Exploring determinants of social media addiction in higher education through the integrated lenses of technology acceptance model (TAM) and usage habit

Purpose: This research aims to build on the pre-existing corpus of literature through the integration of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and usage habit to more accurately capture the determinants associated with social media addiction among university students. This study seeks to delineate how usage habit and TAM may be used as predictors for addiction potential, as well as provide greater insight into current trends in social media usage across this population demographic. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional research design was employed to investigate the determinants of social media addiction among university students in Malaysia at the onset of their tertiary education. A self-administered survey, adapted from prior studies, was administered to a sample of 217 respondents. The hypotheses on social media addiction were subsequently tested using a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. Findings: Usage habit was found to be a direct and strong predictor of this type of addiction, as well as all TAM variables considered in the research. Additionally, by integrating TAM with usage habit, the study revealed a comprehensive and multi-faceted understanding of social media addiction, providing an important insight into its complexity in the Malaysian context. Although several other factors have been identified as potential contributors to social media reliance and addictive behavior, it appears that usage habit is paramount in driving these addictive tendencies among university students. Research limitations/implications: This expanded model holds significant implications for the development of interventions and policies that aim to mitigate the adverse effects of social media addiction on students' educational and psychological well-being. The study illustrates the applicability of the TAM in examining addictive behaviors within emerging contexts such as the Malaysian higher education sector, thus contributing to the extant literature on the subject. Practical implications: The integrated TAM and habit model is an effective predictor of social media addiction among young adults in developing countries like Malaysia. This highlights the importance of actively monitoring and controlling users' interactions with technology and media platforms, while promoting responsible usage habits. Educators can use these findings to create tailored educational programs to educate students on how to use technology responsibly and reduce their risk of becoming addicted to social media. Originality/value: This study provides a unique perspective on social media addiction among university students. The combination of TAM and usage habit has the potential to shed significant light on how variables such as perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) may be associated with addictive behaviors. Additionally, by considering usage habit as an explanatory factor, this research offers a novel approach to understanding how addictions form over time

Fear of missing out among adolescents: Formulating big five personality traits to smartphone addiction

Smartphone use has changed the landscape of technology. People are more concerned with their smartphone use than being physically attached to their surroundings, which has led to scholars on studies in smartphone addiction. This study aims to understand the link between personality traits of young adolescents and fear of missing out in relation to smartphone addiction. A partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is applied in testing the proposed hypotheses relationship. A total of 210 respondents consisting of young adolescents, primarily higher education students, participated in the study. It was discovered that among the five personality traits, extraversion and neuroticism were found to be significant on fear of missing out. While fear of missing out has the most significant influence on adolescent smartphone addiction, implications towards theoretical and managerial aspects are discussed and elaborated

Effectiveness of morphemic analysis of Graeco-Latin word parts as a vocabulary learning strategy among ESL learners

This study examined the effects of morphemic analysis of Graeco-Latin roots and affixes as a vocabulary learning strategy among Malaysian ESL learners. Three intact classes of undergraduates majoring in health sciences were assigned to three different treatments: Graeco-Latin morphemic analysis, general morphemic analysis and contextual clues. Participants in all groups undertook a five-week treatment intervention which was done biweekly and lasted for two hours. Before the five-week explicit instruction, participants sat for a pre-test where three vocabulary measures were elicited. During the treatment, ten reading texts were used by all students, but the strategies adopted in teaching the selected vocabulary items were different. The students in one group were taught Graeco-Latin morphemic analysis, while the second group was introduced to general morphemic analysis, and the final group focussed on the use of contextual clues. Each group was taught how to derive word meanings by using these three different strategies. After the five-week treatment, the students sat for a post-test which was identical to the pre-test taken earlier. The pre-test and post-test scores were analysed using the one-way ANOVA and paired sample T-test. The results indicated that (a) the group that were taught Graeco-Latin morphemic analysis scored the highest in all three vocabulary measures, (b) the group taught general morphemic analysis also improved slightly but (c) the group that was taught to use contextual clues showed no improvement in all three vocabulary measures. The findings suggest that morphemic analyses may be a better vocabulary learning strategy particularly for the health sciences

Exploring personality traits in the knowledge-sharing behavior: the role of agreeableness and conscientiousness among Malaysian tertiary academics

Purpose: The research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex social, psychological and organizational factors that serve as the foundation driving academics' knowledge-sharing behavior (KSB) within an academic enclave. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional research design using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to examine the determinants of personality traits among tertiary academics in Malaysia in relation to their KSB. To this end, a self-administered survey was distributed to a sample group of 526 respondents. Findings: It is evident that conscientiousness and agreeableness are the personality traits that play a significant role in promoting KSB among academics in higher learning institutions (HLIs). These personality traits are positively linked with academics' willingness to transfer and receive knowledge. In contrast, the personality trait of openness to experience does not significantly influence KSB. Research limitations/implications: This study has employed a four-item measurement for evaluating the three distinct personality traits. Despite employing a brief measurement tool, the study has demonstrated significant reliability and validity, particularly in terms of convergent and discriminant validity. Practical implications: The present study has revealed that conscientiousness in academics is intimately linked with their KSB, which is of paramount importance in the output-based education system. Notably, agreeableness among academics also conveys a positive effect on knowledge sharing (KS) in HLIs, as it cultivates trust and helpfulness among individuals and facilitates the exchange of valuable tacit knowledge. Originality/value: This research explores the relationship between personality traits and KSB among Malaysian academics in HLIs. The study adopts the theories of planned behavior (TPB) and social capital theory (SCT) as theoretical ground, providing a nuanced understanding of the underlying motivations and mechanisms driving academics' knowledge-sharing behavior within the unique socio-cultural context of Southeast Asia

COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia: intervention and mitigation efforts

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has sent shockwaves throughout the world in less than two months. Countries in South East Asia are not spared in this plight. As the disease can be transmitted from human to human, extensive control and mitigation efforts have been taken by almost every country where the disease has been reported. Southeast Asian countries or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), being one of the closest regions with China, have taken various measures to slow down and contain the spread of the pandemic virus. Design/methodology/approach: Multiple strategies have been taken by the government to reduce the number of infections in the region. This includes phases of lockdowns in affected areas and federal order to close businesses to reduce the rate of infection among the people. As ASEAN comprises diverse cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds and geographical differences, steps taken are definitely based on what are deemed important and applicable to each country. Findings: This paper reviews what has been taken by each of the ASEAN members and further recommendations that can be taken to ensure the issue of human security in the region can be preserved. Originality/value: The originality of this paper is to show mitigation and prevention strategies undertaken by ASEAN nation in combating COVID-19

A critical review of knowledge sharing in various industries and organizations

Knowledge sharing has become the leading factor for a success in an organization . The ability to acquire and disseminate valuable knowledge for competing in the challenging market has raised the awareness to focus on the sharing of knowledge among employees. The nature of knowledge whether explicit or tacit has paved the way for a new dimension of method of sharing in many industries. The ability of an organization to retain and acquire new knowledge enables it to outperform and compare to others and determine its sustainability. Tacit knowledge, being the hardest to retain, requires a different way of disseminating knowledge and method of sharing within different contexts of organization . This disquisition provides an in depth review on how tacit knowledge is retained and controlled in different contexts of industries, focusing on the organization all, group and individual levels. Several implications are obtained from this review, as such to promote the integration of organization all success and capability of organization in coping with the current technological advancement

Effectiveness of morphemic analysis of Graeco-Latin word parts as a vocabulary learning strategy among ESL learners

This study examined the effects of morphemic analysis of Graeco-Latin roots and affixes as a vocabulary learning strategy among Malaysian ESL learners. Three intact classes of undergraduates majoring in health sciences were assigned to three different treatments which are instructions focussing on Graeco-Latin morphemic analysis, general morphemic analysis and use of contextual clues as vocabulary learning strategies. Participants in all groups underwent the instructional intervention which was done biweekly over a five-week period. Each group was taught how to derive word meanings using these three different strategies. A pre-test and post-test comprising three vocabulary tests measuring students’ morphemic analysis of general English words, morphemic analysis of Graeco-Latin word parts, and overall vocabulary size respectively, were administered. The scores were analysed using the paired sample T-test and one-way ANOVA to determine if there were improvements made in the three measures within each group, and subsequently whether the magnitude of improvement between the three groups were significant. The results indicated that (a) the group that were taught Graeco-Latin morphemic analysis scored the highest in all three vocabulary measures, (b) the group taught general morphemic analysis also improved in morphemic analysis of general English words but not Graeco-Latin words, and improved slightly in overall vocabulary size, but (c) the group that was taught to use contextual clues showed no improvement in all three vocabulary measures. The findings suggest that morphemic analysis, specifically analysis of Graeco-Latin word parts, may be a better vocabulary learning strategy particularly for the health sciences

University English Language Teachers’ Use of Digital Platforms for Online Teaching

Digital disruptions have affected higher learning institutions and forced educators across the globe to use digital platforms for online teaching. This paper presents the findings of a pilot study that investigated (1) the usage of digital platforms for teaching English at a Malaysian university and (2) how university English language teachers employed digital platforms for online teaching. An online questionnaire survey was completed by 19 university English teachers who volunteered to take part. Cross-tabulation analysis with frequency count and percentage distribution was used to analyse data, and short open-ended responses were coded for themes. Online web meeting platforms for synchronous language classes, learning management systems for task-based language learning, and cross-platform instant messaging applications for interactions and class discussions were found to be the most popular digital platforms among university English language teachers. Teachers optimised those three platforms for teaching English online and believe that they are adequate for teaching with poor internet accessibility. Finally, this paper offers suggestions for effective use of digital platforms for teaching English online at a university

Bitcoin and cryptocurrency challenges, opportunities and future works

Bitcoin and other prominent cryptocurrencies have gained much attention since the last several years. Globally known as digital coin and virtual currency, this cryptocurrency is gained and traded within the blockchain system. The blockchain technology adopted in using the cryptocurrency has raised the eyebrows within the banking sector, government, stakeholders and individual investors. The rise of the cryptocurrency within this decade since the inception of Bitcoin in 2009 has taken the market by storm. Cryptocurrency is anticipated as the future currency that might replace the current paper currency worldwide. Even though the interest has caught the attention of users, many are not aware of its opportunities, drawbacks and challenges for the future. Researches on cryptocurrencies are still lacking and still at its infancy stage. In providing substantial guide and view to the academic field and users, this paper will discuss the opportunities in the cryptocurrency such as the security of its technology, low transaction cost and high investment return. The originality of this paper is on the discussion within law and regulation, high energy consumption, possibility of crash and bubble, and attacks on network. The future undertakings of cryptocurrency and its application will be systematically reviewed in this paper

Smartphone addiction among young adolescents: Integration of flow theory and fear of missing out

In the age of terabytes and milliseconds, a pathological use of smartphone is now growing tremendously among adolescents worldwide. This global phenomenon has made smartphone addiction the most popular type of technology addiction. Underpinned by Flow Theory, this study contributes to the body of knowledge on the consumer behaviour towards a psychological perspective on smartphone usage among students in a Malaysian university. A total of 210 students participated in this study. A partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method was applied in testing the hypotheses. The results show that all nine hypotheses tested on antecedents of smartphone addiction were found to be significant. The strongest predictor discovered in the model is concentration, suggesting that users who are addicted spend countless time in using smartphone due to enormous concentration on entertainment and social networking sites that are commonly available in smartphone applications