Low-literate consumers display distinctive behaviour in the marketplace, and in the first phase of a mixed method study, the aim was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of low-literate clothing consumers. Due to fairly high levels of low-literacy in South Africa and limited research, this research was undertaken to better understand the behaviour of low-literate clothing consumers in the marketplace. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, and through inductive, interpretative data analysis three broad themes were identified, namely personal (cognitive, social, financial and affective), product (types and format of product information, evaluative criteria) and store-related (store assistants’ behaviour, store selection and in-store information) challenges and associated coping strategies. The results of this study can be used to advise marketers regarding the needs of these consumers, and were also used to develop a quantitative measuring instrument to investigate low-literate consumers’ use of clothing labels in the retail setting. In the second quantitative phase of the study, the use of clothing label information amidst low-literate respondents’ personal- (reading and numeracy skills, concrete and pictographic thinking) and product-related challenges (the format of labels, care-label knowledge and evaluating clothing products’ quality) were investigated. The study sample consisted of 450 black female consumers with literacy levels between Grades 5 and 8, residing in the Emfuleni Local Municipality area, in the southern part of Gauteng, South Africa. Interviewer administered questionnaires were filled out, and it was examined for validity and reliability. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations were drawn between reliable factors, and practical significant correlations were reported. ANOVA’s indicated statistically significant differences with mostly medium effect sizes between the occupation of respondents and selected factors. Respondents indicated that they do read and understand clothing labels, but results revealed that they did experience problems when using information on labels. Their numeracy skills were average, and abstract thinking related to numeracy, were fair. Pictographic thinking was evident in their preference for symbolic and graphic presentation of size format, but not when they were presented altered store logos. Care label knowledge was poor, and clothing products were evaluated concretely. Some of the respondents, especially the older respondents were inclined to follow the peripheral route of elaboration when reading clothing label information. / Thesis (PhD (Consumer Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Low-literate consumers display distinctive behaviour in the marketplace, and in the first phase of a mixed method study, the aim was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of low-literate clothing consumers. Due to fairly high levels of low-literacy in South Africa and limited research, this research was undertaken to better understand the behaviour of low-literate clothing consumers in the marketplace. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, and through inductive, interpretative data analysis three broad themes were identified, namely personal (cognitive, social, financial and affective), product (types and format of product information, evaluative criteria) and store-related (store assistants’ behaviour, store selection and in-store information) challenges and associated coping strategies. The results of this study can be used to advise marketers regarding the needs of these consumers, and were also used to develop a quantitative measuring instrument to investigate low-literate consumers’ use of clothing labels in the retail setting. In the second quantitative phase of the study, the use of clothing label information amidst low-literate respondents’ personal- (reading and numeracy skills, concrete and pictographic thinking) and product-related challenges (the format of labels, care-label knowledge and evaluating clothing products’ quality) were investigated. The study sample consisted of 450 black female consumers with literacy levels between Grades 5 and 8, residing in the Emfuleni Local Municipality area, in the southern part of Gauteng, South Africa. Interviewer administered questionnaires were filled out, and it was examined for validity and reliability. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations were drawn between reliable factors, and practical significant correlations were reported. ANOVA’s indicated statistically significant differences with mostly medium effect sizes between the occupation of respondents and selected factors. Respondents indicated that they do read and understand clothing labels, but results revealed that they did experience problems when using information on labels. Their numeracy skills were average, and abstract thinking related to numeracy, were fair. Pictographic thinking was evident in their preference for symbolic and graphic presentation of size format, but not when they were presented altered store logos. Care label knowledge was poor, and clothing products were evaluated concretely. Some of the respondents, especially the older respondents were inclined to follow the peripheral route of elaboration when reading clothing label information. / Thesis (PhD (Consumer Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

In view of the unprecedented escalation in unplanned teenage pregnancies in South Africa, this research study sought to explore contributing factors, consequences, challenges, needs and coping strategies surrounding teenage pregnancy. The study was based on a qualitative research paradigm. The research used purposive sampling as a strategy to target three particular categories of individuals for investigations (i.e. parents/caregivers, teenagers and teachers). Semi-structured interview schedules were the instruments used to gather data during face-to-face interviews with the participants. The sample consisted of eight teenage mothers and one expectant teenage mother in Grade 9 to Grade 12; six parents who had children who had experienced teenage pregnancy and six teachers who were or are teaching teenagers. In order to analyze the qualitative data, a typical form of thematic content analysis was utilised. The main conclusion based on the research findings was that the challenges, needs and coping strategies perceived by the three groups of participants were similar and associated with one another. Although most of the most of the findings coming to the fore have also been apparent in previous research studies, it enhanced the knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of teenage pregnancy from a triangulation perspective, namely teenagers and primary role players in their lives. It is hoped that the recommendations made, based on the research findings, will lead to improved social work intervention strategies, and services offered by other people responsible for addressing this social problem in the South African context..

Bakgrund: Den avancerade kirurgin inom operationsverksamheten ställer höga krav på operationssjuksköterskans kompetens och hon verkar i en ständigt utvecklande miljö. Operationssjuksköterskans perioperativa kunskaper gör henne till en nyckelspelare i operationsteamet. Den nyfärdiga operationssjuksköterskan saknar både erfarenhet av yrket och fördjupad yrkeskompetens som kan hjälpa henna att hantera kraven i arbete. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att ta reda på vilka utmaningar nyfärdiga operationssjuksköterskor upplever och vilka copingstrategier de använder sig av. Metod: Sex nyfärdiga operationssjuksköterskor, verksamma på en operationsavdelning med multidisciplinär och avancerad kirurgi med mellan sex till tolv månaders erfarenhet, intervjuades. Intervjuerna analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Att vara nyfärdig operationssjukksöterska innebar splittrade känslor inför sitt yrke och yrkesroll. En tillfredsställelse över att få utvecklas och bygga upp sin kompetens innebar samtidigt en arbetssituation som upplevdes kravfylld och många gånger övermäktig. Utmaningarna med yrket var att komma in i rollen som operationssjuksköterska, att erhålla den kunskap som krävs och att acceptera sin roll som novis. Att förhålla sig till situationen genom att distansera sig eller ha kontroll över sina känslor var två vanliga strategier. Slutsats: Att bli en kompetent operationssjuksköterska kan underlättas av att de utmaningar som de nyfärdiga operationssjuksköterskorna ställs inför uppmärksammas och att de får stöd i sin utveckling. Stöd i form av mentorskap och tid för reflektion för att förebygga negativa känslor som stress och osäkerhet. / Background: Today’s advanced surgery demands the theatre nurse to be highly skilled and competent. The theatre nurse is working in a constant developing environment. Her specific knowledge of perioperative care makes the theatre nurse a key-player in the operating team. The newly graduated theatre nurse lacks deeper competence in both working experience and professional skills that could help her meet the highly set standards in surgery. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine which challenges newly graduated theatre nurses experience and which coping strategies they use. Method: Six newly graduated theatre nurses working in an operating setting, with six to twelve months of working experience, were interviewed. The narrative data was analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results: Being a newly graduated theatre nurse with lack of previous working experience created mixed feelings about the profession and the role. The experiences were characterized a satisfaction in learning and developing skills but at the same time experiencing feelings of being overcome by work burden. The challenges they encountered were entering the role of an operation theatre nurse, allowing one self to gain competence and accepting the situation of being a novice. Adjusting to the situation by adopting different strategies became a way of coping with the experienced challenges. Conclusion: Gaining access to the role of becoming a competent theatre nurse can be supported by acknowledging the challenges experienced by newly graduated theatre nurses and by mentoring their progress to prevent negative feelings such as insecurity and stress.

This thesis adopts Gideon Toury’s model of “Problem of Translation” (2013: 38-45) as a framework of analysis in interpreting research, extrapolating the notion of “translation as process” to community interpreting. Thus, as an attempt to broaden the framework of analysis in community interpreting, this study aims to: 1) Register and classify conflicting situations and coping strategies that community interpreters find and use before, during and after assignments. 2) Understand the types of norms that govern community interpreters’ work. 3) Observe the interplay between institutional norms and interpreters’ actions and interactions. For these purposes, I conducted an exploratory study using Grounded Theory Methodology with 14 participants (9 community interpreters and 5 service providers) in the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Gatineau, and Montreal. Interpreters’ accounts were triangulated with those of service providers and with institutional codes of ethics for community interpreting. The dialectical analysis carried out across this thesis allowed me to discover that participant interpreters’ coping strategies are twofold: rule bending and rule validating. The major findings shed light on technical aspects of conducting briefings, debriefings, and introductions. Another major finding is the concept of assertiveness, its relevance in the actions and interactions of interpreters, and its potential as a technical competence rather than a social talent. Finally, the challenges and coping strategies presented in the graphics may serve as guidelines for future research.