Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984. / Also available in print.

Modern organisations are facing many challenges that are threatening their survival. These challenges come in the form of social, political, economic and rapid ongoing technological change. As organisations search for appropriate designs for the nineties and beyond, clear schools of thought have developed, vehemently supporting either the organic or mechanistic approach. While these debates rage on, several critical considerations are being ignored. One such consideration is the effect of organisational design on organisational climate, utilisation of power and group cohesiveness. This research sets out to explore this consideration. Various questionnaires were utilized to measure employees' perceptions of climate, power utilisation and group cohesiveness within organistic and mechanistic orientated organisations. A systematic research and design process was undertaken within two business units of a large financial organisation, from which the sample for the study was drawn. Statistical analyses revealed that organisational design does have a significant effect on job satisfaction, work group support and employee support. The employees which perceived the organisation to be more mechanistically inclined reported higher levels of employee empowerment; workgroup support and job satisfaction than their counterparts who perceived the organisation as more organistically inclined. / Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

A estreita relação entre saúde da criança e fatores sociais e econômicos é reconhecida há muito tempo, mas ainda a grande maioria das crianças pobres que adoece morre mais. Portanto, é necessário ampliar o conhecimento a respeito da rede de determinantes (distais, intermediários e proximais) dos problemas de saúde mais prevalentes nas crianças. As doenças respiratórias constituem uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade infantil no Brasil e no mundo Justifica-se, pois, reconhecer os processos determinantes dos problemas respiratórios, considerando a determinação social do processo saúde-doença. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram estimar a prevalência dos problemas respiratórios nos diferentes grupos sociais homogêneos; caracterizar como esses problemas se relacionam às formas de reprodução social das famílias e avaliar os determinantes proximais, intermediários e distais associados à sua ocorrência. Este estudo populacional transversal foi realizado no município de Itupeva (SP), numa amostra representativa de 261 crianças menores de dois anos. A partir de um modelo teórico hierarquizado, centrado na categoria da reprodução social, foram compostos os perfis de reprodução social, utilizando-se uma base teórico-metodológica-operacional que predefiniu três grupos sociais homogêneos (GSH): formas de trabalhar e de viver adequadas (GSH1); formas de trabalhar ou de viver adequadas (GSH2) e formas de trabalhar e de viver inadequadas (GSH3). Os problemas respiratórios foram detectados segundo informações obtidas por meio de inquérito recordatório do último mês. Associações foram verificadas pelo teste Qui-quadrado (variáveis categóricas) ou teste de Fischer, e teste t de Student (variáveis contínuas). Utilizou-se o modelo de regressão logística não condicional para a análise múltipla. Para evitar exclusão de variáveis importantes, utilizou-se um nível de significância de 0,20 e para indicar associação estatisticamente significativa, nível de 0,05. Na análise múltipla, as associações foram expressas em odds ratio e seu intervalo de confiança [IC] para 95%. A prevalência de problema respiratório foi de 71,6% (IC95% 65,8 - 77,0), sendo maior nos estratos inferiores, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significativa: 64,0% no GSH1, 75,8% no GSH2 e de 71,5% GSH3 (p>0,05). Com relação ao total da amostra, a escolaridade do pai se mostrou estatisticamente diferente entre as crianças que haviam apresentado problema respiratório e aquelas que não haviam apresentado: 56,1% dos pais das crianças com problemas respiratórios tinham menos de 7 anos de estudo, enquanto 62,9% dos pais das crianças sem problemas respiratórios tinham mais de 7 anos de estudo. A escolaridade materna seguiu a mesma tendência. A ocorrência de problemas respiratórios foi discretamente maior nas crianças do sexo feminino, e naquelas de 12 a 18 meses. A primeira etapa da regressão logística testou cada variável que se associou com a ocorrência de problemas respiratórios (p<0,20). A segunda etapa foi verificar em cada nível hierárquico (determinantes distais, intermediários e proximais), as variáveis que mantinham associação com a ocorrência de problemas respiratórios, quando analisadas em conjunto com as outras variáveis do mesmo nível. A terceira etapa incluiu, no modelo, os determinantes distais (variáveis sociodemográficas e de trabalho do chefe) e intermediários (formas de viver). Nessa fase, o modelo selecionou, como significativamente associadas com a ocorrência de problemas respiratórios, a escolaridade do pai e a ventilação da casa. Variáveis essas que permaneceram na quarta etapa, em que se incluíram os determinantes proximais (características infantis e de atendimento à saúde). Permaneceram significativamente associadas à ocorrência de problemas respiratórios, até a última etapa do modelo hierarquizado, a escolaridade do pai e a idade da criança, o que demonstra a importância dos determinantes distais no desfecho do processo saúde-doença. Embora a melhoria nas formas de trabalhar e de viver das famílias aparentemente não seja atribuição de profissionais de saúde, uma vez que se atrelam a transformações estruturais, estes são responsáveis pela conscientização da população e sua mobilização em torno de objetivos comuns, em busca de uma melhor integração social / The close relation between children\'s health and socioeconomics factors is recognized for a long time; however, even so the most majority of poor children which become sick die more than others. Therefore, it\'s necessary to enlarge de knowledge about the determinants (distal, intermediate and proximal) of most prevalent children\'s health problems. Respiratory disease is one of the main causes of infant morbidity and mortality in Brazil and in the world. So it\'s justified to recognize the processes that determine the respiratory problems, considering the social determination of health-disease process. Thus, this work aimed to estimate the prevalence of respiratory problems at different homogeneous social groups; to characterize how these problems are related to social reproduction of families and to evaluate the proximal and distal determinants related to their occurrence. This transverse population study was carried out at the city of Itupeva (São Paulo, Brazil), with a representative sample of 261 children under 2 years old. Based on a hierarchical theoretical model, focused on social reproduction, the profiles of social reproduction were composed by using an operationalmethodological- theoretical basis that pre-defined three homogeneous social groups (HSG): proper ways of working and living (HSG1), proper ways of working or living (HSG2); improper ways of working and living (HSG3). The respiratory problems were detected through information got from the remainder inquiry of the last month. Associations were observed through Chi-square test (scaled variables) or Fischer Test, and Student t-test (continuous variables). The non-conditional logistic regression model was used to accomplish the multiple analyses. In order to avoid exclusion of important variables, it was used a significance level of 0.20, and a level of 0.05 was used to indicate a statistically significant association. At the multiple analysis, the association were expressed by odds ratio (OR) and their confidence interval (CI) to 95%. The prevalence of respiratory problem was 71.6% (CI95% 65.8 - 77), being greater at inferior layers, but without a statistically significant difference: 64.0% at HSG1, 75.8% at HSG2 and 71.5% at HSG3 (p>0.05). With regard to the total of sample, father\'s schooling level has showed to be statistically different among children which have presented respiratory problem and children which not presented: 56.1% of fathers (children with respiratory problems) have less than seven years of schooling, while 62.9 of fathers (children without respiratory problems) have more than seven years of schooling. Mother\'s schooling follows the same tendency. The occurrence of respiratory problems was a little bigger to female children and to those with ages among 12-18 months. The first step of logistic regression has tested each variable associated with the occurrence of respiratory problem (p<0.20). The objective of the second step was to check in each hierarchical level (distal, intermediate and proximal determinants) the variables that kept an association with the occurrence of respiratory problems when analyzed together with others of the same level. The third step has included (in the model) the distal determinants (socialdemographics variables and work of household variables) and intermediate determinants (ways of living). At this stage, the model has chosen, as significantly related to respiratory problems, the father\'s schooling level and the house ventilation. These variables have remained in the fourth step, and in these same step it has been included the proximal determinants (infant characteristics and health care). Also the father\'s schooling level and children\'s age have remained significantly associated to until the last step of the model respiratory problems; this demonstrates the importance of the distal determinants in the conclusion of the process health-disease. Although the improvement of the ways of working and living of the families appear not to be part of attributions of health professionals (once these ways are linked to structural transformations), they are responsible to aware and mobilize the population around a common objective, that is a better social integration

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This thesis is a study and analysis of the introduction of group work services to the Boys' Receiving Home of the Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, British Columbia. When the project began, no group work services and no adequate leisure time program were readily available for the boys living in the Home. The current philosophy of institutional care for children, the principles and potentialities of group living, and the concepts of environmental control are outlined. Within this frame of reference, the origin and development of the Boys' Receiving Home is traced, and the experiences and general behavior of the boys are described. The basic function of the group worker and the values of group experiences in this setting are discussed. This purely experimental project, that at first contained many negative elements, showed little initial promise of being very successful. Group process records are analysed to show the gradual process of developing a group work program providing a variety of experiences for the boys, and contributing to the total program of the Receiving Home in other ways. Particular attention is given to three areas: (1) the series of co-ordinated meetings involving (a) the staff of the Receiving Home; (b) the boys themselves as they planned and participated in the leisure time program; (c) the staff of Alexandra Neighbourhood House; (2) the general changes that were brought about in the boys' behaviour; (3) the progress of the boys towards more normal behaviour. Other specific contributions of the project, such as working with the case workers and the house parents are mentioned. The project indicates the need for continuing group work services and a greater variety of modern institutions with a range of social services. Finally, suggestions are made on the most appropriate function for the present Receiving Home, and the role of the Children's Aid Society in developing such new institutions. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The thesis presents a view on a group of amateur chefs - the culinary experts- for whom the cooking has become an essential part of their identity. On the basis of the analysis of semistructured interviews and the participating observation the author studies the tricks of creating of identity of the culinary experts and their life-style. Present day liquid modernity and hyper-consumerist society in a way offers the space for paying attention to oneself and for building an own life project. The culinary art has become for some individuals very important hobby, not only because of the fact that through it they can give pleasure to their bodies, but it can also improve their social status. The text shows that the culinary art brings to amateur chefs the possibility to dedicate their life to cooking, regardless the social stratification or economical class they come from. On the other hand, there is a distinctive dimension which shows that merely the consumption of fine food does not make a fine food eater or a fine diner. The group of the culinary experts is building an exceptional social status though distinctive tricks of consumption of so called "good food". This group is not homogenous and it is relatively open to new members who must subsequently prove and demonstrate the expert knowledge of a...

This study is the seventh in a series begun in 1957 to relate social work theory to general systems theory. The purpose of this study was to assess, through the judgment of professional social workers, the use of the two concepts, self-determination and confidentiality, in casework and social group work situations. The two concepts were operationalized by construction of five practice principles for each concept. An instrument was developed in which a critical hypothetical situation exemplified each principle for both methods with a forced choice of four actions evidencing the degree of self-determination and confidentiality. Forty randomly selected trained social workers in the Portland area answered the questionnaire. Three propositions were tested. The first predicted that workers' judgments of the use of the two concepts would be significantly influenced by the unit of treatment. The second predicted that there would be a higher correlation on self-determination between casework and group work situations than on confidentiality between the two methods. The third predicted that five variables would be significantly related to differential judgments of workers of the two concepts in both methods. Findings: Proposition I was partially substantiated. The unit of treatment was significant for the use of self-determination, but not for the use of confidentiality. Proposition II was not substantiated. Evidence showed, however, that the exact opposite of this proposition had occurred. There was a significantly higher correlation on confidentiality between the two methods than for self-determination. Among the five variables selected for testing, group work experience proved to be statistically significant in the use of confidentiality in casework situations. The variance in the scores of those respondents having group work experience was over twice as large as those respondents having no group work experience in workers’ judgments of the use of confidentiality in casework situations. In addition, years of social work experience showed a significant positive correlation in the use of self-determination in casework situations. There was no statistical significance as far as professional education in group work method, other types of training in the two methods, and preference for either casework or group work. Though not statistically significant, it was found that those respondents with graduate education in group work showed more variance in their judgments compared with those respondents without such education, indicating that education in more than one method broadens the perceptual set of the worker but that actual experience in group work is more significant than is academic education. When years of social work experience were compared, it was found that more self-determination was allowed by those respondents with more years of experience, perhaps indicating that increased experience increases the personal security of the worker. The respondents' reasons for their choice of actions indicated that they were largely guided by practice principles relating to each concept but there was an overlap among these principles. The data also showed that other concepts such as the social work relationship and the worker's responsibility to society guided some workers' choices of action. The significance of this study is that it provided eclectic definitions of the two concepts from which practice principles were operationalized, thereby contributing to theory building; illustrated that perception theory can be used for research in social work practice; identified areas for curriculum planning and staff development; and pointed to areas for future research.

The purpose of this study is to explore the ways in which a developmental approach to personality change can be applied to the later years in life. Chapter II is a brief introduction to the concept of development and its relation to aging. Chapter III contains a literature review of existing developmental theories of aging plus those theoeries which I feel can be integrated into a psychosocial developmental model. Chapter IV, a description of group work techniques with older people based on the developmental task approach , contains my own ideas for group practice. My primary intention throughout the paper is to conceptualize and seek ways of implementing the notion that personality growth can continue through old age; group social work practice is viewed as a way of facilitating such growth.