ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effects of clay mineralogy and physico-chemical properties on potassium availability under soil aquic conditions

Aquic conditions performed for paddy cultivation may cause many nutritional problems. Clay mineralogical composition plays an important role in this relation by affecting many physico-chemical and biological characteristics of soils. Three forms of K including unavailable, slowly available and readily available K, exist in equilibrium in the soil system. Relationships between soil potassium forms with the clay mineralogical suite and physico-chemical properties were determined in 33 soil samples collected from five from paddy soils, two from kiwi fruit and one from citrus land pedons in the North of Iran. Mineralogical analyses showed that smectite, illite and vermiculite were the most abundant clay minerals in the studied soils. Mean soluble and exchangeable potassium in paddy soils were rather low compared to non-paddy soils due to potassium fertilization in non-paddy soils. Non-exchangeable potassium in the samples containing smectite as dominant clay mineral was lower than the samples dominated by vermiculite, hydroxy-interlayer vermiculite (HIV) and illite. Inability of the studied soils for potassium fixation was related to prevailed montmorillonitic type of smectite, which its layer charge originates from octahedral sheet. Significant correlations (0.56**, 0.54**, 0.56**) were obtained between exchangeable potassium and clay content, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity respectively. Therefore, taking into account both exchangeable and non-exchangeable K beside clay mineralogy and physico-chemical properties gives better indications for K potential and soil-quality management, compared to exchangeable form of K alone

Source: UCC
The effects of climatic variables and crop area on maize yield and variability in Ghana

Climate change tends to have negative effects on crop yield through its influence on crop production. Understanding the relationship between climatic variables and crop area on the mean and variance of crop yield will facilitate development of appropriate policies to cope with climate change. This paper examines the effects of climatic variables and crop area on the mean and variance of maize yield in Ghana. The Just and Pope stochastic production function using the Cobb-Douglas functional form was employed. The results show that average maize yield is positively related to crop area and negatively related to rainfall and temperature. Furthermore, increase in crop area and temperature will enlarge maize yield variability while rainfall increase will decrease the variability in maize yield

Source: UCC
Effects of Combining Inquiry-Based Real Hands-On and Computer Simulation Methods with Cooperative Learning on Students’ Learning Outcomes in Electric Circuits

This study was premised on the fact that combining inquiry-based real hands-on and computer simulation methods with cooperative learning has the potential of improving students’ learning outcomes. In this study, 110 senior high school Form 2 students from two schools who participated were put into heterogeneous-ability and friendship cooperative learning groupings. Each group was taught electric circuits with the combination of inquiry-based real hands-on and computer simulation methods. The aim was to compare the two groups in terms of their scientific reasoning, conceptual understanding and changes in conception. In addition, within each group, the hypothetical-deductive and empirical-inductive The results showed among other things that students in the heterogeneous-ability group outperformed their counterparts in the friendship group in conceptual understanding of electric circuits but not in scientific reasoning. It also showed that heterogeneous-ability group outperformed their counterparts in the friendship group in scientific reasoning and conceptual understanding. The results further showed that many more students in the heterogeneous-ability group changed their recommended that senior high school teachers should employ the combination of inquiry-based real hands-on laboratory and computer simulation methods with heterogeneous-ability cooperative learning grouping when teaching to promote scientific reasoning, conceptual understanding and conceptual change in electric circuits.

Source: UCC
Effects of community-based forest management project on women's livelihood: A case study of Rudeya forest management project in the Asunafo district of Brong Ahafo region, Ghana

Ghana’s forest resources base is shrinking at such an alarming rate. It has been estimated that about a third of Ghana’s forest have disappeared in 17 years between 1955 and 1972 whilst the average annual rate of deforestation since the turn of the century has been estimated at 750 sq. km. Forest resources constitute the source of livelihood for about 70% of Ghanaians and the loss of forest resources at such rate has a great effect on the livelihoods of these people most of which are women. The main aim or objective of this work is to examine the perceived impact on women’s livelihood of the RUDEYA’s Community-Based Forest Protection and Management Project in the Asunafo District of Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. To achieve this, a wide range of literature was reviewed on sustainable forest management in general and collaborative forest management in particular. Moreover, a fieldwork was undertaken which involved interviews and administration of questionnaires among the beneficiaries and other stakeholders of RUDEYA’s collaborative forest management project in about 25 forest communities in the Asunafo-North district. Questionnaires were used to collect all relevant data which were analyzed to support this study. The key findings of this study are that collaborative and community-based programs are needed to ensure sustainable forest management in Ghana. The research revealed that RUDEYA‘s community-based forest management project has improved women’s livelihoods and made a major positive contribution to sustainable forest management in the Goaso forest districts. In view of the findings, it is recommended, among other things, that sustainable community-based forest management projects be intensified for forest community people.

Source: UCC
Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Performance of Senior High School Biology Students in Ghana

This study investigated the comparative efficiency of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and conventional teaching method in biology on senior high school students. A science class was selected in each of two randomly selected schools. The pretest-posttest non equivalent quasi experimental design was used. The students in the experimental group learned science concepts (cell cycle) through the CAI, whereas the students in the control group were taught the same concepts by the conventional approach. The conventional approach consisted of lecture, discussions and question and answer teaching methods. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to analyze students’ pretest and posttests scores. The results indicated that students that were instructed by the conventional approach performed better on the posttest than those instructed by the CAI. However, the performance of low achievers within the experimental group improved after they were instructed by the CAI. Even though the CAI group did not perform better than the conventional approach group, the students in the CAI group perceived CAI to be interesting when they were interviewed.

Source: UCC
The effects of computer-assisted instruction on the academic achievement of senior high school students in plane geometry in the West Akim Municipality

The study sought to find out the effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction on the academic achievement of Senior High School (SHS) students in Plane Geometry in the West Akim Municipality. It specifically investigated whether Computer-Assisted Instruction has any effect on gender as far as the academic achievement of students is concerned. The quasi experimental group design (or the non-equivalent group design) was employed as the research design. Students from two comparable classrooms from two distant Senior High Schools were purposefully selected as the control and experimental groups respectively for the study. The sample consisted of one hundred and seven (107) first year Agricultural Science students with 21 females and 86 males. The control group was fifty (50) while the experimental group was fifty-seven (57). A paper and pencil test, based on the Plane Geometry 1 syllabus of the Senior High School (SHS), was used as the main instrument for the study. The instrument was pilot tested at a different Senior High School and had a reliability coefficient of 0.89. The SPSS software was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. The study showed that: 1. There is a significant difference between the academic achievement of SHS students who are exposed to Computer-Assisted Instruction and those who are not, in the study of Plane Geometry. 2. There is no significant difference between academic achievement of female and male SHS students exposed to Computer-Assisted Instruction and those not exposed to it in the study of Plane Geometry.

Source: UCC
Effects of Concept Cartoons and Conceptual Change Texts on Senior High School Students’ Understanding of Photosynthesis

This study aimed at exploring the effects of concept cartoons and conceptual change texts instructional approaches on Senior High School Students’ understanding of concepts related to photosynthesis. Using the embedded mixed methods research design, a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 113 Form 3 students from three schools in the Jomoro and Ellembele educational districts to participate in the study. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test, Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data gained on students’ achievements in concepts related to photosynthesis with Photosynthesis Achievement Test and a semi-structured interview as instruments. The results showed that prior to implementing the interventions, the students’ in the groups were at par. There were significant gains in knowledge after the interventions for both control and experimental groups. Furthermore, the gap between low and high achievers could not be bridged for those taught with concept cartoons and conceptual change texts. Students’ initial misconceptions about the concepts related to photosynthesis were changed. The study further revealed that students had positive views about the utility of concept cartoons and conceptual change texts in teaching and learning photosynthesis at the Senior High School level. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that concept cartoons and conceptual change texts teaching approaches should be employed in teaching difficult Biology concepts in the Senior High Schools Biology Curriculum.

Source: UCC
Effects of corn cob biochar on the physical, chemical And biological properties of a haplic acrisol, Ghana

In this study, the effect of corn cob biochar on the soil physico-chemical and biological properties were investigated on a highly weathered tropical sandy loam. The study comprised four treatments with four replicates established in a randomized complete block design. Biochar was applied in two batches; com cob biochar was first incorporated at rates of 10 t ha-1 (BC-I 0), 20 t ha-1 (BC-20), and 20 t ha-1 + triple super phosphate (BC-20+P) to study its effects on aggregate characteristics, water retention, gas transport and pore structure characteristics. Minimally disturbed soil samples from each of the 16 plots were sampled from the plots treated with the first batch of biochar at a depth of 0-20 cm. Metal core samplers were used for intact soil sampling. Incorporation of biochar decreased the tensile strength of the large aggregates (4-8 mm and 8-16 mm), but increased same in the smaller aggregates (1-2 mm). Soil friability and workability were significantly improved in the BC-20 and BC-20+P treatments. Soil water retention was measured within a pF range of 1 to 6.8. Application of 20 t ha-1 led to significant increase in soil water retention. The second batch had 50% of the first batch added to the respective initial biochar treatments. Thus, the total biochar application rates were 15 t ha•I (BC-I 5), 30 t ha·1 (BC-30), and 30 t ha·1 + triple super phosphate (BC-3o+P). Soil samples were randomly collected from 20 different spots of the plots treated with the second batch of biochar at 0 to 20 cm depth and the bulked soil samples from each treatment were analyzed. Biochar amendment resulted in a significant increase in the carbon lability index in the labile c pools. The carbon and nitrogen pool indices, as well as carbon and nitrogen management indices were increased with biochar amendment, especially in the BC-30 and BC-30+P treated plots. Incorporation of biochar at 30 t ha-1 had significant effects on soil microbial community composition diversity and total PLFA. Dehydrogenase and urease enzyme activities increased with the increase of biochar application rate. In perspective, incorporation of biochar improved the soil physical, chemical and biological quality of the soil. This was manifested in the enhanced generic soil quality index calculated based on the integration of all the measured properties in the soils treated with the second batch of biochar application.

Source: UCC
Effects of Corn Cob Biochar on the Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of a Haplic Acrisol, Ghana

In this study, the effect of com cob biochar on the soil physico-chemical and biological properties were investigated on a highly weathered tropical sandy loam. The study comprised four treatments with four replicates established in a randomized complete block design. Biochar was applied in two batches; com cob biochar was first incorporated at rates of 10 t ha’1 (BC-10), 20 t ha'1 (BC-20), and 20 t ha'1 + triple super phosphate (BC-20+P) to study its effects on aggregate characteristics, water retention, gas transport and pore structure characteristics. Minimally disturbed soil samples from each of the 16 plots were sampled from the plots treated with the first batch of biochar at a depth of 0-20 cm. Metal core samplers were used for intact soil sampling. Incorporation of biochar decreased the tensile strength of the large aggregates (4—8 mm and 8-16 mm), but increased same in the smaller aggregates (1-2 mm). Soil friability and workability were significantly improved in the BC-20 and BC-20+P treatments. Soil water retention was measured within a pF range of 1 to 6.8. Application of 20 t ha’1 led to significant increase in soil water retention. The second batch had 50% of the first batch added to the respective initial biochar treatments. Thus, the total biochar application rates were 15 t ha'1 (BC-15), 30 t ha-1 (BC-30), and 30 t ha-1 + triple super phosphate (BC- 30+P). Soil samples were randomly collected from 20 different spots of the plots treated with the second batch of biochar at 0 to 20 cm depth and the bulked soil samples from each treatment were analyzed. Biochar amendment resulted in a significant increase in the carbon lability index in the labile C pools. The carbon and nitrogen pool indices, as well as carbon and nitrogen management indices were increased with biochar amendment, especially in the BC-30 and BC-30+P treated plots. Incorporation of biochar at 30 t ha'1 had significant effects on soil microbial community composition, diversity and total PLFA. Dehydrogenase and urease enzyme activities increased with the increase of biochar application rate. In perspective, incorporation of biochar improved the soil physical, chemical and biological quality of the soil. This was manifested in the enhanced generic soil quality index calculated based on the integration of all the measured properties in the soils treated with the second batch of biochar application.

Source: UCC
Effects of corporate governance on financial performance of small and medium scale enterprises in the Accra metropolis, Ghana

Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) are well known to be efficient and prolific job creators and they make substantial contributions to developing economies. This study set out to examine the effects of corporate governance on financial performance of SMEs in the Accra Metropolis of Ghana. A quantitative research approach using simple random sampling procedure was employed to select the sample from each of the eleven sub-metropolises. A total of 500 owners/managers of SMEs were surveyed using a questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationships. The study also employed Baron and Kenny’s (1986) mediation approach to establish the mediating effects of access to capital and firm reputation on the nexus between corporate governance and financial performance. The results of the study revealed that, corporate governance variables, except intensity of board activity, had positive and significant effects on financial performance and these relationships were mediated by access to capital and/or firm’s reputation. It was recommended that SMEs’ owner-managers should improve their corporate governance practices to enhance the credibility and access to capital of these firms which would subsequently lead to better financial performance. They should also improve their stakeholder relations since this turn to boost the reputation of their firms and ease access to external sources of financing.

Source: UCC
Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Telecommunication Firms’ Reputation in the Hohoe Municipality

ABSTRACT The study sought to examine the effects of corporate social responsibility on corporate reputation of telecommunication firms in the Hohoe municipality. The specific objectives sought to; assess the effects of economic responsibilities on corporate reputation, legal responsibility on corporate reputation, ethical responsibilities on corporate reputation and philanthropic responsibilities on corporate reputation. The study was guided by explanatory research design, based on quantitative methods with a questionnaire as its key data gathering instrument. Data gathered was analysed using SPSS version 20. Primary data were collected from 108 staff of the telecommunication firms in the Hohoe Municipality. The main finding of the study revealed that, there was a positive link between economic responsibilities and corporate reputation, the vital role legal responsibilities play in corporate reputation and also, telecommunication firms the adhered to the legal requirements of their communities and the country as whole are more inclined towards enhancing their corporate image. With reference to the findings, it was recommended that the managers of telecommunication firms should improve their CSR activities to enhance the corporate reputation. Moreover, the managers in these firms should note that, in order to enhance their business’ reputation, paying attention to their economic, legal ethical and philanthropic responsibilities should be key objectives to be achieved.

Source: UCC
The Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Responses to Mtn Ghana and Vodafone Ghana Products: A Study on Selected Consumers in the Tema Metropolis

Corporate Social Responsibility is viewed by different companies with different lenses. While some companies see the fulfillment of their social responsibility obligation as an investment, others on the contrary see corporate social responsibility as expenditure. This study sought to find out how consumers in the Tema metropolis respond to corporate social responsibility activities of two mobile telecommunication companies. The experimental design was used where respondents were put into two groups of experimental group and control group using the random sampling procedure. The T-test and regression were used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicated that consumers react positively to companies that fulfill their social responsibility obligation by making decisions to buy the companies’ product, identifying themselves with the companies and also rate the image of the companies high. Consumers in the experimental group and the control group expect companies to be socially responsible. With reference to the findings the study drew the following implications that are useful to managers. First, managers should go beyond the conventional marketing mix by including their identities and reputation and the goodwill associated with being a good corporate citizen into their marketing activities. Also, CSR is an effective marketing tool so companies should take the necessary steps to communicate their CSR initiatives to consumers.

Source: UCC
Effects of cultural diversity on employee relationships and performance in multinational companies in Western region, Ghana

Employees in Ghanaian organisations now work with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Even companies who decide to recruit exclusively Ghanaian work force will still have to contend with the same interpersonal cross cultural challenges that confront multinational organisations. This is because within the national culture are sub cultures that significantly affect the behaviours of Ghanaians. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to examine the effects of cultural diversity on interpersonal relationship of employees, and hence the performance of such organisations. The study adopted a cross sectional design and used questionnaire to collect data from 121 randomly selected respondents in twenty multicultural organisations in the Western region of Ghana. It was realized from the study that all Ghanaian organisations were culturally diversified. Culture, especially intra- cultural diversity in organisation, plays no important role in the nature of interpersonal relationships in a multicultural organisation when choosing work mates but the opposite is true when choosing work mates as friends. The issue of interpersonal communication was the major cause of conflict in multicultural organisations in Ghana.It is therefore recommended that multicultural organisations should educate their staff on variations in non verbal communication. Foreign workers should also be given an intensive orientation on the cultural background of Ghanaians and the meaning they attach to certain gestures.

Source: UCC
Effects of cultural practices on marital satisfaction among natinga married women in the bawku west district of the upper east region of ghana

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of cultural practices on marital satisfaction among Natinga married women in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach for the study and used a descriptive phenomenological research design for the study. The researcher used purposive sampling technique to get the sample size. The researcher used an interview guide for the collection of the data and a thematic approach was used for the analysis of the data. The findings of the study indicated that majority of the married women in Natinga are not satisfied with their marriage due to bad cultural practices in the community. It was recommended that chiefs, opinion leaders and the government should have a consultative discussion and try and amend the cultural practices in Natinga to enhance marital satisfaction of the women. Finally, it was also recommended that men should be educated on marital issues in order to prevent the abuse of women.

Source: UCC