ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Factors that influence learning strategy use among senior high school economics students in Ghana: a quantitative approach

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence Senior High School (SHS) economics students’ use of learning strategies. We conducted the study using 668 final year economics students drawn from 24 public and private SHSs in the Central Region of Ghana. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that learning style and teaching method influence students’ choice of cognitive learning strategies. Also, learning styles, teaching method, motivation to study the subject, and student-status significantly influence students’ use of metacognitive strategies. Finally, the study showed that learning style, teaching method, motivation, student-status, and school-type significantly explain variability in resource management learning strategies of Economics students. The study, therefore, suggested that teachers should adopt practices that actively engage students in a class. Also, teachers, heads, and parents of students should motivate students to develop an interest in studying economics. Also, the study recommended that government and school authorities should formulate and implement policies that provide similar learning opportunities for day and boarding students since all students irrespective of their status, require equal opportunities to unearth their learning potentials. Finally, based on the findings, a conceptual model was developed to enhance learner autonomy through the use of metacognitive strategies

Source: UCC
Factors that Influence Learning Strategy Use among Senior High School Economics Students in Ghana: A Quantitative Approach

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influence Senior High School (SHS) economics students’ use of learning strategies. We conducted the study using 668 final year economics students drawn from 24 public and private SHSs in the Central Region of Ghana. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that learning style and teaching method influence students’ choice of cognitive learning strategies. Also, learning styles, teaching method, motivation to study the subject, and student-status significantly influence students’ use of metacognitive strategies. Finally, the study showed that learning style, teaching method, motivation, student-status, and school-type significantly explain variability in resource management learning strategies of Economics students. The study, therefore, suggested that teachers should adopt practices that actively engage students in a class. Also, teachers, heads, and parents of students should motivate students to develop an interest in studying economics. Also, the study recommended that government and school authorities should formulate and implement policies that provide similar learning opportunities for day and boarding students since all students irrespective of their status, require equal opportunities to unearth their learning potentials. Finally, based on the findings, a conceptual model was developed to enhance learner autonomy through the use of metacognitive strategies.

Source: UCC
Factors that influence midwifery students in Ghana when deciding where to practice: a discrete choice experiment

Background: Mal-distribution of the health workforce with a strong bias for urban living is a major constraint to expanding midwifery services in Ghana. According to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) report, the high risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth continues in Africa. Maternal death is currently estimated at 350 per 100,000, partially a reflection of the low rates of professional support during birth. Many women in rural areas of Ghana give birth alone or with a non-skilled attendant. Midwives are key healthcare providers in achieving the MDGs, specifically in reducing maternal mortality by three-quarters and reducing by two-thirds the under 5 child mortality rate by 2015. Methods: This quantitative research study used a computerized structured survey containing a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to quantify the importance of different incentives and policies to encourage service to deprived, rural and remote areas by upper-year midwifery students following graduation. Using a hierarchical Bayes procedure we estimated individual and mean utility parameters for two hundred and ninety eight third year midwifery students from two of the largest midwifery training schools in Ghana. Results: Midwifery students in our sample identified: 1) study leave after two years of rural service; 2) an advanced work environment with reliable electricity, appropriate technology and a constant drug supply; and 3) superior housing (2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, living room, not shared) as the top three motivating factors to accept a rural posting. Conclusion: Addressing the motivating factors for rural postings among midwifery students who are about to graduate and enter the workforce could significantly contribute to the current mal-distribution of the health workforce.

Source: UCC
Factors that influence the career choices of university of Cape Coast students

This study focused on the factors that influence the career choices of University of Cape Coast students. The study investigated the educational, social, inherent and economic factors that influence the career choices of the University of Cape Coast students. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Purposive, stratified, quota and simple random sampling techniques were used to sample 471 respondents for the study. The study also sought to know the best predictor of career choices of the University of Cape Coast students. Five research questions were formulated to keep the study in focus. Three likert scale type of questionnaire was used in collecting responses from the students. Z for proportion test of significance was used to analyse the first four research questions. Regression was used to analyse research question five. The findings show that, educational factors, social factors and inherent factors were the best predictors of career choices of University of Cape Coast students with the equation Y = -1.259 + 0.841 Inherent factors + 3.528 Educational factors + -2.432 Social factors. A recommendation for the study is that more career guidance seminars be held for students in the universities so as to help the university student know the right factors to consider when choosing a career. Another recommendation was also that career choice be inculcated into the curriculum so that right from the start, students would know what should go into their choices of career.

Source: UCC
Factors that influence the demand for packing and removal services: a case of Doxa Worldwide Movers Ltd

This study investigated factors influencing demand for packing and removal services using Doxa worldwide movers Ltd. as a case study. Doxa Worldwide Movers/Doxa Van Lines Ltd. is an international moving company based in Ghana. It has operated in the air, land and ocean freight forwarding business since its inception 20 years ago. The study specifically sought to: assess volume of cargo that Doxa has handled over the study period; examine factors which determine demand for packing and removal services; investigate the challenges clients face in using the services; and identify what can be done to improve demand for the services of Doxa Worldwide Movers Ltd. The study covered the period 2010 to 2015. The study adopted an explanatory research design. The population size was 1000 and the sample was 100. The basis for selecting 100 respondents is that 10% was chosen based on the central Limit Theorem. Those chosen included embassies and high commissions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), oil companies, telecommunications companies, financial institutions, health institutions, educational institutions and agricultural entities which patronize the services of Doxa Worldwide Movers Ltd. Questionnaire and interview were used to collect data. The data was analysed. The study identified factors which determine demand for packing and removal include pricing, promotion, income, distance, safety and security. Challenges clients face in using the services included delays in receiving services, unaffordable prices, fewer hands in packing, and unwillingness of the company to provide services in remote destinations. It is recommended that Doxa devise brilliant strategies to offer services to its customers in different income groups.

Source: UCC
Factors that Influence the Use of Information and Communication Technology among Ghanaian SHS Science Teachers and Students: The Case of Atwima Kwawoma District.

The prime purpose of this study was to find out factors that influence the use ICT among Ghanaian science teachers and SHS students with principal focus on SHS in Atwima Kwawoma district. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 40 Science teachers and 200 students from Afia kobi Ampem Girls SHS, Trede SHS, Twedie Vocational and Technical SHS in the Atwima Kwawoma District of Ashanti region in Ghana. A questionnaire instrument was used to elicit information from 240 respondents The highest response was for 17 teachers indicating that 21 – 30 of computers on the average were in good use in their schools. The next highest response was that of 10 for the range of 20-29 computers being connected to the internet. This response accounted for 25% of the total responses obtained from the 40 teachers. Inadequate time to prepare teaching and learning activities with the computer and inadequate ICT infrastructure in schools were the major perceived barriers mostly reported by respondents It is recommended that Heads of the various SHS should organize in-service training in professional development courses related to the integration of ICT in teaching and learning Science for their teachers.

Source: UCC
Factors that Influence Women’s Place of Delivery in the Wa West District

Utilisation of health service during delivery is an important predictor of maternal and child health. This study identifies factors that influence women’s place of last delivery in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. A cross sectional study design was used. A quantitative study, involved 384 women age 15 – 49 years and who had given birth three years prior to the study. Descriptive analyses which involved frequency tables and charts were used while binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between the dependent variable and predictors variables. Results are presented as odds ratios (OR) at 95% confidence interval. While content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Fifty–nine percent of women had their last delivery at a health facility. Multivariate analyses revealed that women who had 3 and 4 children parity, women with secondary education or higher, women traders and women who took between 1-2 km and 5 km or more from residence to reach health facility were more likely to deliver at health facility. The last place of delivery of the women had significant relationship with age, education and proximity to nearest health facility. The finding has important implication the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal five which is aimed at reducing maternal mortality by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality should be tailored to address the needs of women with low educational status those with higher parity, those belonging to the traditional religious faith and those with no religion.

Source: UCC
Factors that influnce second cycle students' choice of a career programmme

Second cycle students choose different programmes that prepare them into various future careers. The main objective of the study was to determine factors that influence the choice of a career programme of these students. A questionnaire was designed and administered in six schools in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis of the Western Region. A sample size of one hundred students was taken from each of the schools, making a total of six hundred students. The students were chosen from programmes namely, General Arts. Visual Ails, Science, Business. Home Economies and Technical. Factor Analysis Technique was used to examine the interrelationship between the variables and to reduce the large set of variables into a smaller set of factors. The variables were possible source of indicators of influence on the choice of students’ career programme. The factors identified to influence the second cycle students’ choice of a career programme are Motivation. Persuasion, Interest in parent career. Available information and Awareness. The most important influential factor is Motivation. Persuasion is the next important factor which influences the second cycle students. Interest in parents career is a factor which is considered after motivation and persuasion. The fourth factor that the students in the study indicated is Available information while the least influential factor is Awareness.

Source: UCC
Factors that predispose adolescents to HIV/AIDS/STIs in communities in and around the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

This study examined factors that predispose adolescents to Human Immunodeficiency Virus! Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromel Sexually Transmitted Infections (HIV/AIDS/STIs) in the communities in and around the University of Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana as a result of rising incidence of HIV/AIDS/STIs reported cases in the University Hospital, particularly among adolescents. Using an exploratory cross-sectional study design, a probability sampling method was used to select 450 adolescents in 9 out of 12 communities in the study area. Using interview schedules, the data obtained from 435 available respondents was analysed by means of descriptive and inferential statistics using the Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPSS) and Excel programmes. The findings revealed that knowledge gap on HIV/AIDS/STIs among adolescents and some socio-cultural factors predisposed adolescents to HIV/AIDS/STIs. The results also indicate that, in addition to wrong perception about condom and its use, hard drug, multiple sexual partners and alcohol were identified by the respondents as risky behaviours predisposing adolescents to HIVIAIDS/STIs. The researcher recommends that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) should intensify campaigns and programmes targeting adolescents on the factors that predispose adolescents to HIV/AIDS/STls. Also, the Ghana Education Service (GES), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders should provide adolescents with the necessary communication and other life skills to protect them from HIV/AIDS/STls. The adolescents should avail themselves of information on HIV/AIDS/STls because they form the pillars of the nation's future human resource base

Source: UCC
faecal sludge disposal and health implications in Ejura-Sekyedumase municipality.

Solid waste and faecal sludge management in situations of rapid mass displacement are important to public health and providing for a better environment. Despite this, both have been neglected in Water Sanitation and Hygiene programs, which tend to have a focus on water. However, increasing efforts are being made to find solutions to challenges in solid waste and faecal sludge management in difficult circumstances in humanitarian emergencies.Safe disposal of excreta, so that it does not contaminate the environment, water, food or hands, is essential for ensuring a healthy environment and for protecting personal health. Regardless of method, the safe disposal of human faeces is one of the principal ways of breaking the faecal–oral disease transmission cycle. Provision of improved faecal matter disposal systems is vital in reducing the incidence of faecal diseases. The main purpose of this study is to review faecal sludge disposal practices in the Ejura-Sekyedumase municipalityand its health implications. The study reviews faecal sludge management options used by individuals and the municipality as a whole. In addition, the study analyses the common disease profile of the community in retrospect. The study recorded 64 males with a percentage of 53.3 and 56 females also with a percentage of 46.7 all making up 120 respondents.The number of responses recorded for females in all 3 zones was encouraging, this is because most ladies are concerned about the kind of toilet facilities they use when it comes to where they defecate. Recommendations were made, one being that landlords should make toilet facilities available in their homes thus curbing open defecation and reducing the pressure on public toilets.

Source: UCC
Fair testing practices in district-mandated testing programme in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

The study‟s main purpose was to investigate the fair testing practices of a test developer and teachers in a district-mandated testing programme in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The research design adopted for this study was the multilevel mixed methods triangulation design. Critical case sampling technique was utilized in selecting 3 key informants and 9 test questions. Also, the two-stage cluster sampling technique was adopted in selecting 251 teachers from 162 public JHSs. The main instruments used for this study included interview protocol and document review for the test developer‟s strand and a 72-item questionnaire for the teachers‟ strand. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.82. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis, frequency and percentages, one-sample t-test, and independent-samples t-test. The study‟s results showed that the practices of the test developer, to a large extent, were fair to all test takers. The results of the study further showed that in terms of test preparation, administration, interpretation, reporting and uses made of test results, the practices of teachers, to a large extent, were fair to all test takers. However, in terms of grading students‟ test performance, the study‟s results showed that student‟ grades were influenced by factors such as students‟ comportment, which are irrelevant to the constructs as measured by the district-mandated test and thus, are unfair. It was recommended that the test developer develops a comprehensive test manual and share with all participating schools. The test developer should also engage the services of experienced test administrators as chief proctors who could serve as test monitoring teams.

Source: UCC
Faire la preuve a la cour a travers des phenomenes polyphoniques : le cas du tribunal d’aflao au GHANA

Nous partons de la prémisse centrale que la prevue apportée par les parties aux disputes à la cour peut être achevée au moyen des techniques discursives relevant de la polyphonie. Nous nous intéressons aux marqueurs de la polyphonie comme le discours rapporté et la reformulation et leurs fonctions pragmatiques diverses dans le discourse judiciaire. Cette analyse linguistique est faite à l appui d’un corpus de discours des partenaires obtenus à un tribunal de grande instance au Ghana. Le résultat montre comment les partenaires utilisent les fonctions pragmatiques du discours rapporté et de la reformulation pour démontrer la fiabilité ou non fiabilité d’une preuve, un phénomène qui nous amène à proposer une perspective nouvelle de la représentation de la communication en général et la communication au tribunal en particulier

Source: UCC
The fall of the tragic hero: A critique of the “hubristic principle”

The idea of attaching moral depravity to the fall of the tragic heroes (according to Aristotle, those men who enjoy prosperity and high reputation like Oedipus and Thyestes etc.) did not start with the three tragic poets, namely; Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, but rather it dates back even to Homer. This idea is, of course, influenced by the old Greek tradition of Koros, Hubris, Nemesis and Ate. The totality of this traditional view and its application is equated to the phrase ‘hubristic principle’, in the scheme of this work. The hubristic principle makes specific that the fall of the hero is as a result of a sin or wrong that he committed. The commission of this wrong must not go unpunished. In effect, the hand of Justice, what they call nemesis, no matter how delayed must fall on the hero. The problem is how then do you reconcile situations where the fall of the hero is not his making? In other words, where do you place undeserved misfortune that befalls the hero? Apparently, it is this inadequacy of the hubristic syndrome that Aristotle proposes hamartia (Greek, for error) as the appropriate means in accounting for the fall of the tragic hero. This paper discusses first, the hubristic principle and its application and second, assesses the reliability of the theory in accounting for the fall of the tragic hero

Source: UCC
Family and Community Support Systems for Expectant Mothers on Birth Preparedness in Northern Ghana

While maternal mortality ratio in under-developed countries has declined significantly since 1990, much work still needs to be done in addressing inequities to accessing maternal health services by poor, vulnerable and marginalized women. In an effort to improve maternal and newborn health (MNH) services, Community Support System (CmSS) is an approach for community involvement and ownership. The objective of the study includes, this study specifically examined support systems on birth preparedness among expectant mothers attending antenatal clinic at Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February, 2016 to April, 2016 among mothers who attended antenatal care at Tamale Teaching Hospital, Ghana. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select pregnant women for the study. Using structured questionnaires, the women were assessed on the availability of community support systems during pregnancy and childbirth. Data quality was ensured via crosschecks and double entry into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.01 for analysis. Data were summarized and described using frequency tables. At the 95% confidence interval, a p-value less than 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: About 74.2% of respondents lacked husbands` company to antenatal clinic and 88.4% received no support from community leadership. Conclusions: Based on these findings, it is recommended that an emergency response system at the community level to provide emergency funds, transport, and blood donors be put in place and made known to the public.

Source: UCC