Since the beginning of 2000 the media have often referred to the decrease in the number of teachers in South Africa. In the light of the discrepancy between the supply and demand of teachers, I have explored some factors that possibly contribute to the career choice of teachers. I departed from a positivist as well as an interpretevist approach. The research included the implementation of a First-year Teacher Questionnaire. Some career development theories are discussed as the theoretical grounding for the career choice of first-year teaching students. First-year teaching students generally have a positive perception of teaching, based mainly on their belief that teaching offers ample opportunities for potential-facilitation, selffulfilment, self-discovery, as well as fringe benefits. It seems that where negative perceptions existed, they were based on observable hindrances and personal issues. My research complements the Social Cognitive Career Theory and confirms the concern for the fact that a relatively small percentage African language-speaking students, especially males, choose teaching as a field of study / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The purpose of this study is to explore the life history of Fred Francis Bosworth (1877-1958) and critically analyze the influential factors that may have contributed to his success as a famous healing evangelist. It seeks to answer the question, “How did he develop from a small-town farm boy into a famous healing evangelist and Pentecostal pioneer?” Using the historical case study method as the research design, the study employs a variant of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), which suggests that a person's career choice can be determined by his or her self-efficacy beliefs and expected outcomes. Self-efficacy comes from past performances, various learning, social support and one's reaction to barriers. The aim of the study is to determine how Bosworth's childhood and adolescent experiences, as well as his secular experiences in the business world, may have prepared him for his career as a healing evangelist. By showing how a person's early years can impact his or her future, this research will allow the church to know more about the role of early, natural experiences (including skills and environment), in determining God's will for a person's life and ministry. Although Bosworth, author of Christ the Healer (1948), is widely known for his teachings on divine healing, there is little known about his life history. This study is the first to offer a critical analysis of his entire life and ministry; it is also the first study to use the concepts of SCCT to show how his adulthood success may have been influenced by the experiences of his childhood and youth. This study argues that several factors played a critical role in Bosworth’s development. In addition to music and his secular work as a businessman, these factors include his crises, strong Christian women, healings in answer to prayer, and his work in foreign missions. Although Bosworth and others have attributed his success primarily to his Pentecostal experience, this study contends that his childhood, secular and business experiences played a more important role than has been reported in the literature. Furthermore, this study shows that Bosworth’s path to success can be understood through the elements of SCCT. Through SCCT, one can see how Bosworth developed an interest in the healing ministry, how he chose to pursue the ministry as a career, and how he performed and set goals as an evangelist. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Church History and Church Policy / unrestricted

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Synthesis of d10 complexes of monovalent coinage metals, copper(I) and gold(I), with dithiophosphinate/diphosphine ligands -- along with their targeted characterization and screening for inorganic or organic light emitting diodes (LEDs or OLEDs, respectively) -- represents the main scope of this dissertation's scientific contribution in inorganic and materials chemistry. Photophysical studies were undertaken to quantify the phosphorescence properties of the materials in the functional forms required for LEDs or OLEDs. Computational studies were done to gain insights into the assignment of the phosphorescent emission peaks observed. The gold(I) dinuclear complexes studied would be candidates of OLED/LED devices due to room temperature phosphorescence, visible absorption/excitation bands, and low single-digit lifetimes -- which would promote higher quantum yield at higher voltages in devices with concomitant lower roll-off efficiency. The copper(I) complexes were not suited to the OLED/LED applications but can be used for thermosensing materials. Crystallographic studies were carried to elucidate coefficients of thermal expansion of the crystal unit cell for additional usage in materials applications besides optoelectronic devices. This has uncovered yet another unplanned potential application for both copper(I) and gold(I) complexes herein, as both types have been found to surpass the literature's threshold for "colossal" thermal expansion coefficients. Two other investigations represent contribution to the field of chemistry education have also been accounted for in this dissertation. First, a 12-week advanced research discovery experiment for inorganic chemistry has been designed to help students develop application-based content expertise, as well as to introduce students to research experiences that are similar to those found in academia, industry, and government research laboratories. Students are expected to develop a novel research project through conducting a literature search to find suitable reaction protocols, incorporating synthetic techniques, collecting data, characterizing products and applications of those products, and presenting their results. This multi-week research discovery experiment is centered on applications of inorganic synthetic techniques to design, analyze, and screen d10 coinage metal complexes for possible LED/OLED-based applications that were presented in chapter 3 of the dissertation. The second chemistry education contribution pertains to designing a pilot research study to investigate undergraduate chemistry majors' perceptions of environmental sources/influences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, career interests, and career choice goals in the lab designed in chapter 4 of the dissertation. Specifically, this research aims to gauge students' perceptions of their ability to perform synthetic and analytical methods for the creation of materials that were used in a novel research experiment in the context of an inorganic chemistry laboratory. This research study used a survey to collect data on students' motivation, self-efficacy, career interests, and career goals upon graduation, along with their perceived barriers within the course. This research study is guided by the following research question: How does an inorganic chemistry laboratory course, following a research discovery model, impact undergraduate students' (a) confidence with techniques and skills, (b) perception of ability to conduct research, and (c) interest in pursuing careers involving chemistry?