ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Relationship between competence in expanded core curriculum and academic achievement of students with visual impairment in public universities in ghana

The main thrust of this study was to explore the competence in the expanded core curriculum and academic achievement of students with visual impairment in public universities in Ghana. The study was guided by the Cambourne's theory and the normalisation theory. The study was a descriptive survey and was steered by seven hypotheses and one research question. The sample comprised 93 students with visual impairment. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of .764. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages) and inferential statistics (linear multiple regression, Pearson Product Moment correlation coefficient and one-way between-groups multivariate analysis of variance, MANOYA) were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that all the nine elements of the expanded core curriculum had a positive high correlation with academic achievement of students with visual impairment. Students who were introduced to the elements of the expanded core curriculum at the basic level showed more competence than those who were introduced to it during the SHS level. Students with basic level experience in ECC performed better in academic achievement. Several recommendations were made which included; The Special Education Division of Ghana Education Service should formalize the teaching of the expanded core curriculum in the special and the inclusive schools for the blind. The teaching and learning of the expanded core curriculum should commence at the basic level. Also, Ghana Education Service should train more specialist teachers to handle the various elements of the expanded core curriculum in both the basic and the second cycle schools.

Source: UCC
Relationship between construction expenditure and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

The importance of the construction industry cannot be overemphasized because of its strong linkages with other sectors of the economy. Despite this, the empirical literature on the non-linear (Bon curve) relationship between construction expenditure and economic growth remains unclear and hence, leave much space for further engagements. Therefore, this study seeks to find answers to these questions: Does construction expenditure matter in economic growth, and does the Bon curve hold in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)? Using panel data for 33 countries in SSA spanning from 1990 to 2014, the study analysed relationship between construction expenditure and economic growth. The main estimation techniques employed were the panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and the Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality test respectively. The results revealed a positive relationship between construction expenditure and economic growth both in the long run and short run, although the latter was statistically insignificant. There was also a non-linear (inverted U-shaped) relationship found between construction expenditure and economic growth with a turning point of 11.28%, suggesting that the Bon curve holds for SSA. The study further showed a bidirectional relationship between construction expenditure and economic growth, at least for a four-year lag period. These findings highlight the importance of the construction industry to economic growth in SSA and hence, the study recommends that policy makers and various governments need to be circumspect in controlling the level of construction expenditure because expansion of construction expenditure beyond the turning point may not bring the desired impact on economic growth.

Source: UCC
Relationship between Corporate Image and Customer Loyalty in the Mobile Telecommunication Market in Kenya

Customer loyalty is considered to be a key ingredient in enhancing the survival of businesses especially in the situations faced by highly competitive industries. This study assessed the relationship between corporate image and customer loyalty. While the antecedents of customer loyalty connected with the marketing mix factors have been well investigated, much still remains to be studied regarding some of the intermediate conditions created by the marketing mix factors and customer loyalty. This study sought to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of corporate image and customer loyalty in the mobile telecommunication market in Kenya. The study was guided by several hypotheses that tested the nature of the relationship between corporate image and customer loyalty using four dimensions of corporate image, namely service quality, chief executive officer (CEO) reputation, brand image, and physical evidence. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design and used a multi-stage stratified sampling technique to target 320 respondents from among students across campuses of Kenyatta University (KU). Primary data was obtained using a structured five-point Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and regression analysis to test the degree of association between the dependent and the independent variables. The study registered a high response rate of 97.8% from the target respondents. The findings of the study based on the correlation analysis indicated that the four dimensions of corporate image positively correlate with customer loyalty at p < 0.01. The regression analysis results however showed that even though the four dimensions correlate with customer loyalty, only service quality and brand image significantly predict customer loyalty. The regression model used explained 25% variation in the dependent variable. The null hypotheses one and four were supported while hypotheses two and three were not. The study concluded that of the four dimensions of corporate image, brand image and service quality predict customer loyalty within the Kenyan mobile telecommunication sector. The study suggests that future research undertakes integrate aspects of quality management into the dimensions of corporate image in order to predict variations in customer loyalty.

Source: UCC
Relationship between demographic characteristics and job satisfaction of senior high school teachers in the Bolgatanga municipality

The retention of trained teachers in senior high schools is a major problem confronting the delivery of education in Ghana. Governments over the years have worked to address this problem. However, it still persists. Job dissatisfaction is identified as a factor responsible for the situation (Dilworth, 1991). Studies conducted elsewhere also attributed the problem to the demographic characteristics of teachers (Narayana & Rao, 2000; Shamail, Tariq, Jalil, & Szabist, 2004). This study, therefore, sought to find out whether the demographic characteristics and the job satisfaction of trained teachers in senior high schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality are related. A fourteen item questionnaire was used to collect data from 66 randomly selected trained teachers in senior high schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The gathered data were analysed using chi-square test of independence and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The study revealed that trained teachers in senior high schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality were not satisfied with their job. However, they found satisfaction in some aspects of their job and not satisfied with their work environment. Also, their demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, level of education, and years of teaching experience, were found not to be related to their job satisfaction.

Source: UCC
The relationship between determinants of working capital management and finanacial distress levels of the listed manufacturing companies in Ghana

This study investigates the relationship between Working Capital Management (WCM) determinants and financial distress level of the listed manufacturing companies in Ghana. This research used evidence from financial report of ten manufacturing organizations selected from the main board of the Ghana Stock exchange. Quantitative research approach involving panel least square estimates with white cross section were used for analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis including regression and correlation analysis were also used. The key finding of this research was that returns on asset, size, growth, and current ratio as well ascash conversion cycle as internal determinants of working capital have significant relationship with financial distress level of listed manufacturing companies in Ghana. Also, Interest rate and market value of equity as external determinants of working capital have significant influence on financial distress. The study also found that current liability and current asset as a major components of working capital have significant relationship with financial distress and that financial distress level of selected firms can be measured using working capital determinants through accounting based models. In conclusion, working capital determinants have significant relationship with financial distress and if manufacturing firms in Ghana can manage their working capital efficiently, they can escape financial distress which is one of the key symptoms that herald corporate failure.

Source: UCC
The relationship between determinants of working capital management and financial distress levels of the listed manufacturing companies in Ghana

This study investigates the relationship between Working Capital Management (WCM) determinants and financial distress level of the listed manufacturing companies in Ghana. This research used evidence from financial report of ten manufacturing organizations selected from the main board of the Ghana Stock exchange. Quantitative research approach involving panel least square estimates with white cross section were used for analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis including regression and correlation analysis were also used. The key finding of this research was that returns on asset, size, growth, and current ratio as well ascash conversion cycle as internal determinants of working capital have significant relationship with financial distress level of listed manufacturing companies in Ghana. Also, Interest rate and market value of equity as external determinants of working capital have significant influence on financial distress. The study also found that current liability and current asset as a major components of working capital have significant relationship with financial distress and that financial distress level of selected firms can be measured using working capital determinants through accounting based models. In conclusion, working capital determinants have significant relationship with financial distress and if manufacturing firms in Ghana can manage their working capital efficiently, they can escape financial distress which is one of the key symptoms that herald corporate failure.

Source: UCC
Relationship between first year students’ self-concept, intrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement

The relatively low achievement of students in mathematics has been of concern to many parents and educators for some time now. Most research concentrated more on the cognitive factors, while the affective factors are ignored. Regrettably in Ghana, little attention is paid to the effect that students’ self-concept and intrinsic motivation have on mathematics achievement. Questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 89 students together with the end of first semester results were used for the study. The correlation study design was used to study the relationship between first year students’ self-concept, intrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement and further sought to determine the extent to which students’ mathematics achievement could be predicted from their self-concept and intrinsic motivation. The study identified a strong positive correlation between self-concept and intrinsic motivation; a moderate positive relationship between students’ mathematics achievement and self-concept; as well as a moderate positive correlation between mathematics achievement and intrinsic motivation. Although, both self-concept and intrinsic motivation are related to mathematics achievement, it is only intrinsic motivation which is able to predict mathematics achievement. This research has therefore highlighted the need to pay attention to the impact that self-concept and intrinsic motivation have on students’ mathematics achievement. Lectures concerned in teaching Algebra and Trigonometry should make every effort to design and implement teaching strategies that foster the development of students’ self-concept and intrinsic motivation.

Source: UCC
Relationship between Formal and Informal Caregivers at the Paediatric Ward of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

Relationships between caregivers could be coordinated or conflicted in the caregiving process. Coordinated relationships have been found to improve health outcomes, reduce stress attached to caregiving and improve patient satisfaction of health care quality. The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital has taken a step in boosting coordination between formal and informal caregivers by incorporating informal caregivers in the care delivery process by providing a mothers’ hostel. This study sought to explore the relationship between formal and informal caregivers at the Paediatric Ward of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The interpretivist paradigm was used and interviews and observation were used to explore how formal and informal caregivers relate at the Paediatric Ward of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Based on the conceptual framework of this study, the emerging trends from the data gathered were organised into three main themes namely: the caregiving activities of formal and informal caregivers; communication between formal and informal caregivers; and the role expectations and perceptions of formal and informal caregivers. The study found that the caregiving activities of formal and informal caregivers, their communication and their role expectations and perceptions determined both coordination and conflict between them. Interventions by health institutions, health professionals and individuals need to be directed towards boosting coordination between formal and informal caregivers at the hospitals.

Source: UCC
Relationship between home characteristics and academic performance of students’ of public junior high schools in Moree, Central Region, Ghana

This study investigated the relationship between home characteristics and students’ academic performance among public junior high school (JHS) students in Moree. Home characteristics of this study focused on parental involvement in school activities (PI), parents’ absence from home (PA), parental educational background (PE), and the major economic activity of parents (PO). The sample consisted of 200 students selected by the simple random sampling technique and census with parents of these sampled students’ responding to a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of .719. Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (.) was used to measure the strength of the relationship. The key findings of the study suggested that the relationships between PI and SAP was positive and very weak, p (198) = .128, p = .072; PA and SAP was positive and very weak, p (198) = .058, p = .414; PE and SAP was also positive and very weak, p (198) = .022, p = .754; however, PO and SAP was negative but very weak, p (198) = -.113, p = .110. Meanwhile, the correlations involved in these relationships were not statistically significant. The study thus concluded that, home characteristics were not associated with students’ academic performance; that these home characteristics were not likely to improve students’ academic performance; there could be other factors relating to the student, teacher, or the community posing as main predictors of students’ academic performance. It is recommended that stakeholders and implementers of educational policies sensitize parents on the need to get genuinely involved in wards’ education. Past students from the community should be made to serve the same purpose.

Source: UCC
Relationship between human resource management practices and intention to quit among administrative Staff of the University of Cape Coast.

The study was conducted to assess the relationship between human resource management practices and intention to quit among administrative staff of the University of Cape Coast. Descriptive research design was adopted in this study with much reliance on quantitative research approach. The study adopted simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. The primary data was collected through self-administration. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was configured with the SPSS Process Macro Package for the primary data processing. Statistical techniques such as Pearson moment correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were used to ascertain the findings relating to the specific objectives. The study revealed that respondents consented with the orientation and training practices of the University. They had education on their new job and received both on and off the job training. Again, compensation and health and safety practices were good according to the responses the respondents gave. However, the respondents alerted that their compensation do not commensurate their skills, knowledge and experiences. The findings also revealed that a statistically significant moderate negative correlation existed between human resource management practices and employee turnover intentions (r=-0.391; p=0.000: p<0.05). The study recommended that management should made available necessary first aid equipment for each institution and also, there should be proper wiring and ventilation in the offices to protect staff from accident at the workplace.

Source: UCC
Relationship Between Information Asymmetry And Individual Investors’ Decision On Investment

This research is aimed at assessing the relationship between information asymmetry and individual investor’s decisions on investment in Ghana. Specifically, the study identified the determinants of information asymmetry, investment decision-making process by the individual investors, factors that influence investment decision and how information asymmetry affects investment decisions. The research employed quantitative with explanatory and descriptive research designs. A sample size of 280 individuals who undertake investment formed the basis from which primary data were collected from. The results showed that quality of financial statements; product market share and third party’s opinion were the major determinants of information asymmetry. Many investment decision-making processed were also followed by the investors. Financial information of the investing firm; previous performance of the investing firms’ stock were the leading factors that affect investment decision. There was positively significant association between information asymmetric and investment decisions. The study concluded that there are many determinants of information asymmetric and information asymmetric is influenced by some factors. As there is an improvement in information asymmetry, investment decisions are also well determined. The study recommended that investors have to focus more on the opinions from third parties and also enrich their information asymmetry.

Source: UCC
The relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction: a case of senior staff at Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Head Office, Accra

The relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction is well established in the literature. Although job satisfaction contributes to employee performance, it is unclear how job characteristics affect employee satisfaction. Anecdotal evidence shows that the ECG workers in Accra Headquarters do not stay on the job as expected and show tendencies of dissatisfaction. The hypothesis is that this may be due to factors beyond incomes levels. The overall characteristics of the job therefore become important for investigation. The study sought to examine the relationship between job characteristics and job satisfaction of employee’s using senior staff workers at ECG Head Office, Accra, as the case study. Based on Likert Scale, a survey questionnaire was designed to collect data from a total of 147 respondents by using census sampling technique. The data was analyzed quantitatively using factor analysis based on Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure (KMO) of Sampling Adequacy and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity. Spearman’s rank correlation was then used to examine the nature of the relationship between satisfaction and facets of job characteristics. The study revealed that the senior staff of ECG, Accra, placed more premium on pay and promotion potential. Also, the senior staff was more satisfied with the people they work. Generally, the members of senior staff were satisfied with their work at the ECG head office, Accra. Moreover, the latent factor of the indicators of satisfaction level of senior staff was found to be highly related to the overall satisfaction of senior staff. There was also a positive correlation between the facets of job characteristics and level of satisfaction of senior staff, although only communication was significantly related to level of satisfaction of senior staff. The study concluded that Senior Staff of ECG Head Office, Accra, see pay and promotion potential as the most important issue to consider when dealing with job characteristics but work activities as the least important variable. Based on a positive correlation between the facets of job characteristics and level of satisfaction of senior staff, it was concluded that an improvement in the facets of job characteristics would motivate the Senior Staff and increase their level of satisfaction to the work they do at ECG Head Office, Accra. The study therefore recommends that the management of ECG, Accra Head Office, should take issues of staff pay and promotion seriously by maintaining credibility in the implementation of the various measures to enhance senior staff satisfaction on the job.

Source: UCC
Relationship between lead in drinking water and mothers' breast milk in the Volta region of Ghana

The concentrations of lead in drinking water and breast milk samples from healthy lactating mothers who depended on the water for drinking were determined and relationship between them was established. Fifty four drinking water samples (Tap and borehole) and fifty four breast milk samples were collected in February 2009 from three districts in the Volta Region and analyzed for their lead contents. Smoking habit was also taken into consideration. Drinking tap water showed higher lead levels (mean 0.018 mg/l= 1.80µg/dl) than drinking borehole water (mean 0.012 mg/l=1.20µg/dl)). Also, breast milk of mothers drinking tap water (mean 0.024mg/l =2.4µg/dl) showed higher lead levels compared to mothers drinking borehole water (mean 0.020mg/l=2.0 µg/dl). There was positive relationship between mean lead levels in drinking water and mothers' breast milk samples. The mean lead levels in breast milk of mothers drinking tap water and tap water samples were 0.024 mg/l and 0.018 mg/l respectively, while the mean lead levels were 0.020 mg/l and 0.012 mg/l in breast milk of mothers drinking borehole water and borehole water samples respectively. Exposure to smoking increased lead levels in breast milk samples analysed. The calculated daily intake of lead in breast milk was based on 840 ml breast milk for a 5.5 kg infant per day. Infant of mothers drinking borehole water would ingest 3.06 µg/kg/day; however infant of mothers drinking tap water would ingest 3.66µg/kg/day. These values were lower than the permissible value established by WHO which is 5 µg/ kg/day of breast milk

Source: UCC