Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although fifteen years have passed since the change in political dispensation in South
Africa, the integration of citizens belonging to the previously disadvantaged sections
of society is still progressing at a bewilderingly slow pace. Gaining access to the
world of work is instrumental in the alleviation of poverty and the promotion of
economic and social stability in a country still plagued by the legacy of apartheid.
While South Africa is currently in the process of breaking down the scaffolding of
apartheid and promoting the welfare of all South Africans along more equitably lines,
the overall success of relevant initiatives fundamentally hinges on both the former
oppressors and the formerly oppressed coming to terms with the past and, more
importantly, engaging in a process of constitutional reconciliation and compromise to
overcome unconstructive attitudes brought about through decades of colonialism,
racism and segregation.
Following from this, attitudes towards cultural diversity in general and, more
specifically, the forces (i.e. nomological network of antecedents) that shape such
attitudes, informed the research question that initiated the current study. Preliminary
theorising culminated in the formulation of a tentative theoretical model explicating
the relationship between various variables and the attitude towards cultural diversity.
The proposed theoretical model in an effort to answer the question that initiated the
research implied that values influence the attitude towards cultural diversity.
Furthermore, it was argued that the relationship between values and the attitude
towards cultural diversity is moderated by race and gender.
The proposed theoretical model was formally assessed with the use of a convenience
sample of 1 357 students from four prominent universities in South Africa (Northwest
University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Stellenbosch, and
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University). A quasi double cross-validation procedure
was utilised whereby a single sample was divided into two equal subsamples: (a) a
calibration sample and (b) validation sample.
A combination of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms was utilised in the
current study. Only quantitative results are reported formally, although the qualitative
technique of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was utilised extensively during the
stages of theorisation. The statistical analysis became naturally segmented in four
distinct sections: the validation of the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) and the Cultural
Diversity Belief Scales (CDBS); the refinement of the SVS and CDBS; testing of the
proposed theoretical model via Structural Equation Modelling (SEM); and testing the
moderating effects of race and gender on the attitude towards cultural diversity by
means of moderated regression analysis.
Partial support was found for the proposed linkages between values main effects and
the attitude towards cultural diversity, as well as for the moderating effects of race
and gender on the value-attitude linkages.
Conclusions were drawn from the results obtained and recommendations for future
research have been made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel die politieke bewind in Suid-Afrika reeds vyftien jaar gelede verander het,
vorder die integrasie binne die samelewing van die voorheen benadeelde gedeeltes
van die bevolking teen ‘n verstommend stadige pas. Die verkryging van toetrede tot
die wêreld van werk dra by tot die verligting van armoede en die bevordering van
ekonomiese en maatskaplike stabiliteit in ‘n land wat steeds deur die nalatenskap van
apartheid geteister word. Met Suid-Afrika tans betrokke by die aftakeling van die
apartheidsteierwerk en die bevordering van die welsyn van alle Suid-Afrikaners op
meer gelyke grondslag, rus die algehele sukses van relevante inisiatiewe daarop dat
die voormalige verdruktes en die voormalige verdrukkers met die verlede vrede maak,
maar ook meer dat hulle deur ’n proses van grondwetlike versoening en akkoord die
onopbouende houdings wat deur dekades van kolonialisme, rassisme en segregasie tot
stand gekom het, kan oorkom.
Vanuit hierdie agtergrond het houdings teenoor kulturele diversiteit in die algemeen
en, meer spesifiek, die magte (d.i. nomologiese netwerk van voorafgaande gebeure)
wat aan sulke houdings vorm gee, die navorsingsvraag laat ontstaan wat tot die
huidige studie gelei het. Die voorafgaande teorie-ontwikkeling het tot die formulering
van ‘n tentatiewe teoretiese model gelei om die verhouding tussen verskeie
veranderlikes en die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit te ontvou. In ‘n poging om
‘n antwoord te vind vir die vraag wat tot die navorsing gelei het, het die voorgestelde
teoretiese model geïmpliseer dat waardes die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit
beïnvloed. ‘n Verdere argument was dat die verband tussen waardes en die houding
teenoor kulturele diversiteit deur ras en geslag gemodereer word.
Die voorgestelde teoretiese model is formeel geassesseer met gebruik van ’n
gerieflikheidssteekproef bestaande uit 1 357 studente vanuit vooraanstaande
universiteite in Suid-Afrika (die Universiteit van die Noordweste, die Kaapse
Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie, die Universiteit van Stellenbosch en die
Nelson Mandela Metropolitaanse Universiteit).’n Kwasi dubbele kruis-validering
(quasi double cross-validation) prosedure is gebruik waardeur ‘n enkelvoudige
steekproefneming in twee gelyke steekproewe verdeel is: (a) ‘n kalibreringssteekproef
en (b) ‘n valideringsteekproef.
’n Kombinasie van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsparadigmas is in die
huidige studie gebruik. Slegs kwantitatiewe resultate word formeel gerapporteer,
alhoewel kwalitatiewe Kritiese Diskoers-analise (Critical Discourse Analysis)
omvattend gebruik is gedurende die teoretiseringstadia. Die statistiese ontledings het
op natuurlike wyse in vier duidelike afdelings verdeel: die validering van die
Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) en die Cultural Diversity Belief Scales (CDBS); die
verfyning van die SVS en die CDBS; die toets van die voorgestelde teoretiese model
met behulp van Structural Equation Modelling (SEM); en die toets van die
modererende effekte van ras en geslag op die houding teenoor kulturele diversiteit
deur middel van modererende regressie-analise.
Gedeeltelike ondersteuning is gevind vir die voorgestelde verband tussen hoof-effekte
van waardes en die houding teenoor diversiteit, sowel as vir die modererende effek
van ras en geslag op die waardes-houdings verband. Gevolgtrekkings is gemaak uit
die resultate wat verkry is en voorstelle in verband met toekomstige navorsing is aan
die hand gedoen.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4298 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Becker, Jurgen Reiner |
| Contributors | Engelbrecht, A. S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 616 p. : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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