Thesis (D.Mus)-University of Pretoria, 2005. / Abstract in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

archives@tulane.edu / Multicultural psychologists have discussed the growing concern over ecological validity in understanding children’s mental health: insufficient participatory efforts to incorporate marginalized perspectives have led to a subsequent lack of inclusive, culturally sensitive definitions of support and support systems. The phenomenology around experiences, beliefs and perceptions is an integral component in describing support and support systems, where the composition and content of support systems depend on context and culture. Using archival qualitative research data from focus groups and ecomaps conducted with elementary school-aged children across 9 of the 14 international sites in the Promoting Psychological Well¬-Being Globally (PPWBG) project (Nastasi & Borja, 2016), the present research used children’s voices in identifying contextually-relevant sources of support, as well as patterns across 9 of the 14 sites. The present research was a part of a multi-method study, serving as a secondary analysis to triangulate (across two methods) previously analyzed data elicited from the focus groups (Borja et al., 2016) and ecomap tool (Borja et al., 2017). The goal of triangulation was to examine for consistent themes related to support and enhance the credibility of the combined tools’ ability to elicit data around support. The triangulation yielded 33 codes related to systems of support for psychological well-being¬. A thematic analysis condensed the codes into 5 broad themes: Financial/Material Support, Emotional Support, Social Support, Recreational Activities and Academic Support. These themes were salient across the nine sites. Ultimately, the five themes were either identified as being possibly global or context-specific, which may be useful in future research to inform practice and instrument development. / 1 / Sydney A. Wing

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / For unison to 4-part children's chorus (specifically, 5th graders) with piano (in part also with flute or percussion). Ms. (arranger's holograph). Includes bibliographical references. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

The study of character strengths is a relatively new area of research within the realm of positive psychology. Character strengths likely develop during childhood and therefore studying young children's capacities for talking about their perceptions of character strengths is important. This thesis sought to use children's voices and conduct an exploratory qualitative study into children's capacity to talk about perceptions of their own and others character strengths. The purpose of the research was two-fold, first, to create a developmentally appropriate methodology for obtaining children's perceptions of character strengths, and second, if children had the capacity to talk about character strengths, to discover how they did so. Seventeen five-and-a-half to six-year-old children participated in individual interviews at their school. After a review of the methodological issues involved with obtaining children's voices in research, four developmentally appropriate strategies utilising a story, puppets, a photo and direct interviewing strategies were created. The four strategies were tested in a pilot study, revised, and then utilised in the main study. The strategies created were found to be developmentally appropriate, and assisted children to varying degrees to talk about their perceptions. At least one character strength was able to be inferred from all children's responses. Affiliation, kindness and self-regulation were the most identified character strengths. Results indicated the children were on the cusp of developing their sense of self and the ability to verbalise their positive internal attributes. Differences in the way children talked about character strengths are discussed in reference to child development and the social nature of character strengths.

The aim of this research is to provide insight into how middle school learners experience an inclusive multicultural learning environment. Increasing diversity is challenging European educational systems, which have the arduous task to foster inclusion of learners with diverse educational needs. In order to explore the participants’ descriptions, a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with six learners was employed. Learners’ positions in the educational scenery are central and unique; they are the main experts on their own situations and therefore precious contributors to educational research. Results have been discussed according to a sociocultural perspective. The analysis of my data suggests that the learners perceive their inclusive environment as beneficial. Moreover, they perceive their cultural diversity as strength, reckon social interaction and teamwork with peers as favorable conditions for learning, feel competent in multicultural communication and believe that respect and acceptance towards others are necessary common values. Some implications of multiculturalism in special education are discussed according to the results of a recent European study, which shows that in all the participating European countries, Sweden included, there is a consistent discrepancy in the proportions of learners with immigrant background within special education. Assessment methods developed for mono-cultural learners appear to be a valid reason why multicultural learners are over-or under-represented in special education. Research also shows that inclusion of diversity in educational environment enables the development of social skills in all learners.

Em que medida as vozes infantis são consideradas pelos educadores? Que marcas elas imprimem no cenário educativo? Balizada por essas inquietações, a construção da presente pesquisa objetivou compreender a articulação existente entre a voz infantil - concebida como as formas de manifestação do pensamento infantil, verbal e não verbal - e os contextos da educação da infância. Com esse propósito, o estudo problematizou as concepções de infância, criança e educação infantil, analisando os desafios e as possibilidades da consolidação de uma Pedagogia da Educação Infantil que considere a escuta das crianças, bem como o olhar infantil inédito e surpreendente sobre o mundo, como eixos fundantes da organização dos contextos educativos. O aporte teórico, que dialogou com os dados coletados da pesquisa de campo, foi constituído notadamente pelas produções e pesquisas oriundas ou inspiradas na abordagem Reggio Emilia, concernente à educação infantil, na teoria sócio-histórica de Vygotsky e nos pressupostos da Sociologia da Infância. Os encaminhamentos metodológicos desse estudo de caso, inspirado pelas orientações etnográficas, apontam para o desafio de construir um olhar pesquisador horizontal, mais próximo dos pequenos e não sobre eles, na busca de revelar as vozes infantis, desvelando sua polifonia, significado e importância. A construção metodológica do trabalho e sua efetivação no campo de pesquisa incluíram o registro em caderno de campo, fotos e vídeo-gravação. Os registros das professoras (Diário de Bordo) e os portfólios das crianças também constituíram fonte de análise, com o intuito de reconhecer como as vozes infantis impulsionam, interferem ou são consideradas como elemento constitutivo do fazer educativo. A pesquisa buscou, ainda, problematizar a discussão sobre o protagonismo compartilhado entre estes atores/autores de pouca idade e suas professoras, tendo como interlocutores um grupo de 24 crianças de 2 a 3 anos e 2 docentes, de um Centro de Educação Infantil da rede direta da cidade de São Paulo. A análise dos dados revelou, nesse percurso, como a escuta das vozes infantis favorece a construção de contextos educativos pautados na valorização e potencialização da autonomia infantil, na sensibilidade e acolhida das proposições das crianças, bem como no encorajamento de suas ações frente aos desafios, dando oportunidade para a construção de processo significativos de aprendizagens. / To what point are Children´s voices considered by educators? What influence do these voices have on the educational setting? Inspired by these concerns, the following research aimed to understand the connection between the young voice conceived here as manifestations of childhood thinking, both verbal and nonverbal, and the context of early childhood education. With this purpose the study questioned traditional conceptions of childhood, being a child and childhood education. It analyzed the possibilities and challenges of incorporating an educational pedagogy that considers the childs unique world perspective as referral base for the organization of educational contexts.This theory was based on the data collected from field research, and was inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, concerning early childhood education; the Vygotsky Cultural-Historical theory and assumptions of childhood sociology. Referrals methodology of this case study, inspired by ethnographic guidelines, point to the challenge of having a closer horizontal look at children, listening to their voices, to understand their meaning and importance.The methodical construction of this work and its application in the research field included the register in a field notebook, photos and video recording. The teachers register (Diary) and the childrens portfolios were also source of analysis, with the objective of recognizing how children\'s voices impel, interfere or are considered as a constitutive element in making education. The research also wanted to discuss the issues on the roles of protagonists shared between these early age actors/authors and their teachers in a group of 24 children aged from 2 to 3 and 2 teachers, in a Public Early Childhood Center, in São Paulo, Brazil. Data analysis revealed in its course, how listening to childrens voices favors the construction of educational enhancement, guided by the maximization of children autonomy, sensitivity and acceptance of children´s propositions as well as in the encouragement of their actions to face challenges, creating opportunities to build meaningful learning processes.

In recent years research has recognised that notions of body image, body image ideals and body dissatisfaction develop much earlier than was once thought. However, the growing body of evidence in this area of research is predominantly quantitative. This study was designed to engage children in the five to six year age group using qualitative methods and present their notions of body image through the looking glass of the children's own eyes. Children's voices have not often found their way into research. Concerns about their powers of communication, cognitive abilities and the ethical difficulties inherent when working with children have restricted their participation. Objective, empirical evidence suggests that if one engages children in research appropriately they are able to make a significant contribution. Forty-seven children (25=m; 22=f) aged between five and six years were interviewed on three occasions over 12 months regarding their perceptions of body image. Seven schools from the Independent school system were involved. Interviews were conducted on school sites in public, easily observable locations. The study focused on three aspects. That is, how these children perceived their own body, the bodies of other people and their notions of health in respect to body image. These interviews revealed that the girls in this age group had developed an understanding of body image that valued thinness. However, their preference for a thinner body did not negatively impact on their sense of identity or self-worth. Boys preferred larger bodies and correlated increased body size with competence and physical aptitude. The concept of 'large' was linked to height for some or to a mesomorphic body for other boys. By the final interview all the children revealed strong negative perceptions of fatness. These perceptions were more apparent at each successive interview. An obese or extremely thin body was not always correlated with being unhealthy. Depending on the perspective of the child, even the largest of images was nominated the 'healthiest body' by some children. Health was overwhelmingly linked to food intake with few children associating health with exercise. The playground and the home, where most notably mothers, were important in the development of body image conceptions. Children were acutely aware of the dietary practices of their parents and associated diets with losing weight. / PhD Doctorate

In recent years research has recognised that notions of body image, body image ideals and body dissatisfaction develop much earlier than was once thought. However, the growing body of evidence in this area of research is predominantly quantitative. This study was designed to engage children in the five to six year age group using qualitative methods and present their notions of body image through the looking glass of the children's own eyes. Children's voices have not often found their way into research. Concerns about their powers of communication, cognitive abilities and the ethical difficulties inherent when working with children have restricted their participation. Objective, empirical evidence suggests that if one engages children in research appropriately they are able to make a significant contribution. Forty-seven children (25=m; 22=f) aged between five and six years were interviewed on three occasions over 12 months regarding their perceptions of body image. Seven schools from the Independent school system were involved. Interviews were conducted on school sites in public, easily observable locations. The study focused on three aspects. That is, how these children perceived their own body, the bodies of other people and their notions of health in respect to body image. These interviews revealed that the girls in this age group had developed an understanding of body image that valued thinness. However, their preference for a thinner body did not negatively impact on their sense of identity or self-worth. Boys preferred larger bodies and correlated increased body size with competence and physical aptitude. The concept of 'large' was linked to height for some or to a mesomorphic body for other boys. By the final interview all the children revealed strong negative perceptions of fatness. These perceptions were more apparent at each successive interview. An obese or extremely thin body was not always correlated with being unhealthy. Depending on the perspective of the child, even the largest of images was nominated the 'healthiest body' by some children. Health was overwhelmingly linked to food intake with few children associating health with exercise. The playground and the home, where most notably mothers, were important in the development of body image conceptions. Children were acutely aware of the dietary practices of their parents and associated diets with losing weight. / PhD Doctorate

Em que medida as vozes infantis são consideradas pelos educadores? Que marcas elas imprimem no cenário educativo? Balizada por essas inquietações, a construção da presente pesquisa objetivou compreender a articulação existente entre a voz infantil - concebida como as formas de manifestação do pensamento infantil, verbal e não verbal - e os contextos da educação da infância. Com esse propósito, o estudo problematizou as concepções de infância, criança e educação infantil, analisando os desafios e as possibilidades da consolidação de uma Pedagogia da Educação Infantil que considere a escuta das crianças, bem como o olhar infantil inédito e surpreendente sobre o mundo, como eixos fundantes da organização dos contextos educativos. O aporte teórico, que dialogou com os dados coletados da pesquisa de campo, foi constituído notadamente pelas produções e pesquisas oriundas ou inspiradas na abordagem Reggio Emilia, concernente à educação infantil, na teoria sócio-histórica de Vygotsky e nos pressupostos da Sociologia da Infância. Os encaminhamentos metodológicos desse estudo de caso, inspirado pelas orientações etnográficas, apontam para o desafio de construir um olhar pesquisador horizontal, mais próximo dos pequenos e não sobre eles, na busca de revelar as vozes infantis, desvelando sua polifonia, significado e importância. A construção metodológica do trabalho e sua efetivação no campo de pesquisa incluíram o registro em caderno de campo, fotos e vídeo-gravação. Os registros das professoras (Diário de Bordo) e os portfólios das crianças também constituíram fonte de análise, com o intuito de reconhecer como as vozes infantis impulsionam, interferem ou são consideradas como elemento constitutivo do fazer educativo. A pesquisa buscou, ainda, problematizar a discussão sobre o protagonismo compartilhado entre estes atores/autores de pouca idade e suas professoras, tendo como interlocutores um grupo de 24 crianças de 2 a 3 anos e 2 docentes, de um Centro de Educação Infantil da rede direta da cidade de São Paulo. A análise dos dados revelou, nesse percurso, como a escuta das vozes infantis favorece a construção de contextos educativos pautados na valorização e potencialização da autonomia infantil, na sensibilidade e acolhida das proposições das crianças, bem como no encorajamento de suas ações frente aos desafios, dando oportunidade para a construção de processo significativos de aprendizagens. / To what point are Children´s voices considered by educators? What influence do these voices have on the educational setting? Inspired by these concerns, the following research aimed to understand the connection between the young voice conceived here as manifestations of childhood thinking, both verbal and nonverbal, and the context of early childhood education. With this purpose the study questioned traditional conceptions of childhood, being a child and childhood education. It analyzed the possibilities and challenges of incorporating an educational pedagogy that considers the childs unique world perspective as referral base for the organization of educational contexts.This theory was based on the data collected from field research, and was inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, concerning early childhood education; the Vygotsky Cultural-Historical theory and assumptions of childhood sociology. Referrals methodology of this case study, inspired by ethnographic guidelines, point to the challenge of having a closer horizontal look at children, listening to their voices, to understand their meaning and importance.The methodical construction of this work and its application in the research field included the register in a field notebook, photos and video recording. The teachers register (Diary) and the childrens portfolios were also source of analysis, with the objective of recognizing how children\'s voices impel, interfere or are considered as a constitutive element in making education. The research also wanted to discuss the issues on the roles of protagonists shared between these early age actors/authors and their teachers in a group of 24 children aged from 2 to 3 and 2 teachers, in a Public Early Childhood Center, in São Paulo, Brazil. Data analysis revealed in its course, how listening to childrens voices favors the construction of educational enhancement, guided by the maximization of children autonomy, sensitivity and acceptance of children´s propositions as well as in the encouragement of their actions to face challenges, creating opportunities to build meaningful learning processes.

A Wedding Ceremony is a composition of approximately 17 minutes in duration and is scored for horn in F, two trumpets in B-flat, trombone, two percussionists (timpani, roto toms, chimes, snare, triangle, suspended cymbal), 2-part boys choir, female soprano, and organ. The work consists of five parts of a mass, the Processional, Kyrie, Alleluia!, Hosanna!, and Recessional, with texted sections being taken from the Latin mass. The work is intended for a sacred wedding service of any denomination. The work was composed with the traditional aspects of the Latin mass in combination with a contemporary setting.