Arabic Diglossia And Arabic As A Foregn Language: The Perception Of Students In World Learning Oman Center

The principle objective of this independent inquiry is to address the research question: what are the impacts of Arabic Diglossia, if any, on the experience of learners of Arabic as a foreign language? The study attempts to answer this question through the perception of a sample group of 23 learners studying Arabic as a foreign language in World Learning Oman Center in semester of Spring 2011. Diglossia is defined by linguists as a sociolinguistic phenomenon in which a particular language has two varieties, one of which is considered High and more standard and used in exclusive domains, while the other is considered Low and used for communicative purposes and may differ geographically. Arabic is seen to be one of the strongest examples of world languages that show this phenomenon operating in one written variety, Modern Standard Arabic, that is used all over the Arabic-speaking world, while multiple spoken dialects are used for communication in different Arab countries. This phenomenon is very relevant to learning Arabic as a foreign language. In the World Learning Oman center, the participants are first surveyed online. This is followed by three separate focus groups that involve all the participants partaking in the survey. Further investigation is done through three individual interviews with alumni of World Learning programs currently living in Oman. The inquiry methodology is semi-structured in a way that is focused but leaves room for themes to emerge to capture the perception of the learner. It is concluded that Arabic diglossia is indeed an impactful factor in learning Arabic as a foreign language. It is especially impactful while learning Arabic in a native country. The data proves that students of Arabic in Oman are aware of Arabic diglossia and its impact on their learning. The awareness level varies according to the language level, with awareness level going higher as the student moves up in the language level. Similar correlation is found to be true with confusion with Arabic diglossia; the higher level students coped better with this reality while lower level students tended to be confused about it. Similarly, the level of interaction with the speech community increases as the learner became more confident in handling the diglossic reality. Higher level students were more comfortable with their personal goals and focuses in learning Arabic and start to appropriately use both MSA and the dialect in different settings. Most participants agree on the value of learning both MSA and spoken dialect for the learner

ESSAYS ON LABOR AND DEMOGRAPHIC ECONOMICS

This dissertation contains three independent papers on labor and demographic economics. In the first paper, I develop evidence, hypothesize, and empirically examine the effects of different types of prior experience of founders on annual job creation in new ventures. I use a two-stage estimation method; a random-effects negative binomial model (second stage) corrected for survival bias using a discrete-time hazard model (first stage). The paper adds to the literature by examining how the impact of founder experience on job creation changes under uncertainty using high-tech industries and industry recession as proxies for uncertainty.In the second paper, I utilize an intersectionality framework of gender and race/ethnicity to examine retention in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, employing a multinomial/binary logit framework. I also examine the factors impacting the movement of STEM graduates either into STEM-unrelated jobs or out of the labor force. The paper aims to contribute to the existing literature by accommodating a switch to career pathways that require STEM expertise in non-STEM environments as well.In the third paper, I explore whether the proportion of women in leadership positions (leadership diversity) is lower in the STEM sectors than in the non-STEM sector at both low- and high-level leadership positions. I then examine whether the gender gap in leadership attainment in STEM occupations is related to occupational sex composition. To achieve this, the paper applies an endogenous switching probit model to account for workers’ self-selection into public and private sectors

Developing the Practices of Basic Education School Leaders in the Sultanate of Oman In Light Of the Total Quality Management Approach

This study aimed at identifying the reality of leadership practices of Basic Education (BE) school principals in the Sultanate of Oman and limited to Al Buraimi Governorate in order to develop their practices in light of the Total Quality Management Approach (TQM). It tried to know the effects of the study variables of respondents on their views. The study problem was determined by the question: What is the reality of implementing the theory of TQM in Basic Education schools in Oman through the principals’ practices? The researcher conducted the study on a sample of (470) employees at BE schools. A questionnaire was used consisting of 60 items representing leadership practices for BE school principals listed into six domains representing some basic principles of TQM. The questionnaire was divide into three sections: the first section asks for personal information, the second section consists of the questionnaire items, and the third section is an open ended question to solicit some suggestions. It was validated and tested by a group of experts in the study field. It used Cronbach’s alpha formula which (0.97). The study data was collected from the field and analyzed by SPSS program. In light of the findings, the study reached the following results: TQM investigated principles are highly existence in leadership practices in BE schools in Al Buraimi Governorate, planning for TQM in school practices are more existent among other principles, however, principals may lack the practices of adopting a culture of quality. In addition, there is a statistical significant effect of participants’ gender on their views regarding the school principals’ implementation of TQM theory in BE schools in Al Buraimi Governorate. Finally, the researcher proposed the following recommendations: promoting awareness of the TQM approach, expanding decentralization in policy formulation and decision-making, increasing staff participation through the involvement and the empowerment of all staff in making educational-decisions, organizing professional development programs based on the needs of principals, increasing the local community’s participation in the process of decision-making and school planning taking into account their assessment of the school services

Effects of a Training Module on Omani Teachers' Awareness of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the use of online and e-learning in Omani general and higher education institutions. Consequently, the pandemic imposed contemporary technological challenges when considering training programs for Omani teachers. This research seeks to record proactive steps, at the Omani and Arab levels, to examine the effectiveness of online, in-service teacher training programs. In addition, this research seeks to explore the effects of online training modules on teachers' knowledge of Gifted Students with Learning Disabilities (GSLD). In other words, the research aims to examine the effects of a training module on Omani teachers’ awareness of GSLD. According to a convenience sampling method, a total of 60 Omani teachers participated in the research. Participants were teachers of students with Learning Disabilities (LD) at the resource room program in the Muscat Governate, in the Sultanate of Oman. They were distributed equally into two groups: control (n=30), and experimental (n=30). Following the development of a Self-Awareness Scale (SAS) and the training program module, the SAS was administered to both groups as a pre-test and a post-test. The teachers in the experimental group received a two-week online training module to improve their awareness of GSLD. Results indicated that there were significant differences in the post-test of the SAS in favor of teachers in the experimental group

Contextual Sensitivity in Grounded Theory: The Role of Pilot Studies

Grounded Theory is an established methodological approach for context specific inductive theory building. The grounded nature of the methodology refers to these specific contexts from which emergent propositions are drawn. Thus, any grounded theory study requires not only theoretical sensitivity, but also a good insight on how to design the research in the human activity systems to be studied. The lack of this insight may result in inefficient theoretical sampling or even erroneous purposeful sampling. These problems would not necessarily be critical, as it could be argued that through the elliptical process that characterizes grounded theory, remedial loops would always bring the researcher to the core of the theory. However, these elliptical remedial processes can take very long periods of time and result in catastrophic delays in research projects. As a strategy, this paper discusses, contrasts and compares the use of pilot studies in four different grounded theory projects. Each pilot brought different insights about the context, resulting in changes of focus, guidance to improve data collection instruments and informing theoretical sampling. Additionally, as all four projects were undertaken by researchers with little experience of inductive approaches in general and grounded theory in particular, the pilot studies also served the purpose of training in interviewing, relating to interviewees, memoing, constant comparison and coding. This last outcome of the pilot study was actually not planned initially, but revealed itself to be a crucial success factor in the running of the projects. The paper concludes with a theoretical proposition for the concept of contextual sensitivity and for the inclusion of the pilot study in grounded theory research designs

EARLY IBĀḌĪ JURISPRUDENCE: THE LETTERS OF ǦĀBIR IBN ZAYD AL-AZDĪ

Correspondence offers privileged access to the social, political, and religious discourses in the formative phase of the schools of Islam. The letters of Ǧābir ibn Zayd, who was to become one of the founding figures of the Ibāḍiyya, held a prominent position in the community life of his followers. This study, an edition and translation of the letters of Ǧābir ibn Zayd, will serve to clarify and complete the historical record, at the same time highlighting their author’s unique contribution to the development of an Ibāḍi school of jurisprudence. Though attempts have been made to edit and interpret the fatwas included in Ǧābir’s letters, this thesis for the first time presents them in a complete edition with translation and commentary. Further, the present work is based on three manuscripts rather than the single one known earlier. Only after an extended search could the two additional manuscripts of Ǧābir’s letters be retrieved from private libraries. After carefully examining and comparing the differences, the present thesis offers a comprehensive edition of the letters which shall, it is hoped, assist future studies focusing on jurisprudence in early Islam

The Prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Children, Taiz District, Yemen

Background: This is the first work done on cryptosporidiosis among the children in Taiz, Yemen.Methods: A number of 712 samples were collected from children of different ages (ranging from 1 month to 12 years) from Dec 2006 to Aug 2007. The collected samples were examined by Sheather's sugar floatation and Modified Ziehl- Neelsen stain as well as ELISA methods. The test results were statistically analyzed by SPSS software.Results: The overall positive percentage was 43.7%. The higher incidence (36.2 %) was oc­curred in males while the lowest incidence (32.7 %) was observed in females (r= 0.876; P= 0.001). The correlation between infected cases and the type of drinking water was r =0.121. Among the cases examined by ELISA (92 cases), 26.1 % were infected. The correlation be­tween seropositivity and gender was r= 0.652 (P=0.031).Conclusion: Cryptosporidium spp. is a significant pathogen among children at Taiz. Fresh water supplies, education, eating habits and domestic animals are considered the main sources for transmission of cryptosporidiosis

FLUKTUACIJA ASIMETRIJE ŠIRINE OTOLITA KOD Carangoides caeruleopinnatus (CARANGIDAE) ULOVLJENIH NA OBALI MUSCATA U OMANSKOM MORU

The fluctuating asymmetry in two otolith dimensions, the length and width of adult teleost Carangoides caeruleopinnatus were calculated. The highest asymmetry value was observed in the otolith width. The fish length groups 201-210 and 281-290 mm showed the lowest and the highest value of asymmetry respectively. In addition, few fish length groups have shown zero value for otolith size asymmetry. Different pollutants and their presence in the area appeared to be one of the reasons that cause the asymmetry in this species. A trend of increase in the asymmetry values with the fish length was noticed for the otolith length and width.Mjerena je fluktuacija asimetrije dvaju veličina otolita, dužine i širine adultnih koštunjača vrste Carangoides caeruleopinnatus. Najveća asimetrijska vrijednost je zabilježena u širini otolita. Dužinske grupe riba od 201-210 i 281-290 mm pokazale su najnižu, odnosno najvišu asimetrijsku vrijednost. Povrh toga, malo dužinskih grupa analiziranih jedinki je pokazalo nultu vrijednost za asimetriju veličine otolita. Čini se da su različiti onečišćivaći i njihovo prisustvo na istraživanom području jedan od razloga koji uzrokuju asimetriju kod ove vrste. Uočen je trend rasta asimetrijskih vrijednosti dužine i širine otolita s porastom dužine ribe

Learning Disabilities : Opportunities and challenges in Oman

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Students’ perception of the Service Quality Gaps of Omantel Company using SERVQUAL Model

Purpose of the study: The objective of the study is to determine the impact of service quality gaps in the telecommunications industry in Oman, through critically analyzing the differences between the expectations and perceptions in relates to tangibility, empathy, reliability, responsiveness, and assurance. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used the SERVQUAL model to calculate the existing quality of service of the telecommunication company operating in the Sultanate of Oman and to know the differences between expectations and perceptions of the quality of services provided to the customers by Omantel Company. The sampling used in this study was convenient sampling adopted through a questionnaire where the size of the sample was 150 which was randomly selected from the students of different faculties at Sohar University. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Findings: The findings of the research study revealed that there exists a negative relationship between the customer perceptions and expectations and the difference in the scores between the two sets of variables is in favor of the expectations of the respondents in relates to Omantel services. The reliability factor had the largest difference between the two sets of variables and the tangibles factor had the smallest difference. Research Implications: The results of this study help Omantel Company to strategically develop service quality in the areas of assurance, empathy, and responsiveness and to understand how consumers view the quality of the service, and to help the organization track and sustain quality service. Originality/value:  The research was performed in the rapidly increasing telecom service industry, which is experiencing dramatic changes over time and is making concentrated efforts to keep up with unparalleled, ground-breaking advances in technology. This research can be extended to other sectors of the market