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, Zahir Osman, S Sugilar, Suci Nurhayati — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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, Muhammad Azizan Sabjan, Nur Izzaty Mohamad — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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

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