ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Rainwater quality assessment in Sefwi Dwinase, western north region of Ghana

Rainwater is considered to be one of the reliable means of water supply to sustain life. In Ghana, there have been efforts to create awareness and interest in RWH to achieve national water coverage. However, atmospheric and other pollutions threaten its usage. This study analyzed the impact of different roofing materials on the physico-chemical, trace metals and microbial quality of rainwater in Sefwi Dwinase and how it can be efficiently put to use. Using descriptive design, twenty-one samples were taken from open environment, plain aluminium, flat concrete and colour-coated galvanized roofs. The samples were tested at the laboratory for concentrations of Total hardness, pH, TDS, DOC, EC, Calcium, Magnesium, Lead, Iron and Total coliform. The result revealed that, the physico-chemical parameters of the rainwater in the study area fell within the WHO guideline value for potability except pH which had some samples to be slightly acidic. Iron, Lead and TC had higher concentrations above WHO guideline. Plain aluminium roof is slightly advantageous over the others for RWH. Also, anthropogenic and biological factors increase trace metals and Total coliform in the rainwater. I concluded that, while the physico-chemical quality of the rainwater is good, it has trace metal and bacterial contamination. Meanwhile, with proper treatment, it can be used for potable and non-potable purposes. RWHS should be efficiently installed by authorities in institutions such as schools and hospitals in the town to augment water supply from the other sources, amidst regular cleaning of roof catchments, treatment of water and testing to monitor contaminations.

Source: UEW
Raising students programming skills using appiahene gamification model

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) offers an opportunity for the development of modern Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM). The use of game features in a non-gaming context 'gamification' - suggest the promise to make teaching and learning of programming more motivating and more enjoyable to students. Notwithstanding widespread commentary on its advantages and lacks, little empirical study has sought to validate the existing gamification models as a meaningful concept and provide evidence of its efficiency as a tool for motivating and engaging users in non-entertainment contexts. The aim of this paper is to propose a new model named "Appiahene Gamification Model (AGM)" for programming learning to prove that gamification has quality that when applied well would be beneficial. Qualitative method of research was used by reviewing several models and frameworks applied in gamification, to demonstrate that there is academic merit to these models. Discussions with four programming lecturers were also used; one has implemented a gamification, two are yet to experience it whilst the last have not heard about the concept. Using such qualitative methods in this paper illustrates that there is academic support for a common model design that can be used by institutions. The proposed model reflects how instructors and learners relate to their learning objectives and experience. There is a notion that gamification cannot be stagnant and linear once applied, but must be cyclical and updated to reflect changes in the learning objective, gamification elements and the experience of the users who use the application. As the success of gamification depends on the definition of objectives and experience, the clarity of such definitions will correlate to the success rate of gamification in the specific area. With proper integration of the proposed model in the field of programming, a positive impact such as motivation and greater engagement of students on the learning process can be achieved. This proposed model would have implications for a wide range of teaching and learning and identifies areas for further research. The model can also be used to formulate recommendations towards the design of gameful instruction in other fields like business.

Source: UEW
Raison irraisonnable de meursault, defis et perspectives de l existentialisme camusien dans l etranger

La littérature du XXe siècle se baignait dans un climat idéologique, largement dominé par l'existentialisme. Jean-Paul Sartre, André Gide, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry et Albert Camus sont quelques meneurs notables de l'époque, le XXe siècle. Ces penseurs croyaient à une vision tragique du monde occasionnée par la réalité que l'homme, seul être flanqué d'une liberté non sollicitée, est responsable de ses actions sur la terre. Pour Albert Camus, l'existence de l'homme y compris le monde est absurde. La non-intelligibilité du monde rend non-sens les efforts humains à trouver l'essence de la vie dans le tragique. Une lecture minutieuse de L'Etranger nous met au carrefour de deux réalités: soit l'individualisme camusien est inadmissible dans un monde logique parce qu'il est authentique, soit la logique universelle constitue le malheur de l'homme. Cette étude cherche à prouver que le comportement du héros, Meursault, n'est qu'un prétexte pour échapper à la responsabilité et ne constitue pas une véritable essence de l'existence humaine. Elle se nourrit des théories existentialistes telles que conçues par Kierkegaard, Sartre ou Camus lui-même, et surtout du positivisme de Taine et de Renan. Ces théories nous permettront de mettre en cause les fondements idéologiques de l'avare. La technique employée est l'analyse textuelle. L'étude tente de montrer que Meursault est la cause de son propre malheur puisqu'il ignore à son détriment les valeurs de la société dont il est produit.

Source: UEW
A random selection based substitution-box structure dataset for cryptology applications

The cryptology science has gradually gained importance with our digitalized lives. Ensuring the security of data transmitted, processed and stored across digital channels is a major challenge. One of the frequently used components in cryptographic algorithms to ensure security is substitution-box structures. Random selection-based substitution-box structures have become increasingly important lately, especially because of their advantages to prevent side channel attacks. However, the low nonlinearity value of these designs is a problem. In this study, a dataset consisting of twenty different substitution-box structures have been publicly presented to the researchers. The fact that the proposed dataset has high nonlinearity values will allow it to be used in many practical applications in the future studies. The proposed dataset provides a contribution to the literature as it can be used both as an input dataset for the new post-processing algorithm and as a countermeasure to prevent the success of side-channel analyzes. � 2021 IEEE.

Source: UEW
Re-assessing the Psychometric Properties of Stress Appraisal Measure in Ghana Using Multidimensional Graded Response Model

Despite the widespread use of the stress appraisal measure questionnaire in sport psychology literature, information on the psychometric properties of this survey instrument across different cultures and samples is still lacking. This study sought to validate the stress appraisal measure among male football players in the Ghana�s Premier League using the multidimensional item response theory. The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted to recruit 424 footballers from the 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League season using the census approach. The 28-item Stress Appraisal Measure was used to assess six (6) appraisal mechanisms under primary and secondary cognitive appraisals. The ordered polytomous item response theory was used for analyzing the data. The study found that although some items were problematic, the majority of them were found to have good item parameters, effective scale option functioning, and provided adequate empirical information in the measurement of stress appraisal. This research concluded that the stress appraisal measure has promising applicability among male footballers who participated in the premier league in Ghana. Future researchers are encouraged to re-validate the stress appraisal measure with a different sample to contribute to the understanding of the applicability of the instrument in non-western populations. Copyright � 2022 Srem-Sai, Quansah, Hagan, Ankomah, Frimpong, Ogum and Schack.

Source: UEW
Re-design and manufacture a neem seeds thresher for effective threshing of neem seeds.

Neem seeds are one of the most sources of oil for both local and industrial use. Mostly it is always threshed manually either by pounding or by the use of stone to remove the kernels from the seeds. Threshing Neem Seeds by the method of pounding or crushing with stone normally contaminate the grains with debris and also crush the seeds when in contact with the ground during crushing with the stone. Grains are also lost due to scattering during crushing and pounding processes, thus reducing the quality of the seeds. This process is slow and tedious hence the output per man per hour is very low. It is on this view that this project is designed to provide a clean and quality Neem Seeds and reduce the labour intensive during threshing. This study will helps to thresh neem seeds fast, effective and efficient. Besides, the cost in threshing Neem Seeds is reduced and the efficiency of the threshing is improved. A manual/motorized threshing machine is thus manufactured to curtail the above mentioned situations. Hence with the presence of this machine, Neem Seeds can be thresh with ease and with a great output per day and quality seed . This artifact is designed to meet all ergonomic purposes the common material to be used for the manufacturing is mild steel because it is affordable and easy to weld. However the fan blade should made to have enough air when revolving. This will help to blow the shells very easily from the kernels during the threshing process.

Source: UEW
Read or Perish: Reading habit among students and its effect on academic performance: A case study of Eastbank Senior High School- Accra

The paper was to examine reading habit among students and its effect on academic performance: using Eastbank Senior High School in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana as a case study. A questionnaire was employed for data gathering. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study revealed that 45.19% of the respondents recognized the importance of reading in their studies. The study revealed further that reading habits have affected the majority of students in their learning. The findings reported that the lack of conducive home environment hinders their reading habit t when they are at home. Based on the findings it has been recommended that the school should design a timetable for library hours to allow students to go to the library at least one and half hours in each day. Parents should help their children to have a serene reading environment when they are at home. � Library Philosophy and Practice, 2018.

Source: UEW
Read or perish: Reading habit among students and its effect on academic performance: A case study of Eastbank Senior High School-Accra

The paper was to examine reading habit among students and its effect on academic performance: using Eastbank Senior High School in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana as a case study. A questionnaire was employed for data gathering. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study revealed that 45.19% of the respondents recognized the importance of reading in their studies. The study revealed further that reading habits have affected the majority of students in their learning. The findings reported that the lack of conducive home environment hinders their reading habit t when they are at home. Based on the findings it has been recommended that the school should design a timetable for library hours to allow students to go to the library at least one and half hours in each day. Parents should help their children to have a serene reading environment when they are at home. � 2018 Library Philosophy and Practice.

Source: UEW
Reading and comprehension problems at Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School_a case study

This work looks at some of the problems associated with reading and comprehension among students in Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School. It is basically a qualitative study of reading comprehension difficulties among students at Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School. It will also suggest ways of enhancing students‟ abilities in comprehension. The purpose of the study is to investigate causes of students‟ poor performance in reading and comprehension, its effects on their academic performance and how to address the situation. The sample size used is forty-five (45) made up of forty (40) students and five (5) teachers in the English department. Findings from the study revealed that the cause of students poor performance in reading and comprehension results from text difficulty coupled with low word power of students, ineffective teaching approaches, lazy attitude of teachers, foreign text background, failure to see how a material is organized, negative attitude of students, limited text scope and poor reading and comprehension techniques. It was also found that poor reading comprehension skills affect student‟s performance, not in only English but in other subject areas. It also affects student‟s abilities in effective communication and even in essay writing. The study has recommended the following strategies that can be used to enhance students‟ performance in reading and comprehension: using culturally friendly text for reading, understanding the structure of the text, using appropriate methodologies to teaching, constant practice of comprehension, equipping students with essential skills needed for comprehension, having prediction activities before reading, understanding word relations and giving enough time to reading and comprehension practice regardless of pressure exerted by examination.

Source: UEW
Reading comprehension challenges among students of Huni – valley senior high school

The aim of this study was to investigate the reading comprehension challenges among students of Huni – Valley Senior High School. The study was conducted on 50 sampled students and their ten teachers. Descriptive research design was employed. Teacher and student questionnaire, classroom observation, and oral interview were used to gather the required date. The study found that most of the SHS2 students were not able to read and comprehend as expected at their level. As they read, they committed errors such as skipping or repeating words, reading individual words and reading very slowly. The study also found that the classes were overcrowded with higher student-teacher ratio; hence teachers did not have time to attend to students with reading comprehension challenges. It was further found that some of the textbooks used are not suitable to the level of the students and were also inadequate. The study also found that students reading comprehension challenges could not be attributed to only poor teaching methods, but also parents‘ inability to support their wards‘ literacy efforts at home. Teachers‘ methods of teaching were found to be inadequate to improve the students reading comprehension performances. The study recommended that large classes be reduced and parents should reduce the workload of their wards.

Source: UEW
Reading comprehension difficulties among form one students of Zamsa Junior High School

Reading comprehension plays an important role in learning a foreign language but it is also a very difficult subject. The current study examined reading comprehension difficulties among Form “1” students of Zamsa Junior High School. Also, the study specifically aimed at assessing various methods used by the teachers in teaching reading comprehension to the students and identified the main problems encountered by students in reading comprehension. The study was theoretically grounded in the traditional theory, cognitive theory, and Schema theory. The case study design with qualitative research approach were adopted for the study. Purposive and random sampling were used to select twenty-five (5) students and 2 teachers for the study. Data collection for the study was done using documentary review, interviews, and classroom observation. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that phonics method was the commonest method used by most teachers. Furthermore, it was revealed that most students encountered problems such as poor vocabulary mastery, poor fluency and issues with background knowledge when reading in reading comprehension. The study recommended that teachers should make frantic efforts to ensure that students gain interest in reading, both at school and outside the school environment. More so, strategies such as dictation and pronunciation drills must be infused in language teaching to ensure that students improve their language competency through reading.

Source: UEW
Reading comprehension difficulties among students of Fodoa Community Senior High School, Kwahu West Municipal

The study investigated the reading comprehension difficulties among students of Fodoa Community Senior High School. The purpose of the study was to find out the reading comprehension difficulties these students face, the causes of these difficulties and role teachers can play in improving students’ reading and comprehension. A cross-sectional study was used. A non-probability quota sampling was used to obtain a representative sample of the population. The sample size used was three hundred and three (303) made up of six (6) English teachers two hundred and ninety-seven students. Data was collected using questionnaires and reading comprehension test. The study found out that students had difficulties in pronouncing words correctly when reading. They had difficulties reading fluently and had difficulties understanding reading text. The study found out that, poor teaching methodology, school environment and teachers attitudes towards teaching were the causes of students reading comprehension difficulties. The research recommends that teachers should not only depend on the students’ textbooks but subsidiary course or other interesting materials should be involved in teaching reading comprehension. Teachers should ensure that library lessons on the timetable are strictly observed. Teachers should help students to choose reading materials based on their levels. Teachers should use the appropriate methods and approaches in teaching reading comprehension.

Source: UEW
Reading comprehension difficulties among students of Kpando Senior High School

This research is a qualitative study on reading difficulties among Senior High School students. The study sought to identify the causes of these difficulties, the effects on the students, and ways language teachers can help learners to overcome these challenges. The study used sixty-seven students and five teachers as respondents. Interview and observation were used to collect data for the study. From the study, it was revealed that poor reading speed which is caused by the difficulty level of the texts, Negative attitude of language teachers, ineffective teaching approaches, are some of the major causes of reading difficulties among Senior High School students. Some of the effects of reading comprehension difficulties on the academic performance of the students include: Failure in West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations, inability to communicate effectively, fear of reading subjects. Some strategies suggested to enhance students’ abilities in reading and comprehension include: Equipping students with reading and comprehension skills, using modern approaches to teach reading and comprehension, using texts from the learners’ environment. The findings of this research will help shape the comprehension skills of the leaners as well as direct teachers on the various techniques to employ in teaching reading comprehension.

Source: UEW
Reading culture among senior high school students in Wa municipality the role of the school library

This study aimed at establishing how the school library can be used to nurture a reading culture among senior high school students. The objectives were to: establish the types and availability of reading materials in the school library; establish the attitudes of students towards the use of the school library, investigate how students make use of the reading materials provided and to find out the roles of librarians and teachers of English in promoting a reading culture among students. The study was guided by Vygotsky’s socio-cultural model of reading, Skinner’s behaviorists theory and a conceptual framework. It adopted a convergent parallel design. Schools were purposively sampled in that only schools with libraries were selected. A total of ten schools were chosen. One librarian and one teacher for English were picked from each school, hence a sampling frame of 10 librarians and 10 teachers of English was attained. The sample also included 33 students selected by simple random sampling in each school; thus, a total of 330 students were used. Data was collected using the questionnaire, interview guide and observation checklist. What was analyzed using descriptive statistics was then presented thematically and also in the form of tables and figures. Findings indicated that school libraries mostly stock examination-oriented texts like course books, revision books and story books (mostly old text books), newspapers and books on donations. It was established that students believe that these texts equip them with knowledge and skills necessary for passing examinations. The conclusions were that most libraries were stocked with only course books and had insufficient comic books, storybooks, journals and magazines. School libraries need to be stocked with books with relevant content and library lessons should be included in the school time table.

Source: UEW
Reading difficulties among Konongo M.A JHS 1 pupils

Reading is one of the basic skills that children should master during their first school year to be able to assimulate new knowledge and skills in future.This case study was undertaken to investigate the reading difficulties among JHS pupils of Konongo M/A. The study also aimed at suggesting appropriate stratagies to enable pupils to be competent readers. The study particularly attempted to find out the causes and effects of reading difficulties. The study was conducted on 20 sampled pupils and seven teachers. Qualitative research design was employed. Teacher and student questionnaire, classroom observation, oral interview and test were the research instruments used to obtain the required data. The study found that, most of the pupils in JHS1 were not able to read as expected at their level. As they read, they committed errors such as skipping and ignoring word endings, reading individual words and making several stops. In the course of teaching pupils reading, the study again found that, the classes were overcrowded with high student-teaching ratio of 1:3. Hence teachers could not have time to attend to individual students with reading difficulties. It was further found through the oral interviews counducted and tests that, some textbooks used were not suitable for the level of the pupils and were not adequate. The questionniare presented to teachers and the tests assigned to the pupils indicated that the reading problems occured because some parents engaged their wards in farming activities instead of providing reading opportunities for them. Teachers techniques used for teaching were not found to be adequate to improve pupils reading performances. That resulted in the poor performance of pupils in the reading test conducted for pupils. The study sugguested that, large class sizes should be reduced. There should be organized workshops for teachers and there must be provision of adequate teaching and learning materials.

Source: UEW