ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of female heads of basic schools in the Nkoranza South Municipality

The study employed a phenomenological design to explore the subjective lived experiences of female heads of basic schools in the Nkoranza South Municipality. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of female heads of basic schools in the Nkoranza South Municipality. Four female heads of basic schools were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion. The interviews were digitally recorded and later transcribed verbatim. The results of the study in relation to the first research question indicated that the participants’ lived experiences mainly centred on the skills they garnered, their experiences with the communities where their schools are situated, their mixed experiences with staff and students and how they balanced their family roles as women and mothers in relation to their positions as headmistresses. The participants used various coping strategies such as exercising their emotional intelligence, showcasing their practical capabilities, uniting with their trouble makers and reacting harshly to some male staff members who kept disturbing them. The coping strategies employed were beneficial in the administration of their duties as headmistresses. It is recommended that special preservice training and orientation programmes should be organise for female heads of basic schools to enlighten them on how to perform their duties effectively in maledominated societies such as the African society.

Source: UEW
A phenomenological study of the post-prime life of selected Ghanaian celebrities

This study investigated the post-prime life experiences of four Ghanaian. In exploring their lived experiences, the career transition and the changes in identity as a result of loss of fame and resources were analyzed using phenomenology as the research design, and interview as data collection method. Role Exit, identity and coming to grips with loss theories were used to analyze the data. Role Exit theory was useful in tracing the transitional experiences of the celebrities, because understanding the various types of role exit is critical to analyzing why certain celebrities maintain their fame and fortune, and others do not. Identity theory helped gauge the identity experiences of the celebrities whose identities are affected as a result of the transition, and Coming to Grips with Loss theory helped to analyze how the post- prime celebrities cope with their new identities as it places emphasis on recovery after loss. The findings revealed that the different phases of the transition journey were fraught with disappointments as a result of industrial choices they made, betrayal and their failure to connect with industry trends, thus the routes to alternatives adopted by the participants were largely unsuccessful. The study also revealed that the loss of reputation and capital forced the celebrities to adopt new identities partly from feedback from the public. In dealing with the loss of fame, the celebrities adopted a positive resilience towards the phenomenon as major coping mechanisms. The study recommended that the achieved celebrities employ professional management members to manage their affairs. Also, the intensifying of financial and investment education among members of the professional and welfare bodies in the arts and entertainment industry in Ghana must be prioritized.

Source: UEW
A phenomenological study of the post-prime life of selected Ghanaian Celebrities

This study investigated the post-prime life experiences of four Ghanaian. In exploring their lived experiences, the career transition and the changes in identity as a result of loss of fame and resources were analyzed using phenomenology as the research design, and interview as data collection method. Role Exit, identity and coming to grips with loss theories were used to analyze the data. Role Exit theory was useful in tracing the transitional experiences of the celebrities, because understanding the various types of role exit is critical to analyzing why certain celebrities maintain their fame and fortune, and others do not. Identity theory helped gauge the identity experiences of the celebrities whose identities are affected as a result of the transition, and Coming to Grips with Loss theory helped to analyze how the post- prime celebrities cope with their new identities as it places emphasis on recovery after loss. The findings revealed that the different phases of the transition journey were fraught with disappointments as a result of industrial choices they made, betrayal and their failure to connect with industry trends, thus the routes to alternatives adopted by the participants were largely unsuccessful. The study also revealed that the loss of reputation and capital forced the celebrities to adopt new identities partly from feedback from the public. In dealing with the loss of fame, the celebrities adopted a positive resilience towards the phenomenon as major coping mechanisms. The study recommended that the achieved celebrities employ professional management members to manage their affairs. Also, the intensifying of financial and investment education among members of the professional and

Source: UEW
A phenomenological study of the self-efficacy of UEW students from marginalised groups winneba, Ghana, west Africa

This study took a phenomenological look at how students from marginalised categories effectively outsmarted marginalisation in a neo-colonial setting, Ghana, West Africa. In-depth, semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted with ten University of Education – Winneba (UEW) students. The participants were first-generation students, and they represented various categories of people who were different and were often marginalised by general society. The categories represented were: positive HIV status; visual, hearing/speech, physical and learning impairments; perceptions of sexuality and citizenship; albinism; gender; and quasi-orphaned status. After fully developing the narratives of each study participant and combing through the data, themes were identified. The study found that, for various reasons, the students had little to no support from family. Additionally, many of their parents were absent from their lives. They therefore did not have benefits of cultural reproduction, whereby norms and values are passed down through the generations. The study also found that the students endured many slights and discouragement through situations and with people and institutions. Although they had to deal with the same social structures that prevent marginalised people from meeting their goals, the participants, through self-efficacious means, advanced their higher educational aspirations; they persevered and effectively transformed negativities into fuel which buoyed them and their self-efficacy towards their goals. Their lived experiences at times affected their senses of belonging, but they were not to be left out of the institution of higher education. The students used negativity in their lived experiences to successfully deal with and overcome hurdles. In terms of implications for theory, the study uncovered an additional source of self-efficacy, converted or transformed social persuasion. This study serves to inform policies and psychosocial practices in Ghana and in Africa generally, with respect to marginalised populations, those who are often expected to fail in attempts at far-reaching goals.

Source: UEW
The phenomenon of streetism and its consequences in the Ho Municipality

Child streetism is a deviation from normal social life in society and proper child growth and development. It is a serious challenge which has been on the ascendancy regardless of uncountable barrier and interventions put forward by past and present governments and development partners like non-governmental agencies. This project sought out to explore the phenomenon of Streetism in the Ho municipality. The study employed a qualitative approach and phenomenological design were employed. The objectives used for the study were to analyse the nature of streetism in the Ho municipality, assess the push and pull factors underling streetism in the Ho municipality and assess the consequences of streetism in the Ho municipality. Interviews and focus group discussions were the main instruments used for the data collection. The study also looked at the risk and the features of street children, their activities, and sleeping places. The study took a purposive sample of street children, the staff of the Department of Social Welfare, The Municipal Chief Executive the Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU. The sample size for the study was thirteen, comprising of eight (8) street children, six (6) stakeholders. The study discovered that divorce, poverty, large family size, and urbanization contribute to streetism while the children on the street come from neighbouring rural areas. The implications are that a lot of human resources go down the drain, an increase in illiteracy and a threat to societal peace as some streetists grow to become armed robbers, prostitutes, and associated crime will be on the increase. The prescribed recomendations were; extension of social amenities to the rural settings will not only provide entertainment to sustain the youth interest in the rural areas but as a push factor to investors to open up businesses. when implemented will assist in lessening the Phenomenon if not totally rooting it out. ` The study also got the following findings; Street children exist and it‟s a global phenomenon but predominant in large proportions in cities and towns with daily increases. Children in the street are classified as criminals as a result of the kind of work they do on the street. The Social Welfare Department of Ho Municipal should periodically embark on villages „tours‟ to give a talk on the consequences of broken homes, migration, peer group influence, and death of a parent on the child. This will at least make an impact to reduce the dissolution of marriages which is a major cause of streetism in the Municipality.

Source: UEW
A phonological and lexical analysis of dialect variation in Kusaal

This study investigates the phonological and lexical variations in the Agole and Toende dialects of Kusaal, a Mabia language spoken in the north-eastern part of Ghana using a synchronic dialectolgical approach. It employes a qualitative design in which both primary and secondary data were sourced for the analysis. Garu, Bawku, Binduri and their environs constitute the research centers for the Agole dialect while the Toende data were taken from Zebilla, Binaba, Sapeliga, and their surroundings. The study reveals that different phonological processes trigger the phonological variations in the dialects. It is shown that segment alternation, segment deletion and segment substitution are in the dialects where voiced segments at word-final position in Agole are often realised as voiceless segments or deleted in Toende. Also, the concepts of labialisation, palatalisation and glottalisation are present in Agole but absent in Toende. Nasalisation is also in Toende but absent in Agole at least, for some words. Vowel sequencing in Kusaal is also prolific as far as dialect variation is concerned. While Agole accepts diphthongs and other sequential vowels, Toende accepts only monophthongs within morpheme-boundaries. Finally, vowel harmony and consonant assimilation differences are salient factors for the phonological variations in the dialects. While round or spread harmonic features are optimal in Toende, they are not in Agole. On the other hand, [+/-ATR] harmony is also optimal in Agole but not in Toende. The study also depicts that lexical variation is an integral part of languages with dialects and Kusaal is not an exception. It is shown that the two dialects maintain their respective list of words referring to the same referent in the language. It is apparent that nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs contain the prominent variables in the dialects. It is observed further that nouns provide a tall list of lexical items showing differences in the dialects. This is possibly so because of language contact and easy borrowing of nouns. This is followed by verbs, adjectives and finally adverbs.

Source: UEW
Phonological and morphological adaptation of loanwords in Dagbani

The study investigates phonological and morphological adaptation of loanwords in Dagbani, a Mabia (Gur) language spoken in the Northern part of Ghana. In contrast to existing literature in the language, this study examines a typology of loanwords adaptation in Dagbani. Data of 260 loanwords were drawn from existing literature, Dagbani dictionary, elicitation and my native intuition, and analysis was cast within the theoretical framework of Basic Linguistic Theory of Dixon (1997). The findings demonstrate that phonological processes which underline loanwords adaption are triggered by syllable structure differences in the adaptor and donor languages. Loanwords that are adapted from languages such as English, Arabic, Hausa and Akan into Dagbani undergo some repair strategies to ensure that those loanwords are adjusted into the syllable structure rules of Dagbani. Some phonological adaptation processes analyzed here include segmental adaptation, segmental processes (e.g palatalization, debuccalization, liquid substitution and fortition) and syllable structure processes including epenthesis, deletion, diphthongs adaptation and importation. The study also analyzed morphological adaptation processes such as inflectional suffixes, derivational suffixes, aspectual markers and compounding. I conclude that Arabic models mostly undergo segmental adaptation in Dagbani whilst loanwords from the four source languages undergo various forms of segmental processes and syllable structure processes. Finally, I contend that the need to fill lexical and semantic gaps, religious and cultural dominance as well as trade license borrowing in Dagbani. The study is important because it approaches the study of loanwords adaptation from a perspective that has not been done in the literature available so far.

Source: UEW
Phonological awareness and its impact on the reading competences of form one pupils of St. Francis junior high school, Jirapa

The objective of the study was to identify the impact of phonological awareness on the reading and spelling abilities of Form 1 students of St. Francis Junior High School. It was also meant to find out factors that inhibit the teaching and learning of phonological awareness in the school. Lastly, the study was to identify phonological awareness strategies that would help pupils improve upon their reading and spelling competences. Qualitative research design was used to carry out the study. The instruments used were observation, interview and tests. Thirty (30) participants took part in the study. Twenty of them were form 1 pupils randomly selected, six teachers and four parents. The main findings of the study were that pupils could not identify the sounds in English which affected their reading and spelling. It was also found that teaching and learning materials were not available for effective work to be done on phonological awareness. Teachers were also seen to have little or no knowledge and skills about phonological awareness and strategies to employ to teach it. The researcher therefore suggests that phonological awareness should be included in the curriculum for teacher trainees and in-service training sessions organized regularly for teachers to equip them with best strategies to teach phonological awareness. Textbooks and other teaching and learning materials should be provided to enhance effective work in the classroom. In the meantime, teachers could google to get strategies and materials they could use to teach phonological awareness in their schools. The researcher is very much convinced that if these suggestions are adhered to, pupils would be able to manipulate sounds which will improve upon their reading and spelling competences.

Source: UEW
Phosphorus release capacity of phosphate rock – animal manure compost on the growth of lettuce and soil chemical properties

The experiments were conducted in 2013 cropping season at the University of Education Winneba, Faculty of Agriculture research field in Mampong Ashanti in the forest transitional zone of Ghana on the Bediase series (FAO/ UNESCO : Chromic Iuvisol) to evaluate the effectiveness of three livestock manures and soil in acidulating Togo rock phosphate to release phosphorus, assess phosphorus release capacity of phosphate rock – animal manure compost on the growth of lettuce and soil chemical properties. The composting materials used were: Togo Rock Phosphate, soil, poultry manure, cattle manure and pig manure. The treatments used were; sole composting material, RP + composting material 1:2, RP + composting material 1:3. A complete randomized design (CRD) with 3 replicates was used. The study established that composting phosphate rock with animal manure significantly released phosphorus. The peak of P release was observed on the 63rd day, with the highest release occurring in RP + PM 1:3. Best performance of P release between the treatment ratios were in the order 1:3 > 1:2 > sole materials. While best performance of P release between the composting materials were in the order poultry manure > pig manure > cattle manure >soil. It was established from the study that phosphocompost application significantly affected the growth and yield of lettuce and N, P and K uptake. Treatment RP + PM 1:3 gave significantly (p < 0.05) higher values throughout the growing period than the other amendments and the control in plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, plant weight and N.P and K uptake. However, all the amended soils were significantly (p < 0.05) better in influencing lettuce growth than the control. The application of the phosphocompost increased the soil organic matter content, available P, K, CEC, total N, soil pH, organic carbon, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K, Na), percentage base saturation and decreased exchangeable acidity. It is concluded that composting rock phosphate with animal manure improved the P releasing ability of rock phosphate as well as leaf length and yield of lettuce. The fresh and dry weights of lettuce were also better in amended soil than control

Source: UEW
Photojournalism practice in Ghana- a phenomenological study of some selected photojournalists

Premised on disruptive technologies theory and professional identity theory, this study examines the practice of photojournalism in Ghana by identifying and understanding the specific roles of the practitioners, their experiences in terms of the challenges they face as well as perspectives of the future outlook of the practice in Ghana. Using a qualitative research approach and phenomenology as a design, the data for the study was collected via in-depth interviews. This study sampled 6 photojournalists who work for some selected highly patronized media institutions in Ghana. The study revealed that the roles of photojournalists in Ghana include; covering new events, creating online photo essays as well as taking videos and creating short skits for social media. The study confirmed that the influx of new technologies has affected the traditional notion of photojournalism practice. Hence, photojournalism roles have become democratized, creating competition between professionals and amateur or iPhone-armed photographers. Therefore, photojournalists are expected to upskill to expand their capabilities and remain relevant in the newsroom. The study also identified the diverse challenges photojournalists face in their practice in Ghana, including; stigmatization, job losses, financial crisis, physical abuses, copyright infringement, technological challenges etc. The study revealed that in future, there is likely to be an imminent switch from news photography to fashion programs, awards shows, music events, parties, weddings and funerals due to financial difficulties in news photography.

Source: UEW
Physical and mechanical properties of fifteen (15) and thirty (30) years Gmelina Arborea

Approximately 680 tree species have been identified in Ghana‘s forest, but only a few of these have been put to commercial use. Of the 1999 timber production, some 60 percent was derived from a small number of species. Actually, 66 species dominated felling in 1999. Since there is an increasing demand for tropical timbers, there is therefore the need to consider less well known but commonly found species such as Gmelina arborea which could be developed for commercial use. The lesser used species (LUS), offer a number of potential advantages to both Ghana and the international market. It was against this background that the physical and mechanical properties of fifteen (15) and thirty (30) years Gmelina arborea were determined to recommend the suitability of the species for furniture production and wood products. One (1) fifteen (15) and one(1) thirty30 years trees from a plantation in the Odomi Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region were extracted. Logs from the trees were quarter sawn and further prepared according to the British Standard BS 373-1957. Test was conducted using Instron Universal testing machine and the results analyzed with origin 9.0. There were significant difference among the MOE (15years: 8665 N/mm2, 30years: 10875 N/mm2), MOR (15years:64.30N/mm2, 30years:69.16N/mm2). The mechanical strength properties increased from the top, middle to the butt same as the densities. To achieve maximum results in terms of the mechanical and physical strength it is recommended that species of 30 years and above should be considered, since the mechanical and physical strength properties improve as the tree ages.

Source: UEW