Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
Browse
346 results
Search Results
Item Restricted SAUDI ARABIA’S TRANSFORMATION AND ITS GLOBAL IMPACT ON LINGUISTIC AND DISCOURSE-PRAGMATICS(Indiana University, Bloomington, 2024-12) Althuwaini, Anas; Obeng, Samuel GyasiThis dissertation examines the evolving Western perceptions of Saudi Arabia under HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) leadership, focusing on U.S. online discourse and MBS’ communication strategies. Employing a multi-perspective analysis, the study investigates how MBS’ leadership has affected Western, particularly American, views of Saudi Arabia as reflected in media discourse and public opinion. The research is structured around three interconnected studies. The first study examines MBS’ hedging strategies in his 2023 Fox News interview with Bret Baier, highlighting how linguistic devices are employed to navigate sensitive topics, manage ambiguity, and maintain public image. The analysis reveals that MBS strategically uses hedges, such as modal verbs and approximators, to convey pragmatic functions such as caution and avoidance of firm commitments on controversial issues. It demonstrates that his use of hedging is comparable to that of other politicians, such as President Barack Obama (of the United States) and King Abdullah II (of Jordan). The second study employs Conversation Analysis (CA) methodology to subject YouTube comments on MBS’ 2023 Fox News interview to empirical inspection, focusing on adjacency pairs (AP) with the view to synthesizing and analyzing the interactional patterns and thematic content of the interview. This study reveals varied comments showing strong feelings about MBS’ leadership, vision for Saudi Arabia, and handling of international issues. User interactions demonstrate the negotiation of meaning, highlighting the contentious nature of MBS’ public image. The third study is a longitudinal analysis of Reddit users’ discourse from primarily US-focused subreddits about the political image of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2023, utilizing computer-mediated discourse analysis (CMDA) and the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tool. The study finds increased analytical thinking over time, particularly following major political events. Clout, authenticity, and emotional tone fluctuated, with clout peaking during significant events like the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The discourse generally maintained a negative emotional tone, with a slight positive trend in later years. By integrating pragmatic, conversational, and computational methodologies, this dissertation provides a nuanced understanding of how MBS’ leadership and Saudi Arabia’s reforms have been portrayed and debated in digital spaces. It contributes to discourse analysis, media studies, and international relations by offering insights into the interplay between leadership rhetoric, media representation, and public opinion in the digital age.12 0Item Restricted Adapting Homes in Saudi Arabia to Accommodate International Tourists: A Socio-cultural Design Study in Riyadh(The University of Sheffield, 2024) Almusaylihi, Eman; Lanuza, Felipe.6 0Item Restricted Challenging the Dominant Eurocentric Worldview Within the Psy-Disciplines: From the Perspective of Saudi Arabian Practitioners(University of Edinburgh, 2024) AlSharef, Lama; Boylston, TomThis study is an ethnographic inquiry into the subjective experience of Saudi mental health practitioners who studied and trained in Western countries and are currently practicing in Saudi Arabia. The objective behind this study is to challenge the dominant Eurocentric worldview within the psy-disciplines and incorporate their voices in order to challenge the power distribution of voice within the psy-disciplines. This research used ethnographic interviews as the primary method of data collection. Throughout the interviews there was an emphasis placed on knowledge, power, language, and culture, therefore a de-colonial perspective of discourse analysis was used as a method. This paper adheres to a de-colonial lens in regards to investigating knowledge production, more specifically within the psy-disciplines. The emphasis on discourse and language unraveled a hermeneutics approach to de-colonising knowledge. The discussion illustrates how translation between different languages and meaning-making can illuminate frictions that arise when dominant languages and conceptual frameworks are used in contexts that differ in linguistic and cultural foundations. Incorporating the voices of Saudi practitioners within the broader discourse of psy- disciplines demonstrated how psy-discipline theories are being modified and adapted to the Saudi context. Additionally, it underscored the significance of incorporating the broader social, economical and political factors in utilising a de-colonial framework in researching knowledge production and practices within the psy-diciplines.8 0Item Restricted NAVIGATING BARRIERS: WOMEN'S CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA POST-VISION 2030(University of Birmingham, 2024-09) Bakadam, Lina; Cai, MinjieThis dissertation investigates the barriers to women’s career advancement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in particular, within the context of economic and social changes driven by Vision 2030. The introduction highlights the importance of understanding these barriers as the Kingdom aims to empower its citizens and diversify the economy. The methodology chapter explains the systematic approach to extracting data, quality assessment, and thematic analysis of current literature, uncovering main themes to understand the career advancement of women. The findings emphasise the persistent challenges women encounter, which include cultural expectations, gender disparity, and a lack of support within the workplace. While there is a gradual improvement to empowerment, women remain challenged by a complex landscape of organisational and societal challenges. The discussion chapter integrates the findings with relevant theoretical frameworks, providing insights into recommendations for future research and practical implications targeting the enhancement of women’s role within Saudi society.13 0Item Restricted The Effects of Oil Price Variations on Stock Market Returns: Evidence from Saudi Arabia and Spain(Birkbeck, University of London, 2024-10) Alzamel, Hussah Adnan; Beckert, WalterThis study investigates the effects of oil price variations on stock market performance in Saudi Arabia and Spain. Specifically, we employ the autoregressive distributed lag model to estimate the effects of oil price changes on stock market returns in these net oil-exporting and oil- importing nations, respectively. The empirical findings suggest that, in both cases, oil price increases led to corresponding increases in stock market returns. However, the stock markets of both countries reacted differently to oil price changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a massive slump in global demand. In Saudi Arabia, a nation whose economy relied heavily on oil, the impact was negative, whereas in Spain, the impact was positive. Using the generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (1,1) model, we also modelled volatility in the stock returns and found that oil price increase reduced volatility in the stock returns. Keywords: Saudi Arabia, Spain, ARDL, GARCH, oil prices, stock returns18 0Item Restricted Perceptions of Adults who stutter after attending stuttering support groups in Saudi Arabia(University of Sheffield, 2024-08) Alrasheed, Rahaf; Cunningham, StuartBackground: Stuttering, marked by disruptions in speech flow, often leads to significant psychological and social challenges (Boyle, 2013a). Support groups have been identified as a beneficial approach to enhancing both speech fluency and psychosocial well-being among people who stutter (Gerlach et al., 2019). Aim: To investigate the impact of participation in stuttering support groups on perceptions of speech fluency and psychosocial well-being of adults who stutter in Saudi Arabia. Method: A total of 18 adults who stutter were recruited to this study via SSGs leaders. The study used a survey to collect data and employed a mixed methods approach by integrating both quantitative analyses using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative thematic analysis to explore participants' experiences and perceptions. Results: The findings revealed that support groups largely enhance self-acceptance and confidence while showing variable improvement in speech fluency among participants. Conclusion: This research contributes valuable insights into the role of support groups in the lives of adults who stutter, advocating for their continued development and accessibility in Saudi Arabia.10 0Item Restricted Investigating the potential of using mHealth apps to support DASH diet self-management among individuals with high blood pressure in Saudi Arabia(University of Sheffield, 2024-09) Alnooh, Ghadah; Williams, Elizabeth; Hawley, MarkBackground: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke, affecting 1.28 billion adults worldwide. Saudi Arabia has a high prevalence of hypertension, with 48.2% of adults aged 40 to 64 living with high blood pressure (BP) in 2018. Lifestyle management is crucial in addressing this issue. Strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension include maintaining a healthy body weight, increasing physical activity levels, and adopting the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet as the front-line strategy. Effective dietary self-management can enhance adherence to the DASH diet and help control BP. In this context, mobile health (mHealth) apps are increasingly considered valuable resources for managing individuals’ diets. Smartphone apps may provide new opportunities to improve nutrition interventions and change behaviour. Nevertheless, despite these advantages, patients and health-care professionals can face difficulties in identifying and selecting the most suitable apps. Further research is needed to determine whether mHealth apps can support DASH diet self-management and improve adherence among individuals with high BP in Saudi Arabia. Aims: The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate the potential of using mHealth apps to support DASH diet self-management among individuals with high BP in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Four studies were conducted in two phases. Phase one aimed to identify the most suitable DASH diet self-management apps. An exploratory approach was used to gather information on relevant apps, including their effectiveness, theoretical basis, quality, safety, security, characteristics, and functions. This phase consisted of two studies: 1) a systematic review of existing literature and 2) an app store review. Phase two aimed to select the most suitable DASH diet app for the Saudi Arabian context and to evaluate its feasibility and acceptability within this context. This exploratory phase involved two studies: a qualitative study and a feasibility study. The qualitative study sought to gain insights into the experiences and perspectives of individuals with high BP and healthcare professionals who have used the DASH diet self-management apps identified in phase one as high-quality, secure, and potentially effective (Noom and DASH To Ten). This information was crucial in selecting the most appropriate app for the Saudi context. The feasibility study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of using the Noom app to support DASH diet self-management among individuals with high BP in Saudi Arabia. Results: The first phase identified two high-quality, secure, and potentially effective DASH diet apps: DASH To TEN and Noom. In the second phase, the participants in the qualitative study selected the Noom app as the most suitable for the Saudi context. While during the feasibility study, the participants found the Noom app to be feasible and acceptable, they also suggested improvements for greater accessibility to the Saudi population, including translating it into Arabic and simplifying the food logging process. Conclusion: The contributions of this thesis are significant in addressing a crucial gap in current research: the need for more studies exploring the use of smartphone apps to enhance adherence to the DASH diet to control BP. The research employed a systematic staged approach to identify and select commercial dietary smartphone applications, enabling researchers to make well-informed decisions when selecting dietary apps. This approach provided a solid basis for developing a high-quality RCT of a widely available DASH diet app since this research carefully identified and selected a commercial DASH diet app and evaluated its feasibility, usability, and acceptability among individuals with high BP in Saudi Arabia. However, conducting an RCT in Saudi Arabia may face challenges if the app is not adapted to address participants' recommendations, particularly concerning the need to enhance its educational content to better align with the needs of Saudi users. In addition, dietitians can leverage these findings to recommend two high-quality, potentially effective, and secure apps to their patients, aiding in DASH diet self-management. This research also offers critical insights into the interactive features of these dietary apps, informed by feedback from both patients and health professionals. These insights are instrumental for researchers and developers aiming to design more effective and user-friendly dietary applications. This research’s exploration of the feasibility and acceptability of commercial dietary apps among Saudis can inform further studies in the mHealth field.10 0Item Restricted Evaluating Reported Patient Perspectives of Teledentistry Use for Dental Care Provision During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Scoping Review(University of Exeter, 2024) Althabit, Thabet; Carrieri, DanieleBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted dental services, increasing interest in teledentistry as an alternative. In Saudi Arabia, dental clinics' temporary closure in March 2020 made teledentistry crucial for maintaining dental care. Despite advanced technology, teledentistry use was low. Understanding patient perspectives is key to improving its adoption. Objective: This review synthesizes evidence on patient perspectives, satisfaction, and perceived outcomes of teledentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia to guide future strategies and research. Methods: Following a scoping review methodology, we searched multiple databases from 2020 to 2024, identifying studies involving Saudi patients using teledentistry during the pandemic. Data were extracted and analyzed thematically. Results: Eleven studies from 2020 to 2023 were included. Key themes were accessibility, convenience, patient satisfaction, and security concerns. Teledentistry improved access and reduced costs, with high satisfaction for minor issues. However, data privacy concerns and limitations in handling complex cases were noted. Conclusion: Teledentistry offered significant benefits during the pandemic, enhancing accessibility and patient satisfaction for minor issues. Yet, managing complex cases and ensuring data security remain challenges. A hybrid model of teledentistry and in-person visits is recommended. Further research on long-term effects, cost-effectiveness, and data security is needed.33 0Item Restricted Developing and Assessing the Effectiveness of a Web-based Breastfeeding Educational Resource on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate among Saudi Women(University of Wollongong, 2024-09) Alahmed, Salma; Frost, Steve; Meedya, Shahla; Fernanadez, Ritin; Win, Khin; Almutair, AbbasBackground Breastfeeding is not only a very cost-effective way of feeding a baby, but it is also associated with multiple health benefits for both mothers and infants. Henceforth, the World Health Organization highly recommends early initiation of breastfeeding within an hour after birth, followed by exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months. However, the rates of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding vary around the world, and in some countries, they are well below the WHO targets. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding ranges from 26.3% in the Northern region to 62.7% in the Southern region. Furthermore, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at six months after birth varies from 19.2% to 28%. Despite national efforts to promote breastfeeding, a decline in breastfeeding practices has been recorded, coinciding with increased use of infant formula. Introducing formula milk during hospital stays in Saudi Arabia is common practice. Several misconceptions about body shape, the safety of colostrum, and breastmilk insufficiency, coupled with rapid economic growth, have contributed to this decline and early breastfeeding cessation, even though Saudi women are offered breastfeeding education during pregnancy. Therefore, there was a need to develop an online educational intervention to motivate Saudi women to breastfeed for a longer duration. Saudi Arabia has a deep-rooted cultural heritage based on the Islamic religion, and its main language is Arabic. Hence, the cultural and linguistic aspects of the educational intervention were considered important determinants of its successful implementation. Aim The aim of this program of Higher Degree Research (HDR) was to develop and assess the effectiveness of a Web-based Breastfeeding Educational Resource (WEBBER) on exclusive breastfeeding rate during the hospital stay until one month after birth. Method The multi-method study was carried out in three phases to address the research aim. In the first phase, a systematic review was conducted to collect evidence-based information. The content of the website was based on the knowledge gaps identified in the systematic review, the WHO recommendation and the Milky Way app. In the second phase, the content of the website was finalised through a consensus development conference involving local stakeholders from the participating hospital in Saudi Arabia and university researchers. Participants of the Consensus Development Conference were asked to give feedback before the meeting, and changes were made to the content accordingly. The meeting was conducted on Zoom, and polling was used to indicate whether consensus was reached about the content, images and layout. The Persuasive System Design model informed the framework of the website development phase. The third phase was divided into two stages. In the first stage, a quasi-experimental study with a before and after intervention design was used to assess the effectiveness of the Web-based breastfeeding educational resource in promoting breastfeeding practices. An online survey was conducted to collect information about the breastfeeding practices during a hospital stay and at one month after birth before (Standard Care group) and after (Intervention group) giving access to the website. In the second stage, a semi-structured interview was undertaken to explore women’s experiences using the website. The interview was digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim using the Otter application before translating into English. The quantitative data was analysed using R language for statistical computing. A log-binomial regression model was used to adjust for any confounding factors that were identified. The qualitative data was analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results A total of sixteen studies were included in the systematic review. Data from ten studies that reported on breastfeeding knowledge demonstrated that 42.3% to 82.3% of Saudi women had good knowledge. However, several gaps in knowledge were identified including managing breastfeeding challenges. A meta-analysis of seven studies that reported on attitudes showed that most Saudi women hold positive attitudes towards breastfeeding. However, around 40% of women believed that formula milk was as healthy as breastmilk, and 59.4% believed that formula feeding was more convenient. The literature review was crucial in developing the content of the website. After making changes to the content based on feedback received from the members of the Consensus Development Conference, 100% agreement about the content, layout and images was achieved during the meeting. This confirmed the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the content of the website, which was successfully developed using the Persuasive Systems Design model. Findings from the quasi-experimental experimental demonstrated an almost three times increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at one month after birth in the intervention group that was given access to the website. Several predictors of exclusive breastfeeding were identified, including intention to breastfeed for six months or more, baby not receiving pre-made infant formula, and unemployment status of the women. Thematic analysis of the data from the semi-structured interview revealed three themes, including “Satisfying,” “Helpful,” and “Motivational.” Participants found the website “satisfying” due to its “Accessibility,” “Visual attraction,” “User-friendliness,” “Informative content,” “Trustworthiness,” and “Uniqueness.” They qualified the website as being helpful because it was perceived as a “Problem solver,” “Supportive,” and “Confidence booster.” The four sub-themes associated with “Motivational” were “Motivation to continue breastfeeding,” “Preparedness for managing breastfeeding challenges,” “Facilitating the continuation of breastfeeding,” and “Enhancement of intention to Breastfeed for a longer period.” Overall, the women’s experience of using the website was very positive. Conclusion This program of Higher Degree Research (HDR) has demonstrated the effectiveness of the Web-based Breastfeeding Education Resource in improving the exclusive breastfeeding rate during the hospital stay until one month after birth in Saudi Arabia. The Consensus Development Conference facilitated the engagement with local stakeholders, who ensured the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the evidence-based content derived from the systematic review, WHO and Milky Way App. The Persuasive Systems Design model was successfully employed in developing the website, which was confirmed by the positive feedback from breastfeeding women who felt more motivated to breastfeed. This study has demonstrated that a women-centred online breastfeeding educational intervention can improve breastfeeding practices in Saudi Arabia.12 0Item Restricted Balancing Innovation and Protection: Is AI Regulation the Future of Saudi FinTech?(King's College London, 2024-09) Alkhathlan, Alaa Saad; Keller, AnatThis study investigates the implications of artificial intelligence in the Saudi FinTech sector, focusing on the evolving regulatory landscape. While AI holds substantial promise for driving innovation, it also poses ethical and practical challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and fairness. This study examines the current regulatory framework in Saudi Arabia, highlighting efforts like the AI Ethics Principles and the Personal Data Protection Law. Despite these measures, significant gaps remain due to the voluntary nature of the AI Ethics Principles and Generative AI Guidelines, resulting in inconsistent implementation. The primary aim of this study is to guide policymakers on regulating AI in the Saudi FinTech sector while preserving innovation. Key recommendations urge policymakers to develop regulations based on international best practices, addressing issues such as data privacy, algorithmic biases, and systemic risks. Emphasising the need for continuous dialogue among regulators, FinTech companies, and international partners, the study also calls for enhancing human-machine collaboration, establishing regulatory sandboxes, creating an AI Oversight Committee, and supporting research to better understand AI's implications. By aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals, these recommendations aim to strengthen Saudi Arabia's AI regulatory framework, support sustainable growth in the FinTech sector, and build public trust in AI-driven financial services.12 0