An investigation of changing socio-economic conditions, opportunities and development interventions in small Eastern Cape towns in South Africa
- Authors: Keal, Duncan
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Local Economic Development (Programme) Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Cities and towns -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Growth South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4840 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005516
- Description: Small towns internationally and in South Africa are becoming increasingly marginalised, and they are often experiencing economic downturn, demographic shifts and a rearticulation of their role in the urban hierarchy. In the case of South Africa many of these small towns are also faced with low levels of social development. The urgent need to address such conditions is evident by the fact that a large proportion of the South African population resides in small towns, and their surrounding hinterlands. This said, there are examples of small towns, internationally and in South Africa which, through the use of various Local Economic Development actions, have managed to remain sustainable, and in some cases become economically viable localities once again. In light of the above, the research conducted for this thesis seeks first to establish the socio-economic changes occurring over time in three small towns in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, namely Stutterheim, Bedford and Hamburg. Secondly, the research aims to identify the nature of LED activities in the three small towns, highlighting those factors contributing to the success of LED initiatives as well as those factors inhibiting LED in small towns. This is done with the intention of developing future lessons for LED in small towns. The research was conducted using a mix of qualitative and quantitative data generated through the interviews with key role players in each town, as well as secondary data sources. Findings from the research suggest that the small towns investigated are characterised by low levels of socio-economic development. In addition, it appears that the development opportunities for the towns are limited. Current initiatives are being driven by private role players with local government being largely uninvolved. Such initiatives are limited in nature, with benefits only felt by small groups of the local community. However, examples do exist of where LED has successfully benefited the broader spheres of the local community, thus suggesting that if implemented properly such an approach does have potential to assist in the socio-economic development of small towns. In light of this, a number of lessons are identified for LED in small towns, including the need for strong leadership, community involvement, partnerships between role players, and planning for project sustainability.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Keal, Duncan
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Local Economic Development (Programme) Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Cities and towns -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Growth South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4840 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005516
- Description: Small towns internationally and in South Africa are becoming increasingly marginalised, and they are often experiencing economic downturn, demographic shifts and a rearticulation of their role in the urban hierarchy. In the case of South Africa many of these small towns are also faced with low levels of social development. The urgent need to address such conditions is evident by the fact that a large proportion of the South African population resides in small towns, and their surrounding hinterlands. This said, there are examples of small towns, internationally and in South Africa which, through the use of various Local Economic Development actions, have managed to remain sustainable, and in some cases become economically viable localities once again. In light of the above, the research conducted for this thesis seeks first to establish the socio-economic changes occurring over time in three small towns in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, namely Stutterheim, Bedford and Hamburg. Secondly, the research aims to identify the nature of LED activities in the three small towns, highlighting those factors contributing to the success of LED initiatives as well as those factors inhibiting LED in small towns. This is done with the intention of developing future lessons for LED in small towns. The research was conducted using a mix of qualitative and quantitative data generated through the interviews with key role players in each town, as well as secondary data sources. Findings from the research suggest that the small towns investigated are characterised by low levels of socio-economic development. In addition, it appears that the development opportunities for the towns are limited. Current initiatives are being driven by private role players with local government being largely uninvolved. Such initiatives are limited in nature, with benefits only felt by small groups of the local community. However, examples do exist of where LED has successfully benefited the broader spheres of the local community, thus suggesting that if implemented properly such an approach does have potential to assist in the socio-economic development of small towns. In light of this, a number of lessons are identified for LED in small towns, including the need for strong leadership, community involvement, partnerships between role players, and planning for project sustainability.
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An investigation of lower primary teachers' content knowledge of mathematics in Ohangwena region in Namibia
- Authors: Haufiku, Amon
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: SACMEQ Namibia. Presidential Commission on Education, Culture and Training Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1637 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003519
- Description: The poor performance in mathematics of learners in schools in Namibia, especially in the grades where learners sit for the national examinations, has been a concern of everybody. Since independence, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with several donor agencies has been aware of the poor performance in mathematics in the country. Several international and local studies have been made in an effort to identify the problems that are hindering learners’ performance in mathematics in Namibia. The findings of some studies that were conducted in the country such as the Southern Africa Consortium Monitoring Education Quality (2004), the Presidential Commission on Education, Culture and Training (1999), and the Mathematics and Science Teachers Extension Program (2002) revealed that the inadequate proficiency of primary teachers in mathematics content could be responsible for learners’ poor performance in mathematics. This study, therefore, is aimed at investigating the mathematical proficiency of lower primary (LP) teachers in Namibia. The study used three instruments to collect data namely, a profile questionnaire – to collect teachers’ demographic data, a proficiency test – to test their proficiency level of mathematics using the content of Grade 4 and 5 learners’ mathematics syllabi and a semi-structured interview schedule – to get views about their own mathematics content knowledge, attitudes towards mathematics as well as problems that hinder effective teaching and learning of mathematics at LP phase. The study was conducted with 30 lower primary teachers from five primary and combined schools in the Ohangwena circuit of the Ohangwena region. The study found out that: (1) the mathematical proficiency of LP teachers is below the Grade 7 Mathematics content. Most teachers are not able to solve the content of mathematics at upper primary (UP) phase. (2) LP education is receiving very little support from the Ministry compared to other phases. (3) There are no workshops or training courses organised for LP teachers. They do not receive enough textbooks and materials, their classrooms are overcrowded and teachers cannot pay attention to individual learners. (4) There is a dire need for LP Head of Departments (HODs) who are specialised at LP; most HODs for LP at schools are not specialised in this area. When it comes to views about future content of mathematics that should be given to LP teachers in Namibia, respondents recommended that future LP teachers should have knowledge of mathematics up to at least Grade 10 but preferably up to Grade 12. They do not want to be restricted to LP mathematics, but would like to have a broader knowledge of mathematics content. This would make them more confident in solving their children’s problems in mathematics. Overall, participants recognised the value of mathematics and the role that it plays in society.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Haufiku, Amon
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: SACMEQ Namibia. Presidential Commission on Education, Culture and Training Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Education -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1637 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003519
- Description: The poor performance in mathematics of learners in schools in Namibia, especially in the grades where learners sit for the national examinations, has been a concern of everybody. Since independence, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with several donor agencies has been aware of the poor performance in mathematics in the country. Several international and local studies have been made in an effort to identify the problems that are hindering learners’ performance in mathematics in Namibia. The findings of some studies that were conducted in the country such as the Southern Africa Consortium Monitoring Education Quality (2004), the Presidential Commission on Education, Culture and Training (1999), and the Mathematics and Science Teachers Extension Program (2002) revealed that the inadequate proficiency of primary teachers in mathematics content could be responsible for learners’ poor performance in mathematics. This study, therefore, is aimed at investigating the mathematical proficiency of lower primary (LP) teachers in Namibia. The study used three instruments to collect data namely, a profile questionnaire – to collect teachers’ demographic data, a proficiency test – to test their proficiency level of mathematics using the content of Grade 4 and 5 learners’ mathematics syllabi and a semi-structured interview schedule – to get views about their own mathematics content knowledge, attitudes towards mathematics as well as problems that hinder effective teaching and learning of mathematics at LP phase. The study was conducted with 30 lower primary teachers from five primary and combined schools in the Ohangwena circuit of the Ohangwena region. The study found out that: (1) the mathematical proficiency of LP teachers is below the Grade 7 Mathematics content. Most teachers are not able to solve the content of mathematics at upper primary (UP) phase. (2) LP education is receiving very little support from the Ministry compared to other phases. (3) There are no workshops or training courses organised for LP teachers. They do not receive enough textbooks and materials, their classrooms are overcrowded and teachers cannot pay attention to individual learners. (4) There is a dire need for LP Head of Departments (HODs) who are specialised at LP; most HODs for LP at schools are not specialised in this area. When it comes to views about future content of mathematics that should be given to LP teachers in Namibia, respondents recommended that future LP teachers should have knowledge of mathematics up to at least Grade 10 but preferably up to Grade 12. They do not want to be restricted to LP mathematics, but would like to have a broader knowledge of mathematics content. This would make them more confident in solving their children’s problems in mathematics. Overall, participants recognised the value of mathematics and the role that it plays in society.
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An investigation of newsroom convergence at the MoAfrika media company in Lesotho and its implications for gatekeeping: a qualitative case study
- Authors: Senthebane, Teboho
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: MoAfrika Convergence (Telecommunication) Mass media -- Management -- Lesotho Journalism -- Management -- Lesotho Journalism -- Technological innovations -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3501 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006112
- Description: This research is based on a case study of MoAfrika, a news organisation that has embraced digitisation to produce and distribute content across three platforms. It draws upon observation and in-depth interviews to show how MoAfrika's embrace of a degree of convergence has led to a fragmentation for journalists whose daily work now include additional responsibilities and pressures of time. While there is an increase in the quantity of news disseminated via radio, newspaper and online, questions arise about the quality of such news produced in a multi-skilled, multiple media news production environment. The result is repurposed stories with little original content and augmented employee workloads without training and compensation. The study examines these issues drawing on theories of gatekeeping and convergence. The decision to include a news story at MoAfrika depends partly on which medium it fits into most easily. News values, deadlines, organisational norms and national trends are some of the considerations which factored into gatekeepers' decisions. Primary decision-making was made within a group which also considered expense and expertise, and where the Managing Editor made the final call and set the frameworks for how content played across the enterprise's three platforms.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Senthebane, Teboho
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: MoAfrika Convergence (Telecommunication) Mass media -- Management -- Lesotho Journalism -- Management -- Lesotho Journalism -- Technological innovations -- Lesotho
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3501 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006112
- Description: This research is based on a case study of MoAfrika, a news organisation that has embraced digitisation to produce and distribute content across three platforms. It draws upon observation and in-depth interviews to show how MoAfrika's embrace of a degree of convergence has led to a fragmentation for journalists whose daily work now include additional responsibilities and pressures of time. While there is an increase in the quantity of news disseminated via radio, newspaper and online, questions arise about the quality of such news produced in a multi-skilled, multiple media news production environment. The result is repurposed stories with little original content and augmented employee workloads without training and compensation. The study examines these issues drawing on theories of gatekeeping and convergence. The decision to include a news story at MoAfrika depends partly on which medium it fits into most easily. News values, deadlines, organisational norms and national trends are some of the considerations which factored into gatekeepers' decisions. Primary decision-making was made within a group which also considered expense and expertise, and where the Managing Editor made the final call and set the frameworks for how content played across the enterprise's three platforms.
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An investigation of school gardens in the curriculum: recontextualising the biodiversity discourse in the national curriculum statement: a case of Mount Zion Junior Secondary School
- Tundzi, Kenneth Simphiwe Vuyisa
- Authors: Tundzi, Kenneth Simphiwe Vuyisa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: South African National Biodiversity Institute Curriculum change -- South Africa Case studies Environmental education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Case studies School gardens -- South Africa -- Case studies Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Case studies Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- South Africa -- Case studies Educational change -- South Africa -- Case studies Education -- South Africa -- Curricula Education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1642 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003524
- Description: With the dawning of a new era in South African politics in 1994 it became evident that education was going to be re-organised along with other government structures in South Africa. I begin the study by reviewing this curriculum change in South Africa that has taken place since 1995. This involved the development Curriculum 2005 (C2005) and the subsequent revision of C2005, which is now the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). This curriculum introduced an environmental focus into all the Learning Areas, which gave teachers a mandate not only to teach about environmental concepts and issues (such as biodiversity) at schools but to also address them in the communities outside the schools. This study considers biodiversity issues as biodiversity is a new focus in South African policy more broadly, and particularly in the Natural Science Learning Area. Our school has received vegetable and indigenous plant gardens from the South African National Biodiversity Institute, which provides a rich new resource for teaching about biodiversity, particularly in the Natural Sciences. My interest in the study was to investigate how schools (teachers) can use school gardens in the recontextualisation of the National Curriculum Statements focusing on the Natural Science Learning Area in Grade 7 at my school. I used Bernstein’s (1990) concepts of delocation, relocation, ideological transformation and selective appropriation and Cornbleth’s (1990) theory of curriculum contextualization to understand and interpret the recontextualisation process in the four lessons studied. In this research I was involved in the planning of the lessons with the Grade 7 Natural Science teacher. I taught one lesson as a demonstration and then observed while the teacher taught the other three lessons. I conducted this study as an action research case study. I used focus group interviews, classroom observations, document analysis and interviews as methods of data collection. The study found that the use of school gardens for teaching biodiversity can help with the recontextualisation of NCS in schools, and for the teaching of biodiversity, but that there is a need to understand and address various recontextualisation issues if this is to be done effectively. The study revealed that use of the school gardens for learning about biodiversity in the NS Learning Area is influenced by teachers’ knowledge, experience, teaching styles and available resources, as well as management issues and the complexity of the NCS discourse itself. The study also revealed that socio-cultural and structural factors (e.g. language and class size) also affect how biodiversity is taught in schools, and thus how the recontextualisation of the NCS takes place. The study concludes by making recommendations for taking this work forward in the context of our school as it addresses the gap that exists between policy and practice.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Tundzi, Kenneth Simphiwe Vuyisa
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: South African National Biodiversity Institute Curriculum change -- South Africa Case studies Environmental education -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Case studies School gardens -- South Africa -- Case studies Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Case studies Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- South Africa -- Case studies Educational change -- South Africa -- Case studies Education -- South Africa -- Curricula Education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1642 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003524
- Description: With the dawning of a new era in South African politics in 1994 it became evident that education was going to be re-organised along with other government structures in South Africa. I begin the study by reviewing this curriculum change in South Africa that has taken place since 1995. This involved the development Curriculum 2005 (C2005) and the subsequent revision of C2005, which is now the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). This curriculum introduced an environmental focus into all the Learning Areas, which gave teachers a mandate not only to teach about environmental concepts and issues (such as biodiversity) at schools but to also address them in the communities outside the schools. This study considers biodiversity issues as biodiversity is a new focus in South African policy more broadly, and particularly in the Natural Science Learning Area. Our school has received vegetable and indigenous plant gardens from the South African National Biodiversity Institute, which provides a rich new resource for teaching about biodiversity, particularly in the Natural Sciences. My interest in the study was to investigate how schools (teachers) can use school gardens in the recontextualisation of the National Curriculum Statements focusing on the Natural Science Learning Area in Grade 7 at my school. I used Bernstein’s (1990) concepts of delocation, relocation, ideological transformation and selective appropriation and Cornbleth’s (1990) theory of curriculum contextualization to understand and interpret the recontextualisation process in the four lessons studied. In this research I was involved in the planning of the lessons with the Grade 7 Natural Science teacher. I taught one lesson as a demonstration and then observed while the teacher taught the other three lessons. I conducted this study as an action research case study. I used focus group interviews, classroom observations, document analysis and interviews as methods of data collection. The study found that the use of school gardens for teaching biodiversity can help with the recontextualisation of NCS in schools, and for the teaching of biodiversity, but that there is a need to understand and address various recontextualisation issues if this is to be done effectively. The study revealed that use of the school gardens for learning about biodiversity in the NS Learning Area is influenced by teachers’ knowledge, experience, teaching styles and available resources, as well as management issues and the complexity of the NCS discourse itself. The study also revealed that socio-cultural and structural factors (e.g. language and class size) also affect how biodiversity is taught in schools, and thus how the recontextualisation of the NCS takes place. The study concludes by making recommendations for taking this work forward in the context of our school as it addresses the gap that exists between policy and practice.
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An investigation of social computing
- Authors: Schlenkrich, Lara
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Online social networks , Online social networks -- Law and legislation , Interpersonal communication , Internet in education , Education -- Communication system , Education -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1149 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006194 , Online social networks , Online social networks -- Law and legislation , Interpersonal communication , Internet in education , Education -- Communication system , Education -- Data processing
- Description: Social network sites have recently become extremely popular online destinations as they offer users easy ways to build and maintain their relationships with each other. Consequently, students, lecturers, teachers, parents and businesses are using these tools to communicate with each other in a fast and cost-effective manner. However, literature suggests that the full potential of social network sites has not yet been revealed since users are still battling to overcome the various negative characteristics surrounding these sites. A framework for appropriate use of these sites is needed so that users are able to overcome these negative aspects, allowing them to be more effective and use the sites successfully. The goal of this research is to construct a framework for perceived successful use of social computing tools in educational institutions. This framework will include critical success factors that need to be adopted by users in order to develop the positive aspects of social computing, while at the same time overcoming the disadvantages experienced by users. Factors for successful use were derived from the literature and consolidated into a theoretical framework in order to understand the factors that drive successful use of social network sites. Measures used to test successful use of social network sites were also derived from these sources and were included in the same theoretical framework; these measures allow users to evaluate the extent of perceived successful use of social network sites. This framework was tested empirically by means of a pilot study and online survey, and revised according to the results of the survey. The factors were identified using Cronbach alpha coefficients (in the pilot study) and exploratory factor analysis to confirm the reliability of the scales developed. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis, t-tests and Pearson Chi-Square tests were used to measure the relationships amongst the variables in the framework proposed in this research. The factors influencing perceived successful use of social network sites were identified by the empirical study as: • Privacy and Security Settings need to be enabled. These are split into: - Settings: content that users allow others to see - Viewers: people who are allowed onto a user's profile • It is necessary for users to practise Legal and Acceptable Activities when using social network sites • Suspect Information needs to be checked before sharing it with others • Personal and Professional Time needs to be separated to ensure that work is completed before social activities occur • Users need to practise Professional and Ethical Behaviour • Users need to have a Positive Attitude when using social network sites • Usability of sites affects their success. This includes: - technical capacity (broadband) - ease of use - functionality (range of features and functions) • Current and Controversial Issues need to be discussed on social network sites. The extent to which social network sites are being used successfully can be evaluated by the presence of the following measures: • Range of Content must be available to users. This includes: - Content displayed on profiles - Viewers able to visit profiles • Visitors Behaviour is monitored and no unwanted visitors are present users' profiles • Social Contracts found on sites are followed by users • Critical Thinking Skills and Accurate Information are displayed by users • Work is completed before social activities occur on sites • A Variety of Users is present on sites • Collaboration between people as well as variety of opinions exist on sites • Social Capital (well-being) is present after users have been on sites • Learning and Advising Skills are enhanced on sites. The framework developed provides users with a useful instrument to overcome the negative characteristics associated with social network sites. If used successfully, social network sites can offer lecturers and students a unique method to develop their relationship, creating a positive learning experience.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Schlenkrich, Lara
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Online social networks , Online social networks -- Law and legislation , Interpersonal communication , Internet in education , Education -- Communication system , Education -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1149 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006194 , Online social networks , Online social networks -- Law and legislation , Interpersonal communication , Internet in education , Education -- Communication system , Education -- Data processing
- Description: Social network sites have recently become extremely popular online destinations as they offer users easy ways to build and maintain their relationships with each other. Consequently, students, lecturers, teachers, parents and businesses are using these tools to communicate with each other in a fast and cost-effective manner. However, literature suggests that the full potential of social network sites has not yet been revealed since users are still battling to overcome the various negative characteristics surrounding these sites. A framework for appropriate use of these sites is needed so that users are able to overcome these negative aspects, allowing them to be more effective and use the sites successfully. The goal of this research is to construct a framework for perceived successful use of social computing tools in educational institutions. This framework will include critical success factors that need to be adopted by users in order to develop the positive aspects of social computing, while at the same time overcoming the disadvantages experienced by users. Factors for successful use were derived from the literature and consolidated into a theoretical framework in order to understand the factors that drive successful use of social network sites. Measures used to test successful use of social network sites were also derived from these sources and were included in the same theoretical framework; these measures allow users to evaluate the extent of perceived successful use of social network sites. This framework was tested empirically by means of a pilot study and online survey, and revised according to the results of the survey. The factors were identified using Cronbach alpha coefficients (in the pilot study) and exploratory factor analysis to confirm the reliability of the scales developed. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient analysis, t-tests and Pearson Chi-Square tests were used to measure the relationships amongst the variables in the framework proposed in this research. The factors influencing perceived successful use of social network sites were identified by the empirical study as: • Privacy and Security Settings need to be enabled. These are split into: - Settings: content that users allow others to see - Viewers: people who are allowed onto a user's profile • It is necessary for users to practise Legal and Acceptable Activities when using social network sites • Suspect Information needs to be checked before sharing it with others • Personal and Professional Time needs to be separated to ensure that work is completed before social activities occur • Users need to practise Professional and Ethical Behaviour • Users need to have a Positive Attitude when using social network sites • Usability of sites affects their success. This includes: - technical capacity (broadband) - ease of use - functionality (range of features and functions) • Current and Controversial Issues need to be discussed on social network sites. The extent to which social network sites are being used successfully can be evaluated by the presence of the following measures: • Range of Content must be available to users. This includes: - Content displayed on profiles - Viewers able to visit profiles • Visitors Behaviour is monitored and no unwanted visitors are present users' profiles • Social Contracts found on sites are followed by users • Critical Thinking Skills and Accurate Information are displayed by users • Work is completed before social activities occur on sites • A Variety of Users is present on sites • Collaboration between people as well as variety of opinions exist on sites • Social Capital (well-being) is present after users have been on sites • Learning and Advising Skills are enhanced on sites. The framework developed provides users with a useful instrument to overcome the negative characteristics associated with social network sites. If used successfully, social network sites can offer lecturers and students a unique method to develop their relationship, creating a positive learning experience.
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An investigation of the challenges facing grade 10 science learners in sense-making of mechanics problems : a case study
- Authors: Malunguza, Julius
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Case studies Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Case studies Physical sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1647 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003529
- Description: The research study was conducted at Ixopo High School, an English medium, former model-C, co-educational school in Kwazulu-Natal. The research is located within an interpretive paradigm and is informed by the constructivism theoretical framework. The learners and educators who participated in this research study did so voluntarily. The principal objective of this case study was to investigate the challenges faced by 30 Grade 10 Science learners in understanding the problems posed in the mechanics section of the Physics syllabus. This investigation was carried out using two learning strategies: problem solving and practical work. Various authors have noted some sections in the Physics syllabus are often misunderstood by the learners, for different reasons. From the literature and from the author’s personal experience it was found that mechanics is a topic that the learners of different races and age groups find difficult to conceptualise. In general, learners have misconceptions and make errors in Physical Sciences. Often educators view children’s errors and misconceptions in terms of low intelligence, low mathematical aptitude, perceptual difficulties or learning disabilities instead of attempting to discover the real causes of the errors. Educators need to find out why the learners make these mistakes, in order to help them. In most cases Mathematics forms a basic common element in scientific study. Hence, science learners need to be able to deal with numbers, operations, symbols and mathematical formulae. The term “science” embraces a very wide area of subject matter. Different learners will have widely differing interests within the many subdivisions of this field. This presents a problem when preparing learners for the scientific language they will need to study different branches of science. This implies that failure to understand the meaning of words or symbols inevitably impairs communication. The data analysed was collected using a variety of data collection tools. The main data generation tools were science tasks, structured interviews and group interviews and questionnaires. The analysis revealed that learners were lacking in mathematical skills and science register (terminology). Both first and second language English speakers encountered problems in science register but the study found that the problem was more pronounced in the latter. The findings of this study also highlighted that learners understand how to think mathematically when they are resourceful, flexible, and efficient in their dealing with new mathematical problems in mechanics. However, mathematical problem solving performance is built on the foundation of basic mathematical knowledge. The study suggested that even when the challenges of a general understanding of English as the medium of instruction and scientific language (register) are overcome, learners are still challenged by mathematical problem solving strategies; reading and writing of science; making meanings of symbols and signs; graphs and scientific mathematical equations in sense making of mechanics problems.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Malunguza, Julius
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Case studies Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Case studies Physical sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1647 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003529
- Description: The research study was conducted at Ixopo High School, an English medium, former model-C, co-educational school in Kwazulu-Natal. The research is located within an interpretive paradigm and is informed by the constructivism theoretical framework. The learners and educators who participated in this research study did so voluntarily. The principal objective of this case study was to investigate the challenges faced by 30 Grade 10 Science learners in understanding the problems posed in the mechanics section of the Physics syllabus. This investigation was carried out using two learning strategies: problem solving and practical work. Various authors have noted some sections in the Physics syllabus are often misunderstood by the learners, for different reasons. From the literature and from the author’s personal experience it was found that mechanics is a topic that the learners of different races and age groups find difficult to conceptualise. In general, learners have misconceptions and make errors in Physical Sciences. Often educators view children’s errors and misconceptions in terms of low intelligence, low mathematical aptitude, perceptual difficulties or learning disabilities instead of attempting to discover the real causes of the errors. Educators need to find out why the learners make these mistakes, in order to help them. In most cases Mathematics forms a basic common element in scientific study. Hence, science learners need to be able to deal with numbers, operations, symbols and mathematical formulae. The term “science” embraces a very wide area of subject matter. Different learners will have widely differing interests within the many subdivisions of this field. This presents a problem when preparing learners for the scientific language they will need to study different branches of science. This implies that failure to understand the meaning of words or symbols inevitably impairs communication. The data analysed was collected using a variety of data collection tools. The main data generation tools were science tasks, structured interviews and group interviews and questionnaires. The analysis revealed that learners were lacking in mathematical skills and science register (terminology). Both first and second language English speakers encountered problems in science register but the study found that the problem was more pronounced in the latter. The findings of this study also highlighted that learners understand how to think mathematically when they are resourceful, flexible, and efficient in their dealing with new mathematical problems in mechanics. However, mathematical problem solving performance is built on the foundation of basic mathematical knowledge. The study suggested that even when the challenges of a general understanding of English as the medium of instruction and scientific language (register) are overcome, learners are still challenged by mathematical problem solving strategies; reading and writing of science; making meanings of symbols and signs; graphs and scientific mathematical equations in sense making of mechanics problems.
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An investigation of the indigenous ways of knowing about wild food plants (imifino): a case study
- Authors: Cimi, Phumlani Viwe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Wild plants, Edible -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Endemic plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Science -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Curriculum change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003535
- Description: This study was conducted in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is a qualitative case study located within the interpretive paradigm and was carried out over a period of a year. The theory implicit in the interpretive paradigm is of human beings as interpreters and constructors of a meaningful world. Thus, the focus of this study was on investigating the benefits of indigenous ways of knowing about wild food plants (imifino) in conjunction with hands-on activity-based lessons. This was done with the view to promote a conceptual understanding of nutrition and conservation in the Natural Sciences. The transformation of the school curriculum in South Africa called Curriculum 2005 (C2005) underpinned by the outcomes-based education (OBE) philosophy also triggered this study. The C2005 and OBE emphasise that learners’ prior everyday knowledge should be taken into account during the teaching and learning processes. The intention of the curriculum is to promote the idea of grounding knowledge in local contexts, while being sensitive to global imperatives. Although the acquisition of western knowledge has been and still is invaluable to all, on its own, it has been incapable of responding adequately to modern society in the face of massive and intensifying disparities, untrammeled exploitation of resources, and rapid depletion of the earth’s natural resources. Essentially, indigenous knowledge systems represent both a heritage and resource that should be protected, promoted, developed and, where appropriate, conserved. It is a resource that should serve the present and succeeding generations as many people’s cultural practices still rely on the use of wild plants. Within this context it should be borne in mind that the overexploitation of natural resources threatens not only biodiversity but also local traditional knowledge systems and ultimately cultural heritage; and research has a role to play in this regard. The research process in this study evolved into two main phases. The initial phase involved mobilising Grade 7 learners’ prior everyday knowledge on wild food plants (imifino). This led to the second phase of the research project, which was aimed at developing concepts through three hands-on activity-based lessons. I invited a community member to give a lesson on what imifino is and how to collect and prepare it, with the belief that the involvement of parents and community members in learners’ education can help bridge the gap between everyday life and school science. It is for these reasons that I believe that the constructive perspective can provide an appropriate methodological framework, conceptual structure and terminology for analysis of teaching and learning activities on the use of wild food plants in this study. The data generation techniques used in this study were questionnaires, observations and interviews (semi structured and focus group). A wide range of data generation techniques were employed to crystallise and validate the data generated using triangulation. The results from the analysed data revealed that consideration of indigenous ways of knowing in conjuction with hands-on practical activities enhanced interaction and learning among the learners. Also, linking of scientific knowledge to learners’ everyday lives was useful in fostering meaning-making and conceptual development.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Cimi, Phumlani Viwe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Wild plants, Edible -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Endemic plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Ethnoscience -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Science -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Curriculum change -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Competency-based education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Conservation of natural resources -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003535
- Description: This study was conducted in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is a qualitative case study located within the interpretive paradigm and was carried out over a period of a year. The theory implicit in the interpretive paradigm is of human beings as interpreters and constructors of a meaningful world. Thus, the focus of this study was on investigating the benefits of indigenous ways of knowing about wild food plants (imifino) in conjunction with hands-on activity-based lessons. This was done with the view to promote a conceptual understanding of nutrition and conservation in the Natural Sciences. The transformation of the school curriculum in South Africa called Curriculum 2005 (C2005) underpinned by the outcomes-based education (OBE) philosophy also triggered this study. The C2005 and OBE emphasise that learners’ prior everyday knowledge should be taken into account during the teaching and learning processes. The intention of the curriculum is to promote the idea of grounding knowledge in local contexts, while being sensitive to global imperatives. Although the acquisition of western knowledge has been and still is invaluable to all, on its own, it has been incapable of responding adequately to modern society in the face of massive and intensifying disparities, untrammeled exploitation of resources, and rapid depletion of the earth’s natural resources. Essentially, indigenous knowledge systems represent both a heritage and resource that should be protected, promoted, developed and, where appropriate, conserved. It is a resource that should serve the present and succeeding generations as many people’s cultural practices still rely on the use of wild plants. Within this context it should be borne in mind that the overexploitation of natural resources threatens not only biodiversity but also local traditional knowledge systems and ultimately cultural heritage; and research has a role to play in this regard. The research process in this study evolved into two main phases. The initial phase involved mobilising Grade 7 learners’ prior everyday knowledge on wild food plants (imifino). This led to the second phase of the research project, which was aimed at developing concepts through three hands-on activity-based lessons. I invited a community member to give a lesson on what imifino is and how to collect and prepare it, with the belief that the involvement of parents and community members in learners’ education can help bridge the gap between everyday life and school science. It is for these reasons that I believe that the constructive perspective can provide an appropriate methodological framework, conceptual structure and terminology for analysis of teaching and learning activities on the use of wild food plants in this study. The data generation techniques used in this study were questionnaires, observations and interviews (semi structured and focus group). A wide range of data generation techniques were employed to crystallise and validate the data generated using triangulation. The results from the analysed data revealed that consideration of indigenous ways of knowing in conjuction with hands-on practical activities enhanced interaction and learning among the learners. Also, linking of scientific knowledge to learners’ everyday lives was useful in fostering meaning-making and conceptual development.
- Full Text:
Analytic pricing of American put options
- Authors: Glover, Elistan Nicholas
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002804 , Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Description: American options are the most commonly traded financial derivatives in the market. Pricing these options fairly, so as to avoid arbitrage, is of paramount importance. Closed form solutions for American put options cannot be utilised in practice and so numerical techniques are employed. This thesis looks at the work done by other researchers to find an analytic solution to the American put option pricing problem and suggests a practical method, that uses Monte Carlo simulation, to approximate the American put option price. The theory behind option pricing is first discussed using a discrete model. Once the concepts of arbitrage-free pricing and hedging have been dealt with, this model is extended to a continuous-time setting. Martingale theory is introduced to put the option pricing theory in a more formal framework. The construction of a hedging portfolio is discussed in detail and it is shown how financial derivatives are priced according to a unique riskneutral probability measure. Black-Scholes model is discussed and utilised to find closed form solutions to European style options. American options are discussed in detail and it is shown that under certain conditions, American style options can be solved according to closed form solutions. Various numerical techniques are presented to approximate the true American put option price. Chief among these methods is the Richardson extrapolation on a sequence of Bermudan options method that was developed by Geske and Johnson. This model is extended to a Repeated-Richardson extrapolation technique. Finally, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to approximate Bermudan put options. These values are then extrapolated to approximate the price of an American put option. The use of extrapolation techniques was hampered by the presence of non-uniform convergence of the Bermudan put option sequence. When convergence was uniform, the approximations were accurate up to a few cents difference.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Glover, Elistan Nicholas
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5566 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002804 , Options (Finance) -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Derivative securities -- Prices -- Mathematical models , Finance -- Mathematical models , Martingales (Mathematics)
- Description: American options are the most commonly traded financial derivatives in the market. Pricing these options fairly, so as to avoid arbitrage, is of paramount importance. Closed form solutions for American put options cannot be utilised in practice and so numerical techniques are employed. This thesis looks at the work done by other researchers to find an analytic solution to the American put option pricing problem and suggests a practical method, that uses Monte Carlo simulation, to approximate the American put option price. The theory behind option pricing is first discussed using a discrete model. Once the concepts of arbitrage-free pricing and hedging have been dealt with, this model is extended to a continuous-time setting. Martingale theory is introduced to put the option pricing theory in a more formal framework. The construction of a hedging portfolio is discussed in detail and it is shown how financial derivatives are priced according to a unique riskneutral probability measure. Black-Scholes model is discussed and utilised to find closed form solutions to European style options. American options are discussed in detail and it is shown that under certain conditions, American style options can be solved according to closed form solutions. Various numerical techniques are presented to approximate the true American put option price. Chief among these methods is the Richardson extrapolation on a sequence of Bermudan options method that was developed by Geske and Johnson. This model is extended to a Repeated-Richardson extrapolation technique. Finally, a Monte Carlo simulation is used to approximate Bermudan put options. These values are then extrapolated to approximate the price of an American put option. The use of extrapolation techniques was hampered by the presence of non-uniform convergence of the Bermudan put option sequence. When convergence was uniform, the approximations were accurate up to a few cents difference.
- Full Text:
Application of Baylis-Hillman methodology in the construction of complex heterocyclic targets
- Ganto, Mlungiseleli MacDonald
- Authors: Ganto, Mlungiseleli MacDonald
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Heterocyclic compounds -- Derivatives Heterocyclic chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4401 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006703
- Description: Baylis-Hillman reactions using various aromatic aldehydes, activated alkenes and catalysts have been used to: - access an extensive range of poly-heterocyclic products;explore chemoselectivity; and optimise reaction efficiency. Chromone-3-carbaldehydes and chromone-2-carbaldehydes, prepared via Vielsmeier-Haack and Kostanecki-Robinson methodology, respectively, have been used as Baylis-Hillman substrates with four different catalysts, viz., 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), 3-hydroxyquinuclidine (3-HQ), imidazole and N’,N’,N’,N’- tetramethylpropanediamine (TMPDA), and with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methyl acrylate, cyclic enones (2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2-cyclopenten-1-one and chromones) as activated alkenes. Reactions of the chromone- -carbaldehydes with MVK afforded dimeric Baylis-Hillman adducts when catalyzed by DABCO but when the same reactions were repeated using 3-HQ as catalyst, the dimeric products were accompanied by tricyclic Baylis-Hillman adducts. Use of excess MVK, however, led to mixtures of the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts and the tricyclic adducts – interestingly, with the apparent absence of the dimeric products. While reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with methyl acrylate afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, the chromone-2- carbaldehydes produced, instead, rearrangement products, consistent with an earlier, single observation. Reactions of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes with cyclic enones using imidazole as catalyst afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, reductive cyclisation of the 2-cyclohexen-1- one and 2-cyclopenten-1-one adducts, using acetic acid and iron powder, afforded the corresponding quinoline erivatives. Treatment of cyclic enones with pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and quinoline-2-carbaldehydes using TMPDA as catalyst generally gave the expected Baylis-Hillman adducts. However, indolizine derivatives were isolated directly from Baylis-Hillman reactions involving pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and 2-cyclohexen-1-one. The remaining Baylis-Hillman adducts were cyclized to the corresponding indolizines by treatment with acetic anhydride both under reflux and under microwave-assisted conditions, the latter approach providing remarkably rapid and efficient access to the polycyclic products. Computer modelling studies have been conducted on selected polycyclic products at the Molecular Mechanics (MM), Quantum Mechanical (QM) and Density Functional (DFT) levels. The theoretical results have been used to calculate UV, IR and NMR absorption data, which have been compared, in turn, with the experimental spectroscopic data. Use has also been made of the estreNova NMR prediction programme and, generally, good agreement has been observed between the predicted and experimental spectroscopic data.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ganto, Mlungiseleli MacDonald
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Heterocyclic compounds -- Derivatives Heterocyclic chemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4401 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006703
- Description: Baylis-Hillman reactions using various aromatic aldehydes, activated alkenes and catalysts have been used to: - access an extensive range of poly-heterocyclic products;explore chemoselectivity; and optimise reaction efficiency. Chromone-3-carbaldehydes and chromone-2-carbaldehydes, prepared via Vielsmeier-Haack and Kostanecki-Robinson methodology, respectively, have been used as Baylis-Hillman substrates with four different catalysts, viz., 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), 3-hydroxyquinuclidine (3-HQ), imidazole and N’,N’,N’,N’- tetramethylpropanediamine (TMPDA), and with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), methyl acrylate, cyclic enones (2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2-cyclopenten-1-one and chromones) as activated alkenes. Reactions of the chromone- -carbaldehydes with MVK afforded dimeric Baylis-Hillman adducts when catalyzed by DABCO but when the same reactions were repeated using 3-HQ as catalyst, the dimeric products were accompanied by tricyclic Baylis-Hillman adducts. Use of excess MVK, however, led to mixtures of the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts and the tricyclic adducts – interestingly, with the apparent absence of the dimeric products. While reactions of chromone-3-carbaldehydes with methyl acrylate afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, the chromone-2- carbaldehydes produced, instead, rearrangement products, consistent with an earlier, single observation. Reactions of 2-nitrobenzaldehydes with cyclic enones using imidazole as catalyst afforded the normal Baylis-Hillman adducts, reductive cyclisation of the 2-cyclohexen-1- one and 2-cyclopenten-1-one adducts, using acetic acid and iron powder, afforded the corresponding quinoline erivatives. Treatment of cyclic enones with pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and quinoline-2-carbaldehydes using TMPDA as catalyst generally gave the expected Baylis-Hillman adducts. However, indolizine derivatives were isolated directly from Baylis-Hillman reactions involving pyridine-2-carbaldehydes and 2-cyclohexen-1-one. The remaining Baylis-Hillman adducts were cyclized to the corresponding indolizines by treatment with acetic anhydride both under reflux and under microwave-assisted conditions, the latter approach providing remarkably rapid and efficient access to the polycyclic products. Computer modelling studies have been conducted on selected polycyclic products at the Molecular Mechanics (MM), Quantum Mechanical (QM) and Density Functional (DFT) levels. The theoretical results have been used to calculate UV, IR and NMR absorption data, which have been compared, in turn, with the experimental spectroscopic data. Use has also been made of the estreNova NMR prediction programme and, generally, good agreement has been observed between the predicted and experimental spectroscopic data.
- Full Text:
Arguing from identity: ontology to advocacy in Charles Taylor's political thought
- Authors: Sadian, Samuel Dominic
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Political and social views Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Criticism and interpretation Cultural pluralism Political culture Identity (Philosophical concept) Ontology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2829 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003039
- Description: In this thesis I discuss three normative claims that I take to be central elements of Charles Taylor’s political thought. The first of these is Taylor’s contention that, in contemporary pluralistic societies, justifying socially prevailing norms by appealing to universally binding moral values is unlikely to promote social solidarity. Because this approach tends to downplay the goods that people realise through membership in particular associations, Taylor believes we must adopt a model of justification that does not prioritise universal over particular goods if we are to further social co-operation. A second claim Taylor defends is that commitment to the liberal value of collective self-rule implies treating patriotically motivated public service as a non-instrumental good. We should not, Taylor argues, regard collective association as nothing more than a means to satisfying private goals. Taylor advances a third claim, that is, he maintains that liberal toleration for diverse ways of life may require a perfectionist state that supports particularistic ways of life when they are threatened by decline. I offer a qualified defence of the first two claims, but suggest that the third is less compelling. I attempt to do this by evaluating Taylor’s claims against the standards of lucid argumentation that he himself lays down. In discussing social and political norms, which he describes as “advocacy” issues, Taylor argues that our normative commitments necessarily rely on an underlying social ontology. More specifically, Taylor argues that the political values we defend are those that enable us to secure the interests we have as the bearers of an identity possessing both individual and collective dimensions. In setting out the conditions that favour integrated and free identity formation we may thereby reach a clearer understanding of the political norms that we wish to endorse. I argue that, while Taylor’s ontological reflections might well incline us to accept his model of justification and his account of patriotic social commitment, they do not of themselves dispose us to accept state perfectionism.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Sadian, Samuel Dominic
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Political and social views Taylor, Charles, 1931- -- Criticism and interpretation Cultural pluralism Political culture Identity (Philosophical concept) Ontology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2829 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003039
- Description: In this thesis I discuss three normative claims that I take to be central elements of Charles Taylor’s political thought. The first of these is Taylor’s contention that, in contemporary pluralistic societies, justifying socially prevailing norms by appealing to universally binding moral values is unlikely to promote social solidarity. Because this approach tends to downplay the goods that people realise through membership in particular associations, Taylor believes we must adopt a model of justification that does not prioritise universal over particular goods if we are to further social co-operation. A second claim Taylor defends is that commitment to the liberal value of collective self-rule implies treating patriotically motivated public service as a non-instrumental good. We should not, Taylor argues, regard collective association as nothing more than a means to satisfying private goals. Taylor advances a third claim, that is, he maintains that liberal toleration for diverse ways of life may require a perfectionist state that supports particularistic ways of life when they are threatened by decline. I offer a qualified defence of the first two claims, but suggest that the third is less compelling. I attempt to do this by evaluating Taylor’s claims against the standards of lucid argumentation that he himself lays down. In discussing social and political norms, which he describes as “advocacy” issues, Taylor argues that our normative commitments necessarily rely on an underlying social ontology. More specifically, Taylor argues that the political values we defend are those that enable us to secure the interests we have as the bearers of an identity possessing both individual and collective dimensions. In setting out the conditions that favour integrated and free identity formation we may thereby reach a clearer understanding of the political norms that we wish to endorse. I argue that, while Taylor’s ontological reflections might well incline us to accept his model of justification and his account of patriotic social commitment, they do not of themselves dispose us to accept state perfectionism.
- Full Text:
Aspects of memory in the sculptural work of Jane Alexander 1982-2009
- Authors: Nicol, Tracy-Lee
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Alexander, Jane, 1959- Collective memory -- South Africa Memory in art Women artists -- South Africa Art, African -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002213
- Description: Over three decades of research has shown that memories have significant effect on the behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and identities of individuals and collectives, revealing also how experiences of trauma and acts of narrativisation have pertinence to the ways in which memories are stored and reconstructed. In this thesis a link is developed between memory, trauma, narrativisation processes and the interpretation of works by Jane Alexander, a contemporary artist whose work is informed by observations about South African life. Alexander’s sculptures are revealed to be not only important vessels of collective memories and experiences, but also evocations of individuals’ countermemories and traumas that remain unarticulated and invisible. Through an exploration of the workings of memory and its relation to her art, it is revealed how the past continues to exert its influence on many of South Africa’s present sociopolitical concerns and interpersonal dynamics. Indeed constantly changing memories have a significant effect on future generations’ perceptions of, and connectedness to, the past. While theories about memory have been deployed in Art History as well as the Humanities in general, Alexander’s work has not previously been considered in light of the influence of these ideas. This thesis thus contributes a new dimension to literature on the artist.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nicol, Tracy-Lee
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Alexander, Jane, 1959- Collective memory -- South Africa Memory in art Women artists -- South Africa Art, African -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2417 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002213
- Description: Over three decades of research has shown that memories have significant effect on the behaviour, attitudes, beliefs, and identities of individuals and collectives, revealing also how experiences of trauma and acts of narrativisation have pertinence to the ways in which memories are stored and reconstructed. In this thesis a link is developed between memory, trauma, narrativisation processes and the interpretation of works by Jane Alexander, a contemporary artist whose work is informed by observations about South African life. Alexander’s sculptures are revealed to be not only important vessels of collective memories and experiences, but also evocations of individuals’ countermemories and traumas that remain unarticulated and invisible. Through an exploration of the workings of memory and its relation to her art, it is revealed how the past continues to exert its influence on many of South Africa’s present sociopolitical concerns and interpersonal dynamics. Indeed constantly changing memories have a significant effect on future generations’ perceptions of, and connectedness to, the past. While theories about memory have been deployed in Art History as well as the Humanities in general, Alexander’s work has not previously been considered in light of the influence of these ideas. This thesis thus contributes a new dimension to literature on the artist.
- Full Text:
Aspects of the ecology and biology of the isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, (Barnard, 1940) in three temporarily open/closed southern African estuaries
- Authors: Henninger, Tony Oskar
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Isopoda -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine biology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ruppia maritima
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5640 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005322
- Description: Temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE’s) are the numerically dominant type of estuary accounting for ≈ 70 % of all estuaries along the South African coastline. Despite their numerical dominance, aspects of the biology of organisms within these systems, particularly macrocrustacea remain poorly understood. This study firstly assessed the abundance and biomass of the most common isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, in three Eastern Cape TOCE’s, (the West Kleinemonde, East Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries), and their response to mouth breaching events. This study was followed by aspects of the biology of the isopod including their utilisation of submerged macrophytes as a refuge from predation and/or possible food source, as well as the growth rates of the isopods in the laboratory under different environmental conditions. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4 791 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 9.65 mg dwt. m⁻² in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 0.318 mg dwt. m⁻² in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3 650 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 5.105 mg dwt. m⁻². Temporal and spatial changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations declining when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum isopod abundances and biomasses were recorded in their middle and upper reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes particularly Ruppia maritima, in two of the estuaries. Males (5.71 ± 0.41 mm) were significantly larger than females (3.99 ± 0.26 mm), but the sex ratios were skewed in favour of females, (a common feature in many isopod populations). Females were found carrying brood throughout the study, releasing offspring directly into the water column, to allow recruitment to the populations. The larger the female, the larger the brood carried (up to a maximum of 72 embryo/mancas). Results of laboratory experiments indicate that the close association of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with submerged macrophytes is a result of the plant stands providing a refuge against predation by selected ichthyofauna. However stable carbon isotope and fatty acid analyses indicate that E. hylocoetes made use of ephiphytic algae and detritus on the stems of R. maritima, rather than the submerged macrophyte itself. There were no significant differences in the growth rates of male and female isopods at combinations of temperature (15 and 25 °C) and salinity (15 and 35 ‰). Laboratory growth studies revealed that males lived longer than females (25.77 ± 3.40 weeks vs 21.52 ± 3.00 weeks), and therefore achieved larger overall size. Females, however, reached sexual maturity (at 2.5 mm) at a faster rate (two to four weeks) than males (5.5 mm after 6.5 to 11 weeks), dependent on temperature. Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with its association with submerged macrophytes, early maturity, its growth rates and longevity, female-biased sex ratios and year-round breeding, all contribute to its success in temporary open/closed estuaries.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Henninger, Tony Oskar
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Isopoda -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Estuarine biology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Ruppia maritima
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5640 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005322
- Description: Temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCE’s) are the numerically dominant type of estuary accounting for ≈ 70 % of all estuaries along the South African coastline. Despite their numerical dominance, aspects of the biology of organisms within these systems, particularly macrocrustacea remain poorly understood. This study firstly assessed the abundance and biomass of the most common isopod, Exosphaeroma hylocoetes, in three Eastern Cape TOCE’s, (the West Kleinemonde, East Kleinemonde and Kasouga Estuaries), and their response to mouth breaching events. This study was followed by aspects of the biology of the isopod including their utilisation of submerged macrophytes as a refuge from predation and/or possible food source, as well as the growth rates of the isopods in the laboratory under different environmental conditions. Mean isopod abundances and biomasses ranged between 0 and 4 791 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 9.65 mg dwt. m⁻² in the West Kleinemonde Estuary and between 0 and 108 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 0.318 mg dwt. m⁻² in the nearby East Kleinemonde Estuary. In the Kasouga Estuary, the values ranged between 0 and 3 650 ind. m⁻² and 0 and 5.105 mg dwt. m⁻². Temporal and spatial changes in the abundance and biomass of E. hylocoetes within the three systems was primarily linked to mouth phase, with populations declining when the mouth was open and to a lesser extent, seasonality. In all three estuaries maximum isopod abundances and biomasses were recorded in their middle and upper reaches, which could be ascribed to the presence of submerged macrophytes particularly Ruppia maritima, in two of the estuaries. Males (5.71 ± 0.41 mm) were significantly larger than females (3.99 ± 0.26 mm), but the sex ratios were skewed in favour of females, (a common feature in many isopod populations). Females were found carrying brood throughout the study, releasing offspring directly into the water column, to allow recruitment to the populations. The larger the female, the larger the brood carried (up to a maximum of 72 embryo/mancas). Results of laboratory experiments indicate that the close association of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with submerged macrophytes is a result of the plant stands providing a refuge against predation by selected ichthyofauna. However stable carbon isotope and fatty acid analyses indicate that E. hylocoetes made use of ephiphytic algae and detritus on the stems of R. maritima, rather than the submerged macrophyte itself. There were no significant differences in the growth rates of male and female isopods at combinations of temperature (15 and 25 °C) and salinity (15 and 35 ‰). Laboratory growth studies revealed that males lived longer than females (25.77 ± 3.40 weeks vs 21.52 ± 3.00 weeks), and therefore achieved larger overall size. Females, however, reached sexual maturity (at 2.5 mm) at a faster rate (two to four weeks) than males (5.5 mm after 6.5 to 11 weeks), dependent on temperature. Exosphaeroma hylocoetes with its association with submerged macrophytes, early maturity, its growth rates and longevity, female-biased sex ratios and year-round breeding, all contribute to its success in temporary open/closed estuaries.
- Full Text:
Assessment and monitoring of land degradation using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS): a case study of Qoqodala within the Wit-Kei catchment in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Ngcofe, Luncedo Dalithemba Sanelisiwe
- Authors: Ngcofe, Luncedo Dalithemba Sanelisiwe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4818 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005492 , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Land degradation is a global problem affecting many countries including South Africa. This study was conducted in order to assess and monitor the nature and extent of land degradation within Qoqodala in the Eastern Cape Province, of South Africa. The study used GIS and Remote Sensing techniques together with household interviews in determining extent, spatial characteristics and nature of land degradation within the study area. Vegetation cover and bare-ground change were the land degradation indicators assessed and monitored by this study. Through RGB band combination, Tasselled Cap Analysis and Unsupervised ISODATA classification techniques, Landsat images over the past eighteen years (1984, 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2002) have been analysed. The results showed that there is vegetation cover and bare-ground increase in the study area. The vegetation increase has been seen as a sign of land degradation increase due to the encroachment of indigenous vegetation by Euryops species (also known as Lapesi by the local community). The bare-ground land degradation indicator has also increased. The analyses of slope showed the spatial characteristics of bare-ground occurring on moderate to flat slopes while vegetation cover occurs on steep to very steep slopes. Furthermore the photographs captured during field visits show rills and gullies or dongas occurring on bare-ground. The interviewed respondents indicated that decline in food production, increase in dongas and vast increase in Euryops and a decline in grassland are the indicators of degradation that are observed in the study area. The occurrence of erosion features (rills and dongas) on bare-ground and the increase of vegetation shown by GIS and Remote Sensing techniques showed a positive correlation with field and household survey towards establishing the nature of land degradation. In this study Landsat images together with interviews proved to be a very useful tool for land degradation research. However the suggestion of a higher spatial resolution satellite image on small catchment studies is recommended
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ngcofe, Luncedo Dalithemba Sanelisiwe
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4818 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005492 , Geographic information systems -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Remote sensing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land degradation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Land degradation is a global problem affecting many countries including South Africa. This study was conducted in order to assess and monitor the nature and extent of land degradation within Qoqodala in the Eastern Cape Province, of South Africa. The study used GIS and Remote Sensing techniques together with household interviews in determining extent, spatial characteristics and nature of land degradation within the study area. Vegetation cover and bare-ground change were the land degradation indicators assessed and monitored by this study. Through RGB band combination, Tasselled Cap Analysis and Unsupervised ISODATA classification techniques, Landsat images over the past eighteen years (1984, 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2002) have been analysed. The results showed that there is vegetation cover and bare-ground increase in the study area. The vegetation increase has been seen as a sign of land degradation increase due to the encroachment of indigenous vegetation by Euryops species (also known as Lapesi by the local community). The bare-ground land degradation indicator has also increased. The analyses of slope showed the spatial characteristics of bare-ground occurring on moderate to flat slopes while vegetation cover occurs on steep to very steep slopes. Furthermore the photographs captured during field visits show rills and gullies or dongas occurring on bare-ground. The interviewed respondents indicated that decline in food production, increase in dongas and vast increase in Euryops and a decline in grassland are the indicators of degradation that are observed in the study area. The occurrence of erosion features (rills and dongas) on bare-ground and the increase of vegetation shown by GIS and Remote Sensing techniques showed a positive correlation with field and household survey towards establishing the nature of land degradation. In this study Landsat images together with interviews proved to be a very useful tool for land degradation research. However the suggestion of a higher spatial resolution satellite image on small catchment studies is recommended
- Full Text:
Attitudes and perceptions towards TB in Grahamstown East in a time of HIV/AIDS
- Authors: Ndoro, Tinashe T. R
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002539 , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) has become a serious South African health problem because it is the most common opportunistic disease that leads to death in people with HIV/AIDS. Due to the airborne nature of the disease it can easily be spread to anyone including healthy people. A lack of compliance to treatment by TB patients explains why prevalence rates of the disease are high and why there is an emergence of drug resistant strains such as XDR-TB and MDR-TB. Information on existing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding TB can provide a crucial foundation for the development of educational programmes and interventions aimed at reducing the further spread of the disease. This study aimed at understanding the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards TB and relating these to the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted among adult Grahamstown East residents (n=1020). The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1994) and Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory formed the theoretical framework of the data collection and analysis. The data generated from the field work was first descriptively analysed providing frequency tables. Thereafter cross tabulations were calculated for relevant items using independent variables, namely gender, level of education, and experience of dealing with TB. The results of the study show that, in general, knowledge concerning TB was sufficient to provide a foundation for the adoption of healthier behaviours in the female respondents. Few of the respondents reported feeling personally susceptible although the majority of the respondents acknowledged the severity of the disease. The cues to action lacked the influence to persuade people to adopt positive health related behaviours. The perceived benefits of adopting preventative behaviour were not very influential in the adoption of healthier behavioural changes in the respondents. Disease stigma regarding the dual association of TB and HIV/AIDS was the main barrier for the adoption of healthier behavioural attitudes. Perceived self-efficacy in preventative behaviours was generally low in the less educated respondents. Recommendations regarding areas for future research and change interventions are provided.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ndoro, Tinashe T. R
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002539 , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , HIV (Viruses) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Public opinion , Health surveys -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Description: Tuberculosis (TB) has become a serious South African health problem because it is the most common opportunistic disease that leads to death in people with HIV/AIDS. Due to the airborne nature of the disease it can easily be spread to anyone including healthy people. A lack of compliance to treatment by TB patients explains why prevalence rates of the disease are high and why there is an emergence of drug resistant strains such as XDR-TB and MDR-TB. Information on existing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding TB can provide a crucial foundation for the development of educational programmes and interventions aimed at reducing the further spread of the disease. This study aimed at understanding the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards TB and relating these to the current prevalence of HIV/AIDS. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted among adult Grahamstown East residents (n=1020). The Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1994) and Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory formed the theoretical framework of the data collection and analysis. The data generated from the field work was first descriptively analysed providing frequency tables. Thereafter cross tabulations were calculated for relevant items using independent variables, namely gender, level of education, and experience of dealing with TB. The results of the study show that, in general, knowledge concerning TB was sufficient to provide a foundation for the adoption of healthier behaviours in the female respondents. Few of the respondents reported feeling personally susceptible although the majority of the respondents acknowledged the severity of the disease. The cues to action lacked the influence to persuade people to adopt positive health related behaviours. The perceived benefits of adopting preventative behaviour were not very influential in the adoption of healthier behavioural changes in the respondents. Disease stigma regarding the dual association of TB and HIV/AIDS was the main barrier for the adoption of healthier behavioural attitudes. Perceived self-efficacy in preventative behaviours was generally low in the less educated respondents. Recommendations regarding areas for future research and change interventions are provided.
- Full Text:
Automating the conversion of natural language fiction to multi-modal 3D animated virtual environments
- Authors: Glass, Kevin Robert
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Virtual computer systems , Virtual storage (Computer science) , Virtual reality , Computer animation , Fiction -- Computer programs , Narration (Rhetoric) -- Computer simulation , Animation (Cinematography) , Natural language processing (Computer Science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006518
- Description: Popular fiction books describe rich visual environments that contain characters, objects, and behaviour. This research develops automated processes for converting text sourced from fiction books into animated virtual environments and multi-modal films. This involves the analysis of unrestricted natural language fiction to identify appropriate visual descriptions, and the interpretation of the identified descriptions for constructing animated 3D virtual environments. The goal of the text analysis stage is the creation of annotated fiction text, which identifies visual descriptions in a structured manner. A hierarchical rule-based learning system is created that induces patterns from example annotations provided by a human, and uses these for the creation of additional annotations. Patterns are expressed as tree structures that abstract the input text on different levels according to structural (token, sentence) and syntactic (parts-of-speech, syntactic function) categories. Patterns are generalized using pair-wise merging, where dissimilar sub-trees are replaced with wild-cards. The result is a small set of generalized patterns that are able to create correct annotations. A set of generalized patterns represents a model of an annotator's mental process regarding a particular annotation category. Annotated text is interpreted automatically for constructing detailed scene descriptions. This includes identifying which scenes to visualize, and identifying the contents and behaviour in each scene. Entity behaviour in a 3D virtual environment is formulated using time-based constraints that are automatically derived from annotations. Constraints are expressed as non-linear symbolic functions that restrict the trajectories of a pair of entities over a continuous interval of time. Solutions to these constraints specify precise behaviour. We create an innovative quantified constraint optimizer for locating sound solutions, which uses interval arithmetic for treating time and space as contiguous quantities. This optimization method uses a technique of constraint relaxation and tightening that allows solution approximations to be located where constraint systems are inconsistent (an ability not previously explored in interval-based quantified constraint solving). 3D virtual environments are populated by automatically selecting geometric models or procedural geometry-creation methods from a library. 3D models are animated according to trajectories derived from constraint solutions. The final animated film is sequenced using a range of modalities including animated 3D graphics, textual subtitles, audio narrations, and foleys. Hierarchical rule-based learning is evaluated over a range of annotation categories. Models are induced for different categories of annotation without modifying the core learning algorithms, and these models are shown to be applicable to different types of books. Models are induced automatically with accuracies ranging between 51.4% and 90.4%, depending on the category. We show that models are refined if further examples are provided, and this supports a boot-strapping process for training the learning mechanism. The task of interpreting annotated fiction text and populating 3D virtual environments is successfully automated using our described techniques. Detailed scene descriptions are created accurately, where between 83% and 96% of the automatically generated descriptions require no manual modification (depending on the type of description). The interval-based quantified constraint optimizer fully automates the behaviour specification process. Sample animated multi-modal 3D films are created using extracts from fiction books that are unrestricted in terms of complexity or subject matter (unlike existing text-to-graphics systems). These examples demonstrate that: behaviour is visualized that corresponds to the descriptions in the original text; appropriate geometry is selected (or created) for visualizing entities in each scene; sequences of scenes are created for a film-like presentation of the story; and that multiple modalities are combined to create a coherent multi-modal representation of the fiction text. This research demonstrates that visual descriptions in fiction text can be automatically identified, and that these descriptions can be converted into corresponding animated virtual environments. Unlike existing text-to-graphics systems, we describe techniques that function over unrestricted natural language text and perform the conversion process without the need for manually constructed repositories of world knowledge. This enables the rapid production of animated 3D virtual environments, allowing the human designer to focus on creative aspects.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Glass, Kevin Robert
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Virtual computer systems , Virtual storage (Computer science) , Virtual reality , Computer animation , Fiction -- Computer programs , Narration (Rhetoric) -- Computer simulation , Animation (Cinematography) , Natural language processing (Computer Science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4632 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006518
- Description: Popular fiction books describe rich visual environments that contain characters, objects, and behaviour. This research develops automated processes for converting text sourced from fiction books into animated virtual environments and multi-modal films. This involves the analysis of unrestricted natural language fiction to identify appropriate visual descriptions, and the interpretation of the identified descriptions for constructing animated 3D virtual environments. The goal of the text analysis stage is the creation of annotated fiction text, which identifies visual descriptions in a structured manner. A hierarchical rule-based learning system is created that induces patterns from example annotations provided by a human, and uses these for the creation of additional annotations. Patterns are expressed as tree structures that abstract the input text on different levels according to structural (token, sentence) and syntactic (parts-of-speech, syntactic function) categories. Patterns are generalized using pair-wise merging, where dissimilar sub-trees are replaced with wild-cards. The result is a small set of generalized patterns that are able to create correct annotations. A set of generalized patterns represents a model of an annotator's mental process regarding a particular annotation category. Annotated text is interpreted automatically for constructing detailed scene descriptions. This includes identifying which scenes to visualize, and identifying the contents and behaviour in each scene. Entity behaviour in a 3D virtual environment is formulated using time-based constraints that are automatically derived from annotations. Constraints are expressed as non-linear symbolic functions that restrict the trajectories of a pair of entities over a continuous interval of time. Solutions to these constraints specify precise behaviour. We create an innovative quantified constraint optimizer for locating sound solutions, which uses interval arithmetic for treating time and space as contiguous quantities. This optimization method uses a technique of constraint relaxation and tightening that allows solution approximations to be located where constraint systems are inconsistent (an ability not previously explored in interval-based quantified constraint solving). 3D virtual environments are populated by automatically selecting geometric models or procedural geometry-creation methods from a library. 3D models are animated according to trajectories derived from constraint solutions. The final animated film is sequenced using a range of modalities including animated 3D graphics, textual subtitles, audio narrations, and foleys. Hierarchical rule-based learning is evaluated over a range of annotation categories. Models are induced for different categories of annotation without modifying the core learning algorithms, and these models are shown to be applicable to different types of books. Models are induced automatically with accuracies ranging between 51.4% and 90.4%, depending on the category. We show that models are refined if further examples are provided, and this supports a boot-strapping process for training the learning mechanism. The task of interpreting annotated fiction text and populating 3D virtual environments is successfully automated using our described techniques. Detailed scene descriptions are created accurately, where between 83% and 96% of the automatically generated descriptions require no manual modification (depending on the type of description). The interval-based quantified constraint optimizer fully automates the behaviour specification process. Sample animated multi-modal 3D films are created using extracts from fiction books that are unrestricted in terms of complexity or subject matter (unlike existing text-to-graphics systems). These examples demonstrate that: behaviour is visualized that corresponds to the descriptions in the original text; appropriate geometry is selected (or created) for visualizing entities in each scene; sequences of scenes are created for a film-like presentation of the story; and that multiple modalities are combined to create a coherent multi-modal representation of the fiction text. This research demonstrates that visual descriptions in fiction text can be automatically identified, and that these descriptions can be converted into corresponding animated virtual environments. Unlike existing text-to-graphics systems, we describe techniques that function over unrestricted natural language text and perform the conversion process without the need for manually constructed repositories of world knowledge. This enables the rapid production of animated 3D virtual environments, allowing the human designer to focus on creative aspects.
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Awkward working postures and precision performance as an example of the relationship between ergonomics and production quality
- Ngcamu, Nokubonga Slindele (Sma)
- Authors: Ngcamu, Nokubonga Slindele (Sma)
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Work -- Physiological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005183 , Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Work -- Physiological aspects
- Description: Ergonomics aims to improve worker health and enhance productivity and quality. Knowledge and practical evidence of this relationship would be instrumental for optimising organisational performance particularly in industrially developing countries where the discipline is still in its developmental stages. Therefore this thesis set out to analyse the relationship between ergonomics deficiencies and performance. A survey was first conducted to establish the severity of quality problems in the South African manufacturing industry and to determine if these were related to Ergonomic deficiencies. The results indicated that quality problems continue to plague industry, a challenge associated with huge cost implications. Furthermore organisations were not cognisant of the fact that ergonomics deficiencies such as poor workstation design and awkward or constrained working postures are a major contributing factor to poor quality and performance decrements. This demonstrates that much is yet to be done in raising awareness about the benefits of ergonomics in South Africa and other industrially developing countries. However, for this to be effective, tangible evidence of these purported benefits is required. In lieu of this, a laboratory study was then conducted to establish the relationship between awkward working postures and the performance of precision tasks. Acknowledging that the task and the worker are interrelated elements, the impact of precision task demands on the postural strain experienced by the human was also investigated. A high and low precision task quantified positional precision while a force task (combination of pushing and pulling) was utilised to assess the ability to maintain a precise force over time. These three tasks were performed in eight different postures; namely seated, standing, stooping 300 and 600, working overhead, lying supine, and twisting to either side. A combination of the tasks and postures resulted in 24 experimental conditions that were tested on forty eight healthy male and female participants. The performance related dependent variables were movement time, deviation from the centre of the target, and the trend/slope followed by the force exerted. Muscle activity of eight arm, shoulder and back muscles, iii supplemented with heart rate and local ratings of perceived exertion, were utilised to quantify the impact of the tasks and the postures on the individual. The results revealed that awkward working postures do in fact influence performance outcomes. In this regard, awkward working postures (such as overhead work and lying supine and stooping) were evidenced to significantly affect movement time, deviations from the target and the ability to maintain a constant force over time. These variables have a direct relationship with organisational priorities such as productivity and quality. Furthermore, the results indicated that high precision demands augment postural strain elicited through high muscle activity responses and may have negative implications for the precipitation of musculoskeletal disorders. Essentially, the work done on this thesis reflected the complex nature of ergonomics by drawing on both macro and micro-ergonomics approaches. In so doing, challenges perceived to be relevant to industry as reported by organisations formed the foundation for further laboratory studies. Therefore, more collaborative research and knowledge transfer between industry and ergonomics researchers is a necessity particularly in industrially developing countries where ergonomics is still in its developmental stages.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ngcamu, Nokubonga Slindele (Sma)
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Work -- Physiological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005183 , Human engineering , Posture , Posture disorders , Musculoskeletal system -- Diseases , Work -- Physiological aspects
- Description: Ergonomics aims to improve worker health and enhance productivity and quality. Knowledge and practical evidence of this relationship would be instrumental for optimising organisational performance particularly in industrially developing countries where the discipline is still in its developmental stages. Therefore this thesis set out to analyse the relationship between ergonomics deficiencies and performance. A survey was first conducted to establish the severity of quality problems in the South African manufacturing industry and to determine if these were related to Ergonomic deficiencies. The results indicated that quality problems continue to plague industry, a challenge associated with huge cost implications. Furthermore organisations were not cognisant of the fact that ergonomics deficiencies such as poor workstation design and awkward or constrained working postures are a major contributing factor to poor quality and performance decrements. This demonstrates that much is yet to be done in raising awareness about the benefits of ergonomics in South Africa and other industrially developing countries. However, for this to be effective, tangible evidence of these purported benefits is required. In lieu of this, a laboratory study was then conducted to establish the relationship between awkward working postures and the performance of precision tasks. Acknowledging that the task and the worker are interrelated elements, the impact of precision task demands on the postural strain experienced by the human was also investigated. A high and low precision task quantified positional precision while a force task (combination of pushing and pulling) was utilised to assess the ability to maintain a precise force over time. These three tasks were performed in eight different postures; namely seated, standing, stooping 300 and 600, working overhead, lying supine, and twisting to either side. A combination of the tasks and postures resulted in 24 experimental conditions that were tested on forty eight healthy male and female participants. The performance related dependent variables were movement time, deviation from the centre of the target, and the trend/slope followed by the force exerted. Muscle activity of eight arm, shoulder and back muscles, iii supplemented with heart rate and local ratings of perceived exertion, were utilised to quantify the impact of the tasks and the postures on the individual. The results revealed that awkward working postures do in fact influence performance outcomes. In this regard, awkward working postures (such as overhead work and lying supine and stooping) were evidenced to significantly affect movement time, deviations from the target and the ability to maintain a constant force over time. These variables have a direct relationship with organisational priorities such as productivity and quality. Furthermore, the results indicated that high precision demands augment postural strain elicited through high muscle activity responses and may have negative implications for the precipitation of musculoskeletal disorders. Essentially, the work done on this thesis reflected the complex nature of ergonomics by drawing on both macro and micro-ergonomics approaches. In so doing, challenges perceived to be relevant to industry as reported by organisations formed the foundation for further laboratory studies. Therefore, more collaborative research and knowledge transfer between industry and ergonomics researchers is a necessity particularly in industrially developing countries where ergonomics is still in its developmental stages.
- Full Text:
Bank credit extension to the private sector and inflation in South Africa
- Authors: Dlamini, Samuel Nkosinathi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Bank loans -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:959 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002693 , Bank loans -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates the contribution of bank credit extension to the private sector to inflation in South Africa, covering the period 1970:1-2006:4. The long-run impact of bank credit on inflation is investigated by means of the Johansen co integration model. The short-run ynamics of the inflation is subsequently modelled by means of the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Using the Johansen methodology, the study identifies two co integrating equations linking inflation and its eterminants. The results suggest that the long-run relationship between inflation and bank credit to the private sector is negative and statistically significant at 10% level. The determinants that are significant at 5% level are: money supply, real gross domestic product, the money market rate, rand/dollar exchange rate and imports. The results are consistent with previous findings. The speed of adjustment in response to deviation from the equilibrium path was found to be negative at 10.56% per quarter, which is consistent with findings by Ohnsorge and Oomes (2003) for Russia. Both the signs and the magnitude of the coefficients suggest that the co integrating vector describes a long-run inflation equation. The impulse response functions confirm the theoretical expectations except for the import prices. The most persistent and significant shocks observed are on impulse response functions of money supply and bank credit to the private sector. The variance decomposition results also suggest that inflation responds quicker to innovations from money supply and the money market rate. The overall results provide evidence that the surge in inflation is associated with an increase in money supply as well as the instability in exchange rate. The effects of exchange rate fluctuation on inflation are reflected through changes in import prices. Based on the results we conclude that an increase in bank credit during the period 1970:1-2006:4 had a negative mpact on inflation in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Dlamini, Samuel Nkosinathi
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Bank loans -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:959 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002693 , Bank loans -- South Africa , Inflation (Finance) -- South Africa , Money supply -- South Africa , Interest rates -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates the contribution of bank credit extension to the private sector to inflation in South Africa, covering the period 1970:1-2006:4. The long-run impact of bank credit on inflation is investigated by means of the Johansen co integration model. The short-run ynamics of the inflation is subsequently modelled by means of the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Using the Johansen methodology, the study identifies two co integrating equations linking inflation and its eterminants. The results suggest that the long-run relationship between inflation and bank credit to the private sector is negative and statistically significant at 10% level. The determinants that are significant at 5% level are: money supply, real gross domestic product, the money market rate, rand/dollar exchange rate and imports. The results are consistent with previous findings. The speed of adjustment in response to deviation from the equilibrium path was found to be negative at 10.56% per quarter, which is consistent with findings by Ohnsorge and Oomes (2003) for Russia. Both the signs and the magnitude of the coefficients suggest that the co integrating vector describes a long-run inflation equation. The impulse response functions confirm the theoretical expectations except for the import prices. The most persistent and significant shocks observed are on impulse response functions of money supply and bank credit to the private sector. The variance decomposition results also suggest that inflation responds quicker to innovations from money supply and the money market rate. The overall results provide evidence that the surge in inflation is associated with an increase in money supply as well as the instability in exchange rate. The effects of exchange rate fluctuation on inflation are reflected through changes in import prices. Based on the results we conclude that an increase in bank credit during the period 1970:1-2006:4 had a negative mpact on inflation in South Africa.
- Full Text:
Between self and author : an autoethnographic approach towards the crafting of reflexive compositions in post graduate drama studies
- Authors: Moyo, Awelani Lena
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Drama -- Study and teachng (Higher) College and school drama
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2143 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002375
- Description: This thesis explores the merits of reflexivity in the processes of creating a performance and of performing research in Drama Studies. In it, I make a case for the validity of autobiographical material as an aid to generating such reflexivity. Through an autoethnographic case study of my work entitled Compositions (a series of performance projects) in which I focus on the theme of migration, I provide an indepth account of my experiences, focusing specifically on the interrelated concerns of body, space and journey in my ritualistic performance. My examination explores the dynamic effects of liminality within identity politics, through which I foreground several issues of concern which I have encountered as an emerging scholar and theatremaker working within an academic institution. I propose that the process of studying drama in a University ultimately requires one to continually negotiate a range of subject positions, whilst finding connections between these various identities that one may take up during the course of one’s studies. By developing an awareness of the overlapping of such identities and inhabiting the spaces in-between subject positions, I demonstrate how taking into account one’s personal lived experience can help illuminate one’s understanding of both the work of art and the research report, as well as the broader contexts in which such practice-based work exists. I illustrate how such an understanding has ultimately maximised the knowledge and learning that I have gathered, and has contributed to the crucial project of developing my authorial voice in writing and performance, which is central to the aims of the Master of Arts degree in Drama.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Moyo, Awelani Lena
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Drama -- Study and teachng (Higher) College and school drama
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2143 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002375
- Description: This thesis explores the merits of reflexivity in the processes of creating a performance and of performing research in Drama Studies. In it, I make a case for the validity of autobiographical material as an aid to generating such reflexivity. Through an autoethnographic case study of my work entitled Compositions (a series of performance projects) in which I focus on the theme of migration, I provide an indepth account of my experiences, focusing specifically on the interrelated concerns of body, space and journey in my ritualistic performance. My examination explores the dynamic effects of liminality within identity politics, through which I foreground several issues of concern which I have encountered as an emerging scholar and theatremaker working within an academic institution. I propose that the process of studying drama in a University ultimately requires one to continually negotiate a range of subject positions, whilst finding connections between these various identities that one may take up during the course of one’s studies. By developing an awareness of the overlapping of such identities and inhabiting the spaces in-between subject positions, I demonstrate how taking into account one’s personal lived experience can help illuminate one’s understanding of both the work of art and the research report, as well as the broader contexts in which such practice-based work exists. I illustrate how such an understanding has ultimately maximised the knowledge and learning that I have gathered, and has contributed to the crucial project of developing my authorial voice in writing and performance, which is central to the aims of the Master of Arts degree in Drama.
- Full Text:
Bond market development in emerging economies: a case study of the Bond Exchange of South Africa (BESA)
- Authors: Hove, Tagara
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Bond Exchange of South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002695 , Bond Exchange of South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Description: This study looks at the development of bond markets in emerging economies and focuses on the development of the Bond Exchange of South Africa (BESA). It explores the history, structure, performance and key issues related to the development of this market within the broader context of domestic, regional and global bond market development. BESA's experience provides valuable lessons for other emerging market economies also seeking to build bond markets. The sophistication of the local bond market is not enough to make it appealing to foreign borrowers. Market development demands an enabling market infrastructure and a background of macroeconomic stability, diversified market participants, deregulation of capital flows and an appropriate regulatory and supervisory environment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hove, Tagara
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Bond Exchange of South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002695 , Bond Exchange of South Africa , Bond market -- South Africa , Foreign exchange rates -- South Africa
- Description: This study looks at the development of bond markets in emerging economies and focuses on the development of the Bond Exchange of South Africa (BESA). It explores the history, structure, performance and key issues related to the development of this market within the broader context of domestic, regional and global bond market development. BESA's experience provides valuable lessons for other emerging market economies also seeking to build bond markets. The sophistication of the local bond market is not enough to make it appealing to foreign borrowers. Market development demands an enabling market infrastructure and a background of macroeconomic stability, diversified market participants, deregulation of capital flows and an appropriate regulatory and supervisory environment.
- Full Text:
Call centres as a vehicle to improve customer satisfaction in local government: a case study of front line workers in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Magoqwana, Babalwa Mirianda
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Work environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Customer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Call center agents -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004339
- Description: This dissertation provides an account of 'Batho Pele' (People First) and 'new public management' as applied in two government call-centres in the Eastern Cape. Focusing on the workers at these call-centres, this research examines the workplace organisation of these call-centres based in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The study involved interviews with managers, call-centre operators and trade unionists. The findings show how the work environment is not conducive to the goals of customer satisfaction as presented in the Batho Pele policies. The research investigates the conditions of workers as one explanatory factor for poor call-centre service. If workers are a key element in the success of the 'new public management', their work environment and conditions have to facilitate their job satisfaction and their improved customer service. The research demonstrated the evident lack of professionalism in the call-centre, customer care designed as a matter of compliance rather the need to change the culture and the persistent lack of discipline and supervision. The call centre operator's experiences include issues of surveillance, stress, emotional labour, lack of training, internal conflicts and bad 'customer service' as perceived by the citizens of the Metro.
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- Authors: Magoqwana, Babalwa Mirianda
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Eastern Cape, South Africa) Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Work environment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Customer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies Call center agents -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004339
- Description: This dissertation provides an account of 'Batho Pele' (People First) and 'new public management' as applied in two government call-centres in the Eastern Cape. Focusing on the workers at these call-centres, this research examines the workplace organisation of these call-centres based in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. The study involved interviews with managers, call-centre operators and trade unionists. The findings show how the work environment is not conducive to the goals of customer satisfaction as presented in the Batho Pele policies. The research investigates the conditions of workers as one explanatory factor for poor call-centre service. If workers are a key element in the success of the 'new public management', their work environment and conditions have to facilitate their job satisfaction and their improved customer service. The research demonstrated the evident lack of professionalism in the call-centre, customer care designed as a matter of compliance rather the need to change the culture and the persistent lack of discipline and supervision. The call centre operator's experiences include issues of surveillance, stress, emotional labour, lack of training, internal conflicts and bad 'customer service' as perceived by the citizens of the Metro.
- Full Text: