Workplace Conflicts and Perception of Quality Higher Education in Ghana

Conflicts as a complex reality are common in higher education settings. Unfortunately, little is known about their impact on perceptions of the quality of higher education. This study assessed the impact of structural and interpersonal conflicts on the perception of quality higher education. To obtain the data, the study used a cross-sectional survey research design. The study sampled 310 academic and administrative staff from three universities in Northern Ghana using a multi-stage sampling technique. The questionnaire was the primary data-gathering tool. The prevalence of conflicts and perception of quality in higher education were assessed using simple frequencies and percentages, while the structural equation modelling technique was used to investigate the complex relationship among structural conflicts, interpersonal conflicts, and perception of higher education quality. The results indicate that most workplace conflicts in higher education are structural in nature, arising from jurisdictional uncertainties, interdependence, and authority relationships. The findings further indicate that structural and interpersonal conflicts have little influence on perceptions of quality higher education. Nevertheless, in terms of direction, structural conflicts have a positive link with the perception of quality higher education, whereas interpersonal conflicts have a negative relationship. It is hereby recommended that a cross-sectional survey on the influence of conflicts on effective teaching and learning in public universities in Ghana should be conducted

Determination of biochemical composition of shea Vitellaria paradoxa nut using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and gas chromatography

The shea tree Vitellaria paradoxa L. is the most prevalent tree crops in northern Ghana with the shea butter fat as the most important product from the tree. Difference in the shea butter fat quality is mainly attributed to bioclimatic variations in temperature and rainfall. The purpose of this study was to apply near infrared, wet chemistry and gas chromatography to characterize the fat and free fatty acid profiles of shea butter fat from three locations (Paga, Nyankpala and Kawampe) in Ghana. The shea nuts from the tree locations in Ghana conformed to the West Africa shea nuts on the global data base on shea nuts compiled at CIRAD. Samples from Paga recorded the highest moisture content ranging between 5.63 % and 12.04 % (dry matter) with a mean content of 6.83 % and a standard deviation of 1.30 % whilst from Kawampe recorded the lowest moisture content with a mean of 5.23 %. Samples from Kawampe recorded the highest fat content ranging from 47.07 % to 57.39 % (dry matter) with a mean content of 52.69 % and a standard deviation of 2.55 % with samples from Paga recording the lowest fat content with a mean of 48.84 %. Stearic acid content of the samples was higher than oleic acid content from the three locations with virtually the same ratio of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Correlation between wet chemistry values and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) predicted values for moisture content (calibration set) with regression of 0.974 indicating the ability of NIRS to differentiate between nuts from different regions. The nature of the dried shea nuts before processing affected the quality of the shea butter fat as moulded samples recorded higher free fatty acids reducing the quality of the shea butter fat. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) analyses indicated that the samples from the three locations in Ghana were mostly saturated with stearic and oleic acids and less of palmitic, vaccenic, linoleic and arachidic acids in the fatty acid profiles of shea butter fats. (Résumé d'auteur

Socio-religious factors influencing the increasing plausibility of faith healing in Ghana

Diese Studie bemühte sich um eine Erkundung der steigenden Glaubwürdigkeit von Geistheilung in Ghana. Dies erschloss sich mittels phänomenologischer Eindrücke von Religion, des ökonomischen Theoriemodells von rational choice und qualitativer Forschung. Soziale Probleme und Krankheit erzeugen Spannungen, für die zumeist Hexen und Magier verantwortlich gemacht werden. Traditionelle Heilpraktiker halten solche Erklärungsmodelle als pragmatische Antwort im Umgang mit auftretenden Ängsten aufrecht, wie auch als Mittel, um gesellschaftliche Ordnung zu bewahren. Ein Ergebnis dieser Untersuchung liegt in der Enthüllung, dass der offenkundige Anstieg einer Glaubwürdigkeit von Geistheilungspraktiken auf die Fähigkeit der Pfingstgemeinde-bewegung zurückzuführen ist, lokale Glaubensmodelle in ihre Handlungen mit einzubeziehen, entsprechend die eigene gesellschaftliche Stellung tiefer einzugraben. Die Position dieser Studie lautet, dass die Wahl, welche Konsumenten für ein Heilungssystem gegenüber einem anderen treffen, als rational betrachtet werden kann angesichts des Umstandes, dass Anbieter solcher Dienstleistungen im Einklang mit Plausibilitätsstrukturen handeln. Des Weiteren wird spekuliert, dass die Tätigkeiten von GeistheilernThis study sought to explore the increasing plausibility of faith healing in Ghana. It was approached using phenomenological images of religion and economic model of rational choice theory and qualitative research model. Social problems and illness create tension, where witches and sorcerers are mostly blamed. Traditional healers continue to perpetuate this explanatory model as a pragmatic response to dealing with such fears, and as a means of maintaining order in society. The study revealed that the apparent increase in the plausibility of faith healing in Ghana is due to Pentecostal ability to appropriate local belief into their activities, which helps them entrench their positions in society. This study argues that consumers’ choice of one healing system over another is rational in view of the fact that the providers of these services do so in line with their plausibility structures. Moreover, it is speculated that once societies continue to share these beliefs, the activities of faith healers will continue to thrive.von Adadow Yidan

Senior high school students’ usage of time and its impact on their academic achievement in Northern Ghana

Research studies have investigated the influence of institutional characteristics on student academic achievement. However, relatively little research focuses on time utilisation and its impact on student academic achievement. The current study investigated students’ utilisation of time in public senior high schools in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study aimed to determine how students utilisation of time on self-study, group study, religious activities, and classroom instructional activities predicted their academic achievements. A total of 500 students sampled from 7 public senior high schools in the Northern Region of Ghana participated in the study. The research design employed was the cross-sectional survey research design. The instrument used to collect the data was a questionnaire. Analysis was done using multiple regression analysis with the aid of the SPSS (Version 16) software. The results suggest that the time students spent attending classes positively and significantly influences their academic achievement. Class attendance, group studies and self-studies times were found to be positively related. The study recommends that students group study and self-study activities should be made compulsory and that adequate time should be allotted within study hours for students to engage in meaningful self-study and group study activities

The consumer in the midst of two distinct terms for the quality of goods in Ghana: Can the law be simplified?

This paper examines the suitability of the concurrent operation of the term of ‘free from defects’ and the term of ‘merchantability quality’ as the basic standard terms for the quality of goods respectively in sale of goods contracts and hire-purchase transactions involving consumers in Ghana. The analysis is explored in comparison with the law in England and Wales. The paper argues that the distinct operation of the two different terminologies defining the requirements for the quality of goods respectively in sale of goods contracts and hire-purchase transactions in Ghana has the susceptibility of predisposing consumers to uncertainties regarding which standard term to expect in a transaction. In considering resolving the likely uncertainties of the different terminologies with a uniform standard term similar as pertains under the law in England and Wales, the paper contends that the term to be adopted should be one which is educative and effectively preserves the aspirations of consumers in Ghana. The paper therefore proffered recommendations discerning from the comparative analysis for legislative consideration in Ghana. Keywords: consumer protection, free from defects, merchantable quality, satisfactory quality and comparative law DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/94-19 Publication date: February 29th 202

Production and Utilization of Skills Oriented Graduates: An Assessment of Newly Trained Teachers Utilization of Instructional Materials in Selected Senior Secondary Schools in Cape Coast, Ghana

This study examined the extent to which newly trained teachers have used the knowledge and skills acquired from the schools and colleges to improve their performances, especially in the production and utilization of instructional materials. Three hundred newly trained teachers comprising graduates from senior secondary schools (Public and Private) participated in the study. The respondents were stratified and randomly selected. A structured questionnaire (PUIM – TQ) was used to collect data from the respondents. Frequencies and percentile statistical tools were employed to analyse the data. The findings suggest that the newly trained graduate teachers have remained relatively stable in the use of instructional materials in their teaching at the time of investigation. However, they expressed some problems in producing some of the teaching/learning materials. The implications of this study are discussed. Keywords: Instructional Materials; Trained Teachers; Graduate Teachers.International Journal of Educational Research Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 113-11

Health-seeking behaviour among migrant female head porters in the City of Accra, Ghana

Migration is an important feature of human development and a significant driver of societal change and well-being across populations. One key aspect of contemporary migration is the rise in female migration, contributing to the debate on urbanization with implications for the health of migrants. This study examined the health behaviour of migrant female head porters in Accra. The study design was cross-sectional with an interview-administered survey. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select communities and 213 respondents. Data were analysed using the SPSS software. From the results, 41.1% were within ages 15-19 years, 41.7% were Mamprusis, and 59.1% were not married. About 65.5% knew the existence of a health facility around their residence, with 75.5% seeking healthcare outside orthodox health facilities. A significant association was established between marital status and education and where healthcare was sought. Respondents who saved money, had Health Insurance cards, and receive support from others were more likely to visit health facilities. The study concludes that the predictors of health-seeking behaviour among the respondents are the possession of health insurance; level of saving, social support they receive from others including marital status and education. Respondents should be encouraged to possess health insurance and save money.Keywords: Health-Seeking, Behaviour, Migrants, Female, Head-Porters, Behaviou

Students’ level of academic cognitive engagement in the learning of economics

This study examined students’ level of academic cognitive engagement in the learning of Economics. The study was a quantitative research that employed the descriptive cross-sectional survey design. In total, 422 Senior High School Economics students were selected for the study. The Academic Cognitive Engagement Scale (ACES) was used to gather data for the study. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (One-Way MANOVA) were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that Economics students’ level of academic cognitive engagement was high. Also, it was found that there were statistically significant differences in Economics students’ level of academic cognitive engagement based on their school location. In addition, the study showed that there were statistically significant differences in Economics students’ academic cognitive engagement based on school category. Therefore, it was recommended that teachers should continue to engage students in instructional activities that require students to use deep strategies. Additionally, teachers in rural schools should employ teaching strategies that would help students employ deep learning strategies in the learning of Economics. Lastly, in the organisation of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes and seminars for teachers on how to sustain and improve the cognitive engagement level of students, equal attention should be given to all the students in the various school categories. The practical implications of the findings are discussed in the study

Rational \u3ci\u3eS\u3c/i\u3e Matrices and NN Interactions

The S matrix for central NN interactions is represented in the s wave as a rational function of k. Single and double Yukawa potential models of 1S0 and 3S1 interactions are the starting point. Twelve terms of the effective range expansion are found, Padé approximants are calculated, and poles and zeros of the associated rational S matrix are located. For all the potentials, rational S matrices are shown to give excellent agreement with data through medium energies while satisfying Levinson’s theorem. Inverse scattering theory is easily applied to recover phase shift equivalent potentials, either local or nonlocal. Bound state and antibound state poles are precisely determined, suggesting this approach is a viable alternative for finding bound state eigenvalues. We truncate our potentials beyond a range R which we vary from 8 to 21 fm. Rigorously, the S matrix of such truncated potentials has no cuts, and the Jost functions are entire. Our analysis introduces distribution of poles and zeros that, as characteristic of Padé approximants, is seen to bear a relation to the Yukawa cuts of the full potentials. Statistical determinations of rational S matrices from experimental phase shifts, already found to be useful, are further supported by the present results

Management of Curriculum Change: A Mechanism for Ensuring Continuous Academic Improvement in Ghanaian Universities

Effective collaboration in the curriculum change effort remains a challenge in higher education, in particular, with comprehensive curriculum reform or change. Curriculum modification to existing courses or content will not always lead to the desired reform even though a collaborative approach has been the foundation of the process. Comprehensive and collaborative curriculum change requires a full examination of how academics conceive their role and how the curriculum itself is defined, analyzed, and changed.Through a systematic review of literature, the researchers were able to create a contextualized emergent model for curriculum change management for Ghanaian universities derived from experience and educational policies.It emerged from the review of literature that a collectively shared guiding vision for an effective curriculum change provided a strong foundation for the comprehensive curriculum review process; Embracing curriculum as a shared responsibility among faculty and administration led to widespread participation; The collaboration of various groups within the institution in the process promoted organizational change; Cultural issues regarding people and organizational structure served as barriers to the collaboration process, simultaneously the curriculum team’s sense of community strengthened the curriculum review process. This position paper therefore recommends that the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Ghana Education Service should ensure that the practice of curriculum change is highly decentralized to reflect local concerns. Thus, the decentralization of the process would be tailored towards the local needs of the area. This would make education more meaningful and relevant to students