The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a psycho-educational intervention program on the mental toughness of secondary school cricketers. The general aim of the study was to use psychological skills and psychological techniques to enhance the mental toughness of secondary school cricketers, within a psycho-educational framework. This general aim of the study was actualised by employing the following specific aims: • A literature review was conducted to explore the psycho-educational model. It was found that the psycho-educational model was an appropriate model to use as the framework of the intervention program. • The literature review investigated and evaluated different psychological skills and psychological techniques that influenced the mental toughness of cricketers positively. • A questionnaire was designed. This questionnaire (CMTQ) fulfilled the role of a psychological skills measuring tool. • A psycho-educational intervention program was designed around the findings of the literature study. • Guidelines were compiled to follow when coaching mental toughness to secondary school cricketers. • The intervention program was presented over a six week period. • An empirical study was conducted to evaluate the successfulness of the intervention program. The first phase of the empirical study was done before the presentation of the psycho-educational intervention program. The data suggest that Confidence and Motivation were the two main psychological skills that the participants employed in their mental game of cricket. The second phase of the empirical study was only done after the completion of the six week intervention program. The selected data analysis method employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program was the t-test for dependant groups. v The results of the data analysis indicated that the participants in the experimental group improved in their mental toughness performance significantly. When the findings of the literature review and the results of the empirical study are combined, it appears as if this intervention program will have a positive influence on the cricket performance of secondary school cricketers. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Mathematics anxiety is a personal characteristic which is widespread and continuing. It has a debilitating effect on mathematics performance and contributes to perceptions and attitudes that perpetuate a dislike for mathematics and a lack of confidence when dealing with mathematical problems. An investigation of relevant literature on mathematics anxiety identifies sources and symptoms and emphasises a need for a comprehensive approach to remediation. The historical development of an appropriate measuring instrument is documented and statistical evidence is used to create a mathematics anxiety rating scale suitable for measuring anxiety levels of secondary school pupils and student teachers. The extensive literature interest, research publications and remedial programmes emphasise the problem of mathematics anxiety and thus the need for a comprehensive approach to remediation. Mathematics teaching and curriculum design is expounded to provide the necessary direction to the alleviation of mathematics anxiety. General perspectives on curriculum design are discussed and a cyclical systems approach is recommended. Elements of this approach are detailed and are linked to important personal characteristics to add a humanistic and socio-cultural view of curriculum design in mathematics. The didactic viability of constructivism as an approach to mathematics curriculum design is investigated. Constructivism embodies a philosophy and a methodology which addresses the critical aspects influencing mathematics anxiety. Classroom topics and activities are reviewed in terms of a constructivist approach and the sources of mathematics anxiety are discussed from a constructivist perspective. A longitudinal case study of pupils during their five years at secondary school as well as a study involving student teachers was undertaken. Mathematics performance, perceptions, attitudes and levels of anxiety were investigated by means of tests, questionnaires, and mathematics anxiety rating scales. The statistical results of this research provide evidence to support a comprehensive approach to the remediation of mathematics anxiety. Constructivism is seen as the synthesis of critical aspects of teaching and curriculum development which will stem the perpetuation of mathematics anxiety. Constructivism provides the didactic approach to develop each individual's intellectual autonomy and mathematics power, by instilling a problem solving attitude and a self-confidence when doing mathematics. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie ondersoek was om te bepaal watler faktore die grootste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Met die literatuurstudie is die verskillende faktore wat sportprestasie beinvloed, geidentifiseer en verder ondersoek en beskryf. Daar is gevind dat 'n wye verskeidenheid faktore bestaan wat atletelsportdeelnemers se prestasie positief of negatief kan beinvloed. 'n Empiriese ondersoek is uitgevoer waarby 'n aantal atlete/sportdeelnemers, wat aan verskeie sportsoorte deelneem, betrek is. Die afrigters van hierdie atlete/sportdeelnemers is oak by die ondersoek betrek. Eerstens is bepaal watter faktore, volgens die atlete/sportdeelnemers, die grootste bydrae tot hul sportprestasie lewer. Daama is hierdie geidenlifiseerde faktore aan 'n regressieanalise onderwerp om te bepaal walter faktor/e die grootste en belangrikste bydrae tot sportprestasie lewer. Die resultate het getoon dat hierdie faktore soos volg is: motivering, afrigter, kommunikasie, selfvertroue, aanleg en dieet / The purpose of this study was to determine which factors contribute significantly to sports achievement. In the literature study, different factors with an underlying effect on sports achievement were identified, explained and further investigated. A wide variety of factors bearing positive as well as negative effect on athletes'/sport participants' achievement were found. An empirical study was carried out in which a number of athletes/sport participators were involved. The coaches of these athletes/sport participants were also included. The factors that play a major contributing role in these athletes/sport participants' sports achievement were primarily determined. Thereafter the identified factors were further investigated through the use of a regression analysis to ascertain which ones contribute the most to sports achievement. The results indicated that these factors are as follows: motivation, coach, communication, self-confidence, talent and diet. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)

This thesis focuses on Czechoslovak radio broadcasting on BBC from September 1939 (when the separate Czech program started there) to the end of World War II in which there were participating political representatives of Czechoslovakia after partial recognition of Czechoslovak government in the exile by the British government in summer of 1940. Main theme of the thesis are the radio speeches of Jan Masaryk, the former (longtime) Czechoslovak ambassador in London and future Minister of Foreign Affairs of the exile government. He launched the Czech Programme of BBC for listeners in the Protectorate on 8th September 1939 and began to appear on the waves regularly once a week in February 1940. The thesis analyzes how he tried (in his speeches and comments) to encourage self-confidence of the nation, how he tried to nullify germanization endeavors of occupiers and quislings to reinterpret Czech historical narrative and by usage of what ideological weapons he was creating the image of small, but internally strong and mature Czechoslovak nation, morally exceeding its inherent German enemy. He used this story as a rhetorical shield against the Nazi interpretation of the Czech tribe, who returned to the womb of the modern Holy Roman Empire, where it belongs as natural part - by the words of the Nazi propaganda.

Cette thèse montre en quoi l'analyse de l'activité des professeurs des écoles enseignant une Langue Vivante Etrangère peut apporter des connaissances utiles au processus de formation continue de ces maîtres au sein de leur polyvalence. L'activité humaine est invisible tant pour les observateurs que pour les acteurs eux-mêmes, d'où notre recours au cadre théorique et méthodologique de l'analyse ergonomique de l'activité enseignante qui s'inscrit dans une perspective historico-culturelle et se nourrit des apports féconds d'une clinique de l'activité. La Méthode d'Auto Confrontation, méthode indirecte, nous permet la création d'un milieu spécifique où nous prenons en compte l'expérience des enseignants et où nous cherchons à transformer le travail pour le comprendre. Nous nous sommes appuyés sur l'analyse de l'activité de six enseignants engagés dans l'enseignement de l'anglais afin de rendre compte de leurs manières de faire, des arbitrages et compromis à l'oeuvre. Une première représentation des pratiques enseignantes laisse ainsi apparaître trois registres d'action principaux liés à leur maîtrise de la conduite de classe, à leur connaissance de la démarche didactique et pédagogique de l'enseignement des LVE et à leur maîtrise de la langue cible. Un processus spécifique lié à la confiance en soi a émergé en cours d'analyse et joue un rôle central dans leur activité. Un nouvel éclairage de la polyvalence est alors envisagé où nous proposons une rencontre entre analyse du travail et formation. La « mise en situation active » (MSA) décline les perspectives découlant de la visée technologique de notre recherche. / This thesis shows how the analysis of the activity of the school teachers teaching a Foreign Language can bring useful knowledge to the process of ongoing training to these teachers within the core of their versatility. Human activity is invisible as much for the observers as for the actors themselves, which leads us to fall back on the theoretical and methodological frameworks of the ergonomic teaching activity which joins a historical-cultural perspective and is fed by the fertile contributions of a clinic of activity. The method of Self-Confrontation, an indirect method, allows us to create a specific space where we take into account the experience of the teachers and where we seek to transform the work in order to understand it. We turned to the analysis of the activity of six teachers engaged in the teaching of English in order to report on their methods, their judgments and compromises in action. A primary representation of their teaching practices thus allows three principle registers of action linked to their mastery of classroom management, to their knowledge of the didactic and pedagogical process of the teaching of Foreign Languages and their mastery of the target language. A specific process linked to self-confidence emerged during the course of the study and played a central role in their activity. A new understanding of versatility is thus envisioned where we propose to link the work analysis and training. The "put into live action" breaks down the perspectives coming from our targeted online research.

Word of mouth (WOM) communication has been a form of additional information for consumers wishing to make a purchase decision where there was uncertainty, lack of knowledge or just a general desire for more information. The increased access and use of social media as well as anonymous opportunities for consumers to provide their reviews on products or services is changing how WOM is used and sought. There is little research on the impact and use of WOM with respect to consumer decision making in a recreation and leisure context. Much research has been focussed on retail experiences and more tangible outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the process consumers undertake to seek out, listen and engage in WOM communication when making service purchase decisions. This study took place in a municipality in York Region that offered swimming lessons to the public. Participants were chosen using convenience sampling methodology. 500 surveys were distributed with 301 returned surveys completed to some degree. Study participants were recruited from observers watching a swim class offered by a municipal recreation provider. The survey instrument asked participants to describe themselves in terms of their experience level with municipal recreation programs. It also included three scales relating to susceptibility to influence, self confidence and need for cognition. Participants were exposed to one of five scenarios – one control message contained no treatment information and four scenarios with treatment messages relating to self-confidence and perceived risk. Treatment group members received information suggesting either high and low levels of perceived risk with purchase and high and low levels of self-confidence with knowledge (regarding the purchase decision). Respondents in this study possessed a very high level of self confidence in their program selections; they knew where to find the information and also how to explore program options. Overall this seemed a very well informed and confident group. Results suggest that susceptibility to influence (t = 5.889, p = .000) and self confidence (t = -2.174, p = .037) influenced their search for WOM communication. Need for cognition did not influence the likelihood they would seek WOM communication (t = -1.098, p = .280). Together all three variables explained 50% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .505) in the dependent variable (likelihood they would seek out WOM to make the purchase). These results indicate that participants were more likely to seek WOM when they were susceptible to influence and when their self confidence levels were low. Results also suggest that consumers were open to on line sources of word of mouth communication. More than that, study participants were generally willing to trust online reviews from people who were not necessarily known to them. As a result, online reviews could greatly influence the program registration numbers. A key question for future research could focus on the role shared experience plays in the evolution of trust between strangers. Many of these respondents would trust the advice of others simply because they reported having shared experience. How far does this trust go? How much risk must be present before they hesitate to take advice from unknown individuals? What are the characteristics or traits that consumers look for when assessing the validity of the reviews. Word of mouth seems a very pervasive and resilient concept. This may be particularly important in situations characterized by risk. Additional research could further explore the concept of word of finger and its influence on the traditional concept of WOM communication.

Syftet med denna studie var att genom kvalitativa forskningsintervjuer ta reda på hur flickor med utländsk bakgrund kan uppleva ett specifikt fotbollsprojekt som syftar till att öka deltagandet bland flickor med invandrarbakgrund. Syftet var även att undersöka vilken betydelse projektet kan ha för dem. Sex flickor med utländsk bakgrund som deltar i det specifika fotbollsprojektet ingick i studien. Av resultatet framkom att flickorna upplever att projektet har haft en stor betydelse för deras självuppfattning. Projektet har gett dem nya möjligheter att lära sig spela fotboll, träffa nya kompisar samt att vara mer fysiskt aktiva. Det framgår även att flickornas motivation till att spela fotboll har stärkts samt att denna ökning av motivation i kombination med den stärkta självuppfattningen kan ha resulterat i att flickorna börjat ta plats i andra arenor som rasterna i skolan och klassfotbollen. / The purpose of this study was to look into how girls with foreign backgrounds can experience a specific football projects that aims to increase the participation in sports among girls with foreign backgrounds. The intention was also to examine what meaning the project can have for these girls. The study was conducted with qualitative interviews and a total of six girls from the specific project participated. The result from the interviews was that the girls experiences that the project has affected their self-concept in a good direction. The football project has given them new opportunities to learn how to play football, meet new friends and to be physically active. Their motivation to play football has also increased .The increase of motivation in combination with the strengthen self-concept may have resulted in the girl feeling confident and motivated enough to participate more in the school breaks and the “class football”.

The factors of psychological training of athletes are researched not sufficiently enough. Many authors underline that psychological training of athletes is a complicated process, without which the development of modern sports is impossible. The problem of study is that data, which would reveal the influence of psychological training program on psychological skills that, are: imagery creation skills, stress management skills, management of mental energy, concentration skills, self confidence and goal setting skills. The purpose of this study is to establish the influence of psychological training program on the psychological skills of basketball players. Objectives: to establish level of psychological skills before and after psychological training program. Data were obtained from a sample of 14 basketball players competing in Lithuanian basketball “A” league. Effectiveness of psychological training program was evaluated through (a) Training experiment (the psychological training program), (b) the psychological tests, and (c) mathematical statistics. The results indicated an increase in all investigated psychological skills. Although not all results showed a reliable difference, but stress management, self confidence and goal setting skills managed to show a reliable difference between two cases. Results confirmed that even a minimal psychological training program is effective for athletes all over the world.

Word of mouth (WOM) communication has been a form of additional information for consumers wishing to make a purchase decision where there was uncertainty, lack of knowledge or just a general desire for more information. The increased access and use of social media as well as anonymous opportunities for consumers to provide their reviews on products or services is changing how WOM is used and sought. There is little research on the impact and use of WOM with respect to consumer decision making in a recreation and leisure context. Much research has been focussed on retail experiences and more tangible outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the process consumers undertake to seek out, listen and engage in WOM communication when making service purchase decisions. This study took place in a municipality in York Region that offered swimming lessons to the public. Participants were chosen using convenience sampling methodology. 500 surveys were distributed with 301 returned surveys completed to some degree. Study participants were recruited from observers watching a swim class offered by a municipal recreation provider. The survey instrument asked participants to describe themselves in terms of their experience level with municipal recreation programs. It also included three scales relating to susceptibility to influence, self confidence and need for cognition. Participants were exposed to one of five scenarios – one control message contained no treatment information and four scenarios with treatment messages relating to self-confidence and perceived risk. Treatment group members received information suggesting either high and low levels of perceived risk with purchase and high and low levels of self-confidence with knowledge (regarding the purchase decision). Respondents in this study possessed a very high level of self confidence in their program selections; they knew where to find the information and also how to explore program options. Overall this seemed a very well informed and confident group. Results suggest that susceptibility to influence (t = 5.889, p = .000) and self confidence (t = -2.174, p = .037) influenced their search for WOM communication. Need for cognition did not influence the likelihood they would seek WOM communication (t = -1.098, p = .280). Together all three variables explained 50% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .505) in the dependent variable (likelihood they would seek out WOM to make the purchase). These results indicate that participants were more likely to seek WOM when they were susceptible to influence and when their self confidence levels were low. Results also suggest that consumers were open to on line sources of word of mouth communication. More than that, study participants were generally willing to trust online reviews from people who were not necessarily known to them. As a result, online reviews could greatly influence the program registration numbers. A key question for future research could focus on the role shared experience plays in the evolution of trust between strangers. Many of these respondents would trust the advice of others simply because they reported having shared experience. How far does this trust go? How much risk must be present before they hesitate to take advice from unknown individuals? What are the characteristics or traits that consumers look for when assessing the validity of the reviews. Word of mouth seems a very pervasive and resilient concept. This may be particularly important in situations characterized by risk. Additional research could further explore the concept of word of finger and its influence on the traditional concept of WOM communication.

O propósito deste trabalho é investigar os antecedentes do comportamento de retaliação dos consumidores. Primeiramente, revisam-se os fundamentos teóricos relativos ao tema. A seguir, apresenta-se a metodologia empregada, ressaltando-se as quatro etapas de pesquisa realizadas. Na primeira, qualitativa, foram realizadas 27 entrevistas em profundidade, que deram origem ao questionário e aos cenários das etapas experimentais do estudo. Na segunda, foi aplicado o primeiro experimento com o objetivo de examinar os efeitos do nível de insatisfação e das demais variáveis dependentes (autoconfiança, valência, eficácia de mercado e tendência por agressão deslocada) na intenção de retaliação em dois momentos diferentes: pós-insatisfação inicial (RPII) e pós-insatisfação com o gerenciamento da reclamação (RPIGR). A autoconfiança e a tendência por agressão deslocada emergiram como fortes moderadores da relação entre nível de insatisfação e intenção de retaliação. A valência indicou exercer efeito mediador nessa relação. A eficácia de mercado não influenciou a intenção de retaliação. Ainda, como os resultados do primeiro experimento indicaram que a retaliação é um fenômeno bem mais prevalente em situações de insatisfação pós-recuperação de serviço, o segundo experimento investigou os efeitos das percepções de justiça (distributiva, processual e interpessoal) e da iniciativa de recuperação (pela empresa vs. pelo consumidor) na intenção de retaliação. Os resultados confirmam as hipóteses do estudo e reforçam a existência da interação das dimensões de justiça na predição da intenção de retaliação. Os efeitos moderadores da autoconfiança e da tendência por agressão deslocada foram confirmados também no segundo experimento. Por outro lado, o papel mediador da valência foi rejeitado. No terceiro experimento, uma explicação adicional para o fenômeno de retaliação foi testada (influência social). Os resultados do terceiro experimento replicam os resultados do segundo e confirmam parcialmente a hipótese da influência social na intenção de retaliação. Não existiu diferença significativa na intenção de retaliação quando somente o próprio entrevistado é injustiçado do que quando ele observa outros indivíduos serem injustiçados ou quando ele sofre e observa alguma injustiça. Esses resultados fornecem uma série de implicações gerenciais e acadêmicas, bem como abrem caminho para futuras pesquisas. / The intention of this work is to investigate the antecedents of the consumer retaliatory behavior. First, the theoretical basis concerning the theme was reviewed. Next, the methodology applied was presented, emphasizing the four phases of research. In the first, qualitative phase, 27 in depth interviews were made, originating the structured questionnaire and the scenarios of the experimental phases of the study. In second phase, the first experiment was applied with the objective to examine the effect of the dissatisfaction level and the other dependent variables (self-confidence, valence, market effectiveness and trait of displaced aggression) in the intention to retaliate at two different moments: after an initial dissatisfaction (RPII) and after a dissatisfactory complaint handling (RPIGR). The selfconfidence and trait of displaced aggression emerged as strong moderators to the relation between dissatisfaction level and intention of retaliation. The valence exerted a mediating effect in this relation. The market effectiveness did not influence the retaliation intention. Still, as the results of the first experiment had indicated that the retaliation is a phenomenon well more prevalent in dissatisfaction after service recovery situations, the second experiment investigated the effect of the perceptions of justice (distributive, procedural and interpersonal) and of the recovery initiatiation (by the company vs. by the consumer) in the retaliation intention. The results confirm the hypotheses of the study and strengthen the existence of the interaction of the dimensions of justice in the prediction of the retaliation intention. The moderator effect of the self-confidence and of the trait of displaced aggression was also confirmed in the second experiment. On the other hand, the mediating role of the valence was rejected. In the third experiment, an additional explanation for the retaliation phenomenon was tested (social influence). The results of the third experiment replicate the results of the second one and partially confirm the hypothesis of the social influence in the retaliation intention. There was no significant difference in the intention to retaliate between the groups that the own partcipant in the experiment is victim of an injustice, that he or she only observes other individuals to be victims of an injustice and that he or she suffers and observes an injustice. These results supply several managerial and academic implications, as well as they open a new agenda for future research.