Department of Teacher Education
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Item The home environment as a predictor of mathematics achievement in Ghana(International Journal, 2017-01) Butakor, P.K.; Nyarko, K.This paper examined the significant role of the learner’s home environment in Ghanaian grade 8 students’ performance in mathematics in the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Applying multiple linear regression analyses on the TIMSS 2007 data from Ghana revealed a positive association between father’s educational level, watching of TV or videos regularly at home, reading books for enjoyment at home regularly, and doing homework regularly at home and mathematics achievement. On the contrary, a negative relationship was found between mathematics achievement and the number of books at home, home possessions, and the playing of computer games at home regularly. The paper concluded with the recommendation that the learner’s home background should be considered when designing policies and interventions aimed at improving students’ mathematics performance.Item The influence of peer and parent relationships on adolescents’ self-esteem(IFE PsychologIA, 2012-09) Nyarko, K.The study was conducted to find out how parental relationship with their adolecent children and adolescent-peer relationship affect the self-esteem of adolescents. The study was drawn on a sample of 100 adolescent students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The results did indicate contrary to expectation, a negative relationship between adolescent-peer relationship and their self-esteem. Surprisingly, no link was found between parent-adolescent relationship and the self-esteem of the adolescents. The implications of the study are discussed.Item The effect of corporal punishment and math anxiety on math performance among junior high school students in Ghana(IFE PsychologIA: An International Journal, 2013-09) Nyarko, K.; Kwarteng, A.B.; Akakpo, G.M.; Boateng, R.; Adjekum, N.The study investigates the effect of corporal punishment and math anxiety on math performance at the Virgo Preparatory School in Adabraka, Ghana. Thirty four (34) participants were pre-tested and post-tested using the Mathematics Anxiety Scale for elementary school students. Analysis of the results shows that there is no difference in math performance between students who receive corporal punishment and those who are reinforced as well as those who receive neither reinforcement nor corporal punishment. Finally, no significant negative correlation was found between math anxiety and math performance; however, females were found to be more anxious of maths than males. The implications of the findings are discussed.Item Teachers’ promotion of creativity in basic schools(American Journal of Social and Management Science, 2013) Nyarko, K.; Akenten, W.; Abdul-Nasiru, I.The study was conducted to find out the role of tea chers in fostering creat ivity among basic school student s in Ghana . The sample was drawn on 172 teachers , with different teaching qualifications and experience between the ages of 20 and 60 years . The findings show that teachers at the basic level of educa t ion promote creativity among students through motivation, divergent thinking, and the promotion of a conducive learning environment. Again, it was found out that teachers view the promotion of creativity as a joint responsibility of parents and teachers. Finally, although teachers agree that creativity is fostered through motivation, there was no statistically significant difference between teachers who view creativity to be intrinsically motivated and those who view it to be extrinsically motivated. The i mplications of the findings are examined.Item Parenting Styles and Children’s Academic Performance(Parenting Across Cultures, 2014-09) Nyarko, K.This study examines the effect of parenting styles on the academic performance of children. It looks at parenting styles and children’s outcome, ethnic groups and parenting styles, family structure and parenting styles, and parenting styles and academic performance. However, the findings suggest inconsistencies regarding the effects of parenting styles on children’s academic performance. Whereas some studies show a positive and significant effect between authoritative parenting and children’s school achievement, others show that there is no effect of parenting styles on the academic achievement of children. Again, it further indicates that single mothers use the permissive parenting style, which might be the reason for the poor academic performance of their children as compared with those from families with both parents. The study therefore underscores the significance of analyzing parenting styles within one’s cultural milieu. While this chapter focuses on Ghana, it can be generalized to other cultures as well.Item The influence of motivation on the job satisfaction of Junior High School Teachers in Ghana(Journal of education and practice, 2014) Nyarko, K.; Twumwaa, D.A.; Adentwi, K.I.The study investigates the influence of motivation on the job satisfaction of teachers. The population of the study was Junior High School teachers in the Accra metropolis. The sample was drawn on two hundred Junior High school teachers in Accra with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. A convenience sampling technique was used to select the teachers. The ages of the teachers range between twenty and sixty years and more than half of the teachers who participated in the study are trained teachers. As expected, the findings from the study indicate a positive correlation between teachers’ motivation and their job satisfaction. However, the study shows no significant difference in the level of satisfaction of teachers who are intrinsically motivated and those who are extrinsically motivated. Finally, the hypothesis that females will be more extrinsically motivated than males was not supported. The implications of the study are discussedItem Childrearing, motherhood and fatherhood in Ghana(Parenting Across Cultures, 2014-09) Nyarko, K.This study examines childrearing practices, motherhood, and fatherhood in Ghana. It looks at the contextual background of the country, ethnic groupings, family systems and childrearing practices, and the patrilineal and matrilineal systems. The evidence shows that mothers are oriented towards the permissive style of parenting, whereas fathers use an authoritarian style. However, it further shows that some mothers and fathers use an authoritative parenting style. The study also revealed that some parents accept corporal punishment as a method of disciplining children, while others frowned on its usage. The study underscores the importance of situating parenting within one’s culture.Item Illness perception, religiosity and mental health of diabetic patients in Ghana(Am J App Psychol, 2014-02) Nyarko, K.; Kugbey, N.; Atindanbila, S.This study examines the influence of diabetic patients’ perception of their illness and their levels of religiosity on their mental health problems. A sample of 194 diabetic patients was drawn from two major hospitals (Korle-Bu Teaching and Tema General Hospitals) in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The cross-sectional survey method was used as the study design. Results from Pearson correlation show that the diabetic patients’ level of religiosity did not significantly correlate with their mental health problems. However, illness perception correlates significantly and positively with their general mental health problem (GSI) and specific ones such as somatization, obsessive-compulsion, depression, anxiety and psychoticism. Multiple regression analyses show that level of general mental health problem (GSI) was significantly predicted by perception of illness Coherence followed by perceptions Symptoms and Concern. Similarly, perception of coherence was the most significant predictor of both depression and anxiety among diabetic patients. The implications of the findings are discussed.Item Parental Attitude towards sex education at the lower primary in Ghana(International Journal of Elementary Education, 2014-04) Nyarko, K.; Adentwi, K.I.; Asumeng, M.; Ahulu, L.D.This study investigates parental attitude towards sex education at the lower primary level of education in Ghana. In all 100 parents ranging from 20 to 60 years, with diverse socio-economic backgrounds consisting of 64 males and 36 females where sampled for the study. Out of this number, 63% reside in urban areas, whereas 37% reside in rural areas. The results indicate that about 58% of parents have an unfavourable attitude towards sex education in lower primary schools. Unsurprisingly, all the parents who held unfavourable attitude towards sex education said that children are too young for sex education at the lower primary school level. However, of the parents who held favourable attitude; 81% indicated that children are exposed a lot these days. 17% admitted that sex education will be helpful to the children and 2% said children ask questions about sex anyway and needed to be provided with answers. Finally, the results showed that there is no gender difference in parental attitude towards sex education, as well as no residency difference about sex education. However, there was a difference in parental attitude in connection to their educational level. The implications of the findings from this research are discussed.Item Influence of childhood attachment on adolescents’ interpersonal relationship and self-esteem among undergraduate students of the University of Ghana(British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 2014-11) Nyarko, K.; Addai, P.; Amissah, C.M.Childhood insecurities may affect a wide range of personality development such as interpersonal relationship and self-esteem during adolescence. The present study explores the effect of childhood attachment on adolescents’ interpersonal relationship and self-esteem among undergraduate students of the University of Ghana. The study also examines gender differences in interpersonal relationship and self-esteem. A total of two hundred undergraduate students from the University of Ghana were selected using convenient sampling to complete the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, the Perceived Interpersonal Relationship Scale (PIRS) and the Childhood Attachment Inventory (CAI). Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results reveal that adolescents who have secured childhood attachment have good interpersonal relationship and higher level of self-esteem than adolescents who have unsecured attachment. There was however no gender differences found in adolescents interpersonal relationship and self-esteem. Based on the findings, it is recommended that parents assess how they relate with their children and not to inculcate trepidation in their children since these have the tendency to affect personality development during adulthood.