Faculty Of Social Sciences Research Articles

Religious Cooperation in Plural Ghana: Challenges and Ways for Improvement

There is a global call for religious cooperation and tolerance, and it is a non-negotiable necessity for Ghana, through a collective responsibility. This study thus investigated the perspectives of Ghanaians on the religious situation in Ghana. It looked at whether or not Ghana is a “one religion” State, by exploring the existence of several religions in Ghana. The global advocacy for religious cooperation motivated this study to explore some challenges hindering religious cooperation in Ghana, and ways for improvement. Using a mixed methodology of quantitative and qualitative designs, the study sampled 225 individuals ethically from the Faculty of Social Sciences in KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. Primary data was obtained through questionnaires and interviews. The findings revealed that Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion are the three main religions amongst others in Ghana. A majority of 179 respondents indicated that Ghana has plural religions and is not a “one religion” State, hence, a non-negotiable advocacy for religious cooperation. The majority of these advocates are youth within the age brackets of 15-25 years, followed by adults within 36-45 years. Despite challenges hindering religious cooperation in Ghana such as religious, social, cultural and political barriers, the practice of respect, tolerance and value toward one another and interfaith relations, could guarantee some improvement. Therefore, whether Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists or the Other, one has to be and behave religiously inclusive, tolerant, and humble toward the other. Whether in speech or actions, one should give a listening ear to the other. This paper is relevant for peace and interfaith studies. Keywords: Plural Ghana; Religious Cooperation; the Other; Religious Inclusivism; Tolerance

Толерантность к неопределенности и суеверность как личностные ресурсы решения социальных проблем учащейся молодежью

<p>The phenomena of tolerance/intolerance to uncertainty and belief in the paranormal as personal resources for solving social problems by students were examined. The relevance of the topic is due to an attempt to identify the necessary personal determinants that help to effectively cope with life difficulties in the face of the uncertainty and multitasking in the modern world. Hypotheses about the inverse correlation between tolerance to uncertainty and superstition, as well as the direct correlation between tolerance and a rational style and positive orientation, belief in the paranormal with a negative orientation, an avoidant and impulsive style of solving social problems have been put forward. The results of an empirical study conducted among university students studying at the social science, humanities and medical faculties are presented (N=252), aged 18 to 21 years. A set of diagnostic techniques was used: the questionnaire for solving social problems by M.M. Danina et al., the "Paranormal Belief Scale" by J. Tobacyk (adaptation by D.S. Grigoriev), the modified questionnaire of tolerance to uncertainty by S. Badner (adaptation by T.V. Kornilova, M.A. Chumakova). According to the results of the study, it was found that students have a low tendency towards superstition and more often use a rational style when solving social problems. They are also characterized by a predominantly positive problem orientation. The direct correlations of tolerance to uncertainty with a rational style and positive problem orientation, as well as negative connections with avoidant and impulsive styles, a negative problem orientation were found.</p>

Attributes of Business Administration Graduates from Stakeholder Perspectives: Case Study of Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus

Unemployment of new graduates remains because of a mismatch between employer demands and graduate attributes. To reduce the skills gap, the study programs need to know what attributes are required by stakeholders. This study aims to identify the attributes of business administration graduates based on the requirements of stakeholders, and to determine the importance of the attributes of business administration graduates. The qualitative data was collected from stakeholders consisting of 17 internal stakeholders and 29 external stakeholders. Based on qualitative data analysis approach, the data was analyzed and thematically categorized by researchers. The study found that the importances of both generic and specific attributes of graduates were mentioned by stakeholders. The attributes of business administration graduates include 36 generic attributes and 3 specific attributes. This study suggested that the study programs should integrate the attributes of graduates into curriculum design and provide students with teaching and learning activities that enable them to develop the expected attributes. However, this study investigated graduate attributes specifically for the Bachelor of Business Administration Program, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus. The results of the study may not be generalized to other programs of study or other areas because the required graduate attributes in a specific area can be different than others.

Participatory Strategies to Integrate Gender+ Into Teaching and Research

This article explores the use of participatory approaches to promote gender equality in academia, focusing on initiatives implemented in two universities. First, we look at the experience of the University of Deusto (Spain) in developing a handbook to integrate a gender perspective into teaching and research practises through an equality, diversity and inclusion lens (EDI). This initiative, carried out as part of the university’s Gender Equality Plan, featured active involvement from scholars representing the faculties of Law, Psychology, Social Sciences and Humanities, Engineering, Business, and Theology, as well as the university’s Social Responsibility Unit. It serves as a valuable example of how participatory strategies can effectively engage a wide array of institutional stakeholders in change-oriented actions. Promoting increased participation fosters a sense of ownership of the process and outcomes among stakeholders and strengthens institutional recognition. Second, we analyse the introduction of a "gender+-responsive curriculum" developed at the University of Genoa (Italy), as part of the university’s Gender Equality Plan. This initiative seeks to promote inclusion across all disciplinary subjects by incorporating current research that examines subject matters through the lens EDI, where relevant. The pilot implementation was undertaken in an undergraduate course focused on hydraulic engineering and hydrology, drawing guidance from various resources, including academic publications and EU-funded project reports. This initiative highlights the practical implications and challenges associated with interventions aiming to challenge conventional teaching and research norms from an EDI perspective, particularly in STEM fields. By exploring the experiences, obstacles and solutions associated with a gender+-responsive curriculum, we broaden our understanding of academia’s potential to advance gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. In examining the two experiences, we emphasise the theoretical underpinnings that underscore the importance of participatory approaches for promoting meaningful and enduring changes in academic institutions. Additionally, we highlight the ongoing challenges associated with implementing such changes and offer initial insights into potential strategies for overcoming these obstacles. Our goal is to ensure that gender and other intersecting diversity factors are not relegated to the edges of institutional priorities, but are instead mainstreamed into wider institutional practices.

SOCIAL SUPPORT AND LIFE STRESS AND THEIR IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSORS

The study aimed to examine the pressures of life events and their relationship to both mental health and social support among professors of higher education - a field study at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Tizi Ouzou (Algeria) with the aim of revealing in depth the correlation between social support and mental health in ways to cope with pressure. The study relied on the descriptive approach, a sample of (123 professors), from the University of Tizi-Ouzou, and a set of tools to collect data represented in: the Life Events Stress Scale by researchers Mohamed Atef Rashad and Mohamed Said Abu Al-Khair (1999), the mental health scale by Fouad Mohamed El Mekkaoui, and the Social Support Scale by Samadouni (1997), which adjusted for the Algerian environment in 2020. The results showed that the hypotheses set out in the research are acceptable.

ANALYZING THE PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS ABOUT HYBRID LEARNING PROGRAM IN UNIVERSITIES

The study's objective was to determine how students felt about university blended learning programs. This study looked at evidence showing how blended learning affects students' perceptions. The study's population of concern included all social sciences students from 2-universities in Multan district (Bahauddin Zakariya University & Women University). Sample of study comprised 360 students from social sciences faculty, 30 students were selected from each department. Questionnaire was developed for students. The questionnaire contains 25 items for students' perception and a five-point Likert scale was used for scoring. Statistical methods were applied to obtain findings about student reactions like %, mean, frequency and SD was used to apply and examine the perception of students about blended learning program. It was found that majority of participants believe that blended learning helps make students independent, inspired, confident & more effective. Students should participate in training program to improve ability to use technology in blended learning & regular feedback sessions should be encouraged.

Knitting Love in Pain: A Phenomenon of Dating Violence Among Students of Pattimura University Ambon

Dating violence among students is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed promptly so that students can be freed from various acts of dating violence and obtain a safe environment. Therefore, it is important to conduct research, particularly on the factors causing dating violence and the motivation to maintain unhealthy dating relationships among students, in order to fully understand and address this unhealthy dating relationship, minimizing it as its causes are identified. This study adopts a qualitative approach with a descriptive study method, utilizing data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews, documentation, and literature review. Qualitative findings reveal reasons for dating violence among students of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences as well as the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education at Pattimura University, including internal and external factors such as mindset, unstable emotions, personality, feelings of dependency, and sexual urges. This indicates that forms of violence perpetrated by students include physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence. The dominant reason why women or victims of violence remain in dating relationships in this study is because they inherit three key indicators of love: voluntary commitment, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

The Level of Metacognitive Thinking of Graduate Students Laghouat University as a Model

The Level of Metacognitive Thinking of Graduate Students Laghouat University as a Model

About the VI International Winter Demographic School at Lomonosov Moscow State University

The VI International Winter Demographic School was held on February 1–3, 2024 as part of the career guidance work of the Higher School of Modern Social Sciences (faculty) of Lomonosov Moscow State University in order to popularize demographic knowledge and increase the demographic literacy of listeners. The work of the School was prepared and organized by the Department of Demography of the Higher School of Social Sciences on a free basis in a mixed offline and online format on the Zoom platform.

The Influence of Social Media Use and Lifestyle on Purchase Decisions at Shopee (Study of Students at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Riau University, Pekanbaru)

This study, which involved students at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Riau University in Pekanbaru, tries to ascertain the impact that social media users and lifestyle have on Shopee purchase decisions. Descriptive and quantitative statistics are used in this study, and multiple and simple linear regression analysis is the analytical technique. Purposive sampling procedures were employed to establish the sample size of 100 respondents for this study, and questionnaires were utilized to gather data. According to the research findings, social media use has a major positive impact on buying decisions, as does living a healthy lifestyle. At Shopee, social media and lifestyle have a major positive impact on purchasing decisions (Study on Students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Sciences Politics Riau University Pekanbaru).

Participation in monitoring the 2024 election through election monitoring agencies

Election observers, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Buton, accredited as an election monitoring institution in Baubau City. The purpose of this election monitoring activity is to ensure that the general election runs smoothly. The method used in this activity is coordination and supervision. The result of this service is that the February 14 2024 voting will not only be a busy time for election participants and election organizers. Election monitoring institutions are also busy with consolidation and training agendas for preparation before going into the field to monitor election implementation. The work of election observers is not only during voting at polling stations. Election observers begin to supervise the election process from the moment the election stage begins. Observers ensure that election organizers carry out all stages and schedules according to what has been determined. Meanwhile, during voting, observers supervise the implementation of voting from the time the polling station opens until it closes. Monitoring is carried out, among other things, regarding voting procedures, vote recapitulation results, including recording findings of suspected fraud, such as money politics and intimidation of voters.

Kesejahteraan Mahasiswa Pelaku Bisnis Online di Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik Universitas Sumatera Utara

One way for students to achieve prosperity, especially economically, is to build an online business. An online business is a business that is marketed via the internet in various ways so that it can make money. This study aims to find out and analyze how the welfare of online business students at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of North Sumatra, The research subjects were students who became online business people at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of North Sumatra. This type of research is qualitative and uses primary data collection techniques through observation and interviews as well as secondary data based on qualitative audio-visual documents and materials. The results obtained from this study show that students are able to gain economic benefits by doing business online. They are able to pay their own tuition fees and also do not ask their parents for pocket money, helping their family's economy. In addition, students earn non-monetary income by adding insight into digital technology, business understanding, and business relations. The conclusion of the research is the fulfillment of monetary income; this is evidenced by the statements of informants who stated that they have been able to meet their daily needs after running an online business and fulfilling non-monetary income. After running an online business, students gain an understanding of digital technology, business understanding, and also relationships that are able to help develop their business.

Competencias digitales en pedagogía, ciudadanía y desarrollo profesional del profesorado universitario

In today’s digitized world, digital competences are required to facilitate the transition to the Internet. For professorship, these competences go beyond knowledge of a particular subject. They focus on the skills needed to transmit that knowledge to students. A quantitative approach study was applied. The design was non-experimental and descriptive. The population and sample correspond to the 70 teachers who worked in the Faculty of Humanistic and Social Sciences during the first semester of 2023. The instrument for data collection was a teaching self-assessment. The competencies in digital citizenship showed the highest levels of teacher mastery with a value of 5. The competencies in pedagogy and professional development showed a value of 4. 93% of UTM-CHS teachers stated they had participated in training activities on the use of ICT in education. In conclusion, university faculty in Ecuador must have a stronger digital academic background; they must establish better pedagogical and professional development skills, research capacity, knowledge of educational technologies, intercultural skills and leadership skills. To ensure a high-quality learning environment all three areas must be at the same level of outcomes. For that, university professional development leads to establishing good pedagogy. Then pedagogy is strengthened through digital citizenship.

CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS AT HIGHER LEVEL: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

The objective of current research was to examine the correlation between classroom participation and personality development of students in higher education. The population of the study included all social sciences students from 2-universities (Bahauddin Zakariya University & Women University) in Multan district. Two universities were selected from Multan district, only faculty of social sciences was selected, 25 students were selected from each department so total samples of study were 300 students. The questionnaire was designed by using 5-point Likert scale. Data was entered on SPSS sheet after completion of the data collection. Data was analyzed by using diverse statistical techniques, means, SD, correlation, regression, ANOVA and t-test. In data analysis, it was found that participants see classroom participation as enhancing effective management with peers, reflecting prime viewpoint and impact of strong communication skills helps peers on engaging with classmates. Students should participate in workshops or seminars that focus on personal growth including communication skills, emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Analisis Kemampuan Literasi Digital Mahasiswa Jurusan Pendidikan Geografi Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Universitas Negeri Medan

This study aims to analyze the Digital Literacy Skills Students of Geography Education Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan. The data collection techniques used were tests and questionnaires as well as direct observation of respondents' social media accounts, then analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques. The results showed that: Overall, the digital literacy skills of Geography Education Department students are classified as good with an average score (70.58) and percentage score (63.58%). When viewed according to its aspects, the knowledge aspect is classified as good with an average score (8.39) and percentage score (64.58%), the attitude aspect is classified as very good with an average score (42.83) and percentage score (85.67%), but the skill aspect is less with an average score (19.35) and percentage score (40.31%). The digital literacy ability of men with an average score (70.71) and percentage score (63.71%) was higher but not significantly different from women who had an average score (70.51) and percentage score (63.52%). Most students of Geography Education Department are not very active in using social media (84.06%) and their uploads are more personal content (30.57%) than work content (4.26%).

Novel Integration of a Health Equity Immersion Curriculum in Medical Training.

Health disparities education is an integral and required part of medical professional training, and yet existing curricula often fail to effectively denaturalize injustice or empower learners to advocate for change. We discuss a novel collaborative intervention that weds the health humanities to the field of health equity. We draw from the health humanities an intentional focus retraining provider imaginations by centering patient narratives; from the field of health equity, we draw the linkage between stigmatized social identities and health disparities. We describe a longitudinal health equity curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship in Memphis, Tennessee, to give trainees exposure to the concept of structural violence and how it affects clinical care. The curriculum was developed in partnership with humanities and social sciences faculty who staff a Health Equity academic program at a small liberal arts college in Memphis. This curriculum has been implemented for the past four years in support of 22 hospice and palliative medicine fellows. Group debriefs and a mixed methods survey have revealed widespread and lasting impact towards understanding health equity concepts, enhanced communication and treatment of patients, and empowerment to address the broader needs and policies affecting patients and the communities in which they live. Ultimately, we model an educational initiative that integrates equity across the full scope of healthcare practice and equips learners with skills for sustaining compassionate practices, focusing on equity-oriented, person-centered care across the full scope of healthcare practice.

New challenges and opportunities for IT companies and (L)IS departments in managing student internships in the time of crisis

This paper discusses the organization of students’ internship in new circumstances caused by COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the research is on the IT companies in eastern part of Croatia and their perspective on how they managed students’ internship during and after the lockdown. Some of these IT companies successfully cooperate with the Department of Information Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Osijek. Since 2015 the Department enrolls students in graduate study of Information Technology track. From that time students used to do their internship and later find employment in IT companies in the region. The well based cooperation with local IT companies was interrupted in 2020 by the COVID-19 lockdown and semi-lockdown. In such a situation, teachers and IT companies’ managers have been trying to find out the proper ways in which students could fulfill their tasks via online or hybrid mode. To learn more about the experience from the perspective of IT companies, we interviewed 18 of them. The paper points out the observed advantages and disadvantages as well as suggestions for setting a framework for future internship programs. Employers are thinking about continuing to perform online or hybrid internships, and it is clear to them that one of the answers is well defined and regulated model of internships in the online environment.

The socialcultural context of the formation and implementation of the sociological education models in Russia

The article considers historical aspects of the formation and implementation of the sociological education models in Russia. The model developed by N.I. Kareev and M.M. Kovalevsky at the end of the 19th century was to teach sociology to students of all areas of university training. In 1901, sociologization of social sciences started at the Russian School of Higher Social Sciences in Paris, and in 1908 it was improved at the departments of sociology of the V.M. Bekhterev Psychoneurological Institute and A.L. Shanyavsky Moscow City People’s University. In 1918, P.A. Sorokin developed a professional model for training sociologists; until 1921 this model was implemented at the faculties of social sciences of the Moscow, Petrograd and Yaroslavl State Universities. In 1922, the implementation of both models was suspended due to the introduction of centralized plans to teach the basics of MarxismLeninism to students. The creative potential of two historical models became in demand during perestroika , in the late 1980s - early 1990s, and new versions of the educational and professional models were introduced in the higher education in favorable conditions for the reinstitutionalization of sociology. However, since 2010, there has been a gradual reduction in the number of sociological departments and faculties in Bachelor’s-Master’s programs. Today educational and professional models are unevenly represented in the Russian higher education; their implementation remains questionable due to the idea of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to return to training students on the basis of the enlarged groups of specialties, i.e. sociology curriculum will have to be coordinated with curricula for regional studies, international relations, tourism and political science.

Library Circulation Patterns among Social Sciences and Humanities Students: A Case Study at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

This study aims to explore the Circulation Patterns within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) at Rajarata University in Sri Lanka. The problem identified is the lack of knowledge about the circulation patterns and user demand for different subjects within the library. It seeks to address the existing research gap about the Library user circulation pattern among students associated with the above faculty level. The study specifically investigates the period from 2015 to 2019, taking into account the progressive growth and diversity of the Library collections. The rest of the objectives of the study are to determine the user demand for different subject disciplines and to assess the circulation trends. To achieve these objectives, the primary data was gathered from the Report Module of the Integrated KOHA Library Management System of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, and the retrieved data was then analyzed statistically by Microsoft Excel. The findings of the study offer valuable insights into Library circulation and the book usage patterns of students. The research reveals a significant demand for Textbooks in the field of Social Sciences among students, retrieving huge hits for the main subject disciplines such as Religion, Philosophy, and Psychology instead of the disciplines such as Computer Science, Information Technology, and General Works. It is recommended that the Library allocate additional resources and prioritize budget allocation toward the Social Sciences field. This would involve acquiring popular books that cater to the diverse needs of students and faculties across various disciplines, ultimately contributing to the development of a comprehensive collection that effectively addresses the requirements of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Hubungan Peran Ayah Dengan Penyesuaian Diri Mahasiswa Baru Fakultas Ilmu Sosial Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara

This study aims to investigate the relationship between fatherhood and self-adjustment in new students of the Faculty of Social Sciences, State Islamic University of North Sumatra. Self-adjustment is defined as an individual's ability to cope with discomfort and exhibit behavior acceptable to the environment. This research method is quantitative with a population of 125 new students from the communication science study program. Sampling is carried out in total sampling. Data were collected through the fatherhood scale and self-adjustment scale, then analyzed using the Pearson product moment correlation. The results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.478 (P 0.05), indicating a significant positive relationship between fatherhood and self-adjustment. The coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.229 indicates that 22.9% of the variation in self-adjustment can be explained by the role of the father. The findings showed that paternity and self-adjustment were very low, with significant differences between the empirical mean and the hypothetical mean. Therefore, the proposed hypothesis is declared acceptable.