Northern Cyprus Research Articles

Mobile Government Use and Crisis Management: The Moderating Role of Techno-Skepticism

Providing user confidence in mobile government services (MGS) is essential for the success of mobile government. This study aimed to test the moderating role of techno-skepticism in the impact of crisis management on mobile government. Due to several inadequacies, citizens seem to respond negatively to the use of certain public technological services, leading them to develop a perspective of techno-skepticism. This issue has been cited in numerous scholarly studies as a critical component in the effective implementation of technological innovations. The effectiveness of digital technology in the procurement of public services is highly dependent on the perceptions and behaviors of its users. In this context, this study measured the attitudes of the participants and the connections between techno-skepticism, mobile government use, and crisis management among Northern Cyprus residents over 18 years old. The study employed a quantitative approach. A five-point Likert scale was used to collect data by modifying the survey questions to fit the scope of the study. The study participants were selected using the random sampling method to acquire data from a total of 402 citizens. The study findings revealed that techno-skepticism mediates the impact of crisis management on mobile government. As a result, techno-skepticism is a critical and decisive factor in citizens’ mobile government use, affecting its utilization frequency. Techno-skepticism was also found to play a vital role in mobile government use. The current study represents a pioneering effort in testing the moderating role of techno-skepticism in the impact of crisis management on mobile government. It also provides various contributions to theory and practice, particularly in the fields of mobile government and the use of digital technologies.

Effect of environmental education on the knowledge and attitude of some West African students in Northern Cyprus towards environmental health

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between environmental health and education by assessing how environmental education programs influence the attitude and knowledge of International university students in Northern Cyprus towards environmental health. The study employed a qualitative research method and utilized 45 international students from West Africa to grasp their perceptions of environmental challenges on campus, attitude-relevant elements, and their relationship to an academic program. The findings of the study show that most students were aware of the concept of environmental science and highlight that while the curriculum has a significant influence on students’ ecological consciousness, teaching methods have an impact on students’ attitudes toward the environment. The study also presented the complex nature of environmental programs, lack of exciting teaching strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches as major challenges hindering better student attitudes towards environmental science. The study suggests integrating environmental health into the curriculum to assess educational impacts on student attitudes.

The effect of Human Resource Management on employee Performance – A Systematic Literature Review

Purpose – Human resources management is considered the heartbeat of organizations and institutions in the field of business administration in particular. Good management ensures the retention of employees who are creative and skilled. This affects the organization’s productivity, profits, and competitive position in the market. Aims – This paper aims to develop a suitable systematic review on the research literature that has been undertaken to investigate how on human resource management influences employee performance within an organization. Growth in employee performance, through good management and its practices is an important factor that affects the organization and its production. Design/methodology/approach – This systematic literature review, analysed publications and articles published over the past two decades (2005–2023) on the human resources management in Northern Cyprus. Based on the comprehensive research analysis of 18 articles, employees are motivated to perform effectively through commitment, loyalty, discipline, innovation and self-learning. Their performance has been thoroughly investigated in numerous research papers. Findings – All hypotheses were supported by data collected from 18 research papers that showed that human resources management works to improve employee roles and job performance and human resources management is considered a means to enhance the relationship with employees and develop them. Limitations of the study – The research is limited to studies on human resources management that were done in Northern Cyprus. Originality/value – This systematic review of literature is significant because it presents insights on the importance of human resources management in the realms of an organisation.

Gender-Based Variation in Alveolar Bone Thickness of Maxillary Incisor Teeth: A CBCT Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND This retrospective study from a single center in Cyprus aimed to assess labial (buccal) and palatal bone thickness in 6 anterior maxillary teeth of 120 adults using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS The CBCT scans of 120 patients (720 teeth) were examined, with scanning parameters of 90 kvP, 24 s, 4 mA, voxel size 0.3 mm, and field of view of 10×6 cm. All maxillary incisors were categorized into 3 distinct points in terms of buccal (B) and palatal (P) points, with points B1 (buccal) and P1 (palatal) 4 mm below the cementoenamel junction; points B2 and P2 at the midpoint between the labial and palatal alveolar crest plane extending to the root apex; and points B3 and P3 at the root apex. Evaluation was done by measuring the distance from these points to the labial and palatal alveolar bone. RESULTS When the thicknesses were measured between all 6 points and labial and palatal bone, the thickness of point B3 of tooth 13 in men was significantly higher than that in women. At points P1, P2, and P3 for teeth 11 and 13, the palatal bone thickness of men was significantly higher than that of women. At points P2 and P3 of tooth 12, the palatal bone thickness of men was significantly higher than that of women. CONCLUSIONS The study found a correlation between alveolar bone thickness and patient sex in the North Cyprus population. Alveolar bone thickness in the anterior maxillary should be considered in implant treatment and orthodontic techniques.

Exploring the future of tourism: a qualitative study on the integration of robotics in North Cyprus hospitality and destination development

Exploring the future of tourism: a qualitative study on the integration of robotics in North Cyprus hospitality and destination development

Determining The Knowledge of Nurses Working in The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Perioperative Period Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols: A Quantitative Descriptive Study

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge level of nurses working in surgical clinics about perioperative period (ERAS) protocols. Methods: This descriptive research design completed between March and June 2021. The population of the study consisted of 126 nurses working in the surgical clinics of a State hospital in Northern Cyprus. The data were evaluated by accepting the significance level of p

Social Responsibility and Airbnb Hosts: Voices from Northern Cyprus

This study examined relevant linkages between motivational factors to be the owner of P2P accommodation (Airbnb host) and being active in pro-environmental and pro-social actions in life practices using a qualitative research method. Our study contributes to the literature associating the motivations of being an Airbnb host and being active in sustainability issues under the framework of moral values. Furthermore, the study analyzed whether an individual awareness of sustainability practices by Airbnb hosts influences their motivations for social responsibility actions in their hosting practices. The key themes followed were ‘Community Engagement and Pro-Social Practices’, ‘Environmental Consciousness and Pro-environmental Practices’, ‘Family Values on Moral Identity and Legal Compliance’, and ‘Restoration and Cultural Heritage’. Findings revealed that hosts stress the importance of the level of environmental consciousness that is gained from education in fostering social responsibility. Respondents believed that teaching cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and ethical values, especially to children, is crucial to building a responsible society. Additionally, participants expressed a sense of social responsibility through the restoration of idle and old houses, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and historical structures. As a context of the moral identity issue of respondent hosts, the influence of family values on the development of moral identity was highlighted. The findings of the study showed that hosts work in a team to implement necessary projects for the benefit of society. The study ends with a discussion of the findings and relevant suggestions for the industry.

Opinions of School Principals on the Impact of College Exams and Covid-19 Pandemic on Visual Arts Course

The aim of this study is to determine the perspectives of school principals on the positive or negative effects of online applications and college exams in schools during the pandemic process. Within the framework of the study designed in the qualitative research model, the opinions of 21 school principals from 6 regions in Northern Cyprus were obtained through a semi-structured interview form. As a result of the research data analyzed by content analysis, it has been revealed that both the Covid-19 pandemic and the college exams have a negative effect on the visual arts course. In particular, the fact that the visual arts course is not within the scope of college exams is among the main reasons why it is considered trivial by teachers, students and parents alike.

Construction of collective memory through official history education in North Cyprus (1971-2003)

Fundamental to recalling memories and remembering is to look at the past and the future concurrently. Remembering is crucial to have a temporal association so that present changes and developments can be elaborated in understanding the construction of memory. Historical trauma is a psychological and emotional collective and subjective injury which are transmitted from adults to children in a cycle process, and it continues over a life span of individuals and across generations. Soft memories are created and shared as a social process. These are narratives, historical texts and similar, less tangible forms of memory. History education has a profound influence on social discourse and the way soft memories are perceived, and since formal schooling is at the centre of shaping a generation and textbooks are the main medium of knowledge transmission, the official narrative shapes it and is often presented selectively. This research explores how the official regulation of history education is used to align official state discourse with social memory. This research employs secondary data and document analysis by examining the compulsory textbook (1979) used since 1971 in history education. It explores history education’s impact on individual narratives of remembrance and collective memory. It examines the long-term effects of what has been taught in secondary school history education on adulthood perceptions of past historical occurrences. Findings confirm that a consistent, official historical discourse supported by exposure to “hard” and “soft” memories enables the maintenance of collective memory as represented in the official discourse among society members. It also concluded that when difficult history is transmitted to the younger generation as part of education, they may experience trauma and similar negative associated feelings; furthermore, they do not necessarily unconditionally embrace the official history but question it in their adulthood.

Customer satisfaction antecedents in uncertain hospitality conditions: an exploratory data mining approach

PurposeInformed by trait and self-determination theories, the present study aims to extend the knowledge regarding the link between customer satisfaction (CS) and its antecedents, including job autonomy (JA), conscientiousness, customer uncertainty (CU) and extra-role customer service (E-RCS) in the hospitality industry.Design/methodology/approachA total of 306 frontline employees were selected from the hotels in North Cyprus, Turkey. Psychometric properties, including the validity and reliability of study variables, were assessed in the first step using confirmatory factor analysis. Then, the data were analyzed utilizing machine learning methods, mainly three exploratory data mining techniques, including lasso regression, decision trees and random forest, as well as partial dependence plots to visualize the role of suggested predictors on the outcome variable.FindingsData mining analysis shows that employees who can modify their job objectives are better equipped to satisfy customers in uncertain situations (JA8). In addition, the findings reveal that employees who believe they work hard to accomplish their personal and organizational goals (CON7) while also having the freedom to decide how to approach their job (JA1) and choose the procedures to utilize (JA2) are more likely to contribute to CS. In general, CS peaked when JA was high, but conscientiousness was moderate, while CU was low.Practical implicationsThis study bridges the gap among various factors at the employee and customer individual, corporate and macro-environmental levels. Hospitality organizations can cultivate a culture of autonomy and independence by promoting open communication and offering growth and development opportunities. This approach enhances conscientious employees’ engagement, leading to exceptional customer service performance, particularly, in uncertain situations.Originality/valueFrom the methodology perspective, this work proposes an opportunity for prospective scientists to broaden the trait and self-determination theories research model by relying on the riches of exploratory techniques without the limits imposed by traditional analytical techniques. Further, this study advances the current knowledge about service agility under uncertainty by extending organizational and service management research to consumer behavior literature.

Morphological Variations of the Nasopalatine Canal in the North Cyprus Population: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the anterior maxillary nasopalatine canal and the width of the buccal bone using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in 150 adults in Northern Cyprus. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 150 participants, and their anterior maxillary morphometric measurements (eg, length of the nasopalatine canal and anteroposterior diameter of the nasal foramen) were taken using CBCT with the scanning parameters of 90 kvP, 24 s, 4 mA, voxel size 0.3 mm, and field of view 10×6 cm. The shapes of the nasopalatine canal (NPC) were categorized into 4 types: cylindrical, hourglass, funnel-shaped, and banana (54%, 20.6%, 18.6%, and 4%, respectively). RESULTS The findings showed a clear link between the shape of the NPC and the horizontal dimensions of the anterior maxilla's morphometric properties. In general, decreased horizontal bone dimensions were found in the premaxilla at the banana- and funnel-shaped type for the nasopalatine canal. Also, the anteroposterior diameter of a nasal foramen in the hourglass shape was significantly larger in diameter than all other shapes. Additionally, the morphology of the nasopalatine canal is influenced by its shape. The sagittal cross-section has shown significant correlations with the sizes of the incisive foramen, nasal foramen, and the length of the nasopalatine canal. CONCLUSIONS The study found a correlation between the shape of the NPC and the horizontal dimensions of the anterior maxilla's anatomy. The measurements of NPC in a North Cyprus population slightly differ from the established standards found in the existing literature. Conducting more extensive studies with a larger number of CBCT images will offer additional insights.

The effects of identity (subordinate vs. superordinate) salience on intergroup attitudes, anxiety, and contact intentions in North Cyprus.

The effects of identity (subordinate vs. superordinate) salience on intergroup attitudes, anxiety, and contact intentions in North Cyprus.

Analysis of the relationship between fear of coronavirus and hand hygiene beliefs and practices of surgical nurses: A descriptive and cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to analyse the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and hand hygiene beliefs and practices of surgical nurses. This article is a descriptive correlational study. It was conducted between February and May 2021 with 306 surgical nurses working at public and private hospitals in Northern Cyprus. A personal information form, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Hand Hygiene Belief Scale and Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory were used for data collection. Of the participants in the study, 25.41% were 29 years old or younger and 85.15% were female. The mean scores obtained from the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Hand Hygiene Belief Scale and the Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory were 23.12 ± 8.03, 81.33 ± 7.67 and 69.15 ± 1.94, respectively. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale scores were negatively correlated with the Hand Hygiene Belief Scale scores and positively correlated with the Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory scores. Hand hygiene practices were better for nurses with higher level of COVID-19 fear. Therefore, a high level of seriousness and awareness of nurses about hand hygiene, which was achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be sustained to maintain proper hand hygiene practices.

Reliability of Interviews Used for Admission to Teacher Education Programs in Northern Cyprus: Generalizability Theory

This study examined the reliability of raters' assessments of prospective teachers for admission to a teacher training college. A total of fifty-eight prospective teachers and 10 raters participated in the study. The raters gave their ratings according to five dimensions, namely general culture (GC), language (L), self-image (SI), hobbies (H) and attitude towards the teaching profession (ATTP) in two interviews (Interview 1 and Interview 2). The data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Generalizability Theory. The results of the study show that there is no significant difference between the raters' ratings in each interview. The G coefficients were unacceptable for the GC and SI dimensions in Interview 1. In addition, the G coefficients were relatively low for the L, H, and ATTP dimensions in Interview 1 and all dimensions in Interview 2.

Academic Intrapreneurs: Exploring the Antecedents of Academic Intrapreneurial Intention

It is widely accepted that intrapreneurial behavior is imperative for any type of organization to maintain sustainability in terms of growth and performance. In this context, it is also important to investigate the factors that play a role in promoting intrapreneurship within dynamic industries, such as the higher education industry. For this purpose, this study aimed to explore the antecedents of intrapreneurial intention in academic staff to provide theoretical as well as practical contributions for universities. We used a survey method to collect data with a sample consisting of 236 academic staff from universities in Northern Cyprus, and tested hypotheses through three different structural models by using structural equation modeling (SEM). Following a deductive approach to establish constructs in the models, we treated academic intrapreneurial intention as the dependent variable, and self-leadership, self-efficacy, and psychological capital as the independent variables. In addition, attitudes toward intrapreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were individually tested as mediating variables. The results of this study indicate that self-leadership, self-efficacy, and psychological capital have direct and indirect effects on academic intrapreneurial intention, and attitudes toward intrapreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control play a mediating role between these antecedents and academic intrapreneurial intention.

Adverse Childhood events of individuals and its relationship with resilience

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and psychological resilience in the Turkish Cypriot community and to identify the predictors of psychological resilience. MethodThe research was conducted with 354 individuals in a web-based online environment in Northern Cyprus. Data were collected using a “Personal Information Form”, the “Adverse Childhood Events Scale”, and the “Resilience Scale for Adults”. Percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's correlation analysis were used in the data analysis. ResultsIn the study, 16.67 % of the participants were exposed to war or conflict when they were young and 10.17 % had a mental illness. In addition, it was determined that there were statistically significant and negative correlations between the Adverse Childhood Events Scale scores and the scores they got from the Adult Resilience Scale and the sub-dimensions of the scale. Female gender and education level predicted the scores on the Resilience Scale for Adults positively, and the presence of mental disease and the scores on the Adverse Childhood Events Scale negatively predicted the scores on the Resilience Scale for Adults. Conclusionİn this study, gender, educational status, presence of mental illness, and the total score on the Adverse Childhood Events Scale were determined to be predictive variables affecting resilience. Considering the research findings, it is recommended that nurses plan studies for the protection of the mental health of children and adolescents and the groups exposed to trauma should be psychologically supported to raise individuals with high resilience.

Harnessing Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning Synergy as a Form of Strategic Energy Optimization in Architectural Design: A Case Study in Famagusta, North Cyprus

This study introduces a novel framework that leverages artificial intelligence (AI), specifically deep learning and reinforcement learning, to enhance energy efficiency in architectural design. The goal is to identify architectural arrangements that maximize energy efficiency. The complexity of these models is acknowledged, and an in-depth analysis of model selection, their inherent complexity, and the hyperparameters that govern their operation is conducted. This study validates the scalability of these models by comparing them with traditional optimization techniques like genetic algorithms and simulated annealing. The proposed system exhibits superior scalability, adaptability, and computational efficiency. This research study also explores the ethical and societal implications of integrating AI with architectural design, including potential impacts on human creativity, public welfare, and personal privacy. This study acknowledges it is in its preliminary stage and identifies its potential limitations, setting the stage for future research to enhance and expand the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The findings indicate that the model can steer the architectural field towards sustainability, with a demonstrated reduction in energy usage of up to 20%. This study also conducts a thorough analysis of the ethical implications of AI in architecture, emphasizing the balance between technological advancement and human creativity. In summary, this research study presents a groundbreaking approach to energy-efficient architectural design using AI, with promising results and wide-ranging applicability. It also thoughtfully addresses the ethical considerations and potential societal impacts of this technological integration.

Higher Education in Northern Cyprus: The Path from Isolation to Oversaturation

Abstract This study explores the problems related to university teaching and academic research within de facto states in the context of their non-recognition via an analysis of the current situation in the higher education sector of Northern Cyprus. It reveals that although Northern Cyprus is a world leader in terms of the number of universities per capita, as well as the proportion of international students and the proportion of higher education students in its population, its higher education system nevertheless faces numerous problems. Among the most serious of these are the inconsistent and often very low quality of Northern Cyprus’s universities, the politicisation of and lack of confidence in the accreditation authorities responsible for the quality and sustainability of the higher education system, and the unregulated activities of “agents” who recruit new students.

Determination of Breast Cancer Risk and Knowledge Levels in Women: The Case of Cyprus.

Breast cancer is the type of cancer that is seen all over the world and ranks first among female cancers in terms of incidence and cause of death. This research was conducted to determine the breast cancer risk level and breast cancer knowledge level in women living in Northern Cyprus. The study, which was planned as a relational survey, was carried out as web-based. The research was completed with 657 adult female participants living in Northern Cyprus who volunteered to participate in the study. In order to collect data, the first section includes the introductory features, the second section includes the "Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Form" for determining breast cancer risk levels, the third section includes the "Comprehensive Breast Cancer Knowledge Test" to determine the breast cancer knowledge levels of the participants, and the fourth section includes the "Champion Health Belief Model Scale" was used. It was determined that 95.2% of women were in the low risk group for breast cancer. The knowledge test mean score is 12.05, and it can be said that the scores obtained are above the average (min:4- max:18). It was found that 55.7% of the women knew how to do Breast Self-Examination (BSE), but only 15.4% of them regularly performed BSE every month. It was found that 80.9% of the women never had mammography and their knowledge scores increased with increasing education level (p< 0.001) and there was a significant relationship between non-smokers and their knowledge levels (p< 0.01). Despite the high scores of women in knowledge tests, it was observed that the frequency of applying BSE and having mammography was very low. Regardless of the risk factors for breast cancer, the importance of regular check-ups and BSE for every woman should be taught to women by health professionals, and group trainings should be planned for women who do not have training on this subject.

The Rationale of Turkish Cypriot Position on Two-State Solution in Cyprus

This article examines the rationale behind the Turkish Cypriot position on the Two-State solution in Cyprus. The analysis consists of three interrelated parts. Initially, the question of whether Turkish Cypriots are entitled to ‘peoplehood’ that can exercise the right of self-determination according to international law is discussed. This is followed by evaluating the reasons driving the Turkish Cypriot side to exercise the right of self-determination and whether Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) fulfills the criteria for statehood. In accordance with arguments carried out in the previous sections, the final part delves into the reasons for the Turkish Cypriot position on the Two-State solution in Cyprus in detail. It is argued that Turkish Cypriot people possess all of the attributes of statehood and are entitled to the same rights and status as the Greek Cypriot side currently exercises. Therefore, reinstating Turkish Cypriot people’s rights by reaffirming their sovereign equality and equal international status is necessary for a just and sustainable settlement in Cyprus.