📄 Category

social_science

3306 papers

📄 social science

STEAM Pedagogy and Student Competency Development: A Comparative Mixed-Methods Study of Institutional Contexts in Pakistan and Japan

This comparative mixed-methods study of higher education institutions in Pakistan and Japan reveals that while STEAM pedagogical practices strongly predict student competency development across both national contexts, the successful translation of these practices into learning outcomes is primarily shaped by specific institutional and contextual factors rather than national differences alone.

Abdul Basit, Afshan Noor Mangi, Bibi Umul Baneen, Sahar Moomal Memon, Rameez Solangi2026-07-17
📄 social science

An Exploratory Qualitative Design Toward a Contextualized Definition of Entrepreneurship Culture Among TVET Graduates: Evidence from Vhembe District, South Africa

This exploratory qualitative study redefines entrepreneurship culture among rural South African TVET graduates not as opportunity-driven venture creation, but as a contextually grounded system of livelihood pragmatism, skill adaptation, and relational navigation shaped by structural constraints and community dynamics.

Edrich Hove, Joseph Francis2026-07-17
📄 social science

Smart Modeling as a Transformative Approach for Restructuring STEAM Education in Light of Sustainable Development Requirements

This study develops and validates the Smart-STEAM Transformative Framework (SSTF) through expert consensus to address the pedagogical-technological gap in current education by systematically integrating smart modeling, such as digital twins and AI, with interdisciplinary STEAM curricula to foster deep systems thinking and ethical competencies aligned with sustainable development goals.

Maram Hussein Saeed Al-Qahtani, Sahar Yehia Ali Al-Mousa2026-07-17
📄 social science

Gender Differences in the Mechanisms Linking Appearance Anxiety to Exercise Participation Among Chinese College Students: A Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling Study

This study reveals that among Chinese college students, appearance anxiety negatively impacts exercise participation through the mediating roles of negative body image and exercise self-efficacy, with significant gender differences showing that these upstream psychological mechanisms are stronger for females and that the influence on males involves both direct and indirect pathways while females' participation is primarily mediated.

yifan zhang, Jiaqi Hao, Qian Huang2026-07-17
📄 social science

The Role of Socioeconomic and Institutional Factors in Shaping Entrepreneurial Attitudes among Radiography Students in South-Eastern Nigeria

This study reveals that while socioeconomic factors significantly and positively influence the favorable entrepreneurial attitudes of radiography students in South-Eastern Nigeria, institutional factors have a comparatively weaker impact, highlighting the need for enhanced mentorship and practical training to bridge the gap between students' willingness to start businesses and their perceived ability to manage them.

Awafung Emmanuel Adie, Christian Maduabuchi, Enwerem Derrick, Nwobodo-Nzeribe Nnenna Harmony2026-07-17
📄 social science

The Digital Opportunity Structure of Child Sexual Exploitation: A Qualitative, School-Based Study

This qualitative study of 80 school staff in Hong Kong utilizes routine activity theory to demonstrate how digital technologies reshape the opportunity structure for child sexual exploitation by increasing student vulnerability, empowering offenders through anonymity and scalable tools, and weakening both guardianship and platform management.

Jessica Chi Mei Li, Taylor Wei Feng Xu, Hei Lam Charling Wong2026-07-16
📄 social science

Assessment of the research context and research capacity in higher education institutions in Africa

This study assesses the research capacity of 36 universities across sub-Saharan Africa, revealing that while central-level research policies and engagement are functional, institutional strengthening requires addressing critical gaps in operational leadership, sustainable domestic funding, knowledge translation, gender equity, and support structures at the academic-unit level.

Roy William Mayega, Wilson Abigaba, Anthony Ssebagereka, Dorothy Okello, Nathan Tumuhamye, Christine Muhumuza, Julius Ss (…)2026-07-16