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The emotion structure of the isiNdebele speaking group in the Mpumalanga province / Masombuka, J.S.Masombuka, Johannes Sipho January 2011
Emotions play an important role in the lives of human beings and, without doubt,
emotions form an inherent part of the workplace (Ashkanasy, Zerbe, Charmine & Hartel,
2002). Studying emotions within the South African context is relevant for applied
psychology. South Africa comprises eleven official languages which are representative of
the general population in the working environment. As a result, knowledge and
understanding of emotions is useful since it forms part of social interaction at work. The
understanding of one’s own as well as others’ emotions and the ability to deal with those
emotions contribute to the productivity and cooperation among employees in the working
environment.
The objective of this research was to determine the conceptualization of emotion and
culture according to the literature study, to determine the different and representative
emotion words within the isiNdebele speaking group, to determine the relevant and
representative prototypical emotion words that have been encoded in this group, to
determine the cognitive emotion structure of this group and lastly, to determine the interrater
reliability of the raters and reliability of the measurement instrument as well as the
dimensions of emotion structure in the isiNdebele speaking group in Mpumalanga
province.
A survey design with convenience sample was used to achieve the research objectives in
a series of three independent studies. The study population of the first phase (N=126)
consisted of a convenience sample of the isiNdebele speaking group who have metric and
are working in the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga province.
The study population of the second phase consisted of a convenience sample of Language
Experts with degrees and diplomas (N=51) in isiNdebele language from different
occupations. The study population of the third phase consisted of a convenience sample
of the experts (educators) in isiNdebele speaking group (N=183) from different schools in
the former KwaNdebele homeland in Mpumalanga province.
In this study, free listing, prototypicality and similarity rating questionnaires were
administered by a qualified psychometrist. Statistical methods and procedures
(Multidimensional Scaling and Descriptive Statistics) were used and Cronbach alpha
coefficients were determined to analyse the results of the isiNdebele speaking group.
The results of the free listing task indicated the words with the highest frequency as cry
(lila), happy (thaba), laugh (hleka), angry (kwata), disappointed (swaba), confused
(hlangahlangana), depressed (gandeleleka), pain (ubuhlungu), tired (dinwa), and abused
(hlukumezeka). The results of this phase also indicated the basic emotion concepts of
happiness (thaba) and angry (kwata) as the only emotion terms which mostly came to
mind to the isiNdebele speaking group.
The results of the prototypicality rating task indicated the emotion terms ranked as the ten
(10) most prototypical emotion terms for the isiNdebele speaking group (N=51) were
“ukuthaba khulu” (exhilaration), “itukuthelo/ ukukwata” (anger), “ithabo elikhulu”
(euphoria), “ukuthaba” (cheerfulness), “ithabo” (happiness), “ukudana” (dejection),
“ukutlhuwa/ ukudana”(glumness), “ukuthaba” (joviality), “ukulila/isililo” (cry),
“ithabo” (joy).
A multi– dimensional scaling was conducted to determine the cognitive structure of
emotion concepts whereby a two– dimensional structure (evaluation and power) was
identified to the isiNdebele speaking group.
Recommendations for future research to the organisation as well as recommendations for
future research were suggested. / http://hdl.handle.net/10394/7044 / http://hdl.handle.net/10394/7044 / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
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Flexible Working Arrangement : Exploring leader prototypicality, endorsement, and employee's respect in SMEsSugita, Lena, Zhao, Zixiang January 2017 (has links)
Background: Today ’s organizations receive increasing pressure from society and workers to maintain good work life balance. Flexible working arrangement is one of the HRM policies to improve employee’s work performance, job satisfaction and retention. Prior discussion still does not find the clear result on the positive effect of FWAs. Due to the administrative burdens, many organizations, especially SMEs are still hesitant to introduce such policies. In this study, the authors examine the effects on FWAs on employee’s improved engagement. The study will take a form of replicative study, and focus is on leader endorsement and feeling of respect in relation to leader prototypicality. Moreover, different circumstances of informal FWA based on size of the organization is explored. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to make contribution to create a cumulative knowledge on FWA studies by testing the generalization of a prior study. The result of this study will ultimately have an implication for how organizations may benefit from allowing their employees to have access to FWAs. Methodology:In this study, the authors use statistical approach to test the effect of FWA on employee’s improved feelings and the leader endorsement in relation to leader prototypicality. The research approach, measures, method and model are designed to be exactly same as Koivisto and Rice, (2016) however one change in research context is made, which is number of employees in the company. Conclusion: The result of the study shows that FWA allowance may not have significant influence on subordinates’ feeling of respect and leader endorsement. This implies the difficulty for leaders to use FWA as a tool to influence employee commitment on shared goal. Moreover, difference between prior finding indicates that FWA study may need to be separated for different size of the company. / <p></p><p></p>
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Revealing the emotion lexicon of the Setswana language within the South African Police Service / Christelle FourieFourie, Christelle January 2010 (has links)
Anthropologists claim that people in a variety of human societies differ enormously in how they experience, express and understand emotion (Kalat & Shiota, 2007). Research on emotions, around the world, has become increasingly popular during the past few decades. Emotion is involved in the mainstream of topics in psychology, be it about antecedents, emotional expressions and responses, or about the dimensions underlying the large emotion lexicon (Shaver, Schwartz, Kirson, & O’Connor, 1987).
While the study of emotion is of universal interest, emotions are of special interest for South-Africa. By studying the emotion lexicon of the Setswana culture, an evidence-based intervention program could be implemented by the SAPS, which will be relevant and practical to address emotional needs and support for South African Police members to express their emotions more accurately. This will help to ensure a healthy, productive and motivated police service which is an important contributor to the society (Van der Doef & Maes, 1999). South Africa, a multi-cultural country, with its eleven official languages, makes an exceptional country for studying emotion as presented in different cultures.
The main objective of this study was to investigate emotion and culture in accordance with a literature study, and to identify the different emotion words within the Setswana language group and determine the prototypical emotion words as well as the cognitive structure (different dimensions) of emotion concepts.
A survey design with convenience sampling was used to achieve the research objectives in a series of three phases (studies). The study population for the first (N=154) and third (N=140) phases consisted of entry level police applicants (students) from the South African Police Services. The study population (N=51) of the second phase consisted of Setswana language experts. Free Listing questionnaires, Prototypicality questionnaires and Similarity rating questionnaires were administered. Statistical methods and procedures (Multidimensional Scaling and Descriptive Statistics) were used and Cronbach alpha coefficients were calculated to analyse the results.
Results of the Free Listing task gave a strong indication that basic emotion concepts of joy, sorrow and love readily came to mind in the Setswana group. Most prototypical concepts listed by the Setswana-speaking group were those of: “lela” (cry), “rata” (like), “go tenega” (fed up), “kgalefo” (warning), “lerato” (love), “boitumelo” (joy), “go utlusiswa botloko” (being hurt), “kwata” (anger), “amego maikutlo” (affection), “itumeletse” (elation), “botlhoko” (disappointment) and “itumela” (happiness).
In order to determine the cognitive structure of emotion concepts, a multi-dimensional scaling was performed. A five-factorial solution was created with dimensions of Pleasantness, Yearning, Arousal, and Potency with the last dimension, “Go amega maikutlo”, being unique to the Setswana group.
Suggestions were made concerning future studies on the emotion lexicon. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010
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Revealing the emotion lexicon of the Setswana language within the South African Police Service / Christelle FourieFourie, Christelle January 2010 (has links)
Anthropologists claim that people in a variety of human societies differ enormously in how they experience, express and understand emotion (Kalat & Shiota, 2007). Research on emotions, around the world, has become increasingly popular during the past few decades. Emotion is involved in the mainstream of topics in psychology, be it about antecedents, emotional expressions and responses, or about the dimensions underlying the large emotion lexicon (Shaver, Schwartz, Kirson, & O’Connor, 1987).
While the study of emotion is of universal interest, emotions are of special interest for South-Africa. By studying the emotion lexicon of the Setswana culture, an evidence-based intervention program could be implemented by the SAPS, which will be relevant and practical to address emotional needs and support for South African Police members to express their emotions more accurately. This will help to ensure a healthy, productive and motivated police service which is an important contributor to the society (Van der Doef & Maes, 1999). South Africa, a multi-cultural country, with its eleven official languages, makes an exceptional country for studying emotion as presented in different cultures.
The main objective of this study was to investigate emotion and culture in accordance with a literature study, and to identify the different emotion words within the Setswana language group and determine the prototypical emotion words as well as the cognitive structure (different dimensions) of emotion concepts.
A survey design with convenience sampling was used to achieve the research objectives in a series of three phases (studies). The study population for the first (N=154) and third (N=140) phases consisted of entry level police applicants (students) from the South African Police Services. The study population (N=51) of the second phase consisted of Setswana language experts. Free Listing questionnaires, Prototypicality questionnaires and Similarity rating questionnaires were administered. Statistical methods and procedures (Multidimensional Scaling and Descriptive Statistics) were used and Cronbach alpha coefficients were calculated to analyse the results.
Results of the Free Listing task gave a strong indication that basic emotion concepts of joy, sorrow and love readily came to mind in the Setswana group. Most prototypical concepts listed by the Setswana-speaking group were those of: “lela” (cry), “rata” (like), “go tenega” (fed up), “kgalefo” (warning), “lerato” (love), “boitumelo” (joy), “go utlusiswa botloko” (being hurt), “kwata” (anger), “amego maikutlo” (affection), “itumeletse” (elation), “botlhoko” (disappointment) and “itumela” (happiness).
In order to determine the cognitive structure of emotion concepts, a multi-dimensional scaling was performed. A five-factorial solution was created with dimensions of Pleasantness, Yearning, Arousal, and Potency with the last dimension, “Go amega maikutlo”, being unique to the Setswana group.
Suggestions were made concerning future studies on the emotion lexicon. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010
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Subordinates' approach of leadership effectiveness: the importance of personality traits, social perception characteristics and conditions of the evaluation / Pavaldinių požiūris į vadovavimo efektyvumą: asmenybės bruožų, socialinio suvokimo charakteristikų ir vertinimo sąlygų svarbaStelmokienė, Aurelija 16 October 2012 (has links)
The study analyses the assessment of leadership effectiveness performed by subordinates. In the dissertation, there will be introduced the criteria and how they will be applied during the assessment of leadership effectiveness, who will evaluate and what are those raters that give such a different feedback. The main aim of this research is to disclose what conditions of the evaluation (criteria from different theoretical background, applied research method), raters’ psychological (personality traits) and social perception (social identification, perceived leader prototypicality) factors are and how they are related to differences in the assessment of leadership effectiveness. It is expected that the assessment of leadership effectiveness performed by subordinates is not stable: it depends on conditions of the evaluation and raters’ psychosocial factors.
The empirical part of the dissertation presents the results of cross-sectional quantitative survey (sample of 505 subordinates) with self-administered questionnaire and quasi-experimental scenario. The results show that assessment of leadership effectiveness performed by subordinates differs according to the applied research method, but tendencies of the evaluation based on criteria of behavioural theory and transformational leadership perspective are similar. Further analysis reveals that regardless of conditions of the evaluation, perceived leader prototypicality mostly affects the assessment of leadership effectiveness... [to full text] / Disertacijoje nagrinėjamas pavaldinių požiūris į realaus bei kvazi eksperimento scenarijuje aprašyto vadovo vadovavimo efektyvumą remiantis elgesio ir transformacinio vadovavimo teorijomis. Pristatant pavaldinių atliekamą vadovavimo efektyvumo vertinimą kalbama ne tik apie ką bei kaip bus klausiama vertinant vadovą, bet ir kas bei kokie yra tie vertintojai, pateikiantys skirtingus vertinimo rezultatus. Darbe siekiama išsiaiškinti, kokios vertinimo sąlygos (teoriniai efektyvaus vadovo kriterijai ir tyrimo metodas), vertintojų psichologinės (asmenybės bruožai) bei socialinio suvokimo (socialinė identifikacija su grupe ir vadovo prototipiškumas) charakteristikos ir kaip yra susiję su vadovavimo efektyvumo vertinime atsirandančiais skirtumais. Keliamos prielaidos, jog pavaldiniams vertinant vadovavimo efektyvumą, šio vertinimo rezultatai nėra stabilūs ir priklauso nuo vertinimo sąlygų bei psichosocialinių vertintojų charakteristikų.
Empirinėje darbo dalyje pristatomi įvairiose Lietuvos organizacijose vykdyto tyrimo, kuriame dalyvavo 505 tiriamieji iš 20 skirtingo dydžio padalinių, rezultatai. Apibendrinus tyrimo duomenis nustatyta, kad pavaldiniams vertinant vadovavimo efektyvumą vertinimo rezultatų tendencijos skiriasi tik pagal pritaikytą tyrimo metodą, bet ne pagal pasirinktus teorinius efektyvaus vadovo kriterijus. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, jog nepriklausomai nuo vertinimo sąlygų vadovavimo efektyvumo vertinimo rezultatus labiausiai lemia vadovo prototipiškumas. Vis dėlto... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]
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A transitividade na conversa??o: uma abordagem funcional centrada no usoLima, Lucia Chaves de Oliveira 30 September 2013 (has links)
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Previous issue date: 2013-09-30 / This work investigates the phenomenon of transitivity in the conversation. We examined the behavior of complements in Brazilian Portuguese speech, and then compared the results with previous researches in the English language by Thompson and Hopper (2001) and in the Spanish language by V?zques (2004). In Brazil, there are no researches that treat this phenomenon in the discursive conversation, for that reason it justifies and reveals the importance of this research that aims to answer questions related to the transitivity of ordinary conversations. Thus, we describe, explain and analize the transitivity based on concrete linguistic data, provided by native speakers of Portuguese language, specifically, spontaneous talk of people from Natal-RN. We have used as theoretical assumptions the Functional Linguistics usage-based (LFCU), which gathers academics of North-American Functional Linguistics, inspired by Chafe (1979), Hopper and Thompson (1980), Thompson and Hopper (2001), Giv?n (2001), Bybee (2010), Traugott (2009, 2011), among others, as well as Cognitive Linguistics, presented by Langacker (1987), Taylor (1995), Tomasello (1998) and Goldberg(1995), among others. This data consists in conversations extracted from the corpus Banco Conversacional de Natal (FURTADO DA CUNHA). The results obtained from this work confirm the assertions defined by prior conducted studies on the transitivity in the conversation. The research showed that these three idioms, Spanish, Portuguese and English, despite the differences, they present a uniform behavior regarding their transitivity in the conversation. We intend, by this work, to contribute, in some way, to the comprehension of the focused linguistic phenomenon, likewise to build a finer scenario around of the transitivity in the Brasilian Portuguese / Este trabalho investiga o fen?meno da transitividade na conversa??o. Examinamos como os predicados transitivos se comportam no discurso do portugu?s brasileiro e, em seguida, comparamos os resultados com as pesquisas realizadas na l?ngua inglesa por Thompson e Hopper (2001) e na l?ngua espanhola por V?zques (2004). No Brasil, n?o h? pesquisas que contemplem esse fen?meno na conversa??o, o que justifica e revela a necessidade desta pesquisa, direcionada a elucidar quest?es que envolvem a transitividade em conversas espont?neas do dia a dia. Isso posto, descrevemos, explicamos e analisamos a transitividade com base em dados lingu?sticos concretos, produzidos por falantes da l?ngua portuguesa, especificamente, na fala espont?nea dos natalenses. Utilizamos os pressupostos te?ricos da Lingu?stica funcional Centrada no Uso (LFCU), que re?ne estudiosos da Lingu?stica funcional Norte-americana, inspirada em Chafe (1979), Hopper e Thompson (1980), Thompson e Hopper (2001), Giv?n (2001), Bybee (2010), Traugott (2009, 2011) entre outros, bem como da Lingu?stica Cognitiva, representada por Langacker (1987), Taylor (1995), Tomasello (1998) e Goldberg (1995), entre outros. O material de an?lise ? constitu?do por conversas extra?das do corpus Banco Conversacional de Natal (FURTADO DA CUNHA, 2011). Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho confirmam as asser??es defendidas pelos estudos anteriores sobre a transitividade na conversa??o. A pesquisa mostrou que as tr?s l?nguas, o espanhol, o portugu?s e o ingl?s, embora diferentes, apresentam um comportamento semelhante quanto ? transitividade na conversa??o. Esperamos, atrav?s deste trabalho, ter contribu?do de algum modo para a compreens?o do fen?meno lingu?stico pesquisado, bem como para a constitui??o de um quadro mais refinado acerca do fen?meno da transitividade no portugu?s contempor?neo
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Prototypicality and Ingroup Perceptions: The Role of Identity DenialLeidy Daiana Trujillo (11799005) 07 January 2022 (has links)
<p>Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group within the United States, and the present work studies the existence of intragroup biases within this community due to violations of prototypicality and the existence of colorism. The present work also explores identity denial as a possible mediator of the relationship between target prototypicality and negative social consequences. Specially, when presented with lighter-skin or darker-skin targets, Hispanic/Latinx individuals are more likely to see them as less likable, and less warm when compared to a prototypical target. There was no evidence to support that identity denial mediated this relationship. Additionally, this research extends previous literature on the content of stereotypes faced by individuals of differing skin colors and finds conflicting results using an intragroup sample. Unexpected results suggest prototypicality may trump phenotypic variations within this unique population.</p>
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The phenomenology of same-race prejudiceMakena, Paul Tshwarelo 01 1900 (has links)
This thesis is not structured as a conventional empirical study (theoretical background, method, results, discussion), but instead consists of an iterative series of attempts at making sense of same-race prejudice – hopefully systematically homing in on a richer and more acute understanding of the phenomenon.
The chapters are grouped together in pairs or triplets – each grouping addressing different but related perspectives on the problem. Chapters 1 and 2 are contextual, setting the scene historically and conceptually. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 introduce three different perspectives on using phenomenology as a means of approaching the issue of same-race prejudice. Chapters 6 and 7 are dedicated to looking at the themes of same-race prejudice, a critical interrogation of the themes from the interview discussions, the literature and how same-race prejudice is experienced, played out and sustained. Chapter 8 links back to Chapter 1 by casting another look at sensitivity and responsiveness to same-race prejudice by organisations whose work is supposedly on prejudice eradication. The chapter further links with both Chapters
3 and 4 by calling upon a phenomenological understanding to humanity as what can bring a liveable change to humanity regarding same-race prejudice. Chapter 9 serves as a summary of all the chapters, what each individually and collectively hoped to achieve, and the general findings and statements about same-race prejudice from the chapters’ theoretical discussions, research interviews, and critical interrogation of both the mundane and theoretical understanding. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)
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The Perception of Lexical Similarities Between L2 English and L3 SwedishUtgof, Darja January 2008 (has links)
<p>The present study investigates lexical similarity perceptions by students of Swedish as a foreign language (L3) with a good yet non-native proficiency in English (L2). The general theoretical framework is provided by studies in transfer of learning and its specific instance, transfer in language acquisition.</p><p>It is accepted as true that all previous linguistic knowledge is facilitative in developing proficiency in a new language. However, a frequently reported phenomenon is that students see similarities between two systems in a different way than linguists and theoreticians of education do. As a consequence, the full facilitative potential of transfer remains unused.</p><p>The present research seeks to shed light on the similarity perceptions with the focus on the comprehension of a written text. In order to elucidate students’ views, a form involving similarity judgements and multiple choice questions for formally similar items has been designed, drawing on real language use as provided by corpora. 123 forms have been distributed in 6 groups of international students, 4 of them studying Swedish at Level I and 2 studying at Level II. </p><p>The test items in the form vary in the degree of formal, semantic and functional similarity from very close cognates, to similar words belonging to different word classes, to items exhibiting category membership and/or being in subordinate/superordinate relation to each other, to deceptive cognates. The author proposes expected similarity ratings and compares them to the results obtained. The objective measure of formal similarity is provided by a string matching algorithm, Levenshtein distance.</p><p>The similarity judgements point at the fact that intermediate similarity values can be considered problematic. Similarity ratings between somewhat similar items are usually lower than could be expected. Besides, difference in grammatical meaning lowers similarity values significantly even if lexical meaning nearly coincides. Thus, the obtained results indicate that in order to utilize similarities to facilitate language learning, more attention should be paid to underlying similarities.</p>
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Emotion structure, emotion meaning and emotion episodes of white Afrikaans–speaking working adults / van der Merwe, A.S.Van der Merwe, Aletta Sophia January 2011 (has links)
Emotion research is an important research topic, thus making the measurement of emotion in the
workplace crucial. In attempting to study, understand and measure the role of emotions in the
human condition, various researchers have identified different theoretical models to manage the
information they have gathered and the observations they have made. In order to study or
scientifically investigate any human behaviour, it is essential that such behaviour can be
measured, if not quantitatively, then at least qualitatively.
However, what one finds with regard to emotion research and measurement are two–dimensional
models. The existing affect has been described with a choice of two dimensions and structures,
i.e. circumplex, positive and negative affect, tense and energetic arousal, and eight combinations
of pleasantness and activation. These two dimensions and structures measure a person’s
experiences and, thereafter, report them. The question is if these two–dimensional emotion
models are sufficient to cover the broad and often complex dynamics of emotions.
The start of multiple–emotion dimension models were reported by researchers, who identified a
three–dimensional structure in the emotion domain that is suggestive of the Evaluation–Potency–
Activation (EPA) dimensions in the connotative or affective meaning of words. However, in
recent studies the sufficiency of two–dimension models to comprehensively investigate emotions
was questioned. The three–dimensional emotion model was replicated in cross–cultural similarity sorting studies by other researchers. The similarity sorting studies also indicate the importance of
studying emotions in specific cultural contexts. Studying emotion in different cultures is
especially relevant in a country such as South Africa that has a variety of cultures and eleven
official languages.
Researchers followed an approach that studied the meaning of emotion in different cultural
groups in the context of 144 emotion features using a componential emotion theory approach.
Researchers argue in the groundbreaking research that was published in Psychological Science
that emotion meaning has more than only two dimensions. The approach postulated by
researchers was tested in a student population of three language groups, namely Dutch–, Englishand
French–speaking students. According to researchers this is an empirical and theoretical
method to study the meaning of emotions across cultures. However, apart from studying the
meaning of emotions in specific cultural groups, research also attempts to determine the meaning
of emotion in the natural contexts in which they occur. The relevant natural contexts for the field
of Industrial Psychology are the work contexts. It is therefore also important to investigate the
categories of emotion episodes in the work environment.
The general goal of this study was therefore a) to investigate the emotion lexicon in the white
Afrikaans–speaking working adult language group, b) to determine the cognitive emotion
structure of this cultural group, c) to investigate the meaning of emotion as comprehensively as
possible (multidimensional models of the meaning of emotion), and d) to determine the meaning
and content of emotion episodes in the workplace.
Research Article 1
The research was subsequently presented in two independent phases. Firstly, a free listing of
emotion terms was compiled, and secondly the emotion terms were prototypically rated by
Afrikaans–speaking people in South Africa. Both of these were then used as measuring
instruments. A survey was designed to explore the research objectives utilising availability
samples in two studies. The participants in the free–listing (N=70) and in the prototypicality
(N=70) study consisted of native Afrikaans–speaking employees. The sample consisted of
participants from the white ethnic group speaking Afrikaans within the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North–West and KZN provinces and use was made of an availability
sample.
After conducting the research, the emotion terms with the highest frequency, as identified during
the first study, the free listing task, were to be happy (gelukkig wees), be sad (hartseer wees),
love (liefde), anger (kwaad) and hateful (haatlik). The emotion terms with the lowest scores as
identified during the free listing were uncomfortable (ongemaklik), painful (seer), be hurt
(seergemaak wees), sympathetic (simpatiek) and shout/yell (skreeu). Correspondingly, the five
(5) prototypical terms with the highest scores in Afrikaans were nice (lekker), fed–up/had enough
(gatvol/“genoeg gehad”), loveable (liefdevol), anger (kwaad) and to be scared (om bang te
wees). The five (5) least prototypical terms from the list generated in the free listing task were:
unstable (onvas), bashfulness (skugterheid), captivation (geboeidheid), envy (naywer) and
delight (opgetoënheid).
From the information obtained in this research it was revealed that the emotion terms nice
(lekker), fed up/had enough (gatvol/“genoeg gehad”) and loveable (liefdevol) are at this stage
unique to the white Afrikaans language group. These terms had not been reported in any
previously conducted prototypical studies. The results of this study contribute to a cross–cultural
understanding of the emotion concepts within the Afrikaans–speaking language groups in South
Africa.
Research Article 2
A survey design was used to achieve the research objectives utilising availability samples in a
series of one study. The participants of the Similarity study (N=131) consisted of native
Afrikaans–speaking employees. The sample consisted of participants from the white ethnicity
group speaking Afrikaans within the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North–
West, KZN and Northern Cape provinces and use was made of an availability sample.
Results of Multidimensional Scaling revealed a three–dimensional cognitive emotion structure.
The first dimension was the evaluation–pleasantness dimension. This dimension evaluates the
pleasantness versus the unpleasantness of an emotion. This dimension is characterised by intrinsic appraisals of pleasantness and goal conduciveness and action tendencies of approach
versus avoidance. The second dimension that emerged was a power–control dimension. This
dimension is characterised by appraisals of control, how powerful or weak a person feels when a
particular emotion is experienced. This includes feelings of dominance or submission, the
impulse to act or withdraw and changes in speech and parasymphatic symptoms. The third
dimension which emerged was an activation–arousal dimension. According to other researchers
this arousal dimension is characterised by sympathetic arousal, e.g. rapid heartbeat and readiness
for action.
This study produced a cognitive emotion structure in a white Afrikaans–speaking working adult
population in South Africa. To add value to the field of Industrial Psychology, the threedimension
structure (evaluation–pleasantness, power–control and activation–arousal dimension)
that was found, is very important and valuable when studying the meaning of emotion and can
consequently be used as a reference for other emotion research constructs. If it is accurate as
stated in literature, there are three and not only two emotion dimension structures, and
researchers are missing out on a bigger picture for not drawing on the experience of emotion
sufficiently.
Research Article 3
A survey design and an availability sample (N=120) in the Eastern Cape, Free State and Gauteng
provinces in South Africa was utilised for this study. The Meaning Grid was translated and backtranslated
and adapted for use in Afrikaans.
The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were obtained for the emotion terms. According to the results
of the Meaning Grid instrument, the following emotion terms were the highest: disgust (afkeur)
0,95; pleasure (plesier) 0,94; stress (stres) 0,92; happiness (blydskap) 0,91; joy (vreugde) 0,91;
fear (bang) 0,91; anger (angstig) 0,91 and hate (haat) 0,90. The emotion terms that scored the
lowest with the Meaning Grid instrument were compassion (medelye) 0,79; pride (trots) 0,79
and contempt (minagting) 0,74. Out of the 24 emotion terms of the Meaning Grid instrument, 8
terms were above 0,90 and 13 were between 0,80 and 0,89. Only 3 terms were between 0,74 and
0,79 [compassion (medelye), pride (trots) and contempt (minagting)]. A three–factor solution was found which represented four emotion dimensions (evaluation,
arousal/unpredictability and power) that were universal to the emotion structures found in
European samples. Factor scores of the 24 Meaning Grid emotions indicate a three–factor
solution that explained 62,2 % of the total variance. The first factor was labelled evaluation and
explained 43,0% of the variance, the second factor was labelled arousal/unpredictability as it
was a combination of arousal and unpredictability and explained 11,0% of the variance, and the
third factor was labelled power and explained 8,2% of the variance.
This study followed an approach that investigated the meaning structure of emotion in the
sample group in the context of 144 emotion features using a componential emotion theory
approach. Different researchers argued that emotion meaning has more than only two
dimensions. A three–dimensional emotion structure was found that was universal to the emotion
structures of three language groups in a European sample. Therefore, the meaning of emotions
for this sample group is far more complex than the two–dimensional emotion models that are
found in literature. According to the componential emotion theory approach, the 144 emotion
features are very important building blocks for Industrial Psychology when studying the meaning
of emotion.
Research Article 4
A survey design was used in this research study. The Episode Meaning Grid was administered
and participants reported on the two intense emotion experiences at work (in total 358 episodes).
Employees rated their emotion experiences on features based on the componential emotion
theory and also described the emotion events in their own words. The participants in the emotion
episodes (N=179) study consisted of native white Afrikaans–speaking working adults. The
sample consisted of participants from the white ethnicity group speaking Afrikaans within the
Eastern Cape, Free State and North–West provinces and use was made of an availability sample.
The results indicated a three–dimensional structure (evaluation–pleasantness, activation–arousal
and power–control dimension) was identified within a white Afrikaans–speaking working adult
language group. The first dimension was an evaluation–pleasantness dimension. The second dimension was an activation–arousal dimension. The third dimension was a power–control
dimension.
Regarding the reporting of emotion episodes one hundred and ninety seven respondents reported
84 satisfying emotion episodes and 267 less satisfying emotion episodes that took place at work.
Nine different categories of episodes for satisfying emotions experienced were mentioned. It
consists of behaviour of work colleagues, acts of boss/superior/management, goal achievement,
receiving recognition, workplace policy, task recognition, personal incidents, emotion
involvement and subordinate behaviour. The three highest categories of satisfying emotions
episodes were “Goal Achievement” (N=31), “Receiving Recognition” (N=20) and “Personal
Incidents” (N=10). Goal achievement describes situations where job related targets or goals were
met, and receiving recognition refers to positive feedback from managers, supervisors and work
colleagues on meeting targets.
Nineteen different categories of episodes for less satisfying emotion episodes were mentioned. It
consists of behaviour of work colleagues, acts of boss/superior/management, lack of goal
achievement, lack of receiving recognition, workplace policy, task requirement, personal
incidents, emotional involvement, subordinate behaviour, workload, work mistakes, customer
behaviour, external environment, lack of control, physical well–being, involvement in
disciplinary action, workplace strikes, wellness of colleagues and unfairness in the workplace. In
the categories of less satisfying emotions episodes, the three highest were “Behaviour of Work
Colleagues” (N=58), “Acts of Boss/Superior/Management” (N=47) and “Task Requirement”
(N=33). The first two categories are appraised less satisfying behaviour towards oneself or others
by work colleagues, managers, supervisors and customers. In terms of the categories of
satisfying and less satisfying emotions episodes, less satisfying emotion episodes outnumbered
satisfying emotions episodes by three to one.
By making use of a multi–componential emotion model, the results confirm that the four factors
of pleasantness, power, arousal, and unpredictability, in that order of importance, are essential to
satisfactorily determine the emotion experience and meaning of emotion terms. A threedimensional
emotion structure (evaluation, arousal and power) was found after determining the
meaning of emotion in the natural contexts in which they occur. The answer to the question if
these two–dimensional emotion models, as stated in literature, are sufficient to cover the broad
and often complex dynamics of emotion, is certainly no.
Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
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