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Latinx population is growing rapidly, however, they are falling behind in educational attainment. In Tennessee, 17% of Latinx adults have earned an associate degree or higher, compared to 32% of all adults. This study focuses on improving Latinx students' access to STEM higher education in the Northeast Tennessee region. A survey was conducted among Latinx students who identified legal, financial and social challenges as barriers in their journey to higher education in STEM fields. An innovative collective impact model is proposed as a solution for this socially complex problem. Early data shows positive effects of the initiative.

PURPOSE This study had two purposes: (a) to examine the possible predicting abilities of socioeconomic status, per pupil expenditures, percentage of highly qualified teachers and attendance rates for on-time educational attainment in the state of Virginia and (b) to compare the Appalachian School Divisions of Virginia with the non-Appalachian school divisions for each of these variables. METHOD Data pertaining to socioeconomic status, per pupil expenditures, attendance rates, teacher qualifications, and on-time educational attainment were collected for the graduating cohorts of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted on these variables to address the first purpose. A general linear model repeated measures ANOVA was conducted for each variable to compare differences between the Appalachian, non-Appalachian divisions of similar size, non-Appalachian large school divisions, and the total non-Appalachian divisions to address the second purpose of the study. RESULTS Socioeconomic status and attendance rates were found to be the independent variables that were significantly able to predict on-time educational attainment rates. Socioeconomic status rates were found to be significantly higher in the Appalachian divisions than in the non-Appalachian large school divisions. Teacher qualification rates were found to be significantly higher in the Appalachian divisions than the non-Appalachian divisions of similar size. On-time educational attainment rates were found to be significantly higher in the Appalachian school divisions than in all three classifications of the non-Appalachian divisions. / Ed. D.

South Africa is experiencing a financial skills shortage with a severe shortage of accountants and chartered accountants in particular. The aim of this study was to measure accessibility of public higher education in South Africa, in general and specifically relating to accountancy programmes with special emphasis on chartered accountancy programmes in South Africa, by making use of selected accessibility indicators. Although some of these indicators have been used to measure accessibility of higher education in general both locally and internationally, they are not often used to measure accessibility of a programme for a particular profession such as accountancy or chartered accountancy. This study aimed to fill this gap by measuring the selected accessibility indicators and providing subsequent rankings of the four public universities selected for this study. The results can be used by institutions that offer accountancy and chartered accountancy programmes as well as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, as the profession’s Education and Training Quality Assurance body, to evaluate the accessibility of accountancy as well as chartered accountancy programmes. / Financial Accounting / M. Compt. (Applied Accountancy)

La présente thèse avait pour but d’analyser les problèmes conjugaux, les mandats et les objectifs thérapeutiques des couples qui consultent en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Cette thèse a été rédigée sous la forme de deux articles. Le premier article visait à dresser un portrait des problèmes conjugaux rapportés par les conjoints à l’aide d’une question ouverte. Les problèmes conjugaux de 108 couples débutant une thérapie conjugale ont d’abord été catégorisés. Les résultats ont montré que les problèmes conjugaux les plus fréquemment rapportés étaient liés à la communication, à la distance émotionnelle, à des problèmes spécifiques de la relation et à la sexualité. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence rapportent davantage de problèmes liés à l’engagement/sécurité et à l’infidélité/flirting que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation. Ces résultats ont démontré l’importance de l’utilisation du construit des mandats thérapeutiques et la nécessité d’étudier davantage l’ambivalence des couples. Le deuxième article visait à examiner les propriétés psychométriques de la mesure individualisée Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) dans l’évaluation du changement des couples en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. L’atteinte des objectifs thérapeutiques de 100 couples ayant complété une thérapie conjugale a été évaluée. Une catégorisation des objectifs thérapeutiques a également été proposée. Les résultats obtenus soutiennent l’efficacité de la thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Le pronostic du thérapeute quant au déroulement de la thérapie ainsi que le motif de fin de thérapie et la stabilité conjugale ont été identifiés comme étant liés à l’atteinte des objectifs. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation ont davantage d’objectifs thérapeutiques liés à la communication, à la résolution de problèmes et à l’acceptation des différences que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence. Les résultats appuient la validité et l’utilité de la mesure GAS pour la recherche et la pratique clinique. En somme, cette thèse a contribué à l’avancement des connaissances en apportant un appui empirique au construit des mandats thérapeutiques et comporte des implications tant au niveau de la clinique qu’au niveau méthodologique et théorique. / The aim of this dissertation was to study the relationship problems, treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of couples consulting in couple therapy in a naturalistic setting. This dissertation includes two original articles. Using a relationship problems coding system on a sample of 108 couples seeking therapy, the first study identified that the most common relationship problems were related to communication, emotional affection or distance, specific areas of the current relationship, and lack of physical affection or sex. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that commitment or security problems and infidelity or flirting problems were more common among couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate than among couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate. These results demonstrated the importance of identifying distinct therapeutic mandates in couple therapy and the need for further research about ambivalent couples. The second study aimed to evaluate change in couples that consulted in a naturalistic therapy setting using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). A categorization of treatment goals in couple therapy was proposed. Treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of 100 couples were categorized using standardized coding schemas. The results showed large pre-post changes in couples distress and severity of relationship problems. Therapists’ expectations about the therapy process, treatment completion and separation were related to couples’ goal attainment. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate had more goals related to communication, problem-solving and acceptance of differences than couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate. This study contributed to the field by providing preliminary data regarding the clinical utility of GAS in assessing change following couple therapy. Types of treatment goals set in naturalistic settings were presented and the results emphasized the need for further research on therapeutic mandates. In summary, this dissertation provided support to the construct of therapeutic mandates and presented clinical, methodological and theoretical implications.

South Africa is experiencing a financial skills shortage with a severe shortage of accountants and chartered accountants in particular. The aim of this study was to measure accessibility of public higher education in South Africa, in general and specifically relating to accountancy programmes with special emphasis on chartered accountancy programmes in South Africa, by making use of selected accessibility indicators. Although some of these indicators have been used to measure accessibility of higher education in general both locally and internationally, they are not often used to measure accessibility of a programme for a particular profession such as accountancy or chartered accountancy. This study aimed to fill this gap by measuring the selected accessibility indicators and providing subsequent rankings of the four public universities selected for this study. The results can be used by institutions that offer accountancy and chartered accountancy programmes as well as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, as the profession’s Education and Training Quality Assurance body, to evaluate the accessibility of accountancy as well as chartered accountancy programmes. / Financial Accounting / M. Compt. (Applied Accountancy)

La présente thèse avait pour but d’analyser les problèmes conjugaux, les mandats et les objectifs thérapeutiques des couples qui consultent en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Cette thèse a été rédigée sous la forme de deux articles. Le premier article visait à dresser un portrait des problèmes conjugaux rapportés par les conjoints à l’aide d’une question ouverte. Les problèmes conjugaux de 108 couples débutant une thérapie conjugale ont d’abord été catégorisés. Les résultats ont montré que les problèmes conjugaux les plus fréquemment rapportés étaient liés à la communication, à la distance émotionnelle, à des problèmes spécifiques de la relation et à la sexualité. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence rapportent davantage de problèmes liés à l’engagement/sécurité et à l’infidélité/flirting que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation. Ces résultats ont démontré l’importance de l’utilisation du construit des mandats thérapeutiques et la nécessité d’étudier davantage l’ambivalence des couples. Le deuxième article visait à examiner les propriétés psychométriques de la mesure individualisée Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) dans l’évaluation du changement des couples en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. L’atteinte des objectifs thérapeutiques de 100 couples ayant complété une thérapie conjugale a été évaluée. Une catégorisation des objectifs thérapeutiques a également été proposée. Les résultats obtenus soutiennent l’efficacité de la thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Le pronostic du thérapeute quant au déroulement de la thérapie ainsi que le motif de fin de thérapie et la stabilité conjugale ont été identifiés comme étant liés à l’atteinte des objectifs. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation ont davantage d’objectifs thérapeutiques liés à la communication, à la résolution de problèmes et à l’acceptation des différences que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence. Les résultats appuient la validité et l’utilité de la mesure GAS pour la recherche et la pratique clinique. En somme, cette thèse a contribué à l’avancement des connaissances en apportant un appui empirique au construit des mandats thérapeutiques et comporte des implications tant au niveau de la clinique qu’au niveau méthodologique et théorique. / The aim of this dissertation was to study the relationship problems, treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of couples consulting in couple therapy in a naturalistic setting. This dissertation includes two original articles. Using a relationship problems coding system on a sample of 108 couples seeking therapy, the first study identified that the most common relationship problems were related to communication, emotional affection or distance, specific areas of the current relationship, and lack of physical affection or sex. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that commitment or security problems and infidelity or flirting problems were more common among couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate than among couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate. These results demonstrated the importance of identifying distinct therapeutic mandates in couple therapy and the need for further research about ambivalent couples. The second study aimed to evaluate change in couples that consulted in a naturalistic therapy setting using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). A categorization of treatment goals in couple therapy was proposed. Treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of 100 couples were categorized using standardized coding schemas. The results showed large pre-post changes in couples distress and severity of relationship problems. Therapists’ expectations about the therapy process, treatment completion and separation were related to couples’ goal attainment. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate had more goals related to communication, problem-solving and acceptance of differences than couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate. This study contributed to the field by providing preliminary data regarding the clinical utility of GAS in assessing change following couple therapy. Types of treatment goals set in naturalistic settings were presented and the results emphasized the need for further research on therapeutic mandates. In summary, this dissertation provided support to the construct of therapeutic mandates and presented clinical, methodological and theoretical implications.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This qualitative study used an interpretive paradigm within a theoretical framework of social cognitive theory to explore fatalism within the context of the lived experiences of adolescents. A tentative assumption was made that fatalism among adolescents may be at the root of a variety of recognisable behavioural and educational problems that manifest in South African society. At the same time the study aimed to investigate how fatalism may manifest in and colour the lived experiences of adolescents, as well to investigate how fatalism possibly affects educational attainment. This study was informed by a literature review which addressed the different theoretical perspectives pertaining to the etiology of fatalism. The literature was approached from a very wide perspective, including contributions from the various disciplines in the field of social sciences including theology, philosophy, psychology and social theory. These insights were complemented by perspectives from educational psychology particularly with regard to adolescent development and learning theory. The sample of the study constituted of 164 grade 11 learners from five schools in the Western Cape. Data was collected by making use of creative strategies, focus groups and personal interviews. This study found the following: adolescent fatalism seems to emanate from the lived experiences of adolescents as a cognitive phenomenon, rooted in the deterministic beliefs of adolescents about their selves, others, as well as the physical and social environments, with behavioural, affective and psychological consequences. Adolescent fatalism colour their lived experiences by causing alienation from those experiences, oppositional behaviour and feelings of pessimism, anxiety and depression. Adolescent fatalism seems to affect educational attainment by contributing to fixed implicit theories of academic potential, low level of motivation, disengagement from the educational system and the social aspects of learning. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie is gedoen binne 'n interpretatiwe paradigma en vanuit die teoretiese raamwerk van die sosiaal-kognitiewe teorie ten einde fatalisme binne die lewensondervindinge van adolessente te ondersoek. 'n Tentatiewe aanname is gemaak dat fatalisme onder adolessente aan die kern van 'n verskeidenheid van herkenbare gedrags- en opvoedkundige probleme in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing mag lê. Verder was die studie daarop gemik om ondersoek in te stel na die manifestering van fatalisme in die lewens van adolessente, hoe dit die lewensondervindinge van adolessente raak en hoe dit die bereiking van opvoedkundige doelwitte beïnvloed. Die studie is gebaseer op 'n literatuuroorsig wat die verskillende teoretiese perspektiese rakende die etiologie van fatalisme aanspreek. Die literatuuroorsig is vanuit 'n wye perspektief benader en sluit interdissiplinêre bydraes uit die veld van die sosiale wetenskappe byvoorbeeld teologie, filosofie, sielkunde en sosiale teorie. Hierdie insigte is gekombineer met perspektiewe uit die opvoedkundige sielkunde, spesifiek ten opsigte van adolessente ontwikkeling en leerteorie. Die steekproef vir die studie het uit 164 leerders uit 5 skole bestaan. Data is ingesamel deur van kreatiewe strategieë asook fokusgroep en individuele onderhoude gebruik te maak. In hierdie studie is die volgende bevindinge gemaak: adolessente fatalisme blyk uit die lewensondervindinge van adolessente te voorskyn te kom. Dit manifesteer as 'n kognitiewe fenomeen wat gewortel is in die deterministiese geloof van adolessente aangaande hulself, ander, sowel as die fisieke en sosiale omgewings, met gedrags-, affektiewe en sielkundige gevolge. Adolessente fatalisme kleur hul lewenservaringe deur hulle van daardie ervaringe te vervreem, tot weerstandige gedrag aanleiding te gee en gevoelens van pessimisme, angs en depressie te veroorsaak. Adolessente fatalisme blyk ook die bereiking van opvoedkundige doelwitte te beïnvloed deurdat dit aanleiding gee tot vaste implisiete teorieë oor akademiese potensiaal, lae vlakke van motivering meebring, onttrekking uit die opvoedkundige stelsel aan die hand werk en die sosiale aspekte van leer beïnvloed.

公務人員受委託行使行政權，享有身分保障和穩定收入，因而被視為社會體系的中上階層。基於此等特性，學者曾經提出代表性官僚理論與多元代表性等理論，希望能夠以此調和民主與效率兩大價值，達成政策執行的實質公平。然過去相關的實證研究，多半屬於「事後檢測」。但是我國公民除了通過公務人員考試之外，幾乎沒有其他擠身常任文官的管道，因此有關代表性或多元性的討論應該包括考試階段。換言之，考試錄取人員的人口特性值得深入的分析。本研究以2003至2007年的高等考試參與者為主要研究對象，輔以司法官三等考試的資料以利比較。接著，引用社會學「地位取得」的分析架構，採取指數比較分析與邏輯迴歸分析，探索性別、年齡、受教育時間、畢業學校特性、出身地域與錄取與否的關係。 　　本研究結果顯示，女性、非傳統公立綜合大學的畢業生、鄉鎮地區出身者以及41歲以上的考生在公務人員考試中處於較為不利的地位，但是與優勢團體之間的差距隨著考試等級和種類有所不同。例如女性在行政類與司法官考試中，與男性的表現平分秋色甚至猶有過之；剛完成高等教育的25歲以下人口在司法官考試裡最具優勢，但高考三級則有利於26至35歲的青年；傳統公立大學的文憑與都市出身的背景，在技術類考試能發揮的正效果比行政類考試為弱。基於上述的研究發現，為消除各種團體在公務人員考試裡的地位差距，本研究對於未來的考選政策提出下列建議：1.加強命題與口試委員的多元化；2.強化試題的研究發展；3.配合政府再造鬆綁人事法規；4.營造一個落實多元平等的大環境。 / Civil servants, with administrative power in hand, are commonly regarded as part of upper class. Therefore, researchers, to integrate democracy and efficiency in civil service system and to realize the genuine equality, propose representative bureaucracy and team diversity theory. Senior Civil Service Examination, the main approach, if not only, for citizens in Taiwan to enter the bureaucracy affects the representativeness and diversity of state apparatus substantially. By adopting the research approach of “status attainment” from sociology, this study gives an account of the relation between the examination result and the demographics in terms of gender, education, school characteristic, and region. All the data of this research is based on participators’ personnel information cards collected by the Ministry of Examination from 2003 to 2007. The result indicates that four types of participators are inferior in the examination, including women, graduates from private untraditional technological colleges, participators from rural areas, and adults above forty-one years old. The differences between superior and inferior groups, however, vary with the level and subject of examination. To prevent demographic differences in Senior Civil Service Examination, the study suggests the following factors be considered: the diversity of the composition of examiners committee should be ensured, the enhancement of development research of test questions, the deregulation of public personnel rules and, last but not least, the construction of a diversity-respecting society.