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Understanding how students' relationships with their cellphones inform their experience of social participation online and offline
No full textThe pervasive presence of cellphones in the lives of urban young people around the globe has
led to widespread research to evaluate the impact that this device has on young people’s
overall psychosocial development. This relationship is often characterised as “addictive”.
This research study presents a unique South African youth perspective in a field of research
that is predominantly conducted in the United States, Europe and Asia. It explores the
relationship that students (ages 18–21) at Rhodes University have with their cellphones in
order to understand how this device informs their experience of social participation online
and offline. Central to the design of this study is a “social media detox” which involved the
research participants volunteering to restrict their social media and cellphone use for an
agreed-upon period of time. The study employs interpretative phenomenological analysis
(IPA) to uncover key themes from in-depth interviews before and after the detox. Eight
respondents were interviewed twice; once before and once after their detox. This study
provides insights into the integral role of a cellphone as reported from a young adult’s
perspective. Communicating on social media platforms using a cellphone has become
normalised among this age-group and the respondents described how the cellphone feels like
“a part of you”. Unlike interacting face-to-face which is potentially awkward and involves
effort, socialising on a cellphone offers the respondents a sense of companionship, control
and instant access to their peer groups. The respondents in this study seemed unaware of their
own agency in social situations until their participation in the social media detox. By
participating in this study, the participants became more aware of how their cellphone use
influences social behaviour, both online and offline. The study proposes that the term
“addiction” undermines the positive association young people have with their cellphones.
Instead, this study suggests that “social fitness” would be a more relevant construct through
which to encourage and support young people to exercise agency in their social lives. This
exploratory study raises new questions for researchers, programme developers and educators
to take up in future studies and programme developmen
Saving the Sowetan : the public interest and commercial imperatives in journalism practice
No full textThis thesis examines the complex ways in which notions of the public interest and
commercial imperatives intertwine in journalism practice. It does this through a study
of the 2004 takeover and relaunch of the Sowetan newspaper, the highest circulation
daily in South Africa throughout the 1990s and an institution of black public life. The
‘public interest’ and ‘the commercial’ are recurring ideas in journalism scholarship
and practice, and the relaunch appeared to be a challenge to reconcile the Sowetan’s
commercial challenges with its historical responsibility to a ‘nation-building’ public.
However, the research shows that the public/commercial aspects of journalism were
inextricably entangled with Sowetan’s organisational culture, which was the matrix
through which its journalism practice was expressed. Conflict in the organisation over
the changes was not simply a contest between commercial realities and the public
interest, with journalists defending a responsibility to the public and managers
pushing commercial solutions, but a conflict between the culture of Sowetan
“insiders”, steeped in the legacy of the newspaper, and “outsiders”, employed by the
new owners to effect change.
Another conclusion of the research is that commercial “realities” – often
conceptualised as counter to the public interest – are highly mutable. Basic conditions,
such as a dependence on advertising, exist. However, media managers must choose
from a range of strategies to be commercially viable, which requires risk-taking,
innovation and, often, guesswork. In such situations, the ‘wall’ between media
managers and senior editors is porous, as all executives must manage the relationship
between business and editorial imperatives. Executives tend to overlook culture as a
factor in changing organisations, but I argue that journalism could benefit from
engaging with management theory and organisational psychology, which offer ways
to understand the specific dynamics of the organisation.
Finally, I argue that the case of the Sowetan throws into question the idea that
there may be a broadly universal journalism culture. The attachment of Sowetan
journalists to their particular values and practice suggests that forms of journalism
evolve in certain contexts to diverge from the ‘professional’ Anglo-American modes.
These ‘journalisms’ use similar terms – such as the ‘public interest’ – but
operationalise them quite differently. The responsibility to the public is imagined in
very different ways, but remains a significant attachment for journalists
An examination of the Mobisam project and Grocott's Mail : towards mobile social accountability monitoring in Grahamstown
No full textThis thesis critically examines the nature and purpose of the MobiSAM partnership, in
relation to its value as a model resonating with normative theories on the role of the media in
South African democratic society. The MobiSAM project introduces a mobile polling
application, designed for citizens to provide real-time, user-generated data on crucial
municipal service delivery such as clean water in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The project has partnered with the local community newspaper, Grocott's Mail, to broadcast
this data, with the aim to facilitate citizen participation in public problem solving and support
local government accountability in service delivery.
Despite pervasive poverty in areas such as the Eastern Cape, mobile penetration in South
Africa is near universal. The MobiSAM partnership is an ongoing effort to forge new links
between social accountability monitors, new media, traditional media, citizens and local
government around public issues in Grahamstown, in line with the development objectives of
the post-apartheid South African state.
The overall theoretical framework for this thesis is taken from Christians, Glasser, McQuail,
Nordenstreng and White's Normative Theories of the Media, which provides an analysis of
four roles of the media in a democratic society, that is: the monitorial, the facilitative, the
radical and the collaborative roles. Within each of these roles, the stated journalistic approach
is explored, that is investigative journalism, public journalism, radical journalism and
development journalism. Public journalism is focused on as having the most resonance with
the goals of the MobiSAM partnership.
The chosen research design is a critical realist case study with the selected methods of
thematic document analysis and, primarily, in-depth interviews with key project participants.
The research goals were to analyse this primary data against the normative theory on the role
of the media in a democratic society, and the 'real world' constraints posed by the project’s
specific political and socioeconomic context. The findings conclude by offering certain
recommendations and areas for further research, such as the central importance of a dedicated
municipal reporter for covering complex public issues. This critical realist case study, drawing on qualitative interviews with both the accountability
monitors and the media practitioners, interrogates the philosophical understandings on the
role of the media in this new project, towards an empirical model for advancing substantive
socio-economic change through media in South Africa
The effects of dietary soya and crystalline phytoestrogens on the growth, gonad development and histology of farmed abalone, Haliotis midae
No full textThe inclusion of soya as a dietary protein source in the formulated feed, Abfeed® S34 (Marifeed Pty (Ltd), Hermanus) for farmed abalone, Haliotis midae has resulted in larger gonads during reproductive seasons compared to the gonads of abalone fed kelp or diets that included fishmeal as the only main protein source. The aim of this study was to determine if the isoflavones present in the soya were responsible for this increase in gonad size and the subsequent effects on farmed abalone growth.
Animals weighing between 40-50 g were fed one of seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing either 0, 25, 50 or 100 percent of the soya component of the commercial feed (Abfeed® S34, Marifeed Pty (Ltd), Hermanus) from September 2013 to March 2014. An additional three diets were formulated to include crystalline isoflavone (ISO). These diets were identical to the 0 percent soya diet (i.e. the fishmeal only diet - FM), only ISO was included at the same rate that ISO occurred in the three soya diets. Data were analysed using a multiple forward stepwise regression analysis (MSR) to test the effects of ISO concentration, soya concentration, time, sex, time by concentration interaction and sex by concentration interaction on growth and gonad development and to identify those variables that most contributed to the model.
The inclusion of crystalline ISO failed to promote larger gonads and had no effect on abalone growth, while growth and gonad development was dose dependent on soya inclusion rates with sex and time contributing to the models. Mean monthly weight gain in males correlated with increasing soya concentrations (c) (MSR, y = 3.24 + 0.002c, r2 = 0.23, p = 0.03), ranging from 3.11 ± 0.55 g abalone-1 month-1 to 4.43 ± 0.46 g abalone-1 month-1, while both male and female monthly length gain was not influenced by soya concentration with an overall mean of 1.62 ± 0.05 mm abalone-1 month-1 (MSR, p = 0.05 and p = 0.81, respectively). By December, the whole body mass, meat mass and visceral mass in both males and females decreased with increasing soya levels. However, by February, female whole body mass, meat mass and visceral mass positively correlated with soya levels. At the end of the study, male abalone fed FM with soya equivalent to the commercial feed had the highest whole body mass (69.00 ± 2.48 g abalone-1), meat mass (41.80 ± 1.12 g abalone-1), visceral mass (9.00 ± 2.47 g abalone-1) and gonad bulk index (42.70 ± 9.82 g abalone-1), while females were not influenced by soya concentrations with an overall whole body mass of 63.46 ± 0.79 g abalone-1. Weight loss was observed in all treatments between February and March, probably due to a spawning event. The moisture content in the meat was not influenced by treatment, however, visceral water loss was effected by both ISO and soya concentration with time and sex contributing to the model. The visceral water loss of females fed graded levels of soya decreased as a function of soya from December to March, and from December to February for males, whereas females fed ISO-enriched diets decreased as a function of ISO concentration (c) at the end of the study from 74.98 ± 0.88 to 73.10 ± 0.75 percent (MSR, y = 74.97 – 0.0025c, r2 = 0.20, p = 0.048).
The inclusion of crystalline ISO had no significant effect on oogenesis in female farmed Haliotis midae, while the distribution of the predominant oocyte stage, stage 7 (second last stage prior to spawning) was dose-dependent in abalone fed increasing soya concentration (c) (MSR, y = 33.38 + 0.03c, r2 = 0.32, F(1, 18) = 8.52, p = 0.01). The increase in stage 7 oocytes in abalone fed FM with soya did not reduce the number of oocytes (44.96 ± 3.01 oocytes mm-2) present within the lumen, while the number of oocytes (o) in abalone fed the FM-only based diets decreased with increasing abundance of stage 7 oocytes (MSR, y = 58.28 – 0.48c, r2 = 0.38, F(1, 18) = 12.51, p = 0.002), possibly due to the increase in size of the oocytes with thicker jelly coats.
This study provided evidence that crystalline isoflavone had no influence on abalone gonad development over five months, while soya had a dose-dependent effect on growth, gonad mass and oogenesis in farmed Haliotis midae. Formulated abalone feed could be manipulated at certain times of the year to obtain maximum growth. These implications and further studies were discussed
Structural assessment of the Koulekoun Gold Deposit, Guinea, West Africa
No full textThe Koulekoun Gold project is the most important prospect of Avocet Mining plc. It is one of the projects within the TriK-block in Guinea (West Africa) for which an exploration permit has been granted. The Koulekoun deposit is located within the Siguiri basin of Birimian age in the Eastern Guinea region; where most Guinea’s gold mines are situated.
The present study involves the investigation of structural elements (S₀, S₁, S₂, intrusive contacts, faults and veins) from selected drill cores from drill sections that intersect the Koulekoun orebody in four parts of the deposit; characterizes the principal orientations of measured structures and determines their relationships using stereonet; in order to predict important intersections to focus on in exploration programs within the TriK-block and suggests a possible structural model of the Koulekoun deposit.
Raw data used for the present research was collected from half-core samples due to the absence of surface outcrop from which direct measurements could have been made. Measured data were interpreted using stereographic projection. Often no preferred orientations of structural elements exist in the area, suggesting a complex structural situation, particularly with regard to hydrothermal vein attitudes.
Thus, it has been illustrated from structural data analysis and S₀ data 3d interpolation of the four sub-structural domains (North-East, North-West, Central and South) that NE-SW structures (S₂, intrusive contact, fault and vein) have controlled the occurrency of gold mineralization in the Koulekoun deposit area.
Geometrical relationships between structure main cluster orientation from stereonet analysis show the majority of S₀ moderately E-dipping; intrusive contacts dip at moderate angle to the SE in all zones, except in the North-East zone where they are sub-vertical and SE-dipping. Fault planes show variable orientation of NE-SW, NW-SE and E-W, and steeply SE-dipping. Vein planes correspond to fault systems and show high variability in their orientation with numerous orders of vein direction in each domain.
The cross-cutting relationships suggest two principal generations of faults: the NE-SW fault (F1) and the NW-SE fault (F2). These two fault systems and their associated vein intersection areas preferably define the ore shoot zones within the Koulekoun deposit.
The proposed structural model of the Koulekoun deposit suggests the intersection and interference of major NW-SE and minor NE-SW structures. The interference of folds formed basin-dome structures with oval shape geometries striking NW-SE and that dominantly occur in North-East, North-West and Central zones. The South Zone is characterized by NE-SW gently plunging and moderately inclined folds with NW-SE striking axial surface. Gold mineralization occurs at the edges of basin-dome structures in North-East, North-West and Central zones. Mineralized porphyry intrusions are likely located within the axial surface of the South zone folds and extend toward the Central zone.
The proposed model is compliant with the earlier model of the Koulekoun deposit presented by Tenova (2013); Fahey et al. (2013) describing the Koulekoun deposit as an auriferous NE-SW trending fault zone, intersecting a major NW-striking and steeply E-dipping porphyry units. The model also fits within the regional structural context suggested by Lahondere et al. (1999a) related to the E-W vein structures attributed to NW-SE fractures and to the conjugated fault of NE-SW direction.
Comparatively to the three industrial gold deposits (Siguiri, Lero, Kiniero) being currently mined in the Siguiri Basin, and defined as mesothermal vein and lode mineralization hosted in Birimian meta-sedimentary rocks (Lalande, 2005), the Koulekoun gold deposit appears to be a porphyry hosted orogenic disseminated style mineralization system (Fahey et al., 2013). Although, similarities between the Koulekoun gold deposit and these three industrial deposits (Siguiri, Lero, Kiniero) constitute of the intensive extends of the weathering profile and at some stages, by the existence of numerous ring-shaped and curved lineaments enhanced by drag folding (Lero deposit for instance).
It is therefore recommended that targets selection around the Koulekoun deposit and within the TriK-block for further exploration programs be concentrated along NW-SE structures, in objective to determine possible intersection zones with NE-SW structures
The associative behaviour of silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, with floating objects in the open ocean
No full textThe silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis forms the primary elasmobranch
bycatch in tuna purse seine fisheries using fish aggregating devices (FADs)
in all of the world’s tropical oceans. Its life-history traits of slow growth,
late maturation and low fecundity make it vulnerable to over exploitation,
as is apparent from historical bycatch trends. Very little is known about the
associative behaviour of this species with floating objects, information which is
essential in formulating effective mitigation and management measures. This
study aims to address this knowledge gap through the use of various electronic
tagging techniques in conjunction with dietary analysis. Dietary data were
collected from 323 silky sharks incidentally caught at FADs. Approximately
40 percent of the diet consisted of prey associated with FADs while the remaining
60 percent were non-associated species of crustaceans, cephalopods and fishes.
These results suggest that the associative behaviour is not primarily driven
by trophic enhancement, but is likely a combination of predator avoidance,
social interactions and feeding. Fine-scale behavioural data from silky sharks
associated with drifting FADs were collected through the use of acoustic
telemetry techniques. Acoustic tags were implanted into 38 silky sharks (69-
116 cm TL) at eight FADs. FADs were equipped with satellite linked acoustic
receivers and abandoned to drift freely. Presence/absence and swimming
depth data were telemetered via the Iridium satellite system. A total of 300 d of
behavioural data were collected from 20 tagged individuals. Individuals remain
associated with the same FAD for extended periods (min = 2.84 d, max = 30.60
d, mean = 15.69 d). Strong diel patterns were observed in both association and
swimming depth. Typically individuals moved away from FADs after sunset and
return later during the night, then remain closely associated until the following
evening. Vertical behaviour also changed around sunset with sharks using
fairly constant depths, within the upper 25 m, during the day and switching
to rapid vertical movements during the night, with dives in excess of 250 m recoded. Broader scale movement behaviour was investigated using pop-up
archival satellite tags (PSATs). Tags were deployed on 46 silky sharks (86-224.5
cm TL) for a total of 1495 d. Light data were used to calculate geolocation
estimates and reconstruct the sharks’ trajectories. Movement patterns differed
between animals and according to deployment duration. Several extensive
horizontal movements were observed, with an average track length of 3240 km
during an average tag deployment of 44.02 d. Horizontal movement patterns
were found to correlate very closely with drift patterns of FADs. Consequently,
it appears that the movement behaviour of juvenile silky sharks is strongly
influenced by the movement of drifting FADs in this region. Ghost fishing
of silky sharks through entanglement in FADs was also investigated using
data derived from PSATs as well as underwater visual censuses. Thirteen per
cent of the tagged sharks became entangled in FADs and entangled sharks
were observed in 35 percent of the 51 FADs surveyed. Using this information in
conjunction with estimated time that sharks remained entangled in the FAD
(from depth data from PSATs), and scaling up according to estimates of FAD
numbers, it was found that between 480 000 and 960 000 silky sharks are
killed annually in this manner in the Indian Ocean. Subsequent management
measures in this region prevent the deployment of FADs with netting that could
lead to entanglement. Overall, floating objects appear to play a significant role
in the juvenile life stages of silky sharks in this region. While their association
with floating objects is clearly advantageous in an evolutionary sense, under
current tuna fishery trends, this behaviour is certainly detrimental for the
population
A child's journey through traumatic grief : a case study
No full textThe death of a parent is one of the most serious stressors that can occur in a child’s life. The aim of this study was to describe an 11-year-old child’s journey through traumatic grief after the violent death of her mother. The conceptual framework utilised was Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). The case study approach was applied as it provided a suitable research design in which to give an account of the subject in a therapeutic situation. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to select the research subject in the study. The following three principles of data collection were adhered to: a) using multiple sources of information, b) creating a case study database, and c) maintaining a chain of evidence. Irving Alexander’s content-analysis technique in conjunction with Guba’s model of trustworthiness was employed for data analysis. The finding that emerged from the study was the resilience shown by Linda in relation to her adaptive functioning following the trauma of witnessing the violent death of her mother. Conclusions and recommendations were made following the findings based on the information obtained during the therapy sessions
Communication Networks 3: CNT3110
No full textExamination on Communication Networks 3: CNT3110, Special Exam
The influence of people-centred leadership styles on owners's job satisfation and perceived financial performance : an SME perspective
No full textIt is well supported in the literature that a positive relationship exists between effective leadership and business success. Given the importance of SMEs in South Africa, their large numbers, and the extent to which they positively influence the economy of the country, it is important to study leadership behaviour in the context of small and medium-sized businesses in an attempt to reduce their high failure rates. More specifically a need has been identified to research, develop, and implement more ethical and relational leadership styles among business owners. The focus of this study is therefore on several people-centred leadership styles, and their influence on selected outcomes among the owners of small and medium-sized businesses. Against this background, the primary objective is to assess the level of Servant, Authentic, Ethical and Participative leadership exhibited by SME owners in the Eastern Cape, and to establish whether exhibiting these people-centred leadership styles influences their Job satisfaction and the Perceived financial performance of their businesses. A quantitative research paradigm was adopted for this study. More specifically, an explanatory and descriptive study of a cross-sectional nature was undertaken. A comprehensive literature study was conducted using existing secondary sources. The primary data collection procedures involved selecting the population, the sample, and the sampling method, as well as the sample size for the study. For the purpose of this study, the population consisted of all small and medium-sized business owners operating businesses within the boundaries of the Eastern Cape Province. A sample of 500 of these businesses was selected by means of convenience sampling. In total 246 usable questionnaires were returned, on which to undertake the statistical analyses. A survey was undertaken, and a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the necessary data. The scales for measuring the constructs under investigation were developed based on previous research. To assess the validity of the scales measuring the constructs in this study, an exploratory factor analysis was undertaken, and its reliability was tested by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment correlation, regression analyses (simple and multiple) and analyses of variance. Five usable factors were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis; these corresponded with the theoretical dimensions of Participative leadership, Perceived financial performance, Ethical leadership, Servant leadership, and Job satisfaction. The items measuring Authentic leadership did not load as expected, and this construct was thus no longer included in empirical testing in this study. Satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability were provided for the other factors extracted. The independent variables reported mean scores of between 3.760 and 4.548, with the majority of respondents agreeing with the statements measuring these leadership styles. The dependent variables Job satisfaction and Perceived financial performance returned mean scores of 4.508 and 3.962 respectively, with the majority of the respondents agreeing with the statements measuring these factors. All the independent variables (Servant leadership, Ethical leadership and Participative leadership) reported significant and positive relationships with each another. The correlation between the dependent variables (Perceived financial performance and Job satisfaction) was found to reflect a moderate positive association. Job satisfaction and Perceived financial performance both reported significantly positive associations with all the independent variables. The simple regression analyses undertaken revealed a significant positive linear relationship between Perceived financial performance and Job satisfaction, as well as between Perceived financial performance and the Job satisfaction of SME owners. The multiple regression analysis undertaken revealed that significant positive linear relationships existed between two independent variables, Servant leadership and Ethical leadership, and the dependent variable Job satisfaction. A significant positive linear relationship was also reported between Ethical leadership and Perceived financial performance. No relationships were found between the independent variables Servant leadership and Participative leadership and the dependent variable Perceived financial performance. No relationship was found between the independent variable Participative leadership and the dependent variable Job satisfaction. The analysis of variance results revealed that Gender, Qualification and the Nature of the business exerted a significant influence on Servant leadership. The results also showed that Generation exerted a significant influence on the perceived level of Ethical leadership displayed by the SME owner. In addition, the findings of the present study showed that the demographic variable Nature of the business exerted a significant influence on Participative leadership. Investigating leadership styles among SMEs is a topic of significance and growing interest among researchers. Given the importance of SMEs to the economies of countries, investigating factors that influence their success is vital. The findings of this study showed that by adopting more people-centred leadership styles, the job satisfaction of SME owners was increased, and the financial performance of their businesses improved. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide SME owners with practical suggestions on how to increase their levels of job satisfaction and the financial performance of their businesses, and that the suggestions for future research will inspire future researchers to further investigate the issue of leadership among SME