M.A. (Psychology) / The aim of this study is the development of a career program to promote career maturity in standard eight pupils. In order to achieve the aim of the study a development research model was conceptualised. The model is based on Thomas (1984) four-phase model and consists of the following phases: analysis, design, implementation and evaluation phases. In each of these phases a number of methodologies were conducted to meet the requirements of each phase. In the design phase a deviation was made from Thomas (1984) methodology and the methodologies used by Nel and Nel (1992) was implemented to fit the needs of the study. In the first phase the analysis phase a problem was identified and analyzed by using qualitative and quantitative analysis. In the design phase a practice model was conceptualised which serves as an explication model within which the contents' of the career maturity program could be justified. Out of this explication model and theoretical framework the contents of the programme was determined. In the implementation phase of the research model the program was applied and monitoring evaluation was done by the researcher. The implementing of the programme resulted in a number of modifications of the programme because of certain problems that were picked up by the researcher. The evaluation of the programme fell mainly on monitoring evaluation that was done by the researcher in the implementing of the program. The main finding of the research was that the program does promote career maturity in standard eight pupils but it is necessary to do further research on the impact evaluation of the programme.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A.

The drug aloes has been known since earliest times and is mentioned in the Ebers papyrus of circa 1,500 B.C. Alexander the Great is reported to have sent a commission to Socotra to investigate the aloes grown there. The chemical composition of aloes is complex, and being of plant origin, subject to variation. Both the complexity of the chemical constituents and their biological variation has resulted in a very large volume of conflicting material being published on this drug export. Since aloes is used as a purgative for both human and veterinary use, it is obviously important that the dosage and consequently the active constituents, should comply to an accurate means of standardisation. To date, despite extensive world wide research into this drug such standardisation has not been achieved. Even the methods used for the assay of the principal constituent, aloin, vary considerably in their results, and to complicate matters new chemical principles have been isolated from aloes in recent years. Consequently the purpose of this work has been to investigate the main chemical assay methods currently in use, and to determine which was the most accurate, and why discrepancies occurred in the selected assay methods. furthermore the results obtained by chemical assay have been compared with those obtained by biological assay in an attempt to correlate aloin content with purgative activity. Newly isolated compounds have been investigated biologically for the first time, and the biological assays of the resinous, glycosidal and other compounds of aloes have been performed. Intro. p.1-2.

M.A. / A Peer Counseling Program was implemented at a High school in Pretoria. The program was run over a thirteen-month period. During this period two groups of peer counselors were trained. In the first year 15 pupils were selected, and in the second year 16 pupils were selected. Both of the groups were put throUgh the following: answering of a questionnaire, a personal interview, and the training process. Ongoing supervision was provided in the form of group discussions and individual supervision over this thirteen-month period. On completion of the thirteen-month program eqch peer counselor completed a Peer Facilitators Effectiveness Inventory Questionnaire. The findings of this questionnaire indicated that both of the groups had found this experience to be positive, although the second group found the experience to be more positive. The reasons for this were that the second group were selected earlier in the year, they received more support and one might speculate the: there had been a culture of helping established in the school. This study has shown that peer counseling is an effective means of making use of the resources available in the community, decreasing the size of the gap between adult counselor and adolescent, as well as reaching a wider population where help is needed. This study creates an opportunity for the implementation of peer counseling programs in more schools in South Africa.

M.A. (Counselling Pyschology) / "Given the environmental and biological studies of criminality and delinquency, it seems clear that offense behaviour is a multifactorial disorder, with contributors possibly including such variables as low IQ, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, and early aggressiveness. Protective factors possibly include high IQ and shyness. Each of these factors has been shown to be highly heritable" (Oilalla & Gottesman, 1991, p.128). It is imperative that researchers in the areas of violence, aggression and criminality take into consideration both the social and biological factors and that these areas once integrated, will enhance our understanding and provide a more cohesive picture.

M.Sc. / The amount of allozyme variation within, and the extent of genetic differentiation between, 19 sheep breeds from southern Africa were determined by six enzyme coding loci. Another eight enzyme coding loci were analyzed for five breeds. Between 55 and 66.67% of the protein coding loci were polymorphic (95% criterion) in all the breeds, except for the Namaqua sheep that were less polymorphic (33.33%). Values of 1.67 to 2.5 were obtained for the mean number of alleles per locus and average heterozygosities per locus was between 16.6 to 35.9%. The allelic constitution particularly at the transferrin (TF) locus varied appreciably for the different breeds. For example, the TF*H allele was exclusively noted in the Dormer sheep and the TF*G allele was found in the Afiino, Van Rooy, Border Leicester, Blackhead Persian and Skilder-Persian breeds. The only polymorphic breeds at the albumin locus were the South African Mutton Merino and Van Rooy breeds. The allelic constitution at the other polymorphic loci was similar for the breeds, but the allele frequencies of the South African Merino differs from Merino breeds in other countries at the TF locus. Unbiased genetic distance values were the smallest between the Dorper and Dormer breeds and the largest between the Romenof and Blackhead Persian breeds, and the mean genetic distance between the 19 breeds was 0.067. The mean amount of differentiation among the breeds relative to ' the limiting amount under complete fixation (F st) was calculated at 0.123, which is an indication of small genetic differentiation between the breeds studied. However, this , statistic is not reflected by the allele distribution that was not identical for 25 breed pairs (15%) of the total (171) at all the genetic blood systems studied. None of the breed pairs showed identical allele distributions at all the loci studied for at least one locus differed at each breed pair compared. Random amplified polimorphic DNA's gave no consistent or repeatable results. The results of the allozyme study presents the first study of the current genetic characterization of the different southern African sheep breeds.

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

M.Ed. / The socio-political climate in South-Africa has led to an increase in the number of children experiencing anxiety-related symptoms. Children are observant and notice how their parents react and discuss with other adults the violence and uncontrollable crime rate that exists in our society at present. Society generally views childhood as a naturally happy time, free of responsibilities and worries. But the implication that children are somehow protected from the emotional effects of traumatic events is not true. Children are, in fact, as susceptible to trauma as adults. Many children have experienced incredible trauma first hand and these traumatic events can have a negative effect on the child's self concept and future functioning. Mother problem arising from the insecurity of the socio-political climate is that parents tend to feel that they have to take greater safety precautions, thus children are lacking opportunities for developing independence. Other stress aspects are the changes in family structures. One out of every three children will experience divorce, and will have to cope with the stress of reconstituted families. Not only is there stress involved in the process of divorce, but prior to the divorce conditions within the home are unbearable tense and full of conflict. Children in the South - African townships are often left in the care of extended families due to the fact that their parents may be working far from where they live and go to school. Because of the complexities and breakdown of family life, these children are often forced to get on with their lives and growing up on their own, with no or little family support. It is clear that our children of today often find themselves in positions that they are not developmentally and emotionally equipped to handle, and the instinct of survival is often what they rely on. The South African society consists of a set of complex and often polarised systems, each with its own difficulties. The need for intervention and therapy is great, but the resources are limited. Psychotherapy with a professional play therapist is just not a viable solution for many children. Not only is there a limit to the professional resources available, but a lot of parents see it as a waste of time and the financial cost can be crippling. The situational access is another problem that needs to be addressed. Many children are simply not in a physical position to gain access to therapy. It becomes clear every day that in South Africa, the Western view of individualised and specialised play therapy for children is simply not feasible in many instances. The objective of this research project is to describe the therapeutic process in order to establish certain guidelines regarding therapy with traumatized toddlers. The efficiency of this process will also be discussed. The design of this research project compelled a qualitative research strategy, where the researcher in this study is also the therapist. A participating research process is thus of importance in this project. This research project looks at the process and the implications of short term therapy, especially Narrative Therapy with toddlers between the ages of four to seven years. The project describes the therapy process of co-constructing new and preferred narratives with three clients by challenging dominant discourses of violence, death , loss and trauma. The results of the therapeutic process as well as the shortages and recommendations conconclude this research project.

M.Cur. / The purpose of nursing, as a human clinical health science, is to give a comprehensive, purposeful service to mankind in totality. This service must be supported by sound theoretical background. In ~he nurse's training, theoretical knowledge must be integrated with the practical situation to encourage the development of the student as a professional person, to an experienced practitioner. For the purpose of this study, a descriptive contextual research was done to determine to what extent the present block system training program facilitates the integration of theory and practice to the first year student. Through relevant literature search and by using the Nursing for the Whole Person theory, the model for accompaniment and the curriculum development model, a conceptual framework was compiled.