This is a study to determine whether the teaching of isometric drawing will affect spatial perception.

The purpose of this study was to develop an experimental technique to objectively measure the deviation between an individual's perception of his body image and his actual image. In addition, this technique was utilized to compare the accuracy of perception of body image between institutionalized and non-institutionalized individuals. Half of each subject category was also compared in terms of performance on an additional perceptual task unrelated to body image.

The present study was designed to obtain evidence as to whether the distorted images drawn by mentally retarded subjects are possibly due to perceptual variables, to the lower level of motor coordination they experience, or to an interaction of both.

No description available.

M.Ed. / This study was aimed at investigating some of the factors influencing the motivation (willingness to learn) of secretarial students at the Technikon Witwatersrand. After the relevant literature had been studies, empirical information was obtained by means of a questionnaire specially compiled for this purpose. This questionnaire was completed by all first year students who registered at the Secretarial School in 1983 and an analysis of the responses was made. It became evident from the literature that the per­sonality of the first year student is still in a stage of development and is consequently subject to much change. Advanced cognitive abilities must therefore in this phase of life be further development together with the personality. At the same time, the establishment of a positive self image and own identity during this period, is a prerequisite for a meaningful willingness to learn and for the student to identify with a particular future career. It needs to be mentioned that a student who has a negative self image as a result of unsatisfactory learning progress at school, may anticipate further failure at tertiary level. This anticipation of unsatisfactory future learning progress has a restraining effect on the student's willingness to learn. A person generally has an intense desire to prove himself or to realise his potential. Self­ actualization is possible, inter alia, by achieving success in some area. When a person becomes aware of a gap in his existing cognitive frame of reference, he may also search for the cause of this uneasy feeling and attempt in future to avoid similar con flicting incidents.There has until now been no research into the factors influencing the motivation (willingness to learn) of the secretarial students at the Technikon Witwatersrand. In the course of this study, factors that have a negative influence on the motivation of this group of learners were identified. Further research on learning motivation in this school is essential in order to gain more insight into the problem areas mentioned.

Mini-dissertation in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2007. / It has been shown that patient satisfaction evaluation is an excellent tool that may be used to determine whether practitioner services are meeting the needs of the general public. Furthermore, it has been observed that patients who were satisfied with their treatment behave differently to those who were dissatisfied with their levels of care, as patient’s who were satisfied with their levels of treatment are more likely to be compliant with their treatment regime and more likely to seek out similar care for the same condition in the future. With satisfaction having such an affect on patient’s behaviour toward practitioners and the treatment experience outcomes, it is imperative to understand the underlying factors that may affect the levels of satisfaction. / M

The main aim of the study was to investigate adolescents’ perceptions of the paternal/father figures’ involvement in their sexuality education. Other aims included to determine adolescents’ perception of paternal/father figures’ knowledge of sexuality education; aspects/topics that are discussed; and the gender differences in paternal figures’ involvement with adolescents’ sexuality education. The study sample consisted of 67 adolescents aged between 13-19 years and was chosen through purposive, non-probability sampling technique from Illinge Secondary School at Vosloorus Township, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council. A questionnaire designed by the researcher was used to collect the data for the study. The results of the present study indicated that a small number of the adolescents perceive their paternal/father figures as involved in the discussion of sexuality matters. Nevertheless a highest number of the participants in the study perceive a paternal figure as a right source of sexuality education. However, the study shows that participants perceive their paternal figures as authoritarian and having poor communication about sexuality matters. This study indicated that there is no trend in adolescents’ perceptions of their paternal figures’ adequacy and inadequacy of knowledge regarding competency/incompetence in discussing sexuality topics. The main topic that the participants indicated to be receiving paternal figures’ attention is adolescents’ pregnancy and parenting. However, there is an indication that sexual intercourse is not mentioned as the antecedent to pregnancy. A large number of adolescents in this study indicated that there is a presence of a significant gender difference in the sexuality education. An increased father forum as well as involvement of social institutions and the professional and community based work force is recommended to address the need for father/paternal figures’ involvement in the sexuality education of adolescents.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent disorders diagnosed in children. However, less is known about the clinical manifestation of the disorder in adults and the impact thereof on for instance social and occupational functioning. With respect to temporal perception deficits in both child and adult ADHD, contemporary findings have produced mixed results. In line with this, the current investigation aimed to identify whether young adults who possess significant ADHD symptomology have pure time perception deficits and/or differences in self-reported habitual time perception. Stratification of the ADHD and non-ADHD group was achieved using the Adult ADHD Self-report Scale (ASRS V1.1). Between group differences in self-reported temporal orientation was investigated using the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI). These outcome scores were compared using an ANOVA. The investigation into pure psychophysical time perception was conducted on a sub sample of that used in the self-report investigation. The ADHD group consisted of 12 participants whereas the non-ADHD group consisted of 10 participants. These two groups conducted temporal estimation and temporal discrimination tasks. Between groups, performances on these tasks were compared using an ANOVA. In addition to this, electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of frontal, frontal midline and parietal activity during resting states and task performance were conducted. This allowed for between group comparisons in absolute and relative power scores at four different frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta) to be made. A non-parametric Mann-Whitney-U test was used in this regard. The same statistical technique was used to compare the theta/beta ratios elicited by the resting state and temporal perception conditions. Results showed that those with significant ADHD symptomology have a characteristically different selfreported habitual time perception. This is illustrated by negative thoughts towards past and present life events, and an absence of future orientated behaviour. In terms of the objective psychophysical measures, the current investigation found no group differences in estimation or discrimination task performance. Despite this absence of difference, the group with significant ADHD symptomology showed significantly different EEG recorded neural activity, during resting states and during task performance. The nature of this activity was in line with a generalised cortical under arousal hypothesis of ADHD. Taken together, these findings indicate that individuals with significant ADHD symptomology do not only consciously perceive time differently to those who do not have significant symptomology, but also show different neuro-physiological processes when performing tasks that require the utilisation of temporal processing mechanisms. In this way, the findings provide insight into possible objective measures that could be utilised in ADHD diagnosis.

A Thesis presented to the Faculty of Science of the University of the Witwatersrand fo r the Degree of Doctor uf Philosophy. January 1979 / Clinical workers in binocular vision , known as o rth o p tis ts , have noticed variations in the binocular performance of patients which appear to have no relation to the ir visual state. Similarly there are some binocular tests, in p a rticu la r stereoscopic tests, which cannot be performed by normal students of the Optometry School. An in it ia l reading of the literature on binocular vision indicated that i t can be divided in to two parts, that concerning the mechanism which produces one visual percept from two visual inputs to the two separate eyes, and the mechanism which produces stereopsis, by evaluating the angular differences between the two re tin a l images and interpreting them as a sense of depth. I t was decided to concentrate on the haploscopic aspect of binocular vision , and to search fo r non-visual variables which determined the operation of th is function. A detailed reading of the lite ra tu re brought to lig h t several sets of experimental results showing marked v a ria b ility between normal subjects on the same te s t. Some of the operators commented on these, but did not look fo r th e ir o rig in . The neurological and neuro-anatomical lite ra tu re indicated that the production of the single visual percept was an on-going process which became more complex as i t was passed to higher neurological levels u n til the fin a l process was controlled by the cortex of the parietal lobe. This suggestion was confirmed by an E.F.G. programme carried out by the w rite r. The existence of neurological a c tiv ity in the parietal cortex involving the in h ib itio n processes which remove an unwanted diplopic image from visual perception suggested very strongly that psychological variables would be found here. This survey of the lite ra tu re also indicated that no previous work had been done in this fie ld and new tests had to be devised to isolate and measure the non-visual variables. This programme was undertaken by the w rite r who had done previous research in orthoptics and in optometry. These tests produced 20 scores, some of which suggested the psychological variable with which the optometric scores might correlate s ig n ific a n tly . The nature of these scores was described to a cross-discipline project team whose members designed a battery of tests, one psychological and the other neuro-psychological. The psychological battery was based on the assumption that the variable appeared to re late to some sort of psychological r ig id ity , but that as th is was not certain, certain other tests such as motivation, fru s tra tio n and suggestion must be adequately covered. The neuro-psychological battery assumed that the binocular variables must be measurable in the a c tiv ity of the central nervous system, and might appear as the muscular control of movement, or in the speeu of perception. A battery of te sts, including the E.E.G., was designed to measure these functions. The to ta l testing programme was now very large, and was given to two p ilo t samples. The battery was reduced in size by a study of the correlations, and by the use of cluster analysis. A study of the selected co rre la tio n between the binocular and the psychological scores indicated a relationship between the psychological results and some of the binocular tests. A reduced battery of both tests was given to a larger sample and a fa cto r analysis of the re su lt selected perseveration as the major psychological variable in binocular performance. During the course of the research work some very valuable discoveries were made fo r c lin ic a l optometry. The possible value of the results to psychology and the avenues of future research opened up by the programme of research are discussed.

Degree: Master of Arts Department: Psychology / This study explored children’s perceptions of death from a Piagetian perspective. While a few international studies exist which have explored this issue, it was deemed useful to evaluate the perceptions of South African children. It seems that many researchers have not taken into account the importance of broader contextual experience in children’s perceptions of death, and it was felt that the current high death rate in South Africa may impact on both or either the rate and level at which children start to engage with and understand the concept of death. The participants of the current study were between the ages of five and twelve years, and were drawn from a Gauteng Place of Safety and a preschool. Individual, structured interviews were conducted on this cross-sectional population. The interviews contained questions adapted from Koocher’s (1973) research in this area, and responses were analysed by means of a traditional content analysis. It was found that children had a basic understanding of death concepts by the age of approximately seven years old. It was also found that the youngest age group of children possess an awareness of death, but tend to view it as reversible and not final. An understanding of the finality of death emerges around the age of seven. In general, the participant’s responses showed a close relationship between Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and how the young child reasons about death.