This dissertation aims to develop an ethical system that can properly frame such questions as the morality of large-scale efforts to transform inanimate parts of nature, for example, proposals to terraform Mars. Such an ethics diverges from traditional approaches to ethics because it expands the class of entities regarded as morally considerable to include inanimate entities. I approach the task by building on the environmental ethical theory of Paul W. Taylor, as developed in his 1986 book Respect for Nature: A Theory of Environmental Ethics. I discuss various criticisms of Taylor and propose two extensions to his theory: an expansion of the scope of moral considerability to include all concrete material objects and the introduction of the concept of variable moral significance (the notion that all entities have inherent worth but some have more than others). Using Taylor’s modified and extended theory as a foundation, I develop something I call universal ethics. This is an ethical framework whose key elements are a fundamental ethical attitude of respect for the world and a principle of minimal harm. Universal ethics regards all concrete material entities, whether living or not, and whether natural or artefactual, as inherently valuable, and therefore as entitled to the respect of moral agents. I offer a defence of this ethical framework and discuss a number of practical applications, including criticism of proposals for the terraforming of Mars. I conclude that terraforming Mars or any other celestial body at this point in our history would be morally wrong. I also suggest that universal ethics provides an ethical foundation for efforts to protect Antarctica, and that it has implications for our relations to other inanimate parts of our world, including artefacts.

Afrikaans text / Met hierdie studie is beoog om leerders se persepsies van skool vas te stel en om riglyne vir ouers daar te stel om leerders met negatiewe persepsies van skool te hanteer. Daar is beoog om hierdie riglyne deur middel van praktiese modelle en werksvelle te implementeer sodat ouers begrip vir kinders se persepsies kan verkry en dat konflik opgelos kan word deur middel van positiewe kommunikasie. In die literatuurstudie word ondersoek ingestel na persepsievorming en die oorsake vir die vorming van negatiewe persepsies van skool. ‘n Persepsie word gevorm deurdat betekenis aan ‘n ervaring, op grond van die persoon se verwysingsraamwerk gegee word. Interne- sowel as eksterne faktore speel ‘n rol wanneer persepsies gevorm word. Eksterne faktore behels die verhouding met rolspelers soos: die ouers, die skool en onderwysers, die portuurgroep en die leerder se verhouding met homself. Interne faktore wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is, behels: lokus van kontrole, motivering, emosionele probleme, kognitiewe probleme en gedragsprobleme.Die navorsingsprobleem is verken met behulp van ‘n loodsondersoek as ‘n voortoets en diagnostiese vraelys wat deur die navorsingsgroep van 50 leerders voltooi is. Onderhoude is met vyf leerders gevoer oor hulle ervaringe en behoeftes met betrekking tot hulle persepsies van skool. Bevindinge dui aan dat ongeveer ‘n vyfde van die skool se leerders oor ‘n negatiewe persepsie van skool beskik. In die vraelys is leerders se persepsies ten opsigte van verskeie rolspelers vasgestel. Daar bestaan behoefte by leerders dat ouers betrokke en ondersteunend sal wees en dat ouers begrip vir hulle persepsies sal toon. Deur middel van praktiese diagramme en werksvelle is begrip en positiewe kommunikasie tussen ouer en kind bewerkstellig. In Hoofstuk 6 word praktiese riglyne aan ouers gegee oor hoe om sy kind, met ‘n negatiewe persepsie van skool, te hanteer. Op hierdie wyse is gepoog dat leerders positiewe ervaringe sal geniet; ‘n positiewe verwysingsraamwerk sal vorm en sodoende positiewe persepsies van skool sal vorm. ‘n Bydrae is ten opsigte van ouerleiding gelewer. Ouers word toegerus om ‘n kind met negatiewe persepsies van skool met begrip te hanteer. / The aim of this study was to determine learners’ perceptions of school and to provide guidelines for parents to deal with negative perceptions of school. These guidelines were implemented using practical models as well as work sheets. These were specifically aimed at enhancing parents’ understanding of the negative perceptions and resolving conflict through positive communication. In the literary study, the constitution of perceptions as well as the causes of the constitution of negative perceptions was investigated. A perception is established when a person gives meaning to an experience based on that person’s frame of reference. Internal and external factors play a part when perceptions are constituted. External factors in this study entail the relationship with parents, school and teachers, peer group and the learner's relationship with himself. Internal factors referred to in this study are locus of control, motivation, emotional problems, cognitive problems and behavioural problems. vii The research problem was explored using a pilot investigation as pre-test. A diagnostic questionnaire was also completed by 50 learners. Five learners were interviewed about their experiences and needs specifically in relation to their perceptions of school. Findings show that approximately one fifth of the learners of the school have negative perceptions of school. In the questionnaire, the learners’ perceptions with respect to a variety of role players were determined. There is a definite need for parents to be involved and supportive. Learners also need them to show understanding for their perceptions. Positive communication and understanding between parents and learners were established through practical diagrams and work sheets. In Chapter 6 practical guidelines are given to equip parents to understand how to handle the child with negative perceptions. The aim of this was to encourage learners to enjoy positive experiences, to form a positive frame of reference and therefore develop positive perceptions of school. A contribution towards parental guidance was made. Parents are left equipped to deal with a child with negative perceptions of school. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Of the three manuscripts that form the basis of this thesis, MS Cape Town, South African Library, Grey 4c7 is, in musicological terms the most important of the three manuscripts. It is a complete Carthusian Antiphonary, of the late 14th century, written for the Charterhouse of Champmol, near Dijon, the mausoleum of the Dukes of Burgundy. It also contains an extensive Tonary, a Hymnary and a Kyriale. The two didactic verses which form part of the Tonary are of particular importance, since MS 4c7is one of the few manuscripts in the world intended for musical performance to contain the Ter terni by William of Hirsau; furthermore it is apparently the only Carthusian manuscript of any kind to contain the Oyapente et dyatessaron by Hucbald. The manuscript is placed in the context of the Carthusian liturgy of the 12th to the 16th centuries and is compared with 33 manuscripts of this period. It is shown that, although a marked textual similarity exists between the manuscripts, there are variant melodies. The conclusion is therefore drawn that the Carthusians did not have a single exemplar for the melodies in their liturgical books. It is shown that MS 4c7 and MS Oijon, Bibliotheque municipale 118, also written for Champmol, were copied from the same exemplar and that they are closely related to MSS Beaune, Bibliotheque municipale 27, 34 and 41, ot the neighbouring Charterhouse of Fontenay. The second manuscript, MS Grey 3c23, an Antiphonary for nuns, for Lauds and Vespers, written for the Charterhouse of Mont-Sainte-Marie, at Gosnay, near Arras, has been dated 1538 by the original scribe. This manuscript is almost identical to MS AGC C II 817. The presence of a Sequence, foreign to the Carthusian tradition, is however unique toMS 3c23. The third manuscript, MS Grey 6b3, is an Evangeliary, signed by the scribe, Amelontius de Ercklems, in 1520. Its provenance is the Charterhouse of Our Lady of the Twelve Apostles at Mont-Cornillon near Liege. Musicological features of the manuscript which are discussed are the Hymn 'Te decet laus', and the accent neumes at the ends of pericopes. / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / D.Mus. (Musicology)

The unique problems encountered when analyzing weather data sets - that is, measurements taken while conducting a meteorological experiment- have forced statisticians to reconsider the conventional analysis methods and investigate permutation test procedures. The problems encountered when analyzing weather data sets are simulated for a Monte Carlo study, and the results of the parametric and permutation t-tests are compared with regard to significance level, power, and the average coilfidence interval length. Seven population distributions are considered - three are variations of the normal distribution, and the others the gamma, the lognormal, the rectangular and empirical distributions. The normal distribution contaminated with zero measurements is also simulated. In those simulated situations in which the variances are unequal, the permutation test procedure was performed using other test statistics, namely the Scheffe, Welch and Behrens-Fisher test statistics. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Se a publicação dos dois volumes dos Problemas de linguística geral de Émile Benveniste (1966; 1974) se configura em um marco para os estudos enunciativos, a publicação de suas Últimas aulas no Collège de France (1968 e 1969) (2012) – obra estabelecida geneticamente por Jean-Claude Coquet e Irène Fenoglio a partir de manuscritos do linguista e de seus ouvintes – marca, por sua vez, uma volta à discussão de sua reflexão semiológica. Reflexão formulada por Benveniste no decorrer dos anos 60 e apresentada, sobretudo, em seu artigo “Semiologia da língua” (1969/1974). Nessa perspectiva, no presente trabalho, propõe-se a semiologia da língua de Benveniste como objeto de pesquisa. Ao contrário dos estudos correntes na área, neste, não é enfatizado o projeto da metassemântica apresentado programaticamente no final de “Semiologia da língua”, mas se busca compreender a ideia de uma semiologia da língua e o efeito dessa reflexão semiológica sobre o lugar da linguagem nas ciências humanas. Para tanto, de um ponto de vista que parte da noção de historicidade (MESCHONNIC, 1995) e que, através de uma composição vida-obra-teoria (condições de enunciação), busca aprofundar a discussão a respeito do pensamento de Benveniste, realiza-se um estudo teórico de diferentes textos de seus Problemas de linguística geral tomados em contraponto com os manuscritos que compõem suas Últimas aulas. O trabalho se apresenta em três capítulos, ao longo dos quais são formuladas e defendidas duas hipóteses, a primeira referente à ideia de que, além da metassemântica, a semiologia da língua desenvolvida pelo linguista engloba outras relações envolvendo a língua; a segunda referente à ideia de que, com a semiologia da língua, Benveniste torna incontornável uma reflexão a respeito da linguagem nas ciências humanas, uma vez que a língua (e somente a língua, devido a sua dupla significância) é o único sistema que pode interpretar a si mesmo e aos outros sistemas semiológicos. Esse fato faz com que o linguista confira um lugar central à língua em campos do saber fora da linguística. / If the publication of the two volumes of Problems in General Linguistics by Émile Benveniste (1966; 1974) is a landmark for enunciative studies, the publication of his Dernières Leçons. Collège de France 1968 et 1969 [Last Lectures at Collège de France (1968 and 1969)] (2012) – work genetically established by Jean-Claude Coquet and Irène Fenoglio based on the manuscripts of the linguist and his listeners – marks a return to the discussion of his semiological reflection. A reflection Benveniste developed during the 1960s and presented mainly in his article “The Semiology of Language” (1969/1974). Within this perspective, the object of research in this paper is Benveniste's semiology of language. Unlike current studies in this area, this one does not emphasize the project of meta-semantics presented programmatically at the end of “The Semiology of Language”, but seeks to understand the idea of a semiology of language and the effect of this semiological reflection on the place of language in the human sciences. In order to do that, from a standpoint that is based on the notion of historicity (MESCHONNIC, 1995) and that seeks to further the discussion on Benveniste’s thinking through a composition life-work-theory (conditions of enunciation), a theoretical study of different texts of his Problems in General Linguistics is carried out, taken in contrast with the manuscripts that make up his Dernières Leçons. The study is developed in three chapters, along which two hypotheses are formulated and defended. The first refers to the idea that, in addition to the meta-semantics, the semiology of language developed by the linguist includes other relationships involving language. The second refers to the idea that, with the semiology of language, Benveniste makes a reflection on language in the human sciences inevitable, since language (and only language, because of its double significance) is the only system that can interpret itself and other semiological systems. This fact leads the linguist to put language in a central place in fields of knowledge other than linguistics.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:06:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2203.pdf: 1300161 bytes, checksum: 2c1f11d939eab9ab849bb04bf2363a53 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-10 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / This study considers two discrete distributions based on Bernoulli trials: the Binomial and the Negative Binomial. We explore credibility and confidence intervals to estimate the probability of success of each distribution. The main goal is to analyze their performance coverage probability and average range across the parametric space. We also consider point analysis of bayesian estimators and maximum likelihood estimators, whose interest is to confirm through simulation their consistency, bias and mean square error. In this paper the Objective Bayesian Inference is applied through the noninformative Bayes-Laplace prior, Haldane prior, reference prior and least favorable prior. By analyzing the prior distributions in the minimax decision theory context we verified that the least favorable prior distribution has every other considered prior distributions as particular cases when a quadratic loss function is applied, and matches the Bayes-Laplace prior in considering the quadratic weighed loss function for the Binomial model (which was never found in literature). We used the noninformative Bayes-Laplace prior and Jeffreys prior for the Negative Binomial model. Our findings show through coverage probability, average range of bayesian intervals and point estimation that the Objective Bayesian Inference has good frequentist properties for the probability of success of Binomial and Negative Binomial models. The last stage of this study discusses the presence of correlated proportions in matched-pairs (2 × 2 table) of Bernoulli with the goal of obtaining more information in relation of the considered measures for testing the occurrence of correlated proportions. In this sense the Trinomial model and the partial likelihood function were used from the frequentist and bayesian point of view. The Full Bayesian Significance Test (FBST) was used for real data sets and was shown sensitive to parameterization, however, this study was not possible for the frequentist method since distinct methods are needed to be applied to Trinomial model and the partial likelihood function. / Neste estudo são abordadas duas distribuições discretas baseadas em ensaios de Bernoulli, a Binomial e a Binomial Negativa. São explorados intervalos de credibilidade e confiança para estimação da probabilidade de sucesso de ambas as distribuições. A principal finalidade é analisar nos contextos clássico e bayesiano o desempenho da probabilidade de cobertura e amplitude média gerada pelos intervalos de confiança e intervalos de credibilidade ao longo do espaço paramétrico. Considerou-se também a análise dos estimadores pontuais bayesianos e o estimador de máxima verossimilhança, cujo interesse é confirmar por meio de simulação a consistência e calcular o viés e o erro quadrático médio dos mesmos. A Inferência Bayesiana Objetiva é empregada neste estudo por meio das distribuições a priori não-informativas de Bayes-Laplace, de Haldane, de Jeffreys e menos favorável. Ao analisar as distribuições a priori no contexto de teoria de decisões minimax, a distribuição a priori menos favorável resgata as demais citadas ao empregar a função de perda quadrática e coincide com a distribuição a priori de Bayes-Laplace ao considerar a função de perda quadrática ponderada para o modelo Binomial, o que não foi encontrado até o momento na literatura. Para o modelo Binomial Negativa são consideradas as distribuições a priori não-informativas de Bayes-Laplace e de Jeffreys. Com os estudos desenvolvidos pôde-se observar que a Inferência Bayesiana Objetiva para a probabilidade de sucesso dos modelos Binomial e Binomial Negativa apresentou boas propriedades freqüentistas, analisadas a partir da probabilidade de cobertura e amplitude média dos intervalos bayesianos e por meio das propriedades dos estimadores pontuais. A última etapa do trabalho consiste na análise da ocorrência de proporções correlacionadas em pares de eventos de Bernoulli (tabela 2×2) com a finalidade de determinar um possível ganho de informação em relação as medidas consideradas para testar a ocorrência de proporções correlacionadas. Para tanto fez-se uso do modelo Trinomial e da função de verossimilhança parcial tanto numa abordagem clássica quanto bayesiana. Nos conjuntos de dados analisados observou-se a medida de evidência bayesiana (FBST) como sensível à parametrização, já para os métodos clássicos essa comparação não foi possível, pois métodos distintos precisam ser aplicados para o modelo Trinomial e para a função de verossimilhança parcial.

Apresenta-se, neste trabalho, o desenvolvimento de um modelo bioinspirado a partir do circuito neural de insetos. Este modelo é obtido através da análise de primeira ordem dada pelo STA (Spike Triggered Average) e pela transferência de informação entre os sinais neurais. São aplicadas técnicas baseadas na identificação dos atrasos de tempo da máxima coerência da informação. Utilizam-se, para esta finalidade, os conceitos da teoria de informação: a DMI (Delayed Mutual Information) e a TE (Transfer Entropy). Essas duas abordagens têm aplicação em transferência de informação, cada uma com suas particularidades. A DMI é uma ferramenta mais simples do que a TE, do ponto de vista computacional, pois depende da análise estatística de funções densidades de probabilidades de segunda ordem, enquanto que a TE, de funções de terceira ordem. Dependendo dos recursos computacionais disponíveis, este é um fator que deve ser levado em consideração. Os resultados de atraso da informação são muito bem identificados pela DMI. No entanto, a DMI falha em distinguir a direção do fluxo de informação, quando se tem sistemas com transferência de informação indireta e com sobreposição da informação. Nesses casos, a TE é a ferramenta mais indicada para a determinação da direção do fluxo de informação, devido à dependência condicional imposta pelo histórico comum entre os sinais analisados. Em circuitos neurais, estas questões ocorrem em diversos casos. No gânglio metatorácico de insetos, os interneurônios locais possuem diferentes padrões de caminhos com sobreposição da informação, pois recebem sinais de diferentes neurônios sensores para o movimento das membros locomotores desses animais. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é propor um modelo do circuito neural do inseto, para mapear como os sinais neurais se comportam, quando sujeitos a um conjunto de movimentos aleatórios impostos no membro do inseto. As respostas neurais são reflexos provocados pelo estímulo táctil, que gera o movimento na junção femorotibial do membro posterior. Nestes circuitos neurais, os sinais neurais são processados por interneurônios locais dos tipos spiking e nonspiking que operam em paralelo para processar a informação vinda dos neurônios sensores. Esses interneurônios recebem sinais de entrada de mecanorreceptores do membro posterior e da junção motora dos insetos. A principal característica dos interneurônios locais é a sua capacidade de se comunicar com outros neurônios, tendo ou não a presença de impulsos nervosos (spiking e nonspiking). Assim, forma-se um circuito neural com sinais de entradas (neurônios sensores) e saídas (neurônios motores). Neste trabalho, os algoritmos propostos analisam desde a geração aleatória dos movimentos mecânicos e os estímulos nos neurônios sensores que chegam até o gânglio metatorácico, incluindo suas respostas nos neurônios motores. São implementados os algoritmos e seus respectivos pseudocódigos para a DMI e para a TE. É utilizada a técnica de Surrogate Data para inferir as medidas de significância estatística em relação à máxima coerência de informação entre os sinais neurais. Os resultados a partir dos Surrogate Data são utilizados para a compensação dos erros de desvio das medidas de transferência de informação. Um algoritmo, baseado na IAAFT (Iterative Amplitude Adjusted Fourier Transform), gera os dados substitutos, com mesmo espectro de potência e diferentes distribuições dos sinais originais. Os resultados da DMI e da TE com os Surrogate Data fornecem os valores das linhas de base quando ocorre a mínima transferência de informação. Além disso, foram utilizados dados simulados, para uma discussão sobre os efeitos dos tamanhos das amostras e as forças de associação da informação. Os sinais neurais coletados estão disponíveis em um banco de dados com diversos experimentos no gânglio metatorácico dos gafanhotos. No entanto, cada experimento possui poucos sinais coletados simultaneamente; assim, para diferentes experimentos, os sinais ficam sujeitos às variações de tamanho de amostras, além de ruídos que interferem nas medidas absolutas de transferência de informação. Para se mapear essas conexões neurais, foi utilizada a metodologia baseada na normalização e compensação dos erros de desvio para os cálculos da transferência de informação. As normalizações das medidas utilizam as entropias totais do sistema. Para a DMI, utiliza-se a média geométrica das entropias de X e Y , para a TE aplica-se a CMI (Conditional Mutual Information) para a sua normalização. Após a aplicação dessas abordagens, baseadas no STA e na transferência de informação, apresenta-se o modelo estrutural do circuito neural do sistema neuromotor de gafanhotos. São apresentados os resultados com o STA e a DMI para os neurônios sensores, dos quais são levantadas algumas hipóteses sobre o funcionamento desta parte do FeCO (Femoral Chordotonal Organ). Para cada tipo de neurônio foram identificados múltiplos caminhos no circuito neural, através dos tempos de atraso e dos valores de máxima coerência da informação. Nos interneurônios spiking obtiveram-se dois padrões de caminhos, enquanto que para os interneurônios nonspiking identificaram-se três padrões distintos. Esses resultados são obtidos computacionalmente e condizem com que é esperado a partir dos modelos biológicos descritos em Burrows (1996). / Herein, we present the development of a bioinspired model by the neural circuit of insects. This model is obtained by analyzing the first order from STA (Spike Triggered Average) and the transfer of information among neural signals. Techniques are applied based on the identification of the time delays of the information maximum coherence. For this purpose we use the concepts of the theory of information: DMI (Delayed Mutual Information) and TE (Transfer Entropy). These two approaches have applications on information transfer and each one has peculiarities. The DMI is a simpler tool than the TE, from the computational point of view. Therefore, DMI depends on the statistical analysis of second order probability density functions, whereas the TE depends on third order functions. If computational resources are a problem, those questions can be taken into consideration. The results of the information delay are very effective for DMI. However, DMI fails to distinguish the direction of the information flow when we have systems subjected to indirect information transfer and superposition of the information. In these cases, the TE is the most appropriate tool for determining the direction of the information flow, due to the conditional dependence imposed by a common history among the signals. In neural circuits, those issues occur in many cases. For example, in metathoracic ganglion of insects, the local interneurons have different pathways with superposition of the information. Therefore, the interneurons receive signals from different sensory neurons for moving the animals legs . The main objective of this work is propose a model of the neural circuit from an insect. Additionally, we map the neural signals when the hind leg is subjected to a set of movements. Neural responses are reflexes caused by tactile stimulus, which generates the movement of femoro-tibial joint of the hind leg. In these neural circuits, the signals are processed by neural spiking and nonspiking local interneurons. These types of neurons operate in parallel processing of the information from the sensory neurons. Interneurons receive input signals from mechanoreceptors by the leg and the insect knees. The main feature of local interneurons is their ability to communicate with others neurons. It can occur with or without of the presence of impulses (spiking and nonspiking). Thus, they form a neural circuit with input signals (sensory neurons) and outputs (motor neurons). The proposed algorithms analyze the random generation of movements and mechanical stimuli in sensory neurons. Which are processing in the metathoracic ganglion, including their responses in the motor neurons. The algorithms and the pseudo-code are implemented for TE and DMI. The technique of Surrogate Data is applied to infer the measures of statistical significance related to the information maximum coherence among neural signals. The results of the Surrogate Data are used for bias error compensation from information transfer. An algorithm, based on IAAFT (Iterative Amplitude Adjusted Fourier Transform), generates Surrogate Data with the same power spectrum and different distributions of the original signals. The results of the surrogate data, for DMI and TE, achieve the values of baselines when there are minimum information transfer. Additionally, we used simulated data to discuss the effects of sample sizes and different strengths of information connectivity. The collected neural signals are available from one database based on several experiments of the locusts metathoracic ganglion. However, each experiment has few simultaneously collected signals and the signals are subjected of variations in sample size and absolute measurements noisy of information transfer. We used a methodology based on normalization and compensation of the bias errors for computing the information transfer. The normalization of the measures uses the total entropy of the system. For the DMI, we applied the geometric mean of X and Y . Whereas, for the TE is computed the CMI (Conditional Mutual Information) for the normalization. We present the neural circuit structural model of the locusts neuromotor system, from those approaches based on STA and the information transfer. Some results are presented from STA and DMI for sensory neurones. Then, we achieve some new hypothesis about the neurophisiology function of FeCO. For each type of neuron, we identify multiple pathways in neural circuit through the time delay and the information maximum coherence. The spiking interneurons areyielded by two pathways, whereas the nonspiking interneurons has revealed three distinct patterns. These results are obtained computationally and are consistent with biological models described in Burrows (1996).

South Africa contains many archaeological resources including shell middens from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA). These shell middens give researchers insight into the behaviour of modern humans where the first fossil evidence appears in Africa around 200 000 years ago (Klein, 2008). Research into shell middens is therefore vital to understand the origin of human kind. This study investigates whether Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is a useful tool for predicting locations of unknown shell midden sites using the characteristics of known areas of modern human habitation. This was done using suitability analysis and expert mapping techniques. Ground truthing of the results of the desktop analysis revealed that GIS is not a useful tool for predicting sites of modern habitation as the characteristics that determine human habitation are too variable.

Dynamic assessment, as manner of alternative process-based assessment, is currently at a cross-roads chiefly characterised by, at times, vague conceptualisation of terminology, blurred demarcation as to its model and theory status and at times ill-defined fundamental philosophy. As a movement in modern psychological assessment within the broader field of intelligence, dynamic assessment does not present with a coherent unifying theory as such and due to its lack of clarity in a number of key areas its eventual disuse might well be the final outcome of this method and its unique history and methodology. In pursuit of this study’s main goal, dynamic assessment models and theories are critically explored by means of a meta-theory largely inspired by the work K.B. Madsen, a Danish meta-theorist and pioneer in theoretical psychology. Madsen’s meta-theory is attenuated in order to suit the nature and purposes of this study; so as to better analyse dynamic assessment within intelligence research and assessment. In its primary aim, this study builds on a foundation of epistemological and ontological considerations within science in general, the social sciences and psychology in particular. In keeping with Madsen’s method of meta-theory analysis, the author’s predilections are stated at the outset in order to place the progression of analyses of the various models and theories within dynamic assessment. Dynamic assessment and intelligence are discussed and a brief digression into the history of Soviet psychology is offered as it is pertinent to the work of Lev Vygotsky and its subsequent influence within process-based assessment. Theory and model development within science and the social sciences are described from a philosophy-of-science vantage point. Psychological assessment’s prime considerations are critically explored and the discussion highlights the role played by the philosophical aspects of mathematics and statistical foundations as leveraging measurement within assessment. Particular attention is paid to the perennial controversy surrounding null hypothesis significance testing and the possible future directions that can be explored by and within dynamic assessment which lends itself to approaches less restrictive than those offered by mainstream statistics. The obvious and not so obvious aspects within the mathematical, statistical and measurement foundations are critically explored in terms of how best dynamic assessment can manoeuvre within the current mainstream psychological assessment system and how new models of item response theory suited to change-based assessment can be explored as possible manner of handling the gain score issue; itself a paradoxical state of affairs within classical and modern test theory. Dynamic assessment’s past has in large part been dictated by mainstream considerations in the areas mentioned and in order to place itself on an alternative path these considerations are critically assessed in terms of dynamic assessment’s future path. Dynamic assessment and its place within the broader intelligence assessment field is then investigated by means of the meta-theory developed. It is envisaged that the intuitive appeal of dynamic assessment will continue to garner support from practitioners across the globe, specifically those trained in countries outside the traditional stronghold of Western psychological theory. However, the position taken in this argument is that in order to ensure its survival it will need to make a decision in terms of its future progress: either to branch off from mainstream assessment altogether or to become fused within mainstream assessment. The “best of both worlds” scenario has obviously not worked out as it was originally hoped. The study concludes with the meta-theoretical exploration of dynamic assessment within intelligence by utilising a small selection of current models. The application of the attenuated Madsenian framework seeks to explore, place and ascertain the nature of each model regarding the ontological and philosophical status of the approach; the nature of the hypothetical terminology, scientific hypotheses and hypothesis system utilised and lastly the nature of the abstract data, concrete data and prime considerations as implicit concerns within the varied approaches. An HQ score is calculated for each such model and is a partial indicator of the testability (verifiability or falsifiability) of the model in question. The models are thus couched in meta, hypothetical and data strata and can be positioned on a continuum of sorts according to which tentative claims can be made regarding the veracity of the approach behind each model. The study concludes with two appendices; a meta-analysis which was conducted on South African research in the field of dynamic assessment (1961-2002) and which cumulated in a significant effect size evidencing an overall positive effect that dynamic assessment has had as an alternative intervention technique in comparison to conventional or static based assessment models. In order to encourage replication of this study, all details pertaining to the studies included for consideration in the meta-analyses are attached in section 2 of this appendix. Secondly, an informal content analysis was conducted on eleven responses to questionnaires that were originally delivered to one hundred dynamic assessment practitioners and researchers across the globe. The purpose of the questionnaire was to ascertain information on core issues within dynamic assessment, as these fundamental issues were considered as pivotal in the future of this approaches’ eventual development or stagnation. The analysis concluded that dynamic assessment is indeed perceived to be at a crossroads of sorts and thus supported the initial hypothesis stated above. It is hoped that this theoretical study will aid in aligning dynamic assessment in a manner such that its eventual place in psychological assessment will be solidly grounded, theoretically defensible and viable as alternative manner of assessment. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / PhD / PhD / unrestricted

This thesis deals with the risk analysis and risk management of a construction project, their detailed characteristics and classification. In the practical part, knowledge and findings from the theoretical part are applied to a project aimed at the reconstruction and completion of an indoors swimming pool in the town Kuřim. In the course of the risk analysis assessment, important information on the project were given, furthermore, risks were identified, the intensity of their impact and likelihood of their development was established, and measures to reduce the risks were recommended.