Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Exploring the Trade-Environment Linkage: A Bibliometric Investigation of Trade Openness and Carbon Emissions

Paik Xuan Poh — 2025-01-21

The relationship between trade openness (TO) and carbon emissions (CE) has taken center stage in environmental economics. However, the ultimate impact of TO on CE relies on the relevant scale, technique, and composition of TO. Hence, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis on 999 documents retrieved from the Scopus database, which spans from 2005 to 2024. Furthermore, this paper carried out a performance and science mapping analysis using the Excel-based tool biblioMagika, as well as OpenRefine and VOSviewer software. The study focuses on understanding the research landscape and the results indicate that there is an increasing publication trend in the TO and CE domain. The study identifies Kirikkaleli Dervis from Cyprus as the most pertinent author in this field by evaluating different metrics. Besides that, the co-occurrence analysis shows the five main clusters comprising environmental sustainability, policy modelling, climate change, regional studies, and economic growth and energy policies. Also, future research should focus on merging trade policy with climate change initiatives, examining the role of digital trade, and investigating the heterogeneous effect of TO on CE across different economic sectors and regions. Therefore, this study's findings will shed light on previous research and suggest direction for future studies.

The Effect of Gender Diversity on Asymmetric Cost Behaviour Using Earnings Management as a Mediating Variable

Ali Dakhil Sakhil — 2025-01-26

Examining how gender diversity affects asymmetric cost behaviour in non-financial firms is the goal of the current study. Its primary objective is to ascertain whether earnings management mediates the association between gender diversity and asymmetric cost behaviour. The data utilised in this study came from 455 firm-year observations from 35 non-financial sector businesses registered on the Iraqi Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2022. The study employed ordinary least squares (OLS). The results showed that asymmetric cost behaviour and earnings management are unaffected by gender diversity. On the other hand, the results show that earnings management is negatively associated with asymmetric cost behaviour. Thus, the study fills the gap in the literature, especially in developing countries.

Impact of Correlation on Risky Portfolio Choice, Diversification, and Performance

Demetri Kantarelis — 2025-01-21

Using Modern Portfolio Theory, applied on risky (stock) portfolios with real price data, it is shown that lower average portfolio correlation enables the investor to improve diversification and, consequently, experience lower portfolio risk as well as reach higher wealth indifference curves. Based on low and high correlation risky investments, results are calculated for Equally Weighted, Minimum Risk, Maximum Expected Return, and Maximum Sharpe Ratio portfolios. Long position performance is measured in terms of Expected Portfolio Return, Portfolio Standard Deviation, and Sharpe Ratio and, with the help of Monte Carlo simulation, it is shown that low correlation portfolios outperform high correlation portfolios. It is concluded that although low portfolio correlation is, undoubtedly, of paramount importance for diversification and portfolio choice, it is not a panacea: the investor must recognize that she needs both lower correlation and higher expected returns, must take into consideration the fact that the degree of correlation changes over time, and be aware of the fact that sometimes it may be beneficial to include in the portfolio positively correlated assets.

Humanistic Insights of Korean Nursing Students

Se-Won Kang — 2025-01-10

This descriptive research study investigated the humanities insights of Korean nursing students. Participants in this study were 184 nursing students. Data were collected from November 1 to 7, 2024. The humanities insight score of nursing students was 3.34 out of 5 points. History had the highest score in the field of the humanities. Various educational methods should be developed to foster the humanities insights necessary for nursing students to practice the essence of nursing.

The Study of Strengthening Skills in High School Chemistry Micro-Lattice Teaching

Ziyu Zhang — 2025-01-10

At present, many chemistry normal students in China know little about strengthening skills and how to use intensive skills in teaching. However, to be a good chemistry teacher, you must master the strengthening skills. Because the appropriate and reasonable use of strengthening skills in chemistry class can focus students' attention, help students to maintain correct learning behavior, and inhibit or improve bad learning behavior. Chemistry micro-grid teaching is a practical training activity, which can effectively exercise and improve the various teaching skills of chemistry teachers or normal university students. After micro-teaching, normal university students can effectively improve and enhance their own teaching skills in a relatively short period of time. This paper introduces the research status of chemistry micro-lattice teaching and strengthening skills, briefly expounds the related concepts of chemistry micro-lattice teaching and reinforcement skills, and analyzes the individual cases of cultivating strengthening skills through chemistry micro-lattice teaching.

The Most Important Factor in Public Health Work: From Visiting Nurses to Public Health Nurses in Forsyth County, NC, 1905 - 1930

Simone M. Caron — 2025-01-04

Determining Accounting Undergraduates' Intention to Become Shariah Auditors in Malaysia: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach

Maizatul Akmam Ahmad — 2025-01-04

This study investigates accounting students’ intention to become Shariah auditors based on the Theory of Planned Behavior encompassing attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. It identifies the key factors influencing this career intention. Employing data of 127 accounting students across three Malaysian universities and utilizing analysis through Smart PLS, the study reveals that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control significantly impact students' intention to become Shariah auditors. These findings provide valuable insights for universities to enhance accounting curricula and programs, ultimately fostering a workforce proficient in Shariah principles and auditing. Additionally, the findings of the study aid in the development of skilled and competent Shariah auditors equipped to address the growing demands of the Islamic finance sector, thus benefiting academia, the industry, and future practitioners.

Opportunities and Limitations for Adolescent Participation in Research – Lessons Learned from the End Child Marriage Flagship Evaluation in Ethiopia

Johanna Kern — 2025-01-26

Despite the increased importance of downward accountability and the inclusion of program participants in all stages of program cycle management, the application of participatory research methods in program evaluations is still limited. This paper discusses the trade-offs between non-participatory and participatory evaluation approaches in international development cooperation and explores how program evaluations can meaningfully engage program participants while also adhering to established standards of academic rigor and pragmatic feasibility. The paper draws lessons and shares learnings from the End Child Marriage Flagship Evaluation, which integrated ‘conventional’ evaluation approaches and participatory research to meaningfully include adolescent program participants. Finally, the paper compares experiences of the evaluation to other participatory program evaluations and links lessons learned to a broader discussion about prerequisites and trade-offs for applying participatory evaluation approaches and calls to re-imagine conventional evaluation standards to enable program participants to engage in a meaningful way.

Hypnosis: The Modern Scientific Version of a Timeless Healing Technique

Enrico Facco — 2025-01-26

The aim of this article is to envisage possible commonalities between shamanic rituals, incubation, meditation, lucid dreaming, and hypnosis – a well validated therapeutic tool, though misunderstood in the past and still underused. The topic is endowed with huge epistemological implications, calling for a transdisciplinary and transcultural approach, in order to properly understand the essential common aspects of these mind-body techniques and their potential for healing. Actually, the Western rationalist thought has led to mental imagery being misunderstood and prejudicially rejected as a worthless mind activity, while only in recent years neurosciences have started to appraise its cognitive and metacognitive value. The main common aspects of the above-mentioned techniques are eye closure and mental imagery. The former allows to shift the focus of attention form the outer to the inner words, a prerequisite to open the doors of mental imagery and plastic monoideism. The resulting absorption and introspective activity in turn allow to get a metacognitive control over mind and body, including neurovegetative system and pain. Therefore, eye closure and mental imagery can be considered as the Ariadne thread, able to guide us in the knowledge of the apparent labyrinth of healing techniques that have accompanied the care of the sick in all cultures since time immemorial.

The Perceptions of Preservice Teachers on Culturally Responsive Teaching Through the Lens of Geneva Gay Framework

Passion L Cutley — 2025-01-17

This study aimed to understand preservice teachers' perceptions of culturally responsive teaching within a teacher preparation program, guided by Geneva Gay's Culturally Responsive Teaching Framework. The research questions examined the extent of preservice teachers' knowledge of cultural diversity, their ability to validate the cultural identities of diverse learners, and their implementation of culturally responsive teaching practices. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study allowed participants to express their views on their preparedness to be culturally responsive teachers based on their training. The study population consisted of full-time college students enrolled in a teacher preparation program, all of whom had some fieldwork experience. The findings indicated that teachers should establish culturally responsive learning environments that are inclusive and safe, which includes being aware of their biases and being culturally sensitive to diverse learners. Additionally, the study highlighted the need for teacher preparation programs to offer more inclusive teaching strategies and resources to ensure cultural sustainability as preservice teachers begin working with diverse student populations.

Research on the Import Skills Based on Micro-Teaching in Junior Middle School

Yuhao Cui — 2025-01-10

Attaching importance to the improvement of teachers' skills and qualities and strengthening the construction of teachers' ranks are the foundation of consolidating education and the source of education. As a new training method of teaching skills, micro-teaching provides support for the cultivation of classroom teaching skills of normal university students and promotes the implementation of teaching skills training of normal university students. At present, in the actual teaching, teachers' import skills still need to be strengthened. Therefore, this paper selects the import skills in micro-teaching, combined with the specific teaching content cases in junior high school chemistry, to explore the application of import skills.

Generative AI in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Course Learning

Jinbao Zhang — 2025-01-04

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming course learning in higher education. This study, based on two rounds of action research in two college courses, reveals critical challenges in this transformation. Findings indicate that students' reliance on GenAI can hinder their autonomy, critical thinking, and affective-social learning, while also raising concerns about content accuracy, intellectual property rights, and privacy. Although teacher guidance partially mitigates these issues, enhanced strategies are crucial. This study provides practical implications for optimizing curriculum design, teaching methods, and evaluation criteria, emphasizing the need to incorporate ethics education and strengthen emotional-social guidance. Future research directions are suggested to address the challenges of GenAI and ensure educational quality and student development.

Walasuji Sulapa Eppa’na: Integrating Philosophical Values into Sustainable Development in the Land of To Kaili

Muhammad Saleh — 2025-01-10

Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na is a cultural symbol of the Bugis-Makassar ethnic group in South Sulawesi, rich in philosophical values that embody spirituality, identity, mutual cooperation, and human responsibility in preserving nature. Its geometric pattern, composed of stacked quadrilaterals resembling rhombuses, serves not only as an aesthetic ornament but also symbolises the human journey towards perfection and the relationship with God. This concept represents the four main elements of life: God, humanity, the sky, the earth, and everything within it. However, in the Palu Valley, with the history of Bugis-Makassar ethnic migration, these philosophical values have begun to degrade due to globalisation, acculturation of forms, materials, functions, preferences, and the younger generation’s diminishing understanding of their ancestral traditions. As a result, Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na has become increasingly rare in the wedding ceremonies of the Bugis-Makassar-Kaili ethnic community, known as “To Kaili.” This research employs a qualitative method by exploring a single phenomenon, which is then analysed descriptively to understand the degradation of the cultural symbol Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na. The research objects are users of Walasuji structures, with Sulapa Eppa'na samples selected using purposive and incidental sampling techniques. The study aims to analyse the impact of changes on the preservation of Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na and explore the potential revitalisation of its values in urban development. The findings reveal that despite the degradation, the Bugis-Makassar-Kaili ethnic community continues to strive to preserve their cultural identity, including the responsibility of safeguarding nature. This study recommends integrating the values of Walasuji - Sulapa Eppa'na into urban development to achieve sustainable development.