Research

Research Groups

Name of Research Group	Head of Group
Measurement and Evaluation in Learning and Instruction	Prof. Ali Kadhim
Applications of Psychological and Educational Measurement Theories	Prof Rashid Almehrizi
Motivation and Parenting	Prof. Said Aldhafri
Interdisciplinary Research in Special-Inclusive Education	Prof. Mahmoud Emam
Cognition and Neuropsychology	Dr. Zubaida Shebani

Funded Projects

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
Design of a national achievement indicator in Reading and Mathematics in Key Stage 1 schools in Oman: Towards improving student learning outcomes	Strategic Research -His Majesty's Trust	2018-2022
Assessing the impact of teacher education program on student achievement: A multiple case study of Sultan Qaboos University program completers	Internal Grant	2019-2020

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
The motivation to learn Arabic and English in light of the blended learning environment among twelfth grade students in Muscat Governorate, Sultanate of Oman	Deanship of Research	2021
Development of Action Research Skills for Teaching Quality	Ministry of Education	2020-2021
Sport Motivation Model: Application to Learning Motivation through the Eyes of Middle School Omani Students	Deanship of Research	2019-2020
Development of Action Research Skills for Teaching Quality	Ministry of Education	2018-2019
Factors relating to career choice among SQU students in relation to their professional motivation	Deanship of Research	2018-2019

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
Want-to versus have-to motivation, grit, self-control, and tolerance of ambiguity in University Students	Deanship of Research	2021-2022

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
The Effectiveness of an Electronic Application in Developing the Creative Thinking Skills of Gifted People with Twice Exceptionality (Autism Gifted) in the Sultanate of Oman	Oman Liquefied Natural Gas LLC (Oman LNG)	2021-2023
E-learning in Private Schools in the Sultanate of Oman During COVID-19 Pandemic: Readiness and Development Requirements	TRC/ COVID program	2020
The effect of using science enrichment units on developing inquiry skills and creative thinking for gifted students in public schools	Internal Grant	2018-2020
Nomophobia: Prevalence Rate and Coping Strategies among Omani Children and Adolescents	Deanship of Research	2018-2019

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
Marital Happiness: Studying of concept, measurement and factors among couples in Oman	Internal Grant	2022-2023

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
A structural predictive model of low academic achievement for universities students in the Sultanate of Oman in the light of reasons related to the student, society and university and treatment suggestions.	Deanship of Research	2022-2023
Evaluating sufficing of 4th grade mathematics curriculum (Cambridge series) in the Sultanate of Oman for TIMSS study requirements	Deanship of Research	2019-2020

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
Effects of studying special education courses on the attitudes of Sultan Qaboos University students towards children with disabilities	Deanship of Research	2019-2020

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
Quality of life among students with disabilities in Omani universities	Deanship of Research	2021-2022

PROJECT TITLE	AWARDING BODY	GRANT PERIOD
Cognitive offloading and its relationship with academic performance and academic resilience among higher education students in Oman	Deanship of Research	2022

Recent Publications

Publications 2025

Shebani, Z., Aldhafri, S., & Alsaidi, F. (2025). The effect of parental involvement on academic passion: The mediating role of student motivation in learning English online. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 30(1), 2467109. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2025.2467109
Al-Zoubi, S. M. (2024). Pragmatic language of students with learning disabilities: cross-cultural research. Qubahan Academic Journal, 4(2), 355–366. https://doi.org/10.48161/qaj.v4n2a61
Al-Mamari, K. H., Al-Zoubi, S. M., Shindi, Y. a. A., & Raqadi, M. K. A. (2025). The Quality of Life of Students with Disabilities at Sultan Qaboos University. Qubahan Academic Journal, 5(1), 295–317. https://doi.org/10.48161/qaj.v5n1a1037
Far, S. S. T., Jahromi, N. P., Al-Zoubi, S. M., Abyad, A., & Asadollahi, A. (2025). Comparison of quality of care and welfare services for middle-aged and older disabled individuals in Iran and Lebanon using ServQual model. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management. https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v20i1.3851
Al-Hadabi, B., El-Ashkar, H., Al-Zoubi, S., & Sassi, R. (2025). The Effects of a Training Package on Physical and Kinetic Abilities of Omani Children with Intellectual Disabilities. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 13(2), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2025.130206
Al-Hadabi, B. K., Al-Zoubi, S. M., & Al-Zoubi, S. M. (2024). Contribution of adapted physical education course to promoting volunteer work with Omani learners with disabilities. International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational Research, 23(7), 307–319. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.7.16
Al Mawaali, Z., Abdelrahman, H., Al Qadire, M., Ballad, C. A. C., Al Busafi, S., Al Busaidi, B., Almaawali, M.,... & Khalaf, A. (2024). Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance among emergency nurses in Oman. Journal of emergency nursing, 50(5), 635-643.
Zhai, Y., Zhang, Y., Chu, Z., Geng, B., Almaawali, M., Fulmer, R., ... & Du, X. (2025). Machine learning predictive models to guide prevention and intervention allocation for anxiety and depressive disorders among college students. Journal of Counseling & Development, 103(1), 110-125.
Almaawali, M. S. (2024). Wellness Practices of Minority International Students: A Grounded Theory Study. Journal of International Students, 14(3), 323-343.
Emam, M. M., Gaafar Ali, D., Eswaramangalam, A., Mohamed Helmy, N., Hemdan, A., Ismael, M., ... & Almaawali, M. (2024). Social inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorders and mothers’ mental health in two Arabic-speaking countries: a mediational model of culture and resilience. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 70(6), 1031-1043.
Al Fazari, M., Almaawali, M.*, Omara, E., & Khalaf, M. A. (2024). Marital happiness in a Middle Eastern context: are men happier?. BMC psychology, 12(1), 735.
Banibakr, A., Tashtoush, R., Watfa, M., & Ayaad, O. (2025). WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AMONG NURSES IN JORNIAN PUBLIC HOSPITAL . South Eastern European Journal of Public Health, 2830–2842. DOI: https://doi.org/10.70135/seejph.vi.5007
Tashtoush, R. A., AlNatour, A. S., & Bani Amer, S. A. M. (2025). The Effect of Syrian asylum on the Jordanian national identity from the point of view of Yarmouk University students. Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, 52(3), 6684. https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v52i3.6 684
Shirawia, N. H., Tashtoush, R. A., Alruhaili, H.S., Akkawi, A., Tashtoush, D. M., Hussein, L. A., & Tashtoush, M. A. (2025). The Level of Cognitive Awareness of Digital Drugs Among Students of Sultan Qaboos University. Educational Process: International Journal, 14, e2025025. https://doi.org/10.22521/edupij.2025.14.25
Tashtoush, R. A. (2025). The relative contribution of self-compassion to predicting mental health among Sultan Qaboos University students. Journal of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies, 51(196), 51–94. https://doi.org/10.34120/jgaps.v51i196.3365
Saleh, A., & Tashtoush, R. (2025). The Level of Compulsive Digital Hoarding among Students at Yarmouk and Sultan Qaboos Universities and its Relationship to Some Variables. Journal of Educational & Psychological Studies, 19(2), 139-156. https://doi.org/
Al-Mamari, K. H., Al-Zoubi, S. M., Shindi, Y. A. A., & Al Raqadi, M. K. (2025). The Quality of Life of Students with Disabilities at Sultan Qaboos University. Qubahan Academic Journal, 5(1), 295-317.
السعيدية، فهيمة حمد، الظفري، سعيد سليمان، الخروصي، حسين علي، الراجحية، مروة ناصر، الهدابية، أمل محمد، البراشدية، حفيظة سليمان، والحارثي، إبراهيم سلطان. (2025). التنبؤ بالنية الريادية: تأثير التوقعات المهنية والعزيمة لدى طلبة الدراسات الجامعية في جامعة السلطان قابوس. المجلة الدولية للأبحاث التربوية (جامعة الإمارات العربية المتحدة)، 49(1)، 226-252.
المقبالية، مرهونة؛ والحارثي، عائشة؛ والعبري، خلف؛ والظفري، سعيد (2024). واقع إدارة الابتكار في مؤسسات التعليم العالي من وجهة نظر المبتكرين. المجلة العلمية لجامعة الملك فيصل: العلوم الإنسانية والإدارية، 26(1)، 1-10.
Al Saadoon, M., Eltayib, R. A. A., Alhaj, A. H., Chan, M. F., Aldhafri, S., & Al-Adawi, S. (2024). The Perception and Roles of School Mental Health Professionals Regarding School Bullying (Suluk Audwani) in Oman: A Qualitative Study in an Urban Setting. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(8), المقال 991. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080991
البطاشي، أمل؛ والسعيدي، فهيمة؛ والظفري، سعيد (2024). نمذجة العلاقات بين الذكاء الاجتماعي والتنمر المدرسي والتوافق النفسي. مقبول للنشر في مجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث – ب (العلوم الإنسانية)، 38(1)، 67-108. DOI: 10.35552/0247.38.1.2142
Alrajhi, M., & Aldhafri, S. (2024). Predicting students’ academic achievement through teaching and parenting styles: Self-concept as a mediator. Education Research International, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9614992

Publications 2024

Shebani, Z., & Patterson, K. (2024). What can patients with semantic dementia learn? Neuropsychologia, 197, 108844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108844
Al Yahyaei, A., Al Omari, O., Abu Sharour, L., Cayaban, A. R., Shebani, Z., Al Hashmi, I., AlBashtawy, M., Alkhawaldeh, A., & Alhalaiqa, F. (2024). The lived experience of parent caregivers of adolescents with mental illness: A phenomenological study. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 12(1), 2–12. https://doi.org/10.30476/IJCBNM.2023.100667.2375
Al Fazari, M., Almaawali, M., Omara, E., & Khalaf, M. A. (2024). Marital happiness in a Middle Eastern context: are men happier?. BMC psychology, 12(1), 735.
Tashtoush, R. A., Banibakr, A. A. M., Watfa, M. A., & Kiyumi, Z. T. A. (2024). Factors Influencing Body Image and Self-Deception among Breast Cancer female patients.‏ISRG Journal of Clinical Medicine and Medical Research, 1(2), 13-20. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14565411
الفزارية، منال خصيب حمدان وآخرون. (2024). بناء مقياس للسعادة الزوجية ودراسة خصائصه السيكومترية على عينة من المتزوجين في سلطنة عمان. مجلة العلوم التربوية، جامعة قطر، 24(2(
.118-93. .2024.0177jes/10.29117/org.doi://http
ALOUFI, F., TASHTOUSH, M. A., SHIRAWIA, N., TASHTOUSH, R. A., AZ-ZO’BI, E. A., & ARABIA, S. (2024). Internet of Things in Education: Teachers’ Perspectives, Practices and Challenges.‏ WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on COMPUTER RESEARCH, 12, 429-442. DOI: 10.37394/232018.2024.12.42
Tashtoush, R., & Mousa, A. (2024). Psychological and physical symptoms among Palestinian ex-Prisoners released from Israeli Prisons.‏Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series, 38(1), 127-144. https://doi.org/10.35192/jjoas-h.v38i1.657
Al-Dawaghreh, Z., & Tashtoush, R. (2024). Moral Hypocrisy and its Relationship with Inferiority Feeling among Graduate Students at Yarmouk University. International Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies, 13(2), 316-330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31559/EPS2024.13.2.7
Tashtoush, R. A., & Al-Mutairi, A. T. (2024). Sleep disorders and health behavior among a sample of patients with diabetes at Kuwait City. Journal of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies, 50(193), 73–120. https://doi.org/10.34120/jgaps.v50i193.3109
الشبنوتية، أسماء، والبلوشي، سليمان، وكاظم، علي مهدي، وأمبوسعيدي، عبد الله (2024). فاعلية التعلم القائم على دمج تقنية الطباعة ثلاثية الأبعاد في تعلم مادة الفيزياء في تنمية الممارسات العلمية والهندسية لدى طلبة الصف العاشر في سلطنة عمان. دراسات: العلوم التربوية، 51(4)، 103-118.
Al-Adawi, F., Al-Zoubi, S., Kazem, Ali Mahdi, & Al Kalbani, Y. (2024). Evaluating the Quality of Learning Disabilities Program from the Perspective of Omani Teachers. Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies- Sultan Qaboos University, 18(2), 226-234.
Alkaf, F., Emam, M., Almehrizi, R., Kazem, Ali Mahdi, Troia, G., & Al-Bulushi, M. (2024). Predicting Written Language Competence and Pragmatics in Students at Risk of Reading Disability in Oman Using Teacher Report Data. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 45(2), 83-96.
يوسف عبدالقادر أبوشندي, راشد بن سيف المحرزي, محمود محمد إمام, محمد بن سعيد الغافري, خولة بنت هلال المعمرية, عدنان العابد, & سلطان البويقي. (2024). مواءمة معايير الدراسة الدولية للعلوم والرياضيات TIMSS مع منهاج الرياضيات كامبريدج للصف الرابع من وجهة نظر معلمات ومشرفي الرياضيات بسلطنة عمان: مواءمة معايير الدراسة الدولية للعلوم والرياضيات TIMSS مع منهاج الرياضيات كامبريدج للصف الرابع من وجهة نظر معلمات ومشرفي الرياضيات بسلطنة عمان. Journal of Arts and Social Sciences [JASS], 15(2), 153-165.‎
الخروصي، حسين علي، والذهلي، ربيع المر (2024). واقع الفاعلية المؤسسية في الجامعات العمانية من وجهة نظر أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيها. مجلة البحوث التربوية والنفسية (جامعة بغداد– العراق)، 21(81)، 370-391.
الخروصي، حسين علي، الوهيبي، إبراهيم سعيد، والحضرمي، أحمد سعيد (2024). تصورات طلبة الحلقة الثانية في مدارس التعليم الأساسي بسلطنة عمان عن دعم أولياء أمورهم في أداء الواجبات البيتية وعلاقتها بالدافعية نحو أداء الواجبات البيتية. المجلة الأردنية في العلوم التربوية (جامعة اليرموك– الأردن)، 20(2)، 437-452.
الخروصي، حسين علي، والحوسني، سالم خلفان (2024). الاسهام النسبي لاتجاهات أولياء الأمور نحو الواجبات البيتية كمتنبئ بالدافعية الداخلية للأولاد لأداء الواجبات البيتية. دراسات نفسية وتربوية-جامعة قاصدي مرباح-الجزائر، 17(2)، 66-76.

Publications 2022

Emam, M.M., Al-Hendawi, M., Gaafar Ali, D. (2022). Stress in families of children with disabilities: An examination of the parenting stress index–short form (PSI-SF) in three Arab Countries. International Journal of Mental Health 1-20.
Al-Balushi, S.M, Al-Harthy, I.S., Almehrizi, R.S. (2022). Attention Drifting Away While Test-Taking: Mind-Wandering in Students with Low-and High-Performance Levels in TIMSS-Like Science Tests. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education. doi:10.1007/s10763-022-10258-6.
Al-Zoubi, S. (2022). The portrayal of persons with disabilities in Arabic drama: A literature review. Research in Developmental Disabilities 125.
Al-Zoubi, S. (2022). Evaluating quality of Arab journals of special education. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences 17 (1), 31-40.
Damra, J. (2022). The Effects of psychodrama intervention on intimate partner violence and quality of life. Trial of Syrian refugee abused women. Journal of International Women's Studies 23 (1), 333-346.
Abujilban, S., Mrayan, L., Hamaideh, S., Obeisat, S., Damra, J. (2022). Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Jordanian Women at the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic’s Quarantine. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 37 (5-6), NP2442-NP2464.
Al Omari, J., Khalaf, O., Al Sabei, A., Al Hashmi, S., Al Qadire, I., Joseph, M., Damra, J. (2022). Facilitators and barriers of mental health help seeking behaviours among adolescents in Oman: a cross-sectional study. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 1-11.
AlMarzooqi, M.A, Alhaj, O.A., Alrasheed, M.M., Helmy, M., Trabelsi, K., Ebrahim, A. et al. (2022). Symptoms of Nomophobia, Psychological Aspects, Insomnia and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study of ESports Players in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare 10 (2), 257.

Publications 2021

Emam, M.M., Almehrizi, R., Omara, E., Kazem, A.M. (2021). Screening for learning disabilities in Oman: confirmatory factor analysis of the Arabic version of the learning disabilities diagnostic inventory. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities 67 (6), 435-445.
Emam, M.M., Al-Attiyah, A., Alhuwilah, A., Awed, H.S., Omara, E. (2021). Cross-cultural Validation of the Full Range Test of Visual Motor Integration Used with Children in Four Arab Countries. Optometry and Vision Science 98 (6), 644-653.
Emam, M.M., Al-Hendawi, M., Gaafar Ali, D. (2021). Parenting stress and life satisfaction in families of children with disabilities: the mediating effect of social support in three Arab speaking countries. Journal of Family Studies, 1-19.
Emam, M.M., Abdelrasheed, N.S.G., Omara, E. (2021). Negative Cognition, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, Negative Life Events and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents in Oman. Current Psychology 40 (10), 5156-5165.
Alhadabi, A., Aldhafri, S. (2021). A Rasch Model Analysis of the Psychometric Properties of the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale among Middle School Students. European Journal of Educational Research 10 (2), 957-973.
Almehrizi, R.S. (2021). Coefficient β As Extension of KR-21 Reliability for Summed and Scaled Scores for Polytomously-scored Tests. Applied Measurement in Education 34 (2), 139-149.
Kazem, A.M., Emam, M.M., Alrajhi, M.N., Aldhafri, S. AlBarashdi, H.S. et al. (2021). Nomophobia in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence: the Development and Validation of a New Interactive Electronic Nomophobia Test. Trends in Psychology 29 (3), 543-562.
Almehrizi, R.S. (2021). Standard errors of variance components, measurement errors and generalizability coefficients for crossed designs. Journal of Educational Measurement 58 (2), 179-210.
Emam, M.M., Almehrizi, R., Omara, E., Kazem, A.M. (2021). Screening for learning disabilities in Oman: confirmatory factor analysis of the Arabic version of the learning disabilities diagnostic inventory. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. doi: 10.1080/20473869.2019.1683367.
Bakkar, B, Al-Bahrani, M., Abu Shindi, Y., Allawati, S. (2021). A path analysis of effects of the career locus of control dimensions and career decision self-efficacy on career aspiration. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth 26 (1), 367-375.
Al-Mamari, K., Al-Zoubi, S., Bakkar, B., Al-Shorman, A. (2021). The impact of e-Learning during COVID-19 on teaching daily living skills for children with disabilities. Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society 17 (3), 135-145.
Al-Zoubi, S.M., Bakkar, B. (2021). Arab prophylactic measures to protect individuals with disabilities from the spread of COVID-19. International Journal of Special Education 36 (1).
Al-Zoubi, S.M. (2021). Prevalence of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome among Arab Students with and without Learning Disabilities. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education 13 (2).
Damra, J.K., Abujilban, S. (2021). Violence against Women and its consequences on Women’s reproductive health and depression: a Jordanian sample. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 36 (5-6), NP3044-NP3060.
Abujilban, S., Mrayan, L., Damra, J.K. (2021). Intimate partner violence among Jordanian pregnant women and its predictors. Nursing Open 1-10.
Damra, J.K., Abujilban, S. (2021). Reasons for not seeking professional help by abused refugee women: a qualitative study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 37 (5-6), 2877-2895.
Zayed, K.N., Omara, E.N., Al-Rawahi, N.Y., Al-Shamli, A.K., Al-Atiyah, A.A. et al. (2021). Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction-Frustration Scale (BPNSFS). BMC psychology 9 (1), 1-11.
Khalaf, M.A., Al-Said, T.T. (2021). The Egyptian Validation Study of the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and its Utility in Predicting Depression. The Open Psychology Journal 14 (1).
Khalaf, M.A., Abulela, M.A. (2021). The Academic Buoyancy Scale: Measurement Invariance across Culture and Gender in Egyptian and Omani Undergraduates. European Journal of Educational Research 10 (4), 2121-2131.
Shebani, Z., Nestor, P.J., Pulvermüller, F. (2021). What's 'up'? Impaired spatial preposition processing in posterior cortical atrophy. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.731104.
Kollareth, D., M Shirai, Helmy, M., Russell , J.A. (2021). Deconstructing disgust as the emotion of violations of body and soul. Emotion.
Allam, H.K., Helmy, M., El Badry, A.S., Younis, F.E. (2021). Workaholism, sleep disorders, and potential e-learning impacts among Menoufia University staff during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Public Health Research 10 (4).
Vally, Z., Helmy, M.S. (2021). The association between depressive symptomology, psychological burden related to COVID-19, and engagement in physical exercise. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 1648.

Publications 2020

Emam, M.M, Al-Sulaimani, H., Omara, E., Al-Nabhany R. (2020). Assessment of adaptive behaviour in children with intellectual disability in Oman: an examination of ABAS-3 factor structure and validation in the Arab context. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities 66 (4), 317-326.
Callueng, C. M., Emam, M., Oakland, T. (2020). Temperament styles of children from Egypt and the United States: A cross-cultural examination. Community Mental Health Journal 56 (4), 581-585.
Emam, M.M., Al-Mahdy, Y.F.H. (2020). Teachers’ efficacy for inclusive practices in the Sultanate of Oman: Effect of gender and teaching experience. School Psychology International 41 (2), 170-192.
Aldhafri, S.S., Alrajhi, M.N., Alkharusi, H.A., Al-Harthy, I.S., Al-Barashdi, H.S. et al. (2020). Parenting styles and academic self-efficacy beliefs of Omani school and university students. Education Sciences 10 (9), 229.
Al-Bahrani, M.A., Allawati, S.M., Abu Shindi, Y.A., Bakkar, B.S. (2020). Career aspiration and related contextual variables. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth 25 (1), 703-711.
Mohamed, A.H., Omara, E.N. (2020). Validation of an Arabic Version of the Gifted Rating Scales–School Form. Journal for the Education of the Gifted 43 (3), 252-269.

Name of Research Group

Head of Group

Measurement and Evaluation in Learning and Instruction

Prof. Ali Kadhim

Applications of Psychological and Educational Measurement Theories

Prof Rashid Almehrizi

Motivation and Parenting

Prof. Said Aldhafri

Interdisciplinary Research in Special-Inclusive Education

Prof. Mahmoud Emam

Cognition and Neuropsychology

Dr. Zubaida Shebani