Impact of Electronic Word-Of-Mouth on Consumer-Based Brand Equity and Purchase Intention: Hotel Industry in Thailand

Electronic word-of-mouth is a new form of informal communication where messages are disseminated to others using social media and other electronic platforms. This research investigates eWOM to determine its impact on the perception of brand equity and the intentions of consumers to purchase hotel services in Thailand. Using a quantitative approach and a non-probability sampling method, 410 Thai respondents aged 18 and above with relevant hotel experiences participated in this study. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were used to analyze the model fit and the validity and reliability of the variables. In addition, in order to investigate the relationship between the constructs, first-order and second-order approaches were used, in which eWOM was the second-order construct in the study, while its credibility, valence, and volume, were first-order constructs. The findings indicated that eWOM positively affects all brand equity dimensions and purchase intentions, showing the strongest significant positive effect on brand awareness. Additionally, brand equity dimensions were shown to mediate the effect of eWOM on purchase intentions. Details of the analyses and discussions are included in the latter part of this paper.

Exposure to negative foreign COVID-19 news predicts lower support for immigration policy in China.

We present a framework for studying the spillover effect of negative foreign COVID-19 news on attitudes towards immigration. Our framework proposes that exposure to negative COVID-19 news from foreign countries can activate negative associations with foreigners, reduce positive attitudes towards them, and increase perceived threat, ultimately leading to decreased support for immigration. We conducted three studies to test this framework. Study 1 found that exposure to negative COVID-19 news about a foreign country increased negative valence associations with that country. Study 2 showed that exposure to more negative COVID-19 news about foreign countries was associated with lower acceptance of immigration policies in real life. Study 3 replicated the spillover effect of negative news exposure using a scenario manipulation. The effects of negative news exposure on immigration policy acceptance in both Studies 2 and 3 were mediated by changes in foreigner attitudes and intergroup threat. Our results demonstrate the important spillover effect of negative foreign COVID-19 news exposure on immigration attitudes and highlight the association perspective as a foundation for understanding attitude changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I've Got More of a Role to Play": Australian Fathers' Perspectives on Parenting Through the Lens of COVID-19 Lockdown

Using interviews with 15 Australian fathers, we explored the impact of having spent time in COVID-19 lockdown on men's views of their relationship with their children and family-work life balance. All interviewees were married to women and living with their children, most were employed and working full-time. Three themes were identified from the interviews: an ongoing desire to be present as a father, benefits to being present through COVID-19 lockdowns for self as a father and for the children, and conflicting pressures from workplaces and at home which were barriers to being present. Survey data 1 year later revealed that many of these fathers had shifted their work patterns because of their lockdown experience. Shifts in workplace culture and behavior were identified as supporting flexible working arrangements. Despite the immediate challenges of lockdown, it provided the opportunity for some fathers to reevaluate their priorities resulting in long-term changes in working patterns.

Reaction of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to the Corona Crisis: the Impact of Regional Authorities

The decline in Russian business activity due to the Covid restrictions was much lower than forecasted by international financial institutions. Even the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector, which experienced a significant downturn, in 2021 demonstrated a recovery and intentions to conduct business. The present study aims to reveal the impact of regional authorities on the activity of small and medium-sized enterprises during the crisis, coupled with the entrepreneurs' own efforts and economic freedom in the region. To this end, a case study of Sverdlovsk oblast, a large Russian region with a diversified industrial structure and a developed SME sector, was analysed. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were utilised in the case study. Qualitative methods include semi-structured interviews with CEOs aimed at identifying deep motives of activity and diversity of business responses to external challenges. As for quantitative methods, the economic freedom index of the region for 2002-2020 was calculated using the Coates method, the relationship between entrepreneurial activity in Sverdlovsk oblast and government intervention in the regional economy was assessed based on the ordinary least squares regression. The study demonstrated that the number of individual entrepreneurs depends on the government participation in the regional economy, while the activity of legal entities is more related to economic freedom. During the crisis, demand reduction and change, real income decline, restrictions on cross-border transactions and a growing concentration of market power accelerated changes in companies' business models in terms of interaction with consumers, value proposition, networking and digitalisation of business. Additionally, business associations involved in the interaction between companies and public authorities gained importance in this period. The research results can be applied in the design of public policy measures for the small and medium-sized enterprises and regional development.

Green supply chain management in manufacturing firms: A resource‐based viewpoint

As sustainability draws increasing attention due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, interest in the green supply chain has likewise substantially increased. The present study contributes deeper insights into the logical integration of the resource‐based characteristics that can facilitate the effective transition from traditional to green supply chains while also increasing the effectiveness of existing green supply chains. The proposed model, rooted in the resource‐based view (RBV) theory, examines the associations of supply chain connectivity (SCC), supply chain information sharing (SCIS), top management commitment (TMC) and green procurement and logistics acceptance (GPLA) with green supply chain management (GSCM). Analysis of data from employees at 381 manufacturing firms in the United Kingdom confirmed the positive associations of SCC and SCIS with TMC and GPLA, of TMC with GPLA and GSCM and of GPLA with GSCM. The results also confirmed the serial mediation effect of TMC and GPLA on the associations of both SCC and SCIS with GSCM. The study offers several practical insights and theoretical contributions, including a novel GSCM scale.

Emotions, perceived knowledge and food behaviors during stressful periods

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how emotions affect consumers' food choices and food preparation activities during stressful periods, using the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China.Design/methodology/approachThis study used an online survey, with a sample of 1,050 individuals from 32 regions in China. Multi-regression and mediation models were used to test the relationships among perceived knowledge, emotions and food behaviors.FindingsThe results show that positive emotions positively affect healthy food consumption and engagement in food preparations. In contrast, negative emotions contribute to an increase in indulgent food consumption and quick-and-easy meal preparations. Increased knowledge of the current situation can enhance positive emotions and thus promote healthy food behaviors. Lacking knowledge may result in unhealthy food behaviors through negative emotions.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding of emotions and food behaviors by examining the effects of both negative and positive emotions in the general population, exploring a wider constellation of food behaviors and identifying perceived knowledge as an important antecedent to emotions' effects on food behaviors. Implications for consumers and public policy are offered.

The Value of Belonging: A Comparison of Professional Organizations' Membership Benefits

The abundance of library associations provides many choices to academic librarians about where and how to belong. This exploratory article identifies and compares benefits of library professional organizations through content analysis of the groups' websites. Examination of the benefits described on the websites of 76 organizations indicates that they have a high degree of overlap. Many benefits are also achievable by participating in other external professional activities. While data were collected just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, thematic analysis of these benefits provides a framework for comparing the value of participation in formal and informal professional communities.

122nd Annual Meeting Medical Library Association, Inc. New Orleans, LA May 3–6, 2022

The Medical Library Association (MLA) held its 122nd annual meeting May 3-6, 2022, in New Orleans LA. The meeting was entitled "MLA '22: Reconnect. Renew. Reflect" and utilized a hybrid model with some events in person, and some virtually. The virtual meeting was again broken into segments, all available using a variety of online platforms. Total attendance for the meeting was 1,250 with 575 attending in-person, and 675 virtually. Additional meeting content--including the meeting program and various electronic presentations from the business meetings, plenary sessions, poster sessions, and program sessions can be accessed by all meeting registrants via the MLA '22 website.

Board gender diversity, firm performance and corporate financial distress risk: international evidence from tourism industry

PurposeThis paper examines contextual factors that affect the association between board gender diversity and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a global sample of listed firms in the tourism industry in 30 countries from 2015 to 2020.FindingsFirst, firm performance is positively associated with the proportion of female directors on a board. Second, the positive association between firm performance and the proportion of female directors on the board is higher in (1) countries with stronger shareholder rights, (2) countries with stronger securities law regulation stipulating disclosure of board diversity, (3) countries with stronger economic empowerment of women, and (4) during the COVID-19 crisis. Third, corporate financial distress risk is lower in firms with higher proportion of female directors on the board. Fourth, the negative association between corporate financial distress risk and the proportion of female directors on the board is more pronounced in (1) countries with stronger securities law regulations stipulating disclosure of board gender diversity, (2) countries with stronger economic empowerment of women, and (3) during the COVID-19 crisis.Originality/valueThe results indicate that contextual factors (comprising country-level corporate governance structures, economic empowerment of women and economic crisis) can affect the association between board gender diversity and firm performance.

COVID-19, Didactic Practices, and Representations Assumed by Preservice Teachers at Universidad Tecnica del Norte-Ecuador

As an alternative for university students to continue their professional training during the COVID-19 pandemic, higher education institutions implemented virtual learning modalities. In this context, it was proposed to determine the social representations assumed by university students who are pursuing their studies as future educators. It is presumed that representations related to didactic practices are composed of content (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) and organization (central core and representational system). This is an ethnographic study, with an available nonprobabilistic sample of 227 students from the primary education major at Universidad Tecnica del Norte. Verbal association techniques and documentary research were used for information collection. To analyze the data, the IRaMuTeQ software (R interface for texts and questionnaire multidimensional analysis) was used. Two types of analyses were conducted: hierarchical classification and factorial correspondence. In conclusion, a virtuality with difficulties and a careful and responsible face-to-face modality are expressed as meanings associated to the representations, both of which require qualitative changes. Regarding the organization, didactic practice complementarity is assumed to be integrated in a hybrid learning modality.

The Impact of Physical Activity Classes on Academic Performance in Lebanese Students Aged 9 to 14 Years: A Quasi- Experimental Study

Background: several studies have revealed the positive effects of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity on student performance and academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a specific physical activity program on academic performance among children aged 9 to 14 in the Lebanese schools. Methods: Participants were eligible if they did not participate in any sport activity during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the first semester of the academic year 2020 - 2021 and were able to complete a three-month PA program at the BH CLUB-KYOKUSHIN JAMMAL academy with no psychological or physical limitations. A well-trained physical coach established a PA program consisting of karate and general fitness exercises for three months, three times per week, one hour per session. Academic performance was measured using the official marks from three core academic classes at each school, as well as the overall GPA. Results: Out of 250 eligible children, only 60 students, 47 males and 13 females, with a mean age of 11.7 +/- 1.68 years old, participated in the study. All scores for all participants from both genders improved significantly (p<0.05) with exception of mathematics and science scores of the females. Furthermore, no significant gender differences were observed in any of the variables with p-value>0.05 and a size effect of Cohen's d<0.219. Conclusion: PA had a significant impact on academic achievement in children aged 9 to 14 years old, and it may help to offset the unavoidable negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, Lebanon's parents and schools should prioritize PA for their children.

Strengthening the Activities of Youth Associations in the European Environment - Certain Legal and Social Matters

In the previous ten years in the EU, the youth have become one of the priority groups that is being strengthened for more intensive involvement in the life and development of society. Research has shown that the youth are quite uninterested in getting involved in political and social activities that contribute to the development of the community and society. The still current pandemic caused by Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has further "pushed" the youth into the virtual world because they are now forced to conduct their daily activities (for example, schooling, additional education) in an online environment. The youth, otherwise avid fans of technological achievements, are now trapped in their homes with computers, smartphones and other technological aids, thus losing direct contact with their peers and adults, remaining deprived of some of the socializing effects of the teaching process and are at risk of complete alienation. EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 addresses youth organizations, as one of the key actors that strengthen the competencies of the youth and promote their social inclusion. Youth associations and associations for the youth, in addition to providing various services and programs for the youth, strengthen empathy among the youth, raise awareness of the youth on the needs of society and, through the development of additional competencies, empower them to actively participate in community life. This paper presents the results of the part of the research created within the Youth Activation Network project. The research was conducted using the focus group method, where the respondents were representatives of youth associations and associations for the youth from entire Croatia. Research questions were focused on trying to identify and differentiate youth associations and associations for the youth from other associations, ways to activate and involve the youth in the work of associations, and assess the current legal framework of associations. The results obtained from the implementation of focus groups were transcribed, processed in Dedoose computer program and presented in the paper according to main research issues. For results analysis, content analysis method was used, as well as comparison method and contrast method. The results of the research show that it is necessary to legally define work with the youth so that it can be used as one of the distinguishing criteria of youth associations and associations for the youth. Associations involve the youth as volunteers, users and service providers, and empower and motivate them to further engage in social activities. The biggest problems pointed out by the representatives of associations are related to the ways of financing the work of the associations. Although some respondents pointed out certain shortcomings, research results indicate that the existing legal framework for the work of the associations is satisfactory, while its amendments could further complicate the work of youth associations. The revocation of the complex consequences of the pandemic requires the active involvement of all factors in society, where active and engaged, socially responsible and empathetic youth can be the bearers of change and improvement.

Hygieia model: development of a three-dimensional model for the standardized analysis of infection control protocols.

Aim: Until now, there have been no standardized guidelines for the content of infection control protocols. The aim of this research project is therefore to develop a standardized model for the evaluation and analysis of three dimensions: setting, protection targets, and precautions. Subject and methods: Events are part of social life and, as such, have a direct or indirect impact on the physical, mental, and social health of all involved groups (employees, artists, subcontractors, visitors, etc.). Valid infection control protocols for events must reduce the risk of infection in general, not only in a pandemic. A range of handouts and recommendations are available, mostly focusing on the visitors.For the present study, a total of 46 infection control protocols for events, hosted in the period between 2020 and 2021 in Germany, were analyzed from June to December 2021. The infection control protocols provide what was needed to realize events. Results: For the first time, a standardized model, called the Hygieia model, is presented for the evaluation and analysis of three dimensions: setting, protection targets of the involved groups, and precautions. Taking all three dimensions into account enables the assessment of existing pandemic safety protocols as well as the development of valid protocols in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Conclusion: The Hygieia model can be used for risk assessment of events from conferences to concerts, especially for infection prevention under pandemic conditions.

Annual Report of the Secretary-Treasurer

The article presents the annual report of the Southern Historical Association secretary-treasurer about the workings of the association amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Topics include the return of the association to in-person meeting in November 2022 after holding virtual meetings in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, several innovations showcased at the 2022 meeting such as a mentoring match-up program, the association's support for history education, and its profit and loss from January-December 2022.

American Cancer Society's first female CEO discusses goals, lessons learned amid pandemic

Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, MBA, is the first woman to serve as CEO of American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Knudsen spoke with HemOnc Today about her goals for the new position and her experiences improving patient care and care delivery systems in oncology. Just in the past 7 years, we established three additional advance care hubs across two states that provide our patients with access to specialists and clinical trials.

Determinants for food service market segmentation and contemporary consumers' behaviours amid the Covid-19 pandemic

PurposeThis study aims to draw attention to consumers' behaviours which are changing on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, provide an understanding of the factors influencing these behaviours and emphasise their importance in building contemporary business models for the restaurant industry. The article is a case study of the Polish restaurant sector based on a comparison with the worldwide literature.Design/methodology/approachA study of the current literature on the subject pertaining to the issues discussed, an analysis of them, mainly by examining trade reports, with a special focus on the following databases (BDL GUS, CBOS, IGGP PKD) and foreign references, as well as Internet sources, using the systematic (structured) literature review (SLR) method. The authors searched the databases between May 2020 and May 2022, paying attention to the following keywords: COVID-19, consumer behaviours, food services, market segmentation, Poland.FindingsThe analysis allowed the authors to identify the most important factors influencing consumer behaviour under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This in turn enabled them to verify a hypothesis concerning the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumers' behaviours on the food service market. Results from an analysis of trade reports and from a literature review confirm the hypothesis proposed, leading to the conclusion that the contemporary reality in Poland currently requires businesses to continuously monitor consumers' behaviours in a turbulent and uncertain environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe systematic identification of changes taking place in consumers' behaviours will make it possible to adapt a portfolio of services to changes observed in this regard.Practical implicationsThe analysis conducted by the authors in 2021 to examine trends in consumer behaviours proved that changes affecting their thinking were undoubtedly accelerated by the pandemic of a contagious disease – COVID-19.Originality/valueSome consumer trends that appear to be a response to limits and restrictions may be observed for a longer period of time. Therefore, those restaurant owners who want to successfully go through the stage of adaptation to the new reality will have to focus, in the short term, on actions designed to identify their customers' needs and expectations anew and tailor their business models and offer accordingly.

Developing Authentic Mentorship Through Professional Organizations

Harsh realities in pandemic fatigue, burnout, inequities, and isolation are impacting academic pharmacy. Mentoring programs, especially inter-institutional programs such as those provided within the Sections and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), may combat some of these issues. Unfortunately, year after year, Academy members continue to request information from these groups on mentoring, whether it be the opportunity to pair up, for advice on how to be better mentors, or for guidance on how to develop a program on mentoring for the Sections and SIGs without an existing program. The need for authentic mentoring is vital to the success and retention of faculty and staff within the Academy. Therefore, it may be appropriate to take a closer look at why, despite ongoing mentoring programs scattered within AACP Sections and SIGs, these programs are unable to fulfill the needs of participants. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education is the property of American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

French non-profit organizations at the end of a lockdown: the relevance of differentiated policies

Purpose: French non-profit organizations (NPOs) have undergone numerous health restrictions and lockdown measures in addition to the health issues raised by the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this article is then to question the relevance of support policies that have been homogeneous and poorly adapted to the sectors or the number of employees. Design/methodology/approach: This study makes a diagnosis of French NPOs after the first lockdown. A survey conducted among NPO leaders obtained 12,248 answers. Findings: Disparities according to the sector of activity, the presence or not of employees and the annual budget are to be noted. Differentiated policies and actions therefore seem indispensable. Originality/value: This article discusses the ability of French NPOs to deal with the health crisis with the help of their partners and stakeholders. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Tamagotchi on Our Couch: Are Social Robots Perceived as Pets?

Although social robots increasingly enter our lives, it is not clear how they are perceived. Previous research indicates that there is a tendency to anthropomorphize social robots, at least in the Western culture. One of the most promising roles of robots in our society is companionship. Pets also fulfill this role, which gives their owners health and wellbeing benefits. In our study, we investigated if social robots can implicitly and explicitly be perceived as pets. In an online experiment, we measured implicit associations between pets and robots using pictures of robots and devices, as well as attributes denoting pet and non-pet features, in a Go/No-Go Association Task (GNAT). Further, we asked our participants to explicitly evaluate to what extent they perceive robots as pets and if robots could replace a real pet. Our findings show that implicitly, but not explicitly, social robots are perceived as pets. © 2022 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.

English language teaching associations on teacher well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Language teacher associations (LTAs) are "conceptualized as networks of professionals, focused mainly on support for members, with knowledge exchange and development". LTAs also develop professional identity, provide professional development (PD) activities, network, and participate in different projects. LTAs are usually run by volunteers and volunteer leaders who devote their time to the development and progress of the profession. Among the many LTAs existing today, English language teacher associations (ELTAs) are among the most recognized and popular in the field of language education. ELTAs have played a significant role in PD and well-being for many years. They have supported teachers with various well-being activities prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a learning curve, as they have been required to provide different and more diverse opportunities than in the past;some ELTAs struggled;others learned quite quickly and improvised in the new environment. ELTAs will continue to provide support for teachers during the transitional time when the COVID-19 pandemic succumbs. ELTAs have gained a great amount of knowledge during the pandemic, especially in the technological aspect, and they should continue to use it effectively to help and support their members and teachers in the professions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)