Education And Social Science articles list

Adolescence is considered as a crucial stage for emotional development. It is also seen as a time of hyper-emotionality, emotional conflict, and volatile mood states. Given that adolescents lack skills for emotional management, emotional distress during these years can hamper their immediate growth and adversely affect their transition to the next stage of life. Interventions that promote positive emotional development during adolescence are the need of the hour. Keeping this in focus, the present study investigated the Effect of Life Skills Training on Adolescent boys and girls with high Emotional Distress. The study used pre- and post-test experimental design with a control group to examine the stated objectives. 160 adolescent boys and girls (n=80), with a mean age of 16.44 years, were selected for the study using Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Of these, 80 in the experimental group (boys=40, girls=40) were trained in life skills. Descriptive statistics, independent sample ttest and repeated measures of ANOVA were used to analyze obtained results. Major findings of the study indicate that Life Skills training has significant effect in reducing emotional distress and improving emotional health in adolescents. And the significance of it was found to be higher in girls compared to boys.

Hita Claudia Rao

The market for tertiary educational institutions, most especially for private universities, is highly competitive. The competitive nature of the market requires that Private Universities (PUs) step up their performance so as to remain competitive despite the major structural and market differences between them and public universities in the provision of tertiary education. The need for private universities to remain competitive in this turbulent market, calls for some careful examination of the factors that would enable private universities to enhance their performance. In this respect, this study sought to examine the effects of management competence, firm-level institutions, and human resource management (HRM) bundles on the performance of private universities in Ghana. Underpinned by the RBV and AMO theories, the study tested four hypotheses that sought to explain the relationships between the key variables of the study. The study was implemented using a quantitative research design. Out of the sixteen private universities sampled, thirteen private universities responded. The main research instrument was a structured questionnaire. Out of 230 questionnaires administered, 127 completed questionnaires were received and used for analysis. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (regression analysis) with the aid of SPSS software version 20 and AMOS version 23. Research findings from the tests of hypotheses established that management competence positively and significantly affected performance of private universities in Ghana. Though the study found that the composite variables of firm-level institutions and HRM bundles did not moderate the relationship between management competence and PU performance, the skills bundles (which is a component of the HRM bundles) significantly moderated the management competence – PU performance relationship in such a way that at high levels of skills bundle, management competence influences PU performance more than at low levels of skills bundle. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that PUs in Ghana institute competence acquisition and utilization policies, maintain appropriate firm-level institutions and HRM bundles and match these to their competence development strategies.

Cyril Domeyelle Dery

World Health Organization (WHO) estimation disclosed over 116 million girls (3.4%) area unit stricken by PCOS worldwide. The predisposing risk factors embrace genetic science, system, lifestyle/environment, fatness that contributes to the event of PCOS. it's calculable that between 5 to ten % of U.S. girls of childbearing age have PCOS. that is regarding five million girls, which makes the condition one among the foremost common secretion endocrine disorders among girls of generative age. A study to assess the prevalence of PCOS among adolescent women at hand-picked setting, Chennai. Objective: to assess the prevalence of PCOS among adolescent women. Methodology: A non-experimental descriptive analysis style was adopted during this study. The non-probability convenient sampling technique was accustomed choose the sample size of two hundred adolescent Girls. The assessment of the prevalence of PCOS was administrated employing a self-reported check list through a Googletype. A survey link was sent to the respondents, via email and WhatsApp& teams. knowledge was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: our Majority (36.5%) of the samples had gentle & moderate PCOS symptoms and twenty-sevenths had severe symptoms. relating to physical activity, the bulk (38%) of the samples had gentle physical activity, thirty-fourth had moderate physical activity and twenty-eighth had severe activity. There was a direct correlation between PCOS symptoms and Physical activity. There was a statistically vital relationship between PCOS symptoms with age, religion, academic standing, dietary habits, previous information, supply of data, the cycle of emission and BMI and there was a statistically vital relationship between physical activity with age, Religion, academic standing, monthly family financial gain, age at the time of start, previous information, supply of data, variety of family, Cycleof emission & BMI. Conclusion: PCOS among adolescents is a rising problem that wants careful assessment, timely intervention, and appropriate treatment. Diagnosis of PCOS in adolescence remains a challenge attributable to overlapping symptoms of PCOS with traditional time of life changes in adolescents. life-style modifications for weight reduction and dietary modifications and psychological content plays vital role in these young ladies for preventing long run complications. Keywords: Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Prevalence, PCOS symptoms, Physical activity, Adolescent Girls.

Elsi Queen

The purpose of this meta-methods study (i.e., involving the full[er] integration of multiple methods research approaches and mixed methods research approaches) was to examine challenges experienced by students at Stellenbosch University that hinder their ability successfully to learn online during the emergency remote teaching that began in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, 1,932 students completed an online questionnaire. Analyses of the open-ended responses via WordStat 8.0.29 topic modeling (i.e., crossover mixed analysis) led to the identification of seven (challenge) themes that categorised the students’ challenges. In turn, via a principal component analysis of the themes (i.e., crossover mixed analysis), these seven themes were collapsed into four dimensions (i.e., meta-themes). A latent class analysis (i.e., qualitizing) yielded seven profiles of students. Disaggregating the themes by demographic and location variables led to the identification of subgroups who are most at risk for experiencing each challenge type. Implications of these and other findings are discussed.

Dr Emmanuel Ojo

On 18 March 2020, all South African universities and colleges were closed due to the COVID-19 virus. By early April, 10 universities announced that they were planning to resume teaching and learning online, including the University of the Witwatersrand (i.e., Wits University), Johannesburg, which is the joint highest ranked university in Africa. Therefore, the purpose of this editorial was to examine the perceptions and attitudes of these students regarding online learning in an era of disruption of COVID-19, uniquely using both multi-mixed methods research approaches (i.e., involving the partial integration of multiple methods research approaches and mixed methods research approaches) and meta-methods study approaches (i.e., involving the full[er] integration of multiple methods research approaches and mixed methods research approaches). A total of 4,419 Wits University students completed an online survey. A principal components analysis of one of survey’s scales, namely, the Attitude of Students Towards COVID-19 and its Impact on Higher Education scale, revealed 2 subscales, namely, Students’ Self-regulation Towards COVID-19-Based Higher Education and Attitudes Toward Teaching, Learning, and Assessment in COVID-19-Based Higher Education. Nonparametric analyses revealed that scores on these measures discriminated gender, age group, level of student (i.e., undergraduate vs. postgraduate), locality status (i.e., local vs. international student), and registration status (i.e., full-time vs. part-time). A multiple analysis of the open-ended responses by the VOSviewer 1.6.14 text mining software program led to the identification of 6 metathemes. Similarly, WordStat 8.0.29 topic modeling yielded 5 metathemes that mapped onto VOSviewer’s 6 metathemes, indicating triangulation of findings. A sentiment analysis revealed negative sentiments that identified not only the biggest challenges for students but also the characteristics of students who experience these challenges. Finally, a cluster analysis, combined with chi-square analyses, led to the identification of 4 clusters of students who differed with respect to their attitudes and online experiences. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Dr Emmanuel Ojo

In view of the on-going global debate about the economics curriculum and its teaching, this paper explores how the faculty responsible for teaching introductory economics at a South African university understand learning and teaching of their subject. We have adopted a qualitative research approach, phenomenography, to complement what we already know from mainstream literature on undergraduate economics education, predominantly published by academic econ- omists using a quantitative methodology. After a phenomenographic analysis of interview data with lecturers and tutors, six conceptions of teaching introductory economics (Economics 1) emerged: (I) team collaboration to implement the economics curriculum; (II) a thorough knowledge of the content; (III) implementing the curriculum in order for students to pass as- sessment; (IV) helping students learn key economics concepts and representations to facilitate learning; (V) engaging students through their real-life economics context to acquire economic knowledge; and (VI) helping students think like economists. These are discussed first in relation to the implications for student learning and second, in a broader context of higher education discourses and educational development

Dr Emmanuel Ojo

Abstract Higher education in India is always a socio-political way and a powerful engine of social mobility. It adds to the benefits to society as more people earning Higher Education credentials. It is proven that college graduates earn more. They are less likely to be unemployed. They are more likely to vote, more likely to volunteer, and more likely to maintain good health. India as a Globalised and developing nation has been little systematically progressing on the educational front since its independence. The government is making progress in reaching out to all the classes of its society. The improvement in the country’s economic front has resulted in the upscaling of communication technology. The advent of the internet, have vastly leveraged the promotion of education across all verticals. But at the same time, the idea of Equity and Equality needs to be redefined in the present context of the newly established notion of ‘Inclusivity’. This paper deliberates on the various ideas and approaches of Higher Education in India on ‘Inclusivity’ in general and Equity and Equality in particular.

Dr. Preeti oza

The study identified the level of competencies and the extent of professional development needs of kindergarten teachers in the Sultan Kudarat Division, during the school year 2019 - 2020. The study employed a descriptive method. The study involved 54 kindergarten teachers in the division in accomplishing the 12-item self-assessment instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that kindergarten teachers have a high level of competencies in content knowledge and pedagogy, learning environment and diversity of learners, curriculum and planning, and assessment and reporting. These indicate that they possess almost all of the competencies of efficient teachers. Results further revealed a very high extent of professional needs in content knowledge and pedagogy and the learning environment and diversity of learners, while they had a high extent of professional needs in the remaining domains. Since they reported very high priorities in content knowledge and pedagogy and the learning environment and diversity of learners, these areas would be the main considerations in the crafting of a professional development plan.

Manuel Caingcoy

Pedagogical leadership has become an emerging and essential debate in the field of educational administration and leadership. This was a result of the shift from the hierarchical type in the past to a more inclusive, collaborative, and participative leadership. Previous studies indicate the furtherance of the inquiry into pedagogical leadership since it is a work in progress. For this reason, a systematic literature review mapped the literature relevant to pedagogical leadership. The review drew the lines between the empirical and theoretical-conceptual contributions, including the methodologies considered in both contributions. The results have implications for a more robust theoretical-empirical model or framework of pedagogical leadership applicable to specific levels of education, especially higher education contexts. The study also implies applying pedagogical leadership in the team, at departmental and organizational levels. Results imply promoting the culture of pedagogical leadership.

Manuel Caingcoy

The use of performance feedback in the workplace has gained popularity over the years, yet school heads have been challenged in providing it to teachers. In the initial interview, they shared that evaluation results can impact teachers’ motivation, and that feedback should be done carefully. However, they failed to clearly articulate a specific mechanism that had been applied in this vital role. Also, no studies have provided clear detail on the feedback mechanism used by school heads in the past. For this reason, a study explored the feedback mechanisms employed by school heads in conveying the performance evaluation results to teachers. This study employed a narrative inquiry, and interviews were conducted with five school heads and five teachers who were chosen purposively for this research. Responses were recorded using a voice recorder. These responses were transcribed and analyzed using thematic narrative analysis. Based on transcripts, the study identified six emergent themes, such as conversational (one-on-one), relational, reflective, technical, reinforcing, and properly situated mechanisms in conveying performance evaluation results to teachers. Thus, a new feedback mechanism framework was developed.

Manuel Caingcoy

Higher education institutions are expected to produce quality and competitive graduates for the job market and nation-building. In realizing this role, the Bukidnon State University needs to ensure that graduates may land a job-relevant and aligned with their education and training. With this, a tracer study was conducted to verify whether the three batches of graduates are employed and are employable. It ascertained their employability based on their work experience from graduation to the present job. It employed a cross-sectional method and data mining for the information of 326 graduates. The results revealed that the majority of graduates had jobs relevant to their education and training; yet, there was a significant difference in the employability of graduates across batches, except in terms of gender. Biological Science, Social Studies, and Math graduates were employable within the first six and twelve months compared to graduates from other curricula. It was claimed that the BukSU had prepared BSE graduates for employment. These results have implications for the strategic options in improving the programs. The study made some recommendations for future tracer initiatives.

Manuel Caingcoy

International students are the bedrocks of the global higher education market. Thus, worldwide, higher education institutions (HEIs) focus most international marketing efforts on understanding the complexities surrounding this student market. Recent studies on international higher education reveal the choices made by this student cohort and a wide variety of factors influencing such selections. This present study focuses on a student decision that is made under a set of options. Using structural equation modelling (SEM), this study aims to investigate the relationships of economic factor and decision-making process with the choice of international academic destination. Results, conclusions, and recommendations are discussed.

Johnny Amora

Assessment of convergent validity of latent variables is one of the steps in conducting structural equation modeling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM). In this paper, we illustrate such an assessment using a loadings-driven approach. The analysis employs WarpPLS, a leading PLSSEM software tool.

Johnny Amora

This study investigated workforce diversity and secondary school administration in Rivers state. The design for the study was the descriptive survey. Two research questions and two hypotheses were raised to guide the study. Mean and standard deviation statistics were used to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using z-test statistics. A sample size of 667 respondents, representing 90% of the entire population of 741 principals and vice principals from all the 247 pubic senior secondary schools in Rivers state was drawn using the stratified random sampling technique. A researcher-designed instrument titled Workforce Diversity Management Questionnaire (WOFDIMQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts in the area of measurement and evaluation at the University of Port Harcourt. The reliability index determined for the instrument using Cronbach Alpha was 0.82. The findings of the study revealed that secondary school administrators do have some administrative strategies put in place for the management of the diversities among teachers. It was therefore recommended among others, that the government should make some specific provisions that will guide school administrators in the management of diversities among teachers. Also, school administrators should develop operational plans and strategies that are based on their specific peculiarities that will help maximize the advantages of diversities among teachers, while at the same time, minimize the inherent disadvantages.

FXintegrity Publishing

The study examined the impact of school enrolment growth on the carrying capacity of universities in Imo State, Nigeria. Three research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey design with a population of 2,929 academic staff in the two public universities in Imo State. The sample size was 352 representing 12% of the population drawn using stratified random sampling technique. An instrument titled ‘School Enrolment Growth and Carrying Capacity of Universities Questionnaire (SEGCCUQ)’, structured on the 4 point scale, validated by experts and with reliability index of 0.84 was used for data generation. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. Among others, the study revealed that factors such as natural increase of population, influx of migrants, enforcement of compulsory education, raising of school-leaving age, increased enrolment of girls and so on influence school enrolment growth that bear on the carrying capacity of universities. It was recommended among others that the factors should help the governments and institutions to forecast enrollment more effectively likewise permit them to make adjustments to meet current or future enrolment.

FXintegrity Publishing

Overall, disability refers to a physical or mental state that impairs an individual's ability to function in daily life. It suffices to say that disability is a medical-social issue that affects both the family and the nation. In a country like India, where girl children are frequently stigmatized as a burden on society, the condition of girl children with special needs is frequently subject to carelessness, lack of compassion, and illiteracy. Though the situation has improved slightly since the introduction of inclusive education, the situation is critical for tribal girl students with special needs. In a fragile socioeconomic environment, tribal girls are already vulnerable to high dropout rates, early marriage, and an ignorant attitude from family members, but the situation is pitiful for tribal girls with special needs. The tribal girl students with special needs suffer quadruple discrimination of being female, being disabled, being ST, and being socio-economically backward. Here, intervention through artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted devices can be critical in overcoming the barriers encountered by tribal girl students with special needs in the process of inclusion and development

Souren Bhattacharya

The purpose of this study is to explore the belief of teacher educators about the relationship between teaching and research. Keeping in view the role of the teacher educators, a survey was done. The beliefs of teacher educators were explored with the help of an opinionaire. The collected data were analyzed through qualitative method of analysis. It was found that the secondary teacher educators were positive about the need of research with a little dilemma between teaching and research.

Rupal Mankad

Tracing graduates has become an imperative for higher education institutions much more during the pandemic. This tracer determined the employment and employability status of the 2019 BSE graduates and identified the competencies they adequately acquired and deemed vital for work. It used descriptive design, and data were collected from the 103 graduates through a Google form with open and closed-ended questions administered between November and December 2020. Results revealed that most of the graduates had been employed in teaching and teaching-related jobs but mostly in contractual arrangements within the first and second six months after graduation. Many had their first jobs with meager salaries from the private sector. Communication, pedagogy, information communication technology, time management, and flexibility were the top competencies they adequately acquired and were beneficial in work. The study concluded that these graduates had acquired 21st-century skills in their respective degree programs. These results have corresponding implications for future research in confirming the most employable skills in secondary teaching. As recommended, classroom instruction might emphasize the development of these skills. Eventually, these become the competitive advantage and employability capitals of future graduates. Administering the licensure examination and the release of its results can be done within the first three months after graduation to lessen the cost of waiting.

Manuel Caingcoy

Investigating school performance and competencies, especially on leadership, received a considerable attention in the past. In fact, there have been multitudes of evidence that leadership can impact school performance, student achievement, or outcome. Also, there was no single measurement of school performance. This study examined the influence of leadership and core behavioral competencies on the school performance of school heads. This was to build a new model of school performance. Using an explanatory research design, it administered a survey questionnaire to 192 randomly chosen school heads from the 37 districts of Department of Education Division of Surigao del Sur. Also, it used data mining for the performance ratings of school heads from the division office. Regression analysis tested three hypothesized models of school performance where leadership and core behavior competencies serve as independent variables. Results showed that leading people was a significant predictor of school performance. Thus, leading people can best explain the school improvement as a proposed model. The results have implications for future research, leadership practice, and theoretical development of school performance model among school heads.

Manuel Caingcoy

Recently, research capability has received an overwhelming and remarkable interest among academics and practitioners. This is timely since the Department of Education had institutionalized research and encouraged teachers to engage in it to support evidence-based practice, decision-making, policy, and program development. On these premises, a study was carried out to assess the research capability of public teachers in Malaybalay City, determine its correlates and determinants. It utilized descriptive, correlational, and explanatory designs. It administered survey questionnaires to 92 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that teachers were slightly capable of conducting research and having neutral attitudes toward it, motivated to write research, had a high level of difficulties in research processes, and moderately capable of action planning. They also show evidence of potential in mentoring. Further, mentoring and action planning skills, motivation to write research, attitudes toward research, and the number of studies completed by teachers were the correlates of their research capability at different magnitudes of the relationship. Notably, the research capability of teachers had a low, negative but significant relationship with their age and accumulated years of service. Thus, this capability deteriorates as they age and accumulate years of service. The motivation to write research, the number of studies completed, and age were the determinants of research capability. It was concluded that research capability can be determined and predicted by how motivated teachers are to write research, how productive they are in research, and how young they are when they engage in this rigorous endeavor. The study identified and recommended topics for continuing professional development.

Manuel Caingcoy