote women. Our findings suggest that the role of HR policies and practices is not only to eliminate opportunity for discrimination but also to encourage the development of deeper attitudinal and normative acceptance of women’s role in senior management.     

科技企业组织社会化策略对新生代员工组织承诺的影响——一个有调节的中介模型

在易变性职业生涯环境下，组织与员工间冲突日益凸显，员工离职意愿明显升高，组织承诺作为预测员工离职的重要因素，受到组织高度重视。依据社会交换理论，以222名科技企业“85后”新生代员工为研究样本，采用层次回归分析法，打开易变性职业生涯视角下科技企业组织社会化策略影响新生代员工组织承诺的“黑箱”。结果表明：①科技企业组织社会化策略显著正向影响新生代员工的组织承诺；②组织支持感完全中介科技企业组织社会化策略与新生代员工组织承诺间的关系；③易变性职业生涯态度（自我导向/价值驱动）显著正向调节组织支持感与新生代员工组织承诺间的关系；④易变性职业生涯态度（自我导向/价值驱动）在科技企业组织社会化策略对新生代员工组织承诺的间接影响中起到被调节的中介作用。     

Public opinion on immigration in Europe: Preference and salience

Studies of public opinion on immigration have focused on the responses to survey questions about whether the individual would prefer more or less immigration (preference) but not on his or her assessment of its importance as a policy issue (salience). Analysis of data from the European Social Survey and Eurobarometer indicates that preference and salience are associated with different individual-level characteristics. At the national level they move differently over time and in response to different macro-level variables. Both dimensions of opinion must be taken into account as influences on the formation of immigration policy.     

Category characteristics' effects on brand extension attitudes: A research note

Prior studies on attitudes towards brand extensions focus mainly on the effects of the perceived fit between the brand extension and the extension category. This exploratory paper contributes by describing two studies of how the following four extension category characteristics affect consumers' attitudes towards brand extensions: (1) the awareness set size; (2) the perceived similarity among existing brands; (3) the perceived category familiarity; and (4) overall category attitudes. Results from two studies suggest that consumers evaluate brand extensions more favorably when the awareness set size is small or when their attitude towards the extension category is favorable. Consequently, brand managers must analyze the extension category carefully when developing brand extensions.     

Explaining adoption of mobile banking with the theory of trying,general self-confidence,and cynicism

Drawing upon the theory of trying, the present study goes a step further by including two important, but rarely addressed factors in the context of new technology adoption: general self-confidence and cynicism. Both of these variables are considered significant precursors of attitudes, particularly in the context of emerging and developing countries. The data were collected from 557 bank customers and then analyzed using Smart PLS. The findings reveal that intention of adopting mobile banking is determined by attitude toward mobile banking, which in turn is determined by attitude toward success, attitude toward failure, and attitude toward learning to use mobile banking. The last three attitudes are significantly influenced by general self-confidence and cynicism.     

Consumer acceptance,valuation of and attitudes towards genetically modified food: Review and implications for food policy

An increasing set of evidence has been reported on how consumers could potentially react to the introduction of genetically modified food. Studies typically contain some empirical evidence and some theoretical explanations of the data, however, to date limited effort has been posed on systematically reviewing the existing evidence and its implications for policy. This paper contributes to the literature by bringing together the published evidence on the behavioural frameworks and evidence on the process leading to the public acceptance of genetically modified (GM) food and organisms (GMOs). In doing so, we employ a set of clearly defined search tools and a limited number of comprehensive key words. The study attempts to gather an understanding of the published findings on the determinants of the valuation of GM food – both in terms of willingness to accept and the willing-to-pay a premium for non-GM food, trust with information sources on the safety and public health and ultimate attitudes underpinning such evidence. Furthermore, in the light of such evidence, we formulate some policy strategies to deal with public uncertainly regarding to GMOs and, especially GM food.     

Understanding consumer decision making in grocery markets: does attitude-behaviour consistency vary with involvement?

The paper reports on an empirical study of purchase decision making in grocery markets. Against the central research question, 'Does decision making become more extensive with more involved product purchases?', measurements of attitude- behaviour consistency were made in three product fields which are known to engender significantly different levels of consumer involvement. The extended Fishbein model was used as the metaphor for purchase decision making and models were estimated for each product field using LISREL VII to determine the fit between product and normative beliefs, behavioural intention and actual purchasing behaviours. The results of our analysis are consistent with prior theory and support the hypothesis that the efficacy of the model in grocery markets increases as the purchase involvement increases. The implications for marketing communications within each market are discussed and the limitations of our research design are highlighted.