School of Education

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The development of the self concept in adolescents undergoing a peer counsellor training programme.
(1998) Dorrian, Ann.; Akhurst, Jacqueline Elizabeth.
The main focus of this research study was to assess changes that occurred in the self concept of female adolescents undergoing an interpersonal skills training course that was incorporated into a peer counselling pre-selection training programme. Secondary aims were formulated, on the basis that the course would form an integral part of the existing peer counselling programme, to increase the effectiveness of the existing programme and improve perceptions of counselling and guidance in the school environment. A careful investigation was made of various measures of the self concept, and their usage within the South African context. It was decided to use the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS). Use was also made of a questionnaire, consisting of both closed-ended and open-ended questions to substantiate and augment findings established by the TSCS. The actual programme, which formed the basis of this research, took place during the second school term, after school hours. The setting of the research in the school environment, as part of an existing school programme was seen as being advantageous. Problems attached to sustaining such a programme in a natural setting were carefully assessed and considered. A comparison group was established at a similar school in a neighbouring city, to try to establish levels of validity. Because an important aspect of this programme was the active involvement of learners in the school environment, learners who were already peer counsellors were involved in the running of the course. The actual programme was based on the concepts established by Rogers and developed by researchers such as Purkey and Novak. Consideration was given to theoretical aspects applicable to adolescents in the study of the self concept. The results of the TSCS and the questionnaire were analysed and changes to the self concept of the experimental and comparison groups were considered. Positive gains in the self concept of the experimental group were noted. However, caution was expressed in the interpretation of this information due to the difficulties inherent in defining the self concept and in controlling other variables which may have be influential. An important aspect of this study is the democratic nature inherent to the peer counselling model. This aspect resulted in specific consideration being given to the role of the educator in organising a peer counselling programme. The researcher considered this of significance in the light of education in an emergent democracy, such as that of South Africa.
An exploration of the demographic profile of a sample of hospitalised anorexia nervosa patients.
(1999) Gabriel, Bernice B.; Akhurst, Jacqueline Elizabeth.; Goedeke, Sonja.; Szabo, Christopher Paul.
This retrospective exploratory study examined demographic variables in a sample of anorexia nervosa patients hospitalised from January 1987 to December 1996. The researcher undertook an extensive literature review of the history and epidemiology of anorexia nervosa, and found that, while changes in the demography of anorexia nervosa patients are evident in industrialised and developing countries, there is a paucity of equivalent data for South Africa. The archival records of 254 anorectics admitted for the first time to an in-patient tertiary referral centre were reviewed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed to determine the demographic profile of the sample, to ascertain changes in demographic variables over the ten-year period of study, and to explore the relationships between these variables. Results reflect the typical anorectic admitted to the hospital of study as a white, female, between the ages 15 to 20, and from the upper to middle social classes. The mean weight at admission for the sample was 39.24 kilograms, while the mean body mass index was 14.78 kilograms/metre2. While no significant increase in admission rates within the ten-year period was found, a marked increase in admission rates is seen when the present study's findings of 254 first admissions over ten years (averaging 25 admissions per year) is compared to a previous study's findings of 54 admissions over a three-year period (averaging 18 admissions per year) at the same institution. Over the ten-year period of study, no significant trends or relationships were found with regard to the following variables: sex; race; age at admission; and socioeconomic status. However, a significant decreasing trend in weight and body mass index was found from 1987 to 1996, and a significant relationship was found between mother's socioeconomic status, and subject's weight and body mass index, respectively. Results also show evidence of an increasing number of males, Indians, children, and individuals over the age of 40 becoming vulnerable to anorexia nervosa. The extent to which these findings are generalisable to a broader-based South African cohort are questionable, due to the fact that the study was conducted in a single setting, and due to the influence of the historical context of the setting.
An investigation of secondary school teachers' perceptions of the challenges in a changing education system.
(2001) Eshun-Wilson, Cleo.; Akhurst, Jacqueline Elizabeth.
Abstract not available.
The pastoral role of the lecturer in colleges of education.
(1999) Maxwell, Sandra Joy.; Akhurst, Jacqueline Elizabeth.
This study investigated the nature and extent of the pastoral role of lecturers at two colleges of education in KwaZulu-Natal. A questionnaire was constructed based on the published findings of Easton and Van Laar (1995) and of Hart (1996). The sample comprised 32 lecturers at College 1 and 42 at College 2. This was a response rate of 62 per cent. The following issues were investigated: the perception of lecturers of the importance of and need for providing pastoral care to students, the types of problems on which students have been counselled by lecturers, their confidence in dealing with particular problems, the importance they attach to certain helping skills, and their use of counselling skills. The data was analysed statistically and a comparison made between College 1, College 2 and the published findings of Easton and Van Laar (1995) and Hart (1996) where applicable, using appropriate methods. All of the respondents stated that during the previous year they had "counselled" students on problems, the most frequently encountered being financial and health problems, examination anxiety and lack of confidence. More than 70 per cent of the respondents considered helping students with problems to be an important and valuable part of their work, but more than 75 per cent were dissatisfied with the help they gave and less than 20 per cent were very confident in dealing with problems. The need for trained counsellors was expressed as well as for training in counselling skills to be given to lecturers. Given that the pastoral role of the lecturer has been neglected, recommendations for further research were made.
Teacher and pupil perceptions of bullying behaviour in Model C primary schools in the Pietermaritzburg area.
(1997) Leach, Jennifer Jean.; Akhurst, Jacqueline Elizabeth.
The aim of this study was to conduct preliminary research into the nature and extent of bullying behaviour in primary schools in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. A questionnaire, based on the published results of the Modified Olweus Questionnaire (Smith and Sharp, 1994), was constructed. A further questionnaire was devised in order to gain insight into teacher perceptions of bullying behaviour. A sample of 259 pupils (97 boys and 161 girls) completed the pupil's questionnaire. 37 teachers (6 male, 28 female and 3 who did not state their sex) completed the teacher questionnaire. The resulting data from both questionnaires was analysed in terms of frequencies as well as percentages. The data obtained from the pupils was investigated by gender, grade and school using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient. The aim of this was to obtain a statistical indication of the significance of the difference in answers to the pupils' questionnaire in terms of these variables. Only significant correlations are discussed. It is noted that there are no other published research figures from South Africa concerning bullying in schools to support the results of this study. Nevertheless this study does suggest the possibility of much higher bullying levels existing in South Africa than have been shown to occur by researchers in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. It is important for educators in this country to take cognisance of this situation and begin to build a body of South African research both on bullying behaviour and on prevention programmes.

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