The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the application of a dynamic assessment technique of questioning with children, with projection testing. A qualitative research design were used within a postmodern epistomology, using three case studies in the quest for answering the research question. Possible cultural influences pertaining to the research situation, analysis and interpretation of responses has been taken into account. A test-training-test situation has been created during the generation of data, while assessment of projection was executed. Data analises and interpretation took place in two phases, the first phase being the projection analysis and the second phase the structural analysis of the stories. The main conclusions of the study points towards a deepening and broadening of projections as resulting influences of the utilisation of a dynamic assessment technique of questioning with children. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

AFRIKAANS : ‘n Intra-vergelykende verkenning is onderneem van die gebruik van simboliese materiaal in projeksieplate met kinders. Ondersoek is ingestel na die appèlwaarde en stimuluspotensiaal van projeksieplate met simboliese materiaal. ‘n Meervoudige gevallestudie-model met vier deelnemers is gevolg. ‘n Postmoderne, kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp met die sosiaal-konstruktivistiese perspektief as grondslag, het as raamwerk vir hierdie studie gedien. Die response op die projeksieplate met simboliese materiaal is intra-vergelykend geweeg teen die response op die TAT-plate. Die wyse waarop kinders se response beïnvloed is deur die gebruik van simboliese materiaal in projeksieplate, hoe projektief betekenisvol die response was en die duidinge wat volgens die projeksie-, struktuur- en meta-analise na vore gekom het, is verken. Hoofbevindinge dui op geval-unieke response wat deur die projeksieplate met simboliese materiaal ontlok is. Alhoewel hoë appèlwaarde bevind is, het meer assosiasies eerder as projeksies voorgekom. Relevante projeksie-inhoud is egter wel deur die projeksieplate met simboliese materiaal ontlok, alhoewel die projeksie-inhoud minder eksplisiet voorgekom het. ENGLISH : An intra- comparative exploration of the utility of symbolic material in projection plates for assessment purposes with children was undertaken. Investigation was specifically centred on the appeal value and stimulus potential of projection plate content with symbolic material depictions. A Postmodern, qualitative research approach was maintained and the social-constructivist paradigm functioned as a framework for the study. Within this overarching design framework, a multiple case study design was used and four children acted as case participants. The responses of each child participant to the projection plates with symbolic material illustrations were compared with his/her responses to Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) projection plates. In particular, the manner in which the children’s responses were influenced by the use of symbolic material in projection plates, how qualitatively meaningful their responses were and the indicators that came to the fore in the projection, structure and meta analyses were explored. The study’s main findings indicate case-specific responses that were elicited by the projection plates with symbolic material. Although the symbolic material projection plates were found to have heightened appeal value for the participants in this study, more associations rather than actual projections were apparent. Relevant projection content was thus found although it was not so explicit as in the case of the projection content found in the TAT responses. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

This research was aimed at the development, implementation and evaluation of a parenting program for parents with pre-school children, after a divorce, in order to improve the sosio-emotional functioning of the adults, as well as the children. The motivation for this study stemmed from the reality of divorce in many family systems. Intervention research as applied research was utilised. A two-phase research approach was undertaken. A quantitative questionnaire approach as used during phase 1. The following research question was formulated for this phase: What should the content of a parenting program for parents after a divorce with pre-school children be? A needs assessment questionnaire was completed by 20 members of the population and an assessment of child-respondents, was undertaken. This data, complemented the literature study which was undertaken and brought information to the foreground which established the contents of the parenting program. The research question could therefore be answered. A child assessment was undertaken with the children of the parents who would attend the workshop during phase 2, in order to explore the children’s experience of their living environment. The quantitative approach was used in phase 2 as the single system design. The following research hypothesis was formulated for this phase: If parents and their pre-school children attend a parenting program after a divorce, a significant change in their sosio-emotional functioning should realise. Four workshops were implemented, in the following way: Theoretical workshops for the custodial and non-custodial parent respectively and practical workshops for the custodial parent and child and the non-custodial parent and child respectively. A quantitative questionnaire was completed prior to the workshops and thereafter by the 5 family systems involved. This instrument of measurement confirmed the hypotheses. A comparison was done between the literature and the empirical data. Conclusions and recommendations for future research were formulated, as a result of the research study. / Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted