Cogent Social Sciences

Cogent Social Sciences

Published by Taylor & Francis

Online ISSN: 2331-1886

Journal websiteAuthor guidelines

Top-read articles

682 reads in the past 30 days

Influence of social media on young adults’ food consumption behavior: scale development

August 2024

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2,423 Reads

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Kaliappan S

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Dilip Kumar

Social media has revolutionized young adults’ lives, including their food consumption patterns and behavior. This is an emerging concern, and a significant gap exists in understanding how social media influences eating behavior and the potential moderating factors involved. Thus far, despite social media’s crucial role in food consumption behavior, no multi-dimensional scale has been developed to measure social media influence. Hence, the Social Media Influence on Food Consumption Behavior Scale (SMIFCBS) was developed to address this gap using a student sample of 455. Future researchers may utilize the scale to validate the influencing factors and find their association with factors such as life satisfaction, mood and health.

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410 reads in the past 30 days

Factors affecting trust in TikTok content among University students.
Exploring fake news awareness and trust in the age of social media among university student TikTok users

January 2024

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4,444 Reads

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18 Citations

Aims and scope


Publishes a broad range of topics in social sciences, including Criminology, Geography, Law, Leisure & Tourism, Media Studies, Sociology and Sport.

  • Cogent Social Sciences is a multidisciplinary open access journal with a mission to make research and knowledge accessible to everyone without discrimination.
  • Our vision is based on inclusivity, dissemination and the power of collective wisdom.
  • The journal’s broad scope facilitates the discovery of connections between disciplines and communities.
  • We strive to help researchers communicate with a global audience and interact with experts from across the social science community and beyond.
  • Each submission is evaluated on its own scholarly merit and research integrity, and our expert academic editors take an objective and constructive approach to peer review.
  • Article-level metrics let the research speak for itself.
  • Cogent Social Sciences considers original research and review articles in the following sections and broad topical areas: Area Studies - African Studies, Area Studies, and …

For a full list of the subject areas this journal covers, please visit the journal website.

Recent articles


Figure 1. Conceptual Framework for the Study, based on the eVt-HS & literature. Source: authors' Construction, 2023.
Population & sample size for the study.
techniques for the data analysis.
The culture of research supervision in Ghanaian public universities: the potential influence of supervisor characteristics and institutional guidelines on completion time
  • Article
  • Full-text available

February 2025

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8 Reads

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Maame Afua Nkrumah

Worldwide, delays in the completion of student research work are a concern to many. Even though several researchers have critically come out with various influencing factors, the interest of this study was in how the characteristics of the supervisor and intuitional research guidelines influence the completion time of student research work. The population for the study was five public Ghanaian universities. The respondents were selected using stratified sampling techniques to answer the semi-structured electronic questionnaire. Some of the attention-grabbing findings of the study that could be argued are the complex interplay between lecturer characteristics (and not very much on institutional guidelines); and the time students use to complete their research work. This confirms the argument of the Expectancy-Value Theory for Help Sources (EVT-HS) model which links the availability of help to the use of it by students. The implications are that students should be allocated to supervisors based on the supervisors’ attitude towards student supervision as informed by their characteristics; since this potentially affects the help students get to complete their research projects in time. Hence, in practice, the importance of ensuring that supervisors help their students to complete their work on time cannot be over-emphasized.



The collections of books at Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail.
The hall of Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail.
Museum of Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail.
Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail with the garden and poetic posters.
Exploring people’s perceptions of cultural capital: a case study of Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail in West Sumatra

February 2025

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4 Reads

This research aims to explore the role of Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail in Indonesia’s literary tourism development and how people perceive it. The main focus is to study how Taufiq Ismail’s persona is presented in his poetry house. This research collected data through direct observations, interviews, and surveys using literary tourism-related concepts, such as Cultural Capital, Place Attachment, and Sense of Place. Two central problems include the cultural capital the Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail offers tourists and how this destination influences public perception. The research findings highlight the house’s dual role as a hub for exploring literary values and providing socioeconomic potential, underscoring cultural capital’s significance in developing tourism. Research shows that the people were attached to the house through literacy activities, including seminars, readings, and literary writing. Additionally, the people perceived this house as a place to explore literary values and socioeconomic potential. This research emphasizes that cultural capital is vital in developing tourism in Indonesia, especially in creating a sentimental attachment to the site and people’s sense of the place. This investigation underlines opportunities for extending similar literary tourism projects across Indonesia and probing future examinations on their long-term influences on tourists and local people.


Understanding consumer preferences for non-plastic reusable shopping bags: a comparison of competing theoretical models

February 2025

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9 Reads

This study aimed to achieve two primary goals. First, we identify the best competing models that predict consumers’ intention to use non-plastic reusable shopping bags from six available alternative models based on five theories: the theory of planned behavior, theory of consumption value, religiosity theory, ethics theory, and deterrence theory. Second, the study aimed to identify factors affecting users’ non-plastic reusable bag usage intention in Pakistan. The study used a survey method to collect data. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used for data collection. PLS model selection criteria were used to identify the best competing models. Partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to identify the different factors affecting users’ intention to use non-plastic reusable shopping bags in Pakistan. This study found that the integrated model (based on five theories) better explains consumers’ intentions and has more predictive power than other theoretical models. Moreover, the empirical findings suggest that 12 out of the 14 variables influence consumers’ intentions. The results of this study can serve as a foundation for policy makers to deal with plastic problems by adopting non-plastic reusable shopping bags.


(a) Jomblang Cave from above, (b) Vertical cave, (c) Horizontal cave.
‘Heavenly light’ at the end of Jomblang cave.
PRISMA flow diagram of systematic review.
Mapping of co-occurences of keywords. https://tinyurl.com/23yb2xu9.
Review article developing safety and enjoyment factors in karst cave tourism model: review discussing the model, factors and results

February 2025

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21 Reads

Indonesia has a karst area as a geosite reaching 154,000 km². Indonesia’s vast karst areas create extensive cave networks developed for geotourism, making cave tours a popular activity, though they pose risks of excessive exploitation, environmental destruction, and high-risk tourism. The aim of this research is to determine the factors used to develop karst geotourism models in academic research over the last decade and to identify indicators of safety and enjoyment factors in developing karst geotourism models. The systematic literature review method uses the PRISMA method and bibliometric analysis uses Vosviewer. The data source was obtained from Scopus for the 2018–2023 period. The results obtained were 268 articles, then data reduction was carried out and 39 journals were obtained for review. The theory used in this systematic literature review is the theory of sustainable tourism and found that influential factors in the development of sustainable geotourism models include scientific, educational, esthetic, recreational/touristic, functional, vulnerability, cultural, economic, socio-political, biological and anthropogenic. However, safety and enjoyment factors in sustainable geotourism models are rarely discussed, despite their role in shaping destination image and tourist experience. These factors are crucial, especially in fragile karst geotourism.


Rethinking resource scarcity: towards ecofeminist decolonial degrowth

February 2025

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6 Reads

This article critically examines the concept of resource scarcity within the context of capitalist accumulation and colonial legacies. Employing an ecofeminist approach, it challenges dominant narratives of scarcity that obscure systemic processes of resource deprivation in the global South and care economies. The analysis reveals how the rhetoric of scarcity serves capitalist interests and perpetuates colonial exploitation, leading to unequal resource allocation between productive and reproductive economies, and between the global North and South. Drawing on ecofeminist theory, enriched by decolonial and Marxist critiques, this article argues that resource scarcity is not merely relative within planetary boundaries, but fundamentally a consequence of capitalist modes of production and colonial exploitation of women, racialised populations, and the more-than-human world. Scarcity is artificially manufactured through processes of overaccumulation, overdevelopment, and corporate violence. The article advocates for an ecofeminist decolonial degrowth political economy as a form of climate reparation. This approach explicitly aims to expand the care economy, challenging the growth paradigm and redistributing resources between production and reproduction, and between North and South. It envisions the development of plural, interdependent economies that resist capitalist domination and pave the way for post-capitalist modes of living that prioritise human flourishing and ecological sustainability.


Local perception of territorial reality through community mapping. Seis de Julio Community, Naranjal-Ecuador

February 2025

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5 Reads

This article addresses the local perception of the territorial reality in the Seis de Julio community in Naranjal-Ecuador through community mapping. The population actively participates in the creation of maps by compiling their experiences, knowledge, and specific needs. Community mapping is a valuable tool that allows one to organize the cultural and social wealth of a community. The production of this type of cartography captures the empirical knowledge of the population regarding the territory, which then allows for a more comprehensive understanding of territorial dynamics from the perspective of the residents. Several workshops were held during the production of the maps that included the participation of the local children, as well as members of the Seis de Julio Crabber Association, specifically highlighting the aspirations that the younger generations have about how they can protect their local ecosystem. By incorporating a native perception as an inclusive approach to territorial planning, the overall decision-making and design of local policies is improved. In effect, community mapping not only offers an actual representation of the environment, but also encourages appropriation and empowerment among its inhabitants.


Map of the study area.
Source: Authors construct (2021).
Word cloud of participants’ definition of disability.
Source: Authors construct (2021).
De-constructing disability: perspectives of persons with disability (PWD) in an African city

February 2025

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13 Reads

The dynamic context of people’s worldviews has resulted in different perspectives on the concept of disability. Inasmuch these narratives shed light on the multiplicity of definitions and connotations ascribed to disability, the literature on this subject has mostly been done in the Western world while ignoring the contextual setting of African countries like Ghana. This study explores the perspectives of persons with disability (PWDs) on the definition and connotation of disability in Ghana’s capital city of Accra by employing a qualitative research design. A sample of 50 PWDs were engaged through snowball and convenient sampling. The study’s findings reveal PWDs’ rejection of connotation that likens disability to sickness or a faulty population group. Despite this revelation, PWDs admitted that poor connotation of disability further reinforces doubt about their desire to prove themselves as valuable members of society.


Plyometric exercises training improve psychological and physical performance among rugby and soccer players: a comparative study

February 2025

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5 Reads

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of plyometric training on psychological and physical performance parameters among rugby and soccer players. A total of sixty players were recruited from rugby and soccer university teams. All the players participated in six-weeks of plyometric exercise training three times a week. Psychological parameters were measured by Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Trait Sport-Confidence Inventory, short-form Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory-2. The physical performance parameters were measured by 20-m sprint test, Illinois agility run test, Sargent jump test, and sit-up test. Pre-and post-test measurements were taken. A paired t-test (two-tailed) was employed to assess the significant differences between pre and post-test for psychological and physical performance parameters. Result showed improvements in psychological and physical fitness performance variables after the intervention. However, aggression has significant difference (t = 2.87, p = .012) between pre-and post-test in rugby players. Soccer players demonstrated significant differences between pre-and post-tests in confidence (t = −2.99, p = .010) and endurance (t = −4.37, p = .001). Plyometric training has significant potential to enhance the psychological and physical performance parameters in rugby and soccer players. To explore the long-term psychological and physical benefits of plyometric training and identify individual factors that influence these outcomes, further research is demanded.


Measurement model.
Structural equation model (SEM).
Optimizing green routes for agro-tourism: insights from Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand

February 2025

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5 Reads

Agricultural tourism, often termed agro-tourism, has emerged as a promising niche in the tourism industry, offering unique experiences for travelers while promoting sustainable rural development. This study investigates the factors influencing the optimization of green routes for agro-tourists in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand. Through a quantitative approach, data were collected from 400 tourists who had visited agricultural destinations in the province. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between key variables, including values of agriculture and culture, travel safety, accommodation quality, participation in activities, management of conservation of tourist attractions, and the potential of proximity to main tourist attractions. The findings reveal significant positive relationships between these variables, highlighting the importance of effective management practices in enhancing the agro-tourism experience. Recommendations for optimizing green routes for agro-tourists are discussed, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to promote sustainable agricultural tourism development in the region. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on agricultural tourism management and provides insights for policymakers, destination managers, and practitioners seeking to leverage the potential of agro-tourism for economic and environmental benefits.


Flow chart illustrating the process and major steps in the literature search and selection.
Distribution of reviewed articles from various online databases: Google Scholar (n = 64), Scopus (n = 31) and Webs of Science (n = 18).
Geographical distribution of the reviewed studies.
Community-based tourism in Africa: a systematic review of the status and emerging opportunities

February 2025

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17 Reads

Tourism, specifically community-based tourism (CBT), plays a crucial role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite its significance, there exists a knowledge gap regarding the types of CBT initiatives, opportunities, and challenges in rural Africa. This article aims to bridge this gap through a systematic review of the current status of CBT, focusing on geosites and cultural heritage features. A systematic literature review was conducted following the New Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, analyzing content from main scientific publications in Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The review synthesizes emerging knowledge on opportunities, initiatives, and challenges for promoting CBT in Africa based on geosites and cultural heritage features. Findings reveal that CBT initiatives leverage Africa’s unique natural and cultural assets to create opportunities for locally based tourism, foster cultural exchange, and contribute to environmental conservation. CBT in Africa has the potential to promote inclusive and sustainable tourism, benefiting both local communities and visitors. Major challenges constraining CBT initiatives in Africa include inadequate infrastructure, limited research, and insufficient capacity and skills development to promote CBT based on geosites and cultural features. The article acknowledges that CBT initiatives in Africa can benefit local communities through income generation from tourism, contributing to the attainment of the SDGs. This review underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding to inform future initiatives and address existing challenges in the promotion of CBT in rural Africa.


Rural livelihood, accumulation and class formation in post-development-induced displacements in Zimbabwe

February 2025

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8 Reads

Land transactions and deals often lead to displacements and removal of people from their traditional and ancestral lands, disrupting rural livelihoods and causing significant socio-economic consequences for affected communities. Zimbabwe has a long history of displacements dating back to the colonial period. Post-independence Zimbabwe is dominated by ‘black people on black people’ displacements that are mainly done in the name of development activities. This study examines the emerging rural livelihoods, forms of accumulation and class formation among households displaced by the Tokwe Mukosi Dam project in Zimbabwe. Findings reveal that three-quarters of displaced livelihoods depend on survivalist strategies 10 years after the displacement, and these livelihoods are dropping out and in hanging mode. There is a shift from agrarian to non-agrarian livelihood strategies driven by reduced access to land and constrained spatial resources. This article argues that agriculture is not a viable livelihood strategy in Chingwizi resettlement, and for upward mobility to materialise, people are diversifying their strategies with migration, rural entrepreneurship and the supply of labour to community projects that are underway. Four distinct classes – poor, semi-poor, middle and rich peasantry – are emerging, shaped by non-agrarian income sources and demographic factors. These findings contribute to debates on displacement and rural differentiation, offering insights into interventions to mitigate inequalities in resettlement contexts.


Understanding the dynamics of financial and economic crises: a comprehensive analysis

February 2025

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10 Reads

This paper aims to assess the nature of the link between financial and economic crises. To do this, we develop a continuous measure for crisis probability. The methodology employed distinguishes short- from long-term relationships, enhancing the analysis’s depth and fortifying the results for autoregressive processes. The study addresses endogeneity and potential simultaneity between different crises using a sample of 49 developed and emerging countries spanning 1984–2016. The empirical investigation incorporates a simultaneous equation, Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) approach, a Panel Autoregressive Vector (P-VECM), an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique, as well as Fully Modified OLS (FMOLS) and Dynamic OLS (DOLS) methods. Findings indicate that while all crisis types may stem from unfavorable conditions, there exists a time lag in triggering and duration. Specifically, economic crises tend to be more persistent and are typically preceded by financial crises. Granger-causality test results support a robust bidirectional causality between financial and real difficulties, with the financial sector influencing the real economy more significantly. Moreover, the study reveals that the impact of economic volatility on financial stability is transient and lacks long-term significance. Conversely, the effect of a financial crisis on the real economy is enduring and remains significant in the long run. Additionally, exchange market volatility emerges as a crucial determinant for both financial and economic crises.


Approach framework for obtaining research output.
Development of poverty gap index and severity index in Riau for the period 2014–2023.
Source: Results of data analysis.
Formation of poverty cycles in coastal areas.
Source: Results of data analysis.
Strategies for reducing the number of poor families.
Source: Results of data analysis.
Model for reducing the number of poor families using a cross-sectoral approach.
Source: Results of data analysis.
Poverty alleviation through cross-sectoral approaches: solutions to accelerate coastal community economy

February 2025

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17 Reads

Coastal communities, particularly in the peatlands, feel neglected by unfair policies. This study seeks to identify poverty alleviation challenges for these communities through a cross-sectoral approach. The sample size is chosen based on local community members and their duration in the village. Village officials and policy implementers provide information on policy forms and impediments. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods are used to gather accurate data, limited to research objectives. Data was analyzed using mixed methods to devise policy solutions for poverty alleviation. Findings indicate that coastal communities face economic challenges due to limited infrastructure, low soil fertility, and rural development disparities. A cross-sectoral approach is advocated, encompassing rural economic development, social progress, cultural development, education, community empowerment, and essential service enhancement. These program implications serve as guidance for policymakers aiming to accelerate coastal economic development, particularly in developing countries.


Conceptual model.
The map of lampung province.
PLS-SEM algorithm.
Path analysis.
Gender-based comparative path analysis.
Experiential quality and satisfaction in marine tourism: a gendered analysis of post-visit behavior and frequency of visits in Lampung, Indonesia

February 2025

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15 Reads

Sustainable tourism in marine destinations is essential for economic growth in areas like Lampung Province, Indonesia. This study investigates the drivers of post-visit behavior through a survey of 321 domestic tourists, utilizing purposive sampling among followers of a prominent travel agency on Instagram. Analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the model includes constructs of experiential quality, destination value, experiential satisfaction, post-visit behavior, frequency of visits, and gender. Results indicate that experiential quality significantly impacts destination value and experiential satisfaction, which in turn influence post-visit behavior. Experiential satisfaction also mediates the relationship between destination value and post-visit behavior, confirming its pivotal role in tourism research. Crucially, the study introduces frequency of visits as a measure of sustainability, examining how often tourists return within a two-year period. Multigroup analysis reveals gender differences in these relationships, offering insights into the distinct behaviors of male and female tourists. These findings have significant implications for marine tourism management in Lampung, suggesting that enhancing experiential aspects can lead to increased visitation and contribute to sustainable tourism development. The study’s approach serves as a model for future research, advocating for targeted strategies to foster tourist engagement and promote the sustainability of the marine tourism sector.


The proposed research model.
Confirmatory factor analysis.
Structural equation model.
The effect of sensation seeking on intention to consume street food: utilizing the theory of planned behavior

February 2025

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9 Reads

Sensation seeking plays a role in explaining tourists' behavior in tourism and hospitality. However, there is limited knowledge about the effects of sensation seeking on street food consumption by travelers. This study examines how sensation seeking affects tourists' intentions to consume street food by incorporating the theory of planned behavior and the moderating effect of gender. This study adopted a survey method to obtain data from 394 international tourists in three major cities of Vietnam (Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City). Multivariate data analysis shows that tourists' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control positively impact their intentions to consume street food. Moreover, sensation seeking affects attitude and perceived behavioral control, leading to intentions to consume street food. Notably, gender moderates the impact of sensation seeking on attitude and subjective norms and the effects of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on intentions to consume street food. These findings expand the current understanding of the theory of planned behavior research in the street food context and uniquely explain the mechanism through which sensation seeking enhances street food consumption intention. They also provide valuable practical implications to Vietnamese destination marketers, government administrators, and street vendors in attracting international tourists.


Conceptual model of sustainable tourist behavior with the mediating role of intention to follow sustainable practices.
Source: Authors own work.
Examining the impact of factors on sustainable tourism practices: an empirical study in the Indian context

February 2025

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16 Reads

India’s diverse culture and scenic spots attract tourists from all over the world. Tourist arrivals, both domestic and international, have significantly increased in the country. However, the increase in tourism also gives rise to environmental issues. Hence, the focus of the study is on the behavior of tourists. This article aims to develop and empirically test a conceptual model on the sustainable behavior of tourists. The model included environmental awareness, environmental concern, and perception of negative impacts of tourism as independent variables. SEM analysis was conducted to test the conceptual model. A total of 265 responses were collected from the tourists. The results revealed that environmental awareness and environmental concern have a significant positive influence on the intentions of tourists to follow sustainable practices. While perception of the negative impacts of tourism did not prove to have a significant relationship with intention. There also exists positive significance with the intention to follow sustainable practices and sustainable behavior of tourists. The research article also provides detailed theoretical contributions, practical implications, and gaps for future research studies.


Selection of sample articles.
Source: Authors.
Distribution of reviewed articles per year of publication.
Source: Authors.
Distribution of sampled articles per country.
Source: Authors.
Distribution of Articles on success, challenges, and prospects per country.
Source: Authors.
Success, challenges and prospects of decentralization in Africa: a systematic review

February 2025

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11 Reads

Decentralization remains a global development approach. African countries have been using decentralization by devolution to realize their development vision. This study assesses the success, challenges, and prospects of decentralization in Africa. The results reveal that there has been considerable success of decentralization in African countries. Success relates to setting political structures at the local level, conducting elections, strengthening the budgetary system, and improved service delivery. Decentralization faces many challenges related to policy, legislation, and the lack of political will, limited autonomy, and overdependence on central government. This has been caused by the fact that rather than implementing devolution, African countries have been implementing deconcentration, a thing which is caused by the unitary nature of governments. Impliedly, the existing theory of decentralization is not properly working in Africa. Thus, the prospects of decentralization require policy and legislation changes and proper implementation, granting local authorities autonomy to administer development based on their priorities and capacitating local authorities to be accountable, responsive, and implement inclusive development. This would ensure the internalization of decentralization as a developmental approach in Africa. The study limited itself to secondary materials, more studies are recommended to capture the opinion and experiences of local government actors on decentralization.


Proposed conceptual framework.
Measurement model with standardized item loadings.
Results of structural equation model analysis with path coefficients and P-values.
The bold line shows statistically significant path coefficient at .05 level, the dash line denotes non-significant path coefficient at .05 level.
Exploring the inter-organizational relationship performance: evidence from social-oriented market

February 2025

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2 Reads

The inter-organizational relationships are a key pillar of service sectors to drive them to work together to resolve complex problems in an uncertain environment. However, it is still unclear why the travel companies engage in IRs and what factors drive inter-organizational relationship performance (IRP). Resource dependence theory was adopted to explore the characteristics of travel companies and their partners in IRP framework. Data was collected from the in-depth interviews with senior executives of travel companies (n = 11) and a self-administered questionnaire to collect 319 cases, a quantitative approach was utilized to test the research hypotheses by using the PLS-SEM technique. The results indicated that commitment, coordination, trust, and frequency of interaction affect IRP between travel companies and their partners, it suggests they actively work to engage in IRs to achieve effectiveness. Surprisingly, no differences were found in communication, flexibility, and participation influence IRP. The results highlight the importance of tourism collaboration and find the reasons for forming the relationships to increase the control of the uncertainty of the environment, build strategies to respond to the crisis and maintain the tourism performance of IRs and management strategies.


Marketing, advertising, and branding in Fortnite: how do brands and companies connect today to audiences through the metaverse?

February 2025

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29 Reads

The rise of digital marketing has significantly impacted the audio-visual industry, particularly in the online video game sector. This study, focusing on Fortnite as a case study, explores the connections between brands’ strategic practices and immersive gaming in the metaverse. The research adopts a qualitative methodological approach to analyze the typology of advertising and marketing efforts undertaken by brands and companies through disruptive digital platforms in the metaverse. Beyond being a simple digital entertainment, Fortnite has become a key space for socialization and experimentation for young and emerging audiences. The concept of ‘transmedia’ is revisited considering the revitalization that new technologies bring to the field, highlighting the importance of emotional and social bonds that consumers of this type of content practice. The study emphasizes the role of user participation and the participatory logic required by transmedia strategies as a formula to explore the interactions between brands and users in the metaverse. The fragmentary nature of metaverses, derived from the multiplicity of interfaces and environments, is also discussed. The research underscores the importance of user engagement in the narrative, as users frequently become creators and disseminators of content both within and outside the metaverse, forming a community and providing feedback on the space and narrative in which they interact with other users.


Quantifying urbanization-induced dynamics of urban sprawl using spatial metrics method in Adama City, Ethiopia

February 2025

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12 Reads

In the realm of urban development, a comprehensive grasp of the intricate dynamics of urban growth and sprawl is imperative for effective planning. This study aims to quantify the urbanization-induced dynamics of urban sprawl using spatial metrics method in Adama City. Time series Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI/TIRS datasets were utilized to prepare LULC maps of the study area for the years 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022 using supervised classification technique. Spatial metrics and Shannon’s entropy were used to determine the degree of urban sprawl. The results demonstrate that agricultural land and forest land were negatively impacted by urbanization-induced changes in land use and cover in Adama City. To that aim, Agricultural and vegetation cover have fallen by 24.82 percent and 19.1 percent, respectively, from 1992 to 2022. This is clear evidence that Adama city is expanding at the cost of agricultural land. The spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl have demonstrated incremental tendencies over the past 30 years, with built-up Class Areas (CA) increasing from 1506.15 hectares in 1992 to 4658.5 hectares in 2022. In conclusion, Adama city has experienced unprecedented sprawl at the cost of agricultural land. Urban planners must therefore plan ahead to execute an effective implementation strategy that will keep up with the rate of urban sprawl.


Adopting Pillar One: an ideal model for the transformation of Indonesia’s Tax Law to realize SDGs goal XVII and it’s challenges

February 2025

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6 Reads

The digital economy has triggered conflicts over the taxation of transnational economic activities. The international tax principles contained in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) are no longer considered relevant to the digital economy. The OECD introduced the ‘physical presence’ approach, particularly Pillar One, offering hope for Indonesia to develop domestic regulations that address digital economic activities. Against this context, this research aims to examine the ideal model of adopting the Pillar One in Indonesian domestic law as a step to support the achievement of the 17th goal of the SDGs and analyze the potential challenges that may surface in its implementation. This study uses a normative juridical approach with literature study techniques to collect relevant secondary data. The results show that the adoption of Pillar One in the form of a law shown as an ideal model for Indonesia because it is in accordance with the principle of legal hierarchy accuracy and addresses the concerns of distortion of democracy. However, this adoption poses challenges, mainly related to the long bureaucracy in the formation process as well as the need for adequate technology, information, and communication infrastructure in the implementation stage.


Parkgoers go to the virtual park: a classification framework, systematic review, and future tourism research agenda

February 2025

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30 Reads

Introduction Virtual reality (VR) technology has revolutionized park experiences, offering high-tech, low-touch solutions that cater to parkgoers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Despite its potential, research on virtual parks remains nascent, necessitating further exploration to establish a robust field within tourism and leisure studies. Methods This study employed ATLAS.ti version 23 to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) focused on developing a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) classification framework for virtual parks following the established guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020. The review aimed to synthesize existing knowledge and identify gaps in the current research landscape. Results The SLR identified 72 relevant studies that aligned with the proposed HCI classification framework. Findings underscored the diversity and potential impact of virtual parks across various types, including virtual amusement parks, archaeological parks, geoparks, national parks, natural parks, theme parks, underwater parks, and urban parks. The framework comprehensively covered current issues and future developments in virtual park research, providing a foundation for future studies. Discussion This is the first study that represents a pioneering effort in developing a virtual theme park framework and reviewing virtual parks within the tourism context. The results underscore VR’s role in enhancing traditional park services, supporting tourism management performance, and improving parkgoers’ well-being. This pioneering effort also contributes to understanding the implications of virtual parks in broader societal advancements related to the tourism industry.


A phenomenological perspective of science diplomacy of India and assessing STI policies

February 2025

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4 Reads

Advancements in science and the increasing globalisation of international issues are pushing scientific endeavours toward new frontiers. This can be observed particularly at the forefront of diplomacy. Due to the complexity of international relations and emerging global challenges, most developed nations are trying to incorporate science into their foreign policies. Science diplomacy in emerging economies, particularly in South Asia where scientific and technological advancements are driven by nations like India, remains a largely unexplored area of research. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of India’s significant growth in science diplomacy through three foci: access, promotion and influence. The significant growth and issues surrounding science policy in India are highlighted. A phenomenological perspective with a single case study research methodology is used to gain accurate understanding of science diplomacy in India. Policy documents review and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 relevant actors it concludes with India’s stand on science diplomacy as an emerging economy and points to the significance of Track II diplomacy actors. India being a developing nation lack complete awareness of science diplomacy. However, there is a need to spread awareness about science diplomacy to increase its practical use in the policy formulations and implementation.


Conceptual model of the direct and indirect relations.
Results of the conceptual model.
Note. Direct and indirect effects in the structural model linking AL, CP, LO, and RL. Standardized coefficients (*** < 0.001, ** < 0.05). Note that the reported path parameters one the dotted lines are indirect, while the direct effects are shown in parentheses.
The role of psychological safety and psychological capital in linking leadership curiosity to employee creative performance

January 2025

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53 Reads

This study examines the relationships between the leadership display of curiosity, employees’ creative performance, and two psychological conditions mediating this relationship. The two psychological conditions are represented by (i) psychological capital and (ii) psychological safety. A sample of 181 employees from different hospitality organizations participated in this study. The sample was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS 4 statistical program. Leadership display of curiosity are directly related to employees’ creative performance. Employees’ psychological capital mediates the relationship between leadership and creative performance. Psychological safety was affected by the leadership’s display of curiosity but did not mediate the relationship between the leadership’s display of curiosity and creative performance. Leadership display of curiosity, psychological capital, and psychological safety explain almost 50 percent (48,2%) of employees’ creative performance variance. Overall, the findings reveal that leadership display of curiosity have a substantial impact on both employees’ creative performance and psychological capital, as well as the psychological safety climate in the organization. Accordingly, an essential implication of this study is to develop the level of curiosity among leaders and consider it a resource that organizations can capitalize on. This study contributes to a relatively new research domain, focusing on and revealing the role of the leadership display of curiosity within organizations.


Journal metrics


1.3 (2023)

Journal Impact Factor™


30%

Acceptance rate


2.1 (2023)

CiteScore™


46 days

Submission to first decision


0.925 (2023)

SNIP


0.383 (2023)

SJR

Editors