The changing work environment has caused individuals to revise and change their career decisions. This creates career uncertainty, which has become a widespread problem, particularly for students. When this problem is not addressed, it leads to career indecision, or less optimal choices which could influence career opportunities and quality of life. Career indecision could impact on organisations, resulting in problems such as person–job adjustment, lack of engagement and burnout. Although research on career uncertainty is available internationally, there is limited research on career uncertainty and its antecedents in the South African context. Career uncertainty can have short– and long–term effects on the individual. This study therefore contributes toward the gap in research on the antecedents of career uncertainty. Given that career uncertainty is a problem that individuals are constantly confronted with, it is important that the antecedents of this be investigated. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the antecedents of career uncertainty according to the literature; 2) determine if socio–demographic characteristics (gender, career guidance, help from parents, help from other individuals and work experience) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 3) determine if personality characteristics (self–esteem, self–efficacy and neuroticism) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 4) determine if career decision–making difficulties are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 5) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of career uncertainty; and 6) determine if academic performance is a significant predictor of career uncertainty. A non–probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate antecedents of career uncertainty in a sample of university students. Career uncertainty was measured by one item The changing work environment has caused individuals to revise and change their career decisions. This creates career uncertainty, which has become a widespread problem, particularly for students. When this problem is not addressed, it leads to career indecision, or less optimal choices which could influence career opportunities and quality of life. Career indecision could impact on organisations, resulting in problems such as person–job adjustment, lack of engagement and burnout. Although research on career uncertainty is available internationally, there is limited research on career uncertainty and its antecedents in the South African context. Career uncertainty can have short– and long–term effects on the individual. This study therefore contributes toward the gap in research on the antecedents of career uncertainty. Given that career uncertainty is a problem that individuals are constantly confronted with, it is important that the antecedents of this be investigated. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the antecedents of career uncertainty according to the literature; 2) determine if socio–demographic characteristics (gender, career guidance, help from parents, help from other individuals and work experience) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 3) determine if personality characteristics (self–esteem, self–efficacy and neuroticism) are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 4) determine if career decision–making difficulties are significant predictors of career uncertainty; 5) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of career uncertainty; and 6) determine if academic performance is a significant predictor of career uncertainty. A non–probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate antecedents of career uncertainty in a sample of university students. Career uncertainty was measured by one item consisting of four categories: I am very sure; I know exactly what career I will pursue (n = 228), I am fairly sure what career I will pursue (n = 416), I am not sure at all which career I will pursue (n = 135) and I do not plan to follow a career (n = 3). For the objective of the study, categories one and two were grouped together with participants who were fairly certain which career they would follow, while participants in category three represented participants who were uncertain. Category four was not included as only three participants within that category answered. In total, 644 students were (fairly) certain, while 135 were uncertain. These two groups were enclosed as a dependent variable in the logistic regression. The results of this study showed that work experience influences career uncertainty to some extent. This is supported by previous research. Furthermore, it was found that self–esteem also influences career uncertainty to some degree. However, these two variables were only significant in the first steps of the logistic regression. Furthermore, the results showed that career decision–making difficulties share a significant relationship with career uncertainty. The study also found that significant antecedents of career uncertainty include: a lack of information about the decision–making process; a lack of information about occupations; inconsistent information due to internal conflict; a lack of information about ways of obtaining information; and inconsistent information due to external conflict. In conclusion, exhaustion, cynicism and dedication were also found to be significant antecedents of career uncertainty. Based on these results, this study suggests that student burnout and student engagement influence an individual’s level of career uncertainty. Recommendations were made for practice as well as for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Student intention to drop out is a concern for higher education institutions as well for their students. Students with the intention to drop out may eventually drop out and contribute towards the already high dropout rates, which are causing economic damage. Students leaving their institution have vast financial consequences for their institution, as institutions obtain grants from the government according to their success rates. Although previous research has been conducted on students’ intention to drop out, it is limited, especially when looking at possible predictors that are specific to the South African context. This study contributes towards the gap in research regarding the possible predictors of student intention to drop out. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the possible predictors of student intention to drop out according to the literature; 2) determine if self-evaluation traits (self-esteem and self-efficacy) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 3) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 4) determine if social support (social support from parents and general social support) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; and 5) determine if career decision-making difficulties are significant predictors of student intention to drop out. A non-probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate possible predictors of career student intention to drop out in a sample of university students. Student intention to drop out was measured by one item consisting of two categories: I have no intention to drop out (n = 501), and I have an intention to drop out (n = 280). These two groups were enclosed as a dependent variable in the logistic regression. The variables included in the final model predicted between 13% (Cox and Snell) and 18% (Nagelkerke) of the variance in intention to drop out. The results of this study suggest that self-esteem had an influence on student intention to drop out. Furthermore, it was found that cynicism and dedication have a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Lastly, lack of information about ways to obtain information also indicated a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Thus, it may be concluded that self-esteem, burnout and engagement and lack of information about ways of obtaining information have an influence on students’ intention to drop out. Recommendations were made for practice as well as for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Utifrån the procedural deficit hypothesis (PDH) antas det deklarativa minnet vara intakt hos personer med dyslexi. Detta styrks av studier som visat att deklarativt minne är intakt eller förstärkt hos barn med SLI eller dyslexi då det undersökts med icke-språkliga minnestest. Personer med dyslexi som genomgår universitetsstudier antas kompensera för sina svårigheter på olika sätt, bland annat med det deklarativa minnet. I denna studie har deklarativt minne undersökts i form av visuellt igenkänningsminne efter oavsiktlig inkodning. Deltagarna utgjordes av 11 universitetsstuderande med dyslexi samt en kontrollgrupp på 26 universitetsstuderande utan dyslexi. Resultatet indikerade ett intakt deklarativt minne hos personer med dyslexi. En trend till att de även har ett förstärkt minne efter 24 timmar jämfört med kontrollgruppen kunde skönjas men var inte signifikant. Prediktionen att deklarativt minne används som kompensation i allmänhet samt för nedsatt läsförmåga kunde inte styrkas. Andra möjliga kompensatoriska strategier och förmågor än deklarativt minne diskuteras. / Based on the procedural deficit hypothesis (PDH) declarative memory is assumed to be intact in people with dyslexia. This is supported by studies showing that declarative memory is intact or enhanced in children with SLI or dyslexia when examined using non-verbal memory tests. People with dyslexia who undergo university studies are assumed to compensate for their difficulties in different ways, including with the use of declarative memory. This study examines the aspect of declarative memory that is visual recognition memory after incidental encoding. The participants were 11 university students with dyslexia and a control group of 26 university students without dyslexia. The results showed an intact declarative memory in people with dyslexia. A possible trend that they also have an enhanced memory after 24 hours compared with the control group could be seen but was not significant. The prediction that declarative memory is used as compensation in general and for impaired reading skills could not be substantiated. Other possible compensatory strategies and abilities besides declarative memory are discussed.

The past decade has witnessed students with disabilities attending university in everincreasing numbers. In particular, many countries, including Australia, now report that students with so-called 'invisible disabilities' comprise the vast majority of those seeking support from Student Disability Services at university. Despite this increase, relatively few researchers have investigated the processes involved in the university education of students with disabilities, particularly during their crucial first year, when the highest rate of student attrition occurs across the board. The substantial body of research which has investigated the 'first year experience' for university students in Australia and the United States of America has ignored the issues unique to students with disabilities during this critical period. At the same time, some researchers, predominantly in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, have studied the tertiary education of students with disabilities. However, the subject has received less attention in Australia. Also, certain categories of university students with disabilities have been overlooked. In particular, university students diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) appear to be one of the groups that have attracted little attention worldwide, despite the vast body of research that exists on children and, increasingly, on adults with the diagnosis. These students constituted the focus of the study reported in this thesis. The aim of this study was to develop substantive theory about how university students who are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) deal with their first year. The study is conceptualised within the social theory of symbolic interactionism. A central research question and a series of related guiding questions were used as the starting point for data collection. Data collection was conducted largely through in-depth, individual, face-to-face semistructured interviews, and participant observation consistent with the interpretivist qualitative research tradition. In addition, informal interviews, telephone interviews and documents provided supplementary data for the study. Data analysis, which occurred concurrently with data collection, employed the open coding method consistent with the grounded theory model and the development and testing of propositions. The central proposition of the substantive theory generated from this study is that students diagnosed with AD/HD experience a sense of developing empowerment as they progress through three stages in their first year at university. The first stage in the theory of developing empowerment is entitled the development of empowerment through realising a dream. The second stage is entitled the development of empowerment through becoming proactive. The final stage is entitled the development of empowerment through the feeling of belonging. The theory of developing empowerment provides a new perspective on how university students with a diagnosis of AD/HD deal with their first year of study. A number of implications for further theory development, policy and practice are drawn from it. There are also several recommendations for further research.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-148).

O consumo de substâncias psicoativas (SPA) entre os universitários é mais frequente que na população em geral, o que reforça a necessidade de um maior conhecimento desse fenômeno para o desenvolvimento de ações de prevenção. Objetivo: construir um perfil do universitário no município de Governador Valadares e obter subsídios para a construção de uma estratégia de intervenção preventiva a partir da perspectiva dos próprios universitários. Método: Um estudo transversal realizado com 384 universitários das faculdades/universidades do município, com aplicação de um questionário estruturado, a fim de obter dados sociodemográficos e caracterização da amostra, padrão de consumo e frequência do uso, possibilidade de sofrimento mental, caracterização dos fatores de risco e proteção ao uso e intervenções preventivas mais eficazes na opinião dos universitários. Para análise dos dados foi utilizada a prova Qui-quadrado ou Escala de Fisher e o método da Regressão Logística, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Dentre os principais resultados, destaca-se: a) o uso na vida predominante de álcool (57,3%), seguido de maconha (42,2%) e tabaco (41,7%); uso intenso apenas para o álcool (28%); 18,5% dos universitários podem estar em sofrimento mental. Conclusão: Os achados desse estudo norteiam sobre o planejamento de programas de prevenção mais condizentes com as características e necessidade desse grupo, o que pode contribuir para a eficácia destes. / The consumption of psychoactive substances among university students is more frequent than in the general population, which reinforces the need for a greater knowledge of this phenomenon for the development of prevention actions. Objective: to build a university profile in the municipality of Governador Valadares and obtain subsidies for the construction of a preventive intervention strategy from the perspective of the university students themselves. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 college / university students from the municipality, applying a structured questionnaire to obtain sociodemographic data and sample characterization, pattern of consumption and frequency of use, possibility of mental suffering, characterization of factors of risk and protection to the use and preventive interventions more effective in the opinion of the university students. The chi-square or Fisher's scale test and the Logistic Regression method were used to analyze the data, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Among the main results, we highlight: a) the predominant life use of alcohol (57.3%), followed by marijuana (42.2%) and tobacco (41.7%); Intense use only for alcohol (28%); 18.5% of college students may be in mental distress. Conclusion: The findings of this study guide the planning of prevention programs more in line with the characteristics and needs of this group, which may contribute to their effectiveness.

The correlations among personality, academic performance and other variables in 170 university students were studied, using two instruments validated into the population: the NEOPJ-R, and the EPPS. Other variables as age, study level, self perception of academic achievement and self perception of motivation, and sources of support were included. Jt was confirmed the reliability and validity of both tests and the correlations between them. The results showed associations among academic performance and conscientiousness, endurance,change, and aggression. The academic performance was better explained by achievements triving, deliberation, change, self perception of academic achievement and age. / Se investigó la relación entre personalidad, rendimiento académico y otras variables en 170 universitarios, mediante dos instrumentos validados para esta población: el NEO PI-R de Costay McCrae y el EPPS de Edwards4• Se consideró las variables edad, ciclo académico, percepcióndel rendimiento, de la propia motivación para estudiar, y fuentes de apoyo. Se confirmo la validez y confiabilidad de ambas pruebas y sus respectivas correlaciones. Se encontraron asociaciones entre el rendimiento y conciencia, perseverancia, cambio y agresión. El rendimiento fue mejor explicado por la aspiraciones de logro, reflexión, cambio, percepción del rendimientoy edad del estudiante.

The presented master thesis describes methods of geology teaching at primary school and deals with the motivation of pupils in a connection with the application of a didactic game in teaching of geology and/or nature science. Data source was sampled via questionnaire in three groups of the respondents, i.e., teachers of geology (nature science), with 9th class pupils of primary school and university students of teaching training in biology. The theoretical part includes general data concerning motivation of pupils, teaching methods and a didactic game. The practical part contains methodology of the research, results of quantitative analysis and the author's didactic computer game which was tested and evaluated by the respondents. The obtained results show that the majority of pupils do not like geology however the integration of the didactic games in lessons can be increased pupil's interest in geology. The research has also found that university students have a different opinion on the teaching of geology than practising teachers. For example university students think that the unpopularity of geology among pupils is caused by teacher's personality, but according to opinion of the teachers it is caused by a general lack of attractivity of the subject. Similarly, the students accused the teacher of insufficient use of didactic games in geology teaching, but the teachers do not integrate didactic games in geology teaching due to lack of time.

The diploma thesis deals with the issue of time-space mobility of university students in the town Ceske Budejovice. The research was conducted on the basis of data collection through three methods, combining various approaches to time-space mobility. The first method used was questionnaire research representing traditional way of collecting information. The modern methods category was represented by GPS loggers and smartphone devices operating through the motion capture applications. The aim was a qualitative comparison of these methods in practice and further evaluation of their potential benefits for time-space research. Furthermore, the main focus is on the overall analysis of time-space mobility of university students in urban environment of Ceske Budejovice, with emphasis on the concept of bundles. Individual results are supported by images and maps created in geographic information systems. The final chapter summarizes the acquired findings and the resulting measurements of time-space mobility of university students in Ceske Budejovice.

The existence of HIV related stigma and discrimination in institutions of learning across the world is well-documented in the literature. It is also well known that factors such as knowledge about stigma and discrimination, fear of infection, social judgment, legal and policy environment act as actionable drivers and facilitators of HIV related stigma and discrimination. However, research works focusing on how various actionable drivers and facilitators are related to different forms of HIV related stigma and discrimination at universities in Nigeria are scanty. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the individual correlates of HIV-related stigma among undergraduate students at a public university in Nigeria. Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the University of South Africa. Permission to access the participants was obtained. The study was conducted at Ambrose Alli University which has a population of over 20,000 students. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. Simple random sampling was used to select 404 participants who were handed self-administered questionnaire. Collected data was analysed using All Pearson Chi-square test and Fishers Exact Test (p<0.05). Validity and reliability were also considered. A total of 391 questionnaires (97%) were returned and considered for analysis. Descriptive summary statistics and cross tabulations were used to analyse The results showed that a high proportion of undergraduate students still have stigmatising behaviours toward people living with HIV. These stigmatising behaviours are associated with certain individual characteristics. Recommendation: There is an urgent need for political leaders and heads of universities to implement policies and programmes that will enhance knowledge regarding HIV AND AIDS and thereby reduce stigmatizing attitudes among undergraduate students. / Health Studies / M.P.H.