Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Political Parties and Electoral Volatility: How (un)stable is the Albanian Electorate?

Alban Reli — 2024-11-15

This paper offers an in-depth analysis of electoral volatility in Albania from 1991 to 2021, a transformative period from a communist regime to a democratic multi-party system. It diverges from Central and Eastern European trends by examining Albania's unique political dynamics and the factors influencing electoral behavior and volatility. Utilizing the Pedersen Index, the study methodically evaluates various determinants impacting party electoral volatility in Albania. The research underscores the significance of high membership rates and robust ground organization within major political parties as key contributors to low volatility levels in Albania's party system, thus providing insight into the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of Albania's political landscape.

Driving Digital Transformation: The Impact of SME Digitalization on Technology Acceptance and Usage in Small and Medium Enterprises of Yemen

Mohammed AL-Ghaili — 2024-11-15

This research investigates the relationships between digitalization, perceived usefulness, attitudes toward using technology, and actual system use of technologies within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Yemen. Using a two-step structural equation modelling approach, the research investigates both direct and mediating effects. Data were gathered from 392 SMEs in Yemen by employing a survey research design. The measurement model was estimated to evaluate the constructs' accuracy, while the structural model was analyzed to investigate the proposed relationships. Findings reveal that SME digitalization significantly enhances perceived usefulness, which positively influences users' attitudes toward technology adoption and subsequently drives actual system use. Specifically, the analysis shows that improvements in digitalization practices lead to heightened perceptions of usefulness and favorable attitudes, ultimately resulting in increased actual system use. Moreover, the results indicate that perceived usefulness and attitudes serve as significant mediators between digitalization and system use. This research contributes to understanding how enhancing perceived usefulness and fostering positive attitudes can facilitate technology adoption in SMEs, providing important implications for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers focused on digital transformation. Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of strategic digitalization efforts to improve operational efficiency and promote successful technology acceptance in small and medium enterprises.

An Overview of Malaysia’s Retail Organic Foods Market and Its Consumption Behavior

Harniyati Hussin — 2024-11-09

Growing global awareness of health and environmental sustainability has significantly increased the demand for organic foods, a trend gaining traction in Malaysia. This research provides a comprehensive overview of consumer consumption patterns and purchase intentions for organic foods in Malaysia’s retail sector, identifying key factors influencing their choices. The study examines Malaysia’s broader food retail landscape, focusing on the growing organic segment and its evolving consumption patterns. It also explores the organic food market, considering domestic production and the availability of imported goods that shape consumer choices and market growth. The study offers practical insights into consumer decision-making within the retail food market by examining consumption behavior, such as purchase intentions. The review uncovers critical insights into the organic food market, including its size, rising demand and consumption trends, government and retailer initiatives, and the demographic profiles of consumers who purchase or intend to purchase organic foods. These findings contribute to existing research on organic food consumption in Malaysia and provide valuable guidance for policymakers, government agencies, and retailers aiming to enhance the adoption of organic foods in the Malaysian retail sector.

The Determinants of Graduate Students on Satisfaction: The Case of Graduate School at University of Internal Affairs, Mongolia

Bazarvaani Sarantsetseg — 2024-11-09

The present article aims to study the level of satisfaction of the graduate students’ satisfaction on Graduate school in University Internal Affairs, Mongolia /UIAM/. We try and understand the factors which influence graduate student satisfaction in higher education, as well as the consequences of it. We collected and analyzed data from descriptive research can help understand factors on graduate students’ satisfaction. The data were collected from 98 graduate students who study graduate school of the curriculum on Disaster Studies, Border Studies, Law, Crime Studies Law, Police Studies, Forensic science, Information Security, and Economic Security in UIAM. The results, there were indicated positive graduate students' satisfaction of the hypothesis 1 and hypothesis 2. Actually, the results indicated the dissatisfaction of the hypothesis-3. Therefore, it is recommended that the curriculum activities take the necessary measures in order to increase the students’ satisfaction and the level of training activities. Our study is significant in considering both theoretical and practical issues and for practices in graduate school. Data were estimated by Smart PLS 3.0 and SPSS software and Cronbach's alpha index have been used for data analysis and reliability analysis of the questionnaire, respectively.

School District Superintendents as Transformational Leaders

Lars G. Bjork — 2024-11-16

The educational reform movement in the United States (1983-2024) presented school district superintendents with a wide array of challenges and opportunities. Initially, state and federal policymakers’ called for draconian school and district level accountability and endorsed he notion of top-down management. However, the reality of implementing district-wide, systemic changes focused on improving student learning outcomes influenced a shift in superintendents’ role from manager to teacher-scholar. During the last decade, researchers examined the role of superintendents in Instructionally Effective School Districts (IESD) and reported that they used their managerial prerogatives to initiate and sustain district-wide instructional improvement (Bjork, 2024). Research findings suggest that their involvement hiring and supervising teachers, evaluating principals, clearly articulating instructional and curricular goals, monitoring instructional improvement and, engaging in long-term financial planning for instruction indirectly influence the quality of learning and teaching. Findings from this longitudinal case study extend our understanding of how superintendents’ enact their role as teacher-scholar help to explain their success. Key elements of Transformational Leadership including idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and, individual consideration provided considerable insight into how they enacted their role. In addition, findings suggest that over time followers at different levels of the school district’s organization (teachers, principals and central office staffs) adopted Transformational Leadership dispositions and practices suggesting that it may be viewed as being both multidimensional and multi-directional. These findings may expand our understanding of how superintendents’ transformational leadership may influence the development of professional cultures and enhance student learning.

The Microfinance Institution in Cameroon: Historical Perspectives

Anyekezeh Kum-Ngong Bin — 2024-11-16

Using the sociological approach to critical analysis, my paper examines the evolution of the microfinance institution in Cameroon from a historical perspective. It argues that due to a number of significant changes on the national and international scene, the institution has undergone a number of palpable changes to become what it is obvious today. I aim at showing how these varied changes on the socioeconomic landscape have been informing templates of the banking sector and, by extension, the microfinance sector in the country today.

Exploring the Influence Factors of Digital Entrepreneurship in Improving the Digitization of Small and Medium Enterprises in Yemen

Mohammed AL-Ghaili — 2024-11-15

This research provides valuable insights into the impact of digital entrepreneurship on the digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Yemen. By integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the research examines the role of various factors-technological, organizational, environmental, and individual, affecting technology adoption and utilization in SMEs. The study primarily explores the direct and indirect influences of these factors on actual system use, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in shaping attitudes toward technology adoption. Data were collected through a survey of 392 respondents, and the results were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model was validated for reliability and accuracy, followed by an evaluation of the structural model to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings highlight the critical role of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in enhancing both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Additionally, the knowledge of IT entrepreneurs and government support were found to uniquely influence perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, respectively. Both of these perceptions, in turn, positively impacted attitudes toward and the actual use of digital tools within SMEs. To address the challenges faced by Yemeni SMEs, it is recommended to enhance digitalization through ICT adoption and promote a pro-technology culture. Policymakers should create a supportive environment via targeted policies, subsidies, and public-private partnerships to foster sustainable growth and competitiveness.

Factors Influencing Satisfaction for Continuance Intention to Use E-Learning Systems in Higher Education: Delphi Technique

Maha Farhan Alshammari — 2024-11-09

E-learning has been widely adopted by universities globally, transforming teaching and learning practices in higher education. While much research has focused on adopting and accepting e-learning, less attention has been paid to students' satisfaction and their continuance intention (CI) to keep using these systems. A literature review reveals low student satisfaction and the intention to continue using e-learning platforms. Despite the extensive studies on continuance intention in e-learning, there is no clear consensus on the factors influencing student satisfaction with continuance intention. This indicates a knowledge gap regarding individual and system aspects contributing to e-learning satisfaction. This study seeks to identify key satisfaction factors affecting continuance intention using a two-round Delphi technique involving ten experts and to develop an initial model of these factors for higher education institutions. This model is expected to help institutions better understand the critical factors driving continuance intention, enabling more informed decisions in evaluating and implementing e-learning projects.

Climate Change and the Struggle for Climate Justice

Chris O. Ikporukpo — 2024-11-09

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges. The phenomenon and actions taken to address it have thrown up some contentious issues. One of such issues is climate justice. This paper analyses the bases for climate justice and the attempts at achieving it. The basic sources of data were the publications/documents of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Information was also obtained from the publications and websites of the climate negotiation blocs, such as G77 + China and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) such as Climate Action Network, Oxfam, GreenPeace and Third World Network. The climate justice struggle has been necessitated mainly by two driving forces. These are the experiences of the impact of climate change and the environmental legal principles that have emerged from environmental and climate change challenges. In spite of the fact that climate change and its impact are global, vulnerabilities vary across regions and socio-economic groups. The disproportionate impact of climate change is one of the drivers of the struggle for climate justice. The environmental/climatic legal principles that have formed bases for the climate justice struggle derive largely from UNFCCC, the Rio Declaration and the Paris Agreement. They are, to an extent, related to the Principle of Disproportionate Climate Burden. The principles include Common But Differentiated Responsibilities, Polluter Pays, No-Harm (to others) and Beneficiary Pays. Strategies employed in the struggle for climate justice include advocacy, focused negotiations at CoPs, protests/strikes, and litigation. Although, the developing countries have been the leaders in the struggle for climate justice, CSOs have been particularly prominent. The demand for increased financing of climate mitigation and adaptation has been characteristic. The struggle has resulted in more climate action. However, the ultimate focus must be the achievement of net zero emissions.