SEARCH ARTICLE

14 Pages : 108-116

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).14      10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).14      Published : Mar 2019

Digital Literacy Effect on the Academic Performance of Students at Higher Education Level in Pakistan

    The purpose of current study was to explore the effect of digital literacy on academic performance of the students at higher education level. The study was mixed method and data were gathered with a questionnaire and semistructured interviews. The validity and reliability of the scales were ensured through experts' opinion, pilot testing and Croanbach Alpha score. The population comprised the students of M.S/M.Phil and Ph.D. A sample of 800 students was selected randomly from 10 Universities. The statistical tests like mean, standard deviation and correlation were used. Results revealed that digital literacy had significant effects on communication skills, research skills and confidence of the students and insignificant effect on students' CGPA.

    Digital Literacy, Academic Performance, Higher Education Level
    (1) Qaisar Abbas
    PhD Scholar,Department of Education, GC University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Shafqat Hussain
    Associate Professor, Department of Education,GC University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Shafqat Rasool
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, GC University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

22 Pages : 164-171

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).22      10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).22      Published : Mar 2019

The Gender Based Effect of Cyber Bullying on Academic Achievement and Behavior of Students at Higher Secondary Level

    The purpose of this research is to discover the effect of cyber bullying on students academic achievement and their behavior. The objective of the research was to find out the academic achievement affected by cyberbullying and behavior of students on gender basis at higher secondary school level. Through random sampling technique, 2160 students and 48 teachers from 6 districts were selected. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data analysis using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results showed that cyber bullying significantly affects students academic achievement than their behavior. No significant effect of cyber bullying was found on students academic achievement and their behavior with respect to their gender. The qualitative data obtained from interviews teachers concludes that students are well aware of cyber bullying and cyber bullying equally affects boys and girls of public sector higher secondary schools.

    Cyber Bullying, Academic Achievement, Behavior of Students
    (1) Jamila Begum
    PhD Scholar, The University of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Namra Munir
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education,The University of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Iftikhar Ahmad Baig
    HOD,Department of Education, The University of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

08 Pages : 114-126

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).08      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).08      Published : Dec 2018

Violations of Basic Children Rights at Elementary Level Education

    Violations of children rights are the grey areas in Pakistan that have grave consequences for the educational progress of students especially those studying at elementary level. This study probes the major children rights contravention at elementary level schools located in Pakistan; particularly in government sector schools where the learning course is usually taken by the principals and teachers as a regular affair without any fervent approach. In order to investigate the state of children rights in schools, principal, teachers and students from rural and urban area public sector institutions of Capital Territory Islamabad were taken as the sample for this study so that the state of these institutions in terms of providing basic rights to elementary students could be analyzed and it could be seen if they affect the performance of children in class or not. The result indicates the prevalence of several nuisance areas including corporal punishment, bullying, unhygienic environment, lack of educational facilities and proper infrastructure in these institutions which are directly affecting the performance of children in form of a decline in learning outcomes, specifically in rural areas where the use of physical punishment is reported to be practiced more in ratio as compared to urban areas. The study is significant as it explores issues and causes for children rights violations and suggests the necessary measures that would make the learning environment more conducive for students.

    Children Rights Violation, Corporal Punishment, Elementary Education, Academic Performance
    (1) Syed Azam Shah
    Principal, F.G Public School, HIT Taxila Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah
    Professor, Department of Education, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP. Pakistan.
    (3) Umbreen Ishfaq
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, The University of Haripur, Haripur, KP, Pakistan.

11 Pages : 156-172

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).11      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).11      Published : Dec 2018

Working Memory and Mathematical Performance: A Correlational Study

    This study is intended to examine the correlation between working memory of students and their academic performance in Mathematics. Specifically, it was aimed to determine the degree of relationship between working memory capacity and academic achievement of students in mathematics studying at secondary school. A sample of 800 students studying in grade 10 was randomly selected from forty government and private secondary schools (girls and boys) situated in Hazara division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Both Urdu and English mediums of instruction schools were included in the sample. The researcher used digits span backwards test (DSBT) to find out the working memory capacity of the students associated with their academic performance in mathematics. This study revealed that girls have outperformed boys very markedly in examination scores of mathematics at secondary level. Contrarily, boys have performed well in working memory capacity than girls at the secondary level. However a very small gender difference is observed in this study. It is also noticed that private secondary schools showed higher performance in examination scores of mathematics and in working memory capacity than government secondary schoolsl.

    Working Memory, Academic Achievement, Relationship, Mathematical Thinking, Secondary Schools
    (1) Naeema Mumtaz
    PhD Scholar (Education), Department of Education, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Saeed Khan
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, The University of Haripur, Haripur,m KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Saddaf Ayub
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, The University of Haripur, Haripur, KP, Pakistan.

21 Pages : 378-394

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).21      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).21      Published : Sep 2018

Social and Academic Adjustment of the University Students

    The study finds relationship between social and academic adjustments of BS students in University of Sargodha Pakistan. A sample of 550 BS students was selected from different departments through multistage random sampling. Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) was adapted with permission to measure the social and academic adjustments of BS students which has acceptable value of reliability coefficient Cronbach Alpha 0.90 after analysis of pilot testing data. In this correlational study, data collected through survey were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means scores, standard deviation, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The study finds majority of students have moderate level of social and academic adjustment; Male students have better social adjustment but both have equivalent academic adjustment; boarders have better social adjustment than day scholars, students of 2nd and 8 th semester had equal level of academic adjustment but 8 th semester students have better social adjustment than 2nd semester students. It is recommended that students are provided with the opportunities of group projects, seminars and guidance and counselling regarding values of university education.

    Social Adjustment, Academic Adjustment, University Students
    (1) Asghar Ali
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Malakand, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Mushtaq Ahmad
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Saifullah Khan
    Lecturer, Government College Farooka, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.

25 Pages : 447-465

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).25      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).25      Published : Sep 2018

Hybridity and Linguistic Pluralism: A Pragmatic Analysis of University Academic Discourse

    The language used in academic texts and pedagogy is referred as academic discourse. Being student and teacher, the researchers observed that mixing of home language with academic language was a common practice in many institutions. Some linguists appreciate it, while others resist it by claiming it detrimental to objectivity and neutrality. Chiang (2006) finds role of teacher’s discourse a determining factor in pedagogy. Current study was conducted to observe the phenomenon of hybridization in academic discourse and to assess it in the light of pragmatics. Pragmatic analysis is known as a useful method to infer covert and implicit meanings of language (Savignon, 2007) and the researchers deemed it appropriate for current research. The pragmatic analysis could provide a newer outlook on academic discourse. Data was collected through observation sheet from the classes. Questionnaire was also used to get relevant data from teachers. The findings revealed that teachers often relied on cultural and ideological underpinnings in their pedagogy. The individual conversational styles were also responsible for different mode of hybridization and subsequently reinforced diverse facet of discourse different in pragmatic nature. The data was first analyzed for hybridization followed by its pragmatic analysis. The study was important in the backdrop of one of many beliefs, that meaning never remains fixed and it resides in socio-cultural structures and lack of pragmatic knowledge among interlocutors impedes semantic proficiency. The study revealed utility of pragmatic competence in turning this mixing of discourses in a class into a continuum. It also found that knowledge of academic pragmatics could reinforce semantic proficiency.

    Hybridity/Hybridization, Academic Discourse, Linguistic Continuum, Pedagogy, University Teachers
    (1) Nazakat
    Lecturer, Department of English, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Safeer Awan
    Dean, Faculty of English Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.

09 Pages : 130-149

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).09      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).09      Published : Jun 2017

Indigenous Culture and Academic Discourse: A Critique of English Textbooks in Pakistan

    The paper aims to explore how far English textbooks in Pakistan embody Pakistan and its culture. In this connection, the reading passages and pictures/images of the textbooks taught at secondary level in the government schools of Punjab were analyzed. It was a mixed method study and the specific method employed was content analysis. For this purpose all the reading passages of both the textbooks were firstly categorized and quantified into three categories; Source Culture/s, Other Culture/s and Neutral and then the cultural elements of Source Culture/s were discussed qualitatively using an adapted checklist. The results of the study reveal that the English textbook of class 9 has 12 passages out of which 75% have Source cultural elements, 8.83% have cultural elements of Other Culture/s and 16.66% are Neutral. As far as the English textbook of class 10 is concerned, there are 13 reading passages out of which 23.07% have Source cultural elements, 15.38% have cultural elements of Other Culture/s and 61.53% are Neutral. The findings of the study show that English, being an international language and as a result of globalization, has become compulsory for people belonging to different countries to learn it. However, in order to retain their identity, they try to appropriate English language to underpin their own culture/s through English language used in the textbooks of Pakistan.

    Indigenous Culture, Academic Discourse, English Textbooks, Pakistan, Appropriation
    (1) Azhar Habib
    PhD Scholar, Air University, Islamabad & Research Fellow, University of North Texas USA
    (2) Inayat Ullah
    Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Air University, Islamabad, Pakistan

41 Pages : 446-454

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).41      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).41      Published : Mar 2022

The Effects of Motivational Level of Prospective Teachers on their Academic Achievement and Self-esteem at the University Level

    Students and teachers can use different ways to learn when their motivation is high, moderate, or low. The main objective of this descriptive study was to find out how high levels of motivation affect the performance of the prospective teacher. A survey method was used to gather data. Prospective teachers of the University of Punjab Lahore were included in the sample population .sample size was 560 prospective teachers. We used a questionnaire to find out about different ways to get people interested in learning. SPSS was used to look at the data. The results showed that a high level of motivation among future teachers was positively and significantly linked to all academic achievements and self-esteem, while a moderate level of motivation was also positively and significantly linked to other academic achievements. The results of this study may also persuade policymakers to take into account new motivational factors when hiring new teachers.

    Motivation, Prospective Teachers, Learning, Self-Esteem, Academic Performance
    (1) Rubina Nadeem
    M.Phil. Scholar, Superior University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Amir Hashmi
    Associate Professor, Institute of Educational Research, University of Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

28 Pages : 265-284

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).28      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).28      Published : Jun 2022

Workplace Environment and Job Satisfaction of Academicians; A Cross-Sectional Analysis

    The prime objective of this study was to determine the effect of the workplace environment on the job satisfaction of teaching faculty. This study was quantitative and based on a cross-sectional research design. In this study,the workplace environment was used as an independent variable, while the job satisfaction of the teachers was treated as the dependent variable. The population of the study was public secondary school teachers in Punjab. At the same time, 304 respondents were selected as a sample through a simple random sampling technique. The data was collected by research tool through a survey method. The findings of the study show that there was a positive and significant correlation between workplace Environment with job satisfaction.Moreover, there was a positive and moderate effect of workplace environment on job satisfaction of secondary school teachers. The study is beneficial to uplift secondary education through innovative strategies.

    Workplace Environment, Job Satisfaction, Academicians
    (1) Muhammad Hamad Sarwar
    M.Phil Scholar, Department of Education, Leadership & Management Superior University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Tariq Mahmood Khan
    Professor, Institute of Education and Research, University of the Punjab Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
    (3) Muhammad Naveed Jabbar
    Head of the Department of Education, National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

37 Pages : 372 - 386

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).37      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).37      Published : Jun 2022

Anxiety and Academic Performance of Undergraduate University Students

    Aim of the study was to find out the relationship between anxiety with academic performance of undergraduate university students. The study was conducted for the objectives; (i) to find out the anxiety level of undergraduate university students. (ii) to identify the level of achievement scores (GPA) and co-curricular activities of undergraduate university students, and (iii) to find out the relationship between anxiety and academic performance of undergraduate university students. A sample of 408, including 195 male and 213 female 2nd-semester undergraduate BS students from 12 different departments out of 4 faculties of the University of the Sargodha, taking 34 students from each department, were selected through multistage random sampling techniques. Two instruments, anxiety scale and performance checklists, were developed to collect data from students. Research instruments were validated through experts' opinions, pilot testing was done, and the reliability coefficient Cronbach Alpha value for the anxiety scale was .832. Frequencies, mean, standard deviation, t-tests and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. There was a weak and negative relationship between anxiety and achievement scores of undergraduate university students whereas. But there was a significant but weak and negative relationship between anxiety and achievement scores and co-curricular activities of undergraduate university students. So it is recommended that teachers of the university may integrate activities in their classroom teaching to keep students involved and reduce anxiety.

    Anxiety, Academic Performance & Undergraduate University Students
    (1) Muhammad Naveed Khalid
    Resource Person, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (2) Farah Shafiq
    Assistant Professor, Division of Education, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
    (3) Mushtaq Ahmad
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan