Research Journal of Psychology

Social Media Addiction and Depression Among University Students

Qamrosh Akhlaq — 2024-10-23

This study aimed to investigate the effects of social media addiction on depression in adult individuals. For this purpose, the researcher analyzed whether social media dependence had differing impacts according to various variables (age, gender, the highest level of education, duration of daily use of social media, frequency of social media use, etc.). A sample population of Students of University of Poonch Rawalakot in different campuses such as supply campus , shell campus , agriculture campus between 18 to 30 years of age participated in the research .The questionnaire form was developed to obtain the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS), Beck Depression Inventory scores, and demographic information from the participants. . Significant differences were found between depression and social media dependency in variables such as the number of children, age, and income. As a result of the study, when social media addiction was examined in terms of gender among socio-demographic variables, no significant difference was found.

Key words: Social Media, Depression, University Students

Exploring the Interplay Between Sleep Quality and Emotional Regulation in Anxiety Disorders

Kinza Javed — 2024-10-27

Sleep quality and emotional regulation play critical roles in mental health, particularly in individuals with anxiety disorders. This study investigates the relationship between sleep quality and emotional regulation difficulties in individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Through quantitative analysis of self-reported measures of sleep quality and emotional regulation strategies, this research seeks to better understand how poor sleep impacts emotional regulation and exacerbates anxiety symptoms. Results indicate a strong correlation between poor sleep quality and emotional dysregulation, with sleep disturbances further contributing to anxiety severity. Practical implications for treatment interventions targeting sleep and emotional regulation are discussed.

Navigating University Life: A Qualitative Study of Social and Academic Challenges and Coping Strategies Among Introvert Students in Higher Education

Shazia Shahzadi* — 2024-11-18

This qualitative study investigated the social and academic challenges encountered by introvert university students, aiming to deepen the understanding of their distinct experiences. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 undergraduate students from Foundation University in Rawalpindi, the study identified key challenges faced by introverts. Participants expressed that social anxiety, particularly in group discussions and public speaking, led to discomfort and avoidance of activities that interfered with their academic performance. The findings indicated issues related to academic support and social interactions, often resulting in negative self-perceptions and feelings of isolation. Students reported difficulties in connecting with peers, which impacted their engagement with the learning process. Nonetheless, the results revealed that introvert students employed various coping strategies, such as seeking solitude for reflection, utilizing learning environments effectively, and seeking assistance from peers and instructors. The study underscored the necessity for educational institutions to accommodate the diverse needs of introvert students through integrated teaching methods and tailored support programs.

Keywords: Academic challenges, Coping strategies, Introversion, Qualitative study, Social challenges, University students

The Impact of Women Education on Economic Growth of Pakistan

Rabia Majeed — 2024-10-12

Education is an essential factor of economic growth and a fundamental right of every person. No nation can achieve long-term economic expansion without making significant investments in education. Education enhances one's technical aptitude for investigating novel concepts and inventions. It raises people's standard of living and benefits people as well as societies. Education is a basic human right, but unfortunately, in Pakistan, women's education still receives little attention. This study focuses on the value of female education and how women's education affects Pakistan's economic growth. using quantitative study from the period of 1998 to 2021. The autoregressive distribution lag (ARDL) model is applied to estimate the impact. The result shows that in Pakistan, education expenditure has no positive effect on female education. In contrast, a positive relationship between female higher education and GDP growth exists, but this relation is not strong in the short run and long run. The policy recommendation is that government should allocate more of its budget on education and make efforts for improvement of the quality of education at different levels.

Keywords: Economic growth, Female Higher education, Female labor force participation, Education expenditure, Pakistan

A Study on the Content Analysis of 5th Grade English Textbook in Punjab, Pakistan

Muhammad Anwar — 2024-12-06

This evaluative study was conducted to analyze the contents of fifth Grade English textbook published by the Punjab Textbook Board. Evaluation of the textbook was done by following Evaluation Criteria presented by Cunnings worth. Evaluation was done through content analysis. Aim of this research was to evaluate strengths and weaknesses regarding its alignment with educational standard. The evaluation identifies three primary weaknesses: inconsistency with Grade five learning levels, complex language structures that may hinder comprehension of fundamental concepts, and limited alignment of reading activities with the four foundational language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). The study also explored decrease students’ motivation and learning outcomes due to vocabulary and grammar structures that exceed the cognitive abilities of typical Grade five learners. This study provides insights for educators and textbook developers to revisit the textbooks and inculcate the materials for enhancing English language instruction and the required language skills necessary for learners at primary level in Punjab.

Key Words: Content Analysis, English Textbook, Fifth grade Level.

Post Lockdown and Teaching: Problems Faced by Primary Teachers in Lahore, Pakistan

Muhammad Anwar — 2024-12-06

The research aims finds problems faced by the primary school teachers in Lahore district after the outbreak of covid-19. All education system was affected but teachers of primary education were facing different kinds of problems in teaching. The study was delimited to male and female English subject teachers of primary schools of Lahore district. A quantitative nature of the study and survey method used for data collection. The study was quantitative therefore the population of the study mainly consisted of all male and female primary school English teachers of Lahore district Punjab, Pakistan. The sample of 100 male and 100 female teachers were taken by using convenient sampling technique. A five-point Likert scale research instrument was utilized to conduct the study. The researcher personally distributed the questionnaires among as many primary school teachers in Lahore district as possible. For female teachers, assistance from relative female teachers was sought to facilitate the distribution process. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics through an independent samples t-test. It was concluded that post lockdown both male and female primary school teachers of Lahore district faced problem like environment disturbance, classroom discipline, fair of virus, lack of prevention facilities, lack of management, lack of collaboration, lack of student’s assessment, lack of examination, lack of student’s motivation and problems of SOPs.

Key Words: Post Lockdown, Teaching, Problems Faced , Primary Teachers Lahore, Pakistan

“Insights into Behavioral Challenges in ASD Children in Peshawar Autism Centers and Parental Perspectives on its Management: A mixed method study”

Malak Amanullah Khan — 2024-12-06

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex brain development condition that includes repetitive behaviors, limited interests, and challenges with social skills and communication. To understand common behavioral issues in children with autism and to learn how parents view the available treatments and their effectiveness. A mixed method study was conducted on Autistic children in Peshawar Autisms center in which a CBCL questionnaire were filled by parents of total sample 250(Open epi with 95%confidence interval) in first phase within 3 months (Nov/2023-jan/2024) while 20 in-depth interviews of 09 questions were taken from their parents in 2nd phase within 15 days (Feb /2024). Random sampling was used for quantitative data while purposive sampling was used for quantitative data collection. The qualitative data was analyzed using Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke’s thematic analysis method through NVivo 14, while the quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 26 for measuring frequency, mean and total score. In all, 250 questionnaires were filled by parents of Autistic children with mean age of 3.5years. Among them the most prevalent behavioral issues were aggression (24%), attention problems (19%), withdrawal (16%), and somatic problems (15%). 44 codes were generated from the qualitative interviews, which further divided into 15 categories and emerged into 4 themes. (1) Parental Challenges in Rearing ASD Children, (2) Goals and Effectiveness of early intervention in ASD, (3) Key Components of Successful Autism Management, (4) Parental Satisfaction & Suggestions. Majority of parents (70%) expressed full satisfaction with the available resources for managing autism, and they have observed improvements in their children's behavior like Attention & verbal communication through various early interventions. In Peshawar, early intervention at autism centers helps manage common behavioral issues aggression and attention issues in autistic children. Parents advise seeking timely support and awareness for better outcomes.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child; Parent; Therapies.

An Exploratory Study: Lack of Assertiveness and its Relation with Aggression and Appearance Anxiety

Hafsa Habib — 2024-12-06

Aggression and appearance anxiety are one of the crucial concerns in psychology, whereas human aggression and appearance anxiety has expected unlimited consideration. Even though some studies reported that self-assertiveness is associated to aggression and appearance anxiety, the mechanism whereby appearance anxiety and self-assertiveness affects aggression and appearance anxiety still unclear. This study explored the association between aggression and appearance anxiety cause self-assertiveness, as well as the outcome of self-appearance as a mediating factor. This research uses the Assertiveness scale, Appearance anxiety Scale, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The association is explored by self-reported scales from N = 40 male and female from Peshawar university, Sarhad university, Iqra university and Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) in which n = 20 were male and n =20 were female, the average age was M = 21.3 years (SD = 3.147); Results showed that the aggression and appearance anxiety is related with lack of assertiveness. The higher the level of low assertiveness have positive relationship with the higher levels of aggression and appearance anxiety; Assertiveness was negatively related with aggression and appearance anxiety and positively correlated with low aggression and lack of appearance-anxiety.

Keywords: self-assertiveness, aggression and appearance anxiety, mediating effect, appearance anxiety

Impact of ChatGPT on Academic Engagement and Personalized Learning among Postgraduate Students ˗ A Literature Review

Oqba Khan* — 2024-12-06

As the education technology space continues to evolve, ChatGPT and other AI models are transforming the manner in which students interact with content, self-growing the mode. This paper provides an in-depth relationship between SDL which is also an ache of freedom and autonomy and the use of ChatGPT by postgraduate students. In an age where students are becoming more dependent on AI tools, there are questions that come up as to how different these tools will impact levels of autonomy, motivation and satisfaction from learning. All of these factors combine to form successful specific learning design for various focus points, in this case Higher education and ChatGPT’s role in them. This article gives an account of the relationship between SDL and ‘emerging’ factors bringing in new paradigms to the existence of SDL & ‘How’ possible are those paradigms, assisted by recent debates young generations use ChatGPT to elevate academic performance. Furthermore, there are evident advantages observed where students are now able to receive timely help in more flexible ways there is still a grip of obstacles accompanied with academic integrity, an over-dependence on AI tools to solve complex scenarios and the limitations in both social and geographical factors which can restrict some users to have access in basic social constructs. This study further elucidates. As higher education institutions embrace AI, recognizing its subtle function in promoting SDL will be critical for creating supportive, inclusive, and effective learning environments. This study seeks to provide educators, policymakers, and academics with a comprehensive understanding of ChatGPT's role in supporting SDL, allowing them to make more educated decisions about AI integration in higher education.

Key Words: ChatGPT, Academic Engagement, Personalized Learning

Biological Alternative Conceptions of Secondary School Students About Heredity: A Case Study

Farkhanda Iqbal — 2024-12-08

Primarily the study is intended to diagnose Alternative conceptions of secondary level student about heredity to comprehend the main ideas of the heredity like cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis. Like vise it also explored the main reasons that develop alternative conceptions. To attain the objectives of the study case study was acquired. Four (4) public schools of Bahawalpur city were selected through random sampling. Formerly 200 students of IX grade were selected as a purposive sample of the research work. A distinct instrument labelled as a diagnostic test to quantify the alternative conceptions about heredity (DT). Renowned and experienced subject specialists of biology authenticated the (DT). To find the reliability a pilot test was intended through test retest method. The coefficient relation (r) was (0.96). To measure the internal consistency of the instrument. the Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated through SPSS 2026 version; its value was (0.87). On the base of result of diagnostic test interview 50 students were selected purposively. The result indicated that 20% items were concept based. So prior weak knowledge, second language difficulty, poor explanation of lecture created alternative conception. On the base of findings recommendations were proposed e.g. (active participation of learning, use of teaching aids) for better understanding.

The Impact of Sales Promotion on Purchase Intention of Package Spice Brands in Pakistan: An Empirical Study

Abdul Basit Rahil — 2024-12-09

Pakistan’s spice industry is no different from other commodity-based sectors. The dynamics of packaged milk, oil, tea, and spices are comparable. Following China, India, Bangladesh, and Turkey as the world’s top five producers of spices is Pakistan. Pakistan exports to the Middle East and Europe as well. The relationship between sales promotion and purchase intentions of Pakistani cash and carry products, namely in the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, is the focus of this study. Primary data was gathered from female shoppers who visited certain cash and carry stores and made purchases as part of the study’s quantitative research technique. The information is gathered via a modified questionnaire. Following data collection, SPSS 17 was used to capture the information and other statistical analyses, including ANOVA, regression analysis, and descriptive analysis, were carried out. The study's findings indicated a strong positive correlation between purchasing intentions and sales promotions. Businesses operating in Pakistan might make use of these findings and raise their marketing expenditures to improve sales promotions.

Community Perception Regarding Socio-Economic Causes of Increasing Divorce among Females: A Sociological Study in District Muzaffar Garh

Nadia Akhtar — 2024-12-12

Marriage and separation are societal problems as well as reserved distresses. Divorce is a lifetime stressor for an individual, complicated with theoretically harmful values for the emotional and physical fitness of all fellows of the household. The simple determination of this assessment is to deliver detailed information around the influence of separation on peoples’ lifespan. The objectives of study were i) to study the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, ii) to investigate the socio-economic causes of increasing divorce among females, iii) to study the perceived adverse effects of parent's divorce on the children, and iv) to suggest some measures how to minimize the divorce rate in community and its negative effects on the children. This research was investigated in District Muzafar Garh, in South Punjab & 180 community peoples were selected from 1 selected tehsil through multistage sampling technique. The results indicated that majority of participants (51.1%) were females, their age ranges from 40 to upto 53 years old (60.0%), were married (87.7%), had been completed upto matriculation level (56.1%), and their spousal education was upto matriculation level (58.9%). A mixed results were found majority (55.0%) were housewives, and daily wage labourers, are belonged to lives in nuclear family system, and their family income ranges from 20,000 to upto 50,000 rupees in per month (62.8%). The results investigated the socio-economic causes of increasing divorce among females i.e. majority (68.9%) said that divorce rate is increasing among females day by day in society to some extent. A significance proportion of participants (90.0%) were agreed domestic violence is a cause of increasing divorce among females, societal pressure contributes to the rising divorce (47.2%), problems with in-laws (51.1%), lack of communication skills leads to higher divorce (48.3%), extra-marital affair of husband (92.8%), female infertility status (95.0%) and agreed with the statement husband’s impotence is a cause of divorce among females (86.6%). The results were found economic causes i.e. majority (89.5%) of participants were agreed financial instability is a leading cause of divorce among females, unequal financial contributions pressure marriages (86.7%), unemployment leads to marital stress and divorce (91.7%), financial disagreements factors (91.7%), financial instability due to factors like job loss (85.6%), financial independence (83.3%) and one-third (36.7%) of the respondents were agreed that husband’s low income to meet household needs is a cause of divorce among females. According to this objective to study the perceived adverse effects of parent’s divorce on the children, the results showed that majority (89.5%) of respondents were agreed children of divorced parents suffer from emotional distress, parental divorce negatively impacts children’s academic performance (91.7%), parental divorce leads to behavioural problems in children (91.7%), children of divorced parents often feel neglected (89.4%), children of divorced parents struggle with trust issues (70.0%) and a huge majority (63.9%) of participants were agreed that divorce contributed feelings of inferiority in children. The study was concluded that the hypothesis testing showed there was a positive relationship between lesser the spousal education and divorce increased among females in society (χ2 = 19.841, probability = 0.031). There was a positive association between divorce increased among females in society and community people hates the divorcee female (χ2 = 33.749, probability = 0.000). The result of these assumptions showed extra-marital affairs of husband (χ2 = 15.845, probability = 0.045), husband’s impotence (χ2 = 32.272, probability = 0.000) and unemployment leads to marital stress (χ2 = 19.841, probability = 0.031) cause of divorce among females in society. So, all these hypotheses are significant and accepted.

Administrative Burden Scale – Development and Psychometric Properties

Shabana Noureen — 2024-12-14

The research on administrative burden is highly important as it provides a tool to measure and address administrative burdens in academic settings, contributing to improved work efficiency and job satisfaction. Teaching and research responsibilities, along with administrative burdens such as paperwork and institutional requirements, place significant demands on assistant professors in universities. The purpose of the study was to develop the administrative burden scale (ABS) for assistant professors in the English language. The study was conducted in different steps. Initially, a construct was conceptualized, and then an item pool of 55 items was generated for the administrative burden. After that committee approach was involved to determine face and content validity through the item content validity index (I-CVI) based on 7 experts. Later on, pilot testing was conducted on 30 assistant professors, selected through a purposive sampling technique. Lastly, exploratory factor analysis was performed on a sample of 200 assistant professors. The ABS consisted of 24 items divided into 4 subscales - documentation & paperwork, meetings & committees, students support & communication, and research & publication. Four factors account for 69.23% variance in the dataset, which play a substantial role in explaining the observed variability, providing valuable information about the underlying structure of the construct. All the factors had an alpha reliability of more than 0.70, which supports the notion of internal consistency. The study was able to create a valid scale which defines areas that assistant professors consider to be most administratively demanding. It is a useful tool in understanding the burdens that these employees experience. Its use can help design policies and interventions that alleviate administrative burden thus enhancing faculty health and productivity in teaching and research.

Interplay of Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Teaching Competencies in Science: A Quantitative Inquiry Through the Lens of Science Teachers

Dr. Farah Deeba — 2024-12-16

Science teachers’ self-efficacy towards teaching of science play a vital role to enhance their teaching competencies in this subject. The present study was carried out to investigate interplay of science teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and their teaching competencies in subject of Science. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design in which 444 subject specialists of Science teaching in 213 High Schools of District Multan were the population of the study. Questionnaire was administered over all teachers by using Census method out of which total 395 responded to the study scale. The study used two Likert type scales to measure the studied variables; self-efficacy beliefs and teaching competencies in Science. The overall combined reliability of the two scales was (r=.934).To analyze the data, both Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used. Under Descriptive statistics, frequency, percentage, Mean Score and Standard Deviation were counted and Pearson’s r was used for correlational analysis as inferential statistics. Study results showed that majority of respondents (science teachers) believed that they possess high self-efficacy and also have good teaching competence in their science teaching. Study results also indicated that the teachers have very high levels of self-efficacy beliefs and moderate level of teaching competence in science teaching. The study found a strong, significant and positive interplay between self-efficacy and teaching competence in Science. Gender based interplay between the variables was also found strong. The study recommended that continuous professional workshops be conducted for the teachers in which they may learn motivational techniques for their students as in their view even with good teaching skills due to demotivation students they feel themselves unable to motivate students to learn science and enhance their interest for science.

Developing Critical Thinking in Psychology: The Role of Cognitive Processes in Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

Arfa Akram — 2024-12-22

This research aims in understanding of cognitive processes in development of critical thinking whereby special focus is accorded to problem solving and decision making in the course of psychological study. Regarding quantitative data, we administered a structured questionnaire on 150 students of psychology course. It emerged that critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making enjoy a very high level of association with one another and that critical thinking predicted the two other skills significantly. Critical thinking score has direct relationship with over all problem solving ability, decision making ability etc with in the study participants. Therefore, one high-impact area highlighted by our work is to incorporate specific practice sessions that enhance these executive functions into psychology education. The findings presented within this research may be useful for better understanding cognitive development and its importance for current and future academic and occupational achievements.