M. Tech. Business Administration / Financial distress and bankruptcy is one of the most significant threats to the going concern of many businesses, irrespective of their size and nature of operations. Research in corporate financial distress and corporate failure prediction dates back to the mid-sixties, and the bulk of the studies have been conducted within the context of highly developed market economies. Very little research has been conducted within the context of emerging markets, and using small and medium-sized firms. This therefore encouraged the author of this research report to conduct a study, applying a model specifically developed for emerging economies to predict financial distress of small and medium-sized South African listed firms. The main purpose of this study is to examine whether a model designed for financial distress prediction and credit scoring in emerging markets is reliable, and can be accurately applied in South Africa.

Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The area of study is the notion of validity in image-based research, i.e. research approaches where visual images such as photographs or video recordings form an integral part of one or more of the methods used. In the literature investigation chapters of the study, (1) the notion of validity is reviewed with special reference to contributions by Cook and Campbell, Guba and Lincoln, Kvale, Lather and Morse; (2) the inherent properties of visual images are discussed from a semiotic perspective, and (3) following a discussion of reflexivity in image-based research, the various domains of image-based research practice are demarcated according to the unit of analysis, the data format, the researcher role (outsider, insider, participant) and the production of the visual material (ex ante or ex post with weak or strong researcher control). The literature investigation chapters were taken as the point of departure for the development of a conceptual framework for assessing validity in image-based research, the mechanics of which are illustrated with reference to selected aspects of image-based research projects by Lomax and Casey, Clark and Zimmer, Rich and Chalfen, DuFon and Chaplin. The conceptual framework was refined on the strength of a Delphi study. The Delphi procedure involved canvassing and pooling the opinions of experts in the field of image-based research about issues of validity with a view to ensure that the assumptions made during the development of the conceptual framework fit sufficiently with image-based research practice. Flowing from the literature investigation chapters as well as the Delphi procedure, the central thesis of the study is that the notion of validity is in the first instance contextdependent and that this is compounded in the case of image-based research by the relative instability of iconic codes and the strong drift towards 'unlimited' semiosis inherent in the visual communication process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studieveld behels ‘n ondersoek na die gedagte van geldigheid soos van toepassing op beeldgebaseerde navorsing, d.w.s. navorsingsbenaderings waar visuele beelde soos foto’s of video-opnames ‘n integrale deel uitmaak maak een of meer van die metodes wat gebruik word. In die hoofstukke wat die literatuurstudie uitmaak, word (1) die gedagte van geldigheid onder die loep geneem met spesifieke verwysing na die bydraes van Cook en Campbell, Guba en Lincoln, Kvale, Lather en Morse, (2) word die inherente eienskappe van visuele beelde vanaf 'n semiotiese oogpunt bespreek, en (3) word die verskeie velde van beeldgebaseerde navorsingspraktyk afgebaken volgens die eenheid van ontleding, die dataformaat, die rol van die navorser (buitestaander, binnestaander, deelnemer) en die produksie van die visuele materiaal (ex ante of ex post met sterk of swak navorserkontrole). Die hoofstukke wat gemoeid is met die literatuurstudie is as vertrekpunt geneem vir die daarstelling van ‘n konsepsuele raamwerk vir geldigheid aangaande beeldgebaseerde navorsing, en die werking hiervan is geïllustreer met verwysing na geselekteerde aspekte van beeldgebaseerde navorsing deur Lomax en Casey, Clark en Zimmer, Rich en Chalfen, DuFon end Chaplin. Hierdie konsepsuele raamwerk is verder verfyn op grond van ‘n Delphi-prosedure. Die Delphi-prosedure het behels dat die opinies van deskundiges in die veld van beeldgebaseerde navorsing aangaande kwessies van geldigheid ingewin en saamgevoeg is met die oog om te verseker dat die aannames wat gemaak is ten tyde van die ontwikkeling van die konsepsuele raamwerk genoegsaam gepas is vir die praktyk van beeldgebaseerde navorsing. Die tesis van die studie, gebaseer op die uitkomste van die literatuurstudie en die Delphi-prosedure, is dat die gedagte van geldigheid konteks-afhanklik is, wat in die geval van beeldgebaseerde navorsing vererger word deur die feit dat ikoniese kodes relatiefonstabiel is en dat die proses van visuele kommunikasie 'n sterk tendens na 'eindelose' semiosis toon.

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African society presents a complex and diverse environment to social scientists. Within immense economic stratification; a multitude of cultures and classes; languages and their dialects; and varied racial groups, researchers attempt to produce information that contributes constructively to policy, programs and a host of services. Beneath the surface also lay complex power issues informed by both political and cultural histories. Many contexts in which researchers find themselves continue to be marginalised and oppressed due to factors such as illiteracy and low-levels of education, age, gender and poverty. These groups often include women and children, in particular adolescents. Qualitative visual methods may provide researchers with a tool by which to address many of the concerns raised in the literature surrounding research carried out under such conditions. Visual methods may remove inherent power imbalances, as well as traditional barriers, such as culture and language, that stem from more 'conservative' research methods. Images may allow participants to vocalise the taken-for-granted in their lives in an empowering manner. The recognition and use of visual images in research with marginalised and oppressed groups is being increasingly recognised by the larger research community. A preliminary overview of the available literature highlights existing disagreement surrounding the theoretical underpinnings of visual methods. This is particularly seen in the various and confusing levels of abstraction presented in the literature. The primary aim of this study is therefore, to gain clarity and understanding as regards the methodological and epistemological underpinnings of visual research methods within the social sciences. As such, a comprehensive literature review has been conducted. A second aim of the study is to set out a typology of methods that would be relevant for use in marginalised communities. The third aim of the study is empirical in nature and aims to highlight the role and/or possibilities of visual research methods within the South African social sciences research context. This is achieved by means of a case study which explores how motherhood is experienced by five teenagers in a sub-economic community outside of Cape Town. It does this by providing participants cameras with which to visually express their understanding and experiences of motherhood. Processed photographs in this case study have been analysed by means of informal discussion, directed by the images, with the participants themselves. These discussions were recorded and transcribed. The results of the interviews were then analysed using grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). The results emerging from this have been compared with relevant literature. In this way, results are also triangulated, adding to their reliability (Lucchinni, 1996). Consequently, results of this case study provide a comparative component by which to assess the applicability of visual methods in the South African research context. Both the literature review as well as experiences of the case study also form the basis of suggestions for further exploration. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap bied 'n komplekse en diverse omgewing aan sosiale wetenskaplikes. Binne hewige ekonomiese stratifikasie; 'n verskeidenheid kulture en klasse; tale en dialekte en diverse rassegroepe, poog navorsers om inligting te verskaf om 'n konstruktiewe bydrae te maak aan riglyne, programme en 'n legio dienste. Onder die oppervlakte lê daar ook komplekse magstryde afkomstig van beide 'n kuitereie en politieke geskiedenis. Vele omstandighede waarin navorsers hulself vind word steeds oorheers deur marginalisasie en onderdrukking as gevolg van faktore soos ongeletterdheid, lae vlakke van opvoeding, ouderdom, geslag en armoede. Hierdie groepe bestaan dikwels uit, onder andere, vroue en kinders. Kwalitatiewe visuele tegnieke mag navorsers van die nodige metodes voorsien waarmee verskeie probleme wat in die literatuur uitgelig word aangaande hierdie navorsing, aangespreek kan word. Visuele tegnieke mag inherente magsongelykhede, sowel as tradisionele struikelblokke, soos kultuur en taal wat afkomstig is uit meer 'konserwatiewe' navorsingstegnieke, verwyder. Uitbeeldings mag deelnemers toelaat om die vanselfsprekende in hullewens in 'n opbouende wyse te vokaliseer. Die identifisering en gebruik van visuele uitbeeldings in navorsing met gemarganaliseerde en onderdrukte groepe word tot 'n toenemende mate erken deur die uitgebreide navorsingsgemeenskap. 'n Voorlopige oorsig van die beskikbare literatuur beklemtoon bestaande onenigheid met betrekking tot die teoretiese fondamente van visuele tegnieke. Dit is veral duidelik sigbaar in die uitgebreide en verwarde vlakke van abstraktheid wat in die literatuur voorgestel word. Die primêre doelwit van hierdie studie is dus om groter helderheid en insig met betrekking tot die metodologiese en epistemologiese grondbeginsels van visuele metodes, soos dit in die sosiale wetenskappe voorkom, te verkry. Met hierdie doel voor oë is 'n uitgebreide literatuurondersoek onderneem. 'n Tweede doel van die studie is om 'n tipologie van metodes uiteen te sit wat relevant kan wees in gemarginaliseerde gemeenskappe. 'n Derde doel van die studie is empiries van aard en beoog om die rol en/of moontlikhede van visuele tegnieke binne die Suid-Afrikaanse sosiale wetenskaplike navorsings konteks te beklemtoon. Dit word bereik deur middel van 'n studie wat ondersoek hoe moederskap ondervind word deur vyf tieners in 'n sub-ekonomiese gemeenskap in die buitewyke van Kaapstad. Dit word uitgevoer deur deelnemers te voorsien van kameras waarmee hul begrip en ondervindings van moederskap visueel uitbeeld. 'n Verdere analise van hierdie studie is deur middel van informele besprekings uitgevoer met die deelnemers, begelei deur die uitbeeldings. Sodanige besprekings is opgeneem en getranskribeer. Die resultate verkry vanuit die onderhoude is daarna geanaliseer deur middel van begronde teorie (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Die resultate wat hieruit afkomstig was, is vergelyk met relevante literatuur. Op hierdie wyse is resultate bevestig, wat ook verder tot hul betroubaarheid gespreek het (Lucchinni, 1996). Die gevolg is dat die resultate van hierdie studie 'n vergelykende komponent verskaf waarmee die toepaslikheid van visuele tegnieke in die Suid-Afrikaanse navorsingskonteks gemeet kan word. Beide die literatuurstudie, asook die ondervindings vanuit die gevallestudie vorm die basis vir aanbevelings vir verdere ondersoek.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Change characterises life in the early twenty first century and higher education is no exception. Higher education in South Africa is currently in a considerable state of flux which ultimately is actualised at institutional level. It is academic staff who encounter these changes first hand. Technikon lecturers, in particular, are faced with additional challenges not faced by their university counterparts - they have been called upon to change from a primarily vocational to an academic alignment as a result of technikons being given the right to award degrees. This study conducts a cross sectional survey of academic staff at the Port Elizabeth Technikon to identify their academic workload, with particular reference to their research function. It also seeks to establish whether lecturers consider themselves to be adequately prepared for their research function. A review of the literature reveals that lecturers in higher education are involved in a wide variety of activities, the main ones being teaching, research, service, and scholarship. The literature review also shows that in overseas institutions with missions similar to the technikons, lecturers experienced changes to their workload as a result of the restructuring of higher education. The empirical study shows that academic staff at the Port Elizabeth Technikon have much in common with their international peers in terms of the changes and pressures that have been experienced. The work reality for lecturers at the named institution includes all the traditional elements associated with being academic: teaching, research, service and scholarship. Although research is a new function, this has been positively embraced by most staff and that in most cases lecturers consider themselves to be adequately prepared for this function. The empirical study also shows that more than one third of the respondents do not support the institutional vision of becoming "the first choice technological university of South Africa". Further, the study shows that, in common with other studies, staff were of the opinion that the institution undervalues teaching and that research attracts more recognition and rewards. Finally, it shows that significant numbers of staff work in excess of 50 hours per week and carry teaching loads that are greater than the institutional guidelines. Recommendations are made on the basis of these findings and a further avenue of research is suggested. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verandering is 'n kenmerk van die lewe in die vroee een-en-twintigste eeu en hoer onderwys is geen uitsondering nie. Hoer onderwys in Suid-Afrika ervaar tans 'n besonderse toe stand van veranderlikheid, maar dit is uiteindelik op onderwysinrigtingvlak wat did tot verwerkliking kom. Dit is akademiese personeel wat hierdie veranderings eerstehands ondervind. In die besonder word Technikonpersoneel gekonfronteer met uitdagings waaraan hulle universiteitsewekniee nie blootgestel word nie - daar word van hulle vereis om van 'n primere beroeps-orientering oor te skakel na 'n akademiese ingesteldheid as gevolg van die feit dat technikons die mandaat verkry het om grade toe te ken. Hierdie studie het 'n opname onder akademiese personeel aan die Port Elizabethse Technikon gedoen om vas te stel wat die personeel se akademiese werkslading is, met besondere verwysing na hulle navorsingsfunksie. Die ondersoek poog ook om vas te stel of lektore van mening is dat hulle genoegsaam voorberei is vir hulle navorsingsfunksie. 'n Literatuuroorsig toon dat lektore in hoer onderwys betrokke is by 'n bree verskeidenheid aktiwiteite, waarvan die belangrikste onderrig, navorsing, dienslewering en vakkundigheid (scholarship) is. Die literatuurstudie toon ook dat in ander lande aan inrigtings met soortgelyke doelstellings as die technikons, lektore veranderings in hulle werksladings ondervind het as gevolg van die herstrukturering van hoer onderwys wat teen die einde van die twintigste eeu plaasgevind het. Die empiriese studie toon dat akademiese personeel aan die Port Elizabethse Technikon met betrekking tot die veranderings en druk wat ondervind word veel in gemeen het met hulle intemasionale ewekniee, Die realiteit in die werkplek vir lektore by genoemde inrigting sluit al die tradisionele elemente in wat verband hou met die akademie: onderrig, navorsing, diens en vakkundigheid (scholarship). Alhoewel navorsing 'n nuwe funksie is, is dit deur die meerderheid personeel positief aanvaar en in die meeste gevalle is lektore van mening dat hulle vir hierdie funksie voldoende voorberei is. Die empiriese studie toon ook dat meer as een derde van die respondente nie die institusionele visie om "die eerste-keuse tegnologiese universiteit van Suid-Afrika te wees" ondersteun rue. Voorts toon die studie soos ook in ander studies, dat personeel van mening was dat die inrigting onderrig geringskat en dat meer erkenning en belonings aan navorsing gegee word. Laastens toon dit dat 'n beduidende aantal personeellede meer as 50 uur per week werk- en onderrigladings dra wat meer is as die riglyne van die inrigting. Op grond van hierdie bevindings word aanbevelings gemaak en 'n verdere navorsingsrigting voorgestel.

Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) is one of South Africa's leading commercial exotic species comprising nearly seven percent of South African forestry plantations. The planting of black wattle has become increasingly popular, initially for its high quality tannin content and in more recent times, for its wood and wood products. The industry also provides jobs for more than 36 000 people. Despite the commercial value of black wattle, if left unmanaged, it is one of South Africa's top invader species that aggressively colonise and rapidly out-competes indigenous vegetation. Thus, both plant breeders and environmentalists alike are faced with an interesting paradox of balancing the commercial significance of black wattle on the one hand with increasing environmental concern on the other. At the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR), black wattle breeding programmes are being designed and implemented in order to reduce invasiveness whilst still maintaining product quality. One way of minimising invasiveness is to decrease fertility through the introduction of semi-sterility; while at the same time leaving product yield and quality unaffected. A method of achieving semi-sterility is by the induction of autopolyploidy that results in unviable gametes. Autopolyploidy, tetraploidy, is induced chemically through doubling of the chromosomes of diploids. These induced tetraploids may then be crossed with diploids to produce triploids. Thus, an effective method to identify polyploids at the seedling stage would greatly facilitate the success of the abovementioned breeding programmes in the black wattle industry. Polyploidy in plants is often associated with physiological and biochemical changes that become apparent as gigantism of organs which include fruits, flowers and leaves. Polyploidy is also associated with an increase in the number of organelles such as the number of stomatal chloroplasts and nucleoli, as well as an increased production of some proteins and pigments such as chlorophyll. These ploidy-related manifestations are often utilised in breeding programmes to increase the size and quality of plant products as well as a tool to discriminate between polyploids and diploids. Two putative diagnostic procedures to differentiate between diploid and tetraploid black wattle were developed in this investigation. The study focused on the discriminating power of stomatal chloroplast numbers and arrangements as well as the chlorophyll content in the two different ploids. A number of associated experiments were initially conducted to establish the optimal conditions for chlorophyll content analyses such as the type of leaf material and storage conditions. Stomatal chloroplast frequencies were determined in diploid and tetraploid black wattle and comprised three lines per ploidy level with five plants per line. A thin epidermal layer from the abaxial surface of a pinnule was stripped, stained, mounted and 15 stomatal guard cells per plant were viewed at 40X magnification. The mean number of chloroplasts per cell in diploids (9.89 ± 0.222) was found to be statistically different (p < 0.001) to that of tetraploids (22.43 ± 0.222) with no overlapping of the mean chloroplast values between the two ploidy levels. The ratio of diploid and tetraploid stomatal chloroplast numbers was roughly 1:2. An analysis of the least significant difference (LSD) was performed and indicated significant differences between plants within lines, between lines of different ploids (LSD =0.6266), as well as between the different ploids (LSD =0.2802). Furthermore, stomatal chloroplasts spatial arrangements were distinctly different in diploids and tetraploids. In diploids, chloroplasts were clustered into two regions, each towards the extreme ends of the kidney shaped stomatal cells. In the tetraploids, no clustering of chloroplasts could be identified, with an even distribution around the convex curvature/perimeter of the cells. There are a number of factors that influence chlorophyll content and degradation, which are either environmental or genetic in nature. Environmental factors that were considered are sample age and sample storage conditions. Genetic factors include genetic composition and, specifically, the number of sets of chromosomes, that is, the ploidy. Chlorophyll content was investigated by chemically extracting chlorophyll from leaf material and obtaining absorbance spectra with a PerkinElmer UV/vis spectrometer for wavelengths from 400 nm to 700 nm. Chlorophyll absorbance spectra were generated in terms of leaves stored prior to chlorophyll extraction, leaves of different ages, trees of different ages and ploidy. The effects of storage of leaves on chlorophyll content were determined in five non-identical two year-old nursery diploid black wattle genotypes. Fifteen leaf samples from each genotype were either oven dried and then stored for one week or one month at room temperature, or frozen for one week or one month at -4 °C, before chlorophyll was extracted and absorbance spectra determined. Chlorophyll absorbance values of chlorophyll extracted from leaf material on the day of collection (day-0) was used as the control. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the chlorophyll absorbance values of the different storage treatments were all significantly lower than the chlorophyll absorbance values of the control (p < 0.001). Assessment of the mean chlorophyll absorbance (TĀ), sum of the three peak absorbance values at three wavelengths, namely, 433 nm, 456 nm and 663 nm, revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) from the control (TĀ = 1.275) for all treatments. Dried leaves that were stored for seven days (TĀ = 1.132) resulted in the least amount of chlorophyll degradation followed by 28 day ice storage (TĀ = 1.114), seven day ice storage (TĀ = 1.103) and lastly 28 day dried storage (TĀ = 1.093). An analysis of least significant differences (LSD) revealed that chlorophyll absorbance values within lines and between wavelengths were significantly different (LSD = 0.005). Furthermore, LSD analysis revealed significant differences between all treatments (LSD =0.003) which also supported the ANOVA findings. Chlorophyll absorbance values within dried and frozen treatments were compared with respect to storage time periods of one week and one month. It was noted that whilst all treatments decreased from the control (day-0), dried samples responded differently to storage periods as compared to frozen samples. Chlorophyll absorbance values of dried material decreased steadily over time from control to seven-day storage to one-month storage, whereas, in the case of frozen material, a similar trend could not be identified. A greater decrease from the control to seven day ice storage was recorded than for the decrease from the control to 28 day ice storage. The effects of tree and leaf ages of diploid black wattle on chlorophyll content were determined. Two types of leaf flushes namely, old and new flush, were examined in relation to different tree ages; two, four, six, eight and nine year-old; in order to assess whether the choice of material impacts on chlorophyll absorbance values. Five leaf samples from each tree were collected, bagged and chlorophyll extracted within two hours of collection. These chlorophyll absorbance values were compared to young diploid seedling material as a base-value and as a control value. An analysis of variance (ANOVA), revealed significant differences between tree ages and between leaf ages (p < 0.001). An analysis of least significant differences (LSD) revealed that new flush of all tree age groups were significantly different from the control (LSD = 0.006). This was mostly true for old flush, except that of six year-old old flush which was not significantly different from the control (LSD =0.006). The chlorophyll absorbance values of both old and new flush of different age groups produced spectral graphs for which no specific trends could be ascertained. Therefore, the data from the two flush types were pooled and revealed a marked increase in chlorophyll absorbance as trees became older. Moreover, this increase was more apparent in new flush than in old flush. Interestingly, juvenile characteristics were identified in two year-old black wattle trees, where a marked increase in chlorophyll content was noted. The effects of the number of chromosome sets on chlorophyll content were assessed for diploid and tetraploid black wattle. Seedlings, bagged juveniles as well as two year-old field trees were analysed. Three genetic lines per ploidy level comprising of ten plants per line were used in the analysis. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant increases of chlorophyll absorbance values (p < 0.001) for diploid seedlings (TĀ = 1.1086) to bagged trees (TĀ = 1.149) to field trees (TĀ = 1.224). Similar significant increases were recorded for the tetraploid seedlings (TĀ = 1.886) to bagged trees (TĀ = 1.931) to field trees (TĀ = 2.059). There were distinct differences in chlorophyll absorbance between the two levels of ploidy (LSD =0.002). Furthermore, chlorophyll absorbance within lines, between wavelengths were found not to be significant (p = 0.984), which was supported by an analysis of least significant differences (LSD = 0.004). Moreover, the ratio of diploid to tetraploid chlorophyll absorbance was roughly 2:3. Additionally, the increase of chlorophyll content from seedlings to bagged juveniles to field material of both diploid and tetraploid black wattle further supported the findings in the previous age study that there was an increase in chlorophyll content as the tree matures. Stomatal chloroplast frequencies and chlorophyll content have been identified as two methods that are able to effectively, and with ease, discern between diploid and tetraploid black wattle. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

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

D.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Sc. / Because of South Africa's high rate of population growth, it becomes more difficult to supply in the basic needs of people, of which water for personal use and food may be the most important. South Africa is a dry country with weak and marginal soils in most parts. This necessitates the effective use of these important natural resources. Recent legislation forces commercial agriculture to use care and sustainable methods in their resource use. Justification must also be made for ratio of resources used compared to the product delivered from that use. Therefore it is necessary to examine this use and the role it plays in the supply of basic human needs as well as economic growth. A study of these agricultural resources cannot be undertaken on a large scale, because every agricultural is unique. The purpose of this study is to generate an idea of the physical and agricultural environment of the Ohrigstad valley. This research is mostly based on the assimilation of previous studies and the comparing of results over time. This information is used to compare results from previous studies and to determine possible trends in factors_such as rainfall. A further study of the natural resources that attribute to effective commercial agriculture are made. From here the emphasis falls on the use and distribution of irrigation water to these activities in the valley. These natural sources of water and their means of distribution are studied and described. Rainfall as a direct source of water is determined by information regarding rainfall and microclimatic circumstances. Surface and subterraneous sources are described by information on the general hydrology and geohydrology of the study area. In such an environment there are many factors affecting the supply of water to agriculture such as: forestry, afforestation of riparian zones, as well as geological occurrences in the streambeds. Possible solutions for problems posed by these factors are discussed in relation to previous studies in similar areas, as well as the economic benefits that may be reaped because of such change. Finally the role that legislation (Water Act 36 of 1998) plays in the use of water by agriculture is discussed in terms of possible impacts that it may have on commercial agriculture in the area. In this study it has become clear that a lot more research must be done in such a project before any trends can be related and proved.

M.A. / Modern health-care services in general hospital settings are often characterised by mUltidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to patient care. The underlying rationale of these approaches lies in the potential pooling of specialised medical resources from a variety of medical fields. Consequently there is usually an increase in the diagnostic procedures available, theoretically offering a more comprehensive health service. Whilst the above approach is seen to be effective when the health-car~ team specialists subscribe to one encompassing paradigm, it is hypothesised that the existence of other alternative paradigms may affect the efficacy of team work. Using the interface between the Psychology and Renal units of J.G. Strijdom Hospital as an example, this study describes the effect of paradigmatic differences within a team approach on the conceptualisation of problems and treatment choices. The traditional medical approach is contrasted against a systems based psychological approach. The existence of the two approaches within a single team encounters difficulty in the gaining of consensus regarding the level of focus.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / In recent times an increasing trend has been seen towards approaching coronary heart disease (CHO) in a wider context. The best present research suggests that coronary heart disease is not a purely medical-physiological condition, nor is it an inevitable consequence of the aging process. Behavioral factors are as important in the development of CHO as are physiological processes, and the most salient behavioural pattern in this regard appears to be the Type A coronary prone behaviour pattern (TABP). Views regarding the aetiology of TABP are as yet inconsistent and the research evidence inconclusive, but it would seem that the family of origin is an important factor in the transmission of this behavioural pattern ...