bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actin Interacting Protein1 and Actin Depolymerizing Factor Drive Rapid Actin Dynamics inPhyscomitrella patens
Authors: Augustine Robert C. , Pattavina Kelli A. , Tüzel Erkan , Vidali Luis , Bezanilla Magdalena
Published: October 2011

The remodeling of actin networks is required for a variety of cellular processes in eukaryotes. In plants, several actin binding proteins have been implicated in remodeling cortical actin filaments (F-actin). However, the extent to which these proteins support F-actin dynamics in planta has not been tested. Using reverse genetics, complementation analyses, and cell biological approaches, we assessed the in vivo function of two actin turnover proteins: actin interacting protein1 (AIP1) and actin depolymerizing factor (ADF). We report that AIP1 is a single-copy gene in the moss Physcomitrella patens. AIP1 knockout plants are viable but have reduced expansion of tip-growing cells. AIP1 is diffusely cytosolic and functions in a common genetic pathway with ADF to promote tip growth. Specifically, ADF can partially compensate for loss of AIP1, and AIP1 requires ADF for function. Consistent with a role in actin remodeling, AIP1 knockout lines accumulate F-actin bundles, have fewer dynamic ends, and have reduced severing frequency. Importantly, we demonstrate that AIP1 promotes and ADF is essential for cortical F-actin dynamics.
The IZA Evaluation Dataset: towards evidence‐based labor policy making
Authors: Caliendo Marco , Falk Armin , Kaiser Lutz C. , Schneider Hilmar , Uhlendorff Arne , van den Berg Gerard , Zimmermann Klaus F.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to present the IZA Evaluation Dataset, a newly created data source allowing for the evaluation of active labor market policies in Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is a description of the sampling and contents of the IZA Evaluation Dataset and an outline of its research potential.

Findings

The evaluation of active labor market policies is often confronted with a lack of adequate empirical data. The IZA Evaluation Dataset may serve as a role model for the provision of such data.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of active labor market policy instruments that can be analyzed with the IZA Evaluation Dataset is mainly restricted to measures for unemployed individuals.

Originality/value

In recent years, many countries have opened their administrative databases for evaluation studies. However, information that might be relevant for economic modeling is often absent. The IZA Evaluation Dataset aims to overcome such limitations for Germany by complementing administrative data from the Federal Employment Agency with innovative survey data.
Ethnicity, job search and labor market reintegration of the unemployed
Authors: Constant Amelie F. , Kahanec Martin , Rinne Ulf , Zimmermann Klaus F.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to shed further light on the native‐migrant differences in economic outcomes. The aim is to investigate labor market reintegration, patterns of job search, and reservation wages across unemployed migrants and natives in Germany.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the IZA Evaluation Dataset, a recently collected rich survey of a representative sample of entrants into unemployment in Germany. The data include a large number of migration variables, allowing us to adapt a recently developed concept of ethnic identity: the ethnosizer. The authors analyze these data using the OLS technique as well as probabilistic regression models.

Findings

The results indicate that separated migrants have a relatively slow reintegration into the labor market. It can be argued that this group exerts a relatively low search effort and that it has reservation wages which are moderate, yet still above the level which would imply similar employment probabilities as other groups of migrants.

Research limitations/implications

The findings indicate that special attention needs to be paid by policy makers to various forms of social and cultural integration, as it has significant repercussions on matching in the labor market.

Originality/value

The paper identifies a previously unmapped relationship between ethnic identity and labor market outcomes.
The threat effect of participation in active labor market programs on job search behavior of migrants in Germany
Authors: Bergemann Annette , Caliendo Marco , van den Berg Gerard J. , Zimmermann Klaus F.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Labor market programs may affect unemployed individuals' behavior before they enroll. The aim of this paper is to study whether such ex ante effects differ according to ethnic origin.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a method that relates self‐reported perceived treatment rates and job search behavioral outcomes, such as the reservation wage or search intensity, to each other. German native workers are compared with migrants with a Turkish origin or Central and Eastern European (including Russian) background. Job search theory is used to derive theoretical predictions. The ex ante effect of the German active labor market program (ALMP) system is examined using the novel IZA Evaluation Data Set which includes self‐reported assessments of the variables of interest as well as an unusually detailed amount of information on behavior, attitudes and past outcomes.

Findings

It is found that the ex ante threat effect on the reservation wage and search effort varies considerably among the groups considered.

Originality/value

The study is the first to investigate whether migrants and natives react similarly to the expectation of participating in an ALMP, and whether migrants of different regions of origin react similarly or not.
Social networks, job search methods and reservation wages: evidence for Germany
Authors: Caliendo Marco , Schmidl Ricarda , Uhlendorff Arne
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the role of social networks on the job search choices of the unemployed. If social networks convey useful information in the job search process, individuals with larger networks should experience a higher productivity of informal search channels. This in turn affects the choice of formal search intensity and the reservation wage. The paper seeks to test these search‐theoretic implications of productive social networks empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the IZA Evaluation Dataset containing detailed information on job search behavior of recently unemployed individuals. Observing a rich array of personality traits and direct measures of the social network, the authors choose an identification approach based on observable characteristics using least squares and binary probit regression analysis.

Findings

The findings confirm theoretical expectations. Individuals with larger networks use informal search channels more often and shift from formal to informal search. In addition to that, evidence is found for a positive relationship between network size and reservation wages.

Research limitations/implications

The extent to which networks are used during job search most likely also depends on the quality of the network, which cannot be observed in the data. However, as the network significantly changes the observable formal job search effort of individuals, public job search monitoring policies should take these effects into account.

Originality/value

The paper complements the previous body of literature on the role of social networks in the labor market that predominantly focuses on labor market outcomes. By highlighting the interaction between networks and job search choices the paper improves the understanding of realized labor market outcomes in the presence of networks.
Economic preferences and attitudes of the unemployed
Authors: Constant Amelie F. , Krause Annabelle , Rinne Ulf , Zimmermann Klaus F.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to study the economic effects of risk attitudes, time preferences, trust and reciprocity and to compare natives and second generation migrants.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the IZA Evaluation Dataset, a recently collected survey of a representative inflow sample into unemployment in Germany. The data include a large number of migrant‐specific variables as well as information about economic preferences and attitudes. This allows an assessment of whether and how unemployed second generation migrants differ from unemployed natives in terms of economic preferences and attitudes.

Findings

Differences are found between the two groups mainly in terms of risk attitudes and positive reciprocity. Second generation migrants have a significantly higher willingness to take risks and they are less likely to have a low amount of positive reciprocity when compared to natives. It was also found that these differences matter in terms of economic outcomes, and more specifically in terms of the employment probability about two months after unemployment entry.

Research limitations/implications

The findings offer interesting perspectives, e.g. with regard to the design and targeting of active labor market policy. It may be reasonable to specifically focus on less risk averse individuals with measures such as job search requirements and monitoring.

Originality/value

This paper provides novel and direct evidence on the relationship between economic preferences, attitudes and labor market reintegration of natives and second generation migrants.
Automated construction of the user interface for a CERIF‐compliant research management system
Authors: Milosavljević Gordana , Ivanović Dragan , Surla Dušan , Milosavljević Branko
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the goal, which is to construct a user interface for CERIF‐compatible research management systems in an automated way. The system has to support all data items defined by the CERIF data model. The result of the automated construction is a functioning software system that can be customised according to the specific needs by manual changes in the program code.

Design/methodology/approach

The Model‐Driven Architecture (MDA) approach to software engineering is based on the idea of automated construction of software applications based on the model of a system. System modelling usually utilises the Unified Modelling Language (UML). A specific UML profile (extension) used for describing user interface‐related aspects of the system model is defined. It is used to define the behaviour of the user interface in the model itself. By relying on the concept of a standard generic screen form implementing common data management operations and tools for automatic code generation it is possible to obtain a fully functional software application that is completely defined by the system model.

Findings

A proposal of an automated user interface construction method for CERIF‐compatible research management systems is defined. The proposed application enables the management of all CERIF‐specified data items and facilitates the customisation of the model according to the specific needs. The customisation process is automated by using the tools for user interface code generation based on human‐computer interaction (HCI) standard defining the layout and behaviour of generic screen forms. The amount of automatically generated application functionality justifies the use of the model‐driven approach to software development.

Practical implications

Using the model of a system it is possible to efficiently produce a functional software application that can further be customised according to the needs of specific institutions and users. The customisation process itself is made efficient since it is iteratively performed using the same cycles of modelling and software generation. The proposed method for automated user interface construction is used for implementing the web application for research management at the University of Novi Sad.

Originality/value

A proposal for efficient software system development and its customisation is given. This way a software application is obtained that can be quickly adapted to new requirements and used in different research management systems based on a CERIF‐compatible data model.
Web citation persistence over time: a retrospective study
Authors: Riahinia Nosrat , Zandian Fatemeh , Azimi Ali
Published: October 2011

Purpose

By studying a large number of citations in the LIS field, this paper seeks to examine carefully the persistence status of web resources specified by their domains and type of files.

Design/methodology/approach

All 2005‐2008 volumes of six LIS journals ranked by ISI Thomson Reuters were selected. From 1,181 papers, 37,791 citations were recorded. Only original articles, which had a list of references, were included in the study. The persistence of web citations was checked by directly following the cited URLs.

Findings

Of the 37,791 citations, 4,840 (12.8 percent) were web citations. The means per articles of web and print citations were 4.09, and 27.9, respectively. Of all web citations, 4,617 (95 percent) were readily persistent, and 5 percent returned errors and thus were not originally accessible. The relationship between the print and web citation over time (year) was significant. The most prevalent domain of citations was html and the most favorable and persistent file format was pdf.

Practical implications

The web resources are used for their easy accessibility and the support they provide for a scientific content. While direct accessibility to a web citation is not provided, many strategies are adopted to recover the dead citation. The issue is to what extent the authors rely on web resources and are they finished with citing paper‐based materials? Are web resources becoming replaced with their print counterparts? The study showed that scholars still rely more on print resources than on the web materials.

Originality/value

Tracking current trends in scholars' communication behavior shows a shift from print to web resources. The paper examines web citations persistence in some prestigious journals to show whether the web citations are reliable enough and always accessible in the digital world.
M‐learning in distance education libraries
Authors: Chandhok Seema , Babbar Parveen
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover the perspectives of M‐Technologies in Distance Education Libraries. It proposes a model for providing e‐resources and other information services through mobile technology to its learners in Indira Gandhi National Open University, India.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative study data were gathered through questionnaire and interviews from Distance Learners of IGNOU to access the actual requirement of Distance Learners for various m‐library services in the present scenario. The study is guided conceptually by the perceived need for m‐libraries and a growing usage of mobiles in India.

Findings

The data suggest that M‐Libraries offer a unique opportunity for distance learners in different kinds of learning environment settings. The proposed m‐library services architecture suggests developing an M‐library web site at IGNOU Library to effectively facilitate m‐library services, hence strengthening the M‐Learning in Distance Education System.

Originality/value

Considerably less literature exists about the m‐libraries and its services in Distance Education. This study will be of interest to distance education library and information professionals who wish to obtain a better understanding of M‐Libraries scenario and practices.
An investigation and analysis of the application of Web 2.0 in Chinese university libraries
Authors: Si Li , Shi Ruoyao , Chen Bijuan
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overall picture of the application of Web 2.0 technologies in Chinese university libraries. The focus of the research is what types of Web 2.0 technologies were applied in such libraries as well as their function and user interface.

Design/methodology/approach

The top 30 Chinese university libraries were selected to investigate the application of Web 2.0 technologies. Content analysis was used in terms of quantitative approach. Data were collected by accessing these 30 university libraries web sites within five weeks.

Findings

Two‐thirds of Chinese university libraries deployed one or more Web 2.0 technologies. Only one‐tenth of libraries adopted more than four Web 2.0 technologies. RSS was the most widely applied, while Wiki was the least. The application of Web 2.0 technologies among Chinese university libraries was not extensive and profound enough.

Research implications

The findings can be utilized to evaluate the status of Web 2.0 technology applications. The statistical data are very useful and authentic sources for improving the level of Web 2.0 technology application. It may enable future research to analyze other aspects (e.g. the application of RSS or Blogs for services).

Originality/value

This unique study explores the application of Web 2.0 mainly in Chinese university libraries that deployed any types of Web 2.0 technologies. This study is very useful for Chinese university libraries in evaluating/deploying Web 2.0. Library managers, librarians, and other libraries may also find this helpful, once they decide to implement such technologies in their libraries.
Impact response of polymer‐coated grinding spheres
Authors: Langus J. , Šuštarič P. , Rodič T.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect that polymer coat has on the impact behavior of grinding sphere and to find possible subsection of parameter space in which grinding sphere wear could be reduced.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical analysis is based on axisymmetric finite elements that were developed using symbolic tool AceGen. Comparing stress response of elastic and visco‐elastic material revealed that for high strain rates observed in impacts both behave the same and that is why elastic elements were used in simulations.

Findings

Impact velocity, coat thickness and polymer material properties were varied in a parametric case study of polymer‐coated sphere impact. Decrease of the pressure on the surface of grinding sphere indicates that polymer layer can be effective in reducing grinding media wear, but in order to maintain adequate impact pressure to do the grinding the impact velocity has to be increased. Both upper and lower limit for impact velocity were determined for some arbitrary pressure threshold values. This shows that combining measured threshold values of specific material with results from presented numerical tool could provide valuable guides for finding optimum stirred media milling operation parameters.

Originality/value

In this work, the authors develop numerical tools with the aim of supporting experimental development of polymer coat capable of reducing grinding media wear.
Modeling of coupled heat, moisture transfer and mechanical deformations of wood during drying process
Authors: Zhu Zhenggang , Kaliske Michael
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical model of coupled heat, moisture transfer and their effects on the mechanical deformations of wood during the drying process.

Design/methodology/approach

Coupling among heat, moisture, and mechanical deformations is solved consecutively by use of sparse solver of MATLAB. The weighted residual of the equilibrium equations of drying process of wood, based on finite element method, is investigated. The stress and plastic strain increments can be solved with Newton's method.

Findings

The numerical model is applied to a plain strain problem of a long wood board taken from the outer region of the wood log. Numerical simulation reveals the stress reversal during the drying process. The mechanical deformations and the principle stresses of a three‐dimensional wood board in consideration of the orthotropic properties are presented.

Originality/value

Plane strain and plane stress are analysed. The tangential modulus is derived. The transformation of the stress and strain tensors between the local coordinate system resulting from the cylindrical properties of wood and the global one is evaluated. Selection of element type for temperature, moisture content and displacement is discussed.
Modified Mohr‐Coulomb – Rankine material model for concrete
Authors: Galic Mirela , Marovic Pavao , Nikolic Zeljana
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The main aim of this paper is to present a three‐dimensional numerical material model for concrete which combines plasticity with a classical orthotropic smeared crack formulation. A further aim is to raise a discussion leading to the creation of a comprehensive computer programme for the analyses of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures.

Design/methodology/approach

A new numerical material model for concrete is developed and main theoretical explanations are given to aid in understanding the algorithm. The model is based on Mohr‐Coulomb criterion for dominant compression and Rankine criterion for dominant tension influences. A multi‐surface presentation of the model is implemented which permits the rapid convergence of the mathematical procedure. The model includes associated and non‐associated flow rules, strain hardening and softening where the development of the plastic strain was described by the function of cohesion.

Findings

Provides information about developing a new numerical material model for concrete.

Practical implications

The model is implemented into the computer programme PRECON3D for the three‐dimensional nonlinear analysis of the reinforced and prestressed concrete structures.

Originality/value

In this model, the very complex behaviour of concrete is defined by elementary material parameters which can be obtained by a standard uniaxial test. The presented model enables a very detailed and precise analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures until crushing with a high accuracy, so that the expensive experimental tests can be reduced. The paper could be very valuable to researchers in this field as a benchmark for their analyses.
Computational steering in the problem solving environment WBCSim
Authors: Shu Jiang , Watson Layne T. , Ramakrishnan Naren , Kamke Frederick A. , Deshpande Shubhangi
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper describes a practical approach to implement computational steering for problem solving environments (PSEs) by using WBCSim as an example. WBCSim is a Web based simulation system designed to increase the productivity of wood scientists conducting research on wood‐based composites manufacturing processes. WBCSim serves as a prototypical example for the design, construction, and evaluation of small‐scale PSEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Various changes have been made to support computational steering across the three layers – client, server, developer – comprising the WBCSim system. A detailed description of the WBCSim system architecture is presented, along with a typical scenario of computational steering usage.

Findings

The set of changes and components are: design and add a very simple steering module at the legacy simulation code level, provide a way to monitor simulation execution (alert users when it is time to steer), add an interface to access and visualize simulation results, and perhaps to compare intermediate results across multiple steering attempts. These simple changes and components have a relatively low cost in terms of increasing software complexity.

Originality/value

The novelty lies in designing and implementing a practical approach to enable computational steering capability for PSEs embedded with legacy simulation code.
Performance of a physical surrogate in the sequential approximate optimization of space trusses
Authors: Afonso Silvana Maria B. , Horowitz Bernardo , Ferreira da Silva Marcelo
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose physically based varying fidelity surrogates to be used in structural design optimization of space trusses. The main aim is to demonstrate its efficiency in reducing the number of high fidelity (HF) runs in the optimization process.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, surrogate models are built for space truss structures. This study uses functional as well as physical surrogates. In the latter, a grid analogy of the space truss is used thereby reducing drastically the analysis cost. Global and local approaches are considered. The latter will require a globalization scheme (sequential approximate optimization (SAO)) to ensure convergence.

Findings

Physically based surrogates were proposed. Classical techniques, namely Taylor series and kriging, are also implemented for comparison purposes. A parameter study in kriging is necessary to select the best kriging model to be used as surrogate. A test case was considered for optimization and several surrogates were built. The CPU time is reduced when compared with the HF solution, for all surrogate‐based optimization performed. The best result was achieved combining the proposed physical model with additive corrections in a SAO strategy in which C1 continuity was imposed at each trust region center. Some guidance for other engineering applications was given.

Originality/value

This is the first time that physical‐based surrogates for optimum design of space truss systems are used in the SAO framework. Physical surrogates typically exhibit better generalization properties than other surrogates forms, produce faster solutions, and do not suffer from dimensionality curse when used in approximate optimization strategies.
Alternative least‐squares finite element models of Navier‐Stokes equations for power‐law fluids
Authors: Vallala V.P. , Reddy J.N. , Surana K.S.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Most studies of power‐law fluids are carried out using stress‐based system of Navier‐Stokes equations; and least‐squares finite element models for vorticity‐based equations of power‐law fluids have not been explored yet. Also, there has been no study of the weak‐form Galerkin formulation using the reduced integration penalty method (RIP) for power‐law fluids. Based on these observations, the purpose of this paper is to fulfill the two‐fold objective of formulating the least‐squares finite element model for power‐law fluids, and the weak‐form RIP Galerkin model of power‐law fluids, and compare it with the least‐squares finite element model.

Design/methodology/approach

For least‐squares finite element model, the original governing partial differential equations are transformed into an equivalent first‐order system by introducing additional independent variables, and then formulating the least‐squares model based on the lower‐order system. For RIP Galerkin model, the penalty function method is used to reformulate the original problem as a variational problem subjected to a constraint that is satisfied in a least‐squares (i.e. approximate) sense. The advantage of the constrained problem is that the pressure variable does not appear in the formulation.

Findings

The non‐Newtonian fluids require higher‐order polynomial approximation functions and higher‐order Gaussian quadrature compared to Newtonian fluids. There is some tangible effect of linearization before and after minimization on the accuracy of the solution, which is more pronounced for lower power‐law indices compared to higher power‐law indices. The case of linearization before minimization converges at a faster rate compared to the case of linearization after minimization. There is slight locking that causes the matrices to be ill‐conditioned especially for lower values of power‐law indices. Also, the results obtained with RIP penalty model are equally good at higher values of penalty parameters.

Originality/value

Vorticity‐based least‐squares finite element models are developed for power‐law fluids and effects of linearizations are explored. Also, the weak‐form RIP Galerkin model is developed.
Addressing the research needs of the insurance sector
Authors: Robson Julie , Sekhon Yasmin
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on HEIF4 funded research exploring the important areas of research currently being conducted by insurance research practitioners and to identify the key challenges they face when conducting this research.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data was collected via ten in‐depth telephone interviews and two separate round table group discussions with research practitioners in the general insurance sector.

Findings

Three key challenges were identified: over‐researching and respondent fatigue; the increasing use of incentives and the emergence of professional respondents; and the problem of ensuring research credibility. The findings reveal the need to update research practices, to take account of the changing context within which research is undertaken, discussing research methodologies and social issues as well as the evolving and ever changing nature of research.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused on the general insurance sector. The challenges identified reflect in part the unique nature of this sector but are likely to be equally applicable to other financial services sectors. It would therefore be useful to explore the prevalence of these challenges in other financial sectors.

Practical implications

The paper calls on academic researchers to address the challenges identified. Research practitioners want further information, guidance and to learn from “best practice” on how new research techniques can be used to provide quality and timely research; the impact incentives have on research in a business and management context; and how the value of research can be measured. These implications are discussed against a financial backdrop and take account of academic, practitioner and industry challenges.

Originality/value

Academic research on marketing in the insurance context remains scant. This paper highlights the needs and challenges of this sector.
Value through combined offerings of bank and insurance
Authors: Mäenpää Irinja , Voutilainen Raimo
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how financial service providers cross‐sell combined bank and insurance service offerings in a business‐to‐business context with the aim of increasing understanding on the creation of corporate customer value through cross‐selling.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study of eight providers, augmented with interviews among eight of their small and medium‐sized enterprise (SME) customers, form the empirical basis of the study.

Findings

Financial service providers anticipate a shift from separate sales events towards one‐stop shopping and from unilateral provision of non‐related products towards consideration of hybrid products in the SME segment. SME customers, who tend to acquire their banking and insurance services as non‐related products from separate providers, do not fully support these trends. The results are partly explained by the absence of customer loyalty programs and non‐existent provision of hybrid products in the business‐to‐business context.

Research limitations/implications

The research is focused on the financial industry within one country and bound to SME customers, limiting the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The results imply that financial service providers should develop their one‐stop shopping concept in the SME segment by creating a customer loyalty program that would reward customer companies according to the use of multiple products in their total portfolio. Additionally, the possibilities of introducing hybrid products solely for business customer use should be further investigated.

Originality/value

This study is the first to show how business customers perceive the value of cross‐buying bank and insurance services, presenting a reminder to managers about the importance of recognizing their SME customers' value expectations.
Understanding reciprocity in organizations: a US‐China comparison
Authors: Hu Xiaoxiao , Tetrick Lois , Shore Lynn M.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The goal of this paper is to examine the relation of reciprocity to organizational commitment and the employment exchange relationship. In addition, it aims to investigate cross‐cultural differences on this relation between China and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of Chinese employees working on their MBAs (n=321), a sample of employed MBA students in the USA (n=199), and a sample of employed undergraduates from the USA (n=348). Hierarchical moderated regression analyses were used to explore the interactive effects of the three dimensions of reciprocity on organizational commitment and the employment exchange relationship.

Findings

The three dimensions of reciprocity were related to organizational commitment and the employment exchange relationship in all three samples. Nonetheless, in the US samples these dimensions reflected an additive model and in the Chinese sample the dimensions interacted, supporting the notion that Chinese perceive their employment exchange relationships more holistically than Americans.

Research limitations/implications

The data were cross‐sectional and therefore causal inferences need to be made with caution.

Practical implications

Different strategies should be adopted to manage Chinese and American employees' commitment and employment relationship.

Originality/value

This study offers new insights on the relation of reciprocity to organizational commitment and the employment exchange relationship in different cultures. It integrates cross‐cultural differences in cognition into organizational research and reveals that Chinese employees tend to use a more holistic approach to understand their employment exchange relationships than their American counterparts.
Practitioner reactions to work‐related psychological tests
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Jackson Chris J.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to investigate human resource practitioners' attitudes and beliefs about work related psychological tests. The purpose was to look at the structure and correlates of those beliefs.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 255 practitioners from human resource and related disciplines completed a 64‐item questionnaire on their attitudes to, and beliefs about, work‐related psychological tests.

Findings

Overall, the participants were positive about the validity and hence usefulness of tests. Factor analysis suggested that attitudes to tests fell into four easily identifiable factors (Test complexity, Practical application, Bias, and Usefulness of psychological tests). It was found that all four factors were predicted by age or educational qualifications or both.

Research limitations/implications

The study had a restricted sample of test users. It would be interesting to test a bigger and more representative sample of those in HR, training and coaching and get more specific details on which tests they used, why those particular tests and how they used the data they provide.

Originality/value

The aim of this study is to investigate whether practitioners generally find psychological tests in general useful, what aspects of psychological tests are most valued and what aspects are least liked. It also set out to determine whether the perceived scepticism toward, or enthusiasm for, psychological tests could be predicted by test user experience, and test user academic qualifications. Whist some survey studies have been interested in expert opinion, this study looked at practitioners from HR and related disciplines.
The suppression of negative emotions in elder care
Authors: Gillespie Jennifer Z. , Barger Patricia B. , Yugo Jennifer E. , Conley Cheryl J. , Ritter Lynn
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe two studies that investigate the suppression of negative emotions in the context of elder care, including the emotional job demands that may, together with display rules, elicit negative suppression (Study 1) and the association between negative suppression and job attitudes (Study 2).

Design/methodology/approach

Group interviews were conducted to understand the emotional demands of elder care (Study 1), and a survey was administered to direct care providers that included measures of negative suppression, job satisfaction, and job stress (Study 2).

Findings

Difficult events with patients (e.g. deterioration) are an emotional demand that may interact with display rules to elicit negative suppression (Study 1). Negative suppression is generally associated with less favorable job attitudes, controlling for individual differences in affectivity (Study 2).

Research limitations/implications

This investigation is the first both to qualitatively examine the emotional demands of elder care (Study 1) and to empirically demonstrate links between negative suppression and job attitudes (Study 2).

Practical implications

Practitioners face difficulties with recruitment and retention in elder care; the results suggest that negative suppression is a possible point of intervention.

Social implications

There is a shortage of direct care providers in the context of elder care, and the results of the present investigation potentially suggest how to improve working conditions.

Originality/value

The focus on negative suppression in the context of elder care is unique.
Influence and promotability: the importance of female political skill
Authors: Shaughnessy Brooke A. , Treadway Darren C. , Breland Jacob A. , Williams Lisa V. , Brouer Robyn L.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The current paper seeks to bring the political perspective to gender differences in promotion decisions, a phenomenon with great longevity in research and practice. Specifically, the degree to which gender role‐congruent and counterstereotypical influence behavior is related to liking as moderated by political skill.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample ofn=136, these hypotheses were tested in retail organizations in the Northeast and Southwest.

Findings

Political skill significantly moderates the relationship between ingratiation and liking, such that use of ingratiation was positively related to liking when women were high in political skill. However, the relationship between assertiveness and liking was unchanged by political skill level and was unrelated to liking. Liking was consistently found to be positively related to promotability ratings.

Research limitations/implications

Questionnaire data collection is used exclusively; however, the subordinate and supervisor data were collected at two different times.

Practical implications

The results are relevant for employees in that they imply a need for them to be cognizant of their behavior as it relates to social role expectations and for supervisors to understand the factors that could contribute to lower ratings.

Social implications

The current results suggest that gender role‐congruent influence behavior is positively related to socially relevant evaluations (i.e. liking); thus, women whose behavior is consistent with social expectations may be more positively evaluated.

Originality/value

This study provides a political explanation for differences in women's promotability and also investigates mechanisms that may be related to reducing promotability disparity.
Coworker reactions to observing sexual behavior at work
Authors: Nicole Salvaggio Amy , Hopper Jennifer , Packell Kathryn M.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The goal of the present research is to investigate the association between observing consensual sexual behavior at work (e.g. flirting, joking) and job outcomes – specifically, job satisfaction and turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were administered about observed consensual sexual behavior and job attitudes in two separate studies of working adults. Participants in Study 1 were 113 workers from 33 workplaces in the Midwestern USA; participants in Study 2 were 242 adults working in a variety of industries.

Findings

In support of the hypotheses, results from Study 1 indicated that employees who observed more sexual behavior at work reported lower job satisfaction. Study 2 replicated this result, but only for female employees. Observed sexual behavior at work was positively related to turnover intentions for both genders.

Research limitations/implications

In both studies, the research design was cross‐sectional, which prohibits causal inferences about the data. Second, it was not possible to assess whether the observed sexual behavior occurred between friendly peers, married coworkers, or coworkers married to other people – thus it is unclear how this factor is related to employee reactions.

Practical implications

Human resource managers should consider formulating policies regarding consensual sexual behavior at work to guide managers in handling potentially difficult situations, such as romantic relationships between peers.

Originality/value

This research is the first to explicitly link consensual sexual behavior at work with two specific job attitudes: job satisfaction and turnover intentions.
The relationship between needs and job attitudes in South Korea and Germany
Authors: Steinmetz Holger , Park Yang‐Kyu , Kabst Rüdiger
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The present study aims to analyze the predictive value of three motivational dispositions (need for achievement, need for affiliation, and need for power) for job involvement and organizational commitment and to investigate cross‐cultural differences between Germany and South Korea between these predictions.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of South‐Korean (N=209) and German (n=198) executive MBA students was surveyed. Using multi‐group structural equation modeling, the associations between the three needs and JI and OC and cross‐cultural differences in these associations are investigated. In addition, a test is conductedd for cross‐cultural equivalence of the measures as an important prerequisite of quantitative analyses.

Findings

The results reveal that need for achievement and need for power are related to JI but that only need for achievement is related to OC. In addition, significant differences were not found across either country in these relationships. Tests of cross‐cultural equivalence showed at least partial invariance of all measures.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should replicate the results in other employee populations. Furthermore, future research should incorporate more than two countries and countries with larger differences on cultural orientations.

Practical implications

The study shows that motivational dispositions should be considered in HRM practices and leadership behaviour.

Originality/value

The view on JI and OC is broadended by consideration of dispositions, whereas traditional research focuses on contextual factors.
An empirical examination of hiring decisions of experienced auditors in public accounting
Authors: Law Philip K.F. , Yuen Desmond C.Y.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This study aims to examine the potential factors influencing the hiring decisions of experienced auditors in public accounting practices in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Multinomial logistic regression is used to analyze the survey data, which is the first time such an approach has been used in the literature. A total of 337 interview rating forms are collected in actual employment interviews from two Big 4 firms. Graves and Powell's hiring model is adapted to this Hong Kong study. Interpersonal attraction theory is employed to assist in analyzing the results.

Findings

The results indicate that subjective qualifications have the highest explanatory power. Big 4 recruiters regard subjective qualifications as important considerations in the evaluation of experienced auditors. Interpersonal attraction is the second most important factor. These findings are consistent with the theory of interpersonal attraction. Perceived similarity and objective qualifications are also perceived as significant factors. Physical attractiveness, dress effect and gender are not found to be factors influencing the hiring decisions, in contrast to the findings of earlier literature in the USA.

Originality/value

These findings indicate that recruiters would look for attributes other than those primarily based on objective qualifications. Job relevant skills, knowledge and demonstrated initiatives are important. The accounting profession could conduct more training programs for auditors to improve and demonstrate their “soft skills” in the interview process so as to enhance their chances of employment, particularly during a recessionary environment.
Auditor gender and corporate earnings management behavior in private Finnish firms
Authors: Niskanen Jyrki , Karjalainen Jukka , Niskanen Mervi , Karjalainen Jussi
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether or not auditor gender has an impact on the magnitude of corporate earnings management in small‐ and medium‐sized private Finnish firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the association between auditor gender and earnings management of private firms by means of multiple linear regression analysis. In this analysis the paper uses discretionary accruals (DACC) estimated by using the cross‐sectional version of the Jones model as a measure for corporate earnings management.

Findings

When the absolute (unsigned) earnings management on gender and a set of control variables is regressed, it is found that female auditors allow for more discretion in income reporting. When the analysis is conducted separately for sub‐samples of income increasing and income decreasing DACC, the results suggest that female auditors are more conservative.

Research limitations/implications

This study has been conducted by using data from one country. Since it is commonly known that the role of females in the society varies from one country to the next more research is needed in different social environments.

Practical implications

When selecting auditors, management should pay attention also to the gender of the auditor. It may also be useful for stakeholders to pay attention to the gender of the auditors that they engage or the gender distribution of the audit team.

Social implications

The results imply that gender diversity in the auditing profession may improve the quality of financial statement overall.

Originality/value

This study is the first one that investigates the effect that auditor gender may have on actual earnings management behavior. It also adds to the understanding on earnings management in private firms.