This research paper describes what role interpersonal communication plays in coping with and accepting job loss. The study is framed by theories of stress, appraisal, coping, and the theory of Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO), where aspects of control, inclusion, and affection are achieved through interpersonal communication. Using a combination of surveys and in-depth interviews, two groups of copers were determined: healthy and unhealthy. Then, messages were themed and communication strategies were extracted, to establish what helps a person to thrive or not thrive through a layoff experience. A majority of healthy coping subjects showed solid social support and/or interpersonal communication elements of FIRO-B. Within those categories of FIRO-B, this study shows laid off workers – with purposeful interpersonal communication containing characteristics of affirmation, belonging & acceptance, encouragement, problem solving, trust, elevation, and reverence – are able to focus on opportunities which facilitate their ability to cope effectively with a layoff. Keywords: job loss, layoff, unemployment, stress, appraisal, acceptance, coping, thriving, support, interpersonal communication, self-efficacy, Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO)

Psychometric testing is becoming more influential in the recruitment and development of individuals within the corporate environment globally, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA and over 75% of the Times Top 100 companies in the UK using psychometric testing, the same trend is emerging in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s preferred behavioural approach on various behavioural dimensions and the manner in which they complete a psychometric measure, more specifically, a learning potential measure within the corporate environment, as an individual’s preferred behavioural approach may act as a biasing factor with regard to the result that they obtain. A causal research design was utilised and two psychometric measures used to respectively determine an individual’s preferred behavioural style and learning potential. The sample consisted of 398 economically active adult candidates in either a development or recruitment assessment centre. Both the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) and Test for Selection and Training (TST) were administered on these 398 individuals. Statistical analysis was carried out on the test results with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The reliability and validity of the measuring instruments was also ascertained and found acceptable. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, significant differences, t-test statistics and p-values were used to analyse the data. These statistical methods were used to indicate if a relationship exists. The results indicate that various behavioural dimensions, (Dominance, Influence and Steadiness) amongst individuals within the South African Corporate environment do have an impact on how they complete a learning potential measure, when consideration is given to the speed and accuracy with which they complete such a measure. Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Psychology)

Psychometric testing is becoming more influential in the recruitment and development of individuals within the corporate environment globally, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA and over 75% of the Times Top 100 companies in the UK using psychometric testing, the same trend is emerging in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s preferred behavioural approach on various behavioural dimensions and the manner in which they complete a psychometric measure, more specifically, a learning potential measure within the corporate environment, as an individual’s preferred behavioural approach may act as a biasing factor with regard to the result that they obtain. A causal research design was utilised and two psychometric measures used to respectively determine an individual’s preferred behavioural style and learning potential. The sample consisted of 398 economically active adult candidates in either a development or recruitment assessment centre. Both the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) and Test for Selection and Training (TST) were administered on these 398 individuals. Statistical analysis was carried out on the test results with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The reliability and validity of the measuring instruments was also ascertained and found acceptable. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, significant differences, t-test statistics and p-values were used to analyse the data. These statistical methods were used to indicate if a relationship exists. The results indicate that various behavioural dimensions, (Dominance, Influence and Steadiness) amongst individuals within the South African Corporate environment do have an impact on how they complete a learning potential measure, when consideration is given to the speed and accuracy with which they complete such a measure. Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Psychology)

Bakgrund: Den traditionella stereotypen av revisorsyrket, som beskrivs som grå och tråkig, kan tänkas påverka studenters syn på revisionsbranschen. Personligheten anses betydande för valet av utbildning och individer med vissa egenskaper tenderar att välja en inriktning inom redovisning/revision. Brist på forskning gällande hur utmärkande dessa personlighetsdrag är och huruvida de matchar revisionsbyråernas efterfrågade egenskaper, har motiverat studien. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utforska sambandet mellan personlighetstyp och val av inriktning för universitetsstudier inom företagsekonomi, samt huruvida personlighetstypen för studenter inom redovisning/revision matchar den som revisionsbyråerna efterfrågar. Metod: Den kvantitativa studien grundas i ett positivistiskt synsätt och en deduktiv ansats. En förstudie i två delar undersöker egenskaper porträtterade i jobbannonser samt karaktärsdrag värderade av arbetande revisorer. Huvudstudien består av ett personlighetstest baserat på MBTI där personlighetstyper för studenter inom företagsekonomi studeras. Slutsats: Studien visar att det finns ett samband mellan studenter inom redovisning/revision och preferens för funktionen Sinnesförnimmelse (S) inom MBTI. Den mest förekommande personlighetstypen för studenter är ESTJ, vilket indikerar att de besitter egenskaper såsom utåtriktad, praktisk, analytisk och strukturerad. Karaktärsdragen stämmer till stor del överens med vilka egenskaper som anses högst värderade av revisorer. Däremot motsätter de sig den traditionella stereotypen, vilket antyder att den förutfattade bilden av revisorsyrket bör ifrågasättas. Vidare visar studien skillnader mellan efterfrågade egenskaper i jobbannonser och vad revisorer själva anser vara väsentligt inom yrket. En slutsats dras således att det fortfarande förekommer en missvisande bild av revisorsprofessionen, som kan komma att skapa problematik i branschen.

En los últimos años, conseguir prácticas preprofesionales se ha vuelto más complejo, esto se debe a que las empresas no solo buscan postulantes que cumplan con los requisitos solicitados en sus ofertas laborales, sino que también cuenten con elementos diferenciales como es el caso de las habilidades blandas, dominio de softwares, entre otros. Es por ello que, en el presente trabajo se ha desarrollado una idea de negocio innovadora y escalable llamada PRACTI-K, la cual consiste en una plataforma web enfocada en estudiantes que están buscando prácticas preprofesionales, en donde las empresas son las que dan el primer paso en cuando al contacto con el postulante ideal según sus requerimientos. El proyecto posee una variedad de funciones que lo diferencian de sus competidores, esto debido a que cuenta con un test de personalidad y de habilidad técnicas donde se filtra a los postulantes según sus resultados. Además, se brindarán cursos personalizados como, por ejemplo, herramientas de software, liderazgo, entre otros. Al momento de iniciar el proyecto, se requerirá de una inversión total de S/. 75,129, por lo que se necesitará financiar el 10% de ese monto de manera externa. Asimismo, el monto invertido se recuperará finalizando el séptimo mes de operación. La rentabilidad del proyecto se evidencia en función de los resultados obtenidos en el VAN y la TIR esperada. Dichos montos serán de S/. 59,253.4 y 31% respectivamente. Esto representa un modelo de negocio atractivo y se ajusta a las necesidades de nuestro público objetivo. / Nowadays, getting pre-professional internships has become more complex because of the fact that companies not only look for applicants who meet the requirements requested in their job offers, but they also look for students with differential abilities such as knowledge about software on demand, soft skills, among others. Therefore, the following project proposes an innovative and scalable business idea called PRACTI-K, which consists of a web platform focused on students who are looking for pre-professional internships, where companies are the ones that give the first step when it comes to contacting the ideal applicant according to their requirements. The project has a variety of functions that differentiate it from its competitors, due to the fact that it has a personality and technical skill test where applicants are filtered according to their results. Furthermore, personalized courses will be provided, such as software tools, leadership and so on. In order to carry out the project, a total investment of S /. 75,129 is required and it will be necessary to finance 10% of that amount externally. In addition, the invested amount will be recovered at the end of the seventh month of operation. The profitability of the project it’s demonstrated by the results obtained in the NPV and the expected IRR. These amounts will be S /. 59,253.4 and 31% respectively. This proves that Practi-k is an attractive business model that is tailored to the needs of our target audience. / Trabajo de investigación

本研究旨在了解國民中學導師專業教育背景、管教態度對學生生活適應之影響。因此 ，所探討的問題計有：（一）導師性別對學生生活適應是否有影響？（二）導師專業 教育背景對學生生活適應是否有影響？（三）導師管教態度對學生生活適應是否有影 響？（四）導師性別與專業教育背景對學生生活適應是否有交互作用影響？（五）導 師性別與管教態度對學生生活適應是否有交互作用影響？（六）導師專業教育背景與 管教態度對學生生活適應是否有交互作用影響？ 本研究採用問卷調查法 研究對象取自台北市九所國民中學四十八個班級，學生二、 ○九四人（男生一、○四四人，女生一、○五○人）。研究工具為自編「導師管教態 度問卷」及路君約教授修訂之「少年人格測驗」。統計方法採用項目分析，t 考驗及 變異數分析等方法。 全文共一冊，約八萬字，分為六章二十五節，第一章緒論，說明研究動機與目的，研 究問題與假設，及重要名詞詮釋；第二章文獻探討，分別探討生活適應的意義、歷程 及衡量，教師性別對學生生活適應的影響，教師專業教育背景對學生生活適應的影響 ，及教師管教態度對學生生活適應的影響；第三章研究方法，說明研究對象、研究工 具、調查步驟、及資料處理；第四章研究結果；第五章結果討論；第六章結論與建議 ，根據結論提出建議供師資訓練機構、學校教師及未來研究者之參考。