Shafiq Ur Rehman
@pu.edu.pk
Associate Professor
University of the Punjab
I completed my doctorate in Library and Information Science from the Charles de Gaulle University – Lille III, France, with the highest distinction in 2012. I have more than 24 years of professional, teaching and administrative experience at various universities and academic institutions across different countries such as France, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. I am actively engaged in research and have produced 78 research papers. I have also presented 15 research papers at various national and international conferences. I am an HEC (Higher Education Commission of Pakistan) approved Ph.D. supervisor and am actively involved in teaching as well as supervising postgraduate students. I have provided training in various research tools such as NVIVO, SPSS, AMOS, Endnote, Mendeley, Zotero, RefWorks Turnitin, Biblioshiny, VOSViewer, HistCite, CiteSpace, BibExcel, and have conducted more than 650 workshops and training sessions as a resource person in Pakistan and abroad.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Library service quality, Bibliometrics, Mobile learning, open access. library leadership
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Muhammad Safdar, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Muhammad Arif, and Murtaza Ashiq
Emerald
Purpose The purpose of this paper was to systematically collect and review all studies which have been conducted on research data services in libraries across the globe. Design/methodology/approach Six world-renowned scholarly databases were searched and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used for the identification and selection of eligible studies. The studies were then assessed using a well-renowned framework for the quality assessment of research studies. Findings The results revealed that the libraries were engaged in providing different types of research data services such as identification, acquisition, management and preservation of research data. They also arranged training programs, supported the publishing and sharing of data and dealt with the licensing and copyright issues related to data. Research limitations/implications The results of this study would be helpful for researchers and organizations, especially those engaged in educational activities, in understanding the current scenario of research data services in the world libraries. Furthermore, the findings offer valuable insights to library professionals regarding the types of research support services available globally. This would enable them to play an integral role in planning, designing and implementing such services in their libraries. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind that systematically collects and reviews the literature on research data services in libraries worldwide.
Khalid Mahmood, Shafiq Ur Rehman, and Murtaza Ashiq
Emerald
PurposeThis research study is conducted to thoroughly investigate the users' expectations for excellent library service quality (LSQ) from college libraries. It will also identify whether there is any difference in the desired library service quality among different type of users, gender and academic discipline.Design/methodology/approachA survey method was used, and the data were collected from 998 respondents, which included faculty members, masters, bachelor's and intermediate students. In order to conduct the study, LibQUAL + instrument were adapted.FindingsThe results demonstrated that the users expected a higher level of services from the college libraries of Pakistan. The highest desired expectation of the users were related to “library as a place (LP)” dimension, while the lowest expectation was with regards to the “information control (IC)” dimension. The results indicated a significant difference among the various types of users and academic disciplines regarding their expectations with library services.Practical implicationsThe appointment of college librarians against nearly 500 vacant posts would significantly improve the LSQ in these libraries. The result of the study would indeed be useful for the college administration, librarians the Government of the Punjab and the Punjab Higher Education Commission (HEC) for future planning, improvement of services and allocation of resources.Originality/valueThis study is the first in-depth effort into investigating the LSQ of the college libraries of the Punjab, Pakistan. This study will be helpful to understand the LSQ from developing countries’ perspective.
Saqib Ali, Beenish Fatima Alam, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Shakil Ahmad, Kefi Iqbal, and Imran Farooq
Elsevier BV
Nadeem Siddique, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Shakil Ahmad, Akhtar Abbas, and Muhammad Ajmal Khan
Emerald
Purpose This study aims to investigate the research productivity of library and information science (LIS) authors affiliated with the 22 countries of the Arab League. It also identifies the top countries, organizations, authors, journals, natures of collaboration, and frequently used keywords in LIS research in the Arab world. Design/methodology/approach Bibliometric methods were used to evaluate the research performance of the authors affiliated with library organizations in the Arab region. The Elsevier Scopus database was selected for data retrieval. A comprehensive search strategy was adopted to retrieve 863 publications contributed by LIS authors affiliated with the Arab countries. VOS viewer, Biblioshiny, BiblioAnalyitics, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel were used for data visualization and analysis. Findings This paper presents the dynamics and the state of the LIS research in the Arab region published between 1951 and 2021. The results of the study have highlighted an upward trend in the growth of the publications, especially in the past four years. The largest number of studies were published in the year 2020. The country-wise analysis ranked Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as the top LIS research producing countries with five and four researchers, respectively. The Kuwait University, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University were the three most productive organizations. Academic libraries, social media, bibliometrics, information-seeking behavior, information literacy and knowledge management were identified as the major areas of interest for the researchers. Internet and open access were topics that had gained recent popularity, while the digital library, research data management, green librarianship, link data, cloud computing, library leadership, library automation and artificial intelligence were identified as areas requiring further attention. Furthermore, the single-author pattern was found to be the most preferred pattern. Practical implications The findings of this study would help prospective researchers in choosing the neglected areas of research that require further investigation. They would also help policymakers in identifying factors that need more attention and allocation of research funds. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive bibliometric study that presents a holistic picture of the LIS research in the Arab region.
Bashir Tijjani, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Zachariah Peter, Ishtiaq Ahmad Bajwa, and Muhammad Ajmal Khan
Emerald
Purpose This study aims to examine the quantitative research productivity of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) globally by using the bibliometric approach. The method was applied to articles indexed in the Scopus database to analyze the publication patterns, trends and research productivity of the selected papers. Design/methodology/approach Bibliometric analysis is applied to analyze research productivity of IFRS from 2003 to 2020. The method was applied to articles indexed in the Scopus database to analyze the publication patterns and research productivity of the selected papers. Findings This study finds that a good number of articles have been published on IFRS, the top five countries are the USA, UK, Australia, Germany and Canada. This clearly shows that developed markets have the highest number of publications on IFRS. This could be as a result of the early adoption of IFRS by those economies and owing to the interest of researchers in those markets. Most of the studies are quantitative in nature; this study indicates that publication on accounting standards is popular as the number of citations is significant; most of the articles have two or more authors and were published in top-ranking journals. Practical implications This study provides up-to-date literature on the global research productivity of IFRS; as a result, it supports the development of policies by the users of this accounting standards. The findings of this study also serve as a reference point for firms and regulators around the world. Given the thoroughness of the methodology of this study, the results make it easier to effectively identify the direction of research on the implementation of IFRS in organizations. Originality/value This study provides a more comprehensive bibliometric analysis on the growth of IFRS literature (2003–2020) in the Scopus database; most of the prior studies have covered relatively few areas of focus as well as a fewer number of high impact factor journals. The relevance of this finding is in uncovering different areas of IFRS research productivity globally.
Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Ammara Yousaf, and Muhammad Safdar
Emerald
Purpose The use of mobile technologies and learning devices has been increasing in every field of life, and library and information sciences are no exception. This study aims to explore the perceptions of library and information science (LIS) students regarding mobile learning (m-learning) along with their primary purposes, social media applications, advantages, disadvantages, barriers, impact and overall satisfaction with using these devices. Design/methodology/approach A survey method was used, and data was collected from the students of 12 library schools in Pakistan for a total sample of 250 students. Findings Their main purposes of usage, their needs, advantages, disadvantages, barriers, impacts and the level of overall satisfaction were also identified. The inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA) also identified the difference of opinion on the basis of gender, programs, types and number of m-learning devices. Overall, the findings highlight the need for academic libraries to give mobile access (launching mobile applications) to better use library services. To ensure this, libraries must keep an eye on new advances in mobile technology, researchers’ needs and related electronic library services and observe how these services are being used. Practical implications Theoretical and practical implications have been highlighted to understand the perceptions of LIS students about m-learning devices. Originality/value The mobile library service providers and management need to improve their services by offering services that fit the diverse needs of their users and should know how to attract modern library users.
Rozeen Shaukat, Shakil Ahmad, Muhammad Asif Naveed, and Shafiq Ur Rehman
SAGE Publications
This study examined the impact of personality traits on the knowledge sharing behavior of academicians in the public sector. The data were collected from 237 respondents using a questionnaire. The results showed that the personality trait openness to experience had a significant and positive impact on the knowledge sharing behavior and its sub-dimensions such as written contributions, organizational communication, personal interactions, and communities of practice. Furthermore, the personality traits extraversion and agreeableness positively predicted the knowledge sharing behavior for the dimensions of communities of practice and organizational communication, respectively. The results of this study would be helpful for the administrative staff of universities to develop programs to promote a knowledge sharing culture in universities and improve collaborative learning, research, organizational effectiveness, and performance. It would also be a worthy contribution to the existing literature as only a limited number of studies have addressed the role of personality traits in the knowledge sharing behaviors in the academic environment of a non-western country.
Khalid Almas, Shakil Ahmad, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Shakil Ahmad, Faisal Aljofi, and Allauddin Siddiqi
Elsevier BV
Najla Taslim, Shakil Ahmad, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Amal Turikham Alghamdi, Hussain Anwar H Alkatheri, Abid Iqbal, and Akira Jbeen
SAGE Publications
This study aims to chart and review the unexplored transgender research portfolio of Muslim countries using bibliometric method. Data retrieved from the Scopus database were analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, and ScientoPy software. It was found that barring Turkey and Iran, transgender research has been minimal in most Muslim countries. The collective productivity is gradually but surely rising. Around 84% of the publications have been collaborative efforts. The keyword analysis revealed that gender dysphoria, human immunodeficiency virus, LGBT, and vaginoplasty were the most frequently used keywords. The socio-economic circumstances of the transgender community are generally deplorable in most Muslim nations. Overall, there is a dire need for high-quality multifaceted transgender research in the Muslim world to raise general awareness. Resolving disputes on gender dysphoria or sex reassignment surgeries and reinstating the social rights of the transgender community should be the utmost priority of future research in Muslim countries.
Ishtiaq Ahmad Bajwa, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Abid Iqbal, Zaheer Anwar, Murtaza Ashiq, and Muhammad Ajmal Khan
SAGE Publications
This study has conducted a meta-literature review examining the past, present and possible future trends of Fintech research using 360 selected articles published between 2006 and June 2020. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied. In the quantitative approach, a bibliometric citation analysis using HistCite and VOSviewer software was conducted and the qualitative analysis covered the identification of four main research streams related to (i) Bitcoin and digital currency, (ii) crowdfunding, (iii) mobile payment, and (iv) blockchain. The study results highlight the most influential aspects of the FinTech literature, such as the leading countries, institutions, journals, authors, and articles. Suggestions for the potential future direction of FinTech literature have also been made.
Akira Jbeen, Shafiq Ur Rehman, and Khalid Mahmood
Emerald
Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the level of awareness, use and attitudes of students regarding e-books. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative research design based on the survey method. A structured questionnaire was designed and used for data collection from four different universities of Pakistan. A total of 305 responses were collected from a sample of 400, and 303 of those responses were used for data analysis. Findings The results of this study indicated that students were aware of e-books and used them in their daily lives. Most of the respondents had a positive attitude towards e-books and indicated that they considered e-books are easy to find and support them in their assignments. Online features of e-books were important to them. There was a significant difference of opinion found among students of different disciplines regarding the use of e-books. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to four disciplines in four universities, one discipline per university. Therefore, its findings may not be applied to other universities or other disciplines. Practical implications This paper offers a new idea to academic libraries related to purchasing e-books. This study will provide guidelines to information professionals for development of their e-book collection and implementation of innovative approaches in library services or e-books services to facilitate their users according to their need. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the level of awareness, use and attitudes of university students towards e-books in Pakistan.
Shakil Ahmad, Inaam Ullah Qureshi, Muhammad Ramzan, and Shafiq Ur Rehman
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Nazeer Hussain, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Kanwal Ameen, and Muhammad Safdar
Emerald
Purpose Researchers’ competencies are directly related to the quality and effectiveness of the research they produce. However, training opportunities for education and conducting research seem to be limited for the growing research culture in Pakistan. The purpose of this study is to assess the research-related training needs of postgraduate researchers (PGRs) of Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach was used to conduct the study using a questionnaire. Non-random sampling technique was used to collect the data from the postgraduate (MPhil/MS and PhD) researchers enrolled in the two well renowned Pakistani Universities. Findings Results of the study confirmed that PGRs were interested in developing their skills in various areas of a research project such as topic selection, research design and use of data analysis software. Findings also highlighted that respondents were interested in learning reference management tools for citing and managing the sources of information in their research work. Originality/value This is the first study, which investigated the training needs assessment of PGRs enrolled in two major Pakistani universities. The results may help in designing training programs, promoting a conducive research culture in the country and improving the quality of research being produced. This study provided a framework likely to be beneficial for quality enhancement cells, universities and organizations in organizing effective research training and development programs for researchers of Pakistan.
Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Dilnaz Muneeb, and Shakil Ahmad
Emerald
Purpose This study aims to examine the publishing and citation trends on library service quality (LSQ) in the past five decades (1972–2020). Additionally, this bibliometric study investigates the top authors, countries, organizations, journals, nature of collaboration, highly cited articles and LSQ sub-areas. Design/methodology/approach Bibliometric analysis has been used to extract data from the Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) databases. A comprehensive search strategy was devised to extract relevant data from both data sources. Finally, 341 Scopus and 212 WOS records were selected. Data analysis has been performed using VOS viewer software, Biblioshiny, Cite Space and Excel. Findings It was found that a total of 443 items were published in Scopus (n = 341) and WOS (n = 212) during this period. The largest number of studies were published in the year 2019 (n = 29), and the USA was found to be the most productive country, with the most productive organizations, authors and author collaborations. The Texas A&M University in Texas, USA, had the top three most productive authors (Cook C, Thompson B and Heath F) and was the most productive organization. The Performance Measurement and Metrics Journal is on the top of the list. The single author was the prevailing authorship pattern, followed by the two-authors pattern. The most collaborating countries were identified as the UK, Japan, Spain and Bangladesh. The keyword analysis informed that the published literature on LSQ mainly concentrated on academic libraries, Therefore, there is a need further to examine other types of libraries including public, national, special libraries. Originality/value To the best of the knowledge, this seems to be the first comprehensive bibliometric study that combined productivity and citations, citation impact to present a holistic picture of the LSQ literature.
Farida Saleem, Wafa AlNasrallah, Muhammad Imran Malik, and Shafiq Ur Rehman
Frontiers Media SA
This descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting the quality of online learning of Pakistani students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developing economies such as Pakistan present a unique context to online education as there is limited access to technology, ITC services, and the internet for the general public. This paper integrates the factors affecting the online learning process of students while taking the situational factors as a boundary condition (moderating variable). Data were collected through a Appendix Questionnaire administered to students studying in different universities in Pakistan. Stepwise linear regression and PROCESS Macro by Hayes (2013) was used for data analysis. Results revealed that university support, instructors’ support, and motivational factors predicted the quality of online learning. The situational factors negatively influenced the relationship of instructors’ support and motivational factors and the quality of online learning. University support and the quality of online learning relationships were not moderated by situational factors.
Sheikh Shueb, Sumeer Gul, Nahida Tun Nisa, Taseen Shabir, Shafiq Ur Rehman, and Aabid Hussain
Emerald
PurposeThe purpose of the study is to map the funding status of COVID-19 research. The various aspects, such as funding ratio, geographical distribution of funded articles, journals publishing funded research and institutions that sponsor the COVID-19 research are studied. To visualize the country collaboration network and research trends/hotspots in the field of COVID-19 funded research, keyword analysis is also performed. The open-access (OA) status of the funded research on COVID-19 is also discussed.Design/methodology/approachThe leading indexing and abstracting database, i.e. Web of Science (WoS), was used to retrieve the funded articles published on the topic COVID-19. The scientometric approach, more particularly “funding acknowledgment analysis (FAA),” was used to study the research funding.FindingsA total of 5,546 publications of varied nature have been published on COVID-19, of which 1,760 are funded, thus indicating a funding ratio of 32%. China is the leading producer of funded research (760, 43.182%) on COVID-19 followed by the USA (482, 27.386%), England (179, 10.17%), Italy (119, 6.761%), Germany (107, 6.08%) and Canada (107, 6.08%). China is also in lead in terms of the funding ratio (60.94%). However, the funding ratio of the USA (31.54%) is at 11th rank behind Canada (40.68%), Germany (34.18%) and England (35.87%). The USA occupies a central position in the collaboration network having the highest score of articles with other countries (n = 489), with the USA–China collaboration ranking first (n = 123). National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is the largest source of funding for COVID-19 research, supporting 342 (19.432%) publications, followed by the United States Department of Health Human Services (DHHS) and National Institute of Health (NIH), USA with 211 (11.989%) and 200 (11.364%) publications, respectively. However, China's National Key Research and Development Program achieves the highest citation impact (80.24) for its funded publications. Journal of Medical Virology, Science of the Total Environment and EuroSurveillance are the three most prolific journals publishing 63 (3.58%), 35 (1.989%) and 32 (1.818%), respectively, of the sponsored research articles on the COVID-19. A total of 3,138 institutions produce funded articles with Huazhong University of Science Technology and Wuhan University from China at the forefront publishing 92 (5.227%) and 83 (4.716%) publications, respectively. The funded research on COVID-19 is largely available in OA mode (1,674, 95.11%) and mainly through the Green and Bronze routes. The keyword clustering reveals that the articles mainly focus on the impact, structure and clinical characteristics of the virus.Research limitations/implicationsThe study's main limitation is that the results are based on the publications indexed by WoS, which has limited coverage compared to other databases. Moreover, all the funding agencies do not require or authors miss to acknowledge funding sources in their publications, which ultimately undermines the number of funded publications. The research publications on COVID-19 are also proliferating; thus, the study's findings shall be valid for a minimum period.Practical implicationsThe funding of research on the COVID-19 is highly essential to accelerate innovative research and help countries fight against the global pandemic. The study's findings reflect the efforts made by nations and institutions to remove the financial and accessibility hurdles. It not only underscores the lead of the USA in the research on COVID-19, but also shows China as a forerunner in sponsoring the research, thus, helping to know the contribution of nations toward understanding the dynamics of pandemic and controlling it. The study will help healthcare practitioners and policymakers recognize the areas that remain the focus of sponsored research on COVID-19 and other left-out areas that need to be taken up and thus may help in policy formulation. It further highlights the impact of prolific funding agencies so that efforts may be initiated to increase the impact and thereby the returns of investment. The study can help to map the scientific structure of COVID-19 through the lens of funded research and recognize core inclinations of its development. Overall, a comprehensive analysis has been performed to present the detailed characteristics of sponsored research on emerging area of COVID-19, and it is informative, useful and one of its kind on the theme.Originality/valueThe study explores the funding support of research on COVID-19 and its other aspects, along with the mode of availability.
Saad Arslan Iqbal, Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Shaista Rashid, and Namra Tayyab
MDPI AG
This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of students regarding the various aspects of online education while studying at the Pakistani Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and universities that shifted to online modes of instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this study was to identify the level of satisfaction of students with the support being provided to them by their institutes and instructors; the use of different modes of communication and assessment methods; and their home study environment. It also explored the positively and negatively influencing factors affecting online education, as perceived by them. An online questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey research design was chosen for conducting this study. Data were collected from 707 respondents belonging to various Pakistani HEIs and universities and analyzed using the SPSS software. The results revealed a considerable dissatisfaction among the study population regarding online education being provided to them during the COVID pandemic. The participants raised concerns over the lack of institutional support and the quality of online instruction. Other issues raised included unsuitable study environments, unavailability of electricity, and connectivity issues. Overall, the majority of the students indicated that they would not like to opt for online classes in the future once the pandemic was over.
Abdul S. Khan, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Shakil Ahmad, Yara K. AlMaimouni, Manar A. S. Alzamil, and Paul M. H. Dummer
Wiley
AIM
The International Endodontic Journal (IEJ) has served as a platform for research and clinical practice in Endodontics since 1967. This study provides a bibliographic analysis and overview of the publications that have appeared in the IEJ from 1967-2020.
METHODOLOGY
A literature search was performed in Elsevier's Scopus database to locate all the publications of the International Endodontic Journal. Various bibliometric software packages including the open-source visualization software Gephi and Biblioshiny (version 2.0) were employed for data visualisation and analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 3739 records with citation and bibliographic details were selected and retrieved to allow a bibliometric analysis to be performed. The bibliometric analysis indicates that the IEJ has grown both in terms of productivity and influence. Over time, the journal has been associated with an increase in the number of manuscripts published and the citations they have attracted, but with minor downward fluctuations in citations in the last few years. Bibliographic coupling of the IEJ articles revealed that the major research themes published in the journal include "endodontics", "root canal treatment", "calcium hydroxide", "apical periodontitis", "mineral trioxide aggregate", "microbiology", "cyclic fatigue", "cone-beam computed tomography", and "micro-computed tomography". Authors affiliated to institutions in the UK were the major contributors to the journal and linked with other countries such as Brazil, United States, and Malaysia. The largest number of publications were from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
CONCLUSION
The IEJ is one of the leading journals in Endodontology and has been providing a platform for innovative research and clinical reports for more than 50 years. Publications have been associated with a wide range of authors, institutions, and countries around the world.
Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Rehman, Sadaf Rafiq, and Muhammad Tariq
American Library Association
Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Asif Ali Bao Muhammad, and Shakil Ahmad
Project Muse
This is the first qualitative phenomenological study to investigate the state of leadership in Saudi libraries. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 14 library leaders or section heads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Library leadership was found to be strongly associated with management skills, visionary thinking, teamwork, and mentorship. While almost half the participants could not differentiate between library leadership and library management, “personal attributes and skills” emerged as top assets of a library leader. Identity crises and cultural issues were identified as major challenges. Possible solutions were creating and developing user-focused services and spaces, continued professional development programs for library staff, seeking new avenues for public-private partnerships, and promoting information literacy programs. The Saudi Library and Information Association, Saudi library schools, and deanships of library affairs in Saudi universities should increase collaboration and offer more continued professional development and higher education opportunities for senior and mid-career librarians. Such steps will help to align library services with the current and ever-changing needs of library users.
Sundus Iftikhar, Noureen Jahanzeb, Mehvish Saleem, Shafiq ur Rehman, Jukka Pekka Matinlinna, and Abdul Samad Khan
Elsevier BV
Abstract Objective This literature research aimed to compare, contrast and quantify the innovations in the most commonly used dental biomaterials. Methodology Original research articles based on experimental dental biomaterials published between 2007 and 2019 were retrieved and reviewed. A search of electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science indexed dental/biomaterials journals, has been conducted. The inclusion criteria in this research were: synthesis of experimental dental materials, whereas commercial dental materials, review articles, and clinical trials (case reports) were excluded. Results It was found that the amount of publications related to dental subgingival implants, computer-aided modeling ceramics, aesthetic restorative materials, adhesives cements, ceramics, bioceramics, endodontic materials, bioactive scaffolds, stem cells, and guided-tissue membranes had increased significantly from 2007. At the same time, the number of publications related to dental cements, silver amalgam, and dental alloys has decreased. For characterization of dental materials it was noted that mechanical properties were tested mostly for restorative materials. On the other hand, biological properties were most assessed for dental subgingival implants and endodontic materials, however, physical properties predominantly for bioceramics. Conclusion It is concluded that to meet clinical demands there was more focus on restorative materials that provided better aesthetics, including resin composites, adhesive resin composites (luting cements), zirconia, and other ceramics. The boost in laboratory and animal research related to bioceramics was attributed to their regenerative potential. This current literature study will help growing researchers to consider and judge the direction to which research might be guided in order to plan prospective research projects.
Shaista Rashid, Amira Khattak, Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Ur Rehman, and Muhammad Rashid Rasool
MDPI AG
This bibliometric study examines the overall research trends and productivity in the field of virtual reality (VR) in higher education. Bibliometric data were retrieved from Scopus databases. The findings suggest a rising trend in terms of citations and publications showing increased interest in the VR domain have been seen during the last few decades. The year in which the most citations of this type occurred was 2009, in which 1913 citations were recorded, whereas 2019 was the most productive year, as 127 documents on this subject were published in that year. The data analysis revealed that all the top ten researchers belong to Australia. Further, the top three researchers (Gregory S., Lee, M.J.W., and Wood, D.), countries (United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia), organizations (Charles Sturt University, Queensland University of Technology, and University of New England, Australia), journals (Computers and Education, International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, and Journal of Surgical Education) and collaborations (Australia and New Zealand, United States and the United Kingdom, and Australia and the United Kingdom) belong to developed countries. Virtual reality, virtual worlds, augmented reality, e-learning, and simulations are the top keywords used in the VR domain. The thematic evolution of the keyword shows the importance of “Virtual Reality” as a keyword throughout the 27 years of its existence (1994–2020). Furthermore, the main finding of the study is the interdisciplinary nature of the VR domain, which extends from the field of computer sciences to other disciplines.
Murtaza Ashiq, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Muhammad Safdar, and Haider Ali
Elsevier BV
Abstract This study was conducted to systematically collect and analyze the literature on academic library leaders focusing on the challenges faced by them, the set of skills needed to overcome these challenges, and ways for them to develop these leadership skills. A systematic literature review was conducted of the relevant studies published in the first two decades of the 21st century by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five major scholarly databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA), and Google Scholar) were searched for the relevant literature. It was found that rapid change, primarily a consequence of rapid technological innovation, continued to present a fundamental challenge for the profession. It emerged that library leaders needed to be visionary and innovative with effective communication and social skills to encourage a collaborative and agile culture in academic institutions. It was also found that the development of library leadership skills has been a comparatively neglected area in the library profession especially for junior and mid-career library professionals.
Ghulam Murtaza Rafique, Khalid Mahmood, Nosheen Fatima Warraich, and Shafiq Ur Rehman
Elsevier BV
Abstract 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.
Sadaf Rafiq, Abid Iqbal, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Asif Naveed, and Shakeel Ahmad Khan
MDPI AG
Purpose: Everyday life information seeking (ELIS) is essential for the mastery of life and plays a central role in the daily problem-solving activities of all human beings. This study aimed to investigate the everyday life information seeking of female university students residing at hostels in Lahore, Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach using a survey method was adopted to identify the dimensions of ELIS and to fill the paucity of research on the topic. Two-hundred and forty-eight female students living in various university and private hostels in Lahore, Pakistan, were surveyed, and the collected data was analyzed using Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Findings: Results of the study revealed that hostel living expanded the social circle of students, as it offered exposure to diverse multicultural social groups. Female students living in hostels required information related to their academic needs, safety concerns, social life, and self-help issues. They relied mainly on mobiles phones, the internet, social media, and inter-personal relationships for everyday information. Cultural differences, natural hesitation, language barriers, time concerns, and difficulty in identifying reliable information were the primary obstacles in meeting everyday life information needs. Originality/value: The findings of this study can be used as a premise for developing interventions and information services for female students that allow them to live comfortably in a safe environment in hostels and achieve their educational goals. The study results may also provide useful insights for university administrations to establish libraries in hostels to better cater to their female residents’ information needs.