Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Selection and selection procedures play a key role in the ability of organisations to compete successfully in the complex global and local environment. South Africa is experiencing a serious artisinal and technical skill shortage. Given the unemployment issues and the quest for people to fill the skill shortage gap it is important for organizations to find possible solutions to ensure that they stay competitive and effective in the labour market. Research suggests that at least 12 500 artisans need to be produced each year from 2006 to 2010 to meet the demand for skilled workers. To address above mentioned challenge organizations have to develop strategies to assist them to select individuals with the best chance to succeed in training. Unfortunately, the solution is not simple as organisations have a multitude of influences and pressures which affect their decisions regarding selection procedures. Selection of individuals is becoming an increasingly complex science as organisations have to select a capable and representative workforce. They must thus select candidates that are most likely to benefit from what is offered educationally, meet the requirements stipulated in South Africa's Labour legislation, and will perform most successfully in the specific trade. Bad practice can lead to costly litigation. The objectives of this mini-dissertation were to assess the empirical validity of the Technical Test Battery (TTB), as ability test and the Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT) as learning potential test as predictors of academic success of first year apprentice electrician students at a South African technical college serving a mining community. The study explored the current local employment issues that affect selection for training in the technical fields. The difference between the measurement of cognitive ability and learning potential were examined and the nature of the constructs of cognitive ability and that of learning potential were discussed. In the empirical study one of the objectives was to determine whether there was a relationship between the TTB and the LPCAT as two different predictors of the academic success of first yar apprentice electrician students. The difference in the empirical (predictive) validity of the two psychometric selection instruments, if only one of the tests as opposed to if both were used in combination, were examined. Another objective was to determine if there were any differences regarding the scores on the TTB and LPCAT of students from the designated group as opposed to that of students from non-designated groups. Finally this study explored whether the TTB and LPCAT were valid predictors to be used as selection instruments for apprentice electrician students in the South African context The research method consisted of a literature review and an empirical study. The empirical validity of the two predictor tests was validated in terms of the accuracy with which the selection instruments predicted the students' future performance. This research can be categorized as descriptive quantitative research. The TTB and LPCAT scores of a sample of 89 selected apprentice electricians were compared with the number of attempts they used to pass a phase test. Data was analysed by means of descriptive statistics. Pearsons Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, t-tests, ANOVAs as well as discriminant analysis were also used to reach the research objective. Statistically significant relationships were found between the predictor and criterion variables. The results confirm that the TTB and LPCAT are indeed empirical valid tests that can be used in the selection of apprentice electricians. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Selection and selection procedures play a key role in the ability of organisations to compete successfully in the complex global and local environment. South Africa is experiencing a serious artisinal and technical skill shortage. Given the unemployment issues and the quest for people to fill the skill shortage gap it is important for organizations to find possible solutions to ensure that they stay competitive and effective in the labour market. Research suggests that at least 12 500 artisans need to be produced each year from 2006 to 2010 to meet the demand for skilled workers. To address above mentioned challenge organizations have to develop strategies to assist them to select individuals with the best chance to succeed in training. Unfortunately, the solution is not simple as organisations have a multitude of influences and pressures which affect their decisions regarding selection procedures. Selection of individuals is becoming an increasingly complex science as organisations have to select a capable and representative workforce. They must thus select candidates that are most likely to benefit from what is offered educationally, meet the requirements stipulated in South Africa's Labour legislation, and will perform most successfully in the specific trade. Bad practice can lead to costly litigation. The objectives of this mini-dissertation were to assess the empirical validity of the Technical Test Battery (TTB), as ability test and the Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT) as learning potential test as predictors of academic success of first year apprentice electrician students at a South African technical college serving a mining community. The study explored the current local employment issues that affect selection for training in the technical fields. The difference between the measurement of cognitive ability and learning potential were examined and the nature of the constructs of cognitive ability and that of learning potential were discussed. In the empirical study one of the objectives was to determine whether there was a relationship between the TTB and the LPCAT as two different predictors of the academic success of first yar apprentice electrician students. The difference in the empirical (predictive) validity of the two psychometric selection instruments, if only one of the tests as opposed to if both were used in combination, were examined. Another objective was to determine if there were any differences regarding the scores on the TTB and LPCAT of students from the designated group as opposed to that of students from non-designated groups. Finally this study explored whether the TTB and LPCAT were valid predictors to be used as selection instruments for apprentice electrician students in the South African context The research method consisted of a literature review and an empirical study. The empirical validity of the two predictor tests was validated in terms of the accuracy with which the selection instruments predicted the students' future performance. This research can be categorized as descriptive quantitative research. The TTB and LPCAT scores of a sample of 89 selected apprentice electricians were compared with the number of attempts they used to pass a phase test. Data was analysed by means of descriptive statistics. Pearsons Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, t-tests, ANOVAs as well as discriminant analysis were also used to reach the research objective. Statistically significant relationships were found between the predictor and criterion variables. The results confirm that the TTB and LPCAT are indeed empirical valid tests that can be used in the selection of apprentice electricians. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Title: The relevance of Bosco test for determination of healthy oriented efficiency adolescents Objective: The main objective is to find and describe the relationship of Bosco test (60 s) to a specific level of health-related fitness among adolescents based on the comparison of the output parameter of Bosco test and test items EUROFIT at physically active and inactive boys and girls. The partial objectives are to describe the influence of anthropometric parameters, gender and competence to physically active people on the current level of power parameters of the lower limbs. Methods: The dissertation has the character of empirical research, it is a descriptive study in which the research has a nature of the association, ie., that the required data are obtained by observation. The study was carried out on a group of purposefully selected probands n=100 age 18.40 ± 0.83 years, a period of adolescence. In the study group was equal representation of boys n=50 (age 18.50 ± 0.84 years) and girls n=50 (age 18.38 ± 0.82 years). Anaerobic capacity and power parameters of the lower extremities were determined by a standardized jumping Bosco test (60 s). The results of laboratory and anthropometric survey results were referenced by a test battery EUROFIT, which provides information on health-related fitness....

The Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) procedure has been established as a frequency specific, objective audiologic measure, which can provide reliable thresholds to within 10 dB of the behavioral thresholds. In order for ASSR to find its place in the existing framework of audiometric procedures, the full potential of the procedure needs to be explored. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of monotic ASSR in estimating hearing thresholds in a group of 15 normal hearing subjects and 15 hearing-impaired subjects. A comparative research design was implemented. Indicating that results obtained in the study was compared to relevant literature where dichotic multiple ASSR was implemented. This was done in order to ascertain ASSR’s capabilities with regard to stimulus presentation methods. Monotic single ASSR predicted behavioural thresholds in the normal hearing subjects within an average of 24 dB across the frequency range (0.5, 1, 2&4 kHz). In the hearing-impaired group, ASSR thresholds more closely resembled behavioural thresholds, with an average difference of 18 dB, which is consistent with recent literature. The literature suggests that better prediction of behavioural thresholds will occur with greater degrees of hearing loss, due to recruitment. The focus in this group also centered on the accurate prediction of the configuration of the hearing loss. It was found that ASSR could reasonably accurately predict the configuration of the hearing loss. In the last instance, monotic single and dichotic multiple ASSR were compared with regard to threshold estimation and prediction of configuration of the hearing loss in the hearing-impaired group. Little difference was reported between the two techniques with regard to the estimation of thresholds in both the normal hearing and hearing impaired groups. In conclusion it was established that monotic ASSR could predict behavioural thresholds of varying degrees and configurations of hearing loss in normal and hearing-impaired subjects with a reasonable amount of accuracy. At this stage, however, more research is required to establish the clinical validity of the procedure, before it is routinely included within an objective test battery. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted

School-related mistakes and low pass rates have led this researcher to perceive that some students are not adequately prepared for Mathematics 1. To address the problem of under-preparedness overseas universities use placement or diagnostic tests. Diagnostic testing identifies areas of weakness and provides information to guide the development of appropriate remedial support. This researcher embarked on a study to identify the sub-domains (criteria) that should be included in a diagnostic Mathematics test battery at the NMMU. An analysis of first-year curricula was undertaken to determine the required Mathematical pre-knowledge and skills entry-level students should have. Thereafter, the required pre-knowledge and skills were reflected against the standard grade school syllabi. From this it was determined that the school learners should acquire the necessary pre-knowledge and skills for university success as part of the school syllabus. However, in reality this is not the case as the researcher and other Mathematics lecturers identified a number of basic errors that incoming students make. This suggests that they have not developed all the required knowledge and skills. Furthermore, their performance in the matriculation examinations does not provide an adequate measure of the requisite Mathematical pre-knowledge and skills necessary for success at university-level Mathematics. No suitable existing diagnostic Mathematics test could be found. By utilizing both an action research as well as a test development methodology, the researcher thus proceeded to delineate the sub-domains that should be included in a diagnostic Mathematics test battery. Thereafter, test specifications were developed for two pilot tests and items were developed or sourced. The constructed response item-type was chosen for the pilot tests as it was argued that this item-type was more useful to use in a diagnostic test than a multiple-choice item format, for example. The pilot test battery, which consisted of a pilot Arithmetic and Algebra and Calculus tests, was administered to a sample of first-year students at the NMMU in 2004 and their performance in Mathematics at the end of the first year was tracked. Tests were scored holistically and analytically to provide a rich source of information. Thereafter, the test results were analysed to obtain evidence on the content validity of the pilot tests, including the item difficulty values and the item-total correlations; to determine the predictive validity of performance on the pilot tests with respect to final first-year Mathematics marks; and their reliability was determined using the Cronbach’s Alpha statistic. These findings suggest that appropriate sub-domains (criteria) were delineated and the items appropriately covered these sub-domains (i.e. the content validity of the pilot tests is acceptable). Furthermore, the predictive validity of the pilot ix tests was found to be acceptable in that significant correlations were found between the pilot tests and performance in first-year Mathematics. Finally, the pilot tests were found to be reliable. Based on the results, suggestions are made regarding how to refine the diagnostic test battery and the research related to it. The final diagnostic Mathematics test battery holds much potential to be able to assist in the early identification of at-risk students who can be timeously placed in developmentally appropriate Mathematics modules or provided with appropriate remedial intervention.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the Q-scores and the L-scores made on the American Council on Education Psychological Examination and the scores made on Aptitudes "N" and "V" of the General Aptitude Test Battery by the same students, and to compare the academic grades of these same students with the aforementioned test scores in order to determine what relationship exists, if any, between academic grades made in certain selected courses and scores made on each of the aforementioned tests.

The title of the bachelor thesis: The evaluation of selected elementary school students' physical fitness by using UNIFITTEST Prepared by: Bc. Adéla Vélová Thesis supervisor: PhDr. Ales Kaplan, Ph.D. Objectives: The aim of the diploma thesis was to find out the current level of the fitness of the 5th graders at selected primary schools in the district of Jablonec nad Nisou, which do not focus on sports. These were pupils who fall into the age category of 10 and 11 years. I processed the ascertained results. Subsequently, I made a comparison between the individual primary schools to find out which of the tested schools achieved better results. Methodology: The main method of the research was the practical testing of students by using a test battery UNIFITTEST (6-60), from which I applied four motor tests (two-footed jump, sit- ups repeatedly for 60 seconds, shuttle run 4x10 m and the Cooper's test - 12 minutes run). I compared all the measured data with the relevant UNIFITTEST standards for the given age category (10-11 years). Another part of my diploma thesis was a short anonymous questionnaire designed for physical education teachers, refering to the finding out opinions of physical education of the 5th graders. Results: The results for the boys and the girls were very balanced. Both sexes across...

Title: The relevance of Bosco test for determination of healthy oriented efficiency adolescents Objective: The main objective is to find and describe the relationship of Bosco test (60 s) to a specific level of health-related fitness among adolescents based on the comparison of the output parameter of Bosco test and test items EUROFIT at physically active and inactive boys and girls. The partial objectives are to describe the influence of anthropometric parameters, gender and competence to physically active people on the current level of power parameters of the lower limbs. Methods: The dissertation has the character of empirical research, it is a descriptive study in which the research has a nature of the association, ie., that the required data are obtained by observation. The study was carried out on a group of purposefully selected probands n=100 age 18.40 ± 0.83 years, a period of adolescence. In the study group was equal representation of boys n=50 (age 18.50 ± 0.84 years) and girls n=50 (age 18.38 ± 0.82 years). Anaerobic capacity and power parameters of the lower extremities were determined by a standardized jumping Bosco test (60 s). The results of laboratory and anthropometric survey results were referenced by a test battery EUROFIT, which provides information on health-related fitness....

Anyone desiring to qualify as an accountant or auditor is required to pass an examination as approved by the Public Accountants' and Auditors' Board to establish whether candidates have attained the required standard of academic knowledge in terms of the syllabi laid down by the Board, as well as whether they are able to apply that knowledge in practice (P AAB, 1995). However each year many students fail this very important examination. The reasons for this are not clear and the purpose of this research is to determine whether: personality; vocational interests; intelligence; matriculation Mathematics and home language (English/ Afrikaans) results, predict success in the QE, by comparing a group of successful and unsuccessful QE candidates. The logistic regression, discriminant analysis and t-test statistical procedures, indicated that: warmth (A), liveliness (F), rule-consciousness (G), social boldness (H), apprehension (0), self-reliance (Q2), perfectionism (Q3), tension (Q4), computational interest, social services interest, mechanical interest, Mental Alertness and matriculation home language, are significant factors to consider when identifying candidates likely to be successful in the QE. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / MCOM (Industrial Psychology)