Thesis (MedPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African Schools Act (DoE, 1996) formalised access to quality education for all by granting learners access to any school regardless of social, economic, race and cultural backgrounds. This saw many black families in South Africa enrolling their children into former white schools with the perception that these schools were better resourced and that their children would therefore receive a better education. The purpose of the study is therefore to enhance understanding of the experiences of the Xhosa learners as a minority in a former Model C school and to evaluate the life experiences of the learners within the context of the school system and how these experiences may be influencing their academic success. An eco-systemic theoretical framework guided the approach and orientation to the study undertaken by the researcher. This framework enabled the researcher to contextualise the study within the interacting systems that indirectly and directly influence the life experiences of the participants. The study's research methodology can be described as basic qualitative research embedded within an interpretive paradigm. The participants in grade 9 to 11 (two per grade) were purposively selected to participate in the study. Two methods of data collection were used, namely six individual semi-structured interviews and one focus group interview. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. The research findings indicate that the major reasons for poor academic performance of this minority group are linked to discriminative attitudes and feelings of inadequacy. When learners experience the school as a safe place in which they have a sense of belonging, they are more motivated to learn. Working towards the creation and sustainment of this safe environment, which adequately supports the needs of the learners, requires genuine and continual collaboration between the interacting systems within the context of the learners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet (DoE, 1996) het toegang tot gehalte onderwys vir almal gewettig deur toelating aan leerders tot enige skool te verleen, ongeag van hulle sosiale-, ekonomiese-, rasse- en kulturele agtergronde. Baie swart gesinne in Suid-Afrika het dus hulle kinders in voormalige wit skole geplaas, met die persepsie dat hierdie skole beter toegerus is en dat hul kinders beter onderrig sou ontvang. Die doel van hierdie studie was dus om die ervarings van die Xhosa-leerders, as 'n minderheidsgroep in 'n voormalige Model C-skool, beter te verstaan en om die lewenservarings van die leerders binne die konteks van die skoolstelsel te evalueer asook die moontlike invloed op hul akademiese suksesse. 'n Eko-sistemiese, teoretiese raamwerk het die benadering en oriëntasie van die studie, wat deur die navorser onderneem is, gelei. Hierdie raamwerk het die navorser in staat gestel om die studie binne die interaksie-sisteme, wat 'n direkte en indirekte invloed op die lewenservarings van die deelnemers kan hê, te kontekstualiseer. Die studie se navorsingsmetodologie kan beskryf word as 'n basiese kwalitatiewe navorsing, ingebed binne 'n interpretatiewe (verklarende) paradigma. Twee deelnemers per graad, vanaf graad 9 tot 11 is doelgerig gekies om deel te neem aan die studie. Twee metodes van data-insameling is gebruik, naamlik ses individuele semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en een fokusgroep onderhoud. 'n Kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Die navorsing dui daarop dat die vernaamste redes vir die swak akademiese prestasie van hierdie minderheidsgroep gekoppel is aan diskriminerende houdings en gevoelens van ontoereikendheid. Wanneer leerders die skool as 'n veilige plek van geborgenheid en toebehorenheid ervaar, is hulle meer gemotiveerd om te leer. Die skepping en vestiging van hierdie veilige leefwêreld, wat die behoeftes van die leerders voldoende ondersteun, vereis ware, voortdurende samewerking tussen die sistemiese interaksies binne die konteks van die leerders.

The purpose of this research was to develop, validate, and test an instrument to evaluate motivations to eat in low-income women during the early postpartum period. The instrument was also used in a sample of young college women to further validate the measure and explore determinants of eating in this population. In study 1, the Eating Stimulus Index was validated in 179 low-income women in early postpartum. Validity and reliability were determined via principal components analysis, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability using a subgroup of 31 low-income new mothers. The factor analysis produced an eight factor structure with reliability coefficients ranging from 0.54-0.89. Convenience eating (r=-0.25, P<0.01), emotional eating (r=-0.17, P<0.05), and dietary restraint (r=-0.21, P<0.01) were significantly related to weight status. In study 2, the relationship between eating motivations and diet quality, determined via the Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index, was established in 115 low-income women in early postpartum. High diet quality was related to fruit and vegetable availability (r=0.25, P<0.01), convenience eating resistance (r=-0.36, P<0.001), and vegetable taste preference (r=0.23, P<0.05). Motivations to eat differed between overweight and obese women with the primary motivation being convenience eating and taste, respectively. In study 3, determinants of weight loss were examined in 58 low-income women in early postpartum participating in an 8-week weight loss intervention. Participants were evaluated at pre- and post-study for all measures. Factors related to weight loss included increases in dietary restraint, weight management skills, and weight loss self-efficacy and decreases in fruit juice servings, total energy, and discretionary energy intakes. After hierarchical regression analysis, improvement in weight loss self-efficacy was the most significant determinant (β=0.263, P<0.05) followed by decreases in discretionary energy intake (β=-0.241, P<0.05). In study 4, determinants of diet quality were assessed in a sample of 88 young college women using the Eating Stimulus Index. Low diet quality was associated with poor fruit and vegetable availability, convenience eating resistance, vegetable taste preference, and weight management self-efficacy, while high diet quality was related to increased frequency of meals prepared at home and decreased frequency of meals consumed at fast food restaurants. / text

Background: Previous research has shown that sexual minority individuals (SM) are twice as likely to smoke, twice as likely to be overweight or obese, and less likely to be physically active than heterosexual persons; all of which place SMs at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While information on CVD risk by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status is well documented, there is scant literature examining race, gender, and the potential CVD risk in SMs. The purpose of this study was to examine CVD risk in sexual minorities. Method: The current study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The Framingham multiple-risk assessment, which uses a calculation of age, smoking, BMI, and blood pressure, was used to predict vascular age and the risk of experiencing CVD event in the next 10 years. 54% of the sample was male, 62% white, and 4% identified as a SM. The sample was split into three groups: 1) 100% heterosexual (N=4363); 2) mostly heterosexual (N=509); and 3) SM (N=188). Results: There was a trend towards significance, p = .056, for mean differences in vascular age/actual age, for SM participants (M=10.07), compared to 100% heterosexual (M=9.1) and mostly heterosexual (M=8.66) participants. Mostly heterosexual participants were 1.62 times more likely, and SM participants were 1.97 times more likely to be current smokers when compared to 100% heterosexual participants. SM participants endorsed having significantly more drinks (M = 4.50) when compared to both 100% heterosexual (M = 3.80) and mostly heterosexual (M = 3.38) participants. SM participants were 1.7 times more likely to endorse having 5 or more drinks on one occasion. SM participants also reported significantly higher stress levels than the other two groups Conclusion: While the data for the current study did not provide sufficient evidence to suggest sexual orientation differences in Framingham risk scores, the findings remain noteworthy. SM showed increased risk in smoking and stress levels. Additionally, the Population-based longitudinal studies and surveillance data are essential and necessary in order to minimize disparities in risk factors and to reduce the likelihood of subsequent disease in SM population.

The subject of this thesis is a detailed mapping transformation Baltic States after 1991, and their coexistence with the Russian minority in Latvia. The work seeks to analyze and describe the specific case situation that took place after 1991. The work deals with the development of Latvia, the Russian minority status and the introduction of controversial laws on citizenship. Tries to find answers to questions about what led Latvia to the strict laws on citizenship. The work shows, that the main reason is the big Russian minority in these countries, which is considered like a threat to the political independence of the Baltic states. The first part is focused on the characteristics of minorities, showing different perspectives on the history and mapping of the Baltic States. The second part details the progress, that affect a very strained relationship between Latvians and the Russian minority, which led to the introduction of strict rules for obtaining citizenship in Latvia.

The diploma thesis deals with Russian language periodic press in the Czech Republic from 1990 to 2016. Based on a quantitative document analysis, the thesis describes changes in number of periodicals, identifies three types of publishers and details the biggest publishing companies. Readers and functions of Russian language periodic press are defined with the help of in-depth interviews with media producers. The thesis is supplemented by a list of Russian language titles published in the Czech Republic in 2018. It also contains a description of producers of this minority language media and their working conditions. The thesis concludes that there is a declining tendency in number of Russian language titles published in the Czech Republic. The age of readers of this type of minority media varies. The audience speak and read in Russian and it is also comfortable for them to read in this language. These printed periodicals provide their readers with civic and cultural explanation and with apolitical information with so called Czech element. These functions enable their readers assimilation into the major society.

Sociohistorical, sociopolitical and sociostructural barriers in American society create different paths in the college-to-work transition. Some individuals can follow their natural calling for a vocation, while others must contend with limited access to occupational opportunities. The emancipatory communitarian (EC) framework advocates for resisting and changing of structural barriers that hinder the career path of oppressed groups. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) explains how sociocultural and background contextual factors interact with self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and career goals to shape career behavior. The present study investigated the relation of ethnic identity and acculturation to self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectations by testing the validity of SCCT tenets with a sample of 357 Latina/o college students. An EC-SCCT framework was used to explore the relationships among ethnic identity, acculturation level, career decision self-efficacy, coping efficacy, and perceived barriers. The results of a modified path model demonstrated that, for this sample, career decision self-efficacy mediated the influence of ethnic identity and Anglo bicultural orientation on the perception of career barriers. The findings also point to the role of ethnic identity in augmenting Latina/o students' career decision self-efficacy and increasing awareness about career barriers (e.g., ethnic discrimination). The current study contributes to the literature promoting a liberational approach to vocational and counseling psychology theory, research, and practice. Limitations and implications for theory, research, training, and practice are discussed.

Ding Lai-Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-167). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter One: --- Introduction / Chapter 1 --- The Miao History of Guizhou in China --- p.P.4-8 / Chapter 1.1 --- The socio-economic background of the Miao rural community --- p.P.8-11 / Chapter 1.2 --- Femininity of the ' feminized other' ´ؤ the Portray of the Miao women / Chapter 2 --- The concept of agency --Literature Review --- p.P.13-20 / Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.P.20-22 / Chapter Chapter Two: --- The Miao women's agency over the traditional drinking custom / Chapter 1 --- The traditional drinking custom in the Miao community Of Guizhou in China --- p.P.23-47 / Chapter 2 --- The acquisition of drinking habit by the Miao men And the Miao women / Chapter 2.1 --- The Perception of drinking among the Miao men of different ages --- p.P.48-50 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Miao women's agency over the traditional drinking custom / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Among the unmarried girls --- p.P.50-53 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Among the married women --- p.P.53-58 / Chapter 3 --- Traditional drinking custom and wife battering / killing --- p.P.58-60 / Chapter 4 --- Concluding remark --- p.P.60-64 / Chapter Chapter Three : --- The Miao women's agency over the contraceptive technology / Chapter 1 --- The concepts of reproduction and body --- p.P.65-72 / Chapter 2 --- The Birth Planning Policy in the national minority regions --- p.P.72-74 / Chapter 2.1 --- Among the national minority groups in Guizhou --- p.P.74-75 / Chapter 2.2 --- Within the villages --- p.P.75-76 / Chapter 3 --- Norplant ´ؤ The contraceptive devise assigned to the Miao women --- p.P.77-81 / Chapter 4 --- The coercive use of Norplant ´ؤ a devastating challenge to the Miao women's agency --- p.P.81-86 / Chapter 4.1 --- As the economic burden levied on the Miao women --- p.P.86-90 / Chapter 4.2 --- As the health burden levied on the Miao women --- p.P.90-94 / Chapter 5 --- Concluding remark --- p.P.94-96 / Chapter Chapter Four - --- The Miao women's agency over the family violence / Chapter 1 --- Theoretical orientation of family violence-wife abuse --- p.P.97-102 / Chapter 2 --- Major dominant script of family violence and wife abuse by the Women Federation in China --- p.P.102-106 / Chapter 3 --- The gender relation within the Miao rural community of Guizhou in China --- p.P.106-113 / Chapter 3.1 --- The unequal sexual division of labor within the family --- p.P.113-121 / Chapter 3.2 --- Drinking and wife abuse in the Miao community --- p.P.121-124 / Chapter 3.3 --- Wife abuse in the Miao community - From scolding to killing --- p.P.124-130 / Chapter 3.4 --- Fro Passive to active - a coping strategies continuum --- p.P.131-139 / Chapter 4 --- Concluding remark --- p.P.139-140 / Conclusion --- p.P.141-149 / Interviewee's profile / Reference / Appendix

Yuen, San Wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 58-61). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Literature review and hypothesis development --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Going private --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Tunneling and the expropriation of minority shareholders --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3 --- Our hypotheses --- p.12 / Chapter 3 --- Samples --- p.15 / Chapter 3.1 --- Sample construction --- p.15 / Chapter 3.2 --- Sample description --- p.16 / Chapter 3.3 --- Corporate governance and financial variables --- p.18 / Chapter 3.4 --- Related party transactions --- p.21 / Chapter 4 --- Empirical analysis --- p.23 / Chapter 4.1 --- Event study results --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2 --- Negative premium --- p.34 / Chapter 4.3 --- Insider trading --- p.37 / Chapter 4.4 --- The decision to go private --- p.39 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Sample matching --- p.39 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Comparison between going private companies and public companies --- p.41 / Chapter 4.5 --- Logit regression analysis on going private decision --- p.43 / Chapter 4.6 --- The value effect of the bidding firms --- p.46 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.49 / Chapter A --- Privatized companies included in the sample with announcement dates --- p.51 / Chapter B --- Methodology of event study --- p.53 / Chapter C --- Bidder companies --- p.55 / Chapter D --- A list of definition of variables --- p.56 / Reference --- p.58

The purpose of this study was to understand the levels of competence that master's level social work students have in regard to the issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender foster youth.

The public school teacher population of the United States is predominantly White, while the demographics of P-12 student population continue to grow increasingly diverse. Across the nation, there has been a call for the recruitment and retention of culturally and linguistically diverse teachers. The state of Oregon passed the Oregon Educator Equity Act, originally called the Oregon Minority Teacher Act, in 1991, and with recent renewed attention, the preparation of more culturally and linguistically diverse teachers in the state has gained prominence. Refocused consideration to the lack of diversity in the teaching workforce is overdue, as evidenced by the low numbers of African Americans found in Oregon's teacher workforce. Moreover, the experiences of African American teachers are underexplored. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the factors that contributed to the successful recruitment of African American teachers, specifically graduates of a teacher pipeline program. Employing an assets-based framework, a qualitative multiple-case design was used; data analyses included open coding of interview data, a constant comparison analysis of individual cases, and cross-case analysis. The predominant themes that contributed to the success of participants in this study included, belonging, accountability, and commitment to equity. While these findings, consistent with much of the literature on achievement of students of color, are not new, this study adds African American teacher voices to the existing research on the diversification of the teacher workforce. Additionally, this dissertation highlights successful efforts made toward recruitment of teachers of color with an Oregon lens.