The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of the psychological variables on the academic performance of first year students at the University of Potchefstroom. The reason that research in this field is important is that it can address the negative influence that the high failure rate of the first year students have on the community, the economy, and the severe financial and personal strain. Academic performance is the product of various inter-related factors. It is however difficult to get a representative model of all these factors. This is because academic performance, especially at university level, is an extremely complex and multi-facetted system. These factors need to be examined in conjunction with one another. A clear definition of the criteria used for academic performance evaluation is essential. A distinction is made between first year students that are successful in their studies as opposed to those that are not. A successful first year student is defined as a student who is credited with a pass mark in all the subjects required for that year of study, for the course taken. An unsuccessful first year student is a student that fails 50% or more of the subjects required for his I her course in that year, thus forcing the student to prolong the duration of the total study period by at least one year. A literature survey was done, in an attempt to identify and discuss some of the factors that influence academic performance. Various researchers' opinion on these factors were highlighted. The variables were grouped under the following headings: biographic, socio-economic, cognitive, personality, and academic factors. The following empirical tests were used: Senior Aptitude Test (SAT), the Ninteen Field Interest Inventory (19-FII), the Personal, Home, Social and Formal Relations Questionnaire (PHSF) and the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes (SSHA). The study population consisted of academically successful and unsuccessful first year students that started their studies in 1998 at the University of Potchefstroom. The population included diversity in terms of faculty, race and gender. Detailed statistics were used to correlate the variables by means of graphs for each assessment technique. Statistical variance is shown in tabular form. Psychological differences between men and women are highlighted, as well as differences between race groups and faculties. The empirical study shows that there definitely are psychological factors that play a role in academic performance. A correlation between intelligence, personality, career interests, study habits and attitude, and the academic performance of the student is shown. From the literature, and on grounds of the empirical study done, it can be shown that psychological variables do influence the academic performance of the student, and that there is a correlation between the variables and academic performance. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000

The aim of this investigation was to determine the effect of the psychological variables on the academic performance of first year students at the University of Potchefstroom. The reason that research in this field is important is that it can address the negative influence that the high failure rate of the first year students have on the community, the economy, and the severe financial and personal strain. Academic performance is the product of various inter-related factors. It is however difficult to get a representative model of all these factors. This is because academic performance, especially at university level, is an extremely complex and multi-facetted system. These factors need to be examined in conjunction with one another. A clear definition of the criteria used for academic performance evaluation is essential. A distinction is made between first year students that are successful in their studies as opposed to those that are not. A successful first year student is defined as a student who is credited with a pass mark in all the subjects required for that year of study, for the course taken. An unsuccessful first year student is a student that fails 50% or more of the subjects required for his I her course in that year, thus forcing the student to prolong the duration of the total study period by at least one year. A literature survey was done, in an attempt to identify and discuss some of the factors that influence academic performance. Various researchers' opinion on these factors were highlighted. The variables were grouped under the following headings: biographic, socio-economic, cognitive, personality, and academic factors. The following empirical tests were used: Senior Aptitude Test (SAT), the Ninteen Field Interest Inventory (19-FII), the Personal, Home, Social and Formal Relations Questionnaire (PHSF) and the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes (SSHA). The study population consisted of academically successful and unsuccessful first year students that started their studies in 1998 at the University of Potchefstroom. The population included diversity in terms of faculty, race and gender. Detailed statistics were used to correlate the variables by means of graphs for each assessment technique. Statistical variance is shown in tabular form. Psychological differences between men and women are highlighted, as well as differences between race groups and faculties. The empirical study shows that there definitely are psychological factors that play a role in academic performance. A correlation between intelligence, personality, career interests, study habits and attitude, and the academic performance of the student is shown. From the literature, and on grounds of the empirical study done, it can be shown that psychological variables do influence the academic performance of the student, and that there is a correlation between the variables and academic performance. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000

Text in Afrikaans / Huisbesoek is 'n kerklike bandeling wat algemeen in gereformeerde kerke beoefen word. Die bandeling is omstrede en word geassosieer met baie besinning en bespreking. Hierdie studie gaan van die standpunt uit dat die teoriee grondliggend aan buisbesoek, nie in ooreenstemming is met die verwagtinge van lidmate nie. In die bantering van die probleem is die teorie van buisbesoek ondersoek met bebulp van 'n literatuur studie. Huisbesoek word ook beskrywe as pastorale sorg. Daarom is die teorie van pastorale so~g ook ondersoek. Empiriese navorsing is gedoen om die verwagtinge van lidmate te bepaal. 'n Ideografiese strategie is gebruik en lidmate is per onderboud gevra na bulle siening. Vanuit die ondersoek bet dit geblyk dat die teorie die praxis van buisbesoek in meeste instansies nie meer ondersteun nie. Vanuit die bevinding sluit die studie af met die trek van enkele riglyne, om teorie nader aan die verwagtinge van lidmate te bring. / Visitation is an activity generally practised in reformed churches. It is not without problems, and form the topic of many discussions. This study works from the premise that the theoretical foundation of visitation, are out of touch with the expectations of church members. In the approach to the problem, the theory of visitation is explored in a literary study. Because visitation can be described as pastoral care, the theory of care has been included in the study. Empirical research was done to ascertain the expectations of church members with regards to visitation. This has been done according to a idiographic strategy, by interviewing church members. From the research the conclusion was drawn that there is a gap between theory and praxis in regard to visitation. In the last paragraphs the author explores ways in which to bring theory closer to the expectations of members. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal watler faktore die grootste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Met die literatuurstudie is die verskillende faktore wat sportprestasie beinvloed, geidentifiseer en verder ondersoek en beskryf. Daar is gevind dat 'n wye verskeidenheid faktore bestaan wat atletelsportdeelnemers se prestasie positief of negatief kan beinvloed. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoer waarby 'n aantal atlete/sportdeelnemers, wat aan verskeie sportsoorte deelneem, betrek is. Die afrigters van hierdie atlete/sportdeelnemers is oak by die ondersoek betrek. Eerstens is bepaal watter faktore, volgens die atlete/sportdeelnemers, die grootste bydrae tot hul sportprestasie lewer. Daama is hierdie geidenlifiseerde faktore aan 'n regressieanalise onderwerp om te bepaal walter faktor/e die grootste en belangrikste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Die resultate het getoon dat hierdie faktore soos volg is: motivering, afrigter, kommunikasie, selfvertroue, aanleg en dieet / The purpose of this study was to determine which factors contribute significantly to sports achievement. In the literature study, different factors with an underlying effect on sports achievement were identified, explained and further investigated. A wide variety of factors bearing positive as well as negative effect on athletes'/sport participants' achievement were found. An empirical study was carried out in which a number of athletes/sport participators were involved. The coaches of these athletes/sport participants were also included. The factors that play a major contributing role in these athletes/sport participants' sports achievement were primarily determined. Thereafter the identified factors were further investigated through the use of a regression analysis to ascertain which ones contribute the most to sports achievement. The results indicated that these factors are as follows: motivation, coach, communication, self-confidence, talent and diet. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / Huisbesoek is 'n kerklike bandeling wat algemeen in gereformeerde kerke beoefen word. Die bandeling is omstrede en word geassosieer met baie besinning en bespreking. Hierdie studie gaan van die standpunt uit dat die teoriee grondliggend aan buisbesoek, nie in ooreenstemming is met die verwagtinge van lidmate nie. In die bantering van die probleem is die teorie van buisbesoek ondersoek met bebulp van 'n literatuur studie. Huisbesoek word ook beskrywe as pastorale sorg. Daarom is die teorie van pastorale so~g ook ondersoek. Empiriese navorsing is gedoen om die verwagtinge van lidmate te bepaal. 'n Ideografiese strategie is gebruik en lidmate is per onderboud gevra na bulle siening. Vanuit die ondersoek bet dit geblyk dat die teorie die praxis van buisbesoek in meeste instansies nie meer ondersteun nie. Vanuit die bevinding sluit die studie af met die trek van enkele riglyne, om teorie nader aan die verwagtinge van lidmate te bring. / Visitation is an activity generally practised in reformed churches. It is not without problems, and form the topic of many discussions. This study works from the premise that the theoretical foundation of visitation, are out of touch with the expectations of church members. In the approach to the problem, the theory of visitation is explored in a literary study. Because visitation can be described as pastoral care, the theory of care has been included in the study. Empirical research was done to ascertain the expectations of church members with regards to visitation. This has been done according to a idiographic strategy, by interviewing church members. From the research the conclusion was drawn that there is a gap between theory and praxis in regard to visitation. In the last paragraphs the author explores ways in which to bring theory closer to the expectations of members. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal watler faktore die grootste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Met die literatuurstudie is die verskillende faktore wat sportprestasie beinvloed, geidentifiseer en verder ondersoek en beskryf. Daar is gevind dat 'n wye verskeidenheid faktore bestaan wat atletelsportdeelnemers se prestasie positief of negatief kan beinvloed. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoer waarby 'n aantal atlete/sportdeelnemers, wat aan verskeie sportsoorte deelneem, betrek is. Die afrigters van hierdie atlete/sportdeelnemers is oak by die ondersoek betrek. Eerstens is bepaal watter faktore, volgens die atlete/sportdeelnemers, die grootste bydrae tot hul sportprestasie lewer. Daama is hierdie geidenlifiseerde faktore aan 'n regressieanalise onderwerp om te bepaal walter faktor/e die grootste en belangrikste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Die resultate het getoon dat hierdie faktore soos volg is: motivering, afrigter, kommunikasie, selfvertroue, aanleg en dieet / The purpose of this study was to determine which factors contribute significantly to sports achievement. In the literature study, different factors with an underlying effect on sports achievement were identified, explained and further investigated. A wide variety of factors bearing positive as well as negative effect on athletes'/sport participants' achievement were found. An empirical study was carried out in which a number of athletes/sport participators were involved. The coaches of these athletes/sport participants were also included. The factors that play a major contributing role in these athletes/sport participants' sports achievement were primarily determined. Thereafter the identified factors were further investigated through the use of a regression analysis to ascertain which ones contribute the most to sports achievement. The results indicated that these factors are as follows: motivation, coach, communication, self-confidence, talent and diet. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)