ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Stress and strain analysis of variant forces acting on animal drawn mouldboard plough using ansys

In the field of agriculture, an advanced application of technology has taken full force as large scale of farms are nowadays manned with tractors, cultivators, harvesters, and other farm equipment. However, due to the high cost of maintenance coupled with past failures of tractor mechanization schemes, farmers need reliable and low cost agricultural tools that may be hand driven or bullock driven for small scale farming in Northern Ghana. The object of this paper is to re-design an improved animal drawn plough to complement tractor services. Autodesk Inventor and ANSYS software were used for the design and analysis of the models. Material of high quality was selected for the proposed model and appropriate engineering design principles were adopted in designing it. The selected material (Low alloy steel, AISI 4140) was used for the new model and compared with the existing cast iron designs. The analytical comparison of the two models shows that, the low alloy steel (AISI 4140) made share and mouldboard exhibits favorable results. The percentage difference in terms of total deformations were found to be 40.8% and 40.64%, and the equivalent elastic strain of about 41.24% and 41.46% respectively in favour of the low alloy steel (AISI 4140) made share and mouldboard. The implication is that, the cast iron models will deform and reach the yield point faster than the low alloy steel models. The results of this study predict that the low alloy steel (AISI 4140) could be a suitable material for making farm implements such as mouldboard ploughs because the factor of safety of the low alloy steel (AISI 4140) made share is 1.4 and mouldboard is 1.8 however, the cast iron share has a factor of safety of 0.3 and the mouldboard having 0.4. The results of the developed model could be useful for the design and subsequent fabrication of new tillage tools adaptable to different types of soil, in terms of application.

Source: UEW
Stress coping strategies of 2012/2013 final year sandwich students of the department of basic education, University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana

The study sought to investigate the type of stress that 2012/2013 final year sandwich students of the Department of Basic Education, UEW, Ghana, experience most and the type of coping strategies they adopt in managing stress. Four hundred and fifty-three (453) final year students were purposively sampled for the study. However, four hundred and six (406) students were used for the analysis because they correctly filled and returned their questionnaire. The questionnaire used to collect the data for the study was adapted from Carver, Scheier and Weintraub (1989). The findings from the study revealed that 56.6% of the respondents mostly experience acute stress, 28.6% mostly experienced chronic stress while 14.8% mostly experienced episodic stress. The study also showed that restraint coping strategy (mean=4.07, standard deviation=0.95) was always used as a problem-focused coping strategy while positive reinterpretation and growth(mean=4.15, standard deviation=0.91) was always used as an emotion-focused coping strategy. It was found out that the students used more of problem-focused strategies (meam of means=3.53, standard deviation=1.03) in managing stress than emotion-focused strategies (mean of means=3.27, standard deviation=1.10). It is recommended among other things that the Counselling Unit of UEW, Ghana, in collaboration with the various faculties should organize regular seminars and workshops on Time Management and Stress Management for sandwich students in UEW. Again, the Sports Directorate of the University should formulate programmes on physical exercises and sporting activities that will benefit sandwich students in managing stress situations they go through while on campus.

Source: UEW
Stress management among student-teachers with orthopaedic impairments in colleges of education in the Eastern Region, Ghana

Globally, education policies and laws provide frameworks for a least restrictive education for all persons, including those with orthopaedic impairments. However, curriculum designers and implementers often lack an understanding of the stressors of these student and has occasioned insufficiencies in accommodations to ensure that these students attain their educational goals as much as practicable. The Study assessed the stressors that are experienced by student-teachers with orthopaedic impairments in colleges of education in Ghana. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and a phenomenological case study design. Data were generated using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling technique was used to identify the research sites while census sampling technique was used to determine the inclusion of the respondents. The techniques were employed to sample four (4) respondents from four (4) colleges in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Data generated were analysed qualitatively and thematically, and the results were presented in a descriptive form. Verbatim quotations were used to describe responses intermittently. It came out that the student-teachers with orthopaedic impairments encounter several forms of stressors. For instance, the students have financial burdens, labeling by regular students, and heavy course loads. Some of the sources of stress cited by the students include, but not limited to, execution of basic chores such as fetching water, participating in co-curricular activities, and the unfriendly nature of the colleges’ physical environment. Some of the effects of the stresses confronting student-teachers with orthopaedic impairments include frequent change in behavior, abnormal and antisocial lifestyles including mood swings and other health issues. Additionally, there is loss in concentration, and excessive use of drugs. Among the coping strategies adopted by the students to surmount their challenges include use of sleep and relaxation techniques, and time management techniques. The study recommended that management of Colleges of Education have to make frantic efforts in sourcing scholarship schemes and other financial aids for the students with orthopaedic impairments while making the college environment accessible for all students, ensuring a multiplicity of social activities, and making water and accessible to all areas of their campuses.

Source: UEW
Stress management practices among basic school teachers at Garu – Tempane district in the upper east region

The study investigated stress management practices among teachers at Garu-Tempane district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were to find out major causes of stress, coping strategies and measures to manage stress among teachers. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The accessible population was basic schools teachers. Purposive sampling technique was used to select six public schools. The teachers were purposively selected as sample for the study. A sample of 60 teachers was used for the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for collecting data. Coronach Alpha was used to analyzed the pilot test and reliability co-efficient of 0.72 was obtained. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages and the results were presented in tabular form. It was found out from the study that high number of students per teacher, frequent interruption on instructional hours, unattractive salary, lack of motivation and unfavourable working conditions were the major causes of stress among teachers. It was again revealed that good leadership style of head teachers, conducive working environment for teachers, provision of regular supervision, organisation of in- service training programmes for teachers were means by which teachers can cope with stress. It is therefore, recommended that head teachers should use appropriate leadership style to provide conducive working environment for teachers. The government should provide attractive motivation packages to teachers to relive teacher from stress in order to impact positively on pupils achievement.

Source: UEW
Structural and stylistic analysis of the birfor libation text.

This study looks at the structural and stylistics analysis of the B℩rfor libation text in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The study analyzed the structure, identified the stylistic features and outlined the occasions and some significance of the libation text. The study was descriptive with no quantification of numerals. The research approach used was ethnographic. The data collection strategies were through unstructured interviews, recordings, and participant observation. Qualitative method was used in the study. Purposive sampling was adapted in selecting the participants for the study. The study made use of primary data. The major findings are that Birfor libation text has structure and style. It also found out that the libation text is performed during specific occasions and gatherings. On the structure of libation performance, the performer presents the issue, invoke the gods by making a pledge and conclude the text. The structure of libation text takes three stages; invocation, explanation of the problem and supplication to the gods. The study confirms that B℩rfor also believe the hereafter hence perform libation for the dead before mourning especially the elderly. The data revealed that libation text has some aesthetic and stylistic features such as style, symbolism, repetition, apostrophe, ideophones, metaphor, synecdoche, euphemism, oxymoron, hyperbole, alliteration, assonance, rhetorical question, parallelism and compounding.

Source: UEW
The structure and style of the Dagbamba dirge

This thesis discusses the structure and style of Dagbamba dirges, (a Gur-language spoken in the northern part of Ghana). It examines the significance of these songs to the Dagbamba as part of their social events which seek to usher the dead into eternal life. The study outlines sample Dagbamba dirges (9 dirges in all), examines the logical divisions as well as some literary devices used in these dirges. The study shows that these devices play a vital role in the appreciation of these dirges, and that the most commonly used devices in these dirges include; repetition, proverbs, personifications, rhetorical questions, exaggeration /hyperboles among others. The study again tries to examine each dirge by the number of lines or stanzas in which it is written or sung. It discovers that the lines in these dirges range from ten (10) to twenty five (25) usually in one stanza with about five (5) to seven (7) words making up a line.

Source: UEW
The structure and style of the Ga libation text

This study was fundamentally conducted to find the structure and style of libation prayer text among the Ga. It further looked at the concept of libation and its significance among the Ga. Purposive sampling was used to select the Ga Mashie Community for the study. Qualitative research was adopted for the study. The researcher collected data through observation, interview and documentation. The sample population for the study was twenty (20): comprising ten (10) elders in the Ga Mashie Community and ten (10) Ga teachers from second cycle school. The result of the study indicates that the Ga perform libation on all occasions and gatherings. It also revealed that libation is performed by spiritual leaders, family heads and elders who are mostly men. Women are, however, allowed to perform libation on a few occasions. The study on the structure also indicates that the Ga invite the Supreme God and deities as well as ancestors in their libation prayers. In the libation prayers they narrate the purpose of gathering, make their requests and conclude by asking for blessings from the spiritual beings or cursing their enemies. The structure of the libation text is therefore invocation of divine beings and the ancestors, explanation for summons and supplication of divine beings. The study also highlights the fact that the Ga believe in life after death which is the reason behind their giving befitting burial to their deceased and their reason for inviting their ancestors in all their social gatherings. The study further reveals that the Ga libation prayer text has several stylistic features such as parallelisms, symbolisms, metaphors and idioms among others.

Source: UEW
The Structure of the Dagbani verb phrase

This thesis examines the structure of the Dagbani verb phrase, a Mabia language spoken in Northern Ghana within the framework of Functional Grammar (FG). The goals were to examine the various elements that occur within the Dagbani verb phrase and their roles. The data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected through unstructured interviews and focus group discussions while the secondary data were elicited from existing Dagbani literature. The study revealed that the pre-verbal particles are used to indicate future tense, negation, marking of habitual action, emphasis, condition, hypothetical and assertiveness in Dagbani. The pre-verbal ni and yɛn are used to mark the future. Also, negations are marked by ku (future-negative), bi (past negative) and di, while emphasis is marked by the pre-verbal particle jɛndi. The study also shows that yaha marks habitual whereas naan, shiri and yi mark hypothetical, assertiveness and conditional respectively. The thesis also looks at the post-verbal particles, it shows that, sa/ha and na function as a post-verbal particles performing various roles such as marking of deitic reference whereas hali marks emphatic. The study concludes with the interaction between pre-verbal and post-verbal particles.

Source: UEW
The structure, style and themes in Manya krobo work songs

This thesis examines structure, style and themes in Manya Krobo work songs. The structure, style and theme of work songs used among the people of Manya Krobo have not been investigated as done for other languages. The research discussed the aesthetic values of these work songs among the people of Manya Krobo. Primary data were used for the analysis. The data collection was done through recording and personal consultation through observation. The study has revealed various and varied embedded themes in the work songs that make reference to the history, religion, culture as well as the harmonies and tensions within the Manya Krobo society from which these songs were drawn. The research draws the attention of Manya Krobo people to the in-depth knowledge of work songs for them to appreciate and understand the aesthetic values embedded in their work songs. Finally, this work will add up to the few existing literature and serve as a source material to both students and teachers of not only the Manya Krobo people but also to the whole Dangme land.

Source: UEW
Student disciplinary challenges in Obuasi Secondary Technical School

The purpose of the study was to examine student’s disciplinary problems in the Obuasi Secondary Technical School. The main objectives were to explore the sources of disciplinary problems, the impact of disciplinary problems, and the coping strategies adopted by school management in managing disciplinary. The mixed method approach or the pragmatist paradigm was used while explanatory sequential mixed method design was used as a research design. The study population was 341 students and 50 administrators including teachers. The data were collected using the questionnaire and interview guide. The results were organised in simple descriptive tables. The data were organized into percentages and frequencies. The analysis adopted a thematic approach but included the presentation of verbatim quotes. The findings highlight that the most frequently selected response among students was students leaving campus without permission while teachers highlight insubordination to school authority and dress code violation, lateness/absenteeism among day students. There were many factors responsible as sources of disciplinary problems in the school. It was found that student disciplinary issues have several effects on teachers, students and school administration. Packing dining hall bowls, weeding or sweeping their classroom, internal suspension and external suspensions were employed as coping strategies to deal with student disciplinary challenges. Therefore, it was recommended that the GES should collaborate with other groups and institutions to strengthen the development of Guidance and Counselling Units in schools.

Source: UEW
Student nurses’ views on learning Ghanaian sign language at the College of Community Health Nursing, Winneba

This study explored the views of student nurses of College of Community Health Nursing students on learning Ghanaian sign language. The study was qualitative in approach and adopted the case study design. A sample of 22 students were chosen out of an accessible population of 60 second year diploma in community health students nurses’ who were currently studying sign language as a course at the time of the study. The study used interviews to illicit responses from students on their views on learning Ghanaian sign language as a course. The results revealed that student nurses’ had positive perception towards sign language. It also emerged that teaching and learning resources which aid the learning of sign language were inadequate hence students found that to be contributing to their difficulty in learning the course. Limited knowledge on deaf culture was also revealed to be a hindrance to the complete acceptance of sign language by the students. The study recommend that enough time should be allocated in the school curriculum for learning sign language. Appropriate teaching and learning resources should be provided by the school to facilitate effective teaching and learning of sign language.

Source: UEW
Students involvement in decision-making in St Joseph’s College of Education

Involving students in decision–making has been identified as management tool that ensures efficiency in school administration. One of the problems confronting authorities in Colleges of Education is how to involve students in making decisions that affect them. The purpose of the study was to find out the decision-making areas in which students take part and factors that impede students’ involvement in decision-making. Descriptive design was employed for the study. The target population comprised the students, and the principal of St Joseph’s College of Education. Stratified random sampling was used to select the students. Purposive sampling was used to select the Principal of the College. The sample size for the study was 84. This comprised 83 students and the Principal. The study employed the use of questionnaire and interview guide. Cronbach Alpha was used for the pre-test and the alpha coefficient obtained was .83. The study revealed that most of the structures that could promote students’ involvement in decision-making had not been instituted. The study established that fear of victimization and intimidation impeded student’s participation. It was recommended that college authorities should not intimidate and victimize students when they express their views. The study recommends frequent organization of open forum and provision of suggestion box in the school to enable student speak their minds on problems confronting them.

Source: UEW
Students' perceptions and continuous intention to use elearning systems: The case of google classroom

Higher institutions are steadily advancing in facilitating teaching and learning on e-learning systems. Google Classroom is a very popular e-learning system that is been adopted by many African universities. Yet, compared to others, relevant studies with regards to Google Classroom is inadequate. This quantitative survey paper examines the predictors of continuous intention to use Google Classroom. Responses from 749 students in three Ghanaian universities were analyzed using both descriptive and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling techniques. From the findings, Attitude towards Use mediated the impact of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use on Continuous Intention to Use Google Classroom. Computer literacy courses for adult learners as well as enhanced usability features for visually impaired users has been recommended to relevant stakeholders. � 2020, Kassel University Press GmbH.

Source: UEW
Students' preference for online course in Iran and Ghana: A conjoint analysis

There is now intense competition among tertiary education providers due to proliferation of private and public universities offering online and offline courses. The role of marketing is becoming more important among universities as competition in the environment is getting more intense. One main approach that can facilitate the universities marketing activities is understanding what determines students' online course preference. This study aims at examining the factors that influence student's preference for online education. The purpose of this research is two fold: to investigate the number of attributes that are important for a student in opting for pursuing online course and to help universities marketing effort and the understanding of what determines a student's preference for online education. Conjoint analysis was used to investigate the number of attributes in prospective students in Ghana and Iran. The results indicate that the four most important determinants of preference for online course were course suitability, quality of teaching, quality of the course and library services which are important for education strategist to consider when developing and rolling out marketing campaigns and programmes. Keywords: Online education; Course selection; Conjoint analysis

Source: UEW
Students-run initiatives and sustainable development an analysis of the communication factor

This study investigated the communication that goes into in three students-run initiatives in Ghana. The students-run initiatives that were understudied were Khays Foundation, Organisation for Inclusion and Empowerment and For the Future Ghana. Underpinned by the social capital theory and the four-flow model of organisational communication, the study employed a qualitative multi-case study using interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis to assess the nature of the three students-run initiatives in Ghana. The study also examined the direction of communication within the three students-run organisations and examined the communication-based resource mobilisation strategies adopted by the three studentsrun initiatives. The study found that the students-run initiatives were by nature extracurricular, non-governmental, volunteer-driven and operate from the bottom-up. The study revealed four communication patterns employed the three students-run initiatives. These were downward, upward, horizontal, and diagonal patterns of organisational communication. Notably, social media marketing, interpersonal communication, and grant sourcing emerged as the key communication strategies for resource mobilisation adopted by the three students-run initiatives understudy for embarking on sustainable development projects at community level. The study concludes that the students-run initiatives exhibit both horizontal and vertical forms of philanthropy and achieve sustainability by relying on local assets and resources for sustainable development.

Source: UEW