International journal of social science studies最新文献

{"title":"The Role of Microfinance in Women’s Empowerment in Sierra Leone. A Case of Market Women in Bo City, Southern Province","authors":"Abdulai B. Dumbuya, Ibrahim Munu","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6843","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6843","url":null,"abstract":"The development of poor communities is contingent upon the interventions of development partners in the affairs of government and non-governmental organizations worldwide. Since it gained prominence with its declaration in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly, microfinance has been highly noted as an intervention that could help elevate the socioeconomic status of low-income earners and improve their standard of living by providing financial services to enhance development. This study examines microfinance's role in women’s empowerment in Bo City, southern Sierra Leone, using BRAC Sierra Leone’s microfinance scheme for market women in Bo Big Market Center as a case study. Questionnaire instruments and interviews were used to collect primary data from 290 respondents, some of whom were microfinance beneficiaries and female business table owners. The ensuing data was analyzed using simple statistical tools, and results were presented in charts and figures.The study revealed that although there are challenges for women to access resources, MFIs have provided options for women to explore in addition to the few other options available to them. However, a significant constraint was the need for more funds to transform their businesses meaningfully. Furthermore, although the MFIs give loans to all genders, women are often more preferred. In addition to providing microcredits in cash terms, some MFIs also give agricultural products like seedlings and animals to their clients. To guide the economic activities of their clients, some MFIs offer training programs on basic bookkeeping, savings, and accountability lessons.The study further revealed that although some women seek these loans to start or improve their businesses, they often use many of these monies to handle other affairs, like paying school fees for their wards and buying household items. Thus, the services provided by MFIs have significantly enhanced women's ability to start other income-generating activities, increase their chances of contributing to the development of their children, and improve their decision-making stance in their communities.However, despite the incredible benefits realized from MFIs, these market women face many challenges, including loan diversion and a need for more financial discipline in their businesses. Short repayment schedules and unjustified deductions from the monies expected from MFIs were also significant challenges that were revealed.Based on all of these issues identified, it was recommended that training programs for both clients and MFI staff must be an integral part of their services. Also, Financial discipline must be instilled into the clients to avoid loan diversion, creating a better chance to improve their businesses. Additionally, MFIs are expected to monitor or supervise their clients and businesses by continuously engaging with them on critical elements of their businesses. Finally, the central government must ensure that robust regulations","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"47 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140365447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Social Science Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2","authors":"James Young","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6844","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6844","url":null,"abstract":"International Journal of Social Science Studies (IJSSS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJSSS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 12, Number 2Aurora Pestaño, University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR), PhilippinesDorela Kacauni, “Fan S. Noli” University, Korҫa, AlbaniaFahri ÖZSUNGUR, Adana Science and Technology University, TurkeyJehu Onyekwere Nnaji, University of Naples II,Italy and Globe Visions Network Italy, ItalyKun Yu, Universiti Putra Malaysia, ChinaMd. Nasir Uddin, Prime Minister’s Office, BangladeshSana Ali, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, PakistanYuhan WANG, Guangdong University of Technology, China      James YoungEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of International Journal of Social Science StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://ijsss.redfame.com","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"54 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140367685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Modalities Best Suited for Public Private Partnership Concession Agreements in the Education Sector of Zambia","authors":"Bridget Mwaba Theresa Lwando, Anthony Mushinge","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6736","url":null,"abstract":"The Zambian public sector has been known to face several challenges in the provision of infrastructure among others education infrastructure. Thus, the introduction of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). In as much as the education sector of Zambia can benefit tremendously from the PPP initiative, poorly designed PPP concession agreements risk worsening existing educational sector challenges. The objectives of the paper were to establish the extent of application of PPPs in the Zambian education sector, identify the challenges surrounding concession agreements in PPPs in Zambia, and suggest the right modalities that could be applied to PPP concession agreements in the Zambian education sector. Both secondary and primary data was collected to establish that no private sector entity has had or is currently engaged in an ongoing concession with the Government in the procurement of infrastructure for schools. Challenges surrounding concession agreements in PPPs included contract misspecifications, lack of contractual flexibility, opportunistic behaviour by either party, and shielded concession agreement creation and process. In view of the foregoing, right modalities that could be applied to PPP concession agreements in the Zambian education sector include proper risk allocation, adequate concession period, clear allocation of roles and responsibilities, and inclusion of stabilization clauses.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"139 31","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140369331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing an Assessment Battery to Measure Exposure to Police Brutality on Social Media Among Black Adolescents","authors":"Amanda McLeroy, Yudan Chen, Oliver Boxell","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6751","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6751","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to investigate the impact of police brutality exposure on social media among Black adolescents, recognizing its profound influence on attitudes and perceptions. The research developed the PBE-SM self-report assessment battery through an iterative process, involving qualitative interviews and cognitive assessments with Black first-year college students. The battery comprises five instruments, each probing specific time frames to capture the dynamic nature of social media exposure. For each instrument, all ten items were submitted to an exploratory factor analysis, revealing distinct structures, and providing psychometric evidence of construct validity and the utility of a multifaceted approach in understanding how perceptions evolve over time. The study emphasizes the practical applications of PBE-SM for researchers, educators, and counselors. It facilitates real-time monitoring of Black adolescents' exposure, aiding counselors in recognizing periods of heightened exposure and guiding stress management. Educators can use the tool for positive social media integration in academic settings. While limited to Black college undergraduates, future research aims to establish external validity across diverse demographics. In conclusion, PBE-SM represents an innovative tool for comprehending and addressing the psychological well-being of Black adolescents amidst prevalent exposure to police brutality on social media.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140372639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Online Negative Hotel Reviews and Merchant Response Strategies on Potential Consumers’ Purchase Intentions: A Perceived Trust Perspective","authors":"Xia Lin, Jiali Zhu","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6756","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6756","url":null,"abstract":"Based on online negative reviews, the paper explores the influence mechanism of emotional and attributive reviews on potential customers’ purchase intentions. Against the background of online hotel booking, using ability, benevolence, and integrity in perceived trust as intermediary variables, we constructed a two-factor group experiment with 2 (types of online negative reviews) × 5 (merchant response strategies). This study was conducted by randomly recruiting participants from a university, utilizing a questionnaire-based experimental approach. Two hundred fifty valid questionnaires were collected for statistical analysis, including t-test, analysis of variance, and structural equation model. This paper reveals the influence of online negative reviews and merchant response strategies on ability, integrity, and benevolence. It verifies the mechanism of three factors and potential customers’ purchase intention. Concurrently, this study provides crucial inspiration for hotel managers to focus on addressing the service quality issues in the reviews and develop tailored response strategies to enhance customers’ perception and trust.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140439091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Making and Using Technology: Shifting toward Possibility and Vision","authors":"Russell Suereth","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6757","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i2.6757","url":null,"abstract":"The problem this article addresses is that we excel at making tools and technologies, yet the things we build and how we build them are often harmful to humanity and the environment. Examples from rocket and chemical technologies show that we continue to use technologies in the wrong way. We build rockets that take us to the moon, yet we use rocket technology to build missiles that attack and kill others. We build chemical compounds to power engines, yet we use chemical technology to create pesticides that cause illnesses. This article suggests that we move beyond building and using technologies in ways that are harmful to humanity and the environment. The research aims to consider whether we can move beyond being makers. It considers whether we can better recognize the possibilities of what things can be made and how we can build and use them. The research further considers that we create visions based on those possibilities. These visions could help guide us toward pathways that are more beneficial to humankind and our planet. The article examines the concepts of possibility and vision from writers such as Thoreau, Gibran, and Huxley. The research considers literature that discusses humanity in the context of making, possibility, and vision. From this research, the article hopes to show that we can understand the possibilities in things and ourselves. Through this understanding, we may create visions that lead us to make the right things while building and using them in the right ways.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"3 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140439240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Analysis of Gender and Public Opinion on Democracy in Poland, Romania, and the United States, 1995-2020","authors":"Sandra L. Hanson, Michelle Kelso, S. Tuch","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6581","url":null,"abstract":"Research on attitudes toward democracy in Poland and Romania is timely given 2019’s three-decade anniversary of freedom from communism in Central and Eastern Europe. The U.S. makes an interesting comparison case given its history involving the American Dream and the Dream’s essential component of democracy. Using the World Values Surveys and a conceptual framework linking gender and democracy attitudes, we examine beliefs about democracy in Poland, Romania, and the U.S. between 1990 and 2020. Findings show significant cross-country, cross-time, and cross-gender variation on most of the belief measures and, contrary to much previous research, Americans do not always provide the strongest support for democracy. We conclude that simple assumptions about American exceptionalism on democracy attitudes are often inaccurate, as are assumptions that women are universally more positive about democracy than men. Consensus on democracy related attitudes in Romania and Poland is also not supported by our results, suggesting that unique historical, political, and socio-economic experiences among formerly communist nations play an important role in shaping beliefs about democracy.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"7 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139804167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Woldemar Voigt’s Alliance of Finite Reality with Infinite Fantasy","authors":"Antonio Cassella","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6733","url":null,"abstract":"This article tries to explain why we should ally the cerebral and asymmetrical finiteness spared in autism with the cerebellar and symmetrical infinity impaired in it to avoid global warming, a super-wicked problem. Woldemar Voigt implied the alliance of detectible finiteness and lying infinity in 1887 at the University of Göttingen through the transformations of his “Shining Sphere,” or Riemann Sphere. Since they cannot lie, autistics cannot face problems, rooted in the maybe of dreaming and fantasy. The author posits that our problem is ignoring the alliance of classical asymmetry and quantum symmetry in our brainstem, Stonehenge’s builders, artless discourse, and nature’s nature. The author posits that recalling nature’s roots will save about eight billion nonautistic liars (rooted in the “tree of knowledge”) from a fate worse than Lisbon’s Earthquake in 1755. The ruin of life on Earth can wane by willfully grasping the union of vertical and finite asymmetry with horizontal and infinite symmetry in the “tree of life.” Asymmetrical finiteness (e.g., from front to back in a dog tick) hugs symmetrical infinity in living beings (e.g, the legs and eyes of a dog tick) as relativity hugs quantum physics; and Descartes’ cosines hug Euler’s sines in a complex plane.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"6 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139805344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Woldemar Voigt’s Alliance of Finite Reality with Infinite Fantasy","authors":"Antonio Cassella","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6733","url":null,"abstract":"This article tries to explain why we should ally the cerebral and asymmetrical finiteness spared in autism with the cerebellar and symmetrical infinity impaired in it to avoid global warming, a super-wicked problem. Woldemar Voigt implied the alliance of detectible finiteness and lying infinity in 1887 at the University of Göttingen through the transformations of his “Shining Sphere,” or Riemann Sphere. Since they cannot lie, autistics cannot face problems, rooted in the maybe of dreaming and fantasy. The author posits that our problem is ignoring the alliance of classical asymmetry and quantum symmetry in our brainstem, Stonehenge’s builders, artless discourse, and nature’s nature. The author posits that recalling nature’s roots will save about eight billion nonautistic liars (rooted in the “tree of knowledge”) from a fate worse than Lisbon’s Earthquake in 1755. The ruin of life on Earth can wane by willfully grasping the union of vertical and finite asymmetry with horizontal and infinite symmetry in the “tree of life.” Asymmetrical finiteness (e.g., from front to back in a dog tick) hugs symmetrical infinity in living beings (e.g, the legs and eyes of a dog tick) as relativity hugs quantum physics; and Descartes’ cosines hug Euler’s sines in a complex plane.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139865149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Analysis of Gender and Public Opinion on Democracy in Poland, Romania, and the United States, 1995-2020","authors":"Sandra L. Hanson, Michelle Kelso, S. Tuch","doi":"10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v12i1.6581","url":null,"abstract":"Research on attitudes toward democracy in Poland and Romania is timely given 2019’s three-decade anniversary of freedom from communism in Central and Eastern Europe. The U.S. makes an interesting comparison case given its history involving the American Dream and the Dream’s essential component of democracy. Using the World Values Surveys and a conceptual framework linking gender and democracy attitudes, we examine beliefs about democracy in Poland, Romania, and the U.S. between 1990 and 2020. Findings show significant cross-country, cross-time, and cross-gender variation on most of the belief measures and, contrary to much previous research, Americans do not always provide the strongest support for democracy. We conclude that simple assumptions about American exceptionalism on democracy attitudes are often inaccurate, as are assumptions that women are universally more positive about democracy than men. Consensus on democracy related attitudes in Romania and Poland is also not supported by our results, suggesting that unique historical, political, and socio-economic experiences among formerly communist nations play an important role in shaping beliefs about democracy.","PeriodicalId":90554,"journal":{"name":"International journal of social science studies","volume":"12 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139864011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}