Negative and positive impact of internet addiction on young adults: empericial study in Malaysia

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore and identify the impact of Internet addictions on young adults in Malaysia. There are six impacts identified, of which five are negative impacts and one is a positive impact. Design/methodology/approach: This study comprised a sample of 200 young adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional research design was used to examine the impact of Internet addiction. Data were gathered based on personal administered questionnaires. Findings: Mann-Whitney U test results show that the adults those are using Internet excessively were having some problems such as interpersonal problem, behavioural problem, physical problem, psychological problem, and work problem in their daily life. The young adults believed that the Internet usage can help them to improve their skills for doing their work better. This study also reveals that males were likely having working problems, psychological problems, behavioural problems and interpersonal problems than female. On the other hand, females were having their physical problems while using Internet excessively. Research limitations/implications: The data for this study are collected by self-administered questionnaires, a method with well-known shortcomings. Secondly, the sample size itself is relatively small. This study can be strengthened by increasing the sample size and including participants in other geographical areas in Malaysia. Practical implications: The present study reveals five negative impacts i.e. interpersonal problem, behavioural problem, physical problem, psychological problem, and work problem for excessive Internet usage. Government agencies like Health department of Malaysia and other government agencies should create better awareness of the problem having while using Internet. It can be done by having seminars or introduction sessions at all universities in Malaysia. Originality/value: The findings are original and unique and are based on the literature from different western researches. The results are based on a sample of young adults in Malaysia. The research findings are useful to academics and heavy Internet users who are hooked with Internet to their everyday lifePeer Reviewe

Sequential-simultaneous international rollout strategies and product performance: a framework for analysis

This research article provides a detailed mapping of the paradigms of sequential and simultaneous international launch strategies through a review of the literature. The paper identifies significant patterns and limitations in past empirical studies. In brief, inadequate research efforts to comprehensively evaluate the performance of sequential versus simultaneous product launch strategies have left researchers and practitioners with very limited information for optimizing launch success. To fill the knowledge gap, a general contingency framework that links various internal and external organizational factors with potential impact on the launch strategy–performance relationship is introduced. Relevant research propositions are advanced to illustrate potential strategic-fit implications. The paper highlights major theoretical and methodological issues that are imperative for future empirical investigations

Relationship between teacher’s personality, monitoring, learning environment, and students’ EFL performance

Teachers have been widely acknowledged to critically influence students‘ learning and achievement. Nonetheless, the effects of teacher characteristics on student communication proficiency in the context of English as foreign language (EFL) learning have not received adequate attention among scholars. In contrast to most studies in the area, this article focuses on the influence of teacher-student interpersonal engagements, namely teacher‘s personality and monitoring, on EFL student communication proficiency. The purpose of this study is to explore whether teacher‘s characteristics and environmental learning factors influence students‘ overall communication proficiency. Drawing on sociocultural theory, the authors assume that EFL learning is bi-directional in nature. In addition to conceptualizing the direct impact of domain-specific determinants of communication proficiency, internal classroom conditions and external college facilities were assessed for possible moderating effects. Using a sample of college students in twelve different campus locations from Institut Kemahiran Mara (IKM), across Malaysia, the authors performed a regression analysis to empirically test the proposed research hypotheses. All constructs demonstrated low levels of multicollinearity and measurement scales indicated sufficient reliability and validity. Results show that teacher‘s personality is an important determinant of student proficiency in English. Monitoring efforts, however, did not have a direct influence on English proficiency but coupled with teacher‘s personality and college facilities, respectively, the coefficient interaction effects became significant. The results also reveal that classroom conditions do not interact with teacher‘s personality to improve student learning outcomes, nonetheless acts more predominantly as a predictor that directly enhances students‘ learning. Important research implications and future research directions are suggested

Inovasi Media Pembelajaran Pendidikan Ekonomi Berbasis Kecerdasan Buatan Terintegrasi (Integreted Artificial Intelegence) dengan Ubiquitous Learning

Human Resource Development (HR) is part of the process and objectives of Indonesia's economic development. Therefore, strategic steps are needed in realizing education as one of the pillars in realizing quality human resources. The purpose of this research is to design and build innovative learning media that is integrated with ubiquitos learning through artificial intelligence technology by utilizing Chatbot application features that can be used. for learning economic education. This research consists of three main stages, namely (1). Preliminary study by conducting theoretical and field agreements so as to be able to formulate needs in the preparation of the platform. (2). The second stage begins with product planning by providing product differentiation in the form of chatbots and daily intensive courses which then develops into a Learning Management System in the initial form of the product. (3). The activity required at this stage is the first trial by experts to validate the material and media. The results of this study are in the form of a platform developed in the form of text, animation, and video by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology on chatbot application features that are tailored to the needs and stages of student learning in economics subjects that have been implemented in the Integrated Learning Management System. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17977/UM014v14i22021p17

Comparison of classifiers using robust features for depression detection on Bahasa Malaysia speech

Early detection of depression allows rapid intervention and reduce the escalation of the disorder. Conventional method requires patient to seek diagnosis and treatment by visiting a trained clinician. Bio-sensors technology such as automatic depression detection using speech can be used to assist early diagnosis for detecting remotely those who are at risk. In this research, we focus on detecting depression using Bahasa Malaysia language using speech signals that are recorded remotely via subject’s personal mobile devices. Speech recordings from a total of 43 depressed subjects and 47 healthy subjects were gathered via online platform with diagnosis validation according to the Malay beck depression inventory II (Malay BDI-II), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and subject’s declaration of major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis by a trained clinician. Classifier models were compared using time-based and spectrum-based microphone independent feature set with hyperparameter tuning. Random forest performed best for male reading speech with 73% accuracy while support vector machine performed best on both male spontaneous speech and female reading speech with 74% and 73% accuracy, respectively. Automatic depression detection on Bahasa Malaysia language has shown to be promising using machine learning and microphone independent features but larger database is necessary for further validation and improving performance

The effect of customer-brand relationship investments on customer engagement: an imperative for sustained competitiveness

Using the extended Resource Investment Model, this study investigated the effect of customerbrand investments in building a strong customer engagement. Data were collected from a sample of 200 mobile phone customers using self-administered questionnaire, and analyzed through the utilization of multiple linear regressions analysis. The findings revealed that investments in customer and brand relationship significantly induce the customer to be engaged to a brand. Besides, the findings indicated that customer investment partially mediates the relationship between perceived brand investment and customer engagement. This study is one of the first to test the applicability of resource investment model in the context of customer-brand relationship. It concentrated on customers’ perception of their relationships with mobile phone brand in the Malaysia’s context. Accordingly, this study provides useful insight for companies in developing a strong customer-brand relationship; and consequently to sustain their competitiveness

Why resist? Examining the impact of technological advancement and perceived usefulness on Malaysians' switching intentions: the moderators

The adoption of new technology represents a critical issue that firms need to confront when an improved product version is introduced to customers. Although prior research has established the benefits of technological improvements, it is still unclear why customers are typically slow to accepting new technology despite extensive marketing efforts. The main purpose of this paper is to examine how specific components of switching barrier, namely, lack of service facilities, switching costs, and adoption difficulty, moderate the effects of technological advancement and perceived value on switching intentions. A survey was conducted among highway commuters with alternative technological improvements, particularly an upgraded mobile devise in electronic toll collection (ETC) services. Results indicate that both technological advancement and its perceived value have a positive impact on customers’ intention to switch products. Nevertheless, high levels of perceived switching barriers mitigate the technological advancement– and perceived value–switching intention relationships. Based on the study findings, practical implications are discussed

A Survey on Renewable Energy Development in Malaysia: Current Status, Problems and Prospects

Energy demand in Malaysia is increasing over seven per cent a year, while forty per cent of the energy is supplied from conventional fossil fuel. However, a number of social barriers have mired the social acceptance of renewable energy among the users. This study investigates the current status of renewable energy, problems and future outlook of renewable energy in Malaysia. A total of 200 respondents were surveyed from Klang Valley in Malaysia. Majority of the respondents use energy to generate electricity. Although some respondents reported using solar energy, there is lack of retail availability for solar energy. The findings show that limited information on renewable energy technologies, lack of awareness, and limited private sector engagement emerged as major barriers to sustainable renewable energy development. In addition, the respondents suggest for increasing policy support from the government to make information more accessible to mass users, provide economic incentives to investors and users, and promote small-community based renewable energy projects. The study suggests that the government begin small scale projects to build awareness on renewable energy, while academically, higher learning institutions include renewable energy syllabus in their academic curriculum. The study concluded that to have sustainable renewable energy development, government’s initiative, private sector engagement and users awareness must be given priority