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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 …

Promotion Of Religious Tourism In Pakistan Through Destination Marketing Strategies, Noor-Ul- Huda, Musa Khan, Noman Ahmed Ansari

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The aim of this study is to identify the key factors that attract religious tourists to Pakistan and the strategies that are effective in promoting religious tourism. The paper takes a comprehensive approach to guide Pakistan’s development by evaluating international literature, focusing on religious tourism as a pivotal source of revenue. The study explores diversification prospects, aiming to equip policymakers and tourism authorities with actionable insights. This research establishes the groundwork for realising the economic, social, and cultural potential of religious tourism in Pakistan by studying marketing techniques using a qualitative methodology, examining revival approaches, and investigating cutting-edge communication technologies. …

Exploring Perceived Value Attributes Toward Spiritual Tourism In Vietnam: A Qualitative Approach, Lan Thi Huong Ho, Cuong Khoa Phan, Lien Tran Thi Ngoc, Rodney W. Caldicott

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Customer Perceived Value (CPV) has recently attracted a lot of interest in the tourism industry, both academically and empirically. To succeed in the tourist business, managers in the sector need a comprehensive understanding of how visitors’ perceptions of value dimensions connect to trip outcomes, such as overall satisfaction and behavioral intentions. This study aims to explore the tourists’ perceptions of the value of spiritual tourism services in Vietnam. A qualitative method was employed, which included nine in-depth interviews with tourism providers and representatives of spiritual sites, as well as a brief survey of 127 travellers who had already experienced spiritual …

Halal-Friendly Wellness Tourism In Non-Muslim Countries: Perceptions Of Muslim Tourists, Ann Suwaree Ashton, Rasmee Islam

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study explores the perceptions of Muslim tourists regarding wellness-related activities while travelling in non-Muslim countries. Although halal tourism has witnessed significant global expansion, there remains a notable gap in the literature concerning the development of halal-compliant wellness products and services in destinations outside the Muslim world. Employing a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 40 Thai Muslim participants who travelled to non-Muslim countries between 2022 and 2023. The investigation centres on four primary categories of wellness activities: spa, therapy, and massage services; sports, leisure, and adventure experiences; spiritual well-being practices; and the slow food movement. The findings underscore …

Enhancing Mindfulness Through Communities Of Practice In Buddhist Spiritual Tourism: A Study Of Transformative Experience At Plum Village, Giang T. Phi, Trang Huong Pham Phd, Nam Vu

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Despite the growing interest in Buddhist spiritual tourism, there is a clear gap in the literature regarding the role of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in fostering transformative tourism experiences. This study investigates how CoPs at Plum Village retreats in France and Thailand facilitate transformative experiences and enhance mindfulness among participants in Buddhist spiritual tourism. Utilising qualitative methods, the study combines autoethnography—drawing on the lead researcher’s personal experience through daily reflexive journals—and participant observation of a focal ‘retreat family’ group of 15 participants at each retreat. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data, guided by two frameworks: Kirillova et al.’s …

Religious Reinterpretation In The Pilgrimage Experience To The Ganges River, India Of Balinese Ethnic Hindus, I Gede Sutarya, Thanakorn Chooksukhserm

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The interaction between Balinese ethnic Hindus and India in the modern era is reestablishing a connection between Balinese local knowledge with Hindu religious destinations in India. Balinese folklore mentions various holy places, including the Ganges River, which is considered part of Bali's sacred worship domain. This ceremonial tradition causes the ethnic groups to worship the Ganges and request for holy water, eliminating the need for the direct pilgrimage to the holy place. In the modern era, the tradition of seeking holy water has evolved into a driving force behind the interest in the pilgrimage to the Ganges River. This leads …

Exploring The Drivers Of Tourist Satisfaction At Religious Sites: A Study Of Lumbini In Nepal, Bhim Bahadur Khadka, Prof. Anjani Kumar Malviya, Dipak Singh Rawat

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a religious destination attracting millions of tourists annually from Nepal and abroad, Lumbini offers a rich cultural and historical heritage. This study is, therefore, significant in exploring drivers of tourist satisfaction and the religious significance of Lumbini. This study employs a correlational research design and a quantitative approach to examine relationships among variables using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Data are collected using a survey questionnaire, yielding 403 valid responses after excluding incomplete data and outliers out of 500 returned questionnaires. Purposive sampling ensured the relevance of …

Analysis Of Pilgrimage To The Evangelical Lutheran Church In Zimbabwe (Elcz) Mission Centres, Rabson Hove

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is usually a sacred journey undertaken by religious adherents to holy places associated with their own traditions. As religions grow, religious pilgrimage also expands as the members of the religious traditions continue to influence each other. These holy religious centres influence religious enrichment, enhancement, strength and growth. Members get in touch with their origins and the history of the expansion of their religion as they encounter their holy sites or centres. In the case of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ), their important holy sites are missionary centres which are commonly located in rural Zimbabwe. The majority …

Unveiling The Impact: Religious Destination Image And Its Role In Shaping Sustainable Tourist Behaviors, Sabari Shankar Ravichandran Dr

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Historically pivotal for local economies, religious tourism and pilgrimage tackles contemporary challenges such as overconsumption, climate change, and evolving tourist motivations, necessitating a focused commitment to sustainability. This study, utilising a sample size of 153 visitors to a religious site and Structural Equation Modelling, examines the influential role of religious destination image in shaping tourists’ sustainable behaviours. Significant correlations emerge between attributes of religious destination image—sacred site, spiritual attraction, and more—and sustainable tourist behaviours. Key findings encompass green transport use, regenerative behaviour, responsible cues, and waste consciousness as the most evident sustainable behaviours. Beyond academic realms, the research informs destination …

Rural Community Pilgrimage Tradition To Sacred Graves In Tasikmalaya, West Java, Indonesia: Between Motivation And Social Identity, Ute Lies Siti Khadijah, Yunus Winoto, Rully Khairul Anwar, Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan Dr., Falih Ijlal Septian

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This research explores the pilgrimage tradition of a women’s group in rural areas of Tasikmalaya, West Java. It reveals the phenomenon of pilgrimage activities in the women’s group grounded in social identity theory and their motivation to visit the sacred graves. The study employed a descriptive quantitative approach. It involved a group of women who regularly recite the Holy Quran together and study Islam with a preacher called ustadz or kyai with a sample size of 79 people. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observation, and documentation studies. The collected data were analysed through quantitative data presentation in diagrams and …

Tax Trends, E. S. Linett

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Tax Clinic, Albert B. Ellentuck

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

The Tax Adviser, Volume 8, Number 5, May 1977, American Institute Of Certified Public Accountants

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Estate Planning: Significant Recent Developments Concerning Estate Planning (Part Ii), Byrle M. Abbin, Robert H. Daskal, David K. Carlson

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Problematic Smartphone Use Experiences Of Students, Gbolahan Olasina

The African Journal of Information Systems

Smartphones extend people's opportunities by improving their daily living and well-being. Hence, given the tool’s features and affordances that promote human development, smartphones facilitate the achievement of the individual liberties and freedoms of ordinary people. However, there are serious concerns about the emotional, social and cultural factors underlying smartphone usage patterns and their association with problematic use and depressive behaviors. Therefore, the overriding goal of the research reported on in this paper was to investigate how smartphone use influences individuals’ emotional wellness, interpersonal relationships and sociocultural contexts. Existing academic literature indicated that there was a need to investigate the intricate …

Sustainable Practices In The Restaurant Industry: Review 2020-2025, Joel Reynolds

ICHRIE Research Reports

This review examines sustainability practices in the restaurant industry from 2020-2025, analyzing environmental, social, economic, and technological dimensions. Using a rigorous methodology including comprehensive database searches and thematic synthesis, we identified significant fragmentation across research streams and persistent gaps between theoretical frameworks and practical implementation. Our analysis reveals how contextual factors—including geographical location and restaurant segment—significantly influence sustainability approaches, challenging universal prescriptions. The review highlights critical methodological limitations in current research, particularly regarding measurement approaches, system boundaries, and ethical considerations of technological innovations. These findings provide a foundation for developing more integrated, context-sensitive sustainability frameworks for both researchers and practitioners.

Are We Truly Diverse: Investigating The Diversity In Hospitality And Tourism Faculty Within The United States, Michael D. Caligiuri, Abigail Foster, Phillip M. Jolly, Miranda Kitterlin

ICHRIE Research Reports

Both practice and research within the hospitality and tourism field have grown increasingly concerned with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Yet while a significant and growing body of research has looked into the drivers and effects of representation in the workplace, very little has investigated the state of diversity in hospitality and tourism faculties. This is a serious oversight, as faculty diversity has been linked to a number of individual, organizational, and societal benefits. Drawing on an in-depth investigation of the racial/ethnic and gender makeup of 57 hospitality and tourism programs in the United States, our results indicate …

Giving Locally Or Globally? How The Destination Of Corporate Charitable Donations Shapes Consumer Brand Preferences, Ohjin Kwon, Young Jee Han, Hakkyun Kim

Asia Marketing Journal

We investigate how the geographic destination of charitable corporate donations influences brand preferences. We predict and find that consumers demonstrate a stronger preference for brands that engage in domestic donations as opposed to those that contribute to foreign causes. Additionally, we find that the preference for domestic donations is more pronounced among consumers exhibiting higher levels of nationalism and lower levels of residential mobility. Our research findings offer managerial implications for tailoring CSR strategies to resonate with specific consumer segments. We provide insights for companies aiming to optimize the impact of their philanthropic endeavors.

Hedonic And Utilitarian Products For The 21St Century: Classification Of Modern Product Categories, Jin-A Choi, Sufyan M. Baksh, Hyuk Jun Cheong

Asia Marketing Journal

Consumer purchasing behavior varies according to the type of product being considered. Notably, these behavioral differences become more salient depending on whether a product fulfills a utilitarian function or offers hedonic gratification. The present study aims to develop a novel product classification model that categorizes contemporary goods and services based on the extent to which they possess hedonic or utilitarian value. Methodologically, the study employed a two-stage approach. In the first stage, to identify appropriate products for inclusion in the classification model, the researchers conducted focus group interviews, a comprehensive literature review, and an analysis of major retailers’ websites. In …

Gender, Socioeconomic Status And Mental Health, Josh Jacob

Expo Student Presentations

2025 Fall Expo Poster Presentation

• Business, Finance & International Studies

Exploring The Role Of Transformational Leadership In The Health And Growth Of Nazarene Churches In The Africa East Field, Warren W. Rogers Iii

PhD in Organizational Leadership

The transformational leadership model is associated with positive outcomes in the follower experience, as well as in educational, healthcare, and business sectors. There is limited research on the impact of transformational leadership on church health and growth (George & Sreedharan, 2023; Kouni et al., 2018; Rahmatulloh et al., 2023; Tian & Guo, 2024). The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how transformational leadership contributes to the health and growth of Nazarene churches in the Africa East Field (comprising Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda). Eight pastoral leaders were interviewed to share their thoughts, perspectives, …

An Exploration Of How Internally Driven Faith Leaders Attribute Outcomes: A Qualitative Case Study., Evelyn Cardenas

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Control is a key factor for understanding behavior, decision-making, and leadership. Whereas locus of control (LOC) explores a person’s belief about how much influence they have over their life (Rotter, 1966), God control explores how much influence a person believes God has over their life (Welton et al., 1996). In the context of faith leaders, the topic of control is nuanced, as two entities cannot be in control simultaneously (Slatinsky et al., 2022). There is ample research on LOC, sense of control, and leadership. There is also extensive research on faith leaders. However, research exploring internally driven individuals and faith …

Unraveling Equity: The Consequences Of Dismantling Dei Initiatives In Education., James D. Upshaw

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Recent political and institutional shifts have led to the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across schools and universities, raising concerns about how these changes affect both students and the future workforce. This research investigates how the removal of DEI programs influences student belonging, academic access, and long-term workforce diversity. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines qualitative interviews with professors and students and quantitative analysis of enrollment, retention, and diversity data from universities affected by DEI policy changes. Preliminary findings suggest that dismantling DEI initiatives leads to decreased student support, reduced faculty morale, and declining representation among …

Equity Fund Monthly Report, October 2025, Archway Investment Fund

Archway Investment Fund

No abstract provided.

Followership Theory In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: A Phenomenological Study Of How The Integration Of Ai Into An Ai-Human Hybrid Cancer Research Team Affects Followership Characteristics, John F. Carrera

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of cancer research teams, helping with data analysis, pattern recognition, and decision support. Although AI changes how work is completed, little is known about how AI changes how followers adapt when AI becomes part of the team. This study examined how AI influences followership characteristics within AIhuman hybrid cancer research teams. A qualitative phenomenological research design was used to explore the lived experiences of nine cancer research professionals who interacted with AI as part of their routine work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed through multiple rounds of qualitative coding to find …

Availability Of Esg Rating Information And Voluntary Esg Disclosure: Evidence From Coverage Expansion Of Esg Rating Agency, Xuefan Peng

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

I examine the effect of availability of ESG rating information on firms’ voluntary ESG disclosure practices. Thomson Reuters Asset4 expanded ESG rating coverage from Russell 1000 index to Russell 2000 index in 2017. Exploiting this exogenous shock of availability of ESG rating information in a difference-in-difference research design, I find that compared with Russell 1000 firms (i.e., control firms), Russell 2000 firms (i.e., treatment firms) are less likely to increase voluntary ESG disclosures. The effect is more pronounced for firms with higher disclosure costs, captured by higher level of firm complexity and lower level of digitalization, and less pronounced for …

Understanding Career Advancement Challenges Of Mid-Level African American Leaders: A Phenomenological Case Study, Adrienne N. Long

PhD in Organizational Leadership

As workplace demographics become increasingly more diverse globally, the curation of organizational inclusion is becoming more dire (Shore et al., 2018). One workforce dynamic, however, has fundamentally remained unchanged: the underrepresentation of African Americans in executive or senior leadership roles (Beckwith et al., 2016). Despite tremendous legislative progress in gender and racial equality, a pervasive gap persists in organizational cultures that fail to intentionally and consistently provide equitable career advancement opportunities for African Americans to attain senior leadership roles. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research methodology to examine the career advancement challenges faced by mid-level African American leaders and …

From Claims To Commitments: Does Corporate Governance Help Firms Walk Their Talk?, Wafaa Salah, Nel Frederick George, Hussain Nazim

Business Administration

Purpose – This study investigates how corporate governance (CG) influences the alignment between firms’ environmental performance and their environmental disclosure practices. Drawing on the concept of policy– practice decoupling, the study examines whether CG mechanisms enhance the credibility and consistency of environmental reporting. Design/methodology/approach – Using a panel dataset of 80 Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed firms covering the period 2012 to 2023, the study employs panel-corrected standard error regressions and various robustness tests. Corporate carbon performance (CCP) is used as a proxy for environmental commitment, and environmental disclosure level (EDL) captures the extent of implementation. Findings – The results show a …

Decoding Influence: Cosmetic Industry Strategies, Media Beauty Standards, And Their Mental Health Impact On Generation Z Consumers, Tatiana Avila Velasquez

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This research explores the complex relationship between cosmetic industry marketing strategies, media-driven beauty standards, and the mental health of Generation Z consumers. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study examines how frequent exposure to curated beauty ideals and persuasive advertising shapes self-esteem, confidence, and personal identity among young adults. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, the research highlights the evolving nature of cosmetic use, revealing how early engagement with beauty products often stems from social conditioning and personal insecurities. Participants describe a shift from using cosmetics as a means of concealment to embracing them for creative expression and self-care. However, …

Because I Care: The Effect Of Value Congruence And Compensation Scheme On Target Setting In Social Mission Organizations, Wioleta Olczak, Tyler F. Thomas, Dimitri Yatsenko

Accounting Faculty Research and Publications

Many organizations, including for-profit firms, seek to support a social mission. This study experimentally examines how superiors' value congruence and compensation scheme affect superiors' target-setting decisions in social mission organizations. We predict and find that more value-congruent superiors set higher targets for their subordinates than less value-congruent superiors to motivate

their subordinates to advance the organization's social mission. We also find that superiors set higher targets for their subordinates when compensated with performance-based pay rather than a fixed wage. We highlight the importance of superiors' value congruence with the organization's social initiatives and compensation scheme on their target-setting decisions. Organizations …