Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Pedagogy Potential of Social Media in Saudi Arabia Curricula: students' and teachers' perceptions and practices(University of Limerick, 2024-05) Alhassan, Yousef; Murray, Liam; Giralt, MartaSocial media tools are commonly used in everyday life in the 21st century. Social media has influenced many areas in our lives including education. Social media is widely researched in the area of English as a foreign language (EFL). Research into social media as a supportive tool in the curriculum has been reported with different perspectives. Some scholars (Mohammed et al., 2023; Lashari et al., 2023) have found it useful in improving the performance of English language learners and others have indicated (Nkhi, 2023; Asafo-Adjei, 2023) negative impacts of integrating social media in EFL classrooms. The present doctoral research aimed at exploring the perceptions and practices of teachers and students at 3rd level education towards using social media as a tool in curricula in Saudi Arabia. This research targeted learners and teachers of EFL in Saudi Arabia. The study investigation included the student use of social media, the student’s perceptions of social media, teacher’s use of social media and the teacher’s perceptions surrounding social media. Moreover, this research suggested several practices that can be useful for teachers and learners of EFL. A mixed method approach of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted to collect the data for the study using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews for the two targeted groups, teachers and students. These tools are used to explore the perceptions and attitudes of the participants towards using social media as a tool in EFL classrooms. The data were analysed using statistical analysis for the quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data. Overall, the results of the research indicated that using social media in curricula appeal to both teachers and students with concerns regarding distraction that social media may cause and the possibility to find appropriate approaches that can be adopted to implement social media in EFL classrooms.15 0Item Restricted An Investigation of Codeswitching in the Discourse of Saudi Social Media Influencers(University of Nottingham, 2024-09) Alhelail, Ghadah Abdulrahman; Mullany, LouiseThe pervasive use of social media and the rise of social media influencers worldwide made their discourse worth examining. This study aimed to investigate codeswitching in the discourse of Saudi social media influencers. Using mixed-method approaches, a sample from an interview with three famous Saudi influencers was analysed to reveal codeswitching frequency, types, functions, motives, and role in identity construction. The quantitative findings indicate that the switching frequency is high, the most frequent type is intra-sentential codeswitching, and the Arabic coverage was significantly higher than English in their speech. The qualitative results reveal that codeswitching as a marked choice is used to express multilayered identities, assist meaning construction, avoid conflicts, express emotions, and appear sophisticated. Codeswitching may also be an unmarked choice used naturally in certain situations and triggered by certain domain terminologies. This study provides insight into codeswitching in a new emerging social context.25 0Item Restricted The use of social media and its impact on the mental health of the Saudi Arabian community.(Queen’s University Belfast, 2024-09-08) Almabdi, Adel; McLaughlin, DerekAbstract Background: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a nation with unique cultural, geographical, and economic features, predominantly characterized by a young Muslim population. In recent years, significant modernization and urbanization have influenced Saudis' lifestyles and mental health. Cultural attitudes and economic factors shape these mental health issues, with social media playing a pivotal role in societal interactions and mental well-being. Objectives: This study systematically reviewed the current peer-reviewed literature on the impact of social media on the mental health of the Saudi Arabian community. The goal was to synthesize key findings on both the positive and negative effects of social media use, offering insights for individuals, educators, policymakers, and healthcare systems to encourage healthier technology usage and enhance mental healthcare access. Search Strategy: A systematic search was conducted using keywords and Boolean operators across MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases to identify relevant peer-reviewed literature. The inclusion criteria focused on articles published between 2018 and 2024, written in English, and conducted in Saudi Arabia, specifically cross-sectional studies. Results: Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were critically assessed using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS). The studies were generally of acceptable quality, with well-defined research questions and appropriate methodologies. The findings were categorized into seven themes: prevalence of mental health issues, social media addiction and psychological distress, gender disparities, impact on adolescents, misinformation, the complex relationship with well-being, and family dynamics within the cultural context. Conclusion: This review highlighted that while social media fosters communication and information sharing, it also correlates with addiction, psychological distress, and misinformation. High rates of mental health issues, particularly among healthcare professionals and adolescents, underscore the need for targeted interventions and policies. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and interdisciplinary collaborations to effectively understand and address these impacts.18 0Item Restricted FACTORS INFLUENCING INFORMATION ADOPTION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA: THE CASE OF HEALTH INFORMATION IN SAUDI ARABIA.(Aston University, 2024) Almalki, Saad; Uren, Victoria; Hull, MatthewThe current study aimed to further understand attitudes toward source credibility by studying it in the context of social media use as a health information source among social media users in Saudi Arabia. During COVID-19 outbreak, the social isolation that people experienced led to social media being widely used as a medium for disseminating health information, and this has now become increasingly prevalent. Specifically, this study set out to identify which factors influenced the positive adoption of health information from social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study adopted a mixed methods design through using an online questionnaire, incorporating a novel vignette design, to gather quantitative data, and follow- up interviews for collecting qualitative data. The designed vignettes were a set of verified and unverified profiles on social media belonging to medical and non-medical experts. Based on collecting data from 397 participants to the questionnaire and 23 interviews, interesting findings were revealed. The study provides empirical support for the influence of source characteristics as heuristics to guide information adoption. Characteristics including sources’ knowledge, qualifications, verification mark and similarity between receiver and sender influence people’s attitudes towards source credibility. Furthermore, the findings confirmed that characteristics of information/content have a significant influence on participants' use of social media platforms as a health information sources. Timeliness, completeness, relevance and accuracy, are confirmed to influence people's attitudes toward adopting health information from social media platforms. It is believed that the current study is one of the few empirical studies to have examined the factors influencing the adoption of social media information by implementing a novel vignette design within a questionnaire. Hence, this study might make a methodological contribution with regard to using vignette design within quantitative methods. Furthermore, there also practical contributions can be made to policy makers with regard to employing social media to convey health and other types of information to the Saudi population..28 0Item Restricted Faculty Members’ Digital and Instructional Practices in E-learning Programs at Saudi Universities(University of Idaho, 2023-02-10) Alhasaf, Ibtisam; Dixon, Raymond A.With the increasing popularity of e-learning programs, educational stakeholders are attempting to promote the successful implementation of interactive e-learning programs. Scholars have long tried to understand how faculty members perceive and practice e-learning instruction in Saudi universities, where e-learning is a relatively new concept. A few studies conducted in different regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have investigated faculty members' perceptions. This study added to the limited body of knowledge on Saudi faculty members' perceptions of their practices in e-learning programs. This qualitative study recruited 17 instructors from six universities in Saudi Arabia using a generic qualitative inquiry approach. Semi-structured interviews with the participants were used to collect data. Findings indicated that the participating faculty members have a variety of practices and experiences regarding implementing an interactive e-learning program. These experiences were conceptualized in four main themes: interactive activities, assessment, multimedia learning material, and students' acceptance of e-learning programs. The present study clarified that instructors use various interactive activities, tests and quizzes for assessment, and videos as the main multimedia tool in their online classes. The results elucidate that students are increasingly accepting e-learning environments and the technologies used in their learning space. The study also throws light on factors affecting the successful implementation of the interactive e-learning program. Exploring these competencies and practices can provide instructional designers, faculty members, directors of online education, and other relevant stakeholders with the present picture of faculty techniques and virtual ability to teach in dynamic online spaces in Saudi universities.9 0Item Restricted BIKE SPHERE: A MULTIPLAYER BIKE TRACKING GAME FOR PHONES(University of Glasgow, 2024-03-22) Musallam, Faris Bin; Chalmers, MatthewThis dissertation introduces "Bike Sphere," a mobile app created to improve the cycling experience. It offers cyclists a range of features including tracking their rides, joining events, competing on leaderboards, and connecting with friends. The development process focused on what cyclists need and want, using feedback to make the app better. chose React Native for building the app, allowing it to work on both iOS and Android phones, and Firebase to handle data and user information. tested the app with real cyclists to see how it works in everyday use. Their feedback helped us understand what works well and what could be improved. The results show that "Bike Sphere" has the potential to make cycling more enjoyable and social.17 0Item Restricted THE MEDIATION ROLES OF MARKETING INNOVATION AND MARKET ORIENTATION BETWEEN ENTERPRISE SOCIAL MEDIA UTILIZATION AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN SAUDI ARABIA(Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 2024-06-27) Alhamami, Ahmed; Hashim, Noor Azuan Binti; Hamid, Roshayati Binti Abdul; Hamid, Siti Ngayesah Ab.The usage of social media (SM) by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) received relatively less attention, and the findings in the literature are mixed in terms of the effect of SM on SME performance. This study examines the effect of enterprise SM utilization on SME business performance in Saudi Arabia. SM utilization is operationalized into SM internal utilization and SM external utilization. Based on the resource-based view and contingency theory, this study proposed that SM internal utilization positively affects SME business performance and marketing innovation (MI). The study also proposed that SM external utilization positively affects SME business performance and marketing orientation (MO). MO and MI are expected to affect the SME business performance. MI is proposed as a mediator between SM internal utilization and SME performance, while MO is proposed to mediate the effect of SM external utilization on SME performance. The population of this study is the SMEs in Al-Riyadh city in Saudi Arabia. A systematic random sampling is deployed. The data was collected using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated, and a pilot study was conducted to check its reliability. A total of 374 respondents representing SMEs participated in this study. The data examination was conducted, and descriptive statistics of respondents and variables were presented. The finding was derived using Smart PLS version 4. The findings showed that SM internal utilization positively affected SME business performance and MI. SM external utilization affected SME business performance and MO. Both MO and MI positively affected the SME business performance. MI partially mediated the effect of SM internal utilization on SME business performance, while MO also mediated the effect of SM external utilization on SME business performance. The findings were discussed, as well as the theoretical and practical implications. More studies in different locations, populations, and sectors, and using different variables are needed. Decision makers are advised to create a rewarding culture for innovative ideas, be more engaged with customers to understand their needs and wants and create rewarding competition and surveys to assess customers’ demands.10 0Item Restricted Public Instagram Accounts of Saudi Women Public Figures in a Context of Social Change(University of North Dakota, 2024-05) Albogami, Gamra; Kalbfleisch, PamelaThis research analyzed 100 Instagram posts of ten Saudi women's public figures using a qualitative methodology to explore how their cultural and gender roles and norms are portrayed and how these portrayals align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives. The findings indicate that these public figures integrate traditional cultural and gender norms with contemporary norms in their online presentations. Traditional attire and familial roles are commonly showcased, underscoring the profoundly ingrained importance of cultural values in alignment with the findings in existing literature. However, there was a noticeable shift towards contemporary portrayals of identity, particularly in professional life, reflecting the evolving roles of women in Saudi society. Also, personal and social activities in their posts showed their active engagement in public life, while expressions of solidarity and support for other women reflected a community of empowerment. The analysis demonstrates that these public figures are actively contributing to the fulfillment of the Vision 2030 objectives. Through their online presence, these women contribute to a nation's transformation narrative, embodying the vision's goals of creating a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. The study enhances the public and professional understanding of gender roles and cultural identity in the context of Saudi Arabia's rapid socio-economic changes. These insights provide perspectives that could be informative for sociocultural research experts, policymakers, media and communication professionals, and academics.21 0Item Restricted MISINFORMATION DETECTION IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA ERA(Howard University, 2024-04-22) Alzahrani, Amani; Rawat, Danda B.As social media becomes the main way of getting information, the spread of misinformation is a serious and widespread problem. Misinformation can take many forms, such as text, video, and audio, and it can travel quickly through different platforms, affecting the quality and trustworthiness of the information that users access around the world. Misinformation can have negative effects on how people think, act, and interact, and it can even endanger social peace. This study aims to tackle the complex problem of misinformation by presenting a comprehensive approach that addresses various forms of deceptive content on social media with a focus on Twitter ( currently X). Twitter stands out as a dynamic and influential microblogging service that enables users to share real-time updates, news, and opinions in concise 280-character messages known as tweets. We introduce a hybrid deep learning model that incorporates Feature-based models at both tweet and user levels, complemented by pre-trained text embedding models such as Global Vectors (GloVe) and Universal Sentence Encoders (USE). Through careful evaluation on a real-world dataset, our approach proves effective in detecting textual misinformation. Recognizing the vital need to verify the reliability of information on social media, we propose a method to assess user credibility. Our solution involves evaluating the credibility of users based on their profiles to enhance the rumors detection model. This study proposes a novel mechanism for assessing a user’s credibility. Additionally, we extended our study capabilities to address the challenges posed by deceptive video content spread on social media using DeepFake technology. As the rapid advancement of deepfake technology threatens the integrity of audio and video content, we present a novel approach combining Optical Flow (OF) algorithms with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to enhance deepfake video detection. This comprehensive strategy addresses the diverse challenges posed by misinformation, credibility assessment, and deepfake detection in the dynamic landscape of social media.36 0Item Restricted “Insta-Tweet” Appeal Among Saudi Women: A Uses-and-Gratifications Perspective(St. Mary's university, 2019) Alaslani, Eman; Coley, FrancescaThe emergence of social media has changed many aspects of people’s lives as it directly impacts communication and social conscience. Social media has created new ways of providing information about social issues through peer communication, which plays an important role in user behavior. This study examined the impact of both Twitter and Instagram on Saudi women, and attempted to understand the factors driving women to use Instagram and Twitter and to be involved in social events. In this study, a qualitative method was the primary means of data collection. This study used convenience sampling. Due to limited time for research, the study involved a sample of seven Saudi women. The interviews were conducted in English and, in some cases, Arabic. The themes that emerged from the findings of the interviews: In Twitter, seeking important information, trending topics, giving space to Saudi women, increasing awareness about women rights while in Instagram the common themes were entertainment, self- presentation, Instagram itself, creativity and Saudi women. These themes served to answer the research questions that informed this study.18 0