Student Perceptions of Their Educational Experience

The purpose of this qualitative sfudy was to understand the ways in which students of color perceive their schooling. This study focused specifically on the experiences of students of color enrolled in special education and aimed to explore the degree to which these particular students are affected by the dominant ideologies pervasive within the field of education and the influence of larger social, political and economic systems. This case study was conducted with three students who received special education services in a public middle school in a large urban district in the Midwest. Data was gathered through observations, field notes, as well as student interviews. Data was collected with the intent to qualify students\u27 views and experiences in special education. These experiences included, but were not limited to, the ways in which they understood their educational setting and mandatory curriculum, as well how they perceived their placement in special education and the purpose and outcome of their schooling. The results indicated that the student participants internalized the exclusivity and suggested inadequacies inherent in their special education setting and concluded that the prescribed curriculum was oppressive and limiting

SME management consulting firms internationalising in a turbulent business environment : a dynamic capability perspective from developed and emerging economies

This study draws on the dynamic capabilities view to investigate how SMEs management consulting firms’, in a turbulent international marketplace successful grow. SMEs shows that the processes of successful international growth, the act of gaining and sustaining competitive operations have often failed, especially in a turbulent business landscape. Through a qualitative case study, we argue that international growth success depends on subtle and continual orchestration of key interrelated internal and external factors. Factors such as the environment, continual reconfiguration of the firm assets pool (resources, processes and structures) and the constant alignment of the business model and strategic options are key determinants of successful international growth. We use the dynamic capabilities approach to discuss and to explain the importance of these determinates and how they contribute to successful SMEs international growth in a turbulent business environment across both developed and emerging economies. A generalised framework has been proposed as an outcome, which might act as a point of reference for SMEs owner/managers of management consulting firm considering international growth. The study provides useful practical implications for both UK and Nigeria SMEs management consulting firms currently seeking international growth opportunities. The study contributes to the literature in the field of SMEs international growth, strategic management and turbulent business environments concerned dynamic capabilities with SME management consulting firm internationalisation in a turbulent business environment highlighting the main factors that should be considered. Keywords: small to medium-sized enterprise (SME), internationalisation, service sector, management consulting, dynamic capabilities and critical success factor (CSF)

Effect of consumer dissonance on product packaging: an empirical study of distance learning students in Lagos, Nigeria

The Axiom ‘seeing is believing’ is becoming no more imperative with the packaging of consumable goods after consumers’ experience with a brand. There is no doubt that this is one of the key drivers of brand switching.  This research evaluates the effect of product packaging on post-purchase decisions of consumable products in Nigeria. Cognitive dissonance is a situation where consumers’ needs are not met and the consumer’s experience is far below the expectation. This could be a result of the failure of the packaging to adequately protect the product content; the packaging not drawing attention to the product, or it could not flaunt the egoistic nature of the consumer in terms of novelty where the consumer expected to portray his/her social class attribute. Do marketers adequately exploit the impacts/benefits of packaging to reduce consumer dissonance? What are the aftermaths of consumer dissonance on product packaging? A survey was conducted amongst marketers, distributors, and consumers of PZ Cussons PLC using random sampling. The relationships between responses were assessed and the results are presented and discussed. This study affirms that marketers should take advantage of packaging attributes to prevent or reduce the incidence of consumer dissonance. Hence, it is suggested that marketers should endeavor to invest more in product packaging design in order to gain consumer satisfaction and loyalty which could result in increased purchases

Analysis of The Impact of Electricity Market on Economic Growth in Nigeria.

This work examined the impact of electricity market on economic growth in Nigeria between 1971 and 2014. The supply of electricity affects the prices of outputs from the firms and industries while the demand for electricity affects how much can be supplied and the price of electricity which in turn affects final products produced. The variables used for electricity supply was a disaggregated sources of electricity generation, like oil, hydroelectric and gas, and the demand for electricity was also disaggregated into industrial and residential. Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model was employed after the unit root test showed mixed order of integration. The findings revealed that there was a long run relationship and it is significant. But the short run relationships were not significant although they all showed positive relationship with growth. It was therefore recommended that the power sector be more liberalized for more private participation both at the generation, transmission and distribution levels. Key Words: Energy, Electricity, Economic Growth, Demand and Supply of Electricity DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-20-08 Publication date:October 31st 202

CHALLENGES OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE ON RECLAIMED LAND (A case study of Lekki, Lagos State.)

Many coastal areas have been intensively urbanized because people living and working on or near coastlines are increasing. Land reclamation from the sea and high-rise buildings are common approaches to satisfying the growing needs for more housing and other land use. Using a coastal area in Lagos state, Lekki peninsula as a case study, buildings so constructed on these reclaimed land are faced with various challenges and difficulties, such as portable water production problem, flooding and waste management problem and hydroconsolidation effect leading to building settlement. The aim of this research work is to proffer possible measures to ameliorating the various constraints. Literatures and journal on identified factors affecting buildings constructed on reclaimed land were consulted, together with proper and adequate field survey. The data gathered via a well-structured set of questionnaires were evaluated and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The method of used was Relative Importance Index (RII) to measure the level of occurrence of the identified difficulties and ascertain the efficiency of the proffered measures. It was concluded that the major problems of reclaimed land building are basically a resultant effect of failure to engaged the proper method of construction suitable for this type of land and failure to consider the appropriate maintenance measures laid down to have a challenge free environment. In additional, it is recommended that proper method of land reclamation must first be engaged in reclamation when so is desired to be carried out by private bodies, the appropriate professionals in the construction industry must be engaged, stagnation of water should be as much as possible prevented around buildings erected on reclaimed land and adequate and intense supervision must be done at all point of constructing on reclaimed land. These mentioned above will create a functioning and reliable living in reclaimed land buildings

Impact of Exchange Rate Undervaluation on Manufacturing Sector and Economic Growth in Nigeria

This work investigated the consequences of undervaluation of exchange rate in Nigeria on the manufacturing output and economic growth between 1981 and 2019. Vector Error Correction Mechanism was employed and it was found from the impulse response function that real effective exchange rate does not significantly affect economic growth and it is negatively related with manufacturing output. Variance decomposition indicates that the contribution of real exchange rate to manufacturing declined all through. Recommended policies should address the structural bottlenecks in the country to enable supply become more elastic towards demand to enjoy the benefits of lowered prices from devaluation. Key Words: Exchange Rate, Undervaluation, Manufacturing output, Economic Growth DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-20-07 Publication date:October 31st 202

Assessment of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Minna, North-Central Nigeria

No Abstrac

Finding the best fit : an exploration of contraceptive decision-making in a sample of female students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Master of Social Sciences in Health Promotion. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2016.The discourse around contraceptive use has attracted researcher’s attention in recent times, due to the alarming rate of unwanted pregnancies and STIs including HIV/AIDS. In 2013, it was recorded that more than 99 000 schoolgirls fell pregnant at the rate of about 271 for every day of that year. These concerns emphasise the need for drastic improvement in sexual education and access to contraceptives such as condoms. Hence, this study attempts to examine how young women decide on contraception, focusing on the factors that influence the process. A grounded theory approach was used to explore the influences of contraceptive decision-making in a sample of seven (7) female students at the University KwaZulu Natal, Howard College campus. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and was analysed using Pidgeon and Henwood’s (1997) approach to grounded theory analysis. The aim was to gain insight on the factors influencing contraceptive decision-making by female university students. The research identified an interplay of various factors that influence respondents’choice of contraceptives. The factors include knowledge levels, partners’ role, social networking, health care workers (HCWs) and perceived side effects of contraceptives. This qualitative study showed that individual autonomous decision-making played a minor role in the decision-making process. The study highlights the need to empower young females to make informed decisions regarding the use of contraceptives

Impact of Fiscal Policy on Development Financing: Evidence from Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between fiscal policy and development financing in Nigeria and the extent to which the former effects the latter. The study employed public choice framework and the model is estimated with time-series data from 1981 to 2014, using the Johansen estimation technique. The findings revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between fiscal policy and development financing, real GDP per capital, consumer price index and capital expenditure respectively. The results further confirmed that more expenses were incurred funding recurrent than capital and this had taken its toll on development. The study recommended that government should increase revenue base so as to fund capital expenditure in order to achieve sustainable development while it is also necessary to reduce recurrent expenditures and domestic debt

A Parallel Mediation Analysis of Behavioral Constructs Linking Intention-to-Use Technology to Performance Outcomes Among Pharmaceutical Executives

Managers in organizations are at crossroads in ascertaining the precise mechanisms by which behavioral intention-to-use tendency influences the technology-based performance outcomes of employees. In the Technology Acceptance Model, behavioral intention-to-use is a precursor factor of actual system use. However, there is inadequate information regarding the mechanism through which it indirectly impacts performance in pharmaceutical organizations. Behavioral mechanisms (job satisfaction, conscientiousness, self-efficacy, perceived relevance) transform technology use to desired outcomes and was proposed as explanatory links in the relationship between behavioral intention-to-use and performance. Using the theoretical lens of reasoned action and the technology acceptance model, this study explores the linkage between behavioral intention-to-use and performance among pharmaceutical executives. Using a web-based survey of a random sample of 282 pharmaceutical executives and responses were elicited using self-administered Google Forms questionnaire. Data was analyzed using variance-based structural equation modeling in ADANCO software while controlling for job-based demographics. All independent variables in the model substantially explained the variance in the dependent variable-Technology-based performance significantly. Perceived relevance was the only substantial linkage between behavioral intention and technology-based performance. The study affirms that employees with high perceived relevance of technology use were more inclined to have better performance outcomes. To enhance consistent performance, positive user perception of technology relevance to tasks should be cultivated by ensuring the appropriateness of technology deployed, inclusive of adequate enlightenment and training. The study adds to the existing literature by recommending the addition of perceived relevance to the technology acceptance model