Symmetry tests and more precisely parity violation experiments using the properties of the weak interaction give us unique insight into the internal hadronic structure of matter. The Gº experiment at Jefferson Laboratory used parity violating electron scattering to probe the strange quark contribution to the electromagnetic nucleon form factors, (GMs and GEs) as well as the axial contribution, (GAe). The data taken during the experiment provide further information on the axial transition form factor of the N - $\Delta$ transition, (GANΔ), as well as the scale of the low energy constant (dΔ) characterizing the parity violating γNΔ coupling. The analysis of backward angle Gº data taken with a liquid deuterium target to deduce the parity violating asymmetry for pion photoproduction on the Δ resonance, and the first experimental constraint on the value of dΔ, are reported in this thesis. The results showed that dΔ = (8.3 ± 25.3) gπ where the uncertainty is dominated by statistics, and that 75 percent of the theory range would be excluded by this measurement at 1 sigma.

The importance of studying challenges in implementing information technology solutions in health care organizations is highlighted by the huge investments in health care information technology (HIT) which has been spurred by recent government mandates. Information technology can help improve health care delivery cost by facilitating the standardization of work processes or routines and reducing variations among them. Set in a premier 950+ bed hospital in the south eastern part of US, this dissertation consists of two studies examining the challenges involved in implementing HIT solutions. In the first study, we seek to gain deep insights into how the process of creating a patient’s chart evolves over time in a health care institution. The second study focuses on the users of Electronic Health Records (EHR) system, investigating the compliance behavior of various providers with respect to patient records in the system. In the first study, through the lens of Activity theory our results show that the charting routine is implicated by the following environmental factors: (1) Tools, (2) Rules, (3) Community, and (4) Roles, and by individual factors: (5) Computer Self-Efficacy and (6) Risk Propensity. In the second study, our results indicate that there is a substantial effect of subculture of the different occupational groups on IT security compliance intent and behavior in a health care institution.

The global approach that pleads for the equality of all human beings and respect for human rights reaches children as well. Universal human rights should be awarded to all people and for all institutions, and, therefore, schools and children are no exception. Children's rights form an integral part of human rights. This study sets out to explore a management model to assist teachers in implementing children's rights. The study argues that schools are expected to be places of support and respect for children's rights. Instead, extreme violations take place in some schools. This occurs in spite of the children's rights laws that are in place. Most of the human rights transgressions are committed by teachers. The study offers a new approach for teachers to respect and promote children's rights in schools. The new approach is in the form of a model. A literature study and empirical research were undertaken, including national and international factors influencing children's rights. A number of serious gross violations were also explored. Qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews formed the basis of the empirical research. Finally, a content analysis was conducted to categorise and evaluate data. The findings revealed that teachers still use corporal punishment, even if it is totally outlawed. Other violations discovered included the following: verbal abuse, sexual relationships with girl learners, failure by teachers to attend classes and failure to treat all learners equally. Recommendations in this study emphasise the need to train student teachers regarding human rights education. An induction programme for newly appointed teachers is viewed as ideal. Workshops are also recommended for both the teachers and Teacher Liaison Officers (TLO’s). The study finally identified areas in which further research should be done. / Thesis (PhD (Education Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The global approach that pleads for the equality of all human beings and respect for human rights reaches children as well. Universal human rights should be awarded to all people and for all institutions, and, therefore, schools and children are no exception. Children's rights form an integral part of human rights. This study sets out to explore a management model to assist teachers in implementing children's rights. The study argues that schools are expected to be places of support and respect for children's rights. Instead, extreme violations take place in some schools. This occurs in spite of the children's rights laws that are in place. Most of the human rights transgressions are committed by teachers. The study offers a new approach for teachers to respect and promote children's rights in schools. The new approach is in the form of a model. A literature study and empirical research were undertaken, including national and international factors influencing children's rights. A number of serious gross violations were also explored. Qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews formed the basis of the empirical research. Finally, a content analysis was conducted to categorise and evaluate data. The findings revealed that teachers still use corporal punishment, even if it is totally outlawed. Other violations discovered included the following: verbal abuse, sexual relationships with girl learners, failure by teachers to attend classes and failure to treat all learners equally. Recommendations in this study emphasise the need to train student teachers regarding human rights education. An induction programme for newly appointed teachers is viewed as ideal. Workshops are also recommended for both the teachers and Teacher Liaison Officers (TLO’s). The study finally identified areas in which further research should be done. / Thesis (PhD (Education Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This dissertation examines the influence of the psychological contract and leadership styles on the perceived performance of semi-professional rugby teams. Little research has connected the psychological contract and sport, and little research has investigated the effect of specific leader behaviours on the performance of sport teams. It was therefore the objective of this dissertation to analyse the content of the psychological contract of rugby team members, and to determine the correlation between the psychological contract and the perceived performance of rugby team members. This dissertation also set out to analyse the content of the preferred leadership style of the team captain and the own leadership style of team members, and to determine the correlation between leadership styles and perceived performance. A longitudinal research design was chosen, along with a non-probability sampling technique. The sample consisted of rugby team members from a prominent rugby-playing university in South Africa. Questionnaires were used to investigate the content of the psychological contract and preferred leadership style and own leadership style, as well as their relationship to perceived performance. The results indicated no correlation between the psychological contract and perceived performance, nor any correlation between leadership styles and perceived performance. A strong correlation, on the other hand, was found between the preferred leadership style of the team captain and the own leadership style of team members. A strong correlation between institute obligations and player obligations was also established. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Due to socio-political transformation, South Africa has been subjected to dramatic changes that influenced employment relationships, employment contracts between employees and employers arid the psychological contract of employees. Due to all these socio-political changes different groups of employees experience differences in their psychological contracts and have certain expectations that their organisation should fulfil. The general objective of this research is to determine the psychological contract of designated and non-designated groups of a banking institution in the North West Province. A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect the data and reach the objectives of this study. Stratified random sample (n = 131) was taken from permanently appointed designated and non-designated employees of different branches in a South African banking institution in the North West Province. A structured, self-completion questionnaire was used to collect the data. The Psycones Questionnaire and discrimination and affirmative action questions were selected from different existing questionnaires and were used to compile the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (e.g. means, standard deviations, skewness and kurtosis) were used to analyse the data. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationships between the variables. Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the effects of the variables in this study, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to assess the differences in the experience of affirmative action policies of demographic groups. Item-level analysis is performed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that designated and non-designated groups of employees do not experience a difference in their breach or violation of their psychological contracts when affirmative action policies are correctly implemented and communicated. Based on the findings of this study organisations are advised to ensure that affirmative action policies are implemented correctly and communicated to all groups of employees, and then designated and non-designated employees would not differ in their experience of violation in their psychological contracts. Limitations in the research are identified and recommendations were made. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The present era in South Africa is one that is marked by substantial change due to unparalleled advancement in the field of technology, globalisation and competitive markets. These changes have placed new demands on the education sector in South Africa, especially further education. In 2000/1 South Africa's Further Education and Training (FET) sector has been rejuvenated through a process of transformation when 152 former Technical Colleges and Colleges of Education merged to form 50 multi-campus FET Colleges. The rationale behind this merging process is to curb the serious skills shortage which is threatening economic growth in this country through offering vocational education and training; and to raise quality in the education sector. This re-engineering process in education is founded on principles of equity, human rights, democracy and sustainable development. Change, however, is also about people and their ideas, fears, capacity and ability to stand and work together towards a more prosperous future for all. Transformation or change such as with mergers is dependent on employees' total commitment towards realising the organisation's objectives. High levels of organisational commitment tend to encourage loyalty, higher levels of productiveness and general job satisfaction. For change initiatives to be successful though, communication across all hierarchical levels is of the utmost importance. Management is expected to provide employees with just treatment, provide acceptable working conditions, clearly communicate what is regarded as a fair day's work, and give feedback on how well the employee is doing. Employees, in return, are expected to clearly show a good attitude, follow directions and be loyal towards x the organisation. The psychological contract is utilised to investigate the scope of change in an employment relationship. The psychological contract is a contract setting out mutual expectations between employer and employee - a contract that forms the backbone of any new relationship such as with a merger. The researcher makes use of the psychological contract (by utilising the Tilburgse Psychologisch Contract Vragenlijst (TPC)) to explain employer obligations; violation of employer obligations; employee obligations; relational/transactional contract values; commitment; intention to leave; and change perceptions. Should either employment party not fulfill its contractual terms in any way, the psychological contract will be breached or violated and the employee might attempt to balance the situation by reducing his or her job efforts, badmouthing the organisation, resorting to absenteeism or even petty theft. The worst case scenario in this destructive process is that the employee might leave the organisation. The purpose of this research study is to determine the effect (if any) that the mergers might have had on the psychological- and employment contracts in the four FET Colleges that have remained in the Free State Province. A cross-sectional survey design was used to reach the objective of this research and an English translation of the aforementioned questionnaire (TPC) was randomly distributed amongst the total population of 375 employees at the Free State FET Colleges involved in this study. A response rate of 53% (n = 200) was achieved. Results from other authors who have used the TPC Questionnaire in their research offer support for the validity and reliability of the scales used. The statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS program (SPSS, 2006), a program that is used to conduct statistical analysis regarding reliability and validity of the measuring instruments, descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. XI In Article 1 the researcher focused on the effect of mergers with regard to the influence of communication on the psychological contract as a possible factor affecting the intention to qUit. A multiple regression analysis (with intention to quit as dependent variable; and employer obligations, employee obligations, and communication as independent variables) was performed and 22.2% of the variance in intention to quit is predicted by communication and employee obligations (F = 28.07, p< 0.01). A practically significant correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) of a medium effect (r > 0.30) exists between communication and relational/transactional values and between communication and intention to quit. In Article 2 the effect of mergers, workplace changes and the violation of employer obligations on the psychological contract were evaluated, with special reference to job satisfaction and organisational commitment. In the above article a practically significant correlation coefficient (p < 0.01) of a medium effect (r> 0.30) was found between • change and job satisfaction; • job satisfaction and: commitment, employer obligations, employer violations; • commitment and: employer obligations, employer violations; and • employee obligations and: employer obligations, employer violations. A multiple regression analysis (with job satisfaction as dependent variable; and employer violation, organisational commitment, and change as independent variables) was performed and 29.9% of the variance in job satisfaction is predicted by employer violations, change and commitment (F = 27.668, p< 0.01). Recommendations for the organisation as well as for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

The Qweak experiment at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) will measure the proton's weak charge by measuring the parity violating asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering at very low momentum transfer, with the aim of determining the proton's weak charge with 4% combined statistical and systematic errors. The experimental apparatus includes a longitudinally polarized electron beam, a liquid hydrogen target, a room temperature toroidal magnetic spectrometer, and a set of precision detectors for the scattered electrons. The toroidal magnetic spectrometer, which will deflect away the inelastic scattered electrons and focus the elastic scattered electrons onto the detectors, plays a crucially important role in the experiment. In this thesis, in order to meet the requirements for the installation and calibration of the toroidal magnetic spectrometer, the numerical simulation of the spectrometer's magnetic field based on a realistic magnet model is discussed, a precise 3D field mapping is introduced, and some simulation results are provided. The zero-crossing analysis technique, which can be used to precisely infer the individual coil locations of the toroidal magnet, is presented and explored in detail.

Symmetry tests and more precisely parity violation experiments using the properties of the weak interaction give us unique insight into the internal hadronic structure of matter. The Gº experiment at Jefferson Laboratory used parity violating electron scattering to probe the strange quark contribution to the electromagnetic nucleon form factors, (GMs and GEs) as well as the axial contribution, (GAe). The data taken during the experiment provide further information on the axial transition form factor of the N - $\Delta$ transition, (GANΔ), as well as the scale of the low energy constant (dΔ) characterizing the parity violating γNΔ coupling. The analysis of backward angle Gº data taken with a liquid deuterium target to deduce the parity violating asymmetry for pion photoproduction on the Δ resonance, and the first experimental constraint on the value of dΔ, are reported in this thesis. The results showed that dΔ = (8.3 ± 25.3) gπ where the uncertainty is dominated by statistics, and that 75 percent of the theory range would be excluded by this measurement at 1 sigma.

This dissertation examines the influence of the psychological contract and leadership styles on the perceived performance of semi-professional rugby teams. Little research has connected the psychological contract and sport, and little research has investigated the effect of specific leader behaviours on the performance of sport teams. It was therefore the objective of this dissertation to analyse the content of the psychological contract of rugby team members, and to determine the correlation between the psychological contract and the perceived performance of rugby team members. This dissertation also set out to analyse the content of the preferred leadership style of the team captain and the own leadership style of team members, and to determine the correlation between leadership styles and perceived performance. A longitudinal research design was chosen, along with a non-probability sampling technique. The sample consisted of rugby team members from a prominent rugby-playing university in South Africa. Questionnaires were used to investigate the content of the psychological contract and preferred leadership style and own leadership style, as well as their relationship to perceived performance. The results indicated no correlation between the psychological contract and perceived performance, nor any correlation between leadership styles and perceived performance. A strong correlation, on the other hand, was found between the preferred leadership style of the team captain and the own leadership style of team members. A strong correlation between institute obligations and player obligations was also established. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.