Malaysian Undergraduate Students Research Articles

Transforming Education: A Diffusion Theory Approach to Online Learning among Indigenous Undergraduate Students in Malaysia

Transforming Education: A Diffusion Theory Approach to Online Learning among Indigenous Undergraduate Students in Malaysia

EXPLORING VOCABULARY GROWTH THROUGH SONGS: AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW OF MALAYSIAN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

This study investigates the perceptions of Malaysian undergraduate students regarding the use of English songs as a tool for vocabulary acquisition. Through in-depth interviews with five undergraduate students in Malaysia, the study examines their experiences, insights, and reflections on utilising English songs to expand their vocabulary. Four prominent themes emerged from the analysis: subconscious word learning, learning of pronunciation and accent, vocabulary retention, and exposure to authentic English words. The results reveal that while listening to English songs undergraduate students in Malaysia improve their English language by learning new words, accent and improving pronunciation. Learners benefit from the autonomy to choose strategies they deem suitable for their learning, while also benefiting from teachers' guidance on various strategies to employ. The study concludes that there is a growing preference for engaging approaches such as using English songs, and providing students with an enjoyable and immersive way to learn vocabulary.

Validation of the Malay version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) among Malaysian undergraduates

The study’s objective is to validate the Malay version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) among Malaysian undergraduates. A cross-sectional survey was distributed at three universities in Malaysia (N = 500; mean age = 21.66 ± 1.57). The internal consistency of the Malay PHQ-4 was acceptable (α = .78, 95 % CI [.74, .81]), while the test-retest reliability was good (ICC = .77, 95 % CI [.34, .91], p < .001). The one-factor structure showed the best fit in confirmatory factor analysis and was similar across sexes. The Malay PHQ-4 has acceptable psychometric properties and can be used for pre-clinical screening purposes among Malaysian undergraduate students.

Shaping tomorrow’s dentists: a multi-institutional survey of undergraduate dental students’ perceptions towards interprofessional education

BackgroundInterprofessional education (IPE) is essential to foster collaboration among healthcare professionals for holistic patient care. However, Malaysian dental education remains discipline-centric, hindering multidisciplinary learning approaches. Hence, this study aimed to explore Malaysian undergraduate dental students’ perceptions of IPE.MethodsThe present cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling to survey undergraduate dental students from four Malaysian institutions using a modified questionnaire with 20 close-ended and 2 open-ended questions. The questionnaire covered three domains (effectiveness, preference, importance) to assess students’ perceptions using a five-point Likert scale. Psychometric validation was performed to assure validity and reliability of the modified questionnaire. Quantitative analysis (descriptive and inferential statistics), and qualitative analysis (content analysis) were subsequently performed.Results397 students responded, and positive perceptions were generally noted with mean scores ranging from 4.13 to 4.35 across all domains. Questions 2 and 3, assessing the improvement in understanding the roles and responsibilities, and communication among healthcare professionals, received the highest mean scores. Meanwhile, Question 15 concerning the incorporation of IPE into educational goals received the lowest mean score. Regression analysis identified gender and clinical phase as significant factors, with females and preclinical students exhibiting more favourable perceptions. Motivators for IPE included a keen interest in diverse perspectives and recognising the importance of teamwork, while barriers encompassed tightly packed schedules, lack of understanding about IPE, misconceptions regarding dental education, and students’ nervousness and fear of participation.ConclusionThis study produced a valid and reliable instrument to measure undergraduate dental students’ perceptions towards IPE. Strategic planning, such as overcoming logistical challenges, improving awareness, and creating a supportive learning environment are crucial for successful IPE integration into existing curricula, especially in resource-constrained developing countries like Malaysia.

The Role of Social Support and Emotional Intelligence in Fostering Resilience Among Malaysian Undergraduate Students

One of the challenges impeding Malaysia's economic growth in 2024 is the condition of the global economy, which would raise the country's unemployment rate. There are generally 224,000 new graduates born in Malaysia every year, yet only 127,000 highly skilled jobs are available. This means that Malaysia produces an excessive number of university graduates. The shortage of job prospects will make it harder for the next graduates to find jobs. Hence, graduates from universities need to be psychologically ready to handle uncertain circumstances. Employers do believe that university graduates must acquire workplace resilience before beginning their careers. People perceive a resilient individual as tough, deserving of respect, and successful. Empirical evidence supports the claim that university students' emotional intelligence and social support play a major role in determining their resilience. Thus, the purpose of this study is to find out the extent to which students’ resilience correlated with social support and emotional intelligence at six Malaysian public universities. To collect data, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with 387 students. The results show a considerable positive correlation between resilience, emotional intelligence, and social support. This study demonstrates the potential influences of social support and emotional intelligence on the development of resilience in Malaysian undergraduate students. The unpredictable nature of the global economy signifies that changes in the university environments are inevitable. This study suggests that enhancing the university's general courses and co-curriculum module will foster students’ willingness to take risks and increase their self-confidence, both of which will increase resilience.

PERCEPTIONS ON THE ROLE OF YOUTUBE IN IMPROVING SPEAKING SKILLS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract: This study investigated the attitudes of undergraduate students in Malaysia regarding the use of YouTube as a tool to enhance their speaking skills. A quantitative research instrument in the form of a 5-point Likert Scale survey questionnaire, adapted from Alkhatiri (2019), was used. The survey was administered to a sample of 30 undergraduate students who were currently enrolled in the English for Presentation Skills (ELC590) course at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). The purpose of the survey was to gather information regarding the perceptions of these students regarding the impact of YouTube on enhancing English speaking abilities. The data was examined using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 27, employing descriptive analysis to calculate the mean, standard deviation, and ANNOVA. The results indicated that YouTube is considered to be a highly successful online medium for enhancing speaking skills, as evidenced by an average score of 4.05 in the current study. The ANOVA analysis revealed a significant difference (p&lt;0.05) in the association between attitudes and the usefulness of YouTube. This indicates a strong connection between attitudes and the usefulness of YouTube, and improvements in one area directly benefit the other. Therefore, it can be concluded that YouTube is a good resource for learning English, since it increases student motivation and engagement by utilising YouTube to improve speaking abilities among undergraduate students in Malaysia. Keywords: Perceptions; YouTube; Speaking skills; Attitudes; Usefulness of YouTube

Entrepreneurship Education Position and Entrepreneurial Intention: The Perception of Malaysian Undergraduate Students

The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of Entrepreneurship education factors, as well as personal attitude, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norms on entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduate students. Primary data were obtained from 311 final year students at public universities in east coast Malaysia involving two fields of study (social sciences and science and technology). Descriptive and multiple regression methods were used to analyse the study data. Entrepreneurship education was found to be positively and significantly related to entrepreneurial intention in social science students and the overall study sample. Both variables under the category of entrepreneurial cognitive factors (Personal attitude and Perceived behavioural control) revealed a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intention. Meanwhile, only for the overall sample did the perceived subjective norm factor have a positively significant relationship with entrepreneurial intention. The findings of the study also revealed that social science students showed higher entrepreneurial intentions compared to science and technology students. This study can accentuate to policymakers and university management that the formation of entrepreneurial intentions among students is dependent not only on cognitive factors, but also on the empowerment of the entrepreneurship curriculum and the entrepreneurship ecosystem on campus.

Learner Experiences of Community of Inquiry Mode (CoI) in WhatsApp for English Language Learning

This study employed a mixed-methods design to investigate the experiences of ESL students during their English language learning interactions through the WhatsApp platform. The primary objective was to examine the presence of social, cognitive, and teaching presences in the WhatsApp interactions using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model. A survey was administered to 349 undergraduate students in Malaysia to collect the quantitative data, which was then triangulated through interviews with 20 students. The interviews were categorized based on Braun and Clarke’s reflective thematic analysis. The survey related to social presence indicates a strong interaction among students and a notable decrease in students’ inclination for informal and humorous social interactions with their teachers. The findings related to teaching presence view instructors as actively engaging students in their learning process. However, they also pointed out that out less sharing of critical knowledge is taking place. On the other hand, the cognitive presence category was associated with the development of meaningful interaction The educational implications seek to provide guidance to educators and institutions on maximizing the utilization of WhatsApp, for the learning of English as a Second Language (ESL). This involves considering the social, cognitive, and teaching presences highlighted in the study.

FOSTERING LOYALTY AMONG YOUNG CONSUMERS: STRATEGIC APPROACHES FOR BANK SUSTAINABILITY

Objective: This study examines the influence of service quality, satisfaction, bank image, and trust on bank loyalty among youngsters in Malaysia, represented by university students. Theoretical Framework: This study integrates cognitive and behavioral approaches from the Learning Theory to model customer loyalty. Cognitive processes involve assessing service quality for future decisions, while behavioral aspects focus on observable actions. Both perspectives are essential for understanding and predicting consumer behaviors in the context of loyalty. Method: Using a sample of 290 university students, data was collected through a self-administered survey and analyzed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results and Discussion: The results reveal that only bank image and trust significantly affect loyalty, while satisfaction, bank image, and trust are influenced by service quality but not on students’ loyalty. Interestingly, bank image also influences satisfaction. These findings suggest that banks should prioritize building a positive image and trust among customers to enhance loyalty, rather than solely focusing on service quality and satisfaction. Research Implications: The study offers practical implications for Malaysian banks, highlighting the importance of loyalty for long-term sustainability and targeting undergraduate students as future assets. It contributes to the literature by exploring these relationships specifically among undergraduate students in Malaysia, offering insights for banks to consolidate their market share and tailor products and services for young consumers Originality/Value: This pioneering study examines how service quality, satisfaction, image, trust, and loyalty interrelate among Malaysian undergraduate students, offering insights for banks targeting young consumers

ASSOCIATION OF SYMPTOMATOLOGIC DEPRESSION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Introduction: Depression is a mental disorder that affects almost 2.3% of Malaysians and is more prevalent among Malaysian students. "Websites and applications that are utilized for interacting with others and their increasing prevalence have suggestive that people are obsessed to it" is the definition of social media. A strong correlation has been made between depression and social media addiction but there was a lack of such specific studies in Malaysia. This study is aimed at identifying the association of social media addiction with depression among university students in Malaysia. Methods:This research was conducted on Malaysian undergraduate and postgraduate students using an online questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic characteristics and two validated questionnaires of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-10) and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Results:A total of 381 responses were analyzed and the Pearson Correlation was found to be (r = 0.671) with a p-value of &lt; 0.001 which suggests a strong positive and statistically significant correlation between social media addiction and depression. Conclusion:In summary, an increase in addiction to social media causes depression.

COGNITIVE STRATEGY USE AND SELF-REGULATION AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN PERSONALITY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG CHINESE UNDERGRADUATES IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: The number of Chinese students studying abroad has increased significantly in recent years. As a result, their academic achievements are rapidly gaining attention. This study aims to look into the relationship between the big five personality traits and academic achievement in Chinese undergraduate students in Malaysia. It also aims to investigate if cognitive strategy use and self-regulation have a mediation effect on these personality traits.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methodology: The 44-item Five Inventory and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire were used as the instrument. Respondents were picked from year 2 to year 4 at six private universities in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 430 valid surveys were gathered using stratified random sampling. For data analysis, structural equation modelling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used.&#x0D; &#x0D; Findings: Findings showed a significant direct effect of the big five personality traits in terms of agreeableness on academic achievement. The full structural model is valid, reliable and fits well with the data. There is a mediation effect of the cognitive strategy use in the relationship between the big five personality (except extraversion trait) and academic achievement. Additionally, self-regulation mediates conscientiousness and academic achievement, openness to experience traits and academic achievement.&#x0D; Contributions: This study developed measurement scales for the measurement model and a full structural model based on two mediators.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Self-regulated learning strategy, cognitive strategy use, self-regulation, big five personality, academic achievement.&#x0D; &#x0D; Cite as: Yina, M., &amp; Zahari, I. (2024). Cognitive strategy use and self-regulation as mediators between personality and academic achievement among Chinese undergraduates in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 9(1), 245-268. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol9iss1pp245-268

The Effect of Caffeine Consumption on Sleep Quality among Undergraduate Students in Malaysia

This study aims to determine the effect of caffeine consumption on sleep quality among university students. This was a cross-sectional study that used a quantitative approach method. The data for this study was collected using a structured online questionnaire and distributed via online platforms to identify eligible participants. All the participants self-administered all three sections of the questionnaire, which were sociodemographic variables, the caffeine questionnaire tool, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A chi-squared test was used to investigate the association between caffeine intake and sleep quality and the measured study characteristics. About 300 students, with a mean age of 21.95±1.43 years old, were recruited. The average caffeine intake of the study population was 193.54 mg per day. The respondents had good sleep quality was 44.7% while 55.3% had poor sleep. The study also found that there was a significant association between caffeine intake and sleep quality (p-value&lt;0.01). Meanwhile, there was no significant association between sociodemographic characteristics and caffeine intake or sleep quality. This study shows that a student's excessive intake of caffeine is correlated with poor sleep quality. Therefore, prevention strategies should be used to raise awareness of the issue and understand how consuming too much caffeine might result in poor sleep quality.

One More Episode Won’t Hurt! How Stress, Social Interaction Anxiety, and Loneliness Relate to Binge-Watching Behaviours among University Students

Abstract Evidence on the relationship between binge-watching and stress, social interaction anxiety, and loneliness among university students is still scarce and limited to a few countries; thus, the findings remain largely inconclusive. This study fills this gap by examining whether binge-watching is associated with and predicted by stress, social interaction anxiety, and loneliness. Television series viewing patterns, binge-watching behaviour, and psychological states of 149 Malaysian undergraduate students (Male = 48; Female = 101) aged 18 to 25 years were assessed through the Binge-Watching Addiction Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, and the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 in a cross-sectional online survey. The results show that most participants are moderately stressed, have high social interaction anxiety, and have high levels of loneliness. Although both genders report moderate binge-watching behaviour, female students have a higher frequency of binge-watching than males. Pearson correlational analyses show that binge-watching is significantly correlated with social interaction anxiety and loneliness but not with perceived stress. In multiple regression analysis, social interaction anxiety is the single predictor of binge-watching. These findings suggest that social interaction anxiety contributes significantly to explaining the extent of binge-watching behaviour. Watching television series consecutively seems to act as a strategy to satisfy certain needs and provide gratification to the viewers, confirming the applicability of the Uses and Gratification Theory. As such, higher learning institutions may consider designing and implementing interventions that address social interaction needs in relation to excessive consumption of television shows among students.

Analyzing the Influence of Excessive Digital Technologies Usage towards Emotional Intelligence Development of Undergraduate IPTA Students in Klang Valley, Selangor

The relationship between social media usage, online gaming usage, online shopping usage, social skills and emotional self-regulation has been studied in many Western countries. Nevertheless, the relationship between these variables has not been extensively studied. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of social media usage, online gaming usage, online shopping usage on undergraduate students’ social skills and emotional self-regulation. A total of 400 undergraduate students from eight universities in Malaysia participated in this study. In terms of social media usage, the levels are high, while online gaming and online shopping usage are moderate. On the other hand, respondents exhibit very low emotional self-regulation, whereas their social skills are notably high. There are differences between males and females in terms of social skills and emotional self-regulation. Females exhibit higher levels of social skills, while males show higher levels of emotional self-regulation. Through the survey, the study confirmed that all variables have a significant relationship towards social skills and emotional self-regulation. The study also found that social media usage has the most significant positive impact on social skills. Meanwhile, the relationship between social media usage has negatively significant towards emotional self-regulation. It can be concluded that the relationships between social media usage, online gaming usage, online shopping usage, social skills, and emotional self-regulation among undergraduate students in Malaysia have significant implications.

Sustainable Learning Environment Amidst the Pandemic: An Adoption of Mobile Learning Readiness Among Undergraduate Students in Malaysia's Higher Institutions

Aim/Purpose: The present study explores the key determinants that influence the intention of public higher education institutions in Malaysia to utilize mobile learning. Furthermore, this study investigates the correlation between these attributes and the components that affect the sustainability viability of mobile learning. Background: The proliferation of mobile devices and the impact of COVID-19 have both played a role in the exponential growth of mobile learning. Mobile learning has emerged as an essential instrument and principal approach to student education within the higher education system amidst the pandemic. Nevertheless, research concerning the sustainability of mobile learning is still in its nascent phases in the post-pandemic period. Methodology: Structural equation modeling is utilized to analyze the gathered data and validate the hypotheses in this study, which comprises an online survey of 280 undergraduate students attending public higher education institutions in Malaysia. Contribution: This mobile learning research on the sustainability of learning environments during COVID-19 adds to the educational literature. This study reconstructs the antecedent factors of three fundamental constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explain the features of mobile learning sustainability. This research provides a theoretical framework for mobile learning sustainability. Findings: Based on the empirical evidence, the intention to adopt mobile learning in Malaysian higher education institutions is notably and directly influenced by attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, the core constructs of TPB are significantly impacted by perceived usefulness, instructor readiness, student readiness, perceived self-efficacy, and learning autonomy. Nevertheless, in Malaysian higher education institutions, the intention to adopt mobile learning is not significantly affected by the perceived ease of use. Recommendations for Practitioners: Mobile learning providers should work on enhancing the performance of this technology to improve content appropriateness and support. Higher education administrators should improve faculty readiness to strengthen the sustainability and efficacy of mobile learning. Improving students’ self-discipline in mobile learning and their perceived preparedness and self-efficacy is critical. Recommendation for Researchers: This study provides future researchers with a comprehensive perspective on mobile learning, which should be studied regarding technology acceptance, self-perception, and external influences, as well as a holistic research framework that combines internal and external aspects to explain mobile learning adoption behavior. Furthermore, future researchers should broaden their study horizons to include other educational institutions and populations and identify disparities to encourage broader use of mobile learning. Impact on Society: COVID-19 has profoundly impacted educational quality and the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study demonstrates how mobile learning gives a unique chance for students to continue their learning journey from the comfort of their homes, lessening the disruption caused by pandemics and contributing to the progress of excellent education globally. Future Research: Based on the findings, future research should broaden the study’s scope to include selecting students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and instructors from multiple universities in various states of Malaysia, collecting data and examining the differences between them, and providing an overall view of mobile learning adoption behaviors (intention to adopt and actual usage) from the perspective of both interactions.

An Analysis of Errors in Resumes and Job Application Letters: The Study of Malaysian Undergraduate Students

Writing a resume and cover letter is essential, especially for fresh graduates, as these documents are crucial for pursuing their desired careers after completing their studies. The unemployment rate in Malaysia, coupled with the economic downturn brought about by COVID-19, is set to increase competition between new graduates and more experienced job seekers. The formatting of these documents, which must be correctly formatted and without errors, is critical because employers usually review resumes and cover letters as an initial screening for candidates. In developing the checklist for the corpus analysis for this research, the researchers adopted the Error Analysis (EA) framework by Corder (1973). The present study addresses this issue by examining the errors in resumes and cover letters produced by Malaysian undergraduates. The research employed the corpus linguistics approach by gathering 60 resumes and 60 job application letters to identify errors using the Error Analysis (EA) framework. The findings showed that students' common errors were misselection, addition, omission, blends and misordering. The most prominent error found in the data was misselection. In the context of intense job competition among recent graduates in Malaysia, this study emphasises the significance of impeccably crafted resumes and cover letters. It offers valuable insights into making job applications more effective and practical. The findings of this research have the potential to serve as a valuable guide for undergraduate students, which will allow them to develop compelling and relevant content for job applications.

The Development of Forensic Entomology Questionnaire for Health-related Undergraduate Students from Universiti Teknologi MARA

Forensic entomology research in Malaysia started in the 1950s but research in this field is still scarce and limited to a few institutions. The objective of this study is to develop and validate a selfconstructed questionnaire of the knowledge and perception of forensic entomology. A cross-sectional validation study among health-related undergraduate students was conducted at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Selangor, Malaysia. The knowledge and perception questionnaire on forensic entomology underwent a content development and validation process through a pilot and a fieldtesting study. Psychometric properties have been explored using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation, scree plot, eigenvalues, Monte Carlo simulation, suppress small coefficients value below 0.40, communalities, inter-item correlation, internal consistency, and test-retest analyses. The content of the knowledge and perception questionnaire for forensic entomology were conceptually equivalent. The questionnaire was refined after face validation by five students. The pilot testing was conducted on 30 students. The refined version was then field-tested among 232 students. The KaiserMeyer-Olkin KMO test was 0.868, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was ≤ 0.001, indicating sampling adequacy. Two factors were identified which are knowledge and perception. The Cronbach’s alpha for knowledge and perception was 0.939 and 0.819, respectively. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.493 to 0.923. The knowledge and perception questionnaire for forensic entomology is valid, reliable, and fairly stable over time. This questionnaire could be used to evaluate the levels of knowledge and perception on forensic entomology among undergraduate students in Malaysia.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Malaysian Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Online Learning

The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced a new normal characterized by online learning. Students and instructors have been forced to familiarize with the online technologies and media that will foster learning. While many institutions and learners have embraced it, they have different perceptions of online learning depending on their experiences. The following research, therefore, seeks to research on Malaysian undergraduate students’ perception of online learning. Participants were obtained from one of the Malaysian universities. Ten participants engaged in the research and data was collected using a semi-structured interview where the participants were asked questions related to the topic. On the type of media commonly used by the leaners, all said that they preferred WhatsApp groups while 30% and 10% preferred zoom meeting and Moodle respectively. On whether the faculty had adequate resources, 70% of the participants agreed while the rest disagreed stating that they miss lessons as a result of insufficient resources. 80% of the learners also pointed out the intensity and quality of the internet as the main issue. Moreover, they were being given more assignments than course material because of the low innovation among undergraduate teachers. Half of the participants agreed that teachers had adequate resources to facilitate online learning.

Application of VAM to Examine the Virtual Tourism Adoption among Undergraduate Students in Malaysia

Over the past few years, there has been a gradual yet consistent surge in the utilization of virtual tourism (VT) within the tourism industry despite the challenges posed by the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Similarly, there is a prevailing belief that VT in the educational sector holds considerable value and offers substantial benefits in shaping an innovative educational experience. However, VT is still seen as a new thing in Malaysia’s education sector. Thus, this research aims to examine the undergraduate students’ VT adoption by using Value-based Adoption Model (VAM). Employing a quantitative method, 306 completed questionnaires were analyzed using Stata (version 14.2) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The empirical results revealed that the perceived usefulness and enjoyment were positively affecting the VT behavioural intention. However, the perceived cost was found to be statistically significant and positively affected the behavioural intent of VT. The high cost of using VT shows that sacrifices are required. Therefore, the perceived cost would not be a barrier to students taking up VT. This study was limited to only focusing on examining undergraduate students’ VT behavioural intention. To provide a more comprehensive understanding of VT adoption, future research could consider extending the study to include a wider demographic range. Considering the evolving nature of technology and tourism trends, longitudinal studies could be conducted to track changes in VT adoption patterns over time, providing valuable insights into the long-term impact of VT on the tourism industry.

The Relationship Between Religious Knowledge, Religious Personality and Inter-Ethnic Tolerance Among Malaysian Undergraduate Students

In a modern society that comprises various ethnic and religious groups, who share different cultures and languages, tolerance between these groups is a critical element in building peace and harmony. In the Malaysian context, the promotion and fostering of ethnic tolerance has become one of the main agendas of the government in strengthening inter-ethnic relations. This is one of the best ways to prevent ethnic conflict in a pluralistic Malaysian society. In addition, building ethnic tolerance among students of different ethnicities, whether in schools or higher education institutions, should be a major concern that needs to be systematically addressed from within the Malaysian education system. To date, past studies have shown that ethnic slurs, prejudice, and discrimination among students still occur, even though various efforts has been introduced to foster tolerance in the education system and curriculum. As such, the role of religiosity is identified as an important element in sustaining ethnic tolerance. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between religious knowledge, religious personality and inter-ethnic tolerance among Malaysian undergraduate students. Data was collected from 53 Malaysian undergraduate students using a survey questionnaire. A Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the variables. The results show a positive significant relationship between religious knowledge, religious personality and inter-ethnic tolerance among Malaysian undergraduate students. The results of this study indicate that the role of religious knowledge and religious personality could lead students to achieve ethnic tolerance in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia.&#x0D; Keywords: inter-ethnic tolerance, religious knowledge, religious personality, undergraduate students, Malaysia