International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH

MENTAL HEALTH AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC: SURVEY ON URBAN ESTATE POPULATION OF PATIALA DISTRICT

Amarpreet Singh — 2024-08-31

Objective: This study aimed to assess the mental health of students, private employees, and government employees in Punjab, India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study can aid healthcare professionals and policymakers in creating effective policies that promote mental well-being in the general population.
Abstract: This research aimed to assess the mental health status of students, government employees, and private employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve the purpose of the study calculated descriptive statistics, such as the mean and standard deviation. Following this, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify any disparities between the groups. Subsequently, a post-hoc test (Scheffe Test) was administered due to unequal group sizes. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software Version-23 was utilized for all analyses, with a significance level set at 0.05. The study comprised 301 participants (N=301), consisting of 193 male and 108 female subjects. The participants were divided into three categories: government employees, private employees, and students. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) 2008 was utilized for data collection through a questionnaire survey method. The researcher created a Google form and distributed it to the participants via email and other social media platforms. The collected data was meticulously recorded and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The study found that the mental health status of government employees, private employees, and students did not show significant variations. However, it was discovered that the COVID-19 pandemic had a more substantial impact on the mental health status of students compared to the well-being status of individuals in different professions. In conclusion that students were mostly affected due to the covid 19 lock down, so special considerations should be given towards the mental well-being status of students.

“THE HERCULES PROJECT”: THE HISTORY OF THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT'S RECOGNITION OF UFOLOGIST AS AN OCCUPATION

Julio C. Acosta-Navarro — 2024-08-31

On the night of May 30, 2024, in an emotional virtual meeting organized by the Latin American Academy of Scientific Ufology (LAASU), several ufologists from Brazil and other continents met with the aim of celebrating the recognition by the Brazilian government of the profession of ufologist as an occupation after a long process of technical evaluation. The intensification of activities and research by scientific entities such as LAASU, local and federal government entities in Brazil, the U.S. government through the Pentagon, Congress, NASA, and some media, all contributed to create an environment conducive to this heroic feat. The "Hercules Project" is described herein, which was conceived inside the LAASU with the objective of the Brazilian government's recognition of the profession of ufologist as an occupation with social, economic and scientific value and ended in a total success. Although this process was an initiative of LAASU, the merit belongs to scientific Ufology worldwide and especially in Brazil, which has contributed with studies, researches and publications over several years. This article aims to discuss the rational basis supporting that Ufology can be considered a profession. Additionally, this article aims to describe the history of the recognition by the Brazilian government through the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the profession of ufologist as a legitimate occupation. The struggle for the recognition of the ufologist as an occupation is an epic story of faith, struggle, and overcoming obstacles, that ended in May 2024

IMPULSE BUYING AND RETAILER LOYALTY PROGRAMS: ASSESS THE INFLUENCE OF LOYALTY PROGRAMS, REWARDS, AND CUSTOMER INCENTIVES ON IMPULSE BUYING

K Chandrasekhar — 2024-08-31

Comprehending the link between impulse buying and retailer loyalty programs is crucial in retail marketing. These programs, designed to encourage repeat purchases and foster customer loyalty with personalized rewards, profoundly impact impulsive behaviors. This study uses a mixed methods approach to assess the effectiveness of loyalty strategies across diverse consumer demographics. Rewards such as discounts, points, or exclusive access cultivate a sense of belonging and exclusivity, influencing purchasing decisions by triggering immediate incentives and urgency through limited time offers. Emotional and psychological factors drive impulse buying. The expectation of rewards, the excitement of earning points, and the sense of exclusivity all play roles in impulsive purchases. Retailers can capitalize on these motivators by tailoring programs accordingly. Demographic variables such as age, income, and shopping habits influence program effectiveness, with younger consumers typically favoring digital rewards and older consumers showing a preference for traditional discounts. Qualitative research delves into motivations and perceptions, providing rich insights into how loyalty programs influence impulse buying behaviors. This holistic approach offers valuable insights for refining marketing strategies, increasing customer loyalty, and promoting impulse buying through personalized rewards, real-time offers, and gamification.

HOW DOES WOMEN IN SECURING ELECTORAL VOTE IN INDONESIAN POLITIC? INSIGHT FROM SOUTH SUMATERA PROVINCE

Raegen Harahap — 2024-08-31

The issue of women's representation in politics has become an interesting discourse in various countries, even in Indonesia. The advancement of female candidates needs to be appreciated in the midst of the patriarchal culture that is still inherent in Indonesia. The presence of women in politics cannot be separated from the role of family ties. This is the focus and purpose of this article, which is to describe the family ties that influence women's electability in politics. The research method used in this article is a qualitative-descriptive method through literature study to explain the family ties factor in Ratu Tenny Leriva's representation as a senator for the 2024 South Sumatra Electoral District. Using the theoretical framework of the Richter model of family ties, this study reveals that Ratu Tenny Leriva's election cannot be separated from Herman Deru's position and influence. As a former Governor, Regent, and Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the NasDem Party in South Sumatra, Herman Deru facilitated Ratu Tenny Leriva in building a positive image, popularity, and electability, despite being a new-comer and still 23 years old. This can be seen from Ratu Tenny Leriva's involvement in various public spaces and campaign periods, where many billboards or posters include Herman Deru's photo. This family bond is an important factor and political modality in Ratu Tenny Leriva's electability in South Sumatra in 2024.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE FLEXURAL BEHAVIORS OF PIERS CAPS WITH VARIOUS CONCRETE AND REINFORCEMENT TYPES

Hajir A Al-Hussainy — 2024-09-06

This paper investigated the flexural behavior of six piers caps samples incorporating various reinforcement and concrete mix types. Four pier caps with similar steel reinforcement were cast using different mixes, including normal concrete (NC), high strength concrete (AHSC), and green concrete (GC) with 50% recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), and green concrete with a 2% volumetric ratio of recycled steel fiber (ARSF)). The remaining two piers caps were reinforced using CFRP and GFRP bars. Experimental tests were conducted to examine the behavior of piers regarding the loading at which the first cracks occur, deflection, and failure load. The results indicated that GC pier caps exhibited a decrease in failure load of 2.4% compared to a higher deflection of approximately one-fifth when compared with the NC pier cap. The findings also indicated that incorporating recycled steel fibers enhanced the failure load and decreased the deflection by 9% and 32.5%, respectively, when compared to the GC pier. In addition, AHSC pier caps exhibited failure load by nearly 36.8% than that of GC. The behavior of CFRP and GFRP was opposite when comparing steel-reinforced pier caps regarding failure load.

THE DIFFERENTIATION OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SREBRENICA AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AGGRESSION

Senada Nezirovic — 2024-09-16

The municipality of Srebrenica is located in the northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to the aggression, in April 1992, a large number of residents left the area. Thus, the exile crisis of the population of Srebrenica has begun and has not ended to this day. The paper presents theoretical and practical research on the settlements and population of Srebrenica and the changes that occurred after the aggression and genocide. The paper identified the causes and problems faced by the population living in this area today. Apart from literature and planning documents, indicators obtained from municipal departments for social activities, statistical indicators of the Agency for Statistics from the population and household census were used in the preparation of the work. The results show the demographic uncertainty, i.e. the municipality of Srebrenica is, from a demographic point of view, one of the most affected areas by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

EMPOWERING WARD CITIZEN FORUMS FOR LOCAL SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN NEPAL

Govinda Prasad Guragain — 2024-09-16

The Local Governance and Community Development Program (LGCD) has been found to be adopted a transformational approach to social mobilization, aiming to address the absence of elected political representatives at the community level. Central to this approach has been identified as the Community Ward Citizen Forum (WCF) and the Awareness Centre (CAC), which play crucial roles in enhancing local governance through community engagement.
The WCF has been explored to serve as a collective of community representatives’ tasks with bridging the gap between the community and local decision-making processes, thereby improving local governance. Complementing this, it has been focused that the CAC operates on a REFLECT process basis, bringing together marginalized and vulnerable community members weekly to discuss pertinent issues affecting their lives. Through facilitated discussions, participants have been found to identify key issues, devise actionable plans to address these concerns, and establish links with local service providers and Village Development Committees (VDCs) to mobilize necessary resources.
Numerous studies and evaluations have been found to have highlighted the effectiveness of WCFs and CACs in initiating community transformation. The research has aimed to underscore the significance of community-based organizations in driving social transformation. It has been known that it provides an analytical overview of the initial successes achieved by WCFs and CACs in fostering social change, explores strategies to expand these successes across broader contexts, and identifies essential prerequisites for the sustained success of the transformational approach to social mobilization. It has been identified that Empowering Ward Citizen Forums (WCFs) for local social transformation involves various approaches aimed at enhancing community participation, decision-making, and overall impact. They have been presented pointwise as the findings of the research. the different approaches have been explored like capacity building, inclusive participation, access to information, collaborative partnerships, supportive policy environment, monitoring and evaluation, sustainable community projects, civic education and awareness, conflict resolution mechanisms, and celebrating successes and learning from challenges have been explored as the best approaches for the empowering the ward citizen forums.
It has also been found that Empowering Ward Citizen Forums (WCFs) for local social transformation involves a strategic and inclusive approach that engages community members in meaningful ways. The strategies like establishing clear objectives, inclusive participation, capacity building, access to information, supportive environment, partnerships and collaboration, community-driven initiatives, policy advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, communication and outreach and celebrating successes have been found to be employed. By implementing these strategies, WCFs can effectively empower local communities, drive social transformation, and create positive changes that enhance quality of life and well-being for residents. Each step contributes to building a resilient and engaged community that works together towards common goals and shared aspirations.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON CONSUMER DECISION-MAKING IN HEARING AID ACQUISITION

Pallavi Kumari — 2024-09-16

This paper reviews the impact of technological advancements on consumer decision-making regarding hearing aid acquisition, focusing specifically on the Indian context. While innovations like smartphone connectivity, AI-driven features, and rechargeable batteries increase purchase intention (Manchaiah et al., 2021), a complex interplay of cultural, socioeconomic, and accessibility factors influences adoption rates. The paper examines how the urban-rural divide (Kumar et al., 2020), affordability challenges (Reddy & Nair, 2019), and cultural nuances (Sharma & Patel, 2022) shape technology acceptance in India. It also explores the potential of Tele-audiology (Chopra & Sharma, 2021) and government initiatives (Kumar et al., 2021) in promoting wider access to advanced hearing aids. The review highlights the need for manufacturers to adopt segmented approaches, healthcare providers to expand telecom-services, and policymakers to implement inclusive policies to address the unique needs of the Indian market.

IMPLEMENTATION MODEL OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN BOARDING SCHOOLS IN THE CONTEXT OF PETER L. BERGER'S THEORY OF SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION (STUDY AT ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL IN EAST JAVA - INDONESIA)

Titik Triwulan Tutik M — 2024-09-17

This research is an Applied Research on National Strategic Studies, on the Implementation Model of Religious Moderation in Ma’had (Islamic boarding school) by taking case studies in Surabaya City, Probolinggo Regency, Jember Regency, and Sumenep Regency. Objectives of the activity: First, to analyze management patterns in implementing religious moderation in Ma’had. Second, to analyze the application of subject teacher (ustadz) learning in implementing religious moderation in Islamic boarding school (Ma’had) for their students. Third, describe the obstacles faced by Ma’had institutions in implementing religious moderation. The research design is designed as a field research design in which the researcher will conduct observations and interviews with the respondents, on the issues raised. These findings will be analyzed using the social construction theory of Peter L. Berger.
The results of the study show: First, the management pattern in implementing religious moderation in Islamic boarding school/Ma’had begins with determining the vision and mission of the madrasa, and preparing the madrasa work program which is documented in the Ma’had Strategic Plan, Ma’had Work Plan, Annual Activity Plan, Ma’had Activity Plan and Budget, and Ma’had Curriculum. Second, Ma’had in implementing religious moderation generally use three patterns, namely: (1) integrating in the learning process; (2) habituation activities; (3) through extracurricular. Based on the implementation model of religious moderation at the Ma’had, it can generally be concluded that these patterns are following Peter L. Berger's Social Construction Theory, namely the existence of stages in implementation such as the preparation of vision and mission, work programs and habituation to the institution (process externalization), implementation of vision and mission, work programs, and habituation to Ma’had (objectification process), and a correct understanding of moderation and implementation in everyday life both in the school, home, and community environment (internalization process).
Based on the findings/results of the research, the suggestions/recommendations that can be given are: (1) there needs to be socialization, workshops, technical guidance, training on religious moderation for all educators and education personnel in Ma’had in order to create a unified insight; (2) The government in this case the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia needs to provide a separate budget related to religious moderation activities, especially in Ma’had so that activities can be carried out massively, systematically, and structured from the central level to the Ma’had level; and (3) Ma’had need to coordinate with parents through the madrasa committee, and carry out MoUs with stakeholders such as national private companies through CSR programs in implementing religious moderation in Ma’had, so that activities can be carried out massively and planned.

BUILDING A PEOPLE'S ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM THROUGH THE SYNERGY OF COOPERATIVES AND MSMES FOR GOLDEN INDONESIA 2045

Ahmad Subagyo — 2024-09-17

This article analyzes strategies for building a people's economic ecosystem through optimizing synergy between cooperatives and MSMEs in order to realize the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045. Using a literature analysis and secondary data approach, this study explores the concept of the people's economic ecosystem, the role of cooperatives, the challenges and opportunities of MSMEs, and the synergy strategy between the two sectors. The implementation of the grand theory of growth and equity was also discussed as a policy foundation. The results of the analysis show that strengthening the digital ecosystem, optimizing collaboration between stakeholders, and developing a data-based monitoring system are the keys to building effective synergy between cooperatives and MSMEs. This study concludes that with the right strategy, the synergy of cooperatives and MSMEs can be the main driver in creating inclusive and sustainable economic growth towards Golden Indonesia 2045. Policy recommendations include strengthening digital infrastructure, improving cross-sector coordination, and developing a comprehensive evaluation system to support evidence-based decision-making in the development of the cooperative and MSME sectors

SCENARIO ANALYSIS OF WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE IN BANGLADESH: AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Meher Neger — 2024-09-17

Wholesale and retail trade is considered as one of the essential activities contributing to the domestic product, labour force and linkage between producers and consumers. The main objective of the study is to assess the status of input cost, gross output, gross value added of wholesale and retail trade in Bangladesh during the period of COVID-19 pandemic and also compare the volatility between wholesale and retail trade. The secondary data of wholesale and retail trade survey-2021 with 15,258 establishment have been collected from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Both the quantitative and qualitative methods were applied in this study. Scenario analysis was employed to find the current status of input cost, gross output, gross value added of wholesale and retail trade in Bangladesh. The study reveals that industrial cost was increased due to several constraints, including market issues, high labour costs, transportation issues, and logistical shortcomings. The findings of the volatility between wholesale and retail trade represent that retail businesses have more flexibility in expenses, while wholesale enterprises often have more output and value added. Finally, it has been found that gross output significantly depends on gross value addition, whereas COVID-19 affects all scenarios. The findings of this study would be helpful for the planners and policy makers of the trade sectors to take appropriate policies regarding wholesale and retail trade in Bangladesh.