Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted MOTIVATION AND ATTITUDES TOWARD LEARNING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: A CASE STUDY OF URBAN AND RURAL UNIVERSITY FRESHMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA(University of Mississippi, 2024-12) Almasarir, Munif; Coles, FeliceThe Saudi educational system faces several challenges that contribute to low proficiency in English among Saudi students. Previous studies have focused on the EFL curriculum and pedagogical challenges, but there is a lack of research specifically examining other main psychosocial factors that contribute to the attainment of English proficiency. Motivational and attitudinal factors have been proven to have an impact on the proficiency level among EFL students. My study investigates the perceived influence of geographical location on students' attitudes and motivation toward English as a global language in Saudi Arabia. By utilizing an ethnographic approach focusing on both rural and urban cultural groups, my study aims to improve English education in rural areas and promote educational equality. My study adopts a qualitative design, incorporating qualitative instruments for data collection such as open-ended questions and in-depth semi-structured interviews. The target population consists of 15 individuals from Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University. At the time of data collection, the participants were first-year students studying in the Department of English, with 8 participants from the urban branch in Al-Kharj and 7 participants from the rural branch in Al-Aflaj governorate. The findings of my study reveal that students in both urban and rural areas are motivated either intrinsically or extrinsically. Extrinsic motivation represents a 77% increase compared to the intrinsic motivation value of 34 in terms of the number of coded segments. This finding highlights the predominance of extrinsic motivation among participants. My study finds that most Saudi participants, both in urban and rural areas, hold positive views about studying English. However, some rural participants exhibit negative attitudes, highlighting the challenges these learners face in fostering a positive outlook toward English language acquisition Notably, the data also reveal a compelling case of a student who shifted from a negative to a positive attitude toward learning English, illustrating the potential for changing perceptions about language acquisition. Additionally, my findings reveal several challenges that the participants encounter while learning English. These challenges are categorized into 17 key themes that address specific obstacles. The data indicate that all participants agree that urban environments enhance English learning, while rural settings hinder proficiency. Additionally, 10 out of 15 participants emphasize the crucial role of individual motivation in language acquisition. These findings offer insights for policymakers and suggest effective language learning strategies for both urban and rural students. Collaboration among the government, school principals, teachers, and communities is emphasized to create an optimal learning environment. Furthermore, my study emphasizes the importance of considering individual motivations and contextual factors when designing language learning approaches.12 0Item Restricted The Influence of Perceived Risk and Perceived Information Credibility on Tourists’ Intention to Visit Saudi Arabia(Texas Tech University, 2024-07-01) Alreshaidan, Fawaz; Yuan, JessicaAlthough The government of Saudi Arabia has spent high amount of money to improve the Saudi tourism market and destination image, tourists’ perception toward Saudi still not clear. This study aims to examine the influence of perceived risk on tourist intention to visit Saudi Arabia as well as the information credibility offered by the Saudi tourism authority’s campaigns. This study utilizes the theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to understand tourists’ intention to visit Saudi Arabia. This paper employs a quantitative approach to evaluate thirteen research hypotheses. An instrument was developed based on previous tourism and marketing literature Participants were tasked with viewing a brief promotional video on Saudi Tourism, produced and disseminated by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism through various YouTube and answer the survey accordingly. Participants were recruited from the Amazon Mechanical Turk consumer panel (MTURK). Only U.S. respondents of legal age who had never visited Saudi Arabia were included in the study. After screening for incomplete responses, 526 usable surveys were retained for analysis. This study utilized SPSS, Mplus, and AMOS 18 for data analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was initially conducted through Mplus to determine the number of factors for each measurement utilized and to provide guidance for subsequent Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to evaluate the overall fit of the measurement model. Finally, a structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed through AMOS 18 to examine the relationships between defined constructs and latent variables. The findings indicate a negative correlation between perceived risk and perceived information credibility, subjective norms, and attitudes toward visiting Saudi Arabia. However, contrary to initial hypotheses, perceived risk was not found to significantly influence perceived behavioral control. Moreover, the study revealed that perceived information credibility positively influenced attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, it was found that attitudes positively correlated with subjective norms and intention to visit Saudi Arabia. Similarly, a significant positive association was discovered between subjective norms and intention. Furthermore, the study found that subjective norms were positively linked with perceived behavioral control. However, perceived behavioral control did not notably impact intention, as revealed by the study's results. This study is important because it helps the Saudi tourism practitioners to understand how international tourists perceive the information they publish, and their perception of perceived risk toward Saudi Arabia. This study is important for tourism literature because it emphasized the significance of perceptions of risk and information credibility, contributing to the existing literature by integrating them as additional predictors within the current Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model.20 0Item Restricted Investigating asthma aetiology and remedies in Saudi Arabia and the UK: Assessing the impact of indoor air pollution and healthcare expertise on prescription expenses, within the realm of public health(University of Strathclyde, 2024) Saggah, Abdullah; Amanj, IbrahimThe thesis culminates with a set of references and appendices that supplement the research. The references section provides a comprehensive list of all the sources cited throughout the thesis, ensuring that the research is grounded in existing literature and scientific evidence. The appendices section includes supplementary materials that support the research findings, such as data tables, questionnaires, and additional analyses. In summary, this thesis offers a holistic and nuanced examination of asthma, a condition that affects millions worldwide. By analyzing various factors such as indoor air pollution, healthcare practices, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the research provides valuable insights into the management and treatment of asthma. The comparative analysis between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom offers a unique perspective on the global and regional dimensions of asthma, making this thesis a significant contribution to the field of public health32 0Item Restricted Nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards non-pharmacological interventions for managing pain in the Intensive care unit: an extend literature review.(The Queen’s University of Belfast, 2024-03-22) Almatrafi, Rehab; Martin, DaphneBackground: Effective pain management in critical care units is crucial for patient outcomes and satisfaction. Although pharmacological approaches are commonly used, they can have adverse effects. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) offer alternative methods for pain management and reduce reliance on medications. Aim: This literature review aimed to explore nurses’ knowledge of and attitudes towards NPIs for pain management in intensive care units (ICUs). It also sought to identify factors hindering nurses from using NPIs in the ICU. Search strategy: A total of 20 keywords were used, and six databases were consulted: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. They were selected for their relevance to the research topic. The search strategy was verified by a subject librarian and a supervisor, and a systematic approach was followed. Additionally, the reference lists of relevant articles were hand-searched. The quality of the included studies was assessed using appropriate tools. Results: The review included six studies: two qualitative studies, three cross-sectional studies and one mixed-methods study. These studies examined nurses’ knowledge and attitudes concerning NPIs for pain management in the ICU. Overall, the results indicated that nurse training, education and policy support are crucial for enhancing the use of NPIs and improving nurse knowledge. Conclusions: Nurses’ knowledge of NPIs in the ICU was low to moderate, with a positive attitude towards their use. This lack of understanding may hinder the development of educational programmes for nurses, which could increase the use of NPIs. Barriers affecting nurses’ knowledge and attitudes concerning NPIs include professional barriers, ICU setting barriers and hospital policy barriers. Therefore, healthcare systems should establish a supportive environment, equip nurses with knowledge and skills, and encourage patient and family engagement in treatment plans.32 0Item Restricted Applying the theory of planned behavior on Apple consumers across Saudi Arabia & United Kingdom to predict purchasing intentions.(Bangor University, 2024-02-28) Alkhaldi, Reem; Smith, GeorginaThis research provides an overview of a study applying the theory of planned behaviour to understand consumer behaviour towards Apple products in two divers markets (Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom), through surveys distributed online. Data was collected and analysed using SPSS. Results indicates that attitude towards behaviour, perceived behavioural control, and past behaviour are significant predictors of consumer behaviour in United Kingdom, whereas in Saudi Arabia, intentions and past behaviour play a crucial role. Additionally, subjective norms influenced consumers more in Saudi Arabia in comparison to United Kingdom. Although personality traits (neuroticism and extroversion in particular) are popular among consumers in both countries, they do not significantly predict intentions. This research offers insights for apple marketers to better understand consumer behaviour, and provides a deeper understanding of social differences between divers markets.18 0Item Restricted Analysing affective factors in relation to students’ achievement and behaviour in EFL in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-22) Alnemari, Aeshah; Pons-Sanz, SaraThis study investigates the relationships between attitude, motivation and anxiety in relation to students’ effort and achievement in learning English as a foreign language (EFL). It examines the influence of affect on the foreign language learning of Saudi secondary students (years 10– 12, aged 16–18 years) to elucidate the obstacles that hinder successful English language learning in Saudi Arabia. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, which combines data from questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. One hundred and thirty-three students completed a questionnaire that was created with input from Gardner (2004) and Dörnyei (2001) to measure attitude, Noels (2003) and Aljasir (2016) to measure motivation, and Horwitz et al. (1986) to measure anxiety. Descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) were employed to analyse data collected from the questionnaire. In addition, 18 interviewees participated in this study and the data collected were analysed qualitatively. The analysis produced interesting results, which highlight the significant role of affective factors in language learning. All affective factors, albeit to varying degrees, predict students’ effort and achievement. Examining students’ effort in addition to their achievement helps to gain better insights into the relationships between the study variables. Moreover, the year of study and the education situation influence the relationship between affective factors and learning outcomes, resulting in increasing controlled motivation with age and increased anxiety for year 11 students. In addition, language attitude is more effective when it is related to the importance of learning the language for pragmatic values independent of the classroom experience. When attitude is related to learning English only as a school requirement, they will have less effect on the learning process. The findings highlight the significant role of teachers to enhance students’ autonomous motivation for more effective learning. Based on these results, the study has much to offer stakeholders in the Saudi context as regards developing language teaching and learning practices in Saudi Arabia.17 0Item Restricted Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of Computed Tomography Radiologists and Radiographers Towards Introducing Artificial Intelligence Innovations in Their Practice in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.(2023-04-03) Alsloum, Nada; Jason, ElliottBackground Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to accomplish tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. In the healthcare sector, especially in the radiology field, AI has found the optimal environment to flourish and several applications have been incorporated into daily radiology workflow. This rapid integration of AI into radiology practice could have a significant impact on key radiology professionals, namely radiologists and radiographers, especially in Saudi Arabia, which aims to be the global leader in AI by 2030 under a strategic plan known as Vision 2030. Methodology A qualitative study was conducted to explore computed tomography radiographers’ and radiologists’ experiences and perceptions regarding AI adoption into radiology practice. To achieve this, eight semi-structured online interviews were conducted with six radiographers and two radiologists. The Participants were purposively sampled from three different governmental hospitals in Najran, KSA. Audio recordings of the interviews were manually transcribed and analysed by employing thematic analysis. Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) the knowledge of radiology professionals about AI, (2) the attitudes of radiology professionals towards AI, and (3) the current AI practice in radiology. Two additional themes focused on the drivers and barriers to AI adoption in Saudi radiology practice were identified. Results The findings revealed that most radiology professionals were adequately knowledgeable about AI and its applications in radiology, although they had received no formal education or dedicated training on AI. Positivity and excitement regarding AI integration were expressed by most of the participants, and all of them were willing to use AI-based tools during their routine work. Furthermore, they generally believed in the positive impact that AI would have on radiology practice and patient care. In current radiology practice, several AI applications were used by some participants. This generally positive attitude was mainly driven by AI-appropriate awareness, Saudi Vision 2030, the perceived benefits of AI, and local champion. Despite the overall positivity, some concerns related to job insecurity, skills degradation, AI’s limited accuracy, and related medico-legal issues were raised by some participants. These concerns, in addition to the lack of AI education and training, AI-related costs, and resistance to change, were considered the main barriers to AI adoption in Saudi radiology practice. This warrants an urgent need to introduce AI-related subjects into Saudi radiology curricula, provide dedicated AI training for radiology professionals, and establish an adoption strategy and clear regulations for AI clinical use.94 0