International Research and Academic scholar society

IRASS Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Issue-8(August), Volume-2 2025

1. An investigation into the effects of poverty on Grade 5 students’ acad...
10

Latoya Green*, Karla Boswell-L...
Northern Caribbean University
1-19
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16716437

This research explored the impact of poverty on academic performance, focusing on Grade 5 students at the Trailblazers Primary School in rural Trelawny, Jamaica. It investigated how socioeconomic challenges influence students' educational performance and identifies key factors contributing to achievement disparities. Additionally, investigation was done on how poverty poses as a barrier to academic achievement by examining how inadequate resources, limited parental involvement, poor nutrition, and emotional distress influence students' academic performance. By shedding light on these issues, I hope to inform educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders about the urgent need for targeted interventions to support students from impoverished backgrounds

2. UNDERSTANDING POLLUTANT DISPERSION PATTERN IN RESPONSE TO DIURNAL ATMO...
20

Nwankwo, Promise Chibuzo, Kpan...
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
20-30
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16777722

Air pollution is a major environmental challenge plaguing our society in recent time and raises global concern because of its devastating consequences on public health and the environment. Despite availability of environmental policies and air quality standards, this issue seems unabated as the sources of air pollution in the area increases almost on a daily basis arising from different human activities including electricity generation from power plants. This study examined pollutants dispersion pattern due to atmospheric changes around gas power plants in south-south region. Air quality samples were obtained in-situ around the gas plant stations at various calibrated distances, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000m in the morning, afternoon and evening, each day at the sampled location over a period of 6 months (January to June), The main gases measured at each of the sampled locations and at different times of the day include Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOX), Particulate matter (PM), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Carbon monoxide (CO), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Ozone (O3) and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC). Descriptive statistics (standard deviation and means) were used to summarize the data measured. The student t test statistic was employed for the analysis. There was a significant difference in the pollutant concentration at the different times of the day at p<0.05 and the data showed that the early hours of the day had less pollutants concentration than at evening hours. There was also a significant difference in the pollutant concentration observed in the region as compared with the WHO standards. The study recommended periodic environmental auditing, reforestation, discouragement of deforestation within the vicinity of gas plants and constant air quality monitoring.

3. Factors influencing digital library adoption in developing countries w...
8

Jamilu Sani Umar*
PhD Research Scholar, Department of Library and Information Science, Gokul Global University, Sidhpur (Patan), India
31-36
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16783926

Digital libraries play a crucial role in closing information access gaps, fostering educational equity, and promoting lifelong learning, particularly in developing countries facing infrastructural and socio-economic constraints. Despite their transformative potential, the adoption of digital libraries in these contexts remains limited due to a variety of persistent challenges. The existing literature on this topic is often fragmented and lacks comprehensive, comparative analysis especially between countries with similar developmental contexts. This review addresses this gap by systematically synthesizing findings from 24 empirical and theoretical studies, focusing on India and Nigeria. The analysis identifies six major categories of influencing factors: technological, human, organizational, cultural, financial, and comparative insights. Common technological barriers include outdated ICT infrastructure and platforms that are not optimized for mobile use. Human-related issues such as low digital literacy, technophobia, and resistance to change also obstruct adoption. Institutionally, Nigeria suffers from weak policy frameworks and limited funding, in contrast to India’s more centralized programs like INFLIBNET and NDLI. Cultural and social elements, including language diversity and a continued preference for print materials, add further complexity. Financially, the high cost of devices and internet access limits both individual and institutional participation. Though India and Nigeria share many of these barriers, India benefits from national coordination, whereas Nigeria’s progress is more decentralized and inconsistent. The review underscores the urgent need for inclusive policies, sustainable funding, digital skill development, and context-appropriate technologies. It also identifies gaps in the literature, such as a lack of longitudinal studies and limited attention to marginalized user groups, offering guidance for future research and policy planning.

4. Plato’s Response to Protagoras’ Democratic Traditionalism Issues and I...
8

Bruno Yammeluan Ikuli, PhD*
Department of Philosophy, Federal University Otuoke, Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
37-43
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16884854

The influence of Protagoras on Plato, particularly, concerning the latter's the Republic is underemphasized. Perhaps, the reason for this reduction of accolade to Protagoras owes to his classification as a Sophist. Yet, democracy is the outcome of the endeavour of Sophists. A foremost Sophist, Protagoras marshaled out two vital points to place the quest for a democratic tradition ahead of the desire for Athenian hegemonic aristocracy. His points being that: first, when it comes to 'technical skills,' the gods granted upper hand to aristocrats, therefore, no one should contest their 'technical wisdom' or expertise. Second, however, when it regards 'political virtues' -- dikê (i.e., justice, a sense of right, what is fair) and aidôs (i.e., restraint, modesty, a sense of respect for others) -- the gods distributed them equally among humans to enable humanity to live harmoniously in society, thus, everyone's view counts in matter of politics. Strongly opposed to this Protagoras' democratic traditionalism, Plato responded that justice, which is the hardcore of the state, requires that each individual be assigned a primary station of life where they perform functions most suited to their nature and training. He, therefore, advised that political leadership be entrusted to a small class of naturally endowed and politically educated elite, whose responsibility it is to steer the ship of the state. The context of this intergenerational dialogue is in the long drawn 'physis-nomôs ' or 'naturenurture' debate that characterized ancient Athenian politics and which subtle influence remains unabated to the present day. This article attempts to unveil the impacts and implications of the clash of ideas of these great Archaic scholars on the nature of modern politics. It finds that although Protagoras' democratic traditionalism makes the broader appeal to the wider populations of modern states, Plato's aristocratic elitism reigns supreme in the determination of political outcomes, especially, where and when the political elites conscientiously apply Heraclitus' hegemonic principle of 'the single continuing element.'

5. Dance movement therapy as a pathway to life Integration among older ad...
4

Yii-nii Lin*, Ju-Chang Lee
Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
44-47
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16908170

This study explores the application of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) in supporting life integration among older adults in Taiwan. As the proportion of the elderly population continues to grow, healthcare and mental health professionals face increasing demands to address the physical, psychological, and social well-being of older individuals. DMT engages seniors in spontaneous and creative movement to express internal emotions, enhance bodily awareness, reconnect with familiar physical sensations, and explore psychological issues through imaginative and reflective processes. By fostering a "dialogue" between movement and inner experience, DMT facilitates mind-body integration. It further supports life review and acceptance of past experiences, enabling older adults to reconstruct a sense of personal value and meaning in later life.

6. POLITICAL CULTURE - ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE PARALYSIS IN LIGHT OF HOFST...
9

Assoc. Prof. Yesim Sirakaya*,...
St Clements University UK
48-54
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16917474

This study examines the relationships between political culture and organizational culture within the framework of Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Hofstede's dimensions of power distance, individualism-collectivism, masculinity-femininity, uncertainty avoidance, long-termshort-term orientation, and tolerance-restriction offer a systematic approach to understanding both societal and organizational behavior. The research reveals that political culture and organizational culture are parallel structures. In societies with high power distance, political systems are generally hierarchical and centralized, while authoritarian and vertical structures are also observed in organizations. Collectivist societies prioritize group solidarity and loyalty in both political participation and the workplace, while individualistic societies prioritize individual achievement and autonomy. Evaluations conducted on the Turkish sample clearly demonstrate these dynamics. According to Hofstede Insights data, Turkey has high power distance and uncertainty avoidance scores and exhibits collectivist tendencies. These characteristics are reflected in the political system as centralized decision-making and a strong state structure, and in organizations as hierarchical structures, adherence to rules, and group cohesion. The study demonstrates that political and organizational culture are mutually reinforcing in Turkey. The findings offer important implications for practice in both political and organizational spheres. Reducing power distance, encouraging participatory leadership models, fostering a culture open to innovation and entrepreneurship, and balancing collectivist and individualist values can enhance democratic governance and organizational effectiveness. This study contributes to the literature by systematically linking Hofstede's cultural dimensions to political and organizational behavior, and cross-cultural studies offer important guidance for policymakers and managers.

7. SERVANT LEADERSHIP IN NEHEMIAH 5:14-19 AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR ALLEVIATI...
11

Joshua Oladele Idowu*, Abel A....
Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso
55-60
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16975233

Africa‟s enormous human and natural resources and dynamic cultures are undeniable. Despite the resources, however, many African countries continue to face intense suffering in the 21st century, which raises doubt about the continent and its people‟s ability to manage its vast resources and change the tide positively. The untold suffering in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, stems from diverse causes, which include the legacy of oppression from the trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonialism, systemic poverty, bad leadership, political instability and corruption. This trajectory requires a radical shift to ethical and servant leadership that will transform the continent and its people, halt the prolonged suffering and provide adequate development and prosperity for all. Using the historical-grammatical method, this paper posits that Nehemiah‟s servant leadership model can help African leaders lift their countries from suffering to well-being. Although Nehemiah‟s model spreads across the entire book named after him, the particular text for this paper is in Nehemiah 5:14-19, which reflects the significant ethos that undergirds his role as governor during Jerusalem‟s post-exilic reconstruction of the city wall. Nehemiah‟s reverence for God, sacrifices, service, compassion for his people, justice and accountability form the nucleus of his servant leadership model, which brought relief and transformation to Jerusalem and its people. If African leaders at various levels and sectors imbibe this model, the continent and its people would witness an unprecedented reduction in suffering and move towards rapid development and shared prosperity. Although Africa has diverse contexts, the Nigerian experience somewhat represents several other countries in the sub-Saharan region. More research should focus on developing servant leadership theory from the sacred texts (Hebrew and Christian) for effective leadership in Africa.





Submit Manuscript