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The purpose of this ethnographic study is to explore the following: 1. The counsellors’ experience of the process of career counselling provided to students at a distance learning institution 2. My own experiences of doing counselling with Unisa students. 3. How Holland’s career theory, the social cognitive career theory and the chaos theory of careers could shape the process of career counselling. The themes that emanated from the stories of six counsellors indicate that they view counselling as a continuous process wherein it is necessary to strike a balance through blended counselling between the needs of individuals versus helping the multitude of anonymous students. In order to facilitate counselling effectively, counsellors need resources and in order to develop these resources they use a diversity of career theories which act as a frame of reference. Attention is given to the development of career counsellors’ identity and self-confidence and how this impacts on the counsellors’ growth. The recommendations of this study hold the promise of contributing to the counselling process at the DCCD. / Psychology / D.Litt.et Phil. (Psychology)

Synthesis of d10 complexes of monovalent coinage metals, copper(I) and gold(I), with dithiophosphinate/diphosphine ligands -- along with their targeted characterization and screening for inorganic or organic light emitting diodes (LEDs or OLEDs, respectively) -- represents the main scope of this dissertation's scientific contribution in inorganic and materials chemistry. Photophysical studies were undertaken to quantify the phosphorescence properties of the materials in the functional forms required for LEDs or OLEDs. Computational studies were done to gain insights into the assignment of the phosphorescent emission peaks observed. The gold(I) dinuclear complexes studied would be candidates of OLED/LED devices due to room temperature phosphorescence, visible absorption/excitation bands, and low single-digit lifetimes -- which would promote higher quantum yield at higher voltages in devices with concomitant lower roll-off efficiency. The copper(I) complexes were not suited to the OLED/LED applications but can be used for thermosensing materials. Crystallographic studies were carried to elucidate coefficients of thermal expansion of the crystal unit cell for additional usage in materials applications besides optoelectronic devices. This has uncovered yet another unplanned potential application for both copper(I) and gold(I) complexes herein, as both types have been found to surpass the literature's threshold for "colossal" thermal expansion coefficients. Two other investigations represent contribution to the field of chemistry education have also been accounted for in this dissertation. First, a 12-week advanced research discovery experiment for inorganic chemistry has been designed to help students develop application-based content expertise, as well as to introduce students to research experiences that are similar to those found in academia, industry, and government research laboratories. Students are expected to develop a novel research project through conducting a literature search to find suitable reaction protocols, incorporating synthetic techniques, collecting data, characterizing products and applications of those products, and presenting their results. This multi-week research discovery experiment is centered on applications of inorganic synthetic techniques to design, analyze, and screen d10 coinage metal complexes for possible LED/OLED-based applications that were presented in chapter 3 of the dissertation. The second chemistry education contribution pertains to designing a pilot research study to investigate undergraduate chemistry majors' perceptions of environmental sources/influences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, career interests, and career choice goals in the lab designed in chapter 4 of the dissertation. Specifically, this research aims to gauge students' perceptions of their ability to perform synthetic and analytical methods for the creation of materials that were used in a novel research experiment in the context of an inorganic chemistry laboratory. This research study used a survey to collect data on students' motivation, self-efficacy, career interests, and career goals upon graduation, along with their perceived barriers within the course. This research study is guided by the following research question: How does an inorganic chemistry laboratory course, following a research discovery model, impact undergraduate students' (a) confidence with techniques and skills, (b) perception of ability to conduct research, and (c) interest in pursuing careers involving chemistry?

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Setswana / The study was prompted by the decline in accounting enrolments and the ongoing criticism due to learners’ poor performance in the Accounting subject in South Africa. Given the increasing need for accounting graduates and, more importantly, qualified accounting professionals, this study investigated the preconceived perceptions participating high school learners in selected schools in the Mafikeng area had about the accounting profession at the time of this study. The study drew on a rich body of existing literature and adopted the social cognitive career theory of Lent, Brown and Hackett (1994) to explore the factors influencing career interests of learners in accounting as a career path. A quantitative research approach with a survey questionnaire, framed within a positivist paradigm, was used to elicit opinions from learners. The findings revealed that work satisfaction, earnings potential, self-efficacy, personal interest, offering Accounting as a subject and having an accountant in the family are among the factors that significantly influenced participating learners’ career interests in accounting. / Die studie is aangespoor deur die afname in rekeningkunde-inskrywings en die deurlopende kritiek van leerders se swak prestasie in rekeningkunde in Suid-Afrika. Gegewe die toenemende behoefte vir rekeningkundegegradueerdes en, meer belangrik, gekwalifiseerde rekeningkundepraktisyns, ondersoek hierdie studie die huidige vooropgestelde persepsies wat hoërskoolleerders in Suid-Afrika van die rekeningkundige beroep het. Die studie benut die omvattende bestaande literatuur en aanvaar die sosiaal kognitiewe loopbaanteorie van Lent, Brown en Hackett (1994) om die faktore te ondersoek wat die belangstelling van leerders in rekeningkunde as 'n loopbaanrigting beïnvloed. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering met 'n opnamevraelys, binne 'n positivistiese paradigma, is gebruik om menings van leerders te ontlok. Die bevindings het gewys dat werksbevrediging, verdienstepotensiaal, selfwerksaamheid, persoonlike belang, die aanbied van rekeningkunde as 'n vak en 'n rekeningkundige in die gesin van die faktore is wat leerders se loopbaanbelangstelling in rekeningkunde beduidend beïnvloed / Thutopatlisiso e tlhotlheleditswe ke kwelotlase ya ikwadiso ya dithuto tsa Palotlotlo le go kgalwa go go tswelelang pele ga tiragatso e e bokoa ya barutwana mo Palotlotlong mo Aforikaborwa. Ka ntlha ya tlhokego e e oketsegang ya dialogane tsa Palotlotlo le, sa botlhokwa tota, baporofešenale ba ba nang le borutegi jwa palotlotlo, thutopatlisiso eno e batlisisa megopolo e e gona ya ga jaana ya barutwana ba dikolo tse dikgolwane mo Aforikaborwa malebana le porofešene ya bobalatlotlo. Thutopatlisiso e dirisa letlotlo le le gona la dikwalo mme e dirisa tiori ya tselana ya tiro ya tlhaloganyo ya loago ya ga Lent, Brown le Hackett (1994) go sekaseka dintlha tse di susumetsang kgatlhego ya tselana ya tiro ya barutwana mo palotlotlong jaaka tselana ya tiro. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa patlisiso o o lebelelang dipalopalo ka dipotsolotso tsa tshekatsheko, mme e agilwe mo mokgweng wa kelotlhoko go bona megopolo ya barutwana. Diphitlhelelo di bontsha gore go kgotsofalela tiro, kgonagalo ya letseno, go ikemela, dikgatlhego tsa sebele, go rebolelwa Palotlotlo jaaka serutwa le go nna le mmalatlotlo mo lelapeng ke dingwe tsa dintlha tse di nang le tshusumetso e kgolo mo dikgatlhegong tsa barutwana tsa tselana ya tiro mo palotlotlong. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

Summaries in English, Afrikaans and Setswana / The study was prompted by the decline in accounting enrolments and the ongoing criticism due to learners’ poor performance in the Accounting subject in South Africa. Given the increasing need for accounting graduates and, more importantly, qualified accounting professionals, this study investigated the preconceived perceptions participating high school learners in selected schools in the Mafikeng area had about the accounting profession at the time of this study. The study drew on a rich body of existing literature and adopted the social cognitive career theory of Lent, Brown and Hackett (1994) to explore the factors influencing career interests of learners in accounting as a career path. A quantitative research approach with a survey questionnaire, framed within a positivist paradigm, was used to elicit opinions from learners. The findings revealed that work satisfaction, earnings potential, self-efficacy, personal interest, offering Accounting as a subject and having an accountant in the family are among the factors that significantly influenced participating learners’ career interests in accounting / Die studie is aangespoor deur die afname in rekeningkunde-inskrywings en die deurlopende kritiek van leerders se swak prestasie in rekeningkunde in Suid-Afrika. Gegewe die toenemende behoefte vir rekeningkundegegradueerdes en, meer belangrik, gekwalifiseerde rekeningkundepraktisyns, ondersoek hierdie studie die huidige vooropgestelde persepsies wat hoërskoolleerders in Suid-Afrika van die rekeningkundige beroep het. Die studie benut die omvattende bestaande literatuur en aanvaar die sosiaal kognitiewe loopbaanteorie van Lent, Brown en Hackett (1994) om die faktore te ondersoek wat die belangstelling van leerders in rekeningkunde as 'n loopbaanrigting beïnvloed. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering met 'n opnamevraelys, binne 'n positivistiese paradigma, is gebruik om menings van leerders te ontlok. Die bevindings het gewys dat werksbevrediging, verdienstepotensiaal, selfwerksaamheid, persoonlike belang, die aanbied van rekeningkunde as 'n vak en 'n rekeningkundige in die gesin van die faktore is wat leerders se loopbaanbelangstelling in rekeningkunde beduidend beïnvloed. / Thutopatlisiso e tlhotlheleditswe ke kwelotlase ya ikwadiso ya dithuto tsa Palotlotlo le go kgalwa go go tswelelang pele ga tiragatso e e bokoa ya barutwana mo Palotlotlong mo Aforikaborwa. Ka ntlha ya tlhokego e e oketsegang ya dialogane tsa Palotlotlo le, sa botlhokwa tota, baporofešenale ba ba nang le borutegi jwa palotlotlo, thutopatlisiso eno e batlisisa megopolo e e gona ya ga jaana ya barutwana ba dikolo tse dikgolwane mo Aforikaborwa malebana le porofešene ya bobalatlotlo. Thutopatlisiso e dirisa letlotlo le le gona la dikwalo mme e dirisa tiori ya tselana ya tiro ya tlhaloganyo ya loago ya ga Lent, Brown le Hackett (1994) go sekaseka dintlha tse di susumetsang kgatlhego ya tselana ya tiro ya barutwana mo palotlotlong jaaka tselana ya tiro. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa patlisiso o o lebelelang dipalopalo ka dipotsolotso tsa tshekatsheko, mme e agilwe mo mokgweng wa kelotlhoko go bona megopolo ya barutwana. Diphitlhelelo di bontsha gore go kgotsofalela tiro, kgonagalo ya letseno, go ikemela, dikgatlhego tsa sebele, go rebolelwa Palotlotlo jaaka serutwa le go nna le mmalatlotlo mo lelapeng ke dingwe tsa dintlha tse di nang le tshusumetso e kgolo mo dikgatlhegong tsa barutwana tsa tselana ya tiro mo palotlotlong. / Centre for Accounting Studies / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)