2015 IRC Articles
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3816
2024-03-29T04:47:21ZA Study on the Acquisition of English as Second Language at the Critical Age
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1563
A Study on the Acquisition of English as Second Language at the Critical Age
Liyanage, Kethmini
This research studied about acquisition of second language (hereinafter referred to as L2) at the critical age. Critical age plays a crucial role in Language Acquisition. Critical period (hereinafter referred to as CP) refers to the span of time in one’s life within which one must acquire a first language. A learner can never gain full proficiency if no language is acquired during the CP. The aim of this study is to find out a child’s capability of L2 acquisition during the CP i.e. how far the age can determine the skill gained in CP. The competence and performance shows a significant difference between children exposed to L2 in the CP and children exposed to L2 after the CP.The research is embodied with scholarly findings. Details and findings of previous researches done by many linguists, grammarians and scholars were taken into consideration. Namely Noam Chomsky, Leonard Bloomfield, Lev Vygotsky, Prof. Lydia White, Roger Browns etc. are prominent names in the field of study of L2 acquisition. A sample of 100 subjects was selected for data collection. ANOVA was computed to see the difference between critical age group and non-critical group in listening and writing. The results clearly revealed that the subjects who were fallen under the category of critical age showed better performance and the subjects who were fallen under the category of non- critical age showed poor performance. The results were categorized as poor, below average, average, good and excellent
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2015-01-01T00:00:00ZDeterminants of job satisfaction of Sri Lankan seafarers and tendency of selecting shore based jobs
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1562
Determinants of job satisfaction of Sri Lankan seafarers and tendency of selecting shore based jobs
Sedrick, KDAP; Jing, L; Liyanarachchi, GA
Shipping as an integrated component in larger goods movement system and is a major traditional industry which has been changed rapidly with globalisation. So job satisfaction of seafarers is considered as an important factor. This study is aimed to find the factors that affect the job satisfaction of Sri Lankan seafarers and to determine the existence of tendency in doing shore based jobs by Sri Lankan seafarers. Due to the unavailability of the secondary data sources, primary data gathering has been carried out in doing this study using stratified sampling methods. Descriptive analysis has been carried out to check the relationship between the response variable and other explanatory variables. Due to the availability of colliniarity between explanatory variables and as those variables are very much related to the job satisfaction, factor analysis has been carried out using data reduction techniques. To check the reliability of extracted factors, reliability analysis has been carried out. Based on the reliable factors hypothesis testing has been carried out for ordinal data using Kruskal Wallis test. When considering tendency in moving to shore based jobs by Sri Lankan seafarers, 79% of seafarers have tendency to move shore based jobs after some years of practicing seafaring career. Tendency of moving shore based jobs is highly depending on the civil status and living sector of seafarers.
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2015-01-01T00:00:00ZExplorations of factors affecting happiness of Sri Lankans
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1559
Explorations of factors affecting happiness of Sri Lankans
Gunawardena, G
Presently multidimensional measures of quality of life and happiness levels and well being are increasingly discussed and are considered as significant parameters in measuring a country’s development. While there are many existing studies based on Western Individualistic societies, data related to the local context is seldom available. This paper establishes facts to achieve the objective of determining the factors affecting the happiness of Sri Lankans thus intend to fill the gap in knowledge. The naissance literature regarding sources of happiness is found from Bhutan, where a happiness index has been developed for the country. Canada, Australia, and USA account for many related studies, and the available literature related to Eastern Countries is largely centred on Japan, China and Hong Kong. Methodologically this is a qualitative study carried out with 202 respondents, aged between 21-60 from the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara, selected through convenient sampling. Respondents have born and lived in Sri Lanka, and thereby shared common cultural roots unique to the country. A structured interview was conducted and results were transcribed manually using thematic approach. NVivo analysis was used to identify the different factors affecting happiness. To ensure reliability of the results fifteen percent of the sample was rated by the second rater and the inter rater agreement was recorded above eighty percent. As the outcome the study identified twelve factors affecting happiness of Sri Lankans. Among these factors family was reported as the highest contributor to happiness, followed by career and wealth. Based on the findings it could be observed that as an Asian culture Sri Lanka naturally upholds collectivist values which put family first. Present study is limited to three main cities of the country, and it’s suggested that the identified factors could provide a basis for development of a happiness index applicable to Sri Lanka.
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2015-01-01T00:00:00ZA Multivariate Co-integration Analysis of Air Passenger Movement: Empirical Evidence from in Sri Lanka
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/1558
A Multivariate Co-integration Analysis of Air Passenger Movement: Empirical Evidence from in Sri Lanka
Nisansala, NDGT; Mudunkotuwa, MRS
Air transportation has been recognized as a key industry in Sri Lanka since most of tourists travel by air and tourism plays a vital role in the economy. The purpose of this research is to test the causality between air passenger movements and economy. The study uses fourvariate model of air passenger arrivals, departures, exchange rate and GDP to examine the long run and short run dynamic relationship among variables. This research paper is based on annual time series data which were obtained from period of year 1976 to 2012.Econometric tests were applied such as unit root tests, co-integration test, VEC modal and granger causality test. The result of Johansan co-integration test shows the existence of two co-integrating equations. VEC model was applied since cointegration test reveals that existence of the long run relationship between variables. Air passenger arrivals and departures forecasting models have been estimated. Finally, granger causality test was applied. It reveals that, uni-directional causality is running from air passenger arrivals to air passenger departures, from exchange rate to air passenger arrivals and from exchange rate to departures. Bi-directional causality is running between air passenger arrivals and GDP, exchange rate and GDP, air passenger departures and GDP. Analysis provide guideline for policy makers to create new policies which affecting the development of the aviation sector .Also air transportation affect for the economic growth by providing more and more direct and indirect employment. Further researchers should focus on analysis which is used panel data; provide more information.
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2015-01-01T00:00:00Z