American Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Is TikTok more addictive than other social media platforms: Perception versus reality

Jianling Xie — 2024-08-16

As new social media platforms emerge and the existing ones change in functionality, their impact on students may shift. The current study investigated the number of social media accounts held by college students, and examined the social media platforms students use most, time spent on social media, time spent on schoolwork, and any gender differences in these variables. Additionally, we sought to understand college students’ perceptions of the addictiveness of their major social media platform and detect possible discrepancies between their perception and reality (as measured by time spent on social media daily). A total of 306 participants were recruited from a research university in the U.S. Our results revealed that all participants had multiple active social media accounts (over 5 on average) and spent on average 3.8 hours on social media daily, while spending on average 3.7 hours on schoolwork daily. Interestingly, female participants spend more time on social media than males, as well as spent more time on schoolwork than their male counterparts, suggesting a strategy of compensation. As hypothesized, TikTok was the most popular social media platform, followed by Snapchat, Instagram, and others such as X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Facebook. Contrary to popular beliefs, while TikTok-favoring students were more likely to perceive that they were vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption, their time on social media per day was not significantly different from any other social media active users, F(3, 302) = 1.43, p = .23, suggesting a discrepancy between student perception and reality.

Mediating effect of ambiguity tolerance in automated writing evaluation research model

Yi Xue — 2024-09-27

In light of the advancement of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology-empowered automated writing evaluation (AWE) system represents a revolutionary paradigm at the forefront of mobile assisted English learning (MAEL). Numerous empirical studies have been carried out to test the efficacy of automated writing corrective feedback in writing assistance. However, it has seldom been investigated from the cognitive stance of AWE technology enhanced embodied learning. Embodied cognitive linguistics intensifies that learning experience is enhanced in the process of conceptualizing the empirical world. Therefore, the current study explores technology characteristics and individual characteristics incorporating the psychological construct of ambiguity tolerance. Emanating from psychology, ambiguity tolerance describes people’s preponderance to manage uncertainties and unpredictable challenges in the learning process. This study utilized the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method to analyze 679 valid questionnaire responses via SPSS 29 and SmartPLS 4. The results elucidated that the AWE research model incorporating the technology acceptance model (TAM model), task technology fit model (TTF model), and individual characteristics could predict the user’s adoption of AWE software in the completion of writing tasks. Moreover, ambiguity tolerance functions as an effective mediator in the GenAI technology-empowered automated writing evaluation research model. This study provides technical implications for AWE developers to design AWE software suitable for individual characteristics. Future research could combine qualitative research methods with multivariant statistical approaches to meticulously investigate the interaction of literacy cultivation and emotional intelligence in the utilization of AWE technology for academic purposes in the GenAI era.

Challenges of employing unformalized skills: Recognizing and leveraging informal expertise for national development in Tanzania

Noel Julius Ntawigaya — 2024-10-03

This paper explores the challenges and implications of informal skills acquisition in Tanzania and its impact on national development. Through two case studies—one focusing on a driving class and the other on an electrical technician—it highlights the tension between formal certification and practical experience. The findings reveal that informal skilled laborers, while highly proficient, face significant barriers to employment, market competition, and project tendering due to the absence of formal recognition and certification. Despite their lack of formal qualifications, these workers contribute meaningfully to their families, communities, and the national economy. The study underscores the critical gap in valuing informal expertise relative to formal qualifications, and it advocates for the re-evaluation of the certification system to better recognize and leverage informal skills. The paper argues that integrating informal skills into the formal economy is crucial for inclusive national development. It calls for a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system to validate experiential learning and create alternative, affordable certification pathways. This approach would not only level the playing field for informal workers but also enhance their ability to compete in national projects alongside formally educated professionals. By acknowledging and supporting informal expertise, Tanzania can build a more robust, versatile workforce that is better equipped to meet the demands of various industries, ultimately driving sustainable national development.

Aviation business growth; Does ground movement capacity and air space capacity matter?

Gloria Beth Muthoni — 2024-11-05

Growth in any firm’s business is critical as a long-term objective of such a firm. The study thus focused on the influence of ground movement capacity and air space capacity on the growth of aviation businesses at Wilson Airport. The guiding objectives of this study were: to establish the effect of ground movement capacity on aviation business growth in Kenya and to assess the effects of airspace capacity on in Kenya. The study was guided by theory of constraints. The study employed an explanatory research design. The study targeted 117 respondents based at Wilson Airport. A Census survey was used in this study to collect information from all participants in the population. The study collected primary data using questionnaires. In testing for reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was applied. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Inferential data were analyzed using correlation and multiple regressions. The study findings revealed that ground movement capacity has a positive and significant effect on aviation business and airspace capacity has a positive and significant effect on aviation business growth. Ground movement capacity was an important determinant of aviation business growth. Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Kenya Airports Authority should pool resources and increase the ground movement equipment and facilities. The study recommends that future researcher’s study on the influence of public, private partnership to increase the ground movement capacity on aviation growth can also be conducted.

Semiotically deconstructing parental and adolescent failed communication: It’s not what they’re saying, it’s their words

Steve Daniel Przymus — 2024-11-05

Language change and creativity among adolescent language use, is nothing new. However, teachers in schools and parents in homes continue to feel left out of the linguistic figured world of the youth that they teach or raise, often leading to either perceived or real failed communication. In this study I offer a thoughtful and perhaps unique social semiotic analysis of the process and motivation for youth creation of new words or the resemanticization of existing words. Understanding the need for youth to create their own linguistic worlds for acceptance into social worlds has less to do with creating a barrier between them and their parents or teachers and more to do with positive identity development, could be the key for unlocking positive communication with the adults in their lives. Within, I put forth the idea that there exist purposeful in-groups and out-groups, of which the out-groups can be further divided into desirable and un-desirable out-groups. It is important to uncover the different affordances of existing terms and to create inventories of new terms and their synchronic meanings and possible diachronic evolution, in order for parents to understand the motive and need for youth creativity with language. Accepting the possibility, that youth are simply constructing and describing the world around them, changes the paradigm of parental-adolescent communication from a gulf or abyss to a potential bridge or a passageway connecting the two worlds.