• Refine Query
  • Source
  • Publication year
  • to
  • Language
  • 65
  • 21
  • 7
  • 4
  • Tagged with
  • 101
  • 101
  • 101
  • 99
  • 99
  • 73
  • 72
  • 18
  • 16
  • 16
  • 15
  • 12
  • 11
  • 11
  • 10
  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Agrarian social structure: A case study of some villages of coach behar West Bengal

Som, Bijaybihari 03 1900 (has links)
Villages of coach behar West Bengal
2

Tegniese, ekonomiese en sosiologiese determinante van doeltreffendheid in wingerdboerdery

Burger, Johan Devrye January 1970 (has links)
Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 1970. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming
3

Methodological challenges in the measurement of police cynicism : a critique of the Niederhoffer's police cynicism scale as applied in the South African Police Service (SAPS)

Mokotedi, Prince Nkitsing 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Niederhoffer developed a scale in the early 1960s to measure the level of cynicism among police officials. Niederhoffer concluded that cynicism is prevalent among police officials and that professionalization of the police occupation is the root cause of cynicism. The Niederhoffer scale was subjected over years to a number of methodological tests. It was found to be multi-dimensional whilst some authors found that the scale is invalid. In this study, we confirmed these findings to some extent in that it was found that the Niederhoffer’s scale is indeed multi-dimensional and that it has a low internal reliability. This study also replicated some of Niederhoffer’s substantive hypotheses which were supported by our empirical data. The various dimensions of scale were also correlated with an Attitude Towards Organizational Change scale. It was found that cynicism is related most strongly to both fear of change and acceptance of change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die vroeë 1960’s het Niederhoffer ‘n skaal ontwikkel om die vlakke van sinisme onder polisie-amptenare te meet. Niederhoffer vind sinisme onder polisie-amptenare en skryf dit toe aan die professionalisering van dié beroep. Niederhoffer se skaal is geruime tyd al aan ‘n aantal metodologiese toetse onderwerp en die bevinding was dat dit meerdimensioneel is, hoewel sommige outeurs dit ongeldig bevind het. In hierdie studie is ook bevind dat Niederhoffer se skaal meerdimensioneel is met ‘n lae interne betroubaarheidstelling. Die studie herhaal sommige van Niederhoffer se hipoteses en bied steun aan die meeste van sy hipoteses. Die verskeie skaaldimensies is met die Houding Teenoor Organisatoriese Verandering-skaal in verband gebring en die bevinding is dat sinisme aan beide vrees vir verandering en aanvaarding van verandering verwant is.
4

Vooruitsigte, ervarings en probleme met opleiding onder werkers in die Oos Vrystaat : ‘n studie oor opleiding in die VKB

De Villiers, Anell 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study focuses on the shortage of labour in the rural areas of the Free State and, in direct contrast to the high unemployment figures and great demand for jobs. The upskilling of unskilled labour is one of South Africa’s biggest social problems. It is becoming ever more pressing given the increasing demand for skilled labour to adapt to technological advancement and the new information era. The South African government has created various initiatives and policies to accommodate and provide previously disadvantaged groups with opportunities for training and better life prospects. Viewing South Africa’s rural areas from a historical perspective may result in scepticism about the success of these training initiatives and question the commitment of private business towards these policies. Policies and regulations increasingly place greater administrative pressure on workplaces, which could lead to the expectation that training in companies would merely be regarded as an extra burden. The VKB, a local agricultural co-operative in the Free State, challenges this assumption. This study investigates the experiences and expectations of employees to determine the impact of training on individuals. Interviews with employees and management in the company show that training plays a crucial role in producing solidarity in a stable workplace environment. For both groups, government-proposed education and training are regarded as very important in their own lives and for the future development of South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die tekort aan arbeid wat in die plattelandse gebiede van die Vrystaat ondervind word, in teenstelling met die hoë werkloosheidsyfer en behoefte aan werksgeleenthede in dié gebied. Die verdere opleiding van ongeskoolde arbeid is een van Suid-Afrika se grootste maatskaplike probleme. Dié kwessie raak al hoe meer relevant gegewe die groter aanvraag na geskoolde arbeid om aan te pas by tegnologiese vooruitgang en die eise van die inligtingsera. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het verskeie inisiatiewe en beleide ingestel om opleidingsgeleenthede en beter vooruitsigte vir voorheen benadeelde groepe daar te stel. As die Suid-Afrikaanse platteland vanuit ’n historiese perspektief beskou word, kan ’n mens skepties staan teenoor die wyse waarop sakeondernemings hierdie beleide sal aanvaar en toepas. Hierbenewens plaas beleide en wetgewing ook geweldige administratiewe druk op ondernemings, wat aanleiding kan gee tot die vermoede dat maatskappye opleiding slegs as ’n ekstra las sou beskou. Die VKB, ’n plaaslike landboukoöperasie in die Vrystaat, bewys egter die teendeel van hierdie aanname. Dit bring hierdie studie tot die punt van ondersoek, waar die ervaring en verwagtings van werknemers ondersoek word om vas te stel watter impak opleiding op individue het. Persoonlike onderhoude met werknemers en die bestuur dui daarop dat opleiding ’n belangrike faktor is wat samehorigheid in ’n stabiele werksomgewing in die hand werk. Albei groepe beskou opleiding en onderrig, soos voorgestel deur die regering, as uiters belangrik in hulle eie lewens en vir die algehele ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika.
5

Influence and originality in Michael Quinn Patton's "Utilization-Focused Evaluation"

Moleko, Motheo Precious 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The concern of this study is primarily with insights, either acquired or original, which may be gleaned from the works of Michael Quinn Patton, especially his seminal book, “Utilization-Focused Evaluation” with regards to utilisation of evaluation. The importance of utilisation of evaluation processes and findings cannot be overemphasised. Use is critical to the success of multiple development programmes in South Africa which collectively will ultimately determine the country’s accomplishment of its developmental goals. The study is an analysis of the relevant literature on utilisation of evaluation; comparing and contrasting Patton’s writings with those of other scholars on this topic of utilisation. The process of understanding these insights involves a brief biography of Patton to get a glimpse into the factors which influenced the development of his ideas and to learn from them as well as from his innovative ideas. The major theme of utilization-focused approach to evaluation is utility and actual use of evaluations. The study therefore devotes special attention to these concepts in order to find out how he defines them, his motivation to focus on them and his perceptions of the purposes of evaluation. These determine his conception of the evaluation field; and his success in promoting evaluation utilisation is measured against them. The study also contains a detailed discussion of the so-called “paradigms debate” between the quantitative and qualitative paradigms in the educational and social sciences in the 1960s and 1970s. This debate was necessary to quell the division triggered by the domination of the quantitative paradigm over qualitative one in these fields and to promote understanding of the need to prioritise research questions by designing studies to answer to them instead of research problems being fitted into “onesize- fits-all” readymade designs, the study argues. The role played by Patton in turning evaluation into a profession is also discussed at length. His works on this subject include a contribution towards enhancing quality and credibility of evaluation, major input on the Standards of Excellence for Evaluation as well as assisting in the development of methods for evaluation. The inevitability of politics in evaluation is highlighted together with the importance of their ethical conduct. The debates in the American Evaluation Association are very illuminating and Patton’s involvement in them is detailed in the study. They cover a range of issues which are useful to deepening of understanding of evaluation conduct and particular factors which affect use. The study ends with a critical analysis of Patton’s contribution to utilisation of evaluations by programme decision makers and its significance to South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van dié studie het hoofsaaklik te doen met insigte, hetsy oorspronklik of ontleen aan ander bronne, wat afgelei kan word van die werk van Michael Quinn Patton, veral van sy invloedryke boek, “Utilization-Focused Evaluation,” ten opsigte van die toepassing van program-evaluasie. Die belangrikheid van die toepassing van evalueringsprosesse en -bevindings, kan nie oorbeklemtoon word nie. Toepassing is krities tot die sukses van veelvuldige ontwikkelingsprogramme in Suid-Afrika wat gesamentlik uiteindelik sal bepaal of die land sy ontwikkelingsdoelwitte sal bereik. Die studie is ’n analise van die tersaaklike literatuur oor die toepassing van evaluering; wat Patton se werk met dié van ander skrywers oor die onderwerp van toepassing vergelyk. Die proses om dié insigte te verstaan, behels ’n kort biografie van Patton ten einde ’n vlugtige blik te kry oor die faktore wat tot die ontwikkeling van sy idees aanleiding gegee het en om van hulle, sowel as van sy innoverende idees, te leer. Die hooftema van die toespitsing op die toepassingsbenadering vir evaluering, is sy veelsydigheid en die werklike gebruik van evaluasies. Derhalwe le die studie hom dus veral op dié konsepte toe ten einde vas te stel hoe hy hulle gebruik het, wat sy motivering was om daarop te fokus en sy siening rondom die doelwitte van evaluasie. Dít bepaal sy begrip van die gebied van evaluasie, en sy sukses ten einde die toepassing van evaluasie te bevorder, word hierteenoor gemeet. ’n Uitvoerige bespreking oor die sogenaamde “ paradigma-debat’’ tussen die kwantatiewe en kwalitatiewe paradigmas in die opvoedkundige en sosiale wetenskappe van die 1960’s en 1970’s word ook hierin saamgevat. Verder voer die studie aan dat die debat noodsaaklik was ten einde die verdeeldheid te oorkom wat deur die oorheersing van die kwantitatiewe oor die kwalitatiewe paradigmas op dié terreine veroorsaak is, en om begrip te bevorder betreffende die behoefte om navorsingsvrae voorrang te gee deur studies te ontwerp wat dié vrae beantwoord, in plaas daarvan om navorsingsprobleme in ’n klaargemaakte een-grootte-pas-almal ontwerp te plaas. Patton se rol om program-evaluasie in’n professie te omskep, word breedvoerig bespreek. Sy werk oor die onderwerp sluit ’n bydrae in om die gehalte en geloofwaardigheid van evaluasie te verhef, belangrike insette ten opsigte van die Standaarde van Uitnemenheid vir Evaluasie, sowel as om met die ontwikkeling van evaluasiemetodes te help.
6

A Weberian analysis of Afrikaner Calvinism and the spirit of capitalism

Begg, Mohammed Rashid 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Max Weber’s text, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904-5), also called “the Weber thesis”, has animated debates on the relationship between religion, particularly Calvinism, and capitalism for over a century. Many studies have been done to test the validity of the relationship between religion, particularly Protestantism, and capitalism in different parts of the world. However, the case of the relationship between Calvinism and capitalism in South Africa has received limited scholarly attention. In the view of the political economist Francis Fukuyama, ‘the failure of the Calvinist Afrikaners to develop a thriving capitalist system until the last quarter of the [19th] century’ is an anomaly that needs explanation. My doctoral thesis takes up this challenge and offers an understanding of the engagement of Boers/Afrikaner Calvinists with trade, later modern industrial capitalism, from 1652 to 1948. In order to understand the South African case study — Calvinism found roots at the Cape in 1652 and is significant still today — I have employed historical sociology as my methodology. My preference was guided by Weber’s use of a form of this methodology. This allows for nuanced understandings of Calvinism and forms of capitalism at different periods in its evolution. I have employed Weberian sociological theory, including his ideal type constructs such as the Protestant ethic, bureaucracy and the spirit of capitalism, to gain greater insight. In my analysis I have also relied on Weber’s Verstehen (interpretive) frameworks to offer more nuanced results. To add to the conceptual framework, I have used Weber’s metaphor of the “switchmen” in order to trace the impact of ideas. Of course, the focus is on Calvin’s ideas as they were reintroduced at different periods in South African Calvinist history: often to suit new socio-political conditions and material interests. I trace the values of the Protestant ethic and the attitudes expressing the spirit of capitalism, following Weber, through an investigation of bureaucratisation of business and government. I show the increased convergence of the Afrikaner Calvinist volk with the spirit of modern industrial capitalism in the early 20th century through the call by the elite among the Afrikaners acting as ideological “switchmen” through their ideas and wanting to alleviate poverty amongst the group. Finally, the thesis shows the validity of the Weber thesis and its use for the study of Afrikaner Calvinism, including in period that follows after 1948. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Max Weber se teks, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904-5), ook genoem “die Weber tesis”, het debatte oor die verhouding tussen religie, veral Calvinisme, en kapitalisme vir meer as ‘n eeu geanimeer. Daar is vele studies wat poog om die geldigheid van ‘n verband tussen religie, veral Protestantisme en kapitalisme in ander dele van die wêreld te beoordeel. Die verhouding tussen Calvinisme en kapitalisme in Suid Afrika het egter beperkte akademiese ondersoek gekry. Na die siening van die politieke ekonoom Francis Fukuyama is “die onvermoë van die Calvinistiese Afrikaners om ‘n welvarende kapitalistiese stelsel te ontwikkel tot voor die laaste kwart van die [19de] eeu” ‘n anomalie wat verduideliking benodig. My doktorale tesis neem die uitdaging aan en bied insig in die verband tussen Afrikaner Calvinisme en handel, later, moderne industriële kapitalisme, van 1652 tot 1948. Historiese sosiologie, gelei deur ‘n Weberiaanse benadering, is as metodologie toegepas om insig te kry in die Suid-Afrikaanse gevallestudie – Calvinisme vestig in die Kaap in 1652 en is tans nog betekenisvol. Dit het my in staat gestel om ‘n genuanseerde begrip van Calvinisme en die vorms van kapitalisme in verskillende tydperke in sy evolusie te ontwikkel. Weberiaanse sosiale teorie, insluitend sy ideale tipes konsepte, soos die Protestante etiek, burokrasie en die gees van kapitalisme is toegepas om beter insig te kry. In my analise het ek op Weber se Verstehen (interpretatiewe) raamwerke gesteun om meer genuanseerde resultate op te lewer. Weber se metafoor van die “switchmen” is aangewend om die nalatenskap van idees te volg. Die fokus is natuurlik veral op die wyse waarop Calvyn se idees herhaaldelik gebruik is gedurende verskillende tydperke in Suid-Afrikaanse Calvinistiese geskiedenis: soms om nuwe sosio-politieke kondisies en materiële belange te bevredig. Ek het die waardes van die Protestante etiek en houdings wat, volgens Weber, die gees van kapitalisme uitdruk, in die burokratisering van besigheid en regering ondersoek. Ek het toenemende konvergensie tussen die Afrikaner Calvinistiese volk en die gees van moderne industriële kapitalisme in die vroeë 20e eeu, gevoed deur die oproep van die elite onder die Afrikaners wat waarneem as ideologiese “switchmen” deur hulle idees in die poging om armoede onder die groep te verlig, uitgelig. Laastens, die tesis bewys die geldigheid van die Weber tesis en sy toepassing in die studie van Afrikaner Calvinisme, insluitend die tydperk wat volg na 1948.
7

Post-war state-led development at work in Angola : the Zango housing project in Luanda as a case study

Croese, Sylvia 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation is a case study of the Zango social housing project in Luanda, the capital of the southern African state of Angola. Through an examination of the Zango project, which was born on the cusp of peace after nearly 30 years of civil war in 2002, I provide insight into the nature, workings and possible outcomes of post-war state-led development in Angola under non-democratic conditions. I do so by analyzing how the Angolan state ‘sees’ and does development, as well as how this development works. Empirically, this thesis argues that post-war state-led development is controlled by the Angolan presidency and financed and managed through extra-governmental arrangements. This both enables as well as limits state-led development as it allows for the maintenance of a gap between a ‘parallel’ and the formal state of Angola. In this process, local governments and citizens are largely side-lined as development actors. Yet, through an analysis of local governance and housing allocation arrangements in Zango, I show that the formal Angolan state is no empty shell and that its officials and those they engage with may operate in ways that take ownership of development directed from above. Theoretically, this thesis then argues for a research approach to the African state and state-led development that is empirically grounded. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is ‘n gevallestudie van die Zango sosiale behuisingsprojek in Luanda, die hoofstad van die Suider-Afrikaanse staat van Angola. Ek poog om insig te gee in die aard, aktiwiteite en moontlike resultate van na-oologse staatsgeïnisieerde ontwikkeling in Angola onder nie-demokratiese toestande deur ‘n ontleding van die behuisingsprojek wat in 2002, met die aanbreek van vrede na die 30 jaar burgeroorlog, aangevang het. Dit word gedoen deur ‘n analise van hoe die Angolese staat ontwikkeling ‘sien’ en onderneem, sowel as hoe ontwikkeling ontplooi. Hierdie tesis redeneer dat empiries staatsgeleide ontwikkeling na die oorlog beheer word deur die Angolese Presidensie en gefinansieer en bestuur word deur buite-staatsinstellings. Dit fasiliteer sowel as beperk ontwikkeling omdat dit ‘n gaping tussen ‘n ‘parallele’ en die formele Angolese staat handhaaf. Hierdie proses sluit beide plaaslike regering en burgers grootliks as ontwikkelingsakteurs uit. Deur middel van ‘n ontleding van die plaaslike bestuur en die toekenning van wooneenhede in Zango, toon ek aan dat die formele staat tog nie ‘n lëe dop is nie en dat amptenare en ander betrokkenes eienaarskap van ontwikkeling gerig van bo kan neem. Dus, teoreties, word aanspraak gemaak vir ‘n benadering tot die staat en staatsgeïnisieerde ontwikkeling in Afrika wat empiries gefundeer is.
8

Playing with a purpose : an ethnographic study of a sport-for-development programme in Mbekweni

Grundlingh, Susanna Maria 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There has been a concerted effort by government departments and sport-for-development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to use sport as a vehicle for sustainable social development in previously disadvantaged areas in South Africa. South Africa, considered to be a developing country and also a country where sporting achievement and excellence is venerated, brings to the fore an intriguing intersection between sport and development. The exponential growth of the sport-for-development field in the past two decades, both on an international and local level, bears witness to the fact that sport has come to be seen as an instrument facilitating development among children and youth in historically disadvantaged regions in South Africa. International aid organisations, such as the United Nations and an array of sport-for-development NGOs are at the forefront of using sport as a vehicle for development purposes. It is against this brief background that this thesis investigates the relationship between sport and development. The research question that underpins this study is: What is the relationship between sport and development, but more specifically, how do adolescent black girls, experience being part of a sport-for-development program at the Mbekweni Community Sport Centre (MCSC)? This relationship is interrogated by drawing on fieldwork conducted at the MCSC amongst participants of the Women and Girls in Leadership (WGILS) sport-for-development program over a six month period. WGILS is a sport-for-development program that caters for the sporting needs of adolescent girls in Mbekweni, by providing them with sporting opportunities and life skill sessions. The WGILS program is operated by a sport-for-development NGO, SCORE in partnership with a UK charity, Hope Through Action (HTA). Hope Through Action is the charity responsible for building the nine million Rand Mbekweni Community Sport Centre in Mbekweni, a township 60km north of Cape Town. The central argument of this dissertation is that sport itself does not facilitate development, but serves as a point of entry for development work. I suggest that sport in this sense is a viable vehicle for development, as it creates conditions where social networks, meaningful relationships and norms of trust and reciprocity (antecedents of social capital) can prevail. The theoretical lens used to make sense of my six month field work period is that of social capital. In the classical sense social capital is thought to be an asset for the elite and wealthy, but this dissertation shows that there is a nuanced manner in which social capital shifts and is tapped into by black adolescent girls through a sport-for-development program in a township setting. In this respect social capital is malleable and used in a variety of ways for different purposes as a means to culminate trusting relationships and acts of reciprocity. Social capital is therefore not necessarily a static and unchanging concept and will vary considerably across space and time. The dynamics of this process are evident throughout the thesis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar bestaan 'n volgehoue poging deur regeringsdepartemente en spor –vir-ontwikkeling nie-regeringsorganisasies (NRO) om sport as 'n middel tot volhoubare sosiale ontwikkeling in voorheen benadeelde areas in Suid-Afrika aan te wend. Suid-Afrika wat as 'n ontwikkelende land beskou word en ook as 'n land waar sportprestasies en uitmuntendheid in sport hoog aangeslaan word, open 'n fassinerende interaksie tussen sport en ontwikkeling. Die vinnige groei van sport-vir-ontwikkeling die afgelope twee dekades op 'n internasionale sowel as nasionale vlak is tekenend daarvan dat sport as 'n instrument beskou word om ontwikkeling van kinders en die jeug in histories agtergeblewe streke te bevorder. Internasionale hulp organisasies soos die Verenigde Volkere en 'n verskeidenheid sport-vir- ontwikkeling NRO is op die voorpunt om sport op 'n opheffende wyse aan te wend. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond dat die verhandeling poog om die verband tussen sport en ontwikkeling te ondersoek. Die kernvraag onderliggend aan die verhandeling is: wat is die verband tussen sport en ontwikkeling en meer spesifiek hoe ervaar jong swart meisies deelname aan die sport-vir-ontwikkeling program by die Mbekweni Gemeenskap Sportsentrum? Die verband word ondersoek deur middel van veldwerk wat by die sentrum oor 'n periode van ses maande gedoen is onder die deelnemers aan 'n sport-vir-ontwikkeling projek onder die vaandel van “Women and Girls in Leadership”(WGILS). WGILS maak voorsiening vir sport behoeftes van adolessente meisies in Mbekweni deur hulle sportgeleenthede te bied asook en lewensvaardighede sessies. Die program word geldelik gedryf deur die NRO, SCORE in samewerking met die Britse liefdadigheidsorganisasie, “Hope Through Action”. Laasgenoemde was verantwoordelik vir die bou van die nege miljoen rand Mbekweni Gemeenskap Sportsentrum in Mbekweni, 'n swart woonbuurt 60 km noord van Kaapstad. Die sentrale argument van die verhandeling is dat sport as sodanig nie ontwikkeling fasiliteer nie, maar wel as 'n beginpunt vir ontwikkelingswerk kan dien. Daar word gesuggereer dat sport op die wyse as 'n lewensvatbare instelling ter bevordering van ontwikkeling ingespan kan word aangesien dit die omstandighede skep waarbinne sosiale netwerke, betekenisvolle verhoudings en norme van betroubaarheid en wederkerigheid (voorlopers van sosiale kapitaal) kan gedy. Die teoretiese lens waardeur ek gepoog het om van die veldwerk sin te maak was dié van sosiale kapitaal. In die klassieke sin word sosiale kapitaal beskou as die prerogatief van die elite en welvarendes, maar die verhandeling demonstreer dat sosiale kapitaal op 'n genuanseerde wyse kan verskuif om jeugdige meisies in 'n sport-vir-ontwikkeling program in 'n swart woonbuurt te betrek. In die opsig kan sosiale kapitaal as aanpasbaar beskou word en met verskillende oogmerke aangewend word om vertrouensverhoudinge te stig en wederkerige dade te bewerkstellig. Sosiale kapitaal is derhalwe nie noodwendig 'n statiese en onveranderbare konsep nie, en kan oor tyd en plek aansienlik gewysig word. Die dinamika van die prosesse word deurgaans in die verhandeling aangetoon.
9

Between policy and patients : protocols and practice in HIV/AIDS treatment

Human, Oliver 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MA (Sociology and Social Anthropology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / In recent years the World Heath Organisation (WHO) has recomended standardising HIV/AIDS treatment. Standardisation is based upon a particular model of what occurs within the relationship between a doctor and a patient and is propogated through the application of protocols. This thesis aims to illustrate how a doctor deals with a protocol in the face of contexts over-laden with contingency and excess which the protocol does not account for and which standardisation excludes. In other words, it explores how doctors deal with the failures and restrictions of standardised medicine. The central question this thesis aims to answer is: How do doctors on the ground deal with the standardising demands of global, as well as national, institutions in the face of highly contingent daily realities? I aim to answer this question by critically analysing the relationship between global institutions and the effects of their policies on the ground level. I argue that global organisation such as the WHO attempt to limit the particularities and contingency of local contexts in order to ensure the internal coherence of their own policies. This is made possible through ‘interpretive communities’ of experts, as well as, the relative opacity of ground level actions. However, I also illustrate how doctors applying these protocols are not merely pawns in the state’s and global health organisations schemes but rather depend upon the opacity at ground level in order to ensure the well-being of those marginalised by protocols.
10

Utilisation of research in South Africa's research institutes

Bowers, Leisl Joanne 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The overarching aim of this study is to analyse what researchers in South African higher education institutes and science councils mean by the term 'utilisation'. In specific terms, this aim is interpreted as determining what researchers mean when they indicate that their research findings are being utilised. The data used to conduct this analysis is taken from a national survey conducted to establish the extent to which research findings in South Africa are utilised. The Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies - now called the Centre for Research on Science and Technology - conducted the survey for the National Advisory Committee on Innovation (NACI). This study for NACI involved a questionnaire survey of research being conducted with universities, technikons and science councils, and a telephone survey of a sample of research and development managers in 116 companies. As a researcher in the Centre, I played an active role in this two-fold survey component of the research process. Besides coding the questionnaire for the NACI survey, for the purposes of my study I did additional coding of the questionnaire data. This involved coding 1052 responses to an openended question using a software package. After exporting this data to Microsoft Excel, I further coded the data into one of three categories: Mode 1, Mode 2 and a combination of Mode 1 and Mode 2. This 'new variable' created, formed part of the quantitative analysis since it was correlated with the following variables: the 'trigger' or 'driver' behind the research; the expected outcome of the project or study; the scientific field of the project; the project's or the study's science culture; the source of funding of the study, the modes of dissemination of the results and the intended beneficiary(ies) of the research. Results of the qualitative analyses reveal a profile for projects exhibiting features of Mode 1, Mode 2 or a combination of Mode 1 and Mode 2 knowledge utilisation. With Mode 1 we see that research was likely to be utilised within the discipline, was conducted for the benefit of the researcher's peers and it expanded on existing knowledge - all indicating that Mode 1 knowledge utilisation is predominantly associated with fundamental research. With Mode 2 we see that research was produced primarily for its use value and included the user's interests - indicating that Mode 2 knowledge utilisation is predominantly applied, commissioned and/or strategic. Projects that exhibited both features of Mode 1 and Mode 2 were both indicative of fundamental and applied research. Besides the quantitative analyses also showing the same result mentioned above, it was also discovered that the majority of the projects exhibited features of Mode 2, with one third of the projects exhibiting features of Mode 1 and a small proportion of projects as comprising both modes of utilisation. This was a very interesting finding because it is no longer just speculation that a shift is occurring to more applied, strategic research. The analysis revealed that this shift is a reality. The correlations of mode of utility with the seven other variables produced a range of results that expanded on the features of Mode 1 and Mode 2 type of knowledge production and verified that each mode had qualities unique to itself. My recommendations to researchers in South African research institutes concerns conducting the type of research which will be more relevant to the needs of South African society at large. To funding bodies and programmes of South Africa, the suggestion is to become more informed about the dissemination and intended utilisation strategies that they fund. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n analise te doen van die begrip "navorsingsbenutting", soos verstaan deur navorsers binne die publieke Suid Afrikaanse navorsing- en ontwikkelingsektor. Data wat verkry is van 'n landswye ondersoek na die aanwending van navorsingsuitsette binne die publieke sektor, soos onderneem deur die Sentrum vir Interdissiplinêre Studies, is geanaliseer. As 'n lid van die navorsingspan wat die studie onderneem het, was ek aktief betrokke by die proses wat onder meer 'n vraelys-ondersoek ingesluit het na navorsingsprojekte wat in swang is aan SA universiteite, tegnikons en wetenskapsrade. Vir die doel van die studie het ek 1052 response wat die resultaat was van 'n oop vraag in die vraelys in drie kategorieë gekodeer naamlik Modus 1, Modus 2 asook Modus 3, 'n kombinasiekategorie met die benaming "modus van aanwending". Die kwalitatiewe analise het getoon dat in die geval van modus 1, die navorsing mees waarskynlik binne die dissipline en tot die voordeel van die navorser se eweknieë aangewend sal word en dat dit in die meeste gevalle 'n uitbreiding van bestaande kennis behels - 'n aanduiding dat modus 1 navorsing hoofsaakilk verbind kan word met fundamentele navorsing. In die geval van modus 2 blyk dit dat navorsing primêr berus op die utiliteit- of aanwendingswaarde daarvan. Dit vertoon 'n noue verband met die gebruiker se behoefte of belangstelling en is hoofsaaklik toegepaste, kontrak of strategiese navorsing. Projekte wat aspekte van beide modi 1 en 2 vertoon, het tegelykertyd gedui op fundamentele en toegepaste navorsing. Die kwantitatiewe analise het aangedui dat die meerderheid projekte eienskappe van modus 2 vertoon het, met 'n derde van die projekte wat eienskappe van modus 1 vertoon het. 'n Klein hoeveelheid projekte het aspekte van beide modi 1 en 2 vertoon. Hierdie analise het aangetoon dat 'n verkuiwing inderdaad plaasgevind het vanaf fundamentele na meer toegepaste en strategiese navorsing. Die korrelasie van die modus van aanwending met sewe ander veranderlikes, het 'n reeks resultate tot gevolg gehad wat die eienskappe van modi 1 en 2 verder uitgebrei het. Dit het ook bygedra tot die bevestiging van die spesifieke eienskap van elke modus en unieke aspekte van elke modus aangetoon. Aanbevelings word ten slotte gedoen met die oog op 'n keuse vir meer relevante navorsing binne die publieke sektor gemeet aan die kriteria van die navorsingsbehoeftes van die breër Suid Afrikaanse gemeenskap. Aanbevelings m.b.t. disseminasie en navorsingsaanwendingstrategieë van navorsing wat deur befondsingsliggame befonds word, word ook gemaak.

Page generated in 0.3502 seconds