Effective schools are a pre-requisite for the transformation of society. However, for schools to function effectively, educators must work to their optimum levels, showing commitment, dedication and enhanced work performance. It is a challenge for school managers and policy implementers to ensure that educator's work performance is enhanced in the workplace. In this study I undertook to investigate factors that influence educator work performance. The rationale for the study took into consideration the constant demands placed on educators. By illuminating the factors that affect educator work performance, it is hoped that educators would receive the necessary support, assistance and guidance from all stakeholders in education so that educators may face and overcome current challenges in education, thus promoting work performance. As a result, educators will be able to execute their roles and responsibilities effectively in a rapidly transforming education environment. This study employed a qualitative research design. Through a process of random sampling, four Primary Schools from the Phoenix-West Ward of the Pinetown District in KwaZulu-Natal were chosen. The informants in this study comprised of eight level one educators. Two educators from each of the sampled schools were chosen through purposive sampling. The data was generated with the use of semi-structured interviews. The data gathered was received, coded and organized into themes, categories and sub-categories. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that many factors influence educator work performance. Factors such as a good salary and work that is challenging enhance work performance. Praise and recognition, as well as democratic leadership styles by SMT's, also have a positive influence on work performance. Factors associated with poor work performance included, heavy teacher workloads, curriculum uncertainty, stress, favouritism and a lack of teaching resources and equipment. In addition to this, being self-motivated created an inner drive in the informants to perform at optimum levels. School managers should play a fundamental role in offering support, guidance and in motivating educators in the workplace. The study also revealed that there should be a strong bond between the Department of Education as the employer and educators as employees, whereby the Department of Education should implement motivation strategies to enhance educator work performance. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

This research project investigates the influence of, and interplay between, contextual and biographical factors on an educator's ability to respond to the work context. In particular, this study explores what factors a small number of educators believe were important, before, during and after their participation on one or other specific professional development programme in enabling them to develop (design and/or adapt) and implement a course curriculum in their work environments. Within the context of this research, the professional development programmes of interest are designed with/for environmental educators from the Southern African region. Although past educational research has often focused on the importance that programme participants give to the interactions between themselves and tutors , the materials used, the assignments tackled, etc. this research project did not set out to draw the research subjects' attention to programme-related factors. Rather, it was designed to broaden the focus to include factors before and after a programme as well. Within this enquiry, three research subjects were engaged in numerous, open-ended conversations throughout the course of the year during which the study unfolded. The above participants were also involved in semi-structured interviews where, again, relatively open-ended questions were asked. A small number of documents, such as the materials of the above professional development programmes, were also analysed. This research has provided a number of insights into the wide range of factors that might enable educators to respond effectively to their work environments. Specifically, it has indicated the importance of four broad families of factors perceived by the subjects of this research to have enabled them to develop and implement a meaningful course curriculum. The personal variables are highlighted in particular. Importantly, this study raises questions and challenges both for those involved in similar research as well as for those involved in the design and implementation of professional development programmes, particularly for educators. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Healthcare practitioners, whom perform accurate sub-maximal exercise tests in healthy individuals, need to understand the physiological demands and normal cardiovascular (CV) responses with exercise. Exercise testing delivers valid information about the physiological systems of individuals that may identify healthy individuals at risk of developing future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exercise is a common way to assess physiological stress experienced by an individual, because CV abnormalities that are not present at rest, can be elicited during exercise testing and be used to determine the adequacy of cardiac function. Cardiovascular markers like, resting heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) have been used as simple non-invasive and useful biomarkers of the fundamental status of blood circulation and the CV system in healthy individuals. Studies have contributed to exercise under sub-maximal and maximal stress testing. Modern- day literature lacks information on the safe HR and SBP responses to an increase in workload during a sub-maximal exercise protocol in healthy individuals. Consequently, the first purpose of this study was to identify the current evidence in the literature on CV response during a sub-maximal incremental exercise protocol. Different protocols and modalities contribute to various CV responses over a wide age group and gender. Heart rate and SBP increases in a linear fashion with an increase in workload, irrespective of protocol and modality. The amount of this increase, or the response of these markers, is still a grey area in the literature, especially in healthy individuals. The second purpose of this study was to analyse the HR and SBP response in healthy adults during a sub-maximal incremental exercise test, with an increase in workload (watt). The systematic review found mean changes from baseline for HR and SBP to be 75.7% and 63.5% respectively, on bicycle protocols (N = 3). The treadmill protocols (N = 2) found similar mean changes from baseline of 113.3% for HR and 36.1% for SBP. Descriptive measures as well as Linear regression analyses were performed, using Generalised estimated equations (GEE). An independent t-test was used to compare the males with the female participants: HR and SBP response to an increase in workload (watt). GEE adjustments were made for age, body mass index (BMI) and workload (watt). Significant difference levels were set at p ≤ 0.05. The present once-off subject availability results revealed that male subjects were heavier and taller than their female counterparts (p ≤ 0.05). They also had a noteworthy higher SBPrest, as well as BMI (p ≤ 0.05). The results from the GEE analyses we presented prediction equation, with all variables significant, except for the BMI (p = 0.972 females; p = 0.169 males). In conclusion, the literature review indicated a lack of information on the HR and SBP response with workload in healthy adults. It is advised that further research is needed to test the prediction equations in healthy individuals to determine the validity and reliability. They need to be tested in a controlled clinical environment, where the participants are monitored more thoroughly. By putting these predicted equations to the test, healthcare practitioners will be able to identify an exaggerated HR and SBP response with an increase in workload. If the individual’s response is exaggerated, the healthcare practitioner can intervene to prevent future cardiovascular events. / Thesis (MSc (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Healthcare practitioners, whom perform accurate sub-maximal exercise tests in healthy individuals, need to understand the physiological demands and normal cardiovascular (CV) responses with exercise. Exercise testing delivers valid information about the physiological systems of individuals that may identify healthy individuals at risk of developing future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Exercise is a common way to assess physiological stress experienced by an individual, because CV abnormalities that are not present at rest, can be elicited during exercise testing and be used to determine the adequacy of cardiac function. Cardiovascular markers like, resting heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) have been used as simple non-invasive and useful biomarkers of the fundamental status of blood circulation and the CV system in healthy individuals. Studies have contributed to exercise under sub-maximal and maximal stress testing. Modern- day literature lacks information on the safe HR and SBP responses to an increase in workload during a sub-maximal exercise protocol in healthy individuals. Consequently, the first purpose of this study was to identify the current evidence in the literature on CV response during a sub-maximal incremental exercise protocol. Different protocols and modalities contribute to various CV responses over a wide age group and gender. Heart rate and SBP increases in a linear fashion with an increase in workload, irrespective of protocol and modality. The amount of this increase, or the response of these markers, is still a grey area in the literature, especially in healthy individuals. The second purpose of this study was to analyse the HR and SBP response in healthy adults during a sub-maximal incremental exercise test, with an increase in workload (watt). The systematic review found mean changes from baseline for HR and SBP to be 75.7% and 63.5% respectively, on bicycle protocols (N = 3). The treadmill protocols (N = 2) found similar mean changes from baseline of 113.3% for HR and 36.1% for SBP. Descriptive measures as well as Linear regression analyses were performed, using Generalised estimated equations (GEE). An independent t-test was used to compare the males with the female participants: HR and SBP response to an increase in workload (watt). GEE adjustments were made for age, body mass index (BMI) and workload (watt). Significant difference levels were set at p ≤ 0.05. The present once-off subject availability results revealed that male subjects were heavier and taller than their female counterparts (p ≤ 0.05). They also had a noteworthy higher SBPrest, as well as BMI (p ≤ 0.05). The results from the GEE analyses we presented prediction equation, with all variables significant, except for the BMI (p = 0.972 females; p = 0.169 males). In conclusion, the literature review indicated a lack of information on the HR and SBP response with workload in healthy adults. It is advised that further research is needed to test the prediction equations in healthy individuals to determine the validity and reliability. They need to be tested in a controlled clinical environment, where the participants are monitored more thoroughly. By putting these predicted equations to the test, healthcare practitioners will be able to identify an exaggerated HR and SBP response with an increase in workload. If the individual’s response is exaggerated, the healthcare practitioner can intervene to prevent future cardiovascular events. / Thesis (MSc (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate traffic safety and mobility for individuals with hearing loss (HL). Three studies were conducted: 1. a questionnaire survey aimed to evaluate differences in choice of transportation that might be related to HL, 2. a driving simulator study that looked into compensatory strategies and evaluated the efficiency of a tactile signal to alert the driver, and 3. a field study to evaluate these effects in real traffic and to evaluate a navigation system with a supportive tactile signal. The effects of HL discovered in this thesis add to the knowledge and understanding of the influence of HL on traffic safety and mobility. Differences found consistently point to a generally more cautious behavior. Compensatory and coping strategies associated with HL are bound to driving complexity and appear when complexity increases. These strategies include driving at lower speeds, using a more comprehensive visual search behavior and being less engaged in distracting activities. Evaluation of a tactile signal showed that by adding a tactile modality, some driver assistance systems can also be made accessible to drivers with HL. At the same time, the systems might be more effective for all users, since the driver can be more focused on the road. Based on the results in this thesis, drivers with HL cannot be considered an increased traffic safety risk, and there should be no need for adjustments of the requirements of hearing for a license to drive a car. / Syftet med den här doktorsavhandlingen var att undersöka trafiksäkerhet och mobilitet för individer med hörselnedsättning (HN). Tre studier har genomförts: 1. en enkätstudie för att undersöka skillnader i transportvanor relaterade till HN, 2. en körsimulatorstudie for att titta på kompensatoriska strategier och utvärdera effektiviteten i en taktil signal för att påkalla förarens uppmärksamhet och 3. en fältstudie för att undersöka effekterna i riktig trafik samt utvärdera ett navigationssystem med en taktil signal som stöd för navigering. Effekterna av HN som kom fram i denna avhandling bidrar till kunskapen och förståelsen för hur HN påverkar trafiksäkerhet och mobilitet. De funna skillnaderna pekar konsistent mot ett generelltmera försiktigt beteende. Kompensatoriska - och copingstrategier förknippade med HN beror på körkomplexitet och observeras när komplexiteten ökar. Dessa strategier innebär körning med lägre hastighet, mera heltäckande visuell avsökning och mindre engagemang i distraherande uppgifter. Utvärdering av en taktil signal visade att genom att lägga till en taktil modalitet kan vissa förarstödsystem bli tillgängliga även för förare med HN. Samtidigt kan systemen bli mera effektiva för alla användare eftersom föraren då kan fokusera mera på vägen. Baserat på resultaten i den här avhandlingen kan inte förare med HN betraktas som någon förhöjd risk och det bör därmed inte finnas något behov av att justera hörselkraven när det gäller körkortsinnehav.

Workload and complexity measures are, as of today, often imprecise and subjective. Currently, two commonly used workload and complexity measuring formulas are Monitor Alert Parameter and the “Bars”, both using the same measurement variables; amount of aircraft and time. This study creates formulas for quantifying ATC complexity. The study is done in an approach environment and is developed and tested on Stockholm TMA by the creation of 20 traffic scenarios. Ten air traffic controllers working in Stockholm TMA studied the complexity of the scenarios individually and ranked the scenarios in reference to each other. Five controllers evaluated scenario A1-A10. These scenarios were used as references when creating the formulas. The other half of the scenarios, B1-B10, ranked by another five controllers, was used as validation scenarios. Factors relevant to an approach environment were identified, and the data from the scenarios were extracted according to the identified factors. Moreover, a regression analysis was made with the ambition to reveal appropriate weights for each variable. At the first regression, called formula #1, some parameter values were identical. Also, some parameter weights became negative in the regression analysis. The basic requirements were not met and consequently, additional regressions were done; eventually forming formula #2. Formula #2 showed stable values and plausible parameter weights. When compared to a workload measuring model of today, formula #2 showed better performance. Despite the small amount of data samples, we were able to prove a genuine relation between three, of each other independent, variables and the traffic complexity.

In our daily lives we all experience forms of stress and as humans, we are equipped with internal mechanisms to react to the phenomenon. We utilize tactics that are recognised as `fight or flight' depending upon how we perceive the threat and we employ them accordingly. However, when we are unable to meet the challenges placed upon us, when they form a barrier to our achievement and progress, we become overwhelmed and are susceptible to the detrimental effects of stress. The past two decades have witnessed rapid technological advances and we are thus connected to a global set of networks. Education has had to change in order to compete with a global market that requires new skills. Teaching and what teachers do have come under scrutiny in terms of audit to ensure that a `World-Class' education system is being delivered. As a result there has been an increase in teacher workload and the profession has become re-defined in order to meet contemporary needs. Recent research by government led bodies supports the need to address teacher workload as a major cause of stress. One result has seen the development of the Workload Agreement (2003) aimed at easing the ever-increasing demands placed upon teachers. Whether this measure will be enough to address the difficulties surrounding teaching in a post-modern society remains to be seen. This inquiry focuses on teachers who have experienced work place stress which is a widely recognised phenomenon and has its own particular features. In revealing key issues surrounding teachers and their workload this study aims to uncover the particular features of teacher stress with specific emphasis on role, role conflict, change, management issues, age and workload. Furthermore the study hopes to expose how teacher's lives are changed as a result of their encounter with stress. The harrowing nature of the participants' stress narratives compelled me to chronicle the stories and unveil the impact of their experiences upon all aspects of their lives. Employing methods associated with the case study approach, I conducted unstructured interviews with eight participants. Each person provided me with stories that are narratives of their stress experiences. The nature of this work is grounded in the qualitative paradigm and I have approached this from an interpretative stance. I believe my study confirms issues surrounding teacher workload and teacher stress merits inquiry.

Darbo tikslas - Išanalizuoti šeimos gydytojų ir bendros praktikos slaugytojų darbo krūvio pasiskirstymą darbo metu. Uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti šeimos gydytojo darbo krūvį pacientų priėmimo metu. 2. Įvertinti bendros praktikos slaugytojo darbo krūvį. 3. Palyginti privačiose ir valstybinėse PSPC dirbančių šeimos gydytojų ir bendros praktikos slaugytojų darbo krūvį. Tyrimo metodika: anoniminė anketinė apklausa. Šeimos gydytojams ir bendros praktikos slaugytojams atsitiktine tvarka buvo pateiktos anketos, į kurias jie atsakydavo ir grąžindavo apklausėjui. Anketos buvo dalinamos darbo vietose, konferencijų, mokymų metu. Dėmesys buvo kreipiamas į apklausiamojo specialybę ( šeimos gydytojas ar bendros praktikos slaugytojas ), o ne į tai, kokioje PSPĮ jis dirba. Anketos buvo pateiktos 145 šeimos gydytojams ir 139 bendros praktikos slaugytojams. Į anketas respondentai atsakė 100%. Naudoti statistinės analizės metodai: SPSS Statistics 20.0 programa, Kolmogorovo ir Smirnovo testas, Spearman koreliacijos koeficientas, nepriklausomų imčių Stjudento t testas, blokuotų duomenų dispersinė analizė (ANOVA) su post hoc analizės Bonferonni kriterijumi, tiesinės regresijos metodas. Tyrimo rezultatai: Pastebėta, kad dubliuojasi dauguma šeimos gydytojų ir slaugytojų atliekamų manipuliacijų, kai kurių dokumentų pildymas, visos pateiktos apklausos metu funkcijos. Šeimos gydytojai daugiausiai priima lėtinėmis neinfekcinėmis ligomis sergančių pacientų. Tarp privačiose ir valstybinėse gydymo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Purpose: To analyse the distribution of workload of family physicians and general practice nurses during the working hours. Tasks: 1. To assess the workload of family physician during the working hours. 2. To assess the workload of general practice nurses during the working hours. 3. To compare the workload of family physicians and general practice nurses employed in the private and public health care centers. Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were presented to the family physicians and general practice nurses in randomised order. The questionnaires were distributed at working places during conferences and training courses. The attention was drawn to the professional qualification of the interviewed person (family physician or general practice nurse) rather than to a primary health care institution where the person was employed. The questionnaires were presented to 145 family physicians and 139 general practice nurses. 100 % of the respondents presented completed questionnaires. SPSS Statistics 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Kolmogorov's and Smirnov's test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, Student's T-test for the independent samples, dispersive analysis of blocked data (ANOVA) with Benferonni criterion for the post hoc analysis and method of linear regression were calculated Results: The data showed that many manipulations all functions listed in the questionnaires and completion of some documents duplicated between nurses and physicians. Patients... [to full text]

This thesis focuses on the relations between job insecurity and its consequences by addressing several specific research aims. The first research aim focused on expanding the range of job insecurity consequences by studying the relation between job insecurity and work–family conflict over time. In Study 3 it was found that job insecurity affected work–family conflict one year later among men. The second research aim addressed mechanisms involved in the job insecurity–outcome relations, focusing on factors that might make employees more vulnerable to, or buffer against the negative effects of job insecurity. Coping styles were investigated as potential moderating factors in Study 1, where it was found that problem-focused coping did not function as a buffer, nor did devaluation or avoidance coping. Avoidance coping was actually a vulnerability factor for men, and related to more negative reactions to job insecurity in terms of well-being. Two forms of job dependence as potential moderating factors of the relations between job insecurity and its outcomes were investigated in Study 2. It was found that the relative contribution to the household income functioned as a vulnerability factor for men. Higher levels of work centrality combined with either quantitative or qualitative job insecurity were related to higher levels of job satisfaction among women. Finally, in Study 3, workload was investigated as a mediating variable of the relation between job insecurity and its outcomes, where workload linked job insecurity to work–family conflict one year later among men. The third research aim of this thesis addressed gender, where differences between men and women were found in all three studies. Overall men seemed to suffer more from job insecurity. The results of the thesis confirm the negative impact of job insecurity, but also provide information regarding important areas for future research to study, such as the investigation of mechanisms and the role of gender. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Submitted. Paper 2: Submitted.

As knowledge workers in post-compulsory education, contemporary women Technical and Further Education (TAFE) teachers help train Australia's skilled workforce. Their work is instrumental in government strategies to enhance national competitiveness in global markets. Yet their contributions to Australian education have been neglected, their work/lives have remained unremarked, and their voices unheard. My research focus, therefore, was to examine how these teachers fared in recent, dramatic restructurings of the TAFE sector, part of the national Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, and to look particularly at how they responded to TAFE and other work/life changes / thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2002.