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Measures of superstitious beliefs: A meta-analytic review of research
Superstition is a term which is widely used across the globe but, is understood differently by people from different cultures. Superstitious beliefs are challenged by emerging scientific knowledge, and they continue to persist even among advanced societies. In recent years, superstitions are viewed as a belief in luck. The instruments that are available to assess this phenomenon are few and have insufficient psychometric properties. There is a need for developing new standardised measures which explore the complex, conceptual nature of superstitions. A meta-analysis of existing literature was done to explore the existing measures of superstitious beliefs and to examine the relationship between reliability of scales and the various attributes of scales. A literature search was conducted in relevant databases. Suitable transformation procedures for coefficient alpha were used. Meta-regression analysis was done to explore the heterogeneity of data. 41 scales measuring superstitions were analysed. Results indicate that reliability coefficients were from heterogeneous samples. Regression analysis revealed that few characteristics of scales predicted reliability. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology. -
Measuring and monitoring Indias progress toward environmental SDGs: variables influencing the advancement
Purpose: The purpose of this study is the progressive assessment of Indian companies performance on environment-related sustainable development goals (SDGs). The study also aims to analyze the impact of a wide range of governance and firm-level determinants such as board size, gender diversity, board independence, top management commitment, presence of a sustainability committee and experience in nonfinancial reporting on environment-related SDGs performance. Design/methodology/approach: Using a mixed-method approach, this paper developed a framework for assessing business progress on environment-related SDGs by mapping targets of SDGs with indicators of global reporting initiative (GRI) standards. The framework is applied to evaluate the sustainability report of 46 Indian companies for six years for environment-related SDG performance. Multivariate linear regression analysis examines the impact of various governance and firm characteristics on this performance. Findings: The assessment framework identified improved reporting in all categories but significantly increased socio-environmental and socio-economic-environmental categories. Companies in the utility sector performed well, while those in the healthcare industry did not meet expectations. The pooled OLS panel regression results revealed a positive and significant impact of top management commitments, experience in nonfinancial reporting, board gender diversity and sustainability committee on the environment-related SDG disclosure scores. Research limitations/implications: Geographical limitations may limit the generalization in developed countries. The developed SDG assessment framework may help firms choose a business strategy for greater contribution and a governance structure to match this strategy. Investors can receive insight from measured performance, and regulators can lay policies, targets and incentives for different industries based on the interpretation of performance. Originality/value: This study developed an assessment framework to capture the positive business contributions to environment-related SDG and its trends. It sheds light on the critical interaction between corporate governance, management committees, experience in financial reporting and environmental SDG performance to increase the understanding of the determinants of SDG performance. 2025, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Measuring autonomy in hybrid work: scale development
Background: Autonomy is a core element in many established management theories, consistently linked to positive employee outcomes. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid technological advancements have transformed workplace dynamics, particularly in the information technology (IT) sector in India, where hybrid work models have gained prominence. Despite this shift, no standardized measure exists to assess the autonomy experienced by employees in hybrid work environments, hindering deeper analysis and understanding. Objective: This study aims to contextualize, develop, and validate the Autonomy in Hybrid Work Scale (AHWS) for the Indian context, providing a tool for researchers and practitioners to systematically examine the impact of autonomy in hybrid work. Methods: A descriptive two-phase study was conducted following DeVelliss scale development framework. Phase 1 focused on conceptualizing and developing the construct through a comprehensive literature review, item generation, and assessment of content and face validity by experts, followed by a pilot test. Phase 2 encompassed the scale validation process, which included Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to identify the underlying factor structure and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate the model and assess its fit. Results: The data collected from 313 IT employees working in Bengaluru, India, was analyzed to confirm data normality (below 2.58). The items showed a strong and positive correlation (r =.734) with the Work Design Questionnaire which indicated convergent validity. Discriminant validity was confirmed through Fornell-Larcker and Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) criteria, with HTMT values below 0.90. The final analysis yielded an 18-item scale with a Cronbachs alpha of 0.825, comprising four distinct dimensions: (a) work location autonomy, (b) work time autonomy, (c) work scheduling autonomy, and (d) work decision autonomy. Implications: The AHWS offers a valuable tool for both managers and academics to assess how different forms of autonomy influence employee well-being and productivity in hybrid work settings. It also addresses a gap in the literature, providing a foundation for further empirical research on autonomy in hybrid work models. The Author(s) 2025. -
Measuring Consumer Perception for P2P Platform: NLP Approach
The pandemic has forced lenders and borrowers to switch to alternative borrowing., investment solutions. This research explores the Google reviews of users of four P2P lending platforms in India. To understand user sentiments and emotions about P2P lending platforms. The researchers has analysed user sentiments using Vader and Liu Hu methods and defined the polarity as positive or negative sentiment. Further., Plutchik's wheel of emotions was used to relate with the emotions expressed by the users. A purposeful random sampling method was used to select only 4 out of 21 registered P2P lending platforms based on their date of incorporation. The research also defined a framework for carrying out the sentiment analysis process for this study. The overall results showed that 75.51 % of users had positive sentiments., whereas., only 19.35% of users had negative sentiments about the P2P lending platforms. As most of the reviews posted were from the borrower's., emotion of joy was seen in all 4 platforms., followed by emotions of sadness., surprise., anger., disgust., and fear. 2022 IEEE. -
Measuring Critical Thinking Skills with the R-BiLSTM-C Model using a Logical Approach
Critical thinking is essential for making informed judgements; it necessitates careful evaluation of pertinent evidence and the application of reasoning. While some individuals possess a more constrained perspective on critical thinking, this elucidation encompasses the predominant views held by the majority. Note-taking, formulating enquiries, and designing experiments exemplify practical actions that may be applied to other creative pursuits, rendering it a valuable skill across diverse domains. This work employed a systematic approach for data preparation, model training, and feature extraction. The primary phase in training unified R-BiLSTM-C models was identified as feature extraction. Standardisation and normalisation, two crucial preprocessing techniques, were employed to ensure uniform and dependable data handling. Furthermore, as the quantity of dependent observations escalated, the study evaluated the efficacy of Reduced Kernel PCA. The proposed solution achieved a 96.82% accuracy rate, surpassing advanced techniques such as CNN and BiLSTM. The findings indicate that the systematic approach enhances the model's performance. A systematic approach is essential for enhancing precision, and analytical reasoning skills are crucial for developing effective machine learning models. The study reinforces the significance of critical thinking in effective decision-making and problem resolution. 2025 IEEE. -
Measuring Customer Perception on Promotion of Tourism Destinations Using AR and VR Applications: Model Testing and Validation
The study aims to propose and develop a model to measure the customer perception toward promotional videos created using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to promote tourism places. Using judgment sampling, 400 tourists were chosen, all of whom had visited various tourist spots in Visakhapatnam and had seen at least two promotional movies highlighting various tourist attractions using AR/VR technology. A properly written questionnaire was produced ahead of time to gather visitors perception for the qualities of augmented and virtual reality advertising attempts. The study revealed that passengers expect full information and appropriate motivation from digital marketing efforts that promote specific tourist locations using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Furthermore, visitors anticipate high-quality visual and audio features in digital advertising materials for tourist destinations, with the goal of improving the entire customer experience and inspiring future visits. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. -
Measuring employee attrition intention in an auto-component manufacturing organisation
Orientation: The auto-component manufacturing sector, a critical contributor to industrial growth, faces persistent challenges related to employee attrition, affecting operational efficiency and workforce stability. This study examines the influence of job satisfaction, work-life balance, and job stress on attrition intention among employees in Indian auto-component manufacturing organisations. Research purpose: To identify the key factors contributing to employee turnover and evaluate their relative impact on attrition intention. Motivation for the study: Amid rising concerns over attrition in the manufacturing industry, this research aims to explore how work-life balance and job stress influence employees intentions to leave their organisations. Research approach/design and method: Data were collected from 192 employees across 10 auto-component manufacturing companies in Pune, Maharashtra, India, using a structured questionnaire. The responses were analysed through structural equation modelling (SEM) using SPSS and AMOS. Main findings: The study reveals that work-life balance and job stress significantly impact attrition intention. Employees with poor work-life balance and high job stress are more likely to consider leaving. However, job satisfaction does not have a direct effect on attrition intention. Practical/managerial implications: Organisations should prioritise improving work-life balance and managing job stress by implementing flexible work policies, wellness programmes, and realistic workload distribution. Contribution/value-add: This study underscores the importance of addressing work-life balance and job stress in retention strategies, offering actionable insights for HR managers to mitigate attrition in the auto-component manufacturing sector. 2025. The Authors. -
Measuring Financial Inclusion in India: An Approach
In light of the COVID-19-induced financial crisis, the need for robust financial services and networks has become more apparent than ever, which necessitated the accurate measurement of the breadth of financial inclusion in India. First, the study conducted a detailed critical review of the current indices and their construction methodology. Then, we created a financial inclusion index for India by accounting for the flaws existing in the current indices. The primary contribution of this study to the existing literature is the new approach it proposed for the assignment of weights in the financial inclusion index. Based on this new financial inclusion index, the study concluded that Indias Southern states and union territories showed better financial inclusion. In contrast, the traditionally backward BIMARU states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, and a few of the North Eastern states of India, lagged. The study also provided a refined and inclusive definition of financial inclusion based on its new approach to index creation. 2023, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
Measuring Indian Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) abundance at Basur Amruth Mahal Kaval Conservation Reserve, Chikkamagaluru, southern India
Grasslands are among the most critically endangered ecosystems in the tropics, but they are often treated as wastelands and conservation efforts are seldom directed towards these landscapes. The Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra is a large wild herbivore found in most grassland ecosystems across India. Despite their critical role in their trophic web, there are no reliable estimates of Blackbuck populations from their geographic range that takes detection probability into consideration. In this study, we conducted field surveys to estimate Blackbuck density in Basur Amruth Mahal Kaval Conservation (BAMKCR) with an area of 7.36km2 in southern India. We surveyed Blackbucks for a week in July 2014 along straight line transects between 09:00-12:00 hr and used the distance sampling approach to address the imperfect detection. A total of three transect lines of lengths 3.01km, 2.4km and 1.2km were sampled for seven temporal replicates. With an effort of 46.27km, 56 sightings of Blackbucks were recorded that was analyzed using the program DISTANCE. With a detection probability of 0.58 (0.053 SD) the estimated density of Blackbuck was 26.23 (6 SD) individuals/km2. The derived abundance estimate was 193 (c. 148-238) individuals in the study area. Our results show implications of a statistically robust design that accounts for imperfect detection. It provides an insight into a resident population of Blackbucks in a dynamic and fragile habitat. Blackbuck density estimate from this study sets the background for periodic monitoring of their populations, examination of the impacts of habitat modifications and gauge long-term viability of the grassland habitat in BAMKCR. Sagar & Antoney 2017. -
Measuring Support Providers Perspectives on Single-Session Therapy: Psychometric Evidence for SSTMS and BAT-Q
Objective: Effective Single-Session Therapy (SST) hinges on the support providers specific perspectives that align with SST thinking. This study provides validity evidence for the scores of the Belief and Attitude Toward Therapy Questionnaire (BAT-Q) and develops the Single-Session Therapy Mindset Scale (SSTMS). Method: A diverse global sample of 415 practicing and trainee mental health support providers involved with individual psychotherapy provided data online. Results: The BAT-Q demonstrated strong psychometric properties in our sample (Cronbachs ? = 0.833), confirming its continued relevance and reliability. Exploratory Factor Analysis helped with item reduction of the newly developed SSTMS. It demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbachs ? = 0.826) and significant correlations with the BAT-Q. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis could identify a cutoff value of 46/60 on SSTMS to identify support providers with the mindset for successful SST practice. Conclusions: These scales empower researchers to explore SST implementation, training, and cultural impacts and support providers for self-assessment, ultimately advancing SST. 2026 Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC). -
Measuring the Economic Burden of Health Conditions among White?Collar Employees: A Cross?Sectional Study from Delhi? NCR
Background: In the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in healthcare expenditure due to the prevalence of health issues across the globe. This is primarily seen among white-collar employees due to the sedentary nature of their jobs, which affects their current earnings (Purchasing Power) directly due to the reallocation of their real income towards healthcare expenditure (Economic Burden) and indirectly by impacting work productivity through sick leaves. Aim: To measure the economic burden of disease(s) among white-collar employees, and to study the same across different socio-demographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study has been conducted in the region of Delhi-NCR among 357 white-collar employees. A random sampling method was adopted using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information regarding the direct and indirect costs of health conditions with a recall period of one month. The cumulative score of these monthly costs was converted to annual data to estimate the economic burden of the health conditions among the employees over a year. Results: As compared to Communicable diseases (16.24%), Non-communicable diseases (27.17%) were more prevalent among the respondents. Compared to other diseases, the employees suffering from Heart diseases (INR 7,62,237.50), Spinal health issues (INR 1,73,625.00), and Diabetes (INR 1,64,535.71) incurred more economic burden. At a 5% significance level, no significant difference was observed in economic burden for Gender and BMI. However, the economic burden was significantly different across the categories of Age and Monthly income. A positive association can be observed in economic burden with the increasing categories of age and monthly income. Conclusion: With the nature of sedentary work (desk jobs), white-collar employees are at a greater risk of exposure to various NCDs than CDs and incur a significant amount of out-of-pocket expenditure to manage their health status. 2023 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved. -
Measuring the Impact of Chatbot Attributes in Enhancing Consumer Satisfaction and Brand Loyalty Among Centennials: PLS-SEM Analysis
PurposeThis study investigates the potential impact of consumers views about chatbots dynamic, behavioral, and cognitive features on their satisfaction and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approachData were collected using a survey comprising questionnaires from a sample of Indian centennial customers. Purposive sampling was the technique utilized. After that, the data was analyzed using the partial least squares algorithm with the help of smartPLS for structured modelling. FindingsThe results demonstrated that chatbots affective, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics significantly impacted consumer satisfaction and enhanced brand loyalty. Practical implicationsChatbots can improve brand loyalty by taking into account the affective, behavioral, and cognitive traits of their e-agents. Originality/valueThis work aims to contribute and enhance the expanding corpus of research on chatbots effects on increasing brand love. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. -
Mechanical and abrasive wear behaviour of waste silk fiber reinforced epoxy biocomposites using taguchi method
The aim of this research article is to study the static mechanical properties and abrasive wear behavior of epoxy biocomposites reinforced with different weight percentage of waste silk fibers. The effect of parameters such as velocity (A), load (B), fiber loading (C) and abrading distance (D) on abrasive wear has been considered using Taguchi's L25 orthogonal array. The objective is to examine parameters which significantly affect the abrasive wear of biocomposites. The addition of silk fiber has resulted in improved flexural properties of the epoxy matrix. The results of ANOVA indicated that the parameter which played a significant role was abrading distance followed by fiber loading, load and sliding velocity. 2019 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland. -
Mechanical and Dielectric Properties of InTe Crystals
Crystal Structure Theory and Applications, Vol-1, pp. 79-83. -
Mechanical and moisture resistance properties of flax and jute fiber embedded epoxy composites for lightweight structural applications
Natural fiber-based materials are increasingly used as substitutes for traditional materials in structural applications. This research evaluated the mechanical and moisture resistance characteristics of unidirectionally oriented Flax and Jute fiber-embedded Epoxy Composites (FJEC) for lightweight structural applications. The inclusion of nano clay in the natural laminates creates more energy-absorbing sites, which improves the ability to withstand impact forces compared to FJEC. The material strength of nano clay-infused hybrid composite attained 94.46 MPa, 98.44 MPa, and 92 KJ/m2 tensile, flexural and impact strength. The consequences of water absorption and humidity exposure to the materials revealed that nano clay helps to reduce the diffusion of water into the surface of the laminate. The nano clay-infused hybrid composite is subjected to Freeze-Thaw (Fz-Tw) cycling under both partial and complete immersion scenarios to analyze the durability and resilience of the composite. The performance loss in nano-clay-infused laminate is caused due to the prolonged exposure to water and thermal stress. The damage factor for a partially and completely immersed hybrid material is 1.2% and 2.2%, respectively. These findings highlighted the need for considering environmental conditions while designing and utilizing fiber incorporated materials in various applications. 2026 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Mechanical and tribological investigation on al lm4/tic composite fabricated through bottom pouring method
In the present investigation LM4 reinforced 6 wt% Titanium Carbide particles composite was developed by stir casting bottom pouring method. The cast composite specimen was obtained in a cylindrical shape of dimensions 50 mm dia and 100 mm length. The composite specimens were prepared for mechanical and tribological test as per ASTM standards. The obtained results reveal that the mechanical properties are high as compared to the as cast LM4 alloy specimens. Microstructure analysis confirms that the uniform distribution of TiC particles. Tribological test was performed using pin-on-disc machine based on Taguchi's design of experiments. L27 orthogonal array was selected by changing test parameter like applied load (10, 20, 30 N), sliding distance (600, 800, 1000 m) and sliding velocity (1.5 m/s, 2.5 m/s and 3.5 m/s). The most influencing test parameters were identified by using S/N ratio and ANOVA. The wear results reveled that wear rate increases as applied load increases, and it decreases with decrease in velocity. Also wear rate decreases as sliding distance increases and at some point, it became linear. The applied load was found to be most dominating (77.61%), sliding velocity (10.44%) and sliding distance (4.47%) are less dominating factors. Worn surface morphology was studied to understand the type of wear. 2021 elsevier ltd. all rights reserved. -
Mechanical and tribological properties of polymer composites developed by FDM
In the coming years, researchers and manufacturers will be more concerned with the demand for products that are easy to construct and can be rendered seamlessly, even at complicated geometries, with the touch of a button. These requirements will be met by the advent of additive manufacturing. This will serve as the catalyst for a revolution. Additive layer manufacturing (ALM), also known as additive manufacturing (AM) or more commonly referred to as 3D printing, is a modern fabrication technology that uses a variety of raw materials to produce items such as medical implants and aircraft wing components by printing layers of material based on 3D digital models. In this chapter, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanical and tribological behaviour of ceramic, metallic, and fiber-reinforced polymer composites that are made by a range of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. These composites can be used in a variety of applications, including aerospace, automotive, and medical. 2023, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Mechanical and Wear Behavior of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced Ceramics Materials for Light Structures
Aluminium Alloy based Metal Matrix Composites (AAMMCs) has widely used in defense, aircraft and automobile applications because of their enhanced engineering properties with light weight metals. Nano sized silicon nitride (80 ?m) is used as a reinforcement in this study, whereas aluminium alloy 8011 is selected as the matrix material. Using the stir casting method, metal matrix composites made of aluminium alloy 8011 with varying weight percentages of Si3N4(0, 4, 8, 12, and 16) are created. The stir casted AL 8011/Si3N4composites further heated under T6 condition. The AL 8011/Si3N4 T6 composites are further subjected to Energy Dispersive X ray Analysis (EDAX) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to identify by the presence of elements and study the microstructure characterization, respectively. The density, microhardness and wear test are conducted by employing Archimedes principle, Vickers hardness tested and pin on disc equipment, respectively. The wear test is done at different sliding distances like (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 m), applied load like (10, 20, 30 and 40 N) and kept sliding at a speed of 1 m/s. The increasing weight percentage of silicon nitride expands the increasing of density and Vickers hardness up to 12 wt % of silicon nitride and decreasing by 16 wt % addition. The wear resistances of AL 8011/12 wt % Si3N4T6 composite exhibits higher wear resistance than other Al8011 based composites. 2024, Informatics Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. -
Mechanical and Wear Behavior of Halloysite Nanotubes Filled Silk/Basalt Hybrid Composites Using Response Surface Methodology
The aim of this study is to develop bio-friendly light weight polymer nanocomposites for load bearing applications and to evaluate the influence of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on mechanical as well as wear behavior of silk fiber (SF) and basalt fiber (BF) reinforced epoxy (Ep) composites. HNT filled biocomposites were fabricated using vacuum bagging technique. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) of experiment with Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to conduct the dry-sliding wear tests on a pin on disc apparatus. Tribo-mechanical properties and worn surface micrographs of hybrid composite samples were analyzed. Hardness, tensile strength and wear resistance behavior of SF + BF/Ep hybrid composites were substantially improved with the incorporation of HNTs. It was observed from the confirmation test that there is a strong agreement between the experimental findings as well as the predicted values, with a minimum reported error of <5% for HNT-SF + BF/Ep hybrid nanocomposites. SEM micrographs of the worn-out surface of HNT filled SF + BF/Ep composite exhibited fiber breakage, pulverized matrix, good interfacial bonding and fractured fibers. The novelty of the current research work is the development of eco-friendly polymeric composites for wear resistant and structural applications. The effect of hybridization (fiberssilk and basalt, fillersHNTs) on the tribo-mechanical properties of polymeric composites were investigated for the first time. The study showed that the mechanical as well as the tribological properties of SF and BF reinforced epoxy composites were enhanced with the addition of nanofiller. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.