Reforging Ockham’s Razor: an enquiry into the ontology of parsimony arguments
- Authors: Dichmont, Thomas
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Logic , Metaphysics , Ontology , Knowledge, Theory of , Epistemology , Philosophy and science , Occam's razor
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406736 , vital:70303
- Description: Nearly every philosopher in English-speaking world has heard of Ockham’s Razor, which is given in one of two ways, don’t multiply entities beyond necessity and all things being equal choose the simpler explanation. Yet it is unclear from the scholarship whether the use of Ockham’s Razor is justified in science and philosophy. However, if it can be shown to ‘get’ us truth, it would gain an unequivocal justification, as disputes that are continued after the parties to the substantive truth of one or the other are defined as frivolous. Alternative, one may contend that explanation could have other criteria of success. The implication of a direct connection between the razor and truth comes with ontological commitments, namely a commitment to realism (about universals) and philosophical theism. This is contrary to the razor’s use as a tool of nominalism and naturalism. I argue in this thesis there that the only possible non-circular justification for Ockham’s Razor is truth and that therefore certain philosophical positions are excluded from using the razor to animate their positions. There is an additional, second criteria for the success of our inquiry, namely the justification must in some way be consistent with the razor, which means the chosen explanation for the razor, must be simpler than any of its rivals and not have superfluous entities, otherwise our justification would be contrary to the advice of the razor. We are presented with a Scylla and Charybdis type problem, we avoid a circularity on the one hand and on the other we must not contradict the razor itself, these are contrary intellectual impulses. So firstly I will look at disciplines outside philosophy for some initial inspiration. If we could answer this question in a ‘non’ philosophical way, the problem would have solved itself in a way that require little change of practice. If lawyers or scientist can account for the razor properly, there is not really a problem of justification, at least not a philosophical one. Second, I consider the realist and theist positions, namely an argument of Aristotle’s in the Posterior Analytics and part of Aquinas’ On the Divine Simplicity. Further, I consider the work of Ockham as a nominalist. Lastly, I consider modern and contemporary philosophy, in the form of Hume, Quine and Sober (a modern writer on the razor). The aim here is to ‘stress test’ the philosophical resources of the various systems and analyse the results to see if they can produce a non-circular result. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Philosophy, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dichmont, Thomas
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Logic , Metaphysics , Ontology , Knowledge, Theory of , Epistemology , Philosophy and science , Occam's razor
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/406736 , vital:70303
- Description: Nearly every philosopher in English-speaking world has heard of Ockham’s Razor, which is given in one of two ways, don’t multiply entities beyond necessity and all things being equal choose the simpler explanation. Yet it is unclear from the scholarship whether the use of Ockham’s Razor is justified in science and philosophy. However, if it can be shown to ‘get’ us truth, it would gain an unequivocal justification, as disputes that are continued after the parties to the substantive truth of one or the other are defined as frivolous. Alternative, one may contend that explanation could have other criteria of success. The implication of a direct connection between the razor and truth comes with ontological commitments, namely a commitment to realism (about universals) and philosophical theism. This is contrary to the razor’s use as a tool of nominalism and naturalism. I argue in this thesis there that the only possible non-circular justification for Ockham’s Razor is truth and that therefore certain philosophical positions are excluded from using the razor to animate their positions. There is an additional, second criteria for the success of our inquiry, namely the justification must in some way be consistent with the razor, which means the chosen explanation for the razor, must be simpler than any of its rivals and not have superfluous entities, otherwise our justification would be contrary to the advice of the razor. We are presented with a Scylla and Charybdis type problem, we avoid a circularity on the one hand and on the other we must not contradict the razor itself, these are contrary intellectual impulses. So firstly I will look at disciplines outside philosophy for some initial inspiration. If we could answer this question in a ‘non’ philosophical way, the problem would have solved itself in a way that require little change of practice. If lawyers or scientist can account for the razor properly, there is not really a problem of justification, at least not a philosophical one. Second, I consider the realist and theist positions, namely an argument of Aristotle’s in the Posterior Analytics and part of Aquinas’ On the Divine Simplicity. Further, I consider the work of Ockham as a nominalist. Lastly, I consider modern and contemporary philosophy, in the form of Hume, Quine and Sober (a modern writer on the razor). The aim here is to ‘stress test’ the philosophical resources of the various systems and analyse the results to see if they can produce a non-circular result. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Philosophy, 2022
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The biology of Oreochromis mossambicus and vulnerability to the invasion of Oreochromis niloticus
- Authors: Mpanza, Nobuhle Phumzile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Ecomorphology , Mozambique tilapia , Nile tilapia , Introduced fishes , Predatory aquatic animals , Predation (Biology) , Otoliths , Von Bertalanffy function
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362983 , vital:65380
- Description: Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, a native southern African species now co-occurs with invasive Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus throughout much of the distribution of the former. The spread of O. niloticus in South Africa has been attributed to escapees from aquaculture facilities, placing O. mossambicus at risk through competition for habitat and food resources, as well as through hybridisation. To better manage invasions, a comprehensive understanding of the biology, ecology and behaviour of both native and invasive species is required. The aim of this research was to comparatively assess the biology of O. mossambicus and O. niloticus, their food resource use characteristics and potential competitive interactions to infer impact risks associated with O. niloticus invasion dynamics. In addition to lack of sufficient autecological knowledge on O. niloticus in general, the challenge in the Eastern Cape is that relatively little regional knowledge is available on the biology and ecology of the native O. mossambicus. To address this, a total of 101 O. mossambicus individuals (32 - 297 mm LT) were sampled from the Sunday River catchment and their age and growth determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths. The largest female was 288.8 mm with a parameter estimate of LT (mm) = 272 (1-e-0.331(t=0.772)) and the largest male was 297 mm described as LT (mm) = 331.9 (1-e-0.167(t=1.192)). The growth parameter estimate age for combined sexes was best described as LT (mm) = 322.5 (1-e-0.201(t=1.027)). The growth rate was initially rapid for O. mossambicus and the asymptotic length reached after four years. The length-at-50% maturity was reached at 106.45 mm LT (R2 = 0.57) for the entire population. There was a significant difference (ᵡ2 = 8,047, df = 1, p-value = 0.0045) in the sex ratio between males and females which was skewed towards males 1:1.89 (F:M). Comparisons with O. niloticus were based on literature and these showed that O. niloticus had faster growth rates than O. mossambicus. These results serve as a baseline study in predicting the potential impacts of O. niloticus if it was to be introduced in the Eastern Cape region. Furthermore, although these two species are known to share habitat and food resources, feeding dynamics within the context of relative impact on prey resources, and competition potential between the species, are largely lacking. I used experimental functional response procedures to contrast the food consumption dynamics of each species and to assess for any multiple predator effects (MPEs) between these two closely related fishes. This was done by contrasting functional responses between individual species under single predator scenarios, predicted multiple predator functional response dynamics based on the individual species outputs, and actually observed functional responses under multiple predator conditions. Results showed that both Nile tilapia and Mozambique tilapia depicted a destabilizing Type II functional response. In both single and conspecific pairing Nile tilapia had significantly greater functional responses than Mozambique tilapia, hence greater overall predatory potential than its native congeneric Mozambique tilapia. Attack rates were also greater for Nile tilapia than Mozambique tilapia with both species showing similar handling times in single trials. However, no evidence for MPEs were detected, given lack of differences between predicted and observed functional responses under heterospecific conditions. These results suggest that Nile tilapia do not adjust their food intake in the presence of heterospecific competitors, but do consume more than Mozambique tilapia and are better at finding food when it is present at low densities. Feeding-related morphological characteristics may influence predatory performance of a species and can further provide information on the species’ capacity to locate, attack and consume different prey items. The feeding capacities between O. mossambicus and O. niloticus were compared based on morphological traits in order to determine whether differences existed, and if these differences place the invasive O. niloticus at an advantageous position in terms of resource acquisition and consumption over its native congener. Principal component analysis for functional morphology traits showed overlap between O. niloticus and O. mossambicus. Oreochromis niloticus had distinctively larger lower jaw closing force, gill resistance and gill raker length which facilitated greater feeding capacities for the invasive species over the native O. mossambicus. Trophic profiles depicted high dietary overlap between the two species. Although O. niloticus had a greater feeding capacity towards phytoplankton, plants, fish (ambush), fish (pursuit) and larvae, while O. mossambicus only showed greater feeding capacity towards zooplankton. While dietary overlap and similarities in morphological traits between native and invasive species may result in exploitative competition between the species, O. niloticus seems to be more versatile in its feeding and capable of consuming food web components that O. mossambicus may not be able to handle. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mpanza, Nobuhle Phumzile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Ecomorphology , Mozambique tilapia , Nile tilapia , Introduced fishes , Predatory aquatic animals , Predation (Biology) , Otoliths , Von Bertalanffy function
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/362983 , vital:65380
- Description: Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, a native southern African species now co-occurs with invasive Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus throughout much of the distribution of the former. The spread of O. niloticus in South Africa has been attributed to escapees from aquaculture facilities, placing O. mossambicus at risk through competition for habitat and food resources, as well as through hybridisation. To better manage invasions, a comprehensive understanding of the biology, ecology and behaviour of both native and invasive species is required. The aim of this research was to comparatively assess the biology of O. mossambicus and O. niloticus, their food resource use characteristics and potential competitive interactions to infer impact risks associated with O. niloticus invasion dynamics. In addition to lack of sufficient autecological knowledge on O. niloticus in general, the challenge in the Eastern Cape is that relatively little regional knowledge is available on the biology and ecology of the native O. mossambicus. To address this, a total of 101 O. mossambicus individuals (32 - 297 mm LT) were sampled from the Sunday River catchment and their age and growth determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths. The largest female was 288.8 mm with a parameter estimate of LT (mm) = 272 (1-e-0.331(t=0.772)) and the largest male was 297 mm described as LT (mm) = 331.9 (1-e-0.167(t=1.192)). The growth parameter estimate age for combined sexes was best described as LT (mm) = 322.5 (1-e-0.201(t=1.027)). The growth rate was initially rapid for O. mossambicus and the asymptotic length reached after four years. The length-at-50% maturity was reached at 106.45 mm LT (R2 = 0.57) for the entire population. There was a significant difference (ᵡ2 = 8,047, df = 1, p-value = 0.0045) in the sex ratio between males and females which was skewed towards males 1:1.89 (F:M). Comparisons with O. niloticus were based on literature and these showed that O. niloticus had faster growth rates than O. mossambicus. These results serve as a baseline study in predicting the potential impacts of O. niloticus if it was to be introduced in the Eastern Cape region. Furthermore, although these two species are known to share habitat and food resources, feeding dynamics within the context of relative impact on prey resources, and competition potential between the species, are largely lacking. I used experimental functional response procedures to contrast the food consumption dynamics of each species and to assess for any multiple predator effects (MPEs) between these two closely related fishes. This was done by contrasting functional responses between individual species under single predator scenarios, predicted multiple predator functional response dynamics based on the individual species outputs, and actually observed functional responses under multiple predator conditions. Results showed that both Nile tilapia and Mozambique tilapia depicted a destabilizing Type II functional response. In both single and conspecific pairing Nile tilapia had significantly greater functional responses than Mozambique tilapia, hence greater overall predatory potential than its native congeneric Mozambique tilapia. Attack rates were also greater for Nile tilapia than Mozambique tilapia with both species showing similar handling times in single trials. However, no evidence for MPEs were detected, given lack of differences between predicted and observed functional responses under heterospecific conditions. These results suggest that Nile tilapia do not adjust their food intake in the presence of heterospecific competitors, but do consume more than Mozambique tilapia and are better at finding food when it is present at low densities. Feeding-related morphological characteristics may influence predatory performance of a species and can further provide information on the species’ capacity to locate, attack and consume different prey items. The feeding capacities between O. mossambicus and O. niloticus were compared based on morphological traits in order to determine whether differences existed, and if these differences place the invasive O. niloticus at an advantageous position in terms of resource acquisition and consumption over its native congener. Principal component analysis for functional morphology traits showed overlap between O. niloticus and O. mossambicus. Oreochromis niloticus had distinctively larger lower jaw closing force, gill resistance and gill raker length which facilitated greater feeding capacities for the invasive species over the native O. mossambicus. Trophic profiles depicted high dietary overlap between the two species. Although O. niloticus had a greater feeding capacity towards phytoplankton, plants, fish (ambush), fish (pursuit) and larvae, while O. mossambicus only showed greater feeding capacity towards zooplankton. While dietary overlap and similarities in morphological traits between native and invasive species may result in exploitative competition between the species, O. niloticus seems to be more versatile in its feeding and capable of consuming food web components that O. mossambicus may not be able to handle. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Zoology and Entomology, 2022
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The implementation of a mobile application to decrease occupational sitting through goal setting and social comparison
- Authors: Tsaoane, Moipone Lipalesa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Sedentary behavior , Sitting position , Feedback , Mobile apps , Behavior modification , Agile software development
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365544 , vital:65758
- Description: Background: Feedback proves to be a valuable tool in behaviour change as it is said to increase compliance and improve the effectiveness of interventions. Interventions that focus on decreasing sedentary behaviour as an independent factor from physical activity are necessary, especially for office workers who spend most of their day seated. There is insufficient knowledge regarding the effectiveness of feedback as a tool to decrease sedentary behaviour. This project implemented a tool that can be used to determine this. To take advantage of the cost-effectiveness and scalability of digital technologies, a mobile application was selected as the mode of delivery. Method: The application was designed as an intervention, using the Theoretical Domains Framework. It was then implemented into a fully functioning application through an agile development process, using Xam- arin.Forms framework. Due to challenges with this framework, a second application was developed using the React Native framework. Pilot studies were used for testing, with the final one consisting of Rhodes University employees. Results: The Xamarin.Forms application proved to be unfeasible; some users experienced fatal errors and crashes. The React Native application worked as desired and produced accurate and consistent step count readings, proving feasible from a functionality standpoint. The agile methodology enabled the developer to focus on implementing and testing one component at a time, which made the development process more manageable. Conclusion: Future work must conduct empirical studies to determine if feedback is an effective tool compared to a control group and which type of feedback (between goal-setting and social comparison) is most effective. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tsaoane, Moipone Lipalesa
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Sedentary behavior , Sitting position , Feedback , Mobile apps , Behavior modification , Agile software development
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365544 , vital:65758
- Description: Background: Feedback proves to be a valuable tool in behaviour change as it is said to increase compliance and improve the effectiveness of interventions. Interventions that focus on decreasing sedentary behaviour as an independent factor from physical activity are necessary, especially for office workers who spend most of their day seated. There is insufficient knowledge regarding the effectiveness of feedback as a tool to decrease sedentary behaviour. This project implemented a tool that can be used to determine this. To take advantage of the cost-effectiveness and scalability of digital technologies, a mobile application was selected as the mode of delivery. Method: The application was designed as an intervention, using the Theoretical Domains Framework. It was then implemented into a fully functioning application through an agile development process, using Xam- arin.Forms framework. Due to challenges with this framework, a second application was developed using the React Native framework. Pilot studies were used for testing, with the final one consisting of Rhodes University employees. Results: The Xamarin.Forms application proved to be unfeasible; some users experienced fatal errors and crashes. The React Native application worked as desired and produced accurate and consistent step count readings, proving feasible from a functionality standpoint. The agile methodology enabled the developer to focus on implementing and testing one component at a time, which made the development process more manageable. Conclusion: Future work must conduct empirical studies to determine if feedback is an effective tool compared to a control group and which type of feedback (between goal-setting and social comparison) is most effective. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Computer Science, 2022
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The meanings of the social media practices of African women engaged in multi-level marketing in Makhanda
- Authors: Tembani, Khuselwa Anda
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Neoliberalism South Africa Makhanda , Humanism , Social media and society South Africa Makhanda , Discourse analysis , Precarity , Subjectivity , Multi-level marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365588 , vital:65762
- Description: In their efforts for a place in the economy, many South African women have embraced opportunities in the informal sector such as selling products for big Multi-Level Marketers (MLMs), who generally operate on a pyramid structure of commissions. This qualitative study investigates the meanings African women engaged in MLMs in Makhanda make of such work and examines how they construct notions of progress and success through their social media practices. The study was conducted in the strictest lockdown period and pioneered a research method that used Zoom to facilitate screen sharing on mobile phones to create an online version of the scroll-back method for Facebook. As expected for women working in a society increasingly integrated in a global neoliberal order, many of the meanings the women construct are rooted in neoliberal discourses that celebrate hyper-individualism and competition. This firstly includes constructing success through personal stories of self-appreciation, through which these women embody the MLM’s brand, while simultaneously improving their position in the market as sellers. Secondly, the women invest considerable effort on social media in constructing MLM work as epitomising stability in the context of the growing precarity that characterises their everyday lives. However, other meanings draw on the local African context. Here the women make sense of the inequalities that characterise the MLM pyramid structures, by constructing top players in the upline as a symbolic vanguard trailblazing freedom from a racist past through showcasing paths out of poverty. More interestingly, success is constructed as both resulting from and serving collective ways of being rooted in the discourse of African humanism. Here success is recognised as emerging from dense place-based networks in the neighbourhood built on trust and obligation, now replicated on social media. In conclusion, the study speculates that the worlds of meaning facilitated by MLMs might provide ways for neoliberal and traditional discourses to find points of synergy, and so serve as entry points into a neoliberal order that interestingly nevertheless draws on communal cultures of obligation and patronage. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
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- Authors: Tembani, Khuselwa Anda
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Neoliberalism South Africa Makhanda , Humanism , Social media and society South Africa Makhanda , Discourse analysis , Precarity , Subjectivity , Multi-level marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365588 , vital:65762
- Description: In their efforts for a place in the economy, many South African women have embraced opportunities in the informal sector such as selling products for big Multi-Level Marketers (MLMs), who generally operate on a pyramid structure of commissions. This qualitative study investigates the meanings African women engaged in MLMs in Makhanda make of such work and examines how they construct notions of progress and success through their social media practices. The study was conducted in the strictest lockdown period and pioneered a research method that used Zoom to facilitate screen sharing on mobile phones to create an online version of the scroll-back method for Facebook. As expected for women working in a society increasingly integrated in a global neoliberal order, many of the meanings the women construct are rooted in neoliberal discourses that celebrate hyper-individualism and competition. This firstly includes constructing success through personal stories of self-appreciation, through which these women embody the MLM’s brand, while simultaneously improving their position in the market as sellers. Secondly, the women invest considerable effort on social media in constructing MLM work as epitomising stability in the context of the growing precarity that characterises their everyday lives. However, other meanings draw on the local African context. Here the women make sense of the inequalities that characterise the MLM pyramid structures, by constructing top players in the upline as a symbolic vanguard trailblazing freedom from a racist past through showcasing paths out of poverty. More interestingly, success is constructed as both resulting from and serving collective ways of being rooted in the discourse of African humanism. Here success is recognised as emerging from dense place-based networks in the neighbourhood built on trust and obligation, now replicated on social media. In conclusion, the study speculates that the worlds of meaning facilitated by MLMs might provide ways for neoliberal and traditional discourses to find points of synergy, and so serve as entry points into a neoliberal order that interestingly nevertheless draws on communal cultures of obligation and patronage. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
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The practical implications of taxing the informal sector in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Mashate, Fredy
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Informal sector (Economics) Taxation Zimbabwe , Small business Taxation Law and legislation Zimbabwe , Tax administration and procedure Zimbabwe , Taxpayer compliance Zimbabwe , Taxation Public opinion , Zimbabwe. Revenue Authority , Informal sector (Economics) Taxation Tanzania , Informal sector (Economics) Taxation Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357594 , vital:64758
- Description: The taxation of informal sector business is increasingly becoming a topical issue in many developing countries, and Zimbabwe is no exception. The Zimbabwean government has been experiencing shrinking revenue in the wake of an increased informal sector and a declining formal sector. In an effort to broaden the tax base and increase revenue for government in Zimbabwe, presumptive tax levied against certain informal sector activities was first introduced in 2005 and later expanded to other sectors. Despite the effort, the informal sector has responded with low tax morale and non-compliance, which creates the need to reassess the current administrative strategies in a bid to build a successful tax system for the informal sector. The main goal of the research is to establish clear, innovative and practical administrative strategies that can be adopted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in taxing the informal sector in Zimbabwe. An initial investigation was done to identify the current state of affairs in relation to informal sector taxation in Zimbabwe. A number of challenges were recorded and the research the sought to learn from examples of recent innovation in administrative strategies successfully applied in taxing the informal sector in other jurisdictions like Tanzania and Ghana. Learning from these examples, a number of practical administrative strategies that are mindful of the Zimbabwean economic context were proposed. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mashate, Fredy
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Informal sector (Economics) Taxation Zimbabwe , Small business Taxation Law and legislation Zimbabwe , Tax administration and procedure Zimbabwe , Taxpayer compliance Zimbabwe , Taxation Public opinion , Zimbabwe. Revenue Authority , Informal sector (Economics) Taxation Tanzania , Informal sector (Economics) Taxation Ghana
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357594 , vital:64758
- Description: The taxation of informal sector business is increasingly becoming a topical issue in many developing countries, and Zimbabwe is no exception. The Zimbabwean government has been experiencing shrinking revenue in the wake of an increased informal sector and a declining formal sector. In an effort to broaden the tax base and increase revenue for government in Zimbabwe, presumptive tax levied against certain informal sector activities was first introduced in 2005 and later expanded to other sectors. Despite the effort, the informal sector has responded with low tax morale and non-compliance, which creates the need to reassess the current administrative strategies in a bid to build a successful tax system for the informal sector. The main goal of the research is to establish clear, innovative and practical administrative strategies that can be adopted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in taxing the informal sector in Zimbabwe. An initial investigation was done to identify the current state of affairs in relation to informal sector taxation in Zimbabwe. A number of challenges were recorded and the research the sought to learn from examples of recent innovation in administrative strategies successfully applied in taxing the informal sector in other jurisdictions like Tanzania and Ghana. Learning from these examples, a number of practical administrative strategies that are mindful of the Zimbabwean economic context were proposed. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Accounting, 2022
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The role of Facebook in a survivor’s post-assault life: rape on campuses, women activists, and mental health
- Authors: Witi, Sinethemba Juliet
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Online social networks , Rape in universities and colleges South Africa Makhanda , Student movements South Africa Makhanda , College students Mental health South Africa Makhanda , Sex crimes South Africa Makhanda , Social media and college students South Africa Makhanda , Intersectionality (Sociology) , Womanism
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405952 , vital:70222
- Description: The rise of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) has raised concerns about the negative impact social media platforms, and in particular Facebook, has on their users. Research has linked the excessive use of Facebook with mental health challenges such as loneliness, depression, and stress. This research examined how Yolanda Dyantyi, a gender rights activist registered as a student from 2015 to 2017 at Rhodes University, used Facebook as an outlet following the #RUreferencelist protests and her subsequent permanent exclusion from the institution for her role in the protests. The study explored Dyanti’s use of Facebook, examining in particular her ongoing activism, her mental health challenges, and her struggles to re-establish herself in a community after the exclusion from Rhodes. The study employed an intersectional feminist theoretical framework and drew on a qualitative content analysis, a semi-structured interview, and the scroll back method to review the Facebook posts she had made. A thematic analysis of the data showed that Dyantyi is a multifaceted, and evolving Facebook user and contrary to existing research her prolific use of Facebook has had positive effects on her mental health and has enabled her to build social capital. The study suggests that activism is an important component to research alongside studies of mental health on such media platforms. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Witi, Sinethemba Juliet
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Online social networks , Rape in universities and colleges South Africa Makhanda , Student movements South Africa Makhanda , College students Mental health South Africa Makhanda , Sex crimes South Africa Makhanda , Social media and college students South Africa Makhanda , Intersectionality (Sociology) , Womanism
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405952 , vital:70222
- Description: The rise of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) has raised concerns about the negative impact social media platforms, and in particular Facebook, has on their users. Research has linked the excessive use of Facebook with mental health challenges such as loneliness, depression, and stress. This research examined how Yolanda Dyantyi, a gender rights activist registered as a student from 2015 to 2017 at Rhodes University, used Facebook as an outlet following the #RUreferencelist protests and her subsequent permanent exclusion from the institution for her role in the protests. The study explored Dyanti’s use of Facebook, examining in particular her ongoing activism, her mental health challenges, and her struggles to re-establish herself in a community after the exclusion from Rhodes. The study employed an intersectional feminist theoretical framework and drew on a qualitative content analysis, a semi-structured interview, and the scroll back method to review the Facebook posts she had made. A thematic analysis of the data showed that Dyantyi is a multifaceted, and evolving Facebook user and contrary to existing research her prolific use of Facebook has had positive effects on her mental health and has enabled her to build social capital. The study suggests that activism is an important component to research alongside studies of mental health on such media platforms. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
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The trade and poverty nexus in South Africa: investigating the transmission mechanism and the associated challenges
- Authors: Bhebhe, Nonceba Fikile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Commerce , Free trade , International trade , Poverty South Africa , Poverty Prevention , South Africa Economic conditions 1991-
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357515 , vital:64750
- Description: International trade plays an essential role in economic development strategies. In literature, foreign trade is identified as a driver of economic growth. In recent times there has been an expansion in the scope of investigations around the role of international trade to include its links with poverty alleviation. Poverty alleviation is explicitly identified as the first goal on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development under the Sustainable Development Goals and implicitly defined in goal 10. International trade is seen as the engine behind achieving the goal. South Africa records excessive poverty and inequality levels by international standards for a middle-income country. The most recent Poverty Trends Report for 2006 - 2015 reports 55.5% of the population living in poverty. Inequality statistics reported a per capita expenditure Gini coefficient of 0.65 in 2015, evidence that the country has high levels of inequality. The country's severe poverty, unemployment, and inequality prompt policymakers to formulate developmental policies around the underlying structural challenges. Trade openness has increased since the end of the Apartheid era. Despite the increased trade openness, economic growth has been insufficient in reducing the high unemployment and poverty levels, presenting a challenge for economists, who argue that trade openness is pro-growth and pro-poor. In the South African case, the lack of change in the structural challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality has raised concerns over whether the trade policy reforms made since 1994 interfere with development objectives. This study aims to investigate the impact of trade liberalisation on poverty, using the three channels, namely enterprise, distribution, and government that have been researched within the McCulloch, Winters and Cirera framework. Specifically, it investigates the linkages via the transmission mechanism in which trade affects poverty in South Africa by mapping the transmission mechanisms from trade liberalisation to poverty alleviation, whilst identifying the possible challenges to the transmission mechanisms and lastly, analysing the stylised facts around trade and poverty in South Africa. To answer the question of this study, quantitative data from National Income Dynamic Study (NIDS) was merged longitudinally and aggregated with the industry tariff data sourced from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) statistics. A path analysis was undertaken to map the transmission mechanism, whilst descriptive statistics were used to identify the possible associated challenges. The results show that the most significant channel of transmission are the enterprise and distribution channel. However, the effects are of a small margin and a more comprehensive trade policy yield a higher margin of poverty alleviation. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
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- Authors: Bhebhe, Nonceba Fikile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Commerce , Free trade , International trade , Poverty South Africa , Poverty Prevention , South Africa Economic conditions 1991-
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357515 , vital:64750
- Description: International trade plays an essential role in economic development strategies. In literature, foreign trade is identified as a driver of economic growth. In recent times there has been an expansion in the scope of investigations around the role of international trade to include its links with poverty alleviation. Poverty alleviation is explicitly identified as the first goal on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development under the Sustainable Development Goals and implicitly defined in goal 10. International trade is seen as the engine behind achieving the goal. South Africa records excessive poverty and inequality levels by international standards for a middle-income country. The most recent Poverty Trends Report for 2006 - 2015 reports 55.5% of the population living in poverty. Inequality statistics reported a per capita expenditure Gini coefficient of 0.65 in 2015, evidence that the country has high levels of inequality. The country's severe poverty, unemployment, and inequality prompt policymakers to formulate developmental policies around the underlying structural challenges. Trade openness has increased since the end of the Apartheid era. Despite the increased trade openness, economic growth has been insufficient in reducing the high unemployment and poverty levels, presenting a challenge for economists, who argue that trade openness is pro-growth and pro-poor. In the South African case, the lack of change in the structural challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality has raised concerns over whether the trade policy reforms made since 1994 interfere with development objectives. This study aims to investigate the impact of trade liberalisation on poverty, using the three channels, namely enterprise, distribution, and government that have been researched within the McCulloch, Winters and Cirera framework. Specifically, it investigates the linkages via the transmission mechanism in which trade affects poverty in South Africa by mapping the transmission mechanisms from trade liberalisation to poverty alleviation, whilst identifying the possible challenges to the transmission mechanisms and lastly, analysing the stylised facts around trade and poverty in South Africa. To answer the question of this study, quantitative data from National Income Dynamic Study (NIDS) was merged longitudinally and aggregated with the industry tariff data sourced from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) statistics. A path analysis was undertaken to map the transmission mechanism, whilst descriptive statistics were used to identify the possible associated challenges. The results show that the most significant channel of transmission are the enterprise and distribution channel. However, the effects are of a small margin and a more comprehensive trade policy yield a higher margin of poverty alleviation. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2022
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The use of simulators and artificial intelligence in leadership feedback
- Authors: Ntombana, Sixolile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Artificial intelligence , Leadership , Employees Rating of , Communication in industrial relations , Qualitative reasoning Technological innovations , Chatbots
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357685 , vital:64767
- Description: Leadership is a key factor in team success. For leadership to succeed, leaders need to possess the requisite competencies that can facilitate their performance. Team skills is identified as a leadership competency that is prioritised and most sought after by leaders. This follows studies that confirm that team skills are vital for leadership and team success. For leadership to develop team skills, feedback must be provided. Feedback is identified as information that is provided by an observer on a particular performance. The role of feedback in leadership development serves the purposes of engagement and self-reflection and evaluation of a leader’s performance. In this light, feedback cannot be separated from leadership as it is an essential part of communication in a leadership context. The nature and source of feedback can affect how the feedback is received, as shown by studies that suggest that the effectiveness of feedback goes beyond the content or nature (good/bad feedback) of the feedback. This study looks at two feedback sources: humans and artificial intelligence (AI) using students as the population. Humans have been the traditional source in feedback provision. Thus, in a team setting peers provide feedback on their peers’ performances. Unprecedented technological advancements have seen the improvement of AI capabilities to being able to give feedback. This has made AI a feedback source. Following these developments, this research assessed the way in which humans and AI provide feedback and the way in which students react to feedback provided by humans and AI. The research used chatbot AI, a Skills Simulator Assessment, launched by Kotlyar (2018). Students registered for Management One at Rhodes University in 2021 were the population for this research. The research was comprised of two phases where in phase one they were assessed by the Skill Simulator Assessment and in phase two they were assessed by their peers. This research found that students are not averse to feedback from AI, although they prefer peer feedback. It was further found that peer feedback tends to be tainted by lenience, while AI is not affected by lenience. This finding marked a significant development of AI in feedback provision. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ntombana, Sixolile
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Artificial intelligence , Leadership , Employees Rating of , Communication in industrial relations , Qualitative reasoning Technological innovations , Chatbots
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/357685 , vital:64767
- Description: Leadership is a key factor in team success. For leadership to succeed, leaders need to possess the requisite competencies that can facilitate their performance. Team skills is identified as a leadership competency that is prioritised and most sought after by leaders. This follows studies that confirm that team skills are vital for leadership and team success. For leadership to develop team skills, feedback must be provided. Feedback is identified as information that is provided by an observer on a particular performance. The role of feedback in leadership development serves the purposes of engagement and self-reflection and evaluation of a leader’s performance. In this light, feedback cannot be separated from leadership as it is an essential part of communication in a leadership context. The nature and source of feedback can affect how the feedback is received, as shown by studies that suggest that the effectiveness of feedback goes beyond the content or nature (good/bad feedback) of the feedback. This study looks at two feedback sources: humans and artificial intelligence (AI) using students as the population. Humans have been the traditional source in feedback provision. Thus, in a team setting peers provide feedback on their peers’ performances. Unprecedented technological advancements have seen the improvement of AI capabilities to being able to give feedback. This has made AI a feedback source. Following these developments, this research assessed the way in which humans and AI provide feedback and the way in which students react to feedback provided by humans and AI. The research used chatbot AI, a Skills Simulator Assessment, launched by Kotlyar (2018). Students registered for Management One at Rhodes University in 2021 were the population for this research. The research was comprised of two phases where in phase one they were assessed by the Skill Simulator Assessment and in phase two they were assessed by their peers. This research found that students are not averse to feedback from AI, although they prefer peer feedback. It was further found that peer feedback tends to be tainted by lenience, while AI is not affected by lenience. This finding marked a significant development of AI in feedback provision. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2022
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