Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Recidivism Victoria Case studies'

Recognising that invasion is a structure not an event (Wolfe, 2006) and that settler colonialism shapes the present in significant ways, this thesis investigates the invisible presence of Aboriginal Victorians through a study of the Victorian gold rush and Australian Rules football. As key markers of Australian national identity, the case studies demonstrate the importance of white belonging to identity construction and argue that Aboriginal Victorians are necessarily invisibly present within the settler colonial present (Veracini, 2015).

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study describes and analyses changes in women's reproductive behaviour ID developing communities. These changes took more than hundred years to occur ID Western communities but only two to three decades in developing communities such as Taiwan and Barbados. The population of Victoria East district of the Eastern Cape province of South Afiica was chosen as a case study of these changes. Changes in the reproductive behaviour of women are described over a period of twenty-two years. The base year for the study is 1978 and data were collected up to 2001. Changes increased in particular since 1988. Statistical descriptive analyses were undertaken with regard to patterns of changes in variables such as age at the onset of births, child spacing, the mean number of births per woman, fertility regulation, and the number of children ever bom. Variations in patterns were analysed according to age cohorts, occupation and marital status. Information regarding these variables was collected from records at hospitals and clinics. Focus group interviews were held to reflect women's own descriptions and experiences regarding these variables. The research design thus combines the quantitative and qualitative approaches. The findings confirm a pattern of fertility decline that Caldwell described as the African pattern, which is different from that seen in Europe and Asia. It is characterized by a progressive delay in onset of childbearing and reductions in the mean number of childbirths that occur across all age cohorts and are associated with contraceptive accessibility. The high incidence of non-marital childbearing in the Victoria East district however sets the population studied apart from the polygamous Afiican societies on which Caldwell based the African transition. In this respect the population considered resembles the scenarios seen in Latin America, the Caribbean, Botswana and in recent years Europe. The study population shows a divergence in the patterns of marital and non-marital childbearing, with marital childbearing following the African pattem. Because of its high incidence, non-marital childbearing is dominant and the major contributor to the fertility decline that is afoot. The implications of this pattern needs much more in-depth study before comparisons with the above-mentioned communities can be made.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie beskryf en ontleed veranderinge in vroue se reproduktiewe gedrag in ontwikkelende gemeenskappe. Hierdie veranderinge het in Westerse gemeenskappe meer as honderd jaar geneem om plaas te vind maar slegs twee tot drie dekades in ontwikkelende gemeenskappe soos Taiwan en Barbados. Die bevolking van die landelike Victoria-Oosdistrik: in die Oos-Kaapprovinsie is gekies as 'n gevalstudie daarvan in Suid- Afrika. Veranderinge in die reproduktiewe gedrag van vroue in hierdie gemeenskap word oor 'n periode van twee-en-twintigjaar beskryf Die basisjaar van die studie is 1978 en data is ingesamel tot en met 2001. Veranderinge het veral toegeneem vanaf 1988. Statistiese-beskrywende ontleding is gedoen ten opsigte van patrone van verandering in veranderlikes soos die ouderdom by die skenk van geboorte, geboorte-spasiëring, die gemiddelde aantal geboortes per vrou, fertiliteitsregulering en die aantal kinders ooit gebore. Variasies in patrone is ook na aanleiding van huwelikstaat en beroep bepaal. Inligting aangaande hierdie veranderlikes is verky vanaf rekords wat by hospitale en klinieke gehou word. Fokusgroeponderhoude is ook onderneem waarvolgens vroue se eie beskrywings en ervarings aangaande die genoemde veranderlikes verkry is. Groepe is saamgestel volgens verskeie ouderdomskohorte en huwelikstaat. Die navorsingsmetodologie behels dus 'n kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe benaderings. Die bevindings bevestig 'n patroon van fertiliteitsafhame wat deur Caldwell as die Afrikapatroon beskryf word en afwyk van die Europese en Asiatiese patroon. Dit word gekenmerk deur 'n progressiewe vertraging in die aanvang van geboorte-skenk, afhame in die gemiddelde aantal geboortes oor al die ouderdomskohorte en word geassosieer met kontraseptiewe toegankliheid. Die hoë voorkoms van buite-egtelike geboortes in die Victoria-Oosdistrik onderskei egter die bestudeerde bevolking van die poligame Afrika gemeenskappe waarop Caldwell die Afrika-oorgangstipe gebaseer het. In hierdie opsig vertoon die bevolking eerder ooreenkomste met ontwikkelende gemeenskappe m Suid-Amerika, die Karibbiese Eilande, Botswana en die meer onlangse Europa. Die bestudeerde bevolking vertoon uiteenlopende patrone van binne-egtelike en buite-egtelike geboortes met die binneegtelike patroon meer in ooreenstemming met die Afrika-patroon. Die hoë voorkoms van buite-egtelike geboortes domineer egter die algehele patroon en kan beskou work as die hoof bydraende faktor in the afhemende fertiliteit wat waargeneem is. Die implikasies hiervan moet egter veel dieper studie ondergaan alvorens verdere vergelykings met die bogenoemde gemeenskappe gemaak kan word.

Bibliography: leaves 135-143. An anthropological analysis of an industrial dispute that occurred within the East Gippsland forest industry, 1997-1998 and how the workers strove to acheive better working conditions for themselves, and to share in the wealth they had created.

During the years the awareness of gender issues has increased in the international arena and the importance of including gender aspects in development projects has been emphasised. This Master’s thesis is based on a case study of the VI Agroforestry Project (VIAFP) in Uganda and is one of the two subprojects of the study Sustainable development around the Lake Victoria basin, with the purpose to investigate the importance of local anchoring and active participation in the work towards sustainable development. The aim of this subproject is to investigate how gender roles among men and women in Kalisizo zone, in the Masaka and Rakai districts, in Uganda, affect the VI Agroforestry Project and if the project in return affects the gender roles.

The study is primarily based on interviews with farmers involved in the VIAFP activities in Kalisizo zone and shows that the project and the gender roles affect each other more or less in both ways. The women are somewhat more active in both farming and the activities connected with the household, and therefore also more engaged in the project activities and meetings. However, the gender roles have changed in the way that men have increased their interest in farming activities since they joined the VI Agroforestry Project. Both men and women involved in the VIAFP activities have more work on their farm than before they joined the project, but it seems as if they think it is worth the extra effort to gain more in the end. However, the project has to consider the fact that women often have a bigger workload to start with.

It is important for the VIAFP to adjust the activities and the feedback to different wishes and needs within the communities so that everyone feels they gain from the project activities, and also so that everyone who wants to participate at different activities have the opportunity to do so. Since the majority of the staff are Ugandans the ways of implying values from the North into the communities are less than if this had not been the case.

The study is published in two versions, both as a Master's thesis for the Environmental Science Programme, Linköping University and as a Minor Field Study for Sida. The differences between the versions are only editorial.

Violent and aggressive behavior is a subset of antisocial behavior that is of particular concern to the criminal justice system and to the general public. A challenge facing mental health professionals and the criminal justice system is to assess—with a reasonable degree of accuracy—the likelihood that a young offender will recidivate and to arrange appropriate interventions. Because of its psychometric properties and high predictive validity, the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is being incorporated into risk assessment batteries for use with adults. The purpose of the study was to extend the risk paradigm to adolescent offenders, investigating the predictive validity of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) from adolescence to adulthood. Subjects were 157 admissions, ages 12-18, referred to Youth Court Services for psychological or psychiatric assessment. Archival data were used to complete retrospectively the PCL:YV and to code criminal history and demographic data on each of the subjects. Follow-up criminal record data were collected, with an average follow-up time of ten years. Over the follow-up period psychopaths demonstrated a greater risk for committing violent offences than nonpsychopaths. They committed violent offences at a higher rate, earlier following their release from custody, and were more likely to escape from custody than nonpsychopaths. Further, results indicate that PCL:YV score, a difference in performance - verbal intellectual functioning (P > V Index), and history of self-harm contributed significantly to the prediction of violent outcome, over and above the contribution of a combination of criminal-history and demographic variables. Finally, background and demographic characteristics were compared between violent and nonviolent psychopaths. Findings are discussed in the context of current conceptualizations of psychopathy and adolescent antisocial behavior.

Business educators and employers recognize the importance of quantitative methods to business professionals, and subjects in quantitative methods are among the most frequentiy required in the business undergraduate curriculum. However, both business employers and graduates have expressed some dissatisfaction with business education and comment that school ttaining fails to prepare graduates adequately for the particular needs of business organisations. Because of recent changes in technology in the business environment, business educators need to understand what employers consider important, what quantitative methods are required in industry, and how education in quantitative methods can best be prepared in order to meet the needs of business in the 21st century. This research study attempts to answer these questions by investigating the content of quantitative programs offered at the Victoria University of Technology, the effectiveness of associated teaching methods in undergraduate business comses and the viewpoints of final-year students, graduates, educators and business employers about the courses.

This thesis examines the invasiveness of English ivy (Hedera helix L..: Araliaceae). an exotic horticultural species, in 14 near-urban parks in Greater Victoria. British Columbia. Using descriptive notes from field observations, the overall invasiveness of H. helix is assessed in each park, particularly near park boundaries. Land use associated with the fragmentation of natural habitat directly outside each park is characterised and related to invasion inside the park. Only three of the 14 representative parks examined are not invaded by P. helix. and four are very extensively invaded. ' The analysis of administrative park boundaries supports the hypothesis that H. helix begins invasion inside park boundaries that are adjacent to established residential areas. H. helix is found in moist forest communities of grand fir (Abies grandis) bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). Communities c f Garry oak (Quercus garryana) with black hawthorn (Crataegus douglasii) and English hawthorn (C. monogyna) are heavily invaded and vulnerable to invasion' However. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest communities are most heavily invaded and especially at risk of invasion. H helix climbs at least 17 species of trees and tall shrubs. with Douglas-fir trees providing the tallest supports. Other areas in parks vulnerable to invasion by H. helix include woodlands with rich soils, slight canopy gaps. windthrown forest edges, park entranceways and accessways. During the growth season, H. helix shoots were monitored in both heavily and less invaded sites. On average, shoots on the forest floor grew 22 cm per month. and on host trees, shoots grew 17 cm per month. Another growth characteristic of H. helix is that where it is long established on host trees, its stems have radial growth rings viewable in cross-section. These rings are likely annual and sensitive to annual climatic variability. The spread of an introduced liana, a plant form not present in the indigenous flora, has several implications for near-urban forest ecology including altered physical forest structure, hastened tree death and suppression of understory species (e.g. seedlings and shrub species such as salal - Gaultheria shallon and possibly red huckleberry - Vaccinium parvifolium). The increased concentration and range of exotic, horticultural species such as H. helix, in near-urban park and forest fragments, signifies that an exotic species management strategy is urgently needed for habitat and ecosystem conservation.

Inclusion has been embraced in many communities as a useful strategy in addressing learner diversity. Juveniles in correctional centres are usually different and have various needs. Applying inclusion in such a setup is envisaged to address the needs of diverse learners. The study focuses on how inclusion can be used as a strategy to promote social wellness of juvenile offenders in a bid to reduce recidivism and to facilitate smooth social re-integration. The aim of the study was to investigate and explore ways in which inclusion can be used to promote social wellness among juvenile offenders. The ecosystemic theoretical framework was used as a lens to explore the impact of social systems in the development of juvenile offenders. Qualitative research design was used and data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Ten juveniles and teachers were selected in a Gauteng correctional centre on the basis of availability and willingness. Participants were informed that their participation was voluntary and all the information concerning the study was communicated to them. They were given consent forms to complete after they had agreed to participate. Findings revealed that education at the centre promotes social wellness and had resulted in positive behavioural change among most juveniles. Relationships among juveniles and with stakeholders also improved with education received at the centre. The major challenges faced were that teachers had not received adequate training in inclusion and inadequate psycho-social support was given to inmates. It was recommended that teachers be given in-service training in inclusion and how to deal with learners with behavioural challenges. More psycho- social support should be provided and family involvement to be intensified.
Inclusive Education
M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Increased competition among education providers has made the process of student choice regarding higher education institutions (institutions) more complicated for potential students. At the same time, institutions are striving to attract new students through new and innovative ways. This research contributes to an increased understanding of the social influence factors that impact on student choice processes and explores their effect on the selection of institutions. This study predominantly focused on factors influencing the final choice of institutions. However, in order to consider a broader range of social pressures on student choice, the study also examined the stages of development of a predisposition to engage in post-secondary education and the information search. This study adopted a qualitative methodology and employed the phenomenological perspective as a theoretical basis to investigate students’ choice processes. A series of research questions guided the in- depth face to face interviews, conducted with 13 first-year undergraduate students, which had the main objective of interpreting and exploring the participants’ lived experiences contributing to their choice of institution. The findings of the study highlight the importance of perceived elements of sincerity and credibility during prospective student encounters with influencing agents. These crucial elements affecting student choices provide further insight in identifying the prerequisite conditions for these perceptions to form. The research makes contributions to the broader body of knowledge concerned with student choice through the adoption of a phenomenological perspective and a strong focus on the role of social influence in this context. The research offers practical implications for higher education marketers as it informs the development of more targeted marketing communication and recruitment campaigns through increased knowledge of the student choice processes and the social influence determinants that underpin these processes.

Literature debates the success of rehabilitation programmes in recidivism of offenders. This dissertation explores the effect of rehabilitation programmes on sentenced offenders at Kutama-Sinthumule Correctional Centre (KSCC). Correctional centres offer various rehabilitation programmes with the aim of reducing recidivism and rehabilitating sentenced offenders. The study used a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate the perception of sentenced offenders changed from being negative to positive after completion of rehabilitation programmes and that rehabilitation programmes complement the reduction of recidivism. Gangsterism and the language medium was found to be a challenge to offender participation. Upon completion, the programmes were found to enhance offenders` chances of employment post-prison. The study recommends that programmes encourage rebuilding relationships and DCS improves their offered programmes to achieve the success of KSCC and recommends reinstating a credit system as incentive for participation, and a revision of the language of instruction used on these programmes.
Public Administration and Management
M.Admin. (Public Administration)

By drawing on community development values and principles as well as a social constructivist theoretical perspective, this study aims to understand how people who are homeless and the volunteers who serve them perceive their roles in terms of empowerment and disempowerment. Twenty-nine individuals have participated in this study: 18 had personal experiences of homelessness and 11 volunteered in the homelessness sector. This study collects data through informal in-depth interviews, and it thematically examines a research diary. Research outcomes suggest that volunteers feel elements of perceived and actual power in their volunteerism. The study argues that such power stems from a belief that volunteering benefits the volunteer, people experiencing homelessness and broader society. These findings are consistent with existing literature and popular discourse; however, my research discovers that volunteers also express guilt and a reluctance to self-identify as a volunteer. This reticence, which accompanies volunteers’ scrutiny of the role’s characterisation as superior, runs contrary to how scholarship and popular discourse often understand volunteers. Participants with first-hand experiences of homelessness characterise the role of the Australian ‘homeless person’ through notions of disempowerment and empowerment. They perceive disempowerment in the various ways they experience social disconnection: family rejection, a lack of companionship through friends and low-quality or precarious relationships within the home-less community. They also connect socially expected behaviours, rights, obligations, beliefs and norms to the disempowerment of welfare users. Nevertheless, through topics of public space, safety and protection, these participants express a sense of belonging and perceived empowerment. Crucially, this study finds that 13 of the 18 ‘homeless’ participants had volunteered in the homelessness sector. This unanticipated observation expands the study’s analytical focus beyond an oppression-privilege binary in order to explore the nuances of participants’ complex social positions. As a result, the study tracks the ways by which volunteering challenges what it means to be ‘homeless’ in Australia and how it helps some ‘homeless people’ overcome aspects of the power inequalities encountered in mainstream society and welfare contexts. Overall, the study submits that volunteering signals the personal resources, abilities, skills, knowledge and potential that home-less people possess to improve their own lives and determine their own future. Finally, the process of research challenges the student researcher’s expectations of what it means to perform as an effective scholar. The willingness and ability to listen - to offer kindness, sympathy and compassion – reconfigures how the student understands himself, others and good social work.

This study focuses on the experiences of teachers in addressing the academic wellness of juvenile offender learners in the Correctional Centre. The main aim was to explore and understand the experiences of teachers in addressing the academic wellness of juvenile offender learners in a Correctional Centre School. In order to achieve this aim, the researcher used Bronfenbrenner’s eco-systemic theory (1977) and the Wellness theory by Hettler (1980) as a theoretical framework. The study was conducted at one of the Correctional Centres in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Purposive sampling was used, and two Correctional School teachers were selected. The study was qualitative in nature, embedded within an interpretive paradigm and used a phenomenological approach. After ethical measures were addressed, data were collected using the semi-structured interviews (Henning, Van Rensburg & Smit, 2004). The findings revealed that teachers implemented effective teaching strategies towards the enrichment of the academic wellness of the juvenile offenders in the Correctional Centre. Teachers indicated that there are barriers to learning in the Correctional School. Level of literacy and numeracy skills are low among juvenile offender learners. Some learners are not interested in learning and they have poor educational background. However, teachers revealed from the findings that indicate that effective schooling rehabilitates and could lower recidivism. An additional theme indicated that learning and teaching support materials (LTSM) are not adequately available. Moreover, teachers need empowerment and development in the Correctional setting and to be equipped or skilled adequately on necessary knowledge to handle special school environment and its challenges. Recommendation was made that to enhance and improve juvenile offender learners’ academic wellness, ample time spent during lock-up should instead be allocated to the Correctional School, be used efficiently and effectively.
Inclusive Education
M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)