The goal of this work is a design and implementation of an on-board driver’s assistance and assessment system. The system overcomes the problem that typical evaluation of skills is performed by experts who may be subjective and are able to consider only a limited number of factors and indicators. The proposed solution is based on eight indicators, which are associated with the vehicle’s speed, acceleration, jerk, engine rotational speed and driving time. These indicators are used to estimate three driving style criteria: safety, economy and comfort. The comprehensive evaluation is done by merging all indicators into one final score. The system is designed according to User-Centred Design method and follows Internet of Things concept. Raspberry Pi minicomputer is used as a central unit to acquire and store the data during the ride and sending them to a server using GSM network. OBD-II interface is used to obtain the data from the vehicle’s network and GPS and accelerometer modules to acquire additional information. MATLAB environment on a local PC is used to process collected data. An outline of the measurements available from ODB-II interface depending on a car model is made. The proposed system has been implemented and evaluated. The evaluation, conducted by collecting readings for specific road actions at different speeds and with different dynamics, confirms that the chosen indicators reliably represent driver’s behaviour. The system was experimentally validated on a group of drivers. The obtained results prove the system’s ability to quantitatively distinguish different driving styles. The system's stability and usability were verified on long-route test. Moreover, the used spider diagram approach established a convenient visualization platform for multidimensional comparison of the result and comprehensive assessment in an intelligible manner. Overall conclusion is that the developed system is a reliable method of the drivers’ behaviour evaluation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:13:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RobinsonDM_TESE.pdf: 3267112 bytes, checksum: 3411d9a4e8c3c02b26cc288a2882d6c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-11-28 / No Brasil, a despeito das conquistas obtidas a partir da implanta??o do Sistema ?nico de Sa?de e dos avan?os legais e institucionais na aten??o a diversos problemas relacionados ao g?nero, a incorpora??o de temas relacionados aos direitos humanos, sexuais e reprodutivos no contexto da forma??o profissional em sa?de permanece deficiente. Este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a inser??o da tem?tica sa?de sexual e reprodutiva no curr?culo do curso de gradua??o em Medicina, por meio do emprego de avalia??es de conte?do cognitivo, procedimental e atitudinal. Trata-se de estudo de interven??o educacional envolvendo alunos do internato do curso de Medicina da UFRN. Foram utilizados os seguintes m?todos avaliativos: prova escrita, exame cl?nico objetivo estruturado (OSCE) e Mini-CEX. Como vari?veis explicativas foram consideradas o sexo, idade e participa??o pr?via no componente curricular optativo Sa?de Reprodutiva . A avalia??o do processo constou da aplica??o de question?rios de satisfa??o e entrevistas acerca dos m?todos avaliativos utilizados. Considerando os tr?s m?todos avaliativos empregados, 183 estudantes participaram do estudo, com m?dia de idade de 24,5 ? 2,2 anos, sendo 52,5% do sexo masculino e 47,5% do sexo feminino. No contexto geral, observamos concord?ncia entre os desempenhos dos estudantes nas avalia??es de conte?do cognitivo, procedimental e atitudinal. A participa??o dos estudantes no componente curricular eletivo Sa?de Reprodutiva mostrou-se associada com melhor desempenho em algumas dimens?es da avalia??o cognitiva e na avalia??o com o Mini-CEX, em rela??o ?s compet?ncias de anamnese, profissionalismo e qualidades human?sticas, rela??o m?dico paciente e desempenho global. A an?lise da fidedignidade entre os avaliadores na avalia??o com o m?todo OSCE mostrou-se adequada (alfa de Cronbach superior a 70%) em rela??o ao desempenho global e aos aspectos t?cnicos das compet?ncias avaliadas, observando-se baixa confiabilidade na avalia??o da comunica??o m?dico-paciente. O presente trabalho constitui-se numa experi?ncia educacional inovadora e pioneira no ?mbito da educa??o m?dica brasileira no que tange ? inser??o da tem?tica de sa?de sexual e reprodutiva na gradua??o, sugerindo-se um impacto positivo da iniciativa na forma??o do m?dico generalista na UFRN. A avalia??o de conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes em sa?de sexual e reprodutiva na gradua??o de Medicina mostrou-se fact?vel, com alta concord?ncia entre os diferentes m?todos empregados. Os m?todos OSCE e Mini-CEX podem ser aplicados ao contexto da sa?de sexual e reprodutiva, possibilitando a avalia??o de compet?ncias cl?nicas relevantes para a forma??o do m?dico generalista e que habitualmente n?o s?o contempladas nas avalia??es rotineiramente realizadas na gradua??o

Cette étude a pour objet d'évaluer la pertinence de l'application du dispositif de bilan de compétences et l'évolution de ses effets psychologiques pour les salariés, dans un pays où il n'est pas pratiqué, et où l'environnement professionnel et socio-culturel diffère du modèle occidental. Ce dispositif a été appliqué en tant qu'outil au service des ressources humaines au sein d'une entreprise de construction automobile en Iran. Pour cela, nous avons fait une étude longitudinale en deux temps avec cinq mois et demi d'intervalle, T1 avant et T2 après le bilan, avec deux groupes de salariés : un groupe expérimental qui a fait le bilan (n=32), et un groupe contrôle (n=30). Les résultats révèlent un renforcement du niveau de l'estime de soi, une meilleure auto-connaissance, une amélioration de la gestion du stress et une augmentation de la motivation au travail. Nous avons tenté à partir d'un échantillon relativement modeste de démontrer que cette démarche de professionnalisation d'orientation des adultes peut être transposée dans certaines conditions aux contextes civilisationnels différents. Son application peut être considérée comme une alternative de soutien et d'aide pour les salariés. C'est à partir des effets de ce dispositif que notre étude contribue au cumul de connaissances scientifiques, dans des contextes socioculturels différents. / This study aims to estimate the suitability of the application of skills assessment device and development of its psychological effects on employees, in a country where it is not practiced, and where the work environment and the culture is different from here. That is to say, the application of this device as an instrument for human resources in a car manufacturing company in Iran, in a different sociocultural context of the Western model. For this, we made a longitudinal study in two stages with five and a half months apart, before T1 and T2 after the skills assessment, with two employee groups : an experimental group that has done the skills assessment (n=32), and a control group (n=30). Results show an enhanced level of self-esteem, better self-knowledge, better stress management and increased motivation to work. We tried from a relatively small sample to demonstrate that the approach of professional adult guidance can be implemented under certain conditions to different civilizational contexts. Its application can be considered as an alternative support and assistance for employees with another culture. It is from the effects of this device that our study contributes to the plurality of scientific knowledge in different sociocultural context.

Cette recherche doctorale vise à faire la lumière sur un paradoxe : alors que l'impact des différences culturelles sur les relations de travail est reconnu, la Gestion des Ressources Humaines n'utilise pas tous les leviers dont elle dispose pour aider ses managers à être performants dans les situations interculturelles. Notre travail s'appuie sur l'étude d'un cas unique, celui de Renault où 74 entretiens semi-directifs ont été menés dans une démarche qualitative. Les résultats mettent au jour une vision restrictive de la compétence interculturelle, qui assimile cette compétence à l'expatriation et à ceux qui l'ont vécue. Ces représentations ancrées dans l'histoire de l'internationalisation de l'entreprise influencent les pratiques de GRH et ne correspondent plus tout à fait à la réalité interculturelle de l'entreprise. En effet, notre étude révèle que, suivant la combinaison de ses dimensions, cette compétence donne lieu à une diversité de profils interculturels plus ou moins adaptés à des contextes interculturels variés. Notre contribution théorique consiste donc en une relecture du concept propre à nourrir des pratiques de GRH visant à améliorer l'adéquation entre besoins et ressources en compétences. Dans une logique nouvelle, nous proposons de renoncer à l'évaluation des compétences des individus et de concentrer l'analyse sur l'identification systématique des besoins. Notre contribution managériale porte sur la proposition de pratiques de GRH, dont des variables d'analyse de la complexité interculturelle des contextes. La relecture du concept de compétence interculturelle que nous défendons dans cette recherche peut être proposée à toute entreprise multinationale. / This doctoral research intends to understand a paradox: while the impact of cultural differences on business relationships are well known, the HR function does not equip the managers with the tools necessary to deal adequately with cross-cultural situations. This work is based on a case study conducted at Renault through 74 qualitative interviews. The results show a restrictive understanding of the intercultural competence (ICC) which is equated with expatriation, acquired "automatically," by those assigned to work overseas. It follows that the HR practices based on these beliefs, inherited from an era of rapid international expansion for Renault, no longer correspond to today's cross-cultural reality. Indeed, our findings suggest that, the ICC dimensions combine in multiple ways, resulting in managerial profiles which are more or less adapted according to the professional context. Our main theoretical contribution is the review of the concept of ICC, allowing the HR function to more effectively match competencies to the needs of a given situation. This new approach proposes abandoning individuals' competency assessment to concentrate on a systematic identification of the needs. Secondly, we aim to provide adapted practices for use within the HR function.

Selective mutism(SM) is a !disorder in which children capable of speech do not speak in certain situations. SM is often related to social phobia (SP); however, the exact relationship between the two conditions is unclear. To obtain a better understanding of the relationship of SM and SP, 8 children with SM, 8 with SP, and 7 typically developing children (ranging in age from 7-13) were compared on measures of physiology(heart rate, skin temperature, and skin conductance responses), and self-report and parent-report measures. The physiological measures were recorded during two social interaction tasks (a role-play task and a reading aloud task). Despite our expectation that children with SM should show higher physiological arousal during these tasks, the results revealed no conclusive physiological differences between the two groups. These finding suggest that the current conceptualization of selective mutism simply as an extreme form of social phobia may be incorrect.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation sought to understand the experience of six participants as members of a cluster group of socially marginalised youth in a farmworker community. Through a collaborative process, the study sought to reframe the perceptions around the behavioural outcomes of membership to such an outcast group. Theories of empowerment through active participation underpinned the whole study. The study was qualitative in nature and used a Participatory Action research methodology which created the space for creative exploration with enabling methodologies such as the Youth Engagement Cycle and Activity Theory. Data were collected through focus group- and semi-structured interviews; participant observation and participant generated artefacts. Six adolescent males who were part of an already established cluster group of socially marginalised youth at a school were purposively selected into the study. The analysis of data was an ongoing and iterative process informed by the theories that underpinned the study and through content analysis of emerging themes. The study revealed that the cluster group was not formed with delinquent intent. Instead, it was created as a space that allowed its members to feel a sense of belonging, security and being valued. However, the group dynamic caused individual self-efficacy to become so enmeshed with collective agency that if left unchecked, it had the potential to propel its members along a trajectory to delinquency. The dissertation recommends understanding cluster groups as unique heterogeneous entities that show insight and empathy into the challenges their cohorts experience. Recognising that this elevates the peer group's influence above that of adults the study recommends a collaborative, well-structured and strategic intervention that allows individuals to experience success and self-influence in attaining mastery within the group dynamic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling het ten doel gehad om ses deelnemers se ervaring as lede van 'n 'cluster' groep gemarginaliseerde jongmense binne 'n plaaswerker gemeenskap te probeer verstaan. Deur middel van 'n proses van samewerking, het die studie gepoog om die persepsies rakende die gedragsuitkomste van lidmaatskap binne so 'n geïsoleerde groep te herformuleer. Die hele studie is gebaseer op teorie van bemagtiging deur middel van aktiewe deelname. Die verhandeling was kwalitatief van aard en het gebruik gemaak van 'n Deelnemende Aksie Navorsingsmetodologie wat ruimte geskep het vir kreatiewe ontdekking met bemagtigende metodologieë soos bv. "Youth Engagement Cycle" en "Activity Theory". Data is ingesamel deur middel van 'n fokusgroep en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude; deelnemer waarneming en deelnemer gegenereerde artefakte. Ses adolessente mans wat reeds deel was van 'n gevestigde groep sosiaal-gemarginaliseerde jongmense by 'n skool, is doelbewus geselekteer vir die studie. Die analise van die data was 'n deurlopende en iteratiewe proses wat belig is deur die teorieë waarop die studie gebaseer was asook deur inhoudsanalise van die ontluikende temas. Die studie het getoon dat die 'cluster' groep nie gevorm is met misdaad as doel nie. Inteendeel, die groep het ontstaan as 'n ruimte wat sy lede toegelaat het om 'n mate van geborgenheid, sekuriteit en waardering te ervaar. Die groepsdinamiek het individuele self-doeltreffendheid toegelaat om so verbonde te raak met kollektiewe agentskap dat indien dit nie gekontroleer was nie, dit die potensiaal getoon het om sy lede op 'n trajek van jeugmisdaad te plaas. Die verhandeling beveel dus aan dat 'n 'cluster' groep gesien word as 'n unieke heterogene entiteit wat insig en empatie toon met die uitdagings wat lede ervaar. Op grond van die feit dat dit die portuurgroep se invloed bo die van die volwassenes verhef, wil die studie 'n samewerkende, goedgestruktureerde en strategiese bemiddeling aanbeveel wat die individu sal toelaat om sukses en selfgelding te ervaar met die bereiking van bemeestering binne die dinamiek van die groep.

The purpose of this study is to explore how emancipated youth, who are clients of the aftercare ILP (Independent Living Program) and transitional housing program with Cameron Hill, evaluate those services.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this mini-thesis I share the action research that I undertook at the school where I teach. This research was an attempt to improve my practice in career guidance, a sub-division of Life Orientation. The need for a study of this nature was developed out of my experiences with matriculants who appear to be confused about their future careers they intent pursuing. It appeared that they lacked the capacity to do self-planning and did not really comprehend how to plan their future careers. In reflection on career guidance, in general, and my own teaching practice in particular, I came to the conclusion that there is a real problem in terms of the effectiveness of career guidance and that I, in my technicist attitude towards policies of the education department, perhaps unconsciously, became part of the maintenance of a fruitless practice. Although I dutifully carry out the curriculum according to the required education policies, there remain an uncertainty and a concern regarding the practicality surrounding career guidance and more so when it comes to disadvantaged students from rural areas. This compelled me to do some introspection about the way I was teaching and involving the learners in my career guidance classes. This introspection lead me to the realisation that the instrumentalist and technicist way of teaching (‘talk and chalk’ method of teaching) and my endeavour to finish my content and assessment tasks within a certain prescribed timeframe, were at odds with creative career guidance teaching. My classroom practice was trapped in the old methods, and I was caught up in the old traditional ways while teaching a 21st-century learner. In an effort to address the above-mentioned issues of concern, I address the following critical questions, namely: - How can career guidance be used as a tool to improve the life skills of learners from a poor rural school? - How can I improve my classroom practice? In Chapter one I explore my background and provide reasons why I got involved in this project. In my literature review, I suggest that the principles of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R–12 (2012) and the outcomes that the learners have to achieve have certain implications for classroom practice. This is in line with Cuseo’s (1996) view that basic education is guaranteed by not only giving form to the structure of the curriculum, but also to what happens between learners and teachers in the classroom. A detailed description of the two action research projects that were undertaken with Grade eleven learners at my school is given in Chapters four and five. In the final chapter of this thesis, I reflect on the research engaged in the classroom and I also reflect on the future of teachers as researchers. I believe that any attempt to improve the education and conditions of our rural and disadvantaged schools would go a long way in addressing the inequities prevalent in our society. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie mini-tesis deel ek die aksienavorsing wat ek by die skool waar ek onderrig, onderneem het. Hierdie navorsing was ʼn poging om my praktyk in beroepsvoorligting, ʼn onderafdeling van Lewensoriëntering, te verbeter. Die noodsaaklikheid van ʼn studie van hierdie aard het voortgespruit uit my ervaringe met matrikulante wat totaal verward voorkom oor hul toekoms en ʼn kommerwekkende gebrek aan kapasiteit toon om selfbeplanning te doen en nie regtig weet hoe om hul toekoms te beplan nie. Tydens refleksie oor beroepsvoorligting in die algemeen en my eie onderrigpraktyk in die besonder het ek tot die slotsom gekom dat daar ’n wesenlike probleem ten opsigte van die effektiwiteit van beroepsvoorligting bestaan en dat ek, deur my tegnisistiese ingesteldheid teenoor beleide van die onderwysdepartement, dalk onbewustelik deel geword het van die instandhouding van ’n vrugtelose praktyk. Alhoewel ek pligsgetrou die kurrikulum en gepaardgaande onderwysbeleide uitvoer, stem hierdie onsekerheid en onbekwaamheid van ons leerders my tot kommer. Dit het my genoodsaak om terug te staan en my eie praktyk in heroorweging te neem en te bevraagteken. Hierdie introspeksie het my gelei tot die bewuswording dat my instrumentele en tegnisistiese ingesteldheid ook in my klaskamerpraktyk gemanifesteer word deurdat ek, in my strewe om inhoud en assesseringstake binne ʼn voorgestelde tydsraamwerk te voltooi, in my klaskamerpraktyk na die ‘talk’ en ‘chalk’-metode geneig het. My onderrigpraktyk was dus van ʼn ou, tradisionele aard en het nie tred gehou met die moderne eeu waarin ons onsself bevind nie. In ʼn poging om bogenoemde aspekte aan te spreek, bespreek ek die volgende kritiese vrae: - Hoe kan beroepsvoorligting gebruik word as ʼn hulpmiddel om die lewensvaardighede van leerders van ʼn arm landelike skool te verbeter? - Hoe kan ek my praktyk in die klaskamer verbeter? Ek suggesteer ook in my literatuuroorsig dat die beginsels waarop die Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring grade R–12 (2012) rus en die uitkomstes wat deur die leerders bereik moet word ʼn sekere klaskamerpraktyk impliseer. Hierdie aanname is in ooreenstemming met Cuseo (1996) se siening dat algemene onderwys verseker word deur nie net aan die struktuur van die kurrikulum vorm te gee nie, maar deur ook aan wat tussen leerders en onderwysers in die klaskamer gebeur, vorm te gee. ʼn Gedetailleerde beskrywing van my twee aksienavorsingsprojekte, wat ek met graad elf-leerders by my skool onderneem het, word in hoofstukke vier en vyf gegee. In die laaste hoofstuk van hierdie tesis reflekteer ek oor my navorsing in die klaskamer en die toekoms vir die onderwyser-navorser. Ek glo dat enige poging om die onderwys en toestande van ons landelike en minder-bevoorregte skole te verbeter ‘n lang pad sal gaan om die ongelykhede wat teenwoordig is in ons gemeenskappe aan te spreek. In Hoofstuk een verskaf ek inligting met betrekking tot my agtergrond en gee ook redes waarom ek by hierdie projek betrokke geraak het. In my literatuuroorsig fokus ek op aspekte wat direk en indirek aan die onderwerp van hierdie aksienavorsingstesis gekoppel word.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the asset-based approach through life skills facilitation with a learner with disability and affected by HIV and AIDS. The conceptual framework of the study was the HIV and AIDS pandemic, disability and the asset-based approach. I followed a qualitative research approach guided by a transformative paradigm and I used the action research design. I purposefully selected the case (a learner with disability and affected HIV and AIDS) and other participants (mother and community organisations) were identified in consultation with the learner and as the research process developed. Data collection consisted of semistructured interviews, observation, journals, capacity inventory and collage. Data were transcribed verbatim and open-coding were used to identify themes that emerged. Findings that emerged were viz. mobilisation of existing assets enhances and mobilises new assets; presence of positive emotions, agency and ownership were reported. These assets led to incidences of school and community engagement, with the participant as an asset in building, creating and strengthening other people, resources and systems. Previous feelings of dependency, powerlessness and hopelessness were replaced with increased confidence, empowerment and competence. I propose the incorporation of the asset-based approach within the life orientation curriculum and the construct asset-awareness as a more userfriendly term for use in the school context. Asset-awareness refers to the raising and advancement of knowledge about abilities, gifts and assets and the use or application thereof in practice.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Life orientation is fundamental in empowering learners to live meaningful lives. Life-skills education and training forms part of life orientation and helps to address the abovementioned aspect. Life-skills education and training falls under the most recent and powerful approaches in handling psychological problems. It strives to adapt the principles of psychology and social science into teachable skills to ensure intra-personal effectiveness and improve the general quality of peoples' lives. The aim of this pilot study was to alter The Path programme to design and develop an intrapersonal life-skills programme aimed at enhancing the self-concept of youth offenders. The intervention research model of Rothman and Thomas (1994) was employed as foundation for the design and development of The Altered Path programme. The intervention research model was chosen as it aimed at creating a means to address problems experienced by individuals and society. It strives to improve the life, health and well-being of individuals and society. This purposeful sampling consisted of six Afrikaans-speaking, male youth offenders from the Drakenstein Juvenile Centre. The Altered Path programme was implemented in three stages. The first stage consisted of sessions one to seven. The following topics were covered during this stage: introduction and programme orientation, conceptualisation of mission statements and elements, past personality influences and Cup of Sorrow, the Positive Prophecy and Talent Shield, the mission statement, the vision statement and goal setting. The second stage, which consisted of sessions eight and nine, entailed the training of the participants for service learning. The third stage entailed the implementation of the service learning process. The study found that The Altered Path programme could contribute towards a growth in intra-personal skills with regard to self-awareness, personal goal setting, spirituality, morals and values, self-esteem and self-regulation (both emotional and cognitive). The result of the intra-personal growth was that the interpersonal skills with regard to communication and helping skills of participants improved. In answer to the research question the finding was made that the intra-personal development positively affected the following dimensions of their self-concept: personal, ideal, cognitive, spiritual, social self and psychological self. In the light hereof the statement can be made that The Altered Path programme seems to have a positive effect on the overall self-concept of the participants. Conscious development of self-knowledge was identified as an element of the programme that could be refined to ensure that all participants develop self-knowledge in the same way during the field study.