Maldives National Journal of Research
The Maldives National Journal of Research (MNJR) is a research journal of the Maldives National University published by the Postgraduate Research Centre. MNJR is a multidisciplinary journal of research in all disciplines relevant to the Maldives. Although in the coming years, it is expected that this journal will evolve into specialist journals in various disciplines, the first one is generalist in nature. The journal publishes research articles, literature reviews, book reviews, comments, opinion and perspectives.
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Item Developing self-directed learning skills through scaffolding in problem-based learning(The Maldives National University, 2025-07) Shareef, Aishath Sana; ޢައިޝަތު ސަނާ ޝަރީފުProblem-Based Learning (PBL) is a valuable educational pedagogy for contextualising a problem to motivate learners to participate in problem-solving and deal with real-life challenges. An action research approach was utilised to demonstrate how scaffolding as a teaching strategy in a PBL module can enhance Self-Directed Learning (SDL) in undergraduate final-year nursing students. Using the scaffolding framework proposed by Van de Pol et al. (2010), the impacts of the interventions were examined using a mixed-method approach. Quantitative data analysis indicated that less than half of the students did not initially consider themselves self-directed learners. After the scaffolding interventions, 57.1% agreed they had greater ownership over their learning. Most students valued peer support and brief instructor guidance for enhancing independence, confidence, and proficiency during PBL projects. Qualitative findings highlighted student experiences, challenges, and how the module supported them in working independently and developing SDL skills.Item The impact of social media communication on human perception creations : case study of the 2022 mass riot in Sri Lanka(The Maldives National Journal of Research, 2025-07) Jayarathne, Dasuni; ދަސޫނީ ޖަޔަރަނެThis study was conducted in order to identify the impact of social media communication on the mass riot that happened in Sri Lanka in 2022. The primary objective of the research was to identify the factors influencing the audience’s perception of struggle. This quantitative research utilized a questionnaire method for data collection, with a sample size of 200 participants selected through random sampling. The majority of respondents were females aged between 18 and 28 from the western province. Most of the participants (74.5%) indicated daily engagement with social media information during the protest was online news, especially through Facebook posts and comments related to the events Interestingly, 66.5% of respondents expressed a neutral stance on the trustworthiness of the facts shared on Facebook, suggesting that, despite frequent use of social media, users were cautious about the credibility of its content. Further, the study focused on three key dimensions: the impact of hate messages on the audience, incitement, and online chatter. Regression analysis revealed that hate messages, incitements, and online chatter had a significant influence on mass perceptions during the riot, as indicated by a p-value of 0.00. Among these factors, incitement showed the strongest effect on perception changes, as demonstrated by the beta value. Further, it was notable that 78.2% of the sample received information primarily through Facebook compared to all other media Additionally, 59.5% of respondents expressed positive views about social media behavior during the post-crisis period in Sri Lanka. This quantitative research utilized a questionnaire method for data collection, with a sample size of 200 participants selected through random sampling.Item The TRIPS agreement : ready or not, Maldives went for it(ރިސާރޗް ޑެވެލޮޕްމަންޓް އޮފީސް، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ޔުނިވަރސިޓީ, 2022-12) ފަޒީލް ނަޖީބް; Najeeb, FazeelThis article provides an overview of how the TRIPS Agreement came into being, and uses this as a background context to the Maldives’ membership of the WTO, by which Maldives also became a contracting party to the Agreement. The objective of the article is to shed light on the readiness of Maldives for the obligations that the Agreement creates and to what extent the country has been able to meet those obligations thus far. The article is largely based on the review and analyses of literature, discussions, and the author’s own involvement in the process of the Maldives’ membership of the WTO. The article finds that Maldives is encountering daunting challenges in implementing the Agreement.Item Leadership in state-owned enterprises of the Maldives(ރިސާރޗް ޑެވެލޮޕްމަންޓް އޮފީސް، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ޔުނިވަރސިޓީ, 2022-07) ޢަބްދުﷲ ސިނާޢު; Sinau, AbdullaLeadership is often attributed to the successes and failures of different types of organisations existing in various contexts. The aim of this quantitative correlation study is to analyse the prevalent leadership styles in state-owned enterprises (SOE) of the Maldives and its relationship with financial performance. Additionally, it looked at the possible contextual factors which could influence leadership styles of the SOEs. The study includes 10 SOEs from the Maldives and analyses their leadership style using the data collected from the managers of the SOEs through a Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). The contextual influence was analysed using Likert scale questions structured based on the Maldivian context and the existing literature. Financial performance was analysed by comparing return on capital employed (ROCE) of the SOEs, which was collected through the annual reports published by the enterprises. The findings of the study showed that transformational leadership style was common in the SOEs of the Maldives. It also highlighted a significant negative correlation with the contextual factors and transformational leadership style. Contrary to most existing literature, the study did not find any significant correlations between leadership style and financial performance. The findings of the study could help the government in appointing leaders and in setting up regulations for the SOEs. The results of the study also suggest the need for further research to more confidently comment on the importance of leadership style in the SOE domain.Item Lived experience of subject matter experts in the instructional design process for blended learning at The Maldives National University : a phenomenological study(ރިސާރޗް ޑެވެލޮޕްމަންޓް އޮފީސް، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ޔުނިވަރސިޓީ, 2022-12-01) Adam, Ibrahim; އިބްރާހީމް އާދަމްBlended learning requires the detailed combination of both in-person and online learning activities. To achieve the best result of improved learning outcomes, the conversion of a face-to-face course for blended learning delivery should follow a systematic process of instructional designing. The process involves collaboration between instructional designers (IDs), who are well-trained in adult pedagogical methods, and faculty Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), who provide expertise on the content to be delivered through the blended course. As a review measure on the instructional design process at the Maldives National University (MNU), this study explored the experiences of SMEs as they interact with instructional designers to design and develop blended learning courses. Ten SMEs who collaborated with instructional designers in the instructional design process for different subjects for the past four years were interviewed to share their experience. The thematic analysis of the results depicted that the instructional designing process improved their pedagogical approach and delivery with increased student satisfaction and made the teaching and learning process easier and effective. Along with it many agreed that the academic workload is a major challenge. The study implies instructional design process as a requirement for the best result of improved learning outcomes in blended learning. The process allows the implementation of blended course structures and pedagogical choices for interaction, material distribution, learning facilitation, direct instruction and constructed organisation and design throughout the course with dedicated student participation and critical reflections for both in-person and online learning. Hence, the process should be continued and solutions should be sought to overcome the challenges for the successful implementation.Item ކޮންސްޓިޗުއެންޓް ސްޓްރަކުޗަރ އިން އީކުއޭޓަނަލް ކްލޯސަސް : އަ ކޯރޕަސް އެނަލައިސިސް އޮފް ދަ ދިވެހި ލޭންގުއޭޖް(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2022-12-01) އަޒީޒާ އަފީފް; Afeef, Azeezaޚުލާޞާ: އިންޑޯއާރިއަން ޢާއިލާއިން ކަފިވެގެން އޭޝިޔާ ބައްރަށް ފެތުރިފައިވާ ބައެއް ބަސްބަހުގައި ހިމެނޭ އެއް ސިފައަކީ، ކަން ނުހިމެނޭ ނަމުގެ ޖުމުލަ ހުރުމެވެ. މިފަދަ ނަމުގެ ޖުމުލައިގެ ތެރޭގައި ދެބައިހަމަ ޖުމުލަ )އީކުއޭޝަނަލް ސެންޓެންސް( އާއި ނަންއިތުރުގެ ޖުމުލަ )އެޖެކްޓިވަލް ސެންޓެންސް( ވެސް ހުރެއެވެ. ދިވެހިބަހުގައި ވެސް ނަމުގެ ޖުމުލަ ހިމެނޭކަން ދޭސީ އަދި ބިދޭސީ ބަހަވީންނާއި އެކަށައަޅާ ގަވާއިދު ލިޔުއްވާފައިވާ ބޭފުޅުންގެ ލިޔުއްވުންތަކުން ފާހަގަކުރެވެއެވެ. މީގެއިތުރުން، ދިވެހިބަހުގައި ދެބައިހަމަ ޖުމުލަ ހިމެނޭކަން ބިދޭސީ ބައެއް ބަހަވީން ފާހަގަކުރައްވައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް، ދިވެހިބަހުގައި ހިމެނޭ ދެބައިހަމަ ޖުމުލައާއި ދެބައިހަމަ ބަސްކޯޅީގެ ތަފުސީލީ ތަހުލީލެއް ކުރައްވާފައިވާތީއެއް ނުފެނެއެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން މި ދިރާސާގައި ބަލައިލާނީ ސާދާ ޖުމުލައިގައި ދެބައިހަމަ ބަސްކޯޅި އެތުރި ތަރުތީބުވާ ގޮތެވެ. ވީމާ، މި ދިރާސާގައި ތަހުލީލުކުރެވުނީ، އެއް ބަސްކޯޅި ހިމެނޭ ދެބައިހަމަ ޖުމުލައެއްގައި ބަހާތައް އެތުރޭ ގޮތާއި ތަފާތު ބަހާތަކުގެ ކުރިއަށާއި ފަހަތަށް އިތުރުކުރެވޭ އިތުރު ބަހާތަކަކީ ކޮބައިކަމެވެ. މި ދިރާސާ ކަރުދާސް އެކުލަވައިލީ، ޑާޓާގެ ގޮތުގައި ބޭނުންކުރި ދެ ބަސްމާފާނަކުން ސާންޕަލް )ސުންކު( ނަގައިގެންނެވެ. މައިގަނޑު ގޮތެއްގައި ބޭނުންކުރީ ބަސްމާފާނު 1އެވެ. ބަސްމާފާނު 1ގެ ޖުމުލަތައް ތަހުލީލުކުރީ، އެކްސެލްޝީޓެއްގައި ޖުމުލަތައް ރުކުރުވައިލުމަށް ފަހު، ކޮންމެ ޖުމުލައެއްގައި ހިމެނޭ ވަކިވަކި ބަސްކޯޅިތައް ވަކިވަކިން ފާހަގަކޮށް ކޯޑުތަކެއް ދީގެން އޮޓެމެޓިކުން ގުނޭނެ ފަދަ ފޮމިއުލާއެއް )މާދަލާއެއް( ބޭނުންކޮށްގެންވެ. ބަސްމާފާނު 2 ބޭނުންކުރީ، ބަސްމާފާނު 1ގެ ހޯދުންތަކާ ގުޅިގެން އިތުރަށް ބޭނުވި ސުންކުތައް ”ސަރޗް ޓޫލް“ ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން ހޯދުމަށް ޓަކައެވެ. މި ދެ ބަސްމާފާނު ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން ސުންކުގެ ގޮތުގައި ކަނޑައެޅި ޖުމުލަތައް، ”ކޮލިޓޭޓިވް“ )ސިފަވީ( އުސޫލުތައް ބޭނުންކޮށްގެން ސިފަކޮށްދީފައިވާނެއެވެ. މި ސިފަކުރުންތަކުން ނުކުތް ނަތީޖާތަކަށް ބަލާއިރު ދެބައިހަމަ ސާދާ ޖުމުލައެއްގައި އިސްބައިގައި އަދި ޚަބަރުގައި ވެސް އިސް ދައުރެއް އަދާކުރަނީ ނަމުގެ މައިގަނޑެވެ. މި ދެ ނަމުގެ މައިގަނޑު ގުޅުވައިދޭ ފާހަގަތަކަކީ ”އަކީ“ އަދި ”އީ“ އެވެ. ނަމުގެ މައިގަނޑުތަކުގައި އިތުރު ބާހަތައް ވެސް އެކުލެވެއެވެ. މި ގޮތުން، ނަމުގެ މައިގަނޑެއްގައި އެއް ނަމަށް ވުރެ ގިނަ ނަން ހިމެނިދާނެކަމާއި ނަމުގެ މައިގަނޑުގެ ކުރިއަށް ނަންއިތުރުގެ މައިގަނޑުތައް އިތުރުކުރެވޭކަން ވެސް ހާމަވިއެވެ. މި ނަންއިތުރުގެ މައިގަނޑުތަކުން ނަންއިތުރު، ނަންއިތުރުގެ ޢިބާރާތް އަދި ޕޯސްޓް ޕޮޒިޝަނަލް ފްރޭޒް )ފަހުވިއްދި ލަފުޒުގެ މައިގަނޑު( ފާހަގަވެއެވެ. މީގެ އިތުރުން ވެސް ތަފާތު ދައުރުތައް އަދާކުރާ މައިގަނޑުތައް ދެބައިހަމަ ބަސްކޯޅީގެ ކުރިއަށާއި މެދުތެރެއަށާއި ފަހަތަށް ވެސް އިތުރުކުރެވޭކަން ފާހަގަކުރެވުނެވެ. ވީމާ، މި ހޯދުނު އައު ހޯދުންތަކާ އެކު، މި ދިރާސާއިން ދިވެހިބަހަށާއި ބަހަވީ ޢިލްމަށް އިތުރު ކުރިއެރުމެއް ލިބުނީއެވެ. މުހިންމު ލަފުޒުތައް: ބަސްކޯޅި، ސާދާ ޖުމުލަ، ދެބައިހަމަ ބަސްކޯޅި، ނަމުގެ މައިގަނޑު، ނަންއިތުރުގެ މައިގަނޑު One feature of some South Asian languages of the Indo-Aryan language subfamily is the existence of simple sentences that do not include a verb in their predicate. Such sentences may be categorised into two groups: equational versus adjectival clauses or sentences. Literature from local and overseas researchers indicates the presence of non verbal sentences in the Dhivehi language; and overseas researchers have indicated the presence of equational clauses in the Dhivehi language. However, there does not appear to be in-depth analysis of the structure of such equational clauses, and therefore the purpose of this paper is to address this research gap. Accordingly, simple sentences consisting of one independent clause were analysed to determine their constituent structure, syntactic formation, and function. The data reported in this paper is based on sample sentences taken from two corpora that were developed to analyse the Dhivehi language. All 2585 sentences in the primary corpus were analysed for their clause structure while the second corpus of 10675 sentences were relied upon, where required, for further clarification for sentence structures found through the first corpus. The constituent structure was identified by separating out the clauses, phrases, and words in each sentence and then extracting the clause types and summing them using advanced features of Microsoft Excel. The data was analysed using a qualitative descriptive approach and the results are presented to show the constituents of the clauses, determine the role of these constituents, and then outline the clause structure. These findings show that both the referring expression and the predicate of the equative clause consist mainly of noun-phrases and both these noun-phrases are conjoined with the particle “akee” or “ee”. The findings also show that the noun-phrase may contain additional constituents. Accordingly, one noun-phrase may contain more than one noun and there can be adjectival phrases before a noun-phrase. Additionally, these adjective phrases or adjectival phrases may contain adjectives and postpositional phrases. Furthermore, additional phrases were identified that can be added before, after, or within an equational clause. These novel findings on the syntax of the Dhivehi language .have implications for teaching as well as further research of Dhivehi language Keywords: Cause, simple sentences, equational clause, noun phrase, adjectival phraseItem The antibacterial properties of stingless bee honey in Malaysia and its effects as food preservative(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2022-12-01) Julika, W. N.; Ajit, A.; Naila, A.; Nabilah, N. F.; Aliyah, N. A.; Sulaiman, A. Z.; ޑަބްލިޔޫ. އެން. ޖުލިކަ; އެޭ. އަޖިތް; އޭ. ނައިލާ; އެން. އެފް. ނަބީލާ; އެން. އެފް. އަލްޔާ; އޭ. ޒެޑް. ސުލައިމާންItem Assessment of trans-fats in the Maldivian diet(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2022-12-01) Abdul Raheem, Raheemaa; Naila, Aishath; Ismail, Aishath Shaheen; Kasturi, Kamal; ރަހީމާ އަބްދުއްރަހީމް; އައިޝަތު ނައިލާ; އައިޝަތު ޝާހީން އިސްމާއީލް; ކަމާލް ކަސްޓަރިItem Psychological experiences of nurses during COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives(Maldives National University, 2022-07) Hassan, SalmaThe Maldivian nurses had to face and deal with unique challenges during the coronavirus outbreak. As a result, they often faced extreme psychological pressure as a result of working constantly with a high risk of infection from patients and working in temporary setups with limited resources and manpower who were not well equipped to deal with a pandemic for the first time. This study aimed to explore the psychological experiences of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives. A descriptive qualitative research design was used for this study. Five female nurses working in the COVID-19 related in-patient facilities participated in semi-structured, virtual (telephone or online) interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: Overwhelming experience, nurses being treated differently, and valuing family support. The participants described the experience of being emotionally overwhelmed. Many experienced feelings of uncertainty and grief, mainly when they had to handle the death of COVID-19 patients under their care. Most significantly when they had to handle the dead bodies in a body bag as it was very painful for the families not being able to perform their last respect and rituals as per cultural practices. The second main theme was nurses’ grievance owing to the differential treatment they were subjected to by the public. When nurses had to go back to their resident islands, the island community was scared of contracting the disease from the nurses and as a result the public rejected interacting with the nurses. This further isolated the nurses subjecting them to loneliness. Finally, family is the most important and valuable support to overcome their psychological burden. Family members including husbands and mothers were very supportive of taking care of the nurses’ children while they worked long hours. The Maldivian nurses in COVID-19 facilities faced psychological adversities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings from this study can help in identifying issues and experiences of nurses, in order to implement appropriate interventions to monitor and support nurses during contagious disease outbreaks.Item Leadership in state-owned enterprises of the Maldives(ރިސާރޗް ޑެވެލޮޕްމަންޓް އޮފީސް، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ޔުނިވަރސިޓީ, 2022-07) ޢަބްދުﷲ ސިނާޢު; Sinau, AbdullaLeadership is often attributed to the successes and failures of different types of organisations existing in various contexts. The aim of this quantitative correlation study is to analyse the prevalent leadership styles in state-owned enterprises (SOE) of the Maldives and its relationship with financial performance. Additionally, it looked at the possible contextual factors which could influence leadership styles of the SOEs. The study includes 10 SOEs from the Maldives and analyses their leadership style using the data collected from the managers of the SOEs through a Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). The contextual influence was analysed using Likert scale questions structured based on the Maldivian context and the existing literature. Financial performance was analysed by comparing return on capital employed (ROCE) of the SOEs, which was collected through the annual reports published by the enterprises. The findings of the study showed that transformational leadership style was common in the SOEs of the Maldives. It also highlighted a significant negative correlation with the contextual factors and transformational leadership style. Contrary to most existing literature, the study did not find any significant correlations between leadership style and financial performance. The findings of the study could help the government in appointing leaders and in setting up regulations for the SOEs. The results of the study also suggest the need for further research to more confidently comment on the importance of leadership style in the SOE domain.