ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Perceived Impact Of The Sun Shaded Agro-Forestry Project On The Livelihoods Of Cocoa Farmers In The Western North Region Of Ghana

Cocoa rehabilitation (CR) for restoring damaged, old, and moribund trees to raise yields and revenue from production is one of the current initiatives to increase Ghana’s cocoa bean output. Cocoa cultivation has a crucial economic and social role in Ghana. The study examined the perceived impact of the Sun Shaded Agro-Forestry (SCAFS) project on the livelihood of cocoa farmers in the Western North Region of Ghana. The study was carried out (using a descriptive survey design) in the Essam and Adabokrom cocoa districts using 200 farmers. Both closed, and open-ended interview schedules were used to elicit responses from the farmers. Also, most of the SCAFS beneficiaries had been small-scale (less than 1.0ha for cocoa rehabilitation) farmers for at least ten years. Farmers suggested that strengths of the project were the provision of economic trees, monitoring of project farm and extension, provision of cocoa seedlings, and cutting and treatment of cocoa farms while weaknesses were late arrival of fertilizer, unreliable and inadequate source of rain, inadequate inputs, land tenure constraints and untimely provision of planting material. However, the farmers suggested the early arrival of fertilizer, provision of irrigation schemes, adequate provision of inputs, payment of compensation to farmers, reduction in the cost of inputs, provision of soft loans, and stakeholder engagement on land tenure barriers as some solutions to the problems. The project was perceived to have had a moderate impact on the livelihoods of the farmers. Also, socio-demographic/farm-related characteristics accounted for 17% of the variations in beneficiary farmers’ livelihoods impact of the project, with the sex of the respondent as the best predictor.

Source: UCC
Perceived impact of training implemented by Akuapem community development programme (ACDEP) on community management of rural water and sanitation facilities

Provision and management of water and sanitation facilities is a major challenge in developing countries and governments in these countries are unable to deliver, manage and maintain basic infrastructure for their growing populations This study explored participants’ perceived impact of water and sanitation committee training implemented by Akuapem Community Development Programme (ACDEP) on community management of rural water and sanitation facilities. The study aimed at assessing participants’ satisfaction with respect to the general organization of the training, what has been learnt, how the knowledge gained is being applied, and evidence in the community that the WATSAN committee members are performing their roles. Eighty respondents selected from twenty (20) communities were interviewed for the study. The data is presented in simple statistical charts including pie chart and bar graphs generated from the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), computer software used for data analysis. The results indicated that the training was very useful and relevant in managing the WATSAN facilities provided in the communities and participants are satisfied with the way ACDEP organised the training. The committee members were also observed to experience some challenges in performing their roles and responsibilities. Based on the results, it is recommended that ACDEP organise a retraining programme and ensure occasional monitoring visits to the old communities. ACDEP should also put in place systems that will ensure that every training programme is evaluated using scientific methods and well documented for future use.

Source: UCC
Perceived Impacts of National Educational Reform Programmes in Ghana on Development of Senior High School Social Studies Curriculum

This research was carried out in 13 Senior High Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis with the aim of evaluating the impacts of national educational reform programmes (1974-2007) on the Senior High School Social Studies Curriculum. Data collected were analysed with the use of SPSS version 21. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The study employed both the quantitative and qualitative methods which provided the researcher the opportunity to corroborate findings across data sets and thus reduce the impact of potential biases that could have existed in a single study. Data were collected through self-administered question as well as analyses of relevant documents. A population of 113 respondents, comprising 7 Head Teachers, 18 Assistant Head Teachers and 88 Social Studies Teachers drawn from 13 Senior High Schools is the Cape Coast Metropolis, were census for the study. The Curriculum Evaluative Model adopted for this study was the CIPP model propounded by Stufflebeam (1971). Major finding depicts that there are a lot of unmet needs and problems in all the reforms implemented in Ghana regarding the objectives, and the general implementation of these reforms. It was found that social studies education in senior high schools can play a very significant role in the development of the nation only if appropriate measures would be employed to ensure its effective teaching and learning. It is recommended that proper planning should be done before any educational policy would be implemented in Ghana

Source: UCC
Perceived impacts of national educational reform programmes in ghana on development of senior high school social studies curriculum

This research was carried out in 13 Senior High Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis with the aim of evaluating the impacts of national educational reform programmes (1974-2007) on the Senior High School Social Studies Curriculum. Data collected were analysed with the use of SPSS version 21. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The study employed both the quantitative and qualitative methods which provided the researcher the opportunity to corroborate findings across data sets and thus reduce the impact of potential biases that could have existed in a single study. Data were collected through self-administered question as well as analyses of relevant documents. A population of 113 respondents, comprising 7 Head Teachers, 18 Assistant Head Teachers and 88 Social Studies Teachers drawn from 13 Senior High Schools is the Cape Coast Metropolis, were census for the study. The Curriculum Evaluative Model adopted for this study was the CIPP model propounded by Stufflebeam (1971). Major finding depicts that there are a lot of unmet needs and problems in all the reforms implemented in Ghana regarding the objectives, and the general implementation of these reforms. It was found that social studies education in senior high schools can play a very significant role in the development of the nation only if appropriate measures would be employed to ensure its effective teaching and learning. It is recommended that proper planning should be done before any educational policy would be implemented in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Perceived influence of fiagya rural bank credit on the livelihood of farmers in nkoranza north district

The study examined the perceived influence of Fiagya Rural Bank microcredit on the livelihoods of rural farmers in Nkoranza North District. The study used a descriptive survey design of the quantitative approach. Convenience sampling technique was used to select 217 farmers in Nkoranza district who were also clients of Fiagya Rural Bank Limited. Questionnaire was used as a primary source of data. Furthermore, the data were analysed using percentages, and frequencies. The study found that microcredit highly increased income of the respondents. Also, microcredit highly improve agribusiness of respondents. Moreover, respondents found microcredit very helpful in their agricultural productivity. Also, challenges of respondents in accessing credit from rural bank limited included high interest rate, bureaucracy in processing credit, credit tied to certain ratio of savings, untimely delivery of credit, collateral issues, strict measures and procedures taking into consideration in vetting loan or microcredit applications as well as difficulty in repayment of previous credit or loans. Moreover, coping strategies of respondents included borrowing from family, relatives or friends, access to microcredit from microfinance institutions, reduction of agricultural productivity, selling of belongings as well as engaging in petty trading activities. The study recommended that farmers in the Nkoranza district should have good savings habit in order to avoid any inconveniences in accessing loans from Fiagya Rural Bank Limited. Also, Fiagya Rural Bank Limited should reduce their interest rate. Fiagya Rural Bank Limited should design packages to include group loans in order to cater for farmers who do have collateral issues as well as those with savings issues.

Source: UCC
Perceived influence of large class size and psychological classroom environment on students academic performance

This study investigated how large class size and the psychological classroom environment influenced students‟ academic performance. Again, the researcher sought to determine the extent to which large class size and psychological classroom environment influenced the manner in which teaching and learning was mediated in public senior high schools. To achieve this, the survey design was employed. 320 students were purposively selected from ten (10) public senior high schools in the Kumasi Metropolis. Questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.791 was used to obtain data from the respondents. The study revealed that large class size influenced students‟ academic performance and also limits their learning opportunities of students. It was again unravelled that psychological classroom environment had a great influence on the students‟ academic performance. It has been recommended that since small class size and good psychological classroom environment enhance performance therefore, teachers and head teachers should make sure they conform to the required teacher to student ratio of 1:40 by the Ghana Education Service. Teachers should create an enabling environment for students to participate in classroom activities. Furthermore, the study showed that students performed well in smaller class size and good psychological classroom environment. Therefore, the Government should employ more teachers and build more classrooms to solve the problem of large class size in the senior high schools in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Perceived Influence of Mentoring Programme on the Professional Behaviour of Student-Teachers in the Assin North Municipality

The motivation behind this review was to investigate the perceived influence of the mentoring programme on the professional behaviour of student-teachers in the Assin North Municipality. The study was conducted in the Assin North Municipal Assembly in the Central Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of 200 student-teachers and 130 teacher-mentors were selected for the study through simple random sampling. The instrument for collecting data was adapted. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The study revealed that general interest in teaching, behaviour of pupils, nature of supervision by mentors, personal attributes of mentors and nature of supervision from college tutors influenced the attitudes of student-teachers towards teaching. Also, it was found that mentors provided help to student-teachers in unearthing their potentials in teaching, acted as role-models for student-teachers, and helped improve teaching abilities of student-teachers through regular feedback. The study showed further that for most of the student-teachers, mentoring helped them overcome shyness when speaking in public, develop the habit of regularly being at school and on time, gain appropriate skills of effectively planning and preparing lessons. Finally, the study showed that inadequacy of learning facilities, congestion in classes, intimidating presence of supervisors and difficulty individualizing instructions were challenges encountered during mentorship. It was recommended that authorities of Colleges of Education fully prepare teacher-mentors to effectively assist their student-teachers during the mentorship period.

Source: UCC
Perceived leadership style and its relationship with employees’ satisfaction and organizational performance in Takoradi Polytechnic

The aim of this study was to examine the perceived leadership style and its relationship with employees’ satisfaction and organizational performance in Takoradi Polytechnic. The study adopted descriptive research and cross sectional research designs. The sample size for the study was two hundred and sixty (260) taken from senior members, senior staff and junior staff. Also, convenience sampling was used to ensure that those employees found at their workplaces were the ones used for the study. This design was quantitative to allow for descriptive and inferential analysis. The data was collected by the use of questionnaire. The findings reveal that majority of the respondents (senior members, senior staff and junior staff) had the belief that the leadership style practiced by the Polytechnic was mostly transformation followed by transactional, laissez-faire and lastly authoritative. The fact that most employees perceived their leaders to be transformational suggest that their leaders were proactive in many different and unique ways. These leaders attempt to optimize development, not just performance alone which encompasses the maturation of ability, motivation, attitudes, and values. The study recommends that periodic leadership training programmes should be designed for the various heads of the school to strengthen the leadership drive of the institution. Also, future studies could be using mixed method to explore the relationship between leadership styles, organizational characteristics, and employees’ satisfaction.

Source: UCC
Perceived leadership styles of headteachers in high and low achieving public basic schools of the Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma district of the Ashanti region of Ghana

The purpose of this study was to find out the leadership styles headteachers exhibit in public basic schools in the Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region. The study was specifically interested in finding out the factors accounting for high performance in particular schools in the district and those responsible for low performance in other schools of the same district. Questionnaires were used as the instrument for the study. Out of a sample population of sixty, fifty responded. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). There were divided opinions by teachers concerning the leadership styles their heads used. One-third of teachers from both high and low achieving schools described their heads as democratic leaders. One-third of teachers from high achieving schools also described their heads as situational leaders. Teachers from low achieving did not associate their heads with situational leadership. Twenty-one percent and 41% from both high and low achieving schools respectively perceived their heads as autocratic leaders. Both heads and teachers admitted the great significance of positive personal qualities such as good health, neatness, sound mental ability, commitment, fairness, firmness and courage in the management process. They also regarded academic qualification in education management as a necessary ingredient in school administration. The study recommends that teachers and headteachers be assisted more by educational authorities to acquire more knowledge and skills in the universities to school administration.

Source: UCC
Perceived Leaders‘ Emotional Intelligence and Non-teaching Staff‘s Work Engagement at the University of Cape Coast

The relationship between perceived leaders� emotional intelligence and non-teaching staff�s work engagement has been under-studied in the literature. Therefore, this research work studied the relationship between perceived leaders� emotional intelligence (EI) and non-teaching staff�s work engagement at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). In this study, leaders refer to the principal administrators, departmental heads, and heads of directorates of UCC, who have a supervisory role over non-teaching staff. The correlational research design was applied with a quantitative research approach. The study involved the non-teaching staff of UCC, with a population of 2,400. Using the simple random sampling technique, 337 respondents were sampled, which met the minimum sample size requirement of 322. The study used self-administered questionnaires. Frequencies, percentages, and correlation analyses were employed to analyse the data. Using statistical significance of 5%, it was revealed that non-teaching staff�s vigour (r=0.46) towards work has a positive and moderate relationship with perceived leaders� EI. On the other hand, non-teaching staff�s dedication (r=0.25) and absorption (r=0.17) had a significantly positive and weak relationship with perceived leaders� EI. The research concluded that non-teaching staff�s dimensions of work engagement are associated with how they perceive their leaders� EI competencies. Further, it is recommended that leaders continue to build their emotional skills to improve non-teaching staff�s vigour. Again, the management of UCC is recommended to improve leaders� EI to attract the needed work dedication and absorption from non-teaching staff.

Source: UCC
Perceived level and farmer characteristics factors associated with level of environmental sustainability of cotton farming system in the Sudanese Gezira scheme

Cotton production plays an important role in the livelihood of farmers in the Gezira Scheme in the Sudan. It is the main cash crop produced in the scheme. However, sustainability of cotton production in the Gezira Scheme has been a worrying issue, specially, after the noticeable deterioration of the cotton production industry in the last few years. This study aimed to assess the environmental sustainability of cotton production in the Gezira Scheme as perceived by farmers who are the direct beneficiaries of the scheme. Understanding farmers’ perspective can help to adopt relevant policy for improving sustainable cotton farming system. Data was collected using interview schedule and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The indicators employed include use of fertilizers, pesticides, farm machinery, soil conservation practices, and availability of water at farm level. The level of environmental sustainability of cotton production was found to be moderate or fairly sustainable. Education level and farmers’ age were negatively correlated with environmental sustainability whilst family size was positively correlated with environmental sustainability however; the correlation magnitudes were negligible. The study found adequacy of irrigation water, the appropriate use of pesticides and soil conservation practices as the main contributing factors to the moderate environmental sustainability of cotton production in the Gezira Scheme. Since farmers are not rational in some practices, the study recommended that the Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture and managers of Gezira Scheme should educate and support cotton farmers in the scheme to adopt integrated soil conservation practices with minimal but efficient use of heavy farm machinery

Source: UCC
Perceived occupational stressors, coping strategies and burnout pertaining to nurses working in Tamale Teaching hospital of Northern Region.

This study was conducted to describe perceived occupational stressors, coping strategies, and burnout levels of nurses working in Tamale Teaching Hospital. Participants comprised of 123 males and 207 females (N =330). The study utilized a descriptive design, adapting the stress, coping, and burnout theoretic al frameworks of Seyle, Lazarus, Folkman, and Maslach. One set of survey instrument was designed by the researcher to collect data from the target population. The instrument consisted of four parts, which were adapted and modified from: Devilliers, Carson, and Leary (DCL) stress scale; Psych Nurse Methods of Coping Questionnaire (PNMCQ); Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)-Human Service Survey (HSS). The results indicated that the majority of nurses in the study were experiencing moderate levels of stress or moderate levels of burnout. The findings suggested that quality care issues were important factors in determining stress levels, and informal approaches were preferred as methods of coping with these occupational stressors. This research becomes a baseline from which to address the problem of stress among nurses working in Tamale Teaching Hospital since it is the first of its kind. To improve the quality of worklife for nurses, I recommend that Nurse Administrators in general and particularly those of Tamale Teaching Hospital should pay attention to quality care issues since they are important factors determining stress levels of nurses. Finally, I recommend that the study could be replicated in other hospitals in the region and if possible the whole country.

Source: UCC
Perceived Organisational Politics, Political Behaviour and Employee Commitment in the Wenchi Municipal Assembly, Ghana

This study assesses the extent to which employee perceptions of organisational politics influence their commitment in the public sector of Ghana. Three standard scales were adopted for generating data for the study namely; perceptions of organisational politics scale, employee commitment questionnaire and the political behaviour scale. Data were processed using the IBM Statistical Product and Service Solution’s Version 19.0. The partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to measure the relationship between organisational politics and employee commitment. The mediating effect of political behaviour on this relationship was also measured using the same partial least squares structural equation modeling. A sample of 120 employees was selected from the Wenchi Municipal Assembly for the study. The results of the study indicate that employee perceptions of organisational politics have a positively significant relationship with their commitment in the public sector in Ghana. It was therefore recommended for management to reconsider the individual, group and organisational circumstances that generate perceived organisational politics in order to curtail any unwanted political behaviour in the Assembly

Source: UCC