scholarly journals A unique fingerprint? Factors influencing attitudes towards science and technology in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol Volume 112 (Number 7/8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Guenther ◽  
Peter Weingart ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Research Field ◽  
African Population ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Attitudes Towards Science

Abstract From an international perspective, research in the field of public attitudes towards science and technology has been conducted since the 1970s. A frequently proposed – and empirically supported – theory is that strong interest in and knowledge about science in a society is associated with more favourable attitudes towards science. This positive attitude in turn affects support for public funding of science. However, this research field is not without controversy, and for the South African population many questions remain unanswered. Initial research has not explored the factors that shape attitudes towards science and technology in detail. We re-analysed data from the Human Sciences Research Council to explore the above theory. Interestingly, for the South African population, higher levels of scientific literacy and use of information sources are associated with more promises but also more reservations towards science and technology. This is especially true for relatively young and educated survey respondents. In international comparison, South Africa shows a unique fingerprint to some extent, but also shares characteristics with industrially developing countries of Europe (such as Greece or Portugal). To understand the correlations better, future research should aim to examine the overall picture when investigating the diverse South African population more extensively.

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 Prevalence and correlates of pre-diabetes in adults of mixed ethnicities in the South African population: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e048266
Author(s):  
Aubrey Mbulelo Sosibo ◽  
Nomusa Christina Mzimela ◽  
Phikelelani Siphosethu Ngubane ◽  
Andile Khathi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
South African ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
African Population ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Metabolic Complications ◽  
Registration Number

IntroductionPre-diabetes is a metabolic condition characterised by moderate glycaemic dysregulation and is a front-line risk factor to multiple metabolic complications such as overt diabetes. To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first systematic review and meta-analysis that focuses on generating a comprehensive pooling of studies that report on the pre-diabetes prevalence in South Africa. Therefore, the review’s purpose will be to screen and elect reports that can be used to synthesise and provide the best estimate prevalence and correlate of pre-diabetes in the South African population.Methods and analysisTo determine the prevalence and correlates of pre-diabetes in South African, we will search PubMed, Embase and African Journal online for published or unpublished studies reporting the prevalence of pre-diabetes in South Africa starting from the year 2000 to 2020. Studies will be assessed for eligibility by checking if they meet the inclusion criteria. Eligible studies will undergo data extraction and risk of bias assessment. We will perform a subgroup analysis to detect probable causes of heterogeneity.Ethics and disseminationThe review will not require ethics clearance because non-identifiable data will be used. The review outcomes will give more insight into the current burden that pre-diabetes has in South Africa.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020182430.

Mutations in the parkin gene are a minor cause of Parkinson's disease in the South African population

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
William L. Haylett ◽  
Rowena J. Keyser ◽  
Melissa C. du Plessis ◽  
Celia van der Merwe ◽  
Janine Blanckenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
South African ◽  
African Population ◽  
Parkin Gene ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Population ◽  
A Minor

scholarly journals The emergence of cardiovascular disease during urbanisation of Africans

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (1a) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
HH Vorster
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
South African ◽  
African Population ◽  
Published Data ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Population Groups ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Black South Africans

AbstractObjective:To review the available data on risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the influence of urbanisation of Africans on these risk factors, and to examine why stroke emerges as a higher risk than ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in the health transition of black South Africans.Design:A review of published data on mortality from and risk factors of CVD in South Africans.Setting:South Africa.Subjects:South African population groups and communities.Methods:The available data on the contribution of stroke and IHD to CVD mortality in South Africa are briefly reviewed, followed by a comparison of published data on the prevalence and/or levels of CVD risk factors in the different South African population groups. The impact of urbanisation of black South Africans on these risk factors is assessed by comparing rural and urban Africans who participated in the Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans (THUSA) study.Results and conclusions: The mortality rates from CVD confirmed that stroke is a major public health problem amongst black South Africans, possibly because of an increase in hypertension, obesity, smoking habit and hyperfibrinogenaemia during various stages of urbanisation. The available data further suggest that black South Africans may be protected against IHD because of favourable serum lipid profiles (low cholesterol and high ratios of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and low homocysteine values. However, increases in total fat and animal protein intake of affluent black South Africans, who can afford Western diets, are associated with increases in body mass indices of men and women and in total serum cholesterol. These exposures may increase IHD risk in the future.

Capacity building in ecological informatics: Lessons from the DST/CSIR learnership programme in South Africa

First Monday ◽  
2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudzani Albert Makhado ◽  
Martie J Van Deventer ◽  
Laurie Barwell ◽  
Althea M.L. Adey ◽  
Richard Knight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
South African ◽  
Information Society ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Industrial Research ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The South ◽  
National Information

This paper provides the lessons learned from an attempt by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to develop a National Information Society Learnership in Ecological Informatics (NISL: EI). Ten unemployed graduates were selected in 2004 to be part of two years NISL: EI learnership programme. The results show that the programme had succeeded in making candidates employable, with 90 percent of the learners working in different science and technology sectors, and two Honours degrees having been awarded. Challenges for higher level learnership development and implementation are identified and possible solutions are discussed.

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