ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Employee physical appearance and quality service delivery a case of selected four star hotels in Greater Accra Region

Employees’ physical appearance is an important commercial advantage for the hotel industries in Ghana. In the face of competition, most hotels tend to look for beautiful ladies and handsome young men to be at their front desk to attract and retain customers. The desire of hotels to recruit employees based on their physical appearance sometimes backfires if the employee does not possess the requisite skills needed for the successful performance of the job. Based on this, the study aimed at evaluating employee physical appearance and its impact on service delivery in 4-Star hotels in Greater Accra Region. Descriptive research design was adopted for this study. The study sampled 324 respondents comprising; 44 managements, and 280 customers. Purposive sampling and convenience sampling techniques were used in selecting the respondents. Questionnaires were developed to obtain the relevant information from the respondents. The study revealed that 86.8% of 4-Star hotels management consider the physical appearance of people when recruiting employees. The finding further discovered that 76.3% of customers pay attention to physical appearance of hotel employees. The study showed that customers perceived that 4-Star hotels have a good reliability of services, assurance, high tangibility and adopt proper employees’ responsive techniques in addressing their challenges. The study revealed that employee physical appearance is significant in affecting the quality service delivery at the 4-Star hotel (F(d)=69.78, p=0.000<0.01). it was concluded that 48.3% of the variations in quality service delivery at 4-Star hotels can be explained by employee physical appearance and 51.7% of variation in quality service delivery is explained by other factors that are not within the control of the research. It was recommended that managers of hotels should also put more emphasis on physical appearance during recruitment of employees and other factors which may lead to quality service delivery in order to create customer satisfaction.

Source: UEW
Employee turnover and its effect on work flow in the hospitality industry, a case study of selected hotels in the Kumasi Metropolis

Employee turnover is one of the major problems facing the hotel industry the world over with Ghana being no exception. Generally, the hotel industry depends on humans as part of the product, with unnecessary employee turnover being an element of critical importance to bottom line performance and workflow. To this effect, the aim of the study was to examine the factors that influence employee turnover and its effect on work flow in selected hotels in the Kumasi metropolis. This study adopted a descriptive research design. From an approximate population of 500 permanent staff members of the selected hotels, random sampling was used to select a total of 100 respondents comprising 25 management members and 75 employees for data collection with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS v18 to generate descriptive statistics and ranking analysis using relative importance indexes. The study revealed that the most important employee expectations in the hotel industry as expressed by the respondents were increased financial returns (66.7%), adequate welfare (64%), improved benefit package (60%) and good working conditions (54.7%). Also, it was found that turnover was unhealthy for workflow in the hotels. For instance, the highly rated effects of employee turnover on productivity and workflow by the respondents in the hotels were service delivery breakdown (65.4%), negative impact on the hotel’s performance (56%) and reduction in profit (53.3%). In conclusion, the factors that influence employee turnover in hotels in the Kumasi metropolis relate to their expectations of gainful employment. The lack of these expectations affect their turnover rate which negatively affects workflow. In order to boost the job-embeddedness of employees whilst slowing down the inclination to engender turnover intention, hotel management should look at how they will use rewards to motivate their workers.

Source: UEW
Employee turnover in the hospitality industries in Ghana a case study in the Eastern Region

The general purpose of the study was aimed at bridging the knowledge gap on employee turnover in hotels and restaurants in New Juaben South municipal. The study adopted descriptive research design, with quantitative approach. The study population comprises management and staff of selected hotels of the hospitality industries in the Eastern region. The study adopted stratified random sampling to select the population of the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the workers for the study. The quantitative data collected using the questionnaire was analysed using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency distributions, graphs and charts. Among the three objectives, the employees agreed that organisational factors affect the rate of employee turnover in the hotel industry in Koforidua. Specifically, 52.6% of the respondents agreed that the manager’s style of leadership contributes to a greater extend to the rate of employee turnover. With regards to implications of remuneration and rewards on employee retention, majority (55.1%) of the respondents disagreed that they are paid on their performance, on open door policy for renegotiation of payment packages majority (63.8%) of the respondents agreed to the statement. With regards to strategies to addressing employee turnover, from the findings majority (83.6%) of the respondents agreed that better working conditions is a strategy to retain employees in hotel industry. The study concluded that the hospitality industry can benefit on open door policy, and regular performance appraisals are necessary but they are only beneficial if undertaken fairly. The study also concluded that a conducive working environment is key in improving employees’ morale and retaining them. The study recommends that establishment sound and effective retention strategies provision of better working conditions, establishing good communication lines between management and employees.

Source: UEW
Employee welfare as a catalyst for quality performance a case study of the Ghana education service in the Effutu Municipality

There is no gainsaying that teachers are a very critical resource in human society. Due to this fact, issues regarding teacher performance have been given considerable attention so as to manage such issues for the best teacher outcomes. This study aims at examining the effect of teacher welfare on teacher performance using data from teachers in the Ghana Education Service in the Effutu municipality. Consequently, a descriptive survey design with a quantitative approach staged the study in data collection, which returned 381 completed questionnaires from teachers in the Effutu municipality. The study assessed the extent of teacher welfare and its effect of teacher performance. The findings show that teacher welfare is concomitant with teacher satisfaction. Positive recognition received by teachers, and the robustness of Employee Welfare Association, including its influence in the teaching service are significant ingredients influencing teacher performance. The aspect that boosts employee welfare the biggest to create A positive influence on teacher performance is positive recognition. The study recommends that the management of the teachers should think innovatively about encouraging teacher associations. Teachers that show commitment to work ought to know that they are recognized and appreciated for their work. Management must work hand-in-hand with employee association in a way that elevates the sense of cooperation with the teacher associations. It emerges from this study that it is important that periodic research be undertaken to assess the concerns of teachers to promote their welfare.

Source: UEW
The employees’ perception of the effect of transformational leadership on institutional innovation - the case of South Suntreso Hospital

The health care industry in Ghana involves the continual introduction of new clinical interventions and technologies designed to improve patient and business outcomes, which require a transformational behavior of leadership. The research was carried out with the intention of examining the employee’s perception of the effect of transformational leadership on institutional innovation. The research adopted descriptive survey design. The target population was 400 comprising all the employees at the South Suntreso Hospital. The data was collected from 50 respondents which was made up of thirty two (32) females and eighteen (18) males. A questionnaires as tested by Cronbach’s alpha recorded the value of 0.703 was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that majority (71.9%) of the respondents either agree or strongly agree that transformational leadership behaviours affect the employees’ perception of leadership effectiveness. In addition, most respondents (71.9%) either agree or strongly agree that transformational leadership has influence on innovations. Moreover, majority (59.5%) either agree or strongly agree that there are challenges of transformational leadership on innovations. To this end, the study recommend that institutional heads should develop strategies and make decisions to increase their employees’ job satisfaction and increase their enthusiasm to work. In addition a wider range of samples from different types of organizations across various industries should be used to test the proposed model and generalized the findings. Thus, the study contributes to the existing pool of knowledge on Transformational1leadership.

Source: UEW
Employers views on school-employer job-oriented collaboration involving students with intellectual disabilities at reverend Father John special unit, Winneba

This study sought the views of employers on school-employer job-oriented collaboration involving students with intellectual disabilities at Reverend Father John Special Unit, Winneba. The study was underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm and adopted the qualitative approach, which employed the case study research design. A sample size of nine comprising three shoe makers, three food vendors, and three printing press owners were involved in the study. Semi-structured interview guide and observation were used to gather data for the study, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the employers’ motivating factors to engage students in collaboration with from Reverend Father John Special Unit were that the students got employment for some income; serve as source of education, and social responsibility. Furthermore, source of employment, build connection, and means of advocacy were some of the benefits employers perceive about the collaboration. However, the employers stressed that they encountered some challenges such as theft issues, poor self-care skills, communication gap, and poor interpersonal relationships when they work with the students with intellectual disability. The study therefore recommended that the authorities at Reverend Father John Special Unit together with the parents of the students should identify and target employers in the community that engage in work experiences that align with the basic skills the students are taught in school and approach them for collaboration focused on fostering employment opportunities to the students.

Source: UEW
Employers‟ perception about capabilities of persons with disabilities in the Kassena-Nankana municipality in the upper east region of Ghana

This study examined employers‟ perception about capabilities of persons with disabilities in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of Ghana. The study applied a stratified random sampling technique in selecting 27 (employers). The list of employers within the appropriate agencies, and split into two categories: Public and Private sector. Numbers were assigned to each employer in each category. Interviews and observations were used for collecting data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies were used to present the data. The study found that the major work employers thought persons with disabilities (PWDs) could perform is to be receptionists, cleaner‟s, managers and cashiers. The study also found that employees who have disability were more truthful and loyal as compared to those without disability. The study revealed that the major issue of employers‟ decision not to employ persons with disabilities (PWDs) is the fact that persons with disabilities are less productive. This study recommends that there should be effective public education by government, non-governmental organizations, stakeholders and local authorities on capabilities of persons with disability. It is also recommended that there should be enactment and enforcement of labour laws to protect the right of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Source: UEW
Employing Microscience Equipment to Promote Chemistry Education Through Constructivist Hands- and Minds-on Activities

This study sought to use simple, less costly, robust equipment and constructivist pedagogies, that promote and foster learning, to enable an intact class of 81 teacher trainees in a teaching programme to form their own authentic concepts through fun-filled, engaging social interactions. Data were collected by means of two-tier diagnostic assessments in a constructivist classroom environment that employed microscience equipment and activities. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and observation schedules were employed to triangulate data and acquired learning skills. From the study, it was found that the variant hands-on and minds-on constructivist approach enhanced the acquisition of many learning skills, created environmental awareness, and concept formation. The implication here is that, the varied constructivist approach has the potential to change the way chemistry is taught in more pragmatic, interactive, simple, fun, and engaging ways to facilitate conceptual understanding of chemistry for sustainability and further innovations in STEM development. � 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature.

Source: UEW
Employing mobile pedagogy as a model for instruction and assessment A case study at St. Francis College of Education, Hohoe, Ghana

The purpose of the study was to employ mobile pedagogy as a model for instruction and assessment in other to improve upon the learning outcomes of science students in the concepts of acids, bases and salts in chemistry at St. Francis College of Education (FRANCO), Hohoe. The study was an action research employing pretest-posttest design. The target population for the study comprised all the first year science students in four Colleges of Education in the Volta Region of Ghana. However, the accessible population was made up of two intact first year science classes of ninety six students of FRANCO. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select the sample for the study. Test, questionnaire and opinionnaire were used to collect data. The data collected were analysed using IBM SPSS version 22. It was found out that all the science students have mobile devices and the most common types used were the Android Phones, Cellular Phones and Laptops. The devices were mostly used for non-academic purposes. In their opinion, the nature of the devices, internet availability and the rate of uplink and downlink influenced how they used their devices. However, large memory size had no influence on how they use their mobile devices in the school. Mobile pedagogy helped level 100 science students at St. Francis College of Education to understand the concepts of acids, bases and salts. It also increased their active participation in chemistry lesson, increased their motivation to learn chemistry and inevitably increased their test scores. It was concluded that employing mobile pedagogy for instruction and assessment had significant effect on students‘ academic achievements. It was recommended that science teachers and students should employ mobile pedagogy as a tool for instruction, learning and assessment.

Source: UEW
Enablers and inhibitors of exclusive breastfeeding: perspectives from mothers and health workers in Accra, Ghana

Background: Despite the health and economic benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, there is evidence of a decline globally and in Ghana. Previous studies addressing this problem are mostly quantitative with only a few of such studies using qualitative or mixed methods to examine the predictors, benefits, ways of improving and managing exclusive breastfeeding, and the challenges associated with exclusive breastfeeding from the perspective of exclusive and nonexclusive breastfeeding mothers, and health workers. This study employs the health belief model to examine the experiences of mothers and health workers regarding exclusive breastfeeding to fill this gap in the literature. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study involving in-depth interviews was conducted among health workers and mothers attending child welfare clinic at two polyclinics in Madina, Accra-Ghana in 2019. Purposive sampling was used to select health facilities and participants for the study. Twenty participants comprising ten exclusive breastfeeding mothers, six non-exclusive breastfeeding mothers and four health workers were interviewed for the study. The data were analyzed based on emerging themes�from inductive and deductive coding. Results: The decision to practice exclusive breastfeeding was based on mothers� work, advertisement on exclusive breastfeeding and education on breastfeeding provided by health workers. Insufficient flow of breast milk, pressure from family and friends, and insufficient breast milk for infants were among the reasons for discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding. The factors that help improve exclusive breastfeeding include eating healthy food and breastfeeding on demand, while counselling and monitoring, restricting advertisement on infant formula and granting�maternity leave for breastfeeding mothers were identified as factors that�can facilitate the practice of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: Different levels of experience affect and shape exclusive breastfeeding practice in Ghana. The decision to practice exclusive breastfeeding, as well as the challenges and strategies employed in managing exclusive breastfeeding, emanates from mothers� personal experiences and interactions with institutional factors. In view of this, there should be counselling on the management of challenges associated with�exclusive breastfeeding�and provision of accurate�information on exclusive breastfeeding to enable mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding. � 2022, The Author(s).

Source: UEW
Energy saving system using a PIR sensor for classroom monitoring

The work gives a report about the design of an energy saving system using a Passive Infrared Radio sensor to switch 'off fan and light circuits in the classroom in the absence of students. When a student enters the classroom, the Infrared energy emitted from the living body is focused by the Fresnel lens segment and the PIR sensors activate and give to the microcontroller which acts as power saving device according to the relay. When motion is detected the relays trigger and switch the fan and light 'on' and after ten minutes to switch 'off the fan and light when motion has not been detected. The fan only switches 'on' when the room attains a temperature of 25�C-30�C. � 2017 IEEE.

Source: UEW
Engagement in constructing understanding of selected chemistry concepts through the integration of indigenous knowledge

Students’ engagement in chemistry lessons is essential for construction of knowledge and understanding. The issue is with the adoption of teaching and learning strategies that encourage students’ engagement. Indigenous knowledge (IK) practices have been argued to provide suitable contexts in relation to the students’ everyday life experiences to reveal the relevance, practicality and applicability of concepts for effective teaching and learning. Therefore, chemistry lessons designed using suitable contextual IK practices, have the tendency to promote the meaningfulness of concepts to students thereby fostering their engagement in lessons. The study was conducted as a case study to evaluate the effect of students’ engagement in ‘integrated indigenous knowledge-chemistry lessons’ (IIK-CLs) on students’ learning outcome. Relevant data was collected from 20 purposely sampled IK experts and 8 chemistry tutors and ‘integrated indigenous knowledge-chemistry lessons were consequently developed. Specific chemistry concepts were taught using the ‘IIK CLs’ which engaged students in numerous activities. The behavioural, emotional and cognitive engagement of 26 randomly sampled students were assessed using observational schedule and questionnaire on all three types of engagement. The interrupted time series design was also used to evaluate the effect of the designed ’integrated ‘IK-CLs on the students’ learning outcome and on gender. Students’ responses were analysed using Excel and statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and the results presented in tables and graphs. The ‘IIK-CL’ recorded a high percentage of students’ engagement, revealed a significant improvement in students’ performance and impacted positively on students learning. The integration of IK practices in the teaching of chemistry concepts promoted students’ engagement and enabled the construction of knowledge and understanding

Source: UEW
Engaging Engineering Students in a Development Program for a Global South Nation through Service-Learning

Commerce and industry have been two of the main drivers of progress in global north nations (developed nations), placing them in leading positions in the world economy. Global south nations (developing nations) seek to be equal partners with global north nations in the global economy. They view education as the means to achieve this objective. They appreciate that education underpins both commerce and industry, and is the main driver in development. Education can be combined with service to society through research projects at the tertiary level to advance development via service-learning. The research projects yield credits that count toward graduation. Tertiary level in this context includes vocational education and training, undergraduate and postgraduate education. Service-learning (SL) is any educational activity that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience while teaching civic responsibility. Service- learning is one of the approaches being used in the Master of Science (M.Sc.) program in Telecommunication Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. In this chapter, the project being used in the service-learning format is on power-line communication (PLC). PLC is a technology in which data transmission is overlaid on electric power transmission; hence, all areas that are connected to the national grid can have access to the Internet. Analysis and simulations of the problem are done using the Numerical Electromagnetic Code (NEC-4), and the results are compared to experimental measurements. � 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Source: UEW