Title: The evaluation of gross motor function and coordination in primary school children Defining the issue: The physical activity and sport are highly discussed topics in current time. The physical activity itself has a positive effect on our body in many ways, on the contrary the lack of it has a negative effect. In the younger school age there should be a diversity of physical activity and it should often vary. If, in this period of age, the physical activity would be in the form of specialized sport training with dominant asymetric load without any compensating activity, the effect of that training would be probably negative and even harming for the growing body of young children, who are not prepared for that type of burden. To ensure an adequate development of specific skills and gaits the appropriate level of gross motor function and coordination is required. The evaluation of such movement features after reaching bipedal locometion is mediocre at best and the current test batteries are limited in application. For these reasons the goal was to create new battery of tests and use it to evaluate the gross motor function and coordination in primary school children and assessment of the impact of gender and extracurricular activity on the results. The purpose of the study: The purpose of this...

Dans une perspective de psychologie développementale appliquée à l’objet Écrit, la recherche présentée dans cette thèse s’articule autour de deux grands temps et notions : l’évaluation des compétences à l’Écrit d’une part et la remédiation des difficultés sur l’Écrit d’autre part. Le concept d’appropriation de l’Écrit développé par Besse constitue la base de ce travail et permet de faire le lien entre ces deux dimensions, en prenant en compte le rapport à l’Écrit dans sa globalité (aspects cognitifs, sociaux ou plus personnels). Dans un premier temps, les compétences et représentations de l’Écrit de 159 enfants scolarisés à l’école élémentaire sont mises en évidence à l’aide des outils DMA-Enfants (rencontres individuelles autour d’activités sur le lire-écrire-parler). Les analyses et observations alors conduites ont permis de suivre le développement des compétences en lecture-écriture et le cheminement sur l’Écrit des enfants du CP au CM2. Différents profils sur l’Écrit ont également été identifiés, venant notamment souligner les particularités des enfants en difficulté sur l’Écrit. Dans un second temps, 21 enfants de CM2 ont participé pendant trois mois à des ateliers de remédiation sur l’Écrit autour du Journal Scolaire, visant à les accompagner vers une autre réflexion et appropriation de l’Écrit. Les résultats obtenus sont encourageants et témoignent d’une certaine influence de la remédiation sur les représentations et les comportements face à l’Écrit des enfants concernés. / This doctoral research on the Written language takes place in the field of developmental psychology. It can be focused on two main concepts and two main steps: reading and writing skills assessment on one hand, remediation of difficulties on the other hand. The reading and writing appropriation concept developed by Besse is used to link assessment and remediation and the Written language in all its dimensions (cognitive, social and more personal aspects) is taken into account. Based upon the use of the DMA method, 159 children from 1st to 5th grade were first met individually and activities relating to reading, writing and oral skills were proposed to highlight their Written language skills and representations. We were able to monitor the progress and we could analyze the development of reading and writing skills throughout elementary school. Different profiles of reading and writing skills were also identified, especially to differentiate children having problems with Written language.In a second step, remediation workshops were set up for three months with 21 5th grade children. The purpose was writing articles for the school newspaper in order to support children to another thought and appropriation of the Written language. The results are encouraging : they show some influence of remediation on representations and behaviors about reading and writing.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the outcomes of the Independent Living Program (ILP) of former foster youths who have aged out of foster care and group care in San Bernardino County of California using an exploratory and quantitative survey design.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not having social support serves as a tool of encouragement for youth to become skilled in areas preparing them for adulthood.

The purpose of this study was to examine the County of San Bernardino's Independent Living Program's (ILP's) efforts to prepare ILP participants for self-sufficiency. These efforts were evaluated from the perspective of foster youth who are currently participating in an Indepent Living Program. The study utilized quantitative and qualitative research methods to assess the ILP participants' preparedness for independence.

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the life skills training programme in instilling resilience to HIV infection among teen mothers. The study targeted teenage mothers who took part in a life skills training programme in a rural area of Lesotho between 2009 and 2014. The objectives of the study were to; understand what teen mothers have learnt by participating in the project; understand how useful the knowledge was in helping them to cope with HIV and AIDS; understand whether the teen mothers are still using the skills they have been taught to cope with HIV and AIDS, and to understand how the participation in the project benefited them. The research design of the study was quantitative research. A census survey was used to collect data among research participants. The study employed the Health Belief Model, self-efficacy, and resilience theories to explore levels of resilience among teen mothers. The findings show that the teen mothers’ resilience to HIV and AIDS was enhanced by the life skills training. It also shows that the information raised teen mothers’ levels of awareness of health risks and mitigating actions (life skills). This in turn improved their confidence and competency to implement positive behaviour change. It has also emerged from the study that there is continued use of the acquired knowledge and skills by the teen mothers after the project. The findings also provide evidence of the value of conducting follow up studies on intervention programmes. The study recommends life skills programme be an inseparable part of HIV and AIDS awareness, especially among teenagers. Such intervention should ideally form part of the school curriculum. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV and AIDS)

The purpose of this study was to conduct a descriptive and exploratory analysis of Riverside County's Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) and its ability to prepare foster youth for successful adult transition. A vital component of this study was the exploration of perceived preparedness through the eyes of the participants enrolled in this program.

Text in English, Appendice 9 (pages 253-264) the isiZulu version of the corresponding English version. / The discourse on youth in South Africa’s post-apartheid era attempts to explore black African youth as agents for social change in their locale. Various perspectives define methods that are utilised by the youth to overcome the social challenges in this era. A case study approach was adopted in conducting this research. The role(s) played by the youth to influence social change were also investigated. The term youth in this research, refers to black African youth between 18 and 29 years of age, living in the township of KwaMashu in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. This investigation attempted to unravel the contributions made by youth towards community development, as well as the strategies that they adopted to secure their day-to-day livelihoods. In addition, various stereotypes and attitudes connected to youth were examined and were also documented. This study also investigated the role played by social agencies such as government institutions, education sector and also non-governmental and faith-based organisations in relation to the empowerment of young people in defining their futures. This investigation enabled the exploration of the impact of contemporary cultural value system(s) in shaping youth’s identities and their perceptions. The findings revealed that there is a need for relevant stakeholders and policy makers to consider interventions that will ensure support of youth initiatives, to curb the scourge of unemployment and poverty. It also recommends that the academic sphere needs to consider the decolonisation of the curriculum towards an Afrocentric Indigenous Knowledge orientation to enhance the aspirations of the Constitution of South Africa. The study also discovered evidence that suggests that the youth have a critical role to play in the development of their locales. Finally, the findings of this research acts as the baseline that could assist future studies in identifying possible themes that can provide [a fuller] understanding of the role played by black African youth in different social settings, i.e. township life, academic and political spheres in the post-apartheid era. / Sociology / D.Litt.et Phil. (Sociology)