The researcher has a daughter who was born with an encephalocele and her neuropsychological assessment indicates a Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD). The difficulties of the educational experiences that emerged over time, mainly because her learning profile was not understood, prompted reflection on the consequences for other students who present with this profile. A concern for the long-term implications for students and parents of the frequent misunderstandings of the NLD has inspired this study. A review of the literature suggested a need to raise educator awareness about the subtle but disabling nature of the NLD syndrome. This study explored the perceptions of teachers, teacher aides and parents involved with 5 students who showed hallmark signs of an NLD. The theoretical foundation rests in the understanding that a student's learning experiences are influenced by past and present school experiences, the attitudes of peers, and parental expectations. The purpose of this thesis is to help parents, teachers and others appreciate the school experiences of children at Level 1 risk of developing an NLD, those with a hydrocephalic condition. It does not purport to offer ultimate solutions or to contribute to diagnosis but rather to act as a starting point for a body of theory to guide development of suitable learning environments for such children. Of further importance is emphasis on the need for similar studies to be conducted into the learning experiences of other children who demonstrate specific syndromes or mosaic forms of those syndromes. Naturalistic Inquiry methodology was used to explore the educational experiences of five students who attended different Australian schools. After completion of all interviews, psychological testing assessed general intelligence and the NLD status of each student. All students were found to be severely learning disabled and all were high on the NLD parameter. Educators generally did not reveal understanding of the NLD syndrome &quotNonverbal, what is it? So is it a visual ..." Some teachers devised innovative strategies to help the student cope in class while others expressed frustration ... if the traditional instruction &quotdoesn't work either, what does?" What stood out was an absence of understanding about nonverbal deficits. Frustration about poor organisation, decision making, task completion and problem-solving was expressed and a mixture of concern and criticism was levelled at social incompetence. Students who could not work independently were perceived by some teachers and aides as &quotlazy" or &quotmolly-coddled" and problems with everyday living skills were sometimes blamed on the student's family. Findings revealed a compelling need to raise educator awareness about the range of cognitive, learning and social problems associated with shunted hydrocephalus and spina bifida. They also highlighted a need for teachers to question &quotWhy can't this student do things one would expect they could do" and demand answers that explicate the serious difficulties being experienced.

In South Africa, legislation dictates that employees must be developed resulting in the need to identify candidate's development capability. As such, it is essential to be able to measure the learning potential of candidates. In practice, cognitive ability has been linked to the complex process of job performance. This study aimed to determine whether learning potential can be used as a predictor of job performance. The Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT) was utilised to measure learning potential and job performance was measured through a promotion ratio (taking job knowledge and tenure into account). The moderator variables were investigated. A sample of 135 technical employees was drawn. The data was statistical manipulated reporting various significant relationships confirming the internal reliability of the LPCAT and indicating a strong significant relationship between learning potential and job performance. Variables such as learning potential, job grade and tenure are significant when predicting job performance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MA (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Mental toughness is accepted to be an important component of sporting performance, especially so in the domain of cricket. It has been called many names, such as Big Match Temperament, bottle, and mettle and it is widely believed that it plays a role in how successful a cricketer may be, although very difficult to define and explain. James Loehr described it as one’s ability to consistently perform to the upper limit of your talent and skill and numerous researchers have since tried to define the construct based on more empirical research. This research project consists of three articles on mental toughness. The first focuses on the consideration of extra-personal influences on the development and implementation of mental toughness programmes. The second focuses on examining the psychometric properties of the paper-and-pencil versions of the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Psychological Performance Inventory-Alternative (PPI-A). The third examines the differences in the demographic characteristics of a sample of cricketers on the online versions of the SMTQ and the PPI-A. The results suggest that extra-personal influences are exceptionally important in the development and implementation of mental toughness programmes for school level cricketers, especially motivational climate and social support. While the PPI-A and the SMTQ displayed some promising psychometric properties in the current study, researchers should apply these mental toughness inventories with circumspection, taking into account questions regarding dimensionality, item formulation and variation in sample characteristics (e.g., age and sporting code), until more research can be conducted using these inventories with larger and more varied samples and the understanding of the mental toughness construct improves. The examination of the demographic differences on scores of the SMTQ and PPI-A revealed inconclusive results on age, sex, and ethnicity, while competitive level was the only distinguishing characteristic in which respondents at high levels produced higher mental toughness scores. The three studies comprising this “by articles” format PHD dissertation will be referred to as Article 1, Article 2, and Article 3 and can be found in Chapters, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. / Psychology / D.Phil. (Psychology)

Continuous change and competition in the working environment necessitate increased efficiency and productivity which require different and enhanced skills and abilities. It is therefore important that the right people with the right skills are selected and employees are developed to enable them to meet the organisational and national demands of the future. This dissertation investigates the relationship between learning potential, English language proficiency and work-related training test results to establish why some production employees perform better on work-related training test results than others. The results indicate that there is no significant relationship between the work-related training test results and either learning potential or English language proficiency. There is, however, a significant correlation between learning potential and English language proficiency. It might be worthwhile exploring the availability and adequacy of assessors as well as the motivational level of the production employees as factors that influence the progress made with work-related training test results. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / MCOM (Industrial Psychology)

Legal and scientific imperatives necessitate the validation of a psychometric battery before using it for the purposes of personnel selection and decision- making. The aim of this investigation is to validate a selection battery, i.e. the Ability, Processing of Information and Learning (APIL) Battery and Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM), used in selecting university bridging - course students. The empirical study is informed by a literature review focussing on the legal and scientific parameters of psychometrics within selection, the conceptualisation of intelligence and its relationship to academic performance. Hypotheses are posed regarding the predictive power of the selection battery and the effect of biographical factors on academic performance. Results indicate that the APU. Battery apd Raven's APM are both valid predictors of academic performance, ·although the former appears more effective. This investigation emphasises the influence of moderating factors, i.e. factors other than cognitive ability, on academic performance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Adm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology )

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Wanneer psigometriese toetsing op groepe uit verskillende sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde toegepas word, presteer individue uit agtergeblewe omgewings swakker as bulle ewekniee uit meer ontwikkelde omgewings. Hierdie individue se toegang tot hoofstroom loopbaangeleenthede word dikwels bemoeilik as gevolg van die beperking. Die leerpotensiaal benadering word aangebied as belowende alternatief om die probleem, wat 'n sosio-ekonomiese oorsprong het, te oorbrug. Die resultate van die studie bewys die stelling gedeeltelik waar, maar met buitengewone inspanning. In die finale ontleding van die resultate is dit duidelik dat die verbeterde voorspelling eerder toegeskryf kan word aan die optimale vlak van ontwikkeling wat die individu bereik net voor die toetsing, en nie soseer sy/haar leerpotensiaal nie. / Applying psychometric tests to groups from different socio-economical backgrounds, inevitably result in the individuals from deprived backgrounds performing noteably poorer than their counterparts from more developed backgrounds. These individuals also find enterance to the mainstream careers difficult because of this restriction. The learning potential approach to assessment is presented as a promising alternative to overcome the problem that is related to the socio-economic background of the individual. The results of this study partly confirm the value of the learning potential approach, but only with extra-ordinary effort. In the final analysis of the results it is clear that the improved predictive accuracy was rather due to the optimal level of development the individuals reached just before the testing, and not so much their learning potential. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Sielkunde)

Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The changing nature of work and its competitive characteristics are global phenomena and are mainly fuelled by ongoing technological advancement. This creates unique challenges for talent attraction and the retention of high performing individuals. In addition, the global workforce is becoming more diverse due to demographic, societal and cultural changes and companies are placing greater demands on employee competency and performance. Managing the human factor as a strategic asset in organisations remains a primary challenge in securing a competitive advantage. The road construction industry in South Africa is no different. There is growing competition between civil engineering contractors to secure tenders and to maximise profitability. This is only possible with a sufficient and sustainable labour force. Valid selection processes are therefore required to ensure that the most productive individuals are selected for the most suitable jobs. Reliable and valid performance predictors will assist employers in making appropriate selection decisions. Selecting high performing individuals will support and enhance overall organisational performance. ix In this study the investigation focused on whether psychomotor ability and learning potential are statistically significant predictors of work performance - with specific reference to drivers and machine operators in a road construction company. A quantitative approach was followed to investigate the relationships between variables, or then the prediction of one dependent variable (driver and machine operator performance) by means of two independent variables (psychomotor ability and learning potential). Results from the study did not indicate any statistically significant relationships between the variables. Only scientifically validated assessment instruments were used in the study - which means the findings led to a renewed focus on the importance of performance measurement and the psychometric quality (reliability and validity) of performance data. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Submitted by Oliveira Santos Dilzaná (dilznana@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-03-15T14:35:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Carolina de Aguiar Rodrigues (tese).pdf: 7045279 bytes, checksum: e8a05978f34f04a4419e4c6154a9b2dc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Portela (anapoli@ufba.br) on 2016-03-28T18:08:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Carolina de Aguiar Rodrigues (tese).pdf: 7045279 bytes, checksum: e8a05978f34f04a4419e4c6154a9b2dc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-28T18:08:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Carolina de Aguiar Rodrigues (tese).pdf: 7045279 bytes, checksum: e8a05978f34f04a4419e4c6154a9b2dc (MD5) / CAPES / No estágio atual da agenda de pesquisa sobre vínculos com a organização, esforços têm sido empreendidos para revisar conceitos que, ao longo do tempo, acumularam questões teóricas e empíricas que ameaçam a validade dos resultados encontrados. Dentro dessa tendência mais ampla, estudos têm sido voltados para a revisão do modelo tridimensional do comprometimento proposto por J. Meyer e N. Allen, guiados pelo argumento de que esse modelo reúne mais de um tipo de vínculo. Um dos principais pontos de análise tem sido a pertinência da dimensão de continuação, que apresenta base teórica e comportamento semelhante ao entrincheiramento organizacional. A presente pesquisa buscou percorrer um caminho metodológico que possibilitasse alcançar maiores compreensão, precisão e delimitação desses construtos. Após a revisão e refinamento das medidas do entrincheiramento organizacional e do comprometimento de continuação, foram comparados seus modelos explicativos. Os resultados apontaram para o mesmo padrão de relação quando confrontados os modelos do entrincheiramento e da base de continuação, evidenciando validade convergente. Confirmada a hipótese de que a base de continuação é sobreposta ao entrincheiramento, e de que ambos se distinguem do comprometimento afetivo, foram identificados e discriminados quatro grupos com diferentes níveis de entrincheiramento e comprometimento organizacional: sentinela de oportunidades (níveis medianos dos vínculos), transeunte organizacional (níveis baixos dos vínculos), cidadão livre (alto comprometimento e baixo entrincheiramento) e prisioneiro colaborativo (alto comprometimento e alto entrincheiramento). Desses grupos, foram extraídos casos representativos para uma investigação qualitativa da dinâmica dos vínculos com a organização, com base em narrativas profissionais. Após as análises detalhadas de cada caso, foi elaborado um modelo teórico que reúne variáveis pessoais e organizacionais, além das trajetórias percorridas, que contribuem para a formação das diferentes configurações de vínculo. Conclui-se que o entrincheiramento e o comprometimento são vínculos distintos, que podem ser combinados em diferentes padrões, construídos com base em características pessoais e em experiências vivenciadas na organização. Esses padrões demonstraram a capacidade de ampliar o poder explicativo dos vínculos em comparação ao seu tratamento isolado. Ao término deste estudo, verifica-se o alcance de maior delimitação teórica e empírica do comprometimento e do entrincheiramento. As estratégias metodológicas aqui empregadas poderão ser retomadas e incrementadas em estudos futuros, contribuindo para maiores avanços teóricos e aplicações práticas dos vínculos com a organização. On the current agenda of research on organizational attachments, efforts have been made in order to review concepts which have accumulated theoretical and empirical issues, therefore, threatening the validity of the results of several of these studies. Following a broader perspective, other studies have revised the three-dimensional model of commitment proposed by J. Meyer e N. Allen. These other studies have been guided by the argument that this model included more than one type of bond. One of the key issues is the pertinence of the continuance commitment, which is characterized by similar behavior and theoretical basis, if compared to organizational entrenchment. This research intended to follow a methodological pathway which would enable the researcher reach a better understanding, precision and delimitation of these constructs. After reviewing and refining the measures of organizational entrenchment and continuation commitment, their explanatory models were compared. Results indicated the same pattern of relationship between the models of entrenchment and continuance dimension, evincing a convergent validity. Therefore, not only the hypothesis that the continuance dimension overlaps entrenchment was confirmed, but also that both are distinct from affective commitment. Four groups in different levels of entrenchment and organizational commitment were identified and discriminated: sentinel of opportunities (average levels of attachment), organizational passerby (low levels of attachment), free citizen (high level of commitment and low entrenchment) and collaborative prisoner (high level of commitment and high entrenchment). Representative cases were taken from these groups for a qualitative investigation of the dynamics of bonds in the organization, based on the narratives of the professionals. After a detailed analysis of each case, a theoretical model including personal and organizational variables, and also trajectories lived - which have contributed to the formation of different settings of bonds - was elaborated. It was concluded that entrenchment and commitment are distinct bonds, which can be combined in different patterns, built based on personal characteristics and experiences lived in the organization. These patterns demonstrate the ability of this study to increase the explanatory power of bonds, when compared to their isolated treatment. At the end of this study, the significance of a major theoretical and empirical delimitation of commitment and entrenchment was verified. The methodological strategies used here may be incorporated and improved in future studies, contributing to greater theoretical advances and practical applications of attachments in the organization.