Science In Nigeria Research Articles

MURDER INVESTIGATION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE APPLICATION

This study presents a systematic review of studies related to murder and criminal investigation, policing, and implications for forensic science application in Nigeria. A literature search was done in the English language, using primary and secondary keywords; such as murder investigation, forensic science, policing, criminal investigation, standard operating procedures guiding murder investigation, and application of forensic science in Nigeria. Four academic databases selected for the study were: SAGE Online, Wiley Online Library, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria earmarked for the study, 16 selected online published materials published between 2012 and 2022 met the predetermined criteria. These articles are either surveys, reviews, case studies, expert opinion materials, or theoretical articles. Central to the findings of these articles is that the application of forensic science in murder investigations in Nigeria is still suboptimal, accounting for lots of cold and unresolved murder cases across the country. In addition, there are other issues such as inadequate legislation governing forensic science application in Nigeria, lack of forensic skills and poor capacity development of Nigerian police, and non-adherence to forensic validated procedures during murder investigations. Gaps identified from these studies suggest a need for research focusing on the importance of suspect forensic profiling, a criminal investigative tool that can aid in narrowing down the suspect pool which has become a perennial problem in Nigeria's justice system as evidenced by the rising number of murder suspects across the country’s penitentiaries. This would make murder investigation more effective and efficient for criminal justice experts.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0788/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The effects of the expectation confirmation model (ECM) and the technology acceptance model (TAM) on learning management systems (LMS) in sub-saharan Africa

ABSTRACT The integrated ECM and the TAM were being used to identify the determining factors predicting students' intention to use the Learning Management System. The independent study was conducted solely focused at Gombe State University's Faculty of Art and Management Science in Nigeria. This was a quantitative research design wherein the online questionnaires were distributed to 500 selected post-graduate students through convenient sampling with the additional support of the snowballing sampling technique. The data collected was analysed using SPSS Version 22 and Amos Version 21. This study reveals that the broadly defined integrated model variables can influence a large percentage of high school students using LMS. However, one of the integral factors in the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM), “Confirmation,” is discovered to be completely unimportant in the comprehensive integrated model. This research study outlines the various important benchmarks throughout the LMS design phase as well as a strongly proposed optimum approach to a fully utilised LMS process at universities as well as higher education institutions. The study suggested that students and teachers are essential participants for whom the continued involvement tends to increase the interactions and exchange of knowledge of teaching and learning information within and between teaching staff and students.

Global challenge and opportunities for libraries and big data

Purpose This study aims to find out the role of big data in the field of library and information science by considering the opportunities and challenges. Design/methodology/approach This study, which was conducted on a desk, examined the rise and significance of big data in the field of library and information science in Nigeria. Also, systematic literature review is done, exploring blogs and wikis to gather data on the use of big data. Findings This study emphasizes that as data is the primary component in the creation of information, professionals in the fields of library and information science must develop the knowledge and abilities necessary to support big data analysis. It was determined that offering and facilitating big data analysis would guarantee our place as a priceless and crucial resource in the digital workplace. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study will be one of its kind to examine the role of big data in the field of library and information science profession. Furthermore, the results of the study will expose librarians and information professionals on the opportunities and challenges inherent in the use of big data technologies.

Influence of High-Stakes Tests on Students’ Attitude Towards Learning Science in Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria

The problem of students’ attitude towards learning in the science arm of secondary schools in Nigeria has been a subject of concern and discuss. This study investigated high-stakes tests as determinants of students’ attitude towards learning science in senior secondary schools in Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and answered, and three hypotheses were formulated and tested to guide the study at .05 level of significance. A sample of 6349 students and teachers was utilized for the study. The research instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire titled: High-stakes and Students’ Attitude Questionnaire (HSSAQ). The instrument was subjected to face and content validity; Cronbach Alpha reliability analysis which yielded 0.84 coefficient. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression and independent t-test statistics. The results using multiple regression revealed that significant influence exists for the independent variable (high-stakes tests, r=0.335, p<0.05). The mean difference in the opinions of the respondents regarding high-stakes tests were higher for teachers (X̅=53.63, SD=6.77) than students (X̅=52.8904, SD=7.55), t(6347)=-2.704, p>0.05, F=1.322, p=.250), however there was no significant difference. In conclusion, high-stakes test factors have significant influence on students’ attitude towards learning science in Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended among others, that teachers and educators need to pay more attention to the effects of high-stakes testing in their schools

ASSESSMENT OF THE JUGULAR FORAMEN IN THE POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA OF NIGERIAN ADULT SKULLS

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The knowledge of the morphometry of this foramen is important for forensic scientists, anthropologists and neurosurgeons. It could be concluded that the data provided in this study is important for advancement of Anatomical Science in Nigeria.

Local and Transnational Identity, Positionality and Knowledge Production in Africa and the African Diaspora

How does shared identity between researcher and the researched influence trust-building for data generation and knowledge production? We reflect on this question based on two separate studies conducted by African-based researchers in sociology and political science in Nigeria. We advanced two interrelated positions. The first underscores the limits of national belonging as shorthand for insiderness, while the second argues that when shared national/group identity is tensioned other intersecting positions and relations take prominence. We also show that the researched challenge and resist unequal power relations through interview refusal or by evading issues that the researcher considers important, but the participant perceives as intrusive. We shed light on the vagaries, overlaps, and similarities in the dynamics of belonging and positionality in researching Africans in and outside Africa as home-based researchers. Our contribution advances the understanding of field dynamics in the production of local and cross-border knowledge on Africa/Africans.

Use of computer supported collaborative learning in teaching and learning science in Nigeria

Use of computer supported collaborative learning in teaching and learning science in Nigeria

Use of computer supported collaborative learning in teaching and learning science in Nigeria

This study investigates the use of computer supported collaborative learning in teaching and learning science in Chemistry Teaching in Senior Secondary Schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the research. The design adopted for this study is quasi experimental pre-test, post-test control group design. The population of the study was made up of all SSII chemistry students, using cluster sampling to select 40 students to form the sample size. The research instrument used was Balancing of Equations Performance Test (BEPT). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. The findings among others indicated that students taught with computer supported collaborative learning teaching strategy performed better than the traditional method thereby eliminating student’s misconception on balancing of equations concept in chemistry. It was recommended among others that chemistry teachers should be encouraged to explore the application of computer supported collaborative learning strategy in their classroom instruction.

PSIX-36 Animal welfare and its science in Nigeria;past and present outlook

Abstract Animal welfare is becoming an interesting global issue which must be given the best of attention by researchers, producers, consumers and the governments. The need to ensure the general well-being of the wild and domestic animals in every aspect of their husbandry is mandatory now in many developed countries of the world, and poultry industries are responding positively to this new dimension of husbandry. Species of animal are sensitive to the way they are being managed in terms of housing and other handlings. Meanwhile, there is little or no concern on subjects of of applied ethology in developing areas of the world such as Africa and Asia, and particular in countries like Nigeria, where livestock production and wildlife conservation is currently experiencing tremendous growth. Unlike developing countries, issue of animal welfare are being promoted by researches, sponsored information, legislation and enforcement by relevant agencies in developed nations of the world. Factors such as poor economic and technological advancements, political instabilities, social insecurities, low level of awareness and lack of information on legal provisions on animal on animal welfare have been identified to be responsible for poor animal welfare and its science in developing countries. Despite the fact that livestock sector carries the highest percentage among agricultural facets commercially in Nigeria, the level of welfare of the domestic animals and those in the wild is still below standard. This paper is however suggesting that regardless of the level of economic development in most of the low and middle-income nations, researchers can be motivated into animal welfare science, the curricula of colleges and universities be expanded to include subjects of applied ethology, professional bodies and associations on animal welfare can be formed with international affiliations. All these may change the orientation of the people and governments in developing countries positively towards animal welfare.

Influence of Learning Styles on Academic Achievement of Chemistry Students

It is disheartening to note that the poor academic achievement, in chemistry at public examinations in recent times has been explained as a major cause of decline in the general science course and standard of education in core science in Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether learning styles relate with academic achievement of chemistry students in Akamkpa Local Government Area. A correlation survey was the research design adopted by the researcher. In the cause of conducting this study the study involved multi-stage sampling approach of a combination of stratified and simple random sampling techniques in selecting 200 SS1 students in the study area. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire and Chemistry Achievement Test. The data collected was scored, coded and analyzed using Pearson Correlation and was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the analysis revealed that the students approach towards kinesthetic learning style correlates positively with academic achievement in Chemistry. The result also showed that visual learning style and auditory learning style correlates positively with the academic achievement in Chemistry among SS1 students in Akamkpa Local Government. It was recommended among others that; for better academic achievement in Chemistry, teachers should identify the learning styles of their students and used teaching strategies that complement them.

Need for Women in Statistics and Data Science in Nigeria

Need for Women in Statistics and Data Science in Nigeria

SOCIAL MEDIA LEARNING PLATFORMS (SMLPs) AS A PERFORMANCE ENHANCER AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE STUDENTS.

The study examined the effects of Social Media Learning Platforms (SMLPs) on secondary school students’ performance in Science in Nigeria. It also investigated the rate of use of social media for the purpose of education or otherwise among science students in Secondary schools in Nigeria. The study was a quasi-experimental of pre-test, post-test research design. The sample for the study was 80 Senior Secondary School two students, selected from two schools in Ondo state, South West, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was adopted in the selection of the schools and classes for the study. The choice of the sampling technique used was to ensure that the schools and classes selected have access to cell phones and internet facilities during school period and that the classes are science based. The instruments used for the study were Social Media Students Participation Rating Scale (SMSPRS), Social Media Students’ Performance Test in Science (SMSPTS), Social Media Students’ Questionnaire (SMSQ). Validity and Reliability of the instruments were ensured and determined. Data collated were analyzed using frequency count, mean, standard deviation and t-test. The outcome of the analysis revealed that 98% of the students’ sampled do not use social media for educative learning purposes but for entertainment and socialization. Students exposed to the use of social media platform with conventional teaching-learning method participated better in lessons and performs better in the subject than their counterparts with no use of social media platform

The effect of job aids on knowledge retention among Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors trained to administer injectable contraceptives: longitudinal results from implementation science in Nigeria

BackgroundTo increase access to voluntary family planning (FP) services, Nigerian policymakers are debating how to task share injectable contraceptive services to drug shop owners known as Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs). Task sharing FP services to drug shops is a promising practice, but information is needed on how to ensure high quality FP services. This analysis assesses the effects of job aids on PPMVs’ knowledge of injectable contraceptives 9 months after receiving a standardized training.MethodsOne hundred ninety-four PPMVs were trained on FP counseling and administration of injectable contraceptives in Bauchi, Cross River, Ebonyi and Kaduna states. PPMVs were interviewed before, after, and 9 months after the training. Three variables were used to assess injectable contraceptive knowledge: 1) intramuscular depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) knowledge: a combination of three questions related to device type, injection location, and reinjection frequency; 2) subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC) knowledge: a combination of the same three questions but for DMPA-SC; and 3) knowledge of at least 4 of the 7 common injectable side effects. Three separate adjusted logistic regression models were conducted to determine the factors that influence PPMV knowledge of injectable contraceptives 9 months after the training.ResultsOver half of PPMVs (56%) reported using at least two job aids at 9 months. PPMVs’ knowledge of DMPA-IM, DMPA-SC and side effects were low before the training but increased immediately after. Nine months later, knowledge remained higher than pre-test levels but generally reduced compared to posttest levels. PPMVs who reported using at least two FP job aids were 2.6 (95% CI: 1.4–5.1) times more likely to have DMPA-IM knowledge 9 months after the training compared to those who used one or no job aids, while adjusting for PPMV characteristics. Similar results were observed for knowledge of DMPA-SC (AOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2–4.6) and side effects (AOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3–4.8).ConclusionPPMVs who used at least two FP job aids were more likely to correctly answer key injectable contraceptive questions 9 months after training. Incorporating proven job aids into routine trainings is a low-cost strategy that can reinforce knowledge and help PPMVs to retain information.

English

Science is a body of knowledge about the natural world (the environment) that is testable, verifiable or falsifiable by using organized scientific methods and skills. It has been generally asserted that the rate of development of any nation depends on the level of her citizens’ scientific literacy and competence in science process skills. The methods of teaching/learning science in Nigeria have hardly provided for the acquisition of these literacy and skills. There is also a reported dwindling in performance and enrollment in science. For Nigeria to be able to move forward and achieve sustainable development, more needs to be done in terms of scientific literacy and process skills of individual Nigerians. This paper posits that the dwindling performance and enrollment in science is as a result of the disconnection between classroom science and everyday life which makes the science learning uninteresting and irrelevant to the student. There are common phenomena in the student’s environment that can be connected to classroom science by several planned and organized activities by the teacher. To promote meaningful learning, and thus empower the individual for national growth, this paper recommends a bridge of the disconnect (gap) between classroom science teaching and everyday life.   Key words: Everyday life, classroom, science, connecting.

Research output of librarians in the field of library and information science in Nigeria: a bibliometric analysis from 2000-March, 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze the growth of academic librarians’ research output in Nigeria; it examined their research productivity and determined the authorship pattern and degree of collaboration.Design/methodology/approachA total of 1,106 articles were retrieved from Current index to Journals in Education and Library, Information Science and Technology databases for the period 2000-March 2018.FindingsThe study revealed that only few authors are productive in the field of Library and Information Science in Nigeria during the period under study. The author productivity pattern is, therefore, in agreement with Lotka’s Law of inverse square. Top journals in which the academic librarians in Nigeria publish their works were identified. Of the 153 recognized universities in Nigeria, the study revealed that only few universities are productive. The years 2011 and 2012 recorded the highest contributions by the academic librarians. The findings also showed a high level of teamwork with most publications being produced jointly.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this study is that it only retrieved articles that were indexed by Current index to Journals in Education and Library, Information Science and Technology . Secondly, articles published by the academic librarians in local journals in Nigeria that are not indexed and not visible are not included in the study.Originality/valueThe findings call for researchers in developing countries to recognize that it is important to publish a substantial number of papers in journals that are indexed and are widely visible.

Building capacity in higher education horticulture in Nigeria: the contribution of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria

The development of horticultural science in Nigeria was retarded due to misconceptions on its potential. Consequently, there was hardly any structured training programme at the local higher education level and a dearth of skilled manpower. In 1992, the Department of Horticulture of the Federal University of Agriculture was established as the first fully fledged Department of Horticulture in Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria to train undergraduate and postgraduate students in horticultural science and entrepreneurship. As a result of advocacy and development of market-driven courses, from the initial enrolment of two students, the Department now enrolls more than 80 students annually. To date it has trained and deployed 450 students at the bachelor's level and 40 students at the postgraduate level. Some of the graduates have started their own businesses, been recruited by other establishments or undertaken postgraduate studies and thereafter joined the staff of the Department or other higher education institutions. To improve its reach and the competitiveness of its graduates, the Department collaborates with other stake-holders in the horticulture industry in its skills development programme and exposes teaching staff to ad-hoc training programmes. The curriculum is continually reconfigured to address emerging trends.

E-102 Policy, practice and science in Nigeria: Implementing evidence based research for HIV programming in Nigeria

Nigeria with a population of over 180 million currently has a national estimate of 3% prevalence of HIV infection. Briefly, 3 million people are living with HIV; 160,000 pregnant women living with HIV and pediatric HIV infection account for about 30% of global burden. Following the assumption of office by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, the country initiated plan and began an aggressive drive in revitalizing the healthcare system towards attainment of Universal Health Coverage in the country. This presentation will chronicle policies, practices and evidences generated in-country on biology of HIV infection, transmission and management as well other non-orthodox claims of cure. The socio-cultural interpretations, perceptions and behaviours as it affects HIV infection within Nigerian space will be highlighted. The concluding section of the presentation will focus on key priority areas of HIV programming and research that requires international collaborations.

Identifying Predictors of Secondary School Perfomance In Agricultural Science In Nigeria

Introducción. La creciente conciencia sobre la importacia de la educación agraria ha dirigido a varios gobiernos y educadores a la revisión del currículum agrícola tanto en secundaria como en niveles superiores así como a proporcionar políticas e incentivos dirigidos a motivar a los jóvenes a estudiar y tener en consideración la agricultura como una alternativa beneficiosa. Desafortunadamente, y a pesar de los esfuerzos gubernamentales, la asignatura en agricultura ha sido un fracaso. La evaluación y el rendimiento del alumnado en los programas de agricultura en Nigeria son los objetivos de este estudio. Varias variables han relacionadas con el rendimiento del alumnado aunque los estudios no son consistentes.Método. Escuela del estado de Ondo (Nigeria) constituyen la muestra del estudio. Se ha tomado información de la evaluación del alumnado durante el curso académico 2007 así como otros datos recogidos mediante instrumentos desarrollados por el investigador. Los análisis de la varianza no indican diferencias significativas entre los centros estudiados.Resultados. Los resultados señalan que los cursos en global y las ciencias integradas (física, química y biología) eran significativas al 0.05. Las dos varialbes estudiadas explican el 67% de la varianza en la ejecución del estudiante en secundaria. Las matemáticas no se muestran como el mejor predictor aunque presentan una correlación alta (0.63) con la variable dependiente.Conclusión. El curso en general, las ciencias integradas y las matemáticas deben tener más prominencia como requisitos previos para la admisión en los estudios de agricultura.

'I have faith in science and in God': Common sense, cognitive polyphasia and attitudes to science in Nigeria.

This study, of modern common sense in Nigeria, combines questionnaires and interviews to examine the compatibility and incompatibility of religion and science. Nigeria is a large country with a complex diversity of religious, ethnic and cultural practices that condition the reception and elaboration of science in everyday life. We find evaluative attitudes to science structured as 'progress', 'fear' and 'mythical image'. Scientific knowledge and religiosity have a direct bearing on expectations of progress and feeling of fear and worry about science; mythical image is independent of this. Nigerians trust both scientific and religious authorities in contrast to other social actors. Many of the results are consistent with the hypothesis of cognitive polyphasia of scientific and religious knowing manifesting as a 'hierarchy', when one form is elevated over the other; 'parallelity', when both serve separate functions; and 'empowerment', where one enhances the other.

Lotka’s Law and productivity patterns of authors in biomedical science in Nigeria on HIV/AIDS

This study aims to analyze the productivity patterns of authors in Nigeria using publications indexed in Medline from 2008 to 2012 based on Lotka’s Law. Lotka’s Law of scientific productivity provides a platform for studying inequality in authors’ productivity patterns in a given field and over a specified period.,This study covers all the journal articles on HIV/AIDS pandemic in Nigeria over a period of five years (2008-2012) in Medline, of which 512 articles were reported to have been published during this period. In this paper, 306 articles that had HIV/AIDS in the title, published in 20 journals, and articles that had HIV/AIDS as author keywords were analyzed. Because no local database that indexed biomedical literature from Nigeria was available, Medline was used, which is not only a robust and flexible database that includes articles from Nigeria but is also the largest medical database that indexes over six-and-a-half million articles from 3,400 biomedical journals.,While HIV/AIDS can be considered a global pandemic, Nigeria has the second highest number of new infections reported each year, and an estimated 3.7 per cent of the population is living with the dreaded disease. This study presents a general picture of the distribution of papers as single-author papers, multiple-author papers and the measures of co-authorship. The findings of the study reveal that in the productivity distribution for authors on the subject of HIV/AIDS, only co-authors and non-collaborative authors’ categories fit in the Lotka’s Law, whereas all-authors and first-author categories differ from the distribution of Lotka’s inverse square law.,The empirical evidence used in this paper was based on only articles of HIV/AIDS pandemic in Nigeria that had HIV/AIDS the title. Therefore, the findings of this study might not be the generalized to other biomedical research studies.,The originality of this paper lies in the fact that the productivity pattern of each of the different author categories on the subject of HIV/AIDS is a first of its kind in the Nigerian context.