scholarly journals An ethnomethodological analysis of students’ understanding of the concept of trigonometry in a high-stakes examination in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-106
Author(s):  
Marius Derick Simons ◽  
Kadek Adi Wibawa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Discourse Practices ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
School Based ◽  
Mathematics Examination ◽  
Thinking Processes ◽  
Group Interviews

[English]: In South Africa, National Senior Certificate (NSC) mathematics examination is a capping external examination taken at the culmination of twelve years of schooling. The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the responses of examinees in the examinations in the concept of trigonometry. While the study mainly used an ethnomethodological approach, a documentary analytical approach was also adopted. Documentary analysis was necessitated by the private nature of the NSC examination, as we only had access to the written work of the examinees. The major findings were: (1) that the strategies and tactics used by examinees are highly driven by the context of the high-stakes examination; (2) that examinees’ ways of working exhibit the general structure of the practice that is commonly found in mathematical discourse practices. Further studies are required to deepen the understanding of the thinking processes of examinees by conducting focus group interviews, where the examinees are afforded opportunities to explain their workings in school-based assessments. [Bahasa]: Di Afrika Selatan, ujian matematika National Senior Certificate (NSC) adalah ujian tambahan yang diambil pada akhir dari dua belas tahun sekolah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melakukan investigasi dan analisis tanggapan siswa peserta ujian matematika NSC terkait konsep trigonometri. Selain pendekatan etnometodologi yang secara umum dipakai dalam penelitian ini, pendekatan analitis dokumenter yang juga diadopsi terkait karakteristik ujian NSC, dalam hal inipeneliti hanya memiliki akses pada jawaban tertulis peserta ujian. Temuan utama penelitian adalah: (1) bahwa strategi dan taktik yang digunakan oleh peserta ujian sangat didorong oleh konteks ujian berisiko tinggi; (2) bahwa cara kerja peserta ujian menunjukkan struktur umum praktik yang biasa ditemukan dalam praktis diskursus matematika. Penelitian lebih lanjut diperlukan untuk memperdalam pemahaman tentang proses berpikir peserta ujian dengan melakukan wawancara kelompok terfokus, dimana peserta ujian diberikan kesempatan untuk menjelaskan cara kerja mereka dalam penilaian berbasis sekolah.

scholarly journals Disrespect and Abuse Experienced by Women during Childbirth in Midwife-Led Obstetric Units in Tshwane District, South Africa: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3667
Author(s):  
Refilwe Malatji ◽  
Sphiwe Madiba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Maternity Care ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Respectful Maternity Care ◽  
Disrespect And Abuse ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Postnatal Women ◽  
The Common ◽  
Group Interviews

The disrespect and abuse (D&A) of women during childbirth is common and a great concern in midwifery-led obstetric units (MOUs) in South Africa. This paper used the seven chapters of the Respectful Maternity Care Charter as a framework to explore women’s experiences of care during childbirth and examine the occurrence of D&A during childbirth in MOUs. Five focus group interviews were conducted with postnatal women aged 18 to 45 years selected purposively from MOUs in Tshwane District in South Africa. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic approach and NVivo11 computer software. D&A of women was common during labor and childbirth. Verbal abuse in the form of shouting, labeling, judging, and rude remarks was the common form of D&A. Some of the women were abandoned and neglected, which resulted in their giving birth without assistance. Furthermore, the midwives violated their rights and denied them care such as pain relief medication, birth companions during childbirth, and access to ambulance services. Midwives are at the center of the provision of maternity care in MOUs in South Africa. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen interventions to adopt and implement policies that promotes respectful, nonabusive care during childbirth in MOUs.

scholarly journals A care deficit? The roles of families and faith-based organisations in the lives of youth at the margins in Pretoria Central

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlize Rabe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Young People ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Dropping Out ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Care Deficit

After completing or dropping out of school, many young people leave their family households and in some cases they move from rural or semi-rural areas to urban centres. Faith-based organisations (FBOs) in major cities in South Africa sometimes act as a safety net for marginalised youth, especially as government departments are overburdened and not addressing all the needs of youth at the margins. This qualitative research is based on an analysis of individual and focus group interviews undertaken with young people living in the central areas of Pretoria. It is shown how families and FBOs engage as separate, although at times not unrelated, entities in the lives of youth at the margins. In certain cases, the FBO became an institution of last resort and only in rare cases is a certain synergy achieved between FBOs and families.

scholarly journals Female School Leaders’ Perceptions and Experiences of Decentralisation and Distributed Leadership in the Tatweer System in Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rfah Alyami ◽  
Alan Floyd
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Female Leaders ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Leadership Responsibilities ◽  
System A ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Group Interviews

While school reform has been the subject of much research globally, few studies have examined “on the ground” educational reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), especially in relation to the “Tatweer” System, an initiative which purports to transform education and lead educational change within the country. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap and reports on a study which examined female leaders’ perceptions and experiences of the system. A qualitative case study of three Tatweer schools was conducted, with data being drawn from one-on-one interviews (n = 16), focus group interviews (n = 4) and documentary analysis. Our findings suggest that the Tatweer system is what can be termed “semi-decentralised”, which appears to be linked to issues of accountability, trust, and perceived staff competence. However, at the local level, major breakthroughs seem to have taken place in relation to distributing leadership responsibilities and decision-making processes within these female-led schools.

A school-based programme promoting healthy eating

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Chan ◽  
Judy Yuen-Man Siu ◽  
Albert Lee
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
School Based ◽  
Health Education Programme ◽  
Food Diaries ◽  
Group Interviews

Objective: Many school-based health education programmes adopt a one-way, top-down communication approach that students tend to consider boring and ineffective. In contrast, this study tested a pilot school-based health education programme designed to engage students through the creation and production of health-related advertising. Design: Participatory action research. Setting: A secondary school located in the most deprived district in Hong Kong. Method: A 10-month health education programme was implemented which included health talks and a parent–child cooking workshop. The highlight of the programme was a contest to design a healthy eating public service announcement with professional production of the winning advertisement. A convenience sample of 67 secondary school students participated. Self-administered food diaries and focus group interviews were administered before and after the programme for evaluation. Results: Among all the health education activities conducted during the programme, the participating students found the advertisement design contest the most interesting. They appreciated the opportunity to see their creative ideas consolidated in a professional manner. Dietary patterns reported in food diaries did not show any significant change, but the post-programme focus group interviews reported a remarkable increase in healthy eating knowledge. There were some self-reported changes in dietary behaviours. Conclusion: In the digital age, engaging students in content creation is a possible way to interest them in adopting healthy eating behaviours.

Challenges Facing the Effective Functioning of Ward Committees as a Mechanism to Promote Local Democracy in the Former Tlokwe Local Municipality (TLM)

Politeia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvin Diedericks ◽  
Sello Seitlholo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Effective Functioning ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Group Interviews

This article investigates the challenges facing the effective functioning of ward committees as a mechanism to promote local democracy in the former Tlokwe Local Municipality’s (TLM) area of jurisdiction. Ward committees in South Africa (SA) were specifically established to strengthen the participation of communities in local governance. A qualitative research design was used to collect and analyse data for purposes of achieving the objectives of this study. This involved a literature review designed to contextualise effective ward committee functioning in a developing South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were held with senior officials from TLM. Officials were selected based upon their expert knowledge with regard to the facilitation of public participation and for being responsible for effective ward committee functioning within TLM. Focus group interviews were also held with at least four ward committees operating within the boundaries of the municipality. The purpose of using focus group interviews in this study was to identify specific operational challenges as experienced by the ward committees, including how these challenges affected the fulfilment of their responsibilities. Significant findings include that communication was a critical aspect to address challenges, and that a lack of resources was hampering ward committees in functioning more effectively in the area.

An assessment of preliminary food-based dietary guidelines for infants 6–12 months of age in the Little Karoo area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 869-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Van der Merwe ◽  
L Bourne ◽  
D Marais
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
Group Interviews

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to assess mother's/caregiver's understanding, practical application and cultural acceptability of a preliminary set of South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) for children aged 6–12 months living in the Little Karoo area of the Western Cape Province.DesignAn observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study design was followed. Focus group interviews, recorded on videotape, were analysed for qualitative data. Quantitative questionnaires measured knowledge and comprehension of guidelines, perceived constraints to compliance with and importance of guidelines as well as socio demographic data prior to the focus group interviews.SettingAfrikaans-, English- and Xhosa-speaking communities of the Little Karoo area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, including the urban areas of Oudtshoorn, Bongulethu, Bridgton, Toekomsrus and the adjacent rural areas of Dysselsdorp, Calitzdorp, Uniondale, Ladismith and Zoar.SubjectsSixty-four mothers or caregivers to infants 6–12 months of age were included in the sample.ResultsInformation obtained through the questionnaires supported what was said during discussions. Although perceived as important by the majority of respondents, some of the guidelines were not well understood without prior explanation. Such guidelines were those pertaining to meal frequency and cup feeding, while application of the guideline to prolonged breast-feeding seemed the most problematic.ConclusionsThe FBDGs for this age group will have to be supported by extensive and appropriate educational material to be effective when introduced to the public. The fact that the applicability of the guideline to prolonged breast-feeding seemed to be the most problematic is a cause for concern.

scholarly journals Caregivers Lack of Disclosure Skills Delays Disclosure to Children with Perinatal HIV in Resource-Limited Communities: Multicenter Qualitative Data from South Africa and Botswana

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sphiwe Madiba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Perinatal Hiv ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Perinatally Infected ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
And Training

To promote the appropriate implementation of procedures for health disclosure to children, it is important to understand the reasons why caregivers delay the disclosure of healthcare information to children. This paper explored the views of caregivers on what makes disclosure to children with perinatal acquired HIV (PAH) difficult and what could make disclosure in these cases easier. Data were collected using focus group interviews with caregivers who were purposely selected from a multicenter study conducted in Botswana and South Africa. Forty-seven nondisclosed caregivers of children between 5 and 18 years who were receiving ART were interviewed. Caregivers felt that children should be told of their HIV-positive status despite the fact that none had disclosed this information to the children. The caregivers reported lack of disclosure skills but believed they were primarily responsible for disclosure to children and required support from healthcare workers (HCWs) during the disclosure process. They believed that counseling on how to approach disclosure and training on when and how to disclose will make the disclosure process easier. HCWs have a crucial role to play in promoting disclosure to perinatally infected children. The development of appropriate disclosure guidelines and training for HCWs will facilitate disclosure to children.

scholarly journals Recognition of Prior Learning as “Radical Pedagogy”: A case study of the Workers' College in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mphutlane wa Bofelo ◽  
Anitha Shah ◽  
Kessie Moodley ◽  
Linda Cooper ◽  
Barbara Jones
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Educational Philosophy ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Prior Learning ◽  
Radical Pedagogy ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Recognition Of Prior Learning ◽  
Group Interviews

This article argues that the model of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in use at the Workers’ College in South Africa may be seen as a form of “radical pedagogy.” Drawing on documentary sources, focus group interviews with staff, and observations, it describes an educational philosophy which aims to build the competencies of activists in labour and community organizations, facilitate their self-affirmation and dignity, and provide an access route to post-school education. It documents and attempts to theorize how this philosophy is enacted in classroom pedagogy, and explores some of the tensions and contradictions encountered. It concludes by acknowledging the unique contribution of these educational practices to an understanding of what RPL as radical pedagogy might look like.

scholarly journals A model for facilitation in nursing education

Curationis ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Lekalakala-Mokgele ◽  
PP Du Rand
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Visual Model ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Schools Of Nursing ◽  
Evaluation Feedback ◽  
Group Interviews

A key step in the development of a model for learning is to identify the needs of both the facilitators and the learners. The purpose of this study was to develop a model for facilitation in nursing education based on the identified needs of facilitators and learners and a confirmation by the literature. A qualitative research design was used and the population of the study was the facilitators and the learners of departments/ schools of nursing in four universities in South Africa. Focus group interviews were conducted with facilitators and learners. The sample was purposively selected. The results underline the needs as well as the perceptions of both facilitators and learners with regard to facilitation. Concepts were identified and analyzed from the identified needs which led to the development of the model for facilitation. The complete visual model was described and presented to experts for evaluation. Feedback from the evaluators was used to adapt and finalize the model, after which the model was again presented to evaluators who approved and accepted it. The model is a unique contribution to nursing education as it sets guidelines for a new field of learning in nursing education.

scholarly journals “When You’re a Baby You Don’t Have Puberty”: Understanding of Puberty and Human Reproduction in Late Childhood and Early Adolescence

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 925-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa B. Hurwitz ◽  
Alexis R. Lauricella ◽  
Brianna Hightower ◽  
Iris Sroka ◽  
Teresa K. Woodruff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Late Childhood ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
School Based ◽  
Reproductive Health Education ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Level Of Understanding

Basic knowledge of human reproduction can help youth prepare for puberty and make later classes focused on advanced reproductive health topics manageable. With the intention of potentially informing the creation of learning materials, we conducted a needs assessment among children ages 7 to 12 in our suburban Chicago community to ascertain their current understanding of, and beliefs and misconceptions about, human reproduction, and to determine their needs for additional reproductive health education. We held qualitative focus group interviews with local children. Participants primarily reported learning about these topics from their parents prior to receiving school-based education in fifth grade. Their level of understanding was relatively low. They had little knowledge of internal sexual organs, expressed a range of beliefs about conception ranging from inaccurate to accurate but incomplete, and voiced concerns about transitioning into adolescence. This suggests a need for additional resources that provide comprehensible descriptions of reproductive health processes and mitigate puberty-related concerns.

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