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Mental Health in Education Sector: Efficacy of Group Dialectical Behaviour Therapy with Students Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
Get PDFThis study aimed to empirically assess the efficacy of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) in substantially alleviating symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), reformulating distorted cognitive patterns, ameliorating dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, and augmenting overall life satisfaction in students with BPD. A quasi-experimental group was formed from 24 students at Islamia College Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A baseline assessment was conducted using a comprehensive set of tools, including the McLean screening instrument, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, the Cognitive Distortion Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Twelve weekly group sessions were conducted over a period of three months, DBT techniques were applied during the sessions, and participants were given homework assignments to help transfer newly learned behaviours from therapeutic settings to real-life situations. After completing the twelve sessions, participants were reassessed using the same measures administered at the baseline. The results showed significance in symptoms of BPD and cognitive distortions, along with an increase in life satisfaction at the post-assessment compared to the pre-assessment. DBT has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with BPD
Faculty Perceptions of their Assessment Practices in the Age of AI: A Qualitative Case Study
Get PDFAssessment practices are evolving from traditional methods to more personalized approaches due to the widespread growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. This change encourages educators to redesign assessments that emphasize real-world applications over memorization. The current qualitative case study explored faculty awareness of new assessment practices in the age of AI at one university in the northern region of Pakistan. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection from faculty members, purposively selected from four faculties (Arts & Humanities, Biological & Health Sciences, Law & Social Sciences, and Natural and Computational Sciences) of the university. From thematic analysis of the data, two main themes emerged, i.e. evaluating students’ learning beyond AI and innovative assessment practices to assess authentic learning. The main findings depicted that teachers used project-based activities, classroom-based tasks, and assessed students through standard criteria. Moreover, the findings focused on assessment tasks exploring critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, rather than mere learning and rote memorization. The study suggests that universities may promote authentic assessments by determining criteria and ensuring the ethical use of AI
Fear of Lockdown and COVID19: Semantics of Frames
Get PDFThe study identifies the frames associated with COVID-19 ‘during lockdown’ and ‘after lockdown’ and examines the embodiment (sensory experiences) associated with them. To explore participants’ perceptions of the pandemic in the two different contexts, the study uses the theory of Frame Semantics, which proposes that the frames/concepts acquired through experiences help in the meaning-making process. Following cognitive discourse analysis, description tasks and focus group interviews were conducted with 30 university students to obtain discourse. Selected participants were studying in the universities in Islamabad and were asked to narrate in detail their experiences of the virus during and after the lockdown. The method of analysis follows Fillmore’s FrameNet project to identify frames and the lexical markers that trigger them. Data analysis results in the identification of relevant frames in the discourses (written and spoken linguistic data taken from participants), some of which are available in the FrameNet database, while some have been created. The identification of 48 new frames in the discourses points towards the creation of a new embodiment (sensory experiences) ‘during lockdown’ and ‘after lockdown. ’ The findings suggest that the percentage of negative frames is higher in ‘during lockdown’ discourses (76.4%) as compared to the ‘after lockdown’ discourses (32%). Furthermore, modifications in the FrameNet database are suggested
Effectiveness of Apologizing Effectively Intervention among Married Couples: Enhancing Communication Patterns, Tolerance for Disagreement and Marital Quality
Get PDFThis study aimed to examine the effectiveness of apologising effectively which was a positive psychology intervention for enhancing the Tolerance for Disagreement (TfD), Positive Communication Patterns (PCP) and marital quality, along with reducing Negative Communication Patterns (NCP) in married couples. For this purpose, married couples who had been married for a minimum of three years and had at least one child were selected by using purposive and snowball sampling. A pre-test/post-test experimental design was employed. Random assignment of married couples to a control group (husbands and wives) and an experimental group (husbands and wives) was done. Fourteen sessions of the apologising effectively technique were conducted with married couples. The Couple Communication Patterns Questionnaire, the Comprehensive Marital Satisfaction Scale and Tolerance for Disagreement Scale were administered at pre-test and post-test. The findings of the study suggest that post-test levels of TfD, PCP and marital quality were higher, while post-test levels of NCP were lower in married couples in the experimental group. These results highlight the feasibility of the Apologising Effectively intervention in married couples, which fosters a healthy marital relationship and emphasises an intervention-based study that would be of great value to couples therapists and marriage counsellors
Exploring The Perceptions and Practices of Secondary School Teachers Toward STEM Education
Get PDFThis study explored the perception of science teachers regarding STEM education and the challenges, specifically those faced by secondary school science teachers, in integrating STEM into their pedagogical approaches. It adopted an exploratory qualitative design for data collection from science teachers. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather the data, along with four supplementary classroom observations to validate the interview data. The collected data were analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis process. Science teachers showed a positive perception of expertise and were found to be eager to incorporate STEM education into the classroom; however, they encountered several obstacles. Teachers felt that STEM subjects took a lot of time, and they lacked the confidence to carry them out. Moreover, the study also found that, in crowded classrooms, there were challenges regarding student involvement. Professional development is required to successfully integrate STEM education. Educators should receive a variety of continuing education courses and training to ensure that they are always updated on the latest findings on STEM education
The Uranium Concentration of Soil Samples in the South of Amara Governorate was Measured Using the CR-93 Detector
Get PDFThe amount of uranium was evaluated in soil samples taken from various residential, industrial, and agricultural areas in the southern Amara Governorate in southern Iraq using the neutron activation technique of CR-39 solid nuclear track detectors. Uranium values in soil samples ranged from 0.795 parts per million to 2.05 parts per million, according to the results. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 10 cm. The results were compared to publicly available data and found to be within acceptable ranges
Study the Concentration of Boron the Water Samples South of Maysan Governorate by Using ICP/OES Technique
Get PDFThis project aims to measure the amount of boron (105B) in water samples taken from the rivers and streams of the city of Maysan. It passes through the southern Iraqi province of Maysan. ICP/EPA methods were used to analyse water samples collected from 35 different locations. According to the investigation results, the boron concentration in the water ranged from 2.13 parts per million) from the city of Al-Mashrah (S4) to (0.28 parts per million) in the city of Al-Azair. (S27). The results are compared to those reached by previous research. The results can be used to support the relevant authorities in implementing water quality regulations and to give special attention in the event of contamination, enabling them to monitor radiation-free water samples that people need. The study results showed that, apart from a few samples that may indicate potential future contamination threatening both people and the environment, most samples from the study sites exhibited very low concentrations
Digitalization in Higher Education: Reflections of Teacher Educators on Institutional Support for Improving Quality of Teaching and Learning
Get PDFThe study focuses on the impact of digitalization in higher education by exploring the reflections of teacher educators on the digital support provided by their institutions to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. The study followed a Descriptive Quantitative Case Study approach using quantitative data to describe the characteristics of a specific case or situation systematically. The targeted population consisted of faculty members of public sector universities in Karachi, Pakistan. The collected data was analysed through a statistical technique known as Pareto analysis, which was performed to identify the most significant categories of digital tools and techniques desired by the faculty members at the higher education level. The findings of the study reveal that digitalization greatly influences teaching and learning; however, the institutional support at public sector universities needs serious attention to improve the quality of teaching and learning and the effectiveness of digital tools and technologies in improving educational outcomes. The results suggest that institutions\u27 efforts in integrating digital resources have a positive influence on the overall learning experience. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the role of digitalization in higher education and provides valuable insights for institutions aiming to enhance the quality of teaching and learning practices
Roadmap for HR Audit in Pakistani Banks: A Grounded Theory
Get PDFThe strategic significance of Human Resource (HR) audits has not been investigated in the Pakistani banking industry. The auditing is still perceived by many banks as a compliance activity instead of a method of planning long-term employee workforce, worker engagement, ethical governance, and digital progress. This research paper attempts to address that gap by creating a framework which is responsive to the dynamics of an emerging market. Qualitative data were collected via the 15 external auditors who have experience working in the banking sector under the constructivist grounded theory. Interpretation of interview transcripts. Open, axial and selective coding were conducted using NVivo software. The analysis has shown that there were common issues such as poor recordkeeping systems, a lack of digital infrastructure, insufficient management support, and resistance to change by employees. In reply, the study shows a five-stage HR audit roadmap: Initial Engagement, Comprehensive Audit Planning, Data Handling, Reporting and Feedback, Insightful Analysis and Continuous Improvement. The proposed model contributes to the literature of HRM through contextualizing the HR audit practices to growing economies and facilitating modernization, data-driven processes, and strategic alignment of the HR functions and organizational goals
Psychological Well-Being and Performance of Dissatisfied Doctors Working in Healthcare and Tele Healthcare Organizations
Get PDFThis study investigates the effect of Psychological Wellbeing on Employee Performance, considering the Job Satisfaction as a mediator between them. Often, doctors have to work for around 80 hours during a week due to which deteriorating performances of doctors have been noticed. This long-duration shift of the doctors often affects their Psychological Wellbeing. As the Psychological Wellbeing and Job Satisfaction were higher order constructs, repeated indicator approach was used in PLS SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) approach to conduct the statistical analysis. The 203 doctors participated in this research as sample using a survey method and they were reached out online as well as physically. The results depict the significant effect of Psychological Wellbeing on Employee Performance and Job Satisfaction was also found as a significant mediator. The results are insightful for the managers, the hospital administrators, and the consultants who work for the satisfaction of the medical practitioners working as employees. Future research can be conducted to examine the difference between the job satisfaction level of medical practitioners of public and private hospitals