• Refine Query
  • Source
  • Publication year
  • to
  • Language
  • 601
  • 126
  • 94
  • 74
  • 27
  • 25
  • 20
  • 20
  • 14
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 3
  • Tagged with
  • 1260
  • 326
  • 257
  • 162
  • 150
  • 148
  • 96
  • 89
  • 88
  • 81
  • 79
  • 71
  • 68
  • 67
  • 65
  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
191

Impacts of goal setting on engagement and rehabilitation outcomes following aquired brain injury : A systematic review

Paloniemi, Katri January 2018 (has links)
Purpose: To appraise and synthesize the available evidence from previous systematic reviews concerning the impacts of goal setting on engagement in the rehabilitation process and on outcomes of participation and occupational performance for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI). Material and method: Systematic review of systematic reviews. From a total of 175 hits in the search which was conducted in two parts, 16 full text articles were assessed for eligibility, from which four were selected to be included in the review. Results: Four systematic reviews of moderate quality consisting of variety of methodologies were included. The empirical evidence was limited but supportive that goal directed interventions may contribute to better engagement in rehabilitation and better outcomes of occupational performance. Limited evidence suggested that goal setting improved adherence to the treatment regimens and that patient’s active participation in goal setting had positive impact on patients and their engagement in the process. Findings suggested that goal-directed interventions, particularly in outpatient rehabilitation, may improve patients’ occupational performance. Findings related to participation outcomes were minimal. Conclusion: Goal setting is a complex and multidimensional process. Goal setting may contribute to improved engagement in rehabilitation and occupational performance outcomes for patients with ABI. / <p>Presentation was completed via Adobe Connect</p>
192

Imobilização e engenharia de proteínas de glucansucrases

Graebin, Natália Guilherme January 2018 (has links)
Glucansucrases são enzimas que atuam em reações de síntese de polissacarídeos e oligossacarídeos. Para que esses biocatalisadores sejam aplicados em escala industrial, é desejável ótimas estabilidades térmica e operacional, o que pode ser alcançado com a imobilização de enzimas. Como alternativa aos suportes sólidos amplamente estudados, está a quitosana, polímero que não apresenta toxicidade e possui alta biocompatibilidade e alta afinidade com proteínas. Outra possibilidade promissora na imobilização de enzimas, é a síntese dos agregados enzimáticos entrecruzados (CLEAs), os quais apresentam alta atividade catalítica e alta estabilidade. Contudo, uma peculiaridade das glucansucrases quando produzidas em meio contendo sacarose é a camada de polímero que as envolve, e que bloqueia o acesso aos grupos reativos na superfície da proteína. No caso da expressão heteróloga das glucansucrases em Escherichia coli essa dificuldade pode ser contornada. Além disso, o uso da mutagênese sítio-dirigida pode proporcionar modificações de aminoácidos na superfície da enzima, tais como os resíduos Lys, Cys, His, com o intuito de que melhorias na imobilização sejam alcançadas. Sendo assim, na primeira etapa desse trabalho, uma extensa discussão é apresentada em relação às metodologias de imobilização de dextransucrase encontradas na literatura. A seguir, estudos referentes à imobilização da dextransucrase de Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512 F em esferas de quitosana ativadas com glutaraldeído foram realizados. Esse imobilizado apresentou alta atividade catalítica (197 U/g) quando utilizada a carga de proteína de 400 mg/g de suporte. Além disso, observou-se que a imobilização covalente e os açúcares maltose e glicose promoveram proteção à enzima em temperaturas de 40 ºC e 50 ºC. Na etapa seguinte, a produção e a caracterização de CLEAs de dextransucrase de L. mesenteroides B-512 F foram investigados. Demonstrou-se que o tratamento com a dextranase foi essencial para a imobilização da glucansucrase e que o isopropanol foi o melhor agente precipitante. Os CLEAs apresentaram pH e temperatura ótimos de 3,0 e 60 ºC, respectivamente, enquanto que a dextransucrase imobilizada nas esferas de quitosana funcionalizada com glutaraldeído apresentaram os valores de 4,5 e 20 ºC. Ambas formas imobilizadas apresentaram boa estabilidade operacional na síntese de oligossacarídeos uma vez que após 10 ciclos, 40 % de atividade residual foi observada. Por fim, estão apresentados estudos sobre a modelagem das estruturas tridimensionais e a mutagênese sítio-dirigida das glucansucrases DSR-S vardel Δ4N and ASR C-APY del. Os modelos preditos demonstraram boa qualidade e a mutagênese sítio-dirigida não promoveu perdas significativas na atividade enzimática dos mutantes. Somente o mutante DSR_S326C mostrouse inativo. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a imobilização da dextransucrase foi satisfatória e que cada técnica possibilita diferentes características ao imobilizado. Além disso, os imobilizados foram adequados para síntese de dextrana e oligossacarídeos. / Glucansucrases are enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. In order to assure continuous processing and reuse of the biocatalyst in industrial applications, enzyme immobilization techniques are required to promote good thermal and operational stabilities. Among the several solid supports for enzyme immobilization, chitosan shows interesting properties because it is non-toxic, it is biocompatible, and it has high protein affinity. Other possibility is the production of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs), which presents high catalytic activity and good stability. However, glucansucrases have a particularity when produced in sucrose medium, since a polymer layer surrounds the protein, blocking the access to reactive groups on the enzyme surface. To overcome this problem, it is possible to make the heterologous production of glucansucrases in Escherichia coli. Likewise, the site-directed mutagenesis may promote changes in the amino acids located on the surface to improve immobilization parameters. Therefore, this work aimed to discuss the several techniques applied for dextransucrase immobilization, and to design new immobilized biocatalysts. In a first step, it is presented a review about the distinct immobilization methodologies for dextransucrase. In a second study, an investigation about dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512 F immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan particles was carried out. The novel immobilized biocatalyst showed 197 U/g (400 mg/g dried support) of catalytic activity. The covalent immobilization promoted protection against enzyme damages at 40 ºC and 50 ºC, whereas maltose and glucose acted as stabilizers. Furthermore, it was studied the production and characterization of CLEAs dextransucrase from L. mesenteroides B-512 F. It was demonstrated that dextranase treatment was crucial for immobilization. Isopropanol was chosen as the best precipitant agent. CLEAs presented optimal pH and temperature of 3.0 and 60 ºC, respectively, whereas it was found values of 4.5 e 20 ºC for dextransucrase immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan particles. Both immobilized biocatalysts showed good operational stability in the oligosaccharides synthesis, exhibiting 40 % of residual activity after 10 cycles. Finally, the study concerning the homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis of glucansucrases DSR-S vardel Δ4N and ASR C-APY del is presented. The predicted models showed good quality and it has been demonstrated that the site-directed mutagenesis did not promote significant losses in the variant enzyme activities. Only one mutant (DSR_S326C) had shown no dextransucrase activity. The results obtained in this work suggest that the immobilization of dextransucrase was satisfactory, also showing that each technique promotes different characteristics to the immobilized biocatalyst. Besides, these immobilized enzymes were feasible for the synthesis of dextran and oligosaccharides.
193

Development of Selective Inhibitors of DNA Polymerase Delta: A Thesis

Talanian, Robert Vincent 01 August 1989 (has links)
This thesis is divided into three parts, united by the theme of the development of selective inhibitors of mammalian cell DNA polymerase delta (pol δ). The first part consists of an investigation of the cytotoxic mechanism(s) of certain 2-substituted adenine analogs, selected on the basis of their inhibitory properties towards DNA polymerase alpha (pol α) and mammalian cell DNA synthesis. The second is a direct search for inhibitors of isolated pol δ, and an investigation of inhibitory mechanisms. The third consists of measurement of the effects of a selective pol δ inhibitor on cellular DNA synthesis. Mechanism of Cytotoxicity of 2-substituted adenine analoqs. The mechanism of inhibition by 2-(p-n-butylanilino)-2'-deoxyadenosine (BuAdA), and related compounds, of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell ([3H]thymidine [3H]TdR) incorporation, was investigated. The potency of the compound could largely be explained by its potency (IC50 = 23 μM) as an inhibitor of CHO cell [3H]TdR uptake. BuAdA inhibited incorporation by CHO cells of [32p]phosphate into DNA relatively weakly, displaying an IC50value of 80 μM. Differential inhibition of DNA polymerases alpha and delta. Known DNA polymerase inhibitors of a structurally wide range were screened for their ability to inhibit pol δ derived from calf thymus selectively with respect to pol α derived from the same tissue. Pyrophosphate (PPi) and difluoromethanediphosphonate each inhibited pol δ weakly, but with greater potency than pol α. Based on this lead, an expanded series of PPi analogs was screened. Carbonyldiphosphonate (COMDP) inhibited pol δ with a potency (Ki = 1.8 μM) twenty-two times greater than that displayed for pol α. Kinetic studies indicated that COMDP inhibited pol δ competitively with the dNTP specified by the template, but not competitively with the template:primer. Analogous experiments with pol α showed that the compound inhibited that enzyme uncompetitively with the dNTP, and not competitively with the template:primer. COMDP was a weak inhibitor of the 3' → 5' exonuclease activity of pol δ, displaying an IC50value greater than 1 mM. Inhibition of permeabilized cell DNA synthesis bv a selective pol δ inhibitor. The potency of COMDP as an inhibitor of permeabilized CHO cell DNA synthesis (IC50= 200 μM) did not clearly indicate the participation of pol δ in cellular DNA replication. Prospectus. The thesis concludes with a prospectus for the development of pol δ inhibitors with improved properties compared to COMDP.
194

Reconceptualisation of self-directed learning in a Malaysian context

Mohamad Nasri, Nurfaradilla January 2016 (has links)
The concept of self-directed learning (SDL) has been extensively studied; however, the majority of studies have explored learners’ perspectives on SDL, with less attention paid to investigating SDL from educators’ perspectives. Surprisingly, while assessment and feedback have long been recognized as powerful elements which influence how learners approach their learning, and key research studies have examined how both assessment and feedback can encourage and enhance the development of SDL, this nevertheless remains an area that would benefit from increased attention. Moreover, although there is a growing body of literature investigating the cultural dimension of SDL, most of these studies are limited to examining the formation of SDL among individuals influenced by Western or Confucian cultures, ignoring the existence of other cultural groups. This study, which investigates Malaysian teacher educators’ conceptualisations of SDL, begins to address these gaps. The key research questions which guided the study are: 1) How do teacher educators in Malaysia conceptualise learning? 2) How do teacher educators in Malaysia conceptualise SDL? 3) To what extent do teacher educators in Malaysia perceive themselves as self-directed learners? 4) What kind of learning opportunities do teacher educators in Malaysia create for their learners to foster the development of SDL, and what is the particular role of assessment and feedback in SDL? Twenty Malaysian teacher educators were interviewed to obtain their views on SDL and to identify their pedagogical practices which may foster or hinder the development of SDL approaches among their learners. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to inform the methodological framework of this study, whilst a hybrid inductive and deductive analysis approach was used to analyse the interview data. The findings of the current study suggest that most assessment and feedback practices are heavily focused on assessments designed by educators and on educator-generated feedback, in which learners are passive recipients. It is argued that these practices have significantly contradicted the primary principle of SDL, which characterises the learner as the key agent of his or her own learning. The findings of this study suggest that a more comprehensive conceptualisation of SDL is required that recognises the fundamental role of both the self and of educators in SDL, and acknowledges the impact of the socio-cultural context on SDL. Informed by the existing SDL literature, and derived from fine-grained analysis of the interview data, the proposed definition of SDL and reconceptualised SDL framework foreground SDL as socially constructed learning where the learner takes control of his or her own learning processes within complex socio cultural contexts. The thesis concludes by recommending that future research (i) explores the central role of assessment and feedback in the context of SDL and (ii) investigates the impact of various cultures on learning, in order to develop a broader and more nuanced understanding of SDL.
195

As estratégias discursivas da comunicação dirigida em pontos de venda do HSBC

Ceschin, Michelle Beatriz Godoy Santos [UNESP] 12 December 2006 (has links) (PDF)
Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-12-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:51:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ceschin_mbgs_me_bauru.pdf: 1105426 bytes, checksum: 29d0a915a0a1860603ca4793a679ffc8 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente estudo tem como objeto a comunicação dirigida e investiga as estratégias discursivas da campanha “Triângulos” do HSBC no Brasil. São analisados os procedimentos enunciativos que regem a organização textual das peças publicitárias veiculada em folders disponibilizados nos pontos de venda das agências bancárias do HSBC, no final de 2004. O instrumental teórico-metodológico que baliza as reflexões aqui apresentadas é decorrente da semiótica discursiva de linha francesa, a chamada Escola de Paris, a partir das postulações elaboradas por A. J. Greimas e Jean- Marie Floch. Após apresentar o percurso de constituição do banco enquanto instituição inserida em uma economia globalizada, o trabalho demonstra o papel das formas discursivas na comunicação dirigida e suas implicações nas relações interculturais. As análises realizadas demonstram, a partir do texto, a configuração do contexto da relação comunicativa, depreendendo os valores e ideologias presentes nos discursos organizados com o objetivo central de promover o consumo dos serviços oferecidos pelo HSBC, por meio de estratégias de manipulação baseadas na sedução e na provocação. / The present study has as object the directed communication and investigates the discursives strategies of the campaign “Triangles” of the HSBC in Brazil. The enunciative procedures are analyzed which conduct the textual organization of the advertising pieces that are propagated in folders availables at points of sales of HSBC the agencies at the end of 2004. The theoretician-methodological instrumental which signalize the presented reflections is due to discursive semiotics of French line, the professed School of Paris, from postulations elaborated by J. Greimas and Jean-Marie Floch. After introduces the course of bank forming, while inserted institution in a worldwide economy, this work demonstrates the part taken by discursive features in directed communication and its implications in the intercultural relations. The performed analyses demonstrate from the text on, the configuration of the context of the communicative relation, gathering the values and ideologies presented in the speeches organized with the main objective to encourage the use of services offered by HSBC, by means of strategies of manipulation based on seduction and temptation.
196

Die ontwikkeling van kriteria waarmee sosiale weteskappe-onderrigmateriaal (graad sewe) : opgestel kan word om te verseker dat selfgerigte leer bevorder word

Gomes, Martin Luther January 2007 (has links)
Thesis (MTech (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007 / Daar kan nie van leerders (wat geleer is wat om te leer, hoe om dit te leer, wanneer en waar om dit te leer) verwag word om skielik verantwoordelikheid vir hulle eie leer in ons moderne informasie-era te aanvaar nie. Die probleem is dat die leerders nie blootgestel of die geleentheid gebied word om hulle eie leer te bestuur nie. Daarom moet onderrigmateriaal verseker dat die leerders blootgestel word aan die geleentheid om hulle eie leer te bestuur. Deur die gebruik van bestaande onderrigmateriaal, wat nie selfgerigte leer (SGL) koester me, kan leerders geforseer word om afbanklike leerders te bly en nie te ontwikkel tot lewenslange en selfgerigte leerders (leerders wat bevoeg is om op hulle eie te kan leer) nie. Verder veroorsaak die gebruik van bestaande onderrigmateriaal deur opvoeders dat die unieke behoeftes van die leerders in 'n klas nie in ag geneem word nie en dat opvoedergerigte leer in plaas van selfgerigte leer bevorder en aangemoedig word. Die rede hiervoor is dat opvoeders, weens 'n gebrek aan kennis van SGL, nie van beter weet nie. Die betroubaarheid van selfgerigte leer word versterk wanneer die opvoeders en die skeppers van onderrigmateriaal 'n deeglike begrip en kennis van die SGL-proses het. Die primere doel van hierdie navorsing is om kriteria te ontwikkel, wat as 'n riglyn kan dien om onderrigmateriaal wat SGL koester te ontwikkel- dus materiaal wat rigting aan die leerders gee om hulle eie leer te bestuur. Die kriteria is gevorm na aanleiding van 'n literatuurstudie van bestaande navorsing oor SGL en kundiges se evaluering van die kriteria. Na aanleiding van die kundiges se kommentaar is onderrigmateriaal, wat SGL koester, ontwikkel en weer aan die kundiges vir evaluering voorgele.
197

Triagem, aplicação e engenharia de biocatalisadores para transformações enantio e regiosseletivas / Screening, applying and engineering biocatalysts for enantio and regioselective transformations

Mantovani, Simone Moraes 06 March 2011 (has links)
Orientador: Anita Jocelyne Marsaioli / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T01:24:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mantovani_SimoneMoraes_D.pdf: 4553084 bytes, checksum: 941c2cd131469cbd398d6bc132f763bd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A utilização de biocatalisadores em processos industriais permite a obtenção de produtos de alto valor agregado em sintonia com as demandas de caráter tecnológico e de preservação ambiental. De maneira geral, o desenvolvimento de um biocatalisador envolve inicialmente a triagem da atividade de interesse, seguida da análise das propriedades como seletividade (regio e estereosseletividade) ou estabilidade, que podem ser posteriormente otimizadas por evolução dirigida ou desenho racional até a obtenção de um biocatalisador ótimo. Dessa maneira, os objetivos desse trabalho de tese foram aplicar diferentes metodologias para obtenção de biocatalisadores eficientes, que serão descritos em três capítulos. No capítulo I foi descrita a exploração de novos biocatalisadores por triagem da atividade enzimática em formato miniaturizado de biblioteca metagenômica composta por 864 clones utilizando sondas fluorogênicas, e que levou à detecção de quatro clones ativos para a hidrólise de ésteres. Posteriormente esses clones foram avaliados frente a substratos não modificados permitindo identificar um clone expressando uma enzima de alta quimio e enantiosseletividade para resolução cinética de éster propiônico (E > 100).. No capítulo II foi descrito o mecanismo da desracemização de álcoois secundários por células íntegras de Candida albicans CCT 0776 que consiste em um processo cíclico de oxidação e redução. A primeira etapa é catalisada por uma enzima altamente (S)-seletiva dependente de NADP e O2, seguida de redução pouco seletiva dependente de NADH. Esse sistema foi aplicado para diferentes álcoois e dióis, e possibilitou a detecção dos enantiômeros anti-Prelog com conversões de moderadas a altas (60 a 99 %) e altos excessos enantioméricos (80 a 90%) entre períodos de 20 a 120 h. Por fim, no Capítulo III foi descrito o trabalho de engenharia do citocromo P450Bm3 por exploração combinatória de alanina e posterior evolução dirigida para desmetilação regiosseletiva de substratos volumosos. Essa etapa foi desenvolvida durante o estágio de doutorando em Catech (EUA) sob a supervisão da Profa. Frances Arnold e permitiu a obtenção de variantes capazes de catalisar N-desmetilação de alcalóides e hidroxilação de esteróides com rendimentos moderados (20-80%). Todos esses resultados mostram a variedade de técnicas que podem ser empregadas para o desenvolvimento e aplicações de biocatalisadores visando transformações regio e estereosseletivas eficientes / Abstract: Biocatalysts have been widely applied in recent decades for industrial processes yielding high value products under environmentally friendly reaction conditions. The development of biocatalysts often begins with screening to identify enzymes with suitable activities followed by characterization of the enzymes chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity or stability. However, identification of new biocatalysts does not always yield enzymes suitable for a given synthetic problem. To overcome this limitation, biocatalysts can be optimized by protein engineering using rational design or directed evolution. In this context, this thesis describes different methodologies that can be explored to obtain efficient biocatalysts for selective transformations. In Chapter I, functional screening of an 864 member metagenomic library derived from soil using a miniaturized assay based on fluorogenic substrates is described. These assays identified four clones capable of ester hydrolysis. Upon further evaluation using high value substrates, one clone, B6, was shown to display high chemo- and enantioselectivity (E>100) for propionic ester hydrolysis. Chapter II describes the study and application of secondary alcohols deracemization using Candida albicans CCT 0776 whole cells. Monitoring the reaction using phenylethanol as a substrate revealed this system furnishes the (R)-enantiomer in high yield and enantiomeric excess mediated by a cyclic process of oxidation and reduction. In summary the first step is catalyzed by a high S- selective enzyme dependent on NADP and O2 followed by a non-selective reduction catalyzed by an NADH-dependent enzyme. This whole cell biocatalyst was applied to different sec-alcohols and diols allowing the detection of the anti-Prelog products in moderate to high conversions (60 and 99%) and high enantiomeric excess (80 and 90%) within 20 to 120 hour incubation times. Finally, in Charpter III the engineering of cytochrome P450Bm3 by alanine combinatorial scanning mutagenesis followed by directed evolution was used to identify enzymes with regioselective demethylation of bulky substrates. These libraries furnished variants capable of catalyzing regioselective N-demethylation of alkaloids and diastereoselective hydroxylation of steroids in moderate yields. Taken together these studies show the variety of techniques that can be applied for development and application of biocatalysts enabling selective and efficient transformations / Doutorado / Quimica Organica / Doutor em Ciências
198

Morphology and Placement Control of Microdomain Structure in Block Copolymer Thin Film for Fabricating Ultra High Density Pattern / 超高密度パターン形成に向けたブロック共重合体薄膜におけるミクロドメインの構造・配列制御

Tada, Yasuhiko 26 March 2012 (has links)
Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第16883号 / 工博第3604号 / 新制||工||1544(附属図書館) / 29558 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科高分子化学専攻 / (主査)教授 長谷川 博一, 教授 吉﨑 武尚, 教授 金谷 利治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当
199

The relationship between career decision self-efficacy and self-directed learning amongst female university students : a cross-cultural study

Hughes, Gillian 08 December 2011 (has links)
M.A. / The career landscape has undergone considerable change within the past three decades (Hackett, Lent & Greenhaus, 1991; Sharf, 2002). Globalisation, the opening up of markets and rapid technological advances have produced a new world of work. Career choices and career challenges are more numerous and the career decision-making process more complex (Stead & Watson, 2006b). Baruch (2006) suggests that with these changes comes a need to address the preparation of future recruits. According to Super (in Sharf, 2002), individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 are in the career preparation stage, with career decision making as one of its key tasks. In the face of the numerous challenges in the new world of work, students in this career phase are increasingly struggling with indecision. Many students who enter university are undecided and once they are enrolled as a student, they often change their major at some point in their academic career (Reese & Miller, 2006). Self-directedness with regards to learning may potentially contribute to coping with the career demands and general career development, including career decision making. A self-directed learner takes responsibility for his or her own learning and development (Clardy, 2000). The relationship between self-directed learning and career decision making appears to be an under-researched area (Wang, Lo, Xu, Wang, & Porfeli, 2007). Although all new entrants into the world of work are subjected to challenges, women and people of colour appear to be particularly vulnerable. Women, despite various instutionalised efforts to address previous inequities, continue to perceive career barriers and experience subtle discrimination and unfair labour practice (cf. Betz, 2005; Gianakos, 2005; Mafunisa, 2006). These inequities are also evident amongst people of colour (cf. Creed, Patton & Watson, 2002; De Bruin & Bernard-Phera, 2002; Gushue, 2005). In an effort to make a contribution to addressing the current problems, challenges and areas of neglect both within the field of career psychology and the broader career landscape, the aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between career decision self-efficacy and self-directed learning. The research provides a cross-cultural comparison of black and white women students and is situated within the Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent, Brown & Hackett, 1994). Two hundred and sixty five undergraduate university students (211 black; 144 white) completed a biographical questionnaire, the Student Self-Directed Learning Questionnaire (SSDL; De Bruin, 2008) and the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (CDSE-SF; Betz, Klein & Taylor, 1996b). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the levels of self-directed learning and career decision self-efficacy in the participants. Both groups of students showed above-average levels of self-directed learning and career decision self-efficacy. There was a significant difference between the SSDL scores of the black and white students, with the black students scoring higher. Pearson product-moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between self-directed learning and career decision self-efficacy. The results revealed a statistically significant and practically meaningful correlation (r = 0.46; p < 0.0001) between the two variables. Moderated multiple hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the influence of race on this relationship. Self-directed learning explained approximately 20% of the variance in self-directed learning. The interaction of self-directed learning and race explained an additional 2.2% of the variance in career decision self-efficacy. This research has implications for career counsellors and academics in their efforts to prove support to students with regard to making career decisions.
200

Personality traits, self-directed learning and career decidedness of undergraduate students in a large South African metropolitan university

Hirson, Romy 04 June 2012 (has links)
M.A. / Although there has been a wealth of research and development in the field of vocational psychology students continue to experience difficulties in making career decisions and remain either uncertain about career decisions that have been made, or undecided over career options (Stead & Watson, 2006). An improved understanding of the factors influencing career decision-making and the degree of their influence is needed to identify interventions for students struggling to make a vocational choice. Although multiple variables influence the decision making process, two constructs of interest that may be considered and which may have important implications for career guidance practices are personality and self-directed learning. Personality has been shown to be related to a myriad of psychological constructs. The present study adopted the Five Factor Model for its inquiry, making use of the Basic Traits Inventory (Taylor & De Bruin, 2006). Self-directed learning can be conceptualised as a set of skills, the manner in which students carry out learning projects, or as a character trait of the person (Brockett & Hiemstra, 1991). Because of their ability to learn autonomously self-directed learners may have more highly developed skills, necessary to make effective decisions. The present study aimed to examine the relationships between personality, self-directed learning and career decision. Specifically, the study intended to determine whether personality and self-directed learning predicted career decision certainty or career indecision. Pearson‟s product-moment correlation was used to determine the relationships between the constructs. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the predictive effect of these relationships. Some of the five factors of personality were related to career decision. Extraversion had a significant positive relationship with CDS Certainty (r = 0.226) and a significant negative relationship with CDs Indecision (r = 0.150). Neuroticism did not have a significant relationship with career certainty, but was significantly positively related to CDS Indecision (r = 0.220). Conscientiousness had a significant positive relation with CDS Certainty (r = 0.308) and a significant negative relationship with CDS Indecision (r = 0.210). Openness to Experience had a significant positive relationship with CDS Certainty (r = 0.201) but was not significantly related to CDS Indecision. Agreeableness had a significant positive relationship with CDS Certainty (r = 0.273) and although it was not statistically significant, Agreeableness was negatively related to CDS indecision. Self-directed learning was positively and significantly related to CDS Certainty (r = 0.451) and had a significant negative relationship to CDS Indecision (r = -0.257).

Page generated in 0.0594 seconds