The child witness in the accusatorial system
- Authors: Müller, Karen, 1964-
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Child witnesses , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc. , Child witnesses -- South Africa , Evidence (Law)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3715 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007708 , Child witnesses , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc. , Child witnesses -- South Africa , Evidence (Law)
- Description: For the purpose of this study tbe child witness in the accusatorial system will be viewed as a source of information. When a witness gives evidence in court, the function of the witness is to provide the court with certain information. A number of crucial questions arise when the witness is a child. Do children bave the ability to remember and relate an event accurately? Are children prone to suggestion and fantasy? What effect, if any, does the court environment have on a child 's ability to convey information? What perceptions do children have about the legal process, and how do these perceptions affect their ability to testify? Do adults influence the information which children impart by the techniques they employ to obtain such information? Accepting the hypothesis that child witnesses are sources of information, the purpose of this study is to evaluate all aspects of the criminal justice system relating to child witnesses as well as available research on children to determine whether it is possible to obtain reliable and accurate information from children. Proposals will be formulated regarding the most successful methods of obtaining reliable and accurate information from children, and how these can be adapted for use by the legal system. The purpose of the study is to develop an approach to children in the legal system that will be fair to children while at the same time protecting the rights of the accused, and which will lead to a successful method of obtaining accurate information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Müller, Karen, 1964-
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Child witnesses , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc. , Child witnesses -- South Africa , Evidence (Law)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3715 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007708 , Child witnesses , Children -- Legal status, laws, etc. , Child witnesses -- South Africa , Evidence (Law)
- Description: For the purpose of this study tbe child witness in the accusatorial system will be viewed as a source of information. When a witness gives evidence in court, the function of the witness is to provide the court with certain information. A number of crucial questions arise when the witness is a child. Do children bave the ability to remember and relate an event accurately? Are children prone to suggestion and fantasy? What effect, if any, does the court environment have on a child 's ability to convey information? What perceptions do children have about the legal process, and how do these perceptions affect their ability to testify? Do adults influence the information which children impart by the techniques they employ to obtain such information? Accepting the hypothesis that child witnesses are sources of information, the purpose of this study is to evaluate all aspects of the criminal justice system relating to child witnesses as well as available research on children to determine whether it is possible to obtain reliable and accurate information from children. Proposals will be formulated regarding the most successful methods of obtaining reliable and accurate information from children, and how these can be adapted for use by the legal system. The purpose of the study is to develop an approach to children in the legal system that will be fair to children while at the same time protecting the rights of the accused, and which will lead to a successful method of obtaining accurate information.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
The effects of whole body immersion in cold water upon subsequent terrestrial aerobic performance : a study in hypothermia
- Authors: Manley, Elizabeth
- Date: 1998 , 2013-09-04
- Subjects: Hypothermia , Cold -- Physiological effect , Temperature -- Physiological effect , Aerobic exercises , Cryobiology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5143 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007458 , Hypothermia , Cold -- Physiological effect , Temperature -- Physiological effect , Aerobic exercises , Cryobiology
- Description: This study examined the extent to which physiological and psychological concomitants of aerobic terrestrial performance were affected by body cooling of varying degrees induced by cold water immersion (CWI). Thirteen male and 13 female subjects underwent three randomly assigned 30 min treadmill runs: a control run without prior manipulation of the subjects' thermal status and the same exercise after "central" (core temperature 1°C below pre-immersion) and "peripheral" cooling (skin heat loss 100kcal.m⁻².h⁻¹). During treadmill runs core temperature was measured, together with chest, leg, arm and hand temperatures, from which mean skin temperature (T [subscript]s[subscript]k) and mean body temperature (T[subscript]b) were calculated. Heart rate, oxygen consumption (VO₂,), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), minute ventilation (V₂ (BTPS)), breathing frequency (f), cadence and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and thermal sensation (PTS) were also measured. Both central and peripheral cooling resulted in significantly reduced T[subscript]r[subscript]e (males : control 37.9±0. 3°C; central cooling : 36.8±0.5°C; peripheral cooling: 37.5±0.4°C; females: control: 37.9±0.4°C; central cooling: 37.2±0.5; p<0.05) during subsequent treadmill running, except following peripheral cooling for females (37.9±0.3°C) . For males and females T[subscript]s[subscript]k was lower following peripheral cooling than control values and lowest after central cooling (males: control: 30.0±1.3°C; central cooling: 36.8±0.5°C; peripheral cooling: 37.5±0.4°C; females: control: 30.5±1.2°C; central cooling: 25.9±1.8°C; peripheral cooling: 26.9±1.9°C; p<0.05). Female subjects experienced significantly higher T[subscript]r[subscript]e than males following central and peripheral cooling and a lower T[subscript]s[subscript]k following central cooling. Females experienced less of an increase in heart rate than males during exercise following central and peripheral cooling (control: l57.7±23.7b.min⁻¹; central cooling: 143.5±20.5b.min⁻¹; peripheral cooling 151.7±16.7b.min⁻¹; p<0 .05). Male responses were the same following central cooling but higher for peripheral cooling than control values (control: 139.1±7.3b.min⁻¹; central cooling 134.7±17.5b.min⁻¹; peripheral cooling: 145.0±16.4b.min⁻¹; p<0.05). These data indicate a depression in cardiovascular function for females following peripheral cooling that was not apparent for males. The VO₂ was not different between tests for males; only peripheral cooling resulted in a raised VO₂ of 28.6±3 .3ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹ (p<0 .05) for females compared to 27.6±2.6ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹ (control). A biphasic response was evident for VO₂ VCO₂ and V[subscript]B (BTPS). For both sexes overall RPE was lower for peripheral cooling (males: 9.4±1.9; females: 8.7±1.3; p<0 .05) than for control and central cooling. Central RPE was only changed for females following peripheral cooling. Changes in cadence and step length together with the effect of low skin and leg temperatures resulted in higher local RPE for females after central cooling (9.6±1.2; p<0.05) than control (9.4±1.9) and peripheral cooling (8.9±1.2 ). Males and females rated the same ambient temperature during the same exercise lower after peripheral cooling (males: 4.6±1.5; females : 5.3±1.3) than control values and lower still after central cooling (males: 3. 8±1.8; females: 2 .7±l. 5) In this study T[subscript]s[subscript]k was the primary determinant of PTS after precooling. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Manley, Elizabeth
- Date: 1998 , 2013-09-04
- Subjects: Hypothermia , Cold -- Physiological effect , Temperature -- Physiological effect , Aerobic exercises , Cryobiology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5143 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007458 , Hypothermia , Cold -- Physiological effect , Temperature -- Physiological effect , Aerobic exercises , Cryobiology
- Description: This study examined the extent to which physiological and psychological concomitants of aerobic terrestrial performance were affected by body cooling of varying degrees induced by cold water immersion (CWI). Thirteen male and 13 female subjects underwent three randomly assigned 30 min treadmill runs: a control run without prior manipulation of the subjects' thermal status and the same exercise after "central" (core temperature 1°C below pre-immersion) and "peripheral" cooling (skin heat loss 100kcal.m⁻².h⁻¹). During treadmill runs core temperature was measured, together with chest, leg, arm and hand temperatures, from which mean skin temperature (T [subscript]s[subscript]k) and mean body temperature (T[subscript]b) were calculated. Heart rate, oxygen consumption (VO₂,), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), minute ventilation (V₂ (BTPS)), breathing frequency (f), cadence and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and thermal sensation (PTS) were also measured. Both central and peripheral cooling resulted in significantly reduced T[subscript]r[subscript]e (males : control 37.9±0. 3°C; central cooling : 36.8±0.5°C; peripheral cooling: 37.5±0.4°C; females: control: 37.9±0.4°C; central cooling: 37.2±0.5; p<0.05) during subsequent treadmill running, except following peripheral cooling for females (37.9±0.3°C) . For males and females T[subscript]s[subscript]k was lower following peripheral cooling than control values and lowest after central cooling (males: control: 30.0±1.3°C; central cooling: 36.8±0.5°C; peripheral cooling: 37.5±0.4°C; females: control: 30.5±1.2°C; central cooling: 25.9±1.8°C; peripheral cooling: 26.9±1.9°C; p<0.05). Female subjects experienced significantly higher T[subscript]r[subscript]e than males following central and peripheral cooling and a lower T[subscript]s[subscript]k following central cooling. Females experienced less of an increase in heart rate than males during exercise following central and peripheral cooling (control: l57.7±23.7b.min⁻¹; central cooling: 143.5±20.5b.min⁻¹; peripheral cooling 151.7±16.7b.min⁻¹; p<0 .05). Male responses were the same following central cooling but higher for peripheral cooling than control values (control: 139.1±7.3b.min⁻¹; central cooling 134.7±17.5b.min⁻¹; peripheral cooling: 145.0±16.4b.min⁻¹; p<0.05). These data indicate a depression in cardiovascular function for females following peripheral cooling that was not apparent for males. The VO₂ was not different between tests for males; only peripheral cooling resulted in a raised VO₂ of 28.6±3 .3ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹ (p<0 .05) for females compared to 27.6±2.6ml.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹ (control). A biphasic response was evident for VO₂ VCO₂ and V[subscript]B (BTPS). For both sexes overall RPE was lower for peripheral cooling (males: 9.4±1.9; females: 8.7±1.3; p<0 .05) than for control and central cooling. Central RPE was only changed for females following peripheral cooling. Changes in cadence and step length together with the effect of low skin and leg temperatures resulted in higher local RPE for females after central cooling (9.6±1.2; p<0.05) than control (9.4±1.9) and peripheral cooling (8.9±1.2 ). Males and females rated the same ambient temperature during the same exercise lower after peripheral cooling (males: 4.6±1.5; females : 5.3±1.3) than control values and lower still after central cooling (males: 3. 8±1.8; females: 2 .7±l. 5) In this study T[subscript]s[subscript]k was the primary determinant of PTS after precooling. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
The invertebrates of temporary rivers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Uys, Amanda Cloete
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Rivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Stream ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Freshwater invertebrates -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5628 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004908
- Description: Temporary rivers in dryland regions are subject to highly variable and unpredictable rainfall and flow, and are considered unstable systems relative to perennial rivers of temperate zones. Little is known of the ecology of South Africa's temporary rivers, despite their abundance. The research presented focusses on the aquatic invertebrates inhabiting intermittently-flowing rivers in the 'arid corridor' of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The major aims of the work were: to investigate which invertebrates inhabit these rivers, how the fauna is affected by environmental variability at various spatial and temporal scales, whether or not a characteristic fauna can be associated with these rivers or the hydrological phases which characterise them, and to establish to what extent faunal overlap occurs between different temporary rivers and between natural and modified temporary and perennial rivers. Research results indicate that the fauna of the Eastern Cape temporary rivers shows little structure at the scales of investigation, and that communities are generally non-equilibrial in character. The major forces shaping the biota are considered to be physical rather than biological, and the most important of these are: present and antecedent hydrological conditions and their duration; time of year; and biotope character, extent and heterogeneity. Three groups of fauna were identified as inhabitants of the temporary rivers: 'residents', 'facultative taxa' and 'opportunist colonists'. Taxa were tentatively allocated to these groups. Faunal resemblance was fairly high in Eastern Cape temporary rivers at the level of family, but not at more detailed taxonomic levels. A comparison between faunas of temporary and perennial rivers in different regions of South Africa illustrated the influence of geographical location on diversity. Within regions, however, there was no indication that perennial rivers were more diverse than intermittent rivers. The relatively high diversities in temporary rivers in this study are attributed at least in part to the heterogeneity in surface water conditions over time. A conceptual framework envisioning a continuum between perennial and temporary rivers is proposed as a basis for ongoing research into these rivers. A supporting terminology for the range of river flow types in South Africa is presented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Uys, Amanda Cloete
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Rivers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Stream ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Freshwater invertebrates -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:5628 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004908
- Description: Temporary rivers in dryland regions are subject to highly variable and unpredictable rainfall and flow, and are considered unstable systems relative to perennial rivers of temperate zones. Little is known of the ecology of South Africa's temporary rivers, despite their abundance. The research presented focusses on the aquatic invertebrates inhabiting intermittently-flowing rivers in the 'arid corridor' of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The major aims of the work were: to investigate which invertebrates inhabit these rivers, how the fauna is affected by environmental variability at various spatial and temporal scales, whether or not a characteristic fauna can be associated with these rivers or the hydrological phases which characterise them, and to establish to what extent faunal overlap occurs between different temporary rivers and between natural and modified temporary and perennial rivers. Research results indicate that the fauna of the Eastern Cape temporary rivers shows little structure at the scales of investigation, and that communities are generally non-equilibrial in character. The major forces shaping the biota are considered to be physical rather than biological, and the most important of these are: present and antecedent hydrological conditions and their duration; time of year; and biotope character, extent and heterogeneity. Three groups of fauna were identified as inhabitants of the temporary rivers: 'residents', 'facultative taxa' and 'opportunist colonists'. Taxa were tentatively allocated to these groups. Faunal resemblance was fairly high in Eastern Cape temporary rivers at the level of family, but not at more detailed taxonomic levels. A comparison between faunas of temporary and perennial rivers in different regions of South Africa illustrated the influence of geographical location on diversity. Within regions, however, there was no indication that perennial rivers were more diverse than intermittent rivers. The relatively high diversities in temporary rivers in this study are attributed at least in part to the heterogeneity in surface water conditions over time. A conceptual framework envisioning a continuum between perennial and temporary rivers is proposed as a basis for ongoing research into these rivers. A supporting terminology for the range of river flow types in South Africa is presented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
The shuttle effect : the development of a model for the prediction of variability in cognitive test performance across the adult life span
- Authors: Jordan, Ann B
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Cognition -- Age factors Aging -- Psychological aspects Cognition in old age Human information processing -- Age factors Older people -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008556
- Description: The aim of this thesis was to investigate inter-individual variability on cognitive task performance in normal older adults. In a review of the cognitive aging literature, the implications of a differential perspective were drawn out in order to establish a theoretical and methodological basis for an investigation into variability. A number of regularly occurring patterns, identified on the basis of available reports in the literature, were used to develop a model of variability (the shuttle model). The empirically-based model was located broadly within a neuropsychological framework, and derived explanatory power from the tenets of brain reserve capacity (BRC) theory. It served to describe the bulge in interindividual variability due to aging (the shuttle bulge), and the shifting occurrence of the bulge in relation to the age axis due to cohort and task-related influences (the shuttle shift). A two phase research study was conducted in order to test hypotheses derived from the model. Phase 1 comprised between-groups analyses of normative data covering a broad range of neuropsychological tests in the domains of attention, memory, language, visual and hand motor skills, in order to examine the progression of variability effects across the adult age range. Phase 2 constituted between and within-groups analyses of normative data from a more limited number of neuropsychological tests. It included the examination of raw score distributions and the characteristics of outliers, and was undertaken to explore more closely the nature of the variability phenomena detected in the first phase of the analysis. Taken together, the results of both phases of the investigation revealed statistically significant variability effects in support of the shuttle model. There was a consistent pattern of increased variability in association with older age regardless of functional modality; frequently, in association with later old age, there was also a subsequent decrease in variability (the shuttle bulge). The age of onset of the initial increase in variability occurred earlier or later (the shuttle shift) as a function of four factors: education, gender, task challenge and age-sensitivity of task. The finding of an earlier onset of variability effects for low education, male gender, high task challenge and high age-sensitivity of task was interpreted in terms of BRC threshold theory. The clinical and social implications of the outcome were discussed with special emphasis on the need for a differential perspective on aging, as a complement to the prevailing normative tradition. It was concluded that the shuttle model has considerable heuristic value. It presents an integrative framework for understanding existing variability data and provides clear indications for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Jordan, Ann B
- Date: 1998
- Subjects: Cognition -- Age factors Aging -- Psychological aspects Cognition in old age Human information processing -- Age factors Older people -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3191 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008556
- Description: The aim of this thesis was to investigate inter-individual variability on cognitive task performance in normal older adults. In a review of the cognitive aging literature, the implications of a differential perspective were drawn out in order to establish a theoretical and methodological basis for an investigation into variability. A number of regularly occurring patterns, identified on the basis of available reports in the literature, were used to develop a model of variability (the shuttle model). The empirically-based model was located broadly within a neuropsychological framework, and derived explanatory power from the tenets of brain reserve capacity (BRC) theory. It served to describe the bulge in interindividual variability due to aging (the shuttle bulge), and the shifting occurrence of the bulge in relation to the age axis due to cohort and task-related influences (the shuttle shift). A two phase research study was conducted in order to test hypotheses derived from the model. Phase 1 comprised between-groups analyses of normative data covering a broad range of neuropsychological tests in the domains of attention, memory, language, visual and hand motor skills, in order to examine the progression of variability effects across the adult age range. Phase 2 constituted between and within-groups analyses of normative data from a more limited number of neuropsychological tests. It included the examination of raw score distributions and the characteristics of outliers, and was undertaken to explore more closely the nature of the variability phenomena detected in the first phase of the analysis. Taken together, the results of both phases of the investigation revealed statistically significant variability effects in support of the shuttle model. There was a consistent pattern of increased variability in association with older age regardless of functional modality; frequently, in association with later old age, there was also a subsequent decrease in variability (the shuttle bulge). The age of onset of the initial increase in variability occurred earlier or later (the shuttle shift) as a function of four factors: education, gender, task challenge and age-sensitivity of task. The finding of an earlier onset of variability effects for low education, male gender, high task challenge and high age-sensitivity of task was interpreted in terms of BRC threshold theory. The clinical and social implications of the outcome were discussed with special emphasis on the need for a differential perspective on aging, as a complement to the prevailing normative tradition. It was concluded that the shuttle model has considerable heuristic value. It presents an integrative framework for understanding existing variability data and provides clear indications for future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998