Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to determine the content, number, level and pattern of fears
expressed by a culturally diverse selected group of middle childhood children in the Stellenbosch
area.
The secondary aim of this study was to establish whether there were any differences in the fears
expressed with respect to culture, gender and socio-econmic status (SES) as well as to ascertain any
differences with respect to the two fear measuring instruments. The two fear measuring instruments
administered were the Free-Option Method (FOM) and the Fear Survey Schedule for Children
Revised (FSSC-R). The FOM was used to determine the content and number of fears and the
structured FSSC-R, to establish the content, number, level and pattern of fears.
A predominantly quantitative method of data collection was used. In all, three questionnaires were
completed by 404 middle childhood children between the ages of 8 and 12 years, attending four
primary schools in the Stellenbosch area. These questionnaires comprised of the Biographical
questionnaire, the FOM and the FSSC-R and were administered in the same order as mentioned.
The data was also analysed in a quantitative manner.
Culture was defined in the terms of the main representative cultural communities III the
Stellenbosch area, namely, black, white and coloured South African children.
The content of fears based on the results of the FOM yielded only a few similarities upon
comparisons to the findings of previous studies. This, however, may be due to variations in the
methodology of the FOM among studies. Similarities were found regarding the content of fears
based on the FSSC-R results implying that certain fears are universal. The fear of crime or crime
related aspects featured among the ten 11:0stcommon fears for all the children regardless of the
measuring instrument used. The number and level of fears for the three cultural groups were the
highest for the black South African children, followed by the coloured South African children while
the white South African children displayed the lowest number and level of fears. The number and
level of fears for all three cultures were generally higher than found elsewhere in the world
according to previous studies. The pattern of fear was similar for all three cultures. Gender differences for all three cultures were consistent with preVIOUS research with girls
expressing more fears than boys. Girls also displayed a higher level of fears on all the five factors
than the boys.
The number and level of fears was the highest for children coming from lower SES background
than those coming from higher SES background. Difficulties were experienced with regard to
sample size and SES and a caution to use the results regarding SES as only tentative guidelines is
given.
The similarities between the results on the two measuring instruments, the FOM and the FSSC-R,
were sparse emphasising a need for the development of emic assessment tools.
In the conclusion, recommendations for future studies are provided. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die prim ere doel van die onderhawige studie was om die inhoud, aantal, vlak en patroon van
uitgesproke vrese deur 'n kultureel diverse geselekteerde groep van kinders in die middelkinderjare
in die Stellenboscharea, te bepaal.
Die sekondere doel van die onderhawige studie was om vas te stel of daar verskille was in die
uitgesproke vrese wat uitgedruk is met betrekking tot kultuur, geslag en sosio-ekonomiese status
(SES), sowel as die vergelyking tussen die twee meetinstrumente vir vrese. Die twee
meetinstrumente wat toegepas is, is die "Free Option Method" (FOM) en die "Fear Survey for
Children Revised" (FSSC-R). Die FOM was gebruik om die inhoud en aantal vrese te bepaal,
terwyl die FSSC-R gebruik was om die inhoud, aantal, vlak en patroon van vrese te bepaal.
'n Oorwegende kwantitatiewe metode van data insameling is gebruik in hierdie studie. In totaal is
drie vraelyste beantwoord deur 404 kinders in die middelkinderjare tussen die ouderdomme van 8
en 12 jaar, wat tans vier primere skole in die Stellenbosch area bywoon. Die drie vraelyste bestaan
uit die Biografiese vraeIys, die FOM en die FSSC-R en is toegepas in die voorafgaande volgorde.
Die data is ook kwantitatief geanaliseer.
Kultuur is omskryf in terme van die hoof verteenwoordigende kultuurgemeenskappe III die
Stellenbosch area, naamlik: swart, wit en kleurling Suid-Afrikaanse kinders.
Die inhoud van die vrese wat op die resultate van die FOM gebaseer is, het weinig ooreengestem
met ander navorsingsbevindings. Die verskynsel kan heeIwaarskynlik toegeskryf word aan die
wisselende metodiek van die FOM in navorsing. 'n Groot mate van ooreenstemming met
betrekking tot die inhoud van vrese wat gebaseer is op die FSSC-R resuitate, is bevind met
betrekking tot verwante navorsing. Die implikasie hiervan is dat sekere vrese wel universeel is.
Vrese vir geweld of geweiddadige aspekte het gefigureer onder die tien mees algemene vrese vir al
die kinders, ongeag die meetintrument wat toegepas is. Die aantal en viak van vrese vir die
ver~killende kuItuurgroepe was die hoogste vir die swart Suid-Afrikaanse kinders, gevoig deur die
van die kleurling Suid- Afrikaanse kinders, terwyI die wit Suid-Afrikaanse kinders met die Iaagste
aantal en vlak van vrese gepresenteer het. Die aantal en viak van uitgesproke vrese vir al drie kultuurgroepe was oor die algemeen hoer as die van navorsingbevindinge elders in die wereld. Die
patroon van vrese was egter dieselfde vir die drie kultuurgroepe.
Geslagverskille ten opsigte van al drie kultuurgroepe is in ooreenstemming met ander
navorsingsresultate bevind. Meisies het, vergeleke met seuns, meer vrese, sowel as 'n hoer vlak van
vrese op al vyf faktore van die FSSC-R getoon. Kinders vanuit 'n laer SES agtergrond het 'n groter
aantal, sowel as hoer vlak van vrese ervaar as kinders vanuit 'n hoer SES agtergrond. As gevolg van
die probleme wat ondervind is met die steekproefgrootte en die bepaling van SES, word gemaan om
die resultate met betrekking tot SES net as tentatiewe riglyne te interpreteer.
Daar was baie min ooreenstemming tussen die resultate van die twee meetinstrurnente, die FOM en
die FSSC-R, wat die behoefte aan die ontwikkeling van gepaste meetintrurnente beklemtoon.
Ten slotte word enkele riglyne vir verdere navorsing aanbeveel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52843 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Burkhardt, Käthe-Erla |
| Contributors | Loxton, H., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 159 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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