scholarly journals Using Qualitative Tools as Interventionist Research Strategies for Emancipation

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 160940691879957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alude Mahali ◽  
Sharlene Swartz
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Black Students ◽  
South African ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Interactive Methods ◽  
Participatory Methods ◽  
Research Strategies

As much as South African struggles for freedom and transformation can be termed emancipatory, not all attempts to research and record them can be similarly described. This article documents the research methods employed in a qualitative study that followed 80, mostly Black students, over 5 years in order to document the struggles to succeed faced by students in South Africa. The study ultimately interrogated the centrality of race in the quest for education and emancipation with a view toward understanding what drives self-determination and success in universities. A central intention of the study was for it to be research as intervention through the use of conscious research methods that would contribute to developing agency and action among students. Each of the participatory methods chosen, it was hoped, would contribute toward helping students develop wider networks and self-reflectivity in a quest for success in university. The five interactive methods used included an annual in-depth participant interview, social network interviews with an array of peers and stakeholder, a Facebook weblog to which participations made written and photographic submissions, a written reflection at the end of the fifth year, and an autoethnographic documentary in which participation was optional. Each of these activities was designed to have outcomes which can be described to varying extents as participatory and/or emancipatory.

YOUTH WELLBEING IN SOUTH AFRICA: WHAT DIMENSIONS SHOULD WE MEASURE?

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dabesaki Mac-Ikemenjima
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Time Use ◽  
Economic Relationships ◽  
African Cities ◽  
South African Cities ◽  
Selection Of

There is growing interest in the development of measures and indexes of youth wellbeing. However, there has been a limited discussion on indicators to measure and select them. This paper reports on the results of a qualitative study on the selection of indicators to measure the wellbeing of young people in South Africa, and reflects on the relevance of the content of their values in choosing indicators for measuring their wellbeing. The data used in this analysis is based on telephone (9) and email (6) interviews conducted with 15 young people (male=5, female=10) aged 22 to 32 from five South African cities during July 2010. In the interviews, participants were asked to identify five issues they considered important to their lives, after which they were asked to rank them in order of importance. The issues indicated by the participants are described and discussed in six dimensions: economic, relationships, spiritual and health, education, time use and material. The indicators developed from this study are discussed in terms of their relevance for use in a measure of youth wellbeing in South Africa.

scholarly journals The relationship between the National Senior Certificate and the National Benchmark Test for accounting students at a South African university

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Riley Carpenter ◽  
◽  
Lily Roos ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Black Students ◽  
South African ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Accounting Students ◽  
Strong Correlations ◽  
Benchmark Test ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Relationship

The South African accounting profession needs racial transformation. Consequently, students pursuing the chartered accountant (South Africa) (CA(SA)) designation, especially at-risk Black students, require adequate support. To be successful, the support must be driven by factors influencing students’ academic performance. As prior academic performance is one such factor, this study examines the relationship between the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams and the National Benchmark Test (NBT) for students enrolled in an accounting degree at a South African university. Due to numerous moderate and strong correlations between NSC and NBT results, without multicollinearity, it was concluded that both sets of results should be considered as factors contributing to students’ academic performance. The findings highlight the need for further empirical research on NSC and NBT results as determinants of success for accounting students.

scholarly journals Social network determinants of alcohol and tobacco use: A qualitative study among out of school youth in South Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. e0240690
Author(s):  
Rachana Desai ◽  
Robert A. C. Ruiter ◽  
Ansuyah Magan ◽  
Priscilla S. Reddy ◽  
Liesbeth A. G. Mercken
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Out Of School Youth ◽  
School Youth ◽  
Out Of School

scholarly journals Subordination vs. agency/resistance in South Africa: Virgins bargaining their way through higher education

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-445
Author(s):  
Sunelle Stander
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Black Students ◽  
South African ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
Alternative Route ◽  
South African Context ◽  
Student Protests ◽  
African Context

Oppression manifests itself in various ways, such that intersections between different forms of oppression can be identified. This is also true for women living in South Africa, a country that has for years been plagued by many forms of oppression (racism, sexism, classism, etc.). Women are, amidst various forms of oppression, often left with few alternative options but to bargain with various forms of gender relations as a means to obtain basic human rights (like education). Recent student protests have highlighted the discriminating ways in which black students are kept from obtaining higher education. The so called “maidens bursary”, awarded to underprivileged girls who vow to stay virgins throughout their studies, will be used as a case study that examines an alternative route to which underprivileged women may resort in order to obtain a quality education. The notion of patriarchal bargaining will then be used to illumine the often unrecognized, complex and interwoven relationship between subordination and agency/resistance that operates within the South African context.

Recent experiences in South Africa and Ethiopia to accommodate cultural diversity: a regained interest in the right of self-determination

2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Henrard ◽  
Stefaan Smis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
South African ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
The South ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
The Right ◽  
Right Of Self Determination

This article examines the right to self-determination and the various constitutional mechanisms that can be used to accommodate cultural diversity. Using the South African and Ethiopian constitutions as case-studies, it concludes that it is possible to respect the principle of equality and the right to identity of "population groups" in a way which will pre-empt calls for external self-determination, and it suggests that the mechanisms used in these two countries may serve as a model elsewhere in Africa and beyond.

scholarly journals Taking the Test: A Qualitative Analysis of Cultural and Contextual Factors Impacting Neuropsychological Assessment of Xhosa-Speaking South Africans

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maral Aghvinian ◽  
Anthony F Santoro ◽  
Hetta Gouse ◽  
John A Joska ◽  
Teboho Linda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Testing Procedures

Abstract Objective There is an urgent need to make neuropsychological (NP) testing more acceptable, accessible, and culturally salient, particularly for culturally, educationally, and linguistically diverse individuals from countries who may have little-to-no experience with NP testing. In settings with limited resources such as South Africa, unique cultural and contextual factors (e.g., structural inequality, poverty) may impact the experience of NP evaluation. Research in this area is limited and requires further exploration. This qualitative study explores the role of cultural and contextual factors that may impact the experience of NP evaluation in a sample of Xhosa-speaking South African adults. Participant interviews explored the context from which individuals arrived at the NP assessment (e.g., quality of education, understanding of cognitive disorders), and their experience of completing NP tests. Method This qualitative study used data from semistructured interviews to conduct a thematic analysis exploring contextual factors and the experience of completing NP tests for the first time among Xhosa-speaking South African adults (N = 22). Results: Although no participants had prior experience with NP testing, most found testing procedures acceptable. Most participants, however, reported a limited understanding of the purpose of NP testing and cognitive problems. Additionally, some participants reported perceptions and attitudes that could affect test performance, such as misinterpreting standard testing procedures (e.g., no feedback from the examiner, being stopped mid-task) as indicative of poor performance. Conclusions This study provided much needed exploration into unique cultural factors that may impact the experience of NP assessment in South Africa, which could bias test performance and interpretation, and may aid the field of cross-cultural NP in better serving culturally and linguistically diverse populations. In these countries, neuropsychologists may need to actively evaluate participants’ understanding of NP testing to help foster optimal assessment conditions. They may also need to educate participants on possible causes of cognitive disorders.

scholarly journals Lecturers′ Perceptions of Leadership Traits which Promote Motivation in a South African Technical and Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) College

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
Alois Nzembe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Leadership Traits ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Perceptions Of Leadership ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
And Training

Abstract Educator morale has been a focus of educational leaders and managers throughout the world, because without educator motivation and morale the learning and teaching in our schools would be grossly compromised. It is against this background that this research was carried out to find out lecturers’ perceptions of leadership traits which promote motivation in a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in South Africa. The research questions which guided this research were as follows: What are lecturers′ perceptions of leadership traits which promote motivation in an educational and training institution in South Africa? How can educational leaders and management in South Africa integrate their experiences and practices with what educators believe are the main drivers of high lecturer morale? A qualitative study was used to generate data that would be useful in answering the research questions. The nature of this qualitative study required in-depth interviews with participants where qualitative data was generated and interpreted. The researcher saw it fit to use in-depth interviews because this method of data generation would enable the researcher to capture the perspectives, views and opinions of participants about leadership traits which facilitate motivation in the South African TVET College in particular and the South African education system in general. The views of the participants showed that leadership traits such as accountability, responsibility, empathy, decisiveness, assertiveness, charisma, pro-activeness, motivation and communication are the life-blood, foundation and bed-rock of effective leadership and management in the TVET College.

Collaboration between libraries, archives and museums in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kagiso Mabe ◽  
Andrea Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
South African ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The World ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Good Number

Background: Many libraries, archives and museums (LAMs) all over the world have begun digitising their collections, and with a good number of these institutions failing to sustain their digitisation projects because they cannot afford to, it is best to find ways to lessen the financial burden that comes with digitisation.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the possible benefits and challenges if LAMs in South Africa were to collaborate on digitisation efforts.Method: A mono-method qualitative study was undertaken. The objectives were addressed by making use of a literature review and by conducting non-standardised, semi-structured interviews with 21 interviewees located at different LAMs.Results: It was found that funding for digitisation projects was a major problem, while collaboration between LAMs would involve sharing the financial burden among several institutions. In addition, reasons preventing LAMs from forming collaborative partnerships for the purpose of digitisation were also identified. A lack of collaborative digitisation policies and funding, both internally and between LAMs, was found to be a major obstacle for the formation of such partnerships. In determining the relevance of the research, it was important to determine whether or not LAMs in South Africa were open to collaboration and responses to this question were positive. It can thus be concluded that the results of this study can be used to motivate and guide collaboration partnerships for the purpose of digitisation between South African LAMs.Conclusion: It was concluded that collaboration could indeed appreciably alleviate problems related to digitisation, the most prominent being the cost associated with such endeavours.

A profile of accounting research in South African accounting journals

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniël Coetsee ◽  
Nerine Stegmann
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Profile ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accounting Research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the profile of accounting research in the two academic accounting research journals in South Africa (Meditari Accountancy Research and SA Journal of Accounting Research) during the ten‐year period from 2000 to 2009.Design/methodology/approachThe archival research method is applied, which analyses existing data (in this case the articles published in the South African (SA) accounting research journals) to come to research conclusions. The research method used to analyse the related articles in the SA accounting research journals is based on various international studies. The following dimensions are assessed: authorship; research field; the nature of the research; and research methods. Authorship is classified by institution, and the top seven authors by relative contribution are also identified. Both empirical and theoretical work are classified separately in different research methods.FindingsThese different dimensions provide a broad‐based review of the current profile of accounting research in South Africa.Research limitations/implicationsOther refereed academic articles in the field of accounting have been published in non‐accounting specific SAPSE‐approved journals. These articles are also excluded from the scope of this research since the journals in which they are published have not been established by accounting academics specifically.Practical implicationsThe motivation for doing this research is to identify the current profile of accounting research in South Africa that could be used as a basis for future research‐related development.Originality/valueKnowledge of the profile of accounting research in South Africa could provide opportunities for scholars to expand identified research areas and explore methods that are currently under‐developed in the South African accountancy research field. The paper also acknowledges the contributions by the most prolific authors in the identified journals.

scholarly journals State and Revolution: Reflections from South African Institutions of Higher Learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavhungu Elias Musitha
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
The Past ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Tear Gas ◽  
Democratic Rights ◽  
Democratic Principles

Democratic states should use democratic principles namely engagement, negotiation, discussion, persuasion and participation to resolve challenges in societies. This is in contrast to colonial and apartheid states which used police, army, imprisonment, exile or banishment from the country against blacks who demanded democratic rights. This study investigates whether democratic South Africa embraces democratic principles highlighted above to deal with its domestic problems or is merely an extension of colonial and apartheid states in addressing challenges it faces. The study makes use of literature to answer the question. This is a qualitative study. The study found that democratic South Africa uses the same undemocratic instruments as evidenced by its handling of the #FeesMustFall campaign.  #FeesMustFall leaders and students are being shot at, arrested, and imprisoned in the same jails built and used by the apartheid state, stun grenades are being thrown at them and tear gas sprayed at them. The conclusion of this study is that by implementing similar instruments of maintaining security there is no difference between the means used by oppressive colonial and apartheid governments of the past and those used by democratic SA today.

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