This study is part of an inter-university project, for which co-workers from Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and University of the Free State gathered the data during 2000. The population consisted of children in their late middle childhood (grade 4 to grade 7) from schools in the Vaalpark and Bloemfontein (Free State), Potchefstroom (North West), Badplaas (Mpumalanga), Krugersdorp and Kempton Park (Gauteng), Kimberley (Northern Cape) and Durban (Kwazulu Natal) regions. A random sample, which was representative of the different race and socio-economic strata, was drawn from these children. The literature study indicated that little is known about the nature of locus of control in younger children and its relationship to creativity in the South African context. The aims of this study are therefore to determine the nature of locus of control in middle childhood; to examine locus of control in different age groups and to establish the relationship between locus of control and creativity. By using a single cross-sectional design, creativity was measured with subscales of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking and locus of control with the Nowicki-Strickland questionnaire. In conclusion the current study suggests that locus of control in late middle childhood has become slightly more externally orientated than it was 30 years ago. Cultural factors and the South-African context are much different in this study population though, and care must be taken not to make direct comparisons. With regard to the differences in the locus of control between the two age groups there is a definite statistical difference, with a shift to a more internal orientation in the older group. However, no practical significance was found. The hypothesis that externally orientated students would be less creative could not be validated and no correlation between locus of control and creativity could be discerned. These results seem to confirm a more dual dimensional view of some authors, in that a "bilocal" person strikes a healthy balance between beliefs in internal and external control, resulting in a more effective coping style. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Zugl.: Wuppertal, Univ., Habil.-Schr., 2005

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-201).

Thesis--PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Proefschrift Maastricht. / Lit.opg. - Samenvatting in het Engels.

Submitted by Nathanne_estagiaria Silva (nathanne.silva@fgv.br) on 2012-02-02T17:21:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 000017814.pdf: 5966164 bytes, checksum: ea8c8d6d8a9c510ca6d69c3a3a0c29c7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-02-02T17:22:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 000017814.pdf: 5966164 bytes, checksum: ea8c8d6d8a9c510ca6d69c3a3a0c29c7 (MD5) / This study represents the first attempt at relating Rotter's social learning theory (1966) to Festinger's theory of social comparison. It is also the first study known with Brazilian subjects, which utilized children as subjects in research about locus of control and social comparison. The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that: (a) the locus of control, the opportunity of social comparison and the performance of outcome (success' versus failure) affect causal attribution regarding performance on a task; and (b) internal locus of control subjects have future expectancies of performance which are more similar to their own previous performance than to the group performance, regardless of sucess or failure in the previous situation, whereas external locus of control subjects have expectancies which are more similar to the peer group's than to their own previous performance, regardless of sucess or failure in the previous situation. The conclusions of this study were: (a) causal attribution, as formulated by Rotter (1966) is verified with Brazilian subjects, specifically with Brazilian children; (b) in the sucessful performances internals and externals subjects did not differ in assuming personal credit for success; (c) social comparison operates for internals as accentuating of the locus of control in the success situation and as modifying of the locus of control in the failure situation, and the opposite occurs with the external subjects; (d) the relating of the constructs of locus of control and social comparison is valid; and (e) regarding prediction of future outcomes (expectancies), the role of social comparison is that of accentuating locus of control. / o presente estudo constituiu-se na primeira tentativa de aproximação das teorias de comparação social de Festinger (1954) e de aprendizagem social de Rotter (1966), também, o primeiro estudo conhecido no Brasil investigando locus de controle e comparação social com crianças. O objetivo do trabalho foi testar as hipóteses de que: (a) o locus de controle dos sujeitos, a oportunidade de comparaçao social e o resultado de desempenho (sucesso e fracasso) afetam a atribuição de causalidade ao desempenho de uma tarefa; e (b) sujeitos de locus de controle interno, quer tenham sido bem ou mal sucedidos na tarefa experimental, têm expectativas futuras mais semelhantes a seu próprio desempenho do que ao desempenho do grupo, enquanto que sujeitos de locus de controle externo, quer tenham sido bem ou mal sucedidos na tarefa experimental, têm expectativas mais semelhantes ao desempenho do grupo de pares do que ao seu próprio desempenho. As conclusões deste estudo foram: (a) a atribuição de causalidade, de acordo com a formulação de Rotter (1966), aplica-se também a brasileiros, especialmente a crianças brasileiras; (b) no desempenho bem-sucedido internos e externos não se diferenciam na assunção do crédito pessoal pelo sucesso; (c) a comparação social funciona para internos como ratificadora na situação de sucesso e modificadora na situação de fracasso do locus de controle do sujeito, e o inverso se , dá com os externos; (d) é válida a aproximação entre os construtos de locus de controle e comparação social; e (e) na previsão de resultados futuros, o papel da comparação social é de ratificacão do locus de controle.

M.A. / Since its legalisation in this country, abortion has become a controversial subject in religious, social and judicial circles. However, little is known about the relationship between depression and the possible side effects that may be produced by the procedure. Indeed, the possible impact of social variables and personality traits have been receiving more attention in recent research in an effort to identify those at risk for negative symptoms. This study was carried out on a group of 42 women from the Soweto and Jeppe Street Marie Stopes clinics. The women were assesse·d according to locus of control, depression and certain psychosocial variables. As expected, the overall levels of depression among these women, who largely represent the underprivileged segment of the community, were very high. Although no significant relationship could be established between locus of control and depression following abortion, certain social variables were identified as possible risk factors for de.ffipession after having an abortion.

The onset of reproduction is an important trait and is controlled by the FT1 locus in poplar (Populus sp.). Sequence variation in this locus is not well-understood. This study's aim is to identify sequence variation in the FT1 locus in a small population of Populus deltoides with varying reproductive onset. Gene specific primers were designed to amplify FT from 14 genotypes. The sequence analysis showed 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms and four insertion-deletion sites located in introns of FT1. No connection was observed between the identified polymorphisms and variation in reproductive onset. Further DNA sequencing of the genotypes needs to be done on the promoter region of FT1 to conduct an association study to statistically assess the connection between polymorphisms and phenotypic variation in a larger population. This information is expected to help us understand the genetic basis of phenotypic variation in reproductive onset.