Project on RMM

Research Methodology

Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Management Sciences University of Central Punjab in partial fulfillment of requirement for the degree of Master in Business Administration

Arslan Javaid               L1S08MBAM2037

Gulshan Iqbal              L1S08MBAM0170

Sana Tariq                   L1S08MBAM2169

Ali Ammar Asif           L1S08MBAM2036

Section: E

Date: 23^rd June 2010

MODERNISM AFFECTING THE ISLAMIC VALUES

INTRODUCTION

The word "Islam" itself means "Submission to Allah." The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of "Christianity" which was named after Jesus Christ, "Buddhism" after Gautama Buddha, "Marxism" after Karl Marx, and "Confucianism" after Confucius. Similarly, Islam is not named after a tribe like "Judaism" after the tribe of Judah and "Hinduism" after the Hindus. The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the will of the only true god worthy of worship, "Allah" (known as God "the Father" in Christianity).

Anyone who does indeed submit to the will of Allah as required by Islam is termed a "Muslim," which means one who has submitted to the will of Allah. Many people in the West have developed the sad misinformed trend of calling Islam "Muhammadenism" and its followers "Muhammadins." This is a totally foreign word to Muslims and unrecognized by them. No Muslim has ever called his religion "Muhammadenism" or called himself a "Muhammadin."

As these days we are exposed to the things which might be quite disturbing for any religious person by seeing the people not acting upon the values, believes and faiths of the Islam and manipulating them in their own interest for their personal or impersonal benefits. Some might question about the phenomenon of modernism whether this is an acquired rituals or self generated customs for one’s own satisfaction. We can relate, ideologically, the modernist movement spreading these days to one sect in the past. This sect is called the Muta'zila, which is dated back to the third Islamic century. Although those people accepted the Qur'an and Sunna they made ta'weel (their own interpretation of the Qur'an) and said 'aql (intelligence) takes precedence over naql (guidance of the Prophet). However, this school died out. The modernist movement did not evolve from them, but they are very similar to them. The modernist movement actually originated in Europe (middle-ages). At the time when the scientific method came about in Spain, it was seen that what the church was teaching was not true. This led to a slow revolt. The basic view of modernism (in all religions)is that: the religion should change according to the circumstances, and that it is not fixed. There is no such thing as absolute truth. The Jewish and Christian modernist response in Europe tried to explain how the religion was still relevant for the people. They made innovations to keep people interested in the religion (such as singing in church, introduced only in the 1900's). They tried to say the divine and the human is mixed in the Bible and that the parts that are true must be the ones that are not out of date. Also, the religion is improving over time and there is no absolute truth in the Bible. This is the time in history when many Muslims were looking to Europe. This led to three choices for those Muslims: accept the West; reject the West; or mix the two (reform Islam). Those who followed the third (the modernist) developed in, and focused on: Turkey - because it was under British influence; and Egypt - because Al-Azhar was the seat of Islamic knowledge. The people of this modernist movement judge Islam according to their 'aql. Some of their faults in regards to it are:

1)      use it for things which it can't comprehend;

2) refer everything to it: accept what agrees with it, reject what does not;

3) Judge the revelation by it. However, Ahl As-Sunna Wal Jamaa' believes that using the sound 'aql should lead one to the conclusion that the Qur'an and the Prophet are true and that their teachings should take precedence over pure 'aql.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

ISLAM AND MODERNISM

Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes both a set of cultural tendencies and an array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s. The term encompasses the activities and output of those who felt the "traditional" forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization and daily life were becoming outdated in the new economic, social and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world.

Search for “Modernity” by itself is a commendable desire and a natural urge of humankind. If this urge was not there, man would not have reached from stone-age to atomic era, could not have gained access to aero-planes and spacecrafts from camels and bullock carts, nor would have progressed to electric bulbs and search lights from wax candles and earthen lamps. All these  material advancements and scientific achievements, which have  put nooses on the planets and conducted their buckets to the bottom  of sea, are in fact an importunate effect of man’s inherent trait that  he is a “modernist” and avaricious of “better to best” achievements. Hence Islam, being a natural religion, is not opposed to modernism as far as it implies to be modern in the simple sense of the word.  Very often it has been appreciated and given due encouragement. Particularly the use of latest and newer methods in industry and craft and war technologies is proved from prophetic traditions. On the occasion of battle of Ahz’ ab when the tribes of Arabia joined together and raided Madina, a renowned companion Salman F’arsi suggested a new technique for its defence which was never practiced in Arabia before. He suggested digging of a trench around the city. This was hailed by the Prophet (PBUH) and he himself took part in digging the trench. These are a few examples of the Prophetic era which have been casually mentioned. The aim of this description was to emphasize that Islam has not objected to any modern advancement just because it is recent and modern. Rather it has encouraged modernity for rightful purposes and within rightful limits.

However, in its own sphere it remains a reality that whereas modernity has elevated man’s material status to great heights, given him newer inventions and provided him with better means of comfort and ease in life, it has, at the same time, caused man to suffer from many depravities and led him to many disastrous ends. When we use the term "modern", we mean neither contemporary nor up-to-date nor successful in the conquest and domination of the natural world. Rather, for us "modern" means that which is cut off from the transcendent, from the immutable principles which in reality govern all things and which are made known to man through revelation in its most universal sense.

Modernism in our country has turned into liberal and open minded culture which is unable to distinguish between modernism and vulgarity. People are not aware of the things and the culture properly in which they are living rather they are trying to adopt the western culture which is destroying their inner faiths and confidence of being the best nation of the world. This leads to not only getting people away from the religion but also making their life too much materialistic.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

The research objectives are to measure the level of modernism in a person that how much he or she is modern or to what extent an individual can go for his or her desires to be accomplished. In the similar way how much an individual is having a level of religiosity in his daily life activities. And the most important is to measure the relationship between these two variables that to what extent an independent variable can affect the dependent variable.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Our research will determine the relative importance of the key dimensions that contribute in declining tendencies towards religion and increasing inclination towards modernism. This research will contribute to add more to the existing body of knowledge that is basic research which is conducted just to enhance the existing knowledge because our purpose for this research is not to find any solution of any specific problem that exist.

Dictionary and Operational Definitions of Modernism & Religiosity

Dictionary Definition of Modernism

·genre of art and literature that makes a self-conscious break with previous genres

·modernity: the quality of being current or of the present; "a shopping mall would instill a spirit of modernity into this village"

·practices typical of contemporary life or thought

Operational Definition of Modernism

It refers to the people’s attitudes towards rapidly changing fashion trends and adoption of those trends in his or her personality so that it brings some change.

Dictionary Definition of Religiosity

1-The quality of being religious, piety, devoutness

2-Affected or excessive devotion to religion

Operational Definition of Religiosity

In its operational sense the religiosity in an individual refers to measuring the attitude towards religious practices, whether he is performing his religious duties and how he is following his respective teachings of religion.

Measurement for the Modernity:

Modernity of the people can be judged or measured by its different dimensions and the level that shows the people’s attitudes that they possess, their behavior that is how they show their conduct when meeting others. How much they keep themselves up to date.

Measurement for the Religiosity:

People’s religiosity can also be measured by religious practices they follow, social integrations, and how much they are spiritually committed towards their believes and religious customs and rituals.

Ways to Measure the these Variables:

These both variables which we are studying can be measured by the measuring tool that we have adopted for taking and for collecting the information from the general public that is questionnaire. In our research the questionnaire is the very effective technique to collect the data from the real field.

2^nd Phase

Literature Review:

The purpose of the literature review is to clarify the processes. The significance of the literature review might also be considered with the view that it creates new research questions. The main or the major feature of the literature is that because researchers keep on doing research on the different as well as the same topics that’s why the research which is conducted on the topics which has already been conducted by others but to some extent, the new researchers try to add something new to the existing body of knowledge. Studying and reviewing the literature for knowing about how modernism affects the religiosity. The analysis was designed to assess whether there is any relation in between modernism and religiosity. 

The researchers suggest that the extensive tendencies towards the modernism affect the religious norms and practices of the people which is evident of the view that modernism and religiosity have the negative relationship with each other. The logic behind it is that people normally set their priorities and set their life style all of above, they think their out look to be the most attractive than their inner to be beautiful. In this regard we have collected some information from the people and for this purpose we have conducted a survey through questionnaire due to shortage of time and resources

Inkles and Smith (1974:351) study of individual modernity in six countries suggested a negative relation between religion and modernity. Their scale measuring modernity included one of these questions 1) - do u think a man can be truly good without having any religion at all? The modern answer being yes. 2) a question asking if  “a man should give charity to the poor because of generosity or fear of God with generosity treated as the modern answer ” in other words in their study modernity tended to mean a perspective which differentiates religion and morality and which grounds charity simply on generosity without reference to religious sanctions.

Wilson (1976:6) has suggested that religions have no effect in the world dominated by conveyor belts, time and motion studies, and bureaucratic organizations. However he also acknowledged that religious morality is relevant for interpersonal relations, for face to face contacts, for the intimacies of the family, courtship, friendship and neighbourliness.

Fenn (1972) looked at the relationship between modernism and religiosity by investigating whether modernism or anything thing related to this affects the religious tones and the norms of the religious practices and found the negative relation in between them. Fenn (1972) investigated the level of religiosity in people to adopt the modernism and how it affects it with an ease. And concluded that the people being more modern and high standard possess low level of religious inclinations and this is not only because of bureaucratization and automation but also as a result of religious diversity within society.

Theoretical Framework:

Independent Variable:

• Modernism

Dependent Variables:

• Religiosity

The theoretical frame work helps us to determine the relationship among the variables. It also specifies direction of the relationship. Here the independent variable is the Modernism which is our primary concern. Now Religious may lead to weakening of faiths which is dependent variable. So we have identified the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

·         Temptation     

·         Competition

·         Cultural tendencies

·         Western influence

·         Inner satisfaction

·         Spiritual inclination

·         To fill inner emptiness

As the temptation of our modern things is so much prevailing in our society, Because of which the greediness in people has increased to the extent which is quite damaging the norms of the society. Modernism has led to the competition among masses as people want to get exceed from one another which has started the war of getting one another’s rights. People have become so much abusive to their own culture that they are not willing to adopt it anymore rather they are totally influenced by the culture that are apart from their natives. Most of the people do such things for their own inner satisfaction and don’t realize the impact and the aftermaths of the modernism. Furthermore spiritual inclination has played the most important part in converting and reverting people towards modernism from their religious norms and values. People are willing to get into new traditions and things because of the spiritual emptiness which has more disadvantages than benefits such as adoption of negativity from other cultures.

Relationship among variables

It is evident from the study that we have done in regards to our variables that the relation between modernity and religiosity is somewhat negative, we take the modernism as an independent variable and the religiosity as the dependent variable because the reduction in religious inclination among people is the cause of modern practices that we have adopted intentionally or unintentionally.

Direction of Relationship:

Viewing this relationship between these two variables we conclude that these two variables have a negative relation.

Logic of Relationship

The main logic or the rationale behind this relationship is very strong in its sense because it is quite evident from the modern societies in Pakistan which claim to be the modern regardless of the faiths they hold, they are not very much into implementing or adopting the religious practices in their life.

HYPOTHESIS DEVELOPMENT

As we have defined the important variables in a situation and also established relationship among them through logical reasoning in the theoretical framework. Now we are in position to test whether the relationships that have been theorized in fact hold true or not. For this purpose we formulate some statements from the variables and their relationship to perform tests. Formulating such testable statements is called Hypothesis development.

DEFINITION OF HYPOTHESIS:

A supposition; a proposition or principle which is supposed or taken for granted, in order to draw a conclusion or inference for proof of the point in question; something not proved, but assumed for the purpose of argument, or to account for a fact or an occurrence; as, the hypothesis that head winds detain an overdue steamer.

Hypothesis

higher level of modernity reduces the level of religiosity

Logic of hypothesis

The logic behind this hypothesis is that when the sense of being current or implementing the contemporary thoughts of the modern practices; people normally start thinking more liberally & put behind or take the religious norms for granted.

RELATIONSHIP

This hypothesis is the directional one. In this hypothesis it is stated that when modernism prevails then Islamic values leaves behind. When there is increase in one variable, the other variable decreases. This shows the negative relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Dimensions of Modernity

People’s attitudes

·         Behavior

Fashion

·         Dressing

·         Looks

·         Style

Dimensions of Religiosity

Knowledge about religion

Elements:

·         Attitude toward religious studies

·         Implementation of religious studies

Religious Practices

Elements:

·         Follow Zakat pattern

·         Offering prayers

·         Hijab

·         Patience

·         Humanity

·         Follow our preachers

Respect towards Non Muslim

Elements

·         Courteous behavior towards non Muslims

·         Freedom toward their religion

Right and duties

Element

·         Fulfillment of rights

·         Respects to elders

·         Completion of duties

SOCIETAL EFFECT

·         Interaction with people

·         Helping attitude

Classification among people

·         Status sensibility

·         Variability of thoughts

·         Lifestyle

RESEARCH DESIGN

Population

In our research project our target population was general public aging between 18 and above from which we were to ask the question and conduct the research on our topic. We could give the questionnaire to the people relating to different fields of life as religious is the thing towards which everyone have some more or less inclination. But we have not collected the data in real field because we are considering it to be applicable in all the fields related to the general public. The logic behind choosing this target population is that they are the real people who can provide us the actual and accurate information about our research project.

Sampling

We have collected the data about our project by selecting a random sample from the general public aging from 20 to 30 because this age group contains or consists of all the characteristics or the elements of the entire population.

Sampling Frame

Our focus for collecting the sample was on people of 20 to 30 years of age. The reason for taking this was that they have enough rationale to provide us the accurate information. The sampling frame being used in our research is the students as well as other people in the University of Central Punjab.

Simple Random Sampling

As the population is homogeneous we are using simple random sampling because there is an equal chance of each element to be selected.

Sample Size

The sampling frame which we have used was the University of Central Punjab from that list we have taken sample size 100 for our research. In our survey we have used this sample size to collect data to approve our hypothesis. The sample size can be of any gender (male or female).

TABLES: NO: 1               TABLE OF RANDOM DIGITS

TABLE: NO: 2      RANDOM DIGITS FOR SELECTED EMPLOYEES

Interpretation of Table: No: 1&2

We have targeted general public for our research. We have selected a group of three digits to get our 100 samples and there is no repetition among the number of respondents

Tools of Data Collection

The success of a researcher depends on the data one has collected. In order to measure the level religiosity and level of modernity. We have used the survey technique. For this purpose, we have used Questionnaire. We have given the questionnaire to students to collect the relevant data for our research report.

Logic behind choosing the questionnaire

We have used the questionnaire because our target population was educated. We not need to take interviews if our population is educated because interviews take lots of time and no one has a time to give us interview.

Data Collection Procedure

The data collection procedure adopted by us is the questionnaire technique through which we present the questionnaire to the people in the field and get the results which they think is the best. There is no one best method of research for all situations. Rather, there are a wide variety of techniques for the researcher to choose from. Often, the selection of a technique involves a series of trade-offs. For example, there is often a trade-off between cost and the quality of information obtained. Time constraints sometimes force a trade-off with the overall research design. Budget and time constraints must always be considered as part of the data collection process. In case of our research for determining the strength of relationship between modernity and religiosity the questionnaire is the most appropriate method of gathering information. It can be a face-to-face interview, telephone, or mail survey.

DATA ANALYSIS

Scaling:

A scale is measure in which a researcher captures the intensity, direction, level, or potency of a variable construct.

For the data analysis the major technique used by us is the scaling in which we give scores to different statements and the scaling criteria is as follows:

A statement would be given 1 to 5 ratings in which 1 being the least important and the 5 being the most important

For positive questions:

For Negative question the numbering order is reversed

As we are having 19 statements in our questionnaires so the minimum score attained by the questionnaire would be 19 and the maximum score would be 95

1. Score Index For Modernism:

 There are 7 statements related to the Modernism; on each statement a person could get a score of 1 to 5. Total score for a person could range from a minimum of (7*1) =7 to a maximum of (7*5) =35. Lower score will show low and high scores will show high Modernity.

      Minimum score                                                 maximum score

               7                                                                       35

    To make categories            class interval                7-35

         9- 18                             Lowest level             Low Modernity

        18-27                            Medium level            Medium Modernity

        27-45                            Highest level             High Modernity

2.      Score Index For Religiosity

There are 12 statements related to Religiosity; on each statement a person could get a score of 1 to 5. Total score for a person could range from a minimum of (12*1) =12 to a maximum of (12*5) =60. Lower score will show low Religiosity and high scores will show high Religiosity

Minimum score                                     maximum score

                            12                                                        60

To make categories          class interval                   12-60

        12-28                        less                               less Religious

        28-44                         medium                      medium Religious

        44-60                         high                            high Religious

3^rd Phase

Frequency Distribution

There are several useful techniques for displaying the data but the easiest way to describe the numerical data is with the frequency distribution. Here we have taken the data of 200 students as well as general people from our university territory because of time constraints. (Refer to Table No.1)

Table-1 explains the frequency of the informants according the gender order as to how many males or females have been included in our research and help us in collecting the information about the variables we have selected. This table shows us a summarized grouping of data divided into mutually exclusive classes and the no. of occurrences in a class. It’s a way of showing the unorganized data like 150 times the male respondents in our research and the rest of the time females respondents have participated in our research.. And the same thing is calculated in terms of percentage points.

Level of Modernity

Table No-2 which explains the level of modernity. According to our survey findings, we have met 800 times highly modern people which we concluded after meeting all of the informants whom we met. 500 medium modern people and 200 times’ low modern people in our research process. And their percentages are also given in the table according the occurrence of their meetings with us. (Refer to Table No.2)

Level of Religiosity

In the similar pattern out of the people whom we have met in total,  300 were highly religious, 500 were moderate and 700 were at low religious levels. And these numbers are also mentioned in the form of percentages in the same table next to the frequencies. (Refer to Table No.3)

Bi-Variate Table

In Bi-Variate table the percentages are calculated up to down as is evident from the table No.4. And according to the rule we have compared the percentages from left to right in each row.

(Refer to Table No.4)

In first row the percentage point difference is significant as the difference between the first and the last percentage point is of 30 percentage points.

In the similar pattern the percentage point difference in second row is also significant as the difference between the first and the last percentage point is 15 percentage points.

Similarly the percentage point difference in third row is also significant as the difference between the first and the last percentage point is also 45 percentage points.

The people who have low modernism have high religiosity that is 60% as compare to the people who have high modernism have religiosity that is 30% and there is a significant relationship in between.

Similarly people who have low modernism have medium religiosity that is 35% as compare to the people who have high modernism have medium religiosity which is 15% and there is a significant relationship in between.

Table 1: Frequency Distribution of respondent by gender:

Univariate table for Modernism

Table 2: Level of Modernity

Univariate table for Religiosity

Table 3: Level of Religiosity

Table 4: Bi-Variate Table

Graphical Presentation of Relation

Summary

This project of research methodology has been made in order to recognize the relationship between two variables, the major variables that we have taken are the modernism which is an independent variable and the second one is the religiosity which is a dependent variable. In this regard we have done a lot of work on it, like we have defined the dictionary and operational definitions of both the variable; we have made the hypothesis of our variables. Then we have given the literature review in our report which explains that from where and at which things we have gathered the data and work on. Then we have given the theoretical framework. Direction, relation and logic of the relationships among variables. Then we have worked on the operationalization. Hence the whole work is coordinated in terms of contents.

Conclusion

By doing the whole work it is concluded that there is negative relationship between the two variables we have selected for our research work. And that the inclination towards one variable reduces the interest towards the other and vice versa. And this is true in terms of reality as well that’s why their relationship is truly negative that the people who have less inclination towards religious activities must be active participator in modern practices.

Recommendation

Taking in view the complete project which we have done it is inferred that neither extremism towards anything should be adopted, this doesn’t come in context with the extremism in the religion because religion is every one`s personal matter and no other person has the right to get into it. Being extremist towards religion is no harm because if we take for example Muslim`s religion that is Islam we are strongly demanded by our religion to be fundamentalist in fulfilling the Islamic values but on the other hand our religion does not impose any compulsion to cut off from the social or worldly life. But Islamic values teach us to create a balance between religion and the world. So we as well as any rational person would recommend to have a balanced life and not to take any side for granted which might cause trouble in the end.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism from Wikipedia; the free encyclopedia

http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=119    Based on "Modernism in Islam" lecture series by Sh. Zarabozo

http://www.scribd.com/doc/29082858/Islam-and-Modernism-Taqi-Usmani Islam and Modernism - Taqi Usmani

http://www.al-islam.org/al-serat/reflect-nasr.htm  Al-Serat Reflections on Islam and Modern Life Seyyed Hossein Nasr Vol. VI, No. 1

http://www.blurtit.com/q628945.html

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3709858

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3511050