R&P Entries
Articles in Journals
Amoah, S. A. & Gyamera, A. (2019). Situational Analysis of Labour Turn Out In the Ghanaian Education Sector: The Strides and Preferences. International Journal of Asian Social Science, 9,
Abstract
Abstract The purpose of the study was to do a situational analysis of teacher turn-out in the Ghanaian education sector. Using a descriptive survey design the study considered the population of education experts including directors, circuit supervisors and the headteachers and teachers of basic education sector. A sample size of 45 respondents, selected through the use of homogenous, purposive, and stratification, sampling techniques. Data were collected with the help of self-developed questionnaire and interview guide. The information collected were analysed using frequencies and thematic approach. Some push factors include teachers’ likeness of the environment, teachers are satisfied with effort within the educational environment. In addition the ease of getting assurances and transfers are the common form of recruitment procedure for the teachers. Also teachers retention and participants characteristics, teacher's ability to manage the variety of observations and attitudes of people within an environment as well as learning from different types of ideas in a collaborative reflective environment came out strongly as some of the findings. It is concluded and recommended that varied structural factors influenced labor turn out in education sector, effective in-service training is needed to train mentors in the municipality such that teacher can be given effective counselling and mentorship training, reflective collaborative activities need to be encouraged so that teachers can interact with their colleagues in a more worthwhile activities that can promote their professional well-being in the municipality. Contribution/ Originality: This study is one of the few studies which have investigated into the situational analysis of labour turn out in the Ghanaian education sector. It looked at the strides and preferences of teachers as to how they stay at a station and what influence them to be at their station. Keywords Ghana Education Service, Collaborative Reflective Environment, Turn-out, Attrition, In-service training, Teacher retention, Mentor.
Abstract The purpose of the study was to do a situational analysis of teacher turn-out in the Ghanaian education sector. Using a descriptive survey design the study considered the population of education experts including directors, circuit supervisors and the headteachers and teachers of basic education sector. A sample size of 45 respondents, selected through the use of homogenous, purposive, and stratification, sampling techniques. Data were collected with the help of self-developed questionnaire and interview guide. The information collected were analysed using frequencies and thematic approach. Some push factors include teachers’ likeness of the environment, teachers are satisfied with effort within the educational environment. In addition the ease of getting assurances and transfers are the common form of recruitment procedure for the teachers. Also teachers retention and participants characteristics, teacher's ability to manage the variety of observations and attitudes of people within an environment as well as learning from different types of ideas in a collaborative reflective environment came out strongly as some of the findings. It is concluded and recommended that varied structural factors influenced labor turn out in education sector, effective in-service training is needed to train mentors in the municipality such that teacher can be given effective counselling and mentorship training, reflective collaborative activities need to be encouraged so that teachers can interact with their colleagues in a more worthwhile activities that can promote their professional well-being in the municipality. Contribution/ Originality: This study is one of the few studies which have investigated into the situational analysis of labour turn out in the Ghanaian education sector. It looked at the strides and preferences of teachers as to how they stay at a station and what influence them to be at their station. Keywords Ghana Education Service, Collaborative Reflective Environment, Turn-out, Attrition, In-service training, Teacher retention, Mentor.
Amoah, S. A., Owusu-Mensah, F., Gyamera, A., & Mensah, A. G. (2019). Do Distance Education students owned their learning: students’ perception of parenting styles and sex role ideologies?. Advances in Social Science Research Journal,, 6,
Abstract
Abstract Students have different ideologies about what they consider appropriate and inappropriate when it comes to learning. In view of this the study sought to find out if DE students own their learning regarding parenting styles and sex role ideologies. Correlational research design was employed in this study. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 300 participants from a population of 1480. Using an adopted instruments the Pearson-Product Moment Correlation was used to establish association between parenting styles and sex role ideology and regression was used to ascertain the predictions of the variables. It was found that parenting styles do not contribute to sex role ideologies of the participants to foster learning. However, individuals with authoritative parenting style were more likely to form more modern sex role ideology which influences their learning episode, and individuals with authoritarian parenting style were more likely to have more traditional sex role ideology. The study recommends that since parenting styles relates with sex role ideology DE students need to be guided on how they learn through guidance and counselling to develop the best ideology to learning. Again cultural sentiment need to guide DE students who come from varied cultural settings. Key words: Parenting Styles, Sex role ideology, Distance Education students
Abstract Students have different ideologies about what they consider appropriate and inappropriate when it comes to learning. In view of this the study sought to find out if DE students own their learning regarding parenting styles and sex role ideologies. Correlational research design was employed in this study. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 300 participants from a population of 1480. Using an adopted instruments the Pearson-Product Moment Correlation was used to establish association between parenting styles and sex role ideology and regression was used to ascertain the predictions of the variables. It was found that parenting styles do not contribute to sex role ideologies of the participants to foster learning. However, individuals with authoritative parenting style were more likely to form more modern sex role ideology which influences their learning episode, and individuals with authoritarian parenting style were more likely to have more traditional sex role ideology. The study recommends that since parenting styles relates with sex role ideology DE students need to be guided on how they learn through guidance and counselling to develop the best ideology to learning. Again cultural sentiment need to guide DE students who come from varied cultural settings. Key words: Parenting Styles, Sex role ideology, Distance Education students
Amoah, S. A. (2019). Achieving Assessment Results: Distance Education students of University of Education, use of test taking-skills to solve in-built activities in counselling from self-instructional Course Manual.. Education Quarterly Reviews, 2,
Abstract
Abstract Adopting appropriate test-taking skills is crucial to test performance. The study assesses the use of test-taking skills among distance education (DE) students of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in solving in-built activities on counselling in self-instructional course manual. Adopting the ex-post facto design and quantitative approach, the study used 18 participants selected through convenience sampling technique. Two instruments-test-taking questionnaire to measure the test-taking skills of participants and in-built activities in DE modules-were used to measure students’ academic performance. From the analysis, DE students all adopted test-taking skills, and it was established that there was a significant relationship between students test-taking skills and their academic performance. It is concluded that test-taking skills was necessary to be used to solve in-built activities on counselling. It is recommended that the model writers need to suggest some test-taking skills which need to be used for solving in-built activities in the DE modules especially in counselling. Keyword: test-taking skills, in-built activities, distance education students, counselling, self-instructional modules, distance education modules.
Abstract Adopting appropriate test-taking skills is crucial to test performance. The study assesses the use of test-taking skills among distance education (DE) students of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in solving in-built activities on counselling in self-instructional course manual. Adopting the ex-post facto design and quantitative approach, the study used 18 participants selected through convenience sampling technique. Two instruments-test-taking questionnaire to measure the test-taking skills of participants and in-built activities in DE modules-were used to measure students’ academic performance. From the analysis, DE students all adopted test-taking skills, and it was established that there was a significant relationship between students test-taking skills and their academic performance. It is concluded that test-taking skills was necessary to be used to solve in-built activities on counselling. It is recommended that the model writers need to suggest some test-taking skills which need to be used for solving in-built activities in the DE modules especially in counselling. Keyword: test-taking skills, in-built activities, distance education students, counselling, self-instructional modules, distance education modules.
Amoah, S. A. (2019). Test score pollution and performance-based assessment: the thinking among students of the university of Education, Winneba, Ghana. International Journal of Innovative Research & Development, 8,
Abstract
Abstract This study explored students’ views on Test Score Pollution (TSP) and how they practised Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) and whether there was any relationship between TSP and PBA test scores. Descriptive survey design of a quantitative approach with 260 participant, selected through the multistage sampling technique was used. A questionnaire eliciting responses from participant on TSP and PBA was the data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics, mean and Spearman’s Correlation were the analytical tools. The results indicate that students did not have much knowledge on TSP and that PBA scores were contaminated. There was a strong positive correlation in the views expressed by students between TSP and PBA scores. It is concluded that better understanding of TSP is good since PBA scores can be influenced by TSP. It is therefore recommended that assessment experts need to get students understand what TSP is all about. Keywords: Test Score Pollution, Performance Based Assessment, high-stakes test, true score, error score, observed score
Abstract This study explored students’ views on Test Score Pollution (TSP) and how they practised Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) and whether there was any relationship between TSP and PBA test scores. Descriptive survey design of a quantitative approach with 260 participant, selected through the multistage sampling technique was used. A questionnaire eliciting responses from participant on TSP and PBA was the data collection instrument. Descriptive statistics, mean and Spearman’s Correlation were the analytical tools. The results indicate that students did not have much knowledge on TSP and that PBA scores were contaminated. There was a strong positive correlation in the views expressed by students between TSP and PBA scores. It is concluded that better understanding of TSP is good since PBA scores can be influenced by TSP. It is therefore recommended that assessment experts need to get students understand what TSP is all about. Keywords: Test Score Pollution, Performance Based Assessment, high-stakes test, true score, error score, observed score
Edwards, A. K, and Amoah, S. A (2020). Deontological Perspective of the Free Secondary Education Policy in Ghana. World Journal of Educational Research, 7,
Abstract
Abstract The Free Senior High School (aka. FSHS) policy of the Ghana government has attracted views from both critics and supporters. The objective for this investigation was to examine the deontological ethics of the FSHS educational policy leadership within the framework of utilitarianism-it is as a “duty” and for “public good”. Critics are questioning the policy leadership, intentionality, feasibility, and sustainability. Supporters are also defending the FSHS as a timely social intervention, for equitable access, and the ability of the national economy to afford by re-strategizing government priorities, national indebtedness, and the entire school management system. The research design was exploratory mixed method using a sample study (N=55) that came from six schools (students, head teachers, teachers, and parents) in one region. Data were analysed under the themes: perceptions, benefits, and challenges. Responses showed that the FSHS seems to be a natural progression from the FCUBE policy that is hailed as successful by the international donors. Respondents confirmed the benefits derived from the FSHS policy as altruistic. The discussions followed the theory of ethical deontology, policy leadership implications, democratization of education in Ghana, and the utilitarian concept for future national development. Recommendations include the Government of Ghana (GoG) should ensure “fitness” and “rightness” to align with national priorities in the economy. Secondly, GoG should fight against corruption and “noise” in the FSHS implementation system. Thirdly, the GoG should consider cost sharing and decentralization of education provision in Ghana. Policy makers (legistrators) should ensure that the education system recognizes Ghanaian children as deserving better quality and the incommensurability of values of Education for All. Keywords Altruism, deontology, ethical leadership, Free SHS, secondary education in Ghana, utilitarian ethics
Abstract The Free Senior High School (aka. FSHS) policy of the Ghana government has attracted views from both critics and supporters. The objective for this investigation was to examine the deontological ethics of the FSHS educational policy leadership within the framework of utilitarianism-it is as a “duty” and for “public good”. Critics are questioning the policy leadership, intentionality, feasibility, and sustainability. Supporters are also defending the FSHS as a timely social intervention, for equitable access, and the ability of the national economy to afford by re-strategizing government priorities, national indebtedness, and the entire school management system. The research design was exploratory mixed method using a sample study (N=55) that came from six schools (students, head teachers, teachers, and parents) in one region. Data were analysed under the themes: perceptions, benefits, and challenges. Responses showed that the FSHS seems to be a natural progression from the FCUBE policy that is hailed as successful by the international donors. Respondents confirmed the benefits derived from the FSHS policy as altruistic. The discussions followed the theory of ethical deontology, policy leadership implications, democratization of education in Ghana, and the utilitarian concept for future national development. Recommendations include the Government of Ghana (GoG) should ensure “fitness” and “rightness” to align with national priorities in the economy. Secondly, GoG should fight against corruption and “noise” in the FSHS implementation system. Thirdly, the GoG should consider cost sharing and decentralization of education provision in Ghana. Policy makers (legistrators) should ensure that the education system recognizes Ghanaian children as deserving better quality and the incommensurability of values of Education for All. Keywords Altruism, deontology, ethical leadership, Free SHS, secondary education in Ghana, utilitarian ethics
Edwards, A. K, and Amoah, S. A (2020). Deontological Perspective of the Free Secondary Education Policy in Ghana. World Journal of Educational Research, 7,
Abstract
Abstract The Free Senior High School (aka. FSHS) policy of the Ghana government has attracted views from both critics and supporters. The objective for this investigation was to examine the deontological ethics of the FSHS educational policy leadership within the framework of utilitarianism-it is as a “duty” and for “public good”. Critics are questioning the policy leadership, intentionality, feasibility, and sustainability. Supporters are also defending the FSHS as a timely social intervention, for equitable access, and the ability of the national economy to afford by re-strategizing government priorities, national indebtedness, and the entire school management system. The research design was exploratory mixed method using a sample study (N=55) that came from six schools (students, head teachers, teachers, and parents) in one region. Data were analysed under the themes: perceptions, benefits, and challenges. Responses showed that the FSHS seems to be a natural progression from the FCUBE policy that is hailed as successful by the international donors. Respondents confirmed the benefits derived from the FSHS policy as altruistic. The discussions followed the theory of ethical deontology, policy leadership implications, democratization of education in Ghana, and the utilitarian concept for future national development. Recommendations include the Government of Ghana (GoG) should ensure “fitness” and “rightness” to align with national priorities in the economy. Secondly, GoG should fight against corruption and “noise” in the FSHS implementation system. Thirdly, the GoG should consider cost sharing and decentralization of education provision in Ghana. Policy makers (legistrators) should ensure that the education system recognizes Ghanaian children as deserving better quality and the incommensurability of values of Education for All. Keywords Altruism, deontology, ethical leadership, Free SHS, secondary education in Ghana, utilitarian ethics
Abstract The Free Senior High School (aka. FSHS) policy of the Ghana government has attracted views from both critics and supporters. The objective for this investigation was to examine the deontological ethics of the FSHS educational policy leadership within the framework of utilitarianism-it is as a “duty” and for “public good”. Critics are questioning the policy leadership, intentionality, feasibility, and sustainability. Supporters are also defending the FSHS as a timely social intervention, for equitable access, and the ability of the national economy to afford by re-strategizing government priorities, national indebtedness, and the entire school management system. The research design was exploratory mixed method using a sample study (N=55) that came from six schools (students, head teachers, teachers, and parents) in one region. Data were analysed under the themes: perceptions, benefits, and challenges. Responses showed that the FSHS seems to be a natural progression from the FCUBE policy that is hailed as successful by the international donors. Respondents confirmed the benefits derived from the FSHS policy as altruistic. The discussions followed the theory of ethical deontology, policy leadership implications, democratization of education in Ghana, and the utilitarian concept for future national development. Recommendations include the Government of Ghana (GoG) should ensure “fitness” and “rightness” to align with national priorities in the economy. Secondly, GoG should fight against corruption and “noise” in the FSHS implementation system. Thirdly, the GoG should consider cost sharing and decentralization of education provision in Ghana. Policy makers (legistrators) should ensure that the education system recognizes Ghanaian children as deserving better quality and the incommensurability of values of Education for All. Keywords Altruism, deontology, ethical leadership, Free SHS, secondary education in Ghana, utilitarian ethics
Adjei, S. B. (2019). Conceptualising personhood, agency, and morality for African psychology. Theory & Psychology, 29,
Abstract
One of the functions of psychological science is to develop concepts for thinking about people and their well-being. Since its establishment as a scientific discipline in the late 19th century, psychology has developed concepts that are essentially rooted in the specific spatio-temporal context of Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. There is a growing ontological and epistemological awareness that psychological science and practices from WEIRD cultural spaces cannot be exclusively representative of the African experience. I draw from interpersonal violence research to discuss the concepts of personhood, agency, and morality from an African perspective and highlight their theoretical and practical utility for psychological science. Based on African communalism, I argue that an understanding of personhood, agency, and morality as culturally contextualised and socially intentioned phenomena is foundational to the advancement of heterogeneous practices of knowledge production in diverse contexts.
One of the functions of psychological science is to develop concepts for thinking about people and their well-being. Since its establishment as a scientific discipline in the late 19th century, psychology has developed concepts that are essentially rooted in the specific spatio-temporal context of Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. There is a growing ontological and epistemological awareness that psychological science and practices from WEIRD cultural spaces cannot be exclusively representative of the African experience. I draw from interpersonal violence research to discuss the concepts of personhood, agency, and morality from an African perspective and highlight their theoretical and practical utility for psychological science. Based on African communalism, I argue that an understanding of personhood, agency, and morality as culturally contextualised and socially intentioned phenomena is foundational to the advancement of heterogeneous practices of knowledge production in diverse contexts.
Adjei, S. B. (2019). Conceptualizing discursive analysis as a culturally contextualized activity. The Qualitative Report, 24,
Abstract
Discursive psychology recognizes the primacy of the social and relational nature of human life. Research participants whose discourses (empirical data) we analyze do not exist independent of material and social world. In this paper, I attempt to develop an understanding of discursive analysis of social and psychological phenomena as a culturally contextualized activity in which discursive researchers analyze and interpret participants’ discourses in the light of the cultural context in which the discourses are embedded. First, I provide a brief background to discursive psychology. Second, I discuss the cultural embeddedness of discursive analysis. I then conceptualize discursive data analysis as a culturally contextualized enterprise by drawing upon my own reflexive accounts on gender-based violence research to illustrate how discursive analysts can bring together an analysis of in-the-moment performative accounting with an understanding of the cultural context in which this accounting is embedded. I argue for and foreground research participants’ lived experiences and the embodied socio-cultural meanings as origins of the consciousness and social behavior of people with whom and about whom psychological research is conducted. I conclude that data analysis is not and cannot be an innocent activity; it involves active thinking through the cultural lens of both the researcher and the researched.
Discursive psychology recognizes the primacy of the social and relational nature of human life. Research participants whose discourses (empirical data) we analyze do not exist independent of material and social world. In this paper, I attempt to develop an understanding of discursive analysis of social and psychological phenomena as a culturally contextualized activity in which discursive researchers analyze and interpret participants’ discourses in the light of the cultural context in which the discourses are embedded. First, I provide a brief background to discursive psychology. Second, I discuss the cultural embeddedness of discursive analysis. I then conceptualize discursive data analysis as a culturally contextualized enterprise by drawing upon my own reflexive accounts on gender-based violence research to illustrate how discursive analysts can bring together an analysis of in-the-moment performative accounting with an understanding of the cultural context in which this accounting is embedded. I argue for and foreground research participants’ lived experiences and the embodied socio-cultural meanings as origins of the consciousness and social behavior of people with whom and about whom psychological research is conducted. I conclude that data analysis is not and cannot be an innocent activity; it involves active thinking through the cultural lens of both the researcher and the researched.
Koranteng, F. K., Sarsah, F. K., Kuada, E. & Gyamfi, S. A. (2020). An empirical investigation into the perceived effectiveness of collaborative software for students’ projects. Education and Information Technologies, 25,
Abstract
Technology has penetrated all aspects of the society in recent years. In the education sector, collaborative software such as Google Docs is pervasively used by both faculty and students. This is often because they enable frequent, cheaper and faster communication opportunities. Nonetheless, little evidence exists on the factors that influences its use and effectiveness particularly for students’ projects. Amidst these, many of the studies on collaborative software drew samples from developed countries. Given that technology acceptance differs across geographic locations, such westernized models are less applicable in developing countries. In this paper, a quantitative survey questionnaire was adopted to collect response from 510 respondents. These responses were used to evaluate a research model that had been deductively developed from relevant literature. The research model extended the IS Success model to examine the factors that affect the perceived effectiveness of collaborative software for students’ projects. PLS-SEM was adopted to estimate the proposed relationships. Information Quality, Service Quality and Primary Task Support had significant influence on Intention to Use whereas Self-Efficacy and System Quality did not. However, whilst Primary Task Support, Self-Efficacy and System Quality did not have any significant effect; only Information and Service Quality affected User Satisfaction. Although, there were no significant relations between Intention to Use and User Satisfaction, they both significantly affected Perceived Effectiveness. The results illuminate stakeholders to prioritize user satisfaction to improve the effectiveness of collaborative software for students’ projects. Future research must however, explore why certain proposed relationships were not significant.
Technology has penetrated all aspects of the society in recent years. In the education sector, collaborative software such as Google Docs is pervasively used by both faculty and students. This is often because they enable frequent, cheaper and faster communication opportunities. Nonetheless, little evidence exists on the factors that influences its use and effectiveness particularly for students’ projects. Amidst these, many of the studies on collaborative software drew samples from developed countries. Given that technology acceptance differs across geographic locations, such westernized models are less applicable in developing countries. In this paper, a quantitative survey questionnaire was adopted to collect response from 510 respondents. These responses were used to evaluate a research model that had been deductively developed from relevant literature. The research model extended the IS Success model to examine the factors that affect the perceived effectiveness of collaborative software for students’ projects. PLS-SEM was adopted to estimate the proposed relationships. Information Quality, Service Quality and Primary Task Support had significant influence on Intention to Use whereas Self-Efficacy and System Quality did not. However, whilst Primary Task Support, Self-Efficacy and System Quality did not have any significant effect; only Information and Service Quality affected User Satisfaction. Although, there were no significant relations between Intention to Use and User Satisfaction, they both significantly affected Perceived Effectiveness. The results illuminate stakeholders to prioritize user satisfaction to improve the effectiveness of collaborative software for students’ projects. Future research must however, explore why certain proposed relationships were not significant.
Gyaase, P. O, Gyamfi, S. A. & Kuranchie, A. (2019). Gauging the e-readiness for the integration of information and communication technology into pre-tertiary education in Ghana: An assessment of teachers' Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 15,
Abstract
Countries are investing in information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and educating their citizens for effective ICT utilization. The attainment of the anticipated benefits hinges on effective integration of ICT in various levels of education. Effective integration of ICT requires educators and teachers who possess the skills to harness the capabilities of ICT into their teaching and learning environments. This article assesses the extent of pre-university teachers’ e-readiness to utilize ICT in teaching their various subjects by assessing their technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). Although the ICT literacy of teachers in the pre-university schools in Ghana is high, their ability to utilize ICT to design and deliver subject contents and improve the learning environments of their respective subjects is low. The article suggests a comprehensive retooling of teachers with capabilities to integrate ICT in teaching their subjects.
Countries are investing in information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and educating their citizens for effective ICT utilization. The attainment of the anticipated benefits hinges on effective integration of ICT in various levels of education. Effective integration of ICT requires educators and teachers who possess the skills to harness the capabilities of ICT into their teaching and learning environments. This article assesses the extent of pre-university teachers’ e-readiness to utilize ICT in teaching their various subjects by assessing their technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). Although the ICT literacy of teachers in the pre-university schools in Ghana is high, their ability to utilize ICT to design and deliver subject contents and improve the learning environments of their respective subjects is low. The article suggests a comprehensive retooling of teachers with capabilities to integrate ICT in teaching their subjects.
