FACTORS AFFECTING THE FLUCTUATION IN EXCHANGE RATE OF THE BANGLADESH: A CO-INTEGRATION APPROACH

Kazi Mohammed Kamal Uddin , G. M. Azmal Ali Quaosar , Dulal Chandra Nandi

This paper adopts an econometric analysis of determinants of exchange rate for US Dollar in terms of Bangladeshi currency within the framework of monetary approach. Monthly data from January 1984 to April 2012 for Bangladesh relative to USA have been used to examine the long run and short run behavior of BDT/USD exchange rate. The paper finds that real exchange rate and the macroeconomic variables affecting real exchange rate forms a cointrigrating vector. Its observes that stock of money and increase in debt service burden results in a real depreciation of currency, while increasing foreign exchange reserve results in a real appreciation of currency.  Moreover, Political instability has a significant negative effect on the value of domestic currency.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT POLICY
IN INDUSTRY AND INSTITUTION IN WEST JAVA

Dr. Suwandi Sumartias, Dr. Evi Novianti, Kokom Komariah, M.Si., Aat Ruchiat Nugraha, M.Si.

This research entitled “The implementation of Community Development policy at Industrial enterprise and Institutions in West Java inquired by employing quantitative technique of path analysis”.
                The purpose of this research is to observe the impact of community development program by institutions and industrial enterprises on public participation rate towards development.
                Research method implemented for this research is explanatory survey research method which can be described as a research illustrating an event or situation. The theory being applied is diffusion innovation theory.
                The result of the research shows development of Community development program/CSR. There is a significant impact of 25.83% of program easily being understoodby public and there is a probability of 13.25% that the program would be carried out through public participation

Community Development, Diffusion Innovation, Participation

THE STUDY OF MASS MEDIA USE BY ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WEST JAVA PROVINCE

Dr. Dede Mulkan, M.Si., Dr. Nuryah Asri Sjafirah, M.Si., Gumgum Gumilar, S.Sos., M.Si.

Pesantren Modern or Islamic Boarding School is an educational system that combines general education with religious education. The students are staying in a dormitory during a period of time with very strict rules. They live in the limited access to the outside world. They are isolated from the news and important events. Meanwhile, the students are actually being prepared as part of next generation to fill the competent of human resources in the future.
                This research entitled: "The Study of Mass Media Use by Boarding Students in West Java Province”. It endeavors to present a portrait of the students’ behavior in utilizing the mass media in four Islamic Boarding Schools. The study shows how these students are still able to increase their information capacity of self-enrichment in the limitation of mass media availability.
The research was conducted in Islamic Boarding Schools in West Java, which were selected and represented from four regions that are based on the Islamic Boarding School criteria which were Kabupaten Kuningan, Kabupaten Ciamis, Kabupaten Bandung and Kabupaten Sukabumi.
The method of data collection used mixed-method which were survey techniques (questionnaire), Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews. For survey techniques, the respondents were selected randomly in each Islamic Boarding School by using purposive sampling.
The results showed that the students do have limitations in both using mass media  and accessing the information. The media that are more accessible to the students is often in printed format. This type of media is more accessible to the students as a medium for information on entertainment and hobbies. There was an initiative to put wall paper in a certain place, but less than optimal. Although there is a television set in each dormitory, but it was only turned on occasionally.
                The pattern of mass mediausebythe students wassimplyas"complementary" andnotso influential fortheirlives. Media isnot as a sourceof reference and knowledgethat is relevant totheirdiscipline, but ratheras a"pleasure". The students are relying on the internet to get update information which was openly accessed. The mass mediahave almost nomeaningful effectto their lives ofin theIslamic Boarding School.
 Caregivers of the Islamic Boarding Schoolhavea verydominantrolein determiningaccess tothe massmediain theIslamic Boarding School environment. Thereare clear and firmrulesin Islamic Boarding Schoolsthatrestrictthe use ofthe massmedia. However, this rulehas been agreedbystudents and also byparents at the first time they enrolled their children totheseschools.

Islamic School, Mass Media, Islamic Student, Information, Islamic Boarding School.

FAMILY COMMUNICATION IN MIXED-MARRIAGE
BETWEEN SUNDANESE AND MINANGKABAU

Dr. EVI NOVIANTI

The goal of this  research is to explore family communication activity on the Sunda-Minangkabau ethnic marriages that include communication situation, communicationevent, and communicative acts, communication components contained in the Sundanese-Minangkabau ethnic marriage, communication competence in family members of the Sundanese-Minangkabau ethnic marriage, and family communication patterns in the Sunda-Minangkabau ethnic marriage. This research use qualitative method with identity adjustment and communication ethnography study. Subject of this research is mix marriage merchant families in the city of Bandung choosen purposively. Data collected with depth interview, passive participation, and document analysis.

ethnic marriage, mic marriage, family communication, ethnography
  

THE SEEKING FOR HEALTH INFORMATION
BASED ON FAMILY MEDICINAL PLANTS
THROUGH INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION  IN WEST JAVA PROVINCE

Dr. IrianaBakti, M.Si, Dr. Evie Ariadne ShintaDewi, M.Pd. , Drs. RosnandarRomli, M.Si. , HeruRyantoBudiana, S.Ag.,M.Si.

This article entitled “The Seeking For Health Information Based On Family Medicinal Plants Through Interpersonal Communication In West Java Province”. The purpose of this research are firstly to identify communication channel being used for the seeking for health communication of family medicinal plants in West Java Province, secondly to determine the communicator credibility in every communication form in information dissemination about family medicinal plant in West Java, and thirdly to gain an understanding about the awareness of society on the importance of family medicinal plants in West Java.
                To explore on communication channel being used by public in the process of searching for Toga (family medicinal plants) health information is through intrapersonal communication done by officer from affiliated institution and the head of the team.
                Officer from affiliated institution and head of the team as Communicator have a high credibility which is consistent with the public perception that communication expert can be trusted in the delivery of the subject and in the end will create a high public appreciation on using the communication.
                Public awareness on the importance of family medicinal plants among families in West Java is really high which can be seen in the knowledge level, evaluation, and their readiness in organizing their own family medicinal plants.

intrapersonal communication, credibility and awareness

EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS: HARROWING TALES OF WIDOWS OR MOTHERS OF BICOL, PHILIPPINES

Noel R. Rafer

This paper is a summary of harrowing tales of widows or mothers as regards their experiences on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in Bicol, Philippines.  It especially centers on the place where the incidents happened and how and why the victims were killed, based on the accounts of their kin.  Aside from briefly documenting the victims’ and their kin’s brief socio-demographic profile, it also presents the impacts of the death of the victims to their families, and the coping mechanisms employed specifically by widows or mothers of victims of EJKs, as well as their expectations from the society in general.

This study asserts that an eclectic approach, i.e. using multiple sociological or criminological theories, is quite vital in explaining the causes of EJKs, since only allegations can be deduced from the responses of the key informants (KIs).  Focusing on the kin’s stories may also give the Church and the Philippine Government ideas that may serve as basis for future policy making, or pastoral care and debriefing program as an institutional response to EJK.  It also claims that their individual experiences taken as a whole is a reflection of the Philippine society, having substantiated the national reports on the prevalence of EJK cases in the country.  Finally, it also argues that the victims’ kin’s pleas may be realized if all structures of society conscientiously do their corresponding spiritual and worldly functions so that in the end no harrowing tales may be told once again. 

Data for the paper were collected from interviews with key informant, focus group discussion, including validation workshops, and review of relevant documents.

Extra-judicial killings, faith-based coping mechanisms, function of religion, impacts of EJK, peace-building strategies, criminological/sociological theories

COLOR AND FONT MEANING IN BEAUTY CLINICS LOGO:
A SEMIOTIC STUDY

Lilik Damayanti

Many studies applied semiotics approach, start from study of sign then it becomes more specific in analyze symbol, icon, and index. Logo as sign nowadays become popular as dentity of group, society and even a country. This study as descripitve analysis try to investigate the color and font meaning of ten beauty clinics logo. The findings indicate firstly, the color which is used in all logo are commonly using violet and green as their dominant color which is violet symbolized as “morbid, extinguished”, and green symbolized as peace, stillness, passive. On the other hand font which is used in all logo are commonly using Sans Serif font which is means as modern, contemporary, and efficient.

color, font, beauty clinic, logo, semiotic

Deri Fikri Fauzi , Sutiono Mahdi , Eva Tuckyta Sari Sujatna, Lia Maulia Indrayani

Advertisement is not always created to attract or promote one’s product or service. Tire-repair service advertisement has the same pattern in using text and context, which absolutely do not consider about variations and eye-catchingness. The writer found that this advertisement would not consider highly in eye-catchingness or attractiveness, but the service provider just showed that they provide the service. 
Here the writer provides one of service which is located almost along Main Street in Bandung city, tire-repair service. The provider of the service promotes his service by certain features seems similar one another, such as the name, the medium of advertisement, and other supporting equipments. The writer looks deeply into the sign systems in this service advertisement which deal with symbolic, iconic, and indexical sign and how each sign works to create a paradigm.

tire-repair, advertisement, semiotics

“THEIR SMILES BEHIND THE TEARS”: STRESSORS AND RESOURCES AMONGST MOTHERS IN BOLNI VILLAGE: POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH PROMOTION IN GHANA.

Eunice Adusei, Torill Bull

This study aimed at understanding the processes of health and wellbeing for mothers in one of the poor rural areas in the Northern Region of Ghana, Bolni village. Data was collected from in-depth interviews with 10 mothers in the study area. The interviews aimed at getting data on stressors that threaten the well-being and the resistance resources used by the women in coping with the stressors. The study revealed that stressors including work overload, financial difficulties and negative traditions posed serious threats to the well-being of mothers in the village. On the other hand, there were resources like supportive relationships, income-generating activities, and religion that provided some level of resistance against the stressors. The findings are discussed using the Salutogenic Model of Health as a theoretical guide. This model highlights how stressors and resources interact in creating a health promoting Sense of Coherence (SOC) in the lives of the women.

Stressors, Resistance Resources, Mothers, Well-being.

MEASURES OF SERVICE QUALITY BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS OF ANGELES AND SAN FERNANDO IN THE PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA, PHILIPPINES: ITS IMPLICATIONS TO CONSTITUENTS’ SATISFACTION

JOAN C. REYES

This research aims to measure the service quality of local government units of Angeles and San Fernando in the Province of Pampanga to determine their constituents’ level of satisfaction.  There were a total of 102 renewal-respondents of  the Business Permit and Licensing Department who participated in the survey of service quality.  The statistical methods used were mean rating, correlational and t-test which were able test the null hypotheses; to wit:  there is no positive relationship between dimensions of service quality and constituents’ satisfaction and there is no significant difference on the perception of service quality between local government units of Angeles and San Fernando.  Both local government units found reliability, assurance and empathy having very strong linear relationship with constituents’ satisfaction while responsiveness and tangibles established strong linear relationship with constituents’ satisfaction.  Since the dimension assurance established the highest degree of correlation among the local government units’ service quality, it has found the said dimension plays the best predictor of constituents’ satisfaction for both local government units.  The perceptions of respondents of both local government units do not have significant difference on service quality being rendered.  The ratings given by respondents on service quality being rendered by local government units of Angeles and San Fernando are ranging from satisfactory to very satisfactory, hence, the said ratings shall serve as eye opener for Angeles and San Fernando local government units to improve their services and must not be complacent with the evaluations they have now.  It is the duty of the government to serve their taxpayers and they, therefore, deserve excellent performance.

Service quality, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, tangibles,  and constituents’ satisfaction.

TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF DISTRICT WISE AGRICULTURAL CROP PERFORMANCE SCENARIO IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Soumitra Chatterjee and Jui Ray

The present study attempts to evaluate district wise growth in acreage, production of major crops grown in the state of West Bengal, India over last three decades (1980-81 to 2011-12) as well as to measure the crop wise level of instability in area and production. Also a comparative study on relative performance of districts in terms of individual crop and aggregation of major crops grown in the state has been performed subsequently, to identify the district wise overall crop-performance scenario for the past three decades. Simple tabular methods along with statistical tools has been applied to calculate the relative change in acreage and production of crops as well as growth and instability over decades. Relative crop performance of the districts has been evaluated by composite z-scoring followed by K-Means and Hierarchical cluster analysis. The results have shown declining trend in growth rate with instability of food grains over the decades indicating shift in rice based cropping system, while jute, potato and mustard are still cultivated with a stable acreage and production. The districts belonging to well fertile gangetic alluvium tract have shown higher level of crop performance as compared to the Hilly and Red Lateratic districts of West Bengal, India.

growth, instability, relative crop performance, cluster analysis

FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AMONG PADDY FARMERS
MUDA IRRIGATION AREA, MALAYSIA

Ahmad Zubir Ibrahim, Aznita Samsi

Food security at the household level is a major priority for most developing countries, especially  for the welfare of the vulnerability group and for political stability. There are four dimensions to measure food security, namely food availability, access, utilization and stability.  Food utilization or consumption was important to measure food security among household or individual especially low income or vulnerability group. Low income group would appear to relate most often to an unbalanced diet.  This situation may be to damaging to health status in the long term.  For this purpose, the study attempts to  analyze food consumption among paddy farmers in  Muda irrigation area.  This study carried out by questionnaire which involves 225 paddy farmer this area. Study found  that, paddy farmers in irrigation area Muda gets food at retail and market compared supermarket with frequency three (3) to four (4) times per week.  Distances average  to get food from home as far as 4.24km to the market. Survey results also find out paddy farmers this area less often to take beef, fruits and milk, beans and pulse and food supplement.  The study also was suggested early education and government intervention to emphasize to achieved household food security.

food security, food consumption, paddy farmers

ATHEISTIC MOVEMENT IN BANGLADESH: ITS CAUSES AND METHODS OF ERADICATION, A STUDY FROM ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Mohammad Abul Kalam

Atheism, as the concept goes, has a long history in the perspective of Bangladesh. Through historic struggle for independence for nine months Bangladesh become independent on 16 December1971.Though the spread of atheism was not so frequent during the Pakistani regime; it started gaining ground with the independence of Bangladesh under the shadow of secularism. Eventually different organizations under the connivance of the party in power ventured to spread the concept of atheism in the name of freedom of expression. It is a matter of frustration that atheism in the name of freedom of expression has gained momentum during the current regime. This demoralizes the very concept of freedom of expression thereby stigmatizing the purity and sanctity of Islam in the world in general and in Bangladesh in particular. However there exists scanty of research on the issue of reasons behind the growth and spread of atheism in Bangladesh. It is the objective of this paper to strike at the fundamental reasons for the spread of the concept of atheism in Bangladesh, its impact on the society at large from socio-religious and religious-economic point of view. It also examines the role of the government in power in the spread of atheism in Bangladesh. Finally this research attempts to render some suggestions to combat the spread of atheism in Bangladesh.

Atheism, Spread, Cause, Organization, combat.

DIFFICULTIES OF SCIENCE TEACHER CANDIDATES IN THE ARTICULATION OF TRANSITIONS BETWEEN TABLE, GRAPHICAL AND PICTORIAL REPRESENTATIONS

Murat PEKTAS, Mehmet Altan KURNAZ

The aim of this study was to examine the performance of the science teacher candidates to make transitions between the table, graphical and pictorial representation types. The study was conducted with 45 senior science teacher candidates. The data was obtained from the open end questions linked to the subject of pressure requiring transition from a representation type to other representation types (e.g. from the graphical to table). Even though the obtained findings have revealed that the candidates have considered themselves successful more in interpretation among the drawing and interpretation activities of the graphics, tables and pictures, and that they have considered the questions asked to them (data collection tool questions) easy, the candidates could not make transition between the graphic, table and pictorial representation types. The findings were especially revealed that the candidates had difficulties in transition from the pictorial to graphical and/or vice versa. In the light of the results, as a remedy, it was proposed that the issues of the importance of benefitting from the graphic, table and pictorial representation types in the process of training of the teacher candidates and revealing the transitions in between should be highlighted more. 

Transitions; Representations; Table, Graphical and Pictorial Representations