Articles

An Analysis of Risk Perception and Management Among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Mazabuka District, Southern Province [2015–2017]

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Agriculture is a critical sector in Zambia, with approximately 60% of households depending on it for their livelihoods. However, smallholder maize farmers face various risks, including climate variability, pest infestations, price fluctuations, and market access. The study investigated risk perceptions of smallholder maize farmers in Mazabuka District, Southern Province of Zambia, and how these perceptions influence risk management strategies and productivity. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, collecting data from 51 randomly selected smallholder farmers using structured questionnaires. Farmers’ risk perceptions were assessed using a five-point Likert scale across three agricultural seasons (2014/15, 2015/16, and 2016/17). Findings revealed that environmental risks, particularly drought and irregular rainfall patterns, were the most significant, with 72% of respondents identifying climate change as a primary concern. Economic risks, including fluctuating maize prices and rising input costs, were reported by 65% of farmers, while 58% cited pest infestations, such as fall armyworm, as a major threat. Social risks, including labour shortages and inadequate extension services, also contributed to production challenges. In response, farmers employed various coping mechanisms, such as crop diversification (49%), reliance on government subsidies (42%), and participation in farmer cooperatives (38%). However, risk management practices remained limited due to financial constraints and lack of access to timely weather forecasts. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to strengthen smallholder farmers’ resilience by enhancing extension services, improving access to climate information, and promoting sustainable farming practices to mitigate risks and boost productivity.

Students’ Perception on The Use of Picture Series in Writing Procedure Text

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The objective of this study is to investigate the students’ perception on the use of picture series as a learning media in teaching writing of procedure text.  This qualitative design was conducted by using a purposive sampling technique to collect the data. This research involved a class which consisted of 30 students of the tenth grade of a senior high school, Tulang Bawang Barat, Indonesia.  The research data were collected by using a close ended questionnaire which measured using five-range Likert scale and analyzed descriptively. The result from this study revealed almost all of the students have positive perceptions when the teacher taught them by using the picture series. The students’ positive response reached about 80.80%, compared to the negative response only 2.20% of whole items in the questionnaire, and the rest about 17.00% belonged to the neutral. It is suggested that the using of picture series as a learning media in writing is more interesting and makes them feel easier. The use of pictures can help their difficulty in writing procedure text and encourage their motivation in learning English. Thus, the finding suggests that the English teachers should use this media in teaching writing a procedure paragraph. It is suggested also for the further researcher to explore more the benefits, challenges, and deeper impacts of this media on writing instruction.

Students’ Perception of The Implementation of Running Dictation in Teaching Reading

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This study examines students’ perceptions of using Running Dictation as a teaching strategy in reading applied by the teacher in the seventh grade of Junior High School in Bandar Lampung. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed, with data collected through a structured questionnaire. The sample included 20 students. The data collection technique involved distributing a closed-ended questionnaire to gather quantitative data on students’ perceptions including awareness, past experiences, motivation, knowledge, and social interaction. The questionnaire consists of 10 positive and 10 negative statements to assess students’ perception of the Running Dictation strategy. The responses were measured using a Likert scale, ranging from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” The results are categorized into two main types of perceptions: positive and negative. The results indicate that most students positively perceived running dictation in reading instruction. Specifically, 10 students agreed, 7 strongly agreed, and 3 were neutral in response to statements about these benefits. Conversely, the negative statements in the questionnaire, designed to assess any difficulties or drawbacks of Running Dictation, received limited agreement. Overall, the results suggest that most students found Running Dictation beneficial, noting increased engagement and comprehension through its active and collaborative approach to reading.

Culture of Human Behavior in Architecture

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The basic process that involves human interaction with their environment is environmental information obtained by the process of perception. Perception is formed because of the interaction of a person (individual) with their life space, which is finally realised in behavioral attitudes. Thus, the behavior, response, and action are determined by personal perception. It can be argued that human psychiatry determines human behavior in the form of condition, attitude, perception, cognition, and motivation. Cognition is obtained from the culture, experience, and education that an individual owns. The aspect of cognition is an aspect of change movement because the information received determines the feeling and the willingness to do. In terms of cognition, it consists of several components, namely cognitive components that will answer the question of what people think about objects. The components of affection conation will answer what is felt (happy / not happy) to the object, and it will answer the question of the willingness to act toward the object. Each component does not stand alone, but one unity is called the cognition system. The cognition system is the result of a cognitive process. It comprises perception activities, imagination, thinking, reasoning, and decision-making.

A Study of Communication Strategies used by English Teachers and its Implication in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

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The objective of this research was to analyze the English teachers’ communication strategies and their perception during the teaching learning process.  The writer analyzed the data gained through the questionnaire by describing the English teachers’ perception about the communication strategies usually used during the teaching learning process.  She also analyzed the teachers’ communication strategies into the fourteen strategies based on to some experts, there are several types of communication strategies that can be used to solve problems in communication (Dornyei 1995, Littlewood 1984, Tarone 1980). (Tarone (1980) presents five types of communication strategies, including: paraphrase, transfer, appeal for assistance, mime, avoidance. Littlewood (1984) describes eight types of communication strategies: they are avoidable communication, adjust the message, use paraphrase, use approximation, create new words, switch to the native language, use non-linguistic resources, seek for help. Meanwhile, Dornyei (1995) stated that the three main types of communication strategies, namely: topic avoidance strategies (topic avoidance and message abandonment), compensatory strategies (approximation, word coinage, circumlocution, literal translation, code-switching, appeal for help, used all-purpose words, non-linguistic signal, foreignizing), and stalling or time gaining strategies (use of fillers/hesitation devices). The design of this research is qualitative research. The writer described the data in order to have a clear and complete description of the research result.  The researcher used the result of the English teachers’ questionnaire as the data. The sample of this research was the English teacher who lives and teach in Bandar Lampung in the academic year 2022/2023.

Roundpics Based on Process Approach to Improve Students’ Achievement in Writing

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The objectives of this study are; 1) to find out the significant difference of student’s writing achievement between those who were taught through the modified roundtable technique with a picture based on the process approach and original roundtable technique, and 2) to find out the difference of students’ perceptions between those techniques. A quantitative and qualitative study in the form of control group pretest-posttest design was conducted which involved two classes; each class consisted of 21 students of MTSS Darul Huffazh, Pesawaran, Indonesia. The data were analyzed through the independent t-test. The results show that the students’ writing achievement in the experimental class increased from 38.76 to 68.95 and there is a significant difference with the sig. (2 tailed) of 0.00 < 0.05. The result in the control class also increased from 37.81 to 49.05 and there is a significant difference with the sig. (2 tailed) of 0.00 < 0.05. Meanwhile, the result of the significance value of the experimental class and the control class is 0.00 < α = 0.05. This indicates that there is a significant difference in students’ writing achievement between the students who were taught using the modified roundtable technique with pictures and the original roundtable technique. Meanwhile, for the second research question, the researcher used a questionnaire measured using a five-range Likert scale and analyzed through the independent t-test. The results show that there was a significant difference in the students’ perceptions. The positive responses of students toward the modified roundtable technique with pictures are 74.28% and 70.95% toward the original roundtable technique. The findings suggest that language teachers need to provide other media to help students find new information easily. In conclusion, learning using modifying roundtable technique with pictures is more effective on students’ writing achievement than those who were taught through the original roundtable technique.

Sharia Banking Trust: Analyzing the Influence of Religiosity and Perceptions in Bank Sharia Bukittinggi Branch

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Research on Sharia Bank is currently relevant due to the rapid growth of the Shariah financial industry, increasing public interest, as well as government support, focusing on factors such as customer trust and the influence of religiosity and perception on customer trust.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how customer trust at the Bank Nagari Sharia Bukittinggi Branch is impacted by beliefs and religiosity. All Bank Nagari Bukittinggi City Branch customers made up the research population. The research population consisted of all customers of Bank Nagari Bukittinggi City Branch, with sampling using a purposive sampling technique which resulted in 150 respondents as samples. The analytical method used is the multiple linear analysis method.

The research results show that customer religiosity does not have a significant influence on their level of trust in Bank Nagari Syariah Bukittinggi Branch. However, customer perceptions of the bank have a significant influence on the level of customer trust in the bank.

This research provides an important contribution to understanding the factors that influence customer trust in Sharia banks, especially in the context of Bank Nagari Sharia Bukittinggi Branch. The results of this research can be a basis for the bank to improve its service and communication strategies to customers, by taking more into account customer perception factors.

Modifying Think-Pair-Share based on Suggestopedia Principles to Teach Speaking

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Every teaching method has their own disadvantages, but if they are integrated, it will make a great solution. This current research aims to intently find out the significant difference in the speaking achievement of the students who are taught through the modified think-pair-share based on suggestopedia and those who are taught through the original think-pair-share. This is a quasi-experimental research design that conducts a quantitative method. Subjects of this research are two classes of SMK N 3 Bandar Lampung. The finding shows that there is a significant difference in the increase of the score of experimental and control class after the students are taught through the methods. The t-value is 2.687 at the significant level of  0.009 which is lower than 0.05. Hence, it is concluded that applying the method of the modified think-pair-share based on suggestopedia principles can increase the students’ speaking achievement.

Relationship between Training Evaluation and Perceptions about XYZ Corporate University

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XYZ Corporate University plays a role in developing employee competencies, supporting XYZ Corporation performance, and filling competency gaps. One of the performance indicators is the Customer Satisfaction Index. The data shows that there is a gap, where the assessment from the participants states that the average rating has met the target, but the scores from superiors and business unit heads are still far from the target score. This brings forth the question of relationship between elements of training evaluation that influence perceptions towards XYZ Corporate University and how to improve it. Quantitative research methodology is used in this research with primary data gathered from employees of XYZ Corporation who filled out a set of questionnaires. For analysis technique, linear regression analysis is performed. From these results, XYZ Corporate University needs to prioritize Learners’ Reaction and Changed Behavior after Learning, because increasing these two independent variables can affect the four dependent variables, namely positive perceptions of XYZ Corporate University. Of the five levels of training evaluation, Level 5, namely return on Training Investment, does not show a significant effect on perception, so further research is needed to examine its effect on training.

 

An Analysis of Factors Affecting the Professionalism of Public Accountants: Perceptions of Accounting Students (Survey of Accounting Study Program Students)

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The profession should pay more attention to the professional ethics and morals that form the basis of how they do their work. The accountant must fully adhere to a set of moral and ethical standards because they are crucial for the execution of their task. This study attempts to ascertain accounting students’ perceptions of how they comprehend the Financial Accounting Standards (SAK) and Moral Ethics of Professional Public Accountants (SPAP) on the Professionalism of Public Accountants. In order for all members of the profession to carry out their duties to the best standards possible, it is intended that the results of this study would reveal the respondents’ level of moral ethics comprehension. The population in this study consisted of 98 accounting students who had undergone auditing/auditing accounting courses, 50 from the economics faculty of the Unisri Accounting study program and 48 from the economics faculty of the accounting study program at Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta. While the sampling approach utilized is judgment sampling or taking research samples based on considerations, such as students who have attended auditing courses. According to the panel’s findings, students from the economics department specializing in accounting believe that moral and ethical forces influence the professionalism of public accountants in carrying out their profession. However, ethics and morality are not sufficient in and of itself; they must be combined with good comprehension, competence, and accountability in understanding public accounting professional standards (SPAP) and financial accounting standards (SAK). It is proved that ethics and morals affect the professionalism of public accountants with a significance value of 0.41, while the understanding of public accounting professional standards has effect on the variable of public accounting professionalism with a significance value of 0.36 and the variable of understanding of financial accounting standards on the professionalism of public accountants with a significance value of 0.14. Thus, simultaneously, it shows that these three variables have an effect on the professionalism of public accountants.