درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose: Flexible working hours can impact employee productivity. Therefore, the current research aimed to present a model for flexible working hours in public organizations, emphasizing increasing the productivity level of knowledge workers. Methodology: The present study was applied in objective and mixed-method (qualitative and quantitative) in execution. The qualitative study population included all academic and organizational experts familiar with the research domain, with a sample size of 25 determined based on theoretical saturation principle and selected through purposive sampling. The quantitative study population comprised all staff members of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, with a sample size of 205 determined by Cochran's formula and selected through simple random sampling. Data for qualitative and quantitative sections were collected respectively using interviews and researcher-made questionnaires and analyzed with thematic analysis and exploratory factor analysis methods in Maxqda and Smart-PLS software, respectively. Findings: Qualitative findings revealed that flexible working hours encompassed 15 sub-themes in 3 main themes: floating work hours, floating work location, and collaborative work; and employee productivity comprised 20 sub-themes in 3 main themes: self-management, self-control, and self-organization. Quantitative findings indicated that all themes of flexible working hours and employee productivity had a factor loading and extracted variance mean higher than 0.50 and Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability higher than 0.80. Other findings showed that the themes of floating work hours, floating work location, and collaborative work had a direct and significant effect on flexible working hours, and the themes of self-management, self-control, and self-organization had a direct and significant effect on employee productivity, and flexible working hours had a direct and significant effect on employee productivity (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that flexible working hours play an effective role in enhancing the level of employee productivity. Therefore, to improve employee productivity, the themes of floating work hours, floating work location, and collaborative work can be utilized.

Purpose: The education system plays a crucial role in the growth and progress of any society and, as one of the main institutions developing intellectual capital and specialized human resources, it holds a sensitive responsibility in achieving sustainable development. Therefore, it should focus on improving the quality of its service delivery to meet people's expectations and increase their satisfaction. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to design a superior service delivery model in the field of education to enhance public satisfaction. Methodology: This research is applied in purpose, exploratory in nature due to its qualitative research approach, and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection and implementation. In the first phase, the population consisted of scientific documents and records, from which 38 studies were selected as the research sample based on inclusion criteria and purposive sampling method. In the second phase, academic and organizational experts were chosen based on the principle of theoretical saturation and purposive sampling technique, totaling 16 individuals. The data collection tool in the first phase was a systematic review of scientific documents and records through meta-synthesis, and in the second phase, semi-structured interviews with experts through thematic analysis. Validity through the CASP tool and reliability through Cohen's kappa coefficient were obtained at 0.56. The validity and reliability of the interview tool were also examined based on criteria of accuracy, credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability, which were ultimately confirmed. Finally, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA software. Findings: The findings of this research identified 69 indicators, 13 components, and 3 dimensions for superior service delivery in the field of education to enhance public satisfaction. The dimensions of superior service delivery included: quality of educational services (with 9 components: tangibles, accountability, assurance, empathy, courtesy, dynamism, diversity, citizen-centricity, and monitoring and control), productivity of educational services (with 2 components: service efficiency and effectiveness), and intelligence of educational services (with 2 components: digitalization and the use of modern technologies). Ultimately, considering these dimensions, components, and identified indicators, the final model of the study was presented, which was found to be of suitable validity. Conclusion: Considering the results obtained from the current study, it is possible to create conditions for the realization of superior service delivery in the field of education to enhance the level of public satisfaction.

Purpose: Academic motivation is a critical driver of educational outcomes, influenced by various factors including attitudes toward education and civic knowledge. Despite abundant research on these factors independently, their collective impact on academic motivation remains underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by examining how attitudes toward education and civic knowledge together predict academic motivation. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was employed with a sample of 350 participants derived from high schools and universities, based on Morgan and Krejcie’s table for sample size. Data were collected using validated scales: the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), Education Attitude Scale (EAS), and Civic Knowledge Assessment Test (CKAT). Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27 to explore the relationships between the study variables. Findings: Descriptive statistics indicated moderate levels of academic motivation (Mean = 4.21, SD = 1.05), positive educational attitudes (Mean = 3.89, SD = 0.78), and varied civic knowledge (Mean = 3.45, SD = 0.88). Pearson correlation showed significant positive relationships between academic motivation and attitudes toward education (r = .312, p < .001) and civic knowledge (r = .287, p < .001). Regression analysis revealed that both attitudes toward education (β = 0.32, p < .001) and civic knowledge (β = 0.27, p < .001) significantly predicted academic motivation, accounting for 20.9% of the variance (R² adjusted = .209). Conclusion: The findings confirm that both educational attitudes and civic knowledge are significant predictors of academic motivation. These results underscore the importance of integrating civic education into curricula and fostering positive educational attitudes to enhance academic motivation. Future educational policies and practices should consider these dimensions to effectively support academic engagement and achievement.

Purpose: This research aims to explore the various aspects of educational environments that shape how students perceive themselves, with a focus on the interactions and experiences that contribute to their self-concept and academic engagement. Methodology: This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 21 participants who were either currently enrolled in educational institutions or had recently graduated. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software to identify recurring themes and patterns related to the educational environment and its impact on student self-perception. Findings: Four main themes were identified: Institutional Environment, Educational Practices, Student Engagement, and Self-Perception Development. Each theme comprised various categories that elucidated the influence of educational settings on students: Institutional Environment included Physical Infrastructure, Social Climate, Academic Atmosphere, Administrative Support, and Extracurricular Activities. Educational Practices focused on Teaching Methods, Evaluation Techniques, and Teacher-Student Relationships. Student Engagement highlighted Participation in Class, Engagement in School Governance, Peer Collaboration, and Identification with School. Self-Perception Development covered Identity Formation, Self-Efficacy, Career Aspirations, Academic Self-Concept, and Emotional Resilience. Conclusion: The study concluded that educational institutions play a pivotal role in shaping student self-perception through various environmental and interactional aspects. These elements not only influence students' academic engagement but also significantly impact their self-concept and future aspirations. The findings underscore the need for educational policies and practices that enhance positive student experiences and support comprehensive development.