European Scientific Journal, ESJ 

About: European Scientific Journal, ESJ is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Context (language use). It has an ISSN identifier of 1857-7431. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 7946 publications have been published receiving 27123 citations.

Action research in education

Abstract: Action Research is a formative study of progress commonly practiced by teachers in schools. Basically an action research is a spiral process that includes problem investigation, taking action & fact-finding about the result of action. It enables a teacher to adopt/craft most appropriate strategy within its own teaching environment. Action research is actually suitable for any person who wishes to improve his or her performance; or any group or organization who hopes for doing the same. As a matter of fact, action research is widely used in education, especially by teachers who use it to improve their teaching. Teachers from all over the world have employed action research as a part of their teaching and research. Obviously, action research well matches with education and benefits both teachers and students in their teaching and learning since it meets the need of education and enables continuity in research with its cyclic process. The suitability of action research to education reveals in its nature, characteristics, “circle within circle” process, etc. This article will look at all aspects concerning action research including definitions, advantages, steps, etc to see the importance and the benefits of action research to education.

Interest free banking in turkey: a study of customer satisfaction and bank selection

Abstract: In the wakes of frequent episodes, interest free banking has been seen as an alternative to conventional banking rather than one component of financial system. Since its 1960s inception it has expanded worldwide with an excessive speed and its development has remained dynamic. In parallel with these developments, interest free banking in Turkey has grown rapidly with an annual growth of 35% in the last decade. The Participation Banks (PBs) operating in compliance with Islamic principles in Turkey has gained almost 6% market share. The expansion of interest free banking has also brought intensive competition between the PBs and conventional banks as well as among the PBs. The purpose of this study is to investigate customers’ awareness towards interest free products and services and determine their bank selection criteria and satisfaction towards financial products and services. Based on a sample of 281 respondents, it reveals that most of the respondents give the highest importance to religious belief as major factor for making selection of a bank to deal with. They recorded that they bank with conventional banks as well as PBs since the PBs do not have the products and services that are available them through the conventional banks. Based on our empirical findings; we also recorded a low level of customer satisfaction on the limited number of branches, the availability of a wide range of credits with favourable terms and high service commission and fees.

Patriarchy and gender inequality in nigeria: the way forward

Abstract: In Nigeria, it is observed that the womanhood is reduced to a mere infidel and a second-class citizen, hence, there is the commonality of general belief system that the best place for women is in the ‘Kitchen’. This trend has brought about tremendous misrepresentation of women right at the level of the family down to the circular society. The Nigerian society is patriarchal in nature which is a major feature of a traditional society. It is a structure of a set of social relations with material base which enables men to dominate women. Women are therefore discriminated upon from, in most cases, acquiring formal education, mistreated and perpetually kept as house-help; the average Nigerian woman is seen as an available object for prostitution, forced marriage, street hawking, instrument of wide-range trafficking and a misfit in the society. Thus, the purported irrelevance associated with the status of women in society has merely reduced an average woman to an inferior commodity. This paper attempts to examine the conceptual and material bases of patriarchy and gender inequality in Nigeria, identifies dimensions of gender inequality and discrimination, and discuss socio-cultural and political factors leading to discrimination. For a better understanding of this work, a historical approach will be employed. This paper therefore argues that if the concept of democracy allows for diversity of opinion and participation of different groups, then, the same cannot subsist by excluding women, which effectively constitutes half of the world’s population. The paper submits that all forms of inhuman discrimination and gender inequality must be challenged and opines for a deliberate, sensitive, consistent and systematic approach of gender relations this should include gender mainstreaming in all aspects of life.

FINANCING OPTIONS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN NIGERIA

Abstract: Small and Medium enterprises act as catalysts in the economic development of the developed and developing countries. Developing countries like Nigeria that require sustained economic growth in their economies must pay attention to the SME sector and harness the great potential to generate employment, improved local technology, output diversification, developed indigenous entrepreneurship and forward integration with large-scale industries that can be provided by the sector. Unfortunately, the SMEs in Nigeria have underperformed despite the fact that the SMEs in Nigeria constitute more than 90% of Nigerian businesses, their contribution to the nation’s GDP is below 10%. This very low percentage contribution of the SMEs to Nigeria’s GDP could be attributed to amongst others; unfriendly business environment, poor funding, low management skills and lack of assess to modern technology. However, this paper focuses on adequate funding which will take care of some of the problems such as provision of modern technology and low managerial skills. It examines the financing of SMEs in Nigeria and the various financing options available to the SMEs. This involved looking at debt financing by considering the role commercial, microfinance banks, co-operatives and other finance institutions play in the financing of SMEs in Nigeria. It also considered the role of equity financing through Venture capital and Business angels financing. It concluded that funding of SMEs in Nigeria is very critical if they are to perform their role of growth and development of the nation’s economy.

The impact ofwhatsapp mobile social learning on the achievement and attitudes of female students compared with face to face learning in the classroom

Abstract: The use of mobile learning activities in learning and teaching online course is an innovative educational technology in higher education. The study seeks to explore the impact of using WhatsApp mobile learning activities on the achievement and attitudes of online students using mobile devices at the university. Researcher conducted an experiment in the 2014 academic year. Specifically, this study compares an independent sample of students in an experimental group (15 students) with a control group (15 students) from a university class. The e-learning process of the experimental group is based on WhatsApp mobile learning activities. The e-learning process of the control group is without WhatsApp mobile learning activities and receives only face-to-face learning in the classroom. A learning unit of the same course educational media is experimented with the experimental and control group. The t-test was used to compare the differences between the experimental and control groups. The results of the experimentation show that there are real differences, at 0.05 alpha level, in the achievements and attitudes of the experimental group compared with the control group.