International Journal of Asian Social Science

Enhancing collaborative learning in online flexible distance learning higher education: The role of peer interaction and social presence mediated by learner self-efficacy

Liana Mohamad — 2025-07-10

This study investigated the role of collaborative learning in flexible online distance education, focusing on the influence of peer interaction and social presence on learners' self-efficacy as a mediator. This study employed a questionnaire-based approach distributed to a sample selected through purposive sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS4 software was used to analyze 388 data points. Results showed that all seven hypotheses were supported, with significant paths: peer interaction positively affects students' self-efficacy and collaborative learning, while social presence directly influences students' self-efficacy and collaborative learning. These findings suggest that increasing social presence and peer interaction can significantly improve students' collaborative learning outcomes by strengthening their self-efficacy. Future studies could examine the long-term effects, cultural differences, and integration of new technologies to provide a more immersive learning experience. This study also suggests developing a pedagogical framework based on the Community of Inquiry model to optimize collaborative online learning. The implications of this study are important for educators and institutions in enhancing online education by adopting strategies that can enhance social presence and peer interaction. Institutions can create more engaging and effective learning environments, increasing student confidence and fostering successful collaboration to improve academic achievement in the evolving digital education landscape.

Empiricism and governance: Revisiting Hume's contributions to political philosophy and human nature

Li Gongqing — 2025-07-10

This study examines David Hume’s political philosophy, focusing on his empiricist approach to governance, human nature, and justice. It highlights how Hume’s ideas remain relevant to contemporary issues such as institutional trust, legitimacy, and governance challenges. A qualitative narrative literature review was conducted using primary sources (Hume’s A Treatise of Human Nature, Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary) and secondary literature. A thematic analysis identified key patterns in Hume’s political thought. Hume’s empiricism provides a pragmatic governance approach, emphasizing observation-based knowledge, skepticism of absolute authority, and adaptability. His conception of human nature, rooted in passions, customs, and social cooperation, offers insights into political legitimacy and social cohesion. His view of justice as a social construct remains applicable to modern governance and inequality debates. Hume’s empiricist framework supports evidence-based governance, emphasizing adaptive political institutions. His insights help address challenges in political legitimacy and public trust. This study underscores the relevance of Hume’s political philosophy in shaping contemporary governance, particularly in addressing institutional trust and justice.

Medical negligence, workforce migration, and the sustainability crisis in Malaysia’s public healthcare system

Redwan Yasin — 2025-07-25

This study explores the increasing strain on Malaysia’s public healthcare system resulting from rising medical malpractice cases, physician migration to the private sector, and long-term sustainability issues. It focuses on the legal, institutional, and workforce challenges contributing to physician burnout and clinical negligence.
A doctrinal legal research method and thematic analysis were applied to examine selected Malaysian case law from LexisNexis and relevant academic literature. This approach assesses how courts interpret negligence in overloaded healthcare environments and evaluates the scope of indemnity protections available to public healthcare professionals. Key court rulings reveal that public sector physicians remain personally liable for negligence despite government legal aid, incentivizing migration to private practice. However, private sector employment is not risk-free, as courts increasingly hold private hospitals liable under non-delegable duty principles, challenging assumptions of legal immunity. The evolving legal landscape affects both public and private healthcare practitioners, underscoring the need for clearer liability frameworks and more equitable protections. The study recommends reforming indemnity laws, improving working conditions, and adopting shared liability models. It also calls for stronger intersectoral collaboration and sustainable funding strategies to ensure a resilient, fair, and future-ready public healthcare system in Malaysia.

Why female students of undergraduate level got married in middle of their study: A study on university female students in Dhaka

Amina Khatun — 2025-07-25

Bangladesh exhibits one of the highest rates of marriage among undergraduate female students in South Asia. A significant portion of the nation's population consists of young women who are essential to the country's workforce; therefore, the issue of underage marriage must be addressed appropriately. Researchers collected data from 250 respondents across five universities in Dhaka city, which included both private and public institutions. A questionnaire was developed to gather information on personal details, economic factors, social influences, religious beliefs, personal motivations, and the impact of undergraduate female students' marriages on their academic performance. Cross-sectional regression analysis was utilized in this study. The independent variables included social reasons (SR), religious reasons (RR), personal reasons (PR), and economic reasons (ER), while the dependent variables were family study conflict (FSC) and academic performance (AP). The findings indicate that religious reasons (RR) play a significant role in the marriage of undergraduate female students in Bangladesh. This phenomenon has a notably adverse effect on the academic performance of married female students at the undergraduate level. In addition to the existing laws, increasing awareness among the populace could help eliminate such issues in Bangladesh.