• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2010

Corporate social responsibility has become a very important issue for researchers (Greenfield, 2004; Maignan & Ralston, 2002; McWilliams et al., 2006; Pearce & Doh 2005), and many consider it necessary for businesses to define their role in society and apply social and ethical standards to their businesses (Lichtenstein et al., 2004). As a result, a significant number of retailers have adopted CSR as a strategic tool to promote their businesses. To this end, this study sought to discover U.S. consumers' attitudes and behavior in ethical purchasing and consumption based on their subjective perception and evaluation of a retailer. The objectives of this study include: 1) determine the participants awareness of retailers corporate social responsibility; 2) assess how participants evaluate retailers corporate social responsibility; 3) examine whether participants evaluation process of retailers CSR influence their attitude toward the retailer; and 4) assess if participants attitude toward the retailers CSR influence their purchase behavior. This study does not focus on actual retailers' CSR performance because a consumer's decision making process is based on an individual assessment not an actual fact. This study examines US college students' awareness and evaluations of retailers' corporate social responsibility (CSR). Fifty six college students at a major Southeastern university participated in the study. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 26 years old. Content analysis was conducted with open coding and focused coding. Over 100 single-spaced pages of written responses were collected and analyzed. Two steps of coding (i.e., open coding and focused coding) were conducted (Esterberg, 2002). Coding results and analytic memos were used to understand participants' awareness of CSR and their ethical purchasing behavior supported through the selection and inclusion of direct quotes that were extracted from the written responses. Names used here are pseudonyms to protect confidentiality of participants. Participants were asked to write about retailers, their aware-ness of CSR issues, and to evaluate a retailer's CSR performance. A majority (n = 28) of respondents indicated their awareness of CSR but have not felt the need to act on this issue. Few (n=8) indicated that they are aware of this issue but not greatly concerned. Findings suggest that when college students evaluate retailers' CSR performance, they use three dimensions of CSR: employee support, community support, and environmental support. Employee treatment and support were found as an important criterion in evaluation of retailers' CSR. Respondents indicated that their good experience with a retailer as an employee made them have a positive perception and attitude toward the retailer. Regarding employee support four themes emerged: employee rewards and incentives based on performance, working environment, employee education and training program, and employee and family discounts. Well organized rewards and incentives were mentioned as an important attribute. The factors related to the working environment included: how well retailers follow the rules related to working hours, lunch time and breaks was also one of the most mentioned attributes. Regarding community support, three themes emerged: contributing a percentage of sales to the local community, financial contribution to charity organizations, and events for community support. Regarding environments, two themes emerged: recycling and selling organic or green products. It was mentioned in the responses that retailers are trying to do what they can to be environmentally friendly. One respondent mentioned that the company is creating stores that have an environmentally friendly design. Information about what the company does to help the environment can easily be found on the company’s website as well. Respondents have also noticed that the stores are starting to offer products that are organic and environmentally friendly. A retailer was also mentioned by a respondent in this category in reference to how the company uses eco-friendly cups and how they are helping to rebuild homes in New Orleans. The respondents noticed that a retailer offers reusable bags for their consumers to purchase. One respondent stated that a retailer uses its products to help the environment, through offering organic cotton. After thorough analysis of responses, we found that a participant's evaluation of a retailers' CSR influenced their attitudes towards retailers. However, there was a significant gap between attitudes and purchasing behavior. Although the participants had positive attitudes toward retailers CSR, the lack of funds and time influenced their purchase behavior. Overall, half (n=28) of the respondents mentioned that CSR performance affects their purchasing decisions making when shopping. Findings from this study provide support for retailers to consider their corporate social responsibility when developing their image with the consumer. This study implied that consumers evaluate retailers based on employee, community and environmental support. The evaluation, attitude and purchase behavior of consumers seem to be intertwined. That is, evaluation is based on the knowledge the consumer has of the retailers CSR. That knowledge may influence their attitude toward the retailer and thus influence their purchase behavior. Participants also indicated that having CSR makes them think highly of the retailer, but it does not influence their purchase behavior. Price and convenience seem to surpass the importance of CSR among the participants. Implications, recommendations for future research, and limitations of the study are also discussed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.56-66
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• 2022

Due to the recent increase in information encountered on social media, algorithm-based recommendation formats selectively provide information based on user information, which often causes a filter bubble effect by an Echo Chamber. Eco-chamber refers to a phenomenon in which beliefs are amplified or strengthened by communication only in an enclosed system, and filter bubbles refer to a phenomenon in which information providers provide customized information according to users' interests, and users encounter only filtered information. The purpose of this study is to propose a method of efficiently selecting information as a way to improve the filter bubble phenomenon by such an echo chamber. The research progress method analyzed recommended algorithms used on YouTube, Facebook and Amazon. In this study, humanities solutions such as training critical thinking skills of social media users and strengthening objective ethical standards according to self-preservation laws, and technical solutions of model-based cooperative filtering or cross-recommendation methods were presented. As a result, recommended algorithms should continue to supplement technology and develop new techniques, and humanities should make efforts to overcome cognitive dissonance and prevent users from falling into confirmation bias through critical thinking training and political communication education.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

In 2017, the United Nations reported that the population aged 60 and above was increasing more rapidly than all younger age groups worldwide, projecting that by 2050, the population aged 60 and above would constitute at least 25% of the global population, excluding Africa. The world is experiencing a decline in the rate of increase in the working-age population due to global aging, and the younger generation tends to avoid difficult and challenging occupations. Although theoretically, AI equipped with artificial intelligence can replace humans in all fields, in the realm of practical information security, human judgment and expertise are absolutely essential, especially in ethical considerations. Therefore, this paper proposes a method to retrain and reintegrate IT professionals aged 50 and above who are retiring or seeking career transitions, aiming to bring them back into the industry. For this research, surveys were conducted with 21 government/public agencies representing demand and 9 security monitoring companies representing supply. Survey results indicated that both demand (90%) and supply (78%) unanimously agreed on the absolute necessity of such measures. If the results of this research are applied in the field, it could lead to the strategic development of senior information security professionals, laying the foundation for a new market in the Korean information security industry amid the era of low birth rates and longevity.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

In this paper, we investigates the basis of the theological aesthetics and the Bible as the standard of human value standards on the basis of this theological aesthetics. In another approach, unique designs of plants and animals were described in terms of aesthetics. These descriptions were then employed to design and create things, recognised for their beauty as well as practicable applications. From this point of view, we can deduce the relevance of God, the created world, and theological aesthetics. We review the implications of human engineering and the art of convergence and engineering theology. We discussed why the need for a tool of theological aesthetics in convergence engineering is important. We will need more discussion in terms of technological progress in which theological aesthetics is embodied in order to develop more healthy, moral and ethical convergent engineering skills in our society and to provide a better and healthier life for mankind.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2018

Animal experiments have been widely conducted in the life sciences for more than a century, and have long been a subject of ethical and societal controversy due to the deliberate infliction of harm upon sentient animals. However, the harmful use of animals may also negatively impact the mental health of researchers themselves. We sought to evaluate the anxiety level of researchers engaged in animal use to analyse the mental stress from animal testing. The State Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluate how researchers feel when they conduct animal, as opposed to non-animal, based experiments (95 non-animal and 98 animal testing researchers). The Trait Anxiety Scale of STAI was employed to measure proneness to anxiety, namely the base trait of the researchers. Additionally, the information on sex, age, education, income, and total working periods was collected. While the Trait Anxiety scores were comparable ($41.5{\pm}10.9$ versus $42.9{\pm}10.1$, p = 0.3682, t-test), the State Anxiety scores were statistically significantly higher for animal users than non-animal users ($45.1{\pm}10.7$ versus $41.3{\pm}9.4$, p = 0.011). This trend was consistent for both male and female. Notably, younger animal testers (${\leq}30$ years of age) with less work experience (${\leq}2$ years) and lower income level (${\leq}27,000$ USD) exhibited higher anxiety scores, whereas these factors did not affect the anxiety level of non-animal users. The present study demonstrated that participation in animal experiments can negatively impact the mental health of researchers.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.261-274
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• 2020

Research on the development and effectiveness of internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy with a trauma focus (iCBT-T) has been actively conducted in Western societies, but these studies have just begun in Korea. The purpose of this study was to suggest practical considerations to developing and managing the iCBT-T program. After reviewing previous studies on iCBT-T, this author suggested a model of convergence and collaboration between mental health knowledge and information and communication technologies (ICT) to develop the iCBT-T program. This article outlines practical considerations, including focus and target groups of iCBT-T, intervention types of iCBT-T (open access vs. guided), number of sessions, ethical issues, professional support, and degree of user involvement. Methods to complement the limitations of internet as a medium are also proposed in the iCBT-T program. The convergence model of CBT-T and ICT is expected to promote the development of programs that can contribute to improving the mental health of users who experience traumatic events.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.685-695
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the current utilization and implications of digital learning support media in the field of French studies, and to explore future research directions. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive review of the use of digital media in various learning processes within French studies. Additionally, we examined the direct application of ChatGPT, an emerging technology, to learning by extending its use to foreign language and education fields. Our findings indicate that the application of digital learning support media in French studies is somewhat limited, with selective use in processes such as online class support media, pre-class learning, efficient learning and interaction, and self-directed learning. In the case of ChatGPT, our research found that no studies have been conducted within French studies, and very few studies have been conducted on its practical application in other educational fields. While ChatGPT has a wide range of applications and has shown positive effects on learners, ethical concerns have been raised regarding the quality, source, and reliability of information. Therefore, future research in French studies should focus on educational application and effectiveness verification in university teaching and learning situations, as well as interdisciplinary convergence with digital learning support media.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the argumentations of group and classroom discussions in socioscientific issues (SSI) discussion classes. Twenty-seven high school students participated in the SSI discussion classes on nuclear power generation. We observed and recorded the classes and also conducted semi-structured interviews. For the analyses, we revised a previous framework that was developed to analyze dialogic argumentations in the context of SSI. The analyses of the results indicated that there were more discourse schemes in the classroom discussions than the group discussions which are related to awareness and openness to multiple perspectives, evidence based reasoning, and on-going inquiry and skepticism. And there were few discourse schemes related to moral and ethical sensitivity in the group and classroom discussions. Various grounds, data, and information were presented in the classroom discussions. Students concentrated on carrying their claims and were not able to sympathize with and accept other opinions. Therefore, there were few discourse schemes to reach consensus. In addition, they perceived classroom discussions as competitive and actively rebutted other claims or grounds. The levels of argumentation were also high in the classroom discussions. The group discussions were held in relaxed atmosphere, and they asked the opponents more for clarification or additional information and evidences. However, classroom discussions were held in serious atmosphere, and they actively queried the validity of the claims or grounds. Based on the results, some suggestions to implement SSI discussion classes were discussed.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.60
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• pp.125-149
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• 2012

This study explores the formational process of KBS PD's professional identity in the 1970's, focusing on everyday work and workplace for program production. In terms of salary and social-cultural status, a television PD was not a desirable occupation in the 70's. Since the beginning of radio broadcasting, production of culture and education programs had been sub-categorized under Programming Division. Also, it has been claimed in several researches that in the 70's, the production of education and cultural programs had visibly grown owing to the political necessity of policy PR and campaigns, and the introduction of new broadcasting equipment and technologies for producing the mentioned political campaign programs. However, this study argues that the main force that led to such developments was the cultural practices and the production spirits of the KBS PD's. These PD's trained themselves in production workplace from the bottom by assisting film directors and learning from cameramen about the film making and post-production process. Moreover, in the transitional phase from film to magnetic tape recorder, they established themselves as main subjectivities of production by developing Division of Culture and Education as a specialized and independent sector. The "program production spirit and DNA" that evolved from the experiences of working in poor production environment served as a force for developing professional and self identity. However, the culture and education PD's of the 70's were still tied down to the limited roles of simply providing technological and productional 'professionalism' within the hegemonic structure of the strong state. As with the members of any other social domain at the time, PD's had restricted roles to play and putting in effort and competing to create better programs was the only 'freedom' that was allowed. This study argues that under such condition, KBS PD's implemented two strategies to construct their own professional identities: one was to distinguish themselves from official broadcasters, and the other was to distinguish themselves from commercial broadcasters. Unfortunately, ethical practice as a professional became nothing more than an issue of personal morality and broadcasting's public responsibility was lost under the shadows of commercial broadcasting.

• The Journal of KAIRB
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.36-41
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate how university hospital Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in Korea classify risk when reviewing clinical trial protocols. Methods: IRB experts (IRB chairman, vice chairman, IRB administrator) in the university hospitals obtaining a Human research protection program (HRPP) or IRB accreditation in Korea were asked to fill out the Google Survey from September 1, 2020 to October 10, 2020. Result: Among the 23 responder hospitals, 8 were accredited by the American Association for Human Research Protection Program (AAHRPP) and 8 were accredited by the HRPP of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Seven were accredited by Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific or Korea National Institution for Bioethics Policy. Thirteen of 23 hospitals (56.5%) had 4 levels (less than minimal, low, moderate, high risk), 4 hospitals had 3 levels (less than, slightly over, over than minimal risk), 1 hospital had 5 levels (4 levels plus required data safety monitoring board), and 1 hospital had 2 levels (less than, over than minimal risk) risk classification system. Thirteen of 23 hospitals (56.5%) had difficulty classifying the risk levels of research protocols. Fourteen hospitals (60.9%) responded that different standards among hospitals for risk level determination associated with clinical trials will affect the subject protection. Six hospitals (26.1%) responded that it will not. Three hospitals (13.0%) responded that it will affect the beginning of the clinical trial. To resolve differences in standards between hospitals, 14 hospitals (60.9%) responded that either the Korean Association of IRB or MFDS needs to provide a guideline for risk level determination in clinical trials: 5 hospitals (21.7%) responded education for IRB members and researchers is needed; 3 hospitals (13.0%) responded that difference among institutions needs to be acknowledged; and 1 hospital (4.3%) responded that there needs to be communication among IRB, investigator, and sponsor. Conclusion: After conducting a nationwide survey on how IRB in university hospital determines risk during review of clinical trials, it is reasonable to use 4-level risk classification (less than minimal, low, moderate, high risk); the most utilized method among hospitals. Moreover, personal information and conflict of interest associated with clinical trials have to be considered when reviewing clinical trial protocols.