Hashemite University Research Articles

Prevalence of a Forgivingness Tolerance Trait among University Students and its Relationship with Attachment Styles

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of a forgiveness trait among university students and its relationship with attachment styles, and to determine any differences in the extent of forgiveness based on gender, academic specialization and academic level variables. Participants in the study consisted of 784 male and female undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in the academic year 2013-2014, who completed both the attachment styles and forgiveness traits scales. Results indicated a moderate prevalence of the forgiveness trait and no significant differences were found due to gender, while significant differences were found due to academic specialization in favor of humanist specializations and academic level in favor of third and fourth academic levels. Results also indicated that the secure attachment style indicated a positive relationship with the forgiveness trait, whereas no significant relationship was found between the anxious or avoidant attachment styles, and the forgiveness trait.

Prevalence of a Forgivingness Tolerance Trait among University Students and its Relationship with Attachment Styles

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of a forgiveness trait among university students and its relationship with attachment styles, and to determine any differences in the extent of forgiveness based on gender, academic specialization and academic level variables. Participants in the study consisted of 784 male and female undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in the academic year 2013-2014, who completed both the attachment styles and forgiveness traits scales. Results indicated a moderate prevalence of the forgiveness trait and no significant differences were found due to gender, while significant differences were found due to academic specialization in favor of humanist specializations and academic level in favor of third and fourth academic levels. Results also indicated that the secure attachment style indicated a positive relationship with the forgiveness trait, whereas no significant relationship was found between the anxious or avoidant attachment styles, and the forgiveness trait.

Influence of Meteorological Parameters on Air Quality at Hashemite University, Jordan

Four threshold air pollutants (SO2, NO, NO2, and O3) in addition to meteorological parameters were monitored at the Campus of the Hashemite University (HU) for two years (1/1/2012 through 30/12/013). Correlations between air pollution and meteorological parameters were derived. The results showed that O3 has a positive correlation with air temperature, wind speed and wind direction, but has a negative correlation with the relative humidity (RH). SO2 was found to have a negative correlation with the RH and wind speed, but positive correlation with air temperature. NO has negative correlation with air temperature, RH, and wind speed. And finally, NO2 has a negative correlation with RH and wind speed, but it has positive correlation with air temperature. Justify the reasons in brief with recommendations to improve the air quality

Arab Learners of English and the Use of Discourse Markers in Writing

This study aims at investigating the development level of Arab EFL learners in the use of discourse markers (DMs) in writing through the analysis of their errors. For this purpose, two types of questions regarding the use of DMs (additive, causative, adversative, and temporal) were distributed to 40 undergraduates (20 males & 20 females), first, second, third, and fourth year English-major, in the academic year 2015, at the Hashemite University in Jordan. The study concludes that students' level in using DMs becoming better and better as their academic level evolves.

The Level Of Possession Of The Students At The Hashemite University Of Professional And Family Counseling Skills In Light Of Achievement And Gender Variables

The present study aimed to identify the level of owning a field training students majoring in psychological counseling at the Hashemite University of professional and family counseling skills in light of achievement and gender variables. The subjects of the study comprised of (100) subjects of field training students in the second semester of the academic year 2014-2015. A questionnaire was used in this study to identify the professional counseling skills and another questionnaire for family counseling skills. Results of the study have shown that field training students majoring in psychological counseling at the Hashemite University own professional and family counseling skills moderately. The results also indicated that the level of students' possession of the professional and family counseling skills rises as GPA rises and that females are more equipped to those skills, compared with males.

Quality in consecutive interpreting

Abstract Given the lack of sensitization to the multi-dimensional concept of quality, and given the versatility of the concept of relevance, the present investigation attempts to examine the premise that Relevance Theory (RT) can function as a standard or a benchmark for maximizing and/or optimizing quality in CI. Whilst the theoretical part relies heavily on Ernst-August Gutt’s seminal work Translation and Relevance: Cognition and Context (2000), the practical part draws on some empirical data obtained from trainee-interpreters’ recorded sessions at the Hashemite University (Jordan) in order to provide a relevance-driven account for some semantic, syntactic, and cultural difficulties and problems in CI. The study arrives at the main conclusion that the degree of quality in CI largely depends on the degree of relevance achieved by the interpreter’s TL version, i.e., quality in CI would rise exponentially with the degree of relevance achieved by the interpreter’s TL version. The study also concludes that the pragmatic RT can be considered a reliable instrument, a reliable frame of reference, or a reliable screening system that can ensure both relevance-building and a correspondingly concomitant quality-building in CI, i.e., RT can possibly fine-tune the interpreters’ performance in the booth.

AN EXPLORATION OF GRAFFITI ON UNIVERSITY’S WALLS: A CORPUS-BASED DISCOURSE ANALYSIS STUDY

Graffiti have received a great attention from scholars as they have been considered a vital cultural phenomenon for many years (Trahan, 2011; Divsalar & Nemati, 2012; Zakareviciute, 2014; Farnia, 2014; El-Nashar & Nayef; 2016). Although there are extensive contemporary researches on graffiti in many disciplines, such as linguistics, cultural studies, politics, art, and communication (Pietrosanti, 2010; Farnia, 2014; Oganda, 2015), there are few studies exploring graffiti on classrooms’ walls in higher education milieus (Farnia, 2014). To the best knowledge of the researchers, very few studies were done on the Jordanian context (e.g. Al-Haj Eid, 2008; Abu-Jaber, et al., 2012) and none was done on the Jordanian universities. Therefore, this study aims at analysing the content and communicative features of writings found on universities’ classrooms’ walls, corridors, and washrooms and their relation to the socio-cultural values of the society in order to explore how universities help students voice their attitudes and thoughts. The linguistic features that characterise these writings were also examined. Graffiti-writings, which were collected from the University of Jordan and the Hashemite University, were coded and analysed using the thematic content analysis technique (Braun & Clarke, 2006) and Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995). The analysis of the data has shown that graffiti serve different communicative language functions related to personal, social, national, religious, political, and taboo matters. The most salient linguistic features of these graffiti are simplicity and variation. It can be concluded that graffiti are distinctive and silent ways of communication, particularly in students’ society. The study will be of great importance to linguists, sociologists, educators, administrators, teachers and parents. It is enrichment to the available literature on linguistic studies.

Social phobia and its relation to university compatibility among the students of the Hashemite University: الرهاب الاجتماعي وعلاقته بالتوافق الجامعي لدى طلبة الجامعة الهاشمية

The study aimed to uncover the relationship between social phobia and university compatibility among the students of the Hashemite University, and to find out whether there were differences between the students in the level of these variables attributed to gender and specialization. The study sample consisted of (800) male and female students from the university with (456) males and (344) females, distributed according to scientific specialties by (377) and humanitarian specialties by (423). To achieve the objectives of the study, the social phobia scale and the university compatibility scale were used. The results of the study indicated that the level of social phobia among students is average (54%). The level of academic compatibility among students was average (56.6%). The results also indicated that there was a statistically significant correlation between social phobia and university compatibility at the level of significance (0.05 α). There were no statistically significant differences between male and female students in the level of social phobia and university consensus. The results showed no significant differences Statistics among students with scientific and literary disciplines in the level of social phobia and university consensus.

Diabetes Risk Score in a Young Student Population in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background. The Middle East is the home to the most obese population in the world, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is endemic in the region. However, little is known about risk factors for diabetes in the younger age groups. Methods. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) is a simple, validated tool to identify persons at risk of diabetes. We investigated students at Hashemite University in Jordan with FINDRISC and measured fasting plasma glucose in those who were categorized in the high-risk group. Results. Overall, 1821 students (881 [48.4%] female) were included in the study. Risk factors for diabetes were common: 422 (23.2%) were overweight or obese and 497 (27.3%) had central obesity. Using the FINDRISC score, 94 (5.2%) students were at moderate risk and 32 (1.8%) at high risk of diabetes. The mean FINDRISC score was significantly higher in men than women (5.9 versus 5.4; p = 0.002). Twenty-eight students in the high-risk group had a subsequent plasma glucose measurement, and 8 (29%) of them fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for diabetes. Conclusions. Risk factors for diabetes were common in a young student population in Jordan, suggesting that preventive measures should be initiated early in adulthood to turn the diabetes epidemic in the region.

Prevalence of a Forgivingness Tolerance Trait among University Students and its Relationship with Attachment Styles

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of a forgiveness trait among university students and its relationship with attachment styles, and to determine any differences in the extent of forgiveness based on gender, academic specialization and academic level variables. Participants in the study consisted of 784 male and female undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in the academic year 2013-2014, who completed both the attachment styles and forgiveness traits scales. Results indicated a moderate prevalence of the forgiveness trait and no significant differences were found due to gender, while significant differences were found due to academic specialization in favor of humanist specializations and academic level in favor of third and fourth academic levels. Results also indicated that the secure attachment style indicated a positive relationship with the forgiveness trait, whereas no significant relationship was found between the anxious or avoidant attachment styles, and the forgiveness trait.

Prevalence of a Forgivingness Tolerance Trait among University Students and its Relationship with Attachment Styles

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of a forgiveness trait among university students and its relationship with attachment styles, and to determine any differences in the extent of forgiveness based on gender, academic specialization and academic level variables. Participants in the study consisted of 784 male and female undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in the academic year 2013-2014, who completed both the attachment styles and forgiveness traits scales. Results indicated a moderate prevalence of the forgiveness trait and no significant differences were found due to gender, while significant differences were found due to academic specialization in favor of humanist specializations and academic level in favor of third and fourth academic levels. Results also indicated that the secure attachment style indicated a positive relationship with the forgiveness trait, whereas no significant relationship was found between the anxious or avoidant attachment styles, and the forgiveness trait.

Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies as Predictors of Academic Achievement among University Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of cognitive emotionregulation strategies on academic achievement of university students in Jordan. A random sample of 386 students from the Hashemite University participated in the current study. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire was used to measure the cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The findings of this study showed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies had significant joint effect and relative effect on academic achievement. It is hoped that this study will be beneficial to students and teachers in developing cognitive emotion regulation strategies for effective learning.

Negative Impacts of Cultural Globalization on Islamic Identity: A Regional Project on Hashemite University Students

This study aims at identifying the viewpoints of Hashemite University students re-garding the negative impacts of cultural globalization on Islamic identity. The sample (n = 403) was from undergraduate students of Hashemite University. The total number of undergraduate students of the university is 24000 students. The study was conducted during the second semes- ter of the academic year 2016. A researcher-made questionnaire with appropriate validity and reliability was used to collect data. The questionnaire was distributed to sample of students. The findings indicate that The Hashemite University students' viewpoints were moderate. Also, there are statistically significant differences attributed to sex and in favor of males. However, there was no statistically significant difference attributed to college.

Negative Impacts of Cultural Globalization on Islamic Identity: A Regional Project on Hashemite University Students

This study aims at identifying the viewpoints of Hashemite University students re-garding the negative impacts of cultural globalization on Islamic identity. The sample (n = 403) was from undergraduate students of Hashemite University. The total number of undergraduate students of the university is 24000 students. The study was conducted during the second semes- ter of the academic year 2016. A researcher-made questionnaire with appropriate validity and reliability was used to collect data. The questionnaire was distributed to sample of students. The findings indicate that The Hashemite University students' viewpoints were moderate. Also, there are statistically significant differences attributed to sex and in favor of males. However, there was no statistically significant difference attributed to college.

Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies as Predictors of Academic Achievement among University Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of cognitive emotionregulation strategies on academic achievement of university students in Jordan. A random sample of 386 students from the Hashemite University participated in the current study. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire was used to measure the cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The findings of this study showed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies had significant joint effect and relative effect on academic achievement. It is hoped that this study will be beneficial to students and teachers in developing cognitive emotion regulation strategies for effective learning.

Implementing the competences-based students-centered learning approach in Architectural Design Education. The case of the T MEDA Pilot Architectural Program at the Hashemite University (Jordan)

Higher educational systems become increasingly oriented towards the competences-based student-centered learning and outcome approach. Worldwide, these systems are focusing on the students as a whole: focusing on their dimensional, intellectual, professional, psychological, moral, and spiritual. This research was conducted in an attempt to answer the main research question: how can the architectural design courses be designed based on the required competences and how can the teaching, learning activities and assessment methods be structured and aligned in order to allow students to achieve and reach the intended learning outcomes? This research used a case study driven best practice research method to answer the research questions based on the T MEDA pilot architectural program that was implemented at the Hashemite University, Jordan. This research found that it is important for architectural education to adapt the students-centered learning method. Such approach increases the effectiveness of teaching and learning methods, enhances the design studio environment, and focuses on students’ engagement to develop their design process and product. Moreover, this research found that using different assessment methods in architectural design courses help students to develop their learning outcomes; and inform teachers about the effectiveness of their teaching process. Furthermore, the involvement of students in assessment produces effective learning and enhances their design motivation. However, applying competences-based students-centered learning and outcome approach needs more time and staff to apply. Another problem is that some instructors resist changing to the new methods or approaches because they prefer to use their old and traditional systems. The application for this method at the first time needs intensive recourses, more time, and good cooperation between different instructors and course coordinator. However, within the time this method will be more useful and interesting for the teacher and more effective and formative for students. Finally, the development of architectural academic staff is needed to increase awareness of learning needs of all architectural students. This requires redesigning and aligning their curriculum and courses syllabus according to the requirements of new methods.

Mechatronics Engineers’ Perception of Code Mixing: Philadelphia University and Hashemite University as a Case Study

It has recently been widely recognized that code-switching is prevalent in Jordanians' daily conversation in various situations such as home, cafes, universities, restaurants and clubs. Abalhassan and Alshalawi (2000: 183) made a very related observation on code switching behavior among Arab speakers of English that “without exception, all respondents switched into English to some degree”. This could be referred to the increase number of technological advances and people travelling across countries for pleasure or for pursuing further education. In light of this observation, the crucial role of language in people's life, ambivalent attitudes towards code-switching (Akbar, 2007), the dearth of research in this area, such a present study is required to explore Jordanian university students’ and instructors’ perceptions of code-switching in their daily classroom conversation and its expected impact on their language proficiency. In particular, it investigates the factors leading them to code mix and their underlying attitudes towards its expected future impact on their language proficiency. To the best knowledge of the present researcher, this study is the first of its kind in Jordan. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire from 70 university students and 30 instructors from both Philadelphia University and the Hashemite University. Data revealed that code mixing between English and Arabic is a common phenomenon in lectures they have attended in their academic institutions. The participants also show that they find code mixing fascinating and believe that though code switching might have a positive impact on their learning as it helps them better understand the topic. The instructors revealed that code mixing fulfill a set of functions that serve the educational process.

The Impact of Poor English Language Proficiency on Professional Development of Professors at Jordanian Universities

It is widely acknowledged that English has become the language of communication internationally (Yahya, 2012; Pennycook, 2014). To the researchers’ best knowledge, no research has reported on neither the difficulties non-English major professors face when using English as their formal language of instruction nor on the impact of these difficulties on their professional development. Thus, this paper aims to offer a better insight into the different problems that university professors non-major in English specifically face when communicating in English and their influence on their academic and professional advancement. Non-English major professors need to be competent in communicating English because they need to contact international organizations for publications, introducing partnership, present up-to-date findings in their fields and so on. The sample of the study comprised of 20 non-English major lecturers randomly selected from Hashemite University. Data collected via semi-structured interviews revealed that the participants encountered numerous difficulties in reading, writing and speaking and listening when using English and that these difficulties impact negatively on their academic and professional development. In light of these findings, the paper concludes with some of the participants’ suggestions to solve these difficulties.

خدمـــات المکتبـات الرقمية الأکاديميـة الأردنيـة وأثـرها في جـودة التعليم والبحـث العلـــــمي

ظهور المکتبات الرقمية، واتاحة الوصول الى المعلومات ادى إلى ظهور نماذج من الأسئلة التي تثار حول جدوى مثل هذه الأنظمة في البلدان النامية في سياق التحول نحو العولمة من خدمات المعلومات. وقد رکز النقاش حول ما إذا کان ظهور المکتبات الرقمية سوف يفيد البلدان النامية أو في الحقيقة تعميق عدم المساواة الاجتماعية. کما أثيرت تساؤلات حول ما إذا المکتبات الرقمية سوف تحسن التدريس ونتائج البحوث في جامعات البلدان النامية، وبالتالي يساعد على تقليل فجوة المعلومات القائمة بين البلدان المتقدمة والنامية. تهدف هذه الدراسة الى قياس مدى مخرجات التعليم والبحث العلمي في المؤسسات الاکاديمية الاردنية والتي يجري تعزيزها ودعمها عن طريق تنفيذ خدمات المکتبات الرقمية وامکانياتها على تقديم مثل هذه الخدمات. تستخدم هذه الدراسة عدد من کليات الجامعات الاردنية وهي کلية الطب في الجامعة الاردنية، الصيدلة في الجامعة الهاشمية، الهندسة في جامعة العلوم والتکنلوجيا الاردنية، الإدارة والاقتصاد في جامعة اليرموک، العلوم الإنسانية في جامعة البلقاء التطبيقية. اعتمدت هذه الدراسة على المنهج المسحي الميداني، وهو أفضل الطرق لقياس الأداء في هذا النوع من الدراسات، استخدمت طريقة الاستبانة کأداة رئيسية للبحث وجمع البيانات، فتم توزيع (400) نسخة من الاستبانة على عينة الدراسة من الأساتذة، وطلبة الدراسات العليا، وطلبة الصفوف المنتهية من مرحلة البکالوريوس، فضلا عن الموظفين. تم اعتماد وتحليل (396) استبيان، وأهملت الأربعة الباقية لعدم تکامل بياناتها. وقد اشارت النتائج الى ضعف الوسائل الاعلامية في تعريف المستفيدين بأهمية المکتبات الرقمية، مما انعکس عل قلة الخبرة لدى المستفيدين في الاستفادة منها واستثمار ها بالشکل الصحيح. واوصت الدراسة لتحقيق النجاح المتوقع لمشروع المکتبة الرقمية، وأعلى قدر من الفائدة للباحثين، يجب توفير النصوص الکاملة والمجانية للبحوث والمصادر الرقمية الأخرى، إذ لازالت نسبة عالية من هذه المصادر في قواعد المعلومات الدولية التي تم الارتباط بها تطلب مبالغ مالية. Abstract The emergence of digital libraries and access to information has led to the emergence of models of the questions that are raised about the feasibility of such systems in developing countries in the context of the shift towards globalization of information services. The debate has focused on whether the emergence of digital libraries will benefit developing countries or in fact deepening social inequality. Questions about whether digital libraries will improve teaching and research results at universities in developing countries was also raised, and therefore helps to reduce the existing information gap between developed and developing countries. This study aims to measure the extent of education and scientific research in the Jordanian academic institutions, which are being strengthened and supported through the implementation of digital library services and their potential to provide such services output. This study used a number of faculties of Jordanian universities, a faculty of medicine at the University of Jordan, Pharmacy - Hashemite University, Engineering at the University of Science and Technology of Jordan, Management and Economics at Yarmouk University, Human Sciences in Al-Balqa Applied University. This study is based on the survey method field, which is the best way to measure performance in this type of study, used the method of resolution as a key tool for research and data collection, and was distributing 400 copies of the questionnaire to a sample study of the professors, and graduate students, and students in grades ending of undergraduate, as well as staff. It was adopted and analysis (396) questionnaire, and neglected the remaining four for lack of integration of their data. The results showed that weakness of media outlets in the definition of the users of the importance of digital libraries, which was reflected on the lack of experience of the users to take advantage of them and invest her properly. The study recommended to achieve the expected success of the project Digital Library, and the highest amount of interest to the researchers, must provide full and free texts for research and other digital sources, it is still a high proportion of those sources in the rules of international information that was to link to request financial amounts.

The Impact of Poor English Language Proficiency on Professional Development of Professors at Jordanian Universities

It is widely acknowledged that English has become the language of communication internationally (Yahya, 2012; Pennycook, 2014). To the researchers’ best knowledge, no research has reported on neither the difficulties non-English major professors face when using English as their formal language of instruction nor on the impact of these difficulties on their professional development. Thus, this paper aims to offer a better insight into the different problems that university professors non-major in English specifically face when communicating in English and their influence on their academic and professional advancement. Non-English major professors need to be competent in communicating English because they need to contact international organizations for publications, introducing partnership, present up-to-date findings in their fields and so on. The sample of the study comprised of 20 non-English major lecturers randomly selected from Hashemite University. Data collected via semi-structured interviews revealed that the participants encountered numerous difficulties in reading, writing and speaking and listening when using English and that these difficulties impact negatively on their academic and professional development. In light of these findings, the paper concludes with some of the participants’ suggestions to solve these difficulties.