The aim of the research was to establish the emotional experiences of adolescents who experience a discrepancy between their self-concept and ideal self-concept. An empirical investigation was carried out in order to establish the relationship that exists between the self-concept and the ideal self-concept of adolescents and certain emotions they experience. The investigation further identified the emotions that are prominent in the case of a discrepancy between the self-concept and the ideal self-concept. A Self-concept, Ideal Self-concept and Emotional Profile Index Questionnaire were completed by 250 adolescents. Trust and sociability showed the strongest positive correlations and depression, distrust and aggression the strongest negative correlations with aspects of the self-concept. In most instances no relationship existed between the ideal self-concept of adolescents and the emotions they experience. In terms of a discrepancy between the self-concept and the ideal self-concept, results indicated that trust was the most prominent positive emotion and depression, aggression and distrust the most prominent negative emotions. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of the pupil nurses at their second year level towards clinical support at the private hospital in the Limpopo Province. Qualitative approach including exploratory, descriptive and contextual study design was followed. The target population for this study included pupil nurses at their second year level (n=20) following a two year programme leading to enrolment as a nurse from a private nursing education institution in the Limpopo Province. Data was collected utilizing written narratives, and focus group interviews. Field notes and audio tape were used to capture data. Data saturation was reached on twelve participants. Data were thematically analysed using Tesch’s method of open coding. The results revealed lack of clinical support. Lack of clinical support was attributed to inadequate educators for accompaniment, registered nurses’ uncaring attitude and not fulfilling their mentorship role, and pressure on pupil nurses to meet the high clinical demands. Pupil nurses were found not to be assuming full responsibilities over their practical learning. Therefore, it is mandatory as nurse educators, managers and researchers to take note of the gaps identified and intervene utilising recommendations provided to enhance clinical support. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of the study was to develop a short course to inculcate the spirit of Ubuntu amongst the student nurses at Limpopo College of Nursing at Limpopo Province. A sequential explanatory research design was used and data was collected from one hundred and fifteen student nurses at the three (3) campuses for quantitative phase by means of structured interviews and ten (10) level III student nurses from each campus for qualitative phase by means of focus group discussions and reflective diaries. Ten (10) lecturers at the three campus participated in focus group discussions. Quantitative data analysis was done through descriptive analysis and findings were presented in frequencies, tables and charts. The qualitative data analysis was done through Tesch’s eight steps. There were similarities and differences in the themes and subthemes that were presented by all participants. There were also conflicting views from the same participants during qualitative and quantitative phases. The excerpts were presented to support all themes. The study found that Ubuntu needs to be inculcated through formal teaching and mentoring and that Ubuntu should be included in curriculum. Limpopo College of Nursing consists of student nurses from diverse cultures most of which are: Tsonga, Venda and Northern Sotho. They render nursing care to people of diverse cultures as globalisation has encouraged people to travel to different places. Media portrayal of the nursing care in public hospitals and clinics in South Africa is that of negativity. This is partially valid because, for example, the deterioration in nursing care in the public hospitals and clinics is as well evident in Limpopo Province in Mopani District (Bond 2002:1; Mohale & Mulaudzi 2008:61). Furthermore, Ubuntu is not effective if there is no correlation of theory and practice and evaluation of it in the clinical areas. Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, a short course on Ubuntu was developed after the consensus was reached among the participants and the experts who were consulted. / Health Studies / D. Lit. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Student leadership in South African (SA) universities has undergone radical change since the transformation of Higher Education in post-apartheid South Africa and this has consequently resulted in shifts in priorities for student leaders. In addition, this leadership can be viewed as occurring in multiple forms in SA universities and in the literature about student leadership in SA. Furthermore; student leadership comprises different and more diverse demographics now in the post-apartheid era. Thus the concept of student leadership may be constituted differently for different student leaders in SA universities today. This research has been undertaken to explore the latter in a particular SA university with the specific aim of studying the social construction of student leadership in a SA university. A social constructionist lens was adopted as the underpinning worldview to adopt a pluralistic qualitative approach in this psychosocial research. Data were gathered using a social dream drawing technique, accessing information on three levels: conscious, subconscious and unconscious. The findings express the fusion of discourse analysis and a psychodynamic interpretation employed in the data analysis. The major findings suggest a two-way interaction between identity in student leadership and relational dynamics in student leadership: these set up a conversation about the anxiety of working with diversity dynamics. Therefore the social construction of student leadership in a SA university has been found to be a space for a conversation about the said anxiety. Metaphors employing Mandela and Moses as leadership symbols have been related to psychodynamic themes such as narcissistic injury and stillbirth and grief in terms of the conversation about the given anxiety amongst such leaders in a SA university. The research makes a methodological contribution by recommending pluralism as a favourable research approach in the study of student leadership. In addition, recommendations for practice such as the implementation of student leadership schools and the incorporation of the relevant psychology professionals to intervene from an adjustment perspective are proposed to inform consulting psychologists and other relevant practitioners in terms of fit for purpose interventions that are linked to student leadership in SA universities. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / Ph. D.(Consulting Psychology)

Using the right method of evaluation for clinical competence in nursing education plays a major role in obtaining appropriate results and making correct judgements. Nurse educators favour the Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA) for this purpose. The objective of this study was two-fold; firstly to explore and describe the experiences of nurse educators and student nurses of the OSCA within a private nursing college in Gauteng. The second objective was to develop implementation guidelines for the use of the OSCA as an assessment method. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design was used and employed individual in-depth interviews, as well as field and direct observations to collect data. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants for the study and the sample comprised of ten nurse educators and ten student nurses to represent the population. Data were analysed thematically and resulted in seven themes and eighteen categories relating to nurse educators’ and student nurses’ experiences of the OSCA. Nurse educators had a predominantly negative view of the OSCA as an assessment method related to the ability of the OSCA to assess all learning assessment method related to the ability of the OSCA to assess all learning domains, the quality, structure, and organisation of the assessment, the simulated nature of OSCA, the availability of resources, as well as the feedback, communication and remedial action during the process. Challenges were experienced with the assessment tools as well as the educator as instrument. Educators raised a concern regarding the students’ readiness for evaluation. Student nurses related their experiences prior to the OSCA, their experiences of the educator, the structure and organisation of the OSCA, and their experience related to the communication and feedback of the results. Students related mixed emotional experiences as recipients of the assessment, as well as the relevance and benefits of the OSCA / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Education)

The research focused on the relationship between hardiness and career adaptability of students studying at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in Gauteng. A quantitative survey was conducted on a convenience sample of (N = 198) of African (92.9%), female (57.6%), single (96.0%), aged 21 years and younger (93.9%) students enrolled at Gauteng TVET colleges for N1 – N6 Engineering Studies (32.8%). A correlational analysis indicated differences between the variables of hardiness and career adaptability and the study reveals that overall hardiness was significantly related to overall career adaptability. A stepwise regression analysis indicated that gender and the hardiness attributes (commitment, control and challenge) predicted career adaptability. The test for significant mean differences indicated that age, gender and field of study differ significantly between the variables of hardiness and career adaptability. Limitations for the study are outlined. Furthermore, recommendations are suggested for use by human resource regarding career development practices for TVET college students. The study concludes with an evaluation of its contribution. / Human Resource Management / M. Com. (Human Resource Management)

Background: Literature has shown that negative attitudes and unwillingness to care for HIV-infected patients are prevailing among healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and willingness of student nurses towards caring for HIV-infected patients in some public hospitals in Gert Sibande district, Mpumalanga. Method: A contextual exploratory quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among student nurses enrolled for a four-year nursing qualification in a nursing college at Mpumalanga province. Self-administered questionnaires were completed after obtaining an informed consent. Results: A total of 122 (70.9%) students participated in this survey. Findings showed that most participants had positive attitudes 66 (52.7%) and were willing 121 (99.1%) to care for HIV-infected patients. Significant associations were revealed between participants’ previous HIV testing (p=0.012), age group (p=0.009), and their willingness to provide care to HIV-infected patients. Conclusion: Results showed a generally positive attitude and willingness by participants to care for HIV-infected patients. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study was aimed at finding reasons for nonparticipation in sport by black learners at secondary school level. It was carried out with a group of grade 9 to 12 learners who do not participate in sport at secondary schools in black townships. A nonparticipation in sport at secondary school level questionnaire was developed to measure the most important reasons for nonparticipation. Among the reasons learners cited were lack of sport facilities, political factors, social factors and factors related to self-image. Social circumstances were found to be intimately linked and overlapping with political circumstances. For learners coming from impoverished backgrounds, sport comes a very poor second. Based on the results of the study, a number of recommendations were made for education managers and sport administrators. Contributions of the study were highlighted and suggestions for further research made. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The main purpose of this study was to examine the use of mobile phones by Generation Y students in the city of Johannesburg in order to increase understanding of this segment's consumer behaviour. Generation Y is an important market segment in that it is making more independent purchase-related decisions and has a large amount of disposable income. The primary data for this study is based on focus group interviews and a quantitative study of a sample of 200 Generation Y tertiary students. Some of the findings are as follows: * Generation Y's use of mobile phones: Generation Y respondents have owned a mobile phone for between three to five years; the majority own Nokia mobile phones, are on prepaid packages and are not big spenders on airtime; furthermore, SMS is seen as the most cost-effective way to communicate. * Competition in the mobile phone market: The perceptions of this segment are that Vodacom is the "cool" operator, MTN is the most "expensive" network operator and Cell C is "cheap and youthful". * Mobile phone brand awareness: Nokia was the most cited brand of mobile phone and was found to be the first choice of many of the respondents. Samsung was reported as the second most cited brand with Motorola, Siemens and Sony Ericsson following. The results have implications for network providers, handset manufacturers and marketers alike as they will ultimately improve these stakeholder's chances of marketing effectively to this dynamic youth market. / Business Management / M. Comm. (Business Management)

The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions/views of student nurses, nurse educators and unit supervisors on accompaniment of student nurses in clinical settings of the Northern Province of the RSA A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey was used in this study to describe the perceptions/views of student nurses, nurse educators and unit supervisors on apcompaniment of student nurses in clinical settings. Data was collected during February and March 200 I when student nurses, nurse educators and unit supervisors in the Northern Province completed questionnaires. The study revealed positive and negative perceptions regarding accompaniment of student nurses in clinical settings, including that: • accompaniment in the clinical settings enhanced student nurses' clinical learning experiences • the presence of nurse educators in the clinical settings improved student nurses' accompaniment • facilitators played an important role in the accompaniment of student nurses • accompaniment enhances correlation of theory and practice / Health Studies / MA (Advanced Nursing Sciences)