South Africa is currently experiencing rapid social change with socio-economic deprivation, influencing the future orientation of adolescents. Research indicates that a lack of future expectations affects present behaviour−diminishing the possibility of socialisation and productivity in adulthood. The objective of this study is to assess the future perceptions of indigent adolescents. The Gestalt paradigm provided the framework for defining the study. This empirical study uses a mixed methodology design combining both the quantitative and the qualitative approaches. A crosssectional survey provided the groundwork in terms of ascertaining the degree of awareness in respect of the future orientation of indigent, urban adolescents whilst a qualitative, semi-structured, one-on-one interview provided an in-depth contextualisation of the problem. The empirical study demonstrated that, although socio-economic deprivations and pervasive social issues do influence the future orientation of adolescents in South Africa, these influences have not eradicated the indigent adolescents’ motivational striving toward a positive and productive future. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The major concern of investment decision-makers is to find the appropriate capital budgeting techniques to apply. Many factors cause change within an organisation. Strategic investment management takes a close look at these changing factors. To this end, a literature study of popular capital budgeting procedures, investment strategic theory, and a selected method for linking the two was undertaken. A sample of manufacturers in the Gauteng region of South Africa was chosen to indicate whether there is a correlation between financial theory and practice. The results of this survey indicated that financial evaluation was widely practised. Whereas, strategic analysis was used less often. The need for an in-depth study of other economic sectors and the financial theory and practice used by the investment decision-makers in those sectors is identified as a possible future study. The value inherent in the evaluation of relative performances of manufacturing firms, which have applied similar strategies, is also identified. / Business Management / M. Comm. (Business Management)

Cosmo City was established as a pilot project to integrate the low, middle and high income communities to live together and share common resources like schools, medical facilities, churches and shopping centres. Over a period of seven years, waste management has become a problem leading to littering, illegal dumping and overfilling of skips. Perceptions of waste management in different income households were studied. The specific objectives were, willingness of households to separate waste from source, health concerns emanating when one interacts with waste at the sources, effect of incentives on household’s willingness to separate waste from source, household’s opinion on including the waste pickers in the formal waste management system. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and interviews. The results indicated that 30% of low income households, 23% of middle income households and 10% of high income households recycle waste. The study revealed that 78% of low income households, 78% of middle income households and 80% of high income households were willing to sort waste from source. Overall results showed about 20% drop when sorting waste without incentives was suggested. 52% of low income households, 55% middle income households and 48% high income households rated hygiene as the major health concern on sorting waste from source. 85% of low income households, 77% of low income household, 71% of middle income and 78% of high income households support the incorporation of waste pickers in the formal waste management system. The results related to perceptions of the community on waste management suggest that the three different communities are willing to participate in waste management and support the incorporation of the waste pickers in the formal waste management system. In general this study should serve as a guideline for legislation, policy and regulations formulation. Integrated solid waste management that involves waste pickers and separation of waste from source can help with job creation, boosts the economy and deviate waste from landfilling to recycling. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Cloninger’s Psychobiological Theory of Personality proposes four temperament dimensions, each underpinned by a different neurotransmitter system. The serotonergic system is purportedly linked to Harm Avoidance (HA). The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between HA and serotonin in migraine without aura (MO). A second aim was to explore the personality profile of MO patients. Sixty-six participants completed an online questionnaire and donated blood samples. Results indicated no significant association between HA and serotonin and a significant relationship between MO and HA. This study indicates that both Cloninger’s Psychobiological Theory of Personality and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire used for its assessment have value in South African personality research. In addition, the findings of the study reveal support for personality influences on the processes involved in migraine. This not only produces worthwhile avenues of research but also an alternative perspective for clinical practice. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology (Research Consultation))

M.A. (Public Management and Governance) / This research is an assessment of the level of goal achievement by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s (GPL) Infrastructure Development Portfolio Committee (IDCP). The overall aim is to determine the effectiveness of the Portfolio Committee, the reasons behind the discovered level of performance, and how to improve the status quo. Research findings reveal that the IDPC managed to achieve 61% of its targets over a four-year period (2009-2014). This is a fairly respectable achievement considering that the Portfolio Committee was only established in the current legislative term. Research findings also reveal a number of factors to support this achievement, such as capacity issues for both Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) and staff and the institution’s congested programme. Quite a number of these factors need to be addressed at institutional level, including capacitation of MPLs and administrative support staff, the GPL’s congested programme, and the identification of relevant stakeholders. However, there are issues that can be addressed at committee level and include engaging in law making discussions, providing feedback to stakeholders on a regular basis and systematically, and gathering more independent information for verification purposes.

M.Ed. (Management and Leadership) / After the election of the new democratic government in 1994, bold steps were taken to transform the South African education dispensation, seeking for an appropriate approach to address the educational imbalances of the past. Transformational leadership emerged as the key focus in restricting the educational system. A qualitative research design was employed to answer the research question which would be integrated with the aim of the study in a logical way. The aim of the study was to explore leadership styles practiced by the principals in a changing educational system. Data was generated by means of interview to provide rich descriptions and explanations of how principals experience transformation in this particular context. The literature review revealed that principals as transformational leaders have an important role to play in setting the tone to provide direction, executing their tasks as leaders and managers and building democratic schools. To keep up and cope effectively with constant and rapid transformation, principals are also urged to demonstrate positive, supporting leadership and professionalism, and to acquire new learning and thinking skills to manage change. By developing a better understanding of transformation, the principals will be able to give effective direction and empower their staff, guiding and supporting them in the process of accepting transformation. While leadership skills are essential for providing effective leadership, principals must also possess a sense of purpose and direction. The challenge is to develop leaders’ sensitivity and knowledge so that they will know when to be directive and when to act within a collaborative framework, or to delegate responsibility to others. The research findings indicate that principals do fulfill their new roles and responsibility as educational leaders.

M.Ed. (Educational Guidance) / This study forms part of a group project on school dropout which the Rand Afrikaans University and the Ben Gurion University in Israel have jointly undertaken. There is a widespread concern about the high dropout rate in schools all over the world including the Republic of South Africa. In view of the many challenges facing the country economically and politically South Africa needs its youth to be motivated, productive and self supportive.The Rand Afrikaans University and the Ben Gurion University have decided to pool their knowledge and experience in researching factors which contribute to pupils' leaving school too early. The project aims to identify the at-risk pupils and to research internal and external factors such as self concept, family relations and locus of control and their relation to dropout. This study will specifically focus on the way potential dropouts in black schools experience their self concept.

M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Why seek to develop school leadership? Apartfrom the advantages that accrue to one'scareerfrom the demonstrated ability topersuade others to work towards intended results, what does the practice of continuous small acts of leadership do for the development of one's character and accomplishment of organisational aims (Caroselli,1990:199) ? How do we persuade others? Do we persuade by resorting to Taylor's scientific management ( Sergiovanni and Starratt.1993 : 12 ) where control, accountability and efficiency are emphasised within the atmosphere of clear-cut manager-subordinate relationship, where the recipe is to identify the best way, develop a work system based on the research of, communicate expectations to workers, train workers in the system, monitor and evaluate to ensure compliance? Or as Kok, Smith and Swart (1992 : 9 ) put it, through an invitational stance of the school leader, where intentionality, respect, trust and optimism are the basic qualities of the school leader ? The invitational stance which is based on the assumptions that all persons are valuable, able and responsible and ought to be treated accordingly, that education is a co-operative process which cannot succeed without the participation of all concerned parties, that the process is just as important as the end product, that all persons have relatively untapped potential in all facets of living given the right condition, and that potentials can best be realised through places, policy, procedures and programmes which are specifically designed to invite development and by people who intentionally behave invitationally, both personally and professionally, towards others ( 1992: 2). What are these small acts of leadership? These are some of the questions which come to mind after analysing Caroselli's statement above as far as educational leadership is concerned. .Total Quality Management represents a line of thinking which resembles the ideas of many writers on business and educational management, since the start of the eighties. On the one hand writers like Sergiovanni and Starratt ( 1993 :287) see schools as non-linear and looselycoupled organisations, where employees should be bounded by a common vision and shared set of values, where colleagiality and enablement could become the main motivational factor in committing members of the organisation to a common cause. On the other hand, Blanchard, Zigarmi and Zigarmi (1987 :75) summarise four leadership styles which are appropriate for different development levels based on competence and commitment of the employee-teacher as changing from directing to coaching to supporting to delegating as performance improves. In organisations which are moulded according to the Taylor model ( Sergiovanni and Starratt, 1993 : 12) leadership is through issuing commands, enforcing compliance and controlling the activities of employees. The philosophy of Taylorism, is still in place in many schools today. The hierarchical nature of this form of organisation, implies that the teacher's priority is to please the superiors first at the expense of the customer- the student.

M.Cur. (Nursing Science) / The primary objective of this study was to determine the emotional intelligence (EI) of, and make recommendations to facilitate an improvement in the EI of professional nurses commencing work in critical care units in private hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. The quality of nursing care directly affects patient outcomes such as morbidity, mortality, adverse events as well as the total cost of care. This places the nurse central in good, comprehensive health care, especially in the critical care environment. Professional nurses starting in critical care consistently experience feelings of anxiety regarding their performance, related to the intensity of patient care, insufficient knowledge, extreme workload, role uncertainty, the feeling of being unsafe, making mistakes, having to work with new technology, as well as social acceptance in critical care with its unique working culture. Emotional labour is a big part of critical care, which leads us to explore emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions. It also refers to the ability to identify, express, understand and regulate emotions. Though emotional skills are learnt during childhood, it can also be developed and changed later in life with age, experience and good role models or mentors. Nurses with a higher EI have more positive attitudes, greater adaptability, improved relationships, and increased orientation towards positive values. The question that arose was: what is the emotional intelligence of professional nurses starting in critical care for the first time?...

M. Ed. (Higher Education) / This study seeks to evaluate the processes used in the moderation of School-based Assessment (SBA) in Life Orientation (LO). This subject has been introduced by the Department of Education (DoE) to form part of Grade 12 exit examinations the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). SBA refers to all assessment that is conducted by teachers, and sometimes is known as internal assessment, coursework or continuous assessment...