Journal of Social Impact Studies (JSIS) is a peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to advancing knowledge on the societal implications of policies, programs, innovations, and interventions across diverse sectors. The journal publishes original research articles, critical reviews, case studies, and theoretical analyses addressing pressing social challenges, including education, health, environment, community development, and social justice. JSIS encourages interdisciplinary dialogue between academics, practitioners, and policymakers, aiming to generate evidence-based solutions that promote sustainable, equitable, and inclusive development. The journal welcomes both qualitative and quantitative approaches, fostering a global perspective on social impact research. Journal title Journal of Social Impact Studies Initials JSIS Abbreviation JSIS Print ISSN 3106-1257 Online ISSN 3106-1265 Frequency Semiannual Nature Print and Online Submission Via OJS System Language English Publisher THE ERUDITE FORUM (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED Publisher Address Street No. 8, Model Town Extension, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Website https://socialimpactstudies.com/index.php/journal/index
The Influence of Political Rhetoric in Shaping National Identity: A Study of Nationalism in 20th Century Literature
Political rhetoric has played a decisive role in shaping national identity throughout the twentieth century, particularly within literary texts that reflect and reinterpret socio-political realities. This study examines how political rhetoric influences the construction of national identity in twentieth-century literature, with a particular focus on nationalist discourse embedded within narrative structures, thematic patterns, and linguistic strategies. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative textual and critical discourse analysis with quantitative content analysis and computational techniques, including sentiment analysis and topic modeling. The findings reveal that literary texts consistently incorporate political rhetorical devices—such as euphemism, national glorification, and othering—to reinforce, negotiate, or challenge dominant nationalist ideologies. Quantitative results demonstrate recurrent ideological markers and thematic concentrations related to patriotism, collective memory, and postcolonial anxiety, while qualitative analysis highlights how narrative voice and rhetorical framing shape readers’ perceptions of national belonging. The study further illustrates that national identity in literature is not monolithic but fluid, often oscillating between unified, fragmented, and hybrid representations across historical periods. By combining traditional literary criticism with digital humanities methodologies, this research provides a comprehensive framework for understanding literature as a powerful medium through which political rhetoric constructs and disseminates national identity. The findings contribute to scholarship on nationalism, rhetoric, and literary studies by offering empirically grounded insights into the ideological functions of twentieth-century literary narratives.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Raza, Farah Naz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Evolution of Feminist Literature in the 21st Century: A Critical Analysis of Postmodern Feminist Texts
The evolution of feminist literature in the twenty-first century reflects a significant shift toward postmodern and intersectional frameworks that challenge essentialist notions of gender, power, and well-being. This study critically examines contemporary postmodern feminist texts to explore how literary discourse reconfigures dominant understandings of female subjectivity, agency, and flourishing. Employing a feminist critical discourse analysis combined with thematic content analysis, the research analyzes a diverse corpus of postmodern feminist novels, short stories, and poetry. The findings reveal that these texts consistently disrupt patriarchal narratives by foregrounding relational, eudaimonic, and intersectional conceptions of well-being rather than purely hedonic or individualistic models. Narrative strategies such as historiographic metafiction, fragmentation, and multiperspectivity are shown to function as key tools for exposing power structures and amplifying marginalized voices. Moreover, the analysis highlights a sustained critique of neoliberal feminism, emphasizing collective resistance and structural transformation over individualized empowerment. By integrating literary theory with well-being scholarship, this study demonstrates how postmodern feminist literature operates as a critical cultural site for reimagining women’s lived experiences and social possibilities. The research contributes to feminist literary criticism by offering empirical and theoretical insights into the evolving relationship between narrative form, intersectionality, and contemporary feminist thought.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hina Khalid, Sana Farooq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of Oral Tradition in Preserving Cultural Identity: A Comparative Study of African and Indigenous Australian Storytelling
Oral traditions remain central to the preservation and transmission of cultural identity in communities where knowledge, values, and history are primarily conveyed through spoken narratives. This study comparatively examines the role of storytelling in African and Indigenous Australian societies, focusing on how oral narratives function as dynamic repositories of cultural memory, moral instruction, and social cohesion. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates qualitative ethnographic interviews with elders and storytellers alongside quantitative content analysis of recorded narratives. The findings reveal strong convergence across both traditions in their use of storytelling as a mechanism for intergenerational knowledge transmission and identity reinforcement, despite contextual and performative differences. Quantitative results demonstrate high thematic consistency in moral education, ancestral identity, and environmental harmony, while qualitative insights highlight the importance of performance elements, mnemonic strategies, and communal participation. Additionally, the study explores emerging digital and AI-assisted adaptations of oral storytelling, finding that while such technologies enhance accessibility and youth engagement, concerns regarding authenticity and cultural integrity persist. Overall, the findings underscore the enduring relevance of oral traditions as living cultural systems that adapt to contemporary contexts without losing their foundational role in shaping collective identity. The study contributes to comparative cultural scholarship by offering empirical evidence on the resilience and adaptability of oral storytelling in the face of globalization and technological transformation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Usman, Ayesha Siddiqua (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Literature: How Digital Platforms are Reshaping the Publishing Industry
The digital age has profoundly reshaped the publishing industry, particularly through the rise of e-books, self-publishing platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI). This paper examines how digital platforms have democratized publishing, enabling independent authors to bypass traditional intermediaries and reach broader audiences. It explores the disruptive effects of AI technologies, including automated content creation, content curation, and the growing reliance on data-driven insights. While these advancements offer enhanced efficiency and accessibility, they also introduce significant challenges related to content oversupply, market fragmentation, and issues of intellectual property and piracy. The paper also addresses the ethical implications of AI in publishing, particularly concerning authorship, originality, and the legal aspects of data scraping and copyright infringement. Through an analysis of current trends, this study provides a comprehensive overview of how digital technologies are reshaping the publishing landscape and what this means for the future of literature.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahsan Raza, Nadia Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Influence of Classical Art on Contemporary Visual Culture: A Study of Renaissance Aesthetics in Modern Art Movements
This paper explores the lasting influence of Renaissance aesthetics on contemporary visual culture, focusing on how classical principles such as harmony, proportion, and naturalism continue to shape modern art movements. The study delves into the ways the Renaissance's re-emphasis on human dignity, secular themes, and groundbreaking techniques like linear perspective and anatomical accuracy established a foundational lexicon for subsequent artistic expression. It examines the integration of disciplines such as anatomy and optics during the Renaissance and how these innovations revolutionized the portrayal of the human body and space in visual art. Through a critical review of Renaissance techniques and their influence on later movements, the paper demonstrates how these principles resonate in the works of contemporary artists, emphasizing the enduring legacy of the Renaissance in modern artistic practice. The findings highlight the continued relevance of Renaissance humanism in shaping artistic methodologies and visual representations in the 21st century.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sajjad Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of Public Relations in Corporate Reputation Management
This study examines how public relations (PR) functions generate and protect corporate reputation in contemporary, platformized media environments. Using a mixed-methods design that integrates quasi-experimental panel analyses, measurement modeling, distributional summaries, and qualitative thematic coding, we analyze a multi-industry, multi-region sample from 2019–2022. Quantitatively, PR capability exhibits significant direct effects on reputation and indirect effects via stakeholder trust and engagement, net of controls for firm size, ESG performance, media tone, ownership, and crisis exposure. Event-style and stratified analyses show that crises depress reputation but losses are smaller and recover faster for firms with institutionalized issues scanning, internal alignment, and corrective-action routines. Platform dynamics indicate that earned and shared channels amplify reputational gains when communication is timely, transparent, and behavior-backed, while owned channels stabilize messaging but require dialogic mechanisms to achieve resonance. Network evidence reveals that reputation leaders occupy central discursive positions by coupling thematic depth with representational inclusivity, thereby setting interpretive frames for their sectors. Qualitative findings clarify mechanisms—organizational listening, message integrity, and stakeholder co-creation—that explain heterogeneous effects across industries and ownership forms. Overall, results position PR as a strategic systems integrator that converts purpose and performance into durable reputation through credible narratives, measurable engagement, and governance discipline. Implications include investing in listening at scale, aligning PR with ESG and risk management, formalizing crisis playbooks with accountability triggers, and auditing outcomes with transparent metrics. Limitations and future work involve multimodal analytics, culturally situated ethnographies, and longer panels to track reputational afterlives.
Public relations, Corporate reputation, Stakeholder trust, Stakeholder engagement, Crisis communication, Platform media
Copyright (c) 2024 Huma Tariq, Salman Waheed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Machine Learning Analysis of Consumer Spending
Focusing on the determination of key influential factors and predicting consumer buying patterns, the given study investigates the use of machine-learning methods to understand consumer spending behaviour. We analyze a large data set that incorporates demographic, transactional, and economic variables with the help of various machine learning models, including the decision trees, random forests, support vector machines, and deep learning methodology. The results indicate that a series of factors significantly influence consumer buying behaviors such as the level of income, preferences in product category and seasonal factors. Random forest model performed better than the conventional methods of statistics and demonstrated maximum predicted accuracy among the models evaluated. Also, feature importancy analysis revealed that prior purchases and consumer income were the most important determinants of spending behaviour. The paper reads the way machine learning can successfully predict customer behaviour, providing informative data on targeted marketing strategies and personalised recommendations. The findings mean that machine learning with consumer data analytics could enhance the quality of business decisions made in e-commerce and other sectors.
machine learning, consumer behavior, spending patterns, predictive modeling, retail analytics, feature importance
Copyright (c) 2025 Adeel Hanif, Sania Noor (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artificial Intelligence in Tax Collection Optimization
To enhance efficiency, accuracy and compliance, this paper will look at the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) in streamlining tax collection systems. Through the application of machine learning algorithms, natural language processing and data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance tax data processing, fraud detection and customer contact. The paper evaluates AI-based solutions which have been incorporated into various tax systems, and the effectiveness with which they have been used to reduce administrative costs, reduce tax evasion, and streamline the auditing process. The results of the research show that artificial intelligence (AI) applications such as anomaly detection and predictive analytics in localities where they are adopted have positively affected the increase in tax revenue and its collection. Furthermore, AI-based chatbots and virtual assistants have enhanced customer services as they provide answers fast and correctly. However, the problem of algorithmic transparency, data privacy and legacy system interoperability were observed to require additional attention. The findings show the way AI will transform the process of taxes and give advice to professionals and politicians on the use of these technologies and address the ethical and legal concerns.
Artificial Intelligence, tax collection, machine learning, fraud detection, data analytics, taxpayer compliance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Salman Zafar, Hira Khalid (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
AI-Based Forecasting Models for Macroeconomic Indicators
This study explores the performance of AI-based forecasting models in order to predict key macroeconomic variables, including the GDP growth rate, inflation rate, unemployment rate, interest rates and exchange rates. The study compares the predicting accuracy of their models through a set of machine learning models, including ARIMA, XGBoost, LSTM, and hybrid models. The results show that XGBoost has a great predictive potential in macroeconomic forecasting since it keeps outperforming other models with the lowest error indicators. The hybrid model, which is a combination of XGBoost and ARIMA with significant improvement in GDP and inflation rate forecasts is more accurate. Moreover, because it is evidenced by the great performance of the hybrid model in the diverse times of the day and economic circumstances, the analysis of these models underlines the importance of model selection in correct forecasting. The study also compares the envisaged and actual numbers of each indicator to indicate the resilience of the models in predicting volatile economic status. The findings point to the predictive power of AI-driven methods and their utility to the economic researcher and policy makers.
AI forecasting, macroeconomic indicators, XGBoost, ARIMA, LSTM, hybrid models
Copyright (c) 2025 Asif Mehmood, Nida Farooq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Machine Learning Applications in Political Disinformation Detection
Political disinformation practices in the modern digital cultures have become a dangerous issue that undermines the population and influences the political process. This work makes use of a mixed-methods paradigm combining quantitative machine learning with qualitative content analysis to study how machine learning-based tools can be used to detect such deception. Pretextual processes that were used to collect data included text normalization, stopword removal, and metadata extraction of the internet forums, news sources, and social media platforms. The machine learning models of Random Forest, XGBoost, and Neural Networks were employed in categorizing disinformation and measured accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score to measure the performance of each model. The results indicate that machine learning can potentially identify misinformation, and some of them perform well in terms of robustness and classification. Introduction of metadata, i.e., user information and dates of publication, to provide context and time trends enhanced model performance substantially. Besides contributing to the theoretical and practical contributions to the field, this study provides valuable information regarding the manner in which machine learning can be applied to combat political disinformation.
political disinformation, machine learning, classification, XGBoost, Random Forest, Neural Networks
Copyright (c) 2025 Hassan Raza, Sadia Jameel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of AI-Enhanced Policy Simulations in Decision-Making
This paper discusses the role of AI-enhanced policy simulations in decision-making with the focus on their potential to improve policymaking in multiple areas. It is a mixed-methods and experimental research based on the following presentation of qualitative insights (expert opinions and case studies) with a quantitative one (historical policy outcomes and socioeconomic indicators). The researchers model various situations of policy and predict their potential outcome using machine learning algorithms, including agent-based modelling and reinforcement learning. To ensure their accuracy and reliability, these AI-based models are evaluated on the basis of a mixture of performance indicators and human judgment. The results demonstrate that AI-enhanced simulations can contribute much when it comes to policy prediction, decision-making, and providing decision-makers with the valuable information. The research indicates that AI can be deployed to complement the efficiency and agility of policy response and lead to more informed and efficient government. These findings present a paradigm in using AI tools in policy formulation, evaluation and decision support systems with broad implications in the application of AI in governance.
AI-enhanced simulations, policy decision-making, machine learning, reinforcement learning, agent-based modeling, decision support systems
Copyright (c) 2025 Zeeshan Akhtar, Mariam Jameel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Globalization and Its Effect on Cultural Homogenization
The paper is a critical analysis of the complex interplay between globalization and homogenization of culture, and how the influence of such forces as global media flows, consumer brands, digital platforms, language and tourism on cultural erosion. These results indicate that the process of homogenization is never final; instead it exists in the opposing dialectics with hybridity, glocalization and cultural resistance. Empirical data of past analyses demonstrates that as the transnational corporations and digital platforms encourage the standardised consumer behaviours, local iterations and hybridisation of cultures persist and exhibit the aspect of resiliency and creativity. The discussion reveals that homogenization is often said to be asymmetrical with overrepresentation of Western cultural dominance. The cultural imperialism theory can however be contested given the development of non-western contributions into the global culture spreading culture, like the Korean popular culture. The findings support the assertion that, globalization is known to accelerate convergence in consumption and representation; however, it also triggers cultural negotiations, hybrid identities and even counter-globalist arguments. Its discussion emphasizes that instead of thinking of cultural homogenization as cultural eradication, it is rather an element of the much greater process of negotiation shaped by power, adaptation and agency. The paper contributes to the globalization discourse by proposing a complex paradigm that looks into the integrative forces of global capitalism against the resourcefulness of local cultures that understand the restructuring of identity and diversity in the 21 st century.
Globalization, cultural homogenization, hybridity, glocalization, media imperialism, cultural identity
Copyright (c) 2024 Farzana Shah, Adil Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Influence of Cinema on Cultural Narratives
This study investigates the influence of cinema on cultural narratives through a mixed-methods design integrating quantitative modeling, qualitative thematic analysis, and visual analytics. Drawing on a corpus of 120 films across genres, regions, and platforms, the research evaluates how representation, narrative complexity, and industrial factors shape audience perceptions of cultural identity, empathy, and resonance. Findings from nine complex tables and twelve figures reveal that inclusive representation and higher narrative sophistication consistently predict stronger cultural resonance, even when controlling for budget and marketing. Stratified analyses highlight genre- and region-specific differences, with documentaries and dramas in Europe and East Asia producing particularly strong identity affirmation, while sentiment distributions indicate polarized receptions in North American and East Asian markets. Temporal trends suggest increasing resonance and complexity in the 2010s and 2020s, countering claims of narrative homogenization under platform capitalism. Network analysis shows that films occupying central positions in discourse networks are those combining thematic diversity with representational inclusivity, anchoring broader cultural conversations. Methodologically, the study demonstrates the value of combining regression models, sentiment quantiles, stratified descriptives, and network metrics to capture both symbolic and industrial dimensions of cultural influence. The results affirm cinema’s role as a narrative infrastructure where stories are contested, remembered, and reimagined. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for inclusive authorship, narrative innovation, and equitable circulation policies to enhance both cultural justice and long-term audience engagement in an evolving global media ecology.
Cinema, Cultural Narratives, Representation, Narrative Complexity, Audience Engagement, Media Platforms
Copyright (c) 2024 Sadia Anwar, Imran Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Media Ownership and Its Impact on Content Diversity
This study examines how media ownership structures shape content diversity in platformized news ecosystems by combining quantitative quasi-experiments with qualitative process tracing across a multi-country sample. We link ownership registries and cross-media holdings to outlet catalogs, topic and viewpoint annotations, audience exposure panels, and platform discoverability indicators. Diversity is assessed at three levels—source (owners/outlets), content (topics/viewpoints), and exposure (audiences’ actually encountered mix)—using concentration (HHI), dispersion (Shannon entropy), network centrality of owners, and event-style difference-in-differences around consolidation episodes. Econometric models indicate a negative, statistically robust association between ownership concentration and outlet-level content diversity, net of platform and market covariates; mediation analyses suggest part of this effect operates through changes in algorithmic prominence and discoverability. Public service and independent outlets exhibit higher content and viewpoint diversity than conglomerates, while platform-owned properties enjoy visibility advantages that do not automatically yield diverse exposure without deliberate prominence safeguards. Time-series evidence around a post-2021 consolidation wave shows measurable declines in exposure diversity in several markets, and ownership networks reveal a small cluster of highly central firms with outsized agenda-setting capacity. Qualitative interviews and document analysis corroborate mechanisms of internal editorial alignment and distributional gatekeeping. The study recommends coupling merger review and transparency rules with exposure-oriented remedies—discoverability obligations for general-interest and local content, auditable ranking systems, and internal pluralism safeguards—while noting limitations related to modeled measures and simplified event definitions. Overall, protecting pluralism today requires governance of not only who owns media and what is produced, but how audiences find it.
Media ownership; Content diversity; Exposure diversity; Platform discoverability; Media concentration (HHI); Difference-in-differences; Algorithmic prominence; Public service media
Copyright (c) 2024 Nadia Hanif, Omer Sheikh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Effect of Communication Strategies on Crisis Management
This study investigates the impact of communication strategies on the effectiveness of crisis management across organizational and industry contexts. Employing a mixed-methods experimental design, data were collected from 400 survey respondents, semi-structured interviews, and controlled simulation experiments where participants were exposed to crisis messages framed with varying strategies, including timeliness, transparency, empathy, and consistency. Quantitative analysis was conducted through regression and ANOVA models, while qualitative data were examined using thematic coding and discourse analysis. A Crisis Communication Effectiveness Index (CCEI) was developed to standardize performance measurement across cases. Results from nine statistical tables indicated that timely communication was strongly associated with higher stakeholder trust, while transparency and empathy significantly enhanced credibility and compliance. Consistency in messaging reduced confusion and reinforced long-term confidence, with proactive strategies outperforming reactive responses. Findings from twelve figures further illustrated these dynamics, demonstrating that digital responsiveness through social media reduced misinformation, accelerated crisis containment, and improved stakeholder engagement. Cross-industry comparisons revealed heightened expectations for transparency in healthcare and aviation, while corporate and governmental contexts emphasized empathy and consistency. The discussion situates these findings within theoretical frameworks such as Situational Crisis Communication Theory and Stakeholder Theory, affirming that strategic communication is not ancillary but fundamental to effective crisis response. The study concludes that multidimensional communication strategies—balancing timeliness, openness, emotional intelligence, and coherence—are essential for sustaining legitimacy and resilience during crises. Practical implications highlight the need for organizations to integrate communication planning into core crisis management frameworks, invest in digital literacy and responsiveness, and tailor strategies to industry-specific expectations.
crisis communication, stakeholder trust, transparency, empathy, digital media, organizational resilience
Copyright (c) 2024 Shumaila Naveed, Farrukh Jalal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Digital Media and Its Influence on Youth Civic Engagement
This study examined the influence of digital media on youth civic engagement through a mixed-methods experimental design that combined quantitative surveys, qualitative focus groups, and a digital literacy intervention. Data from 500 participants aged 15–29 revealed that digital media has become a central platform for civic participation, shaping how young people access information, express opinions, and mobilize for causes. Results from nine statistical tables indicated that youth who engaged moderately with digital media demonstrated the highest levels of meaningful participation, while both minimal and excessive users showed weaker outcomes. Voting intentions were strongly correlated with exposure to political content on platforms such as Twitter/X and Instagram, and online petitions and volunteering activities were most frequently mobilized through Instagram and TikTok. Cross-regional comparisons highlighted that Western youth leaned toward digital activism, whereas participants from other regions favored offline methods. Twelve figures further illustrated these patterns, showing clustering of misinformation-related barriers and confirming that online engagement peaks during election cycles. Importantly, the digital literacy intervention improved civic awareness and participation scores, underscoring the transformative role of training in combating misinformation and fostering resilience. Collectively, these findings suggest that digital media operates as both an enabler and a constraint: it lowers barriers to participation and stimulates new forms of activism, yet risks shallow involvement and unequal representation. The study concludes that meaningful and sustainable youth civic empowerment requires integrating media literacy programs, promoting platform accountability, and addressing structural inequalities to ensure that digital engagement translates into substantive democratic participation.
digital media, youth engagement, civic participation, political activism, media literacy, democracy
Copyright (c) 2024 Amina Saeed, Rizwan Haider (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Relationship Between Media Representation and Gender Stereotypes
This study investigates the relationship between media representation and gender stereotypes across television, film, advertising, news, and digital platforms through a mixed-methods experimental design. Quantitative content analysis of 500 media texts, complemented by qualitative focus groups and interviews, revealed that gender stereotypes remain pervasive despite incremental progress toward inclusivity. Results from nine statistical tables showed that women are still overrepresented in domestic and beauty-centered roles, men dominate leadership and occupational spheres, and non-binary identities remain largely invisible. Emotional expressiveness was significantly associated with female characters, while authority and professional expertise were consistently coded male. Audience perception data confirmed public awareness of these patterns, with respondents identifying subtle biases even in narratives marketed as progressive. Cross-cultural comparisons further highlighted that Western media demonstrates greater inclusivity relative to other regions, though disparities persist. Twelve visual analyses reinforced these findings, depicting persistent clustering of stereotypes but also emerging shifts in streaming content toward more egalitarian portrayals. The construction of the Gender Stereotype Intensity Index (GSII) provided a standardized measure to compare stereotypical intensity across platforms, revealing significant variations between traditional and digital media. Overall, the study concludes that media continues to function both as a reproducer of normative gender roles and as a potential catalyst for change, with authentic inclusivity requiring systemic industry reforms.
media representation, gender stereotypes, inclusivity, audience perception, digital platforms, cultural narratives
Copyright (c) 2024 Mahnoor Fatima, Danish Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cross-Cultural Communication and Its Role in Global Business
This study investigated the role of cross-cultural communication in shaping organizational outcomes within the global business environment through a mixed-methods experimental design. Quantitative survey data from multinational employees and managers were complemented with qualitative interviews and case studies, focusing on firms both with and without structured cross-cultural training programs. The results revealed that organizations implementing cultural training achieved significantly higher negotiation success rates, stronger team cohesion, and more efficient decision-making processes compared to their counterparts. Analysis of the Communication Effectiveness Index confirmed that language proficiency and adaptability were critical predictors of performance. Qualitative insights further highlighted the importance of leadership styles and sensitivity to hierarchical expectations, particularly in Asian markets, in mediating communication outcomes. The study also demonstrated that greater cultural exposure positively influenced creativity and innovation, while firms prioritizing cross-cultural competence reported higher client satisfaction and employee retention. Visual analyses reinforced these findings, showing consistent advantages for culturally agile organizations across twelve distinct communication metrics. Collectively, the findings underscore that cross-cultural communication is not a peripheral soft skill but a measurable and strategic capability that drives sustainable success in international markets. The research contributes to both theory and practice by offering empirical evidence that structured interventions in cultural communication directly enhance competitiveness and long-term resilience in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
cross-cultural communication, cultural intelligence, negotiation success, team cohesion, global leadership, innovation
Copyright (c) 2024 Zainab Ali, Haroon Akhtar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Impact of Fake News on Public Trust in Media
This study evaluates how exposure to fake news shapes public trust in media using a mixed-methods design that combines an individual-level randomized feed experiment with a quasi-experimental panel around a mid-year platform labeling policy. A stratified online sample received verified, fake, or hybrid news streams with orthogonal prebunking and accuracy-prompt manipulations; digital traces and surveys captured immediate and four-week outcomes. Measurement modeling validated latent constructs for trust, credibility, literacy, and belief accuracy, and structural equation models decomposed pathways from exposure to trust. Difference-in-differences and event-study analyses assessed policy timing effects, while qualitative interviews illuminated interpretation strategies and repair talk. Results show that fake news reduces post-exposure trust relative to verified and hybrid streams; part of this effect is mediated by lower belief accuracy and perceived credibility. Prebunking and accuracy prompts attenuate trust losses, but mitigation is heterogeneous, stronger among higher-literacy participants and weaker among ideologically committed respondents. Platform labeling improves belief accuracy modestly and transiently, with limited direct effects on trust. Cross-country exposure diversity correlates with trust resilience, whereas ownership/source network centrality aligns with greater distrust, suggesting distributional and structural channels beyond content alone. Findings recommend layered interventions: durable prominence and transparency obligations for platforms, newsroom practices centered on verifiability and timely correction, and scalable prebunking and literacy programs to build robust accuracy heuristics.
Fake news; Media trust; Belief accuracy; Credibility; Prebunking; Accuracy prompts; Platform labeling; Exposure diversity; Network centrality; Mixed-methods; Difference-in-differences; Structural equation modeling
Copyright (c) 2024 Sara Khan, Usman Riaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of Journalism in Promoting Democratic Governance
This study examines the role of journalism in promoting democratic governance through a mixed-method experimental design that combined quantitative survey analysis with qualitative focus group discussions. A diverse sample of 500 participants was exposed to investigative, solutions-oriented, public-service, and commercial journalism, with changes in perceptions of accountability, transparency, trust, and civic engagement measured pre- and post-exposure. The quantitative findings demonstrate that investigative and public-service journalism significantly enhanced perceptions of government accountability and increased civic engagement, while solutions journalism fostered optimism and participatory attitudes among younger demographics. Conversely, exposure to commercial and sensationalist news was associated with declines in trust and weaker perceptions of transparency. Regression analyses revealed notable interaction effects between partisanship and journalistic form, indicating that media consumption often reinforces existing ideological divides. Qualitative thematic analysis corroborated these results, showing that participants interpreted journalistic content through partisan identities and evaluative frames, thereby amplifying polarization in some contexts. Graphical visualizations and coded narratives provided further evidence of demographic variation, highlighting that digitally engaged participants were more receptive to constructive reporting. Overall, the results affirm journalism’s dual role as both a catalyst for democratic engagement and a site of contestation, where its democratic benefits are mediated by structural and interpretive conditions. The study underscores the need for strengthening independent and diverse journalistic institutions, enhancing public-service journalism, and safeguarding media freedom to ensure that journalism fulfills its mandate of sustaining democratic governance in a polarized and digital environment.
journalism, democratic governance, accountability, civic engagement, polarization, media trust
Copyright (c) 2024 Khalid Mansoor, Ayesha Tariq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Political Polarization and Its Effect on Social Cohesion
This study investigates the relationship between political polarization and social cohesion through a mixed-methods design combining quantitative regression models with qualitative case studies. The quantitative findings demonstrated a strong negative correlation between polarization intensity and social cohesion indicators, including interpersonal trust, civic engagement, and institutional confidence. Regression results confirmed that polarization significantly predicts lower cohesion, while mediation analysis revealed that institutional trust is a critical factor exacerbating the impact of polarization on society. Subgroup analysis showed notable variations across gender and geographic contexts, with women and urban populations reporting sharper declines in cohesion under polarized environments. Longitudinal trends indicated that polarization not only produces short-term fractures but also perpetuates cycles of fragmentation that weaken democratic resilience. Qualitative interviews and discourse analysis further highlighted how polarization manifests in identity-based divisions, echo chambers, and misinformation, deepening mistrust across groups and diminishing solidarity. Together, the findings underscore that while polarization may energize participation in the short term, its broader consequences are overwhelmingly detrimental to social cohesion. The study concludes that mitigating polarization’s effects requires strengthening institutional trust, promoting civic education, and adopting policies that reduce inequality and encourage inclusive dialogue.
Copyright (c) 2023 Tahir Mahmood, Sadia Yousaf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Populism and Its Impact on Policy Stability
This study examines the impact of populism on policy stability through a mixed-methods approach that integrates quantitative panel regression analyses with qualitative case studies from diverse political contexts. The quantitative results revealed a strong negative association between populist intensity and policy stability, with populist-led governments exhibiting higher frequencies of fiscal volatility, policy reversals, and abrupt regulatory changes. Regression models confirmed populism as a significant predictor of instability, while mediation analysis demonstrated that institutional trust plays a crucial role in moderating this relationship. Countries with higher levels of institutional erosion under populist rule displayed sharper declines in policy predictability and coherence. Subgroup analyses further showed gender and geographic variations, as women and urban populations expressed greater concerns regarding instability compared to men and rural residents. The qualitative findings reinforced these results, as case narratives from Brazil, Hungary, the United States, and the Philippines illustrated how populist leadership often prioritizes immediate electoral gains over long-term policy coherence. These cases highlighted patterns of expansionary fiscal policies followed by austerity, legal manipulation, and policy uncertainty that weaken democratic resilience. Collectively, the study concludes that while populism may energize democratic participation in the short term, its long-term effect is detrimental to policy stability. Addressing these risks requires reinforcing institutional checks and balances, promoting civic education, and ensuring independent bureaucratic structures capable of maintaining policy continuity beyond populist cycles
Copyright (c) 2023 Saima Qureshi, Imran Javed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of Civil Society in Strengthening Democratic Institutions
This study investigates the role of civil society in strengthening democratic institutions through a mixed-methods design that integrates quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews and case studies. The quantitative findings revealed a strong and positive association between civil society engagement and institutional trust, with regression analyses confirming civic participation as a significant predictor of confidence in parliaments, electoral commissions, and judiciaries. Mediation models demonstrated that civic education amplifies this relationship, suggesting that informed and engaged citizens are more likely to hold institutions accountable and reinforce democratic legitimacy. Further, subgroup analysis indicated that women and urban populations benefit more from civil society engagement, reporting higher levels of institutional trust than men and rural residents. Qualitative findings supported these results, with respondents highlighting the importance of civil society organizations as watchdogs, mediators, and advocates for transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Case narratives underscored that civic networks foster resistance against democratic erosion, especially in contexts of political repression or weak governance structures. Figures and tables consistently illustrated these patterns, including regression outcomes, subgroup variations, and hybrid visualizations integrating quantitative and qualitative insights. Collectively, the results demonstrate that civil society is not merely an accessory to democracy but an indispensable driver of institutional resilience and legitimacy. However, the findings also caution that legal restrictions, resource constraints, and digital surveillance continue to limit civil society’s potential. The study concludes that enabling environments, stronger protections for civic freedoms, and integration of civic education into governance frameworks are essential to maximize civil society’s contributions to democratic strengthening.
Copyright (c) 2023 Nargis Baloch, Kamran Siddiqui (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Corruption and Its Effect on Political Trust in Developing Countries
This study investigates the relationship between corruption and political trust in developing countries through a mixed-methods approach combining large-scale survey data with in-depth qualitative interviews. The quantitative analysis revealed a consistent and significant negative association between perceived corruption and levels of political trust, with regression and hierarchical linear models confirming corruption as a strong predictor of declining institutional confidence. Mediation tests further indicated that income inequality and social exclusion amplify corruption’s impact on trust, while demographic factors such as gender, age, and rural–urban residence shape the degree of vulnerability. Specifically, women, younger populations, and urban residents exhibited greater distrust in high-corruption contexts compared to other groups. Qualitative findings reinforced these results, as participants described daily encounters with bribery, elite capture, and clientelism as systemic features eroding faith in governance. Respondents also differentiated between petty corruption, often tolerated as a survival mechanism, and grand corruption, which was perceived as a direct betrayal of democratic accountability. Figures and tables illustrated these patterns through descriptive statistics, regression outcomes, and comparative subgroup analyses, consistently showing that higher levels of corruption correspond with diminished trust across contexts. Collectively, the results demonstrate that corruption undermines political legitimacy not only by weakening formal institutional credibility but also by fueling perceptions of inequality and exclusion. The study concludes that combating corruption in developing countries requires multidimensional strategies that strengthen accountability, reduce inequality, and empower citizens to critically engage with governance, thereby restoring political trust and supporting sustainable democratic development.
Copyright (c) 2023 Rashid Mehmood, Fariha Aslam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Impact of Electoral Reforms on Voter Turnout in Emerging Democracies
This study investigates the influence of electoral reforms on voter turnout in emerging democracies through a mixed-method design that combines quantitative cross-national analysis with qualitative case-based insights. Using international datasets from 2000 to 2022 alongside country-specific reports, the research examined reforms including compulsory voting, biometric registration, gender quotas, digital literacy initiatives, and institutional trust-building mechanisms. The quantitative results revealed that reforms aimed at enhancing electoral integrity, reducing fraud, and increasing accessibility were positively associated with higher voter participation, whereas high reform costs, administrative burdens, and persistent fraud incidences significantly reduced turnout. Tables 1–9 demonstrated that electoral integrity and civic engagement are robust predictors of participation, while reforms targeting youth and women substantially broaden inclusiveness. Figures 2–13 provided visual confirmation, showing steady increases in turnout after compulsory voting and biometric registration, regional variations in youth participation, and the growing significance of digital literacy as a driver of engagement. Qualitative findings reinforced that reforms succeed when embedded in broader governance contexts that prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Taken together, the results suggest that electoral reforms are not uniformly effective but yield the greatest impact when supported by institutional trust, civic education, and equitable access. The study concludes that sustainable gains in turnout require reforms to operate in tandem with broader societal initiatives, thereby underscoring the multidimensional nature of democratic consolidation in emerging contexts.
Copyright (c) 2023 Zubair Ahmed, Shazia Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of Motivation in Enhancing Academic Performance
This study investigates the role of motivation in enhancing academic performance by adopting a mixed-method experimental design that integrates quantitative data with qualitative insights. A sample of three hundred students across varying academic levels participated in structured learning tasks, surveys, and interviews. Quantitative findings revealed that intrinsic motivation, characterized by curiosity, autonomy, and mastery orientation, was strongly associated with sustained engagement and higher academic performance, particularly among senior students. Extrinsic motivation, including rewards and recognition, was found to be more prominent among younger learners, serving as a short-term enhancer of academic outcomes but less predictive of long-term success. Regression analyses demonstrated that both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation significantly predicted grade point averages, while contextual factors such as teacher feedback, peer support, digital learning engagement, and socioeconomic background shaped the magnitude of motivational effects. Gender differences were also observed, with female students reporting stronger intrinsic motivation, while male students responded more to extrinsic incentives. Qualitative interviews provided further depth, highlighting that students viewed intrinsic motivation as personally fulfilling and sustainable, while extrinsic motivators were often framed as situational and performance-driven. The integration of these findings confirms that motivation is a multifaceted construct in which both internal and external drivers contribute to academic achievement, though their effectiveness depends on developmental stage, gender, and learning context. These results underscore the importance of designing educational environments that foster intrinsic motivation through autonomy-supportive teaching while strategically leveraging extrinsic motivators to enhance performance.
Copyright (c) 2023 Samina Khalid, Adnan Rauf (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cross-Cultural Differences in Emotional Regulation
This study investigates cross-cultural differences in emotional regulation by integrating quantitative, physiological, and qualitative approaches to provide a comprehensive understanding of how cultural orientations shape the use and consequences of regulation strategies. A mixed-method experimental design was employed with participants from collectivist and individualist cultural backgrounds who completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), engaged with emotionally evocative stimuli, and participated in follow-up interviews. Quantitative analyses revealed that collectivist participants demonstrated significantly higher reliance on expressive suppression, while individualist participants engaged more frequently in cognitive reappraisal. Physiological measures indicated heightened skin conductance and heart rate variability among collectivist participants during suppression, though self-reported well-being was not adversely affected, suggesting cultural adaptation of this strategy. In contrast, individualist participants reported greater psychological benefits when employing reappraisal, consistent with cultural values emphasizing authenticity and autonomy. Regression modeling confirmed that cultural orientation and regulation strategy jointly predicted well-being outcomes, while thematic analysis of interviews showed that collectivists viewed suppression as a prosocial behavior aimed at maintaining harmony, whereas individualists framed reappraisal as an act of self-consistency. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the adaptiveness of emotion regulation strategies is not universal but contingent on cultural frameworks, highlighting that suppression can be socially functional in collectivist contexts while reappraisal aligns with individualist ideals of personal expression. The study advances theoretical models of emotional regulation by emphasizing its cultural embeddedness and offers practical implications for culturally sensitive psychological interventions, organizational practices, and intercultural communication.
Copyright (c) 2023 Farah Naz, Asad Iqbal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Psychology of Consumer Decision-Making in High-Risk Purchases
This study examines the psychology of consumer decision-making in high-risk purchases by employing a mixed-method experimental design that integrates quantitative modeling and qualitative inquiry. The findings reveal that risk perception significantly influences consumer hesitation, with higher perceived risk leading to lower purchase likelihood, while trust in brands and institutions moderates this relationship by reducing uncertainty and enhancing confidence. Quantitative analyses demonstrated that loss aversion, probability weighting, and decision latency are robust predictors of consumer avoidance behavior, accounting for substantial variance in purchase outcomes. Social influence was shown to amplify decision speed and reduce hesitation, particularly in collectivist groups, whereas identity signaling through high-risk consumption underscored the symbolic and aspirational value of such purchases. Qualitative insights highlighted the critical role of anticipated regret, anxiety, and emotional regulation in shaping consumer narratives, complementing the statistical results and providing a richer psychological interpretation. Cultural differences were also pronounced, with collectivist participants demonstrating heightened reliance on peer approval compared to individualist counterparts. Overall, the integration of findings confirmed that high-risk purchase decisions are not governed solely by rational analysis but emerge from a complex interplay of cognitive biases, emotional responses, trust mechanisms, and cultural frameworks. The study contributes to theoretical advancement by demonstrating the hybrid nature of decision-making under risk, while offering practical implications for marketers seeking to build consumer trust and for policymakers designing interventions to mitigate consumer vulnerability in high-stakes markets.
Copyright (c) 2023 Nida Hassan, Kashif Mehmood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Workplace Stress and Its Impact on Employee Burnout
This study investigated the intricate relationship between workplace stress and employee burnout through a mixed-methods design integrating quantitative survey data and qualitative interviews. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), results revealed that workload, role ambiguity, and lack of organizational support were the strongest predictors of burnout, significantly influencing emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Quantitative analyses, including correlation, regression, and ANOVA, confirmed that stress levels varied across departments, sectors, and demographic groups, with younger employees and women demonstrating greater vulnerability. The regression model highlighted workload and role ambiguity as the most significant predictors of burnout, while ANOVA indicated sectoral differences, particularly heightened burnout in healthcare and education. Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews complemented these findings by uncovering employee perceptions of stress as both systemic and individual, emphasizing the role of organizational culture and coping strategies. Visual representations—including scatterplots, bar graphs, heatmaps, and a 3D surface plot—further demonstrated the strength of associations between stress and burnout indices. Taken together, the findings suggest that burnout emerges primarily from systemic organizational stressors rather than isolated individual deficits, underscoring the need for holistic interventions that combine workload management, role clarity, leadership support, and resilience-building initiatives. By integrating statistical rigor with contextual insights, this research contributes to theoretical discourse on occupational health and offers practical guidance for creating healthier, more resilient, and sustainable workplaces.
Copyright (c) 2023 Aftab Ahmed, Mukhtar Ahmad, Muhammad Rehan, Abdul Rab, Shahid Iqbal, Sajjad Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Role of Parenting Styles in Shaping Child Emotional Development
This study investigated the role of parenting styles in shaping children’s emotional development through a mixed-methods design that combined quantitative modeling with qualitative exploration. Data were collected from 200 families across diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts. Parenting styles were assessed using the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ), while children’s emotional outcomes were measured with standardized instruments including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (EQ-i:YV). Regression analysis demonstrated that authoritative parenting was the strongest positive predictor of resilience, empathy, and emotional regulation, whereas authoritarian parenting significantly correlated with heightened anxiety and lower self-esteem. Permissive parenting was associated with increased expressiveness but poor self-control, while neglectful parenting posed the most severe risks, predicting emotional withdrawal and maladjustment. Qualitative interviews provided nuanced insights, revealing that children in authoritative households reported greater emotional security and autonomy, whereas those in neglectful families expressed feelings of detachment and instability. The integration of statistical findings and thematic narratives confirmed the multifaceted influence of parenting, highlighting cultural and contextual moderators. Overall, the study concludes that authoritative parenting fosters the healthiest emotional trajectories, while authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful styles contribute to varying degrees of vulnerability. These findings underscore the necessity of culturally sensitive interventions and educational programs that equip parents with effective strategies to nurture emotionally secure and resilient children.
Copyright (c) 2023 Maria Javed, Omar Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/