Numéro courant
This edition of NIU Journal of Social Sciences focuses on Development Administration, Social Psychology, Educational Pyschology as well as Human Resource Management.
The first part of the Journal addresses issues in Development Administration such as Sustainable Marketing, Crop Farming Management, Election Management, Youth Identity Formation, Public Accountability, Local Governance and Agricultural Economics. It is emphasized in one of the papers that there is need for targeted educational programs from child hood to enhance civic awareness and motivate active participation in the electoral process. This is because it is believed that there is a complex interplay between voters’ apathy and voters’ education.
Papers in the second part are on Social Psychology. It is revealed in one of the papers in this section that street hawking negatively affects the physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, and moral development of teenage girls. Hence, the study recommends amongs others that targeted advocacy campaigns to sensitize parents and guardians on the dangers of child street hawking.
In the third section on Educational Psychology, one of the papers reveals that gamified assessment is an effective pedagogical tool for promoting active learning and improving academic outcomes in Mathematics. The paper therefore recommends the integration of gamification elements into mathematics instruction, continuous professional development for teachers, and the adoption of innovative assessment practices to support deeper learning and enhance student performance.
Papers in the last part are on Human Resource Management. It is revealed in one of the papers in this section that psychometric assessment functions not merely as an evaluative tool but as a strategic mechanism that supports workforce planning, enhances decision quality, and contributes to sustainable organizational performance. The study therefore, recommends that organizations adopt a multi-theoretical approach when designing selection systems, invest in assessor training to ensure proper test administration and interpretation, and consistently evaluate the fairness, relevance, and predictive validity of instruments used.
Readers are advised to make proper use of the ideas presented by the various authors in this issue of NIU Journal of Social Sciences. Some of these papers are empirical in nature while others have theoretical base. Each of them focuses on one specific social and management problem or the other; trying to proffer solutions to them.
