ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Reflective collaborative practices: What is the teachers’ thinking? A Ghana case

With advances in using the teachers’ classroom as the foreground for teacher improvement, reflective and collaborative activities provide teachers with a positive attitude towards questioning their teaching in a variety of professional development contexts. This study therefore explores how teachers within one school develop their thinking about their practices, if given an opportunity to engage in a planned series of critical dialogues relating to their own classroom teachings. Using a case study approach, four mathe matics teachers purposely and through theoretical sampling techniques were selected in a school in Ghana for the study. The field research included interviews and reflective dialogue. Key issues identified include the opportunities to systematically and rigorously diagnose their practices leading to the development of different reflective scales when reflecting. The process was found to be a tool for supporting teachers to critically think which is underpinned by social, political and cultural issues as a process to analyze com peting claims and viewpoints. Recommendations for policy and potential areas for further research were also made. Keywords: Reflective Collaborative Practices; Junior High School; Reflective Scales

Source: UEW
Reflexivity in Dagaare

The focus of this thesis has been to examine the morphology and syntax of reflexive pronouns in Dagaare, a Mabia language spoken in the Upper West Region of Ghana and some parts of Burkina Faso. Regarding the morphology of the reflexives, I showed the reflexives are complex items since they comprise of two different morphemes, which are the personal pronoun and a reflexive morpheme -meŋɛ. This observation made me to conclude that the reflexives are bimorphemic in Dagaare since it has two different morphemes in the morphological composition. In addition, I demonstrated that the reflexive morpheme does not mark for number in the language. On syntax, I showed that the reflexives are bound to a preceding noun, termed as antecedent in generative syntax. Thus, the number, and person features of a reflexive pronoun is dependent on that of the antecedent. I analyzed the syntactic features within the theoretical framework of the Government and Binding Theory proposed by (Chomsky 1981), and concluded that Dagaare reflexives are required to be in the same clause as in the theoretical assumptions of the Binding Principle A. Data for the study were drawn from four different sources including: natural text, elicitations, recording of speeches, as well as native speaker intuitions as a native speaker of Dagaare. I also attempt to discuss the distribution of pronouns and emphatic reflexives (intensifiers) and compare that with reflexive pronouns.

Source: UEW
Reforming local government through the national public sector reform strategy (NPSRS) 2018-2023 An analysis of the impact of digitalisation on selected district assemblies in Ghana

This study investigated the extent to which the digitalisation component of the NPSRS (2018-2023) reform has impacted local service delivery and social accountability mechanisms in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Techiman North District Assembly and the Nabdam District Assembly. Through the lens of the Technology-Organisation-Environment Theory, the study adopted the case study design within the qualitative research approach to explore the research problem. Both purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to draw 27 informants across the three districts. The main research instrument used was semi-structured interviews. Three major findings came out of the study: First, all the assemblies have attained some minimal level of digitalisation in terms of technology, human resources and organisational processes. Second, digitalisation has had more positive impact on the internal operations of the assemblies than on local service delivery and social accountability mechanisms. Despite some strides made, the reform has not been effective at transforming the quality of local service delivery and social accountability mechanisms in the DAs. Third, digitalisation has had a disproportionate impact on the operations of the DAs. The Excessively poor technological, organisational and environmental context of the Nabdam DA impeded the Assembly’s ability to implement more digitalised programmes. The study identified some challenges that endanger the ability of MMDAs to digitalise. These include financial constraints, IT personnel deficits, low patronage of digitalised programmes, poor digital infrastructure and the extremely poor local contexts within which some of the DAs operate. The study recommends that increasing financial support to the assemblies; improving digital infrastructure; augmenting the ICT human resource capacities of the MMDAs, and intensifying education among residents of the ongoing programme would go a long way to ensuring programme success.

Source: UEW
Related services avalable for pupils with special educational needs in the reguler classroom

The purpose of the study was to investigate the availability of related services for pupils with special educational needs in regular schools Akatsi District. The design was a survey and the study used interviews and document as methods of data collection. The sample size was twenty five (25) comprising twenty (20) pupils with special educational needs in the regular schools and five (5) parents of special needs children. The findings were: there were inadequate essential services for pupils with special educational needs in the Akatsi district. As a result, such pupils were handled like “normal” pupils. Lack of funds, traveling long distances to access related services and negative attitude on the part of service providers were other challenges affecting pupils with special educational needs. It was recommended that, teachers in regular classrooms must be equipped with the necessary skills and attitudes to manage pupils with special educational needs. Related services are crucial for the overall development of the special needs child hence the need for its provision in all districts in the country. Finally, parents of children with special needs must be re-oriented and supported for effective provision of related services.

Source: UEW
The relationship among factors in motivation for joining the military, matched expectations to reality, and retention

The military is an integral part of any nation’s peace and security, as well as international development. To ensure that military personnel are adequately equipped, nations invest multiple resources into the training and retention of military personnel. Situating this study on Herzberg’s Two Factor theory, the study set out to examine if motivation to join the military matched expectations to reality, which in turn was associated with the decision to stay in the military or to leave after training. A quantitative approach and descriptive correlational design used. Sampling was purposive and convenient, involving 400 military personnel. Principal Components Analysis was used to extract factors for motivation, matched expectation, and retention. The instrument assessing motivation loaded on six factors; that of matched expectation to reality loaded on five factors, and that of retention loaded on two factors. A correlational analysis to determine the association among the factors demonstrated strong positive correlation. The results indicated that what motivated participants to enter the military varied including financial, family, desire to protect the country, and attraction for the uniform. Specifically, when participants discovered that their expectations, for example, about financial security, matched reality, they had the tendency to stay; they left if the expectations were not met. It was recommended that counselling for the military take a multi-faceted approach to include providing as much of in-service training concerning the reality of military life. Another recommendation consisted of guiding personnel on career paths while in service and options after retirement.

Source: UEW
Relationship among grieving, spirituality, religious commitment, and post-traumatic growth in widowhood

This study examined the relationship between grief and post-traumatic growth (PTG), as well as the moderating effects of spirituality, religious commitment, and trauma on this relationship. The PTG domains of life appreciation, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual development, and interpersonal relationships, as well as the PTG total score, were evaluated. 450 widows were selected from the North, Central, and South Tongu Districts of the Volta Region of Ghana. Data was collected using the PTGI Inventory, the Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI-10), the Brief Grief Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Checklist (PCL-5). A Correlation Matrix and descriptive statistics were used for interconstruct correlation among latent variables. A Structural Equation Model was performed for each hypothesis based on independent and dependent variables. A path analysis was conducted for the effects of the variables. Grief and PTG were positively related. Positively, spirituality moderated the relationship between grief and PTG. However, religious commitment and trauma moderated the relationship between grief and PTG in a negative manner. This study contributes to the understanding of how spiritual and religious factors influence the grieving process and subsequent growth in widowed individuals. The findings can inform interventions and support strategies for this vulnerable population. It was suggested, among other things, that traditional widowhood administrators should also be schooled on the positive aspects of the widowhood practise that bring about a positive development in women

Source: UEW
The relationship among perceived social support, compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout among clergy in the Central Region of Ghana

Clergy are individuals ordained for religious duties in the Christian church. They are generally the first point of call for church members who encounter both suffering and joy. Because they experience the gamut of happenings in people’s lives, they face both the pain and joys of stories they hear. This study was undertaken to understand the relationship among perceived social support, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress among clergy in the central region of Ghana. Grounded on the realism ontological position and objectivist epistemological underpinning, this study used the quantitative research approach and correlational design to understand the relationship among the variables. The Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (shortened version), the Professional Quality of Life Scale, and a demographic questionnaire were the three instruments used in gaining information from the participating clergy (n = 103; mean age = 44.64 years, SD = 8.45). Most participants (n = 88) were married, classified as Pentecostals (n = 69), and had some level of post-secondary education (n = 94). Majority of the clergy reported high perceived social support (85.4%), compassion satisfaction (90.3%), low burnout (68.9%) and a little over half with high secondary traumatic stress (50.5%). Compassion satisfaction had a strong negative relationship with burnout, a little positive relationship with secondary traumatic stress and some positive relationship with perceived social support. While the sample size was small, the study indicated that counselling psychologists could provide strategies that enhance increased social support among clergy as it could reduce burnout.

Source: UEW
Relationship between classroom environment and academic performance among public senior high school students in the Bekwai Municipality

The study investigated the relationship between classroom environment and students’ academic performance among senior high school students in the Bekwai Municipality. The study adopted the descriptive research design. Proportionate and convenient sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 317 students. In the data collection process, questionnaire was employed where means and standard deviation, and Pearson product moment correlation were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study indicated that the standard of classroom environments of public senior high schools in the Bekwai Municipality were quite high. The study also revealed high level of academic performance among senior high school students in the Bekwai Municipality. The study further revealed that the nature of classroom environment in the various public senior high schools in the Bekwai Municipality has positive relationship on academic performance of students. It was recommended that school authorities and GES in the Bekwai Municipality should continue to put classrooms into better shapes in order to create conducive environment that stimulate effective learning since classroom environment has positive relationship with students’ academic performance.

Source: UEW
Relationship between continuous professional development and job performance of headteachers of basic schools in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality

The study examined the relationship between continuous professional development (CPD) and job-related performance among headteachers of public basic schools in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality. The study was guided by four (4) objectives which were transformed into three research questions and one hypothesis. The descriptive survey design, specifically, the cross-sectional design, with a quantitative approach was employed in conducting the study. The study focused on headteachers in public basic schools within the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality, numbering 56. The census method was used to engage all the 56 headteachers in the study. Standardised questionnaires were administered to the 56 headteachers. The data collected were analysed using means and standard deviations, Pearson Correlation and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study discovered both positive and negative relationships between CPD and job-related performance. The study further revealed that among the three dimensions of job-related performance, respondents were low on tasks performance and counterproductive behaviours. Respondents were however, high on contextual performance. It was concluded that headteachers are more likely to perform excellently on their respective jobs when they are offered efficient trainings in their respective areas. Educational stakeholders in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality are therefore encouraged to regularly organise continuous professional training programmes for headteachers in their respective areas to enhance their jobrelated performances.

Source: UEW
Relationship between corporal punishment and academic performance of students in Ga North basic school

The study sought to explain the relationship between corporal punishment and academic performance in Ga North municipality. The study adopted descriptive survey questionnaire design. The population of the study was estimated at 1,876 consisted of all the adolescent pupils and teachers in the Ga North Municipality. A sample size of 450 were selected from the population using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. A self-designed questionnaire was used for the data collection. The content validity of the instrument was ascertained through expert-validation. A test re-test employed to explore the internal consistency of the instrument yielded a chronbach’s alpha reliability co-efficient of 0.75. Data collected were analysed using, pie-chart, bar graph, frequency and percentage. The findings of the study showed that, teachers in the municipality believe corporal punishment increase academic performance of students. The finding revealed a positive relationship between corporal punishment and academic performance in Ga North municipality. It was also found out that, corporal punishment distorts the relationship between teacher and students as well as teachers and parents in Ga North municipality. The study recommended the use of positive behavioural support and providing teachers and school administrators with a lot of resource necessary to develop safe and effective method of encourage good learning behaviour amongst students. The study further suggested that, funds must be provided to teachers who implement free corporal punishment so that they will be effectively trained to create safe learning environment.

Source: UEW
The relationship between corporate governance and financial performance of listed banks in Ghana

This study was to assess the relationship between corporate governance and firm performance of banks in Ghana. It provides insight into the research questions; What is the relationship between board size and financial performance of banks, the relationship between board gender diversity and financial performance of banks in Ghana and the relationship between board composition and financial performance of banks in Ghana. This research was conducted using a causal research design and a quantitative research methodology. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select a sample of nine (9) listed commercial banks for the study. Financial statement of the listed banks from 2010-2020 was used for data analysis. Four variables were employed in this study with financial performance as the dependent variable and board size, board structure and board gender diversity as independent variables. A panel regression model was utilized to answer the various research questions. The findings indicates that there is a positive significant relationship between board size and financial performance and also having a board with a balanced gender composition positively influences the profitability of banks. The findings also revealed that there is a positive significant connection between board composition and the financial performance of banks. The study recommends that financial institutions should consciously evaluate and, if necessary, optimize their board size to increase effectiveness and efficiency. The study also recommends that financial institutions should actively prioritize and promote gender diversity and also diversified their board by incorporating non-executive directors which will contribute to a more wellrounded and innovative decision-making process within the board.

Source: UEW
Relationship Between COVID-19 Related Knowledge and Anxiety Among University Students: Exploring the Moderating Roles of School Climate and Coping Strategies

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in abrupt disruptions in teaching and learning activities in higher education, with students from diverse programs suffering varying levels of anxieties. The physical education field happens to be one of the most affected academic areas due to its experiential content as a medium of instruction. In this study, we investigated the roles of school climate and coping strategies in the relationship between COVID-19 related knowledge and anxiety. Through the census approach, a cross-sectional sample of 760 students was administered a questionnaire in two universities offering Physical Education in Ghana: the University of Education, Winneba, and University of Cape Coast. The outcome of the study found a positive and significant link between COVID-19 knowledge and anxiety. Further, school climate and coping strategies significantly moderated the relationship between students� COVID-19 knowledge and associated anxiety. The findings have implications for creating a conducive school environment that reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection and through students� adoption of active coping strategies in an attempt to reduce psychological distress associated with COVID-19 anxiety. Copyright � 2022 Quansah, Hagan, Ankomah, Srem-Sai, Frimpong, Sambah and Schack.

Source: UEW
Relationship between former Liberian refugees and the host community in Buduburam after the end of humanitarian assistance

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between former Liberian Refugees in Buduburam camp and the host community during and after humanitarian aid by exploring their lived experiences, challenges and coping strategies. The study adopted a qualitative research approach through a case study design. A total of 12 refugees were purposively selected in the study. Data was collected through interviews and observation and the analysis of the data was done through thematic analysis. The findings reveal that the former Liberian refugees’ relationship with the host community during the aid era was cordial but turned sour after the assistance to the refugees ceased. The study discovered that the former Liberian refugees are faced with challenges ranging from financial difficulties, discrimination, to malnutrition and denial of social services. The former Liberian refugees strive to survive by doing menial jobs, receiving support from social networks and by having faith and relying on God. The former Liberian refugees have hope of things taking a positive turn someday. The findings show that in order to have a cordial relationship between the former Liberian refugees and the host community there should be cooperation to attain common goals and the introduction of livelihood support programs. It is recommended that government should take immediate action to address the issues surrounding the former Liberian refugees' identity documents, employment opportunities, and housing settlement.

Source: UEW
Relationship between heads leadership styles and teacher effectiveness in senior high schools at Bantama Sub Metro in the Kumasi Metropolis

The study investigated relationship between heads leadership styles and teacher effectiveness in senior high schools at Bantama sub metro in the Kumasi metropolis. The objectives of the study were to find out the effectiveness of teachers of senior high schools, identify the leadership style mostly used by heads and to establish relationship between leadership styles of heads and teacher effectiveness. Two research questions and one hypothesis were formulated to direct the study. Descriptive survey design was employed for the study. The study involved only teachers and the sample size was 94 respondents. Purposive sampling was used to select the teachers. Questionnaire was used to gather data. The pre-test yielded reliability coefficient of 0.78. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, means and standard deviations, percentages and frequencies and Pearson Product -Moment Correlation Coefficient. Findings revealed that heads mostly used transformational leadership style in managing teachers. Statistically significant, positive and strong relationship was found to exist between heads leadership styles and teacher effectiveness. It was recommended that heads should reinforce the use of transformational leadership style in the schools. It was again recommended that heads should advocate for sustaining the use of appropriate leadership styles depending on the situation.

Source: UEW