Title: Specific reliability of endurance shuttle swim test to 10 m, to 400 m free style test at population of water polo players in relation age. Objectives: The aim is to approximate specific reliability of test for assessing endurance abilities at water polo players Methods: The work is a theoretical - empirical study, with the observation as the main research method. As the cross-sectional survey, testing was used as the basic method for data collection. A total of 15 participants were included in the study. The test set was created by the SK Usti nad Labem water polo players in the age category (18-22 years). The average age was 18.47 years (SD ± 1.20). Endurance Swimming Shuttle Test at 10 m made by Rechichi (2000) was used. We used test-retest method for the stability measure. Furthermore, the determination of the content equivalent of this test to the 400 m free swimming test was used to analyze the data obtained using descriptive statistical methods. Once the assumptions for parallelism of the tests were met, we used the correlation coefficient to approximate the specific reliability in the form of content equivalence and test stability. The Bland- Altman plot was used to assess of normality. Results: The reliability test (VCP) determined by the test-retest method Rel = 0.99. This result is...

The physical culture, which includes physical education, recreation and sports, is a very intensely discussed topic, which is being given ever more attention at both the lay and the professional level. This issue is also addressed at the national level, as sport and movement generally bring a number of positive externalities in particular. These include, for example, a reduction in the level of bulky non-infectious diseases that allow for financial savings in healthcare. Another positive impact of the higher physical culture of the population is the social and cultural cultivation of human potential, which leads to the reduction of problems in the field of crime or drug issues. The modern world is facing a number of problems and the lack of movement is one of them. Even in younger children, the negative effects of the current lifestyle of the population are manifested as civilization diseases. Among the most common among children are allergies, respiratory diseases, cardiac and vascular diseases, but also body weaknesses that bind joint or back pain. Outer form of these problems is obesity, a relatively serious illness that affects a growing group of children. These diseases can be prevented by regular physical activity. In order for the population to devote sufficient attention to physical...

Modern medical students are exposed to a variety of anatomical and physiology textbooks and atlases as part of their medical training. Although little has been written on how these students interact with medical illustrations during learning, several scholars allude to the importance of combining visual and textual information in the learning process. Medical illustrators have the ability to proficiently organise visual and textual elements in such a fashion to communicate a certain message. However, medical illustrators should be aware of students’ needs when designing visual material for learning purposes. The gap that this study aimed to address is one often experienced in South Africa, where illustrators know very little about the user, in this case medical students’ use of illustrations as a learning tool. The importance of this study derives from the development of user-centred knowledge to improve the quality of work produced by medical illustrators. The aim of the study was to explore how design elements and principles influence the use, comprehension and preference of medical illustrations as part of the learning experience. Two other aspects selected for this study are the relevance of labelling techniques in medical illustration as well as the quality of the reproduction of images, especially for learning purposes. This study was conducted through exploratory qualitative research in order to develop a deeper understanding of the way medical illustrations are used during learning. Constructivism was selected as the epistemological approach for this study as it focuses on new knowledge constructed by students from previous experiences. Data was collected by means of semi-structured in-depth interviews and open-ended questions. Six second year and six fifth year medical students of the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria were purposively selected and interviewed. The discussion guide used for interviews consisted of 15 sets of medical illustrations with three or four images per set. Each illustration contained a different application of the same design characteristic, but similar in content or nature of information. The largest part of the interview was an adaptation of the repertory grid method to compare and analyse rich data. Data were transcribed verbatim and organised following the principles of grounded theory. Data sheets were listed, compared and analysed through the application of open and axial coding to determine the relationship between students’ learning styles, and the attributes of the design characteristics selected for this study. This study shows that design elements in medical illustrations influences second- and fifth-year medical students’ comprehension and learning of anatomy when illustrations are used as teaching material. Deeper understanding regarding their learning styles, drawing abilities and preference for drawing styles were gained. Furthermore, second- and fifth-year medical students’ preferences for media, labelling methods, as well as the quality of the reproduction of the illustrations for learning purposes were illustrated. This information is imperative when designing illustrations for learning and teaching purposes. This study accentuates the importance of collaboration with medical illustrators in South Africa and abroad, as well as with physicians and educators. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Visual Arts / unrestricted

D.Litt.et Phil. (African Languages) / 1. The aim of the study The primary aim of this study was to ascertain whether or not a multiple-choice test can effectively assess English mother-tongue competence. Because the testing of language is at issue, the study was approached from an applied linguistic perspective. 2. The method of investigation 2.1. Uterature study. A review of the literature relating to the following topics was performed: (i) mother-tongue competence; (ii) language skills and in particular, the skills inherent in reading; (iii) the communicative approach to language teaching and testing; (iv) multiple-choice testing; and (v) test validity. 2.2. Empirical research work. Each of the four South African provincial education departments within the Department of Education and Culture: House of Assembly was called upon to compile three traditional English First Language papers for the trial matriculation examinations. A single item bank test of one hundred and fifty pretested multiple-choice questions was compiled for the same examination period. Pupils from the four provinces wrote the traditional papers which were set for their provinces. In other words, the pupils from each province wrote a separate set of traditional papers. In contrast, the same item bank test was written by all 9456 matriculants involved in the project. . 3. Findings The study revealed that the skills inherent in the four language modes of reading, writing, speaking and listening overlap each other to such an extent that it is virtually impossible to separate them for testing purposes. The validity coefficients of the combined scores of the three traditional papers and the total scores of the item bank test were consistently satisfactory for all four education

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Social interaction plays a key role in children’s social development and learning. Hence, social interaction is important for everyone, including individuals with intellectual impairment. Researches such as Vygotsky, Dockett and Perry (2003) has shown that opportunities for social interaction for people with intellectual impairment can facilitate increased community integration, improved quality of life, greater sense of life-satisfaction and wellbeing, the development of friendships, and increased social skills. I engaged with relevant literature in order to understand the characteristics of children with intellectual impairment and their social functioning. My theoretical framework was based on a socio-cultural theory. The research was conducted at a school in the East Rand region of Gauteng that caters for children with intellectual impairment. The sample of participants that participated has played a prominent role in the school concerts and their age range between 12 years and 23 years old, with intellectual impairment as their primary disability. A phenomenological research design was followed so as to understand social and psychological phenomena from the perspectives of the people involved, in how they experience the school concert. Data was collected from various participants form the school’s environment, such as educators, the identified participants parents/caregivers, support staff the participants themselves. I conducted unstructured and semi-structured interviews, such as focus group discussions and individual interviews, with participants, parents/caregivers, educators, and support staff (speech therapist). After the research was conducted, the central findings about the research is the use of creative expressive arts helps children with intellectual impairment to become more focussed and increase their communication skills, developing a sense of self and building relationships. The school concert boosted their self-esteem and their confidence, improving their social interaction.

M.Ed. (Education) / The purpose of this analytical and evaluative study was to establish why certain items of the std 7 English First Language Item Bank did not discriminate well and to make suggestions to avoid similar item failure in future. To do this the item analysis had to be interpreted and the content validity of the failed items and the entire test had to be established. The literature review emphasized the importance of syllabus analysis, test planning, the setting of objectives, item review before the application of a test and the value of item analysis in the creation of item banks. The std 7 English First Language Core Syllabus was analysed according to linguistic principles, educational objectives and skills ...

Magister Educationis - MEd / In this research paper, guided by Prof Z Groener, I explore the learning barriers experienced by deaf learners in the structured workplace component of a learnership programme. I focus on the learning barriers of deaf learners at work on an Information Technology learnership where the learning environment shapes and are shaped by deaf learners. Twenty deaf learners have entered during 2005 into an Information Technology: Technical Support NQF4 learnership, funded by the Information Systems (IT), Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies Sector Education Training Authority (ISETT Seta). I have determined how deaf learners are faring with work and learning in a technological environment that has experienced rapid and extensive restructuring during the past ten years. The specific difficulties which they experience during their structured workplace component of the learnerships have also been defined. I argue that when deaf learners form part of a community of practice, consisting of both deaf learners and hearing colleagues and who operate in the same area of knowledge and activity, they fare better than those who did not form part of such a community. I conclude this research paper with a link to the situated learning theory where I explain why the learner’s situation contributed to their ability to learn. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / Rheumatic disease is estimated to be one of the most disabling diseases in South Africa and the world. The most common rheumatic diseases are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and systemic lupus erythematosus. The symptoms of the disease include pain, stiffness, swelling, decreased function. The patient’s functional abilities are severely affected by the pain which in turn, leads to poor quality of life and adverse stress. As a result patients who suffer with one or with a combination of rheumatic disease will experience pain, stress, decreased functional abilities and poor quality of life. The physical properties of water and the therapeutic effects of hydrotherapy, make hydrotherapy an effective form of exercise available to physiotherapists in the treatment of rheumatic disease. The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of a hydrotherapy intervention on the pain, stress, quality of life and functional abilities in patients with rheumatic disease. A quantitative and qualitative research design was employed to meet the objectives. The quantitative aspect involved an A-B-A design and the qualitative part of the study compromised indepth interviews which took place after the intervention. The instruments used were the WHOQOL-BREF instrument, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Weekly Stress Inventory-Short Form (WSI-SF) and the Health Assessment Questionnaire. (HAQ). The sample consisted of 19 patients who were diagnosed with one or a combination of rheumatic disease. The study was conducted at the hydrotherapy pool at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. Within the study sample, the majority of the participants were female (84%) with osteoarthritis being common among the participants (53%). The mean age was 60 years. The intervention had a significant impact on pain reduction (p = 0.0001), quality of life (p<0.05). However, the impact of hydrotherapy on stress and the social relationship domain in quality of life was inconclusive. It is thus evident from this study that hydrotherapy as a treatment modality for physiotherapists can be used to impact on the pain, quality of life and functional abilities in patients with rheumatic disease. iv Keywords

The purpose of this diploma thesis is to analyse the ability of the human ear to hear slight rhythm deviations in speech and non-speech phrases. The first part contains theoretical background for the study of speech rhythm and summarizes the research that has been already conducted in this area. It focuses especially on the perceptual nature of rhythm, the concept of P-centers, and provides a comparative study of speech rhythm and musical rhythm and their common properties and functions. The theoretical part is concluded with the analysis of potential influences of linguistic and musical training on the production and perception of rhythm, and hypotheses and research questions are formulated. The practical part contains a perceptual experiment designed to examine the ability to identify rhythm manipulations in short speech and non-speech, i.e. percussive, phrases. Short English phrases are selected and their rhythmically altered counterparts are prepared. Participants are then presented with pairs of speech or non-speech phrases and a task to identify rhythmical discrepancies between them. The results highlighted several differences between the nature of speech and non-speech rhythm. While the presence of stressed syllables enhances perception of rhythm deviations in speech, this is not the case...

Minvapnet klassas fortfarande som en viktig faktor vid strid, dock har dess utveckling i den svenska Försvarsmakten hamnat i skymundan. Denna slutsats kan man dra om man ser till vilka uppgifter och vilken utrustning som i dagsläget finns för att minera. De hjälpmedel som finns och är brukbara är ytterst begränsade. Ett system som skulle kunna vända denna trend är en minkastare, något som bland annat tas upp i, för fältarbetesfunktionen, interna utvecklingsplaner. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka huruvida Försvarsmakten skulle kunna nyttja ett minkastarsystem, vad det skulle innebära för Försvarsmaktens förmåga att minera samt lyfta upp vilka kriterier ett sådant system skulle behöva leva upp till för att kunna nyttjas av svensk trupp. Huvuddelen av uppsatsen kretsar kring textanalyser av aktuella reglementen, styrdokument och utredningar. I och med den nära knytningen till Försvarsmakten används de grundläggande förmågorna som analysverktyg och som teorikoppling. Uppsatsens resultat påvisar att införandet av ett sådant system skulle utveckla arméns, och framförallt då ingenjörförbandens förmåga att minera. Dock kan den faktiska nyttan av ett sådant system ifrågasättas i dagens insatsinriktade Försvarsmakt.