Semarak International Journal of Applied Psychology

Development and Validation of Motivational Instrument for Form Four Physics Students in Secondary Schools: An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)

Lilia Ellany Mohtar — 2024-04-15

Education is recognized as a dynamic, interactive process involving students, teachers, and the learning environment, where motivation plays a pivotal role in both academic achievement and personal development. This study aims to validate a motivation questionnaire derived from the adaptation of the Goal Orientation and Learning Strategies Survey (Goal-S 2004) and the Students’ Adaptive Learning Engagement in Science Questionnaire (SALES 2011). Utilizing Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), the questionnaire examines correlations, extracts factors, and rotates them. The motivation questionnaire comprises four sub-constructs: self-efficacy (SE), learning goal orientation (LGO), achievement goal orientation (AGO), and task value (TV). Involving 406 respondents, form four physics students from daily secondary schools in Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, and Kelantan, data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 29.0. Results indicate strong internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.951), surpassing the recommended threshold of 0.7. EFA reveals specific item representations: SE (9 items), LGO (6 items), AGO (4 items), and TV (8 items), with Eigenvalues exceeding 1. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value (0.929 > 0.6) confirms adequate inter-correlation among motivation construct items, supported by a significant Bartlett's Test (Chi-Square 9718.133, p < 0.05). The four factors collectively explain 72.54% of the variance. Overall, the study finds that the motivation questionnaire effectively measures its objectives, affirming its suitability for genuine research applications.

Sustainable Tech: Exploring Consumer Valuation and Investment in Refurbished Smartphones

Wan Sofiya Wan Ahmad Kamil — 2024-04-17

Electronic waste poses negative effects toward the environment and human health. With a goal to reduce e-waste, this research promotes SDG 12: “Responsible Consumption and Production” by encouraging the use of sustainable electronics. This paper examines the factors impacting consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for refurbished smartphones in the UK by analysing secondary data on eBay using ordinary least squares (OLS). It was found that WTP was higher in three situations: 1) when actual photos were used instead of stock photos, 2) when a longer warranty period was offered, and 3) when no descriptions were provided versus when negative descriptions were used. Further, consumers regard aesthetics as more important than functionality. These findings show that there is promising potential in the market for refurbished electronics, and ultimately, in promoting sustainability.

External Stimuli, Personal Factors, Psychological Cognition, Intention Engaging in Transformation of Medical Achievements among Medical Professionals in China: A Conceptual Framework

Sharon Yong Yee Ong — 2024-04-17

As a highly populous country, China's healthcare system currently faces numerous challenges. Therefore, there is an urgent need for medical innovation and transformation of achievements to address these challenges. Meanwhile, as medical professionals play important roles in this process, the need for medical professionals engaging in medical innovation and transformation of achievements is more crucial than ever. Although the transformation of medical achievements has received considerable attention over the last decades in China, little attention has been devoted to investigating medical professionals and considering what factors influence their engagement with the transformation of medical achievements. This paper aims to provide a conceptual framework for understanding how external factors influence the medical professionals’ engagement with the transformation of medical achievements. It also explores the process of evolution from external stimuli to psychological cognition and, ultimately, to the medical professionals’ intention of transformation of medical achievements. Drawing on prior research, integrating stimulus-organism-response theory and theory of planned behavior, this study employs a deductive approach to establish a conceptual framework for explaining the process and relationship from external stimuli to individual cognition and then to the intention of engaging in the transformation of medical achievements among medical professionals. The external stimuli elicit salient beliefs of medical professionals. Additionally, personal factors moderate the relationship between external stimuli and salient beliefs. Subsequently, the salient beliefs contribute to the formation of individual psychological cognition. Finally, these psychological cognitive factors significantly influence the response (intentions) of medical professionals towards the transformation of medical achievements. Through the process, It is revealed that external stimuli can both positively and negatively affect medical professionals’ intention engaging in the transformation of medical achievements. The study presents a comprehensive conceptual framework , which reveal the whole evolution process from medical professionals receiving external stimulation to their psychological cognitive changes, and finally forming their intention to engage in the transformation of medical achievements. And it paves the way for future research endeavors such as empirical validation of this framework or exploration of its applicability across diverse cultural and contexts.

Exploring Students' Satisfaction and Loyalty in Private Universities, Malaysia

Siew Har Ong — 2024-04-17

This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of students’ satisfaction and loyalty at private universities in Malaysia. Students’ trust and commitment are perceived to be the positive and significant impact on the students’ satisfaction and loyalty to these private universities. The objective of this research was to identify the nature and significance of the relationship from student satisfaction that leads to student loyalty. The study was to determine the dimensions of student satisfaction and loyalty and assess the extent to which student satisfaction mediates the relationship of student loyalty. ANOVA and Regression Coefficient Analysis were applied to the research hypotheses to ascertain the influence of the student satisfaction dimension on student loyalty. The variables are highly connected to satisfaction and loyalty. Further findings revealed that a statistically significant relationship existed between student satisfaction and student loyalty. A test of the mediated relationship confirmed that the relationship of student loyalty was partially mediated by student satisfaction, an observation that adds to existing literature by uncovering the mediating effect of student satisfaction on the student loyalty at private universities in Malaysia. This will be useful to universities and the government in planning and providing education infrastructure to attract more foreign students to study in Malaysia.

Place Attachment and its Impacts Towards Pro-Environmental Behavior Intention among Urban Park Visitors

Nurul Akmaniza Mohd Nasir — 2024-04-17

Numbers of studies showed that there was a consistent connection between a sense of place and pro-environmental behavior intention. It is crucial to understand what makes people feel attached to the place and the factors that contribute to its behavior intention. Limited research has been done to investigate the interaction between place attachment and pro-environmental behavior especially in green space settings. This study investigated the relationship between place attachment and pro-environmental behavior intention at Temerloh Lake Garden, Pahang, Malaysia. The intensity of place attachment and pro-environmental behavior intention were measured using the structured questionnaire followed by an analysis of the relationship between these two constructs using correlation analysis and descriptive statistics analysis. A total of 376 respondents were involved in this study and found out that there is a positive correlation between valuing a place and their willingness to volunteer in environmental activities. However, visitation pattern to the park indirectly influenced the intensity of place attachment thus affecting their pro-environmental behavior intention. This study provides valuable insights in examining the pro-environmental behavior intention among park visitors that park managers should focus to improve the effectiveness of the green space setting in delivering numerous benefits for human quality of life.