Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
Browse
13 results
Search Results
Item Restricted BLACKBOARD LEARNING SYSTEM POTENTIAL ON COMMUNICATION AMONGST MALE LECTURERS AND FEMALE STUDENTS AT A UNIVERSITY IN SAUDI ARABIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almijlad, Aliyah Kayyad H; Muhamad, Mohd MokhtarThis study explores the potential of Blackboard Learning System functions as a communication medium between male lecturers and female students at Northern Border University, within a gender-segregated and culturally conservative academic setting in Saudi Arabia. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Transactional Distance Theory (TDT), the research explores four core questions: identifying the enablers and barriers to Blackboard Learning System usage, uncovering the mechanisms by which the system enhances communication, and examining the sociocultural factors that influence its adoption and engagement. A qualitative methodology, grounded in an interpretative case study design, was adopted to gain in-depth insights into user experiences and to enable a context-bound exploration of how the Blackboard Learning System facilitates communication and learning within the digital ecosystem of Northern Border University. Data were collected through two focus group interviews with female students and five individual interviews with male lecturers. The sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a thematic approach facilitated by ATLAS.ti (version 24). This dual theoretical framework enabled an integrated examination of both technological and pedagogical dimensions, thereby revealing the intricate interplay between system affordances and local sociocultural practices. The findings are structured around four key aspects. Enablers included effective feedback, robust interaction, perceived ease of use, user satisfaction, perceived usefulness both in enhancing academic achievement and learning experience made users more willing to communicate frequently and flexibly. Barriers such as lack of non-verbal communication, limited peer support and collaboration, technological issues and limitations, inadequate training, infrastructure challenges, and cultural factors contributed to cautious, asynchronous communication, which at times reduced the spontaneity and depth of academic engagement. Mechanisms enhancing communication involved collaborative spaces (e.g., discussion boards, group tasks), multimodal tools (e.g., chat, multimedia), and well-organised course resources. Sociocultural influences, including formal communication styles, family expectations, and discomfort with voice/video shaped Blackboard Learning System usage significantly. By integrating sociocultural factors into UTAUT and TDT, the study offers a refined model for technology acceptance in conservative contexts. While the study deepens understanding of digital learning in gender-segregated environments, its limitations include reliance on qualitative-self-reported data, a small sample from a single institution, a context-specific and time-bound technological focus, and partial omission of organisational and policy dimensions. Future research should broaden the sample across universities and disciplines, explore long-term usage patterns, and examine factors like infrastructure, motivation, and organisational dynamics. Keywords: Blackboard Learning System, Communication, Gender Segregation, Sociocultural Setting, Higher Education SDG: GOAL 4: Quality Education, GOAL 5: Gender Equality10 0Item Restricted Exploring and Enhancing the Communication Process between Nonverbal Patients and Healthcare Professionals in Intensive Care in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alodan, Hissah Ahmed; Cross, Jane; Hill, Rebekah; Sutt, Anna-LiisaPatients in intensive care units (ICUs) are frequently mechanically ventilated, leaving them nonverbal. This impacts on their ability to communicate their needs and their interactions with healthcare professionals (HCPs), causing negative emotions, and an increased burden of care. Nonverbal communication can be facilitated using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). In Saudi Arabia, there are many non-Saudi HCPs whose cultures and languages differ from those of the Saudi community, creating challenges in providing, receiving, and explaining information to patients, and thus potentially compromising quality of care. Little is known about AAC use and the communication process between HCPs and patients in the Saudi ICUs. Therefore, this thesis aimed to enhance communication between nonverbal patients and HCPs in Saudi ICUs by exploring the lived experience of communication, and by developing and exploring the acceptability of using a low-tech AAC prototype. Using mixed research and based on a framework for developing complex interventions, this thesis involved three phases, each represented a study. In the first phase, the effectiveness, experience and usability of low-tech AAC within ICUs were explored through a mixed methods systematic review. Findings indicated such strategies can be beneficial to ICU population. In the second phase, a qualitative study explored patients’ and HCPs’ lived experiences of the communication process in Saudi ICUs. Findings revealed a lack of evidence-based communication strategies and challenges to communication with a significant presence of the language barrier. Therefore, the third phase involved designing a low-tech AAC strategy named “ICommUnicare”, adapted to Saudi ICU and exploring its acceptability among HCPs using a qualitative study. Findings indicated ICommUnicare is acceptable to HCPs, but it needs modification and further exploration. This thesis contributed new knowledge about the use of low-tech AAC and shed light on the communication between nonverbal patients and HCPs in the foreign language dominated Saudi ICU.17 0Item Restricted Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assimilation in the Public Sector:An Attention-Based Exploration of Decision Making, Leadership, and Communication in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alshahrani, Albandari Fahad; Griva, Anastasia; Dennehy, DenisThe rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has opened new possibilities for public sector organisations to improve service delivery, strengthen decision-making processes, and enhance operational efficiency. However, successfully assimilating AI in government contexts presents distinct challenges that differ markedly from those faced by private sector organisations. Public institutions operate within complex frameworks shaped by multiple stakeholder expectations, stringent regulatory requirements, accountability obligations, and often risk-averse organisational cultures — all of which significantly influence technology assimilation outcomes. Despite growing interest in AI within government, there is still limited understanding of how organisational attention dynamics shape AI assimilation processes. This PhD thesis addresses this critical gap by applying the Attention-Based View (ABV) theory to explore how leadership attention allocation, communication practices, and institutional contexts influence AI integration in public sector organisations. This doctoral thesis, structured as an article-based PhD, comprises three interrelated studies that collectively advance understanding of AI assimilation through the lens of organisational attention. The research pursues five Research Objectives (ROs): identifying organisational and governance challenges in public sector AI assimilation through a systematic literature review (RO1); investigating leadership attention allocation mechanisms in AI initiatives (RO2); examining communication channels as attention management mechanisms in public sector AI integration (RO3); analysing how national policies and institutional contexts influence AI assimilation outcomes (RO4); and providing practical insights for AI-driven governance (RO5). Methodologically, the research combines a systematic literature review with qualitative case studies conducted in the Saudi Arabian public sector, focusing on organisations implementing AI under the Vision 2030 transformation agenda. The first study presents a systematic literature review of 61 peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2023, mapping the current state of AI research in public administration. This review identifies seven major challenges including infrastructure limitations, data governance issues, workforce readiness gaps, regulatory complexities, cultural resistance, cybersecurity concerns, and resource constraints, and five primary benefits, such as enhanced decision-making, greater efficiency, cost optimisation, increased transparency, and improved citizen engagement. This study lays a foundational understanding of AI assimilation challenges and underscores the need for attention-based perspectives. The second study applies ABV theory to examine attention-related challenges in AI assimilation within Saudi public sector organisations. Using in-depth qualitative analysis of a single case study, the research identifies five core attention-based challenges, divided into internal (situated) and external (structural) categories. Internally, challenges include fragmented leadership attention, competing priorities, and resource conflicts; externally, they involve regulatory demands, stakeholder expectations, and institutional pressures. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how attention allocation shapes AI outcomes and underscore the central role of leadership focus in managing assimilation challenges. The third study extends this analysis by exploring how leadership practices and communication channels facilitate AI integration across multiple Saudi public sector organisations. The research shows that leaders coordinate organisational attention through structural frameworks (formal systems), situated practices (contextual engagement), and communication-mediated mechanisms (information flow management). The study introduces the concept of leaders as "attention architects" who design and manage attention structures to support digital transformation. Findings reveal how formal and informal communication channels function not only as conduits but as active mechanisms shaping attention, fostering alignment, and sustaining commitment to AI initiatives. Theoretically, this thesis advances ABV by applying the theory to public sector AI assimilation and developing communication channels as attention regulators. It offers the first thorough application of ABV in public sector AI assimilation, highlighting distinct dynamics compared to private sector contexts. The study also underscores the role of national transformation agendas in shaping attention allocation and assimilation trajectories, providing insights relevant to Global South and developing country contexts. Furthermore, this thesis establishes a novel theoretical framework that integrates organisational attention with institutional theory, demonstrating how cultural and political factors systematically influence attention allocation patterns in complex technological transformations (Ocasio et al., 2018; Taras et al., 2020). The thesis also contributes to communication theory by conceptualising formal and informal communication networks as co-equal drivers of attention distribution, challenging traditional hierarchical models of organisational attention and proposing a more dynamic, multi-channel approach to understanding attention flows in public sector contexts (Putnam & Mumby, 2014; Cornelissen et al., 2020). Practically, the findings provide actionable guidance for public sector leaders and policymakers. They suggest strategies for designing attention structures, managing competing demands, and leveraging communication channels to enable successful AI integration. The focus on Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 offers valuable lessons for other governments pursuing digital transformation under complex institutional and cultural constraints. This thesis acknowledges limitations, including its focus on a single national context, the literature review's temporal scope (up to 2023), and the qualitative nature of empirical studies. These limitations present opportunities for future work, such as cross-country comparative studies, longitudinal analyses of attention dynamics, and quantitative validation of the developed frameworks. In sum, this thesis makes significant contributions to both theory and practice by demonstrating the critical role of organisational attention in public sector AI assimilation. It reveals that successful integration demands strategic attention management, effective communication systems, and leadership practices that align organisational focus with implementation goals. The findings offer a strong foundation for future studies on attention dynamics in technology assimilation and provide practical insights to support leaders and policymakers striving for AI-enabled governance transformation. By integrating theoretical depth with practical relevance, this PhD research advances academic understanding and offers concrete guidance for navigating public sector digital transformation.8 0Item Restricted Bridging Tradition And Modernity: People’s Perceptions of Social Media's Impact on Realizing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030(Ohio University, 2025-05) Alharethi, Mesfer; Khan, LaeeqThis research investigates how nation branding and social media influence public perceptions and travel intentions regarding Saudi Arabia, particularly in the context of Vision 2030. The study evaluates the impact of platforms such as TikTok on emotional engagement and travel motivations by analyzing the interplay between push and pull factors. A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational approach was employed, gathering data through an online survey of 426 Saudi nationals aged 18 and above who regularly engage with social media. Inferential statistics reveal that nation branding as measured by knowledge of Vision 2030 significantly correlates with increased knowledge of tourism opportunities (r = .519, p < .001) and travel intentions (r = .259, p < .001). Emotional appeal was also a critical factor, as respondents who followed TikTok influencers creating Saudi tourism content exhibited significantly higher emotional perceptions (t = 5.20, p < .001). In addition, a strong correlation was found between push factors (r = .507, p < .001), pull factors (r = .463, p < .001), and the likelihood of considering Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination. The results highlight how incorporating social media into nation branding efforts can drive significant change. By offering empirical data on the influence of TikTok, this research contributes to academic discourse while delivering actionable recommendations to support the tourism goals of Vision 2030.46 0Item Restricted A comparative study of the framing of COVID-19 by the BBC and Al Arabiya(University of Leicester, 2024) Shbeer, Saud; Qian, GongThe COVID-19 pandemic required public service media (PSM) outlets to respond swiftly and adapt their communication strategies. This thesis examines how two major PSM organisations—BBC in the UK and Al Arabiya in Saudi Arabia—framed the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on eight key news frames identified in the study: human-interest, vaccination safety/hesitancy, war, commitment and transparency, uncertainty, economic consequences, government handling; criticism vs. firm state control, and authority-centric frames. This thesis uses corpus linguistic analysis (CLA) to assist the framing analysis process, building two corpora from tweets and the attached full news articles on X (formerly Twitter) from both outlets. This method allows for a detailed comparison of how COVID-19 was communicated in the different political, social, and media contexts of the UK and Saudi Arabia. The findings show that BBC’s coverage often highlighted public engagement, transparency, criticism and economic impact, while Al Arabiya focused more on government authority and firm state control. The thesis also tracks how these frames changed over time, noting both similarities and differences between the two outlets. Early coverage in both media focused on uncertainty and health risks but later shifted to issues such as vaccination, economic recovery, and government handling. However, the degree to which each outlet emphasised these frames varied, reflecting the differences in media landscapes and political environments. This change shows how PSM adapted their messages as COVID-19 progressed. This thesis offers new academic contributions by providing fresh insights into the role of PSM in risk communication and how PSM frames health crises and demonstrates the value of integrating CLA with framing analysis. It provides valuable lessons for policymakers on how to effectively manage public health messaging during future global emergencies.17 0Item Restricted Do hand gestures obtain a universally consistent emotional interpretation across different cultures?(University of the Arts London, 2025) Almasoud, Sara; Mairs, NigelThis research revolves around the importance of hand gestures as a method of communication in animation and the study of how cultural variations affect the interpretation of these gestures. Animation is considered one of the most expressive and influential arts. It specifically depends on non-verbal communication to enhance the interaction with the audience and deliver messages directly and non-directly. While animation has been developed as a communication and storytelling method, animators still face challenges and obstacles repeatedly with the need to create understandable and capable gestures and movements that could cross cultural boundaries. It also focuses on hand gestures as one of the nonverbal forms to show how these gestures influence building rich and expressive characters that can deliver emotions more effectively. While these movements appear universal at first glance, they could be translated and understood differently from one culture to another. For example, a simple hand gesture for a greeting could have a positive meaning in one culture but may be unclear or even offensive in another. By reviewing examples from well-known global works such as Disney and Pixar films and analyzing some animated series from different cultures, the research shows how animators used hand gestures to enhance narratives and communicate ideas. At the same time, in some cases, the audience misunderstood these non-verbal gestures due to cultural differences, which negatively impacted the reception of the artwork. The research relies on academic literature and case studies to better understand the relationship between animation and cultural communication. Additionally, it examines the potential of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and data analysis, to gather insights into how diverse audiences worldwide perceive and respond to different gestures and movements. The research has reached some findings that enhance understanding of the importance of hand gestures in animation. First, animators should carefully design the needed hand gestures since it will significantly help improve the audience's interaction with the characters and make them more lifelike and relevant to the viewers. Second, searching for and learning about the cultural differences that affect the understanding of these gestures will gradually help the animators avoid any negative impacts on the audience. Third, there can be tremendous opportunities for collaboration between animators and experts in different cultures to design artworks that speak a universal language. Furthermore, the research offers simple suggestions for animators, such as enhancing awareness of different cultures and using academic studies on nonverbal communication. It also encourages adopting an integrated approach that combines psychology, cultural studies, and technology with the aim of finding innovative ways to improve the quality of animation and increase its effectiveness as a means of international communication.16 0Item Restricted Exploring How Social Media Advertising Shape Cultural Saudi Identity in Saudi Arabia(University of Sheffield, 2024-08-29) Alaydaa, Sarah; Ogunmuyiwa, HakeemInvestigating how social media advertising shapes Saudi cultural identity is the goal of this study. The research reviewed the previous studies that conducted in the last decade to derive its results and conclusions. Social media platforms have fundamentally changed how people interact and communicate. Thus it's important to understand how these virtual social phenomena are affecting our feelings and ideas about ourselves and each other. Finding out how social media advertising affects cultural identity in a good and bad way is the goal of the research. The benefits can be seen in the freedom to engage with others, pick up new information, and deal with the outside world, as well as in the education of other people about their cultures. The negative consequences could manifest as a person adopting Western values, breaking free from the dominant social norms, or acquiring values and customs that are incompatible with Arab culture. Thus, the researcher thinks that the social media has positive effects on cultural identity and on society.31 0Item Restricted THE INFLUNCE OF DIVERSITY OF CULTURE ON COMMUNICATION IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE PRIVATE DIVISION IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA(DeMontfort University, 2024-09) Alotaibi, Fahad; Oyinlola, AdewaleWith the expansion of businesses in the entire world, they need a huge range of commitments from multiple sectors in which some complexities like cultural diversity in the relevant context of Hofstede's Cultural Dimension Theory and Hall's high-context and low-context communication theory. This study is conducted to figure out the influence of cultural diversity on communication patterns of project management in the private sector mainly in Saudi Arabia. Through a detailed review of previous studies, we analyse it effects on management and the economy, it also identified a few obstacles with advantages and the efficient tactics to resolve them. This research study was based on Saunders’s research onion which provides a practical framework with the necessary tools and techniques to achieve study objectives by utilising quantitative research techniques. The findings of this conduct reveal that communication styles are found significant while others like cultural relativism, hierarchical structures, and time zone differences are found insignificant. In conclusion, this study seems credible in identifying the influence of cultural diversity on project management.38 0Item Restricted Development and Impacts of Wireless Communication Systems(Queensland University of technology, 2022) Rubayan, Sultan; Kajewski, Stephen; Rose, TimThe specific aim of this research is to explore and analyze how wired communication systems are gradually being replaced with wireless ones in the context of construction projects. This centers on the technological advancements and new inventions that have come up to transform communications in construction operations in the past. A major goal of this research is to investigate the use of 5G networks along with the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices into the wireless communication technology among construction sites (Chowdhury et al., 2019). This aim mainly reflects a detailed study of the past, present and future wireless communication in the building sector which will help the industry experts as well as the researchers obtain good perspectives.35 0Item Restricted Resonance in Dissonance: Noise and the Aesthetics of Auditory Abstraction(Pratt Institute, 2024-06-29) Basowad, Mariam Ali S; Liebergesell, Alex; Echeverria, Maria Gracia“Dissonance,” “discordance,” and “cacophony” are among the countless negative connotations associated with noise in the fields of communication, musicology, and sound studies. In these contexts, noise is often perceived as an “interference” that needs to be mitigated and controlled. Similar biases exist in communications design, influenced partly by a historical preference for clarity, order, and coherence, coupled with the belief that noise diverges from conventional design principles. However, in this thesis, noise is presented as an event, a flux, a multisensory entity, and, most importantly, a form of emancipation from established artistic norms. This thesis aims to explore the vital role of abstract sonic noise in communication, considering how to craft more resonant and immersive experiences and unlock new possibilities for creativity and expression. To achieve this objective, the thesis surveys sound, philosophy, and communication studies, drawing upon the insights of esteemed philosophers and composers, including Jacques Attali, Salomé Voegelin, and Luigi Russolo. Additionally, it investigates historical and contemporary practices of incorporating noise in creative fields, such as music and audiovisual art. Through a synthesis of theoretical and practical experimentation, this thesis demonstrates the effectiveness of noise as a communicative and resonant medium.24 0