Bayesian inference for Cronbach's alpha
- Authors: Izally, Sharkay Ruwade
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479919 , vital:78380 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479919
- Description: Cronbach’s alpha is used as a measure of reliability in fields like education, psychology and sociology. The reason for the popularity of Cronbach’s alpha is that it is computationally simple. Only the sample size and the variance components are needed and it can be computed for continuous as well as binary data. Cronbach’s alpha has been studied extensively using maximum likelihood estimation. Since Cronbach’s alpha is a function of the variance components, this often results in negative estimates of the variance components when the maximum likelihood method is considered as a method of estimation. In the field of Bayesian statistics, the parameters are random variables, and this can alleviate some of the problems of estimating negative variance estimates that often occur when the frequentist approach is used. The Bayesian approach also incorporates loss functions that considers the symmetry of the distribution of the parameters being estimated and adds some flexibility in obtaining better estimates of the unknown parameters. The Bayesian approach often results in better coverage probabilities than the frequentist approach especially for smaller sample sizes and it is therefore important to consider a Bayesian analysis in the estimation of Cronbach’s alpha. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a one-way random effects model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. A second simulation study will be considered where the mean relative error will be compared for the various priors using the squared error, the absolute error and the linear in exponential (LINEX) loss functions. An illustrative example will also be considered. The combined Bayesian estimation of more than one Cronbach’s alpha will also be considered for m experiments with equal α but possibly different variance components. It will be shown that the reference and the probability-matching priors are the same. The Bayesian theory and results will be applied to two examples. The intervals for the combined model are however much shorter than those of the individual models. Also, the point estimates of the combined model are more accurate than those of the individual models. It is further concluded that the posterior distribution of α for the combined model becomes more important as the number of samples and models increase. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a three-component hierarchical model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be v vi considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. Two illustrative examples will also be considered. Statistical control limits will be obtained for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of a balanced one-way random effects model. This will be achieved by deriving the predictive distribution of a future Cronbach’s alpha. The unconditional posterior predictive distribution will be determined using Monte Carlo simulation and the Rao-Blackwell procedure. The predictive distribution will be used to obtain control limits and to determine the run-length and average run-length. Cronbach’s alpha will be estimated for a general covariance matrix using a Bayesian approach and comparing these results to the asymptotic frequentist interval valid under a general covariance matrix framework. Most of the results used in the literature require the compound symmetry assumption for analyses of Cronbach’s alpha. Fiducial and posterior distributions will be derived for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of the bivariate normal distribution. Various objective priors will be considered for the variance components and the correlation coefficient. One of the priors considered corresponds to the fiducial distribution. The performance of these priors will be compared to an asymptotic frequentist interval often used in the literature. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors and the asymptotic interval, where the coverage rates and average interval lengths will be computed. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Statistics, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04-03
- Authors: Izally, Sharkay Ruwade
- Date: 2025-04-03
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/479919 , vital:78380 , DOI 10.21504/10962/479919
- Description: Cronbach’s alpha is used as a measure of reliability in fields like education, psychology and sociology. The reason for the popularity of Cronbach’s alpha is that it is computationally simple. Only the sample size and the variance components are needed and it can be computed for continuous as well as binary data. Cronbach’s alpha has been studied extensively using maximum likelihood estimation. Since Cronbach’s alpha is a function of the variance components, this often results in negative estimates of the variance components when the maximum likelihood method is considered as a method of estimation. In the field of Bayesian statistics, the parameters are random variables, and this can alleviate some of the problems of estimating negative variance estimates that often occur when the frequentist approach is used. The Bayesian approach also incorporates loss functions that considers the symmetry of the distribution of the parameters being estimated and adds some flexibility in obtaining better estimates of the unknown parameters. The Bayesian approach often results in better coverage probabilities than the frequentist approach especially for smaller sample sizes and it is therefore important to consider a Bayesian analysis in the estimation of Cronbach’s alpha. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a one-way random effects model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. A second simulation study will be considered where the mean relative error will be compared for the various priors using the squared error, the absolute error and the linear in exponential (LINEX) loss functions. An illustrative example will also be considered. The combined Bayesian estimation of more than one Cronbach’s alpha will also be considered for m experiments with equal α but possibly different variance components. It will be shown that the reference and the probability-matching priors are the same. The Bayesian theory and results will be applied to two examples. The intervals for the combined model are however much shorter than those of the individual models. Also, the point estimates of the combined model are more accurate than those of the individual models. It is further concluded that the posterior distribution of α for the combined model becomes more important as the number of samples and models increase. The reference and probability matching priors for Cronbach’s alpha will be derived using a three-component hierarchical model. The performance of these two priors will be compared to that of the well-known Jeffreys prior and a divergence prior. A simulation study will be v vi considered to compare the performance of the priors, where the coverage rates, average interval lengths and standard deviations of the interval lengths will be computed. Two illustrative examples will also be considered. Statistical control limits will be obtained for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of a balanced one-way random effects model. This will be achieved by deriving the predictive distribution of a future Cronbach’s alpha. The unconditional posterior predictive distribution will be determined using Monte Carlo simulation and the Rao-Blackwell procedure. The predictive distribution will be used to obtain control limits and to determine the run-length and average run-length. Cronbach’s alpha will be estimated for a general covariance matrix using a Bayesian approach and comparing these results to the asymptotic frequentist interval valid under a general covariance matrix framework. Most of the results used in the literature require the compound symmetry assumption for analyses of Cronbach’s alpha. Fiducial and posterior distributions will be derived for Cronbach’s alpha in the case of the bivariate normal distribution. Various objective priors will be considered for the variance components and the correlation coefficient. One of the priors considered corresponds to the fiducial distribution. The performance of these priors will be compared to an asymptotic frequentist interval often used in the literature. A simulation study will be considered to compare the performance of the priors and the asymptotic interval, where the coverage rates and average interval lengths will be computed. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Statistics, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04-03
Strategies to optimize quality of nursing care of patients in public hospitals in the Bono Region, Ghana
- Authors: Atinga Ba-Etilayoo
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Nursing -- Ghana , Nurse and patient , Communication in nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69749 , vital:78016
- Description: The quality of nursing care delivery is closely tied to positive patient outcomes and satisfaction. However, in Ghana's public hospitals, particularly in the Bono region, the standard of nursing care often falls short. Media reports have highlighted instances of poor nursing care, leading to increased patient morbidity and mortality in this area. Consequently, this study aimed to develop strategies that could be implemented by stakeholders to optimize the quality of nursing care for patients in public hospitals within the Sunyani municipality in the Bono region of Ghana. The Donabedian model of quality was the theoretical framework that underpinned this study. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed. The study was conducted in four phases: Phase One: This empirical phase explored and described participants' perceptions of nursing care quality in Bono region's public hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews including purposively selected patient participants (n=18), professional nurses (n=18) and nurse managers (n=3) and analysed qualitatively following Creswell and Tesch’s (2021) six-step process. From this analysis, three main themes related to perceptions emerged-facilitators of, barriers to and outcomes of quality nursing care—and were thoroughly discussed. Phase Two: An integrative literature review was conducted to search, select, appraise, extract, and synthesise existing relevant literature on quality nursing care in public hospitals of lower to middle-income countries (LMICs). This review followed four stages recommended by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). The identified literature was critically appraised using the John Hopkins Nursing Evidence and Non-Research Evidence appraisal tools. The appraised literature was analysed, yielding nine strategies for optimizing the quality of nursing care in public hospitals from 12 articles under two themes: “Daily nursing care-related strategies” and “Organizational related strategies”. Phase Three: The findings from Phases One and Two were synthesised to develop a conceptual framework for strategies to optimize quality nursing care in Bono region's public hospitals. This framework was based on Dickoff et al.’s (1968) theory development outline. The resulting framework guided the drafting of the (I-CARE) strategies, an acronym for Implementing ABSTRACT v organizational strategies, Commitment to attributes and practices, Augmenting outcomes, Rendering holistic and patient-centered care, and Enhancing resources and support for quality nursing care. Phase Four: The I-CARE strategies were reviewed and validated by four experts with extensive backgrounds in strategy development and quality nursing care. The experts' modifications and recommendations were incorporated in finalizing the strategies. The strategies, when implemented, are expected to enhance the optimization of nursing care quality in Bono region's public hospitals, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
- Authors: Atinga Ba-Etilayoo
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Nursing -- Ghana , Nurse and patient , Communication in nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69749 , vital:78016
- Description: The quality of nursing care delivery is closely tied to positive patient outcomes and satisfaction. However, in Ghana's public hospitals, particularly in the Bono region, the standard of nursing care often falls short. Media reports have highlighted instances of poor nursing care, leading to increased patient morbidity and mortality in this area. Consequently, this study aimed to develop strategies that could be implemented by stakeholders to optimize the quality of nursing care for patients in public hospitals within the Sunyani municipality in the Bono region of Ghana. The Donabedian model of quality was the theoretical framework that underpinned this study. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed. The study was conducted in four phases: Phase One: This empirical phase explored and described participants' perceptions of nursing care quality in Bono region's public hospitals. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews including purposively selected patient participants (n=18), professional nurses (n=18) and nurse managers (n=3) and analysed qualitatively following Creswell and Tesch’s (2021) six-step process. From this analysis, three main themes related to perceptions emerged-facilitators of, barriers to and outcomes of quality nursing care—and were thoroughly discussed. Phase Two: An integrative literature review was conducted to search, select, appraise, extract, and synthesise existing relevant literature on quality nursing care in public hospitals of lower to middle-income countries (LMICs). This review followed four stages recommended by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). The identified literature was critically appraised using the John Hopkins Nursing Evidence and Non-Research Evidence appraisal tools. The appraised literature was analysed, yielding nine strategies for optimizing the quality of nursing care in public hospitals from 12 articles under two themes: “Daily nursing care-related strategies” and “Organizational related strategies”. Phase Three: The findings from Phases One and Two were synthesised to develop a conceptual framework for strategies to optimize quality nursing care in Bono region's public hospitals. This framework was based on Dickoff et al.’s (1968) theory development outline. The resulting framework guided the drafting of the (I-CARE) strategies, an acronym for Implementing ABSTRACT v organizational strategies, Commitment to attributes and practices, Augmenting outcomes, Rendering holistic and patient-centered care, and Enhancing resources and support for quality nursing care. Phase Four: The I-CARE strategies were reviewed and validated by four experts with extensive backgrounds in strategy development and quality nursing care. The experts' modifications and recommendations were incorporated in finalizing the strategies. The strategies, when implemented, are expected to enhance the optimization of nursing care quality in Bono region's public hospitals, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
Toughened wood plastic composites for low technology and advanced manufacturing applications
- Authors: Mabutho, Briswell
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Plastic-impregnated wood , Polymeric composites
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69360 , vital:77225
- Description: The utilization of wood plastic composites (WPCs) has increasingly emerged as an appealing alternative for products where traditional wood and conventional composites would typically be used. This is primarily due to their cost-effectiveness, mouldability, recyclability, renewability, and potential biodegradability. However, the incorporation of wood flour (WF) in thermoplastics to produce WPCs presents several challenges, two of which are addressed in the current study: the WF-thermoplastic matrix adhesion, and the resulting brittleness of the WPC. The hydrophilic nature of WF filler and the hydrophobic polypropylene matrix, which typically lead to poor mixing due to their differing surface energies. Consequently, the current research focuses on enhancing WF-matrix (i.e. polypropylene, PP) adhesion and dispersion through compatibilization using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP). Additionally, the brittleness of WPC, exacerbated by the WF content, is addressed through the incorporation of crumb rubber (CR), a process commonly referred to as "toughening" the WPC. Prior to the use of CR in WPCs, optimization of the CR amount and compatibility within the PP-matrix were conducted to establish a toughening system that would achieve the highest impact strength without significantly affecting the tensile strength. The CR was compatibilized by employing dynamic vulcanization of varying amounts of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) in the CR/PP blends using both sulphur and dicumyl peroxide cure systems. The results indicated that the sulphur dynamic cure system exhibited higher crosslinking efficiency, as reflected by the highest impact strength. Furthermore, to enhance WPC processability and adhesion, WF alkalization was conducted following a central composite design to optimize treatment temperature, time, and alkali concentration. This optimization resulted in improved WPC processability and mechanical properties at mild alkalization conditions. Subsequently, the optimum CR/EPDM dynamic cure system was employed to toughen both untreated and alkalized WPCs, resulting in toughened WPCs with improved thermal stability, impact strength, and elongation at break, while the tensile strength was only slightly compromised. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
- Authors: Mabutho, Briswell
- Date: 2024-12
- Subjects: Plastic-impregnated wood , Polymeric composites
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/69360 , vital:77225
- Description: The utilization of wood plastic composites (WPCs) has increasingly emerged as an appealing alternative for products where traditional wood and conventional composites would typically be used. This is primarily due to their cost-effectiveness, mouldability, recyclability, renewability, and potential biodegradability. However, the incorporation of wood flour (WF) in thermoplastics to produce WPCs presents several challenges, two of which are addressed in the current study: the WF-thermoplastic matrix adhesion, and the resulting brittleness of the WPC. The hydrophilic nature of WF filler and the hydrophobic polypropylene matrix, which typically lead to poor mixing due to their differing surface energies. Consequently, the current research focuses on enhancing WF-matrix (i.e. polypropylene, PP) adhesion and dispersion through compatibilization using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP). Additionally, the brittleness of WPC, exacerbated by the WF content, is addressed through the incorporation of crumb rubber (CR), a process commonly referred to as "toughening" the WPC. Prior to the use of CR in WPCs, optimization of the CR amount and compatibility within the PP-matrix were conducted to establish a toughening system that would achieve the highest impact strength without significantly affecting the tensile strength. The CR was compatibilized by employing dynamic vulcanization of varying amounts of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) in the CR/PP blends using both sulphur and dicumyl peroxide cure systems. The results indicated that the sulphur dynamic cure system exhibited higher crosslinking efficiency, as reflected by the highest impact strength. Furthermore, to enhance WPC processability and adhesion, WF alkalization was conducted following a central composite design to optimize treatment temperature, time, and alkali concentration. This optimization resulted in improved WPC processability and mechanical properties at mild alkalization conditions. Subsequently, the optimum CR/EPDM dynamic cure system was employed to toughen both untreated and alkalized WPCs, resulting in toughened WPCs with improved thermal stability, impact strength, and elongation at break, while the tensile strength was only slightly compromised. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-12
Health communication for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in the Makana Local Municipality, South Africa
- Authors: Sharma, Samridhi
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431531 , vital:72783
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release date 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Sharma, Samridhi
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/431531 , vital:72783
- Description: Access restricted. Expected release date 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Exploring the value of an educational partnership within a multilingual pre-school setting
- Authors: Maritz, Anneliese
- Date: 2022-10-04
- Subjects: Early childhood education Parent participation South Africa Eastern Cape , Early childhood teachers Training of , Home and school South Africa Eastern Cape , Parent-teacher relationships South Africa Eastern Cape , Communication and education South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327111 , vital:61082 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327111
- Description: This modest research project was situated in a multilingual Early Childhood Development (ECD) setting in the Eastern Cape (EC) province of South Africa. In the context of high levels of poverty and unemployment in the EC, issues such as under-funding, the nature of the training of practitioners, translating the importance of learning through play into practice, difficulties dealing with diverse cultural practices and the use of multiple languages, all impact ECD provision. Research has shown that parental involvement and creating parent-school partnerships can assist children to progress at school. The overall objectives of this project were to explore how a team in an ECD centre might communicate more effectively with parents and how early stimulation practices in home and school might benefit the child’s development. The theoretical framework draws upon Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural historical theory, Bernstein’s (1971) elaborated and restricted language codes and Bourdieu’s (1977) concepts of social reproduction. A research project in the Netherlands Thuis in School, used an education partnership approach (Iliás et al., 2019). They developed a manual that was adapted for our local context by drawing from the theories mentioned, and to counter the dominant approaches where parenting programs have often been offered from a deficit, narrow perspective. Action Research guided the interventionist approach to workshop sessions, to enable mutual capacity-building of parents and practitioners. To ensure informed consent, participants’ first languages were used. High risk factors related to photographs and videos of participating parents and minor children were successfully addressed. Pre- and post-interviews and workshop data were analysed using template analysis, within a constructivist paradigm. Findings include vignettes to introduce the contexts and parents' ideas prior to the sessions. Then, sessions are summarised as action cycles, with key participants' responses. Finally, post-session evaluations highlight the topics the parents found most meaningful; and parents’ and practitioner accounts of changes in practices. This research illustrates ways that educational partnership elements can influence practice and policy, to improve home and school environments for the benefit of children. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-04
- Authors: Maritz, Anneliese
- Date: 2022-10-04
- Subjects: Early childhood education Parent participation South Africa Eastern Cape , Early childhood teachers Training of , Home and school South Africa Eastern Cape , Parent-teacher relationships South Africa Eastern Cape , Communication and education South Africa Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/327111 , vital:61082 , DOI 10.21504/10962/327111
- Description: This modest research project was situated in a multilingual Early Childhood Development (ECD) setting in the Eastern Cape (EC) province of South Africa. In the context of high levels of poverty and unemployment in the EC, issues such as under-funding, the nature of the training of practitioners, translating the importance of learning through play into practice, difficulties dealing with diverse cultural practices and the use of multiple languages, all impact ECD provision. Research has shown that parental involvement and creating parent-school partnerships can assist children to progress at school. The overall objectives of this project were to explore how a team in an ECD centre might communicate more effectively with parents and how early stimulation practices in home and school might benefit the child’s development. The theoretical framework draws upon Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural historical theory, Bernstein’s (1971) elaborated and restricted language codes and Bourdieu’s (1977) concepts of social reproduction. A research project in the Netherlands Thuis in School, used an education partnership approach (Iliás et al., 2019). They developed a manual that was adapted for our local context by drawing from the theories mentioned, and to counter the dominant approaches where parenting programs have often been offered from a deficit, narrow perspective. Action Research guided the interventionist approach to workshop sessions, to enable mutual capacity-building of parents and practitioners. To ensure informed consent, participants’ first languages were used. High risk factors related to photographs and videos of participating parents and minor children were successfully addressed. Pre- and post-interviews and workshop data were analysed using template analysis, within a constructivist paradigm. Findings include vignettes to introduce the contexts and parents' ideas prior to the sessions. Then, sessions are summarised as action cycles, with key participants' responses. Finally, post-session evaluations highlight the topics the parents found most meaningful; and parents’ and practitioner accounts of changes in practices. This research illustrates ways that educational partnership elements can influence practice and policy, to improve home and school environments for the benefit of children. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-04
Examining trainee teacher preparation for inclusive education in Zimbambwe
- Authors: Chikwaka, Miriam
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: Inclusive education , Teaching , Education--Zimbabwe--History
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20046 , vital:45091
- Description: The research examined trainee teachers’ preparation for inclusive education in two teacher training colleges in Zimbabwe. Concerns are being raised that teacher preparation programmes are not adequately preparing trainee teachers for a holistic practice-based inclusive education. There is no agreement on the meaning of the concept of inclusive education. While some teacher educators resort to the traditional special needs education, others have adopted a paradigm shift to holistic inclusive education. The teacher education curriculum has not been aligned to teacher preparation for inclusive education. Trainee teachers go for teaching practice up to certification as qualified teachers without having acquired the skills and competencies for handling classrooms of learners with diverse educational needs. The study adopted pragmatism as the research paradigm, mixed-methods approach and QUAN-QUAL sequential explanatory triangulation of research designs; data collection instruments, data analysis and presentation of results were adopted. The researcher used stratified random sampling for quantitative data collection; and purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling for qualitative data collection. The total sample size was 210 trainee teachers and 20 teacher educators. Research instruments pilot-tested semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis. The internal consistency and validity of the instruments was checked using Cronbach’s alpha test and coefficients above 0.8 were obtained showing that the instruments were reliable and trustworthy. The results were that trainee teachers were inadequately prepared for inclusive educational practice. Teacher educators do not have the adequate subject and pedagogical content knowledge to prepare trainee teachers for inclusive education. Both teacher educators and their trainee teachers do not understand holistic practice-based inclusive education. The challenges in preparing trainee teachers for inclusive education include ignorance of inclusive education legislation, non-inclusive teacher education curriculum, and teacher educators’ lack of inclusive teacher preparation competencies, and shortage of financial and inclusive education material resources. Strategies to improve the quality of teacher preparation for inclusive education practices include policy and teacher education curriculum reforms, teacher educator empowerment, funding, and infrastructure development. The success of inclusive education largely depends on the collaboration between intellectuals, academia industry, governments and the community at large. The keywords are teacher preparation, inclusive education, teacher educator, and trainee teacher. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-06
- Authors: Chikwaka, Miriam
- Date: 2021-06
- Subjects: Inclusive education , Teaching , Education--Zimbabwe--History
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20046 , vital:45091
- Description: The research examined trainee teachers’ preparation for inclusive education in two teacher training colleges in Zimbabwe. Concerns are being raised that teacher preparation programmes are not adequately preparing trainee teachers for a holistic practice-based inclusive education. There is no agreement on the meaning of the concept of inclusive education. While some teacher educators resort to the traditional special needs education, others have adopted a paradigm shift to holistic inclusive education. The teacher education curriculum has not been aligned to teacher preparation for inclusive education. Trainee teachers go for teaching practice up to certification as qualified teachers without having acquired the skills and competencies for handling classrooms of learners with diverse educational needs. The study adopted pragmatism as the research paradigm, mixed-methods approach and QUAN-QUAL sequential explanatory triangulation of research designs; data collection instruments, data analysis and presentation of results were adopted. The researcher used stratified random sampling for quantitative data collection; and purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling for qualitative data collection. The total sample size was 210 trainee teachers and 20 teacher educators. Research instruments pilot-tested semi-structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and documentary analysis. The internal consistency and validity of the instruments was checked using Cronbach’s alpha test and coefficients above 0.8 were obtained showing that the instruments were reliable and trustworthy. The results were that trainee teachers were inadequately prepared for inclusive educational practice. Teacher educators do not have the adequate subject and pedagogical content knowledge to prepare trainee teachers for inclusive education. Both teacher educators and their trainee teachers do not understand holistic practice-based inclusive education. The challenges in preparing trainee teachers for inclusive education include ignorance of inclusive education legislation, non-inclusive teacher education curriculum, and teacher educators’ lack of inclusive teacher preparation competencies, and shortage of financial and inclusive education material resources. Strategies to improve the quality of teacher preparation for inclusive education practices include policy and teacher education curriculum reforms, teacher educator empowerment, funding, and infrastructure development. The success of inclusive education largely depends on the collaboration between intellectuals, academia industry, governments and the community at large. The keywords are teacher preparation, inclusive education, teacher educator, and trainee teacher. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-06
Towards a semiotic approach to dramatic texts for the purposes of staging as expounded in the analysis of an early Pinter play: The Dumb Waiter
- Authors: Thomas, Jeswinne Mary
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193203 , vital:45309
- Description: The aim of this thesis is to promote the dramatological approach, as opposed to a literary critical one, for the analysis of dramatic texts for the purposes of staging. The reason for such a promotion is that the dramatological approach upholds the integrity of the text in interpretation for the performance text by its detailed and semiotic analysis. The focus of such an approach is on the analysis of discourse, that is a micro-proairetic approach (illuminating the extralinguistic action and interaction gained from speech events and deixis), rather than a macro-proairetic approach (that is, plot and story-line) which a literary critical approach would take into consideration. In Chapter one the focus is on the justification for the dramatological approach as well as a review of prominent literary criticism to the playwright’s work (used as an example of dramatic text in this thesis). Rather than the promotion of ordinary literary theory in relation to the need for a performance methodology, explanation for their negation is offered here. Chapter two focuses on the actual methodology of the dramatological approach. In section one of this chapter, we find that basic to dramatological methodology is the linguistic function appropriate to the dramatic: that is the semantic, rhetorical and pragmatic principles of dramatic dialogue. In addition, we find that it is a formal and systematic approach which imposes restrictions on dualisms thereby upholding the integrity of the text. Moreover, that it focuses on the “performative-deictic” character (that is extralinguistic, kinesic and indexical orientations) of the dramatic text - analysis of which is crucial for the purposes of staging. In this way, the analysis of the interpersonal, interactional and contextual areas of dramatic texts is promoted. Thus section one offers an overview of the analytical criteria appropriate to such investigation in order to illuminate dramatic discourse. Section two offers a guide to the application of the methodology, utilizing an extraction of text. Central to the application is the formation of a preliminary analytical ‘grid’ from the range of criteria discussed in section one; that is, how these may be put together. A micro-segmentation of text is utilized to illustrate the application of the methodology. Chapter three offers an application of the methodology to a whole text, that is The Dumb Waiter. The results and benefits for the theatre practitioner of such application are directly illustrated in the deictic (that is section one) and proairetic (that is section two) segmentations of the text since what the text and discourse signify is illustrated in a detailed manner as opposed to paraphrase. That is, the interpersonal, contextual and interactional levels of the drama are defined. From this, typologies of discourse, character and interrelationships are drawn, as well as a creation of the dramatic world (that is section three) constructed as a result of the discourse, interrelationships and dramatic action. Finally the Conclusion offers an evaluation of the dramatological approach by applying it to a practical situation for the theatre practitioner (that is, director or actor). , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Drama, 1999
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Thomas, Jeswinne Mary
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/193203 , vital:45309
- Description: The aim of this thesis is to promote the dramatological approach, as opposed to a literary critical one, for the analysis of dramatic texts for the purposes of staging. The reason for such a promotion is that the dramatological approach upholds the integrity of the text in interpretation for the performance text by its detailed and semiotic analysis. The focus of such an approach is on the analysis of discourse, that is a micro-proairetic approach (illuminating the extralinguistic action and interaction gained from speech events and deixis), rather than a macro-proairetic approach (that is, plot and story-line) which a literary critical approach would take into consideration. In Chapter one the focus is on the justification for the dramatological approach as well as a review of prominent literary criticism to the playwright’s work (used as an example of dramatic text in this thesis). Rather than the promotion of ordinary literary theory in relation to the need for a performance methodology, explanation for their negation is offered here. Chapter two focuses on the actual methodology of the dramatological approach. In section one of this chapter, we find that basic to dramatological methodology is the linguistic function appropriate to the dramatic: that is the semantic, rhetorical and pragmatic principles of dramatic dialogue. In addition, we find that it is a formal and systematic approach which imposes restrictions on dualisms thereby upholding the integrity of the text. Moreover, that it focuses on the “performative-deictic” character (that is extralinguistic, kinesic and indexical orientations) of the dramatic text - analysis of which is crucial for the purposes of staging. In this way, the analysis of the interpersonal, interactional and contextual areas of dramatic texts is promoted. Thus section one offers an overview of the analytical criteria appropriate to such investigation in order to illuminate dramatic discourse. Section two offers a guide to the application of the methodology, utilizing an extraction of text. Central to the application is the formation of a preliminary analytical ‘grid’ from the range of criteria discussed in section one; that is, how these may be put together. A micro-segmentation of text is utilized to illustrate the application of the methodology. Chapter three offers an application of the methodology to a whole text, that is The Dumb Waiter. The results and benefits for the theatre practitioner of such application are directly illustrated in the deictic (that is section one) and proairetic (that is section two) segmentations of the text since what the text and discourse signify is illustrated in a detailed manner as opposed to paraphrase. That is, the interpersonal, contextual and interactional levels of the drama are defined. From this, typologies of discourse, character and interrelationships are drawn, as well as a creation of the dramatic world (that is section three) constructed as a result of the discourse, interrelationships and dramatic action. Finally the Conclusion offers an evaluation of the dramatological approach by applying it to a practical situation for the theatre practitioner (that is, director or actor). , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Drama, 1999
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- Date Issued: 1999
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