ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Corpus linguistics and language development in Ghana

The compilation of corpora and the analysis of linguistic phenomena via corpus data have become a fascinating linguistic practice around the world and by this, corpus linguistics is now incredibly popular. As it is now well established, empirical linguistic investigations that do not employ corpus approaches suffer many setbacks, key among them being that interesting lexical, phraseological, semantic and discourse insights derived via corpus techniques would be missed in a manual analysis. Yet unfortunately, not much work on language studies in Ghana is based on corpora and corpus techniques. This paper suggests that a crucial first step towards the development of languages in Ghana lies in the initiation of large-scale electronic corpus projects. Not only would corpora enrich linguistic descriptions of Ghanaian languages (including Ghanaian English), they also have the potential to provide deeper insights into the socio-cultural and religious values of the Ghanaian people through a discourse analysis that relies on corpus methods. The arguments advanced in this paper also have implications for how language teaching at the various levels in Ghana should proceed

Source: UCC
A Corpus-Based Study of Personal Pronouns in University Lectures Across Disciplines

The present study investigated variation in the distribution, discourse references and functions of /, we and you (tri-PP) in classroom lectures across three broad knowledge domains -Humanities (HS), Social Sciences (SS) and Natural Sciences (NS). To accomplish this task, I audio-recorded classroom lectures from two public universities in Ghana; transcribed and processed them into computer readable forms. The subcorpora were normed, and the concordance tool in AntConc was used to generate the occurrences of the tri-PP. The computerized analysis was complemented by manual analysis, to determine the discourse references and functions which were conditioned by pragmatic factors. The log-likelihood significance test was used to check statistical significance. The analysis showed that NS employed more of the tri-PP, followed by HS and SS. While disciplinarily influenced the use of we at HS vs NS, and SS vs NS, it did not affect its use at HS vs SS. Again, the study showed that I, we and you designated common referents like lecturer across all the disciplinary supercommunities (DSs), albeit with variation in statistical significance. Finally, speaker-reference pronouns performed several discourse functions including I as a representative, and I as a guide, with statistical differences across DSs. The findings deepen our understanding on disciplinarily in relation to /, we and you usage in classroom lectures. They further lead to a more robust theoretical consideration of the discourse references and functions of the tri-PP in classroom lectures. The findings have implications for pedagogy and further research on pronominal usage.

Source: UCC
A corpus-based study of the phraseological pattern it + v-link + adj + that clause in l1 and l2 expert academic writing

This study discusses the phraseological pattern It + V-link + ADJ + That Clause as a rhetorical feature of argumentation in Ghanaian scholars’ research articles (RAs) across the disciplines of Sociology, Economics and Law. It looks at the pattern’s occurrence with the adjectives possible, likely and clear in RAs by Ghanaian authors based in Ghana and in RAs by international scholars who are native speakers to determine potential divergent patterns of use between the two groups of scholars in the three disciplinary fields. Because RAs produced by non-native writers are often said to be characterized by overuse, underuse or misuse of rhetorical features (e.g., Martinéz, 2005, Englander, 2006), this study adopts a corpus-based approach to investigate the extent to which Ghanaian scholars’ use of the above collocational pattern involving possible, likely and clear differs from international scholars’ use of the pattern in terms of frequency information, levels of epistemic force, and intensification/mitigation styles. A close inspection of a million word corpus of RAs, supported by robust statistical analyses, reveals considerable differences in the way the pattern is used between the two groups of scholars across the disciplines studied, which suggest that Ghanaian scholars do not fully apply the preferred stereotypical uses of the pattern found in reputable international RAs. The study has implications for how Ghanaian scholars have acquired rhetorical strategies of academic writing

Source: UCC
Correctional Interventions And Recidivism: A Study Of Returned Offenders In The Ankaful Prison Complex In The Central Region Of Ghana

The study examined the nature of correctional reforms in the Ghanaian prison system and how this affects recidivism. The prison sentences pronounced on offenders of the law are meant to serve as deterrents. However, after their release from prison, some ex-prisoners continue to commit crimes and find themselves back in prison. Even though they are expected to undergo some form of training and rehabilitation programmes meant to enhance their reformation, these programmes are not reformative enough to adequately reform prisoners. The study is informed by labelling, social learning, and rational choice theories. It employed a qualitative research design in collecting data using in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling techniques were adopted to select recidivists and prison officers in the Ankaful Prison Complex. In all, a total of 21 recidivists and nine prison officers were interviewed. The study revealed that offenders commit new crimes and return to prison because prison gives them at least a feeling of survival in light of the hardships in the outside world. Also, there is no parole mechanism in the Ghanaian prison system to guarantee controlled release over time. There are inadequate rehabilitation programmes in the prisons. The study recommends that the penal system should shift its focus from punishment to rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society. This should include providing effective education and vocational training for inmates, counselling services and job placement assistance to help them successfully re-enter society after release.

Source: UCC
Correlates of dropping out of basic schools in the Volta region: The case of Akatsi district

The incidence of school drop out in the basic schools in Ghana has been persistent. The objective of this study, therefore, was to find out the main factors responsible for dropping out of basic schools in the Volta Region of Ghana. The samples used for the study were dropouts and Junior Secondary School (J.S.S.) students still in school (non-dropouts) in the Akatsi district. A total sample size of 357 primary and J.S.S students comprising 214 dropouts and 143 non-dropouts were used. The snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used in selecting the dropouts while the random sampling technique was resorted to in selecting the 143 non-dropouts from IS Junior Secondary Schools.Two sets of structured interview schedule were used as instruments to collect data for the study. One set of the structured interview schedule was used for the dropouts and the other for non-dropouts. Frequencies, percentage distributions, crosstabulations and the chi-square test were used to analyse the data collected. The main finding of the study was that the incidence of household and community poverty is so high in the Akatsi district. The effects of this are that: (a) parents are unable to provide their children with their school needs, pay their children's school fees, and provide their children with pocket money; (b) manual labour was used excessively to support most of the schools; (c) teenage pregnancy was rampant.The main recommendations, in effect, are that: (a) the central government should review the policy of communities proViding classroom infrastructure and furniture for their schools; (b) a fund be instituted by the District Assembly to assist very needy pupils! students in the district; (c) income· generating jobs be developed in the area by the central government; (d) sex education be intensified in the basic schools in the district.

Source: UCC
Correlates of job motivation of physical education teachers in Northern Ghana secondary schools

The study was conducted to determine the extent to which selected factors such as opportunities for promotion, salary level, status. Students’ response to the physical education programme, provision of incentives, and opportunities for professional growth would influence the job motivation of physical education teachers in Senior Secondary Schools in the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana. A sample of 40 trained male and female physical education teachers from the schools was drawn by stratified random sampling method. The sample represented 80% of the target population. Data were gathered through the administration of questionnaire to the sample selected for the study. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the bio-data. The chi-square statistic was used to test the six null hypotheses and the findings were presented and discussed. Results on bio-data confirmed that there were more male than female physical education teachers in Northern Ghana Secondary Schools. The same results also revealed that majority of the respondents were quite young (86%), held the diploma certificate (80%), and were in the senior superintendent rank. The findings of the study showed that opportunities for promotion, salary level, status, student response to the physical education programme and opportunities for professional growth were significant factors in the job motivation of respondents. The extent of provision of incentives was, however, not a significant factor of the job motivation of respondents. The conclusion for this study was that, giving the factors investigated, physical education teachers in Northern Ghana Secondary Schools were motivated to a large extent in their jobs.

Source: UCC
Correlates of Revenue among Small Scale Women Fish Processors in Coastal Ghana

The objective of this study was to analyse the factors that influence revenue generation among women in fish processing in coastal Ghana. Primary data was collected using a well structured questionnaire administered on 746 women who process fish in selected communities in Central, Greater Accra and Western Regions. Using weekly revenue as the outcome variable, the multinomial logit regression (MLR) and ordinary least squares (OLS) were used to predict and estimate the correlates of revenue generated from fish processing. The results show that higher levels of savings are likely to influence higher levels of revenue. Fish smoking and frying produces more revenue with reference to drying and salting. Furthermore, hours spent in business are also likely to increase revenue relative to low levels of revenue. The findings also indicate that at all levels of revenue, experience matters. Moreover, formal account ownership does not significantly influence revenue at all levels. The derived policy implications are to design strategies that will increase women potential in revenue generation in the informal sector

Source: UCC
Correlates of Senior High School Students’ Attitude and Internet Usage

This study examined the relationship between Senior High School students’ attitudes towards internet and their actual usage in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. A correlational research design was used to examine 200 students’ internet usage and their attitudes: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and subjective norms guided by the Technology Acceptance Model. Data was analyzed using correlation, linear regression and independent samples t-test. Although, the results showed a positive linear relationship between all the attitudinal dimensions of internet usage: the strongest predictor of internet usage reported by the students was their perceived ease of use of the internet. It was also evident from the findings that female students reported higher internet usage than their male counterparts. One of the implications of these findings is that instructional designers and researchers should design instructions that integrate ICT and internet into the teaching and learning processes as the internet is source endowed with rich materials for teachers’ teaching and students’ conceptual development.

Source: UCC
Correlates of stunting among children in Ghana

Background: Stunting, is a linear growth retardation, which results from inadequate intake of food over a long period of time that may be worsened by chronic illness. Over a long period of time, inadequate nutrition or its effects could result in stunting. This paper examines the correlates of stunting among children in Ghana using data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Methods: The paper uses data from the children recode file of the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), a nationally representative cross sectional survey conducted in Ghana. A total of 2379 children under five years who had valid anthropometric data were used for the study. Data on the stunting of children were collected by measuring the height of all children under six years of age. A measuring board produced by Shorr Productions was used to obtain the height of the children. Children under 2 years of age were measured lying down on the board while those above 2 years were measured standing. In the DHS data, a z-score is given for the child’s height relative to the age. Both bi-variate and multi-variate statistics are used to examine the correlates of stunting. Results: Stunting was common among males than females. Age of child was a significant determinant of stunting with the highest odd of stunting been among children aged 36–47 months. Region was significantly related to stunting. Children from the Eastern Region were more likely to be stunted than children from the Western Region which is the reference group (OR = 1.7 at p < 0.05). Number of children in household was significantly related to stunting. Children in households with 5–8 children were 1.3 times more likely to be stunted compared to those with 1–4 children (p < .05). Mother’s age was a significant predictor of stunting with children whose mothers were aged 35–44 years being more likely to be stunted. Conclusion: Culturally appropriate interventions and policies should be put in place to minimize the effects of the distal, proximal and intermediate factors on stunting among under 5 children in Ghana

Source: UCC
Correlation between familial roles and persistence of female students on distance education programmes in Ghana: Through the lens of an administrator

The contributions of individuals towards a nation’s development cannot be underestimated. Nevertheless, research has proven that gender roles could create some setbacks to the extent that some individuals may not be able to reach the optimum in higher education. This correlational study explored whether the interplay of some female gender roles affected persistence as female students juggled with studies. A total of 21 study centres with female enrolment of a 100 and above were purposively selected. Using simple random sampling, a sample of 441 female students were drawn from two distance education institutions in Ghana. The study employed the correlational research design. A questionnaire was used to collect data and analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. It was revealed that female students had family roles they performed. The study found that there was a positive correlation between persistence and familial roles among the participants. This implied that as the level of familial roles of the respondents increased, their persistence increased as well, thus revealing some level of resilience towards the progression of their education. It was therefore recommended that administrators of distance education institutions equipped female students with the needed knowledge and support to ensure the effective management of their familial roles.

Source: UCC
Correlation between geological logs and geophysical logs to estimate aquifer positions in the crystalline basement rocks of the birimian system, Ghana

This study has enabled the lithological units intersected by a well, locate contacts of adjacent beds, locate depth to groundwater and determine the thickness of the units. Records of three geophysical logs parameters; resistivity, gamma ray and self-potential (SP) measured in five boreholes which were drilled as part of a Rural Water Supply Project Phase II in the Juabeso –Bia District were correlated with the geological logs on site from the drill cuttings of the bore hole. The boreholes depths were between 45-52m and were drilled over hornblende, phyllites and granites which constitute part of the various rock types of the Birimian system. Deflections of the SP logs established the presence of permeable rock formations. Alternatively, the long-short- normal logs distinguished between permeable and impermeable beds by recording lower or higher apparent resistivity signals respectively on the log sheet. These anomalies are identified mostly in the weathered zones and also within the fresh rocks. In almost all the boreholes the gamma ray logs indicated low clay content which may be due to the absence of intensely weathered rocks or low concentration of radioactive rocks within the survey area. The application of gamma ray logs rely on the fact that the concentrations of radioactive isotopes varies from one rock type to another and that acidic rocks are more radioactive than the basaltic rocks hence most of the rocks in the project area is more basaltic. Though the SP deflection was able to indicate permeable formations there was no guarantee that the rock formation could contain water. However, the combined interpretation of the three other logs shows that deflections of SP close to the basement rocks and lower resistivity values on the long short-normal logs generally indicated the presence of water bearing formations. Three lithological units were identified over the various rock types: a top layer predominantly clay of thickness between 0-25m overlying a weathered zone about 16-45m thick above the fresh rocks of the various types

Source: UCC
Correlation Between Koilocytes And Human Papilloma Virus In Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is classified as a malignant neoplasm and is endemic to the Far East Asia. Oncogenic viruses such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of NPC tumours, with the former being well establish to have a strong association with the cancer. Little is known about the association of HPV, as well as the correlation of cytopathic effect induced by this virus and its presence in NPC tissue samples. The aim of this study was was to compare the histopathological features (Koilocytosis) with PCR method to predict the presence of HPV infection in formalin-fixed-paraffin- formalin -embedded tissue (FFPET) samples of NPCs. Seventy-two Seventy two archival (72) NPC tissues samples from the year 2006 to 2012 were retrieved from Pathology Department of University of Ghana School of Biomedical and Allied Health sciences. Sections were taken for histopathological analysis and DNA extraction. Detection of koilocytes was done using light microscopy where tissue samples samples were regrouped into WHO type I, II and III respectively. Consensus HPV forward primer (GP-E6-3F) (GP 3F) and two consensus reverse primers (GP (GP- E7-5B 5B and GP-E7-6B) GP 6B) were used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to determine the presence of HPV DNAs in in the study sample. Out of the 72 archival NPC biopsies analysed, koilocytes were detected in 22 (30.6%) during microscopy and HPV DNA was detected in 14 (19.4%) during PCR analysis. Ten (10) samples out of the 22 with koilocytes were found to be HPV positive. ive. There was a weak correlation (C= 0.436), though data analysis using Fisher’s exact probability test was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was a significant level of association between koilocytes and HPV, and thus, the presence of koilocytes in NPC tissues samples can serve as an indicator for the possible presence of HPV in NPC tissue samples.

Source: UCC
Correlation between psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life among Haemodialysis patients in Kumasi, Ghana

End-stage renal disease, which is a public health problem that tends to take dimensions of an epidemic, is now prevalent in Ghana. The treatment modality available in Ghana for ESRD is haemodialysis. However, haemodialysis is both lifesaving and life altering. As such, ESRD and its treatment create turmoil that affects all aspects of a patient‟s life. This study, therefore, aimed at evaluating the correlation between psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life of haemodialysis patients. The study performed a descriptive correlation study of 30 End-stage renal disease patients who had received maintenance haemodialysis for more than 3 months at two dialysis centres in Kumasi, Ghana. The results of the study revealed that 80% and 20% of patients met the clinical diagnosis of severe depression and anxiety respectively. The results again indicated that respondents had poor or comprised quality of life. On the correlational analysis, depression and anxiety had an inverse or negative correlation with perceived health related quality of life of patients, perceived social support had a negative correlation with both depression and anxiety, and lastly income levels had a negative correlation with depression. It is recommended that a comprehensive clinical health psychology service to run concurrently with a renal counselling support service within the dialysis centers. Furthermore, dialysis treatment should be made affordable to improve the emotional wellbeing of haemodialysis patients. Digitized

Source: UCC
Corrélation Entre L‟Intelligence Émotionnelle Des Apprenants De Fle Et Les Stratégies Métacognitives Adoptées En Communication Orale

This study aims to establish the correlation that exists between the emotional intelligence of students of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) and their choice of metacognitive oral communication strategies. Subscribing to the practice of self-regulated learning where students take targeted actions to attain their learning objectives, this study explores the interplay between learners‟ affective state (emotional intelligence) and the metacognitive oral communication strategies they employ before, during and after an oral communicative situation in FFL. This study adopts a convergent parallel mixed approach, with two questionnaires and a focus group discussion guide. The participants comprise 196 learners who were chosen through random stratified sampling. Correlation analyses indicate a) a moderate positive correlation between the identification, expression and understanding of emotions and the choice of interlocutor but a negligible correlation with elaborate preparation; b) a moderate positive correlation stronger between interpersonal competences and metacognitive strategies than between intrapersonal competences and metacognitive strategies; and c) a weak positive correlation between emotional intelligence and metacognitive strategies of post-oral communication. Regression analyses show that intrapersonal identification, interpersonal listening, regulation and utilisation attained statistical significance in their prediction of metacognitive oral communication strategies. In view of this, I recommend the explicit presentation of learning strategies in the FFL curriculum in Ghana in order to facilitate their use by learners and teachers of FFL.

Source: UCC