Presented as a comparative analysis, this qualitative audience study tests the hypothetic proposition that youths’ (1) consumption of media is mediated by various socio-economic determinants as well as cultural and institutional practices. In order to test this hypothesis, the research examines the media (more specifically, television) consumption practices and lifestyles of black South African youths living in an urban city (Durban) and a peri-urban town (Alice) at a particular moment in time. Positioned as a historical study that reflects a specific period in the history of television (and media) in South Africa, the study attempts to provide a snapshot of youths, television consumption and lifestyles in post-apartheid South Africa. It assesses the relationship between youths and media during a specific period, namely, around a decade after South Africa’s first democratically elected government and when the country was still in the throes of political and economic change and transition. It assesses this relationship over a four-year period (from 2002 to 2006) and reflects on this epoch in relation to the then existing policy and regulatory framework as well as to the findings from other relevant empirical research. The analysis reflects upon the social constructs of class and gender in relation to the study’s broader findings on television consumption, which are derived from qualitative and quantitative empirical data. It develops categories and typologies of the lifestyles of youths towards this end and it concludes that youths’ media consumption practices and the production and reproduction of lifestyles is a complex matrix of ‘lived’ experiences, cultural identity and other socialising factors such as age, race and class. Moreover, it shows that peoples’ media choices and the related selection and appropriation of media are fundamentally informed by specific policy and regulatory regime. Notwithstanding this, the ways in which black South African youths use media (imported programming or local television content, for example) and accordingly fashion their lifestyles, remains largely determined by their class, their access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the proximity of the experiences represented in the media to those with which they can identify. (1) I refer to youths (in the plural) in recognition of the heterogeneity of young people classically referred to as the amorphous group, youth. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

The Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE) was commissioned by the Joint Enrichment Project (JEP) to undertake research for the National Youth Development Conference. The research programme had three components:the compilation of a computerised and annotated youth database, comprising domestic research into youth, and the extraction of five policy papers covering the areas of education, employment-creation, AIDS, violence and social context, and historical context. an international comparative component, which focused on the youth brigades in Botswana, and the whole range of youth development initiatives taking place in Kenya and Uganda, covered in an additional two position papers. a national baseline and attitudinal survey into youth in South Africa. The results of all three components of the research project will be published in book form later this year. The summary reports of the local and international comparative policy papers are available in a separate booklet. This is the report of the national survey into youth in South Africa. Aims of the survey The survey has four main aims: demographic: to accurately describe how many youth are in the different parts of South Africa, how many are in or out of school or work, and so on. attitudinal: to allow youth to express their views on a range of social, economic, political and personal issues.to analyse youth marginalisation: to scientifically analyse and describe the marginalisation of youth within South African society. programmatic: to provide results which directly assist organisations designing programmes which target youth. Designing the survey The survey was designed by the CASE senior research team of Professor Mark Orkin, Director of C A S E; Dr David Everatt, Deputy Director of CASE and project co-ordinator; and Dr Ros Hirschowitz, Specialist Researcher at C A S E. The design process was lengthy and complex, because the aims of the survey were complicated. As a first step, CASE gathered together existing youth research and survey data, in order to see what we could learn from them. We then convened a design workshop to assist us. Participants in the C A S E national youth survey for JEP 1 workshop comprised people who had experience with youth, or with survey design. They included John Aitchison (CASE and the Centre for Adult Education, University of Natal), Debbie Budlender (CASE and the National Women's Coalition), Dr Jannie Hofmeyr (Research Surveys), Ms Vanessa Kruger and Professor Ari Sitas (University of Natal), Ms Anne Letsebe (SABSWA), Mr Steve Mokwena (JEP), Mr Rory Riordan (Human Rights Trust) and Dr Jeremy Seekings (University of Cape Town). We also needed input from the youth themselves. Discussion groups with youth (called 'focus groups') were held with youth from Alexandra and Soweto, from Ciskei and the eastern Cape, from Bophuthatswana and the northern transvaal, from Chatsworth and Claremont in Durban, and elsewhere. We reached youth from cities, squatter camps, towns and rural areas. The focus groups were organised by C A S E and Research Surveys, a professional market research company. The youth told us what their concerns were, what their aspirations and fears were, and what interventions they felt are necessary to improve their lives. CASE then designed a draft survey. We had to try it out (called 'piloting') to find out if the survey tapped the youth's actual views and experiences, and so give the JEP the information they sought. The survey was piloted on a representative sample of 100 youth (aged between 16 and 30) by Research Surveys. Using the results of the focus groups and the pilots, the CASE research team then produced the final questionnaire, which went into the field in November/December 1992.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / See the attached abstract below

Today’s world in the new Millennium is a far cry from church and home life for young people (18-30) fifty years ago, where quantum change on top of change, and disconnectedness in family structures, have all contributed in various ways to an exodus of young people from mainline churches throughout the world. To counteract this ongoing trend, significant effort has been applied by mainline churches throughout the world, and South Africa in particular, to grow young people in the “Faith”, all of which has resulted in young people continuing to exodus the church after confirmation or graduating from high school. However, the bottom line challenge being faced is not simply one sided with young people exiting the church - for so called ‘better’ activities, but that the church has also not found an effective strategy for engaging with non-churched young people (those who have never been to a church) and those who used to actively participate, but have now abandoned the church and its ministry. Parents of today’s young people to a great extent have failed to understand and recognize that it is impossible for their children to accept the ‘faith and truth’ if they don’t role model and practice it in their homes. Similarly, if they don’t help their children to see and understand how faith is applied and has meaning in their everyday lives, then the current status quo between children, family and church will continue to grow exponentially. The church, and more particularly parents, need to understand and listen to the young people’s postmodern views and how it has reshaped their lives, in comparison to the preceding generations. By adopting the conclusions and broad practical recommendations from this research, churches may be able to reach out more effectively to parents, children and young people, to help them discover a life changing relationship – in their walk with Jesus Christ / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Church history)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / This research has shown that young people of different cultural groups have had and still have limited contact due to the history of our country. This contributed to the fact that there were, and still are, very few opportunities to build relationships. An introductory chapter in which the research methodology is explained, is followed by a discussion utilizing recent literature, of the question how the building of relationships can take place within the context of a diverse youth ministry (chapter 2). It became clear that the church, in its ministry to diverse youth groups, should create opportunities where the quality of relationships can be enhanced. In the research it was found that experiential learning activities, such as initiative activities, could have a positive influence on interpersonal skills in intercultural relationships (chapters 3 and 4). In chapter 5, firstly, certain conclusions were drawn. Secondly, recommendations were made and guidelines formulated regarding the building of relationships in the ministry to diverse youth groups. / Die navorsing vir hierdie studie het getoon dat jeugdiges van verskillende kultuurgroepe vanwee ons land se geskiedenis beperkte kontak gehad het en nog steeds het. Dit het meegebring dat geleenthede om verhoudinge te bou min was en steeds is. Na 'n inleidende hoofstuk waarin die navorsingsmetodologie uiteengesit word, volg 'n bespreking, aan die hand van resente literatuur oor die vraag hoe verhoudingsbou kan plaasvind in 'n diverse jeugbedieningkonteks (hoofstuk 2). Daaruit het dit duidelik geword dat die kerk in sy bediening aan diverse jeuggroepe geleenthede behoort te skep waartydens die kwaliteit van verhoudinge verbeter kan word. Die navorsing het bevind dat ervaringsleeraktiwiteite, byvoorbeeld inisiatiefaktiwiteite, 'n positiewe invloed kan he op interpersoonlike vaardighede in interkulturele verhoudinge (hoofstukke 3 en 4). In hoofstuk 5 is eerstens bepaalde gevolgtrekkings gemaak. Tweedens is aanbevelings gedoen en riglyne geformuleer met die oog op verhoudingsbou in die bediening aan diverse jeuggroepe. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Youth Work)

This study outlines and evaluates a twelve week sociodrama programme aimed at creating cross-cultural awareness amongst adolescents. Three experimental groups and two control groups were involved in this process. Sociodrama is an experiential method of group work that utilises member strengths and experiences to create "shared" or "collective" dramas or enactments. Individual therapy is not involved. The process is "member-driven", with the director acting in an egalitarian manner as facilitator. Once the warm-up and enactments have occured, group members discuss the learning and exchange ideas about the process. This includes three methods of "learning" - behavioural, cognitive and affective. This study confirms that sociodrama is an effective method of creating crosscultural awareness amongst adolescents. / Social Work / M.A. (Mental Health)

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Environmental deterioration is increasing, thereby compelling greater human concern for the earth's natural resources. A necessary response might be the establishment of an environmental ethic through the development of effective goal-orientated projects which can support the old adage or phrase saying, prevention is better than cure. Formal education can play an important role in the development of a critical consciousness amongst learners. However, this endeavour requires adjustments in teaching methods and techniques. My study - which focuses on the establishment of an environmental ethic within learners and the community, by starting an environmental club - is an attempt to respond to this challenge. Action-research, a research method which responds to the positive impulses of environmental education, was a research method used in this study to reflect critically on the quality of the environment in which we are living. Initially my study concentrated on learners and members from a historically disadvantaged community. Critical reflection on the first phase of my project revealed that the position adopted by me as a research-worker, was positivistic. A lack of perseverance in performing the grass-root actions, especially where it concerned me as researcher during the first phase, caused my efforts to establish an environmental club to fail. The opportunity to work with learners who really attempted to establish a better environment through involvement in simple projects, was implemented with greater enthusiasm in the second phase of the project. Although the predominant socio-economic conditions in the community involved in the project affected the environmental projects, this study serves as a case study which can give direction to similar studies conducted in the future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toenemende omgewingsagteruitgang noodsaak 'n groter menslike besorgdheid met betrekking tot natuurlike hulpbronne. Die daarstelling van 'n omgewingsetiek deur die ontwikkeling van doelgerigte projekte wat die ou gesegde voorsorg voorkom nasorg kan ondersteun, is nodig. Formele onderwys kan in dié opsig 'n belangrike rol speel in die ontwikkeling van 'n kritiese ingesteldheid by leerders, maar hierdie strewe verg aanpassings in onderrigmetodes en -tegnieke. My navorsing, wat op die daarstelling van 'n omgewingsetiek by leerders en die gemeenskap deur die stigting van 'n omgewingsklub fokus, is 'n poging om op hierdie uitdaging te reageer. Aksie-navorsing, 'n navorsingsmetode wat meer as net gehoor gee aan die positiewe impulse van omgewingsopvoeding, is as 'n navorsingsmetode gebruik waardeur daar gepoog is om op 'n kritiese manier te besin oor die kwaliteit van die omgewing waarin ons ons bevind. In my studie is daar gekonsentreer op leerders vanuit 'n histories agtergeblewe gemeenskap. 'n Kritiese terugskouing op die eerste fase van die projek, het die allesoorheersende posisie van my as navorser ten opsigte van die uitvoering van die navorsingsprojek aangedui. Hierdie posisie kan as positivisties beskryf word. 'n Gebrek aan deursettingsvermoë, veral van die kant van my as navorser in die uitvoering van voetsooiaksies, het veroorsaak dat my poging tot die daarstelling van 'n omgewingsklub met die eerste fase, grootliks gefaal het. Die geleentheid om met leerders te werk wat werklik 'n poging aangewend het om 'n beter omgewing daar te stel deur betrokkenheid in eenvoudige projekte, is met groter entoesiasme in die tweede fase van die projek ontvang. Alhoewel die heersende sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede van die gemeenskap waarbinne die projek ontplooi het, 'n uitwerking op die omgewingsaksies gehad het, dien hierdie navorsing ook as 'n rigtinggewende maatstafvir soortgelyke navorsing in die toekoms.

Despite the rapid increase of HIV infections among South Africa's adolescent population, many teenagers continue to partake in sexually risky behaviours. The theory of planned action accounts for the low correlation between information and behaviour by identifying the strong influence of behavioural intentions, attitudes towards the behaviour, subjective norms, and perceived control in determining behaviour change. This research primarily aimed to assess the levels of sexual risk-taking behaviours, HIV-related knowledge, beliefs, and religiosity of private school adolescents, as well as to determine the nature of the relationships between these variables.

This study synthesises three conceptual areas-identity, fictional television programmes and memory to examine what young people remember about their fictional television viewing and how it impacts their identity. Memory is used as a window through which long-lasting identity influencers can be analysed; this takes the analysis beyond the level of 'effects' to a more contextualised view. Focus group research and a quantitative overview work to uncover which fictional programmes stand out in young people's memory and why. Research further interrogates what events, characters or story lines young people recall and why these elements are important. The answers to these two research questions crystallises the ways in which South African youths' memories of fictional programmes impact their identity formation. The hypothesis that young South Africans remember that which directly affirms or contradicts their lived experience, is found to be partially true. Similarly, the second hypothesis that fictional memories of South African 15- to 20-year-olds impact youth identity through a direct link between memory selection, interaction and application is found to be fractionally substantiated. The final conclusion of the study is that while memories of fictional programmes do impact the identity of young people, it must be viewed within the larger context of lived experience. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

M.A. / 1. Motivation for the study Training programmes in sexuality education are limited within the social work curriculum of universities, although it seems to be important for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and also the emotional trauma that goes with early sexual behaviour. The past four years social work students at universities received additional courses in sexuality education. The aim thereof was to equip students with knowledge, attitudes and skills to conduct group counselling with adolescents. 2. Aim of the study The aim of the study is to develop a training programme in sexuality education for social work students through development research. 3. The integrated developmental research model In order to achieve the aim of the study, an integrated development research model was conceptualised. The model mainly consists of Nel and Nel's (1993) model in which four phases feature namely, the analysis, design, development and evaluation phases. Existing knowledge of sexuality education was utilised for the development of this training programme. In the analysis phase it was found that there is no existing training programme for social workers in sexuality education and that there is a need for the development of such a programme. There are however programmes for other disciplines such as nurses, medical doctors and psychologists, but the aim of these programmes is on therapy and not prevention. During the design phase the aims and objectives were formulated for the programme, a practice model was drawn up, a tentative presentation was made of the innovation suggestions and innovation procedures was determined. During the development phase the development plan had been formulated, planned pilot uses and developmental testing took place. The implementation of the pilot application and developmental testing resulted in a number of modifications of the programme. The results of the evaluation phase showed that the training programme succeeded to improve the social work students' knowledge and attitudes of sexuality education. This programme could be used within the curriculum of social work students. 4. Main finding It was found that a training programme in sexuality education could be created which met the initial research aim. Findings of the research showed that this programme made a positive contribution to the knowledge, attitude and skills of the social work students who attended the course.