The purpose of this collective case study was to explore the significance of choral singing for choristers and conductors participating in a national extra-curricular schools choral singing programme in South Africa. Understanding the experiences of choristers and conductors can contribute to principals, administrators of singing programmes, parents and conductors supporting choral singing activities. The method of inquiry was a qualitative collective case study with probing semi-structured open-ended questions to better understand the value and meaning of choral singing. Sampling comprised six purposefully chosen choirs, consisting of three primary and three secondary schools, portraying the unique socio-economic environment found in an agricultural rural town in central South Africa. Twenty-five participants were carefully selected, including 19 choristers and 6 conductors, 9 males and 16 females aged between 10 and 62 years. Eight themes emerged, namely choir singing as a way of living, music-related experiences, learning, growth, bridging, bonding and belonging, wellbeing, the latter including resilience, self-worth, positive affect, and singers’ spiritual experiences. Suggestions for further research include relationships of choral singing with full personhood and spiritual experiences. Certain physical aspects related to rehearsals, specifically regarding fatigue and back pain after standing through long rehearsals, could be investigated further. / MA (Musicology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The research aims at gaining knowledge about interpersonal competencies at work when professionals lead and counsel the change processes of other individuals in accordance with the norms and values of the profession. Norms and values are disclosed from the ethical guidelines for five professions (physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists and teachers). Critical incidents in the five professions are analysed to obtain knowledge about norms and values in a working relationship between the professional and the other individual. The personal competencies that meet the requirements of the ethical guidelines are discussed. The examination of norms and values concludes with three primary categories to denote ways of performing: Recognition, treatment and exercising authority. The analysis of critical incidents shows similarities in value working relationships across professions in aspects of time, personal qualities, relations, autonomy and motivation. Competencies, in accordance with ethical guidelines, are disclosed when the professional's respect for the other individual's dignity interacts with the other's trust in the professional's authority. The interaction establishes a context for the other’s change process. The context is maintained in the way the professional pays attention to the other individual's flow of experience. The maintenance depends on the professional's awareness of the other in his/her communication and judgment. The research brought forth knowledge of what makes up the competencies and their interactions. The knowledge contributes to education where professionals lead and counsel the other's change process.

Masters of Science / There is evidence of the rising incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle in developing countries. It is estimated that by 2020 chronic diseases of lifestyle in Sub-Saharan Africa will be almost 50% of the burden of disease. Rapid urbanization with changes in lifestyle, such as physical activity patterns could explain at least partially the ongoing epidemiological transition. The purpose of this study was to assess levels of participation in physical activity among working Rwandan women in Kigali, in relation to socio-economic demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study design using both quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Participants' level of participation in physical activity and influence of socio-economic demographic factors on questionnaire adapted from Sub-Saharan African Questionnaire. A focus group discussion assessed the need for a health promotion program related to physical activity participation among working women. Data analysis, using Statistical analysis version 8e, was used to obtain frequency tables and histograms. Chisquare tests and Fisher's exact tests were utilized to test for association between variables. Focus group discussion data were transcribed and translated into English. Data were then coded and put into themes and categories. There were 352 participants, with a mean age of 33.4 years. 71.9% of the participants were classified as sedentary and only 28.1 % of the participants were classified as physically active. Participation in physical activity decreased with age, and there were more participants classified as sedentary people in the married group (77%) than in non-married group (63.2%). A lower level of education and income of participants, the higher the level of participation in physical activity. Among the reported prevalence of chronic diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes were only reported by participants classified as sedentary. During the focus group discussion, participants reported facilitators and benefits of physical activity including, routine, relaxation, socialization and fitness, managing obesity and health purposes. Barriers limiting the participants' ability to engage in physical activity included lack of time, lack of knowledge, laziness, domestic helper, lack of motivation and culture. The main themes, which were identified as important in the development of a health promotion program were: The education and encouragement of girl children; education of women in the community, finding facilities and appropriate venues, a suitable environment and the contribution of physical activity program towards unity and reconciliation was emphasised. The findings of this study demonstrate a problem concerning sedentary lifestyle among the working women in Kigali/Rwanda. It is alarming that the participants who are already classified as sedentary and who will probably experience the consequences of sedentary lifestyle in the future are already reporting chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. There is therefore an urgent need to design, implement and evaluate a health promotion intervention aimed at promoting a physically active lifestyle in Rwanda.

abstract: Background – Among influential education reports, there is clear consensus that an expansive range of intrapersonal (e.g. self-regulation) and interpersonal competencies (e.g. empathy) highly influence educational and career success. Research on teaching and learning these competencies is limited in engineering education. Purpose/Hypothesis – This dissertation study explores the impacts of a mindfulness training program on first-year engineering students and aims to understand potential impacts on the development of intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies. Design/Method – A four-session mindfulness-based training program was designed, developed, and facilitated to cultivate intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies. This study employed a multiphase mixed method design in which quantitative and qualitative data was collected from a total of 35 different students through a post survey (n=31), 3-month follow-up survey (n=29), and interviews (n=18). t-tests were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the program and a rigorous thematic analysis process was utilized to help explain the quantitative data. Results – The results suggest that the majority of students became more mindful, which led to improved intrapersonal competencies (i.e. self-management, critical-thinking, focus, resilience, and well-being) and interpersonal competencies (i.e. empathy, communication, teamwork, and leadership). Discussion / Conclusions – The study provides compelling evidence that mindfulness training can support the development of intrapersonal and interpersonal skills among engineering students, which can support their overall academic experience, as well as personal and professional development. Future design and development work will be needed to evaluate the integration and scalability potential of mindfulness training within engineering programs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Engineering Education Systems and Design 2019

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This study examined the relationships between a social-emotional learning program and the 5 dimensions of emotional intelligence and whether the relationships were moderated by gender. The problem addressed in the study was the lack of research focused on the development of emotional intelligence at the middle school level. The participants included 28 middle school students from a southeastern state who engaged in a 36 hour social-emotional learning program facilitated by a public university. The BarOn EQ-i:YV was administered pre and post. Demographic data including age, gender, race, and school type were also gathered. Data were analyzed using a one-way repeated measure MANOVA in which gender served as an attribute variable. The independent variables for this study included the attribute variable of gender and the treatment variable (IMPACT program). The dependent variables were the 5 dimensions of the EQ-i:YV (intrapersonal, interpersonal, stress management, adaptability, and general mood). The MANOVA found no interaction between the treatment and gender, but it did show a significant main effect for the treatment. Separate univariate tests showed significant relationships between the treatment and four of the five dimensions of emotional intelligence: interpersonal, stress management, adaptability, and general mood. Specifically, the findings revealed that the IMPACT program significantly increased participants’ emotional intelligence in these four areas. The MANOVA also showed a significant effect for gender. The univariate tests showed one significant gender difference relating to the interpersonal dimension; females scored significantly higher than did males on both the pre- and post-tests with a moderate effect size. While not significantly different, females also scored higher than did males in three other dimensions (intrapersonal, stress management, and general mood) on both the pre- and post-tests. As there is hardly any research that focuses on both the effectiveness of social-emotional learning programs with middle school students and the role of gender, further related research is recommended. Additionally, further research should examine the effectiveness of condensed versus traditional one year delivery models for social-emotional learning programs.

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The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare various attributes of never-married single men and women to married men and women. The Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis, the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior (FIRO-B) Scale, and the Personal Skills Map were completed by 138 never-married singles and 139 married volunteers, both male and female. Volunteers were predominantly Caucasian, Protestant, active in their churches, and college educated. Ages ranged from 30 to 39 years. Married volunteers were married only once for five years or more. A step-wise discriminant analysis was run on each of the three instruments to determine which variables were significant across groupings. Summary conclusions were made showing that never-married men and women were more socially energetic but less expressive and responsive than were married men and women. Single men, as compared to married men, were also more passive and saw themselves in a less favorable light. Single women, when compared to married women, were also more dominant. Single women, when compared to single men, were more relaxed and more assertive, but more critical and punitive. An implication for counselors is that never-married single people may need help with relating at a deeper level of vulnerability and personableness. Single men may need help in interpersonal assertiveness as well as in personal openness and transparency. Single women may need help in resolving some of their hostilities. Further research is needed to explore the possible factors contributing to the guardedness of singles, the passivity of men, and the hostility of women. More work needs to be done in the area of causality.

本研究旨在探討當前國小學童人際智能、內省智能、創造力與逆境經驗之關係，以問卷調查的方式，針對台灣地區國小學童進行調查研究。正式施測共得642份有效樣本，以北、中、南、東四大行政區域，取樣國小中、高年級學生，研究工具採用人際智能量表、內省智能量表、創造力自我效能量表、創新行為量表及逆境經驗量表。研究運用描述統計分析、t考驗、單因子變異數分析、皮爾遜積差相關分析、多元迴歸分析考驗研究假設。主要研究結果如下： 一、現今國小學童之人際、內省智能自我效能感良好，對相關領域上的活動有興趣；認為自己還算具有創新行為及良好創造力自我效能感；面對逆境時普遍會有負面感受，且能以較積極的方式及態度因應逆境，並多能建構正向的逆境意義。 二、較低年級的國小學童，其對人際智能領域之相關活動較感興趣，人際智能也較高，且認為自己較常表現出創新行為，也較有創造力自我效能感，面對逆境時較不會有負面感受、較能正向因應逆境，但對於逆境意義的建構、內省智能發展並不因年級有所差異。 三、國小學童人際智能越高，越能積極因應逆境，也越能建構較良好之逆境意義。 四、國小學童內省智能越高，越能積極因應逆境，也越能建構較良好之逆境意義。 五、國小學童創新行為越多、創造力自我效能越高，越能積極因應逆境，也越能建構較良好之逆境意義。 六、人際智能、內省智能、創新行為及創造力可顯著預測逆境之負面感受、逆境因應方式及逆境意義建構的正向程度。 七、逆境經驗可顯著預測人際智能、內省智能、創新行為及創造力，且其中的逆境意義建構是最主要的預測變項。 最後，根據研究結果對教育與未來研究兩方面提出建議。 關鍵字：人際智能、內省智能、創造力、逆境經驗 / The main purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, creativity and adversity experience of elementary school students. A total of 642 children in the forth to sixth grade of elementary school students (314 male, 324 female) in Taiwan was sampled in this study. This study involved a survey that comprised of four sets of questionnaires: the Inventory of Interpersonal Intelligence, the Inventory of Intrapersonal Intelligence, the Inventory of Creative Behavior, and the Inventory of Creative Self-efficacy. The quantitative of data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis. The main findings of this study were as follows. (a)Elementary school students are rated above middle on their self-efficacy of interpersonal intelligence and intrapersonal intelligence, and also interested in relevance activities. In face of adversity, they tend to have negative emotions, but at the same time they know how to actively cope, adjust and reframe. They can also construct meaning from the adversity; (b) Elementary school students who has the higher interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, creative self-efficacy, and behaved more creative, would be more active to face adversity, but also can construct more positive life meaning from the adversity; (c) interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, creative self-efficacy and creative behavior significantly predicted negative emotions, coping methods, and meaning construction of adversity, and vice versa. According to the results of the study, some suggestions were made for educators and further studies. Key words: interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, creativity, adversity experience.