Italian parents’ perception about learning practices and educational effectiveness of remote schooling during the first lockdown

The abrupt interruption of face-to-face educational activities imposed by the Italian Government in response to the Covid-19 emergency required a rapid switch to remote schooling to guarantee continuity in education. This paper explores the family’s perception about the organization of remote schooling and its impact on learning. In particular, the authors investigated the technology used and the strategies adopted by the teachers to face the challenges posed by this rapid change in the educational paradigm through an online survey carried out between May and June 2020. More than 19,000 families answered the survey for a total of 32,000 children, highlighting a favorable evaluation from the parents. The analyses confirm that several factors linked to the technology used and instructional learning design signif icantly impacted the parents’ evaluation.

The Aumann–Serrano Performance Index for Multi-Period Gambles in Stock Data

We present an empirical study of the Aumann-Serrano performance index for multi-period gambles when the underlying stochastic process is assumed to be a normal mixture process with time-varying volatility. We compare the Aumann-Serrano performance index for multi-period gambles with that for one-period gambles as well as the Sharpe ratio. Our empirical study is obtained using a selection of U.S. stock data and shows evaluation of a selection of stocks becomes more distinct in multi-period gambles than in one-period gambles in the sense that a favorable evaluation score becomes even better in multi-period gambles than in one-period gambles while an unfavorable evaluation score becomes even worse in multi-period gambles than in one-period gambles.

Impact of celebrity endorsement type on consumers' brand and advertisement perception and purchase intention

We examined how different types of celebrity endorsement influence consumers' advertisement and brand evaluation, and purchase intention. We also investigated the relationship between celebrity endorsement type and consumers' attribution style. Participants were 309 students from a private university in Korea. Results show there was no significant relationship between celebrity endorsement type and consumers' attribution style, or between consumers' identification with a celebrity endorser and attribution style. However, after a consumer's exposure to a celebrity endorsed advertisement, dispositional (vs. situational) attribution led to a more positive evaluation of the advertisement and brand. Last, we found that consumers' strong (vs. weak) identification with a celebrity endorser resulted in a more favorable evaluation of the advertisement and brand, and higher purchase intention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Do Immigrant Entrepreneurs Have Natural Cognitive Advantages for International Entrepreneurial Activity?

Are entrepreneurs with an immigration background more willing to internationalize their entrepreneurial firms compared to their nonimmigrant peers? Previous research has already emphasized that immigrant entrepreneurs possess superior human resources and social capabilities—such as international experience, networks and language skills—that help them to better identify and evaluate international entrepreneurial opportunities. However, literature other than capability-based explanations is rare, and thus it is not yet understood in what sense immigrant entrepreneurs differ from other entrepreneurs in terms of their cognitive characteristics for international entrepreneurial activity. This study addresses this gap by involving a quantitative study of Berlin-based high-tech founding entrepreneurs to empirically investigate how immigrant entrepreneurs vary in their cognitive characteristics, and how this affects their intention to engage in international entrepreneurship. The findings show that immigrant entrepreneurs possess higher levels of proactive behavior, which lead to a more favorable evaluation of international business opportunities, and in turn positively affect the willingness to engage in international entrepreneurial activity. This contributes to a deeper understanding of immigrant entrepreneurs’ natural cognitive advantages and the role they play for entrepreneurial growth, success and national economic development.

How global brands incorporate local cultural elements to improve brand evaluations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the interpretation strategy of cultural mixing on consumers’ evaluations of global brands that incorporate local cultural elements. Specifically, this paper examines whether a property interpretation and a relational interpretation have different influences on consumers’ evaluations of global brands that incorporate local cultural elements. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments were conducted as part of this research. Experiment 1 adopted a two (interpretation strategy: property interpretation vs relational interpretation) single-factor between-subjects design. Experiment 2 adopted a 2 (interpretation strategy: property interpretation vs relational interpretation) × 2 (polyculturalist beliefs: high vs low) between-subjects design. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and PROCESS 213. Findings A property interpretation (emphasizing that some features of a global brand transfer to local cultural elements) leads to a less favorable evaluation of global brands that incorporate local cultural elements than a relational interpretation (emphasizing a relation between global brands and local cultural elements). This effect is fully mediated by perceived cultural intrusion, and it exists only when consumers have a low level of polyculturalist beliefs. Originality/value This paper reveals that the phenomenon of cultural mixing occurs when global brands incorporate local cultural elements. In addition, the way that consumers perceive the relationship between global brands and local cultural elements will determine their reactions to global brands that incorporate local cultural elements.

Investigating repatronage intention in stores carrying halal products through store personalities

Purpose This paper aims to examine the influence of store environment cues, store personality and attitude toward halal product (AHP) on store evaluation and repatronage intention. The authors extended the conceptual framework of Baker and colleagues (2002) and examined the indirect effects of store personality (i.e. sophistication and sincerity) and AHP on the outcome variables. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopted survey design to test our hypotheses. Data were collected random to store patrons and post-graduate students of public university business schools in Klang valley. There was almost equal selection of Muslim (49.6%) and non-Muslim respondents. Findings Results indicate that the model explains 44 per cent of the variance in store repatronage intention. In particular, serial mediation is not significant only for two mediation paths. Research limitations/implications The findings imply that brand personality, attitude toward halal product and store evaluation mediate the relationship between store environment cues and purchase intention. However, there are few limitations. First, the respondents were only limited to store patrons in Klang valley. Second, the authors only tested for three store environment cues. Practical implications Store repatronage intention could be increased by focusing on store environment cues (i.e. music and design), forming sincere and sophisticated store personalities and attaining favorable evaluation for both store and particularly halal products. Social implications Halal requirements for consumable goods especially food and drinks are warrant concerns for both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers. It deals with safety and health issues of producing such goods. In a nation that comprises multiethnic-multireligious population, it is not surprising that non-Muslims are assured by quality of faith-based products made for Muslims. Originality/value Store repatronage intention is a valid concern for all retailers. In this study, stores which carry halal products should focus on enhancing store design and music perception, forming sincere and sophisticated personality, and generating favorable attitudinal evaluation for both halal products and store. After all, halal products are an assurance of quality for all store patrons.

An application of retailing service quality practices influencing customer loyalty toward retailers

Purpose Enhancing retailing service quality (RSQ) serves as a basic strategy for gaining competitive advantage in the retailing industry and enables retailers to make a loyal customer base. The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically investigate a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retail stores via service quality practices. This study suggests information on retailers can be the antecedent of the RSQ and its dimensions, thereby proposing a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retailers. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected using questionnaire surveys from 2,375 customers of three main supermarkets in Sri Lanka. After testing the measurement model, two structural models were run to test hypotheses. Findings The findings showed that the RSQ positively influenced customer loyalty. From all the RSQ dimensions, the store’s physical aspects, personal interaction and policy had a significant influence on customer loyalty. The findings also demonstrated that information on retailers contributes to enhancing a customer’s favorable evaluation of the supermarket’s physical aspects, personal interaction and retailing policy. Research limitations/implications This study was conducted with supermarket customers in one country using the cross-sectional data. Hence, the model should be replicated among retail customers in other countries with the longitudinal data. Practical implications Practically, this study recommends to retailers which dimensions of service quality they need to focus to enhance customer loyalty to their business. The study furthermore recommends certain dimensions that need to be emphasized while retailers design their promotional and communication programs. Originality/value Information on retailers has been suggested as an antecedent for enhancing supermarkets’ service quality practices. Thus, this study proposes a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retailers via service quality practices.

Exploring Journalism and Mass Communication Training in Kenya: A National Survey

Conducted in 2012 to 2013, the current national survey of Kenyan journalists ( N = 504) examines major characteristics of journalism and mass communication training in Kenya. Findings show that training in journalism or mass communication is a prerequisite to practice as a journalist in Kenya. While 45% of journalists were trained at the level of associate degree, 91% said they need to get further training. Kenya Institute of Mass Communication is the most popular institution of journalism and mass communication. Moreover, 65% of respondents perceive the quality of journalism training as good—Though in contrast to this favorable evaluation, local colleges face a litany of serious problems.

Active learning interventions and student perceptions

Purpose Engaging students through active learning is the gold standard of teaching especially in higher education; however, it is not clear whether students appreciate being so engaged. The purpose of this paper is to recount an attempt to redesign a lecture-based course, applying research-supported active learning strategies, and to report on student perceptions of the attempt. Design/methodology/approach The author attempted to innovate a standard lecture-based introductory social science class to engage students and facilitate authentic learning. The active learning innovations were learning by doing, collaboration, reading with a method, and increased autonomy. Student perceptions were measured over two iterations of the course (each one lasting one semester) using electronically distributed surveys. Findings The results have shown that most students strongly agreed that the innovations facilitated their learning; however, overall, the course received a lower student evaluation than versions given in the traditional lecture-based format. Originality/value The results suggest that students appreciate active learning strategies and that such strategies do indeed promote authentic learning; nonetheless, further research needs to be done to explain the paradox of specific student appreciation of active learning strategies combined with an overall less favorable evaluation of the class rooted in such strategies as compared to evaluations of the traditional lecture-based class.