ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Improving student nurses' practical/clinical skills through preceptorship in the Bawku Presbyterian Nurses training college

The main objective of this study was to use preceptorship to improve the practical performance of student nurses in Presbyterian Nurses Training College, Bawku, which would bring about improvement in the quality of nursing care. Sixty student nurses were selected through purposive and random sampling from the final year class of the College for the study. The data collection instruments used were the questionnaire and rating scale used by the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana for student nurses assessment. The study was an action research so the instruments were used in both the pre-intervention and post-intervention phases. The students were made to carry out demonstrations in the wards where they were rated and the pre-intervention questionnaire administered. After this they were supervised by six preceptors and later rated and the post-intervention questionnaire also administered and analysed to find out the extent to which the intervention had helped to improve the performance of student nurses in the college. The duration of the study was two academic terms. It was realised from the results that preceptorship had positive impact on the performance of student nurses as most of the post-intervention results were better than the pre-intervention results. From the results of the study, the researcher recommends that there should be a preceptor model instituted in the Bawku Presbyterian Nurses Training College to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the clinical area which could lead to improvement in standard of nursing care to meet contemporary times of modern Ghana.

Source: UCC
Improving student participation in school administration in the Navrongo secondary school through Participatory decision - making

The study was an action research to help improve student participation in school administration in Navrongo Secondary School in the Upper East Region of Ghana, A sample of 109 students, consisting of 3 students from each class, provided data for the study. The instrument used to collect data for both the pre-intervention and post-intervention stages of the study was a questionnaire. The pre-intervention was meant to determine the real nature of the problem envisaged as it existed between students and administration. The data results were analysed by taking a frequency count of similar responses. The data were then categorized and expressed in percentages. The pre-intervention data suggested that. some of the prefects did not know their roles as leaders. Thereafter the activities of the prefects were monitored for three months. Data were again collected and analysed to find out the extent to which the intervention had helped to change the perceptions and attitudes of prefects towards their duties. It was found out that the orientation, accompanied by a constant reminder of the prefects about their duties would help make them live up to the task. The study therefore recommended that orientation programmes should be organized for newly elected prefects to equip them with leadership skills. The Guidance and Counselling co-ordination should also constantly prompt prefects about their roles

Source: UCC
Improving student participation in school administration in the Navrongo Secondary School through participatory decision - making

The study was an action research to help improve student participation in school administration in Navrongo Secondary School in the Upper East Region of Ghana, A sample of 109 students, consisting of 3 students from each class, provided data for the study . The instrument used to collect data for both the pre-intervention and post-intervention stages of the study was a questionnaire. The pre-intenention "as meant to determine the real nature of the problem envisaged as it existed between students and administration. The data results were analysed by taking a frequency count of similar responses. The data were then categorized and expressed in percentages. The pre-intervention data suggested that. some of the prefects did not know their roles as leaders. Thereafter the activities of the prefects were monitored for three months. Data were again collected and analysed to find out the extent to which the intervention had helped to change the perceptions and attitudes of prefects towards their duties. It was found out that the orientation, accompanied by a constant reminder of the prefects about their duties would help make them live up to the task. The study therefore recommended that orientation programmes should be organized for newly elected prefects to equip them with leadership skills. The Guidance and Counselling co-ordination should also constantly prompt prefects about the roles.

Source: UCC
Improving Students’ Performance in Naming and Writing Structural Formulae of Hydrocarbons Using the Ball-and-Stick Models

Learning chemical concepts at the submicroscopic and symbolic levels has been identified as a difficult task for science students. Studies have shown that IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds, which is at the symbolic level of learning chemical concepts, is a difficult concept when it comes to students’ learning. The current study involved a pre-service teacher and 60 high school students and investigated how students could improve upon their performance in naming and writing of structural formulae of hydrocarbons with the aid of ball-and-stick models. The pre-service teacher and the students were purposively selected to participate in the study. After seven weeks of teaching and learning of IUPAC naming and writing of structural formulae of hydrocarbons where the students physically manipulated the models, it was found that the students’ performance and attitude improved after the intervention. It is therefore recommended that science educators should continuously use already existing and newly developed models in teaching chemical concepts to help students to actively conceptualise such concepts at the symbolic level.

Source: UCC
Improving study habits of final year students in nursing schools in the Bolgatanga municipality

The purpose of this study was to find some of the causes of poor study habits among final year students of the 3 health training institutions in the Bolgatanga Municipality.The target population for the study comprised of all final year students of the health training institutions of the Bolgatanga Municipality totaling 240. The sample size was made up of 42 males and 18 females numbering sixty (60).The research design for the study was the descriptive sampling survey and theinstrument used for the collection of data was the questionnaire. Analysis of data was done using the simple percentage description, means, frequencies and the Ttest.Some of the results revealed that:-The female students in both schools generally have difficulty in concentrating fully on their studies. Students of the Nurses Training Colleges have well structured procedures for studying. Some of the recommendations made were that, a quiet and comfortable study environment should be provided by the school authorities in the Nursing Schools. It is again recommended that televisions and loud music should not be entertained in certain areas including hostels of students, during studies time.It was recommended again that formation of groups, comprising 3 to 6 students with similar goals and objectives should be adopted in the Nursing Schools and among the students, since an effective study group is an important tool to students’ academic success.

Source: UCC
Improving teacher performance in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality

Supervision reports from Tarkwa-Nsuaem Education Directorate showed that pupils in basic schools in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality were not sufficiently numerate, literate, nor able to solve problems that children at their grade levels were expected to solve due to unsatisfactory performance of teachers. The situation had resulted from lack of facilities for teaching and learning, inadequate staff motivation, ineffective supervision, lack of stakeholder support and co-operation, and poor attitudes of teachers among others. The research was therefore an attempt to identify the causes and solutions of the phenomenon. The basic assumption was that a solution to the challenges would also motivate teachers to be more productive, and pupils would then do better academically. The intervention included workshops, professional and material support for teachers, motivation for teachers, and deliberations at durbars and meetings. Percentages were used to analyze the research data. The population for the study was 25,260 for which purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 345 respondents in 15 schools. The main instruments used for the study were questionnaire, observation and interview checklist. At the end of the intervention, Headteachers’ monitoring of class teaching improved from 20% to 46.7%, and teachers’ output rose from 33.3% to 49%. Teachers’ use of child- centred method increased from 53.3% to 93.3% to allow pupils to participate in teaching and learning. Stakeholder support also improved. The general conclusion was that performance was relatively higher.

Source: UCC
Improving the management of council for scientific and industrial research institutes: The role of directors

The Management of Agricultural research organisations at all levels is in most cases in the hands of veteran agricultural research workers who have risen through the ranks. They are then made responsible for managerial activities in an extremely complex field, for which they have had little or no training. Administrative understanding is usually incidental and rarely present. This study focused on managerial challenges faced by directors of CSIR institutes and how they can be assisted to achieve managerial improvement. The study covered 22 Directors made up of 11 Directors and 11 Deputy Directors. Eighteen out of the 22 responded to the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Software and the results were summarized and presented as indicated in chapter four. The study revealed that the major challenge faced by directors in managing the institute is managing the human resource. The results also showed that directors require training in human resource management and financial management. Also the majority of Directors agreed to the urgent need for regular training in management skills for institute directors. The study therefore recommends that the management of the CSIR should organize management training courses to equip directors with human resources and financial management skills.

Source: UCC
Improving the performance of teachers through clinical supervision at Perry Hayford Junior Secodary School at Takoradi

This study is an effort to improve teacher performance by employing the clinical supervision concept to reverse lackluster teacher performance in the school of study. The purposes of the study were to determine; if the instructional practices of the teachers' changed; if the teachers cultivated the habits of responding positively to supervision and if teacher confidence level rose over the five months study period. The research methods used to answer questions were both qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative methods utilized were: interviews, pre and post classroom observation and teacher conferences. The quantitative components were the pre and post appraisal of teacher performance and the analysis of the scores. As a situation-solving study an action research was adopted. There was a sample size of 141(35.96%) respondents comprising the headteacher, 10 teachers and ] 30 pupils, out of the 381 pupils in the school. The results indicated some changes in teacher instructional practices/techniques, significant improvement in teacher willingness to instructional supervision and staff collaboration, and maximum use of instructional time. The study also made the following recommendations. Improving inservice training with much emphasis on content and methodology, and establishing a working environment characterized by colleagueship, trust and professional discourse in schools. It has also recommended the introduction of clinical supervision in the teacher training programmes as well as the introduction of teacher appraisal by pupils. For further research, the study recommended for a study into how reflective practice can enhance teacher-self critique and improvement.

Source: UCC
Improving the quality of locally produced vegetable oils in Ghana using zeolite zsm-11

The local vegetable oils (Coconut and Palm Kernel Oils) are usually faced with short shelf-life which has been associated with the presence of some unwanted materials present in them. This study explores the potential of using locally manufactures Zeolites in removing these impurities to improve the shelf life of these oils. The Zeolite used in this study was synthesized using locally available raw materials such as bauxite and kaolin through the hydrothermal process X-ray diffraction studies of the synthesized Zeolite were found to be part of the ZSM-11 Zeolite type group. FTIR analysis of the sample showed a weak vibrational peak at 1642c -1and a strong band at 987cm-1. Batch process for the removal of these unwanted materials was performed. Percentage reduction of 85.71%, 89.22%, 89.36% and 83.81% was recorded for impurities, moisture content, free fatty acid and peroxide value reduction in Palm Kernel Oil and 85.71%, 83.33%, 93.26%, 90.57% for Coconut Oil.Kinetic studies showed the process favored the Pseudo-first order with R 2 of 0.956 and 0.971 for Coconut and Palm Kernel Oil respectively for impurities The plot of (t / qe) vs.t exhibits a very high linearity and can be concluded that the adsorption rate of the moisture content, impurities, FFA and peroxide value is dependent on the adsorbate used and contact time. The final oils had very good physicochemical parameters with improved qualities. It can be concluded that the synthesized Zeolite was effective for the refining of locally produced Coconut and Palm Kernel Oils and can be accessed for commercial applications

Source: UCC
Improving The Teaching And Learning Of Organic Chemistry In Senior High Schools

The study focused on improving teaching and learning organic chemistry in senior high schools (SHS), through design-based research (DBR) using both qualitative and quantitative methods. This DBR approach comprised preliminary research, design and development, implementation and assessment, and reflection and documentation phases. In the preliminary research phase, an organic chemistry diagnostic test was developed to explore students‘ conceptual understanding of organic chemistry. Nine chemistry teachers and 276 SHS 3 students were sampled through purposive and simple random sampling procedures respectively to participate in the preliminary phase. Subsequently, 14 students and the 9 teachers were interviewed regarding barriers and opportunities in teaching and learning organic chemistry. At the design and development phase, theory-based organic chemistry instructional plan (TB-OCIP) was developed and validated by two experts and through iterative cycles. TB-OCIP was implemented in an intact SHS 2 class of 22 students. Data were collected using questionnaire, pre- and post-tests, group interviews, and exit cards in this phase of this DBR. The quantitative data were analysed with percentages, means, standard deviation, and Wilcoxon signed ranked test. The qualitative data were thematically analysed. TB-OCIP significantly improved students' conceptual understanding of organic chemistry. Therefore, Ghana Education Service through SHS administrators, should organise professional development programmes for teachers to effectively use TB-OCIP in teaching chemistry concepts.

Source: UCC
Improving water tariff payment in rural and peri-urban communities connected to urban water systems in northern Ghana

In Ghana, despite the implementation of pro-poor models to make potable water affordable to small towns and rural communities, there are still cases of extension of urban water services at cost recovery-based tariff conditions to such communities. This defeats the aims of improving affordability and accessibility to safe water to low-income communities. The main objective of this study was to explore stakeholder roles in the improvement of water tariff payment in rural and peri-urban communities connected to urban water systems in northern Ghana. A sample of 386 households was selected from the Northern and Upper East Regions, and the concurrent triangulation design adopted for the study. It was revealed that no differentiated tariffs were set for rural and peri-urban communities connected to the urban water systems for the purpose of improving tariff payment. The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission regulates water tariffs and there was no authentic participation of rural and peri-urban communities in the tariff determination process. However, Ghana Water Company Ltd. collaborates with Community Water Committees basically to improve tariff collection. Logistic regression test results also indicated that tariff level, service quality and income were significant predictors of willingness to pay for water. However, generally, urban respondents were more willing to pay for water than rural and peri-urban respondents were. This study concluded that subsidisation of tariffs and poverty reduction schemes for women could improve water tariff payment in rural and peri-urban communities connected urban water systems.

Source: UCC
Improving weed management in the draft animal‐based production of early pearl millet in the Gambia

Production of the early varieties of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum.) is increasing because of their earliness and drought tolerance in the face of a shortening and decreasing rainy season. Weeds were considered as a major constraint on improving yields. To improve weed management in millet, the major weeds have been identified in on-farm surveys as a pre-requisite to identifying appropriate weed control recommendations. Grain yield losses incurred by farmers' weeding practices were found to range from 27 to 36%. Early control of weeds within-the-rows, either by handhoeing or by band application of low rates of atrazine or propazine, increased yields by more than 50% in 1985 and by more than 30% in 1986 over farmers' practice. The band herbicide treatment was, however, more cost-effective and easier-to-accomplish than handweeding of weeds within-the-rows

Source: UCC
Improvisation in Costume Design: The Production of Androcles and the Lion

Costuming a period play such as George Bernard Shaw’s Androcles and the Lion is associated with diverse challenges of which identifying and employing materials needed to build similar costumes for use is a major challenge to the costumier. The purpose of the paper was, therefore, to identify ‘non – conventional’ materials which were to be used to build costumes for the play, Androcles and the Lion, written in 1912, set in ancient Roman civilization but staged on a contemporary Ghanaian stage. The play was written with both Greek and Roman characters. Library resources, archives, the internet as well as data from interviews conducted, constituted primary and secondary data on the kind of costumes used during the ancient Greek and the Roman civilization and the materials that they were made of. Based on the data collected, other alternative materials found in Ghana were used to improvise the Greek and the Roman costumes for the performance of Androcles and the Lion on a contemporary Ghanaian stage

Source: UCC
Impure Infinitism and the evil demon argument

The central thesis of this paper is that the modus ponens reductio argument does not clearly favour impure versions of infinitism. The nub of the modus ponens reduction argument is as follows: an infinite series of justified reasons by itself is vulnerable to the modus ponens reduction in the sense that one can construct an infinite chain of reasons supporting both an affirmative and denial of proposition, say p. The problem here is that, as Aikin urges, pure versions of infinitism do not possess the requisite resource to eliminate one of these chains of infinite reasons. The upshot is that pure versions of infinitism are not able to differentiate between an infinite series that is truth conducive and the ones that are not. Accordingly, Aikin promotes an impure infinitism over pure infinitism because, as he opines, impure infinitism has the requisite resources to eliminate one of the infinite chains of justified reasons and rids itself of the threat of the modus ponens reductio. In the following discussion, I submit that although Aikin seems quite successful in this venture, his version of impure infinitism faces a similar setback, in the form of the new evil demon problem, which is equally fatal to it as that which the modus ponens reductio wrecks on pure versions of infinitism

Source: UCC
In a world of their own’: memory and identity in the fishing songs of a migrant Ewe community in Ghana

The musical traditions of the southern Ewe of Ghana; particularly the Anlo, have been subject to a substantial amount of research. Existing research has focused on Anlo musical traditions as practiced in its original context. Comparably little is known about these musical traditions as performed by Anlo migrants living and working among a linguistically and culturally different ethnic group. Furthermore, fishing songs of the Anlo, even at home, have escaped most academic research. In this article, I address both shortcomings by focusing on Anlo fishing songs as performed by a migrant Anlo community living among the Fante in Cape Coast. Employing a variety of qualitative research techniques such as in-depth interviews, participant observation and a two- way inter-subjectivity, I explore the extent to which these fishing songs serve purposes beyond their perceived role of accompanying and easing work. Specifically, I examine how the fishing songs of the migrant Ewe community provide a solid basis for negotiating individual and collective memories and identities

Source: UCC
In Search of Universal Health Coverage – Highlighting the Accessibility of Health Care to Students with Disabilities in Ghana: A Qualitative Study

Background: Accessibility of health care to students with disabilities is a global concern. This is no less important in Ghana, however, to date, no study has been undertaken regarding access to health care to students with disabilities. This study, therefore, aims to explore the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities, in the quest of achieving universal health coverage in Ghana. Methods: Qualitative methods, involving in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from 54 participants (29 students with disabilities, 17 health workers and 8 school mothers), selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The study identified three themes – accessibility, adequacy, and affordability. The study findings highlighted that universal health coverage for students with disabilities has not been achieved due to barriers in accessing health care. The barriers faced by students with disabilities were unfriendly physical environments, structures, equipment, limited support services and poor health insurance policy to finance health care. Conclusion: The study concludes that the government should prioritize disability-related issues in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. The current provisions and requirements in the disability act should be prioritized, enforced and monitored to ensure adequate inclusion of disability issues in health services. Further, the current exemption policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme should be revised to adequately address the needs of people with disabilities.

Source: UCC