ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of Process and Reach Models on Forgiveness and Anger of Ghanaian Counsellor Trainees

The study explored the effects of Process and REACH models on forgiveness and anger for counsellor trainees. The researcher used the sequential explanatory mixed method model which involved the use of questionnaire and interview guide to gather data for the study. The research design of the study was the quasi-experimental and an interview. One research question and seven hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study consisted of all first year postgraduate counsellor trainees’ in the University of Ghana, Methodist University Ghana (MUG) and University of Education, Winneba totaling 80. They comprised 34 males and 46 females. Sampling techniques that were used for both the quantitative and qualitative aspects were the simple random sampling and purposive sampling respectively. For the quantitative aspect, the data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). For the qualitative aspect, data reduction technique and content analysis were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that the Process and REACH models had significant positive effect on forgiveness among participants as well as reducing the anger levels of participants. Gender, age and marital status did not have any significant influence on forgiveness and anger when counsellor trainees were exposed to the Process and REACH models. Based on these findings, it was recommended that professional counsellors and psychologists should consider these two therapies as alternatives to improving forgiveness levels and reducing anger

Source: UCC
Effect of Procurement Management Practices on Sustainability and Innovation Outcome Among Mining Firms in Ghana

Despite the importance of mining to job creation and its positive impact on economies and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), procurement management practices on sustainability and innovation outcome seems to be a major problem faced by most mining firms in Ghana (Barenblitz et al., 2021). Nevertheless, there is the need for studies to investigate the procurement practices and its effect on sustainability and innovation outcome (Adjei-Bamfo et al., 2021). In this regard, the current study sought to examine the effect of Procurement Management Practices on Sustainability and Innovation Outcome among Mining Firms in Ghana. The study was underpinned by the theory of constraint and the network theory. The study employed the positivism philosophy, quantitative approach and explanatory design of which respondents from the mining firms in Ghana were targeted. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Out of a population of 266, the number recorded as reliable and used for the analysis and processed with the IBM SPSS Statistics version 26 was 232. Following data processing, descriptive tools, including frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and inferential tools, were used to analyse the data. Findings of the study indicates that, Tender and Technical Specification, Innovation Risk, Competitive Innovation Conundrum and Supplier Relationship Management were found to significantly predict Sustainability and Innovation outcomes. However, Political Regime was found not to significantly influence Sustainability and Innovation outcomes. The study therefore recommended that, management of mining firms must pay attention to Procurement Management Practices as it contributes highly to improving sustainability and innovation outcomes.

Source: UCC
Effect of product innovation as a strategy on sales performance at Guinness Ghana Limited

There is the need for strategic managers to have a better comprehension of how firms benefit from new product innovation so as to be able to overcome its competitors. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to examine the effect of product innovation as a strategy on sales performance. Purposive sampling and stratified random sampling methods were used to select 250 staff members of Guinness Ghana Limited (GGL). Questionnaire was key instrument for the primary data used in the study and was analysed with the aid of SPSS version 20. The study found that Guinness Ghana Limited has implemented two strategies; new products and packaging innovation that have increased customers level of satisfaction and retention. Adopted strategies of product innovation is viewed to be very effective and that, the right amount of resources is employed. There was a strong positive and significant correlation between successful product innovation and sales performance. In ensuring that GGL improves its sales, GGL should ensure availability of their products at all times. Moreover, GGL should ensure right pricing of products and products visibility and also localize adverts to suit customers. In addition, GGL should improve on sales materials and engage in promotional activities that are directed towards product value.

Source: UCC
Effect of Psychological Distress and Coping Mechanisms on Maternal Wellbeing of Preterm Mothers in the Accra and Tema Metropolis of Ghana

The study examined effects of psychological distress and coping mechanisms on maternal wellbeing of preterm mothers. Hundred (100) preterm mothers from the Tema General Hospital, Police Hospital and SSNIT (Trust) Hospital participated in this study, sampled in proportions of 73, 18 and 9 respectively. A sequential explanatory mixed study design was employed and the instruments for collecting quantitative data were the Kessler 10, the Impact of Event Scale, Brief COPE, Parental Stressor Scale and the Mental Health Continuum Scale Short Form. Results from the analysis showed that Problem-focused coping did not show any significant difference when compared to levels maternal wellbeing. The frail appearance of infant in incubators in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and sight and sounds did not significantly predict psychological distress of preterm mothers and there was a weak negative relationship between mother‟s psychological distress and maternal wellbeing and also between posttraumatic stress reaction and maternal wellbeing. There was also a significant positive relationship between post-traumatic stress reaction and psychological distress. Demographics (age of mother, days in NICU, marital status) did not moderate the relationship between psychological distress and maternal wellbeing. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data. Financial constraints, employment, stay in mothers‟ hostel, fluctuating weight of baby, care of other children and marital issues were identified as Challenges. Levels of maternal wellbeing revealed the themes physical and psychological wellbeing. Coping mechanisms that were identified were prayer, social support and then education of mothers. The study recommends that Clinical Health Psychologists are needed to bring about holistic healthcare for preterm mothers particularly as some hospitals had none.

Source: UCC
Effect of Psychological Distress, Spirituality and Nutritional Status on Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer burden may contribute to increased psychological distress and its impact on quality of life not overlooked. This study aimed to examine the effect of psychological distress, spirituality and nutritional status on quality of life among women with breast cancer. The descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. One hundred and one breast cancer patients were recruited using the simple random sampling technique from Peace and Love Hospital, Kumasi and Sweden Ghana Medical Centre, Accra to complete the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, FACIT-Sp-12, Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and World Health Organization Quality of life- BREF scale. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical approaches. The findings revealed that psychological distress is a significant predictor of quality of life among breast cancer patients, spirituality is a significant predictor of quality of life among breast cancer patients, nutritional status has a significant effect on quality of life among breast cancer patients, also psychological distress, spirituality, and nutritional status mutually affect quality of life among breast cancer patients’ and finally spirituality does not significantly moderate the relationship between psychological distress and quality of life. The study recommends that, patient centered care approach could ease the psychological distress of breast cancer patients, also screening for nutritional status and spirituality at the time of diagnosis should be considered to help health professionals provide holistic healthcare delivery.

Source: UCC
Effect oF Radio Advertisement on Brand Awareness of Herbal Product in Tamale Metropolis

The study was conducted to assess the effect of radio advertisement on brand awareness of herbal medicine in Tamale Metropolis. The study adopted the positive research paradigm because the study was quantitative in nature. The descriptive research design was considered appropriate for the study because it made it possible to assess people‘s knowledge, perception, beliefs, preferences and satisfaction and use statistical tools to measure their responses. The population for the study involves 365 customers who patronize herbal medicine in the Tamale Metropolis. A sample size of 185 customers were selected and surveyed accordingly through the convenient sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and standard deviations and inferential statistics such as standard multiple regression was used for data analysis. The results of the study revealed that radio advertisement on herbal medicine inform customers about the product and facilitates brand recall. Similarly, it was revealed that the customers naturally retrieve their preferred herbal medicine's brand which gives the product a greater chance of it being considered for purchase and then actually purchased. The study recommended that distributors of herbal medicine must conduct periodic marketing survey so as to determine, at some earmarked periods, the level of customers‘ satisfaction with their marketing activities especially its radio advertising strategy on brand awareness of these herbal medicines. © University of Cape Coast https://ir.ucc.edu.gh/xmlui

Source: UCC
Effect of rational emotive behaviour therapy in reducing examination anxiety among senior high school students in Kumasi

This study examined the effect of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) in reducing examination anxiety among students in Kumasi High School. The study adopted the quantitative approach and utilized a quasi-experimental design. Twenty (20) participants each were used for treatment and the control groups. The sample size was 40. The “Students Examination Anxiety Questionnaire (SEAQ)” was used for pretest and posttest data collection. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and Inferential statistics (Two-way mixed ANOVA, independent sample t-test and ANOVA) were used for the analysis. The study found a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in their examination anxiety. The study revealed that there was a significant difference between male and female students in terms of their level of examination anxiety; female students experienced more examination anxiety than male students. Also, there was no significant difference in the examination anxiety of students on the basis of their ages. Finally, there was no significant difference in the examination anxiety of students on the basis of their programmes of study. It was recommended that school authorities should collaborate with school counsellors to screen and identify students with examination anxiety so that REBT treatment can be planned for them since the study found that REBT was effective in reducing examination anxiety.

Source: UCC
Effect of react and 7e models of teaching on senior high school students’ achievement in molecular genetics

The aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of the REACT, 7E and conventional teaching approaches on Senior High School students‘ achievement in molecular genetics. The study also sought to determine students‘ perceptions about the REACT and 7E models of teaching. Three intact Form 2 Elective Biology classes from three public Senior High Schools in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District were selected via random sampling using computer generated random numbers to participate in this research. The three intact classes were randomly assigned as the REACT, 7E and conventional groups. Seventy-nine students took part in this research. The data collection instruments used in the study were a semi-structured interview and two achievement tests on the diversity of life and life processes in living things, and Nucleic acids and protein synthesis. Each of the achievement tests consisted of 30 test items. One-way ANOVA, independent sample t-test and thematic content analysis technique were employed to analyse the data. The result of the study revealed that the performance of students in the REACT and 7E groups were at par. However, they outperformed their counterparts in the conventional group. Again, the study revealed that the REACT and 7E teaching models could not bridge the gap between the achievement of low and high achievers. The study also revealed that overall the student had positive perceptions about the REACT and 7E models of teaching. In view of the findings of the study, it was recommended that in teaching science concepts such as molecular genetics, the REACT and 7E models of teaching should be employed.

Source: UCC
Effect of reconditioning of discrepant cocoa on the quality of cocoa beans

Reconditioning of cocoa beans which involves re-drying, sieving, sorting and re-bagging of cocoa beans is a very important process in the cocoa industry. The study was conducted to identify the fungi on and in cocoa beans before and after reconditioning. Defective cocoa beans namely, Damp, Wet, Not Thoroughly Dried (NTD), Mouldy beans and Good beans (control) were placed on water agar and Potato Dextrose Agar before and after reconditioning to isolate and identify external and internal fungi following the cut test technique. The result showed that a total of ten fungal species were isolated from the types of defective beans before and after reconditioning. These were; Absidia spp. Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium spp, Mucor spp, Paecilomyces spp, Penicillium spp, Rhizopus spp. Syncephalastrum spp. And Trichoderma spp. However, after reconditioning the number of fungi reduced to five (5) that is Absidia spp, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Mucor spp and Rhizopus spp in the various treatments. The cut test also showed five internal fungi in the various treatments and these were Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Mucor spp, Penicillium spp, and Rhizopus spp, High moisture content of the cocoa beans recorded before reconditioning was reduced to the acceptable safe moisture content of 7.5% or less after reconditionig. The FFA levels for the healthy beans (control) (0.77%), wet beans (1.64%), Damp beans (1.43%) and NTD beans (1.65%) were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the FFA levels in the Mouldy beans (21.9%) after reconditioning. It can be concluded that reconditioning was capable of salvaging NTD beans, Damp beans and Wet beans with high moisture content from further spoilage

Source: UCC
The effect of recurrent malaria infections on bone and cartilage at the distal femoral epiphysis of rats: A histological study

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the normal changes that occur at the distal femoral epiphysis of rats and determine whether recurrent bouts of malaria altered them in anyway. Materials and Methods: The 1st phase of the study made use of 30 Sprague‑Dawley rats aged 4 weeks. Two rats were culled each week for 15 weeks, the femoral bones of the rats were then harvested. Histological sections of the distal femora were prepared and studied. The 2nd phase involved 32 animals that were randomly assigned to four groups of 8 animals each. (Group A to D) Group A was given oral antimalarial drugs only, Group B was inoculated with Plasmodium berghei (NK65) only, Group C was inoculated with P. berghei (NK65) and treated with oral antimalarial drug, and Group D animals were neither inoculated nor given antimalarial drugs. At the end of the experiment histological sections of the femoral epiphysis of the rats were prepared and studied. Results: The microscopic architecture of the epiphyseal cartilage changed significantly as the animals aged. Significant differences were observed in mean bone thickness of the various experimental groups. There was however no significant difference in the mean cartilage thickness when comparison was made within the various groups. Conclusion: Although recurrent bouts of malaria infection appear not to alter the normal histological changes that occur in epiphyseal bone and cartilage layers, it most likely has an adverse effect on the rate of bone tissue deposition.

Source: UCC
The effect of recurrent malaria infections on bone and cartilage at the distal femoral epiphysis of rats: A histological study

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the normal changes that occur at the distal femoral epiphysis of rats and determine whether recurrent bouts of malaria altered them in anyway. Materials and Methods: The 1st phase of the study made use of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4 weeks. Two rats were culled each week for 15 weeks, the femoral bones of the rats were then harvested. Histological sections of the distal femora were prepared and studied. The 2nd phase involved 32 animals that were randomly assigned to four groups of 8 animals each. (Group A to D) Group A was given oral antimalarial drugs only, Group B was inoculated with Plasmodium berghei (NK65) only, Group C was inoculated with P. berghei (NK65) and treated with oral antimalarial drug, and Group D animals were neither inoculated nor given antimalarial drugs. At the end of the experiment histological sections of the femoral epiphysis of the rats were prepared and studied. Results: The microscopic architecture of the epiphyseal cartilage changed significantly as the animals aged. Significant differences were observed in mean bone thickness of the various experimental groups. There was however no significant difference in the mean cartilage thickness when comparison was made within the various groups. Conclusion: Although recurrent bouts of malaria infection appear not to alter the normal histological changes that occur in epiphyseal bone and cartilage layers, it most likely has an adverse effect on the rate of bone tissue deposition.

Source: UCC
Effect of reforestation on degraded soils in the moist semi deciduous zone of West Africa

Reforestation with trees and shrubs may be an effective means of increasing soil organic matter content and for regeneration of degraded lands. A study was conducted on a degraded farmland Chromic Luvisol (UNESCO/FAO) or Udic Rhodustalf (USDA, 1999) in the moist semi deciduous zone of West Africa, near Onwe, located at latitude 06o 41’ N, longitude 01o 28’ W, and at an altitude of 305m asl. The objective of the study was to quantify the improvement in soil physicochemical properties of degraded Chromic Luvisol with exotic leguminous tree species compared to grass vegetation in the moist semi-deciduous zone of West Africa. To quantify changes due to reforestation, we measured some physical and chemical properties of soil after 20 years (1989 – 2009) of reforestation with Acacia angustissima (Acacia), Cassia siamea (Cassia), and Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena) mixed and compared with soils under natural grass vegetation. Experimental design used for soil sampling and for evaluating the soil properties was randomized complete block with three replications. Soil organic matter increased from 1.19% to 2.02% while pH dropped from 5.65 to 4.79 in the reforested soils. Cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate, and gravimetric water content showed significant improvement under reforestation compared with soils under natural vegetation. Total porosity increased from 36.7% in the natural grass cover to 51.3% in the reforested soils. Reforestation resulted in significant reduction in bulk density from 1.67 to 1.26g/cm3 . Improvement of soil properties under reforestation indicates that planting of well-adapted and fast-growing exotic tree species can gradually improve soil quality and regenerate degraded lands. Reforestation may be thus recommended as a way of regenerating degraded land

Source: UCC
EFFECT OF REGULAR GARLIC INGESTION ON BODY WEIGHT AND BLOOD GLUCOSE: A CASE STUDY IN MICE

Garlic a perennial erect plant is known to have sulphur-containing compounds that act on the hypothalamus increasing the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to leptin which alters the set point at which satiety is reached causing an organism to eat less. Nine mice (six of which were obese) were used in this study and grouped into three. Groups A and B were made of 3 obese mice each whereas group C consisted of 3 non-obese mice. For group A and group C mice, 20 ml aqueous garlic extract was added to their feed daily whereas no garlic was added to the feed of group B mice. The study was carried out over a period of 44 days. The weight and blood glucose was measured weekly and the average for each group was computed. Results indicated that Group A mice recorded a reduction in mean body weight by 46.5% (p<0.05). Group B mice had significant increase in mean body weight by 46.2% (p<0.05). The blood glucose level dropped significantly by 18.5% (p<0.05) in group A mice. Garlic had weight loss and hypoglycemic effect in obese mice. These effects were absent in non-obese mice.

Source: UCC
Effect of Reheated Oil on Serum Lipid and Histological Changes of the Liver of Sprague-Dawley Rats and Possible Treatment with Vernonia Amygdalina

Background: Vernoniaamygdalina belongs to the family Asterecae. It contain an active components or phytochemicals that can lead to liver regenerations in hepatotoxicity in hepatoxicity.The effect of ingestion of heated and reheated sunflower oil on lipid and histological alterations and the effectiveness treatment with methanolic extract of Vernoniaamygdalina leaves was investigated with Sprague dawley rats. Method: The rats were divided into 4 groups, the first group fed with fresh sunflower oil, the second group fed with heated sunflower oil, the third group fed with reheated sunflower oil and the fourth group fed with only rat chow for 30 days. The rats were grouped into two, based on the dose of Vernoniaamygdalina administered that is low dose group (50mg/kg) and high dose group (250mg/kg). Result: There was hyperdyslipedemia in rats feed with heated and reheated sunflower oil with the amount of cholesterol to be 11.7mmol/Land 14.6mmol/L respectively. The amount of cholesterol was significant with p-value of 0.006 compared with the control group. The amount of triglyceride was also high for both heated and reheated oil with the amount of 8.8mmol/L and 9.0mmol/L respectively which was statistically significant compared with the control group (p-value- 0.005).The histological study of the liver showed severe degeneration of the hepatocytes, severe accumulation of fats, disruption and constriction of the sinusoids, destruction of kupffer cells and necrosis of the hepatocytes. Conclusion: After the treatment with the extract, these conditions were still present in the fresh, reheated and heated induced liver treated with the low dose of the extract.

Source: UCC