Independence Day

today felt like a personal Independence Day for both Abyana and me, as we each celebrated the successful completion of significant milestones in our respective journeys... for me, it marked the end of a long and demanding period of work, having successfully submitted my PhD report for the upcoming Viva Voce examination and completed the marking of all examination papers... these responsibilities required months of dedication, focus, and perseverance, making their completion a particularly satisfying achievement... for Abyana, the celebration was even more special as she successfully completed the memorization of all 30 juzuk of the Quran, a remarkable accomplishment that reflects years of commitment, discipline, and hard work...

with these important goals finally achieved, we decided to make the most of the Malaysia Independence Day holiday by spending quality time together at the mall... it was an opportunity to step away from academic commitments, deadlines, and daily routines, and simply enjoy a well-deserved break as a family... the outing provided a chance to relax, unwind, and celebrate the milestones we had reached after months of effort and dedication... it was a meaningful day that symbolized not only Malaysia's independence but also our own sense of relief, gratitude, and accomplishment after successfully completing two important life achievements...

Marking

my main focus was to complete the marking of all physical examination answer scripts before 11:59 pm... I began the day shortly after breakfast and adopted a systematic approach to ensure accuracy and efficiency throughout the marking process... my strategy was simple but effective: complete one section at a time, verify and confirm the marks immediately, and then proceed to the next section... this method allowed me to maintain consistency in grading while minimizing the possibility of errors...

meanwhile, Naja and Abyana spent the day out with Kak Long and Kak Put for a ladies-only outing, giving them an opportunity to relax and enjoy some quality time together... at home, Azim remained focused on his preparations for the upcoming SPM Hifz Al-Quran oral examination, which is scheduled for Monday, 7 September... he dedicated his time to revision and memorization, ensuring that he was well-prepared for this important assessment.

Alhamdulillah, all the marking and verification work was successfully completed by 7:30 pm, well ahead of the deadline... after a productive and fulfilling day, we went out for dinner following Maghrib prayers... it was a pleasant way to end the day, providing an opportunity to relax, enjoy a meal together, and take a short break from our respective academic responsibilities before continuing with the week ahead...

USJ 3/4B

after completing the statutory declaration and obtaining the necessary official certification for the DDA form due to my inability to attend the estate distribution hearing of my late Pak Ngah (Ramli Ahmad), we proceeded to Mohar's house... with the administrative matters settled, it was a great relief to finally spend some quality time with my siblings... in the midst of our busy schedules and various commitments, opportunities for family gatherings have become increasingly valuable... the visit provided a meaningful occasion for us to reconnect, share updates about our lives, exchange stories, and strengthen the bond that has always united us as a family... moments like these serve as an important reminder of the value of family relationships and the importance of cherishing the time we have together...

Completed PhD Report

after successfully completing the task of reducing the AI and SI percentages for Chapter 5, I am pleased to have achieved another important milestone in my PhD journey... through extensive revision, careful restructuring of sentences, and continuous refinement of the content, the AI percentage was successfully reduced from 97% to 0%, while the SI decreased from 25% to 4%... the process demanded significant time, effort, and perseverance, particularly as each chapter required meticulous attention to ensure originality while maintaining the academic quality and integrity of the research...

with the completion of Chapter 5, I have now officially submitted the full report for my forthcoming VIVA Voce examination, which is scheduled for 1 October... the final thesis achieved an overall AI percentage of 0% and SI of 16%, successfully meeting the minimum requirement of maintaining the similarity score below 20%... reaching this stage is both a relief and a rewarding accomplishment, as it reflects the countless hours dedicated to improving the manuscript and ensuring that it satisfies the required academic standards...

having completed this challenging phase, it is finally time to take a short break and recover from the intensive period spent reducing the AI and SI percentages across all chapters... the journey has been mentally demanding and required sustained focus over an extended period... with the thesis now submitted, I can temporarily step away from dissertation revisions and redirect my attention to other academic responsibilities, particularly continuing the marking of physical final examination scripts that have been awaiting completion... this marks the end of one significant chapter in my academic journey and the beginning of preparations for the next important milestone, the VIVA Voce examination...

Abyana's Completion of the 30 Juz of Al-Quran

Abyana's interest in Hafazan began during her early years at Tadika Al-Baghdadi Puncak Alam, where she was introduced to the unique memorization technique based on rhythmic tapping... this method helped her develop a strong foundation in Quranic learning and nurtured her passion for memorization from a young age... her hafazan journey continued at SRITI, where she successfully memorized up to Juz 2, demonstrating both commitment and consistency in her studies...

when she enrolled at SMADATA on 20 March 2024, she was only required to revise and strengthen her memorization of Juz 30, Juz 1, and Juz 2 before continuing with Juz 3 and the subsequent chapters... this placed her on a fast-track hafazan pathway, as many of her classmates were still beginning their memorization journey from Juz 30... through perseverance, discipline, and continuous guidance from her teachers, she steadily progressed through the Quran, memorizing 1 juz after another while balancing her academic and religious studies...

by the grace of Allah SWT, she successfully completed the memorization of all 30 juz of the Quran on Friday, 28 August 2026, marking a significant milestone in her life... this remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the dedication, patience, and guidance of her Halaqah teacher, Ustazah Noor Shabitah Ghazali, who played an important role throughout her hafazan journey... we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ustazah Noor Shabitah for her unwavering commitment and support... we humbly seek your prayers that she will continue to preserve and practice the Quran in her daily life, remain steadfast in her faith, and achieve continued success in both this world and the hereafter... may Allah SWT bless her with knowledge, wisdom, sincerity, and excellence in all her future endeavors... 

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

today, I successfully completed the task of reducing the AI and SI percentages for Chapter 4 at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Puncak Alam, accompanied by my usual Iced Americano... the process required a great deal of concentration, patience, and careful revision, as every section had to be reviewed and refined to ensure originality without compromising the quality and accuracy of the research content... despite the challenges, I remained focused on achieving the desired outcome and steadily worked through the chapter...

the effort ultimately produced a highly satisfying result... upon completion of the revisions, the AI percentage was successfully reduced from 94% to 0%, while the SI decreased from 25% to 8%... this achievement represents another significant milestone in the dissertation preparation process and reflects the dedication invested in improving the originality and overall quality of the work... with Chapter 4 now completed, my attention will shift to Chapter 5, where I will continue the same rigorous review and refinement process to ensure that the final chapter meets the required academic standards and successfully completes the journey of preparing the thesis...

Bandar Puncak Alam

after collecting the examination answer scripts, I continued my ongoing effort to reduce the AI and SI percentages for Chapter 3... the process was quite time-consuming, as I had to carefully think through and reconstruct sentences that would maintain the original meaning while improving the chapter's overall originality... to be honest, the task had become somewhat monotonous and mentally exhausting, as I had been working on the same objective day after day... nevertheless, I remained committed to ensuring that the chapter met the required academic standards...

the effort eventually paid off with a very positive outcome... upon completion of the revisions, the AI percentage was successfully reduced from 96% to 0%, while the SI decreased from 18% to 3%... throughout the editing and refinement process, the content was streamlined and improved, resulting in a slight reduction in the total word count for Chapter 3, from 10,610 words to 10,602 words... achieving these results represents another important milestone in the dissertation preparation process and reflects the significant amount of time, patience, and attention devoted to enhancing the originality of the chapter... with Chapter 3 now completed, my attention will next be directed toward Chapter 4, where I will continue the same rigorous process to ensure that the entire thesis meets the expected quality and originality requirements...

Maulidul Rasul Holiday

during the Maulidur Rasul holiday, I continued my commitment to reducing the AI and SI percentages for Chapter 2, Part 2, working from the comfort of my home... the task was both challenging and mentally demanding, as it required careful consideration of every paragraph and sentence structure to ensure originality while maintaining the academic quality and meaning of the content... considerable time and effort were invested in reviewing, rewriting, and refining the chapter to meet the required standards...

the hard work ultimately produced excellent results... upon completion of the revisions, the AI percentage was successfully reduced from 96% to 0%, while the SI decreased from 10% to 1%... in addition to improving originality, the revision process also enhanced the depth and clarity of the discussion, resulting in an increase in the total word count for Chapter 2 from 46,957 words to 47,352 words... this achievement marks a significant milestone in the research writing process and reflects the dedication invested in ensuring the quality and authenticity of the work... with Chapter 2 now completed, the next focus will be on Chapter 3, where the same level of attention and commitment will be applied to further strengthen the overall research project...

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

today, I decided to change my environment and continue the effort of reducing the AI and SI percentages for Chapter 2 at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Puncak Alam... my sole focus for the day was on this academic task, dedicating my time and attention to refining the chapter to ensure originality and compliance with the required standards... accompanied by a refreshing Iced Americano, I worked through the content systematically, reviewing, restructuring, and rewriting sections where necessary to improve the quality of the writing...

the effort yielded excellent results... Chapter 2, Part 1 was successfully completed, with the AI reduced from 98% to 0%, while the SI was reduced from 8% to 0%... achieving these results required careful revision and attention to detail to ensure that the content remained academically sound while meeting the originality requirements... with Part 1 now fully completed, my focus will shift to Chapter 2, Part 2, where I will continue the same process of refinement and improvement to ensure that the entire chapter meets the expected standards and is ready for the next stage of the research journey...

Invigilator: Slot 42

my duties as an online invigilator continued with Slot 42 during the afternoon examination session from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm... the courses assessed during this session were Business Law, Fundamentals of Accounting, Financial Governance and Compliance, and Pengenalan Tingkah Laku Organisasi... as an online invigilator, I was responsible for monitoring the examination process, ensuring that students complied with all examination regulations, and maintaining a fair and secure assessment environment throughout the session...

prior to the commencement of the examination, I ensured that all students had access to the relevant instructions and examination platforms... throughout the 3-hour session, I closely monitored student attendance, addressed any procedural queries, and remained vigilant in safeguarding academic integrity... the online format required continuous attention to ensure that the examination proceeded smoothly and that any technical issues were resolved promptly...

the afternoon examination session was conducted successfully, with students demonstrating good cooperation and adherence to the examination guidelines... at the end of the session, all students submitted their answer scripts within the allocated examination period... after receiving the submissions, I verified that the required documents had been submitted correctly and recorded according to the established examination procedures... overall, the session was completed efficiently and professionally, ensuring that the assessments for all four subjects were carried out in an orderly and well-managed online environment...

Invigilator: Slot 15

today, I was assigned to serve as an online invigilator for Slot 15 during the morning examination session from 8:30 am to 11:30 am for the Personal Finance Management course... my responsibility was to ensure that the examination was conducted smoothly, fairly, and in accordance with the university's examination regulations... throughout the session, I monitored the students through the online platform, verified attendance, and ensured that all candidates complied with the examination guidelines and procedures... the examination proceeded smoothly without any major disruptions, and all students successfully completed their work within the allocated time... last student submitted answer scripts at 11:46 am...

Tim Hortons

I remain committed to the ongoing effort of reducing the AI and SI percentages to below 20%... the work on Chapter 1 has already been successfully completed, achieving an impressive result from 78% to 0% AI and from 12% to 0% SI, which provides a strong foundation for the thesis... with Chapter 1 finalized (from 4,943 to 4,953 words), my attention has now shifted to Chapter 2, where the focus is on reviewing and refining the content to ensure originality, academic quality, and compliance with the required standards...

today, I took a slightly different approach by making use of my free time at Tim Hortons, IOI City Mall Putrajaya, to continue working on the revisions... accompanied by nothing more than an Iced Americano, I spent the session carefully examining the chapter, rephrasing sections where necessary, and improving the overall flow and coherence of the writing... the quiet environment provided a conducive setting for focused academic work, allowing me to concentrate on enhancing the quality of the chapter while steadily progressing toward the goal of maintaining low AI and similarity percentages throughout the thesis...

Chief Invigilator

today, I was assigned as the Chief Invigilator for Hall 1 during the examination session from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon... I was assisted by Munira and Azim, who served as Invigilators, while Ustaz Aiman was assigned as the Assistant Invigilator... as the Chief Invigilator, I am responsible for ensuring that all examination procedures are properly managed and that the examination venue is fully prepared before the candidates arrive...

whenever I am appointed as the Chief Invigilator, I make it a priority to report to the Examination Unit early to collect the question paper sets... on this particular day, I collected the examination materials at 7:45 am and immediately proceeded to Hall 1 to prepare the venue... this included arranging the question papers, answer booklets, and strings required for securing the examination scripts... by 8:15 am, all the materials had been properly organized and placed on the candidates' desks according to the examination requirements...

I always ensure that every preparation is completed well in advance before the other invigilators arrive... this allows sufficient time to verify that all examination materials are accurate, properly arranged, and ready for distribution... being fully prepared before the examination begins helps to maintain a smooth and professional examination process, minimizes the possibility of errors, and ensures that the examination can commence on time without any disruptions...

SPM PQS Oral Examination

today was the Pendidikan Al-Quran dan Al-Sunnah (PQS) oral examination... this examination is an important component of the SPM assessment, as it evaluates students' understanding of Quranic teachings, Sunnah, Islamic principles, and their ability to communicate their knowledge effectively... it also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their confidence, preparedness, and mastery of the subject through oral responses and discussions...

we sincerely pray that Azim and his classmates are able to answer the oral examination questions smoothly, confidently, and with a calm mind... may they remain focused throughout the assessment, recall the knowledge they have learned accurately, and perform to the best of their abilities... we hope that all their hard work, dedication, and preparation will be rewarded with excellent results and that they will achieve success in their SPM examinations... may Allah SWT grant them ease, confidence, and wisdom throughout the examination process...

BRS1 Presentation

this group was recently assigned to me as an examiner, and the students will be presenting their research proposal covering Chapters 1 to 3... overall, the study is relatively straightforward, as it focuses on examining the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable... the research framework and objectives are generally clear, making it easier for the students to develop their study in a systematic manner... however, several improvements are still required to strengthen the quality of the proposal... these include refining the problem statement, enhancing the literature review, ensuring that the research questions and hypotheses are well aligned with the conceptual framework, and providing clearer justification for the selected variables... with these improvements, the students will be better prepared to proceed to the next stages of their research and ensure that the study can be conducted smoothly and effectively...

Urban Heat Island (UHI)

UHI effect is a phenomenon in which urban areas experience higher temperatures than their surrounding rural areas due to human activities and the extensive use of heat-absorbing materials such as asphalt, concrete, and dark-colored roofs... in cities, natural landscapes are often replaced by buildings, roads, and parking lots that absorb and store solar energy during the day and release it slowly at night... as a result, urban environments remain warmer for longer periods, particularly after sunset...

several factors contribute to the development of UHI... the reduction of trees and vegetation decreases the natural cooling effects provided by shade and evapotranspiration... additionally, urban construction materials such as concrete and asphalt have low reflectivity and high heat-storage capacity, causing them to absorb substantial amounts of solar radiation... the arrangement of tall buildings and narrow streets, often referred to as urban canyons, restricts airflow and traps heat within the city... furthermore, heat generated from vehicles, industrial activities, air-conditioning systems, and energy consumption adds to the overall urban temperature...

the impacts of the UHI effect are significant and wide-ranging... higher urban temperatures increase the demand for air conditioning, leading to greater energy consumption and higher electricity costs... prolonged exposure to excessive heat can also pose serious health risks, including heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat-related illnesses, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and individuals with existing medical conditions... additionally, elevated temperatures can worsen air pollution, contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, and negatively affect urban ecosystems and water quality...

to mitigate the UHI effect, cities can implement various sustainable strategies... these include increasing urban green spaces through tree planting and the development of parks, installing green roofs and rooftop gardens, using cool roofs and reflective pavement materials, and improving urban planning to enhance natural ventilation... such measures can help lower surface and air temperatures, reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, and create more comfortable and resilient urban environments for residents...

SPM Arabic Oral Examination

today was the Arabic oral examination... this examination is an important component of the SPM assessment, requiring students to demonstrate their speaking skills, confidence, and understanding of the Arabic language... we sincerely pray that Azim and his classmates are able to answer all the questions smoothly, confidently, and calmly throughout the examination... may they remain focused, composed, and well-prepared, and may their efforts and dedication be rewarded with excellent results...

Back to SMADATA

this week, Abyana did not return home and went directly to Simpang Durian... this was because she had to attend a Tadarrus training program in Seremban, where her ustazah sent her on Saturday morning, and we later picked her up at Simpang Durian... as for me, I spent the week focusing on marking the Organizational Development papers... we met Azim, who had to remain at the hostel as he was attending the SPM tuition classes organized by SMADATA... 

Citation or Reporting Words

Neutral Citation Verbs

• states
• notes
• reports
• describes
• explains
• observes
• mentions
• identifies
• indicates
• points out
• suggests

Examples:

• Smith (2020) states that social media influences learning outcomes...
• Ahmad and Lee (2021) report a positive relationship between motivation and performance...

Verbs for Interpretation

• interprets
• argues
• contends
• maintains
• claims
• proposes
• asserts
• emphasizes
• highlights
• infers

Examples:

• Johnson (2019) argues that leadership styles affect employee engagement...
• Brown (2022) interprets the findings as evidence of organizational change...

Verbs for Supporting Evidence

• demonstrates
• shows
• reveals
• confirms
• establishes
• validates
• illustrates
• supports

Examples:

• the study demonstrates a significant increase in productivity...
• prior research supports this conclusion...

Verbs for Critical Analysis

• criticizes
• challenges
• questions
• disputes
• refutes
• contradicts
• evaluates
• examines

Examples:

• Garcia (2020) questions the reliability of previous findings...
• the author challenges traditional perspectives on learning...

Useful Citation Phrases

• according to Smith (2020), ...
• Smith (2020) found that ...
• Smith (2020) concluded that ...
• Smith (2020) suggested that ...
• Smith (2020) highlighted the importance of ...
• previous studies have indicated that ...
• research by Smith (2020) demonstrated that ...
• the findings of Smith (2020) imply that ...

Academic Verbs for Literature Reviews

• examines
• investigates
• explores
• analyzes
• compares
• discusses
• reviews
• synthesizes
• evaluates
• assesses

these reporting verbs help vary your writing and show different levels of certainty, agreement, interpretation, and critique in research papers, theses, and journal articles...

PhD Thesis - Chapter 5

writing Discussion and Conclusion of a PhD thesis requires more than simply repeating your findings... this chapter should explain what the findings mean, why they matter, how they relate to previous studies, and what contributions the research makes...

Introduction

briefly remind readers of the research objectives and the purpose of chapter 5...

Example:

this chapter presents the discussion and conclusion of the study... the findings are interpreted in relation to the research objectives, research questions, and existing literature... the chapter further highlights the theoretical and practical implications of the study, discusses its limitations, and provides recommendations for future research...

Discussion of Findings

discuss each research objective or research question separately...

for each finding:

• state the finding...
• explain its meaning...
• compare it with previous studies...
• relate it to the theoretical framework...
• discuss its significance...

Example:

the findings revealed that digital leadership has a significant positive influence on employee innovation performance... this result suggests that leaders who effectively utilize digital technologies can foster a culture of creativity and knowledge sharing within organizations... the finding is consistent with previous studies that reported a positive relationship between digital leadership and innovation outcomes... from the perspective of Transformational Leadership Theory, digital leaders inspire employees to embrace change and explore innovative solutions... therefore, the findings provide empirical support for the theoretical proposition that leadership capabilities are crucial drivers of organizational innovation in a digital environment...

Theoretical Contributions

explain how your study contributes to existing knowledge...

Example:

this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by extending Transformational Leadership Theory within the context of digital transformation... unlike previous studies that focused primarily on conventional leadership practices, this research demonstrates the importance of digital competencies as a critical leadership dimension... the findings provide new empirical evidence that enriches the theoretical understanding of leadership effectiveness in contemporary organizations...

Practical Implications

explain who can benefit from the findings and how...

Example:

the findings have important implications for organizational leaders and policymakers... organizations should develop leadership training programs that emphasize digital competencies and innovation management... additionally, policymakers may consider supporting initiatives that enhance digital leadership capabilities among public and private sector managers to improve organizational competitiveness...

Limitations of the Study

discuss limitations honestly...

Example:

despite its contributions, this study has several limitations... first, the research was conducted within a specific geographical region, which may limit the generalizability of the findings... second, the use of a cross-sectional research design restricts the ability to establish causal relationships among the variables... third, data were collected using self-reported questionnaires, which may be subject to response bias...

Recommendations for Future Research

suggest future studies...

Example:

future researchers are encouraged to employ longitudinal research designs to examine causal relationships over time... additional studies involving different industries and geographical contexts would improve the generalizability of the findings... researchers may also explore other moderating or mediating variables that could further explain the relationships identified in this study...

Conclusion

summarize the entire study and its significance...

Example:

in conclusion, this study has successfully achieved its research objectives and provided valuable insights into the relationship between digital leadership and employee innovation performance... the findings demonstrate that digital leadership plays a significant role in enhancing innovation outcomes and supports the underlying theoretical framework... the study contributes to both theory and practice by expanding current knowledge and offering practical recommendations for organizations... although certain limitations exist, the research provides a strong foundation for future investigations and contributes meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge in the field...

Simple Formula for Writing Discussion

Finding → Interpretation → Literature Support → Theory Link → Implication

Example:

• the study found that X significantly influences Y... 
• this indicates that... 
• the result is consistent with previous research by... 
• the finding supports the principles of... 
• therefore, organizations should...

this formula is commonly used in high-quality PhD theses and journal articles to ensure the discussion is analytical rather than merely descriptive...

Invigilator

I was assigned as an invigilator for the final semester examination held in the Auditorium from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm... my responsibilities included ensuring that the examination was conducted in accordance with the established regulations and procedures, verifying students' attendance, monitoring the examination environment, and maintaining a fair and orderly setting throughout the session... I remained vigilant during the examination period to prevent any form of misconduct and assisted students with examination-related matters when necessary, while ensuring the integrity of the assessment process was upheld at all times...

BRS2 Presentation

the MBA students were originally scheduled to deliver their final presentations on Tuesday, the 11th, at 9:00 pm... however, I had to reschedule the session to another date as I needed to focus on completing my full PhD report (Chapters 1 to 5) for submission to my supervisor on Friday, the 14th... the students successfully completed their presentations today... overall, I was pleased to observe significant improvements in their work compared to their research proposal presentations last semester... they demonstrated that they had carefully considered and incorporated the feedback and comments that I provided previously... the quality of their presentations, research content, and overall delivery reflected a stronger understanding of their respective research projects, indicating meaningful progress in the development of their studies...

PhD Thesis - Chapter 4

for a PhD thesis with quantitative mediation analysis, Findings and Data Analysis should present the results in a logical sequence, moving from descriptive statistics to measurement assessment, direct effects, mediation effects, and hypothesis testing... the writing should be analytical and objective, focusing on what the data show rather than interpreting the theoretical implications in depth (which is usually reserved for chapter 5)... a typical paragraph structure is as follows:

Introduction to the Findings Chapter

begin the chapter by briefly explaining what will be presented...

Example:

this chapter presents the findings of the study and the results of the quantitative data analysis... the analysis was conducted using structural equation modelling (SEM-PLS)... the chapter begins with respondents' demographic profiles, followed by descriptive statistics, assessment of the measurement model, evaluation of the structural model, and testing of the mediation hypotheses... the findings are presented according to the research objectives and hypotheses formulated in Chapter 1...

Descriptive Statistics

present the mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values...

Example:

table 4.5 presents the descriptive statistics for all study variables... the results indicate that Employee Engagement recorded the highest mean score (M = 4.12, SD = 0.65), suggesting that respondents generally reported a high level of engagement... Organizational Support had a mean score of 3.89 (SD = 0.71), while Job Satisfaction recorded a mean score of 3.95 (SD = 0.68)... the relatively low standard deviation values indicate limited variability among respondents' responses...

Measurement Model Assessment

discuss reliability and validity...

Example of Reliability

internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR)... as shown in Table 4.6, all constructs exceeded the recommended threshold of 0.70... Organizational Support achieved a Cronbach's alpha of 0.891 and a composite reliability value of 0.918... similarly, Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction reported composite reliability values of 0.925 and 0.913, respectively... these findings indicate satisfactory internal consistency reliability for all constructs...

Example of Convergent Validity:

convergent validity was evaluated using average variance extracted (AVE)... The AVE values ranged from 0.623 to 0.748, exceeding the recommended value of 0.50... this result confirms that the indicators adequately represent their respective latent constructs and explains more than 50% of the variance in the observed measures...

Example of Discriminant Validity

discriminant validity was assessed using the Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) ratio... all HTMT values were below the threshold of 0.85, indicating satisfactory discriminant validity... therefore, the constructs were empirically distinct from one another and suitable for subsequent structural model evaluation...

Structural Model Assessment

report collinearity, R², effect sizes, and path coefficients...

Example:

prior to hypothesis testing, collinearity issues were assessed using variance inflation factor (VIF) values... the results indicated that all VIF values were below 3.3, suggesting that multicollinearity was not a concern... the explanatory power of the model was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R²)... the results revealed that Job Satisfaction explained 58.4% of the variance in Employee Performance (R² = 0.584), indicating moderate explanatory power...

Direct Effects Analysis

present path coefficients and hypothesis results...

Example:

the direct relationship between Organizational Support and Employee Performance was examined through bootstrapping analysis... the findings indicate a significant positive relationship (β = 0.372, t = 5.412, p < 0.001)... therefore, H1 is supported, suggesting that higher levels of Organizational Support are associated with increased Employee Performance...

Mediation Analysis (Most Important Section)

for mediation, report:

• Path a (IV → Mediator)
• Path b (Mediator → DV)
• Indirect effect (a × b)
• Direct effect after mediation
• Type of mediation

Example of Full Mediation Paragraph

the mediating effect of Employee Engagement on the relationship between Organizational Support and Employee Performance was examined using the bootstrapping procedure with 5,000 resamples... the results show that Organizational Support significantly predicted Employee Engagement (β = 0.614, t = 11.276, p < 0.001), while Employee Engagement significantly predicted Employee Performance (β = 0.421, t = 6.835, p < 0.001)... the indirect effect was significant (β = 0.259, t = 5.742, p < 0.001), with the 95% confidence interval not containing zero (LL = 0.173; UL = 0.347)... however, the direct effect of Organizational Support on Employee Performance became non-significant after the inclusion of Employee Engagement (β = 0.086, t = 1.412, p = 0.158)... these findings indicate that Employee Engagement fully mediates the relationship between Organizational Support and Employee Performance... therefore, H4 is supported...

Example Partial Mediation Paragraph

the mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of Organizational Support on Employee Performance through Employee Engagement (β = 0.213, t = 4.987, p < 0.001)... the direct effect remained significant after the mediator was included in the model (β = 0.242, t = 3.724, p < 0.001)... since both the direct and indirect effects were significant, Employee Engagement partially mediates the relationship between Organizational Support and Employee Performance... thus, the mediation hypothesis is supported...

Summary of Hypothesis Testing

Example:

table 4.15 summarizes the hypothesis testing results... of the six hypotheses proposed, five were supported and one was not supported... Organizational Support significantly influenced Employee Engagement and Employee Performance... furthermore, Employee Engagement significantly mediated the relationship between Organizational Support and Employee Performance, providing empirical support for the proposed mediation model...

Recommended PhD Writing Formula for Mediation Results

for every mediation hypothesis, follow this paragraph structure:

the mediating effect of M on the relationship between X and Y was assessed using bootstrapping... the results showed that X significantly affected M (β = ..., t = ..., p = ...)... in addition, M significantly affected Y (β = ..., t = ..., p = ...)... the indirect effect was significant (β = ..., t = ..., p = ..., 95% CI [...] )... the direct effect of X on Y remained significant/non-significant (β = ..., t = ..., p = ...)... therefore, M partially/fully mediates the relationship between X and Y... hence, Hypothesis Hx is supported...

this is the standard paragraph style commonly used in PhD theses employing SEM-PLS, AMOS, SmartPLS, PROCESS Macro, or CB-SEM mediation analysis...

PhD Thesis - Chapter 3

when writing a quantitative Research Methodology chapter with a mediation analysis, the methodology should explain not only the overall research design and data collection procedures but also describe how the mediating variable is examined in the relationship between the independent and dependent variables... the chapter should demonstrate the appropriateness of the quantitative approach and justify the statistical techniques used to test mediation effects...

Introduction

this chapter describes the methodology adopted to examine the relationships among the study variables and to test the proposed mediation model... the chapter outlines the research design, population and sampling procedures, data collection methods, measurement instruments, and data analysis techniques employed in the study... the quantitative approach was selected because it enables the objective measurement of variables and facilitates statistical testing of hypothesized relationships... in addition, this chapter explains the procedures used to assess the validity and reliability of the research instruments, as well as the mediation analysis conducted to determine the indirect effects among the variables...

Research Design

this study employed a quantitative cross-sectional research design to investigate the relationships between [independent variable], [mediator], and [dependent variable]... a quantitative approach was considered appropriate as it allows the collection of numerical data that can be statistically analyzed to test the proposed hypotheses... the cross-sectional design enabled the researcher to collect data from respondents at a single point in time, providing an efficient means of examining the relationships among the variables under study...

Population and Sampling

the target population of this study comprised [describe population]... a sample of [sample size] respondents was selected using [sampling technique]... the sampling technique was chosen because it allowed the selection of participants who possessed relevant knowledge and experience concerning the research phenomenon... the sample size was determined based on established guidelines for structural equation modelling and mediation analysis to ensure adequate statistical power and reliable estimation of model parameters...

Instrumentation

data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of four sections... the first section gathered demographic information, while the subsequent sections measured the independent variable, mediating variable, and dependent variable... the measurement items were adapted from previously validated instruments reported in the literature... all items were assessed using a six-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree)... the adaptation of existing scales helped ensure content validity and consistency with prior research...

Data Collection Procedure

data collection was conducted through a physical survey distributed to eligible respondents... prior to the main survey, a pilot study involving [number] participants was conducted to evaluate the clarity and reliability of the questionnaire... necessary modifications were made based on feedback received during the pilot phase... the final survey was then administered, and respondents were informed of the study's objectives, confidentiality procedures, and voluntary participation requirements...

Reliability and Validity Assessment

the reliability and validity of the measurement model were evaluated before testing the structural relationships among variables... internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR)... convergent validity was examined through factor loadings and average variance extracted (AVE), while discriminant validity was evaluated using the Fornell-Larcker criterion and the Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) ratio... these procedures ensured that the constructs were measured accurately and consistently...

Mediation Analysis

the mediating role of [mediator variable] in the relationship between [independent variable] and [dependent variable] was examined using structural equation modelling (SEM) with SmartPLS... mediation analysis was performed to determine whether the influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable occurred directly or indirectly through the mediator... the significance of the indirect effect was assessed using the bootstrapping procedure with 5,000 resamples... an indirect effect was considered significant when the confidence interval did not include zero...

following the recommendations of mediation analysis literature, both direct and indirect effects were evaluated... full mediation was established when the indirect effect was significant while the direct effect became insignificant after the inclusion of the mediator... partial mediation was identified when both direct and indirect effects remained significant... the variance accounted for (VAF) value was also calculated to determine the magnitude of the mediation effect and the extent to which the mediator explained the relationship between the independent and dependent variables...

Data Analysis Technique

the collected data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS software... descriptive statistics were first conducted to summarize respondents' demographic characteristics and provide an overview of the study variables... subsequently, measurement model assessment was performed to evaluate reliability and validity... structural model analysis was then carried out to test the hypothesized relationships among variables... finally, mediation analysis was conducted to examine the indirect effects of the mediating variable on the relationship between the independent and dependent variables...

Example Conceptual Model Paragraph

the conceptual framework of this study proposes that [independent variable] influences [dependent variable] both directly and indirectly through [mediator variable]... the inclusion of the mediating variable is based on theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting that the effect of [independent variable] on [dependent variable] may occur through an intervening mechanism... accordingly, the study hypothesizes that [mediator variable] serves as a mediator, transmitting the effect of [independent variable] to [dependent variable]...

Hypotheses

• H1: [independent variable] has a significant positive effect on [dependent variable]...
• H2: [independent variable] has a significant positive effect on [mediator variable]...
• H3: [mediator variable] has a significant positive effect on [dependent variable]...
• H4: [mediator variable] mediates the relationship between [independent variable] and [dependent variable]...

this structure is commonly accepted for PhD theses using PLS-SEM or CB-SEM mediation models, and can be adapted for one mediator, multiple mediators, serial mediation, or parallel mediation designs...

PhD Thesis - Chapter 2

the Literature Review of a PhD thesis is written as a critical discussion of existing studies related to your research topic... it is not merely a summary of previous research; rather, it analyses, compares, synthesizes, and evaluates the literature to demonstrate what is already known, what remains unknown, and how your study addresses the identified gap...

Literature Review Paragraph

several studies have examined the relationship between [Variable A] and [Variable B] in various contexts... for instance, Author (year) found that [key finding], suggesting that [interpretation]... similarly, Author (year) reported that [finding], highlighting the importance of [concept] in influencing [outcome]... however, contrasting findings were observed by Author (year), who argued that [different finding] due to variations in research context and methodology... these inconsistencies indicate that the relationship between [Variable A] and [Variable B] remains inconclusive... furthermore, most existing studies have focused on [specific population or setting], with limited attention given to [your research context]... consequently, there is a need for further investigation to better understand [research issue] and to provide evidence within the context of [your study area].

Recommended Structure

• introduction to the chapter: 1) brief overview of the chapter... 2) explain the scope of the literature review...
• theoretical foundation: 1) discuss relevant theories and models... 2) explain how they relate to your study...
• key concepts and variables: 1) define important terms... 2) review studies related to each variable...
• empirical literature review: 1) discuss previous findings... 2) compare similarities and differences among studies... 3) identify trends and inconsistencies...
• research gap: 1)highlight limitations of existing studies... 2) explain what remains unexplored...
• conceptual or theoretical framework: present the framework guiding the study...
• chapter summary: 1) summarize key points... 2) link chapter 2 to chapter 3 (methodology)...

Useful Academic Phrases

• "previous studies have demonstrated that..."
• "the findings of earlier research suggest that..."
• "despite extensive research on this topic..."
• "however, the existing literature remains inconclusive regarding..."
• "a notable limitation of prior studies is..."
• "this gap in the literature highlights the need for..."
• "building upon previous research, the present study seeks to..."

a strong PhD literature review should synthesize rather than describe, critically evaluate rather than simply report, and clearly establish the research gap that justifies the study...

PhD Thesis - Chapter 1

the Introduction section of a PhD thesis is usually written in a series of connected paragraphs that provide the background, identify the research problem, explain the significance of the study, present the research objectives, and outline the structure of the thesis... it should move from a broad discussion of the topic to the specific focus of the research...

research and innovation play a critical role in addressing contemporary challenges and advancing knowledge across various disciplines... in recent years, increasing attention has been given to [research topic] due to its significant impact on [industry, society, policy, or academic field]... despite the growing body of literature on this subject, several gaps remain in understanding [specific issue or problem]... these limitations have hindered the development of effective strategies and comprehensive solutions, highlighting the need for further investigation. Therefore, this study aims to examine [main research focus] by exploring [key variables or concepts]... the findings of this research are expected to contribute to both theoretical development and practical applications, providing valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers... typical flow of an introduction:

• background of the study – what is the topic and why is it important?
• research problem – what gap, issue, or challenge exists?
• research rationale – why does this research matter?
• research objectives/questions – what does the study seek to achieve?
• significance of the study – who will benefit and how?
• thesis structure – brief overview of the chapters...

a good PhD introduction is generally written in an academic, formal style and provides a clear roadmap for the reader to understand the purpose and direction of the study...

Abyana's Quran

Quran that Abyana has been using for her hifz studies had become worn, and the cover was torn... I decided to have it professionally rebound, giving the Quran a fresh new appearance while preserving its treasured contents... she has shared that she expects to complete the memorization of all 30 juz by the end of August... may Allah SWT ease her journey, grant her strength, consistency, and understanding, and bless her with success in completing her hifz... may this noble achievement become a source of barakah and guidance throughout her life...

Organizational Development

Organizational Development is a subject that I am teaching this semester for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) programme... the Mass Lecture is conducted every Thursday from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, providing students with an understanding of organizational change, development interventions, organizational culture, leadership, team effectiveness, and strategies for improving organizational performance... in addition, I personally conduct the tutorial class, which consists of 9 students, every Friday from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm at L7B13... the tutorial sessions are designed to enhance students' understanding of key concepts through discussions, case studies, group activities, and practical applications of Organizational Development theories in contemporary business settings...

for students enrolled at the Regional Centres (RCs), tutorial classes are facilitated by dedicated tutors at their respective locations... these include Sharizat Mohammad Shahar for RC Alor Setar (7 students), Mohd Helmee Firdaus Salehudin for RC Kuantan (2 students), and Mohd Kamal Mohd Hashim for RC Kota Bharu (2 students)... this teaching arrangement ensures that students across both the Main Campus and Regional Centres receive consistent academic support and learning experiences throughout the semester... through the combination of Mass Lectures and tutorial sessions, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand organizational change processes, enhance workplace effectiveness, and contribute to sustainable organizational growth and development...