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Interpersonal Communication Patterns of University Students in the Smartphone Era Based on Mental Health Conditions: A Qualitative Study in Makassar
Full text linkThis qualitative phenomenological study investigates the complex relationship between mental health conditions and smartphone-mediated interpersonal communication among university students in Makassar, Indonesia. Using in-depth interviews with 18 participants from three universities, categorized by their Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) scores, the research explores how psychological well-being influences communication patterns. The study reveals five major themes: the smartphone as an emotional regulator, digital communication as a social safety net, technology-mediated relationship maintenance, anxiety-driven communication patterns, and cultural adaptation in digital spaces. The findings indicate that a student's mental health status is a crucial moderating factor that shapes how they engage with digital communication technologies. The study proposes a Digital Communication Adaptation Model (DCAM), a theoretical framework explaining how mental health conditions influence communication patterns. The research contributes to communication and mental health literature by offering a culturally sensitive model that bridges individual psychological factors with broader social contexts, providing insights for future research and practical interventions in this area
Horticulture Exports in Tanzania: A Review of Possible Influencing Factors
Full text linkThe study assesses performance of horticulture exports in Tanzania, while identifying potentials and challenges for growth, largely employing interview and desk review approaches. The findings indicate that horticulture is one of the fastest growing agriculture sub-sectors, with an average growth rate of 4.9 percent in the past eight years to 2019. The share of horticulture to total agricultural/traditional exports has been increasing over time as well, reaching 33.5 percent in 2020, while employment in the sub-sector is estimated at 4.5 million people.The achievements notwithstanding, about 90 percent of the horticultural produce is consumed locally, probably pointing to potential for increasing exports. Horticulture exports continue to exhibit volatility, mainly driven by fruits, which accounted for about 77.2 percent of the output during 2013 to 2019. Exporters largely rely on foreign agents in reaching final consumers, which constrains market diversification due to prior contracts. Other challenges facing the sub sector include high reliance on rain-fed agriculture, low quality seeds, disease and pest attacks, prolonged transportation process, inadequate quality storage facilities at product collection centres and export exit points, multiple taxes, and difficulties in accessing long-term credit.Potentials exist for boosting horticulture export growth. This mainly depends on the extent to which challenges facing the sub sector are addressed, and exporters tap into available opportunities including improving policy, strategic and institutional support; improving transport logistics; unutilized arable land; and growing demand for horticulture products worldwide. To increasing further horticulture exports growth, the study recommends the need for:Scaling up the efforts to attract more cargo flights and improving storage facilities (park houses) at the export exit ports as well as enhancing ease cargo clearance processes. The government’s move to acquire a cargo plane and upgrade facilities at the major international airports can contribute in addressing this challenge; Facilitating direct access to foreign market by Tanzanian exporters; this role can partly be performed by the Tanzania’s embassies abroad; Encouraging production of high value products such as avocado, cloves, black pepper, and cardamom; Promoting product certification and branding to market ‘destination Tanzania’ for the horticulture products; Encouraging and supporting exporters to tap into regional markets by fast tracking improvement of road and air connectivity to the potential markets and providing on time the relevant trade information; Increasing awareness to potential farmers and traders on export procedures and ensure timely availability of market information as a way of attracting new investments in the subsector; and Ensuring that land reserved for investors also benefits the horticulture subsector. Efforts could also be directed at enhancing irrigation systems, timely availability of high yield seeds and pesticides, and extension services to not only increase production for exports but also improve products quality. Some production incentives may be provided to attract the growing micro, small and medium enterprises in the subsector, partly under contract farming to benefit from the more established companies. Such incentives may be in the form of subsidies, tax reliefs, and access to affordable loans as done in other peer countries
Understanding the Mutapa Investment Fund of Zimbabwe: Constraints and Challenges for Resource Mobilisation
Full text linkThe Mutapa Investment Fund is a sovereign wealth fund set out to harness Zimbabwe’s rich natural endowments and national wealth for its economic development. Its objectives include addressing infrastructure deficits, stabilizing currency reserves, and increasing investment in sectors such as technology, energy, and public infrastructure among others. The preliminary findings of this study indicate that the Mutapa Investment Fund is currently facing a number of challenges among which are regulatory uncertainty, political risks, and widespread mismanagement in Zimbabwe’s State-Owned Enterprises, most of which are technically insolvent. The article concludes by canvassing for comprehensive governance and State-owned Enterprises reforms in order to address the systemic and structural issues affecting the nascent sovereign wealth fund of Zimbabwe
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Contemporary Education, Vol. 8, No. 2
Full text linkInternational Journal of Contemporary Education (IJCE) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJCE publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 8, Number 2Aurora Q. Pestano, University of San Jose Recoletos, PhilippinesBlessing Dwumah Manu, University of Saskatchewan, CanadaBožić-Lenard Dragana, University of Osijek Croatia, CroatiaDina Radeljas, Mohawk Valley Community College, USAEdward Bolden, Case Western Reserve University, USAInaad M Sayer, University of Human Development, IraqIvan Lenard, Elementary School Ladimirevci, CroatiaMatthew Schatt, University of Florida, USAVassiliki Pliogou, University of Western Macedonia, Greece William OscarEditorial AssistantInternational Journal of Contemporary Education------------------------------------------------------------Redfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USATel: 1-503-828-0536 ext. 509Fax: 1-503-828-0537E-mail 1: [email protected] 2: [email protected]: http://ijce.redfame.co
The Role of Copyright Authentication in AI-Generated Visual Content: Constructing Trust in AIGC Media Environments and the Impact of Copyright Ambiguity on Perceived Authenticity
Full text linkThe rise of AIGC (Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content) content has changed the way of generating digital media, and a series of questions about authorship, copyright verification, and trust have emerged. AI avatars or visual content and their implications for IP law, generative models like DALL·E and Stable Diffusion challenge classical thinking on the topic of authorship and therefore protection needs to adopt different approach. This work explores the implications of copyright authentication for the nurturing of trust and perceived authenticity in AI-facilitated media ecologies. Through qualitative methodologies, content analysis and audience perception studies, this research examines whether digital watermarking, blockchain verification and metadata tracking lead to enhanced public trust in AI-generated media. The study also points to legal, technological and ethical barriers to standardizing copyright frameworks for AI-generated content. A synthesis of Media Trust theories, Intellectual Property Law and Posthumanism mapping insights, this research provides identities and actionable policy suggestions specifically for digital creators, platform providers, and policymakers. It recommends putting effective authentication systems in place so that we bring about an open, legal, and ethical media environment in the age of generative AI
Diversification and the Efficient Market Hypothesis in Investments
Full text linkThe growth in the number of individual investors in B3, rising from 700,000 to 6.2 million between 2018 and 2022, has increased the demand for knowledge about effective financial strategies. In this context, diversification, a key concept in financial theory, stands out as a fundamental strategy for mitigating risks and ensuring more stable returns. This study examines the impact of diversification and the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) on equity investments in Brazil using data from "Google Finance". Random portfolios were constructed and evaluated over different time horizons (2, 5, and 10 years), comparing them to the Ibovespa and Ifix indices. The results indicate that increasing the number of assets in a portfolio reduces risk without compromising expected returns, demonstrating the effectiveness of diversification in optimizing the risk-return trade-off. This finding suggests that investors who choose not to diversify their portfolios are exposed to non-compensated market risks, reinforcing the importance of diversification as a strategy to maximize return potential while minimizing associated risks
Interest and Classroom Environment as Correlates of Pupils’ Academic Achievement in English Language and Mathematics in Abia State
Full text linkThe main aim of the paper was to examine interest and classroom environment as correlates of academic achievement in mathematics and English Language of pupils in Abia State. The research adopted a correlational research design. Six research questions and six null hypotheses guided the study. The population consists of 27, 211 primary 3 pupils in Abia State. Simple random sampling and intact class technique were used to select a sample of 1,368 pupils. Three research instruments: - Pupils’ Interest Scale (PIS); Classroom Environment Questionnaire (CEQ); and Pupils Cumulative scores in English language and Mathematics were used. Simple linear regression was used to determine the relationship between the variables, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and percentage scores used for pupils’ achievement in English language and Mathematics. The findings of the study include: Pupils’ interest has weak positive relationship with their academic achievement in English language and Mathematics; classroom physical environment has moderate positive relationship with pupils’ academic achievement in English Language and strong relationship with AA in Mathematics; classroom social environment has strong positive relationship with pupils’ academic achievement in English language and very strong relationship with AA in mathematics. Also, there is significant relationship between pupils’ interest and their academic achievement in English language [F (1, 1367) = 124.168, p = .000 0.05]. Among the recommendations were: teachers and parents should identify pupils’ interest early so as to know the area for intervention or encouragement to improve their academic achievement; government should ensure that the classroom physical environment is conducive for teaching and learning
Predictors of Social Media Advertisement Appeals and Consumers’ Buying Behavior of a Fast-Food Chain Company
Full text linkThe fast-food industry has faced stiff competition due to the mushrooming of various brands. Thus, marketers have to think of various promotional activities to attract consumers, and one of the strategies will be through the use of social media advertisement appeals. However, past studies mainly focused on rational and emotional appeals, and other advertisement appeals have received little attention. Thus, this study aimed to investigate a fast-food company's social media advertisement by focusing on the two main appeals, namely rational and emotional, and extended two additional appeals which are endorsement and aesthetic appeals. The study utilized the stimulus-response model as a theoretical framework and explained the relationships. The study applied quantitative methods and gained 168 valid responses via the purposive sampling technique. The results indicated that all four advertisement appeals (emotional, rational, endorsement, and aesthetic) are predictors of buying behavior, with emotional appeal as the most prominent appeal. The study urged that fast-food companies should pay attention to the provision of factual information, celebrity endorsements, and innovative aesthetic design to persuade consumers cognitively. Conclusion, implications, and future research avenues were discussed
Language, Power, and Social Dynamics in Online Gaming: A Discourse Analysis of Toxicity and Inclusivity in Digital Spaces
Full text linkThe article explores the intersection of language, power, and social dynamics in online gaming communities, focusing on toxic and inclusive language within multiplayer digital spaces. Through a discourse analysis of player interactions, this study investigates how language functions as a tool for asserting dominance, marginalizing certain groups, and fostering inclusivity. While toxicity remains pervasive in many gaming environments, with players using exclusionary language to assert control and maintain power hierarchies, inclusive language emerges as a counterforce, enabling players to challenge these norms and create more cooperative and supportive spaces. The findings reveal that toxic language- such as gendered insults and racial slurs- is predominantly used by more dominant players, particularly those with higher skill levels or social status within the game. These behaviors reinforce power imbalances and contribute to the exclusion of ‘other’ groups, including women and players who belong to different ethnic background. Conversely, inclusive language, including gender-neutral terms, supportive comments, and active resistance to toxic speech, is employed as a form of resistance by players seeking to create an environment that values respect and equality. Despite the ongoing prevalence of toxic behavior, inclusive language was found to be a significant part of player interactions, offering a pathway to challenge oppressive power structures and build solidarity. The study contributes to the growing body of research on the role of language in shaping digital spaces, emphasizing the importance of discourse in both perpetuating and disrupting power dynamics. The implications of these findings suggest that game developers and community leaders must take a more proactive role in addressing toxic language and promoting inclusivity through design features, policies, and community guidelines. By highlighting the role of language in constructing power relations and fostering inclusivity, the article calls for a more inclusive approach to online gaming, where all players, regardless of their identity, can participate and thrive without fear of harassment or exclusion
Research Progress on Digital Reading Behavior: A Bibliometric Study
Full text linkDigital reading uses a screen as the primary medium for reading, distinguishing it from traditional paper-based reading. About 5.2 billion people worldwide use electronic devices to connect to the Internet, which has become the basis for the development of digital reading. Although there are currently bibliometric studies on digital reading and digital literacy, there is still a lack of information regarding digital reading behavior. This study employs VOSviewer software to conduct an in-depth bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science database, following the PRISMA guidelines for literature review studies. Drawing on 312 articles as research data, the study identified Chen as the leading researcher in digital reading behavior, as a result of publication volume, the number of references, and citation impact. China and the UNITED STATES are the most frequently cited countries on digital reading behavior. The Electronic Library, Computers & Education, and Frontiers in Psychology are the top three journals regarding productivity and references in works related to digital reading behavior. Extant research mainly focuses on four primary topics: digital reading literacy based on meta-cognitive strategies, the effect of information and communication technology on digital reading performance, digital reading intentions under the technology acceptance model, and digital reading strategy optimization with eye-tracking technology. This bibliometric analysis provides a nuanced understanding of the research landscape on digital reading behaviors, offering new insights within the existing literature through a comprehensive examination of researchers, publications, and critical themes