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The Problem. Can personality characteristics be identified that distinguish the open school principal from the non-open school principal? The Purpose. To develop a profile of open and non-open school principals as measured by the Sixteen Personality Factor (16 PF) and the Characteristics of Principal Effectiveness Questionnaire (COPE), a researcher-developed instrument. The Procedure. Open and non-open schools in several large school districts were identified. The degree of school openness was verified by teacher responses to the Walberg-Thomas Teacher Rating Scale. School Principals responded to the Sixteen Personality Factor (16 PF) and the Characteristics of Principal Effectiveness Questionnaire (COPE). Null Hypotheses: (1) There is no difference between open schools and non-open schools as measured by the Walberg-Thomas Teacher Questionnaire; (2) there is no difference between open and non-open principals in scores on the Characteristics of Principal Effectiveness Questionnaire; (3) there is no difference between open and non-open principals in scale scores on the 16 PF; (4) there is no difference or interaction between open and non-open schools and principals with high and low scores on the COPE in scale scores on the 16 PF. Conclusions. Null hypothesis 1 rejected: School openness can be measured by the Walberg-Thomas, and open schools differ significantly from non-open. Null hypothesis 2 retained: There were not significant differences in principal response to the COPE. Null hypothesis 3 rejected: Principals of open schools differed significantly from principals of non-open schools on three factors. Open school principals were more venturesome, impulsive, and self-assured than non-open school principals. Null hypothesis 4 rejected: There were differences between open and non-open principals in personality factors when considered with their views on goal setting and achievement, task achievement, and job satisfaction. Interaction significance was obtained when organizational energy and job compatibility were considered. Recommendations. (1) Individual personalities and views of characteristics of effectiveness be considered when placing principals in open or non-open schools; (2) Replication of the study with a larger sample; (3) replication of the study with schools more greatly polarized on the open and non-open continuum.

The primary purpose of this study is to determine if three coping strategies (exercise, hobbies, and social support) were related to some or all of the three dimensions of burnout (Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment). One hundred and forty-three secondary school teachers from schools in urban and suburban areas of Eastern Canada participated in this study. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to assess burnout scores and a coping strategies questionnaire was used to assess participation in activities. Exercise and social support were positively related to the Personal Accomplishment dimension of burnout.

No description available.

The perspective on the social construction of childhood has dominated research on children and childhood in recent years. The aim of this study was to contribute to these debates and gain an understanding of the vulnerabilities and resiliency factors in the lives of children from a working class schooling context in KwaZulu-Natal. Twenty seven children, twelve boys and fifteen girls were interviewed using interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. Participatory research techniques including children's drawings and mind mapping were used. The children's perspectives revealed that there are various risk factors that they are exposed to which include crime, violence, bullying, racism from teachers, gender stereotyping, child abuse, pollution, HIV/Aids, alcohol and drug abuse. Concerns that children have about their future include possible unemployment of their parents, the rising cost of schooling and contracting HIV/ Aids. Despite this, the children identified various resiliency factors in their lives such as grand parents, good neighbours, caring teachers and a comprehensive school programme that includes sport. A common theme across participants in this study was religion as an identifying and resiliency factor in their lives. The findings stress the need for schools to address exclusionary pressures that impact on the well-being of children in this schooling context. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu- Natal, 2005.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / Department of Educational Psychology

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Math anxiety is a greatly understudied construct in children. In adult and adolescent samples, research shows that a number of factors are related to math anxiety including negative self-perceptions and outcomes. It is unknown if these same factors are related to math anxiety in children. This study was conducted to identify factors related to math anxiety in second grade children. Using Bandura's (1989) theory of triadic reciprocity as a theoretical model, children (n=91) and their parents (n=81) completed a series of self-report measures on math anxiety, math self-concept, reading self-concept, math self-efficacy, and aspects of the home math environment. Results indicated that the strongest predictor of math anxiety in second grade children was their level of math self-concept. The addition of environmental factors did not significantly increase the amount variance explained in math anxiety. Furthermore, despite research with adults that shows strong gender differences in math anxiety, no gender differences in math anxiety were found in second grade children. The discussion focuses on possible explanations for these findings as well as directions for future research. / Department of Educational Psychology

Adolescents’ (N = 272) psychological changes were examined at a residential academy for gifted junior and senior high school students in the Midwest. The School-Based Conception of Giftedness (Coleman & Cross, 2005) was drawn on to understand how school environment influences student development. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to inform the study. Outcome measurement data from the Youth Outcome Questionnaire Self-Report 2.0 (YOQ-SR) tracked students’ level of psychological distress over the course of an academic year. Using Latent Growth Curve Model (LGM) analysis, the initial level of distress did not impact how students’ stress levels changed over time. The results indicated a strong negative correlation (r =-.884) between the slope and quadratic change; meaning, the more a students’ level of stress increased the more rapidly they were able to reduce it over time. Overall, the change in stress formed an inverted-U shape, as students adapted to the challenges of the school. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with 9 senior students with a wide range of YOQ-SR scores at the beginning of their junior year. Four categories emerged from the interviews about student experiences at the academy: Psychological Changes, Academic Adjustment, Social Adjustment and Social Comparison. In essence, when participating in the academy, students experienced advanced personal development, improved management skills and developed a sense of readiness for college. / Department of Educational Psychology

The relationship between stress and performance in sport is a central topic of investigation for sport psychology and has been quantitatively explored in depth over the last 3 decades. The ability to cope effectively with stress is suggested to be one of the most important determinants in athletic performance (Patmore, 1990). Stress, however, means different things to different people. Apart from individual differences in preferred arousal levels, or the conditions and circumstances one athlete finds stressful in comparison to another athlete, psychological responses to stress contribute to athletes' perceptions about what is happening to them, and within them, during sports performance. Looking at the way athletes experience the dynamic shifts of emotions in sport may contribute to understanding the stress-performance relationship. This research uses a qualitative case-study approach to examine the competitive lives of five elite triathletes, with particular attention being paid to the perceptions the athletes have of their levels of control over their stress experiences. The concepts of reversal theory are used as one way of analysing and interpreting the data