Psychometric testing is becoming more influential in the recruitment and development of individuals within the corporate environment globally, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA and over 75% of the Times Top 100 companies in the UK using psychometric testing, the same trend is emerging in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s preferred behavioural approach on various behavioural dimensions and the manner in which they complete a psychometric measure, more specifically, a learning potential measure within the corporate environment, as an individual’s preferred behavioural approach may act as a biasing factor with regard to the result that they obtain. A causal research design was utilised and two psychometric measures used to respectively determine an individual’s preferred behavioural style and learning potential. The sample consisted of 398 economically active adult candidates in either a development or recruitment assessment centre. Both the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) and Test for Selection and Training (TST) were administered on these 398 individuals. Statistical analysis was carried out on the test results with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The reliability and validity of the measuring instruments was also ascertained and found acceptable. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, significant differences, t-test statistics and p-values were used to analyse the data. These statistical methods were used to indicate if a relationship exists. The results indicate that various behavioural dimensions, (Dominance, Influence and Steadiness) amongst individuals within the South African Corporate environment do have an impact on how they complete a learning potential measure, when consideration is given to the speed and accuracy with which they complete such a measure. Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Psychology)

This diploma thesis provides insight into the world of financial analysis from both theoretical and practical point of view. The basic theoretical apparatus used in the financial analysis is defined in the first part of the thesis and it is applied in the second part on the practical example of the company Baťa, akciová společnost. Emphasis is placed primarily on the issue of accounting procedures, analysis of profitability, liquidity, activity, debt analysis and non-financial indicators. The analysis of intercompany comparisons as a part of finacial analysis is aimed to be one of the basic characteristics of the thesis. Analyzed company is compared both to the industry and its main competitors. In the context of a comprehensive assessment of the financial health of the company, the Altman's model, the IN05 model and test for value added is applied.

p. 1-178 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-05-06T18:09:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 44444444444.pdf: 1267573 bytes, checksum: d19f36de8ef7dc34eafc3b727f404c33 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva(mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-05-13T13:48:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 44444444444.pdf: 1267573 bytes, checksum: d19f36de8ef7dc34eafc3b727f404c33 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-13T13:48:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 44444444444.pdf: 1267573 bytes, checksum: d19f36de8ef7dc34eafc3b727f404c33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Embora o trabalho de parto não seja o momento adequado para a realização do teste anti-HIV, o Ministério da Saúde considera indispensável disponibilizar o exame e tratamento quimoprofilático para mãe e bebê visando impedir a transmissão do HIV durante a gestação e parto. Assim, está preconizado que o teste rápido anti-HIV seja ofertado mediante aconselhamento em situações consideradas especiais, como em maternidades. Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar a ação de aconselhamento em DST/AIDS para as parturientes e puérperas que são submetidas ao teste anti- HIV, na admissão para o parto, em Salvador-BA. Foi realizado um estudo qualitativo em uma maternidade com observação participante e entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 20 informantes, sendo 13 puérperas sem diagnóstico prévio para o HIV e 07 profissionais de saúde. Observou-se que a Unidade de saúde pesquisada não desenvolve ações específicas de aconselhamento para a oferta e comunicação do resultado do teste anti-HIV no trabalho de parto, limitando-se a solicitar o exame de forma compulsória e a informar o diagnóstico no pós-teste somente às usuárias, cujos resultados foram positivos para o HIV. A experiência das mulheres na passagem por maternidade de Salvador revela que não há diálogo entre profissional e paciente na triagem pelo teste anti-HIV na admissão para o parto. Muitas nem percebem que foram submetidas a esse tipo de testagem. A significação que permeia um diagnóstico positivo ou negativo para o HIV e o entendimento dos valores e sentidos dados por essas mulheres, principalmente quando se descobrem positivas para o HIV não são abordados pelos profissionais de saúde. Para estes, na dinâmica do hospital não há espaço para a escuta qualificada. Há dificuldade na capacitação desses profissionais para lidar com esse tipo de abordagem no seu cotidiano em que as atitudes e práticas hegemônicas pautada na biomedicina mecanicista e centrada na doença, muitas vezes, se contrapõem as experiências e necessidades dessas mulheres. / Salvador

A patent is an intellectual property right granted as a reward for the labours of the inventor so as to commercially exploit the invention in return for disclosure of the invention. The benefits of the patent system find perfect expression in the employment situation since the employer is better equipped to exploit the invention through provision of resources and capital whereas the employee is provided with an opportunity to develop his technical know-how. A comparative study of the laws pertaining to employee inventions in the United Kingdom, Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America reveals a variety of approaches to the subject of employee inventions. The approach of the South African law on the subject is inadequate and legal reform is a necessity. The recommendations for such reform encapsulates a blend of the best features of each of the three national approaches to employee inventions. / Mercentile Law / LL. M. (Law)

Attention is one of the key competencies which has to be adequately developed in preschool children to support their good school adaptation and acceptation of school demands. This work describes current approaches to assessment of attention and related cognitive functions in children at preschool and early school years. On the basis of the methods which are accessible we introduce a new assessment tool, which could serve as screening of attention and other necessary competencies of children aged 5-7 years. The empirical part of this work shows results of a validization study of our method (Coloured trail making test for children), and its reliability the tool. Results proved strong correlations among our method and three other assessment tools from larger batteries of tests (Woodcock - Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, IDS and CAS II). However, the outcomes of the tests are also different enough to conclude that each of four methods which we used can be important in the process of attention assessment in preschool children; and each of these methods can bring valid information about children's abilities. The work also includes normative data for Coloured trail making test for children, which can be used as a screening tool to detect minor difficulties of children's attention or it can help to...

This diploma thesis examines the impact of playing RPG on the development of players'creative thinking. Our aim was to analyze the development of creative thinking in relation with RPG playing. This development was observed in the group of beginners and advanced players and in the control group during six months using creative thinking tests (Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking - Figural, Urban's Test for Creative Thinking- Drawing Production). Tests were administered three times, in the beginning, after 3 months and after 6 months. During the second measurement the experimental group was also assigned a Creative Personality Scale (CPS). The obtained values were processed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and t-tests. Overall, it has not been conclusively proved that playing RPG influenced the creative thinking development of players, but a certain trend of improved creativity, especially in RPG-beginners was observed. We found out that the gaming intensity (hours per week) and the creativity are not related. A positive relation between the CPS score and the creativity improvement and also relation between the age and the creativity improvement was established. KEYWORDS RPG, creative thinking, Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking - Figural, Urban's Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing...

The first chapter covers the basics of the Internet as well as the strenghts and weaknesses of online shopping and data collection. The second chapter describes the decision-making process of the consumer along with possibilities of communications with customers and the differences between the bricks-and-mortar and the online customers. The third chapter provides research and results evaluation methods. The fourth chapter describes the selected search portals that help customers with the choice where to shop. The last chapter is devoted to the results of quantitative and qualitative research together with the recommendation of elements that an online store should include.

Psychometric testing is becoming more influential in the recruitment and development of individuals within the corporate environment globally, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA and over 75% of the Times Top 100 companies in the UK using psychometric testing, the same trend is emerging in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s preferred behavioural approach on various behavioural dimensions and the manner in which they complete a psychometric measure, more specifically, a learning potential measure within the corporate environment, as an individual’s preferred behavioural approach may act as a biasing factor with regard to the result that they obtain. A causal research design was utilised and two psychometric measures used to respectively determine an individual’s preferred behavioural style and learning potential. The sample consisted of 398 economically active adult candidates in either a development or recruitment assessment centre. Both the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) and Test for Selection and Training (TST) were administered on these 398 individuals. Statistical analysis was carried out on the test results with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The reliability and validity of the measuring instruments was also ascertained and found acceptable. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, significant differences, t-test statistics and p-values were used to analyse the data. These statistical methods were used to indicate if a relationship exists. The results indicate that various behavioural dimensions, (Dominance, Influence and Steadiness) amongst individuals within the South African Corporate environment do have an impact on how they complete a learning potential measure, when consideration is given to the speed and accuracy with which they complete such a measure. Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Psychology)

This thesis concerns with the prevention of specific learning disabillities of children during their start of schooling, using the predictive test battery. The paper's goal is to focus on prediction signals of specific learning disorders and their timely prevention. Conclusion of our thesis is an up-to-date knowledge about preschool phase, school maturity and preparedness of children, knowledge about sub-function deficits, specific learning disabillities, its manifestation and posibilities of timely prevention. Research part's focus point is practical testing and evaluation of sub-functions with the help of diagnostic material named:"learning and writing disability hazards test for preschoolers." Test is undertaken by a group of six children in their mandatory preschool education year and is followed by intervention targeted at discovered areas with defecits. This group is filled in with case studies. After 6 months of intervention, during which the students started attending primary school, a post-test is performed to evaluate achieved results and compare them with a control group consisting of randomly chosen pupils attending first year of primary school as well. By combining theoretical and practical knowledge, we can define risk factors that allow us to predict specific learning disabilities...

This thesis examines the perceived importance by two-tiered management of Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) for managing a range of intellectual property issues. Fifty survey items are presented to the executive directors and commercialization managers of 62 CRCs. The survey items are categorized under four themes: relationships with collaborators, project management; design and implementation of agreements; and specific licensing issues. An analysis of the data, using a series of independent samples t-tests, repeated measures t-tests, chi-square tests for independence or relatedness and goodness of fit, shows a range of results. There are significant differences between executive directors and commercialization managers on a number of issues. There are particular emphases or trends about certain issues for the whole sample of managers. These findings are compared with text analyses of 23 CRC strategic planning documents. This is done in order to explore any similarity, difference or nuance between what the managers say in response to the survey items, compared with what is stated in the codified policies of the CRCs. While there is a high degree of consistency among certain themes between the two sets of findings, the overall analysis points to the need for the CRCs to have a better understanding and practice of commercialization opportunities, especially through the involvement of third party commercial interests. It is argued that accommodating third party commercialization interests involves the application of an important knowledge economy principle that has an important bearing on the future economic viability and competitiveness of the CRCs.