Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global epidemic of HIV continues with an estimated 2.2 million children under 15 years of age worldwide living with HIV and 640 000 newly infected in 2004 (WHO, 2009). HIV crosses the blood–brain barrier which may lead to neuronal damage and death. There is controversial evidence within available research on effects of HIV on cognitive and motor development in children because of the limitations imposed by study designs, study populations and study methodological quality. The aims of the review were: - To conduct a systematic review of published research to establish the effects and the prevalence of HIV infection on cognitive and motor development in children. - To critically appraise the methodological quality of published research regarding cognitive and motor development of HIV infected children. The objectives of the review were: - To assess evidence on the cognitive and motor development of HIV-1 infected children - To describe anthropometric outcomes including: weight for age, weight for height, height for age and head circumference in children with a HIV infection. - To assess the methodological quality of studies on the cognitive and motor development of HIV infected children. The following databases were searched for identification of articles; MEDLINE, Google Scholar, AIDSTRIALS, AIDSLINE and CINHAL. The search time frame included published works from inception to July 2011 without language restrictions. Analytical observational trials that assessed at least one outcome (cognitive or motor development or 1 of the anthropometric outcomes) between HIV positive and HIV negative children aged 5 years and below or children with a mean age of less than 5 years were employed. Two review authors independently searched for eligible studies, evaluated methodological quality and extracted the data. Meta-analysis was carried out using Rev Man 5.1 using the risk ratio for categorical data and standard mean difference for continuous data. Fifteen studies with a total of 3 086 participants met the inclusion criteria. HIV infected children were 2.45 times at higher risk of developing cognitive developmental delay than HIV negative children (RR, 95% CI, 1.95, 3.07, P < 0.00001). Infected children scored - 0.54 less than HIV negative children (SMD 95% CI, -0.70, -0.39, 97, p < 0.00001) for cognitive development and -0.68 in motor development (SMD 95% CI, -0.82, -0.55, p< 0.00001). The risk of motor developmental delays was 2.95 times in HIV positive compared with HIV negative children (RR 95% CI, 2.19, 3.99, p < 0.00001). HIV infected children are slower in aspects of cognitive and motor development compared to their HIV negative counterparts. They also showed delays in anthropometric outcomes; weight for age and height for age. Study design influenced results of the studies with children scoring more on cross sectional than cohort studies. There is still need to develop culturally appropriate or standardise neurodevelopment tools as most African studies still rely on international tools. More evidence is needed on the effectiveness of HAART in reducing cognitive and motor delay. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wêreldwye MIV epidemie duur voort met ongeveer 2.2 miljoen kinders onder 15 jarige ouderdom wat wêreldwyd met MIV leef en 640 000 onlangs in 2004 geïnfekteerd (WHO, 2009). MIV strek oor die bloed-brein grens wat kan lei tot neuronale skade en die dood. Daar is kontroversiële bewys binne beskikbare navorsing oor die effek wat MIV het op kognitiewe en motoriese ontwikkeling in kinders, vanweë die beperkinge wat geplaas word deur studie ontwerpe, studie bevolkings en studie metodologiese kwaliteit. Die doelwitte van die oorsig is om - ‘n sistematiese oorsig van gepubliseerde navorsing te doen om sodoende die effek en voorkoms van MIV infeksie op kognitiewe en motoriese ontwikkeling by kinders vas te stel - ’n kritiese waardering van die metodologiese kwaliteit van gepubliseerde navorsing te doen ten opsigte van die kognitiewe en motoriese ontwikkeling van MIV geïnfekteerde kinders. Die doelwitte van die oorsig is om - assessering te doen van die bewyse van kognitiewe en motoriese ontwikkeling by MIV-1 geïnfekteerde kinders - antropometriese uitkomste te beskryf, insluitend: gewig vir ouderdom, gewig vir hoogte, hoogte vir ouderdom en omtrek van die hoof by kinders met ’n MIV infeksie - die metodologiese kwaliteit te assesseer van studies op die kognitiewe en motoriese ontwikkeling van MIV geïnfekteerde kinders. Die volgende databasisse is nagevors vir die identifisering van artikels: MEDLINE, Google Scholar, AIDSTRIALS, AIDSLINE en CINHAL. Die tydraamwerk vir navorsing het gepubliseerde werk ingesluit vanaf aanvang tot Julie 2011 sonder taalbeperkings. Analitiese waarneembare toetse wat ten minste een uitkoms geassesseer het (kognitiewe of motoriese ontwikkeling of 1 van die antropometriese uitkomste) tussen MIV positiewe en MIV negatiewe kinders van 5 jarige ouderdom en jonger, of kinders met ’n gemiddelde ouderdom van minder as 5 jaar is betrek. Twee oorsig outeurs het onafhanklik vir geskikte studies gesoek, metodologies geëvalueer en data getrek. Meta-analise was uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van Rev Man 5.1 met behulp van die risiko-ratio vir kategoriese data en die standaard gemiddelde verskil vir aaneenlopende data. Vyftien studies met ’n totaal van 3 086 deelnemers met die insluitingskriteria. MIV geïnfekteerde kinders het 2.45 keer ’n hoër risiko gehad om kognitiewe ontwikkelingsvertraging te ontwikkel as MIV negatiewe kinders (RR, 95% CI, 1.95, 3.07, P< 0.0000). Geïnfekteerde kinders het ’n -0.54 telling behaal, minder as MIV negatiewe kinders (SMD 95% CI, -0.70, -0.39,97 p < 0.00001) vir kognitiewe ontwikkeling en -0.68 vir motoriese ontwikkeling (SMD 95% CI, -0.82, -0.55, p< 0.00001). Die risiko van motoriese ontwikkelingsvertragings was 2.95 keer by MIV positiewe in vergelyking met MIV negatiewe kinders (RR 95% CI, 2.19, 3.99. p < 0.00001). MIV geïnfekteerde kinders is stadiger in aspekte van kognitiewe en motoriese ontwikkeling in vergeyking met hulle MIV negatiewe eweknieë. Hulle het ook vertragings getoon in antropometriese uitkomste; gewig vir ouderdom en hoogte vir ouderdom. Studie ontwerpe het uitslae beïnvloed van die kinders wat ’n hoër telling behaal het met deursnee as in kohort studies. Daar is nog ’n behoefte om kultureel geskikte of gestandaardiseerde neuro-ontwikkelingsinstrumente te ontwikkel, omdat die meeste Afrika-studies nog steeds staat maak op internasionale instrumente. Meer bewyse is nodig aangaande die effektiwiteit van HAART om kognitiewe en motoriese vertraging te verminder.

The Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML) is a relatively new instrument used in the assessment of memory in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of the WRAML by comparing the performance of children on both the WRAML and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability- Revised (WJTCA-R). Subjects for the study were children in treatment for a brain tumor at a regional children's medical center. Fifty children participated in the study ranging from ages 6 to 17. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine which of four selected clusters from the WJTCA-R would have the highest correlation with the Verbal Memory Index (VERI) from the WRAML. The Short-Term Memory (GSM) cluster had the highest correlation ( r = .82) as predicted. A Pearson's product-moment correlational analysis was conducted between the Visual Processing (GV) cluster from the WJTCA-R and the Visual Memory Index (VISI) from the WRAML. GV was found to have a high positive correlation ( r = .63) with VISI. A similar analysis was conducted between the Long-Term Retrieval (GLR) cluster from the WJTCA-R and the Learning Index (LRNI) from the WRAML. GLR was found to have a high positive correlation ( r = .81) with LRNI. Finally, a correlational analysis was conducted between the Broad Cognitive Ability (BCA) scale from the WJTCA-R and the General Memory Index (GENI) from the WRAML. A high positive correlation ( r = .87) was found between these most global measures from the two batteries. The observed correlation between BCA and GENI was much higher than anticipated. The author concluded that neurological impairment had affected subject memory and intellectual functioning in similar ways. The results do not generalize to children who have not had similar decrements in cognitive functioning. Future research should establish a baseline correlation between the two instruments with a non-impaired population.

Research shows children in an online environment often search by browsing, which relies heavily on recognition and content knowledge, so catalog systems for children must use effective symbols or pictorial representations, which correspond with children's own cognitive schema and level of recognition knowledge. This study was designed to look at the success of young children (ages 5 to 8) in searching 3 online public library catalogs designed for them, and it focused specifically on the pictorial representations and text descriptors used in the systems' browsing hierarchy. The research sought answer whether young children (ages 5 to 8) are really poor searchers because of cognitive development and lack of technology skills or if system design is the major reason for poor search results; i.e., Do current children's online catalog designs function in a manner that is compatible with information seeking by children? Although these results can not be generalized, this study indicates that there was a disconnect between the cognitive abilities of young users and catalog design. The study looked at search success on the 3 catalogs in relation to the catalog characteristics and individual user characteristics and makes 3 significant contributions to the field of library and information science. The first contribution is the modification of an existing model posed by Cooper and O'Connor and modified by Abbas (2002). The second significant contribution is the proposal of a new model, Creel's second best choice (SBC) model, that addresses the cognitive gap and design flaws that impact the choices participants made. The third significant contribution is that this study addresses and fills a gap in the literature.

Yim-chi Ho. / "Running head: Effects of music training on memory of children." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-65). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (English Version) --- p.ii / ABSTRACT (Chinese Version) --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER I - --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II - --- METHOD --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER III - --- RESULTS --- p.19 / Chapter CHAPTER IV - --- DISCUSSION --- p.42 / REFERENCES --- p.51

There is a dire need for psychological tests to be standardized for the African child and for appropriate norms to be developed. This study is part of two larger studies that began in 2008, namely the National Early Learning Standards Age Validation Study (NELDS) (Kvalsvig, Govender & Taylor; 2008) (Principal Investigator – Dr. S. Kauchali), and the INSTAPA Work Package 6 Study (Kvalsvig, Govender & Taylor; 2008) (Principle Investigator – Dr. J.D. Kvalsvig). This study considers aspects of the Kilifi Development Inventory (KDI) as a measurement tool used to provide a structured and standardized procedure for monitoring the cognitive development of children from the age of 6 to 35 months. It is situated in the positivist paradigm and has adopted the classical test theory in attempting to establish the reliability of the Kilifi Developmental Inventory. Stratified purposive sampling techniques were used to select the South African sample, which comprised 120 participants categorized by gender (males and females), age (6 – 18 months and 18 – 35 months) and area (urban and peri urban/rural). The internal reliability of the KDI was investigated. Results from the data analysis (using SPSS 18.0) suggest that the measurement tool as a whole had inadequate internal reliability and therefore, further investigations and modifications have to be undertaken in certain subtests of the measurement tool before the assessment tool can be standardized for the South African population. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Instrumental Enrichment, an educational program developed by Reuven Feuerstein, which attempts to improve an individual's ability to reason. A meta-analysis was performed on studies that had been conducted between the years 1979 to 1996. Thirty-six studies were analyzed according to their results from measurements in the cognitive/visual-perceptual, academic achievement and affective domains. The results from the meta-analysis were mixed. There were significant combined effect sizes of 0.24 for non-verbal ability, 1.41 for verbal ability, and 0.60 for one combination of full-scale ability. Significant effect sizes for measures of visual perception and visual-motor ability were 0.42, 0.71 and 1.68. There were also significant effect sizes for general achievement and for one combination of math achievement at 0.26 and 0.29 respectively. The intellectual achievement locus of control effect size was significant at 0.33. (Cohen (1988) considers an effect size of 0.20 to be small, that of 0.50 to be of medium size, and that of 0.80 to be large.) All effect sizes for reading were non-significant as was that for the Learning Potential Assessment Device. All other measures, such as those for self-confidence, self-concept, motivation and attitudes, in the affective domain were non-significant. One effect size for motivation and attitudes was significantly negative, indicating that the control group outperformed the treatment group. The results are discussed in terms of near- and far-transfer of learning.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 133-141).

The study contributed to preschool education by highlighting the attitudes and perceptions of parents and preschool teachers and practitioners concerning preschool education in general, and the teaching of thinking skills in particular. Furthermore, information with regard to developing guidelines for a preschool learning programme to assist unqualified and underqualified preschool practitioners in predominantly rural areas was generated. The literature study revealed that all areas of development, that is, cognitive, physical, social, moral and emotional are interrelated. Therefore, development in cognition is influenced by, and influences the other areas. Cognitive development in particular, is most rapid during the preschool years and should be stimulated at this stage. A qualitative study was undertaken to determine the attitudes and perceptions of preschool teachers/practitioners and parents with regard to preschool education in general, and the teaching of thinking skills to enhance cognitive development in particular. Four preschools in Region 3 of the Northern Province were observed to investigate the teaching of thinking skills and also the learning programmes used in these institutions. The findings from the literature and research studies led to the following conclusions: * Parents are uninformed concerning their role in stimulating the cognitive development of their children. * Preschool education is regarded as being very important for children. * There are no prescribed learning programmes or explicitly stated guidelines underlying preschool education. * Thinking skills are taught to a greater or lesser extent in preschools, although the intentional mediation is missing. *The training of preschool practitioners is a neglected area. In view of the conclusions, the following recommendations were made: * Underqualified and unqualified preschool practitioners should receive training. * Partnership between parents and preschool practitioners should be encouraged to ensure continuity between the home and the preschool. * Parents' support programmes should be developed to empower them as their children's most significant mediators. * Thinking skills should be infused in preschool learning programmes and activities. * Remote, rural areas should be supported by the goverment and NGOs with the provision of preschool education. * Prescribed guidelines and learning programmes should be developed to assist unqualified and underqualified practitioners in rural and disadvantaged areas in the Northern Province. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Art educators and classroom teachers in the elementary schools are confronted with the challenge of helping children look critically at works of art and develop written and/or verbal skills to communicate their findings. It was the purpose of this study to determine the effectiveness of the conceptual learning technique of semantic webbing in teaching art criticism in the elementary classroom. The author revealed a significant difference of opinions between two sample groups and similarities between the variables of frequency of use, and familiarity of the webbing technique and its effectiveness in the classroom. The sample groups consist of elementary classroom teachers and art specialists who work with kindergarten and first grade children.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / This research inquiry employs the Rasch model of measurement to assess the contemporary quality of the items that constitute an intelligence test developed in South Africa during the 1980s. The Rasch model of measurement will be used as an analytical tool for exploring the quality of items constituting the performance scales of a translated version of the Junior South African Intelligence Scales (JSAIS). The JSAIS was translated into Sesotho and was used to assess grade 1 Sesotho home language learners. This study is part of the Soweto Panel Research Programme (SPRP), which aims to investigate the development of children in a specific Soweto school from preschool (grade R, age 5 and 6) to the end of the Foundation Phase (grade 3). Within this school, the research projects include the assessment of cognitive abilities, numeracy, literacy and the households of the children. I am involved in assessing the cognitive abilities of these children and work in collaboration with three Educational Psychology Master’s students from the University of Johannesburg. The cognitive abilities project aims to assess and track the cognitive development of young children from grade R to grade 3 over a period of four years. Cognitive development focuses on how children learn, process information and attain a veridical view of the world (Gopnik & Meltzoff, 1997), it entails the development of the thinking and organizing systems of the mind, and is composed of language, thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and memory development (Oakley, 2004).