M.A. (Social Work) / The purpose of this study was to integrate existing scientific knowledge into a parent-training programme for adoptive parents. The viability of such a programme was investigated in the light of the viewpoint of many authors that the increasing responsibility of parenthood creates an increasing need for parent-training programmes. The purpose of this study was formulated as follows: i) to broaden the insight and knowledge of adoptive parents with regard to specific matters pertaining to adoption; ii) to support adoptive parents in their child-rearing task by stimulating the development of more insigt into the developmental phases, with special emphasis on those factors pertaining to the development of the self-image and identity formation, as well as the genealogy, of the adoptive child; iii) through the application of insight and knowledge gained through the programme, to assist their adoptive children in the development of a positive self-image and identity; iv) - to enhance a positive self-image of the parent; - to enhance the parent-child relationship; and - to aim at better family relationships as a result of the above, through enhancing satisfactory and effective role fulfillment of the parent; v) to enhance primary prevention in the hope that the emotional and social maladaptation of the adoptive child may be avoided. In order to fulfill these purposes, a conceptual framework was developed to generate questions and formulate hypotheses. The Resiarch Development and Utilization model of Edwin Thomas was utilized as research design for the development of the programme. In the third phase of Thomas' model i.e. the evaluation phase, provision is made for the utilization of evaluative research methodology for the evaluation of the relevant social technology. Thomas' model further provides for the utilization of experimental and quasi-experimental designs for the evaluation of social technology. In additioh, this researcher used programme evaluation as experimental design, as well as an exploratory-formulative or hypotheses-developmental design. Three correlation hypotheses were formulated predicting the relationship between the parent-training programme for adoptive parents (the independent variable) and the role...

M.A. (Social Work) / The goals of this study were viewed as the development and evaluation of a parent-training programme for foster parents related to their foster children; that 1s, to apply programme evaluation to a newly-developed social technological item, in this case a specific preventive intervention parent-training programme. The researcher formulated the following objectives towards the achievement of these goals: to present a theoretical perspective on foster care, on the ecological approach which was utilized in the development of the programme, and on programme evaluation; to develop the programme envisaged utilising the DR & U (Development Research and Utilization) model of Edwin Thomas; to evaluate the programme by inviting a group of foster parents, related to their foster children, to participate in the evaluation phase with a view to: * broadening the knowledge and insight of the participants on their foster care situation; * developing a more positive self-concept for programme participants, through improved insight into their foster care situation; * enhancing foster child-foster parent relationships through improved insight into the foster care situation; * improving the family relationships of the programme participants.