This investigation has been undertaken to determine the extent to which personality guidance receives the necessary attention in secondary schools in the Transvaal. For this investigation the survey was conducted amongst Heads of Department for Educational Guidance in all Afrikaans-medium and double-medium secondary schools in the Transvaal. The theoretical background for the investigation was obtained by studying authoritative literature on the developmental possibilities of the secondary school pupil and the implications thereof for personality guidance. The physical, social, cognitive and emotional developmental possibilities of the adolescent were described as well as possible inherent problems. The task of the school, home and peer group with regard to the pupil's sound personality development was considered. The emphasis, however, was placed on the task of the school and in particular the role of the subject teacher. In the empirical investigation the questionnaire method was used. The SAS-computer programme was applied to determine the average of the responses for each question. From the results of the investigation it appears that 30,5% of the Heads of Department for Educational Guidance believe that personality guidance is thoroughly carried out while 45% are of the opinion that it receives only moderate attention. A further 20,4% describe the guidance provided as unsatisfactory and 4,1% of the Heads of Department indicated that at their schools nothing is being done regarding personality guidance. Even though 75,5% of the respondents reacted positively, it would appear that in practise personality guidance receives only casual attention. It is not specifically pursued and therefore It does not have a lasting effect on the pupils. Ideally the guidance programme should provide for comprehensive and thorough formative personality guidance to pupils. The results of the investigation suggest that there is definite room for Improvement. For the personality programme to be really effective, it is necessary that pupils should be maximally exposed to the contents of the programme while comprehensive involvement of a committed staff is essential. Regular follow-up is necessary to monitor progress and, if necessary, to effect adjustments. / Proefskrif (DEd)--PU vir CHO, 1989

This investigation has been undertaken to determine the extent to which personality guidance receives the necessary attention in secondary schools in the Transvaal. For this investigation the survey was conducted amongst Heads of Department for Educational Guidance in all Afrikaans-medium and double-medium secondary schools in the Transvaal. The theoretical background for the investigation was obtained by studying authoritative literature on the developmental possibilities of the secondary school pupil and the implications thereof for personality guidance. The physical, social, cognitive and emotional developmental possibilities of the adolescent were described as well as possible inherent problems. The task of the school, home and peer group with regard to the pupil's sound personality development was considered. The emphasis, however, was placed on the task of the school and in particular the role of the subject teacher. In the empirical investigation the questionnaire method was used. The SAS-computer programme was applied to determine the average of the responses for each question. From the results of the investigation it appears that 30,5% of the Heads of Department for Educational Guidance believe that personality guidance is thoroughly carried out while 45% are of the opinion that it receives only moderate attention. A further 20,4% describe the guidance provided as unsatisfactory and 4,1% of the Heads of Department indicated that at their schools nothing is being done regarding personality guidance. Even though 75,5% of the respondents reacted positively, it would appear that in practise personality guidance receives only casual attention. It is not specifically pursued and therefore It does not have a lasting effect on the pupils. Ideally the guidance programme should provide for comprehensive and thorough formative personality guidance to pupils. The results of the investigation suggest that there is definite room for Improvement. For the personality programme to be really effective, it is necessary that pupils should be maximally exposed to the contents of the programme while comprehensive involvement of a committed staff is essential. Regular follow-up is necessary to monitor progress and, if necessary, to effect adjustments. / Proefskrif (DEd)--PU vir CHO, 1989

In this investigation the emphasis has been placed on aggression and its effect on the academic performance of the child. A questionnaire was sent to 649 Afrikaans-speaking standard 8 pupils. The questions of the questionnaire were compiled in such a way so as to determine whether the child is aggressive or not. Only 137 pupils of the 649 were chosen for the experimental group by means of a proportional test sample. Besides the questionnaire that were completed by the pupils, the I.Q. and academic achievement of each participant were taken into consideration. concerned. This information was obtained from the schools Information on aggression was obtained from a wide range of references. Particular attention was given to the concept, origin and forms of aggression. From the literary studies it appears that, although aggression can be positive, it is principally negative and reprehensible. Attention was also given to under-achievement in general and in specific to problems in mathematics and reading. The latter two problems are the most general learning problems among pupils. The etiology and symptomatology of the mentioned problems are discussed in detail in chapter 4. In chapter 5 the method and programme of research are discussed in detail. In particular the experimental group, the questionnaire, intelligence test and academic achievement have been stressed. The treatment of the information is discussed in chapter 7. The five differing forms of aggression are brought into relation with the I.Q. and academic achievement of the participants in the experimental group and certain deductions were made. Although there are no statistical differences worthy of mentioning between the aggressive and non-aggressive participants in the experimental group with regard to academic achievement, it does appear that the average percentage of the non-aggressive pupils is higher than that of the aggressive pupils. With regard to verbal aggression, it was found that the average percentage of the nonaggressive pupils is 1% lower than that of the aggressive pupils. The I.Q. of the non-aggressive pupils is also lower than that of the aggressive pupils. (compare par. 6.3.5.) Only with covert aggression was there found to be a significant difference between the aggressive and non-aggressive pupils with regard to academic achievement. On the academic level the nonaggressive pupils performed better than the aggressive pupils. (compare par. 6.3.3). Although the results of the non-aggressive experimental group participants were slightly higher than that of the aggressive participants, it was found that there was no significant statistical differences between the two groups. The conclusion can thus not simply be made that aggression has a fundamental influence on the academic ability and that aggression is not the final and dominant factor which causes a child to underachieve or experience learning problems. In the final chapter of this investigation several principles are proposed and conclusions and recommendations are made. A resume of the preceding 6 chapters is also given. / Thesis (MEd)--PU vir CHO, 1985

In this investigation the emphasis has been placed on aggression and its effect on the academic performance of the child. A questionnaire was sent to 649 Afrikaans-speaking standard 8 pupils. The questions of the questionnaire were compiled in such a way so as to determine whether the child is aggressive or not. Only 137 pupils of the 649 were chosen for the experimental group by means of a proportional test sample. Besides the questionnaire that were completed by the pupils, the I.Q. and academic achievement of each participant were taken into consideration. concerned. This information was obtained from the schools Information on aggression was obtained from a wide range of references. Particular attention was given to the concept, origin and forms of aggression. From the literary studies it appears that, although aggression can be positive, it is principally negative and reprehensible. Attention was also given to under-achievement in general and in specific to problems in mathematics and reading. The latter two problems are the most general learning problems among pupils. The etiology and symptomatology of the mentioned problems are discussed in detail in chapter 4. In chapter 5 the method and programme of research are discussed in detail. In particular the experimental group, the questionnaire, intelligence test and academic achievement have been stressed. The treatment of the information is discussed in chapter 7. The five differing forms of aggression are brought into relation with the I.Q. and academic achievement of the participants in the experimental group and certain deductions were made. Although there are no statistical differences worthy of mentioning between the aggressive and non-aggressive participants in the experimental group with regard to academic achievement, it does appear that the average percentage of the non-aggressive pupils is higher than that of the aggressive pupils. With regard to verbal aggression, it was found that the average percentage of the nonaggressive pupils is 1% lower than that of the aggressive pupils. The I.Q. of the non-aggressive pupils is also lower than that of the aggressive pupils. (compare par. 6.3.5.) Only with covert aggression was there found to be a significant difference between the aggressive and non-aggressive pupils with regard to academic achievement. On the academic level the nonaggressive pupils performed better than the aggressive pupils. (compare par. 6.3.3). Although the results of the non-aggressive experimental group participants were slightly higher than that of the aggressive participants, it was found that there was no significant statistical differences between the two groups. The conclusion can thus not simply be made that aggression has a fundamental influence on the academic ability and that aggression is not the final and dominant factor which causes a child to underachieve or experience learning problems. In the final chapter of this investigation several principles are proposed and conclusions and recommendations are made. A resume of the preceding 6 chapters is also given. / Thesis (MEd)--PU vir CHO, 1985

Proefskrif--PU vir CHO

MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY: In a young growing country such as the Republic of south Africa there is a growing need for higher productivity. The gifted person does not always perform according to his abilities, because he is not identified at an early age and is therefore not completely understood. Previously, gifted persons were only identified by their mental abilities, whereas it is known that there are more factors involved, such as personality, interests, study methods and attitudes. etc. Psychological aspects that play an important role in the better understanding of the gifted person are the following :- - academic performance, - influence of the gifted person on the family, - the influence of inheritance and environment on giftedness, - education of the gifted, - sex differences with the gifted. AIM OF THE RESEARCH: The general aim of this study was to compare the gifted and average groups of students according to their abilities, scholastic achievement, interests, personalities and study-orientation. This was done through the following specific aims to determine if:- i) the gifted and average groups (both sexes included) differed in their profiles of the cognitive variables (SAT and standard ten results). ii) the mean profiles of the gifted and average groups (both sexes included) comparing non-cognitive variables (19FII, PHSF, SSHA), differed. iii) the mean profiles of the gifted male and average male groups comparing the cognitive variables differed. iv) the mean profiles of the gifted male and average male groups comparing the non-cognitive variables proved to be significantly different. v) the mean profiles of the gifted female and average female groups comparing cognitive variables were significantly different. vi) the mean profiles of the gifted female and average female groups comparing non-cognitive variables were different. The second aim of this study was to determine by t-tests whether there is a statistically meaningful difference between the different groups on the various fields or components of the psychometric instruments. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION: In the first place, a study of the relevant literature was undertaken, concerning the concepts of average, gifted, interest, aptitude, personality and study methods and attitudes. The psychometric instruments used in this research are discussed thoroughly according to their development, contents, reliability and validity. The sample used in this research consisted of one hundred and forty average students (seventy male and seventy female) and seventy gifted students (thirty five male and thirty five female) which were selected after the 1984 mass testing of first year students of the PU for CHE. Statistical operations were done for these groups with the aid of a computer. This work included the drawing-up of mean profiles on each variable (cognitive and non-cognitive) for each group (i.e. the gifted and average groups, the gifted and average male groups; and the gifted and average female groups) as well as the statistical comparison of these profiles with each other. In the second place t-tests were completed to detect differences between these groups on different fields of interest, personality, abilities, etc. CONCLUSIONS With regard to the first aim of this study, the following can be concluded: i) The gifted and average groups' mean cognitive profiles (both sexes included) were not parallel. ii) The gifted and average groups' mean non-cognitive profiles were not parallel. iii) The gifted and average male groups' mean cognitive profiles were not parallel. iv) The gifted and average male groups' mean non-cognitive profiles were parallel. v) The gifted and average female groups' mean cognitive profile were not parallel. vi) The gifted and average female groups' mean non-cognitive profile were not parallel. With regard to the t-tests, the following can be concluded:- The gifted group (both sexes included) showed statistically better performance on the following fields or components compared to the average group. a) Subjects: Afrikaans (1st language), English (2nd language), German higher grade, Latin higher grade, Mathematics higher grade, Science higher grade, Biology higher grade, History higher grade, Geography higher grade & standard grade, Accountancy higher grade & standard grade, Domestic Science higher grade and standard grade, Wood & Metal work standard grade, Technical Drawings higher grade and Typing standard grade. b) Interests (19FII):- Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Creative Thought and Numerical. c) Personality: (PHSF):- Desirability scale. d) Study Methods and attitudes (SSHA) - The average students (both sexes included) showed a statistically higher performance on clerical interest and sociability (Groups). The gifted male group performed statistically better on the following fields:- a) Subjects:- Afrikaans (1st language), English (2nd language), Latin higher grade, Mathematics higher grade, Science higher & standard grade, Accountancy higher grade, Technical Drawings higher grade and Wood & Metal work standard grade. b) Interests:- Creative thought. c) Personality:- Desirability Scale. - The average male students performed higher on the following:- a) Interests:- Clerical b) Personality:- Sociability (G) The gifted female group showed the following statistically higher performances:- a) Subjects:- Afrikaans (1st language), English (2nd language), German higher grade, Mathematics higher grade, Science higher grade, History higher grade, Geography higher grade. Accountancy higher and standard grade. Biology higher grade, Domestic Science standard grade and Typing standard grade. b) Interests:- Fine arts, Creative Thought, Practical - Male, and Numerical. c) Personality:- None. It was also found that the gifted group as a whole, as well as the gifted female group, tend to be more actively inclined towards interests. RECOMMENDATIONS The results of this study show that the gifted student does differ in many ways from the average student. There is thus a need for early identification of the gifted person so that he could be understood and so that there could be catered for this student at school level. The following recommendations can be made in connection with future research studies:- a) More meaningful findings may be gathered on the personality of the average student by including a second personality questionnaire such as the Jung Personality Questionnaire. The results of this questionnaire could lead to better understanding of the PHSF results of this study. b) More instruments can be used to evaluate study orientation, such as personal questionnaires and interviews. c) It is also recommended that the size of the groups be increased in order to increase the reliability of such findings. / Thesis (MA)--PU vir CHO, 1988

This study was an attempt to determine whether there are factors related to student dating which can be associated with the level of students’ academic performance, and, if any exist, to establish the nature of these factors and to determine and explain this association or relationship. The sample was drawn from students in the final (third) year of their B.A. course. The sample included both men and women. It was drawn from the Potchefstroom University for C.H.E. and the University of Pretoria. The results indicated a definite relationship between certain aspects of students' dating and their academic success. The most important observation concerned the dating pattern: Students who classified themselves as having a steady date (going steady) almost without exception obtained higher marks than could have been expected from their academic aptitude. (Matriculation results were used as an indication of this sample's academic aptitude, having been statistically proved to bear the highest correlation with their actual academic performance.) The academic performance of students who did date but who did not have a steady date was, in almost every case, found to be poorer than could have been expected from their academic aptitude. Many indications were found that these two groups of students do not only differ regarding the level of their academic performance but also as regards a number of other characteristics, the development of which, of course, may very well have been further stimulated by the nature of their specific dating patterns. The academic performance of students who did not date at all was found to be, in some cases, slightly poorer, and, in other instances, slightly better than could have been expected; no definite pattern emerged. Some other aspects of student dating proved, in some cases, to have a significant relationship with students’ academic performance. These were: the length of the period (number of years) for which they had been going steady and the time (average in hours per week) spent on dating activities. Where students of the two universities were concerned, certain differences in the relationship between their dating behaviour and academic performance were observed. Only very slight differences were observed between the two sexes as far as the relationship between these two variables are concerned. The study shed more light on the problem of factors associated with students' academic success by presenting an analysis of the influence of certain aspects of dating behaviour on the level of students’ academic performance. Furthermore it served to elucidate the role of dating as a significant part of student life, and the influence of certain dating patterns and other variables associated with dating on many aspects of their university life, including their academic performance. / Thesis (MA)--PU vir CHO

The purpose of this research is to indicate that art education can also make a particular contribution to the social forming and development of the child to which Sociology can add knowledge in education. To achieve this (aim) it is shown how art education has developed historically from the rational stage of the teaching of drawing up to the modern concept of creative expression by the child in the primary school. Conjoined with this modern concept the Calvinistic/Christian's philosophy of life and education with particular emphasis on the purpose, view of the child, the content, the method, the discipline; evaluation and organisation of art education as fundamental foundation of art education are given in outline. Particular emphasis is laid on the social forming, i.e. growth and development stages of the child in art education to which the family group must also contribute by means of co-operation and interaction with the school. The views of various researchers and those of the writer-about art education in the Western world are utilised to Indicate what the excellencies of art education are or should be. Unfortunately this is not the case in all the primary schools in Transvaal. These shortcomings are revealed with directives for the effective realisation of art education within the framework of the general education and teaching in the school. Recommendations are made among other things with the view to effective organisation and administration of art centres at all primary schools in Transvaal, the utilisation of facilities and stock by the teacher, the importance of talent, the academical and professional training of teachers for this task and vocation which is still mainly the Cinderella in the present construction. That this subject is done justice to by some schools in Transvaal is proved by the high quality of child art held at the art exhibition at the Republic festival in which primary schools in Transvaal took part. / Thesis (MA)--PU vir CHO

INTRODUCTION - The inability to read well is an indication of discord in a child's life. This discord may result from a variety of problems such as physiological, physical, educational, environmental and others. It may be due to interaction between some or all of these factors. All reading retarded children develop a certain imbalance in their lives. From a study of the literature it appears clear that, in spite of remedial education in reading skills, weak readers remain weak readers. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY - In establishing the purpose of this study one took the point of view that education is a positive conscious process deliberately undertaken to bring about a change in a reading retarded pupil. THE AIM OF THE STUDY IS AS FOLLOWS - 1) According to the literature personality may be viewed as an individual's most remarkable form of adjustment. The development of personality is an individual process in which the social environment influences people in different ways. As a child's social environment expands during his various stages of development so a continuous interaction takes place between the developing child and his expanding environment such that certain motivational forces are strengthened while others are weakened. New standards are set and the child is confronted with new problems and challenges. If the child has been suitably prepared to tackle and master the problems then his self-concept becomes clearer and stronger, but where the demands are too great for the child to cope with them one may encounter the development of psychological and psychosomatic problems which may in turn lead to serious reading problems. The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between personality and reading retardation by means of evaluation and interview. 2. It appears from the literature that parents exercise great influence on the developing personality of the retarded children. It seems apparent that a good upbringing is a prerequisite of good reading skills. All children, reading retarded included, strive for the following basic needs: a) the preservation of physical health; b) the need for personal recognition and to be seen as a person of value and importance; c) the need for security, love, affection, comfort and safety. The reading retarded pupil has a strong drive for the fulfilment of these needs. Should there be any disturbing factors in the family the pupil may develop certain problems which in turn may influence his emotional status. This may lead to reading problems or aggravate existing reading problems. This study has as its basis the hypothesis that the quality of the parent child relationship is the chief cause of reading retardation in pupils. This study will attempt to show empirically the connection between parent child relationships and reading retardation, as well as establishing a healthy parent child relationship through counselling of parents of reading retarded children, without these children themselves receiving counselling. According to the literature the majority of pupils with reading problems experience serious emotional problems which may be viewed as the primary cause or secondary result of reading retardation. Emotional problems may be seen as the causal factor in auditory discrimination, intelligence problems such as subtest scatter, poor hand eye coordination, hyperactivity, laterality and directional- problems, figure ground perceptual problems, personality problems and a poor self-concept which may affect the reading skills in various ways. The purpose of the study is to reduce emotional problems in reading retarded pupils using only individual counselling of their parents. 4. The self-concept of a pupil includes three aspects i.e.: self-image ; the ideal self and self (…….part missing……) the commencement of the study. The second took place a year after the first evaluation and during this period remedial teaching was given to groups B and C while the parents of groups A and B received counselling. The third evaluation took place nine months after the second evaluation and during this period none of the groups had received any remedial help. With the exception of the intelligence tests applied at the commencement of the study, the following tests and questionnaires were applied to all of the pupils: i) the New South African Individual Scale; ii) the "Burt rearranged word recognition test"; iii) the "Children 1 s personality questionnaire"; iv) “The Hutt adaptation of the Bender-Gestalt test"; v) the "Draw a family" projective technique; vi) the "Bristol social adjustment guides. The child in the school"; vii) the "Bristol social adjustment guides. The child in the family". The following educational diagnoses were made after evaluation of the results of each of the evaluations and were then compared with one another: i) intelligence analysis; ii) reading age; iii) reading expectancy age; iv) reading expectancy quotient; v) chronological age; vi) reading quotient; vii) analysis of the tests and questionnaires; viii) analysts of the scholastic progress. ORTHOPEDAGOGIC AND ORTHODIDACTIC ASSISTANCE - The three groups received the following assistance: Group A: The parents of group A were given individual counselling for a period of one year using the eclectic approach while the pupils were given no assistance at all. Group B: The parents of group B were given individual counselling for one year while at the same time the pupils were afforded individual remedial reading assistance. Group C: The parents of this group were given no guidance but the pupils did receive remedial assistance in reading for a period of one year. Results: The reading ability of the children in group' A (counselling group) showed greater improvement than that of the children in group C. This group (group C) having received only remedial assistance. The long-term reading improvement was also better in group A than it was in group C. These results may be accepted as being statistically 99% reliable. According to these results individual counselling to parents of reading retarded children is a better remedial approach than remedial teaching given to the pupils themselves. Individual counselling to parents coupled with remedial teaching to pupils is a better method than remedial teaching being used on its own. It thus appears that too much reliance is placed on remedial teaching as a method of overcoming reading retardation, According to this study it appears that a large number of reading retardation cases are due to emotional problems originating in the home environment. A further assumption may be that many of the processes involved in reading skills are consciously or unconsciously blocked as a result of these emotional problems. In reality the pupil "refuses" to read presumably because he wishes to draw his parents' attention to himself. He thus uses the wrong tactics to attract this attention causing still more emotional disturbance and himself experiencing further emotional problems. The pupils in the counselling group changed from a schizothymic personality to a cyclothymic personality while the pupils receiving remedial teaching remain schizothymic personalities. The children of the counselling group developed a better abstracting ability than those who only received remedial teaching. The counselling groups (groups A and B) became more adult emotionally than those in the remedial group (group C). This can presumably be ascribed to the changed attitude of the father. As a result of counselling the parents were able to bring about a change in the child's attitude from one of irritability towards reading to one of receptiveness. The remedial group remained irritable. The children in the remedial group showed a marked correlation with femininity while the counselling group did not, The children• in the two counselling groups showed a low level of tension and were more relaxed, restful, unfrustrated and calm than they were before the commencement of the study. The remedial group continued showing a tendency towards a high level of tension. As a result of the counselling given the parents, the children in the counselling groups were able to overcome their perceptual problems, These perceptual problems, it is presumed, were largely of an emotional nature. Generally speaking the children in these groups were also able to eliminate psychological blocking. Children in the remedial group continued to experience perceptual problems, The children in the counselling groups showed a greater reduction of aggression, uncertainty and helplessness than those in the remedial group. The children in the counselling groups no longer withdrew from situations. They made use of initiative and found it easy to respond to a stimulus. Depressiveness was largely eliminated, The hostile feelings of the children in the counselling groups towards their parents were greatly reduced while children in the remedial group continued to show strong signs of hostility towards their parents, It also appeared that the mothers of the children in the counselling groups found their children more acceptable than the mothers of the remedial group children. Psychosomatic problems such as enuresis, headache, chronic pain poor co-ordination and poor speech were much more reduced in children in the counselling groups than in those in the remedial group. There was more general improvement in academic achievement in children in the counselling groups while children in the remedial group showed far less improvement academically. Thus the inarguable conclusion may be drawn that individual counselling to parents is a successful method of remedying reading retardation in children. / Proefskrif--PU vir CHO

Proefskrif--PU vir CHO