• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.441-468
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• 2020

Capital inflows have a strong presence that influences destination countries' development of institutions, which can in turn help resuscitate a stopped economy and re-attract capital that was lost during crises such as the recent public health crisis. While the previous literature emphasizes the mechanism that foreign investors press or even threaten the local government for change, this paper explores empirically whether institutional improvement can be achieved through the channel that host countries voluntarily reform institutions in anticipation of potential investments predicted by the exogenous geographical and cultural characteristics of the recipient countries. Given that countries with better institutional quality can accumulate larger FDI stocks, we still find that the need for more FDI, in contrast to FPI and debt, gives higher incentives to host countries to strategically improve their institutions before seeking capital overseas. Moreover, the predicted FDI exerts more prominent impacts on institutions on constraining elite than those involved in launching a business, enforcing contracts, and protecting properties. The results imply that a long-run plan for upgrading elite constraint institutions is crucial for a post-pandemic FDI reboot.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.127-139
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• 2022

Purpose: As sharing economy is becoming increasingly relevant to people's lives, we want to understand why people participate in the sharing economy. We propose and validate three factors that are likely to influence consumers' choice of participating in the sharing economy at distribution market. Also, we found antecedents that affect these variables. These antecedents include appointment and return convenient, extended operating time, variety-seeking need, usage irregularity, other's clean usage, and feeling of membership between users. Research design, data, and methodology: This research collected 341 questionnaire data from participants in China. These participants were asked about the usage of DiDi, the most popular shareware in China. The data analysis and hypothesis testing were conducted using SPSS and Amos. Results: Usage convenience, usefulness of short-term usage, and trust in other users were found to have a positive impact on consumers' intention to participate in the sharing economy. In addition, we found that all the antecedents affect these variables positively. Conclusions: This research provides new driving factors for consumer participation in the sharing economy. Moreover, these findings will help managers develop marketing strategies for inducing the consumers to participate in the sharing economy.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.201-222
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• 2006

The objective of this study is to analyze the actual using status of domestic e-book in the academic library and to help e-book related policy and its vitalization. The web survey of e-book user of A-junior college was conducted to carry out this study. Frequency analysis and descriptive statistics were used for analysing data basically. Also, t-test, ANOVA, non-parametric chi-square, and correlation analysis were used to examine whether there are any significant differences between treatment groups divided by gender, major etc. or not.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.203-236
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the structural relationship between COVID-19-induced sub-dimensions of Online Self-Regulated Learning (OSRL) and satisfaction in online courses conducted in the 'post-COVID-19 era,' as well as to investigate the moderating effects of situational variables such as 'course planning,' 'device type,' and 'course repetition.' To achieve this, the study constructs a measurement model with sub-dimensions of Environment Structuring, Learning Strategy, Help Seeking, and Self-Evaluation as components of OSRL. Participants in this study were selected from university students who enrolled in online courses offered by the Department of Education at University A in the metropolitan area. The research findings reveal several key insights. First, among the sub-dimensions of Online Self-Regulated Learning, Environment Structuring, Learning Strategy, and Self-Evaluation significantly influence satisfaction with online courses. Second, students' satisfaction with online courses significantly influences their intention to continue participating in such courses. Third, 'course planning' during online course hours and 'course repetition' play a moderating role in the relationship between sub-dimensions of Online Self-Regulated Learning and satisfaction. Based on the discussion of these research results, this study concludes by suggesting some future implications and challenges of online courses.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to explore and describe intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' experience of clinical adaptation. Methods : The participants were 14 ICU nurses with more than two years of working experience in the ICU. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews conducted between July and October 2021. Theoretical sampling was used to the point of theoretical saturation. Data were analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin method. Results : A total of 79 concepts, 37 subcategories, and 16 categories were identified through open coding. Axial coding based on the paradigm model revealed that the central phenomenon was "The harsh adversity faced in the nursing field where life and death are determined" and the core category was "Enduring the adversity of caring for critically ill patients and achieving self-realization." ICU nurses' clinical adaptation process was explained in five phases: "confrontation period," "turbulent period," "seeking period," "struggling period," and "stabilized period." The five phases that affect interventional conditions were "Support from reliable people," "Recognition of administrative and financial support." Conclusion : This study provided novel insights for a comprehensive understanding of ICU nurses' clinical adaptation processes. Furthermore, the findings are expected to be used as basic data to develop multifaceted strategies to help ICU nurses' adaptation to critical care.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.207-213
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• 2024

This study investigated the perceived usability of the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) amongst students at Umm Al-Qura University. A quantitative approach was employed to explore the potential relationship between Blackboard usability and social media platform usage. Additionally, the study aimed to identify other factors influencing perceived usability. Data were collected through a three-section questionnaire distributed electronically to a sample of students (n=544). The findings, based on System Usability Scale (SUS) scores, revealed that the overall perceived usability of Blackboard resided near the midpoint of the scale, indicating an "acceptable" level. A potential negative correlation emerged between social media usage time and perceived Blackboard usability. Students who reported lower social media usage exhibited higher SUS scores. Training on Blackboard usage demonstrably exerted a positive influence on perceived usability. Gender was not identified as a statistically significant factor. An analysis of student support methods revealed that seeking help from a friend was the most prevalent approach, followed by search engines, university technical support, and social media platforms. The findings suggest that implementing strategies to improve Blackboard usability at Umm Al-Qura University could be achieved through readily accessible training materials and the exploration of alternative support channels.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2010

There has been some research conducted that addressed immoral consumer behaviors in Korea; however, most of this research focused on purchasing counterfeits or shoplifting. High return rates of apparel and used apparel returns have been acknowledged as problem areas within the fashion industry. However, very few researchers have addressed this issue. Therefore, the goal of this research was to explore consumer's retail borrowing experience using a mixed methods approach. In study 1 Korean consumer's retail borrowing experiences was explored through focus group interviews. Findings informed study 2 an examination of apparel consumers' attitudes toward retail borrowing behavior via an online survey. Findings assist both researchers' and practitioners' understanding of retail borrowing behaviors and provide insight into retail borrowing issues in the apparel retail industry. For study 1, five focus-group interviews were conducted with seven panels of individuals that had retail borrowing experience within the past year. Thirty-five Korean consumers who lived in a metropolitan area participated in the focus group interviews. Most of consumers were in their 20's (n=21) and were women (n=24). Most participants purchased apparel items from a retail store and returned the worn items for either a full refund or exchanged the worn item for another item. Motives underlying retail borrowing behavior included social needs, job-related needs, fashion needs, and "smart shopping." Similar to existing research findings from other countries, social needs were the most frequently mentioned cause of retail borrowing in fashion stores. Consumers' moral values, attitude toward large corporations, and prior retail borrowing experience were mentioned as possible factors affecting consumers' retail borrowing behavior. For study 2, the questionnaire used to gather the data was developed based on the findings of part I and existing research. Questions concerning consumers' moral beliefs, sensation seeking tendencies, self-worth, past retail job experience, retail borrowing experience, and some demographic characteristics were included in the questionnaire. The data were collected via an online survey using an online panel provided by a commercial online research company located in Seoul, Korea. In order to obtain various consumers, a quota sample was (male: female=1:1, 20's:30's:40's=1:1:1, retail experience: no retail experience=1:3) obtained from the company. A total of 401 consumers who had shopped for apparel items during the prior 6 months participated in the online survey. The results indicated that 19.7% of the respondents reported they had experience borrowing fashion merchandise. Among these individuals, male borrowers (57%) outnumbered female borrowers. In terms of age distribution, x2 revealed that there was a statistical difference between respondents with and without retail borrowing experiences: 41.8% of the respondents with retail borrowing experience were in their 40's, while respondents without retail borrowing experience were evenly distributed between their 20's to 40's. There was also a significant difference between respondents with and without retail borrowing experience in terms of income: respondents with retail borrowing experience tended to have higher incomes than those without retail borrowing experience. T-tests were performed to compare respondents' fashion shopping behavior, moral beliefs, sensation-seeking tendencies, and attitudes toward retail borrowing behavior between participants with and without retail borrowing experience. As compared to those with no borrowing experience, respondents with experience tended to shop for fashion items more frequently and spent more on shopping for fashion items. Consumers with experience borrowing tended to have higher sensation-seeking tendencies than consumers without retail borrowing experience. A regression analysis revealed that attitudes toward fashion retail borrowing were negatively related to consumers' moral beliefs, but positively related to monthly fashion shopping frequency, sensation-seeking tendencies, and past fashion retail borrowing experience. Among these variables, past retail borrowing experience was the most significant predictor, followed by moral beliefs. This research serves as an initial attempt to address the motives that underlie retail borrowing behaviors and the factors affecting those behaviors. The findings of this study may facilitate an understanding of the consumer's retail borrowing, which will provide a basis for approaches that may help decrease retail borrowing and inappropriate returns at fashion retail stores. The findings may also provide materials for consumer education over the long term. In order to better understand fashion retail borrowing behavior, more research is needed in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8135-8142
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Iranian women and usually features delayed presentation and late diagnosis. Interpretation of symptoms, as the most important step, has a significant impact on patient delay in seeking treatment. There is a dearth of studies on symptom appraisal and the process leading to seeking help in breast cancer patients. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of Iranian women with self-detected possible breast cancer symptoms. Materials and Methods: A qualitative method was conducted involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with 27 Iranian women with self-discovered breast cancer symptoms. Participants were purposefully selected from women who attended Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences during June 2012 to August 2013. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA soft ware version 10. The trustworthiness of the study was verified by prolonged engagement, member validation of codes, and thick description. Results: The main concepts emerging from data analysis were categorized in four categories: symptom recognition, labeling of symptoms, interactive understanding, and confronting the fear of cancer. Symptom recognition through breast self-examination, symptom monitoring and employing prior knowledge distinguished normal from abnormal symptoms and accompanied with perception of being at risk of breast cancer led to symptom labeling. Social interaction by selective disclosure and receiving reassurance from a consultant led to confirmation or redefinition of the situation. Perceived seriousness of the situation and social meanings of breast cancer as a stigmatized and incurable illness associated with loss of femininity were reasons for patient worries and fear. Conclusions: This study emphasized that entangled cognitive, emotional and socio-cultural responses affecting understanding of symptom seriousness require further investigation. It is suggested that programs aimed at shortening patient delay in breast cancer should be focused on improving women's knowledge and self-awareness of breast cancer, in addition to correcting their social beliefs.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.127-152
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• 2017

One of the biggest challenges in export activities of SME is the increasingly cultural diversity that requires especially export managers to adapt their doing business in many different kinds of cross-cultural situations effectively. A relative newly developed concept 'Cultural Intelligence' has been evaluated as a key element for the success in international business activities. This study aims to investigate empirically the role of Cultural Intelligence(CQ), one component of cultural competence, on export marketing adaptation. The statistical method used to test the hypotheses was Structural Equation Modeling using PLS. The results of this study are follows. The moderating role of Cultural Intelligence between information seeking and information using abilities is more stronger in marketing rather than relationship adaptation. Cultural Intelligence moderates between them. Critical factors affecting Cultural Intelligence are also discussed; foreign language fluency, business travels in abroad, characteristics of the business travels, multi-lingual ability, pre-education related cultural subjects, and visit experience in foreign countries. Especially, export managers' foreign language ability leads to much stronger influence on cultural intelligence. The result of the empirical study provides important implications for export SME and export supporting organizations. Export firms and supporting organizations must expand programs widely in multi cultural training and education to help managers gain a better understanding in a various export environment.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2019

Mindfulness is the process of actively noticing new things. Today, companies have introduced and run mindfulness programs because the mindfulness has possible applications of productivity and innovation in corporation. However, role of mindfulness has not been clearly investigated in behavior research of Information System. The purpose of this study is to confirm the effects of mindfulness on technology acceptance process. Based on UTAUT Model, we examined how mindfulness in technology acceptance process moderate antecedent factors of acceptance intentions and use behavior. For empirical research, we conducted a survey on acceptance of smart watch of internet of things for employees of companies applying the mindfulness programs. then, we analyzed survey sample in empirical methodologies. Based on the empirical analysis, cognizance of alternative technologies in mindfulness factors increased the impact of performance expectancy on acceptance intention. Novelty seeking in mindfulness factors increased the impact of effort expectancy on acceptance intention. Awareness of local context in mindfulness factors decreased the impact of social influence on acceptance intention. engagement with technology in mindfulness factors increased the impact of facilitating conditions on use behavior. This study suggests academic implications and practical implications based on the results of the research. The implications will help to support and extend the theory of technology acceptance model while providing practical insights for IT acceptance by suggesting ways to utilize mindfulness in corporation.