Thesis (M. Tech)(Education) -- Central university of Technology, Free State, 2007 / The aim of the study is to determine the impediments to parental involvement in the governance of selected primary schools in the Bloemfontein area. It also examines the impact of the principals’ attitudes as perceived by the parents towards their involvement in the governance of the school; the means of communication between the school and parents; whether co-operation between the principal and parents affects school governance; and whether familiarity with parents’ roles as stipulated in the South African Schools Act affects their participation in school governance. The literature was consulted on the segregated education of the previously disadvantaged people under apartheid. The transition from apartheid to education under the new political dispensation, as set out in the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 also received attention. The study further addresses the issue of parents’ reluctance to participate in school governance and the views of teachers and parents on their roles in school governance. Ministerial investigation into the effectiveness of school governing bodies is presented and an international perspective on school governing bodies is also provided. A quantitative method using survey research method was employed in this study and a questionnaire was used to collect data. The aim was to elicit responses from the parents in as far as impediments to parental involvement in the governance of schools is concerned. It was revealed, however, that despite the parents’ reluctance to take part in school governance, principals’ attitudes were found to have a positive effect on parental participation in school governance. Methods of communication between the school and the parents were found to be effective, though a suggestion is made for improvement. Parents were found to be willing to co-operate with one another for the betterment of the school. Furthermore, parents were found to be familiar with the roles of members of the school governing body, irrespective of whether they are members of the school governing body or not.

The present study examined the relationship between parenting styles and the socioemotional adjustment of children at school. A sample size of 90 research participants was selected and included black South African grade I school children aged between 6 and 7 years from single parent households in Pretoria Central. Factor analyses and Cronbach's alphas were determined in order to establish the validity and reliability (alpha= 0.89 and 0. 72 respectively) of the measurement instruments. In general, results were inconsistent with previous findings: The three parenting styles had no direct relationship with children's socio-emotional adjustment at school. Except for two links, non- significant relations between parenting styles and six subscales of socio-emotional adjustment were detected. However, maternal age, preschool attendance and gender of the child interacted in different combinations with four of the six subscales of socio-emotional adjustment. Future studies investigating parenting styles should take account of other areas of adjustment. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

本文以社會支持理論和工作的關係理論爲依據，通過兩個子研究分別探討了早年父母支持和當下父母支持與大學生生涯適應力及生涯决策困難的關係。通過這兩個子研究，本文希望實現以下三個目標：1) 對Blustein (2011)提出的“工作的關係理論給予初步的檢驗與細化(refinement)； 2)對父母支持與個體生涯發展之間的關係及其內在機制，做出更詳細、清晰的探討；3)對過往父母支持與個體生涯適應力、生涯决策困難研究結果的不一致做出部份回應。 / 本文研究一聚焦于早年父母支持與大學生生涯適應力及長期生涯决策困難的關係。研究涉及參與者455人，其中，男生203人(45%)，女生252人(55%)。研究二聚焦于當下父母支持與大學生生涯適應力及生涯决策確定性、生涯决策困難的關係。研究涉及參與者467人，其中，男生237人(51%)，女生230人(49%)。研究一主要依據社會支持理論的發展性視角建立理論模型；研究二主要依據社會支持理論的情境性視角建立理論模型。兩個研究均通過結構方程模型對理論模型進行檢驗。在驗證理論模型的過程中，本研究通過分別對男生、女生建立結構方程模型，單獨納入父親和母親各支持變量以及一系列中介效應的檢驗，詳細、清晰地剖析了父母支持與個體生涯發展的關係。 / 研究結果支持了“工作的關係理論。同時，揭示了父母早年支持與父母當下支持與個體生涯適應力及生涯决策困難的內在關係機制：1)早年父母支持能够通過個體對自我能力與價值的肯定，正向作用于個體的生涯適應力、負向作用于個體的長期生涯决策困難；2)當下父、母支持支持能够通過個體的生涯適應力，正向作用于生涯確定性，生涯確定性又進一步負向預測了個體的生涯决策困難。3)父母支持與個體生涯發展的內在關係機制存在性別差异。男、女生間比較一致的結論是，早年异性父母的支持以及進入大學後父親的生涯肯定支持、母親的一般肯定支持對男、女生的生涯發展具有重要的意義和價值。 / Based on Social Support Theory and Relational Theory of Working, two parallel sub-studies were conducted to explore the relationship among early parental support, contemporary parental support, university students’ career adaptability, and their career decision-making difficulties. The current study therefore pursues following three research objectives: 1) to verify and refine the Relational Theory of Working; 2) to explore and examine the mechanism of the relationship between parental support and university students’ career development; and 3) to respond to previous inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between parental support and individuals’ career adaptability, and the relationship between parental support and career decision-making difficulties. / Study 1 focused on the relationship among early parental support, university students’ career adaptability, and their chronical career decision-making difficulties. 455 college students participated in study 1, among whom 203 are male (45%) and 252 are female (55%). Study 2 investigated the relationship among contemporary parental support, university students’ career adaptability, career certainty, and their general career decision-making difficulties. 467 students were involved. Among them, 237 are male (51%), 230 are female (49%). The theoretical model of Study 1 was built mainly upon the developmental perspective of social support theory. The underlying theory of Study 2 was the contextual perspective of social support theory. The theoretical models of the two studies were examined through Structural Equational Model. The models were run separately for male and female students, with both fathers’ and mothers’ support data in the model, instead of treating parents’ data as a whole. A series of mediation models were also performed to get much detailed knowledge of the mechanism of the relationship between parental support and university students’ career development. / The results well supported the Relational Theory of Working. At the same time, the mechanism of the relationship between early parental support, contemporary parental support, students’ career development was revealed. Findings show that 1) early parental support could predict students’ career adaptability positively, while predict career decision-making difficulty negatively through students’ self affirmation of their own worth and competence; 2) contemporary parental support could predict career certainty through students’ career adaptation resources. Career certainty could further predict students’ career decision-making difficulty; 3) differences existed between male and female students’ mechanism of the relationship between parental support and career development. However, consistent findings were opposite-sex parents’ early support, fathers’ contemporary career related support, mothers’ contemporary general support played important roles for both male and female students. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 周司麗. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 142-164). / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Zhou Sili. / 摘要 --- p.i / Abstract --- p.iii / 致謝 --- p.v / Chapter 第1章 --- 問題提出 --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- 研究背景 --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- 研究貢獻 --- p.5 / Chapter 第2章 --- 文獻回顧 --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- 社會支持理論 --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- 社會支持的概念 --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- 社會支持的作用原理/機制 --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- 工作的關係理論 --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- 父母支持與個體生涯發展關係的研究 --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- 早年父母支持與個體生涯發展的研究 --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- 當下父母支持與個體生涯發展的研究 --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4 --- 生涯適應力及其與“支持的關係 --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- 生涯適應力的概念 --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- 生涯適應力的測量工具 --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- 生涯適應力與支持的關係研究 --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- 生涯决策困難及其與“支持的關係 --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- 生涯决策困難的概念與類型 --- p.31 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- 生涯决策困難的測量工具 --- p.32 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- 生涯决策困難與支持的關係研究 --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6 --- 父親和母親在個體生涯發展中的不同角色 --- p.38 / Chapter 第3章 --- 本研究重點 --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1 --- 文獻回顧小結及本研究的研究問題與假設 --- p.40 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- 研究1的研究問題與假設 --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- 研究2的研究問題與假設 --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- 本研究各變量的操作化定義 --- p.49 / Chapter 第4章 --- 研究一 --- p.57 / Chapter 4.1 --- 研究參與者 --- p.57 / Chapter 4.2 --- 研究過程 --- p.57 / Chapter 4.3 --- 研究工具 --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4 --- 研究結果 --- p.65 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- 各變量的性別差异及其相關 --- p.65 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- 結構方程模型檢驗 --- p.66 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- 中介效應檢驗 --- p.71 / Chapter 4.5 --- 研究一的討論 --- p.75 / Chapter 第5章 --- 研究二 --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1 --- 研究參與者 --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- 研究過程 --- p.82 / Chapter 5.3 --- 研究工具 --- p.84 / Chapter 5.4 --- 研究結果 --- p.92 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- 各變量的性別差异及其相關 --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- 結構方程模型檢驗 --- p.95 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- 中介效應檢驗 --- p.101 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- 不同類型父母支持對大學生生涯發展的作用 --- p.105 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- 沒有感受到决策壓力的學生的分析 --- p.109 / Chapter 5.5 --- 研究二的討論 --- p.110 / Chapter 第6章 --- 總體討論與結論 --- p.115 / Chapter 6.1 --- 對理論和研究的啓示 --- p.116 / Chapter 6.2 --- 對本土實踐的啓示 --- p.121 / Chapter 6.3 --- 研究局限性 --- p.124 / Chapter 6.4 --- 結論 --- p.125 / Chapter 附錄： --- 研究問卷 --- p.126 / 參考文獻 --- p.142

The objective of the project was to develop an online educational technology tool based on research from multiple disciplines to improve effective communication between students, counselors, teachers, parents, and school staff. The website developed for the project aims to increase the involvement of parents in their child's academic progress. The project also includes discussions concerning the website's field testing at a middle school in Rosemead, California, its evaluation through participant surveys, and final revision. The field test participant instructions, survey questions, and a computer disc of the website accompanies the project.

The present study examined the relationship between parenting styles and the socioemotional adjustment of children at school. A sample size of 90 research participants was selected and included black South African grade I school children aged between 6 and 7 years from single parent households in Pretoria Central. Factor analyses and Cronbach's alphas were determined in order to establish the validity and reliability (alpha= 0.89 and 0. 72 respectively) of the measurement instruments. In general, results were inconsistent with previous findings: The three parenting styles had no direct relationship with children's socio-emotional adjustment at school. Except for two links, non- significant relations between parenting styles and six subscales of socio-emotional adjustment were detected. However, maternal age, preschool attendance and gender of the child interacted in different combinations with four of the six subscales of socio-emotional adjustment. Future studies investigating parenting styles should take account of other areas of adjustment. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The decentralisation of governance in South African schools as embodied in the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 has placed considerable responsibility in the hands of parents for the governance of schools through the School Governing Bodies. In the light thereof, research was conducted in 5 secondary schools in the Breyten Circuit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to gather data from a purposeful sample of members of School Governing Bodies from selected secondary schools in the Breyten Circuit. The purpose was to explore the impact of parental involvement on effective secondary school governance in the Breyten Circuit. The findings revealed that many parents did not take their role seriously due to poor educational levels and the lack of training and familiarity with the legislation embodied in the Act. This compromised their ability to govern schools. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for improvement of practice. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The aim of this study was to investigate stakeholder participation and learning in the Seychelles Eco-School programme within a primary school context and a secondary school context. Findings from each Eco-School have been presented in two case studies with the goal to explore and describe how teachers, students, parents and organizations are participating and learning in the Eco-School programme. Six elements of school community were used to deepen understanding of the participatory and learning processes in each Eco-School, namely, leadership, management and administration, curriculum planning, teaching and learning, resource use and management, management of physical surrounds of the school and networks and partnerships. Some of the contextual variables in each Eco-School that were constraining and enabling stakeholder participation and learning in the programme have also been explored within this study. Data in this study was generated from historical documents analysed, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and field notes. Data was also generated from questionnaires completed by organizations involved in the programme at each Eco- School. Data was analysed in two phases, the first phase involved reading across data generated from the methods mentioned above to organize the data under broad themes in relation to the elements of school community. The second phase of analysis involved the use of the conceptual framework of situating learning in a community of practice to interpret and discuss the participatory and learning processes across the two cases. The study showed that in each Eco-School there is a community of practice with the active involvement of teachers and students and the occasional involvement of parents and organizations. Students and adults are learning as they engage together in classroom and field-work interactions, environmental projects, environmental activities to commemorate environmental theme days, environmental campaigns and co-curricular activities through the practices of each Eco-School community. It was also discovered that students and adults are making different contributions in the Eco-School community based on their level of participation in the programme. It is hoped that the findings in this research contribute information regarding community participation in environmental education programmes like the Seychelles Eco-School programme. In addition, findings will inform the Seychelles Government and its partners to consider the possibility of enhancing school and community partnerships to respond to some of the challenges of participation and learning in the Eco-School programme.

The purpose of this study was to determine what language and behavior changes occur when parents are included in a curriculum that provides intervention for children with language delays and behavior and social delays. This project was a collaborative effort between the Early Intervention Special Education Program for three-five year old children in the school distrtict, and the County of Riverside, Department of Mental Health Services.

This study examines patterns of negotiation between teachers and parents in junior high schools in Israel. These negotiations were examined on "parents' days" in three schools between four class teachers and 80 parents of students in their classes. Guided by interpretive approaches to the study of micro-social processes and their application in the models of Hargreaves (1972, 1991) and Strauss (1978, 1990), dealing with negotiations, strategies and working agreements, the study focused on observations of teacher-parent interactions and interviews with teachers and parents. It was found that teachers are guided on parents' day by both pedagogic and survival goals: they seek to advance the students in their studies and to care for their well-being through contact with the parents, but also to shift responsibility to the parents. The parents' goals on these days are to learn about their children's situation in the school, but also to win the teachers' support and sympathy for their children in order to help them advance. To achieve their goals each side uses resources to impress and convince the other side. The teachers emphasize their professional authority, their bureaucratic status and the knowledge they possess of the parents and their children. The parents use their status and rights as parents and the knowledge they possess of the school and the teachers. The findings also indicate that the teachers stress mainly the instructional aspect. This approach perpetuates the hierarchy existing in the education system and does not help to narrow the gaps between students from different socio-economic backgrounds. This indicates a direction for further study and investigation of the question as to how the school can be made to contribute to greater equality, among other things through changing the teachers' educational perception. Perhaps the main purpose of parents' day lies in its ritual functions, which are designed to serve the school organization and constitute a restatement of the common goals of teachers and parents, while supporting the ideology of parent participation and confirming the statuses and roles of teachers and parents. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Socio Education)

Against the background of evidence that parent involvement benefits learners, parents, schools and communities, a need has arisen for effective parent involvment strategies to be developed particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. A literature study investigated models of parent involvementand the provision of education in North West Province. Barriers to parent involvement in schools were also investigated. A qualitative methodology was used to investigate parent involvement in three rural schools in North West Province. Data were gathered by means of observation, semi-structures focus group interviews with parents and educators and semi-structures in-depth interviewswith principals of participating schools. Thus parents and educators blame each other for lack of participation. Other findings relate to the lack of resources and facilities in schools. Guidelines for proper parent involvement were proposed. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Comparative Education)