Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education最新文献

Purpose

The objective of this study was to elucidate the intentions of university teachers regarding the utilization of ChatGPT for instructional purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

In this cross-sectional quantitative research, data were collected through an online survey tool from 493 university teachers across Pakistan.

Findings

The findings revealed that positive attitudes and a sense of perceived behavioral control had a positive impact on teachers' adoption of ChatGPT for instructional purposes. Conversely, subjective norms exhibited a significant negative influence. The results underscore that teachers are inclined to embrace ChatGPT for instructional cause due to their recognition of its educational utility. However, it does not appear that their social environment, which includes their coworkers and managers, has a significant impact on how they decide what to do.

Research limitations/implications

The findings bear implications for devising relevant policies that support AI integration in curricula and assessments and teachers’ professional development (PD) programs. There is a need for formulating guidelines at the universities and the policy tiers to make the ChatGPT use more relevant. Future research should strive to generate insights toward AI use in the areas of curriculum, assessment and teachers’ PD.

Originality/value

The study adds to the relatively new literature on the integration of ChatGPT in higher education. This study’s findings contribute to the body of knowledge related to AI’s pedagogical use and set future directions to consider factors influencing meaningful and responsible use of AI in teaching and learning.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the role of green human resource management on environmental performance at Islamic universities, with the mediating effect of green cultural festivals and the moderating role of individual green values.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed random sampling techniques by selecting a sample of 192 students from various Islamic universities in Indonesia. The participants were selected through an online survey. In addition, data analysis was done using the structural equation modelling-partial least squares (SEM-PLS) technique with the SmartPLS 3.0.

Findings

Implementing green human resource management has become a crucial factor in enhancing the environmental performance of Islamic universities. Moreover, green cultural festivals function as an intermediary variable. At the same time, individual green values exhibit a moderating variable that can enhance the influence between green human resource management and environmental performance.

Practical implications

Implementing an effective green human resource management strategy enhances environmental performance. Green human resource management has assisted universities in creating a generation of graduates with a solid commitment to ecological sustainability and raised awareness of the significance of conserving the environment. As a result, this commitment equips students to become agents of change in society upon graduation. Furthermore, campuses need to integrate environmental curriculum components into all study programs, as students need to understand the significant impact of environmental stewardship from both Islamic and scientific perspectives.

Originality/value

This research provides a novel perspective on how Islamic universities are exceptionally well-equipped to create environmental awareness and values that students can practically apply post-graduation using green cultural festivals, which are regularly held. This study is the first to introduce the concept of green cultural festivals in universities utilising the basis of combining green culture with cultural festivals with the theoretical background of resource-based theory.

Purpose

SETARA is a well-known university rating tool in Malaysia. The study aims to enhance the transparency, accuracy, and reliability of SETARA assessment instrument by improving its weighting scheme for the domains, sub-domains, criteria, and indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilized a quantitative research design and collected responses from 29 academic administrators in both public and private higher education institutions in Malaysia. The four steps of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were employed. An AHP questionnaire was developed, adopting the domains, sub-domains, criteria, and indicators of the SETARA assessment instrument. The “Superdecision” software was used to synthesize the pairwise comparison judgments and compute the consistency ratio for all group pairwise comparison matrices.

Findings

The AHP-assigned weights differed significantly from those assigned by the SETARA rating system. For instance, the weight for “Input” increased from 20 to 41.05 out of 100, and the weight for “Output” decreased from 40 to 25.52. The new SETARA rating instrument is expected to be used by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) due to its scientifically justified foundation to ensure transparency, accuracy, and reliability.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by small sample size for data collection. Future research could benefit from a larger and more diverse sample, including participants from a number of national-level universities and relevant agencies like Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA) and MOHE. Additionally, the research focused solely on recalculating weights and did not consider modifying the criteria set. Further investigation is needed to determine if some criteria can be added or removed.

Practical implications

This research offers practical implications for refining the SETARA assessment mechanism and improving the quality of higher education in Malaysia. The modified weights provide guidance to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on where to focus their efforts to ensure quality. The transparent methodology introduced by this study can serve as a model for enhancing educational quality evaluations in Malaysia and potentially in other higher education systems worldwide.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in its innovative application of the AHP to the SETARA assessment tool, addressing a crucial gap in the assessment process. By providing a comprehensive and transparent methodology for assigning percentages and weights, this research offers a practical blueprint for enhancing the precision and impact of educational quality evaluations in Malaysia and beyond.

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a virtual patient (VP) software program in increasing clinical reasoning skills confidence among medical students.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the outcomes of students’ confidence levels on clinical reasoning between problem-based learning (PBL) and VP program with 122 pre-clinical Year 2 medical students. History taking, physical examination, clinical investigations and diagnosis was investigated using four PBL cases in the oncology block. Pre- and post-differences in mean confidence scores between the arms were compared, as well as mean difference by type of case and skill category.

Findings

A total of 122/156 (78.2%) students participated; n = 55 were from 7 VP groups and n = 67 were from 13 control arm groups. For the primary outcome, the VP arm showed a statistically significant increase in confidence measures among 11/16 (4 cases × 4 skills) categories, compared to 4/16 for the control arm. The proportion of the students who indicated an improved confidence was statistically significant for the cervical cancer case for physical examination (60.0% improved in VP vs 12.5% in control), investigation (60.0% VP vs 18.8% control) and diagnosis (60.0% in VP vs 25.0% in control). Finally, analysis by case showed an increment in overall mean scores from the start to end of the case within the VP arm while the pattern was erratic in the control arm cases.

Originality/value

The study results showed that incorporating the VP into PBL was more effective in increasing students’ clinical reasoning confidence levels compared to the usual PBL. As the study utilized existing PBL cases, it demonstrates how medical schools can incorporate digital VP tools into pre-clinical years before students' transition to learning from actual patients in the clinical years.

Purpose

The present study aimed to validate the Indonesian-language version of the psychological capital questionnaire (PCQ), specifically within the context of higher education, by utilising Rasch analysis to evaluate the reliability and validity aspect such as item-fit statistics, rating scale function, and differential item functioning of the instrument. These questionnaires are designed to assess students' initial psychological status, aiming to ease their transition from school to university and monitor undergraduate students' mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,012 undergraduate students (female = 61.2%; male = 38.8%) from a university in Central Java, Indonesia completed the 24-item Indonesian version of the PCQ. The sampling technique used is quota sampling. Data were analysed using The Rasch model analysis, it was performed using the Winsteps 3.73 software.

Findings

The results of the Rasch analysis indicated that the reliability of the instrument was good (a = 0.80), item quality was excellent (1.00), and person reliability was consistent (0.77). In the validity aspect, all four domains of the PCQ exhibited unidimensionality, and a rating scale with four answer choices was deemed appropriate. The study also identifies item difficulty level in each dimension.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this study are beneficial for higher education institutions. They can use the validated Indonesian version of the PCQ to monitor the mental well-being of undergraduate students. Mapping the PsyCap can serve as a basis for developing and determining learning policies, potentially leading to improvements in student academic performance. The theoretical implications of this study are related to the advancement of measurement theory. By employing Rasch analysis, the study contributes to enhancing the validity and reliability of measurement, particularly in the context of educational and psychological assessment in Indonesia.

Originality/value

This current study confirmed that the Indonesian version of PCQ adequately measures psychological capital in higher education, particularly in the Indonesian context.

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to assess the impact of the synchronous online teaching strategy on higher degree research students, particularly those dealing with isolation. The aim is to enhance their coping mechanisms and writing productivity, fostering a supportive learning environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of a synchronous online teaching strategy designed for Higher Degree Research students who may experience isolation. The strategy incorporated activities involving writing, reflection, and peer interaction, targeting students who prefer social and solitary learning.

Findings

The results indicate that the teaching strategy significantly benefited a majority of higher degree research students, promoting skill improvement in writing, reflection, and meaningful connections within the student community. Notably, it exhibited the strongest positive correlation with solitary learners, particularly in terms of social connection, reducing their sense of isolation.

Research limitations/implications

This research underscores the potential of tailored teaching strategies in addressing isolation among Higher Degree Research students, acknowledging limitations including reliance on surveys. The study’s findings have significance for pedagogical design in online and blended learning environments, offering strategies to combat isolation and enhance the student experience while supporting diverse learning preferences. Further investigation into different learning contexts and demographics is also warranted.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the field by demonstrating the positive impact of a synchronous online teaching strategy on higher degree research students, particularly those prone to isolation. It emphasises the value of tailored approaches in enhancing their educational experience and combating feelings of solitude.

Purpose

The primary objective of this research paper was to examine the objectivity of the preselected items evaluation (PIE) method, a prevalent translation scoring method deployed by international institutions such as UAntwerpen, UGent and the University of Granada.

Design/methodology/approach

This research critically analyzed the scientific and theoretical bottlenecks associated with the PIE method, specifically focusing on its parameters, namely the p-value and d-index, in adherence to established statistical protocols. Proposed remedies to mitigate the identified bottlenecks and augment the efficacy of the method were grounded in practicality.

Findings

The paper provided an extensive overview of the PIE method, which served as the foundation for the subsequent analysis and discussions. This research presented potential avenues for refinement and contributed to the current debate on objective translation assessment by addressing the theoretical and practical challenges associated with the PIE method.

Research limitations/implications

Translation researchers, practitioners and international institutions seeking to enhance the accuracy and reliability of translation evaluation should consider the implications of this research’s findings.

Originality/value

Although several publications focused on the role of the PIE method in translation evaluation, no study(ies) is available to critically analyze the scientific and theoretical bottlenecks of this translation evaluation method.

Purpose

The use of social media for sustainable information is important since it has the potential to influence people’s intentions and behaviour towards sustainability. As previous studies on social media and sustainable development have primarily focussed on Western viewpoints, this study presents a comprehensive Asian perspective by investigating the impact of social media on sustainable intention and behaviour amongst Malaysian and Indonesian undergraduate university students.

Design/methodology/approach

A campus-wide online survey was conducted with 953 students from Malaysia and Indonesia. The researchers collected data through an online questionnaire and a two-week quantitative survey of undergraduate students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Quantitative data were analysed by SmartPLS software and comparative studies were conducted.

Findings

The result of the survey indicated that Facebook and Instagram were mainly used by Malaysian students to obtain and communicate about sustainability information, whilst Instagram was mainly used by Indonesian students. The findings also discovered that social media usage and social media effectiveness and usefulness are statistically significant predictors of sustainable intention amongst the students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Sustainable intention is also a statistically significant predictor of sustainable behaviour amongst the students. Additionally, this study also found that Malaysian students appeared to have a high level of the effect of sustainable intention on sustainable behaviour and the effect of the effectiveness and usefulness of social media to sustainable intention compared to Indonesian students. On the contrary, their use of social media related to sustainable behaviour was relatively low compared to Indonesian students.

Originality/value

Overall, the findings can contribute to the presently scant empirical works that focus on social media’s influence on sustainability and sustainable development. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge related to sustainability communication and sustainable education, particularly in terms of the use of social media in the learning and teaching process. Future research could focus on studying postgraduate students and university students from other Asian countries. Moreover, using qualitative methods like in-depth interviews or focus group discussion and applying other theories might unveil further results.