GPH-International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research

Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism: The major threats to social research enterprise in Nigeria

HARUNA, Sheidu Abdulkarim — 2025-01-02

Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism (FFP) pose significant threats to the integrity and efficacy of social research in Nigeria. As a nation characterized by diverse socio-cultural and economic landscapes, high-quality social research is essential for informed policy-making, academic advancement, and societal development. This paper explored the prevalence, underlying causes, and consequences of FFP, and also evaluating existing measures and challenges for addressing fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism within Nigerian social research enterprise. It employs secondary data collection approach in the collection of its needed data. The paper reveals a notable prevalence of FFP, driven primarily by the "publish or perish" culture, inadequate ethics training, and weak institutional oversight. The consequences of FFP are multifaceted, including erosion of research integrity, impedes academic advancement and knowledge acquisition, deterioration of public confidence in research institutions, psychological effects on researchers and students, and economic implications. Ethical codes of research and institutional protocols, creation of office research integrity, software for plagiarism detection, training and capacity development, legal and institutional penalties, and global partnerships and norms were found to be the existing measures and policies for mitigating FFP in Nigeria. These existing measures and policies were obstructed by insufficient implementations, insufficient awareness and education regarding research ethics, institutional and structural limitations, publication pressure and professional progression, insufficient legal and regulatory framework, cultural influences and the normalization of misconduct, restricted access to plagiarism detection instruments, and significance global cooperation. Based on these insights, the paper recommends strengthening ethical training programs, enhancing institutional oversight, fostering a culture of integrity, leveraging advanced technological tools, and protecting whistleblowers to effectively reduce FFP in Nigerian social research.

The impact of translated films on the sociolinguistic landscape of Uganda

Namulondo Francisca — 2025-01-05

The aim of this research is to examine the impact of translated films on the sociolinguistic landscape of Uganda, a multilingual society where audiovisual media (translated films) serve as a powerful tool for cultural transmission and societal change. It explores how translated films influence language use, linguistic attitudes, and cultural perceptions among Ugandan audiences. It also investigates the causes of the unacceptability of these films among certain demographic groups, focusing on translation quality, cultural dissonance and other factors that may hinder audience engagement. Two questions were raised: 1) what is the impact of the translated films on the sociolinguistics of Uganda? 2) How can translated movies be improved to target a plurality of viewers in the Ugandan context? The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data is collected from individuals across different educational, regional, and linguistic backgrounds in Uganda. Questionnaires and interviews are used to capture diverse perspectives on the reception of translated films, their sociolinguistic impact, and potential areas of improvement. This study is guided by key theoretical frameworks, including Polysystem Theory, Language Contact Theory, and Skopos theory. From the findings, it can be noted that translated films elevate the prestige of local languages such as Luganda, thereby enhancing language attitudes, language use and societal perceptions. However, challenges such as poor translation accuracy, lack of cultural adaptation, and technical flaws were cited as primary concerns affecting audience engagement, with most respondents emphasizing the need for accurate translations. Recommendations include improving the accuracy of translations, ensuring cultural relevance, and enhancing the technical quality of the films and mastery of the languages by the translators to broaden their appeal and foster inclusivity among diverse Ugandan audiences. By addressing these aspects, the study offers practical strategies for improving the reach and acceptability of translated audiovisual content, contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic sociolinguistic landscape in Uganda.

Overcoming the socio-cultural challenges of refugees in the Mahama Refugee camp

Anastase Niyonsaba — 2025-01-05

This study investigates the effects of socio-cultural challenges experienced by refugees in the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda and proposes potential remedies to these effects. The mixed approach was applied for the collection of data. Questionnaires were administered to 102 respondents, while in-depth interviews were conducted to resource persons in the refugee camp. The Sociocultural theory by Vygotsky (1979) was employed to inspire the trend of research. This study used the purposive and random sampling to select research participants. Refugees were purposely selected to provide information about linguistic, cultural and communication challenges that they experience in the camp. The analysed data reveal a significant degree of socio-cultural challenges faced by refugees in the Mahama Refugee Camp. 82.4% of the refugees have language differences which make communication difficult.A considerable proportion of respondents (67.6%) reported experiencing culture shock, manifested primarily in feelings of isolation (75.5%) and heightened stress and anxiety (88.2%). Attitudes towards cultural integration were also assessed, with a small minority (23.5%) expressing support and a large majority (76.5%) preferring to maintain their cultural distinctiveness. The researchers recommend intercultural communication and integration workshops to make the camp a harmonious and comfortable place for all refugees.

State and prospects of translators training in Guinea

Tinguiano, Bernard — 2025-01-10

The purpose of this study is to analyse and explain the teaching methodologyused in translator training in Guinea, specifically at the University General Lansana Conté de Sonfonia. It also aims at identifying the challenges faced by students, teachers and the managers of the training programme. Finally, it proposes solutions to improve on the quality of training translators in this programme. To achieve these objectives, a mixed-methods approach was used employing both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyse data from graduate and undergraduate students, teachers and managers of the programme. The data was analysed using SPSS and Google Forms . The results indicate that the translator training is mainly focused on professional objectives. However, it was found that access to modern material and teaching resources is insufficient. Moreover, the results revealed that the challenges encountered are closely linked to students' lack of proficiency in the source and target languages, the difficulty of recruiting qualified translation teachers, as well as the absence of courses in computer-assisted translation (CAT). In the light of these findings, the study recommends the integration of appropriate material and pedagogical resources, the enhancement of students' language skills, the recruitment of specialized translation teachers, and the introduction of computer-assisted translation (CAT) courses.

Assessing Political and Economic Barriers to Regional Integration in ECOWAS

Wasiu Raji — 2025-01-10

This paper looks into the political, economic, and institutional challenges of regional integration facing the Economic Community of West African States through a systematic literature review. Despite considerable efforts in fostering economic cooperation, there are various obstacles that ECOWAS still faces, including political instability, diversity of political systems, economic disparities, inadequate institutional capacity, trade barriers, lack of infrastructure, and different currencies. The said elements do make harmonization of policies and effective implementation of regional agreements quite complicated. Guided by theories on institutionalism, dependency theory, and regionalism, this study reviewed current integration policies on their effectiveness and made suggestions on how challenges can be overcome through certain strategies. Recommendations have ranged from strengthening of institutional frameworks to political stability and good governance, economic policy harmonization, addressing of infrastructure gaps, facilitating currency unification, and inclusive development. By embracing them, ECOWAS would have ensured closer regional integration and sustainable development while exploiting opportunities offered by the international community for growth and prosperity in the sub-region.

STUDY OF THE INTERPRETATION MARKET IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Mufuta Kadima Spyridon — 2025-01-14

This study examines the interpretation market in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the objectives of evaluating its organization, identifying key stakeholders, and addressing the challenges faced by the profession. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through 40 questionnaires distributed to interpreters and clients, offering both quantitative and qualitative insights. Guided by the supply and demand theory as well as the control theory, the analysis highlights a market that is largely unstructured and lacks clear regulations. The field is dominated by male interpreters and remains open to anyone, contributing to issues such as inconsistent billing practices. Key challenges identified include inadequate interpreter training, the need for better market structuring, and the promotion of national languages. Addressing these issues is essential to enhance the quality and professionalism of the interpretation market in the DRC.

Challenges and Perspectives of Court Interpretation in Nigeria: The Cases of Lagos and Nigeria

Ibrahim, Charles Loukmane — 2025-01-14

This study examines interpretation practices in Nigerian courts, specifically in Lagos and Abuja, in a bid to explore the challenges and prospects associated with judicial interpretation in the country. The study aims to identify the roles of court interpreters, examine the difficulties they face, and propose strategies to improve the quality of interpretation. Using a mixed-method approach, with the aid of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and documentary analysis, the study delves into the experiences and perceptions of interpreters and other stakeholders within the Nigerian judicial system. The findings highlight major challenges such as inadequate training, the lack of certification programs, and the complexities associated with Nigeria’s linguistic diversity. The study emphasizes the importance of professionalizing judicial interpretation to ensure equitable access to justice and offers targeted recommendations for improving interpreter training and regulatory frameworks.