Department of Languages

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https://bdears.busitema.ac.ug/handle/123456789/9426

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    Linguistic reasoning at university level (how to develop expert reasoning skills).
    (Busitema University, 2026) Amoit, Lynn Mildred
    This mixed-methods study investigated the status of linguistic reasoning at the university level and explored how routine communicative habits and pedagogical configurations actively shaped advanced cognitive capacities. Quantitative evaluations of two hundred fifty (N = 250) undergraduates utilizing adapted verbal reasoning instruments revealed a moderate overall baseline proficiency (M = 68.7, SD = 14.2), but uncovered statistically significant disciplinary variations (F(3, 246) = 8.47, p < .001) where Humanities and Social Science cohorts outperformed their peers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) tracks. A robust positive correlation (r = .52, p < .001) was established between active, dialogic language participation—such as structured academic debates and analytical essay writing—and objective logical performance. This effectively supported Vygotskian socio-cultural mediation theories and Evans and Stanovich’s dual-process cognitive frameworks by demonstrating that complex linguistic manipulation functioned as a necessary mechanism to trigger effortful System 2 analytical processing. Qualitative data from twenty (n = 20) semi-structured instructor interviews confirmed that while faculty attempted to implement interactive Socratic questioning and scaffolded writing portfolios to build logical capacity within language courses, their pedagogical efficacy was severely undermined by systemic institutional bottlenecks. These barriers included expanding class sizes, dense semester timelines, and highly uneven baseline student preparation.
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    Love in pride and prejudice by Jane Austen versus love in Busia district, Uganda.
    (Busitema University, 2026) Babirye, Josephine
    This study examined the portrayal of love in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice and compared it with contemporary perceptions of love among people in Busia District, Uganda. The study was conducted because ideas about love, courtship, marriage, and relationships had continued to change across different historical and social contexts. While Pride and Prejudice presented love within the social and cultural setting of nineteenth-century England, contemporary communities had developed new expectations influenced by social, economic, and cultural changes. The study was guided by the aim of comparing representations of love in the selected literary work with current views of romantic relationships in Busia District. The specific objectives were to examine the portrayal of love in Pride and Prejudice, explore contemporary perceptions of love among people in Busia District, compare the similarities and differences between the two contexts, and assess the influence of social expectations on romantic relationships. The study adopted a mixed-methods research approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were collected through documentary analysis of Pride and Prejudice, structured questionnaires and interviews with selected participants from Busia District. The study population comprised individuals who provided views on romantic relationships, marriage and social expectations surrounding love. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure that information was obtained from individuals with relevant experiences and knowledge of the subject. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages in tables and figures while Qualitative data obtained from interviews and documentary analysis were analyzed thematically according to the study objectives. The findings showed that love in Pride and Prejudice had been presented as a relationship that developed through understanding, personal growth, and overcoming social barriers. The findings further showed that contemporary perceptions of love in Busia District had been influenced by factors such as emotional connection, economic stability, family approval, and changing cultural expectations. The study also found that although the contexts differed, both the novel and contemporary society recognized the importance of trust, respect, and commitment in successful relationships. The study concluded that perceptions of love had changed over time due to differences in social structures and cultural environments; however, some fundamental values associated with meaningful relationships had remained consistent. The study recommended that communities should encourage healthy communication, mutual respect, and realistic expectations in relationships. It also recommended that future researchers should explore changing perceptions of love among different age groups and cultural communities. The study was limited geographically to Busia District, Uganda, and its findings reflected the views and experiences of the selected participants. The study was also limited in content because it focused mainly on romantic love and social relationships rather than all forms of love.