Redfame Publishing: E-Journals
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ICT Access and Inequality in Global Reading Achievement: Cross-Level Interactions and Compensatory Effects in PISA 2018
Get PDFThis study analyzed Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 data (N = 612, 004 students across 79 countries) using hierarchical linear modeling to examine relationships between information and communication technologies (ICT) and reading achievement. Student-level predictors included home access, skills, attitudes, and usage patterns; school-level factors comprised infrastructure, resources, and classroom integration. Findings revealed complex relationships with student-level factors, with home access and perceived competence showing positive associations but excessive academic technology use relating negatively to reading scores. Country-level analysis demonstrated that ICT resource inequality correlated negatively with reading achievement regardless of absolute resource levels. Most significantly, cross-level interactions indicated compensatory rather than amplifying effects, with home technology access showing stronger positive associations with reading achievement in technology-poor schools. These findings challenge concerns that educational technology inherently widens achievement gaps and suggests strategic resource allocation could potentially narrow disparities. Results support a nuanced perspective toward technology in education, emphasizing equitable distribution and context-specific implementation rather than universal approaches to digital integration
A Comparative Study on Graduation Rates, Attendance, and Student Behavior Between Four-Day School Week and Five-day School Week in Montana
Get PDFMore and more schools are interested in the four-day school week (4dsw) schedule. However, the existing research on the effects of the (4dsw) schedule in Montana is limited. This quantitative census study was conducted to address this gap and offer valuable insights to the literature about 4dsw schedule. The purpose of this quantitative census study was to investigate whether there are differences in student graduation, attendance, and behavior between the 4dsw schedule and the 5dsw schedule in Montana school districts. The research results revealed that schools utilizing the 5dsw schedule had a slightly higher overall graduation rate, compared to those that utilized the 4dsw schedule. The overall attendance rates in schools that utilized the 5dsw schedule were slightly higher compared to those of the 4dsw schedule. School districts utilizing a 4dsw schedule reported fewer incidents of fights compared to those with a 5dsw schedule. However, the data also showed higher incidents of alcohol and marijuana use among students in 4dsw districts compared to 5dsw districts. In summary, the 4dsw schedule in Montana school districts didn’t improve student graduation rates and attendance rates. Additionally, these schools had an increase of substance use. Based on the findings, the researchers of this quantitative census study rendered recommendations and encouraged school district policy makers to evaluate the broader trade-offs of implementing a four-day school week as a strategy for improving student attendance and graduation rates, offering a nuanced framework for informed decision-making
Comparing the Cost Effectiveness of Four-Day vs. Five-Day School Week Schedules in Montana Schools
Get PDFAlthough cost savings are frequently cited as a key reason for schools adopting a four-day school week (4dsw), findings from this research showed that Montana school districts utilizing the 4dsw schedule in the years 2006 - 2023 did not realize these cost savings, even when adjusting for inflation and school size. In this research, a census of the population was utilized to answer the research question: Is there a difference in cost effectiveness on instructional and non-instructional costs (operations, transportation, and food service) between schools operating on a four-day school week and those operating on a five-day school week? A census consists of all data related to the population for the research question. In this case, the population comprised every student and every school district in the state of Montana. Findings from the research showed that school districts that utilized the 4dsw schedule spent more on an Average Number Belonging (ANB) basis than school districts that utilized the 5dsw schedule for 2006-2023, in the areas of Instruction, Maintenance, and Transportation. The only area of analysis where school districts that utilized the 4dsw schedule spent less per ANB was in Food Services. Additionally, the specific analysis of per ANB expenditures before and after schools transitioned to utilizing the 4dsw schedule revealed that most school districts spent less while on the 5dsw schedule, even after adjusting for inflation
In-clothing Climate Sensing to Predict Comfort in Each Wearing Situation
Get PDFIn order to improve the quality of life, people wear comfortable clothing according to the time and occasion. However, some TPOs may sacrifice some comfort. In this study, we propose a method to estimate comfort for each TPO in order to realize clothing recommendation that recommends enough or acceptable comfortable clothing for the most important TPO of the day.In this study, we hypothesize the following from the relationship between the outside temperature, the climate inside the clothes, and comfort. We hypothesized that the degree of comfort in a certain TPO is estimated from the following variables: temperature and humidity inside clothing and outside-air, their first-order and second-order differentiation, difference between inside-clothing and outside-air temperatures and humidities, and activity level in the TPO.The proposed method collects temperature and humidity inside and outside clothing, and heart rate and activity levels through wearable sensors as well as comfort in each TPO through questionnaire for building prediction models. As a result of the experiment, the accuracy rate was better for XGBoost in 4 out of 5 subjects than RandomForest model. It is possible to use it for clothing recommendation considering the comfort of each TPO based on temperature and humidity in clothing, outside climate, the sensor data, and activity level in TPO
The Impact of Social Media Use on Soldier Morale: The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience and Moderating Effect of Mission Length
Get PDFThis study examines the relationship between social media use and soldier morale in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, with a particular focus on the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating effect of mission length. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, the study employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Partial Least Squares (PLS) to analyze data collected from 200 peacekeeping soldiers deployed in various missions. Findings indicate that social media use significantly enhances psychological resilience which in turn positively influences soldier morale. While social media use has a direct effect on morale, psychological resilience serves as a critical mediator. Furthermore, mission length moderates the relationship between social media use and soldier morale and between psychological resilience and soldier morale. The study’s results provide critical insights for military leadership and policymakers to develop balanced social media policies that support mental well-being, resilience, and operational effectiveness in peacekeeping missions
Exploring the Impact of Social Media Usage Patterns on General Engagement: A Behavioural Analysis of Transgender Persons Residing in Selected Districts of Bihar, India
Get PDFSocial media is one of the main networks for transgender people to find spaces for expression, activism, and community. The platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, amplify transgender voices, raising awareness and advocacy. Social media is also a minefield of cyberbullies, misinformation, and discrimination. Even with its shortcomings, when deployed responsibly, it can do much to empower transgender individuals by encouraging visibility, acceptance, and chances to interact socially and professionally. In this study, an attempt has been made to understand the behavioural pattern of social media usage by transgender persons residing in selected districts of Bihar, namely Patna, Ara, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and Purnea. To execute this study, a questionnaire, namely ‘The Social Media Use Scale: Development and Validation,’ has been used, under which there are four different scales, namely Image-Based Social Media Use, Comparison-Based Social Media Use, Belief-Based Social Media Use, and Consumption-Based Social Media Use. 330 responses have been taken into consideration. For analysis of the data, firstly, exploratory factor analysis has been done, followed by multiple linear regression analysis. The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of different scales on the general social media usage by transgender persons. The results clarify that all the scales positively impact the general social media usage pattern of transgender people, with Consumption-Based Social Media Use having the greatest effect, followed by Comparison-Based Social Media Use. Belief-Based Social Media Use and Image-Based Social Media Use have smaller yet significant roles
Improving the Quality of Socio-Cultural Learning in Pontianak: Strategy for Developing Student Professionalism Training Programs Through Continuous Training
Get PDFChallenges in the education system and workforce development in Indonesia are very minimal, especially in the context of increasingly tight global competition. The urgency of this study lies in the urgent need to improve the quality of education in order to produce human resources who are ready to work and able to contribute to economic growth. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between training programs for students and graduate skills in the labor market. The research method used is a mixed approach, with a population consisting of vocational high school students in Pontianak City. The sample was taken randomly, namely 3800 students. Data collection techniques were carried out through surveys using validated questionnaires, observations, and in-depth interviews. Data analysis techniques used descriptive statistics and path analysis with the help of SPSS software version 29.0. The results of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between the quality of training and graduate performance, as well as a positive influence of strategic partnerships between training institutions and industry on the relevance of the curriculum. These findings indicate that increasing entrepreneurship training can increase the number of entrepreneurs among vocational high school graduates. Conclusion, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach that integrates practical skills and creates entrepreneurs from vocational high school students to prepare the workforce to face challenges in the global market, which has important implications for national and global education policies
Beyond Wicked: Vibocratic Problems in the Post-Truth Era
Get PDFThis essay revisits the classical concept of “wicked problems” as articulated by Rittel, Webber, and Ackoff, and asks whether it remains adequate in an era shaped by post-truth politics, epistemic fragmentation, and neo-orality. While wicked problems captured the complexity and contestation of late-modern governance, they relied on preconditions that are increasingly unstable: shared sense-making institutions, mutual intelligibility, and discursive publics. Today, many societal challenges no longer resist resolution—they resist framing. They mutate in real time, circulate as affective atmospheres, and dissolve under scrutiny.The essay proposes a tentative new category—vibocratic problems—to describe this emerging class of societal phenomena. These are not merely more complex than wicked problems; they are differently configured: unstable, performative, epistemically fugitive. Drawing on philosophy, media studies, design research, and epistemology, the essay argues for new methodological responses, including abductive, situated, and design-informed approaches. It offers a conceptual table contrasting wicked and vibocratic problems, outlines emerging sites of vibocratic inquiry, and closes with a short reflection on the ethical posture of scholarship in turbulent times.The contribution is conceptual, diagnostic, and methodological: a call to name the terrain anew—not as a provocation, but as an act of intellectual responsibility
Strategic Communication for Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment in Developing Countries
Get PDFFinancial inclusion is a critical tool for fostering sustainable economic development, especially in developing economies where access to formal financial services is often limited. This study explores the role of strategic communication in promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment in these regions. Using desktop research, the study analyses a range of qualitative literature sources, including high-quality articles and case studies, to understand how financial institutions employ communication strategies to enhance awareness and participation in financial services. The key findings indicate that strategic communication, particularly through digital platforms, mobile services, and community outreach, plays a significant role in improving financial literacy and overcoming barriers such as cultural resistance and limited technological access. Additionally, the study finds that localised communication campaigns and the engagement of trusted community members are essential for fostering trust and encouraging the adoption of financial services. Based on these findings, the study recommends that financial institutions invest in financial literacy programmes that simplify complex financial concepts, particularly for underserved communities, and leverage mobile technologies to improve accessibility, especially in rural areas
Development of a Model for Integrating Modern Technologies into Public Education Governance in Ukraine
Get PDFThe digitalization of public education management has become a key factor in increasing the efficiency, transparency and accountability of educational systems in the world, which is especially important for Ukraine in the context of decentralization and integration into the European educational space. The introduction of information technology in the field of education management requires not only technical upgrades but also a rethinking of management models, competencies, and decision-making mechanisms. The purpose of the study is to study the trends of digital transformation of public education management and identify factors that affect the efficiency of digital management processes. The research methodology is based on quantitative methods, including a survey of heads of educational institutions and representatives of local authorities, including a questionnaire survey of heads of educational institutions and representatives of local authorities, as well as analysis of statistical and analytical data from international organizations (OECD, UNESCO UIS). The results obtained showed a steady increase in the index of digital accessibility of education (by an average of 18% annually), the expansion of e-government and the improvement of digital competence of managers. It is established that the effectiveness of digital reforms directly depends on the level of digital culture, leadership and ethical responsibility of managers. Based on the data obtained, a multi-level model of integration of information technology into the system of public education management is proposed, which covers the strategic, analytical, operational and communication levels. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using this model to optimize management decisions, develop managerial training programs and create sustainable digital ecosystems in the field of education. The results are of practical importance for the formation of state policy on digital education management, as well as for harmonization of Ukrainian approaches with European standards of smart governance