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This study set out to provide an understanding of the Certificate in Education programme, CE (PD), in terms of various stakeholder perspectives and its historical development. Through the use of case study method the study investigates the relationship between the first three semesters of the Certificate in Education (Participatory Development) CE (PD) offered largely on-campus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with the final semester module of the programme offered as a service-learning off-campus called Development in Practice (DIP). The objective of DIP is to produce reflective learners in an authentic development context. Within the CE (PD) programme this is understood as praxis. The purpose of the study therefore is to investigate processes within the programme that facilitated or hindered the attainment of praxis. The case study method served this research goal well as it allowed for the social, ideological and historical reality of the CE (PD) to be viewed within a context of its development and the broader contexts of the university and South Africa. As such, this study looked at how one could ensure that theory, abstract knowledge and practice are combined for the purpose of improving community development practice. The study focussed on the aspect of praxis within the CE (PD) with the intention of contribution to the improvement of praxis in training for community development practitioners. Based on Freire's understanding of praxis, the situated cognition and transformative learning theories this study found that certain processes impacted positively or negatively to the CE (PD) programme in facilitating praxis. These processes were varied and included amongst others curriculum conceptualisation and planning, and the most important one being ideology and power related issues. The detailed description of the CE (PD) process would be useful to future curriculum development initiatives. This study argued that community development training is a contested area and cannot only focus skills training but must include consciousness raising located within an emancipatory tradition. Based on this argument an interactive programme development model located within praxis is offered as a contribution towards community development practitioner training in the South African context. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

This thesis is an exploratory ecological study of the role of the family environment as it relates to a number of variables under investigation in the Vancouver Day Care Research Project's extensive contextual study of children enrolled in family day care settings. These variables include child language scores, indices of socio-economic status, conditions of maternal employment and attitudes related to maternal employment, other measures of the home environment, and parental attitudes to childrearing. In addition, the family environments of the family day care caregivers were examined in relation to the quality of care provided. The Moos Family Environment Scale (1986) was administered to parents and caregivers enrolled in the study. Scores from its ten subscales were correlated with measures of the variables of interest and then tested for significance. Data was then analyzed for important trends, patterns and highlights. Results showed that exposure of family members to stimulating ideas and activities is facilitative of child language skills, while an emphasis on achievement seems to have a negative effect. Families from higher socio-economic status homes seemed to be more likely to provide these opportunities for their children, particularly if they are well-educated. Findings also indicate that mothers who are satisfied with their employment tend to provide more positive family environments for their children than those who are working reluctantly. Mothers who worked part-time also appeared to provide better family environments than did those who experienced the increased stress of full-time employment. Adult-centered parenting values which stressed obedience were associated with family environments which were less facilitative of child cognitive development, whereas homes with child-centered parenting values appeared to be more positive. Family day care caregivers who provided superior childcare were found to be more organized in their own families, more supportive of one another, and more able to allow their family members to function independently than were other caregivers. There was considerable overlap in the results for each variable of interest; many similar features were found in the environments which were considered optimal in terms of language development, socio-economic factors, conditions of maternal employment, attitudes to childrearing, and high quality care for children. The study results strongly support the importance of exposure to a wide range of intellectual and cultural stimuli, participation in activities outside the home, expression of feelings amongst family members, and well-organized family functioning in the creation of optimal family environments; an emphasis on achievement, and the use of rigid rules and doctrine were found to be deleterious to the creation of positive home environments. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Community associations and community centres have become a common phenomenon throughout South Africa. The aims of these associations and centres are closely linked to community development. Research has found that activities related to development programmes at such centres come to an end when facilitators hand the programmes over to the community. This was indeed the case at the Darling Focus Association and Centre in Darling. A possible reason for this was that the community's needs and expectations were not being met. The purpose of this study was to establish whether this Community Association and the services, activities and programmes presented at the Centre meet the needs and expectations of the rural community. A literature review was undertaken to present an in-depth look into the body of knowledge surrounding the study. Rural community development and the notion of rural community were discussed, since they create the context in which community associations and community centres function. Special attention was given to the revision of literature on the purposes and functions of community associations and centres. The concepts of community needs and community expectations were reviewed. The literature review concluded with a reference to the sustainability of activities following on training and development programmes based on community needs. The geographically demarcated area of the study was the rural town of Darling, as well as the Darling Focus Association and Centre. A context analysis was done and documents were analysed to gain knowledge of the functioning of the Association and the Centre. The activities, services and programmes offered by the Association at the Centre were established. A survey was undertaken among the Darling community, the members of the management committee of the Darling Focus Association and the participants in activities at the Darling Focus Centre. Samples were selected from these three groups, after which three different questionnaires were designed and tested and finally administered to the three groups. Statistical analysis was carried out on the data gathered during the community survey, and frequency tables and cross-tabulations were constructed. Data gathered from the management and participant surveys was analysed and described using frequency tables. The analysis showed that the community, the members of the management committee and the participants in activities at the Centre had different viewpoints on the functioning of the Association and the Centre. The community survey also revealed the needs of the community for certain activities, services and programmes, as well as their expectations of the Association. Comparisons were made between the needs of the community and the activities, services and programmes offered by the Association. The expectations and viewpoints of the community were also compared with the viewpoints of the management committee members and the participants. The conclusions of the study indicated that the activities, services and programmes offered by the Association at the Centre did not meet the needs of the community, and shortcomings were identified. The viewpoints of the management committee and the participants in activities did not comply with the expectations and viewpoints of the community. It is argued that this might be the reason for the low sustainability of activities, services and programmes of the Association. Recommendations are made to the Association to increase participation within the community and to address the community's needs in order to improve the sustainability of the activities, services and programmes of the Association. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gemeenskapsverenigings en -sentrums het al 'n algemene verskynsel in Suid-Afrika geword. Die doel van hierdie verenigings en sentrums is nou gekoppel aan gemeenskapsontwikkeling. Navorsing het bevind dat aktiwiteite rondom ontwikkelingsprogramme ophou nadat die fasiliteerders die programme aan die gemeenskap oorgee. Dit is spesifiek gevind in die Darling gemeenskap, by die Darling Fokus Vereniging en Sentrum. 'n Rede vir die verskynsel mag wees dat daar nie aan die gemeenskap se behoeftes en verwagtinge voldoen word nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stelof die landelike Gemeenskapsvereniging en die dienste, aktiwiteite en programme wat in die Sentrum aangebied word, aan die behoeftes en verwagtinge van die landelike gemeenskap voldoen. 'n Literatuuroorsig is onderneem om 'n in-diepte verslag te lewer van die literatuur wat die teoretiese onderbou van die studie vorm. Landelike gemeenskapsontwikkeling asook die begrip landelike gemeenskappe, wat die konteks vorm waarbinne landelike gemeenskapsverenigings en -sentrums funksioneer, is bespreek. Spesiale aandag is gegee aan die oorsig oor literatuur aangaande die doel en funksies van gemeenskapsverenigings en -sentrums. Die konsep van gemeenskapsbehoeftes en - verwagtinge is bespreek en die literatuuroorsig is afgesluit met verwysing na die volhoubaarheid van aktiwiteite wat volg op opleidings- en ontwikkelingsprogramme, gebaseer op gemeenskapsbehoeftes. Die geografies-afgebakende studiegebied was die landelike dorpie Darling, asook die Darling Fokus Vereniging en Sentrum. 'n Konteksanalise is gedoen en dokumente is geanaliseer om kennis te bekom van die funksionering van die Vereniging en die Sentrum. Die aktiwiteite, dienste en programme wat die Vereniging aan die gemeenskap by die Gemeenskapsentrum bied, is vasgestel. 'n Opname is verder onderneem onder die Darling gemeenskap, die lede van die bestuurskomitee van die Darling Fokus Vereniging en die deelnemers aan die aktiwiteite by die Darling Fokus Sentrum. Steekproewe is van die drie groepe getrek, drie verskillende vraelyste is ontwerp en getoets en daarna op die drie verskillende groepe toegepas. 'n Statistiese analise is op die data uitgevoer wat in die gemeenskapsopname ingesamel is, en frekwensietabelle en kruistabulasies is opgestel. Data wat in die bestuurs- en deelnemersopnames ingesamel is, is ontleed en met behulp van frekwensietabelle beskryf. Die analises het getoon dat die gemeenskap, die lede van die bestuurskomitee en die deelnemers aan aktiwiteite by die Sentrum verskillende sieninge oor die funksionering van die Vereniging en die Sentrum het. Die gemeenskapsopname het ook die behoeftes van die gemeenskap vir sekere aktiwiteite, dienste en programme, asook hul verwagtinge van die Vereniging, uitgewys. Vergelykings is getref tussen die behoeftes van die gemeenskap en die aktiwiteite, dienste en programme wat deur die Vereniging aangebied word. Die verwagtinge en sieninge van die gemeenskap is ook vergelyk met die sieninge van die bestuurslede en die deelnemers. Die bevindinge van die studie het getoon dat die aktiwiteite, dienste en programme wat die Vereniging aan die gemeenskap bied, nie in die behoeftes van die gemeenskap voorsien nie, en leemtes is geïdentifiseer. Die sieninge van die bestuurskomitee en die deelnemers aan aktiwiteite stem nie ooreen met die verwagtinge en sieninge van die gemeenskap nie. Daar word verder redeneer dat dit moontlik die rede mag wees. vir die lae volhoubaarheid van aktiwiteite, dienste en programme van die Vereniging. Aanbevelings word gemaak vir die Vereniging om die deelname van die gemeenskap te verhoog en om aandag te gee aan die gemeenskap se behoeftes om sodoende die volhoubaarheid van die aktiwiteite, dienste en programme van die Vereniging te verbeter.

A discourse submitted to the Faculty of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning. Johannesburg, 1991 / During the 1980s considerable attention was focused on the need to develop institutions to draw populations into development efforts. Local government was the recipient of much of this attention. This study is concerned with the role of local government in development, and problems that are experienced in playing a developmental tole. In particular, it is concerned with international experience of local government as a development institution, and the relevance of that experience to SA. [No abstract provided. Information taken from introduction] / MT2017

Kwok Kin-fun. / Thesis (MSW)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 197-203.

At the county level, the analysis of uneven regional economic development is focused on Jiangsu. The overall regional disparity in Jiangsu is decomposed into inter- and intra-regional disparities using generalized entropy approach. It is found that intra-regional disparities especially in southern Jiangsu had been reduced while the inter-regional disparity had been increased in 1978--1995. / China has experienced rapid economic development since 1978, but significant regional disparity exists at various spatial levels. Yangtze River Delta is one of the most important regions in China. This research employs various quantitative methods within a conceptual framework to analyze uneven regional development in Yangtze River Delta, especially in Jiangsu province. / In addition to the above discussion, regional economic development strategies in response to various problems facing Jiangsu are also broadly examined. The considered key strategies should be coordinated and their implementation will stimulate further economic development in the region. / In this study, uneven regional development and its causes are examined at two spatial levels. At the provincial level, two kinds of analyses are conducted. First, regional economic structural and competitive advantages in Yangtze River Delta are examined using the well-known shift-share analysis with respect to GDP in three industrial sectors. The relative importance of structural and competitive advantages of the regional economic growth is identified. Second, the contributions of various factors, such as capital investment, labor force, as well as total factor productivity (TFP) to the regional economic growth are estimated using Cobb-Douglas production function. TFP is found to be important in the delta while capital is also important in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. / Regional industrialization is one of the main processes of regional economic development. The driving forces behind the regional industrialization in Jiangsu are analyzed. The stepwise regression analysis is utilized to identify the relationships between various factors and the level of regional industrialization in different years. It is found that urban labor force and the share of TVEs in GOVIA are two fundamental factors of regional industrialization although other factors are significant in some years. / The effect of various factors on the regional industrialization may have spatial variation in terms of their location and economic background. The technique of geographically weighted regression (GWR) is adopted to examine the spatial variability of such effects. A clear spatial effect of regional development is identified. In particular, the GWR model is significantly better than the OLR (ordinary linear regression) model. / The findings of this research help to understand the process of unbalanced regional development in China. It is clear that many regions have their own unique path of regional development and each region requires detailed empirical analysis. The analysis results also shed light on the formulation of regional development policies crucial to the overall development of the whole nation. Various quantitative methods used in the research are very effective in dealing with various issues in the study of regional development. They give a formal means to unravel patterns and processes, and to substantiate or justify conceptual arguments. The approach and the method could be applied to study other regions in China. / Huang Yefang. / "November 2000." / Adviser: Leung Yee. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 61-10, Section: A, page: 4125. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-264). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This study uses a narrative and hermeneutic approach to explore the career development often professional Black South African women. Using an interview guide developed by Brown and Gilligan (1991) and adapted by Mautner and Doucet (1996) career narratives were collected from the ten women. The narratives were analysed using a Reading Guide (Tappan and Brown, 1992). This method involved reading each narrative a number of times, focusing on a particular aspect of the respondent's narrative with each reading. Four major themes emerged through the process of interpretation; 1) contextualised career narratives, 2) positive non-directional career narratives, 3) the social embeddedness of the career narratives and 4) gendered career development. A number of recommendations for research, practice and theory building were made on the basis of the interpretation. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

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