Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Assessing the causes of SMME learner drop-out and attrition in the national rollout of the Productive Capacity Building Programme (PCBP): A Case StudyThe aim of this evaluative research study is to investigate the causes of learner dropout and attrition within the national rollout of the Productive Capacity Building Programme PCBP of the National Productivity Institute (NPI). This study is undertaken using a case study format with particular interest in the behaviour of adult learners within the context of a learning environment as well as particular interventional measures that could be undertaken by adult educators and facilitators in retaining adult learners within contact training programmes. The research study not only has internal validity in terms of the PCBP training programme operations but also contextual importance for long distance education, e-learning, other modes of learning delivery as well as the larger human resources development (HRD) domain. The ultimate objective is to minimize PCBP training costs resulting from adult learner attrition and the failure to meet training targets. A survey population comprising sixty (x60) small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) learners who attended PCBP training is selected using simple random sampling. The study is undertaken using case study format from a learning practitioner’s perspective. Utilizing a questionnaire instrument and interview method, the survey population is interviewed through a qualitative research method. Historical training statistics as well as post-implementation training statistics resulting from the application of recommendations are stratified and compared. Qualitative data collection methods such as observation, interview and documents are utilized. The study ends with recommendations for business application and the practical effects brought about by the implementation of initial recommendations.An analysis of recommendations indicates that adult learner dropout within the PCBP training programme is minimized through the introduction of adult learning principles within the delivery of the programme.

Background: Due to various factors, such as the restructuring of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1996, Police Social Work Services decided to broaden the scope of its services by developing and introducing proactive personnel capacity building programmes (PCBP's). Fifteen PCB programmes had been developed by 1999, which gave rise to the need for a comprehensive impact assessment of these programmes. This resulted in the Evaluation of Personnel Capacity Building Programmes (EPCBP) research project that was launched in 2001. The evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle and Coping with Change programmes formed part of this comprehensive study. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Healthy Lifestyle (HLS) and Coping with Change (CWC) programmes on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS personnel. Method: The comparison group pre-test and post-test design and triangulation were used during this research. Six measuring scales and a presenter's evaluation questionnaire were developed and completed by 196 (HLS) and 184 (CWC) experimental group respondents, 38 (HLS) and 41 (CWC) comparison group members and 10 (HLS) and 7 (CWC) presenters. Results: With the help of various measuring instruments and the triangulation of measurements, it was determined that the Healthy Lifestyle and Coping with Change programmes had a practical significant effect on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the respondents. It was concluded that these programmes were effective tools in the hands of Police Social Work Service (PSWS) because they not only empowered SAPS personnel to lead more productive professional lives, but also enhanced their personal well-being. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Background: Due to various factors, such as the restructuring of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in 1996, Police Social Work Services decided to broaden the scope of its services by developing and introducing proactive personnel capacity building programmes (PCBP's). Fifteen PCB programmes had been developed by 1999, which gave rise to the need for a comprehensive impact assessment of these programmes. This resulted in the Evaluation of Personnel Capacity Building Programmes (EPCBP) research project that was launched in 2001. The evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle and Coping with Change programmes formed part of this comprehensive study. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effect of the Healthy Lifestyle (HLS) and Coping with Change (CWC) programmes on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of SAPS personnel. Method: The comparison group pre-test and post-test design and triangulation were used during this research. Six measuring scales and a presenter's evaluation questionnaire were developed and completed by 196 (HLS) and 184 (CWC) experimental group respondents, 38 (HLS) and 41 (CWC) comparison group members and 10 (HLS) and 7 (CWC) presenters. Results: With the help of various measuring instruments and the triangulation of measurements, it was determined that the Healthy Lifestyle and Coping with Change programmes had a practical significant effect on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the respondents. It was concluded that these programmes were effective tools in the hands of Police Social Work Service (PSWS) because they not only empowered SAPS personnel to lead more productive professional lives, but also enhanced their personal well-being. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

L’évaluation de l’exposition aux composés organiques volatils (COV) recourt couramment à l’analyse des métabolites urinaires en assumant qu’aucune interaction ne survient entre les composés. Or, des études antérieures ont démontré qu’une inhibition de type compétitive survient entre le toluène (TOL), l’éthylbenzène (EBZ) et le m-xylène (XYL). Le chloroforme, qui est également un solvant métabolisé par le CYP2E1, se retrouve souvent en présence des autres COV dans les échantillons de biosurveillance. La présente étude visait donc à évaluer si le chloroforme (CHL) peut lui aussi interagir avec ces COV et évaluer ces interactions au niveau de l’excrétion des biomarqueurs urinaires associés, soit l’o-crésol, l’acide mandélique et l’acide m-méthylhippurique pour TOL, EBZ et XYL respectivement. Afin d’obtenir des données humaines, cinq volontaires ont été exposés par inhalation à différentes combinaisons de COV (seuls et mélanges binaires ou quaternaires) où la concentration de chacun des composés était égale à 1/4 ou 1/8 de la valeur limite d’exposition (VLE) pour une durée de 6h. Des échantillons d’air exhalé, de sang et d’urine ont été récoltés. Ces données ont ensuite été comparées aux modèles pharmacocinétiques à base physiologique (PCBP) existants afin de les ajuster pour l’excrétion urinaire. Certaines différences ont été observées entre les expositions aux solvants seuls et les coexpositions, mais celles-ci semblent majoritairement attribuables aux remplacements de participants à travers les différentes expositions. Les valeurs de Vmax pour EBZ et CHL ont été optimisées afin de mieux prédire les niveaux sanguins de ces COV. À l’exception du modèle pour EBZ, tous les paramètres pour l’excrétion urinaire ont été obtenus à partir de la littérature. Les modèles adaptés dans cette étude ont permis de simuler adéquatement les données expérimentales. / Evaluation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) exposure commonly resorts to urinary metabolite analyses, assuming that no interaction occur between coexposed chemicals. However, previous studies have reported competitive inhibition between toluene (TOL), ethylbenzene (EBZ) and m-xylene (XYL). Chloroform, which is also metabolized by CYP2E1, is also often found in human biomonitoring samples along with the mentioned VOCs. The goal of the present study was to evaluate if chloroform (CHL) can interact with previous VOC and to evaluate those interactions at the urinary biomarker excretion level for corresponding metabolites, namely o-cresol, mandelic acid and m-methylhippuric acid for TOL, EBZ and XYL respectively. To obtain human data, five male volunteers were exposed by inhalation to different VOC combinations (single and binary or quaternary mixtures) where concentration of each chemical was equal to 1/4 or 1/8 of the threshold limit value (TLV) for 6h. Exhaled air blood and urine samples were collected. These data were then compared with existing physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model predictions for adjustment for urinary excretion. Some differences were observed between single and mixed exposures but they may be mainly related to volunteer replacements throughout experiments. Vmax values for EBZ and CHL were optimized to better fit blood data. Except for EBZ model, all urinary excretion parameters were taken from the literature. Models adapted in the present study adequately simulated experimental data.