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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
21

An assessment tool for social workers to identify risk behaviour in foster children / Narina Bester

Bester, Narina January 2014 (has links)
Problem statement Due to HIV and AIDS impacting on communities, devastating consequences have been predicted. The number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in need of care is escalating, causing social workers’ caseloads to become unmanageable. These OVC who lost their parents through death are suffering multiple losses due to being orphaned. The material, protection and affection needs have to be addressed in a holistic, eco-systematic, multidisciplinary team approach. In practice social workers tend to focus mainly on the material and protection needs of OVC due to high caseloads and staff turnover, neglecting their affection needs. Social workers need to work with foster parents and children in identifying potential risk factors that could lead to risk behaviour in foster children who have lost their parents through death. The researcher designed an assessment tool that could enable social workers in practice to do an effective risk assessment of OVC in foster care. Intervention could be planned accordingly by setting goals to address risk factors timeously in an attempt to prevent future problem behaviour in OVC placed in foster care. Aim To develop an assessment tool for social workers to identify risk behaviour in foster children who have experienced multiple losses such as the loss of one or both parents. Method A mixed methods design was used, specifically the sequential and explanatory design which involved collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data. These obtained data were then connected and integrated. Results It was proved that a Risk assessment tool helped social workers to identify risk factors in a team effort between social workers, foster parents and children. Meeting the psychosocial needs of OVC placed in foster care more effectively is important in order to prevent the development of negative behaviour. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
22

An assessment tool for social workers to identify risk behaviour in foster children / Narina Bester

Bester, Narina January 2014 (has links)
Problem statement Due to HIV and AIDS impacting on communities, devastating consequences have been predicted. The number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in need of care is escalating, causing social workers’ caseloads to become unmanageable. These OVC who lost their parents through death are suffering multiple losses due to being orphaned. The material, protection and affection needs have to be addressed in a holistic, eco-systematic, multidisciplinary team approach. In practice social workers tend to focus mainly on the material and protection needs of OVC due to high caseloads and staff turnover, neglecting their affection needs. Social workers need to work with foster parents and children in identifying potential risk factors that could lead to risk behaviour in foster children who have lost their parents through death. The researcher designed an assessment tool that could enable social workers in practice to do an effective risk assessment of OVC in foster care. Intervention could be planned accordingly by setting goals to address risk factors timeously in an attempt to prevent future problem behaviour in OVC placed in foster care. Aim To develop an assessment tool for social workers to identify risk behaviour in foster children who have experienced multiple losses such as the loss of one or both parents. Method A mixed methods design was used, specifically the sequential and explanatory design which involved collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data. These obtained data were then connected and integrated. Results It was proved that a Risk assessment tool helped social workers to identify risk factors in a team effort between social workers, foster parents and children. Meeting the psychosocial needs of OVC placed in foster care more effectively is important in order to prevent the development of negative behaviour. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
23

A sport management programme for educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools / Johannes Jacques Vosloo

Vosloo, Johannes Jacques January 2014 (has links)
In school sport the professionalisation of sport has reached the domain of school sport as a grassroots incubator for sporting talent and for providing positive experiences that might lead to lifelong engagement in physical activity. This has inevitably led to the development of specialised human resources required to manage school sport. In the South African context, despite the existence of a variety of sport management programmes, there is a need for continuously updated and adapted programmes to address the needs and demands of the market and workplace. To cope with the increased complexities surrounding school sport and the management thereof, a distinct body of knowledge and skills needs to be developed (Quatman & Chelladurai, 2008a:651) for the management of school sport. Concern over the lack of common knowledge, as well as a pertinent sport management programme for educator training to prepare educators for the diverse contemporary requirements and needs regarding the management of school sport, has resulted in current and prospective educators not necessarily meeting the needs or expectations of the industry in a diversity of South African schools to manage school sport. As a result there appears to be a gap between current sport management programmes‟ outcomes at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)1 in South Africa and the expected competencies of school sport managers. A need thus exists to have a sport management programme in place for educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools. Based on the preceding, the problem of identifying the needs and competencies of school sport managers required for the sport management training of educators according to the diverse context of South African schools is seen as the central point in this study. In coherence with the problem statement and the stated research questions, the purpose of this research was to determine the needs and competencies of school sport managers in order to develop a sport management programme for educator training according to the diverse needs of schools in South Africa. In order to achieve this, based on the problem statement, it was necessary to: * Determine the context of school sport within the education system; * Describe and delineate the current role of the school sport manager within the education system; * To analyse international and national sport management training programmes as part of educator training; * Determine the needs and competencies required by educators to manage school sport effectively according to the diverse needs of South African schools; and * Develop a sport management training programme for school sport managers according to the diverse needs of South African schools. To be able to develop a sport management programme for educator training, it was necessary to develop a related instrument that was content and context specific. Contextual, descriptive and explorative qualitative research was undertaken by means of a semi-structured interview. After the sport management competencies and needs were identified, a questionnaire (quantitative research), based on the qualitative research and the literature study in Chapters Two, Three and Four was compiled as part of the mixed-methods research design. To make a sound judgement of content and context specific sport management programmes for educator training, an occupation analysis of the identified school sport management competencies and a needs analysis of specific needs required to manage school sport was undertaken by means of a structured questionnaire. Once the competencies and needs required to manage school sport were defined, programme development principles were applied to develop a sport management programme for educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools. Conclusions drawn from the above-mentioned research include that the school sport management environment is exceptionally varied, politicised and complex. Another conclusion was that competencies required by the school sport manager can be divided into core, functional and specialist competencies, indicating a range of competencies necessary to equip and enable the school sport manager to manage school sport successfully. This phenomenon cannot merely be ignored by HEIs2 when a content and context-specific market and needs-driven sport management programme for educator training in a diversity of South African schools is developed. It is therefore recommended that a school sport management programme be tailored to the content and context-specific needs of society and school sport managers. In the light of the preceding and a continuously changing education landscape in South Africa, it is necessary that the developed sport management programme and related guidelines for a sport management programme for initial educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools should continuously be supplemented and adapted in a dynamic school sport environment. / PhD (Movement Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
24

A sport management programme for educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools / Johannes Jacques Vosloo

Vosloo, Johannes Jacques January 2014 (has links)
In school sport the professionalisation of sport has reached the domain of school sport as a grassroots incubator for sporting talent and for providing positive experiences that might lead to lifelong engagement in physical activity. This has inevitably led to the development of specialised human resources required to manage school sport. In the South African context, despite the existence of a variety of sport management programmes, there is a need for continuously updated and adapted programmes to address the needs and demands of the market and workplace. To cope with the increased complexities surrounding school sport and the management thereof, a distinct body of knowledge and skills needs to be developed (Quatman & Chelladurai, 2008a:651) for the management of school sport. Concern over the lack of common knowledge, as well as a pertinent sport management programme for educator training to prepare educators for the diverse contemporary requirements and needs regarding the management of school sport, has resulted in current and prospective educators not necessarily meeting the needs or expectations of the industry in a diversity of South African schools to manage school sport. As a result there appears to be a gap between current sport management programmes‟ outcomes at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)1 in South Africa and the expected competencies of school sport managers. A need thus exists to have a sport management programme in place for educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools. Based on the preceding, the problem of identifying the needs and competencies of school sport managers required for the sport management training of educators according to the diverse context of South African schools is seen as the central point in this study. In coherence with the problem statement and the stated research questions, the purpose of this research was to determine the needs and competencies of school sport managers in order to develop a sport management programme for educator training according to the diverse needs of schools in South Africa. In order to achieve this, based on the problem statement, it was necessary to: * Determine the context of school sport within the education system; * Describe and delineate the current role of the school sport manager within the education system; * To analyse international and national sport management training programmes as part of educator training; * Determine the needs and competencies required by educators to manage school sport effectively according to the diverse needs of South African schools; and * Develop a sport management training programme for school sport managers according to the diverse needs of South African schools. To be able to develop a sport management programme for educator training, it was necessary to develop a related instrument that was content and context specific. Contextual, descriptive and explorative qualitative research was undertaken by means of a semi-structured interview. After the sport management competencies and needs were identified, a questionnaire (quantitative research), based on the qualitative research and the literature study in Chapters Two, Three and Four was compiled as part of the mixed-methods research design. To make a sound judgement of content and context specific sport management programmes for educator training, an occupation analysis of the identified school sport management competencies and a needs analysis of specific needs required to manage school sport was undertaken by means of a structured questionnaire. Once the competencies and needs required to manage school sport were defined, programme development principles were applied to develop a sport management programme for educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools. Conclusions drawn from the above-mentioned research include that the school sport management environment is exceptionally varied, politicised and complex. Another conclusion was that competencies required by the school sport manager can be divided into core, functional and specialist competencies, indicating a range of competencies necessary to equip and enable the school sport manager to manage school sport successfully. This phenomenon cannot merely be ignored by HEIs2 when a content and context-specific market and needs-driven sport management programme for educator training in a diversity of South African schools is developed. It is therefore recommended that a school sport management programme be tailored to the content and context-specific needs of society and school sport managers. In the light of the preceding and a continuously changing education landscape in South Africa, it is necessary that the developed sport management programme and related guidelines for a sport management programme for initial educator training in accordance with the diverse needs of South African schools should continuously be supplemented and adapted in a dynamic school sport environment. / PhD (Movement Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
25

Die manifestasie van organisasietraagheid

Louw, Gerrit Johannes. 06 1900 (has links)
Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Key terms in English and Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie was om organisasietraagheid as stremmende fenomeen te konseptualiseer en die manifestasie daarvan te ondersoek binne 'n tipiese werkorganisasie. Aandag is gegee aan organisasietransformasie binne die raamwerk van 'n diagnostiese model vir organisasie- en individuele ontwikkeling. Die empiriese studie bevestig die manifestasie van organisasietraagheid ten opsigte van die teikenorganisasie. Resultate bevestig dat respondente ten gunste is van veranderingsinisiatiewe, maar ondergeskiktes toon 'n emstige behoefte aan leierskap. Dit blyk ook dat die organisasie nie die vermoe het om vinnig op omgewingsveranderings te reageer nie. Gesonde bestuurspraktyke word nie gevolg nie en kreatiwiteit word nie aangemoedig nie. By ondergeskiktes bestaan ook twyfel oor veranderingsagente se vermoe om verandering te fasiliteer. / The purpose of the study was to conceptualise organisation inertia as a retarding phenomenon and to investigate its manifestation within a typical work organisation. Attention was given to organisational and individual development within the framework of a diagnostic model. The empirical study focussed on the manifestation of organisational inertia within the target organisation. Results confirmed that respondents are in favour of change initiatives but that the stimulation thereof do not exist. Subordinates are not encouraged to show creativity. The organisation demonstrates an incapability to respond to environmental changes and reflects a non-existence of healthy management practices. Little trust exists in the capability of change agents to facilitate change. / Economics and Management Sciences / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)
26

Die belewenisse en sosio-emosionele behoeftes van familielede as primere VIGS-versorgers binne 'n ekologiese perspektief : 'n kwalitatiewe studie

Terblanche, Hester Helena 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to a lack of research, which, in turn, resulted in a shortage of applicable literature that focused on the experiences and socio-emotional needs of family members as carers of AIDS-patients, the researcher decided to undertake this research project. The aim of this was to investigate the experiences and socio-emotional needs of family members as AIDS care givers. To lead the research, the researcher made use of a qualitative research approach. Attention was also given to the description of HIV/AIDS, as well as the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The impact of HIV/AIDS was also given attention, and it was done from an ecological perspective. Within the qualitative research paradigm a phenomenological, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. The boundaries for data collection were delineated to the George area. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family members who acted as primary care givers of AIDS-patients who were recruited by means of purposive sampling and the snowball sampling technique. The data collected were analysed according to the steps for qualitative data analysis as proposed by Tesch (in Cresswell, 1994). To ensure the trustworthiness of the research findings, data verification was executed according to Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991). The following twelve themes emanated from the process of data analysis: - Knowledge of the disease - Caring for people with AIDS - Risky behaviour - Other people’s reactions - Care givers’ feelings and reactions - Support that was received with the care giving - Effect of the care giving on the relationship between the care giver and the patient - Changes in the care givers’ life because of the care giving of AIDS patients - Experiences regarding the dying process - Needs regarding the caring of the patient - Services that are needed - Advice from the participants to other family members as AIDS care givers. The following recommendations were made based on the conclusions derived from the research findings: Information sessions by Social Workers in collaboration with the different clinics on certain days; a community based project to recruit volunteers to support family care givers on a regular basis; look at facilities, like old age homes and hospices, that can give respite for a week to three weeks; connect family care givers to support groups in the community; make use of the media to give information regarding HIV/AIDS to the broader community; a centralized food and clothes bank from which care givers can draw affordable food and clothes. An application for funding can be done at the Department of Social Development or the Department of Health. Another recommendation that is made is to investigate the possibility of a community based project that provides cleaning and washing services to family members as care givers, as well as the patients. This can even become a job creation project. Other recommendations are: to investigate an alternative form of transport that is wheelchair accessible and patient friendly; to train home based carers to help family members as AIDS care givers; to train home based carers to be of assistance with counseling of patients with regard to their medication; to train home based carers as AIDS care givers to help family members to reach out to other support services or groups; that care givers should be careful about expectations of other people and that they should be confident enough to verbalize their expectations; that Social Workers should investigate if the family member, as AIDS care giver, as well as the patient, gets the necessary support on all levels of the ecological perspective, and if not, he/she must look at ancillary sources and mobilize it to give support to the family care giver as well as to the patient; that professionals need to keep in mind the advice the participants was given to other family members as care givers when they are working with these families. A recommendation was also made to do a follow-up research on the same topic in the White, Indian and Black communities and especially that further emphasis should be placed on their needs, as participation by this population groups were scarce or could not be obtained at all. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weens ‘n gebrek aan navorsing, en gevolglik ook aan literatuur rakende die belewenisse en sosio-emosionele behoeftes van familielede as primêre VIGS-versorgers, het die navorser besluit om hierdie navorsingsprojek te onderneem. Die doel hiermee was om die belewenisse en sosio-emosionele behoeftes van familielede as primêre VIGS-versorgers te verken en te beskryf. Om die navorsing te rig, is ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering vir die doel gebruik. Aandag is ook gegee aan die beskrywing en voorkoms van MIV/VIGS, asook die voorkoming en behandeling van MIV/VIGS. Die impak van MIV/VIGS is ook breedvoerig bespreek en is dit vanuit ‘n ekologiese perspektief gedoen. Binne die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is daar van ‘n fenomenologiese, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak. Die grense vir data-insameling het binne die George-area geval. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met familielede wat as primêre VIGS-versorgers optree, en wat deur middel van ‘n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking en die sneeubaltegniek vir deelname aan die navorsing gewerf is. Die ingesamelde data is ontleed aan die hand van die agt stappe van kwalitatiewe data-ontleding van Tesch soos uiteengesit in Creswell (1994). Guba se model soos dit in Krefting (1991:214-221) uiteengesit is, is gebruik om die vertrouenswaardigheid van die navorsingsdata te verifieer. Twaalf temas het na aanleiding van die prosesse van data-ontleding na vore gekom, naamlik: - Kennis van die siektetoestand - Versorging van VIGS-lyers - Risiko-gedrag - Ander mense se reaksie - Versorger se gevoelens en reaksies - Ondersteuning wat ontvang is met die versorging - Effek van pasiënt se versorging op die verhouding tussen versorger en pasiënt - Verandering van versorger se lewe as gevolg van die versorging van die VIGS-lyer - Belewenisse ten op sigte van die sterwensproses - Behoeftes ten opsigte van die versorging van die pasiënt - Dienste wat benodig word - Raad deur deelnemers aan ander familielede as VIGS-versorgers. Voortspruitend uit die navorsingsbevindinge, is tot sekere gevolgtrekkings gekom waaruit die volgende aanbevelings gemaak is: dat inligtingsessies deur maatskaplike werkers in samewerking met die verskillende klinieke op sekere dae gehou sal word; dat ‘n gemeenskapsprojek van stapel gestuur word om vrywilligers te werf wat op ‘n gereelde basis aan VIGS-versorgers ondersteuning bied; dat daar gekyk word na respite by ouetehuise of ‘n hospice vir ‘n tydperk van ongeveer drie weke om aan versorgers ‘n ruskans te gee; dat versorgers betrek word by ondersteuningsgroepe in die gemeenskap; dat die media gebruik word om inligting oor VIGS aan die breë gemeenskap deur te gee; dat aandag gegee word aan ‘n gesentraliseerde voedsel- en klerebank waarvandaan versorgers voorraad kan onttrek. Aansoek vir befondsing kan gedoen word by Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling of Departement Gesondheid. Verdere aanbevelings wat gemaak kan word, is: dat ‘n gemeenskapsprojek van stapel gestuur word om skoonmaakdienste en hulp met wasgoed was tot die beskikking van die VIGS-versorger te stel wat selfs as ‘n werkskeppingsprojek begin kan word; dat ‘n alternatiewe vorm van vervoer wat deur die familielid en pasiënt benut kan word, en wat geskik is vir pasiënt vervoer, ondersoek sal word; dat opleiding van tuisversorgers as hulp vir familielede as VIGS-versorgers aandag sal kry; dat opleiding van tuisversorgers om behulpsaam te wees met berading van pasiënte rakende hulle medikasie dringende aandag sal geniet; dat familielede as VIGS-versorgers uitreik na ander ondersteuningsbronne vir hulp; dat versorgers versigtig sal wees ten opsigte van verwagtinge van ander, maar dat hulle ook vrymoedigheid sal neem om hulle verwagtinge te verbaliseer; dat die maatskaplike werker sal ondersoek instel of die familielid as primêre VIGS-versorger, sowel as die pasiënt, vanuit al die vlakke van die ekologiese perspektief die nodige ondersteuning geniet, en indien nie, moet daar gekyk word na hulpbronne en dit moet gemobiliseer word ten einde hierdie noodsaaklike ondersteuning te bied; dat die raad wat deur die deelnemers aan die navorsing aan ander familielede as VIGS-versorgers voorsien is, in gedagte gehou sal word wanneer met hierdie families gewerk word. ‘n Aanbeveling is ook gemaak dat opvolg navorsing oor dieselfde onderwerp gedoen word onder die Wit, Indiër en Swart gemeenskappe, en dat veral klem gelê word op hulle behoeftes, aangesien deelname vanuit hierdie bevolkingsgroepe skraal was, of glad nie bekom kon word nie.
27

A skills and needs analysis among social workers assessing alleged child sexual abuse in the Western Cape

Iffley, Roché Shandré January 2012 (has links)
This study focuses on the skills and needs of forensic social workers, working with alleged child sexual abuse in the Western Cape. Forensic social work is based on specialised knowledge drawn from established principles and their application within proven methodology of training, familiarity with the law, evaluation and objective criteria associated with treatment outcomes. The scope of forensic social work thus includes a specialised skill where human service systems communicate the language in the context of legal systems. This means that the forensic process must withstand critical review and rebuttal from opposing parties in a legal system. It is evident that a forensic social worker needs to have specialised training and specific skills, focusing on forensic investigative interviews, all aspects of child sexual abuse and how the South African justice system operates. Without these skills, the legal process may not be successful and the prevention of child sexual abuse not as successful as it might otherwise be. The general aim of the study was to analyse the skills and needs of social workers assessing allegations of child sexual abuse in order to assist organisations working in the field of forensic social work by improving their support training practices in forensic social work. The researcher used a quantitative descriptive design also known as a survey design. This design usually makes use of a questionnaire as a data collection method and nineteen (19) respondents were selected according to a randomised method of sampling. The findings form part of a list of recommendations to participating welfare organisations. / Thesis (MSc (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.
28

A skills and needs analysis among social workers assessing alleged child sexual abuse in the Western Cape

Iffley, Roché Shandré January 2012 (has links)
This study focuses on the skills and needs of forensic social workers, working with alleged child sexual abuse in the Western Cape. Forensic social work is based on specialised knowledge drawn from established principles and their application within proven methodology of training, familiarity with the law, evaluation and objective criteria associated with treatment outcomes. The scope of forensic social work thus includes a specialised skill where human service systems communicate the language in the context of legal systems. This means that the forensic process must withstand critical review and rebuttal from opposing parties in a legal system. It is evident that a forensic social worker needs to have specialised training and specific skills, focusing on forensic investigative interviews, all aspects of child sexual abuse and how the South African justice system operates. Without these skills, the legal process may not be successful and the prevention of child sexual abuse not as successful as it might otherwise be. The general aim of the study was to analyse the skills and needs of social workers assessing allegations of child sexual abuse in order to assist organisations working in the field of forensic social work by improving their support training practices in forensic social work. The researcher used a quantitative descriptive design also known as a survey design. This design usually makes use of a questionnaire as a data collection method and nineteen (19) respondents were selected according to a randomised method of sampling. The findings form part of a list of recommendations to participating welfare organisations. / Thesis (MSc (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.
29

Die manifestasie van organisasietraagheid

Louw, Gerrit Johannes. 06 1900 (has links)
Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Key terms in English and Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie was om organisasietraagheid as stremmende fenomeen te konseptualiseer en die manifestasie daarvan te ondersoek binne 'n tipiese werkorganisasie. Aandag is gegee aan organisasietransformasie binne die raamwerk van 'n diagnostiese model vir organisasie- en individuele ontwikkeling. Die empiriese studie bevestig die manifestasie van organisasietraagheid ten opsigte van die teikenorganisasie. Resultate bevestig dat respondente ten gunste is van veranderingsinisiatiewe, maar ondergeskiktes toon 'n emstige behoefte aan leierskap. Dit blyk ook dat die organisasie nie die vermoe het om vinnig op omgewingsveranderings te reageer nie. Gesonde bestuurspraktyke word nie gevolg nie en kreatiwiteit word nie aangemoedig nie. By ondergeskiktes bestaan ook twyfel oor veranderingsagente se vermoe om verandering te fasiliteer. / The purpose of the study was to conceptualise organisation inertia as a retarding phenomenon and to investigate its manifestation within a typical work organisation. Attention was given to organisational and individual development within the framework of a diagnostic model. The empirical study focussed on the manifestation of organisational inertia within the target organisation. Results confirmed that respondents are in favour of change initiatives but that the stimulation thereof do not exist. Subordinates are not encouraged to show creativity. The organisation demonstrates an incapability to respond to environmental changes and reflects a non-existence of healthy management practices. Little trust exists in the capability of change agents to facilitate change. / Economics and Management Sciences / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)
30

The influence of animal-assisted play therapy on the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs

Sentoo, Gail Soobrayan 01 March 2004 (has links)
This research project focused on the influence of animal-assisted play therapy on the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs. The goal of this study was to ascertain whether principles of animal-assisted play therapy from the gestalt approach would enhance the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs. In order to achieve this goal, the following objectives were set out: to create a theoretical knowledge base through a literature study and consultation with experts, to conduct an empirical study in order to obtain qualitative and quantitative data and to formulate conclusions and recommendations with regard to the use of animal-assisted play therapy with adolescents with special needs. A combination of the quantitative and qualitative approaches was utilized, and applied research was done, as the focus was on practical solutions that is suitable for practice. A research hypothesis was posed, namely: If animal-assisted therapy from the gestalt approach is used with adolescents with special needs, their self-esteem will be enhanced. Two adolescents were selected as respondents through purposive sampling as sub-type of non-probability sampling. An empirical study was conducted through the use of questionnaires and interviewing as data-collection methods. The quantitative data was gathered through the use of self-constructed questionnaires and the Psychosocial Functioning Inventory for High School Children (PFI – HIGH – C) from Perspective College. The researcher utilized the A-B-A research design to conduct a pre-test and a post-test. Qualitative data was gathered through interviewing using the combined animal-assisted and gestalt play therapy techniques Empirical data was gathered and indicated improvement in the self-esteem of both the respondents who were exposed to the play therapy techniques. The research has thus shown that the use of animal-assisted play therapy does enhance the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs, and has benefits for future practice. The hypothesis of the study is thus proven to be true. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

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