This ethnographic field study examined six female home economics teachers' conceptions of Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum, the perceived influences on these conceptions and the relationship of the conceptions to classroom practice. Data from classroom observations, interviews and selected documents were analyzed using a framework of conceptual categories from the literature of curriculum and of FLE, and two emergent analytic categories ("tensions and constraints" and "images of FLE curriculum practice"). Six curriculum conceptions were labelled according to the teachers' beliefs about the aims and purposes of FLE. Similarities were related to the nature of FLE subject matter, while differences suggested differing views of the educational enterprise. Although the teachers indicated that multiple factors had influenced their beliefs about FLE curriculum, all considered life experiences to have had the greatest impact, suggesting that the curriculum conceptions were personally derived and represent the teachers' personal visions of FLE curriculum. The considerable consistency between the teachers' articulated beliefs and their classroom practice in this study implies that curriculum conceptions were significant influences on curriculum practice and confirms the belief in the field that the teacher is the FLE curriculum. Contextual factors (such as the institutional nature of schooling) appeared to mediate some beliefs and may have contributed to some inconsistencies between beliefs and practice and to the emergence of some unarticulated beliefs. For the most part, these factors were related to the subject matter itself and indicate that FLE teachers may experience some unique influences on their practice. The images of curriculum practice provide insight into the role of beliefs in the translation of FLE curriculum in the classroom. Of particular significance was the extent to which these images reflected the influence of personal life experience. These images also situate teachers' beliefs about FLE curriculum within the classroom and indicate that teachers' beliefs interact with both the students and the subject matter of the curriculum. This interaction contributes to the character of the curriculum in use and suggests that while teachers' beliefs do play a central role in the translation of curriculum, other factors may also exert an influence. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

This thesis investigates the relevance of individualisation theory in the attitudes of 18 to 30 year olds living in Britain. It tests four theories of couple relationships that can be located in this debate; two prominent theories of individualisation (Beck and Beck-Gernsheim, 1995; Giddens, 1992), a theory of social exchange (Rusbult, 1980) and a socio-cultural theory of romantic love (Giddens, 1992; Jackson 1993; Burkitt 1997). In considering how these four theories might be relevant to the attitudes of 18 to 30 year olds two different ways are explored. The first is concerned with how the theories might be relevant to the attitudes of 18 to 30 year olds as a social group in terms of which theory seems most reflective of the attitudes of this population as a whole. The second is concerned with how the theories might be relevant as psychological types, to explore whether different types of attitude could be identified in the 18 to 30 age group and whether the models in any way map onto these types. The study also explores how attitudes towards relationships might differ between different demographic and socio-economic groups in the 18 to 30 population. The research design has four elements; the first involves exploratory interviews with six relationship counsellors, the second involves the analysis of data from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (1990, 2000), the third involves the creation and validation of a self-completion attitude instrument, the fourth involves the analysis of the primary data collected via this instrument from a representative sample of 18 to 30 year olds living in Britain. One of the main statistical techniques used in analysing the survey data (both Natsal 1990, 2000 and the primary data) is cluster analysis. This is used to identify groups who have similar attitudes to one another and therefore investigate whether one can distinguish between different attitude types. The key findings of this research indicate that, in the attitudes of this age group at least, traditional values and desires pervade. While there have been some shifts that indicate a loosening of traditional values and desires, on the whole young adults seem to desire traditional relationship forms, namely monogamous live-in partnerships, and value qualities consistent with them, namely fidelity and longevity. Further, this research shows evidence for both a theory of romantic love and individualisation theory as attitude types. Finally, it shows that measures of age, sex, religiosity, ethnicity, country of origin, class and education are all associated with attitudes towards relationships.

Because of the lack of authoritative secondary material on the Mirror, the need for deeper study into the content of the Mirror appears necessary. In order to fill this need, this study has been undertaken to provide basic information about the Mirror's subject matter and the attitudes of its contributors.

Fifty teachers and forty-five probation officers participated in this study which was designed to elicit their opinions on critical risk factors that lead youth to criminal behavior. Risk factors identified included: dropping out of school, participating in gang activity, poverty, using drugs (or just the availability of drugs), parental involvement in criminal activity, and the lack of parental supervision.

Non-verbal communication is a pervasive form of information sharing which has been shown to influence human behavior from infancy. To date, few empirical investigations have explored the mechanism or mechanisms by which the observed non-verbal reactions of an audience can influence message-based persuasion. Within the current dissertation, pilot data suggest that observing different types of non-verbal reactions to a persuasive message can affect attitudes. Four studies then explore two possible mechanisms by which audience non-verbal reactions could influence attitudes in a message-based persuasion paradigm. Results suggest that audience non-verbal reactions can influence attitudes by serving as a cue or heuristic or by biasing how message arguments are interpreted. Results are relevant to parties interested in affecting people's attitudes and behavior; especially as subtle non-verbal cues become more frequently communicated through technology such as network television and videoconferencing.

Background: Pain is the most common presenting complaint in patients visiting a healthcare facility. Healthcare professionals need adequate knowledge of pain to be able to manage it effectively. Aim: To determine the Pain Knowledge and Attitudes of the 2018 final year medical students at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Setting: The study was conducted by the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa with final year medical students Methods: Unruh's Modified Pain Knowledge and Attitudes (MPKA) questionnaire was utilized to collect data in a cross-sectional survey using an internet-based electronic format. Results: A total of 104 students out of 232 students in the class (44.8%) participated in the study. The total median score on the MPKA questionnaire was 46 (IQR 44- 50.5) out of 57, or 80.7%(IQR 77.2-88.6%).The participants performed worst in the section on the pharmacological management of pain with median scores of 6 (IQR 4- 8) (55%) correct out of 11 questions. Conclusion: Pain knowledge, especially with regards to the pharmacological aspects of pain management, has some important deficiencies in these final year medical students. It appears that the undergraduate curriculum and teaching thereof would benefit from a review of the pain curriculum.

Communication departments may have the core knowledge to practise excellent communication, but senior management must also share a common understanding of the role and function of communication and communication managers in an organisation for communication to be excellent. The need for this study originated from the perception that the top communicator is often not at the table when strategic decisions are made. Yet, public relations specialists often have expertise that can contribute to organisational decision-making. They can, amongst others, facilitate dialogue between key publics and members of senior management in order to enhance understanding of the vision and goals of the organisation and the needs of the organisation's clients and stakeholders. This form of two-way symmetrical communication is the basis of excellent communication. Most practitioners agree that the best place for the top communicator is within an organisation's senior management - taking part in strategic decision-making through two-way communication (Dozier, Grunig, L&Grunig, J, 1995). The three spheres of communication excellence - as identified in the Excellence Study, the largest and most intensive investigation ever conducted of public relations and communication management - include the knowledge base of communication departments; shared expectations between the top communicator and senior management; and the culture of the organisation. The middle sphere of shared expectations between the top communicator and semor management, has three components which will be investigated in this study. The first component is departmental power - the ability to influence members of senior management. Sometimes top communicators are members of senior management, participating directly in strategic management and planning. In other cases, they exert informal influence as providers of information and as process facilitators to senior management. The power of the public relations department is associated with the value members of senior management attach to public relations as a function, as well as the strategic contribution the top communicator and the communication department make to organisational decision-making. The second component of excellence in this sphere is the demand-delivery loop. Senior managers in excellent organisations demand two-way public relations practices from their communicators to persuade and negotiate, and top communicators are aware of this. This sets up a loop of repeated behaviour, with senior management demanding and communicators delivering excellent communication programmes. In this study, top communicators in South African organisations are asked about their perceptions of these expectations. The third component of excellence in this sphere is the organisational role played by the top communicator. Top communicators may have formal decision-making authority for communication policy and may be responsible for programme success or failure, which means that they play the manager role. On the other hand, top communicators may play an informal role as senior advisors who outline options and provide research information needed for decision-making by other senior managers. Both manager and senior advisor role¬playing, contribute to communication excellence. However, senior management can also expect the top communicator to play the technician role. Top communication departments from the Excellence Study combine knowledge of both manager and technician roles to provide the requisite foundation for excellence. To actually achieve excellence, however, top communicators must play advanced organisational roles of communication manager and senior advisor. One of the objectives of this study was to establish whether the top communicator in the South African organisation does indeed contribute to excellence in the organisation by being involved in the organisation's strategic management process. For top communicators to be part of the strategic management process, a positive relationship must exist between themselves and senior management. This relationship is investigated by questioning the top communicator on the three components of the sphere of shared expectations, namely departmental power, the demand-delivery loop (and the practising of the four models of communication) and the organisational role played by the top communicator. The empirical study was undertaken amongst top communicators in South African organisations. A clear exposition is given of the methods and procedures used in the study. Hypotheses have been developed and the testing of these hypotheses attempts to provide a contribution to the scientific knowledge of communication excellence in the South African organisation. The following assumptions can be made about the findings of the study regarding the perceptions of top communicators in South African organisations in respect of the beliefs and expectations of senior management of the top communicator and the communication department: <ul><li> It is the perception of top communicators that senior management expects them to make a strategic contribution to organisational decision-making by playing the public relations manager role. </li><li> Senior management expects those top communicators predominantly playing the public relations manager role to make use of two-way public relations models in organisational decision-making and communication activities; and those predominantly playing the public relations technician role to make use of one-way public relations models. </li><li> The top communicator predominantly playing the public relations manager role and using two-way public relations models, can make a strategic contribution to organisational decision-making. This can lead to excellent communication and can contribute to the communication function being valued and supported by top management. </li><li> Top communicators do not perceive reporting lines to the chief executive officer (CEO) (or any other manager) or senior management (or middle management) to be very good indicators of their strategic contribution to decision-making. These findings support the communication theory that reporting relationships are necessary, but hardly sufficient for making a strategic contribution to organisational decision-making as indicated by Dozier et al (1995:84). The critical factor is not whom one reports to, but rather whether one has access to any of the senior (corporate) officers at will. </li><li> Top communicators in small and in large organisations can make a strategic contribution to organisational decision-making. </li><li> The top communicator can make a bigger strategic contribution in large communication departments, where technical tasks can be delegated. </li><li> Small and large public relations departments predominantly use one-way public relations models in their communication activities, but large departments also use two-way public relations models. It can, therefore, be assumed that two-way public relations models will be practised more frequently in large departments where the top communicator will also be expected to make a strategic contribution to organisational decision-making (by playing the public relations manager role). </li><li> The highest qualification of the top communicator is a weak indicator of the strategic contribution the top communicator makes to organisational decision-making. This could indicate that senior management values skills and knowledge, rather than qualifications, when the top communicator makes a strategic contribution to organisational decision¬making. </li><li> Senior management, furthermore, expects the top communicator with many years' experience in the communications field to make a bigger strategic contribution than the top communicator with a few years' experience in this field. <br></li></ul> / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Communication Management / MA / Unrestricted

MPH / Department of Public Health / Occupational Health and Safety has become one of the leading concerns throughout the cleaning industry. Compliance with safety regulations among cleaners of the University of Venda is still a challenge. The study aims to investigate factors contributing to non-compliance with safety regulations among cleaners: A selected rural university in South Africa. The study was conducted at the University of Venda, South Africa. A quantitative approach using cross-sectional descriptive survey design was employed. A pre-test was carried out to determine the reliability of the researcher-developed questionnaire. A total population will be applied and all the 164 was included in the study. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Data was presented in the form of graphs, tables and charts. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data. Results: A total population of 164 cleaners took part in the research project, 119 (74%) were females and 45 (26%) were males. Among the participant 5%, n = 9 had no form of education background, 28%, n = 46 with a primary education background, 48%, n = 79 with a secondary education back and only 19%, n = 30 with a post-secondary background. Participants with a post- Matric back ground showed significant understanding (90%, n = 27) on the importance of complying with safety guidelines, as compared to those with no form of formal education (44%, n = 4). There was a significant relationship between gender and level of education with regards to the factors contributing to non-compliance with safety regulations among cleaners. The study revealed that the female participants are more likely to adhere to safety regulations (65%, n = 74) as compared to male participants (63%, n = 26). Majority of cleaners have a fair knowledge on the safety compliance within the working environment, however there is a need to put more effort on the safety regulations practice. Conclusion: The study concludes that female participants are more cautious within the workplace as compared to the male participants and that the level of education also has significant relationship on the level of compliance with regards to safety regulations. Recommendations: There is a need to have a functional safety committee that will ensure that all safety protocols are being followed, the committee may also amend the existing policy on given period of time. / NRF

No description available.

Three studies tested the integrated threat theory by examining the causal role that threats play in attitudes toward immigrants. In Study I, students were presented with information about an immigrant group indicating that it posed realistic threats, symbolic threats, both types of threat or no threats to the ingroup. Attitudes toward the immigrant group were most negative when it posed both realistic and symbolic threats to the ingroup. In Study II, information was presented indicating that an immigrant group possessed negative traits, positive traits, or a combination of positive and negative traits. The results indicated that the negative stereotypes led to significantly more negative attitudes toward the immigrant group than the other types of stereotypes. In the third study, group descriptions leading to high levels of intergroup anxiety led to negative attitudes toward foreign exchange students. Empathizing with the foreign exchange students reduced these negative attitudes. The implications of the results of these studies for theory and practice are discussed.