Trends in Undergraduate Research

Auto Timetable Management Mobile Application

2024-01-04T03:57:11+00:00

In this fast-paced lifestyle, we play multiple roles and bear different responsibilities. This kind of lifestyle needs proper time management skills to look after the tasks and duties that have been entrusted. In order to do time management effectively, tools such as timetables are commonly adopted. Rescheduling of a timeslot in a timetable could happen due to certain unforeseen events that require immediate action. The rearrangement of one timeslot could possibly affect another timeslot in a timetable, essentially, it needs extra time and effort to draw new planning. In this paper, we proposed to develop an auto timetable scheduling mobile application to combat the hustle of manual timetable management. By assigning priority levels and constraints such as the preferred time and date of a task, the proposed application can reschedule and generate a new timetable automatically. With the proposed application, we claim that users can reduce the hustle of creating and managing their timetables in a manual way.

Exploring Mandala – Art as a Form of Therapy

2023-12-29T10:14:30+00:00

The declining trend of mental wellbeing among university students is at a concerning rate. Finding ways to curb the issue before it becomes out of hand is the main objective of this study as it assesses the effectiveness of using mandala art as a therapeutic method in lowering the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the students. Art has been around for thousands of years, and this study tested the claim specifically on mandala art of its effectiveness as the recently emerged method in the field of psychotherapy. This study applied quantitative research through a quasi-experimental method. 72 participants from University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) were gathered to join the experiment and the participants were administered the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) before and after Mandala colouring activity. The effectiveness was measured in terms of the pre and post scores of DASS-21 through Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test using the SPSS v26.0. Results of the research showed a significant difference between the median of the pre-test scores and post-test scores (p<0.005). The findings of this research supported the hypothesis that involving oneself in therapeutic art activity can lower the register of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

Code-Mixing in Sabah and Sarawak English Short Stories

2023-12-29T10:14:08+00:00

This study explored code-mixing in selected English short stories from Sabah and Sarawak. It examined the types of code-mixing found in these short stories and the basis for these code-mixing. 20 short stories were selected from two anthologies, “Chronicles of KK” and “Short Stories from Sarawak: Death of a Longhouse & Other Stories”. This study applied a qualitative research method, and the data were analysed using Musyken’s (2000) and Hoffman’s (1991) theories. Two types of code-mixing were found in the short stories which are insertion, and alternation, with insertion being the most common type found, especially lexical items from Sabah and Sarawak’s local or indigenous languages. The study discovered that the reason these code-mixing was used was to talk about a particular topic, to clarify the speech content for interlocutor, to express group identity, to repeat something for clarification and as a form of interjection.

Use Of TikTok Slang Among Malaysian Generation Z

2023-12-29T10:13:47+00:00

This study examines the usage of TikTok slang among Generation Z. The specific objectives are to 1) determine the perceived frequencies of usage; 2) identify the contexts during which TikTok slang are used; 3) determine how the slang are acquired; and 4) find out the reasons why the slang is used. The participants were 102 Generation Z participants aged 10-25 in Malaysia. An online questionnaire was used to collect data. The results showed that 52% of the participants frequently used TikTok slang in communication but 6.9% never used it. As for sources of acquiring slang, social media was the most influential. Friends are more important than family in spreading use of TikTok slang, mainly because TikTok slang is mostly used among young people rather than adults. Over half of the participants frequently used TikTok slang at school or at work but less during social gatherings, and the least during formal meetings. The main reason for the Generation Z participants to use TikTok slang is for fun (73.5%) but one-third of the participants used slang to be creative, show solidarity with ingroup and to be efficient in communication. The study suggests that TikTok slang has possibly spread from social media use into face-to-face communication in school and work settings.

Kesan Nomofobia dalam Kalangan Pelajar Sekolah Menengah di Kawasan Kuching

2023-12-29T10:13:26+00:00

Nomofobia dianggap sebagai gangguan kepada komuniti digital dan maya yang kontemporari dan merujuk kepada ketidakselesaan, kegelisahan apabila tidak ada liputan jaringan atau kehabisan bateri atau penderitaan disebabkan oleh tidak dapat menggunakan telefon bimbit atau komputer. Penyataan masalah bagi kajian ini ialah masalah nomofobia telah mengakibatkan pengguna maut, iaitu seorang remaja berumur 16 tahun maut disebabkan renjatan elektrik ketika beliau memakai earphone. Hal ini juga boleh berlaku apabila seseorang itu asyik bermain telefon pintar mereka ketika mengecas bateri telefon. Disebabkan ketagihan mereka untuk bermain telefon boleh meragut nyawa mereka sendiri. Seseorang itu ketagih terhadap telefon pintar mereka disebabkan terlalu leka bermain permainan atas talian, ketagih terhadap media sosial seperti Facebook, Instagram dan lain-lain. Objektif kajian ialah mengenalpasti faktor nomofobia dan kesan nomofobia. Pendekatan kuantitatif telah dijalankan di kalangan pelajar di SMK Semerah Padi dan SMK Matang Jaya. Sebanyak 53 orang pelajar SMK Semerah Padi manakala sebanyak 47 orang pelajar SMK Matang Jaya. Hasil soal selidik mendapati bahawa sebanyak 23 orang dari SMK Semerah Padi dan 18 orang responden dari SMK Matang Jaya tidak pasti sama ada mereka semakin ketagih dengan telefon atau pun tidak

Pentas

2023-12-29T10:15:55+00:00

The site is located among 3 important areas that are Dewan Suarah, SJK Chung Hua Bau and residential areas. To make sure that the site will be used by anyone from these 3 areas, a concert venue was proposed inside the site. This concert venue will attract people either from Bau or visitors from outside the Bau area. This temporary structure is unique because of its materials that are made of scaffolding, timber and mesh fabric. The performance stage will be in the middle of the site to give people a whole-site view of a programme. The stage is surrounded by a gazebo and multipurpose area. The multipurpose area will have a landscape, rooftop platform, hammock and seating area. The gazebo can be used as seating space or as small vendor stalls, for sale of beverages. When there is no need for the structure, it can be dismantled and kept for future re-use.

Denai Kapur

2023-12-29T10:15:32+00:00

The Denai Kapur was designed as a townhall that serves as difference spaces based on different occasions. Located near to the Dewan Suarah and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Hua, the Denai Kapur is expected to be used not only by the students, but also will be beneficial towards the local people around the area. The layour of the Denai Kapur was planned based on the site given, to be able to adapt to the site constraints. Being that the existing limestone was the most important element within the site, most of it remained untouched as the building was designed surrounding it.

Jungle Within Urban Context

2023-12-29T10:15:12+00:00

The scheme emphasizes on quality living in the air through greenery within the site. The carbon content transfer also allows the residents to enjoy quality of life with a more sustainable lifestyle. Spaces within and outside the building allows the jungle experience within the site.