Background:
Many organizations engage corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to meet stakeholders’ expectations and generate a favourable public image (Brammer and Pavelin, 2006). However, recent research has highlighted that organizations are likely to be involved in corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) behaviour even if they have otherwise done much to demonstrate CSR (Chen, Hang, Pavelin and Porter, 2020; Nardella, Brammer and Surdu, 2020). Nardella, Brammer and Surdu (2022) point out that social regulation (how non-governmental stakeholders exert their regulatory influence on organizations) can play a vital role of curbing CSI behaviour. But what remains largely unclear is whether and how social regulation can deter CSI.
The Project:
Key Objectives
Thus, the main purpose of this PhD project is to exam the effectiveness of social regulation of CSI behaviour in social media. This can extend existing literature on two fronts: first, by focusing on individuals’ interactions in social media and the resultant collective actions, this project provides a micro-foundation of social regulation. Second, while extant literature mainly focuses on stakeholders’ cognitive appraisal of CSI behaviour, it ignores the moral and emotional aspects of CSI judgment. But in social media individuals’ moral sentiments are more salient than those in the traditional media (Etter et al., 2019; Pollock et al., 2019). Thus, focusing on social media can provide unique insights about how moral and emotional aspects of social regulation can (or cannot) cube CSI behaviour.
Research Questions
This project aims to answer the following research questions:
- How individuals’ interactions in social media lead to the resultant collective actions towards CSI behaviour?
- Are individuals’ interactions in social media and the resultant collective actions towards CSI behaviour influenced by fake news and misinformation? If yes, how?
- Is social regulation effective in curbing CSI behaviour?
The Successful Candidate should:
Fulfil the entrance requirements for a PhD in the School of Management
Potential applicants need to have a background in management, and/or computer science and/or social media. Applicants are expected to have finished (or near completion) of their postgraduate studies.
Start date:
All PhD students must commence registration and PhD training in October 2023 (except in very exceptional circumstances such as transfer of commenced PhD candidates and with approval from the School Director of Doctoral Programmes)
Enquiries and Applications:
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Haiming Hang, [Email Address Removed]
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
Continue with Facebook
