Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Complicated Grief is a relatively new concept that is globally debated by psychiatrists and psychologists. The time has come for social workers to join this debate and to develop and implement programmes to address the consequences following complicated grief, specifically which results in impaired social functioning. Complicated Grief, prolonged grief and traumatic grief are all synonyms. The term 'complicated grief is the preferred concept used in this research. Article 1 is a literature overview on factors leading to complicated grief and at the same time attempts to link these factors to the South African circumstances. South African citizens are not exempted from experiencing complicated grief. Cultural beliefs on death and dying, AIDS and cancer-related deaths, crime and sociopolitical deaths are but some of the risk factors. She furthermore highlights complicated grief as a matter to be assessed by social workers. The normality of grief is questioned when the grief experience prohibits the individual to regain a state of social functioning as close as possible to the pre-loss state. Complicated grief is regarded by many researchers as a specific condition in need of specific intervention. The efficacy of bereavement intervention in the case of normal grief is questioned, and it seems that individuals who experience complicated grief benefit more from bereavement intervention. Article 2 attempts to clarify the necessity to screen clients prior to including them in a complicated grief intervention programme by discussing the Inventory of Traumatic Grief as developed by Prigerson and colleagues. The researcher furthermore introduces the Grief Assessment Guide (GASsG) as an assessment tool during the screening process. In article 3 the researchers tabulate some of the most important models/approaches to bereavement and discuss its applicability to Complicated Grief. Specific attention is given to the Dual Process Model (Stroebe & Schut, 1999) and the task-centred approach (a social work approach to therapy) in an attempt to develop a model for Complicated Grief Intervention. This article furthermore proposes the Complicated Grief Intervention Model (CGIM) through the integration of the dual process model and the task-centred approach, while drawing on intervention techniques from other therapeutic approaches. Article 4 explains the implementation of the Complicated Grief Intervention Programme (CGIP) with the CGIM as framework for intervention. The researchers briefly discuss some of the intervention techniques, such as desensitization, visualization, client-log, miracle question, metaphors, rituals and humour. These techniques assist the social worker and the client towards achieving the goal. The CGIP is a time-limited interventions programme. It consists of, and is based on, the three steps of the CGIM: assessment, implementation and evaluation/termination. Although the CGIP has not been scientifically tested, it holds the potential to serve as a guided programme for social workers in the field of grief and bereavement. Article 5 is a discussion of the empirical findings of the research. This article describes the implementation of the proposed CGIP in the South African context. This article furthermore aims at evaluating the feasibility of implementing the CGIP rather than testing the effectiveness of the programme. Section C summarizes and evaluates the research and makes recommendations regarding its value and the value of possible future research on complicated grief in the South African context. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This study is a policy network analysis of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) in Ethiopia. The CAADP is a NEPAD initiative aimed at promoting policy interventions that will address the agricultural crisis in Africa. This dissertation argues that policy networks are regarded as a tool for and a structure of public policy making and implementation, and assume such attributes as exchanges of resources, interdependence among stakeholders that can be formal or informal. Its formation arises from a realisation that single bureaucratic governments are ineffective hence the need to seek mutually beneficial solutions, share information, gain support and legitimacy through association with other agencies. A policy network analysis of the CAADP has revealed that relationships among the CAADP policy network partners are typically collaborative, complex, reciprocal, and trust based. Therefore, the implementation of the CAADP take place through what would be termed „networked governance‟ – where stakeholders share common policy objectives aimed at reducing hunger and starvation as well as increasing economic development through a range of collaborative efforts among government, private and civic organisations. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l'entraînement auditif chez des enfants sourds profonds congénitaux. Il a pour objectif d'évaluer non seulement les effets de l'entraînement auditif sur les performances auditives générales mais aussi les effets de transfert sur la perception langagière et la production de la parole. Une période prolongée de déprivation auditive entraîne des difficultés massives de réception et de production du langage, des difficultés cognitives et perturbe la maturation des voies auditives centrales qui limitent les effets de la réhabilitation de la transmission sonore (implants ou prothèses auditives). Il est donc indispensable d'apprendre aux enfants l'acte d'écouter et de développer leur acuité auditive. La première étude de ce travail évalue la méthode d'entraînement auditif le " Son en Mains ", un programme expérimental ludique qui permet la stimulation des opérations auditives générales, telles que l'identification, la discrimination, l'analyse de scènes auditives et la mémoire auditive. L'entraînement se déroule sur une période de 16 semaines à raison d'une séance hebdomadaire. Les résultats sont présentés et discutés dans les quatre premiers articles de la partie expérimentale. Ils montrent que le programme d'entraînement " Son en Mains " permet aux enfants sourds profonds une amélioration de leurs performances auditives mais surtout des effets de transfert vers les tâches non entraînées (discrimination phonétique et production de la parole). Les études 2 et 3 de cette thèse s'intéressent aux effets de l'apprentissage musical chez des enfants sourds profonds congénitaux. Ces études sont basées sur les observations effectuées chez les enfants normo-entendants qui montrent que l'apprentissage de la musique induit non seulement un traitement auditif plus fin mais aussi des effets positifs sur la cognition. Dans l'étude 2, des enfants sourds suivant des leçons de musique depuis 4 ans en moyenne montrent de meilleures performances en discrimination phonétique que les enfants sourds non musiciens issus du même établissement spécialisé. Ainsi, les scores des enfants musiciens semblent comparables à ceux obtenus avec le programme d'entraînement " Son en Mains " chez des enfants non musiciens (article 5). Enfin, la troisième étude de cette thèse explore les effets de leçons musicales sur la perception des émotions musicales et sur les capacités d'apprentissage implicite. Les résultats montrent que les enfants sourds musiciens présentent plus de difficultés que les enfants entendants non musiciens pour identifier les différentes émotions musicales (article 6). En revanche leurs capacités d'apprentissage implicite sont équivalentes (article 7). Les articles 8 et 9 représentent notre contribution méthodologique et théorique. En discussion générale, nous débattons des implications de ces résultats dans la prise en charge des enfants sourds profonds.

This research is focused on evaluating the UNDP—GEF Small Grants Programme support in Ethiopia. It involves SWOT strategic analysis of outcomes in projects addressing three of the GEF focal areas mainly biodiversity conservation, abatement of climate change and prevention of land degradation. To this end, the study evaluated how the grant presented to the beneficiary communities short-term and long-term opportunities to undertake nature-based sustainable livelihood activities, alleviate poverty as well as impact national policies pertaining to rural economies and the protection of natural resources. In general, the study highlights that the crucial factor for the success of SGP’s service delivery is not only the provision of the support and the subsequent completion of the projects. Most importantly, how local communities equitably benefit from project outputs and maintain sustainability of developments after project completion were identified to be foundational to the developmental causes the grants have been provided.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Complicated Grief is a relatively new concept that is globally debated by psychiatrists and psychologists. The time has come for social workers to join this debate and to develop and implement programmes to address the consequences following complicated grief, specifically which results in impaired social functioning. Complicated Grief, prolonged grief and traumatic grief are all synonyms. The term 'complicated grief is the preferred concept used in this research. Article 1 is a literature overview on factors leading to complicated grief and at the same time attempts to link these factors to the South African circumstances. South African citizens are not exempted from experiencing complicated grief. Cultural beliefs on death and dying, AIDS and cancer-related deaths, crime and sociopolitical deaths are but some of the risk factors. She furthermore highlights complicated grief as a matter to be assessed by social workers. The normality of grief is questioned when the grief experience prohibits the individual to regain a state of social functioning as close as possible to the pre-loss state. Complicated grief is regarded by many researchers as a specific condition in need of specific intervention. The efficacy of bereavement intervention in the case of normal grief is questioned, and it seems that individuals who experience complicated grief benefit more from bereavement intervention. Article 2 attempts to clarify the necessity to screen clients prior to including them in a complicated grief intervention programme by discussing the Inventory of Traumatic Grief as developed by Prigerson and colleagues. The researcher furthermore introduces the Grief Assessment Guide (GASsG) as an assessment tool during the screening process. In article 3 the researchers tabulate some of the most important models/approaches to bereavement and discuss its applicability to Complicated Grief. Specific attention is given to the Dual Process Model (Stroebe & Schut, 1999) and the task-centred approach (a social work approach to therapy) in an attempt to develop a model for Complicated Grief Intervention. This article furthermore proposes the Complicated Grief Intervention Model (CGIM) through the integration of the dual process model and the task-centred approach, while drawing on intervention techniques from other therapeutic approaches. Article 4 explains the implementation of the Complicated Grief Intervention Programme (CGIP) with the CGIM as framework for intervention. The researchers briefly discuss some of the intervention techniques, such as desensitization, visualization, client-log, miracle question, metaphors, rituals and humour. These techniques assist the social worker and the client towards achieving the goal. The CGIP is a time-limited interventions programme. It consists of, and is based on, the three steps of the CGIM: assessment, implementation and evaluation/termination. Although the CGIP has not been scientifically tested, it holds the potential to serve as a guided programme for social workers in the field of grief and bereavement. Article 5 is a discussion of the empirical findings of the research. This article describes the implementation of the proposed CGIP in the South African context. This article furthermore aims at evaluating the feasibility of implementing the CGIP rather than testing the effectiveness of the programme. Section C summarizes and evaluates the research and makes recommendations regarding its value and the value of possible future research on complicated grief in the South African context. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.