Citizenship - commitment to and participation in a political community - is the heart of constitutional democracy and a free society. Knowledge of the rights, responsibilities, and privileges are the electrical impulses that keep a steady beat. Without the participation of educated citizens, a democratic republic can not and does not function. This study analyzed the relationship between adolescent behavior and civic engagement. This task was accomplished by examining the amount of civic knowledge possessed by two groups within a population. The population examined, a high school in Flagler County, was composed of "at risk" students (those who had an Individualized Education Plan) and "regular" students (those that did not). The study uncovered the message that the amount of civic knowledge possessed by American youth was not as important as it was for them to be engaged in extracurricular activities. During the course of time, educators appear to have restricted their own ability to plan for and provide learning experiences that take in to consideration the physical characteristics; physical needs; patterns of growth and maturation; physiological changes; intellectual development; intellectual characteristics; learning preferences and styles; emotional development; personality development; and social development of each and every young adolescent attending school. When interesting, affordable activities are not made available, students become bored and get in to trouble during after school hours. Adolescent behaviors such as moral judgment and risk taking (or lack thereof) affect their decision to become civically involved.

Die vorliegende Dissertation widmet sich der Überprüfung und Generalisierung der Environmental Enrichment Hypothese des Openness-Fluid-Crystallized-Intelligence Model (OFCI Model, (Ziegler, Danay, Heene, Asendorpf, & Bühner, 2012). Laut Environmental Enrichment Hypothese würde das Persönlichkeitstrait Offenheit die Intelligenzentwicklung positiv beeinflussen. Personen mit höherer Offenheit würden sich in mehr Lernsituationen begeben. Fluide und kristalline Intelligenz würde gefördert werden (Investment-Hypothese). Da diese Hypothese bisher nur für das jüngere und ältere Erwachsenenalter geprüft wurde, möchte die vorliegende Arbeit die Gültigkeit für das gesamte Erwachsenenalter gilt. Die erste Studie betrachtet die Environmental Enrichment Hypothese aus struktureller Perspektive. Offenheit manifestiere sich in Lese- und Rechenaktivitäten manifestiert. Die Aktivitäten würden Personen in neue Lernsituationen bringen. So würde fluide Intelligenz i Rahmen der Investmenttheorie nach Cattell auch kristalline Intelligenz gefördert werden. Anhand einer repräsentativen Stichprobe könnte gezeigt werden, dass (1) die Environmental Enrichment Hypothese für da gesamte Erwachsenenalter gilt, (2) der positive Einfluss von Offenheit auf die Intelligenz über die Manifestation in ein bestimmtes Freizeit- und Arbeitsverhalten erfolgen kann, und (3) es keinen Unterschied den verschiedenen Verhaltensweise sich Offenheit gibt. Die zweite Studie betrachtet die Erweiterung der Environmental Enrichment Hypothese durch Lesen. Der Einfluss von Offenheit auf diese Aktivitäten wird in einem Längstschnittsdesign betrachtet. Des Weiteren wird geprüft, ob Offenheit auch während einer Arbeitslosigkeitsphase einen Effekt haben kann. Offenheit solle die negativen Auswirkungen von Arbeitslosigkeit auf das Lesen abpuffern. Der erstere Effekt konnte, aber der letztere Effekt konnte nicht gestützt werden. Zum Abschluss werden die Ergebnisse diskutiert und genutzt, um weitere Forschungsfragen zu generieren. / This dissertation wants to test and generalize the Environmental Enrichment Hypothesis of the Openness-Fluid-Crystallized-Intelligence model (OFCI model, (Ziegler, Danay, Heene, Asendorpf, & Bühner, 2012). This hypothesis assumes that the personality trait Openness fosters intellectual development. This is based on the idea that more open people with put themselves in more learning situations and promote fluid and crystalline intelligence (Investment Hypothesis). Since this hypothesis has only been tested for younger and older adults, the present work wants to show the generalization for the entire adult age. Furthermore, the underlying assumption of the manifestation of Openness in intelligence specific behavior (e.g. reading ) is tested. The first study in this paper considers the Environmental Enrichment Hypothesis from a structural perspective. It is assumed that Openness manifests in reading and calculating activities at work and during leisure time. Such activities would lead to people into new situations. According to Cattell's investment theory fluid intelligence would be used to build crystalline intelligence. On the basis of a representative sample it could be shown that (1) the Environmental Enrichment Hypothesis can be generalized over the entire adult age, (2) the positive influence of Openness on intelligence can be manifested in leisure and work activities, and (3) there is no difference in specific behaviors. The second study focuses on the extension of the Environmental Enrichment Hypothesis by reading. In this study the influence of Openness on these activities is considered in a longitudinal design. Additionally, it is examined whether Openness can also have a positive effect during unemployment. it is assumed that Openness should buffer the negative effects of unemployment on reading. The first effect could, but the second effect could not be supported. Finally, the results are discussed and used to generate further research questions.

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The aim of this study is to provide increased knowledge about the experiences of some Swedish students with intellectual development disorder who are enrolled in compulsory school for pupils with learning disabilities and study according to that curriculum but attend school as integrated students. The study examines how these students understand opportunities and experiences of participation and inclusion in their learning environment and social existence based on self-perceived experiences. Furthermore, this study explores how inclusion and participation are manifested in the school environments. This study utilized a qualitative research design, micro-ethnography. The participants were one to three children aged 6-14 years with intellectual development disorders who are enrolled in compulsory school as integrated students. During the two-month-long study, we acted as participant observers making observations of the participants in the different school settings while simultaneously functioning as resources for the classes. We also engaged the participants in recorded conversations concerning points that needed to be clarified. Data were analyzed using four aspects of the Participation Model as well as two aspects from the Index of Inclusion. The results show that participants often had difficulty expressing themselves when commenting upon their participation experience. The participants almost always chose adult contact over contact with other children of the same age. Participants were allowed to make decisions that were respected, however, most of the decisions were decisions to not take part in an activity. Participants generally took part willingly in activities that required individual participation with some adult support. The school settings were generally very accepting of participants. A prerequisite for participation was support from adults and access to an adapted learning environment. Without various supports, it was difficult for participants to take part in many activities within the educational culture. It was difficult to discern participants' subjective feelings and experiences of inclusion through their own actions and words, as we were not able to observe participants reflecting upon this experience. Furthermore, it was difficult to ‌fit our data into a theoretical framework that allowed us to interpret inclusion. We observed multiple occasions where educators had plans for inclusion for an activity, however, often the execution of the activity led to exclusion of participants. Much of the inclusion was in the physical form of help from other students as well as staff who removed barriers to learning and participation. Furthermore, we observed that all adults in the school environment provided support for students to feel included by being valued and allowing participation on their own terms.  By utilizing the integrated students’ voices about participation and inclusion, this study can exemplify the challenges and difficulties of achieving inclusion and participation for all students in a School for All and hopefully provide schools with direction in both the development and improvement for all students within the fields of inclusion and participation. / Syftet med studien är att bidra till ökad kunskap om självupplevda erfarenheter hos några svenska elever med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning. Eleverna är inskrivna i grundsärskolan och studerar enligt särskolans läroplan och går som integrerade elever i grundskolan. I studien undersöks hur dessa elever, i handling och med egna ord, gavs möjlighet att förstå och erfara delaktighet och inkludering i sin lärmiljö och sociala samvaro utifrån självupplevda erfarenheter. Vidare undersöktes hur inkludering och delaktighet demonstreras i skolmiljöerna. Studien är en kvalitativ mikroetnografisk forskningsdesign där urvalet är 1-3 barn i åldrarna 6-14 år med intellektuell funktionsnedsättning som går som integrerade i grundskolan. Studien genomfördes under en tvåmånadersperiod där vi agerade som deltagande observatörer och gjorde regelbundna observationer av deltagarna i olika skolmiljöer. Under studiens gång presenterade vi oss och agerade som resurser för klasserna. Vi engagerade också deltagarna i studien i enstaka uppföljande samtal om aspekter som behövde tydliggöras. Den insamlade datan analyserades utifrån delaktighetsmodellens fyra aspekter samt utifrån två aspekter från Index of Inclusion. Resultaten visar att deltagarna uppvisade svårigheter att uttrycka sig angående sina upplevelser av deltagande. Vidare visar resultaten att deltagarna oftast valde vuxenkontakt framför kontakt med andra barn i samma ålder. Deltagarna gavs möjlighet att fatta beslut som respekterades, men många av besluten var aktiva beslut att inte delta i en aktivitet. Deltagarna deltog oftast frivilligt i aktiviteter som krävde individuellt deltagande med visst vuxenstöd. De olika skolmiljöerna visade på hög grad av erkännande av deltagarna. En förutsättning för delaktighet var stödet från vuxna och tillgång till en tillgänglig lärmiljö. Utan olika stöd, var det svårt för deltagarna att delta i många aktiviteter inom undervisningskulturen. I studien var det svårt att skapa förståelse för deltagarnas känslor och erfarenheter av begreppet inkludering genom deras egna handlingar och ord eftersom vi inte kunde observera deltagare som reflekterade över denna subjektiva upplevelse. Vi fann det mycket svårt att försöka passa in vår data i ett teoretiskt ramverk som gjorde det möjligt att tolka inkludering. Vi observerade flera tillfällen där lärare planerade för inkludering i en aktivitet, som ofta ledde till uteslutning av deltagare i slutändan. Synliggörandet av inkludering visade sig i fysisk form genom hjälp från andra studenter samt lärare/personal som avlägsnade hinder för lärande och deltagande. Vi kunde konstatera att alla vuxna i skolmiljön gav sitt stöd för att få eleverna att känna sig inkluderade och delaktiga utifrån deras egna villkor. Genom synliggörandet av elevernas röster om delaktighet och inkludering kan denna studie exemplifiera utmaningarna och svårigheterna med att uppnå inkludering och delaktighet för alla elever i en skola för alla och förhoppningsvis ge skolor vägledning i både utveckling och förbättring för alla elever inom områdena inkludering och delaktighet.

This research explores the training needs of nannies in the United Kingdom in terms of the content and structure of introductory training. The research question formulated for this study is: What are the introductory training needs of nannies in the United Kingdom? The researcher approached the study qualitatively and empirical data was collected by means of a focus group discussion with a group of nannies. Empirical data indicates that nannies need training regarding: • The professional aspect of nannying; • the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of children; • the various developmental levels of children and the role of the nanny within each phase; • working with parents; • different religions and cultures and their childcare practices. It was found that nannies need training that is structured in an affordable, brief, specific and practical way. The study therefore reveals that nannies have specific needs regarding both the content and structure of childcare training. / Thesis (M. Ed.)

This research explores the training needs of nannies in the United Kingdom in terms of the content and structure of introductory training. The research question formulated for this study is: What are the introductory training needs of nannies in the United Kingdom? The researcher approached the study qualitatively and empirical data was collected by means of a focus group discussion with a group of nannies. Empirical data indicates that nannies need training regarding: • The professional aspect of nannying; • the physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of children; • the various developmental levels of children and the role of the nanny within each phase; • working with parents; • different religions and cultures and their childcare practices. It was found that nannies need training that is structured in an affordable, brief, specific and practical way. The study therefore reveals that nannies have specific needs regarding both the content and structure of childcare training. / Thesis (M. Ed.)

The final thesis deals with the form and function of an educational game to be used in the 4th and 5th grades of primary school. It will deal with appropriate educational games for these pupils based on their emotional, intellectual and social development. Additionally, it will describe the method for how to categorize different kinds of educational games and how to include them in educational process. In the practical component, there is a comparison of opinions about an educational game between newly qualified and experienced teachers. The opinions of pupils and their evaluation of the specific games are also included. It includes a file of educational games as well which is based on a classification from the theoretical part.

The migrant labour practice in South Africa played an important role in the country's development and economy. Although it has benefited many native migrant workers by creating job opportunities, it has had adverse effects on the families of migrant workers. The focus of this study is the phenomenon of migrant labouring and its effects on the family. A literature study has shown that migrant labourers, living in overcrowded city hostels, were subjected to exploitation, malnutrition and crime. The empirical study brought to light the many problems experienced by the families back home: Wives were overburdened by dual roles and responsibilities, lack of support and money, children's development was impeded and academic motivations and performance were low. The ultimate aim of this study was to design practical guidelines to help families cope with the effects of an absent father due to the migrant labour practice. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed.(Guidance and Counselling)

Text in English / The literature review indicated similarities between education and chess playing and possible transfer of knowledge between these two different domains. A link was then suggested between some aspects of intellectual abilities and chess instruction in children, but not in adults (Frydman & Lynn, 1992; Waters, Doll & Mayr, 1987). In this research study the aim was to explore the relationship between chess playing and cognitive and intellectual development in Grade R learners at Garsieland. Therefore the positive influence that chess playing brings to bear on the intelligence of 64 Grade R learners (as measured on intelligence scales) was investigated. The data was collected through short biographical questionnaires and psychometric tests and the participants in both groups were assessed on two occasions. The study suggested that chess instruction exerted a positive (small) effect on Performance intelligence and subsequently on the Global scale of the Junior South African Intelligence Scales. The children in both groups also exhibited improved cognitive development after the 40 week period during 2009. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The migrant labour practice in South Africa played an important role in the country's development and economy. Although it has benefited many native migrant workers by creating job opportunities, it has had adverse effects on the families of migrant workers. The focus of this study is the phenomenon of migrant labouring and its effects on the family. A literature study has shown that migrant labourers, living in overcrowded city hostels, were subjected to exploitation, malnutrition and crime. The empirical study brought to light the many problems experienced by the families back home: Wives were overburdened by dual roles and responsibilities, lack of support and money, children's development was impeded and academic motivations and performance were low. The ultimate aim of this study was to design practical guidelines to help families cope with the effects of an absent father due to the migrant labour practice. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed.(Guidance and Counselling)