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Creating access to powerful knowledge in accounting education: a case study of pedagogies used in an accountancy diploma
Full text linkStudents enter universities to obtain a qualification that they believe will enhance their chances of employment and thereby a better future. But the World Economic Forum states that the world of work is changing so fast that 75% of companies are not prepared for the pace at which their industries are changing. The field of accounting, and accounting education in particular, is facing significant challenges as accountants change from being ‘number crunchers’ to engaging business partners. There is also a decrease in the demand for accountants, at the same time as increasing complaints that accounting graduates are unprepared for their work. These contextual challenges raise the question of ‘What can higher education institutions do to prepare students for a future of rapid change and uncertainty, specifically within the field of accounting?’ This study argues that epistemological access to powerful knowledge is essential for creating lifelong learners that can adapt to change. The study draws on Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) to visualise the powerful knowledge that students require access to in two thirdyear modules within a Diploma of Accounting. This is followed by an analysis of the pedagogies used in the two modules and how access to powerful knowledge is enabled (or hindered) through the pedagogical practices. Data include lecturer observations, course documents and interviews. The study found that there are significant differences between the knowledge structures of the modules, despite them being part of the same discipline. Furthermore, through the analysis I was able to identify key patterns in the pedagogies that enable access to powerful knowledge as well as pedagogical approaches that may constrain access to powerful knowledge. The findings of this study can help accounting lecturers as well as lecturers in similar disciplines to consider how their pedagogical practices enable epistemological access to the target powerful knowledge of their discipline.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning, 202
Bayesian inference for Cronbach's alpha
Full text linkCronbach’s alpha is used as a measure of reliability in fields like education, psychology and sociology. The reason for the popularity of Cronbach’s alpha is that it is computationally simple. Only the sample size and the variance components are needed and it can be computed for continuous as well as binary data. Cronbach’s alpha has been studied extensively using maximum likelihood estimation. Since Cronbach’s alpha is a function of the variance components, this often results in negative estimates of the variance components when the maximum likelihood method is considered as a method of estimation. In the field of Bayesian statistics, the parameters are random variables, and this can alleviate some of the problems of estimating negative variance estimates that often occur when the frequentist approach is used. The Bayesian approach also incorporates loss functions that considers the symmetry of the distribution of the parameters being estimated and adds some flexibility in obtaining better estimates of the unknown parameters. The Bayesian approach often results in better coverage probabilities than the frequentist approach especially for smaller sample sizes and it is therefore important to consider a Bayesian analysis in the estimation of Cronbach’s alpha. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a one-way random effects model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. A second simulation study will be considered where the mean relative error will be compared for the various priors using the squared error, the absolute error and the linear in exponential (LINEX) loss functions. An illustrative example will also be considered. The combined Bayesian estimation of more than one Cronbach’s alpha will also be considered for m experiments with equal α but possibly different variance components. It will be shown that the reference and the probability-matching priors are the same. The Bayesian theory and results will be applied to two examples. The intervals for the combined model are however much shorter than those of the individual models. Also, the point estimates of the combined model are more accurate than those of the individual models. It is further concluded that the posterior distribution of α for the combined model becomes more important as the number of samples and models increase. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a three-component hierarchical model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be v vi considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. Two illustrative examples will also be considered. Statistical control limits will be obtained for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of a balanced one-way random effects model. This will be achieved by deriving the predictive distribution of a future Cronbach’s alpha. The unconditional posterior predictive distribution will be determined using Monte Carlo simulation and the Rao-Blackwell procedure. The predictive distribution will be used to obtain control limits and to determine the run-length and average run-length. Cronbach’s alpha will be estimated for a general covariance matrix using a Bayesian approach and comparing these results to the asymptotic frequentist interval valid under a general covariance matrix framework. Most of the results used in the literature require the compound symmetry assumption for analyses of Cronbach’s alpha. Fiducial and posterior distributions will be derived for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of the bivariate normal distribution. Various objective priors will be considered for the variance components and the correlation coefficient. One of the priors considered corresponds to the fiducial distribution. The performance of these priors will be compared to an asymptotic frequentist interval often used in the literature. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors and the asymptotic interval, where the coverage rates and average interval lengths will be computed.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Statistics, 202
Investigating the Transparency of Language for Place Value Understanding Comparing Indigenous Southern African Languages and European-based Languages
Full text linkIn this article we investigate the transparency of language in learning place value in either a Southern African indigenous language (isiXhosa, Setswana, Oshiwambo or Emakhuwa) or a European-based language (Afrikaans, English, German or Portuguese). Since language is a key mediator in developing place value understanding, it is important to investigate the ways in which the transparency of various languages may impact place value learning. A review of pertinent literature and an analysis of literal translations of number words (to thousands) of our eight languages lead us to the conclusion that Southern African indigenous languages are more accessible in their meaning, in relation to place value, than the four European-based languages spoken in Southern Africa, which we analysed. We identified two key advantages in the indigenous languages: (i) there was transparency of the ‘places’ in how numbers are named; and (ii) there was logical alignment between the spoken and symbolic representation of numbers. Despite this, many Southern African learners learn mathematics in English, Afrikaans or Portuguese even though this is not their home language (L1). This means that many learners are denied access to the transparency of the place value concepts that exist in their L1 and must manage learning place value, not only in a yet to be learned ‘foreign’ language, but also in one where they must learn to decode the idiosyncratic ‘irregularities’ of the way those languages name numbers. We conclude this article by discussing the implications of these findings for the teaching of place value in Southern African classrooms, in which indigenous learners are often learning in a European-based language that is not their L1
The process of translating the Experiences in Close Relationship (ECR) Scale into isiXhosa
No full textIntimate relationships are highly influenced by each individual’s attachment style. These attachment styles play a significant role in how romantic partners engage with each other and yet there are few tools that measure them. Not only are the tools few but also, they are not easily available in South African languages. Implementing isiXhosa language screening tools widens and enhances mental healthcare access for isiXhosa-speaking populations. This study aimed to develop an isiXhosa language version of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR). The ECR is a 36-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess adult attachment styles in the context of close relationships. The scale evaluates the presence of anxious and avoidant attachment styles in adult romantic relationships. Anxious attachment is characterized by heightened anxiety about the relationship and a constant need for reassurance, while avoidant attachment involves a tendency to distance oneself emotionally from partners, often leading to difficulties in forming close connections. By measuring these styles, the scale provides deeper insights into how individuals relate to their partners and navigate intimacy in their romantic lives. The ECR was translated into isiXhosa using a four-stage translation design, which included: 1. Forward translation, 2. Back translation, 3. Committee meetings, and 4. Qualitative piloting of the resultant translation in a small sample of first language isiXhosa speakers. A quantitative pilot will follow this study. The results indicate that while broad concept equivalence was easier to achieve, participants struggled with understanding some of the items due to the difference in academic, written language and spoken language. The questions about emotions proved more difficult to translate. South African languages differ in dialect across different areas of the country. The isiXhosa terms chosen for this translation often conveyed distinct meanings or could be interpreted differently, depending on the specific geographical region and local dialect. This rich linguistic diversity posed a considerable challenge throughout the translation process, as it required careful consideration of context and cultural nuance to ensure accurate communication.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 202
The exploration of Black and Brown drag performance communities: an artistic tool for creating safe spaces
Full text linkThis research investigates the role of drag performance in South Africa, particularly its contribution to the fostering and maintenance of safe spaces for Black and Brown Queer communities. Inspired by the community building legacy Kewpie. This research project employs auto-ethnographic research practice to generate a better understanding of modes of Queer drag praxis drawing on Linda Tuhiwai Smith's (1999) concept of the "insider/outsider" researcher. The project acknowledges the ethical challenges of researching vulnerable communities. This research is guided by self-reflection and information gathered from fieldwork; informed by an awareness of the theory of ‘intersectionality’ (Carbado, Crenshaw, Mays, Tomlinson 2013) exploring the complexities of race, class, and sexuality within Cape Town’s Queer community. In this way, the study navigates the complexities of race, class, and sexuality within the drag context of Cape Town through the viewpoint of this researcher. The contextual exploration of drag unfolds across two interconnected disciplinary avenues: Firstly, the historical context of drag and its evolution within the performance art canon: to understand the place of contemporary drag in the broader artistic and cultural discourse. Secondly, the study investigates theatrical histories and conventions that have influenced and transformed drag practices. This is done to frame drag performance with forms of theatrical performance. This historical and disciplinary background is used to formulate a distinction that is at the centre of this research: proposing that contemporary drag practice in the City of Cape Town can be understood and to some extent distinguished by the categories of embodied costume and embodied performance. Embodied costume within the scope of this research view the use of drag aesthetics and visual elements in artistic expressions and performances that fall outside of traditional ‘drag show’ culture. Embodied performance refers to drag performances that fall within the context of traditional ‘drag show’ genres, communities, and venues − reminiscent of cabaret performance. This conception highlights the performative aspects of the drag persona, which is an extension of the performer’s identity. While some performers and performances can exemplify either embodied performance or embodied costume, these categories are not mutually exclusive, with incalculable overlaps in keeping with the rich possibilities of drag practice. The purpose of highlighting these distinctions is to create a critical framework for exploring the unique position drag occupies between fine art and theatre, incorporating both fields of practice, and synthesising them into a unique language for the expression of alternate gender narratives.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Fine Art, 202
The taxed informal economy: Fiscal burdens and inequality in Accras
No full textThe common assumption that informal economies are untaxed has underpinned arguments that they represent an ‘untapped goldmine’ for government coffers. However, there has been limited empirical engagement with this assumption. While some studies have highlighted that many informal businesses pay both formal and informal taxes, there has been little systematic accounting of these payments. Using a novel dataset of 2,700 informal enterprises in the Accra metropolitan area in Ghana, this article presents the first geographically representative account of the nature, distribution and impact of taxation in an urban informal sector. We find that the majority of informal sector operators in this context pay a range of taxes and fees, which together amount to a significant burden, especially for low earners. Two key findings emerge in relation to the structure of these taxes. First, the incidence and burden of tax payments is highly uneven and strongly correlated with visibility to the state, suggesting that taxation is driven more by patterns of state enforcement than the choices of informal operators. Second, taxes and fees are highly regressive, with lower-earning operators paying significantly more in relation to their earnings. These findings have important implications for both our conception of informal businesses and efforts to tax informal businesses in low- and middle-income countries
The heterogeneous effects of macroeconomic and financial factors on financial deepening in Africa: evidence from a method of moments quantile regression analysis
Full text linkThis paper aims to investigate the heterogeneous effects of macroeconomic and financial factors across various distributions of financial deepening in 22 African countries over the past two decades (2000–2019). The paper uses a recent method of moments quantile regression, which accounts for the often overlooked heterogeneity effects. The analysis focuses on the banking sector, which is predominant in Africa, using a broad range of macroeconomic and financial indicators
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in functionally delineated hydraulic zones in selected Rivers, Eastern Cape, South Africa
No full textMicroplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems has garnered increasing attention due to its ecological risks and potential impacts on human health. While numerous studies have addressed microplastic prevalence in rivers, a critical gap remains in understanding their spatial distribution within the geomorphological and hydraulic structure of river channels. This study investigated the occurrence and variability of microplastics across hydraulic units in two urban river systems, the Buffalo and Swartkops Rivers, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Hydraulic units were categorised into flush (riffles and runs) and sink (pools and backwaters) hydraulic zones, based on in situ measurements of flow velocity, depth, and substrate composition. Flush zones were hypothesised to promote microplastic remobilisation due to higher flow energy, whereas sink zones were expected to favour microplastic deposition owing to reduced hydraulic energy. Samples of surface water (suspended microplastics) and sediment-water mixtures (settled, then resuspended microplastics) were collected across these units in both the wet/hot and dry/cold seasons
Enculturation and adaptation: a practice-led investigation into the history and contemporary transformation of the Bahananwa harepa
Full text linkThis thesis investigates the cultural and musical transformations of the harepa, a stringed instrument initially introduced as the autoharp by Christian missionaries in the late nineteenth century, now deeply embedded within the Basotho ba Lebowa community in Limpopo, South Africa. Through an interdisciplinary approach that blends historical ethnography with practice-led research, this thesis explores the harepa's negotiation of identity amidst the cultural shifts and modernisation affecting the community. The musical output of the harepa showcases a unique hybridity that fuses Basotho ba Lebowa traditions with Western musical influences. The aim of this research is to document the harepa instrument, analyse its music and transformation processes, highlight the musical history of research partners and emphasise the unique tunings which are distinct from Western standards. Employing methodologies that integrate participant observation, ethnographic interviews, and direct musical practice, the research engages with local musicians to understand the contemporary relevance of the harepa and its role in sustaining cultural heritage. It examines shifts in musical practices, the decline of traditional uses of the harepa, and efforts towards its revitalisation, including documenting musical repertoires and analysing performance practices. The findings highlight a complex narrative of enculturation, adaptation, and resistance, revealing the resilience of cultural identity through unique tuning systems that contrast sharply with Western musical paradigms. African tuning practices, characterised by their flexibility and reliance on auditory perception, challenge the adequacy of Western tuning methodologies. This study also investigates the potential of sampling as a method for the sonic representation of African music, advocating for a more culturally sensitive framework that respects the diversity of global musical traditions. By focusing on this localised musical phenomenon, the study illustrates broader cultural preservation and innovation dynamics within Limpopo's Basotho ba Lebowa community. It calls for ongoing dialogue and research to develop methodologies that reflect the unique cultural contexts of musical traditions worldwide. Ultimately, this work underscores the importance of engaged, practice-led research in documenting and revitalising endangered musical cultures in the face of globalisation and cultural homogenisation.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 202
Bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to indigenous forests in the Eastern Cape
Full text linkThe use of forest wild species directly contributes to the well-being of billions of people globally and is particularly important to people living in vulnerable situations. Rural, indigenous communities have harvested a variety of timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for millennia and still do to date. For these people, forests provide many products and benefits such as food, medicine, fuelwood and a source of income from trade in these items. In South Africa, a large number of studies have investigated the harvesting and use of NTFPs, highlighting their importance to rural and urban communities. Additionaly, the hunting of wild mammals occurs throughout the Afro-temperate forests of South Africa. Yet, no comprehensive study has been conducted on the hunting and use of wild forest mammals in the region. I sought to investigate the motivations, extent and impact of local hunting in the indigenous forests of the Eastern Cape. I hypothesize that in the region hunting is not a primary source of nutrition or income, but it continues to hold cultural significance, reflecting deep-rooted traditions within these communities. Understanding bushmeat hunting and use in the region is key to guiding sustainable management and assessing the need for policy adjustments. The current study firstly provides a detailed evaluation of NTFPs harvesting and use, highlighting the livelihood benefits associated with bushmeat hunting by investigating bushmeat hunting patterns and consumption by rural communities surrounding forest patches in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Here bushmeat hunting refers to the informal hunting of wild mammals by rural communities, primarily for subsistence consumption. While often organised and small-scale, it is shaped by local ecological knowledge, cultural traditions, and resource availability. The practice occurs within a complex illegal and socio-economic landscape, where access to alternative protein sources, conservation regulations, and historical land-use patterns influence its prevalence and significance. To assess NTFP harvesting and bushmeat hunting, 12 villages at different proximities to forests were selected around the province. Using a quantitative approach in the form of guided, semi-structured interviews, data on the extraction and use of NTFPs, bushmeat hunting, frequency of bushmeat consumption, general protein consumption and food security of each household were solicited. Only 16% of the households attested to hunting in the 12 months prior to the survey, with all these households including an active hunter. Though 64% of the interviewed head of households mentioned that they had consumed bushmeat in the past year, these were mostly men, only 12% percent mentioned that the hunter in the household brought their catch home and consumed the meat with their families. Hunters mostly consumed their catch with other hunters, non-hunting males and young boys. Hence the study concluded that bushmeat consumption was not an important livelihood strategy nor food source of rural people but instead plays a significant social and cultural role in the region. I also provide comprehensive insights into bushmeat hunting practices in the province. Though conducting in-depth questionnaire surveys with self-identifying hunters from the 12 villages I was able to determine the motivations, methods and perceptions behind bushmeat hunting. A total of 147 hunter interviews were conducted. All the interviewees were male, with a mean age of 32 ± 9 years. The primary motivations behind bushmeat hunting were culture (40%), sport/competition (33%) and recreational purposes (20%). Contrary to hunting in the tropics, only 4% mentioned that they hunt for income. Most of the hunters (44%) used mixed hunting methods. This involved setting up or checking snares whilst hunting with dogs and sticks, 27% only used dogs and sticks and 17% only used snares. Hunters reported ten mammal species caught in forests of the Eastern Cape in the last 12 months. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) were the most hunted species. All the hunters acknowledged that hunting was an illegal activity and if caught they could be arrested. The study further presents a thorough assessment of forest mammal species diversity under hunting pressure. Evidence suggests that higher hunting occurs in communal land forests compared to forests on protected or privately owned land. Hence, data on species richness and abundance within fenced protected forests and neighbouring unfenced communal forests was acquired using a mixed-methods approach in the form of ecological line transects and local ecological knowledge (LEK) surveys. The line transects revealed a mean mammal species richness of 7.6 ±1.3 in the protected forests, 5.3 ±1.4 in the Afromontane communal forests and 3.3 ±1.6 in the Coastal communal forests. The Afromontane and Coastal communal forests had a mean species abundance of 12.1 ± 5.4 and 6.5 ± 5.0, per forest respectively, whilst the protected forests had a mean species abundance of 18.0 ± 7.0. During the LEK surveys hunters from villages close to the forests reported more species (8.9 ±1.7) than those from far villages (7.3 ± 1.2). The regular forest users reported a mean species richness of 5.5 ± 1.2 and the local experts from the protected forests reporting a mean species richness of 13.4 ± 0.7. The study demonstrates the importance of mixed-methods approach in wildlife research and sustainable natural resource use. The current study clearly shows that protected areas support higher biodiversity and that local forest users’ knowledge aligns well with ecological data. Lastly, I present a social-ecological assessment of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. The use of traditional biological sustainability indices have proved inadequate for measuring the impact of bushmeat hunting because sustainability is treated as a static, binary question, thus ignoring stochastic processes, the inherent variability of natural systems, and the complexity of hunting systems. I hence used a combination of social and ecological methods to gain insights on how the offtake of forest mammal species affected species density in the communal forests of the Eastern Cape and also how this influenced hunting practices and behaviour. The density estimates of the hunted mammal fauna in the communal forests was significantly less (50%) than in the protected forests in the region. Also, the density estimates for the five most hunted mammal species in the communal forests were significantly lower (15%) than density estimates reported in the literature. Additionally, participatory hunter interviews revealed a decline in catch per unit effort and harvest rates over the past 10 years. This decline resulted in changes in the hunting strategies and patterns of many hunters. I argue that bushmeat hunting systems should be regarded as social-ecological systems in which the animal populations are not the only focus. Instead, understanding the complex and dynamic relationships between the hunting ground, its resources, the stakeholders, and the different exogenous drivers of change that affect these components yields a better interpretation of sustainability. The current study contributes to the growing knowledge of bushmeat hunting and use in the country and also provides novel findings on the sustainability of bushmeat hunting in the forests of the Eastern Cape. Here I provide an all-inclusive appraisal of bushmeat hunting and use by rural communities living adjacent to biodiversity-rich indigenous forests. The study provides in-depth insights on household bushmeat use, hunting practices and motivations of hunters and the effect of hunting on mammalian forest fauna. Furthermore, the study provides a novel approach to determining the sustainability of bushmeat hunting by using mixed social and ecological methods. The study can be used as a model for other studies assessing bushmeat hunting elsewhere in the country.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 202