User Experience Engineering (UxE) incorporates subject areas like usability, HCI, interaction experience, interaction design, "human factors", ergonomics", cognitive psychology", behavioral psychology and psychometrics", systems engineering", [and] "computer science," (Hartson, 1998). It has been suggested that UxE will be the main success factor in organizations as we enter the "loyalty decade" of software development, where the repeat usage of a product by a single customer will be the metric of product success (Alghamdi, 2010; Law & van Schaik, 2010, p. 313; Nielsen, 2008; Van Schaik & Ling, 2011). What is relatively unknown in the current academic literature is whether existing UxE methodologies are effective or not when placed in a longitudinal research context (Law & van Schaik, 2010). There is room for the exploration of the effects of long-term UxE practices in a real-world case study scenario. The problem, addressed in this study, is that a lack of the application of UxE-related processes and practices with an industrial partner had resulted in customer dissatisfaction and a loss of market share. A three-year case study was performed during which 10 UxE-related metrics were gathered and analyzed to measure the improvements in the design of the customer's experience that long-term UxE practices could bring to a small corporate enterprise. The changes that occurred from the corporate and customer's point of view were analyzed as the customer's experience evolved throughout this long-term UxE study. Finally, an analysis of the problems and issues that arose in the implementation of UxE principles during the application of long-term UxE processes was performed. First-hand training between the research team and company employees proved essential to the success of this project. Although a long-term UxE process was difficult to implement within the existing development practices of the industrial partner, a dramatic increase in customer satisfaction and customer engagement with the company system was found. UxE processes led to increased sales rates and decreased development costs in the long-term. All 10 metrics gathered throughout this study showed measurable improvements after long-term UxE processes and practices were adopted by the industrial partner.

I present the dissertation web as a montage of a postmodern inquiry of my doctoral internship and research experiences—concerns and jubilation—positioned within the discourses of <a href="site_map2.htm#2">postmodern</a>, dissertation, academia, experimentalism and cyberspace innovations among others. I create a <a href="site_map2.htm#3">social constructionistic</a> interactive interplay, using <a href="site_map2.htm#5">hypertext</a>, among my various voices of an intern, a researcher and a person. In the dissertation web—my inquiry—I practice the characterization of postmodernism on numerous fronts—subject of study, context of study, methodology and re-presentation of the inquiry. Implicitly and explicitly, I articulate the various characterizations of postmodernism in my inquiry by challenging the traditional research practices (meta<a href="site_map2.htm#4">narratives</a>). I challenge the traditional praxis by alternate per<b>form</b>ances of research practices such as studying myself in a cultural context of an internship using the methodology of <a href="site_map2.htm#11">autoethnography</a> and performance. The <a href="site_map2.htm#5">hypertext</a> docuverse is a further characterization of postmodernism in the styles and structures that are used for re-presentation of the narratives. The styles of narration I use—such as words and graphics, prose and poetry, first person conversational texts, narratives and collages—blur the boundary of "academic" writing, literature, and art. The hypertext is intended as a <a href="site_map2.htm#6">metaphorical</a> experiential, intertextual journey of an <a href="site_map2.htm#12">intern</a> and a <a href="site_map2.htm#14">researcher</a>. Rather than a fixed structure, I create numerous structures of possible structures to privilege the readers' <a href="site_map2.htm#1">navigational</a> choices. I anticipate that the reader's choices in the virtual space might create a sense of meaning-transformation as one traverses through the dissertation web, thus, valuing <a href="site_map2.htm#8">fragmentation</a> and connection as aspects of sense-making, which are contextualized (among others) by the reader's meaning frames and my hypertextual <a href="site_map2.htm#7">performances</a>. The dissertation is submitted in three formats—exclusive dissertation web.pdf, intertextual dissertation web.pdf, and xml version. The<b> <i>exclusive dissertation web.pdf</i> </b>is a web capture in pdf format of all the "files" that compose the dissertation web created in html. The <i><b>intertextual dissertation web.pdf</b> </i> is a web capture of my dissertation along with the capture of external web resources that contextualize my dissertation web, thus illustrating the intertextuality of hypertexts by making the dissertation part of the larger textual web. Due to the web capture, the "docuverse" is nonlinear and the pages do not follow any particular or author predefined sequences. So, <i>please use the internal links or the bookmarks to read or browse the dissertation web</i> rather than scroll from the first "page" to the last "page" of the pdf formatted docuverse. The third version in xml will be made available at a later date. An html version of the dissertation is available directly from the researcher-author. CAUTION! The links from the abstract may be broken due to archiving of the dissertation web. / Ph. D.

This study aimed to relate the emotions of two fathers regarding their incestuous behaviour. The epistemological framework is social constructionism. The `case-study approach' was chosen as the most suitable method to gain access to the information. Qualitative in-depth interviews with the fathers were conducted to collect data about their emotional experiences regarding their incestuous behaviour and Hermeneutics was used as method of data analysis. The emotional experiences of the participants regarding their incestuous behaviour were reconstructed in the form of prominent themes. Themes that seemed to re-occur in both participants' stories were identified and discussed as common themes. These themes included; ambivalence, powerlessness and guilt. This study provides a rich understanding of the emotional experiences of incestuous fathers. These experiences seem to be unstated or insufficiently emphasised in the traditional empirical, cause and effect, linear modernist literature. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel met hierdie navorsing is om vanuit 'n geestesgesondheidsperspektief ondersoek in te stel na die rolkonflik van die werkende moeder. Die literatuurdoelstellings behels dat rolgedrag verduidelik word. Veranderlikes binne die organisasie- en werksfeer asook farniliesfeer wat tot rolkonflik by die werkende moeder aanleiding gee is beskryf. Die groeisielkunde is vanuit die analitiese, humanistiese en eksistensiele paradigmas aangebied, ten einde 'n geestesgesonde persoonlikheidsprofiel te ontwikkel. Wat die operasionele doelstellings betref, is die veranderlikes wat tot rolkonflik aanleiding gee en die persoonlikheidsfunksionering van tien werkende moeders met hulle eerste kind, deur middel van 'n ongestruktureerde onderhoud, ondersoek. Die verband tussen rolkonflik en 'n geestesgesonde persoonlikheid is vasgestel, om te bepaal hoe geestesgesondheid die hantering van rolkonflik beinvloed. Die resultate dui daarop dat die werkende moeder, met die ervaring van haar rol as moeder, groei in haar persoonlikheidsfunksionering getoon het. Uit die resultate blyk dit dat dit 'n positiewe gesindheid teenoor loopbaan, min werksekuriteit vir die moeder wat in haar eie praktyk werksaam is, onbuigsame werksomstandighede, ondersteuning deur betekenisvolle ander, rolbeperking en hoë deurdringbaarheid tussen die moeder se moeder- en werkrol, temas is wat die rolkonflik wat die werkende moeder ervaar, en gevolglik haar geestesgesondheid, bei:nvloed. Die resultate dui daarop dat die werkende moeder konflik tussen haar moeder- en werkrol, rol as eggenote en eie tyd ervaar. Unieke veranderlikes wat tot rolkonflik lei in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, wat in die navorsing geidentifiseer is, is rolbeperking en gebrek aan werksekuriteit vir die moeder wat haar eie praktyk bedryf. Die geestesgesonde persoonlikheidsfunksionering van die werkende moeder is met die ontwikkelde persoonlikheidsprofiel vergelyk. Dit blyk dat akkurate en realistiese waarnemings van ervarings, vryheid om emosies te beleef, geloof, toekomsgerigtheid en innige interpersoonlike verhoudings die werkende moeder se geestesgesondheid positief kan beinvloed, en tot makliker hantering van rolkonflik lei. Hierteenoor blyk dit dat gebrek aan seltkennis, gebrek aan vryheid van keuse, min emosionele beheer asook onaanvaarbaarheid en onverdraagsaamheid teenoor ander, eienskappe is waar sy heelwat in haar persoonlikheidsfunksionering kan groei. Aanbevelings vir die hantering van rolkonflik deur die werkende moeder is vir die bedryfsielkundige praktyk en die werkende moeder self geformuleer, asook aanbevelings vir verdere navorsingsgeleenthede. / The aim of this research was to study the role conflict experienced by the working mother from the mental health perspective. The literature study includes a description of role behaviour as well as variables within the organisational, work and family spheres that influence role conflict. Growth psychology is presented from analytical, humanistic and existential perspectives, culminating in a profile of the mentally healthy personality. The operational aims involved an investigation of variables that influence role conflict and the personality functioning of ten working mothers who are bringing up their first child. This was conducted through unstructured interviews. This involved determining the relationship between role conflict and a mentally healthy personality, to determine how mental health facilitates coping with role conflict. The results indicate that the working mother showed growth in her personality functioning as a result of the experience of her role as mother. However, the results also indicate that a positive orientation to career, minimal job security for the mother working in her own business, inflexible working conditions, support from significant others, role restriction and high penetrability between the roles of mother and worker, are themes that influence the conflict that the working mother experiences which, in turn, influences her mental health. The working mother experiences conflict between her roles as mother, worker, spouse and individuaL Unique variables that influence role conflict in the South African context were identified, namely, role restriction and minimal job security for the mother who operates her own business. The mental personality functioning of the working mother was compared with the developed personality profile. It seems that accurate and realistic observation of experiences, freedom to express feelings, religion, future orientation and close interpersonal relationships, influence the working mother's mental health positively and lead to better coping with role conflict. In contrast she could grow in terms of the following characteristics: lack of self-knowledge, little freedom of choice, little control over emotions as well as unacceptance and intolerance of others. Recommendations were made to the industrial psychology practice and the working mother herself, on how to handle role conflict, and also regarding future research possibilities. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie kontrasteer die Newtoniaanse denkwyse en die konstruktivisme as vertrekpunt. Die beginsels van reduksionisme, neutraliteit en liniere oorsaaklikheid waarop die Newtoniaanse denke gefundeer is, word gekontrasteer met die sirkulariteit en non-objektiwiteit van interveiwante elemente binne die lewende sisteem. Die verskille in aannames van personeel van 'n welsynsvereniging word ondersoek aan die hand van observasie van prosesse van veranderende denke wat oor 'n periode ontwikkel het. Die proses van verandering word aan die hand van 'n gevallestudie bespreek. Binne die veranderende denke, is erkenning verleen aan die sistemiese orientasie waar die interaktiewe intervetwantskap van die elemente binne die sisteem ter sprake raak. Die lewende sisteem en die kenmerke van outonomie, outopo"ise, organisasie en struktuur word binne die filosofie van konstruktivisme bespreek. Uit hierdie filosofie evolueer 'n proses waar binne realiteite geskep word, konsensus binne die sisteem verkry word, en die organisasie van die lewende sisteem reflekteer word / This study focusses on the contrasting thinking patterns of Newtonian thinking and constructivism. The principles of reductionism, neutrality and linear causality on which Newtonian thinking is grounded are compared with circular processes and non objectivity of interrelated elements that are to be found in living systems. The differences in assumptions of personnel in a welfare organisation are investigated through observation of changing processes of thinking that evolved over a period of time. The process of change is discussed by way of a case study. Recognition is given to the systemic orientation where the interactive interrelatedness of elements within the system evolved within changing patterns of thinking. The living system and characteristics of autonomy, autopoiesis, organisation and structure are discussed from a philosophy of constructivism. From this philosophy evolved a process in which realities were created, consensus was reached within the system, and the organisation of the living system was reflected. / Social Work / M.A. (Sosiale Wetenskappe(Geestesgesondheid))

This collaborative study investigates the events that led to the repatriation of the Stone T’xwelátse from the Burke Museum of Natural History, University of Washington Seattle, USA to the Noxwsá7aq people of Deming Washington, USA and to the Stó:lō people of Chilliwack, B.C. Canada. Stone T’xwelátse is the first ancestor of the Chilliwack people who was transformed to stone by the transformer This research grew out of the desire to learn about and share the positive lessons learned during the repatriation process and to investigate if these experiences could benefit repatriation processes in Canada, specifically the province of B.C. This work establishes the current legal setting for cultural repatriation processes in Canada, the United States, and internationally, tells the ancient and contemporary story of Stone T’xwelátse, and examines the impact of Indigenous law, differing worldviews, community capacity, and relationships on cultural repatriation processes. An analysis of the conflict is presented through the identification of the key challenges and successes. The events of the repatriation, as told by the research participants, support the argument for the implementation of John Paul Lederach’s Conflict Transformation Theory practices in future cultural repatriation processes. Using Participatory Action Research and Indigenous Research methodologies data was gathered through participant interviews to form the result of the study: How to Work Together in a Good Way: Recommendations for the Future for Museums, Communities, and Individuals from the Participants of the Stone T’xwelátse Repatriation Research Project and Museum Professionals. These recommendations were formed to share the lessons learned from the Stone T’xwelátse repatriation and also to state changes that the participants would like to see implemented in cultural repatriation processes in Canada. Stone T’xwelátse is now with the Stó:lō people fulfilling his role to teach the people “how to live together in a good way.”

This study aimed to relate the emotions of two fathers regarding their incestuous behaviour. The epistemological framework is social constructionism. The `case-study approach' was chosen as the most suitable method to gain access to the information. Qualitative in-depth interviews with the fathers were conducted to collect data about their emotional experiences regarding their incestuous behaviour and Hermeneutics was used as method of data analysis. The emotional experiences of the participants regarding their incestuous behaviour were reconstructed in the form of prominent themes. Themes that seemed to re-occur in both participants' stories were identified and discussed as common themes. These themes included; ambivalence, powerlessness and guilt. This study provides a rich understanding of the emotional experiences of incestuous fathers. These experiences seem to be unstated or insufficiently emphasised in the traditional empirical, cause and effect, linear modernist literature. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel met hierdie navorsing is om vanuit 'n geestesgesondheidsperspektief ondersoek in te stel na die rolkonflik van die werkende moeder. Die literatuurdoelstellings behels dat rolgedrag verduidelik word. Veranderlikes binne die organisasie- en werksfeer asook farniliesfeer wat tot rolkonflik by die werkende moeder aanleiding gee is beskryf. Die groeisielkunde is vanuit die analitiese, humanistiese en eksistensiele paradigmas aangebied, ten einde 'n geestesgesonde persoonlikheidsprofiel te ontwikkel. Wat die operasionele doelstellings betref, is die veranderlikes wat tot rolkonflik aanleiding gee en die persoonlikheidsfunksionering van tien werkende moeders met hulle eerste kind, deur middel van 'n ongestruktureerde onderhoud, ondersoek. Die verband tussen rolkonflik en 'n geestesgesonde persoonlikheid is vasgestel, om te bepaal hoe geestesgesondheid die hantering van rolkonflik beinvloed. Die resultate dui daarop dat die werkende moeder, met die ervaring van haar rol as moeder, groei in haar persoonlikheidsfunksionering getoon het. Uit die resultate blyk dit dat dit 'n positiewe gesindheid teenoor loopbaan, min werksekuriteit vir die moeder wat in haar eie praktyk werksaam is, onbuigsame werksomstandighede, ondersteuning deur betekenisvolle ander, rolbeperking en hoë deurdringbaarheid tussen die moeder se moeder- en werkrol, temas is wat die rolkonflik wat die werkende moeder ervaar, en gevolglik haar geestesgesondheid, bei:nvloed. Die resultate dui daarop dat die werkende moeder konflik tussen haar moeder- en werkrol, rol as eggenote en eie tyd ervaar. Unieke veranderlikes wat tot rolkonflik lei in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, wat in die navorsing geidentifiseer is, is rolbeperking en gebrek aan werksekuriteit vir die moeder wat haar eie praktyk bedryf. Die geestesgesonde persoonlikheidsfunksionering van die werkende moeder is met die ontwikkelde persoonlikheidsprofiel vergelyk. Dit blyk dat akkurate en realistiese waarnemings van ervarings, vryheid om emosies te beleef, geloof, toekomsgerigtheid en innige interpersoonlike verhoudings die werkende moeder se geestesgesondheid positief kan beinvloed, en tot makliker hantering van rolkonflik lei. Hierteenoor blyk dit dat gebrek aan seltkennis, gebrek aan vryheid van keuse, min emosionele beheer asook onaanvaarbaarheid en onverdraagsaamheid teenoor ander, eienskappe is waar sy heelwat in haar persoonlikheidsfunksionering kan groei. Aanbevelings vir die hantering van rolkonflik deur die werkende moeder is vir die bedryfsielkundige praktyk en die werkende moeder self geformuleer, asook aanbevelings vir verdere navorsingsgeleenthede. / The aim of this research was to study the role conflict experienced by the working mother from the mental health perspective. The literature study includes a description of role behaviour as well as variables within the organisational, work and family spheres that influence role conflict. Growth psychology is presented from analytical, humanistic and existential perspectives, culminating in a profile of the mentally healthy personality. The operational aims involved an investigation of variables that influence role conflict and the personality functioning of ten working mothers who are bringing up their first child. This was conducted through unstructured interviews. This involved determining the relationship between role conflict and a mentally healthy personality, to determine how mental health facilitates coping with role conflict. The results indicate that the working mother showed growth in her personality functioning as a result of the experience of her role as mother. However, the results also indicate that a positive orientation to career, minimal job security for the mother working in her own business, inflexible working conditions, support from significant others, role restriction and high penetrability between the roles of mother and worker, are themes that influence the conflict that the working mother experiences which, in turn, influences her mental health. The working mother experiences conflict between her roles as mother, worker, spouse and individuaL Unique variables that influence role conflict in the South African context were identified, namely, role restriction and minimal job security for the mother who operates her own business. The mental personality functioning of the working mother was compared with the developed personality profile. It seems that accurate and realistic observation of experiences, freedom to express feelings, religion, future orientation and close interpersonal relationships, influence the working mother's mental health positively and lead to better coping with role conflict. In contrast she could grow in terms of the following characteristics: lack of self-knowledge, little freedom of choice, little control over emotions as well as unacceptance and intolerance of others. Recommendations were made to the industrial psychology practice and the working mother herself, on how to handle role conflict, and also regarding future research possibilities. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Comm. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie kontrasteer die Newtoniaanse denkwyse en die konstruktivisme as vertrekpunt. Die beginsels van reduksionisme, neutraliteit en liniere oorsaaklikheid waarop die Newtoniaanse denke gefundeer is, word gekontrasteer met die sirkulariteit en non-objektiwiteit van interveiwante elemente binne die lewende sisteem. Die verskille in aannames van personeel van 'n welsynsvereniging word ondersoek aan die hand van observasie van prosesse van veranderende denke wat oor 'n periode ontwikkel het. Die proses van verandering word aan die hand van 'n gevallestudie bespreek. Binne die veranderende denke, is erkenning verleen aan die sistemiese orientasie waar die interaktiewe intervetwantskap van die elemente binne die sisteem ter sprake raak. Die lewende sisteem en die kenmerke van outonomie, outopo"ise, organisasie en struktuur word binne die filosofie van konstruktivisme bespreek. Uit hierdie filosofie evolueer 'n proses waar binne realiteite geskep word, konsensus binne die sisteem verkry word, en die organisasie van die lewende sisteem reflekteer word / This study focusses on the contrasting thinking patterns of Newtonian thinking and constructivism. The principles of reductionism, neutrality and linear causality on which Newtonian thinking is grounded are compared with circular processes and non objectivity of interrelated elements that are to be found in living systems. The differences in assumptions of personnel in a welfare organisation are investigated through observation of changing processes of thinking that evolved over a period of time. The process of change is discussed by way of a case study. Recognition is given to the systemic orientation where the interactive interrelatedness of elements within the system evolved within changing patterns of thinking. The living system and characteristics of autonomy, autopoiesis, organisation and structure are discussed from a philosophy of constructivism. From this philosophy evolved a process in which realities were created, consensus was reached within the system, and the organisation of the living system was reflected. / Social Work / M.A. (Sosiale Wetenskappe(Geestesgesondheid))

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of instructional leadership on the culture of teaching and learning in ten rural schools of the Eastern Cape categorised as performing and under performing schools. The research utilises the transformational leadership theory in its theoretical analytical framework as the model for effective leadership. The research argues that principals’ instructional leadership can significantly improve teacher engagement, teacher collaboration and learner performances in the ten rural schools. The study draws on the qualitative research methodology, instruments utilised are interviews of teachers, principals and top education officials within the Buffalo City Municipality. Past matric results of the rural schools under consideration were retrieved from the archives of the National Senior Certificate Results to measure the impact of instructional leadership on the culture of teaching and learning and learners’ performances. The study concludes that there is a relationship between instructional leadership and learners’ outcomes. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)