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The purpose of this study was to describe a gifted program in a rural Mississippi county school district through the perceptions of its student participants. This study consisted of a total of 19 participants. Thirteen participants in this study were students in grades 7-8 who were currently enrolled in the gifted program and six participants were students in grades 11-12 who had previously been enrolled in the gifted program. The researcher interviewed each focus group on two separate occasions using a tape recorder to record the participants’ responses. Each focus group interview lasted about one hour. This study used qualitative research. Fraenkel & Wallen (2003) stated that “Qualitative researchers have a much greater flexibility in both strategies and techniques they use and the overall research process itself. Their designs tend to emerge during the course of the research” (p.16). Data in this study were collected using an Interview Protocol created by the researcher. The Interview Protocol was comprised of background information, topics regarding the gifted program, and topics regarding students’ perspectives. After transcribing the data, the researcher developed a matrix to determine the themes/patterns found in the study. Results suggested that most students entered the gifted program in the second grade by teacher recommendation and taking an IQ test. Results suggested that the perspectives of students who were presently participating in the gifted program, or who had previously participated in the gifted program, were positive in respect to the gifted program. Furthermore, results suggested that the rigorous content of the gifted program prepared 7 - 8 grade participants for the course content taught in their regular education classes and for entrance into high school. This study also suggested that students in the 11- 12 grades were better prepared for the course content taught in their regular education classes and the Advanced Placement classes offered in their school. Results from interviews indicated that some participants’ self-esteem rose due to being in the gifted program. Results also indicated that the participants felt a need to overachieve as a gifted student. It is recommended that a longitudinal study be conducted with a follow-up of gifted program graduates.

Graduation date: 1996

M. Tech. Language Practice / The research investigates the impact of monolingual (English) nutrition labelling on consumers' health in South Africa. The focus of the study is to determine if the use of one language on nutrition information labels has an impact on consumers' behaviour and understanding of nutrition information labelling messages, and if their behaviour affects their health.

This study sought to determine differential importance of environmental criteria on product labels as judged by consumers in relation to socio-demographic factors. Five product categories and thirteen criteria were used in this study. Characterizing the `ecologically concerned consumer' may be helpful in developing market segmentation strategies. Findings from this study may provide knowledge about predictors of environmentally responsible consumption behavior. Such research may guide environmental labeling efforts to reduce environmental burdens of consumption.In this study consumers differentially endorsed ecolabel criteria. Further, differential importance was significant for gender, ethnicity, and income. Research is needed to explore the relationships between respondent demographics and eco-label criteria importance.It is necessary to consider importance of criteria to consumers. Without consumer interest, eco-labeling schemes are doomed to fail. Thus, it is recommended that ecolabeling schemes consider the importance of eco-label criteria, particularly, criteria related to social welfare. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in the branch of Anaesthesiology Johannesburg, 2013 / Background: Microbial contamination of multi-dose vials is one of the mechanisms by which transmission of pathogens to patients can occur in anaesthesia. Common practice at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) is to use boluses of a self-prepared, multi-dose phenylephrine solution (referred to as the solutions) to treat hypotension, due to the vasodilatory effects of a spinal anaesthetic, in stable patients undergoing a caesarean section. Aims: The aims of this study were to determine if there was microbial contamination of the solutions used at CHBAH and to evaluate if appropriate labelling and aspiration practices were adhered to with regard to the solutions A sample was collected and the labelling data was documented from the solutions found in the obsteric theatres at CHBAH over a period of three months. The samples were sent to a laboratory for microbial investigation. Microbial contamination was identified in seven of 110 (6.36%) samples collected from the solutions. The name of the solution was indicated on all 110 (100%) containers and the concentration of the solution was indicated on 106 (96.36%) containers. The date the solution was prepared was indicated on 82 (74.55%) containers and the time the solution was prepared was indicated on 63 (57.27%) containers. Only nine (8.18%) of the healthcare workers that prepared the solutions confirmed it by placing a signature on the container. Labelling data was written directly on all 110 (100%) containers and a spike device was used in 71 (64.54%) containers. This study demonstrated microbial contamination of the solutions and that safe injection practices were not adhered to when intravenous medications were prepared and administered. This is important at CHBAH since a large proportion of South African patients are immunocompromised and susceptible to opportunistic infections. Inappropriate labelling of medications is a cause of medication administration errors and this may have serious legal implications for the anaesthetist.

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Eco-labels inform consumers about the environmental aspects of a product or a service. Consumers who are concerned with environmental issues can use the information on eco-labels to learn the environmental aspects of the products that they buy. The aim of this study is to determine how often the students of higher education pay attention to eco-labels when they are purchasing and the levels of the five internal factors that may motivate the consumers to pay attention to eco-labels. These factors are pro-environmental attitude (willingness to pay higher prices for products with eco-label), perceived consumer effectiveness (how much they believe that individual actions can improve the environment), belief in environment-friendly buying, trust in eco-label and knowledge in eco-labels. This study provided an opportunity to learn if the students consider the environmental aspects when they are buying and what teachers and education professionals can do to encourage the students to pay attention to eco-labels. Three textbooks used for General Studies for Primary students, three textbooks used in Integrated Science for Secondary 1-3 students and six teaching materials published by publishers (there is no textbook for Liberal Studies that is standardized by Education Bureau) used in Science, Technology and the Environment in Liberal Studies for Secondary 4-6 students were reviewed to find if the topic of eco-labeling was mentioned in them. It was found that none of the textbooks used for General Studies for Primary students mentioned eco-labeling, all textbooks used in Integrated Science used for Secondary 1-3 mentioned the Energy Efficiency Label and all teaching material used in liberal studies also mentioned Energy Efficiency Label, among them, one book mentioned the European Union’s Eco-label. A survey was carried out to assess how often students pay attention to eco-labels and how much they agree to statements relating to the five internal factors that may motivate them to pay attention to eco-labels. A test was given to assess their knowledge in the Energy Efficiency Label Scheme (EELS) issued by the Electrical and Mechanical Service Department and eco-labels issued to food and wood products respectively. The mean was 2.8(on a scale of 6, in which 1 means strongly disagree and 6 means strongly agree), when asked if they agreed that they often pay attention to eco- label when they were buying 3.5 for pro-environmental attitude, 4.2 for perceived consumer effectiveness, 3.4 for belief in environmental buying, 3.6 for trust in eco-labels and 3.6 in perceived knowledge in eco-labels. 63.2% of the students correctly answered that there are five grades in EELS, 40% of students correctly chose that the lower the grading, the more efficient is the electrical appliance. 8.4% of students correctly chose all five kind of electrical applicants that are mandated to show EEL. 2.1% attempted to name any eco-labels issued to wood products and 3.1% attempted to name any eco-labels issued to food products. It was concluded that students do not often pay attention to eco-labels when they are buying and that the limited knowledge in eco-labels was the potential cause. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Obesity related employer healthcare costs increased 8% from 2010 to 2011 (PwC, 2012; Durden, 2008), which has spurred an increase in worksite weight management programs. Due to minimal success of individually focused programs (Anderson, 2009; Mhurchu, 2010), efforts have shifted to the potential impact of environmental interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a red, yellow, and green (R/Y/G) point of purchase (POP) labeling system on perceived health literacy and purchasing behaviors at three on-campus eateries frequented by university faculty and staff. Foods were rated as red, yellow, or green based on the Nutrient Rich Food Index. All foods were labeled with stickers that looked like miniature traffic lights with the appropriate color light lit up through menu boards and nametags. Posters, emails and table tents were also used to communicate about the intervention. In order to provide various levels of exposure, the first eatery had the intervention for six weeks, the second for four weeks, and the last for two weeks. Eatery patrons (N=191 across the three locations) completed a paper and pencil pre-intervention survey assessing healthy eating intentions, knowledge, and behaviors. Post-intervention data collection was conducted via online survey (N=89), and consisted of the pre-test items and additional questions about label awareness and utilization. While the intervention did not appear to influence healthy eating intentions or knowledge, 41.6% of the patrons reported that the labels influenced their food choices. Patrons also reported being aware of, understanding, and using the labels. The average food sales for the six weeks prior to the intervention were compared to the average food sales during the intervention. Food sales data were compared by location and food category (R/Y/G). There was a significant increase in green food sales and a significant decrease in red food sales (r=-.375, p=.044). However, there were no significant differences between locations. These findings suggest that future research with the traffic light labeling is warranted. / text

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences