Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education

103-106

Authors: Linda Ama Owusuaa Amoah

Infectious diseases are of significant health importance to human and animal life. Globally, infectious diseases continue to present a great challenge to health with regard to morbidity and mortality. This review seeks to analyse from existing evidence, the altering role of co-infection on the population dynamics of infectious diseases. This paper has implications for research, policy and clinical interventions.

115-119

Authors: Michael Okyere Asante

Do the words ‘labour’ and ‘work’ carry the same or different meanings? Can they be used interchangeably, and under what contexts? While we find that in the English language and other European languages, such “etymologically unrelated words” are considered as reflecting the same activity, they could mean different or similar things depending on their contexts. In this brief paper, I show how this is the case in Plato’s use of ergon (work) and ponos (labour).

68-71

Authors: Alya Wulan Nur Fatimah, Nunuk Suryani, Sri Yamtinah

Critical thinking assessment is vital in historical learning among Senior High School students. The purpose of this research was to develop a critical thinking test to evaluate the level of critical thinking in historical learning among Senior High School students. The development process of this test followed the Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) evaluation model by Daniel Stufflebeam. Validation of this instrument was done by experts and senior teachers in the field (practitioners). Though the total number of items in the test was 25, validity and reliability tests yielded 20 items. In conclusion, an assessment based on the higher order thinking Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) version was as an adequate measure of critical thinking in historical learning at Senior High Schools.

76-80

Authors: Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe

Globally, the concept of corruption has taken different shades over the years. Due to this trend, may forms of corrupt acts have silently been perpetuated in Ghana. This paper seeks to provide insights into ‘quite corruption’ and how it affects development and standards of living. It also suggests some measures to combat this menace.

11-22

Authors: Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

Freedom of speech in academia can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives the liberty to express opinions about issues that affect academics, but on the other, such freedoms can also be used against academics, even by other academics. Science finds itself in a state of reform, perhaps even crisis, in which a dense amount of transformational changes are taking place. As the academic playing field transforms itself, one method by which this is taking place is through the correction of the literature via an active process of critical analysis. In peer review, this is generally handled primarily by blinded (i.e., known to the editors) peers, while in a post-publication process, this may also be subjected to anonymous (i.e., unknown identity to authors and editors) critique. One of the more radical end-points of the post-publication process, which may reveal errors or faults, are retractions. Two organizations, Retraction Watch and PubPeer, are leading the way in terms of raising awareness and critique, but are using public shaming to expose science’s faults and ills. These science watchdogs have now attracted considerable funding, including from powerful politically-driven US philanthropic foundations. Pressure is placed on scientists and academics by these organizations to be transparent, open and forthcoming about their errors. Scientists should cautiously assess queries made at or by Retraction Watch and PubPeer, directly or indirectly, and reserve their right to offer feedback. This is because what they state in response, either by email or on those blogs, may in fact be used against them on and by these public shaming platforms. The same applies to the blog of Leonid Schneider, another vocal science watchdog. Academia is at a cross-roads between openness and transparency, but at what cost? Academics need to urgently appreciate the importance and risks that Retraction Watch, PubPeer and similar websites pose, before their legends become irreversibly transformed by interaction with such watchdogs. This paper also highlights comment suppression, manipulation or blocking by these science watchdogs, which may indicating a deliberate suppression of freedom of speech.

28-38

Authors: Mike Omilusi

It has become a familiar trend in Nigeria that many state governors see the national assembly as a retirement ground after an eight-year-tenure as heads of the executive arm. To many of these ex-governors, the Senate is another platform through which they could continue to be relevant and actualize their political goals as far as local and national politics are concerned. Though nothing is wrong with former governors aspiring to be senators, what is important is whether they are in the Senate to serve the interest of their constituencies or their own interest. The latter however, features prominently in the study’s findings.

45-58

Authors: Joseph Reginard Milinga, Mwajabu K. Possi

Despite the plethora of studies that have attempted to examine self-esteem in a variety of contexts, few studies have focused on investigating the self-esteem of students with visual impairments as a function of receiving help from their sighed peers within the context of inclusive schooling. Employing a qualitative approach, this study examines the ways sighted students assist their peers with visual impairments in an inclusive secondary school setting in relation to the self-esteem of the help-recipients. It does so, by highlighting the decision for seeking help and threat to self-esteem models. The findings have indicated that, sighted peers assisted their friends with visual impairments in a number of ways despite the fact that, some of the help-recipients were unsatisfied with the help given. Generally, students with visual impairments were comfortable seeking assistance from their sighted peers, with high self-esteem levels despite the concerns raised. Finally, discussions of these findings and recommendations are provided.