SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Science and Humanities [SICASH]
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SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Science and Humanities is organized by the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), the annual research multi-conference of the faculty.
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Publication Embargo Impact of Health Beliefs on Covid-19 Related Preventative Health Behaviours and Coping Behaviours(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Weerasinghe, W.A.S; Akuretiya, SNon-adherence to health regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic has been associated with health beliefs. Thus the present study studies the impact of these health beliefs on preventative health behaviours and coping behaviours. The research followed an ex-post facto survey design and convenience sampling was used to recruit a sample of 100 Sri Lankans with chronic illnesses. Data collection was carried out online using Google forms. The multiple regression analyses reveals that the Health Belief Model was a significantly useful predictor explaining 53% of the variation in preventative health behaviours. The findings reveal no significant predictive relationships between the health beliefs of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits with preventative health behaviours. Perceived barriers are found to significantly and negatively predict preventative health behaviours. Perceived selfefficacy and cues to action are found to significantly and positively predict preventative health behaviours. Educational level and marital status moderate the relationship between self-efficacy, cues to action and preventative health behaviours. In fact, selfefficacy is positively and significantly correlated with adaptive coping but not significantly correlated with maladaptive coping behaviour. Overall, the findings highlight the utility of reducing barriers, enhancing self-efficacy, and promoting health literacy through education and provision of social support, especially spousal support, to foster adherence to preventative health behaviours.Publication Embargo Modeling Weekly Covid Data in Europe and Sri Lanka: Time Series Approach(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Jayakody, J. A. P. ANovel Corona Virus, commonly known as COVID-19 has become a global threat affecting more than 200 countries up to date. Still a vaccine that can assure of hundred percent prevention has not been discovered. All the countries are currently following WHO guidelines such as lockdowns and social distancing. This study was conducted to develop ARIMA models for COVID-19 data in Europe and Sri Lanka and validate the models. For both these regions, number of COVID-19 cases were collected considering for a period of one year in which the first real wave happened. ACF and PACF plots were used to identify the stationarity, and out of the results possible ARIMA models were developed for the two regions separately. For Europe, the best fitted model was ARIMA (0, 2, 1) and for Sri Lanka, the best fitted model was ARIMA (1,1,0). The models were evaluated using AIC criteria. The errors of the models were found to be white noise. The forecasted values that were obtained from the model showed an increase of cases in Europe and a constant flow in Sri Lanka.Publication Embargo Study on the factors that influence parental attitude and involvement in children's home learning: An exploratory study(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Wijesingha, A.W.K.G.; Ranasuriya, L.H.D.L.Due to the sudden closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic, parents were required to promote home learning in order to support their children's online learning. As a result, the quality of online learning activities provided to primary school students is dependent on parental participation. Thus, this research focuses on studying the extent to which parental factors influence the management of home learning for students. The study adopted a descriptive research design and used a purposive sampling technique to select the respondents. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and semistructured interviews were distributed among the sample of students (n = 30) and parents (n = 20) whose children are studying in primary classes at a school in the district of Rathnapura, Sri Lanka. In the questionnaires, participants were asked to rate how much they agreed with the statements on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’. The quantitative data was statistically analyzed using charts and graphs, while the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. This study found that parents' awareness, education level, and socioeconomic background have a significant impact on children’s home learning. The findings suggest that seminars, training programs, and workshops for parents would help enhance the knowledge and skills related to home learning.Publication Embargo Vaccination Policies: A Contemporary Threat to Human Rights?(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Witharana, S. YThe Coronavirus commonly referred as Covid-19 swept the world in 2019. As the disease was declared a pandemic, the world needed to develop vaccines to battle Covid- 19 in order to mitigate the rapid spread of its infection. States including Sri Lanka immediately enforced quarantine laws as they enforced special measures prioritizing health and safety of their citizens. Enforcement of vaccination policies was prominent in such special measures implemented by the states. The two of the foremost concerns which arose from the enforced vaccination policies were the vaccine hesitancy and equal distribution of the vaccine and in light of human rights. This research attempts to analyse those two concerns against human rights as to its success in striking a balance between the protection of human rights and safeguarding public health. The approach taken for this research will be qualitative and librarybased. The research will be concluded by analyzing the consistency of the enforced vaccination policies in Sri Lanka with human rights and the extent to which the policies could be justified by law by the application of the proportionality test.Publication Embargo The Perceptions of University Students on Virtual Learning during Covid-19 Pandemic(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Samarasinghe, T. D; Sellahewa, W. N; Samarasinghe, N. KThe current technological developments permit engagement of numerous ways to design online content. It is crucial to consider the favorites and perceptions of learners while designing the online developments to make the learning effective and efficient. Preference of the learner is related to the readiness or preparedness ss of the student to take part in two-way learning and the causes prompting the readiness for virtual learning. The term ‘perception’ in this study highlights various views and concerns of university students on online learning. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the perception on e-learning among university students in Sri Lanka using both undergraduate and Postgraduate students from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL). Primary data were gathered by distributing a well-structured questionnaire which comprised both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Around 175 questionnaires were sent to both undergraduate students and postgraduate students who are following various courses in SUSL with the help of email and social media platforms and gathered 125 responses that can be used for this study. Convenience sampling techniques have been used to select the sample and gathered data have been analyzed qualitatively following thematic analysis. As the result different perspectives on online learning have been investigated and presented descriptively. This study is relevant for the academics as it facilitates them in gaining an understanding of the university students’ opinions towards online learning in this pandemic situation. Recommended strategies will also be beneficial for academics to make the online sessions effective and interactive.Publication Embargo Students' Involvement in Online Learning in the Context of Covid-19: A Case Study of University Undergraduates(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Rathnayaka, R. M. M. P; Herath, H. M. I. S. KThe Covid-19 epidemic had a massive impact on education. As a result of this, students began and continue to rely on online teaching and learning. This study employs a psychometric approach to assess students' involvement in online learning. Data was obtained from a survey of 97 randomly selected undergraduates, representing the first year and second year of a public university. With the help of prior scales, a four-dimensional psychometric scale was created. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to evaluate the validity of the measurement model, and the results confirmed the validity of the model. The scale was loaded as an aggregate of physical, sentimental, intellectual, and agentic involvement. The research sample had an overall moderate degree of engagement in online learning with an average level that is not adequate yet could improve. Even though students are accountable for their learning, tension and anxiety may arise due to striving to keep up with their education and stay motivated and involved in online learning. Also, students' involvement levels varied significantly (p < 0.05) depending on the academic year and degree program and insignificant with network bandwidth, device use, and internet connection type. This result predicts the positive possibility to continue online learning under the Covid-19 pandemic even with fewer resources but with some behavioral changes. Finally, these findings and evaluations will aid policymakers and decision-makers in identifying various groups of students who will require attention to increase their level of participation in online learning.