Graduate students in clinical psychology are taught to conduct research with the expectation that, in the future, they will become producers of research. Few clinical psychologists, however, actually produce much research. In attempting to explain this failure to fulfill expectations, Pasewark has suggested (as one of several plausible hypotheses) that graduate training programs may, unintentionally, be discouraging students' interest in research. A pilot study by the present author supported this supposition. The present study was designed to evaluate the validity of Pasewark's hypothesis on a national level and to examine the research attitudes of clinical psychology graduate students in relation to those of other psychology graduate students. A four-page, predominately closed-ended questionnaire was constructed with items covering the following areas: students' career goals, involvment in research achievement, satisfaction with research training and feelings about graduate school in general. Fifty percent of U.S. psychology departments having clinical training programs approved by the APA were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. During the Fall semester of 1978, Department Chairpersons were asked to distribute questionnaires to students in their departments; 69 percent of those approached agreed to do so. Six Directors of professional training programs were also contacted and three agreed to participate. A total of 3,847 questionnaires were distributed. The overall return rate for students was 53 percent. This meant participation in the survey by approximately 19 percent of all psychology graduate students at universities offering APA approved clinical programs (N = 1,893). For the three professional schools, N = 139. Results of the survey suggest that, on the whole, graduate students in psychology are interested in conducting research. Generally, their interest in research grows with experience and exposure to the process of research. These findings are true for students in clinical psychology as well as for students in other specialties. Results, therefore, run counter to Pasewark's hypothesis. Nevertheless, compared to other psychology graduate students in an academic setting, clinical students are less interested in research. Those in non-applied areas of psychology are the most interested in research, followed by those in applied areas other than clinical. Students in professional training programs are the least interested in research of all groups studied; however, even they have not abandoned research altogether. Other significant findings which emerged from the study are as follows: (1) A student's career goals are related to the student's attitude toward research. (2) Clinical students' primary identification is as a practitioner. (3) Obtaining statistically significant results in one's research is related to a positive attitude toward research in general. (4) Students tend to project their own training needs onto others. (5) Using a Research Productivity Measure which was developed, the level of student research productivity in a department was found to be related to faculty research productivity. (6) A vocal minority of clinical students voiced extreme dissatisfaction with their graduate education. (7) Interest in research was found to be related to criticism of the questionnaire. The contributions of the present study are discussed in light of the psychological literature. Implications for graduate training are considered and directions for future research are suggested.

This endeavor emerges out of a context of widespread consultation around a clearer, internationally recognizable practice framework for psychology in South Africa, as well as the implications of programme design as demanded by current tertiary education restructuring. This climate of change has prompted the investigation of ideas for restructuring undergraduate psychology courses to meet the needs of the students, the profession and the society. A specially designed questionnaire and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory were administered to 508 psychology students at all levels of undergraduate study. Analysis focused on why students chose to study psychology at university, and situated this within career choice theory as well as the effects of personality, gender and population group membership. Results reflect two main student trends: students who are interested in a career in psychology, and those who see psychology as an adjunct to other career choices. The importance of broader national and global trends on the psychological discipline in a multicultural and diverse context is emphasized. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

This research is concerned with the cognitive development of students in higher education. Specifically, it is recognised that the demands facing students are different to those previously encountered in secondary education. These demands include being able to master what Strohm Kitchener (1983) calls ill-structured problems and learning the groundrules of their academic disciplines. This is termed academic literacy. Current thought in academic development proposes that students need to be shown how to mobilise their cognitive processes to meet these demands. It is argued that this is best accomplished when such activities are integrated into the discipline itself as opposed to being an add-on process. Taking into account the social and dialectical nature of learning (Vygotsky, 1978), academic development and academic literacy are seen to best occur within the tutorial system. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the 1997 first-year Psychology tutorial programme at Rhodes University, Grahamstown to assess how academic literacy was being developed. A qualitative research approach was followed, guided by the ten stage evaluation model of education programmes (Jacobs, 1996) and an adapted version of the Context, Input, Process and Product approach to evaluation (Parlett and Hamilton cited in Calder, 1995, p.25). Using indepth interviews, data was gathered from eight first year students, seven staff members and one programme co-ordinator. Focus groups were used to gather data from nine tutors. Further data collection techniques included observation of tutor briefing sessions and tutorials as well as documentary research. Data was analysed using qualitative data analysis techniques (Coffey & Atkinson, 1996). The Psychology Department at Rhodes University aims to integrate the development of academic literacy into mainstream teaching at the first year level through its tutorial programme. The Department has conceptualised its understanding of academic development as the development of academic, vocational and professional literacy which is rather unique. Academic literacy is defined and conceptualised further in a list of pre-determined skills (reading, writing and general skills) to be developed incrementally. This conceptualisation of academic literacy tends to neglect to include the mobilisation of relevant cognitive processes explicitly and the implementation tends to remain implicit. A lack of tactical strategies to implement academic development is evidence of the difficulty in moving from the philosophical level of academic development to the practical level. The programme is perceived as disorganised and lacking in a co-ordinated or incremental development of the predetermined skills.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / In South Africa, a dire need exists for a psychological approach that would be appropriate and adequate for all South Africans while opposing remaining historical inequalities. Psychological services are saturated within the predominantly white private sector but scarce for the predominantly disadvantaged who are dependant on public services. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the perceptions of Community Psychology among psychology Honours/Bpsych students. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed in this study. A self-constructed questionnaire was used for obtaining data. A convenience sample was obtained from the universities of Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Western Cape. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The outcomes of this study are firstly, that there is no significant relationship was established between race and tendency to study community psychology with the exception of the first year. Secondly, the relationship between gender and tendency to study community psychology was also non-significant. The results of the qualitative findings did however suggest that negative perceptions of community psychology are evident among students thus suggesting that they are deterred from pursuing it as a career.

On t.p.: Werkstuk vir die graad van Magister in Lettere en Wysbegeerte (Voorligtingsielkunde) / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this document specific attention was given to the foundation and development of the Department of Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch during the period 1917 to 1979. Furthermore, the role that the Department of Psychology played in the development of psychology in South Africa has been addressed. The initial development of the Department of Psychology, important staff appointments made by the Department as well as contributions made by individuals was mentioned. The role that the Department played in the development of Counselling Psychology, the development of the Clinical- and Counselling Psychology courses, the approval of these courses and the registration of psychologists are discussed. The services rendered by the Department of Psychology, as well as research that have been done and the role that the Department played in the South African context is also included in this study. The findings entailed that the Department had an important influence in the development of psychology. The Department of Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch is the oldest psychology department in South Africa. A strong scientific and experimental approach was established in the Department. Fundamental laboratory work formed the basis for a variety of internationally acknowledged research studies and publications. The Department followed a preventative approach in the training of professional psychologists. The first grade course for the training of counselling psychologists in South Africa was instituted at the Department. The Department also played a leading role in the establishment of the University of Stellenbosch Bureau for Student Counselling. The Department was often criticised for not being involved in socio-political matters in the country during the apartheid era and that the research done by the department was focused on sustaining the apartheid ideology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie werkstuk word die totstandkoming en groei van die Departement Sielkunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch tussen 1917 en 1979 sowel as die rol wat die departement in die ontwikkeling van sielkunde in Suid-Afrika gespeel het, bespreek. Die totstandkoming van die Departement Sielkunde, belangrike personeel aanstellings wat gemaak is en die belangrikste bydraes wat gelewer is, word bespreek. Daar word ook aandag geskenk aan die rol wat die Departement in die ontwikkeling van Voorligtingsielkunde gespeel het, die ontwikkeling van die Kliniese- en Voorligtingsielkunde kursusse, die goedkeuring van dié kursusse en registrasie van sielkundiges. Verder word gekyk na dienste wat deur die Departement Sielkunde gelewer is, navorsingswerk wat gedoen is asook die Departement se rol en betrokkenheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Daar word bevind dat die Departement 'n uiters belangrike rol in die ontwikkeling van sielkunde gespeel het. Die Departement Sielkunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is die oudste sielkunde departement in Suid- Afrika. 'n Sterk wetenskaplike en eksperimentele inslag is van die begin af in die Departement gevestig. Fundamentele laboratoriumwerk wat gedoen is, het tot verskeie internasionaal erkende navorsingsaktiwiteite en publikasies gelei. In die opleiding van professionele sielkundiges is 'n voorkomende benadering deur die Departement gevolg. Die eerste graadkursus vir die opleiding van voorligtingsielkundiges in Suid-Afrika is gevolglik ook by die Departement ingestel. Die Departement het verder 'n leidende rol gespeel in die vestiging van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Buro vir Studentevoorligting. Dit word egter ten laste van die Departement gelê dat die Departement 'n mate van onbetrokkenheid by die sosio-politiese strominge in die land gehad het en deur sy vroeë navorsing bygedra het tot die grondlegging van die apartheidsideologie.

This research study explored the dimensions of motivation that may exist for mature psychology graduates when completing their postgraduate degree. And because it is widely acknowledged that stress is often a close companion to motivation, specifically in the pursuit of academic goals, the study also investigated those aspects of coping skills these individuals employed to sustain their motivation in completing their studies. Eight mature female psychology postgraduates from four different South African public universities were identified using a non probability sampling technique. Semi structured interviews were then carried out with the eight participants; the interviews were then transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The results of the study indicated that self efficacy; intrinsic motivation, attribution and achievement goals all play a role in the students’ motivation. It further indentified perseverance as an important factor in the students’ completion of their studies. Positive beliefs, problem solving strategies and social support appeared to be the most widely used coping skills by this sample.

M.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / The training of psychologists in South Africa is currently under scrutiny. A request from the South African Association for Psychology as well as the Professional Board for Psychologists is to broaden the terrain of psychological services. Therefore, new structures regarding registration have been discussed and will be implemented by the year 2004 (Professional Board of Psychology, minutes 15 September 1999). In South Africa the need far outweighs the supply: both in terms of psychologists and services available in the different communities. The cost to see a professional psychologist -is far greater than what the ordinary man in the street can afford (Kriegler, 1993; Richter, Griesel, Durrheim, Wilson, Surendorff and Asafo-Agyei, 1998). The crime rate in South Africa is one of the highest in the world (Grimbeek, 1998; van Niekerk, 1996). Millions of people, of whom a great percentage are children of school going age, have been traumatised by crime, poor housing, poverty and domestic violence. Unemployment plays an integral part in these problems. People are struggling to find work as well as to remain employed. Stress which is affecting all of us is a serious problem, and needs to be addressed by psychologists in all the realms of life. If we look at these problems that are currently part of our lives in South Africa, it becomes clear that more people with trained counselling skills are needed. The training of therapists and counselors is of great importance if we wish to place people in our communities to assist the vast number of those who experience problems in their lives.

M.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Ed. ( Educational Psychology) / The purpose of this study, and the planned contribution to research, is to design and develop a training module with the purpose of filling an existing gap in the field of the education of M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) students. Programme development has been applied in order to design and develop the training module in a formative and summative manner. The research paradigm of the study is of a qualitative nature. Qualitative research and the results thereof are expressed in words rather than in numbers. Methods of data collection that were used include questionnaires, observation and interviews. The data-analysis techniques of Miles and Huberman (1994) were used including data reduction, data display and conclusions. Interviews were transcribed and data-analysis was done by catagorising data into semantic units, presenting the results in the form of dendrograms. Questionnaires were integrated as a method of triangulation. A five-point scale was used to gauge students' perception of the training module. Sufficient provision was made for qualitative remarks by students. The framework for development of Thomas (1984), Rothman (1980) and Nel (1992), as well as the curricular requirements according to Kroger (1980) and Knowles (1984), was used in the development of this training programme.. This comprised. four phases, namely an analysis of the situation, followed by the design, development and evaluation of the course. The phases ran as follows: The analysis phase During the analysis phase, the current situation was analyzed regarding the training problem and the state of existing programmes. It was found that a need for training in bibliotherapy exists among educational psychologists. Educational psychologists receive no meaningful or adequate training with regard to bibliotherapy at any South African university ...

D.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / This study investigates the first year of education and training of students enrolled for. the M.Ed. degree in Educational Psychology with the view to describing and also explaining pertinent problems and processes of professional development, especially with regard to reflective practitioning and the role of experiential learning. The rationale for the investigation was involved from major policy documents which addresses the issue of knowledge and the novice practitioner in the dynamic and challenging milieu of reconstruction and development in South African education. The report of the study commences with a theory framework in which reflective practitioning, experiential learning and professional development are explicated. An important distinction in the literature review is the two main emphases in professional training, namely the normative professional curriculum and the dialectic professional curriculum. Both the theory of reflective practitioning and experiential learning are viewed as exponents of the dialectic curriculum in which contemporary theory of constructivism as view of learning is embedded. In this view a reflective practitioner is considered a lifelong self evaluative learner. In conjunction with the perspective of reflection in practice, experiential learning is viewed as potential knowledge. Rounding off the literature review, various models of reflective practitioning are included emphasising the role of the facilitator as guide and as leader. The theory framework is complemented by a chapter on the design of the field study, substantiating the choice of the format and methods of data collection and analyses with views from the body of knowledge on qualitative research. The field investigation is reported in the ensuing chapters presenting examples of data collection and analyses procedures.