ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Basic School Teachers’ Utilization of Instructional Time in the Teaching and Learning of Science

This study investigated upper primary school teachers ‘utilization of instructional time during the teaching and learning of integrated science. Teachers’ expectations of science lesson delivery and their actual practices in the classroom and their difficulties in teaching integrated science were also investigated. A multi-site case study approach was adopted for this study and the participants were purposively selected. Data were collected from primary four, five and six classrooms in two basic schools in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana using a classroom observation checklist and teachers’ interview schedule. Six teachers were interviewed and 18 classroom lesson observations were made. The results indicated that teachers apportioned instructional time for reading, discussion, brainstorming, practical activities and demonstration. However, teachers’ expectations of their lessons were contrary to their actual classroom practices. Out of the 18 lessons observed, it was only in four lessons that teachers’ were seen using the right teaching and learning materials. Also, factors such as interruptions within and outside the classrooms, unavailability of learning materials, large class sizes, extracurricular activities and the nature of classrooms for science lessons were some of the difficulties integrated science teachers’ had in managing classroom instructional time. It was recommended that the Inspectorate Division of the Ghana Education Service should be adequately resourced to provide effective monitoring and supervision of instruction in schools to ensure effective teaching and learning of integrated science.

Source: UCC
Basic school teacher’ classroom testing practices in the greater accra region

The purpose of this study was to investigate basic school teachers‟ testing practice within the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Mixed methods approach using the descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of 382 teachers was used for the study selected via stratified random sampling from a population of junior high school teachers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Data were collected using questionnaire and interview guide. Quantitative data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data on the other hand were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that in the construction of achievement test, the teachers determined the purpose of a test before constructing test items, related the instructional objectives of the subject matter to the test and selected the test format suitable for testing stated objectives. The study also found that in test administration, the teachers often made them aware of when the test will be given, the rules and regulations governing the conduct of the test and the format of the test and ensured that sitting arrangement allowed enough space to prevent malpractices. Regarding the scoring of essay tests, the study revealed that majority of the teachers used the analytic method in scoring essay tests, constantly followed the marking scheme and scored essay tests only when they were physically sound and mentally alert. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teacher training institutions make testing and measurement courses compulsory while at the same time regional education offices organise intermittent testing workshops for teachers to improve their testing practices.

Source: UCC
Bayesian logistic regression modelling via markov chain monte carlo algorithm

This paper introduces Bayesian analysis and demonstrates its application to parameter estimation of the logistic regression via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. The Bayesian logistic regression estimation is compared with the classical logistic regression. Both the classical logistic regression and the Bayesian logistic regression suggest that higher per capita income is associated with free trade of countries. The results also show a reduction of standard errors associated with the coefficients obtained from the Bayesian analysis, thus bringing greater stability to the coefficients. It is concluded that Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm offers an alternative framework for estimating the logistic regression mode

Source: UCC
Beach erosion: a study of cross-shore particle size chaaracteristics and profile evolution along the Ghanaian coastline

The coastline characterized by the geologic nature of the land and the dynamic power of the sea, is constantly changing as a result of many factors both natural and manmade. The phenomenon is highly influenced by winds waves, currents, and tides that transport beach sediments up and down the profile. However, source material characteristics tend to complicate this mechanism in profile evolution. Beach profiling and particle size analysis coupled with wind wave analysis were used to analyse beach moiphology of five beaches along the Ghanaian coastline within two seasons, (dry and wet seasons) to establish the seasonal variations in beach state and profile evolution that impact on erosion in general along coastal erosion structures. Findings showed all beaches were moderately sorted with sorting values ranging from 1.70 to 1.85 in both seasons. Tt was also found out that the dominant grain size along all study sites were the 250 pm in dry season and 500 pm in wet season. The beaches were made up of fine to medium grains. percolation was minimal due to the dominant grain size and led to increased wave runoff which caused erosion of the beach face. Beaches showed seasonal variability in volume and width. The beaches experienced stomy conditions in the wet season and as a result, erosion was strong during the wet season.

Source: UCC
Beginning Teachers’and Mentors Perceptions About Mentorship in Basic Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis

The study examined the perceptions of beginning teacher’s mentor’s perception about mentorship in basic schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. The study employed a mixed method research approach and descriptive survey as the study design. The study used census sampling technique to accommodate all 50 teachers (25 beginning teachers and 25 mentors). Data collection was done using questionnaire for quantitative response, which was analysed using SPSS 26.0 and interview guide for qualitative response analysed using thematic analyses. The results of the study shows that the nature of mentorship programme requires mentors to support beginning teachers with teaching resource during teaching. The result also shows that mentors mostly assess beginning teachers in the building of relation with students and ability to use time judiciously. The information from beginning teacher’s assessment was used mostly for recommendation purposes. The majority challenge confronting mentors was their inability to assess beginning teacher’s background knowledge and skills. While beginning teachers reported that mentors make fun of them in ways they do not like. In resolving the identified challenges, it was revealed that mentors need to be motived. The study concluded that mentorship for beginning teachers was helpful but mentors need to be motivated to be effective. The study recommended that the management of Basic Schools must encourage mentors to develop trusting relationship with their mentees.

Source: UCC
Behaviour of hot electrons under the dc field in chiral carbon nanotubes

Behaviour of hot electrons under the influence of dc field in carbon nanotubes is theoretically considered. The study was done semi-classically by solving Boltzmann transport equation with the presence of the hot electrons source to derive the current densities. Plots of the normalized axial current density versus electric field strength of the chiral CNTs reveal a negative differential conductivity (NDC). Unlike achiral CNTs, the NDC occurs at a low field about 6 kV/cm for chiral CNT. We further observed that the switch from NDC to PDC occurs at lower dc field in chiral CNTs than achiral counterparts. Hence the suppression of the unwanted domain instability usually associated with NDC and a potential generation of terahertz radiations occurs at low electric field for chiral CNTs

Source: UCC
Behaviour of Johannesburg Stock Exchange All Share Index Returns - An Asymmetric GARCH and News Impact Effects Approach

We investigated the behaviour of returns of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange All Share Index using asymmetrical exponential-GARCH(1,1) and GJR-GARCH(1,1) incorporating the market reactions to news. We noted the returns distribution is skewed and have fat-tails with respect to the normal distribution. Thus we chose the skewed student t-distribution asymmetry to model the behaviour of the tails and capture the asymmetry in the distribution of the returns. The GJR-GARCH(1,1) with the skewed student t-distribution was found to be appropriate in describing the data generation process for the returns. The market was shown to react to news unequally. Volatility spikes sharply when unexpected adverse news reaches the market while remaining unresponsive for a large part to positive news. For investors this has implications for trading strategies and risk management with respect to equity portfolio risk and returns on the stock exchange. Bad news reaching the market can destabilize their portfolios. Risk mitigating actions by way of 'hedging' against the noise in the news is warranted.

Source: UCC
Behavioural dimension of the growth of informal settlements in Kumasi city, Ghana

Informal settlements are among the major problems that confronts many cities in the world. Despite numerous efforts both at the international and local levels to address this problem, its existence keeps on rising. This paper used a theoretical approach to assess the growth of informal settlements in Kumasi, Ghana. It adapted the theory of Planned Behaviour with informal settlement dwellers been the target population. A total of 238 informal settlement dwellers were covered with questionnaires serving as the research instruments. It was found out that informal settlement dwellers have bad behaviour towards such settlements and this was underpinned by their bad intentions about informal settlements. Low awareness of building regulations and poor perception of land use planning were the issues that influenced their behaviour through their intensions. The major contribution of this paper is that the growth of informal settlements is to a greater extent orchestrated by bad behaviour towards such settlements and that policy makers and international bodies should have a second thought on these settlements and pay keen attention to human behaviours towards informal settlements

Source: UCC
Belief in Sasa: Its implications for flora and fauna conservation in Ghana

The rate of depletion of plants and animal species in Ghana has assumed an alarming dimension, and the government is finding it difficult to control the process. Several factors account for this. A major one is the neglect of the traditional ecological knowledge prevalent in the culture of Ghana. Sasa is the Akan word for the spirit believed to be found in some plants and animals. This paper examines the role of sasa in flora and fauna conservation in Ghana. Traditional Ghanaians have a strong belief that some plants and animals have special spirits, which when cut (as in the case with plants) or killed (animals) can bring serious harm to the person. Thus, such plants and animals are not eliminated. This paper argues that sasa as an Akan indigenous conservation tool can complement the modern means of nature conservation in Ghana

Source: UCC
Belief in Self-Talk and Dynamic Balance Performance

The literature on self-talk is primarily related to its use and effect on athletic performance (Hardy & Hall, 2005). Noticeably missing is research related to the user’s belief in self-talk. The purpose of the present study was two-fold. The first purpose was to examine the relationship between one’s belief in self-talk and performance. The second purpose was to examine the influence of positive and negative self-talk on performance. Undergraduate students (N = 125) performed a stabilometer balance task and then completed two questionnaires. One questionnaire assessed the type of self-talk used and the other assessed belief in self-talk. Results indicated that belief in self-talk was not significantly correlated with performance; however, those who used positive self-talk performed significantly better than those who used negative/mixed self-talk. These results suggested that the type of self-talk used (i.e., positive or negative) was more important than one’s belief in self-talk. Results supported previous literature indicating that techniques designed to produce positive self-talk should be included in psychological skills training programs.

Source: UCC
Bemoaning of love: An aspect of Ga women’s discourse on love in Adaawe song- texts

Love, as a subject, has received a lot of attention in literature, particularly poetry. This is probably because poetry is traditionally seen as the creative exploration and expression of an individual’s emotion and passion. A genre of Ga oral poetry that has love as its primary subject is the adaawe songs which are sung by Ga maidens. This paper examines an aspect of Ga women’s discourse on love in the songs. Particularly, it examines how love is bemoaned. This was done based on the premise that, as a creative exploration and expression of individuals’ emotions and passions, adaawe songs contribute a unique commentary on the subject of love. Songs which were recorded and transcribed, as well as songs collected from Hamond’s (1970) Obɔade Lalai were analysed, paying attention to content and style. The analysis revealed that love is usually bemoaned when there is lack of continuous interest in a persona by the other party in a love relationship, or when there is a betrayal of love

Source: UCC
Benefit Incidence Analysis of Poverty Reduction Interventions in the Bongo District of Upper East Region of Ghana

Households in Bongo District accessed benefits from poverty reduction interventions. The study specifically sought to examine the kinds of benefits derived by households and to estimate how the benefits were distributed across various household income groups in order to determine the progressivity of the interventions. The study was also interested in exploring alternative ways of enhancing the benefits of the interventions. To achieve these objectives of the study, a structured interview and questionnaire were administered to 435 households and 5 officials of the implementing agencies. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the kinds of benefits and the alternative means to enhance the benefits. Benefit incidence approach was used to estimate the distribution of the benefits in terms of cash transfers to household quintiles (population groups) and to determine the pro-poorness and progressivity of the interventions. The results of the study showed that households received various kinds of benefits in agriculture, safe water, education, and health interventions. The benefit incidence analyses showed that the poorest households benefited largely from the education and Food and Agricultural Budgetary Support (FABS) interventions. It also showed that the interventions, which targeted at the poor were progressive. The households also suggested alternative means of enhancing the benefits of the interventions. It is necessary for Government to design and implement pro-poor programmes that consider the needs of the poor in order to lift them out of the poverty.

Source: UCC
Benefits and challenges of community-based ecotourism in park-fringe communities: the case of mesomagor of Kakum national park, Ghana

Community-based ecotourism (CBE) is seen as a viable model for achieving conservation and improved livelihoods for park-fringe communities. In view of that, many communities in Ghana, including Mesomagor, have embraced the concept. Yet, most studies have employed quantitative methods and failed to examine the challenges of community participation in ecotourism development. Therefore, this study employed qualitative methods to analyze the benefits and challenges of CBE in the Mesomagor community of the Kakum National Park. This involved key informant interviews of 15 stakeholders using a semistructured interview guide. The results of the study show that though the community had made some modest economic gains, especially in infrastructural development, the project was confronted with a number of challenges including apathy towards participation, limited employment and revenue-sharing opportunities, lack of local capacity to manage the project, and destruction of farms by stray elephants from the park

Source: UCC
Benefits and challenges of training at starlifw assurance company limited,Cape Coast

Assurance Company Limited is one of Ghana’s premier life insurance companies, and has contributed immensely to the growth of the insurance industry in Cape Coast. The company, like most insurance companies, has a training policy as prescribed by their Human Resource Department. However, the availability of the policy alone does not imply that the company’s training practices are without challenges. The study therefore sought to investigate the challenges Starlife Assurance Company Limited is facing in implementing its training programmes and prescribe possible solutions, as well as to find out the benefits the organization is yielding from its training programmes. This research adopted the case study design. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires. A total of 70 sales persons which was made up of 66 sales executives who had ever undergone training programmes organized by the organisation, and 4 sales managers were selected for the study. Software Package for Service Solution (SPSS) was used to analyse the data collected. The results of the research were expressed in means and frequencies presented in tabular format. The study revealed that Starlife Assurance Company Limited has a training policy which is generally adhered to in terms of training methods. It also revealed that employees benefited in many ways from training progammes organized by the company. With regards to the challenges, it was also realised that sales managers faced a number of them.

Source: UCC
Benzoato and thiobenzoato ligands in the synthesis of dinuclear palladium(iii) and -(ii) compounds: stability and catalytic applications

New palladium(III) compounds of formula Pd2[(C6H4)- PPh2]2[OXC(C6H5)]2Cl2 [3a (X = O);3b (X = S)] were obtained by the oxidation of the analogous palladium(II) ones with PhICl2 and were characterized by 31P,1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy at 223 K. Compound 3a was also structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods, which revealed a Pd–Pd distance of 2.5212(10) Å. DFT calculations were conducted to study the stability of all of these new palladium(III) and -(II) compounds with focus on the influence of the O↔S substitution of the donor atom in the ligand. The palladium (II) compounds Pd2[(C6H4)PPh2]2- [OXC(C6H5)]2 [2a (X = O),2b (X = S)] were also tested as pre-catalyst in two reactions: (1) the acetoxylation of 2-phenylpyridine and (2) the room-temperature 2-phenylation of indoles. Compound 2b is a better precatalyst than 2a in the first reaction (4 h; isolated yield, 67.5 vs. 50.4%). In the second catalytic reaction, isolated yields of 97 (10 h, substrate: 1-methylindole) and 99% (24 h, substrate: indole) were obtained with 2a as the precatalyst, whereas 2b gave low or noconversion

Source: UCC
Bereavement among middle-age Christians in Effutu Municipality, Central Region, Ghana

The study explored the challenges, coping strategies and consequences of bereavement for middle-aged Christian widows and widowers in Effutu Municipality. The exploratory two-stage sequential mixed method research approach was used. In the first stage, interviews were conducted with nine participants comprising five middle-aged widows and four middle-aged widowers. The cross-sectional survey design involving a purposely selected sample of 302 participants completed the questionnaire for the second stage. The reliability coefficients for the three parts of the instruments were 0.814, 0.838 and 0.724 respectively. Independent samples t-test, MANOVA and Multiple regression analysis were used to test the stated hypotheses. Findings revealed that middle-age Christian widows and widowers faced lots of challenges during bereavement and psychological challenge was the most dominant challenge with symptoms of depression. The findings also indicated that middle-age widows and widowers adopted effective coping strategies during bereavement and majority of them used the problem-focused coping strategy. Also, years in widowhood had a significant effect on the challenges, coping strategies and consequences. Further, the results showed that age was a contributing factor to middle-age widowhood and the dominant age group was between 36 and 45 years of age. The study concludes that coping strategy plays a significant role in the relationship between bereavement challenges and consequences. The study recommends that counselors and clinicians could systematically use the coping strategies studied in this research to help widows and widowers cope effectively during bereavement and subsequently improve their mental health and well-being.

Source: UCC
Bergapten modulates ovalbumin-induced asthma

Prior studies on the anti-inﬂammatory compound bergapten have shown promise in avert- ing allergic airway hyperresponsiveness. This study sought to establish its possible role in modulating an immunologically-induced airway inﬂammation and hyperresponsiveness in an ovalbumin model of asthma. Asthma is characterised by inﬂammation and constriction of the airway passages. Therapy is aimed at bronchodilation and reducing inﬂammation. Histamine is an inﬂammatory mediator and involved in immune reactions. It is released from mast cells which are important sentinel cells of the innate immune system involved in the inﬂammatory response. In the asthma model, ovalbumin solution (2 mg ovalbumin) was administered i.p. as a sensitisation dose on day 1 and on day 14 as a booster dose to sensitise the immune system. This was followed by a 10-day challenge on days 21 – 30 us- ing aerosolised ovalbumin (1% w/v dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline, PBS) at a cut-off latency of 10 min. Bergapten was administered at doses of 3 - 30 mg kg−1 p.o. 1 h prior to each challenge. Times to pre-convulsive dyspnoea were recorded. Guinea-pigs were sacri- ﬁced and lungs harvested for histological and antioxidant studies. In determining the effect of bergapten on histamine, an isolated guinea pig ileum preparation by the administration of bergapten (1 – 10 μg ml−1 ) in the presence of histamine. Bergapten increased times to pre-convulsive dyspnoea in the ovalbumin challenge and reduced pathological damage to bronchial tissue. The deposition of collagen around bronchioles was minimised. Antioxi- dant studies showed higher catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in groups treated with bergapten. Bergapten produced a rightward shift on the Schild plot analysis with a slope of 1.4 and a pA2 value of 9.3 was obtained in the isolated tissue experiment which conﬁrms that bergapten acts as an antagonist on histaminic H1 receptors. Bergapten mod- ulates inﬂammation in ovalbumin-induced asthma and antagonises histamine at the H1 receptor.

Source: UCC