Browsing by Author "Ocaya, Bruno"

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    A comparative assessment of selected approaches in modeling completion dynamics of graduate programs
    (African Statistical Journal Journal statistique africain, 2012) Wamala, Robert; Oonyu, Joseph C.; Ocaya, Bruno
    As the higher education landscape changes, factors related to student persistence in graduate programs are being examined by a growing number of researchers. Their investigations, however, can be problematic when: i) a considerable number of students have not completed the program at the time of data collection; ii) enrolment and completion figures are low; iii) a normal distribution of completion time is assumed; and iv) a detailed assessment of non-completion is required. A time-to-event approach in a Cox model, which uses enrolment time as censored for students who have not completed by the time of the study and makes no assumption about the distribution of completion time, solves the first three problems. A multinomial logistic, allowing for at least three outcomes of doctoral candidature, solves the fourth problem. This is illustrated by an analysis of administrative data for the 295 PhD students at Makerere University in the 2000 to 2005 enrolment cohorts. The total elapsed time from first enrolment to submission of final thesis copy was adopted as a measure of completion time. The findings underscore the suitability of these approaches for the analysis of education data with low enrolment and completion figures, a situation characteristic of doctoral studies in many African universities.
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    Do prior studies matter?: Predicting proficiencies required to excel academically in law school at Makerere University, Uganda
    (Quality Assurance in Education, 2016) Nalukenge, Betty; Wamala, Robert; Ocaya, Bruno
    Introduction of law school admission examinations has increased the debate regarding the relevance of prior studies for the enrollees in the program. The key issues of contention are whether prior studies reliably predict academic achievement of enrollees, and demonstrate proficiencies required for admission in the program. The purpose of this paper is to use administrative records of law students at Makerere University – over a four-year stipulated period of bachelor’s studies – to investigate the above-mentioned issues further. Design/methodology/approach – Panel data of 2,485 records enable us to explore time variant and invariant factors in the course of bachelor’s candidature. Findings – About 81 per cent of differentials in academic achievement was found to be due to variation across students. In addition to confirming prior academic attainment as a contributing factor to variations in academic achievement, our findings affirm that competence in literature, history and divinity predicts success on the program. Research limitations/implications – Competence in these subjects (literature, history and divinity) certainly demonstrates proficiencies required by a student of law. Thus, admission based on competence in these subjects provides insights into proficiencies required by enrollees to excel academically in the program. Originality/value – Unlike prior studies, this study explores time-variant factors in the course of bachelor’s candidature, and is based on subjects taken during prior studies (secondary education) rather than a pooled index or weighted score adopted on admission to the program.
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    Extended Candidature And Non-Completion Of A Ph.D. At Makerere University, Uganda
    (Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 2012) Wamala, Robert; Ocaya, Bruno; Oonyu, Joseph C.
    Although student persistence in graduate programs is widely regarded as an important topic in the literature of higher education, many such works focus on the completion of studies. This paper examines the dynamics of attrition resulting in either delayed or non-completion of doctoral studies. Administrative data of 294 Ph.D. students at Makerere University in the 2000 to 2005 enrollment cohorts were analyzed. The total elapsed time from first enrollment to submission of a final dissertation or thesis copy was taken as a measure of completion time. A multinomial logistic was applied for assessing the likelihood of completion and extended candidature, rather than withdrawal, five years after initial enrollment in doctoral studies. In the results, the estimates rates of extended candidature (48.6%) and withdrawal (36.4%) indicate a low timely completion rate of doctoral students at Makerere. The observed associations, modeled by a range of candidate, candidature, and institutional variables, including discipline area, suggest the need for establishing measures to promote progress in doctoral studies at early stages of commencement as well as throughout the course of candidature.
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    Modern contraceptive use among women in Uganda: An analysis of trend and patterns (1995-2011)
    (African population studies, 2014) Andi, Jimmy Ronald; Wamala, Robert; Ocaya, Bruno; Kabagenyi, Allen
    There is an extensive body of literature concerning modern contraceptive use among women in Uganda. A questionable aspect however is whether the impact of factors associated with modern contraceptive use has remained the same in the recent past. Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data of women in the period 1995-2011 was adopted to establish an understanding of this issue. The focus in the investigations was none pregnant sexually active women. Variations in patterns of modern contraceptive use were assessed by socio-economic and demographic characteristics of women using a logistic regression based on a complex survey design. In the results, an upward trend in modern contraceptive use - from 11.6% in 1995 to 32.1% in 2011 - shows that progress has been made in this regard. Increased odds of modern contraceptive use across the study period were noted among women with primary and post-primary education, those in urban areas, women in the higher wealth quartiles and those with a higher number of surviving children (p < 0.01). Further, reduced odds of modern contraceptive use across the study period were noted among married women and those in cohabiting relationships (p < 0.05). The study however demonstrates variations in the impact of these factors across the study period. All the same, efforts towards enhancing modern contraceptive use in the near future should focus on enhancing: (i) literacy levels of woman particularly, (ii) access to and affordability of the services, and (iii) awareness campaigns on family planning use targeting both men and women.