The purpose of this study is to investigate how the process of consumer socialization will determine adolescents’ decision‐making styles. Eight decision‐making styles were conceptualized as outcomes of the socialization process, which is acquired via interaction with socialization agents, namely parents, peers, printed media, television commercials and in‐school education. The study also proposed five social structural variables (social class, gender, ethnicity, residence and religion) as being associated with the socialization agents and decision‐making styles. The study sample consisted of 934 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 19 years. The data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire and analysed with the SPSS computer program. As a result of regression analyses, significant relationships were found between social structural factors and socialization processes, suggesting that the influence of socialization agents on adolescents may vary according to certain demographic characteristics. Significant relationships were also found between social structural factors and socialization processes. Peers appeared to be the most important agents of consumer socialization, contributing to a variety of desirable as well as undesirable consumer decision styles. Printed media and television commercials were also found to be significant sources of the acquisition of both desirable and undesirable decision‐making styles. Parents and in‐school education, however, were insignificant in the acquisition of any decision‐making styles among adolescents. Information obtained from this study could be useful to government agencies and consumer educators. The most revealing finding of this study is that parents did not contribute to the formulation of decision‐making orientation for adolescents. This points to the need for consumer educators to take steps in designing programmes that will involve parents as primary socialization agents at home; this may be facilitated via printed materials. Apart from this, the information can also be helpful in enabling marketers to be more effective in targeting various adolescent markets by formulating marketing strategies according to demographic factors, socialization process and decision‐making styles.

The paper is to examine the selection criteria by international students of their higher education at private higher learning institutions in Malaysia. It focuses on factors which private international students considered important in their decision of choosing Malaysia as their educational destination. A questionnaire was designed to include 48 factors for selection of learning destination. Through judgmental sampling the data were solicited from 565 international students using survey instrument. These were analyzed on principal components factor analysis to ascertain factors related to their criteria to study in Malaysia. The results shown that six factors have a strong influence on international students' decision-making process, namely, quality of learning environment, influencers, customer focus, cost, facilities, socialization and location. Further, through MANOVA, it was found that customer focus and facilities are the main factors used by respondents in their choice decisions. These factors should be considered by colleges' managers to develop their marketing strategies in attracting foreign students to enroll at their institutions. It is also important for positioning strategy and strengthening higher learning institution offerings to the foreign market.

This study aims to investigate the perceptions and obstacles faced by EFL learners in the implementation of blended learning in an abnormal learning system. A group of undergraduate EFL learners, consisting of 48, who has completed a Grammar Class, participated in the study. The 48 learners formed three different learner category levels; High, Moderate, and Low. The learners of the three different category levels filled in a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire and responded semi-structured interviews. The low category learners perceive that learning grammar through blended learning is meaningful but need more experiences in the utilization of online learning mode, and in-availability of the supporting tools; The moderate category learners perceive blended learning to provide them more study times and make them get used to the internet or online-based learning; and the high category learners perceive the implementation of blended learning as helpful, easier, flexible, and fun. Although the learners of the three different categories level face the same problems on the implementation of blended learning, namely poor internet connectivity at home and campus, unclear online instruction, and delay to respond questions on the online learning mode, the learners of the low category level, on the other hand, experience problems applying online learning mode. We discuss the practical implications of the research results for the successful implementation of blended learning in the future, especially for low proficiency learners and in situations of abnormal learning systems.

The objectives of this research were to find out: (1) the needs of accounting students in learning English at one of the vocational high schools in Donggala; and (2) the suitable English course design for vocational high school students. This research used a descriptive qualitative research method by involving twenty-two students majoring in accounting. The research instruments were google form questionnaires and phone interview that each instrument contained open-ended and close-ended questions. The data of this research were analyzed in four stages; namely coding, data reduction, data display, and drawing conclusions or interpretations. The researchers found that the needs of accounting students who participated in the research in learning English were in accordance with the teaching concepts of English for Specific Purposes. The language skill they needed the most was speaking. The students lacked vocabulary, pronunciation, and self-confidence to speak in English. In line with the students’ lack, the students would like their speaking skill to be developed. Based on the result of the students’ needs analysis, the researchers suggested a set of English course guidelines which consisted of four components. The first was the course rationale that covered target learners, course content, and course objectives. The second component was course materials related to accounting and about daily life. The third was teaching method and learning activities that most of the students preferred discussions and practices. The last component was assessment which consisted of a portfolio, journal, interview, observation, and self/peer assessment. The teacher could use one assessment only or more in one time for assessment based on the learning situation and the students’ needs.