Psychometrists have to be capable of stimulating growth and of assisting employees during psychometric assessments, seeing that the content of the instruments used might bring about psychological trauma. Graduate psychometrists often lack the interpersonal skills and knowledge, as well as the intrapersonal awareness, to sufficiently fulfil a helping role in the workplace. The objectives of this research were to conceptualise helping and the competencies associated with helping from the literature, to investigate what the content and methodology of a helping skills training programme should include, and to evaluate the effects of a helping skills training programme for psychometrists. The participants were Industrial Psychology Honours students from the School of Human Resource Sciences at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The entire population comprising 22 (N = 22) students were utilised. The stratified random sampling technique was used to divide the participants into the experimental and comparison groups. Three measuring instruments (Carkhuff scales, Personal Growth Initiative Scale and the Scales of Psychological Well-being) were administered before and after the training programme. The training programme in helping skills was administered to the experimental group first, where after their interpersonal skills and intrapersonal awareness were assessed during the post-tests. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, correlations and an Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyse the data. The ANCOVA analysis confirmed the statistical and practical significance of three core dimensions of helping, namely empathy, respect and genuineness among the members of the experimental group, as well as the improvement in the helping skills of Responding to content and Personalising meaning. However, the dimension of concreteness did not show significant improvement. There was also no statistical or practical significant differences between the experimental and comparison group for personal growth or psychological well-being. However, one dimension of psychological well-being, namely purpose in life, improved in the experimental group. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Psychometrists have to be capable of stimulating growth and of assisting employees during psychometric assessments, seeing that the content of the instruments used might bring about psychological trauma. Graduate psychometrists often lack the interpersonal skills and knowledge, as well as the intrapersonal awareness, to sufficiently fulfil a helping role in the workplace. The objectives of this research were to conceptualise helping and the competencies associated with helping from the literature, to investigate what the content and methodology of a helping skills training programme should include, and to evaluate the effects of a helping skills training programme for psychometrists. The participants were Industrial Psychology Honours students from the School of Human Resource Sciences at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The entire population comprising 22 (N = 22) students were utilised. The stratified random sampling technique was used to divide the participants into the experimental and comparison groups. Three measuring instruments (Carkhuff scales, Personal Growth Initiative Scale and the Scales of Psychological Well-being) were administered before and after the training programme. The training programme in helping skills was administered to the experimental group first, where after their interpersonal skills and intrapersonal awareness were assessed during the post-tests. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, correlations and an Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyse the data. The ANCOVA analysis confirmed the statistical and practical significance of three core dimensions of helping, namely empathy, respect and genuineness among the members of the experimental group, as well as the improvement in the helping skills of Responding to content and Personalising meaning. However, the dimension of concreteness did not show significant improvement. There was also no statistical or practical significant differences between the experimental and comparison group for personal growth or psychological well-being. However, one dimension of psychological well-being, namely purpose in life, improved in the experimental group. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The economic growth in the tourism industry is changing the structure of labour markets, increasing the level of competitiveness and thereby creating a need for improved labour productivity and a more flexible workforce. Education and the creation of employment are among the key priorities of the South African government. This process can be successful only if companies raise performance and productivity standards through the enhancement and development of skills. To succeed in the rebuilding process, it is imperative that the various stakeholders interact to establish the composition of the relevant skills and qualifications required. Consequently, the growth of job opportunities in the tourism sector has uncovered various challenges, including gaps in the areas of education, training and development. These gaps have resulted in low levels of productivity and are currently creating unsatisfied expectations for students and job providers. Hence, it is a priority of government to develop quality Learnerships and Internships in South Africa to improve skills and the qualifications of the tourism workforce. Employers are increasingly conscious of the value for money from their investments in training and are demanding that training be more deliberately aligned with the strategic needs of their organisations. However, the tourism industry is still complaining that learners are not adequately prepared for the workplace and the learners believe that they have sufficient knowledge to meet the needs of the industry. The purpose of this research was to analyse the skills expectations of learners versus employers: the case of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA (CATHSSETA). To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: to analyse literature concerning human resource management with the main focus falling on training, to contextualise the current tourism education environment in South Africa, to compare the differences in skills expectations between learners and employers in the tourism industry and, lastly, to draw conclusions and make recommendations regarding the skills expectations in tourism education. This was achieved by conducting quantitative research by means of a structured questionnaire that was distributed to 202 employers and 1023 learners on the CATHSSETA database. The questionnaires were linked and captured on an online program named SurveyMonkey. The application of SPSS, descriptive statistics, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, ANOVA and t-tests resulted in indicating various significant differences between skills expected by employers and skills presented by learners. These statistical analysis methods were used to demonstrate the gaps between the skills expectation of the role players. It was surprising to find that significant differences existed for most skills with the biggest gaps on self-reliance and people skills. The employers’ survey reflected that a priority for employers is customer orientation and learners’ willingness to learn. In all instances, employers expected learners to be better skilled than was the actual case. The results suggest that the learners are unable to adhere to the current demands of the industry. It was also found that learners rated their own skills much higher than the perception of employers. The results of this study can be used to assist CATHSSETA in improving their current training programmes to ensure they meet the needs of the broader tourism industry. It can also be used as a guideline for any training institution for improving the current tourism training programmes. This will contribute to the overall quality and sustainability of the tourism industry. / Thesis (MCom (Tourism Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The economic growth in the tourism industry is changing the structure of labour markets, increasing the level of competitiveness and thereby creating a need for improved labour productivity and a more flexible workforce. Education and the creation of employment are among the key priorities of the South African government. This process can be successful only if companies raise performance and productivity standards through the enhancement and development of skills. To succeed in the rebuilding process, it is imperative that the various stakeholders interact to establish the composition of the relevant skills and qualifications required. Consequently, the growth of job opportunities in the tourism sector has uncovered various challenges, including gaps in the areas of education, training and development. These gaps have resulted in low levels of productivity and are currently creating unsatisfied expectations for students and job providers. Hence, it is a priority of government to develop quality Learnerships and Internships in South Africa to improve skills and the qualifications of the tourism workforce. Employers are increasingly conscious of the value for money from their investments in training and are demanding that training be more deliberately aligned with the strategic needs of their organisations. However, the tourism industry is still complaining that learners are not adequately prepared for the workplace and the learners believe that they have sufficient knowledge to meet the needs of the industry. The purpose of this research was to analyse the skills expectations of learners versus employers: the case of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA (CATHSSETA). To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: to analyse literature concerning human resource management with the main focus falling on training, to contextualise the current tourism education environment in South Africa, to compare the differences in skills expectations between learners and employers in the tourism industry and, lastly, to draw conclusions and make recommendations regarding the skills expectations in tourism education. This was achieved by conducting quantitative research by means of a structured questionnaire that was distributed to 202 employers and 1023 learners on the CATHSSETA database. The questionnaires were linked and captured on an online program named SurveyMonkey. The application of SPSS, descriptive statistics, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, ANOVA and t-tests resulted in indicating various significant differences between skills expected by employers and skills presented by learners. These statistical analysis methods were used to demonstrate the gaps between the skills expectation of the role players. It was surprising to find that significant differences existed for most skills with the biggest gaps on self-reliance and people skills. The employers’ survey reflected that a priority for employers is customer orientation and learners’ willingness to learn. In all instances, employers expected learners to be better skilled than was the actual case. The results suggest that the learners are unable to adhere to the current demands of the industry. It was also found that learners rated their own skills much higher than the perception of employers. The results of this study can be used to assist CATHSSETA in improving their current training programmes to ensure they meet the needs of the broader tourism industry. It can also be used as a guideline for any training institution for improving the current tourism training programmes. This will contribute to the overall quality and sustainability of the tourism industry. / Thesis (MCom (Tourism Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Sexual abuse is not being reported adequately. Teachers are in an ideal position to deal with and report sexual abuse. However, research, as well as practical experience, shows that teachers are not sufficiently trained to deal with sexual abuse. Various establishments offer training initiatives to teachers, but it is unclear what the teachers’ perceptions are of the training after completion thereof. The goal of this research was to explore the perceptions of teachers after they had been exposed to an available training programme called “Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse”. The programme forms part of the training material of Forensic Assessment Consultation Training (FACT). FACT is a training company which offers support and training to professional people on the topic of sexual abuse. The researcher followed a qualitative approach. Twenty teachers from Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Virginia, Wesselsbron and Bothaville were involved in two separate training sessions. After completion of the training sessions, two focus group interviews were conducted in order to explore the participants’ perceptions regarding the training programme. The results show clearly that the perceptions of the teachers who participated in the Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse programme were significantly positive. It is also clear that there was a certain need among teachers for information such as provided by the programme. Besides the dispensation of relevant information, which was regarded as valuable and appropriate, participants valued the group consolidation and felt confident to share experiences regarding sexual abuse. Participants cherished the information not only as teachers, but also in their capacity as parents. They agreed there was a need for such training, even before participating in the study. It was recommended that colleagues, student teachers and parents should undertake the same training, conducted in a similar way. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Sexual abuse is not being reported adequately. Teachers are in an ideal position to deal with and report sexual abuse. However, research, as well as practical experience, shows that teachers are not sufficiently trained to deal with sexual abuse. Various establishments offer training initiatives to teachers, but it is unclear what the teachers’ perceptions are of the training after completion thereof. The goal of this research was to explore the perceptions of teachers after they had been exposed to an available training programme called “Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse”. The programme forms part of the training material of Forensic Assessment Consultation Training (FACT). FACT is a training company which offers support and training to professional people on the topic of sexual abuse. The researcher followed a qualitative approach. Twenty teachers from Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Virginia, Wesselsbron and Bothaville were involved in two separate training sessions. After completion of the training sessions, two focus group interviews were conducted in order to explore the participants’ perceptions regarding the training programme. The results show clearly that the perceptions of the teachers who participated in the Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse programme were significantly positive. It is also clear that there was a certain need among teachers for information such as provided by the programme. Besides the dispensation of relevant information, which was regarded as valuable and appropriate, participants valued the group consolidation and felt confident to share experiences regarding sexual abuse. Participants cherished the information not only as teachers, but also in their capacity as parents. They agreed there was a need for such training, even before participating in the study. It was recommended that colleagues, student teachers and parents should undertake the same training, conducted in a similar way. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

A recent Report Card on Physical Activity and Health in South African Children and Youth 2010 states that at least four major factors place young children at risk: tobacco use, poor diet, lack of physical activity and facing weight challenges, this then including being overweight, underweight, obese or stunted for one’s age. One of the areas for action and intervention mentioned in the report card is training of teachers. The aim of this study was to increase knowledge, skill and competence in school teachers (care givers) when dealing with underweight in school children. A training program (train-the-trainer) was designed by the researcher. Under nutrition (underweight) is implicated in more than half of all child deaths worldwide. 25.33% of respondents in this study showed signs of underweight highlighting the importance of such training in schools. Using the above statistical data the research embarked on the development, implementation and evaluation of a training program for care givers on underweight prevalence in children in South African schools. The intervention research model of Thomas and Rothman was used in the design and development of the training program. A descriptive design with a quasi-experiment one group pre-test-post test was used in this study. A non parametric statistical test was utilized as data was measured on an ordinal scale (Wilcoxon signed rank test). The care giver training program was implemented over nine weeks consisting of one and a half hour sessions held once weekly. All Foundation Phase teachers were involved in the training (18 Care Givers). The program was implemented with grade one learners at a traditional primary school in Pretoria with a mixed demography and age groups varying between 6 and 8 years of age. Hundred and fifty learners participated in the pre and post test wherein a non probability sampling method was used. The study found that the training program for care givers had a statistically significant effect on underweight prevalence in young children. FMEA profiling in this study confirmed that enhancing care giver knowledge, skill and competence contributes significantly to the changes experienced in children’s underweight status. BMI levels changed significantly. The percentage underweight children dropped from 25.33% to 15, 33% over time. It is recommended that this intervention program be implemented and facilitated by teachers (care givers) forming part of a multi-disciplinary education approach in many South African schools. AFRIKAANS : ‘n Onlangse verslag getiteld “Report Card on Physical Activity and Health in South African Children and Youth 2010” dui aan dat daar ten minste vier hooffaktore is wat jong kinders se gesondheid aan gesondheidsrisiko’s blootstel. Die faktore sluit in rook, ongesonde eetstyl en dieet, gebrekkige deelname aan fisieke aktiwiteit en gewigsuitdagings. Gewigsuitdagings waarvoor Suid Afrikaanse jeug te staan kom sluit in oorgewigvoorkoms, ondergewigvoorkoms, obesiteit en of groeibeperking (stunting). Een van die areas wat in die verslag as voorkoming vir hierdie gewigsuitdagings voorgestel word is opleiding aan opvoeders. Die doel van die studie was dan om kennis, vaardigheid en bekwaamheidsvlakke in onderwysers te verbeter wanneer hulle met ondergewig kinders in hulle sorg werk te bewerkstellig d.m.v ‘n indiensopleidingsprogram (Train-the–trainer). Tans dra ondergewigvoorkoms by tot meer as die helfte van alle sterftes onder kinders wêrelwyd. In hierdie studie is bevind dat soveel as 25.33% van die kinders in die studie tekens van ondergewig getoon het. Dit beklemtoon die belangrikheid van ‘n opleidingsprogram aan die opvoeders van hierdie kinders. Statistiese data soos hier bo genoem is deur die navorser aangewend in die ontwikkeling, implementering en evaluering van die opleidingsprogram aan opvoeders van ondergewig kinders in die skool. Die intervensie navorsingsmodel van Thomas and Rothman is gebruik in die ontwerp en ontwikkeling van die opleidingsprogram. ‘n Beskrywende ontwerp met kwasi-eksperimente, een groep voortoets-natoets is in die studie gebruik. Nie parametriese statistiese toetsing is aangewend en data is gemeet aan die hand van ‘n ordinale skaal (Wilcoxon signed rank toets). Die opleidingsprogram aan opvoeders is oor ‘n tydperk van nege weke geïmplimenteer. Elke opleidingsessie was een en ‘n half uur lank en een maal per week aangebied. Alle grondsalgfase opvoeders was in die opleiding betrokke (n=18). Die program is getoets op graad een leerders wat skoolgaan in ‘n tradisionele laerskool in Pretoria met ‘n gemengde demografie en ouderdomsgroepe het gewissel tussen ses en agt jaar oud. Een honderd en vyftig leerders het aan die voor en natoetsing deelgeneem en ‘n nie waarskynlike metode van insluiting is gebruik. Die studie het bevind dat die opleidingsprogram aan opvoeders van ondergewig kinders in die skool ‘n beduidende invloed gehad het op die voorkoms van ondergewig. FMEA profiele gedoen in die studie het bevestig dat die verbetering van opvoeder kennis, vaardigheid en bekwaamheidsvlakke beduidend bygedra het tot die verandering in die ondergewig status van die kinders. LMI tellings het gedaal vanaf 25, 33% tot slegs 15, 33% oor verloop van tyd. Die navorser is van mening dat hierdie voorkomingsprogram in werking gestel behoort te word en deur opvoeders in die skool gefasiliteer word; om sodoende deel te word van ‘n multi-dissiplinêre onderwysbenadering in Suid Afrikaanse skole. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

Misdade wat gemik is teen kinders veroorsaak tans ‘n nasionale krisis wat geïllustreer word deur die feit dat daar ‘n toename in die mishandeling en verwaarlosing van kinders is. Al hoe meer kinders word ook wees gelaat na die afsterwe van hul biologiese ouers weens MIV/VIGS-verwante siektes. Dit bring mee dat daar ‘n geweldige toename in pleegsorgplasings in Suid-Afrika is. Welsynsorganisasies beskik egter nie oor ‘n resente opleidingsprogram wat daarop gemik is om voornemende pleegouers op pleegsorg voor te berei nie. Die doel van die studie het behels om ‘n opleidingsprogram vir voornemende pleegouers te ontwikkel, te implementeer en empiries te toets. Die doelwitte wat gestel is om die doel te bereik was om ‘n opleidingsprogram vir voornemende pleegouers te ontwikkel, die program by voornemende pleegouers te toets en om die impak van die program waar te neem deur die resultate van ‘n voor- en natoets te vergelyk. Die inhoud van die opleidingsprogram wat vir die studie ontwikkel is, is beskryf. Gevolglik is van beskrywende navorsing gebruik gemaak. Hierdie studie het berus op die volgende hipotese: Indien voornemende pleegouers hierdie opleidingsprogram deurloop het, sal die voornemende pleegouers se kennis rakende die omvang, wetlike implikasies, verwagtinge, motiewe, verantwoordelikhede en pligte ten opsigte van pleegsorg, en die profiel van die pleegkind verbeter. Die empiriese resultate van die studie het die hipotese as waar bewys.‘n Kwantitatiewe enkelstelselontwerp, is die benadering wat gevolg is. Data is ingesamel met behulp van ‘n vraelys wat tydens ‘n voor- en natoets benut is. Altesaam 53 respondente (ouer as 20 jaar) bestaande uit getroude pare en enkellopendes wat gedurende die tydperk Februarie tot Junie 2006, by die Ondersteuningsraad van Pretoria as voornemende pleegouers aangemeld het, is by die studie betrek. Die 53 respondente is in drie groepe ingedeel. Drie opleidingsessies met elk van die drie groepe is onderneem. Rothman en Thomas se model vir intervensienavorsing is benut om die opleidingsprogram vir voornemende pleegouers te ontwikkel. Die model bestaan uit ses fases, waarvan die eerste vyf fases in die studie benut is. Tydens die eerste fase is die probleem ontleed; in die tweede fase is teoretiese inligting versamel en deelnemers by die studie betrek; by die derde en vierde fases, is die opleidingsprogram tentatief ontwerp en getoets om leemtes te identifiseer. Daarna is die program volledig geïmplementeer en die impak daarvan empiries getoets. Die kwantitatiewe data (voor- en natoets) is met behulp van ‘n selfontwerpte vraelys ingesamel. Die vraelys is benut om inligting aangaande die respondente se kennis van pleegsorg te verkry. Individuele telefoniese onderhoude is een maand na afloop van die implementering van die program met die respondente gevoer om addisionele inligting te kry. Die resultate van die voor- en natoets het getoon dat die opleidingsprogram suksesvol was. Die respondente wat by die studie betrek is, het ‘n verbetering getoon ten opsigte van hul kennis van pleegsorg. Na die evaluering van die opleidingsprogram, is ‘n samevatting van die vernaamste bevindings, en gevolgtrekkings vir die ondersoek in geheel, aangebied. Aanbevelings is gemaak en is temas vir verdere navorsing geïdentifiseer. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted