Anxiety and socio-emotional functioning were examined in a single case study of a girl with autism. The objective was to determine the effect of visualization on the experience of anxiety during social interaction, and three target situations that triggers anxiety responses were therefore selected. The ATEC checklist, personal observations and adapted behavior during the specified target behaviors, measured reduced levels of anxiety. The results and conclusions indicate that visualization, as intervention, may be successful in promoting the social and emotional functioning of a child with autism by reducing the high levels of anxiety associated with social interaction. Additionally, increased levels in general functioning, as indicated by the ATEC checklist, and of functioning in different developmental areas were observed. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Wiskunde as taal van die wetenskap en tegnologie is een van die weinige vakke wat spesifiek as voorvereiste vir die bestudering van sekere studierigtings gestel word. Leerlinge met Wiskunde-angs word verhoed om hul ware potensiaal in Wiskunde te verwesenlik en word sodoende gediskwalifiseer om hul regmatige plek in die beroepswereld in te neem. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of hipnoterapie aangewend kan word om Wiskunde-angs tot werkbare vlakke te beperk sodat leerlinge optimaal in Wiskunde kan presteer. Die aard, oorsake, aanvang, herkenning, verklaring, gevolge, voorkoms en meting van Wiskunde-angs, die verband daarvan met Wiskundeprestasie en die hulp wat onderwysers en hulpprogramme kan lewer, is nagegaan. Daarna is hipnose en hipnoterapie beskou om te bepaal of dit as terapeutiese hulpmiddel pedagogies verantwoordbaar is. 'n Hipnoterapieprogram is in werking gestel en daar is bevind dat die proefpersone almal tot 'n mindere of meerdere mate daarby gebaat het. / Mathematics as the language of science and technology is one of few subjects used as entrance requirement to certain fields of study. Mathematics anxiety prohibits certain pupils to reach their full potential in Mathematics and thus to obtain their rightful place in the world of work. The aim of this study was to determine whether hypnotherapy can be used to lower Mathematics anxiety levels to such an extend that pupils can optimally achieve in Mathematics. The nature, causes, extent, recognition, explanation, consequences, incidence and measurement of Mathematics anxiety, its relationship to achievement in Mathematics, as well as the help that can be rendered by teachers and treatment programmes were studied. Hypnotherapy was then examined to determine whether its use was pedagogically justifiable. A hypnotherapy treatment programme was introduced which was found to be to some extent beneficial to all the subjects used. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Wiskunde as taal van die wetenskap en tegnologie is een van die weinige vakke wat spesifiek as voorvereiste vir die bestudering van sekere studierigtings gestel word. Leerlinge met Wiskunde-angs word verhoed om hul ware potensiaal in Wiskunde te verwesenlik en word sodoende gediskwalifiseer om hul regmatige plek in die beroepswereld in te neem. Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of hipnoterapie aangewend kan word om Wiskunde-angs tot werkbare vlakke te beperk sodat leerlinge optimaal in Wiskunde kan presteer. Die aard, oorsake, aanvang, herkenning, verklaring, gevolge, voorkoms en meting van Wiskunde-angs, die verband daarvan met Wiskundeprestasie en die hulp wat onderwysers en hulpprogramme kan lewer, is nagegaan. Daarna is hipnose en hipnoterapie beskou om te bepaal of dit as terapeutiese hulpmiddel pedagogies verantwoordbaar is. 'n Hipnoterapieprogram is in werking gestel en daar is bevind dat die proefpersone almal tot 'n mindere of meerdere mate daarby gebaat het. / Mathematics as the language of science and technology is one of few subjects used as entrance requirement to certain fields of study. Mathematics anxiety prohibits certain pupils to reach their full potential in Mathematics and thus to obtain their rightful place in the world of work. The aim of this study was to determine whether hypnotherapy can be used to lower Mathematics anxiety levels to such an extend that pupils can optimally achieve in Mathematics. The nature, causes, extent, recognition, explanation, consequences, incidence and measurement of Mathematics anxiety, its relationship to achievement in Mathematics, as well as the help that can be rendered by teachers and treatment programmes were studied. Hypnotherapy was then examined to determine whether its use was pedagogically justifiable. A hypnotherapy treatment programme was introduced which was found to be to some extent beneficial to all the subjects used. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om te bepaal of betekenisvolle verskille bestaan tussen werknemerdoeltreffendheid en persepsies van gehalte van werklewe van bemagtigde en niebemagtigde skofwerkers in die Suid-Afrikaanse petrochemiese bedryf. Skofwerknavorsing het gedurende die afgelope dekade internasionaal toegeneem. Hiermee gepaardgaande het verskeie intervensies ontstaan om die doeltreffendheid van skofwerkers en hulle gehalte van werklewe te bevorder. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n gekombineerde vraelys ("Standard Shiftwork Index") en werklike data ten opsigte van afwesigheid en prestasiebeoordelings, is 'n steekproef van 102 gevalle geanaliseer. 'n 90 persent betroubaarheidinterval is gebruik om waardes ten opsigte van elke veranderlike te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat werknemerbemagtiging weinig invloed het op skofwerkers se werkbywoning. Daar is ook gevind dat werknemerbemagtiging nie lei tot 'n meer positiewe persepsie, by toesighouers, van skofwerkwerkers se algemene werkprestasie nie. Daar is egter bevind dat skofwerkers se persepsies van hulle gehalte van werklewe, ten opsigte van werkdissatisfaksie, chroniese vermoeidheid en tevredenheid met sosiale omstandighede, wel positiefbelnvloed word deur werknemerbemagtiging. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van die aanwending van werknemerbemagtiging, as intervensie in skofwerkomgewings, asook vir verdere skofwerknavorsing in Suid-Afrika. / The purpose of this research was to determine if significant differences exist between employee effectiveness and perceptions of quality of working life of empowered and non-empowered shiftworkers in the South-African petrochemical industry. By using the Standard Shiftwork Index and real absenteeism and appraisal data, a sample of 102 cases was analysed. A 90 percent confidence interval was used to determine t-values for variables. It was found that empowerment has little influence on the work attendance of shiftworkers and that empowerment does not lead to more positive perceptions of general work performance of shiftworkers, among their supervisors. It was, however, found that shiftworkers' perceptions of their quality of working life are improved by empowerment in respect of work dissatisfaction, chronic fatigue and satisfaction with social circumstances. Suggestions were made concerning the use of empowerment, as an intervention, in shiftwork environments and for future shiftwork research in South-Africa. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Assessment, as an integral part of teaching and learning, gained unprecedented prominence in the curriculum in South Africa post 1994. When the new curriculum was introduced, it was assumed that teachers would effortlessly adapt their teaching and assessment practices, and swiftly implement the curriculum. Fourteen years after the inception of the new curriculum, majority of teachers are still grappling with issues of assessment. Previously, there was an exclusive bias towards summative assessment, which is mainly learning product–orientated and less or no focus on the other assessment typologies such as diagnostic and formative assessment, which are learning process–orientated. Of these typologies, diagnostic assessment is not being used maximally to enhance mathematics learning and inform the nature of the interventions to attend to learners’ needs. The study focused on diagnostic assessment by investigating the impact of a particular model, GIST model, on the learning barriers and learner achievement in mathematics among the grade 9 learners. The investigation of the impact of the GIST model was done through the experimental design in four schools with class sizes of d > 40. Data were collected quantitatively through Study Orientation Questionnaire (SOM) and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) as well as qualitatively through interviews, observations and document analysis. The t–test and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the GIST model improved the learner achievement practically significantly (d = 0.79). However, the GIST model could not mitigate the learning barriers and improve correlations between SOM and MAT. The study, however, does find grounds to conclude that the latter findings can be attributed to teachers’ lacking understanding and implementation of diagnostic assessment, in particular the GIST components. Hence, certain recommendations are posed with regard to the applicable training of teachers in order to empower them to effectively utilize diagnostic assessment and to guide learners in overcoming learning barriers in mathematics. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Mathematics Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Assessment, as an integral part of teaching and learning, gained unprecedented prominence in the curriculum in South Africa post 1994. When the new curriculum was introduced, it was assumed that teachers would effortlessly adapt their teaching and assessment practices, and swiftly implement the curriculum. Fourteen years after the inception of the new curriculum, majority of teachers are still grappling with issues of assessment. Previously, there was an exclusive bias towards summative assessment, which is mainly learning product–orientated and less or no focus on the other assessment typologies such as diagnostic and formative assessment, which are learning process–orientated. Of these typologies, diagnostic assessment is not being used maximally to enhance mathematics learning and inform the nature of the interventions to attend to learners’ needs. The study focused on diagnostic assessment by investigating the impact of a particular model, GIST model, on the learning barriers and learner achievement in mathematics among the grade 9 learners. The investigation of the impact of the GIST model was done through the experimental design in four schools with class sizes of d > 40. Data were collected quantitatively through Study Orientation Questionnaire (SOM) and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) as well as qualitatively through interviews, observations and document analysis. The t–test and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the GIST model improved the learner achievement practically significantly (d = 0.79). However, the GIST model could not mitigate the learning barriers and improve correlations between SOM and MAT. The study, however, does find grounds to conclude that the latter findings can be attributed to teachers’ lacking understanding and implementation of diagnostic assessment, in particular the GIST components. Hence, certain recommendations are posed with regard to the applicable training of teachers in order to empower them to effectively utilize diagnostic assessment and to guide learners in overcoming learning barriers in mathematics. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Mathematics Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om te bepaal of betekenisvolle verskille bestaan tussen werknemerdoeltreffendheid en persepsies van gehalte van werklewe van bemagtigde en niebemagtigde skofwerkers in die Suid-Afrikaanse petrochemiese bedryf. Skofwerknavorsing het gedurende die afgelope dekade internasionaal toegeneem. Hiermee gepaardgaande het verskeie intervensies ontstaan om die doeltreffendheid van skofwerkers en hulle gehalte van werklewe te bevorder. Deur gebruik te maak van 'n gekombineerde vraelys ("Standard Shiftwork Index") en werklike data ten opsigte van afwesigheid en prestasiebeoordelings, is 'n steekproef van 102 gevalle geanaliseer. 'n 90 persent betroubaarheidinterval is gebruik om waardes ten opsigte van elke veranderlike te bepaal. Daar is bevind dat werknemerbemagtiging weinig invloed het op skofwerkers se werkbywoning. Daar is ook gevind dat werknemerbemagtiging nie lei tot 'n meer positiewe persepsie, by toesighouers, van skofwerkwerkers se algemene werkprestasie nie. Daar is egter bevind dat skofwerkers se persepsies van hulle gehalte van werklewe, ten opsigte van werkdissatisfaksie, chroniese vermoeidheid en tevredenheid met sosiale omstandighede, wel positiefbelnvloed word deur werknemerbemagtiging. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van die aanwending van werknemerbemagtiging, as intervensie in skofwerkomgewings, asook vir verdere skofwerknavorsing in Suid-Afrika. / The purpose of this research was to determine if significant differences exist between employee effectiveness and perceptions of quality of working life of empowered and non-empowered shiftworkers in the South-African petrochemical industry. By using the Standard Shiftwork Index and real absenteeism and appraisal data, a sample of 102 cases was analysed. A 90 percent confidence interval was used to determine t-values for variables. It was found that empowerment has little influence on the work attendance of shiftworkers and that empowerment does not lead to more positive perceptions of general work performance of shiftworkers, among their supervisors. It was, however, found that shiftworkers' perceptions of their quality of working life are improved by empowerment in respect of work dissatisfaction, chronic fatigue and satisfaction with social circumstances. Suggestions were made concerning the use of empowerment, as an intervention, in shiftwork environments and for future shiftwork research in South-Africa. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)

A hospitalisation experience is serious for every toddler, and implies physical and emotional trauma of one kind or another. The reaction of the toddler in terms of this trauma in effect is a normal reaction to an unnatural situation, through which he tries to be in control of himself and his unknown environment. His lack of experience, incomplete cognitive reasoning, and lack of insight cause anxiety and stress for the toddler. Misbehaviour because of account of his anxiety and fear which the form part of the toddlers attempts to control and get hold of this unknown situation. The research is primarily aimed at how the therapist, parents and hospital personnel can prepare, assess and support the toddler, in terms of handling the hospitalisation process. Seeing that there is normally no one to blame for the toddlers admission to hospital, the child directs his anger and anxiety at himself, resulting in inner conflict and intense feelings of guilt. The research project aims to focus on preparation of the pre-primary toddler for hospitalisation, by using playtherapeutic intervention, in order to lessen the fear and anxiety of the experience. This goal was achieved by a literature study, an empirical study with the aid of application of a preparatory intervention program, as well as an assessment and an evaluation of the program, in order to make recommendations, regarding the research. Optimal care, and preparation of sick toddlers for admission in hospital, includes more than satisfying the child’s physical needs. It also asks for gratification of the toddler’s psychosocial needs. Support and preparation of both the child and his/her parents form an integral component of the sanitary care process. Therapeutic activities with the child that is going to hospital, can, according to the goals of the research study, be instrumental in reducing fear, promote self-esteem, become acquainted with the medical setting and procedures, as well as providing in the toddlers physical, emotional, psychological and psychosocial needs. A complete and refined play therapeutic preparation program was developed and evaluated through the findings of the empirical and literature study. The process of intervention research was followed in the empirical study, where data was obtained with the aid of a purposive sample, of 20 hospitalised toddler respondents. Creswell’s dominant-less-dominant model was utilised. A dominant quantitative approach was being followed, through witch data was assembled by a self developed structured observation instrument, as a post-test for both the experimental as well as the comparative group. The less dominant, but equally important qualitative approach, that consisted of 9 playtherapeutic sessions with experimental group, field notes and interviews with parents, enrich and verified the quantitative data. According to the integration of the quantitative and qualitative findings, the conclusion can be made that the preparatory playtherapeutic program had a positive impact on the way fear and the toddlers handled anxiety during hospitalisation, with less misbehaviour. The findings show that the developed preparatory playtherapeutic program can be implemented with great success and confidence, with toddlers that are going to be hospitalised. It is recommended that further research can be done on development and evaluation of preparation programmes for toddlers from less fortunate communities. Seeing that individual sessions may due to financial difficulties be less tenable, group sessions and community work can be recommended to reach larger groups of children, as well as creating community awareness for the needs of toddlers, related to hospitalisation. / Thesis (DPhil (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing het die verband tussen vroee adolessenterugbyspelers se doelorientering en selfkonsep, empiries en in die literatuur, ondersoek. Die literatuurondersoek het getoon dat doelorientering oar twee komponente beskik, naamlik taakbetrokkenheid en egobetrokkenheid. Taakbetrokke sportdeelnemers fokus op vaardigheidsontwikkeling en gebruik hulle eie prestasies as maatstaf vir sukses. Hulle beleef sukses wanneer 'n taak bemeester is, leer plaasvind, of daar 'n verbetering in die uitvoering van die taak is. Sukses word toegeskryf aan die mate van inspanning gelewer. Egobetrokke sportdeelnemers fokus op die wenmotief, gebruik normatiewe vergelyking as maatstaf vir prestasie, en beleef sukses wanneer hulle eie prestasies gunstig met die van ander kan vergelyk. Sukses word aan aangebore talent toegeskryf. Die empiriese ondersoek het bevind dat taakbetrokkenheid positief verband hou met die globale, persoonlike, en sosiale self. Egobetrokkenheid hou negatief verband met die fisieke self, en positief verband met kompetisie-angs. / The research investigated, in the literature and empirically, the possible relation between the goal orientation of male adolescent rugby players and their self-concept. The literature study indicated that goal orientation has two components, namely task involvement and ego involvement. In task-involved sport participation, skills development is emphasized, evaluation of achievement is self-referenced, and success experienced when learning takes place, a task is mastered, or when there is improvement in the execution of tasks. Success is attributed to effort. In ego-involved sport participation objective outcomes are emphasized (i.e. winning), evaluation of achievement is norm-based, and success experienced when own achievements are favourably compared to those of other sport participants. Success is attributed to natural ability. The empirical study indicated a positive relation between task-involved sport participation and the global, personal, and social self. A negative relation between ego-involved sport participation and the physical self, and a positive relation between ego involvement and competition-anxiety was found. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing het die verband tussen vroee adolessenterugbyspelers se doelorientering en selfkonsep, empiries en in die literatuur, ondersoek. Die literatuurondersoek het getoon dat doelorientering oar twee komponente beskik, naamlik taakbetrokkenheid en egobetrokkenheid. Taakbetrokke sportdeelnemers fokus op vaardigheidsontwikkeling en gebruik hulle eie prestasies as maatstaf vir sukses. Hulle beleef sukses wanneer 'n taak bemeester is, leer plaasvind, of daar 'n verbetering in die uitvoering van die taak is. Sukses word toegeskryf aan die mate van inspanning gelewer. Egobetrokke sportdeelnemers fokus op die wenmotief, gebruik normatiewe vergelyking as maatstaf vir prestasie, en beleef sukses wanneer hulle eie prestasies gunstig met die van ander kan vergelyk. Sukses word aan aangebore talent toegeskryf. Die empiriese ondersoek het bevind dat taakbetrokkenheid positief verband hou met die globale, persoonlike, en sosiale self. Egobetrokkenheid hou negatief verband met die fisieke self, en positief verband met kompetisie-angs. / The research investigated, in the literature and empirically, the possible relation between the goal orientation of male adolescent rugby players and their self-concept. The literature study indicated that goal orientation has two components, namely task involvement and ego involvement. In task-involved sport participation, skills development is emphasized, evaluation of achievement is self-referenced, and success experienced when learning takes place, a task is mastered, or when there is improvement in the execution of tasks. Success is attributed to effort. In ego-involved sport participation objective outcomes are emphasized (i.e. winning), evaluation of achievement is norm-based, and success experienced when own achievements are favourably compared to those of other sport participants. Success is attributed to natural ability. The empirical study indicated a positive relation between task-involved sport participation and the global, personal, and social self. A negative relation between ego-involved sport participation and the physical self, and a positive relation between ego involvement and competition-anxiety was found. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Spesialisering in Voorligting)