EXPLORING DIMENSIONS OF SERVICE-LEARNING SCALE IN PAKISTANI CONTEXTxt

Service-learning is an emerging popular teaching and learning approach. It is considered to be associated with improved students’ academic outcomes. Numerous scales are being used for assessing service-learning world-wide. Service-Learning Scale (SLS) is one such important scale which has also been used for measuring students’ service related outcomes in different studies. This study is purposefully designed to examine the psychometric properties of SLS in Pakistani context. To collect data, 141 students were approached through a survey method who participated in service-learning projects vocational training institutes of Pakistan. These students were purposively selected from 15 vocational training institutes of where service-learning is implemented as a curriculum course. Data was analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) in order to explore the hidden dimensions in the scale. A three factor structure model emerged based on Component Factor Analysis (PCA) method. These factors included content knowledge, interpersonal skills and volunteering attitude. The results of this study confirmed that service-learning is a three factor model and is a reliable and valid scale for assessing service-learning outcomes. For further validation it is suggested that this three factor model needs testing in other contexts for more extensive results and improvement of psychometrics of the scale. The newness of the study is psychometric validation (contextual) of SLA as there hardly exists any evidence of its validation in Pakistan. The study has theoretical as well as practical implications

EXPLORING DIMENSIONS OF SERVICE-LEARNING SCALE IN PAKISTANI CONTEXTxt

Service-learning is an emerging popular teaching and learning approach. It is considered to be associated with improved students’ academic outcomes. Numerous scales are being used for assessing service-learning world-wide. Service-Learning Scale (SLS) is one such important scale which has also been used for measuring students’ service related outcomes in different studies. This study is purposefully designed to examine the psychometric properties of SLS in Pakistani context. To collect data, 141 students were approached through a survey method who participated in service-learning projects vocational training institutes of Pakistan. These students were purposively selected from 15 vocational training institutes of where service-learning is implemented as a curriculum course. Data was analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) in order to explore the hidden dimensions in the scale. A three factor structure model emerged based on Component Factor Analysis (PCA) method. These factors included content knowledge, interpersonal skills and volunteering attitude. The results of this study confirmed that service-learning is a three factor model and is a reliable and valid scale for assessing service-learning outcomes. For further validation it is suggested that this three factor model needs testing in other contexts for more extensive results and improvement of psychometrics of the scale. The newness of the study is psychometric validation (contextual) of SLA as there hardly exists any evidence of its validation in Pakistan. The study has theoretical as well as practical implications

The Impact of Institutional Credit on Agricultural Production in Pakistan

Three main factors that contribute to agricultural growth are the increased use of agricultural inputs, technological change and technical efficiency. Technological change is the result of research and development efforts, while technical efficiency with which new technology is adopted and used more rationally is affected by the flow of information, better infrastructure, availability of funds and farmers’ managerial capabilities. Higher use and better mix of inputs also requires funds at the disposal of farmers. These funds could come either from farmers’ own savings or through borrowings. In less developed countries like Pakistan where savings are negligible especially among the small farmers, agricultural credit appears to be an essential input along with modern technology for higher productivity.

Effect of Community Participation in Education on Quality of Education: Evidence from a Developing Context

Education is an activity in collaboration. Without community participation, education cannot achieve its goals and without education society cannot think of development. A plethora of research exists on community participation in education and its outcomes. However, meager studies have been carried out to examine the relationship between community participation and quality of education. Although quality of education cannot be determined by one or two indicators. Research has already discovered many indicators of quality of education. But this study specifically investigated into three essential indicators which are contextually relevant to a developing country. The three main indicators investigated in relation with community participation were access, retention and attendance. The main aim of this study was to find out whether or not community participation in education reduces the issues of access, retention and attendance at secondary school level. To collect data, the study surveyed 200 (female) and 300 (males) total N=500 government secondary schools teachers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Data were collected, collated and statistically computed using Pearson Correlation and ANOVA to determine a correlation between the independent variable (community participation in education) and the three indicators of quality of education such as access, retention and attendance as dependent variables. Results of the study indicated a significantly positive correlation between community participation and all the three indicators of quality of education. The study proposes community participation in education as the high positive predictor of access to education, retention and attendance

The Impact of Institutional Credit on Agricultural Production in Pakistan

Agricultural credit plays an important role in enhancing the agricultural productivity in developing countries like Pakistan. The study discusses various indicators of agricultural credit in Pakistan and presents results of estimated production function using institutional credit as one of the explanatory variables. Over the years, increased percentage of agricultural GDP has been disbursed as institutional credit. During the study period disbursement of institutional credit per cropped hectare also depicted an increasing trend in nominal terms. However, it declined in real terms from late 1980’s to early 1990s. Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL)-- formerly known as Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP), provides the major share of institutional credit. The share of production loans in total loan advanced has been increasing during 1980-81 to 1986-87 and after mid 1990’s. It shows multiple shifts in credit policy from loans for fixed capital to advances for operational capital during the study period. The OLS estimates of the production function revealed that institutional credit affects agricultural production positively. Water availability at the farm gate, labor, and cropping intensity are the other important variables that affect agricultural output positively. However, the shocks like floods, cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV), and drought have caused significant decline in agricultural output during certain years.institutional credit; agricultural production; production function

Adoption of Recommended Varieties: A Farm-level Analysis of Wheat Growers in Irrigated Punjab

This study uses farm level data to analyse the determinants of adoption of recommended wheat varieties in irrigated Punjab, Pakistan. A notable proportion of wheat acreage is sown to non-recommended wheat varieties in the province. These cultivars had either lost (overtime) or did not have resistance against yellow rust. Farm size, education, and size of wheat enterprise on the farm are the important determinants of adoption of recommended wheat varieties while tractor ownership and irrigation source play a positive but insignificant role in the adoption decisions. Age and tenure proved to be less of a constraint towards adoption of the recommended wheat varieties. The likelihood of the adoption of recommended wheat varieties varied among tehsils, with the highest probabilities of adoption in Melsi and Arifwala tehsils of cotton-wheat zones I and II respectively.