IIUM JOURNAL OF HUMAN SCIENCES

Cognitive Engagement and Academic Satisfaction: Critical Issues related to the Constructs

Rahama Rahim — 2024-06-30

Research on the psychological construct of cognitive engagement and how it relates to students' academic satisfaction has been noted to have significantly increased recently. Many research findings have supported their association as indicators of academic achievement. The present paper aims to review and analyse research on cognitive engagement and academic satisfaction and to highlight the possible conceptual and methodological issues in this area of research. While numerous studies have suggested the connection between academic engagement and academic satisfaction, the specific link between cognitive engagement and academic satisfaction still needs to be explored. Even studies on academic satisfaction need to be conducted more adequately, while studies on life satisfaction and job satisfaction have drawn more attention. Moreover, scholars describe the dimensions of cognitive engagement in different ways, which may cause vagueness. In addition, more study is also essential by focusing on the relationship between cognitive engagement and academic satisfaction across different academic disciplines. Furthermore, apart from quantitative-based research, a qualitative approach can be followed to understand these constructs better. Ultimately, this paper offers some directions for future researchers to develop insight.

A Preliminary Study on the Impacts of Work Ethics in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Era among Non- Technology Educators at Higher Education Institutions

Nurul Farhanah Mohd Nasir — 2024-06-30

Technology is the game-changer in education. Online platforms, gamification, and AI are becoming prominent tools in teaching pedagogies. Technology is proven to bring people advantages and helps to minimise human effort in completing tasks. It can be a good tool for educators, especially for IT experts. However, it can become a barrier for educators with non-technology backgrounds who may have less knowledge in IT yet are expected to implement technology in their teaching and learning pedagogies. This study examines the challenges educators with non-technology backgrounds face in utilising technology in their teaching and learning methods and its impact on their work ethics as educators. Using the qualitative interview method of purposive sampling, six educators were teaching at private higher education. From the findings, the high workloads and the need for support are the main challenges in motivating educators to use technology in teaching pedagogies. These two challenges have demotivated all participants in teaching and thus affected their work ethics. This study suggests revisiting the workloads projected to the educators and providing professional development to control the main issue.

Globalisation and Resilience of Pre-Saharan Society in Morocco

Moulay Abdallah Odghiri — 2024-06-30

The irreversible march of pre-Saharan Morocco towards globalisation is in full swing, and the tribal factor remains a key element in understanding this region's culture and urban dynamics. This study aims to show how pre-Saharan populations, which are always structured by kinship ties, are caught in an oscillation between attachment to their roots and their tribal culture on the one hand and the influence of other ways of life from outside on the other hand. Preceded by a first pre-survey, which made it possible to map the ethnic distribution in the city and to understand the demographic weight of each group, as well as their community space in the city; our contribution is based on a qualitative survey carried out between 2018 and 2019 in Tinghir and its surroundings, which relied on several data collection techniques, including semi-structured interviews, documentary research and observation.

Impact of Nigeria's NCD Policy and Action Plan on Health Care Performance

Lawal Bakare — 2024-06-30

This study assessed the implementation of the National Policy and Strategic Plan of Action on Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed, and the population of this study consisted of employees of the Ministry of Health in the six states of the South-west geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The study used purposive sampling techniques to select 600 respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, and the data obtained were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that social factors, individual behavioural habits, biological and genetic factors, environmental factors and health services are determinants of effective public health status in Nigeria. Not all relevant stakeholders were well captured and considered in the policy development, leading to the gap between the target and the outcome. Furthermore, the policy implementation has not been effective at the grassroots level (F=153.186, R=0.977; p=0.05). The study concluded that attaining the desired healthcare performance depends on health sector reforms geared towards reducing inequality in access to health services and ensuring that public health policy is a product of synergy between the government and all stakeholders.