ISPEC International Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities

The Use of Modern Mobile Learning Tools in Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language

2025-12-26T19:45:39+01:00

The aim of this study is to classify, compile, and systematize current mobile learning tools widely used in teaching Russian as a foreign language, and to examine the potential and applicability of mobile technologies as instructional resources. The study highlights the need to incorporate mobile learning into the process of teaching Russian as a foreign language and provides a clear definition of the concept. It presents a general evaluation of mobile resources used in Russian language instruction and offers a classification of these tools. Furthermore, the study analyzes the impact of commonly used mobile learning tools — both in classroom settings and in students’ independent learning — on achieving long-term educational outcomes. It also explores the potential for integrating modern mobile technologies into foreign language teaching. The research is based on scientific literature related to the use of mobile technologies in foreign language education, with a particular focus on teaching Russian as a foreign language, as well as on the analysis of various mobile learning tools. The findings demonstrate that using mobile learning tools (such as applications and websites) in practical classroom activities for teaching Russian to non-native speakers can be effective. Accordingly, the study concludes that the integration of mobile learning tools into Russian language instruction has a positive impact on the learning process. Finally, the study aims to compile and present current mobile learning tools within a unified framework, thereby encouraging their broader implementation in teaching Russian as a foreign language in Turkey.

Research Article Between Laicism and Secularism since 1923: State and Religion Affairs in Türkiye

2026-01-08T09:45:30+01:00

Since 1923, the state’s stance toward religion—whether based on laic or secular principles—has shaped the extent to which political Islamic movements could operate effectively in Türkiye. A distinct pattern emerges, showing a gradual and consistent shift from strict laicism to a more secular framework, accompanied by the steady rise of political Islam. Both laic and secular policies, despite stemming from different motivations, have paradoxically contributed to the growing influence of political Islam in the country. One might argue that the rigid laic policies of the early Republican era actually fostered the politicization of Islam. In this regard, the periods between 1923–1950 and 1997–2002 share similarities: both phases of intense laicism generated stronger Islamic movements and heightened resistance to the regime rather than suppressing them. The former period paved the way for the more liberal but moderately conservative Democrat Party, while the latter opened the door for another liberal yet more conservative actor—the Justice and Development Party (AKP)—to come to power. This article seeks to analyze the connection between the state’s adoption of laic or secular approaches and the ensuing rise of political Islam in Türkiye.

The Effect of Childhood Traumas on Procrastination Behavior in Adulthood

2025-11-15T19:24:18+01:00

This study aims to examine the relationship between childhood traumas and general procrastination behavior, and to determine whether this relationship differs according to gender, age, educational level, marital status, and psychological help-seeking status. The research was conducted using a correlational design, one of the quantitative research methods. The population consisted of adults aged 18 years and older living in Türkiye, and the sample included 458 participants reached through convenience sampling via an online Google Forms survey. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form developed by the researcher, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33), and the Turkish adaptation of Lay’s General Procrastination Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and independent samples t-tests; the significance level was set at p < .05. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between total childhood trauma scores and general procrastination, with emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect showing the strongest associations. All trauma subdimensions were strongly and negatively correlated with denial scores. Participants who had previously received psychological support scored significantly higher on both trauma and procrastination measures. No significant gender differences were found, whereas certain subdimensions differed across age, educational level, and marital status. Overall, the results suggest that childhood traumas represent an important risk factor for procrastination in adulthood and should be considered when evaluating behavioral self-regulation processes. The findings were discussed in light of the existing literature, and recommendations were provided based on the results.

Theoretical Perspectives on Aesthetic Value and Beauty in Art

2025-11-17T15:28:47+01:00

This text posits that beauty is not merely a subjective judgment, but is grounded in objective qualities inherent in objects. Every entity we designate as beautiful or ugly possesses certain values, both formal and conceptual (content-related). Beauty emerges from the interaction of these two main elements. The objective qualities of beauty are examined under two primary headings: Content-related Qualities and Formal Qualities. Content-related Qualities refer to the essential values an object must embody. These are identified as: Conformity to Idea, Kind, or Type, Perfection/Competence, Vibrancy (Livelines), and Expression. For an entity to be considered beautiful, it must conform to its proper kind, type, and consequently its Idea; it must exhibit a maturity approaching flawlessness, both formally and conceptually; and it must possess an expression that evokes active, meaningful, and honorable emotions in the observer. External-Formal Qualities encompass the visual and structural characteristics of an object. These qualities are categorized as: Proportion and Symmetry, which express the balanced and fitting arrangement of parts; Order and Harmony, which ensure a systematic, purposeful arrangement that provides peace and pleasure; and the principle of Unity in Multiplicity and Economy, which ensures all elements are efficiently utilized and focused on the main objective. The inherent human search for balance and order is the fundamental reason we find proportionate and harmonious structures beautiful. In works of art, the form, proportion, and symmetry reflecting the artist's intention enhance the power of the expression. Thus, beauty manifests itself in a complete, harmonious, vibrant, and purposeful entity that embodies all these objective qualities—the internal (conceptual) and external (formal), the measurable and the emotionally appealing.

The Transformation of Virtuosity in Classical Western Music in the Context of Pierre Bourdieu's Concept of Cultural Capital

2026-01-25T18:28:35+01:00

This study aims to examine the transformation of classical Western music virtuosity throughout the Baroque period and the 20th century from the perspective of Pierre Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital. Virtuosity, defined as mastery and high technical skill in instrumental performance, is discussed in this research as a phenomenon shaped by historical processes due to social taste and cultural values. Conducted using the document analysis approach, one of the qualitative research methods, the study evaluates and interprets data obtained from books, articles, and postgraduate theses on the subject. Based on Bourdieu's approach to cultural capital, which encompasses embodied, objectified, and institutionalised forms, the relationship between virtuosity and these forms of capital throughout periods of music history is discussed. The findings of the research indicate that virtuosity was used as a means of gaining prestige and as a status symbol for the aristocratic class during the Baroque period, directly producing a status and representation sphere for the nobility within the social hierarchy. It emerges that, starting from the Romantic period, the social hierarchy underwent a distinct transformation with the prestige dynamics of the bourgeoisie, and in the 20th century, it was reshaped by art movements, experimental music productions, and institution-based structures. Consequently, virtuosity has been evaluated as a sociological phenomenon that transcends mere mastery of instrumental techniques in classical Western music, evolving alongside processes of social status acquisition and cultural capital accumulation.

Competıtıveness Analysıs Of BRICS-T Countrıes In The Automotıve Industry

2026-02-20T21:02:49+01:00

This study, the competitive performance of countries in the automotive sector is analyzed for the period 1996–2024 using the “Revealed Competitiveness Approach” developed by Vollrath. The Relative Trade Advantage (RTA) index is calculated as the difference between Relative Export Advantage (RXA) and Relative Import Advantage (RMA); positive values indicate a competitive advantage, whereas negative values reflect a competitive disadvantage. The findings reveal that India, South Africa, and Türkiye generally exhibit positive RTA values throughout the analyzed period, indicating a stable relative trade advantage in the automotive sector. In contrast, China is found to experience a competitive disadvantage over the entire period, as evidenced by consistently negative RTA values. Brazil appears to have maintained a competitive advantage in the early 2000s; however, a weakening of its competitiveness is observed in the post-2009 period. In the case of Russia, the index remains negative for an extended period but shifts into positive territory after 2022, suggesting a recovery trend. Overall, the results indicate that the competitive positions of countries in the automotive sector are influenced by structural and external factors that vary over time.

An Analysis of Abu Dawud's Treatise to the People of Mecca from the Perspective of Hadith Methodology: A Study in the Context of Mursal, Matruk, and Munkar Hadiths

2026-03-25T09:17:28+01:00

Abu Dawud (d. 275/889), the author of the Sunan, considered the third work of the Six Books of Hadith, holds an exceptional position in the science of hadith. He studied hadith under distinguished teachers, many of whom were also studied by Bukhari and Muslim, and distinguished himself particularly in identifying hidden defects in narrations and in the field of jurisprudential inference, thanks to his extensive scholarly knowledge. Abu Dawud, who produced comprehensive works in the field of hadith, adopted a method not common in his time, writing the treatise Risalat Abi Dawud ila Ahli Makkah fi Wasfi Sunanih. This treatise is an important source for the history and methodology of hadith due to the information it contains. It is also noteworthy for being an author's own introduction to his work, a comparison with similar works, and thus the development of an original methodology. Despite its small size, this treatise has maintained its importance both in the classical period and in the present day, thanks to the information it provides regarding both the Sunan in particular and the methodology of hadith in general. The aim of this study is to comparatively examine the concepts of mursal, matruk, munkar, gharib, and mudallas hadiths discussed in this treatise, within the framework of the views of early and later scholars.

Natural Disasters and the Reconfiguration of Global Value Chains: Evidence from Multinational Firms After the 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes

2026-03-29T10:50:39+02:00

Natural disasters increasingly intersect with globally fragmented production systems, exposing vulnerabilities in multinational supply networks. This study examines how multinational enterprises (MNEs) responded to the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, which disrupted a major export-oriented manufacturing region embedded in global value chains. Drawing on global value chain theory, internalization theory and institutional perspectives on corporate social responsibility (CSR), the paper analyzes how disaster exposure affected supply-chain disruptions, recovery trajectories and sourcing reconfiguration among internationally active firms. Using a mixed-method approach combining secondary data, sector-level trade statistics and simulation-based modeling of supply-chain exposure, the study identifies three key mechanisms shaping firm responses: geographic concentration of suppliers, relational governance through CSR engagement and operational flexibility embedded in multinational network structures. The findings suggest that disaster exposure is not merely an external shock but a structural property of multinational network architecture. Firms with highly concentrated supplier networks experienced more severe disruptions, while CSR engagement and diversified sourcing arrangements facilitated faster recovery. Reconstruction processes further triggered partial reconfiguration of global value chains as firms reassessed geographic risk and diversified production locations. These results contribute to international business research by integrating disaster risk into theories of multinational network design and highlighting the strategic role of ESG-oriented governance in crisis environments.

E-Commerce and Smes Performance: Medıatıng Effect of Competıtıve Advantage

2025-12-30T09:18:34+01:00

Competitive advantage prediction has an important role for decision-makers in e-commerce to improve SMEs performance. However, there is scanty studies on mediating effect of competitive advantage in the relationship between studies E-commerce and SMEs performance in North East Nigeria. This study examined the mediating effect of competitive advantage in the relationship between studies E-commerce and SMEs performance in North East Nigeria A survey research design was used for the study. The sample size for this study was 240 small and medium Scale enterprises (SMEs) employee and owners’ operation in North East Nigeria. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 for social sciences, and PLS-SEM. The result reveals that E-commerce has significant effect on SMEs performance. Similarly, competitive advantage has mediating in the relationship between E-commerce and SMEs performance. Therefore, managers and owners of SMEs need to have an ability to develop a competitive strategy to evaluate high performance.

Capital Risk, Leverage Risk and Financial Performance of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

2025-11-10T18:39:57+01:00

The financial performance of listed deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria has remained inconsistent despite regulatory reforms. This study investigates the effect of capital adequacy risk and leverage risk on the financial performance of listed DMBs in Nigeria. The objective is to determine the extent to which capital and leverage risks influence profitability, measured by Return on Assets (ROA). The study adopts an ex post facto research design, analyzing panel data from 12 listed DMBs over a ten-year period (2015–2024). Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, diagnostic tests (including the Hausman test), and panel regression analysis were employed to evaluate the relationships among the variables. Findings reveal that capital adequacy ratio (CAR) has a positive and statistically significant effect on ROA (coefficient = 0.134, p < 0.01), indicating that stronger capital buffers enhance financial performance. Conversely, debt-to-equity ratio (DER) has a negative and significant effect on ROA (coefficient = -0.087, p < 0.05), suggesting that excessive leverage undermines profitability. The model’s R² value of 0.67 shows strong explanatory power. The study concludes that prudent capital management and conservative leverage strategies are crucial to improving bank performance in Nigeria’s volatile financial environment. It recommends that regulators enforce stricter capital adequacy requirements, while bank managers limit excessive borrowing to avoid financial distress.

Dynamics of Funeral Practices among the Haussa Muslims of the City of Zinder

2025-11-11T20:19:26+01:00

Funerals are essential sociocultural events in all societies. This study investigates the dynamics of funeral practices among the Hausa Muslims of Zinder. To do so, the paper attempts to answer the research question how can changes occur in funeral practices among the Hausa Muslims of the city of Zinder. In conducting this research, a qualitative approach is used, with 50 people being interviewed as well as participant observation sessions during the funerals. The investigations led to several results. Funerals are not only an expression of mourning, but also fulfill sociocultural, religious, and symbolic functions in Hausa Muslim of Zinder. These results permit to understand that these rites strengthen family and community ties, cultural identity, and active solidarity. The results also show that significant socio-cultural, religious and economic changes, with multiple and varied factors, are observed in funeral rites.

Proposed Research Model For Assessing Happiness At Work Among Employees İn Tourism Enterprises

2025-11-14T18:05:41+01:00

In the context of tourism playing an important role in economic growth, frontline staff are the first "ambassadors" to spread the cultural image of a country and touch the emotions of tourists. Therefore, the importance of happiness at work becomes more and more evident, not only for the employees themselves but also for the service quality and sustainable development of tourism businesses. This study summarizes the theory and proposes a model to assess the factors that affect employees’ happiness at work in tourism enterprises. The model has six factors: income and benefits, job characteristics, work environment, work–life balance, coworker relationships, and positive psychological capital. The study aims to provide a scientific basis for businesses to design suitable solutions, so that they can increase worker happiness, improve service quality, and support the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tourism industry.

Economic Crises in the Global South: Structural Challenges and Global Political Economy Perspectives

2025-11-15T16:01:46+01:00

The persistence of economic crises in the Global South has remained one of the defining challenges of international political economy. Despite decades of globalization, structural inequalities between the Global North and South continue to shape patterns of dependency, vulnerability, and underdevelopment. This chapter critically examines the recurring economic crises in the Global South, highlighting their historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and broader implications for global governance. Drawing on dependency and world-systems theory, the chapter argues that the economic fragility of many developing countries is not merely a domestic problem but is embedded in asymmetrical global structures of finance, trade, and production. Issues such as external debt, balance-of-payments deficits, reliance on commodity exports, and exposure to global financial shocks make these economies particularly susceptible to crises. Recent global events — including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine–Russia war, and global inflationary pressures — have further exposed the vulnerability of the Global South within the global economic order. The chapter also investigates how global institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO have responded to these crises, questioning whether their interventions alleviate or reinforce structural dependency. Particular attention is paid to the African experience, with Nigeria serving as a case study of how oil dependence, debt accumulation, and governance challenges intersect with global economic dynamics. By situating the economic crises of the Global South within the wider framework of international political economy, the chapter contends that meaningful reform of global governance mechanisms is essential to prevent perpetual cycles of instability. Ultimately, the analysis underscores the need for a more equitable international economic order that acknowledges the systemic disadvantages faced by the Global South and promotes sustainable development pathways.

Ethnocultural Factor of The Formation of Inclusion within The Spatial Boundaries of United Territorial Communities and Districts of Ukraine

2025-11-20T15:43:53+01:00

According to the Constitution, Ukraine is a unitary state, and the Ukrainian people are Ukrainian citizens of all nationalities, which indicates the ethnic diversity of the country. In this regard, the question of the role of the ethnocultural factor in creating an inclusive environment within the spatial boundaries of newly formed, in the process of decentralization reform, united territorial communities (UTCs) and districts acquires scientific relevance and practical significance. This problem is primarily important for the UTCs and districts of Eastern Ukraine and the Transcarpathian, Chernivtsi, Odesa regions, where Russian, Hungarian, Romanian, Moldovan, Bulgarian and Gagauz minorities live compactly. To implement the goal and objectives of the study, were the sequence of the spread of inclusion was tracked, with the identification of factors restraining it, the state of inclusion at the individual, communities, district levels was analyzed, the essence of inclusive development as a process and result in economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions was characterized. A conclusion was drawn about the significant role of the ethnocultural factor in the formation of the civic identity of Ukraine, the creation of inclusion within the spatial boundaries of UTCs and districts.

Staging the Sacred: Materiality, Ritual Technology, and Production Design in Black Sacred Arts Cinema

2025-12-29T11:07:13+01:00

This paper examines production design as a form of ritual technology in Black sacred arts cinema, arguing that cinematic environments function as active agents in the performance and preservation of diasporic spiritual practices rather than mere backdrops. Drawing on material culture frameworks, this study analyses two seminal works: Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust (1991) and Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade (2016). The analysis reveals that production design in these works operates as a means of anamnesis, ritually re-enacting historical memory and spiritual resilience through careful curation of objects and spaces. Kerry James Marshall's design for Daughters of the Dust utilises textiles and natural elements to create a preserved, sacred landscape. At the same time, Hannah Beachler's work on Lemonade employs water, fire, and architecture to stage rituals of reclamation and purification. This comparative analysis demonstrates how the visual language of production design translates intangible spiritual concepts into tangible cinematic experiences, positioning it as a vital yet under-examined component of Black sacred arts aesthetics that challenges Western cinematic traditions where sets serve merely as passive containers for action.

Digital Media Engagement as a Predictor of Gender-Sensitive Communication in India

2026-01-16T08:31:35+01:00

Digital media has become a powerful arena to influence the perception of gender, provides interactive platforms through which users can interactively respond to different stories, break stereotypes, and introduce positive inclusive practices of communication. In this paper, the role of digital media business in forecasting beliefs towards gender-sensitive communication in India will be considered, but rather than focusing on media platforms as the analytical perspective, the focus will be on the nature and intentionality of user interaction. Based on a quantitative, cross-sectional survey of 80 participants and using Spearman correlation, descriptive statistics, and chi-square, the research results conclude that active and goal-oriented digital use, contrary to passive exposure or screen time, is significantly associated with positive perceptions of gender-responsive roles of media. An increase in social media use was connected to increased perceptions of women leadership visibility in various media platforms with the most statistical correlations being recorded in online news, movies, and streaming platforms. The results emphasize the potential changes digital spaces can undergo in case of used mindfulness and critical consideration, proposing the necessity of participatory digital literacy and media practices, which can improve gender-balanced communication cultures.

Ahmed Hamdî Sirvânî’s Translation of the 30th Maqamah (Suriyah/Mansuriyyah): Kudyah, Psychological Depth, and the Pure Turkish Sermon as a Sociolinguistic Shift

2026-03-27T21:44:29+01:00

Hariri’s al-Maqamat, one of the masterpieces of classical Arabic literature, was translated into Turkish by the 19th-century Ottoman author Ahmed Hamdi Shirvani under the title Tercüme-i Makamat-ı Hariri. This study examines the 30th Maqamah (Suriyah/Mansuriyyah), located in the second volume of the work, from literary and sociolinguistic perspectives, where the institution of kudyah (beggary) is satirized through an allegorical wedding ceremony. By analyzing the psychological depths of the protagonist Abu Zayd al-Saruji and the narrator Harith bin Hammam, the study reveals the trauma of statelessness and the critique of social corruption hidden behind the humorous fiction of the text. The main focus of the research is the radical linguistic shift Shirvani exhibits in his translation strategy. While the translator employs the heavy and rhymed prose style of classical Ottoman prose throughout the maqamah, he abandons this elitist language when translating the parodic wedding sermon delivered in the assembly of beggars. Instead, he constructs a linguistic layer with a simplified syntax, woven with pure and archaic Turkish equivalents (such as ögüş, yarlıganmak, inanış aydınlığı) of Islamic terminology (hamd, maghfirah, hidayah). This conscious preference demonstrates that the work goes beyond a mere translation, serving as a cultural adaptation suited to the sociology of the target audience and an early, conscious reflection of the language simplification trends in the 19th century.