The purpose of this study was to develop a way of identifying resilient and non-resilient middle-adolescent learners, by means of an instrument or otherwise, in a former Model C-school. The research paradigm is pragmatism and a methodology of mixed methods was used. A questionnaire was developed and qualitative interviews were conducted to verify the results of the questionnaire. The theoretical framework of resilience as well as the developmental phase of middle-adolescence were studied. After conducting a pilot study, the necessary changes were made and an experimental version of the questionnaire was compiled on the basis of Kumpfer’s Transactional Model. This framework includes both processes and outcomes and six main constructs were specified, viz. stressors or challenges, the environmental context, person-environment-transactional process, internal resilience factors, resilience processes and outcomes or means of reintegration. Focus was placed on internal resilience factors. The “Veerkragtigheidsvraelys vir Middel-adolessente (toets)” (VVM-A(t)) (Resilience Questionnaire for Middleadolescents (test)), was compiled consisting of forty two self-evaluation questions using a continuum scale. This self-evaluation scale gives the respondent the opportunity to respond on a continuum line between not like me at all and exactly like me. The place of research, a secondary school in an area reflecting the diversity of the South-African population, was selected by means of convenience sampling and all the grade 8 and 9 learners (294 participants) completed the VVM-A(t). Two factors were identified by means of factor analysis viz. internal locus of control and external locus of control. The VVM-A, consisting of 22 items, was finalised from these results and the participants’ scores were recalculated for the selected items. Interviews for the purpose of verification or rejection of the VVM-A were conducted with twelve participants, four from the group with high scores, four from the group with low scores and four learners that grouped near the median. The in-depth interviews confirmed the results on the VVM-A. This instrument can therefore be regarded as valid and reliable to identify the resilient and non-resilient middle-adolescent learner. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The primary aim of this research was to determine whether there is a relation between locus of control, transformational leadership and management success. One hundred and one shift overseers completed selfevaluation questionnaires on locus of control and transformational leadership. Thereafter, in turn, the managers completed evaluation questionnaires on the work performance of the shift overseers. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed statistically significant interrelations between internal locus of control, autonomy and transformational leadership. The three scales of management success also showed a strong positive correlation. Canonical correlations indicated that only one variant could be interpreted and that high internal control and high autonomy are associated with high transformational leadership and laissez faire leadership style. According to the literature overview, a positive relation exists between internal locus of control, transformational leadership and management success as well as organisational performance. An attempt is made to account for these diverse findings in terms of the relevance of a performance model within an organisational context. / Die primere doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te bepaalof daar 'n verband is tussen lokus van beheer, transformasionele leierskap en bestuursukses. Eenhonderd en een skoftoesighouers het selfbeoordelings-vraelyste oor lokus van beheer en transformasionele leierskap voltooi. Daarna het die bestuurders beoordelingsvraelyste oor die skoftoesighouers se werksprestasie voltooi. Die Pearson korrelasietoets het getoon dat daar statisties beduidende verbande is tussen interne lokus van beheer, outonomie en transformasionele leierskap. Die drie skate van bestuursukses het onderling sterk positief gekorrelleer. Kanoniese korrelasies het aangedui dat slegs een variaat interpreteer kan word en dat hoe interne beheer en hoe outonomie geassosieer is met hoe transformasionele leierskap en lae laissez faire-leierskapstyl. Die literatuurstudie het getoon dat daar 'n positiewe verband is tussen interne lokus van beheer, transformasionele leierskap en bestuursukses asook organisasie-prestasie. Verklarings vir hierdie teenstellende bevindings word gegee aan die hand van die relevansie van 'n prestasiemodel binne 'n organisasiekonteks. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The objective of this study was, firstly, to investigate the reliability of a measure of qualitative and quantitative job insecurity and, secondly, to determine the relationship between qualitative and quantitative job insecurity, job satisfaction, affective organisational commitment, turnover intention and locus of control. A cross–sectional survey design was used which included participants randomly selected from a retail banking group across junior, supervisory and middle management levels (n=178). The job insecurity scales of Hellgren, Sverke and Isaksson (1999); job satisfaction scale of Hellgren, Sjöberg and Sverke (1997); affective organisational commitment scale of Allen and Meyer (1990); turnover intention scale of Sjöberg and Sverke (2001) and the locus of control scale of Levenson (1981) were administered. Descriptive statistics were used in order to analyse the data. Structural equivalence was used for the comparison of the factor structures of the job insecurity scale for the three language groups. Furthermore, in order to determine the relationships between the variables, the Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients were used, while the dependent variable turnover intention was predicted by means of a regression analysis. As indicated at the outset, two research articles form the basis of this mini–dissertation: Based on the first article, results indicate that both the qualitative and quantitative scale presented satisfactory levels of reliability across different language groups, and a relationship between these dimensions (quantitative and qualitative) was noticeable. However, the item “I think my future prospects and opportunities within the organisation are good” included in the qualitative job insecurity scale could well be problematic, the deduction being that language barriers probably played a role in participants’ interpretation of the question. According to the second article, both qualitative and quantitative job insecurity positively related to turnover intentions. Furthermore, job satisfaction reported a negative relationship with turnover intention, and a negative relationship between qualitative job insecurity and job satisfaction came to the fore. Locus of control, on the other hand, had a direct bearing on qualitative job insecurity, while only job satisfaction and quantitative job insecurity directly predicted employees’ turnover intention in the banking sector. Finally, locus of control seemingly had no mediating effect when predicting turnover intention. Based on the afore–going, this mini–dissertation will conclude by offering deductions and making recommendations for further research as well as offering possible solutions to the commercial banking sector as far as the retention of staff is concerned. / Thesis (M.Com. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The objective of this study was, firstly, to investigate the reliability of a measure of qualitative and quantitative job insecurity and, secondly, to determine the relationship between qualitative and quantitative job insecurity, job satisfaction, affective organisational commitment, turnover intention and locus of control. A cross–sectional survey design was used which included participants randomly selected from a retail banking group across junior, supervisory and middle management levels (n=178). The job insecurity scales of Hellgren, Sverke and Isaksson (1999); job satisfaction scale of Hellgren, Sjöberg and Sverke (1997); affective organisational commitment scale of Allen and Meyer (1990); turnover intention scale of Sjöberg and Sverke (2001) and the locus of control scale of Levenson (1981) were administered. Descriptive statistics were used in order to analyse the data. Structural equivalence was used for the comparison of the factor structures of the job insecurity scale for the three language groups. Furthermore, in order to determine the relationships between the variables, the Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients were used, while the dependent variable turnover intention was predicted by means of a regression analysis. As indicated at the outset, two research articles form the basis of this mini–dissertation: Based on the first article, results indicate that both the qualitative and quantitative scale presented satisfactory levels of reliability across different language groups, and a relationship between these dimensions (quantitative and qualitative) was noticeable. However, the item “I think my future prospects and opportunities within the organisation are good” included in the qualitative job insecurity scale could well be problematic, the deduction being that language barriers probably played a role in participants’ interpretation of the question. According to the second article, both qualitative and quantitative job insecurity positively related to turnover intentions. Furthermore, job satisfaction reported a negative relationship with turnover intention, and a negative relationship between qualitative job insecurity and job satisfaction came to the fore. Locus of control, on the other hand, had a direct bearing on qualitative job insecurity, while only job satisfaction and quantitative job insecurity directly predicted employees’ turnover intention in the banking sector. Finally, locus of control seemingly had no mediating effect when predicting turnover intention. Based on the afore–going, this mini–dissertation will conclude by offering deductions and making recommendations for further research as well as offering possible solutions to the commercial banking sector as far as the retention of staff is concerned. / Thesis (M.Com. (Human Resource Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The primary aim of this research was to determine whether there is a relation between locus of control, transformational leadership and management success. One hundred and one shift overseers completed selfevaluation questionnaires on locus of control and transformational leadership. Thereafter, in turn, the managers completed evaluation questionnaires on the work performance of the shift overseers. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed statistically significant interrelations between internal locus of control, autonomy and transformational leadership. The three scales of management success also showed a strong positive correlation. Canonical correlations indicated that only one variant could be interpreted and that high internal control and high autonomy are associated with high transformational leadership and laissez faire leadership style. According to the literature overview, a positive relation exists between internal locus of control, transformational leadership and management success as well as organisational performance. An attempt is made to account for these diverse findings in terms of the relevance of a performance model within an organisational context. / Die primere doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te bepaalof daar 'n verband is tussen lokus van beheer, transformasionele leierskap en bestuursukses. Eenhonderd en een skoftoesighouers het selfbeoordelings-vraelyste oor lokus van beheer en transformasionele leierskap voltooi. Daarna het die bestuurders beoordelingsvraelyste oor die skoftoesighouers se werksprestasie voltooi. Die Pearson korrelasietoets het getoon dat daar statisties beduidende verbande is tussen interne lokus van beheer, outonomie en transformasionele leierskap. Die drie skate van bestuursukses het onderling sterk positief gekorrelleer. Kanoniese korrelasies het aangedui dat slegs een variaat interpreteer kan word en dat hoe interne beheer en hoe outonomie geassosieer is met hoe transformasionele leierskap en lae laissez faire-leierskapstyl. Die literatuurstudie het getoon dat daar 'n positiewe verband is tussen interne lokus van beheer, transformasionele leierskap en bestuursukses asook organisasie-prestasie. Verklarings vir hierdie teenstellende bevindings word gegee aan die hand van die relevansie van 'n prestasiemodel binne 'n organisasiekonteks. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The number of students that apply for studies at South African universities has increased dramatically over the past years, but the resources of the universities have stayed the same. It is therefore imperative that academic performance can be predicted on a short- and long-term basis. The Developing Expertise model might be able to predict academic performance on a short- and long-term basis. This study focussed primarily on academic performance on short-term basis by focussing on three of the model’s elements. The three elements that were investigated were: metacognition, intrinsic motivation and critical thinking. One of the contributions of this study is the refinement of some of the elements of the expertise model. The study helped to determine the validity of the instrument in a South African context. The measurement instrument can also be used as a selection meganism on short-term basis. In order to measure each of the elements of the expertise model, a measuring tool consisting of five questionnaires was compiled. A convenience sample of first year psychology students provided 326 students for the study. A second sample, compiled from the original sample, consisting of 209 first year students was used for the multiple regression analyses. These students are registered for psychology for the first time in 2005. The students were placed in three groups according to the student’s means of registering for the CBT centre. The first group was those students who completed the instrument on computers. The second group consisted of those students who completed a paper and pencil version of the measurement. The third group consisted of the Mamelodi students. These students completed a paper and pencil version of the measurement and brought it back a week later. The statistical analysis included factor analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Based on the literature research and the results of the statistical analysis, the expertise model was expanded to include metamemory as the functional unit for metacognition. Motivation can be divided in three subcomponents, namely: self-efficacy, intrinsic value and test anxiety. The motivational component, knowledge of cognition and external control can be used as predictors of academic performance on a short-term basis. The findings of this study can only be used as a selection meganism of academic performance on a short-term basis and therefore the results must be used with caution. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verwantskap tussen stres en die persoonlikheidsweerstandsbronne koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Middelvlakbestuurders (n=103) het selfbeoordelingsvraelyste oor stres, sin vir koherensie, gehardheid en lokus van beheer voltooi. Die resultate van die Pearson produkmoment korrelasie en chi-kwadraattoetse toon dat daar 'n statisties beduidende verwantskap tussen stres en koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Dit blyk dat middelvlakbestuurders met 'n sterk koherensiesin beter in staat is om stres te hanteer as bestuurders met 'n lae koherensiesin. Hierdie bestuurders maak dus sin uit werkstressors en beskou lewenseise as betekenisvol en uitdagend. Die resultate dui aan dat bestuurders met 'n hoe inteme lokus van beheer en outonomie minder stres ervaar en beter toegerus is om die negatiewe invloed van stres teen te werk as bestuurders met 'n lae lokus van beheer en outonomie. Volgens hierdie navorsing het gehardheid nie 'n invloed op die ervaring van stress. / The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between stress and the resiliency sources of sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Managers (N=l 03) at middle management level completed self-report questionnaires on stress, sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Results from the Pearson product moment correlation and chisquare tests, indicate a statistical significant relationship between stress and sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. It seems as if managers at middle management level with a strong sense of coherence experience lower levels of stress than managers with a low sense of coherence. These managers derive sense from work stressors and view life's demands as meaningful and challenging. These results indicate that managers with a strong internal locus of control and autonomy will be better equipped to cope with stress than managers with a low locus of control and autonomy. According to this study hardiness does not have an effects on stress. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verwantskap tussen stres en die persoonlikheidsweerstandsbronne koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Middelvlakbestuurders (n=103) het selfbeoordelingsvraelyste oor stres, sin vir koherensie, gehardheid en lokus van beheer voltooi. Die resultate van die Pearson produkmoment korrelasie en chi-kwadraattoetse toon dat daar 'n statisties beduidende verwantskap tussen stres en koherensiesin, gehardheid en lokus van beheer is. Dit blyk dat middelvlakbestuurders met 'n sterk koherensiesin beter in staat is om stres te hanteer as bestuurders met 'n lae koherensiesin. Hierdie bestuurders maak dus sin uit werkstressors en beskou lewenseise as betekenisvol en uitdagend. Die resultate dui aan dat bestuurders met 'n hoe inteme lokus van beheer en outonomie minder stres ervaar en beter toegerus is om die negatiewe invloed van stres teen te werk as bestuurders met 'n lae lokus van beheer en outonomie. Volgens hierdie navorsing het gehardheid nie 'n invloed op die ervaring van stress. / The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between stress and the resiliency sources of sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Managers (N=l 03) at middle management level completed self-report questionnaires on stress, sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. Results from the Pearson product moment correlation and chisquare tests, indicate a statistical significant relationship between stress and sense of coherence, hardiness and locus of control. It seems as if managers at middle management level with a strong sense of coherence experience lower levels of stress than managers with a low sense of coherence. These managers derive sense from work stressors and view life's demands as meaningful and challenging. These results indicate that managers with a strong internal locus of control and autonomy will be better equipped to cope with stress than managers with a low locus of control and autonomy. According to this study hardiness does not have an effects on stress. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)