scholarly journals Complexity, Conflict, and Uncertainty: Smartphone Use and the Efficacy to Learning on University Students in EFL Classrooms

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. p79
Author(s):  
Lilian Ya-hui Chang

The use of smartphones among university students is like a double-edged sword (Qi, 2019), on the positive side, it can boost academic performance; on the negative side usage (or the restriction of it) can detract from learning. The studies offered seem to create a dichotomy: smartphone use during class is either positive or negative. This paper, however, aims to reveal how students’ smartphone use in the classroom is an intricate, conflicting picture that has several layers of complexity creating a confusing picture for the instructor as to how, when, or why to use smartphones in the classroom. In order to explore Taiwanese university students’ potential conflicting viewpoints on the smartphone uses during class time, this study collects both quantitative and qualitative data for data analysis. All the questionnaire respondents used their smartphones during class time. The main reason they do so is due to learning purposes (e.g., check English words online, participate in class activities). However, it is interesting to note that the most frequent uses for the students are for personal reasons, e.g., check the time, check personal messages. Moreover, quantitative data shows that 2/3 of the participants in this study believed that it is all right to use their smartphone during the class, because being able to check information online aids their learning during the class. On the other hand, about 1/3 of the students believed that cellphone use is a distraction for them during the class. Semi-structured interviews also reveal that the interviewees expressed that they have mixed feelings about the appropriateness of the use of smartphones during class. Hopefully, these data can shed light on how teachers approach students’ smartphone uses policy in class.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4904
Author(s):  
Nan Yang ◽  
Gerbrand van Hout ◽  
Loe Feijs ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Jun Hu

With the development of sensing technology and the popularization of quantified-self devices, there are increasing types of health-related data that can be sensed, visualized and presented to the user. However, most existing quantified-self applications are designed to support self-management and self-reflection; only a few studies so far have investigated the social aspect of quantified-self data. In this study, we investigated the social role of quantified-self data by introducing the design and evaluation of SocialBike—a digitally augmented bicycle that aims to increase the user’s intrinsic motivation in physical activity through on-site quantified-self data sharing. We conducted a controlled experiment on a cycling simulation system. Two forms of SocialBike’s on-bike display were evaluated with 36 participants. We used the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory to collect quantitative data about users’ intrinsic motivation in physical activity; the cycling simulation system recorded quantitative data about user behavior. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. We conducted paired sample t-test to analyze both types of quantitative data; qualitative data were analyzed by the method of thematic analysis. The results show that SocialBike’s front display significantly increased users’ intrinsic motivation in physical activity. A total of nine themes were identified from the qualitative analysis, providing supplementary explanations for the quantitative results and additional insights into the overall design.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Mehmet Akif Karabörk ◽  
Soner Durmus

In this study, the effects of redesigned modeling activities on the academic achievement of 7th grade students and the student’s view about these activities were investigated. We use explanatory sequential mixed method design that is one of the mixed research methodology for this investigation. The quantitative part of this research established according to semi-experimental study with pre-posttest, and qualitative part of this study execute with the case study. Quantitative data were collected with multiple choice academic achievement tests, and qualitative data were collected with study papers, observation forms, forms of student’s view, and semi-structured interviews at the end of all activities. The quantitative data were analyzed with covariance analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis. As a result, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the experimental group on the academic achievement which influenced by modeling activities. This difference has been influenced by the presentation of the learning environment in which the students' attitudes and beliefs towards themselves and the lessons will be positively affected, and mathematical skills will be supported to increase success.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-73
Author(s):  
Alexandre Belloir ◽  
Caspar van den Berg

AbstractAlthough substantial advances have been made in our comprehension of functional politicization – political capacities and activities being taken on by bureaucrats in their administrative duties – questions surrounding its causal mechanisms remain. To shed light on these questions, we here explore increasing political polarization (and fragmentation) in Dutch politics and functional politicization over the period 2007 – 2019 to see how the two are related. To do so, we adopt a cross-time approach that observes which skills – political-strategic insight, substantive expertise (Fachwissen), or procedural knowledge (Dienstwissen) – senior civil servants perceive to be the most relevant to successfully and correctly exercise their profession in a period of increasing polarization in the Dutch political landscape. Drawing from surveys conducted with senior civil servants in 2007, 2013 and 2019, combined with semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019, the data depicts the prevalence of political astuteness in the profession and highlights the factors for its causes: institutional, organizational, and interpersonal dynamics. This indicates an (in)direct link between political polarization and functional politicization of the administrative apparatus that serves as a basis for further cross-time and cross-country investigation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yavuz Ercan Gul

In this research, it was aimed to interculturally research the value of patience with the data obtained from the students who participated in the study from two different countries. The research was designed as a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods. Accordingly, the Traditional Screening Technique based on quantitative data and the Phenomenological Technique based on qualitative data were used together in the research. In this study, the patience levels of university students were generally calculated high. The patience levels of Turkish students were discovered to be lower than those of Kyrgyz students. According to the results of the interviews, there are differences in Turkish and Kyrgyz students' understanding of patience. It is seen that Turkish students attribute the value of patience to religion, believing that patience is transferred to Turks from religion, while Kyrgyz students associate patience with their cultural traditions. It is thought that this study will contribute to values and character education, especially to the literature on patience. The relationship and differences between the patience levels of university students and different variables and their effects on each other can be researched. Programs can be developed to increase the patience levels of university students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Marisa Yoestara ◽  
Zaiyana Putri

This study aimed at reporting differences in terms of the university students’ TOEFL self-efficacy in the test skill and the English skills tested in TOEFL namely listening, structure, and reading. In conducting the study, the explanatory sequential mixed method was used as the study design, where the quantitative data from the survey was conducted first followed by the follow-up interview as the qualitative data. To collect the data in this study, a specifically designed self-efficacy questionnaire of TOEFL was distributed to the total sample of 200 university students across different disciplines from Syiah Kuala University and the University of Serambi Mekkah. The interview was then conducted with 3 selected students to have a deeper understanding of the study result. In terms of the data analysis, one-way ANOVA and t-test were used to describe the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was described and elaborated in words with detailed explanations. The result showed that there was a significant difference among the test skill and the English skills in TOEFL, where F= 13.61 (3, 796), p<0.05. The result also revealed that within the gender, only reading skill had a significant difference, where t198= -2.003, p <. 005, and within the language course participation, all the test skills and TOEFL skills were significantly different as the p-value of each skill was smaller than .005 (p< .005).


Author(s):  
THEOPHILE BINDEOUE NASSE

The topic of alcohol consumption and conflicts has been explored in several context not only because consumers do not have a good consumption culture, but also because alcohol consumption often leads to social violence (Nasse, 2018; Nasse, Ouédraogo & Diop, 2019). Most of the studies on the topic are done in other contexts. Little research on the subject has been conducted in Burkina Faso. Therefore, this research aims to explore the concepts of alcohol consumption and conflicts in the context. Burkina Faso is a country where religion plays a significant role. However, alcohol consumption is increasing (Sow, 2005), even among consumers who are believers, but ignorance in the sector of marketing seems to be a barrier that favors unethical consumption. The research is a mixed approach. The qualitative data collection is performed with a voice recorder by the means of some semi-structured interviews. Then, the qualitative data is transcribed by hand. The quantitative data is collected by the means of a questionnaire. The qualitative data and the quantitative data are performed using sphinx IQ software. The results show that social class moderates the relationship between alcohol consumption and conflicts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yavuz Ercan Gul ◽  

In this research, it was aimed to interculturally research the value of patience with the data obtained from the students who participated in the study from two different countries. The research was designed as a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods. Accordingly, the Traditional Screening Technique based on quantitative data and the Phenomenological Technique based on qualitative data were used together in the research. In this study, the patience levels of university students were generally calculated high. The patience levels of Turkish students were discovered to be lower than those of Kyrgyz students. According to the results of the interviews, there are differences in Turkish and Kyrgyz students' understanding of patience. It is seen that Turkish students attribute the value of patience to religion, believing that patience is transferred to Turks from religion, while Kyrgyz students associate patience with their cultural traditions. It is thought that this study will contribute to values and character education, especially to the literature on patience. The relationship and differences between the patience levels of university students and different variables and their effects on each other can be researched. Programs can be developed to increase the patience levels of university students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-84
Author(s):  
A. N. Autaeva ◽  
◽  
A. K. Satova ◽  
L.A. Butabayeva ◽  
S. T. Bulabayeva ◽  
...  

Assessment is the process of collecting data to make decisions about students. It is crucial that this is done correctly, and that those who evaluate students do so with technical precision, accuracy, and integrity. A test is a pre-defined set of questions or tasks that are searched for predefined types of behavioral responses. Tests are especially useful because they allow each person tested to ask the same tasks and questions for the test. Because the tester identifies and evaluates behavior in a pre-defined and consistent way, they can compare the characteristics of several different test subjects. Tests provide two types of information - quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data is the actual scores obtained from the test. Qualitative data consists of other observations made during the student's testing; they tell us whether the students achieved the grade. The article discusses the use of the testing method.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-367
Author(s):  
Marcus Moberg ◽  
Sawsan Kheir ◽  
Habibe Erdis Gökce

Abstract This article is based on data gathered in the project Young Adults and Religion in a Global Perspective (yarg 2015 ̶ 2019), which explored the values and religious subjectivities of young adult university students in thirteen different countries around the world. In a largely explorative fashion, the article focuses on the only two predominantly Muslim samples included in the project: Turkey and Muslims in Israel. On the basis of quantitative data, the article outlines the significant correlations found between respondents’ degrees of personal religiosity, frequency of religious practice, and levels of internet use for religion-related purposes. On the basis of qualitative data, the article then moves to explore how concerns about the trustworthiness of online content and the continuing influence of offline religious authorities work to shape and inform the online religious engagements of our Turkish and Israeli Muslim young adult respondents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
Evans Shoko ◽  
Maheshvari Naidu

Peace as a concept has been relatively under-researched in view of its conception within the rural knowledge system and especially in connection to water access. This study used a sequential exploratory design to gather and analyse qualitative data in the form of semi-structured interviews from 20 village residents. In addition, quantitative data, drawn from a questionnaire, was used to validate the findings from the semi-structured interviews. This research showed that cooperation in the management of common water resources harmonises relations and brings unity and peace. The results also revealed that in as much as the rural Zimbabweans desire peace, corruption in water management increases the likelihood of grievance-based conflicts. Collaborative activities improve community relations and create a space for collective resolution of conflicts. The researchers recommend using local peace institutions to absorb macro-conflicts.


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