📄 social_science

Exploring Curriculum-Industry Alignment and Career Perceptions Among Ghanaian Biomedical Engineering Undergraduates

This mixed-methods study of Ghanaian biomedical engineering undergraduates reveals a significant disconnect between their theory-heavy curriculum and industry demands, characterized by low technical confidence, limited local job prospects, and a strong need for curriculum reform and industry partnerships to enhance workforce readiness.

Mighty Ametsikor, Joseph Dabuo, Yohan Damiba, Wendy Bagonluri, Hephzi Tagoe2026-08-24
📄 social_science

Democratising Nature-based Solutions Through Non-Digital Gamification in Semi Urban India

This study demonstrates that non-digital gamification effectively enhances ecological literacy and participatory confidence among diverse, marginalized communities in semi-urban India, yet reveals that without institutional mechanisms to integrate community-generated data, these psychological benefits fail to translate into concrete policy changes due to persistent technocratic biases.

Riyazul Samad Binmohammad, Wahaj Akathar Abedeen, Zia Ul Haque2026-08-24
📄 social_science

Enhancing Classical Arabic Rhetoric Learning: A Virtual Reality-Based Visualization of Metaphors (Isti’arah)

This study demonstrates that a Virtual Reality-based instructional tool, designed using the Alessi and Trollip model and RASE pedagogy, effectively enhances classical Arabic rhetoric learning by transforming abstract metaphors (Isti'arah) into immersive visual experiences, thereby significantly improving content validity, reducing cognitive load, and facilitating deeper semantic understanding.

NUR HIDAYAH MOHD YUSOFF, Lily Hanefarezan Asbullah, Suhaila Zailani2026-08-24✓ Author reviewed
📄 social_science

Engagement and Equity as Evidence for AI-Informed Instructional Design: A Learning Analytics Study of Two Large-Scale Datasets

By analyzing two large-scale learning datasets, this study demonstrates that while behavioral engagement is the strongest predictor of academic success, its unequal distribution across socio-economic and disability groups necessitates that AI-informed instructional design prioritize equity and early retention strategies over mere automation to effectively advance inclusive education.

Opiyo Michael Ouru, Kenneth Goga Riany2026-08-24
📄 social_science

Coaching Style and Athlete Performance: The Mediating Roles of Coach–Athlete Relationship, Motivation, and Training Load–Recovery Management

Grounded in self-determination theory and the coach–athlete relationship framework, this study of 483 participants in Chinese sports universities reveals that while coaching style significantly predicts athlete performance, its influence is primarily indirect, mediated through the coach–athlete relationship, athlete motivation, and training load–recovery management, which collectively account for approximately 54% of the total effect.

Yi Wang, Ke He, Yongchao Li, Lei Shi2026-08-24
📄 social_science

Surveying Palaeolithic Archives in the Be’eri Badlands, Northern Negev Desert, Israel

Through a systematic three-year "siteless" survey of the Be'eri Badlands in the Northern Negev, researchers documented over 2,000 Lower and Middle Palaeolithic lithic artifacts and associated faunal remains, revealing a complex history of early hominin mobility driven by freshwater availability in this arid landscape.

Nira Alperson-Afil, Gadi Herzlinger, Rivka Rabinovich, Natalia Gubenko, Onn Crouvi2026-08-24
📄 social_science

Female educational inequality and household cooking fuel choice in Ghana: evidence from the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey

Using 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey data, this study finds that while greater community-level female educational inequality is initially associated with a lower likelihood of households using clean cooking fuels, this relationship is actually driven by overall community educational disadvantage rather than inequality itself, suggesting that expanding and equalizing women's education is crucial for advancing clean energy adoption.

Nicholas Perigrino Palma, Anthony Abbam, Benedicta Leonora Akrono³, Joana Aku Gabienu⁴2026-08-24
📄 social_science

Artificial Intelligence for Women's Empowerment in Saudi Higher Education: A Human-Centred and Ethical Framework

This paper proposes a culturally adapted, Human-Centred Ethical AI Framework for Saudi higher education that integrates diverse theoretical models and international governance standards to bridge the gap between AI adoption and women's empowerment, addressing specific leadership development gaps while advancing multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Wafa Muhammed Alajaji, Obby Phiri2026-08-24