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Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

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DIE PROFIEL VAN DIE SUKSESVOLLE STUDENTVERPLEEGKUNDIGE - 'N EMPIRIESE ONDERSOEK BY DIE WES-TRANSVAALSE VERPLEGINGSKOLLEGE
(North-West University, 1993) Van der Heeve, Elizabeth, Petronella; Rothmann, S
An objective screening process is a requirement in most organizations before candidates are appointed. The screening of nursing staff is at present based on Standard 10 achievement in certain subjects, as well as an interview in the case of some institutions. In spite of this the dropout rate of student nurses is high, and financial losses occuring from this cannot be justified. Research about the characteristics of successful student nurses as part of the objective screening process has therefore become essential. The purpose of this study was to determine the profile of the successful student nurse with regard to both cognitive and non cognitive variables. A literature study was undertaken with regard to the components of an objective screening process and the determination of job specifications by means of psychometric tests. Seeing that academic achievement is used as a criterion for success for student nurses, there was a focus on the cognitive and non-cognitive predictors of this kind of success. The target population consisted of 39 white and 56 black student nurses. Data about the cognitive and non-cognitive functioning of the student nurses were collected at the start of their training period. Cognitive predictors used included Standard 10 achievement and two sub-tests of the Senior Aptitude Test (SAT). Non-cognitive predictors used included the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ), the Nineteen-Field Interest Inventory (19FII), the Vocational Interest Questionnaire (VIQ) and the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes (SSHA). Academic achievement following the four-year course in Nursing was used to distinguish between unsuccessful and successful student nurses. The results were analysed by means of descriptive statistics and hypotheses tested by means of t-tests and discriminant analysis. A significant difference was found between Standard 10 achievement of the successful and unsuccessful groups, while no significant differences could be determined with regard to verbal comprehension and numerical ability. Some differences with regard to personality and interest could be determined between the successful and unsuccessful groups, although these were not of high practical significance. The successful group manifested better study orientation and methods than the unsuccessful group. In this study it was found that a combination of Standard 10 achievement, some personality factors and positive study attitudes distinguished successful candidates from unsuccessful ones, which casts doubt on the negation of psychometric tests as part of the screening process. Recommendations are made for future research.
DIE ONTWIKKELING VAN 'N SPORT-SPESIFIEKE IRRASIONELE KOGNISIE-SKAAL
(North-West University, 1992) Van der Veen, Hans; Henning, J.J.
Literature concedes a scarcity of theories specific to the sub - discipline of sport psychology. Inevitably constructs, derived from the general discipline of psychology, have been assimilated without sufficient concern for their applicability. Rational-emotive theory may be regarded as relevant within the sport psychological context due, firstly, to its stress on cognition as the mediator of behavior, and;secondly, to its applicability to psychological educational programmes aspects in accordance with the consensual role of the sport psychologist. It is concluded that the development of sport psychological measures of irrational beliefs may facilitate the development of a theory specific to sport psychology, as well as providing a context-relevant assessment procedure. The explicit goal of this study was the development of a sport specific questionnaire, The Irrational Belief Scale for Athletes (IBS-A), which is intended to assess irrational beliefs among track and field athletes. For the purpose of this study, irrationality was conceptualized in accordance with Ellis' formulation of twelve core irrationalities. Item selection commenced with the goal of maximizing internal homogeneity consistent with the primary aim of variable description and assessment, rather than prediction. More specifically, an item's correlation to the subtest from which it was derived, was decisive in its inclusion within the final format. An alpha coefficient ranging between 0.54 - 0.88 on the 12 subscales, together with a total scale value of 0.86 may, if compared to the scores attained on related measures of irrationality, reflect a satisfactory level of internal reliability. The attempt to represent a multidimensional conceptualization of athletic-related irrationality, as depicted within Ellis' core irrationalities, was negated by the identification of an undesirable commonality within the intercorrelation data, that is, the majority of items and subscales reflect a significant correlation with each of the other scales (p < 0.05). It may be concluded that the IBS-A should primarily be regarded as a global, rather than multidimensional, assessment of irrational. The descriptive statistics indicated an adequate variance on the majority of subscales (with the exception of Subscales 1, 3 and 8), and on the total scale. This reflects an adequate ability to discriminate amongst differing degrees of irrationality. A positive indication of construct validity is reflected by a significant correlation between the IBS-A and a measure of a theoretically similar construct (the Belief Scale of Schutte and Malouff, 1986). Excluding Subscale 9, gender differences were non-significant. Despite limitations of the IBS-A, and the controversies surrounding theories of irrationality, measurement, and sport, specific recommendations have nevertheless been formulated. It is suggested that the indices of temporal stability and discriminant validity be computed, as must the correlation between athletic performance and irrationality. Finally, it is suggested that further item selection methods which increase subscale heterogeneity ( e.g. a factor analysis) could be employed in order to extract purer dimensions of athletics-related irrational beliefs.
Talentidentifisering en -ontwikkeling van 14-15-jarige hokkiespeelsters
(North-West University(South Africa), 1999) Nieuwenhuis, Carolina F; Spamer, E.J; van Rossum, J.H.A
International competition becomes more challenging as competitors reach top performances at an increasingly younger age. Scientific methods of identifying and developing talent in hockey are not widely used at present, neither in South Africa nor overseas. Such methods can, however, contribute significantly to identify talented players and help to develop talent over a period of time. The first objective of this study was to identify anthropometric, motor, physical, and psychological variables, as well as to identify specific hockey skills that could influence hockey performance at the age of 14/15 years. The objective was to compile a prediction function from the identified components to discriminate between successful and less successful 14/15-year-old female hockey players. The two top girls' hockey teams in the North West Province U/15 hockey league (N=27) were used, as well as the two teams who ended at the bottom of the log (N=25). A test battery of 9 hockey skills, 16 anthropometric, 6 physical and motor abilities was administered to the selected subjects. Two sport psychological tests were also conducted. An analysis of the data was done for descriptive statistical purposes ( x , s), as well as determining the statistical differences between the successful and less successful players (t-, p-values). Results indicated differences between successful and less successful players in 2 anthropometric, 2 physical motor, 2 hockey specific and 2 psychological variables. A stepwise discriminant analysis was conducted on the eight parameters, after which two prediction functions for this study were developed, one consisting of 5 variables and one of 8 variables. Results indicated that a classification of hockey players as successful and less successful is possible. The second objective was to compile a development programme aimed at the age group 14/15 years to be followed by the selected players. The third objective was to implement the development programme on selected players and to monitor the effect of the development programme on the skills and abilities of the players. Information for compiling the development programme was obtained from coaching programmes from Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa. The development programme included basic individual skills and was designed to run over eighteen weeks, twice a week for 1 hour sessions each. The subjects (N=152) for this study were selected from the hockey playing schools in the Potchefstroom, Stilfontein, Klerksdorp and Orkney areas in the North West Province. The prediction function was used to evaluate the players and they were then ranked according to their talent using the canonial variable. The experimental subjects (N=58) who were classified as the most talented according to the ranking, were divided at random into two groups in accordance with the indiscriminate method. These groups were the experimental group (N=26) and control group 1 (N=32). Control group 2 (N=27) consisted of players who did not play hockey but participated in other sport. Control group 1 and control group 2 did not take part in the development programme, but they were tested with the experimental group during two evaluation sessions, with regard to the selected test variables to monitor the effect of the development programme. The first evaluation took place before the commencement of the development programme and the second evaluation at the end of the programme. The test battery was completed to evaluate the hockey development programme and contained the following test variables: anthropometric (7), physical motor (9), hockey specific (9) and psychological (3) variables. The first objective of the study was to use the prediction function to distinguish between successful and less successful hockey players and to identify hockey talent at the age of 14/15 years. The development programme showed an improvement after eighteen weeks of practise in 6 of the physical motor and 7 of the hockey specific test variables. There was, however, no significant improvement in 8 of the physical motor and 4 of the hockey specific variables over the period of eighteen weeks. These results indicate that the programme will have to be adjusted if greater improvement is to be achieved in some of the variables. It can be reported, conclusively, that a valid test battery was found in this study. Talent could be identified and classified in 14/15-year-old hockey players. A practical and successful method has been found to aid the teacher-coach or coach in selecting and developing talent among the 14/15-year age group hockey players in South Africa.
n Model vir Strategiese Beplanning vir Primêre Landbouprodusente in Wes-Transvaal
(North-West University (South-Africa), 1992) Kilian, Andrie Petrus; Du Preez , N.P.
The marn object of the study was to develop a practical and applicable model for strategic planning by primary producers, in the Western Transvaal. A dynamic and changing environment characterize the current situation in the agriculture and make it imperative that farmers have to think and plan pro-active and strategic. Farmers experience severe problems to maintain growth in their farming enterprizes and the survival of many farmers is indeed at stake. Macro factors in the external environment bring definite strategic threats and oppertunities forward, with which farming enterprizes have to cope. These factors include: the unfavourable economic situation and prospects, the uncertain political situation, demographic and social changes, pressure for the preservation of the environment, inconsistant climatic, conditions, a dropping exchange rate in agricultural production, the phasing out of agricultural subsidies and the application of labour legislation in the agriculture. Internal factors which neccessitate strategic action include: the misapplication of natural resources on many farms, the unfavourable financial position and profitability of farming enterprizes as well as shortcomings in management practices and management effectiveness. The concept of strategic planning is well established in the business sector. Several models are therefore available in the literature for the process of strategic planning. In order to develop a model for strategic planning in the agriculture, these theoretical principles were used as basis. The theory of farm management was also brought into consideration. The theoretical appraisal focussed on the following: the nature of strategic planning, the value of strategic planning and the process of strategic planning. Seven steps of the process of strategic planning were used, according to which the theory. was reviewed.
Die Verband Tussen Visualisering in Chemie en Begripsvorming
(North-West University (South-Africa), 2000) Kemp, Rosina; Nel, Stephanus Johannes; du Toit, Cornelius Johannes
Visual material serves as a supporting aid in chemistry education and can make a valuable contribution to visualization.This research aims specifically at evaluating the visualization caused by visual material on chemistry concepts and investigating its contribution to concept formation.The study identified a visually based instructional strategy in the form of a video lesson regarding the water molecule and its changes of phase.The effectiveness of this strategy was evaluated with 38 first-level technikon students by comparing traditional lecture methods with lessons that incorporated the video.The results were positive and provided important guidelines for the future structuring and implementation of visual material in chemistry