To better understand the difficulties and strengths associated with both high and low functioning individuals with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), the hyper-systemising theory has been proposed by Baron-Cohen and colleagues. It explains the social and communication difficulties in autism and Asperger syndrome (AS) by reference to delays and deficits in empathy, whilst explaining the areas of strength by reference to intact or even superior skill in systemising (Baron-Cohen, 2002). The evidence for hypersystemising alongside hypo-empathising in autism, suggests a corresponding desire to systemise the social world. Based on this theory, the use of technology in supporting the development of social and communication skills in children with an ASD is discussed. Technology and computers rely on strict, predictable systems made up of sets of rules that can be programmed, determined and understood. Use of such technology to assist in the development of social skills in an individual with an ASD utilises an existing area of strength and engages a person in an often existing area of interest and/or obsession. This thesis describes an exploratory study using non-humanoid robots with a group of young people with either high-functioning autism (HFA) or AS, which aimed to use robots as a focus of shared attention in a more naturally occurring and systemisable environment; thus promoting more implicit learning of social skills for this clinical group. Ten children attended the ‘robot club’ for eight sessions enabling a design using a series of single case studies pooled together for multiple and individual base line comparisons. The results indicate improvements as rated by parents and the young people themselves (although not by teachers), with some evidence of statistical and clinically significant changes, for example, in communication skills specifically and with general difficulties associated with autism. The results were found to be affected by total number of sessions attended, but not by age or academic functioning. Possible implications of the findings are presented in line with theory and for clinical practise. Limitations of the study are discussed and suggestions for future research made.

Socialinių paslaugų sistema Lietuvoje dar tik formuojasi, todėl nėra aiškios įstaigų veiklos galimybės. Vykstant ekonominiams ir socialiniams pokyčiams, socialinės paslaugos įgyja vis didesnę svarbą šalies gyvenime. Socialinių paslaugų tinklas labai įvairus , tačiau senstant visuomenei vis didesnę reikšmę įgyja nauja socialinė paslauga – Dienos centrai pagyvenusiems žmonėms. Visuomenėje daugėja žmonių, kurie nagali savimi pasirūpinti, jų nesavarankiškumas priverčia šeimos narius palikti darbo vietą ir užsiimti priežiūra. Todėl socialinių paslaugų plėtojimas labai svarbus, atsižvelgiant į žmonių poreikius. Šio magistrinio darbo tikslas – išsiaiškinti globėjų, socialinių darbuotojų ir savivaldybės darbuotojų nuostatas dėl dienos centro teikiamų paslaugų aktualumo, prieinamumo ir reikalingumo. Tyrimo objektas – socialinių paslaugų teikimas Dienos centre. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Pateikti socialinių paslaugų sampratą. 2. Pateikti socialinių paslaugų klasifikavimą, jų organizavimą ir teisinės bazės reglamentavimą Lietuvos Respublikoje ir Europos Sąjungos šalyse. 3. Aptarti socialinių paslaugų sistemą Lietuvoje. 4. Pateikti socialinių paslaugų standartų taikymo praktiką. 5. Aptarti Dienos centų, pagyvenusiems ir neįgaliems žmonėms, funkcionavimo ypatumus. 6. Remiantis atliktu tyrimu, išsiaiškinti globėjų, darbuotojų nuostatas dėl Dienos centre teikiamų paslaugų aktualumo ir prieinamumo. Kokybiniam tyrimui atlikti buvo naudotas ekspertų vertinimo metodas, kurio metu buvo apklausti 9... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Social services system in Lithuania is still developing, so there is not a clear possibility of institutions. Ongoing economic and social change, social services are gaining importance in life of the country. Social services network is very wide, but because of society aging one of the social services gaining importance, this is- Day care center for elderly people. More and more people who can not take care of themselves, their lack of autonomy causes family members to leave workplaces and to engage in survillance. Therefore, social services development is very important according to people‘s needs. The aim of this master work is to find foster parents, social and municipal workers opinion about Day care center service relevance, availability and necessity. The object of research - social services provision in day center. Objectives: 1st. Provide the concept of social services. 2nd. Provide social services classification, its organization and the legal base for the regulation of the Republic of Lithuania and the European Union. 3rd. Discuss the social services system in Lithuania. 4th. Provide social services standards for practice. 5th. Discuss Day care centre, for the elderly and people with disabilities, functional features. 6th Based on research identify foster parents, social and municipal workers opinion about Day care center provision services relevance and necessity. For qualitative research was used the expert evaluation method, during research the nine respondents... [to full text]

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:44:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2858.pdf: 6401 bytes, checksum: fbf0ec8ce422330c724ce05aa50b8176 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-01 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Aiming to promote better employability conditions among people with physical disability, the literature review indicates the improvement of the social skills repertoire. Social skills programs can contribute to an individual s entry, adaptation and career development in the job market. The purpose of the current research was to assess the need, the process and the effects of a Professional Social Skills Training Program for physically disabled people who were looking for a job. The research involved a multiple probe design with two separate groups. The sample consisted of 16 people with physical disability, between the ages of 18 to 36, assigned to either: an experimental group (G1) or a wait-list control group (G2). First, the pretest was conducted with both groups. Then, the intervention was carried out with the G1, followed by the posttest at this time, the second pretest was conducted with the G2. Next, the same intervention was conducted with the G2, followed by the posttest and a third assessment of G1. Finally, each group was evaluated using the follow-up assessment. The dependent variable (social skills performance) was measured using different instruments (self-report and direct observation), various indicators (frequency, difficulty, quality) and in everyday and specific work situations. The instruments used were the: (a) Social Skills Inventory; (b) Interpersonal Difficulties Scale; and (c) Professional Social Skills Observation Protocol. Other instruments used include: Self-Assessment Professional Entry Questionnaire, Assessment Learned Social Skills Questionnaire, Peer Assessment, Field Diary and Observation Record for each Session. The independent variable consisted of an intervention, Professional Social Skills Training Program. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used, making both intergroup and intragroup comparisons. The Needs Assessment indicated deficits in the participants social skills repertoire and contributed to program planning. The program was conducted in a group context, with 16 sessions of approximately 90 minutes each. Considering interpersonal relations at work as the underlying context, the skills that were addressed included: civility, feedback, communication, irrational beliefs, empathy, offering help, citizenship, assertiveness, criticism, problem solving, job interview skills and expression of positive feelings. Some of the key teaching strategies included: experiential strategy, homework assignments, instruction, positive reinforcement, behavioral rehearsal, modeling and feedback. The Process Assessment revealed that both groups had high attendance, achieved intermediate goals, completed homework assignments, had high involvement in the group activities, and reported examples of progress and skills generalization to their natural context. For both groups, the Results Assessment showed significant gains in social skills after the application of the program, maintenance of skills improvements after two and four months and generalization of learned skills to other contexts and with other partners from the natural environment. Very likely, this program can be used in various institutions. / Na promoção de melhores condições de empregabilidade das pessoas com deficiência física, a revisão da literatura indica a necessidade de aprimoramento do repertório de habilidades sociais. Programas de habilidades sociais podem contribuir para a inserção, o ajustamento e a progressão no mercado de trabalho. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a necessidade, o processo e os efeitos de um Programa de Treinamento de Habilidades Sociais para o Trabalho junto a pessoas com deficiência física desempregadas. O procedimento consistiu em um delineamento de múltiplas sondagens com dois grupos. A amostra foi composta por 16 pessoas com deficiência física, com idade entre 18 e 36 anos, que formaram o grupo experimental (G1) e o grupo controle de espera (G2). Ambos os grupos foram submetidos inicialmente ao pré-teste. Em seguida, foi realizada a intervenção com o G1 e após seu encerramento o pós-teste, fazendo-se também o segundo pré-teste com o G2. Na sequência, realizaram-se a intervenção com o G2 e o pós-teste, incluindo nova avaliação do G1. Finalmente, cada grupo passou pela avaliação de follow-up. A variável dependente (desempenho de habilidades sociais) foi mensurada por meio da aplicação de diferentes instrumentos (autorrelato e observação), com indicadores diversificados (frequência, dificuldade e qualidade) e em situações cotidianas e específicas de trabalho. As repetidas avaliações foram realizadas por meio dos instrumentos: (a) Inventário de Habilidades Sociais; (b) Escala de Dificuldades Interpessoais; e (c) Sistema de Observação de Habilidades Sociais Profissionais. Outros instrumentos também foram usados: Questionário de Autoavaliação do Preparo para Inserção Profissional, Questionário de Avaliação das Habilidades Sociais Aprendidas, Avaliação por Pares, Diário de Campo e Registro de Observação das Sessões. A variável independente consistiu em uma intervenção, denominada de Programa de Treinamento de Habilidades Sociais para o Trabalho. Para o tratamento dos dados, foram empregadas estatísticas descritivas e testes não-paramétricos, focando tanto a análise intergrupo como a intragrupo. A Avaliação de Necessidades apontou déficits no repertório de habilidades sociais dos participantes e contribuiu para o planejamento do programa. O programa foi desenvolvido em grupo, com 16 sessões de aproximadamente 90 minutos cada. Tendo como contexto as relações interpessoais no trabalho, as habilidades desenvolvidas foram: civilidade, feedback, comunicação, crenças irracionais, empatia, oferecer ajuda, cidadania, assertividade, críticas, resolução de problemas, desempenho em entrevista de emprego e expressão de sentimento positivo. Dentre os principais procedimentos de ensino, destacaram-se: vivências, tarefas de casa, instrução, reforçamento positivo, ensaio comportamental, modelação e feedback. A Avaliação de Processo revelou, em cada grupo, assiduidade, alcance de metas intermediárias, cumprimento das tarefas de casa, envolvimento nas atividades, relato de progressos e de generalização. Em ambos os grupos, a Avaliação de Resultados indicou ganhos significativos de habilidades sociais após aplicação do programa, manutenção do aprendizado após dois e quatro meses e generalização das habilidades aprendidas para outros contextos do ambiente natural. Sugere-se o aproveitamento desse programa em diversas instituições.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:46:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissEMV.pdf: 791702 bytes, checksum: aec417790823990d5caeefebc08c7079 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-02-24 / Social Skills Training (SST) can be used to increase teachers social competence, contributing to the development of interactive contexts in the classroom as well as to the student s learning. The purpose of this research was to elaborate and describe intervention procedures used in a group SST program with teachers who work with children that present learning difficulties, consisting of 15 sessions for the development of social skills. The effects of the SST were analysed in terms of: a) acquisition of social skills classes and b) generalization of social skills learned in the sessions for the classroom context. The sample included 10 teachers, in the 26-54 age range. The data gathering procedure involved the use of the Interpersonal Relations Questionnaire (IRQ) before the intervention, the Social Skills Inventory (SSI) and the filming of each teacher with his/her students, before and after the intervention. The IRQ data showed that at the beginning the teachers had some difficulties in dealing with interpersonal conflicts in the classroom, demonstrating lack of social skills. It was also observed a certain incoherence in the verbal report related to some questions, highlighting flaws in the self-observation and self-knowledge repertoire. Based on the survey of the behavioral classes presented by the facilitator by means of the tape transcriptions, it was possible to classify the intervention procedures that had the following purposes: a) to investigate interpersonal difficulties; b) to analyse previous-consequent relations; c) to train specific social skills; d) presentation of positive results and; e) to sound out generalization which contributed to the learning of social skills and generalization for the classroom context. The SSI data showed that after the intervention there was an increase in the scores average of the group of teachers in all the social skills classes that were assessed. In the individual analysis some teachers showed much bigger changes than others and for some of them there was a slight decrease in the scores. As for the filming data in the classroom, there was no increase in all the social skills that were assessed, but in those that increased, the generalization was evidenced. The results obtained allow us to state that the improvement of the teachers social skills repertoire enables them to foster interactive contexts in the classroom, contributing to the student s academic and interpersonal development. / O Treinamento de Habilidades Sociais (THS) pode ser utilizado para aumentar a competência social de professores, contribuindo para o arranjo de contextos interativos em sala de aula e para a aprendizagem do aluno. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi elaborar e descrever procedimentos de intervenção utilizados em um programa de THS em grupo, com professores de crianças com dificuldades de aprendizagem, composto por 15 sessões para o desenvolvimento de habilidades sociais. Analisaram-se os efeitos do THS em termos de: a) aquisição de classes de habilidades sociais; e b) generalização das habilidades sociais aprendidas nas sessões para o contexto de sala de aula. A amostra incluiu dez professores, de 26 a 54 anos. O procedimento de coleta de dados envolveu a aplicação do Questionário de Relações Interpessoais (QRI) antes da intervenção, do Inventário de Habilidades Sociais (IHS) e realização da filmagem de cada professora com seus alunos, pré e pós intervenção. Os dados do QRI mostraram que, inicialmente, as professoras apresentavam dificuldades de lidar com conflitos interpessoais em sala de aula, demonstrando um repertório deficitário de habilidades sociais. Observou-se, também, certa incoerência no relato verbal com relação a algumas questões, evidenciando falhas no repertório de auto-observação e de autoconhecimento. A partir do levantamento das classes comportamentais apresentadas pela facilitadora, por meio das transcrições de fitas cassetes, houve a possibilidade de classificar os procedimentos de intervenção que apresentavam os objetivos de: a) investigar dificuldades interpessoais; b) analisar relações antecedentes-conseqüentes; c) treinar habilidades sociais específicas; d) usar conseqüenciação positiva; e e) sondar generalização, os quais contribuíram para a aprendizagem das habilidades sociais e generalização para o contexto de sala de aula. Os dados do IHS mostraram que, após a intervenção, houve aumento nas médias dos escores do grupo de professoras em todas as classes de habilidades sociais avaliadas. Na análise individual, algumas professoras apresentaram mudanças bem maiores do que outras e, para algumas, houve uma pequena diminuição nos escores. Com relação aos dados da filmagem em sala de aula, não ocorreu aumento em todas as habilidades sociais avaliadas, mas naquelas que aumentaram, evidenciou-se generalização. Os resultados obtidos permitem afirmar que o aprimoramento do repertório de habilidades sociais de professores possibilita capacitá-los para a promoção de contextos interativos em sala de aula, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento acadêmico e interpessoal do aluno.

[pt] O treinamento de habilidades sociais (THS) pode contribuir de forma significativa para o desenvolvimento das pessoas, tanto no âmbito pessoal como profissional. As atitudes das pessoas frente a participar de um THS revelam o quanto elas são favoráveis a esse treinamento e juntamente com normas subjetivas e percepção de controle, podem explicar o comportamento de realizar efetivamente um THS. O objetivo desse estudo foi elaborar e buscar evidências de validade de quatro escalas para aferir: intenção comportamental, normas subjetivas, percepção de controle e atitude frente a participar de um THS. Participaram da pesquisa 808 adultos brasileiros, média de idade de 32,3 anos, 64 por cento mulheres. Os resultados mostraram instrumentos unifatoriais, com índices psicométricos satisfatórios. A atitude correlacionou-se positivamente com a intenção de fazer um curso de habilidades sociais, com cinco das seis dimensões dos valores básicos e com motivação para aprender. Normas subjetivas e percepção de controle correlacionaram-se positivamente com intenção comportamental. E intenção comportamental correlacionou-se positivamente com motivação para aprender. Reuniram-se diversas evidências de validade que corroboram a adequação dos instrumentos para aferir os construtos. Ainda, ficou evidenciado que as mulheres e as pessoas que já tinham participado de um THS mostraram níveis maiores na atitude frente a participar de um THS. O estudo aponta para possibilidades de uso dos instrumentos em ambientes acadêmicos e organizacionais. / [en] Social Skills Training (SST) can significantly contribute to people s development, both personally and professionally. People s attitudes toward participating in an SST reveal how much they see this training favorably, and along with subjective norms and perception of control, can explain the behavior of effectively taking part in an SST. The objective of this study was to elaborate and search for evidence of the validity of four scales measuring: behavioral intention, subjective norms, perception of control and attitude towards taking part in an SST. Participants were 808 Brazilian adults, with mean age 32.3 years, and 64 percent being women. Our results showed a one-factor instrument with satisfactory psychometric indices. The attitude toward SST correlated positively with the intention of taking part in an SST, with five of the six dimensions of basic values, and with general motivation to learn. Subjective norms and perception of control were positively correlated with behavioral intention. And behavioral intention correlated positively with motivation to learn. Evidence of validity was gathered to corroborate the suitability of the instrument to measure the construct. Also, it was found that women and people who had already participated in an SST showed higher levels in their attitude towards participating in an SST. The study points to the possibility of using these instruments in organizational and academic environments.

Problématique : L’exposition à l’adversité socioéconomique pendant les premières années de vie peut avoir des conséquences à long terme sur la santé physique et mentale de l’enfant. La fréquentation des services d’éducation préscolaire (SEP) a été proposée comme un moyen de promouvoir le développement des enfants de familles plus défavorisées permettant ainsi de contrecarrer les conséquences négatives associées aux contextes de vie adverses auxquels ils sont exposés. Les SEP sont désormais accessibles à la population et largement utilisés par les parents pour leurs enfants d’âge préscolaire. Cependant, des processus de sélection sociale font en sorte que les enfants plus défavorisés sont moins nombreux à fréquenter les SEP. De plus, bien que les SEP soient généralement des milieux de vie cognitivement et socialement stimulants, il existe des variations importantes dans la qualité de ces services. De surcroît, ces milieux sont propices à des situations pouvant susciter du stress et l’expression de comportements perturbateurs. Objectifs : L’objectif principal de cette thèse est d’examiner les associations entre l’adversité socioéconomique, la fréquentation des SEP et le développement de l’enfant selon une approche des parcours de vie, en prêtant une attention particulière aux effets de sélection sociale connus pour être présents dans les SEP. Quatre articles composent cette thèse. Les deux premiers articles examinent l’effet d’un programme d’entraînement aux habiletés sociales implanté dans des SEP de quartiers défavorisés sur la fréquence des comportements perturbateurs et les indicateurs neurophysiologiques du stress vécu par les enfants. De plus, nous avons investigué si l’adversité socioéconomique de la famille modifiait la magnitude des impacts attendus du programme. Dans le troisième article, nous examinons le rôle de la fréquentation des SEP dans la relation entre l’exposition à l’adversité au début de la vie, les habiletés cognitives de l’enfant et l’expression de comportements perturbateurs à l’adolescence. Avec le quatrième article de la thèse, nous étudions l’association entre la fréquentation des SEP et le taux de diplomation de l’école secondaire, et nous examinons si cette association est magnifiée auprès des enfants issus de mères avec un plus faible niveau d’éducation. Nous réalisons également une analyse bénéfice-coût afin d’évaluer si la subvention publique des SEP est une solution économiquement rentable. Méthodes : Les données utilisées pour les deux premiers articles proviennent d’un essai randomisé en grappes où 19 SEP (n = 362 enfants) de quartiers économiquement défavorisés ont été randomisés à la condition expérimentale : recevoir un programme d’entraînement aux habiletés sociales, ou à la condition contrôle de type liste d’attente. Dans le projet « Brindami », les comportements perturbateurs ont été mesurés par le biais de questionnaires répondus par les éducatrices alors que le stress a été quantifié par la sécrétion cortisolaire diurne mesurée dans la salive. Ces mesures ont été effectuées à deux reprises, avant et après l’intervention. Afin d’étudier l’impact du programme, des analyses multiniveaux et à mesures répétées ont été utilisées. Les effets de sélection sociale ont été considérés par l’application de critères de sélection stricts en regard de la défavorisation des SEP. Les données des troisième et quatrième articles proviennent de l’Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), où 14 451 familles ont été suivis de 1991-2020. La fréquentation des SEP et l’exposition à l’adversité socioéconomique ont été mesurées par questionnaire au cours des quatre premières années de vie de l’enfant. Les habiletés cognitives de l’enfant ont été mesurées lors d’une visite en laboratoire lorsque l’enfant était âgé de huit ans. Les comportements perturbateurs de l’enfant ont été évalués par la mère à trois reprises au cours de l’adolescence à l’aide d’un questionnaire validé. Les informations sur la diplomation de l’école obligatoire ont été obtenues grâce à l’établissement d’un lien entre la base administrative du National Pupil Database du Royaume-Uni et de l’étude ALSPAC. Des analyses de médiation modérées et des analyses de régression multinomiale ont été utilisées. Les effets de sélection ont été estimés et minimisés par le biais de l’utilisation de coefficients de propension. Résultats : Dans les deux premiers articles, nous avons montré que l’implantation d’un programme d’entraînement aux habiletés sociales était associée à 1) une diminution des comportements perturbateurs, mais seulement chez les filles, et 2) à des patrons de sécrétion cortisolaire diurnes plus normatifs, et ce, particulièrement chez les enfants de familles plus économiquement défavorisés. Les résultats issus du troisième article suggèrent que, pour les enfants exposés à de l’adversité socioéconomique, la fréquentation des SEP est associée à une diminution des comportements perturbateurs à l’adolescence via l’augmentation des habiletés cognitives de ces derniers à l’enfance. Enfin, le quatrième article présente une association entre la fréquentation des SEP et la diplomation scolaire pour les enfants de mères ayant un plus faible niveau d’éducation, et suggère que les politiques publiques visant à subventionner la fréquentation des SEP pour ces enfants sont des stratégies économiquement rentables. Implications : Cette thèse souligne l’importance de la fréquentation des SEP pour les enfants exposés à de l’adversité socioéconomique. Afin que les SEP deviennent une stratégie de réduction des iniquités de santé pour un plus grand nombre d’enfants, les futures initiatives de santé publique devront chercher à minimiser les effets de sélection sociale dans l’élaboration de leur politique. / Background: Early life adversity is associated with life-long consequences on children's physical and mental health. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) attendance has been proposed as a solution to promote the development of children from vulnerable families and thus diminishing the negative consequences associated with their early exposure to adversity. ECEC is widely available to the general population and used by working parents for their preschool children. However, because of social selection processes, vulnerable children are less likely to attend ECEC than their more advantaged counterparts. In addition, although ECEC is generally a cognitively and socially stimulating environment, there are significant variations in the quality of these services. Moreover, ECEC are conducive to situations that can be a stressful and associated with the expression of disruptive behaviors. Objectives: The main objective of this thesis is to examine the associations between exposure to socioeconomic adversity, ECEC attendance, and children development while using a life-course approach and paying particular attention to social selection processes into ECEC. This thesis is divided into four papers. The first two articles examine the impact of a social skills training program implemented in ECEC facilities of low-income neighborhoods on children's levels of disruptive behaviour and stress. In addition, these papers investigate the moderating role of family socioeconomic adversity on the impact of the program. The third paper examines the moderating effect of ECEC attendance on the association between exposure to early life adversity and disruptive behaviours during adolescence via children's cognitive abilities. The fourth paper investigates whether ECEC attendance is associated with higher rates of compulsory school graduation, and whether this association is stronger among children of mothers with lower levels of education. Finally, this paper provides a benefit-cost ratio analysis to assess whether subsidising ECEC is an economically viable option. Methods: The first two papers used data from the Brindami cluster randomized trial in which 19 ECEC facilities (n = 362 children) from low-income neighborhoods were randomized to the experimental condition: receiving a social skills training program, or to the waiting list control condition. Levels of disruptive behaviours and stress levels assess with salivary cortisol were measured at pre- and post-intervention. Multi-level analysis with repeated measures were used to study the impact of the program. Social selection effects were considered through the application of strict ECEC selection criteria. For the third and fourth thesis paper, data were drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) where 14,451 families were followed from 1991-2020. ECEC attendance and exposure to early life adversity were measured by questionnaires during the child's first four years of life. Children’s cognitive abilities were measured during a laboratory visit when the child was eight years old. Children’s disruptive behaviours were assessed by the mother on three occasions during adolescence using a validated questionnaire. Information on compulsory school graduation was obtained via a linkage between the United Kingdom National Pupil Database and the children from the ALSPAC study. Moderated mediation and multinomial regression analyses were used. Social selection effects were controlled through the use of propensity scores. Results: The first two papers showed that the implementation of a social skills training program was associated with 1) a decrease in disruptive behaviours, but only among girls, and 2) with more normative diurnal cortisol secretion patterns, particularly for children of economically disadvantaged families. The third paper suggests that for children exposed to early life adversity, ECEC attendance is associated with a decrease in disruptive behaviours during adolescence via an increase in children’s cognitive abilities. Finally, the fourth paper presents a significant association between ECEC attendance and school graduation for children of mothers with lower levels of education and suggests that subsidising ECEC for these children is a cost-effective measure. Implications: This thesis highlights the importance of ECEC attendance for children exposed to socioeconomic adversity. To achieve ECEC social equalizing effect, stakeholders need to consider social selection processes into ECEC in the elaboration of their policy.

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Summaries in Engish and Afrikaans / The goal of this research is to evaluate whether a personal and social skills program can effectively be implemented by social workers in a prison. A control- and experimental group were used in a quasiexperimental design. The respondents were twenty-four white, male, sentenced prisoners in Pretoria Central Prison. The Heimler scale for social functioning and the Hudson-scale for family relations are the standard questionnaires, which were utilised to measure results during the pre-testing and post-testing phase. All twenty-four respondents completed the scales during the pre- and post-testing phase. The Wilcoxon t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical purposes. A computer was used to process data. Both measurement scales confirmed positive results. The independent variable, that is, the personal and social skills program had an effect in the desired direction on respondents in the experimental group. The Hudson-scale for interpersonal relationships, however, showed more dramatic results. The results for the control group, showed noticeable decline in both social functioning of the respondents as well as experience of family relationships. / Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om te bepaal of maatskaplike werkers in 'n gevangenis 'n persoonlike en sosiale vaardigheidsprogram effektief kan implementeer. 'n Kontrole- en eksperimentele groep was benut in die uitvoering van 'n kwasi-eksperimentele ontwerp. Die proefpersone was vier-entwintig Blanke, manlike gevangenes te Pretoria-Sentraal Gevangenis. Die Heimler-skaal vir maatskaplike funksionering en die Hudsonskaal vir gesinsverhoudinge was die gestandardiseerde vraelyste, wat gebruik is om die resultate tydens voor- en na-toetsing. Die meetinstrumente is deur al vier-en-twintig respondente voltooi. Die Wilcoxon t-toets en Mann-Whitney U-toets is benut vir statistiese doeleindes. 'n Rekenaar is gebruik om data te verwerk. Beide metingskale het positiewe resultate getoon. Die onafhanklike veranderlike, die persoonlike- en sosialevaardigheidsprogram, het 'n effek in die gewenste rigtings gehad op die proefpersone in die ksperimentele groep, hoewel die Hudson-skaal vir gesinsverhoudinge, meer dramatiese resultate getoon het. Die resultate van die proefpersone in die kontrole groep, het merkbare agteruitgang getoon op beide skale. / Social Sciences / M.A. (Social Work)

Summaries in Engish and Afrikaans / The goal of this research is to evaluate whether a personal and social skills program can effectively be implemented by social workers in a prison. A control- and experimental group were used in a quasiexperimental design. The respondents were twenty-four white, male, sentenced prisoners in Pretoria Central Prison. The Heimler scale for social functioning and the Hudson-scale for family relations are the standard questionnaires, which were utilised to measure results during the pre-testing and post-testing phase. All twenty-four respondents completed the scales during the pre- and post-testing phase. The Wilcoxon t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical purposes. A computer was used to process data. Both measurement scales confirmed positive results. The independent variable, that is, the personal and social skills program had an effect in the desired direction on respondents in the experimental group. The Hudson-scale for interpersonal relationships, however, showed more dramatic results. The results for the control group, showed noticeable decline in both social functioning of the respondents as well as experience of family relationships. / Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om te bepaal of maatskaplike werkers in 'n gevangenis 'n persoonlike en sosiale vaardigheidsprogram effektief kan implementeer. 'n Kontrole- en eksperimentele groep was benut in die uitvoering van 'n kwasi-eksperimentele ontwerp. Die proefpersone was vier-entwintig Blanke, manlike gevangenes te Pretoria-Sentraal Gevangenis. Die Heimler-skaal vir maatskaplike funksionering en die Hudsonskaal vir gesinsverhoudinge was die gestandardiseerde vraelyste, wat gebruik is om die resultate tydens voor- en na-toetsing. Die meetinstrumente is deur al vier-en-twintig respondente voltooi. Die Wilcoxon t-toets en Mann-Whitney U-toets is benut vir statistiese doeleindes. 'n Rekenaar is gebruik om data te verwerk. Beide metingskale het positiewe resultate getoon. Die onafhanklike veranderlike, die persoonlike- en sosialevaardigheidsprogram, het 'n effek in die gewenste rigtings gehad op die proefpersone in die ksperimentele groep, hoewel die Hudson-skaal vir gesinsverhoudinge, meer dramatiese resultate getoon het. Die resultate van die proefpersone in die kontrole groep, het merkbare agteruitgang getoon op beide skale. / Social Sciences / M.A. (Social Work)