Dr. Hafsa Javed Khawaja Successfully Defends PhD in Communication Studies
The university has officially issued the PhD notification following her successful public defense, which was held at the School of Communication Studies.
Dr. Hafsa's research, supervised by Dr. Bushra Hameed Rahman, focused on "News Verification and Sharing Behavior of Social Media Users in Pakistan." The study examines how Pakistani social media users verify information before sharing it and identifies the key challenges influencing their behavior.
The public defense was attended by senior academics and media experts, including Dr. Abida Ashraf, Dr. Savaira Shami, Dr. Ayesha Ashfaq, Dr. Madiha Maqsood, Dr. Khurram Shehzad, and Dr. Huma Sadaf. The event also attracted media professors, communication scholars, PhD researchers, and media professionals.
The dissertation was evaluated by external examiners Dr. Zahid Yousaf and Dr. Zuaim Yasin, who described the research as highly relevant in today's digital information landscape.
According to the study, Pakistani social media users continue to face significant challenges in verifying online news. Dr. Hafsa noted that politically motivated misinformation and the lack of access to credible information sources are among the primary obstacles to effective fact-checking.
The research also concluded that various psychological factors influence users' decisions to verify and share news on social media platforms, underscoring the need for stronger media literacy and digital awareness initiatives.
A cake-cutting ceremony was held after the successful public defense to celebrate Dr. Hafsa Javed Khawaja's academic achievement alongside faculty members, colleagues, and participants.