International Journal of Social Science Research and Review

Social Media Marketing Features and Empirical Studies in the Fast Food Industry Context: A Literature Review and a New Window for Future Promotion

Vijitha K. Jayathunga — 2024-11-02

The fast food industry is a major player in the global economy. In 2020, the global fast-food market size was $125.05 billion, and it is projected to reach $137.74 billion in 2021 and grow to $1,467.04 billion by 2028. Social media plays a significant role in promoting this industry due to its size. This study aimed to identify the features of social media marketing commonly used to promote products and services and to explore which of these features was tested in empirical studies in the fast-food industry. The study used a qualitative approach, analyzing existing literature. The results revealed that advertising, sales promotion, generated content (firm and user), and e-word of mouth are commonly used in social media marketing. However, only two of these features have been tested more extensively in the latest empirical studies of the fast-food industry. These were advertising and sales promotion. Thus, this study suggests that more empirical studies should be conducted to understand the effect of all social media marketing features on customer intention within the fast-food industry. It potentially opens new windows for industry promotion.

Daring to Thrive: The Unseen Force of Courage in Navigating Life's Challenges and Catalyzing Success

Yinan Zhang — 2024-11-02

Courage plays a pivotal role in overcoming life's challenges and achieving success, yet it remains an underexplored psychological trait compared to factors like intelligence, perseverance, and resilience. This study introduces and validates an integrated courage intervention method, combining cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, and role-playing to enhance individuals' courage across cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. The research aims to understand the mechanisms through which courage influences psychological well-being and success, providing empirical evidence and practical strategies for cultivating courage in various contexts, such as education, the workplace, and clinical settings. It is expected that courage interventions significantly reduce anxiety and depression while increasing well-being and achievement, highlighting the need for further research and application in diverse populations.

Information Hiding and Digital Transformation: Strategies for First Information Reports (FIR) and Police Records

Siddhartha Paul Tiwari — 2024-11-02

Throughout the last few years, it has become increasingly obvious that everything is moving from a traditional world to a digital one. In order for police organizations to remain competitive, they need to keep up with the rapid technological advancements that are taking place in order to stay ahead of the competition. The First Information Report (FIR) in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries is a legal document which provides police with information about an apparent crime which has been reported to them by the victims of crimes. It is part of the police's investigation process. The police still have a difficult time getting accurate information from victims in terms of what exactly occurred during the incident, which makes getting accurate information from them very difficult. The filing of a police report presents a wide range of challenges as far as police organizations are concerned. There is a major challenge in the investigation of crimes involving victims concealing information about critical knowledge subsets and the complexity of these sets from the police authorities. For police records to be managed effectively it requires an organisational transformation that is driven by well-established digital strategies that offer an overall view and full transparency of both the knowledge about FIRs as well as the access to them. There is no doubt that an organization such as a police force cannot underestimate the importance of adopting the right technologies and frameworks as part of its digital transformation strategy in order to be able to meet the needs of its customers. The challenge of solving the long-standing problem of police organizations with limited resources concealing knowledge is going to be a long-term task that can be quite challenging. This paper presents several strategies and best practices which can be adopted by law enforcement organizations so that they can successfully transform digitally and achieve their goals through the implementation of these strategies and best practices.

Effect of Multidisciplinary structure of New Education Policy on Achievement Motivation among Undergraduate Students in India

Tanya Tanya — 2024-11-02

The New Education Policy 2020 was finally implemented after a 34-year delay. This study work is fascinated by the New Education Policy 2020, Multidisciplinary aspect has brought many changes in the curriculum of the Undergraduates and especially how it influences their Achievement Motivation and how much they have adopted the new education policy over time. The researcher used two variables: NEP Multidisciplinary Structure as the Independent Variable and Achievement Motivation as the Dependent Variable. The sample included 142 undergraduates. After applying the AMS scale to measure the students' achievement motivation, interview questions were arranged to support the results, and it was discovered that there were no significant differences in the achievement motivation of first- and second-year students. Overall, the results are supported by the interview responses, as they show that, while students appreciate the Multidisciplinary aspect of NEP and prefer undergraduate degrees with multiple exit options, they are having a difficult time adapting, it also indicated that the institutions are unable of offering the appropriate atmosphere and facilities that students require in order to adapt to the interdisciplinary nature of NEP. This might be because the NEP multidisciplinary feature is new for the institutions as well, and they, too, need some time to polish it in their curriculum. As this is a very new approach in the educational field, additional observations and research are needed to assess the amount of growth and adaptability over time.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Traditional Recruitment and Selection Practices in a Technologically Dominated Economy

Samuel Bangura — 2024-11-02

In the contemporary business environment, there is a need for firms to plan and implement proactive traditional recruitment and selection, especially regarding employees working in the gig economy. However, the poor handling of traditional recruitment and selection processes can significantly affect the quality of employees and their performance in an organisation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional recruitment and selection practices in a technologically dominated economy. The importance of attracting and selecting a highly skilled workforce in a tight and competitive market has made adopting best practices in recruitment and selection by organisations critical. Firstly, the study highlighted various traditional recruitment and selection methods in organisations. Secondly, the overall recruitment and selection process was identified. Finally, strategies to mitigate the identified challenges faced in the traditional recruitment and selection process were suggested. The study was qualitative, adopting the survey strategy. Purposive was adopted, and hematic was used for data analysis. Findings revealed that traditional recruitment and selection as a practice is important for both employees involved in the gig economy. Importantly, the strategic approach to traditional recruitment and selection practices is vital and should be the cornerstone of any projected recruitment and selection process in a gig economy. Results validate the critical role of the traditional recruitment and selection process in achieving organisational aims and objectives in a technologically dominated economy. The study also proves that collaborative methods are central to the success of any traditional recruitment and selection process. Recommendations affirmed that recruitment and selection should be planned and well implemented. Human resource planning was also measured to be vital and emphasis on significant features of traditional recruitment and selection as a process such as having a place a well and implemented traditional recruitment and selection policy was asserted.

A Comparative Study on Teacher’s Work Motivation and Job Satisfaction in Public and Private Educational Institutions: The Case of Marawi City National High School and Peaci-Senior High School

Abdul Barie Ali — 2024-11-02

Motivation and job satisfaction are two determinants that help improve employee engagement and productivity in both public and private instrumentalities. Leveraging certain factors of these determinants will improve the level of drive, commitment, and energy of the institution’s workforce. This study aims to identify and correlate the motivational factors and the level of job satisfaction of the teachers in Marawi City National High School – Senior High School and Philippine Engineering and Agro-Industry College Inc. in terms of the “experience” and “desired” profiles. It employs descriptive quantitative research design using a survey instrument that was administered to 39 respondents. The number of the respondents was determined by a compete enumeration of all senior high-school teachers in both institutions. The instrument of the study was structured employing the 15-work related motivational factors in the study of Heimovics and Brown in 1976. For the testing of hypotheses, Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation was used. The results revealed “high-salary” and “friendly and congenial associates” tops the motivational factors on both educational institutions, and teachers in Philippine Engineering and Agro-Industry College Inc. are clearly motivated and satisfied in their job compared to Marawi City National High School – Senior High School. The researchers recommend leveraging the identified motivational factors and maintain an optimum job satisfaction in both educational institutions.

Effectiveness of Evaluations in South Africa Organisations

Gcobani Mkwela — 2024-11-02

This article seeks to investigate the effectiveness of evaluations in organizations. Evaluations contribute to the improvement of public policy interventions and expenditure programs by providing evidence-based assessments of their relevance and performance. Evaluations also serve to strengthen accountability by providing reliable information on progress in the achievement of public objectives to stakeholders, often identifying the key factors driving success or failure. Moreover, evaluation is a potent tool that assist organizations striving for a highly competitive world. It also provides quality control to support one’s efforts and ensures that time, money, and resources are well spent. The more evaluation approaches become ingrained in our culture, the more chances there are to use evaluation to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services, systems, and programs. The research study adopted “the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)”, as an item checklist, that filters relevant information using the four criteria, namely, identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. PRISMA collects and analyzes data from the studies that were included in the review and employs statistical and methodical methods to identify and evaluate relevant research. The findings revealed that evaluation is an important source for communication, and marketing efforts and produces results for decision-making. Evaluation becomes a tool and resource to provide organizations with direction and guides strategic decisions. Furthermore, it helps to build a culture of learning within organizations and promote continuous improvement. It is recommended that this will happen through the provision of evidence-based feedback and recommendations, hence evaluation encourages program managers and implementers to reflect on their practices and processes, and also identify opportunities for growth and development.

The Impact of Solution-Focused Thinking on Psychological Health: The Chain Mediation Role of Mindfulness and Perceived Stress

Yinan Zhang — 2024-11-02

Background: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is effective and cost-efficient. This study examined the impact of solution-focused thinking on psychological health, highlighting the mediating roles of mindfulness and perceived stress. Method: A 1-month survey of 464 participants used established scales to measure key variables. During this period, a total of two measurements were conducted. The interval between the first and second measurement was 3 weeks. Results: Solution-focused thinking positively correlated with mindfulness (β = 0.44, p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (β = 0.16, p < 0.01), and negatively with perceived stress (β = -0.41, p < 0.001) and depression (β = -0.42, p < 0.001). Mindfulness and perceived stress significantly mediated these relationships. Conclusion: Solution-focused thinking enhances psychological health by increasing mindfulness and reducing stress.

The Dynamics of Decision-Making Processes in Sustainable Conflict Management in the Ilemi Triangle

Oliver Noonan — 2024-11-04

Peace continues to be elusive in the Ilemi Triangle, which is located at the intersection of Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan, This study focused on the Dassanech and Turkana communities due to the increased frequency and intensity of violent conflicts between them. Drawing from Systems Theory, the study explored how the locan social organising through decision making processes iimpacts on how people respond to the conflict. Using qualitative case study methods, the study invloved in-depth interviews with members of the Dassanech and Turkana communities,who were purposively selected to include different members of the community structure who engage in intercommunal dialogue. These in-depth interviews were supplemented by focus group discussion (FGD) of pariticipants through quota sampling. Each FGD had members who had been affected by the conflict from four kraals/kebeles on the either side of the conflict line. The data was subjected to a thematic analysis and organised into themes and sub-themes, from which patterns were identified and used for further research and reporting. Indigenous conflict management through decision making, accroding to the findings, include identifying the routes to graze, wherer to or not to fetch water, and how to respond to incidences of conflict involving the other community. The decisions made create strategies that provide security for the community and are the reference point for sustainable peace initiatives inolving stakeholders in the triangle.

Mediating Role of Employee Engagement in the Relationship Between Job Resources and Personal Resources on Turnover Intentions in Food and Beverages Manufacturing Micro and Small Enterprises in Tanzania

Saidi Mustapha Msangi — 2024-11-04

This study explores the relationship between job resources and personal resources in turnover intention in the food and beverage manufacturing sector mediated by employee engagement usage of micro and small enterprises in Tanzania. The study objectives were to examine the mediating effect of employee engagement in the relationship between job resources and personal resources on turnover intention in food and beverage manufacturing MSEs in Tanzania. The positivism paradigm was adopted and quantitative research was applied. The research design used is a cross-sectional survey. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 2,306 population where a sample size of 387 was administered from MSEs in Dar es Salaam. The finding using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) technique revealed that job resources are positively insignificant to employee engagement whereas, personal resources are statistically positive and significantly influence employee engagement, also employee engagement is statistically positive and significantly influences turnover intention. Also, employee engagement does not indirectly affect the relationship between job resources and turnover intention while employee engagement indirectly influences personal resources on turnover intention. This study concludes that employee engagement partially mediates the personal resources on turnover intention. This study recommended that MSEs should strengthen human resource management practices that will involve developing skills, and abilities, and motivating employees to engage in the work.

Archiving Malayness in Museums, Power and Knowledge: Malay Ethnicity in the Nusantara Malay Archipelago

Mohammad Reevany Bustami — 2024-11-02

This paper examines the role of museums in shaping Malay identity in post-World War II Malaysia, a nation grappling with rapid decolonization and the complexities of nation-building. It argues that national museums serve as microcosms for constructing Malaysian Malay identity within a nation-state framework, acting as public institutions that preserve ethnic memories and facilitate identity formation at both national and local levels. By analyzing the museumization process—where artifacts are stored and displayed as symbols of "Malayness"—the research highlights how museum spaces influence community perceptions and discourse around Malay identity. Utilizing Foucault's theories, the study explores the arrangement of objects within museum exhibition halls and dioramas to uncover the dynamics of power, knowledge, and identity preservation. Ultimately, this investigation positions museums as critical sites for understanding the intersection of Malay ethnic identities and the broader narratives of nationalism in a postcolonial context.

What Could Make or Break the Government of National Unity (GNU): Lessons Learnt from a Comparative Study of United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa

Mpilo Ngubane — 2024-11-02

The prevalence of the coalition governments or Governments of National Unity (GNUs) in many countries after the elections is testimony to electoral maturity and some scholars believe that it is a sign that the electorate and communities in general are tired of opposition politics and would rather prefer political parties that can work together for the benefit of their communities instead of political bickering. Whilst many of the European countries such as United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands have mastered the art of coalition governments, experience in coalition does not guarantee success even though it does help in supporting the coalition. Africa as a continent is yet to see a very successful and hassle-free coalition maybe it is the nature of coalition governments that they will never be without challenges. There are African countries that have relatively experienced stable coalitions such as Lesotho but what is apparent is that when coalitions are between the bigger and smaller parties, they tend to be more stable than coalitions of bigger parties. South African reformed Government of National Unity (GNU) is still at its infancy and is fragile which then necessitates that lessons from other forms of coalition governments in other countries should be analyzed so that South Africa can learn from them and not repeat the same mistakes. It is for this reason that a comparative analysis with the other countries that have experienced coalition governments or Governments of National Unity (GNUs) was done. The research findings are such that challenges relating to coalition governments or GNUs are common across all countries studied. This spans from inability to plan for a coalition before the elections, failure to consult the electorate about the negotiations, the absence of a coalition framework, failure to find common ground on the programme of action, contestations about positions, temptations to interfere with the public service, etc. To obviate these challenges, it is important for political parties to have a Framework for Coalitions that will help guide coalitions.

Cultural Stereotypes and Sexual Perception; A Multifaceted Content Analysis of Gender, Race, and Interpretative Diversity in popular music videos

Amin Khaksar — 2024-11-18

This study investigates the perceptions of graduate college women from a multicultural background regarding sexual content in pop music videos, categorizing them as Sex Object, Sex as Power, or Non-Sexual. The research aims to assess the consistency and predictability of participants' perceptions through a qualitative coding system, focusing on statistically significant levels of interrater agreement. Thirty graduated female college participants were recruited through an online method, with an average age of 24.5 years. The participants, primarily, African-American, Middle east, and European and Asian were each exposed to seven pre-selected music videos out of 21, representing different suggested categories. Videos featured female artists or characters, with considerations for gender balance. Participants, motivated by a 200 Euro Amazon gift card, utilized a receiver-oriented content analysis method to report perceptions. Definitions for each category were provided, allowing participants to categorize the videos. Six subscales were employed to gauge perceptions further, assessing aspects like sexual intensity and the representation of women. Results indicated that participants viewed each video an average of 4.9 times, with an average video appeal score of 2.3 on a 4-point Likert scale. Fleiss’ Kappa also employed for assessing the reliability of agreement between a fixed number of raters. These findings underscore the diversity in individual perceptions of sexual content in music videos, challenging assumptions of uniform interpretation. The study emphasizes the need for nuanced analysis and acknowledges that certain videos elicit consensus among viewers, shedding light on the complex landscape of sexual portrayals in popular culture.

Determinant Factors Affecting Farmers’ Welfare in Kabupaten Bogor, West Java

Samudra Ivan Supratikno — 2024-11-19

The objective of this study was to investigate determinant factors affecting farmers’ welfare in Kabupaten Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. This research used quantitative approach with descriptive method. The research design used was survey method. Data were collected through observation and questionnaires. The findings showed that there was a positive and significant effect of agrarian reform on farmers’ welfare in Kabupaten Bogor with a correlation value of r = 0.279, p = 0.000 (p < 0.05). There was a positive and significant effect of social capital on farmers’ welfare in Kabupaten Bogor with a correlation value of r = 0.621, p = 0.000 (p < 0.05). There was a positive and significant effect of job satisfaction on farmers’ welfare in Kabupaten Bogor with a correlation value of r = 0.578, p = 0.000 (p < 0.05). There was a positive and significant effect of farmers’ personality on farmers’ welfare in Kabupaten Bogor with a correlation value of r = 0.553, p = 0.000 (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that the determinant factors affecting farmers' welfare in Kabupaten Bogor were agrarian reform, social capital, job satisfaction and farmer personality.