ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Public junior high school mathematics teachers’ conceptions of the purpose and practice of assessment in Bongo district of Ghana

The study investigated public school junior high mathematics teachers’ conceptions of assessment and their practices of it. It intended to find the extent to which the teachers’ conceptions of the assessment practices reflect assessment for learning, assessment as learning and assessment of learning. It also put to bear the assessment tools that the teachers use in assessing mathematics learning outcomes. The study employed the concurrent triangulation mixed research design within the pragmatist world view. Using a multistage sampling procedure, a sample size of 58 public junior high school mathematics teachers was used to collect questionnaire data. Out of this, 6 teachers were purposively selected for interview and 7 teachers were also purposively selected for observation data. The questionnaire data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Service Solution version 25 (IBM version 25). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used for the item-by-item analysis of the questionnaire. The observation was also manually calculated using frequencies and percentages. Again, thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data. Findings from the study emerged that the mathematics teachers conceptions of assessment practices highly reflect assessment of learning (83.9%) and assessment for learning (81.7%). The qualitative results failed to confirm the teachers conception of assessment as learning. The study also revealed that the mathematics teachers used more traditional assessment tools than alternative assessment tools through the exploration whereas the quantitative results provided contrary results. The study again discovered that the mathematics teachers use class tests, written exercises, homework, examinations, oral questioning, project work and observations as mathematics assessment tools for assessing learning outcomes in their classrooms. It was uncovered that teachers centre their assessment processes on gathering of data and offering feedback. It is therefore recommended that the heads of the junior high schools and the Bongo Directorate of Education should organise in-service training for mathematics teachers on assessment as learning and the stages of mathematics assessment process.

Source: UEW
Public Junior High School Pupils’ perceptions of their learning style preferences and their relationship with academic performance in Social Studies in East Mamprusi Municipality

The study investigated learning style preferences of public junior high school pupils in studying Social Studies in the East Mamprusi Municipality of Ghana and their relationship with academic performance in Social Studies. The Grasha and Riechmann‘s (1982) learning styles model guided the study. Cross-sectional descriptive survey design within the positivists‘ quantitative methodology was used to collect data using a structured questionnaire. Data from 230 out of 234 participants selected through proportionate stratified random sampling technique were used for the study. With the aid of SPSS, descriptive (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent samples t-test, Pearson product moment correlation, and multiple linear regression) were used to analyse the data. Even though the study established that the pupils practiced a mixture of the learning styles in different intensities, the independent learning style was dominant among the pupils whereas the competitive learning style was least prevalent. The findings also pointed out that school-related, home-related, and personal factors collectively and individually significantly predicted the learning style preferences of the pupils in Social Studies. Furthermore, the learning styles jointly and individually related positively with the academic performance of the pupils in studying Social Studies. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that the East Mamprusi Municipal Education Directorate should liaise with the management of the public basic schools to organise orientation programmes for the pupils on the effective practice of learning styles towards the study of Social Studies in the schools.

Source: UEW
Public junior school students’ performance in integrated science in the Jirapa municipality.

This study aimed to investigate the performance of public junior high school students in Integrated Science in the Jirapa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Utilising a pragmatic paradigm and a mixed-methods approach, the research specifically employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research design. The study implemented both probability and non-probability sampling techniques, selecting 200 students through stratified simple random sampling, while 10 Integrated Science teachers were chosen using purposive sampling. Data collection utilised questionnaires, tests, and an interview guide, all of which were pilot-tested in various contexts. The questionnaire demonstrated a Cronbach’s Alpha reliability value exceeding 0.75, confirming its suitability for the study. Test reliability was assessed via a two-way random-effects model (test-retest reliability). The reliability and validity of the interview items were ensured through member checking and confirmability, whilst the content validity of the tools was validated by the study supervisors. The quantitative data gathered from questionnaires and tests were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) with SPSS software (2020), whereas qualitative data from interviews underwent thematic analysis. The findings indicated a concerningly poor performance among JHS students in Integrated Science in the Jirapa Municipality, with marked declines in both school assessments and BECE examinations. Hence, it is recommended that Integrated Science teachers across all junior high schools in the Jirapa Municipality create and implement focused remedial programmes (extra classes) to improve students’ performance in Integrated Science.

Source: UEW
Public perspective of flood management in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana

This work examined flood management in the Effutu Municipality. The main objectives of the research was to examine the causes of flood; the flood management practices; the main challenges to flood management; the factors that promote flood management and flood coping strategies in Effutu. Mixed method approach with sequential research design was employed in this study. A total of 250 respondents were selected from different parts of the municipality using multi-stage sampling. Instruments for data collection included questionnaires, interview guide and observation checklist. Quantitative data were analysed into percentages and weighted mean, whilst qualitative data were analysed into themes based on the research questions and the outcomes derived from the interviews and the observation conducted. The analysis suggests that, many residents thought flood management is as a result of neglect in implementing laws and policies on the part of the Municipal Assembly. It is argued that, financial resource constraints were not the major problems confronting flood risk management in Effutu. There was a general feeling that residents have developed effective coping strategies to deal with flooding. The temporality syndrome and the lack of political will to implement policies were the main challenge facing flood management in Effutu. Residents of flood prone areas only sees the situation as only temporal and something that will not last for a long time. It is recommended that there should be strong political will in enforcing laws governing town planning and development to prevent future occurrence of flood in the Effutu Municipality.

Source: UEW
Public relations practice in technical universities in Ghana a study of Sunyani Technical University

This study examined public relations practice (PR) in higher educational institutions in Ghana with a focus on Sunyani Technical University. The study adopted the qualitative research and purposively sampled employees at the registry, Heads of Department and other management staff within the university. In all 35 participants comprising 15 employees at the Registry, 16 Departmental Heads and 4 Deans participated in the study. The results of the study revealed that the role of the PR unit is that of a communication technician. The role is therefore output focus. The PR unit is not deeply involved in organisational decision-making, but implements public relations programmes such as writing press releases, organising events or producing web content. This role increases students’ motivation and public acceptance of the technical educational system and helps in increasing students’ patronage. The PR unit however, has challenges including lack of resources, lack of understanding of the role of the PR unit, lack of a consensus on what the term PR means and the lack of adequate knowledge, all of which hamper the operations of the PR unit. The study recommends that the PR unit be deeply involved in the decision-making of the University. The study therefore will inform both the management and the PR department on the relevance of their coordination towards the achievements of the goal of the Sunyani Technical University.

Source: UEW
Public relations practice in the Ghana police service

The study sought to investigate and describe the nature of Public Relations practice in the Ghana Police Service. This followed the limited assessment of the nature of Public Relations practice within the Service by previous studies. The study is qualitative in nature and data was taken from interviews using a semi-structured interview guide while the coorientation theory and Public Relations roles theory were employed for the analysis of the nuances of Public Relations practice in the Service. Findings of the study reveal that even though Public Relations is visibly seen to be located at management on the organisational chart of the Police Service, the practitioners sit in management meetings merely as “observers” since the management function role of the Public Relations practitioners has been relegated to the background. The study confirmed that although the Public Relations practitioners employed both two-way and one-way methods of communication, the practitioners were gradually gravitating more towards the use of two-way communication which is seen in Public Relations as the best approach to engaging the publics of an organisation. The study concludes that although the Public Relations units of the Ghana Police Service have been fraught with huge challenges, the police Public Relations officers have always been at the fore-front in communicating the rules of engagement of the service to its numerous publics.

Source: UEW
Public sector reforms in Ghana the impact of compensation reforms on teacher attrition

Successive governments in Ghana have pursued numerous public sector compensation reform programmes with the object of attracting and retaining a high calibre of trained professionals capable of rendering quality service in the public sector. In spite of the laudable goal, teachers in the country’s public service continue to search for greener economic pastures and as and when they find the opportunity elsewhere, they quit the profession, thus raising attrition of teachers. The study was set to examine the extent to which compensation influences teacher attrition and assess the impact of the phenomenon. Guided by a combination of snowballing and purposive sampling strategies, twenty retired graduate teachers and thirty former teachers who have quit the service and taken up new appointments outside the teaching profession were selected from the Ashanti and Central regions of Ghana to constitute the first group of respondents. Focus group discussions were employed to elicit their responses. Systematic sampling technique was also used to draw one hundred and fifty teachers in active service from public senior high schools in the two regions to participate in a survey in which questionnaire was administered to elicit their responses on the factors that influence their attrition intentions. Findings of the study indicate that factors including pay, external opportunity, organizational commitment, training and tenure influence the attrition intentions of teachers. The study established that graduate professional teachers with diploma in education are those who had high attrition intentions. Based on the findings, the study advocates that the compensation of teachers should be improved by not only enhancing the basic pay, but also to introduce some other allowances to make the profession attractive. It further advocates the introduction of facilities which are non-existent in the teaching service but which are enjoyed by personnel in other sectors of the public service such as subsidized housing scheme and leave allowance to stem the tide of attrition of teachers. Again, community subsidy, timely and adequate supply of educational resources and organization of frequent seminars and contacts will also go a long way to reduce the incidence of attrition in the teaching

Source: UEW
Public sector reforms in Ghana, the impact of compensation reforms on teacher attrition

Successive governments in Ghana have pursued numerous public sector compensation reform programmes with the object of attracting and retaining a high calibre of trained professionals capable of rendering quality service in the public sector. In spite of the laudable goal, teachers in the country’s public service continue to search for greener economic pastures and as and when they find the opportunity elsewhere, they quit the profession, thus raising attrition of teachers. The study was set to examine the extent to which compensation influences teacher attrition and assess the impact of the phenomenon. Guided by a combination of snowballing and purposive sampling strategies, twenty retired graduate teachers and thirty former teachers who have quit the service and taken up new appointments outside the teaching profession were selected from the Ashanti and Central regions of Ghana to constitute the first group of respondents. Focus group discussions were employed to elicit their responses. Systematic sampling technique was also used to draw one hundred and fifty teachers in active service from public senior high schools in the two regions to participate in a survey in which questionnaire was administered to elicit their responses on the factors that influence their attrition intentions. Findings of the study indicate that factors including pay, external opportunity, organizational commitment, training and tenure influence the attrition intentions of teachers. The study established that graduate professional teachers with diploma in education are those who had high attrition intentions. Based on the findings, the study advocates that the compensation of teachers should be improved by not only enhancing the basic pay, but also to introduce some other allowances to make the profession attractive. It further advocates the introduction of facilities which are non-existent in the teaching service but which are enjoyed by personnel in other sectors of the public service such University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh as subsidized housing scheme and leave allowance to stem the tide of attrition of teachers. Again, community subsidy, timely and adequate supply of educational resources and organization of frequent seminars and contacts will also go a long way to reduce the incidence of attrition in the teaching

Source: UEW
Public Senior High School Social Studies teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs and job performance in the Central Region of Ghana the mediating role of emotional intelligence

This study investigated the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the effect of selfefficacy beliefs and job performance of Social Studies teachers in public Senior High Schools in Central Region of Ghana within the context of Bandura’s (1976) Social Cognitive Theory. Working within the positivist paradigm, this study employed the cross-sectional descriptive survey design with quantitative approach, where through census sampling technique, 342 Social Studies teachers in the public Senior High Schools in the Central Region of Ghana were selected and participated in the study with the main instrument being questionnaire. After meeting validity and reliability requirements, descriptive and inferential statistics analytical tools were employed to answer the research questions and hypothesis set for the study with the aid of Version 28 of SPSS and AMOS. The findings revealed that Social Studies teachers had very high-level self-efficacy beliefs, high level of emotional intelligence as well as high level of job performance. The findings further established that emotional intelligence statistically significantly predicted the job performance of Social Studies teacher. Besides, it was revealed that emotional intelligence mediated the effect of self-efficacy beliefs on the job performance of Social Studies teachers. The study again established that demographic characteristics such as gender, age and years of teaching experience statistically significantly influenced Social Studies teachers perception on their level of self-efficacy beliefs and emotional intelligence. It was therefore, recommended Ghana Education Service should organize refresher training and continuous professional development programmes in order to sustain, improve, and strengthen the dimensions of self-efficacy beliefs, emotional intelligence and job performance among Social Studies teachers in public Senior High schools in Ghana. The study further recommended that strategies aimed at the improvement of self-efficacy beliefs and job performance should run concurrently with approaches to enhance emotional intelligence of Social Studies teachers to heighten their job performance.

Source: UEW
Publication output of professional librarians in public university libraries in Ghana

The study examines publication output among professional librarians in four public universities in Ghana. The major objectives of the study were to determine publication output of the professional librarians and investigate the challenges confronting publication efforts of the professional librarians, among others. The mixed methods approach was employed for the study. The questionnaire was used to collect data from 47 professional librarians and four university librarians were also interviewed. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyse the quantitative data collected through the questionnaire, while content analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data that was gathered from the interviews. The analysis used was descriptive statistics, comprising frequencies, percentages and means, among others. The major findings revealed that publication output was low among the respondents and journal articles were the most popular publication format. Another finding also indicated that the higher ranked professional librarians were more prolific than lower ranked ones, while the professional librarians from two of the public universities were most prolific. Generally, the results could not establish correlation between working experience and publication output of the professional librarians. The results revealed that challenges that hampered publication efforts of the professional librarians were lack of time and heavy workload, inflexible work schedule, and absence of formal mentoring programme. It is recommended that the professional librarians should be provided with work time for research and publication, training, workshops and seminars, formal mentoring programmes, and collaboration, among others, to facilitate their research and scholarly publication efforts. � 2019 Library Philosophy and Practice.

Source: UEW
Publishing preferences among academic researchers: Implications for academic quality and innovation

The purpose of this paper was to explore the factors responsible for publication preferences among a select group of researchers attending a research writing workshop in Ghana. The objectives were to investigate the specific motivations for publishing; to explore the factors that influence researchers' journal selection decisions; and availability of in-house programmes for journal publishing. The population of the study consisted of researchers from several academic institutions in Ghana who attended a research writing workshop. The research made use of the convenience sampling method to select a total of 67 researchers to participate in the study. The study used a self-administered closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 13 items and analysed using the mean test, standard deviation and simple percentages. The study found that researchers consider "contribution to scholarship" as the main motivation for publishing even though job mobility is a major source of motivation. Again, the major factor influencing journal selection decision is journal reputation. However, many researchers indicated a high preference for journals that does not charge publication fees. Finally, most respondents do not benefit from in-house research development programmes. The study recommends the development of in-house academic publishing programmes that are researcher-centred; the development of new of enhancement of existing research mentoring schemes, the issuance of "standalone" low quality journals; and the need for researchers to consider both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in their quest to become quality researchers.

Source: UEW
Punctuation errors in the essays of Adamu Da Junior High School pupils

The ultimate aim of this study is to find out the punctuation errors in the essays of Adamu D/A Junior High School pupils; to ascertain why the pupils commit punctuation errors in their essays and come out with solutions that will help solve the situation. The research design used is participatory action research. Eighteen pupils and two teachers of English were sampled through purposive and simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire, interview, observation and class test were the research instruments employed to collect the data. The results of the findings revealed that the pupils’ commonest punctuations errors were overgeneralization, omission and wrong placing of the said marks. The implications of this study to teachers of English are that English teachers need to devote more time to the teaching of punctuations and also need to encourage the pupils to read more story books. In addition, teachers of English in should endeavor to insert the correct punctuation marks at where they ought to be during the marking for the pupils to know how to place them correctly. Lastly, more exercises on punctuations and essay writing should be given to the pupils to practice frequently, for practice they say leads to perfection.

Source: UEW