Abstract

In this era, research is considered a source of success and development in developed countries. The objectives of the study were to sort out the intends of research scholars in universities and to check the research trends in universities; to investigate the role of research facilities and research culture in promoting research attitude among university students; and to explore the relationship among research culture, research attitude and research facilities at universities. The sample of the study consisted of 341 Islamic research scholars from four distinguished universities of Punjab through a simple random sampling technique. It is empirically estimated the association among research facilities in universities (RFU), research culture in universities (RCU) and research attitude in universities (RAU) show that RFU and RCU have a positive and significant relationship with RAU. Therefore, improvement in research facilities and promotion of research culture in universities may promote research attitude among students.

Key Words

Islamic Scholars, Research intends, Trends, Universities

Introduction

Research is a complicated phenomenon, but it makes things clear and easy. Academia of the world is focusing on the field of research. But students’ research interest varies from institution to institution. It is observed that students have a lack of research interest and tendencies in educational institutions. Habib and Ali (2017) investigated the research trends among madrassah students and suggested that students may provide with modern technological tools to develop students’ interest in research. Teachers have used different strategies and techniques to motivate the students’ interest and research-oriented behavior in Islamic teaching specifically. Crisp, Taggart and Nora (2010) asserted that a rapidly growing body of research is being developed that is focused on identifying the factors associated with the academic success of Latina/o students.

The governments in both the developed and developing countries focused in the 21st century on developing and reforming education-related ICT policies to encourage the widespread grassroots adoption of ICTs (Fatima, Abbas, Ming, Zaheer and Akhtar, 2017). Since the last few decades, educated institutions have emphasized the application of modern technologies to the promotion of knowledge, especially in research universities. They will enhance the quality of education and support their scientists through access to digital resources that support educational research. To benefit the government, universities and societies, the use of ICTs can be beneficial. For example, Fatima et al. (2017) investigated academic research trends in China by using university digital resources and electronic business and found them to be useful. They conducted a bibliometric study and collected information from a digital library (from 2010 to 2015). During the period of the study, several studies on the topics of electronic commerce were completed, and research trends revealed that the field of electronic commerce in China is promising, as a result of the five-year electronic trade policies or plans to promote IT culture in Chinese society, as the results of the study revealed.

According to Liu and Yan (2017), the trend towards economic globalization and resource exposure is being exposed to China. In contrast, on the other hand, a gap exists between the education system in China and the education system in foreign countries, respectively. Different research reports are published in the Chinese Foreign Cooperation Project (Chen 2009; Dong 2012; Liu 2013; Allemann-Ghionda 2014; & Ning 2015) and have a high level of popularity; however, the majority of the investigations are empirical and lack data, research methodology, or research designs, which makes them unsuitable for further study.

Today's universities and educational institutions are referred to as "human development industries" because of their focus on human development. In today's world, research is a key to achieving success. A debate in education and the motivation of a designer led to Linn (2003) developing a customizable learning environment that could be tailored to a wide range of textbooks, standards, local scientific phenomena, and student interests. Students are motivated to research an environment where they can help to solve problems in their immediate environment. The interest and research trends of researchers and students in contemporary society are reflected in societal problems. In addition, Linn (2003) investigates the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on science teaching and learning, as well as the ultimate advantage.

The students have lack conceptual learning and research-based knowledge. Mainly, they are focusing on rote learning. They have no interest in research and research-based culture. Their attitude is not research-oriented. It is observed that in the field of research, they are not well trained, or they have no tendency toward research-based works. Institutions have lack research facilities. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, the study is designed to explore the research intends and trends among university students. 

In the last decade, some of the Pakistani universities are converging on distance education and started the programs of M. Phil/MS there. M. Phil. and MS programs are research-based programs, and students having a need for research filled environments and the use of ICT gadgets. In this modern digital era, research-based programs essentially required the facility of ICT. The government is concentrating on national policy for higher education to make it more accessible to the youth (Chow and Loo, 2015). HEC is also concentrating on the quality of research in academic institutions. The research culture of these institutions develops students’ predisposition regarding the process of research. The researchers wanted to explore students' intends and trends in distance system education in universities. To achieve the purpose, they have made three benchmarks, i.e. research culture in universities, the research intends and resources of research. The study will help us to develop the indicators that promote research culture in universities. 

1. To find out Islamic scholars' research intends and trends at the university level.

2. To investigate the role of research facilities and research culture in promoting research attitude among Islamic research scholars.

3. To explore the relationship among research culture, research attitude and research facilities at universities.

This study aims to compile all available longitudinal evidence on IU and PIU in adolescence and emerging adulthood to understand these disorders better. The conceptual model used in this study is based on the recommendations of Griffiths (2005) and McMurran (1994), who state that a framework should be integrative and flexible. It was decided to combine two commonly used conceptual models to capture all of the key elements of the field. This combination serves as the lens through which the current review tackles empirical longitudinal research on the IU/PIU continuum. Because it emphasizes behaviour that is constantly evolving along a continuum due to the interaction of individual and contextual factors over time, the first model was chosen for this study (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006). Therefore, the current review concentrates on longitudinal research that considers the interaction of individual and contextual factors throughout a lifetime. As a result, Douglas' Internet Addiction Model (IAM) has been incorporated into the analysis framework because it does not adequately account for the impact of activity-related elements such as the Internet (Douglas et al., 2008).

Habib and Ali (2017) described research tendencies of Madrassah students in Pakistan and found that they are not provided and facilitated with modern research equipment, so students felt a lack of interest and less enthusiasm toward a research-oriented environment. That’s why madrassahs are lagging behind in the mainstream of research and development in the country. It is observed that the madrassahs are enriched with libraries, but these are not incorporated with modern and contemporary trends.  The study of Habib and Ali (2017) informs that madrassah teacher are no more sources of motivation for their students toward research. In this modern era of technology, the majority of the madrassahs are following the orthodox and traditional ways of teaching and learning. Learning is really imperative, and students are really encouraged to do multiple trends in studying that would help them increase their eagerness, Carag (2020).

Research Methodology

Researchers estimated relationships among research facilities, research culture and research attitude in different universities of Pakistan by utilizing cross-sectional data. Data have been collected through questionnaires from the Islamic research scholars of the selected universities, including (Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur; University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Burewala-Vehari Campus and The University of Lahore, Pakpattan Campus). Data has been collected from 341 postgraduate research students from the above universities. By using various items, three composite measures termed research facilities in universities (RFU), research culture in universities (RCU) and research attitude (RAU) have been created. The average response of the respondents has been calculated in the above-mentioned aspects. The relationship among RFU, RCU and RAU has been estimated by applying regression, correlation and graphical analysis. The following equation has been estimated: 

 …………………………………………………………….. (1)

Whereas, Stochastic Form is as:    

 …………………………………………….. (2)

Descriptive Statistics

Table 1. Frequency Score

S. No	Statements	Responses
		SA	A	UD	DA	SDA
1	I am fully aware of the research methods/tools.	106	185	--	37	13
2	I am facilitated with modern research trends in the university	62	162	24	93	--
3	Universities are promoting research culture.	120	206	15	--	--
4	Teachers encourage the research scholars.	170	151	11	09	--
5	Departments are providing basic facilities to the researchers for their research works.	73	192	27	38	11
6	University teachers motivate students toward research activities.	158	168	09	06	--
7	Research is valuable for developing creativity among research scholars.	142	169	19	11	--
8	Research work is always appreciated by the creative task mind setters.	109	207	--	25	--
9	Acquire knowledge through research is authentic.	136	128	48	29	--
10	Research helps in problem-solving.	182	148	--	11	--
11	University students are keen on research.	61	137	58	71	14
12	Students are contributing to the welfare of humanity through their research.	74	156	47	64	--
13	Islamic values are strengthened among university students through research.	64	157	33	65	22
14	Research promotes through cooperation among universities.	97	209	24	11	--
15	Universities have the possession to enrich libraries for research scholars.	32	138	27	109	35
16	Curriculum inspires the students for research.	18	56	70	108	89
17	Research databases access is open for the researchers in the universities.	27	162	62	90	--
18	Internet facility is basic in promoting research culture in a university.	134	166	15	26	--
19	Research help desks are the need of the hour in the universities.	103	165	38	11	24

 

Table 1 indicates respondents' responses in the form of frequency scores. The respondents (120+206 = 326 & 158+168 = 326) have the perception that universities are promoting research culture and university teachers are motivating students toward research activities. It is also an active indicator for the promotion of research culture in universities because respondents (182+148 = 330) responded, research helps in problem-solving. On the other hand, the majority of the respondents show disagreement toward the statements that universities have the possession to enrich libraries for research scholars and curriculum inspires the students for research. So, it is concluded from the results that universities have not the possession of up to dated material in their libraries, and these universities have not developed such an inspiring curriculum that can motivate the students for research. As supported by Bangayan- Manera (2020) in her study, the significance of motivation among students to focus themselves on scholastic activities employed by their teachers.

Empirical Results and Discussion

Researchers investigated the impact of research facilities in universities (RFU) and research culture in universities (RCU) on research attitude in universities (RAU). By utilizing cross-sectional data graphical trends, the ordinary least square (OLS) approach and correlations have been estimated. Figures 1 and 2 depict the links among RFU, RCU and RAU.

Figure 1

Relationship between RFU and RAU

Fig 1 indicates a positive relationship between RFU and RAU. It concludes that improvement in research facilities promotes research attitudes in universities.

Figure 2

Relationship between RCU and RAU



The same connection is observed between RCU and RAU; research culture stimulates research attitudes in universities in Figure 2.

 

Table 2. Regression Estimates, Dependent Variable: RAU

Independent Variable	Coefficient	Std. Error	t-Statistic	Prob.
RCU	0.262686	0.051637	5.087162	0.0000
RFU	0.470200	0.032197	14.60376	0.0000
C	1.314461	0.190102	6.914513	0.0000
R-squared	0.530181	Mean dependent var		3.983138
Adjusted R-squared	0.527401	S.D. dependent var		0.500909
S.E. of regression	0.344354	Akaike info criterion		0.714466
Sum squared resid	40.07995	Schwarz criterion		0.748178
Log-likelihood	-118.8165	Hannan-Quinn criter.		0.727897
F-statistic	190.7128	Durbin-Watson stat		2.217421
Prob.(F-statistic)	0.000000

Source: Authors’ Calculation

 

Regression estimates in table 2 conclude that research culture and research facilities in universities are positively related to the improvement of research attitude in universities. One unit increase in RCU promotes 0.2626 units of RAU. While 0.4702 units of RAU can be promoted by one unit increase in RFU. It shows that research attitude can be supported through enhancing research facilities and research culture in universities. The significance of research-based education in universities can be supported from literature relevant to scientific research. Different researchers have been discussed research trends in higher education (Liu & Yan, 2017), research trends in science education (Lee, Wu & Tsai, 2009), trends in academic research (Edwards & Roy, 2016) and the use of technology in mathematics education research (Bray & Tangney, 2017). It has been suggested that research facilities in universities may have the potential to address some of the issues related to educational outcomes, including practical learning, solving research problems, coherence in the learning process, exploring research problems and applying research problems in various fields of education particularly in scientific education (Hoyles, 2016; ter Vrugte et al., 2015). Nonetheless, many other studies have proposed that although the use of technology in the classrooms and research labs promotes learning, it also increases potential and culture for learning through research (Geiger, Faragher, & Goos, 2010; Lameras & Moumoutzis, 2015; Oates, 2011; Reed, Drijvers, & Kirschner, 2010; Selwyn, 2011; Wright, 2010). Similarly, supporting culture and policies in universities can promote critical thinking, learning ability and global exposure of the students (Delbanco 2015; Estacio & Karic 2015; Suleyman 2015; Takalani & Humbulani 2015). Therefore, in the light of results found in our study, research attitude in universities can be enlarged provision of research facilities and culture in universities. The provision of research facilities has positive impacts on research culture and attitude in universities. Promotion of research facilities and culture may be a useful strategy to develop research attitude among the students in universities, particularly in universities of developing economies like Pakistan where lacks can be observed in this regard.

 

Table 3. Diagnostic Statistics

	Coefficient	Un-centered	Centered
Variable	Variance	VIF	VIF
RCU	0.002666	128.9290	1.248698
RFU	0.001037	35.62726	1.248698
C	0.036139	103.9241	NA
Jarque-Bera Stat (Residual)	1.4368	Probability Value	0.4875
Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey (F-Stat)	0.0423	Probability Value	0.9586

Source: Authors’ Calculation

 

Table 2 indicates diagnostic statistics related to multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity and normality of error terms. Statistics of centered Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) and Breusch-Pagan-Godfrey test show that there is no multicollinearity and heteroscedasticity in our analysis. Similarly, Jarque-Bera statistics confirm that the error term is normally distributed.

 

Table 4. Correlations

	RAU	RCU	RFU
RAU	1	0.48346274	0.70299973
RCU	0.48346274719	1	0.44627973
RFU	0.70299973958	0.44627973	1

Source: Authors’ Calculation

 

The correlation matrix shows that RCU and RFU are positively and strongly correlated with RAU. The same strong positive correlation is observed between RFU and RCU. It shows that increasing research facilities in universities is helpful to enhance research culture and research attitude in universities. However, research attitude can be indorsed by increasing research facilities and research culture in universities ( Vecaldo et al.,2019).

Conclusion

The study concluded that universities are concentrating on promoting a research-oriented environment in their premises, whereas university teachers are motivating and inspiring students toward research activities. There is a dire need to formulate research policy regarding university faculty so that they may work in a relaxed and comfortable environment.  On the other hand, research scholars responded that universities have not the possession of up to dated material in their libraries, whereas universities are confronting failure in developing such an inspirational and motivating curriculum for students that inspire them for research. There was a positive relationship between research facilities in universities and research attitude. It is concluded that improvement in the research facilities can promote research attitude in universities. Therefore, universities may focus on their libraries for updated knowledge so that; students may feel interested in research activities. It is also observed from the results that research culture motivates research attitudes in universities. It is clear from the empirical results of the study that research culture and research facilities are positively related to the improvement of research attitude.  

Policy Implications

The study recommends that it is the need of time to provide up to dated knowledge and printed material to the students in universities. Students have free internet access beyond time and space in the state. The vice-chancellors of the universities may hire curriculum developers to design such an inspiring and motivational curriculum that instils a research-oriented attitude and culture among university students. It may also recommend that Islamic researchers be given modern technological instruments according to contemporary knowledge and research spreading needs.

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