This research focused on the personal experiences of both male and female victims of violent crimes. The aim of this research was to explore how indigenous Black South Africans understand and deal with victimisation. An African epistemology was used to help gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of the participants. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling strategy. Five participants were selected for this study. Data was collected using individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Based on the transcribed data, themes were extracted and analysed using content analysis. The results indicate that participants attributed varying meanings to their victimisation. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

This study was interested in exploring the perceptions and experiences of social workers about the nature and contents of conducting risk assessments with child offenders. Considering the high level of crime and reoffending in South Africa, effective assessment is imperative. The goal of the research was to develop an in-depth understanding of how risk assessments of child offenders are conducted in practice. This was done by applying a qualitative research methodology. The study was conducted in the Western Cape. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was employed and data were analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch. The findings indicated that although prescribed instruments are used in the risk assessment of children in South Africa, they all have definite limitations. To enhance the quality of service rendered to child offenders, the development of a standardised risk assessment instrument is needed. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie verhandeling word die aard van kommunikasie van die Lugmagbasis (LMB) Swartkop onder die loep geneem. Die outeur toon aan dat daar nie altyd duidelikheid is oor die aard van kommunikasie in militere instellings nie. Dit het die prikkeling gebied om die aard van kommunikasie in 'n militere installing te bepaal - in hierdie geval, LMB Swartkop. Die rede vir die studie is om kommunikasie as 'n interne organisatoriese reeling by die LMB Swartkop te ondersoek. Om die agtergrond tot die navorsing te bied, word die ekonomiese- en politieke redes vir verandering by die LMB Swartkop kortliks weergee. Die redes hoekom hierdie Lugmagbasis as fokusgebied gebruik word vir die navorsing, word ook aangevoer. Daar word met die navorsing gefokus op vertikale kommunikasie, horisontale kommunikasie, diagonale kommunikasie, asook enkele interne organisatorieseen omgewingsfaktore. Enkele aspekte ten opsigte van eksterne faktore, soos byvoorbeeld die 1994-verkiesing en die nuwe Grondwet, wat kon lei tot verbetering van kommunikasie te Lugmagbasis Swartkop en die houding van die personeel jeens kommunikasie word ook aangeraak. Die bevindinge van die navorsing wentel rondom die feit dat vertikale, horisontale en diagonale kommunikasie 'n definitiewe bydrae maak om werk op die Lugmagbasis Swartkop effektief te verrig. Hierdie kommunikasie vind hoofsaaklik plaas wanneer daar formeel en informeel oor werk gekommunikeer word. / In this dissertation, the nature of communication of the Air Force Base Swartkop is being put under the magnifying glass. The author indicates that the nature of communication in military organisations is not clear This provided the incentive to study the nature of communication of a military organisation and in this case, Air Force Base Swartkop. The reason for the study is to determine how the nature of communication as an internal organisational arrangement contributes to the effective functioning of the base. This study focuses on vertical, horizontal and diagonal communication as well as internal organisational, external and environmental factors. Aspects such as the personnel's attitude towards communication is discussed as well. The findings of the study centre on the fact that vertical, horizontal and diagonal communication make a definite contribution to the effective functioning of the base. This communication mainly occurs when personnel communicate formally and informally on work. / Public Administration / M.Admin. (Public Administration)

The aim of this study was to identify the health needs and problems of black employees within the Germiston City Health Department in order to indicate a possible relationship between such needs and problems and a high rate of absenteeism. Although the findings could relate to all employees, this study was limited to black employees only. Data was collected by means of observation, perusal of health records and personal interviews with personnel as well as with the selected sample. The results of the study highlighted the specific health needs and problems of employees as well as factors which could influence their health status and which could contribute to the problem of absenteeism. The main factors identified included interalia poor working conditions and unsatisfactory methods of solving employees problems. Relevant recommendations were made ;· to address the problem of absenteeism in the Germiston City Health Department / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their level of subjective well-being. Demographic factors were considered to identify life domains that may affect cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being respectively. The Spousal Adjustment Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing scale were used in the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a purposive sample which consisted of expatriate spouses currently residing in Germany was approached (N=156). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being of expatriate spouses and indicated statistically significant differences between demographic groups including language proficiency, dependents, time spent in host country, nationality, career sacrifice, and support network. It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their well-being and that various demographic factors can influence both constructs. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

German text / Die vorliegende wissenschaftliche Arbeit befasst sich mit den amaZioni, die den größten Teil der südafrikanischen AIC-Bewegung („African Independent/Indigenous/Initiated Churches“) ausmachen. Für die meisten Theologen stellen die amaZioni eine synkretistische christliche Kirchenbewegung dar, die in ihren Ritualen und Gottesdienstformen starke Einflüsse von traditionellen afrikanischen Religionen (ATR) aufweist. Nicht desto trotz öffnen sich viele der amaZioni-Kirchen gegenüber biblischer Lehre durch Missionare. Um eine solide Grundlage für die Missionsarbeit zu schaffen, befasst sich die vorgeschlagene Arbeit damit, wichtige Bedürfnisse der amaZioni zu erforschen, so dass diese als Anknüpfungspunkte für die weitere Evangeliumsverkündigung genutzt werden können. / The proposed research examines the needs of the amaZioni, who are part of the South African AIC-movement. The amaZioni, as one of the largest religious groups in South Africa, are viewed by most theologicans as syncretistic christian churches. It is obvious that their common believe system as well as their rituals show a strong influence of african traditional religions (ATR). But nevertheless, many of the members of the Zion-churches are opening up for bible teaching provided by missionaries. In order to establish a solid base for the future mission work the proposed research focuses on finding out the amaZioni's needs, so that this needs can be used as reference points in the endeavour of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the missionaries. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

Title: How does the buying decision process really function within e-commerce? - A qualitative study of consumer behavior when they consume on Internet. Institution: School of Economics, Linnaeus University, Växjö. Course code: 2FE16E. <img src="file:///page3image2784" />Authors: Sara Hjärne, Mathilda Perem, Ewelina Wallin. Tutor: Dan Halvarsson. Examiner: Åsa Devine. Key words: Buying decision process, purchase decision process need recognition, information search, evaluation, purchase decision, postpurchase behavior, consumer decision making, E-commerce, E- commerce channels, online shopping, online purchase, e-retail, internet shopping, electronic shopping, consumer behavior, online appereal shopping, social media, decision making, online retailing, website design, customer satisfaction, webshopping, perceived risk, convinience, price, online consumption behavior. Background: Buying decision process is a model that marketers use to get a better understanding of their customers and their behavior when purchasing a product. This process consists of five different steps; need recognition, information search, evaluation of alternatives, purchase decision and evaluation. Buying decision process has for a long time been an accepted model but scientists argue that the introduction of Internet as a channel for consumption has changed this process. The Internet has also led to a change of power in which customers today have greater influence, which greatly affects the buying decision process in e-commerce Purpose: The purpose is to explore how consumers perceive their behavior when they consume through e-commerce. Research questions:How do consumers perceive the buying decision process they experience when they consume through e-commerce?How do consumers perceive different factors that are important to them when they consume through e-commerce? Methodology: Qualitative study, cross-sectional design, semi-structured interviews. Conclusion: This thesis shows that the traditional model of the buying decision process is not consistent with consumers' perception of how they are undergoing the process when applied to an e-commerce context. This process is influenced by different factors, which is influence, convenience, webpage's atmosphere, risk, price, supply, consumption occasions, expectations, delivery and return. / Titel: Hur fungerar egentligen köpbeslutsprocessen inom e-handel?- En kvalitativ studie om konsumenternas beteende vid konsumtion på Internet. Institution: Ekonomihögskolan, Linnéuniversitetet, Växjö. Kurskod: 2FE16E. Författare: Sara Hjärne, Mathilda Perem, Ewelina Wallin.<img src="file:///page5image4008" /> Handledare: Dan Halvarsson. Examinator: Åsa Devine. Nyckelord: Buying decision process, purchase decision process need recognition, information search, evaluation, purchase decision, postpurchase behavior, consumer decision making, E-commerce, E- commerce channels, online shopping, online purchase, e-retail, internet shopping, electronic shopping, consumer behavior, online appereal shopping, social media, decision making, online retailing, website design, customer satisfaction, webshopping, perceived risk, convinience, price, online consumption behavior. Bakgrund: Köpbeslutsprocessen är en modell som marknadsförare använder för att få en bättre förståelse för sina kunder och deras beteende vid köp av en produkt. Denna process består av fem olika steg; behov, informationssökning, värdering av alternativ, köpbeslut och utvärdering. Köpbeslutsprocessen har länge varit en accepterad modell men forskare menar att introduktionen av Internet som en kanal för konsumtion har även förändrat denna process. Internet har även lett till ett maktskifte där kunderna idag har större inflytande, vilket i hög grad påverkar köpbeslutsprocessen inom e-handel Syfte: Syftet är att utforska hur konsumenterna uppfattar sitt beteende när de konsumerar genom e-handel. Forskningsfrågor: Hur uppfattar konsumenter den köpbeslutsprocess de går igenom när de konsumerar genom e-handel?Hur uppfattar konsumenterna olika faktorer som är betydelsefulla för dem när de konsumerar genom e-handel? Metod: Kvalitativ studie, Tvärsnittsdesign, Semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Slutsats: Studien visar att den traditionella modellen för köpbeslutsprocessen inte stämmer överens med konsumenternas uppfattning om hur de genomgår processen i en e-handel kontext. Denna process påverkas av faktorerna inflytande, bekvämlighet, webbsidans atmosfär, risk, pris, utbud, konsumtionstillfällen, förväntningar, leverans och retur.

Permission from the author to digitize this work is pending. Please contact the ICS library if you would like to view this work. / There are many excellent studies of the life and thought of Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), prominent Christian ethicist, social philosopher, and political activist of the American Century. Most studies focus on his mature works of mid-century, particularly his theological ethics. The following study treats his emergent theory of history between 1927-1934, especially the idea of progress and the narrative of modern capitalist society. During this formative period Niebuhr wrote three major books (Does Civilization Need Religion? [1927], Moral Man and Immoral Society [1932], and Reflections on the End of an Era [1934]) which reflect his intellectual passage from religious liberalism and the politics of persuasion to "Christian-Marxism" and the politics of power. The following thesis will trace the diverse historiographical influences found in these works, from the church-historical perspective of Ernst Troeltsch to the dialectical materialism of Karl Marx. It is common to say that Niebuhr was purely a theologian of history. But following Ricoeur and White, I describe the main ingredients of a philosophy of history that are present in these writings: myth, plot, social processes, patterns of progress and cycle. Moreover, he was a "thinker in time"--these philosophical elements combined to render a plausible and meaningful narrative context for social action. In the early period Niebuhr began his lifelong critique of Enlightenment, capitalism, and the idea of progress. Following Robert Nisbet's analysis of the concept of progress in Western cultural history, I will argue that Niebuhr traverses his own peculiar dialectics of history, moving from the idea of progress-as-freedom (in the twenties) to the idea of progress-as-power (in the thirties); from the form of irony to the form of tragedy; from the concept of the voluntary reform of the excesses of captialism to the concept of the frank use of coercion to implement a socialist alternative to captialism. His philosophy of history in this period thus reflects in Christian idiom aspects of the very antinomies of the Enlightenment regarding personality and power, freedom and fate, which he desires to overcome.

Les études antérieures ont démontré les bénéfices de la satisfaction des besoins intrinsèques et du soutien à l’autonomie dans le domaine de l’éducation. Or, l’applicabilité des tenants principaux de la Théorie de l’Auto-Détermination (TAD; Deci & Ryan, 2000) n’a pas été investiguée auprès d’une population clinique d’adolescents. L’objectif de cette thèse doctorale est de faire la lumière sur la façon dont l'adaptation scolaire et sociale peut être favorisée par les agents de socialisation dans le contexte de la réadaptation sociale. Cette thèse est composée de deux études s’intéressant à l’application des tenants clés de la TAD auprès de deux échantillons d’adolescents vivant des problèmes d’adaptation et recevant des services d’éducation spécialisée et de réadaptation sociale. Les relations entre les concepts motivationnels de base sont étudiés afin de déterminer si, comme la TAD le propose, la satisfaction des besoins intrinsèques des jeunes peut être soutenue par le style interpersonnel des agents de socialisation (c.-à-d., le soutien à l’autonomie, l’implication et la structure). Il est aussi vérifié si ces concepts motivationnels améliorent la motivation ainsi que d’autres conséquences qui résultent de leur expérience, proposées par la TAD. La première étude a évalué si le style interpersonnel des enseignants peut favoriser la satisfaction des besoins des élèves, leur style de motivationl, tout comme leur ajustement scolaire. Les élèves en difficulté d’adaptation (N = 115) inscrits aux écoles internes des Centres de Réadaptation en raison de leurs problématiques émotionnelles et comportementales ont rempli les questionnaires à deux reprises, au début et à la fin de l’année scolaire. Les analyses de modèles d’équations structurelles révèlent que l’augmentation du soutien à l’autonomie et de l’implication (mais pas de la structure) des enseignants pendant l’année est associée à une augmentation de la satisfaction des besoins des élèves qui, conséquemment, conduit à une motivation scolaire plus auto-déterminée et à une diminution d’intentions de décrochage à la fin de l’année scolaire. De plus, l’amélioration de la satisfaction des besoins mène directement à une meilleure expérience affective à l’école. La deuxième étude consiste en une recherche expérimentale conduite auprès d’adolescentes en difficulté d’adaptation (N = 29). Le devis expérimental a permis de comparer l’impact de la présence (c. absence) du soutien à l’autonomie sur l’internalisation d’une tâche et sur les conséquences motivationnelles et expérientielles des jeunes. La tâche, fastidieuse mais importante, consistait à de la résolution de problèmes interpersonnels (activité clinique). Les résultats suggèrent qu’un style interpersonnel soutenant l’autonomie a augmenté la motivation auto-déterminée, la perception de la valeur de la tâche et son appréciation, ainsi que diminué les affects négatifs comparativement à la condition sans soutien à l’autonomie. Les résultats sont discutés en lien avec les implications théoriques et pratiques d’étendre la portée de la TAD à une population clinique d’adolescents aux prises avec des difficultés d’adaptation. / Prior studies have demonstrated the benefits of intrinsic need satisfaction and autonomy support in the domain of education. It remains unclear whether the motivational constructs, derived from Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) are also beneficial for clinical populations. The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on how social and academic adjustment might be promoted by socializing agents in the context of social rehabilitation. This dissertation is composed of two studies investing SDT key tenets within two samples of maladjusted teenagers receiving special education and social rehabilitation services. The relations between key motivational constructs are investigated to determine if, as proposed by SDT, youths’ intrinsic need satisfaction might by promoted by socializing agents’ interpersonal style (i.e., autonomy support, involvement, and structure). It is also predicted that these constructs will lead to motivational and experiential benefits as proposed by SDT. The first study tested whether teachers’ interpersonal style can foster students’ need satisfaction, motivation style, as well as their academic adjustment. Teenagers (N = 115) enrolled in Social Rehabilitation Centers’ special schools for maladjusted youths with severe emotional and behavioral problems completed questionnaires twice, at the beginning and the end of the school year. Structural equation modeling analysis supports a model in which teachers’ improvements in autonomy support and involvement (but not structure) are associated with students’ higher need satisfaction, which in turns leads to self-determined academic motivation and less dropout intentions at the end of the school year. Furthermore, improvement in need satisfaction leads directly to a better affective experience at school. The second study was an experimental research conducted with maladjusted female adolescents (N = 29). The experimental design allowed comparing the impact of learning a tedious, but important clinical workshop with (vs. without) autonomy support on the internalization of the interpersonal problem solving task and positive motivational and experiential outcomes. The results suggest that an autonomy-supportive interpersonal style is beneficial to youths’ experience, leading to higher self-determined motivation, perceived task’s value, task liking as well as less negative affect compared to a condition without autonomy support. Results are discussed along with the theoretical and practical implications of extending the reach of SDT to a clinical population of maladjusted teenagers.

L’implantation de programmes probants dans les milieux d’intervention peut comporter son lot de difficultés pour les gestionnaires ainsi que les intervenants en contexte de réadaptation pour adolescents. En effet, les contraintes auxquelles peuvent être confrontés les milieux de pratique mènent parfois à la modification des programmes, ceci en vue de faciliter leur implantation. Il devient alors important de documenter ainsi qu’identifier l’effet des éléments associés à la fidélité d’implantation lorsque les programmes d’intervention sont évalués. En plus d’évaluer l’effet du degré d’exposition au programme cognitif-comportemental implanté dans les unités d’hébergement du Centre jeunesse de Montréal – Institut universitaire (CJM-IU) sur l’ampleur des troubles de comportement des adolescentes, ce mémoire propose une nouvelle piste de recherche. Puisque la recherche empirique ne permet pas encore d’identifier les conditions selon lesquelles il serait possible de modifier les programmes d’intervention qui sont adoptés dans le contexte de la pratique, cette étude propose d’élaborer une logique d’exposition au programme qui s’inspire des principes d’intervention efficace élaborés par Andrews et ses collègues (1990). Cette approche permettrait d’adapter le niveau d’intervention aux caractéristiques de la clientèle, et ce, tout en s’assurant de l’efficacité du programme cognitif-comportemental. L’échantillon de cette étude est donc constitué de 74 adolescentes hébergées au CJM-IU pour une durée de six mois. Les résultats indiquent d’abord que les activités du programme cognitif-comportemental ont été appliquées de façon plutôt irrégulière et bien en deçà de la fréquence initialement prévue, ce qui rend bien compte des difficultés à implanter des programmes en contexte de pratique. Les résultats suggèrent aussi une diminution de l’ampleur des troubles de comportement six mois après l’admission au CJM-IU pour les adolescentes qui étaient caractérisées par une ampleur des troubles de comportement plus marquée au moment de leur admission et qui ont complété un plus grand nombre d’auto-observations durant leur placement. / The implementation of evidence-based programs into real world settings can be a difficult process for administrators and educators with adolescent clientele. Practice settings are faced with constraints that may lead to the modification of intervention programs in order to facilitate their implementation. It is therefore imperative to document and measure the effect of these modifications when programs are evaluated. However, because research hasn’t yet identified the conditions in which it is possible to modify programs for use in intervention settings, this study proposes a new approach based on the principles of effective treatment elaborated by Andrews and his colleagues (1990). This approach allows for the modification of intervention levels while ensuring the effectiveness of the cognitive-behavioral program. This study sampled 74 adolescent girls hosted at the Centre jeunesse de Montréal – Institut universitaire (CJM-IU) over 6 months in order to assess the effects of the cognitive-behavioral program dosage among behavioral disorders. The results indicate that cognitive-behavioral therapy was applied in an irregular fashion and much less frequently than originally planned, which speaks to the difficulties encountered in implementing evidence-based programs in real-world settings. The results also suggest that the adolescent girls with more characteristics of a behavioral disorder and who completed more auto-evaluations during their rehabilitation showed significantly fewer behavioral problems 6 months after the beginning of the treatment.