DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Diana Yian Lian Chan( Award Conferred 21 April 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ What Drives Low-Income Older Adults ' Intention to Use Technology-Mediated Mobility Solution? A Mixed-Methods Study.’
Mobility is vital for older adults ' health and quality of life. However, low-income older adults face mobility challenges related to access and costs. While technology-mediated mobility solutions can promote healthy aging, technology adoption among low-income older adults remains low amid socioeconomic barriers and limited understanding of their perceptions and needs. This thesis addresses these challenges through three studies: Study-1 reviews factors influencing technology use, identifying critical gaps; Study-2 develops a novel adoption model highlighting the role of threat-coping appraisals and cost-benefit perceptions; Study-3 offers qualitative insights into cognitive processes. Findings inform mobility applications ' development and promotion for this underserved population.
Supervisor: Professor Pei Lee Teh Associate Supervisor: Professor Shaun Lee Wen Huey
Jolynn Chu Ee Ai( Award Conferred 5 March 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Empowering women micro-entrepreneurs: Exploring the influence of gain-loss framing on social media practices and entrepreneurial growth mindset.’
This thesis unveils the intricate dynamics of gain-loss framing ' s impact on women micro-entrepreneurs, covering social media usage, attitudes towards technology, and entrepreneurial mindset. Amid global uncertainties, exacerbated by the recent pandemic, it explores behavioral nudges, entrepreneurial training, and technology adoption, providing insights for empowering marginalized groups. Chapter 1 reveals loss-framed nudges ' effectiveness, fostering social media integration and addressing internal constraints. Chapter 2, drawing from the Technology Acceptance Model, emphasizes loss-framing in policy-making for technology adoption. Chapter 3 explores gain-loss framing ' s influence on entrepreneurial mindset and tangible outcomes. The thesis contributes to academic discourse and guides policymakers, educators, and organizations in fostering sustainable practices and economic empowerment for women micro-entrepreneurs.
Mohamed Framjee Dinul Hathy( Award Conferred 6 August 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Three Essays Exploring Health, Politics, and Religiosity amid Crises.’
This thesis explores how people ' s religious beliefs, political attitudes, and health change in response to crises like natural disasters and violent conflict. The first study examines how hurricanes in the U. S. temporarily increase religious practices. The second study analyses how terrorist attacks in Nigeria reduce people ' s satisfaction with democracy and increase acceptance of autocracy. The third study investigates how conflict in Nigeria harms children ' s health, leading to higher malnutrition rates. Together, these studies provide insights into how crises shape individual behaviour and well-being, offering important lessons for policymakers in disaster response, political stability, and public health.
Supervisor: Professor Grace Hooi Yean Lee Associate Supervisor: Dr Habibur Rahman Associate Supervisor: Dr Kim Lan Audrey Siah
Lim Yee Wen( Award Conferred 20 November 2024)
Title of Thesis:‘ Continuity and Change in Malaysian Chinese Food Consumption, Markets, and Culture.’
This dissertation uses a discourse-ethnographic approach to explore the continuity and change in food consumption, markets, and culture, focusing on the Malaysian Chinese community. Study 1 employed Wimmer ' s boundary-making theory and Layton ' s marketing system theory to investigate how wet market food practices both preserve cultural heritage and integrate elements from other ethnic groups. Study 2 adopted Schatzki ' s practice theory to explore how news journalism employs media frames to legitimise both the continuity and change in food culture. Study 3 integrated Collins ' ritual theory with Schatzki ' s practice theory to examine the transmission and adaptation of family festive rituals.
Supervisor: Associate Professor Juliana Angeline French Associate Supervisor: Dr Thaatchaayini Kananatu
Supervisor: Professor Grace Hooi Yean Lee Associate Supervisor: Professor Erte Xiao Associate Supervisor: Dr Habibur Rahman
20 G R A D U A T I O N CEREMONY