Journal of Social and Organizational Matters

The Influence of Mental Translation on Reading Comprehension in Second Language Learners

2025-07-15T02:14:24+00:00

This research investigates the role of mental translation in second language (L2) reading comprehension among university students. Mental translation refers to the cognitive process in which learners translate texts from L2 into their native language (L1) to derive meaning. Although often considered a transitional strategy in early stages of L2 acquisition, it remains prevalent among university-level learners, raising questions about its efficacy and long-term implications on L2 proficiency. The study employed a mixed-method approach combining quantitative survey data from 300 L2 English learners across three universities in Pakistan and qualitative interviews with 20 participants. The research aimed to explore the frequency, perceived usefulness, and cognitive consequences of mental translation during reading tasks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and thematic coding. Findings suggest that while mental translation provides initial comprehension support, it may hinder direct L2 processing, leading to slower reading speeds and limited vocabulary acquisition. Most participants acknowledged reliance on L1 translation, especially when reading complex academic texts, despite advanced L2 proficiency. The study concludes that mental translation, though cognitively supportive, should be minimized in favor of direct L2 engagement. Policy recommendations include pedagogical strategies that foster L2 reading autonomy and cognitive flexibility, especially through inferencing skills, vocabulary-building, and metacognitive training.

Orientation of Knowledge Management strategies and their impact on Organizational Performance: Case of Micro Finance Institutions

2025-07-15T02:25:02+00:00

It is common to refer to the SMEs as vital seeds for the breaking of the economic cycle of a country due to the ability of the business entities to create employment. Still, there have been reported failures; this is even when there has been a pervious investment of large amounts of resources in the sector over the last decade. In executing this endeavor, this paper seeks to examine the effects of KMS on the performance of SME financial institutions utilizing Resource Based View (RBV) theory of the enterprise, Organization Learning (OL), and Knowledge Based View (KBV) theories. According to the research carried out, it was realized that SMEs have managed to improve knowledge management through improvement in capacity development, availability of mentorship programs, enhanced application of modern technology, and consultations. Based on the study, it is suggested that SMEs should provide coverage to the training and enhance their training capacity using micro-finance services from Micro Finance Institutions and the other participants in the financial sector. The findings of this thesis can help SME owners in making appropriate business decisions, provided with the knowledge in this thesis, and would be useful to academicians, researchers, and readers willing to acquire knowledge.

From Service Delivery to Loyalty: How Perceived Quality Mediates the Airline Passenger Experience

2025-07-15T04:19:21+00:00

This study relates to Pakistan's domestic aviation and deals with the relationship between the quality of service and perceived quality, on passenger satisfaction and loyalty. It also brings into perspective the mediation of passenger satisfaction. The theoretical frame of reference for this study is the theory of Expectation-Confirmation, and, to gather the data, a quantitative cross-sectional design was used. For this purpose, 382 passengers were surveyed from five major airlines operating at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data obtained through measurements based on validated scales. Results confirm that there is a direct significant effect of both Airline Service Quality (ASQ) and Perceived Quality (PQ) on Passenger Loyalty (PL). More significantly, passenger satisfaction mediates the relationship, playing a central psychological process through which service and perceived value influence loyalty behavior. All hypothesized paths are supported in the structural model with good indicator reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, according to SmartPLS metrics. This study adds to the literature on service marketing by putting global service quality frameworks in the setting of a South Asian aviation environment and by emphasizing the emotional and cognitive dimensions of loyalty. The results indicate that the airlines should not only make operational improvements but also create a more satisfying experience for passengers if they are to enhance retention. The limitations and direction for future research are discussed to guide further academic and industry inquiry.

Exploring Writing Proficiency and Cognitive Engagement in Second Language Learners: Insights from Diverse Student Approaches

2025-07-15T01:57:50+00:00

This research investigates the complex relationship between writing expertise, cognitive thinking processes, and second language (L2) acquisition across diverse student populations. As globalization intensifies and English becomes a dominant academic and professional lingua franca, understanding how learners develop writing competence in a second language is essential. This study examines students from multilingual backgrounds to explore how their writing strategies, critical thinking abilities, and language proficiencies intersect and influence academic writing performance in English. Data were collected through surveys, writing tasks, and interviews with 200 students from different ethnic and educational backgrounds. Quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to analyze the relationship between cognitive strategies, language competence, and writing quality. The study revealed that students with high cognitive flexibility, metacognitive awareness, and strong first-language writing skills tend to perform better in second-language academic writing. Furthermore, writing performance correlates significantly with students’ ability to internalize grammatical structures and express abstract thoughts. These findings suggest that writing in a second language is not merely a linguistic exercise but an intellectual one, requiring strategic thinking and cross-linguistic skills. The research recommends integrating thinking skills training with writing instruction in L2 classrooms and developing assessment tools that evaluate both language and cognitive performance. The paper contributes to second language acquisition, educational psychology, and applied linguistics.

Project Management in the Digital World

2025-07-17T13:18:14+00:00

The primary aim of this paper is to analyze the opportunities and challenges presented by project management in the digital world. It examines how emerging technologies, global collaboration, and data-driven practices alter traditional project delivery and identifies the benefits of enhanced efficiency and innovation as well as the obstacles of security, data management, skills, and integration. The goal is to provide a balanced understanding of how digital transformation affects project management. Project management has historically relied on well-established plan-driven methods characterized by sequential phases and detailed upfront planning. Over time, the rapid advancement of digital technologies, agile practices, and the globalization of teams has transformed how projects are delivered. This background addresses how conventional approaches are being upended by digitalization, requiring new tools and frameworks to cope with constant change. This study is based on a comprehensive analytical review of the scholarly literature and authoritative industry reports on project management and digital transformation. It synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed journals, reputable project management guides, and institutional white papers. Sources were selected through a systematic search of academic databases and industry publications, focusing on reliability and relevance and strictly excluding non-academic sources. The approach is predominantly qualitative and thematic, mapping key concepts and debates in current project management scholarship. The review finds that digital project management offers significant potential for improved collaboration, efficiency, and innovation. Digital platforms and agile methodologies enable real-time communication, automation of routine tasks, and data-driven insights, leading to more adaptive and effective project delivery. However, managing projects digitally also entails serious challenges: cyber threats require embedding security into project lifecycles; remote teams raise issues of trust and communication; skill gaps in new tools slow adoption; and the proliferation of software can overwhelm users. These findings highlight a complex landscape of gains and risks.

Role of Political Leadership in the Protection of Minorities' Rights of Pakistan

2025-07-21T00:40:16+00:00

The purpose of this study is to examine how minority populations in Pakistan have long struggled to exercise their fundamental rights, emphasizing the necessity of strong political leadership to uphold and advance those rights. This study looks at how Pakistan's political leadership protects the rights of Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs, among other minority groups. In-depth interviews with important stakeholders, such as legislators, human rights advocates, and leaders of minority groups, were conducted as part of a qualitative methodology. According to the report, Pakistan's political leadership has not always been consistent in upholding the rights of minorities; some have called for more safeguards, while others have continued to support discriminatory laws and practices. In order to guarantee the effective protection of minority rights, the findings also emphasize the significance of bolstering institutional institutions, such as the National Commission for Minorities. This study recommends the political leadership of Pakistan should prioritize inclusive governance practices, fortify institutional processes, and foster interfaith understanding and communication in order to better defend the rights of minorities, according to this report. The government should also pass and implement laws that forbid hate speech and discrimination against minority groups.

Role of Monetary and Fiscal Policy in Enhancing Exports Competitiveness: Evidence from Pakistan’s Trade Sector (1980–2023)

2025-07-26T07:37:32+00:00

This study investigates the role of monetary and fiscal policies in enhancing export competitiveness within Pakistan’s trade sector over the period 1980–2023. Export performance is a critical determinant of economic growth for developing economies, where macroeconomic stability, trade facilitation, and competitive exchange rates are essential to global integration. Using annual time-series data from the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, and international sources, the study applies econometric techniques, including Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) tests, Johansen co-integration, and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, to examine long-run and short-run dynamics between export competitiveness and macroeconomic indicators such as real interest rates, exchange rates, fiscal deficits, government spending, and export subsidies. Results indicate that stable monetary policy, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, and targeted fiscal interventions significantly improve export competitiveness. Conversely, persistent fiscal imbalances and volatile interest rates undermine trade performance by raising production costs and discouraging export-oriented investments. The findings underscore the importance of a coordinated monetary-fiscal framework to foster export growth and resilience, especially amid external shocks and global trade fluctuations. Policy recommendations include maintaining macroeconomic stability, adopting inflation-targeting regimes, rationalizing subsidies, and improving institutional coordination to bolster Pakistan’s export sector.

Listeners’ Profile of Buzz FM Radio 99.4 Jamshoro: An Analysis

2025-07-30T02:16:27+00:00

This station really shapes how people in Sindh consume media by reaching out to a wide variety of listeners. We took a closer look at who’s tuning in—like their demographics, psychographics, and behaviors. We wanted to understand their listening habits, what kind of programs they prefer, and how engaged they really are. We gathered data from about 500 folks—students, professionals, and members of the community around Jamshoro and nearby areas. We used structured questionnaires and a stratified random sampling method to make sure we included a good mix of different socio-economic backgrounds. When we crunched the numbers using some statistical analyses—think descriptive stats, cross-tabulation, and regression modeling—we looked for connections between things like age, gender, occupation, education, and how often people listen, what they like, when they tune in, and how satisfied they feel about it all. Well, it turns out Buzz FM is mostly drawing in younger listeners, especially those in the 18–30 age range, with students making up the biggest chunk of the audience. They seem to really dig music programs, entertainment shows, and educational content. They’re not as popular, but still get some attention. This study really highlights the need for programming that speaks to the youth and content that comes from the community to keep those listeners coming back for more. We’ve also got some suggestions for Buzz FM on how they can better target their audience, mix up their content, and boost their community outreach.