Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS) (Journal of UniSZA - Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin)
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Boosting language learning with MCII strategy: A quasi-experimental study on secondary students
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Foreign language learning has long been a research topic, with pedagogical challenges frequently examined. While self-regulation is recognized as critical to student motivation and success, the effectiveness of specific self-regulatory strategies in foreign language learning merits further investigation. This study sought to explore the impact of a self-regulatory strategy, mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII), on secondary students’ foreign language learning performance.
Methodology: This quasi-experimental study involved 47 fifth-grade students attending a foreign language course at a secondary school. Participants were assigned to an MCII group (n=27) or a comparison group (n=20). The MCII group received instruction on identifying goals, envisioning the best outcome, anticipating obstacles, and creating plans to overcome them. The comparison group received instruction on identifying goals and envisioning the best outcome. Grade point averages in the English course from the first and second semesters were used as pre-test and post-test measures. A general linear model was used to analyse the data.
Findings: The MCII group performed significantly better in the foreign language course at the end of the semester than the comparison group, with a medium effect size (η2p = .11). Participants in the MCII condition achieved higher GPA difference scores (M= 8.15, SD = 10.05) than those in the comparison condition (M= 2.82, SD= 6.17).
Contributions: MCII strategy fosters goal-directed behaviour, goal striving, and, ultimately, goal achievement. Practitioners can create and use MCII forms tailored to students' grade levels to enhance their goal striving and achievement in foreign language learning.
Keywords: Foreign language learning, intervention, self-regulation, academic performance, quasi-experimental study
Navigating the perception-practice dilemma: An inquiry into assessors’ implementation of oral presentation rubrics
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Assessing oral presentations involves evaluating multiple interconnected skills, including fluency, coherence, syntax, grammar, diction, and task achievement, making it a complex and challenging task. An oral presentation rubric serves as a tool to promote consistency and objectivity in such assessments. This study investigates the application and perceptions of the in-house speaking assessment rubric used by the Foundation Program (FP) English Unit at Dhofar University (DU) across levels 1, 2, and 3. The aim is to identify potential weaknesses and ambiguities in the rubric and provide recommendations to ensure fair, objective, and uniform assessments.
Methodology: This study employed a mixed-methods approach within an exploratory sequential design. Data were collected over three phases: a pre-session task (n=18), hands-on focus group sessions (n=16) to gather qualitative insights into the rubric’s application, and a questionnaire (n=40) to obtain quantitative data on teachers’ perceptions, cross-referenced with implementation practices.
Findings: The findings revealed significant gaps in the current rubric, leading to inconsistencies in grading practices for both formative and summative assessments. Despite assessors expressing confidence in the rubric’s reliability and their level of training, notable discrepancies were observed between their perceptions and actual application of the rubric criteria. These inconsistencies highlight design flaws and ambiguities in the rubric, contributing to variability in assessment outcomes.
Contributions: This study underscores the necessity of regularly refining assessment rubrics to reduce ambiguity and subjective interpretation. It also emphasizes the importance of comprehensive user training to enhance assessment practices, support professional development, establish clearer learning expectations for students, and minimize grading disparities. These findings offer valuable insights for improving the assessment of oral presentations in educational contexts.
Keywords: Rubric, oral presentation, assessment, discrepancy, raters
Chinese high-performing university students’ self-efficacy and self-pride in learning English as a foreign language
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Both self-efficacy and self-pride play an important role in second/foreign language learning. Yet, they have seldom been researched simultaneously in the same context in relation to language learning. The current study aimed to examine Chinese high-performing university students’ English learning self-efficacy and self-pride and their predictive effects on their English performance.
Methodology: 520 Chinese high-performing university students completed the 5-item Self-Pride Scale, the 3-item English Learning Self-Efficacy Scale and a background questionnaire, 14 of whom were interviewed.
Findings: Major findings were: a) the participants generally had a high level of English learning self-efficacy and self-pride, b) female students had significantly greater English learning self-efficacy and self-pride, c) English learning self-efficacy was significantly positively correlated with self-pride, d) both English learning self-efficacy and self-pride were significantly positively correlated with and predicted the students’ English performance, and e) the participants identified several causes for their English learning self-efficacy and self-pride.
Contributions: This study was one of the few that explored the relationship between English learning self-efficacy and self-pride and their predictive effects on students’ English performance. The findings thus provide insights for developing self-efficacy and self-pride in students to improve their learning of a second/foreign language.
Keywords: Self-efficacy, self-pride, English performance
Travel poetry [Review of the book Silverfish books, by Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf]
Get PDFTravel Poetry (2019) by Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf is a compilation of poems on places, people, and memories. These narrative writings are anecdotes that delves into the aesthetic appreciation of embarking on journeys and exploring places while establishing a profound connection to an individual's cultural heritage and roots. Faridah embellishes her travel experiences by providing a comprehensive portrayal of the places and individuals encountered along her journeys, leveraging the perspective of a Malay Muslim woman who has received a Western education. This book allows readers to experience travelling all over the world by reading her poems from one page to another while understanding Faridah’s perspective and worldview as an individual. Through her works, Faridah effectively communicates the notion that even though individuals travel to explore different parts of the world, they ultimately find a sense of pride and connection to their own country and cultural heritage, which in the end helps to shape their personal identity. In short, Travel Poetry is not just a book of poems about travelling to different destinations around the world but also about how an individual’s mind and action are moved by their destinations.
Keywords: Travel, place, people, heritage, journey
Factors influencing online shopping behaviour of youth customers in Malaysia after Covid-19 pandemic
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The Movement Control Order (MCO) requires a higher demand for online services. In light of recent events in the business environment, it is becoming challenging to ignore online channels, including online shopping platforms. The current study investigates the impact of customer satisfaction, convenience, social media influence, and websites on online shopping behaviour.
Methodology: Two hundred respondents were selected based on the convenience sample. Online questionnaires were distributed to young Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia customers. This case study was conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic in the region. Harman's Single Factor Test, Validity test, and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model were used to validate the model of this study and the relationship between constructs.
Findings: The results reveal that customer satisfaction, convenience, and social media influence are significantly related to the online shopping behaviour of youth in Malaysia after the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the relationship between customer satisfaction and online shopping behaviour is higher than that between other factors in this study model.
Contributions: This study enhances the theoretical understanding of online shopping behaviour among Malaysian youth consumers. From a practical perspective, it highlights the importance of leveraging e-commerce platforms to optimise customer satisfaction and foster trust in online shopping services.
Keywords: Convenience, customer satisfaction, online shopping behaviour, youth customers, social media influence
Exploring 50 years of research on students’ identities in higher education context: A bibliometric analysis
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Higher education serves not merely as a means of imparting knowledge, skills, and societal values to students; it also offers individuals the chance to explore the world, discover their identity and position, gain a deeper understanding of others, and develop appropriate responses to diverse perspectives. Hence, it is vital to acknowledge and understand the significance of students’ identities as it is not an inherent or fixed concept; instead, it emerges and transforms through diverse academic experiences encountered by students from all around the world. The objective of this study is to examine various methods to identify the global research trends related to students’ identities in higher education. This bibliometric study examines various methods to identify the global research trends related to students’ identities in higher education, including annual publication output, leading countries, prolific authors, and co-occurring author keywords.
Methodology: A bibliometric study was conducted by utilising VOSviewer software (version 1.6.18) in comprehending the worldwide studies on students’ identities in higher education. The study analysed publication trends from as far back as 1974 up to 2022, using data from the Scopus database. Data collection took place between July 1 and July 5, 2023, using the Scopus database. Data collection occurred between July 1 and July 5, 2023. The study examined publication trends, including time, author, and institution mapping, keyword clustering, and identifying emerging terms.
Findings: The findings revealed a notable increase in researchers' attention towards studying students' identities in higher education, reflected in a rise in related articles. Various theoretical frameworks, including Community of Practice, Acculturation, Self-Concept, Habitus, and Situated Learning, have been extensively examined to provide insights into understanding these identities. These frameworks underscore the impact of social, cultural, and psychological factors on how students perceive themselves and engage within academic settings.
Contributions: This bibliometric analysis enhances our understanding of students' identities in higher education, guiding future research and providing useful advice for professionals, researchers, and policymakers in the educational sector. Exploring students' identities offers valuable insights into collaborative networks and potential partners, facilitating further advancements in the field.
Keywords: Students’ identities, higher education, bibliometrics analysis
Dialect preferences among the Syrian refugees in Jordan: A mixed-methods study
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Considering the scarcity of research on Syrian refugees from the sociolinguistics perspective, this research explored their reasons for dialect preferences when communicating in various domains of life in Jordan.
Methodology: The study employed a sequential mixed-methods design, which involved collecting quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire of 20 items. Qualitative data were collected using the semi-structured interviews conducted with 18 Syrian refugees. While the quantitative data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, the transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were coded and analysed thematically.
Findings: The study results showed that most Syrian refugees use the Syrian Dialect with family members, Syrian friends, colleagues at work, and Syrian neighbours. Further, the results revealed that most Syrian refugees prefer to use the Jordanian Dialect when communicating with Jordanian neighbours and friends and with Jordanians at the workplace and in educational contexts. The study revealed that the major reasons for dialect preferences among Syrian refugees are a desire for integration, close connection to their families, a sense of cultural familiarity, comfort in communication, interlocutors, and the importance of the formal context.
Contributions: By identifying the specific domains and underlying reasons for dialect preferences, the study enhances understanding of how language choices facilitate integration, maintain cultural identity, and navigate social contexts. The findings offer theoretical contributions to sociolinguistics, particularly in the study of language and migration, while also informing policymakers, educators, and social workers on strategies to foster effective communication and social cohesion in multicultural settings.
Keywords: Syrian refugees, sociolinguistics, dialect preferences, Jordan, integration
The digitalization of diplomacy maturity model (DD-MM): A new model for optimizing diplomatic digitalization
Get PDFThis paper introduces the Digitalization of Diplomacy Maturity Model (DD-MM), a comprehensive framework designed to assess and enhance the digital capabilities of diplomatic institutions. The DD-MM encompasses four critical dimensions: people, digital visibility, technology and security, and policies, providing a structured approach to evaluate and advance the maturity of digital diplomacy practices. In the people dimension, the model emphasizes role definitions, change management, and specialized training programs, highlighting the need for diplomats to acquire digital literacy and competency. The digital visibility dimension focuses on the strategic use of social media and other online platforms to enhance a nation's presence and influence in the digital sphere, emphasizing engagement with a global audience and proactive digital communications management. The technology and security dimension addresses ICT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data management, advocating for the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies to support diplomatic activities and ensure the security of sensitive information. The policies dimension underscores the necessity for clear guidelines and regulatory frameworks to govern the use of digital tools in diplomacy, including the formulation of policies that align with international standards and promote ethical practices. The DD-MM outlines a clear pathway for continuous improvement, guiding institutions from the initial stages of digital integration to advanced levels of optimization and strategic alignment.
Keywords: Digitalization of diplomacy, maturity model, model development, digital public diplomacy
Securitising health crises on regional cooperation: Hindering or facilitating cooperation?
Get PDFThe Securitisation Theory (ST) often gives rise to the debate on positive and negative dimensions of security. ST is frequently quoted in this debate to explore what happens when threats are labelled security issues. The positive and negative points in the debate on ST are closely related to migration, environment, and health. However, like other International Relations (IR) theories, the ST debate often fails to reflect the voices and experiences of different regional contexts. This article contributed to the securitisation debates by adding the perspectives and experiences of the Southeast Asia region by applying critical literature review analysis, using primary and secondary sources for data collection. Although public health challenges are global phenomena, how they are addressed may vary across geographical regions. The article reviews the consequences of securitising contagious diseases in Southeast Asia, as the region is often associated with distinctive political cultures that shape the governing norms. Securitisation has clearly made a positive impact on the health security cooperation in the region. Instead of encouraging state-centric thinking, the securitisation of health crises has prompted ASEAN countries to be more region-centric, ultimately challenging the regional norms that have historically obstructed cooperation across the nations.
Keywords: ASEAN, health security, regional cooperation, securitisation theory, Southeast Asia
The influence of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on vaccination intention among teachers: The moderating role of perceived policy effectiveness
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: This study explores teachers' influence on families' vaccination decisions and the role of schools in health education. It aims to identify factors shaping teachers' attitudes toward vaccines and their decision-making when vaccinating their children. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, the research examines educators' attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control about vaccination choices.
Methodology: A quantitative approach was employed to analyze the data in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to teachers in three states in Malaysia, namely Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan. Out of the total 400 questionnaires distributed, only 326 were found suitable for analysis after the screening process. The data were then analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method.
Findings: The study reveals a significant link between teachers' attitudes toward vaccinating children and a connection between subjective norms and parents' vaccination intentions. These findings support previous research, underscoring the influence of attitudes and subjective norms on vaccination decisions. However, no significant relationship was found between perceived behavior control and parents' intention to vaccinate, suggesting that parents' beliefs about accessing vaccines or overcoming barriers have a limited impact on their vaccination intentions. In addition, Perceived policy effectiveness positively influenced parents' vaccination intentions.
Contributions: This study enhances understanding teachers' vaccination intentions, informing evidence-based policies to promote vaccination and address barriers. Recognizing the factors influencing teachers' decision-making, targeted interventions can enhance vaccination rates and improve public health outcomes.
Keywords: Vaccine acceptance, teachers' vaccination intentions, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behaviour control