Influence of social networking on Malaysian female secondary students: a qualitative study across three schools

Social networking (SN) allows individuals to make connections with each other for both social and business purposes. The purpose of this research study is to find out the influence of SN on students from three Malaysian secondary schools by comparing their attitudes and behaviour towards SN besides finding out whether they are aware of the risks and danger involved, and how they handle them. These schools are all normal day schools and are located in three different types of school environments in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur namely: urban, suburban and rural. Focus groups interviews were conducted on these students who were asked to give their response to seven scenarios depicting negative situations involving SN such as texting, cyberbullying, and hacking and identity theft. The findings revealed that these students were not very different from those in the west in that they are aware of risks involving in SN and will stay clear of risky behaviours. However, students in these three schools handled the problems related to SN in a more direct manner compared to the elite students in Thang et al.’s (2016) study. In particular, students in School C which is a rural school seemed to be less perturbed over the negative consequences of SN compared to students in the other schools

An improved negative selection algorithm based on the hybridization of cuckoo search and differential evolution for anomaly detection

The biological immune system (BIS) is characterized by networks of cells, tissues, and organs communicating and working in synchronization. It also has the ability to learn, recognize, and remember, thus providing the solid foundation for the development of Artificial Immune System (AIS). Since the emergence of AIS, it has proved itself as an area of computational intelligence. Real-Valued Negative Selection Algorithm with Variable-Sized Detectors (V-Detectors) is an offspring of AIS and demonstrated its potentials in the field of anomaly detection. The V-Detectors algorithm depends greatly on the random detectors generated in monitoring the status of a system. These randomly generated detectors suffer from not been able to adequately cover the non-self space, which diminishes the detection performance of the V-Detectors algorithm. This research therefore proposed CSDE-V-Detectors which entail the use of the hybridization of Cuckoo Search (CS) and Differential Evolution (DE) in optimizing the random detectors of the V-Detectors. The DE is integrated with CS at the population initialization by distributing the population linearly. This linear distribution gives the population a unique, stable, and progressive distribution process. Thus, each individual detector is characteristically different from the other detectors. CSDE capabilities of global search, and use of L´evy flight facilitates the effectiveness of the detector set in the search space. In comparison with V-Detectors, cuckoo search, differential evolution, support vector machine, artificial neural network, na¨ıve bayes, and k-NN, experimental results demonstrates that CSDE-V-Detectors outperforms other algorithms with an average detection rate of 95:30% on all the datasets. This signifies that CSDE-V-Detectors can efficiently attain highest detection rates and lowest false alarm rates for anomaly detection. Thus, the optimization of the randomly detectors of V-Detectors algorithm with CSDE is proficient and suitable for anomaly detection tasks

Factors for minimizing cyber harassment among university students: Case study in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

This study attempted to mitigate the gap in literature concerning a one serious problem in Saudi society and government is cyber harassment. This problem is caused through the increasing use of technology. Accordingly, the main objective was to explore the factors that influence the intention to minimize cyber harassment among Saudi citizen. In this research were employed two theories the first Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the second selected Technology Acceptance Model TAM. However, based on TPB, the researcher has identified eight factors, to minimize cyber harassment, which is: technological support, attitude, subjective norms, social pressure, the influence of the mass media, perceived behavioral control, regulatory support and the role of the government, and security awareness. Nevertheless, the researcher has assured that the Saudis will remain at risk of cyber harassment, until these factors are fully investigated among the Saudi community. In conclusion, this research specifically proposed in future a model and framework for identifying the significant factors that are anticipated to play a major in minimizing cyber harassment among Saudis. The proposed framework will help the administration and decision-makers in the KSA to formulate strategies that can significantly affect anti-cyber harassment among youths

Intention and adoption of mobile coupon among mobile phone users in Klang Valley

The arrival of mobile marketing communication has created a new method of sales promotion and advertising technique called mobile coupon. The main objective of this research is to examine the determinants of consumers’ intentions to subscribe mobile coupon and the consequence mobile coupon adoption by using Theory of Planned Behavior as the underpinning theory and perceived values, trust and perceived control are chosen as independent variables while consumer experience is selected as the moderator variable. The survey method is employed in the present study and sample consisted of 570 mobile coupon adopters between the ages of 15 - 49 years old located in Klang Valley. Data analysis involves descriptive analysis, factor analysis and multiple regression. Results indicated that 51.5 percent of consumers’ adoption to subscribe model coupon in contributed by the level of intention. It was also discovered that the level of consumers’ intention to subscribe mobile coupon service is at moderate level. Monetary factor has the highest influence on consumer intention to subscribe mobile coupon followed by emotional, convenient and trust factors. The result also indicated that consumer experience moderates the relationships between monetary and perceived control on consumers’ intention to subscribe mobile coupon. Finally, consumers’ intention to subscribe mobile coupon has significant effect on consumers’ adoption of mobile coupon. Based on the findings, implications to practice and academic research were offered. Limitations of the study and future research were all discusse

Examining the Effects among Motivation Needs, Satisfaction, and Instagram Continuance Intention in Malaysian Students

While social media platforms, notably Instagram, have gained traction among university students, this study sought to understand factors influencing their continued use among a segment of Malaysian university students. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the role of satisfaction (SAT) as a mediator in the relationship between various types of motivational needs and the continued intention (CI) to use Instagram. The motivational needs under study included cognitive needs (CN), affective needs (AN), personal integrative needs (PIN), social integrative needs (SIN), and escape needs (EN). This research was built on the foundations of the Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) and Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT). Using a non-probablistic sampling strategy, this study gathered data via questionnaires from a sample of 384 students from six selected universities in Klang Valley. Within the scope of the research sample, a key finding emerged: SAT notably mediates the relationship between CN, SIN, PIN, and CI. This finding illustrates the pivotal role of SAT in the context of UGT and ECT, suggesting that SAT derived from Instagram usage is a critical factor in explaining the sustained engagement of university students, based on specific motivational needs. Within the context of this study's sampled participants, this result offers insights into how SAT, influenced by distinct motivational needs, may impact the intention to continue using Instagram. In practical terms, these insights may assist social media platform developers and educational institutions in understanding and addressing the satisfaction and engagement levels of university users. Simultaneously, the quota sampling strategy employed in this study serves as a valuable model for future research in similar contexts. However, this study recommend that future research expand the sample to include a broader cross-section of Malaysian university students to enhance representativeness and generalizability

Keyboard warrior, online predator or cyber bully? The growing menace of child exposure to internet harm based on research evidence

The internet has come along with a myriad of positive and negative challenges. One of the positive developments is the increased access for all age categories, especially people of young ages; however, it is not without a side effect. A cyberbullying threat has become interesting areas of research over the years because of the importance of the concepts toward understanding children’s online behaviours and making the internet safe again for the kids to surf. Thus, this article seeks to provide a further understanding of the phenomenon by reporting the findings of a study performed in Selangor, a state of Malaysia. A questionnaire was administered to 375 respondents selected using stratified random sampling from a population of 6,671 primary and secondary school pupils aged 9 to 16 years. The key findings revealed that most children had been involved in the act of cyberbullying. Interestingly, most of them were aware of online threats but did not know that it was bad behaviour. However, most of them were rarely involved in a sex-related cyberbullying incident. A collective approach to guarantee the internet safety of children and balance their online prospects and risks is recommended to ensure children’s online safety

Rooted Muslim Cosmopolitanism: An Ethnographic Study of Malay Malaysian Students’ Cultivation and Performance of Cosmopolitanism on Facebook and Offline.

This thesis analyses the potential of Facebook as well as offline social interactions and experiences in cultivating cosmopolitan sensibilities and the performance of cosmopolitanism in both online and offline spaces. Cosmopolitanism has received immense attention in academia but its discourse is slow to incorporate everyday online experiences. In today’s world, when the use of social network sites such as Facebook have become commonplace, it is imperative that use of such a site, and its ensuing experiences, be included in the field of cosmopolitanism studies. This thesis contends for its inclusion and has chosen Facebook as the site from which to study UK-based Malay Malaysian students’ online experiences, in order to investigate the potential of the site in cultivating the students’ cosmopolitan sensibilities and cosmopolitan performances together with the students’ offline experiences. This thesis emphasises the need for the voices of the individuals to be heard, and their experiences to be understood within their own contexts. By capturing their voices, the nuances in their use of the site, their cosmopolitan sensibilities and performances could be obtained. To achieve this, an ethnographic approach that employed semi-structured interviews and online observation is used. This research has captured the voices of the respondents and found a specific form of cosmopolitanism that is influenced by their dominant Malay Muslim context, so creating what this thesis author has labelled as rooted Muslim cosmopolitanism. This concept refers to a form of cosmopolitanism rooted in the students’ Malay Muslim identity; the online and offline contexts they are in which are a replication of the host society’s contexts and their own home contexts. The discussion centres on the students’ negotiation of Malay Muslim identities in both online and offline contexts. This thesis contributes a different angle to the understanding of cultural religious cosmopolitanism for Malaysian and the general cosmopolitanism discourse, through a number of elements including: online experiences, international students as cosmopolitan actors and everyday experiences. An analytical framework was employed that separates cosmopolitan sensibilities and performance by using the six dynamics of online cosmopolitanism: self-reflexivity; motivation; affordances and features; self-disclosure and self-censorship; collapsed contexts and audience; and privacy, as well as a call for rethinking what cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitan are

Socializing the Impact: An Analysis of the Theory of Planned Behavior's Influence on Increasing University Students' Cybersecurity Awareness

The study aimed to assess cybersecurity awareness among university students in Vadodara, India, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. The study involved 242 students from selected universities, selected using a snowball sampling method. Data was collected through Google Forms and email, and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme was used for statistical analysis. The majority of students were young (18-23 years old), with moderate internet usage and primary digital competency skills. Only 17% reported experiencing issues during cyber surfing. The study found that most students had low awareness, lower knowledge, and negative perceptions about cybersecurity. Most students followed unsafe cybersecurity practices and had a negative attitude towards cybersecurity. The study also examined the correlation between TPB constructs

Factors influencing buying behavior of fashion clothing brands in Johor and Wilayah Persekutuan

This study has focused on the issues in buying behavior of consumers toward the fashion clothing brands, as in Malaysian society, the fashion clothing brands are facing very hard time. Many fashion clothing brands have ended up their business and closed their shops. Hence, this study has emphasized on determining the right information, issues, gap of knowledge by evaluating the influence of social advertising, individual factors and brand image on the buying behavior of consumers along with the mediating role of brand image towards the fashion clothing brands based on the theory of reasoned action and technology of acceptance model. The theory of reasoned action and TAM model were selected due to the suitability of theoretical consideration. This study has collected data through questionnaires based survey from the consumers of fashion clothing brands in the State Johor and the Wilayah Persekutuan in Malaysia. This study has selected a sample size of 129 respondents based on G-Power and applied convenience-sampling technique to collect data through mall intercepts approach. Initially, a pilot study was conducted to ensure the accuracy and reliability of questionnaire and then progressed towards main study. The collected data have analyzed using SPSS and structural equation modeling through smart partial least square. The findings have revealed a positive significant relationship of social advertising, individual factors, and brand image with the buying behavior of consumers toward the fashion clothing brands in the State Johor and Wilayah Persekutuan at Malaysia. The findings have also revealed a positive significant relationship of social advertising and individual factors with the brand image among consumers. In addition, the results have shown that brand image mediates the relationship between social advertising, individual factors and the buying behavior of consumers. The results of this study have interesting implications for marketing research. Firm can better understand the market trend and consumers buying behavior by developing two ways communication. Firm can also stabilize their consumers and build the brand image using social advertising, and can enhance their marketing intelligence by using these factors

Proceedings of Universiti Sains Malaysia International Conference on Social Sciences 2015 - Touching Lives, Bridging Society

A society and people in general have always been the major focus of any study in the field of social sciences. Given the conflicts, competition, pressures, tensions and differences that are prevalent and persisting around us in today‘s society, social scientists can have a great potential to touch the lives of all human beings in many different societies. By doing so, they too can bridge the gaps that are seen to be widening between and within societies today. The field of social sciences critically examines and analyses elements of human existence, their infinite combinations of interactions, their value systems, traditions, culture, options and choices and practices. This is reflected in a broad range of disciplines which include anthropology and sociology, development studies, economics, political science, psychology and social work. The proceedings of this conference includes papers presented at the USM-International Conference on Social Sciences (USM-ICOSS) 2015 which was hosted with the aptly noble theme ―Touching Lives and Bridging Society‖ and held from 27 - 28 August 2015 at the Rainbow Paradise Beach Resort, Penang, Malaysia. This conference is solely organized by the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia