ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Assessing staff perception of Cal Bank performance appraisal system

Dissatisfaction with appraisal performance systems abounds and systems are often viewed by employees as inaccurate and unfair. The study was to assess staff perception of Cal Bank performance appraisal system for improved performance. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey on the employees of the bank. The lottery method of the simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting one out of four corridors of the Bank’s operational areas. Using questionnaires data was collected on 28 subordinates and six supervisors from the Tema corridor of Cal Bank. The Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) software version 20 was used to analyze the data. The statistical tools used for the analysis and presentations of the data were bar graphs, pie charts, and frequency tables. The findings reveal that employees have an excellent understanding of the uses of the appraisal system and that the appraisal system was regarded as the source of annual salary adjustments, promotion, bonuses and nomination for training. Both the managers and subordinates perceived the main challenge with the PA system at Cal Bank as promoting favoritism and bias. The study recommended that for improving the PA at Cal Bank, the perception of favoritism and bias has to be stopped completely. Additionally, supervisors need to be mindful about the confidential roles status with regards to their reports and discuss details of the reports on individual basis with the affected subordinates.

Source: UCC
Assessing stakeholders’ perception on healthcare claims fraud control at Takoradi Mutual Health Insurance Scheme

The National Health Insurance Scheme is bedevilled with lots of problems. One of such problems is payment of persistent and ever-increasing healthcare claims. This phenomenon, if not properly controlled, may have the futuristic propensity to hamper the smooth running of Takoradi Mutual Health Insurance scheme (TMHIS) in particular and health insurance schemes in the country in general. The main aim of this study was to assess stakeholders’ perception on healthcare claims fraud control at Takoradi Mutual Health Insurance Scheme. The study used the correlational study design. A total of 150 respondents made up of staff of TMHS, staff of service providers of TMHIS and staff of the National Health Insurance Authority were interviewed. The main research instrument used to collect data for the study was the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean, standard deviation and standard regression were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study show that internal control and communication of claims payment policies did not significantly influence claims fraud. The study, however, found that human resource challenges, compliance with claims payment policies and management oversight responsibilities significantly affected claims fraud control at TMHIS.It was therefore, recommended that TMHIS conduct regular claims verification at provider sites and at the scheme level to rectify any possible claims related anomaly. Furthermore, qualified, adequate and well-motivated staff should be employed to handle claims. Finally, claims should be paid fairly and promptly to avoid manipulation of claims and claims officers by healthcare providers.

Source: UCC
Assessing stakeholders’ roles in controlling human trafficking in the eastern region of Ghana

Undoubtedly, human trafficking, endangers human rights and the security of the individual human being as well as global security at large. The main objective of the study was to assess the stakeholder institutions in controlling human trafficking in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Multistage sampling approach which includes cluster, stratified and purposive sampling methods were used to select a total sample size of 100 respondents for the study. Since the problem under investigation is sensitive, snowballing sampling method was used in some instances to identify some respondents, especially trafficked victims. The main research instruments used to get data from the respondents were self-administered questionnaire and unstructured interview guide. The findings of the study revealed that few of the state institutions had specific policies on human trafficking. The study also established that mining and farming communities in the Eastern Region served as places of origin and destination for human trafficking. It was further found that the stakeholders play little role in controlling human trafficking because of limited technical and logistical capacity. It was therefore recommended that since the major places of origin and destination of human trafficking in the Eastern Region were mining, farming and fishing communities, it would be prudent for key stakeholders such as the police, chiefs and opinion leaders, and NGOs to double their efforts to embark on periodic public sensitisation and orientation for the people in those communities. This can help minimise the menace of human trafficking to its barest minimum.

Source: UCC
Assessing Stress Appraisals and Coping Styles Among Ghana Premier League Coaches and Players

The main purpose of this study was to ascertain stress appraisals and coping styles among coaches and players in Ghana's premier league season 2020/2021. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used for the research. Using a census, 44 formally registered male coaches (Meanage = 42.30, SD =10.44) and 424 players (Meanage = 22.36, SD = 3.53) from 17 premier league clubs answered a questionnaire consisting of standardised measures on organizational stressor indicators (OSI-SP), stress appraisals (SAM), and coping methods (MCOPE). The data collected were analysed using Descriptive statistics, Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and Multivariate multiple regression. The findings revealed that stressors were common among football coaches and players, with selection being the most common stressor for both coaches (i.e., picking players) and players (i.e., being selected). The controllable-by-self, challenge and controllable-by-others were the frequently used stress appraisal mechanisms adopted by coaches. The results further showed that both coaches and players used more of problem-focused coping styles. Generally, the appraisal mechanisms of football coaches and players were significantly related to their coping styles. Controllable-by-self, for example, was linked to problem-focused coping in coaches. Appraisals of challenge, controllable-by-self and controllable by-others affected participants' problem-focused coping considerably (active coping). It is recommended that team managers, sport psychologists and sport organisations in premier league clubs should recognise that coaches and players face a variety of stressors and ensure that they include designed interventions (e.g., psychological skills training) aimed at providing enough psychological help for the identified groups to improve their performance well-being.

Source: UCC
Assessing Stress Appraisals and Coping Styles Among Ghana Premier League Coaches and Players

This study’s main objective was to ascertain how coaches and players in Ghana's premier league in 2020-2021 perceived their levels of stress and coping skills. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey approach. Using a census, 44 formally registered male coaches (Mean-age = 42.30, SD =10.44) and 424 players (Mean-age = 22.36, SD = 3.53) from 17 premier league clubs answered a questionnaire consisting of standardised measures on organizational stressor indicators (OSI-SP), stress appraisals (SAM), and coping methods (MCOPE). In order to examine the data, descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), and multivariate multiple regression were all utilized. The findings demonstrated that football coaches and players experienced a wide range of stresses, with player selection serving as both coaches and players’ most frequent source of stress (i.e., being selected). Coaches most frequently used the stress assessment approaches controllable-by-self, challenge, and controllable-byothers. The findings also indicated that problem-focused coping strategies were more prevalent among coaches and players. In general, there was a strong correlation between football coaches' and players’ coping techniques. For instance, controllable-by-self was connected to problem-focused coping in coaches. Challenge, controllable-by-self, and controllable-by-others assessments had a significant impact on participants' problem-focused coping (active coping). It is advised that team managers, sport psychologists, and sports organizations in premier league clubs acknowledge that coaches and players deal with a variety of stressors and make sure that designed interventions (such as psychological skills training) are included to provide enough psychological support for the identified groups to improve their performance well-being.

Source: UCC
Assessing student participation in school administration in Anglican senior high school, Kumasi

The study was prompted by an observation that student leaders of Anglican High School, Kumasi, hardly performed their prefectorial duties as expected. A sample of 300 second and third year students was randomly selected. The views of the headmaster were also sought to affirm the responses of the students. Background information on 30 selected teachers was also obtained from official records while a questionnaire made up of 24 items was used to get responses from the students. Also, an interview guide was used to interview the headmaster. There were major findings about the students’ involvement and participation in decision-making at all levels. When students participate in school decision-making they become committed to the decisions made and that does not always bring about conflict between the students and the school authorities. On the other hand active involvement may adversely affect students. It adversely affects their academic work; it robs them of their time for private studies as well as normal classes, thus increases their work load. These findings did not differ by gender. On the basis of the findings, recommendations made for practice, include proper establishment of a system to get feedback through consultations, and the need for exchange of ideas such as open forum to be regularly organized for students.

Source: UCC
Assessing Students’ Experiences of Internal Quality Assurance Practices in Selected Private Higher Education Institutions

Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) is a higher education management tool that seeks to address largely all practices that hinder the realization of stakeholders’ expectation of quality. This study focused on assessing students’ experiences of internal quality assurance practices of private Higher Education Institutions. A sample of 341 respondents was drawn from Garden City University College and Christian Service University College in Ghana. The result revealed that, students have good knowledge concerning IQA and their academic level and programme of study were found to be significantly associated with their knowledge level. Also, students were not satisfied with their level of involvement in IQA issues and leadership commitment to quality in general. However, students expressed high satisfaction with the state of learning resources and the competence of the academic staff available to them. Internal quality assurance systems which adequately involve students and promote quality culture should be established.

Source: UCC
Assessing students’ understanding of, and responses to, climate change in Ghana: A study at the University of Cape Coast.

Climate change has become a contemporary environmental problem affecting human survival and development gains. It is expected that the human being whom the issue is affecting should understand and be ready to respond by engaging adaptive and mitigation measures. Tertiary students are expected to be instruments of change in this knowledge driven society. This study thus set out to assess the understanding of and responses to climate change by students at the University of Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. A sample of 283 respondents was selected. Data were collected from this sample, analysed and presented with the aid of tables, percentages and chi-square tests of independence. The study found that the students generally do not understand basic concepts of climate change. It, however, established that most of the students have high perception that climate change is happening because of their experiences with certain environmental changes. They were found to have generally accepted and assimilated climate change and do not think the issue is a myth. However, the research realised that behavioural responses, which is very crucial to deal with the effects of climate change are lacking. They do not know the effective remedy to tackle climate change and that reflected also in their responses to actual action engagements. There is a gap between their perceptions, knowledge and action. In addition, the students are indifferent to the source of climate change information. Nonetheless, they expect scientists to do more of communication. The research recommends that stakeholders should intensify education by connecting scientific facts to people’s experiences, perceptions, beliefs and values.

Source: UCC
Assessing surface water quality in the Birim North district of Ghana using spatial modelling

Surface water quality considerations are becoming increasingly important in Ghana due to anthropogenic activities which affect their benefits to humans and aquatic life but studies on spatial modelling to assess surface water quality in Ghana are nascent. This study explores surface water quality in the Birim North District of Ghana using spatial modelling. Using a cross-sectional study design, 540 surface water samples were collected from 15 rivers and streams in 2018. Surface water quality was studied through 31 indicators. Landsat satellite images (2019) of the study area was analysed for environmental and NDVI data. The data was fitted to Pearson’s product moment correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear regression. The correlation coefficient (r) among selected water properties showed a number of strong associations. PCA output showed the data is a six-component system that explains 78.2% of the total variance in the data. The major indicators of water quality in the study area are DO, calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphate, iron, arsenic, copper and BOD and account for 25.7% variance. The major sources of pollutants emanated from agriculture, mining, soluble rocks/soil and sewage. The quality of the water was better during the dry season compared to the wet season. The magnitude of independent variables in increasing order of predicting WQI was: Buffer, Cultivated area, Built-up, Forest, Rivers and streams cluster, Elevation, Season. The results inform that management interventions for surface water ecosystems should be targeted temporally and spatially to the key areas which are necessary from both practical and economic perspectives.

Source: UCC
Assessing talent management and its effect on employee retention in the ministry of roads and highways in selected regions of Ghana

In recent years, as the world is becoming a global economy with the influx of foreign companies into many developing countries like Ghana, managers face the challenge of having to address retention problems in the context of increasing competition in the global marketplace. It is against this background that this study aims at examining the effect of talent management on employees’ retention in the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ghana. The study was quantitative and employed a cross sectional design. The target study population comprised of all staff from three selected regions namely: Northern, Central and Eastern and it used census sampling technique with a total number of 211. However, with self-administered questionnaire used as the main tool for data collection, a total of 200 (94.78%) staff responded to the questionnaires. To analyse the collected data, descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Statistical software used was SPSS version 20. The study findings indicated that talent management had a positive and significant effect on employees’ intention to remain in the organisation. Thus, there was a significant positive relationship between employee retention and the various dimensions of talent management namely: competencies mapping, employees’ attraction, learning and development, and career development in The Ministry of Roads and Highways. It was recommended that the Ministry should devise measures of retaining employees through career mapping, employee engagement in decision making, learning and development and career development.

Source: UCC
Assessing talent management practices at Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank Ghana Limited

In a rapidly changing and competitive business environment, the most important rescue measure is managing talented individuals as it is only talented workers that can keep the pace of these volatile and competitive environment. Therefore, this study sought to assess the talent management practices of Guaranty Trust (GT) Bank Ghana Limited. GT Bank Ghana Limited was chosen as it was noted that it is difficult in attracting and retaining top talent. Though there are several dimensions to talent management, in this study, talent management practices were limited acquisition, development and retention of talents. The study employed a qualitative research approach and a descriptive case study design. Twelve (12) participants were conveniently sampled out of 143 population. However, eleven (11) were available for interviewing. The tool used to analyse the qualitative data was content analysis. The study revealed that various techniques such as employer branding, social media and employee referral were employed by the bank to acquire talents. It was also revealed that talent development practices that were adopted by GT Bank Ghana Limited included providing appropriate training and development programs, performance management and redeployment of talented workers. Lastly, motivation, favourable workplace environment and positive work life balance were the retention strategies used by the bank. The study concluded that being able to clearly identify and define talent, organisations would be able to develop strategies to effectively acquire, develop and retain talent. The study recommended that management should strengthen their retention strategies since it was revealed that the bank had lost some of its talents to rival banks.

Source: UCC
Assessing Teachers’ Knowledge And Competencies In The Use Of Multiple-Choice Randomisation As An Assessment Technique At The Shs Among Selected Schools In Ashanti Region

The study assessed teachers' knowledge and competences in the use of multiple-choice randomisation as an assessment technique among selected senior high schools in Ashanti Region. Data for the study was collected using a self-analysing questionnaire. The mixed method and the descriptive research design were adopted for the study. A sample of 317 teachers with at least 5 years of teaching experience were drawn from 11 schools that consisted 3 category A schools and 4 category B and C schools, using a multi-stage sampling technique. Independent t-tests, means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages were used to analyze the data. The study's findings demonstrated that senior high school teachers in the Ashanti Region were knowledgeable and competent in using multiple-choice randomisation as an assessment technique. However, time involved in the design and processes in multiple-choice randomisation was the main reason why teachers were reluctant in using it in their assessment. The study also found that senior high school teachers in the Ashanti region support the use of multiple-choice randomisation in assessment as a technique for reducing cheating connected with the use of multiple-choice questions in exams. The findings also indicated that location of teachers did not have any impact on their knowledge with respect to multiple-choice randomisation as well as being competent in using multiple-choice randomisation. Recommendations were made to the Ashanti regional education directorate's assessment unit and heads of the various senior high schools to encourage and motivate teachers to use this technique in examinations. These stakeholders were also encouraged to organize workshops and seminars for teachers on other contemporary issues in assessment to improve their knowledge and competence towards the conduct of efficient and effective examinations at our schools.

Source: UCC
Assessing Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge of Religious and Moral Educators of Colleges of Education in Ghana: A Survey

The purpose of this study was to assess the technological pedagogical content knowledge of Religious and Moral Education (RME) tutors in the colleges of education in Ghana. It is expected that the outcome of the study would have some implications for educational policy and practice. A survey was conducted using 50 tutors from all the 38 public colleges of education in Ghana to respond to a five-point Likert type of questionnaire containing forty-five items. Three main research questions were used to determine college tutors’ pedagogical, technological and content knowledge in RME at the colleges of education. The theoretical framework that was used for the study was Koehler and Mishra’s (2009) TPACK Framework. The tutors were selected from the colleges of education, using the purposive sampling method during a workshop, which was organized by the Institute of Education of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected. Findings of the study revealed that RME tutors of the colleges of education in Ghana demonstrated having good technological, pedagogical and content knowledge. They also demonstrated their ability to use their pedagogical and content knowledge. However, the college tutors revealed their inability to use technology in their teaching, due to lack of technological resources. The study recommended that periodic workshops should be organized for college tutors to upgrade their content and pedagogical knowledge in the subject. Secondly, RME tutors were encouraged to use improvised resource materials. The Curriculum Research and Development Division (CRDD) of the Ministry of Education should provide schools with instructional resources. Finally, the Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, should revise the RME syllabus to expose college tutors to modern pedagogies like Concept Cracking and Gift to the Child.

Source: UCC