The primary motivation for this research was to examine political apathy amongst students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The secondary motivation was to question whether youth political apathy threatens the consolidation of democracy. More specifically, the purpose of the study was to critically analyze contemporary literature on the politics of young people in post apartheid South Africa, in order to identify its shortcomings and give an in-depth explanation for youth political apathy, and how it impacts democracy. The writer has employed a qualitative method. Four focus groups were arranged by the researcher at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. All participants of the study were Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) undergraduate and postgraduate black students aged 21-35. The sample of this study included fifty participants. Thus the researcher has utilized a purposive sampling technique. Participants were encouraged by the researcher to have maximum participation in the focus group deliberations. The researcher also made use of elite interviews in the study. The findings of this study suggest that political apathy amongst students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University does exist. Most of the participants in the focus groups indicated that young people in post-apartheid South Africa have no interest in politics.

This thesis investigates the dimensionality of brand value from the consumer perspective and tests how value dimensions relate to loyalty at the brand level. Firstly, a novel conceptualisation of perceived brand value is offered based on consumption values theory. Five dimensions are deployed to constitute the brand value scale; functional value, economic value, social value, emotional value and epistemic value. These dimensions are then tested in a holistic model to assess i) the reliability and validity of the scale, ii) the impact of brand leadership and corporate image on relative value dimensions, and iii) the segregated influence on value dimensions on repurchase intentions and positive word-of-mouth. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to collect data from the high-technology market segment in Saudi Arabia owing to the country’s strong economic situation along with the accelerated penetration of high-tech brands into the Saudi market. First, four rounds of focus group discussions with university students conducted to confirm and enhance existing scales of brand value dimensions and developing new scale for the epistemic value construct at brand level. A self-administrated questionnaire was developed from both literature and focus groups and content and face validated by academics and subject matter experts. Then, 1020 questionnaires were distributed to several college-level schools in the city of Jeddah, 771 were returned, and 510 completed responses were used for final analysis. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses used to validate the dimensionality and reliability of the integrated scale of brand value. Structural equation modelling techniques applied to test the conceptual model and research hypotheses. Twenty-one items are retained to represent five dimensions of brand value scale and fourteen out of sixteen hypotheses are accepted. Thus, findings of empirical research confirm theory in that i) consumers perceive value of brands from multiple perspectives, ii) brand associations significantly contribute to value of brands, and iii) value dimensions encourage brand loyalty at dissimilar levels. At academic level, researchers can use the developed scales to study the mutual relationships between other brand associations and various dimensions of brand value. The newly developed measure of epistemic value can also be used to examine the impact of added high-tech features on aspects of consumer behaviour e.g. consumer-brand relationship. At managerial level, brand managers can use the developed scale to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their brands. According to the relevant importance of functional, economic, social, emotional and epistemic values to customers, loyalty programmes and customer relationship management can be tailored to match consumer needs. Finally, market segmentation can adapt value-based strategies to tap into new markets more successfully.

Recent research has proposed a new stage in human development, termed emerging adulthood by Jeffrey Arnett, which is characterized by a prolonged journey to adult roles and responsibilities. This thesis explores the experience of Chinese emerging adults, university students aged 20-25 years using Erikson’s and Levinson’s developmental theories as a theoretical framework. These authors proposed that three major developmental tasks are necessary for the transition to adulthood: separating from family of origin, forming an adult identity and finding the place for the self in the larger society. Qualitative interviews were conducted virtually with 12 Chinese university students to understand their perceptions and lived experience. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. The results suggest Chinese emerging adults (a) have a low level of separation from parents; (b) have not formed a clear sense of identity and have not achieved a self-definition in adulthood; and (c) have not made initial commitments to love and work. It is speculated that the Chinese sociocultural context may further postpone its young adults’ independence and autonomy, and this prolonged transition to adulthood is both positive and problematic to Chinese young adults. This study lends support to Arnett’s emerging adulthood theory through its exploration of emerging adulthood in China, where, to date, little research has been done on this subject. It provides rich descriptions of the experience of Chinese emerging adults’ lives and enhances understandings of the role of culture in influencing the emerging adulthood period.

M.A. (Sociology) / Traditionally, the husband has a higher status than his wife. When the wife improves her status however, this relationship can be changed into one that is unconventionally asymmetric. One important factor that can lead to such an unconventional asymmetry, is the furthering of the wife's educational status, a tendency found increasingly among Black women. Since many Black women who study at a university are married, it is important that they get the support of their husbands in coping with the heavy workload resulting from simultaneously studying and running a household. The aim of this study was to use qualitative research in an explorative way to collect in-depth information on how Black women, who are studying at a university, experience the way their husbands support them. Attention was paid to three main areas of support, namely moral support, support in doing the household tasks and support with looking after the children. Attention was also paid to the extent to which quarreling is caused by the wife's studies. The responses in personal interviews yielded four profiles of support experienced by the wives. The first pattern is one of high support experienced by the wife, characterized by high moral support, medium to medium-high support with the household, medium to high support with the children and little quarreling caused by the wife's studies. The second pattern is one of medium to high support experienced by the wife, characterized by medium moral support, medium-high support regarding the household, high support with the children and little quarreling that the wife experiences as being caused by her studies.

A qualitative study was performed using the focus group methodology with first year university students in Greater Lima, to learn about their drinking habits and explore the main determinants of their alcohol consumption. Four homogeneous focus groups (by gender and social class) were organized, with group sizes between 5 and 9. Content analysis of the discussions revealed that the stressors experienced by these students are similar to those of other western adolescents, yet that economic difficulties and weight concerns (among females) provide additional stress. Expectancies towards alcohol were predominantly positive and partly reflected those of American adolescents (social enhancement, tension reduction and improved cognitive/motor abilities), although additional expectancies were mentioned (pleasure, diversion, loss of inhibitions, selfconfidence and group acceptance) and others were considered less important (sexual enhancement, increased arousal, and cognitive/motor impairment). Self-efficacy to refuse alcohol was not perceived as an important determinant of alcohol use. / Se presenta un estudio cualitativo –focus group- para conocer los hábitos de consumo del alcohol y los principales determinantes de su uso entre estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Lima. Se organizaron cuatro grupos homogéneos (por género y nivel socio económico) con 5 a 9 participantes. El análisis de contenido reveló que los estresores experimentados son similares a los reportados por los adolescentes occidentales, sin embargo, reportaron estrés adicional por las dificultades económicas y el control de peso (entre las mujeres).Las expectativas sobre el alcohol fueron positivas y reflejaron lo mismo que en los adolescentes norteamericanos (mejora social, reducción de la tensión y mejora de habilidades motoras/cognitivas), aunque también se mencionaron expectativas adicionales (placer, diversión, pérdida de inhibiciones, auto confianza y aceptación del grupo). Otras fueron consideradas menos importantes (mejora sexual, incremento de la activación y deterioro cognitivo/motor). La autoeficacia para rechazar el alcohol no fue percibida como un determinanteimportante entre los participantes.

This study focuses on the problems of international students as perceived by both international students and faculty in a public university. The major purposes of the study are to determine if there are significant differences in perceptions of the problems of international students between international students and faculty members, between groups of international students, and between groups of faculty members. A modification of an international student problem inventory instrument was used to collect data from 371 international students and 316 faculty members. Thirteen hypotheses were tested using frequency and percentages, analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, and univariate analysis of variance, as required according to the data collected and the hypothesis being tested.

Corruption is one of the main problems in Peru, along with crime and citizen insecurity, violence against women, drug use, poverty and unemployment. The latter has increased in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the study was to determine common behaviors associated with corruption among university students from Lima, Peru. Among the common behaviors identified, it was found that students, at least once, had bought pirated products (94.4%), offered false excuses to their parents to justify where they were (88.5%), and cheated on exams (74.4%). These behaviors were observed in both men and women. The results show that these behaviors are the result of a broader educational problem that has permeated the morals and ethics of society. / La corrupción es uno de los principales problemas del Perú, junto con la delincuencia y la inseguridad ciudadana, la violencia contra las mujeres, el consumo de drogas, la pobreza y el desempleo. Este último ha aumentado en los últimos meses debido a la pandemia de la COVID-19. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar comportamientos habituales asociados a la corrupción entre algunos estudiantes universitarios de Lima, Perú. Entre los comportamientos comunes identificados, se encontró que los estudiantes habían, al menos una vez, comprado productos piratas (94,4%), ofrecido falsas excusas a sus padres para justificar dónde estaban (88,5%), y copiado en algún examen (74,4%). Estos comportamientos se observaron tanto en hombres como en mujeres. Los resultados muestran que estos comportamientos habituales son el resultado de un problema educativo más amplio que ha permeado la moral y la ética de la sociedad. / Revisión por pares

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Campus safety and security are important concerns for colleges and universities. One way security is addressed is through utilization of self-report questions about criminal backgrounds during the admissions process. The current study evaluates this admissions policy by using a systematic random sample of 1,400 students to compare self-reported criminal backgrounds with criminal records listed in four online databases. Results indicate that two individuals within the sample failed to report their criminal backgrounds which included simple assault, burglary, theft, possession of controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. While the failed reporting rate appears low, caution should be taken interpreting the results. A number of policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.

This study explores the perceptions of fifteen students from the University of Pretoria’s School of the Arts about the feminist themes in Beyoncé’s music. Beyoncé is a self-proclaimed feminist who advocates for women through her music. An extensive literature review reveals how she can be considered a feminist icon within the popular music genre by considering the development of feminism, feminist theories and themes, and popular music as a locus of social change in popular culture. This feminist case study followed a qualitative research approach within an interpretivist framework. The music videos considered for the study were “If I Were a Boy” (2008), “Diva” (2009), “Run the World (Girls)” (2011), “Pretty Hurts” (2013), “Flawless” (2014) and “Grown Woman” (2014). The data was collected from semi-structured interviews and was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The themes revealed that these South African students perceived the feminist themes in Beyoncé’s music as empowering and relatable, but sometimes directed towards the male gaze. / Dissertation (MMus (Performing Art))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Music / MMus (Performing Art) / Unrestricted