The purpose of this research was to study job satisfaction among public school library media specialists based on the psychological needs of social needs, security needs, esteem needs, autonomy needs, and self actualization needs, according to Maslow's Hierarchy. Subjects were requested to respond to a questionnaire of 30 items pertaining to job satisfaction. Each item required two responses: first, as to the level of importance the item held; and secondly, the satisfaction currently received from that particular item.

The purpose of this study was to survey the subject certified staff of Florida public elementary schools to determine how elements of Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory were perceived as being met in their current school employment. The descriptive study utilized an instrument that listed each of the 16 job factors in Herzberg’s theory. The instrument was designed to allow subjects to mark each job factor as contributing to their job satisfaction, neutral, or contributing to their job dissatisfaction. The instrument also had areas to record various biographical data regarding the subjects. The survey was conducted on a randomly selected subject group that was stratified over the five regions of Florida public schools. A total of 586 usable surveys were returned, a return rate of 71%. An estimation approach to inferential statistics was used to analyze the data. Interval estimation of the data was done through the construction of confidence intervals at the .95 level. Each job factor was analyzed with regard to the group as a whole and with regard to selected biographical information, including sex, years of teaching experience, job position, and degree held by subject. The job factors of Advancement, Salary, and Personal Life were perceived by over half of the subjects as not contributing to their job satisfaction. The job factors of Achievement and Interpersonal Relationships with Students were perceived by over 90% of the subjects as contributing to their job satisfaction. There was no significant difference between male and female subjects on all job factors with the exception of Responsibility. There was no significant difference between subjects with M.A. degrees and subjects with B.A. degrees with regard to any job factor. Subjects with the most years of teaching experience tended to have more members that perceived job factors as contributing to their job satisfaction than subjects with lesser years of teaching experience. It is recommended that further research be undertaken to determine the perceptions of certified personnel in Florida’s public secondary schools.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study examined relationships among epistemic beliefs, achievement goals, self-regulated learning, cognitive strategy use, and academic performance for 131 sixth graders and 100 eighth graders.

Text in Afrikaans / The child in early middle childhood experiences certain developmental changes. He is absorbed in the foundation phase of the formal education system and parents are no longer the most important authoritative figures. Social interaction now also includes the school environment and peer groups start playing a very important role. To face the new challenges, the possession of EI skills is of cardinal importance. The ability to observe, recognise and understand personal and other people's emotions and to react correctly is now developed. The study, a quantitive research process, is directed by holism as the point of departure from the Gestalt approach in which `totality' is a key concept. According to this concept all situations in the child's terms of reference will influence his development, including the parental style of his parents. The purpose of the study therefore was to determine and describe the correlation between parental style and emotional intelligence. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Dissertation / This study examined the experiential world of adolescents in the middle and late phases of adolescent development with homosexual parents. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore homosexual parenting and societal reactions to this phenomenon. Thereafter, Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems theory of child development was highlighted followed by a synopsis comprising different dimensions of the development of adolescents in the middle and late phases of adolescent development. The empirical investigation was carried out through qualitative research methodology. In-depth case studies selected by purposeful sampling were carried out with three adolescents, each of whom had a homosexual father. Although the qualitative data is not generalisable, the findings of the case studies revealed similarities in the life worlds of the adolescents. The participants were affected by the discovery of their father’s homosexuality, but they chose to accept their father’s sexual orientation and sought a relationship with him. Finally, recommendations for practice were made. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Afrikaans text / Met hierdie studie is beoog om leerders se persepsies van skool vas te stel en om riglyne vir ouers daar te stel om leerders met negatiewe persepsies van skool te hanteer. Daar is beoog om hierdie riglyne deur middel van praktiese modelle en werksvelle te implementeer sodat ouers begrip vir kinders se persepsies kan verkry en dat konflik opgelos kan word deur middel van positiewe kommunikasie. In die literatuurstudie word ondersoek ingestel na persepsievorming en die oorsake vir die vorming van negatiewe persepsies van skool. ‘n Persepsie word gevorm deurdat betekenis aan ‘n ervaring, op grond van die persoon se verwysingsraamwerk gegee word. Interne- sowel as eksterne faktore speel ‘n rol wanneer persepsies gevorm word. Eksterne faktore behels die verhouding met rolspelers soos: die ouers, die skool en onderwysers, die portuurgroep en die leerder se verhouding met homself. Interne faktore wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is, behels: lokus van kontrole, motivering, emosionele probleme, kognitiewe probleme en gedragsprobleme.Die navorsingsprobleem is verken met behulp van ‘n loodsondersoek as ‘n voortoets en diagnostiese vraelys wat deur die navorsingsgroep van 50 leerders voltooi is. Onderhoude is met vyf leerders gevoer oor hulle ervaringe en behoeftes met betrekking tot hulle persepsies van skool. Bevindinge dui aan dat ongeveer ‘n vyfde van die skool se leerders oor ‘n negatiewe persepsie van skool beskik. In die vraelys is leerders se persepsies ten opsigte van verskeie rolspelers vasgestel. Daar bestaan behoefte by leerders dat ouers betrokke en ondersteunend sal wees en dat ouers begrip vir hulle persepsies sal toon. Deur middel van praktiese diagramme en werksvelle is begrip en positiewe kommunikasie tussen ouer en kind bewerkstellig. In Hoofstuk 6 word praktiese riglyne aan ouers gegee oor hoe om sy kind, met ‘n negatiewe persepsie van skool, te hanteer. Op hierdie wyse is gepoog dat leerders positiewe ervaringe sal geniet; ‘n positiewe verwysingsraamwerk sal vorm en sodoende positiewe persepsies van skool sal vorm. ‘n Bydrae is ten opsigte van ouerleiding gelewer. Ouers word toegerus om ‘n kind met negatiewe persepsies van skool met begrip te hanteer. / The aim of this study was to determine learners’ perceptions of school and to provide guidelines for parents to deal with negative perceptions of school. These guidelines were implemented using practical models as well as work sheets. These were specifically aimed at enhancing parents’ understanding of the negative perceptions and resolving conflict through positive communication. In the literary study, the constitution of perceptions as well as the causes of the constitution of negative perceptions was investigated. A perception is established when a person gives meaning to an experience based on that person’s frame of reference. Internal and external factors play a part when perceptions are constituted. External factors in this study entail the relationship with parents, school and teachers, peer group and the learner's relationship with himself. Internal factors referred to in this study are locus of control, motivation, emotional problems, cognitive problems and behavioural problems. vii The research problem was explored using a pilot investigation as pre-test. A diagnostic questionnaire was also completed by 50 learners. Five learners were interviewed about their experiences and needs specifically in relation to their perceptions of school. Findings show that approximately one fifth of the learners of the school have negative perceptions of school. In the questionnaire, the learners’ perceptions with respect to a variety of role players were determined. There is a definite need for parents to be involved and supportive. Learners also need them to show understanding for their perceptions. Positive communication and understanding between parents and learners were established through practical diagrams and work sheets. In Chapter 6 practical guidelines are given to equip parents to understand how to handle the child with negative perceptions. The aim of this was to encourage learners to enjoy positive experiences, to form a positive frame of reference and therefore develop positive perceptions of school. A contribution towards parental guidance was made. Parents are left equipped to deal with a child with negative perceptions of school. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

The focus of this dissertation revolved around the phenomenon of friendship, specifically amongst adolescents. Friendship is a universal phenomenon, that occurs in every race, culture and religion. Within friendship there are some universal aspects that were investigated. The research attempted to understand the phenomenon of friendship amongst the developmental phase of the adolescent. Furthermore, the effect of friendship on the adolescent’s general psychological functioning had been investigated. The research came to the conclusion that friendship does have a positive influence on an adolescent’s general psychological functioning but that some psychological factors, such as communication skills, social skills and self confidence need to be developed to a certain extent in order for friendship to have a positive influence on the adolescent’s psychological functioning. If these psychological factors are however not in place, friendship may to a certain extent highlight an adolescent’s weaknesses and reinforce his/her social inadequacy, inferiority, lack of self confidence and negative self talk. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Text in Afrikaans / Die invloed van die persoonskonstruk, lokus van kontrole, op die akademiese prestasie van leerlinge in die senior sekondere skoolfase is aangespreek. Literatuur bevestig 'n verband tussen lokus van kontrole en akademiese prestasie. Interne kontrole word met hoe akademiese prestasie en verantwoordelikheidsaanvaarding geassosieer. Persoonlikheidskenmerke van intern of ekstern georienteerde leerlinge, die invloed van lokus van kontrole op persoonlike perspektief, selfkonsep en akademiese prestasie toon dat internes hulself as bekwaam, effektief en suksesvol beskou terwyl eksternes meer negatiewe persoonskenmerke beklemtoon. Die CNS-IE en IAR vraelyste is gebruik om algemene- en akademiese lokus van kontrole onderskeidelik te meet. Leerlinge wat akademies volgens vermoe presteer, behaal hoer interne tellings as die wat onderpresteer. Geen een-tot-een verwantskap tussen lokus van kontrole en akademiese prestasie is tydens die empiriese ondersoek gevind nie. Daar is dus ander faktore wat saam met lokus van kontrole die akademiese prestasie van senior sekondere leerlinge beinvloed. / The influence of the personality construct, locus of control, on the academic achievement of pupils in the senior secondary school phase was investigated. Literature confirms a relation between locus of control and academic achievement. Internal control is associated with high academic achievement and acceptance of responsibility. Personality characteristics of internals and externals, the influence of locus of control on personal perspective, self-concept and academic achievement shows that internals view themselves as capable, ef cient and succesful while externals emphasise more negative personality characteristics. The CNS IE and IAR were used to measure general and academic locus of control. Academic achievers obtained higher internal scores than underachievers on both questionnaires. The results of the Empirical research indicate that locus of control is not the sole determinant of academic achievement. Therefore, other factors in conjunction with locus of control influence academic achievement. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

This study reviews literature regarding the antecedents of locus of control. The development of locus of control in children is found to be related to parent attitudes, behaviours and interactions between parents and children. Literature was further consulted to understand the relationship between parenting and locus of control development. It was decided, based on continued review of literature, that parent guidance based on a social cognitive learning approach was a valid therapeutic model to enhance internal locus of control in children. The parent guidance model proposed in this study was based on parenting guidelines to enhance internal locus of control in children. The aim is to bring about transformation of parent attitudes and behaviours through therapeutic means, which will produce change in the parent-child relationship. This interaction was expected to lead to enhanced internality in the child participants. The empirical study engaged a predominantly qualitative methodology, using an action research design. The sample consisted of 14 families representing various racial groups and family structures. Data collection methods included questionnaires, observation and focus groups to determine the effectiveness of the proposed therapeutic model. Results showed that group parent guidance based on a social cognitive learning approach and focussing on development, responsibility, consistency, home environment, parent style, emotional intelligence, modelling, discipline and roles of mothers and fathers is effective in enhancing internal locus of control in primary school children. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)