Attitude of Ghanaian University Students Towards Online Counselling

Online counselling is a complement to the traditional face-to-face approach to counselling. Experts in counselling, however, strongly believe that before online counselling is introduced, it is necessary to ascertain its potential utilization by clients. This study, therefore, investigated the attitude of Ghanaian students towards online counselling using the descriptive survey design. Two research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study comprised all regular undergraduate students in the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. A sample of 600 students made up of 360 males and 240 females was used. Proportional stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques were employed. Two online counselling attitude scales were used to source for data. The data were analysed using means, standard deviations and independent samples t-test. The study revealed that respondents’ attitude towards online counselling was both positive and negative. The study also found that although both male and female students expressed positive attitude towards online counselling, females expressed a more positive attitude towards online counselling than their male counterparts. Similarly, both genders demonstrated negative attitude towards online counselling, but males showed a more negative attitude towards online counselling as compared to their female counterparts. However, no significant differences were found in students’ attitudes towards online counselling on the basis of gender. A major implication of the findings was that students have the potential to utilise online counselling, since they demonstrated positive attitude towards online counselling. Based on the findings, it was recommended that counsellors should introduce online counselling to complement the traditional face-to-face approach to counselling. Again, counsellors should educate students on the benefits of online counselling so as to reduce their negative attitude towards online counselling. Keywords: Online counselling; positive attitude; negative attitude; university student

Assessment of Adolescent Risk Behaviours in Junior High Schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana

The study investigated adolescent risk behaviours in public junior high schools of the OLA circuit in the Cape Coast Metropolis using the descriptive survey design. Five research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The target population of the study was all students in the OLA Circuit of the Cape Coast Metropolis. The accessible population was all students from the three selected schools in the OLA Circuit. The Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 155 students for the study. Proportional stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques were employed.  The data were analysed using means, standard deviations and independent samples t-test. The study revealed that students’ engagement in any of the adolescents risk behaviours thus violence-related behaviour, alcoholism, smoking, risky sexual behaviours and suicidal tendencies were very minimal. There was a significant difference between male and female risky sexual behaviours. However, there was no significant difference between male and female on the basis of suicidal tendencies. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the Ministries of Health, Education, Youth and Sports, National population Council (NPC), among others continue to intensify their campaigns against adolescents risk behaviours. Keywords: assessment, adolescence; adolescent; risk behaviours; junior high school students DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-25-05 Publication date:September 30th 201

Perceptions of Effectiveness of Academic Advising: Case of Ghanaian University Students

The study explored students’ perceptions of academic advising in the University of Cape Coast (UCC) using the descriptive survey design. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population was all undergraduate students in the University. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 400 students who had prior interactions with their academic advisors for the study. Proportional stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed.  The data was analyzed using means, standard deviations. The study revealed that academic advising in the UCC was generally seen to be ineffective. Respondents rated low the three qualities of academic advisors examined in the study. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the Management of the UCC organise regular assessment of academic advising to keep academic advisors in check and, organise workshops and seminars to sharpen their skills and qualities. Again, based on the findings, some counselling implications were outlined. Keywords: Academic advising, Counselling, Ghanaian, Perceptions, University students DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/14-3-03 Publication date: April 30th 202

Gender, Age and Marital Status Differences in Anger Expression Among Tumu College of Education Students

This study investigated the effect of sex, age and marital status on the expression of anger among Tumu college of education students. A descriptive survey design guided this investigation. A sample size of 250 college students were used for the investigation. The sampling technique used to select the participants for the investigation was simple random sampling. A Self-report anger instrument was used to collect the data for the study based on six-point Likert type scale. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated a statistically significant difference with regard to the influence of gender on anger. Also, there was no statistically significant influence of age on anger. Again, the study revealed no statistically significant difference of marital status on anger. In view of the results of the study, it was recommended that counsellors should provide anger management therapies to college students irrespective of age and marital status. Also, counsellors should take gender into consideration when providing interventions with regard to coping with anger. Keywords: Anger, Gender, Age, Marital Status, Impact, Students, College. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-4-04 Publication date:March 31st 2024