International Journal of Social Science Research and Review

Riverbank Erosion as Slow Violence

Md Rubel Mia — 2025-08-28

This study explores the riverbank erosion in Bhola, Bangladesh, displacing the household into the Korail slum of the Dhaka city, and presents this displacement as the case of embodied slow violence by studying senses and emotions among the displaced migrants. Sensory ethnography was used in conducting 23 semi-structured interviews and three weeks participant observation; the result was the collection of multisensory fieldnotes of smells, sounds, textures, air quality, and bodily reactions in Korail whether compared to the memories of Bhola riverine environment. The results show a twofold sensory disjuncture: the rupture of a rich and polyphonic sensory environment migrants encounter in Bhola and face the severe sensorial regime of Korail (contaminated air, stinking smell, noise, and harsh surfaces) and develop respiratory distresses, emotional disturbances, and precarious embodiment. Digital soundscapes, rituals, and communal practices are part of the adaptive strategies; however, they provide partial relief. The existential displacement of the sensors abuses the impact of climate migration more by engraving slow violence on the sensory levels and feelings. The emotional and the bodily aspects of displacement demand the incorporation of Sensory Impact Assessments and sensory-wise designs in policy responses.

Review of Surabaya High Court Decision in a Forestry Case Related to Evidence

Nur Ali — 2025-08-05

This study aims to examine final and binding court decisions (inkracht van gewijsde) in forestry crime cases, specifically those related to evidence in the form of transportation equipment belonging to third parties. The method used is normative legal research with a statutory and conceptual approach and an analysis of primary and secondary legal materials and legal reasoning theories based on the facts revealed in court. Number 672/PID.SUS-LH/2023/PT SBY in deciding the case, the panel of judges based on Article 78 paragraph (1) of Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry and the elucidation of Article 16 of Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction. However, the panel ignored that the confiscated evidence belonged to a third party, not proven to be involved in the crime, thus creating injustice even though the decision is legally valid. Therefore, the statutory provisions regarding the confiscation of evidence in forestry cases need to be evaluated and reviewed in terms of legal substance and structure to create more pro-community justice. This research is expected to provide legal insights for law enforcement agencies, enabling them to be more proportional in assessing and deciding cases involving the rights of innocent third parties.

Study of the Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and the Frequency of Religious Behaviors, Yoga, and Exercise in Reducing Anxiety/Stress Symptoms in Premenstrual Syndrome Sufferers in High School Girls in Shiraz

Zeinab Moshfeghy — 2025-08-28

Background: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), according to Changes in mood, mental, physical and quality of life is the question the general tendency of women to reduce the negative effects of these emotions look like? Objectives: Investigation of psychological characteristics of Premenstrual Syndrome and frequency of caring behaviors at different ages in girls in Shiraz High School. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 200 students studying with premenstrual syndrome in city of Shiraz in 2013. Multi-stage cluster sampling was selected randomly. Student's eligible screening questionnaire PMS (PSST) for two consecutive cycles completed. Then Behaviors of self-medication to reduce anxiety and stress was questioned. Analysis of data using statistical software SPSS (version 16) and Chi-square test was performed. Results: The prevalence of premenstrual syndrome were 25%. Between age and anxiety and stress (PV: .002) was significant relationship, But Between age and anger and irritability (PV: .078) and sensitivity (PV: .066) girls did not have a statistically significant relationship. Non-drug measures to reduce anxiety and irritability in girls at 17.5% religious practices (prayer) in 58% Yoga and in other cases are taken from exercise techniques. Conclusion: yoga, sports and religious practices (prayer) in order to improve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in girls' self-care measures have been carried out.On this basis it is proposed to adjust the appropriate health plan.

Highlighting Cultural Heritage and Culinary for Mas Tourism Village: An Event of Media Promotion

Gede Ginaya — 2025-08-28

This study explores the potential of Mas Tourism Village, Ubud, Gianyar-Bali by emphasizing its rich cultural heritage and distinctive local culinary traditions as strategic assets for sustainable tourism development. As rural tourism continues to evolve, integrating authentic cultural experiences with gastronomic offerings has become a key approach in attracting diverse tourist segments. The research highlights how community-based cultural events and curated culinary promotions can enhance destination image and visitor engagement. Through qualitative analysis and participatory observation during a media promotion event, this study demonstrates the role of cultural and culinary narratives in strengthening local identity and promoting inclusive economic growth. Findings suggest that well-organized promotional activities not only elevate the visibility of Mas Tourism Village but also contribute to the preservation of intangible cultural assets and support community empowerment. The article concludes with practical recommendations for stakeholders in tourism development to utilize heritage and culinary uniqueness as tools for strategic marketing and sustainable rural tourism initiatives.

Shifting Social Landscape: A Review of Socio-cultural Dynamics of Newar Community in Kathmandu, Nepal

Dango Dango — 2025-08-28

This paper analyzes the social landscape of the Newar population in the Kathmandu, Nepal, as well as their cultural, economic, and social dynamics. The objective of the paper is to identify the social composition and structure of the Newar community. This paper traces different socioeconomic factors while also highlighting the changing dynamics within the historically significant Newar community and offers a more comprehensive understanding of it. It utilizes existing data to determine the profile of the Newar population and investigates the contemporary trends and accompanying factors that contribute to urban settlement in Nepal. This research employed a narrative review process, using database search techniques similar to those used in systematic reviews with some key words of social issues in the Newar community of Kathmandu in Nepal Bhasa, Nepali, and English languages, and the secondary data that is published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and National Statistics Office Nepal. In the first phase, themes and subthemes for the paper were identified, while the second phase focused on pinpointing key issues related to the structure of the Newar population, as well as the factors that foster urban gentrification. The discussions in the paper are structured around insights derived from the results, with conclusions drawn to highlight the dynamics of the population, historical underpinnings, socioeconomic patterns, household arrangements, traditional dwellings, social stratification, class dynamics, and linguistic aspects within the Newar community. Through this comprehensive examination, the paper contributes to a detailed understanding of the various factors influencing and facilitating the recognition of the major circumstances of the Newar population in the Kathmandu.

The Empowerment of the Public Service Commission to Implement the Professionalization Framework in the South African Public Sector: A Systematic Alignment Analysis

Mpilo B. Ngubane — 2025-08-28

The South African public service is currently marred by a lot of challenges, and this has resulted into a serious loss of trust from the public and even payment for services is on the downward spiral. This is supported by the ever-rising households debt especially in municipal services such as water, sanitation, electricity and waste. Residents are not only finding it unaffordable to pay for these services but are fed up paying for erratic and poor services. This perception cuts across all government services and seems to be the order of the day even with those services that are provided by provincial and national government departments. There are many challenges within government institutions that have led to this quagmire and these include erosion of professionalism, incompetent officials who are unable to provide services, fraud and corruption that is rife in the public sector which robs communities of their rightful financial resources, political corruption where some of the politicians have resorted into self-enrichment at the expense of their communities which has led to a rift between community representatives and their communities; etc. The erosion of professionalization in the South African public sector seems to be the main cause of these challenges at least from the administration point of view. However, this phenomenon of erosion of professionalization also has political influence as part of the root causes of the evident challenges in government. Political influence has led to the appointment of incompetent officials and has increased corruption in the public sector where the same officials who are appointed irregularly get protection from politicians by doing them corrupt favours. This vicious cycle eventually affects communities who will ultimately not get services. Corruptive practices have now been endemic culture in the public service and have graduated even into sabotage of services where companies that are contracted for maintenance of government infrastructure deliberately vandalize it to get more work or orders. This has been prevalent in water and electricity infrastructure. There are instruments that have been developed by the South African government to deal with these challenges. One instrument that can address administrative challenges is the Professionalization Framework which, among other things, calls for ethical, capacitated and developmental state served by the same calibre of officials. The Framework alone will not solve the challenges but needs levers for its successful implementation. A bold move to review the Public Service Commission Act of 1994 was taken in 2023 with an intention of facilitating the implementation of the Professionalization Framework amongst other things. This study therefore systematically analyzes the alignment between the Professionalization Framework and the Public Service Commission Amendment Bill of 2023 to see if the latter will help in the implementation of the former.

Decolonizing Counselling Psychology: An Ubuntu-Centred Framework for STEM Education and Economic Development in South Africa

Dr, Thabani Khumalo — 2025-08-28

This paper proposes a transformative framework for the practice of counselling psychology in Africa that moves beyond Western psychopathological emphases to embrace models drawn from indigenous African epistemologies for advancing STEM education and economic development. Drawing inspiration from Holdstock's critique of "psychology without a soul," this work addresses the urgent need for contextually and culturally grounded psychological practice. The framework integrates Ubuntu philosophy with contemporary counselling psychology to create culturally responsive interventions. that support STEM learning among South African students. This approach essentially recognises the interconnectedness between individual psychological wellbeing, community development, and national economic advancement, positioning counselling psychologists as active contributors to societal transformation rather than merely treating individuals in distress and occasionally, community pathology. Through comparative analysis of successful psychological frameworks in other developing economies, this paper demonstrates how culturally grounded psychology can enhance STEM education outcomes. The proposed model emphasises collective healing, community-based interventions, and, in particular strength-based approaches that align with African worldviews. Key contributions include a theoretical framework that bridges indigenous knowledge systems with evidence-based psychological practice, practical guidelines for implementing Ubuntu-centred counselling in educational contexts, and policy recommendations for integrating culturally responsive psychology into national development strategies. This work challenges the profession to reclaim its true social justice mandate while contributing meaningfully to South Africa's economic transformation. The paper calls for a paradigm shift that positions counselling psychology as a catalyst for educational excellence and economic empowerment, offering a blueprint for African psychological practice that honours cultural heritage while addressing 21st-century developmental needs.

The Review of Digital Marketing Metaverse in Enhancement of Activities of Enterprises

Abdulaziz Aliev — 2025-08-28

The current article focuses on the key aspects of digital marketing technologies with scrutinizing the elements of digital marketing technologies new aspect known as metaverse. Moreover, it studies key elements of digital marketing technologies of metaverse employed in garment, textile and apparel enterprises with focus to development of current industries.

A Diachronic History of the Scopes of Practice of Counselling Psychology in Three Sub-Saharan African Countries

Professor Augustine Nwoye — 2025-08-28

In 2016 a landmark article was published in the Counselling Psychology Quarterly aimed at providing a global portrait of the discipline of counselling psychology. Unfortunately, only experiences and histories of counselling psychology in eight countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) were represented. Similarly, in 2019 another important article was published in the Counseling Psychologist, aimed at highlighting the factors that influence counselling practice in four countries (Iceland, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey). Unfortunately, again, the history of Counselling Psychology in the whole of Africa apart from South Africa remained omitted in these publications. The present article is an attempt to close this gap. Its principal objective is to let our foreign partners who plan to spend their sabbatical or other such experiences in any of the three African countries highlighted in this study be aware of what goes on in the field of counselling psychology in these countries and how they will be able to fit in when teaching or practicing counselling psychology in any one of them.

Pedagogical Dimensions of Human Growth and Soft Skill Formation

Khayitova Muattar Adkhamovna — 2025-08-28

The development of soft competencies and interpersonal intelligence is of special significance to the realization of holistic human growth in educational contexts. This empirical investigation aims to develop a multidimensional assessment model to evaluate the factors that influence the intention of using soft skill-based pedagogical practices, combining the variables found in the technology acceptance and behavioral intention model with other external variables such as emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, collaborative mindset, adaptability, and value-driven motivation. To obtain an accurate estimate, we propose a hybrid decision-making approach based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and multiple regression analysis. Data compiled from higher education companies in Uzbekistan and neighboring Central Asian regions are used to test the formulated hypotheses. This article first analyzes the weight distribution of pedagogical dimensions, studies the moderating effect of learning environment design on the level of competency acquisition of students, and analyzes the direct effect of curricular structure on the perceived effectiveness of soft skill instruction. The results of this study reflect what pedagogical indicators and motivational constructs should be considered and how they are interconnected in a competency-building framework. The results of the AHP model and regression outputs also provide a reference for further curriculum innovation on the design and implementation of human-centered learning models under the background of transformational education reforms. Hence, we may conclude that our framework for soft skill cultivation deserves more academic attention and practical application.

Driving Sustainable Fashion Through Recycling: A Study of Consumer Behavior in India

Lakshit Agarwal — 2025-08-28

Sustainability and the concept of circular economy are gaining global recognition at a fast rate, which makes it essential to understand the behaviour of consumers, specifically in recycling and sustainable fashion. This study explores consumer behaviour about clothes recycling and investigates its impact on purchase intentions for sustainable fashion. The research is based on a survey conducted at Vmart collection stores, one of India's biggest value fashion retail companies, which accepts old clothes in exchange for incentives. The data of a total of 196 participants from Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Agra, and Dehradun, India, was analyzed using graphs, t-tests, Levene’s test, and a correlation analysis. The results revealed a clear pattern. Most of the respondents discard their old clothes due to a change in fashion and taste. The majority of the participants prefer to donate their old clothes to those in need. It was also observed that the participants were motivated to donate their clothes due to the incentives they were receiving and the convenience. Moreover, a significant difference exists in recycling habits and purchase intentions of sustainable clothes between males and females. On average, females usually exhibit higher recycling habits and tend to purchase sustainable clothing more than males. There is a high correlation between the recycling habits and purchase intentions of sustainable clothing, which can be depicted through the upward-sloping scatter diagram. The findings likewise offer practical implications for government officials, businesses, and consumers. It highlights the need for specialized environmental initiatives and incentive-based activities. Overall, the study highlights how significant factors can affect the growth of sustainable fashion and the circular economy.

Sustainable Livelihoods for Tourism: Lessons from the Sambi Village Transition

Agnes Ratih Ari — 2025-08-29

This study highlights changes in community livelihood patterns in Sambi Village, Yogyakarta, which have shifted from stone mining activities that have a negative impact on the environment to economic activities based on the tourism sector. Although the tourism sector provides hope for increased welfare and improved economic conditions for residents, the sustainability of this transformation still poses various challenges. By utilizing the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) and qualitative methods based on the constructivism paradigm, this research seeks to capture the social construction of local communities through their experiences, meanings and knowledge that they form during the transition process. Data collection techniques were conducted through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation studies, which were thematically analyzed. The study results show that while the tourism sector has created a short-term economic recovery and gained institutional support, the community's over-reliance on a single source of livelihood makes them vulnerable to external pressures. The lack of diversified livelihood sources as well as limitations in adaptive capacity reinforce the challenges in building a resilient and sustainable economic structure. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive livelihood strategy, focusing on diversification, and strengthening local capacity to achieve sustainable development in rural areas dependent on the tourism sector.

Service Innovation in Enhancing Academic Quality at Private Higher Education Institution in Gorontalo: An Integrative Conceptual Approach Based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory

I Kadek Satria Arsana — 2025-08-29

This study aims to explore service innovations in enhancing academic quality at private universities in Gorontalo. The main problem identified is the low sustainability of innovation due to weak governance structures. Employing a qualitative approach with a case study method, the research was conducted at selected private universities in Gorontalo. Data were collected through interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and document analysis, and were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that innovations are predominantly technical and administrative in nature and have yet to be fully integrated into institutional quality systems. Although the innovations demonstrate relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability, their implementation remains suboptimal. The study recommends strengthening principles of sustainable innovation governance and integrating both intrinsic and extrinsic factors of the diffusion of innovation theory into institutional quality improvement practices. These findings offer conceptual contributions to the development of service innovations in higher education, particularly in a local contextual framework.

Women Journalists and Agency: Reshaping Feminist Narratives in Media

Pahal Bhasin — 2025-08-29

This study examines how women journalists exercise agency in shaping feminist narratives and influencing public discourse on gender equality. Through a comparative analysis of the United States and India, this research explores women's evolving roles in journalism and their strategies for challenging traditional narratives. Despite persistent structural barriers, women journalists have developed innovative approaches to story selection and framing that significantly impact public perceptions of feminist issues.

From Courtyard to Concrete: The Fusion of Global Modernism and Indian Values

Riya Ketan Kapadia — 2025-08-29

This research paper explores the transformation of Indian home design through the combination of minimalism and traditional design philosophies. In the fast-developing India of today, the demand for constructing homes that are not just functional and sustainable but also culturally embedded cannot be denied. The application of three separate case studies allowed for the analysis of how simplicity is balanced with symbolism by architects. The Jacob George Residence in Kochi, the Development Alternatives World Headquarters in New Delhi, and Kolam House in Tamil Nadu all represent a hybrid architecture language, where all of the case studies differ from regions but all aim for the same goal. Together, all three case studies demonstrate how Indian homes today can remain rooted deep in identity and environment.

This research paper seeks to explore how minimalist homes in India can coexist with sustainability and cultural richness without compromising on any key features. It explores how design elements such as courtyards, passive cooling, and local materials are being reinterpreted in new upcoming buildings. One of the goals is to explore whether minimalist houses can still facilitate traditional Indian ways of life and multigenerational families. Through comparative analysis of spatial planning, material selection, and symbolic elements in the three case studies, I aim to bring out the possibilities of hybrid architecture in India. The research also delves into whether homes today can be personal and rooted in memory, or if minimalism can be too sterile. I think Indian minimalism is special in that it does not erase the past but simplifies and refines it. This paper seeks to demonstrate that good architecture in India today needs to balance responsiveness to climate and cultural continuity. It's not just about building modern homes, but meaningful homes.

Effectiveness of Yoga Nidra on Psychological Distress and Sleep Quality of Working Professionals in Thailand: A Mixed Method Study

Rayvadee Yamniyom — 2025-09-01

The research study focused on the impact of yoga nidra techniques on psychological distress and sleep quality of Thai professionals. It employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. The participants for the study were 52 working professionals in Thailand, who were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 26) and a waitlist control group (n = 26), through simple random allocation. The experiment comprised guided yoga nidra sessions provided to participants in 30-minute slots, held four days each week for a total of two weeks. Participants' quantitative data underwent initial collection through the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) measures evaluated before and after the intervention, followed by qualitative data from semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 purposively sampled members from the experimental group. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) results, controlling for baseline differences, indicated marked enhancements within the experimental group. Participants showed a significant decrease in depression, F(1, 49) = 25.42, p < .001, η²p = .342; in anxiety, F(1, 49) = 18.74, p < .001, η²p = .277; and in stress, F(1, 49) = 12.86, p = .001, η²p = .208. The control group showed no significant changes, with scores remaining stable on all measures. In the experimental group, sleep quality improved significantly, F(1, 49) = 8.93, p = .004, η²p = .154. The qualitative inquiry yielded four consistent positive themes: enhanced focus and attention, improved sleep quality, diminished perceived stress, and pronounced advantages in the domain of relaxation. Among the barriers to effective implementation, participants cited diminished focus, competing time demands, and unforeseen technical difficulties. Yoga nidra warrants consideration as a supplemental component of workplace wellness initiatives for Thai professionals.

The Biodynamic Movement in Britain, A History of the First 100 Years, Bernard Jarman, Floris Books, 2024 (Book Review)

John Paull — 2025-09-01

The book ‘The Biodynamic Movement in Britain, A History of the First 100 Years’ is timely but disappointing. Timely, because Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) presented his Agriculture Course at Koberwitz a century ago, and thereby laid foundations for the development of the Biodynamics (BD) and organic agriculture movements. Disappointing, because it is riddled with errors, hearsay, and gratuitous fabrication. The book is not founded on rigorous scholarship but rather presents a mischmasch of truths, half-truths, and fabrications as historical fact. In Britain, the Biodynamics movement dates back to an Anthroposophy Conference at the Quaker Centre in London in 1928, where Dr Carl Mirbt (aka Mier) (1902-1975), as an emissary of Count Carl Keyserlingk (1869-1928), presented a lecture on Steiner’s agricultural ideas. The newly widowed Marna Pease (1866-1947) promptly took up the challenge of advancing the cause and recruited Mirbt to promote BD in Britain. Under Marna Pease’s stewardship the BD movement took root in Britain and the Anglo-sphere more broadly. The book’s account of her is muddled. On a positive note, this book lists all the office bearers of the three British BD associations from 1928 through 2023. The book creates and propagates false narratives and is not recommended for reading or acquisition. The book is recommended for retraction and subsequent revision; or alternatively, reassignment as ‘historical fiction’.

A Study of Association, Assimilation and Adaptation Among Second-Generation Indian American Youth

Arya Ajith — 2025-08-29

This paper is an exploration of the ideas of assimilation, identity and cultural adaptations among second generation Indian-American youth. There is a growing community of Indians in the U.S. who have migrated in many waves, as laborers, traders, students, etc and have not only made it their home, but have significantly contributed to the American society, culture, polity and economy. The second-generation youth are of central interest to this study. By incorporating perceptions, attitudes and reflections of second-generation youth through a survey instrument, this paper delves into the processes of association and negotiation that youth of migrant communities undergo in their everyday life which defines their dual-identities. The findings reveal a dynamic relationship that these youths share with their ethnic identity and their American one.

Constructing the Tyrant: A Filmic Analysis of Idi Amin in the Film the Rise and Fall of Idi Amin

Sospeter Okero Bichang'a — 2025-09-01

This study examines the filmic portrayal of Idi Amin in the film The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1981) to understand how cinema constructs political autocracy and postcolonial African leadership. The justification for this inquiry lies in the critical need to explore how African leaders, particularly autocrats, are represented in film, an underexplored area in African cinema studies. This study was anchored in postcolonial theory. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore how the film navigates ideological tensions between historical authenticity and Western cinematic representations of African figures. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing close textual analysis of the film, supplemented by thematic analysis to identify recurrent motifs and representational patterns. The findings revealed that the film simultaneously reinforces and critiques dominant political myths surrounding postcolonial African states, using the figure of Amin as a symbolic site for contesting narratives of power, violence, and identity. This study contributes to scholarship in African film studies, political representation, and postcolonial critique, offering nuanced insights into the role of cinema as a cultural medium for shaping and contesting political memory.

An Insight into the Modus Operandi of the Dastardly Criminal Acts of the Cash Transit (CIT) Robbers in South Africa

Shaka Yesufu — 2025-09-10

The brutal and heartless way cash transit robbers operate in the South is a very frightening experience. Over the years it has become a serious course of concern for citizens. Most cash transit robbery is carried out by a group armed robber. Some of these robbers come from trained paramilitary background, in some instances are citizens from South Africa neighboring countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Botswana. The military training commands of these named countries have either sacked or retrenched some of them from service in their home countries. Instead of reskilling themselves and reintegrate into society, they turn to crimes, utilizing the set skills gained from the army or armed forces to terrorise citizens. This research has three aims: first, to highlight the persistent imminent dangers faced by citizens when these CIT robberies are taking place. Second, to explore the modus operandi of CIT robbers. Third, to explore both short term and long-term solutions to the deadly violent criminal world of the CIT robbers. The findings are: first, South Africa porous border makes the country a very attractive and lucrative destination to perpetuate violent robberies. Second, more training and investment by law enforcement agencies to fight CIT robbers, essentially improved use of assisted technology, artificial intelligence like drones, robots and body worn cameras. Third, mandatory tougher sentencing by the courts for CIT robbers in South Africa needs to be put in place to reduce this dastardly criminal violence.