Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Notre Dame, 2006. / Thesis directed by E. Mark Cummings for the Department of Psychology. "April 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-90).

Divorce is part of every society, it is a world-wide phenomena. Divorce touches the lives of many people by breaking up families, causing personal individual trauma and affecting our children – the next generation. Consequences of this phenomenon are important, as what we do today will affect negatively or positively, the youth of tomorrow. Taken this fact into consideration one would think it logical to minimise the impact of this phenomenon on all those involved. Firstly, this study will attempt to identify the most prominent emotional indicators of a child’s drawing in order to focus therapy in those areas in an attempt to minimise or lessen the negative impact the child experiences. Secondly, the intervention strategies/guidelines researched, will be made available to parents, professionals and lay helpers alike in order to understand, support and positively facilitate the healing process within the child who is experiencing a family divorce. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (with Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

M.Ed. / The study under discussion followed on a request to develop a programme which would fill the existing gap between general formative preparatory academic education and general formative preparatory vocational education. The background of the precarious beginnings of education in South Africa was reviewed with specific reference to technical education. A study of the available literature confirmed that there is a need for more technically trained people, technically trainable people, students who have completed their technical vocational studies, an orientation programme and lecturers with management skills. The purpose of the study is, therefore, to investigate how lecturers managed the orientation programme at technical colleges. Technical colleges which acted as facilitators of the orientation programme, was introduced. This post-school institution with its general functions of continuing vocational education, must fulfil the needs of the community and the requirements of the industry it wishes to serve. The function and place of technical colleges were discussed as well as the management functions of education institutions, lecturers and students. The development of the orientation programme was also discussed. A suitable programme had to be developed to orientate students at a technical college. After making a few alterations, Jansen's model for curriculum development was used. Curriculum developers firstly, had to determine what the students had already achieved and secondly, what was expected from students at the end of the orientation programme. After this gap between the achieved and the expected had been clearly identified, the orientation programme could be developed. This programme was tested as a pilot programme, declared as general policy; and then implemented at technical colleges and private training institutions on a national level. The successful implementation of such an orientation programme depends, inter alia, on the classroom management skills of the lecturer. In an attempt to evaluate the success of the lecturers' management skills, a questionnaire was developed as an measuring instrument. The questionnaire was completed by orientation students to determine the management skills of the lecturer. The design of the above questionnaire covered five management aspects, namely, classroom activities, student activities, interpersonal relationships, activities during lesson presentation and administrative duties. Forty four questions were designed and approximately eight questions for each management aspect were included in the questionnaire. An experimental group selected from sixteen technical colleges, was requested to complete the questionnaire voluntarily. These colleges are situated in rural districts, semi-urban and typically urban areas. The students originated from all levels of the community and no preference was given to race, sex, language or background. A total of 177 students participated in this survey. The questionnaire was completed under examination conditions but there was no specific time restriction. All participants were enrolled for all five orientation subjects, namely, engineering technology, engineering drawing, engineering science, industrial communication and mathematics. The performance ability of the students covered the whole spectrum. For admission to the programme, the lowest and highest standard the repondents had obtained, were restricted to Stds 6 to 10 for statistical reasons. To increase the validity and usefulness of the questionnaire, the items in the measuring instrument were checked to ensure that they were based on the managerial competency of the lecturer. The content validity of the measuring instrument was improved in this manner. The Department of Education gave its approval that technical colleges be used for this investigation. On the basis of the empirical investigation, it was discovered that during the first order (PFA) factor analysis, nine factors were identified from the 44 items which appeared in the questionnaire. A second order factor analysis indicated that the 44 items could be reduced to one factor with a reliability coefficient of 0,948. When only 39 items are considered the reliability increases to 0,950 and this factor was named "efficient management." In conclusion, the 39 items can be considered to be one scale and it represents the lecturers' efficient management of the various classroom activities. This factor was also tested by means of multiple statistical techniques in an attempt to find significant differences between the various independent groups. No significant statistical differences were discovered between the scale averages of the various groups. This was an indication that the groups held the same opinion about the management of the orientation programme. With the high average scale marks obtained by the various participating colleges, this investigation proved that lecturers had succeeded to manage the orientation programme successfully. The research results showed that, according to the opinion of the students, no significant statistical differences existed in the lecturers' management of the orientation programme to orientate students towards vocational education. There are however a few deficiencies noticeable in the competency of lecturers in certain management aspects. This research gives an indication of some problems which currently exist with the presentation of the orientation programme. Clear solutions cannot be provided. However the research does indicate that an orientation programme can be successfully presented at technical colleges with the necessary awareness, adaptation, training and positive attitudes as needed by the community , the world of work and the country.

M.Ed. / This study focuses on problems of adjustment which black pupils in Soweto (may) experience in the transition from primary to secondary school as far as mathematics is concerned. This problem is not investigated in vacuo, but is located within a definite context. This context consists of children of a distinct population group, who have reached a distinct level of development; who come from a distinct home background and who are taught a distinct subject by a distinct teacher in the service of a distinct education authority with a distinct teaching policy. As background to the problem a contextual and research literature survey is directed towards an empirical investigation. After the literature survey an empirical study focusing on standard 6 pupils was made. In this empirical investigation, various research methods were used in order to illuminate the purpose and hypothesis of this investigation. * Emphases is placed on determining the standard of mathematics amongst black pupils in the standard 6 experimental group by using a three-pronged approach: 1) The standard 6 pubils completed the HSRC diagnostic mathematics test for standard 5 and 6 in order to determine their competence in the basic functions of addition, subtraction, mUltiplication and division. 2) In order to determine the mathematical proficiency of standard 6 pupils the TOAM computer system was used. 3) To determine any possible deterioration in mathematical competency in standard 6 pupils in their transition from primary to secondary school, the same mathematics examination written at the end of standard 5, was written after three months in standard 6. * In order to attempt to determine the factors influencing the problems experienced by black pupils compelled to move from standard 5 to standard 6, a questionnaire probing socio-economic and general school situation was completed by all standard 6 pupils in the eight secondary schools used from this investigation. Questionnaires completed by teachers responsible for standard 6 mathematics teaching in the secondary schools were used to determine opinions concerning both the-standard of mathematics amongst standard 6 pupils and the problem of adjustment to the secondary School.

Grandparent-headed families are diverse in nature and represent a rapidly growing family type. While challenges facing grandparent caregivers are well documented, less is known about the well-being of their grandchildren, with many early studies relying on small samples of convenience. This study used an existing large national database, the National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), to compare differences in well-being of both children and grandparent caregivers across the independent variables of family type, ethnicity, gender, and age. Findings suggested better mental health and less parental aggravation for caregivers in traditional two parent intact families as compared to grandparents co-parenting in a multi-generation home, skipped generation grandparents (raising their grandchild with no parent present) or single parents. Skipped generation grandparents in particular reported most caregiver aggravation. Child physical health was reported to be worse by skipped generation grandparent caregivers. Behavior problems were reported to be worse for children in grandparent headed households than those in traditional families, particularly for teenagers raised in skipped generation households by their grandmothers. Specific results, limitations and future directions for research on grandparent-headed households were discussed.

No description available.

Data from the National Survey of Households and Families were used to study the factors previous research identified as affecting post-divorce child adjustment. Responses from 358 divorced parents with custody of children under age 12 were analyzed. Special attention was paid to the effect of family financial status. The strongest predictor of problem behavior for both preschool children and school-aged boys was the amount of parent/child activity time. Older boys were also particularly sensitive to interparental conflict. Elementary-aged girls, however, were most affected by the presence of parental depression, which was found to be significantly associated with a decline in post-divorce family financial status. Only girls' problems showed a direct relationship with family income.

Studies investigating the development of perceived control and coping in the academic domain generally adopt an individual differences approach, reporting mean-level changes in these and associated constructs. Very few studies attempt to chart the process by which these personal resources exert individual and combined influences on academic outcomes, such as motivation and achievement, in light of normative developmental changes. Further, a consideration of reciprocal influences of these constructs on developmental changes and the contribution of social partners to these processes is not common. Conceptualized from a systems perspective, this study integrates these different approaches in a longitudinal inquiry into the development of perceived control and coping, the impact of coping on academic engagement and achievement, and how support from the context shapes, and is subsequently shaped by, student behavior. An action-theoretic model is used to describe the hypothesized relationships, deriving from Deci & Ryan's (1985) self-determination theory, and incorporating a flexible framework of coping as functionally similar yet structurally distinct strategies, defined as action-regulation under stress (Skinner, Edge, Altman, Sherwood, 2003; Skinner & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2007). Four ways of coping are examined, divided into two categories: mastery coping, comprising problem-solving and information-seeking, and helplessness coping, comprising escape and confusion ways of coping. Contextual support is conceptualized as teacher provision of structure, involvement, and autonomy support. Engagement, as a motivational resource that leads to increased achievement, comprises both behavioral and emotional aspects of engagement. A tri-partite formulation of perceived control is used (Skinner, Chapman, & Baltes, 1988a), comprising means-end (strategy), agency (capacity), and generalized control beliefs. Data collected during one year of a four-year longitudinal study from 665 students in grades four and six, and fifty-three of their teachers, were used for this investigation. Normative developmental differences were examined through comparisons of mean-level shifts in each of the model constructs; regression-based analyses tested for age differences over time in the process structure of the model. Reciprocal influences of coping and engagement on teacher support and perceived control, and of engagement and achievement on coping, were also tested for age differences. Results highlight the normative developmental changes that occur in these constructs during middle childhood, and indicate that the pattern of these changes is largely consistent with expectations; however, the process structure of the model relating the constructs of interest was found to be stable over time, with only one significant age difference detected: the influence on mastery coping of means-end control beliefs for effort. All other relationships tested did not differ significantly as children get older. Discussion focuses on evidence provided by the results of age trends in the developmental processes believed to be the drivers of change in the study constructs. Implications for the study of coping, regulatory processes, and features of the educational context, as they relate to the development of children's coping and control resources, are explored, with suggestions for the direction future research in these areas might take.

The problem of this investigation is three-fold in its objectives: (1) to discover what authorities in the field of education believe about personality in relation to home and school influences, (2) to determine the personality characteristics and the home status of a group of third-grade children in the Stonewall Jackson School of Denton, Texas, and (3) to make analyses and comparisons in an effort to determine whether any perceptible relationships exist between home status and the degree of self and social adjustment possessed by the pupils.

Hung Mong-ping. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-173). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (English version) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (Chinese version) --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Studies on the Schooling and Social Adaptation of Young NACs from Mainland China --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Difficulties in Finding a School Place --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Enrollment in Lower Grades with Younger Classmates --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Problems in the Learning of Languages --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Relationship with Teachers --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Peer Relationship in School --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Relationship with the Family and Adaptation to the Change of Living Environment --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Community Support for Students --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Limitations of Local Studies on Young NACs and Focus of Current Study --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- Socio-cultural Dimension in Minority Education --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Interpersonal Relationship with Classmates and Teachers --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Role of the Minority Parents --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cultural Adaptation and Marginality --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Identity --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Summary --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3 --- Effects of Age-based Identity on Learning --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Academic Improvement --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- School Dropouts --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Self Concept --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- School Adjustment --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Summary --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4 --- Socio-cultural Influences in SLA --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Norton's Theorization about Socio-culturalInfluences on the SLA --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Research Studies Supporting Norton's Theorization --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- "Norton (1997,2000)'s Revisit of the SLA Theory" --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Summary --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Method --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Case Study Research Approach --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Definition of Case Study --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Merits and Limitations of the Case Study --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Merits --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Limitations --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Case Study approach for the Study of the Young New Arrivals from Mainland China --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Research Design --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Multiple-Case Study --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Length of Research Period --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Data Collection --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Triangulation of Informants and Data Collection Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Self-completion questionnaires andQualitative Interviews --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.2.4 --- Audio-recording and Transcription --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Data Analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Deductive Data analysis Approaches --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Member Checks --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4 --- Selection of Subjects for the Study --- p.57 / Chapter 3.5 --- Profile of Subjects --- p.58 / Chapter 3.6 --- Procedures of the Study --- p.61 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Stage 1: Pilot-testing of Questionnaires (Late June 2001) --- p.61 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Stage 2: Interviews with the Teachers (Early July 2001 to early December2001) --- p.62 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Stage 3: Interviews with the Subjects to Collect Background --- p.63 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Stage 4: Interviews with the Subjects to Collect In-depth Data (Mid-September 2001 to Mid-January2001) --- p.63 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- "Stage 5: Interviews with the parents (December to February,2001)" --- p.64 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Stage 6: Data Analysis (March to May) --- p.65 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1 --- Reasons for Coming to Hong Kong --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- Scene of Departure and First Day in Hong Kong --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3 --- Schooling in Hong Kong --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- First School Day --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Feelings before Going to School --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- New Teachers and Classmates --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Cultural Differences and Language Shock --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3.1.4 --- Worries and Concerns --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- School Life --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Perceived Function of Educationand Academic Goal Setting --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- Parent's Expectation for the NACs Academic Attainment --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2.3 --- Relationship with Teachers --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.2.4 --- Relationship with Classmates --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3.2.5 --- Language Learning --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2.5.1 --- Attitudes towards Different language --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2.5.2 --- Cantonese Learning --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.2.5.3 --- English Learning --- p.104 / Chapter 4.3.2.6 --- Age Gap with Classmates --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.2.7 --- Participation in Extracurricular Activities --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3.2.8 --- Change to a Different School --- p.116 / Chapter 4.4 --- Family Life and Community Support --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Family Life --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4.1.1 --- Relationship with Family --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4.1.2 --- Living Environment --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.1.3 --- Family's Economic Situation --- p.125 / Chapter 4.4.1.4 --- Comparison with Hongkongers´ة Family Life --- p.127 / Chapter 4.4.1.5 --- Languages use with Family --- p.129 / Chapter 4.4.1.6 --- Learning of Hometown Cultures --- p.131 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Community Support --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Education Department --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4.2.2 --- School's Support --- p.137 / Chapter 4.4.2.3 --- Community Centers --- p.138 / Chapter 4.4.2.4 --- The Church --- p.139 / Chapter 4.5 --- Identity --- p.140 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Perception of Self and In-group Members --- p.140 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Feeling about Different Labels and Desirable Identity --- p.142 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary --- p.146 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CONCLUSION --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1 --- The NACs' Sense of Self and Socio-cultural Adaptation --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Sense of Self before and after coming to Hong Kong --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Factors Affecting Sense of Self --- p.150 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Socio-cultural Differences --- p.151 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Socio-cultural Influences on Learning --- p.152 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Strategies Adopted by the Young NACs --- p.157 / Chapter 5.2 --- Recommendations and Suggestions --- p.158 / Chapter 5.3 --- Limitations of the Current Study and Suggestions for Future Studies - --- p.162 / reference --- p.163 / appendix --- p.174 / APPENDIX a Number of NACs Admitted to Secondary School (1991-2000) --- p.174 / APPENDIX B The Replication Approach to Multiple Case Study ´ؤ --- p.175 / APPENDIX C Consent Form for NACs Students --- p.176 / APPENDIX D Questionnaires for Young NACs I (Socioculutural Adaptation and Sense of Self) --- p.178 / APPENDIX E Questionnaires for Young NACs II (English Language Learning) --- p.192 / APPENDIX F Consent for NACs´ة English Teachers --- p.206 / APPENDIX G Interview Guide for the NACs' English Teachers -…- --- p.207 / APPENDIX H Interview Guide for Interview with Young NACs I(Sense of Departure & First day in Hong Kong) --- p.209 / APPENDIX I Interview Guide for Interview with Young NACs II (First School Day and the School Life) --- p.211 / APPENDIX J Interview Guide for Interview with YoungNACs III (Family Life) --- p.213 / APPENDIX K Interview Guide for Interview with YoungNACs IV(Perception of Self and Social Life) --- p.215 / APPENDIX L Consent Form (For NACs' Parents) --- p.217 / APPENDIX M Interview Guide for Interview with Young NACs' Parents --- p.219 / APPENDIX N Interview Transcription (Li: Follow-up Interview of the Questionnaire about Adaptation) --- p.221 / APPENDIX 0 Interview Transcription (Li: English Learning) --- p.229 / APPENDIX P Interview Transcription (Li: First Day in Hong Kong) --- p.239 / APPENDIX Q Interview Transcription (Li: First School Day and the School Life) --- p.248 / APPENDIX R Interview Transcription (Li: Family Life) --- p.264 / APPENDIX S Interview Transcription (Li: Perception ofSelf and Social Life) --- p.272 / APPENDIX T Interview Transcription (Li: Interview with Teacher) --- p.281 / APPENDIX U Interview Transcription (Li: Interview with Parent) --- p.287 / APPENDIX V Interview Transcription (Huang) --- p.292 / APPENDIX W Interview Transcription (Chang) --- p.362 / APPENDIX X Interview Transcription (Wong) --- p.431