Flexibility, Dissonance and the conscious consumer

This paper considers the ethical purchasing of what are described as conscious consumers. Conscious consumers present a complex mix of behaviors; while seeking ethical alternatives, other social and economic forces impact on their behavior such that positive ethical choices are not always made. We identify two areas of theory relevant to the conceptualization of such consumers, flexibility and dissonance theory. A study of nine participants identified as conscious consumers was undertaken. As anticipated the participants revealed a range of often contradictory behaviors regarding their ethical purchases. The relevance of flexibility and dissonance theory to their behavior is discussed

Strategi pembangunan program homestay Kampung Kangkar Merlimau

Kampung Kangkar Merlimau pernah diwartakan sebagai kawasan Pelancongan Agro sebelum ini oleh Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa Negeri Johor pada tahun 1993 (Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa, 2007). Pembangunan pelancongan tersebut telah mendapat kerjasama dari Jabatan Pertanian untuk membantu komuniti yang terlibat dalam menyediakan perkhidmatan inap desa (homestay). Walau bagaimanapun, pada tahun 2005 Jabatan Pertanian telah menarik diri dari usaha sama tersebut disebabkan pembangunan program homestay yang tidak menggalakkan. Kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengenal pasti tahap kemahiran, pengetahuan, dan penglibatan ketua, di samping mengenal pasti sama ada terdapat perbezaan tahap kemahiran antara komuniti yang menjalani latihan dan tidak menjalani latihan kemahiran, untuk membangunkan program homestay yang lepas di Kampung Kangkar Merlimau. Kaedah persampelan yang digunakan ialah kaedah persampelan bertujuan, iaitu keadaan di mana pengkaji memilih sampel berdasarkan pengalaman dan pengetahuan tentang kumpulan yang akan dikaji sahaja. Jadi dalam kajian yang dijalankan, sampel yang diambil berjumlah 81 orang penduduk yang pernah terlibat dalam program homestay sahaja. Hasil kajian didapati skor min untuk tahap kemahiran,pengetahuan, dan penglibatan ketua adalah 2.99, 3.04, dan 2.76, dan ini menunjukkan bahawa ketiga-tiga tahap tersebut adalah sederhana. Melalui kajian ini juga, didapati terdapat perbezaan signifikan tahap kemahiran komuniti yang menjalani latihan dan tidak menjalani latihan kemahiran, kecuali untuk tahap kemahiran komunikasi didapati tiada perbezaan yang signifikan. Oleh itu, kemahiran dan pengetahuan komuniti serta penglibatan ketua dalam menjayakan program homestay di Kampung Kangkar Merlimau ini perlu dipertingkatkan lagi

Dutch Treat

In the February 1976 Word Ways, Harry Mathews listed more than 250 French words which looked like English words but in reality had entirely different meanings. Here is an analogous list of Dutch words in English dress

A quantum theoretical explanation for probability judgment errors

A quantum probability model is introduced and used to explain human probability judgment errors including the conjunction, disjunction, inverse, and conditional fallacies, as well as unpacking effects and partitioning effects. Quantum probability theory is a general and coherent theory based on a set of (von Neumann) axioms which relax some of the constraints underlying classic (Kolmogorov) probability theory. The quantum model is compared and contrasted with other competing explanations for these judgment errors including the representativeness heuristic, the averaging model, and a memory retrieval model for probability judgments. The quantum model also provides ways to extend Bayesian, fuzzy set, and fuzzy trace theories. We conclude that quantum information processing principles provide a viable and promising new way to understand human judgment and reasoning

A Challenging Conversation on Integral Futures: Embodied Foresight and Trialogues

Practitioner reflection is vital for knowledge frameworks such as Ken Wilber's Integral perspective. Richard Slaughter, Joseph Voros and others have combined Wilber's perspective and Futures Studies to create Integral Futures as a new stance. This paper develops Embodied Foresight as a new approach about the development of new Integral Futures methodologies (or meta-methodologies) and practitioners, with a heightened sensitivity to ethics and specific, local contexts. Three practitioners conduct a 'trialogue' - a three-way deep dialogue - to discuss issues of theory generation, practitioner development, meta-methodologies, institutional limits, knowledge systems, and archetypal pathologies. Personal experiences within the Futures Studies and Integral communities, and in other initiatory and wisdom traditions are explored