Valores e atitudes de jovens praticantes de esportes em projetos sociais é o tema do presente estudo. Para tanto, foram traçados três objetivos, que culminaram em três estudos. Estudo 1: Traduzir, testar os princípios métricos de validade de conteúdo e de consistência interna do Youth Sport Value Questionnaire 2 (YSVQ-2). Estudo 2: Explorar as associações (relações) entre importantes variáveis dos valores do esporte (Status, Competência e Moral), clima motivacional (ao Ego e à Tarefa) e atitudes (Pró e Antissociais), a fim de avaliar a validade do Modelo Explicativo de Valores e Atitudes no Esporte (MEVAE) de Lee et al. (2008) em jovens de 12 a 19 anos que praticam esportes em projetos sociais no sul do Brasil. Estudo 3: Testar a inclusão da variável de Coping no MEVAE, a fim de contribuir para explicar melhor os valores e atitudes em jovens de 12 a 19 anos que praticam esportes em projetos sociais no sul do Brasil. O Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul analisou e aprovou o presente estudo sob o número de protocolo 18.193. Resultados do Estudo 1: A fim de atender o primeiro objetivo da tese, inicialmente, procedeu-se uma tradução “duplo cego”. Posteriormente a este procedimento, três juízes avaliadores, examinaram o Inventário através de uma escala de clareza e pertinência. Os resultados (CVCt) foram satisfatórios e indicam que o IVEJ-2 é válido sob o ponto de vista da Validade de Conteúdo (CVCt > 0,80). Após a validação do conteúdo, um estudo piloto foi realizado e constatado os índices de fidedignidade do Inventário ( Status = 0,711;  Competência = 0,785;  Morais = 0,738). A partir destas constatações foi possível realizar o segundo estudo da tese. Resultados do Estudo 2: A amostra foi composta por 1.125 jovens gaúchos (nm = 687; nf = 438) com idades entre 12 e 19 anos ( X = 13,80; dp = 0,40), que praticam esportes em projetos sociais. Cinco instrumentos foram utilizados (QICV; IVEJ- 2; PMCSQ-2; QAE-16; ‘desejabilidade social’). Constatou-se, a partir dos resultados, que os valores são preditoras do clima motivacional. A associação dos valores com a ‘Orientação à Tarefa’ (OT) representa 19,2% da variância, ao passo que com a ‘Orientação ao Ego’ (OE) foi de 9,8%. Os ‘Valores de Status’ (VS) foi preditor positivo da OE e negativo da OT, e os ‘Valores de Competência’ (VC) e ‘Morais’ (VM) foram preditoras positivos da OT e negativos da OE. A OT foi preditora positiva das ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ (23,8% da variância). A OE (positivamente) e a OT (negativamente) são preditoras das ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ (15,8% da variância). As correlações parciais revelaram que a influência dos VC e VM sobre as ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ é mediada pela OT (p < 0,05) e, da VS sobre as ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ positivamente pela OE e negativamente pela OT (p > 0,05). Resultado do Estudo 3: O presente estudo utilizou a mesma amostra do estudo 2. Foi avaliada, além das mesmas variáveis do estudo anterior, a variável ‘Coping’. A partir da inclusão das variáveis de Coping no MEVAE, constatou-se que os valores (VS negativamente), as ‘Ações Agressivas’ (β negativo), ‘Negação’, ‘Ações Diretas’ e ‘Autocontrole’ (β positivos) são preditoras do clima OT (23,7% da variância; p < 0,05), ao passo que os valores (VS positivamente), ‘Ações Agressivas’ e ‘Reavaliação Positiva’ (β positivos) do clima OE (11,8% da variância; p < 0,05). A OT foi preditora positiva das ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ (23,8% da variância; p < 0,05). A OE (positivamente) e a OT (negativamente) são preditoras das ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ (15,8% da variância). As correlações parciais revelaram que a influência dos VC, VM e ‘Ações Diretas’ sobre as ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ é mediada pela OT (p < 0,05) e, da VS e ‘Ações Agressivas’ sobre as ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ positivamente pela OE e negativamente pela OT (p > 0,05). Considera-se, a partir dos resultados obtidos no presente estudo que o Coping é um elemento fundamental a ser considerado no MEVAE no contexto do esporte social. Os resultados dos três estudos (artigos) indicam importantes contribuições para elucidar, a partir do modelo explicativo MEVAE, a relação dos Valores, Coping, Clima Motivacional e Atitudes de jovens que praticam esportes em projetos sociais. / Values and attitudes of young people playing sport in programs for socially disadvantaged children is the subject of this study. So, were outlined three goals for the thesis that culminated in three studies. Study 1: Translate, test the principles of metric content validity and internal consistency of the Youth Sport Value Questionnaire 2 (YSVQ-2). Study 2: To explore the associations (relationships) between important variables the values of sport (Status, Skill and Morale), motivational climate (the Ego and Task) and attitudes (Pro and antisocial), to assess the validity of the Explanatory Model Attitudes and Values in Sport (MEVAE) of Lee et al. (2008) for youth ages 12 to 19 who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children in southern Brazil. Study 3: Testing the inclusion of variable MEVAE Coping in order to contribute to better explain the values and attitudes in youth ages 12 to 19 who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children in southern Brazil. The Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul has reviewed and approved this study under the protocol number 18.193. Results of Study 1: To meet the first objective of the thesis, we initially conducted a translation "double blind". Subsequent to this procedure, three judges evaluators examined the inventory across a range of clarity and relevance. The results (CVCt) were satisfactory, and indicate that IVEJ-2 is valid from the point of view of content validity (CVCt> 0,80). After content validation, a pilot study was conducted and verified the reliability indices Inventory ( Status = 0,711;  Competence = 0,785;  Moral = 0,738). From these findings it was possible to perform the second study of the thesis. Results of Study 2: The sample comprised 1125 young gauchos (nm = 687; nf = 438) aged between 12 and 19 years ( X = 13,80, SD = 0,40), who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children. Five instruments were used (QICV; IVEJ-2; PMCSQ-2, QAE-16; 'social desirability'). It was found, from the results, the values are predictors of motivational climate. The association of values with the 'Task Orientation' (OT) represents 19,2% of the variance, whereas with 'Ego Orientation' (OE) was 9,8%. The 'Status Values' (VS) was a predictor of positive and negative OE OT, and the 'Values of Competence' (VC) and 'Moral' (VM) were predictive of positive and negative OE OT. The OT was a positive predictor of 'Pro-Social Attitudes' (23,8% of variance). The OE (positively) and OT (negatively) predict the 'antisocial attitudes' (15,8% of variance). The partial correlations revealed that the influence of VC and VM on 'Pro-Social Attitudes' is mediated by OT (p <0,05) and, on the VS 'antisocial attitudes' by OE positively and negatively by OT (p> 0,05). Results of Study 3: This study used the same sample of study 2. We evaluated in addition to the same variables in the previous study, the variable "Coping". From the inclusion of variables in Coping MEVAE, it was found that the values (VS negatively), the 'Aggressive Actions' (negative β), 'Denial', 'Direct Action' and 'Composure' (positive β) predict Climate OT (23,7% of the variance, p <0,05), whereas the values (VS positive), "aggressive action" and "Reassessment Positive '(positive β) climate OE (11,8% of variance, p <0.05). The OT was a positive predictor of 'Pro-Social Attitudes' (23,8% of the variance, p <0.05). The OE (positively) and OT (negatively) predict the 'antisocial attitudes' (15,8% of variance). The partial correlations revealed that the influence of VC, VM and 'Direct Action' on 'Pro-Social Attitudes' is mediated by OT (p <0,05), and the VS and 'Aggressive Actions' on 'antisocial attitudes' positively and negatively by the OE OT (p> 0,05). It is, from the results obtained in this study that the Coping is a key element to be considered in the context of MEVAE social sport. The results of the three studies (articles) indicate important contributions to elucidate, from MEVAE explanatory model, the relationship of Values, Coping, Motivational Climate and Attitudes of young people who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children.

Valores e atitudes de jovens praticantes de esportes em projetos sociais é o tema do presente estudo. Para tanto, foram traçados três objetivos, que culminaram em três estudos. Estudo 1: Traduzir, testar os princípios métricos de validade de conteúdo e de consistência interna do Youth Sport Value Questionnaire 2 (YSVQ-2). Estudo 2: Explorar as associações (relações) entre importantes variáveis dos valores do esporte (Status, Competência e Moral), clima motivacional (ao Ego e à Tarefa) e atitudes (Pró e Antissociais), a fim de avaliar a validade do Modelo Explicativo de Valores e Atitudes no Esporte (MEVAE) de Lee et al. (2008) em jovens de 12 a 19 anos que praticam esportes em projetos sociais no sul do Brasil. Estudo 3: Testar a inclusão da variável de Coping no MEVAE, a fim de contribuir para explicar melhor os valores e atitudes em jovens de 12 a 19 anos que praticam esportes em projetos sociais no sul do Brasil. O Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul analisou e aprovou o presente estudo sob o número de protocolo 18.193. Resultados do Estudo 1: A fim de atender o primeiro objetivo da tese, inicialmente, procedeu-se uma tradução “duplo cego”. Posteriormente a este procedimento, três juízes avaliadores, examinaram o Inventário através de uma escala de clareza e pertinência. Os resultados (CVCt) foram satisfatórios e indicam que o IVEJ-2 é válido sob o ponto de vista da Validade de Conteúdo (CVCt > 0,80). Após a validação do conteúdo, um estudo piloto foi realizado e constatado os índices de fidedignidade do Inventário ( Status = 0,711;  Competência = 0,785;  Morais = 0,738). A partir destas constatações foi possível realizar o segundo estudo da tese. Resultados do Estudo 2: A amostra foi composta por 1.125 jovens gaúchos (nm = 687; nf = 438) com idades entre 12 e 19 anos ( X = 13,80; dp = 0,40), que praticam esportes em projetos sociais. Cinco instrumentos foram utilizados (QICV; IVEJ- 2; PMCSQ-2; QAE-16; ‘desejabilidade social’). Constatou-se, a partir dos resultados, que os valores são preditoras do clima motivacional. A associação dos valores com a ‘Orientação à Tarefa’ (OT) representa 19,2% da variância, ao passo que com a ‘Orientação ao Ego’ (OE) foi de 9,8%. Os ‘Valores de Status’ (VS) foi preditor positivo da OE e negativo da OT, e os ‘Valores de Competência’ (VC) e ‘Morais’ (VM) foram preditoras positivos da OT e negativos da OE. A OT foi preditora positiva das ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ (23,8% da variância). A OE (positivamente) e a OT (negativamente) são preditoras das ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ (15,8% da variância). As correlações parciais revelaram que a influência dos VC e VM sobre as ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ é mediada pela OT (p < 0,05) e, da VS sobre as ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ positivamente pela OE e negativamente pela OT (p > 0,05). Resultado do Estudo 3: O presente estudo utilizou a mesma amostra do estudo 2. Foi avaliada, além das mesmas variáveis do estudo anterior, a variável ‘Coping’. A partir da inclusão das variáveis de Coping no MEVAE, constatou-se que os valores (VS negativamente), as ‘Ações Agressivas’ (β negativo), ‘Negação’, ‘Ações Diretas’ e ‘Autocontrole’ (β positivos) são preditoras do clima OT (23,7% da variância; p < 0,05), ao passo que os valores (VS positivamente), ‘Ações Agressivas’ e ‘Reavaliação Positiva’ (β positivos) do clima OE (11,8% da variância; p < 0,05). A OT foi preditora positiva das ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ (23,8% da variância; p < 0,05). A OE (positivamente) e a OT (negativamente) são preditoras das ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ (15,8% da variância). As correlações parciais revelaram que a influência dos VC, VM e ‘Ações Diretas’ sobre as ‘Atitudes Pró-Sociais’ é mediada pela OT (p < 0,05) e, da VS e ‘Ações Agressivas’ sobre as ‘Atitudes Antissociais’ positivamente pela OE e negativamente pela OT (p > 0,05). Considera-se, a partir dos resultados obtidos no presente estudo que o Coping é um elemento fundamental a ser considerado no MEVAE no contexto do esporte social. Os resultados dos três estudos (artigos) indicam importantes contribuições para elucidar, a partir do modelo explicativo MEVAE, a relação dos Valores, Coping, Clima Motivacional e Atitudes de jovens que praticam esportes em projetos sociais. / Values and attitudes of young people playing sport in programs for socially disadvantaged children is the subject of this study. So, were outlined three goals for the thesis that culminated in three studies. Study 1: Translate, test the principles of metric content validity and internal consistency of the Youth Sport Value Questionnaire 2 (YSVQ-2). Study 2: To explore the associations (relationships) between important variables the values of sport (Status, Skill and Morale), motivational climate (the Ego and Task) and attitudes (Pro and antisocial), to assess the validity of the Explanatory Model Attitudes and Values in Sport (MEVAE) of Lee et al. (2008) for youth ages 12 to 19 who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children in southern Brazil. Study 3: Testing the inclusion of variable MEVAE Coping in order to contribute to better explain the values and attitudes in youth ages 12 to 19 who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children in southern Brazil. The Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul has reviewed and approved this study under the protocol number 18.193. Results of Study 1: To meet the first objective of the thesis, we initially conducted a translation "double blind". Subsequent to this procedure, three judges evaluators examined the inventory across a range of clarity and relevance. The results (CVCt) were satisfactory, and indicate that IVEJ-2 is valid from the point of view of content validity (CVCt> 0,80). After content validation, a pilot study was conducted and verified the reliability indices Inventory ( Status = 0,711;  Competence = 0,785;  Moral = 0,738). From these findings it was possible to perform the second study of the thesis. Results of Study 2: The sample comprised 1125 young gauchos (nm = 687; nf = 438) aged between 12 and 19 years ( X = 13,80, SD = 0,40), who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children. Five instruments were used (QICV; IVEJ-2; PMCSQ-2, QAE-16; 'social desirability'). It was found, from the results, the values are predictors of motivational climate. The association of values with the 'Task Orientation' (OT) represents 19,2% of the variance, whereas with 'Ego Orientation' (OE) was 9,8%. The 'Status Values' (VS) was a predictor of positive and negative OE OT, and the 'Values of Competence' (VC) and 'Moral' (VM) were predictive of positive and negative OE OT. The OT was a positive predictor of 'Pro-Social Attitudes' (23,8% of variance). The OE (positively) and OT (negatively) predict the 'antisocial attitudes' (15,8% of variance). The partial correlations revealed that the influence of VC and VM on 'Pro-Social Attitudes' is mediated by OT (p <0,05) and, on the VS 'antisocial attitudes' by OE positively and negatively by OT (p> 0,05). Results of Study 3: This study used the same sample of study 2. We evaluated in addition to the same variables in the previous study, the variable "Coping". From the inclusion of variables in Coping MEVAE, it was found that the values (VS negatively), the 'Aggressive Actions' (negative β), 'Denial', 'Direct Action' and 'Composure' (positive β) predict Climate OT (23,7% of the variance, p <0,05), whereas the values (VS positive), "aggressive action" and "Reassessment Positive '(positive β) climate OE (11,8% of variance, p <0.05). The OT was a positive predictor of 'Pro-Social Attitudes' (23,8% of the variance, p <0.05). The OE (positively) and OT (negatively) predict the 'antisocial attitudes' (15,8% of variance). The partial correlations revealed that the influence of VC, VM and 'Direct Action' on 'Pro-Social Attitudes' is mediated by OT (p <0,05), and the VS and 'Aggressive Actions' on 'antisocial attitudes' positively and negatively by the OE OT (p> 0,05). It is, from the results obtained in this study that the Coping is a key element to be considered in the context of MEVAE social sport. The results of the three studies (articles) indicate important contributions to elucidate, from MEVAE explanatory model, the relationship of Values, Coping, Motivational Climate and Attitudes of young people who play sports in programs for socially disadvantaged children.

The theme of the thesis is The activities of a pedagogical worker with clients of an asylum house. The target is to find out what activities the pedagogical worker does in this kind of facility, what is the work description, how the worker works with clients and their children. Further more the thesis deals with necessity of pedagogical worker in an asylum house a their in/sufficient capacity. The thesis is focused on finding out the success of a pedagogical worker in this kind of facility and how the pedagogue reaches the target of their activity. In the theoretical part there I describe particular activities which the pedagigical worker carries out in an asylum house, it means in socially disadvantaged environment. In the empirical part of the thesis there I research whether the pedagogical worker is neccessary in this facility and wheteher and to what extent their work capacity is sufficient. The research includes finding out the success of a pedagogical worker in asylum house primarily with the help of reached targets made by clients. Key words: pedagogical worker, asylum house, a client, children, socially disadvantaged environment, education

Thesis Counseling support in the education of socially disadvataged pupils deals with education of this target group of pupils, which is still unclear in many situation of. The emphasis is focused on counseling support of these children, that should help their education of non-state non-profit institutions. The aim of thesis is to clarify this issue and highlight the important role of non-profit instituions, genereally there is tend to neglect them. In its theoretical part thesis works with pupil with socially disadvantaged in the context of education and the structure of advisory support in the Czech Republic. The explorative part of thesis is based on case studies of specific non-state, non-profit organizations, namely the generally beneficial company People in need, a registered association Counseling centre for integration and registered association R- Bridges. These organizations are significantly involved in counseling support in the education of the target group of pupils. These studies are based on data collected during six interviews, that were contucted with employees of individual organizations. Data from these interviews are complemented by document analysis. Based on the results of the research, there is a recommendation for practice that mentions the areas in which the counseling...

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / This study, located within the systems theory framework, recognises that resilience is multidimensional and multi determined and can be understood as the product of connections with, and between multiple systemic levels over time, and further understands that risks factors are seen as influences that occur at the individual, family, community and societal level. The quantitative study used a secondary analysis survey of data and utilised a sample of 281 students from UWC - 90 male and 190 female. In drawing from the literature the study examined the relationship between gender, Socioeconomic status (SES) and exposure to violence and resilience. Results of the factorial MANOVA indicate a statistically significant association between low SES and exposure to violence (p &lt;0.05 = 0.036). There were no statistically significant results for the associations between gender and exposure to violence and resilience, as well as the association between SES and resilience. These results were contrary to what was predicted. The results of the present study suggest that in the South African context, both males and females have managed to find ways of coping when faced with adversity as well as being able to draw from their protective influences. It is also possible that the selected variables (gender and SES) may only be significant in relation to other variables. The limitations of the study were also discussed, and recommendations for future research were put forward. / South Africa

Magister Educationis - MEd / When it comes to education, the legacy of apartheid in South Africa has had major implications for the higher education system. The White population group long dominated the nrolment of students in higher education institutions, although they were, and still are, one of the minority population groups in the country. The under-preparedness of black students means that they require structures to prepare and assist them within the higher education environment. In order to assist these disadvantaged students, higher education institutions have established certain Academic Support Programmes. One such programme is the Career Preparation Programme (CPP) being offered at the University of the Free State. This study attempts to measure the success rate of the Career Preparation Programme and to time to completion of graduates. / South Africa

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Alcohol consumption among adolescents is increasing due to the general availability of alcohol in many community settings. Binge drinking (defined as drinking 5 or more drinks per occasion) (Parry, 2000) is considered the most common type of harmful alcohol consumption among young people. The United States Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance report proposes that patterns of health risk behaviours are established during youth (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,2006). The abovementioned report highlights behaviours such as alcohol misuse, drug use and risky sexual behaviour that have the potential to undermine the health and development of youth. Adolescent developmental theories recognise risk behaviours as central to normal adolescent development but there are complex predisposing risk factors that can cause these behaviours to compromise the healthy development of our youth. In order to design and implement effective intervention schemes, we need to understand the dynamics of alcohol use among local youth better, as these play out in their specific social environmental and personal contexts.Aim: The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of what influences the patterns of alcohol use among adolescents in a peri-urban historically disadvantaged community in the Western Cape. The study identified some of the factors that promote and inhibit drinking within the study community from the perspective of the adolescents themselves and a few of the adults who work with adolescents. The study also determined some of the harmful consequences to drinking as described by the adolescents.Method: This was an exploratory study using qualitative research methods. Four focus group discussions were conducted with adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years that were both attending and not attending school. Three key informant interviews with adults who were involved with the youth were conducted.Convenience sampling was used for the non-school attending participants and snowball sampling was used for the school attending youth. The adults in the study were purposively sampled. The study was conducted within the study setting during March and April 2009. Thematic and content analysis was used to interpret the data.The descriptive data was coded and categorised according to themes that emerged during analysis.Results: In general the youth of this study are drinking on weekends. They spend their time on the streets and access alcohol from the many illegal taverns in their neighbourhood. Some of the reasons why adolescents drink include just for the fun of it and because their friends drink and to cope with stress or boredom (risk factors for problem behaviour). Those who don’t drink generally have strong parental role models, have observed some of the harmful effects of alcohol use and seem able to resist peer pressure (protective factors for problem behaviour). There were no significant differences between the perceptions of male and female adolescents regarding alcohol consumption. The black adolescents in general appeared to be more affected by poverty than the coloured adolescents, a factor that influenced their choices around alcohol use. Risky sexual behaviour, rape and fighting seem to be some of the harmful consequences to drinking that are described by the youth of this study. The social environment in which the adolescents of this study live seemed to play a significant role in their attitudes toward drinking. Factors such as a lack of infrastructure for leisure, poverty and a tolerance for public drunkenness are community factors that affect these adolescents but over which they have little or no control.Conclusion: The potential for problem behaviour as perceived by the participants is determined by the balance of risk and protective factors that emanate from their social environment, the community itself and their own personality. Those fortunate enough to have cohesive families with interested adults around them are more likely to be protected from problem behaviour due to drinking.Recommendations: Recommendations from this study include engaging with the youth directly when designing intervention programmes; using peer-led programmes to effect change and to help adolescents to clarify their values; equip them with skills to plan for the future in order to develop their self-efficacy to make the right choices when it comes to alcohol consumption. It is also recommended that intervention programmes address relationships within the community itself such as strengthening parent-child communication; building positive adult role models and empowering community members to challenge issues such as illegal tavern owners serving alcohol to minors.

Magister Educationis - MEd / The study focuses on the administration procedure of Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS) to learners from a previously disadvantaged school in the Western Cape. ARCS is the Rorschach administration procedure developed by Moletsane-Kekae (2004) in her research study. The aim of the study was to determine the response rate of learners from a previously disadvantaged school when they were exposed to the Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS). The objectives are to determine the possible factors that can lead to high and low response rate when administering Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS). The main assumption that guides the study was that the responses of the administration of Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS) to the learners from a previously disadvantaged school in the Western Cape would yield more than 14 responses (R>14). The study adopted a qualitative approach, case study design, interpretivist paradigm. The Rorschach test, ARCS procedure, observation, interview, and Field notes were used as data collection techniques. The sample was made of six learners (3 girls and 3 boys) in Year 1 selected from a previously disadvantaged school in Cape Town. In order to analyze the data, the thematic analysis and interpretation procedures were used. The results revealed that the majority of the learners gave high responses, because the ARCS accommodated their cultures, believe and backgrounds. This study found out that language, seating arrangement, strategies using during the ARCS procedure were the factors that influenced the higher response rate. Furthermore, the study also found that the lack of previous exposure and experience of the psychological test was a factor that can lead to low response.

Pupils from a low SES differ in their development within the same school context. It is argued that the mechanisms through which education and the school environment as a whole can contribute to the successful development of children from a low SES should be identified and mapped. Therefore a focus on the mechanisms that lead to children with a low SES succeeding, in addition to discussing the reasons for these children not succeeding is proposed. The present research is drawn upon bio-ecological and symbolic interactionist theories of human development in an effort to understand resilience as involving person-context transactions. Specifically, the resilience of adolescents in the school context is studied as a joint function of personal characteristics and social contextual affordances that either promote or thwart the development of person-level, resilient-enhancing characteristics. The study employed inductive as well as deductive methods for knowledge development. Firstly, the concept of “resilience” was defined and operationalized in a Resilience Questionnaire (VVL). This questionnaire was validated on 399 middle-adolescents from five Educational Opportunity Schools in the Netherlands. Secondly, the inductive “Grounded Theory” method was followed with 21 middle-adolescents from three of the five Educational Opportunity Schools. In answer to the main question “How does the school environment contribute to the resilience of middle-adolescent students?”, the school environment can contribute to resilience through facilitating safety and good education. Resilient and Not-Resilient middle-adolescents differ in their dependence on the school environment for their access to these resilience-enhancing circumstances and factors. In relation to the first sub question, “What are resilient middle-adolescents’ perceptions of the contribution of the school environment to their resilience?”, the school environment contributes to the resilience of resilient middle-adolescents by challenging them (e.g with high expectations) and by offering opportunities to create constructive relationships with adults and fellow students in the school environment (e.g through informal conversations and through keeping order in the classroom). In answer to the second and third sub questions, “What are the perceptions of not-resilient middle-adolescents of the contribution of the school environment to their state of resilience?” and “How can the comparison between these two perceptions be explained?”, Not-Resilient middle-adolescents identify and utilise the services and potentially protective factors in the school enviroment less of their own accord than Resilient middle-adolescents do. The school environment can contribute to the resilience of Not-Resilient middle-adolescents by facilitating an overview, insight and positive future expectations in a very direct, controlling manner: An overview over risks for one’s own development and the presence of potential resources to assist one’s own development; insight into his or her own abilities to deal with possible risks; and positive future expectations on the improvement of a situation after a problem or risk has occurred. In summary, the daily situations in the school environment offer enough tools to contribute to the resilience of resilient and not-resilient middle-adolescents. These should, however, be recognised by both the middle-adolescent and the adults in the school environment as opportunities for development, which should subsequently be grasped in order to learn to deal with these challenges constructively. / Thesis (PhD (Learning Supoort, Guidance and Counselling))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / PhD / unrestricted

The introduction of Grade R (Reception Year) and its curriculum in early childhood education has been a key policy initiative, but despite the importance of this level of education the demands of the transition from Grade R to Grade 1 are not explicitly discussed. Official documents note the likely difficulties and challenges inherent in the transition of children from preschool and home into the primary school environment but they do not explicitly say how these difficulties can be dealt with. This study investigated the implementation of transition policy and existing practices for children transiting from preschool or the home into Grade 1 in South Africa’s schools. A case study of two purposively selected schools, from two different provinces, explored the impact of transition on both children’s adjustment to their new environment and the school itself. Key policy documents were initially analysed, and key informants in government and non governmental organisations (NGOs) were interviewed in relation to aspects of the policy guidelines and practices for transition to school. Participating principals, teachers, parents and children as subjects were interviewed to identify their perspectives about transition and how they deal with it. The social, behavioural and academic adjustment of 6 children from each of the two schools was investigated using the Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS). The results show that although some differences in the adjustment of children between the two case study schools were noted, it appeared that preschooled children were more likely to make better adjustments than non-preschooled (home) children. The study also revealed that schools’ strategies for dealing with transitions are not informed by the government’s transition policies and guidelines. Instead, the two schools devised their own in-house strategies to deal with transitions and these differed from one school to another. The study also highlights that teachers are not familiar with policies governing their working lives. The schools studied also lamented the lack of continuity in the curricula and the way of life between the school and preschool despite policies enacted to deal with this disjuncture. Whilst the findings show a disparity between the adjustments of preschooled children and their home counterparts a longitudinal study involving more case schools would provide greater insight into preschool grade 1 transition in a developing South Africa. The educational and policy implications of the study are discussed with regard to important processes and structures put in place for the transition process of children entering into primary schools. While case study findings cannot be generalised the results can be beneficial in informing other similar contexts grappling with transitions. The study highlights important processes undertaken in the adjustment of children into primary schools, however it also revealed some shortcomings which have serious implications for policy and practice. “Policy literacy” should be embarked upon to familiarise teachers as end users with what policy entails. Every school should have a transition programme that would help orientate and settle in the new entrants into the school environment. / Thesis (PhD (Education Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Education Management and Policy Studies / PhD / Unrestricted