Search

SNSの普及にともない，書き言葉によるコミュニケーションが頻繁に行われるようになってきた。とりわけ，事実に即した情報や依頼などをわかり易く書き言葉で伝達するための「説明文（expository writing）」を書く能力が要求されるようになってきた。この能力を「説明力（explanatory ability）」と呼ぶ。現代社会において，説明力は日本語母語話者ばかりでなく外国人日本語学習者の実生活でも，なくてはならない能力になっている。そこで，『多言語母語の日本語学習者横断コーパス： I-JAS』に収録された２つのストーリーライティング課題が説明文を反映していると仮定し，海外で学習する日本語学習者850名が書いたテキストデータを基に，（１）動詞，助動詞，副詞，助詞の４つの品詞を「述部」とし，（２）名詞，形容詞，連体詞の３つの品詞を「名詞句」として，品詞別の産出頻度を算出した。そして，J-CAT（Japanese Computerized Adaptive Test）で測定された日本語能力からI-JASのテキストの産出頻度への因果関係モデル（図１を参照）を５つ想定して，構造方程式モデリング（structural equation modelling, SEM）の解析法で日本語能力と産出頻度データとの適合度を検討した。適合度指標に照らして，最適の因果関係モデル（図２を参照）をみいだした。このモデルは，次のような連続的な因果関係を示した。（１）語彙と文法が「基礎力」を構成し，（２）読解と聴解の「理解力」を促進し，（３）「述部」の語彙産出を豊かにし，（４）「名詞句」の語彙産出に大きく貢献する。, With the widespread use of SNS (social networking services), people are communicating more frequently by written text than ever before. The ability to express content plainly is in great demand. In the present study, this is defined as “explanatory ability”. In contemporary society, this ability has become essential to daily life not only for native Japanese speakers but also for foreign learners of Japanese. Assuming the two story-writing tasks recorded in the International Corpus of Japanese as a Second Language (I-JAS) reflect explanatory ability, the productive frequencies of lexical categories found in the text written by 850 Japanese learners outside Japan were divided into two groups: (1) four categories of verbs, auxiliary verbs, adverbs, and auxiliaries as “predicates” and (2) three categories of nouns, adjectives, and conjoined words as “noun phrases”. Using the statistical method of structural equation modelling (SEM), the five causal relation models linking Japanese proficiency as measured by the Japanese Computerized Adaptive Test (J-CAT) and text productive frequencies (see Figure 1) were examined to see how these models fit with data from proficiency scores and productive frequencies. Based on the fitting indexes, the study found the best causal model to be that identified in Model 2 (see Figure 2). This model showed causal sequencing in the following order: (1) procession of a basic knowledge of vocabulary and grammar (2) promotes reading and listening comprehension, further (3) enriches the production of predicates and (4) contributes to the production of noun phrases.

© 2019 S. Kovačić et al., published by De Gruyter 2019. Recent natural hazards (floods and wildfires) which hit some of the most visited Greek tourist destinations during the summer season 2018 are threatening to decrease the number of tourist visits in the affected regions. As these regions, being namely Chalkidiki, Olympic Riviera and regions surrounding Athens and Thessaloniki, are the most popular summer destinations for Serbian tourists, it is interesting to examine how natural hazards that occurred there influence tourist behavior based on the perceived risk. The study aims to explore the role of psychological factors such as different personality traits and tourism worries on the tourist behavior based on the perceived risk of affected destinations. Moreover, the assumption was that tourism worrieswill mediate the relationship between analyzed personality traits and tourist behavior based on the perceived risk. Although previous studies investigated the effect of different psychological factors on tourist behavior based on the perceived risk, this is the first study to explore the interaction of different psychological factors including tourism worries, which previously were not analyzed in this context. Besides theoretical contribution, practical implications are also further discussed in the paper within the realm of their use for destination managers.

The increased production of electrical energy will lead to an increase on the use of fossil fuels which ultimately raise the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The use of fossil fuels (non-renewable fuels) for large-scaled generation of electrical energy will certainly cause problems considering oil and coal reserves as the main source for PLTU will shrink and run out over time. In addition, several environmental problems need to be considered and studied regarding this condition. Thus, it is very important to efficiently use electrical energy according to Presidential Instruction No. 6 of 2014 concerning energy development which focused on sub-sectors electricity development and minimization of fossil energy use as well as development of new, renewable, and converted energies. Based on this, a system which can support energy saving is needed. A system used for regulating energy needs is called the Energy Management System (EMS). The study was conducted in the Malang State Polytechnic Campus which is located on Jalan Soekarno Hatta no. 9, Jatimulyo, Lowokwaru Sub-district, Malang City. The sample used in this study consists of 230 people, including 150 students, 30 lecturers and 50 academics. This study is purposed to examine the correlation of the four variables to the energy management system and the use of environmentally friendly energy. Thus, the most appropriate model to accommodate this requirement is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of SEM analysis showed that the model of an environmentally friendly electric energy management is said to be feasible to be developed, thus it can be collectively adapted in all aspects for creating a green campus.

This study explored green restaurant consumers&rsquo, self-actualization and self-transcendence motivations that drive customer citizenship behavior (CCB). A survey of green restaurant consumers was administered, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was performed. The findings indicate the presence of positive associations between pride and self-actualization, and healthy social narcissism and self-transcendence. This study also found a positive relationship between self-actualization and self-transcendence, and they are positively associated with CCB. Interestingly, the findings suggest that green restaurant consumers&rsquo, pride, self-actualization and CCB path is more dominant path vis-&agrave, vis the path from healthy social narcissism mediated by self-transcendence to CCB.

Mobile Technology is creating a range of tremendous opportunities and new revenue streams for businesses across industry sectors through the delivery of chargeable mobile products and services via the deployment of innovative value-added solutions that exploit the commercial benefits of mobility. To keep up with the pace of change, companies increasingly want to understand the behavioral attitude of the modern mobile consumer. The aim of this paper is to find out users’ reaction towards different parameters that would influence their intention to utilize their mobile devices in order to purchase products and services online focusing on the current Greek reality. The extant literature focuses on understanding the factors that might affect consumers’ behavior intention to adopt m-shopping, these studies are mostly based on behavioral intention theories, such as Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovation and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. In this study, new theoretical constructs are combined with existing evidence in order to extend the Technology Acceptance Model as it was initially established by Davis and later further enriched by other researchers. The proposed model includes behavioral intention, mobile skillfulness, enjoyment, anxiety, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, relationship drivers, and innovativeness.

Mobile Technology is creating a range of tremendous opportunities and new revenue streams for businesses across industry sectors through the delivery of chargeable mobile products and services via the deployment of innovative value-added solutions that exploit the commercial benefits of mobility. To keep up with the pace of change, companies increasingly want to understand the behavioral attitude of the modern mobile consumer. The aim of this paper is to find out users’ reaction towards different parameters that would influence their intention to utilize their mobile devices in order to purchase products and services online focusing on the current Greek reality. The extant literature focuses on understanding the factors that might affect consumers’ behavior intention to adopt m-shopping; these studies are mostly based on behavioral intention theories, such as Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovation and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. In this study, new theoretical constructs are combined with existing evidence in order to extend the Technology Acceptance Model as it was initially established by Davis and later further enriched by other researchers. The proposed model includes behavioral intention, mobile skillfulness, enjoyment, anxiety, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, relationship drivers, and innovativeness.

In recent years, East Asian economies have been rapidly developing. The reason is that firms have been successfully achieving product and process innovation by introducing advanced technologies and know-how from MNCs. In order to enhance innovation, firms have to own technology, capability and ICT use. In particular, collaborations with outside organizations such as MNCs (Multi-national corporations), universities, public organizations, local firms are indispensable for firms in developing economies. Authors’ previous research clarified external linkages enhance innovation capability and ICT use, and innovation capability and ICT use promote product innovation in ASEAN firms. These studies analyzed under what conditions firms can promote absorptive capability if they had external linkages. Whether or how absorptive capacity affected innovation capability and ICT use were not explained there. Based on survey data from four ASEAN economies such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, from 2013 to 2014, this study clarifies how absorptive capacity, ICTs, and innovation capability such as QC and cross-functional team enhance product innovation by using SEM (Structural equation modeling). As a result, the following causality from external linkages (origin) to innovation (final outcome) is demonstrated: (i) absorptive capacity is enhanced by external linkages such as local firms, public organizations, and universities; (ii) absorptive capacity enhances innovation capability; (iii) innovation capability enhances ICT use; and (iv) innovation capability and ICT use promote product innovation. These are similar to those of authors’ previous research. Since data are different, it is difficult to compare the results, but the robustness of the results is demonstrated.

Although the East Asian economies have been developing in the 21th century, innovation is indispensable for their further economic development. In order to achieve successful innovation, firms have to elevate their capability including technology, human resources, business organization, ICT use and so on by collaborating with outside organizations such as MNCs (Multi-national companies), universities, public organizations. The outside organizations are termed as external linkages. Based on authors' survey data of four ASEAN economies such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand from 2012 to 2013, this paper examines how factors such as organizational learning, ICT use, and technology enhance product and process innovation. These factors are used as latent variables in analysis and consist of the following variables: (i) technology such as capital goods, (ii) organizational learning including QC, cross-functional teams, (iii) ICT use such as B2B, B2C, EDI, SCM, ERP, CAD/CAM, groupware, SNS etc., and (iv) external linkages, such as MNCs, local and public organizations, and universities. This study employs SEM (Structural equation modeling) in order to analyze the causal relationships not only among the above four latent variables but also between these and innovation. The six hypotheses were postulated as follows: H1. External linkages enhance organizational learning; H2. External linkages improve capital goods; H3. External linkage improves ICT use; H4. Organizational learning improves capital goods; H5. Organizational learning improves ICT use; and H6. Organizational learning, ICT use, and capital goods enhance innovation. Estimation results on product innovation demonstrate that organization learning, technology (capital goods), and ICT use enhance product innovation. On the other hand, organization learning promotes technology (capital goods) and ICT use, which promotes process innovation. Accordingly, this study clarifies that ICT use, technology and innovation capability enhance product and process innovation.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior From the theory on structure of capital and the application of structural equations a model was considered to evaluate the indebtedness of the public companies in Brazil. The effect of direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy, tax benefits, agency costs of free cash flow and the agency costs of borrowing. Computed the results, which was opted to analyzing an alternative model that indicates the relevance of the capital demand and offers effects in the level of companies indebtedness. One met evidences on the relevance of direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy and agency costs of borrowing in the determination of the capital structure in analyzed companies. A partir da teoria sobre estrutura de capital e da aplicação de equações estruturais foi proposto um modelo para avaliar o endividamento das companhias abertas no Brasil. Foram considerados os efeitos das dificuldades financeiras, benefícios fiscais, agency de capital próprio e de capital de terceiros. Computado os resultados optou-se por analisar um modelo alternativo segundo o qual encontramos indícios e relevância dos efeitos da demanda e oferta de capital no nível de endividamento das empresas. Encontrou-se evidências que dificuldades financeiras e agency de capital de terceiros influem na determinação da estrutura de capital das empresas analisadas.