ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Exploring how sports betting affects academic performance of junior high school learners in Birim Central Municipality.

The involvement of learners in various betting activities has been a trending pattern in Ghana. Hence, this study explored the involvement of JHS learners in sports betting in Birim Central Municipality and how this influences their academic performance. The Social Learning Theory and the Self-Determination Theory served as the study’s theoretical perspectives. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study based on which the qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was followed. Twelve (12) JHS learners sampled using snowball sampling technique were used. A semi-structured interview guide was used as the study’s instrument. Responses from the interviews were thematically analyzed indicating a diverse nature of betting activities in Birim Central Municipality, with learners engaged in both online platforms and physical betting outlets, influenced by peer pressure, media exposure, and personal curiosity, and funded through parental allowance and personal income. Also, it was found that the learners engage in various sports betting like aviator, soccer, volleyball, basketball, instant virtual, and casino betting on a daily or weekly basis. Again, the findings of the study show that financial gains, social pressures, and entertainment contributed to sports betting behaviours among the learners. Lastly, the study found a negative influence of sports betting on the academic performance of the learners. The conclusion drawn was that engaging in sports betting was very high among the learners and these learners recognized its detrimental effect on their academic performance. Based on this, it is recommended, among many other things, that School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs) and Heads of JHS schools within the area should implement educational programmes in schools and communities to raise awareness about the potential risks associated with different forms of betting activities.

Source: UEW
Exploring human rights in traditional conflict resolution processes in Ghana, a study of Akyem Abuakwa traditional area.

This study examined whether the traditional courts have adequate mechanisms that promote and protect human rights in the course of settling disputes. This situation offers an avenue for the study of the traditional arbitration systems and human rights promotion and protection. As a result, this work undertook a study of the situation in the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Kyebi in the Eastern Region. The study set out to find out whether in the exercise of power and authority during arbitration the dignity and, fundamental human rights and freedoms of people who appeared before the traditional arbitrators were protected and not abused. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were adapted towards achieving the objectives of the study. Data was collected through interviews, questionnaire and observation of respondents and purposive sampling technique was also used to select respondents. The researcher employed an interview and observational guides to elicit information. The study established that infractions which have occurred during arbitration were as a result of factors such as the absence of state’s oversight responsibility in traditional judicial matters and low level of knowledge of the arbitration panel in techniques, concepts and skills of modern arbitration. The study revealed that mitigating the infractions existing in the arbitration processes require regular training of the arbitration panel. It was recommended that state should exercise oversight responsibility on the traditional courts through enactment to formalise their activities so that they could operate within the limits of the Constitution of the Republic.

Source: UEW
Exploring innovative energy infrastructure financing in Ghana: benefits, challenges and strategies

Purpose: Inefficiencies in the power sector resulting from underinvesting and underselling reduce the ability of governments to adequately finance energy projects. The purpose of this paper is to explore mechanisms of energy financing, benefits and challenges associated with innovative financing of energy infrastructure as well as strategies to improve innovative financing of energy infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach: Questionnaires were used to elicit responses from respondents. Seventy-eight responses were retrieved. Mean score ranking, Kruskal�Wallis test and discriminant validity were the analysis conducted. Findings: Partial credit guarantee; partial risk guarantee; credit enhancement; and loan guarantees were the significant mechanisms. Production efficiency; reduce pressure on public budgets; access to management expertise; and self-sustainability of infrastructure facilities were the significant benefits. Lack of transparency and adequate data for risk assessment; high up-front cost; heterogeneity, complexity, and presence of a large number of parties; and lack of a clear benchmark for measuring investment performance were the severest challenges. Complete transparency and accountability; political stability and public view on private provision of energy infrastructure services; and macroeconomic environment were the significant strategies. Practical implications: This study is beneficial to energy sector as the current government of Ghana hints on willingness to involve private sector in management of the power sector. Originality/value: The novelty of this study is that it is a pioneering study in Ghana on innovative financing of energy infrastructure. � 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Source: UEW
Exploring intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict and adverse childhood experiences on University students’ adjustment in Greater Accra.

The purpose of the study was to explore the meanings that university students attached to their ACEs and the effect of those interpretations on their intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. This study aligned to the interpretivist paradigm which informed the use of the hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative design. Homogeneous purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 15 participants (9 females and 6 males) from three public universities in the Greater Accra Region. Having analysed the data thematically, it was observed that victims of ACEs in the university describe their experiences as going through parental neglect, disregard for their viewpoint, teasing and humiliation, exhibition of vices by parents, experienced physical, emotional, verbal and sexual abuse, and playing adult roles. These experiences influenced their intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts. Additionally, it was found out that victims of ACEs have emotional and social needs which make them adapt either healthy or unhealthy coping strategies. Nonetheless, the participants had different opinions and attitudes towards counselling seeking. The findings were discussed in line with some key concepts in the Adler theory, the Choice theory and the Psychological Model of Students’ Retention. This has confirmed that exposure to ACEs influenced the way the participants viewed themselves and their relationship with others. It is therefore recommended that university management and mental health professionals should screen students during the admission to identify those at risk of ACEs for immediate intervention.

Source: UEW
Exploring issues of teacher retention and attrition in Ghana: A case study of Public Senior High Schools in Kwabre East district of Ashanti region-Ghana

Teacher attrition and retention in the education sector is a matter of concern for all Ghanaians and as such the study was conducted to explore issues concerning teacher retention and attrition in Ghana. The study was descriptive survey in nature, and sought to establish factors that militate against the retention of teachers, as well as their satisfaction of the conditions of service in public senior high schools. The study was conducted in four Senior High Schools and a sample of 116 teachers was randomly selected for the study. A questionnaire was used to collect qualitative data. Findings revealed that most of the senior high school teachers may leave the teaching profession in the nearest future if their conditions of service and salaries, as well as school and classroom environment are not improved. Also the problem of teacher attrition in Senior High Schools in the district is partly attributable to non-compliance of the conditions of service for teachers by Ghana Education Service. Based on the findings, the study made the following recommendations: As a matter of urgency, the state should review the conditions of service for teachers and ensure their full implementation. Moreover, the state should take immediate steps to improve upon infrastructure in Senior High Schools, especially, those located in rural communities, to create conducive environment for teaching and learning.

Source: UEW
Exploring juvenile acts among Junior High School pupils in Anseco Basic J.H.S.

The main objective of this study was to find out factors responsible for juvenile delinquency among Junior High School students. The research was conducted in ANSECO Basic School at Anloga after permission was granted by the headmaster of the school. Purposive and stratified sampling technique were used to get the required students from forms one to three as well as the parents. The instruments used for the collection of data was interview guide and the Statistical Product for Service Sciences was used to analyze the data. With the aid of tables, bar chart, pie chart and percentages, the data was presented and analyzed. The result revealed several wrong behaviours such as disobedience, bad company, disrespecting teachers and adults among students. The result indicated that family background, lack of punishment, peer influence school environment and lack of interest in schools are the factors responsible for juvenile delinquency among students. All these affects academic performance. Again, based on the findings, some recommendations such as parents accepting responsibility for their child’s well- being, they should provide the needs of their wards to discourage the wards from depending on friends, Guidance and counseling units to be established in the school to assist delinquent students receive the necessary support that will enable them shed their illegal behaviours. Guidance should not be given to delinquent students only but all students to help reduce juvenile delinquency in the school among others were made to the concerned people such as government, parents, school authorities, students and all other stakeholders in the educational sector to help eradicate the problem.

Source: UEW
Exploring labour standards in the construction industry- a case study of building construction firms in the Sunyani Municipality of Brong Ahafo Region

Studies have found labour standard practices among construction companies to be generally low in Ghana. This study therefore sought to assess labour standard practices among building construction companies in the Sunyani Municipality, identify constraints that affect same and also strategies for implementation. The study adopted descriptive research design. The research approach was a mixed method which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The population consist of construction managers for the various construction firms that work with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 50 construction managers for the study. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to gather primary data. Quantitative data was analyzed statistically using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 18 while the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. The study found that construction companies in the given jurisdiction provided clothing and first aid for worker safety. They also kept record of payment and complied with the standard hours of work in Ghana. However, companies did not pay wages in full and promptly. Also work lasted six days including holidays and Saturdays whenever contracted existed. Other findings include low levels of trade union activities among construction companies, non-issuance of employment letters to employees, non-payment of both End of Service benefits and Compensation Payments. Factors found to be constraining labour standard implementation are a lack of due awareness about the labour standard subject, absence of a sector union in the immediate environment, instability among the workforce and the non-application of sanctions to culpable companies. Best strategies identified for implementing labour standards include making companies indicate plan to implement labour standards in bid documents, giving awards to companies that performed well in upholding labour standards and empowering appropriate agencies to monitor and check compliance among other things. Based on the findings the study recommended that construction companies should embrace trade unionism as a subculture of company practices, pay workers full salaries and in good time, issue workers with valid written contract documents and also include in bid documents their plan and cost of implementing labour standards. Also, the study recommended that there should be regular workshops to educate stakeholders about the essence of labour standards, while government takes steps to establish as well as empower appropriate agencies to monitor and check compliance.

Source: UEW
Exploring leadership challenges in implementing inclusive education in Effutu Municipality

In an era where the development of a people and nation rests largely on education, the need for everybody to be educated cannot be overemphasized. This makes the concept of inclusive education gain much prominence in recent times. It is important to note that a relatively emerging phenomenon like inclusive education is likely to be met with setbacks in its implementation. This study therefore sought to explore the challenges that educational leaders face in implementing inclusive education. The case study approach was used in undertaking this study, which employed interviews and questionnaires as methods for data collection. The study engaged headteachers and teachers from 6 basic schools and GES officials in the Effutu Municipality. The sample size was 37 (6 headteachers, 27 teachers and 4 GES officials) and was sampled purposively. Data was gathered through a face-to-face interaction between the researcher and participants. Data gathered was analysed through the manual generation of codes and themes. The study revealed that participants were knowledgeable of the concept of inclusive education and held diverse perceptions about its implementation. Support was found to be available to schools for implementing inclusive education, largely in the form of human resources. The implementation of inclusive education was found to be faced with several challenges, all related to resource constraints, key among them being financial constraints. Based on the findings, it was recommended that attention be paid to provision of resources needed for effective implementation of inclusive education, training of human resources and collaboration among stakeholders.

Source: UEW
Exploring methods for teaching english language in basic schools, a case study of KNUST junior high school

The purpose of this study was to explore the methods of teaching English Language in KNUST Basic schools in the Oforikrom Municipality. With the use of a descriptive research design, the study purposively sampled 70 English teachers of KNUST Basic School out of the 189 total teaching population. However, the response rate was 85.7% constituting 60 teachers. Using a quantitative approach, questionnaires in the form of likert type scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (4) was used to collect data. The reliability estimates for teachers was 0.88 cronbach alpha. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentages and mean were employed for data analyses. Findings of the study indicated that majority of teachers concluded they used drill and practice as their English Language teaching method. They highly used discussion as their English Language teaching method and lastly, the teachers highly encountered large class or heavy work load that hinder the teaching of English language. Based on these findings, it was recommended that teachers should reinforce the use of drill and practice and discussion as their English Language teaching methods. Lastly, the school head teachers should minimize large class and heavy work load to improve the teaching of English language

Source: UEW
Exploring nonverbal cues in spousal communication

Nonverbal communication is inevitable in human interactions and takes 70 – 93% of human communication. Nonverbal communication is enacted through cues or behaviours. Nonverbal cues help interlocutors to make meaning out of what is being expressed. This study explores nonverbal cues employed in spousal communication and their communicative functions. It also examines the motivations for using the various forms of nonverbal communication cues. The study is grounded in the theory of Nonverbal Communication and the McClelland Motivational theory of Needs. Data for the study were qualitatively gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions from purposively selected thirty-three (33) married graduate students from the School of Communication and Media Studies (University of Education, Winneba). The data were thematically analysed. The findings indicate that the participants employ various forms of nonverbal communication, categorised under body codes, sensory and contact codes, and spatiotemporal codes, and their respective cues in spousal communication. The study further reveals that the participants use the forms to communicate negative emotions and positive emotions. The study also reveals that the participants are motivated to employ the various forms of nonverbal communication cues in communication because of the desire to control, to form association, and the desire to succeed. The study concludes that nonverbal communication cues help to communicate different emotions by married graduate students through diverse forms. The study, thus, recommends that couples should take cognizance of nonverbal communication forms of their partners because nonverbal communication is contextspecific.

Source: UEW
Exploring people’s perceptions about same- sex relationships, a survey in the Winneba municipality

The survey focused on the perceptions of the people in the Winneba Municipality about same-sex relationships in Ghana. The major issues the research investigated were the general views or perceptions the people have about homosexuality, the people’s support for the promotion or curtailment of same-sex relationships in Ghana, the people’s support for or against the legalization of homosexuality in the country and the influence of religion on the people’s attitude towards homosexuality. To achieve these objectives, data were collected from 130 respondents using questionnaires and interview guide. The techniques the researcher employed for sampling respondents for the survey were the purposeful, probabilistic and the Convenience sampling techniques. The results of this survey indicate that the perceptions that majority of the respondents’ have about homosexuality were not positive. The results also show that most of the respondents were neither in favour of the promotion of same- sex relationships in the country, nor were they in favour of its legalization. The findings also revealed that religion has a great influence on the respondents’ perceptions about the practice of homosexuality in Ghana. Recommendations were made to other researchers who would want to conduct studies in the area of homosexuality to try and look into the influence of gender on people’s perceptions about homosexuality, it was also recommended that opinion leaders, policy makers, the government as well as donor countries to consider the stand of Ghanaians first before taking any decisions on the legalization of homosexuality in the country.

Source: UEW
Exploring pre-service science teachers’ epistemological beliefs and views of nature of science

The purpose of the study was to explore pre-service science teachers’ epistemological beliefs and views of nature of science. A convergence-parallel mixed-methods design was used. Participants consisted of 40 pre-service science teachers (16 females and 24 males) from four Colleges of Education in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. Twenty each from level 200 and level 300 classes. Purposive sampling was used to sample four Science and Mathematics Colleges of Education. Simple random sampling was used to select 10 pre-service science teachers from each college. The instruments used for data collection were the Views of nature of science form C (VNOS-C), Epistemological Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ), Epistemological Beliefs Inventory (EBI), Views of Nature of Science Inventory (VNOSI) and Semistructured interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and independent samples t-tests. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Majority (72.5%) of the pre-service science teachers held naïve epistemological beliefs. The pre-service science teachers held naïve beliefs in the dimensions of quick learning, omniscient authority, simple knowledge, and innate ability. However, 25% held transitional beliefs in the dimension of certain knowledge. Most (62.5%) of the pre-service science teachers held a transitional view of the nature of science. However, they held informed views on the subjective nature of science and the socio-cultural nature of science. Also, they held transitional views on the tentative nature of science, differences between theory and law and differences between observation and inferences. However, the pre-service science teachers held naïve views on the empirical nature of science and the creative/imaginative nature of science. Pearson correlation indicated a negatively weak and no significant correlation between epistemological beliefs and views of the nature of science. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in epistemological beliefs between level 200 and level 300 pre-service teachers. There was no statistically significant difference in epistemological beliefs between male and female pre-service science teachers. The preservice science teachers would likely communicate the facts or end products of science in their teaching while neglecting how scientific knowledge was constructed. Preservice science teachers’ classroom practice would improve if they develop informed epistemological belifs and views of nature of science. The study recommended that explicit attention should be given to nature of science and epistemological beliefs, and relevant teaching strategies such as the uses of historical case studies, socio-scientific discussions, inquiry activities, teaching process skills should be used to ensure that nature of science instruction is extensively integrated into colleges of education science programs.

Source: UEW