Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / The aim of this study is to assess the impact of career guidance for career choice in the secondary schools of Sepitsi Circuit in Lebowakgomo District, Limpopo Province. The total number of secondary schools in the Circuit is twelve (12), with 20 Life Orientation Educators (LOEs) and 275 Grade 12 Learners (GR12Ls). All schools are public schools having the same features of rural and previously disadvantaged communities’ context. The study was conducted during examination time and therefore co-operation both in the part of learners and educators was not at the maximum as expected. The research is evaluative in nature as the researcher sought to assess the effectiveness of Career Choice (CC) as influenced by the implementation of Career Guidance (CG). The primary data were collected by means of two categories of questionnaires for mostly close-ended questions and open-ended questions for Grade 12 Learner (GR12L) respondents and Life Orientation Educator (LOE) participants respectively. The findings show that CG is not given the necessary attention at secondary schools as GR12Ls and LOEs struggle to understand obvious CG concepts. This research project focuses on the value of such a study both to explain how Career Guidance need to be taken as the mother of all subjects in schools as it is the nucleus in the realization of the main aim of every country’s education system, participating fully in the world of work for socio-economic growth. The study’s recommendations concluded that Career Guidance, which is part of Life Orientation (LO), should be given the status of a full subject in our schools.

This dissertation is composed of three papers that shed light on the stock-market participation puzzle. The first article studies different aspects of the participation of Spanish households in the stock market. I start by analyzing the determinants of stockholding in a reduced form setting, quantifying the importance of different socioeconomic variables on the decision to hold stock. This is complemented by a comparison with US stocking-holding behavior, especially that of highly sophisticated households who might be expected to participate fully in the market. The second article develops and estimates a full consumption and portfolio-choice life-cycle model to help explain the behavior uncovered in the first article. This model includes a fixed cost for participation in the stock and produces empirically sensible simulations of households' stock-holding patterns by age. It shows the powerful effect that the fixed cost has in explaining the non-participation issue. Moreover, using data from Spanish households I estimate this fixed cost. The third article, co-authored with Michael Ehrmann, breaks away from classic models and delves into the importance of considering more behavioural or psychological issues to explain this puzzle. In particular, we look at the effect of past macroeconomic experiences on the households' portfolio choice and risk-taking behaviour. We find that the average stock market return experienced by a household through its life time has a significant effect on its decision to hold stock. Moreover, disastrous events such as stock market crashes remain in people's minds and deter them from investing for a long period after the event happened.

Bibliographic note KULESZA, Izabela A. PATH DEPENDENCE IN AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION . Mater thesis. Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Sociological Studies. Supervisor Prof. PhDr. Arnošt Veselý, Ph.D. Abstract This thesis is concerned with the study of public education in the United States as a path-dependent phenomenon. By reviewing the historical background of the institution of education, several key sequences emerge that are foundational principles. They are: a decentralized system, secular education, universal access, decreasing the achievement gap and global competition. Testing these sequences against school choice theories shows the foundational principles behind traditional public schooling in America are being challenged. The institutional reproduction of this pathway is likely to be interrupted in the utilitarian, functional, power and legitimation explanations of path dependence theory. Keywords public education, school choice, path dependence theory Range of thesis: 66

Background: This study explores the significance of ICT on the capabilities of unbanked MSE entrepreneurs in Lesotho. MSE entrepreneurs are the primary source of income for their families, especially in the context of developing countries. Accordingly, MSEs are fundamental instruments for economic growth, poverty alleviation and source of employment in developing countries. Hence, the country that invests in this business sector is a step closer to accomplishing its MDGs. Purpose: The study explored and empirically assessed the influence of mobile payments among MSE entrepreneurs through a capabilities lens. Given that MSEs are crucial for developing countries, the targeted participants were MSE entrepreneurs from diverse trading industries in Lesotho. Research methodology: The methodology for this study was qualitative. Exploratory and descriptive research methods were used to evaluate the influence of mobile payments on the capabilities of MSE entrepreneurs. This study adopted Kleine's Choice Framework to explore and empirically assess the benefits of mobile payments among MSE entrepreneurs. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and field notes and analysed using thematic analysis. Key Findings: The findings revealed the use of M-Pesa within the MSE sector enabled microentrepreneurs to accomplish their goals. The findings show that M-Pesa leads to the growth of MSEs. Therefore, entrepreneurs in the MSE business sector are capable of providing food, shelter and clothes for their families through income generated from their enterprises. Additionally, MSE entrepreneurs bank, transfer and receive money through accessible and available mobile payment platforms. However, these entrepreneurs face issues such as network failure, withdrawal amount limits and security risks while using mobile payments. Value of the study: The study contributes to the existing ICT4D and mobile payments literature in Lesotho by discussing the influence of mobile payment through the Choice Framework.

Le choix du prénom chez le trans, s’agit d’une thèse qui fait des approches à la question trans à partir de la clinique psychanalytique proposée par Sigmund Freud et Jacques Lacan.À la question principale sur laquelle repose cette recherche –comment une personne peut-elle changer de prénom (et de sexe ou de genre) ? –, s'y ajoute une autre, qui vise à se demander s’il est justifié ou non –et pourquoi– de continuer à faire une différenciation structurelle basée sur les critères de la psychanalyse.Dans la tension entre ces deux questions réside tout l’effort de l’auteure pour parvenir à une réflexion qui se réfère à la théorie psychanalytique mais qui prend racine dans ce qui interroge la théorie, voire la conteste, c’est à dire la complexité des rencontres cliniques avec des personnes trans.L’ensemble de la recherche s’appuie sur trois ensembles de travaux : la psychiatrie et la théorie queer des États-Unis ; la psychiatrie, la sexologie et le féminisme du Mexique, et la psychanalyse de France. Spécifiquement par rapport à l’enseignement de Lacan, considérant que la caractéristique du travail fait appel à la question du choix du prénom, la période à laquelle se circonscrit la thèse va de 1961 –l'année où il a commencé son séminaire L’identification– à 1965 –celle consacrée aux Problèmes cruciaux de la psychanalyse–, période au cours de laquelle Lacan travaille davantage sur la question du nom propre. Cette délimitation n'exclut pas, cependant, lorsqu'il a été nécessaire, de faire des liens vers d'autres moments de son enseignement, en tenant compte de leur contexte et de leur pertinence pour le développement.L'ensemble se compose de huit chapitres, divisés en deux sections : dans la première, du chapitre un au chapitre quatre, est développé le cadre théorique ; dans la deuxième, du chapitre cinq au chapitre huit, est développé le thème du prénom et son choix chez les trans / The choice of the first name in the trans, is a thesis that makes approximations to the trans question from the psychoanalytic clinic proposed by Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan.To the main question that gives rise to this investigation - how is it that a person can change their name (and sex / gender)? -, one more is added, which aims to ask whether it is justified or not -and why- continue making a structural differentiation based on the criteria of psychoanalysis.In the tension between these two questions lies the author's effort to formulate a reflection that refers to psychoanalytic theory but that takes root in what interrogates the theory, and even discusses it based on the complexity of clinical encounters with transgender people. The whole of the research is based on three working groups: psychiatry and queer theory of the United States; psychiatry, sexology and feminism of Mexico, and psychoanalysis of France.Specifically in relation to the teaching of Lacan, considering that the specificity of the work appeals to the question of the choice of the first name, the period to which it is circumscribed goes from 1961 -Year in which his seminar begins, The identification- to 1965 -that dedicated to the crucial problems for psychoanalysis-, a period in which Lacan works with greater emphasis, the question of the proper name. This necessary delimitation does not exclude, however, when it was necessary, the presence of links to other moments of its teaching, taking into account the context of them and the pertinence within the development.The structure of this research consists of eight chapters, which are divided into two sections: from the first to the fourth, the theoretical elements - theoretical framework - that will support the second section, which goes from chapter five to eight, where it is specifically developed the theme of the first name and its choice in trans people

Authorities in early childhood education and child development point out the importance of the early years of a child's life in the development of habits and attitudes which are important as the basis of his mental and emotional health. / Typescript. / "January, 1960." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Sarah Lou Hammond, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-40).

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty Of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Communication Science in the Department of Communication Science at the University Of Zululand, 2017 / The choice of career is a delicate matter that demands caution and serious attention. Many people have become victims of circumstances of incorrect career choice due to lack of proper career guidance and information. On the other hand, there is a debate among academic researchers in the field of career counselling and guidance that learners in urban areas have more advantage in understanding career choice compared to their rural counterparts. The findings, however, have been controversial. Hence, this study sought to examine and compare the extent to which communication perspective on factors influencing students ‘career choice in rural and urban tertiary institutions of learning are the same or different. An in-depth literature of prior studies in the field of counselling and guidance was conducted to create the theoretical foundation for this study. On the basis of the literature review, a conceptual framework for the Department of Basic Education was developed. A self- designed questionnaire under descriptive survey was adopted and simple random technique was employed to administer a total of 370 questionnaires to students from one rural and one urban university in South Africa. The participants comprised first-year undergraduates from Durban University of Technology (DUT) and University of Zululand (UNIZULU). The data were analysed through the MoonStats and later transferred to tables and average mean. The study indicated that friends, internet, and university open day were the major channels of communication by which career services were provided to potential university ‘students. The study also revealed that first-year students from DUT were well-equipped on knowledge of career choice information than the first-year students of UNIZULU. Students from the two universities have similar views that parents, admission requirements and matriculation results were the major factors influencing their choice of course of study in the higher institution of learning. The study further offered recommendations and further study based on the research objectives of the study.

Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, 1999. / Since the emergence of the new democratic dispensation in the South African political arena, promises of more work opportunities, and hence a better life-style for the previously deprived citizens, inundate the media. The financial staff of the Sunday Tribune (February 9, 1997 :1) state that the government has committed itself to a coherent market-oriented economic growth plan in its Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy (Gear). There appears to be tremendous shortages of personnel skilled in the economic sciences and as a result more students have undertaken to study economics so that they may have the necessary qualifications to gain access to these economically-linked careers. By directing this research specifically at the career aspirations of undergraduate economic students, much could possibly be done in teaching, and guiding them toward the realisation of their aspirations. The aims of this study were: * To pursue a study of relevant literature on achievement motivation, career choice and the self-concept. * To undertake an empirical investigation into the career aspirations of a group of undergraduate economic students at the University of Zululand, Durban-Umlazi campus. * To provide certain guidelines and recommendations regarding the inclusion of economics in a university curriculum that may help the student realise his career aspirations. Research with regard to this study was conducted as follows: * A literature study of available, relevant literature. * An empirical study comprising self-structured questionnaires completed by 304 undergraduate economic students of the University of Zululand (Durban-Umlazi Campus). The findings revealed, inter alia, that there are more female students engaged in further tertiary education; some students find it difficult to obtain career information; great difficulty is experienced by some students in getting to 'know themselves'; some students are not adequately trained in decision-making skills, and there is a limited number of trained vocational guidance counsellors to help them with career related problems. In the light of the aims and findings of the study, the following were recommended to tertiary educational institutions: provision of career resource centres; availability of trained vocational and subject advisors; establishment of employment contact offices, and an active mechanism should be set in motion to assist students to 'know themselves' and to develop their decision-making skills. This investigation has the following value: * It provides information on necessary prerequisites to enter economic-related careers. * The research served as an indicator of the relevance of economics in certain career aspirations.

The primary aim of the research was to examine the ways in which Psychology Honours students interactionally made sense of their career choices. In addition, the research examined how these students interactionally made sense of psychology as a discipline and field of study, particularly in the context of discussions of career choices. The participants were selected for inclusion into the study (through purposive sampling) if they were currently in their psychology honours year. An interview schedule that contained open-ended questions and prompts was used to guide the focus groups. The findings showed that the participants were contextually creating meanings of career choice and psychology as seen by the acknowledged, additive or at times challenged responses, statements, descriptions etc. in the focus groups. Further research could be performed on students from other disciplines to see if the meanings of ‘psychology’ and ‘career choice’ vary or are similar across disciplines. This would provide the field of psychology with a better understanding of how it is perceived and might provide some constructs that have not been considered yet, with regards to career

Strategic voting in valuation choice experiments violates the common modeling assumption that everyone votes for his unconditionally most preferred choice. This presents a challenge to accurate estimation of values. We provide an examination of strategic voting in a homegrown value experiment that mimics choice experiments. In this way, we can test whether “prompting” participants to think about the others’ vote affects their vote. We reject this hypothesis. We also solicit participant perceptions about the vote distribution and test whether these perceptions affect their vote. We find that they do, but that the percentage of strategic voters is small.