ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Pro-environmental behaviour: an examination of environmental citizenship among junior and senior high schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis

ABSTRACT The study sought to assess the practice of environmental citizenship behaviour among Junior and Senior High School students in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Environmental citizenship is a concept that suggests that every citizen is an integral part of a larger ecosystem and that humanity's collective future depends on acting responsibly and positively toward our environment. It is a sense of responsibility that leads to actions that promote environmental conservation and sustainability. The study employed the mixed method approach. Quantitative data was collected from 292 Senior High School students, while qualitative data was collected from selected Junior High School students and relevant stakeholders within the metropolis. The study found out that the practice of Environmental Citizenship behaviour was minimal among respondents. They were, however, predisposed in terms of their values, beliefs, norms and knowledge which are prerequisites for exhibiting environmental citizenship behaviours. Limited platforms such as environmental clubs in schools and the socio-cultural perception of young people among others, posed as challenges to young people taking environmental actions and hence engaging in environmental activism. It recommended that young people's knowledge and awareness on environmental engagements should be boosted through environmental literacy. Environmental clubs in schools should be given a boost in order to help nurture affinity for nature as well as promote the platform for public sphere environmental actions; thereby promoting environmental citizenship behaviour among young people in schools and ensure environmentally sustainable behaviours in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Source: UCC
Probabilistic graphical modelling of causal effects among the occurrences of transcription factors in DNA sequence

Genome mapping of transcription factor targeted by ChIP jointly with microarrays or sequencing procedures is a powerful instrument for laying a foundation for understanding transcriptional regulatory networks. Hence the need for computational methods that can form the basis of experimental verification of these networks. We employ a probabilistic graphical model of the form of linear Gaussian Bayesian network to model causal effects between transcriptional factors (TFs) in two genome datasets. The bnlearn R statistical package is used for learning the network structure of the ENCODE pilot data and Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell data. Our results show that the Bayesian network efficiently model the causal effects between TFs, handle uncertainty with respect to probability theory and establish indirect with direct causation. Finally, an integrated Bayesian network model

Source: UCC
Problem Gambling Correlates and Their Effects on Study Habits of Students‟ Sport Bettors in the University of Cape Coast

This study investigated gambling activities of students‟ sport bettors of the University of Cape Coast and the effects these activities on the patterns ones study habits. The purpose of the study was to examine the correlate behaviours of problem gambling and the effects on study habits of students‟ sports bettors in the University of Cape Coast. The descriptive survey design of the quantitative research approach was employed in this study. The study used both adopted and adapted questionnaires to elicit responses. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequency counts, percentages and percentile ranks) and inferential statistics (Ordinal logistic regression and multivariate analysis of variance). It was found that more than one-third of students sampled engaged in student sports betting at varying degree of intensity. Also, it was discovered that betting for money was the main motivation of students‟ sports bettors. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that the university through its new initiative to establish Students‟ Support Office (StuFSO) which intend to provide support to brilliant but needy students, should also widen their scope in amassing resources to also provide for average students the opportunity to apply for a semester bursary which will cater for the student‟s basic needs within a semester. Also, the activities of the Study Habit Unit of the counselling centre in collaboration with the department academic advisors, hall counsellors and the recommended “Gaming Research Unit” of the Department of Psychology and Education should intermittently run open forum where students can test their study habit level

Source: UCC
The problem of qualia and knowledge in Plato and Aristotle

This paper sparks the debate of qualia and knowledge in the works of Plato and Aristotle. The debate on the relevance and logical chronology of qualia and knowledge has been an implicit tension in the works of Plato and Aristotle. However, we seldom find scholars exploring these aspects of Plato-Aristotle philosophy and connecting it to the contemporary debate of qualia. It is on this account that this paper re-examines Plato and Aristotle’s debate on the relevance of qualia to knowledge and how this debate has influenced theories relating to sense data. The core objective of this paper is to resurrect the debate of qualia and knowledge in the works of the legends as a way of contributing to the contemporary problem of qualia as suggested by Clarence I. Lewis and others in mid-20th century

Source: UCC
Problem-based learning in resource-poor settings: lessons from a medical school in Ghana

Problem-based learning (PBL) is arguably one of the most important innovations in medical education in the last century. The evident benefits of PBL and the changing face of medicine and medical education have led many institutions including those in resource-poor settings to consider the adoption of PBL curricula. However, experts are uncertain about how successful PBL will be in such settings, as literature on the implementation of PBL in resource-poor settings appears to be inadequate. The University of Cape Coast is located in a resource-poor setting, however, its medical school has used PBL curriculum since 2007. In a descriptive prose, this article discusses the PBL implementation processes, the challenges faced, the mitigation strategies employed, and the lessons learned at University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS). The arguments fall under the broad themes of curricular structure, resource constraints, faculty development, and assessment. The peculiar socioeconomic situation of Ghana, challenges in funding of tertiary education, and the resource implications of PBL provided the context for the arguments. It emerged out of the discussion that PBL has to be implemented as whole curriculum to be effective. Regular faculty development activities on PBL and the alignment of assessment methods with PBL also emerged as important issues in the discussion. The article argues that in spite of its cost implication, a PBL curriculum can be successfully implemented in resource-constrained settings

Source: UCC
Problem-based learning in resource-poor settings: lessons from a medical school in Ghana

Problem-based learning (PBL) is arguably one of the most important innovations in medical education in the last century. The evident benefits of PBL and the changing face of medicine and medical education have led many institutions including those in resource-poor settings to consider the adoption of PBL curricula. However, experts are uncertain about how successful PBL will be in such settings, as literature on the implementation of PBL in resource-poor settings appears to be inadequate. The University of Cape Coast is located in a resource-poor setting, however, its medical school has used PBL curriculum since 2007. In a descriptive prose, this article discusses the PBL implementation processes, the challenges faced, the mitigation strategies employed, and the lessons learned at University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences (UCCSMS). The arguments fall under the broad themes of curricular structure, resource constraints, faculty development, and assessment. The peculiar socioeconomic situation of Ghana, challenges in funding of tertiary education, and the resource implications of PBL provided the context for the arguments. It emerged out of the discussion that PBL has to be implemented as whole curriculum to be effective. Regular faculty development activities on PBL and the alignment of assessment methods with PBL also emerged as important issues in the discussion. The article argues that in spite of its cost implication, a PBL curriculum can be successfully implemented in resource-constrained settings.

Source: UCC
Problematique D'evaluation de la Competence de Communication Orale en Francais des Apprenants dans les Ecoles Normales au Ghana.

This doctoral thesis falls within the framework of assessment (see G. De Landsheere 1979 et 1980; G. Scallon 2000; Lussier 1992; D. Lussier and C. Turner 1995; L. Allal 1989 ...), of communicative competence in French (S. Moirand 1990; H.G. Widdowson 1981; M. Canale and M. Swain 1980...) and of verbal interaction (see C. Kerbrat-Orecchioni 1998). It purports to study the problems associated with the teaching and learning of oral communication, its assessment and its practice among learners of French in Teacher Training Colleges in Ghana. It seeks particularly to examine the modalities put in place for the assessment of proficiency in oral communication in an external examination context. It endeavours to analyse the method of assessment, the conduct of teacher-examiners and the communicative behaviour of learner-candidates in a face-to-face interaction. It also examines and identifies communicative difficulties and strategies used in overcoming these difficulties. With regard to data collection, a questionnaire relative to pre- training college and college practices of teaching and learning and also of assessing oral French was established and addressed to learners and teachers alike. The study equally takes into account the oral communication, test items and recording of verbal interactions between panel of examiners and candidates. The findings of this research will contribute to reflections on different aspects in the area of assessment namely, instructions, criteria, nature of test items or conduct. The study suggests the adoption of an interactive approach to the teaching and learning, a regular assessment and constant practice of oral communication within and outside the classroom setting.

Source: UCC
Problematique del’enseignement de l’expression orale: une etude de cas a adisadel college et aggrey memorial.episcopal zion school.

This study sought to find out the difficulty in the teaching and learning of oral expression. In order to effectively teach and learn a language, vocal communication is a crucial skill. Conversation is the primary means of communication in a practical language lesson between the instructor and the student. Therefore, speaking helps someone improve their language. We have observed that most 3rd year students in the secondary school are doing well in the written French but struggling with the oral aspect of the language hence the need to conduct research to identify their challenges of teaching. We selected one school in the Cape Coast Metropolis and another school in the Abura Asebu KwamanKese district making a total of two schools. A mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) was used in the collection of data. Both teachers and students were several with questionnaires and a lesson was observed for each of the schools. The study revealed that oral expression was taught in all the SHS but the teaching focused on the academy's needs. For instance, oral lessons consisted mainly of answering past questions in class, questions and answers on general topics and literature books. The results overcoming today’s teaching requires the use of technology such as the phone, the laptop in the classroom as well as diverse activities well selected considering the reach of the students and a blend of methods.

Source: UCC
Problems and Counselling Needs of Unemployed Youths in Nigeria

Unemployment is an issue that has bedeviled Nigeria for quite some time now. Unemployment has a negative multiplier effect not only on the individual involved but on the society as well. Toward this end, this study is designed to explore the problems and counselling needs of unemployed youths in Nigeria. A multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 1,750 unemployed youths from the six geo-political zones of the country including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. A research instrument titled “Problems and Counselling Needs of Unemployed Youths Questionnaire” [PACNUYQ] was used to gather relevant data for the study. In each of the sampled states, research assistants, who were acquainted with the nature and modalities of their assignment, were employed. Data collected was analysed through the use of mean ratings, ranks and the t-test statistical method. Unemployed youths in Nigeria have problems in clusters of finance, family- related, health–related and socio-psychological and their most counselling need is how to develop skills that will make them to be marketable in the world of work. Implications of the findings and recommendations are discussed.

Source: UCC
Problems in the Application of Ion-selective Electrodes to Serum Lithium Analysis

Three types of lithium ion-selective electrode (ISE) have been studied in microconduit flow injection analysis for their response to lithium ions in serum samples containing between 0.21 and 2.00 mM lithium. The effects of possible interferents, such as proteins and sodium chloride, in samples have been studied with regard to the poor quality of data. Adjustment of the serum sodium chloride level to 153.9 mM improved the ISE lithium data to match more closely those obtained by flame photometry. Nevertheless, even the best of the three lithium lSEs studied, namely that based on an electroactive component of barium propoxylate, produced data that matched flame photometric data for only five serum samples out of the ten examined. The other two electrode types studied were based on PVC matrix membranes of a commercial lithium ISE (Philips Cat. No. 561-LI) and dodecylmethyl-14-crown-4

Source: UCC
Procedural Problem-Solving Approaches Employed by Students in Learning Extensive and Intensive Quantities of Change of State

The purpose of the study was to investigate the procedural problem-solving approaches students employ when solving computational problems that involve extensive and intensive quantities of change of state. A sample of 240 Form 3 science students randomly selected from five senior high schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis participated in this study. An achievement test on change of state of matter comprising of five items was used for data collection. The results showed, among other things, that students employ the structured procedural approach when solving change of state computational questions that involve extensive quantities instead of the scientific approach. The study also found that no clear procedural approach was employed by majority of the students in solving change of state computational questions that involved intensive quantities. The study further revealed that among the five problem-solving approaches, the scientific approach was the most effective in revealing students’ correct conceptions of intensive quantities. These findings suggest that for students to be good problem solvers, teachers must teach concepts using the scientific approach to effectively compel learners to analyse problems based on their conceptual understanding before they proceed with computations.

Source: UCC
Processors' perception of some palm oil processing technologies in the Central Region of Ghana

This research was designed to find out about palm oil processors perception of the technologies being used in the Central region of Ghana. The major variables of the study were the types of technology being ,adopted, extent of training provided, the relative advantage in terms of ease of use and maintenance of equipment, durability, effectiveness, appropriateness as well as the relative economic advantages. Constraints to palm oil production were also assessed, and an examination of associations between the variables or the study was performed. Three categories of palm oil processing technologies were found to be adopted in the central region as follows: 1. The indigenous technology, which involved the use of mortar and pestle with or without screw press. 2 Motorised palm digester used with a screw press and 3. Motorised digester-hydraulic press, which was the most technologically advanced of the three. Adoption of these technologies was on-going although some processors, for various reasons expressed some dissatisfaction and indicated the desire 10 stop adopting. With the exception of the use of digester-hydraulic press extension training was virtually absent for all processors. Training needs (A processors were observed to be marketing, improved methods of processing as well as the operation and maintenance of equipment. Processors also expressed desire for. some skills in the detection and handling of faults on equipment. The mortar and pestle technology was perceived to be the easiest to use and maintain and also the most appropriate. It was however perceived to be the least effective among the three technologies. The most effective equipment was the digester-hydraulic press, although it was perceived to be slightly less easy to use and maintain than the other equipment. The major constraints facing the palm oil enterprise were insufficient credit, expensive equipment and raw materials for processing and limited market. Significant differences existed among the three technologies in terms of maintenance, effectiveness, appropriateness, availability of training labour use and economic advantages. In addition, significant associations were observed among the following variables of the study: Ease of use, ease of maintenance, effectiveness, availability of training, labour and time required for processing of a given quantity of palm oil. Among the recommendations offered are: Improvement in agricultural extension training for women III palm oil processing. Formation of co-operative groups of palm oil processors to enable them obtain such benefits as credit, procurement of equipment and means of marketing their products. The development and dissemination of equipment for the separation of pulp kernel and fibre in order to reduce the labour requirement of this activity that often times is provided by children.

Source: UCC
Procédés de lecture interactive sur l’Internet

La lecture constitue un moyen privilégié d’accès aux informations linguistiques, scientifiques et culturelles pour les apprenants du Français Langue Etrangère (CORNEA, 2010). Dans le contexte anglophone où se déroule l’apprentissage du FLE, un problème majeur auquel sont confrontés les étudiants universitaires est le manque de ressources en FLE pour encourager la lecture. L’Internet permet cependant de mettre à leur portée une riche gamme de documents pouvant servir à la lecture. En tant qu’outil multimédia par excellence, l’Internet diversifie souvent les modes d’accès aux informations disponibles aux étudiants grâce à ses propriétés assurant la multicanalité, la multimodalité, la multiréférentialité et l’interactivité. Cette étude se propose de voir de quelles manières les étudiants ghanéens lisent les informations lors d’une tâche de compréhension écrite sur des sites authentiques en français. Autrement dit, quels sont les procédés adoptés par ces derniers pour accéder aux informations utiles à l’atteinte des objectifs de la tâche. L’étude cherche également à éclairer les procédés mentaux qui soustendent la compréhension des informations sur l’Internet en s’appuyant sur les recherches menées par Rubin (1989). Grâce à des questionnaires structurés et l’observation en situation de navigation sur des sites Internet authentiques, nous avons obtenu des données quantitatives et qualitatives de 52 étudiants inscrits en FLE dans quatre universities publiques au Ghana. L’analyse des données nous a permis d’identifier des procédés de lecture comme le balayage du texte, l’écrémage du texte, la lecture par mots ou expressions connues et la lecture fine. Ces procédés de lecture correspondent à des stratégies de comprehension comme l’inférence du sens, le raisonnement déductif ou inductif, l’analogie, le transfert de connaissances et l’analyse textuelle par les connaissances acquises en FLE. Finalement, l’étude propose des démarches pédagogiques permettant d’encourager les étudiants de FLE à la lecture interactive sur l’Internet. (Mots clés : Lecture, compréhension, procédés mentaux, Internet, interactivité, FLE.)

Source: UCC
Procurement Management Practices And Service Delivery Of The Private Healthcare Sector: The Moderating Role Of Digitization

Health is a vibrant indicator of a nation’s economic development and growth. Therefore, service delivery in the health sector is very important since its outcome directly affects human lives. Notwithstanding that, limited attention has been given to how procurement management activities affect service delivery in this sector, particularly among private hospitals. Employing the information systems theory, and the institutional theory of management, this study examined the relationship between procurement management practices and service delivery of private hospitals in Ghana, and how digitization moderates the relationship. The study employed the explanatory research design and the quantitative research approach. Considering a population size of 319 private hospitals within the Greater Accra region, the census sampling technique was used. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used for data collection and the response rate was 205. The partial least square structural equation modelling was the data analytical technique employed. The SmartPLS v3 software was used for data processing to generate the statistical test results. It was found that procurement management practices have a significant and positive impact on the service delivery of the private hospitals studied. It also proved that hospitals offer better service delivery when procurement management practices are executed digitally. The study concluded that the positive relationship between service delivery and procurement management practices improves with the introduction of digitalization. The study recommends private hospitals in the Greater Accra region of Ghana to prioritize digitization as a strategic resource for better service delivery.

Source: UCC
Procurement practices and organizational performance of private universities in Greater Accra

The study was conducted to assess the effect of procurement practices on performance of private universities in Greater Accra. The study employed a descriptive survey research design and was supported by the quantitative research approach. The population included some 250 procurement officers and procurement heads of all the 43 accredited private universities in Greater Accra Region. Descriptive statistics (Mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentages) and inferential statistics (multiple regression) were used for the primary data analysis in respect of the specific research objectives. It was discovered that procurement practices accounted for a statistically significant 55.7% of the variance in the performance of private universities in Greater Accra when the effect of other factors existing in private universities in Greater Accra that can affect performance of these private universities are statistically controlled. Supplier partnership, contract management and procurement planning procedure were found to be significant positive contributors to the improvement in organisational performance. Private universities are advised to implement procurement practices and this will improve their performance

Source: UCC