Journal of Arts & Social Sciences

IMPACT OF PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT ON JOB SATISFACTION: A SEQUENTIAL MEDIATION

Mehboob Alam, Fozia Gul, Syed Intasar Hussain Kazmi — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 07:38:59 +0000

Current study investigates importance of POS and its related benefits on JS with sequential medication. Data is collected from three government universities of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Total respondents were 429 from three public sector universities. Results of study demonstrated constructive and significant impact on JS (job satisfaction). Sequential mediation of IM and EM has also been tested. Results showed positive and significant impact of IM & EM in the relationship. Time horizon which was used is cross sectional, with sampling technique of stratified random sampling. To collect data, questionnaire survey (self-administrated) was used among the employees of three public sector universities. To analyses data, SPSS & Process by Hayes was used. In analysis descriptive tests like reliability, frequencies, mean, SD, correlation, and statistical technique for hypothesis testing, mediation analysis used. This study contributed to existing literature of POS and adds value to existing practices by examining theoretical model of sequential mediation that not used in any sector in Pakistan. This also explored that POS is an important indicator for job satisfaction through sequential mediation of IM and EM.

NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF DOCTORAL JOURNEY: VOICES OF THE STUDENTS PURSUING THEIR STUDIES ABROAD

Syed Abdul Waheed — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 07:21:33 +0000

Doctoral students face certain difficulties and challenges while participating in academic and research activities during the course of their PhD studies in a foreign university. They make attempts to seek cooperation from the academic communities to find a way out and to cope with the emerging situation. The present study aims to examine doctoral students’ experiences of such difficulties and challenges, their experiences with the language while engaged in their doctoral studies, orientation to their study program, and the academic environment of the university. A phenomenological approach was used to explore doctoral students’ experiences. Fifteen participants were purposively selected from public sector universities located in different cities in Austria. They were interviewed and field notes were taken. The interview transcripts were analyzed by reading the text several times and identifying the emerging themes. The finding of the study revealed that most of the difficulties and challenges were a function of the lack of preparation before coming to Austria, the relatively different academic and research culture of the host universities, and a lack of orientation to the university system after arrival. Learning the German language was found to be significant in social life but it was not a challenge in the academic life of the students within the university. The study has implications for international students who should plan their studies, get an orientation to the studies immediately after arrival, and should be flexible in learning the language for social and academic integration.

EXAMINING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: A CASE OF PUNJAB

Dr. Nisar Abid, Dr. Amna Saeed, Dr. Mumtaz Akhter — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:29:37 +0000

This study was designed to explore secondary school students’ academic engagement and its relationship with their achievement. The (n=3200) students participated in this correlational study that were randomly selected from 80 schools of Punjab. Data were collected through the Academic Engagement Scale (AES) that consisted of 26 Likert-type statements. Validity was made sure by three educational experts while the reliability was confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha = 0.821. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were applied to analyze and interpret the results. Descriptive statistics’ results revealed that students have a competent level in academic engagement while results of inferential statistics (Pearson r test) indicated a positive moderate relationship between students’ engagement and achievement. Moreover, a significant gender-wise and administrative division-wise difference was found in students’ academic engagement. It is recommended that teachers could foster students’ academic engagement by considering the role of gender and locale. Furthermore, school administration may focus on improving students’ involvement in the classroom activities by providing flexible learning environment.

TEACHERS AS FACILITATOR TOWARDS REDUCING ANXIETY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Muhammad Idris, maksal Minaz, Dr. Shaista Irshad Khan — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:19:59 +0000

The quantitative study was intended to compare the responses of female secondary school teachers with the responses of girl’s secondary school students regarding teacher as a facilitator towards reducing anxiety of secondary school students. The deductive research study was focused on research question; is there a significant difference among the responses of secondary teachers and students regarding the role of teachers in reducing anxiety. Aimed at this purpose all Secondary schoolgirls and female Secondary School Teachers (SSTs) of grade 9^th and grade 10^th in District Swabi were designated as the population of the study. The sample size of (164) female Secondary school teachers and girls students of class 9^th and 10th were selected through convenient sampling technique by using Yamane Formula. Two Distinct questionnaires for the purpose of collecting data from female secondary teachers and Secondary schoolgirl’s were developed for the purpose of data collection. Research data were collected and analyzed by the help of SPSS 21. The data were analyzed by Mean, Standard Deviation as well as t-test was applied for the comparison. Results showed significant of difference between the responses of female secondary school teachers with the responses of girl’s students. Female teachers were more agreed with the statements that they help out the students in reducing anxiety as compare to the responses of girl’s secondary school student. It was recommended that professional development courses should be enriched related to reducing students’ anxiety.

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT’S CORRELATION WITH SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN PAKISTAN: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS

Syed Husnain Haider, Sajid Mehmood Shahzad — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:13:37 +0000

Political evolution is the ultimate objective of all political systems. Political development is the enemy of progress in several domains, as well as the syndrome of difference, equality, and mass ability creation. There is a substantial positive association between a country's national and socioeconomic circumstances and its political growth. This includes the GDP growth rate and the urbanization rate, mass mobilization and engagement, educational growth, and democratic principles. Since its birth, Pakistan has been on a path of political growth and has seen several social transformations and a modernization drive in its society. Pakistan has reached a modest rate of growth, and its society is in a transitional phase between a traditional agricultural civilization and an industrialized one. Although the development process is gradual, it is rather stable with few setbacks. The rapid expansion of information technology and increased communication platforms have ushered in new developments and modernization movements in society. In this paper, we will explore if there is any correlation between political development and social conditions in Pakistan.

FACTORS AFFECTING EFFECTIVE TEACHING OF ISLAMIYAT ON SPIRITUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS AT SECONDARY LEVEL IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Dr. Ibtasam Thakur, Hina Akbar, Hafiza Gulnaz Fatima, Kainat Akram — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

CONCEPT OF WELFARE STATE IN ISLAM ( RIYASAT-E- MADINA) IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF PAKISTAN: AN ANALYSIS

M. Munib KHALID, Bushra Qamar, Muhammad Sohail Fazal — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Islam is a complete system that fulfills the religious, social, individual, economic and political needs of human beings. It is not a religion but a complete ‘Deen’. It is a system that covers all aspects of individual and collective life of humans. The Islamic theorists like Al- Mawardi, Al- Gazali, Al- Farabi and Alama Iqbal also gave their theories to describe the Islamic state and also mentioned the duties of the Imam or Khalifa in Islamic state as he or a group of persons working as cabinet has to work for the betterment of the people living in an Islamic state whether Muslim or Non-Muslim. The qualities of an Islamic / welfare state have been discussed at length and compared these with the present situation of Pakistan under the present regime boosting to develop this state as Riyasat-e Madina. All that discussion made the researcher able to reach on the conclusion that the good initiatives taken by the present Govt. if continued can change state of Pakistan into an Islamic welfare state soon.

ESTIMATING THE WATER POVERTY IN SEMI-ARID DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Muhammad Hassam Shahid, Abedullah — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

An increase in population and water demand, climate change, and changes in land-use patterns are severe problems in Pakistan. Water management in Pakistan has been a provincial matter after the 18^th amendment. Each province in Pakistan measures the water on its own intention and indicators. The current study aims to map the water scarcity status through the water poverty index (WPI) using the Multiple Indiactor Cluster Survey (2018) at the semi-arid districts in Punjab, Pakistan. WPI was estimated by using the components named “Resources,” “Access”, “Capacity”, “Use”, and “Environment”. Each component score was calculated using ifferent indicators, assuming equal weights for all components. Layyah (57.6) and RajanPur (48.03) had the best and worst situations among all districts in 2018. The findings showed that the absence of physical water resources in these districts is not the only factor of domestic water shortage but environment and capacity also plays a significant role in achieving the domestic water need. Due to their socioeconomic ineptitude, lack of infrastructure, and restricted access to water, the region is experiencing severe to high levels of household water poverty. This study's results showed that WPI is an operative tool to measure water scarcity and could be used to make an important priority for water management.

IMPACT OF TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY AND INCOME INEQUALITY ON TAX

Arifa saeed — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Nexus of total factor productivity, inequality, and taxes (selected SAARC Countries) along with other control variables like corruption, consumption expenditure, capital, and labor. For short and long-run elasticities along with different estimation techniques are applied. Total factor Productivity (TFP) data of SAARC countries were unavailable, so only Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are estimated. Tax to GDP ratio is low, and income equality is negative as it will decrease the tax revenue, and increase in anti-corruption policies will increase tax revenue, an increase in TFP will reduce in tax revenue, increase in employment, there will be an increase in tax to GDP ratio and consumption expenditure is found negative and significant on tax The results confirm that most of the variables of the long-run elasticities are significant. All the models are robust because there is no slope heterogeneity, heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity, and cross-section dependence among the variables.

SELF-PERCEPTION OF COLLEGE TEACHERS ABOUT THEIR CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE

Hina Munir, Afaf Manzoor, Muhammad Anwar Mughal, Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Akhtar — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

ABSTRACT

The teacher as a person who has a great influence on overall student achievement. And all these achievements of students learn and achieve in the classroom with the guidance of the teacher. This study was conducted to take the perception of the teachers regarding their classroom in terms of instructional planning, learning environment, classroom management, subject matter competencies and students’ achievement. In quantitative term, the survey method was adopted to conduct this research study. The sampling size for the study comprised of 370 teachers (per college 5 teachers) from 40% (74) colleges of the population. In order to collect data the researcher was self-developed an instrument in the form of a questionnaire. Pilot testing from 40 teachers in 20 colleges (per college 02 teachers) was carried out in order to check the reliability. The Cronbach’s Alpha was calculated in order to check the reliability of the instrument. The reliability coefficient obtained for the overall questionnaire was .82 Alpha levels. The finding of the study through the descriptive statistics on SPSS- 26, the college teachers’ perception regarding their classroom performance in terms of “instructional planning, Subject matter competencies, and Student Achievement” was found consistency in the perception of the teachers. However, the result of college teachers’ perception regarding their classroom performance in terms of “learning environment and classroom management” were found inconsistency in the perception of the teachers.

SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND AFFECTIVE STYLES OF EMOTION REGULATION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Dr. Mussarat Jabeen Khan, Gulmeena Tahir , Dr Fouzia Ajmal — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Being social animals human being always strive to interact with others, which needs social competence. However they need to manage their emotions also. This particular research was carried out to find the relationship between social competence and different affective styles of emotion regulation of university students. Moreover the gender difference on social competence and affective styles of emotion regulation was also checked. Correlation research design was used and data were collected through survey technique from male and female students of Foundation University, COMSATS University, Quaid-i-Azam University, Capital University and International Islamic University. Social Competence Scale and Affective Style Questionnaire were administered on university students for data collection which were analysed using mean, Standard Deviation, t-Test and pearson correlation. A significant correlation between social competence and affective styles of emotional regulation (adjusting, tolerating and concealing styles) was found. It was also observed that gender difference between university students on social competence was significant. However gender difference on emotional regulation was non-significant. Using positive affective styles of emotional regulation can help to reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression among university students.

WOMEN PARTICIPATION INTO THE AGITATIONAL POLITICS: A CASE STUDY OF LAHORE AND PESHAWAR

Mamoona Kanval, Dr. Ruqia Kulsoom, Dr. Gull-i-Hina — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Freedom Movement had been explored by many scholars since independence from multiple dimensions. The role of women into freedom movement remained less explored due to focus on overall all India politics. The purpose of study is to explore detailed role of the Muslim women in civil disobedience movement of 1946 and their contribution in strengthening demand for Pakistan. the study is qualitative which is based on archival sources to get first hand information about the topic. The research reveals active participation of women in civil disobedience in Punjab and NWFP which was far ahead of their time. They came out of seclusion and participated in agitation and even offered arrests. Their participation built and enhanced pressure over the then provincial governments.

Key words:

Civil disobedience, Women politics, Punjab, NWFP

INTERPERSONAL CLIMATE AND STUDENTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN NIGERIA UNIVERSITY: A CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS APPROACH

Habibat Abubakar Yusuf — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The significant relationships that lecturers develop and maintain with their students in institutions cannot be overlooked as studies recognize it to have a positive impact on their academic outcomes. This study assessed lecturers interpersonal climate and students’ academic engagement in Nigeria university. The study adopted the correlational design of the survey type. The population for the study comprised all 49,153 undergraduate students of university of Ilorin, Nigeria. The required number of respondents for the study was ascertained using the Krejcie and Morgan table and 381 participants were chosen using a convenient sampling procedure. A self developed survey instrument titled “Interpersonal Climate and Students’ Engagement Survey” (ICSES) was constructed based on the focus of the study to gather primary data by means of empirical survey-based research methods which allows for the test of research hypotheses formulated for the study. ICSES scale was subjected to face and content validity and reliability coefficient of .89 obtained adjudged the instrument reliable. The factors necessitating these interpersonal climate in school were explored and results show that except for the interrelation of the construct of shared vision on academic engagement with a low factor loading of .30, all other factors explored (Empathy, Leadership Pattern and compassion) were through measures of the constructs with high factor loading >.50 and have significant interactions with student engagement. The formulated hypothesis reveals that a significant relationship exist between the constructs understudied with p-value <.05. The implication of this findings as well as recommendations were highlighted in this study.

ANALYSIS OF EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES FACED BY UNIVERSITIES DURING COVID 19: A CASE STUDY OF SOUTHERN PUNJAB UNIVERSITIES

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

COVID 19 devastation affected humanity socially and economically whose impacts would remain for many decades. One sector of human life which was affected badly has been education sector. The students of educational institutions suffered a lot all around the globe. The present descriptive research analyzed those effects and suggested solutions to cope with the aftereffects being produced. Major objective of this research was to identify the educational issues acclaimed due to pandemic in the higher educational institutes and to analyze the current situation prevailing in the higher educational institutes due to COVID 19. The researchers recommended the solutions to come out of this situation by using mix method of research and took the stakeholders higher education teachers and taught on board for their contribution into research. A semi structured survey, interview and observation check list was taken as a tool for collecting data from the population. Multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from the samples. Randomization and convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from the graduates and teachers who underwent the pandemic teaching and learning process in Pakistani Universities. Overall 400 students and 20 teachers took part in the process of research. The results and findings attained from these participants showed that COVID disturbed their teaching and learning activity a lot and they faced immense problems during two years. It was found that this irreparable loss seemed to prevail in their future and it needed to be compensated through make up classes or refresher courses in their perspective fields.

NUMERACY MANIPULATING SKILLS AS A SUSTENANCE OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Makanmu Akanmu — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Education is an instrument used to empower an individual to become a useful member of society through the acquisition of basic knowledge, skills and values. It has been observed that many of the students that went through universal basic education of 9-years programme are unable to read and perform basic calculations. The study therefore, want to examine the extent to which this assertion can be upheld in North-central, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised all students of Universal Basic 1 to 9 while the target population consisted of 645, 177 upper basic students in North-central, Nigeria. Researchers-developed numeracy manipulating test was constructed which contained thirty multiple-choice items. Scale content validity was computed and obtained 0.88 S-CVI. Kuder Richardson KR 20 was employed and obtained 0.81 reliability coefficient. Four research objectives were conceived. One research question was raised and answered using percentage. Three hypotheses were generated and tested using an independent t-test at 0.05 level of significance. One of the findings revealed that students possessed 41.61% numeracy skills. No significant difference existed based on gender. A significant difference existed based on school ownership and school location. It was concluded that the performance of students was weak and might inhibit national development. It was recommended that the governments at all levels should give more attention to the UBE programme being the foundation of other forms of education in Nigeria.

TRANSITIVITY CHOICES AND GENDER REPRESENTATION: A FEMINIST STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF ALI’S “THE BOOK OF SALADIN”

Asma Iqbal Kayani, Behzad Anwar — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The present study is aimed to explore how women and men characters are constructed through linguistic choices in Ali’s novel The Book of Saladin (TBOS). Halliday’s (1985) transitivity model as suggested by Mills (1995) in her Feminist Stylistics has been employed for data analysis. To strengthen the analysis, Eggins’ (2004) insights are also given consideration. The data comprises 6 extracts from the novel. A sample size of 107 clauses was drawn to focus on process-participant analysis. The findings indicate that Ali (1998) in TBOS makes a use of all types of processes but with different frequency of occurrences. The women characters are portrayed mainly through Material (41%), Relational (5%) and Behavioral (5%) processes while the men characters are ascribed with more mental (9%) and verbal (4%) processes. These findings indicate that Ali (1998) has represented his women characters more active as compared to his men characters as far as romantic scenes are concerned. The current study confirms Mills (1995) claim that transitivity model is best suited to understand the depiction of gender through linguistic choices.

Key Words: Transitivity choices, Feminist Stylistics, Women, Men, Ali, The Book of Saladin (TBOS)

AN ANALYSIS OF INTERMEDIATE LEVEL CHEMISTRY STUDENTS’ OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE CURRENT TEACHING PRACTICES IN CLASSROOM

Swehra Moeed, Prof.Muhammad Rauf, Shahzadi Seema — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

To learn scientific concepts and to develop problems solving ability, students should be presented to an environment where inquiring and investigation is encouraged through interactive teaching approaches. To this consequence, a quantitative study is conducted to analyze intermediate level chemistry students’ observations regarding the current teaching practices in classroom. 680 students, 40 from eight Government Higher Secondary Schools (GHSSs) and 45 from eight Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) were selected randomly from all of Government Higher Secondary Schools and Degree Colleges. The study prevails the practice of traditional method while interactive approaches and use of audio-visual aids are more or less ignored consequently inquiry based interactive learning environment has not been achieved in classroom. Lack of accountability of teachers’ performance and shortage of required teachers in government institutes makes the situation worse. It has been suggested that interactive approaches and use of audio- visual aids should be promoted in order to develop problems solving ability in a science classroom. Dutifulness among teachers should be ensured through proper check, so as need to overcome shortage of teachers.

COLONIAL RULE AND MUSLIM WOMEN

Dr Naila Maqsood — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Relevant to any attempt for amelioration of woman’s conditions was the history of Muslim people in general and that of Muslims in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent in particular. This paper highlights Muslim women’s struggle for their rights movements in British India. Their continuous struggle altered educational and political institutions, allowing them to emerge from seclusion and participate more actively in the nation's public life.

It is said that when women in the developed countries were agitating against their own male regarding their rights, a similar struggle had begun in the subcontinent where men started encouraging participation of women in education and politics, appreciated, and sometimes patronized it. The imperialists in India reversed the economic and social milieu. By strengthening system, British fortified the position of the feudal and tribal lords which not only contributed towards solidifying the struggle for Muslim Women’s Rights in the British India but also resulted in lowering the status of women. The British, on the other hand, did not believe it was necessary to extend their politics into all aspects of life. As a result, local laws continued to apply in family and personal matters like as marriage, guardianship, and inheritance, and the status quo between men and women was maintained. After a prolonged protests and struggle for women’s rights, the central legislature undertook legislation on issues relating to Muslim women such as child marriage, property rights, widow remarriage, divorce, etc. Muslim women had to resisted on the laws imposed by imperialists as most of it were the violation of their fundamental rights, and that they were mostly successful i.e., law of inheritance 1937. The paper shows that women's struggles for educational and political freedom had a significant impact in the British India Particularly in 1940s during Pakistan Movement. Everyone is aware of the social changes/developments that occurred at that time. However, few people acknowledge that women had a key role in bringing about these developments. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that women have achieved tremendous progress and have paved the way for more reforms in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

‘GOODBYE TO SCHOOL’: EXPLORING THE LIFE OF TEACHERS AFTER EARLY RETIREMENT

Ishaq Amanat, Syed Abdul Waheed, Nadia Gilani, Muhammad Saqib — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The trend of early retirement has increased over the last few years. Many teachers applied for early retirement after experiencing a ‘strict’ academic environment in the schools. The purpose of the present study was to grasp an in-depth understanding of the early retired teachers' life in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The study aims to seek the answers to the questions: How did the school teachers decide to take early retirement and what were their personal and social activities after early retirement? Participants’ description of life after early retirement was explored through narrative research while interviewing fourteen teachers who took retirement at least three years before retiring and approached through snowball sampling. The results were presented thematically (business to live happily, health and home, and joy and freedom). Most participants started or expanded their business, lived a happy life, paid attention to health and enjoyed freedom after early retirement. The research will help understand teachers' lives after taking early retirement through their life experiences and their activities. The study has implications for the school department on how they can better the teachers' social and personal lives during the service to enjoy life and feel happy while working in schools.

ASSESSING INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS OF THE HEADS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Riffat-un-Nisa Awan, Farhat Jabeen, Ghazanfar Ali — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Instructional leaders are effective principals and these leaders can lead their team towards achievement of assigned targets. Instructional leadership is directly linked to supporting and helping student learning and classroom teaching. This study intends to evaluate how principals’ instructional leadership behavior make a difference in the instructional process of public secondary school, as perceived by a sample of 185 teachers of Sargodha district. A questionnaire called PIMRS (Hallinger, 1982) was adopted for collection of data. Data analysis made it clear that teachers rated their heads high on all sub scales of instructional leadership and also identified some ignored dimensions in this regard. The results revealed significant gender differences in the perception of teachers about heads’ instructional supervision, their being highly visible, encouraging teachers to develop professionally, and the heads efforts in providing incentives to students for their effective learning and better achievement. Findings also suggest that the opinion of experienced teachers about different dimensions of instructional leadership was more positive as compared to the newly inducted teachers. It was suggested that heads may be trained to be effective instructional leaders for improving students’ achievement and performance.

IMPACT OF EXTRINSIC REWARDS ON EMPLOYEE INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR: ROLE OF WORK ENGAGEMENT AND PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

Samina Yaqoob, Dr Naveda Kitchlew — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the impact of extrinsic rewards on employee’s innovative work behavior (IWB) and explores the role of employee work engagement as an intervening mechanism bet

ween extrinsic rewards and employees IWB. Besides, it investigates the moderating role of perceived

organizational support (POS) for the associations of extrinsic rewards andemployee work engagement.

Data (N = 307) was collected from the highereducation sector by using survey method, comprising of faculty members and administrative staff of Pakistani universities. The findings revealed that

extrinsic rewards enhanced the employee IWB. The results show the mediational role of work engagement, and the relationship of extrinsic rewards and employee work engagement is found to be more salient in high

perceived organizational support as compared to lower one. The findings are discussed in terms of its implications for theory and practice at the end.

EFFECTS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES ON FAMILY BONDING

Dr Arshad Hussain Hashmi, Kinza Mubeen, Babak Mahmood — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This article describes the effects of using social networking sites on family bonding. Study was conducted in GC University, Faisalabad during March and June 2019. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the students. Only those students were randomly approached who spent minimum two hours using social networking sites in a day. A survey was conducted with the help of trained volunteer. 210 questionnaires were distributed, therefore, only 195 questionnaires were found filled and incomplete questionnaire were excluded from the study to maintain the authenticity of study. To analyze the data, SPSS 20.0 was used. The result of the study indicated that mismanagement and excessive use of social media networking sites were highly affected on the family bonding. It was also notable that the students were irritated and disrupted while using social media networking sites and they also accept that their usage of SNSs affected the relationship with family members.

NON-SUICIDAL SELF INJURY (NSSI) IN ADOLESCENTS: DILEMMA IN DIAGNOSIS OF A CASE

Maryam Iftikhar — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors are getting prevalent in third world countries especially in Pakistan. This case report describes a typical case of Non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in a young female (most vulnerable population) with symptoms of cutting different body parts that she mimic from other friends. The difference in intention and gains of both the behaviors can helps in diagnosing and treatment, preventing invasive medicinal and psychological treatments, reserving available healthcare resources. Similar cognitive, emotional, psychological and behavioral factors underlie and perpetuate non-suicidal self-injury and emotional disorders. This brief case report aims to explain the dilemma of identifying the case and to target emotional disorders in treating comorbid borderline personality traits.

EPOCHAL CHANGES IN CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVES? A PERFORMATIST ANALYSIS OF TRUST EXERCISE BY SUSAN CHOI

Ali Ammar, Munawar Iqbal Ahmad — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Among various post-postmodern theoretical propositions to signal the end of postmodernism, performatism by Eshleman (2008) is also considered to be a significant development in the literary theory. It is not just a theoretical perspective but also a do-it-yourself manual that invites researchers to further explore and analyse literary works from performatism perspective. The current research paper is an attempt to analyse one of the current popular novel Trust exercise by Susan Choi (2019) from performatist perspective with the overarching research questions if various features of performatism are present in the literary work. The aim is to ascertain if performatism could stand out to be a suitable label to define the current crisis of literary theory in which researchers and scholars are trying to fill the gap that has arisen after the pronouncement of the death of postmodernism. The researcher has found that although there is monism, double framing and theism in the novel but complexity of subjects, ambiguity, and open-ended closures are still among the salient features of the novel. The deviation from postmodernism is there yet more features and works need to be explored in order to develop a comprehensive contemporary literary theory.

EFFECTIVENESS OF GLOBALIZATION AND HUMAN CAPITAL ON MARKET & NET INCOME INEQUALITY IN BRICS COUNTRIES: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS

Khaula Walayat, Dr. Mahmood Khalid Qamar, Dr. Zahid Iqbal Iqbal — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

This study scrutinizes the impact of defacto and dejure GLOB (KOF GLOB index 2018) on Income inequality on economically emerging countries; BRICS countries. The defacto GLOB indicates the estimate of GLOB including variables representing activities and flows; de jure estimate includes variables which show policies representing enable flows and activities. Our analysis separates the impact of globalization on net and market income inequalities. Pretax/transfer and the post-tax/transfer GINI indices were employed as the measures of income inequality. This analysis used balanced panel for BRICS countries for the period 1990-2015. Economic globalization both defacto and dejure showed positive sign that depicts a significant relationship with dependent variable. It explains that defacto political has positive sign and dejure political globalization decreases inequality while economic globalizations in both divisions have positive sign and significant impact on inequality. Interestingly, defacto social globalization has positive sign but dejure social has positive sign. Moreover, the purchasing power parity and age dependency both have negative sign and significant influence on inequality. These conclusions point out that social and political globalization may be a hindering factor for governance in these countries.

A STUDY OF THE EVOLUTION AND PHYSICAL TRAITS OF TWO COMPETING STREET PATTERNS: NARROW MEANDERING AND WIDE GRIDIRON

Aneela Yaseen, Nida Jawad, Waqas O. Khel — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

A street is a passageway for people in a built environment and is one of the essential elements of urban planning. Streets convey a city's history, urban form, and socio-cultural values of societies that shape it. Street patterns must be carefully planned to create safe environments for everyone, particularly youngsters and elders. There are two common street patterns in history: meandering and gridiron. The development of these two opposed street patterns is examined in this study using historical discourse. In this study, the deductive approach is employed to distinguish between the physical traits of the street types mentioned above. According to this study, meandering street patterns reflect more concerns to human senses, socio-cultural values and aesthetics than gridiron. This research instigates further investigation in this regard to create inclusive, safe streets for everyone

GREEN ROOFS: MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

Nida Jawad, Dr. Syeda Raaeha Tuz Zahra Abidi, Dr. Amna Jahangir Jahangir — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Green Roof is basically a traditional concept which is revived and executed to focus and improve adverse effects of our urban environment. Benefits and impacts of green roof are not fully understood and valued. This paper reviews and discusses the different benefits of green roofs as solutions in reducing the energy, maintaining indoor temperatures, enhancing sound insulation and fire resistance, increasing life span of the roof, providing green spaces in concrete jungles, reduction of UHI effects and improved air quality. In addition to all this green roof also increases the aesthetics of buildings and different research have shown that green roof also improves the energy performance of buildings in summers and winters.

PERSONALITY TRAITS, EMOTION REGULATION AND MARITAL SATISFACTION AMONG WOMEN IN COMMUTER MARRIAGES

Dr. Afsheen Gul, Sidra tul Muntaha — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of the current study is to examine the relationship of personality traits, emotion regulation and marital satisfaction among women in commuter marriages. Furthermore, the study will also explore the predictors of marital satisfaction of women in such type of marital relationship. The correlational method was employed for the study and the sample of 142 women in commuter marriages (N= 142) were selected through convenient sampling technique. The age of the recruited participants was between 22-36 years (M= 28.21, SD= 3.85). The Psychological instrument were used in the study; Big Five Inventory, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Marital Adjustment Test to measure personality traits, emotion regulation and marital satisfaction respectively.The Pearson Product Moment Correlation revealed that Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Openness showed significant positive relationship with marital satisfaction whereas Neuroticism showed significant negative relationship with marital satisfaction. As for the second variable of emotion regulation, Cognitive reappraisal showed significant positive relationship and Expressive Suppression showed significant negative relationship with marital satisfaction. Regression analysis (Multiple Hierarchical Regression) revealed Neuroticism and Expressive Suppression as significant negative predictors of marital satisfaction and Cognitive Reappraisal turned out to be significant positive predictor of marital satisfaction.

Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility in Global Production Networks

Farah Naz, Dieter Boegenhold — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:06:48 +0000

The article is part of an emerging South-centred critical perspective on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Despite growing academic interest in critical CSR, the existing literature is relatively silent on gendered outcomes of CSR practices. This article intends to fill this gap in the CSR literature by initiating a conversation about the dynamics of gender and CSR approaches in global supply chains with particular reference to the Global South by providing a specific institutional context of CSR for reflection. Empirically, the research focuses on a region in Pakistan where a large number of female home-based workers stitch footballs for Western brands. The findings are based on a qualitative study that unpacks the complexities of CSR in Global Production Networks (GPNs) and reflects on the unintended negative consequences that arise when gender-blind CSR approaches are uncritically envisaged and implemented in the Global South. The study reasserts the need for broader and more inclusive CSR approaches in GPNs. The authors suggest that contextualized and gendered CSR approaches are necessary to improve labour conditions in international supply chains.

A SIMULATION BASED STUDY OF ENERGY CONSERVATION OF RESIDENCES IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

YASMEEN ABID MAAN Abid Maan, Maryam Jameel, Dr Munazzah Akhtar — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

A house in composite climate of Lahore (Pakistan) needs intensive cooling in summers; energy recovery ventilation to reduce humidity during monsoon and comfortable indoor temperature during winters. All these conditions have to be fulfilled with a reduced load on energy resources. Recent trends in construction and design of residential buildings in Pakistan symbolize uncontrolled use of energy resources. There is no data available with planning and developing authorities of housing sector that shows an account of energy loads of built houses. The potential of conservation of energy will be analyzed by actually studying the cooling and heating loads of recently constructed houses

Key Words: Energy Conservation Potential, Module Study, Simulations

GENDERED FEDERALISM: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES TO WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN SINDH, PAKISTAN

Dr Jalil Ahmed, Dr Naila Maqsood, Dr. Sumaira Nawaz — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This research article will examine the challenges and prospects of women participating in the politics of Sindh. Generally, in Pakistan the women are always suppressed and they are neglected in policy making process and the political system of Pakistan mainly dominated by the male and the subject of policy making is considered as the subject of of the male. Despite this, women have been active in the politics of Sindh from the time of the Pakistan movement. Benazir Bhutto also hailed from Sindh and became Prime minister of Pakistan twice once in 1988 and then in 1993. However, the women in Sindh have a very limited role in the politics of the Province. The research aims to analyze various Ideological, socioeconomic, political, and psychological constraints and the challenges the women face in Sindh. The paper mainly emphasizes the role of Sindhi society, centuries-old traditions, predetermined gendered roles- patriarchy and male dominancy in social and political institutions, and religious misperceptions that barricade women’s political representation in the province.

HOW BUILT ENVIRONMENT SHAPES THE MENTAL HEALTH

Nida Jawad, Dr . Masha Asad Khan — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Architecture is all about understanding the impact of design on satisfaction, mental health and general wellbeing . “We shape our building and building shape us”, mused Winston Churchill in 1943 while considering the repair of the bomb-ravaged House of Commons. Built Environment has a significant impact on health and well-being. Unsatisfactory spatial relations and low quality of built environment may cause numerous stressors and reflect in users’ health, both in their physical conditions as well as mental health problems. In this article the different mental health problems and their possible solutions with built environment planning are reviewed and discussed. This article also focuses on to develop a more holistic approach that encourages mental health and help patients live happier and healthier life.

AUTONOMOUS CLASSROOM AS PRODUCT OF EFFECTIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES AND MOTIVATED LEARNERS

Pooja Chhabra — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This paper addresses the issue of how to enhance motivation in tertiary level EFL learners to lead them towards achieving independence in learning. Based on a case study at the Global College of Engineering and Technology, Muscat, Oman, it critically examines the scope of application of John Keller’s ARCS model that exhibits four steps for enhancing learners’ motivation - Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. It recounts how these motivational techniques have been used in classrooms and how each of these steps has enhanced the learners’ self-confidence and their interest in learning the language. The paper argues that efficient use of ARCS model can transform extrinsic motivation into intrinsic one. It recommends that educators should adopt the ARCS model to sustain learners’ interests and accomplishments of the set learning objectives. It makes students reach a level where they begin to take charge of their learning, resulting in strong learner-teacher autonomy in language acquisition.

Key Words: Keller's ARCS model, Foundation program students, Index Terms-motivation

IMPACT OF WORKPLACE BULLYING ON THE ATTITUDE AND PERFORMANCE OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS

Muhammad Naveed Khalid, Asif Iqbal, Farah Shafiq — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:50:35 +0000

Workplace Bullying is a form of cognitive extremism at work. It revealed in misbehavior, activities, and verbal remarks, often deceptive, used to destabilize the person. This behavior results in mental surrender. Bullying leads to the victim’s withdrawal from an institute. It often happens in the form of deleterious remarks, unjustified blame, and submitted abuses. It destabilizes the freedom of expression, isolate the victims, querying them personally and professionally, and deny their access to resources to perform their task. It threatens the victims’ health and make them insecure. The current study is designed to investigate the impact of workplace bullying on the attitude and performance of university teachers. One hundred teachers (38 males and 62 females) were selected randomly from a total of 700 faculty members. Data were collected with the help of self-developed instrument, Teachers Workplace Bullying Attitude and Performance Survey (TWBAPS) with Cronbach Alpha reliability .965. Mean, standard deviation, ANOVA and t-test were applied to analyze the results. There was a significant difference between male and female teachers’ attitude and performance. Female teachers were victimized by their colleagues and heads. They showed a more aggressive attitude and low performance. Male teachers showed more violent behaviors than females. It is recommended to stabilize the academic environment at university level by discouraging the negative attitude among faculty members.

Key words: Academic bullying, aggressive attitude, teachers’ performance

ACADEMIC WRITING CHALLENGES OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN PAKISTAN

Dr. Syeda Naureen Mumtaz — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:22:02 +0000

This descriptive qualitative research sought to explore as what would be the best writing approach adopted to teach academic writing skill to the undergraduate university students to identify and minimize the identified problems. The aim of the study was to strengthen the academic writing skill of university students. For this purpose, thirty undergraduate students were selected and involved in focus group discussions to highlight the problematic area in the field of academic writing. Thematic analysis helped to understand the problems faced by the students and suggestions were made on the basis of the study’s findings. The study revealed the students’ inability to use appropriate vocabulary. These students lacked the skill to express themselves in their own words, and often their written work would look patchy. English being the foreign language to the students hampered their ability to think in the target language. The present study contributed to understand the problems and suggested process approach of writing to be adopted by the faculty to overcome the academic writing related problems.

Key Words: Process Approach, Product Approach, Genre Approach, Academic Writing

MANAGING THE POROUS BOUNDARIES: IMPACT OF WORKING FROM HOME ON WORK LIFE BALANCE OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS DURING COVID 19

Farah Naz, Riffat-un-Nisa Awan, Dr. Ghazala Noureen — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:17:15 +0000

The closure of educational institutions due to COVID-19 has forced universities to shift from in-class to online education. We aim to address an aspect of this shift that remains widely unacknowledged, namely, the gender inequalities associated with the struggle to manage two separate domains (home and work) under the same roof. Using cross sectional data gathered through an online survey from various universities and degree awarding institutions, we explore the question of how working from home during the covid-19 pandemic has shifted (or not shifted) the work-life balance of male and female university teachers. Our research shows that work from home during covid-19 has some negative repercussions for the work life balance of female university teachers. Females are facing difficulty in maintaining a healthy work life balance. They reported more work family conflicts; more family demands and challenges; and less satisfaction while working from home as compared to male university teachers. The findings of our paper suggest that this new workplace arrangement has disproportionately increased the overall burden on female university teachers in both the important domains of their life (Family and work).

Key Words: COVID-19, Gender, Work from Home, Work Life Balance

COVID-19 PANDEMIC: DIFFICULTIES FACED BY SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS DURING EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING THROUGH ONLINE LEARNING AND THEIR OPINIONS

Hafiz Tahir Jameel, Abid Masood Khan, Tanzila Nabeel — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:11:28 +0000

The objective of this study was to explore the difficulties faced by special education teachers during emergency remote teaching through online learning to special needs students during covid-19 pandemic and discuss their opinions. Population of study was special education teachers who were teaching to special needs students of secondary level at government special education institutions Faisalabad division of Punjab province Pakistan. The sample of the study was 15special education teachers were selected through random sampling technique. Phenomenology pattern was used in this research as a method of research. Semi structure interview was used as a tool of research. Results of the study clearly showed that almost all the special education teachers were motivated towards providing emergency remote teaching to their special students through online learning system. They have practiced a variety of strategies to provide online education to their students but they face a lot of difficulties in this regard. As majority of special students were from low socio economic background, so they have a lack of online learning facilities i.eandroid cell phones, laptops and internet connection etc. It was interesting to know that all the students who have sufficient facilities of online learning were not utilizing this for constructive purpose and to overcome their academic problems. They were merely wasting it over social media and gadgets are not utilizing for constructive purpose which was creating anxiety for their parents.

Key Words: Covid-19, pandemic,special needs students, special education teacher, emergency remote teaching, online learning

STRESS, SLEEP QUALITY, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED WORKING WOMEN

Sadia Shahjahan khan, Shamaila Asad — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:07:57 +0000

This research was an initiation to explore the relationship of stress, sleep quality, psychological well-being and relationship satisfaction among married working women. Stress, sleep quality and relationship satisfaction were explored as predictors of psychological well-being in married working women. Correlational research design was used to measure the relationship between these variables. Convenient sampling technique was used to recruit sample. The sample of study was comprised of married working women (N= 200) age ranged between 25 to 59 years. Working Women Stressor’s Scale (WWSS) (α=.87), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(α=.74), Ryff Psychological well-being Scale(α=.74), and Relationship Assessment Scale (α=.72)were used as data collection tools. Results showed significant positive relationship among stress, sleep quality, psychological wellbeing and relationship satisfaction. Stress, sleep quality, and well-being emerged as predictors of relationship satisfaction in married working women.

Key Words: Stress, Sleep Quality, Psychological Well-being, Relationship satisfaction

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF FASHION CONSCIOUSNESS OF CONSUMERS

Syeda Azra Batool, Syeda Shahida Batool, Atif Khan Jadoon — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 15:02:36 +0000

Fashion conscious people allocate a large part of their budget on a latest fashion. The present study assessed the socio-economic and psychological factors that play significant role in fashion consciousness. A convenient sample of 200 individuals (men=100 and women=100) of age between 22 and 44 years from Multan, Pakistan was taken to study the correlates of fashion consciousness. The estimates of ordinary least square showed that education, monthly income, materialism, and media exposure had significant positive impact, and price consciousness had significant negative impact on fashion consciousness of the sample, which partially support consumption theories (e.g., Absolute Income Hypothesis’ and ‘Relative Income Hypothesis). The study has implications for both consumers and producers.

Key Words: Fashion consciousness, materialism, price consciousness, absolute income hypothesis, relative income hypothesis

INVESTIGATING SEVERAL SIMILAR QUESTIONS TYPES IN TURKISH, KURDISH, ENGLISH, RUSSIAN AND GERMAN

Mehmet Veysi BABAYİĞİT — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:39:32 +0000

Language is used as a tool of communication in all over the world, and each society or country may adopt a different language leading various dialects or language usages. In order to interrogate different aspects, multiple question types are utilized in a language. Also, questions are globally used to get information about a topic / issue, ask for confirmation, request something or clarify some controversial aspects almost in all languages. In addition, some questions are directed to speakers via question words such as what, where or how; on the other hand, some questions are conducted via helping verbs, adjuncts or question tags. Foreign language learners first learn affirmative, then negative and finally questions forms in the target language that is why it may be inferred that using questions in a language requires improvement and experience. The current study aims to find out some similar questions types in Turkish, English,Kurdish, Russian and German; hence, an analysis has been conducted on question samples obtained descriptively in those languages. The results of the analysis indicated that there are some similar types of questions such as general questions, special questions, tag questions and alternative questions in both languages.

Key Words: Types, question, Kurdish, English, Turkish, Russian, German

THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN PAKISTAN FROM 1988 TO 1999 (SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SINDH PROVINCE)

Nazir Siyal — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:35:13 +0000

This research article’s primary goal is to determine the triggers and implications of Pakistan’s political instability and its effects on the political situation of Sindh during the democratic decade from 1988 to 1999. Despite abundant natural resources, Pakistan is one of the only countries where political unrest has severely hampered the social and political development of the country. So, this paper aims to understand the leading factors of political instability that weakened the country’s political growth and led the nation in general and Sindh province, in particular, to suffer social and ethnic problems in society. To understand the issue deeply, the researcher used unstructured Interviews as a research tool with law-makers, academicians, and political scientists. However, many interviewees accepted that the lack of enthusiastic leadership, the Role of the weak judiciary, the passive role of civil bureaucracy, and political ethnicity had been the leading factors for political and social unrest. Thus, the study’s findings would help the law-makers and academicians of different colleges and universities to design their policies and curriculum. Additionally, this paper would help various nationalists and political parties of Sindh province to comprehend the genuine reasons for unrest in the area from 1988 to 1999.

Key Words: Political instability, Weak Judiciary, Political ethnicity, Foreign interference, Role of civil bureaucracy

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF COMPANY PERFORMANCE IN RESPONSE TO DIVIDEND PAYOUT POLICY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF PAKISTAN

Dr. Nisar Ahmad Bazmi — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:24:19 +0000

The current study explains the relationship of dividend payout policy on the business performance of companies that exist in sugar of Pakistan. 100 companies are selected from sugar sector. Relationship of dividend payout policy and business performance was controlled with four variables based on relevant theories. These variables include size of company, growth of company, leverage (debt to equity ratio) and corporate governance index. Panel data is collected from 2012-2017 (six years) and then analyzed with unit root, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, OLS regression, Lagrange multiplier, Huasman test, Fixed effect and Random effect models. Following key findings for each research objective were obtained by applying the adopted research method on the data through the adopted method of analyses: The results of the study show sugar companies showed no sign of a relationship between their dividend payout policy and profitability and so there is no controlling factor effective due to the absence of any relationship. Thus, the hypotheses were rejected in case of these two industries.

Key Words: Company Performance, Dividend Policy, Tobin’s Q, Size, Growth, Leverage, Corporate Governance Index, Dividend Payout

EFFECTS OF COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGIES AND WRITING SKILLS ON STUDENTS’ LEARNING AT SECONDARYLEVEL IN PAKISTAN

Mubashar Mahmood khan — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The study examines the effects of communicative strategies and writing skills on students learning atsecondary level in Pakistan. The study is experimental in nature and the researcher applieda pre-test post-test equivalent group experimental design to draw the conclusion.For the facilitation of study, the researcher presumed the male students of grade 10 studying at Government Higher Secondary School Renala Khurd.Government Higher Secondary School Renala Khurd was selected as population in Okara district as the spot for intervention.The selection of the students was made through convienience and informed consent which tantamounted to simple random sampling technique. Experimental group and control group comprised of thirty students each as such sample size for this experimental study was stretched over 60 students. The experimental group was exposed to communicate through communicative language teaching-based activities included in the (NECL, 2006) for grade 10 while the control group was imparted intervention through traditional methods for two months.

Information and Communication Technologies for Educational Purposes: Measuring Intensity of Students’ Attitudes towards Digital Journey

Mehboob Ul Hassan Mehboob, Haq Nawaz — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 03:58:54 +0000

Applications of information and communication technologies are generating ease for human beings since their birth. Continuous practice of ICT directly enhances attitudes towards innovative and novelty of thoughts. Teachers and students are assets of state that bring technical revolt in the nation having constructive attitudes towards information and communication technologies. Concerning the worth of information and communication technologies; present study was designed to investigate male and female secondary school student’s attitudes towards information communication technology enrolled in science, arts and computer science streams of rural and urban secondary schools of District Lahore. List of secondary schools, where Punjab Government has established computer labs, were obtained from Punjab Education Department. Sample comprises of randomly selected twenty schools; five male and five female schools. From each school researcher selected conveniently selected students from rural and urban schools. Data were collected from 1,826 respondents of 10th graders administering Attitudes towards ICT Scale adapting from authors upon request having 12-items mode of 5-point Likert type options. Researchers themselves collected data after ensuring ethical considerations. Results of independent sample t-test and ANOVA reflect that male and female students have about same attitudes towards ICT, rural students have more attitudes towards ICT as compared to urban students and science students had better attitudes than arts students; computer science students had better attitudes then arts students whereas computer science and science students have about same attitudes towards ICT. Present study recommends that urban secondary schools’ teachers and head teachers have to focus on students’ attitudes towards ICT by delivering lectures, providing attractive environment and hiring skilled staff to meet the demands of present technical innovations.

National Identity Perceptions of the Turks of Kosovo and North Macedonia: How Identity Turns into a Shield When Denied?

Ümit Öztürk — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Turks of Kosovo and North Macedonia have become members of a nation that has turned into a minority in terms of population and influence both after the dissolution of the Ottoman State and after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The aim of the study is to determine the identity perceptions of the Turks of Kosovo and North Macedonia. Within the scope of the study, a number of questions were asked to the participants regarding their identity definitions and perceptions by means of semi-structured interview technique. Participants' responses were discussed with a phenomenological approach and qualitative analysis. It was observed from the findings that Turks of Kosovo and North Macedonia experience nationalist feelings with a very high consciousness. They oppose the understanding of Turkishness as an ethnic identity. According to the majority, Turkish identity should be understood as a national identity built on the basis of religion and culture. And it is far from seeking ethnic ties or genealogy. In addition, some participants stated that although they defined themselves with Turkish identity in the past, nowadays they define themselves as Albanian. This situation can be explained as an alienation from the Turkish identity arising from different reasons; such as assimilation and denial. However, some of the participants dealing with questions such as “How can you call yourself a Turk? Is there any Turk left here after the Ottoman Empire? in daily life, state that they defend themselves by making reference to ethnic and ethnocentric implications. Because in such situations where identity is denied, identity turns into a shield.

The Impact of Ethical Leadership & Civility on Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement

Mahboob Alam, Fozia GUL, Dr. Muhammad IMRAN — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:08:27 +0000

Purpose – This paper holds the purpose to investigate the impact of ethical leadership and civility on organizational commitment and also to explore mediating role of work engagement in the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach – With questionnaire survey, the current paper uses a sample of 340 employees from manufacturing sector of Lahore Pakistan. To test the hypotheses, analysis was accomplished by using Statistical Package for Social Science Software, through confirmatory factor and regression analysis.

Findings – The results revealed that ethical leadership and civility have positive impact on organizational commitment. Strong empirical support also proved that work engagement mediates the relationship between ethical leadership, civility and organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications – This study design is cross-sectional, consequently accuracy of assumption concerning causality is restrictive.

Practical implications – Results of this study discovered the importance of ethical leadership behaviors which play noteworthy role in developing employees and ethical organizational culture & support to ascertain an organizational ethical environment that leads to maximize work engagement and organizational commitment. Thus, ethical leadership behaviors & civility might be the key and most suitable practices to be implemented in manufacturing sector of Pakistan.

Originality/value – This paper adds to the existing ethical leadership and civility literature by identifying work engagement as an additional mediator in the relationship between ethical leadership, civility and organizational commitment

Keywords: Ethical leadership, Civility, Work engagement, organizational commitment, JEL Classification

A Study on Association between the Perceptions of Principals and Teachers Regarding College Principals’ Leadership Style in Perspective of Situational Leadership Theory

Hina Munir, Mumtaz Akhter — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:12:23 +0000

The current study demonstrates the association between the perceptions of the designations regarding college principals’ leadership style in perspective of situational leadership theory. This article is quantitative in nature and ex-post-facto research design was adopted. The population was comprised of all colleges which are affiliated with the University of the Punjab in Lahore Division. Multistage sampling technique was adopted for selecting sample. Thus, the sample of the study was comprised of 74 college principals and 370 teachers on the basis of their job experience. The instrument of LBA-II Self/Other was adopted. The data was analyzed on SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. There was disassociation between the perceptions of the designations regarding the primary, developing and diagnosis leadership style, except the secondary leadership style where was association found between the perceptions of the designations. Whereas, there was no difference in teachers and principal’s perceived leadership style flexibility and effectiveness.

Gender Representation in English Textbooks: A Study about Public Middle Schools in Punjab

Dr.Muhammad Abid Malik — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 15:22:11 +0000

This paper investigates gender representation in grade 6, 7 and 8 English textbooks used in public schools in Punjab. For a comprehensive analysis, both textual contents and pictures were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. The findings show that the female character were under-represented and misrepresented. Not even a single chapter was titled after any female character. Even in the text, they were heavily outnumbered, and generally shown in stereotypical and traditional roles. Shockingly, not even a single female character was portrayed positively. They were mostly shown in a neutral way. The same pattern was observed in the pictures. In spite of the fact that national education policies and curriculum frameworks emphasize heavily on gender parity, the textbooks appear to have failed to incorporate it. This study suggests that textbooks should contain gender parity and represent women in a respectful way so that the students may pick those values and inculcate them.

Understanding of Mexican Migration to the United States: Rifts and Challenges

Rana Basam Khan, Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti, Ghulam Mustafa — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:14:39 +0000

It has been decades since legislative issues have thought about social, defense, and compassionate issues of migration which has become a touchstone in U.S strategy discussion. Mexican migration to the U.S started in 1848. It has proceeded to the present with no critical interference, something that makes this work movement very particular as a basic segment of the American work advertise. Generally started with enormous development, driven by starvation, political problems, open doors in the U.S; that point eased back, tightened, or unexpectedly finished, from 1850 to 1882, similar to the case of the Chinese. The details show that Mexico is a key source of settlers in U.S and has long been a major source of enemy contact with refugees, but so many have been focusing on Mexico and not the other countries which have also become major sources of illegal immigrants. The United States and Mexico are bordered with California, San Diego, and Baja California, Tijuana, and the Pacific Ocean. The boundary stretches eastward to El Paso, Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, Texas, on the Rio Grande. From that point the border continues south-east along the Rio Grande River until the end of it in the Gulf of Mexico. Border stretching of over 1945 miles is insufficiently regulated. Only old solid markers, rusty safety clasp and spoiled dry fence posts can be found in many parts of the place, and the river Grande that over the centuries has continuously changed its course separating both nations. U.S endeavors to control passages and exit adequately have been focused principally along the most profoundly dealt transit courses driving to north. U.S. powerlessness to control all the Mexican boundary has proven that any Mexican involved in operating in the U.S seldom discovers that the frontier is an unlikely trap Through the span of the most recent 170 years, Mexican migrants have to a great extent worked in horticulture, farming, mining, and railroad development.

A Qualitative Understanding of Doctoral Students’ Experience of Embodiment

Syed Abdul Waheed — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:51:56 +0000

Human beings exist in the world ‘bodily’ and their existence is inexorable. International doctoral students’ understanding of themselves and their perspectives of the learning environment is through their embodiment. The purpose of the present research was to understand doctoral students’ embodiment experiences in relation to a culturally and academically diverse university environment. This understanding was gained through the phenomenological lense of qualitative research. For this purpose, thirteen doctoral students were selected through maximum variation sampling from the Austrian public sector universities located in different states. They were doing doctoral studies in various physical and social sciences at different stages of their dissertation. The understanding of the phenomenon was sought through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed by coding the text and categorizing it into themes that emerged while frequently reading the transcripts. The emerging themes include ‘stress and anxiety, ‘confidence and motivation’ and ‘physical fatigue and exertion’. Most of the students experienced ‘confidence’, ‘encouragement’, ‘depression’, ‘nervousness’, ‘homesickness’, ‘stress’ and ‘frustration’ when asked about ‘lived body’ or corporeality. The study has implications in understanding doctoral students’ ‘bodily’ existence in the universities.

The Narrative of Hybrid Identity in the Third Space: A Postcolonial Critique of The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Moazzam Ali Malik, Shiraz Ahmed, Muhammad Ehtsham — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 11:53:28 +0000

The study aims at analyzing the construction and the working of hybrid identity in The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The review of the literature discusses how postcolonial identity research has undergone a paradigm shift in recent times. Among the modern postcolonial critics like Bhabha (1994) and Spivak (2013), 'colonizer' and 'colonized' are dynamically dependent on each other for their subjective constructions. The identities of the 'colonizer' and the 'colonized' are not autonomous; rather, they have mutually exclusive identities—a structuralist stance taken by the earliest postcolonial theorists. Instead, such identities of 'colonizer' and 'colonized' are transcultural and fluid in nature and can negotiate themselves 'in the third space of enunciation' for 'new' forms of 'social collectives' (Bhabha, 1994). This aspect of hybrid identities provides the framework for our research. So, the study, through the textual analysis of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, has applied Bhabha's (1994) concept of 'hybridity' to unearth different aspects of Changez's identity in the wake of changing geopolitical and global scenario after the 9/11 event. The study ends on a note that there is a further need to develop the concept of hybrid identity so that it might enlighten us more about the role of 'cultural materials' in constructing such identities.

Pakistan Faces External Security Threats From Afghanistan and India

Zain Ul Abiden Malik — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:20:16 +0000

Pakistan's insecurity and uncertainty derive primarily from the country's eastern and western borders with India and Afghanistan. The withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in December 2014 created a leadership vacuum and political instability, potentially worsening regional security, particularly in Pakistan. Pakistan also does not want Afghanistan to fall prey to foreign intervention, especially from India, as this would exacerbate Pakistan's sub-nationalism issue. Kashmir's strategic position has been a point of contention between the two countries. Kashmir is vital to both countries because it is the source of water for most of the major rivers that flow into Pakistan. In terms of security issues with India, they are critical because the two countries have fought three wars, resulting in massive human and financial losses as well as destruction of the countries' infrastructure.

The Constructivist Teaching Approach and Academic Achievement in English: An Empirical Evidence of Secondary School Students

Aroona Hashmi, Hina Wishal, Dr. Tanvir Kiyani — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Constructivism is a vibrant and self-motivated coaching paradigm that implies the establishment of the latest academic conceptions relying on the pupil’s past educational experiences.

Constructive teaching approach (CAT) accompanied with PQRST method (Preview, Question, Read, Summarize and Test) considered as an efficient way for progression of the students’ comprehension regarding skills of English subject matter. This study aimed to find the effect of constructive teaching approach (PQRST) on 9^th graders academic achievement in the provided subject of English. Quasi experimental Pre-test-posttest research design had employed to fulfill the fundamentals of the current study. Two intact groups were randomly selected, and teacher made achievement test used to take the score. Control group was instructed English conventionally whereas treatment group was instructed through PQRST under the shade of CAT. Pre-test scores demonstrated an insignificant statistical difference between both groups but after getting treatment for 12 weeks experimental group exposed a momentous positive statistical discrepancy in scores via getting instruction through PQRST. The current research recommends constructivist teaching approach along with PQRST may be used for the improvement of students’ reading and comprehension skills in the subject matter of English which can enhance their achievement overall.

Role of Personal Factors in Epistemological Access to Higher Education: Comparison of Public and Private Universities in Pakistan

Dr. Irfana Rasul, Dr. Seema Arif, Dr. Muhammad Nadeem — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The aim of this study was to find the difference between the perceptions of students of public and private universities regarding relationship of personal factors (comprising four sub-factors (personal competency, participation in university activities, personal efforts for improvement, personal willingness) and epistemological access. A survey was held with undergraduate students of eight universities (4 public & 4 private) in Pakistan. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the sample that targeted 1600 under-graduate students of 6^thsemester from two faculties (Information and Technology, and Business School) of 8 universities (4 private and 4 public) situated in the province of Punjab and Islamabad (Capital Territory) in Pakistan. The data were collected through a self-constructed questionnaire during the academic session ‘Fall 2018-2019.’ Data was recorded on SPSS and treated statistically; after confirmatory factor analysis, one-way ANOVA was conducted to find the difference between perceptions of students of public and private universities across 5 factors stated above. The results showed that significant difference existed between perceptions regarding provision of epistemological access among four out of five factors. In three cases (personal competency, participation in university activities and personal willingness for improvement) the perceptions of private students were better than the students of public universities, whereas, the public university students’ perceptions were better in personal efforts for improvement. It was deduced from the results of Pearson correlation that there existed a positive relationship among the mentioned constructs— personal competency, personal effort for improvement, and epistemological access. However, no significant difference was found between students of public & private universities regarding provision of epistemological access in their respective universities.

Analyzing the Role of Contemporary Teaching Techniques and Importance of Drama in Learning English as a Foreign Language

Dr. Saba Sadia, Dr. Rana Umair Nadeem, Dr. Afsheen Sallahddin — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This research explores the important activities and principles of the teaching of drama in learning English as a foreign language. This research is qualitative in nature and the analysis is based on theoretical grounds and a strong theoretical framework. It concentrates on the brief history of drama in education, its basic principles, techniques, and the possibilities and advantages that drama in education brings into English language learning. The aim of this research, Drama in Learning English as a Foreign Language, is not only to introduce drama in education to the readers but also present drama in the context of English language learning, and subsequently support the concept of drama being an English language learning method. I define drama, its general concepts, principles, and aims. I concentrate on the role of drama in learning English as a foreign language, its techniques, and the benefits that drama brings into the learning. This research is helpful for the teachers to understand the drama and activates related to it in the classroom.

The Popular Political Parties and their Participation in Pakistan’s Democratic System

Dr. Zahid Yasin, Iqra jathol, Dr. Muhammad Muzaffar — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract:

Since independence of Pakistan on 14 August, 1947; role Political parties are one of the most important and influential element of Pakistan’s politics. Two popular parties have had ruled various periods in Pakistan's history. This article tries to examine their participation and their role in politics and Pakistan’s democratic system. Question arises that how political parties and their actions influence on state’s democratic system. This document also seeks to debate the part of major political parties in the development process of Pakistan’s politics when they are in power or in opposition. The political system in Pakistan is not well developed. As a result, the people of Pakistani are deprived of adequate leadership, which is seen as a threat to Pakistan‘s national security or domestic system.

Key words: Political parties, power, democratic system, leadership.

Foreign Language Teaching and Development of Language skills :A Pakistani Perspective

Dr. Syeda Naureen Mumtaz, Dr.Uzma Quraishi — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

The study was attempted to explore as to what extent English language teaching in Pakistan has been able to develop language skills among the target learners. The researcher intended to evaluate the limit to which the textbook helps in generating competence of all four integrated skills, especially as laid down in the standards of the National Curriculum (2006). The purpose of this study was to create pragmatic awareness among learners, teachers and educational professionals, working in the field of English as Foreign Language. By method , it was a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were the tools used to elicit the data. The participants of this research were selected from public sector schools and organizations including, teachers, policymakers, curriculum developers, subject specialists, and students to examine the effectiveness of grade VIII’s English language textbook on students’ performance . For data analysis themes were developed, coded and summarized in a descriptive mode. The findings of this study reflected that the relevant textbook does not cater to the target learners’ future academic and professional language needs. As a solution to the problems while teaching and learning English as foreign language in Pakistan; this study also offered a model to be followed by the policy makers and practitioners in order to make the existing English language textbook more effectives in terms of foreign language teaching and learning and language skill development.

Key Words: Foreign language acquisition, Language skills, National Curriculum( 2006)

Whether Households are Willing to Pay for Clean Water Supply in Sialkot, Pakistan? An Elucidation

Dr. Muhammad Hassam Shahid, Dr.Ashfaq Ahmad, Dr.Wasim ul Rehman — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Waterborne diseases due to contaminated water remain a severe problem in most of the developing world. The situation is serious in Sialkot the district of Punjab where groundwater is contaminated due to effluents' improper disposal. The current study is designed to find the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) by households for clean drinking water supply in the affected area. A contingent valuation survey approach and a stratified random sampling technique have been applied. A double bounded dichotomous choice question followed by an open-ended question format has been used to elicit WTP and maximum willingness of the respondents for clean drinking water supply. Logit and Multiple Linear Regression Model is used as an econometric tool to analyze the data. The results reveal that as the income of the respondent increases, the WTP for the clean water supply also increases. While multiple regression reveals a monthly mean WTP of Rs. 234.54 which is greatly affected by age, household income, education, and environmental awareness i.e. respondents with higher household income and a higher level of education are willing to pay more for a clean water supply. Residents who are living closer to the tanneries are more affected and their WTP is higher.

Keywords: Willingness to Pay, Clean drinking water, Contingent Valuation Method, Binomial Logit Regression, Leather Tanneries, Sialkot, Pakistan

Induction Program of Teacher Training of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Light of Standards for Elementary Teachers in Pakistan

Dr Muhammad Idris, Dr. Itbar Khan, Adil Khan — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This study looked at the induction training program introduced by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the light of National Professional Standards for Elementary Teachers (NPSET) in Pakistan. For this purpose, five necessary standards for teaching were compared with the induction training. A qualitative research design was used, 20 teacher trainees were purposively selected for detailed interview-based on five National professional Standards for Elementary Teachers in Pakistan. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis technique, the interviews were transcribed, categorize, and then thermalized. From data analysis it was found that the induction program was not based on national professional standards as the focus of induction was not on the professional development of teachers rather its focus was on content teaching. It was recommended that induction should bring some changes within its practice as this program needs to focus more on professionalism rather than content teaching and hence must focus on professionalism rather than content teaching.

Formal Education Vs Health Literacy: An Insight into Treatment Outcome of the Randomized Control Trial of MDR-TB Patients in Pakistan

Ankasha Arif , Eatzaz Ahmad, Farzana Naheed Khan , Razia Fatima — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes the impact of education, health policy initiatives i.e. selection of treatment arms of ambulatory vs. hospital care and financial incentives under taken by the National Tuberculosis Program of Pakistan (NTP) on the outcome of cure of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis patients. The data of 370 patients enrolled in randomized control trial is collected from three TB centers of Lahore, Karachi and Murree and multi-variate logistic regression method is applied. The empirical findings show that formal education and selection of treatment arm do not significantly affect the outcome of the cure. However, health literacy provided by the NTP plays vital role in improving the treatment outcomes. Therefore, it is suggested that health literacy should be focused in our formal education for the improvement of the health-status of the nation. Moreover, WHO (2011) recommendation of shift towards ambulatory care is applicable for Pakistan and financial incentives should continue as it reduces the treatment burden for patients.

Article Transforming Pedagogy: Studying the Relationship between Students’ Self-Regulated Learning and Academic Achievement at Higher Education

Dr. Asia Zulfqar, Dr. Bashir Hussain — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Recently an increasing focus has been observed on the learner-centred approaches for their role in preparing more independent and skilful graduates. Of these active learning styles, self-regulated learning has received greater attention in higher education. In this context, it is highly important to examine current state of self-regulated learning adopted by students, along with examining the gender differences and the nature of discipline in adopting self-regulated learning. Considering this situation, the prime objective of the study was to map the link between students' self-regulated learning and their academic achievement in their related disciplines, and on basis of their gender. Using the descriptive design, a quantitative survey was used to collect the data from 300 students of two public sector universities of Pakistan. A questionnaire was adopted to collect data from students to measure their level of adopted self-regulated learning and CGPA. Simple linear regression and t-test and ANOVA were applied to reach to certain results. Our findings rejected the main hypothesis that there is no impact of self-regulated learning on students’ academic achievement. Likewise, this study could not identify the difference in view of adopting self-regulated learning strategies by male and female students at higher education. However, in view of measuring SRL at faculty level, students from the faculty of science adopted self-regulated learning strategies to some extent. Next to concrete discussion in relation to these findings limitations and directions for future researches were stressed.

Use of Non-verbal Communication in Pedagogic Practices at Public High Schools in Lahore

Dr. Irfana Rasul, Dr. Muhammad Nadeem, Ms Ayesha Afzal — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

It was a descriptive research which studied the use of non-verbal communication in the pedagogic practices at secondary school level in Lahore. The study was conducted to examine the practices of teachers’ non-verbal communication used in conjunction with verbal communication in actual classroom setting by teachers which affected the participation and performance level of learners. It investigated the students’ understanding, interpretation of and attitude towards non-verbal communication used by teachers and identified the existing barriers for the use of non-verbal communication strategies to improve students’ learning. The non-verbal communication was restricted to five factors—physical appearance, facial expressions, eye contact, spatial distance and paralinguistic. The study was limited to the subject of English (compulsory) at the female secondary schools in public sector. The sample comprised of 1200 students and 40 teachers from female public high schools of Lahore (Punjab), Pakistan. The study recommended that all female teachers at secondary level schools should be provided an orientation in non-verbal communication which would help them to use these skills in their teaching methodologies. While recognizing the importance of non-verbal communication, the curriculum planners and policy makers should take practical steps to make it a part of teacher education programs for the training of prospective teachers. Moreover, an awareness among students shall be created on how to interpret and reflect upon the teachers’ non-verbal communication signals during teaching-learning process.

Keywords: Non-verbal, physical appearance, eye contact, paralanguage, body movements, facial expressions, gestures, high school, interaction

LOTFI A. ZADEH PHENOMENON IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) SYSTEM

KHATIRA GULİYEVA — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Lotfi A. Zadeh, whose 100th anniversary is celebrated all over the world in 2021, is a genius bestowed by the Azerbaijani people to the scientific world of thought.

Lotfi A. Zadeh the only phenomenon was chosen as a lifetime professor for great services in the field of artificial intelligence from the AI Institute.

The author's article titled "Lotfi A. Zadeh phenomenon in the development of the world artificial intelligence (Aİ) system" describes the life and rich scientific activity of the world-renowned Azerbaijani scientist Lotfi A. Zadeh.

İt is impossible to understand and imagine the methodology of artificial intelligence, which is currently relevant all over the world, without the philosophy of these sciences, including the theories of Lotfi A. Zade.

According to Google Scholar, as of February 2021, Lotfi A. Zadeh's work has been cited about 270,000 times in scholarly works, with the 1965 Fuzzy sets paper receiving more than 115,000 citations .

The author also sought to evaluate the methodological and practical relationship of Lotfi A.

Zadeh's idea and scientific navigation in an interdisciplinary direction.

Textbooks & Nationhood: A Content Analysis of Punjab Secondary Curriculum English Textbooks During Early Ayub Khan Era in Pakistan

Sumaira Noreen — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 05:52:29 +0000

Textbooks are great artefacts in the hands of governments that help in fostering the sense of nationhood among students. The present study analyses aspects of nationhood as depicted in the Punjab’s secondary curriculum English textbooks of early Ayub Khan’s rule in Pakistan. Adopted as the main focal theme, the concept of nationhood is operationalized into three categories, including modernization, Pakistan society and culture, and glorious history. The sample textbooks include English textbooks of Short Poem Collection and Secondary Stage English that were Published by Punjab University Board during early 1960s. Based on content analysis of textbooks, data findings reveal that the notion of nationhood is taken up through progress-based modernization, promotion of indigenous culture and society as well as military glorious history, and not much on religious ideology as often claimed in scores of analytic writings about textbook contents of Pakistan.

Creative Abilities of Students and Teaching for Creativity; A Comparative Study of Public and Private Schools of Lahore City

Samra Bashir, Humera Amin, Syeda Beenish Batool — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:26:45 +0000

This study was designed to explore the creative thinking abilities of primary school students in Pakistan. The study also explored teachers’ perceptions about the creative abilities of students. Multistage sampling was applied to select the sample. Four primary schools (2 from public sector and 2 from private sector) from Lahore city were selected randomly to collect the data. 100 students and 100 teachers were selected by applying cluster sampling. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) were conducted to identify the abilities of students related to creativity. A questionnaire was developed to identify the perceptions of teachers regarding the development of creativity among students. Reliability of the questionnaire was .855. Independent sample t-test was applied to identify the difference between the creativity of public and private sector school students and perceptions of teachers. Findings show that students who were studying in private schools are more competent in creative writing and have more expressive ability than public school students. Teachers of private schools were using the methods and techniques more effectively for teaching creativity. The study has important implications for the development or otherwise of creativity in primary schools in Pakistan.

Evaluation of Ilm Ideas Phase I Programme of UK aid for Education in Pakistan

Nauman Abdullah, Dr. Sadaf Jabeen, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Akhtar — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:24:36 +0000

The role of donor agencies is considered significant in supporting the social development of developing countries, especially the education sector. UK aid also supports the education system of Pakistan to uplift its education indicators and educational outcomes. Ilm ideas programme was one such reform initiative by UK aid for Pakistan with the purpose to improve access to quality education, increase awareness on transparency and accountability, and enhancing the learning of students. This research was undertaken to evaluate this programme using document analysis technique. The evaluation was done with a focus on recipients’ perspective as it further compared and analysed the results of the programme with outcomes and indicators of education system of Pakistan. This has given the actual picture of the interventions and their outcomes. The research outcomes have multifold significance for education sector of Pakistan, UK aid, indigenous and international research scholar and critics. Programme evaluation practices might also increase as a result of this research.

The Emerging trend Women entrepreneurship in Pakistan

Samina Yaqoob — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:30:34 +0000

Though the field of entrepreneurship is continuously growing and mature but still there is a need to explore the role of women entrepreneurship in developing countries. This study highlight, how women execute her entrepreneurial venture while facing different challenges such as cultural, social, and economic constraints etc.? Moreover, how she can play her best role for the welfare of society in developing countries. Our results showed that female entrepreneurial activities herald the optimization of their social and economic wellbeing, moreover it benefits to society through, wealth creation, poverty reduction etc. In this study Gioia methodology was undertaken to explore the women entrepreneur growth route in Pakistan. By the analysis of women personal experience author identified different social, cultural, financial constraints during the growth phase. The new emerging model provide the useful basis for future research imperatives.

Development of Oral Communicative Competence: A Teachers’ Perspective

Dr.Naureen Mumtaz, Dr. Uzma Quraishi — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:28:14 +0000

This study was an attempt to determine the point to which the English language textbook, “English for Class 8” prescribed by the Punjab Textbook Board fulfills the learners ‘language learning needs of English as foreign language in Pakistan. The study aimed to explore as to what degree the suggested textbook increases the likelihood of learning the language and the diligent effort to development oral communicative competence (OCC) among the target learners. A quantitative approach enabled the researcher to comprehensively answer the research question. The results indicate that the relevant course book fails to facilitate the target learners to acquire English as foreign language to enable them to use the language for communicative purposes. The tasks presented in the textbook, do not focus on sociolinguistic and extended verbal expression in speech of the target language. By including tasks that challenge the learners to engage themselves in producing meaningful utterances, the present English language textbook can become even better a tool to develop speech proficiency.

RELATIONSHIP OF EMPLOYEE TRAINING, EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT, TEAM WORK WITH JOB SATISFACTION

Abdul Khaliq, Dr. Umar Safder Kayani, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Mir — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:26:32 +0000

Current research is designed to check the impact of employee training, employee empowerment, team work on job satisfaction. Employee training, employee empowerment, team work are independent variables and job satisfaction is dependent variable. Overall, 160 employees of banks employees who are working at managerial level are selected randomly. Results indicates that employee training, employee empowerment, team work has significant positive impact on job satisfaction. It is also seen that teamwork is emerging as strong predictor of job satisfaction the employee empowerment is second good predictor of job satisfaction. In future researches, this kind of researches will be also conducted in other kind of industries like hotel industry, telecom sector and education sector. In future researches some other potential predictors of job satisfaction like employee compensation, employee appraisal will also include. It is also better to include some better outcomes like employee loyalty and employee productivity for generalization.

Urdu Translation and Validation of Trust in Close Relationship Scale

Hira Jahangier , Dr. Syeda Shahida Batool — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:25:07 +0000

The current study aimed to translate Trust in Close Relationship Scale in Urdu for married couples in Pakistan and to establish its psychometric properties. The forward and backward translation method was used for the translation of the scale followed by the try-out phase.

After determining the cross language validation, in order to confirm the factor structure of the scale, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was run. The sample comprised of 250 participants of different age groups (M = 39.7, SD = 10.1). The results of CFA supported the original three-factor structure of the scale (viz., Avoidance, Benevolence and Retaliation) by providing a good model fit to the data with values of X² = 229.61 (df = 110, p < .001), CFI =.91, GFI = .91, and RMSEA = .06. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was α= .87. The convergent validity of the scale was determined on a sample of 100 participants by finding its correlation with Trust Scale (r = .72, p < .001). The results support that the scale has promising.

Tracing Cultural Morphing and Diasporic Identical Apprehensions: Post-Partitioned (1947) Contextual Ideologies in Liquid Modern Era

Hassan Bin Zubair, Dr. Nighat Ahmed — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:20:08 +0000

This research explores the diasporic experiences of South Asian immigrants and cultural ambivalence in Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss (2006). It highlights the conditions when East Pakistan had to adjust to an altogether new environment separated from their original culture after the Partition of this subcontinent in the year 1947. It reveals that the same historical, ideological, and thematic properties have been coming through generations and diasporic writers select these themes as their major subject of discussion. This research explores the varied nuances of family relationships in the writings of recent diaspora writers like Desai. The surge of globalization has washed away solitary identities. Theories presented by Homi K. Bhabha and Stuart Hall help this study in finding the answers of the proposed research question. This research provides a chance to understand the impact of Post-Partitioned (1947) ideologies behind the theme selection in the writings of diasporic Anglophone writers.

Risking and Securing Out of School Children: Parents’ Perspective in a Semi-Urban Community

Mamonah Ambreen, Muhammad Athar Hussain — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:18:20 +0000

The present research article deals with the perspective of parents regarding the future of their out of school children and their concept of educational development. Qualitative research techniques which includes in-depth interviews, participant observation and FGDs were used for data collection. Bari Imam, near Quaid i Azam University Islamabad was the research site. Purposive sampling technique was used and only those parents were chosen who had out of school children. To understand the parents’ perspective about out of school children, the concepts have been borrowed from Social Learning Theory, which has three major components e.g. observation, imitating and then modeling. Results of the study indicated that parents had serious reservations about the educational system of Pakistan and the future outcome of education. They preferred short-term to boost their household economy rather than a long term investment on their children’s education which is necessary for the social as well as the personal development. Under the influence of social learning, parents imitating others started sending their children to acquire technical skills, which brought early monetary rewards. Study concluded that, parents were forced to send their children for earning rather than to the schools. Mainstream culture prevailing in the area was to send the children for vocational and technical trainings for rapid monetary benefits. In the current scenario the natives influenced each other which was positive in the context of money and rewards, but negative for the child’s educational development.

Pandemic induced uncertainties, challenges and threats to developing countries: A case study of Pakistan

Mazhar Chishti, Ambreen Afzal, Madiha Afzal — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:13:42 +0000

The aim of this investigation is about the economic effects of Coronavirus, broadly branded as COVID-19. Since its initiation in China, it has cast-iron a large number of lives of human while living millions in isolate in view of viral diseases. Where it brings significant human affliction, it additionally makes worldwide economic interruptions around the world. It obstructs development and smooth activity of businesses of all kinds which badly hamper the balance of trade, exports, imports; public spending, remittances, capital formation process and financial markets all are in the dangers of COVID-19. The whole world goes through a similar example for example curfews and lockdown of changing degrees leaving markets and working environments dead. It stops income age as well as acquires an extraordinary expense to states while managing with worldwide pandemic in the midst of general wellbeing. Accordingly, its economies effects are all the more distressing and subverting. The economies like Pakistan which is already facing political and economic trials is in intimidating position alongside negative developments are confronting a lack of assets to battle with it not to mention bearing income misfortune.

Teachers focus to practice formative assessment techniques and Blooms Taxonomy: Assessment of class practices of prospective teachers

Samra Bashir, Tanzila Karim, Nadia Akram — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:07:55 +0000

The key objective of the study was to find out the formative assessment techniques used by teachers of a public sector university of Lahore city. To achieve this objective a B.Ed. (Hons) class comprising 40 prospective teachers and five teachers involved in teaching were purposively selected. Data was collected by developing two instruments: An observation schedule and a questionnaire. To ensure the reliability of observation, inter observer agreement was followed and reliability coefficient of questionnaire was identified as 0.839. Six observations of each teacher were calculated. Data was analyzed by using SPSS software. Findings of study showed that teachers usually ask questions and give examples in classroom and the other techniques to assess students’ learning are generally ignored. Teachers assess lower cognitive abilities of students in the classroom. The study suggests that teachers need training for the use of assessment techniques in their classes.

A Comparative Study of Teacher’s knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior’s Regarding Evidence Based Practices of Public and Private Universities in Lahore

Ms. Tahseen Arshad, Dr.Ghazala Noureen, Ms. Kiran Karamat — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:01:41 +0000

This study “A comparative study of teacher’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding Evidence-based practices of public and private universities in Lahore” investigates the difference between knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of public and private university teachers by adopting questionnaire as a tool of data collection. The study targeted the three hundred teachers of public and private universities of Lahore. The main objective of the study was to compare the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of public and private university teachers.

Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show that overall teachers have knowledge, positive attitudes and behaviors towards Evidence-based practices. Findings of comparison indicate public sector teachers have higher knowledge and more positive attitude towards EBP as compare to private sector teachers. But on the other hand, behavior of private sector teachers was more positive than public sector teachers.

Key words: Comparative, evidence-based practices, attitudes, behaviors

Relationship between Parents’ Education and their children’s Academic Achievement

Dr. Muhammad Idris, Dr. Sajjad Hussain, Dr. Nasir Ahmad — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:58:11 +0000

This study explored the relationship between parents’ education and their children's academic achievement focusing on father and mother educational level for their children's academic achievement. Tenth class students of government high schools at District Mardan constituted the population of the study. The study employed systematic random sampling techniques to select students as a sample of the study. Through a self-developed questionnaire, the data were collected from the respondents of the study. The findings of the study revealed that the high education of father and mother positively contributes to their children's academic achievement. Large co-relation was found between parents’ education and students’ academic achievement. On the basis of the findings, the study recommended introducing adult education programs, awareness campaigns, and the use of social media for community education.

Utilizing Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) for Teaching English to Non- Formal Learners in Pakistan

Muhamamd Mooneeb Ali, Zoobia Asad, Shagufta Moghal — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:39:22 +0000

Non formal education is an important education type that helps the availability and continuity of education where formal schooling is not available. English language learning assumes a significant role in the National Educational program. Despite its importance, English Language learning is a problematic area for learners in the formal and non-formal education systems. This research intends to explore the importance of using mobile assisted language learning (MALL) in non-formal English language environments in Pakistan. The population of this research comes from various institutions all over Punjab, Pakistan, where 60 non - formal learners were chosen through simple random sampling method. The research design was experimental whereas test (pre and post) was used as a tool to collect data. The findings present that MALL created a significant impact on English Language learning of non-formal learners. It further ascertained that MALL can be an attractive and result oriented method in non-formal settings.

Influence of Teachers’ Behavior on students’ Academic Achievement at University Level

Dr. Hina Munir, Dr. Afrina Afzal, Rahima Arshad — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:37:27 +0000

The aim of this study was to explore influence of teachers’ behavior on students’ academic achievement at university level. Researcher applied quantitative research method and used simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire were administered among sample of 387 students of social sciences departments of different universities. Collected data were analyzed applying Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results of the study showed that all the factors (Classroom Activities, Rules, routine & support, concerned behavior and Negative Behavior) of teachers’ behavior are highly correlated with each other and with the students’ academic achievement but there was also a positive but weak relationship between two factors Rules routine & support and Negative Behavior. This study concluded that the majority of students were found to be satisfied with the positive behavior of their teachers. The results of the study also showed that there is a significant correlation between the teachers’ behavior and students’ academic achievement.

Intervening Role of Metacognition to Improve Task performance in Prospective Teachers: An Experimental Study

Ghazal Khalid Siddiqui, Huma Lodhi, Tahira Kalsoom — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:27:36 +0000

The teachers are trained with the aim to provide the necessary knowledge and skills that could help them in dealing with difficulties that they face during teaching, from the planning of a lesson to its implementation. All those skills could be developed among prospective teachers during the phase of their learning. The current study was supposeded to assess the implementation of such skills in classrooms and then measure its effect on the students’ performance. For this purpose, a quasi-experiment was carried out. Consequently, two intact groups enrolled in the third semester of B.Ed. honors at a public university were considered as a sample of the study. Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) by Schraw and Dennison (1994) was adapted to test Metacognition. Parallel to this, the researcher developed rubrics and observation sheets to assess students’ performance of tasks. Results of the current research reflected that metacognition development has a significant effect on the task performance of students who received the intervention. In light of these results, it is suggested that teacher training institutes should consider the development of Metacognition among their students. Teachers should incorporate different techniques that help them in inculcate metacognition development among their students.

The Perceptions of Parents and Teachers about the Classroom Environment and Morality

Dr.Afsheen Salahuddin — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:20:27 +0000

The basic objective of this study was to explore the issues of morality in the classroom environment and to look for the ways to teach moral values to the students during their classes. This small scale study has tried to provide some solutions to this issue. The present study has adopted a qualitative paradigm for the in-depth analyses of the issues regarding morality and classroom education. The study includes semi structured interviews taken from ten parents whose children are studying at the university level. Moreover ten university teachers were also interviewed to know about their views regarding the issue of how to teach moral values to the students in the classroom setting along with teaching. The interviewees were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The interviews were semi structured so that real views of the teachers and parents could be explored and also to make them feel relaxed. The interview consisted of five open ended questions. The interviews were recorded and later transcribed and then they were analysed by utilising the thematic analysis technique. The major themes which emerged after the analysis were that first of all, teacher should be a role model practicing the moral values himself/herself. Another theme was bridging the gap between parents and children, also enhancing friendliness among the teachers and their students so that students could be taught how to observe certain ethics and values in the classroom settings in an informal way like showing some videos or discussing some news which highlight some moral issues. Another theme was to develop a model based on moral education which should be incorporated into the curriculum of the educational institutes. The study provided some effective solutions which if incorporated in the classroom teaching can be helpful in solving the issue of morality among the students.

ROLE OF PAKISTANI PRINT MEDIA IN PROMOTING CLEAN AND GREEN PAKISTAN CAMPAIGN

Moneeba Iftikhar, Urwah Iftikhar , Mehwish Mukhta — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:12:01 +0000

The aim of the research is to inspect the role of Pakistani Print Media (Daily Jang, Nawa-i-Waqt, Dawn and The News) in promoting Clean and Green Pakistan Campaign during selected time period from February to April in 2019. A sample of Total 356 newspapers was used in which 112 newspapers were taken from the month of February, 124 newspapers from the month of March and 120 newspapers from the month of April. The research was based on the Issue Attention Cycle by ‘Anthony Downs’. In this analysis, in the perspective of news and advertisements published in the selected newspapers, Chi-Square test was applied for two hypothesis testing, the test showed insignificant results for H1 and significant results for H2.

Keywords: Print Media, Clean and Green Pakistan Campaign, Image Building

Prospects and Challenges to Arms Control in South Asia

Muhammad Naveed Qaisar — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:10:43 +0000

In recent past, India attempts to modernize its arm forces. The technological advancement in conventional precision strike together with perception of increasing advantage of offensive weapons has led to precarious Indo-Pakistan stability. As a consequence, the latter has reciprocated by increasing existing number of nuclear weapons and delivery means. The above mentioned technological and political developments have increasingly become risky with incentives to launch a first strike. As a result, security dilemma is increasing which may led to war. For ensuring deterrence stability it is imperative that both sides place certain limits on the offensive nature of their weapons system.

Key words: India and Pakistan, Security dilemma, Anti-ballistic missile defense, tactical nuclear weapons,offense and defense, arms control

A Comparative Study of English Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by Iranian Bilinguals and Monolinguals

Farzad Sabeki, Rezvaneh Karimzadeh — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 08:09:03 +0000

The present study is an attempt to explore English vocabulary learning strategies employed by Iranian EFL undergraduate Baluch-Persian bilingual and Persian monolingual students in the University of Sistan and Baluchestan. The study utilized a between-groups research design. The participants of this study were 33 bilingual (Baluch-Persian) and 34 monolingual (Persian) students with an intermediate level of English. Their age ranged from 19 to 24 and. In order to collect the data, adapted version of Schmitt’s (1997) Vocabulary Learning Strategy Questionnaire (VLSQ) with a five-point Likert scale was administrated. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and independent samples t-test. The results indicated that EFL students use a wide range of vocabulary learning strategies. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between bilinguals and monolinguals regarding English VLSs. Finally, the paper ends up with a number of pedagogical implications for English teachers.

Does Pakistan’s Intellectual Property Law Conform to International Intellectual Property Law? An Overview

Ghulam Murtiza, Dr. Qamar Abad — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 03:02:56 +0000

Piracy and counterfeiting are not a problem of any one country or region but these evils have engulfed the whole world. That’s why in the presence of these evils we are unable to take advantage of the benefits of intellectual property. To eradicate these evils, each country has its own laws in accordance with international intellectual property law. Pakistan also has intellectual property laws. This research seeks to determine whether Pakistan’s intellectual property law is in line with international intellectual property law. For this purpose, an overview of legal and institutional framework for intellectual property in Pakistan and at international level has been taken. This study concludes that Pakistan’s intellectual property law conforms to international standards and the only requirement is that these laws be enforced effectively.

A China and India: On the Edge of Water Disputes and Co-operation

Naila Afzal, zahid yaseen, Muhammad Muzaffar Muhammad Muzaffar — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the scarcity of water within two populous states of the world, World has challenge of water war owing the water conflict between the two thirsty nations of the world that might transfer into global war. Qualitative as well as quantitative research methodology was used. Ramification of the study is founded under the current diplomatic and bilateral scenario of the two states, upper riparian states of the region including China and India wanted to divert river water flow to avoid water scarcity in future that might damage agriculture and industry of lower riparian states. It is also recommended that United Nation and other International Organizations should play their part and introduce agreed law and policy of water distribution for the protection of global water conflict.

Evaluation of Students’ Opinions on Mathematics Teaching Process Designed According to Multiple Intelligence Theory

Tamer Kutluca, Seval Laçin, Samet GUNDUZ — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this research, it is aimed to introduce the teaching process related to the mathematics course designed according to multiple intelligence theory and to evaluate the students’ opinions about the teaching process. Action research design was used in the research. Purposeful sampling method was used in the research group. The research group consisted of 18 students attending a high school. As a result of the evaluation of the observation forms applied, the students developed materials and activities related to their own intelligence areas related to trigonometry. The interview form was analyzed with descriptive analysis method. As a result of the research, it was determined that the students stated that the lessons were more fun and they learned the subject more easily with the activities designed according to multiple intelligence theory. It was concluded that the students learned by doing by themselves because they prepared the materials themselves, they participated in the classes more actively but the application process took too much time and the learning environment was noisier.

THE IMPACT OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT ON PATIENT SATISFACTION: A FIELD STUDY IN THE HEALTH CENTERS OF THE SYRIANS IN GAZIANTEP

AHMET — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 16:12:07 +0000

The aim of this research in the health sector is about patient satisfaction in the health sector represented by these TQM’s indicators (top management commitment, benchmarking, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, continuous improvement). This included the impact of total quality management factors on patients’ satisfaction,

Difficulties while Conducting Research in Academia: Taking M.Phil Students’ Perspectives in Public and Private Universities

Dr. Ghazal Khalid Siddiqui, Muhammad Shahid Zulfiqar, Dr. Mubushra Khalid — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:06:00 +0000

The thesis work has been the integral part of the MPhil in Education program. However, it has been observed that students are in a great fix regarding the completion of their thesis work. So, the purpose was to investigate the difficulties encountered by the students during research at MPhil level. Their experiences were further examined on the basis of their gender and university type. The data was collected by the survey. The conveniently selected sample consisted of 300 MPhil students including male and female, studying in public as well as in private universities. The data was collected through a questionnaire which was a 4-point Rating Scale comprising 25 items. It has 3 factors: i) supervisor’ selection, ii) supervisors’ support, iii) institutional support. The descriptive statistics for calculating the percentage of students’ perspectives as well as Inferential Statistics (Mann-Whitney U tests) was used to find out the difference on the basis of students’ gender and university type. The results revealed that majority of students selected their supervisors themselves willingly, but few of them forced to select their supervisor on their teachers’ referrals, research topics were allotted to students by supervisors themselves. Their supervisors were not easily approachable as they were unable to give students the due time because of their academic and administrative burdensome responsibilities, even neither the concerned HOD/ director is available at ease for students nor they are provided the access to paid e-libraries. By keeping in mind, the importance of thesis in accomplishment of degrees of MPhil students, there is need to conduct further studies to explore supervisors’ point of view as some of the problems are concerned with the supervisors’ support too, that will help to minimize the students’ problems.

Human Resource Development and Management of Tertiary Education for global Competitiveness in Nigeria

Abdullahi, Nimota Jibola Kadir — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:58:50 +0000

This study investigated the extent to which boosting of staff morale, staff empowerment and team building served as a strategy for ensuring effective management of tertiary education for global competitiveness in Nigeria. Quantitative research design was used for the study. Seven public tertiary education institutions in Kwara State were purposely selected for the study. The view of 330 lecturers and 21 school managers were sampled through stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The population of this study comprised of 3,600 academic staff in public tertiary education institutions in Kwara State. Sample of 330 lecturers and 21 school mangers were selected with the use of Research Advisor (2006) table to determine the sample size of a known population. A self-designed questionnaire titled “Human Resource Development for Global Competitiveness Questionnaire” (HRDGCQ) was used to collect information for the study. The data collected were analyzed using t-test statistical analysis. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result revealed that there was no significant difference between the boosting of staff morale, staff empowerment, teem building and management of tertiary education for global competitiveness. It was recommended that effort should be made by government to continue boosting staff moral by providing conducive environment, proper support of staff, as well as participation of staff in organizational decision making. Staff empowerment should also be part of government priorities in the management of tertiary education. Furthermore, government and school administrators should encourage team building among lecturers so as to enhance effective management of tertiary education for global competitiveness in Nigeria.

Portrayal of Violence against Women Rights in Pashtun and Punjab Community: A Comparative Analysis of Daily Express Peshawar and Lahore Edition

Khayam Hassan, Dr. Sajjad Ali, Dr. Faiza Latif — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:51:21 +0000

The aim of this study was to find out the social construction of reality of media regarding women rights’ violation in Pashtuns and Punjabis communities in print media, for which Urdu daily Express was selected. The researchers collected data from the newspaper’s Peshawar and Lahore editions from January to March, 2015. For the data collection, the researchers used coding sheet which was devolved under the consideration of objective and research hypotheses. Data was collected through purposive sampling methodology. The results of the study explored that both the editions of the daily Express covered the issues of women rights’ violation. It also disclosed that Peshawar edition has given more coverage on the front, city and back pages to women rights violation than the Lahore edition. The results disclosed that the Lahore edition has not ethically covered news about women rights’ violation, while the Peshawar edition covered it more ethically. It is concluded that Peshawar-based journalists are following cultural values of Pashtun society, that is why the issue has been covered positively in the area.

Democracy in Afghanistan and External Actors

Dr. Mohammad Younus, Dr. Aisha Shahzad — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:43:21 +0000

The US responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by invading Afghanistan. The US invasion had two perceived objectives: Military and Political. The military objective was to eliminate Al-Qaida and Taliban in order to restore peace, while the political dimension was to rebuild the Afghan state and society from scratch, to establish a healthy democratic system which would put Afghanistan on the road to prosperity. In Dec 2001, nearly all the Afghan stakeholders, except Taliban, gathered along with the representatives of international community in Bonn, Germany. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the plans which would help to materialize the dream of a stable and democratic Afghanistan. The project of democratic Afghanistan envisioned at Bonn Conference in 2001 is still far from being achieved. All the attempts made by international community to establish democracy in Afghanistan have not been met with success. The study begins with the premise that there are certain pre-conditions which enhance the growth of democracy and unless the conditions are met, democratic stability will remain a distant dream in Afghanistan. This study surveys and analyzes the deterioration of democratic system in Afghanistan with special reference to the role of ethnic cleavages and the menacing influence of foreign actors. The study recommends policies that are aimed at reducing ethnic polarization by ensuring more equitable distribution of power and resources coupled with a realistic approach on the part of Kabul to take into account the legitimate security interests of regional countries in order to compel them to play a constructive role for achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Impact of Big five personality traits on Academic Achievement of Prospective Teachers

Dr. Aroona Hashmi, Qamar Naz — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:36:11 +0000

There are some specific trends and regularities of behavioral patterns in individuals which determine their personality traits. This study was aimed to determine the impact of big five personality traits on academic achievement of prospective teachers. A quantitative study was conducted by using the casual comparative research design. A sample of 759 prospective teachers was selected through proportionate stratified random sampling technique from two public universities. Big Five personality traits inventory (BFI) was adopted to collect data. Data was analyzed by applying inferential statistics. The findings showed the significant impact of personality traits like conscientiousness, openness to experience on prospective teachers’ academic achievement i.e. CGPA, while the impact of rest of the three variables i.e. extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism on academic achievement was not statistically significant. Findings also revealed that female prospective teachers were more emotionally stable than male prospective teachers. Accordingly, academic achievement of prospective teachers was predicted (20%) by big five personality traits, therefore it is recommended that teacher education Institutes arrange training sessions or workshops for providing guidance to educators and prospective teachers, to understand that every student possess different level of personality traits which have a great impact on their academic achievement.

Treasury Single Account System and Utilization of Internally Generated Revenue in University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

OMOSIDI, Abdulrahman Suyuti, ATOLAGBE, Adedapo. Adetiba, OLADIPUPO, Musa. Yekini — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:27:49 +0000

This study investigated the impact of TSA on revenue generation and utilization in the University of Ilorin. Since the implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) in 2015 by the present administration in government with the intention to control financial mismanagement which will consequently improve government revenue and economic growth; stakeholders, researchers, and the general public are interested to know the extent to which these objectives have been met. This study empirically examined the extent to which TSA has an effect on total revenue (Grant+IGR) and its utilization. Both the interview and secondary data were utilized for this study. The interview session was for the staff of the Bursary Department of the University. Total fund allocated (Grant+IGR) and its utilization at the University of Ilorin for the period 2012 – 2017 was collected from the Unilorin Annual Reports. The data were divided into two periods: Pre TSA period (2012 to 2014) and Post TSA period (2015 to 2017). A pre-post analysis (difference in means test) was carried out using SPSS version 20. Findings show that the implementation of the Treasury Single Account has improved revenue generation in the University. However, further findings revealed that University’s revenue utilization improved after the implementation of TSA from N6, 691,451,094.41 billion to N8, 928,707,239.14 billion. It was recommended that university administrators, should, as a matter of importance, device other means of boosting their internally generated revenue. This should, however, be done within the ambit of the law.

Emotional Intelligence and Life Satisfaction of Teachers Working at Special Education Institutions of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Dr. Ambreen Anjum, Dr. Aisha Shoukat, Dr. Amina Muazzam, Dr. Bisma Ejaz — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:17:10 +0000

The present study compared the level of life satisfaction and emotional intelligence of teachers employed at special education institutes, and teachers working at regular education institutes. The purposive sampling was used to select the sample for this study. The sample of the study was comprised of 100 teachers, 50 (male=25, female=25) working at special education institutions and 50 (male=25, female=25) regular education institutions of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The age range of participants was 21-60 years. Satisfaction with Life Scale, Self-report measure of Emotional Intelligence and demographic information sheet were individually applied. Results showed that special education teachers have a higher level of life satisfaction and Emotional intelligence as compared to the teachers employed at regular education institutions. As for as demographic variables are concerned the results of the present study indicated that there was no significant difference in the level of life satisfaction and emotional intelligence with regard to the gender and age of teachers working at special education of teachers.

The Impact of Total Qualıty Management on Patıent Satısfactıon: A Fıeld Study in the Health Centers of the Syrıans in Gazıantep

Prof. Dr. Abdulkadir BİLEN, Ahmet SITKI — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:06:54 +0000

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a major concern in business organizations and especially in the healthcare sector. The TQM philosophy focuses on the customer and focuses on how can the organization meets the customer's needs and wants, as well as the need to integrate activities within the organization. TQM focuses on continuous improvement of all aspects of the organization and on highlighting the excellence of all employees in the organization, with all management principles to manage jobs with few errors and low costs from start to finish. The aim of this research in the health sector is about patient’s satisfaction in the health sector represented by these TQM’ indicators (top management commitment, benchmarking, customer satisfaction, employee’s satisfaction, continuous improvement). This included the impact of total quality management factors on patients’ satisfaction.

Effects of learning together on senior school students’ achievement in photosynthesis and students’ gender in Offa, Nigeria

Mulkah Adebisi Ahmed, Khadijat Biola LAWAL — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 17:54:31 +0000

The poor performance of students in Biology is a concern of every teacher and has evoked research interests into learning strategies that can be used to improve the performance of students in Biology curriculum and other field of sciences. One of the fundamental qualities of a curriculum is dynamism, therefore there is need to investigate the activities that could promote Biology teaching in the secondary schools. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of learning together strategy on students’ academic achievement in photosynthesis and students’ gender. The study employs quasi-experimental design with control group for the collection of data. The population for the study composed of SSI students from Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The sample consisted of one hundred and seven-three students (173) that were purposely selected from four secondary schools. Data was collected through Biology Achievement Test on Photosynthesis. The researcher designed lesson plan and learning modules serves as guide for both the teachers and the students. The dependent samples t-test was used to analyze the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that learning together form of cooperative learning strategy enhanced better performance of students in Biology than the students taught using conventional method of teaching. In addition, learners expressed an increased interest, motivation and self-efficacy after exposure to learning together strategy. The study concluded that learning together form of cooperative learning strategy enhanced better performance of students in Biology. One of the recommendations therefore, is that students should be taught using learning together teaching strategy.

Privation of Home Sciences a Skill Based Subject to opt by the Students of Undergraduate Level

Sadia Farooq, Mubashra Khalid — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 18:32:51 +0000

Home Sciences is an exclusive, professional as well as skill-based subject. In actuality, people are not considering its valuable because of its perception of being joined to home activities. The research determines student, teacher and mother related factors influencing the student to adopt Home Sciences as a subject at undergraduate level. This study is quantitative, in which the data is collected by making three different questionnaires. The first one is filled by the students of Home Sciences at undergraduate level, the second is filled by the teachers who teach undergraduate level and the third questionnaire is filled by the mothers who had studied this subject at any level in their educational career and they have decided to have their girls enrolled in this subject. The analysis is concluded on the percentages which determine the deficits and ideasstated by the three types of respondents. Data results indicate that lack of facilities, finance problems, un-trained teaching staff and a very extensive syllabus make students unwilling to choose this subject even though they know its career opportunities. Teachers do not consider it the most useful subject at undergraduate level but consider it helpful for girls at home. Mothers are agreeable to having more creative teachers for this subject to teach their girls so it can be more useful for them in order to deal with everyday problems.

Life Satisfaction and Organizational Cynicism: How Teachers are affected

Ali Korkut, Mahire Aslan — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 18:24:16 +0000

Life satisfaction seems to be playing a vital role in the background as we go about our lives today in this day and age, no matter what we may do for a living. We sometimes think all about what we have experienced so far throughout our life as a whole and draw some conclusions. Teachers are however, the focal points for almost every government, community or society to date. Teaching, however, is more complex and intriguing than it is thought to be by the outsiders. Negative attitudes, lack of belief and alienation from the workplace, regarded as ‘organizational cynicism’ overall, are most significantvariables in this context. This study examines the relationship between life satisfaction and organizational cynicism in schools. It is designed as a quantitative research and analyzes data gathered from a sample of 198 teachers working in the southeastern part of Turkey. ‘The Satisfaction with Life Scale’ and ‘Organizational Cynicism Scale’ was utilized to gather data. The study focuses on teachers’ overall level of life satisfaction and organizational cynicism. Additionally, since correlational relationships were investigated, the results of the respondents indicated a negative correlation. Behavioural cynicism appears to be the most effective subscale on life satisfaction level of teachers.

Evaluation of English Language Teaching and Linguistics Program: A Case Study of Punjab University

Muhammad Irfan, Mumtaz Akhtar

The aim of this case study was to evaluate the Master of Arts in English Language teaching and Linguistics (MA ELTL) Program being offered by Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of the Punjab since 2003. English is taught as a compulsory subject up to graduation level and holds a central position in education system of Pakistan. The results of students in secondary, higher secondary and graduation level exams showed poor condition in English subject reflecting poor quality of learning English which is dependent on quality of teachers. The quality of English teachers depends on the quality and effectiveness of teacher education program. However, the quality of teacher education program becomes a prime determinant for quality of learning. Among various aspects of program quality, level of preparedness of its prospective teachers is most widely used feature. Therefore, this evaluative case study was planned to investigate preparedness level of prospective teachers in 20 domains identified through literature as essential components of a quality teacher education program. The prospective teachers of final semester (PTFS) and alumni of the MA ELTL program rated their level of preparedness to teach in real world classrooms after receiving training through this program. The instruments; a self-reported survey questionnaire from PTFS and alumni’s (N=196) as well as an observation schedule of 20 PTFS to observe their classroom practices were used. Findings showed that PTFS and alumni were moderately prepared in instruction, curriculum, professionalism, and English language teaching skills. The study recommended that duration and quality of practice teaching should be improved. Prospective teachers must be trained to apply theoretical knowledge into practical teaching under the guidance of instructors.