Generalizing from social media data: a formal theory approach

ABSTRACT

Researchers increasingly draw on social media data to answer big questions about social patterns and dynamics. However, as with any data source, social media data present both opportunities and significant challenges. One major critique of social media data is that the data are not generalizable outside of the platforms from which the data originate. Problems of generalizability stem from non-universal participation rates on various platforms, demographically biased samples, as well as limited access to data based on infrastructural constraints and/or user privacy practices. We suggest that instead of empirical generalizability, social media data are theoretically generalizable in the formal theory tradition. Through a case example in which we use YouTube comments to test and extend a key tenet of identity theory, we show how social media data can instantiate theoretical variables and thus generalize to theoretical propositions. Mediated through formal theory, social media data maintain the capacity to address broad social questions while upholding methodological integrity.     

Do “protean” employees make better leaders? The answer is in the eye of the beholder

While the protean career (Hall, 1976, 2002) has been lauded for its advantages in helping individuals adapt to changing career contexts, it is not clear how this career orientation may impact how others perceive a person's leadership ability. In this study, we hypothesized that those with a protean career orientation would receive higher leadership ratings from subordinates and superiors, but lower leadership ratings from peers, in part based upon social comparison theory. Using structural equation modeling, our hypotheses regarding subordinates and peers were supported, but not with respect to superiors, who, along with peers, rated those with a protean career orientation lower in terms of transformational leadership as measured by the MLQ. We discuss potential reasons for these findings and the consequences for research and theory. Also, we examine the implications of this research for leadership development, workforce recruitment and retention, and possible generational significance.     

Supplier integration and firm performance: the moderating effects of internal integration and trust

This study proposes and empirically tests a model of the moderating effects of internal integration and trust on the impacts of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance using structural equation modelling and data collected from 261 manufacturing firms in Vietnam. The results show that all three types of supplier integration positively associate with firm performance. Internal integration enhances the impact of process integration with suppliers on firm performance, but does not moderate the impacts of information and strategic integration with suppliers. Internal trust has insignificant, positive and negative influences on the effects of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance. The findings show that internal integration and trust play different roles in moderating the positive effects of information, process and strategic integration with suppliers on firm performance, which elucidates a possible reason for previous mixed findings on the relationship between supplier integration and firm performance.     

Prisoners of Love? Job Satisfaction in Care Work

Previous research has established that paid care work is typically undertaken by women and that this work is often poorly rewarded in terms of pay and promotion opportunities. Much less is known about the reasons why women enter these jobs or their experiences of this work. This paper examines the motivations and experiences of two groups of care workers: childcare workers and dental assistants in Queensland in 2009 (N=1,767). We examine intrinsic, extrinsic and overall job satisfaction and the effects of job characteristics, work experience and demographic characteristics on job satisfaction. We find that childcare workers are less satisfied with their jobs than dental assistants on all three measures, despite a greater proportion nominating intrinsic reasons for entering the occupation. The most important factors predicting job satisfaction for both groups are day‐to‐day work experiences such as control over weekly rosters and entitlements that enable work‐family balance. We conclude that although love of the job may be a strong drawcard into care occupations for some women, experiences may not live up to expectations. Moreover, there is considerable diversity across these groups in motivations and outcomes indicating that it is impossible to view all care occupations as similar in terms rewards, outcomes and experiences.     

The relationship between gambling accessibility and Hong Kong people's participation in gambling activities

Prior foreign research showed significant positive relationship between geographical accessibility, gambling advertising and gambling behaviors. This paper, using data from two studies, describes and discusses the change in prevalence of gambling in Hong Kong with the liberalization of gambling activities in Macau. Results mirror the findings of foreign studies. Analysis showed that the groups who indicated that they were mostly influenced by the increased number of Macau casinos and gambling advertising were those aged 20–39, those with tertiary or above education, and the problem and pathological gamblers. Policy makers and gaming operators' effort to implement responsible gambling policies to prevent gambling addiction are discussed.     

New 3-level response surface designs constructed from incomplete block designs

Box and Behnken [1958. Some new three level second-order designs for surface fitting. Statistical Technical Research Group Technical Report No. 26. Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; 1960. Some new three level designs for the study of quantitative variables. Technometrics 2, 455–475.] introduced a class of 3-level second-order designs for fitting the second-order response surface model. These 17 Box–Behnken designs (BB designs) are available for 3–12 and 16 factors. Although BB designs were developed nearly 50 years ago, they and the central-composite designs of Box and Wilson [1951. On the experimental attainment of optimum conditions. J. Royal Statist. Soc., Ser. B 13, 1–45.] are still the most often recommended response surface designs. Of the 17 aforementioned BB designs, 10 were constructed from balanced incomplete block designs (BIBDs) and seven were constructed from partially BIBDs (PBIBDs). In this paper we show that these seven BB designs constructed from PBIBDs can be improved in terms of rotatability as well as average prediction variance, D$D$- and G$G$-efficiency. In addition, we also report new orthogonally blocked solutions for 5, 8, 9, 11 and 13 factors. Note that an 11-factor BB design is available but cannot be orthogonally blocked. All new designs can be found at http://www.math.montana.edu/∼$\sim$jobo/bbd/.     

Critical factors affecting information sharing in supply chains

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to empirically examine a comprehensive list of factors that are anticipated to affect information sharing (IS) in supply chains (SC) in the context of a landlocked developing country Nepal. A survey questionnaire was developed and data were collected from 131 supply chain participants in Nepal. Exploratory factor analysis and path analysis were conducted to examine the fitness of the proposed model and the relationships between the identified factors and information sharing. The results suggest that interaction routines and personal connection influenced both operational and strategic information sharing while organisational compatibility, incentives, project payoffs, commitment (inter-organisational), top management commitment and supply network configuration affected operational IS and government support and monitoring were associated with strategic IS. The paper provides empirical evidence on how information sharing is affected in the context of a landlocked developing country. The paper also identifies and discusses the similarities and differences in the importance of these factors on information sharing between developed and developing countries. The main limitation is the moderate sample size as compared to the large number of variables contained in the study which may have limited the use of analytical tools. The study provides a better understanding of information sharing behaviours of supply chain participants in Nepal which will help firms to develop strategies accordingly to enhance information sharing.     

Discrimination and Chronic Kidney Disease among Caribbean Blacks: The Effects of Immigration and Social Status

This study examined the association between discrimination and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Caribbean blacks and how this association varies by marital status, educational attainment, and length of U.S. residency within the frameworks for the stress buffering hypothesis and stress process model. The analysis was based on the Caribbean black subsample of the National Survey of American Life (N?=?1551). Logistic regression models were conducted to test the aims of this study. The findings indicate that the association between discrimination and CKD varied by length of U.S. residency, marital status, and education. Overall, the findings demonstrate the importance of considering immigration and sociodemographic context when investigating the relation between discrimination and CKD in immigrant populations.