Steven Krauss | UPM - Universiti Putra Malaysia (original) (raw)

Papers by Steven Krauss

Pertanika Journal of …, 2005

building process. In response to this need, the Institute for Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA)... more building process. In response to this need, the Institute for Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA) at UPM, along with the researchers from UKM, undertook a two-and-a-halfyear IRPA initiative to develop the religio~ity 'no~ms'~o:~e~elected groups of Malaysian Muslim youth as a first step toward understanding their reltgloslty In a broader context. Overall, the three-phase initiative aimed to: 1) define religiosity from the Islamic perspective; 2) develop a measurement instrument for asse~sing Islamic religiosity; and 3) obtain religiosity normed scores for the selected groups of Musltm youth. The current paper presents the Islamic religiosity model and instrument constructs, along with some initial findings that indicate relatively higher scores by the respondents on the Islamic ':"or~dview const:uct (Isl~mic.understanding) than on the Religious Personality construct (appltcatlOn of Islamic teachings In everyday life). This research ultimately aims to inform policy makers and practitioners at all levels of youth work with the goal of developing interventions to enhance the aspects of the youth religiosity.

Education, Training and Counseling: Implication on the Post-COVID-19 World Pandemic

This study explores the challenges of implementing youth voice in school-based management committ... more This study explores the challenges of implementing youth voice in school-based management committees (SBMC) in Nigeria. SBMC are a form of youth-adult partnership that involve communities in the management of local primary schools. The program aims to provide community members, including vulnerable groups such as young people who traditionally lack a voice in community leadership structures, opportunities to partake in school governance. The current study used a qualitative case study approach by interviewing 19 committee members from two SBMCs in Niger State. Thematic analysis from interviews revealed that differential treatment of people of different ages, traditional power structures, the lack of a participatory culture in decision-making, and conventional role divisions impeded the practice of youth voice in the early stages of the SBMCs. The findings provide important insight from an understudied cultural setting on the need to consider sociocultural barriers to youth voice in ...

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Despite several recent studies reporting on young people’s well-being during COVID-19, few large-... more Despite several recent studies reporting on young people’s well-being during COVID-19, few large-scale qualitative studies have been carried out that capture the experiences of young people from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) undergoing extended social restrictions. The challenges faced by young people from LMICs during COVID-19 are likely to be amplified by their countries’ large populations, resource constraints, lack of access to health care, living conditions, socio-spatial contexts, and the pandemic’s ramifications for communities. This study explored how youths perceived their well-being after being isolated for one-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative narrative research was employed as a method of inquiry. One-hundred and sixty-six university students in Jakarta, Indonesia, between the ages of 17 and 22 wrote reflective online essays on the consequences of extended pandemic isolation on their mental health. This data collection strategy offered...

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

Abstract This paper reviews the use of narrative inquiry in disaster research and explores how na... more Abstract This paper reviews the use of narrative inquiry in disaster research and explores how narrative inquiry could benefit the field of disaster science, inform policy, and plan for disaster prevention and intervention. The researchers critically examined their own previous experience of using a narrative approach to analyze the vulnerability and resilience of the child tsunami survivors and looked at the benefits of this approach compared to other methods. The data showed that: 1) narratives describe complex situations and explain what, why, and how something has happened; 2) narratives are one of the best possible methods for the study of children's experiences; 3) narratives provide cross-disciplinary connections that enrich the analysis; 4) narratives provide a voice to silent communities whose voices have never been heard before; 5) narratives communicate people's feelings and lives, including both their silent and non-verbal languages; 6) narratives provide rich and in-depth information. Narrative disaster research provides the opportunity to learn more about both the person and society by introducing a human voice into what has primarily been a technical field. This has important implications for policymakers to better understand the vulnerability and resiliencies from first-hand accounts of those who experienced the disaster. It is therefore a valuable research method because it has the ability to help engage the community and inform policy makers.

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Early Childhood Education (ICECE 2016), 2017

This paper reports a study on kindergarten teachers' use of narratives in the teaching and learni... more This paper reports a study on kindergarten teachers' use of narratives in the teaching and learning of moral education. The study posed the question: why do kindergarten teachers use narratives in teaching and learning moral education for young children? The study took place in two kindergartens in Indonesia, one an Islamic kindergarten located on the outskirts of Jakarta, and the second kindergarten a public kindergarten, non-faith based, located in South Jakarta. A total of 14 teachers were selected based on purposive sampling. Participants were selected for their sensitivity, knowledge, and insight into their experience. The kindergartens were selected due to their use of storytelling in learning. Primary data collection was through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus-group discussion. Supplementary data were collected using observation and document analysis. Themes were obtained from coding and categorizing interview transcripts and analysis of documents. Findings revealed three reasons that teachers use narratives in teaching and learning: they believe narrative inspires children to behave prosaically; they believe that narratives motivate children to have good character; and they believe narratives are able to strengthen children's faith in God. The study concluded teachers play an important role in the success of moral education in schools and the quality of moral education through the use of narrative can be improved by improving ways of teachers' understand moral education and the objectives of moral education in the curriculum.

International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 2017

In Nigeria, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) aim to provide an opportunity for all stak... more In Nigeria, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) aim to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders, particularly the vulnerable groups in the school’s host communities such as young people and women to partake in school governance. Research on the experiences of youth voice in the committees is scant, however, as much of the existing literature on SBMCs focuses on program outcomes. Using qualitative research interviews, observations, and document analysis, this study addressed this gap by exploring how youth participate and express themselves in two SBMCs in Niger State, Nigeria. The findings, which were derived from 19 youth and adult participants, were drawn from SBMC members out of which 12 were youth between the ages 13 and 25, while 7 were adults aged 40 and above. The participants revealed that youth committee members expressed their voice in the committees through participating in a number of committee activities. Specifically, the youth participated in decision-making...

The Qualitative Report, 2015

An introduction and explanation of the epistemological differences of quantitative and qualitativ... more An introduction and explanation of the epistemological differences of quantitative and qualitative research paradigms is first provided, followed by an overview of the realist philosophical paradigm, which attempts to accommodate the two. From this foundational discussion, the paper then introduces the concept of meaning ma king in research methods and looks at how meaning is generated from qualitative data analysis specifically. Finally, some examples from the literature of how meaning can be constructed and organized using a qualitative data analysis approach are provided. The paper aims to provide an introduction to research methodologies, coupled with a discussion on how meaning making actually occurs through qualitative data analysis.

The Qualitative Report, 2017

The notion of goodness is implicitly central to the discourse relating to person perception. To d... more The notion of goodness is implicitly central to the discourse relating to person perception. To date, no empirical research has focused solely upon understanding the notion of goodness and how it’s perceived and discerned in others. Utilizing focus group interviews, this paper explores how people perceive and interpret goodness in collectivist cultures of Malaysia and China. Findings revealed that Malaysian and Chinese participants had somewhat similar notions about goodness. “Concern for others’ welfare” was found to have the most resonance across the two nationalities as a key element in discerning goodness in others. Another category emerging from the findings was labelled as “Goodness a subjective notion” which encapsulated additional interpretations surrounding goodness. Directions for future research are discussed.

The Qualitative Report, 2014

Despite the plethora of studies that have been conducted on PhD supervision, little qualitative i... more Despite the plethora of studies that have been conducted on PhD supervision, little qualitative investigation has been conducted with a diverse, non-Western sample of doctoral students in an attempt to understand how the supervisory relationship is experienced. In response, eighteen students from diverse, non-Western backgrounds studying at one Malaysian research university were interviewed. Results illuminated the theme of "management" of the supervisory experience and included two streams:(a) acceptance of the situation, and (b) response to the situation so as to optimize their experience. The two major themes further included four sub-themes that included managing personal relations, time and accessibility constraints, academic compatibility, and expectations. Implications for the development of international research universities where PhD supervision of a diverse student body is a critical factor for university success and development are discussed.

The Qualitative Report, 2014

The development of the interview guide is an integral aspect of the process of conducting qualita... more The development of the interview guide is an integral aspect of the process of conducting qualitative research, yet one that receives little attention in the qualitative research literature. It is often assumed that interview guides are merely a list of questions used to guide a qualitative interview. The background analysis and preparation necessary to prepare an appropriate and effective guide cannot be dismissed, however, as they are integral aspects of the interview process. The current study on mental models of Malaysian smallholder farmers employed in-depth interviews as its primary approach to data generation. This paper details the initial processes undertaken to develop the interview guide based on preliminary data generation. The results included seven main steps to interview guide development.

The Science of the total environment, Jan 6, 2018

Climate change in Asia is affecting farmers' daily routines. Much of the focus surrounding cl... more Climate change in Asia is affecting farmers' daily routines. Much of the focus surrounding climate change has targeted the economic and environmental repercussions on farming. Few systematic reviews have been carried out on the social impacts of climate change among farmers in Asia. The present article set out to analyse the existing literature on Asian farmers' adaptation practices towards the impacts of climate change. Guided by the PRISMA Statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) review method, a systematic review of the Scopus and Web of Science databases identified 38 related studies. Further review of these articles resulted in six main themes - crop management, irrigation and water management, farm management, financial management, physical infrastructure management and social activities. These six themes further produced a total of 35 sub-themes. Several recommendations are highlighted related to conducting more qualitative studie...

BMJ open, Jan 30, 2018

Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. While safe and effective t... more Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. While safe and effective treatment exists, blood pressure control is poor in many countries, often reflecting barriers at the levels of health systems and services as well as at the broader level of patients' sociocultural contexts. This study examines how these interact to facilitate or hinder hypertension control, taking into account characteristics of service provision components and social contexts. The study, set in Malaysia and the Philippines, builds on two systematic reviews of barriers to effective hypertension management. People with hypertension (pre-existing and newly diagnosed) will be identified in poor households in 24-30 communities per country. Quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to examine their experiences of and pathways into seeking and obtaining care. These include two waves of household surveys of 20-25 participants per community 12-18 months apart, microcosting exercises ...

The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: Annual Review, 2009

Ethics are a core component of professionalism in youth work yet little research has been done in... more Ethics are a core component of professionalism in youth work yet little research has been done in this area. Given the growing demand for greater standards and quality of youth work, there is an urgent need for research in work ethics among contemporary youth development workers in the country. The current self-administered survey was designed to investigate selfperception in the areas of work ethics among 601 government and non-government youth workers. The survey showed that the samples fared well in terms of ethics as defined by respect for others, responsibility and honesty, with respect for others more pronounced than the other two. Age and years of involvement in youth work correlated positively and significantly with respect for others and responsibility. Job sector correlated negatively and significantly with honesty, and academic qualification correlated negatively and significantly with responsibility. Recommendations for work ethics training and development are discussed.

Young, 2012

Despite the concerns about professionalism among youth work practitioners in Malaysia, valid and ... more Despite the concerns about professionalism among youth work practitioners in Malaysia, valid and reliable instruments to measure the construct are lacking. This article reviews the psychometric development and initial exploration of a professionalism measure applicable for use with direct-service youth work practitioners. Results were based on a sampling of 813 government and non-government youth work practitioners throughout Malaysia. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 6-factor solution that was used as the basis for the subscales of the instrument. Comparison of means tests indicated higher mean scores according to academic qualification, age, income, gender, marital status and certification and years of involvement in youth work. Limitations and recommendations for further development of the professionalism scale are discussed.

Review of Religious Research, 2012

Despite the plethora of research on correlates of adolescent religiosity, few studies have examin... more Despite the plethora of research on correlates of adolescent religiosity, few studies have examined the contribution of socialization factors to adolescent religiosity in the context of non-Western Muslim samples from different family contexts. To address this gap, the current study explored the contribution of parenting (direct socialization) and community engagement (indirect socialization) factors on religiosity among 895 Malaysian Muslim high school students from single-/non-parent and two-parent families. T-test results showed that religiosity was higher for students from two-parent families than single-/non-parent parent homes. After controlling for (a) social desirability, (b) gender and (c) school type, the hypothesized factors of: parental attachment, parental religious socialization, parental supervision, youth organization involvement, school attachment, and mosque involvement significantly predicted religiosity for the full sample of students from both types of families. Hierarchical regression results further revealed that while both indirect and direct parental socialization factors were stronger predictors of religiosity for two-parent families than single-/non-parent families, direct parental socialization effects were more robust. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Leadership, 2010

Despite the theoretical justification for the importance of self-awareness as a key input to lead... more Despite the theoretical justification for the importance of self-awareness as a key input to leadership development, the construct, as understood according to awareness of one's traits and tasks, has received little attention in the literature related to undergraduate leadership development. This article sets out to address this gap by investigating Trait and Task Selfawareness (SA) among more than 1700 undergraduate students from Malaysian institutions of higher learning. Analysis focused on comparing Trait and Task SA according to seven demographic variables. Results indicated that older, male students with higher CGPAs from the social sciences scored higher on both types of self-awareness than their counterparts. The findings begin to shed light on Malaysian undergraduates' status in terms of the development of self-awareness in the context of leadership, and how it can be further enhanced.

Pertanika Journal of …, 2005

building process. In response to this need, the Institute for Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA)... more building process. In response to this need, the Institute for Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA) at UPM, along with the researchers from UKM, undertook a two-and-a-halfyear IRPA initiative to develop the religio~ity 'no~ms'~o:~e~elected groups of Malaysian Muslim youth as a first step toward understanding their reltgloslty In a broader context. Overall, the three-phase initiative aimed to: 1) define religiosity from the Islamic perspective; 2) develop a measurement instrument for asse~sing Islamic religiosity; and 3) obtain religiosity normed scores for the selected groups of Musltm youth. The current paper presents the Islamic religiosity model and instrument constructs, along with some initial findings that indicate relatively higher scores by the respondents on the Islamic ':"or~dview const:uct (Isl~mic.understanding) than on the Religious Personality construct (appltcatlOn of Islamic teachings In everyday life). This research ultimately aims to inform policy makers and practitioners at all levels of youth work with the goal of developing interventions to enhance the aspects of the youth religiosity.

Education, Training and Counseling: Implication on the Post-COVID-19 World Pandemic

This study explores the challenges of implementing youth voice in school-based management committ... more This study explores the challenges of implementing youth voice in school-based management committees (SBMC) in Nigeria. SBMC are a form of youth-adult partnership that involve communities in the management of local primary schools. The program aims to provide community members, including vulnerable groups such as young people who traditionally lack a voice in community leadership structures, opportunities to partake in school governance. The current study used a qualitative case study approach by interviewing 19 committee members from two SBMCs in Niger State. Thematic analysis from interviews revealed that differential treatment of people of different ages, traditional power structures, the lack of a participatory culture in decision-making, and conventional role divisions impeded the practice of youth voice in the early stages of the SBMCs. The findings provide important insight from an understudied cultural setting on the need to consider sociocultural barriers to youth voice in ...

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Despite several recent studies reporting on young people’s well-being during COVID-19, few large-... more Despite several recent studies reporting on young people’s well-being during COVID-19, few large-scale qualitative studies have been carried out that capture the experiences of young people from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) undergoing extended social restrictions. The challenges faced by young people from LMICs during COVID-19 are likely to be amplified by their countries’ large populations, resource constraints, lack of access to health care, living conditions, socio-spatial contexts, and the pandemic’s ramifications for communities. This study explored how youths perceived their well-being after being isolated for one-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative narrative research was employed as a method of inquiry. One-hundred and sixty-six university students in Jakarta, Indonesia, between the ages of 17 and 22 wrote reflective online essays on the consequences of extended pandemic isolation on their mental health. This data collection strategy offered...

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

Abstract This paper reviews the use of narrative inquiry in disaster research and explores how na... more Abstract This paper reviews the use of narrative inquiry in disaster research and explores how narrative inquiry could benefit the field of disaster science, inform policy, and plan for disaster prevention and intervention. The researchers critically examined their own previous experience of using a narrative approach to analyze the vulnerability and resilience of the child tsunami survivors and looked at the benefits of this approach compared to other methods. The data showed that: 1) narratives describe complex situations and explain what, why, and how something has happened; 2) narratives are one of the best possible methods for the study of children's experiences; 3) narratives provide cross-disciplinary connections that enrich the analysis; 4) narratives provide a voice to silent communities whose voices have never been heard before; 5) narratives communicate people's feelings and lives, including both their silent and non-verbal languages; 6) narratives provide rich and in-depth information. Narrative disaster research provides the opportunity to learn more about both the person and society by introducing a human voice into what has primarily been a technical field. This has important implications for policymakers to better understand the vulnerability and resiliencies from first-hand accounts of those who experienced the disaster. It is therefore a valuable research method because it has the ability to help engage the community and inform policy makers.

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Early Childhood Education (ICECE 2016), 2017

This paper reports a study on kindergarten teachers' use of narratives in the teaching and learni... more This paper reports a study on kindergarten teachers' use of narratives in the teaching and learning of moral education. The study posed the question: why do kindergarten teachers use narratives in teaching and learning moral education for young children? The study took place in two kindergartens in Indonesia, one an Islamic kindergarten located on the outskirts of Jakarta, and the second kindergarten a public kindergarten, non-faith based, located in South Jakarta. A total of 14 teachers were selected based on purposive sampling. Participants were selected for their sensitivity, knowledge, and insight into their experience. The kindergartens were selected due to their use of storytelling in learning. Primary data collection was through semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus-group discussion. Supplementary data were collected using observation and document analysis. Themes were obtained from coding and categorizing interview transcripts and analysis of documents. Findings revealed three reasons that teachers use narratives in teaching and learning: they believe narrative inspires children to behave prosaically; they believe that narratives motivate children to have good character; and they believe narratives are able to strengthen children's faith in God. The study concluded teachers play an important role in the success of moral education in schools and the quality of moral education through the use of narrative can be improved by improving ways of teachers' understand moral education and the objectives of moral education in the curriculum.

International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 2017

In Nigeria, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) aim to provide an opportunity for all stak... more In Nigeria, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) aim to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders, particularly the vulnerable groups in the school’s host communities such as young people and women to partake in school governance. Research on the experiences of youth voice in the committees is scant, however, as much of the existing literature on SBMCs focuses on program outcomes. Using qualitative research interviews, observations, and document analysis, this study addressed this gap by exploring how youth participate and express themselves in two SBMCs in Niger State, Nigeria. The findings, which were derived from 19 youth and adult participants, were drawn from SBMC members out of which 12 were youth between the ages 13 and 25, while 7 were adults aged 40 and above. The participants revealed that youth committee members expressed their voice in the committees through participating in a number of committee activities. Specifically, the youth participated in decision-making...

The Qualitative Report, 2015

An introduction and explanation of the epistemological differences of quantitative and qualitativ... more An introduction and explanation of the epistemological differences of quantitative and qualitative research paradigms is first provided, followed by an overview of the realist philosophical paradigm, which attempts to accommodate the two. From this foundational discussion, the paper then introduces the concept of meaning ma king in research methods and looks at how meaning is generated from qualitative data analysis specifically. Finally, some examples from the literature of how meaning can be constructed and organized using a qualitative data analysis approach are provided. The paper aims to provide an introduction to research methodologies, coupled with a discussion on how meaning making actually occurs through qualitative data analysis.

The Qualitative Report, 2017

The notion of goodness is implicitly central to the discourse relating to person perception. To d... more The notion of goodness is implicitly central to the discourse relating to person perception. To date, no empirical research has focused solely upon understanding the notion of goodness and how it’s perceived and discerned in others. Utilizing focus group interviews, this paper explores how people perceive and interpret goodness in collectivist cultures of Malaysia and China. Findings revealed that Malaysian and Chinese participants had somewhat similar notions about goodness. “Concern for others’ welfare” was found to have the most resonance across the two nationalities as a key element in discerning goodness in others. Another category emerging from the findings was labelled as “Goodness a subjective notion” which encapsulated additional interpretations surrounding goodness. Directions for future research are discussed.

The Qualitative Report, 2014

Despite the plethora of studies that have been conducted on PhD supervision, little qualitative i... more Despite the plethora of studies that have been conducted on PhD supervision, little qualitative investigation has been conducted with a diverse, non-Western sample of doctoral students in an attempt to understand how the supervisory relationship is experienced. In response, eighteen students from diverse, non-Western backgrounds studying at one Malaysian research university were interviewed. Results illuminated the theme of "management" of the supervisory experience and included two streams:(a) acceptance of the situation, and (b) response to the situation so as to optimize their experience. The two major themes further included four sub-themes that included managing personal relations, time and accessibility constraints, academic compatibility, and expectations. Implications for the development of international research universities where PhD supervision of a diverse student body is a critical factor for university success and development are discussed.

The Qualitative Report, 2014

The development of the interview guide is an integral aspect of the process of conducting qualita... more The development of the interview guide is an integral aspect of the process of conducting qualitative research, yet one that receives little attention in the qualitative research literature. It is often assumed that interview guides are merely a list of questions used to guide a qualitative interview. The background analysis and preparation necessary to prepare an appropriate and effective guide cannot be dismissed, however, as they are integral aspects of the interview process. The current study on mental models of Malaysian smallholder farmers employed in-depth interviews as its primary approach to data generation. This paper details the initial processes undertaken to develop the interview guide based on preliminary data generation. The results included seven main steps to interview guide development.

The Science of the total environment, Jan 6, 2018

Climate change in Asia is affecting farmers' daily routines. Much of the focus surrounding cl... more Climate change in Asia is affecting farmers' daily routines. Much of the focus surrounding climate change has targeted the economic and environmental repercussions on farming. Few systematic reviews have been carried out on the social impacts of climate change among farmers in Asia. The present article set out to analyse the existing literature on Asian farmers' adaptation practices towards the impacts of climate change. Guided by the PRISMA Statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) review method, a systematic review of the Scopus and Web of Science databases identified 38 related studies. Further review of these articles resulted in six main themes - crop management, irrigation and water management, farm management, financial management, physical infrastructure management and social activities. These six themes further produced a total of 35 sub-themes. Several recommendations are highlighted related to conducting more qualitative studie...

BMJ open, Jan 30, 2018

Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. While safe and effective t... more Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. While safe and effective treatment exists, blood pressure control is poor in many countries, often reflecting barriers at the levels of health systems and services as well as at the broader level of patients' sociocultural contexts. This study examines how these interact to facilitate or hinder hypertension control, taking into account characteristics of service provision components and social contexts. The study, set in Malaysia and the Philippines, builds on two systematic reviews of barriers to effective hypertension management. People with hypertension (pre-existing and newly diagnosed) will be identified in poor households in 24-30 communities per country. Quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to examine their experiences of and pathways into seeking and obtaining care. These include two waves of household surveys of 20-25 participants per community 12-18 months apart, microcosting exercises ...

The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: Annual Review, 2009

Ethics are a core component of professionalism in youth work yet little research has been done in... more Ethics are a core component of professionalism in youth work yet little research has been done in this area. Given the growing demand for greater standards and quality of youth work, there is an urgent need for research in work ethics among contemporary youth development workers in the country. The current self-administered survey was designed to investigate selfperception in the areas of work ethics among 601 government and non-government youth workers. The survey showed that the samples fared well in terms of ethics as defined by respect for others, responsibility and honesty, with respect for others more pronounced than the other two. Age and years of involvement in youth work correlated positively and significantly with respect for others and responsibility. Job sector correlated negatively and significantly with honesty, and academic qualification correlated negatively and significantly with responsibility. Recommendations for work ethics training and development are discussed.

Young, 2012

Despite the concerns about professionalism among youth work practitioners in Malaysia, valid and ... more Despite the concerns about professionalism among youth work practitioners in Malaysia, valid and reliable instruments to measure the construct are lacking. This article reviews the psychometric development and initial exploration of a professionalism measure applicable for use with direct-service youth work practitioners. Results were based on a sampling of 813 government and non-government youth work practitioners throughout Malaysia. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 6-factor solution that was used as the basis for the subscales of the instrument. Comparison of means tests indicated higher mean scores according to academic qualification, age, income, gender, marital status and certification and years of involvement in youth work. Limitations and recommendations for further development of the professionalism scale are discussed.

Review of Religious Research, 2012

Despite the plethora of research on correlates of adolescent religiosity, few studies have examin... more Despite the plethora of research on correlates of adolescent religiosity, few studies have examined the contribution of socialization factors to adolescent religiosity in the context of non-Western Muslim samples from different family contexts. To address this gap, the current study explored the contribution of parenting (direct socialization) and community engagement (indirect socialization) factors on religiosity among 895 Malaysian Muslim high school students from single-/non-parent and two-parent families. T-test results showed that religiosity was higher for students from two-parent families than single-/non-parent parent homes. After controlling for (a) social desirability, (b) gender and (c) school type, the hypothesized factors of: parental attachment, parental religious socialization, parental supervision, youth organization involvement, school attachment, and mosque involvement significantly predicted religiosity for the full sample of students from both types of families. Hierarchical regression results further revealed that while both indirect and direct parental socialization factors were stronger predictors of religiosity for two-parent families than single-/non-parent families, direct parental socialization effects were more robust. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Leadership, 2010

Despite the theoretical justification for the importance of self-awareness as a key input to lead... more Despite the theoretical justification for the importance of self-awareness as a key input to leadership development, the construct, as understood according to awareness of one's traits and tasks, has received little attention in the literature related to undergraduate leadership development. This article sets out to address this gap by investigating Trait and Task Selfawareness (SA) among more than 1700 undergraduate students from Malaysian institutions of higher learning. Analysis focused on comparing Trait and Task SA according to seven demographic variables. Results indicated that older, male students with higher CGPAs from the social sciences scored higher on both types of self-awareness than their counterparts. The findings begin to shed light on Malaysian undergraduates' status in terms of the development of self-awareness in the context of leadership, and how it can be further enhanced.