Browsing by Author "Karia, Mathew"

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    Academic Staff Attitude towards Open Access Outlets in Disseminating Research Findings in Selected Universities in Kenya
    (International Researchers, 2017) Mutwiri, Caroline; Karia, Mathew; Murungi, Catherine Gakii
    This study sought to establish the attitude of academic staff towards Open Access (OA) outlets. A descriptive research design was chosen for the study to describe the attitude of academics with regard to the outlets. The study was carried out in selected chartered private and public universities in Kenya.A total of 15,000 academic staff formed the study population from which a sample of 381 was drawn using stratified random sampling technique to select respondents from various universities. A questionnaire was designed for academic staff containing both open and closed ended questions. The study established a negative attitude of academic staff towards OA outlets. They were of the view that works published in conventional print journals were more recognized than those published in OA outlets and that OA outlets quality was lower than that of renowned print journals. Academics were also skeptical over the rigorous of review mechanisms for OA outlets. Therefore, their conservative preference for traditional outlets over newer publishing avenues was evident from their responses. The study recommend campaigns to enlighten the academic staff to recognize legitimacy and quality standard of OA outlets.
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    Access arrangement practices, its effectiveness and influence on the performance of learners with dysgraphia in public lower-primary schools in Vihiga County, Kenya
    (European Journals of Education Studies, 2024) Mulima, Emmanuel Ian; Muthee, Jessina; Karia, Mathew
    The study explored the access arrangement practices, their effectiveness, and their influence on the performance of learners with dysgraphia in public lower-primary schools in Emuhaya Sub-County, Vihiga County. This study was anchored on Robert Gagne’s Conditions of Learning theory, proposed in 1965. A descriptive research design was adopted. The study aimed to include all 163 learners diagnosed with dysgraphia enrolled in lower public primary schools within the Emuhaya sub-county. Additionally, the study targeted 16 headteachers from public primary schools, 153 teachers, and 10 subcounty Education officers in the same sub-county. The researcher utilized stratified sampling to select 5 public primary schools. Purposive sampling was used to select 5 headteachers from the sampled schools. Similarly, purposive sampling was employed to select 6education officers from the Emuhaya sub-county. The researcher sampled 50 lower primary school teachers and 50 learners identified with dysgraphia from grade 1 to grade 3 in the sampled schools using simple random sampling. The researcher employed a combination of open and closed questionnaires, as well as interview guides, to gather data from different categories of participants. A pilot study was conducted in two public primary schools, which were not included in the main data collection. Qualitative data underwent content analysis, while quantitative data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages with SPSS. Results indicated that schools in Emuhaya utilized various access arrangements for students with dysgraphia. Dysgraphia was found to impact academic performance negatively, but with intervention, student performance improved by 5%–10% in successive exams. Students reported a positive change in attitude towards education due to the intervention, feeling supported by the school. The study concluded that access arrangements have an impact on the academic performance of students with dysgraphia. Before the intervention, dysgraphia hurt students' academic performance, as evidenced by poor performance in previous exams. The study recommended that the government need to implement a systematic identification method for documenting students with learning disabilities early in their academic journey. Early identification and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for dysgraphia students and facilitate timely support and resources. Schools should prioritize the implementation of recommended interventions to support dysgraphia students, promote inclusivity, and foster a positive attitude towards education among all students, regardless of their learning needs.
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    Computer Assisted Learning on Language Writing Skills among Learners with Hearing Impairments in Kiambu County, Kenya
    (EJSE, 2023) Wangui, Veronicah Wambui; Muriithi, Francis; Karia, Mathew
    The paper presents some of the key findings of a study that explored computer assisted learning on language writing skills among learners with hearing impairments in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design consisting of 19 respondents who were learners with hearing impairments. These were from two learners were purposively sampled. The study adopted the cognitive theory of multimedia learning by Mayer. Data was collected using pre-test and post-test and a computer application ‘English Grammar Test’. The research data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and primary data analyzed per objective. The findings on computer assisted learning on language writing skills among learners with hearing impairments were reported. The study findings showed that the learners’ language writing skills improved greatly at the posttest affirming the effectiveness of computer assisted learning.