Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

The Role of Corporate Governance Practices on Saudi Stock Exchange Voluntary Disclosure

Maher Hamzah M Barnawi, Dewi Fariha Abdullah, Nursyazwani Mohd Fuzi — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the impact of corporate governance practices on voluntary disclosure among non-financial firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) from 2011 to 2022. The research focuses on key governance variables, including board size, board independence, CEO duality, audit committee effectiveness, ownership structure, and board diversity, to understand their influence on transparency and information sharing. Employing panel data analysis, the study utilizes fixed effects, random effects, and pooled OLS models, with the fixed effects model emerging as the most robust. The findings reveal that board size, board independence, audit committee effectiveness, ownership structure, and board diversity significantly enhance voluntary disclosure, whereas CEO duality and firm-specific factors such as firm age and leverage show limited influence. The results highlight the importance of strong corporate governance frameworks in fostering transparency and aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to attract foreign investment and boost market confidence. This study contributes to the literature on corporate governance and disclosure in emerging markets, offering practical insights for policymakers and corporate leaders to improve governance structures and reporting practices.

Improving Child Outcomes and Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care Through Implementation of Professional Development: A Meta-Systematic Literature Review of Pre- and In-Service Approaches

Jesper Deding, Alexander Minnaert — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This systematic literature review explores the developing landscape of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), highlighting its growing significance in contemporary society. It examines the complex dimensions of ECEC quality and its impact on children, with a particular focus on the critical role of staff education and training. Additionally, it reviews various tools and methods used to measure ECEC quality, framing the analysis around enhancing quality through comprehensive professional development (PD) initiatives. By conducting a meta-systematic literature review of meta-analyses and systematic reviews, this study synthesizes the characteristics and effects of both pre-service and in-service professional development for ECEC staff. Data extraction and cross-sectional analyses aim to identify patterns and differences in findings, ultimately informing effective PD strategies. The results show promising effects of in-service PD, particularly evidence-based practices such as coaching and mentoring, in improving educator practices and benefiting children's outcomes. Pre-service PD demonstrates positive, though varied, associations between educator qualifications and child outcomes, highlighting the need for policy interventions to improve staff education programs and raise ECEC quality. However, differences in international contexts and the diverse aims of outcomes limit generalizability. Factors such as duration, intensity, and alignment with targeted outcomes remain crucial for success. Tailored, collaborative, and context-specific PD interventions are recommended to enhance ECEC practices and child outcomes. Some PD elements, both pre- and in-service, show greater impact than others, suggesting that further research is necessary to refine approaches and clarify the variability in effects.

A Critique of Modernity and the Defense of Tradition in the Thoughts of Reza Davari Ardakani, An Iranian Traditionalist Philosopher

Aref Barkhordari — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study is to investigate the thoughts of Reza Davari Ardakani, Iranian traditionalist philosophers. The explanation of his thoughts as a study of a symbol of an important intellectual current critical of modernity in Iran before and after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. In the atmosphere of confronting modernity and anti-Westernism, Davari considers the crisis period that exists in the current world as the crisis of Western thought. Indirectly, under the influence of Heidegger's thoughts, he considers the crisis of the new era to be the result of the rationality of the new era and considers this period as the era of human sensuality and dehumanism. In this era, when the West is the history of the sunset of human humanity, Davari considers Machiavelli to be the epitome of the West, whose important aspects of Western civilization and culture are well evident in his thoughts. With such an approach, Davari study the West in his Westernization project and his intention is to criticize many of the achievements of the West and modernity, including Western philosophy and science, secularism, democracy, freedom, development, politics, wisdom, humanities, and many other concepts that are among the achievements of the rationality of the modern era.

Impact of Authentic Leadership on Employee Well-Being in Commodity Market: A Case of Nigeria’s Cocoa Industry

Adekunle Michael Tayo, Olabode Olajide, Jacob Oloruntoba Kutu — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to investigate the relationship between authentic leadership and employee well-being in the Nigerian cocoa sector, a key commodity market in the country. Authentic leadership is characterized by self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and internalized moral perspective, and has been linked to positive employee outcomes in various contexts. Using a case study approach, this research examined the experiences of employees in the Nigerian cocoa industry to understand how authentic leadership behaviours exhibited by employers and managers influence factors such as organizational commitment, work-life balance, and overall well-being. Data were collected through interviews of Nigeria cocoa sector employees to gain a holistic perspective. Findings revealed that the Nigerian cocoa sectors comply with minimum legal requirements but do not proactively go beyond those standards, and that they provide basic healthcare benefits and adhere to safety regulations but lack comprehensive well-being programs. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the scholarly literature on authentic leadership and its application in non-Western, developing economy settings. It will also provide practical insights for Nigerian cocoa organisations and policymakers on fostering leadership practices that promote leaders’ authenticity, employee thriving and sustainable business performance. The results may have broader implications for leadership development and human resource management strategies in Nigeria's vital commodity markets.

Internet Use and Mental Health: Evidence from a Global Panel of 189 Countries

Bianca Cavalcanti, Pedro Hemsley, Flavio Moraes — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the relationship between internet use and mental health outcomes, focusing on anxiety and depression across 189 countries from 1990 to 2017. Using fixed effects panel regressions, we find a positive and statistically significant association between internet penetration and anxiety prevalence, with evidence of diminishing marginal effects. For depression, the results are less consistent, with significance only in specific model specifications. Robustness checks using lagged internet penetration and alternative model specifications reinforce the main findings. The results highlight the potential mental health costs of increased internet use, particularly in low-income countries where the effects are most pronounced. These findings underscore the need for policy interventions to promote healthy internet usage and mitigate potential negative mental health impacts.

The Challenges of Using ICT in the Teaching and Learning Process in Mozambique

Isabel Augusto Isabel — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Challenges of the Use of ICTs in the Teaching and Learning Process in Mozambique – is the subject of this study and arises in the context of the centrality that is attributed today to ICT as mediators of the teaching and learning process. The objective of this essay is to reflect on the challenges of using ICT in the teaching and learning process in Mozambique and to propose practices that guarantee the coherent use of digital resources, available at school and in the family, for pedagogical purposes. Methodologically, the study is based on a review of the existing literature on the subject. The pertinence of this study resides in the need to help teachers face the challenges imposed by the use of ICT in their work. The results reveal that educational practices demand from man an ability to adapt to changes in society. ICT have become indispensable in everyday school life in the 21st century alongside traditional methods. Therefore, it is necessary to equip educational institutions with technological equipment, as well as to make the teacher a critical, reflective and competent professional in the field of new technologies in order to help students to make the correct and intelligent use of ICT, allowing greater motivation for learning. Furthermore, each context must adapt the use of ICT according to its needs and particularities.

Doing (In)Justice? Cairene Place Naming and Politics of Forgetting

Sadek Saad — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Toponym is a crucial part of the city’s symbolic meanings. Its investigation explores what is said or unsaid about the past and explains memory operation. Cairo experienced multiple cases of naming and renaming throughout its history; however, whose history is remembered, misremembered, or forgotten? The author argues that Cairene’s toponym is used as a tool for the politics of dictated forgetting and misremembering. The study explores the Cairene naming and renaming politics processes in three significant eras: Historic Cairo (before 1800), Royal Cairo (1840-1950), and Pretorian Cairo (after 1956). Such an investigation aims to comprehend the authorities’ naming and renaming impact on the Cairo memorial landscape. Decoding the Cairene memorial landscape demands an interdisciplinary study. Urban sociology analyses history as a data source for creating models; urban geography deals with the city on its fundamental level, and urban history searches for events’ meanings and consequences for the city. Focusing on what is accessible and observable in the Cairene memorial landscape suggests finding the best alternative conclusion. While places in historic Cairo were named by identities, Royal and Pretorian Cairo introduced toponyms for manipulating public memory.

Feminizing the Nation: A Re-reading of Selected Cases of Palestinian Female Self-Referential Texts

Samia Kholoussi — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The point of departure in this study is the premise that conceptualization of nation begins at the level of self and consciousness; that nation acquires its shape in personal experience before it is projected onto the public. For Arab nations, the 'imagined community' is constructed from foundational elements of history, language, place, heritage, oral traditions, collective memory, indigenous practices, cultural values etc … Predominantly, it is the male intellectual elite that the hegemonic national narrative empowers to define constituent components of national imaginary, thereby eclipsing female narratives. Given that signifiers of nationhood comprise a fluid field of meaning that can be reinvented/ reimagined, endeavors of female writers in narrating the nation re-cast them according to their vision of subject/identity formation. Selected Palestinian female autobiographies reveal interventions disrupting national forms of patriarchal domination. By re-appropriating components of nationhood, they formulate 'an Arab woman national narrative' integrating women as active agents in mainstream discourses. Deliberations explore relevant issues in Arab female autobiography, inquire into ambivalent relationship between Arab women and communal national imaginary, and examine processes of recovering Palestinian female historical memory in articulations of nationhood. Texts are deliberately selected for their apt representation of junctures of the national crisis. The methodology and research data draw upon cultural models within colonial/postcolonial discourses, critical postulations on nation and nationalism, theories in autobiography, and feminist standpoint theory. Particularly noteworthy in the textual analysis are theoretical considerations regarding the ‘woman question’ in the context of Palestinian reality.

The Paradox of the Friendly Vengeful Malay

Yusri Mohamad Ramli — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Malays are commonly known as a very sensitive race compared to other Asian races, if not all races of the world. The sensitivity comes usually in a good way but sometimes in a bad way. The Malays used to be identified by their reputation for vengeance. But authors and researchers on Malays varied in their description that despite admitting to such indignant nature, the Malays are pretty well recognized for their compassion and gentleness. Such contradictory descriptions could be found abundantly in many chronicles of travelers and writers during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. To better understand the irony, this article attempts to scrutinize the peculiarity of Malay sensitivity, which is signified by the paradox of their kindness and vengeance, by anaylsing the records of observation and encounter of firsthand experiences and direct insights. This study sheds light on how the intricate Malay sensitivity is displayed through their contentment and resentment.

ICT, Attendance, and Sex as Determinants of Academic Performance: A Case of Advanced Secondary Students at Kisimiri Secondary School, Arusha, Tanzania

Valentine Mathias Tarimo — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Numerous studies have explored the factors that influence students' academic performance. This study investigates the relationship between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use, classroom attendance, and sex with academic performance among students at Kisimiri Secondary School. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, collecting data through self-administered questionnaires for students and interviews with teachers. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), employing descriptive statistics, one-way analysis, and Pearson’s correlation for bivariate analysis.

The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between ICT use and classroom attendance with academic performance, while no significant relationship was found between sex and academic performance. The study concludes that ICT use and regular classroom attendance are critical factors in enhancing academic success and progression. It recommends that schools focus on integrating ICT into the learning process and encouraging consistent attendance to improve student outcomes. Future research should consider a larger and more diverse sample, include comparative analyses between public and private schools, and incorporate qualitative methods to deepen the understanding of these relationships.

ESG Disclosures, Assurance Report, and Companies’ Attractiveness: Saudi Capital Market

Hanin Ahmed Mohammed, Sabarina Mohammed Shah, Yusniyati Yusri, Manisah bt Ngalim — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices are increasingly adopted by companies worldwide to align with sustainable development goals (SDGs), with Saudi Arabia emerging as a significant example of this global shift. This study investigates the role of ESG disclosures in enhancing corporate attractiveness and overall performance, particularly within the context of Saudi Arabia’s evolving economy. Grounded in legitimacy theory, the research explores how non-audit services, specifically ESG assurance reports, can validate a company's sustainability claims and mitigate risks associated with greenwashing. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of key variables, this paper assesses the potential impact of mandatory ESG assurance requirements on corporate transparency and accountability. The findings offer insights valuable to practitioners, policymakers, and scholars interested in promoting socially responsible business practices.

Reconsideration of Research Methodologies: A Look at Major Trails and Concepts

Sylvain Cibangu — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Reconsideration of research methodologies becomes a necessity as academic disciplines and their publications have been proliferating relentlessly in recent decades. While research methodologies determine the pay-off as well as validity of academic research across scientific disciplines, research practice tends not to verge on assessing research methodologies. One reason might be that the concept research methodologies and the like usually come in the form of how-to-do section or book, leaving discussions to other sections/books of research. Another reason lies in the fact that research methodologies are seen as mere verbiage or theory. Yet, research methodologies furnish the tools with which to practice research. The present paper tracked major trails, concepts, and recurrent misunderstandings of both positivism and interpretivism. The paper did so to allow for sharper methodological toolkits and keener research.

The Role of Family in Mitigating Youth Social Violence from an Islamic Perspective

Thameem Ushama, Helal Uddin, Mohamed Arkam — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines within an Islamic framework while examining families’ vital role in preventing societal violence among young people. In Islam, parents are the primary instructors, and the child’s first school is the home. The research explores how families could stop the growth in juvenile social violence by looking at Islamic viewpoints on family structure, values, and teachings. Analytical and descriptive methods are used in this investigation. It explores the potential role of families as essential building blocks in fostering responsible and peaceful behaviour in the youths, highlighting the significance of family dynamics and values. It looks at how important it is to instil Islamic morals and social skills in the family to foster a feeling of belonging, compassion, and defiance of violent impulses. It offers a profound understanding of how families could function as preventative and corrective measures against social violence by fusing Islamic teachings with contemporary perspectives. The study’s conclusions provide light on the relationship between Islamic principles, family dynamics, and the prevention of social violence. These insights can be used in debates and real-world community well-being initiatives.

Language and Thought in Wittgenstein

Anselmo Orlando Pinto — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Language and Thought in Wittgenstein – is the theme of this preparation and aims to highlight the contributions of Ludwig Wittgenstein in the reflection on the philosophy of language. Wittgenstein discusses the problems of language in two important works, (Tratactus and Philosophical Investigations) that comprise the phases of the development of his thought, that is, the First Wittgenstein and the Second Wittgenstein. In the Tractatus, language is analyzed outside the concrete circumstances in which it is used in the context of life, while in the Philosophical Investigations the emphasis is on stating that the meaning of linguistic statements is conferred by their use in the context of social practices. Wittgensteinian thought in its first phase speaks of language as a logical mirror of reality, fixed through elementary propositions that have their foundation in the theory of figuration. The second Wittgenstein conceives language based on its different uses, abandoning the essence of language and, therefore, its limits imposed by the logical world. For Wittgenstein, language fulfills a representative function, because through it people can represent their experiences in different ways, moreover, language is a social practice connected to a form of action in the world. Finally, given the influence of the environment on language, it is no longer separated from human life in its essence of creating, recreating and expressing thought. To carry out this study, the method of bibliographical review was preferred, which allowed us to conclude that the First Wittgenstein (Tratactus) constitutes a way of adapting language to the desire for metaphysical knowledge of reality and, with the Second Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations), the Language reveals the complex nature of man's being and his intellectual superiority.

Expectations of Korean Nursing Students Regarding the Enactment of Nursing Law

Se-Won Kang — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This descriptive survey aimed to determine Korean nursing students' expectations regarding enacting the nursing law. The participants were 150 nursing students. Data were collected from October 1 to October 15, 2024. The average score for expectations and perceptions regarding the enactment of nursing law was 4.42 points (out of 5 points). The item with the highest score was: 'The roles and scope of work of specialized nurses in each field will be clearer, which will help establish a specialized nurse system." The Korean Nursing Law has taken its initial steps. However, further discussion and development are necessary to safeguard nurses' rights and ensure patient safety.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Benefit(s) to Company and Society Case of Vodafone Ghana Limited

Nicholas Mantey — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This project explores the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its benefits to both companies and society. The case study conducted on Vodafone Ghana provides a practical illustration of implementing CSR practices. The primary objective of this study is to review the effect of CSR initiatives on Vodafone Ghana's performance and its contribution to society. The research methodology employed in this study involves analyzing relevant literature, collecting primary data through interviews and surveys, and conducting a comprehensive review of Vodafone Ghana's CSR activities. The findings indicate that Vodafone Ghana's CSR initiatives have positively influenced its reputation, brand image, and customer loyalty. The research findings, the study was that implementing CSR practices can bring about tangible benefits to both companies and society. It enhances a company's competitiveness, strengthens stakeholder relationships, and contributes to sustainable development. Overall, this project highlights the significance of CSR in fostering a positive relationship between companies and society, using Vodafone Ghana as a case study. It offers insights for organizations leveraging CSR practices for sustainable growth and societal well-being.

The Moderating Effect of Accounting Expertise on the Relationship Between Board Characteristics and Earnings Management "Evidence from Iraq"

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The current study aims to examine how board characteristics impact earnings management in non-financial companies. Its primary objective is to ascertain whether accounting expertise modifies the association between board characteristics and earnings management. The data utilised in this study came from 598 firm-year observations from 46 non-financial sector businesses registered on the Iraqi Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2022. To take care of potential endogeneity and reverse causality, the study employed the system generalised method of moments (SGMM) estimate model. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between gender diversity, busyness, board independence, and earnings management. Conversely, the results show that the relationship between board independence, busyness, gender diversity, and earnings management is significantly and negatively moderated by accounting expertise. Thus, by investigating the subject experimentally in Iraq, this study adds to the body of existing literature. Additionally, by investigating whether accounting expertise moderates the association between board features and EM, the study fills the gap in the literature.

Thai Consumers' Perceptions of Sustainable Food Packaging

Suppanunta Romprasert, Atsanee Srihachai, Danai Tanamee, Sutthanuch Wiriyapinit — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explored Thai consumers' perceptions of sustainable food packaging, investigating factors influencing their awareness, such as environmental consciousness and knowledge of eco-friendly options. Conducted through a structured survey with 800 Thai online food consumers, the research assessed attitudes toward plastic packaging waste, factors guiding the preference for sustainable options, and potential impacts on the food service industry. Findings revealed a substantial surge in Thai consumer interest in sustainable food packaging, driven by heightened environmental awareness. However, a significant gap emerged between consumer demand and the limited availability of sustainable options in the Thai online food sector. Despite growing interest, consumers lacked specific knowledge about diverse sustainable packaging alternatives and their environmental implications. This knowledge gap poses a challenge in aligning consumer aspirations with industry choices and the global sustainability standard such as ISO 14001, FDA guidelines and European Green Deal objectives. The study underscores the need for educational initiatives to enhance consumer awareness of clearing on eco-labeling to educate consumers on the sustainability benefits of the packaging. Bridging this knowledge gap is crucial to aligning consumer preferences with sustainability goals in the food packaging industry partnering with eco-certification bodies to enhance credibility. The research not only identifies trends but offers actionable steps for rising demand for sustainable alternatives, global regulatory push, and technology driven advancements. By implementing these recommendations, business as a leader in sustainability can meet market demands for sustainability, contributing to a more environmentally responsible future in the Thai online food industry regulatory requirements.

Context-Driven Decisions: The Impact of Framed Information on Financial Choices

Marcio Firmo, Pedro Hemsley, Thiago Santos — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines how contextual framing influences financial decision-making under uncertainty. Poor decision-making is pervasive in financial behavior, and one proposed remedy is choice architecture, which seeks to improve decisions by altering the framing of information or decision tasks. In this context, we investigate how contextual information about a firm’s prospects affects investment choices, even when the distribution of outcomes is explicitly provided. In an online experiment, participants were randomly assigned to a control or treatment group and presented with decision-making tasks. Qualitative details about a firm's prospects significantly altered choices. Positive contextual framing increased the likelihood of retaining a stock, while negative framing reduced it, despite unchanged objective probabilities. In contrast, alternative exercises without specific contextual details showed no significant effects. These findings highlight how the design and contextual relevance of framing influence decision-making under uncertainty, offering insights into the role of qualitative information in financial behavior and choice architecture.