Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Socio-economic activities'

Social stratification research has consistently found persistent inequalities in the academic outcomes of children from different socio-economic status (SES) groups. Research in the sociology of education has shown that students from higher SES groups outperform peers from lower SES groups on various academic indicators as well as make greater academic progress when assessed at two or more separate points in time. Recent evidence from the US has also shown that participation in leisure out-of-school activities (OSA) is among the factors which may contribute to maintaining or even widening these inequalities. Similar evidence is lacking in the UK. The present research focuses on this issue by analysing the role of participation in leisure OSA in the process of reproduction of social inequalities in academic outcomes among British school-aged children. The study draws on social and cultural capital theories to address the following questions: a) Are there differences in participation in OSA among school-aged children in dissimilar SES groups?; b) Taking into account children’s SES, is participation in OSA associated with their academic outcomes?; c) Does the association between participation in OSA and children’s academic outcomes vary across different SES groups? Using data from the third and fourth sweeps of the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), when cohort members were aged 5 and 7 years old, the research explores participation in three categories of leisure activities; a) social-group activities, b) commercial-public activities, and c) home-centred activities. Children’s academic outcomes are assessed using verbal and non-verbal standardised tests, as well as by teachers’ assessment. The study applied regression models to examine the relationships between children’s SES, participation in OSA and academic outcomes. The statistical analyses were carried out in a multilevel framework which enabled the MCS hierarchical data structure and area variations to be accounted for. The findings suggest that participation in some, but not all leisure OSA is one of the factors which contributes to socio-economic inequalities in educational outcomes among British school-aged children. This is because participation in OSA is associated with better academic performance among all students, however those in high SES groups are more likely to be exposed to such activities. After controlling for SES, gender, family characteristics, school type, absenteeism and geographical variation, there is a small to moderate positive relationship between participation in a number of different leisure OSA and 7-year-olds' academic performance. Interestingly, variations among children from different SES groups were found in the extent to which attendance at certain OSA (e.g. after-school clubs) is associated with academic development between age 5 and 7: children from lower SES who attend such activities tend to progress more academically than children from intermediate and higher SES.

Drought poses a threat to socio-economic activities across eastern Africa and its river basins. While there are indications that global warming may continue to enhance evaporation and intensify droughts at all scales, most drought projections over eastern Africa are based on rainfall alone and are limited to meteorological droughts. The present study combines rainfall and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) to examine the characteristics of meteorological and hydrological droughts in present and future climates at the regional and river basin scales. To accomplish that we have applied five objectives; i) Study the temporal and spatial characteristics of eastern Africa droughts modes, ii) Investigate how some atmospheric teleconnections influence the characteristics of the Africa droughts modes, iii) Examine the influence of 1.5°C and 2°C global warming levels on drought modes in eastern Africa under two future climate scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP8.5 iv) Assess how increases in global warming will influence drought characteristics over eastern African river basins. v) Examine the potential impacts of climate change and land use change on water availability in the Rufiji River basin (RRB), Tanzania, with an emphasis of hydrological droughts in this basin. Different types of datasets, including gridded and station observation datasets, regional climate model simulations (CORDEX: Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment) and hydrological simulations (SWAT: Soil and Water Assessment Tool), were analysed for the study. The meteorological drought were characterised using two indices (i.e. Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index, SPEI; Standardized Precipitation Index, SPI) at 3- and 12-month scales, while the hydrological droughts were characterised using four indices (i.e. soil water index, SWI; Surface Runoff Index, RFI; Water Yield Index, WYI; and Stream Flow index, SFI). The study combined principal component analysis (PCA) with wavelet analysis to identify the spatio-temporal structure of four dominant drought modes over the region. It also used wavelet coherence to quantify the influence of four atmospheric teleconnections (i.e. El Niño Southern Oscillation, ENSO; Indian Ocean Dipole, IOD; Tropical Atlantic Dipole Index, TADI; and Quasi-Biennial Oscillation, QBO) on the drought modes. The study also projects the characteristics of future droughts over eastern Africa and its major river basins at different global warming levels (GWLs). Series of hydrological simulations were used to assess the sensitivity of future droughts to four land use change scenarios (i.e. increase in forestry, shrubs, cropland and agriculture) over the Rufiji River Basin (RRB), a prominent river basin in eastern Africa. Although eastern Africa have been documented with several drought studies, the application of a combination of PCA, Wavelet analysis, wavelet coherence and Self Organizing Maps provides more comprehensive representation of droughts in the region using SPEI/SPI derived from both models and observations The results of the study show that the four drought modes, which have their core areas over different parts of eastern Africa, account for more than 45% of drought variability in the region. All the drought modes are strongly coupled with either ENSO or IOD indices (or both); but, in addition, one of the modes is also strongly coupled with the TADI. CORDEX models give a realistic simulation of the relevant climate variables for calculating drought indices over eastern Africa and the river basins. However, the ensemble mean struggles to reproduce the spatial distribution and frequency of drought intensity in the region. The CORDEX simulations project no changes in the spatial structure of the drought modes but suggest an increase in SPEI drought intensity and frequency over the hotspots of the drought modes and elsewhere in the region. The magnitude of the increase, which varies over the drought mode hotspots, increases with increasing GWLs. The projections also show that the increase in intensity and frequency of drought can be attributed more to increased PET than to reduced precipitation. In contrast to the SPEI projection, the SPI projection shows a weak change in intensity and frequency of droughts, and the magnitude of the increase does not vary with the GWLs. Over the river basins, the SPEI projections are more robust than the SPI projections. Over the RRB, the future projections of some hydrological drought indices (i.e. RFI and SFI) follow the change in the SPEI projections, while others (i.e. SWI and WYI) follow that of SPI. Among the four land use scenarios considered, only forestry and shrubs show a substantial change in the hydrological drought indices. The results of the study thus give valuable insight into the characteristics of future droughts in eastern Africa and provide a useful guide to the effectiveness of using land cover to reduce the severity of hydrological droughts over river basins in the region. However, resolution of CORDEX dataset (50km, i.e. 0.44deg) could be among the potential limitation as it is too low to capture the influence of local-scale processes (e.g. sea breeze, mountain induced circulations) on drought over the region.

In South African Townships, socio economic activities of the second economy such as informal trading typically manifest themselves in low quality, left over open spaces along roadsides and transport interchanges. These left over spaces are characteristic of townships and especially low cost housing and Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) communities, due to the emphasis placed on the dwelling units with little regard for the quality of open space. These environments are, over-scaled and not suited to human scale and although used for informal trading, they are not conducive to human or environmental well-being. An entrance precinct with such left over spaces in Olievenhoubosch Township, Centurion, is selected to test the hypothesis of an informal market as a catalyst for quality open space that considers human scale and enables the socio-economic functions of the community. The research starts off by establishing guidelines firstly for quality open space; secondly for human scale and thirdly for socio economic functions. These guidelines are applied at framework level looking at the entire precinct, including an informal market, stream corridor and taxi rank. At masterplan level, the focus is on the informal market. To avoid a merely functional response, the market approach is divided into two aspects, the market development and the spatial or experiential development aspect. These are informed by the established theoretical guidelines, case studies and existing activities and uses onsite. An overarching concept “Indawo Yami” meaning “my place”, ties the two aspects together while expressing the unique character of the community. The concept is born out of the vision of the market as a multifunctional community space that expresses the unique character of the community. The sketchplan proposal suggests that human and environmental well-being could be prime objectives of open spaces in townships all over South Africa.
Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2014.
Architecture
ML(Prof)
Unrestricted

A higher level of education increases the chances of getting work, therefore, this can improve the socio-economic status and social position. Besides, higher education ensures improved health by providing fundamental health knowledge. Completing high school even with low grades increases the chances of getting a job, whereas, unemployment is three times more common among the students with incomplete high school education which leads to low socio-economic status and an unhealthy lifestyle in the long run. This study aims to gain a better understanding of high school students’ perspectives living in Västerås and Eskilstuna regarding meaningful leisure activities and perceived quality of education from their school which may lead to complete high school education. This study will also investigate whether there are any associations between membership in sports and perceived quality of education by adolescents at different gender and socio-economic levels. A cross-sectional study design was applied in this study. The result shows there are many available outdoor activities where the adolescents live to spend their leisure, among them parks are the most reported (314, 58%); walking and cycling paths, running track, outdoor gym and soccer field are the second most reported available opportunity (309, 56.8%) followed by the free sports activities (295, 55.9%). The most popular activities to adolescents are free sports (71, 13.2%) together with homework help at school (70, 13.1%); and more adolescents have membership in sports associations compared to other associations. Also, the study finds that adolescents who either have membership in sports or not do not make any change to the perceived quality of education by students whether they get a very good education, good education, and less than good education in high schools at different gender and self-reported socioeconomic levels.
ACTION: Actions for sustainable education and health among youth

Most urban areas of developing countries were hitherto experiencing unprecedented growth in their population, the phenomenon commonly referred to as urbanization, which in this study can be said to be the proportion of urban population relative to the total population of a region.

This phenomenon has opportunities vis-à-vis challenges, whose impact on natural resources in general and water resources in particular, cannot be over- emphasized. It is within the context of these urban challenges that this study attempts to look into and possibly assess the situation in the urban and peri- urban areas of Kumasi Metropolitan Area (KMA) in Ghana, whose urbanization processes is prejudiced by this study to be increasing rapidly.

The study specifically attempted to assess thechanges in the urbanization patterns and the possible future urbanization trend of the area within a specific time frame. The study also attempts to look at the causes of this urbanization, and its impact on water resources in the Area, both qualitatively and quantitatively, envisaged to be the results of socio-economic activities taking place in the Area. Finally, the study attempts to look into the measures put in place to curb these challenges.

Amid paucity of data, however, the study reveals that the most single contributor of urbanization processes in the area has been migration from the countryside, and in particular from the northern part of the country. The study also reveals the fact that even though the general quality standard of some water resources is better, the largely uncontrolled socio-economic activities, coupled with the deplorable sanitary conditions in the KMA, has potential to degrade the water resources in the KMA. In addition, the study reveals that little attention is given, in terms of policy formulation to curb this urbanization processes and to protect water resources in the area.

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
人類發展與家庭學系
103
This study investigated the implications of the parent–child interactions of mothers with high and low socioeconomic statuses. Participant observation was adopted as the data collection method in targeting two families during afterschool hours, thus enabling the implications of parent–child interactions of different backgrounds to be examined in a family context. The study showed the following results: In a family with high socioeconomic status, the features of the parent–child interaction involve (a) prioritizing children’s needs, (b) perceiving children as competent individuals, (c) sustaining both an authoritative and an intimate parent–child relationship, and (d) administering positive and rational parenting strategies. In a family with low socioeconomic status, the features of the parent–child interaction comprise (a) a mother’s devotion for her children, (b) a parent–child relationship in which the two entities treat each other equally, and (c) parenting strategies emphasizing efficiency. In addition, this study confirmed that the families with high and low socioeconomic statuses exhibited dissimilar paternal roles, social networks, and parent-arranged child activities. Finally, the study provides suggestions for subsequent studies and teachers providing guidance to their students.

碩士
國立臺北教育大學
教育經營與管理學系
99
The study aimed to investigate the factors which influenced Taiwanese fourth grade students’ reading literacy through the data from Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2006 (PIRLS 2006), and proceeded secondary data analysis. The objects of the study were 4,589 Taiwanese fourth grade students participating PIRLS 2006 and 4,589 students’ parents or guardians. Besides, all the variables analyzed in the study were chosen from learning to read survey and student questionnaire from PIRLS 2006, and random 10% selected samples was 456, available samples was 359. Based on the cultural capital theory and social capital theory, the latent variables included socio-economic status, family resources, early reading activities, and students’ attitude toward reading. And the students' reading literacy performances mentioned in the study contain students' scores of informational purpose, literary purpose, straightforward process and interpreting process, and discussed the variables the above-mentioned via structural equation modeling(SEM). The conclusions were as following: 1. Majority of Taiwanese students had good attitude toward reading. 2. The students, who had higher socio-economic status, had the better reading literacy. 3. The students had better family resources and early reading activities, the attitude toward reading they will be. 4. The better attitude toward reading students had, the higher reading literacy will be. 5. Students’ attitude toward reading played an important role between family resources, early reading activities and reading literacy, besides, the effect of early reading activities was better than family resources. Finally, reviewing the outcomes of the study, and then propose some suggestions for government organizations, teachers of elementary schools, students’ parents and further study.

D. Tech.Business Administration
The purpose of the study is to identify and quantify socioeconomic factors that adversely affect the viability of black African entrepreneurial activities in the tourism sector in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Data was gathered by use of a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The sample size of the study was equal to n=311 black African entrepreneurs working in the tourism industry in Gauteng Province. Stratified random sampling was used as a sampling technique.

This dissertation deals with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the socio-economic relations between the Ancient Near East and East Africa during the Old Testament period. In my opinion this multidisciplinary approach by using inter alia Biblical Archaeology, History and Economics has the potential to offer various comprehensive opportunities for the analysis and discussion of such socio-economic relationships. For example, the relationship between the United Monarchy of Israel and Phoenicia involves the geopolitical, economic and other situations. In the last chapter attempts are made to integrate all the relevant dimensions in a wellfounded conclusion.
Biblical and Ancient Studies
M.A. (Biblical Archaeology)

Text in English
Biodiversity is a fundamental characteristic of life on Earth and encompasses the whole range of variation in living organisms. Lesotho has been subjected to tremendous biodiversity change over the last two centuries, primarily due to socio-economic activities. A number of socio-economic factors have contributed to the loss of biodiversity. However, worldwide experience has shown that, the consequences emanating from loss of biodiversity are sometimes irreversible as some species are threatened by extinction. The study aimed at exploring the impacts of socio-economic activities that result in loss of large game animals, predators and indigenous plants species in Lesotho. To serve this objective, both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used to collect data. Quantitative research method was used in pre-post tests whilst qualitative research method was used in interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. The finding and results of the study show that, impacts of human vectors such as immigration, migration, settlement, economic and recreation activities in Lesotho have the impacts to the loss of large game animals, predators and indigenous plants. It is imperative therefore, for Lesotho to find ways to establish more parks and botanic gardens that could offer opportunities for re-introduction of species in Lesotho, thus, adding value to the existing parks.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

碩士
國立中山大學
中山學術研究所
93
The activities attended by elementary students are surely not just the classroom lessons only. It includes the participations in classroom and school wide student organizations, in academic and sport competitions sponsored by schools, regions, and states, in self-study and school plays and other performance organized by schools, as well as the participations in after school activities , such as cram schools, dance schools, music and instrument lessons, sport trainings, homework, housework, and leisure activities. It is believed that student participation is somewhat related to their family socio-economic status and to some extent shaping their personality in respect to their self-esteem, autonomy, attitudes towards school, and educational aspiration. This study was designed to examine the interrelationships between student participation, the socioeconomic status of their family , and their personality development . Our data were collected from the survey administered to the fifth graders and the sixth graders in class randomly and systematically selected from two metropolitan elementary schools with a salient descent background in farming and labor in Kaohsiung City and Fonsan City. It was found that both participations in school activities and after school activities favor students more for students from upper socioeconomic status family than for those from lower socioeconomic status family, except sport competitions, homework, and housework. On the other hand, the participation in school activities appears to bear more impact upon self-esteem, autonomy, attitude, and aspiration than does the participation in after school activities. Nevertheless, neither the participation in school activities nor the participation in after school activities can completely explain away the relationship between socioeconomic status and the personality variables. The personality variables of self-esteem, autonomy, attitudes, and aspiration are a reflection in social opportunity structure, particularly, for those at the elementary schools, and also attuned to the earlier findings in the study in social inequality. This study provides information worthwhile for those in academic and education who are concerned with the welfare and the equal opportunity for the poor.

ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to assess the Socio-economic and environmental implications of small-scale mining activities including illegal operations in the Manso Abore in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. SSM is an abbreviation that represents Small Scale Mining. The local term used to describe small-scale illegal mining in Ghana is Galamsey. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data from 65 respondents which include miners and non-miners. Interview guide was also used to collect data from key informants. The data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study found that SSM activities have caused irreversible negative effects on the environment. Miners are given large areas of land for their mining activities, often close to water bodies, which has resulted in deforestation and water pollution, thereby endangering the health of the indigenes. Greater proportions of people had lost their farmlands as a result of the SSM activities. However, SSM has also created opportunity for people to engage in multitasking jobs for a living. It contributed about 80 percent to monthly income. The living conditions of people have been improved through the SSM activities. People have used the income on education of their children, feeding, rent and housing. Farmers adopted measures like planting of trees to replace the lost forest in order to curb the effects of SSM. The institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the District Assembly have put measures to address the negative impacts of the mining activities. The study recommends that all stakeholders should come together and device measures of gaining from SSM activities and at the same time minimizing its negative effects on the environment.

Ph.D. University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, 2012
This work explores the informal pursuits for a livelihood across the border separating the Rhodesian town of Umtali and the Portuguese colony of Mozambique by Africans marginalised by colonial rule during the period 1900-1974. Some of these activities pre-dated the advent of European colonisation while others were improvised during the colonial period. This study focuses on five forms of informal cross-border activities, namely: socio-cultural interactions, irregular labour mobility and practices, the theft of property in Umtali and its disposal in Mozambique, illicit alcohol brewing and commerce, and dagga trafficking. Without overlooking the role of other social networks based on gender, class and generation, it is the central contention of this thesis that family and kinship affiliations and dynamics dating back to the pre-colonial period and those that prevailed, and at times forged after the advent of colonisation, played a significant role in the development of informal cross-border pursuits for a livelihood by marginalised Africans. These activities in turn, together with other prevailing socio-economic dynamics, sometimes enhanced or destabilised family and kinship solidarity. Without necessarily deconstructing other analytical tools such as gender, class and generation, this thesis seeks to underline the importance of family and kinship dynamics as a tool of analysis in the study of informal cross-border activities.

The opening of the refugee camp in Dowa by the Malawi Government, with support from UNHCR meant that the population of that area was increased abruptly. This led to an increase in socio- economic activities resulting into high demand of energy, food and other amenities from the natural environment. The impact of the refugees on the host community and their relationship was central in this research. The main aim of the study was to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts for hosting refugees at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods in data collection. A structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect data and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 16.0. In total, 237 household heads and 6 key informants were interviewed. In addition, 4 focus group discussions were conducted. Qualitative data, collected through focus group discussions helped in explaining and understanding the results from the questionnaire. The most evident environmental impacts reported by respondents were: deforestation and firewood depletion; land degradation and water pollution. It is important to note that such environmental impacts can affect the long-term livelihood opportunities of both refugees and host population. The camp establishment has had socio-economic impacts regarded as positive by the majority of the respondents. Although most hosts still struggle to survive, the camp has created a larger market for generating income and better opportunities to provide basic needs such as food and water. The majority of host respondents use the refugee camp for providing livelihoods. Most respondents reported that refugees are regularly benefitting from privileged access to resources unavailable to the local host population. In this respect, refugees at Dzaleka were offered opportunities for education, literacy, vocational training, health and basic livelihood. The most reported negative social impacts are exposure to more conflicts and increased insecurity. Both of these impacts relate to the relationship between the host community and refugee population.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

The injuries happening to children in the household or during leisure time activities constitute the most frequent injury types. The injuries caused by shaking constitute a specific group. The information of lay public in the Czech Republic with regard of the Shaken Baby Syndrome is almost at zero level. The basic precondition to reduce the injury rate consists in identification of risk factors causing the origination of the injury or making the individual vulnerable. The factors include environment, health, behaviour, socio-demographic and social factors. The goal of the thesis consists in mapping children injuries in the household and during leisure time activities. A partial goal consists in mapping the use of protective devices for injury prevention. Another goal of the thesis consists in mapping the information of the parents on the Shaken Baby Syndrome, as well as in mapping the techniques of comforting crying babies and the related parents' feelings. The research method consists in quantitative prospective research; two structured questionnaires are used for data collection. The data collection took place in 2009-14. The first questionnaire is focused on acquisition of information on child injuries in the household and during leisure time activities. The goal of the study consists in analyzing children's injuries in ages from 0 to 18 years. The second questionnaire is focused on the Shaken Baby Syndrome and consists of several partial areas: child crying, techniques of managing and comforting child crying, parents' feelings and level of information on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS). Based on the research results, the approach to primary prevention of children's injuries can be improved by increased observation of the child, by increased efficiency of preventive procedures, by increased dispensarization, control or increased efficiency of implemented primary injury prevention.

Too often, literature on participation in community development is void of the rationale for the participation of teachers; the roles they may play; factors for and against their participation; and strategies for inviting and sustaining their participation. This study examines what could be done to ensure the participation of rural based teachers in community development activities, by exploring these issues. A qualitative design and purposeful sampling are used. The sample consists of information-rich informants from the following five categories: officials of the Rural District Council, non-governmental organisation workers, rural based school teachers, Village Development Committee Chairpersons, and ordinary community members. Interviewing is used as the major instrument of data collection. The study reveals that rural based teachers should participate in community development activities, since they have a wide knowledge base and transferable skills, and they are part of and trusted by the community. It reveals that rural based teachers' participation is deterred by political factors, lack of supportive policies, attitudes, conservativeness, lack of specialized training, and labour issues. Twenty two roles are identified for rural based teachers in community development activities. Strategies for inviting them to participate are: the use of policy, change of attitudes, use of media campaigns, training, and inclusion of community development in tertiary education in general, and teacher education in particular. Strategies for sustaining their participation emerge as: the use of incentives, free time or days off and holding responsible offices. Sixteen recommendations are finally presented.
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
MA (DEVELOPMENT STUD)