{"title":"Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development Theory: What are its Implications for Mathematical Teaching?","authors":"C. Denhere, K. Chinyoka, Josiah Mambeu","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.052213632","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.052213632","url":null,"abstract":"This article focused on Vygotskian Zone of Proximal Development and its implications to the teaching of Mathematics in the schools. Literature has shown that underachievement and poor performance characterise the learning of Mathematics. Teaching Mathematics in the child’s zone of proximal development is viewed as one way of improving performance in Mathematics. Literature argues that teaching in the Zone of Proximal Development where the child’s learning is mediated and scaffolded by the teacher or expert adult or knowledgeable peer makes learning more meaningful, easier, manageable, effective and efficient. The major challenge that the theory presents to teachers is that it is difficult to identify every learner’s zone of proximal development. Despite this limitation, the ZPD if appropriately applied could improve Mathematics teaching and learning in the schools.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"254 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114353326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relative Incidence of Tenant Eviction in Residential and Commercial Properties in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria between 1998 - 2007","authors":"I. T. Akogun","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.062113684","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.062113684","url":null,"abstract":"In property management, some reasons would make it imperative to terminate some tenancies so, tenant eviction is almost inevitable. It is a global phenomenon, occurring in all parts of the world, both developing and developed countries. The main thrust of this study is to assess the relative incidence of eviction in residential and commercial properties in Ilorin metropolis. Primary data for this study including records of tenant evictions from residential and commercial properties within the ten-year period were collected by self-administered questionnaires administered on the 16 practising firms of Estate Surveyors and Valuers within Ilorin metropolis during the period covered by the study. There were increasing trend in eviction during the period. Results showed that evictions from residential properties accounted for 67.35 % while commercial properties accounted for 32.65%. The incidence of tenant eviction was higher on residential properties while low income earners residing in tenement and block of flats are mostly affected. The paper provides a basis for comparing the occurrence of evictions from residential and commercial properties with a view to guiding policy makers, property managers and tenants.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"219 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130879469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sexual Dilemma: Perceptions and Attitudes of Sexually Violated Women in Gweru Urban, Zimbabwe","authors":"T. Panganai, Wellington Samkange","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.071713738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.071713738","url":null,"abstract":"Every human being (women included) has a right to safe and satisfying sex and to consent to sex. However, there are some men in society who force themselves on women and this is called sexual violence. Such force is a violation of their rights. The purpose of this study was to find out the perceptions of violated women towards sexual violence. The study was carried out at Msasa Project Gweru. The objectives were to expose the types of sexual violence they encounter and how the women react to it. A descriptive survey design was used for the study and a purposive sampling method was used to obtain 30 women who were sexually violated. These women were interviewed to assess their perceptions on sexual violence. The study revealed that sexual violence occurs across all ages but the perceived causes are culture, lust, gender as well as the personality of individual males. The women themselves can also incite sexual violence through their dressing, looks and behavior. The findings show that the women felt that stiffer penalties, counseling and improved communication can decrease the rate of sexual violence. The women suggest that men be educated on the rights of women and to value women so that they may understand the feelings of women and change their behavior of sexual violence. As a result, the researcher suggests that the women be empowered through educating them on their rights and what to do in case of sexual violation. The organisations which help women need to involve men in an effort to change their behavior. The perpetrators of sexual violence should be given a stiffer penalty which is prohibitive.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"31 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114896630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Item Response Theory as a Basis for Measuring Latent Trait of Interest","authors":"Adebule Samuel Olufemi","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.062513691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.062513691","url":null,"abstract":"Item Response Theory (IRT) is one of the most important developments in testing today. It then becomes necessary for all experts in tests, measurement, assessment and evaluation to be well-abreasted of this approach that builds on the concept of item analysis. This write up examines item response theory framework, its merits and demerits; and concludes that Nigerian psychometricians need and require skills and experience in the principle and assumption of IRT.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124359194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pre-Natal to Post-Natal Childcare within Traditional and Westernised Parenting Styles: A Paradigm Shift in Zimbabwe","authors":"C. Kudzai","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.052213631","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.7.052213631","url":null,"abstract":"This paper examines traditional African child rearing styles and Westernised parenting styles focusing on the impact this has on the psychosocial developments of a child’s academic performance. In most African countries, during prenatal and postnatal periods, there are many rituals that are observed by the parents, especially the expectant mother. This has a bearing on the psychological and later cognitive development of the child. As a result, there is a paradigm shift taking place from a strictly traditional to a more modern oriented way of rearing children due to the influence of education, media and technology. The majority of families in Zimbabwe now find themselves somewhere along a continuum between the African and Western child rearing styles. In this study, the descriptive survey design was used with questionnaires and interviews as data collection instruments. Findings from this research revealed that, the Westernised parenting styles want independent, democratic and sometimes laissez-faire ways of raising children while African cultures prefer submissive children raised under an authoritarian style. Significant changes among African families have been noted leading to an adoption of an eclectic approach, where families use two or more parenting styles, considering the best features of each system in raising children. Knowledge of African child rearing practices is therefore of paramount importance since it makes teachers of African children sensitive to and aware of some values that have shaped them so as to enhance effective teaching and learning.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"56 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122493023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing Income through Cocoyam Production, Processing and Consumption Patterns In Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria","authors":"M. Ugbajah","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.6.110312206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.6.110312206","url":null,"abstract":"The study was conducted to investigate the production, processing and consumption patterns/ forms of cocoyam among farmers in Dunukofia local Government Area in Anmabra State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 60 male and female respondents for the study. Data were collected with the use of pre-tested questionnaires. The data were analyzed using percentage, mean scores, personal observation and focus group discussions. Results showed that majority of the respondents (77%) were females while (25%) of the respondents had no formal education. The result also showed that out of six local species grown, three were the most prominent. They include Ede ofe, Edebuji and Indian coco. Cocoyam is one of the major crops grown in the study area, and that Edeofe ranked the highest grown specie out of the three major grown species. Akanoke was the least grown among the six species in the study area. The production patterns were that majority (78%) of the respondents use their backyard or compound farm for cocoyam production. The result also showed that about (80%) of the respondents intercrop cocoyam with other crops. The cocoyam can be processed and consumed as a soup thickener, fufu, mgbogu, roasted achicha and boiled in the study area. The study recommended that government should encourage genetic improvement researches on cocoyam especially on non -scratchy species/types, introduce improved production and processing techniques, pharmacological medicinal and industrial uses should be encouraged in all ecologically suitable areas.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115100250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Power of Art in Cultivating Peaceful Communal Co-existence- A Case of Bukusu Aphorisms","authors":"J. Musungu","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.6.032013537","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.6.032013537","url":null,"abstract":"This paper sets out to examine the impact of art on the concept of communal coexistence with special attention to Bukusu aphorisms. The paper focuses on ten aphorisms from the Bukusu community. These aphorisms have been studied to uncover the meaning in relation to communal coexistence. The paper is guided by an eclectic model in which a number of theoretical approaches are employed. The main approaches are Publics and Nationhood Theories. This combination is basically grounded in modern folkloristic perspectives which call for viewing oral texts as representations of collective thinking. It has been established that Bukusu aphorisms form a spring board upon which the Bukusu relate with one another as well as the outside world. It has also emerged that Bukusu aphorisms can be instrumental in either promoting or undermining communal peaceful coexistence.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"49 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126897129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Relationship between Fiscal Deficits and Economic Growth in Kenya: An Empirical Investigation","authors":"Simeo Okelo, G. Momanyi, L. Othuon, O. Fredrick","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.6.051113603","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.6.051113603","url":null,"abstract":"The Kenyan government has been committed to a stable macroeconomic environment, characterized by low and stable inflation and sound fiscal policy. However, in the late 1970s to date, the government has continued to experience high, persistent and unsustainable deficits. Despite the fact that economic reform programs adopted in recent years have emphasized demand management through fiscal restraint, fiscal deficit has been phenomenal to Kenya’s economy coupled with a dwindling economic growth. The study therefore attempted to establish the extent to which fiscal deficits and economic growth are related and further investigated ways in which fiscal deficits (transmission mechanism) have effects on the growth and development of the Kenyan economy. The study used both exploratory and causal research designs and employed time series secondary data for a period of 38 years (1970-2007), purposively selected and was estimated using OLS method. The study also performed various econometric tests such as Dickey Fuller (DF) and Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test. Other diagnostic tests like multicollinearity were performed. The study found positive relationship between budget deficits and economic growth, in congruent with the Keynesians assertion and hence recommends prudent financial management and enhanced revenue collection by revenue authority so as not crowd-out private sector investment by borrowing domestically.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"66 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133893687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Language Policy and Linguistic Rights in Post-Colonial Zimbabwe:The Case of IsiNdebele","authors":"Liketso Dube, Bhekezakhe Ncube","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.5.030413511","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.5.030413511","url":null,"abstract":"This article investigates and evaluates the position of IsiNdebele in post-colonial Zimbabwe as a subject in schools. It is the position of this article that language policy in Zimbabwe does not have a strong case for African languages in general and IsiNdebele in particular. The reliance on the Education Act of 1987 as a language policy document in the absence of a national language policy, leaves African languages open to neglect. African languages, particularly IsiNdebele which was born of unique circumstances, need a strong language policy which enunciates linguistic rights with the aim of protecting vulnerable languages. The article also argues that an abuse of linguistic rights is synonymous with abuse of human and cultural rights of speakers of a given language. The article will recommend the resuscitation of institutional bodies and organisations which once served as promoters of African languages. Government sponsorship for such institutions and organisations should be revived. The article also adds its voice to the call for the establishment of a National Language Council to be set up by an Act Parliament.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"21 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117129576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Analysis of the Factors of Agricultural Potentials and Sustainability in Adani, Nigeria","authors":"C. Ajaero, C. Lilian, C. Okeke","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.5.042413585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.5.042413585","url":null,"abstract":"This study is aimed at examining the physical and socioeconomic factors that influence agricultural productivity and sustainability in Adani, Nigeria. Household interviews on agricultural potentials and sustainability of the study area were randomly conducted on 240 households in the study area. Furthermore, soil samples were collected at depths of between 10 to 30 cm while rainfall data was obtained from the Center for Basic Space Science University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze the rainfall characteristics while the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to analyze the socioeconomic factors of agricultural productivity and sustainability. Furthermore, the soil samples were analyzed to determine the particle size and soil types. The results showed that the soil in the study area is generally sandy clay and the rainfall intensity is 42.63mm/yr. Finally, PCA reduced socioeconomic factors to three underlying components that together account for 76.44% of the cumulative variance thus leaving 23.56% of the total variance unexplained due to other factors. The components are access to agricultural capital, availability of motivated agricultural workforce and provision of infrastructural facilities.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117104228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}