Suicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem. Globally and in South Africa prevalence rates are increasing particularly amongst young adults, highlighting a need for preventative measures. One way to assist with these efforts is to enhance our understanding of suicide by investigating young adult’s views towards suicidal behaviour. To date, limited research exists in the South African context on views towards suicide. The purpose of this study was to explore young adult’s views about suicidal behaviour within the context of culture and religion. A qualitative research design was adopted using semi-structured individual interviews. The participants were ten students from the University of the Witwatersrand between the ages of twenty and twenty-five. The results were analysed using thematic content analysis. The results revealed that participants predominantly identified psychological, social and cultural risk factors for suicidal behaviour, ignoring the influence of psychopathology. The participants also highlighted the influence of the social and cultural context on shaping not only their own views, but those of their family, culture and community. The results indicated that unlike their families, religions and communities, the participants did not hold negative views towards suicide. Instead they appeared to have a great deal of sympathy towards those who had attempted or committed suicide and seemed to denounce the negative views of those around them. Lastly, the results illustrated that role of gender was central to explanations gender differences in suicidal behaviour. Implications of the findings for future research and prevention are discussed.

A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the Degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) Johannesburg 1993 / This dissertation explores the relationships between fusion (operationalised as a very high level of intimacy), levels of sexual desire and the frequency of sexual activity in lesbian relationships of duration longer than one year. The viability and appropriateness of the research method is also assessed, as this is an under-researched area. Fusion is theoretically and clinically posited to be associated to be associated with low levels of desire and sexual activity for lesbian couples.The questionnaire used consists of the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships Inventory, demographic questions and measures of the frequency of sexual activity and levels of sexual desire. This last had to be discarded as invalid. Participants were found via friendship networks and the media, and questionnaires were distributed and returned postally. The sample of thirty-six women covers a broad range of ages'but is predominantly English-speaking and skewed towards higher education and salary levels. Spearman correlation coefficients were. calculated for the variables. The frequency of sexual activity does not' correlate significantly with any form of intimacy, including sexual intimacy. Sexual activity does decline in frequency with an increase in the age of the participants and their partners and with an increase in the duration of the relationship, a finding in accordance with overseas research.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Master of Arts in Demography and Population Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, 2017 / BACKGROUND: Nigeria has a very low level of modern contraceptive use; with resultant effects of high fertility, and maternal and child mortality. It is Africa’s most populated country, and with a rapid growth rate. Modern methods of contraception is a crucial strategy to reduce the high fertility rate, halt population growth, lessen child mortality, and enhance maternal health. This study aims to assess partner’s economic and demographic asymmetries as barriers contributing to the uptake of modern contraceptives among young married and cohabiting women aged 15-24 years in Nigeria. METHOD: This study used data from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey 2013, with a sample of 4,981 young (15 – 24 years) married and cohabiting women. The Health Belief Model was used to explain partner’s socio-economic and demographic differences as barriers to the utilisation of modern contraceptives. Frequency distributions and binomial logistic regression were carried out using STATA v12 to answer the research questions. RESULTS: Only 6% of young married and cohabiting women use modern contraceptives. In the unadjusted analyses, women who were in less homogamous unions were less likely to practise modern method contraception. Respondents younger than their partners by 6-10 years and respondents younger by 11 or more years were less likely to use modern contraceptives (UOR= 0.357, CI 0.135-0.943; UOR= 0.223, CI 0.084-0.595). Respondents whose partners want more children were less likely to use modern contraceptives while respondents whose partners want fewer number of children compared to them were more likely to use modern contraceptives (UOR= 0.325, CI 0.240-0.439; UOR= 1.812 CI 1.1082.963 respectively). However, these associations were no longer significant after adjusting for women’s age, highest level of education, place of residence, religion, and region of residence and other differences. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that socio-economic and demographic differences between married partners are not associated with young women's contraceptive use in Nigeria, after adjusting for women’s characteristics. Further studies, especially qualitative studies, are needed to understand this finding. Keywords: Modern contraceptives, young married women, partner asymmetries, Health Belief Model, Nigeria / GR2018

Research report for the degree of Master of Arts in Industrial Sociology, submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg / This research paper studied the recent labour unrest in the East Rand as there has been a rise in the number of marches and demonstrations led by the precarious workers to several workplaces. [No abstract provided. Information taken from introduction] / 2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Applied Ethics For Professionals, July 2017 / Health and, by extension, healthcare is accepted to be a valuable and important social good that is both a good in and of itself, as well as necessary to achieve life’s goals. Its fair distribution is therefore properly the subject of ethical concern and in the era of modern medicine where costs and potentially limitless treatments exceed available resources, rationing healthcare has become an unavoidable necessity. Since such rationing implies that not everyone’s needs or preferences can be met, a fair and just way of rationing healthcare is a widely debated and controversial topic that, to date, remains unresolved. Where third-party private funding organisations are tasked with these rationing responsibilities, the ethical complexities are compounded by perceived conflicts between the ethical frameworks that govern corporate organisations versus those that govern healthcare. Given the apparent inability of normative theories to resolve the problem of how to ration healthcare fairly, there has been a shift in thinking to considerations of procedural justice and a dominant model, Accountability for Reasonableness (AFR), has emerged as the favoured procedure for healthcare decision-making. The report shows why health is an important social value and examines the key models and principles that dominate the rationing debate as well as why the conflict between healthcare ethics and organisational ethics create additional complexities that must be considered when making these funding decisions. Furthermore it explores the rationales for resorting to procedural accounts with specific emphasis on the parameters and validity of AFR. The report concludes that even though the AFR framework may be a legitimate and just process that can effectively frame decision-making and provide a platform to drive transparency and consistency, like most procedural accounts, it does not guarantee that the outcomes it produces are necessarily fair or just. Therefore a straightforward application of AFR cannot resolve the healthcare rationing debate which should, given its ethical complexity, continue to appeal to the important ethical principles that currently govern the field. / XL2018

While theatricality is a medium with a long and extensive history the study of digital games is relatively new, yet there are many parallels between the two that are both inherent and fundamental. This research aims to produce a theoretical synthesis between the two media by providing an analysis of the ontology and process of meaning making in both media. The role of the player in a digital game is a complex and ambiguous one where they perform a dual function as both audience and performer. The creation of narrative and meaning for the game’s player and the theatrical audience is often similar, relying on the creation of fully established and functioning fictional worlds to engage with. Primarily this is done through design and mise-en-scene strategies. Drawing from existing texts as examples, this research aims to explore the extent to which games adopt and have evolved from theatrical conventions of storytelling and aesthetics.

Police statistics in South Africa show that the numbers of reported rape cases are growing annually and studies have shown that a large percentage of women are not reporting their rapes. My research looks at the experiences of women who were raped by a “known person” and were at the time of the research living in a shelter, either as a result of abuse or because they were homeless. Through standpoint theory I made use of my own rape experience as an opener into the area of research and as a tool in obtaining the respondents for my research. In-depth interviews were utilised in obtaining the detailed narratives from the women who took part in the research. The narratives were based on the women’s experiences of rape by a “known person”. Within the research a “known person” included, amongst others, family members, “boyfriends”, friends and intimate partners. The aim of my research was to provide insight into the experience of being raped and to show how for women it is a lived experience that affected the course of their lives. The narratives were linked to the greater theoretical context of rape in South Africa. This was done in order to highlight the extent of the influence that the rape experience has on the survivor’s life and the choices that they make. Overall, my research sought to give insight into the subject of rape in South Africa, in order to highlight the fact that rape goes beyond the statistics and to show how the women’s individual rape experiences shaped their lives. Within my research report I have highlighted the literature on rape, both globally and that which is specific to South Africa. The report then goes on to look at the theory of feminism, feminist standpoint theory, patriarchy as an element of feminism, stigma, rape myths or stereotypes and structure and agency. This is followed by an outline of the methodology used, an introduction to the research site and the detailed narratives of the respondents. This is all drawn together in the analysis chapter where the narratives are linked to both the literature and the theoretical framework. The conclusion summarises everything and notes the limitations, findings and the way forward for the research. My research could be criticised for the small number of respondents, however, due to the nature of the research topic, it was imperative to obtain very detailed data. My research also chose to focus on women from a low socio-economic background and all the respondents were from an African or mixed-race racial group. However, due to their own personal experience of rape, other women will still be able to relate to the respondents’ experience, due to the commonality of the violation of the female body. The narratives came from the respondents themselves and this increased the validity of the information. My own rape experience could have had both a positive and negative impact on my research. My rape story assisted in obtaining the respondents as well as in my understanding of the area of research, however, it could also have led to possible bias on my behalf as the researcher, and it is therefore acknowledged. My research was largely able to confirm what was found in the literature and it shows how a girl child who has been abused is more likely to be abused as an adult. It also focused on how the family was able to hide the abuse and keep the women from seeking the necessary help. It highlighted the power men held over women due to patriarchy and the role that virginity played for the respondents. The role of religion in the respondent’s post-rape experience was also looked at. Following on from my research there are areas that can be strengthened as well as areas for further research. One example of this was the interlinked issues that were raised regarding family, virginity and culture.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2016 / The market research industry prides itself on providing accurate and reliable information and solutions to varying business problems. However, the industry has been faced with the challenge of racial transformation at senior decision-making positions of the organisations. The pace of upward mobility of black researchers is slow and this is a threat for the industry because the senior level positions are often tasked with the analysis of research data and formulation of the strategic insights and business solutions to communicate to clients and stakeholders to meet their business needs. Therefore, it is difficult to be confident that the data about the black market does not get lost in translation and interpretation due to cultural nuances that may not be accessed. What is unique about the market research industry is that promotions to senior level positions are based on training on the job and the mastering of relevant skills on the job rather than specific prior training at college or university level. This opened theoretical and practical questions about the individual and organisational qualities that made it difficult for black researchers to progress to senior level positions. A phenomenological research approach was implemented to explore the lived experiences of the black researchers and the organisations, which could explain the slow upward mobility pace. In-depth semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with four CEOs of prominent organisations in the industry and 14 black researchers at various levels in these organisations. These interviews identified the organisational identity espoused by the leadership and the organisational identity lived by the black researchers. Narrative identity research approach and Erikson’s (1956) stage developmental model guided the process of understanding the individual identity of the black researchers at the point of the interview. The results suggest that there are three categories of black researchers in the industry. It is those who are not promoted within a specified timeframe promised by the leadership who leave the organisations, those who are not promoted but stay in the organisations for longer periods than would have been expected and those researchers who are promoted to senior level positions. Each of these categories shows unique individual qualities that potentially shape their experience in the organisations. A framework for understanding the interplay between the various lived experiences and outcomes has been developed. The slow pace of racial transformation at senior levels of the organisations can be traced to the responses of organisational management to change and the types of social exchange relationships between the black researchers and management. Future research may quantify the findings and validate the framework developed in this study to establish generalisability in the industry and in contexts outside the market research industry. A case study research methodology focusing on all the demographics of the organisations could also enrich the framework. / MT 2018

M.Mus. Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, 2008 / This dissertation explores a crisis in South African composition through an analysis of the field of art music in the period 1980-2006. Drawing on the work of Pierre Bourdieu (1993) and Thomas Kuhn (1970), I argue that the field of composition shifted from an autonomous to a more heteronomous mode of production during this period, and that this shift was embodied in a change of artistic paradigm. In chapter one I show how an ‘autonomous’ paradigm during the 1980s upheld the Eurocentric outlook and value system of apartheid, and how it was replaced in the early 1990s by a more ‘heteronomous’ or ‘cross-cultural’ paradigm. The composer case studies (chapters two to four) show how Kevin Volans, Peter Klatzow, and Hendrik Hofmeyr contributed to aesthetic and social change in the field, especially with regard to the inclusion of African elements. Chapter five is a critique of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra as a ‘Proudly South African’ post-apartheid institution, showing how its programming policy is detrimental to the interests of composers. The Conclusion reflects on the dominated position of the field of composition relative to economic and political imperatives in the field of power, and considers how a prolonged and continued crisis has challenged the very notions of what constitutes artistic value in the field.

The technology to deliver mobile money services has been in place for over a decade, yet very few mobile money operations have reached scale. The purpose of the following research is to explore the possible reasons for this by analysing factors which impact the rollout and uptake of services. This is achieved through a case study of mobile money service offerings in the developing world in general and South Africa in particular. Findings of the research highlight the complexities of the challenge of reaching scale, particularly those relating to regulations, finding the appropriate business models and other socio-political factors. A further finding points to a possible lack of appropriate skills in the mobile money industry as a reason for services not reaching scale.