Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies
Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies (ISSN: 2663-7197) is a double-blind peer-reviewed, monthly, open-access monthly journal published by Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development. It publishes high-quality articles across the breadth of humanities and social sciences research. With its uniquely broad coverage, all articles are free to access across the globe, allowing authors to share their research and maximise its impact. The journal is led by expert international editorial board members who take an objective approach to peer review, ensuring each research paper is reviewed and evaluated on its own scholarly merits and research integrity. Publishing your work in the Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies means you will receive prompt and reliable publishing and a global platform for your research to reach its full potential.
Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development
Intrapersonal Communication as a Psychological Restoration Mechanism Among Quarter-Life Crisis
Early adulthood is a transitional phase often marked by uncertainty and psychological pressure, which can manifest as a Quarter-Life Crisis (QLC). This study examines how intrapersonal communication functions as a mechanism for psychological restoration among young adults in Indonesia experiencing QLC. Using an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA), five participants were recruited through purposive sampling and engaged in in-depth interviews to explore their internal dialogue, reflective practices, and coping strategies. Data were analysed thematically to identify patterns of intrapersonal communication and meaning-making processes. Findings indicate that participants used both verbal self-talk and nonverbal reflective activities, including journaling, contemplation, and personal rituals, to regulate emotions, process experiences, and maintain psychological stability during periods of uncertainty. Intrapersonal communication also facilitated meaning reconstruction and adaptive reorientation of life goals, strengthening self-regulation, resilience, and a sense of agency. These practices persisted beyond the peak of the crisis, forming sustainable restorative pathways that support ongoing psychological well-being. The study highlights the significance of intrapersonal communication in promoting emotional regulation and resilience among young adults and points to practical applications in personal coping strategies, therapeutic interventions, family and community support, and workplace resilience programs. By integrating intrapersonal communication with psychological restoration theory, this research provides insight into how young adults in Indonesia navigate developmental challenges and recover from QLC.
quarter life crisis, intrapersonal communication, psychological restoration, self-reflection, early adulthood.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An Integrative Review of Studies on Teaching English for Art Education Purposes to Ph.D. Students
The literature revealed two major gaps: First, no systematic (SR) or integrative reviews (IRs) have examined the teaching of English for Art Education Purposes (EAEP), despite its growing relevance in Saudi higher education. No comprehensive review has synthesized research on reading, vocabulary, translation, electronic searching, research skills, or assessment within art education contexts. Second, no SRs have focused on the longitudinal development of a single scholar’s research program, although such an approach can offer valuable insights into the evolution of EAEP pedagogy, materials design, and instructional innovation over time. To fill these gaps, the present study aimed to conduct an IR of the author’s research on teaching EAEP between 2003 and 2013. The review synthesizes a decade of work on reading, vocabulary, translation, electronic searching, research skills, instructional strategies, technology integration, and assessment in English for art education contexts. Thus, this study provides a unique longitudinal perspective that is absent from existing ESP systematic reviews. This IR synthesized seven EAEP studies derived from a single teaching of the EAEP course in 2004/2005. The corpus was categorized into 5 thematic clusters: (i) Reading in Art Education, (ii) Translation in Art Education, (iii) Electronic Searching & Research Skills, (iv) Technology Integration in EAEP for Art and (v) Assessment in English for Art Education. Findings of this IR showed that EAEP instruction was grounded in a clear needs analysis that shaped all aspects of EAEP course design. Authentic disciplinary materials from art education scholarship played a central role in developing learners’ academic literacy. Reading, vocabulary, translation, electronic searching, and research skills functioned as an integrated system rather than isolated components. Structured scaffolding supported learners’ progression from guided engagement to greater autonomy. The technologies used reflected the limited institutional resources of the early 2000s but still facilitated meaningful engagement with specialized texts. Together, these findings position EAEP as a coherent form of disciplinary literacy and highlight the need for future research that explores diverse contexts and leverages contemporary digital and AI enhanced tools. This IR offers the first comprehensive synthesis of EAEP research and establishes a foundational framework for advancing disciplinary literacy in art education contexts.
Systematic Review (SR), English for art education purposes (EAEP), EAEP course design, EAEP teaching strategies, EAEP technologies, students’ needs analysis, academic needs, professional needs, EAEP assessment, art texts
The Impact of Business Intelligence on Organizational Excellence in Jordanian Commercial Banks
This study aims to investigate the impact of business intelligence on organizational excellence in Jordanian commercial banks. In an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment, commercial banks must adopt strategic tools that enhance their decision-making processes and overall performance. Business intelligence—through its core dimensions of data management systems, data analysis systems, management support systems, and report presentation—plays a pivotal role in improving operational efficiency and sustaining competitive advantage. The study adopted a quantitative approach using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed model and hypotheses. Data were collected from a proportional stratified random sample comprising 280 managers from senior and middle management levels across 12 Jordanian commercial banks. The findings revealed that all dimensions of business intelligence have a statistically significant and positive effect on the dimensions of organizational excellence, namely leadership excellence, subordinate excellence, strategy excellence, and operations excellence. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhancing investment in business intelligence infrastructure, fostering a data-driven organizational culture, and providing training for managerial staff to optimize the strategic use of BI tools—ultimately supporting sustainable excellence and competitiveness in the banking sector.
Business Intelligence, Organizational Excellence, Jordanian Commercial Banks
The awareness of students in the Faculties of Science and Information Technology regarding the importance of studying mathematics in serving the local community
The aim of this study is to explore the level of awareness among students of the Faculties of Science and Information Technology regarding the importance of studying mathematics in serving the local community, as well as the extent to which the mathematical concepts they learn during their university studies are connected to their daily lives, local community problems, and solutions to these problems. The study adopted a descriptive approach, and a questionnaire was designed to collect data from the study population. The questionnaire included several sections: general student information, awareness of the importance of mathematics, attitudes and practical behavior, and obstacles and challenges. The study sample consisted of 178 students from the Faculties of Science (Mathematics and Chemistry majors) and Information Technology (Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Networking Systems, and Information Security majors).
Student awareness, studying mathematics, serving the local community, mathematical concepts
Copyright (c) 2026 kholoud shqurat https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cognitive Biases in Group Decision-Making Processes and Their Impact on Decision Quality
This paper systematically explores the manifestations of cognitive biases in group decision-making processes and their impact on decision quality. As a decision-making form characterized by multi-agent participation and collective deliberation, group decision-making is widely applied in organizational management, public policy formulation, and social governance. However, cognitive biases inherent in individual members and their interactions significantly constrain decision effectiveness. The article begins by reviewing the basic processes and characteristics of group decision-making, as well as the psychological and social origins of cognitive biases. Building on this foundation, it focuses on analyzing the specific manifestations and mechanisms of typical cognitive biases—such as availability bias, selective attention, representativeness bias, anchoring effects, confirmation bias, and groupthink—during the three stages of information collection, information evaluation, and decision formation. These biases lead to fragmented information acquisition, distorted judgment, and opinion convergence, thereby reducing decision accuracy, increasing risks, and hindering team collaboration. To address these issues, the article proposes systematic strategies from three aspects: enhancing members’ cognitive abilities, optimizing decision-making processes and mechanisms, and fostering an open and inclusive team atmosphere.
Group decision-making; Decision-Making Processes; cognitive biases; decision quality
Burundian Women: Key Actors in Peace Amid Persistent Challenges
This literature review examines the role of Burundian women in peace and security processes through a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed and grey literature available online, following the PRISMA methodology. Burundi’s armed conflicts have had profound social, political, and humanitarian consequences; however, women have emerged as critical actors in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict peacebuilding. The review highlights key historical and institutional contributions, notably the 1996 Burundian Women’s Peace Conference, which significantly influenced the national peace process and contributed to the incorporation of a 30% gender quota in the Constitution. Furthermore, the training of thousands of women as community mediators has strengthened local conflict resolution mechanisms and social cohesion. Despite these advances, significant challenges persist. Women remain underrepresented in formal security and decision-making institutions, and gender-based violence continues to undermine peace and security efforts. The findings also reveal a substantial gap between normative frameworks—particularly United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security—and their effective implementation at national and local levels. This review underscores the need to enhance women’s meaningful participation across all levels of peace and security governance, address impunity for gender-based violence, and provide sustained support to grassroots women-led initiatives. The study concludes by identifying areas for future research, including the long-term impact of gender quotas and the lived experiences of women peacebuilders in Burundi, to inform more inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding strategies.
Women, Peace and Security; Burundi; Gender Quotas; Conflict Resolution; UNSCR 1325; Peacebuilding
An Investigation into the Linguistic Landscape of Shop Signs in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Governorate: A Sociolinguistic Study
The topic of the linguistic landscape is an increasingly researched area within the domain of sociolinguistics as it has the potentiality of exposing the languages used in a specific community and the views and ideologies associated with them. One of the demonstrations of the linguistic landscape is via the shop signs in the streets and markets of a certain community. Thus, this study attempts at cultivating the use of English in the shop signs of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Governorate centre, which is located in the southwest of the capital, Baghdad. It basically aims at investigating the distribution of shop signs that demonstrate the use of English in central and peripheral areas, as well as investigating the factors that have the potentiality of being responsible for using English from the point of view of shop owners. The data are collected from three areas starting from the city centre to the peripheral areas. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method by giving a detailed description of the types and functions of the linguistic landscapes used in the shop signs. The results show that English is used in the central areas as in Al-Rawan and Al-Muthanaa streets more than the peripheral ones as in Al-Wafaa and Al-Askarii area. Besides, the targeted customers, English competency and the educational level of the shop owner, effect of main trading cities, and creating a name that is easily remembered by customers due to its association with the products and services provided by the shop, the prestigious social class inhabiting the center of the city, their educational level and high economic income are the main factors that affect the choice of English in shop signage.
Linguistic Landscape, Their Types, Functions, Shop Signs, Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf.
Predictive Validity of Diagnostic Tests on Graduate Students' Academic and Comprehensive Examination Performance
Diagnostic Test scores were assessed for predictive validity on Academic Performance (GWA) and Comprehensive Examination Performance in 291 Northeastern College graduates. The quantitative correlational research approach used secondary data and the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) to examine whether early assessments predicted academic success. Diagnostic Test scores showed a weak positive correlation with Academic Performance (r= 0.162, p = 0.006). Higher diagnostic scores slightly improve GWA outcomes, but the test has little predictive potential for program academic performance. This indicates that academic achievement is complex and shaped by contextual and motivational factors beyond cognitive capacity, necessitating integrated evaluation methods. The Diagnostic Test did not predict the high-stakes Comprehensive Examination Performance (r= 0.040, p=0.492). Academic Performance (GWA) did not connect with Comprehensive Examination Performance (r= 0.28, p = 0.633). Initial diagnostic tests and overall academic grades did not predict performance on the comprehensive exam. High-stakes tests require a cumulative application of knowledge and skills that early assessments and traditional grades cannot provide. The study recommends a more comprehensive, multifaceted assessment strategy that uses targeted preparatory programs to address skill deficiencies identified through diagnostic testing, thereby improving the prediction of graduate program success.
Predictive validity, Diagnostic test, Academic performance, Comprehensive examination, General Weighted Average (GWA), Correlational research, Graduate students.
Assessment of Library Service Quality at a Private Higher Education Institution
This mixed-methods study examines library services at a private higher education institution using a quantitative survey and students' qualitative remarks. The Philippine education system relies on evaluation to improve student performance, satisfaction, and services to meet academic needs. The quantitative phase uses stratified random sampling (n=391) and a customized version of LibQUAL+ to measure five service characteristics (Physical, Services, Collections, Selection, and Staff). The qualitative stage identified users' challenges and suggestions through open-ended questions and topic analysis. Participants generally rated the library staff (M=4.14) and physical characteristics (M=4.15) positively. Internet access and replacing worn materials were the lowest-rated (M = 3.92). Qualitative findings revealed service gaps in limited/outdated resources, noise, and staff approachability (demeanor and empathy). Significant differences in service impression by year level were found (p < .001), with fourth-year students holding the least favorable views across all parameters. Strengths of the library include the expertise of core staff and physical accessibility. It must address inadequacies in resource currency, IT infrastructure, and noise management services. According to the study, a year-level and gender-focused service strategy is needed. Institutional technology modernization investments should focus on error management, user understanding, and technology upgrading. Staff training should include required user-centered training to close the affective rapport gap.
Library Services, User Satisfaction, Triangulation, LibQUAL
Assessment of pedagogical and Technical Quality of Generative AI Response in Java OOP
In this study, we examine the quality of answers returned by AI language models (GenAI) to Java Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) questions. A 20-question package was developed, including questions on Classes, Objects, Encapsulation, Inheritance Polymorphism and Constructors. Each GA was then rated with respect to the MAs and SAs in terms of (a) how correct it was; (b) how much understanding it revealed; (c) how clear it is; (d) if included code, whether the code quality was acceptable; and also, in terms of potential “hallucination.” The experimental results demonstrate that GenAI generates high-quality answers, especially in the correctness and conceptual depth aspects, but may fail to make a clear response for questions of complex semantics. The research offers a transferable model for AI evaluation in education.
Generative AI, Java OOP, Programming Education, AI Evaluation
Copyright (c) 2026 Hadeel Alshboul https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Framing Freedom in Narjiss Nejjar’s The Rif Lover (2011): Female Agency Between Empowerment and Western Tropes
This paper conducts a critical examination of the sociocultural factors that influence the experiences of Moroccan women confronting social depression. It centers on one of Morocco’s most debated films, The Rif Lover (2011), directed by Narjiss Nejjar. The film employs specific cinematic techniques, such as framing, editing, and visual symbolism, to explore interconnected themes including love, female sexuality, freedom, and notably, female empowerment. Produced during a period marked by significant events, including the Democratic Spring and King Mohammed VI's historic speech acknowledging the importance of gender equality across various domains. This era had a marked influence on Moroccan cinema and culture. During this period, Moroccan filmmakers began addressing numerous cultural taboos. By applying postcolonial-feminist theory alongside a qualitative visual thematic analysis, this article demonstrates how a female diasporic filmmaker may inadvertently reinforce Western notions of women’s liberation and desire. The film's findings are situated within the director's skillful use of cinematic techniques, rendering it a poetic text that offers female characters a space and a voice through the camera's lens. She opens a new debate on women’s freedom and religion within Moroccan society, which is both traditional and modern, and has been influenced by colonization for approximately forty years.
Moroccan cinema, cinematography, love, sexuality, female body, and Moroccan culture
Assessing The Effect of Early Literacy Growth with Parental Involvement in the Kindergarten Learners
This study assessed the effect of parental involvement on early literacy development of kindergarten in Bantayan Central Elementary School, Ticad, Bantayan, Cebu, during the SY 2024-2025 using a descriptive-correlational design. A total of 112 respondents, comprising 105 parent-respondents and 7 kindergarten teachers. The data gathered were the demographic profiles of the respondents, the level of parents’ involvement in the school activities of the learners, and the level of early literacy development of the learners in terms of language development, attitudes towards reading, and voluntary reading. These were analyzed using percentage frequency, weighted mean, and Pearson’s r correlation. Results showed a very high level of parental involvement in the different school activities of the learners, as indicated in the different indicators mentioned. This indicates that parental involvement in school activities has a positive and significant impact on the student performance. The study recommends that parents should be involved in the early literacy development of the kindergarten learners.
Parental involvement, Early literacy development, Kindergarten learners, Language development
Parental Involvement: A Vital Component of Kindergarten Learners’ Early Literacy Development
This study assessed parental involvement and early literacy development of kindergarten learners. The research employed a descriptive correlational design to examine the relationship between parental involvement and early literacy development. A total of one hundred twelve respondents participated, comprising one hundred five parents and seven kindergarten teachers. Data were gathered using adapted survey questionnaires from established research instruments and analyzed using frequency count, percentage, weighted mean, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results revealed that parent-respondents were predominantly female from younger age groups with diverse educational backgrounds, smaller family sizes, and lower income levels, while teacher-respondents were predominantly female with substantial teaching experience and graduate-level qualifications. Parental involvement in school activities demonstrated very high levels across nearly all indicators. Early literacy development showed very high overall performance, with language development scoring higher than attitudes towards reading and voluntary reading behaviors. The correlation analysis revealed a weak positive relationship between parental involvement and early literacy development that was not statistically significant, leading to acceptance of the null hypothesis. The findings suggest that the school represents an optimal educational context where ceiling effects mask the relationship between variables. An Early Literacy Development Plan was proposed to address specific areas requiring enhancement while building upon existing strengths.
Beyond Institutional Collaboration: Collaborative Governance and it's Limits in Socio-economic Empowerment Programs for Vulnerable Woman
The Women’s socioeconomic vulnerability remains a persistent policy challenge in decentralized governance contexts, requiring governance approaches that extend beyond sectoral and institutional boundaries. This study examines how collaborative governance is structured and enacted in the empowerment of Perempuan Rawan Sosial Ekonomi (PRSE) in Kabupaten Jember, Indonesia, and assesses its implications for women’s socioeconomic empowerment outcomes. Employing a qualitative phenomenological design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, non-participant observation, and document analysis involving key institutional actors and PRSE beneficiaries. Data were analyzed using an interactive model of qualitative analysis. The findings reveal that collaborative governance in PRSE empowerment has been formally established through multi-actor involvement but remains substantively limited. Collaboration is predominantly government-led, with asymmetric power relations and procedural participation by beneficiaries. While empowerment initiatives improve access to skills training, financial literacy, and short-term economic resilience, these outcomes are weakly institutionalized and lack sustainability due to fragmented coordination and limited beneficiary involvement in decision-making processes. This study contributes to collaborative governance and gender empowerment literature by demonstrating that institutional collaboration alone is insufficient to produce transformative empowerment outcomes. Meaningful empowerment requires inclusive governance mechanisms, substantive power-sharing, and integrated policy coordination. Practically, the findings highlight the need for participatory governance reforms and sustainability-oriented empowerment strategies to enhance the long-term socioeconomic autonomy of vulnerable women. The study offers empirical insights for policymakers and scholars concerned with gender-responsive governance and social policy implementation in developing-country contexts
Women’s empowerment; Woman Socioeconomic vulnerability; PRSE; Local governance
Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Wahdatul Chilmy, Hadi Prayitno, Supranoto Supranoto, Linda Dwi Eriyanti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Innovative Word Formation and Pluralization Processes in Arabic: A Systematic Review
This study addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a self systematic review of innovative word formation and pluralization processes in Arabic, especially those shaped by hybridization, borrowing, and social media. It synthesizes thirteen studies published by the author between 2020 and 2025, covering innovative morphological processes, such as aspectual and temporal markers in Colloquial Arabic, innovative blends, clipping of borrowings, derived verbs from loanwords; derivation from acronyms; hybrid compounds, lexical hybrids with foreign affixes, innovative forms with borrowed affixes; rule based and idiosyncratic loanword plural forms, gemination and degemination before the feminine sound plural suffix; feminine sound plurals ending in /ya:t/, /yya:t/, and /h+a:t/; and pluralization of borrowed social media terminology. The studies were categorized into 3 clusters: (i) innovative derivation (seven studies) which includes: derivation from loanwords; lexical shortening and blending, hybrid compounds and colloquial morphological innovation; (ii) Innovative plural formation (five studies) which includes: loanword plural patterns, feminine sound plural variants, and new plural forms common on social media. (iii) Cross linguistic plural translation challenges (one study). Together, these studies reveal that innovation in Arabic word formation is not random or chaotic. Rather, it operates within a flexible but rule governed morphological system that accommodates both native structures and foreign inputs while preserving internal coherence. These converging findings reveal that innovation in Arabic morphology is shaped by a dynamic interaction between internal system constraints and contact induced pressures. Native morphological templates continue to function as the dominant organizing principles, even when the lexical input is foreign. Borrowed items are typically naturalized through predictable processes such as feminine sound pluralization, gemination adjustments before the suffix, and analogical extension of native patterns to foreign bases. Simultaneously, the studies show that sociolinguistic aspects (digital communication, social media, political discourse, and youth slang) serve as incubators for rapid morphological experimentation, producing blends, clipped forms, borrowed affixes and hybrid compounds that circulate widely before they stabilize or disappear. This interplay between structural regularity and sociolinguistic creativity suggests that Arabic morphology is both resilient in the face of borrowing and innovation and is actively generative, capable of absorbing new lexical material while preserving the integrity of its core morphological architecture.
Systematic review (SR), translation studies, student translators, Al-Jarf’s translation studies, Arabic-English translation studies, English-Arabic translation studies, literal translation, translation error types translation strategies, translation error sources
Assessing the Home Literacy Environment as a Foundation for Enhancing the Literacy Skills of Grade Two Learners
This study assessed the Home Literacy Environment (HLE) as a foundation for enhancing the literacy skills of learners. Specifically, it examined the status of the HLE in terms of physical environment, parent literacy habits, child literacy habits, parent–child interaction, and parental beliefs, as well as the learners’ literacy skills in word recognition, sentence reading, reading fluency, and comprehension. The study employed a descriptive–correlational research design and was conducted in a public elementary school setting. Using total sampling technique, the respondents consisted of five Grade Two teachers and 157 parents of Grade Two learners. Data were gathered through a Survey Questionnaire for Parents adapted from Buvaneswari and Padakannaya and the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) developed by Tancioco and Ortega-Dela Cruz. Statistical tools included frequency counts, percentages, weighted mean, and Pearson Product–Moment Correlation Coefficient. Findings revealed that the home literacy environment was generally supportive of literacy development, and learners demonstrated stronger foundational reading skills than higher-level reading competencies. The results indicated that home literacy conditions contributed meaningfully to learners’ reading development. The study concluded that strengthening home–school collaboration is essential in improving early literacy outcomes. Based on the findings, a Literacy Skills Enhancement Plan was proposed to reinforce parental involvement and support school- based literacy instruction.
Home literacy environment, early literacy, reading skills, parental involvement, word recognition, reading fluency, comprehension
Influence of Home Literacy Environment on the Literacy Skills of Grade Two Learners
This study assessed the influence of the home literacy environment on the literacy skills of learners. It examined the home literacy environment in terms of physical environment, parent literacy habits, child literacy habits, parent–child interaction, and parental beliefs, as well as learners’ literacy skills in word recognition, sentence reading, reading fluency, and comprehension. A descriptive–correlational research design was employed to describe existing home literacy conditions and determine their relationship with learners’ literacy skills without manipulating variables. The study was conducted at Can-asujan Elementary School in Barangay Can-asujan, Carcar City, Cebu. The respondents consisted of seventy-six (76) participants, including two (2) Grade Two teachers and seventy-four (74) parents from two Grade Two sections. Total Sampling Technique was used to select respondents directly involved in the learners’ literacy development at home and in school. Data were collected using a standardized parent survey adapted from Buvaneswari and Padakannaya (2017) to assess the home literacy environment and the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) developed by Tancioco and Ortega-Dela Cruz (2021) to measure learners’ literacy skills. Statistical tools employed included frequency count, percentage, weighted mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product–Moment Correlation Coefficient. The results served as the empirical basis for the development of the proposed Literacy Skills Enhancement Plan.
Home Literacy Environment; Literacy Skills; Grade Two Learners
The Influence of Social Media on Students’ Written Discourse: Phenomenological Analysis
This phenomenological study is about the lived experiences of senior high school students and teachers on the influence of social media on students' written discourse. The data were collected from fifteen (15) participants through personal interviews using open-ended questions. All responses were recorded for transcription using a cellular phone. Colaizzi's method was used for data analysis. After a thorough analysis of the transcripts, the following six (6) themes arose to capture the students and teachers' lived experiences: Facebook and Messenger as the Most Widely Used, Teachers' Permission of Social Media in the Classroom, Adapting Social Media Trends and Their Informality, Reduces the Formality of Written Communication, Social Media as a Distraction, Dual Impact of Social Media on Students' Performance. The study concluded that senior high school students and teachers have faced challenges with written communication due to the influences of social media on students. Despite all these challenges, the teachers remained hopeful that the students could learn and use their critical thinking skills without the reliance on social media, especially in terms of writing style and language use. Based on the findings, the researchers recommend that students use social media for academic reasons with greater awareness. In addition to encouraging reading and writing at home, parents must watch and assist their children. Teachers should also interact with parents to explain their children's performance and enforce highly regulated classroom social media use. Introduce targeted writing assignments, grammar lessons, and critical thinking challenges. Guidelines addressing the influence of social media on written discourse are to be implemented by the school administration. Future Researchers will conduct additional studies on the long-term impacts of social media use on students' academic writing, comparing studies across many geographic locations and educational levels to find more general trends and solutions.
Lived experiences, influence of social media, written discourse, qualitative method, phenomenological analysis
Copyright (c) 2026 Jonalyn E. Bohano, Ylnah T. Garolacan, Jessa A. Camero, Marry Cres T. Sencio, Honey Lou R. Malig-on, Marciano C. Placencia Jr, Jaypee R. Lopres https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Research Cultures in Applied Linguistics and TESOL: Book Review
The book provides an essential analysis of research culture development in applied linguistics and TESOL across various institutional and geopolitical settings. It demonstrates how research culture emerges through neoliberal policies, institutional choices and academic traditions within specific local contexts, while also showing that ethical and collaborative research environments remain possible despite these pressures. The book organized into three sections that collectively examine research culture in applied linguistics and TESOL across multiple higher education systems globally. The third section explores open-science initiatives and proposes practical methods to create equitable research settings. The volume is particularly relevant to my own academic context, as it addresses my current academic challenges related to research performance assessment, teaching responsibilities and supervision methods, issues also documented in studies on Saudi EFL teacher education and postgraduate research supervision (AbuSa’aleek & Alharbi, 2025; Alharbi, 2020, 2022).
Research culture, Applied linguistics, TESOL, Higher education, Academic evaluation, Saudi context
University–Community Collaboration in Hakka Cultural Sustainability
This study examines the role of universities in promoting local cultural sustainability through collaborative governance, using the transformation of the Xin Ding Festival in Jiadong Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, as a case study. Facing challenges such as population aging, declining birth rates, and difficulties in cultural inheritance, the traditional Hakka festival experienced a gradual loss of vitality. Since 2017, a university team has participated continuously in the festival, collaborating with the local faith center and community organizations to support cultural revitalization. This research adopts a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with university team members, long-term participant observation and fieldwork from 2017 to 2024, and document and visual material analysis. These data were used to examine the collaborative process, governance mechanisms, and power dynamics among stakeholders involved in the cultural transformation. The findings reveal that the university functioned as a resource broker and value translator within a collaborative governance network. Through a progressive four-stage strategy, the university team introduced external resources, activity innovations, and contemporary social values while maintaining core traditional rituals. This process ultimately facilitated the transformation of the Xin Ding Festival into the “Xin Ding Xin Zhi Festival,” incorporating gender equality into local cultural practice. However, the collaboration also exposed power asymmetries and trust challenges, particularly after external funding was secured. In response, the university adopted a flexible conflict adaptation strategy that prioritized long-term relationship sustainability over direct confrontation. This study concludes that universities can play a critical bridging role in cultural sustainability by combining academic resources, contextual sensitivity, and adaptive governance strategies. The findings contribute a practical model of university–community collaboration and offer insights into managing power dynamics in the sustainable revitalization of intangible cultural heritage.
Collaborative Governance; University Mission; Stakeholders; Cultural Sustainability
Copyright (c) 2026 Su-Li Lin, Chih-Hao Tsai, Chih-Fang Chiu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Alienation and Liberation in Ludic Interaction: Reconstructing Human-Machine Intersubjectivity and Ethical Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The "ludic" phenomenon in the age of artificial intelligence, characterized by its openness, generativity, and affective interaction, has reconfigured human-machine relationships, prompting a shift in research paradigms from a subject-object dichotomy towards an exploration of intersubjectivity. Digitally-mediated play formally echoes the "play-freedom" emancipatory narrative from Schiller to Marx. By simulating dialogue and affective recognition, it offers users experiences of creative expression and companionship. However, under the logic of digital capitalism, this interaction reveals a profound triple dimension of alienation: users' cognitive attention and affective energy are covertly exploited and datafied during their free time; the simulacrum of recognition provided by algorithms erodes the foundation of genuine social bonds and subjective construction; furthermore, entertaining interactions embed ideological discipline, achieving a soft incorporation of the individual. To navigate this duality, it is imperative to establish an ethical framework centered on transparency, symmetry, and exit rights. By cultivating critical digital literacy and promoting democratic participation in technology, the ultimate aim is to steer ludic practice back to its authentic purpose as a "realm of freedom" that fosters the comprehensive and free development of human beings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zisi Yang, Ying Yang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
An Ethnographic Study on the Psychological Effects of Ritualsin the Fishing Communities of Siquijor Island
This ethnographic study examined the traditional fishing rituals and their psychological influences within the fishing communities in Siquijor Island in the Philippines. It focused on understanding the psycho-social elements of the rituals on the members of the fishing community, their relationships with one another, and cultural perpetuation as well as the role these rituals play in controlling risk and uncertainty surrounding fishing. Using a qualitative research design, data was gathered using key informant interviews and focused group discussion methodologies alongside field work observation. The following key themes emerged: spiritual and psychological connection; cultural importance; community cohesion; psychological impacts behind fishing rituals; intergenerational transmission; and luck and misfortune. These themes demonstrate how the rituals aid in managing emotional and psychological difficulties, impart control and a sense of resilience, strengthen social relationships, and sustain cultural practices. These themes illustrate that traditional fishing rituals are vital for enhancing psychological well-being and providing emotional support, reinforcing community relationships, and helping fishers deal with the unpredictable nature of their work. It is recommended that a focus on future research including long-term studies on tangible psychosocial impact, preservation and transmission of these rituals through digital archiving, and conducting similar research in other Southeast Asian fishing communities, can provide greater insight into the significance of rituals in alleviating work-related stress and fostering cultural continuity.
Fishing rituals; indigenous psychology; Sikolohiyang Pilipino; social psychology
Copyright (c) 2026 Eric Mark E. Opaon https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Study on the Construction and Translation of the “Gap Year” on social media from the Perspective of Life Course Theory Based on a Comparative Analysis of Chinese and U.S. Data
Based on the concept of “deinstitutionalization” in life course theory, this study seeks to reconstruct the representation and construction of the “gap year” concept on social media through data analysis of the Weibo and X (Twitter) platforms, to comparatively examine the action translation occurring in China, and to explore the deinstitutionalized implications embedded in the concept of the “gap year.” Using the PMI algorithm, a textual co-occurrence analysis is conducted on posts from the two platforms, and thematic clustering is performed through a modular community detection algorithm to present the themes and intensities of related discussions across different platforms. Sentiment analysis is carried out using the SnowNLP analysis model and the TextBlob text-processing library in Python, with sentiment statistics and visualization conducted by date and related themes. From three dimensions—negative, neutral, and positive—the patterns of emotional evolution across different actions are analyzed, revealing the practical forms and emotional trends of the “gap year” concept in China. The analysis shows that gap year practices presented by actors on social networks exhibit clear thematic and emotional differences, and that emotional changes across stages display a pronounced ripple effect. When linked to life course theory, the “gap year” concept undergoes a transformation in the process of translation—from active to passive, and from practices of self-exploration to strategies of returning to the educational system.
gap year; life course theory; semantic network analysis; sentiment analysis
Accessibility Of Public Events: The Perspective of Persons With Disabilities And Special Needs
The article analyzes issues related to the creation and development of an inclusive society, where it is essential to ensure equal opportunities for all individuals to participate in social and cultural life, and where the accessibility of public events for persons with disabilities is a key condition for such inclusion. Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and scientific literature, it is emphasized that the participation of persons with disabilities or special needs in public events is limited by physical, organizational, and social barriers, while the application of universal design principles can significantly enhance event accessibility. The aim of the study is to examine the participation of persons with disabilities or special needs in public events. A quantitative research method—an electronic survey—was employed. The sample consisted of 250 respondents. The study revealed that the opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in public events are assessed as average, with somewhat more favorable evaluations provided by women, younger respondents, and residents of cities and towns. It was found that persons with disabilities typically attend events once a month, and their main reasons for participation include self-education, personal development, and entertainment. Most respondents attended in-person events over the past 2–3 years, while online events were more popular among women, residents of major cities, and those aged 25–44. Summarizing the findings, it was determined that in-person participation remains the most preferred format, and the choice of events is often based on individually assessed possibilities for participation.
public events, accessibility, persons with disabilities, persons with special needs
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Role of Parental Engagement in Enhancing Social-Emotional School Readiness of Early Childhood Learners in Public Schools
This study examined the role of parental engagement in enhancing the social-emotional school readiness of early childhood learners in a public school in Cebu. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed, with 400 parent respondents selected using a purposive sampling technique during the school year 2025-2026. Data were gathered through validated questionnaires on parental engagement and social-emotional school readiness and analyzed using weighted means, standard deviations, and Pearson r correlation. Findings revealed that parents demonstrated very high engagement across all dimensions, while learners were perceived as extremely ready in all social-emotional domains. Results further indicated a significant positive relationship between parental engagement and social-emotional readiness, affirming that parental involvement contributes to children’s preparedness for formal schooling. Thus, parental engagement is a critical factor in fostering emotional and social competencies essential for school success. It recommends strengthening family-school partnerships through structured programs, parent education initiatives, and home-based learning strategies to sustain and enhance readiness outcomes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kristine Ann F. Villariaza, Kaitlin Marie M. Opingo, Lilibeth C. Pinili, Emerson D. Peteros, Raymond C. Espina, Reylan G. Capuno, Marjorie B. Añero https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Symbiotic Governance in the Silver Economy: Integrating Vocational Education and Geriatric Learning in a Symbiotic Education Initiative in Guangzhou
China’s rapid population aging has increased demand for high-quality eldercare and exposed weaknesses in education and training. Vocational colleges that prepare the care workforce and universities for the aged that promote active aging have developed on separate tracks, creating a split system in which youth programs stress technical skills and elder programs focus on leisure. This article analyzes an integrated experiment in Guangzhou, the Symbiotic Education for Aging Initiative, and proposes symbiotic governance to reconnect these subsystems. Drawing on Structural Functionalism, Situated Learning Theory, the Intergroup Contact Hypothesis, and Activity Theory, the study uses an embedded single-case design, combining policy and program documents with institutional data on certification, employment, older adults’ participation, and employer feedback. It first identifies three main problems in the current system (curriculum split, scenario isolation, faculty gaps), then reconstructs the initiative as an ecosystem of institutional permeability, youth–silver co-learning, and spatial–digital extension, and finally presents indicative improvements in student outcomes, older adults’ agency, and industry alignment. Conceptually, the article advances the ideas of symbiotic education, institutionalized empathy, and a possible third demographic dividend, where intergenerational learning turns older adults’ time and experience into renewed human and social capital.
Intergenerational Learning, Vocational Education,; Universities for the Aged, Symbiotic Governance
Press and Digital Discourses on Decriminalizing Consensual Relations in Morocco: A Netnographic Study
The decriminalization of consensual extramarital relations in Morocco, as proposed under reforms to Article 490 of the Penal Code, has created an intense debate intersecting culture, religion, domestic law, and human rights. This study investigates the digital debates surrounding this significant change in the socio-legal framework of the country. Using a netnographic approach, online comments and reactions to the announcement of the reform, and thematic analysis of newspaper articles to see how these reactions are echoed in prominent media outlets. Findings reveal that there is a polarization among Moroccans, since supporters of the decriminalization emphasize universal values like individual freedoms, bodily autonomy, and commitment to international human rights obligations. Opponents invoke religious values, cultural identity, and concerns about social order. Media echo and promote these divides depending on the orientation of the outlet. The study highlights Morocco’s tension between modernity and traditional identity, which underscores the need for culturally sensitive reform.
Human rights, cultural change, legal reforms, gender, women, morality
Impact Of Face-To-Face Class Resumption on Early Childhood Development Competencies
This study examined the impact of face-to-face class resumption on the Early Childhood Development (ECD) competencies of kindergarten learners. Using a descriptive-quantitative research design, the study assessed 86 participants comprising 2 teacher respondents and 84 kindergarten learners through the standardized Early Childhood Development (ECD) checklist issued by the Department of Education (DepEd). This tool measured learner progress across multiple domains: socio-emotional, gross motor, fine motor, self-help, receptive and expressive language, and cognitive development. Pre- and post-assessment results showed marked developmental improvements in all areas following the resumption of face-to-face classes. Regular school attendance further supported learner engagement and exposure to formal instruction. The use of paired samples t-test revealed statistically significant differences between pre- and post- assessment scores, affirming the positive impact of in-person learning modalities. To address residual developmental gaps and reinforce instructional effectiveness, an Enhancement Plan was developed. The plan featured targeted, phase-based interventions aligned with DepEd’s quarterly framework. The study affirmed that structured early learning environments and consistent school attendance were critical in promoting holistic growth among young learners in the post-pandemic context.
Face to Face Class, Early Childhood Development, Pre- and post-assessment results
The Symbol of Garuda as A Cultural Media and Ideology: A Case Study in Bali-Indonesia
Garuda is a mythological creature originated from Vedic literature, depicted as a combination of human and bird. The purpose of this paper is to understand the meaning of the Garuda symbol as a cultural and ideological medium from the perspective of postmodernist thought, which is a very interesting topic to discuss. Until now, the Garuda symbol in cultural and ideological media has rarely been discussed the meaning behind the use of the Garuda symbol in aspects of contemporary Indonesian society. The Garuda symbol in contemporary life in Indonesia, especially on the island of Bali, contains certain meanings. The meanings contained in the symbolization of the Garuda as a cultural and ideological medium certainly have various interpretations, depending on the subject of society who interprets this Garuda symbol. This is related to the culture of the use of bird symbols as ideological symbols. The approach used to answer several problems in understanding the meaning of the Garuda symbol as a cultural and ideological medium in the perspective of postmodernist thought is the hermeneutic approach associated with postmodernist thought to provide an interpretation of the Garuda symbol as a cultural and ideological medium. The hermeneutic approach in this paper is borrowed in providing interpretation and critically analyzed from postmodern thought to understand the meaning of the Garuda symbol as a cultural and ideological medium. For this reason, it is still felt necessary to examine more deeply so that the meaning behind the meaning of the Garuda symbol can be understood more deeply from the perspective of cultural studies. Based on the above description, understanding the Garuda symbol as a cultural and ideological medium from a postmodern perspective is quite compelling. This interest stems from the specific meaning each postmodernist perspective possesses, allowing for a deeper analysis of the meaning behind the Garuda symbol.
Garuda, mythological, creature, symbol, cultural, media, ideology
Oaths and Orders: Navigating Wartime Medical Neutrality in Deanna Germain’s Reaching Past the Wire: A Nurse at Abu Ghraib
This paper examines the ethical tension confronting the healthcare workers stationed at Abu Ghraib Prison, where the principles of humanitarian care dissolved under the pressure of state-sanctioned violence, preexisting structural violence and the intense scrutiny of the international public gaze. Focusing on Major Deanna Germain’s memoir, Reaching Past the Wire: A Nurse at Abu Ghraib, the study offers a critical account of the challenges of maintaining medical neutrality in the context of a morally degraded prison where complicity and care coexist. Most of the scholarly literature that concerns itself with questions of medical neutrality during wartime has largely documented the ethical transgressions of healthcare providers, with far less scholarship attending to the experience of those who attempted to maintain a commitment to medical ethics under intense pressure. I draw on Virginia Held’s “ethics of care” to argue that Germain’s memoir testifies to a nurse’s effort to fashion an ethical self in a prison context that works to deconstruct such a caring self. The memoir complicates the image of Abu Ghraib as merely a site of institutionalized abuse by offering a counternarrative in which care, agency, and medical ethics persist, however tenuously. Read in this way, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of medical accountability and the potential for compassionate practice within the frame of institutionalized violence.
medical neutrality, Deanna Germain, Reaching Past the Wire, ethics of care, Virginia Held, war nurses, Abu Ghraib, Iraq War