A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education at the University of Zululand, 2005. / This research study focuses on peer education and its impact on students' lifestyle and behaviour. Peer education is a critical approach for behaviour change. The present investigation had two objectives. The first aim was to determine the nature of the impact of peer education on students' lifestyle and behaviour. The second aim was to find out whether factors such as age, gender, year of study, course of study, and duration of involvement in the programme have the impact on peer education. The questionnaire was administered to all trained peer educators at Border Technikon. Results indicated that all respondents agreed that peer education was educationally relevant and offered accurate information. Furthermore, the results indicated that peer educators older and below 20 years are less likely to have a positive opinion on the impact of peer education on behavioural changes compared to those older than 20years of age. Comparing second and third years, the results show that every second year who agrees that the programme has an impact on behavioural changes there are five third years who agree with that opinion. The results show that duration of involvement in peer education influences the opinion on the impact of the peer education on behavioural changes. Differences in faculties have no influence in the way peer educators perceive peer education programme. This study supports the conclusion that peer education can improve students' HTV/AIDS prevention, knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.

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A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology, University of Zululand, 2007. / The study investigated the impact of the HIV/AIDS peer education program on behaviour change of students at the University of Zululand main campus. The sample (N = 40) consisted of male (N - 20) and female (N = 20) students whose ages ranged between 21-40 years. Findings indicated a significant change in behavioural practices of the participants post exposure to the program. Based on these findings it is indicated that the program is effective in providing necessary information about HIV/AIDS and to change students sexual behavioural patterns towards HIV/AIDS prevention.

The purpose of my study was to explore what and how university students learned from their experiences working as peer educators. In my study, I was only interested in investigating peer educators working in formal peer education programs within the post-secondary setting. I defined learning as “a comprehensive, holistic, transformative activity that integrates academic learning and student development” (italics in original, ACPA & NASPA, 2004, p. 2). I used a modified version of the CAS 2009 learning outcomes framework to understand what peer educators learned. Those six CAS learning outcomes are: knowledge acquisition, construction, integration, and application; cognitive complexity; intrapersonal development; interpersonal competence; humanitarianism and civic engagement; and practical competence. I adopted a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory approach to the study of the content and context of peer educators’ learning. I selected participants for my study from a pool of peer educators of a student affairs’ learning assistance peer education program at a mid-sized Ontario university. I conducted face-to-face, in-depth interviews with seven peer educators. My research revealed what peer educators in a single peer education program learned; it also provided insight into their experience of learning within the peer education program, i.e., how they learned. This study offers some insight into the potential for learning, as well as potential facilitators of learning, in the university peer educator role. The findings of my research indicate that the peer educators whom I studied learned in each of the six CAS learning outcomes. The facilitators of learning that these peer educators described in their interviews include learning from experience, interactions with others, reflection, and training. The findings of my study suggest that further research could be conducted, at various institutions as well as within and across peer education programs. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-15 11:35:06.19

The current climate change crisis demands immediate and creative approaches for systemic shifts in our culture and actions. In the past several decades, education has played a role in bringing awareness regarding environmental issues, but has not necessarily resulted in all the needed behavior changes. A newer approach combines psychological theories with outreach and marketing techniques. This is the rationale behind a new kind of campus activism, peer to peer sustainability outreach programs – the subject of this research. This dissertation research aims to identify current peer to peer sustainability outreach programs and their operations; develop process and outcome evaluation protocols for the programs; clarify administrative procedures and their relationship to a program‘s success; and gain an understanding of how these programs contribute to the growing field of sustainability education and related human behavior change. Methods used include: case studies, peer surveys, interviews and focus groups, and program record analysis. These studies found that programs across the U.S. employ a variety of organizational models and delivery methods that are best suited to individual campuses‘ needs and resources with common motivations and desires for assessment techniques. An in-depth evaluation of one program found strong educational and cultural impacts, positive ecological and financial impacts, with a need for broadened outreach approaches and feedback loops. Combining findings and literature from social psychology, peer education, and program evaluation, this research concludes by identifying elements of successful and effective programs.

Faculty of Humanities School of Education 9711890e barbaramichel@absamail.co.za / The focus of this action research study was to facilitate a field generated process to develop guidelines towards standards of practice for peer education. Peer education has been widely used across the globe and often in health oriented fields. In South Africa, peer education practice is marked by the lack of agreed standards and guidelines together with a lack of empirical evidence of its impact on beneficiary groups. The researcher consulted with over 200 individuals who are, in some way, connected or involved in the management of peer education or programmes focussing on youth. The research confirmed the lack of an agreed definition of peer education, the need for guidelines and eventually standards of practice for peer education. There was consensus that peer education was considered a ‘valuable strategy’ despite a chronic lack of reporting, monitoring and clear goals for most programmes. An additional challenge was the lack of evaluation of the benefit of peer education to beneficiaries. Programmes lack underpinning theories, and often are implemented in an attempt to ‘help’ communities in any way possible. Lack of a systemic approach and lack of agreed performance standards, perpetuates peer education interventions that fail due to avoidable challenges that could have been averted with more attention to planning and systematic organisation. The research proposes that with agreed standards and support to implement and build capacity at national and provincial level, peer education could become a flagship for the prevention, care and support to many communities, particularly where there is a chronic lack of resources.

In the fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic, the South African government introduced different measures to address and manage the impact of HIV and AIDS. One of these strategies encompassed prevention and education programmes like the Peer Education Programme. Some factors were however identified, indicating that the Peer Education Programme might not be successful, which could be linked to the non-performance of HIV and AIDS Peer Educators. The goal of this study is to explore the reasons for non-performance of duties by HIV and AIDS Peer Educators within the Department of Agriculture, Eastern Cape Province. For data collection a randomised cross-sectional survey was utilised as the research design and a structured questionnaire used as a data collection tool. The questionnaire was administered with a group of HIV and AIDS Peer Educators, where each respondent completed his/her questionnaire independently of others. No sampling was done as the researcher considered the population to be manageable. From a population of 49, only 32 – 65% agreed to participate in the study. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Osteoporosis affects half of all women over the age of fifty, but can be prevented through proper nutrition and exercise early in life. Few studies have been conducted that document positive gains in knowledge about osteoporosis prevention in young girls and no research has been completed in which osteoporosis education is delivered by peers in children. A 3-A-Day™ of dairy peer education program was developed by local Girl Scouts with the purpose of teaching other Girl Scouts about the importance of calcium intake and weight-bearing activities in the prevention of osteoporosis, overweight, and hypertension. Peer educators had significant increases in their overall knowledge of dairy (p<0.001) and self-efficacy related to 3-A-Day™ (p<0.05) after teaching peer education programs. Program participants had significant improvements in knowledge of calcium-rich foods (p<0.001) and weight-bearing activities (p<0.001). Participants were able to identify the recommended number of dairy servings per day (p<0.01). Although parents indicated that their daughters' knowledge increased after participation in the peer education program, parents' ratings of knowledge were not significantly related with daughters' ratings. Qualitative evaluation indicated that these Girl Scouts enjoyed serving as peer educators. This research supports the importance of osteoporosis education in young girls and demonstrates positive outcomes of peer education for both educators and program participants. / Master of Science

Aims: The purpose of this thesis is to describe peer educators’ experiences from the training given to them by The Leadership South Programme. The aim is also to describe the participants’ perceived self-empowerment and perceptions about their own learning and experiences of being a peer educator. The study also aims to explore how peer educators share their skills with others. Methods: Grounded Theory is the method used for the research presented in this thesis. The data collection was done by open-ended questionnaires followed by qualitative interviews. Results: The results show that the peer educators who participated in our study show increased self-esteem and motivation. The training has also given them increased knowledge in communicating, listening and facilitating others. Furthermore peer educators experienced increased self-awareness and learned how to motivate and support their peers and share information. / Mål: Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka hur ungdomar, som har genomgått Leadership South’s program, upplever utbildningen. Syftet är också att analysera deltagarnas upplevda känsla av egenmakt, så kallad empowerment, och uppfattningar om deras eget lärande och erfarenheter av att vara en fadder (peer educator). Slutligen vill vi också undersöka hur respondenterna agerar för att dela med sig av sina erfarenheter. Metod: Grundad teori är den metod som använts i forskningen som presenteras i denna uppsats. Datainsamlingen genomfördes med hjälp av en enkät med öppna frågor följd av en kvalitativ intervju. Resultat: Resultatet visar att de ungdomar som deltagit i vår undersökning har stärkts genom ökad självkänsla och ökad motivation. Utbildningen har också gett dem ökade kunskaper i kommunikation, att lyssna och att facilitera andra. Vidare har ungdomarna, genom ökad självkännedom, lärt sig att motivera och stötta sina kamrater och tillsammans dela och sprida information.

Improving the quality use of medicines (QUM) among seniors, particularly those using multiple medicines, is a national priority. The National Prescribing Service??s Seniors QUM Program was developed in collaboration with consumers to address seniors?? medicines information needs. Seniors are trained as peer educators to convey QUM messages to other seniors in a single group session. However, there is a dearth of research assessing peer education for seniors about medicines, and little understanding of what peer educators do in practice. This research investigated how peer educators empower seniors toward the quality use of their medicines. A participatory action research inquiry was undertaken nationally with organisational leaders and locally with peer educators. The design was a nested case study with multiple sites, where the Seniors Program was the overarching case containing eight disparate local sites. The participatory inquiry engaged peer educators from each local site. Qualitative data were collected through participant observation and interviews. Data were analysed using grounded theory methods and findings were triangulated with other data sources. Peer educators demonstrated five main functions in the program ?? one primary function within QUM sessions and four support functions outside of sessions. The primary function of facilitating peer learning comprised 10 elements. A model depicts these elements in the context of varying session conditions and consequences. Educators?? lived experience as seniors and lay persons was an overarching contributor to peer learning, used strategically through storytelling to assist other elements. Sharing QUM outside of sessions occurred frequently, but requires development to reach isolated seniors. Peer educators exceeded expectations in getting QUM messages to seniors, applying unique skills to the information exchange within sessions. Their status as lay persons tackling the complex topic of QUM reflected an understanding of the disempowerment seniors may feel when seeking information about medicines. Peer educators?? ability to model an active partner role by applying their lived experience through storytelling in an interactive, mutually sharing session challenged seniors to rethink their medicines management and interactions with health professionals. As the population ages and medicines use increases, understanding and using seniors effectively as educators has great potential.