EUREKA: Social and Humanities
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Promoting tourism services through AI-driven social media marketing: a case for small businesses
Full text linkThe article examines the role of modern digital tools, namely artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, in promoting tourist services for small businesses on social media. The article highlights some of the problems and shortcomings, faced by entrepreneurs when promoting a tourism product in the digital landscape. Examples are given of how customer experience, reflected in social media, can be useful for increasing the popularity of small businesses and attracting new customers. The importance of active promotion of tourist products through social networks is considered, further emphasized by scientific research by domestic and foreign authors. A hypothesis regarding the importance of using social networks for advertising small businesses with limited budgets is formulated and tested.
The article proposes a new approach to quantitative and qualitative assessment of social media activity for small businesses, which is based on a complex multifactorial indicator consisting of the number of publications in social media, the number of customer reviews and the rating by reviews. The effectiveness of utilizing marketing opportunities in social media to increase the value of services and profitability of small businesses in the tourism industry has been demonstrated based on a paired regression model. The study investigates how self-learning artificial intelligence digital systems can be used to enhance the productivity of small businesses in the tourism industry and which areas of interaction with consumers of a tourism product are of most interest to AI (artificial intelligence) developers. Based on the obtained results, practical recommendations are provided for preparing small business entities in the tourism sector for activity on social media using the opportunities arising from the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies
Exploring students' perception of engagement in face-to-face and online teaching
Full text linkThis study delves into the nuanced realm of student engagement, comparing and contrasting perceptions between face-to-face and online teaching modalities. In recent years, the landscape of education has witnessed a significant shift towards online platforms, necessitating an examination of how this transition impacts students’ sense of engagement with course materials, instructors, and peers. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study seeks to understand students' perceptions on engagement by gathering and analysing quantitative data. 200 students were randomly selected using a stratified sampling technique from two higher institutions in Ekiti State Nigeria. A structured questionnaire on the perception of students on engagement in higher institutions (PSEHI) was adopted to collect data from the sampled population. The instrument was validated and a reliability coefficient of 0.78 value was realized using the Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis, indicating that the instrument was considered reliable for the study. Findings provide insights into the factors that influence engagement in face-to-face and online learning and inform pedagogical practices for optimizing student learning experiences in diverse educational settings. Recommendations were made on how to provide improved engagement in the 21st century education landscape. The study contributes to the ongoing dialogue surrounding effective teaching methodologies and the evolving landscape of contemporary education
Non-financial employer-branding and workforce impetus: the mediating effect on the banking sector
Full text linkDue in large part to their involvement in operationalizing the business aims and strategies of organisations, workers are currently the most valuable tangible asset. It takes efficient, unbiased, and fair employer-branding systems to boost productivity and accelerate the growth of these workforces. This study therefore explores non-financial employer branding and workforce impetus. Through a descriptive research method, data was gathered through a questionnaire set, distributed to the members of staff from Guaranty Trust Bank within the Amuwo Odofin Local Council District in Lagos State, Nigeria. The population is given as 1026. The rationale for the selected bank/branches, staff, and geography are based on factors, such as its capital base, number of years in service, and proximity. By applying the Bill Godden formula, a sample size of 264 was computed. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire-set was manually distributed to the respondents to collect data. A five 5 % probability level of significance was applied as a decision rule when analysing the data using the regression statistica tools. The results reveal the existence of a significant and positive relationship between non-financial employer branding and workforce impetus. Thus proposing implications for policy by asserting that the human capital unit must exercise caution when implementing non-financial employer-branding in the firm's incentive structure because only a limited number of these elements can meaningfully increase staff commitment at work. Thus, its implementation within a biased framework or system would be inefficient and ineffective
Racism harms South Africa: unearthing racial hierarchy and working conditions in the South African mines using Robert Dhlomo’s The Death of Masaba (1978) through Marxist theory
Full text linkIt cannot be downplayed that South Africa’s colonial and apartheid history is characterized by a bitter sting of memories. This is because of the decades of systemic racial oppression, land dispossession, imposed segregation, economic exploitation, and violent repression, which left profound scars on the lives of sidelined communities and created enduring social and economic imbalances. Similarly, it cannot be dismissed that South African literature remains invaluable in the depiction of these historical episodes, as it serves as a formidable force for preserving memories, offering resistance narratives, and driving reflection on the nation’s complex past. Through storytelling, South African literature provides a voice to those who were silenced and encourages ongoing dialogues about reconciliation and justice. Given this reality, this article unearths racial hierarchy and working conditions in the South African mines relying on Robert Dhlomo’s The Death of Masaba (1978). To uncover and debate the phenomenon of interest, I apply Marxist theory to the discussions. Ultimately, this article makes three notable findings. First, the systemic implementation of discriminatory policies and practices, such as the racial stratification of labor, prejudiced wages, and the imposition of legal frameworks that institutionalized racial segregation fuelled racial hierarchy. Second, there were exploitative working conditions, endured by Black mine workers, particularly on the physical and mental toll of labor in the mines. This included long working hours, hazardous working environments, inadequate safety measures, and the impact on the health and security of miners. Third, economic exploitation and racial subjugation are interconnected within the South African mining context. The closing remarks underline the necessity to continue to debate the challenges of racial disparities and poor working conditions in a bid to find solutions to identified challenges
Learning from learners: a mixed-methods assessment of implementation of artificial intelligence curriculum at secondary schools
Full text linkThe proliferation of cognitive learning technologies, such as AI, has not only challenged governments in most developed and some developing countries to not adopt them as learning tools in schools but to foster citizen literacy by incorporating them in their school curriculum at every level of education. However, governments of most African countries seem to have a high level of indifference to this trend, but contrary to their indifference, some private education stakeholders have advanced its usage and developed and implemented curricula in that regard. The dearth of research on the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) curricula in African countries, particularly Nigeria, motivated this study. The diffusion of innovations framework guided the researchers in examining how AI-focused educational content was being introduced and disseminated within the Nigerian school system. By employing a mixed-methods design, the study was able to capture both quantitative and qualitative insights from the sample of 327 students who had directly experienced the AI lessons over the past two years. Qualitative data was collected from teachers at selected schools, and the AI learning manager. Data collected was analysed using multiple regression and thematic analysis. The result included that students’ response to curriculum implementation was encouraging but the differential capacity of computers for learning could elicit negative feedback. Students’ application of AI knowledge highly predicted problem-solving (β=0.033, t=0.84, p<0.05) and critical thinking (β=0.141, t=4.20, p<0.05) skills. It can be deduced that learners and other education stakeholders in Nigeria are adapting well to different stages of AI curriculum implementation. Therefore, it was recommended that the government should replicate it at public secondary schools
Analyzing aberrant response pattern in mathematics achievement test
Full text linkThis study examined the prevalence of aberrant response patterns in mathematics achievement tests among secondary school students in Southwestern Nigeria. The study used a multi-stage sampling technique to select 1800 Senior Secondary School students for its survey research sample. From the six states in Southwestern Nigeria, three states, one senatorial district, and three Local Government Areas were selected from each state using a simple random sampling technique. Using a stratified sampling technique, four secondary schools, and fifty senior secondary school students were selected. The mathematics achievement test was used to collect data for the study. Data collected were analyzed using MATLAB to compute aberrance indices and SPSS. The results showed that there is a high prevalence of aberrant response patterns with W* (x ̅ = 2.07, sd = 1.71) had a lower value of mean and standard deviation than the B* (x ̅= 3.61, sd = 3.34). The study also revealed that there was a significant difference between the aberrant and non-aberrant students for W* (t =-13.91, df =1693, p<0.05) and B* (t = -14.79, df =1693, p< 0.05). The study further revealed that sex (p-value= 0.026, R-squared= 0.003, Adjusted R-squared=0.002), age (p-value = 0.035, R-squared = 0.001, Adjusted R-squared= 0.001), and school type (p-value= 0.044, R-squared= 0.004, Adjusted R-squared= 0.003) have significant effects on students’ aberrant response pattern. The study concluded that there is a high prevalence of aberrant response patterns among secondary school students in Southwestern Nigeri
Sociological interventions for the diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria: addressing misconceptions, cultural biases, and promoting vaccination
Full text linkDiphtheria is a fatal bacterial infection primarily affecting the respiratory system, characterized by a thick membrane formation in the throat, caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This manuscript elucidates sociological interventions, aimed at protecting the population of Nigeria from diphtheria, a preventable yet persisting health threat. It delves into diverse strategies that could be employed to combat misconceptions, navigate deeply ingrained cultural biases, and instill the significance of vaccination within the context of diphtheria outbreak and prevention. The research question was: "What are the sociological interventions, used to address misconceptions, cultural biases, and promote vaccination in the context of diphtheria prevention in Nigeria?" In response to this inquiry, a comprehensive review methodology was employed to systematically gather, evaluate, and synthesize relevant literature outputs. The literature search, conducted across diverse academic databases and repositories, yields a rich collection of studies, reports, and case studies. The lens of Symbolic Interactionism was applied. The sociological interventions, considered in this context, engage directly with communities, healthcare providers, and local leaders. It addresses the vital need to combat misconceptions, cultural biases, and vaccine hesitancy, fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between sociological factors and healthcare interventions. Sociological interventions for diphtheria protection in Nigeria require culturally sensitive approaches, community engagement, health education, addressing vaccine hesitancy, offering accessible vaccination services, tackling socioeconomic barriers, targeted messaging, behavioral change communication, data collection, and research collaborations to understand and address sociocultural factors influencing vaccine uptake and prevention. The findings and implications offer valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers, and lay the groundwork for more effective strategies to protect the population from this preventable diseas
The variables that influence performance measurement to improve planning and decision making in oversight committees
Full text linkThe goal of this article was to determine the variables that influence performance measurement in order to improve planning and decision-making in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (TMM) oversight committees. Emphasis was placed on the significance of performance measurement, particularly in local government units that practice organisational effectiveness and measurement through reporting, such as oversight committees. Since the advent of performance principles, it has been more crucial than ever to keep track of service delivery, improvement, and compliance with good governance standards. In the TMM, there is an issue of poor service delivery and misuse of public funds at the end of every financial year. This brings into question whether oversight committees are critically assessing and measuring the work of the executive effectively. This article used a qualitative research methodology, and the case study approach was employed to thoroughly investigate and analyse the variables influencing performance measurement, and all the respondents were purposively sampled based on their role within the oversight committees, at TMM. The article found that the link between performance measurement, planning, decision-making, and reporting exists in oversight committees; however, it is the effectiveness of oversight committees in carrying out this function that should be questioned, particularly “how” they review performance. It was also evident, based on the findings of the article that the summons, made by the legislature, oversight committee meetings, and the resolutions did not yield the expected results, especially if there were recurring issues from the past that could not be resolved by oversight committees. The findings also suggested that there was room for improvement in TMMs oversight function, including capacity building and the revision of policies, terms of reference, and the governance model
A survey of factors determining mate selection among university of ilorin undergraduates during COVID-19 pandemic
Full text linkThe researcher sought to investigate mate selection for marital purposes during COVID-19 pandemic, which may be tasking for undergraduates in Nigerian universities. Mate selection is a vital aspect in the process leading up to marital relationships and personal mate selection is common practice across societies, except for the very few wherein individuals are given a mate instead of selecting their mates. Given that most marriages result from the relationships that are formed during studies in tertiary institutions, selecting a good mate from the onset determines the quality of the marriage later on in life. The study investigated how the mate selection experience was affected by the adversaries, brought to the fore by the onset of COVID-19 restrictions. The study employed descriptive research of the survey type. The population for this study consisted of all University of Ilorin undergraduates. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 420 respondents who were undergraduates at the University of Ilorin, Kwara-State. A research instrument titled “Factors Determining Mate Selection among Undergraduates (FDMSUQ)” was used to elicit information, needed from the respondents. The face and content validity of the instrument were ensured while a 0.72 reliability coefficient was obtained. Three research questions were raised and four hypotheses were formulated. All the research questions and hypotheses were tested using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that age, religion, ethnic group, and family structure significantly influence mate selection among undergraduates. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Professional Counsellors in collaboration with the parents of undergraduates and religious organisations should constantly make programmes available to undergraduates of all age groups on how, when and what it entails to select a mate, that they will live together with till death do them par
A narrative review on psychosocial factors associated with suicide amongst youth
Full text linkYouth just like people of different age bands around the world face a multitude of challenges daily and continuously in their lives. For some of them, suicide is the ultimate answer to all their battles. Suicide continues to be on the rise for concern in South Africa and the entire world. Despite authors’ attempts to understand, conceptualise, and bring awareness about it, it seems inevitable. This paper was aimed at mapping the existing literature on psychosocial factors, associated with suicide amongst youth. The author used narrative as the research method. Data was collected from different databases with a trajectory of 10 years. The author used databases, such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Jstor and Sabinet African Journals. The author used purposive sampling in selecting relevant articles using keywords. Data was then analysed thematically using thematic content analysis. The study found that youth encounter a lot of challenges, categorised under social factors, such as family, and psychological risk factors, such as psychopathology, which ultimately led them to have suicide ideation or attempt. The paper recommends an incorporation of a topic in Life Orientation for pupils in High School in South Africa, which raise awareness on the issues of mental health and conscientize parents and or guardians in symposiums about psychosocial factors, associated with suicide. The study concludes that youth around the world indeed encounter multiple challenges. Researchers should fundamentally contemplate about the programmes or guidelines of dealing with emotions that may be evoked by several crises that the youth face to normalize them