English language anxiety and motivation towards speaking english among Malaysian pre-university students

This study aims to identify the level of English language anxiety and level of motivation in speaking English among Malaysian Pre-University students. The research sample was composed of pre-university students in Selangor, Malaysia. Using a quantitative research method, the researcher distributed a survey questionnaire which was developed by adapting existing questionnaires by Pappamihiel (2002) for English language anxiety scale and Schmidt, Boraie, and Kassabgy (1996) for motivation. Results of the data analysis established there was a low level of English language anxiety in speaking English among pre-university students, and moderate level of motivation, yet the level of intrinsic motivation was slightly lower than the level of extrinsic motivation in speaking English among pre-university students. The results showed there was a significant correlation between English language anxiety and motivation in speaking language. However, there was no significant difference in gender for English language anxiety and motivation. There was a significant difference on races for English language anxiety and insignificant differences on races for motivation. The findings of this study may serve as a platform for school authorities and policymakers in developing motivation and reducing language anxiety among students

Influential predictors of students' academic achievement in online peer learning among undergraduate students

Social media is widely used by students. Previous studies have projected conflicting results regarding the influence of online peer learning via social media on academic achievement. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that impact on academic achievement. Building on the literature, the study proposed a conceptual model consists of self-efficacy; engagement, performance expectancy, social influence, peer feedback, and collaboration were incorporated as independent variables that influence the academic achievement. Data was collected from 369 undergraduate students. The findings of regression analysis showed that the strongest predictor of academic achievement in online peer learning was performance expectancy followed by collaboration, social influence, and engagement. An online peer learning influences significantly on academic achievement. Decision makers were advised to support the implementation of online peer learning in universities

Depression, anxiety and stress among postgraduate students in Faculty of Education of a public university in Malaysia

Introduction: Psychological problems like anxiety, depression and stress significantly exacerbate the pressure on students to perform better. These factors collectively hamper their performance leading to low academic achievement especially among postgraduate students who majority of them are working and married. This study aims to identify the level of depression, anxiety and stress among postgraduate students, and to investigate the correlation between depression, anxiety and stress based on gender, marital status and age. Methods: The study was a quantitative survey and correlational research design using a clustered random sampling, selected from all postgraduate students (179) in Faculty of Education. The DASS-21 was used as measuring tools for depression, anxiety and stress among post-graduate students. Results: Findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents are having moderate level of depression, anxiety and stress. Meanwhile, there were strong correlations between depression, anxiety and stress. However, there were no significant differences for level of depression, anxiety and stress based on demographic factors (gender, marital status and age). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that depression, anxiety and stress are strongly correlated. This study can give some insight to the educators, universities administration as well as students’ family to develop common intervention on how to curb depression, anxiety and stress among postgraduate students

Influential Predictors of Students’ Academic Achievement in Online Peer Learning Among Undergraduate Students

Social media is widely used by students. Previous studies have projected conflicting results regarding the influence of online peer learning via social media on academic achievement. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that impact on academic achievement. Building on the literature, the study proposed a conceptual model consists of self-efficacy; engagement, performance expectancy, social influence, peer feedback, and collaboration were incorporated as independent variables that influence the academic achievement. Data was collected from 369 undergraduate students. The findings of regression analysis showed that the strongest predictor of academic achievement in online peer learning was performance expectancy followed by collaboration, social influence, and engagement. An online peer learning influences significantly on academic achievement.  Decision makers were advised to support the implementation of online peer learning in universities. Keywords: Social Media, Online peer learning, Academic achievement, UTAUT

Relationship between bully's behaviour and parenting styles amongst elementary school students

This study was done to examine bully’s behavior among elementary school children, as well as to determine differences in parenting styles by parents and targeted child gender. This study involves 270 students of elementary school aged 11 years old. Result suggested that, both male and female school children were likely to perform verbal aggression. Males reacted more aggressive in three forms of bullying (verbal, physical, and indirectly) than females. The findings reveal that respondents’ father and mother practice authoritarian and permissive style to their sons, as compared to their daughters. While, effects of authoritative style for both father and mother are higher on females, as compared to males. Pearson correlation shows a significant positive low relationship between bully behaviour, and authoritarian and permissive parenting style, but there is no significant relationship between bully behaviour and authoritative parenting style. Overall, there is a significant negative low relationship between bully’s behaviour and parenting styles. Possible reasons for this phenomena and measures was discussed in relation to bully’s and parenting styles

Relationships between bullies, victims and mental health issues among adolescents

The main purpose of this research is to examine the relationships between bullies, victims and mental health among adolescents in Maldives. The study investigates the types of bullying and victimization common among adolescent boys and girls. The study also investigate the types of mental health among adolescents in Maldives. Furthermore, this study investigates the moderating effects of gender and age on the relationship between bullies, victims and mental health among adolescents in Maldives. The research adopts a cross sectional quantitative survey method. Adolescents Peer Relation Inventory (APRI) for bullying and Mental Health Index (MHI38) were used as research instruments. A total of 460 survey questionnaires were analyzed in this study. The target group of this study were adolescents between 11 to 16 years. Descriptive data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22 and Structural Equation Modeling with AMOS were used to analysis the hypotheses. Findings suggest that verbal bullying is the most common type of bullying among males and females. Findings on victimization suggests that 85% of adolescents have been targets to all forms of bullying. The relationship between bullying others and mental health revealed a non-recursive relationship whereby, bullying others and mental health have significant negative relationship (-.96) and mental health and bullying others have a significant positive relationship (.96). Findings on moderating factors on the relationship revealed that age and gender does not moderate on this relationship. The study opens new doors for practitioners as well as policies makers on formulating positive interventions strategies such as engaging students in positive behaviours, peer counseling and nurturing empathy so that peers help each other in promoting healthy behaviour in school environment. The study looks through the lens of biopsychosocial model in order to provide insight into bullying. The study provides insight on understanding of the complexity of the life stressors that influence adolescents to engage as bullies and victims

Relationship between bully’s behaviour and parenting styles amongst primary school students

This study was done to examine bully’s behavior among elementary school children, as well as to determine differences in parenting styles by parents and targeted child gender. This study involves 270 students of elementary school aged 11 years old. Result suggested that, both male and female school children were likely to perform verbal aggression. Males reacted more aggressive in three forms of bullying (verbal, physical, and indirectly) than females. The findings reveal that respondents’ father and mother practice authoritarian and permissive style to their sons, as compared to their daughters. While, effects of authoritative style for both father and mother are higher on females, as compared to males. Pearson correlation shows a significant positive low relationship between bully behaviour, and authoritarian and permissive parenting style, but there is no significant relationship between bully behaviour and authoritative parenting style. Overall, there is a significant negative low relationship between bully’s behaviour and parenting styles. Possible reasons for this phenomena and measures was discussed in relation to bully’s and parenting styles

Relationship between social media usage and academic achievement among tertiary students in Malaysian public university

The increasing use of social media among tertiary students is one of the highly growing phenomena in the academia. Various studies show students’ high involvement in using social media network to interact with their peers, lecturers and discussing learningmaterials. Full understanding of the social media and how it is being utilized in education is needed, especially in knowing the relationship between social media used and academic achievement among tertiary students as we know the tertiary students are at large used this technologies. The aims of this study is to examine the relationship between social media used (online peer learning) and academic achievement among tertiary students in one of the Malaysian public university. The study was based on quantitative method with a correlational design using questionnaires that was modified from previous study and validated by a panel of experts. The sampling technique was stratified from 17 faculties and 328 respondents involved in this study. There are positivesignificant low correlation between the variables measured. The highest correlation is between collaboration and academic achievement followed by the correlation between performance expectancy and academic achievement, engagement and academic achievement,social influence and academic achievement, peer feedback and academic achievement, and lastly, self-efficacy and academic achievement. Practical implications and recommendations were given to enhance the engagement of students via online peer learning

Relationship between bullies, victims and mental health issues among adolescent

The main purpose of this research is to examine the relationships between bullies, victims and mental health among adolescents in Maldives. The study investigates the types of bullying and victimization common among adolescent boys and girls. The study also investigate the types of mental health among adolescents in Maldives. Furthermore, this study investigates the moderating effects of gender and age on the relationship between bullies, victims and mental health among adolescents in Maldives. The research adopts a cross sectional quantitative survey method. Adolescents Peer Relation Inventory (APRI) for bullying and Mental Health Index (MHI38) were used as research instruments. A total of 460 survey questionnaires were analysed in this study. The target group of this study were adolescents between 11 to 16 years. Descriptive data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 22 and Structural Equation Modelling with AMOS were used to analysis the hypotheses. Findings suggest that verbal bullying is the most common type of bullying among males and females. Findings on victimization suggests that 85% of adolescents have been targets to all forms of bullying. The relationship between bullying others and mental health revealed a non-recursive relationship whereby, bullying others and mental health have significant negative relationship (-.96) and mental health and bullying others have a significant positive relationship (.96). Findings on moderating factors on the relationship revealed that age and gender does not moderate on this relationship. The study opens new doors for practitioners as well as policies makers on formulating positive interventions strategies such as engaging students in positive behaviours, peer counselling and nurturing empathy so that peers help each other in promoting healthy behaviour in school environment. The study looks through the lens of bio psychosocial model in order to provide insight into bullying. The study provides insight on understanding of the complexity of the life stressors that influence adolescents to engage as bullies and victims

Putting social integration theories into practice: Pupils Integration for Unity Plan (PIUP) in Malaysian schools

In view of her multiethnic, multi religious and multicultural population, school curriculum (including co-curricular activities) in Malaysia is laden with elements of social integration. However implementation of social integration agenda among pupils of various races at the primary level is hampered by racial stratification of students into different types of schools. Malay students are concentrated at national schools, Chinese at national Chinese type school and Tamil at national type Tamil schools. Hence an intervention program to promote social unity among these segregated students is introduced where children of various races participate in specially designed-for-unity activities under the program. This paper seeks to explain how social integration theories were used to formulate activities designed for social integration among school pupils. The goal, objective, design of the PIUP program activities and its evaluation are deeply rooted in social integration theories namely Social Contact Theory, Cycle of Race Relation Theory and Nation-Building and Social Integration Theory. The activities which pupils participate is divided into five categories: Academic Excellence, Sports and Games, Patriotism, Cocurricular and Community Service. The level of integration promoted by these activities is evaluated under five themes or dimensions: general integration, integration through learning, patriotism and nation building, culture and custom and caring society. Through these activities it is hoped that the goal of producing a generation of Malaysian students who are knowledgeable, possessing superior spirit and personality, with high sense of unity and capable of facing challenges collectively and comprehensively will be realised