11613 research outputs found
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FAURE, JMB Inventory of documents
No full textCOVERAGE 2 files; 0.10 metrePrincipal Grey College and Steynrust; Inspector of Education; Pamphlet and programme pertaining to Afrikanerbond (March 1899)
ANTIKOM Inventory of documents
No full textCOVERAGE 7 pamphlets; 0.10 metreThe Anti-Communist Action Committee; Delivered church commission information against communism; Pamphlet
Musicians' sensory patterns in relation to their primary musical instrument
No full textThis study examined the relation between 1327 musicians’ sensory patterns and their primary musical instrument. Musicians’ sensory patterns were further compared with reference to different instrument groups, within instrument groups, and gender within these groups. To achieve this, a quantitative criterion group design was implemented using the Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (ASH). This 163-item selfreport
questionnaire is principally used in occupational therapy to evaluate individuals’ sensory integration and its influence on their daily functioning.
Employing the ASH, musicians’ sensory patterns were examined from three perspectives: sensory modulation and discrimination, functional problems, and motor/social components. It was established that, in comparison to the standard population, musicians demonstrate increased sensitivity for all the components contained in the ASH. Overall, musicians achieved higher auditory modulation, visual
modulation, and proprioceptive discrimination scores than the average person. Instead of viewing these as sensory obstacles, they rather point toward musicians’ increased sensitivity/awareness or superior sensory abilities.
It was found that in terms of auditory modulation, percussion, trombone, trumpet and tuba players were the only instrumentalists who score within the typical range of the ASH. Of the instruments which were within the mild difficulties range, violin players obtained the highest score. It emerged that the majority of musicians from all 19 instruments’ visual modulation scores were within the ASH’s mild difficulties range,
indicating greater sensitivity to visual stimuli than the average person. Similarly, all groups except percussion scored at the low end of mild difficulties range. This is in accordance with previous research which determined that musicians have superior multisensory processing and integration of tactile and visual information which allow them to react significantly more quickly to such stimuli than non-musicians. It was further found that, although within the norm, musicians demonstrate greater discrimination sensitivity, especially in terms of proprioception, than the standard population.
As far as functional problems are concerned, musicians’ scores were overall slightly higher than the norm. Sensory over-responsivity, often coinciding with modulation challenges/sensitivity, was established among all musician groups. With the exception of pianists and violinists, all instrument groups were at the low end of the mild difficulties range for the various sensory seeking behaviours. These behaviours are typically associated with higher modulation or discrimination scores – evident from the results of this study.
Several gender differences emerged in terms of vestibular, visual and tactile modulation, vestibular discrimination, as well as sensory seeking behaviours. Another noteworthy finding involves musicians’ social/emotional patterns. Similar to previous research, it was established that higher levels of anxiety, depression, impulsivity and introversion exist among musicians. For the first time, as a result of my research, these traits have now been shown to be connected to sensory processing difficulties/sensitivity. By conducting this research, pioneering work was done concerning musicians’ sensory patterns, providing multiple possibilities for further research
MCPHERSON, J. Inventory of documents
No full textCOVERAGE: 1938-1966; 0.02 metreLetter from Genl. Hertzog to Mr AK McPherson; three newspaper clipping
Sylvia Plath: a psychobiographical study
No full textIncreased interest in psychobiographical research has resulted in national and international researchers advocating its value. Although South Africa has seen an increase in the number of psychobiographies based on individuals who have made important contributions, both nationally and internationally, the majority of these psychobiographies have focused on male research subjects. In light of South Africa’s efforts to promote female empowerment in a post- apartheid era, South African psychologists may be motivated to embark on the study of significant and exceptional women who shaped history, whether in South Africa or abroad. Sylvia Plath has been hailed as one of the most influential and renowned figures of the 20th century. Although she only published one poetry collection (The Colossus) and one novel (The Bell Jar) in her lifetime, the many poems, short stories, letters and journal entries which were published after her death, have secured her status as a powerful voice in Anglo-American culture and literature.
None of the works which currently exist on Sylvia Plath provide an in-depth psychological perspective on her life. The researcher thus decided to select her as the subject for this psychobiography through purposive sampling, with the aim of providing a psychological exploration and description of aspects of her life, against the backdrop of her socio-historical context. This aim was accomplished by applying two psychological frameworks to the biographical and historical data collected on Sylvia Plath. The psychological frameworks included: (a) Erikson’s stage-based, psychosocial theory of development, and (b) Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. The study’s primary aim was thus to explore and describe Sylvia Plath’s psychosocial development and the structure of her internal family system throughout her life. Due to the exploratory-descriptive nature of this study, the objective can be said to fall within the inductive research approach.
The use of specific methodological strategies proved to be particularly valuable in the extraction and analysis of data in this study. The researcher made use of Alexander’s nine indicators of psychological saliency and Schultz’s model of prototypical scenes, to facilitate the organisation and prioritisation of biographical data. In order to manage the proliferation of data available on Sylvia Plath, the researcher posed specific questions to the data, which allowed for the extraction of units of analysis relevant to the research objectives of the study. The researcher made use of two conceptual matrices to facilitate the analysis of data in this psychobiographical study, as proposed by Fouché. This ensured the systematic categorisation and consistent analysis of biographical data collected on Sylvia Plath, according to the stages of her psychosocial development and the constructs of her internal family system, and in terms of the socio-historical contexts which impacted on her life.
Findings from the study suggest that Plath did not progress through the different stages of psychosocial development successfully and consequently failed to acquire the ego virtues of hope, willpower, purpose, competence, fidelity and love as proposed by Erikson. In terms of Schwartz’s model, findings suggest that each stage of her life was characterised by parts-led functioning as a result of transferred burdens, imperfect care-taking, existential anxiety and traumatic emotional experiences. This resulted in polarization of her different parts, which blocked the healing energy of her Self and aggravated feelings of worthlessness, shame and guilt. The integrative, holistic approach of the study’s psychological frameworks allowed for an extensive exploration and description of different constructs and dimensions, and ensured that Plath’s life was explored against the backdrop of her socio-historical context, since both psychological frameworks highlight the impact of one’s political, cultural and historical environment on one’s development and intrapsychic processes.
Apart from contributing to the body of knowledge on Sylvia Plath and to the frameworks of psychosocial development and internal family systems, this study also added to educational objectives in the field of psychobiography. This psychobiography affirmed that an examination of the lives of extraordinary women who used their creative genius to address socio-historical issues, could be a significant endeavour for future psychobiographical researchers. Based on the psychological frameworks applied in this study, recommendations are made for future research
FOUCHé, B.J.G. Inventory of documents
No full textCOVERAGE 1941-1945, 1967; 6 Files; 0,11 Metre.Private papers of B.J.G. Fouché, member of the Ossewa Brandwag Movemen
Assessing socio-economic impacts of drought and coping mechanisms: a case study on Musikavanhu area, Chipinge District, Zimbabwe
No full textDroughts and desertification are some of the major challenges that threaten sustainable development globally and food and nutrition security in developing countries. In Africa drought is part of the natural climatic variability and countries on the continent are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of drought because their economies are agriculture based. Multidimensional responses are needed to support communities in the face of a changing climate that is continuously exposing communities to shocks such as drought. Strong institutional capacity is essential for drought mitigation and response to prevent the negative social and economic impacts on vulnerable populations. This study assesses the socio economic impacts of the 2015/16 El Nino induced drought and identifies coping mechanisms, preparedness and response mechanisms that were employed in the Musikavanhu area in the Chipinge district of Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe. The Musikavanhu area is prone to drought and has an erratic rainfall pattern characterized by dry spells. Frequent droughts are making it harder and harder for households to cope with each drought occurrence. It is important to understand how rural households, during periods of drought, cope in order to determine how best to implement micro level efforts to support households as part of risk management and resilience building.
Data for the research was collected using quantitative and qualitative methods through household interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. A descriptive analysis was conducted, which characterized households according to their demographics, household income and assets, socio economic impacts of the drought, household based coping strategies; livelihood based coping strategies, preparedness and response mechanisms. Results showed that, to a large extent, households in the Musikavanhu community were negatively impacted by the drought and experienced yield loss, hunger, loss of livelihoods, food shortages, and loss of livestock, depleted water sources and school drop-outs among other effects. Some of these impacts influenced the coping mechanisms that were adopted, which include selling of livestock, pulling children out of school, reduction of meals, selling of assets and begging for food from neighbours and friends. Results also showed that households that were better off before the drought and had better capabilities and assets managed to bounce back quicker and better than others. In terms of preparedness and response, there is a need to capacitate households on drought risk reduction through training and sensitization, so that they are able to deal with the effects of drought. The study recommends strengthening the absorptive capacities of households in order to improve the stability of households when drought occurs through improving knowledge on disaster risk management, access to informal safety nets and savings. The study also recommends that support should be provided to encourage livelihood diversification, asset rehabilitation, protection and accumulation at both household and community levels
Construction project management through building contracts, a South African perspective
No full textEnglish: This article reviews construction project management and building contracts in South Africa. It introduces general information and findings on the topic, forming part of a broader indepth study, which proves difficult to encapsulate in one single article. The novice might perceive contract management, project management, and construction management to be the same concept. To clarify these concepts, the evolution of construction contracts and project management was studied to identify possible
similarities between these concepts. This article commences with a brief history prior to a
schematic analysis of the general characteristics of construction contracts and project management. It investigates the application of these concepts within South Africa and compares the general structure of the main contracts used within South Africa. This general investigation clearly shows that the standard conditions of contracts used in South Africa have similar structures to the main construction project management knowledge areas recognised by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The article also reviews the four general conditions of contracts endorsed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) in South Africa and investigates the general clauses and themes of these contracts. The Construction Contract should consider all the Project LifeCycle (PLC)
stages. The Construction Contract should further be regarded as the Project Implementation Plan (PIP), on which the control procedures during construction are based. With the understanding of the evolution of the two streams (contracts and management), their relevance, goal, dependencies and responsibilities may be understood better. This may enhance the professional manner in which the management of the entire Project Life-Cycle (PLC) is implemented and approached.Afrikaans: Die artikel beskou konstruksieprojekbestuur en boukontrakte in Suid-Afrika. Dit
stel algemene inligting en resultate voor oor die onderwerp, wat deel uitmaak van ’n wyer indiepte studie, wat moeilik is om in een enkele artikel te vervat. Die beginner kan soms kontrakbestuur, projekbestuur en konstruksiebestuur as dieselfde konsep beskou. Om hierdie konsepte te verduidelik, is die evolusie van konstruksiekontrakte projekbestuur bestudeer om moontlike ooreenkomste te identifiseer. Hierdie artikel begin met ’n kort geskiedenis voor ’n skematiese analise van die algemene kenmerke van konstruksiekontrakte en projekbestuur. Die artikel ondersoek die toepassing van hierdie begrippe binne Suid-Afrika en vergelyk die algemene struktuur van die hoofkontrakte
wat in Suid-Afrika gebruik is met mekaar. Uit hierdie algemene ondersoek is dit duidelik dat die standaardvoorwaardes van kontrakte wat in Suid-Afrika gebruik word, baie soortgelyke strukture het in vergelyking met die belangrikste konstruksieprojekbestuursareas soos erken deur die Projekbestuursinstituut (PMI). Die artikel beskou die vier kontrakte wat deur die Konstruksiebedryfontwikkelingsraad (CIDB) in Suid-Afrika onderskryf is en ondersoek die algemene klousules en temas van hierdie kontrakte. Die konstruksie kontrak moet al die Projek Lewensiklus (PLC) stadiums in ag neem. Die Konstruksie Kontrak moet
verder gesien word as die Projek Implementeringsplan (PIP), waarmee beheer tydens konstruksie toegepas moet word. Met dié begrip van die evolusie van die twee strome (kontrakte en bestuur), kan hul relevansie, doel en afhanklikhede beter verstaan word. Dit kan die professionele manier waarop die totale Projek Lewensiklus (PLC) geïmplementeer en benader word, verbeter.Publisher's versio
A strategy to improve the implementation of school safety policies in selected Osizweni schools
No full textThis study aimed at designing a strategy to improve the implementation of school safety policies in selected Osizweni schools. The challenge of safety policy implementation is prevailing in both primary and secondary schools in Osizweni and has led to critical injuries and job losses. The theoretical framework that informed this study is social realism because it is concerned with dynamic interpretations of life with the purpose of changing the existing reality. In social realism, the individual is treated as a social unit. In addition, social realism sees character as a product of social factors, and environment as the integral element thereof. The participatory action research approach was used in this study because it changes the traditional research paradigm to transform the role of those participating in the research and make them active researchers and agents of change. Participatory action research works with subordinate, marginalised and oppressed groups to change their circumstances within the society. Furthermore, engaging in participatory action research, using social realism as a theoretical framework, provided the language and opportunities to articulate the direction for ongoing research and establish what possibilities are present for solutions within the society. This study further used critical discourse analysis because of its main objectives, which are to analyse discourse practices that reflect or construct social problems, to investigate how ideologies can become frozen in language and find ways to break the ice and to increase awareness of how to apply these objectives to specific cases of injustice, prejudice and misuse of power. Safety in schools is a societal problem; together, the communities and stakeholders have to work together and communicate ways that can be used to address safety issues. In the study, the stakeholders worked collaboratively on the safety issues. Critical discourse analysis encourages the use of language and power that is acceptable to all involved, even if they are on different levels in the community
Towards a preliminary taxonomy of Multi-Sensory Deprivation/Stimulation Theatre for the analysis of selected plays
No full textDespite the vast research into the separate senses and their different uses in the theatre, little is found on a complete study of all the combined senses in the theatre. Studies on the senses could easily range from medical dissertations to the arts. This is probably why so few artists and scholars study this field because of every individual's experience of the senses. The challenging part of this study was to see how subjective studies about the senses are, and how little is documented when it comes to the arts and senses. This study borrows theories from leading theatre practitioners and scholars like Carrol, Artaud, Banes & Lepecki and Welton. These chapters consist of literature studies where these theories are applied to the specific
sense in question. All of these chapters are tied together with Shklovsky’s twin terms: sensitisation and desensitisation. Van den Oever (2010: 62) explains these terms by saying that through time we have grown accustomed to the things that surround us, and that our perception of these things has been automatised, thus leaving most of these things unnoticed. This is where sensory theatre challenges our
perceptions. It disrupts our automatized notions of theatre, sensitising us to how our senses react.This study aims to develop a framework in which artists can see what the possible effects are of stimulating or depriving the senses in theatre. This framework is then applied to three existing theatre productions from three different genres. This preliminary taxonomy will thus provide theatre practitioners and researchers one complete framework for all the senses, how they might be used in theatre and what effect this might have on attendants