Social cognitive theory and the adoption of e-book devices

The book publishing industry has been revolutionised by the technological innovations created by the Internet. Electronic book (e-book) devices such as Kindle by Amazon, Nook by Barnes and Noble and the iPad by Apple are relatively new technological innovations that will change the way individuals purchase and read books. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that will lead to a person adopting an e-book device. In this paper, a social cognitive theoretical framework is utilised to understand an individual’s intention to adopt an e-book device like the Kindle, Nook or iPad. A conceptual model is proposed, which focuses on the antecedents to a person’s adoption behaviour and is empirically tested through a survey of Australian youths. A portion of the conceptual model is supported. This suggests that marketing has an effect on a person’s intention to adopt an e-book device, which is mediated by their entrepreneurial orientation. The conceptual model proposed and tested has implications for the e-book industry as it demonstrates the internal and external environmental factors that influence adoption behaviour. The paper highlights for the book industry the important areas of e-commerce and m-commerce and how technological innovations are influenced by environmental factors. More recently, m-commerce has increased in usage as people can buy an electronic book via their e-book device anywhere in the world. E-book devices are a mobile device that people adopt in different ways depending on environmental factors

Theory and Practice: A Matter of Words. Language, Knowledge and Professional Community in Social Work

The relation between theory and practice in social work has always been controversial. Recently, many have underlined how language is crucial in order to capture how knowledge is used in practice. This article introduces a language perspective to the issue, rooted in the ‘strong programme’ in the sociology of knowledge and in Wittgenstein’s late work. According to this perspective, the meaning of categories and concepts corresponds to the use that concrete actors make of them as a result of on-going negotiation processes in specific contexts. Meanings may vary dramatically across social groups moved by different interests and holding different cultures. Accordingly, we may reformulate the issue of theory and practice in terms of the connections between different language games and power relationship between segments of the professional community. In this view, the point is anyway to look at how theoretical language relates to practitioners’ broader frames, and how it is transformed while providing words for making sense of experience.

Jan Fook: Social Work: Critical Theory and Practice & Karen Healy: Social Work Practices: Contemporary Perspectives on Change

In his recent book on the contemporary politics of social work, Powell (2001) nominates Jan Fook and Karen Healy as two Australian authors who have made significant contributions to the radical or critical social work tradition. I have chosen to review them together, as each, in different ways, attempts to achieve the same purpose. That is, they attempt to provide a convincing account for adopting a critical approach to practice in the contemporary conditions of the 21st century and, in doing so, re-invigorate the radical tradition of social work practice. My first comment, important for the readership of this international journal, is that both books easily 'travel' beyond the Australian context.

Social cognitive theory and factors associated with Mexican-American parents' beliefs, attitudes and practices regarding communication with their adolescent children about sex

Latinos have the highest teen birth rate nationally. Cameron County, Texas is primarily Latino (Mexican-American). This mixed-method study (n=43) examines Mexican-American parents of adolescents' beliefs, attitudes and practices regarding communication with their adolescent children about sex. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs self-efficacy, behavioral determinism, environment, outcome expectations and reciprocal determinism can be influences on frequency and quality of parent-adolescent sex communication.^ This study describes Mexican-American parents' of adolescents recollections of their own experiences associated with learning about sexuality. It also examines the attitudes and practices regarding communication about sex and the self-efficacy and behavioral capability of participants to teach their adolescent children about sex and sexually transmitted infections. ^ Negative childhood experiences (shame, lies and trauma) of the parents in this study played a key role in terms of their desire to communicate more comprehensively about sexuality with their own children than did their parents. While participants' reported low self-efficacy and behavioral capability to communicate with their adolescent children about sex, they reported relatively high frequency and quality of communication, with 75% of participants receiving a high quality score and over 44% reporting frequent communication with their adolescent children about sex. A Chi square analysis and Fisher's Exact Score revealed no association between acculturation status, gender or having a child who has mothered/fathered a baby and the frequency or quality of communication about sex with adolescent children. Study participants also gave specific recommendations for method, content and setting of sex education for their children and themselves. Promotora delivery of information and education in a comfortable, culturally appropriate neighborhood setting, as well as parent –child learning sessions were identified as possible approaches to address improve self-efficacy and behavioral capability of parents communicating with their adolescent children about sex.^ The results of this analysis provide public health practitioners and interested community entities data to identify and develop interventions that use a theoretical, evidence-based framework for culturally appropriate interventions to encourage and equip Mexican-American parents to effectively communicate with their adolescent children about sexuality, and ultimately to address the high rates of teen pregnancy in this U.S.-Mexico border community. ^

Reason and revolution; Hegel and the rise of social theory.

Mode of access: Internet.

Man and society, political and social theory.

Bibliographical footnotes.

Social progress and the Darwinian Theory; a study of force as a factor in human relations,

Mode of access: Internet.