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This study investigates the relationship between socio-psychological factors, innovation attributes, behavior intention, and green fertilizer technology (GFT) adoption among Malaysian paddy farmers. The study also examined whether behavior intention mediated the relationship between socio-psychological factors and green fertilizer technology. The study collected data from 170 paddy farmers in Malaysia's Kedah and Perak states. The study used a quantitative research design and analyzed the data using the SmartPLS 4 software. The study's results indicate a positive and significant relationship between the socio-psychological factors, innovation attributes, behavior intention, and the adoption of GFT. Specifically, the study found that the socio-psychological factors significantly positively affect farmers' behavior intention to adopt GFT. Further, innovation attributes significantly impact farmers' behavior and intention to adopt GFT. The study's findings provide several implications for policymakers, extension agents, and other stakeholders interested in promoting the adoption of GFT among Malaysian paddy farmers. The study suggests that promoting positive attitudes toward GFT, creating awareness of the benefits of GFT, and improving farmers perceived behavioral control may increase farmers' intention to adopt GFT. Additionally, policymakers should develop GFT that is simple and compatible with farmers' needs, making it easier for farmers to adopt. Moreover, this study contributes to the literature on adopting green technologies by highlighting the importance of socio-psychological factors and innovation attributes in shaping farmers' behavior intention to adopt GFT. The study's findings have practical implications for policymakers and other stakeholders interested in promoting the adoption of GFT among Malaysian paddy farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose ‐ Understanding SMEs’ use/adoption of financial services is prerequisite for policy makers and managers of financial institutions interested in their growth and development. The study seeks to explore influence of personal characteristics of owner‐manager on firms’ financial behavior to use financial services. Design/Methodology/Approach – Qualitative methodology has been employed to propose alternate model of understanding financial behavior of firms as influenced by socio‐psychological factors of owner‐managers. Study makes use of Theory of Planned Behavior and its variants to support the proposed model. Findings ‐ The study suggests that theories of behavior need to be applied to better understand the owner‐manager’s intentions to use financial services, which in turn reflect SMEs’ financial behavior. Research limitations/implications ‐ The proposed model and relationships would help policy makers, managers and research scholars to better understand SMEs financial behavior. There is need for comparative empirical studies examining the propositions made by the study. Originality/Value – The papers discusses the demand side issues and proposes a general model of socio‐psychological factors of owner-manager that affect SMEs’ decisions toward usage of financial services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify limitations and incentives in reporting clinically suspect situations, possibly caused by classical swine fever (CSF), to veterinary authorities with the ultimate aim to facilitate early detection of CSF outbreaks. Focus group sessions were held with policy makers from the veterinary authorities, and representatives of veterinary practitioners and pig farmer unions. Personal interviews with a small group of pig farmers and practitioners were held to check limitations raised and solutions proposed during the focus group sessions. An electronic questionnaire was mailed to pig farmers and practitioners to investigate perceptions and attitudes with respect to clinically suspect situations possibly caused by CSF. After triangulating the responses of veterinary authorities, veterinary practitioners and farmers, six themes emerged across all groups: (1) lack of knowledge on the early signs of CSF; (2) guilt, shame and prejudice; (3) negative opinion on control measures; (4) dissatisfaction with post-reporting procedures; (5) lack of trust in government bodies; (6) uncertainty and lack of transparency of reporting procedures. The following solutions to facilitate early detection of CSF were put forward: (a) development of a clinical decision-support system for vets and farmers, in order to get faster diagnosis and detection of CSF; (b) possibility to submit blood samples directly to the reference laboratory to exclude CSF in a clinical situation with non-specific clinical signs, without isolation of the farm and free of charge for the individual farmer; (c) decrease social and economic consequences of reporting CSF, for example by improving the public opinion on first reports; (d) better schooling of veterinary officers to deal with emotions and insecurity of farmers in the process after reporting; (e) better communication of rules and regulations, where to report, what will happen next; (f) up-to-date website with information and visual material of the clinical signs of CSF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Article critically analyses approaches that Slovak sociologists have been using in their analysis of antisemitism in Slovakia after 1989. The article describes quantitative methods used by Slovak sociologists and suggests need of a complex approach to research of antisemitism. Author argues that modern antisemitism is de-judaized, while Slovak researchers focus more on a research of prejudices and stereotypes toward Jews. The research of antisemitism in Slovakia is fully dominated by a Bogarduss scale of social distance while different relevant research methods are not used by Slovak experts. Moreover, in the process of interpretations of public opinion surveys experts do not take into account the so-called escaping answers of respondents and attempts to run away from answering sensitive questions. Socio-psychological research, reflecting authoritarian personality, anomy, alienation and ontological insecurity of common people as sources of anti-Semitism, is rather rare in Slovakia. Consequently, quantitative research of antisemitism in Slovakia can be evaluated as insufficient. De-judaized perspective of anti-Semitism and even of Jews themselves in a Sartre's sense is remaining one of the greatest challenges for sociologists researching antisemitism in Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]