Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Reading problems have become a worldwide phenomenon, even in a first world country like America. Literacy figures in South Africa are even worse. Results of the PIRLS study indicated that the reading skills of 80% of South African children are not fully developed by the time they reach grade 5. In recent literacy tests South African children did worse than children from African countries like Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland and Tanzania. Despite everything that is being done to improve literacy and numeracy, South African children do not reach their potential. Many South African schools are labeled as being „dysfunctional‟ and 79% of schools do not have libraries. This is a complex matter with multiple causes. Reading programs may contribute to addressing this issue. There are different types of reading programs and it can take place at different levels. One type of program includes the use of pets. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an animal-assisted reading program on the reading skills of grade 3 children in an Afrikaans medium primary school in the Western Cape. The secondary aim was to determine whether this type of reading program could also have an influence on other factors related to reading, like reading self-concept, self-efficacy, anxiety and school attendance of grade 3 children. All the grade 3 children were assessed with a series of tests. Those who were identified by the ESSI Reading Test as unskilled readers (N=102) were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group. The Dog Group (n=27) read to a dog with a facilitator present, the Facilitator Group (n=24) read to a facilitator while the Teddy Bear Group (n=26) read to a teddy bear with a facilitator present. The Control Group (n=25) continued with their normal school activities. Collection of the data took place before the start of the reading program (Time 1) and directly after completion of the program (Time 2) with a follow-up measurement eight weeks later (Time 3). Once a week during the 10 week animal-assisted reading program all the children read for approximately 20 minutes from grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 level reading books which they chose themselves. The children were called from their classrooms, individually, to another room where they could read calmly and peacefully to either a dog and a facilitator, or to a facilitator, or to a teddy bear and facilitator, depending on the group they were in. During Time 2 and Time 3 the Dog Group performed significantly better in the ESSI Reading Test than the other three groups. The reading comprehension of the Dog Group, as measured by the Neale Individual Reading Test, also improved significantly compared to that of the other three groups. Mixed results were found regarding reading self-concept, self-efficacy and anxiety. The shortcomings of the present study and recommendations for further research are also discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Leesprobleme is ʼn wêreldwye probleem, selfs in eerstewêreldlande soos Amerika. In Suid-Afrika is die geletterdheidsyfers selfs baie swakker. Die resultate van die PIRLS-studie dui daarop dat 80% van Suid-Afrikaanse kinders se leesvaardighede nie ten volle ontwikkel is wanneer hulle graad 5 bereik nie. Suid-Afrikaanse kinders het ook swakker gevaar in ʼn geletterdheidtoets as kinders van lande soos Mosambiek, Botswana, Swaziland en Tanzanië. Ten spyte van alles wat gedoen word om geletterdheid en syfervaardigheid te verbeter, vaar Suid-Afrikaanse kinders baie swakker as hul potensiaal. Baie Suid-Afrikaanse skole word geëtiketteer as „disfunksioneel‟ en 79% van skole het geen biblioteke nie. Hierdie saak is kompleks en die oorsake veelvuldig. Leesprogramme mag moontlik ʼn bydrae lewer om hierdie kwessie aan te spreek. Dit kan verskeie vorms aanneem en kan op verskillende vlakke plaasvind. Een tipe program behels die gebruik van troeteldiere. Die doel van die huidige studie was om die effek van ʼn troeteldier-ondersteunde leesprogram (TOL) op die leesvaardighede van graad 3-kinders in ʼn Afrikaansmedium laerskool in die Wes-Kaap te bepaal. Verdere doelstellings was om te bepaal of hierdie tipe leesprogram ook ʼn invloed kon hê op ander leesverwante faktore soos leesselfkonsep, self-effektiwiteit, angs en ook die skoolbywoning van graad 3-kinders. Al die graad 3-kinders is getoets met ʼn reeks instrumente en dié wat deur die ESSI Leestoets geïdentifiseer is as nievaardige lesers (N=102) is verder ewekansig toegewys aan drie eksperimentele en een kontrolegroep. Die Leeshondgroep (n=27) het vir ʼn leeshond en leesfasiliteerder gelees, die Leesfasiliteerdergroep (n=24) het vir ʼn leesfasiliteerder alleen gelees terwyl die Teddiebeergroep (n=26) vir ʼn teddiebeer en ʼn leesfasiliteerder gelees het. Die Kontrolegroep (n=25) het voortgegaan met hul normale skoolaktiwiteite. Data-insameling het plaasgevind voor die aanvang van die leesprogram (Tyd 1), direk ná voltooiing van die leesprogram (Tyd 2) en ʼn opvolgmeting het ag weke later (Tyd 3) plaasgevind. Tydens die 10-weke-troeteldier-ondersteunde leesprogram (TOL) het die kinders in elk van die groepe vir ongeveer 20 min. gelees uit graad 1-, 2- en 3-vlak boekies wat hulle self gekies het. Die kinders is individueel uit die klas geneem na ʼn ander lokaal in die skool waar hulle rustig vir óf die leeshond en ʼn leesfasiliteerder, óf die leesfasiliteerder alleen óf ʼn teddiebeer met ʼn leesfasiliteerder gelees het, afhangende van die groep waarin hulle was. Kinders in die Leeshondgroep het beduidend beter gevaar in die ESSI Leestoets tydens Tyd 2 en Tyd 3 as die kinders in die ander drie groepe. Die leesbegrip van die Leeshondgroep, soos gemeet deur die Neale Individuele Leestoets, het ook beduidend verbeter in vergelyking met dié van die ander drie groepe. Gemengde resultate is gevind met leesselfkonsep, self-effektiwiteit en angs. Die tekortkominge en aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word ook bespreek.

Esta dissertação reflete acerca das relações mantidas na cidade de São Paulo entre seres humanos e cães de estimação cujo alicerce consiste na afetividade. Discute-se a concepção desses donos de cães acerca da espécie canina e aponta-se as características reconhecidas em tais animais, que contrariam a ideia de exclusividade humana das capacidades cognitivas, de comunicação, sentimento, sensciência, consciência e moralidade. Detentores de características antropomórficas, os cães são entendidos a partir de identidades caninas individuais, com personalidades próprias. Suas especificidades da espécie também os permitem ser valorados frente aos humanos, pois a sinceridade de afetos e a pureza moral que lhes é atribuída ultrapassa a da nossa espécie. O estudo etnográfico mostrou que esses pets possuem extrema importância na vida de seus donos e são entendidos como membros da família, em papéis que podem não ser substituíveis por humanos. Este trabalho revisita a produção brasileira antropológica acerca das relações entre seres humanos e animais não humanos e apresenta dois eixos da relação entre cães e humanos: as distintas esferas da relação estabelecida entre cães e pessoas e o mercado pet voltado para cães e seus donos e sua influência nessa relação. / This dissertation reflects on the relationships maintained between humans and pet dogs in the city of São Paulo, which foundation consists of affectivity. It discusses the conception of these owners about the canine species and the characteristics recognized in these animals, which contradicts the idea of human exclusivity of the cognitive, communicative, feeling, sentience, and morality capacities. Holders of anthropomorphic characteristics, pet dogs are understood from an individual canine identity, with their own personality. Their specificities of the species also allow them to be valued when compared to humans, since the sincerity of affections and the moral purity attributed to them surpasses those of our species. The ethnographic study showed that these pets are extremely important in their owners lives and they are considered as members of the family, in some cases playing roles irreplaceable by humans. This work revisits the Brazilian anthropological production about the relationship between human beings and nonhuman animals; it addresses the different spheres of the relationship between dogs and people; and studies the pet market aimed at dogs and their owners, as well as their influence in this relationship.

Esse estudo abordou protozoários do gênero Eimeria com dois objetivos gerais: desenvolver ensaios moleculares para a discriminação das onze espécies de Eimeria de coelho e estudar as relações evolutivas Eimeria de hospedeiros mamíferos e aves. Para o primeiro objetivo, seqüenciou-se o ITS1 do rRNA das 11 espécies de Eimeria de coelho e desenhou-se iniciadores espécie-específicos. Não foi observada reatividade cruzada, e o limite de detecção variou entre 500 fg a 1 pg. Para a filogenia, sequenciou-se 4 marcadores moleculares de espécies de Eimeria de galinha e coelho. Foram feitas análises conjuntas com dados públicos de Eimeria de outros hospedeiros, usando-se vários métodos de reconstrução filogenética. Os resultados indicam que as espécies de Eimeria são em geral monofiléticas em relação aos seus hospedeiros, e que múltiplos eventos de invasão de hospedeiros mamíferos e aves teriam ocorrido ao longo da evolução. Assim, ancestrais de roedores, galinhas e Lagomorpha teriam sido invadidos em torno de 14, 11 e 7 milhões de anos atrás, respectivamente. / In this work, we used protozoans of the genus Eimeria for the following approaches: development of discrimination assays for the eleven Eimeria species of rabbits, and phylogenetic analysis of mammal and bird Eimeria. For the former study, we sequenced the ITS1 rRNA of the 11 Eimeria species of domestic rabbit and designed species-specific primers. No cross-reactivity has been observed, and the detection limit varied from 500 fg to 1 pg. For the phylogenetic analysis, we used four molecular markers of Eimeria species from domestic fowl and rabbit. An overall analysis comprising our data and public sequences of Eimeria from other hosts has been performed, and we used several distinct methods for phylogenetic reconstruction. Our results show that most of Eimeria species are monophyletic in regard to their hosts, and that multiple invasion events on mammal and bird hosts may have occurred along the evolutionary process. Thus, Eimeria parasites invaded ancestors of rodents, domestic fowl and Lagomorpha about 14, 11 and 7 million years ago, respectively.

Esta dissertação reflete acerca das relações mantidas na cidade de São Paulo entre seres humanos e cães de estimação cujo alicerce consiste na afetividade. Discute-se a concepção desses donos de cães acerca da espécie canina e aponta-se as características reconhecidas em tais animais, que contrariam a ideia de exclusividade humana das capacidades cognitivas, de comunicação, sentimento, sensciência, consciência e moralidade. Detentores de características antropomórficas, os cães são entendidos a partir de identidades caninas individuais, com personalidades próprias. Suas especificidades da espécie também os permitem ser valorados frente aos humanos, pois a sinceridade de afetos e a pureza moral que lhes é atribuída ultrapassa a da nossa espécie. O estudo etnográfico mostrou que esses pets possuem extrema importância na vida de seus donos e são entendidos como membros da família, em papéis que podem não ser substituíveis por humanos. Este trabalho revisita a produção brasileira antropológica acerca das relações entre seres humanos e animais não humanos e apresenta dois eixos da relação entre cães e humanos: as distintas esferas da relação estabelecida entre cães e pessoas e o mercado pet voltado para cães e seus donos e sua influência nessa relação. / This dissertation reflects on the relationships maintained between humans and pet dogs in the city of São Paulo, which foundation consists of affectivity. It discusses the conception of these owners about the canine species and the characteristics recognized in these animals, which contradicts the idea of human exclusivity of the cognitive, communicative, feeling, sentience, and morality capacities. Holders of anthropomorphic characteristics, pet dogs are understood from an individual canine identity, with their own personality. Their specificities of the species also allow them to be valued when compared to humans, since the sincerity of affections and the moral purity attributed to them surpasses those of our species. The ethnographic study showed that these pets are extremely important in their owners lives and they are considered as members of the family, in some cases playing roles irreplaceable by humans. This work revisits the Brazilian anthropological production about the relationship between human beings and nonhuman animals; it addresses the different spheres of the relationship between dogs and people; and studies the pet market aimed at dogs and their owners, as well as their influence in this relationship.

<p>Today older people’s health and life quality are current topics of conversation in society. The number of old people is increasing and their health is deteriorating, that is why there is a need of new ways of meeting their necessities. In this study we have tried to illustrate heads of districts reasoning concerning pets’ significance for old people in special housing. The purpose of the study is to investigate the management’s awareness and preparedness around and also management of pets in special housing in a county. We have also had a look at the practical work with pets in special housing. The material in the study comes from qualitative interviews. One geriatric care manager and six heads of districts with the responsibility of special housing for old people under municipal management have been interviewed. In our interpretation we have used Brülde’s theory (2003) of life quality called “a mixed theory of happy character”. Brülde combines elements from hedonism, the theory of fulfillment of wishes and from the objective pluralism to make his own theory. The result from the study shows that all heads of districts are positive to have pets in special housing and that all special housing has or has had pets in some form. The contact with pets gives many old people a better life quality with happiness, an increased well-being and decreases the sense of loneliness.</p>

Aim: The overall aim of this thesis is to illuminate meanings of being a child with asthma, to describe what strategies they use to manage their daily life, and how they estimate their quality of life. The aim is also to describe how family relations might be influenced by the child’s asthma disease. Methods: Informants in three qualitative studies were 37 children with asthma and 17 mothers of children with asthma. Informants in a quantitative quality of life study were 226 children with asthma. The data collections were undertaken by means of interviews, observations, and a questionnaire (PAQLQ). The data was analysed by means of phenomenological-hermeneutic method, grounded theory, and statistics. Results: A meaning of being a child with asthma is to strive to live a normal life, which means to be able to participate in the same activities as healthy friends. According to the children, participation is facilitated by confidence in one’s own knowledge, by other people’s wish to help, and by confidence in medicines. On occasions when the disease becomes an obstacle to participation, the children feel like outsiders, and talk about feelings of deprivation, guilt, loneliness, anxiety, and fear. When observing and interviewing teenagers with asthma they showed and expressed that their core concern was not letting the disease get the upper hand over life. To manage this core concern they used three strategies: keeping a distance to the disease, challenging the disease, and taking the disease into consideration. Boys mainly keep a distance to the disease while girls mainly take the disease into consideration. Challenging the disease seems to be a strategy used by both girls and boys. Differences between girls and boys were also seen when children with asthma estimated their quality of life, even though they both estimate their quality of life as comparatively high. A significant association was found between a higher quality of life and being a boy, compared to being a girl. The core concern in families of a child with asthma was found to be disease-engendered uncertainty. The mothers experience themselves as always being available for the child with asthma, owing to the unpredictability of the disease. Control and tight bonds therefore characterize the relation between the mother and the sick child. Being constantly available for the child with asthma, decreases the mothers’ availability for other family members and these relations are described as being characterised by feelings of being forsaken and lack of understanding. Conclusion: One conclusion drawn from this thesis is that life with asthma includes moments of wellbeing for both children with asthma and their mothers, but also moments when they experience that the disease gets the upper hand over life. In assisting them it is of great value to create a milieu where the individuals dare to talk about their experiences and to be aware of possible differences between boys and girls. It is also important never to judge, but to customize care, based on the needs of each individual.

Today older people’s health and life quality are current topics of conversation in society. The number of old people is increasing and their health is deteriorating, that is why there is a need of new ways of meeting their necessities. In this study we have tried to illustrate heads of districts reasoning concerning pets’ significance for old people in special housing. The purpose of the study is to investigate the management’s awareness and preparedness around and also management of pets in special housing in a county. We have also had a look at the practical work with pets in special housing. The material in the study comes from qualitative interviews. One geriatric care manager and six heads of districts with the responsibility of special housing for old people under municipal management have been interviewed. In our interpretation we have used Brülde’s theory (2003) of life quality called “a mixed theory of happy character”. Brülde combines elements from hedonism, the theory of fulfillment of wishes and from the objective pluralism to make his own theory. The result from the study shows that all heads of districts are positive to have pets in special housing and that all special housing has or has had pets in some form. The contact with pets gives many old people a better life quality with happiness, an increased well-being and decreases the sense of loneliness.

The Ambivalent Animal project explores the interactions of animals, culture and technology. The project employs both artistic practice and critical theory, each in ways that inspire the other. My creative practice centers around two projects that focus on domestic pets. These projects highlight the animal's uncertain status as they explore the overlapping ontologies of animal, human and machine. They provide concrete artifacts that engage with theoretical issues of anthropocentrism, animality and alterity. My theoretical work navigates between the fields of animal studies, art and design, media and culture studies, and philosophy. My dissertation explores animality through four real and imagined animal roles: cyborg, clone, chimera and shapeshifter. Each animal role is considered in relation to three dialectics: irreducibility and procedurality, autonomy and integration, aura and abjection. These dialectics do not seek full synthesis but instead embrace the oscillations of irresolvable debates and desires. The dialectics bring into focus issues of epistemology, ontology, corporeality and subjectivity. When the four animal roles engage the three dialectics, connected yet varied themes emerge. The cyborgian animal is simultaneously liberated and regulated, assisted and restricted, integrated and isolated. The cloned animal is an emblem of renewal and loss; she is both idealized code and material flesh and finds herself caught in the battles of nature and nurture. The chimera is both rebel and conformist; his unusual juxtapositions pioneer radical corporeal transgressions but also conform to the mechanisms of global capital. And the shapeshifter explores the thrill and anxiety of an altered phenomenology; she gains new perceptions though unstable subjectivity. These roles reveal corporeal adjustments and unfamiliar subjectivities that inspire the creative practice. Both my writing and making employ an ambivalent aesthetic--an aesthetic approach that evokes two or more incompatible sensibilities. The animal's uncertain status contributes to this aesthetic: some animals enjoy remarkable care and attention, while others are routinely exploited, abused and discarded. Ambivalence acknowledges the complexity of lived experience, philosophical and political debate, and academic inquiry. My approach recognizes the light and dark of these complex ambivalences--it privileges paradox and embraces the confusion and wonder of creative research. Rather than erase, conceal or resolve ambiguity, an ambivalent aesthetic foregrounds the limits of language and representation and highlights contradiction and irresolution.

Thèse (M.Ps.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, programme en extension de l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2006. / La p. de t. porte en outre: Mémoire présenté à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en psychologie offerte à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi en vertu d'un protocole d'entente avec l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. CaQCU Bibliogr.: f. [174]-185. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2009. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Vita. "May 2009" Includes bibliographical references.