ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Learner Demographic, Resource Characteristics, and Responsiveness to eLearning Delivery in Selected Distance Education Institutions in Ghana

The study investigated the influence of learner demographic and resource characteristics on responsiveness to eLearning delivery in distance education programmes in Ghana. The study addressed three specific objectives: to profile the distance learners based on demographic and resource characteristics; to establish the relationship between demographics and eLearning satisfaction; to determine the extent to which resource characteristics influence eLearning satisfaction. The study utilized an analytical survey design with quantitative data collection method using a questionnaire. Two dual-mode universities in Ghana were targeted and 517 students were sampled through multi-level sampling method. The study found that distance education students in Ghana are moderately responding to eLearning delivery. It was also concluded that age, gender, marital status and geographic distance had a significant relationship with eLearning satisfaction. Moreover, access to ICTs, access to family time support and access to electricity were significantly related to eLearning satisfaction. It was recommended that distance education institutions should assess the characteristics of the learner prior to the introduction of eLearning.

Source: UCC
The Learner Factor on the Implementation of the Basic School Curriculum

Curriculum implementation is fraught with a lot of challenges. With the exception of the learner factor, several studies have been conducted to investigate how the factors that interplay at the implementation stage influence the implementation process. Using the descriptive research design, this study was accordingly conducted to examine the influence of the learner factor on the implementation of the basic school curriculum in Ghana. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to sample 1,079 basic school pupils from across the country to form the sample for the study. Descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T-Test, Multiple Linear Regression, Pattern marching and quasi-statistics were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data collected for the study. Among the findings from the study are that, the intellectual level of the basic school pupils is generally above average, the learner has good physical condition to undertake all the physical activities required by the academic situation, the learner has a high level of preference for certain curricular activities. In addition, some elements of peer influence on the learner affect curriculum implementation, the socio-economic status of the learners is having some influence on the implementation, gender is a factor in the academic performance of pupils, and that time management of the learner is the most important factor for determining the implementation of the basic school curriculum in Ghana. In view of these findings, it is recommended that the GES should consider introducing specialization of courses at the basic school level (preferably at basic 7) to meet the preferential demands of the pupils for certain subjects.

Source: UCC
The Learning Experiences of Postgraduate Students in Statistics: A Case Study of a Ghanaian University

Statistics is a compulsory course for almost all postgraduate students in the universities due to its importance to their research works. The purpose of acquiring this statistical knowledge is to enable students answer research questions carefully based on the use of appropriate methodology. It has been indicated that most postgraduate students seem to have issues dealing with statistics as a course and that anxiety seems to be one of the causes. This necessitated an investigation into MPhil postgraduate students’ level of anxiety in statistics in order to positively influence instructional discourse. To guide the study, two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated. The research design used was sequential explanatory-mixed method design. The census-purposive sampling technique was used to obtain the respondents and participants for the study. The census involved 151 MPhil postgraduate students from a college in a Ghanaian university as respondents in the quantitative phase of the study and the purposive sampling technique had twelve participants based on the quantitative findings for the focus group discussion. The major findings were: postgraduate MPhil students of the university experienced anxiety in statistics; the level of the postgraduate MPhil students’ anxiety in statistics was mostly mild and the level of postgraduate students’ anxiety in statistics was related to the sex of the student and the programme they pursued. It was recommended that teachers of statistics should employ positive immediacies in the statistics classroom.

Source: UCC
Learning from cradle to grave: attaining SDG goal 4 to ensure lifelong learning by schools and academic libraries in Ghana

Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals are to help alleviate poverty, combat inequality and injustice, and above all tackle climate change by 2030. Libraries in developing countries including Ghana are making major improvement towards increasing access to quality education at all levels of the educational ladder to bring the SDG 4 into reality. This paper investigated the readiness of departments and libraries within the University of Cape Coast fraternity to support the implementation of SDG 4 to ensure lifelong learning within the contextual setting of the University of Cape Coast. Available opportunities to achieve SDG 4 at University of Cape Coast were also explored. The University of Cape Coast Primary School, University Practice Junior High School, University Practice Senior High School and tertiary level were purposely used for the study. Interviews and observations were used for data collection. The interview responses were reported from the study. The study found out that frantic efforts are being made to ensure learning from the cradle to the grave and thus achieve SDG 4 in all its educational level. UCC educational institutions understand SDG 4 but there is still a room for improvement in terms of collaboration, acquiring relevant resource materials and enough funding to carry out inclusive education at the University of Cape Coast.

Source: UCC
Learning theory and technology in University Oreign language education The case of French universities

Second language study in French universities includes both modern language (literary) and foreign language (communicative) approaches, although teaching is dominated by the literary strand. Traditional educational models based on the transmission of knowledge are unable to accommodate recent progress in our understanding of learning theory, which offers cognitivist and constructivist approaches to learning and teaching. Similar advances specific to second language learning and teaching cannot be reconciled with the standard grammar-translation method, but instead call for communicative, task-oriented classrooms. This article traces the development of learning theory and second language teaching with respect to the roles of teacher and learner, conceptions of language as process or product, and individual versus group learning. It recommends an activity oriented, project-based approach to second language teaching, learning and evaluation as an appropriate foundation for foreign (non-literary) language learners, including future school teachers, and calls for greater academic recognition of second language research

Source: UCC
Least squares optimization with L1-norm regularization

The non-differentiable L1-norm penalty in the L1-norm regularized least squares problem poses a major challenge to obtaining an analytic solution. The study thus explores smoothing and non-smoothing approximations that yields differentiable loss functional that ensures a close-form solution in over-determined systems. Three smoothing approximations to the L1-norm penalty have been examined. These include the Quadratic, Sigmoid and Cubic Hermite. Tikhonov regularization is then applied to the resulting loss function. The approximations are a modiﬁcation of the Lee’s approximation to the L1-norm term. The regularized solution using this approximation has been presented in various forms. Using the Hilbert 12×12 matrix, it is found that for all three methods, a good approximation to the exact solution converges at a regularization parameter µ = 10−30. The solutions show an accuracy to nine digits. In each approximation, a suitable value of the parameter is obtained for which the absolute value function approximates the L1-norm penalty. The results of the Modiﬁed Newton’s method based on the Lee’s approximation however shows an accuracy of at most two digits. The solution of the smoothing methods also compares favourably with l1 ls method. Analytic solution of the L1-norm problem is also obtained by means of the sub-gradient method, after casting the constrained formulation as unconstrained. Attempt at achieving sparsity of the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) solution has been made in two ways. The initial solution is expressed in terms of the singular value decomposition so that by truncating smaller singular values,the desired sparsity is achieved using suitable regularization parameter obtained by the K-fold cross validation of the ﬁt. In another way,the LASSO solution itself has been induced to ensure sparsity. The results show that the LASSO formulation and solution must be appropriately designed for certain type of data sets, particularly those that are severely ill-conditioned and those with monotone trends.

Source: UCC
Lecturer Immediacy for Effective Instructional Communication in University of Cape Coast

The relationship between instructors and learners is considered as one of the major factors that influence learning outcomes. The present study explored the strategies utilized by lecturers of Communicative Skills course in the University of Cape Coast, Ghana to establish immediacy with their students during classroom instruction. The researcher purposely sampled six lecturers and forty-two students to participate in the study. Data were collected from the selected lecturers and students through observations, face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. Guided by rhetorical and relational goal theory and impression management theory, the researcher analysed the data and found that lecturers employ nonverbal cues (facial expression, eye contact, touch, and distance) and verbal cues (positive comments, vocatives, and jokes) to establish immediacy with students. In addition, the study revealed that lecturers utilized immediacy strategies to increase students‟ classroom participation, reduce tension among students and sustain attention of students during classroom instruction. Furthermore, the study showed that immediacy strategies are effective in maintaining good relationship between instructors and students, achieving motivation of students, and maintaining inclusive environment for learners. The researcher recommends that lecturers should consider making deliberate efforts to incorporate immediacy strategies in their teaching of courses at the tertiary level.

Source: UCC
Lecturers perception on the effects of training and development (Professional Development) on their performance at Koforidua Technical University in Ghana

This study examined lecturers‘ perceptions of the effect of training and development on their performance at Koforidua Technical University. Using the census sampling method, all 174 lecturers at Koforidua Technical University participated in this research. Data was gathered using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. This research concluded that lecturers' training needs are paramount at Koforidua Technical University. Moreover, the lecturers‘ performance at Koforidua Technical University is satisfactory. Furthermore, human capital investments in lecturers' training and development improve their individual-level outcomes. In other words, improved training and development practices improve lecturer performance at Koforidua Technical University. Hence, it is suggested that management at Koforidua Technical University should persistently prioritise firm-specific and general training practices in their organisation to significantly enhance lecturers‘ productivity and achieve a competitive advantage. Furthermore, to discover new approaches to resolving organisational issues, lecturers should also be given a chance to seek knowledge and experiences in various work environments within the same industry.

Source: UCC
Lecturers’, Students’, and Administrators’ Perception of Discipline in the Faculty of Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

This study examined some dimensions of discipline as perceived by lecturers, administrators, and students in the Faculty of Education, University of Cape Coast. It sought to find out whether differences exist in their perceptions regarding the importance of discipline, forms of indiscipline, and causes of indiscipline in the Faculty of Education. We adopted a crosssectional descriptive survey for the study involving 358 students, 11 lecturers, and 8 administrators. A customized Likert-type questionnaire was used for data collection to help answer the research questions and hypothesis formulated to guide the study. We found that there was no statistically significant difference in the perceptions lecturers, students, and administrators hold about disciplinary issues in the Faculty of Education. The need for university authorities to continuously use learning dialogue to engage students in decision making was highlighted so as to continue to achieve and enjoy a conducive environment for learning—as efforts are made to focus on students’ learning.

Source: UCC
Left to their fate? Effects of mining on the environment and wellbeing of residents in the Asutifi District, Ghana

Ghana experienced rapid liberalization in the mining sector in the 1980s and 90s which led to the intensification of mining activities across mining zones in the country. This study therefore examined how operations of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) affect environmental justice in the Asutifi District. Using questionnaires, in-depth interview guides and observation checklist, data for the study were gathered from 217 randomly selected household respondents and 10 purposively selected key stakeholders. The results revealed widespread environmental injustices caused by mining that infringe on the rights of the residents of Asutifi District to live in safe and healthy environment they are entitled to. The paper recommends the application of international best practices by Newmont to reduce the adverse impacts of its activities on the environment and wellbeing of residents, and a revision of existing legislations on mining in Ghana in order to safeguard the wellbeing of communities affected by mining operations

Source: UCC
Legal and corporate governance framework for Islamic banks in Pakistan

As custodians and trustees of public money, Islamic banking institutions (IBIs) must have a good reputation that cannot be achieved without a strong legal and corporate governance (CG) framework. The base for good governance inside financial institutions including IBIs in any jurisdiction is provided by the legal framework of the country, since the respective roles and responsibilities of corporate governance players inside IBIs are derived from the established law. In this study, the general legal and corporate governance framework for the banking sector in Pakistan is discussed. It is found that unfortunately the Islamic banking sector, which has great potential, is functioning without a proper legal cover which is a challenge for good governance as well as transaction implementation of IBIs, especially for the unilateral promises by the counterparties and hence for their soundness in future. Therefore, proper law must be promulgated, wherein all the respective roles and responsibilities of different CG players are declared mandatory, followed by punitive consequences in instances of non-compliance by them. Also, all the transactions should be given legal validation, which should resolve the issue of breaching any of the different contracts by the counterparties, especially their unilateral promises

Source: UCC
Leishmanicidal activity of the Root Bark of Erythrophleum Ivorense (Fabaceae) and Identification of some of its compounds by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania transmitted by sandflies. High cost and lack of oral formulation of existing drugs, rapid developments of resistance by the parasite coupled with serious side effects require new treatments to augment or replace currently available therapies. The major merits of herbal medicine seem to demonstrate perceived efficacy, low incidence of serious adverse effects and low cost. Erythrophleum plants possess beneficial biological properties and, as such, characterization of the bioactive components of these plants is imperative. Previous work has shown an overwhelming presence of cassaine alkaloids in these plants. However, amongst these plants, the African based specie (Erythrophleum ivorense) is the least studied. Objective: In the current study, the in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of the crude extract, its fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated using direct counting assay of promastigotes of Leishmania donovani using amphotericin B as positive control. Materials and methods: The anti-leishmanial activity of E. ivorense extract was evaluated in vitro against the promastigote forms of Leishmania Donovani using a direct counting assay based on growth inhibition. Different crude extracts from ethyl acetate, pet-ether, and methanol as well as pure isolated compounds of E. ivorense: Erythroivorensin, Eriodictyol and Betulinic acid were screened. To know the possible components of the active methanolic extract, attempt was made to elucidate the extract using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Results: This afforded a weak pet-ether fraction, a moderately active ethyl acetate fraction and a significantly active methanol fraction (IC50 = 2.97 μg/mL) compared to Amphotericin B (IC50 = 2.40±0.67μg/mL). The novel diterpene erythroivorensin, betulinic acid and the flavanone Eriodictyol, from the ethyl acetate fraction, showed weak activity. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was used to identify the cassaine diterpenoids from the active methanol fraction. Here, 10 compounds of this type were putatively identified from the ethanol crude extract. Conclusion: The fragmentation mechanism of these metabolites is also proposed and are expected to serve as reference template for identification of these and related compounds in future. The presence of these compounds is an indication that they are an inherited and evolutionary component of plants belonging to the Erythrophleum genus. Our results further present another dimension where these compounds and their relative abundances can be used as chemotaxonomical bio-markers of the genus. The present study also successfully demonstrated/reaffirmed the use of UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS as a robust technique for the characterization of natural products

Source: UCC
Leishmanicidal activity of the Root Bark of Erythrophleum Ivorense (Fabaceae) and Identification of some of its compounds by Ultra- Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF- MS/MS)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania transmitted by sandflies. High cost and lack of oral formulation of existing drugs, rapid developments of resistance by the parasite coupled with serious side effects require new treatments to augment or replace currently available therapies. The major merits of herbal medicine seem to demonstrate perceived efficacy, low incidence of serious adverse effects and low cost. Erythrophleum plants possess beneficial biological properties and, as such, characterization of the bioactive components of these plants is imperative. Previous work has shown an overwhelming presence of cassaine alkaloids in these plants. However, amongst these plants, the African based specie (Erythrophleum ivorense) is the least studied. Objective: In the current study, the in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of the crude extract, its fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated using direct counting assay of promastigotes of Leishmania donovani using amphotericin B as positive control. Materials and methods: The anti-leishmanial activity of E. ivorense extract was evaluated in vitro against the promastigote forms of Leishmania Donovani using a direct counting assay based on growth inhibition. Different crude extracts from ethyl acetate, pet-ether, and methanol as well as pure isolated compounds of E. ivorense: Erythroivorensin, Eriodictyol and Betulinic acid were screened. To know the possible components of the active methanolic extract, attempt was made to elucidate the extract using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). Results: This afforded a weak pet-ether fraction, a moderately active ethyl acetate fraction and a significantly active methanol fraction (IC50 = 2.97 μg/mL) compared to Amphotericin B (IC50 = 2.40±0.67μg/mL). The novel diterpene erythroivorensin, betulinic acid and the flavanone Eriodictyol, from the ethyl acetate fraction, showed weak activity. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was used to identify the cassaine diterpenoids from the active methanol fraction. Here, 10 compounds of this type were putatively identified from the ethanol crude extract. Conclusion: The fragmentation mechanism of these metabolites is also proposed and are expected to serve as reference template for identification of these and related compounds in future. The presence of these compounds is an indication that they are an inherited and evolutionary component of plants belonging to the Erythrophleum genus. Our results further present another dimension where these compounds and their relative abundances can be used as chemo- taxonomical bio-markers of the genus. The present study also successfully demonstrated/re- affirmed the use of UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS as a robust technique for the characterization of natural products.

Source: UCC