ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Does learning orientation matter for nonprofit organization performance? Empirical evidence from Ghana

Purpose – Many changes taking place in the nonprofit sector have created an environment in which organizational learning could be regarded as representing a high-profile notion with strategic importance for nonprofit organizations (NPOs), but its application in the nonprofit sector has not received adequate research attention. The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical test of the relationship between learning orientation and NPO performance. Design/methodology/approach – Literature on organizational learning is briefly reviewed and a marketing-focussed perspective on learning is adopted. Then drawing from resource-based theory and relationship marketing, a conceptual model is developed that links learning orientation to NPO performance, predicting that noneconomic performance would mediate between learning orientation and economic performance. Using Baron and Kenny’s mediation regression procedure, this prediction is subjected to an empirical test with survey data collected on 118 NPOs operating in Ghana. Findings – The paper finds a general support for the view that noneconomic performance is the primary organizational feature that drives economic performance and that learning orientation is an outgrowth of this characteristic. Originality/value – This study addresses the important question of whether paying attention to their mission helps NPOs acquire critical resources from their funding entities, discussing this issue in the context of organizational learning to respond to RBT scholars’ call for more research that highlight the underlying processes through which strategic resources (such as organizational learning) contribute to the organization’s financial outcomes. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Source: UG
Does Logba Have an Adjective Class?

According to Dixon (2004) languages distinguish easily between verbs and nouns but not adjectives. This means that in some languages words which express adjectival concepts are either derived words or belong to a different class. This situation possibly informs Welmers (1973) to warn that one should be circumspect in making judgements about words which are adjectives and those which are not because according to him “what one may consider an adjective may not be an adjective after all.” This paper seeks to find out if there is an adjective class in Logba

Source: UG
Does losartan prevent cerebral edema? A preliminary study using a vascular compartment model.

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of Losartan, a non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist used for the treatment of hypertension, on the movement of proteins and fluids across the vascular compartment in ischemic cat brains. MATERIAL/METHODS: The experiments were carried out on anesthetized cats under artificial ventilation and autohemoperfusion of the brain with a stable volume of blood with the help of a resistograph. Cerebral ischemia was induced by a 15-minute arrest of the autohemoperfusion pump, tying various anastomoses in the neck region, and reducing arterial pressure to 40-30 mm Hg by hemorrhage with subsequent reinfusion of the lost blood. RESULTS: In the postischemic period in the cat brain, control experiments showed the onset of metabolic acidosis and an increase in permeability of the brain capillaries to fluids and protein molecules. Intravenous introduction of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, at a dose of 3 mg x kg(-1) 10 minutes into the postischaemic period, enhanced the normalization of metabolic and transcapillary exchange. Thus vector permeability was reversed from blood-to-tissue in the control situation (without losartan) to tissue-to-blood during losartan administration. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide strong evidence that losartan may play a role in preventing cerebral edema, and that the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in postischemic cerebrovascular events.

Source: UG
Does Non-farm Income Improve or Worsen Income Inequality? Evidence from Rural Ghana

This paper uses nationally representative household survey data of 2006 to examine the effect of non-farm income on income inequality in rural Ghana. Employing the Gini-decomposition technique, results indicate that aggregate non-farm income increased income inequality among rural households in Ghana. In terms of its components, while non-farm self-employment income reduced income inequality, non-farm wage income increased income inequality. A factor-decomposition of inequality revealed that education is the single most important variable contributing to the inequality-increasing nature of non-farm income. The effect of education on inequality is more pronounced for non-farm wage income. The policy implication is for a narrowing of education inequality among rural households in Ghana to create greater access to non-farm employment to reduce rural income inequality and poverty.

Source: UG
Does Organizational Support Moderate the Influence of Family–Work Conflict on Career Progression?

One of the major challenges faced by female employees is the difficulty in juggling between family and work roles. This affects their career progression in the organization. Therefore, this study aims at examining the buffering role of perceived organizational support in the relationship between family–work conflict and career progression. The study utilizes the quantitative research paradigm and employed the survey research design. Responses from two hundred and twenty (220) female officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority– Customs Division were analysed using Smart PLS – 3.0 and Haye’s (2017) PROCESS macro. The result of the study revealed that family–work conflict is negatively related with career progression (career goal progression, professional ability development, and promotion speed). Perceived organizational support moderated the association between family–work conflict and both professional ability development and promotion speed. However, it did not moderate the relationship between family–work conflict and career goal progression. These findings imply that for female officers to progress in the midst of family–work conflict, organizations must institute support systems and policies to reduce its impact on career progression.

Source: UG
Does Past Condom Use Moderate the Future Condom Use Intention-Behavior Relationship? Results from a Ghanaian Sample

Behavioral intention is an important predictor of actual behavior. Yet, people often fail to act on their intentions. This study used panel data to examine whether intention interacts with past behavior in determining future behavior. Young people in the Eastern Region of Ghana (N = 956, 495 = female, 461 = male) completed a structured self-administered questionnaire, assessing intentions to use condoms and past condom use behavior at Time 1, and future condom use behavior at Time 2. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that intentions to use condoms and past condom use behavior accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in future condom use behavior. In addition, past condom use moderated the future condom use intention–behavior relationship. These results demonstrate the usefulness of considering young people's past experiences with condoms in informing the design of condom use skills training. In other words, a condom use skills training intervention that uses the pedagogical approach of starting from the “known” to the “unknown” might benefit young Ghanaians.

Source: UG
Does past failure inhibit future entrepreneurial intent? Evidence from Ghana

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between past entrepreneurial failure and future entrepreneurial intentions. It also considers the moderating role of past entrepreneurial failure on the relationship between attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC) and entrepreneurial intentions. Design/methodology/approach Data from the Ghana Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Adult Population Survey (2013) are used to test the hypotheses developed after an extensive literature review. The empirical specification was estimated with a probit of standard form and marginal derivatives estimated for the purposes of interpretation. Findings The mean future entrepreneurial intent is 63.2 per cent of the sample with 75 per cent having failed in the past and 60 per cent never failed before. Also, only 20.9 per cent of the interviewed entrepreneurs have failed at a past entrepreneurial activity. Past entrepreneurial failure has a positive effect on future entrepreneurial intentions. The interaction between attitude and failure yields a positive effect on future entrepreneurial intentions. The same effects can be reported for the interactions between subjective norms and failure as well as PBC and failure. Originality/value In this study, the authors are able to show that the mean moderational effects are important but they can be deceptive. Rather, a decomposition helps the authors to disaggregate these effects to better understand the underlying mechanisms.

Source: UG
Does Peer Influence Affect Students Participation in Mathematics?

This study explores students’ views regarding how peer influence impacts on their learning of mathematics. Twenty students from four Junior High Schools (12-14years) in Ghana formed the sample for this study. The instruments used for collecting the data were observation and interview. The findings revealed that all the participants have the enthusiasm and willingness to answer questions in class. However, it was interesting to note that all the participants reported that given a wrong answer is something they all try to avoid as their colleagues will mock at them. Students’ participation is to a large extent influenced by the kind of feedback they get from their colleagues when they answer a question, as all the participants indicated that they prefer to remain silent than to give a wrong answer. The result challenges teachers’ to be proactive in promoting a classroom environment which is free from intimidation and fear of participation. The results also call on teachers and students to see mistakes as part of the learning process and correcting such misconceptions among students lead to the creation of new knowledge.

Source: UG
Does personal freedom matter for financial development in Africa?

t has repeatedly been claimed that institutions play an important, and decisive role in economic development. Many studies have analyzed the effect of formal institutions on financial development while informal institutions have received less attention. With this paper, we contribute to the effect of personal freedom as a measure for informal institutions on financial development using annual data from 40 African countries spanning 2000 to 2020. We employ the novel fixed effect panel quantile regression technique. The study documents that, in the upper quantile, personal freedom nega tively and significantly affects financial development. This finding explicates that, a low level of personal freedom restricts human choices, limiting personal participation in the development of the financial system in Africa. Thus, personal freedom is important for Africa’s financial development. The study recommends that policymakers rally resolute support to defend and protect human rights and personal liberties that encourage human choices. Additionally, the findings intuitively reinforce the pre-requisite for African governments to regularly evaluate policies that promote financial sector development, particularly economic freedom and government expenditures

Source: UG
Does provision of Feedback increase Work Engagement and Reduce Cynicism Among Employees?

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of providing feedback on employee’s engagement and cynicism. This study posits that the relationship between positive feedback and engagement is mutually reinforcing and leads to an upward spiral effect. That is positive / constructive feedback boost engagement at workplace while negative/ destructive feedback can lead to disengagement of employees which in turn may give rise to cynicism. The paper defines various types of feedbacks which are provided to employees in organizations in relation to their work and performance. Further a conceptual model is offered which identifies the relation of positive and negative feedback with engagement and cynicism. Lastly it highlights the aspects which if taken into consideration while providing feedback may drive employee engagement and reduce cynicism at workplace. It would be valuable to both practitioners and academic communities who are seeking to explore various antecedents of employee engagement and how it can used to control cynicism at workplace.

Source: UG
Does psychological empowerment improve renewable energy technology acceptance and recommendation? Evidence from 17 rural communities

This research investigates the incorporation of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Empowerment Theory into a robust construct within a Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). Utilizing a cross-sectional survey approach, the study focuses on selected rural communities of Northern Ghana. The research encompasses 613 respondents, with an initial pilot study involving 80 partici pants. The study yields notable findings, establishing statistically significant and positive correlations between empowerment and attitude within the rural Ghanaian context. Furthermore, it identifies a significant influence of purchase intention on the propensity to recommend renewable energy technologies among rural households. These outcomes align with the principles of the Empowerment Theory and are in congruence with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), particularly SDG-7 (universal access to energy) and SDG-12 (responsible production and consumption). The study’s implications extend to policy recommendations, spe cifically tailored to the unique energy landscape of Ghana. These findings contribute to a deeper comprehension of renewable energy proliferation dynamics and emphasize their crucial role in advancing sustainable devel opment objectives and fostering responsible energy practices.

Source: UG
Does publishing poultry vaccination schedule increase awareness and compliance among small scale farmers? Evidence from Eastern Ghana

Poultry vaccination reduces birds’ mortality risk and its related eco nomic impacts. The Veterinary Services Directorate of Ghana publishes a national poultry vaccination schedule for farmers to comply with. Yet disease outbreaks occur, raising the question of whether poultry farmers comply with the vaccina tion protocols. This paper assesses vaccination compliance and its determinants among small-scale farmers, using Birim Central Municipality as a case study. We employed descriptive statistics, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and a Poisson count model to analyse cross-sectional data collected from 60 poultry farmers. We find that level of awareness about vaccination is higher than the level of compliance. The Poisson model reveals that access to veterinary services, poultry management training, large flock size, and having experienced poultry disease on the farm positively affect the extent of compliance with the schedule. On the other hand, male farmers are less likely to comply than female farmers. The most pressing constraints to poultry vaccination are inadequate access to finance, inadequate veterinarians and high cost of veterinary services. We recommend that poultry industry stakeholders take necessary measures to increase farmers’ contacts with veterinary officers and intensify peer education on vaccination.

Source: UG
Does radical cure of asymptomatic plasmodium falciparum place adults in endemic areas at increased risk of recurrent symptomatic malaria?

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Does Socio-Economic Status Have Different Impact on Fluid and Crystallized Abilities? Comparing Scores on Raven’s Progressive Matrices, Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children II Story Completion and Kilifi Naming Test Among Children in Ghana

Current literature shows an association between intelligence and socio-cultural or socio-economic factors. The available evidence supports a stronger effect of exogenous factors on measures of crystalized intelligence than on fluid intelligence. Despite this, the sources of variability in fluid and crystalized intelligence have not been explored adequately in intelligence research. The purpose of this study was to compare performance on tests that measure fluid and crystallized intelligence among children selected from public and private schools in Ghana. We tested the assumption that socio-economic status (SES) will have a stronger effect on tests that measure crystallized intelligence than on fluid intelligence. We selected 185 children between 6 and 12 years old from private and public schools, and used inclusion in a private or public school as a proxy for SES. We administered the Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM), a fluid intelligence test, and the KABC II story completion subtest as a measure of inductive reasoning and crystallized intelligence and the Kilifi Naming Test, a verbal ability measure designed to minimize the effect of school on vocabulary. The results showed age-related improvement in scores on all three tests, with effect sizes ranging from from 0.42 to 0.52. We also found significant effect of type of school on all the tests with effect sizes ranging from 0.37 to 0.66. The results also showed an increasing disparity in performance on the tests favoring children selected from private schools. These suggest that fluid and crystallized intelligence are affected by socioeconomic factors. The results also showed that SES factors tend to affect crystallized ability more than fluid ability. The results are discussed in the context of differences in socioeconomic resources available to children, such as the quality of education in low- and middle-income countries.

Source: UG
Does Sports Betting Affect Investment Behaviour? Evidence from Ghanaian Sports Betting Participants.

The study sought to assess the impact of sports betting on the investment behaviour of Ghanaians, focusing on sports betting centers within the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. The objectives of this observational study were to determine how individuals perceive the risk of sports lotteries as opposed to investment, to determine if sports lottery was viewed as an alternative to investments and savings, and to understand how participation in sports lotteries affects individuals’ ability to save and invest. In adopting a survey approach, 99 sports betting participants across selected betting centers were examined using questionnaires and the data subsequently analyzed through cross-tabulations. The study found that sports betting behaviour had a complementary rather than a substitutionary effect on investment behaviour. The participants were both risk-aware and risk-averse but engaged nevertheless in betting for a chance of winning a high payoff. Thus, the findings demonstrated that sports betting participants viewed betting as a means to an end, a chance to improve their financial circumstances, rather than as a substitute for investing, and exhibited understanding of a clear distinction, with regards to behaviour, towards investing and sports betting. In return for a substantive payoff, the respondents were willing to stop sports betting, thereby indicating that the financial payoffs were the main motivation for sports betting. The findings also provided evidence that individual sports betting behaviour can be moderated by influencing one’s financial circumstances.

Source: UG
Does sustainable agricultural growth require a system of innovation? Evidence from Ghana and Burkina Faso

This paper tests the ‘systems of innovation’ hypothesis for a selection of crops in Ghana and Burkina Faso that have shown significant growth in production over an approximately 20-year period. The question is whether such growth can only occur if supported by a system of innovation. Using two indicators (a common understanding on objectives and priorities, and a high level of interactivity), we find little evidence for the existence of anything that might be considered a high functioning system of innovation. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Source: UG
Does the design and implementation of proven innovations for delivering basic primary health care services in rural communities fit the urban setting: The case of Ghana's Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS)

Rapid urban population growth is of global concern as it is accompanied with several new health challenges. The urban poor who reside in informal settlements are more vulnerable to these health challenges. Lack of formal government public health facilities for the provision of health care is also a common phenomenon among communities inhabited by the urban poor. To help ameliorate this situation, an innovative urban primary health system was introduced in urban Ghana, based on the milestones model developed with the rural Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) system. This paper provides an overview of innovative experiences adapted while addressing these urban health issues, including the process of deriving constructive lessons needed to inform discourse on the design and implementation of the sustainable Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) model as a response to urban health challenges in Southern Ghana.Methods: This research was conducted during the six-month pilot of the urban CHPS programme in two selected areas acting as the intervention and control arms of the design. Daily routine data were collected based on milestones initially delineated for the rural CHPS model in the control communities whilst in the intervention communities, some modifications were made to the rural milestones.Results: The findings from the implementation activities revealed that many of the best practices derived from the rural CHPS experiment could not be transplanted to poor urban settlements due to the unique organizational structures and epidemiological characteristics found in the urban context. For example, constructing Community Health Compounds and residential facilities within zones, a central component to the rural CHPS strategy, proved inappropriate for the urban sector. Night and weekend home visit schedules were initiated to better accommodate urban residents and increase coverage. The breadth of the disease burden of the urban residents also requires a broader expertise and training of the CHOs.Conclusions: Access to improved urban health services remains a challenge. However, current policy guidelines for the implementation of a primary health model based on rural experiences and experimental design requires careful review and modifications to meet the needs of the urban settings. © 2014 Adongo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Source: UG