Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Technology Degree: Public Relations Management, Department of Marketing, Retail and Public Relations, Faculty of Management Sciences, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / This study presents the research of an investigation into the intercultural communication barriers between Zulu and Chinese students at selected Higher Education Institutions in Durban. To achieve this aim, two sets of questionnaires were administered separately to Zulu and Chinese students at two HEIs in Durban and an observation report was compiled. This study reviewed theories and literature relevant to defining and understanding the barriers to intercultural communication. The insights gained from this literature review were used to interpret the results which were obtained through a quantitative and qualitative research methodology. The findings revealed that intercultural communication barriers do exist between Zulu and Chinese students. Findings also found that language problems amongst Zulu and Chinese students are viewed as common barriers, especially where the communicators speak different languages. Comments from respondents revealed that a communicators‟ accent, different grammar structure and the words they use are confusing during their intercultural communication experience. Cultural differences and language problems were found to be the main intercultural communication barriers. In addition, the problems of nonverbal communication, racism, ethnocentrism, cultural stereotyping were also viewed as obstacles of the intercultural communication process. / Durban University of Technology. Dept. of Postgraduate Development and Support.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology: Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / The establishment of choice set from which consumers identify their preferred product and/brand choices arouses some interest among researchers, specifically within the context of international marketing. This curiosity about the influence of a product’s place of origin (country-of-origin: COO) on the establishment of consumer choice sets chiefly emanates from the growth of international trade and globalisation. The gap within the knowledge base surrounding consumer behaviour with respect to the purchase of foreign and domestic brands, specifically within Africa created the potential for research. As part of the evolution of COO research, this study looks into the construct of consumer ethnocentrism (CE) and its relationship with product selection and consideration. The aim behind the study can be summed up in the following objectives: firstly, to identify the moderating effects of consumer demographic variables on ethnocentric tendencies; secondly, to determine consumer attitudes towards foreign convenience goods; and, thirdly to establish the association between consumer ethnocentrism (CE) and brand selection for a consideration set. A structural model was developed illustrating the relationships (assumed) between consideration and CE. This resulted in the developed of five hypotheses. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted within Durban. A research instrument was developed combining ethnocentrism research and the concept of consideration. Within the study, an explanation of the research methodology utilised was provided. 500 questionnaires were distributed in order to obtain primary data for the purpose of the study. A presentation of the results obtained was provided. An analysis of the collected data was also provided using SPSS 21.0 with the aid of graphs and the appropriate inferential statistics. The research hypotheses were tested using an independent sample Kruskal-Wallis test and a Mann-Whitney U-test. A Spearman’s correlation test was used to test the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and brand consideration. The chi-square test was used to test for the existence of variances within the responses provided by the respondents. The study revealed that only race had a significant relationship with consumer ethnocentrism while other demographic characteristics did not. Ethnocentric tendencies were strongest among Black South Africans. An association was also discovered between consumer ethnocentrism and the consideration of convenience products. The study, therefore, provides a better understanding into South African consumers’ selection of convenience products as influenced by consumer ethnocentrism. The theoretical and practical implications from the research findings have also been discussed within the report with the provision of suggestions regarding future research.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Introduction Teenage pregnancy is a socioeconomic challenge and an important public health problem for communities in South Africa. Considerable research has been done on teenage pregnancy in South Africa but it focused mostly on teenage girls. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to explore and describe young males’ perceptions, to identify the roles they play in this phenomenon and to determine the factors that influence their perceptions as well as their practices regarding teenage pregnancy. Methodology A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design was used to conduct the study. The study was guided by the Johnson Behavioural Model System. The study population consisted of young males who were studying at the Free State School of Nursing. Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 10 participants. The four major themes emerged from data obtained were as follows: Theme 1: Perceptions regarding teenage pregnancies, Theme 2: Risk factors leading to teenage pregnancies, Theme 3: Cultural and traditional practices influencing perceptions about teenage pregnancies, Theme 4: Measures to prevent teenage pregnancies. Thematic analysis of data was done. Results The findings of this study revealed that young males were not involved in reproductive health programmes aiming to prevent teenage pregnancies. They lacked knowledge regarding the use of, and the available types of contraceptives. Cultural and traditional practices such as misinterpreting circumcision and cultural beliefs, including misconceptions about sexual practices, played a crucial role such as not using contraceptives during sexual intercourse that could lead to teenage pregnancy. This study recommends that young males need to be actively involved in reproductive health.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how a group of Chinese business students understood the nature and the purpose of the instruction techniques they were exposed to in Britain, and the attitudes the students, Chinese lecturers in China and British lecturers in Britain held towards seminar discussions. The study also investigated how and to what extent students’ prior learning experiences predisposed them to certain attitudes towards seminar discussions. The student participants in this study undertook Part I of their degree programme at a Chinese university for two years before transferring to Britain to study for one year, graduating with a British Bachelors Degree in International Business. Data was gathered from classroom observations, follow-up and exploratory interviews, and a questionnaire survey to discover more about the students’ learning experiences in Part I in China, and from classroom observations, audio-recordings, and follow-up and exploratory interviews to investigate the same group of students’ learning experiences in Part II in Britain. A ranking task and interviews were used to identify the preferences of Chinese students, British lecturers, and Chinese lecturers from China in terms of specific group discussion methods. The study identified three discussion methods used by students in British seminars: these have been termed ‘spiral’, ‘exploratory’ and ‘individual’ methods. The Chinese students tended to use the ‘spiral’ method, repeatedly bringing the discussion back to the question provided by the seminar tutor, whereas the non-Chinese students tended to use the ‘exploratory’ method, reformulating each other’s opinions and building on them by bringing in new information. When discussing within Chinese-only groups, the Chinese students used the ‘individual’ method whereby a group leader took responsibility for the outcomes of the discussion and the other members did not build upon each other’s contributions. Chinese and non-Chinese students sometimes misunderstood each others’ intentions, but were not likely to notice that miscommunication had occurred. The ranking task and the follow-up interviews revealed that the British lecturers preferred the ‘exploratory’ discussion method, whereas Chinese lecturers from China and Chinese students preferred the ‘spiral’ method. The British lecturers were found to adopt a constructivist approach to group discussion tasks, seeing them as a means by which students could obtain professional experience. They treated Business and Management knowledge as divergent and ‘soft’. Chinese lecturers and students, on the other hand, were found to perceive group discussion as a kind of assessment and were keen to find ‘correct’ answers to case study problems, treating Business and Management as convergent and hard disciplines which offered judgements on good practice. The Chinese lecturers in Part I of the programme organised group discussion so that students could exchange answers and check their accuracy, and, perhaps because of this, in Part I the students learnt in an exam-oriented way, strategically dividing up their tasks and working individually on their own task portions in order to find an acceptable answer as quickly as possible. These students were found to continue to employ these strategies during group work after they had transferred to the British component of their degree programme. The study has made a theoretical contribution to knowledge concerning the cultural influences on students’ classroom interactional practices. The findings from the study have implications for the teaching of intercultural business communication, and the enhancement of students’ learning experiences in international business programmes, in business English programmes in China, and whilst learning within groups.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Of the three primary methods of intervention in social work - casework, group work and community work - the focus of this study is on social casework. Every country structures its own model of casework practice and this model is determined by the social conditions and the diversity of ethnic groups and their specific cultures. For any social work intervention to be effective it must incorporate the cultural elements and nuances that influence the life of the people in a given country. In South Africa the implementation of the western paradigm of casework normally leaves out of account the dynamics of African culture. Consequently, current practice in social casework will have need to undergo a fundamental paradigm shift in order to address the needs of clients in a culturally sensitive way. The problem that this study will address, therefore, is the lack of sensitivity to African culture in the practice of social casework. Not surprisingly, research on the indigenization of casework in South Africa is meagre. This study attempts to contribute to the scientific inquiry about indigenizing casework theory and practice in South Africa. The aim of this study is to present an Afrocentric perspective on the method of social casework that will provide guidelines for practice in African communities in South Africa. To achieve this aim, four objectives are pursued: to describe casework within the context of the history of social work; to identify cultural elements that are essential to practice casework with African clients; to determine to what extent social caseworkers are culturally sensitive; and to investigate how far social caseworkers are equipped to render services to African clients. An exploratory study which is qualitative in nature was conducted. The phenomenological research strategy was used where the researcher, through in-depth interviews with respondents, developed insight into the experiences of social workers with regard to their practice of casework with African clients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten respondents who were social workers employed either by the state or by private welfare organizations in the Limpopo Province. The findings of the study are that social work training does not adequately prepare social workers to practice casework effectively with African clients. Indeed, social workers practising casework are not always culturally competent. Guidelines to be considered when practising casework with African clients are presented, and ways are suggested of how social workers can achieve cultural competence in service rendering to African clients. For social casework to succeed in South Africa, it is crucial that caseworkers acknowledge the existence of the African worldview, which is profoundly informed by African culture, and also incorporate the implications of this worldview in their casework framework of practice with African clients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Van die drie primêre intervensiemetodes in maatskaplike werk - gevallewerk, groepwerk en gemeenskapswerk, is die fokus van die studie op gevallewerk. Elke land stel sy eie model vir die beoefening van gevallewerk saam en die model sal afhang van die sosiale toestande en die diversiteit van etniese groepe en hulle spesifieke kulture. Vir maatskaplike werk intervensie om effektief te wees moet die kultuur elemente en nuanses wat die lewe van mense in 'n bepaalde land beïnvloed, in ag geneem word. In Suid-Afrika neem die implementering van die westerse paradigma van gevallewerk normaalweg nie die dinamika van die Afrikakultuur in ag nie. Gevolglik moet die huidige beoefening van gevallewerk in Suid-Afrika 'n fundamentele paradigma skuif ondergaan ten einde die behoeftes van kliënte in 'n kultuur sensitiewe manier aan te spreek. Die probleem wat hierdie studie derhalwe sal ondersoek is die gebrek aan sensitiwiteit vir die Afrika kultuur in die beoefening van gevallewerk. Dit is ook nie verbasend dat navorsing oor die verinheemsing van gevallewerk in Suid-Afrika gebrekkig is nie. Die studie beoog om 'n bydrae te lewer tot die wetenskaplike ondersoek van die verinheemsing van gevallewerk teorie en praktyk in Suid-Afrika. Daar bestaan 'n dringende behoefte om gevallewerk benaderings en prosesse te kontekstualiseer en te verheems ten einde sensitief te wees vir en te reageer op die sosiale realiteite wat die meeste Suid-Afrikaners ervaar. Die doel van die studie is om 'n Afrosentriese perspektief van die gevallewerk metode van maatskaplike werk, wat riglyne sal verskaf vir die beoefening van gevallewerk in Afrika gemeenskappe in Suid-Afrika, aan te bied. Om dit te bereik is vier doelwitte vir die studie gestel: om gevallewerk binne die konteks van die geskiedenis van maatskaplike werk te beskryf; om die kultuur elemente wat essensieel is vir die beoefening van gevallewerk met Afrika kliënte, te identifiseer; om by gevallewerkers vas te stel tot watter mate hulle toegerus is om kultuur sensitief te wees en om die mate waarin gevallewerkers bevoeg is om dienste en Afrika kliënte te lewer, te ondersoek. 'n Verkennende studie wat kwalitatief van aard is, is onderneem. Die fenomenologiese strategie is gebruik waartydens die navorser met behulp van in-diepte onderhoude met respondente insig ontwikkel het in die ervarings van maatskaplike werkers in die beoefening van gevallewerk met Afrika kliënte. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met tien respondente wat maatskaplike werkers in diens van óf die staat óf privaat welsynsorganisasies in die Limpopo Provinsie is, is gevoer. Die bevindinge van die studie is dat maatskaplikewerk-opleiding maatskaplike werkers nie voldoende voorberei om gevallewerk met Afrika kliënte effektief te beoefen nie. Inderdaad is maatskaplike werkers wat gevallewerk beoefen nie altyd kultuur sensitief nie. Riglyne wat oorweeg kan word vir die beoefening van gevallewerk met Afrika kliënte word aangebied en maniere waarop kulturele kompetensie bereik kan word in dienslewering aan Afrika kliënte word voorgestel. Vir maatskaplike werk om suksesvol te wees in Suid-Afrika is dit kardinaal dat gevallewerkers erkenning sal verleen aan die bestaan van 'n Afrika wêreldbeskouing wat hoofsaaklik ontleen is aan die Afrikakultuur en dat die implikasies van hierdie wêreldbeskouing vir hulle deel sal maak van hulle gevallewerk praktyk raamwerk met Afrika kliënte.

Thesis (MA)- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of the study was to investigate cultural and sex differences on different dimensions of aggression as measured by the Expagg Questionnaire (Expagg) and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Both inventories were administered to a sample (N=910) of students from Spain, Japan and South Africa. The results indicated that culture is indeed more predictive of aggression than sex. As expected, the study also revealed that it's influence is not uniform on all the dimensions of aggression investigated. The South African sample revealed the only significant sex difference on the Expagg. The males showed more distinct instrumental representations of aggression than the females, where aggression is seen as a means to reach a desired goal and thus as an effort to gain control. Inter-culturally the main finding was that the South African males and females held predominantly more expressive representations of aggression compared with the other cultures. This indicates that aggression is viewed as an expression of negative feelings and thus as a loss of control. On the Aggression Questionnaire only the South African and Spanish males reported more physical aggression than the females. Cross-culturally the most distinct finding was the overall lower levels of self-reported aggression of the South African females. A discussion of these significant results addressed social, cultural and political factors which may account for the differences. The study provided the prospect of an enhanced cross-cultural understanding of aggression. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van die studie was om kulturele en geslagsverskille te bepaal ten opsigte van verskillende dimensies van aggressie soos gemeet deur die Expagg Questionnaire (Expagg) en die Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Die vraelyste is op 'n groep (N=910) studente van Spanje, Japan en Suid Afrika toegepas. Die resultate het getoon dat kultuur inderdaad 'n beter voorspeller van aggressie is as geslag. Die resultate het, soos verwag, aangedui dat die invloed van kultuur nie eenvormig inwerk op alle dimensies van aggressie nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse groep het die enigste beduidende geslagsverskille getoon op die Expagg. Die mans se laer Espagg-tellings dui op instrumentele oortuigings ten opsigte van aggressie~ Aggressie word dus beskou as 'n poging om 'n verlangde doelwit te bereik en word ervaar as 'n poging om kontrole te verkry. Die vernaamste kruis-kulturele bevinding was dat die Suid-Afrikaanse groep beduidend hoër tellings as die ander kulture op die Expagg behaal het. Dit dui op ekspressiewe oortuigings ten opsigte van aggressie waar aggressie beskou word as die uitdrukking van negatiewe gevoelens en as 'n verlies van kontrole. Die Suid-Afrikaanse en Spaanse mans het hoër vlakke van fisiese aggressie as die vrouens op die Aggression Questionnaire behaal. Die mees uitstaande bevinding by die kruis-kulturele vergelyking was die algehele laer vlakke van selfgerapporteerde aggressie by die Suid-Afrikaanse vrouens. Die beduidende resultate is aan hand van sosiale, kulturele en politieke faktore bespreek. Die studie het In bydrae gelewer tot In beter kruis-kulturele begrip van aggressie.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South-Africa is known for diversity because of the existence of so many different cultural groups. According to the South African Statistic Services is there an increase in immigration from different African countries, India and China. South Africa therefore need to accommodate the different cultural groups. Except for the fact that there is so many cultural groups, there is also the possibility that more relationships and even marriages will take place between these different cultural groups. The social work profession already started to adapt to these differences because the teaching at universities and colleges focus on multi-cultural intervention. Before 1994 little attention was given to training of social work intervention with families of different cultural backgrounds. To be able to make social work intervention count, knowledge about the different cultures where social workers are involved with, is important. The aim of the study was to establish guidelines for social workers who render services to families of different cultural background, to insure that their intervention will be done more effectively. Existing literature on intervention with families of different cultural background was studied and presented in a theoretical framework. Social work perspectives, theories and models which can be used in social work intervension were discussed. Specific social work perspectives, models and theories which can be used with intervension of families with different cultural backgrounds were also discussed. The definitions of culture and the family were explained and a study was done on social work intervention with families of different cultural backgrounds. Exploratory research was done with the aid of a questionnaire at three welfare organisations. Social workers knowledge and skills on counselling with families of different cultural backgrounds was determined amongst practising social workers. Information obtained from the questionnaires are presented in nine categories, namely : identifying particulars, the client system, problems with families from different cultural backgrounds, training and knowledge of the social worker in cultural diversity,further training, perspectives and models for intervention, intervention with families of different cultural background, the attitude of the social worker and the welfare organization's involvement in training. Conclusions and recommendations are made regarding social workers' knowledge and skills of intervention with families of different cultural backgrounds that are important for effective intervention. Recommendations are made regarding further training and research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is bekend vir diversiteit, as gevolg van die teenwoordigheid van verskillende kultuurgroepe. Volgens die SA Statistieke Diens is daar 'n toename in immigrante van verskeie Afrika lande, Indië en China. Suid-Afrika word dus genoodsaak om voorsiening te maak vir al die verskillende kultuurgroepe. Behalwe vir die feit dat daar verskillende kultuurgroepe bestaan, is daar ook die moontlikheid dat meer verhoudinge en huwelike sal plaasvind tussen verskillende kultuurgroepe. Die maatskaplike werk professie het reeds begin met aanpassings in die verband deurdat opleiding by universiteite en kolleges fokus op multikulturele intervensie. Voor 1994 is daar minder aandag gegee aan opleiding in maatskaplike werk intervensie aan gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergrond. Ten einde doeltreffende maatskaplike werk intervensie te lewer, is kennis in verband met die verskillende kulture waarby maatskaplike werkers betrokke is, belangrik. Die doel van die studie was om riglyne daar te stel vir die maatskaplike werker wat dienste lewer aan gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergrond, sodat intervensie meer effektief sal wees. Bestaande literatuur ten opsigte van intervensie met gesinne van verskillende agtergrond is bestudeer en aangebied in 'n teoretiese raamwerk. Eerstens is gefokus op algemene maatskaplike werk benaderings, teorieë en modelle wat in maatskaplike intervensie benut kan word. Daar is ook meer spesifiek gefokus op maatskaplike werk-benaderings, modelle en teorieë wat benut kan word met gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergronde. Die definisies van kultuur en die gesin is ook bespreek en laastens is gefokus op maatskaplike werk intervensie aan gesinne van verskillende etniese agtergronde. Met behulp van 'n vraelys is 'n verkennende studie by drie welsynsorganisasies gedoen. Hierdeur is maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk se kennis en vaardighede oor intervensie aan gesinne met verskillende etniese agtergronde bepaal. Die gegewens verkry uit die ondersoek word in nege dele aangebied, naamlik : identifiserende besonderhede, die gevallelading, probleme met gesinne van diverse kultuur, onderrig en kennis van die maatskaplike werker in kulturele diversiteit, verdere opleiding, benaderings en modelle vir intervensie, intervensie met gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergronde, die gesindheid van die maatskaplike werker en die welsynsorganisasie se betrokkenheid by opleiding. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van maatskaplike werkers se kennis en vaardighede met betrekking tot verskillende kulture en intervensie aan gesinne van verskillende kulturele agtergronde wat noodsaaklik IS vir effektiewe intervensie. Aanbevelings is gemaak ten opsigte van verdere opleiding en navorsing.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Since World War II, the U.S. and China have gradually developed links, especially in economic areas. The world is witnessing the two economies intertwine, and it would seem that these two nations might potentially also cooperate and collaborate in social areas as well. Accordingly, it seems desirable to determine the degree to which cross-cultural communication between these two nation-states is feasible and effective. To make this comparison, television—now almost a universal medium of communication—is employed to explore the similarities and differences between the United States and China. In terms of the United States, American Idol is a popular television show which began airing in 2002. Likewise, Super Girl was a popular Chinese television show that was broadcast for three seasons, from 2004 to 2006. Both American Idol and Super Girl are singing talent television shows. The winners of these two shows receive contracts from the national major record companies and can become top popular singers and super stars. This fantasy has attracted thousands of young singers to participate in the contests every year. This study analyzes these two similar television shows, giving full recognition to the extremely diverse cultures in which they exist. Because of the differences between American and Chinese cultures, an eclectic approach would seem initially appropriate. The eclectic approach includes a combination of four research methods: content analysis; analog criticism; cross-cultural criticism; and fantasy theme analysis. The hypothesis of this study is that the same type fantasy generates different meanings and results in these two distinct cultures. / Department of Telecommunications

The purpose of this study is to examine the work life balance negotiations of three distinct culture groups employed by South Korean conglomerates located within the southeastern United States. These three cultural groups are: Korean nationals, Korean Americans, and non-Korean Americans. It is proposed that each culture will negotiate work life balances in their own manner based upon their specific inherent cultural understandings. This study is a cross-cultural examination through thirty-two open-ended interviews of employees working for large multinational Korean companies with facilities in the southern United States. Korean nationals, Korean Americans, and Americans implement different work-life balance negotiation tactics in the workplace based upon each one’s cultural association. While all three cultural groups experience difficulty in obtaining a work-life balance working for a Korean company, the Korean Americans seem to suffer the most.