ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of Cognitive Modelling on Impulsive Behaviour Among Primary School Children

Restlessness has been associated with childhood developmental behaviour. Some children outlive this behaviour while in others, it persist and becomes a problem that prevents them from fulfilling their potentials. If such developmental behaviours are identified early they can be modified, otherwise they develop into serious disorders. Impulsive behaviour is a pervasive characteristic of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), which is known to interfere with successful learning. The present study assessed a cognitive modelling procedure for modifying impulsivity among children. Fifty-four pupils aged between nine and thirteen years were assigned to treatment and control groups. The treatment group received training in cognitive modelling with reflective thinking practices, and the control group was given a placebo in reading comprehension in English. Results revealed superiority in response-time and accuracy (to the Matching Familiar Figures Test- 20) of the treatment group over the control group. This result subsisted at one month follow-up measures. It is suggested that the school in collaboration with educational psychologists should establish remedial programmes in which reflective procedures could be employed to nurture impulsive children to approach cognitive tasks reflectively.

Source: UCC
Effect of compensation on employee job performance: the case of Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College-Berekum

The study was conducted to assess the effect of compensation on employee performance after controlling for the effect of perceived external equity. It was conducted in Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Explanatory research design was adopted in this study with much reliance on quantitative research approach. The study adopted census as the sampling techniques since the population size was relatively smaller (84 permanent staff) and highly accessible. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. The primary data were collected through self-administration. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was configured with the SPSS Process Macro Package for the primary data processing. Statistical technique such as multiple regression, Perason product moment correlation, independent sample t-test (parametric techniques) and descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were used to ascertain the findings relating to the specific objectives and hypothesis. The analysis data revealed that, there is a moderate positive correlation between compensation and employee performance. However, perceived external equity failed to mediate the predictive relationship between compensation and employee performance. Based on the findings it was recommended to management to pay more attention to their performance-based pay, staff involvement in compensation setting and salary audits to promote efficient employee performance.

Source: UCC
Effect of Compensation on Employee Retention at Ghana Education Service [GES] in Cape Coast Metropolis

The study examined the effect of compensation on employee retention at Ghana Education Service [GES] in Cape Coast Metropolis. An explanatory research design was employed due to the non-interventional causal nature of the study. The study employed the quantitative research approach based on the nature of the study purpose under consideration. The targeted population included 106 permanent employees of the GES. Sample size of 84 workers were surveyed through structured questionnaire administration. Stratified sampling method was used for the selection of the respondents. Pearson product-moment correlation, multiple regression and independent samples t test were conducted in respect of the specific research objectives. It was discovered that there are statistically significant positive strong linear correlations between the components of employee compensation and retention among workers in GES in Cape Coast Metropolis. Compensation accounts for a statistically substantial positive variance in employee retention at GES in Cape Coast Metropolis. Only benefits administration is a significant positive predictor of employee retention. There is no statistically significant difference in compensation satisfaction and employee retention for male staff and female staff in GES in Cape Coast Metropolis. Junior staff has higher level of retention significantly than that of senior staff in the GES in Cape Coast Metropolis. It is recommended that the Ghana Education Service must continue the usage of the current compensation system if they are to improve the level of employee retention.

Source: UCC
Effect of Compost and Biochar on Soil Fertility and Cabbage Yield.

ABSTRACT Soil fertility decline remains the major biophysical constraint to low crop productivity on farmlands. Even though inorganic fertilizers play significant role in increasing crop production, they are not a sustainable solution in maintaining high crop yields as it gradually deteriorates soil physico-chemical properties which subsequently reduce crop yield. Both pot and field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of combined application of compost and biochar on soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, nutrient use and efficiency, total organic carbon, bulk density, field capacity, hydraulic conductivity as well as the yield of cabbage (test crop). A completely randomised design and randomised complete block design were used for pot and field experiments respectively with 3 cabbage varieties for the pot and 2 cabbage varieties for the field. Total microbial count in log/cfu was determined using the total plate count. Five treatments were evaluated, sole biochar (B), sole compost (C), compost + biochar (CB), NPK fertilizer (NPK) and control (no application). There was no significant difference among the treatments in all the soil parameters measured for pot experiment except the pH for NPK which was lower (5.83) compared to B (6.58), C (6.47) and CB (6.51). In the field experiment, B and CB increased total organic carbon (1.21% and 1.54% respectively). The C and CB increased the crop yield, soil total N and soil available P concentrations. Application B also increased soil microbial population. A combination of compost and biochar can therefore be used as a soil amendment to increase yield and improve soil physico-chemical properties under field conditions.

Source: UCC
Effect of compost as soil amendment on growth, yield and quality of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Organic nutrient sources such as compost could be used to improve the low fertility of tropical soils as it has the potential to enhance soil physical, chemical and biological properties and improve growth, yield and quality of crops. Pot and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of compost on growth, yield and nutritional quality of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. The pot experiment was done using the Completely.Randomized design while field trial was done in Split-Plot Design (SPD). In all the pot and field experiments, compost was incorporated at rates of 0 kg N ha-1 (control), 100 kg N ha-1 and 200 kg N ha-1 with three replicates. Asontem and Enidaso okra varieties were used as test crops. Results from the study indicated that the addition of compost at 100 kg N ha-1 in the pot experiment showed significantly greater plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, dry matter content and nutrient content in stem, leaf, petiole and root of harvested okra plants. The results for field work showed that the Enidaso variety responded better to compost application in that this variety recorded the highest plant height, had less incidence of okra mosaic disease and had higher dry matter. Using the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT), no significant difference was found between compost application rates of 100 kg N ha-1 and 200 kg N ha-1 in terms of soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen,available phosphorus, pH, ECEC, moisture content, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents. Proximate analysis for moisture and protein contents as well as nutrients (magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sodium) composition of edible pods of okra was also not significant. For economic reasons, an application rate of 100 kg N ha-1 was recommended.

Source: UCC
The effect of composting substrates on the growth, yield and nutrient content of the oyster mushroom, pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) kummer

The effect of composting substrates prepared from four agricultural wastes: corn cob, oil palm fruit fibre, rice husk and sawdust on growth, yield and nutrient content of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kumer was investigated. One set of the substrates was decomposed and the other set was not. The mother spawn, obtained from oyster mushroom fruit body tissues and spores from two sources and a spawn from a third source, cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar medium grew best at 30 °C and in total darkness. Sorghum grains gave the best growth as a multiplication medium. Spawns grew best on decomposed substrates than on undecomposed substrates. Decomposed substrates gave higher yield than the undecomposed substrates. Oil palm fruit fibre produced the highest yield, followed by corn cob, sawdust and rice husks in that order. The decomposed substrates contained higher levels of nutrients than the undecomposed substrates. The types of substrate also determined the level of nutrients in the mature oyster mushroom. Thus, fat and protein levels were highest in mature fruit bodies obtained from oil palm fruit fibre while total carbohydrates were highest in fruit bodies obtained from rice husk. Insoluble lignin breakdown in all four agricultural wastes by Pleurotus ostreatus was highest in rice husks, 67.01 78.78 %; followed by sawdust, 39.70 50.93 %; oil palm fruit fibre, 30.85 35.11 %; and lowest in corn cob, 11.32 22.32 % while breakdown of soluble lignin remained generally the same for all the four substrates (0.0757 0.0780 mg/g). Use of agricultural wastes as substrates for oyster mushroom production can solve the problem of malnutrition and pollution of the environment.

Source: UCC
Effect of Computer Assisted Instruction on the Achievement of Basic School Students in Pre-Technical Skills

The study compared the effects of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) on the achievement of Junior High School (J.H.S) students in Pre-Technical skills after exposing them to CAI and the traditional methods of instruction. The theoretical framework for the study is that people learn most things better through construction of computer games or multimedia composition rather than through traditional methods of directly teaching content. The study involved 59 students from two schools in Kumasi Metropolis. Twenty eight of the students formed the CAI group while 31formed the traditional group. Quasi-experimental design was used for the study. Structured pre-test and post-test achievement test with a reliability coefficient 􀄮 = 0.74 and 0.75 respectively were used to collect data. The data was analyzed using Predictive Analysis Software (PASW) version 18. The study revealed that the CAI group performed better than the traditional method of instruction group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the achievements levels of the two groups. It was recommended that CAI should be introduced in the teaching of Pre-Technical skills throughout the country.

Source: UCC
Effect of Computer Self-efficacy on Readiness in Teaching With Information and Communication Technology Among College Tutors in the Central Region

The study assessed the effects of self-efficacy, age, gender and computer experience on readiness to use information and communication technology in teaching among college tutors in the Central Region. The explanatory research design is employed. Using proportionate random sampling methods, 80 college tutors participated in the study. Descriptive statistical tools, such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation; and inferential statistics, such as the Pearson product-moment correlation and regression analysis were used to analyse the research objectives. Results revealed that ICT self-efficacy has a statistically significant positive effect on readiness to use ICT in teaching. Also, it was found that age has a statistically significant positive effect on readiness to use ICT in teaching. Further, a statistically significant positive effect of gender on readiness to use ICT in teaching is reported. Finally, computer experience is found to have a statistically significant positive effect on readiness of college tutors to use ICT in teaching. The study concluded that college of education tutors’ readiness to use ICT in teaching will improve if their self-efficacy in ICT is improved. It is, thus, recommended that leadership of colleges of education in the Central Region hire the services of ICT experts to educate their tutors on ICT integration into education.

Source: UCC
The effect of computer-based instruction on learning of law of contract in Asutifi district senior school.

Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) is now considered the technological phenomenon to revolutionize education and training. Today, the Internet and computer technology are reported to have significantly altered the education landscape by way of enhancing students' learning and academic performance. The study examined the effect of Computer-Based Instruction on learning Law of Contract, in the Asutifi District Senior High Schools. The study involved 80 students, 40 students each from two schools and targeted only form two Business Management students. The method used for the study was a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design, which consisted of two groups, namely the Experimental Group (Students who use the CBI) and Control Groups (Students who were taught through the traditional method of instruction). The researcher used statistical package for social Science (SPSS) to analyse the data. The key finding was that the use of software approach in the teaching of the Law of Contract enhanced the achievement of students to a greater extent than it did with the use of traditional methods of instruction. The main conclusion reached was that; there was a significant difference in post-test mean scores in favour of students in the Experimental group. It was recommended that there is a need to introduce CBI in the teaching of Business Management throughout the country and that this should be used for other subjects as well.

Source: UCC
Effect of Conflict Management Strategies on Organisational Performance: A Case of Cocoa Processing Company in Accra

This study was conducted to determine the influence of conflict management on the performance of Cocoa Processing Company, Accra. The specific objectives sought out to assess the level of organisational performance; to examine negotiation conflict management strategy on organisation performance; to determine the effect of mediation conflict management strategy on organisation performance and to; examine arbitration conflict management strategy on organisational performance at the Cocoa Processing Company in Accra. The study employed the quantitative approach and explanatory research design due to its research objectives. The researcher adopted the census sampling technique for the selection of the respondents from the sampling frame for a total of 120 employees. Descriptive and regression analysis were conducted on the data collected by SPSS version 26. However, data obtained from 115 respondents representing a 95.8 percent response rate were reliable and thus used for the study. The study found that, performance of Cocoa Processing Company, Accra, is deemed to be high. As such, they have handled issues relating to conflicts within the organisation well, thereby, resulting in increased in the overall performance of the organisation. Also, there existed a significant and strong positive relationship between negotiation, mediation and arbitrary conflict management strategies on organisational performance. To address these outcomes, the study recommended that, management of the organisation should encourage the use of negotiation, mediation and arbitration as forms of conflict management strategy. The intervening party must maintain a neutral attitude to avoid exacerbating the problem.

Source: UCC
Effect of cooking methods and ripening stages on the nutritional compositions of plantain (musa paradisiaca)

The effect of stage of ripening and cooking methods (boiling, roasting and frying) on the nutritional compositions of plantain (Musa spp.) were studied. Plantain fruits (Musa spp.) at the unripe (deep green), semi-ripe (yellow green) and fully ripe (deep yellow) stages of ripeness were analyzed for proximate, total sugar and mineral compositions, after boiling, roasting and frying alongside the uncooked (raw) fruits as control. Proximate and mineral compositions of the plantain flours were determined by standard AOAC methods. Total sugar contents of the plantain flours were determined using the volumetric method (Lane-Eynon method) described by Pearson’s compositions and analysis of foods. Result showed that ash, protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrate and total sugar contents ranged from 6.04% to 22.70%, 1.54% to 4.52%, 3.25% to 4.83%, 0.07% to 16.02%, 1.26% to 5.57% and 57.12% to 86.27%, 4.06% to 14.14% respectively. The mineral contents were 17.07 to 28.44 mg/100g, 4.92 to 9.36 mg/100g, 364.80 to 487.55 mg/100g, 0.10% to 0.39% and 0.16% to 0.42% for iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and calcium respectively. On the whole, the result showed that roasting and boiling of semi- ripened and unripened plantain best conserved its nutrients

Source: UCC
Effect Of Corn Cob Biochar And Irrigation on Maize Production in a Maize Cowpea Intercrop

Biochar has the potential of improving soil properties to increase crop yield and also to sequester carbon to mitigate climate change, however, very few farmers in Ghana are aware of the potential use of biochar and supplementary irrigation in crop production. A field study was carried out at University of Cape Coast to evaluate the effect of corn cob biochar amended soil with or without irrigation on the growth and yield of maize. A split plot design was used for the study. There were 12 treatments and were replicated four times with irrigation as the main plot and biochar as the sub plot. Three irrigation regimes (no irrigation, deficit irrigation and full irrigation) and four biochar application rates (0 t ha-1, 10 t ha-1, 20 t ha-1 and 20 t ha-1 + 60 kg P) were assessed for their effect on earliness to maturity (number of days to tasseling, silking and physiological maturity), barrenness, yield and nutrient composition of maize grain and stover. Biochar amended soil and irrigation levels increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter, and number of nodes compared to plants on plots without irrigation but amended with the same levels of biochar. Biochar amended plots without irrigation produced maize with increased percentage barrenness, number of days to tasseling, silking and physiological maturity compared to plants on similar plots with deficit and full irrigation. Highest grain yield of 8.81 t ha-1was obtained on plots treated with full irrigation and 20 t ha-1 + 60 kg P. The canopy of the maize hinders the amount of sunlight to reach the cowpea to produce dry matter through photosynthesis. Biochar work best in maize production under supplementary irrigation.

Source: UCC
Effect of corporate culture on organizational performance of star-rated hotels in Ghana

Although studies on the relationship between corporate culture and organisational performance abound in other jurisdictions, the focus has been on the composite effect of corporate culture on performance, with little attention given to the predictive value of the corporate culture types on organisational performance. Using the four major corporate culture types (clan, hierarchy, market, and adhocracy) on both financial and non-financial performance of star-rated hotels in Ghana, the study hypothesized that each corporate culture type will exert a positive effect on both financial and non-financial performance. Out of a population of 640 star-rated hotels, 248 hotels were involved in the study, using the multi-stage sampling technique. Questionnaires were administered to managers of the selected hotels. In all, a total of 178 responses were retrieved and analyzed using descriptive statistics (such as mean and standard deviation) and partial least squares in structural equation modeling. Findings of the study indicate that market culture was the most prominent predictor of profitability, return on investment, growth in profit, and sales volume, although it recorded a weak effect size. Adhocracy and hierarchy cultures were also the most prominent in predicting trust, improving supplier relations, improving service quality delivery, and customer retention. The study recommends, for the promotion of market, hierarchy and adhocracy corporate cultures in order to improve both financial and non-financial organisational performance of star-rated hotels in Ghana

Source: UCC
Effect of Corporate Governance on Environmental Sustainability in the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector in Ghana

The study was conducted to examine the effect of corporate governance on environmental sustainability in the upstream oil and gas sector in Ghana. The target population included those in top management, senior staff and technical staff. The research utilized the explanatory research design with quantitative inquire to approach the study. The study sampled and surveyed 133 employees from five selected upstream oil and gas companies in Ghana through structured questionnaire administration. The finding of the study revealed that the state of effectiveness of the implementation of corporate governance systems as measured by corporate structure, corporate strategy and corporate social responsibility is generally very effective at the selected upstream oil and gas companies. Also, the results of the study revealed that changes in the components of corporate governance measured as corporate structure and corporate strategy collectively accounts for a statistically significant positive substantial improvement in environmental sustainability whereas corporate social responsibility accounted for a statistically significant positive moderate improvement in environmental sustainability in the upstream oil and gas sector in Ghana. It was therefore recommended that management of these selected upstream oil and gas companies (Kosmos energy, ENI, Aker energy, Tullow oil and Springfield) must continue to implement corporate governance that are modelled around the corporate governance programmes contextualized in the estimated model if they are to keep on improving the level of environmental sustainability of their companies.

Source: UCC