ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Students' participation in decision making at Fijai Secondary School

The main objective of the study was to find out how student participation in decision making affects school administration. An attempt was made to identify areas that student could effectively contribute to the smooth running of school administration. The target population was all the teachers and students of Fijai Secondary School. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 292 students and 32 teachers. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for the research study. The instruments were developed, discussed and streamlined with the assistance of my supervisor. The results indicate that both students and teachers agree that the students have been involved in some areas of School Administration such :.lS maintaining class discipline. keeping order in the dining hall and keeping order and cleanliness in the dormitory. The students are however not involved in areas like vetting of prefects, planning of the school menu and not being represented on disciplinary committee. On the basis of the findings of the study the following recommendations were made for future research. It is suggested that students' opinions should be considered in arriving at decisions that affect them. The following avenues should be visited by the headmaster in order to facilitate effective participation of students in school administration. Informal consultations. Introduction of suggestion boxes. Symposia.

Source: UCC
Students' participation in decision-making in senior high schools in the Western Region of Ghana

This study is on students' participation in decision-making in selected senior high schools in the Western Region of Ghana. The researcher used descriptive survey by way of questionnaires, which were pilot tested and modified to ensure their validity and reliability, and explored the nature and causes of low student participation in decision-making and its resultant effects on the teachinglearning process as well as a congenial atmosphere for the smooth running of the school. The population was students, teachers and heads of the forty-three senior high schools in the Western Region. 240 students, 60 teachers and 9 heads and assistant heads were sampled from three senior high schools. In all, a total of 309 respondents constituted the sample size. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three senior high schools and respondents who held leadership positions whilst random sampling techniques were used to sample respondents who played no leadership roles in the schools. Simple descriptive statistics involving frequencies and percentages were used to analyze data. The study revealed that, heads and teachers have positive perception of students' participation in decision-making process. It was clear from the study that student participatio'ii in decision-making enhances quality of decisions, commitment to decisions and enhances students' feeling of belongingness. In recommendation, participatory decision-making structures should be encouraged in schools in order to bridge communication gaps between administration and students. These could be done through informal consultation or introduction of suggestion boxes.

Source: UCC
Students' perception of effective teaching characteristics in the college of education studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

The study sought to investigate what students perceive to be effective teaching characteristics of lecturers in the College of Education Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. A survey design was adopted to gather data from the study population (n=4,189 comprised of full time undergraduate students of the five departments in the college. A multi staged sampling utilising stratified, quota, and simple random sampling techniques was used to select a sample size of 495 students for the study. Data collected were analysed using means, standard deviations, and a one way Between groups analysis of variance. The findings showed that the 39 teaching characteristics were perceived by the respondents as essential determinants of effective teaching characteristics.The respondents identified teacher preparation as the extremely important effective teaching characteristic. The study recommendations included conducting a similar study using both students and lecturers to ascertain if the instructor and the learner share similar perceptions with regard to effective teaching characteristics.

Source: UCC
Students' perception of the government's policy of cost - sharing in the tertiary education: A case study of the University of Cape Coast

The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of students on the governments' policy of cost-sharing. Its concerns included students' view on policy, the effect of cost-sharing on enrollment, the effect of cost-sharing on quality of teaching, the effect of the policy on facilities at the university, and the effect of the policy on academic performance. The study also identified alternative sources that could be employed to finance tertiary education and found out from students the extent to which they were ready and willing to pay part of the cost of their university training. A sample of 400 students of the University of Cape Coast comprising 183 first year and 217 fourth year students provided data by filling out questionnaire. An interview guide was also used to solicit views from some executive members of the Students' Representative Council (SRC). The results of the study suggested that students agreed that the costsharing policy should be implemented. They believed that the government alone could not fund tertiary education and that students and parents must pay part of the cost of tertiary education. Moreover, they felt that the policy had led to the improvement in some facilities in the Halls of Residence. The students also felt that cost-sharing had not improved the quality of teaching. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that government impose an education tax on companies, organisations and churches, which would be used to fund tertiary education. It is also recommended that the universities should institute a peer review mechanism that would crosscheck the quality of teaching done by lecturers in the country's universities.

Source: UCC
Students' perception of their participation in decision-making at Wesley College of Education in Kumasi

The study examined how students perceive their participation in decision-making processes in Wesley College of Education in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. In all, one hundred and ninety-two student leaders, fifty-five teachers and three college administrators were purposively sampled for the study. The main research instrument for the study was the questionnaire. Three sets of questionnaire were designed for respondents. The findings of the study suggest among others, that students thought they were not adequately involved in decisions in certain sensitive areas such as menu and disciplinary issues. It also emerged that students’ participation in decision-making has helped to minimize violent behaviours and excessive misconduct in the college. The study recommended greater students’ participation in sensitive areas of decisions in the college administration. Avenues such as the use of suggestion boxes, collecting students’ views through informal conversation and regular organization of durbars with students could be employed to enhance students’ participation in the college’s decision-making process.

Source: UCC
Students' Views on Mathematics in Single-Sex and Coed Classrooms in Ghana

In this study, we investigated students’ views on themselves as learners of mathematics as a function of school‐by‐sex (N = 2034, MAge = 18.49, SDAge = 1.25; 12th‐grade; 58.2% girls). Using latent variable Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the measurement and structural equivalence as well as the equality of latent means of scores across single‐sex and coed schools were tested. Findings regarding the latent mean differences revealed that girls in single‐sex schools had significantly higher mathematics self‐confidence than did students’ in coed schools. Girls in coed schools had significantly lower mathematics self‐concepts than did boys in single‐sex, girls in single‐sex and boys in coed schools. Girls in single‐sex schools had significantly higher family encouragement than students’ in all other school types. Moreover, a more complex dynamics were found on the teacher quality variate. This paper argues for a deeper understanding of sex‐school interaction and of possible causes of students’ views on mathematics.

Source: UCC
Students‘ Customer Service Expectations At Cape Coast Technical University

The study explored students‘ customer service expectations at Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU). This was necessitated by the absence of empirical evidence concerning students‘ claims of disappointments relating to some services provided by the university. The methodological design underpinning the study was the phenomenological qualitative strategy of inquiry. The study further adopted the purposive sampling technique to identify participants who could elucidate the prevailing circumstances surrounding the themes in the study. The, data was collected from sixteen students eight level 100 HND regular students and eight Level 300 HND regular students) using semi-structured interview guide to conduct two separate focused group discussions. To complement the responses from students, data was also taken from six staff members using semi-structured interview guide to conduct one-on-one interviews. The responses were transcribed and analysed thematically. The findings were that majority of services that CCTU provides and their manner of delivery had fallen short of students‘ expectations because generally, students had high expectations of the services before they experienced the services. Consequently, one key conclusion drawn was that Technical University managements are reacting to a plethora of factors presently exerting pressure for change to meet students‘ expectations, especially, for accommodation. The study recommended that the Governing Council and Management of CCTU should partner with construction companies, banks, state and private enterprises such as Ecobuild Consult and Stanbic Bank to build more halls on CCTU campus thereafter, review the housing and accommodation policies.

Source: UCC
Students’ Alternative Conceptions Associated with Application of Redox Reactions in Everyday Life

The study explored chemistry students’ alternative conceptions associated with application of the processes of oxidation and reduction in real life context. As part of a design-based research approach, a case-study design was followed. Purposive and convenient sampling procedures were employed to select 213 senior high school students to respond to a diagnostic test. Data obtained were analysed using item difficult index, percentages, and themes. The results showed that alternative conceptions existed as preconceived notions, conceptual misunderstanding, and factual misconceptions. It is recommended that chemistry educators should select most appropriate instructional strategies to unearth and address alternative conceptions students may bring to the classroom.

Source: UCC
Students’ and tutors’ perception of the performance of final year students of tamale nurses training college in licensing examination from 2001-2004

The main focus of this study was to find out the perception tutors’ and students' hold on the performance of final year students of Tamale Nurses Training College in licensing examination from 2001-2004. A descriptive survey was the research design used. A questionnaire was the instrument used to collect data. The items were developed from related literature on the study. A total number of 100 respondents were selected through purposive and random sampling. These included 16 tutors and 84 students The results indicated that availability of teaching aids promote teaching and learning. The study also revealed that nursing and health related textbooks are not available in the college library. This could be a major contributory factor to the students poor performance in the licensing examination. The study further revealed that indisciplinary behaviour (acts) had influence on the students performance. Additionally, the study showed that indiscipline in the college has some effect in the college (influence on students performance/teaching and learning process) which include: 1a Disciplinary problems in the college usually reduce the time for teaching and learning process b Disciplinary problems in the college affect academic performance of students c Indiscipline in the college makes teaching unpleasant thus learning to transfer of tutors to other schools. 2. Teacher qualification is a pre-requisite to student performance

Source: UCC
Students’ Assessment of Hall Tutorship at University Of Cape Coast, Ghana

Hall tutorship as a guidance program can be explained as a series of meetings between a resident student and the hall tutor assigned to his /her room or floor, to address general welfare situations and to seek total development of the student on campus. The study investigated students’ assessment of hall tutorship services rendered in the halls of residence at University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Six research questions and one hypothesis were answered and tested respectively. The participants comprised 380 resident students who were selected from the six major traditional halls of residence at the University of Cape Coast through the use of multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were analysed with the use of frequencies, percentages, mean scores, standard deviations and independent sample t-test with the assistance of IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. The study revealed that hall tutorship exists in the halls of residence with four forms of hall tutorship sessions (Group Meeting, One-to-One Tutorship, Room-to-Room Visitation and Roommates-Meet-Tutor) being organised and majority of the students had benefited. Also, participants demonstrated positive attitudes toward the hall tutorship, high impact on their living conditions, and a high level of satisfaction from attending the sessions. Despite this, the students identified challenges such as the fear of other resident students knowing about their problems, lack of regular refreshment during sessions, their colleagues not liking to attend hall tutorship sessions, and hall tutors not being readily available and easily accessible. In view of this, it is recommended that the hall tutors, hall managements and the university should consider the following remedies: giving assurance of confidentiality and trust to students, regular refreshment for side attraction, adequate encouragement for students to have more personal interest in the hall tutorship services and hall tutors being more available and accessible.

Source: UCC
Students’ attitude towards online counselling in the college of humanities, university of ghana

The main purpose of this study was to ascertain the attitude university students have towards online counselling in the College of Humanities, University of Ghana. The study employed the descriptive survey design. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select 500 respondents from a population of 17,815 students from the College of Humanities, University of Ghana. The study made use of primary data through the use of an adapted Online Counselling Attitude Scales for data collection. The data collected were analysed with the use of descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages, means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA). The study found that university students have positive attitude towards online counselling. However, they have negative attitude towards the utilisation of online counselling. Also, the attitude of university students towards online counselling does not differ with respect to gender and student’s academic level. Finally, university students’ attitude towards online counselling differs with respect to age. The study recommended that workshops be organised by university counselling centers to heighten the utilisation of online counselling.

Source: UCC
Students’ Demographic, Academic Characteristics and Performance in Registered General Nursing Licensing Examination in Ghana

The decreasing performance of student nurses in the professional licensure examinations (LE) in Ghana is a major concern to stakeholders, especially at a time when the nurse-patient ratio stands at 1: 1500. The study sought to determine the effect of students’ demographic and academic characteristics on performance in the Registered General Nursing (RGN) LE. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted using a researcher designed checklist to review the administrative and academic records of 324 nursing students who wrote the RGN LE between 2007 and 2012. A stratified sampling method was used to select the participants for the study. Chi square statistics were used to determine the effect of the predictors: demographic characteristics, entry grade and Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) on the dependent variable (LE performance). The study revealed a relationship between gender and LE performance, residential status, entry grade and students' FGPA at the college. However, no significant relationship was found between the age of participants, subject background at high school and LE outcomes. We conclude that students’ socio-demographic and academic characteristics such as gender, campus residential status, entry grade and FGPA influence the outcome of the final LE of RGN students. Consequently, priority should be given to applicants with high pre-entry aggregate during recruitment and on campus accommodation should be provided for all trainee nurses. Furthermore, weak students with low FGPA should be given special tuition before they are registered for the final LE to improve their outcomes.

Source: UCC
Students’ Demographic, Academic Characteristics and Performance in Registered General Nursing Licensing Examination in Ghana

The decreasing performance of student nurses in the professional licensure examinations (LE) in Ghana is a major concern to stakeholders, especially at a time when the nurse-patient ratio stands at 1: 1500. The study sought to determine the effect of students’ demographic and academic characteristics on performance in the Registered General Nursing (RGN) LE. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted using a researcher designed checklist to review the administrative and academic records of 324 nursing students who wrote the RGN LE between 2007 and 2012. A stratified sampling method was used to select the participants for the study. Chisquare statistics were used to determine the effect of the predictors: demographic characteristics, entry grade and Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) on the dependent variable (LE performance). The study revealed a relationship between gender and LE performance, residential status, entry grade and students' FGPA at the college. However, no significant relationship was found between the age of participants, subject background at high school and LE outcomes. We conclude that students’ socio-demographic and academic characteristics such as gender, campus residential status, entry grade and FGPA influence the outcome of the final LE of RGN students. Consequently, priority should be given to applicants with high pre-entry aggregate during recruitment and on campus accommodation should be provided for all trainee nurses. Furthermore, weak students with low FGPA should be given special tuition before they are registered for the final LE to improve their outcomes.

Source: UCC
Students’ Difficulties in IUPAC Naming of Organic Compounds

This paper reports on a study that diagnosed the difficulties of chemistry students in using IUPAC nomenclature to name organic compounds. This was done by determining the knowledge level of students in IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds. Students at the senior high school (SHS) level were involved in the study. A cross-sectional survey that employs mixed method approached provided the study with both quantitative and qualitative data. In all, 245 SHS4 chemistry students selected from four out of 18 schools who offered elective science for 2010/2011 academic year in the Kumasi Metropolis were involved in the study. An achievement test and interview were the main instruments for the data collection. The results from the study showed that students had difficulties in naming structural formulae of branched- and substituted-chains of alkanes and alkenes, geometrical isomers, dienes, unbranched alkynes, primary and tertiary alkanols, diols, alkanoic acids, and alkyl alkanoates. Chemistry students’ difficulties in IUPAC naming of organic compounds included their inability to identify the correct number of carbon atoms in the parent chain, and to identify a substituent or functional group.

Source: UCC
Students’ Errors and Misconceptions in Algebra: Exploring the Impact of Remedy Using Diagnostic Conflict and Conventional Teaching Approaches

This study explored the impact of ‘Diagnostic Conflict Teaching’ and ‘Conventional Teaching’ approaches on the remediation of algebraic errors and misconceptions among second year high school students in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. A validated algebra diagnostic test covering the fundamental algebra concepts was adopted, adapted, piloted and used to collect data from 114 participants. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent (pre-test, post-test) control-group was employed. Descriptive statistics, bar charts, dependent and independent t-tests were used to analyse students’ pre-test and post-test scores. Though findings of the study showed significant impact with both teaching methods, the Diagnostic Conflict Teaching approach was more effective in addressing students’ algebraic errors and misconceptions than the Conventional approach. Recommendations made underscore the need for curriculum and educational programmes to provide classroom or teaching experiences that have the potential of helping pre-service and in-service mathematics teachers to improve on their knowledge for teaching algebra as well as their pedagogical content knowledge, to better equip them to address students’ misconceptions and errors effectively.

Source: UCC
Students’ evaluation of the bachelor of education (accounting) programme in the University Of Cape Coast

The purpose of this study was to find out students’ perceptions of the Bachelor of Education (Accounting) programme in the University of Cape Coast. The study adopted the descriptive survey design in which data were collected within the overarching framework of the Context Input Process Product evaluation model. A sample size of 350 respondents participated in the study. The multi-stage sampling technique, employing the stratified sampling technique, proportionate random sampling technique and simple random technique, was used in selecting the sample for the study. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviation) were used to analyse all the research questions. The study found that the Bachelor of Education (Accounting) programme is satisfactory to the context rubric of the CIPP model. However, it was found that the programme is not satisfactory with respect to the input rubric of the CIPP model. It was also revealed that students were satisfied with the implementation of the B.Ed. (Accounting) programme. The study recommended that the programme designers should include courses that will expose students to the use of current accounting software used in Ghana such as Tally accounting and the Head of department should ensure that departmental library resources and facilities, current journals in Accounting for both student and lecturers use, and teaching and learning materials are adequately available and in right conditions.

Source: UCC