This paper reports a preliminary evaluation of the Y/N technique for producing tests of vocabulary knowledge. The results obtained suggest advantages over the more traditional multiple choice format for testing vocabulary.
In many second/foreign-language classrooms, students are expected to learn much or even most of their vocabulary without explicit instruction, simply through exposure to a rich variety of words in meaningful contexts. In fact, however, there are few studies which would allow us to estimate the number of words learners are typically exposed to in second/foreign-language classrooms. In this study, the vocabulary available in the speech of ten teachers in intensive communicative ESL classes for children in Quebec was analysed using specially designed computer programs. The words which occurred in classroom transcripts were classified according to their status as high-frequency or 'unusual' words, according to lists developed by Nation (1986). The working assumption was that a large number of unusual words would be indicative of a rich lexical environment, whereas the absence or extreme rarity of such words would indicate that the classroom vocabulary was poor. The number of unusual words was found to be quite low in short periods of classroom interaction. However, an interpretation of the findings suggest that the actual richness of the vocabulary available may be greater than it appears in terms of this measure.
Public-sector employees frequently need to make difficult decisions that may go against powerful stakeholders. Such choices often involve personal and professional risks and require courage from decision makers. This study operationalizes Kelman and colleagues' (2016) courageous decision-making construct and examines the relationship between ethical leadership and ethically motivated courageous decision making. Courageous decision making is particularly crucial in bureaucratic public organizations that face institutional voids. By analyzing multi-wave and multi-level data from 289 police officers and their 45 direct supervisors in Bangladesh, we found that ethical leadership influences courageous decision making through the mediation effects of ethics-focused dynamic capabilities (DCs). We advance the understanding of ethics-focused DCs by proposing a comprehensive framework aligned with the core dimensions of DCs (i.e., sensing, seizing, and transforming capabilities). We also show that employees' public service motivation moderates the relationship between ethical leadership and ethically motivated courageous decision making.
Abstract The Internet represents a significant communication tool for the expression of Islamic concepts and notions of identity, on web pages ranging from the constructs of organizations through to the pronouncements of individuals. Cyber Islamic Environments provide indicators of what it means to be a 'Muslim' in Britain that augment other sources of knowledge. This paper presents an overview of prominent sites, and introduces issues connected with studying Islam and Muslims through this electronic medium.
The transition to a low-carbon economy is placing increasing pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt carbon footprint reduction initiatives (CFIs). While CFI contributes to environmental sustainability, its impact on green job creation (GJC) remains underexplored, particularly in SMEs. Additionally, the role of green innovation (GI) as a mediator of this association remains poorly understood. The paper investigates the direct effect of CFI on GJC and investigates the mediating role of GI in this process. A survey of 256 SMEs in the Northeast of England, UK, that employ carbon-reduction measures was conducted, and the data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results confirm a positive association between CFI and GJC, with GI partially mediating this link. Findings reveal that SMEs engaging in green innovation experience greater employment growth, particularly in manufacturing and technology sectors. Additionally, external factors such as government incentives and regulatory frameworks moderate the effectiveness of CFI in driving job creation. We extend the Resource-Based View by demonstrating how CFI serves as a strategic resource that can enhance firms' competitive advantage. It also contributes to Stakeholder and Institutional theories by highlighting the role of regulatory pressures in shaping SMEs' sustainability and economic strategies. Our results offer practical insights for SME managers and policymakers, emphasising the need to integrate green innovation with CFI to maximise employment opportunities. Given SMEs' significant contribution to UK business-related emissions, their effective decarbonisation is critical for achieving net-zero targets. The evidence presented confirms that carbon footprint reduction is not merely an environmental compliance exercise but a strategic and economic pathway for innovation-led employment growth.
