Digital Commons Network^™

Aging And The Screen: Toxic Commodification Of The Female Body In The Substance (2024), Damlasu Uyug Sengun, Tuncer Mert Aydın, Zeynep Ozdamar Ertekin

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

Representations of the aging female body have increased in media, but their presence is still shaped by social norms and market-driven ideals. On the contrary, The Substance (2024), an absurd, postmodern body horror, provides us a provocative critique of contemporary society’s obsession with youth and beauty and the way our culture defines and commodifies aging, especially in relation to women’s bodies and identities. Our review of The Substance incorporates consumer culture theory with Julia Kristeva’s concept of the abject (1982), Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze (1975), and Barbara Creed’s notion of the monstrous-feminine, (1993) to explore the toxic …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Exploring Sport Leaders’ Sensemaking And Enactment Of Inclusive Leadership, Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Dahlin, Janelle Wells, Erika Gray

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

While diversity, inclusion, and leadership shape individual behaviors and organizational culture, historically they have been researched as independent theoretical streams. Examining these lines has been fruitful to advance our understanding of diversity, inclusion, and leadership separately; however, we lack an understanding of how leaders understand and engage in inclusive leadership. Thus, this study explores how college sport leaders make sense of and enact inclusive leadership. Through 16 semi-structured interviews with senior-level athletic administrators we constructed four themes: fostering employees’ uniqueness, strengthening team belongingness, learning centered development, and actioning values-based care. This work both bolsters and extends Korkmaz and colleagues’ (2022) …

Proceedings Of The Global Conference On Business And Economics, Bhuvan Unhelkar, Valentina Della Corte, Cihan Cobanoglu, Mehmet Erdem

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

This is the third volume of the Global Conference on Business and Economics Proceedings Series. This volume also includes papers presented at the Global Conference on Technology & AI in Hospitality and Tourism.

Interpersonal Capacity For Trustworthiness: A Reflective Framework For Navigating Entrustment, Roberto Angelo Moreira Vale

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This dissertation advances understanding of how trust shapes salient cross-cultural encounters, drawing on a constructivist grounded theory analysis of 220 interview accounts. Across these narratives, trust-related dynamics consistently appeared alongside 16 other contextual, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors. Notably, these dynamics were identified in interviews with participants from all GLOBE cultural clusters, suggesting a degree of cross-cultural breadth that warrants further empirical testing. Together, these patterns indicate that it is not cultural difference alone that makes an encounter meaningful, but how individuals interpret and respond to the possibility or risk of entrusting and being entrusted. Salience emerged at moments when participants …

Diversity In Aquatics:4th Special Issue, Tiffany M. Quash Ph.D., Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq, Steven N. Waller Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The theme of this special issue is “Building a Community of Champions.” The purpose of this theme is to highlight and promote a civic engagement perspective that engages, advocates, and supports communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in addressing the national, regional, and local evolving health-related issue of drowning. Aquatic Settings have been a pivotal focal point of social justice, water safety, and public health, not only in the past but also in our present day (Beale-Tawfeeq, Quash, et al, 2023 and Waller and Bemiller, 2023). Diversity In Aquatics (DIA) strives to positively impact the field of aquatics …

Adopting Stuart Hall’S “Race, The Floating Signifier” As A Conceptual Framework Within Aquatic Research And Education, Kurt J. Cordice

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

During his 1997 lecture at Goldsmiths College in London, Stuart Hall, renowned for his contributions to sociology and cultural studies, offered his argument that the concept of race functions as a Floating Signifier. In this essay, Stuart Hall’s Race, the Floating Signifier is presented as a strong conceptual framework to support more accurate and effective positioning of race as an important consideration within aquatic research and education. Evidence from a range of disciplines, including historical research, is presented to establish both the importance and challenge of race within aquatic research and education. This evidence is also used to demonstrate …

From Meditation To Magic: The Spectrum Of Buddhist Tourism In Thailand, Brooke Schedneck

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Buddhism can conjure distinctive ideas and images for different groups of people, especially travelers to a Buddhist majority country like Thailand. Discussing three different modes of Buddhist tourism— meditation, magic, and mega statues— this article illuminates the varieties of Buddhist tourism in contemporary Thailand. While foreign visitors from Western countries are assumed by Thai Buddhist practitioners to favor engagement with Buddhism related to meditation, Chinese and Thai Buddhists are seen to appreciate Buddhism for its magical protective powers. Chinese tourists in particular are now being targeted to purchase products and experiences related to mutelu, which is a term for objects …

Imus Longganisa: A Cultural Heritage Food In Cavite, Marie A. Aquino, Dyan Loreine V. Lopez, Colleen Daphne U. Villanueva, Jimford U. Tabuyo

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study assessed the cultural heritage significance of Imus Longganisa, a traditional delicacy from Cavite, Philippines. Grounded in the cultural heritage preservation framework, the research examined the aesthetic, social, and historical dimensions of Imus Longganisa as perceived by the Imuseños. Utilized a quantitative evaluative design, the study employed purposive sampling of 291 respondents from Imus City, gathering data through validated online survey questionnaires using a 4-point likert scale. Analytical methods, including descriptive statistics and ANOVA, identified significant variations in perceptions based on demographics such as age, frequency of consumption, and budget. Findings revealed that respondents appreciated the aesthetic appeal of …

An Analysis Of Consumer Behavior In The Brazilian E-Commerce Market: An Investigation Of Customer Loyalty, Seasonality, And Regional Preferences, Hai Doan

Student Publications

This paper investigates key drivers of consumer behavior within Brazil's emerging e-commerce market by analyzing the Olist Public Dataset. As technology increasingly allows for data-driven marketing strategies, understanding the nuanced behaviors of diverse consumer bases, especially in an emerging market like Brazil, is critical for firm success. This study tests three hypotheses regarding the relationship between positive customer reviews and e-loyalty, the fluctuation of seasonal sales during holiday periods, and the influence of geographic urbanization on product preferences. Utilizing regression analyses on 100,000 orders from 2016 to 2018, the results showed no significant relationship between positive review scores and repeat …

The Smart Organization And Its Role In Enhancing The Quality Of Hybrid Education Through Outstanding Performance An Analytical Study Of The Opinions Of A Sample Of Professors From The College Of Medicine At The University Of Karbala, Muntadhar Zuhair Hassan

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The research aims to demonstrate the role of the smart organization in enhancing the quality of hybrid education through the mediating role of outstanding performance, applied to a sample of professors at the College of Medicine at the University of Karbala. The research variables included (the smart organization, its dimensions of behavioral competence, strategic vision, and supportive incentive system. The dependent variable was hybrid education, its dimensions of physical and digital dimensions, and institutional support. The mediating variable was outstanding performance, its dimensions of financial perspective, customer perspective, and learning and growth). The questionnaire was used as a tool for …

Cultural Dynamics And Reverse Culture Shock: A Strategy For Building Sustainable Human Resources In International Ngos, Haruka Minemura, Yuko Nishide

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This study explores the dynamics of cultural conflict between expatriate and local staff in international NGOs (INGOs) and proposes a framework for sustainable human resource management. While existing INGO management literature emphasizes cultural factors in expatriate-local relations, limited empirical evidence explains the developmental process of these relationships and their implications. Through qualitative case study methodology, this research addresses the question: How do cultural conflicts between expatriates and local staff evolve within INGOs, and what management strategies emerge from these dynamics?

The findings reveal a dual-phase conflict management model where both expatriates and local staff experience sequential cultural tensions. The first …

Book Review: Interrogating Integration: Sport, Celebrity, And Scandal In The Making Of New Germany, Sangchul Park

Global Sport Business Journal

This review discusses Interrogating Integration: Sport, Celebrity, and Scandal in the Making of New Germany by Kate Zambon. Through discourse analysis of media narratives, Zambon demonstrates that athletes and celebrities of immigrant or minority backgrounds become symbolic figures whose successes and failures test the nation’s integration project, with case studies including the 2006 World Cup, the Sarrazin debate, and the Integration Bambi Awards. The book’s originality lies in moving beyond legal or policy frameworks to foreground mediated narratives, offering clear and coherent arguments supported by a logically organized structure. While the absence of comparative perspectives and audience reception studies leaves …

Understanding Entrepreneurial Culture: Resident Perspectives In A Post-Soviet Transition Country, Azamat Maksudunov, Kyialbek Dyikanov

Journal of Global Business Insights

The concept of entrepreneurial culture has frequently appeared in academic studies dedicated to both developed and developing countries. However, this topic has not been sufficiently investigated in the case of post-Soviet Central Asian countries, particularly in the context of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan can be an intriguing case study for analyzing entrepreneurial culture, as it has experienced distinct political and economic paradigms throughout its historical trajectory. This paper aims to empirically examine the current state and provide suggestions for the further development of entrepreneurial culture in Kyrgyzstan. This research is based on a conceptual framework developed through a review of existing literature …

Bridging The Digital Skills Gap: A Comparative Study Of Employability Readiness Among Tourism Students And Professionals In Malaysia, Asif Khurshid Mian, Fraz Arshed Butt, Omar Sajid

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

The increasing digitalisation of the tourism industry has introduced new expectations for workforce competencies, particularly in developing economies like Malaysia. The present study investigates how three core digital competencies, i.e. digital literacy, platform/tool awareness, and technology readiness, influence employability readiness among two key groups including final-year tourism students and in-service professionals. Drawing on Human Capital Theory and the Technology Readiness Index, the research applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine 350 responses collected through purposive sampling. Results confirm that all three competencies positively influence employability readiness, with platform/tool awareness exerting the strongest effect. Multi-group analysis reveals that …

Nursing Students’ Sociodemographic Characteristics And Consumer Preferences’ Prediction Level Of Perceived Food Literacy, Sinan Duru

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Food literacy, which is a critical competency for nursing students, plays a pivotal role in promoting evidence-based nutrition behaviors and contributes effectively to public health. This study aimed to determine the level of perceived food literacy among nursing students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 488 nursing students from two universities in the south of Turkey. The research data were collected face to face via the Personal Information Form, the Consumer Preferences Form, and Self Perceived Food Literacy. The data was analyzed using the Independent Sample t Test, One Way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression.

Results: The …

Exploring The Impact Of Leadership On Encouraging Innovative Behaviours: An Employee’S Perspective, Fouzia Khan, Aysa Siddika, Abdullah Sarwar

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Innovation is crucial in the current business environment amidst uncertainties and heightened competition. The study explored how employees perceive their leaders' behaviour regarding innovations in the service sector. An in-depth interview technique has been employed as part of a qualitative research approach to identifying leaders' behaviours likely to enhance or discourage employees' innovative behaviour. Eight participants with extensive experience in the service sector were selected from various sectors, including consultancy, financial services, and the telecommunications industry in Malaysia. Thematic analysis was used to identify leaders' behaviours that encourage or discourage employees' innovative behaviour at work. The study observed 15 different …

The Effects Of Organisational Culture In Strengthening Resilience And Technological Innovation: A Case Of Smes In South Africa, Lunathi Gwayi, Ayanda Pekane, Luzuko Tekeni

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operated by forcing rapid digital transformation and remote work. This created an urgent need to understand how organisational culture can support resilience and encourage innovation. This study addressed the knowledge gap regarding how a strong organisational culture can help SMEs in South Africa navigate global crises, adapt to digital demands, and sustain long-term growth. The purpose of the study was explanatory, supported by an interpretive, inductive approach, and a qualitative strategy. Through semi-structured interviews with senior managers in the South African IT sector, the research identified Clan and Adhocracy cultures …

Wellness Tourism: An Introduction, Karen Thal

All Open Educational Resources

Wellness tourism is a growing segment of the travel industry that focuses on experiences designed to improve physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. From yoga retreats and spa getaways to outdoor adventures and healthy culinary experiences, this form of tourism reflects a broader cultural shift toward self-care and holistic health. The current textbook introduces wellness tourism in a U.S. context, offering a practical, business oriented overview for undergraduate students. It provides insights into the concept of wellness, defines and examines both the wellness industry and the wellness tourism sub-sector, highlights key trends, explores the motivations of wellness travelers, and explains how …

Effects Of Cultural Diversity On Project Performance, Likhith Somalaraju

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Cultural diversity emerged as a critical factor influencing team dynamics and performance in contemporary project environments. With globalization reshaping the structure of project teams, understanding how cultural diversity affected project outcomes was essential for project managers and organizations. This qualitative study examined the relationship between cultural diversity and project performance within diverse organizational settings. Specifically, the study explored how aspects of cultural diversity such as ethnicity, nationality, language, and values influenced project outcomes measured in terms of schedule adherence, budget compliance, quality standards, and stakeholder satisfaction. The research was grounded in Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory and Social Identity Theory, which …

2025 August, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for August of 2025.

Breaking The Odds: A Gendered Analysis Of Women And Gambling Behaviors, Rowland Edet

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Gambling is increasingly recognized as a complex public health issue with wide-ranging implications for individuals, families, and communities. While traditionally male-dominated, recent shifts reveal a growing participation among women, facilitated by gender-specific gambling products, targeted marketing, and evolving societal norms. This paper critically examines the prevalence, motivations, and harms associated with gambling among women, drawing on theoretical perspectives such as social capital theory, cultural geography, and gender role theory. By synthesizing existing literature, this review highlights distinct gendered patterns in gambling behaviors, including the use of gambling as a coping mechanism for stress, isolation, and caregiving burdens, and the role …

The Evolution Of Agriculture Marketing: Harnessing Data Analytics To Understand Generational Shifts And Influencer Trends, Lexi Schweigert

Theses

The findings reveal that data analytics plays a crucial role in shaping marketing strategies in agriculture. Generational shifts, particularly among Gen Z and Alpha, are driving changes in consumer preferences and expectations. Influencers are also playing an increasingly important role in shaping the perception of agriculture and food among these generations.

Study Of Religiosity Animosity And Consumer Efficacy On Participation In Boycott Affiliation Of Israeli Products: The Moderating Role Of Xenocentrism, Ramadania Ramadania, Muhammad Zaki Afifi, Didik Muhammad Nur Haris, Abid Taufiqurrahman, Sri Syabanita Elida

ASEAN Marketing Journal

Manuscript type: Quantitative paper

Research Aims: To build and test the effects of religiosity animosity, consumer efficacy, and xenocentrism on boycott participation.

Design/methodology/approach: This research uses a survey method with a sample of 255 young respondents in Indonesia, used surveys and interviews to collect data then analysis with SEM-PLS to examine the variables.

Research Findings: The study found that several factors significantly influence boycott participation in products affiliated with Israel. First, religiosity animosity has a notable effect; higher levels of religiosity animosity are associated with an increased likelihood of boycott participation. Similarly, consumer efficacy—a consumer's belief in …

Exploring Dimensions Of Crystallized Identities, Candice L. Ruh

Feminist Pedagogy

For college students, learning about the components of identity can generate deeper knowledge about how personal and social identities differ, and how identities influence the way individuals experience socio-cultural systems and structures. The Exploring Dimensions of Crystallized Identities activity uses principles of self-reflexivity and dialogue to explore theoretical frameworks for practical application. This experiential activity is a facilitated dialogue driven by student involvement and is best suited for students in mid- to upper-level undergraduate courses. It encourages students to reflect on their and others’ identities, and to consider the social impacts of diversity in their lives.

A Multidimensional Model Of Attitudes Toward Sponsorship, Zachary C. T. Evans, Terry Eddy

Global Sport Business Journal

Sport sponsorship is an important marketing tool, with many of its elements having received previous research attention. Although researchers have examined attitudes toward sport sponsorship, the theoretical grounding of attitudes is often incomplete, and theoretically distinct terms are frequently used interchangeably (e.g., attitudes and beliefs). The purpose of this study was to critically examine the literature regarding attitudes toward, and beliefs about, sponsorship to review the common frameworks utilized in examining the constructs, and analyze their theoretical appropriateness. A systematized review methodology was undertaken, through which a definition for attitude toward sponsorship was developed using the tripartite framework for attitude …

Using Multiculturalism To Combat The Negative Creativity Effect Of Cultural Tightness: How It Is Done Matters, Jung Kiu Choi

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

This study investigates the multifaceted influence of cultural tightness and multiculturalism on the global commercial success of pop music. Addressing an under-explored moderating effect of multicultural factors on creative output under tight culture, this research analyzes Billboard Global 200 and Spotify Top 50 chart data from 2013-2021. The empirical analysis reveals that cultural tightness negatively impacts pop song’s success. Conversely, multiculturalism, specifically through diverse languages and performance teams, generally enhances global success. A key finding is that while multicultural production teams do not directly correlate with success, they critically moderate the detrimental effects of cultural tightness, a buffering effect unique …

Talent Management Practices In Manufacturing Companies In Poland, The United States, Germany And Japan – A Comparative Analysis, Adam Samborski

European Management Studies

Purpose: The research objective is to determine whether there are distinctions in the assessment of talent management (TM) practices between companies from Poland (PL), the United States (US), Germany (DE) and Japan (JP), and then to identify homogeneous groups. TM practices were defined as developing talent-oriented attitudes among managers (ITM), building a culture of high performance in the company (BH-PC) and retaining the best employees in the workplace (RT).

Design/methodology/approach: Information on the assessment of TM practices was obtained from the ‘World Management Survey – Manufacturing’ (WMS) database. The studies used the Kruskal-Wallis test (KWt) and the Multiple …

Spirituality And The Quest For Transcendence On The Portuguese Way Of St. James, José Luís Braga, Miguel Pazos Otón, Isabel Borges

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is a kind of proto tourism in a world where the number of pilgrimages has increased considerably. In the past the only motivation for such pilgrimages was religious, today we are witnessing the emergence of new motivations, such as cultural and even sporting ones. The research questions that guide this study are the following: Are faith and religion still strong enough motivations to justify pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela? Are there points of convergence between religious and secular pilgrims? Can the Camino be a means of awakening religious vocations? In short, what is the …

The Eyes Of Csr: Creating A Consulting Methodology To Bring Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Into Established Organizations, Raven V. Brookes-Mcdougall

Student Theses and Dissertations

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a crucial aspect of the corporate mindset, driven by the increasing demand for ethical and sustainable practices. Despite the strong business case for its implementation, CSR deployment often lacks strategic direction. This capstone project, titled "The Eyes of CSR: Creating a Consulting Methodology to Bring Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility into Established Organizations," aims to develop a universally applicable framework for integrating CSR into established organizations. This will be achieved through an extensive literature review that explores the multifaceted nature of CSR, including its history, benefits, challenges, criticisms, and various approaches.

The resulting framework emphasizes …