https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/115 2026-04-09T12:07:42Z https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6893 Title: The Influence of Teaching Effectiveness and Grading of Students’ Work on how Students Evaluate Their Lecturers Authors: Chisango, Tadios; Kurevakwesu, Wilberforce; Mafa, Itai; Tapiwa, Simango; Mhizha, Samson Abstract: This article presents an experimental test of the effects of teaching effectiveness and grading on evaluation of lecturers by students. Although lecturers’ grading of students’ work presents a key confounding variable in studies that investigate the influence of teaching effectiveness on lecturer evaluations by students, most existing studies use correlational studies. This makes it difficult to separate the effects. In the present study, teaching competence and lecturer’s grading of students’ work were manipulated orthogonally, in a between-participants design, with a sample of Zimbabwean students, to test their effects on the students’ endorsement of the lecturer , and also on potential lecturer evaluation. Hence, there were four experimental conditions: low-teaching competence-low grading, low teaching competence-low grading, high teaching competence-high grading and high teaching competence-high grading. The study tested the following specific hypotheses: (1) The low teaching competence-low grading condition would receive the lowest ratings on dependent measures; (2) The high teaching competence-high grading condition would receive the highest ratings. Results were largely in line with the hypotheses. These results show the benefits that accrue to instructors through giving students high grades. In particular, lecturers with low teaching competence can ‘buy’ better student ratings by assigning higher grades to students' work, while those with high teaching competence can enhance their ratings even more by giving high grades. Importantly, competent lecturers who grade their students lowly seem to be at the greatest disadvantage, in that they receive rather low ratings. The results indicate the flaws inherent in student evaluations of lecturers when their (lecturers’) levels of competence are also taken into consideration. The results are further discussed in regards with the necessity to refining related research, and more rigorous evaluation methods of lecturers’ performance in the classroom. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Chisango, Tadios Kurevakwesu, Wilberforce Mafa, Itai Tapiwa, Simango Mhizha, Samson https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6874 Title: Benevolent sexist valuation of lobola in contemporary Zimbabwe Authors: Chisango, Tadios; Maunganidze, Langtone Abstract: Extant literature on the association between benevolent sexism and women’s identity reconfiguration in the context of lobola or bride price valuations has continued to attract fervent interest among scholars and practitioners in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. Although there has not been consensus on both the socio-cultural and economic constructs of the nature and significance of lobola, the study on which this paper is based extends previous scholarly works particularly by Chisango et al. (2022) and Vengesayi (2018) in terms of how lobola (i.e. bride price) is being determined and practised in modern African cultures. The study acknowledges that apart from the predicted association between benevolent sexism and bride price, there was also a link between perceptions of a woman’s morality and physical attractiveness (operationalised as morality-physical attractiveness), and scale of lobola pricing. The hypotheses were tested with a Zimbabwean sample (n = 405; mean age = 42.20, SD = 11.15). Results provided support for the hypotheses, with the effect of main importance being that benevolent sexism mediated the relationship between morality-physical attractiveness and lobola pricing. Results are further discussed in line with ambivalent sexism theory and their wider implications. The study conclusion reinforces other studies that found that valuation of lobola was not only driven by economic imperatives but could be a form of heteronormative discourse signalling symbolic violence that undermines gender equality and ultimately, women’s emancipation. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Chisango, Tadios Maunganidze, Langtone https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6557 Title: The physical congregation of people according to the dimensions of the Stereotype Content Model and the BIAS Map Authors: Chisango Tadios; Mhlanga Songile; Ngwenya Bekitemba; Mhizha Samson Abstract: With the use of community samples, we explored the application of the dimensions of the stereotype content model (SCM) and the related behavior from intergroup affect and stereotypes (BIAS) map from social perception to the actual physical congregation of people in social groups. Across two studies, our findings indicate that people congregate in social groups in accordance with the dimensions of the SCM. In turn, the findings also show behavioral intentions toward outgroups in actual social interactions that have been hypothesized in the BIAS model. We discuss the implications of the findings and offer recommendations on how to deal with conflicts that may arise as a result of interactions that are incongruent due to the warmth and competence differences. 2025-01-28T00:00:00Z Chisango Tadios Mhlanga Songile Ngwenya Bekitemba Mhizha Samson https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6447 Title: The Psychological Impact of a Flu-like Outbreak on a Post-COVID 19 Community: A Case Study in Magwegwe Suburbs in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe Authors: Khumbulani Siziba Abstract: This qualitative case study explored the psychological impact of a flu-like outbreak on a community in Magwegwe Suburbs, Bulawayo Province, Zimbabwe that had previously experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to: 1) examine the community's levels of trauma, resilience and mental health outcomes; 2) investigate the psychosocial effects of health-related anxiety and stigma; and 3) evaluate the utilization of mental health services before, during and after the outbreak. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, focus groups, open-ended Questionnaire and analysis of medical records. The findings indicated that the community exhibited elevated rates of PTSD, depression and health-related anxiety, alongside both community cohesion and interpersonal conflicts. Significant barriers to accessing mental healthcare were also identified. The study provided crucial insights into the long-term psychological toll of compounding public health crises in a low-resource setting. The results informed recommendations for comprehensive, community-based mental health programmes, integrated primary care-based services and continued research engagement with affected populations. Overall, the findings highlight the need for tailored interventions to support community resilience in the face of successive public health emergencies. 2024-08-25T00:00:00Z Khumbulani Siziba