Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is a fast growing drug problem, and is the second most widely abused drug world-wide. MA abuse has been linked to the development of symptoms indistinguishable from schizophrenia, referred to as MA psychosis. MA abusing individuals, who most often comprise adolescents and young adults, are 11 times more likely than the general population to develop psychosis. Of further concern is that in utero exposure to MA is also a growing problem, with more women addicts choosing MA as their primary drug. This has significant implications for the neurodevelopment of the child, with subsequent behavioural deficits later in life. Epidemiological studies suggests that in utero or early life MA exposure places a vulnerable individual at greater risk for developing schizophrenia, although this has never been formerly studied either at clinical or pre-clinical level. Animal models of early life adversity, such as post-weaning social isolation rearing (SIR), can assist in understanding the underlying mechanisms in MA abuse and vulnerability to develop MA psychosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the long term effects of either prenatal (in utero) or early postnatal administration of MA on the development of schizophrenia-like behavioural and neurochemical abnormalities later in life. In the in utero study, pregnant female Wistar rats received either saline (Sal) or MA 5 mg/kg/day for 16 days by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection , starting on prenatal day 13 (PreND-13) up to postnatal day 2 (PostND02). Male offspring were selected for the study. On PostND 21, the animals were weaned and reared under group or isolation reared conditions for 8 weeks. In the early postnatal study, adult male Wistar rats were divided into group reared and SIR conditions from PostND21. Either group received an escalating dose of MA twice a day (0.2 mg/kg – 6 mg/kg s.c.) or Sal for 16 days, from PostND35 to PostND50. Both in utero and early postnatal groups were then subjected to various behavioural tests on PostND78, including assessment of social interaction (SI) and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle. Following behavioural testing, rats were sacrificed and brains snap frozen for later analysis of cortico-striatal monoamine concentrations, superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation. In the prenatally exposed group no differences in %PPI was observed, although group reared animals receiving MA and SIR animals receiving Sal or MA showed a decrease in social interactive behaviours, including approaching, time together and anogenital sniffing. SIR animals receiving Sal or MA also showed a decrease in rearing. Regarding self-directed behaviours, group reared animals receiving MA and SIR animals receiving Sal or MA showed an increase in self-grooming. Although some disturbances in regional brain monoamines were observed in the frontal cortex and striatum across the groups, this did not reach significance. A significant increase in malondialdehyde was observed in the striatum in group reared animals receiving MA as well as SIR animals receiving Sal or MA, indicating cell damage, possibly of redox origin. In the early postnatal study, %PPI was significantly reduced in group reared animals receiving MA as well as in SIR animals receiving Sal or MA. Group reared animals receiving MA and SIR animals receiving Sal or MA showed a decrease in social interactive behaviours, including rearing, approaching, time together and anogenital sniffing. Regarding self-directed behaviours and locomotor activity, self-grooming and squares crossed was significantly increased in group reared animals receiving MA and SIR animals receiving Sal or MA. A significant increase in DA was evident in the frontal cortex of SIR and grouped housed animals receiving MA. DA in the MA + SIR combination was elevated but not significantly so. None of the treatments affected striatal monoamine levels. In the group reared animals receiving MA as well as the SIR animals receiving Sal or MA, a significant decrease in SOD activity was observed in the frontal cortex, indicating the presence of oxidative stress in this brain region. None of the parameters indicated an additive effect in MA + SIR treated animals. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to MA led to some evidence of late-life behavioural and neurochemical abnormalities akin to schizophrenia, confirming its penchant for psychotogenic effects. However, chronic postnatal MA exposure was more emphatic, being as effective as SIR, a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia, in inducing deficits in the above-mentioned behavioural and neurochemical parameters. Thus, early adolescent abuse of MA is a significant risk factor for the later development of schizophrenia or psychosis. However, the risk appeared not to be exacerbated in a population at risk, i.e. in SIR animals. / Thesis (MSc (Pharmacology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The purpose of this study was to critically assess the key success factors of social media as a marketing tool in the South African tourism industry. Numerous studies have been done on social media, but none of them were focused on optimising the success of social media in the South African tourism industry. Relationship marketing and social media is interrelated, where relationships form the foundation of social media. Social media has become the world’s latest marketing marvel, disseminating the lives of its users. Social media also plays a crucial role in the marketing efforts of organisations in the service sector, such as the tourism industry. However, it has become evident that there are still a number of tourism organisations that are currently not optimally utilising social media in their marketing strategies and this gap needs to be addressed. This study was aimed at three empirical objectives which were addressed with data gathered by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed by fieldworkers at the O.R. Tambo International Airport. Stratified sampling was used in order to ensure a representative sampling size. 450 questionnaires were distributed, of which 446 completed questionnaires could be used for statistical data analysis. Firstly, for article one the factors inhibiting the use of social media were determined, as well as whether it differ for international and national tourists. Factor analysis was done in order to determine the main factors inhibiting the use of social media, and an independent samples t-test was applied to determine similarities/differences between international and national tourists. The results indicated that the main factors inhibiting the use of social media included Content Challenges, Privacy Issues, and Personal Perceptions. No significant differences were found on the factors inhibiting the use of social media by international tourists versus national tourists. Novel to this study is the fact that from the results it was clear that tourists who are currently not participating in social media do have access to social media sites and have the technical skills and competency to use social media, and are well informed about the different types of social media. Even though social media users spend almost one third of their time on social media sites, there are also a number of people who are not participating in social media. This part of the market is totally untapped. Thus, it is also important for tourism organisations to give attention to the factors inhibiting the use of social media. In article two, the purpose was twofold: firstly to determine how and why tourists used social media for travel and tourism purposes, and secondly to determine whether there was a correlation between the tourists attitudes towards social media and the factors identified for the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes. In this article a factor analysis for the reasons for participating in social media for travel and tourism purposes, correlations between the attitude of tourists toward the use of social media and the factors of the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes were done. It was evident that three factors for the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes existed: Information Gathering, Interaction and Communication and Content Sharing. Novel to this study, it was clear that significant correlations exist between the attitudes of tourists towards the use of social media and the factors identified for the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes. However, it was significantly identified that strategies that focus on information gathering and content sharing should enjoy primary attention and resource allocation. In the third article, the purpose was to assess whether tourists’ attitudes and their opinions regarding the success factors for social media can contribute to increased tourism social media activity. A summary of the factor analysis of the reasons for using social media for travel and tourism purposes, a factor analysis of the critical success aspects for the use of social media and standard multiple regression of the attitudes and most important aspects influencing the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes were discussed. The results indicated that tourists’ attitudes toward the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes were dependent on the Degree of Trust and Willingness to Participate in social media. These respondents utilised social media specifically for Information Gathering, Interaction and Communication as well as Content Sharing. The results also revealed that tourists’ Degree of Trust and Willingness to Participate in social media are predictors for Information Gathering for travel and tourism purposes; tourists’ Willingness to Participate in social media and the Perceived Beneficial Aspects they can gain from using social media are predictors for Interaction and Communication through social media for travel and tourism purposes; and tourists’ Willingness to Participate in social media and Content Accessibility and Sharing are predictors for Content Sharing on social media sites for travel and tourism purposes. Conclusions, contributions and recommendations regarding the outcome of the study were made. The main contributions of the study include contributions to the theory of the field, methodological contributions, as well as practical application contributions. With regard to the theoretical contributions, a framework was developed to optimise and explain the interrelatedness of relationship marketing and social media. This framework can be adopted by researchers and scholars to understand and argue that social media is closely related to the principle of building relationships. Also, due to a lack of a universally accepted definition for the term ‘social media’, and analysis was done in order to assess the most common principles of the term, to develop a definition that can be regarded as universally acceptable by tourism researchers and scholars. Contributions in terms of the methodology entail the development of suitable questionnaire to gather the necessary information for the data analysis of this study. This questionnaire was developed due to a lack of a suitable questionnaire to gather the necessary information for data analysis for the outcome of the research study. The high internal consistency of the questionnaire allows for it to be adopted by other researchers in the field of social media and the tourism industry. Lastly, the main contribution of the study to practical application of the results, a framework was developed to optimise the use of social media as a marketing tool in the South African tourism industry. This framework can be practically implemented by tourism organisations for International and National tourism markets within the South African tourism industry to ensure the optimisation of online social media marketing efforts. The framework was developed in a way that will ensure it is easily understandable, as well as the fact that it will comprise the minimum amount of effort when implementing the framework in the development of social media marketing strategies of tourism organisations. Adequate knowledge and information regarding the above-mentioned aspects can contribute to more effective marketing strategies, increased brand awareness and increased market share. This study also contributes to the existing literature of social media, the effective and successful implementation of social media marketing strategies and has a positive impact on future research with regard to the application of social media as marketing tool in the South African tourism industry. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The purpose of this study was to critically assess the key success factors of social media as a marketing tool in the South African tourism industry. Numerous studies have been done on social media, but none of them were focused on optimising the success of social media in the South African tourism industry. Relationship marketing and social media is interrelated, where relationships form the foundation of social media. Social media has become the world’s latest marketing marvel, disseminating the lives of its users. Social media also plays a crucial role in the marketing efforts of organisations in the service sector, such as the tourism industry. However, it has become evident that there are still a number of tourism organisations that are currently not optimally utilising social media in their marketing strategies and this gap needs to be addressed. This study was aimed at three empirical objectives which were addressed with data gathered by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed by fieldworkers at the O.R. Tambo International Airport. Stratified sampling was used in order to ensure a representative sampling size. 450 questionnaires were distributed, of which 446 completed questionnaires could be used for statistical data analysis. Firstly, for article one the factors inhibiting the use of social media were determined, as well as whether it differ for international and national tourists. Factor analysis was done in order to determine the main factors inhibiting the use of social media, and an independent samples t-test was applied to determine similarities/differences between international and national tourists. The results indicated that the main factors inhibiting the use of social media included Content Challenges, Privacy Issues, and Personal Perceptions. No significant differences were found on the factors inhibiting the use of social media by international tourists versus national tourists. Novel to this study is the fact that from the results it was clear that tourists who are currently not participating in social media do have access to social media sites and have the technical skills and competency to use social media, and are well informed about the different types of social media. Even though social media users spend almost one third of their time on social media sites, there are also a number of people who are not participating in social media. This part of the market is totally untapped. Thus, it is also important for tourism organisations to give attention to the factors inhibiting the use of social media. In article two, the purpose was twofold: firstly to determine how and why tourists used social media for travel and tourism purposes, and secondly to determine whether there was a correlation between the tourists attitudes towards social media and the factors identified for the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes. In this article a factor analysis for the reasons for participating in social media for travel and tourism purposes, correlations between the attitude of tourists toward the use of social media and the factors of the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes were done. It was evident that three factors for the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes existed: Information Gathering, Interaction and Communication and Content Sharing. Novel to this study, it was clear that significant correlations exist between the attitudes of tourists towards the use of social media and the factors identified for the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes. However, it was significantly identified that strategies that focus on information gathering and content sharing should enjoy primary attention and resource allocation. In the third article, the purpose was to assess whether tourists’ attitudes and their opinions regarding the success factors for social media can contribute to increased tourism social media activity. A summary of the factor analysis of the reasons for using social media for travel and tourism purposes, a factor analysis of the critical success aspects for the use of social media and standard multiple regression of the attitudes and most important aspects influencing the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes were discussed. The results indicated that tourists’ attitudes toward the use of social media for travel and tourism purposes were dependent on the Degree of Trust and Willingness to Participate in social media. These respondents utilised social media specifically for Information Gathering, Interaction and Communication as well as Content Sharing. The results also revealed that tourists’ Degree of Trust and Willingness to Participate in social media are predictors for Information Gathering for travel and tourism purposes; tourists’ Willingness to Participate in social media and the Perceived Beneficial Aspects they can gain from using social media are predictors for Interaction and Communication through social media for travel and tourism purposes; and tourists’ Willingness to Participate in social media and Content Accessibility and Sharing are predictors for Content Sharing on social media sites for travel and tourism purposes. Conclusions, contributions and recommendations regarding the outcome of the study were made. The main contributions of the study include contributions to the theory of the field, methodological contributions, as well as practical application contributions. With regard to the theoretical contributions, a framework was developed to optimise and explain the interrelatedness of relationship marketing and social media. This framework can be adopted by researchers and scholars to understand and argue that social media is closely related to the principle of building relationships. Also, due to a lack of a universally accepted definition for the term ‘social media’, and analysis was done in order to assess the most common principles of the term, to develop a definition that can be regarded as universally acceptable by tourism researchers and scholars. Contributions in terms of the methodology entail the development of suitable questionnaire to gather the necessary information for the data analysis of this study. This questionnaire was developed due to a lack of a suitable questionnaire to gather the necessary information for data analysis for the outcome of the research study. The high internal consistency of the questionnaire allows for it to be adopted by other researchers in the field of social media and the tourism industry. Lastly, the main contribution of the study to practical application of the results, a framework was developed to optimise the use of social media as a marketing tool in the South African tourism industry. This framework can be practically implemented by tourism organisations for International and National tourism markets within the South African tourism industry to ensure the optimisation of online social media marketing efforts. The framework was developed in a way that will ensure it is easily understandable, as well as the fact that it will comprise the minimum amount of effort when implementing the framework in the development of social media marketing strategies of tourism organisations. Adequate knowledge and information regarding the above-mentioned aspects can contribute to more effective marketing strategies, increased brand awareness and increased market share. This study also contributes to the existing literature of social media, the effective and successful implementation of social media marketing strategies and has a positive impact on future research with regard to the application of social media as marketing tool in the South African tourism industry. / PhD (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis (MDram (Drama))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Kenyan culture is deeply rooted in tradition. Many problems arise from the traditional role and conceptions of the Kenyan woman. These include female genital mutilation, polygamy and lack of scholastic education. A definite correlation can be found between the problem of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections and certain social traditions as well as the unscripted prohibition of open conversations about sex and death. Kenya does not have an indigenous tradition of puppetry, and Community Health and Awareness Puppeteers (CHAPS) have committed themselves to developing interactive puppetry to address these tradition- orientated social problems. Puppetry makes use of three sign systems, namely sound, design and movement. This sign systems, together with the imagination of the audience, brings life to a lifeless object and serves as a meaningful vehicle of communication. CHAPS use the inherent qualities of the puppet. The puppet’s symbolic and double nature demeanor gives this art form exceptional freedom of speech, which makes it possible discuss sensitive issues. The visual nature of puppetry and general principals such as exaggeration and simplification make it possible to convey a message to people irrespective of their literacy level. The absence of television in rural and impoverished areas in Kenya ensures that people from any age group relate to puppetry as a visual art form. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kenia is ‘n baie tradisievaste land. Uit veral die tradisionele posisie van die vrou spruit ‘n aantal sosiale probleme, onder andere vroulike geslagsskending, poligamie en gebrekkige skolastiese opvoeding. Die problematiek rondom MIV/VIGS en oordraaglke geslagssiektes hou verband met sekere tradisionele sosiale gebruike en die ongeskrewe verbod om oor seks en dood te praat. Kenia het nie ‘n inheemse poppeteatertradisie nie en Community Health and Awareness Puppeteers (CHAPS) beywer hulle daarvoor om poppeteater in Kenia te bevorder en bogenoemde tradisie-verwante sosiale probleme deur middel van interaktiewe poppeteater aan te spreek. Poppeteater maak van drie tekensisteme gebruik, naamlik klank, ontwerp en beweging. Hierdie tekens, tesame met die gehoor se verbeelding, gee ‘n verbeelde lewe aan die toneelpop as ‘n lewelose voorwerp en dien as betekenisdraende kommunikasiemiddele. CHAPS benut die inherente eienskappe van die toneelpop. Die toneelpop se simboliese en dubbele aard gee aan die kunsvorm ‘n uitsonderlike vryheid van spraak wat dit moontlik maak om oor sensitiewe kwessies te praat. Die visuele aard van die poppeteater en spelbeginsels soos oordrywing en vereenvoudiging maak die kunsvorm toeganklik vir mense van enige geletterdheidsvlak. In die afwesigheid van televisie in die landelike en armoedige stedelike gebiede in Kenia, vind poppeteater as nuwigheid en visueelgerigte kunsvorm aanklank by enige ouderdomsgroep.

Bakgrunn, formål og problemstilling: I Norge er ca. 7,5 % av alle fødsler premature, et omfang på ca. 4400 barn per år. Forskning på prematuritet har stadfestet en økt risiko for skolefaglige vansker hos for tidlig fødte barn. For å kunne gi de for tidlig fødte barna et godt tilpasset opplæringstilbud, er det derfor viktig at pedagogisk personell får kjennskap til mulige senfølger av en for tidlig fødsel. Studien synliggjør forskningsbasert litteratur om for tidlig fødte barn, og hensikten er å bidra til økt kunnskap om premature barns faglige, sosiale og emosjonelle behov i skolehverdagen. Problemstillingen for studien er: viser forskning på for tidlig fødte barn om mulige pedagogiske utfordringer skolen kan stå ovenfor i arbeidet med å ivareta denne gruppens faglige og sosiale utvikling? Metode: Problemstillingen er belyst ved hjelp av en litteraturstudie hvor forskning på for tidlig fødte barns skolefaglige prestasjoner synliggjøres. Resultater og diskusjon: Resultatene viser at en for tidlig fødsel kan innvirke på de fleste områdene av et barns utvikling, og at for tidlig fødte barn har en økt risiko for både faglige, sosiale og emosjonelle vansker. Den økte risikoen for vansker begrenser seg ikke til ekstremt og svært premature barn, men gjelder også moderat og lett premature barn. For å ivareta for tidlig fødte barns faglige og sosiale utvikling er det nødvendig med tidlig innsats, og rett innsats. Læreren må ha kompetanse til å kontinuerlig kartlegge, vurdere og reflektere over barnets utvikling og utbytte av, faglige begrunnede tiltak og opplæringstilpasninger. Den tilpassede opplæringen til et for tidlig født barn må ha som mål å skape trygge rammer rundt barnet, og den må sørge for at barnet får nok tid i skolehverdagen. Mange for tidlig fødte barn kan ha utbytte av en deduktiv undervisningstilrettelegging, med konkret og avgrenset kunnskap. Opplæring i ulike lærings- og organiseringsstrategier som hjelpemiddel i læringsarbeidet, kan ruste det premature barnet til å møte skolefaglige utfordringer. Den tilpassede opplæringen må videre legges innenfor det for tidlig fødte barnets nærmeste utviklingssone, for slik å sikre at barnet som elev opplever mestring. Et forsterket skole-hjem samarbeid vil også kunne bidra til å ivareta det for tidlig fødte barnets faglige og sosiale utvikling.

This study investigated the nature of the psycho-social needs of the parents of a child with encopresis. Gaps were identified in the literature that indicated that there is little information available on the needs of parents who are confronted by the complex dysfunction resulting from encopresis. During the course of the empirical investigation, which involved interviews with the parents of children suffering from encopresis, it was confirmed that these gaps do exist. The aim of this study was to determine what parents’ psycho-social needs were with regard to their child if their child is suffering from encopresis. In order to reach this aim, a number of objectives were set. The first objective was to establish a knowledge base by means of a literature review and discussions with experts in the field of encopresis. Information was gathered with regard to the physiological mechanism of encopresis, the role of toilet routine in the origins and development of encopresis, the effect of encopresis on the family system and the psycho-social aspects that maintain this dysfunction. The second objective was to obtain empirical data on the psycho-social needs of the parents of a child with encopresis. The third objective was to draw conclusions and to make recommendations on the basis of the results of this study in respect of parents’ psycho-social needs. The recommendations, which are presented in written form, can serve as recommendations to be used in providing assistance in the practice. The empirical study took the form of one-on-one interviews with the assistance of a semi-structured interview schedule within a phenomenological strategy. The respondents were the parents of children in whom encopresis has been medically diagnosed. The aim of using a phenomenological strategy was to determine what meaning respondents attach to their everyday life. The phenomenological strategy was followed as part of an explorative study. The explorative study was designed to elicit information allowing greater insight into the actual practical situation. The parent couples were selected by the researcher by means of a process of purposeful sampling. Transcripts of the interviews were made after the interviews had been completed and this data was analysed and interpreted. The interview schedule that was used is included in Appendix A. Because encopresis is a highly sensitive topic, respondents were given a letter of informed consent to read and sign. An example of this letter is attached as Appendix B. The empirical data obtained by means of the semi-structured interviews emphasised the following key themes: · The parents’ primary need is information on the nature and causes of encopresis. · The parents’ second most urgent need is the skills to cope with a child with encopresis. Parents indicated that the complex and unpleasant nature of encopresis puts great demands on their parenting skills. · The third central theme that emerged was the need for skills with regard to handling the siblings of an encopretic child. The encopretic child makes very insistent demands on parents and the siblings within the family system react in ways that require particular parenting skills. · The fourth central theme is the parents’ need for support with regard to their own emotions. Parents indicated that tension and frustration arose in their relationship in respect of the demands made by an encopretic child and that they needed support and understanding. · The fifth key theme was the parents’ need for understanding and support from professional role players with regard to encopresis. The parents indicated that they required this understanding and expertise particularly from the medical role players, as well as the school system. · The sixth theme is the need for support from the social community. Parents expressed a clear need for the support of family, friends and the wider social community, since the parents and the family can become completely socially isolated. · The seventh theme was the need for a support group for the parents of children with encopresis. · The eighth theme was the parents’ need for greater awareness in the broader community about encopresis. Parents expressed a need for greater media awareness about encopresis. The research has shown clearly that among these parents there is a great need for information, coping skills and support with regard to various aspects surrounding a child with encopresis. Parents expressed a particular need for support groups to address their psycho-social needs. On the one hand, these needs as expressed by the respondents suggest guidelines for practical assistance to the parents of children with encopresis. On the other hand, they also suggest areas for further research. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

AFRIKAANS: Magersfontein, o Magersfontein! vertoon veral twee fasette van die realisme, naamlik kritiese realisme en sosiale realisme, met satire as die medium en ironie as die “Point of view”. Die roman teken nie alleen sekere lyne van die sosiale ontwikkelingspatroon oor geslagte heen nie, maar is ook en veral 'n aanval op bourgeois-eienskappe wat in die ontwikkelingsgang as verwerende en selfs vernietigende elemente voorkom. Sodanige eienskappe is die skyf van die satire. Die roman is gebaseer op die Slag van Magersfontein 1899, en die besoek van 'n TV-span en filmspan wat die beroemde Slag wil laat herbelewe. In gekonstrueerde ironie word die Slag, as die bovlak, teen die projekgangers as prototipes van die nageslagte van die helde van weleer, as die ondervlak gestel. As agtergrond dien die dorre vlaktes van Magersfontein, simbolies van die geestelike dood, dus die malaise van ons tyd. Die steriele karakters wat daarteen beweeg, word nie op tradisionele romanmatige wyse uitgebeeld nie, maar stel as meerkantige figure, 'n tema, 'n denkrigting, 'n groep of ‘n instelling voor, waarin bepaalde bourgeois-eienskappe voorkom wat onder die soeklig van die satire kom. Sodoende belig Leroux die oorsake van die malaise as synde kleinlikheid, selfbedrog, eiewaan, wensdenkery, snobisme, huigelary en hebsug. Die verkrummeling van die aristokrasie, een van die belangrikste oorsake van die toename in bourgeois-elemente, word in Lords Sudden en Se1dom uitgebee1d. Le Grange verteenwoordig die Staat as skepping van 'n vlytige bourgeoisie wat 'n liggaam in die lewe wou roep wat met die organisasie verbonde aan ekonomiese en tegniese vooruitgang, vir hulle tot hulp kon wees. Mr. Shipmaster, wat onder andere die organisasiemens verteenwoordig, kan ironies nie organiseer nie en 1eun a1 meer op die “Staat” dat die vir hom sy 1ewe gemak1i ker kan maak. Die satiriese spot lê in die ontaarding van die staat van ‘n geordende instelling tot ‘n burokrasie en uiteindelik tot ‘n militêre Staat. In Mr. Shipmaster word onder andere getoon hoe by gebrek aan inspanning, die leiersfiguur onder die invloed van ‘n massakultuur wat uit die bourgeoisie se massaproduksie ontstaan het, tot ‘n massamens kan degenereer. Op soortgelyke wyse word die ander karakters in die roman gebruik om op die verwerende elemente te wys. 'n Storm dreig, wat van 'n komende oordee1 getuig en die verskil1ende karakters se reaksie daarop is ook verskillend, net soos by die latere oorstromings. Die bee1d word een van 'n toenemende geeste1ike nood en die wetenskap in die persoon van die Man van Waterwese kom met sy helikopter (Tegniek) om die noodgeteisterdes te red. Die gebrek aan kommunikasie word toonbeeld van verskille in waardes; sy poging is 'n mislukking - hoe kan die wetenskap die taal van die siel in nood ken en verstaan? Intussen vorm 'n meer tussen die koppies waarop die noodgeteisterdes saamdrom. Die meer kan verstaan word as simboo1 van die psigies-herstelde mens. In die stadium tree Aristophanes Pompidous, wat as skrywer in die roman gekonstitueer is, vrywillig na vore om 'n simbo1iese sterwe-tot -die-1ewe te volvoer, ooreenkomstig die Griekse mite van Dionuses. Die waterbee1d is in die Christelike godsdiens ook ten nouste verbonde aan die aflegging van sonde in die Doop as verbond, wat wedergeboorte impliseer. Die boek eindig met die positiewe gedagte dat vo1kome herstel, dus hergeboorte wat herlewing inhou, moont1ik is uit die bee1d van 'n herstelde wêreld waarvan Lord Sudden ‘n visioen het vanuit die ballon. Die eens barre vlaktes van Magersfontein vertoon ten slotte aan hom (en die leser) die beeld van ‘n vrugbare, waterryke vallei. ENGLISH: The novel, Magersfonteint, o Magersfontein! by Etienne Leroux is an example of social realism and of critical realism, with satire as medium and irony as point of view. Thus the novel highlights the direction taken in social development in modern times, and also attacks those bourgeois characteristics that act as corrosive elements in this development. These characteristics form the butt of the satire in the novel. The novel is based on the Battle of Magersfontein 1899, and the attempt of a TV- and filmgroup to re-enact this battle on the actual terrain. Depicting the heroes who took part in the batt1e the author has pitched prototypes of the descendants of these heroes. The barren flats of Magersfontein, symbol of the malaise of our times, form the background against which these sterile characters move, partrayed as they are to represent aspects of borgeois society in themes, philosophies, groups and even institutions. In this manner Leroux exposes the causes for the existing malaise as being pettiness, self-deceit, wishful thinking, snobbery, hypocrisy and greed. The book, however, ends on a positive note, with the possibility of the complete restoration of man in a fleeting glimpse of the once desolate valley now looking fertile, filled with beauty and blessed with rain. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Afrikaans / unrestricted

Anxiety and socio-emotional functioning were examined in a single case study of a girl with autism. The objective was to determine the effect of visualization on the experience of anxiety during social interaction, and three target situations that triggers anxiety responses were therefore selected. The ATEC checklist, personal observations and adapted behavior during the specified target behaviors, measured reduced levels of anxiety. The results and conclusions indicate that visualization, as intervention, may be successful in promoting the social and emotional functioning of a child with autism by reducing the high levels of anxiety associated with social interaction. Additionally, increased levels in general functioning, as indicated by the ATEC checklist, and of functioning in different developmental areas were observed. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

In hierdie studie word stiefma’s en die mites wat daar oor stiefma’s bestaan, ondersoek. Dit word gedoen in die postfundamentele praktiese teologie en volgens die narratiewe benadering. Die studie word ook gedoen in die sosiaal-konstruksionistiese paradigma. Vier stiefma’s se unieke verhale oor stiefma-wees word weergegee. Nadat die stories geinterpreteer is, is diskoerse vasgestel wat ‘n invloed het op die mites wat daar oor stiefma’s bestaan. Daar word onder andere gekyk na sprokies en die oorsprong daarvan. Daar word ook gekyk na families deur die eeue, asook na moederskap. Die Godstaal wat die stiefma’s gebruik het, word ook ondersoek. Daar is ‘n interdissiplinêre ondersoek gedoen aan die hand van transversale rasionaliteit. Hierdie verhale wys onder andere op die druk wat op stiefma’s geplaas word deur die kerk en gemeenskap om onmiddelik in die rol van ‘n ma te funksioneer en die perfekte gesin te hê. Konflik in die nuwe gesin gee ook aanleiding tot skuldgevoelens by die stiefma. Met hierdie studie word daar gepoog dat daar beter begrip vir stiefma’s se unieke omstandighede en rolle sal wees. Dus ontstaan nuwe verhale, wat weer moontlikhede vir nuwe navorsing skep. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Practical Theology / Unrestricted

Hensikten med dette arbeidet er å finne ut om ensemblespill i årskurs 6 kan være med å styrke elever sosialt i skolen. For å oppfylle dette studiet har det blitt lagt vekt på hvilke sosiale mønster og betraktninger lærere har sett i sammenheng med ensemblespill i skolen, elevenes individuelle innlæring og psykiske påvirkninger av ensemblespill i skolen. Metoden består av kvalitative intervjuer med sju legitimerte musikklærere som alle underviser i årskurs 6. Resultatet viser at alle lærere i studiet foredrar å undervise ensemblespill i mindre grupper, at utstyret i grupperommene er viktig og at undervisningstiden for hver gruppe er avgjørende for kvaliteten i undervisningen. Lærerne mener unisont at det er vanskelig å jobbe med ensemblespill i større grupper, og mener det leder til et dårlig arbeidsmiljø. Samtidig uttrykker alle at det er viktig å ha instrumenter som fungerer for at undervisningen skal fungere på en bra måte og at innlæringen skal være lystfull. Lærerne uttrykker også at elever som ikke nødvendigvis gjør det bra i andre emner ofte kan blomstre opp i ensembleundervisningen siden det er en annen form for undervisning og kan oppleves som en sosial sammenheng som i sin tid skaper bånd og relasjoner. Skolverket beskriver musikk i musikkemnets kursplan som en viktig del av menneskets sosiale fellesskap og at den kan påvirke individets identitetsutvikling (Skolverket 2011, 149). Resultatet i sin helhet viser at ensemblespill i musikkemnet er viktig for elevens kunnskapsutvikling så vel som elevens psykiske velvære.