Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Analysing the Influence of National Culture on Consumer Behaviour in the Context of Saudi Arabia(Aston University, 2024-09-30) Alshammari, Tahani Abdulkarim; Ogwude, UcheThis study analyses the influence of national culture on consumer behaviour in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the Vision 2030 framework, a plan focused on expanding the economy and minimising dependence on oil. To better understand the influence of national culture on consumer behaviour, Hofstede cultural dimension and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) theories have been adopted. Based on these theories, eight hypotheses were proposed and tested to analyse how cultural values and long-term orientation influence attitude, collectivism and individualism influence subjective norms, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence purchase intention, and finally, how purchase behaviour intention influence actual purchasing behaviour. The findings reveal that long-term orientation has a significant positive influence on attitude. Moreover, it found that collectivism positively influences subjective norms, and subjective norms positively influence purchase intention. In addition, perceived behavioural control positively influences purchase intention, and purchase intention has a significant positive on purchase behaviour. The research contributed to understanding the cultural influence on consumer behaviour. The research also acknowledges the limitations, such as the reliance on quantitative data and the specific focus period. The research in future can adopt qualitative methods and enormous scope to capture Vision 2030 long-term influence on the behaviours of KSA consumers. The research provided valuable understandings for policymakers and businesses, emphasising the need to align marketing strategies with cultural shifts to foster economic and sustainable growth and preserve the cultural identity of KSA.22 0Item Restricted Attitudes and Perceptions of English Language Teachers at Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia Towards Integrating Sustainability Topics into the English Language Curriculum and its Potential Impact on Students' Learning(University of Essex, 2024-09-18) Alharthi, Saad; Gkonou, ChristinaThis dissertation investigates English language teachers' attitudes and perceptions towards integrating sustainability topics at Umm Al-Qura University's English Language Institute (ELI). It addresses the under-researched area of sustainability in English Language Teaching (ELT) within the Saudi Arabian context. Employing a holistic approach, the study explores the factors influencing teachers' acceptance and implementation of sustainability education, considering the impact on students' learning skills. The research examines teachers' attitudes, potential demographic influences, perceived impacts on students, and challenges and opportunities related to sustainability integration. By providing empirical evidence from a specific cultural context, the study fills a gap in the literature and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The findings contribute to informing curriculum development, teacher training, and policy decisions to advance sustainability education in Saudi Arabia and beyond.31 0Item Restricted SHATTERED PERCEPTIONS: HOW NEGATIVE NEWS TRUMPS DESTINATION IMAGE IN CONFLICT-RIDDEN REGIONS(Queensland University of Technology, 2024) Moathen, Wael; Wang, Di; Beatson, AmandaThis research investigates the causal effect of negative news media on destination image formation in conflict-ridden regions, addressing a critical gap in tourism literature. Destination image is pivotal in tourists’ decision-making processes and overall destination competitiveness. In conflict-ridden regions like the Middle East, negative news coverage can significantly impact these perceptions, potentially deterring visitors and affecting tourism economies. Despite the recognised importance of news media as an autonomous agent in image formation, limited empirical research has examined its causal effects, particularly in conflict- ridden areas. This study aims to comprehensively understand how negative news shapes destination image, the underlying mechanisms of this effect, and potential moderating factors. Study One establishes the main effect of negative news on destination image through a 2 (within-subjects: Time [before news story, after news story]) × 2 (between-subjects: News Frame [thematic, episodic]) × 4 (Countries [Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar]) experimental design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals that negative news significantly decreases destination image for the featured location and, to a lesser extent, other destinations in the region. The study demonstrates the robustness of this effect across different news frames, providing initial evidence for the pervasive impact of negative media coverage on regional perceptions. Study Two replicates and extends these findings using a 2 (Story type: negative v. ordinary) × 2 (Connotation: negative v. neutral) × Continuous prevention focus, between- participants experimental design. Through mediation analyses, it identifies perceived risk and negative emotions as significant mediators in the relationship between negative news and destination image. Additionally, moderation analysis reveals that prevention focus moderates the effect of negative news on perceived risk, with high prevention-focused individuals being more susceptible to negative news effects. Study Three further confirms these results and examines the impact across different travel arrangements using a 2 (Story type: negative v. ordinary) × 2 (Travelling arrangements: independent traveller v. all-inclusive packaged travellers) between-participants experimental design. The findings demonstrate that the negative effect of news persists for both independent iv Chapter 1: Introduction and package travellers, challenging assumptions about the risk-mitigating potential of all- inclusive packages in conflict-ridden destinations. Theoretically, this research makes several important contributions. It provides the first causal evidence of the negative effect of news media on destination image formation in conflict-ridden regions, addressing calls for more rigorous methodologies in this area. Identifying perceived risk and negative emotions as mediators advances understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying this effect. Further, the research extends the application of regulatory focus theory in tourism contexts by demonstrating its relevance to news processing and destination perceptions. This research fills a significant geographical gap in tourism studies by examining an under-researched geographical region, thereby enhancing the global relevance of tourism scholarship and providing valuable insights for both academic discourse and practical tourism management. Practically, the findings offer valuable insights for destination marketing organisations in conflict-ridden regions. The research underscores the need for proactive media monitoring and rapid response strategies to counteract negative coverage. It highlights the importance of addressing both cognitive (perceived risk) and affective (negative emotions) components in image management efforts. The findings related to prevention focus suggest the need for tailored marketing approaches that consider individual differences in risk sensitivity. In conclusion, this research comprehensively examines how negative news media influences destination image formation in conflict-ridden regions. Establishing causal relationships, identifying underlying mechanisms and exploring moderating factors advances both theoretical understanding and practical strategies in destination marketing. As global tourism continues to navigate geopolitical challenges and media dynamics, these insights offer crucial guidance for managing destination perceptions in complex environments.9 0Item 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.13 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.9 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.19 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 returns28 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.15 0