Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Psychology Case studies'

This research was based on the premise that psychological research on risk-taking behaviour has emphasized a one-dimensional model of instrumentality and cognitive functioning derived from male experience. The central research question "How do women experience risk-taking?" was investigated by analyzing definitions and examples of personal risk described by 44 women, and by comparing relationships between subgroups assigned by occupation and by sex-role orientation. The findings indicated that women experienced risk-taking that spanned both dimensions of affiliation (connection to others) and instrumentality (attainment of personal goals). A new definition of risk-taking was proposed that incorporated elements of uncertainty, emotional involvement, loss, and a process of change. Women in traditional occupations described a similar number of affiliative and instrumental risks, while women in non-traditional occupations emphasized instrumental risks. It was observed that the opportunity and demand for risk-taking appeared related to social context and work activity. Significant differences were also found between women in traditional and non-traditional occupations with respect to sex-role orientation (from the Bern Sex-Role Inventory), employment status, income level, and number of children. No differences were found between sub-groups designated by occupation and by sex-role orientation with respect to estimates of risk-taking tendency from a self-estimate scale and the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire. The results supported a critique of the Choice Dilemmas Questionnaire, citing an emphasis on instrumental and hypothetical risk-taking. Participants also reported that the CDQ was not relevant to their lives. The feminist approach encouraged active participation and evaluation by the women in the study. As a result, participants reported an increased understanding of themselves and of the process of risk-taking.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether the individual political leader is important for the analysis of international relations. Traditionally the focus of investigation in international relations has been on the nation-state, or the systems level, and as a result the individual level has been somewhat neglected. Using the theory of political psychology there is a possibility of finding nuances that might not be found if the focus of the investigation is on the nation-state. With the help of key concepts such as personality, emotion, cognition, and social identity decision making that has affected world politics have been examined. An empirical examination of the political psychology has been made by applying the theory to a case study, George W Bush. By applying the theory of political psychology to the decision making process used by George W Bush and his Administration it will be shown that the individual can impact world politics, especially in the case of the invasion of Iraq. Furthermore, one of the flaws of the theory of political psychology, its problem in handling the concept of global terrorism, is briefly discussed. The conclusion that has been drawn in this thesis is that the individual level of analysis is just as important as the systems level or the domestic level of analysis.

This dissertation is an exploration of the nature of daydreaming and its relationship to literacy development in the lives of four children. The children were interviewed and the data is presented in four interpretive case studies. Of the four children, ages 11-13, two of the children are urban and two children live on a southwestern Indian reservation. Five themes emerged from the interviews with the children regarding their use and description of daydreaming: daydreaming, imagination, reading, writing, and school. The children consistently made distinctions between daydreaming and imagination, utilized daydreaming in their construction of their worlds, and discussed the negative attitude they experience in school toward daydreaming. The data in the individual case studies is contextualized within the broader life context of each of the four children represented. A component of this work is based in the researcher's self reflection. The universal practice of daydreaming must be valued in the growth and development of the individual. Daydreams show the uniqueness of individual invention. Through daydreams children explore places they have never been, become characters in the stories they read, and explore new knowledge in the safety of their own minds. Daydreaming is an invisible aspect of the creative and generative life of the mind which is critical to visible production. Currently research themes are increasingly addressing the question of individual consciousness and understanding how children transform information into their own terms. This dissertation seeks to contribute to this understanding. Daydreaming is not a negative practice but one which contributes to children's invisible and visible worlds. Daydreaming serves the interests of these children in their lives as thinkers, readers, writers and creators both at home and school.

Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2007.
This study is on the impact of copyright law on the provision of information by libraries with special reference to computerized databases. For the purposes of this study, four hypotheses were set, being: the appropriateness of copyright law; the restriction on access to information; author's remuneration for his work; and the interpretation of the law of copyright. A literature review was done on the origin and development of copyright, from the ancient cultures through the Middle Ages and the invention of the printing period to the enactment of the first copyright law in history (the Statute of Anne) which is the fundamental basis of the modern copyright as a legal protection for an author, artist or composer that restricts any form of reproduction. In general, copyright law grants the autln,r an exclusive right to his works and also grants the pucil J the right to use intellectual works within th^ limits of the doctrine of 'fair use* that would not cripple the economic conditions of the author. In chapter three, it is indicated that recent developments in computer technology, telecommunications technology and reprography have made it possible for information to be easily and cheaply copied and transmitted over distances (transborder data flow) for the use of many users. Such indiscriminate access withholds from the copyright holder legitimate royalties for his work and the protection by legal copyright. To restrict such access on the other hand, inhibits the use of the work which is also contrary to the interests of the author and to the intent of copyright law. Libraries are a primary source of disseminated information and as such are required to observe the legal conventions of the country. With the recent developments of a wide range of technological advancements in information transfer, and an increased demand for information sharing, it is becoming increasingly difficult and in some cases impossible for libraries to fully uphold and enforce the provisions of the copyright law. Nowadays, intellectual property has become a tradeable commodity and the recent problem is one of economic threat brought about by changing technology. Librarians depend upon the originality and products of authors and publishers in the provision of information services to users and must therefore observe the copyright law to give incentive to those with the ability to write. The results of this study confirm the hypotheses that copyright law is not appropriate in the reproduction of all forms of copyrighted material from computerized databases; that copyright law restricts the free access to information; that authors have the right to expect remuneration for their works; and that the interpretation of copyright law is a problem and therefore confusing to libraries.

Includes bibliography.
The present study provides a description of selected core psychodynamic issues pertinent to a male transvestite patient. Case material from an ongoing 11 month psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy is used for illustrative purposes. The theoretical roles of the 'core complex', castration anxiety; aggression and a particular ego style are thematically outlined and illustrated by a discussion of the therapeutic process. An attempt is made to demonstrate an increased capacity for depression, increased object-relatedness and disidentification from a symbiotically related female introject as the aim and partial gain of the therapy. The transference, case management difficulties and the therapeutic process of what has occurred as well as what is likely to, are considered. The unexpected outcome, in that the patient has ceased to fetishistically cross-dress, given the short space of therapeutic time is discussed. It is concluded that this be viewed tentatively. Finally, some thoughts are raised as to the utility of the psychoanalytic approach as against the general psychiatric-diagnostic approach.

This work present the salient features of existential psychoanalysis across a chronological selection of Sartre's works. It looks at the background in psychology and phenomenology which informed Sartre's concept and presents key aspects of the theory itself, in comparison with Freudian psychoanalysis. A study of Sartre's three existential biographies, on Baudelaire, Genet and Flaubert, shows how the theory and its progressive-regressive method are applied to concrete cases, while also tracing the evolution of Sartre's approach up to his late writings on the topic. The final assessment concerns the possibility of using Sartre's theory as a basis for existential psychotherapy. Sartre's account is shown to provide a consistent framework for analysing individuals in existential terms and through which to understand subjectivity.

The Ironman Triathlon is an epic endurance event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. There is paucity in the literature relating to how athletes learn how to negotiate this event. This qualitative study was conducted over a 9 month period, to align with the 2013 Ironman training and racing season. Seven athletes were selected for participation in the study. Utilizing a case study approach, the Ironman athletes' learning pathways were examined through in-depth interviews and audio and video content personally captured by the participants.

The learning pathways revealed the athletes initially learned through cognitive means, i.e. social interaction, reading, Internet sources, and the observation of others. As athletes traversed the learning pathway, they subsequently operationalized the knowledge they learned and constructively made it meaningful to their respective personal training and racing situations. At the terminal end of the learning pathway, the athletes operationalized the learned content in an experiential learning cycle. During the entire learning pathway, the athletes practiced the learned content, which is best characterized as behavioral learning. The audio and video content provided by the athletes empirically validated the interviews.

The interviews with the athletes were coded. Some unifying themes emerged from the data independent of cognitive, constructivist, behavioral, or experiential learning theories; e.g. the importance of mental toughness, the understanding of pain during the training and racing process, how success is measured, the importance of training with a power meter, and motivating factors.

This study was designed to examine adolescent girls experience of their parents' divorce. A review of the literature on this subject indicated that little research had been conducted on the adolescents' experience of parental divorce. The literature also indicated that the painful event of divorce can precipitate a number of emotional, behavioural, and cognitive changes in children. This study utilized a phenomenological methodology. Specifically, the study sought to explore the participants' experience of parental divorce and interpret the results in conjunction with relevant theory. Eight girls from age sixteen to nineteen participated in the study. These girls came from a home where a divorce had occurred within a nine year range, but had occurred at least one year since the time of the interviews. The participants were interviewed twice. The interviews were analyzed using the data analysis process described by Giorgi (1975). This analysis revealed twelve topic areas which were descriptive of the participants' experience of divorce. These topics were then organized around four main content areas, or processes. These processes were the experience of the divorce, the process of adapting to environmental changes, the learning and growing process, and the process of restructuring meaning and moving toward resolution. The results were interpreted utilizing the literature on children from divorced homes, attribution theory, and just world theory. The present study shared many similarities with the literature on divorce, but differed in the degree of depression and maladjustment seen among the participants. The participants in this study, generally, were seen to highly-functioning, healthy individuals. The study also showed how the participants need for control in their lives was related to the theories posed by attribution theory and just world theory.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

Adolescence has been characterized as a formative time of stress, anxiety, and change. Any index of adolescent development confirms the fact that this is a difficult developmental period. Youths are dealing with demands from a myriad of directions and thus require guidance and skill to optimally grow through this stage. An affective, personal development program designed to address adolescent needs is investigated in this study. Although the literature supports the need for affective, developmental education, little empirical evidence exists to document the impact, value and validity of such educational programs. This study tested a hypothesis that an affective, personal development program would enhance the overall psychological well-being of adolescent participants. A secondary hypothesis was that this educational training would have a differential outcome for gender. Sixty nine subjects, aged fourteen to nineteen, completed the Personal Orientation Inventory: 37 females, 26 males, and 6 returnees. The POI is purported to measure positive mental health; the interviews and questionnaires were designed to reflect the participants' self-perceived gains. Statistical analyses indicated significant positive changes on all POI scales for the pooled male and female scores. Gender differences were found, favoring females, on the two POI major scales and six of the ten subscales. All findings, qualitative and quantitative, indicate that an affective personal development program does enhance personal and interpersonal growth, thus the overall psychological well-being of adolescents. This program, although beneficial to both males and females, appears to have a more favorable outcome for females.
Education, Faculty of
Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of
Graduate

The objectives of this work are to: - Explore the concept of adolescent vulnerability; - Establish easily administered, reliable means of early identification of the most vulnerable; and - Suggest some school level interventions. This research focuses on adolescents in a socially deprived area. The thesis contains two parts: Part I explores the theoretical contexts, examining the social, educational and moral climate, and concludes that potential vulnerability is not being identified early enough in young people's lives for effective interventions to be implemented. The phenomenon and experience of adolescence is explored from a variety of perspectives, and various definitions of adolescence examined. The broad range of experience representing both typical and atypical adolescence is considered. A range of socio-economic factors and psychometric measures are reviewed for potential use as early indicators of vulnerability. The four screening measures chosen from the range reviewed are social deprivation, selfesteem, locus of control (LoC) and coping strategies. Social deprivation indicators establish background levels of life chances and prospects. Selfesteem is used to identify the most vulnerable; locus of control adds information about the nature of their vulnerability, and coping strategies informs potential practical interventions. Part 2 focuses on practical research. The prospects of the subject population are explored using a range of indicators, including the social and educational alienation and dysfunction of its young adolescents. Six hypotheses are defined and the selected psychometric tools piloted and administered on all of Year 7 of the subject school. Pupils are identified as either vulnerable or not identifiably vulnerable. Case studies using semi-structured interviews are conducted, adding a qualitative, experiential dimension to the statistical, psychometric findings. Based on this research conclusions are drawn which have academic application and directly inform practical interventions which, if implemented in early adolescence, would potentially alleviate the identified vulnerability.

Three issues were examined in this study: (1) the extent to which psychological challenge or stress elicits changes in the breathing patterns of normal subjects; (2) whether breathing pattern changes covary with cardiovascular arousal; and (3) whether individuals identified as being potentially at-risk for developing hypertension respond to mental challenge tasks with breathing pattern and cardiovascular changes that are reliably different from those of lower risk individuals. Subjects were 100 healthy young men divided into reactor quintiles on the basis of their heart rate (HR) changes to a 1-minute cold pressor test. Those in the upper quintile were designated as being at-risk for developing hypertension. Their cardiovascular and respiratory changes to two counterbalanced versions of a 5-minute mental arithmetic test (Easy & Hard) were compared with those of the third and fifth quintile subjects. Marked individual differences were evident in the direction and extent of breathing changes. Overall, the rate, amplitude, variability, and predominant mode of breathing increased substantially over resting levels in response to the math tasks. Only breathing rate and variability reliably covaried with task difficulty. Little correspondence was found between breathing changes and cardiovascular arousal. The data did indicate a trend for breathing to shift towards greater ribcage dominance as task difficulty increased. This was especially true for the at-risk group and least true for the low reactor quintile. The expected group differences in cardiovascular reactivity were not found however, implying that the HR reactivity to cold stimulation is not a good predictor of reactivity to acute mental challenge or stress. Overall, the results suggest that breathing patterns change in response to psychological stress but are not clearly associated with cardiovascular arousal. The attempt to identify subgroups of aberrant breathers on the basis of HR reactivity also yielded equivocal results.
Arts, Faculty of
Psychology, Department of
Graduate

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
This thesis focused on three adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who are living in a group home in Cape Town. The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore and describe the three occupants' perceived quality of life and their experiences of living in the group home. The group home was established in 2005 as a pioneering project by Autism Western Cape, a regional non-profit organisation (NGO). It is designed for adults with high-functioning ASD who require low care. In this interpretative study, a multiple case study method of enquiry was used. The Personal Wellbeing Index – Intellectual Disability (PWI-ID), as developed by Cummins and Lau (2005), was used as the primary subjective outcome measure of quality of life. In addition, the study made use of participant observations undertaken during two semi-structured interviews with each participant and two focus group interviews. All three participants felt that they had enjoyed a higher level of quality of life, especially in the domain of 'personal relationships', since their arrival at the group home. However, they expressed a desire for more independence; a higher income; female companionship and better security at the home. These suggestions have been made available to the relevant sponsors of the housing project.

Mentorship in the workplace is a critical component of leader development that benefits both the individual and organization. While the United States Army’s mentorship program takes an informal approach to initiating mentoring connections, active mentorship is an expectation of all leaders. Women in the army remain underrepresented in the senior ranks, creating a situation that may lead to more limited opportunities for the female-to-female interactions that would result in a diverse mentoring experience. This qualitative case study explored the mentoring experiences of a purposive sample of interviews with 10 women officers assigned to Brigade Combat Teams while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Results were analyzed using two cycles of inductive coding and pattern-matching techniques. The six themes that emerged provide insight into the conditions and mechanisms that may create more effective professional mentoring relationships for military leaders.

Key Words: female mentoring, women’s mentorship, United States Army officers, U.S. Army officers, leader development, qualitative

This study investigated community college faculty productivity from within the overall context of faculty vitality. The study was conducted at Fraser Valley College in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, British Columbia, and Red Deer College in Red Deer, Alberta. Two research problems were addressed. First, which work related factors, as reported by continuing contract teaching faculty at the two community colleges, facilitated or hindered the productivity of instructors? Second, to what extent are a composite set of factors, based on those suggested in the literature as affecting faculty vitality, perceived by faculty at these colleges to affect their productivity? The research was descriptive, extending faculty productivity and vitality inquiry into the community college context using a case study approach. A questionnaire employing the critical incident technique was used to collect data from faculty about incidents they perceived as having had a personally significant effect on their productivity. A definition of community college faculty productivity for use in the critical incident process was developed using a 12 member Delphi group consisting of three faculty and three administrators from each college. Rating of the composite set of vitality factors was accomplished by asking the respondents to rate each factor on a five point bipolar rating scale based on their perception of the priority each factor had in affecting their productivity. The 330 incidents collected by the questionnaire (171 facilitating, 159 hindering) were classified into 15 incident categories which in turn were able to be grouped into four major areas each of which provides a theme for the related categories they contain. All factors in the composite set of vitality related factors received a minimum mean rating of three on the five point scale. Conclusions drawn include: (1) the frequency of incidents by category should not be the only measure of category importance because frequencies may vary by institution, by instructor, and over time; (2) the categories reflect an open rather than closed classification system and as such are interrelated; (3) the categories reflect both facilitating and hindering incidents; (4) factors suggested by the literature as affecting vitality are perceived by faculty to affect their productivity but these results may hide a diversity of views for a particular situation; (5) the factors identified as facilitating or hindering community college faculty productivity should not be interpreted as applicable in all situations or for all faculty. Research results suggest increased awareness by administrators (at the colleges in the study) of the facilitating/hindering productivity factor category scheme should lead to a working environment more facilitative to faculty productivity if either facilitating incidents are increased and/or hindering incidents are reduced. The productivity factor assessment section of the questionnaire results suggests administrators at the two colleges should be sensitive to any actions which are perceived as undermining quality of performance.
Education, Faculty of
Educational Studies (EDST), Department of
Graduate

There are currently an estimated 93 million children with disabilities in the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report each year that 1 in every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome. Yet in spite of the enormity of numbers, they remain one of the most marginalized groups in society. Discrimination, negative attitudes, inadequate healthcare, and segregated education systems effectively bar differently abled children from realizing their full potential. This study uses a single-subject case study of one spectacular sport event involving one child with Down syndrome. It is framed by Vygotsky’s "zone of proximal development" (ZPD) theory, which suggests that social interaction, adult guidance, and peer collaboration, can support development that exceeds what can be attained alone. A thematic analysis was used to measure differences in recurring themes among three separate sources of data including (1) online YouTube video comments, (2) written correspondence, and (3) focus group interviews. Four emerging themes including servant leadership (31%), happiness (27%) inclusion (20%), and community (17%), were most frequently identified. However, significant differences in frequencies of thematic responses were noted between the three sources of data. Findings support past research that has found comparative differences between participants and observers in how one relates to people and scenarios. Observers are likely to remove themselves from “understanding” an experience, and may be less likely to feel the full spectrum of human emotion and character. This unintentional yet impactful event points to the power and mystery of how a person’s influence can extend much further than their immediate community, but to external observers from the wider world. Findings also confirm the role of Servant Leadership, Community, and Inclusion as critical for reshaping attitudes and assuring equity across policies and programs so that children who are differently abled can reach their full potential.

Bibliography: pages 71-78.
Educational Psychology has been defined in the past as an interventionist profession, mainly focused on the alleviation of educational problems that interfere with the educational process. Currently a paradigm shift seems to herald new opportunities for the profession to develop whole school approaches and devote less of its time to individual case work. Educational psychologists world-wide foresee a broadening in the focus of their work to include a larger commitment to consultancy and school systems development. The benefits are seen in terms of the more efficient use of time, eliciting wider ranging change and the opportunity for offering a preventative approach to service delivery. School systems consultation represents such an approach. This study explores the practice of school systems consultation using an action research approach. It is argued that action research methodology provides a framework to contain and guide the complex developments which emerge once the consultation gets under way. Central concepts in an action research approach such as collaboration, participation and reflection are analysed and reflected upon in terms of the opportunities and constraints they presented to school systems consultation as a service delivery option for the educational psychologist. The role of the educational psychologist in South Africa has been conservative and the shift towards a more socially accountable one seems inevitable if such services are to be regarded as appropriate. The role of the educational psychologist as change agent in the transformation process in the South African education system is explored in this study.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A century of clinical observations and literature has repeatedly noted that trauma responses occur in across a spectrum and on a continuum of severity. The existing, DSMIV trauma response classifications include Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD as anxiety disorders. Complex PTSD or DESNOS was considered as a proposed, alternative classification during the DSM-IV PTSD Field Trials. It was not included as a separate diagnosis, but briefly mentioned as an associated feature ofPTSD. Subsequent research and replica studies have not proved conclusively whether Complex PTSD should be a separate or associated feature ofPTSD, and the controversy continues to date. Childhood traumatization is strongly associated with adult psychopathology, and various Axis I and Axis II disorders, especially Borderline Personality Disorder, and to a lesser extent, Antisocial Personality Disorder. Prolonged, repeated traumatization during adulthood is also associated with subsequent Axis II pathology, including Borderline, Obsessive-Compulsive and Avoidant Personality Disorders. Chronically traumatized people with Axis II pathology often present with comorbid Axis I disorders including Major Depression, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Somatization Disorder, and Dissociative Disorders. There are divergent views regarding the etiology of personality disorders in chronically traumatized individuals. On the one hand, repeated, prolonged trauma could cause enduring personality dysfunction in individuals despite normal premorbid functioning. On the other hand, genetics, temperament, environmental factors and even a pre-existing stress diathesis in the pre-trauma personality could contribute to the development of post-trauma personality disorders. These two views do not necessary contradict each other, but illustrate the complexity the human stress reaction. Despite the controversy the inclusion of DESNOS into the diagnostic canon, it is a valuable measure of predicting prognosis to existing treatment options. The present main psychological treatment for post-traumatic stress disorders has been a cognitive-behavioral based, exposure intervention. Alternative therapies include psychodynamic approaches, pastoral interventions and more recently, ecological and recovery based models. The Complex PTSD conceptualization contributes to a better understanding of the personality structure of chronically traumatized people. There are three main areas of disturbance. Firstly, a complex symptomatic presentation including somatization, dissociation, and affect dysregulation. Secondly, deep characterological shifts including deformations in concepts of relatedness and identity. Thirdly, and increased vulnerability to harm, either self-inflicted or at the hands of others. The usefulness of integrating these three concepts into the personality conceptualization of chronically traumatized individuals is illustrated a case study.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die literatuur en kliniese waarneming vand die afgelope eeu dui herhaaldelik op trauma reaksies oor 'n spektrum. In die bestaande DSM-IV stelsel, val trauma reaksies net Akute Stress Steuring and Post-Traumatiese Stress Steuring. Hoewel Komplekse PTSD in 1992 voorgestel was as 'n alternatiefin die DSM-IV, is dit nie as aparte diagnose ingesluit is nie, maar wel wel gelys as geassosieerde symptoom van PTSD. Latere navorsing en duplikaat studies het nog nie konklusiefbewys of Komplekse PTSD 'n geassosieerde or aparte simptoom van PTSD is nie, en debat duur nog voort. Trauma gedurende kinderjare word sterk geassosieer met volwasse psigopatologie en verskeie As I en As II steurings, veral Grenslyn Persoonlikheids Steuring, en tot In mindere mate, Antisosiale Persoonlikheids Steuring. Langstaande, herhaalde traumatisering gedurende volwassenheid word ook geassosieer met latere As II patologie, insluitende, Grenslyn, Obsessief-Kompulsief en Vermydende Persoonlikheids Steurings, Kronies getraumatiseerde individue met As II patologie presenteer ook dikwels met komorbiede As II steurings insluitende Major Depressie, Post-Traumatiese Stres Steuring, Somatiserings Steuring, and Dissosiatiewe Steurings. Daar is uiteenlopende sienings oor die etiologie van persoonlikheids steurings in kronies getraumatiseerde individue. Aan die een kant, kan langstaande, herhaalde trauma persoonlikheids veranderinge veroorsaak ongeag normale premorbide funksionering. Aan die ander kant, kan genetika, temperament, omgewing en'n pre-morbide stressvatbaarheid almal bydra tot die ontwikkeling van post-trauma persoonlikheids steurings. Hierdie twee sienings weerspreek mekaar nie noodwendig nie, maar dui op die kompleksiteit van die menslike stres reaksie. Ongeag die akademiese debakeloor die insluiting van die Kompleks PTSD konseptualisasie in DSM-IV diagnostiese stelsel, is dit 'n waardevolle praktiese meetinstrument van prognose onder bestaande behandelings opsies. Tot dusver word die primere sielkundige intervensies gebaseer op 'n kognitiewe-gedragsterapie model. Alternatiewe terapieë sluit in psigodinamiese, pastorale en meer onlangse ekologiese en herstel-gebasseerde intervensies. Die Kompleks PTSD konseptualisasie dra by tot beter kennis oor die persoonlikheids struktuur van kronies, getraumatiseerde mense. Daar is drie hoof areas of versteuring. Eerstens, a komplekse simptomatiese presentasie insluitende somatisering, dissosiasie en affek disregulasie. Tweedens, diep veranderings in karakter insluitende versteurings in identiteit en interpersoonlike verhoudings. Derdens, in groter vatbaarheid vir seerkry, of aan hulle eie hande, of aan die hande van ander. Die waarde van die integrasie van hierdie drie konsepte in die persoonlikheids konseptualisasie van kronies getraumatiseerde individue word geillustreer deur 'n gevallestudie.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: My study aims to explore whether a Developmental Play Programme can be implemented in a primary school with learners, using trained volunteer therapists from an old age home in the area. I also looked at the experiences of the learners and that of the volunteer therapists using Developmental Play Therapy as a therapeutic technique. The technique facilitates the development of child-adult relationships that are necessary for the development of children. The research is in the form of a qualitative case study. It is approached from an ecosystemic perspective i.e. learners are viewed as a core system which in turn is part of several other systems, for example the family, school, church, community etc. The systems are interdependent, which means that change in the one system also results in change within other systems. In the data production video recordings, unstructured interviews, observations and field notes are used. Data analysis was done using principles of coding. The results of the study show that Developmental Play Therapy is indeed an effective psychotherapeutic technique to use in a primary school with a group of learners and to use senior citizens as volunteer therapists to do the therapy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel met die studie is om na te vors of die Ontwikkelende speelprogram op leerders in 'n primêre skool toegepas kan word, deur inwoners van 'n ouetehuis in die area op te lei as vrywillige terapeute. Ek het die ervaringe van die leerders en die van die vrywillige terapeute observeer waar Ontwikkelende Speelterapie as terapeutiese tegniek toegepas is. Die tegniek bevorder onder andere die ontwikkeling van ouer - kindverhoudings, wat noodsaaklik is vir die ontwikkeling van kinders. Die navorsing neem die vorm van 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie aan. Dit word benader vanuit 'n ekosistemiese perspektief, dit wil sê die leerders word gesien as die kernsisteem wat deel is van verskeie ander sisteme soos byvoorbeeld die familie, skool, kerk en gemeenskap. Die sisteme is interafhanklik wat beteken dat verandering in een sisteem ook verandering in die ander sisteme tot gevolg het. In die data - produksie is tegnieke naamlik video - opnames, ongestruktureerde onderhoude, observasies en veldnotas gebruik. Data - analise is volgens die beginsels van kodering gedoen. Die resultate van die onderhewige studie toon dat Ontwikkelende speelterapie 'n effektiewe psigoterapeutiese tegniek is om in 'n primêre skool te gebruik met 'n groep leerders, en om gebruik te maak van senior burgers as vrywillige terapeute om die terapie te doen.

In this dissertation, I present three manuscripts in which I integrate race into an ambivalent sexism framework using experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional methods. The first paper tests whether a female's race acts as a subtype to differentially elicit benevolent sexism (BS). Two experiments demonstrated that BS is more strongly associated with White women than Black women. The second paper explores the relationship between protective paternalism (a subcomponent of BS), anti-minority attitudes, and threat. Threat was associated with stronger endorsement of protective paternalism and a corresponding increase in anti-minority attitudes, particularly for White men, implicating BS in the maintenance of racial inequality. Finally, my third study investigated potential real-world consequences of the differential application of BS to Black and White women in the context of police responses to intimate partner violence (IPV). Officers were more likely to file supplemental paperwork for White victims than Black victims, and were most likely to do so when encountering a White victim and a Black suspect. White victims were also written about with a greater "risk focus", consistent with BS. In sum, chapter II establishes racial differences in who receives BS, chapter III demonstrates how paternalistic protections of White women are racialized, and chapter IV reveals how the intersection of BS with racial stereotypes may impact women seeking help from police. This dissertation is the first investigation in the social psychological literature of how race informs the targets, function, and consequences of BS.

Students who are unable or unwilling to attend classes at an educational institution can often study at home through distance education programs. A consistently noted problem for students in these programs centres on the isolation experienced in such independent study. This sense of isolation may be one of the causes of the high drop-out rates common in distance education. The hypothesis of this study was that interaction with other students via telephone conferencing would decrease the drop-out rate, increase student satisfaction and improve academic performance. Twenty-nine students from a community college in British Columbia were involved in the study. They completed a questionnaire measuring the personality constructs "need for affiliation", "need for achievement" and "need for autonomy". They were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control group. Members of the treatment group participated in telephone conferences with the course instructor and three or four other students. Members of the control group received only individual telephone calls from the instructor. The completion rates of the two groups, measures of satisfaction and marks were compared. Only 2 of the 15 students in the treatment group dropped out while 7 of the 14 students in the control group failed to complete the course. The chi square with one degree of freedom was 4.55 significant at the .03 level. A Yates correction for continuity of curve, which was applied because of the small numbers, lowered the significance to .08. Differences in measures of student satisfaction were not statistically significant. For all students there was a moderate correlation between student achievement as measured by marks and need for affiliation, r=-.38, p=.10. However, when the correlation was computed for the treatment group only, r was -.11, p=.72, but for the control group only, the correlation was r=-.70, p=.08. This suggests that for the treatment group student-to-student interaction may have moderated the effect of the students' need for affiliation on student performance. The results indicate that student-to-student interaction may be beneficial to students in distance education courses and that need for affiliation may play a role in student success. Further study is recommended.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

Summary in English.
Bibliography: leaves 92-99.
This study aims to illustrate, explore and argue for school systems consultation as a dimension of educational psychology service deli very which is appropriate in the South African context. It connects with the principles which guide policy development in education, and particularly, education support services in the country. A qualitative inquiry approach was adopted, in which case study methodology was employed to illuminate systems analysis and intervention at a special school in Cape Town. The participants included all adults who were employed in the school, with focus on the management, teachers and teacher-assistants. A variety of methods were used including interviews, observation, role-play and facilitation of group process. A qualitative, thematic approach was employed in the analysis and interpretation of data, extrapolating patterns, themes and relations around communication, beliefs, change and power.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
This study focused on South African siblings' experiences of a brother or sister with cancer. Social constructionism was used as an epistemological framework. Three in-depth interviews with siblings (ages 12 – 16 years) of pediatric cancer patients, were done. The case study approach was chosen as the most suitable method to gain the information. The thematic content analysis was the method of analysis. Participants' experiences with regard to their siblings' cancer were reconstructed according to themes. Recurring themes were elucidated and linked with the literature. The study allowed participants to express their conscious and unconscious experiences by means of verbal and non-verbal (art activities) communication. Results support the concern by previous studies about siblings' vulnerability since the diagnosis of a brother's/sister's cancer. The uniqueness of each sib's experience and the implementation of individualy-centered intervention strategies is emphasized. Educational Psychologists as well as members of the multidisciplinary team (teachers, medical and nursing staff, parents, family and peers) interested in supporting siblings of pediatric cancer patients can benefit from this study.

The twofold purpose of this study is to present the story of a Taiwanese Hakka family which had generational experiences of mother-child separation, and also to explore the impact of mother-child separation on second generation attachment representations. The mother-child separation of this Taiwan Hakka family is defined as having the experience of being either an “adopted child” or a “little daughter-in-law” in early childhood, which is generally termed tung-yang-xi (special characters omitted) in Chinese. Participants were recruited from a specific Hakka family with generational experiences of mother-child separation. In this research, the researcher uses the term tung-yang-xi to address both adopted child and little daughter-in-law. Three generations of tung-yang-xi participants were interviewed by the researcher to acquire their life stories. The second generation of tung-yang-xi were assessed for their attachment representations by the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP). All participants (28 participants) were classified as insecure. Six participants (21.4%) were classified as Preoccupied, eight participants (28.6%) were classified as Dismissing, and 14 participants (50.0%) were classified as Unresolved. There was no difference regarding the gender of participants nor the age when mother-child separation happened. The AAP revealed participants’ high tendency to adopt a “deactivation” strategy under emotional and relational dysregulation. The classification result and the analysis of defense process were consistent with the researcher’s hypothesis on the intergenerational transmission of internal working models. The researcher discusses cultural factors in understanding the attachment phenomenon among the Taiwanese Hakka population.

This case study examines adult participation in learning. Ethnographic methods were employed to document classroom processes and participant perceptions in an adult basic education class. Classroom observations showed that learner participation was for the most part initiated by the teacher rather than by the students. Analysis of the data indicated a close link between the defined teacher and learner roles and the participants' shared perceptions of the teacher as the expert. Analysis also showed that teacher-student interaction was influenced by the teacher's past teaching experience and by her perceptions of the students and their needs. The results of this study demonstrate a need for teacher preparation designed both to increase awareness of appropriate adult education methods, and to provide experience in active learner participation. The study also highlights the importance of dialogue between teachers and learners as a means of involving learners in the learning process.

In an increasingly urbanized world, parks, open space and wilderness areas are vitally important to human well-being. California State Parks provide people with the ability to connect with nature and engage in outdoor recreation. Moreover, these parks protect natural and cultural resources and preserve biodiversity. California State Parks are underfunded and rely on volunteers to support essential park services. The Wilderness State Park Uniformed Volunteer Program provides essential recreation, resource protection, and biodiversity services. In order to determine the elements of the volunteering experience that contribute to a strong sense of volunteer identity and meaning, a qualitative case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and grounded theory analysis. Results show that three themes emerge as providing a strong sense of meaning for volunteers: connecting with nature, working together, and helping others. Volunteers in this study demonstrated that they construct deep meaning around their volunteer experiences and foster an environmental stewardship identity within a framework of shared values, significance, goal-orientation, and belonging. This study has implications for volunteer satisfaction and retention as well as for overall sustainability of the parks’ mission.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain under-represented in South African (SA) companies. Negative attitudes and ignorance of employers may contribute towards unemployment of PWDs, as can inadequate accessibility, accommodations and company policies on disability. A lack of SA literature on employers’ attitudes and practices on disability motivated the study. A web-based survey was developed to investigate employer attitudes on the employment of PWDs in SA companies. In total, 348 companies were invited to take part in the survey, and 86 companies completed it (25% response rate). One person per company, mostly from Human Resources (HR), completed the survey. Findings from the survey showed that global attitudes towards PWD employment are positive, but that physical and sensory disabilities received more favourable ratings than psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. Most managers reported satisfaction with the job performances of their PWDs. Accessibility in the survey companies is still lacking. Modifications to the physical environment are the most common accommodation made by the companies. Costs for making accommodations were just a bit more or the same than initially anticipated. Companies valued information on the preparation of the environment for PWDs and the cost of accommodations. Companies which employed more than one percent of PWDs were significantly more likely to report that their Diversity/Equity documents include a disability policy. A case study approach was used to obtain qualitative information on the experiences and practices with and of PWDs in three companies with some success in employing PWDs. All companies surveyed that had more than two percent PWDs were requested to participate in the case studies, and three companies agreed. Interviews were performed at these companies with HR personnel, supervisors, co-workers and PWDs. Case study findings show that office environments present more suitable and easier job opportunities for PWD employment, and that certain disability types present too great a risk for employment in dangerous environments. The case study companies do seem to accept PWDs in general, specifically in the immediate working teams of PWDs. None of the managers interviewed indicated problems in managing their PWDs and most apply general management principles. Those with direct contact with PWDs confirmed that they were productive and dedicated. Despite this, very few PWDs are currently being recruited into the companies, but targeted recruitment of PWDs has started. The companies have adequate accessibility in the immediate environments of PWDs, but not widespread accessibility. All the companies have company guidelines and experiences in making reasonable accommodations. Very few PWDs have been advanced in the companies and few fill management positions. Although all the companies have disability policies in place, there is sometimes a discrepancy between policy and practice. The most prominent company initiatives for PWD integration are declaration drives, financial aid initiatives and awareness raising on disability. This study provided evidence that PWDs can be productive, have good co-worker relationships and generally do not make unreasonable accommodation requests. Companies can improve their disability guidelines, accessibility and accommodation processes, but actual contact and sensitisation can increase integration of PWDs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Persone met gestremdhede (PMGs) is steeds onderverteenwoordig in Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) maatskappye. Negatiewe houdings en onkunde van werkgewers kan bydra tot werkloosheid van PMGs, asook onvoldoende toeganklikheid, akkommodasie en maatskappy-beleid oor gestremdheid. 'n Gebrek aan SA literatuur oor werkgewers se houdings en praktyke teenoor gestremdheid motiveer dié studie. ’n Web-gebaseerde opname is ontwikkel om werkgewer-houdings oor die indiensneming van PMGs in SA maatskappye te ondersoek. ’n Totaal van 348 maatskappye is genooi om deel te neem aan die opname en 86 maatskappye het dit voltooi (25% respons-koers). Een persoon per maatskappy, meestal van Menslike Hulpbronne (MH), het die opname voltooi. Bevindinge van die opname het getoon dat algemene houding teenoor PMGs positief is, maar dat fisieke en sensoriese gestremdhede meer gunstige graderings as psigiatriese en intellektuele gestremdhede ontvang. Die meeste respondente het tevredenheid getoon met die werkvertonings van PMGs. Toeganklikheid in die maatskappye is steeds onvoldoende. Veranderings aan die fisiese omgewing is die mees algemene akkommodasie wat deur die maatskappye gedoen is. Kostes vir akkommodasies is net ’n bietjie meer of dieselfde as wat aanvanklik verwag is. Maatskappye stel ’n premie of inligting oor die voorbereiding van die omgewing vir PMGs en die koste van akkommodasie. Maatskappye wat meer as een persent van die PMGs indiens het, was beduidend meer geneig om te rapporteer dat hulle diversiteit dokumente 'n gestremdheid beleid insluit. ’n Gevallestudie benadering is gebruik om kwalitatiewe inligting te kry oor die ervaringe en praktyke t.o.v. PMGs in drie maatskappye met relatiewe indiensneming sukses t.o.v. PMGs. Alle opname maatskappye met meer as twee persent PMGs is versoek om deel te neem, en drie maatskappye het ingestem. Onderhoude by hierdie maatskappye is gevoer met menslikehulpbron-personeel, bestuurders, mede-werkers en PMGs. Gevallestudie bevindinge toon dat die kantooromgewing meer geskikte en makliker werkgeleenthede vir PMGs bied, maar dat dat sekere tipes getremdhede ’n te-groot risiko is vir indiensneming in gevaarlike omgewings. Daar blyk ’n groter aanvaarding van PMGs in die algemeen te wees by die maatskappye, spesifiek in die onmiddellike werkspanne van PMGs. Nie een van die bestuurders in die ondersoek het probleme aangedui met die bestuur van PMGs nie en meeste pas algemene bestuursbeginsels toe. Diegene met direkte kontak met PMGs bevestig dat hulle produktief en toegewyd is. Ten spyte hiervan word min PMGs gewerf deur die maatskappye, maar geteikende werwing van PMGs het begin. Die maatskappye het voldoende toeganklikheid in die onmiddellike omgewings van PMGs, maar nie wydverspreide toeganklikheid nie. Al die maatskappye het wel maatskappy-riglyne en ervarings met die voorsiening van redelike akkommodasie. Baie min PMGs word wel bevorder in die maatskappye en min vul bestuurposisies. Alhoewel al die maatskappye ’n gestremdheidsbeleid het, is daar soms ’n verskil tussen beleid en praktyk. Die mees prominente maatskappy inisiatiewe vir PMG integrasie was verklaringsinisiatiewe, finansiële steun en bewusmakings-veldtogte van gestremdheid. Hierdie studie bewys dat PMGs produktief kan wees, goeie mede-werker verhoudings het en oor die algemeen nie onredelike akkommodasie versoeke rig nie. Maatskappye kan hulle gestremdheidsriglyne, toeganklikheid en akkommodasie prosesse verbeter, maar werklike kontak en sensitisering kan integrasie van PMGs verhoog.

Bibliography: p. 269-286.
This thesis explores the social and psychological dynamics of consultation partnerships established between a psychological clinic and a variety of children's organisations. The research aims to develop a deeper understanding of the process of consultation by making visible the emotional and political complexities involved. This kind of work is usually informed by the broad principles of community psychology and carries a concern with the broader political context of mental health. Typically, however, this approach gives less consideration to the emotional dynamics of this kind of community work and the subtle forms in which they might appear during the intervention. In this research, the concepts of community consultation are expanded through psychoanalytic theories of group, organisational and social processes.

Technology has, without a doubt, altered the social fabric of society. Mediated forms of communication have paved the way for more efficient production, and the vast amount of information available online has given people the opportunity to be more informed than ever. However, the rise of mediated communication has also presented a number of new threats. The current study focused on one of these threats, cyberbullying, and was interested in looking at how parents talk about and understand their child's cyberbullying behavior.

This study had the goal of uncovering if parents talk to their child about cyberbullying, and how they approach these conversations. The intent of this study was grounded in the idea that parent-child communication is a valuable tool for developing belief systems, as well as making sustainable, positive and effective changes to behavior and perceptions.

Ultimately, parents do not avoid conversations about cyberbullying with their children. Parents structure these conversations with the intention of positively changing their child's behavior and beliefs. Specifically, parents talk about cyberbullying with their children as an effort to decrease the perceived risk their child faces if he or she participates in cyberbullying. However, these conversations are limited because they are grounded in misrepresented media coverage of cyberbullying which intensifies cyberbullying behaviors. As such, media producers must work toward presenting more all encompassing and wide spread coverage of cyberbullying as an effort to educate parents about the variety of behaviors which relate to cyberbullying.

College basic writers are often misunderstood. Much of the literature available on these writers depicts them as a large homogeneous group. Ignored is the diversity that exists within this population. According to George Jensen and John DiTiberio, personality type as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a neglected factor in most composition research that aids in ascertaining and appreciating the diversity and strengths of basic writers.Case study methodology was used to investigate whether a relationship existed between the personality types of thirty-four basic writers at Ball State University and the writing strategies they used. Triangulation of data provided a thick description of the students. Scores from pre- and post-good writing questionnaires and process instruments (process logs and self-evaluations), student journals, student writing, participant-observers fieldnotes, and the teacher-researcher's journal enriched and supplemented the MBTI results.Findings are presented in a group portrait and four case studies. The group portrait demonstrates that 1) most of the students were not highly apprehensive about writing; 2) they were a diverse group with fifteen of the sixteen MBTI personality types represented; and 3) they displayed a wide variety of writing strategies.The four case study subjects represent four of the sixteen MBTI personality types (ISTJ, ISFP, ESTJ, ENTP) each with a different dominant function. These students demonstrated that they were diverse in their attitudes about writing, degree of writing apprehension, their personality types, and their use of writing strategies. The case study subjects often used strategies that supported their personality preferences, were able to tap into previously unused strategies that coincided with those preferred preferences, or incorporated unpreferred processes into their composing strategies. While personality type apparently played a major role in the students' writing strategies, previous experiences, past writing instruction, successes and failures, and attitudes about "English" also affected them.
Department of English

Intrusions, or interruptions by others, are a common phenomenon in the modern workplace (Grove, 1983; Jett & George, 2003), particularly in the computing and information-technology (CIT) industry, as cross-specialty, and cross-team collaborations become more common (Beck et al., 2001). The present study examines the relationship between day-to-day intrusions (measured Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) and strain reactions and perceived job performance over the week (measured on Thursday) among 150 CIT employees. Using a number of resource-based theories (i.e., Conservation of Resources, Ego Depletion Model, Cognitive Fatigue Model), I hypothesize that participants experiencing more frequent intrusions on a day-to-day basis will experience greater levels of overall strain reactions (i.e., fatigue, self-regulation failure, and cognitive failure), and lower levels of overall perceived job performance for the week. To test these hypotheses, I applied a micro-macro multi-wave design, such that intrusions were measured at the end of three consecutive workdays (Level-1 Predictors) and strain reactions and performance measured on the fourth day (Level-2 Outcomes). Using Structural Equation Modeling and the technique put forth by Croon and van Veldhoven (2007), I specified four models to test my hypotheses, wherein level-1 variables (i.e., day-to-day intrusions) predicted level-2 outcomes (i.e., week-level fatigue, self-regulation failure, cognitive failure, and perceived performance). I found that day-to-day intrusions were significantly positively associated with fatigue, self-regulation failure, and perceived performance. However, day-to-day intrusions were not significantly associated with cognitive failure. These results suggest that intrusions may consume time and self-regulatory resources but may not consume cognitive resources, and that although intrusions cause impairment from a physical and self-regulatory perspective, they may not inhibit cognitive functioning. Future research should further investigate the relationship between intrusions and cognitive functioning. The present study is one of the first to explicitly study intrusions and recognize it as a stressor that influences both strain and performance variables. This is critical as intrusions become a more prominent fixture in the American workplace. This study also contributes to our understanding of the use of micro-macro approaches to statistical analyses, and provides additional insight into how occupational health psychologists can test long-held assumptions; namely day-to-day stressors contribute to long-term strain.

This study aimed to investigate the effects that a specifically tailored goal-setting program would have on two motocross racers in terms of their self-efficacy and motivation, as well as the process of designing this intervention. This case-study approach involved a mixed methods approach, consisting of pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments, interviews, and performance profiles. The tools used include Vealey’s (1986) Competitive Orientation Inventory (COI), Gill and Deeter’s (1988) Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ), performance profiles, and semi-structured interviews. The goal-setting intervention lasted a total of five weeks. The results from the preintervention and post-intervention assessments were compared to determine whether any changes in motivation or self-efficacy occurred during the intervention. For the first participant, significant changes in both motivation and self-efficacy were present in addition to significant changes in competitive orientation. For the second participant, there were no significant changes in either motivation or self-efficacy. However, for the second participant there was also no change in competitive orientation. Findings suggest that the focus and competitive orientation of an athlete have a significant influence on the types of goals set, and consequently on positive changes in motivation, confidence, and self-efficacy. The influence of the competitive orientation in athletes also highlighted the importance of attaining a balance between performance and outcome goal-related activities. It was also discovered through qualitative assessment that this program is suitable for particular groups of athletes such as those who are injured, display an external locus of causality or are otherwise not performing at their prime.

An approach to organizations which views them as social constructions provides new insights into the phenomenon of organizational decline. In this view, organizations are seen not as objective entities, but, rather, are viewed as products of the human beings who comprise their membership. This view also sees human beings as actors whose behavior is governed not only by rationality, but also by unconscious processes. Any full understanding of organizational action requires an appreciation of the extent to which human beings are governed by the dynamics of the psyche, which operates outside of conscious awareness. An approach to organizational decline which encompasses these assumptions examines how the members of the organization consciously and! or unconsciously collaborate to create the conditions of decline. This research begins with a psychoanalytic model of human behavior, Bowen Theory, which explains how individuals function within relationship systems such as families and organizations. The theory also examines how dysfunction is created within those systems when the relationship process becomes ineffective or dysfunctional. Using the case study method, the dissertation describes how the decline experienced by three distinct organizations can be understood as a consequence of the relationship process created and sustained by the participants in each of the organization's human system.
Ph. D.

This is a study of a case of adults entering tertiary study for the first time, and their mental life concerning their own self-performance, constructed across four instances. The purposes of the study were to identify some characteristics of the four participants’ covert behaviour during their learning in a course on Human Resource Development (1-IRD), to gain some insight into the conception of self-performance held by the participants and the attributions of this self-performance, to examine the approaches to learning held by each participant, and to contribute to closing the gap between adult education and educational psychology. Three consecutive three-hour learning sessions were videotaped for use with follow-up stimulated recall interviews. Four adult learners reported their interactive thoughts and feelings pertaining to self-performance in HRD. Transcripts of each of the participant's reported thoughts and feelings were prepared. Pre-performance interviews were carried out and the Attribution Style Questionnaire, which reports a person's explanatory style, and the Study Process Questionnaire, which reports a person's approach to learning, were administered. Self-report journals and field notes were also utilised. Data on participant covert behaviour were gathered and categorised according to an adaptation of an established content analysis system. Participant interactive thoughts and feelings were categorised, quantified and described. Other student covert behaviour, including causal explanations of behaviour, was analysed by qualitative means. Thoughts and feelings about self-performance ranked highly for all participants. While such thoughts and feelings were a mixture of positive and negative, quantifiably, positive thoughts and feelings did dominate. As well, thoughts and feelings about fellow students and learning the content also ranked highly amongst the myriad of thoughts and feelings reported by the participants. Qualitatively, common thoughts and feelings reported by the participants concerned group work, beliefs about learning, sell-performance and perceptions of the facilitator. Underlying covert behaviour was found to be quite individualistic with a desire for content relevance to the world of work to be one common thread. As well, all four participants reported external pressures to be an important underlying influence on performance. Post hoc, the study proposed a tentative theory that adult learners attending a tertiary course for the first time undergo two phases of cognitive and affective change during their early time in a substantial learning experience. The first phase was termed an apprehension phase wherein there is a myriad of thoughts and feelings about possible personal inadequacy. As the student gains more exposure to the learning experience, and develops a certain amount of competency, a realisation phase emerges in which confidence grows and learning accelerates. This two-phase process was compared with two other pieces of research that deal with a similar phenomenon suggesting an idea for future research. Implications for facilitators of adult learning as a result of the findings were also presented.

This thesis explores the experience of living with cancer and a terminal prognosis from the dying individual's perspective. It is based on qualitative sociological research. My study group comprised nineteen hospice patients, eighteen women and one man, aged 27 to 67, all of whom had been diagnosed with cancer. Thirty focused interviews were conducted; each respondent was interviewed at least once with a sub-group being interviewed a second or third time dependent upon symptoms, willingness to participate again and the need to explore issues further. My thesis is a sociological account of respndents' views and experiences. Its focus is the management and negotiation of dying and death at an individual level. A central tenet of my thesis is how self-identity is constructed and negotiated in different social encounters, in both the public and the private sphere. With reference to the public sphere I consider respondents' experiences of communicating with health professionals, and the difficulties they encountered. Within this discussion I look at how respondents constructed understandings of their illness within the context of their own biographies. I also discuss individuals' experiences of treatment, and the choices they made about this. In addition, I examine respondents' hopes and fears for their own deaths, and I suggest the notion of a 'good enough' death may be useful in interpreting their views. Repsondents perceived they had a spoiled identity as a result of their cancer and dying status. As a result, they spent a great deal of time and effort engaging in emotional work, in order to reassert their more valued roles. Much has been written about the emotional work of paid and unpaid carers. Here I suggest attention must also be given to the work of dying individuals themselves. However, I do not conceive of this emotional work as selfless, rather I suggest such work has benefits for individuals themselves. Emotional work enabled them to reaffirm or renegotiate more valued self-identities while alive, but in addition, I suggest that it also meant that respondents were able to contribute towards their own 'disembodied' after-death identities.