@article{47917,
  abstract     = {{<jats:p> Companies disclosing negative aspects in sustainability reports often employ legitimation strategies to present mishaps in a favorable light. In incentivized experiments, we find that nonprofessional investors divest from companies with a negative sustainability-related incident, and that symbolic legitimation (which only evasively explains a negative incident) is not a strong enough signal to counter this divestment behavior. Even substantial legitimation (which reports on measures and behavioral change) mitigates the divestment decisions only if the company reports on concrete remediation actions in morally charged situations, such as social or environmental incidents. We elaborate these results in light of signaling and screening theory, and suggest the conceptual extension of “costly signals” to what we call “valuable signals.” We argue that valuable signals need be not only costly for the sender from an economic perspective but also perceived as appropriate by the receiver from a noneconomic perspective. </jats:p>}},
  author       = {{Hahn, Rüdiger and Reimsbach, Daniel and Kotzian, Peter and Feder, Madeleine and Weißenberger, Barbara E.}},
  issn         = {{0007-6503}},
  journal      = {{Business &amp; Society}},
  keywords     = {{Social Sciences (miscellaneous), Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous)}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{943--978}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  title        = {{{Legitimation Strategies as Valuable Signals in Nonfinancial Reporting? Effects on Investor Decision-Making}}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0007650319872495}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}

@article{47912,
  abstract     = {{<jats:p> Factorial surveys (FSs) integrate elements of survey research and classical experiments. Using a large number of respondents in a controlled setting, FSs approximate complex and realistic judgment situations through so-called vignettes—that is, carefully designed descriptions of hypothetical people, social situations, or scenarios. Despite being rooted, and predominantly applied, in sociology, FSs are particularly promising for business and society (B&amp;S) scholars. Given the multiplicity, inherent complexity, and sometimes fuzziness of B&amp;S research objects, conventional research methods inevitably reach their limits. This article, therefore, systematically presents methodological and thematic opportunities for FS studies in B&amp;S research. It is argued that FSs are well suited to dealing with the complex interplay of societal-, organizational-, and individual-level factors in B&amp;S research and to studying the principles underlying human perceptions, attitudes, values, social norms, and (anticipated) behavior. The application of the FS method is illustrated based on a showcase example in the realm of socially responsible investments (SRIs). As the literature on the conceptualization of FSs is limited, methodological challenges are addressed to guide B&amp;S researchers past the common methodological pitfalls. </jats:p>}},
  author       = {{Oll, Josua and Hahn, Rüdiger and Reimsbach, Daniel and Kotzian, Peter}},
  issn         = {{0007-6503}},
  journal      = {{Business &amp; Society}},
  keywords     = {{Social Sciences (miscellaneous), Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous)}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{26--59}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  title        = {{{Tackling Complexity in Business and Society Research: The Methodological and Thematic Potential of Factorial Surveys}}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0007650316645337}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}