This dissertation attempts to understand the causes and levels of work stress and burnout in a department of the South African Public Service, by using three quantitative questionnaires, namely the ‘Work Experience Life Questionnaire’, ‘Maslach Burnout's Questionnaire’, and a ‘Biographical Questionnaire’. A qualitative questionnaire was administered to illicit in-depth responses in relation to the quantitative aspects of the study. The sample constituted of 341 senior officials whose positions ranged from Assistant Director to the Director-General. 231 quantitative questionnaires were completed, pointing to an acceptable response rate of 67.7%, which accounts for more than two thirds of the total study population. Qualitative questionnaires were emailed to 20 individuals, resulting in a returned response rate of 50%. A cross-sectional approach was adopted. The literature review was followed by an empirical investigation. The quantitativequalitative research approach, with a focus on Creswell's dominant-less-dominant model was used, where the quantitative phases were the dominant approach. A non-experimental approach was followed in the form of a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between job stress and burnout in a specific time of study, by using the experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire (WLQ) and Maslach's Burnout (MBI-General Survey). In order to address the gaps with regards to the above-mentioned two questionnaires, a qualitative investigation was also conducted, where semi-structured questionnaires were sent to a number of officials. The qualitative survey was carried out to give an in-depth meaning to the quantitative data. It also extensively addressed the issues of organizational politics. / Hierdie verhandeling se hoof fokus is om die vlakke en oorsake van bestuurder stres en –uitbranding in ʼn departement van die Suid-Afrikaanse staatsdiens te ondersoek, deur gebruik te maak van 3 kwantitatiewe vraelyste (Ervaring van Werk en Lewens vraelys, Maslach se Uitbrandings vraelys, en ʼn biografiese vraelys), sowel as ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsings gedeelte. Vanuit ʼn populasie van 341 senior amptenare in poste vanaf assistentdirekteur tot Direkteur-generaal het 231 die vraelyste voltooi (67.7%). ʼn Kruis-seksionele benadering is toegepas. Hierdie studie voorsien ʼn in-diepte, en uitgebreide teoretiese perspektief en bespreking oor stres, werk stres, en werk uitbranding in die staatsdiens. In hoofstuk drie is ʼn in-diepte uiteensetting gegee oor die rol wat organisasie politiek in die werk organisasie speel. Meer spesifiek dui die literatuur oorsig aan dat daar ʼn sterk verhouding tussen organisasie politiek, werk stres en –uitbranding bestaan. ʼn Belangrike tekortkoming in hierdie oorsig is dat daar nie baie literatuur oor die onderwerp beskikbaar is nie en dat van die bronne ook baie verouderd is. Die literatuur studies, internasionaal en plaaslik, in hoofstuk vier, dui aan dat hoë vlakke van stres lei tot gesondheidsprobleme, wat dan ook kan lei tot hoë vlakke van personeelomset en –uitbranding in vroulike en manlike werknemers. Die literatuurstudie is opgevolg deur ʼn empiriese ondersoek. Die kwantitatiefkwalitatiewe navorsing benaderings, met ʼn fokus op Creswell se dominant-less-dominant model, waar die kwantitatiewe fases as oorheersende benadering gebruik is. ʼn Nieeksperimentele benadering is gevolg in die vorm van ʼn kruis-seksionele studie om die verhouding tussen werk stres en -uitbranding op een spesifieke tyd te bestudeer deur gebruik te maak van die ervaring van Werk- en Lewensomstandighede vraelys (WLV) en Maslach se Uitbrandings vraelys (MBI- Algemene Opname). Om die behoeftes van die twee vraelyste aan te spreek is ʼn kwalitatiewe ondersoek uitgevoer waar semi-gestruktureerde vraelyste aan ʼn aantal amptenare gestuur is. Die kwalitatiewe opname is uitgevoer om ʼn in-diepte betekenis aan die kwantitatiewe data te gee. Verder het dit ook die kwessies van organisasie politiek breedvoerig aangespreek. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Psychology / Unrestricted

This research describes the development of communicative intention of young children with cochlear implants in order to study the relationship between the early communicative intention of these children and their later verbal communication. Five children under the age of three years with cochlear implants were selected from the records of the University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Academic Hospital’s Cochlear Implant Unit, Cape Town as subjects. Video recordings of each of the five subjects in unstructured free play interaction with their caregivers, before cochlear implantation and each six months after cochlear implantation over a period of two years were used to identify the development of their communicative intention. The Communicative Intention Inventory (Coggins&Carpenter, 1981) was used to classify the communicative behaviour of the subjects according to the types of communication functions that were used, as well as the way in which they expressed the functions of communication. Results of the study show that the development course of the functions of communication that the subjects used over a two-year period, were consistent with the development patterns found in younger children with normal hearing. There was however marked individual differences between the subjects during the transition from nonverbal to dominantly verbal ways of communication as far as the rate of development of verbal communication was concerned. A strong relationship was found among the five subjects regarding the use of the nonverbal communication functions, request for object or action and protest before cochlear implantation and their total verbal communication two years after cochlear implantation, which could account for these individual differences in the rate of verbal communication development after cochlear implantation. Indications for clinical application and future research were identified on the basis of these conclusions. The data collected during the research is seen as meaningful in clinical decision-making regarding the suitability of young children under the age of three years with a profound hearing loss for cochlear implantation and their therapeutic management. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted

The aim of this study is to investigate the resemblance between the developmental stages and developmental tasks of the seven chakras (Judith, 1996) and Erik Erikson’s developmental theory (Bee, 1996). The researcher aims to describe the similarities between the chakra system and developmental psychology. The discussion of literature was divided into two components. Firstly, Stages 1-8 of Erikson’s developmental theory were discussed. Secondly, the chakra system was discussed. The researcher discussed the following concepts to explain the term chakra system: the human and the body; chakra definitions and associations, chakra names, and the colours associated with the chakras. For the purposes of this study, the functions of the separate chakras and the development of the chakra system were focal points. The study was done at a private yoga organisation in Durbanville, Cape Town, where the participants of the study regularly took part in classes. These participants were chosen because of their reliability (adults and regular participation) and their receptivity for alternative healing. Their age and gender was also relevant to the study, because the researcher used non-probability sampling. The main prerequisites for individuals to participate in the study were regular attendance and the individuals’ status as adults. / Dissertation (MA(Couns Psych))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Development Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Information Science / unrestricted

Professional development (PD) of teachers is part of the Department of Basic Education‘s (DBE) initiative to encourage school communities to use of information and communication technology (ICT) to improve the quality of Mathematics teaching and learning. The South African Council of Educators stipulates that PD programmes should align with system-wide needs, strengthen learning area content and outcomes, and promote system transformation. Imbedded in this system-wide criterion is The White Paper on e-Education to employ a fully ICT integrated system at all levels of education: management, teaching and learning, and administration by 2013. Mathematics teachers require PD that develops their technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) and their social professional identity (SPI). The PD of Mathematics teachers for ICT integration can assist the DBE to achieve the aims of The White Paper on e-Education and bridge the technology gap between South Africa and international education systems. Open distance learning (ODL) could be a viable method to deliver PD to Mathematics teachers to address their zone of proximal development, develop their TPACK, and establish and maintain their SPI. This study made use of a fully mixed sequential equal status multi-mode research design and methodologies to develop guidelines for the PD of Mathematics teachers in the pedagogical use of ICT in ODL. The qualitative phase (Phase I) was rooted in the interpretivist paradigm. Through an adjustable exploration of a systematic literature review, the researcher identified 23 core documents, analysed them with Atlas.ti™, and conceptualised four themes according to Engeström‘s third generation activity theory (AT). Phase II (radical exploration phase) of the research design was rooted in the radical structuralist paradigm. In the context of transformation, it developed, validated, and standardised a research instrument for the measurement of Mathematics teachers‘ PD requirements. The instrument was distributed to 300 senior phase (grades 7-9) Mathematics teachers in eight education management district centres of the WCED. The analyses of the quantitative data conceptualised a fifth activity system. The five activity systems from the adjustable and radical exploration phases were symbiotic, and co-dependent. Expansive learning was used for boundary crossing and network building during six phases of this study. The findings from the six phases of the expansive learning cycle indicated that PD of Mathematics teachers in ODL for Phase III implementation of the e-Education policy should be a joint initiative. Fundamentally ICT integration and implementation should start with Department of Basic Education (DBE) initiatives. The DBE and Provincial Departments of Education (PDEs) should conduct a needs analysis of ICT implementation, evaluate previous ICT PD programmes, plan ICT PD strategies aligned with the ICT development plan, as well as with the requirements of the Mathematics teachers. The DBE and PDE should invest in the provision of ICT equipment, afford human capital, reinstate the laptop initiative for teachers, and supply schools with networked-computer facilities to explore online platforms for PD. Mathematics teachers should assess their professional knowledge to construct new philosophies, create a subject network group, and interact as participants and members within their social environments. The standardised instrument could be used to determine and compare the PD of Mathematics teachers in other provinces and contexts. / PhD (Training and development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Professional development (PD) of teachers is part of the Department of Basic Education‘s (DBE) initiative to encourage school communities to use of information and communication technology (ICT) to improve the quality of Mathematics teaching and learning. The South African Council of Educators stipulates that PD programmes should align with system-wide needs, strengthen learning area content and outcomes, and promote system transformation. Imbedded in this system-wide criterion is The White Paper on e-Education to employ a fully ICT integrated system at all levels of education: management, teaching and learning, and administration by 2013. Mathematics teachers require PD that develops their technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) and their social professional identity (SPI). The PD of Mathematics teachers for ICT integration can assist the DBE to achieve the aims of The White Paper on e-Education and bridge the technology gap between South Africa and international education systems. Open distance learning (ODL) could be a viable method to deliver PD to Mathematics teachers to address their zone of proximal development, develop their TPACK, and establish and maintain their SPI. This study made use of a fully mixed sequential equal status multi-mode research design and methodologies to develop guidelines for the PD of Mathematics teachers in the pedagogical use of ICT in ODL. The qualitative phase (Phase I) was rooted in the interpretivist paradigm. Through an adjustable exploration of a systematic literature review, the researcher identified 23 core documents, analysed them with Atlas.ti™, and conceptualised four themes according to Engeström‘s third generation activity theory (AT). Phase II (radical exploration phase) of the research design was rooted in the radical structuralist paradigm. In the context of transformation, it developed, validated, and standardised a research instrument for the measurement of Mathematics teachers‘ PD requirements. The instrument was distributed to 300 senior phase (grades 7-9) Mathematics teachers in eight education management district centres of the WCED. The analyses of the quantitative data conceptualised a fifth activity system. The five activity systems from the adjustable and radical exploration phases were symbiotic, and co-dependent. Expansive learning was used for boundary crossing and network building during six phases of this study. The findings from the six phases of the expansive learning cycle indicated that PD of Mathematics teachers in ODL for Phase III implementation of the e-Education policy should be a joint initiative. Fundamentally ICT integration and implementation should start with Department of Basic Education (DBE) initiatives. The DBE and Provincial Departments of Education (PDEs) should conduct a needs analysis of ICT implementation, evaluate previous ICT PD programmes, plan ICT PD strategies aligned with the ICT development plan, as well as with the requirements of the Mathematics teachers. The DBE and PDE should invest in the provision of ICT equipment, afford human capital, reinstate the laptop initiative for teachers, and supply schools with networked-computer facilities to explore online platforms for PD. Mathematics teachers should assess their professional knowledge to construct new philosophies, create a subject network group, and interact as participants and members within their social environments. The standardised instrument could be used to determine and compare the PD of Mathematics teachers in other provinces and contexts. / PhD (Training and development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an eight-week fundamental motor skills program on the physical and cognitive development of Grade 1 learners. The Basic Motor Ability Test was used in the evaluation of the 39 learners that formed the experimental group as well as for the 29 learners in the control group. Two additional subtests were included, namely the 400m endurance run and a dynamic balance test. After the initial testing the experimental group participated in an eight-week skills program for 30 minutes a day, four days a week. The program included stability, locomotor and manipulation activities. Hereafter a retest was done. The control group only completes the test and retest and not the skills program. The data of the variables tested were coded in computer format and statistically evaluated. In the processing of the data, the raw datum (performance) was converted to percentile norms. In order to determine if a child had improved in a certain physiological parameter percentile norms are used. The t-test was used to determine if the skills program had a positive influence on the variables tested. Two different t-test were used: the t-test for independent groups and the t-test for paired groups. The experimental research revealed that the skills program did not have a significant influence on most of the tested variables. In some instances the experimental and control groups were not on the same level at the start of the research, which made it more difficult to compare the two groups. For some variables both the experimental and control groups improved which is an indication that the improvement cannot be ascribed to the skills program alone. The following two variables, sit-and-reach and co-ordination (hand-eye) did improve notably and it may be due to the influence of the skills program. In both instances the average performance of the experimental group improved while this improvement was not evident in the control group. The cognitive variables were assessed by a questionnaire administered by each learner’s teacher after the conclusion of the skills program. Only the experimental group was involved. The questionnaire consisted of six questions comprising both categorical and open responses. The cognitive variables that were assessed were the following: 1. venturesome ness; 2. attention and concentration; 3. self esteem; 4. socialization and ability to work in a group; 5. ability to plan; and 6. ability to finish his/her given task. The results indicated that more than half of the learners improved in all the cognitive variables. Socialization and the ability to work in a group improved in most of the learners. / Thesis (DPhil (Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

In recent years the ideas of good governance and the responsibility of corporate South Africa to contribute to the society in which they operate have become an undeniable part of organisational conception. Indeed, South Africa is considered to be a leader in the field of corporate governance internationally. Forming part of governance practices is Corporate Social Investment (CSI) whereby corporate organisations contribute to causes and societal groupings in need of financial and other assistance. Among these societal groupings that receive support from CSI activities are non-profit organisations (NPOs) that rely on funding from their corporate donors for survival. Based on the exchange of funding and a shared attempt at social development, a relationship between the two parties emerges. From the perspective of the stakeholder theory, corporate organisations, through their CSI activities, and NPOs are stakeholders of each other and a positive relationship between them could strengthen their individual and collective goals. This study explored and described the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs in order to understand the state of the relationship and to critically consider the way in which the relationship is defined, described and measured. First, the relationship was explored by means of partially structured interviews based on well-known relationship indicators where it appeared that the relationship is not only fraught with negative perceptions from both sides, but also where the relationship indicators used to explore the relationship were not entirely suited for the specific context of this relationship. The negative perceptions and inappropriate relationship indicators formed the basis of a theoretical inquiry of literature on CSI, stakeholder relationships and participatory development communication. Subsequently, the partially structured interviews and the literature review informed the design of two corresponding survey questionnaires that could test both findings quantitatively. The results of validity and reliability testing confirmed the qualitative finding that a contextualised measurement is suited for this relationship. A mix of existing and newly formulated items grouped in contextual elements and redefined relationship indicators was used to describe the relationship. A combined analysis of qualitative and quantitative results indicated that the relationship is not as negative as the qualitative research might have suggested (possibly a result of contextualised measurement); but that very specific relational challenges are present and it is suggested that these challenges need a realistic approach of which accurate description is a starting point. The research contributes twofold with the first contribution being a clearer understanding of the relationship between corporate donors and recipient NPOs and the second being a set of redefined and contextualised relationship indicators with which to define and measure this relationship. / PhD (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Fluoxetine and escitalopram are the only antidepressants approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America (FDA) for treatment of major depression in children and adolescents. Both drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In recent years there has been a growing concern over the long-term developmental effects of early-life exposure to SSRIs. The current study employed male Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats, a well described and validated translational model of depression, to investigate the long term effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure. First we examined the effect of such early-life exposure on the development of depressive-like behaviour, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviour as manifested in early adulthood. Next, the current study investigated the effect of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure on the acute monoaminergic stress response, as displayed later in life. Animals received either saline (vehicle control), or 10 mg/kg/day fluoxetine from postnatal day (ND+) 21 to ND+34 (pre-puberty). The treatment period was chosen to coincide with a developmental phase where the serotonergic system’s neurodevelopment had been completed, yet the noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems had not, a scenario comparable to neurodevelopment in human adolescents. Both behavioural and in vivo intra-cerebral microdialysis experiments were conducted after ND+60 (early adulthood). On ND+60 rats allocated to behavioural experiments were evaluated for depressive-like behaviour in the forced swim test (FST), locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT), and anxiety-like behaviour in the OFT. Corticosterone concentrations were shown to be significantly higher in male FSL rats exposed to a 10 minute forced swim stress when compared to male FSL rats not exposed to a forced swim stress on ND+60. In the microdialysis experiments the rats were exposed to an acute 10 minute forced swim stress and the concentrations of the monoamines and their metabolites were measured before, during, and after the acute stressor. Relative to saline-treated (control) rats, fluoxetine-treated FSL rats did not show long-term changes in immobility in the FST (i.e. no anti-depressant-like activity) on ND+60. Like-wise anxiety-like behaviour in the OFT did not change. However, a significant decrease in locomotor activity was observed in fluoxetine-treated FSL rats compared to saline-treated (control) rats. These data suggest that a long-lasting anti-depressant-like effect of fluoxetine may be masked by the effect on locomotor activity. With measurements from the microdialysis experiments a significant attenuation of the noradrenergic stress response was observed in fluoxetine-treated rats compared to saline controls. A similar picture was observed for 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolite of serotonin (5-HT), although the latter was not statistically significant. At baseline, before the stressor, significant increase in dopamine (DA) levels were observed in fluoxetine treated rats when compared to saline controls, suggesting that enhanced dopamine neurotransmission may comprise a long-term effect of pre-pubertal fluoxetine treatment. There were no discernible differences in homovanilllic acid (HVA) concentrations between fluoxetine-treated rats and saline controls. In conclusion significant developmental effects of pre-pubertal fluoxetine exposure were observed later in life and these findings warrant further investigation. / MPharm (Pharmacology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The general body of academic knowledge on the commercial development of smaller towns is in its infancy. Yet its inherent potential is well perceived from a development and market perspective. Shopping centre development could have an important function in getting products and services to the marketplace in an economical way. Furthermore, it could have a very significant socio-economic impact in the central business district (CBD). Although such a shopping centre will surely create new businesses, employment and production opportunities for local businesses it is of importance to first determine the financial viability and impact of the new development on existing businesses. Developers and researchers often approach the subject of shopping centre development from different perspectives. The research output is often of limited impact as the critical link between demographical analysis and financial viability is not made. Researchers are usually excluded from the physical establishment, rental structures, tenant mix, design, cost of construction, return on investment, funding and future management of the proposed new shopping centre project. Linking demographic assessment and financial viability is a critical output of this study. Bethlehem and its district are quite unique in a number of ways, especially regarding the presence of a large farming community. Bethlehem provides goods and services to residents of Bethlehem, Clarens, Kestell, Harrismith, Heilbron, Paul Roux, Petrus Steyn, Reitz, Senekal and Warden. The main shopping activity occurs in the CBD of Bethlehem and its surrounding areas. Bethlehem only has one major shopping centre (the Metropolitan Centre) that provides goods and services for the people in the surrounding area. This causes an over concentration in the CBD and too much traffic in an already limited space. There is a high need for Bethlehem to provide a bigger shopping centre for the citizens of the town, as well as the surrounding areas. This study investigates the need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and will determine whether a new shopping centre will be viable within the area The empirical study revealed that approximately half of the respondents are not satisfied with the current shopping centres in Bethlehem. A greater amount of respondents felt that the shopping centres do not offer enough parking. The study revealed that, from a consumer point of view, there is definitely a need for a new shopping centre in Bethlehem and that there is a gap of approximately 12 892m² GLA (Gross leasable area). However, this was determined before the opening of the new Dihlabeng Mall. The Dihlabeng Mall occupies 24 142m², therefore an oversupply is already taken place. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013