Farzana Shafique

Bio: Farzana Shafique is an academic researcher from University of Dammam. The author has contributed to research in topics: Information system & Information needs. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 41 publications receiving 559 citations. Previous affiliations of Farzana Shafique include The Islamia University of Bahawalpur Pakistan & Islamia University.

Use of electronic information resources and facilities by humanities scholars

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the use of electronic information resources and facilities by humanities scholars at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey of faculty from arts and humanities departments at the University of the Punjab was conducted. In total, 62 faculty and research staff participated.Findings – The results correspond with previous studies conducted in other countries. The humanists still stick to the printed information sources but they pay good attention to electronic resources. Most of them have access to computer and internet at office and home. They are regular users of a variety of electronic technologies. Although faced with many problems, the humanists perceive that modern technology made their work easier.Research limitations/implications – The study is based only on the humanities faculty in a large university of Pakistan. The survey should be replicated on a larger sample for generalization.Practical...

Internet Use among University Students: A Survey in University of the Punjab, Lahore

Abstract: The paper presents the results of a survey of the undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students of the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. The objective of the study was to explore the Internet use behavior of students. The results show that most of the students use this technology for course related reading and research needs. They are new users of the Internet. They use it at the University Library's Digital Lab Unit as well as their departments and homes. A large number of them have learnt to use the Internet tools by themselves, or relying on assistance from friends without attending any formal training programs. Ease of work and time saving are the reasons of Internet use among university students. Google as a search engine and Yahoo as an email service are the most popular among students. The paper recommends that the university authorities should arrange training programs for the students' Internet use.

Information Needs and Information-Seeking Behavior of Arts and Humanities Teachers: A Survey of the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract: Introduction The present era is called the "Information era." Information has become the most important element for progress in society. To thrive in this modern era, one needs a variety of information, no matter how well versed one is in a field or profession. Psacharopoulous (1982) discusses the necessity of information in the present age. We can reorganize the educational system and redefine scientific research only with the help of information. Information plays a significant role in our professional and personal lives. People need information to work properly in their fields. Questions that provoked this study include: * what constitutes a need for information? * what people think at that particular time? * what actions people take? and * what problems are faced while seeking information? Zhang (1998) stresses that a thorough understanding of user information needs and informationseeking behavior is fundamental to the provision of successful information services. Wilson (1994) points out that the scope of information-seeking behavior research is vast and many new concepts and methods are being developed with the help of this research. It is clear that the study of human information-seeking behavior is now a well-defined area of research. According to Devadason and Lingman (1997), the understanding of information needs and information-seeking behavior of various professional groups is essential as it helps in the planning, implementation, and operation of information system, and services in work settings. White (1975) states that if academic librarians are to realistically serve academic researchers, they must recognize the changing needs and variations in information gathering and provide services that would be most useful. The study of information needs and gathering behavior dates back to 1948 when Bernal and others presented a paper on scientific information at the 1948 Royal Society conference (Bernal, 1960). During the past 30 years or so, a considerable body of literature has been produced dealing with information needs and information-seeking behavior of both individuals and groups in a variety of contexts (Anwar, Al-Ansari, and Abdullah, 2004). It is estimated that the number of publications on information-seeking behavior were more than ten thousand in the 1990s alone (Case, 2002). Many studies have been conducted to investigate the information-seeking behavior of library users based on their subject interest, occupation, information environment, and geographical location. Information needs and information-seeking behavior of academics have also been a popular area of research for the information scientists for decades (Majid and Kassim, 2000). Many authors have pointed out that the studies on information-seeking behavior and needs of social scientists are fewer than those involving the natural sciences, and the studies of humanists' information needs are fewer still (Line, 1969; Hopkins, 1989; Blazek, 1994; Challener, 1999). In Pakistan , a number of studies on reading habits of different professional groups have been carried out by various individuals, associations, and institutions which partly indicate their information needs. Anwar (2007) reviewed different research studies on information needs and information-seeking behavior of different groups of people in Pakistan. He mentioned fifteen unpublished studies conducted on the subject so far. Shahzad (2007) conducted a survey to find out the information-seeking behavior of faculty members of Government College University, Lahore. He acquired the data from all three faculties, i.e., science and technology, social sciences and humanities. Anjum (1978) studied the information needs of humanities teachers at the University of the Punjab. Knowledge of the information needs and information-seeking behavior of users is vital for developing library collections, upgrading facilities, and improving services to effectively meet the information needs of users. …

Indicators of the Emerging Information Society in Pakistan

Abstract: This paper reviews the transformation of Pakistan's agricultural society into an information society and factors causing this transformation. Key indicators of emerging information society in Pakistan are analyzed with the help of literature search, website visits and personal communication with experts. The analysis reveals that many internal and external factors are causing this transformation such as declining natural resources and rapid growth in population and its needs, international debt and dictation by IMF and World Bank in each and every economic and political move. The picture captured through literature and website review reveals that Pakistan's agricultural society is rapidly transforming into the information society. Key indicators for the emergence of the information society in Pakistan include e-government, IT policy, rapid growth of the IT and telecom sector, increased teledensity, Internet services, e-learning, e-health, e-commerce, etc.

Exploitation of social media among university students: A case study.

Abstract: This study aimed at finding the trend of social media usage among the students of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB). For this purpose a sample of final year students was taken from the Geography Department. A questionnaire survey was administered to get the response from the students. The questionnaire was containing both open and close ended questions. The responses show that many social media websites such as CiteULike, Technorati, Connotea, Blogger, Twitter and Wikis etc. were frequently used by the responded students for communication, research work, online learning and making social contacts. It was also found that they have good IT skills and sophisticated tools and good Internet connections available to them so they do not encounter any problems in accessing these sites. Although this survey is restricted to a group of Geography students of IUB, the data obtained provide some insights into how students in Pakistan have been using the social media for both formal and informal types of learning and communication. In general, the acceptance by Pakistani students towards the use of social media for learning seems positive. It is hoped that the findings described here will help build a foundation for future investigations in Pakistan related to social media.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application:

Abstract: to many, however, it constantly appears as an instructional problem. The final two chapters serve as excellent summary statements. Chapter 13 emphasizes the application of previous text material to the classroom situation. Of great significance is the author's discussion of commonly defined independent, dependent, and moderator variables. The final chapter focuses on evaluation in the overall sense, particularly as it relates to programs of study. The principles of measurement and research design are applied to the evaluation process through several ex-

Market Research

Abstract: THE importance to the manufacturer of acquiring accurate knowledge of his market is now becoming generally recognized. Should there have been any residual doubts, they were rapidly dispelled at the conference on market research conducted by the Manchester Joint Research Council on October 22, when the following papers were presented: “The Technique and Applications of Market Research”, by Mr. O. W. Roskill (senior partner, O. W. Roskill, Industrial Consultants), “The Investigation of Trends of Consumer Tastes”, by Mr. L. R. England (chief research officer, “Mass Observation”), and “Market Research and the Seller”, by Mr. D. S. F. Vernon (Calico Printers' Association, Ltd.).

The Impact of Social Network Marketing on Consumer Purchase Intention in Pakistan: Consumer Engagement as a Mediator

Abstract: Manuscript type: Research PaperResearch aims: This paper investigates the impact of social networkmarketing on consumer purchase intention and how it is affectedby the mediating role of consumer engagement.Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This study analyses data takenfrom 300 existing users of social network marketing websites inPakistan. Structural equation modelling was employed to test themodel developed.Research findings: Results indicate that social network marketingis significantly related to consumer purchase intention. They furtherdemonstrate that consumer engagement acts as a partial mediatorin how social network marketing impact on consumer purchaseintention.Theoretical contributions/ Originality: This study expands on theexisting research of social network marketing by investigating theindirect effect of consumer engagement on the relationship betweensocial network marketing and consumer purchase intention in thecontext of Pakistan.Practitioner/ Policy implications: The findings drawn from thisstudy imply that marketers should respond to the rising importance of social networking sites because of their powerful influence onconsumer purchase intention. This suggestion can be implementedby companies through the continuous monitoring of consumerconcerns by adjusting their online marketing strategies.Research limitation/ Implications: Future studies should considerusing a qualitative approach, namely interviews to gain a betterunderstanding of consumers’ insights and experiences influencingtheir commitment and purchase intentions. Additionally, moreweight can be added to the literature by comparing the influenceof electronic word-of-mouth e-WOM to the marketing campaignscarried out by various companies in various social websites.