Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study explored the learning and teaching of students registered for the undergraduate Training Management Module in the Industrial Psychology Department at a traditional university in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The aim of the study was to explore how situated learning can inform a more practically orientated learning and teaching of ETD practitioners. The criticism levelled at institutions of higher learning is that education, training and development practitioners are poorly trained to integrate theory taught, into practical situations.

Introduction: Guinea worm disease (GWD) is a painful, disabling disease caused by the parasite dracunculus medinensis. The implementation of the global GWD eradication campaign resulted in a decrease of global burden of disease and several countries have been proclaimed free of the disease. Though, Ethiopia has implemented the GWD eradication programme since 1992 the disease remains endemic in the Gambella region. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of the community of Gambella region on Guinea worm disease (GWD) eradication interventions. Methodology: A qualitative study paradigm with a phenomenological research design was employed to collect data using focus group discussions, in-depth individual interviews, document reviews, and observations. The study participants were determined by purposive sampling. Qualitative data analysis involved transcription, data entry, and management of verbal information followed by coding, categorizing into themes. Interpretation of the data was done using triangulation methodology with appropriate mechanisms for validity and trustworthiness. Result: The study found that there are gaps in the perceptions and understanding of the community and programme implementers about the achievement and application of the various interventions on the eradication of Guinea worm disease. Health education programme was not fine-tuned to the eradication of GWD by community participation. Community perception was not at the required level for the eradication of GWD due to the low success of the educational intervention. Conclusion: continuous health education targeting the community with clear objectives of helping to eradicate GWD was found to be limited in its coverage. In addition, provision of water filters necessary for GWD eradication was inadequate. Moreover, the community did not have clear understanding of the causes of GWD and its eradication strategy. It is hoped that the findings of this study would contribute significantly to the GWEP in Gambella region, as well as elsewhere where GWD may be endemic / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The influence of a six-week perceptual-motor and attentional skills programme, combined with teaching strategies, on the motor proficiency and attentional abilities of children diagnosed with ADHD was investigated. The five case study individuals (ranging for Grade 1- 7) took part in a six-week Purposeful Play Programme. Baseline, pre-test and post-test scores were obtained from the Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Test (ADHDT). All five case study individuals showed a significant improvement on their motor proficiency during retention tests as well as improvements on some of the behavioural soft signs of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. / AFRIKAANDE OPSOMMING: Die invloed van ʼn sesweek perseptueel-motoriese en aandagvaardigheidsprogram, gekombineer met onderrigstrategieë, is op die motoriese vaardighede en aandagvermoëns van kinders gediagnoseer met ATHS, bestudeer. Die vyf gevallestudie individue (tussen Graad 1- 7) het aan „n sesweek Purposeful Play Programme deelgeneem. Die basislyn-, voor- en natoetstellings is verkry vanaf die Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) en Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Test (ADHDT). Al vyf gevallestudie individue het ʼn beduidende verbetering in motoriese vaardigheid getoon tydens retensietoetse asook verbetering in sommige van die gedragstekens van hiperaktiwiteit, impulsiwiteit en afleibaarheid.

Au Québec, comme partout dans les pays développés, le vieillissement de la population oblige à repenser les méthodes d’intervention (Couturier et al., 2013). De plus, vieillir chez soi en conservant la meilleure qualité de vie possible est un souhait cher à la majorité des personnes aînées (Mauriat et al., 2009). Pour prendre en considération ce souhait, malgré la complexité de la situation biopsychosociale de plusieurs, le système de santé et de services sociaux offre un service de soutien à domicile dans lequel des coordonnateurs dédiés (ex. : gestionnaires de cas, travailleuses sociales pivots) coordonnent les différents services requis afin de répondre aux besoins des personnes vivant à domicile avec une autonomie fonctionnelle diminuée (Couturier et al., 2013). Plusieurs personnes aînées en situation biopsychosociale complexe refusent les services offerts (Corvol et al., 2012). Ce refus peut aller de la simple décision de ne pas prendre sa médication ou de ne pas accepter l’aide à la toilette à celle de refuser l’aide alimentaire ou des soins et services essentiels, et, ce faisant, d’encourir d’importants risques quant à leur sécurité, voire leur survie (Balard et Somme, 2011). Au Québec, sauf dans les cas d’exception prévus par la loi, la liberté de consentir ou non à des soins est un droit reconnu à chaque personne, consacrant ainsi les principes d’intégrité et d’inviolabilité de la personne (gouvernement du Québec, n.d.). Le cadre professionnel des travailleuses sociales, via leur formation et les lignes directrices de l’Ordre des travailleurs sociaux et des thérapeutes conjugaux et familiaux du Québec (OTSTCFQ), favorise également l’autonomie de la personne à travers des approches visant l’empowerment. Cependant, les mêmes cadres leur donnent également un rôle central à jouer lorsqu’il est question de reconnaître l’inaptitude des personnes à décider pour elles-mêmes, notamment à travers l’acte d’évaluation psychosociale dans un tel contexte. Plus largement, la société donne plus ou moins formellement un mandat de protection des personnes vulnérables aux travailleuses sociales. Ce mandat de protection est au cœur de leur métier, mais il ne fait pas l’objet d’une reconnaissance légale forte, comme c’est le cas pour l’objet aptitude/inaptitude. Pour la réalisation de ce mémoire, 10 entretiens semi-directifs furent menés auprès de travailleuses sociales en soutien à domicile afin de nous permettre de comprendre comment les travailleuses sociales prennent en compte le refus de services des personnes aînées. Pour ce faire, nous répondons à quatre objectifs. Premièrement, nous dégageons le sens qu’accordent les travailleuses sociales au refus de services et la façon dont elles le reçoivent. Deuxièmement, nous décrivons les stratégies d’adaptation au refus des travailleuses sociales. Troisièmement, nous tentons de comprendre les liens entre le sens donné au refus de services et les stratégies d’adaptation des travailleuses sociales. Finalement, nous explorons comment les relations de pouvoir expliquent en partie ces adaptations. Cette recherche nous a permis de montrer que dans de nombreux cas, les stratégies impliquant une prise de pouvoir lors de situations de refus n’étaient pas légitimées par une volonté de faire vivre la personne le plus longtemps possible en la protégeant, mais plutôt par le discours valorisant son autonomie. Nous croyons que ce discours, en constante évolution, pourrait prendre de plus en plus de place dans les prochaines années et qu’en conséquence, si nous souhaitons que les modèles de prise de décision partagée (par exemple l’usager-partenaire) soient appliqués de la bonne façon, il est essentiel d’outiller les travailleuses sociales pour éviter que les personnes résistant au discours de l’autonomie soient perçues comme de mauvais usagers.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, 2013. / Domestic violence is rife in South Africa and the negative impact thereof is brought by survivors into their homes, communities and workplace settings. Trauma counsellors often take on the work responsibility of intervening in cases of domestic violence to meet the needs of the survivor. Adopting a qualitative research design, the researcher explored the perceptions of trauma counsellors in their workplace setting regarding intervention strategies used when providing services to survivors of domestic violence. Purposive sampling was used to identify 13 adult lay trauma counsellors, both male and female employed by a non-government institution operating as a 24-7 hour Crisis Hotline in the Johannesburg Metropolitan area. The researcher gathered data by conducting personal, semi-structured interviews with research participants. Data analysis took the form of Thematic Content Analysis. The researcher identified that the participants seemed not to be aware of workplace systems and procedural guidelines, and tended to adopt a personalized approach in dealing with survivors of domestic violence. Most participants managed cases utilising ‘early crisis intervention models’ as a once-off trauma intervention strategy although they did not perceive it as being effective. It is thus recommended that such stand-alone intervention strategies should not be implemented unless further follow-up or after-care support is offered to the survivors of domestic violence.

During the past three years, substantial parts of Sweden have experienced a decrease in the groundwater levels, whereas some geographical areas were more affected than others. Requests from the government, counties and municipalities have been sent out to the citizens, to attract attention, increase awareness and decrease the use of drinking water. The communication strategies have looked different in the municipalities depending on their water situation, prerequisites and resources. This study aims at explaining how five municipalities in Jönköping county communicate with their citizens regarding water resources and use of drinking water. The five participating municipalities are; Jönköping, Mullsjö, Habo, Värnamo and Eksjö. Jönköping county is one of the counties that were affected by the low groundwater levels, if so to varying degrees, which is the reason the study focuses on Jönköping county. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to examine how municipalities communicate in relation to intervention strategies, to create a behavioural change regarding the use of drinking water among citizens. Intervention strategies were analysed in the study to compare the municipalities’ communication work and have been used as an analytical tool during the process. Intervention strategies can be separated into antecedent strategies and consequence strategies to change behaviour. The antecedent strategies consist of commitment, information, goal setting and modelling, and consequence strategies consist of feedback, rewards and prompts. A combination of multiple strategies has been proven to create a more extensive impact, and behavioural change can, in that way, easier be accomplished. A total number of seven interviews were performed for collection of data. Two communication managers from Värnamo and Eksjö municipality participated, and five Water and Sewer Manager from Jönköping, Mullsjö, Habo, Värnamo and Eksjö municipality. An important factor that has been taken in consideration is that the municipalities take their water from different sources and in that way are affected in various extensions of the low groundwater levels. In that way, the municipalities have communicated the question of water differently. The result of the study shows that ongoing communication work regarding the use of drinking water is done, mostly by spreading information. Two municipalities use multiple strategies in their spreading of communication. The result also shows that there is no underlying communication work regarding a decrease in the use of drinking water. Instead, it has been demonstrated that the communicative work takes place when a crisis occurs.

The purpose of this study was to understand the obstacles faced as well as strategies used by 6 graduates of a small rural high school in Southern Middle Tennessee. Specifically, this study was an examination of the life experiences of 6 graduates, identifying the major obstacles faced and the successful strategies used to complete the requirements for a high school diploma. Qualitative methodology guided this study. This approach allowed for the lived experiences to be examined and the voices of 6 participants be heard. Data collected included participant stories using semistructured interviews conducted using an interview protocol, drawing of a concept map, and prioritization of influences according to their perspective regarding their diploma completion. Other valuable data included researcher field notes and graduation coach file notes. Findings are presented in 6 themes pertaining directly to the interview questions regarding key elements—circumstances leading to a relationship with a graduation coach, discussions during grad coach sessions, nongrad parent influences, parent expectations, grade retention, and strategies implemented by the graduation coach. After the collection and analysis of all data, the researcher coded the data to determine emerging themes. Much of the researcher’s work consisted of processing the data to discover categories and patterns among the stories told by the 6 graduate participants, as presented in the qualitative narrative analysis methodology. Through the narrative inquiry method of this study, the examination of the stories of 6 graduates reveals that a relationship with at least 1 caring adult in the high school setting is imperative to successful high school completion. This adult may offer assistance through a variety of ways such as developing an academic plan of action, building confidence, arranging tutoring sessions, or tracking progress.

No description available.

Although core counseling processes are necessary for working with LGBTQ individuals, they are not sufficient. Given unique concerns, needs, and experiences across the lifespan, specialized awareness, knowledge and skills are needed for effective counseling service delivery for this diverse population. Awareness of personal and societal values as well as homoprejudice will be explored. Sexual and gender identity models, ethical and systemic issues, and unique LGBTQ concerns (including within group diversity) will be discussed. Through various activities, emphasis will be on skill development of appropriate counseling and systemic intervention strategies with respect to various counselor work settings (schools, agencies, higher education).

Challenging behaviors such as hitting, kicking, screaming, destruction of property and other socially-inappropriate behaviors are common among children with significant disabilities. Behavior Parent Training (BPT), which is based on basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), has been shown to be effective in reducing these problem behaviors. Traditional approaches to BPT have typically emphasized consequence-based interventions, however, advances in the field of ABA (e.g., FBA, antecedent-based interventions) and PBS have led to more strategies that are more effective in complex community environments. Evidence of such practices is emerging but has not been adequately documented. The current study evaluated the use of a standardized PBS protocol in decreasing problem behaviors of four children with developmental disabilities. The success of the parent education protocol was evaluated using a multiple baseline across participants design. Results of this study showed that after participating in parent education using a standardized protocol, participants' children displayed decreases in problematic behavior as well as increases in adaptive behavior, for all but one of the participants.