The aim of this work is to gather relevant information about interpersonal relationships in the teaching staff of selected secondary schools and to show how they are perceived, understood, experienced and reflected by their participants. The result of this work is to propose principles and recommendations leading to the optimization of relationships between teachers. This work, in the terms of qualitative research, used the design of case study. Research techniques are semistructured interview and participant observation. Through them, information was gathered on relationships between teachers, teachers and school management and teachers and other people, with whom they come into contact within the scope of their profession. These relationships were then qualitatively analyzed based on open coding, categorization, typology, contrasting, generalization and validation of communication. The result of the investigation was that six schools out of four have the interpersonal relationships on a good level, educators are happy at work and their good mood and feelings are transmitted to the whole school climate. That creates the conditions for excitable work with good results both in the work of teachers as well as pupils. On one school the relationships between teachers and school management and the...

The research aimed to pro-activeiy embark in an internal transformation process, in order to improve efficiency of the Social Work Department of Gauteng Medical Command of the South African Military Health Service. Participatory action research as a qualitative research design was- used. The intervention identification process was implemented as a problem-solving technique to direct the process of transformation-change. The research was conducted by a research group often social workers from the South African National Defence Force. The results of the research were the implementation of interventions on identified systems, namely the service delivery system and the performance management system of the Social Work Department of Gauteng Medical Command. The use of particpatorv action research as a process to address problems in an organisation was confirmed. The contribution of the participatory action process to process outcomes, such as empowerment and learning, was also indicated in the findings. / Social Work / MA(SS) (Mental Health)

The purpose for this research journey was twofold: (1) to discover the power of certain discourses in the charismatic church context and (2) to challenge disrespectful discursive practices in order to co-operate respectful, ethical and caring ways of being. Seven leaders in charismatic churches committed themselves to this qualitative research project. The research process resulted in a confirmation by the participants that some charismatic discursive practices can be abusive and also to the acknowledgement that they too have at times fulfilled the role of abuser, even in unknowingly. This research journey ended in Hope. Hope for more transparency and trust between leaders and members, resulting in more respectful practices. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

As participants, we agreed that women's silenced voices need to be heard, more specific to this participatory action research, the voices of women with new babies. Through wellness pastoral care, we co-laboured in finding ways of standing up to prescribed religious and cultural ideas regarding womaness and motherhood. Pastoral care in partnership with feminist theology and mutuality in community opened a safe place to renegotiate our own preferred ways of seeing our bodies, selves, sexuality, and womaness. The pastoral care, counselling, and mutuality experienced as a research group became the prevalent characteristic of our wellness that we wished to extend beyond the group and into families, churches, community cohorts, and the planet. This research is one platform on which the participating women shared hurts, found a place to be heard, and having come to know our Self more deeply, offer this Self as a gift to the reader. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.

We conducted the study to explore and define the role of the social worker in Primary Health Care. The medical care model on its own is viewed as inappropriate for developing countries. We see Primary Health Care as holding the key to improving the health status of the many disadvantaged communities in South Africa. The Primary Health Care approach demands those health care providers, including social workers work collaboratively to provide the best possible services to the communities. Social Work is a profession concerned with the disadvantaged. However, social workers are assigned a very limited role in Primary Health Care. Since participants are concerned about subjective and experiential realities, participatory research was the appropriate research method. The major findings and conclusions were that, social workers have a role in Primary Health Care. They have to be assertive and tell others what is it that they do to find a place in Primary Health Care / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Social Work / D.Phil. (Social Work)

The theme of the thesis is the Possibilities of using ICT at the first level of elementary school, but also the definition of negatives and limitations in teaching at elementary school. The thesis is divided into two parts, namely the theoretical part and the practical part of the work. I focus mainly on the use of ICT and on the prerequisites for introducing ICT into elementary schools and subsequently on the individual ICT tools in elementary schools and the possibilities of their use. The use of ICT is understood as a tool for developing pupils' general and cross-curricular competence and for developing communication and critical thinking at the first level of elementary school. Innovative teaching methods based on active and empirical learning and expanded by information and communication technologies can increase the engagement of pupils and improve their results, as shown by the questionnaire survey and the chapters of the theoretical part of the thesis. The methodology of the thesis is based on the analytical and comparative method in the theoretical part of the thesis and on the method of quantitative research in the form of a questionnaire survey in the practical - empirical part of the thesis. The theoretical part is based on a set of literature, which is presented at the end of the...

<p>The master’s project consists of two parts: the journalistic part Project Awaiting (texts) including four journalistic genres and the subsequent Research Report Project Awaiting. These are 23 pages and 32 pages respectively.</p>

Communication seems to play a pivotal role in any high school classroom. But it was found those classes or certain individual students shy away from engaging in effective communication during natural science lessons in Swaziland. One of the directives in the Swaziland National Education Policy states that syllabuses for studies in Form 4 and 5 should enable learners to develop essential skills which include communication and language skills. This study then, on realising that there was a gap between what was stated in the Education Policy and what was actually the case in the natural science classrooms, sought for a solution that would encourage effective communication in natural sciences. Therefore, the main purpose of the study was to encourage active participation of high school students in natural science lessons. The main research question posed for this purpose was: Can student motivation enhance classroom discourse for the negotiation of science understanding? Five sub-questions emanated from the main research question: (a) How does classroom discourse relate to natural science understanding? (b) What effect does external motivation have on discourse during natural science lessons? (c) What is the effect of feedback during natural science learning? (d) How can feedback be enhanced in the natural science class? (e) Which teaching strategies improve interactions during natural science learning? The study is organised into five chapters. The first chapter summarises the whole study by giving the problem statement, research aim and objectives, definition of terms, as well as chapter divisions. Chapter two provides the background to the study through the discussion of education theories based on classroom discourse and motivation. The third chapter presents detailed information about the research design, methods of data collection and analysis, as well as a proposed method for motivating students. The fourth chapter presents the research results, analysis and discussion. The fifth and the final chapter presents research findings, concluding remarks drawn from the research findings, as well as recommendations for similar future research. The case study style uses a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory approach. The study concentrated on theories explaining learning and motivation. The sample comprised six purposefully selected students and their two physical science teachers. Data were collected using the standardised open-ended interview and non-participant lesson observation methods, and from documents. The data were collected in two phases, the pre-motivation phase and the motivation phase. The collected data was further categorised into two segments, with each segment being a unit of analysis. One of the segments was composed of oral interchanges, while the other was composed of students’ written work. The data was then transcribed, coded, analysed and discussed using the thematic discourse analysis approach. The principles of triangulation, reliability and validity ensured the credibility of the study remained intact. Research ethics were also observed by the researcher and there was trust, respect and autonomy during data collection. The ethics observed included informed consent, confidentiality, beneficence, anonymity and non-malificence. Permission to collect data was sought and obtained from all concerned. The motivation method helped the physics group improve more (55%) than the chemistry group (7%) in tests. In the overall performance the two groups improved more or less the same: the chemistry group improved by 4% while the physics group improved by 5%. There were three main findings for the study and they revolved around the purpose and the research question. The first major finding was that the motivation method used with the students instilled self-discipline in the students, resulting in self-regulated behaviour and better understanding of science concepts. The finding suggested that motivated students are self-disciplined and take ownership of their learning. The second major finding was that during the motivation phase of data collection interactions improved between the students and their science teachers. These interactions were in the form of classroom talk, submission of school work and feedback. It was inferred that motivated students communicate more effectively and with better understanding of the concepts taught. The third major revelation was that the students were motivated by learner-centred teaching strategies and the use of teaching aids in a science laboratory. A main finding for the first sub-question was that the more students interacted with each other, with their natural science teachers, and with their books the more they appreciated and understood science concepts. For the second sub-question the main finding was, the motivation method used with the students improved discourse during natural science lessons. The marks the students were awarded gave them the energy to engage more in science activities and to behave well. The main finding for the third sub-question was that prompt feedback and positive comments motivated students to engage more in science discourse and to understand science concepts better. An important finding from the fourth sub-question was that prompt and positive feedback enhanced feedback, as well as giving students tasks that were not too far above their abilities, enhanced feedback in the natural science class. For the fifth sub-question it was found that student-centred teaching methods as well as teaching aids and learning in science laboratories improved interactions during natural science learning. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Through ethnography influenced by public health and anthropological theory, I explored the cultural perceptions of autism among eight caregivers whose children received services from a local Dallas-Fort Worth autism treatment organization. Participant observations and semi-structured interviews with caregivers and program employees provided a rich and nuanced view into the state of care currently available in the DFW area while also highlighting areas for improvement. This research will be used to not only identify the barriers faced by North Texas Families while seeking out care,but also the strategies the organization uses when connecting with families from different backgrounds.