مطالب

Geopolitical factors have always significantly influenced the politics and behavior of governments due to the continuity and stability of their effects. In Turkmenistan, due to the geopolitical characteristics of this country, examining and paying attention to these factors and their effects play an important role in terms of understanding and predicting the policies and behavior of Turkmenistan’s government. Also, these characteristics seem to become more important because of this country’s neighborhood and many commonalities with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The main question of this article is about the effects of Turkmenistan's geopolitics on the politics and the behavior of its government. Based on this study, it will be argued that Turkmenistan's geopolitics has, directly and indirectly, affected the politics and behavior of Turkmenistan’s government by creating threats and issues such as instability and insecurity. It has also caused authoritarianism and centralism in the government.

Introduction: Unlike previous generations who adhered to a standard and predictable model of marriage, the modern world may offer new opportunities and ideas for marriage to younger generations. Some of these changes in the domain of marriage align with the overarching cultural master narratives of society and are widely accepted, while others may not be fully embraced but are nonetheless considered rational by some or even most members of the community. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of Generation Z’s (born between 1997 and 2012) attitudes toward marriage. Materials and Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design. The sample consisted of 29 male and female participants aged 14 to 27 from Tehran, selected through voluntary sampling. Data were collected using focus conversation conducted in focus groups. For data analysis, the study utilized Braun and Clarke's (2022) reflexive thematic analysis approach. Results: The analysis revealed six main themes related to marriage: “meaning-making of marriage,” “partner selection,” “traditional family roles,” “premarital sex,” “parenthood,” and “marriage customs”. Conclusion: Findings indicate that that while marriage, as a sacred institution, remains intact and continues to be regarded by Generation Z as an implicit reference point with social, cultural, and Moral legitimacy, there is an observable shift away from a singular, fixed concept of marriage. Instead, marriage is increasingly being redefined and reinterpreted as an institution shaped by dynamic individual preferences, with its meaning, role, and significance subject to ongoing reconsideration.

With the advent of advanced technology, a substantial proportion of reading takes place online. Reading engagement is an important factor which makes considerable contributions to reading comprehension. However, there is no valid and reliable measure for assessing learners' online reading engagement. Accordingly, this study constructed and validated a scale to gauge LORE. Initially, 20 EFL learners and 20 teachers were interviewed and based on the results of thematic analysis and extant components in the literature, an initial draft of the LORE was prepared. This draft became subject to expert opinion in a panel of three PhD holders in TEFL. Afterwards, the scale was distributed to 335 learners. The results of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Cronbach's Alpha yielded satisfactory psychometric properties for the 21-item scale consisting of six factors including affective, behavioral, cognitive, linguistic, agentic, and social dimensions. The analysis of aggregate means revealed that learners were highly engaged in behavioral and affective aspects, moderately engaged in the cognitive and agentic facets, but they had low levels of engagement in linguistic and social dimensions. Based on the results, the scale can be safely used to measure EFL learners' online reading engagement. Moreover, it is recommended that EFL teachers take measures to foster learners' linguistic and social engagement.

This study aims to enhance the quality of higher education by introducing a model of a competent professor in Iran’s higher education system. Among the elements of the education system, the teacher element is the most important one, so professors and teachers are the underlying agents for the renewal of pedagogy. It is hoped that the lack of effective position of man in traditional education of architecture is removed in contemporary architecture education by investigating the human component, profound vision, and principles that architect masters acquired when they were solving the problems ruling the implementation of the building, creating a relationship between new building and teaching these principles in details and accurately to their students. To achieve this, a qualitative study employing a content analysis approach was conducted. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used to collect data. The main question of this study is whether students of Selected universities in Iran can identify the characteristics of a competent professor. The information indicates that the averages of the total dimensions of human existence, cognitive dimension, wisdom dimension, and skill dimension were reported as 3.605, 3.701, 4.097, and 3.017, respectively. It can be seen that the average score for the total score, as well as the average score for the cognitive dimension, was above average. The average score for the wisdom dimension was desirable and excellent, while the average score for the skill dimension was poor.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the strategies and consequences of non-marriage among single men. Methods and Materials: The study was carried out using a qualitative approach and grounded theory methodology. The study population consisted of men whose age ranged between 33 and 45 years, considering the average age of marriage for men in the city of Kazerun in 2023 was 30.9 years. All participants were residents of Kazerun County in Fars Province. Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling based on inclusion/exclusion criteria until theoretical saturation was reached (15 participants). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's (1998) grounded theory approach, including open, axial, and selective coding. Findings: In the open coding phase, out of 232 identified codes, 33 open codes related to strategies and 56 open codes related to consequences were extracted. These codes were categorized into different concepts during axial coding. Finally, in the selective coding phase, the main categories and related outcomes of non-marriage were identified. The most significant strategies for not pursuing marriage included improving economic conditions, enhancing mental and physical well-being, developing alternative relationships, and seeking emotional or financial bonds. On the other hand, mental and psychological consequences, objective consequences, and environmental consequences were among the major outcomes associated with prolonged singlehood in men. These included negative emotions such as depression, isolation, wasted time and energy, and economic and social problems. Conclusion: This study revealed that the decision not to marry among men is the result of a combination of psychological, social, cultural, and economic factors that influence individual choices. Based on the findings, it is recommended that social and cultural policies aimed at supporting youth and facilitating marriage are essential. Moreover, identifying and thoroughly examining cultural and social barriers to marriage could help reduce the rate of singlehood and increase the willingness to marry among young people.

The microlearning approach is increasingly adopted in organizational training because it delivers educational content in concise and easily digestible segments. This approach is widely viewed as both engaging and effective. However, empirical evidence regarding its effectiveness remains limited, particularly when microlearning is a prerequisite or a post-requisite to conventional training courses. To address this gap, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of prerequisite and post-requisite microlearning formats compared to traditional training methods in enhancing employees’ professional competencies. This study employed a quasi-experimental post-test design with a control group. The target population comprised employees of a state-owned bank in Tehran Province. From this population, 90 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: a prerequisite microlearning group (experimental), a post-requisite microlearning group (experimental), and a traditional training group (control). All groups received a training course titled Problem-Solving in the Banking Industry. For the experimental groups, the course was delivered using a blended approach that combined microlearning with face-to-face instruction. In contrast, the control group received the training exclusively through face-to-face sessions. Data collection and analysis were conducted over three weeks using the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model. The findings revealed that the experimental groups reported significantly higher levels of reaction (p = 0.017) and learning (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. However, no significant difference in behavioral change was observed among the groups (p = 0.115). These results suggest that while microlearning can enhance learner reactions and learning outcomes, it may not be sufficient to drive behavioral change in the workplace.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in reducing negative affect, improving emotional processing, and enhancing psychological hardiness in women experiencing domestic violence. Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants, divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group underwent eight 90-minute ACT sessions over eight weeks, while the control group received no treatment. Outcomes were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and five-month follow-up stages using validated tools for Negative Affect, Emotional Processing, and Psychological Hardiness. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, with SPSS-27. Findings: Significant improvements were observed in the intervention group across all variables. For Negative Affect, mean scores decreased from 3.52 (SD = 0.45) at pre-intervention to 2.89 (SD = 0.39) post-intervention and 2.45 (SD = 0.33) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 30.19, p = 0.001, η² = 0.52). Emotional Processing scores increased from 3.20 (SD = 0.40) to 3.80 (SD = 0.37) post-intervention and 4.25 (SD = 0.31) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 34.38, p = 0.001, η² = 0.55). Psychological Hardiness improved from 3.15 (SD = 0.38) to 3.95 (SD = 0.35) post-intervention and 4.10 (SD = 0.32) at follow-up (F(1,28) = 36.57, p = 0.001, η² = 0.58). The control group showed minimal changes across all measures. Conclusion: ACT was highly effective in reducing negative affect, improving emotional processing, and enhancing psychological hardiness in women experiencing domestic violence. The results suggest that ACT is a valuable therapeutic approach for this population, with sustained benefits over time.