The Effect of Self Identity and Social Identity on Technology Acceptance

While the effect of social factors on information technology (IT) acceptance behavior has been recognized as an important issue, only a few studies examined this topic in the context of the technology acceptance model. In this study, we incorporate two social factors, self identity and social identity, in the model and address their impacts on IT acceptance decision. An empirical study investigating the impact these social factors have on the acceptance of a web-based class support system is in progress. Upon completion of this study, we expect to provide further understanding on the role of social influence on individual technology acceptance decisions

Religious Identity in Iranian Society: A Systematic Review of Previous Studies (2001-2013)

  Introduction   Religious identity is a prominent element of social cohesion. Religious identity involves a level of social identity that corresponds with "we" or religious community, and represents a sense of belonging and commitment to the religion and religious community. Religion essentially provides cognitive, ideological, sociological and spiritual resource for identity (Furrow et al 2004). Accordingly, religion locates mainly on the center of individual and group identity (Seul 1999). Religious communities and systems of meaning, are the resources for sense of interest (belonging to another) and approval (as a basis of self-esteem), and in fact, encourage individual excellence and actuality. Religious groups are also considered an important factor in social relations and are responsible for vitality, happiness and general enthusiasm of their followers (Hajiani 2000). Certainly, religious identity is a certain kind of identity formation. It is defined by a sense of group membership to religion and its importance regard to the self-concept. Religious identity is not necessarily equated with religiousness and religiosity . Although these concepts have some overlaps, religiousness and religiosity point to the significance and value of belonging to religious groups and participating in religious events, but religious identity particularly indicates membership in a religious group without participation in religious activities (Arweck and Nesbitt 2010). Also, although religion is faith-based institution and religiosity is practice to its rituals, but religious identity refers to how people understand themselves as religious persons, who accept spiritual and religious values and beliefs within faith community. Therefore, religious identity is a collective identity, which includes membership in religious groups, acceptance of belief system, commitment to religious groups and values, and practices ally with religion. Although there is substantial literature on identity, evidence suggests that the role of religion in shaping individuals' and group's identity is widely ignored. However, a growing number of studies have begun to take into consideration the key role of religion (Arweck & Nesbitt 2010, King and Boyatzis 2004, Peek 2005). This article has attempted to review systematically previous research and conceptualizations on the religious identity based on national studies and surveys and academic dissertations.     Materials and Methods   As mentioned, the purpose of this study was to review the results of some influential researches in the field of religious identity. To get this purpose, one of the best known methods for reviewing previous studies, a systematic review, was applied. Systematic review deals with establishing and synthesizing of researches and evidences with focus on a specific question. This occurs through the organized, transparent, formal, clear and flexible procedures and processes. A systematic review of research is not limited to review the history and this overview and review can be used in different levels, fields and goals. During the first phase of the study, terms of "religious identity", "Islamic identity", "Iranian identity" and "religious identity" was searched at libraries and research centers and in databases such as Center for Scientific Information Database (SID), a database of Iranian journals and magazines (Magiran), Noor specialized journals database, and Science and Information Technology Institute (IrnaDoc). After reviewing the gathered documents and specifying its relationship with the object and purpose of the study, a total of 47 documents were selected. Documents based on the five major parameter were summarized and reviewed: 1-general information, 2-goals and research questions, 3-research methodology, 4-variables, 5-findings     Discussion of Results and Conclusion   Findings show that in the highest percentage (38.2%) of researches, religious identity has been studied as the dependent variable. By contrast, in less than 15 % of the researches, religious identity has been examined as independent variable. Only 29.7 % of studies were descriptive and only religious profile and dimensions have been studied. About 10.6 % of researches were descriptive and have tried to examine relationship between religious identity with other aspects such as national identity and ethnic identity. Finally, in 6.3 % of studies content of various documents such as textbooks have been analyzed.   Results showed that among respondents, attitudinal and behavioral aspects of religious identity did not quite consistent with each other. Although a significant part of respondents, considered themselves as religious, but did not adhere as much to the religious practices and rituals. In general, women had a stronger religious identity. In most researches, religious identity had an inverse relationship between levels of education. Also there was positive correlation among level of age and religiosity.   Generally, religious identity in these studies was assessed positively. Studies showed that there was coexistent relationship between religious identity and rival identities (national identity and ethnic identity). But there were no relationship between religious identity and modern and global identities. Religious identity was the first and most important identity that people know of and define themselves with. Examining the strength of national, religious, global and ethnic identities showed that religious identity is in the first place and national, ethnic and global identities came next.   Detailed analysis demonstrated that among independent variables, new media (the Internet, satellite and mobile) had the highest effect on religious identity and globalization was next. Attitude toward reference groups, mental health, television programs, family, cultural capital, social capital, symbolic capital, were among independent variables that had a high frequency. About 10 percent of studies examined religious identity as independent variable. In these researches, effect of variables such as mental health and optimism, social identity, national identity, happiness, and social and political participation on religious identity was investigated.   Finally, the results showed that reductionism (reducing the sense of religiosity to religious identity), conceptual distortion (dispersion and a break in the conceptual and operational definitions of the indicators of religious identity and the lack of coverage of all dimensions) and lack of a coherent theoretical and methodological basis (using small tools, lack of discipline and consistency in the choice of theories and theoretical framework) were the main weaknesses of measures of religious identity.

eWOM & Referrals in Social Network Services

If a few decades ago the development of the Internet was instrumental in the interconnection between markets, nowadays the services provided by Web 2.0, such as social network sites (SNS) are the cutting edge. A proof of this trend is the exponential growth of social network users. The main objective of this work is to explore the mechanisms that promote the transmission and reception (WOM and referrals) of online opinions, in the context of the SNS, by buyers of travel services. The research includes some research lines: technology acceptance model (TAM), Social Identification Theory and Word-of-Mouth communication in virtual environment (eWOM). Based on these theories an explicative model has been proposed applying SEM analysis to a sample of SNS users’ of tourist service buyers. The results support the majority of the hypotheses and some relevant practical and theoretical implications have been pointed out for tourist managers

What Drives Volunteers to Accept a Digital Platform That Supports NGO Projects?

Technology has become the driving force for both economic and social change. However, the recruitment of volunteers into the projects of non-profit-making organizations (NGO) does not usually make much use of information and communication technology (ICT). Organizations in this sector should incorporate and use digital platforms in order to attract the most well-prepared and motivated young volunteers. The main aim of this paper is to use an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to analyze the acceptance of a technological platform that provides a point of contact for non-profit-making organizations and potential volunteers. The TAM is used to find the impact that this new recruitment tool for volunteers can have on an ever-evolving industry. The TAM has been extended with the image and reputation and visual identity variables in order to measure the influence of these non-profit-making organizations on the establishment and implementation of a social network recruitment platform. The data analyzed are from a sample of potential volunteers from non-profit-making organizations in Spain. A structural equation approach using partial least squares was used to evaluate the acceptance model. The results provide an important contribution to the literature about communication in digital environments by non-profit-making organizations as well as strategies to improve their digital reputation

The Ethical Implications of Personal Health Monitoring

Personal Health Monitoring (PHM) uses electronic devices which monitor and record health-related data outside a hospital, usually within the home. This paper examines the ethical issues raised by PHM. Eight themes describing the ethical implications of PHM are identified through a review of 68 academic articles concerning PHM. The identified themes include privacy, autonomy, obtrusiveness and visibility, stigma and identity, medicalisation, social isolation, delivery of care, and safety and technological need. The issues around each of these are discussed. The system / lifeworld perspective of Habermas is applied to develop an understanding of the role of PHMs as mediators of communication between the institutional and the domestic environment. Furthermore, links are established between the ethical issues to demonstrate that the ethics of PHM involves a complex network of ethical interactions. The paper extends the discussion of the critical effect PHMs have on the patient’s identity and concludes that a holistic understanding of the ethical issues surrounding PHMs will help both researchers and practitioners in developing effective PHM implementations

PSS Users and Harley Davidson Riders: : The importance of consumer identity in the diffusion of sustainable consumption solutions

This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Catulli, M., Cook, M. and Potter, S. (2016), ‘Product Service Systems Users and Harley Davidson Riders: The Importance of Consumer Identity in the Diffusion of Sustainable Consumption Solutions’, Journal of Industrial Ecology, which has been published in final form at 10.1111/jiec.12518. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 2 December 2018. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. © 2016 by Yale UniversityThis paper sets out an approach to researching socio-cultural aspects of Product Service Systems (PSS) consumption in consumer markets. PSS are relevant to Industrial Ecology as they may form part of the mix of innovations that move society toward more sustainable material and energy flows. The paper uses two contrasting case studies drawing on ethnographic analysis, Harley Davidson motorcycles and Zip Car Car Club. The analysis draws on Consumer Culture Theory to explicate the socio-cultural, experiential, symbolic and ideological aspects of these case studies, focusing on product ownership. The paper shows that ownership of Harley Davidson motorcycles enables riders to identify with a brand community and to define themselves. Owners appropriate their motorcycles through customization. In contrast, Zip Car users resist the company’s attempts to involve them in a brand community, see use of car sharing as a temporary fix and even fear contamination from shared use of cars. We conclude that iconic products such as Harley Davidson motorcycles create emotional attachment and can challenge PSS propositions. But we also suggest that somewhat standardized products may present similar difficulties. Knowing more about socio-cultural aspects of PSS may help designers overcome these difficulties.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Product Service Systems Users and Harley Davidson Riders: the importance of consumer identity in the diffusion of sustainable consumption solutions

This paper sets out an approach to researching socio-cultural aspects of Product Service Systems (PSS) consumption in consumer markets. PSS are relevant to Industrial Ecology as they may form part of the mix of innovations that move society toward more sustainable material and energy flows. The paper uses two contrasting case studies drawing on ethnographic analysis, Harley Davidson motorcycles and Zip Car Car Club, one a case of consumption involving ownership, the other without. The analysis draws on Consumer Culture Theory to explicate the socio-cultural, experiential, symbolic and ideological aspects of these case studies, focusing on product ownership. The paper shows that ownership of Harley Davidson motorcycles enables riders to identify with a brand community and to define themselves. Owners appropriate their motorcycles through customization. In contrast, Zip Car users resist the company’s attempts to involve them in a brand community, see use of car sharing as a temporary fix and even fear contamination from shared use of cars. We conclude that iconic products such as Harley Davidson motorcycles create emotional attachment and can challenge PSS propositions. But we also suggest that somewhat standardized products may present similar difficulties. Knowing more about socio-cultural aspects of PSS may help designers overcome these difficulties

Consumers’ Acceptance of a Bio-circular Automotive Economy: Explanatory Model and Influence Factors

Sustainability in the automotive sector and appropriate end-of-life (EOL) management options for car tyres are important and constitute global issues. There is currently an oversupply of EOL tyres and the potential of circular economy (CE) tyres and for bio-based (BB) tyres warrants further investigation. Likewise, BB and CE tyres might be an interesting approach to improve the overall sustainability of the tyre life cycle. Research on drivers for the acceptance of CE and BB tyres is currently missing. In 1989, a socio-economy model was created to understand the acceptance of various products. This model is still popular in many areas but does not address sustainability questions of the 21st century appropriately. This article aims to provide a better understanding of the factors which drive acceptance of sustainable tyres. It presents an acceptance model and related influence factors in three areas: variables related to the consumers, perceived product characteristics and stimulating moderator variables. The third aspect refers in particular to labels and certification influencing consumer views on existing product characteristics. This article ends by discussing how availability of such labels could be promoted through eco-labelling of tyres and related standardization, addressing the industry and policy makers to make the automotive sector more sustainable.BMBF, 033R236E, ReziProK - Verbundvorhaben: ConCirMy - Entwicklung eines stufen- und kreislaufübergreifend vernetzten Konfigurators zur Gewährleistung geschlossener Material- und Komponentenflüsse im Rahmen der zirkulären Ökonomie, Teilvorhaben 4: Sozioökonomische Analysen und GeschäftsmodelleDFG, 414044773, Open Access Publizieren 2019 - 2020 / Technische Universität Berli

From human rights to person rights : legal reflections on posthumanism and human enhancement

In the intersection between law, science and technology lies the debate on the overcoming of the boundaries of the biological structure of the human being and its implications on the idea of human rights, on the concept of person and on the conception of equality – being the latter a fundamental tenet of a democracy. Posthumanism assumes a biological inadequacy of the human body regarding the quantity, complexity and quality of information which it can muster. The same occurs with the needs of accuracy, speed or strength demanded by the contemporary environment. Under such perspective, the body is considered to be an inefficient structure, with a short lifespan, easy to break and hard to fix. The body, always seen as the locus for the definition of human, emerges as the object of a commodification process that seeks to exonerate men from their burden - by declination towards a virtual existence, totally free and rational - or to enhance them with bionic devices or drugs. This issue has already been the subject of attention by many scholars like Savulescu, Rodotà, Broston, Fukuyama and even Habermas. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to seek, by criticism and revision of the positions on the foreseen problems of this process, an adequate theoretical approach on issues like the concept of person and its connection with the idea of human rights in order to promote the fundamental statement that all men are equal without disregard to the values of diversity and personal identity