This study examined the emotion recognition of children (ages 7-9 years) with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children completed two emotion recognition measures, the Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy 2 (DANVA2) and the Child and Adolescent Social Perception measure (CASP). Children and their parents also completed an assessment of children’s social skills, the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS). Children with ADHD reported a significantly greater level of depressive symptoms and had significantly lower full scale IQ scores than children without ADHD. When these differences were accounted for, children with ADHD continued to show a handful of deficits in emotion recognition. They demonstrated difficulties in emotion recognition on the DANVA2 regarding specific emotions, fear and sadness. On the CASP, children with ADHD made significantly more errors than children without ADHD due to a tendency to make up information to explain how they were able to identify feelings. Children’s performance on the emotion recognition measures did not significantly mediate the relation between their diagnostic status and social skills (as rated by parents). In summary, additional evidence was found regarding the deficits in emotion recognition experienced by children with ADHD, however, further work needs to be done to determine if these deficits relate to the peer difficulties experienced by these children.

The existing grievance literature has tended to focus on employee decisions concerning dispute action in light of Hirschman’s (1970) ‘loyalty voice exit’ (LVE) model. The present research sought to take an alternative approach by exploring the processes associated with grievances and disputes, through following a series of cases covering both employer and employee perspectives of the same dispute. The cases involved individual-level disputes where the parties were still in an ongoing employment relationship at the time that they accessed the mediation services of the government employment agency. The research process involved observing the mediation sessions and then conducting follow-up interviews with all the individuals associated with each case, including the employer and employee, along with union advocates, legal representatives, and mediators resulting in a total of 70 interviews. The findings covered a range of areas which combined to form a new model which reframed the dispute process as a series of choices, events and stages, rather than the single-choice perspective of much existing literature. The model centres upon three core constructs. The first of these is the Dispute Type, which refers to the nature or substance of the dispute, and identifies three distinct types each of which have their own dynamics and progression, with a significant predetermining effect on the course of employment disputes. The second construct, Power, concerns the relative power of the parties, with a party’s overall power comprising of individual, organisational, and external levels. The series of dispute actions were also found to be driven by power-related dynamics, and this produces a model that both builds upon and also extends, existing models of power in the negotiation literature (Lawler, 1992; Kim et al., 2005). Finally the third construct, Interaction Type, draws on Pruitt and Kim’s (2004) dual concern model, to explore the combined interaction of the strategies and tactics utilised by each side in a dispute sequence. Extending this model into employment dispute situations, the research identifies dynamics which can lead to major escalation of disputes, precluding opportunities for resolution. The research has significant implications for organisations in their management of individual-level employee disputes, as well as for parties such unions and other representatives who are reframed as agents with the potential to increase or reduce the power of parties.

The objective of this study was to explore the problems existing in stepfamilies, which affect the relationship between stepparents and adolescent children and their effects on the different systems within these families. A qualitative research approach was followed. Three focus groups were conducted with the respondents. These focus groups were exploring the way things are regarding the adolescent stepchildren’s appraisal of the problems of having a stepparent, relating to him/her; their available coping resources; and their coping responses in adjusting to the situation. The respondents reported limited family interaction. It was also discovered that they were not freely expressing their feelings, especially about their stepparents. Their respondents, their biological parents and their stepparents have received limited professional assistance regarding their to-be-established stepfamilies. The outcomes of this study have shown that the stepfamily members need more professional support in terms of coping with the family situation. The stepfamily members need guidance and assistance with the coping responses with the stressors of having a stepfamily. Further research is recommended to describe the stepparents and biological parent’s relationship to their adolescent stepchildren, in order to provide comparative data for the present study. A study can also be conducted to determine further needs of stepfamilies, especially before remarriage, with regards to professional support services, for instance pre-marital counseling, legal issues pertaining to inheritance, wills, maintenance of stepchildren, adoption and custody of stepchildren. / Dissertation (MA (SW) (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Bakgrund: Franchising som företagsform har haft en uppåtgående trend de senaste åren med både ökad omsättning och sysselsättning. Det existerar dock statistik som visar på motsatsen. Varannan franchisekedja i Storstockholm har fallande lönsamhet och ett betydande antal misslyckas med sin franchiseverksamhet. Franchiserelationer i sig är asymmetriska, vilket leder till att relationsproblematik ofta uppstår mellan parterna. Vilka faktorer som kan förklara franchiserelationers misslyckanden är ännu ett outforskat ämne inom svensk forskning. Bristen på forskning om franchising på den europeiska marknaden i kombination med avsaknad av kunskap rörande användningen av styrinstrument motiverar att fler studier behövs i en svenskeuropeisk kontext. Syfte: Studiens syfte ämnar identifiera de faktorer som kan förklara och ge upphov till misslyckanden i franchiserelationer. Genomförande: Studien är en kvalitativ fallstudie med ett deduktivt angreppssätt. Semistrukturerade intervjuer med franchisegivare och franchisetagare ligger till grund för insamlingen av empiriska data, med syftet att lyfta fram båda parters perspektiv. Slutsats: Studien identifierar sju faktorer som kan leda till att relationsproblematik i franchiserelationer uppstår. Beroende på hur faktorerna varumärke, val av partner, parternas mål och maktutövande hanteras så skapas olika förväntningar hos parterna, vilket utgör den femte faktorn. Faktorerna tillsammans påverkar franchiserelationen. I anknytning till relationen har faktorerna kommunikation och förändringsbenägenhet identifierats som väsentliga. Tas inte dessa faktorerna i beaktande, kan var och en eller ett antal tillsammans förklara samt ge upphov till misslyckade franchiserelationer. / Background: In recent years, franchising has shown a positive trend with increased turnover and employment. However, there are statistics that show the opposite. Every other franchised chain in Stockholm has declining profitability and a significant number of them are forced to discontinue franchising. Franchise relationships are asymmetric, which often causes problems between the parties. The key elements explaining franchising failures are yet an unexplored subject within Swedish studies. The lack of research regarding franchising on the European market, in combination with a lack of knowledge in the use of management control mechanisms, points to the fact that more studies in a Swedish-European context is needed. Purpose: The study aims to identify key factors which can explain and be the cause of failures in franchise relationships. Design: The study is a qualitative case study with a deductive approach. The gathering of empirical data is done through semi-structured interviews with franchisors and franchisees in order to highlight both of the parties’ perspective. Conclusion: The study identifies seven factors that can lead to problems in the franchise relationship. Depending on how the factors brand, selection of franchisee, parties’ objectives and exercise of power is being handled, different expectations form, which will affect the relationship. Expectations together with communication and receptiveness are the three additional factors. If these factors are not being managed, each one of them or a few together can explain franchise relationship failures.

The increasing demand for couples therapy and its present low success rate led to the question whether Glasser's reality therapy, with its innovative approach, could possibly be of value to couples therapy in South Africa. Glasser emphasizes the importance of healthy personal relationships, freedom of choice and responsibility. In therapy he focuses on the fact that each person has control of what he/she does and thinks and that he/she should take responsibility for it. On the basis of a limited qualitative study, it was found that, with certain reservations, this therapy could make a valuable contribution to the success of couples therapy. Professional persons should be encouraged to apply reality theory in couples therapy, training institutions should train their students in this regard and more comprehensive and in-depth research should be undertaken to determine its value in larger and more representative groups. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

Text in Afrikaans / Papalia, Olds en Feldman (2008:419) noem dat die woord "adolessensie" van die Latynse woord "adolescere" afkomstig is. Dit beteken "om te groei in volwassenheid". In hierdie geval word adolessensie gesien as ʼn proses eerder as ʼn spesifieke tydperk in ʼn individu se lewe. Hierdie studie fokus op die adolessent, in die besonder die vroeë adolessente dogter en haar psigo-sosiale ontwikkeling. Spesifieke navorsing word gedoen oor die verhoudingsprobleme wat by die vroeë adolessente dogter gedurende die psigo-sosiale stadium van vroeë adolessensie voorkom, en die moontlikheid van groepsterapie as terapeutiese intervensie. Die benutting van groepsterapie, in die konteks van vroeë adolessente dogters met portuurgroep-verhoudingsprobleme, het die navorser geïnteresseer, weens haar ondervinding met kinders en spesifiek vroeë adolessente dogters met verhoudingsprobleme. Dogters is meer betrokke by hul verhoudings, hulle is meer uitgesproke in terme van hul emosies en benodig emosionele ondersteuning van hul portuurgroep, meer dikwels as wat seuns doen (Papalia et al. 2008:398). Sue, Sue en Sue (2006:579) skryf die toename in groepsterapie toe aan die feit dat baie sielkundige probleme interpersoonlik en intrapersoonlik van aard is. Verhoudingsprobleme binne groepe word dikwels die beste hanteer binne ʼn groep. / Papalia et al. (2008:419) state that the word "adolescence" comes from the Latin word "adolescere". It means "to grow in maturity". In this case, adolescence is seen as a process rather than as a specific time period in an individual's life. This study focuses on the adolescent, and in particular the early adolescent girl and her psychosocial development. Specific research is done on the relationship problems that occur during the development of the psychosocial stage of early adolescent girls and possible therapeutic interventions with the problem. The utilisation of group therapy, in the context of early adolescent girls and peer-relationship problems, interests the researcher, because of her experience with children and specifically early adolescent girls who are prone to peer-relationship problems. Girls are more concerned with their relationships; they are more outspoken in terms of their emotions and seek emotional support from their peers more often than boys do (Papalia et al.2008:398). Sue et al.(2006:579) attributes the increase in group therapy to the fact that many psychological problems are interpersonal and intrapersonal in nature. Relationship problems in groups are often best handled within the group. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

Text in Afrikaans / Papalia, Olds en Feldman (2008:419) noem dat die woord "adolessensie" van die Latynse woord "adolescere" afkomstig is. Dit beteken "om te groei in volwassenheid". In hierdie geval word adolessensie gesien as ʼn proses eerder as ʼn spesifieke tydperk in ʼn individu se lewe. Hierdie studie fokus op die adolessent, in die besonder die vroeë adolessente dogter en haar psigo-sosiale ontwikkeling. Spesifieke navorsing word gedoen oor die verhoudingsprobleme wat by die vroeë adolessente dogter gedurende die psigo-sosiale stadium van vroeë adolessensie voorkom, en die moontlikheid van groepsterapie as terapeutiese intervensie. Die benutting van groepsterapie, in die konteks van vroeë adolessente dogters met portuurgroep-verhoudingsprobleme, het die navorser geïnteresseer, weens haar ondervinding met kinders en spesifiek vroeë adolessente dogters met verhoudingsprobleme. Dogters is meer betrokke by hul verhoudings, hulle is meer uitgesproke in terme van hul emosies en benodig emosionele ondersteuning van hul portuurgroep, meer dikwels as wat seuns doen (Papalia et al. 2008:398). Sue, Sue en Sue (2006:579) skryf die toename in groepsterapie toe aan die feit dat baie sielkundige probleme interpersoonlik en intrapersoonlik van aard is. Verhoudingsprobleme binne groepe word dikwels die beste hanteer binne ʼn groep. / Papalia et al. (2008:419) state that the word "adolescence" comes from the Latin word "adolescere". It means "to grow in maturity". In this case, adolescence is seen as a process rather than as a specific time period in an individual's life. This study focuses on the adolescent, and in particular the early adolescent girl and her psychosocial development. Specific research is done on the relationship problems that occur during the development of the psychosocial stage of early adolescent girls and possible therapeutic interventions with the problem. The utilisation of group therapy, in the context of early adolescent girls and peer-relationship problems, interests the researcher, because of her experience with children and specifically early adolescent girls who are prone to peer-relationship problems. Girls are more concerned with their relationships; they are more outspoken in terms of their emotions and seek emotional support from their peers more often than boys do (Papalia et al.2008:398). Sue et al.(2006:579) attributes the increase in group therapy to the fact that many psychological problems are interpersonal and intrapersonal in nature. Relationship problems in groups are often best handled within the group. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

The increasing demand for couples therapy and its present low success rate led to the question whether Glasser's reality therapy, with its innovative approach, could possibly be of value to couples therapy in South Africa. Glasser emphasizes the importance of healthy personal relationships, freedom of choice and responsibility. In therapy he focuses on the fact that each person has control of what he/she does and thinks and that he/she should take responsibility for it. On the basis of a limited qualitative study, it was found that, with certain reservations, this therapy could make a valuable contribution to the success of couples therapy. Professional persons should be encouraged to apply reality theory in couples therapy, training institutions should train their students in this regard and more comprehensive and in-depth research should be undertaken to determine its value in larger and more representative groups. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

La présente thèse avait pour but d’analyser les problèmes conjugaux, les mandats et les objectifs thérapeutiques des couples qui consultent en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Cette thèse a été rédigée sous la forme de deux articles. Le premier article visait à dresser un portrait des problèmes conjugaux rapportés par les conjoints à l’aide d’une question ouverte. Les problèmes conjugaux de 108 couples débutant une thérapie conjugale ont d’abord été catégorisés. Les résultats ont montré que les problèmes conjugaux les plus fréquemment rapportés étaient liés à la communication, à la distance émotionnelle, à des problèmes spécifiques de la relation et à la sexualité. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence rapportent davantage de problèmes liés à l’engagement/sécurité et à l’infidélité/flirting que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation. Ces résultats ont démontré l’importance de l’utilisation du construit des mandats thérapeutiques et la nécessité d’étudier davantage l’ambivalence des couples. Le deuxième article visait à examiner les propriétés psychométriques de la mesure individualisée Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) dans l’évaluation du changement des couples en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. L’atteinte des objectifs thérapeutiques de 100 couples ayant complété une thérapie conjugale a été évaluée. Une catégorisation des objectifs thérapeutiques a également été proposée. Les résultats obtenus soutiennent l’efficacité de la thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Le pronostic du thérapeute quant au déroulement de la thérapie ainsi que le motif de fin de thérapie et la stabilité conjugale ont été identifiés comme étant liés à l’atteinte des objectifs. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation ont davantage d’objectifs thérapeutiques liés à la communication, à la résolution de problèmes et à l’acceptation des différences que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence. Les résultats appuient la validité et l’utilité de la mesure GAS pour la recherche et la pratique clinique. En somme, cette thèse a contribué à l’avancement des connaissances en apportant un appui empirique au construit des mandats thérapeutiques et comporte des implications tant au niveau de la clinique qu’au niveau méthodologique et théorique. / The aim of this dissertation was to study the relationship problems, treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of couples consulting in couple therapy in a naturalistic setting. This dissertation includes two original articles. Using a relationship problems coding system on a sample of 108 couples seeking therapy, the first study identified that the most common relationship problems were related to communication, emotional affection or distance, specific areas of the current relationship, and lack of physical affection or sex. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that commitment or security problems and infidelity or flirting problems were more common among couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate than among couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate. These results demonstrated the importance of identifying distinct therapeutic mandates in couple therapy and the need for further research about ambivalent couples. The second study aimed to evaluate change in couples that consulted in a naturalistic therapy setting using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). A categorization of treatment goals in couple therapy was proposed. Treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of 100 couples were categorized using standardized coding schemas. The results showed large pre-post changes in couples distress and severity of relationship problems. Therapists’ expectations about the therapy process, treatment completion and separation were related to couples’ goal attainment. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate had more goals related to communication, problem-solving and acceptance of differences than couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate. This study contributed to the field by providing preliminary data regarding the clinical utility of GAS in assessing change following couple therapy. Types of treatment goals set in naturalistic settings were presented and the results emphasized the need for further research on therapeutic mandates. In summary, this dissertation provided support to the construct of therapeutic mandates and presented clinical, methodological and theoretical implications.

La présente thèse avait pour but d’analyser les problèmes conjugaux, les mandats et les objectifs thérapeutiques des couples qui consultent en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Cette thèse a été rédigée sous la forme de deux articles. Le premier article visait à dresser un portrait des problèmes conjugaux rapportés par les conjoints à l’aide d’une question ouverte. Les problèmes conjugaux de 108 couples débutant une thérapie conjugale ont d’abord été catégorisés. Les résultats ont montré que les problèmes conjugaux les plus fréquemment rapportés étaient liés à la communication, à la distance émotionnelle, à des problèmes spécifiques de la relation et à la sexualité. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence rapportent davantage de problèmes liés à l’engagement/sécurité et à l’infidélité/flirting que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation. Ces résultats ont démontré l’importance de l’utilisation du construit des mandats thérapeutiques et la nécessité d’étudier davantage l’ambivalence des couples. Le deuxième article visait à examiner les propriétés psychométriques de la mesure individualisée Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) dans l’évaluation du changement des couples en thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. L’atteinte des objectifs thérapeutiques de 100 couples ayant complété une thérapie conjugale a été évaluée. Une catégorisation des objectifs thérapeutiques a également été proposée. Les résultats obtenus soutiennent l’efficacité de la thérapie conjugale en milieu naturel. Le pronostic du thérapeute quant au déroulement de la thérapie ainsi que le motif de fin de thérapie et la stabilité conjugale ont été identifiés comme étant liés à l’atteinte des objectifs. En comparant les couples selon le mandat thérapeutique, il a été trouvé que les couples en mandat d’amélioration de la relation ont davantage d’objectifs thérapeutiques liés à la communication, à la résolution de problèmes et à l’acceptation des différences que les couples en mandat de résolution de l’ambivalence. Les résultats appuient la validité et l’utilité de la mesure GAS pour la recherche et la pratique clinique. En somme, cette thèse a contribué à l’avancement des connaissances en apportant un appui empirique au construit des mandats thérapeutiques et comporte des implications tant au niveau de la clinique qu’au niveau méthodologique et théorique. / The aim of this dissertation was to study the relationship problems, treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of couples consulting in couple therapy in a naturalistic setting. This dissertation includes two original articles. Using a relationship problems coding system on a sample of 108 couples seeking therapy, the first study identified that the most common relationship problems were related to communication, emotional affection or distance, specific areas of the current relationship, and lack of physical affection or sex. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that commitment or security problems and infidelity or flirting problems were more common among couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate than among couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate. These results demonstrated the importance of identifying distinct therapeutic mandates in couple therapy and the need for further research about ambivalent couples. The second study aimed to evaluate change in couples that consulted in a naturalistic therapy setting using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). A categorization of treatment goals in couple therapy was proposed. Treatment goals and therapeutic mandates of 100 couples were categorized using standardized coding schemas. The results showed large pre-post changes in couples distress and severity of relationship problems. Therapists’ expectations about the therapy process, treatment completion and separation were related to couples’ goal attainment. Comparisons of therapeutic mandates revealed that couples pursuing an alleviation of distress mandate had more goals related to communication, problem-solving and acceptance of differences than couples pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate. This study contributed to the field by providing preliminary data regarding the clinical utility of GAS in assessing change following couple therapy. Types of treatment goals set in naturalistic settings were presented and the results emphasized the need for further research on therapeutic mandates. In summary, this dissertation provided support to the construct of therapeutic mandates and presented clinical, methodological and theoretical implications.