Search

This research explored the perceptions of university students about the credibility of information being shared on Facebook. The data were collected using an online questionnaire from university students who were Facebook users. A total of 325 usable responses were received which were analyzed using SPSS. The results revealed that these students perceive information shared on Facebook as credible and of good quality. The source credibility, medium credibility, and information quality had positive and significant relationships with each other. The age, social background, and educational level of students appeared to predict the credibility of information shared on Facebook. These results are useful for information professionals and social media managers in extent to understand and cater to the demands of information consumers. These findings would also be helpful for teachers, information providers, and researchers to understand the perspectives of developing countries' students on the credibility of social media information. Furthermore, this study is supposed to be a valuable addition in existing literature which could provide guidelines for novice researchers, interested in exploring the area, especially in the context of Facebook users in a developing country's context. • Determining the credibility of information has always been a key challenge for social media users. • Source credibility, medium credibility, and information quality are positively correlated with each other • The students with rural backgrounds were more likely to trust Facebook information than those having urban backgrounds. • The age, and education of students appeared to predict the credibility of Facekbook information. • The library administration needs to focus on advanced levels of IL Instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to investigate the work performance self-efficacy of university librarians using a cross-sectional survey method. The data were collected from currently working 200 university librarians at Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognized public and private sector universities in Punjab, Pakistan by adopting a validated and reliable questionnaire. Survey results indicate that university librarians focus on work goals and are therefore able to meet deadlines through planning and time management. They make efforts to update knowledge and skills pertaining to their job by actively participating in meetings and social gatherings. They are not harmful to their respective institutes and avoid sharing any negative aspect with other colleagues. A relationship is found between task and contextual performance, whereas there is no significant association between counterproductive work behavior and task performance. No correlation is observed between work performance self-efficacy and type of organization (public vs. private) in which university librarians are currently working. Furthermore, designations of the study participants do not affect their work performance self-efficacy, however, gender, age, and experience appear to be the predictors of job performance self-efficacy. These findings provide a pragmatic insight into work performance self-efficacy of university librarians that can be used as a guide in developing cohesive and useful directions for a need-based performance development training program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were twofold. First, it investigated the impact of knowledge sharing (KS) on job satisfaction (JS), second, this study examined the role of demographic variables (gender, age, designation, qualification, and experience) between KS-JS relationship. A cross-sectional survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 274 currently working university librarians in Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognized universities of Pakistan. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 by applying relevant descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study observed a positive association between KS and JS, where KS significantly impacted JS of university librarians. Further, there was no significant findings indicating that the above mentioning demographic variables moderated the relationship between KS and JS except gender. However, conditional or marginal moderation role were observed between KS and JS relationship in presence of these demographic variables (age, designation, qualification, and experience). This study would help institutional management understand librarians' behavior towards their KS so that a collaborative sharing and cohesive learning environment could be established at micro and macro level for high JS. It will provide a pragmatic insight to librarians and universities in order to achieve overall organizational objectives by connecting KS and JS considering demographic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the perceived online learning readiness (OLR) of LIS (Library and Information Sciences) / IM (Information Management) students in Pakistan during COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative approach based on survey method was used to collect data from 340 LIS students from nine public sector universities of Pakistan through an online questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS. The findings revealed that LIS students were not fully personalized and successful in decisions about their online educational activities during COVID-19 pandemic. However, they were motivated to learn through online learning and felt confident in performing basic functions of computers and internet. A significant difference of opinion was observed on 'computer/internet self-efficacy' and 'online communication self-efficacy' based on respondents' gender. Similarly, students from different levels of degree programs reported significantly different computer, internet, and online communication self-efficacy and learning motivation. Moreover, the age and grades of respondents were noted to be strong predictors of their OLR. These findings would be helpful for library schools, universities, and faculty members in Pakistan to improve the quality of online education and implement clear policies and guidelines. This study provides some theoretical and practical implications based on the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at exploring the factors hindering medical students from sharing knowledge with fellow students. A survey-based questionnaire was used to collect data from 96 students of a medical college selected by proportionate stratified simple random sampling. One hundred forty-eight questionnaires were distributed; 95 (65%) of the 96 questionnaires returned were usable. Of the 11 barriers, People only share with those who share with them obtained the highest mean score (3.81). The opinions of male and final year students were higher than those of female and first-year students. Major findings showed that medical students considered give and take a big barrier to knowledge sharing (KS). They also identified a lack of KS culture and appreciation as big barriers towards knowledge sharing among medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigated the effect of information literacy on the academic performance of business students enrolled at the top seven business education institutions from urban Sindh, Pakistan. A quantitative research approach using a cross-sectional survey was used to conduct this investigation. The data were collected from 385 business students enrolled in different degree programs using a questionnaire. The recruitment of the participants was done through proportionate stratified simple random and systematic sampling techniques, with the results indicating that business students are information literate. In addition, the information literacy of business students appeared as a positive predictor of their academic performance. These results may inform policy and practice to improve business education and might be useful for business educators, policymakers, librarians, and business accrediting bodies (e.g., National Business Education Accreditation Council and Higher Education Commission) in designing a needs-based information literacy instruction program and curriculum for business students of all levels for better human-information interaction. This study contributed to the existing literature on the effectiveness of information literacy in academia, particularly on business students' academic performance, as no such research was available in the existing literature at the time of writing this article, specifically from the South-Asian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background - With privacy concerns growing on a daily basis, it is important to understand how university students guard their personally identifiable information. Despite the students' perceived readiness and several studies on the topic, it is not fully understood what personally identifiable information university students are sharing via Online Social Networks (OSNs). Purpose - Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the personal information sharing behavior of university students through online social networks. Design/methodology/approach - Quantitative approach was used and a survey questionnaire was solicited to collect the data from 250 out of 712 master's students of faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Equal sized stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select the required sample size. Findings - The findings revealed that most of the university students shared their personal information like first name, last name, and the college they attended on OSNs. They rarely updated their profiles and labeled the uploaded photos/ videos with their own names. They mostly used their cell phones to use OSNs and female were conscious to disclose their personal information on OSNs as compared to male students. Originality/value - This study would help the policy makers to establish or develop different types of information security laws to protect the information of individuals on social networking sites. It would also help the students to keep their personal information secret while using Web 2.0 technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The objective of this study is to gauge the level of information literacy skills of faculty members of the University of Lahore. Design/methodology/approach -- To collect required data from population, survey method was used. The participants consisted of the faculty members currently working in the University of Lahore, which reflected the conditions and environment of all campuses of the University of Lahore. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample from population of 650 faculty members of the university. The sample size consisted of 84 faculty members in randomly selection. A questionnaire was formulated and personally managed. Therefore collected data were evaluated. Findings -- It was found that a majority of faculty members be deficient in searching catalog and its use, choice of information sources, selection of relevant sources and formulation of search strategies. Likewise, many faculty members did not successful users of the university libraries. Originality/value -- An extensive search of available literature has shown that such type of study has never been done in the faculty members of the University of Lahore. This study will definitely help to organize different information literacy programs in the university to promote and to develop the information literacy skills among faculty and to improve the teaching quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 literacy, a social vaccine, is crucial to cope pandemic situations as it helps individuals to manage panic situations, adopt health preventive behaviours and adapting to the new normal. This research examined the effects of Covid-19 literacy on fear, protective behaviour, and conspiracy beliefs of university students using an online questionnaire. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two universities from Lahore with permission from concerned authorities. A total of 301 received responses were analyzed by applying descriptive as well as inferential statistics in SPSS. The results indicated that Covid-19 literacy appeared to predict negatively fear of Covid-19 and conspiracy beliefs and positively health-protective behaviours. In other words, the university students with better Covid-19 literacy appeared to have less fear of Covid-19, more likely to adopt health-protective behaviours and believe less in conspirative information. These results demonstrated the potential benefits of Covid-19 literacy to respond proactively to the fear caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, managing infodemic and adoption of health-protective behaviours. These results would be useful for policymakers, NGOs, health professionals, and university librarians in planning health education and promotion for not only university students but also for general public. This research contributed to the existing research on health literacy related to the Covid-19 pandemic in general and Covid-19 literacy in particular as limited studies have been published so far. • Rapid spread of Covid-19 called for peoples' ability to use credible health information and adaption of existing life styles worldwide. • Covid-19 literacy is essential to respond pandemic and infodemic situations as it enables people to manage panic and adopt health preventive behaviours. • The need for health education among general public is realized more than ever to respond Covid-19 pandemic and infodemic. • Covid-19 literacy predicted negatively the Covid-19 fear and conspiracy beliefs and positively health protective behaviours. • The government and NGOs should strategically invest in health education to achieve sustainable public health in the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]