Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Girls Psychology Case studies'

This study was designed to examine adolescent girls experience of their parents' divorce. A review of the literature on this subject indicated that little research had been conducted on the adolescents' experience of parental divorce. The literature also indicated that the painful event of divorce can precipitate a number of emotional, behavioural, and cognitive changes in children. This study utilized a phenomenological methodology. Specifically, the study sought to explore the participants' experience of parental divorce and interpret the results in conjunction with relevant theory. Eight girls from age sixteen to nineteen participated in the study. These girls came from a home where a divorce had occurred within a nine year range, but had occurred at least one year since the time of the interviews. The participants were interviewed twice. The interviews were analyzed using the data analysis process described by Giorgi (1975). This analysis revealed twelve topic areas which were descriptive of the participants' experience of divorce. These topics were then organized around four main content areas, or processes. These processes were the experience of the divorce, the process of adapting to environmental changes, the learning and growing process, and the process of restructuring meaning and moving toward resolution. The results were interpreted utilizing the literature on children from divorced homes, attribution theory, and just world theory. The present study shared many similarities with the literature on divorce, but differed in the degree of depression and maladjustment seen among the participants. The participants in this study, generally, were seen to highly-functioning, healthy individuals. The study also showed how the participants need for control in their lives was related to the theories posed by attribution theory and just world theory.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

This thesis investigates the social construction of sex/gender in 116 upper primary school students. Particular attention is paid to the Gender Myth - a belief that the manifestation of sex/gender is polarized, that the male half of such a dualism is superior to the female half, that such differentiated sex/gender is grounded in essential biological difference between males and females; and the way that it impacts on these school children, in reference to their internalization of discourses and practices associated with sport, work and domesticity, and sexuality.

Resilience is defined as the ability to respond adaptively and maintain a high quality of life even after adversity or trauma. Research conducted in Western cultures has identified multiple factors that correlate with resilience for survivors of childhood trauma, including social support, the presence of a stable adult, internal locus of control, supportive spiritual beliefs and lack of self-blame regarding the trauma (Crenshaw, 2013; Brooks & Goldstein, 2004; Goldstein, Brooks, & Devries, 2013). This study explored whether the factors that previous research has identified as predictive of resilience have a similar predictive value when applied to another culture. This research found that the presence of a stable adult, social support, supportive spiritual beliefs and a minimal amount of self-blame all correlated with resilience in the examined population of adolescent Bolivian street girls. However, no correlation was found between internal locus of control and resilience among this population. Implications of these findings and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Despite research evidence that social context and personal characteristics are related to girls' violent behavior, little is known about the relative contribution of such antecedents. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the relative strength of predictors of school violence among a sample of middle school girls. Of special interest were the intervening variables, because knowledge of their relative strength could enable schools to design targeted interventions to reduce school violence. Social learning theory formed the theoretical foundation for the study. A four-part survey consisting of sociodemographic items, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, an amended version of the Attitudes Toward Violence Scale, and the School Violence Inventory (used to assess engagement in offenses that could result in school suspension) was administered to 229 girls enrolled in a middle school in a southern U.S. state. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions in which intervenable variables were entered first as a block, followed by nonintervenable variables. The results indicated that the predictors of school violence (from strongest to weakest) were observation of school violence, gang membership, favorable attitude toward violence, school suspension, grade level, and drug use. This finding suggests that female middle school students may be learning to behave violently by observing others engaged in such behavior at school and through the influence of gangs. Implications for positive social change are that the results could be used by educators and other school officials develop specific interventions that more effective target known predictors of school violence among middle school girls (for example, increased student monitoring, after-school programming, and guided classroom discussions on the nature of violence and its motivations).

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify key transformational teaching practices in an all-girls school. Teachers and administrators value the development and utilization of successful teaching practices. Teachers may adopt transformational leadership practices to cultivate transformational characteristics in pedagogy. There is a need to identify transformational teaching practices to implement training and modeling for teachers in girls’ schools. Identification of these leadership practices currently used by teachers in girls’ schools will aid in teacher development or pedagogical training and contribute to a richer, fuller educational experience for their students.

Methods. A thorough review of the literature demonstrated that the dimensions of Bass’s transformational leadership theory may be applied to pedagogical practice in schools. The literature review resulted in the theoretical framework. A qualitative design was selected for the study. The researcher employed the case story approach research method, which utilized input from individuals to identify key transformational teaching practices. The participants were 7 teachers in an all-girls school in Southern California. Validity of the interview questions was assured through employing an expert panel, and reliability was established through use of a second data reviewer.

Findings. The study identified 18 key transformational leadership practices that are classified within Bass’s theory of transformational leadership. These practices fell into the dimensions of Bass’s theory: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. Two additional themes emerged as findings of interest.

Conclusions. This study identified practices of transformational teachers in an all-girls school. By identifying specific transformational teaching practices, this study can assist teachers in applying transformational teaching methods which they can utilize as part of their teaching practice. Identification and reinforcement of these practices may be included in teacher training as they begin instruction at girls’ schools. Additionally, girls’ school administrators and faculty mentors may use the results of the study to create teacher professional development programs at their schools.

Recommendations. More research is needed to understand how transformational teaching practices affect student learning. Teacher education programs may use these findings as support for increasing their instruction of transformational teaching techniques. The findings may also reveal practices that school leaders such as principals, division directors, or other administrators can promote with their faculty members.

ABSTRACT Yemeni women have a subordinate position in the conservative, male-dominated society, and girls? education remains a challenge. The school curriculum perpetuates the traditional values of social injustice, and Yemen is in the last place among 142 countries for gender equality. The purpose of this case study was to explore the role of the education curriculum in Yemen, to describe how that curriculum represents women, and to explore how that representation impacts the place of Yemeni women. The conceptual framework drew on theories of gender equity and equality in education, and their application to Yemeni curricula and girls? education. Data were gathered from eight Yemeni women aged 25 to 35, using both face-to-face and electronic questionnaires. Data analysis began with coding and categorizing until themes emerged to identify the absence of female voices in curriculum and the role of literature in promoting gender equality. The Yemeni curriculum does not effectively address social justice and girls? education. Research findings suggested that a relevant literature curriculum that included Yemeni women authors and subjects could motivate Yemeni women to think critically about their status in society and encourage the voices of women to narrow the gender disparity. Findings showed that the inclusion of women in the Yemeni curriculum could have the following three critical impacts: inspiring the minds of both boys and girls, developing girls? self-esteem, and empowering young women leaders. Recommendations included a revision and development of the current Yemeni curriculum so that it features both males and females as equal citizens and encouraging greater public awareness of the value of women?s experience in the development of the country. This may help to build a sense of equality and social justice.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders diagnosed amongst children. Research regarding the experiences of adolescent girls with ADHD is sparse. The symptoms of the disorder seem to manifest differently in girls than in boys. Girls show symptoms of hyper-talkativeness, emotional reactivity, forgetfulness, disorganisation, low self-esteem and anxiety. Failing to identify these symptoms among girls results in many of them going through their primary and secondary school careers not ever being diagnosed. They are often misunderstood and consequently rarely receive the necessary support. Adolescents diagnosed with ADHD find it difficult to manage the pressures of academics and interpersonal relationships. Due to the small number of female participants in previous studies regarding this topic, there is little known about the effects of ADHD on adolescent girls. Gaining a better understanding of the effects on girls with ADHD can lead to improved identification of girls with this disorder and more effective interventions and support can be sought. The aim of this interpretive study was to explore how the symptoms of ADHD affect the academic performance, as well as peer and family relationships of adolescent girls in order to develop more informed intervention strategies and to train teachers to accommodate their learning needs. Seven adolescent girls with ADHD were purposefully selected to participate in four individual interviews and one focus group interview. The participants designed reality boxes to signify their own understanding and experience of ADHD and the perceived effect on their academic performance, peer relationships and family relationships. The transcribed data were coded and categorised according to six broad themes that framed the study, i.e. explaining the ADHD symptoms, ADHD in school, ADHD in relationships, coping strategies for ADHD, influence of medication on experience of ADHD and people without ADHD. This thesis presents how the participants made meaning of ADHD and constructed their identities, how they coped as well as how they could be supported in schools. Although symptoms like talkativeness, impulsivity and lack of time-management impact their learning and relationships, they feel accommodated and accepted by friends and family. However, teachers often misunderstand their behavior and therefore don’t accommodate their learning needs. Their recommendations for support will be discussed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aandag-tekort/hiperaktiwiteit versteuring (ATHV) is een van die mees algemene versteurings wat gediagnoseer word onder kinders. Navorsing met betrekking tot die ervarings van adolessente dogters met ATHV is skaars. Dit blyk asof die simptome van hierdie versteuring verskillend manifesteer in dogters as in seuns. Dogters toon simptome soos oormatige spraaksaamheid, emosionele reaktiwiteit, vergeetagtigheid, wanorde, lae selfkonsep en angstigheid. Deurdat hierdie simptome onder dogters nie altyd diagnoseer word nie, lei dit daartoe dat baie van hierdie dogters regdeur hul laer- en hoërskoolloopbane gaan sonder om ooit gediagnoseer te word. Hulle word dikwels misverstaan wat voorkom dat hulle die nodige ondersteuning ontvang. Adolossente wat met ATHV gediagnoseer word vind dit moeilik om die druk van akademie en interpersoonlike verhoudinge te hanteer. Daar bestaan min kennis omtrent die effek van ATHV op adolossente dogters weens die klein getal vroulike deelnemers aan vorige studies wat op hierdie onderwerp gefokus het. Deur ‘n beter begrip te verkry omtrent die effek van ATHV op adolossente dogters, kan dit lei tot ‘n beter identifisering van dogters met hierdie versteuring wat kan lei tot beter effektiewe intervensie en ondersteuning. Die doel van hierdie interpretatiewe studie was om die effek van die simptome van ATHV op akademiese prestasie, asook die portuurgroep en familie verhoudinge van adolossente dogters te verken. So kan intervensiestrategieë beter ingelig word en kan onderwysers opgelei word om hierdie kinders, met hul leerbehoeftes, te akkommodeer. Sewe adolessente dogters met ATHV is doelbewus geselekteer om deel te neem aan vier individuele onderhoude en een fokusgroep onderhoud. Die deelnemers het realiteitsbokse ontwerp wat hul eie begrip en ondervinge van ATHV verteenwoordig. Die bokse het ook aangedui hoe hierdie dogters die effek van ATHV op hul akademiese prestasie, portuurgroep en familie verhoudinge ervaar. Die data is transkribeer, kodeer en gekategoriseer volgens ses breë onderwerpe, nl. verduideliking van ATHV simptome, ATHV op skool, ATHV in verhoudinge, strategieë om ATHV te hanteer, invloed van medikasie op die ervaring van ATHV en mense sonder ATHV. Hierdie navorsingstudie beskryf hoe die deelnemers betekenis gee aan ATHV en hoe hulle hul eie identiteite konstrueer, hoe hulle dit hanteer sowel as hoe hulle ondersteun kan word in die skool. Hulle is van mening dat hulle wel geakkommodeer en aanvaar word deur vriende en familie, ten spyte van die simptome soos oormatige spraaksaamheid, impulsiwiteit en ‘n tekort aan tydsbeplanning. Hulle voel wel dat onderwysers dikwels hul gedrag misverstaan en dus nie hul leerbehoeftes ondersteun nie. Hul aanbevelings ten opsigte van ondersteuning word ook bespreek.

This study, Relational Aggression, Middle School Girls, and the Development of Critical Consciousness, engaged both feminist theory and critical pedagogy as a means to deconstruct the issue of relational aggression among adolescent girls. The objective of this research was to contribute to the growing body of literature pertaining to relational aggression and fill some gaps in the literature surrounding preventative programming. This study investigated the experiences of middle school girls engaged in a solution-oriented approach in order to postulate possible program approaches and educational initiatives to decrease the prevalence of relational aggression in middle school girls. The collection and analysis of the data sought to describe a connection between girls’ participation in the program and developing critical consciousness about relational aggression, as well as strategies to address it in their lives. The qualitative data collected in this participatory action research show that relational aggression is much more than a mere “right of passage” or indicate that “mean girls” are a just a normal part of growing up. Relational aggression is harmful, has intense, negative short- and long-term effects, and—in the lives of the girls I have worked closely with—is very real, incredibly painful, and deeply personal. The findings of this study confirmed that girls benefit from the creation of educative environments, or “safe spaces,” where they can dialogue critically with one another about issues that are important to them; this is integral to their socioemotional development in middle school.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University
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This study explores the ways a small group of girls, ages 11-13, spoke about courage over a two-year period. Using Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics as a guide, the purpose of the present study is to discover how courage is present in the lives of a select group of girls, what their thoughts and perceptions are on courage, and how these thoughts and perceptions explain the operation of emotion and rationality in producing courage. This last question is based off Marcia Homiak's (1993) suggestion that Aristotle offers a way to explain how emotion and rationality operate together to develop positive, caring, independent and strong individuals. Differing from the predominant framework of Carol Gilligan's theory of an "ethic of care" in girls' developmental research, the present study uses and suggests that the practice of returning to the classical work of Aristotle offers a different approach to studying girls' development. The girls were interviewed in an effort to discover personal conceptions of courage, their thoughts on the relevance of intention, experience, emotion, sanguinity, and ignorance to courage, as Aristotle describes these terms, and how courage is present in their lives. The girls also performed an essay-writing task to clarify their thoughts. Several dominant themes resulted from this study. These included the participants stating that (1) a courageous act must stem from good intentions; (2) courage comes as a matter of experience or practice; (3) with enough practice courage can become a habit and thus part of your character; (4) while emotion is a precursor to courage, a courageous act cannot be done rashly and requires a degree of rationality to act in order to be considered true courage; and (5) their own recollections of acting courageously are in early development and thus far have been minimal. An additional finding was the degree to which participants found overly aggressive girls spur opportunities for courage. Implications for a model of active learning, character education, and further research on girls' development are suggested.
2031-01-02

Global consensus on the importance of gender equity in education is perhaps one of the greatest agreements reached in the twentieth century. However, for countries in the sub Saharan African region where disparities of gender are wide and primary education takes priority, secondary education continues to remain in the periphery. As countries make progress towards the attainment of Universal Primary Education (UPE), the concerns for gender equity and equality have become associated with school access and pupil retention. Yet, patterns and trends in school enrollment suggest that disparities of gender are more complex. As lessons are learned from the achievements and challenges of attaining UPE, it is increasingly apparent that gender disparities within education occur in, within and beyond access to schooling. In other words, the challenge of making education gender equal goes beyond school access and school enrollment. Kenya is a signatory to the 1990 Jomtein Declaration on Education For All (EFA). It is also among the few countries in the sub Saharan Africa region with a significantly reduced gender gap in primary and secondary education. This is in tandem with the third of the eight Millennium Development Goals whose aims bear a broad social and economic development agenda. While education equity is important in Kenya and tremendous progress has been made in primary education, beyond the attainment of Universal Primary Education (UPE) there is an even more significant target; gender equity in education both in primary and secondary education by 2015. The attainment of this target requires more than access to schooling and for this reason it poses great challenges to governments and schools. In light of the progress made in Kenya and the need for more equitable education beyond primary education, this study conceives a need for an incisive examination of education equity priority areas in Kenya. The study argues on the need for a shift of concern and debate from primary education to secondary education because the gains of UPE only become meaningful when education equity is secured in secondary education. The study underscores that beyond school access and retention, education output and outcomes need to become prominent variables because they gauge trends and patterns and the quality of gains made where education is claimed to be both accessible and equitable. Using case study method, the study makes a critical interpretation of the schooling experiences, educational choices, preferences and aspirations of girls taking secondary education in single-sex schools in Murang’a district, Kenya. The study shows that girls schooling experiences are not homogenous and that there are contradictions in the ways that girls experience their schooling and make educational choices. It also shows that girls do not necessarily stand good chances with their education simply because they are enrolled in single-sex schools. The study reveals individual subjectivities and schooling culture to be at the centre of the differences between schools and the schooling experiences that girls have. The two have impact on how girls perceive themselves and their abilities, the preferences they nurture and the educational choices they make. The study draws attention to nuances in access and equity within girls’ education. It draws out issues and nuances linked to gender access, equity and equality with respect to school, teacher and subject access. Though the study is not generaliseable, it shows that in contexts where female access and survival is secured, there is need for attention to be paid to the environments that nurture educational choices and preferences so that the high rates in school access become translated into equally high educational output and outcomes.

Decision makers at every level of society, local, national and international, along with NGOs and civil society are committed to alleviating abject generational poverty. In the context of what many refer to as the ‘feminization of poverty', my dissertation focuses on girls during their early adolescent years in order to uncover the barriers that are present and which prevent them from exiting a life of poverty. By using participatory methodologies, in particular photovoice, we hear directly from ten girls between the ages of 10 – 14 who describe their experiences of living a life of poverty. In my engagement with the girls what became apparent is the impact of pre-determined roles and responsibilities on girls living with poverty. Many of these are noticeably absent in capacity building, poverty and gender related literature. Also absent in discussions related to girls living with poverty and capacity building is a spotlight on the influential role of cultural and societal norms resulting in the lower status of girls. The impact of culture and societal norms becomes self-evident in discussions with the girls, particularly after the girls' conducted community-based interviews with their grandmothers, mothers or aunties. Comprehensive data is often missing which includes specific barriers that emerge in a girl's life including attending school, achieving optimum health, accessing diverse economic opportunities, as well as achieving independence and empowerment. In this study, the importance of obtaining data directly from girls living with poverty becomes evident. For example, girls living intimately with poverty will identify barriers which may not be readily visible to researchers and decision-makers who do not share the same life experience. Only by understanding the diverse barriers that are present in young adolescent girls' lives that prevent them from accessing capacity building opportunities like education and literacy will decision makers be able to develop capacity building policies that will have a higher probability of being relevant, meaningful and high-impact. And only when these capacity building policies have quality of life as key success indicators, can girls living with poverty access a higher quality of life – a clear objective for research and policies related to girls, capacity building and poverty.
Les décideurs à tous les niveaux de la société, locaux, nationaux et internationaux, de concert avec les ONG et la société civile, consacrent leurs efforts à réduire la pauvreté générationnelle abjecte. Dans un contexte que plusieurs décrivent comme la féminisation de la pauvreté, ma thèse se concentre sur des jeunes filles au début de l'adolescence, afin de découvrir quelles barrières sont présentes et les empêchent de se sortir d'une vie de pauvreté. Utilisant des méthodologies participatives, en particulier photovoice, nous entendons les récits de dix jeunes filles entre 10 et 14 ans qui décrivent leurs expériences de vie dans la pauvreté. Ce qui est ressorti de mes échanges avec ces jeunes filles est l'impact de rôles et responsabilités pré-déterminées sur les jeunes filles vivant dans la pauvreté. Plusieurs de ceux-ci brillent par leur absence dans la littérature scientifique sur le renforcement des capacités, la pauvreté et le genre. Est également absent des discussions reliées aux jeunes filles vivant dans la pauvreté et au renforcement des capacités un éclairage sur le rôle influent des normes culturelles et sociétales entraînant un statut plus bas chez les filles. L'impact des normes culturelles et sociétales devient évident au cours de discussions avec les jeunes filles, particulièrement après qu'elles aient réalisé des entrevues au sein de la communauté auprès de leurs grand-mères, mères ou tantes. Il manque souvent de données complètes incluant des barrières spécifiques qui émergent dans la vie d'une jeune fille, incluant fréquenter l'école, atteindre une santé optimale, avoir accès à des opportunités économiques diverses, atteindre l'indépendance et se prendre en main. Dans cette étude, l'importance d'obtenir des données directement de la part de jeunes filles vivant dans la pauvreté devient évidente. Par exemple, les jeunes filles vivant intimement dans un contexte de pauvreté identifieront des barrières qui ne sont pas nécessairement visibles pour des chercheurs et décideurs qui ne partagent pas la même expérience de vie. C'est seulement en comprenant les diverses barrières présentes dans la vie des jeunes filles, particulièrement au début de l'adolescence, qui les empêchent d'avoir accès à des opportunités de renforcement des capacités telles que l'éducation et l'alphabétisation que les décideurs pourront développer des politiques de renforcement des capacités qui auront une plus grande probabilité d'être pertinentes, significatives et d'avoir un grand impact. Et c'est seulement lorsque ces politiques de renforcement des capacités auront la qualité de vie comme indicateurs principaux de succès que les jeunes filles vivant dans la pauvreté auront accès à une meilleure qualité de vie - un objectif clair pour la recherche et les politiques reliées aux jeunes filles, au renforcement de capacités et à la pauvreté.

This case study focuses on the influence of certain sociocultural factors on the ability of adolescent girls to fulfill their potentials. Specifically, the purpose of this research is to advance an alternative perspective on the relationship between the sociocultural influences of friendship, mother/daughter relationship, school experience, and body image and a loss of potential among adolescent girls from a historical, poststructural, postmodern-feminist perspective. The dissertation is presented in the form of narrative from both the author’s and girls’ and women’s perspectives in order to seek a rich and thick description. Throughout the study, the author integrates moments from her own journey during adolescence with the young girls and their mothers or grandmothers encountering the oftentimes overwhelming negative sociocultural challenges existing today. The data consist of interviews with four girls and four women; interviews with two school personnel; and observations covering 7 weeks of guided discussion groups. Personal stories are closely examined with current and in-depth research to produce valuable insight and recommendations linking sociocultural factors and potentiality among adolescent girls. In general, these data contribute to an existing body of knowledge as well as advance educational theory regarding adolescent girls and potentiality. Moreover, these findings bolster the argument that, although realistic approaches to create necessary change require a certain resignation to the forces that exist within our culture, educational psychologists will increase the discipline’s impact on students by conducting comprehensive research that creates and supports genuine efforts to teach girls effective strategies on ways to not relinquish control to relentless, disingenuous sociocultural pressures. The case study indicates that, although many positive gains have been made to support young girls, there remain many obstacles as well.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Counseling and Educational Psychology, 2005.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-11, Section: A, page: 3924. Adviser: Thomas J. Huberty. Title from dissertation home page (viewed Oct. 10, 2006).

Various factors dissuade women from the field of cybersecurity. Educational interventions are needed to mitigate the negative effects of stereotypes and low perceived self-efficacy and help girls gain interest in learning about cybersecurity. This thesis focuses on an intervention targeted to increase teenage girls' interest and self-efficacy in cybersecurity: the Cybermatics Playable Case Study. Findings from a mixed-methods study in which a focus group was conducted with 7 middle school girls, interviews were conducted with 2 high school girls, and pre- and post- simulation survey was collected from all 9 participants reveal tensions between enjoyment and frustration in the girls' experience with Cybermatics and their desire for both autonomy in completing tasks and the availability of help when needed. Almost all of the study participants indicated that their experience with the Playable Case Study made them more interested in cybersecurity and feel more confident in their ability to do well in a cybersecurity class, although the quantitative data revealed considerable complexity in the girls' perceptions of these constructs and significant lack of prior knowledge of cybersecurity. Quantitative survey data illustrates correlations between successful completion and enjoyment of the simulation, interest, and self-efficacy. Qualitative data from the focus group and 2 individual interviews shed light on what may be the simulation's greatest benefit: giving exposure to cybersecurity to teen girls in a way that is interesting and provides an accurate portrayal of the work of a security analyst.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Adolescent girls’ passage to womanhood is frequently exposed to a vast array of media products. Mass communication products have become educational devices, guiding young women towards an understanding of femininity and all its accompanying intricacies. We are taught gender lessons throughout our lives, but our teen years are of special significance in this regard. In a society that is becoming all the more media saturated, advertisers are capitalising on different desires and ideals that are being constructed in the media. Initially, only adult women were targeted, but these days a number of mass media products aimed specifically at young women have opened up a whole new market. Until a few years ago, South African teenage girls had only women’s magazines aimed at adult women to refer to. These days, however, a number of teen magazine titles exist locally. The aim of this study was to look at teen magazines as an example of texts that are aimed specifically at adolescent women. More specifically, the study looked at the discourse on femininity within the pages of the text – what is the magazine in essence saying about womanhood? To take the research one step further, it was decided to look at how readers of the magazine engaged and negotiated with the text in order to inform their own understanding of femininity. The goal of the study was to determine how the discourse on femininity played out between the text and the reader. Combining quantitative and qualitative elements, the study was located within a cultural studies framework and referred to Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding model as a representation of the communication process. It was found that the magazine under scrutiny had twelve specific thematic categories that were most prominent. It was found that the femininity encoded in these texts revolved around consumerism, fashion and boys. The study found that the readers taking part in focus group research possessed a sufficient amount of educational “cultural capital” to be able to resist the dominant messages encoded in the texts, yet they seemingly chose not to. This study also indicated that the femininity that was constructed in the studied text did not take the greater South African context into account, and that it served to entertain readers from higher LSM groups rather than all South African girls.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explored the potential of competitive games and cooperative games as means for teaching adolescent girls some of the concepts that support cooperation. Hellison's (1995) levels for teaching responsibility were used as guidelines for selecting specific teaching strategies. The intervention consisted of a theme-oriented intervention programme presented to two experimental groups. One group (n = 9) participated in a games programme that consisted of competitive activities and the other group (n = 9) participated in a games programme that consisted of cooperative activities. The experimental groups were presented with theme-oriented lessons based on four concepts that support cooperation: sportsmanship, communication, trust and responsibility. A control group (n = 18) was also identified and used for statistical comparisons. In order to set a context for this study, background information was gathered using a questionnaire to determine how girls from the school (N = 194) felt about competitive games and sports. Three measurement instruments were used to collect data. The assessment of how the girls at the school felt about competitive games and sport was completed, using Gill & Deeter's (1988) Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ). Pre- and posttesting of the girls in the experimental groups also included the SOQ. Harter's (1985) Self-perception Profile was used to measure perceptions of perceived social acceptance. Soudan and Everett's (1981) 24-item questionnaire was used to determine any changes in how the girls in the experimental groups perceived the benefits of participation in physical activity. Results of the Sport Orientation Questionnaire for High School Girls (N = 194) indicate that the girls like competitive activities and enjoy competing, but for them, it is more important to set personal goals in competitive games than it is to win. Following the comparison between pre- and post-test data, it was concluded that the theme-oriented competitive games programme had an effect on how the girls feel about participation in games and sports. They became significantly less competitive in their orientation. No changes were noted in their perceived social acceptance. A significant increase in their perception that participation in sport and physical activity has social benefits as well as benefits in preparing them for a career/job were noted. The theme-oriented cooperative games programme also had a significant effect on how the girls feel about participation in games and sports. The competitive nature and win orientation of the girls participating in the cooperative games programme significantly decreased. No changes were noted in their social acceptance. There was a significant increase in their perception that participation in sport and physical activity has health and fitness benefits. Results on comparing the groups indicate that the perceived athletic competence of the competitive group increased significantly when compared to the cooperative group. No other changes were noted. A themeoriented approach to teaching children about cooperation in a competitive and/or cooperative environment seems to be an effective strategy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die potensiaal nagevors van kompeterende spele en koëperatiewe spele as maatstaf vir die aanleer van sommige van die konsepte wat samewerking ondersteun. Hellison (1995) se vlakke vir die aanleer van verantwoordelikheid is gebruik as riglyne vir die seleksie van spesifieke onderrigstrateg ieë. Die intervensie het bestaan uit 'n tema-geërienteerde intervensieprogram wat aan twee eksperimentele groepe voorgelê is. Een groep (n = 9) het aan 'n speleprogram deelgeneem wat bestaan het uit kompeterende aktiwiteite en die ander groep (n = 9) het aan 'n speleprogram deelgeneem wat uit koëperatiewe aktiwiteite bestaan. Tema-geërienteerde lesse wat op die volgende vier konsepte wat samewerking ondersteun gebaseer is, is aan die eksperimentele groepe voorgelê: sportmanskap, kommunikasie, vertroue en verantwoordelikheid. 'n Kontrolegroep (n = 18) is ook geïdentifiseer en gebruik vir statistiese vergelyking. Om 'n konteks vir hierdie studie daar te stel is agtergrondinligting met behulp van 'n vraelys ingesamel om vas te stel hoe meisies van die skool (n = 194) gevoel het oor kompeterende spele en sport. Drie meetinstrumente is gebruik om data in te samel. Die assessering oor hoe die meisies gevoel het oor kompeterende spele en sport is voltooi deur van Gill & Deeter se (1988) Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ) gebruik te maak. Pre- en post-toetsing van die meisies in die eksperimentele groepe is ook in die SOQ ingesluit. Harter (1985) se Self-perception Profile is gebruik om die persepsies van waarneembare sosiale aanvaarding te meet. Soudan en Everett (1981) se 24-item vraelys is gebruik om enige veranderinge te bepaaloor hoe die meisies in die eksperimentele groepe die voordele van deelname aan fisieke aktiwiteit ervaar het. Resultate van die Sportoriëntasie-vraelys vir Hoërskoolmeisies (n = 194) het aangedui dat die meisies kompeterende aktiwiteite en kompetisie geniet, maar dat dit vir hulle belangriker is om persoonlike doelwitte te stel in kompeterende spele as wat dit is om te wen. Na afloop van die vergelyking tussen pre- en post-toetsdata, is daar bevind dat die tema-georienteerde kompeterende speleprogram 'n effek gehad het op die meisies se gevoeloor deelname aan spele en sport. Daar was 'n beduidende afname in hul kompeterende oriëntasie. Geen veranderinge is gemerk in hul waarneembare sosiale aanvaarding nie. 'n Beduidende toename is opgemerk in hul persepsie dat deelname aan sport en fisieke aktiwiteit sosiale voordele sowel as voordele vir die voorbereiding van 'n loopbaan/werk inhou. Die tema-georienteerde kooperatiewe speleprogram het ook 'n beduidende effek gehad op hoe die meisies oor deelname aan spele en sport voel. Die kompeterende aard en wenoriëntasie van die meisies wat aan kooperatiewe speleprogram deelgeneem het, het beduidend afgeneem. Geen veranderinge is in hul sosiale aanvaarding opgemerk nie. Daar was 'n beduidende toename in hul persepsie dat deelname aan sport en fisieke aktiwiteit gesondheids- en fiksheidsvoordele inhou. Resultate wat die groepe vergelyk, dui aan dat die waarneembare atletiese vermoë van die kompeterende groep beduidend toegeneem het in vergelyking met die kooperatiewe groep. Geen ander veranderinge is opgemerk nie. 'n Tema-georienteerde benadering tot hoe om kinders oor samewerking in 'n kompeterende en/of kooperatiewe omgewing te leer, blyk 'n effektiewe strategie te wees.

The following study sought to explore transformative changes in self-esteem, self-perception of dance ability, and expressions of spirituality that may occur when adolescent girls not only participate in classical ballet classes, but also learn in a teaching model emphasizing compassion encouragement discipline technique. This study performed a pre and posttest using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the dance subscale of Vispoel's Arts Self-Perception Inventory (ASPI), and MacDonald's short version of the Expressions of Spirituality Inventory (ESI) on 27 adolescent girls ages 14 through 19 randomly divided into 2 even groups, comparison and experimental, who participated in a 5-week classical ballet course. Both groups were taught by the researcher. The comparison group was taught in a traditional dance instructor style paying most attention to the execution of the participants' steps and dance combination performance rather than any internal changes. The experimental group received the researcher-developed Compassion Encouragement Discipline Technique. Results of the pre and posttests of each of the inventories were compared and analyzed via an analysis of variance and discussed to explore the efficacy of this pedagogical style. Quantitative results indicated no statistical significance on standardized assessments measuring their self-esteem, arts (dance) self-perception, or expressions of spirituality. However, researcher observed differences in the comparison and experimental group were noted and discussed. Because transpersonal psychology allows for emotional transformation, this study contributes to furthering transpersonal literature by acknowledging the potential impact of student/teacher rapport in the compassion and empowerment-based teaching of classical ballet to adolescent girls.

This work present the salient features of existential psychoanalysis across a chronological selection of Sartre's works. It looks at the background in psychology and phenomenology which informed Sartre's concept and presents key aspects of the theory itself, in comparison with Freudian psychoanalysis. A study of Sartre's three existential biographies, on Baudelaire, Genet and Flaubert, shows how the theory and its progressive-regressive method are applied to concrete cases, while also tracing the evolution of Sartre's approach up to his late writings on the topic. The final assessment concerns the possibility of using Sartre's theory as a basis for existential psychotherapy. Sartre's account is shown to provide a consistent framework for analysing individuals in existential terms and through which to understand subjectivity.

The Ironman Triathlon is an epic endurance event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. There is paucity in the literature relating to how athletes learn how to negotiate this event. This qualitative study was conducted over a 9 month period, to align with the 2013 Ironman training and racing season. Seven athletes were selected for participation in the study. Utilizing a case study approach, the Ironman athletes' learning pathways were examined through in-depth interviews and audio and video content personally captured by the participants.

The learning pathways revealed the athletes initially learned through cognitive means, i.e. social interaction, reading, Internet sources, and the observation of others. As athletes traversed the learning pathway, they subsequently operationalized the knowledge they learned and constructively made it meaningful to their respective personal training and racing situations. At the terminal end of the learning pathway, the athletes operationalized the learned content in an experiential learning cycle. During the entire learning pathway, the athletes practiced the learned content, which is best characterized as behavioral learning. The audio and video content provided by the athletes empirically validated the interviews.

The interviews with the athletes were coded. Some unifying themes emerged from the data independent of cognitive, constructivist, behavioral, or experiential learning theories; e.g. the importance of mental toughness, the understanding of pain during the training and racing process, how success is measured, the importance of training with a power meter, and motivating factors.

This research was based on the premise that psychological research on risk-taking behaviour has emphasized a one-dimensional model of instrumentality and cognitive functioning derived from male experience. The central research question "How do women experience risk-taking?" was investigated by analyzing definitions and examples of personal risk described by 44 women, and by comparing relationships between subgroups assigned by occupation and by sex-role orientation. The findings indicated that women experienced risk-taking that spanned both dimensions of affiliation (connection to others) and instrumentality (attainment of personal goals). A new definition of risk-taking was proposed that incorporated elements of uncertainty, emotional involvement, loss, and a process of change. Women in traditional occupations described a similar number of affiliative and instrumental risks, while women in non-traditional occupations emphasized instrumental risks. It was observed that the opportunity and demand for risk-taking appeared related to social context and work activity. Significant differences were also found between women in traditional and non-traditional occupations with respect to sex-role orientation (from the Bern Sex-Role Inventory), employment status, income level, and number of children. No differences were found between sub-groups designated by occupation and by sex-role orientation with respect to estimates of risk-taking tendency from a self-estimate scale and the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire. The results supported a critique of the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire, citing an emphasis on instrumental and hypothetical risk-taking. Participants also reported that the CDQ was not relevant to their lives. The feminist approach encouraged active participation and evaluation by the women in the study. As a result, participants reported an increased understanding of themselves and of the process of risk-taking.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

Mentorship in the workplace is a critical component of leader development that benefits both the individual and organization. While the United States Army’s mentorship program takes an informal approach to initiating mentoring connections, active mentorship is an expectation of all leaders. Women in the army remain underrepresented in the senior ranks, creating a situation that may lead to more limited opportunities for the female-to-female interactions that would result in a diverse mentoring experience. This qualitative case study explored the mentoring experiences of a purposive sample of interviews with 10 women officers assigned to Brigade Combat Teams while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Results were analyzed using two cycles of inductive coding and pattern-matching techniques. The six themes that emerged provide insight into the conditions and mechanisms that may create more effective professional mentoring relationships for military leaders.

Key Words: female mentoring, women’s mentorship, United States Army officers, U.S. Army officers, leader development, qualitative

The phenomenon of female teenage violence within the last decade has been receiving rapid social interest and concern. The present study is concerned with exploring causes for teenage girl violence. Specifically, this qualitative study seeks to explore and describe teenage girl violence from the experiences and perspectives of girls aged 16 to 19 years of age whom have been in the past arrested and/or incarcerated for violent crimes. Data was collected using a semi-structured interviewing format. Five teenaged girls having current or past involvement with the Child Welfare system were interviewed. Despite the study's limitations, findings indicated several variations on similar common themes. These themes are discussed using three main categories of findings: (1) entrance into the legal system, (2) social aspects and (3) cultural presence. The need for describing and understanding why teenage girls act out violently in the ways they do was evident from the perspective of the girls themselves.

This dissertation is an exploration of the nature of daydreaming and its relationship to literacy development in the lives of four children. The children were interviewed and the data is presented in four interpretive case studies. Of the four children, ages 11-13, two of the children are urban and two children live on a southwestern Indian reservation. Five themes emerged from the interviews with the children regarding their use and description of daydreaming: daydreaming, imagination, reading, writing, and school. The children consistently made distinctions between daydreaming and imagination, utilized daydreaming in their construction of their worlds, and discussed the negative attitude they experience in school toward daydreaming. The data in the individual case studies is contextualized within the broader life context of each of the four children represented. A component of this work is based in the researcher's self reflection. The universal practice of daydreaming must be valued in the growth and development of the individual. Daydreams show the uniqueness of individual invention. Through daydreams children explore places they have never been, become characters in the stories they read, and explore new knowledge in the safety of their own minds. Daydreaming is an invisible aspect of the creative and generative life of the mind which is critical to visible production. Currently research themes are increasingly addressing the question of individual consciousness and understanding how children transform information into their own terms. This dissertation seeks to contribute to this understanding. Daydreaming is not a negative practice but one which contributes to children's invisible and visible worlds. Daydreaming serves the interests of these children in their lives as thinkers, readers, writers and creators both at home and school.

Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2007.
This study is on the impact of copyright law on the provision of information by libraries with special reference to computerized databases. For the purposes of this study, four hypotheses were set, being: the appropriateness of copyright law; the restriction on access to information; author's remuneration for his work; and the interpretation of the law of copyright. A literature review was done on the origin and development of copyright, from the ancient cultures through the Middle Ages and the invention of the printing period to the enactment of the first copyright law in history (the Statute of Anne) which is the fundamental basis of the modern copyright as a legal protection for an author, artist or composer that restricts any form of reproduction. In general, copyright law grants the autln,r an exclusive right to his works and also grants the pucil J the right to use intellectual works within th^ limits of the doctrine of 'fair use* that would not cripple the economic conditions of the author. In chapter three, it is indicated that recent developments in computer technology, telecommunications technology and reprography have made it possible for information to be easily and cheaply copied and transmitted over distances (transborder data flow) for the use of many users. Such indiscriminate access withholds from the copyright holder legitimate royalties for his work and the protection by legal copyright. To restrict such access on the other hand, inhibits the use of the work which is also contrary to the interests of the author and to the intent of copyright law. Libraries are a primary source of disseminated information and as such are required to observe the legal conventions of the country. With the recent developments of a wide range of technological advancements in information transfer, and an increased demand for information sharing, it is becoming increasingly difficult and in some cases impossible for libraries to fully uphold and enforce the provisions of the copyright law. Nowadays, intellectual property has become a tradeable commodity and the recent problem is one of economic threat brought about by changing technology. Librarians depend upon the originality and products of authors and publishers in the provision of information services to users and must therefore observe the copyright law to give incentive to those with the ability to write. The results of this study confirm the hypotheses that copyright law is not appropriate in the reproduction of all forms of copyrighted material from computerized databases; that copyright law restricts the free access to information; that authors have the right to expect remuneration for their works; and that the interpretation of copyright law is a problem and therefore confusing to libraries.

Although there have been many studies investigating international adoptees' outcomes in relation to their pre-adoption experiences, there is a paucity of research investigating the influence of post-adoption experiences. Guided by the proximity of the family to the child in Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory of human development, this study addressed a gap in the literature by investigating the interrelationships among family-related variables (e.g., stress in family environment, parenting behavior) and 648 internationally adopted Chinese girls' behavior problems. Moderate, positive relationships were found between family stress and both internalizing (r = .43, p < .001) and externalizing (r = .59, p < .001) behavior problems. Modest, inverse relationships were found between authoritative parenting and both internalizing (r = -.08, p < .01) and externalizing (r = -.15, p < .001) behavior problems. Additionally, modest to moderate, positive relationships were found between authoritarian and permissive parenting and internalizing (r = .18, p < .001; r = .19, p < .001, respectively) and externalizing (r = .39, p < .001; r = .34, p < .001, respectively) behavior problems. Finally, authoritarian and permissive parenting behaviors were partial mediators between family stress and both internalizing (R2 = .08, p < .001; R2 = .08, p < .001, respectively) and externalizing (R2 = .20, p < .001; R2 = .16, p < .001, respectively) behavior problems while authoritative parenting was not a mediator to either type of behavior problem. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Includes bibliography.
The present study provides a description of selected core psychodynamic issues pertinent to a male transvestite patient. Case material from an ongoing 11 month psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy is used for illustrative purposes. The theoretical roles of the 'core complex', castration anxiety; aggression and a particular ego style are thematically outlined and illustrated by a discussion of the therapeutic process. An attempt is made to demonstrate an increased capacity for depression, increased object-relatedness and disidentification from a symbiotically related female introject as the aim and partial gain of the therapy. The transference, case management difficulties and the therapeutic process of what has occurred as well as what is likely to, are considered. The unexpected outcome, in that the patient has ceased to fetishistically cross-dress, given the short space of therapeutic time is discussed. It is concluded that this be viewed tentatively. Finally, some thoughts are raised as to the utility of the psychoanalytic approach as against the general psychiatric-diagnostic approach.

There are currently an estimated 93 million children with disabilities in the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report each year that 1 in every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome. Yet in spite of the enormity of numbers, they remain one of the most marginalized groups in society. Discrimination, negative attitudes, inadequate healthcare, and segregated education systems effectively bar differently abled children from realizing their full potential. This study uses a single-subject case study of one spectacular sport event involving one child with Down syndrome. It is framed by Vygotsky’s "zone of proximal development" (ZPD) theory, which suggests that social interaction, adult guidance, and peer collaboration, can support development that exceeds what can be attained alone. A thematic analysis was used to measure differences in recurring themes among three separate sources of data including (1) online YouTube video comments, (2) written correspondence, and (3) focus group interviews. Four emerging themes including servant leadership (31%), happiness (27%) inclusion (20%), and community (17%), were most frequently identified. However, significant differences in frequencies of thematic responses were noted between the three sources of data. Findings support past research that has found comparative differences between participants and observers in how one relates to people and scenarios. Observers are likely to remove themselves from “understanding” an experience, and may be less likely to feel the full spectrum of human emotion and character. This unintentional yet impactful event points to the power and mystery of how a person’s influence can extend much further than their immediate community, but to external observers from the wider world. Findings also confirm the role of Servant Leadership, Community, and Inclusion as critical for reshaping attitudes and assuring equity across policies and programs so that children who are differently abled can reach their full potential.

Adolescence has been characterized as a formative time of stress, anxiety, and change. Any index of adolescent development confirms the fact that this is a difficult developmental period. Youths are dealing with demands from a myriad of directions and thus require guidance and skill to optimally grow through this stage. An affective, personal development program designed to address adolescent needs is investigated in this study. Although the literature supports the need for affective, developmental education, little empirical evidence exists to document the impact, value and validity of such educational programs. This study tested a hypothesis that an affective, personal development program would enhance the overall psychological well-being of adolescent participants. A secondary hypothesis was that this educational training would have a differential outcome for gender. Sixty nine subjects, aged fourteen to nineteen, completed the Personal Orientation Inventory: 37 females, 26 males, and 6 returnees. The POI is purported to measure positive mental health; the interviews and questionnaires were designed to reflect the participants' self-perceived gains. Statistical analyses indicated significant positive changes on all POI scales for the pooled male and female scores. Gender differences were found, favoring females, on the two POI major scales and six of the ten subscales. All findings, qualitative and quantitative, indicate that an affective personal development program does enhance personal and interpersonal growth, thus the overall psychological well-being of adolescents. This program, although beneficial to both males and females, appears to have a more favorable outcome for females.
Education, Faculty of
Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of
Graduate

The twofold purpose of this study is to present the story of a Taiwanese Hakka family which had generational experiences of mother-child separation, and also to explore the impact of mother-child separation on second generation attachment representations. The mother-child separation of this Taiwan Hakka family is defined as having the experience of being either an “adopted child” or a “little daughter-in-law” in early childhood, which is generally termed tung-yang-xi (special characters omitted) in Chinese. Participants were recruited from a specific Hakka family with generational experiences of mother-child separation. In this research, the researcher uses the term tung-yang-xi to address both adopted child and little daughter-in-law. Three generations of tung-yang-xi participants were interviewed by the researcher to acquire their life stories. The second generation of tung-yang-xi were assessed for their attachment representations by the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). All participants (28 participants) were classified as insecure. Six participants (21.4%) were classified as Preoccupied, eight participants (28.6%) were classified as Dismissing, and 14 participants (50.0%) were classified as Unresolved. There was no difference regarding the gender of participants nor the age when mother-child separation happened. The AAP revealed participants’ high tendency to adopt a “deactivation” strategy under emotional and relational dysregulation. The classification result and the analysis of defense process were consistent with the researcher’s hypothesis on the intergenerational transmission of internal working models. The researcher discusses cultural factors in understanding the attachment phenomenon among the Taiwanese Hakka population.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain under-represented in South African (SA) companies. Negative attitudes and ignorance of employers may contribute towards unemployment of PWDs, as can inadequate accessibility, accommodations and company policies on disability. A lack of SA literature on employers’ attitudes and practices on disability motivated the study. A web-based survey was developed to investigate employer attitudes on the employment of PWDs in SA companies. In total, 348 companies were invited to take part in the survey, and 86 companies completed it (25% response rate). One person per company, mostly from Human Resources (HR), completed the survey. Findings from the survey showed that global attitudes towards PWD employment are positive, but that physical and sensory disabilities received more favourable ratings than psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. Most managers reported satisfaction with the job performances of their PWDs. Accessibility in the survey companies is still lacking. Modifications to the physical environment are the most common accommodation made by the companies. Costs for making accommodations were just a bit more or the same than initially anticipated. Companies valued information on the preparation of the environment for PWDs and the cost of accommodations. Companies which employed more than one percent of PWDs were significantly more likely to report that their Diversity/Equity documents include a disability policy. A case study approach was used to obtain qualitative information on the experiences and practices with and of PWDs in three companies with some success in employing PWDs. All companies surveyed that had more than two percent PWDs were requested to participate in the case studies, and three companies agreed. Interviews were performed at these companies with HR personnel, supervisors, co-workers and PWDs. Case study findings show that office environments present more suitable and easier job opportunities for PWD employment, and that certain disability types present too great a risk for employment in dangerous environments. The case study companies do seem to accept PWDs in general, specifically in the immediate working teams of PWDs. None of the managers interviewed indicated problems in managing their PWDs and most apply general management principles. Those with direct contact with PWDs confirmed that they were productive and dedicated. Despite this, very few PWDs are currently being recruited into the companies, but targeted recruitment of PWDs has started. The companies have adequate accessibility in the immediate environments of PWDs, but not widespread accessibility. All the companies have company guidelines and experiences in making reasonable accommodations. Very few PWDs have been advanced in the companies and few fill management positions. Although all the companies have disability policies in place, there is sometimes a discrepancy between policy and practice. The most prominent company initiatives for PWD integration are declaration drives, financial aid initiatives and awareness raising on disability. This study provided evidence that PWDs can be productive, have good co-worker relationships and generally do not make unreasonable accommodation requests. Companies can improve their disability guidelines, accessibility and accommodation processes, but actual contact and sensitisation can increase integration of PWDs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Persone met gestremdhede (PMGs) is steeds onderverteenwoordig in Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) maatskappye. Negatiewe houdings en onkunde van werkgewers kan bydra tot werkloosheid van PMGs, asook onvoldoende toeganklikheid, akkommodasie en maatskappy-beleid oor gestremdheid. 'n Gebrek aan SA literatuur oor werkgewers se houdings en praktyke teenoor gestremdheid motiveer dié studie. ’n Web-gebaseerde opname is ontwikkel om werkgewer-houdings oor die indiensneming van PMGs in SA maatskappye te ondersoek. ’n Totaal van 348 maatskappye is genooi om deel te neem aan die opname en 86 maatskappye het dit voltooi (25% respons-koers). Een persoon per maatskappy, meestal van Menslike Hulpbronne (MH), het die opname voltooi. Bevindinge van die opname het getoon dat algemene houding teenoor PMGs positief is, maar dat fisieke en sensoriese gestremdhede meer gunstige graderings as psigiatriese en intellektuele gestremdhede ontvang. Die meeste respondente het tevredenheid getoon met die werkvertonings van PMGs. Toeganklikheid in die maatskappye is steeds onvoldoende. Veranderings aan die fisiese omgewing is die mees algemene akkommodasie wat deur die maatskappye gedoen is. Kostes vir akkommodasies is net ’n bietjie meer of dieselfde as wat aanvanklik verwag is. Maatskappye stel ’n premie of inligting oor die voorbereiding van die omgewing vir PMGs en die koste van akkommodasie. Maatskappye wat meer as een persent van die PMGs indiens het, was beduidend meer geneig om te rapporteer dat hulle diversiteit dokumente 'n gestremdheid beleid insluit. ’n Gevallestudie benadering is gebruik om kwalitatiewe inligting te kry oor die ervaringe en praktyke t.o.v. PMGs in drie maatskappye met relatiewe indiensneming sukses t.o.v. PMGs. Alle opname maatskappye met meer as twee persent PMGs is versoek om deel te neem, en drie maatskappye het ingestem. Onderhoude by hierdie maatskappye is gevoer met menslikehulpbron-personeel, bestuurders, mede-werkers en PMGs. Gevallestudie bevindinge toon dat die kantooromgewing meer geskikte en makliker werkgeleenthede vir PMGs bied, maar dat dat sekere tipes getremdhede ’n te-groot risiko is vir indiensneming in gevaarlike omgewings. Daar blyk ’n groter aanvaarding van PMGs in die algemeen te wees by die maatskappye, spesifiek in die onmiddellike werkspanne van PMGs. Nie een van die bestuurders in die ondersoek het probleme aangedui met die bestuur van PMGs nie en meeste pas algemene bestuursbeginsels toe. Diegene met direkte kontak met PMGs bevestig dat hulle produktief en toegewyd is. Ten spyte hiervan word min PMGs gewerf deur die maatskappye, maar geteikende werwing van PMGs het begin. Die maatskappye het voldoende toeganklikheid in die onmiddellike omgewings van PMGs, maar nie wydverspreide toeganklikheid nie. Al die maatskappye het wel maatskappy-riglyne en ervarings met die voorsiening van redelike akkommodasie. Baie min PMGs word wel bevorder in die maatskappye en min vul bestuurposisies. Alhoewel al die maatskappye ’n gestremdheidsbeleid het, is daar soms ’n verskil tussen beleid en praktyk. Die mees prominente maatskappy inisiatiewe vir PMG integrasie was verklaringsinisiatiewe, finansiële steun en bewusmakings-veldtogte van gestremdheid. Hierdie studie bewys dat PMGs produktief kan wees, goeie mede-werker verhoudings het en oor die algemeen nie onredelike akkommodasie versoeke rig nie. Maatskappye kan hulle gestremdheidsriglyne, toeganklikheid en akkommodasie prosesse verbeter, maar werklike kontak en sensitisering kan integrasie van PMGs verhoog.

Bibliography: p. 269-286.
This thesis explores the social and psychological dynamics of consultation partnerships established between a psychological clinic and a variety of children's organisations. The research aims to develop a deeper understanding of the process of consultation by making visible the emotional and political complexities involved. This kind of work is usually informed by the broad principles of community psychology and carries a concern with the broader political context of mental health. Typically, however, this approach gives less consideration to the emotional dynamics of this kind of community work and the subtle forms in which they might appear during the intervention. In this research, the concepts of community consultation are expanded through psychoanalytic theories of group, organisational and social processes.

The objectives of this work are to: - Explore the concept of adolescent vulnerability; - Establish easily administered, reliable means of early identification of the most vulnerable; and - Suggest some school level interventions. This research focuses on adolescents in a socially deprived area. The thesis contains two parts: Part I explores the theoretical contexts, examining the social, educational and moral climate, and concludes that potential vulnerability is not being identified early enough in young people's lives for effective interventions to be implemented. The phenomenon and experience of adolescence is explored from a variety of perspectives, and various definitions of adolescence examined. The broad range of experience representing both typical and atypical adolescence is considered. A range of socio-economic factors and psychometric measures are reviewed for potential use as early indicators of vulnerability. The four screening measures chosen from the range reviewed are social deprivation, selfesteem, locus of control (LoC) and coping strategies. Social deprivation indicators establish background levels of life chances and prospects. Selfesteem is used to identify the most vulnerable; locus of control adds information about the nature of their vulnerability, and coping strategies informs potential practical interventions. Part 2 focuses on practical research. The prospects of the subject population are explored using a range of indicators, including the social and educational alienation and dysfunction of its young adolescents. Six hypotheses are defined and the selected psychometric tools piloted and administered on all of Year 7 of the subject school. Pupils are identified as either vulnerable or not identifiably vulnerable. Case studies using semi-structured interviews are conducted, adding a qualitative, experiential dimension to the statistical, psychometric findings. Based on this research conclusions are drawn which have academic application and directly inform practical interventions which, if implemented in early adolescence, would potentially alleviate the identified vulnerability.

Three issues were examined in this study: (1) the extent to which psychological challenge or stress elicits changes in the breathing patterns of normal subjects; (2) whether breathing pattern changes covary with cardiovascular arousal; and (3) whether individuals identified as being potentially at-risk for developing hypertension respond to mental challenge tasks with breathing pattern and cardiovascular changes that are reliably different from those of lower risk individuals. Subjects were 100 healthy young men divided into reactor quintiles on the basis of their heart rate (HR) changes to a 1-minute cold pressor test. Those in the upper quintile were designated as being at-risk for developing hypertension. Their cardiovascular and respiratory changes to two counterbalanced versions of a 5-minute mental arithmetic test (Easy & Hard) were compared with those of the third and fifth quintile subjects. Marked individual differences were evident in the direction and extent of breathing changes. Overall, the rate, amplitude, variability, and predominant mode of breathing increased substantially over resting levels in response to the math tasks. Only breathing rate and variability reliably covaried with task difficulty. Little correspondence was found between breathing changes and cardiovascular arousal. The data did indicate a trend for breathing to shift towards greater ribcage dominance as task difficulty increased. This was especially true for the at-risk group and least true for the low reactor quintile. The expected group differences in cardiovascular reactivity were not found however, implying that the HR reactivity to cold stimulation is not a good predictor of reactivity to acute mental challenge or stress. Overall, the results suggest that breathing patterns change in response to psychological stress but are not clearly associated with cardiovascular arousal. The attempt to identify subgroups of aberrant breathers on the basis of HR reactivity also yielded equivocal results.
Arts, Faculty of
Psychology, Department of
Graduate