Gender Variant Children and Institutional Arrangements: Exploring the Phenomenon from South Asian Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-157
Author(s):  
Kusha Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Institutional Arrangements ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Gender Variance ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Gender Variant ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods

This paper explores and assesses the presence/absence of institutional arrangements in educational settings for addressing the concerns of gender-variant children (GVC) through a sample survey of schools in the three-country context of India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. This research highlights the need for effective regulatory, normative and cognitive structures to address issues of childhood gender variance. With a contextual analysis of recent developments and comprehensive study of data reports in the three countries, the study analyses multiple dimensions of discrimination and bullying of GVC in educational settings. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, this paper highlights causes and issues associated with the problems of GVC as well as affirmative actions and institutional practices required to be implemented in schools in the three-country context. The results and findings provide evidence that academic institutions in India, Sri Lanka and, to some extent, Nepal lack institutional mechanisms to address issues of homophobia, abuse by peer group, mental health issues, emotional challenges, social discrimination, lack of opportunities, lack of monitoring and counselling, micro-level engagements and high dropouts of GVC. This study also charts out futuristic agenda, such as comprehensive mapping of GVC in schools, implementation of effective counselling mechanism, the need to create and adopt basic reference module for educators around gender diversity and variance.

Measures for Employee Engagement: Public Service in Sri Lanka

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-45
Author(s):  
A.T. Wijesekera ◽  
R.Lalitha S. Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Service Climate ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Utrecht Work Engagement Scale

Employee engagement is crucial in the delivery of public service efficiently and effectively. Employee engagement is essential as a foundation for service climate (Salanova et al., 2005). Measuring employee engagement is vital to identify the areas to be improved to increase the service quality. The most accepted Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) is heavily applied to measure the employee engagement of Business to Customer (B2C) profit oriented organizations. Therefore, a customized measure for employee engagement is essential for public service. This paper describes the development of a customized scale based on UWES scale for assessing employee engagement in public service with reference to Divisional Secretariats in Sri Lanka. In developing and validating measures, qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized as recommended by Hinkin's (1998). Finally, a customized scale with 16-items was developed under vigor, dedication and absorption dimensions to measure the employee engagement of public service in Sri Lanka.

scholarly journals An Empirical Survey on Factors Affecting Citizens’ Trust in Public Institutions in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
A. Rameez ◽  
M. A. M. Fowsar
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Eastern Province ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
The People

Although Sri Lanka made attempts to adopt policies of decentralization and democratic governance to enhance citizens’ trust, the efforts had yielded very little success. As such, this study attempts to assess the level of citizens’ trust in public institutions in the eastern province of Sri Lanka and explores the factors contributing to the decline of citizens’ trust in public institutions. Both qualitative and quantitative methods consisting of questionnaire survey, in-depth-interview and focus group discussion as data collection techniques were employed in this study. Overall, it was found that the people have little trust in the public institutions due to lack of awareness, discrimination in terms of ethnicity, undue delay, lack of modern facilities and political influence. Thus, it is paramount on the part of government to address these challenges to restore the trust among the citizens on these public institutions.

SDG Gender Index and the Status of Women

2022 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Soma Dhar
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Status

Equal Measures 2030 introduces the 2019 SDG Gender Index in the global report that highlights the power of data for gender equality. The Index is the complete mechanism known to investigate the state of gender equality across 129 countries, 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and 51 targets correlated to issues innate in the SDGs. This study explores the progress of gender equality in South Asian countries, comprising Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The study indicates the poorer performance of South Asian countries in the SDG Gender index. It draws attention to the SDG-4 performances of South Asian countries as it has a strong gender perspective, grounded in evidence on the close links between girls’ education and social and economic development, including poverty reduction. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study explores SDG 2020 projections and assesses the performance and rate of progress and acceleration timespan for South Asian countries toward gender equality by 2030. The overall comparison confirms that the performance of no country has been satisfactory in the SDG Gender Index. Sri Lanka is leading, ranked 1st in South Asia, and 15th in Asia and the Pacific region. Bangladesh and Pakistan are the worst performers in South Asia. Equal Measures 2030 serve to enhance girls' and women’s status, champion their abilities, and advocate their equality through policies and actions at the ground level.

scholarly journals Scale for Measuring Perceived Service Quality of Public Service in Sri Lanka: With Special Reference to Divisional Secretariats in Gampaha District

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
A.T. Wijesekera ◽  
R. Lalitha S. Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Customer Perceptions ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods

The most accepted SERVQUAL is heavily applied to measure the service quality of Business to Customer (B2C) profit oriented organizations than for non-profit organizations. As such, this paper describes the development of a 19-item instrument for assessing customer perceptions of service quality in public service with special reference to Divisional Secretariats in Sri Lanka. To do so, both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized in three fundamental stages recommended by Churchill (1979) and Parasuraman et.al, (1988). In following their footsteps, initially a qualitative research was undertaken in five Divisional Secretariats within Gampaha District through interviews with 50 customers from different backgrounds and affiliations which produced 42-items with eight factors emerged. These 42-items were included in a questionnaire and quantitative study was undertaken with 100 respondents who were current or recent customers of Divisional Secretariats within Gampatha District. To ensure the reliability and validity of the measures of service quality construct, mainly reliability test, split-half reliability and factor analysis, were used. Finally, 42-items were deduced in to 19-items and a new scale was developed to measure the service quality of Divisional Secretariats with 5 dimensions Responsiveness, Communication, Tangible, Empathy and Assurance. Among these, responsiveness dimensions could be the least important and the empathy dimension was of most concern to customers. As a closing note, limitations and further studies were discussed.

scholarly journals Using a consensus approach to develop a medical professionalism framework for the Sri Lankan context

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59
Author(s):  
Amaya Tharindi Ellawala ◽  
Madawa Chandratilake ◽  
Nilanthi de Silva
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Medical Professionalism ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Context Specific

Introduction: Professionalism is a context-specific entity, and should be defined in relation to a country’s socio-cultural backdrop. This study aimed to develop a framework of medical professionalism relevant to the Sri Lankan context. Methods: An online Delphi study was conducted with local stakeholders of healthcare, to achieve consensus on the essential attributes of professionalism for a doctor in Sri Lanka. These were built into a framework of professionalism using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results: Forty-six attributes of professionalism were identified as essential, based on Content Validity Index supplemented by Kappa ratings. ‘Possessing adequate knowledge and skills’, ‘displaying a sense of responsibility’ and ‘being compassionate and caring’ emerged as the highest rated items. The proposed framework has three domains: professionalism as an individual, professionalism in interactions with patients and co-workers and professionalism in fulfilling expectations of the profession and society, and displays certain characteristics unique to the local context. Conclusion: This study enabled the development of a culturally relevant, conceptual framework of professionalism as grounded in the views of multiple stakeholders of healthcare in Sri Lanka, and prioritisation of the most essential attributes.

Are customers satisfied? Study of the problems currently prevailing in the plus size women’s wear market in Sri Lanka

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niromi Seram ◽  
Kethmini Kumarasiri
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Women's Clothing

Purpose Plus size clothing is becoming a fashion trend worldwide due to the body positivity movement sparked off by the growing obesity rates and fat shaming incidents reported around the world. Although the problems relating to plus size clothing in the global context have been addressed, thereby establishing certain norms in the market, none of this work has proved helpful in assessing the level of customer satisfaction in the Sri Lankan plus size market. In view of this lacuna, this paper aims to probe customer preferences and identify the problems currently prevailing in the plus size women’s wear fashion market in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered through both qualitative and quantitative methods. For this purpose, visits were made to several fashion outlets in the Colombo area offering plus size clothing to observe the available product categories, size ranges, fabrics, finishing methods and designs at each outlet. A closed-ended questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the perception of the customers on the current plus size fashion market. Semi-structured interviews with designers working at selected Sri Lankan fashion brands that catered to the plus size market were carried out to acquire an understanding of the current plus size fashion industry from the garment manufacturer’s perspective and to learn about the current construction techniques in the industry. Findings The results indicated that 55.6% of the plus size women who participated in the survey were either dissatisfied or only moderately satisfied with the current products available in the Sri Lankan market. The major cause for the dissatisfaction was the inability to find well-fitting clothes to suit their body proportions and the unavailability of trendy, fashionable clothes. Ideally, they preferred fashionable, comfortable, well-fitting and good quality garments. Unavailability of standardized sizing methods and lack of up-to-date information on the female body were identified as the main issues in the Sri Lankan plus size women’s wear market. Therefore, the necessity for a standardized size chart for plus size women based on Sri Lankan anthropometric data was emphasized by designers. Originality/value The findings will be useful for the Sri Lankan apparel producers as well as retailers as they will have a better understanding of not only the fit and aesthetic preferences but also the overall shopping preferences of plus size women. This will help them to develop marketing strategies to cater to this Sri Lankan niche market segment, as currently there is no documented information on plus size Sri Lankan women’s clothing preferences.

scholarly journals Ethical Leadership Measures for Public Service in Sri Lanka

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
A.T. Wijesekera ◽  
R. Lalitha S. Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Ethical Leadership ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Leadership Behavior ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Ethical Guidance

A lack of concern on ethics in public administration may be considered the biggest barrier to quality service delivery. Many efforts have been made to promote ethical standards between public servants. Among those efforts, improving leadership skills can prove to be effective in promoting ethics in public service (Hart 2001).Therefore, ethical leadership behavior is very vital as that ensures ethical guidance. In order to identify the ethical leadership behavior of the public sector, customized measures are essential. This study describes the process of development of a 30-item instrument for measuring ethical leadership behavior in the public service with reference to Divisional Secretariats in Sri Lanka. According to Hinkin's (1998) recommendations in items generating both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized. First observed the articles which were published related to ethical leadership and examined to find items and dimensions. A focus group discussion was conducted with 20 in-depth interviews to generate additional items to determine whether additional dimensions of ethical leadership would emerge. Based on these two steps, the researcher found 30-items with five dimensions. They were fairness, employee orientation, role clarification, integrity and ethical guidance. These 30-items were included in a questionnaire and a quantitative study was undertaken with 100 respondents employed in the Divisional Secretariats within Gampatha District. Reliability test and factor analysis were used to ensure reliability and validity of this measures. Finally, these 30-items were loaded to four dimensions. Such as people orientation, integrity, ethical guidance and role clarification.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATIVE STUDY OF PREFERRED SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN SAFEER MALL, SOHAR, OMAN

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firdouse Rahman Khan ◽  
Yashar Javad Hatami ◽  
Arjun Sasidharan ◽  
Said Abdullah Ali Al-Roshdi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Social Media Marketing ◽  
Customer Choice ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
The Social ◽  
Media Platform

PurposeThe objectives of the study are to examine the customer choice of preference among the various marketing strategies (Social Media, MMS/SMS, advertisement through newspapers, magazines, etc.); to investigatethe awareness of social media marketingand, to find out the preferred social media platform and the security concerns of the customers with respect to such platforms.Design/methodology/approachThe sample survey was involving both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. 202 samples were collected through a well-defined questionnaire. The sample included 102 customers of the Mall, 50 university students (both of these samples were selected on a convenient sampling basis) and 50 residents from Safeer vicinity (selected on a simple random sampling basis).FindingsThe empirical results reveal that an easy and good means to influence the customers of the mall is through social media marketing. The study also reveals that the customers do not feel secure through social media, as their identities might be stolen or misused. The study confirms that the customers do not perceive social media marketing as an attractive and effective tool as they still prefer the traditional methods.Practical ImplicationsThe study confirms that it is good means to approach the customers of the mall through social media marketing as the customers can easily be influenced which will boost the business in an easier way.Social ImplicationsThe study emphasizes on the mall's participation and posting of more contents to their social media pages, clarifying the customers on the security issues. The malls should use social media marketing along with the traditional marketing method so as to cope up with the preferences of the customers.Originality/valueNo study has investigated the awareness and the preferences of the social media marketing platforms of the malls of Oman, and this study will help the malls to plan on the new marketing avenues and techniques.

scholarly journals Non-traditional Security Disputes of Sri Lanka

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Jeewaka Saman Kumara
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Small States ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Government ◽  
Political Security

From the 1970s onwards, social constructivists criticized the intense narrowing of the field of security studies imposed by the military and nuclear obsessions of the Cold War. Further, they argued that these traditional issues have not disappeared, but that other, non-military sources of threat now seemed more pressing. Hence, the nature and magnitude of security within the states should be considered from different angles such as economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security and political security. In the context of small states, the issue of security has multiple dimensions in the complexities of the state. Apart from the traditional aspect of security threats of small states, the non-traditional aspect is very important to identify the security threats of small states. One of the most important aspects of non-traditional security thus, is that people should be able to live in a society that honours their political security. In this broader context this study makes an effort to answer whether the political security of Sri Lanka is being challenged in the context of power political paradigm. Further the research problem has been answered by using standard research tool including descriptive and analytical methods and also the research involves both qualitative and quantitative methods. As a developing small state, Sri Lanka is an electoral democracy. The 1978 constitution vested strong executive powers in the president, who is directly elected for a six-year term and can dissolve Parliament. The prime minister heads the leading party in Parliament but otherwise has limited powers. The 225-member unicameral legislature is elected for a six-year term through a mixed proportional-representation system. Elections are open to multiple parties, and fair electoral laws and equal campaigning opportunities ensure a competitive political process. Despite the war’s completion and an improvement in security throughout Sri Lanka, the situation of political security remained grim. Some observers’ charge that centralizes approach of the ruling party of the Government of Sri Lanka has led to a lack of protection of political security. In this broader context, there is an argument that the situation of political security of Sri Lankan remains grim.

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