Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102422
Md. Sohel Rana , Shadia Sharmin , Mohammad Bin Amin , Nur-A-Alam Mishad , Judit Oláh
The study investigates the impacts of eco-labels in influencing consumer purchase intentions in the food and beverage industry through the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) framework. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, and the Value-Attitude-Behavior (VAB) model, the study focused on the role of eco-label awareness, eco-label credibility, environmental concern, and perceived product value in consumer behavior and the moderating role of attitudes toward eco-labeled products. The structural model shows empirical findings that eco-label awareness, eco-label credibility, environmental concern, and perceived product value have a significant positive influence on purchase intentions. The theoretical implications of the findings confirmed that emotional and attitudinal constructs improve the predictive validity of earlier classical theories of behavior, such as TPB, and justify the use of interaction terms in studies of sustainable behavior. In practice, this study highlights the paramount need for transparency, trust, and educating consumers to maximize the efficiency of eco-labels. This helps both in the knowledge base and viable marketing plans, stressing the revolutionary powers of the credible eco-labels in the concept of environmentally conscious consumption.
{"title":"Assessing the effectiveness of eco-labels on consumer purchase intentions in the food and beverage industry: A PLS-SEM approach","authors":"Md. Sohel Rana , Shadia Sharmin , Mohammad Bin Amin , Nur-A-Alam Mishad , Judit Oláh","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102422","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102422","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study investigates the impacts of eco-labels in influencing consumer purchase intentions in the food and beverage industry through the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) framework. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, and the Value-Attitude-Behavior (VAB) model, the study focused on the role of eco-label awareness, eco-label credibility, environmental concern, and perceived product value in consumer behavior and the moderating role of attitudes toward eco-labeled products. The structural model shows empirical findings that eco-label awareness, eco-label credibility, environmental concern, and perceived product value have a significant positive influence on purchase intentions. The theoretical implications of the findings confirmed that emotional and attitudinal constructs improve the predictive validity of earlier classical theories of behavior, such as TPB, and justify the use of interaction terms in studies of sustainable behavior. In practice, this study highlights the paramount need for transparency, trust, and educating consumers to maximize the efficiency of eco-labels. This helps both in the knowledge base and viable marketing plans, stressing the revolutionary powers of the credible eco-labels in the concept of environmentally conscious consumption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102422"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927202","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102395
Nguyen Ly Trong Tin
Despite Australia's celebration of diversity, the integration of Asian immigrants remains structurally precarious. This paper critically examines the gap between policy rhetoric and lived reality, arguing that the prevailing framework conflates necessary normative-civic duties (e.g., rule of law) with implicit cultural assimilation, thereby enforcing Anglo-Celtic norms as hidden prerequisites for belonging. By synthesizing the Social Markers of Acceptance (SMA) framework with Gramsci's hegemony and Bourdieu's cultural capital, we analyze how integration criteria are constructed and policed. Our analysis reveals a “double bind”: while “achieved” markers like language proficiency are theoretically attainable, they are frequently elevated to impossible standards of cultural mimicry. Concurrently, “ascribed” markers (race) function as dynamic gatekeepers, rendering Asian inclusion conditional upon economic utility rather than identity indispensability. To resolve this tension, the study proposes a paradigm shift from “precarious multiculturalism” toward “systemic inclusion,” urging a clear distinction between essential civic compliance and the coercive displacement of cultural heritage.
{"title":"Civic duty or cultural erasure? Navigating social markers of acceptance for Asian immigrants in Australia","authors":"Nguyen Ly Trong Tin","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite Australia's celebration of diversity, the integration of Asian immigrants remains structurally precarious. This paper critically examines the gap between policy rhetoric and lived reality, arguing that the prevailing framework conflates necessary normative-civic duties (e.g., rule of law) with implicit cultural assimilation, thereby enforcing Anglo-Celtic norms as hidden prerequisites for belonging. By synthesizing the Social Markers of Acceptance (SMA) framework with Gramsci's hegemony and Bourdieu's cultural capital, we analyze how integration criteria are constructed and policed. Our analysis reveals a “double bind”: while “achieved” markers like language proficiency are theoretically attainable, they are frequently elevated to impossible standards of cultural mimicry. Concurrently, “ascribed” markers (race) function as dynamic gatekeepers, rendering Asian inclusion conditional upon economic utility rather than identity indispensability. To resolve this tension, the study proposes a paradigm shift from “precarious multiculturalism” toward “systemic inclusion,” urging a clear distinction between essential civic compliance and the coercive displacement of cultural heritage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102395"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927203","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102417
Güler Yalvaç
This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of 379 academic publications on airline service quality indexed in the Web of Science database between 1980 and 2024. Using the R-based Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny software, both performance analysis and scientific mapping were performed to examine the intellectual structure, research dynamics, and thematic evolution of the field. The results indicate that the Journal of Air Transport Management is the leading publication outlet, while Chinese and Taiwanese researchers show the highest productivity and collaborative centrality at the international level.
Quantitative findings reveal a consistent growth in research output since the early 2000s, with notable citation peaks between 2010 and 2017. Thematic mapping shows that research clusters are predominantly concentrated on service quality measurement constructs, emphasizing customer satisfaction, loyalty, perceived value, and performance. Complementary clusters address competitiveness, behavioral intentions, and digital transformation, illustrating the field's methodological and conceptual diversification.
Overall, the study provides a data-driven overview of the evolution of airline service quality research and highlights the core analytical dimensions and emerging thematic directions likely to guide future studies in service quality evaluation, competitive strategy, and customer experience management.
本研究对1980年至2024年间Web of Science数据库收录的379篇关于航空服务质量的学术论文进行了综合文献计量学和专题分析。使用基于r的Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny软件，进行绩效分析和科学制图，以检查该领域的智力结构、研究动态和专题演变。研究结果显示，《航空运输管理杂志》是主要的出版渠道，而中国大陆和台湾的研究人员在国际层面上表现出最高的生产力和协作中心性。定量研究结果显示，自21世纪初以来，研究产出持续增长，在2010年至2017年期间出现了显著的引用高峰。主题映射显示，研究集群主要集中在服务质量测量结构上，强调客户满意度、忠诚度、感知价值和绩效。互补集群涉及竞争力、行为意图和数字化转型，说明了该领域的方法和概念多样化。总体而言，该研究提供了航空公司服务质量研究演变的数据驱动概述，并强调了核心分析维度和新兴主题方向，这些方向可能指导未来服务质量评估、竞争战略和客户体验管理方面的研究。
{"title":"A bibliometric analysis of airline service quality","authors":"Güler Yalvaç","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of 379 academic publications on <em>airline service quality</em> indexed in the <em>Web of Science</em> database between 1980 and 2024. Using the R-based Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny software, both performance analysis and scientific mapping were performed to examine the intellectual structure, research dynamics, and thematic evolution of the field. The results indicate that the <em>Journal of Air Transport Management</em> is the leading publication outlet, while Chinese and Taiwanese researchers show the highest productivity and collaborative centrality at the international level.</div><div>Quantitative findings reveal a consistent growth in research output since the early 2000s, with notable citation peaks between 2010 and 2017. Thematic mapping shows that research clusters are predominantly concentrated on service quality measurement constructs, emphasizing <em>customer satisfaction</em>, <em>loyalty</em>, <em>perceived value</em>, and <em>performance</em>. Complementary clusters address <em>competitiveness</em>, <em>behavioral intentions</em>, and <em>digital transformation</em>, illustrating the field's methodological and conceptual diversification.</div><div>Overall, the study provides a data-driven overview of the evolution of airline service quality research and highlights the core analytical dimensions and emerging thematic directions likely to guide future studies in service quality evaluation, competitive strategy, and customer experience management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102417"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927204","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102322
Ashwaq A. Alsulami
With the expanded use of corpus linguistic methods to investigate various real-life issues, corpora of different types have recently become a core interest for researchers. Purpose-built corpora have contributed valuable insights and implications in applied linguistics. Among the significant areas that require corpora compiled with robust criteria is social media. Following this, this study presents the SAWT (Saudi Women's Tweets) corpus, a purpose-built social media corpus designed to investigate Saudi women's attitudes and evaluations regarding sociopolitical reforms. The corpus is expected to bridge the notable gap in the literature regarding Saudi women's discourse on reforms, specifically on the X platform (Formerly Twitter), as a relatively considerable body of research has addressed the matter, yet no specialised corpora on the topic are available. Therefore, this article represents an endeavour to provide an accessible and well-documented corpus about Saudi women's X discourse in the post-reform era. It outlines the complete methodological procedures, starting from raw data collection, cleaning and processing, and corpus compilation. The study also reports the first tests and use of the SAWT corpus, presenting the major initial results. By doing this, the study introduces the corpus to the broader research community as a replicable model for constructing social media corpora. Therefore, it opens new pathways for research into compiling digital corpora, gendered digital discourse, stance, and empowerment.
{"title":"SAWT: Developing A corpus of Saudi women's voices on sociopolitical reforms","authors":"Ashwaq A. Alsulami","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the expanded use of corpus linguistic methods to investigate various real-life issues, corpora of different types have recently become a core interest for researchers. Purpose-built corpora have contributed valuable insights and implications in applied linguistics. Among the significant areas that require corpora compiled with robust criteria is social media. Following this, this study presents the SAWT (Saudi Women's Tweets) corpus, a purpose-built social media corpus designed to investigate Saudi women's attitudes and evaluations regarding sociopolitical reforms. The corpus is expected to bridge the notable gap in the literature regarding Saudi women's discourse on reforms, specifically on the X platform (Formerly Twitter), as a relatively considerable body of research has addressed the matter, yet no specialised corpora on the topic are available. Therefore, this article represents an endeavour to provide an accessible and well-documented corpus about Saudi women's X discourse in the post-reform era. It outlines the complete methodological procedures, starting from raw data collection, cleaning and processing, and corpus compilation. The study also reports the first tests and use of the SAWT corpus, presenting the major initial results. By doing this, the study introduces the corpus to the broader research community as a replicable model for constructing social media corpora. Therefore, it opens new pathways for research into compiling digital corpora, gendered digital discourse, stance, and empowerment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102322"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927209","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102383
Alfa Simwanza
This study provides unique insights that contribute to well-rounded and effective sports activities in secondary schools for sports talent development by determining the perceptions of school administrators, teachers, and students. Data were triangulated using a questionnaire and interviews of 427 respondents from seven secondary schools in Tanzania who completed the survey. The results were significant since KMO>0.5, and Bartlett's was less than 5 % (Sig. = 0.000). School administrators, teachers, and students perceived that securing support for competitive sports activities from the population and media, and designing sports programmes, influences sports talents. Furthermore, sports activities influence collaborations with sports associations and federations towards sports talent, provide comprehensive sports training content, form strong and reflective school boards for sports talent development, enable school administrators and teachers to review sports talent progress, and follow plans set as a basis for sports talent training. This study addresses that for sustainable sports talent development, involving stakeholders should be considered as they are directly responsible for policies and resource management, as well as understanding the practical challenges and implementation.
{"title":"Sports activities toward sports talent development: Do the perceptions of school administrators, teachers and students matter?","authors":"Alfa Simwanza","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study provides unique insights that contribute to well-rounded and effective sports activities in secondary schools for sports talent development by determining the perceptions of school administrators, teachers, and students. Data were triangulated using a questionnaire and interviews of 427 respondents from seven secondary schools in Tanzania who completed the survey. The results were significant since KMO>0.5, and Bartlett's was less than 5 % (Sig. = 0.000). School administrators, teachers, and students perceived that securing support for competitive sports activities from the population and media, and designing sports programmes, influences sports talents. Furthermore, sports activities influence collaborations with sports associations and federations towards sports talent, provide comprehensive sports training content, form strong and reflective school boards for sports talent development, enable school administrators and teachers to review sports talent progress, and follow plans set as a basis for sports talent training. This study addresses that for sustainable sports talent development, involving stakeholders should be considered as they are directly responsible for policies and resource management, as well as understanding the practical challenges and implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102383"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926661","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102409
Esther Onyinye Nwigwe
Place-Based Education (PBE) is increasingly recognized as essential for culturally grounded and community-responsive learning across Africa; however, its status in Nigeria remains underexplored. This structured narrative review synthesizes 28 studies (2010–2025) to examine PBE's presence in Nigerian curriculum, teacher preparation, and policy; the systemic barriers constraining its adoption; and relevant African experiences that suggest context-appropriate possibilities rather than models for direct emulation. The review finds that PBE in Nigeria exists mainly as isolated, teacher-led practices (such as outdoor learning, local examples, and indigenous knowledge use) rather than as an integral feature of national policy frameworks. Barriers are predominantly structural, including curriculum centralization, limited teacher autonomy, insufficient preparation for contextual pedagogy, and the dominance of Western epistemologies. While examples from Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Botswana do not serve as direct templates, they demonstrate how African countries have adapted PBE principles within their own contexts. These insights clarify what is institutionally feasible in Nigeria, highlighting the need for reforms that embed contextual adaptation into policy, curriculum development, and teacher education systems.
{"title":"Understanding Place-based education in Nigeria: A structured narrative review of its status, barriers, and African comparative insights","authors":"Esther Onyinye Nwigwe","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Place-Based Education (PBE) is increasingly recognized as essential for culturally grounded and community-responsive learning across Africa; however, its status in Nigeria remains underexplored. This structured narrative review synthesizes 28 studies (2010–2025) to examine PBE's presence in Nigerian curriculum, teacher preparation, and policy; the systemic barriers constraining its adoption; and relevant African experiences that suggest context-appropriate possibilities rather than models for direct emulation. The review finds that PBE in Nigeria exists mainly as isolated, teacher-led practices (such as outdoor learning, local examples, and indigenous knowledge use) rather than as an integral feature of national policy frameworks. Barriers are predominantly structural, including curriculum centralization, limited teacher autonomy, insufficient preparation for contextual pedagogy, and the dominance of Western epistemologies. While examples from Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Botswana do not serve as direct templates, they demonstrate how African countries have adapted PBE principles within their own contexts. These insights clarify what is institutionally feasible in Nigeria, highlighting the need for reforms that embed contextual adaptation into policy, curriculum development, and teacher education systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102409"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926776","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102387
Balázs Őrsi , Péter Korondi , Csilla Csukonyi , Dávid Papp , Panna Márkus , Bence Tamás Selejó Joó , Husam A. Neamah , Karolina Eszter Kovács
The aim of this review is to analyse previous research focusing on the non-verbal communication patterns of human-robot interaction, and related study characteristics, HRI-related specificities, methodologic background and main findings. The field of robotics is increasingly recognizing the significance of incorporating affective expression and social interaction. Many non-anthropomorphic mobile robots are currently utilised in various fields. However, these robots lack the ability to project facial expressions and cannot be modified to support affective expressions explicitly, which presents a significant challenge in terms of facilitating naturalistic human-robot interaction with appearance-constrained robots. The current paper introduces the results of a systematic review that follows the PRISMA guidelines. The EBSCO Discovery Service Search Engine was used for a systematic search, yielding 114 records. By a multiple-step analysis, seven studies met the criteria. Research indicates that the physical gestures of robots can be as identifiable as those of humans, highlighting the importance of nonverbal communication in human-robot interaction (HRI). Certain personality traits of the participants appeared to significantly influence the recognition of emotions, particularly evident in terms of confidence and valence. The findings suggest that robots should not only be designed to express emotions clearly but also to enhance these expressions in ways that boost users' confidence in their understanding. Improving the quality of emotional expression and non-verbal cues in human-robot interaction may play a crucial role in Industry 5.0. Future research should focus on the identified underrepresented themes to deepen understanding of emotion recognition in HRI.
{"title":"Recognition of emotions and non-verbal communication characteristics in human-robot interactions - the experience of a systematic review","authors":"Balázs Őrsi , Péter Korondi , Csilla Csukonyi , Dávid Papp , Panna Márkus , Bence Tamás Selejó Joó , Husam A. Neamah , Karolina Eszter Kovács","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this review is to analyse previous research focusing on the non-verbal communication patterns of human-robot interaction, and related study characteristics, HRI-related specificities, methodologic background and main findings. The field of robotics is increasingly recognizing the significance of incorporating affective expression and social interaction. Many non-anthropomorphic mobile robots are currently utilised in various fields. However, these robots lack the ability to project facial expressions and cannot be modified to support affective expressions explicitly, which presents a significant challenge in terms of facilitating naturalistic human-robot interaction with appearance-constrained robots. The current paper introduces the results of a systematic review that follows the PRISMA guidelines. The EBSCO Discovery Service Search Engine was used for a systematic search, yielding 114 records. By a multiple-step analysis, seven studies met the criteria. Research indicates that the physical gestures of robots can be as identifiable as those of humans, highlighting the importance of nonverbal communication in human-robot interaction (HRI). Certain personality traits of the participants appeared to significantly influence the recognition of emotions, particularly evident in terms of confidence and valence. The findings suggest that robots should not only be designed to express emotions clearly but also to enhance these expressions in ways that boost users' confidence in their understanding. Improving the quality of emotional expression and non-verbal cues in human-robot interaction may play a crucial role in Industry 5.0. Future research should focus on the identified underrepresented themes to deepen understanding of emotion recognition in HRI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926790","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}
This study examined the item parameters of 2022 and 2023 Osun State Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Mathematics items using Item Response Theory (IRT), with a focus on discrimination, difficulty, and differences in the item parameters. While most Nigerian studies focus on national assessments, limited attention has been given to state-level examinations, leaving the quality and fairness of items underexplored. An ex-post facto design was adopted, with a population of 34,899 (2022) and 35,857 (2023) candidates. A systematic random sample of 1052 responses was analysed using a 3-parameter logistic model. The instrument consisted of adopted 2022 and 2023 BECE Mathematics items, comprising 60 multiple-choice questions. We analyse data using the Jmetrik software. Results showed that 32 items in 2022 and 37 items in 2023 met acceptable psychometric standards, while nine and one items, respectively, exhibited poor difficulty indices. Difficulty analysis indicated that nine items in 2022 and one item in 2023 demonstrated poor indices. No significant difference was observed in the psychometric properties of the two examination years (t = 0.75, df = 1050, p > .05). These results highlight inconsistencies in item quality across years, raising concerns about fairness and reliability in high-stakes assessments. The study contributes to discourse on large-scale assessments by situating Nigerian state-level examinations within global debates on fairness, accountability, and psychometric rigour. It further underscores the value of IRT in aligning Nigeria's assessment practices with international best practices. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing the psychometric quality of mathematics items and aligning evaluation practices with international standards of educational equity.
本研究运用项目反应理论（IRT）对2022年和2023年奥逊州基础教育证书考试（BECE）数学题项参数进行了检验，重点考察了题项参数的区别、难度和差异。虽然尼日利亚的大多数研究集中于国家评估，但对州级考试的关注有限，使项目的质量和公平性未得到充分探讨。采用事后设计，人口为34,899人（2022年）和35,857人（2023年）。采用三参数logistic模型对1052个系统随机样本进行分析。该仪器由采用的2022年和2023年BECE数学项目组成，包括60个选择题。我们使用Jmetrik软件分析数据。结果显示，2022年和2023年分别有32项和37项心理测量指标达到可接受标准，难度指数较差的分别为9项和1项。难度分析结果显示，2022年和2023年分别有9个和1个项目指标较差。两个考试年份的心理测量特征差异无统计学意义（t = 0.75, df = 1050, p > 0.05）。这些结果凸显了多年来项目质量的不一致性，引发了人们对高风险评估的公平性和可靠性的担忧。该研究通过将尼日利亚州级考试置于关于公平、问责制和心理测量严密性的全球辩论中，为大规模评估的论述做出了贡献。它进一步强调了创新技术小组在使尼日利亚的评估做法与国际最佳做法保持一致方面的价值。这些发现强调了提高数学项目的心理测量质量和使评估实践与教育公平的国际标准保持一致的重要性。
{"title":"Analysis of 2022 and 2023 Osun State basic education certificate examination mathematics items using item response theory: Implications for large scale assessment","authors":"Oluwaseyi Aina Gbolade Opesemowo , Kehinde Olufunke Opatunji , Temitope Babatimehin , Titilope Rachael Opesemowo","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the item parameters of 2022 and 2023 Osun State Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Mathematics items using Item Response Theory (IRT), with a focus on discrimination, difficulty, and differences in the item parameters. While most Nigerian studies focus on national assessments, limited attention has been given to state-level examinations, leaving the quality and fairness of items underexplored. An ex-post facto design was adopted, with a population of 34,899 (2022) and 35,857 (2023) candidates. A systematic random sample of 1052 responses was analysed using a 3-parameter logistic model. The instrument consisted of adopted 2022 and 2023 BECE Mathematics items, comprising 60 multiple-choice questions. We analyse data using the Jmetrik software. Results showed that 32 items in 2022 and 37 items in 2023 met acceptable psychometric standards, while nine and one items, respectively, exhibited poor difficulty indices. Difficulty analysis indicated that nine items in 2022 and one item in 2023 demonstrated poor indices. No significant difference was observed in the psychometric properties of the two examination years (t = 0.75, df = 1050, p > .05). These results highlight inconsistencies in item quality across years, raising concerns about fairness and reliability in high-stakes assessments. The study contributes to discourse on large-scale assessments by situating Nigerian state-level examinations within global debates on fairness, accountability, and psychometric rigour. It further underscores the value of IRT in aligning Nigeria's assessment practices with international best practices. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing the psychometric quality of mathematics items and aligning evaluation practices with international standards of educational equity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102381"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926582","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}
Despite extensive research on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and constructivist pedagogies, no systematic review has comprehensively integrated evidence on how constructivist group activities—specifically Activity-Based Learning (ABL), Problem-Based Learning (PBL), and Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL)—promote the five core SEL competencies in primary education. This review fills this critical gap by synthesizing evidence from 56 studies to map the current landscape of constructivist group activities for promoting SEL within primary education. Grounded in a social constructivist framework that integrates classic theories (Vygotsky, Bandura) with contemporary technological and cross-cultural perspectives, the analysis reveals a predominant focus on ABL, which accounts for 56.60 % of pedagogical approaches and demonstrates strong efficacy in fostering Social Awareness and Self-Awareness. In contrast, PBL and IBL remain significantly underrepresented (5.66 % and 3.77 %, respectively), indicating untapped potential for developing competencies like Responsible Decision-Making. The review further identifies critical imbalances: while Social Awareness and Relationship Skills are emphasized in 73.21 % of studies, Self-Management skills receive notably less attention (44.64 %), highlighting a gap in nurturing individual autonomy within collaborative settings. Skill-oriented activities overwhelmingly dominate (75 %) over those integrated with academic content, underscoring a persistent disconnect between SEL instruction and curricular goals. Methodologically, the field relies heavily on quantitative designs (62.50 %), with mixed-methods approaches severely lacking (3.57 %), limiting insights into socio-emotional processes. By systematically bridging cognitive and socio-emotional dimensions through pedagogical segmentation and competency deconstruction, this review advances beyond prior meta-analyses (e.g., Durlak et al., 2011) to offer a precise roadmap for designing balanced, culturally responsive SEL practices. It calls for future research to prioritize hybrid methods, longitudinal studies, and teacher-supported implementation to foster equitable, holistic development in elementary education.
{"title":"A systematic review of constructivist group activities for promoting social-emotional learning in primary schools","authors":"Pujin Chen , Renxuan Liang , Zilei Bao , Mowen Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102323","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite extensive research on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and constructivist pedagogies, no systematic review has comprehensively integrated evidence on how constructivist group activities—specifically Activity-Based Learning (ABL), Problem-Based Learning (PBL), and Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL)—promote the five core SEL competencies in primary education. This review fills this critical gap b<strong><em>y</em></strong> synthesizing evidence from 56 studies to map the current landscape of constructivist group activities for promoting SEL within primary education. Grounded in a social constructivist framework that integrates classic theories (Vygotsky, Bandura) with contemporary technological and cross-cultural perspectives, the analysis reveals a predominant focus on ABL, which accounts for 56.60 % of pedagogical approaches and demonstrates strong efficacy in fostering Social Awareness and Self-Awareness. In contrast, PBL and IBL remain significantly underrepresented (5.66 % and 3.77 %, respectively), indicating untapped potential for developing competencies like Responsible Decision-Making. The review further identifies critical imbalances: while Social Awareness and Relationship Skills are emphasized in 73.21 % of studies, Self-Management skills receive notably less attention (44.64 %), highlighting a gap in nurturing individual autonomy within collaborative settings. Skill-oriented activities overwhelmingly dominate (75 %) over those integrated with academic content, underscoring a persistent disconnect between SEL instruction and curricular goals. Methodologically, the field relies heavily on quantitative designs (62.50 %), with mixed-methods approaches severely lacking (3.57 %), limiting insights into socio-emotional processes. By systematically bridging cognitive and socio-emotional dimensions through pedagogical segmentation and competency deconstruction, this review advances beyond prior meta-analyses (e.g., Durlak et al., 2011) to offer a precise roadmap for designing balanced, culturally responsive SEL practices. It calls for future research to prioritize hybrid methods, longitudinal studies, and teacher-supported implementation to foster equitable, holistic development in elementary education.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102323"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926791","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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102393
Md. Abu Bakar Siddiq , Md. Shamim Ahmed
This study aims to examine the constitutional and human rights law mandates for free and fair elections. This study employs a legal doctrinal research technique to elucidate the extent to which the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and selected legislation promote an environment conducive to free and fair elections. It further scrutinizes the judiciary's role in interpreting constitutional mandates on election models and examines its approach to addressing human rights–related issues in the absence of domestic legal frameworks. Being a theoretical study on democracy and fair elections, it employs a qualitative method. This study finds that unless any other legislation provides a legal remedy for its violation, the right to vote or participate in elections, as a component of democracy in Bangladesh, is not a constitutionally enforceable fundamental right. The rationale behind this study is to propose that Bangladesh, a signatory to core international human rights treaties, should revise its legal frameworks to incorporate the necessary reforms and adopt effective measures that uphold the principles of free and fair elections.
{"title":"Revisiting the constitutional and human rights law mandates for fair elections in Bangladesh: A quest for democratization","authors":"Md. Abu Bakar Siddiq , Md. Shamim Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to examine the constitutional and human rights law mandates for free and fair elections. This study employs a legal doctrinal research technique to elucidate the extent to which the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and selected legislation promote an environment conducive to free and fair elections. It further scrutinizes the judiciary's role in interpreting constitutional mandates on election models and examines its approach to addressing human rights–related issues in the absence of domestic legal frameworks. Being a theoretical study on democracy and fair elections, it employs a qualitative method. This study finds that unless any other legislation provides a legal remedy for its violation, the right to vote or participate in elections, as a component of democracy in Bangladesh, is not a constitutionally enforceable fundamental right. The rationale behind this study is to propose that Bangladesh, a signatory to core international human rights treaties, should revise its legal frameworks to incorporate the necessary reforms and adopt effective measures that uphold the principles of free and fair elections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":74826,"journal":{"name":"Social sciences & humanities open","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 102393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927126","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}
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