11613 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring association between self-reported financial status and economic preferences using experimental data
No full textResearch on economic behaviour of individuals in different financial statuses such as being in a good financial standing or in a threatening financial situation are inconclusive. Some evidence suggest that the culture of poverty may shape and dominate the economic preferences of those who are poor and even make them being prone to trembling and making mistakes thereby making decisions that do not maximize their utility. Other evidence suggest that the poor exercise extra caution and fail to maximize utility. This study investigates the association between selfreported financial status and economic preferences in a developing country setting using data from an incentivized experiment and a survey. Extended random effects panel probit regression models are employed as an analytical strategy. The study established a positive association between being financially broke or very broke and being risk averse. In addition, a positive association is found between being financially ‘very broke’ and impatient. Such findings illustrate the importance of psychology of poverty in economic preferences and in decision-making in general, even as poverty is temporary as represented by self-reported financial status.Publisher's versio
Reimagining terrain vague: the adaptive re-use of Makwassie’s Train Station as an agricultural centre
No full textSituated on the periphery of a small town in North-West a decaying train station stands idle. Between open veld and a small town where nothing has changed over the last 50 years lies potential for an architectural intervention. This dissertation will address the revitalization of a static industrial site. This industrial site has lost its original identity and fallen victim to deterioration. A loss in original identity created a site that is vague. Revitalization of vague sites can be achieved by exploring the latent potentials within the site narrative. The intervention confronts the transitions between the dynamic environmental transformations of the site and the static structures on site. The study examines the importance of adaptively re-using structures. This intervention will be manifested as an agricultural centre. The aim is to re-activate the terrain through the layering of transitions in the program activating the inherent sense of place
Exploring teacher knowledge of information and communication technologies in curriculum practice
No full textVandeyar (2020:1) argues that currently, some teachers have less knowledge or no knowledge in ICTs, particularly in curriculum practice, which affects the enhancement of teaching and learning, particularly in rural schools. The South African Government, predominantly in the Eastern Cape Province, have taken the high inventiveness of improving education even in the bucolic schools by providing the teachers of this province with tools, such as laptops and tablets that could succour teachers in the conveying of education. Because education is so important and was also accentuated by the late president Mr Mandela, every child is eligible to free education. That incited South African people working for the different companies to donate laptops for children in some schools of that province to augment education. Because teachers now are resourcefully equipped with the devices mentioned above, it is an educator of the Chris Hani District from this province of interest to the researcher. Hence, the study aims to examine teachers’ knowledge of ICTs in curriculum practice, specifically in the bucolic schools, which is the title of this study. The study used four schools from the bucolic schools with eight educators as the participants. Daudi and Nzilano (2020:38) believe that many teachers positively perceive ICT integration in teaching and learning. Some of these teachers possess the knowledge and skills to use various ICT tools such as desktop computers, laptops, and smartphones. It is recommended that all educational parties work hand-in-hand for the knowledge of ICTs in curriculum practice and the knowledge needed by teachers first because they are the curriculum drivers. The study concluded that virtually all the participants were not familiar with many of the necessary ICT tools; they only knew those they were conversant with and which were accessible to them and more over the participants specified that they do have interests in the knowledge of ICTs in curriculum practice. However, due to unresolved conditions that hampered their interest, it made it difficult for them to apply their knowledge effectively on the use of ICTs hence infrastructure was the leading complaint which is a challenge to all the participants, since they are in the poor rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province.University of the Free Stat
Divorcees' experiences of emotional regulation within a co-parenting relationship
No full textEmotional regulation is generally defined as the process in which individuals attempt to control the intensity, duration and expressive behaviour concerning an emotion. It has been suggested that the context in which emotional regulation occurs significantly impacts the individual’s ability to successfully regulate emotions. A divorce can have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to successfully regulate emotions. Scant literature exists on divorcees’ experience of emotional regulation in a co-parenting context. Various factors can influence co-parents’ ability to regulate their emotions during co-parenting tasks after a divorce. This study focused on the experience of emotional regulation within divorced co-parents. The researcher aimed to gain insight into these experiences by making use of a qualitative research design which is aimed at gaining in depth, authentic experiences of the participants. A multiple, single case study design was employed. The data was analysed by making use of thematic analysis. Gross’s process model of emotional regulation has been argued to be the leading model in explaining emotional regulation and the different regulatory strategies as it encompasses strategies employed throughout the generative course of emotions. This model was originally presented in 1998 and has been extended to the extended process model. The model is grounded on the modal model of emotions which conceptualises emotions as a four step process. Results and findings were thus discussed at the hand of this model. Results indicated that divorced co-parents makes use of a wide variety of emotional regulation strategies including adaptive and maladaptive strategies. Prominent emotional regulation strategies utilised by participants included; redirection of focus, reappraisal, adaptive behaviours as well as maladaptive behaviours
Finance, economic planning and power in Zimbabwe, 1980-2013
No full textThis thesis is an examination of economic planning, state finance and power in Zimbabwe up to 2013. It contributes to debates that unpack the nature of the postcolonial regime and how the economy was structured to ensure its survival. The thesis adds to this debate by arguing that an elite group manipulated economic planning and financial processes thereby keeping the regime in power during the period under review. The study utilises a wide selection of sources including reports from governmental and non-governmental bodies, parliamentary debates, correspondence, and interviews with former ministers and governors, to argue that this elite comprised cabinet, high-ranking civil servants, and IFIs. The elite made major economic policy and state finance decisions at the expense of the public and Parliament. Arranged chronologically, the thesis demonstrates the interlinkages of this class in different epochs. Similarly, the thesis demonstrates the importance of inherited economic management systems in shaping economic planning and state finance during the period under review as weaknesses in the systems provided ample room for the elite to manipulate these systems and ensure power retention. The study makes a sustained analysis of government’s expenditure patterns revealing the regime’s unsustainable spending patterns that created fiscal crises. Likewise, government revenue allocation patterns show cabinet’s manipulation of inherited systems to finance the security sector at the expense of expenditure towards economic, infrastructure and social development. Due to unending fiscal crises, to finance its expenditure and ensure power retention, cabinet turned to fiddling with monetary policy since 2000 which included offloading bank reserves, money expansion, issuance of too many treasury bills, and what this thesis terms currency engineering, that is, the introduction of pseudo-currencies and currency rebasing. Finally, the thesis shows the role of IFIs in financing the postcolonial state which was heavily dependent on foreign borrowing since 1980. Together with IFIs, cabinet acquired debt not in the best interests of the population thereby making a compelling case for postcolonial odious debt. It concludes that both the inherited economic management systems and the power retention agenda accounted for Zimbabwe’s economic and political predicament during the period under review
Modelling international tourist arrivals volatility in Zimbabwe using a GARCH process
No full textThe aim of the paper was to develop bootstrap prediction intervals for international tourism demand and volatility in Zimbabwe after modelling with an ARMA-GARCH process. ARMA-GARCH models have better forecasting power and are capable of capturing and quantifying volatility. Bootstrap prediction intervals can account for future uncertainty that arises through parameter estimation. The monthly international tourism data obtained from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) (January 2000 to June 2017) is neither seasonal nor stationary and is made stationery by taking a logarithm transformation. An ARMA(1,1) model fits well to the data; with forecasts indicating a slow increase in international tourist arrivals (outside of the Covid-19 period). The GARCH(1,1) process indicated that unexpected tourism shocks will significantly impact the Zimbabwe international tourist arrivals for longer durations. Volatility bootstrap prediction intervals indicated minimal future uncertainty in international tourist arrivals. For the Zimbabwe tourism industry to remain relevant, new tourism products and attraction centres need to be developed, as well as embarking on effective marketing strategies to lure even more tourists from abroad. This will go a long way in increasing the much-needed foreign currency earnings needed to revive the Zimbabwean economy.Publisher's versio
A stratigraphic-structural investigation of an area south of Pofadder, Namaqua Mobile Belt, South Africa
No full textThe area of the Namaqua Mobile Belt investigated is situated in the eastern part of the Aggeneys Terrane (2-1.06 Ga), south of Pofadder in the Northern Cape. The mapping campaign covered an area of 1,350 km², in the eastern Aggeneys Terrane which is juxtaposed against the Pofadder (2Ga) and Bladgrond Terranes. The terranes are separated by well-defined inter-terrane thrust boundaries, namely, the Groothoek Thrust that separates the Aggeneys and Pofadder Terranes in the north, and the Geelvloer Thrust separating the Bladgrond and Aggeneys Terranes in the south of the study area. The study area is defined by kilometre scale sheet intrusives hosting 23 stacked sequences of sheath fold nappes characterised by double vergence geometries, representing four well defined structural domains; the Witkoppies, Samoep, Lekdam and Houmoed Structural Domains. Three of the four domains contain supracrustal sequences, that can be divided into prominent structural successions and sequences. One structural domain however, the Samoep Structural Domain, is defined by a well foliated medium quartz-feldspar gneiss and contains no isolated sheath fold structures. The structural domains are separated by intra-terrane thrust sheet boundaries that have been juxtaposed on top of one another. The stratigraphic sequences can be correlated with the upper succession of the Wortel Formation, defined in the west, together with a total new set of supracrustal rocks not yet identified in the Aggeneys Terrane. The stacked sequences of isolated double vergent isoclinal fold structures can be classified as sheath folds using listed criteria. Three prominent planar fabrics were identified within the study area namely: S0, S1 and S2. The S2 fabric is however only identified in the hinges pf macroscopic sheath folds as a sillimanite grade axial planar fabric and forms the regional fabric, defining the XY plane of the regional strain ellipse. The S2 fabric is also identified on a mesoscopic scale, by F2 Model 1 and 2 flow perturbation folds, seen in the YZ and XZ planes of the regional foliation, all planar fabrics are co-planar. The macroscopic sheath folds mapped during this study contain co-linear L fabrics defined by stretching lineations, fold axes of various fold phases and the long axes of the sheath folds and represents the X-direction of the regional strain ellipse. The co-linear linear fabrics have a mean east-northeasterly trend and plunge indicating the southwesterly directed tectonic transport overthrust direction. The planar fabrics have a mean dip toward the north-northeast across the study area. A progressive shear deformation model is proposed for the study area and is defined by six phases of deformation affecting all four structural domains, interpreted to take place under deep crustal conditions of upper amphibolite grade of metamorphism. The D1 phase is defined by the intrusion of kilometre scale sheet intrusives that define an S1 fabric, associated with inter- and intra-terrane thrusting. The D2 phase is defined by the development of macroscopic F2 sheath folds that fold an S0-1 foliation and define an S2 regional axial planar foliation. The D2 phase is also defined by F2 Model 1 and Model 2 folds. The D3 phase is defined by macroscopic F3 folds that refold D2 sheath fold traces and define localised S3 foliations that are also co-planar with S2. The D4 phase is defined by macroscopic F4 open folds that define a characteristic Z asymmetry that refolds all earlier structures, including kilometre scale sheet intrusives. The study area itself can be defined as a macroscopic D4 antiformal-synformal structure. The D5 phase is defined by east-west shears that are associated with the reactivated movements of thrust boundaries, and movements associated with flexural slip on the limbs of major D2, D3 and D4 structures. The D5 phase also rotates linear and planar fabrics in the north-western sector of the study area on the limbs of the major D4 synformal structure. The D6 phase is associated with northwest-southeast oblique trending shears that effect the eastern sector of the study area and deforms all earlier D2-D5 structures. It is concluded that the structures identified across the eastern Aggeneys Terrane formed progressively during a single long-lived event, formed by a process of sub-simple/general shear conditions, under deep crustal conditions
Integrating Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) into the teaching of technical subjects in Lesotho
No full textThe usage of information communication technology (ICT) in teaching and learning has become popular throughout world. This research explores the integration of ICTs into the teaching and learning of technical subjects in Lesotho. The research seeks to understand how the integration of ICTs into technical subjects may enhance teaching and learning. The study utilised a qualitative method research approach and quantitative approach as the supplementary data to generate data on how technical teachers in Lesotho use ICTs when teaching. Thirty-nine technical teachers responded to a questionnaire, followed by individual interviews of the eight teachers for a deeper understanding of their teaching and analysis of the documents (lesson plans, scheme and the syllabus. The study employed the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework as a conceptual frame to investigate key teacher competency areas with their effective ICT integration in technical teaching practices. The TPACK model grants a holistic framework for data collection and analysis of teachers’ views and beliefs about their knowledge and proficiency in relation to content, pedagogy and technology use for teaching technical subjects. The study found that almost none of the technical teachers that participated were trained in the integration of ICTs into teaching and learning of critical technical content knowledge and skills, and they had difficulty using ICTs in their daily instructional activities. The research noted that technical teachers do make a significant effort to integrate ICTs in their lessons as they gain experience from practice. The teachers view ICTs as the basis of effective teaching, but do not consider ICTs as the discipline-specific teaching tools needed to improve learning. Again, it was found that teachers are used to computers and overhead projectors in their teaching activities, as opposed to other advanced discipline-specific ICTs such as 3D printers, computerised lathes, fifth-generation wireless (5G) technology, wireless computing through IoT technologies, robotics, and programmable logic controllers, to name a few. Therefore, these results call for further research on advanced technologies and the discipline-specific ICT tools teachers can utilise in the technical teaching and learning context. Teachers need to know about technological advancements and how they could be utilised to enhance teaching and learning towards useful participation in the rapidly changing technical world. Again, the need for ICT policy and curriculum reform that will reflect the multi-media devices and other digital tools or discipline-specific technologies tools as significant in the teaching and learning approach
A history of the production of statistics in Zambia, 1939-2018
No full textThis thesis examines the development of statistics in Zambia in the period 1939-2018. It builds on studies concerned with the quality of data produced in Africa by unravelling the main forces that shaped the making of numbers. The thesis argues that external forces such as British colonial rule, and later the United Nations, donor countries and regional organisations shaped data priorities and funding of statistical enquiries. The United Nations also dominated the formulation of concepts, methods and classifications used to collect and process data. Nonetheless, internal dynamics also played a role in statistical development as the local environment determined the availability of requisite data and the application of international frameworks. Besides, locally-based statisticians made critical choices and decisions in data collection and processing while political players at times censored the circulation of data and the implementation of statistical reforms. The thesis further contends that statistical development was uneven across subjects and time. From the aftermath of the Second World War to the 1970s, the construction of national accounts and related indices expanded while other datasets received little attention. Whereas the production of statistics generally declined in the 1980s in the context of the economic crisis and the one-party state, some datasets were sustained in the same period. Furthermore, the onset of Structural Adjustment Programmes and the Poverty Reduction Strategy tilted statistical priorities towards data on human welfare and social indicators. The thesis also argues that the quality of statistics was uneven depending on the availability of required data. Often, statistics were weakened by the inadequacy of requisite information that complicated data processing and dissemination. Such difficulties negatively affected policy making, public service delivery, as well as local and international development programmes that often depended on incomplete data
Development of a nutrition screening tool for the prediction of birth outcomes of women attending the antenatal clinic at Pelonomi hospital
No full textIn countries with limited resources, poor birth outcomes significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality and hold short- and long-term consequences for both the mother and her offspring. Optimal nutrition during pregnancy may lead to improved birth outcomes. Nutrition screening during pregnancy may identify women who are at risk of poor birth outcomes, including premature birth and growth retardation (stunting or wasting). This quantitative, cohort analytical study aimed to develop a nutrition screening tool to identify women at risk of poor birth outcomes among pregnant women attending the high-risk antenatal clinic at Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein. During the first phase, questionnaires were completed for 682 pregnant women in their second or third trimester using structured interviews after which each participant was weighed and measured according to standard techniques. During the interview, information related to socio-demographic and household information, reported health and lifestyle, pregnancy history, household food security (using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale) and individual dietary intake (using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour recall) was obtained. Participants were asked to return to Pelonomi Hospital after the delivery to provide the information recorded in the Road to Health Booklet at their babies' birth. A total of 331 mothers returned and, together with their 347 babies, were included in the second phase of the study. Associations between socio-demographic, reported health and lifestyle, and nutrition information and the following individual birth outcomes were investigated, namely method of delivery, gestational age at delivery, birth length-for-age and birth weight-forlength, as well as overall poor birth outcome (defined as prematurity, or birth length-for-age below the -2 SD, or birth weight-for-length below the -2 SD). Separate theme-specific (sociodemographic, reported health and lifestyle and nutrition) logistic regressions with backward selection (p<0.05) were used to select significant independent factors associated with overall birth outcome. Variables with a p-value of < 0.15 on univariate analysis were considered for inclusion in the model. Variables found to be significant in the theme-specific logistic regressions were considered for inclusion in the final logistic regression, which identified variables to be included in the screening tool. The median age of participants was 31.9 years (interquartile range 26.8–36.5 years). Most women had access to basic amenities such as a flush toilet and/or their own tap, inside or outside the house. A concerning percentage of women continued to smoke (30.0%), use snuff or chew tobacco (40.3%), or use alcohol (12.1%) during pregnancy. A large percentage of participants were exposed to various forms of stress during their pregnancy, including not being able to find a job for more than six months (themselves or a close family member) (70.9%) and having so much debt that they did not know how they were going to repay it (36.0%). A high prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as food insecurity was observed. About half of participants returned for phase two of the study. Significant differences were observed in terms of socio-demographic indicators and nutrient intake between women who provided their babies' birth information (responders) compared to those who did not (non responders). Generally, responders were better off, indicating that responders may not have been representative of the population and may be indicative of non-response bias. Most babies were born full-term and by means of caesarean section, with almost one in ten being part of a twin pregnancy. Low birth weight (<2.5 kg) was evident in 14.4%. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Z-scores, 12.6% of neonates were underweight, 18.9% were stunted and 14.5% were wasted at birth. Just over a third of neonates were exposed to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Overall, 37.1% of neonates experienced overall poor birth outcome. Several social determinants of health were significantly associated with at least one of the defined birth outcomes. Significant associations between various reported health and lifestyle factors and the individual birth outcomes were also observed, most notably, premature delivery. Significant associations between individual poor birth outcomes and nutrient intakes seem to indicate that improved birth outcomes are associated with improved nutrient intake. The proposed tool included all variables identified in the final logistic regression model of predictors of overall birth outcome namely ownership of a stove, participant’s highest level of education, participant’s employment status, being in real danger of being killed by criminals in the past six months (themselves or a close family member), being diagnosed with or treated for high blood pressure during the current pregnancy, number of babies expected and gestational body mass index (replaced by current body mass index for ease of application in the screening tool). Experiencing weight loss of more than 3 kg during the current pregnancy was added to the tool. A score of two or more was considered as indicative of an overall poor birth outcome since this cut-off gave the best combination of sensitivity and specificity namely. 68.8% and 70.5% respectively, while the positive predictive value was 58.1%, and the negative predictive value was 79.1%. Pregnant women should be educated on the importance of regularly attending antenatal follow-up visits, focusing on the risks associated with poor lifestyle choices during pregnancy and the benefits of following a healthy diet and lifestyle. Pregnant women who regularly attend antenatal visits may be more likely to be screened and referred for specialised nutrition care at an early stage when such interventions can still make a difference to birth outcomes