/library/oar/handle/123456789/3342 2025-12-27T01:48:02Z 2025-12-27T01:48:02Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/133052 2025-03-11T09:48:10Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Representations of (over)development and quality of life among Gen-Zs in Malta Abstract: This study explores the social representations of (over)development and quality of life among Gen-Zs in Malta, a currently topical issue in the country. Using the Theory of Social Representations, the research investigates how social representations of (over)development can influence this cohort's views on the implications of (over)development itself on their own quality of life. The study ultimately aims to determine whether or not the country is on the right track to enhance socio-environmental development by 2050. The study adopts a qualitative methodology, relying on focus groups with Gen-Z participants to gather in-depth insights. Participants labelled the overall development situation of the country as ‘overdevelopment’, and explained how overdevelopment is negatively impacting their day-to-day quality of life. According to the participants, overdevelopment is leading to a poorer level of quality of life by resulting in higher levels of air and noise pollution, eating away the green spaces of the country and eroding the traditional social fabric of our communities, amongst other ways. Hence, these insights confirmed the relationship between views of (over)development and quality of life. Moreover, the study highlights concerns by Gen-Zs about the preference for short-term economic gains over a more sustainable long-term approach. Participants also expressed feeling disempowered by the current political system in the country. Finally, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers aiming to address the socio-environmental challenges posed by (over)development in Malta. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/133051 2025-03-11T09:45:23Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The role of employee-customer interactions in enhancing service quality, satisfaction, and loyalty in German electric vehicle repair shops Abstract: This study explores how direct interactions between employees and customers affect service quality, customer satisfaction, and loyalty in electric vehicle (EV) repair shops in Germany. Using a quantitative research design with a positivist approach, surveys were conducted with both customers and employees of these repair shops. Well-established tools like SERVQUAL for measuring service quality, Customer Satisfaction Score for customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty metrics were used to understand the role of these interactions. The research tested whether effective employee-customer interactions lead to better service quality, satisfaction, and loyalty. To ensure reliability and validity, the data were analyzed using methods like Cronbach’s alpha for reliability and non-parametric tests for demographic insights. Ethical considerations, such as ensuring confidentiality and voluntary participation, were carefully followed. The findings shed light on strategies for improving customer service in the EV repair industry. They offer practical recommendations for enhancing interactions between employees and customers, aiming to help repair shops deliver exceptional service, improve customer satisfaction, and build long-term loyalty in a market that continues to grow. As an exploratory study, these findings provide foundational insights and emphasize the need for further research incorporating qualitative methods to deepen understanding of customer dynamics in this evolving sector. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/132255 2025-02-25T07:23:44Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Forging a national epic for a newly-sovereign state : narrative, myth and identity in Maltese nation-building (1964 – 2004) Abstract: Purpose: This study seeks to identify whether the narratives of national identity constructed by political actors weakened Maltese nation-building during the formative years (1964 – 2004) of Malta’s existence as a sovereign state prior to the settlement of the main constitutional issues in 2004. It has three-fold research objectives: to identify the role of the intelligentsia and the political class in the creation of political nationalism; to identify the key factors shaping the contending political narratives of national identity. Such narratives were developed, encouraged and propagated by the two main political parties; and to assess how such narratives impacted the political climate in post-colonial Malta and how, therefore, they affected nation-building. Design / Methodology / Approach: This study adopts a qualitative approach based on a theoretical framework formulated through an extensive review of scholarly literature which weaves the different theoretical points of view on nations and nationalism, identity and memory in the context of nation-building, thus producing a coherent framework for analysis. The analysis is based on an extensive review of the narratives propagated in the period 1964 – 2004. Findings: The study concludes that, while divisive, the narratives did not weaken Maltese statebuilding though, paradoxically, they often remain unattached to the state. Moreover, despite the differences, the narratives may have also indirectly strengthened Maltese nation-building. Originality / Value: The study analyses Maltese political development in the period 1964 – 2004, taking political narratives and identity as the main focal point of this analysis, thereby contributing to the literature on the period under consideration. Description: Ph.D.(Melit.)

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/131349 2025-01-31T09:49:44Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A mid-term appraisal of communication as a strategic objective of the Malta police transformation strategy 2020–2025 Abstract: This dissertation investigates the communication capabilities of the Malta Police Force following the publication of the Transformation Strategy 2020-2025. The study employs a mixed method approach, involving interviews with various stakeholders to assess their perceptions of Police operations and the effectiveness of communication with the public. The interviews examine internal and external communication practices, highlighting instances of gatekeeping caused by perceived third-party intrusions. Additionally, a quantitative analysis of the Police’s social media content from 2022 and 2023 was conducted to identify the types of information disseminated to the public. The findings from these methods were compared and contrasted, leading to strategic recommendations utilising the PEST Framework. The outcome is a comprehensive assessment of the mid-term progress of the Transformation Strategy with a focus on communication. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z