The purpose of this research was to investigate the nature of the South African late adolescent’s adjustment whilst on a working holiday in the United Kingdom. In order to achieve this goal a thorough literature study was done with attention afforded to late adolescence, the developmental tasks of this life stage, culture and culture shock and the adjustment to the latter. An empirical study was conducted whereby semi-structured interviews were utilized as a data collection method. During these interviews questions were posed to the respondents to ascertain what they regarded as pleasant as well as unpleasant in relation to their working holiday in the United Kingdom, the perceived cultural differences between South Africans and Britons, problems experienced with the adjustment, homesickness, triggers thereof including ways in which to cope with it. Ten respondents were individually interviewed during this research. An exploratory research design was followed as the researcher explored the trend of late adolescents who embark on a working holiday in the United Kingdom. The researcher performed qualitative research to answer the research question. The research question that was formulated for the purpose of this study was: what is the nature of the adjustment of the late adolescent whilst living and working in the United Kingdom? The researcher applied the one-group posttest-only design as research procedure because interviews were conducted following a period of at least four months in which the respondents had lived in the United Kingdom. Empirical data was obtained by means of an interview schedule and the following themes were identified: -- Late adolescents experience culture shock upon arrival in the United Kingdom. -- Environmental differences are experienced. -- Cultural differences between South Africans and Britons are noted. -- Independency increases. -- Work experience is gained and money earned in order to meet needs. -- Cohesion and solidarity are experienced with fellow South Africans in London. -- Exposure is experienced. -- Homesickness is experienced. The researcher concludes that the late adolescent experiences initial culture shock that is absorbed by the support of fellow South Africans and results in increased independence. Homesickness is experienced and is dealt with in ways that had been tested. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work / unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to understand how White students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds (operationalized as students who are both low income and of the first generation in their family to attend college) experience and navigate social class during college. This was a qualitative research study employing a phenomenological research methodology. A critical theoretical lens was used to illuminate systemic issues of power and privilege related to social class present in the experiences of these participants. This study was guided by the following research question: How do White, low SES students experience and navigate social class during college? Participants in this study had many similar experiences to one another related to their social class. However, there also existed a variety of individual differences in how students understood and experienced their social class during college. Overall, participants expressed a limited awareness of their social class growing up, but all became keenly aware of it during college. In particular, during college, students became aware of how their own social class differed from the dominant middle class to upper class social class represented on campus. Participants minimized the salience of social class as an aspect of their identity with many of them expressing that they did not want their social class to define them. While participants largely did not feel as if social class was an important aspect of their identity, it became clear through their stories that this aspect of their identity influenced how they viewed themselves, the world around them, and their higher SES peers in college. For example, participants readily acknowledged the frustration and resentment that set them apart from their college peers. The students who participated in this study exhibited ethics of hard work, self-sufficiency, and financial responsibility. These values and attitudes also were evident in students' practices and behaviors (e.g., their judicious spending habits, their long hours working for pay). It also became clear that the long hours most participants in this study worked in order to afford college meant missing out on opportunities for involvement in activities outside of the classroom. Finally, participants' experiences interacting with their high SES peers played a pivotal role in their awareness of their social class during college. Participants were often frustrated by the attitudes, values, and behaviors of their higher SES peers, and for some, these social class differences led to social isolation. Overall, these findings illuminate a variety of issues and areas for concern, directly related to social class, experienced by low-income, first-generation college students in higher education.

Uppsatsens syfte var att undersöka processen för hur socionomers professionella yrkesidentitet framträder. Hur identiteten utvecklas i förhållande till professionen, utvecklingen från student och i övergången till yrkeslivet. En narrativ intervjustudie har genomförts där fyra socionomer intervjuats, två socionomstudenter och två yrkesverksamma socionomer. Intervjuerna har sammanställts till narrativ. Det teoretiska ramverket som används är socialkonstruktivistiskt perspektiv, det framträdande jaget och begreppet professionell identitet. Tidigare forskning visar att utvecklingen av den professionella identiteten påbörjas innan utbildningen där utvecklingen fortsätter, det viktigaste inslaget anses vara praktiken. Socionomen har ett brett arbetsfält och den professionella identitetens utveckling har en stark påverkan av kollegor och lagar. Resultatet överensstämmer till stor del med tidigare forskning men visar också på en påverkan av samhällets uppfattning om socionomer. Under studierna skapas en förståelse för den professionella identiteten, den verksamhetsförlagda utbildningen ger studenten tillfälle att testa sin professionella identitet. Tidigare yrkeserfarenhet tolkas ha en roll i förståelsen av professionell identitet och skillnad mellan privat och professionell. I början av yrkeslivet görs en tydlig skillnad mellan professionell och privat identitet men med tiden flyter dessa ihop. De professionella understryker en stark påverkan av lagar och egenskaper som inte förenas med den privata identiteten. Socionomers professionella identitet är en oändlig process. / The purpose of this study was to examine the process of social workers professional identity emerges and its development from education to profession. Narrative interviews were conducted with four informants, two students and two social workers. Tools for analyzing the narratives and the identities are the term professional identity and narrative perspectives which are represented by the social constructivist perspective and prominent self.Previous research shows that the development of the professional identity can begin before and within the education. In the professional life, development of the professional identity has a strong influence dependent on colleagues and laws. The results are largely in line with previous research but also underline an impact on society's perceptions of social workers. During the studies, an understanding is created of the professional identity that students test in their internship. Previous professional experience is interpreted to have a role in understanding professional identity and the difference between private and professional. At the beginning of career, a clear distinction is made between professional and private identity, but over time, these also merge. The professionals emphasize a strong influence of laws that are not associated with private identity. Social workers professional identity is a never-ending process.

Nicaragua hat eine der höchsten Teenager-Geburtenraten in Lateinamerika. Das Ziel dieser Studie ist es, die subtilen Konzepte, Wahrnehmungen, Überzeugungen und Einflussfaktoren zu verstehen, die zu unterschiedlichen Fertilitätsentscheidungen junger Frauen führen können. Die Ergebnisse basieren auf qualitativen Daten, die im städtischen Nicaragua erhoben wurden. Die Studie zeigt, dass zwei strukturelle Beschränkungen die Wahlmöglichkeiten von Frauen und ihre Fähigkeit beeinflussen, aktiv an der Definition ihrer Lebenswege teilzunehmen: Armut und traditionelle Geschlechternormen. In einer armen Umgebung aufzuwachsen, bedeutet nicht nur finanzielle Benachteiligung, sondern auch mangelnde Bildungsqualität, Mangel an effektivem und zeitnahem Zugang zu Gesundheitsdiensten, Gewalt in den Wohnvierteln, Mangel an Chancen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt, Mangel an positiven Vorbildern. Darüber hinaus beeinflussen traditionelle Geschlechternormen das sexuelle Verhalten junger Frauen, ihre Interaktionen mit ihren Familien und Partnern und die Art und Weise, wie sie sich ihr Leben vorstellen. Diese Faktoren haben nicht nur Auswirkungen auf den Entscheidungsprozess, sondern auch auf die Konsequenzen dieser Entscheidungen für die jungen Frauen und ihre Kinder. / Nicaragua has one of the highest adolescent fertility rates in the region. The objective of this study is to understand the subtle concepts, perceptions, beliefs, and influencing factors that may lead to different fertility outcomes among young women. The results are based on qualitative data collected in urban Nicaragua. The study shows that two structural constraints affect women’s choices and their capacity to actively participate in defining their life paths: poverty and traditional gender norms. Growing up in a poor environment not only means monetary deprivation, but also exposure to a lack of quality education, a lack of effective and timely access to health services, violence in neighborhoods, an absence of opportunities in the labor market, and a lack of positive role models. In addition, traditional gender norms affect young women’s sexual behavior, their interactions with their families and partners, and the way they envision their lives. Those factors have implications not only for the process of decision-making, but also for the outcomes of those decisions for the young women and their children.

This study focuses on how a Personal Portfolio can facilitate the narration of an adolescent’s life story and the outcome on self understanding. An instrumental case study that was exploritative and descriptive in nature was used to gain insight into the potential value of using a Personal Portfolio to reflect an adolescent’s quest for identity development. Data were collected by means of Personal Portfolio activities, open-ended interviews, tape-recordings of participant interviews, reflective reports written by the research participant as well as observations and field notes recorded in a diary by the researcher. The thematic analysis of the data was done within a constructivist-interpretivist framework. Five core categories: Identity Crisis/Confusion, Identity Exploration,Identifying Developmental Assets, Unresolved Past Issues, and the Experience of Compiling a Personal Portfolio emerged. These core categories were further linked to sub-categories and related themes. This study found that compiling a Personal Portfolio supported the research participant’s quest for identity. In particular, it facilitated a process of self exploration regarding career choice and sexual identity and resulted in increased self-knowledge, an awareness of personal assets and an overall improved sense of self-worth and self-confidence. This study also provided the research participant with a platform to work from and the means to solve some personal problems. The study further more concluded that a Personal Portfolio is a cost effective method that is suitable for use in a diverse South African context which could be utilised by counsellors and educators with their task to assist adolescents with their identity development. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The purpose of this examination paper is to get an understanding as an upcoming teacher about how friends make an important impact on children’s identity development in school, their choice of friends circle and what kind of groups there can occur among them. With a deeper comprehension of these circumstances should an educationalist be more considerate and adapt his or hers education to prevent negative group formations and to be an outsider. To achieve my results I used a qualitative research method where I through observation handpicked eight students from upper level of compulsory school with different friend circles from two classes for further interviews. Beside this I observed students in their school environment for three days. My conclusion by this research is that, the society, the school and the home are three very important factors that make big impact on children’s identity development. Even friendship has an important role on their development. Children choose their friends though common interest which can lead to group formations where negative group formations can occur.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze how the film Freedom Writers, released in 2007 anddirected by Richard LaGravenese, reflects on the topic of racism. The analysis is based on twoof the key tenets of Critical Race Theory, “Whiteness as Property” and “Commitment to SocialJustice”, which are used as analytical tools. Furthermore, the analysis also includes RacialIdentity Development Theory, which represents different stages of development as people beginto define themselves in relation to others. This thesis further evaluates pedagogical implicationsin connection to the analysis of Freedom Writers and Critical Race Theory. The results showthat racism is depicted in Freedom Writers through the concept of Whiteness as Property, andthe differences between white characters and characters of color are significant due to theirdifferent views on social justice. In addition, the results show that Freedom Writers may serveas a thought-provoking resource to use in the Swedish EFL classroom to create awareness aboutand discuss the importance of aspects such as racism, empowerment, and social justice in theworld and with regard to the students’ own knowledge.

African American students across income classes have been found to struggle with mathematics, impeding their ability to complete college, pursue lucrative careers, and address socioeconomic problems. Using the tenets of liberation and critical race theory, this qualitative case study explored the perceptions of a small group of 8 African American adults as to what they believe to be the root causes of mathematics achievement disparity for African American K-14 students, and what role the African American community can play in ameliorating these disparities. As most related studies are on low income communities, this study focused on an affluent African American community. Standardized math test performance data were gathered for local public schools, and 8 African American community leaders were interviewed; all but one were parents and 5 were science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals. Participants identified 4 root causes of disparities and 4 roles the community can play in addressing them. Root causes related to stunted aspirations, cultural obstacles, academic barriers, and poor rewards. Roles included funding a parallel culturally-responsive academic support system, inducing African American organizations to improve support for academic initiatives, improve children's understanding of the importance of math, and strengthen the community's communications with schools. Curriculum for a community training program was designed to support these roles. The results of this study support social change by informing stakeholders on how disparities manifest in mathematics achievement, even in an affluent African American community, and by providing information about how to leverage community participation in developing more culturally relevant and sustainable academic interventions.

This essay analyses how social interactions influence Rachel’s racial identity development using social psychology as the theoretical approach. It also discusses how a main part of racial identity development, racial identity invalidation, which is proven to cause chronic mental health issues in multiracial individuals, is what allows Rachel to explore her black ancestry and culture.

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