Reading plays a significant role in society and currently there is worldwide pressure for higher literacy results. The focus of this thesis is reading motivation and how it relates to a learner's amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement since these problematic constructs are attracting the interest of researchers internationally. Researchers have investigated the relationships among these constructs with a variety of results. These relationships, however, have not yet been investigated in a South African context with Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, and the only information available on the reading motivation of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers is information on their reading preferences in regard to literary texts. Hence the following three research aims were determined for this study: the compilation of a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, the analysis of the relationships among Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement in an Afrikaans Home Language environment, as well as the development of a reading motivation framework, particularly for use in the school and classroom environment, for these adolescent readers. The study was carried out in the post-positivistic research paradigm by means of a non-experimental quantitative research approach. Three methods of data collection were used, namely a structured questionnaire (based on the eleven reading motivation dimensions of Wigfield and Guthrie's (1997) Motivation for Reading Questionnaire, which for this purpose had been adapted for the South African context), two reading comprehension tests and obtaining the data regarding the academic achievement of the respondents. The 823 respondents that had participated in this study were the grade 9 learners (Afrikaans Home Language) of seven schools from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district (North West Province, South Africa), selected by means of purposive sampling so that different quintiles and geographic areas were represented. Information obtained from a comprehensive literature study on relevant motivation theories, on reading motivation in practice and on the relationship among their reading motivation, amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement, as well as from the results of an empirical investigation of the reading motivation of specific grade 9 learners, was used to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers. The motivation theories on which motivation in this study was based, were the social-cognitive theory, the self-efficacy theory, the ecological system theory of human development and the expectancy-value theory, because these theories emphasise the individual's behaviour within particular social contexts and because constructs such as self-efficacy, task value and mastery, which emanate from these theories, play a cardinal role in determining suitable reading motivation strategies for specific readers. It was essential to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers before a reading motivation framework for these adolescent readers could be compiled. The reading motivation framework recommends specific reading motivation strategies various social role-players in the school and classroom environments can implement so as to improve Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation levels. The various social role-players that would influence the Afrikaans-speaking adolescent reader's reading motivation and the reading motivation strategies each of them could use, was systematised (namely the Department of Education, the school principal and management team, teachers and parents). The essence of the contribution made by this study is that a reading motivation profile of a group of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers (grade 9 learners) could be compiled, that clear mutual relationships among the respondents' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement came to the fore from this study and that a reading motivation framework could be developed by means of which to improve the reading motivation levels of these adolescent readers. / PhD (Curriculum Development, Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Reading plays a significant role in society and currently there is worldwide pressure for higher literacy results. The focus of this thesis is reading motivation and how it relates to a learner's amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement since these problematic constructs are attracting the interest of researchers internationally. Researchers have investigated the relationships among these constructs with a variety of results. These relationships, however, have not yet been investigated in a South African context with Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, and the only information available on the reading motivation of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers is information on their reading preferences in regard to literary texts. Hence the following three research aims were determined for this study: the compilation of a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers, the analysis of the relationships among Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement in an Afrikaans Home Language environment, as well as the development of a reading motivation framework, particularly for use in the school and classroom environment, for these adolescent readers. The study was carried out in the post-positivistic research paradigm by means of a non-experimental quantitative research approach. Three methods of data collection were used, namely a structured questionnaire (based on the eleven reading motivation dimensions of Wigfield and Guthrie's (1997) Motivation for Reading Questionnaire, which for this purpose had been adapted for the South African context), two reading comprehension tests and obtaining the data regarding the academic achievement of the respondents. The 823 respondents that had participated in this study were the grade 9 learners (Afrikaans Home Language) of seven schools from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district (North West Province, South Africa), selected by means of purposive sampling so that different quintiles and geographic areas were represented. Information obtained from a comprehensive literature study on relevant motivation theories, on reading motivation in practice and on the relationship among their reading motivation, amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement, as well as from the results of an empirical investigation of the reading motivation of specific grade 9 learners, was used to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers. The motivation theories on which motivation in this study was based, were the social-cognitive theory, the self-efficacy theory, the ecological system theory of human development and the expectancy-value theory, because these theories emphasise the individual's behaviour within particular social contexts and because constructs such as self-efficacy, task value and mastery, which emanate from these theories, play a cardinal role in determining suitable reading motivation strategies for specific readers. It was essential to compile a reading motivation profile of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers before a reading motivation framework for these adolescent readers could be compiled. The reading motivation framework recommends specific reading motivation strategies various social role-players in the school and classroom environments can implement so as to improve Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers' reading motivation levels. The various social role-players that would influence the Afrikaans-speaking adolescent reader's reading motivation and the reading motivation strategies each of them could use, was systematised (namely the Department of Education, the school principal and management team, teachers and parents). The essence of the contribution made by this study is that a reading motivation profile of a group of Afrikaans-speaking adolescent readers (grade 9 learners) could be compiled, that clear mutual relationships among the respondents' reading motivation and their amount of reading, reading comprehension and academic achievement came to the fore from this study and that a reading motivation framework could be developed by means of which to improve the reading motivation levels of these adolescent readers. / PhD (Curriculum Development, Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The dissertation is concerned with socializing processes of pre-school children around three years of age. The first theoretical part is globally concerned with personality socialization and highlights the significance of socialization in the healthy psychical progression of human beings, as well as the importance of understanding the problems of socialization for the pedagogical profession. This knowledge is specific and generalized in a situational context when the child comes to the kindergarten for the first time and gets slowly untied from the family, developing new relationships outside the family sphere. Socialization in the kindergarten is influenced by many internal and external factors. These factors matter if the child coming to the new kindergarten environment will incorporate to this society without any complications. If any complications appear during the incorporation, internal and external factors also influence the period how long they will last and also they influence the manner how the child will manage them as well. Adaptation programm can facilitate the entrance to the kindergarten for parents and their children. By means of this support programme, alongside the familiar person, children can gradually get acquainted with the new kindergarten environment even before the start of...

本研究旨在探討大台北地區（台北縣與台北市）高中英語科教師在選擇教材時，可能會考量到的因素，其研究重點在於了解不同學校類型（公、私立，與城、鄉學校）以及資深與年輕老師在選擇教材時，是否有其不同的考量因素。 本研究主採問卷調查，佐以訪談方式進行。除就大台北地區二十七所公、私立高中英語科教師做抽樣調查外，並針對十位教師及六位教科書編撰者進行深入訪談，希望藉此進一步了解教師們與教科書編撰者所考量的因素為何，並探討兩者所考量的因素是否有其相關性。本研究最後歸納出結論如下： 1. 學生的英語程度與學習需求以及英語文的正確與自然度是老師與教材編撰者共同考量的因素。 2. 選擇教材時，公立高中的英文老師重視經銷人員的服務態度與售後服務以及教材的配套完整。而私立高中的英文老師重視大學聯考的導向以及學校教育政策。 3. 選擇教材時，任教於城市的高中英文老師重視經銷人員的服務態度與售後服務、溝通式教學法的理念以及教科書所涵蓋的文化層面。而任教於鄉鎮的高中英文老師重視老師本身多重職務角色之扮演（教學、導師或其他行政職務）、教學信念跟語文能力以及教材的價格是否合宜。 4. 選擇教材時，資深與年輕老師所考量的因素並沒有很大的差異。 整體來說，在選擇教材時，內在因素例如英語文的正確性、教材的編輯原理與組織架構仍是老師們最主要的考量。然而外在因素例如學生的英語程度、大學聯考的導向、學校教育政策、以及經銷人員的服務態度，亦是老師在選擇教材時所會考量到因素。因此本研究建議出版社在編撰教科書時也應考量到外在因素，使其教科書更趨於完善，更能符合老師與學生的需求。然而在此同時，老師們也應加強自己的專業知識，使其在選擇教材時能做出最正確的判斷。 / The present study was aimed at investigating what factors English teachers of senior high schools in greater Taipei area took into consideration when selecting textbooks, with particular focus on the comparison of differences between public and private schools, urban and rural schools, and senior and young teachers. Meanwhile, textbook compilers’ considerations were also explored to see if their concerns were in accordance with those of teachers. The questionnaire survey was the main research method of the present study. Moreover, the interview method was also conducted to probe further information. In total, 10 English teachers and 6 textbook compilers were interviewed in the present research. Based on the findings of the present study, four crucial points were concluded as suggested. 1. Most students’ English proficiency and learning needs as well as accurate and proper English were the primary concerns of the general English teachers and textbook compliers. 2. When selecting textbooks, public school teachers emphasized salespersons’ service and the textbook’s intact package, whereas private school teachers considered Joint College Entrance Examination, and school’s leadership more. 3. Likewise, urban school teachers took salespersons’ service, Communicative Approach and cultural component into more account than rural school teachers who were more concerned about teachers’ various roles such as teachers, mentors or administrative personnel, their own English proficiency, and textbooks’ price. 4. However, no significant differences were found between senior teachers and young teachers. Generally speaking, internal factors such as appropriateness, naturalness of English, and rationale, organization of the textbook were the primary concerns for senior high English teachers in textbook selection. However, English teachers of senior high schools were also concerned about external factors such as English proficiency and learning needs, Joint College Entrance Examination, school’s leadership, and salespersons’ service. Therefore, it is suggested that publishing companies should take external factors into more consideration to ensure that textbook being compiled can be more comprehensive in all aspects and be related to needs of both teachers and students. Meanwhile, teachers should take a firm stance based on their updated professional knowledge in making any sound judgments related to textbook selection and evaluation.

Over the past 30 years South Africa has lost valuable human capital due to high volumes of emigration. South Africa has also seen numerous changes in its political, economic and social structure specifically in these decades, but little investigation has been done into the possibility of an association between political, economic and social, as well as personal factors, and the decision to leave South Africa. This study refers to Lee’s Migration Model (1966) that was used as a broad theory for migration. The model involves four sets of factors: factors associated with the area of origin, factors associated with the area of destination, intervening obstacles and personal factors. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory also explains the personal motivational theory for migration. Lee’s Model of Migration is used to investigate which political, economic, social and personal factors in the area of origin (South Africa) pushed South African emigrants to leave the country. It also investigates which political, economic, social and personal factors in the area of destination (Australia and New Zealand) pulled South African emigrants toward these countries. This study involved mixed-methods research (Creswell, 2009), thus the data collection methods were both qualitative and quantitative. The study followed a sequential exploratory strategy in two stages with the qualitative data collection occurring first, followed by a quantitative study – ‘QUALquan’ study. The data are mixed between analysis of the qualitative data and the quantitative data collection (Creswell, 2009:211). The qualitative data collection instruments used in the first stage of the study in 2009, were face-to-face interviews consisting of one focus group and six personal interviews in New Zealand, as well as twelve personal interviews in Australia. In the second stage of the study in 2015, namely the quantitative research, respondents were selected by contacting 17 closed (secured) Facebook groups that were formed for South Africans living either in Australia or New Zealand. There is no alternative sampling frame available since emigrants do not need to declare themselves as migrants on a work visa, furthermore, official documentation is not accessible to the public. A quantitative data collection instrument was administered with an online questionnaire. In the Australian Facebook groups, 137 respondents completed the questionnaire, and in New Zealand Facebook groups, 118 respondents, which adds up to a total of 255 respondents who completed the questionnaire. The results concluded that South Africa’s governance framework, its infrastructure and legislation acted as political push factors motivating South Africans to emigrate, while an uncertain economy contributed as an economic push factor. Socially, a perception of a limited future and a narcissistic society is what pushed South Africans to emigrate. Personal push factors that drove the emigration decision included, unmet physical, safety, belonging and esteem needs. The political factors that pulled South African emigrants to Australia and New Zealand involved effective government services and governmental aid. Economic pull factors included economic certainty and a lower cost of living. Social pull factors proved to be familiar circumstances and a better future. Personal pull factors were safety, belonging and self-actualisation needs. This mixed-method approach focussed on the gap to a followup study that was identified in previous individual qualitative and quantitative studies. These results may assist the South African government to take measures that ensures the retention of highly skilled citizens. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

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