Book Chapter Invitation

PROJECT 2 DETAILS:

• Title of book: Contemporary Issues in Malaysian Psychology, 2nd Edition
• Tentative chapter title: Cultural influences on the perceptions of and reactions to crowding
• Type of Publication: Edited Book
• Length of article: 15-20 pages (single space)
• Theme: Contemporary issues in Malaysia at present; major issues and challenges being addressed in your subfield in Malaysia; and how have research in cross-cultural and indigenization added to that knowledge-base.
• Publisher: Thomson
• Editor: Noraini M. Noor
• Target group of readers: University psychology instructors, students and others who may be interested to know more about contemporary issues in Malaysian psychology.

Important Dates:

Submission of abstract: September 15, 2009 (150-200 words)
Submission of draft: March 15, 2010

Read More

Book Chapter Invitation

PROJECT 1 DETAILS:

• Title of book: Issues of Work in Malaysia: Employee Well-Being
• Tentative chapter title: Commuting stress: consequences and implications for employee well-being
  
• Type of Publication: Edited Book
• Length of article: 15-20 pages (single space)
• Theme: Employee Well being in Malaysia
• Project of: Graduateness Research Unit
• Publisher: IIUM Press
• Editor: Shukran Abdul Rahman
• Reviewer: To be determined by IIUM Press
• Target group of readers: Academics, students, policy makers, industrial captains, personnel managers, general citizen.

Important Dates:

• Submission of first draft of article: July 10, 2009
• Submission of revised article to editor: September 4, 2009

Read More

In my opinion...

Retrieved from Management Today. London: Apr 2001. pg. 20.

Transportation has an impact on every employer's life every day. New support legislation could soon start affecting staff and customers alike by bringing congestion charges to city centers and workplace parking levies even closer to home. At first sight, parking levies and congestion charges may not seem encouraging, but they will enable employers to influence the way that local transportation develops.

Local transport is not an issue that features highly on the radar screens of most managers. When it is thought about at all, it is dismissed as something over which the company has no influence.

Maybe it is time to change all that. Transport has an impact on every employer's life every day, as the post-Hatfield rail chaos demonstrated. It was not just bad for the traveller, it was bad for business. Large sections of the economy stumbled, and even London stores blamed the problems for the reduced size of their Christmas takings.

Commuting is one of the most stressful activities we undertake. As the roads get more and more congested, staff do not arrive in the best frame of mind to start work, and it becomes harder for customers to reach businesses, and when they get there, to park their cars. As for companies' own deliveries, their journey times become longer and more unreliable. Disruption to the track and congestion on our roads, worsened by roadworks, only exacerbates the situation on an already crowded network.

At the same time, new transport legislation could soon start affecting staff and customers alike by bringing congestion charges to your city centre and workplace parking levies even closer to home.

On the face of it, some of these developments may not sound encouraging, but they offer real benefits and opportunities for employers in enabling them to influence the way that local transport develops.

New technology alone will have a major impact on business efficiency. Some cars already have navigation devices that talk drivers through the route to a pre-programmed destination. And the availability of real-time information for bus and rail journeys across the country is just around the corner.

So what? Well, your staff will benefit. At home in the morning they will be able to programme their WAP phone to call them when the bus is three minutes away. For the homeward journey, your company's computer system will be able to access real-time local travel information, enabling staff to plan their travel better.

Screens offering real-time information will appear in foyers, store entrances and places of entertainment, enabling customers to linger longer and spend more money with you rather than waiting unproductively at a bus stop. Soon, staff coming in to work will be able to access real-time information on journey choices and comparative times on their WAP phones. Technology will be able to advise people on different commuting options, depending on traffic conditions.

The end result is that your employees will have some control over their journey and arrive at work less stressed. Leaving home and finding your bus turn up just as you get to the stop sounds futuristic, but it will soon be a reality - a just-in-time approach to transport.

Employers haven't been universally supportive of congestion charging for city centres. But why not? Surely any initiative that results in clearer roads and shorter car and bus journeys, offers more reliable journey times and delivers extra resources to invest in transport mustbe good.

All these things are about making life easier for everyone - improving journeys and the environment for those living and working in city centres.

Of course, as chief executive of a company running more buses in the UK than any other operator, I would say that, wouldn't I? But there are benefits for you, too.

Congestion charging will create more certainty for journey times as congestion blackspots are reduced. Cutting the number of marginal journeys will make bus journeys faster and more reliable. It is this reliability factor that is most important. Eliminating the old excuse of `sorry, the bus was late' will enable the total number of productive hours to be ratcheted up over the year.

Large companies needn't wait for these developments. Green transport plans are encouraging employers, transport operators and local authorities to focus on how they can deliver benefits for themselves, their staff and the local community.

Most large employers have huge staff car parks and some of that space could be used for expansion on site rather than relocating the business. By reducing the number of cars and encouraging your staff to consider alternative travel methods, you could also reduce your liability to workplace parking levy charges. If staff were to commute by car four days a week instead of five, car park space could be cut by 20%.

Large employers are starting to encourage car sharing and are even part-funding their own dedicated public transport links - either by funding the extension of an existing bus service to the factory or office or running a special service for staff.

There's nothing new in this. Managers who are longer in the tooth will remember when dedicated buses would tour housing estates each morning to take workers directly to the factory gate, arriving exactly on time for the start of the working day. For the return journey, buses would be waiting at the gate.

The transport sector is going through unprecedented change just now and there's never been a better time to influence it.

Author: Moir Lockhead
Affiliation: Institute of Management companion Moir Lockheed, CEO of First Group, believes the changing dynamics of transport offer employers new possibilities

Read More

JICA Publications

Thank you to Mr Kawazoe Yasuhiro, representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Malaysia Office for assistance in obtaining information about JICA's publications.

Read More

Seminar Presentation

Oral presentation:
Seminar on Issues in Psychology No.1
Organized by: Social Events Committee, Department of Psychology, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)

Day/Date : Monday/ 18th May 2009
Time: 12: 00 p.m. -1: 00p.m.
Venue: Psychology Seminar Room
Presenter: Nor Diana Mohd. Mahudin
Title: Quality of rail passenger experience: the effects of crowding on health, comfort & stress - a systematic review

Read More

Rail-related Literature: Malaysia

Abdul Hamid, N., Mohamad, J., & Karim, M. R. (2008). Travel Behaviour Of The Park And Ride Users And The Factors Influencing The Demand For The Use Of The Park And Ride Facility. Paper presented at the EASTS International Symposium on Sustainable Transportation Incorporating Malaysian Universities Transport Research Forum Conference 2008 (MUTRFC08).

Abdullah, D. (2006). Malaysia Plans Five Years Of Rail Growth. Railway Gazette International, 162(10), 683-684.

Alwi, A. (2003). Operational Performance of PUTRA LRT Using Simulation. Unpublished MSc. (Dec.Sc.) Thesis. Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Ariffin, R. N. R. (2008). The Implementation of Urban Transport Policy in the Klang Valley. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 3(4), 37-44.

Barter, P. A. (2000). Urban Transport in Asia: Problems and Prospects for High-Density Cities. Asia-Pacific Development Monitor, 2(1), 33-66.

Ho, J. S., Sadullah, A. F., & Vien, L. L. (2008). Understanding Travel Behaviour: An Important Approach To Switch Private Car Users To Public Transport. Paper presented at the EASTS International Symposium on Sustainable Transportation Incorporating Malaysian Universities Transport Research Forum Conference 2008 (MUTRFC08).

Hussain, A. (2006). A framework of light rail transit (LRT) in Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan, Malaysia. Paper presented at the 28th Conference of Australian Institutes of Transport Research (CAITR).

Jusoh, J. (1984). Sistem Transit Laju Alternatif Penyelesaian Masalah Pengangkutan Awam Di Georgetown. Unpublished M.Sc (Planning) Thesis. Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Kasipillai, J., & Chan, P. (2008). Travel Demand Management: Lessons for Malaysia. Journal of Public Transportation, 11(3), 41-55.

Mahmod, F. A., & Shah, M. Z. (2008). A Logistic Regression Model To Predict Commuters Trip Making Choice In Areas With Undeveloped Public Transportation System. Paper presented at the EASTS International Symposium on Sustainable Transportation Incorporating Malaysian Universities Transport Research Forum Conference 2008 (MUTRFC08).

Maramuthu, G. (1997). Intercity Passenger Rail Services. Unpublished Degree Master of Science (Transport Planning) Thesis. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Marzuki, M. (1999). Keberkesanan Transit Aliran Ringan Dalam Menangani Kesesakan Lalulintas Di Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur. Unpublished M.A. Thesis. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Mohamad, H. (2003). Rail Transportation In Kuala Lumpur. Japan Railway and Transport Review, 35, 21-27.

Mohamad, J. (1997). An LRT-Bus Strategy for Greater Kuala Lumpur: What Future Integration. Sarjana: Malaysian Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 14, 57-75.

Mohamed, B. (2001). Relationship between the needs structure, job position, job satisfaction and life satisfaction: A study of Putra LRT employees. Unpublished Thesis. International Islamic University Malaysia.

Rani, W. N. M. W. M. (2005). A perceptual assessment towards telecommuting and its implications on commute travel. Unpublished Master of Science (Built Environment) Thesis. International Islamic University Malaysia.

Razak, M. I. A. (2004). Railway vibration analysis on light rapid transit train. Unpublished Bachelor Degree Thesis KUiTTHO.

Said, A. S. (2003). Trans-Peninsular Malaysia Electrified Railway-technical Risk Evaluation at Feasibility Stage for the Infrastructure Works. Unpublished M.Sc. Dissertation. Universiti Teknologi MARA.

Seng, L. T. (2002). An Analysis Of The Demand For Passenger Rail Services In Peninsular Malaysia. Unpublished M.Ec. Dissertation. Universiti Malaya.

Subramaniam, M., & Rahman, A. A. (2008). Sustainable Maintenance Systems of Commuter Trains in Malaysia. Paper presented at the EASTS International Symposium on Sustainable Transportation Incorporating Malaysian Universities Transport Research Forum Conference 2008 (MUTRFC08).

Zahari, M. N. F. (1999). Service Performance And User Perception Of The Light Rail Transit System. Unpublished Master of Science (Transportation Planning) Thesis. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Read More

On crowds and crowding

According to Le Bon (1895), a crowd is a mass of individuals, composed of normal people. The uniqueness of crowds however, is the fusion of individuals into a common mind and emotion, which can be spontaneous, anarchic, or sporadic. A crowd is not just a crowd that only comprised of a large number of persons gathered closely together. In reality, each crowd has a life of its own. While some may be closely related, each crowd is relatively distinctive from another. Without understanding the crowds and crowd behaviour, Berlonghi (1995) argued that we are left with random attempts at crowd control and crowd management which may result in serious losses of life, health, property, and money. He emphasized that those involved in crowd management and crowd control must foresee the nature of the crowd that will be in attendance and must be able to observe the behaviour of a crowd while an event is taking place, and make timely decisions for effective action. Problems can arise if we do not foresee and prepare for a variety of crowd situations.

Crowding whereas, is often equated as having too many people in one place at the same time and the result of it, is the feeling of uncomfortable and edgy. More extant definitions of crowding are offered in three alternative definitions:

1. A demographic condition of high population density where crowding is a function of the number of people and the area available per person. Hence, the less space per person, the more crowded the situation.
   
2. A phenomenological reaction to spatial restriction where crowding is related to the perception of too many people or too little space.
3. A social condition of high interpersonal stimulation where crowding is a function of the unwanted, unnecessary and interfering potential or actual interactions (Aiello et al., 1974).

The first two definitions share a common assumption that crowding is related to spatial restriction, interference, and territorial infringement (Knowles, 1978) (an assumption agreed by Stokols (1972) who suggested that crowding will occur when the demand for space in a specific situation exceeds the available supply). Crowding is a personal and subjective to the individual. It is a motivational state that often results in goal-orientated behaviour which alleviates discomfort and centers on the feeling of having or controlling too little space.

The third definition on the other hand, regards crowding as a social phenomenon where an individual is affected by the presence of a crowd (or in other words the crowd influences the person). Among scholars who supported this definition is Desor (1972) as well as Valins and Baum (1973) who proposed that crowding phenomena resulted from overall level of stimulation from social sources and that feelings of being crowded are related to excessive stimulations or excessive/unwanted interactions.

To a certain extent, the social definitions of crowding are considered more appropriate because they define crowding as the influence of a large number of people gathered closely together on the responses of an individual. Correspondingly, characteristics that are important to the definition of a crowd such as their number and closeness together are the same dimensions that are important to the definition and experience of crowding.

Crowding has also been conceptualised as a psychological phenomenon. Under this view, it is described as the subjective feeling of unpleasantness due to the presence of other people. If the expectations on the use of space are violated by the presence of others, the feeling of being crowded is induced. Consequently, emotional distress may arise and some behavioural adjustments aimed at preserving one’s personal space may occur. In other words, crowding can be defined as a negative assessment of a certain density level in a given area.

Can we say then crowd and crowding have the same meaning? Kruse (1985) argued that both concepts seem to be unrelated as the analysis on masses, crowds or collective behaviour is almost totally disconnected from the research on the sources, forms, and effects of crowding. This is because, in a crowd, it is the emotional reaction which facilitated by the expressive behaviour such as facial expressions, gestures, shouts, hisses or murmurs of others whereas crowding is a complicated psychological construct. For example, people can feel crowded even in low-density conditions. If we take very general descriptions of crowds, they usually refer to large collections of people in more or less close proximity to each other with an equally general description of crowding i.e. “too many people in too little space,” it seems evident that at least some aspects of crowds could be described as crowding and explained by principles found valid in this area of research. Kruse (1985) further stated that if we acknowledge that the experience of crowding is not a function of objective (physical or social) conditions but of one’s individual perception and evaluation of such conditions, then we come close to the meanings of crowds.

The existing literature shows that crowd and crowding possess many dimensions and facets that require close examination and are ripe for investigation. There is little information however on whether the crowd itself (regardless of its size) could pose significant strain to people inside it. This gap has prompted a timely opportunity for development of a method or a tool that could identify and measure the dimensions in crowds.

References:
Aiello, J. R., Epstein, Y. M. & Karlin, R. A. (1974). Methodological and conceptual issues in crowding. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association Convention, April 1974.
Desor, J. A. (1972). Towards a psychological theory of crowding. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 21: 79 – 83.
Knowles, E. S. (1978). The gravity of crowding : Application of social physics to the effects of others. In Baum, A. & Epstein, Y. (Eds.). Human Response to Crowding. New Jersey : Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
Kruse, L. (1985). Conceptions of crowds and crowdings. In Graumann, C. F. & Moscovici, S . (Eds.). Changing Conceptions of Crowd Mind and Behavior. New York : Springer.
Le Bon, G. (1895). La Psychologie des foules. Translated : The Crowd. London : Unwin, 1903.
Berlonghi, A. E. (1995). Understanding and planning for different spectator crowds. Safety Science, 18 : 239 – 247.
Stokols, D. (1972). On the distinction between density and crowding : Some implications for further research. Psychological Review, 79 : 275 – 277.
Valins, S. & Baum, A. (1973). Residential group size, social interaction and crowding. Environment and Behavior, 5 : 421 – 439.

Read More

Paper accepted for SEAP 2009

We have had a paper accepted by the Southeast Asia Psychology Conference (SEAP 2009) for publication in the proceedings and for oral presentation. The conference is organised by Psychology and Social Health Research Unit and School of Psychology and Social Work, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and it will be conducted from 09 until 11 July 2009. Here is the abstract of the version we submitted - it will be updated as per final submission on 26th June 2009.

Conducting Systematic Reviews in Psychology:
Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

Nor Diana Mohd Mahudin*, Tom Cox & Amanda Griffiths
Institute of Work, Health, and Organisations (I-WHO),
University of Nottingham, UK

Abstract

This paper discusses the issues and challenges associated with conducting systematic reviews using the existing guidelines (e.g. the Cochrane and Campbell systematic reviews). While these guidelines are appropriate for reviews involving predefined study criteria with fixed procedures and techniques or concerning assessment of effect sizes in established interventions; a more flexible approach is recommended when conducting reviews that deal with evidence from non-randomized, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies. Based from cumulative experience gained from conducting systematic reviews of two ongoing projects, the authors identified seven broad challenges. These challenges were found mostly in 1) defining the research scope and formulating the research question(s); 2) determining the search strategy and adhering to the disciplinary syntax; 3) accessing relevant literature; 4) filtering, appraising, and prioritizing the evidence from different study designs- particularly those related to primary qualitative and mixed-methods studies; 5) combining meta-analysis and narrative synthesis in evidence synthesis; 6) managing time and resources constraints; and 7) enhancing the transparency of decision making process. This paper maintains that while the essence and principles of the existing systematic reviews guidelines should be adhered to, researchers need to adapt them in a more complex nature when dealing with evidence from non-experimental studies or qualitative research. It is suggested that such systematic review process may, among other things, entail development of search protocol using stepwise refinement, integration of both narrative synthesis and meta-analysis for synthesizing the evidence, employment of multi-disciplinary team, and approach to ensure transparency and rigour.

Read More