The purpose of the descriptive research was to investigate the relationship between an adherence to the Black community's belief and value system about Black skin tones and Black school-age children's skin tone preferences and perceptions of occupational life opportunities. Six Black skin tones were scaled via Thurstone's method of paired comparisons and the law of comparative judgment. The result was an interval level Skin Tone Scale on which the skin tones were positioned from most to least preferred by the children. The most preferred skin tones ranged from medium to honey brown. The least preferred were the extreme tones of very light yellow and very dark brown. Data collection was accomplished with the Porter Skin Tone Connotation Scale (PSTCS). The instrument was constructed from the forced choice preference paradigm. Data were obtained from a volunteer sample of 98 Black school-age children who resided in a city in Arizona. Data collection and analyses were constructed to test two hypotheses: (1) Black school-age children's skin tone classifications for differential status occupations will be related to gender, age, and perception of own skin tone as indexed by the skin tone values of the Skin Tone Scale, and (2) with increasing age, Black school-age children's skin tone preferences will be more systematically related to the skin tone values of the Skin Tone Scale. Testing of the first hypothesis with multiple regression indicated that the independent variables did not account for enough variance to support the hypothesis. Analysis of the second hypothesis with coefficient gamma suggested a trend toward more systematic agreement with the Skin Tone Scale with increasing age. Results of the first hypothesis were discussed in relation to composition of the sample, gender differences, the achievement value of the Black sociocultural system, and these Black children's lived experience. Results of the second hypothesis reflected those from similar investigations conducted in the 1940s. The results suggested Black children still most prefer brown skin tones and least prefer extreme light and dark skin tones. Black children's preferences for Black skin tones have not altered in approximately forty years.

The current study expands upon existing developmental research on marital attitude change by examining how attitudes toward marriage and long-term relationships may vary across emerging adulthood. Utilizing five waves of data from the Center on Young Adult Health and Development’s College Life Study, discrete-time survival analysis and latent basis growth curve analysis are employed to assess the change—and predictors of such change—in three measures of relationship attitudes (desire for marriage, desire for long-term relationships, and importance of marriage and long-term relationships) of over 900 college students. Results indicate positive change in all three measures of attitudes, with most emerging adults desiring and placing importance on marriage and long-term relationships from the very beginning of college. Predictors of attitude change included sex, race, experience of parental death, student status, educational aspirations, and total number of sex partners. Results suggest a need for more longitudinal research in this area.

The present study assessed the views of students on school-related determinants with respect to liking or disliking technology. In determining students' views, two self-report instruments, the Classroom Learning Environment Survey (CLES) and Attitudes Toward Science Scale (ATSS) were used. Also, an interview schedule was arranged with a selected group. Participants were 200 first years registered for Diplomas in Primary -, Secondary -, and Technology Education. Results indicated a positive relationship between attitudes towards technology and each of teacher characteristics, student characteristics and the classroom environment. Regression analysis showed that attitudes toward technology were predicted by the three study variables. On the other hand, no statistically significant gender differences were established. Recommendations and suggestions for further research are also advanced. / Mathematics, Science & Technology Education / M. Sc. (Technology Education)

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)--Durban University of Technology, 2008. xix, 122 leaves / Discussion among homoeopaths in South Africa provides the impression that there is a degree of misunderstanding and ignorance about homoeopathy, and opinions are varied on its application and efficacy amongst the South African public. An over the counter (OTC) medicine, is a medicine which is sold without a prescription directly to the public, which includes homoeopathic medicines. OTC medicines may be sold at any retail outlet, i.e. a pharmacy or general store. There is much evidence pointed towards the growth and rise in over the counter sales in complementary and alternative medicine, a growth of more than 17% in total, homoeopathy is a major part of the complementary and alternative medicine group, having its own growth of more than 16% over a four year period. Self-medication in the form of over the counter medicines forms the main part of this industry (Caldis, 2000). The market was previously examined by the Mintel Group for complementary medicines and its growth in sales, in April 2003. Since then, the market has continued to expand, growing by 45% in real terms from 1999 to 2004. Greater consumer awareness of alternative medicines, an interest in healthy lifestyles, and the willingness to self-medicate certain conditions have all contributed to the increased value of sales (Mintel, 2005). Whenever the economic and public health benefits of self-medication are discussed, it is important to address inequalities in health. This means that not every citizen may feel sufficiently confident to practice responsible self-medication. It is also evident that not everybody has the financial means to do iii so. The whole notion of responsible self-medication both in a traditional sense and in the future is based on the concept of choice. Allowing individuals certain options when they suffer minor, self-limiting or chronic diseases is the fundamental consideration behind responsible self-medication (AESGP, 2004). Methodology A non-experimental descriptive survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of registered South African Homoeopaths regarding the availability of over the counter homoeopathic remedies. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed and 68 anonymous responses were obtained. Raw data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the relationships between variables tested for correlations. Results Respondents perceived homoeopathic OTC medicine sales and their availability in health shops and pharmacies, as contributing to the promotion of the profession as well as increasing its accessibility to the public. Other benefits perceived were the cost effectiveness of homoeopathic OTC medicines and convenience for home usage. The majority of respondents felt that there should be certain restrictions regarding the availability of OTC homoeopathic medicines, such as, the limitations regarding the availability of certain potencies. Participants also expressed concern over the degree of training held by retail outlet staff. Certain respondents felt that homoeopathic medicines should only be iv available with a prescription or used under the guidance of their practitioner. Other negative aspects of over the counter homoeopathic medicines were: incorrect use of medication, overdosing, and potential negative effects the patient may experience if the OTC medicine interacts with other medication, as well as the concern over the risks of self-medicating without the advice from a practitioner. Conclusions and recommendations The majority of respondents were in favour of the availability of homoeopathic OTC medicines to the public, provided that they are suitably regulated to ensure patient safety and quality control. Furthermore the regulation of the relevant retail outlets including education of staff in this regard was recommended. Respondents also were in favour of the awareness of the profession that homoeopathic OTC medicines created.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)--Durban University of Technology, 2008 / The 2001 Census revealed that roughly 78% of the South African population claimed to be of a certain religious standing, namely Christian (Statistics South Africa: 2001). One can assume that many Christians are exposed to, and partake in, the growing trend of complementary medicine. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of homeopathy amongst Christian Church members in the Berea North area of Durban and assess how similar they are to the perceptions of certain Christian authors holding the view that homoeopathy is incompatible with Christianity. Methodology A survey method with self-administered questionnaires was employed. A total of 365 questionnaires were distributed and 174 completed questionnaires were returned (47.40%). The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions that were divided into 4 sections. The first section consisted of demographic questions while the remaining sections were related to the perception of homoeopathy. For most of the questions, possible alternative answers were given. A few of the questions allowed open ended answers. Data was analyzed by means of the SPSS (v.13) program. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis and interpretation. More specifically, the Chi square test was used to determine relationships between certain qualitative variables. iii Results The majority of respondents (63.2%) perceived that homoeopathy is compatible with Christianity, with more females than males agreeing with that statement. Only 10.3% said it is not, and 24.1% were undecided. A similar majority (64.9%) answered “Yes” regarding whether Christians should use homoeopathy or not. The results showed that respondents who have made use of some form of complementary medicine e.g. reflexology, herbal medicine and acupuncture, are more likely to condone the use of homoeopathy amongst Christians. The overwhelming majority of respondents categorize homoeopathy as either natural (54%) or complementary (30%) medicine. Slightly more respondents categorize it as Eastern (8%) rather than New Age medicine (5%). Only 2 respondents (1%) categorized homoeopathy as occult. The results of the study showed that slightly more than half of the respondents perceive homoeopathy as operating on scientific principles (52.9%), and only 13.2% perceive that it does not with 32.8% undecided. 92.8% of respondents have a matric or higher level of education. Despite the high education level of respondents, 47.1% of respondents indicated that they only know something about homoeopathy and 25% indicated that they have either never heard of it or have only heard of it. The majority of respondents indicated that their knowledge of homoeopathy is inadequate (69%) but showed a desire to know more about homoeopathy (72.4%). iv Conclusion The conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that the majority of Christians surveyed did not share the views of the Christian authors who regard homoeopathy as incompatible with Christianity. On the contrary, the majority supported the use of homoeopathy, and were interested to find out more about it.

Mini-dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Background: Many previous South African studies exploring the relationship between the public, chiropractic and other health care professionals have indicated a poor level of knowledge and perception between the researched populations. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of second and third year medical students at The Nelson Mandela School of Medicine towards chiropractic. Objectives: The objectives of this study were firstly, to document the demographic details of the second and third year participants, secondly, to determine the level of knowledge and exposure of the second and third year participants to chiropractic, thirdly, to determine the perceptions of second and third year participants regarding chiropractic and to compare this between second and third year participants, fourthly, to determine the utilization of chiropractic by second and third year participants, and finally, to determine any relationship between demographic factors, knowledge, perception and utilization of chiropractic. Method: A survey method was employed with the measuring tool being a questionnaire. It was decided that only second and third year medical students would be included in the study. Results: The response rate of the study was 42.5%. It was found that the majority of participants were female, of Black ethnicity and all participants were younger than 33 years old. Participants had a wide range, and a relatively satisfactory level of knowledge of chiropractic, however, the 3rd year participants had a significantly higher mean knowledge score than the second years. There was a wide range of perceptions of chiropractic, but a relatively negative level of perception. There were no significant differences in perception scores between the groups (p=0.859). III The third year participants seemed to have a better view of the scope of chiropractic than second year participants. The utilization of chiropractic by the participants, their friends and family was found to be low. A few areas of concern, with regards to the limited exposure that medical students at The Nelson Mandela School of Medicine have towards chiropractic, were raised. Conclusion and recommendations: It can be concluded that second and third year medical students from The Nelson Mandela School of Medicine had a generally poor knowledge and perception of the chiropractic profession, which may be a possible reason for the poor communication between chiropractors and qualified medical practitioners. The presence of chiropractic students, who served as human anatomy demonstrators at The Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, may have had an impact on the results of the study. It is therefore recommended that further studies be done to investigate the effect that these demonstrators have at The Nelson Mandela School of Medicine. Basic information on chiropractic should also be included at The Nelson Mandela School of Medicine to educate medical students on chiropractic.

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Introduction This descriptive, quantitative perception survey aimed to determine the opinions and treatment regimes of registered South African homoeopaths, regarding childhood vaccinations. Purpose / Aim The purpose of this survey was to determine if there is a coherent treatment protocol amongst homoeopaths when dealing with childhood vaccinations. Methodology The researcher used a questionnaire (Appendix B), aimed at homoeopaths registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), as primary health care practitioners, to view their patient management techniques regarding vaccinations. This study aimed to document the intervention protocols offered concurrently or as an alternative to orthodox vaccinations. A participant information letter (Appendix A) and a questionnaire (Appendix B) were faxed or e-mailed to all homoeopaths. After a two week time lapse, an independent third party contacted the participants who had not returned the questionnaires to ensure they had received the questionnaire. A further 2 weeks were allowed to lapse for the return of the outstanding questionnaires, after which time the non-complying candidates were excluded from the study. v Anonymity was maintained as the 93 completed questionnaires were returned to the third party. All personal details were removed before the researcher was allowed access to the questionnaires. The data accumulated was evaluated and statistically analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square tests, frequency tables, bar charts, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc multiple comparison tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Polio was the only disease that participants felt should be vaccinated against (40%) and only 10.1% of participants rated vaccinations as very important. Half (55.3%) of the participants thought there was not enough scientific proof that vaccinations prevent infectious disease. The participants rated improved sanitization (82.9%); nutrition (72%); access to healthcare (65%); healthcare (64.6%) and education (64.2%) as the most important interventions contributing to the decline of infectious diseases. Conclusions The assumption that most homoeopaths disagree with vaccinations held true as 72% of the participants were not in favor of vaccinations. However, 44.4% felt that the risks of vaccinations did not outweigh the benefits. Results indicate that the majority of participants did not support the use of vaccinations although their treatment protocols and general opinions regarding vaccinations varied tremendously. vi In conclusion, the homoeopathic profession can use this information to decide what steps should be taken to rectify any misconceptions, improve general knowledge and attitudes regarding homoeopaths’ opinions and intervention protocols with regards to childhood vaccinations.

Consumers' attitudes towards established brands were tested using implicit and explicit measures. In particular, late positive potential (LPP) effects were assessed as an implicit physiological measure of motivational significance. The implicit Association Test (IAT) was used as an implicit behavioural measure of valence-related aspects (affective content) of brand attitude. We constructed individualised stimulus lists of liked and disliked brand types from participants' subjective pre-assessment. Participants then re-rated these visually presented brands whilst brain potential changes were recorded via electroencephalography (EEG). First, self-report measures during the test confirmed pre-assessed attitudes underlining consistent explicit rating performance. Second, liked brands elicited significantly more positive going waveforms (LPPs) than disliked brands over right parietal cortical areas starting at about 800 ms post stimulus onset (reaching statistical significance at around 1000 ms) and lasting until the end of the recording epoch (2000 ms). In accordance to the literature this finding is interpreted as reflecting positive affect-related motivational aspects of liked brands. Finally, the IAT revealed that both liked and disliked brands indeed are associated with affect-related valence. The increased levels of motivation associated with liked brands is interpreted as potentially reflecting increased purchasing intention, but this is of course only speculation at this stage. (authors' abstract)

Luxury consumption is more and more common in China with the rapid economic development today. Chinese consumers are becoming a main purchasing power of the fashion luxury brands.Chinese women accounted for 45 percent of Chinese luxury goods consumption at the end of 2012. There is no denying that the female Chinese consumers are playing an increasingly important role in the global luxury goods market. Chinese female luxury consumers between 30 and 50 are considered to be called Chinese Dama. The influences of this group of people on fashion luxuries market is becoming more significant. However, no research seems to have noticed the middle aged female luxury consumers group named Chinese Dama.The purpose of our research is to find out the reasons why this group of people, who are so called “Chinese Dama”, are consuming fashion luxuries. We want to define and identify this special fashion luxury consuming group. Hopefully, the findings in our thesis can inspire some fashion luxury companies to notice this new purchasing power and to come up with better sale and product strategies for Chinese Dama.A qualitative research method was developed to meet the purpose of collecting relevant data. Interviews were made with Chinese Dama we met in Gothenburg airport and a Munich fashion luxury shopping mall. We also made a content analysis on articles collected that explain the issue of who are Chinese Dama and the features and lifestyle of Chinese Dama for the empirical study.The findings of our research can provide information for marketers in the luxury market, which concludes that Chinese females have different type of attitudes and motivations including those found by other scholars and the new motivations and attitudes that were discovered in our investigation towards purchasing fashion luxuries, which are brand awareness, materialism, social comparison for attitudes and guanxi, saving face and reselling to make profit. We not only confirm common acknowledge about Chinese Dama, which is known by everyone in China, but also obtain a better understanding of Chinese Dama. We also concluded that the expression Chinese Dama is no longer appropriate.

The aim of this study is to examine educator’s attitudes regarding the youngest children’s influence. The target group for this study is educator’s that currently is working with children that are 1-3 years of age. To be able to answer the aim of this study semi-structured interview were conducted. I have performed interviews with five educator’s that currently work in two different preschool that is situated in a small city, in Sweden. The results show that the educator’s attitudes should be open and flexible and thereby allow the children more influence. The educator’s also talk about support, that they shall function as a supporter for the children and be there for them when needed. Responsive and empathetic is also important for the teachers in this study.