Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Aim of the study The study aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions amongst post graduate homoeopathy students and post basic primary health care nurses serving in a primary health care setting regarding adverse effects associated with childhood vaccinations. Methodology In this qualitative study 18 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. The interviews were recorded and analysed conceptually. Results The findings of this study revealed that all of the PHC nursing participants were in favour of the childhood immunisation schedule of South Africa, contrary to the homoeopathic participants where the majority of participants were not in favour of the childhood immunisation schedule. Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions varied amongst the homoeopathic participants in contrast to the PHC nursing participants where there was a much more unified stance and cohesive outcome with regard to their attitudes and perceptions. / M

Several factors that are known to influence attitudes of students towards learning have been documented. Some of these factors have been found to affect the achievement of students. In this study the relationship of the attitudinal disposition of students to their learning outcomes were assessed. Chemistry attitude questionnaire was used to assess the attitude of students and a pen and paper examination comprising of questions requiring declarative and procedural knowledge were used to assess learning outcomes of students. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess relationship between attitude of students and their learning outcomes. The results showed that attitude of students had a positive but moderate influence on their performance. The ANOVA results showed a statistical significant relationship between attitude of students and students’ learning outcomes (F= 38.383, p=0.000). / Institute of Science and Technology Education / M.Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

M.Ed. / This research aims at the description of a therapeutic approach relevant to the adolescent underachiever in whose case the cause of the problem is often overlooked because it is not self-evident. In this specific case there seemed to be no clear reason why the adolescent was not achieving academically according to his potential. An in-depth study was necessary, involving also the family of the respondent. From conversations with educational psychologists, the history of the adolescent and the literature, it seems as if the focus of the intervention in cases where there do not seem to be overt reasons for the underachievement, was on the adolescent only. Courses in motivation and study skills were offered, but were not effective. Because the adolescent is a member of a family, the research is aligned to a systems approach. I wanted to explore the the possibility that the cause of the problem could be found in the style of parenting and resulting family dynamics. A qualitative, investigative, descriptive and contextual design was used. One adolescent was deliberately chosen according to set criteria, and subjected to the utilisation of multiple data-gathering sources and methods. These included interviews, document analysis and observation. The parents of the underachiever as well as his register teacher, were also interviewed. A case study report was compiled according to the processed data. A cross-validation report was compiled, using notes which were taken when I was dealing with the cases that first aroused my interest. Hereafter literature control was applied to compare the results of this study with other available research, and to point out new insights into a family's educational style as a cause of underachievement, gained from the study. All data were submitted to an independent consultant for analysis. After the data were analysed, I concluded that the educational style of parents can be a cause of underachievement. From an integrative systemic perspective, an educational psychological therapeutic programme was described. It is hoped that, aided by this programme, the educational psychologist may make a contribution towards helping the underachieving adolescent and his/her family to overcome their problems so that he/she may realise his/her full potential.

M.Ed. (Curriculum Science) / The demands for the renewal of education in South Africa and the poor performance of black learners in the Standerd 10 final examination in Home Economics gave rise to the empirical study on the needs of black learners. These needs were used as a co-determinant for the design of a future subject curriculum. A literature study was conducted on curriculum designs and design models which resulted in a recommended design model. The qualitative research paradigm was used for the empirical study. Data were collected through interviews supplemented by document-analysis. The research focused on the needs of the learners concerning: The relevance of the subject, i.e to what extent the subject is related to the learners' everyday life experiences and interest. The subject content as it could be applied in the daily lives of learners as well as the future world of work. Teaching methods, which include methods that contribute towards maximum learning and which accomodate learners' differences. Evaluation as an integral part of the implementation of the curriculum. Identified learner needs were taken into consideration in compiling guidelines on the different elements of a future curriculum design for Home Economics where both the learners' needs and the requirements of the subject will be accomodated.

M.Ed. (Tertiary Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Submitted in compliance with the requirement for Master’s Degree in Technology: Marketing, Retail, and Public Relations, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The South African Further Education and Training (FET) sector is facing the challenge of being rated and considered by many young school leavers and the community as a second choice institution, while universities are their first priority. This study aimed to investigate and explore student’s expectations and perceptions of Colleges in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with respect to their choice of college. The main objective of this research was to identify students’ expectations and perceptions, and the factors that encourage enrolment at FET colleges, as well as to identify the different expectations and perceptions, according to demographic factors. The SERVQUAL model was employed to establish students’ expectations against perceptions of FET colleges in KZN. The study design was quantitative in nature, using a descriptive technique, cross sectional, and collected data through the application of non-probability sampling with census, quota and convenience sampling methods being utilized to obtain data from a sample of 301 respondents. Data collected from the respondents were analysed with SPSS version 20.0 and interpreted with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The questionnaire measured students’ expectations and perceptions in five dimensions of service, namely tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsiveness and empathy. The findings demonstrate that students had higher expectations of service quality with lower perceptions of the actual service received. The negative gaps within the five SERVQUAL service quality dimensions, implies that the students were dissatisfied with the level of service in their FET colleges. The gaps, from largest to smallest, were Reliability, Assurance, Tangible, Responsiveness, and Empathy. FET College management is advised to attend to these above-mentioned gaps and to ensure that the necessary strategies are immediately implemented, as these would improve the FET brand and ultimately position FET Colleges as the institution of first choice in KZN. / M

The current landscape of South Africa’s education system is one riddled with many challenges. Young people studying in this unfavourable climate have become disillusioned by the failing system and this has resulted in negative attitudes towards schooling. A shortage of teaching personnel and a lack of resources further exacerbate the situation. In recent years however, it has been found that a significant number of young people seem to have “beaten the odds”, in spite of these unfavourable conditions as they have seen themselves being granted entry into tertiary institutions. The dearth of information on academic resilience and the increased number of “educational success stories” led the researcher to embark on this qualitative study. The aim of this exploratory, descriptive and contextual research study was: to enhance understanding of the academic resilience and subsequent academic success at school, as experienced by first year NMMU students from disadvantaged communities, by exploring their constructions of academic resilience. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory as well as Resilience Theory was used to examine the phenomenon of academic resilience. Purposive sampling techniques was utilised to draw participants within the NMMU’s School of Behavioural Sciences and data was collected by means of narrative accounts by participants. The two phases of narrative analysis were applied to analyse the data collected and Guba’s model for trustworthiness was used to verify the data. The findings of the study indicated that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the fostering of resilience.

This study examines the reasons given for the lack of interracial contact among 188 (142 Black, 25 White and 19 Coloured) university students. The most pervasive factor influencing such contact for the whole group (79.1 percent) was language differences. The statements endorsed by most black participants were; differences in behaviour (62.9 percent), socio-economic status (56.0 percent) and culture (52.5 percent). The coloured participants endorsed statements concerning socio-economic status (61.1 percent), culture (42.1 percent) and dissociation (42.1 percent). The white participants endorsed statements regarding race issues (64.0 percent), differences in behaviour (60.0 percent) and cultural differences (44.0 percent). This study found that metastereotypes social distance and contact correlate with prejudice. Metastereotypes and social distance positively influence prejudice in that an increase in these factors is associated with heightened levels of prejudice. The amount of contact between groups has a negative relationship with prejudice, indicating that increased levels of contact are associated with a decrease in prejudice.

D.Cur. / The overall objective of this study is to describe a model that will serve as theoretical framework for facilitating interaction to both nurse educators and nursing students during conflict at a college of nursing. There is need for transformation at colleges concerning interaction during conflict and that can be facilitated through practising the opposite elements of negative interaction, identified in the field-work of the research study, which is compliance with norms, justice which is fair and equal treatment, facilitative communication, power sharing, facilitative peer group dynamics. A unique contribution in the model description is the facilitative interaction elements identified as opposites of the results of the field research, namely: Compliance with norms Justice, which is fair and equal treatment Facilitative communication Power sharing Facilitative peer group dynamics.