ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
The influence of family-work conflict on the work performance of women in the organization. a study on Kumasi metropolitan assembly, Ghana

The emergence and determined survival of women in high flying jobs today in corporations depended on their own willingness to confront and fight strong barriers and hurdles that stool their way. The main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of career women using the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. The specific objectives included: examining the factors influencing the performance of women in the organization; examining the challenges affecting women in the organization and assessing the coping strategies adopted by women in the organization. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a sample of 100 respondents. The main data collection instrument was questionnaire. The collected data was analysed using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) and presented using frequency distribution tables. With the first objectives, the study concludes that the factors affecting the performance of women in the organization included: pressure from the family, low salary, low recognition as compare to male and workload in the organization. With the second objective, the study concluded that family-work conflict affects the performance of women in the organization. With the last objectives, the coping strategies of women in the organization included flexible working hour strategy include: part-time, telecommuting, job sharing and compressed work weeks, employees are able to maintain a balance between their work and their family and flexible working hours influence them in the organization. Generally, the study concluded due to flexible working policies, women are able to cope with family-work conflict. The study further recommends the need for flexible working hours programs will benefit both the employees and employer. This will help promote job satisfaction and enable employees to reduce work-life conflict.

Source: UCC
Influence of fertilizer application, maize variety and tillage system on the incidence and severity of maize streak disease and grain yield

Maize streak disease (MSD), one of the most destructive maize diseases causes an estimated yield loss of about 20 % in Ghana. A baseline survey was conducted from July to August, 2015 across three agro-ecological zones within the Volta Region to assess the level of MSD incidence and severity in the zones. In addition, field experiments were conducted at Nkwanta during the cropping seasons of 2015 to assess the effects of tillage practices, maize variety and fertilizer application on the incidence and severity of MSD.The split-split plot design with four replications was used, with tillage as the main plot, maize variety as the sub-plots and fertilizer application as the sub-sub plots. The MSD severity was assessed using 1-5 visual scale. The study revealed that soils across the Volta Region were low in major nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, but adequate in potassium. Mean MSD incidence as high as 84.5% was recorded in the region and varied among the agro-ecological zones. No relationship was detected among soil N, P and K contents and MSD prevalence in the region. Fertilizer application effectively reduced the MSD impact on growth and yield. Incidence and severity of MSD under no-tillage system was significantly lower than under conventional tillage. Plants on the plots with no added nutrients exhibited severe MSD symptoms, including stunted growth and reduced grain yield. However, MSD incidence and severity did not correlate significantly with the content of grain crude protein. The severity of MSD positively correlated with maize leaf N content, while increasing leaf K content resulted in reduced MSD severity. It can therefore be concluded that tillage and fertilizer application affect the severity of MSD in low nutrients soils.

Source: UCC
Influence of Financial Literacy on Small and Mediumsized Enterprises‘ Access to Finance: A Case Study of Awutu Senya East Municipality, Ghana.

Financial literacy has been recognized as a crucial skill set essential for the establishment, management, and prosperity of small and medium-sized enterprises. Its importance in aiding entrepreneurs to make prudent financial decisions, particularly in securing external funding for business growth, has gained prominence. This study sought to explore the influence of financial literacy on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises' access to finance in Awutu Senya East Municipality. A sample of 333 participants were selected for the study utilizing a stratified selection method. Questionnaires were employed in collecting data. The study employed multiple regression and independentsamples t-test for the data analysis via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 22. The study found that financial literacy indicators such as financial negotiation skills, budgeting skills and debt management skills positively influence access to finance. This suggests that financial literacy is crucial to the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises to acquire financing. Finally, the result shows that degree of financial literacy of male owners is greater than that of female owners of small and medium-sized enterprises. This demonstrates a significant gender gap still exists in financial literacy, particularly among owners of small and medium-sized enterprises in Awutu Senya East Municipality. It was recommended that owners should enroll in financial literacy programs offered by entrepreneurial skill development groups to gain the knowledge and expertise they need to make informed financial decisions. Special emphasis should be place on financial negotiation skill, budgeting skills and debt management skills if the access to finance by small and medium-sized enterprises is to be improved significantly

Source: UCC
Influence of financial management practices on organizational performance of non-governmental organizations in biodiversity, ACCRA

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of financial management practices on organisational performance of NGOs who are into biodiversity, and are in Accra in the Greater-Accra Region of Ghana. The target population was all permanent staff of NGOs in Accra who are into biodiversity. However, the accessible population was all spending officers including management staff, project coordinators, field officers and finance/account/audit staff of the organisations. The total number of these categories of staff considered in this study was 235. The NGOs and the categories of staff were selected purposively. Questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.812 was the instrument used. 219 questionnaires were completed accurately, resulting in 93.2% response rate. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyse the data. The findings of the study revealed that cash management practices of the NGOs are not effective as expected. However, the internal financial control systems put in place by the NGOs were perceived to be effective. Also, the financial reporting and analysis of NGOs were seen to be in good shape. Collectively, working capital management practices, internal financial control systems, and financial reporting and analysis were able to influence significantly performance of the NGOs. Based on the findings and conclusions, management of the organisations should improve their financial management practices by ensuring that there are sufficient internal financial control measures which when implemented will make it mandatory for NGOs to prepare, review and spend within their respective budgets

Source: UCC
Influence of Flipped Classroom Model on the Academic Achievement of Jhs Social Studies Learners in the Aowin Municipality

The world is enriched with technology with all fields employing such in their daily activities. Teaching with technology has been the subject of several discussions in various research articles with some calling for the imminent application of technology by teachers in the classroom regardless of context. Consequently, this study was conducted to examine the influences that a technologically rich flipped classroom has on JHS Social Studies learners’ academic attainment within the Aowin Municipality. Adopting the quasi experimental research design, a sample of 100 students and 10 teachers were selected using multi-stage and convenient sampling techniques respectively. Tests and questionnaires were the main instruments for data collection from respondents, the study used descriptive and inferential statistics (t-tests) to reveal that flipping the classroom significantly influences the JHS Social Studies learners’ academic achievement. The study also revealed that learners have positive perceptions about the use of the flipped classroom in teaching Social Studies in the Aowin Municipality. It was also seen that despite learners’ positive perception in relation to flipping the Social Studies classroom, they face numerous challenges in learning with the model. Teachers were also seen from the study to have a positive view about using the flipped classroom methodology to teach Social Studies within the Aowin Municipality. Consequently, it was recommended that Social Studies teachers should employ the model in teaching by minimising the challenges learners face in using the flipped classroom to learn

Source: UCC
Influence Of Gender And Course Of Study On Senior High School Students’ Use Of English Language Learning Strategies

Language learning strategies are pivotal in the acquisition and development of any language proficiency. Research has shown that individuals employ various strategies such as cognitive, metacognitive, and social strategies, to enhance their language learning process. However, the influence of gender and course of study on learners' use of language learning strategies remains a largely unexplored area in the field of second language acquisition. Yet, gender and course of study have been recognised as significant factors in language learning, with studies suggesting that males and females may differ in their approaches to language learning. To find out the influence of gender and course of study on students’ choice of strategies, this study employed a cross-sectional survey design to study 265 final-year students. The questionnaire data collected were presented, using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, and inferential statistics were employed for the data analysis. The study revealed ten most frequently used strategies based on the responses on the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL). Results indicated variations in strategy use between genders and among students and their courses of study. Female students were found to utilise memory, cognitive, compensation, metacognitive, affective and social strategies more frequently than male students. However, despite these gender differences, no significant variation was observed in the choice of strategies based on the students' course of study. To enhance language learning outcomes, it is recommended that educators integrate explicit instruction on diverse learning strategies into educational plans and curricula.

Source: UCC
Influence of Gender on Family Purchase Decisions: a Study of Households in Nalerigu Community

ABSTRACT Gender denotes the social roles and expectations, as well as the traits, aptitudes, and behaviors acquired over time. This study aimed at determining the extent to which gender influences family buying decisions in the Nalerigu community. More specifically the study intended to investigate the elements that impact a family's purchasing decision and which gender in the household makes the most purchasing in the Nalerigu community. Employing the quantitative research approach using an interpretivist position, data was collected from 100 participants from households in the Narelegu community using the purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The responses were analysed with SPSS version 21 using descriptive statistics. The study found that the female gender dominating family buying decisions due to the community's general gender dominance tendency. The study also found that culture and degree of product relevance impacted purchase decisions. The study recommends that gender with the most income or education should not always make the purchasing decision. Instead, it must be a collaborative impact, since this will ensure that both sides are satisfied after the transaction. Also, the study recommended collaborative decision-making procedures to benefit collectively when making family purchasing selections, in order to minimize dissonance following patronage.

Source: UCC
Influence of head teachers‟ management styles on teacher motivation in selected senior high schools in the Sunyani municipality of Ghana

Senior High School administration in Ghana is bedeviled with a lot of problems most of which emanate from deficiencies in management styles of heads of these institutions. There have been times when teachers had to stage open protests to register their displeasure about head teachers‟ management styles which they often described as administrative and managerial incompetency. This situation has often led to low morale among teachers and therefore this study focuses on finding out the effects of head teachers‟ management styles on teachers‟ motivation in SHSs in Ghana. The study also attempts to look at and explain how head teachers‟ informal relationship with teachers serves as a motivation for teachers to work to achieve institutional goals. The study sampled 100 senior high school teachers and 10 head teachers in the Sunyani Metropolis. These were sampled using the quota and simple random sampling procedures. The study, among other things, revealed that most teachers see their heads as bosses and not as friends. Again, it was revealed that though teachers were involved in decision making, the actual setting of objectives for a school were left in the hands of the heads and the school management team. It was therefore recommended for head teachers to adopt the Management by Walking About and Management by Objective so as to get closer to their teachers in the running of schools.

Source: UCC
Influence of Headteachers’ Supervision Practices on Teachers’ Job Performance in Junior High Schools

The study examined how headteachers of public junior high schools in Ghana's Western North Region's Sefwi Wiawso Municipality supervise their staff members and how it affects their performance. The concurrent mixed-method design was used in the investigation. The survey included two hundred and twenty-three (223) respondents, including 191 teachers and 32 headteachers. Teachers were chosen at random, whereas headteachers were chosen on purpose. Data were gathered using two sets of standardized questionnaires, as well as an interviewing guide. In contrast to thematic analysis, which was utilized for qualitative data, descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages, means, and standard deviation) were employed to analyze the quantitative data. It was discovered that headteachers' supervisory functions in the schools are well-understood by both teachers and headteachers. Finally, the survey showed that the headteachers believed there weren't enough resources available to them to perform their oversight duties in the schools. We came to the conclusion that good headteacher supervision techniques support instruction and learning. The biggest obstacles to effective headteacher oversight are also financial constraints. The Ministry of Education was advised to support headteachers in strengthening their supervision techniques. This might be accomplished by giving school improvement support officers the authority to make frequent school visits in order to assist headteachers.

Source: UCC
The Influence of Health Beliefs on Anxiety and Depression among Preoperative Breast Cancer Patients

This study assessed the influence of health belief on anxiety and depression among preoperative breast cancer patients in Ghana. The cross-sectional survey design was used for data collection via two self-administered structured questionnaires. One hundred and five (105) preoperative breast cancer participants aged between 18 and 60 and one hundred (100) preoperative uterine fibroid patients serving as a comparative group were selected from three (3) referral health facilities in Ghana. The participants were administered tests assessing anxiety, depression and health beliefs. Multiple Regression analyses were carried out and the results revealed that breast cancer participants obtained significantly higher scores on anxiety, depression, severity and vulnerability subscales of the Health Belief Scale (HBS) than the uterine fibroid patients. Further analyses indicated that the measures of Health beliefs of vulnerability predicted higher anxiety and depression for the breast cancer participants compared with those of preoperative uterine fibroid patients. This study generates knowledge about the relations between health belief and psychological wellbeing among breast cancer patients in Ghana.

Source: UCC
Influence of Household Structure on Academic Achievement of Senior High School Students in the Bosome-Freho District, Ghana

The purpose of this study was to find out the influence of household structure on the academic achievement of students in the Bosome Freho District of the Ashanti Region. Descriptive design was used for the study. The target population for this study consisted of all senior high school students in Bosome Freho District of the Ashanti region. Purposive sampling was used to select the public senior high schools in the district. A self-designed questionnaire developed by the researcher and students’ test scores were used for the data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used for the interpretation of the data analysis. One way Analysis of Variance was used to test hypothesis one and independent t-test was used to test research hypotheses two and three. Results of the study clearly showed that on the average, students perceived that socio-economic status of the household, to greater extent, affected students’ academic achievements. The study also revealed that students from smaller family sizes had higher academic achievement as compared to those from larger family sizes. Moreover, the study revealed that students from two-parent families performed better than students from single parent families. Also, the study found out that the academic achievement of students in male-headed households and female-headed households were the same. It is recommended that the government should support students from low socio-economic households with the necessary academic materials to enable them perform better. Also, the Ghana Education Service should therefore educate parxiients on the adverse effects of larger family size with no preparation to cater for their academic needs fully

Source: UCC
Influence of Human Resource Management Practices on Administrative Staff Performance at Cape Coast Technical University

Any educational institution's success or failure, especially one that provides postsecondary education, will undoubtedly depend significantly on how aggressively it encourages staff growth. This study sought to determine the leading human resource management practices and their influence on performance of administrative staff at Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU). Specifically, this study seeks to: identify the leading human resource management practices at CCTU, establishes the relationship between employees' performance and human resource management practices and determine the effect of human resource management practices on employees' performance. This study used a structured questionnaire, a descriptive design, and a quantitative approach to meet its research objectives. Out of the 121 administrative and teaching staff members at the University, 122 valid data were obtained. The data were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26, and then they were examined using both inferential (linear regression) and descriptive (mean and standard deviation) tools. The findings of the study revealed that there were various practices at CCTU, including defined procedures, selective hiring, regular performance reviews, fair disciplinary measures, and a professional performance appraisal system. Also, there is evidence that HRD practices favourably and affect CCTU employees' performance. Therefore, it was suggested that Cape Coast Technical University should continuously work to enhance its HRM procedures, since this is likely to result in an improvement in staff performance as well

Source: UCC
Influence of human resource management practices on employee performance: Evidence from Cape Coast metropolitan assembly.

The study set out to examine the effect of human resource management practices on employee performance in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to analyze the effect of reward and compensation on employee performance, examine the influence of recruitment and selection of employee performance, determine the effect of performance appraisal on employee performance, investigate influence of training and development on employee performance and examine the combined effect of the four dimensions of human resource management practices on employee performance. The study was based on the views of 216 employees from the study area. Linear and multiple regression analysis were used to establish the influence human resource management practices and employee performance. The results show that human resource management practices such as reward and compensation, recruitment and selection, performance appraisal and training and development had a positive and significant influence on performance of employee Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana. Results from multiple regression also suggest that human resource management practices greatly influence employee performance. It was recommended that management should take additional steps to organize and implement regular HRM programmes for employees to improve innovativeness to yield the needed employee performance again, human resource management practices should cover all employees with regards to their various areas of performance.

Source: UCC
The Influence of Indigenous Culture on Sport Psychology Practice: Challenges and Prospects

Given that contemporary cultural sport psychology has advocated for more inclusiveness involving intersecting cultural identities for applied work (research and practice), it is still surprising that information on indigenous practices across many societies remain untapped. This opinion paper highlights a range of issues that have been addressed within differing cultural contexts and offer ways in which indigenous practices could be integrated into existing professional frameworks across diverse societies that maintain respect for new set of culture-specific behavioral norms, beliefs and practices.

Source: UCC