The purpose of the present study was to use an alternate psychoeducational assessment method to examine learning potential of Indian students in an academic domain, specifically Algebra. The study examined six Indian adolescents early in their Year Seven Mathematics. For the purpose of this study, the students were classified as achievers or non-achievers based on Canadian Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) grade equivalent scores, and Grade 7 Mathematics marks on the First Report Card.<p> A cross-case analysis of verbal and nonverbal protocol data gathered from the six Indian achieving and non-achieving Grade Seven students, and reduced through use of a technique developed by Giorgi, yielded information regarding the subjects' internalization processes of algebraic concepts. Vygotsky's zone of proximal development methodology, which was employed in the study, permitted the researcher to investigate processes used by the students during learning, maintenance, and near and far transfer tasks. While verbal and nonverbal communication styles appeared to distinguish achieving from non-achieving students, those same traits did not seem to affect efficiency in problem solving as observed during the present study. Other characteristics such as language usage, questioning techniques, and risk taking were the traits which most clearly affected the students' problem solving skills.<p> During the present study, formal metacognitive data proved hard to collect. This may be attributed to the reluctance of some students to participate in the questioning, and to the difficulty other students experienced In understanding the questions. All students had difficulty at some stage of the study in generating a rule to explain how they had solved the problems.<p> The results of the present study indicated that there were qualitative differences in problem solving between subjects. Those qualitative differences did not follow a pattern of achievement versus non-achievement as delineated by CTBS scores and classroom evaluation in Mathematics. Zone proximal development methodology provided a process assessment which uncovered learning potential profiles that were masked by static standardized tests.

In the organizational domain, it is well established that a significant relationship exists between cognitive ability and job performance (e.g., Hunter, 1986); however, there is less research surrounding the relationship between how intelligent people think they are and expectations of job performance. Although self-estimates have been used in the educational domain since the early 1900s (e.g., self-estimates of ability; Koerth & Rush, 1923; Schutte, 1929; personality traits; Cogan, Conklin, & Hollingworth, 1915; Shen, 1925) they have only recently been applied to the workplace as predictors of job search behavior and occupational choice (e.g., Prediger, 1994; Tracey & Hopkins, 2001). As a result of changing technologies and organizational structures, an employee's ability to learn new job skills is critical to his/ her continued success in the workplace. However, an employee's perception of his/ her learning potential may be as informative as or more informative than objectively measured ability for subsequent decision making (e.g., job choice). The purpose of this study was to investigate prospective estimates of job performance and learning potential, including gender differences in self-estimates, the determinants of self-estimates, and the predictive validity of self-estimates for decisions about engaging in career-related tasks. The goal of the current study was to evaluate self-estimates of job performance and learning potential for 20 jobs. A total of 153 participants watched short video clips depicting each of the 20 jobs and answered a series of questionnaires, assessing future-oriented estimates of job performance, estimates of learning potential, task interest, task value, task experience, and task engagement. Significant gender differences were found in estimates of job performance across job domains, as well as interactions of gender and self-estimates of job performance over anticipated time-on-task. Some significant relations were found between non-ability traits and self-estimates of job performance and learning potential, while significant relations were found between prior job experience and decisions about task engagement. The practical utility of this research is an understanding of how individual differences in non-ability traits such as personality, interest, and motivation may impact an individual's expectations of future job performance, and consequently, an individual's career choice decisions and job pursuits.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa’s past has shaped the way Human Resource management should look to the future. South Africa has a history of racial discrimination that was lead by the Apartheid system. The effects of the past have left members of the previously disadvantaged group with underdeveloped job competency potential. This has subsequently led to adverse impact in valid, fair (in the Cleary sense of the term) strict-top-down selection. The fundamental cause of Black under-representation in higher level jobs is due to the legacy of the previous political dispensation. The root problem is that South Africa’s intellectual capital is not, and has not been, uniformly developed and distributed across races. The current situation must be dealt with not only as the situation could potentially become volatile, but also as it is simply the right thing to do. Those individuals from the previously disadvantaged group that have the potential to learn should be identified and subsequently developed. A need therefore exists in South Africa for a method to identify individuals who will gain maximum benefit from affirmative developmental opportunities, especially cognitively demanding development opportunities, and hence display a high potential to learn. A need in addition exist to arrange circumstances to optimise the prognosis that those identified with learning potential will successfully realise their potential. Learning performance is complexly determined. To successfully address the negative effects of the past in South Africa through affirmative development the determinants of learning performance need to be understood. Accelerated affirmative development will be effective to the extent to which a comprehensive understanding exists of the factors underlying learning performance and the manner in which they combine to determine learning performance. The primary objective of this study consequently was to expand on De Goede’s (2007) learning potential structural model. Non-cognitive factors were added to the De Goede (2007) learning potential structural model in order to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity underlying learning and the determinants of learning performance. A subset of the hypothesised learning potential structural model was then empirically evaluated. The initial reduced model failed to converge and was subsequently revised by deleting a single causal path from the model. The revised model was found to fit the data well. All paths contained in the final model were empirically corroborated. Suggestions for future research are made by indicating how the model can be further elaborated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se verlede het gestalte gegee aan die wyse waarop Menslike Hulpbronbestuur na die toekoms behoort te kyk. Suid-Afrika het ’n geskiedenis van rassediskriminasie wat deur die Apartheidstelsel aangevoer is. Die gevolge van die verlede het die lede van die voorheen agtergeblewe groep met onderontwikkelde werkbevoegdheidspotensiaal gelaat. Dit het vervolgens gelei tot nadelige impak in geldige, billike (in die Cleary-sin van die woord) streng bo-na-onder keuring. Die fundamentele oorsaak van swart onderverteenwoordiging in hoër-vlak posisies is tot ‘n groot mate te wyte aan die nalentskap van die vorige politieke bedeling. Die kernprobleem is dat Suid-Afrika se intellektuele kapitaal nie nou of voorheen eenvormig oor die rasse heen ontwikkel en versprei is nie. Die huidige situasie moet hanteer word, nie net omdat dit potensieel onbestendig mag word nie, maar ook bloot omdat dit die regte ding is om te doen. Dié individue uit ‘n voorheen agtergeblewe groep wat wel die vermoë het om te leer, behoort geïdentifiseer en vervolgens ontwikkel te word. Dus bestaan daar in Suid-Afrika ’n behoefte aan ’n metode om individue te identifiseer wat ’n hoë leerpotensiaal het en derhalwe die meeste voordeel sal trek uit geleenthede vir regstellende ontwikkeling, veral dié geleenthede van ’n veeleisende kognitiewe aard. Daar bestaan voorts ook ’n behoefte om omstandighede te reël om die prognose te optimaliseer dat diegene wat met leerpotensiaal geïdentifiseer is, hul potensiaal suksesvol sal kan verwesenlik. Leerprestasie word deur ‘n komplekse netwerk van veranderlikes bepaal. Om die negatiewe gevolge van die verlede in Suid-Afrika deur regstellende ontwikkeling aan te spreek, moet die determinante van leerprestasie verstaan word. Versnelde regstellende ontwikkeling sal doeltreffend wees in dié mate waartoe ’n omvattende begrip bestaan van die faktore onderliggend aan leerprestasie en die wyse waarop hulle kombineer om leerprestasie te bepaal. Die primêre doelwit van hierdie studie was gevolglik om de Goede (2007) se leerpotensiaal-strukturele model uit te brei. Nie-kognitiewe faktore is tot de Goede (2007) se model toegegevoeg om ’n meer indringende begrip van die kompleksiteit onderliggend aan leer en die determinante van leerprestasie te verkry. ’n Subversameling van die voorgestelde leerpotensiaal-strukturele model is vervolgens empiries geëvalueer. Die aanvanklike gereduseerde model het nie gekonvergeer nie en is vervolgens hersien deur ’n enkele kousale baan uit die model te verwyder. Die bevinding was dat die hersiene model die data goed pas. Alle bane in die finale model is empiries bevestig. Voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing is gemaak deur aan te dui hoe die model verder uitgebrei kan word.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to determine whether the psychometric evaluation procedure, used by the South African Military Academy to make selection decisions, can validly predict academic performance of first year learners, whether this procedure is fair and whether the procedure is efficient. The sample used for this study consisted of three year groups (First Year Students of 2001, 2002 and 2003) enrolled at the Military Academy. In theory specific learning behaviours (learning competencies) are instrumental in attaining academic performance. These learning behaviours, in turn, depend on and are expressions of a complex nomological network of person-centered characteristics (learning competency potential). Differences in learning performance can be explained in terms of learning behaviours. Learning competencies are instrumental in achieving the learning outcomes for which the academic programme exists. Learning competencies, in turn, can be explained in terms of learner characteristics. In order to differentiate between candidates who have better or poorer training prospects in terms of a construct orientated approach to selection, a performance hypothesis on the person-centered drivers of the learning competencies is used. It is argued that the degree of competence in: (1) the core cognitive processes/competencies that constitute learning (transfer and automatization) and are necessary to create meaningful structure in novel learning material, (2) the intellectual drivers of these learning competencies (fluid intelligence and information processing capacity), (3) proficiency in English and (4) past academic performance, should discriminate between better or poorer academic performance of learners attending the academic programmes at the SA Military Academy. The grade point average of the first year first semester academic results is used as a measure of the criterion construct. Almost all of the results obtained in this study support the theory and propositions made by the performance hypothesis. Only one variable, accuracy of information processing, did not perform as predicted by the performance hypothesis. Prior learning explained the most variance in the criterion (r=0,4312). The inter-correlation amongst the predictors is used to infer the proportion of unique variance each predictor accounts for in the composite criterion. A regression of the composite criterion on the array of predictors (X2 – X12) revealed that only memory and understanding (X9) and prior learning (X12) uncovered relevant and unique information about determinants of performance on the criterion not conveyed by the remaining predictors in the model. The remaining predictors in the selection battery can consequently be considered redundant since they provide no new information not already conveyed by X9 and X12. When YGPA is regressed on the weighted combination of X9 and X12, only X12 significantly explains unique variance in YGPA when included in a regression model already containing X9. In the light of the reported findings there is no need to create a combined weighted linear predictor composite (Xcomp) which would form the basis of the actuarial mechanical decision rule that would guide selection decisions. Prior learning proved to be the only predictor that warrants inclusion in the actuarial mechanical prediction rule that will form the basis of selection decisions. In terms of the derived actuarial prediction rule the expected criterion performance of all applicants (E[Y|X12]) could consequently be estimated by inserting the measures obtained during selection of prior learning into the derived regression equation. The use of this equation could be regarded as permissible to the extent to which E[Y|X12] correlates significantly with YGPA. Since E[Y|X12] correlates 0,431 and statistically significantly (p<0,05) with YGPA, the predictions derived from this equation are valid. The findings of this research suggest that black and white students were sampled from the same population and therefore the use of the single, undifferentiated prediction rule would lead to fair selection decisions. To answer the question whether the selection procedure under investigation is adding any value to the organization, utility analysis is done based on the Taylor-Russell utility model as well as the Naylor-Shine interpretation of selection utility. A criterion-referenced norm table that expresses the risk of failure conditional on expected academic performance is derived from the use of only X12. Recommendations for further research are put forward. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of die psigometriese evaluasie-prosedure wat deur die Suid Afrikaanse Militêre Akademie gebruik word vir keuringsbesluite, akademiese prestasie van eerstejaar leerders geldig voorspel, en of hierdie prosedure regverdig en effektief is. Die steekproef vir hierdie studie bestaan uit drie jaargroepe (eerstejaar studente van 2001, 2002 en 2003) wat ingeskryf was by die Militêre Akademie. Teoreties is daar spesifieke leergedrag (leerbevoegdhede) wat instrumenteel is in die bereiking van akademiese prestasie. Hierdie leergedrag hang af van en is weer „n uitdrukking van „n komplekse nomologiese netwerk van persoongesentreerde eienskappe (leerbevoegdheidspotensiaal). Verskille in leerprestasie kan verklaar word in terme van leergedrag. Leerbevoegdhede is instrumenteel in die bereiking van die leeruikomste waarvoor die akademiese program bestaan. Leerbevoegdhede, op sy beurt, kan weer verklaar word in terme van leerdereienskappe. Ten einde „n onderskeid te kan tref tussen kandidate met beter of slegter opleidingsvooruitsigte, in terme van „n konstrukgeorienteerde benadering tot keuring, word „n prestasiehipotese gebruik wat gebaseer is op die persoongesentreerde drywers van die leerbevoegdhede. Dit word aangevoer dat die graad van bevoegdheid in: (1) die kern kognitiewe prosesse/bevoegdhede waaruit leer bestaan (oordrag en outomatisasie) en wat nodig is om sinvolle struktuur in nuwe leermateriaal te skep, (2) die intellektuele drywers van hierdie leerbevoegdhede (vloeibare intelligensie en informasieverwerkingskapasiteit), (3) bevoegdheid in Engels, en (4) vorige akademiese prestasie sal onderskei tussen beter of slegter akademiese prestasie van leerders wat akademiese programme by die SA Militêre Akademie bywoon. Die gemiddelde van eerstejaar eerste semester akademiese uitslae is gebruik as meting van die kriteriumkonstruk. Byna al die resultate wat in hierdie studie verkry is ondersteun die teorie en proposisies soos aangevoer deur die prestasiehipotese. Slegs een veranderlike, akkuraatheid van informasie-prosessering, het nie gereageer soos voorspel deur die prestasiehipotese nie. Vorige leer het die meeste variansie in die kriterium verklaar (r=0,4312). Die inter-korrelasie tussen die voorspellers is gebruik om die proporsie unieke variansie wat elke voorspeller in die saamgestelde kriterium verklaar te skat. „n Regressie van die saamgestelde kriterium op die reeks voorspellers (X2 – X12) toon aan dat slegs geheue en begip (X9) sowel as vorige leer (X12) relevante en unieke informasie in verband met die determinante van prestasie in die kriterium weergee wat nie reeds weergegee word deur die oorblywende voorspellers in die model nie. Die oorblywende voorspellers in die keuringsbattery kan gevolglik as oorbodig beskou word aangesien hulle geen nuwe informasie verskaf wat nie reeds deur X9 en X12 oorgedra word nie. Wanneer YGPA geregresseer word op die geweegde kombinasie van X9 en X12, verklaar slegs X12 unieke variasie in YGPA wanneer dit ingesluit word in „n regressiemodel wat alreeds X9 bevat. In die lig van die gerapporteerde bevindinge is dit onnodig om ‟n gekombineerde geweegde liniêre voorspellerkombinasie (Xcomp) te skep om as basis van „n aktuariële meganiese besluitnemingsreël te dien aan hand waarvan keuringsbesluite geneem sal word. Vorige leer blyk die enigste voorspeller te wees wat insluiting regverdig in die aktuariële meganiese besluitnemingsreël wat die basis van keuringsbesluite sal vorm. In terme van die afgeleide aktuariële besluitnemingsreël sal die verwagte kriteriumprestasie van alle toekomstige aansoekers (E[Y│X12]) geskat word deur die meting van vorige leer verkry tydens keuring in die afgeleide regressievergelyking in te stel. Die gebruik van hierdie vergelyking kan as toelaatbaar beskou word in die mate waartoe E[Y│X12] betekenisvol met YGPA korreleer. Aangesien E[Y│X12] statisties betekenisvol 0,431 (p<0,05) met YGPA korreleer, kan die voorspellings afgelei vanuit hierdie vergelyking as geldig beskou word. Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing dui daarop dat swart en wit studente van hierdie steekproef uit dieselfde populasie geneem is en daarom sal die gebruik van „n enkele, ongedifferensieerde voorspellingsreël lei tot regverdige keuringsbesluite. Om „n antwoord te verkry op die vraag of hierdie keuringsprosedure enige waarde tot die organisasie toevoeg is „n nutanaliese gedoen wat gebaseer is op Taylor-Russell se nutmodel so wel as die Naylor-Shine interpretasie van keuringsnut. „n Kriteriumgerigde normtabel, wat die voorwaardelike risiko op mislukking gebaseer op akademiese prestasie uitdruk, is afgelei deur die gebruik van slegs X12. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word voorgestel.

The first objective of this research was to investigate the predictive validity of the learning potential as measured by Ability, Processing of Information and Learning Potential Short Version (APIL SV) in predicting work performance. The second objective was to investigate the predictive validity of personality as measured by the Occupational Personality Questionnaire Ipsative (OPQ32i) in predicting work performance. The sample consisted of 104 employees of a public sector department. Learning potential and personality were the predictor/independent variables; work performance as measured by supervisory rating was the only criterion/dependent variable of the study. The results revealed that both the APIL SV and the OPQ 32i dimensions did not correlate significantly with work performance as measured by supervisor rating. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This dissertation examines Swedish writing centers’ pedagogical positions in relation to surrounding conditions through a case study of organization, attitudes and learning potential in a pedagogical collaboration project on writing with many multilingual students. The data consists of steering documents, students’ texts, interviews, observations, and recorded tutorials. The general aim of the thesis is to explore the learning potential for participants in the collaborative project. The theoretical framework has a sociocultural approach drawn from New Literacy Studies, Wenger’s Social Learning Theory and Dialogism. Three studies are included. The first study examines organizational conditions in the specific context and shows that the writing center and its tutors have marginalized positions separated from relevant research. The second study finds that conceptions of writing as a skill, alongside those of writing as a process limit students’ opportunity for meaning-making and contesting. The third study focuses on tutorial interaction and results show that  tutors support students by i) discussing norms and conventions, ii) strengthening students as writers and second language learners and iii) stimulating meaning making and participation, which seems to increase potential for negotiation and developing academic writing. General conclusions suggest that writing centers have potential to be sites for pedagogical development where tutors can share, with students and staff, their expertise gained when working with a diverse student population. To strengthen writing centers’ position at universities professionalization of tutors is needed and most importantly research needs to be conducted in writing centers. Students from diverse backgrounds are entering higher education and to value their knowledge and experiences is crucial, not least from a democratic perspective. The writing center can play an important role in this effort.

The first objective of this research was to investigate the predictive validity of the learning potential as measured by Ability, Processing of Information and Learning Potential Short Version (APIL SV) in predicting work performance. The second objective was to investigate the predictive validity of personality as measured by the Occupational Personality Questionnaire Ipsative (OPQ32i) in predicting work performance. The sample consisted of 104 employees of a public sector department. Learning potential and personality were the predictor/independent variables; work performance as measured by supervisory rating was the only criterion/dependent variable of the study. The results revealed that both the APIL SV and the OPQ 32i dimensions did not correlate significantly with work performance as measured by supervisor rating. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The study is a quantitative analysis into the selection process of the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) programme at the Tshwane University Technology (TUT). The selection battery used at TUT to select the MBA applicants is comprised of the Situation Specific Evaluation Expert (SpEEx), the English Literacy Skills Assessment (ELSA), and the 15 Factor Questionnaire (15FQ+). This test battery aims to obtain information on an applicant with regards to his/her cognitive potential (verbal and non-verbal ability), language proficiency, and personality. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the selection battery and the academic performance of those students selected into the MBA programme at TUT by examining the differences between the scores of the psychometric selection batteries and the academic performance of those students selected. Upon analyses and interpretation of the data it was determined that there were no statistically significant differences between the scores of the different components of the selection batteries used and the academic performance of those selected. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The aim of this research was (1) to provide empirical data of learning potential and English language proficiency for work performance; (2) to establish whether race and gender influence work performance; (3) to evaluate practical utility and to propose recommendations for selection purposes. The Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test and the English Literacy Skills Assessment were used as measuring instruments to measure learning potential and English language proficiency respectively. Work performance data were obtained from the normal performance data system of the company where the research was conducted. ANOVA results showed differences between race and gender groupings. A regression analysis confirmed the predictive validity of learning potential and English language proficiency on work performance. The Spearman rho correlation coefficient (p < 0.05) showed a significant positive correlation between the investigated variables / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The purpose of the present study was to determine the concurrent validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability measures for the prediction of haul truck operator (N=128) performance in an open-pit mine. Specific aims were to determine the nature of the relationship between learning potential and psychomotor ability; whether there are higher order cognitive or psychomotor factors present in the combined use of the TRAM 1 and Vienna Test System measures; and the relative contribution of learning potential and psychomotor ability in the prediction of haul truck operator performance. The validity of learning potential and psychomotor ability measures was partially supported. A positive correlation between general (cognitive) ability (g) and psychomotor ability was reported. Factor analysis provided relatively consistent evidence for a general (cognitive) ability factor (g) underlying performance on all measures. The relative contribution of learning potential and psychomotor ability in the prediction of performance could not be established. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)