ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Experiential Pedagogy, Entrepreneurial Intentions and Students’ Entrepreneurial Behaviour: The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Experience

This study examined the effects of experiential pedagogy and entrepreneurial intention on entrepreneurial behaviour among students at the University of Cape Coast, with a focus on the moderating role of entrepreneurial experience in the relationship between experiential pedagogy and entrepreneurial behaviour. Using a stratified random sampling technique, data were collected from 298 respondents through a survey and analysed using PLS-SEM. The results indicated a statistically significant positive effect of experiential pedagogy on entrepreneurial behaviour. Additionally, experiential pedagogy had a significant positive effect on entrepreneurial intention, which, in turn, positively influenced entrepreneurial behaviour. However, entrepreneurial experience did not have a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention, nor did it moderate the relationship between experiential pedagogy and entrepreneurial behaviour. Based on these findings, it is recommended that universities provide students with more opportunities to gain practical entrepreneurial experience through internships, projects, and startup competitions to enhance their entrepreneurial development.

Source: UCC
An experimental investigation of the break-up of a liquid drop falling in a miscible fluid

A liquid drop falling in a lighter miscible fluid either undergoes a cascade of fragmentations, each appearing as a dynamic instability, or it mixes by diffusion, depending on the value of a fragmentation number F. F is the ratio of the diffusion time to the time required for the fluid to convectively mix. We assign an accurate experimental value to the critical fragmentation number F,, which appears to be universal. When the fragmentation occurs, the interfacial area increases via successive splittings which display striking symmetries. We present experimental evidence and a qualitative explanation of such a phenomenon

Source: UCC
An experimental study on ammonia assimilation through cyanobacteria in marine ornamental fish culture

Blue - green algae (Cyanobacteria) are widespread in nature and they are the primary producers in marine environment. Carbon fixation by cyanobacteria is the most common process in natural waters and also contributing to ammonia assimilation to some extent. To find out the efficiency of cyanobacteria in ammonia assimilation in a marine ornamental fish culture tank was studied, the blue green algae such as Oscillatoria nigra, Lyngbya majuscula, Spirulina plantensis, Chroococcus turgidus, Aphanocapsa delicatissama, Nitzschia palaceae were identified, screened, developed as mass culture and used for the study. Two ornamental fish culture tanks were selected as control and experimental. The Physico-chemical parameters along with ammonia were monitored during the study period. In the control tank, little elevated level of ammonia was recorded (0.44 to 1.72mg/l) and in the experimental tank, the low value of ammonia was recorded (0.44 to 0.09mg/l). The present study revealed the clear uptake of ammonia by cyanobacteria and the growth of cyanobacteria was also monitored by analyzing the chlorophyll content in the water. The initial chlorophyll value in the control and experimental tanks both were recorded as 0.0µg/l. The higher level of chlorophyll (17.87µg/l) was recorded at the end of the study in the experimental tank than the control tank (1.2µg/l). The isolated and identified micro algae (cyanobacteria) were maintain the water quality parameters in fish culture tanks mainly assimilation of ammonia and reduce the toxic level and sustain the growth of fish

Source: UCC
Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Activity-Based Teaching Method on Students‟ Achievement in Plane Geometry

Failure rate in mathematics has become a topical issue in the larger society because of the importance of the subject to humanity. As a result, researchers and educationists are particularly interested in methods of teaching which improve students‟ performance in the subject. Using the concurrent embedded design mainly through achievement tests, focus group discussion, questionnaires and observation, this study was purported to explore the effectiveness of the activity-based teaching method on students‟ achievement in plane geometry. Eighty-four Senior High School (SHS) form two students from two intact classes in two different purposively selected Category A schools participated in this study with one class assigned as experimental group and the other the control group. Findings of this study revealed that the two teaching approaches both had positive effect on the achievement of students. The experimental group however outperformed their counterparts of the control group. Male students of the experimental group also outperformed and showed a more positive perception towards the activity-based approach of teaching and learning than their female counterparts. Responses of both sexes revealed that the activity-based approach used was interesting, helped in sharing ideas and facilitated easy understanding of the concepts of plane geometry. It was recommended that the activity-based approach should be used in teaching and learning in this domain of mathematics.

Source: UCC
Expert Authority of Christian Religious Studies Teachers in Teaching Christian Religious Studies In the New Juaben Municipality

The purpose of this study was to find out the expert authority of Christian Religious Studies teachers in teaching and learning Christian Religious Studies in the New Juaben Municipality. The research design used was cross-sectional survey through quantitative research approach. The study covered all CRS teachers as well as form 1 and 2 students totaling 3,523 respondents. The sample size for the study was 423 which comprised 23 teachers and 400 students. The students were sampled using the proportionate random sampling procedure from a population of 3,500 whereas all the teachers were selected with the census method from eight senior high schools. A questionnaire was used to collect data from both CRS teachers and students. Each item was coded, processed and analyzed with the use of SPSS (version 25). It was found that the majority of the teachers of CRS have high content knowledge in the teaching of CRS. The CRS teachers were found to have high knowledge of teaching practices. CRS teachers have high personal leadership qualities. It was recommended that teachers should keep on upgrading themselves on issues related to the content of CRS. Again, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the various headmasters, parents and teachers should ensure there is adequate provision of seminars so that teachers can learn fresh skills on teaching practices so as to positively impact on the lives of their learners and also to help achieve the aims of education. Furthermore, GES should collaborate with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to include in the curriculum theories of human development in the teaching and learning of CRS

Source: UCC
Expert View on Factors Influencing Performance of Monitoring and Evaluation of Government Projects at Department of Urban Roads in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Construction of roads remains a major responsibility of the government of Ghana. The Department of Urban Roads is the key stakeholder that is mandated to evaluate and monitor roads projects in order to ensure value for money. However, not much is known regarding factors influencing monitoring and evaluation of government projects at the urban roads department in the Kumasi Metropolis. A better understanding of factors influencing monitoring and evaluation at the urban roads could help inform strategies to strengthen monitoring and evaluation at the urban roads department in the Kumasi Metropolis in order to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation. It is against this background that this study seeks to explore factors influencing performance of monitoring and evaluation of government projects at the urban roads in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. In all, thirty (30) study participants were recruited through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Structured questionnaires and interview guides were used as the main research instruments. Data were analyzed using mean, percentages, frequencies as an analytical frameworks which is embedded in the Statistical Package for Service Solution version 20 (SPSS v.20). The study showed that training of employees or staffs have positive impacts on monitoring and evaluation. The study found that budgetary allocations made to urban roads largely influences the performance of monitoring and evaluation of projects at the urban roads. The study showed that 65% of the participants perceive stakeholder involvement in monitoring and evaluation of projects at the urban roads to be on a moderate level. The study indicated that politics to a moderate extent influences performance of monitoring and evaluation processes of projects at the urban roads in the Kumasi Metropolis. Based on the findings, it is recommended that as monies are made available, internal control mechanisms must also be instituted to check misappropriation of these funds while political interference in the evaluation processes must also be checked since these occurrences do not auger well for good monitoring and evaluation processes. Finally, there should be broader stakeholder engagements during project evaluations and more so, their views should be captured in these reports.

Source: UCC
Exploration of ecotypes of achatina achatina (L) for snail farming in Ghana

Intraspecific variation in Achatina achatina achatina Linne (one of the numerous giant African snails) in Ghana was studied using chronological features, body characters and reproductive potential. Snails were collected from June to August, 2006, from four ecological regions namely Ashanti (Amansie East district), Central (Assin South district), Eastern (Suhum- Kraboa- Coaltar district) and Western (Wassa West district). In this study, the four snail populations showed a broad range of variation in size, colour pattern of shell, aestivation pattern and reproductive potential. However, electrophoresis of the haemocyanin (blood pigment) and DNA of the snails from the four ecological regions did not show any differences between them. Juvenile snails from the Western ecotype grew larger than those of the Ashanti ecotype. There was a significant difference in the aestivation pattern of the four ecotypes. Populations were characterized as distinct on the basis of shell colour, body colour, banding pattern and distribution of grey speckles on the body. The results obtained from this research indicate that the Western ecotype was more amenable to easy culture. The basis for selection of the best ecotype were growth rate, life history traits such as clutch size, hatchability of eggs, survival of hatchlings and susceptibility to harsh environmental conditions or aestivation pattern. Therefore, the Western ecotype is recommended for farming in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Exploration of financial management practices of small and medium scale enterprises in Twifo Hemang lower Denkyira District

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises offer immense contribution to the economic development of Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District and Ghana as a whole.The dominance of small and medium scale enterprises in Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District and in Ghana as a whole is as result of minimum capital requirement, easy formation, use of indigenous raw materials, localized operation, less gestation period and most above all profit motives. It is anticipated when proper financial management education or support extended to them, they will stand a better chance of developing their capacities and be able to expand. This will have direct and positive effects on the economy of the communities and thus enhance the livelihood of the people involved. This study was conducted to find out the effects of financial management practice on small and medium scale enterprises in the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District. This was to identify the financial management practices employed by SMEs and broadly examine the effect of the financial management practices on the SMEs. The research was conducted under both qualitative and quantitative research design and a simple random sampling was used to select hundred (100) SMEs from the Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District area councils. It was revealed that most SMEs managers do not understand what financial management is and those who do employ financial management techniques use rudimentary approach in managing the finances of the SMEs. The study recommends that financial institutions whose targets are SMEs should offer some level of education and training for SME management.

Source: UCC
An Exploration of Possible Consequences of Indiscriminate Consumption of Bissap Drink in Ghana

To study the chemical and microbiological profiles of dried Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces and bissap drinks prepared from these calyces and relate the findings to current prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The chemical aspect was carried out at the School of Agriculture Laboratory of the University of Cape Coast and the microbiological aspect was at the Food Research Institute, Accra from February to April, 2016. Standard methods and tests were used to determine the chemical and microbiological variables. The Kjeldahl method was used to determine protein, the amount of potassium and sodium were determined using a flame photometer, the complex metric titration was used to determine the amount of calcium and magnesium. The amounts of Iron, Copper and Zinc were also determined. The pH was measured using a pH meter, titratable acidity using NaOH titration and total sugars using the colorimetric method.

Source: UCC
Exploration of Risk Perception among Financial Service Providers in Financing Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Sunyani Municipality, Ghana

Spurred in by the phenomena of opacity and riskiness of financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide, numerous investigations have been conducted to provide explanations to financial service providers’ risk perceptions, lending practices and procedures. The risk compensation theory and the principal-agent theory provide a theoretical framework of most of the studies in risk perception. Using the positivist and the interpretivist paradigm as well as the cross-sectional design, the study specifically explored the types of risk and risk perception in formal and informal financial institutions, examined the determinants of risk, and ascertained the SMEs characteristics and credit risk. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data from 64 randomly selected credit officials and 217 SME operators and managers. In-depth interviews were conducted with some bank managers. The data were analysed by using descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, frequencies and logistic regression in the first stage, while Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and Chi-square test of independence was used in the second stage. In-depth interviews were analysed using narratives techniques. From the results, credit policies, interest rates, inflation rates, monitoring, time of loan disbursement and banks regular visits significantly influenced credit risk perception. Appraisal of loans, governance and management control, screening and monitoring, credit assessment and government interference had no significant influence on credit risk perception. It was recommended that financial service providers should provide financial literacy to SMEs through training and workshops on how to invest the full loan amount in the intended project and also review interest rates regularly to commensurate with prevailing market conditions.

Source: UCC
Exploration Of Rural Women‟S Livelihood And Income Generation Activities In Mion District, Northern Region Of Ghana

There appears to be a lack of literature in the Ghanaian context about how rural women exploit available resources for a living. This study assessed the income generating resources at the disposal of women for their livelihood in the Mion District. The qualitative phenomenology design with purposive and snowballing technique were used to sample 30 women in the Mion District. The result of the study showed that farming and non-farming activities like shea butter, locust beans and charcoal production are the means through which women in the Mion District earned their livelihood. Women in the Mion District engage in Income Generating Activities (IGAs) to meet their basic needs. The government did not give formal training or education to support rural women to equip them with modern farm practices. Moreover, it was found that as a measure to sustain the livelihood of women, traditional by-laws prevented people in the area from cutting trees with economic values for charcoal production. Cultural limitations, weather conditions, lack of education and training and financial challenges are limitation factors that limit women in the area from accessing IGAs. It was recommended that rural women in the Northern part of Ghana should be targeted with more secured and diversified sources of income generating activities for livelihood. Also, they should be assisted by the government to identify real opportunities in their work in the form of value addition to their farming, shea, Africa locust beans (dawadawa) and charcoal production.

Source: UCC
Exploration of Senior High School Biology Students’ Conceptual Understanding of Genetics

There are current concerns about genetically modified organisms, DNA fingerprinting, and cloning, all of which hinge on understanding genetics. Therefore, much attention has been given to research into the teaching and learning of genetics as it is a predominantly challenging topic for both teachers and students. This study used the triangulation convergence mixed methods design to explore Ghanaian SHS elective biology students’ conceptual understanding of chromosome, DNA and gene and to further develop and field test an instructional strategy to address students’ alternative conceptions and conceptual difficulties. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 96 SHS 3, 14 SHS2 elective biology students and 20 elective biology teachers. Three instruments, namely, achievement test, questionnaire and interviews were used to collect data. The data were analysed using percentages, charts, means, standard deviations, and themes. It was found that students had alternative conceptions (mainly in the categories of preconceived notions, factual misconceptions and conceptual misunderstandings) and other conceptual difficulties in learning the three basic genetics concepts. The use of conceptual change approach (Orientation-Discovery-Restructuring) helped students overcome their alternative conceptions and other conceptual difficulties. It was therefore, recommended that Biology teachers should use the conceptual change approach in teaching genetics.

Source: UCC
An exploration of social media technologies and their potential uses in higher educational institutions: A Case Study of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Even though many Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) have started exploring the use of Social Media Technologies (SMTs) such as instructional blogging, wikis for collaborative content creation and podcasting for video and recording of instructional elements for teaching and learning, there has been little adoption and use of SMTs in the context of Malaysia higher educational institutions. The aim of this research is to establish current educators’ and learners’ contexts, practices, attitudes and prospects for the use of SMTs in teaching, learning and research within HEIs using Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) as a case study. The research was conducted using a mixed-method approach to investigate the use of SMT and the main findings are presented

Source: UCC
Exploration of Suicidal Behaviours among Peasant Farmers in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI) District

Suicide among farmers is a long-standing problem and has received considerable attention within the field of suicidology and beyond. This study investigated the prevalence and impact of suicide among peasant farmers. As a qualitative study, a case study design was used. The study, through snowballing technique sampled 20 peasant farmers that reflected data saturation. The instrument used in collecting data was a semi-structured interview guide adapted from the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Data gathered with the scale was analysed qualitatively using thematic approach. The study revealed that suicidal thoughts and behaviours were precipitated mainly through cultural cause, psychological cause, general health cause, spiritual cause, socioenvironmental cause and unavailability of social support services. Again, peasant farmers’ resilience and ability to cope were largely based on selfreliance/ solitary coping mechanism, counselling, relying on faith, prayers, support from relatives and inadequate formal support services. It was concluded that suicide was prevalent among peasant farmers. Therefore, it was recommended that regular public sensitization, effective social support, responsible media reportage, and the amendment or repealing of suicide legislations as panacea for increased identification of potential suicide committers in order to tackle the menace in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District, Ghana.

Source: UCC
Exploration of Teaching of Basic Inorganic Qualitative Analysis in Chemistry in Senior High Schools

The study explored and co-developed a theory that would assist chemistry teachers in teaching qualitative analysis (QA). To achieve this purpose, the study made use of the grounded theory. Ten teachers selected through convenience and purposive sampling techniques participated in the study. Interviews, observations, and field notes were the main instruments used to collect data from the teachers. The researcher used 11 weeks for concurrent data collection and analysis using Nvivo software. Findings from the study show teachers did not see concepts they teach under QA as difficult. However, lack of resources for lesson delivery and the support staff deficit, such as laboratory technicians and assistance to help to teach QA pose problems for smooth teaching. It is, therefore, suggested based on the findings of the study that the Ghana Education Service should regularly inspect the physical conditions of the school laboratories and provide the needed support in terms of materials and equipment since the selected schools had insufficient material resources for teaching QA to students.

Source: UCC