Thesis (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Schools, parents and learners have certain expectations of teachers, including their expectations regarding the emotional behaviour of teachers in the classroom. This implies that teachers are occasionally required to project emotions that they are not really experiencing, thereby affecting and influencing their own identity and integrity as teachers. It is with this phenomenon in mind that the influence of feeling rules that form part of emotional labour was researched: the experiences of teachers, and the support that schools provide in this regard, as well as the impact of emotional labour on different teachers. The problem studied is the role that emotional labour plays in the high school educator’s classroom. This problem was researched specifically in the context of the teachers’ personal experiences and opinions. The study focused on how teachers experience emotional labour in their classrooms and working environment, and the influence that it has on them. The primary objective of this research was to analyse and describe the teachers’ perceptions and experiences of emotional labour in the teaching environment. On the one hand, teachers must be aware of the role that emotional labour plays in the classroom. On the other hand, it is particularly important that the management of schools should provide teachers with the required recognition, support and development relevant to this important concept. The purpose of this study is therefore, to sensitise awareness of this concept and to contribute to improved insight into it, so that the feelings and perceptions of teachers regarding the effort that emotional labour demands from them can be better understood. This study has a generic qualitative perspective in the use of the research approach and methods that embrace a phenomenological point of view, where reality is based upon the perceptions of teachers –in the field – that participated in the study. The result is of a descriptive nature. A non-probability sampling technique was adopted, specifically the convenience sample, on the basis of which ten participants were selected according to their availability and willingness to participate in this study. Data was generated by means of semi-structured interviews with two focus groups and four individual interviews recorded on tape and transcribed verbatim. Data processing was done by means of the constant comparative method of analysis. The coding of data according to certain selection criteria led to the identification of themes, categories and sub-categories. The relationships between the themes were integrated into a conceptual model. These themes describe the possible elements that influence the role of emotional labour in the classroom of the educator. The results illustrate that teachers identify the elements that play a role in how the teachers in this group experience emotional labour in the classroom: their identity as teachers, their work context, the feeling rules, the support they receive or the lack thereof, the extent of their practical experience in education, the strategies they use in handling emotional labour, and lastly, the consequences of emotional labour. This implies that the ability of teachers to experience emotional labour positively in the education environment is largely dependent on the support, guidance and leadership that they receive from their schools.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / An autobiographical narrative is imparted through different phases of understanding of the reading process, which developed over time in various fields in education. The reading process is discussed from different perspectives, based on own experience: as initial reader who has to master the reading process in a period when meaning of the context is of minor consideration, as teacher of young and struggling readers, as trainer of candidate remedial teachers, as curriculum and resource developer and author of publications with the objective of making the reading process more accessible to learners and teachers, and ultimately as in-service trainer of teachers in an era when children's reading skills deteriorate markedly. After critical reflection and consideration it was concluded that teachers involved in reading instruction and support are empowered only if they can critically reflect on and examine their personal practices in view of a good understanding of the reading process. Different models of understanding, developed over time, were utilised for better insight.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Teachers have a central role to play in the process of educational transformation. Given their deep contextual understanding of their school it is important to provide a safe space, so that their voices can be heard. Within the context of educational transformation, educational psychologists are challenged to redefine their role and to become more involved in the general process of schooling. The new role envisaged for educational psychologist suggests an enlargement of their scope of practice to include both individual work as well as work within the different systems. The role as organizational consultants suggests that the educational psychologist must assist with professional teacher development and organizational development in order to equip schools to become more effective in their purpose and goals. The study attempts to explore the directive use of sandtray as a non-verbal and projective technique, within the framework of school development planning, to facilitate school development. It is envisaged that the outcomes of the research can contribute towards the range of skills and interventions that educational psychologists can use to effect school reform and development. A qualitative case study within the interpretive paradigm was chosen as research design. The case was a high school in the Namaqua District of the Northern Cape Province. The sample for this study consists of 6 teachers that were representative of the staff. The data was collected through 6 individual sandtray sessions, semi-structured interviews and 1 focus group discussion. Photographs of the subjects sand worlds were also taken. The review of literature and the findings of this research, suggest that sandtray, as a projective technique, when used in an ethical and responsible way, during the auditing phase of school development, can give the educational psychologist access to the underlying personal and structural dynamics that hinders the process of development and renewal within a school. Secondly, it helps to develop an understanding of the individual perspectives, point of views and emotional reactions of teachers towards the existing context of the school. Since school development is also concerned with personal and professional development of teachers, it is important to provide psychosocial support for teachers to deal with personal issues that emerge out of the sandtray process as well as the challenges within the context of their school. To develop a composite picture of the school it seems important to involve all role-players in the initial phases of school development planning.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Duisende jong Suid-Afrikaners vertrek jaarliks op ‘n gapingsjaar (”gap year”) oorsee. ‘n Populêre siening in die media asook die wyer publiek is dat hierdie gapingsjaar die ideale tydperk is vir jongmense waar hulle hulleself kan “vind”. ’n Gapingsjaar word tipies onderneem in laat adolessensie (tussen 18 en 25 jaar). Die idee dat laat adolessente hulleself moet “vind” sluit aan by die ontwikkelingsteoretici se psigososiale konsep van identiteitsformasie. Die mees belangrike ontwikkelingstaak tydens laat adolessensie is die vestiging van ’n koherente identiteit en is ’n redelike mate van identiteitsverwerwing na afloop van adolessensie kritiek. ’n Belemmerde identiteitsverwerwing kan hul persoonlike selfstandigheid en outonomie wesenlik inperk. Die vraag het ontstaan of laat adolessente hulleself wérklik “vind” in ’n gapingsjaar soos die media-ideologie dit uitbeeld? Tot op hede (nasionaal en internasionaal) kon geen navorsing gevind word wat verband hou met ʼn gapingsjaar en identiteitsontwikkeling nie. Die doelstelling van hierdie studie was om die identiteitsontwikkelingstatus van Suid-Afrikaanse laat adolessente na ’n gapingsjaar te bepaal. Die basiese veronderstelling en populêre siening dat laat adolessente na afloop van ’n gapingsjaar ’n verworwe status van identiteitsontwikkeling het, is ondersoek. Om die identiteitstatus te assesseer is 288 Suid-Afrikaanse gapingsjaar laat adolessente genader en ’n kwantitatiewe opname metode is gebruik. Die gekose instrument vir die identiteitstatus ondersoek is die Extended Version of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-II). ’n Demografiese vraelys is geadministreer om beskrywende data verkry en te kyk watter demografiese eienskappe statisties korreleer met die onderskeie identiteitsontwikkelingstatusse van respondente. Die gestruktureerde vraelys is via ʼn webtuiste, met pen en papier of telefonies voltooi. In stryd met die populêre siening en media-ideologie is die bevinding dat die minderheid respondente (slegs 14.5%) geklassifiseer kon word in die verworwe identiteitstatus na ‘n gapingsjaar. Die meerderheid val binne die moratorium- en diffusestatus wat beteken dat hulle nie ‘n binding gemaak het tot ‘n identiteit na hul gapingsjaar nie. Gapingsjaar adolessente se ouderdom, tyd terug na hul gapingsjaar, die behoort aan ‘n religieuse groep (tydens hul gapingsjaar) of hul verhoudingstatus (tydens hul gapingsjaar) is eerder geassosieer met ‘n verworwe identiteitstatus. Vroegtydige en pro-aktiewe terapeutiese en opvoedkundige ondersteuning tydens hierdie ontvanklike periode, kan bydra tot ’n groter positiewe identiteitsontwikkeling van jongmense. Hierdie studie kan bydra tot die kennisbasis vir Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: Thousands of young South-Africans embark every year on a gap year overseas. A popular notion in the media as well as the wider public is that the gap year is the ideal period for young people to ‘find themselves”. A gap year is typically undertaken in late adolescence (age between 18 and 25). The idea that adolescents should ‘find’ themselves relates to developmental theorists’ psychosocial concept of identity formation. The most important development task during late adolescence is the forming of a coherent identity and a reasonable amount of identity formation after adolescence is critical. Impeded identity formation can severely curb their self-dependency and autonomy. The question is raised whether adolescents really ‘find’ themselves during a gap year, as the media would have us believe. No research (nationally and internationally) could be found which relates to the gap year and identity formation. The aim of this study was to determine the identity development status of late adolescents having been on gap year. The basic assumption and popular view that adolescents would have an achieved status of identity formation, is investigated. To assess the identity status, 288 South-African late adolescents who has taken a gap year was asked to participate in a quantitative survey. The chosen instrument for the identity status investigation is the Extended Version of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-II). A demographic questionnaire was also included to gain descriptive data. The data was used to test which demographic properties correlate with the respective identity formation statuses of participants. The structured questionnaire could be completed via a website, with pen and paper or telephonically. Contrary to the popular notion in the media and public, the finding is that the minority respondents (only 14.5%) could be classified in the achieved identity status after the gap year. The majority falls in the moratorium- and diffused statuses, which means that a binding was not formed with their identity after their gap years. Rather, demographics like age, time back after gap year, religious affiliation (during gap year) and relationship status was found to be associated with an achieved identity status. Early and pro-active therapeutic and educational support during this receptive period (adolescence), can contribute to better identity development of young people and this study can therefore contribute to the South- African research knowledgebase.

<p> This quantitative research conducted in Southern California validated Lake and Billingsley&rsquo;s (2000) Grounded Theory regarding factors causing conflicts in special education. This study found that discrepant views of a child or child&rsquo;s needs, knowledge, service delivery, constraints, valuation, reciprocal power, communication, and trust, were associated with the perception of conflicts. Generally, the bivariate correlation coefficients indicated that all the predictors were statistically significant except use of power. The regression model evidenced significant association of knowledge, services, valuation, and trust. The comparison of the models for three subgroups of 194 Participants indicated that for parents, service delivery and valuation were significant factors of conflicts. For administrators and service providers, trust was a significant factor of conflicts. There was sufficient evidence to conclude that service delivery, valuation, and trust were associated with conflicts after the partial out of the other constructs. </p>

<p> The 1983 publication of <i>A Nation at Risk</i> gave birth to an effort to reform K-12 schools and increase student achievement all over the United States. More than 30 years later, the school reform efforts have grown into immense industries with marginal effect. Major legislation and programs have been launched throughout 3 decades, with <i>No Child Left Behind</i> legislation and <i>Common Core States Standards Initiative </i> being the latest and biggest endeavors, still with minimal outcomes. These efforts follow and run along with many years of structural changes such as Voucher, Small, Pilot, and Charter Schools. The problem of effectively transforming K-12 schools into places of high student achievement remains intractable.</p><p> The principal&rsquo;s role by its unique position in the educational delivery structure and its very nature is key, and may be the single most determining factor in the failure or success of a school. There are very few studies that focus on principal leadership and its effect on student achievement outcomes. All studies and most literature on principal leadership and effectiveness put most attention on traits and observable behaviors. However, it is important to look at the inner world of principals, for this influences, if not determines, the traits and behaviors they exhibit in their leadership. There are no known studies that have focused in on the inner states and experiences of effective school principals.</p><p> This phenomenological study represents a seminal effort to study the inner experiences of principals. The participant selection was done through criterion type purposive sampling to link this study to leadership effectiveness. Only principals who were able to transform their schools from failing into successful according to the objective California State Standards of Adequate Yearly Progress were included. This sampling method also enabled the study to look deeply into the inner phenomenological experience of these transformative principals.</p><p> The study findings yielded data compelling enough to propose a conclusion of effective school transformation and proposed a model to illustrate how the inner experiences of principals fit into effective school transformation. The study also presented its implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research.</p>

<p> This dissertation argues that bullying is a fundamental response to bullies&rsquo; feelings of insecurity. Past research has found factors associated with bullying to include socioeconomic status and propensities towards violent behavior. Contextual factors posited here that produce the feelings of insecurity, which lead to bullying, include peer group dynamics, school climates, and teaching. </p><p> In relationship to peer groups, the theoretical framework of this dissertation draws primarily from the theories of Robert E. Crosnoe and Dorte M. Sondergaard. The assumption is that students are socially embedded in peer groups in which they struggle for social status (Crosnoe 2011) and in many cases experience the threat of social marginalization (Sondergaard 2012). Sondergaard, in particular, theorizes that the more insecure students feel about their social status in peer groups, the more likely they are to resort to bullying behavior. </p><p> All multivariate analyses in this dissertation are limited to white, black, and Latino boys. The resulting sample comprises N=6,491 student observations nested within 153 schools. The nested sampling structure requires multi-level modeling (MLM) for the calculation of unbiased estimates.</p><p> I find that individual-level student background characteristics are stronger predictors of bully identification than the school context, as measured by student body composition and teaching style factors. In addition, social status insecurity is a mediating factor for many of the student- and school-level predictors of bullying. </p><p> The dissertation distinguishes four types of schools, each of which is above or below average on two major dimensions. The first dimension is academic support (i.e., how caring and responsive teachers are), while the other is academic press (i.e., how strict and demanding they are). </p><p> I find that black male students are more likely to self-identify as bullies in schools that are below average on both academic support and academic press, compared to those that are above average on both. The pattern for Latino boys is different. For them, self-reported bullying is higher when the school rates high on academic support, but low on academic press. </p><p> I find no statistically significant role for teaching styles in predicting the amount of bully identification among white males.</p>

<p> This study set out to understand the lived experience of children with mental health diagnoses. With the Foucaldian concepts of historicizing, biopower, power and nominalism, combined with the Disability Studies concepts of the social construction of disability, normative culture, and child voice, the study focused on six boys with mental health diagnoses placed in a summer day treatment program. Data collection included child interviews, field observations in the day treatment center, and the review of documentary evidence including educational files, and treatment center artifacts. The data were analyzed for individual child stories, file review data comparison, turn taking, and pieces of the conceptual framework. </p><p> Critical discourse analysis determined decades of social construction and normative culture were at play in both the child experiences and in the researcher&rsquo;s gathering and understanding of the data. Despite the purpose of the research to step away from these influences and allow the participants&rsquo; stories to organically emerge, the researcher co-produced truth with the children that reinforced the status quo. The three themes emerging from the initial data analysis of child sense of self, adult knowledge &amp; power, and child power led to a revised conceptual framework with power as a more constant, fluid piece of the children&rsquo;s lived experiences. Further analysis suggests historicizing, nominalism, biopower, social construction, and normative culture, while seemingly invisible, are constantly interacting and leaning on each other to create the researcher&rsquo;s lens and reality as well as the participant lived experiences. Power moves among the pieces while holding them together. </p>

<p> This dissertation examines the gap in college enrollment between Asian Americans and Latino Americans regarding the effects of family and school factors, classifying them into the six ethnic/generational status groups (Asian American first generation, Asian American second generation, Asian American third generation and plus, Latino American first generation, Latino American second generation, and Latino American third generation and plus). Through logistic regression analysis of the ELS: 2002 data, national longitudinal sample of 10^th graders, the study findings indicate that except for 10^th grade achievement, family plays a more important role in predicting overall college attendance (both 2-year and 4-year colleges), including SES, gender, parental and students&rsquo; expectations, 3^rd generation, and high school type. On the contrary, school plays a more important role in predicting 4-year college attendance, including 10^th grade achievement, academic excellence, participation in extracurricular activities, and English proficiency. Asian Americans are more likely to enroll in overall colleges as well as 4-year colleges, and the generation difference is not found. In contrast, Latino Americans are less likely to enroll in overall colleges as well as 4-year colleges, and there are noticeable generation differences; the low college enrollment rates are largely driven by non-immigrant Latinos. Recommendations for policy makers are provided.</p>

<p>The under-preparation in math at the high school and college levels, as well as the low participation of ethnically and linguistically diverse individuals in STEM fields are concerning because their preparation for work in these areas is essential for the U.S. to remain competitive in the innovative knowledge economy. While there is now a substantial body of research on this group of students, there remain unresolved questions around the role of linguistic factors, affective variables, and prior achievement. In light of this concern, the purpose of the study was two-fold. One was to examine the moderating role of first language (L1) proficiency on the effects of language minority (LM) status in English reading. The second was to investigate the mediating roles of English reading and math achievement in the relationship between such interaction and math self-efficacy. The study was a secondary analysis of the Education Longitudinal Study (ELS 2002, n =16,110). Using a multilevel SEM analysis the study did not find support for the moderating role of L1 proficiency. However, English reading and math achievement mediated the relationship between LM status and math self-efficacy. These findings provide further knowledge for the development of targeted interventions that aim at increasing the preparation and participation of linguistically and ethnically diverse students in STEM fields. </p>