M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / In this project, the author explores, analyses and interprets the experiences of a group of students and teachers who worked together at a farm school for almost a year. Certain pertinent questions relating to the nature of therapy, training, research and community work are examined. The dominant view is that therapy and community work are different activities, requiring different sets of skills, for which different training is needed. Fundamental to this discussion is the issue of what is meant by community. The author proposes that community can be usefully conceptualised as the meaning people give to the evolving processes of their inter-connectedness, and their co-creation of ideas. Furthermore, these processes contain the potential for individuals to experience personal shifts that may be described variously as learning/growth/change/transformation. There is impetus for transformation at the interface between connectedness and disconnectedness. This renders unnecessary any differentiation between the process of training students for clinical and community work. Central to all training would be a person's ability to connect and utilise this connectedness, or its counterpart of disconnectedness, in a meaningful way. Essentially all interactions, including those in a training, therapy, research and community context, could then be viewed as a process of co-creation around people's sense of connectedness disconnectedness. The implications of all the above are that the processes of co-creation of community constitute fundamental elements of training, therapy, research and community work. The author uses an alternative research paradigm, subscribing to the principles of ecological inquiry, according to which research and intervention are inseparable.

M.Ed. / This dissertation took as point of departure the problem definition of the report of the HSRC Working Committee on Curriculation and a great deal of attention was given to the curriculating role of the teacher at micro (classroom) level. The researcher tried to determine from available literature on this subject, what the viewpoint of other researchers were on the teacher's curriculating task at micro level. Almost without exception researchers were convinced that the teacher should play an important part as far as curriculum design, implementation and development are concerned. The researcher came to the conclusion that a lot of the reseachers are of the opinion that the word "curriculating" or "to curriculate" is part and parcel only of the meso (departmental) level, but in actual fact this term can only be relevant at the micro level. It is only the teacher who can actually "curriculate". People involved in curriculum development at the meso level can be called curriculum designers. Both teachers and curriculum designers are making use of the principles related to curriculum design, but they apply it in different ways. The second chapter was dedicated to the participants at the micro level. The two parties that play an active role at micro level are the teacher and the pupil, but there are also other people who are involved in the politics of education at micro level. Special attention was given to the teacher's role as curriculating and curriculum development agent in this regard. A proposal which flows from this dissertation is that student teachers and acting teachers must in one way or another be educated/trained to handle curriculum development as an applied skill. A training model for student teachers is also proposed, which should enable them to handle any given curriculum in a skilful way. In chapter 4 the assumptions that were made in the beginning of the study were tested against data obtained by means of an empirical survey. The data which has been obtained, confirmed the point of view that teachers feel that they have no say in matters related to the curriculum; that they are not trained properly in the handling of curricula and because of this they can not act as professionals. If the authorities were willing to adopt the recommendations proferred in this study it should lead to a more professional approach to curriculating, teaching and learning.

D.Cur. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of professional conduct by the nursing practitioner in clinical nursing care as reflected in post laparotomy and respiratory disorders in selected public hospitals in the Northern (Limpopo) Province, and to develop a programme to improve the quality of professional conduct by the nursing practitioner in public hospitals. Professional conduct in this study refers to the level of compliance with the SANC/Muller (1999) practice standards as refined by the researcher. The following dimensions are addressed in relation to post laparotomy patients and patients with respiratory disorders: knowledge, skills/competencies, scientifically-based care, recording, teamwork/networking, health promotion, therapeutic environment and accountability. The hypothesis for this study was that the quality of professional conduct by the nursing practitioner in clinical nursing care as reflected in post laparotomy and respiratory disorders is inadequate and non-compliant with the standards and criteria in selected public hospitals in the Northern (Limpopo) Province. The following research questions were addressed: a) What is the quality of professional conduct by the nursing practitioner in clinical nursing as reflected in practice setting of post laparotomy and respiratory disorders in selected public hospitals in the Northern (Limpopo) Province? b) What professional conduct programme should be developed to improve compliance with the standards and criteria? A quantitative evaluative descriptive and contextual survey was conducted consisting of: 1. Refinement of standards by the researcher 2. Baseline survey to evaluate the quality of professional conduct by the nursing practitioner in clinical nursing care as reflected in post laparotomy and respiratory disorders; 3. The development of a professional conduct programme as a remedial action strategy. The data collection method utilised strategies such as the use of trained evaluators, direct and indirect observations, individual and group interviews, and documentation analysis. Population and samples were selected from public hospitals that offer clinical nursing care to both post laparotomy patients and patients with respiratory disorders. The units that offered clinical nursing care to the same patients and the nursing practitioners who provide clinical nursing care to these patients were selected. A three point rating scale consisting of compliance (C) = 1, partial compliance (PC) = 0.5 and non-compliance (NC) = 0.0 was used to collect data. Statistical analysis system was used by the statistician to analyse the data. Individual items were analysed and percentages calculated. Then mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) on individual standard were determined. The results revealed that for practice standard one the nursing practitioner showed partial compliance (M = 0.375; SD = 0.197); practice standard two, the nursing practitioner showed partial compliance (M = 0.355; SD = 0.267) slightly lower than standard one; practice standard three the nursing practitioner showed non-compliance (M = 0.319; SD = 1.211); practice standard four, the nursing practitioner showed partial compliance (M = 0.552; SD = 0.180); practice standard five, the nursing practitioner showed partial compliance (M = 0.397; SD = 0.220); practice standard six, the nursing practitioner showed non-compliance (M = 0.238; SD .= 0.257), the lowest of all the standards; practice standard seven, the nursing practitioner showed partial compliance (M = 0.396; SD = 0.237); and practice standard eight, the nursing practitioner demonstrated partial compliance (M = 0.530; SD 0.267). The first research question was what is the level of compliance by the nursing practitioner with the standards and criteria in clinical nursing care in public hospitals in the Northern Province? The overall results for the eight standards showed partial compliance (M = 0.380; SD = 0.175). The second research question was what professional conduct programme should be developed to improve compliance with the standards and criteria. The professional conduct programme was developed based on the SANC/Muller practice standards as the theoretical foundation. Further analysis was done on contributory factors. There was a relationship between the recording format (78.9% inadequate) and compliance with practice standard three; scientifically-based recording on patient records rated low at all the selected hospitals (M = 0.319; SD = 0.211). There was also an association between supervision/support (85% inadequate) and practice standard six, indicating non-compliance (M = 0.238; SD = 0.257) and practice standard seven (M = 0.396; SD = 0.237). A relationship between availability of stock and supplies (69.4% inadequate) and practice standard one and two, was observed (M = 0.375; SD = 0.197) and (M = 0.355; SD = 0.269) respectively. There was, however, no relationship between staffing and the practice standards;

D.Cur. / There is currently lack of mobilization of the advanced psychiatric nurse as a resource person in the mental health services of the Gauteng Province. This lack of mobilization of the advanced psychiatric nurse as a resource person in the mental health services, is associated with her supervisors who are the psychiatric nurse managers. The purpose of this research was to develop and describe a model that could be implemented to guide the mobilization of the advanced psychiatric nurse as a resource person in the mental health services in order to facilitate her mental health. The research also focused on developing guidelines for the implementation of the model for the mobilization of the advanced psychiatric nurse as a resource person. The model: "Mobilization of the advanced psychiatric nurse as a resource person: an interactive process", together with its operational guidelines was developed by using a theory generative design, that is, qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. This model was developed according to Chinn and Kramer's (1995) approach to theory generation, namely: identification of the central concepts for the model by conducting a field study to explore and describe the views of the advanced psychiatric nurse and those of the psychiatric nurse managers with regard to the mobilization of the advanced psychiatric nurse as a resource person in the mental health services of Gauteng; analysing the data gathered through focus groups interviews from the sample of the advanced psychiatric nurses and form the sample of psychiatric nurse managers using Strauss and Corbin's (1990) open, axial, and selective coding approach to guide data analysis; analysing the data by identifying, defining, classifying the concepts and placing them into relationship with each other to form relationship statements as the conceptual framework for the model; describing the model using strategies proposed by Chinn and Kramer (1995) and then subjecting the model to evaluation by experts in theory generation; describing the guidelines for the implementation of the model in the clinical setting.

D.Litt. et Phil. / A plethora of research has been conducted on victims of township violence, detention and political unrest, but there is no research on car hijack victims or the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which could result from this crime. The implications of this lack of research are important because people are confronted by trauma on a daily basis but there are few guidelines for providing treatment. Hijackings are a somewhat recent phenomenon unlike other traumas such as wars and natural disasters, but the effects of hijacking are no less severe. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) always requires an initiating event which is assumed to be traumatic. The context in which car hijackings occur in South Africa can be considered to meet the criteria for what constitutes a traumatic event, which could possibly lead to the development of PTSD (Myerson, 1995). Not all crime victims who need professional assistance will enter therapy. This is often due to the victim's self-perception of weakness, feelings of embarrassment, or the perception that others will not understand their experience. A group-based intervention offers the advantages of reducing isolation, providing comfort and support, and eliminating feelings of stigma. For this reason it was important to analyse the nature of PTSD and how to intervene to aid the recovery from PTSD, in the South African context. The literature points to the recovery from PTSD as being contingent upon the psychotherapeutic input that the traumatised individual receives. This research focused on the development of a group-based cognitive behaviour intervention programme for victims who developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of car hijackings. Cognitive behavioural therapy is the only treatment modality that is supported by objective measures of success (Peterson, Prout & Schwartz, 1991) and has been found to be one of the most effective treatments (Kaplan & Sadock, 1993). In order to test the hypotheses, the Beck's Depression Inventory was used to measure the level of depression, the Spielburger's Stai Anxiety scale was used to measure the level of anxiety, and the CAPS and PCL were used to determine whether Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder existed in the individuals who participated in the study and the intensity and frequency of the symptoms.

M.Sc. (Zoology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Cur. / Managed healthcare was introduced in South Africa largely in order to control the rampant increase of medical costs, more especially in the private healthcare industry. Managed healthcare is a system of healthcare delivery, which ensures that cost effective quality care is provided to patients without jeopardising the health of the patient. Positive working relationships are necessary among the role players in the provision of cost effective quality care within the managed healthcare context. Role players experience problems in the delivery of healthcare, affecting their working relationships, which in turn affects the quality of care provided to patients. Because managed healthcare is a new concept in South Africa, little is known about the problems. As a result, there are no guidelines for the formulation of a strategy to enhance positive working relationships among the role players within the context of managed healthcare. Understanding the problems experienced by the role players will provide guidelines to the researcher to formulate a strategy to enhance positive working relationships, hence the reseacher sought to explore and describe these problems in the study. The purpose of the study is to formulate a strategy to enhance positive working relationships among the role players within the managed healthcare context in Gauteng. The specific objective is to explore and describe the problems experienced by the role players, as well as the possible solutions within the managed healthcare context in Gauteng. The relevant research questions are: * What are the problems experienced by the role players within the managed healthcare context in Gauteng, and what are the recommended solutions to counteract these problems? * What strategy can be formulated to enhance positive working relationships among the role players within the managed healthcare context in Gauteng? A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was followed to answer the research questions. Focus group interviews and a workshop were conducted to collect data and a content analysis was conducted as described by Tesch (1990). The results were analysed in two phases: the problems experienced and the suggested solutions to counteract these problems. A strategy to enhance positive working realtionships was suggested. The strategy, which is based on role player empowerment, staff development, staff recruitment and selection, use of advanced information technology and standardisation of methods across managed healthcare industry, was derived from a synthesis of solutions suggested by the participants. Guba and Lincoln's (1983:290) principles of trustworthiness were employed by the researcher and the ethical standards as set by DENOSA (1998) were adhered to by the researcher to facilitate the quality of the study. It was recommended that the strategy be implemented and evaluated for its effectiveness by evaluating the quality of working relationships among the role players and that ethical standards be formulated in managed healthcare.

M.Sc. Zoology / Only a few species of the family Diplozoidae have previously been described from Africa, from various Labeo and Barbus species. An investigation was undertaken respectively in the Vaal Dam and Vaal River Barrage in the Vaal River system, South Africa to determine aspects of the morphology, taxonomy and ecology of specimens of this family collected from the gills of Barbus aeneus. Various fish species, namely B. aeneus, Barbus kimberleyensis, Labeo capensis, Labeo umbratus, Cyprinus carpio, Clarias gariepinus and Micropterus salmoides, were collected with the aid of gill nets. The fish were killed and the length, weight and sex determined. The gills were removed from the left and right gill chambers, placed in separate, marked petri dishes and covered with water from the dam. Gills (from first to fourth pair) were examined with the aid of a dissection microscope. The position of attachment and the region on the gill namely dorsal, median or ventral, was noted. Parasites were removed, fixed between a cover slip and glass slide in steaming hot aceto-formaldehyde alcohol and preserved in 70 % ethanol. A morphological study was undertaken. Results of a Scanning Electron Microscopy study illustrated the following external characteristics namely a round opisthohaptor with four pairs of clamps, while study of whole mounts revealed larval hooks, a round-ended intestine and eggs without filaments. Graphic reconstruction of serial sections of the reproductive system of parasites embedded in resin revealed that the vas deferens of one individual opens into the common vitelline duct of the other. Parasites were identified as belonging to the genus Paradiplozoon. The morphological characteristics, namely the round opisthohaptor, intestine with rounded ending, egg without filament and morphological measurements, of various structures (for example, total body length) that differ from other species of this genus, led to the establishment of a new species, that is, P. alwinii.

While existing literature shows a considerable increase in the numbers of women in academia research on the experiences of women in universities has noted their continued occupation of lower status academic positions in relation to their male counterparts. As the ladder gets higher, the number of women seems to drop. These studies indicate the marginalization of women in academic settings, highlighting the various forms of subtle and overt discrimination and exclusion women face in academic work environments. In this study I ask how academic women in South Africa narrate their experience of being ‘outside in’ the teaching machine. It has been argued that intertwined sexist, patriarchal and phallocentric knowledges and practices in academic institutions produce various forms of discrimination, inequality, oppression and marginalization. Academic women report feeling invisible and retreating to the margins so as to avoid victimization and discrimination. Others have pointed to the tension between the ‘tenure clock’ and the ‘biological clock’ as a source of anxiety among academic women. Where a masculinised presentation of the self is adopted as a solution to this dilemma, the devaluation of the feminine in the academic space is confirmed. However, experiences of academic women are not identical. In the context of studies showing the importance of existing personal and social resources, prior experience and having mentors and role models in the negotiation of inequality and discrimination, I document the narratives of women academics who are the first in their families to graduate with a university degree. These first-generation academic women are therefore least likely to have access to social and cultural resources and prior experiences that can render the academic space more hospitable for the marginalised. Employing Spivak’s deconstruction of the concept of marginalisation as my primary interpretive lens, I explore the way in which, in their narratives, first-generation academic women negotiate marginality. These narratives depict a marginality that might be described, following Spivak, as ‘outside/in’, that is, as complex and involving moments of accommodation and resistance, losses and gains, pain and pride.

M.A. / Conduct disorder is one of the most frequently diagnosed childhood disorders. The prevalence of this disorder has increased over the past few decades, which has ramifications for many facets of society, such as with families, justice systems, institutions involved with the rehabilitation of these children, and society as a whole. Conduct disorder has been found to be stable over time, and is therefore often associated with problems later in life such as violent crime, alcoholism, marital discord, and antisocial personality disorder. There have been many theories advanced for the aetiology of conduct disorder, but it is generally a bio-psychosocial model, rather than a single theory that receives the most attention when considering the development of this disorder. Included within such a model are variables such as a genetic component, neuropsychological factor, comorbid factor, socio-economic element, and a social learning component, that are involved with the development and maintenance of conduct disorder. One of the most consistently researched aspects involved within such models proposed for the aetiology of conduct disorder has been the role that certain parental styles have in the development of conduct disorder. Parental styles and the home environment have been consistently found to be a precursor of conduct disorder in foreign studies, however there is a lack of research within a South African context in this area. In order to establish whether there are specific styles of parenting related to conduct disorder in a South African sample, two measuring instruments were utilised, which were the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and the Family Environment Scale (FES). The PBI and FES were administered to two groups of adolescents (n=80): one group of males (n=40) diagnosed with conduct disorder, and one group of males (n=40) without a diagnosis of conduct disorder. These instruments were used in order to establish if there were any differences in the perceived style of parenting between the two groups. The study yielded results that are similar to those found in foreign based studies. It was found with the South African sample, that a parenting style characterised by a low amount of care on the part of the mother, and overprotection on the part of the father was found within the conduct disorder group. Together these form a Parenting style of `affectionless control'. These parents were found to exert a high amount of control over their children, have a low expressiveness of emotions and feelings, have a low involvement with their children, and were poor at supervising and monitoring their children. These results indicate that parental styles could be a precursor of conduct disorder within a South African context. The implications of these results are discussed as well as the limitations of the study. Recommendations for future research and possible applications of the results are delineated.