مطالب

This study aimed to compare the effects of Automated Writing Evaluation Feedback (AWEF) and Peer Feedback (PF) on the development of self-regulation in writing among Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. The participants consisted of 58 intermediate-level Persian-speaking English learners, aged 25 to 30, enrolled in two intact IELTS preparation classes at a private language institute in Tehran. The learners were assigned into two experimental groups: one group (n = 30) received peer feedback, while the other (n = 28) received automated feedback through ProWritingAid. To assess the impact of these interventions, data were collected using the Writing Strategies for Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire (WSSRLQ), semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. Quantitative analysis using independent samples t-tests revealed significant improvements in self-regulation scores for both groups post-intervention, with the AWEF group showing a significantly greater increase. Qualitative analysis of interview and observation data further supported these findings, indicating that AWEF participants engaged in more structured and proactive revision practices, while PF participants developed greater reflective awareness and emotional resilience through collaborative interaction. Triangulated results confirmed that both feedback types positively influenced self-regulated writing behaviors, with AWEF demonstrating a stronger overall impact.

The present study aimed to examine kinetic units, implicature, and coherence in Persian audio descriptions. To this end, 10 Persian audio-described movies, totaling 1,004 minutes, were analyzed, and their audio descriptions (ADs) were documented, resulting in 3,485 records. These records were filtered for descriptions related to characters’ movements, yielding 2,095 ADs, which were analyzed in three phases. First, the type of kinetic unit in each AD was identified. Second, the implicature of kinetic units was examined to determine whether it was included in the ADs or ignored. The final phase addressed coherence in ADs. The results revealed that gesture was the most frequent kinetic unit in Persian ADs, followed by manner and posture. Moreover, 96% of kinetic units lacked implicature, and only 2.5% of implicatures related to characters’ movements were ignored in audio descriptions, which does not raise serious concerns about accessibility for blind and visually impaired audiences. Regarding coherence, 97% of Persian ADs were found to be coherent, highlighting the substantial accessibility they provide to their target audience. However, accessibility was not solely contingent upon linguistic and pragmatic factors. Technical challenges, such as background music overshadowing ADs, posed additional barriers to media accessibility.

This study explores the utilization of lexical bundles (LBs) in the reading sections of international English proficiency tests, specifically IELTS and TOEFL, in comparison with Iranian local assessments such as MSRT, TOLIMO, and EPT. The research aims to analyze both the structural and functional categories of these LBs. To facilitate this investigation, two distinct corpora were compiled, consisting of 513,490 tokens from international assessments and 432,252 tokens from local Iranian tests. Utilizing AntConc software for quantitative analysis, the study identified LBs and conducted a qualitative examination of their structural patterns, functional roles, and contextual applications. The findings reveal significant differences between the international and local assessments: 1,030 instances of LBs were identified in the International Corpus (IC), whereas the Local Corpus (LC) contained only 564. Inferential statistical analysis indicated a higher prevalence of discourse organizers and stance bundles in the IC, contrasted with a predominance of referential bundles in the LC. Furthermore, international assessments featured mainly noun-phrase fragments, unlike the Iranian ones that predominantly used prepositional-phrase fragments. Statistical tests, including the Linear-by-Linear Association test (p=0.028) and the Chi-square test (χ²(2)=28.803, p<0.001), confirmed these structural variations, suggesting divergent academic discourse conventions between the corpora. The results underscore the need for revisions in Iranian assessments to align with international standards, potentially enhancing global academic proficiency and fostering greater learner engagement in higher education contexts.

This study addresses a critical need for effective curriculum alignment in higher education, particularly within Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). As educational institutions strive to enhance the quality of their programs, understanding the interconnections between intended, enacted, and assessed curricula becomes essential. This study examined the alignment among these curricula in the TEFL B.A. program at Shiraz University. Drawing on Anderson and Krathwohl's (2001) taxonomy of educational objectives, the researchers employed a mixed-methods design to analyze the cognitive processes and knowledge types in the curriculum standards, course content of instruction, and achievement tests of language teaching methodology, language testing, and linguistics courses. The qualitative content analysis revealed a notable overemphasis on lower-order thinking skills (LOTs) across all components of the courses studied. Specifically, the presence of higher-order thinking skills (HOTs) was quite limited within the curriculum standards, course content of instruction, and achievement tests. The quantitative analysis, using Porter's (2002) alignment index, further demonstrated a significant alignment (0.50) between the curriculum standards and achievement tests, but an insignificant alignment between the course content of instruction and the other two components. The findings highlight the need for policies that foster HOTs and support professional development for TEFL instructors. Educators should clarify learning objectives and align tasks with students' cognitive needs, thereby enriching TEFL curriculum design. The results advocate for integrating HOTs across the curriculum while ensuring alignment between intended, enacted, and assessed curricula. This study also contributes to ongoing research on curriculum design and implementation in TEFL higher education.

In this study, a customer experience management (CEM) model in omnichannel banking is provided. This is an applied study in terms of objectives and mixed exploratory in terms of nature. In the qualitative section, thematic analysis is used, and in the quantitative section, the survey is used through structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population includes senior and expert managers of Bank Day with at least 10 years of banking experience in the qualitative phase and 100 customers of Bank Day in Tehran in the quantitative phase. According to the results, the customer experience in omnichannel banking can be improved through 23 organizing themes of integrity in providing services, continuous allocation and receipt of services in complementary channels, integrated service quality, saving customer resources, customer motivation, developing bank strategy based on customer needs and information, recognizing and meeting customer needs in omnichannels, understanding the principles of customer-oriented marketing, planning and management coordination in omnichannels, planning for the promotion of customer experience culture, management of coding, classifying, documenting, and updating customer data in omnichannels, managing diverse, hybrid, and unique services, comprehensive management of customer data in omnichannels, the correct design of omnichannel implementation processes, integrated service distribution management in the network, using new customer data management methods, upgrading and updating systems, managing the operational and legal risks of systems, providing regular, systematic, and functional reports in channels, improving access indicators, improving productivity indicators of omnichannel services, and improving satisfaction indicators

Subject and purpose: The intelligent sales management system in Metaverse is the concept of performing sales operations, using smart contracts, machine learning, intelligent process automation and direct monitoring of all network members in Metaverse.The aim of the current research is to provide a model of intelligent sales management system in Metavers. Methodology: In the qualitative research, the statistical population includes experts in the fields of business management and information management, and the sample size was calculated and carried out according to the theoretical saturation point of 14 people using the snowball sampling method. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews with experts and analysis. Data were collected using open, central and selective coding method. Findings:The findings obtained in the qualitative research showed 112 codes, 29 concepts and 9 categories, which led to the presentation of an intelligent sales management system model in Metaverse. Conclusion:This research led to the presentation of a new model of intelligent sales management system. Keywords: Intelligent management system, Metaverse, Foundation data.

Introduction: Within marketing literature, a widely accepted notion indicates that strategies in marketing significantly differ between business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) models. This study thoroughly investigates brand loyalty, examining the nuanced differences in methodologies for building brand loyalty specifically within B2B frameworks, aiming to develop a model tailored for B2B enterprises. Methodology: The research utilizes a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach. The initial qualitative phase involves systematic reviews and meta-synthesis to identify factors influencing brand loyalty. The subsequent quantitative phase employs techniques such as structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the impact of various factors on brand loyalty across different business models. Finally, interviews are conducted to gain insights into tailored strategies that enhance loyalty in B2B contexts. Data for the literature review will come from reputable domestic channels, including academic portals, alongside foreign databases like Scopus and Web of Science. The second phase will gather information from diverse companies in the insurance industry, utilizing convenience sampling for analysis. The third phase targets business experts in B2B settings, selected through purposive judgment sampling to ensure relevant insights are gained. Findings: The initial phase reveals ten critical factors that contribute to brand loyalty in B2B markets. These factors encompass customer satisfaction, perceived value, switching costs, trust, perceived quality, personalized interactions, perceived support, brand image, and commitment. Analysis indicates significant differences in factors influencing brand loyalty between B2B and B2C models. The study concludes with a collection of tailored strategies essential for fostering customer loyalty in B2B operations, including developing strategic frameworks and adopting stringent quality standards. Conclusion: This research expands the understanding of loyalty-building strategies across diverse business models, offering insights that enhance the existing body of knowledge. By proposing a specialized loyalty model for the insurance industry, the study equips practitioners with practical tools to improve operational efficiency and competitive advantage.

 Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of music therapy on behavioral problems in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.Methods: The research method of this study was quasi-experimental using a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder in special schools and counseling centers of Bandar Anzali city during the academic year 2023-2024. A total of 30 individuals were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (15 individuals) and control (15 individuals). The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used for both groups. The experimental group received ten 45-minute sessions of music therapy intervention, while the control group received no intervention. After the completion of the therapy sessions, the questionnaire was administered again to both groups. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical method with SPSS-27 software at a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: The results showed that music therapy is effective in improving behavioral problems of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that music therapy can be used to improve behavioral problems of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder in schools or rehabilitation centers.

Introduction: In recent years, approaches based on environmental ethics have emphasized the need to protect the environment from the effects of industrial pollutants. This trend is reflected in new and developing international policies for environmental protection, such that, for example, in the field of protecting the marine environment from oil pollution, the existing international approach is based on the development of laws that protect the environment and protect humans. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of examining ethical considerations in protecting the marine environment from the effects of oil pollution and its support by international laws. Material and Methods: This study used reliable sources and international scientific articles in the field of environmental ethics and the support of international laws for the marine environment from oil pollution in a descriptive and review manner. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that it is not possible to define a specific and unified ethical framework for protecting the marine environment. In the present study, three ethical perspectives were discussed, which represent the ways in which people view the environment in general and the marine environment in particular and their interactions with it. These are anthropocentric, ecocentric and biocentric ethics. Five general ethical principles have also been identified, which are included in international legal instruments and thus represent an agreement reached by signatories with different cultural backgrounds. These are: sustainability, conservation of biodiversity, protection, environmental justice and human dignity. In view o

Timurid coins serve as a mirror reflecting the significant economic and political events of the era, and their study can provide deeper insights into the economic and social dynamics of the Timurid period. This research examines the Timurid coins housed in the Museum of Bu-Ali Sina Mausoleum using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. A specialized review of the initial results obtained from XRF spectroscopy, particularly in numismatic studies, holds significant importance and can be a fundamental step toward reducing errors and enhancing precision in interdisciplinary analyses. XRF technology, as a non-destructive method, enables precise examination of the chemical composition and identification of elements present in coins. However, without meticulous monitoring and comprehensive reevaluation of the obtained results, misinterpretations and uncertainty in historical analyses may arise. The research questions focus on the value of reinterpreting and analyzing XRF spectroscopy data and their role in identifying counterfeit coins and understanding economic and cultural characteristics in numismatic studies. The central hypothesis of the study posits that raw XRF spectroscopy data do not provide accurate results, and in-depth analysis by experts is required for a precise examination of coins. This research also highlights the importance of detailed spectrum analysis, technical challenges in data interpretation, and the use of interdisciplinary approaches to enhance the accuracy of results. The findings reveal that a more profound reinterpretation of XRF spectroscopy data significantly contributes to better understanding the chemical composition of coins and preserving cultural heritage treasures. It also provides deeper insights into the economic policies and activities of the Timurid period.