Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities
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A Social Media and Solutions for Detecting Fake News: A Study of Four Northern Provinces of Afghanistan
No full textSocial media, commonly known as social networks, has become a prominent platform for fulfilling users\u27 information needs because of its many advantages and features. Along with its immense popularity, users encounter much false and misleading information through these platforms. The main objective of this research is to detect and identify fake news and misinformation in Afghanistan. This research employed a survey method and questionnaire tool. The target population consisted of journalists, students of journalism faculties in four provinces (Balkh, Jawzjan, Faryab, and Baghlan), and media managers. The sampling method used was random, and 300 questionnaires were distributed. After the data was collected and completed, it was analyzed descriptively using SPSS software. The theoretical foundation of this research is grounded in the "network society" and "filter bubble." theories. The findings indicated that within the statistical community under investigation, the level of recognition and critical analysis of information and media content by social media users is significantly low. This deficiency contributes to several concerning issues, including the facilitation of psychological warfare, the prevalence of ambiguous information sources, and the widespread inability to distinguish between fake news and factual content. These factors collectively result in manipulating public opinion, increased confusion in understanding factual news, susceptibility to suggestion, social disillusionment, and a growing sense of pessimism among consumers toward societal actors and vice versa. Additionally, this environment fosters the undeserved credibility of individuals who spread misinformation, encourages hasty decision-making, and promotes economic and informational consumerism
Impact of Government Expenditure on Economic Growth: Focusing on Afghanistan\u27s Agricultural Sector
Get PDFEconomic growth denotes to the steady upsurge in a country\u27s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is considered a key area for reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development. To support economic growth and long-term development, government expenditure should focus on engendering an enabling environment for private sector expansion and addressing market inefficiencies. In this context, the existing study examines the encouragement of government spending on economic growth, with particular attention to the agricultural sector in Afghanistan. For empirical analysis, the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, Johansen Co-integration test, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method were employed. Results from the Johansen Co-integration test specify a long-term relationship among government agricultural expenditure, agricultural employment, the exchange rate, and economic growth in Afghanistan. Moreover, regression analysis outcomes show that government spending on agriculture significantly influences the country\u27s economic growth, whereas employment in agriculture and the exchange rate do not have a statistically significant impact. Despite these findings, Afghanistan’s agricultural sector continues to face several challenges, such as a lack of highly educated workers, inadequate infrastructure, weak agricultural marketing systems, and limited irrigation facilities. Therefore, it is suggested that the Afghan government increase investment in the agriculture sector and ensure the efficient and transparent use of financial resources. Strengthening this sector would ultimately enhance agricultural productivity and foster economic growth across the country
Perception and Use of Library Resources Among Undergraduate English Majors Students
Get PDFThis study investigated the perceptions and utilization of library resources among undergraduate English major students at Kabul University’s English Department. Academic libraries play a critical role in supporting higher education; however, little is known about how students in under-resourced university settings perceive and engage with these services. The study employed a quantitative survey design to address this research gap, collecting data from 159 students using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to analyze patterns in students’ experiences. The results revealed that while many students valued the library’s range of resources and its contribution to academic success, substantial challenges existed. Students reported difficulties accessing digital and print materials, indicating problems with organization, usability, and availability problems. Although the perceived quality of resources was moderate, many expressed concerns about outdated collections and limited relevance to current coursework. Additionally, the study found that library services had a positive impact on research and writing skills. However, this impact was constrained by insufficient user training, limited staff support for digital tools, and underdeveloped online services. Students appreciated the physical facilities and support from staff but also emphasized the need for more responsive services. Recommendations included improving digital infrastructure, updating materials, and expanding information literacy training
AI in Service Industries: Effects on Customer Satisfaction, Mediated by Service Quality, and Moderated by Customer Trust
Get PDFThis study examined the application of artificial intelligence in service industries and its impact on customer satisfaction, focusing on the mediating role of service quality perception and the moderating effect of customer trust in AI. AI-driven technologies have transformed customer service by improving efficiency, personalization, and responsiveness. However, the extent to which these enhancements translated into higher customer satisfaction depended on perceived service quality and trust in AI systems. Using a structured survey across various service industries, particularly in empathy-driven sectors like healthcare and education, the research employed statistical analysis to evaluate AI’s direct and indirect effects on customer satisfaction. The findings indicated that AI significantly enhanced customer satisfaction, with a , substantial direct effect (β = 0.642, p < 0.001) and an additional indirect effect through service quality perception (indirect effect = 0.286, p < 0.001). Service quality perception acted as a crucial mediator (β = 0.305, p < 0.001), confirming its importance in shaping satisfaction outcomes. While customer trust positively influenced satisfaction (β = 0.267, p < 0.001), its moderating effect on AI-driven service interactions was not statistically significant (p = 0.199). These results show that AI adoption aligns with customer expectations and ethical considerations. Future research is recommended to explore the long-term impact of AI on customer trust and examine its effectiveness across various industries that require higher levels of emotional intelligence in service delivery
The Power of Ideas: A Constructivist Reinterpretation of Security in International Relations
Get PDFThis paper explores the pivotal role of Constructivist theory in redefining both theoretical and practical approaches to international security, addressing critical gaps in traditional security paradigms. In contrast to the realist and Liberal frameworks, which interpret threats as objective and material, this study argues that security is fundamentally a social construct, shaped by collective identities, shared norms, and discursive processes. Through a descriptive-analytical methodology grounded in comprehensive library research, the analysis reveals how security policies and global governance structures are influenced not only by material power but also by normative legitimacy, intersubjective understandings, and cultural contexts. The findings demonstrate that securitization is contingent upon political legitimacy and public consensus, highlighting the central role of language and perception in framing security threats. The study advocates for greater reflexivity and theoretical pluralism within security studies, urging an inclusive approach that incorporates cultural, environmental, and societal dimensions alongside conventional state-centric perspectives. Policy-wise, it emphasizes the need for inclusive multilateral dialogue, mutual recognition among actors, and adaptive governance mechanisms to address evolving security challenges. By reconceptualizing security as a dynamic, socially constructed phenomenon, this research provides a nuanced analytical tool for understanding contemporary international relations. Ultimately, it contributes to more effective strategies for fostering global stability, cooperation, and conflict resolution in an increasingly complex world.
Proactive Personality as a Moderator between Servant Leadership and Job Engagement: A Conservation of Resources (COR) Perspective
Get PDFEmployee job engagement has been recognized as a crucial determinant of organizational effectiveness and performance, yet the mechanisms and boundary conditions influencing this construct remain insufficiently understood. The primary aim of this study is to examine how servant leadership influences employee job engagement and to determine whether proactive personality moderates this relationship. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, the research explores how leadership behaviors and individual personality traits jointly shape engagement levels among academic staff in higher education institutions in Afghanistan. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected through standardized self-report questionnaires administered to 178 faculty members across four public universities in Kabul. The research instrument underwent translation and back-translation procedures to ensure linguistic and cultural validity. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study established the construct reliability and validity of the measures. Subsequently, hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the hypothesized moderation model. The empirical results demonstrated a significant positive relationship between servant leadership and job engagement. Furthermore, proactive personality was found to moderate this relationship, such that the positive impact of servant leadership on engagement was stronger among employees with higher levels of proactivity. These findings extend the theoretical understanding of servant leadership by integrating individual personality differences within the COR framework. Practically, the study highlights the importance of fostering servant leadership behaviors and creating work environments that support proactive employees, thereby enhancing faculty engagement and organizational performance in resource-constrained and post-conflict higher education institutions
The Impacts of Watching Videos on Improving Tertiary-Level Students’ English Language Speaking Skill
Get PDFIn the current era of integrating innovative teaching and learning tools and methods, video-based learning has become a valuable strategy for language instructors and learners. Therefore, students utilize this effective strategy within their classroom activities and integrate it into their independent learning tasks outside their classroom environment. This research aims to explore the impacts of watching videos on improving tertiary-level students’ English language speaking skill, with a further focus on vocabulary, motivation, pronunciation, and associated sub-skills. This study employed a quantitative survey design for data collection to determine the extent of descriptive statistics related to the research topic. The participants consisted of 28 non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the sophomore class of the English Language and Literature Department, Faculty of Languages and Literature, Kandahar University. The findings of the current study revealed that students’ engagement with watching videos improved their speaking skill, including vocabulary, motivation, pronunciation, and other associated sub-skills. Among these, watching videos helped students improve their speaking skills, which helped them effectively incorporate these skills into their daily classroom speaking activities. The current study\u27s findings will encourage English language instructors to include video-watching practices closely related to their daily classroom content
EFL Learners’ Attitudes Towards the Use of L1 in EFL Classrooms
Get PDFThe role of the first language in foreign language classrooms remains a contested issue in language pedagogy. While theoretical frameworks often discourage L1 use, growing empirical evidence points to its potential instructional value. This study explores Afghan English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ attitudes toward the use of L1 in English language instruction at Kandahar University. A quantitative research design was employed, involving a questionnaire administered to 208 undergraduate EFL students. The results indicate that students generally hold favorable attitudes toward the strategic use of L1 in the classroom. They perceive it as particularly helpful in facilitating the understanding of complex grammatical structures, unfamiliar vocabulary, and abstract concepts. Nonetheless, students also acknowledge that excessive reliance on L1 may hinder target language learning. Furthermore, the findings highlight that L1 use contributes to reducing students’ anxiety and fosters a more supportive learning environment, especially for lower proficiency students. Interestingly, the study found a declining preference for L1 use as students improve through academic levels from freshman to junior year. The one-way ANOVA results confirm significant differences among these groups, suggesting that as proficiency develops, students gradually shift toward English-only policy. These findings offer valuable insights for language instructors, curriculum designers, and higher education policymakers. They emphasize the importance of adopting balanced, context sensitive pedagogical strategies that integrate L1 judiciously to enhance comprehension while maintaining adequate exposure to the target language
The Effectiveness of Using Translation as a Learning Strategy in the Afghan EFL Context
Get PDFThe usefulness of translation as a learning strategy in the EFL context remains a subject of ongoing academic debate, particularly in relation to meaningful learning and language proficiency. There are two opposing ideas: some practitioners reject its use because it negatively affects English skills, while others insist on using translation because it is efficient for comprehension and for a better understanding of EFL content. In most foreign contexts, students have been found to use it extensively for comprehension. However, little research attention has been paid to the EFL context of Afghanistan to examine the effects of using this strategy. This study explores the attitudes and perceptions of English major students to determine the effectiveness of translation as a learning strategy. A quantitative research design was employed to assess the efficiency of this strategy. A 5-point Likert-scale survey was used to collect data. A total of 132 Afghan undergraduate students majoring in English literature at Kandahar University participated in the study. For statistical analysis, IBM SPSS Statistics 2027 was used to obtain accurate results. Findings identified translation as a supportive strategy for addressing students’ needs, reducing cognitive load, enhancing comprehension, aiding language skills, and promoting meaningful learning. These insights highlight the importance of translation but suggest caution in its use, as overuse limits learners\u27 ability to build their language proficiency. Future researchers are encouraged to explore the pedagogical implications of translation as a learning strategy across diverse EFL contexts, considering variables such as cultural backgrounds, proficiency levels, and instructional strategies for its practical use
Prevalence, Predictors, and Psychological Correlations of Internet Addiction Among Afghan Students Studying in Iranian Universities
Get PDFIn the era of information technology, internet use is inevitable for mankind. Internet use shows its negative impact when it becomes excessive. The present study intended to determine the prevalence, predictors and psychological correlates of internet addiction (IA) among Afghan students studying in Iranian universities. This study aimed to synthesize findings by assessing the prevalence of IA, psychological correlates of IA and predictors of IA in a sample of the Afghan students studying in Iranian universities. The current research was a descriptive correlational study that was conducted in the academic year of 2022-2023. A total of 268 people (159 boys, 109 girls), from Afghan students studying in Iranian universities, who were selected by stratified random sampling. Internet Addiction Test, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Barratt Impulsivity Scale were employed to collect related data. These measures were significantly higher in the IAD group compared to the N-IAD group. This study on a sample of Afghan students yielded a prevalence of 12.7% in Iranian universities. The measures of depression, anxiety and impulsivity are significantly correlated to IAD than N-IAD group. The study demonstrates the growing risk of excessive internet use and recommends early detection and preventive actions by mental health professional