ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of first principle approach on students’ achievements in the determination of limiting reagents in reactions

A quasi experiment research was conducted to find out the effect of first principle instructional approach, on students’ achievements in the determination of limiting reagents in chemical reactions. Convenient sampling technique was employed to select 120 Second year science students from Lamp Lighter and Wiawso Colleges of Education all in the Western North region of Ghana. The instruments used to gather data in this study were questionnaire and tests. The internal consistency of the items on the instruments was verified by examining the coefficient alpha of the various items in the instrument using the scores from the pilot-testing to determine the reliability. The overall reliability coefficient alpha for each of the two (2) test instruments constructed was found to be 0.70. Test statistics value of -4.941 which was less than the critical value of 1.980 or probability value, the null hypothesis was rejected. Thus there was a statistically significant difference in the students’ performance. A careful study of the analysis of research questions shows that students appreciated the use of the first principles, in general students ' performance in the test, based on the first principle approach, was better than actual mole ratio and stoichiometric mole ratio. The control group had a mean score of 44.06% whiles the experimental group had a mean score of 58.23%. From the foregoing, it concluded that the first principle approach helped the students to deduce the limiting reactants in chemical reactions better than the other approaches. Among other recommendations, it was suggested that teachers consider the use of first principle approaches during instructions for the benefit of the students. It was also suggested that further research be done on this topic by other researchers in other places of the

Source: UEW
The effect of free SHS policy on private schools in Volta Region, Ghana

Education remains one of the most important tools for unlocking and nurturing the potential of a people. It is widely valued across the world as a central factor in the economic, political, and social development of any country. Following the widespread adoption of free basic education as a result of global and international conditions and support, African policymakers are now considering making secondary education free. To humanists, education is a human right, and so its denial is an abuse of human rights. Its impacts permeate every aspect of the social fabric and can be felt in all parts of human life. It is therefore prudent to treat its provision with care and passion. Educational policies need to be treated apolitically. Collaboration and consensus with all the industry players is one way to guarantee its quality, availability, accessibility, and sustainability. As sacred as it is, its policy formulations must be circumspect of the environment factors, either internal or external: prevailing socio-economic conditions, value and interest, affordability, and the future of education. This study sought to find the effect of the FSHS policy on the enrolment, income, and administration of the private schools in the Volta region. The study employs of a qualitative method with a case study design. The free senior high school policy in Ghana was rolled out in 2017 across the nation. It is a departure from the progressive implementation of this directive principle of state policy on education as captured in Article 25(1) (b) of the 1992 Constitution. The study revealed that the policy has negatively affected the enrolment, income, and administration of the private senior high schools in the study area. It therefore recommends the inclusion of the private senior high schools in the policy, the government’s collaboration with the private senior high schools in the region in providing senior high school education to all Ghanaians, a level playing field for all players in the education sector, and the government's assistance to the private senior high schools.

Source: UEW
Effect of good hygiene practices intervention on food safety in senior secondary schools in Ghana

Eleven schools in three different hygiene categories were given hygiene training as an intervention to reported low hygiene standards. Staff hygiene knowledge scores, food temperature, food service time and microbiological quality of jollof rice (cooked rice in tomato sauce and fish) were measured before and after the intervention. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon's Signed- Rank Test for repeated measures on SPSS were used to evaluate the effect of GHP intervention. Staff hygiene knowledge and practice scores, food temperature, aerobic colony count (ACC) and Staphylococcus aureus load in ready to eat (RTE) meal improved significantly (p?0.05). Food hygiene training remains an essential legal and industrial requirement. � 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Source: UEW
Effect of government spending on economic growth in Ghana

Government spending plays an essential role in determining the changes in the level of national income; providing the necessities for potential output and sustaining the wellbeing of the economy. Thus, government spending on goods and services contribute to the productive potential of an economy. This study employed exploratory causal study design to assess the impact of government spending on economic growth within the context of Ghanaian economy. The study use annual time series spanning from 1970 to 2018. Data was collected from World Development Indicators (WDI). The study tested for unit root and co-integration to ascertain the existence of long run relationship among the variables. Based on the result of the unit root test, ARDL model was adopted. The result indicated that there exist both long run and short run relationship among the variables. Also, it was found that in the long run total government expenditure negatively affect economic growth. It was further realized that foreign aid and exchange rate negatively related to economic growth in the long run. Gross fixed capital formation, inflation and trade openness positively affect economic growth in the long run. It was also found that most of the short run results were consistent with the long run results. The findings also shown that there is bi-directional causal relationship between government expenditure and economic growth. The model for the study is free of serial correlation and heteroscedaticity and the model was stable over time as confirmed by cumulative sum (CUSUM) and CUSUMSQ results.

Source: UEW
Effect of grilling and smoking on levels of heavy metal(loid)s and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tilapia

The study assessed the effect of smoking and grilling on the levels of As, Cd, Hg, Pb and 18 PAH congeners in 48 composite fillet samples of O. niloticus from 2 aquatic environments on the Afram Arm of the Volta Lake. The PAH congeners were analysed by GC-MS using Agilent bond Elut QuEChERS dSPE sample preparation and a Highefficiency DB-5ms Ultra Inert GC column. For HM analysis, fillets samples were digested in HNO3 and H2O2 and analysed for As, Pb, Hg and Cd using ICP-MS with helium as the carrier gas. The mean levels of HMs in fresh fillets from both environments was As > Pb > Cd with no significant difference in the levels of Cd and Pb, but a higher mean of As in fillets of cultured O. niloticus. Ant, Pyr, Pyl and Ind were detected in fresh fillets of cultured O. niloticus, whiles only Pyr was detected in wild O. niloticus. Sixteen (16) and fourteen (14) PAHs were detected in smoked wild and cultured O. niloticus, respectively. Grilled cultured and wild O. niloticus fillets contained PAHs in the order Ant > Pyr > FL = B[a]A > Ind and Ant > Pyr > FL > B[a]A > Pyl = Ind respectively. Smoking and grilling increased the total PAHs in all fillets but decreased the level of Ind in fillets of cultured O. niloticus. Smoking and grilling had a greater effect on the mean level of detected PAHs in wild and cultured O. niloticus, respectively. The effect of smoking was, however, more significant than grilling. Smoking increased levels of Pb, Hg and As; however, its effect on As in cultured O. niloticus and Hg in wild O. niloticus was significantly high. Grilling increased the mean level of Pb in cultured O. niloticus and As in all fillets and decreased the level of Pb in fillets of wild O. niloticus. Smoking and grilling did not affect the mean levels of DBA, BP, and Cd in all fillets. The mean levels of HMs detected in the study were below the Maximum Permissible Limits, whiles the mean

Source: UEW
Effect of hands-on activities on students’ performances in the teaching of selected topics in biology

In the scope of this study, the focus was geared towards evaluating the impact handson activities have on the students‘ performances on selected topics in biology. An Action research was selected as the research design for the study with the inclusion of a quantitative and qualitative study as its research design. The study chose Queen of Peace Senior High School as its study area. A total of 45 students together with 9 teachers were adopted as the sample for the study using a convenient sampling method. With intense data collection procedure which use achievement tests and questionnaire for students and teachers respectively, the study outlined that hands-on activities have a significant impact on the academic performances of students. The study used t-test, mean and standard deviation as statistical tools to answer the research questions. This means that, the low performances of students in biology in some parts of the country can be significantly attributed to their lack of participation in hands-on activities. More so, the study achieved a positive attitude of students towards hands-on activities as compared to theory based class. Also, the study identified that through the introduction of Hands-on activities, the acquisition of process skills by students improved significantly as compared to when they were taught abstractly. More so, teachers outlined, inadequate funds, delay in the release of funds, non-existence of laboratory technicians and assistance as well as lack of knowledge to operate sophisticated laboratory equipment as the main challenges that obstruct the implementation of hands-on activities in the sampled school. This in contrast to other studies illustrate that, the case is the same across the country. In view of this, the study recommends that further research must be conducted on the impact of facilitators‘ knowledge on the conduct of hands-on work.

Source: UEW
The effect of hands-on activity on students’ skill performances and attitudes toward chemistry

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hands-on activity on students’ skill performance and attitude towards chemistry. The action research design was adopted with an intervention covering four weeks. The study sought answers to these research questions: 1. What is the attitude of students toward chemistry before and after the use of hands-on activity? 2.What is the effect of hands-on activity on the levels of skill performance among students in chemistry? 3.What is the effect of hands-on activity on the retention ability of students in chemistry? Thirty-four chemistry students from Bisease Senior High School, Central Region – Ghana were purposively selected as the sample for this study. Chemistry Achievement Tests, CAT and questionnaire were the instruments used to collect data for analysis. Data were collected from students who participated in this study both before and after the intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings of the research revealed that students exhibited more positive attitudes toward teaching and learning of chemistry after hands-on instructional approach was used. Also, the findings revealed that students exhibited improvement in science process skills when hands-on approach was used to teach chemistry – the mean score obtained on the pre-intervention test was 9.71 compared to 20.41 on the postintervention test. The t-test conducted showed the difference to be statistically significant (p = 0.00, sig. at 0.05). additionally, a large effect size (Ɵ = 1.78) indicated that the difference between the pre-test mean and the post-test mean is significant in practical scenarios. Further, the findings revealed that the performance of the students on the post-intervention test and the retention test, conducted two weeks after the intervention did not differ significantly (p = 0.31. not sig. at 0.05). However, students’ performance on both the post-intervention test and the retention test were significantly different from the pre-intervention test as revealed by a post hoc test. Based on these findings, it was recommended that teacher training institutions such as colleges and universities should emphasise hands-on activity instructional methods as part of their chemistry training curriculum. Chemistry teacher trainees should be subjected to external assessment on the use of hands-on activity instructional methods during their teaching internship programme. Also, the Ministry of Education, through the Ajumako Essiam Enyan District Education Directorate, should allocate more time for in-service training of chemistry teachers on the integration of hands-on activity to empower them, thus, enabling its application in the classroom.

Source: UEW
Effect of human resource management practices on organizational performance a case study of some selected companies in the Central Region

This study entitled The Effects of Human Resource Practice on Organizational performance: A case study of some selected organizations in the Central Region intended to assess the relationship between human resource practices and organizational performance as well as the most effective human resource practices to achieve organizational performance. A case study research design was adopted as an appropriate study design. A sample of 50 employees was selected using purposive sampling and simple random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire composed of closed-ended was used to collect data. This was coupled with the use of secondary data to analyze the data for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics using excel for quantitative data. The findings indicated that there is an existence of a positive relationship between human resource practices and organizational performance. The study also revealed that, market share and corporate social responsibility were the most effective ways of achieving organizational performance. The performance of both employees and the institutions depends on how managers use best practice on employee’s management. It was concluded that selected human resource practices work well if there are effective policies to assist managers when motivating staff to raise their working morale. It was recommended that the public sector institutions Governing Boards, should be competent so that they can supervise managements and sign performance contracts with managers and later appraise.

Source: UEW
Effect of human resource planning on the actualization of organisational objectives a case study of Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly, Kasoa

The study envisioned to determine the impact of human resource planning for the actualization of organisational objectives. The specific objectives of the study were: to determine the relationship between Human Resource Planning and Organizational objectives, to analyze the factors that will lead to effective implementation of Human Resource Planning attaining its objectives and finally investigate the problems faced by Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly on implementing human resource planning towards its stated objectives. Awutu Senya East Municipal. Kasoa was used as a case study. Sample selection involved a simple random sampling. 84 employees were selected as a study sample. Data were collected through Questionnaires, and other document review. The collected data were edited, organized to meaningful way and were analyzed and presented in by using qualitative research procedures. The major findings show that human resources planning has strong relationship with organization’s objectives. Human resources planning its impacts are to the individual employee, the institution and the country as a whole. Nevertheless, finding revealed that human resource planning is hardly implemented at the assembly. However, when there is proper and effective human resource planning automatically will result in good output due to effective and efficient performance of an institution thereby meeting the institution’s stated objectives. On the other hand, in order to fulfill the stated purpose, top district management, the central government, and their respective ministries are to be creative and increase commitment in daily planning and implementation of human resource planning. The study recommends that the central government in collaboration with its ministries should provide the required support in terms of finance and cooperation to the local government and other public institution in order to ensure the effective implementation of human resource planning.

Source: UEW
The effect of ict integration on senior high students’ motivation and achievement in geometry the case of Gomoa west district

This study explored the effect of ICT integration in teaching Mathematics on students’ motivation and achievement in endowed and less endowed Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Gomoa West district of the central region. The study employed the embedded mixed method approach involving quasi-experimental design in which three SHSs (one endowed and two less endowed) were purposively selected and assigned as control and experimental groups. A sample of 120 students and 4 Mathematics teachers from the three schools were randomly selected for the study. Geometry Achievement Tests (GAT) was administered to all student participants as pre-test and after the intervention a similar GAT was administered to students again as post-test. During treatment, ICT was integrated into the lessons of the experimental groups while the traditional instruction was applied to the control group. Six students from the experimental group and 4 mathematics teachers were interviewed to elicit their views on how ICT integration motivate students to study mathematics. Results from paired sample t-test showed that participants in both groups (experimental and control) had increment in their post-GAT as compared to the pre-GAT. However, independent samples t-test results revealed that students in the experimental group achieved better in the post-GAT as compared to those in the control group. Findings also revealed that students from the endowed school outperformed those from the less endowed school. Finally interview results revealed that ICT integration promotes students’ motivation by; making the lesson student-centered and practical, promoting retention through its visual presentation and increases students’ study time allotted to mathematics. In conclusion, ICT integration approach to teaching and learning of mathematics concepts was found to promote students’ motivation and increased achievement in mathematics than the traditional instruction.

Source: UEW
The effect of ICT integration on Senior High students’ motivation and achievement in geometry, the case of Gomoa West District.

This study explored the effect of ICT integration in teaching Mathematics on students’ motivation and achievement in endowed and less endowed Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Gomoa West district of the central region. The study employed the embedded mixed method approach involving quasi-experimental design in which three SHSs (one endowed and two less endowed) were purposively selected and assigned as control and experimental groups. A sample of 120 students and 4 Mathematics teachers from the three schools were randomly selected for the study. Geometry Achievement Tests (GAT) was administered to all student participants as pre-test and after the intervention a similar GAT was administered to students again as post-test. During treatment, ICT was integrated into the lessons of the experimental groups while the traditional instruction was applied to the control group. Six students from the experimental group and 4 mathematics teachers were interviewed to elicit their views on how ICT integration motivate students to study mathematics. Results from paired sample t-test showed that participants in both groups (experimental and control) had increment in their post-GAT as compared to the pre-GAT. However, independent samples t-test results revealed that students in the experimental group achieved better in the post-GAT as compared to those in the control group. Findings also revealed that students from the endowed school outperformed those from the less endowed school. Finally interview results revealed that ICT integration promotes students’ motivation by; making the lesson student-centered and practical, promoting retention through its visual presentation and increases students’ study time allotted to mathematics. In conclusion, ICT integration approach to teaching and learning of mathematics concepts was found to promote students’ motivation and increased achievement in mathematics than the traditional instruction.

Source: UEW
Effect of imf financing on economic growth a Sub-Saharan African perspective

The study examined the effect of IMF financing on economic growth within the sub Saharan region and to ascertain whether multilateral aid played complementary role in driving growth of sub-Saharan African economies. The study employed explanatory research design, and fixed effect panel regression model to estimate the effects of multilateral aid and inflation over an annual period of 2000-2022 was used. Again, the study used secondary data mainly drawn from the World Bank (World Development Indicators, International Financial Statistics) and IMF (World Economic Outlook) 2023 online databases. The findings established a positive relationship between IMF financing on economic growth. The positive results show that, multilateral aid injections can act as an economic stimulus, particularly during periods of economic downturn whiles inflation posits a negative and insignificant relationship on economic growth. One major implication of the findings is that SSA countries have one way or the other benefited substantially from IMF aid. It is, therefore, important for these countries to develop stronger institutions that would attract more inflows from multilateral aids. In accessing the effect of inflation on economic growth, the study found that there is a negative and insignificant relationship between inflation and economic growth. This translates that, if inflation improves by a unit, it causes a decrease in economic growth. Though the study found an indirect relationship between inflation and economic growth, inflation determines how well an economy grows. Conversely, the inflation coefficient has a negative. This suggests that slower economic development and higher inflation rates are related.

Source: UEW