Research Journal for Societal Issues

Barriers to the Digital Game-Based learning at Secondary level In Punjab: Perceptions of Pre-Service Teachers

Shahbaz Hamid, Rabia Tabassum, Noor Muhammad — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Teachers’ main aim is to make the students learn with interest by adding daily life activities and examples to get long-lasting effects on their learning. Introducing digital games in the classroom is a new innovative approach that makes it easy for students to learn new skills and knowledge. However, teachers are not frequently using this approach in their classrooms. The present quantitative descriptive study has explored the barriers that hinder teachers from using digital game-based learning approaches. Pre-service teacher perceptions were sought in the teacher training colleges, i.e., district campuses of Quaid-i-Azam Academy for Educational Development in Punjab. After checking its validity and reliability, a self-constructed closed-ended online questionnaire was used for data collection. The alpha value of the questionnaire was .825. All the pre-service teachers studying in the district campuses of Quaid-i-Azam Academy for Educational Development, Punjab were the population of the study. The online survey remained open for about one month, and 384 responses were received from pre-service teachers throughout the Punjab province. Data were collected based on five-point Likert type scale. Collected data was put into SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 25 and descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to get the study results. Major findings include that availability of insufficient resources, teachers’ lack of skills and use of digital tools, and difficulties in managing technology in the classroom are the main barriers to implementing digital game-based learning in the public secondary schools of Punjab. The study benefits stakeholders, policymakers, and decision-makers and has added new knowledge in education.

Women Representatives and Politics of Image Construct in Pakistan: A Study of Parliamentary Debates on Selected Issues (2013-2018)

Shahla Gul, Muqarrab Akbar — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Politics and political process across the world has generated a debate that how to create an inclusive democracy in which vulnerable segments of the society has to be provided a sense of equality and justice. Pakistan since 1947 and onward has undergone a systemic change to address multiple issue and problems that needed to refurbish its social and political system to accommodate the justified concerns of the subjected parts of the polity. Women quota was increased in political representation which helped them to break the glass ceiling effect and gave a sense of self-construction. In the parliament, they automated the concept ‘personal is political’ to dispel the social taboos which were working under the auspices of patriarchy and religiosity. In the above given time span of the government, women parliamentarians raised their voices over all kinds of issues and abridged the gulf between public and private. Despite toeing party lines of which they are nominee, they were successful in creating niche for them in the domain of politics. They developed their own caucus to make their identity meaningful in the politics of Pakistan. Parliamentary debates from archives of the parliament were consulted for this research.

The Disaster Profile of Pakistan & Its Management Strategies

Sumera Ishrat, Nousheen Hameed — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Natural Disaster is a harsh truth from which nobody can escape and Pakistan has been generally powerless against natural disasters by its novel geo-climatic conditions. Floods, cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes, and landslides have been an intermittent peculiarity. Among these floods, earthquakes, and droughts risk are very high. These disasters undermine a huge number of lives and cause enormous scale financial, framework, horticulture, and productivity losses that genuinely block Pakistan's overall development. To limit the harm brought about by disasters, different endeavors have been taken by the government, society, NGOs, and worldwide networks. Disaster management possesses a significant spot in this country's policy framework. The research paper covered the Disaster profile of Pakistan and the Disaster management system in Pakistan in subtleties and concluded with Suggestions.

Federal Issues in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects (2013-2023)

Afshan Aziz, Sobia Naseer — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Pakistan is a federal republic with a complex system of government. The federal government shares power with the provincial governments, but the distribution of power between the two levels of government has been a contentious issue since the country's independence. This paper examines the major federal issues in Pakistan from 2013 to 2023, including the impact of political instability and polarization, economic challenges and opportunities, and the rise of extremism and intolerance of diversity and dissent. This article aims to explore and analyze these issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, using the secondary sources of data. The article argues that Pakistan’s federal system has been under strain due to various internal and external factors, such as corruption, nepotism, civil-military relations, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, regional rivalries, and global pressures. The article suggests some possible solutions and recommendations for improving the federal governance and performance of Pakistan, such as constitutional reforms, fiscal decentralization, institutional strengthening, social inclusion, and dialogue. The article concludes that Pakistan’s federal system has the potential to overcome its challenges and achieve its prospects, if there is a genuine commitment and cooperation among all stakeholders.

E-Commerce Adoption: The Moderating Role of Commitment between Purchase Intention and Customer Purchase Behavior

Asif Iqbal Iqbal, Shakeel Ahmed, Anita Laila, Salman Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Faizan — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to explore how factors such as attitude, self-efficacy, subject norms, and perceived usefulness influence consumer purchase intention in the context of online shopping. Additionally, it examines the moderating role of commitment in shaping these relationships. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their online retail strategies and customer engagement. A quantitative approach was employed, using quantitative surveys and data was collected from 251 internet users. The study found that attitude, self-efficacy, subject norms, and perceived usefulness significantly influence online purchase intention. A positive attitude towards online shopping, higher self-efficacy in using online platforms, favorable subject norms, and perceived usefulness of online shopping platforms were all linked to increased purchase intention. Notably, commitment was observed to have a moderating effect, strengthening the relationship between these factors and purchase intention. High commitment levels enhanced the impact of positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived usefulness on the likelihood of making online purchases. This research contributes to the existing literature by integrating various psychological and social factors under a unified framework to understand online consumer behavior. It highlights the importance of commitment as a moderating factor, offering new insights for online retailers. The findings provide valuable implications for developing targeted marketing strategies and improving online customer experiences, ultimately boosting online sales and customer loyalty.

Leadership Practices of Head Teachers: Primary School Teachers’ Perspective in Public Schools of Punjab

Muhammad Jamil, Rozina Sewani, Noor Muhammad — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Effective leadership of head teachers shapes teacher attitudes and school organizational outcomes. This quantitative descriptive research aimed to find out the head teachers’ leadership practices perceived by the primary school teachers. There were selected 150 participants through a random sampling technique from public schools. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was self-developed keeping in view the previous literature and experts’ perspectives. The questionnaire was focused on supportiveness, maintaining standards, communication capabilities, and instructional leadership. Data was analyzed through the SPSS 20 version. According to the findings of the study, teachers’ perceived positive regarding coordinating policy, classroom helpfulness, resource provision, relationship building, and confident interaction. There were 70-80% of the respondents who agreed about head teachers’ strengths for monitoring performance, motivation, decision making, shaping direction, and enabling autonomy. Low disagreement levels indicated teachers perceive head teachers as demonstrating competence across diverse leadership competencies. Highest rated areas and lowest regarding managing stress showed public sector heads capably transform restrictive bureaucracies through prioritizing secure environments, and communications, and upholding high instructional expectations enabling performance. Statistically, teachers had decidedly positive perspectives on headteacher leadership practices. Practical recommendations include sustaining areas with already high agreement, improving emotional support, increasing staff participation, enacting distributed leadership, enhancing recognition, and ensuring adequate time for core instructional leadership oversight by assessing administrative burdens on public school heads.

Ethical Leadership of Head Teachers and its Impact on Teachers’ Motivation at the Elementary Level

Tanzeela Urooj , Syeda Tahira Sherazi, Shaukat Ali — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The present study employed a quantitative, descriptive research design to examine the impact of ethical leadership on elementary school teachers’ motivation in public elementary schools of a district in Punjab, Pakistan. It was a quantitative and descriptive study in nature. Considering the ethical guidelines, a questionnaire was administered to 400 randomly selected male and female elementary-level teachers. In developing the survey instrument, relevant literature was reviewed, and expert input was obtained to ensure the appropriateness of the questions for assessing the variables of interest. The confidentiality of the respondents was maintained throughout the data-gathering process. The collected data was statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 20, measuring means, and standard deviations. The results revealed a significant positive association between principals’ ethical leadership style - characterized by integrity, honesty, and considerate treatment of staff – and elevated intrinsic motivation levels among teachers. As educational leaders shape the culture in their institutions, these findings carry important implications. Promoting ethical leadership through enhanced training and modeling desired behaviors can improve teacher retention, performance, and job satisfaction. It can translate to better outcomes for students. Further in-depth inquiries through qualitative and longitudinal research across diverse settings can enrich understanding of this phenomenon and aid the development of context-specific interventions leveraging ethical leadership to motivate teachers.

Relationship of Strategic Plan Implementation, Resource Utilization, and Institutional Effectiveness at Secondary School Level in Punjab, Pakistan

Afroz Jan, Asifa Parveen, Muhammad Sohail Akhtar — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In school education, strategic plan implementation resource utilization performs an important role in the effectiveness of an institution. The efficacy of educational institutions is primarily reflected in academic success. Additionally, resource utilization and strategic plan implementation contribute to institutional effectiveness. This study examined the relationship between strategic plan implementation, resource utilization, and institutional effectiveness in secondary schools of a district in Punjab, Pakistan. It was a quantitative study with a descriptive research design. Secondary school and elementary school teachers were the study's sample, selected through stratified random and convenient sampling techniques. The survey instrument was self-developed, keeping in view the objectives of the study and focusing on a literature review as well as experts in the field. It has 60 items on the Likert scale, with three key aspects: strategic plan implementation, resource utilization, and institutional effectiveness. A total of 574 teachers returned completed and returned the questionnaires with a robust 88% response rate. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients to determine relationships between the key variables. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between strategic plan implementation and institutional effectiveness. Additionally, a significant positive association emerged between resource utilization and institutional effectiveness at the secondary school level.

Analysis of Doctrine of Insanity Defense in English Criminal Law

Ali Ajmal, Faiza Rasool — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A person suffering from legal insanity cannot be held responsible for his criminal act. English criminal law recognizes the doctrine of the insanity defense against the criminal responsibility of an accused. The objective of this paper is to study the English law on insanity defense using the doctrinal legal analysis approach. The findings show that English law deals with legal insanity differently than medical insanity. However, the opinion of the medical professionals is mandatory to determine the legal insanity of a person. Furthermore, the standard of evidence to determine legal insanity is the balance of probabilities. English law treats the insanity defense as distinct from the defense of automatism and diminished capacity and the incompetency to stand trial is also dealt with differently than the defense of insanity in English law. English law on the defense of insanity must be interpreted comprehensively by adopting multidisciplinary approaches.

Unveiling Empowerment: Navigating Historical Roles and Contemporary Challenges for Muslim Women Leaders

Bushra Inayat Raja, Saba Riaz — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Based on the insights gathered from the literature review, this historical study embarks on a multifaceted exploration with several pivotal objectives. At its core, it seeks to illuminate the intricate relationship between Islamic teachings, the historical roles of Muslim women in leadership, and their contemporary challenges within the political landscape of Pakistan. Through a thorough examination of these aspects, the research aims to provide valuable insights and actionable recommendations that can shape policy formulation, procedural refinement, and organizational culture. The primary goal is to promote gender diversity and empower Muslim women in leadership roles, particularly in Pakistan. A central objective of this study is to deeply explore Islamic teachings and principles and their implications for women's active participation and contributions to society, especially in leadership positions. By meticulously analyzing relevant literature and historical examples from Islamic history, the research intends to uncover the theological and cultural foundations that historically influenced the status of Muslim women in leadership. Moreover, it seeks to evaluate how these teachings have empowered Muslim women in leadership roles, fostering a nuanced understanding of the interplay between religion and women's leadership.

Analysis of the Transformation of Residential Open Spaces from Center of Activities to Empty Enclosures

Fatima Nasir Alvi, Saima Gulzar, Syed Faisal Sajjad — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research paper looks at four factors resulting in transformation of residential open space specifically the courtyard, from centre of activities to empty enclosures. These factors are historical, cultural, society and gender. Predominantly this research looks at residential space in Lahore from a feminist perspective; tracing and analysing it from a gender based socio-cultural aspect of connectivity to individuality. Rapid social and demographic changes are resulting in a new future of residential architecture in our part of the world, leading to cultural changes where globalization is one of the major factors. The structure has evolved overtime from a traditional joint family unit to a nuclear family unit which is a major shift resulting from this phenomenon. A qualitative research approach using purposive sampling method was employed. The findings highlight the importance of these open and semi covered spaces towards a healthy and connected social life fostering activities of relaxation.

Students’ Perspective on the Semester System at Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan

Muhammad Shahzad Nawaz Chauhan — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates student perceptions of the semester system's deployment in Pakistani higher education institutions in the context of worldwide transformative shifts. The study examines the transition from the conventional annual system, focusing on key issues such as students' first perceptions, the semester system's impact on academic workload, time management, learning, assessment procedures, engagement, and involvement. It investigates feedback mechanisms and communication channels to get insights into the effectiveness of student-instructor interactions. The study evaluates overall student happiness and the semester system's possible impact on well-being, recognizing both positive characteristics that contribute to a positive academic experience and potential issues that harm mental health. Five selective universities conducted a survey using a questionnaire. The four-point Likert scale questionnaire “strongly disagree to strongly agree” was used to collect the ordinal data. Using simple random sampling, four hundred student samples were collected from five selective universities. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the frequency, percentage, and median as the average for ordinal data. Furthermore, the Kruskal Wallis H Test assessed variations in more than two groups’ opinions based on five university levels, and the Mann– Whitney U test investigated inequalities in the views of two groups of male and female students. The results offer valuable insights to educational policymakers, administrators, and educators. These insights will provide a student-focused understanding of the consequences of implementing the semester system.

Homestay drives community's socio-economic development and sustainability; a case study of Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan

Mohammad Alam, Muhammad Danish, Ahmad Faraz — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Northern Pakistan is one of the most visiting places by both domestic and foreign visitors. This visitation phenomenon encourages residents to commercialize their residences portion a partial sharing into homestays. The northern area tourists have the privilege to experience homestay operations due to a shortage of lodging demand-supply gaps. A homestay is an idea of accommodation operation in which a visitor pays a charge to stay with a host family and engage with the native population. GB in general and Skardu in particular, benefited from the homestay due to national and international tourist flow. Homestay in Pakistan is not standardized or even not regularized. However, there are still many newcomers in the homestay business while owners do not understand business requirements, and the majority of them are not get training. Social media and online booking is popular channels for selling products. This study includes an assessment of community perceptions of how much the Homestay program influences the community in Skardu city, and even a discussion about the issues that Homestay operators and the community face. A cross-sectional research design with both quantitative and qualitative statistics (QUAN-QUAL Techniques) was used to examine the data. The data on a semi-structured questionnaire was collected from 30 homestay operators in the city. This research highlighted numerous characteristics of homestay growth, issues, and prospects.