M.P.H., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Introduction: Globally and locally, the status of nurses and their profession is diminishing, ascribed partly due to the image of nursing portrayed in the media of a profession with heavy workloads, poor pay and no longer considered a career of choice. In South Africa, the increased disease burden due to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, together with a deteriorating health system and significant inequities in terms of nurse distribution, has led to grave public concerns about the profession. The media play a key role in national development, helping to shape public perceptions by influencing how society understands events. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore how nursing is framed in the mainstream press over a six-month period in 2010 using mixed methods of a quantitative content analysis and a qualitative discourse analysis. Methodology This cross-sectional study used a mixed method approach of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The content of all articles mentioning „nurse‟ or „nursing‟ from the press cutting agency Monitoring South Africa (1 January – 30 June 2010) was analysed, yielding a total of 242 articles. From these, 91 articles were purposively selected for the qualitative discourse analysis. A data coding sheet was developed to capture key dimensions from each article for the quantitative content analysis. Both descriptive and inferential analysis was carried out. For the qualitative discourse analysis press cuttings were converted and coded, and then thematic analysis was carried out Results The results of the quantitative analysis found that nursing is not well covered in the South African lay press, and when it is featured, articles appear in community publications with small circulations. Most articles on nursing were prominent (ie. full-length) and positive. International Nurses‟ Day (IND) was seen to influence the proportion of nursing articles with more than double the number of articles appearing in May compared to the total average of other months, and all coded „positive‟. However, when IND was excluded from analysis, negative articles were dominant, mainly around strikes and unprofessional behavior which featured in daily and larger circulation newspapers. In keeping with international literature, strikes as a theme received the most coverage, but unique to this study was the finding that nursing neglect or unprofessionalism received almost as much coverage as strikes, featuring in the majority of page 1 articles and in publications with large circulations. 5 Regarding voice, this study found that nurses were quoted in just over a quarter of articles which featured quotes, but that spokespeople were quoted twice as often, remarkably so even for IND. Most nurse quotes were around strikes and poor working conditions. Nurses were quoted more frequently in community newspapers and in Western Cape newspapers. Doctors were seldom quoted, and 90% of patient quotes were negative. While females were quoted first in the majority of articles, a third of their quotes were anonymous, mainly around negative topics such as labour, protest action and service delivery, indicating their fear of reprisal from their institutions. Males were quoted more often in second and third quotes of articles, with the extent of quotes approximately in proportion to their numbers in the profession. The results of the qualitative discourse analysis revealed a profession groaning under the weight of a crumbling health system. Articles on the working conditions, salaries and shortages of nurses were mostly sympathetic, but when nurses „went too far‟, they were portrayed as unprofessional, negligent and abusive. Nurses were also not taken seriously when they raised the alarm about deteriorating health systems, which is disturbing when they are at the forefront of healthcare delivery. Very few articles dealt with nursing as a profession or academic nursing in any detail. Although there were more positive than negative articles, and IND garnered significant positive coverage for the profession with nearly a third of all articles appearing in May when IND is celebrated, the lasting impression is that of negative coverage, particularly from the discourse on patient abuse, neglect or abandonment during strikes. Nurse voices are notably absent from these articles. Conclusion South African nursing would benefit from media advocacy and partnerships to promote the profession. As the majority workforce which undertakes essential, life-giving tasks, nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and critical contributors to quality health care. Their place at the policy table and space in the press is well overdue.

Bibliography: pages 91-95. / A theoretical introduction to Public Finance is presented with a summary of the role which the South African government plays in the economic sphere. In addition, part of survey research data collected by the Department of Sociology, University of Cape Town, has been statistically analyzed in order to discover what demographic factors influence trends in citizen preferences and attitudes towards the allocation of public funds. The hypothesis on which the research was based, i.e. that demographic variables such as sex, marital status, age, income, education and race produce significant differences in public opinion towards the allocation of public funds, has been partly rejected by the findings.

Thesis (MPhil (Rehabilitation))--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A qualitative study was utilised as it was appropriate for the study of attitudes of non-disabled people of Sakhisizwe towards people with disabilities (PWDs). This case study set out to: investigate the perceptions of people with disabilities with regard to attitudes towards them; examine the nature of attitudes toward people with disabilities; determine the impact and influence of attitudes on the integration of people with disabilities; and determine facilitators and barriers with regard to the integration of people with disabilities. This instrumental case study explored the attitudes of non-disabled people towards disabled people of Sakhisizwe Local Service Area in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The researcher used convenience sampling to select a group of disabled participants from a meeting of the disabled structure held at one of the clinics of Sakhisizwe, to form a focus group. In the focus group of disabled people, two participants were identified as information-rich and were selected using purposive sampling for further interrogation. A convenience sample was used to select mostly three diverse groups of non-disabled participants from youth (seven participants), clergy (seven participants), community members (10participants) and one group of disabled people consisting of six participants making a total of four groups to conduct focus groups interviews. Furthermore, three key informants (traditional healer, social worker and local councilor) from the community at large were also purposively selected. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews guided by interview schedules for focus groups, disabled individuals‘ interviews, as well as for the three key informants‘ interviews. To supplement the data, observation was done to study the behaviours of people with disabilities in the service centre towards non-disabled people, and vice versa. Data was analysed by the process of inductive thematic analysis in which four themes emerged. These were: attitudes of non-disabled people towards people with disabilities; determinants of different disabilities; challenges facing young people with disabilities; and confidence and self-esteem of people with disabilities. In conclusion, it is recommended that the community identify the general public education and awareness in order to change the negative attitudes that lead to social exclusion and marginalisation of people with disabilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die houdings van nie-gestremde persone teenoor persone met gestremdhede in Sakhisizwe is deur middel van ʼn kwalitatiewe studie ondersoek. Hierdie gevalstudie het ook nagevors hoe persone met gestremdhede hierdie houdings ervaar; die aard van die hierdie houdings; asook die impak en gevolg hiervan op die integrasie van persone met gestremdhede in die samelewing met spesifieke verwysing na fasilitators ('facilitators') of hindernisse. Hierdie waardevolle gevalstudie is in die Sakhisizwe Plaaslike Dienste Area in die Oos Kaap provinsie van Suid Afrika gedoen. 'n Fokusgroep is gekies deur middel van 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef ('convenience sample') uit ʼn groep persone met gestremdhede wat 'n vergadering oor gestremde bestuurstrukture by een van die plaaslike klinieke in Sakhisizwe bygewoon het. Uit die fokusgroep is twee deelnemers met ryk ervarings geïdentifiseer as doelbewuste streekproef ('purposive sampling') vir verdere onderhoude. Benewens die fokusgroep van 10 persone met gestremdhede, is drie verdere fokusgroepe vanuit die geledere van nie-gestremde persone gekies. Die groeperings was uiteenlopend en het deelnemers vanuit die volgende groepe ingesluit, naamlik: die jeug (sewe deelnemers), geestelike leiers (sewe deelnemers), en gemeenskapslede (10 deelnemers). 'n Verdere drie persone is doelbewus ('purposive sampling') as sleutel informante van die groter gemeenskap gekies (tradisionele geneser, maatskaplike werker en plaaslike raadslid). Data was deur middel van semi gestruktureerde onderhoude vir elk van die vier fokus groepe ingesamel. Hierdie data is aangevul deur die wedersydse gedrag van persone met gestremdhede en nie – gestremde persone waar te neem en te bestudeer. Deur middel van induktiewe tematiese ontleding ('inductive thematic analysis') van die data is vier temas geidientifiseer. Houdings van nie – gestremde persone teenoor persone met gestremdhede; bepalende faktore van verskillende tipes gestremdheid; uitdagings wat alle persone met gestremdhede in die gesig staar; asook selfvertroue en self-beeld van persone met gestremdhede. Ten slotte word aanbeveel dat die gemeenskap self die algemene opvoeding en bewusmaking ten opsigte van gestremde persone aanspreek sodat die negatiewe houdings wat lei tot sosiale uitsluiting en gemarginaliseerdheid ('marginalization') aangespreek kan word.

Thesis (M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2018. / Violence against women has been one of the critical concerns in South Africa. To stop violence against women we need to understand how the specific society views and perceives such violence. Then we can introduce effective and efficient strategy to tackle the problem. Literature reviews pointed out the nature of violence against women, the causes and the effects and also the communities’ perceptions on violence against women and the policies or strategies to reduce violence against violence. The study aimed at exploring local community perception on violence against women in Dan village. Qualitative study were conducted using individual interviews and focus group discussions with traditional leaders/ indunas, community policing forums, ward committees, civic organisations and community members of Dan village. A purposing sampling was used to obtain 11community leaders and 34 community representatives from the area. Qualitative content analysis technique was used to analyse the qualitative data collected. The findings revealed the increasing level of violence against women in the study area. The local leaders and authorities response to violence against women seems inadequate in the area. Violence in the area takes the form of physical, sexual, emotional and economical abuses on women. Violence against women committed by people who are very close to victims, including their husbands and family members. The study reveals that major causes of violence were jealousy and alcohol and drug abuse. It is recommended that rural women empowerment should be prioritised to equip them with education and skills, improved social and health facilities, access to micro-credits and job opportunities. It is further recommended that collaboration and networks among local actors needs to be strengthen to address alcohol and drug abuses, criminal gangsters and to create more awareness campaigns on violence against women.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although fifteen years have passed since the change in political dispensation in South Africa, the integration of citizens belonging to the previously disadvantaged sections of society is still progressing at a bewilderingly slow pace. Gaining access to the world of work is instrumental in the alleviation of poverty and the promotion of economic and social stability in a country still plagued by the legacy of apartheid. While South Africa is currently in the process of breaking down the scaffolding of apartheid and promoting the welfare of all South Africans along more equitably lines, the overall success of relevant initiatives fundamentally hinges on both the former oppressors and the formerly oppressed coming to terms with the past and, more importantly, engaging in a process of constitutional reconciliation and compromise to overcome unconstructive attitudes brought about through decades of colonialism, racism and segregation. Following from this, attitudes towards cultural diversity in general and, more specifically, the forces (i.e. nomological network of antecedents) that shape such attitudes, informed the research question that initiated the current study. Preliminary theorising culminated in the formulation of a tentative theoretical model explicating the relationship between various variables and the attitude towards cultural diversity. The proposed theoretical model in an effort to answer the question that initiated the research implied that values influence the attitude towards cultural diversity. Furthermore, it was argued that the relationship between values and the attitude towards cultural diversity is moderated by race and gender. The proposed theoretical model was formally assessed with the use of a convenience sample of 1 357 students from four prominent universities in South Africa (Northwest University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Stellenbosch, and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University). A quasi double cross-validation procedure was utilised whereby a single sample was divided into two equal subsamples: (a) a calibration sample and (b) validation sample. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms was utilised in the current study. Only quantitative results are reported formally, although the qualitative technique of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was utilised extensively during the stages of theorisation. The statistical analysis became naturally segmented in four distinct sections: the validation of the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) and the Cultural Diversity Belief Scales (CDBS); the refinement of the SVS and CDBS; testing of the proposed theoretical model via Structural Equation Modelling (SEM); and testing the moderating effects of race and gender on the attitude towards cultural diversity by means of moderated regression analysis. Partial support was found for the proposed linkages between values main effects and the attitude towards cultural diversity, as well as for the moderating effects of race and gender on the value-attitude linkages. Conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and recommendations for future research have been made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel die politieke bewind in Suid-Afrika reeds vyftien jaar gelede verander het, vorder die integrasie binne die samelewing van die voorheen benadeelde gedeeltes van die bevolking teen ‘n verstommend stadige pas. Die verkryging van toetrede tot die wêreld van werk dra by tot die verligting van armoede en die bevordering van ekonomiese en maatskaplike stabiliteit in ‘n land wat steeds deur die nalatenskap van apartheid geteister word. Met Suid-Afrika tans betrokke by die aftakeling van die apartheidsteierwerk en die bevordering van die welsyn van alle Suid-Afrikaners op meer gelyke grondslag, rus die algehele sukses van relevante inisiatiewe daarop dat die voormalige verdruktes en die voormalige verdrukkers met die verlede vrede maak, maar ook meer dat hulle deur ’n proses van grondwetlike versoening en akkoord die onopbouende houdings wat deur dekades van kolonialisme, rassisme en segregasie tot stand gekom het, kan oorkom. Vanuit hierdie agtergrond het houdings teenoor kulturele diversiteit in die algemeen en, meer spesifiek, die magte (d.i. nomologiese netwerk van voorafgaande gebeure) wat aan sulke houdings vorm gee, die navorsingsvraag laat ontstaan wat tot die huidige studie gelei het. Die voorafgaande teorie-ontwikkeling het tot die formulering van ‘n tentatiewe teoretiese model gelei om die verhouding tussen verskeie veranderlikes en die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit te ontvou. In ‘n poging om ‘n antwoord te vind vir die vraag wat tot die navorsing gelei het, het die voorgestelde teoretiese model geïmpliseer dat waardes die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit beïnvloed. ‘n Verdere argument was dat die verband tussen waardes en die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit deur ras en geslag gemodereer word. Die voorgestelde teoretiese model is formeel geassesseer met gebruik van ’n gerieflikheidssteekproef bestaande uit 1 357 studente vanuit vooraanstaande universiteite in Suid-Afrika (die Universiteit van die Noordweste, die Kaapse Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie, die Universiteit van Stellenbosch en die Nelson Mandela Metropolitaanse Universiteit).’n Kwasi dubbele kruis-validering (quasi double cross-validation) prosedure is gebruik waardeur ‘n enkelvoudige steekproefneming in twee gelyke steekproewe verdeel is: (a) ‘n kalibreringssteekproef en (b) ‘n valideringsteekproef. ’n Kombinasie van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsparadigmas is in die huidige studie gebruik. Slegs kwantitatiewe resultate word formeel gerapporteer, alhoewel kwalitatiewe Kritiese Diskoers-analise (Critical Discourse Analysis) omvattend gebruik is gedurende die teoretiseringstadia. Die statistiese ontledings het op natuurlike wyse in vier duidelike afdelings verdeel: die validering van die Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) en die Cultural Diversity Belief Scales (CDBS); die verfyning van die SVS en die CDBS; die toets van die voorgestelde teoretiese model met behulp van Structural Equation Modelling (SEM); en die toets van die modererende effekte van ras en geslag op die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit deur middel van modererende regressie-analise. Gedeeltelike ondersteuning is gevind vir die voorgestelde verband tussen hoof-effekte van waardes en die houding teenoor diversiteit, sowel as vir die modererende effek van ras en geslag op die waardes-houdings verband. Gevolgtrekkings is gemaak uit die resultate wat verkry is en voorstelle in verband met toekomstige navorsing is aan die hand gedoen.

Title in English and Afrikaans / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Communication Science)

Thesis (MComm) -- Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The plethora of differences that characterise the South Africa population has become a definite concern for organisational management and is of significant importance to the industrial world itself. The need to critically assess people’s perception and attitude towards diversity within the organisation, and ultimately serving to inform management seeking to build an ethically diverse, healthy and productive workforce, served as a prime motivation for this study. The objective was to demonstrate that humans are complex beings and that attempts to minimise the complexity by simply containing that complexity within the bounds of a unidimensional solution are guaranteed to fail. It is for this reason that diversity management within an organisation requires the need to manage an infinite and changing variety of social variables which to varying degrees, impacts on social interaction and people’s attitude towards diversity. Having completed a literature study concerning the possible antecedents of attitude towards diversity, and taking into account various suggested future directions for diversity research, it was decided that the present study would focus on three specific variables: attitude towards diversity, emotional intelligence and diversity complexity. The primary goal was to design and conduct a scientific investigation into the relationships between the latent variables; in hope of ultimately informing management seeking to build an ethically diverse, healthy and productive workforce who value the individuality of others. Available literature was studied in order to understand and comprehend whether any relationships could be theoretically drawn between the constructs. Several hypotheses were proposed and a conceptual model, explaining the relationships between these constructs, was developed. Thereafter, both the postulated relationships and the conceptual model were empirically tested using various statistical methods. Existing measuring instruments were utilised in this study, and included the Cultural Diversity Belief Scale (Rentsch, Turban, Hissong, Jenkins & Marrs, 1995), the Genos Emotional Intelligence Inventory (Palmer, Stough & Gignac, 2008), and the Reaction- To-Diversity-Inventory (De Meuse & Hostager, 2001). The sample consisted of 237 selected individuals from various South African organisations. The content and structure of the constructs that were measured by the instruments were investigated by means of confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. The results indicated that in all cases, the refined measurement models achieved good fit. Subsequently, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to determine the extent to which the conceptual model fitted the data obtained from the sample and to test the relationships between the constructs when taking the complete conceptual model into account. Overall, it was found that good model fit was indicated for the structural model. Regression analyses also found some support for the stated hypotheses. Eight of the ten stated hypotheses in this study were corroborated. Although several significant links were established between the latent variables, a notable unique result of this research presented itself in the significant positive relationships uncovered between the exogenous latent variable, emotional intelligence, and the endogenous latent variables of valuing individual differences and positive perceptual depth. These significant positive relationships provide empirical evidence of the significant relationships between emotions, attitudes and perceptions. Moreover, the analysis of the modification indices for the structural model, suggested that the addition of one path to the existing structural model would probably improve the fit of the model. Recommendations are made in terms of possible avenues for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uiteenlopende verskille, wat 'n kenmerk van die Suid-Afrika bevolking geword het, is 'n definitiewe uitdaging vir organisatoriese bestuur en is ook van groot belang vir die sakewêreld. Die behoefte om mense se persepsies en houdings teenoor die diversiteit binne die organisasie krities te evalueer, wat uiteindelik ook dien om bestuur, wat op soek is na die bou van 'n etiese, gesonde en produktiewe arbeidsmag, te help, het as die primêre motivering vir hierdie studie gedien. Die doel was om aan te toon dat die mens ‘n komplekse wese is en dat pogings om dit gering te skat deur kompleksiteit net binne die grense van 'n een-dimensionele oplossing te ontleed, gewaarborg is om te misluk. Dit is om hierdie rede dat diversiteitsbestuur binne 'n organisasie die bestuur van ‘n oneindige en veranderende verskeidenheid van sosiale veranderlikes noodsaak, wat, sosiale interaksie en mense se houdings teenoor diversiteit verskillend kan beinvloed. Na die voltooiing van 'n literatuurstudie oor die moontlike determinante antecedenten van die houding teenoor diversiteit, en met inagneming van die toekomstige rigtings vir diversiteitsnavorsing, is daar besluit dat die huidige studie op drie spesifieke veranderlikes sal fokus: houding teenoor diversiteit, emosionele intelligensie en diversiteitskompleksiteit. Die primêre doel was om ‘n wetenskaplike ondersoek te ontwerp en uit te voer rakende die verwantskappe tussen die latente veranderlikes; in die hoop om bestuur te help om ‘n gesonde en produktiewe arbeidsmag te bou wat ook die individualiteit van ander waardeer. Beskikbare literatuur is bestudeer ten einde te verstaan of enige verbande tussen die teoretiese konstrukte gevind kan word. Verskeie hipoteses is geformuleer en 'n konseptuele model, waarin die verband tussen hierdie konstrukte verduidelik word, is ontwikkel. Daarna, is die gepostuleerde verwantskappe en die konseptuele model empiries met behulp van verskeie statistiese metodes getoets. Bestaande meetinstrumente is in hierdie studie gebruik en sluit in die ‘Cultural Diversity Belief Scale,’ (Rentsch, Tulband, Hissong, Jenkins & Marrs, 1995), die ‘Genos Emotional Intelligence Inventory,’ (Palmer, Stough & Gignac, 2008), en die ‘Reaction-To-Diversity-Inventory,’ (De Meuse & Hostager, 2001). Die steekproef het bestaan uit 237 gekose individue uit verskillende Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies. Die inhoud en die struktuur van die konstrukte wat deur die instrumente gemeet is, is deur middel van bevestigende en verkennende faktorontledings ondersoek. Die resultate dui daarop dat in al die gevalle, die verfynde metingsmodelle goeie passings getoon het. Daarna is Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) gebruik om te bepaal tot watter mate die konseptuele model die data pas, en om die verwantskappe tussen die konstrukte te toets wanneer die volledige konseptuele model in ag geneem is. Algeheel is daar goeie passing vir die strukturele model gevind. Regressie-analises het ook ‘n mate van bevestiging vir die gestelde hipoteses gevind. Agt van die tien hipoteses is was in hierdie studie bevestig. Alhoewel verskeie belangrike verwantskappe tussen die latente veranderlikes gevind is, is daar 'n unieke resultaat gevind met betrekking tot die positiewe verband tussen die eksogene latente veranderlike, emosionele intelligensie, en die endogene latente veranderlikes van waardering van individuele verskille en positiewe perseptuele diepte. Hierdie positiewe verwantskappe verskaf empiriese bewyse vir die beduidende verband tussen emosies, houdings en persepsies. Verder, het die analise van die modifikasie indekse vir die strukturele model aangedui dat die byvoeging van ‘n addisionele roete waarskynlik die bestaande strukturele model se passing kan verbeter. Aanbevelings word ten slotte gemaak in terme van moontlike rigtings vir toekomstige navorsing.

Title in English and Afrikaans / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Communication Science)

South Africa is a water - scarce country and will be facing a serious water shortage by approximately 2020. The study, that aims to establish attitudes towards the use of water and to examine the role of education in ensuring responsible use of water, focuses on Moruleng village which was selected as representational of the 28 villages of Saulspoort region. The outcomes of the literature review which examined water consumption patterns in rural areas prompted the conducting of focus group interview with four categories of villagers from the Moruleng village. Personal observations supported by photographs and follow-up interviews with individuals featured in the photographs supplemented the interview data. The study evidenced that water consumption patterns in rural communities are indicative of attitudes. Villagers' attitudes towards water and its use are ambiguous. The study purposes to examine the possible options to inculcate positive attitudes towards water and its use through the recommendations contained in the study. / Educational Studies / M.Ed.(Environmental Education))

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment explores the assumptions and perceptions – both real, and created by the media, marketers and advertisers – surrounding the word “natural” when applied to health foods, vitamins, home remedies and medication. It also examines the anti-science stance taken by many promoters of such products and the appeal that stance holds for targeted consumers. In it an attempt is made to answer the following questions: What is the source of this apparently “antiscience” point of view? How have the media contributed to this type of sentiment? Why do socalled “natural” products hold more appeal to consumers than their synthetic equivalents? Is there a difference between such products? Is the difference real or perceived? Or, is it merely a media construct? Does the popularity of these ideas indicate a growing distrust of science and governments? What effect has the media’s portrayal of science had on peoples’ attitudes to it? And, above all, what have the media done to advance the idea that “natural” is good for you? / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werkstuk ondersoek die veronderstellings en persepsies – die werklike sowel as dié wat deur die media, bemarkers en adverteerders geskep word – met betrekking tot die woord “natuurlik” wanneer dit toegepas word op gesondheidsvoedsel, vitamiene, boererate en medikasie. Dit bekyk ook die antiwetenskaplike houding wat baie voorstanders van sodanige produkte inneem en die trefkrag wat dié houding op die teikenmark uitoefen. In dié studie is ’n poging aangewend om die volgende vrae te beantwoord: Wat is die oorsprong van hierdie klaarblyklik “antiwetenskaplike” oogpunt? Hoe het die media bygedra tot dié idee? Hoekom is die sogenaamd “natuurlike” produkte soveel aantrekliker vir die gebruiker as hulle sintetiese ekwivalente? Is daar ’n verskil tussen sodanige produkte? Is daar ’n werklike verskil of is dit slegs ‘n persepsie? Of is dit bloot ’n maaksel van die media? Dui die gewildheid van hierdie idees op ’n toenemende gebrek aan vertroue in die wetenskap en die owerhede? Watter uitwerking het die media se voorstelling van die wetenskap op mense se houding ten opsigte daarvan? En, veral, wat het die media gedoen ter bevordering van die idee dat “natuurlik” goed is vir jou?