Information Management and Business Review

E-Customer Relationship Management and Customer Loyalty in the Context of Logistics Service Providers: A Mediating Effect of Customer Satisfaction

Soo-Cheng Chuah, Chai-Li Cheam, Jiang Lu, Roslilee Ab Halim, Fei Wan — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:32:25 -0500

In the competitive logistics industry, fostering long-term customer relationships is important for sustained business performance. Logistics companies have increasingly adopted digital tools to manage customer relationships and support customer loyalty. This study examines the relationship between electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM) and customer loyalty, and the mediating role of customer satisfaction in this relationship, among logistics service users in Malaysia. Using stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, e-CRM is treated as the stimulus, customer satisfaction as the organism, and customer loyalty as the response. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire from 123 valid respondents in Puncak Alam, Selangor, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that e-CRM is positively related to both customer satisfaction (? = 0.646) and customer loyalty (? = 0.334), and that customer satisfaction is positively related to customer loyalty (? = 0.576). Customer satisfaction was also found to partially mediate the relationship between e-CRM and customer loyalty (? = 0.372). These findings contribute to the limited body of knowledge on digital CRM practices in the logistics sector and offer logistics service providers practical direction for strengthening customer satisfaction and loyalty through e-CRM.

The Relationship Between Supply Chain Integration, Green Supply Chain Management Practices and Sustainability Performance: A Conceptual Framework

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:40:39 -0500

A survey conducted by the SME Association among 1,713 SME members revealed that 20% of the respondents were considering permanently closing their business in the next six months due to this issue. In addition, the growth of SMEs in 2021 registered at -5.6% which was lower than Malaysia’s GDP in 2015. Taking note of these issues, this study is going to develop the framework for Malaysian SMEs by investigating the relationship between supply chain integration, green supply chain management (GSCM) practices and sustainability performance. Resource-based view (RBV) theory, and natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory are integrated to enlighten the probable relationship between the variables to develop a research framework. A total of 576 SME companies in Malaysia will participate in this study. The data will be collected via the survey method. Partial Least Squares (PLS) procedure will be applied to analyze the data and test the hypotheses of this study. The significance of this study will contribute to the body of knowledge and practice by providing a strong research framework for a clear understanding that describes the effect of implementing supply chain integration among SME companies and the role of GSCM practices towards sustainability performance that would be utilized by the companies and the academicians.

Modeling The Qualitative Sub-Domains of Sleep Health: A Theoretical Framework for Student Health-Related Quality of Life

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:43:10 -0500

This paper establishes an integrative theoretical model examining the direct mechanisms connecting sleep latency and structural sleep disturbances (both somatic and micro-environmental) to university students' Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). By moving beyond traditional, unidimensional volumetric sleep metrics (such as total sleep duration), this framework bridges Sleep Hygiene Theory and the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Insomnia to capture qualitative sleep architecture. This study aims to integrate established methods of sleep assessment (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] and health indices EuroQol [EQ-5D]) and to develop a framework of new qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the negative impact of poor sleep on the functioning and productivity of individuals. To achieve the framework's immediate relevance, functional tactical innovations were modelled based on a thorough analysis of the latest literature in the field of behavioural medicine and public health for the years 2024-2026. The main goal of the last conceptual model is to provide immediate, data-supported, and feasible recommendations to inform wellness-related policies in higher education. Institutional policies should align academic timetabling with biological circadian rhythms by capping mandatory 8:00 AM lectures for high-workload programs, allowing adequate sleep recovery windows. Furthermore, student counselling services should integrate brief PSQI-based sleep latency and disturbance screeners into standard wellness intake assessments, identifying sleep-deprived individuals early for non-pharmacological Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) workshops.

EcoTacToe Digital Gamification In Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:44:48 -0500

Econometrics is a discipline requiring considerable mathematical competence and sophisticated analytical ability, yet standard teaching approaches may not always provide the necessary engagement for effective learning. Digital gamification is a new instructional style that bridges this gap. This study explores students’ perceptions of EcoTacToe, a digital gamification application similar to the game of TicTacToe, designed to enhance Econometrics teaching in terms of competition and interaction. A quantitative cross-sectional methodology was employed to recruit 86 undergraduate students from a Malaysian public university. A systematic self-administered questionnaire measuring five dimensions: personal traits, acceptance, utility, enjoyment and user-friendliness was used to collect data. Reliability analyzes confirmed internal consistency for all constructs, with coefficients ranging from ? = .75 (Good) to ? = .93 (Excellent). Descriptive analyzes revealed predominantly positive appraisals across all variables, with enjoyment reaching the highest average, followed by simplicity of use and utility. Independent samples t-tests indicated no significant differences between male and female students on any dimension. The findings demonstrate that EcoTacToe is an effective blend of competitive gaming with the distribution of Econometrics material, and a practical addition to regular classroom education.

Evaluating Consumer Acceptance of Medical Repricing in Malaysia: The Role of Fairness, Transparency, Trust and Health Insurance Literacy

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:46:43 -0500

This study examines the structural impact of perceived fairness, transparency, institutional trust and health insurance literacy on public acceptance of medical insurance repricing in Malaysia. Against the backdrop of compounding medical inflation in an emerging economy, existing literature has predominantly focused on Western employer-based systems, leaving an empirical gap regarding individual Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT) policyholders in Southeast Asia. Utilizing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, primary data were gathered from 100 middle and upper middle-class policyholders in Puncak Alam, Selangor. Multiple Linear Regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the hypothesized relationships (?, t, p, R², VIF). The findings reveal that perceived fairness (?=0.312, p<0.001) and institutional trust (?=0.285, p <0.005) exert the strongest direct effects on policyholder acceptance of repricing, while health insurance literacy and transparency serve as vital structural precursors. The proposed model accounted for a significant proportion of variance in repricing acceptance (R²=0.548, F=28.78). These empirical insights demonstrate that long-term pricing sustainability and policyholder retention depend not only on actuarial solvency, but also on transparent communication frameworks and regulatory anchors.

Assessing Students' Conceptual Understanding of an Islamic Financial System Course Using the Rasch Wright Map

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:48:39 -0500

The rapid growth of Islamic finance has increased the need for effective assessment methods that accurately evaluate students’ conceptual understanding of Islamic financial principles beyond the traditional score-based approaches. This study examines the application of the Rasch Wright Map in assessing students’ conceptual understanding of the Islamic financial system course. A quantitative research design was employed involving 84 first-year Islamic Banking students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Data were collected using a nine-item Exit Survey Test (EST) designed to measure students’ general understanding and practical knowledge of the Islamic financial system. Rasch Model analysis using WINSTEPS 3.71.0.1 demonstrated strong psychometric properties, with item reliability recorded at +0.86 and person reliability at +0.68. The Wright Map provided a visual representation of students’ conceptual mastery by simultaneously mapping person ability and item difficulty along a single logit scale. The findings revealed that 61% of the students demonstrated good conceptual understanding and could apply their knowledge in practical contexts. However, several items related to Islamic capital markets, Islamic money markets, takaful, and retakaful were identified as challenging. The study concludes that the Rasch Wright Map is an effective psychometric tool for evaluating conceptual understanding in Islamic finance education and offers valuable implications for curriculum enhancement and instructional improvement.

The Effectiveness of Gamified Augmented Reality in Higher Education: A Case Study of MARA 5.0 in a Public University

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:59:00 -0500

This study aims to determine the impact of an augmented reality (AR) game on students' learning experience. The effects of the AR game Mission AR Apocalypse (MARA) 5.0 on students' learning experiences at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) were assessed. A survey of 750 students was conducted before and after playing the game in June 2024. There were seven dimensions of learning evaluated. Scores significantly increased after the intervention across all areas of learning. The highest increase was in conceptual understanding (mean 2.41 to 4.39), followed by learning motivation (2.23 to 3.93). The results indicate that initial technology-related difficulty was manageable. The findings imply that AR can improve understanding and motivation, but further implementation requires broadening use in challenging subjects, targeted training, and equal access to the devices needed. The results indicate that AR can be used in higher education to support active learning. In many cases, this requires overcoming barriers to usability for students and instructor resistance. The barriers can hinder learning in complex topics.

Islamic Debt Principles: A Conceptual Framework for Ethical and Asset-Backed Financing

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:01:06 -0500

This paper constructs a novel three?pillar conceptual framework for Islamic finance, built upon a rigorous methodological foundation that synthesizes two distinct intellectual disciplines. From Islamic jurisprudence, specifically Usul al?Fiqh and Maqasid al?Shariah, the framework derives its ethical and legal boundaries for permissible contracts. From financial economics, drawing on risk agency theory, it obtains its economic principles for asset ownership and equitable risk distribution. The framework's development is critically informed by a gap analysis of existing literature, particularly the works of El-Gamal and Chapra, which exposes a persistent and troubling disconnect between Islamic finance's proclaimed ethical ideals of risk?sharing and its actual practice of risk?transfer through debt?mimicking instruments. Using deductive reasoning from first principles of Islamic ethics, the paper derives the framework's core components and then stress-tests them against modern banking products. The proposed framework advances three interdependent pillars: first, strict adherence to ethical rules grounded in Islamic law; second, tangible real asset ownership that links financial transactions to the productive, real economy and third, genuine risk?sharing between financiers and borrowers. The paper argues that these pillars must function interdependently, because legal compliance alone is insufficient. This insufficiency is powerfully illustrated by tawarruq (commodity Murabaha) products, which check procedural boxes yet lack both real asset ownership and true risk?sharing, rendering them economically indistinguishable from interest?based debt. To transcend the conventional halal?haram dichotomy, the framework proposes a "spectrum of Islamicness"—a sophisticated evaluative matrix that reveals how most current Islamic banking products score well on legal formality but poorly on economic substance.

Development and Pilot Validation of an Instrument Measuring Generation Z's Behavioral Intention Towards Festival Events

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:23:47 -0500

Generation Z has become an important consumer segment in the festival industry; therefore, there is a need to develop a reliable instrument to measure the factors influencing their behavioral intention towards festival events. The study aimed to design and conduct a preliminary validation of a measurement instrument comprising four constructs: media influence, social interaction, festival image, and behavioral intention. A quantitative pilot study was conducted with 36 Generation Z respondents, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Cronbach’s Alpha. The results revealed satisfactory internal consistency for all constructs (? = 0.864-0.933), indicating that the proposed instrument is reliable and suitable for future large-scale empirical investigations. The validated instrument provides a methodological base for future research on Generation Z festival behavior.

Redefining Human Capital Sustainability: An Integrative Conceptual Framework Harmonizing ISO 45003 and the Job Demands-Resources Model for Psychosocial Risk Assessment

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:43:39 -0500

Although Corporate Social Sustainability programs have matured and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks have become institutionalized, organizations remain structurally under-prepared for the rising incidence of workplace burnout worldwide. This conceptual paper addresses a silo that has lingered at the intersection of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) scholarship on one side and corporate sustainability reporting on the other: the absence of a defensible theoretical bridge between micro-level psychosocial risk management and macro-level human capital outcomes. We align the structural hazard taxonomy codified in ISO 45003 (International Organization for Standardization, 2021) with the dual-pathway psychological mechanics of the Job Demands–Resources(JD-R) model (Demerouti et al., 2001) and assemble a streamlined conceptual framework that treats systematic Psychosocial Risk Assessment (PRA) as the operational engine connecting structural hazard controls to quantifiable social sustainability indicators. Adjacent constructs drawn from Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC), Effort–Reward Imbalance (ERI), Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, and the recovery-experiences literature are integrated into a single causal architecture anchored by a Core Proposition suitable as an entry-point hypothesis for new investigations. The contribution advances the JD-R model into the regulatory and corporate-governance vocabulary, and it extends ESG Social measurement beyond lagging demographic indicators toward leading, auditable risk scores. The framework is intended to function both as theoretical scaffolding for occupational health psychology researchers and as a strategic roadmap for chief human resource officers, boards, sustainability committees, and investor analysts.

Assessing Learner Readiness and Expectations for Metaverse-Based Education: A Pre-Survey Analysis of EON XR in Healthcare Service Quality Course

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:27:00 -0500

Immersive technologies, specifically augmented reality, virtual reality and Metaverse-based learning platforms have evolved higher education and have transformed the way higher education systems are taught and implemented. In healthcare education, these technologies could enhance students' comprehension of complicated knowledge by using realistic simulation strategies and three-dimensional visualization. This study was conducted to evaluate the technology readiness, students’ prior experience and learning expectations regarding the deployment of the EON XR Metaverse platform in a healthcare service quality course. With a structured questionnaire, a quantitative cross-sectional pre-survey was conducted among 77 undergraduate students. It assessed digital readiness, availability of technology resources, exposure to immersive technologies and expectations about Metaverse-assisted learning. A descriptive statistical analysis indicates a high level that students have confidence and comfort in using digital technologies, which is a sign of very strong technological readiness. Moreover, participants were not familiar with AR/VR applications or the EON XR platform, indicating that immersive education was another area of study for most participants. Despite this lack of exposure, students expressed very favorable expectations towards Metaverse-based learning. They felt that EON XR would represent a more stimulating academic learning experience than traditional lectures, enhance visualization of healthcare service quality concepts and lead to better understanding. Overall, the findings revealed that students were willing and ready to work with Metaverse-enhanced education. Nonetheless, ensuring effective implementation will depend on proper orientation and technical assistance along with addressing differences in device accessibility and internet connectivity, to enhance both the learning process and equity in learning opportunities.

EcoBytes: Enhancing Teaching and Learning in Economics through Short-Form Microlearning Videos

J.S. Keshminder, Afiza Azura Mohamad Arshad, Nur Azirah Zahida Mohamad Azhar — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:31:35 -0500

The fast pace of the digital revolution in education and the changing learning habits of Generation Z learners have presented challenges to the traditional methods of teaching economics. Students accustomed to concise, visual and mobile content may be less receptive to lecture-based instruction when faced with abstract and conceptually demanding topics. This research examines EcoBytes, a microlearning platform that offers short videos on economics through TikTok and YouTube Shorts, connecting to additional learning resources such as QR-coded links to full lectures, quizzes, case studies on Universiti Teknologi MARA’s UFuture learning management system, PowerPoint summaries and printable worksheets. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used in which undergraduate students completed structured assessments before and after use of EcoBytes. Descriptive statistics were employed to contrast item-level error percentages and overall score distributions. The results show a reduction in the number of errors in the selected items and an upward shift in the distribution of scores on the post-test. This indicates an improvement in conceptual performance as a consequence of the intervention. Student engagement was not directly measured and is discussed as a possible benefit. The study is based on the Cognitive Load Theory, Microlearning Theory, Constructivist Learning Theory and Technology Acceptance Model and presents EcoBytes as a flexible supplementary approach to support economics learning with short-form digital content.

Factors Influencing Consumer Buying Behavior for Foreign Products

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:04:46 -0500

This study aims to determine the factors that influence consumer buying behavior for foreign products among Malaysian university students. Therefore, a survey of 134 Malaysian university students in Selangor Malaysia was conducted to determine the factors that influence consumer buying behavior. Correlation analysis is used to analyze the data to identify the relationship between the variables. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis is applied to determine the significant factors that affect consumer buying behavior for foreign products among Malaysian university students. The results of the survey suggest that product price, product quality and country of origin are significant factors in explaining consumer buying behavior. This study offers renewed empirical insights that contribute to a new way of thinking about the factors driving consumer buying behavior for foreign products specifically in Malaysia.

Knowledge-Based and Social Determinants of Environmental Performance Among Young Adults in Klang Valley: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation Practice

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:15:46 -0500

Environmental sustainability has become a major global concern, particularly among young adults who play an important role in shaping future environmental outcomes. This study examines the influence of knowledge-based and social determinants on environmental performance among young adults in Klang Valley, Malaysia, with Green Innovation Practice as a mediating variable. Specifically, this study investigates the effects of Green Knowledge, Environmental Knowledge Learning, Peer Pressure, and Social Media Influence on Environmental Performance. This study is grounded in the Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) Theory. A quantitative research approach was employed using a structured questionnaire distributed to 160 young adults aged 18 to 35. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that while Green Knowledge and Social Media Influence directly enhance Environmental Performance, Environmental Knowledge Learning and Peer Pressure do not have a direct effect. Furthermore, Green Innovation Practice serves as a critical behavioral mechanism that fully mediates the impact of Environmental Knowledge Learning and Peer Pressure, and partially mediates the effect of Social Media Influence on Environmental Performance. It does not, however, mediate the relationship for Green Knowledge. Finally, these findings extend the AMO Theory within the environmental context, providing policymakers and educators with clear, evidence-based strategies to drive actual environmental performance

Mapping the Global Trends and Thematic Evolution of Big Data Analytics Capabilities Research: A Bibliometric Review

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:19:04 -0500

The objective of the paper is to explore and analyze global research trends, influential works, and key themes in Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC) and to identify the most active authors, institutions, countries, and journals contributing to the field. Adopting bibliometric tools such as Bibliomagika, OpenRefine, VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny, this study used a bibliometric approach to collect 281 journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, reviews, and other document types from the Scopus database. By cleansing the data beforehand, this ensures the accuracy and reliability of subsequent analyses, enabling researchers to derive meaningful insights with confidence. The results clearly show a steady growth in BDAC-related publications over the past five years (2020–2024). This trajectory reflects the increasing scholarly interest and recognition of BDAC as a crucial organizational capability, especially in the context of digital transformation and firm performance. The findings revealed thematic cluster analyses that uncovered five dominant research themes. firm performance and decision-making, sustainability and green supply chains and green innovation, business model innovation, artificial intelligence integration, and healthcare and sectoral applications

The Role of MOOC-Based Supplementary Learning in Enhancing Student Academic Performance: Evidence from Non-Business Students in an Entrepreneurship Course

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:21:06 -0500

The increasing integration of digital technologies into higher education has created new opportunities for institutions to complement conventional classroom instruction with flexible and student-centered learning resources. This study examines the effectiveness of a curriculum-aligned MOOC-based supplementary learning intervention in supporting students’ conceptual understanding and academic performance. The study was conducted among undergraduate non-business students enrolled in an entrepreneurship course at a Malaysian higher education institution. A one-group pre-test and post-test design was used. Aggregated data on students’ conceptual understanding, quiz performance and satisfaction were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics. The results show that the MOOC-based supplementary learning intervention was found to be associated with improvements in students’ conceptual understanding and academic performance. The findings also indicated a high level of satisfaction with the digital learning intervention, particularly in terms of accessibility and the usefulness of multimedia learning resources. The results suggest that curriculum-aligned MOOC-based supplementary learning can provide beneficial support for continuing learning beyond traditional classroom instruction and improve students’ engagement with course content. The study contributes to the growing knowledge literature by demonstrating the potential of MOOC-based supplementary learning as a practical digital learning approach in higher education

A Bibliometric Analysis on the Nexus of Financial Literacy and Cashless Payment Adoption

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:24:26 -0500

Over the past decade, scholarly interest in the nexus between financial literacy and cashless payments has grown significantly. paving the way for future research to explore new dimensions within this field. This study scientifically analyses and reviews the existing literature on financial literacy and cashless payments using a bibliometric analysis approach. Intellectual and logical structuring was carried out using VOSviewer by performing an analysis of 713 papers published from 2000 to 2024 in the Web of Science (WoS) database. The construction of network maps using co-authorship and co-occurrence analysis revealed interesting patterns and themes in the field of financial literacy and cashless payments. The discussion helps to identify the nature and scope of research conducted in both domains since their inception. This reflection provides recommendations and guidance grounded in prior studies, offering a clear direction for future research on financial literacy and cashless payment adoption, while also considering potential challenges and limitations.

The Green Practices Outcome on Sustainability Performance: Evidence from Malaysian Manufacturing Companies

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:50:45 -0500

Green practices have become an important strategic approach for manufacturing organisations seeking to improve sustainability while maintaining long-term competitiveness. Previous studies have extensively examined the environmental and financial benefits of green practices, and yet, limited research has explored their broader contribution to organisational performance from a qualitative perspective. This study explores the common green practices applied in the manufacturing industry and how these green practices contribute to organisational performance in Malaysian manufacturing companies. A qualitative multiple-case study design was adopted involving seven manufacturing companies located in Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten informants, complemented by document analysis and workplace observations to strengthen the data credibility. Thematic analysis supported by NVivo software was employed to identify the recurring themes across the participating organisations. The findings reveal that green practices contribute to organisational performance through three interrelated dimensions: safety performance, economic performance, and organisational reputation. Green initiatives such as waste management and work process innovation improved resource efficiency, reduced operational waste, enhanced workplace safety, lowered operational costs, and strengthened stakeholder confidence. The study extends the existing literature by demonstrating that green practices create organisational value beyond environmental sustainability and should be viewed as strategic resources that enhance overall organisational performance. The findings provide practical guidance for manufacturing managers and policymakers in integrating environmental and operational strategies to achieve sustainable business performance.

FinTech Financing Platforms and Bank Lending to SMEs in Malaysia: Complements or Substitutes

Nur'Asyiqin Ramdhan, Rohanizan Md Lazan, Norsaliza Abu Bakar — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:53:23 -0500

This study examines the complementarities or substitutability between financial technology (FinTech) financing platforms and bank financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The study uses a six-variable structural vector autoregression (SVAR) framework, which includes the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR), Industrial Production Index (IPI), Consumer Price Index (CPI), peer-to-peer (P2P) financing, equity crowdfunding (ECF) capital raised, and aggregate outstanding SME bank loans, with monthly observations from 2017 to 2026. The SVAR results are complemented by structural impulse response functions (IRFs) with 95% bootstrap confidence intervals, forecast error variance decomposition (FEVD), diagnostic tests, stability assessment, and alternative lag specifications. The results show that P2P and ECF shocks generate small dynamic responses in SME bank lending and their 95% bootstrap confidence intervals generally include zero. An OPR shock produces a positive point response in SME bank lending, which is statistically distinguishable from zero only over part of the response horizon, while the P2P response is statistically distinguishable from zero only at an early horizon. FEVD results indicate that P2P and ECF shocks account for a growing share of the forecast-error variance of SME bank loans. Overall, the aggregate evidence does not provide robust support for a definitive complementarity, substitution, or fallback credit-valve mechanism.

Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Norm Activation Model to Explain Prosocial Rumour Refutation

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:24:14 -0500

During emergency crises, the rapid spread of social media rumours can threaten public safety and social stability. Although users can play an important role in countering misinformation, user-led rumour refutation remains underexplored as a prosocial digital behaviour. This study develops an integrated psychosocial framework that combines the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Norm Activation Model (NAM) to explain the rational and moral drivers of the intention to refute rumours. Data from 565 active social media users were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4.0. The findings show that intention to refute rumours is significantly influenced by attitude, social norm, perceived behavioural control and, most strongly, personal norm. Awareness of consequences, ascribed responsibility and online respect also significantly influence attitudes towards rumour refutation. Theoretically, the study demonstrates the value of integrating behavioural and moral perspectives to explain proactive responses to misinformation. In practice, the findings suggest that platform managers and crisis communicators should strengthen users’ sense of responsibility, behavioural confidence, and respectful communication when designing misinformation interventions. Future research should examine the model across different populations, crisis contexts and digital platforms, and use longitudinal or experimental designs to assess whether these psychosocial factors translate into sustained rumour-refutation behaviour.

Perceived Environmental Benefits and Beneficiary Acceptance in Malaysian Agribusiness Social Innovation Projects

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:42:48 -0500

This study examines how beneficiaries' perceived productivity, economic, employment, and environmental benefits relate to acceptance of four agribusiness social innovation projects in Malaysia's MyIS Community 2021–2022 program. Each project initially targeted 100 beneficiaries, for a combined target of 400; 142 continuing participants completed the questionnaire (35.5% of the initial target). The primary regression used 139 complete composite cases and accounted for 48.8% of the observed variance in acceptance; environmental benefits had the only statistically significant conditional association (B = .563, HC3 SE = .081, ? = .626, p < .001). The researcher-developed measures showed extensive cross-loadings and insufficient separation of economic benefits from employment opportunities (HTMT = .964). In an exploratory rescoring sensitivity analysis that combined the livelihood items and removed several weak or evaluatively overlapping items, the environmental association persisted (B = .515, HC3 SE = .094; n = 140). The revised scores were derived and assessed using the same respondents and therefore require validation in an independent sample. Concurrent self-reports and uneven representation across projects limit interpretation; the data cannot establish whether perceived environmental benefits preceded acceptance or acceptance shaped those perceptions. The findings describe associations among continuing respondents' perceptions, not effects on poverty, food security, or environmental outcomes.