Exploring the Elements That Influence Postgraduate Students' Reading Trends in University Libraries in Islamabad

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing post-graduate students' reading trends at university libraries in Islamabad as well as students' reading trends and their effects on academic achievement.

Methodology: To accomplish the study's objectives, a quantitative research technique was used, and a survey based on a questionnaire was undertaken. For the purpose of gathering information from the respondents, a structured questionnaire was created. Data was gathered from the libraries of Islamabad-based HEC-recognized universities using a purposive sampling technique. The survey received 129 responses from users of the 16 libraries.

Findings: This study reveals that respondents like to read electronic documents rather than paper-based materials. They read for multiple purposes, including academic assignments and course work, self-development, preparation for exams, and to improve their ability in spoken and written English language communication. The study also reveals that respondents get good grades due to reading, expressing themselves well in class, can make assignments easily, makes them feel proud, and reading newspapers increases their awareness level. The study also reveals that social networking sites like Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and others, as well as time spent watching TV and playing video games, have a detrimental impact on the reading trends of postgraduate students in Islamabad.

Originality: This is the first study of its kind conducted in the territory of Islamabad. Therefore, its findings can have a significant impact on the readers. 

References

Ahmad, M., Abawajy, J. H., Shahibi, M. S., Dollah, W. A. K. W., Ismail, S. A., & Saman, W. S. W. M. (2017). Model for Digital Services in Libraries. Journal of Informatics and Mathematical Sciences, 9(4), 1159-1164.

Ahmad, Z., Tariq, M., Iqbal, Q., & Sial, T. A. (2021). Exploring the Factors Affecting the Development of Reading Trends among Children. Library Philosophy and Practice, 0_1-20.

Ameen, K., & Gorman, G. E. (2009). Information and digital literacy: a stumbling block to development? A Pakistan perspective. Library Management. 30(1/2), 99-112. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120910927565

Asif, M., & Sandhu, M. S. (2023). Social Media Marketing Revolution in Pakistan: A Study of its Adoption and Impact on Business Performance. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 2(2), 67-77.

Berrett, D. (2012). How ‘flipping’ the classroom can improve the traditional lecture. The chronicle of higher education, 12(19), 1-3.

Celik, B. (2019). A Study on the factors affecting reading and reading trends of preschool children. International Journal of English Linguistics, 10(1), 101.

Dad, H. and Khan, S.N. (2012). A guide to library & information science: questions & answers.

Dollah, W. A. K. W., Kamal, S., Kamal, E. R., Ibrahim, A., Rahim, H. A., Masron, M. Z., ... & Rahmat, M. E. (2017). Inculcating reading habits among secondary school students. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 4(8), 407-416.

Du Toit, C. M. (2007). The recreational reading trends of adolescent readers: A case study (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria).

Fatiloro, O. F., Adesola, O. A., Hameed, B. A., & Adewumi, O. M. (2017). A Survey on the Reading Trends among Colleges of Education Students in the Information Age. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(8), 106-110.

Kutay, V. (2014). A survey of the reading trends of Turkish high school students and an examination of the efforts to encourage them to read (Doctoral dissertation, Loughborough University).

Littman, J., & Connaway, L. S. (2004). A circulation analysis of print books and e-books in on academic research library. Library resources and technical services, 48(4), 256-262.

Lone, F. A. (2011). Reading trends of rural and urban college students in the 21^st century. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Retrieved on April 13, 2021,162.

Mahmood, A., & Saeed, A. (2014). To study the impact of digital information seeking behaviour of research fellows in private universities of Karachi. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 3(12).

Mirza, Q., Pathan, H., Khatoon, S., & Hassan, A. (2021). Digital Age and Reading Trends: Empirical Evidence from Pakistani Engineering University. TESOL International Journal, 16(1), 210-231.

Mumtaz, A., Munir, N., Mumtaz, R., Farooq, M., & Asif, M. (2023). Impact Of Psychological & Economic Factors On Investment Decision-Making In Pakistan Stock Exchange. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 130-135.

Nishan, A., Raju, S. T. U., Hossain, M. I., Dipto, S. A., Uddin, S. T., Sijan, A., ... & Khan, M. M. H. (2024). A continuous cuffless blood pressure measurement from optimal PPG characteristic features using machine learning algorithms. Heliyon, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27779

Pinto, M., Pouliot, C., & Cordón-García, J. A. (2014). E-book reading among Spanish university students. The Electronic Library, 32(4), 473-492.

Rabaud, C., Khan, N. M., & Rampat, S. (2018). Independent and Digital reading among undergraduates: the case of the University of Mauritius. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 10(3), 296-310. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-09-2017-0117.

Rafiq, S., & Warraich, N. F. (2018). Medical undergraduate students’ perception towards the use and non-use of e-books: a case from Pakistan. Collection and Curation. 38(2), 32-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-08-2017-0040

Rafique, G. M. (2014). Information literacy skills of faculty members: A study of the University of Lahore, Pakistan. Library philosophy and practice, 0_1.

Raju, S. T. U., Dipto, S. A., Hossain, M. I., Chowdhury, M. A. S., Haque, F., Nashrah, A. T., ... & Hashem, M. M. A. (2024). DNN-BP: a novel framework for cuffless blood pressure measurement from optimal PPG features using deep learning model. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 1-22. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-2624386/v1

Samsuddin, S. F., Shaffril, H. A. M., & Fauzi, A. (2020). Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, to the rural libraries we go!-a systematic literature review. Library & Information Science Research, 42(1), 100997.

Sehar, N., & Ghaffar, A. (2018). Reading trends among undergraduate students of NED university of engineering and technology, Karachi, Pakistan: a pilot study.

Soroya, S. H., & Ameen, K. (2020). Millennials’ Reading behavior in the digital age: A case study of pakistani university students. Journal of Library Administration, 60(5), 559-577.

Soroya, S. H., & Ameen, K. (2018). What do they want? Millennials and role of libraries in Pakistan. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 44(2), 248-255.

Soroya, S. H., & Ameen, K. (2016). Reading trends of youth in Pakistan: A pilot study. Pakistan Journal of Information Management and Libraries, 17, 86-96.

Stebbins, R. A. (2012). The committed reader: Reading for utility, pleasure, and fulfillment in the twenty-first century. Scarecrow Press.

Ullah, A., Usman, M., & Khan, M. (2023). Challenges in delivering modern library services in the 21st century. International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research, 2(6), 146-151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54660/IJSSER.2023.2.6.146-151

Ullah, A. (2024). Analyzing the students’ attitudes and behavior towards traditional classes and technology-enhanced online learning. International Journal of Social Science Archives (IJSSA). https://www.ijssa.com/index.php/ijssa/article/view/498

Vandenhoek, T. (2013). Screen reading trends among university students. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 9(2).

Walia, P.K. and Sinha, N. (2014), "Changing trend in reading trends of teenagers in Delhi: An impact assessment of demographic and environmental variables", Library Review, 63(1/2), 125-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/LR-03-2013-0038

Ware, M. (2005). E‐only journals: is it time to drop print?. Learned publishing, 18(3), 193-199.