International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science

This study aims to evaluate the factors that influence data saturation in qualitative studies. The study adopted a systematic literature review of 24 journal articles published between 2018 and 2022. The articles were obtained from a Google scholar database.  The findings point to five factors that affect data saturation namely, pre-determined codes and themes, sample size, relevancy of research subjects (respondents), number of research methods, and length of data collection sessions. It is argued in this paper, therefore, that in order to attain data saturation, researchers should consider multiple factors that may affect data saturation in order to increase the validity of qualitative studies.

This study examines the strengths and limitations of 22 published journal articles by conducting a systematic literature review. The review revealed that the qualitative approach was flexible, offered in-depth and detailed information, allowed the use of multiple data collection methods and minimised the chance of having missing data. The approach was found (i) to integrate human touch, was cost-effective and was indeed the only option in some cases of research problems; (ii) to be prone to researchers’ subjectivity, involves complex data analysis, makes anonymity difficult and has limited scope in its generalizability, and (iii) to make replication of findings challenging, and the findings may be influenced by the researcher’s bias. It is concluded, therefore, that researchers should take necessary precautions when using the approach to ensure that the weaknesses of qualitative research do not bar them from achieving research objectives.

The purpose of this essay is to discuss the phases and challenges of the explanatory sequential design (ESD hereinafter) of mixed methods research (MMR hereinafter) by reviewing relevant literature. The literature was explored during the design stage of a Ph.D. project that sought to examine the relationship among social capital, education, and employment for foreign students graduating from several Estonian universities. The review finds that the explanatory sequential design of MMR is much more complex than just sequencing how and what kind of data to collect; it also entails selecting how data will be processed and presented using a range of techniques that are often riddled with difficulties. By addressing these ideas, this paper will aid those interested in comprehending the summary of the explanatory sequential design of MMR.

Today is the era of digitalization. Nowadays, people prefer to attach their lives to social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Hence, manufacturers and producers use social media tremendously in this digital era to reach customers with their products and services. Thus, social media marketing has become famous for businesses to promote their products or services, engage with their customers, and build brand awareness. The present study focuses on reviewing the mediating role played by several social media platforms to gain the interest of consumers. This paper also aims to analyze the necessity of social media marketing compared to other marketing communication and promotion forms. This paper helps the reader decide whether to depend on social media only for marketing purposes or whether there can be a choice of another means. Without analyzing the pros and cons, relying heavily on social media platforms for marketing is not always a good idea. The author employed a qualitative and descriptive method for constructing the paper. This paper will review the literature regarding social media marketing compared to other means, try to recommend, and shed light on selecting the right marketing platform by different marketers. The study's main findings demonstrate that measures should be taken to enhance responsible use and limit some of its harmful effects. Furthermore, in providing insights into whether social media marketing is a necessity or a choice, the author suggests that productive utilization should be the main priority for all, whether social media or other platforms.

Experiencing a pandemic and being quarantined have been proven to have debilitating effects in mental health. Some of the existing studies mentioned in this research have been conducted to assess the presence of possible mental health concerns brought about by the pandemic but most of these studies focused on the earlier phase of the pandemic. The present study focuses on the reported distress of the respondents who have been through a strict quarantine since March 2020 and are now experiencing a more relaxed lockdown. The objective of this research is to determine if COVID stress predicts common mental health concerns such as stress, depression and anxiety. A survey was conducted with 421 Filipino respondents ages 15 – 65 utilizing the COVID Stress Scales (CSS) by Taylor et al. (2020) and DASS-21. Correlational analysis was utilized showing the COVID Stress is a predictor of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Then, comparative analyses were conducted to determine if differences of COVID stress across age groups, gender, occupation, and exposure. The results show that students and unemployed respondents are highly vulnerable to COVID stress and its mental health implications. Men and women did not significantly differ in distress. Surprisingly, those who have a COVID positive family member had the lowest COVID stress and DASS scores. There were 40.7% percent who experienced moderate to severe stress, 60.3% had moderate to severe anxiety and 53.1% of the respondents had moderate to severe depression. These findings show that the pandemic stress has debilitating effects on mental health. Common mental health concerns (e.g. depression and anxiety) may be highly prevalent due to the COVID-19 pandemic

This review provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for novice researchers. This is a conceptual and literature-based review that focuses on best practices and PLS-SEM literature. It highlights the rationale for using PLS-SEM, sample size, software tools, and essential metrics in PLS-SEM analysis. Drawing on best practices and recent literature, the review offers a framework for conducting and reporting PLS-SEM analysis. The review presents essential such as outer loadings, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE), composite reliability, cross-loadings, Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations (HTMT), the Fornell-Larcker criterion, variance inflation factor (VIF), and redundancy analysis. Moreover, for more consistent results, the paper emphasizes on researchers to employ 10,000 bootstrap subsamples and Bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) bootstrap in assessing the structural model. Insights regarding path coefficients, p-values, R-square (R2), f-square (f2), and Q-square (Q2),  are also presented. Furthermore, the review underscores the trade-off between predictive power and model fit when applying PLS-SEM. The presented practical insights alert novice researchers in avoiding common pitfalls and enhance the methodological rigor of empirical research that utilizes PLS-SEM. This step-by-step guide supports early-career researchers and contributes to the ongoing debates on improving methodological clarity and transparency.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the roles of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized businesses in fostering local economic development. Based on this assumption, this conceptual study attempts to investigate the function of small and medium-sized firms in LED. According to studies, the entrepreneurial spirit of the SME owner is a significant determinant of a SME's ability to surmount survival challenges and achieve sustainable growth. The article also attempts to locate and establish the purpose of the study by identifying the barriers that small and medium-sized businesses encounter in their efforts to contribute to economic growth and offering potential solutions to these barriers. Due to inadequate infrastructure development and a lack of the fundamental capabilities to control and influence local economic growth, the study concludes that exceptional measures are necessary to overcome obstacles such as finance and service. The purpose of this study is to answer the research question of whether the emphasis should be placed on creating competent entrepreneurs, particularly among previously disadvantaged individuals, if the government's goal to leverage the SMME sector is to have any significant success. It was noted that the LED is essential but has not been utilized frequently. Using a qualitative thematic analysis approach, the study accessed data on both private and public spaces primarily through secondary sources. The qualitative investigation accessed the foundational literature via a sophisticated search. According to the study, small and medium-sized enterprises play a crucial role in the promotion of LED. The study concluded, among other things, that the local level of governance in South African municipalities is incapable of providing basic services and the necessary infrastructure.

This study aimed to explore how soft skills development is done in higher education institutions (HEIs) by considering the roles of HEIs and students. The study used a mixed research approach comprising qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative data was collected from 16 students using semi-structured interviews. In comparison, quantitative data was collected using a standard questionnaire from 342 students pursuing management and administrative undergraduate programmes in one of the universities in Tanzania. Through questionnaires, participants were asked to rank soft skills according to their relevance to their careers. The top five most relevant soft skills identified were communication, leadership, decision-making, teamwork/orientation and problem-solving. In addition, participants self-evaluated their levels of soft skills. Findings demonstrate that students perceived to have more customer orientation, communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and work-ethic skills. Through qualitative interviews, participants narrated the role of HEIs in developing soft skills and their personal initiatives to acquire the skills. It was found that joining clubs and associations, taking leadership roles, reading self-development books, watching videos and attending soft skills training are initiatives that students use for soft skills acquisition.

Today is the era of digitalization. Nowadays, people prefer to attach their lives to social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Hence, manufacturers and producers use social media tremendously in this digital era to reach customers with their products and services. Thus, social media marketing has become famous for businesses to promote their products or services, engage with their customers, and build brand awareness. The present study focuses on reviewing the mediating role played by several social media platforms to gain the interest of consumers. This paper also aims to analyze the necessity of social media marketing compared to other marketing communication and promotion forms. This paper helps the reader decide whether to depend on social media only for marketing purposes or whether there can be a choice of another means. Without analyzing the pros and cons, relying heavily on social media platforms for marketing is not always a good idea. The author employed a qualitative and descriptive method for constructing the paper. This paper will review the literature regarding social media marketing compared to other means, try to recommend, and shed light on selecting the right marketing platform by different marketers. The study's main findings demonstrate that measures should be taken to enhance responsible use and limit some of its harmful effects. Furthermore, in providing insights into whether social media marketing is a necessity or a choice, the author suggests that productive utilization should be the main priority for all, whether social media or other platforms.

The Covid-19 pandemic, a catalyst in embracing the online mode of learning, is one of the key motivating factors for a paradigm shift in curriculum development due to the increased focus and reliance on technology. For the effective education of tertiary students globally, a revised curriculum development integrated with the Learning Management Systems and other eLearning platforms or tools that support asynchronous learning play a key role. This study seeks to determine the influence of user experience and user interface design of e-learning platforms on learning experience in higher education. A systematic review of studies regarding usability of e-learning platforms at tertiary institutions was conducted to determine the common issues and successes. A snapshot of research over the last five years was used in a systematic review to determine the influence of UX/UI on eLearning concerning higher education. Using the ERIC and Google scholar databases of journals, and specific criteria for selection of publications, 25 articles were examined in this study. Findings indicate that focused attention on interface design and user experience of eLearning systems for effective learning is crucial.