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

M.A. / This study is an attempt at providing substantiated research data on sensation seeking, measured using the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS), and its role in sensory, perceptual and cognitive functioning. The areas of functioning investigated included sensory tolerance levels, preference for perceptual complexity, speed of perpetual closure, verbal ability versus spatial ability and creativity ...

M.A. (Psychology) / The problem The technology of the modern society changes rapidly and the complexities that confront individuals, necessitate responsible adult guidance in the form of guidance programmes. Research that covers the evaluation of such programmes and more specifically the programmes concerning the enhancement of the career maturity of coloured adolescents has been neglected. The aim- It is against this background that the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a programme towards effective career maturity enhancement amongst a minority group. Research method- The subjects came from a Coloured High School in one of the sub-economic areas in Johannesburg, namely Westbury. A biographic questionnaire was compiled to ascertain the needs of the subjects. The subjects were assigned to an experimental and control group. A second control group was also formed to minimalize test retest influences. The experimental group took part in an extensive career maturity enhancement programme and the first control group took part in a communication programme. The groups were compared according to the measure of the Crites Maturity Inventory (Attitude Scale). The programme made use of individual and group guidance as well as self-evaluation through the completion of assignments in the form of worksheets. The programme consisted of 12 sessions of 1 hour duration for three months. Results the major findings of the study were: the career education programme succeeded in bringing about a positive change in the attitudinal career maturity of the Westbury pupils; the attitudinal career maturity of the subjects in the present study compared unfavourably with that of other pupils in ordinary situations (not minority situations) and no difference was found between the end results of males and female with regard to their level of career maturity after completing the programme, unlike reported by other researchers. Recommendation-In conclusion it is recommended that the programme for the development of career development should form an integral part of the ordinary school guidance syllabus and that the guidance service should be extended to meet the needs of both pupils and counsellors at schools.

M.Tech. (Architectural Technology) / This dissertation is structured to mimic or represent my design project, which was developed in conjunction with theoretical readings and research. The aim is to provide a comprehensive representation of the project’s development from theoretical beginnings to architectural detail. This dissertation attempts to uncover, explore and understand the fragile relationship between man, nature and architecture, stemming from a deeply personal interest in the rehabilitation of political wastelands through ecological restoration. The aim of this study is to pursue a holistic design approach, which understands the architectural discipline as an interrelated profession in which buildings cannot be designed in isolation. Broken down into three main parts, this document illustrates the development of my theoretical and contextual interests into design. These papers are presented in their entirety of this document as Part A (starting point and research influence), Part B (process and discovery) and Part C which introduces a narrative program developed for the architectural discovery of K-206 (nestled within ‘jungle’ in Alexandra). A series of abstract drawings and model building experiments initially framed the investigation, allowing for chance, exploration and the unexpected, valuable experiments in the development of an architectural language and vocabulary which were refined over the course of the year

In light of the cyber-activist simulated incidences dubbed Occupy Wall Street in New York City, New York, USA and the mirrored Occupy JSE movement in Johannesburg, South Africa, the internet and its social media networking sites have been instrumental in facilitating both the dissemination of information as well as facilitating a mediated environment for activists to coordinate online and offline protest action. This research examines the extent to which activists for social change have used social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, web blogs and other online forums to garner support for their cause as well as generate social mobilization by creating awareness of the economic disparities in their respective societies. Established theories of social presence have been used to explain the relevance and role of social media tools in instigating social mobilization whether online or offline. This discussion focuses on the Occupation Movements staged in various countries globally and to what extent social media played in facilitating social change. It is important to note that the video footage and other social media data under analysis is specifically that which was uploaded onto YouTube and the subsequent URL links posted on Facebook. By scrutinizing these videos and calls for action as well as the comments posted by the international online community, this research elucidates the ‘trickling down effect’ of this type of cyber-activism on the behavioural patterns of contemporary South African society, and further argues that this process is indicative in the resultant Occupy JSE movement.

In light of the cyber-activist simulated incidences dubbed Occupy Wall Street in New York City, New York, USA and the mirrored Occupy JSE movement in Johannesburg, South Africa, the internet and its social media networking sites have been instrumental in facilitating both the dissemination of information as well as facilitating a mediated environment for activists to coordinate online and offline protest action. This research examines the extent to which activists for social change have used social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube, web blogs and other online forums to garner support for their cause as well as generate social mobilization by creating awareness of the economic disparities in their respective societies. Established theories of social presence have been used to explain the relevance and role of social media tools in instigating social mobilization whether online or offline. This discussion focuses on the Occupation Movements staged in various countries globally and to what extent social media played in facilitating social change. It is important to note that the video footage and other social media data under analysis is specifically that which was uploaded onto YouTube and the subsequent URL links posted on Facebook. By scrutinizing these videos and calls for action as well as the comments posted by the international online community, this research elucidates the ‘trickling down effect’ of this type of cyber-activism on the behavioural patterns of contemporary South African society, and further argues that this process is indicative in the resultant Occupy JSE movement

M.A. / Wife battering is one of the most pervasive forms of violence used against any individual in south Africa. The problem of battered women only came into the limelight in the early 1970's in the United States, its progression into public awareness corresponding with the growth of the women's movement. In South Africa, concern about wife battering started in the early 1980's. Inspired by the actions of overseas movements, South African feminists began to mobilise around violence against women. People Opposing Women Abuse opened the first shelter for battered women in Johannesburg in the eighties, followed by Rape crises in Cape Town. This study is anchored by a commitment to document battered women's experiences of marital violence in order that appropriate actions may be taken to ameliorate their situations. In undertaking this research, the intention is to learn from battered women about the context of their daily lives, exploring their educational and employment statuses, to describe the development and nature of their relationships with men who abuse them, establish the type of abuse they experience, and most importantly, to find out why they stay in such relationships. Data for this study is derived from questionnaires with fourteen abused women from two shelters (People Opposing Women Abuse, and NISSA Institute for Women Development).

M.A. (Sociology) / Prior to 2012, ward committees (WCs) were elected informally and with very little regulation. Ward Councillors were instructed to convene public meetings during which community members were nominated and voting was done by a raise of hands – this dissertation refers to these as “first generation” WCs. Over the last decade this process became problematic as politically motivated ward councillors, were found to manipulate the WC election for their own benefit. In 2011 public revolt ensued on a national level, and as a result it was decided that all municipalities had the option of utilising the IEC to ensure the 2012 election process would be more transparent – these will be referred to here as “second generation” WCs. Two municipalities in Gauteng province opted for this alternative; one of them was the City of Johannesburg (COJ). This dissertation looks at the relationship between a “second generation” WC and a social movement organisation (SMO) in the COJ. Since the late 1990s the South African state has placed a large emphasis on the restructuring of local government, and the creation of WCs was one outcome of this process. Simultaneously there has been a rise in social movements which serve to represent the needs of the poor and marginalised, who have seemingly been ignored by the state’s neoliberal policies. This dissertation focuses on the WC of Ward 8 and the Thembelihle Crisis Committee (TCC) as a SMO, within the context of the Thembelihle informal settlement. The former is an “invited participatory space” which has been created by the state to invite residents to participate. The latter is an “invented participatory space” created from below by the grassroots, through which residents assert their agency as active community members. Many scholars have conceptualised these participatory spaces as separate and distinct. Faranak Miraftab (2004) applied this analysis to understand the South African context, which proved valuable at the time. Subsequently, “invited spaces” were labelled as pseudo-democratic, state controlled, and hence there was the suggestion that they should be abandoned, while “invented spaces” were perceived as more accurately reflecting the views and needs of the poor in South Africa (SA). More recently, scholars such as Luke Sinwell (2012) and Claire Bénit-Gbaffou (forthcoming) have begun to argue that the binary of invited and invented is too simplistic. They have urged that we need to look more closely at the relationship between these two spaces as opposed to setting them apart. Bénit-Gbaffou claims that “invited spaces” remain important and should not be abandoned. However, scholars have not sufficiently investigated the interface of the “invited” and “invented”. By drawing on various sources, including in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, surveys, literature and informal communication, this dissertation attempts to fill this gap in the literature by presenting a concept which I refer to as “contesting space”. The concept will be used to extend beyond the invited/invented binary, and hence more accurately analyse what is taking place at the interface of the two. By analysing where the WC and TCC meet, we begin to see what happens when a powerful SMO inserts itself onto the invited space of a “second generation” WC.

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) describes a group of natural healthcare interventions that may be employed in conjunction with (Complementary) or instead of (Alternative) conventional medical treatments (Barnes and Bloom, 2008).The prevalence of CAM use in industrialised countries has shown a significant increase in recent decades, amongst consumers and professionals alike, and is being utilised by up to 50% of adults in developed communities (Astin et al., 1998). The general public are starting to take their health and well-being into their own hands by investing in CAM products and consulting with various CAM practitioners. This study is designed to gain valuable insight into the subjective experience of typical CAM users in Johannesburg. Such information may raise awareness within the current CAM climate and may be of value in formulating future marketing and educational strategies for the various CAM professions. Several global surveys have been done to determine patterns and prevalence of CAM use. In South Africa, such studies have been conducted in Cape Town (Du Plessis and Pellow, 2013) and in Durban (Singh et al., 2004). The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) is the regulatory body of CAM in South Africa. It currently regulates and registers 11 CAM professions, namely Homoeopathy, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani-Tibb, Osteopathy, Naturopathy, Phytotherapy, Therapeutic Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Massage and Therapeutic Reflexology. Most CAM products are freely available in various retail outlets. The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes and perceptions of Complementary and Alternative Medicine users in Johannesburg health shops. This will be evaluated by means of a questionnaire survey.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract