scholarly journals Language Use by Staff Members in Saudi English Higher Education Departments: Beliefs and Gender Differences

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Suliman Mohammed Nasser Alnasser

Educational language policies in Saudi Arabia have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. English departments in the country are comprised of male and female staff members who practise these language policies at departmental level and also outside the domain of the classroom and on a variety of occasions. There are several reasons for the use of English (a foreign language) alongside Arabic (the mother tongue) and these have an influence on the shape of current or future language policies. The effect of gender on the selection of particular reasons has not been investigated and this is the focus of the current paper. In the study referred to here, both quantitative (online survey) and qualitative (open-ended section) approaches to data collection were adopted. The context of the study was English departments in Saudi Arabian higher education establishments. The survey consisted of five items (statements) and two questions with open-ended sections. The data was collected from different regions of the country and included male (n = 67) and female (n = 143) staff members. The Chi-Square test of independence was administered to determine the significance of differences found between the two genders and only in one of the five items was a statistically significant difference found. It was, therefore, concluded that males and females in Saudi English departments share similar beliefs with regard to the use of language, with only slight differences between them. This paper discusses the implications of these findings as well as possible areas of investigation for future researchers.

Author(s):  
Suliman Mohammed Nasser Alnasser

Review of literature suggests that issues in English language policies (ELPs) in higher education foreign language department levels have not been addressed, and the relationship between beliefs about general notions of ELPs and gender has been disregarded. The current study investigates gender-related differences in beliefs on five main notions of ELPs among staff members in Saudi Arabian English departments. An online survey was administered to staff members in different Saudi English departments from different regions in Saudi Arabia. Five general statements on ELPs were included in the survey and were responded to by male (n = 67) and female (n = 143) staff members (total = 210). Pearson’s chi-square test of independence and the calculated percentages of responses were used to analyze gender differences. No statistically significant differences were found between male and female participants, with the exception of one statement. Both genders had generally similar beliefs on ELPs. Moreover, the female staff had slightly stronger beliefs than the male staff, and males showed more hesitation than females did when deciding on ELP matters. The study also discusses the implications of the findings and provided recommendations for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  

Radiographic Mandibular Indices serve as easy and relatively cheap tools for evaluating bone mineralization. Objectives: To examine the effect of age and gender on three mandibular indices: the panoramic mandibular index (PMI), the mandibular ratio (MR) and the mandibular cortical index (MCI), among Libyan population. Methods: The three indices were measured on 317 digital (OPGs) of adult humans (155 males, 162 females). The sample was divided into six age groups (from 18-25 years through 56-65 years). The measurements were analyzed for interactions with age and sex, using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Studies) software version no. 22. The tests employed were two way ANOVA, the unpaired T-test and chi-square test. Results: The mean PMI fluctuated between 0.37 s.d. 0.012 and 0.38 s.d. 0.012. among the sixth age groups. One-way ANOVA statistical test revealed no significant of age on PMI. On the other hand gender variation has effect on PMI, since independent sample t-test disclosed that the difference between the male and female PMI means statistically significant. ANOVA test showed that the means of MR among age groups showed a negative correlation i.e. MR mean declined from 3.01 in 18-25 age groups to 2.7 in 55-65 age groups. In contrary, the gender showed no effect on MR according two sample t-test at p> 0.05. In regards with MCI, statistical analysis showed that it affected by age that is C1 was decreasing by age while C2 and C3 were increased by age. Using chi square test the result indicated that there is a significant difference among the different age group and the two genders in MCI readings. Conclusion: PMI was influenced significantly by age but minimally by the gender. MR is not affected by gender but has a negative correlation with age. MCI is affected by both age and gender


2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farnaz Kheirandish ◽  
Mohammad Javad Tarahi ◽  
Behrouz Ezatpour

Parasitic infection is one of the problems that affect human health, especially in developing countries. In this study, all of the fast food shops, restaurants, and roast meat outlets of Khorramabad (Western Iran) and all the staff employed by them, some 210 people, were selected through a census and their stools were examined for the presence of parasites. The parasitological tests of direct wet-mount, Lugol's iodine staining, formaldehyde-ether sedimentation and Trichrome staining techniques were performed on the samples. The data was analyzed with a chi-square test and logistic regression was selected as the analytical model. The results showed 19 (9%) stool specimens were positive for different intestinal parasites. These intestinal parasites included Giardia lamblia2.9%, Entamoeba coli 4.3%, Blastocystis sp. 1.4%, and Hymenolepis nana 0.5%. There was a significant difference between the presence of a valid health card, awareness of transmission of intestinal parasites, participation in training courses in environmental health with intestinal parasites (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the rate of literacy and gender among patients infected with intestinal parasites (p > 0.05). To control parasitic infection in food handlers, several strategies are recommended such as stool examinations every three months, public education, application of health regulations, controlling the validity of health cards and training on parasitic infection transmission. In this regard, the findings of the present study can be used as a basis to develop preventive programs targeting food handlers because the spread of disease via them is a common problem worldwide.


Revista CEFAC ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-200
Author(s):  
Cristiane Marangom ◽  
Viviani Souza Peruchi ◽  
Marta Assumpção de Andrada e Silva ◽  
Irene Queiroz Marchesan ◽  
Léslie Piccolotto Ferreira

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the association between voice disorder and aspects related to breathing mode in children, according to sex. Methods: 250 children, aged six to nine years, attending a public school in São Paulo city, were selected. The collection consisted of spontaneously audio recorded speech samples. The breathing mode was evaluated for lip resting posture and nasal flow. Three audiologists performed the perceptual evaluation of the voice quality, with the help of GIRBAS scale. The results were associated using the chi-square test (p = 0.05). Results: 50.4% females and 49.6% males. As for the overall grade (G), 12.8% had voice disorder with respect to voice quality. In the breathing mode, 36.8% presented alterations in lip posture and 71.2%, in nasal flow. The associations between voice disorder and gender (p = 0.96), lip posture (p = 0.38) and nasal flow (p = 0.18) and between alterations in the nasal flow and sex (p = 0.449) were not confirmed. The association between lip posture and sex revealed significant differences in favor of males (p = 0.003). Conclusion: there was no statistically significant difference associating voice disorders with breathing mode (lip posture and nasal flow) and gender.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Mohammad Almoaily

Most of the research on language policies in educational institutions has hitherto focused on the creation, interpretation, or appropriation of language policies that govern language use in the classroom. Language policies, however, can be instantiated or implemented in out-of-classroom settings. Hence, the current study examines the impact of language policies, in terms of both beliefs and practices, as mechanisms of power in communication between staff members in official meetings taking place at higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia. An online survey taken by 208 members, in addition to semi-structured interviews with eight department chairpersons, revealed that the implementation of monolingual English language policies can minimize the proportion of engagement of staff members, who are less competent in English, in department council meetings, committee meetings, and other official meetings. The data also suggested that the majority of participants in the study believe that multilingual language policies (allowing the use of both Arabic and English) should be avoided in order to not exclude non-Arabic speaking staff members from participation in official dialogue. The study concludes with implications for language policy creation and implementation for out-of-classroom English use in EFL educational institutions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL3) ◽  
pp. 374-378
Author(s):  
Sahil Choudhari ◽  
Subash Sharma ◽  
Jaiganesh Ramamurthy

In order to reinforce a weakened cusp, a restoration covering the cusp is done to reduce the incidence for fracture and the failure of the tooth. There are multiple options to perform posterior restorations, which include direct materials like amalgam and composite and indirect materials like ceramic and metal. The aim of the study was to find out the association of age, gender and tooth number in patients undergoing onlay restoration. 86000 patient records at a private dental college were reviewed between June 2019 to March 2020. Our study included all the people who had undergone onlay restoration. A total of 49 onlay restorations were done. The collected data was tabulated using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS. Incomplete data was excluded from the study. Statistical analysis was done using a chi-square test. In our study, we observed that the age group below 30 years (p>0.05) reported the most for onlay treatment with a higher incidence of males (p>0.05). A maximum number of onlay treated teeth was 46. (p>0.05) Metal ceramic was the most common type of material used for onlay fabrication. (p>0.05) Within the limitations of the study, no significant difference was found between age, gender, tooth number and type of material used for onlay fabrication.


Author(s):  
Zakki Yula Hosea ◽  
Liamngee Kator ◽  
Oga Ohekpe Philomena

Intestinal helminth infections are widely distributed throughout the world and children are the most affected population. The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of intestinal helminths in children of primary schools in Makurdi, Benue State. Sterile cotton balls soaked in 10% formol saline were used to swab the underneath of the fingernails to collect 200 nail dirt samples from the school pupils of different ages and gender. The parasites were isolated from the dirt of both gender and prevalence was recorded. The direct mount method was used in the identification of parasites. The prevalence of parasites was presented as descriptive statistics, while the relationship between several variables (such as age and gender) and the presence of parasites were determined by Chi-square test. The level of significance used was P<0.05. The highest prevalence was observed for Ascaris lumbricoides (35%) whereas the lowest prevalence was found for Strongyloides stercoralis (15%). The other parasite found was Ancylostoma duodenale (30%). Overall prevalence was found to be 10%. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic helminths was found to be higher in males with 13.19% than in females with 7.34%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the infection among gender. The distribution of intestinal parasitic helminths among the selected primary schools indicated that there was no significant difference in the occurrence of the helminths between the schools. The occurrence of fingernail parasites among children in primary schools can cause chronic infections which can negatively affect all aspects of children’s health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
Nouman Anthony ◽  
Khalid Saifullah Baig ◽  
Mohammad Ahmed Arsalan Khan ◽  
Syed Danial Kamal ◽  
Nawal Rafiq

Introduction: The coronavirus later named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused an illness known as COVID-19. This study was carried out to determine the KAP of medical and non-medical professionals of Peshawar towards COVID19. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of selected medical and non-medical professionals about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic through an online survey. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional online survey took place from March 1 to April 30, 2020 using purposive sampling due to COVID-19 pandemic-related constraints against a community-based survey. A questionnaire for recording knowledge, attitude and practice about COVID-19 pandemic was generated with the help of literature search and uploaded through google forms. Responses were collected in excel spreadsheets which were later converted to SPSS version 23 for descriptive statistical analysis. Chi Square test was used for comparison between medical and non-medical professionals keeping p ≤0.05 significant. Results: A total of 366 participants responded to the online survey. The ratio of medical to non-medical professionals being 1.16:1. It was observed that majority of respondents had adequate knowledge regarding the current pandemic and no significant difference was seen between the two professionals (p<0.001). Both the professionals had a positive attitude with no difference (p<0.05). In practice, visiting marketplaces (p=0.754) showed significant difference in the practice however all the other practice measures did not show significance (p<0.05) and were being practiced by both the professionals. Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the knowledge, attitude or practice of medical and non-medical professionals towards the current pandemic of COVID-19. Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; Coronavirus; SARS virus.


2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Zanini Kantorski ◽  
Ariana Soares Rodrigues ◽  
Gláucia Santos Zimmemann ◽  
Roberto Fraga Moreira Lotufo

 The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Porphyromonas gingivalis in patients with periodontitis in Brazil and investigate whether there is a relationship between your occurrence and gender and age. Analysis was performed of 1,386 results of microbiological examinations of samples of subgingival microbiota in patients with periodontitis. Collection was performed by periodontists in private practice and processed by culture in clinical laboratory of oral microbiology. The chi-square test was used to verify the association of occurrence of P. gingivalis with gender and age. It was observed that 59% of examinations were of female patients and 41% were of male patients, most of which aged more than 40 years (64.3%). The occurrence of P. gingivalis was 17.8%. There was no significant difference in the presence of this bacterium in the different age ranges, yet there was a significantly higher occurrence in males. It was observed that, regardless of the age range, the occurrence of P. gingivalis was always significantly higher in males. It was concluded that the occurrence of P. gingivalis in patients with periodontitis in Brazil was 17.8% and was associated with gender, yet had no association with the age range.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-31
Author(s):  
Sumita Upadhyay ◽  
Neeta Ghimire

Objective: To determine the various types of maxillary labial frenum attachment in Nepalese children. Materials & Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a total of 198 children of age ranging from 1 to 14 years who visited Dental Department of Dhulikhel hospital for routine dental treatment. Types of maxillary labial frenum attachment was recorded along with age and gender. Children were divided into two groups; age 1-7 and 8-14 years. Descriptive analysis was carried out to determine the frequency of frenum types. The relation of frenum with gender and frenum types between two groups were calculated using chi square test. Results: The most common type was gingival attachment {61.1%) and the least common was papillary penetrating type of frenum attachment {8.1%). There was no significant difference in the frenum attachment between the two genders. Mucosal and gingival attachment was significantly higher in older age group whereas papillary and papillary penetrating was higher in younger age group. Conclusion: Attachment of frenum in children changes according to age.


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