Chiara Berti

Relational Climate and Effectiveness of Residential Care: Adolescent Perspectives

In Italy, the evaluation of residential care is particularly important in view of: (1) the process of deinstitutionalization; (2) the power of the public authorities to devolve the running of services, including residential communities, to private partners. The literature has stressed the importance of involving multiple stakeholders in the design and implementation of evaluative research. This article summarizes a research plan for the evaluation of child and adolescent residential communities based on the theoretical framework of developmental psychopathology and Bronfenbrenners ecological model of human development. A study is presented on the perception that adolescents in care have of the communitys relational climate—analyzed by way of everyday routines and communications with adults—and of the effects of the intervention. The results corroborate the hypothesis that the relational climate in a community is a good predictor of the efficacy of residential care.

Hard-Earned Income and Tax Compliance: A Survey in Eight Nations

Is the effort invested to achieve taxable income a relevant factor for tax compliance? If the value of income increases with the effort exerted, reluctance to pay taxes should be high. On the other hand, if income is perceived as compensation for one’s endeavor, there is too much at stake to take the risk of being audited and paying a fine. Consequently, tax evasion should be more likely if income was obtained easily. These contradicting predictions were tested in a questionnaire study with samples from eight countries (Australia, Austria, England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland; N = 1,223). Results show that the effort exerted to obtain taxable income and the aspiration level matter in compliance decisions. Hard-earned money is more likely to be reported honestly to tax authorities, particularly if the aspiration level can be satisfied by honest tax reporting.

Moral Foundations, Political Orientation and Religiosity In Italy

Received: January 19, 2018 Revised: February 27, 2018 Accepted: March 31, 2018 Abstract: Background: This study investigates the role of political orientation and religiosity in Italy for moral foundations endorsement, in light of Haidt and Graham’s Moral Foundations Theory. This theory hypothesizes that moral systems are based on five dimensions (i.e., Harm/care, Fairness/reciprocity, Ingroup/loyalty, Authority/respect, and Purity/sanctity) that, in turn, can be grouped into two broader dimensions (Binding and Individualizing).

Animal, Human and Robot Attribution: Ontologization of Roma,Romanian and Chinese Groups in an Italian Sample

Objectives: This study aims to enrich the ontologization approach in two ways: (1) A theoretical development of the ontologization approach is proposed, by including the attribution of the essence of automata to outgroup members; (2) whether the ontologization process is also verified for the Romanian and Chinese group is investigated, whereas the ontologization process has traditionally focused on the Roma minority.

Support for the Forensic DNA Database and Public Safety Concerns: An Exploratory Study

Background: Over the past few decades, 32 European countries have introduced a national DNA database containing samples and/or profiles from suspected/convicted criminal offenders and biological materials from crime scenes. However, only a few studies have empirically investigated opinions on such a practice and the psychosocial factors possibly predicting public support or opposition. Objective: This study aims to preliminarily explore public support for a national DNA database in Italy. In particular, the role played by psychosocial factors, such as concern over individual rights vs. public safety, as well as genetic and juridical/legal literacy in the public’s acceptance of a forensic DNA database, was investigated. Method: Within a correlational study, a written questionnaire was administered to a sample (N = 242) of university students. Results: Participants generally showed support for a forensic DNA database. Concerns over public safety predicted the acceptance of a DNA database, with those valuing public safety being more supportive of its implementation, whereas no role was played by familiarity with the fundamental mechanisms of genetics and with the Italian Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. Conclusion: Empirical research on this issue could provide policymakers and the police force with a better picture of the psychosocial factors underlying public support for the DNA database.

Common future and personal responsibilities: a comparison between Italian and Burundian students.

The political, social, and cultural history of a nation modulates the representations of rights and duties. The aim of this research is to compare students from two countries (Italy and Burundi) in terms of how they define their rights and duties. In the two countries, there are differences both in the legal protection of fundamental rights and in regard to material conditions, which in turn ensure the effectiveness of rights. Focus groups structured around nine questions were conducted in Burundi and in Italy. The discussions with Italian and Burundian students showed some clear differences. Although both groups speak of rights as something to be safeguarded and something that everyone is born with, Italian students do not recognize the complementarity of rights and duties and consider the latter simply as a limit and an obstacle to individual enhancement. On the contrary, Burundian adolescents seem more aware of their personal responsibilities and their role in protecting human rights.

Konflikte in organisationen: Erprobung eines instrumentes zur messung von einflusstaktiken

Die hier beschriebene Studie untersucht die Gültigkeit eines von Rodler und Kirchler (2002) publizierten Fragebogens zur Erhebung von Einflusstaktiken bei Konflikten in Organisationen. Diese Version des Fragebogens ist eine Modifikation von Kirchlers ursprünglichem Instrument, das in Studien zu Kaufentscheidungen von Ehepartnern im privaten Haushalt (1989, 1990, 1993a, 1993b, Kirchler, Rodler, Hölzel & Meier, 2001) entwickelt und nun in der Adaption für den organisationalen Kontext erstmalig einer größeren Stichprobe vorgelegt wurde. Nach der Darstellung verschiedener Konflikttypen und einer Klassifikation von Beeinflussungstaktiken werden die berechneten Gütekriterien des Fragebogens beschrieben. Außerdem wird untersucht, ob die Verwendung unterschiedlicher Einflusstaktiken von der Art des vorliegenden Konfliktes abhängt.Der Fragebogen kann zu Erstellung des individuellen Profils der Anwendung von Beeinflussungstaktiken, zum Beispiel in Fortbildungsseminaren der Personalentwicklung von Organisationen, verwendet werden.