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The development and evaluation of a cohesion-building programme for a South African male collegiate basketball team

  • Authors: Razafimbola, Sandimampita
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Teamwork (Sports) Basketball teams College sports Sports -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
  • Identifier: vital:3040 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002549
  • Description: There is a general consensus among sport coaches and practitioners that it is better to work with a cohesive team. Research on cohesion has provided positive links between cohesion and performance as well as the overall well-being of the team and its members. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a cohesion-building programme under an Action Research paradigm. The Group Environment Questionnaire, in parallel with focus group discussions were used to assist in the development and evaluation of a cohesion-building programme tailored to the specific needs of the Rhodes University men’s basketball 1st team. The team is known to be a good team but it was missing something that made it become great. Fostering higher cohesiveness was deemed to be the missing link to the chain of success. Various changes were brought to the 1) team structure, 2) team processes, 3) team environment to enhance the team’s cohesiveness levels. It was found that the programme was positive and powerful in that it accelerated the process of cohesion building within the team. It was also found that the programme had the power to transcend demographical barriers and unite people from diverse backgrounds. Finally, the programme increased the team’s performance level and enabled it to achieve objectives that were never achieved by any other men’s basketball team at Rhodes University before. Naturally there are going to be some ups and downs, especially if you have individuals trying to achieve at a high level. But when we stepped in between the lines, we knew what we were capable of doing. When a pressure situation presented itself, we were plugged into one another like a cohesive unit. That’s why we were able to come back so often and win so many close games. And that’s why we were able to beat more talented team. - Michael Jordan (former Chicago Bulls; NBA Hall of Famer).
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The development and evaluation of a custom-built synchronous online learning environment for tertiary education in South Africa

  • Authors: Halse, Michelle Louise
  • Date: 2008 , 2008-02-23
  • Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Computer-assisted instruction , Universities and colleges -- Computer networks -- South Africa , Internet in higher education -- South Africa , Distance education -- South Africa -- Computer-assisted instruction , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa , Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4636 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006545 , Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Computer-assisted instruction , Universities and colleges -- Computer networks -- South Africa , Internet in higher education -- South Africa , Distance education -- South Africa -- Computer-assisted instruction , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa , Computer science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa
  • Description: The Departments of Computer Science and Information Systems at Rhodes University currently share certain honours-level (fourth year) course modules with students from the corresponding departments at the previously disadvantaged University of Fort Hare. These lectures are currently delivered using video-conferencing. This was found to present a number of problems including challenges in terms of implementing desired pedagogical approaches, inequitable learning experiences, student disengagement at the remote venue, and inflexibility of the video-conferencing system. In order to address these problems, various e-learning modes were investigated and synchronous e-learning were found to offer a number of advantages over asynchronous e-learning. Live Virtual Classrooms (LVCs) were identified as synchronous e-learning tools that support the pedagogical principles important to the two universities and to the broader context of South African tertiary education, and commercial LVC applications were investigated and evaluated. Informed by the results of this investigation a small, simple LVC was designed, developed and customised for use in a predominantly academic sphere and deployment in a South African tertiary educational context. Testing and evaluation of this solution was carried out and the results analysed in terms of the LVC’s technical merits and the pedagogical value of the solution as experienced by students and lecturers/facilitators. An evaluation of this solution indicated that the LVC solves a number of the identified problems with video-conferencing and also provides a flexible/customisable/extensible solution that supports highly interactive, collaborative, learner-centred education. The custom LVC solution could be easily adapted to the specific needs of any tertiary educational institute in the country, and results may benefit other tertiary educational institutions involved in or dependant on distance learning.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The development of a putative microbial product for use in crop production

  • Authors: Gumede, Halalisani
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Agricultural productivity , Agriculture -- Economic aspects , Microbial products , Bacterial diseases of plants , Biological pest control agents , Lettuce -- Diseases and pests , Crops -- Nutrition , Bacillus (Bacteria) , Phytopathogenic microorganisms -- Control
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:3945 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004004 , Agricultural productivity , Agriculture -- Economic aspects , Microbial products , Bacterial diseases of plants , Biological pest control agents , Lettuce -- Diseases and pests , Crops -- Nutrition , Bacillus (Bacteria) , Phytopathogenic microorganisms -- Control
  • Description: The challenges faced by the agricultural sector especially around improving production yields using environmentally friendly solutions have received market attention. Biological intervention can range from application of biological products to enhance the nutritional value of crops or to control plant pathogens. Biostart, a biological product that demonstrated growth enhancement when applied in lettuce crops is currently in the market. The product is comprised of a consortium of bacterial isolates (Bacillus licheniformis, Brevibacillus laterosporus and Bacillus laterosporus) but the contribution of the individual isolates to growth enhancement had not been elucidated. Green house experiments on lettuce seedlings with individual and mixed treatments were commissioned to determine such contribution. There was either no or marginal growth enhancement observed in the experiments. The results showed that the product was effective as a consortium and not as individual isolates. Further isolation and screening for potential Bacilli with antifungal properties was undertaken. An isolate identified as Bacillus subtilis that demonstrated inhibition against a wide spectrum of fungi, and especially the phytopathogenic Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum, was successfully identified. The isolate was cryo-preserved and cultivated to significant levels at bench scale. A characterized comparison of different putative products with known systematic fungicide showed potential application even of heat treated products. The product showed control V. dahliae when tested in green houses with potatoes and tomatoes as test crops. This isolate has been targeted for further development as a biological control product.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The development of a total quality management organisational culture for Eden District Municipality

  • Authors: Jantjies, Xavier
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Total quality management -- South Africa -- Eden district municipality , Total quality management in government -- South Africa -- Eden district municipality , Organizational effectiveness , Industrial management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8708 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/988 , Total quality management -- South Africa -- Eden district municipality , Total quality management in government -- South Africa -- Eden district municipality , Organizational effectiveness , Industrial management
  • Description: Local governments are under tremendous pressure to control their costs and improve their services. Managing quality at local government level implies an enormous upheaval in organisational culture. The changing environment calls for new approaches to meeting the organisation’s mission. Total quality management is one of the tools, which government organisations are embracing to meet the growing demand of a changing environment. This paper will discuss the quest for service excellence and continuous improvement and the role of employees in total quality management and how this can be maximized by managers. It will also focus on cultural transformation principles that are useful in promoting quality processes and output and consequently service excellence in an organisation. The main objective of this research study is to investigate how a total quality management organisational culture can be developed at Eden District Municipality. To realize it, the current organisational culture at Eden District Municipality was analysed to determine what should be done. A literature review was conducted to determine the components of a total quality management organisational culture. All this information was used to formulate an approach for the development of a total quality management organisational culture. The empirical study involved a questionnaire, a sample and statistical analysis adapted to solve the main and sub-problems of the study. The research data indicated that Eden District Municipality does not support a total quality management organisational culture.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The development of ICT networks for South African schools: Two pilot studies in disadvantaged areas

  • Authors: Siebörger, Ingrid , Terzoli, Alfredo , Hodgkinson-Williams, Cheryl
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431018 , vital:72737 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09729-9_25
  • Description: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly considered valuable tools in educa-tion, promoting the development of higher cognitive processes and allowing teachers and learners access to a plethora of information. This paper reports on two pilot studies conducted in South Africa in proto-typical previously disadvantaged schools and their surrounding communities. Each pilot study deployed a local loop network within impoverished communi-ties, connecting schools to one another and central services such as email and voice communications. The benefits of these networks were that teachers, learners and the local community had access to in-formation, and communication and collaboration channels, providing potential test beds for investigat-ing the use of computers as mind tools.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The devil in disguise a comparative study of Thomas Mann's "Doktor Faustus" (1947) and Klaus Mann's "Mephisto" (1936), focussing on the role of art as an allegory of the rise and fall of Nazi Germany

  • Authors: French, Rebecca S C
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Mann, Thomas, 1875-1955 Doktor Faustus Mann, Klaus, 1906-1949 Mephisto Arts, German -- 20th Century Art, Germany -- 20th Century National socialism in art National socialism in literature
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3582 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002157
  • Description: This thesis compares the novels Doktor Faustus: das Leben des deutschen Tonsetzers Adrian Leverkühn, erzählt von einem Freunde (Thomas Mann) and Mephisto: Roman einer Karriere (Klaus Mann), insofar as they are portrayals of the situation in Germany during the Third Reich. Essentially a comparative study, I explore similarities and differences – thematic and conceptual – by situating both novels in their socio-historical moment (Chapter 1), exploring their conceptions of German national identity (Chapter 2), tracing intertextual connections to other works (Chapter 3), and, finally, examining their understanding of and reliance on art as insofar as it provides the allegorical framework for their respective portrayals of Nazi Germany (Chapter 4).
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The difficulty of living well: effort and failure in the good life

  • Authors: Moore, Jesse Alexander
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Conduct of life Ethics Happiness Values Failure (Psychology) Success Struggle
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2715 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002845
  • Description: We all want to live good lives, but due to the difficulty involved, few of us ever succeed. We usually either fail in our attempts to live well or remain with our safer, and less worthwhile, options. In spite of this, there has been little, if any, investigation of the role that difficulty plays in our attempts to live well, and thus in our conceptions of the good life. Within the field of the good life, philosophers tend to acknowledge the fact that good lives are difficult to live, and leave it at that. Since we must all face the difficulty of living well, the lack of analysis of the implications of difficulty seems a glaring oversight. In order to redress this, I explore the role that difficulty plays in two requirements for living well, namely achievement and reflection. Firstly, I examine the relationship between effort and achievement. I argue that difficulty just is the requirement of effort, and that it is required in order for our achievements to be meaningful and for us to value them. Secondly, I look at the relationship between failure and reflection. I argue that reflection on our failures can lead us to knowledge that helps us to live well and that we would not usually come to if we did not fail. Finally, I look at the roles of effort and failure in some accounts of the good life and I draw on psychological research and theory to provide support for my conclusions about the positive effects of effort. I conclude by examining the implications of reducing difficulty for the future of humankind.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The discursive management of homework practices in three primary schools in Nelson Mandela Bay

  • Authors: Felix, Nadine
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Homework -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:8464 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/782 , Homework -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Description: This treatise examines the discursive management of homework practices in three primary schools in Nelson Mandela Bay. Grade four is focused on as it is hoped that at this stage of their schooling, the learners are receiving homework and are familiar with the concept. The three schools are from differing social, historical, political and economic backgrounds. The schools chosen are a former model C school, a ‘Coloured’ school and a ‘Township’ school. These three diverse schools have been selected to identify the dominant Discourses that inform the homework practices. The eventual effect of these Discourses on the learners is also included. The material and personal effects on the learners is discussed. The prevalent Discourses on homework in the model C school, work to produce disciplined subjects who are able to ‘self govern’ and thereby succeed in society. At school’s B and C the dominant Discourses are of a deficit nature. These discursively position the learners as victims and subjects who are unable to manage their academic and private selves, as a result of their circumstance. While the staffs at schools B and C appear to be well intentioned, this abovementioned deficit model is perpetuated by their talk. These principals and teachers need to become aware of the power that their discursive formations contain and the impact thereof. A qualitative methodology is adopted in this study. Three different methods of data collection are employed in order to promote triangulation and thereby increase the validity of the findings. Discourse and Critical Discourse analysis provide the tools with which to analyse and draw conclusions from the gathered data.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning

  • Authors: Tarrant, Greg
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: South African Revenue Service , Tax evasion -- South Africa , Tax planning -- South Africa , Income tax -- South Africa , Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:897 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004549
  • Description: Tax avoidance has been the subject of intense scrutiny lately by both the South African Revenue Service ("the SARS") and the media. This attention stems largely from the recent withdrawal of section 103(1) together with the introduction of section 80A to 80L of the South African Income Tax Act. However, this attention is not limited to South Africa. Revenue authorities worldwide have focused on the task of challenging tax avoidance. The approach of the SARS to tackling tax avoidance has been multi-faceted. In the Discussion Paper on Tax Avoidance and Section 103 (1) of the South African Income Tax Act they begin with a review of the distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning. Following a call for comment the SARS issued an Interim Response followed by the Revised Proposals which culminated in the withdrawal of the longstanding general anti-avoidance rules housed in section 103(1) and the introduction of new and more comprehensive anti-avoidance rules. In addition, the SARS has adopted an ongoing media campaign stressing the importance of paying tax in a country with a large development agenda like that of South Africa, the need for taxpayers to adopt a responsible attitude to the management of tax and the inclusion of responsible tax management as the greatest measure of a taxpayer's corporate and social investment. In tandem with this message the SARS have sought to vilify those taxpayers who engage in tax avoidance. The message is clear: tax avoidance carries reputational risks; those who engage in tax avoidance are unpatriotic or immoral and their actions simply result in an unfair shifting of the tax burden. The SARS is not alone in the above approach. Around the world tax authorities have been echoing the same message. The message appears to be working. Accounting firms speak of a "creeping conservatism" that has pervaded company boardrooms. What is not clear, however, is whether taxpayers, in becoming more conservative, are simply more fully aware of tax risks and are making informed decisions or whether they are simply responding to external events, such as the worldwide focus by revenue authorities and the media on tax avoidance. Whatever the reason, it is now critical, particularly in the case of corporate taxpayers, that their policies for tax and its attendant risks need to be as sophisticated, coherent and transparent as its policies in all other areas involving multiple stakeholders, such as suppliers, customers, staff and investors. How does a company begin to set its tax philosophy and strategic direction or to determine its appetite for risk? A starting point, it is submitted would be a review of the distinction between tax evasion, avoidance and planning with a heightened sensitivity to the unfamiliar ethical, moral and social risks. The goal of this thesis was to clearly define the distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning from a legal interpretive, ethical and historical perspective in order to develop a rudimentary framework for the responsible management of strategic tax decisions, in the light of the new South African general anti-avoidance legislation. The research methodology entails a qualitative research orientation consisting of a critical conceptual analysis of tax evasion and tax avoidance, with a view to establishing a basic framework to be used by taxpayers to make informed decisions on tax matters. The analysis of the distinction in this work culminated in a diagrammatic representation of the distinction between tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax planning emphasising the different types of tax avoidance from least aggressive to the most abusive and from the least objectionable to most objectionable. It is anticipated that a visual representation of the distinction, however flawed, would result in a far more pragmatic tool to taxpayers than a lengthy document. From a glance taxpayers can determine the following: That tax avoidance is legal; that different forms of tax avoidance exist, some forms being more aggressive than others; that aggressive forms of tax avoidance carry reputational risks; and that in certain circumstances aggressive tax avoidance schemes may border on tax evasion. This, it is envisaged, may prompt taxpayers to ask the right questions when faced with an external or in-house tax avoidance arrangement rather than simply blindly accepting or rejecting the arrangement.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The ecology and conservation of Mackinder's eagle owls (Bubo capensis mackinderi) in central Kenya in relation to agricultural land-use and cultural attitudes

  • Authors: Ogada, Darcy L
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Cape eagle owl -- Kenya Cape eagle owl -- Habitat -- Kenya Cape eagle owl -- Breeding -- Kenya Cape eagle owl -- Nutrition -- Kenya Bubo -- Kenya Wildlife conservation -- Kenya Biodiversity conservation -- Kenya
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5668 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005353
  • Description: The loss of habitat to agriculture is a worldwide problem for biodiversity conservation. One species that has seemingly been able to adapt to the conversion of forests to farmlands is Mackinder’s eagle owl (Bubo capensis mackinderi), which inhabits highland areas, but little is known of its ecology, especially outside of protected areas. This study examined the impact of agricultural practices and farmer’s attitudes on the foraging and population ecology of the Mackinder’s eagle owl in central Kenya. Owl territories were monitored monthly from June 2004- October 2006 for signs of occupancy, breeding activity, mortality and to collect data on food resources. Nest site characteristics were measured for all known nests. Because previous studies showed an affinity for rodents, small mammals were trapped monthly using mark-recapture methodology. In each territory, the type and amount of farm crops were measured each month and farmers were interviewed about their knowledge and beliefs about owls. Mackinder’s eagle owls in central Kenya lived at extremely high density 0.87 owl pairs/km². This density was high compared to other populations of Mackinder’s eagle owl and to Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) populations in Europe. Breeding success was 48% over three years and this compared well with other species of eagle owl inhabiting human-disturbed areas. All nests and roosts were located in river valleys, and all successful nest sites were located on cliffs or other inaccessible rocky terrain. Nest sites were located adjacent to farms, which provided for both open hunting and an abundance of prey. Breeding activity was concentrated after the rainy seasons and this was likely linked to prey availability after the rains. Agricultural activities generally had a positive effect on rodent populations. Small mammal trapping results revealed that rodents were over 14 times more abundant in farms than in adjacent grassland habitat. This population of Mackinder’s eagle owl had a very catholic diet and consumed mostly mammalian prey species including hares, giant rats, root rats, grooved-tooth rats and small rodents. Small rodents accounted for almost half of the owls’ diet and when their numbers increased, owls responded by consuming more of them, indicating the importance of farming activities to this population of owls. Other populations of eagle owl inhabiting human-disturbed areas had diet widths positively related to levels of habitat disturbance. This result supported optimal foraging theory that more productive environments have predators with more specialized diets, while patchy environments have generalist predators. The ecology of this population of Mackinder’s eagle owls was heavily influenced by human agricultural activities, which generally had a positive effect on their population. Farming activities changed rapidly both within and between seasons as plots were small and neighbouring farmers planted various crops at different times of the year and this was enhanced by irrigation in some areas. Year-round availability of forage within farms had a positive effect on owl prey species, some of which increased relative to the type and amount of crops found in farms. However, 57% of owl injuries and mortalities that occurred were related either directly or indirectly to human activities. Cultural prejudices against owls remain the biggest threat to this population’s long-term persistence. Farmer education was shown to play a significant role in overcoming negative beliefs about owls. Because Mackinder’s eagle owls are highly adaptable to anthropomorphic landscape changes, largely due to their adaptability as food generalists, they are one of the few top predators remaining in this highly disturbed agricultural system. However, populations within agricultural areas remain especially vulnerable to negative human attitudes towards owls due to their close association with human activities.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effect of a HIV/AIDS life skills programme on the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of grade nine learners

  • Authors: Alma, Erica
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9916 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/739 , Life skills -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
  • Description: The first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981 and in 1983 the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was identified. Today, over 40 million individuals globally are living with HIV/AIDS. As there is currently no cure for the disease, it is projected to reach pandemic proportions in the 21st century. In South Africa at the end of 2006, over 5.3 million individuals were living with HIV/AIDS, with affluent and educated South Africans showing the highest HIVprevalence growth rate. The HIV prevalence amongst 15 to 24 year old South Africans is 10.4 percent. It has become vital that youth receive education about HIV/AIDS as early as possible, to ensure that they do not contract the virus. Psycho-education seeks to teach psychological knowledge and skills to individuals. This is also known as life skills teaching. The National Departments of Health and Education have developed a life skills programme for schools. This programme aims to, amongst others; educate young people about HIV/AIDS. The effectiveness of this programme will be assessed in two schools in the Port Elizabeth area. In this exploratory descriptive, triangulation research study, a quasiexperimental, one group pre- and post-test design was used to assess the effectiveness of the life skills programme amongst 211 Grade nine middle to upper socio-economic group learners. Four focus groups were conducted after the programme to explore the learner’s attitudes and perceptions of HIV/AIDS and their experiences of the programme. Tesch’s model of content analysis and Guba’s model of trustworthiness were used to analyse the data obtained from the focus groups.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effect of different management practices on the feed intake and growth rate of ostrich chicks

  • Authors: Kruger, Anna Christina Magdalena
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Ostriches -- South Africa -- Growth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10589 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/834 , Ostriches -- South Africa -- Growth
  • Description: Different management techniques were studied, at the Kromme Rhee Experimental Farm near Stellenbosch, in order to stimulate feed intake of ostrich chicks and to determine the effect on their growth rate. A first experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different dietary flavourants on the feed intake of ostrich chicks. Ostrich chicks (1-28 days of age), with no previous exposure to flavourants showed a strong preference for salty feed. Another experiment determined the effect of different colourants on the feed intake of ostrich chicks. Exposure of chicks to feed coloured artificially in different colours (green, red, blue and yellow) had no impact on the feed intake of ostrich chicks (1-28 days of age). Throughout the study the dry matter intake was the highest for the control diet, indicating that the provision of coloured feed to ostriches, as practised in this study, will not stimulate feed intake. The effect of feed processing and restriction of water availability for ostrich chicks was also examined. Extrusion reduced microbial counts in feed by 99.7 percent. Feed intake as well as average daily gain of chicks were lowered by both the pelleting and the extrusion process practised in this study. Processing did not have a positive influence on the production of ostrich chicks 6-15 weeks of age. Dry matter intake for chicks subjected to water restriction were the same as for birds receiving water ad libitum. Similarly growth rate as well as feed conversion ratio was not effected by restriction of water, as practised in this study. Another technique studied was to determine the effect of 24h artificial light on feed intake, growth and the behaviour of ostrich chicks (1-28 days of age). A Timeactivity budget revealed that chicks subjected to 24 hours of light spent more time eating (14.7 percent) than those subjected to normal day and night cycles (11.4 percent). In spite of this, no significant difference in feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio was observed for ostrich chicks subjected to different light regimes. The effect of different dietary salt levels on the production of ostrich chicks (8-12 weeks of age) was also determined. The performance of chicks was the best on a diet with a salt inclusion of 1.4 percent.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effect of restricted environments on selected postural, physiological and perceptual responses

  • Authors: Wolfe, Amy
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5115 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005193 , Human engineering , Posture , Human mechanics , Work environment , Human beings -- Effect of environment on , Musculoskeletal system -- Wounds and injuries , Industrial safety , Work -- Physiological aspects , Stress (Physiology)
  • Description: Manual lifting tasks are the predominant means of transporting materials in industry with many of these tasks being performed in confined spaces. Research has tended to focus on the biomechanical implications of working in small spaces with a decided lack of information about the physiological and perceptual responses in these environments. This holistic study therefore investigated the manner in which the human operator responded to conditions where the ceiling height was lowered and reach demands increased. Thirty-two young physically active male subjects (age: 21.55yr; stature: 1810mm) were recruited to complete a 2-way repeated measures experiment during which four lifting protocols where different combinations of ceiling height (‘normal’ or reduced to 1460mm in height) and reach demands (400mm or 800mm) were tested. A crude postural analysis was conducted while physiological responses were detailed and continuously monitored. Perceptual responses were also assessed. The tasks with a ‘normal’ ceiling height (mean compression forces: 2615N; mean shearing forces: 388N) and the greatest reach distance (mean compression forces: 3655N; mean shearing forces: 386N) placed individuals under the highest strain. Mean heart rate (HR) responses were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the URN condition when compared to the RF condition. Furthermore, HR responses were statistically significantly affected by the height of the ceiling and the reach depth. Statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) in mean tidal volume (VT) occurred in the least (URN) and most (RF) restrictive conditions. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in mean VE were evident between URN and URF, between URN and RF and between RN and RF. Ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically significant effect on all respiratory responses. There was a statistically significant difference in mean oxygen consumption (VO2) between the URN and all other conditions, and between the most restricted task (RF) and all other conditions. Both the effect of ceiling height and reach demands had a statistically statistically significant impact on VO2. Respiratory quotient (RQ) was significantly higher when loads were moved over 800mm compared to 400mm yet ceiling height did not have a statistically significant effect on RQ. Mean energy expenditure was significantly higher in the RF condition compared to the two least restrictive conditions (URN and RN). Statistically significant differences in EE were also evident between URN and RN, and between URN and URF. EE was significantly affected by reductions in ceiling height and increases in reach demands. Perceptually, the RF task (mean ‘Central’ RPE of 11) was perceived to place significantly greater cardiorespiratory demands on the operator compared to the URN (CRPE: 10) and RN (CRPE: 10) conditions. Statistically significant differences in perceived musculoskeletal strain only occurred between URN and RF. The effect of reach was perceived to have a statistically significant effect on both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal demands whereas ceiling height only had a statistically significant effect on musculoskeletal demands. The greatest discomfort was experienced in the lower back with the most intense discomfort occurring in the RN condition.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effect of varied instructions on prison guard role behaviour expectations

  • Authors: Githaiga, Sandra J N
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Prison psychology -- Experiments , Role expectations , Imprisonment -- Experiments
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9908 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/961 , Prison psychology -- Experiments , Role expectations , Imprisonment -- Experiments
  • Description: The Stanford Prison Experiment (SPE) was conducted to determine the psychological and behavioural effects of adopting the roles of prisoners or prison guards. In various published research articles Zimbardo reported that he instructed the prison guards to maintain law and order (Haney, Banks, & Zimbardo, 1973). However, in the Quiet Rage video (Zimbardo, 1989), Zimbardo gave the prison guards additional detailed instructions. To examine the effects of these different instructions on expected prison guard role behaviour, first year Psychology students were requested to predict expected prison guard role behaviour under two different conditions. In the order condition, participants received the instructions used in published research articles. While in the fear condition, participants received the instructions from the Quiet Rage video (Zimbardo, 1989). Participants estimated the likelihood of 50 guard behaviours. Participants in the order condition predicted more pleasant behaviour, while participants in the fear condition predicted more unpleasant behaviours. This indicates that the different instructions influenced their intent to perform the different behaviours. There was no significant difference between the fear and order conditions, and the control behaviours. Participants in both the fear and order conditions rated the control items as expected prison guard role behaviour. Participants in both conditions indicated that they would behave in this manner. Gender had no significant influence on expected prison guard role behavior.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effectiveness of blood donor education programmes in secondary schools in Mthatha (Eastern Cape)

  • Authors: Manjezi, Miseka Elizabeth
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Blood -- Transfusion -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Blood donors -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8701 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1010 , Blood -- Transfusion -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Blood donors -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Attitudes
  • Description: The dissertation takes the form of an impact study. It is based on a ten month period of research involving a literature review, interviews with headmasters of secondary schools who gave permission to survey their students, educational talks to secondary school learners and a survey of 500 learners from different schools in the Mthatha region. Purpose: The research endeavour addressed the problem of investigating the effectiveness of blood donor education in secondary schools in Mthatha region. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed a questionnaire-based survey. Five schools namely Mthatha High School, Holy Cross High School, Strategic High School; St Johns’ College and Zamukulungisa High School participated in this study. The Statistical Analysis System was employed to assess the association between the awareness strategies and general donor response. A chi–square test of association, based on the p –value approach, was used to achieve the results. Findings: This study finds that a blood donor education programme can increase blood donation awareness; benefit the schools and community, thus increasing the blood donor base. Receiving information as to the criteria for blood donation and how each individual donation is used to save a life is seen as a powerful means of reinforcement. Research limitations/implications: Further research is recommended on a large scale, involving all schools in Mthatha region. The research was delayed because it employed a new approach and a team had to be appointed before the blood donor centre can be opened. It is further recommended a once–off educational programme is not ideal because learners may not have received blood donation education before and should be repeated in follow-up sessions. Originality: This is the first research study looking at the effectiveness of a blood donor education programme in Mthatha secondary schools.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effectiveness of the Joint Building Contracts Committee Series 2000 Principal Building Agreement

  • Authors: Cumberlege, Roy Charles
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Joint Building Contracts Committee (South Africa) , Construction contracts -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:9665 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/768 , Joint Building Contracts Committee (South Africa) , Construction contracts -- South Africa
  • Description: With the growth experienced in the Building Industry, it is increasingly important to have a contract document that can be used on projects that is reasonably acceptable to all parties concerned. The objective of the research was to determine the effectiveness of the Joint Building Contracts Committee Series 2000 Principal Building Agreement (JBCC 2000 PBA)(Edition 4.1, March 2005) currently used in the Building Industry. The literature reviewed and results of quantitative research amongst contractors formed the basis of this study. The study revealed that the JBCC 2000 PBA is the most favourable contract document used by contractors in the Building Industry. With the inclusion of a range of construction guarantee alternatives in the contract document in lieu of the retention clause, more than half of the respondents have indicated that they are in favour of a retention clause to be included in the contract document as an alternative security option. The study also showed that there are still areas of concern with regards to the difficulty in interpreting and implementing numerous clauses of the document and that amendments were made to the document without legal advice, resulting in disputes. The research further also revealed that developing building contractors experience difficulties in general where the JBCC 2000 PBA is used as contract document on projects. There also seems to be no balance of risk between the employer and contractor in most cases where this contract document is used. The research concluded with proposals on revisions to some clauses to ensure a better contract document that will be acceptable to all contractors in the Building Industry and ultimately to be an internationally acceptable document.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effects of elephants at low densities and after short occupation time on the ecosystems of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Parker, Daniel Matthew
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Elephants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Biotic communities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Animal populations -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Plant communities -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Mammals -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Animal-plant relationships -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5678 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005363
  • Description: Elephants (Loxodonta africana, Blumenbach) are recognised as keystone herbivores and ecosystem engineers in African ecosystems due to the noticeable impact they have on plant communities. This impact can influence other animal taxa and ecosystem processes, especially within enclosed systems. I investigated the effects of elephants in four vegetation types and the cascade effect on three associated taxa and two ecosystem processes at five sites with elephants and five paired sites without elephants in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, between April 2005 and July 2007. In grassland habitats, the physical structure of the vegetation was neither enhanced nor degraded in the presence of elephants. Within the locally important Thicket Biome, elephant browsing transformed relatively homogeneous stands of vegetation into more heterogeneous units. However, although seeds from thicket plant species were recorded in elephant dung, elephants did not promote the viability and germination success of these plants. In addition, elephant foraging on aloes caused declines in their populations. By contrast, the size of bushclumps was not reduced in the presence of elephants in bushclump savanna. The associated insect, bird and mammal communities appeared to benefit from elephant foraging in all vegetation types assessed, whereas vegetation patch dynamics and soil surface processes were neither enhanced nor degraded in the presence of elephants. I conclude that, at current densities, elephants do not (in most cases) negatively affect plant and animal communities or ecosystem processes in enclosed reserves. However, elephants have only been present at each site for a relatively short period and it is likely that their impact will be cumulative, increasing over time in these closed systems. Thus, future research along a continuum of elephant density and time since re-introduction is recommended.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effects of increased freshwater inflow on metal enrichment in selected Eastern Cape estuaries, South Africa

  • Authors: Orr, Kyla K , Burgess, Jo E , Froneman, P William
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: vital:6967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012032
  • Description: The concentrations of select metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni and Zn) within the water column and sediment of the permanently open Kariega Estuary and temporary open / closed Riet and East Kleinemonde Estuaries were investigated during a dry and a wet season. Enrichment factors (EFs), using Fe as a reference element, and baseline linear regression models for metals vs Fe were used to assess the extent of metal enrichment in the sediments. The results of the study indicate that Cd, Co Ni and Pb were enriched above baseline concentrations (1.0 < EF < 4.1) in the sediments of all three estuaries. Co, Pb and Ni enrichment in the Kariega Estuary sediments was significantly higher during the dry season, and the mean concentrations of Pb and Cd in the water column were 19-fold and 66-fold higher in the dry season. The elevated concentration of metals during the dry season could be related to accumulation of diffuse pollution from human activities within the catchment area. Conversely, inflow of freshwater into the estuary had the net effect of reducing the concentration and enrichment of these metals within the Kariega Estuary due to scouring and outflow of estuarine water and sediment into the marine environment. The temporal variations in metal concentrations and enrichment factors were less pronounced in the temporary open / closed estuaries than the Kariega Estuary. The observed trend can probably be related to the low anthropogenic impact within the catchment areas of these systems, and the relatively smaller size of the catchments. Significant spatial variations existed in metal enrichment in the sediment of both the East Kleinemonde and Riet Estuaries, with the highest degrees of enrichment occurring in the sediments from the marine environment and lower reaches.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effects of load and gradient on hand force responses during dynamic pushing and pulling tasks

  • Authors: Bennett, Anthea I , Desai, Sheena D , Todd, Andrew I , Freeland, H
  • Date: 2008
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: vital:6757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009459
  • Description: The limited attention afforded to push/pull activities and the motion phases (initial, sustained and ending) characteristic of these tasks has prompted a research focus in this area. The present study examined biomechanical responses in the form of hand forces during dynamic submaximal trolley pushing and pulling. Participants pushed/pulled loads of 100, 200 and 300 kg on the level (determining impact of load) or pushed 100 kg along a 12° ramp (uphill and downhill- determining impact of gradient). During level exertions significant differences (p<0.05) in hand forces occurred between loads of 100 and 200 kg, and 100 and 300 kg for initial and sustained forces but not ending forces. Values were similar for pushing and pulling at respective loads and motion phases. Strong correlations indicate that initial forces can be used to accurately estimate sustained and ending forces. Importantly, correct technique is essential in force reduction. Forces were highest during uphill initial and sustained phases and the downhill sustained phase. For the initial phase, the forces were highest during uphill pushing (86.5 ± 25.73 N); for the sustained phase, there was no difference between uphill and downhill forces but level forces were significantly lower (18.19 ± 8.09 N) than either of the other two conditions; for the ending phase, the highest forces were produced during downhill pushing (-53.34 ± 13.65N). As sustained forces equaled or exceeded initial forces for uphill and downhill efforts, consideration of sustained forces may be appropriate in determining the inherent potential risk of graded pushing.
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  • Date Issued: 2008

The effects of thicket transformation on the diet and body condition of Angora goats

  • Authors: Milne, Tracey Anne
  • Date: 2008
  • Subjects: Angora goat -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10720 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/700 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012896 , Angora goat -- Feeding and feeds -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: Climate change is predicted to have a negative effect on the rangelands of sub-Saharan Africa, affecting the distribution, productivity and extent of these rangelands. Similarly, Subtropical Thicket vegetation in the Eastern Cape, South Africa is expected to experience a reduction in plant growth with conditions becoming similar to those experienced under desertification. The transformation of thicket results in a decrease in perennial plant species cover and richness, which is replaced by an ephemeral layer of grasses and forbs. Assessing the responses of herbivores to this transformation thus allows the testing of the hypothesis that climate change and desertification will lead to a broadening of diet and a decline in secondary productivity. In this study, the diet and productivity of Angora goats in intact and transformed thicket in adjacent paddocks was investigated from August 2005 to July 2006. Faecal analysis was used to compare the diets of the Angora goats in the intact and transformed thicket treatments. Goats in the transformed treatment consumed a higher diversity of plant species (94 species) compared to those in the intact thicket (42 species). The higher species richness per faecal sample and the larger seasonal variation in plant species utilized by the goats in the transformed treatment reflected the variability of this treatment in response to rainfall. Dietary shifts to include less palatable species not found in the intact treatment diet were clear, but due to the high rainfall year an abundant ephemeral layer, comprising grasses and forbs, was available in the transformed treatment. The diet quality of the transformed treatment goats was higher, as indexed by faecal lignin, than the intact treatment goats, although there was no statistical difference in the NDF and ash levels between the treatments. There was however, more variation in the nutritional quality of the transformed thicket diet, as indexed by dietary phosphorous, showing that intact thicket retains a more constant nutritional level. There was no difference in the body condition and mohair production of the goats in the two treatments. The hypothesis of broadening of the diet was thus supported, but there was no evidence for the predicted decline in secondary productivity. This study was undertaken during an above average rainfall period and large quantities of nutritious ephemeral grasses were available in the transformed treatment. This resource would not be available in a drought; therefore goats in the intact thicket will likely perform better over longer periods; providing stocking rates are realistic. This is the first study to measure the response of domestic herbivores to transformation either in terms of resource use or production.
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  • Date Issued: 2008
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