Social desirability bias in self-reported wellbeing measures. Evidence from an online survey

Social desirability seems to enhance well-being measures because individuals tend to increase the degree of their satisfaction and happiness resulting in response artifacts and in a serious threat to the validity of self-reported data. This paper explores social desirability bias in self-reported subjective well-being, controlling for several sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, education, marital/relationship status, and employment status. This is in order to test whether social desirability has incremental validity in predicting some well-being measures. Three different facets of well-being are proposed which deal with subjective happiness, general life satisfaction, and gratitude and loneliness, respectively regarded as a positive and negative emotional response. Through a web-based survey a convenience sample of 170 participants completed an online questionnaire including measures of social desirability, subjective happiness, life satisfaction, gratitude, and loneliness. Correlation analyses and two-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. All well-being measures show modest significant correlations with social desirability ranging from 0.235 to 0.309, except subjective happiness. Social desirability accounted for from about 3% to 6% of the variance of these measures, after controlling for socio-demographic variables. Social desirability seems thus to play little role in well-being self-report measures, as revealed by previous studies. Some limitations are discussed, as well as issues about social desirability bias in online investigation

Cosmic implications of a low-scale solution to the axion domain wall problem

The post-inflationary breaking of Peccei-Quinn (PQ) symmetry can lead to the cosmic domain wall catastrophe. In this Letter we show how to avoid domain walls implementing the Instanton Interference Effect (IIE) with a new interaction which itself breaks PQ symmetry and confines at an energy scale smaller than $\Lambda_{QCD}$. We give a general description of the mechanism and consider its cosmological implications and constraints within a minimal model. Contrary to other mechanisms we do not require an inverse phase transition neither fine-tuned bias terms. Incidentally, the mechanism leads to the introduction of new self-interacting dark matter candidates and the possibility of producing gravitational waves in the frequency range of SKA. Unless a fine-tuned hidden sector is introduced, the mechanism predicts a QCD axion in the mass range $1\text{ meV}-15\text{ meV}$.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures; matches published versio

Leptogenesis from oscillations and dark matter

An extension of the Standard Model with Majorana singlet fermions in the 1-100 GeV range can give rise to a baryon asymmetry at freeze-in via the CP-violating oscillations of these neutrinos: this is the well known ARS mechanism. In this paper we consider possible extensions of the minimal ARS scenario that can account not only for successful leptogenesis but also explain other open problems such as dark matter. We find that an extension in the form of a weakly coupled B-L gauge boson, an invisible QCD axion model, and the singlet majoron model can simultaneously account for dark matter and the baryon asymmetry.Comment: A relevant previously neglected process has been included, conclusions mostly unchanged. Matches published versio

Italian translation of the questionnaire for professional training evaluation

This works illustrates the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Questionnaire for Professional Training Evaluation (Q4TE), validated by Grohmann and Kauffeld (2013). This 12-item questionnaire provides evaluation for different training outcomes, it is time efficient and applicable to several professional contexts, and it shows sound psychometric properties. In order to test the Italian form, we led two studies. In study 1 (N=125), an EFA led to a two-factor solution accounting for short and long-term training outcomes. In study 2 (N=122) a five-model comparison was performed. Although at a first stage a two factor solutions seemed to emerge, CFA found the best fit in a 6 inter-correlated first-order factors model (satisfaction, utility, knowledge, application to practice, individual organizational results and global organizational results). Relationships with learning transfer, transfer quantity, type of training, training methodologies, and individual variables (gender, age, tenure) are explored. Limitations, research and practical implications are discussed

The potential role of perceived support for reduction of special education teachers’ burnout

Teacher burnout is conceived as a general concern in special education because of the emotionally demanding work context. This study explored the potential role of perceived support for reduction of burnout in a sample of 276 special education teachers working in lower (n=130) and higher (n=146) secondary schools. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Educators Survey (MBI-ES) and a scale on the perceived collaboration and support from general education teachers. To explore the association between perceived support and each burnout measure considered (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment), correlation analyses were performed. Then, in order to check the robustness of our empirical findings, multilevel regression models (at teacher-school-administrative area level) were used controlling for several variables (teacher socio-demographic characteristics, teacher training and professional background, inclusive teaching practice and school context). Results suggest the potential role of perceived support in reducing emotional exhaustion and improving personal accomplishment in all the models considered. Instead, the relationship between perceived support and depersonalisation seems to be quite controversial, moreover when adding controls related to teacher’s training and professional background

Relevant information, personality traits and anchoring effect

Although personality has been one of the most-studied factors in management and decision-making research, this stream of research has generated inconsistent support for the relationship between personality traits and individuals' susceptibility to heuristics, and therefore biased judgment. The aim of this study is to investigate how the provision of correct information and individual difference factors influence susceptibility to anchoring effect. To test this hypothesis, individual levels of the personality traits have been measured. Then, participants were provided with an anchoring task involving the Taj Mahal either providing them correct information before the experiment or not. Providing individuals with the correct information limited susceptibility to the irrelevant anchor; even if only 33% of those exactly recalled it when providing the estimate. High values in agreeableness and openness to experience were found to be related with reduced susceptibility to the anchor

Systemic stakeholders’ management for real estate development projects

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the stakeholder management system, within the real estate industry, and in light of the theories on negotiations and decision-making processes. Design/Methodology/Approach: This article critically reviews research from real estate and management literatures to systematize what we already know about stakeholder management within real estate development projects. Findings: The literature has indicated analysis as an external stakeholder should follow the following steps: i) identify the external stakeholders, ii) estimate their needs and interests, iii) analyse the potential impact these can have on decisions about the project, iv) evaluate solutions for the implementation of the project while respecting the interests of the stakeholders. Originality/value: The influence of these subjects on real estate development projects is increasingly crucial to the success of the project itself. Therefore, it is important to identify additional management tools that allow the real estate firms to reduce problems and disputes arising from the injury of the interests of the external stakeholders. The paper is developed through a critical recognition of the literature. Discussion of literature review’s results and implications for future research follow. Finally, a theoretical model for a systemic stakeholders’ management is developed

Integrative agreements in multilateral negotiations: the case of Fiat and Chrysler

Theory defines negotiation as a continual interpersonal interactive process of decision making. Multilateral negotiations are differentiated from bilateral negotiations because of their wider size, bigger complexity and greater heterogeneity. Management studies relating to negotiations have focused mainly on the negotiation processes between companies, customers and suppliers, and industrial relations. Less investigated, however, are the negotiations involving two companies that design strategic paths of cooperation, especially regarding the effect of the intervention of outside (third) parties. The aim of this paper is to understand the role that the third who joins(a key stakeholder in this case) can play in multilateral negotiations in achieving integrative agreements, through the analysis of the case studies relating to the treaty put in place between Fiat and Chrysler to establish a strategic alliance in the automobile sector

Psychological Correlates of School Bullying Victimization: Academic Self-concept, Learning Motivation and Test Anxiety

The paper aims at detecting the association between students’ bullying victimization at school and some psychological dimensions, referred to academic self-concept (for both Mathematics and Reading), learning motivation (intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, commitment to study) and test anxiety. A questionnaire including these measures was completed by 3372 students (51.1% boys and 48.9% girls, mostly aged from 11 to 14 years) at grade 6 (n=1082), 7 (n=1113) and 8 (n=1177), coming from 54 middle schools of Southern Italy. T-tests are used for establishing differences in psychological dimensions between groups of students that experienced bullying and those who did not. In order to check the robustness of our findings and evaluate whether bullying victimization could be actually considered a determinant of these psychological measures, linear regression is used to predict each variable, also controlling for gender and grade level. Results confirm most of the research findings on the correlates of bullying victimization: being victim of peer bullying strongly reduces academic self-concept (both in Mathematics and Reading) and commitment to study, whilst tends to increase both extrinsic motivation and test anxiety rates, independently from gender and grade level. No impact, indeed, is revealed on both Math and Reading intrinsic motivation.

Looking at a beautiful moon while immersed in a lake of petroleum: Narratives from Italian individuals with hikikomori

This study aimed at exploring the hikikomori experience of Italian young adults to detect some psychosocial patterns of hikikomori. A phenomenological analysis was conducted on the narratives of 17 individuals with hikikomori (9 men, 18?39 aged), who posted their stories of social isolation via an online forum. The analysis detected ten themes synthesizing the psychological structure of the participants? lived experience, which were grouped into three overarching areas respectively dealing with passive identity, early traumatic experiences, and refusal of social participation. Overall, the findings support the psychosocial developmental theory of hikikomori about the reactivation of past insecure attachments and the anxiety associated with novelty and challenge. Limitations, suggestions for future research and clinical implications for individuals with hikikomori and their families are briefly discussed