A valuation of an accelerated academic mentoring programme for senior lecturers
- Authors: Dye, Rodene Natalie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: College teachers , Mentoring , Career development
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283373 , uj:30558
- Description: Abstract: Orientation: Mentoring is gaining popularity in organisations as a career accelerator to address organisational complexity. This is also true of the South African higher education sector, which is challenged by equity demands and the fact that a great number of scholars will be retiring over the following decade. For higher education institutions to contribute to society, developing the careers of their academics has become imperative. In the present study, a dialogic approach was used to determine the core strengths and appreciate what is best about an accelerated mentoring programme in a cosmopolitan university for senior lecturers. Research aim: The primary aim of this study was to explore the value of an accelerated academic mentoring programme for senior lecturers within a metropolitan university. Motivation for the study: From a South African perspective, it is critical to ensure that the next generation of academics is academically and intellectually equipped to substantively transform and develop South African universities. As faculty members are considered to be the primary deliverers of quality education, the ability of institutions to accelerate the careers and redress imbalances related to underrepresented academics is of paramount importance. A need exists for interventions and structures to be implemented at a national and institutional level to develop and fast-track the next generation of academics, to the benefit of higher education and society in general. Given this challenge, universities started to implement formal mentoring programmes, often haphazardly, in an attempt to equip faculty members with the requisite skills and capabilities to meet both the employment equity and the knowledge requirements of the country. There is therefore a need to determine the success of formal mentoring programmes in South African higher education institutions. Research approach and method: A qualitative research approach using a case study strategy was employed in a metropolitan university in South Africa. To address the stated aim and sub-aims of the study, the chosen research design was executed in two research phases. In Phase 1, primary data were collected using the appreciative inquiry method, and analysed using a collaborative approach. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed... , M.Phil.
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- Authors: Dye, Rodene Natalie
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: College teachers , Mentoring , Career development
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283373 , uj:30558
- Description: Abstract: Orientation: Mentoring is gaining popularity in organisations as a career accelerator to address organisational complexity. This is also true of the South African higher education sector, which is challenged by equity demands and the fact that a great number of scholars will be retiring over the following decade. For higher education institutions to contribute to society, developing the careers of their academics has become imperative. In the present study, a dialogic approach was used to determine the core strengths and appreciate what is best about an accelerated mentoring programme in a cosmopolitan university for senior lecturers. Research aim: The primary aim of this study was to explore the value of an accelerated academic mentoring programme for senior lecturers within a metropolitan university. Motivation for the study: From a South African perspective, it is critical to ensure that the next generation of academics is academically and intellectually equipped to substantively transform and develop South African universities. As faculty members are considered to be the primary deliverers of quality education, the ability of institutions to accelerate the careers and redress imbalances related to underrepresented academics is of paramount importance. A need exists for interventions and structures to be implemented at a national and institutional level to develop and fast-track the next generation of academics, to the benefit of higher education and society in general. Given this challenge, universities started to implement formal mentoring programmes, often haphazardly, in an attempt to equip faculty members with the requisite skills and capabilities to meet both the employment equity and the knowledge requirements of the country. There is therefore a need to determine the success of formal mentoring programmes in South African higher education institutions. Research approach and method: A qualitative research approach using a case study strategy was employed in a metropolitan university in South Africa. To address the stated aim and sub-aims of the study, the chosen research design was executed in two research phases. In Phase 1, primary data were collected using the appreciative inquiry method, and analysed using a collaborative approach. In Phase 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed... , M.Phil.
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Academic mentoring : a valuation of an accelerated development programme
- Authors: Ceronio, Louise
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Career development , Action research , Appreciative inquiry , Mentoring , Valuation
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283056 , uj:30513
- Description: M.Phil. (Leadership Coaching) , Abstract: There is a need for an effective accelerated career development intervention such as mentoring to address the imbalances of the past still prevalent in the South African higher education context. Such an intervention should contribute towards the development of the next generation of academics for more senior roles. Mentoring programmes for academic advancement have been implemented in the higher education sector, but the value gained by the participants of such programmes has not been explored. The aim of this study was to explore what is to be valued by an academic mentoring programme for accelerated career development. The strategy towards this end was a case study. The case was an accelerated academic mentoring programme for lecturers in a higher education institution. The positive action research method of appreciative inquiry was applied in a two-phase design. The mentees (11 participants) took part in a facilitated appreciative inquiry workshop, and the mentors (5 participants) participated in appreciative interviews. The participants were able to identify the positive core of their mentoring programme, which enabled them to envision how such a programme may lead to academics flourishing in terms of teaching, research, community involvement, and academic leadership. Subsequently, the participants co-constructed an architecture for an ideal mentoring programme. The participants finally suggested the deliverables required for enhancing and guaranteeing the sustainability of a mentoring programme. On a methodological level, the positive action research method of appreciative inquiry was introduced as an approach to value (as opposed to evaluate) an academic mentoring programme. On a theoretical level, the findings corroborated the positive impact of mentoring on career development, in particular in the higher education context. On a practical level, the appreciative inquiry method empowered the participants to become appreciative of the value of the mentoring programme, encouraging them to become more self-directed in their personal career development.
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- Authors: Ceronio, Louise
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Career development , Action research , Appreciative inquiry , Mentoring , Valuation
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283056 , uj:30513
- Description: M.Phil. (Leadership Coaching) , Abstract: There is a need for an effective accelerated career development intervention such as mentoring to address the imbalances of the past still prevalent in the South African higher education context. Such an intervention should contribute towards the development of the next generation of academics for more senior roles. Mentoring programmes for academic advancement have been implemented in the higher education sector, but the value gained by the participants of such programmes has not been explored. The aim of this study was to explore what is to be valued by an academic mentoring programme for accelerated career development. The strategy towards this end was a case study. The case was an accelerated academic mentoring programme for lecturers in a higher education institution. The positive action research method of appreciative inquiry was applied in a two-phase design. The mentees (11 participants) took part in a facilitated appreciative inquiry workshop, and the mentors (5 participants) participated in appreciative interviews. The participants were able to identify the positive core of their mentoring programme, which enabled them to envision how such a programme may lead to academics flourishing in terms of teaching, research, community involvement, and academic leadership. Subsequently, the participants co-constructed an architecture for an ideal mentoring programme. The participants finally suggested the deliverables required for enhancing and guaranteeing the sustainability of a mentoring programme. On a methodological level, the positive action research method of appreciative inquiry was introduced as an approach to value (as opposed to evaluate) an academic mentoring programme. On a theoretical level, the findings corroborated the positive impact of mentoring on career development, in particular in the higher education context. On a practical level, the appreciative inquiry method empowered the participants to become appreciative of the value of the mentoring programme, encouraging them to become more self-directed in their personal career development.
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Managers’ perception of values-driven risk behaviour
- Authors: Manolas, Manuella
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Qualitative research , Middle managers , Telecommunication , Risk-taking (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237670 , uj:24354
- Description: M.Com. (Industrial Psychology) , Abstract: Orientation – This research study context was influenced by the rising demands of the macro and micro factors within a large multi-national telecommunications organisation. Research Purpose – Explored managers’ perceptions of values-driven risk behaviour and related management of these identified risks. Motivation for the Study – Understand the practical implications of the results regarding alignment or misalignment of values on the organisation. Research Design, Approach, and Method – Qualitative research method and semistructured interviews with multiple cases were analysed through a phenomenological approach. Main Findings – Indicated that management were aware and aligned with the values of the organisation and were able to identify and manage behavioural risks to these values. Practical Implications – Displayed managers’ perceptions of values-driven risk behaviour and the potential impact of the failure to manage the identified risk. Value-add – Understanding of the managers’ perceptions of values-driven risk behaviour and the degree of alignment with the organisation’s values provided to the organisation.
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- Authors: Manolas, Manuella
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Qualitative research , Middle managers , Telecommunication , Risk-taking (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237670 , uj:24354
- Description: M.Com. (Industrial Psychology) , Abstract: Orientation – This research study context was influenced by the rising demands of the macro and micro factors within a large multi-national telecommunications organisation. Research Purpose – Explored managers’ perceptions of values-driven risk behaviour and related management of these identified risks. Motivation for the Study – Understand the practical implications of the results regarding alignment or misalignment of values on the organisation. Research Design, Approach, and Method – Qualitative research method and semistructured interviews with multiple cases were analysed through a phenomenological approach. Main Findings – Indicated that management were aware and aligned with the values of the organisation and were able to identify and manage behavioural risks to these values. Practical Implications – Displayed managers’ perceptions of values-driven risk behaviour and the potential impact of the failure to manage the identified risk. Value-add – Understanding of the managers’ perceptions of values-driven risk behaviour and the degree of alignment with the organisation’s values provided to the organisation.
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My journey as an intrapreneur in corporate South Africa
- Authors: Biddulph, Burnett Percival
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship - South Africa , Leadership - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/261918 , uj:27629
- Description: Ph.D , Abstract: At the suggestion of an erstwhile colleague and friend, I decided to take advantage of my retirement strategy and to undertake a PhD, the pinnacle of academic achievement. For the purpose of my research, the following general research question was formulated: How can I make sense of my lived experiences as an intrapreneur in the context of my personal life and career journey? Reviewing the field of intrapreneurship, it became clear that there is currently substantial scholarly interest in intrapreneurship from various angles and disciplines to support organisations in how best to respond to the growth imperatives they face, and to explore opportunities confronting them. While impressive developments have been made in the field of intrapreneurship over the past four decades, several gaps remain. These include: (i) the absence of research on the actual experiences of intrapreneurs, (ii) very few studies about the inner and emotional experiences of intrapreneurs within a social and organisational context, and (iii) little, if any knowledge, as to the intrapreneurial characteristics fundamental to the success of the intrapreneur. In order to obtain insight into my life as intrapreneur and at the same time contribute to the scholarship of intrapreneurship, I opted for the postmodernist-orientated qualitative research approach, autoethnography. More specifically, my approach reflected both elements of evocative and analytical autoethnography, but leaned more towards social science analysis and less towards art. In fact, by using my personal experience to provide an interpretative context, my work resembles social-scientific-oriented autoethnography, or analytic autoethnography (Anderson, 2006; Anderson & Class-Coffin, 2013). With regard to organisational autoethnography, it resided, as is the case with Swart’s (2014) local acquisition autoethnography, as complete member research in other than higher education organisations. For the data analysis and the sense-making process, I used Pepper’s (1942) adequate world views, in conjunction with specific theoretical models. These world views consist of organicism (the process of organic development), formism (similarity of objects), mechanism (static and dynamic machine systems) and contextualism (the ongoing act in context and changing patterns). From an organismic perspective, with my life story following a developmental cycle, I used the Novations Model of Dalton and Thompson (1986) to document my lived experiences. For formism, I analysed my personal and intrapreneurial characteristics. Here, I made use of...
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- Authors: Biddulph, Burnett Percival
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship - South Africa , Leadership - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/261918 , uj:27629
- Description: Ph.D , Abstract: At the suggestion of an erstwhile colleague and friend, I decided to take advantage of my retirement strategy and to undertake a PhD, the pinnacle of academic achievement. For the purpose of my research, the following general research question was formulated: How can I make sense of my lived experiences as an intrapreneur in the context of my personal life and career journey? Reviewing the field of intrapreneurship, it became clear that there is currently substantial scholarly interest in intrapreneurship from various angles and disciplines to support organisations in how best to respond to the growth imperatives they face, and to explore opportunities confronting them. While impressive developments have been made in the field of intrapreneurship over the past four decades, several gaps remain. These include: (i) the absence of research on the actual experiences of intrapreneurs, (ii) very few studies about the inner and emotional experiences of intrapreneurs within a social and organisational context, and (iii) little, if any knowledge, as to the intrapreneurial characteristics fundamental to the success of the intrapreneur. In order to obtain insight into my life as intrapreneur and at the same time contribute to the scholarship of intrapreneurship, I opted for the postmodernist-orientated qualitative research approach, autoethnography. More specifically, my approach reflected both elements of evocative and analytical autoethnography, but leaned more towards social science analysis and less towards art. In fact, by using my personal experience to provide an interpretative context, my work resembles social-scientific-oriented autoethnography, or analytic autoethnography (Anderson, 2006; Anderson & Class-Coffin, 2013). With regard to organisational autoethnography, it resided, as is the case with Swart’s (2014) local acquisition autoethnography, as complete member research in other than higher education organisations. For the data analysis and the sense-making process, I used Pepper’s (1942) adequate world views, in conjunction with specific theoretical models. These world views consist of organicism (the process of organic development), formism (similarity of objects), mechanism (static and dynamic machine systems) and contextualism (the ongoing act in context and changing patterns). From an organismic perspective, with my life story following a developmental cycle, I used the Novations Model of Dalton and Thompson (1986) to document my lived experiences. For formism, I analysed my personal and intrapreneurial characteristics. Here, I made use of...
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People with albinism : a quest for humanitarian coaching
- Authors: Clark, Cheryl-Lee
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Albinos and albinism - Psychology , Albinos and albinism - Social aspects , Humanitarianism
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/261925 , uj:27630
- Description: M.Phil. , Abstract: As coaching is an expensive intervention aimed at high-performing individuals, many people who live with albinism don’t have access to this type of intervention. As such, this study builds an argument for humanitarian coaching. In this study, the lived experience of people living with albinism were explored with regard to two aspects, namely, (a) the challenges they experience and, (b) what enables them to transcend these challenges. This study was motivated by three factors, namely, (a) the extent to which albinism influences all aspects of a person’s life, (b) how these aspects have been neglected in the literature and, (c) the prevalence of albinism. The two-sided research problem that guided the research process, is (a) that there is a lack of research on the lived experience of people living with albinism and as such, there is little available literature on the challenges they experience and the strategies they employ to transcend these challenges, and (b) that, in theory, coaching could be used as a development strategy to assist these individuals but is an expensive and exclusive intervention rarely available to individuals who are not identified as high performing individuals or people who haven’t made significant progress in their careers. Based on the problem statement, the theoretical aim of this study is threefold. Firstly, the literature on albinism was explored to gain an understanding of (a) the nature of albinism, (b) the causes of albinism; and (c) what the effect thereof is on people living with the condition. Secondly, the literature on disability in the workplace was reviewed to understand what the possible experience of people living with albinism might be. Thirdly, the literature was explored to understand key aspects of coaching. These key aspects were then applied and integrated with the research findings to establish how coaching can, theoretically, become a pathway for people living with albinism from their current reality to a fulfilled work life. The research study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and the research strategies used was interactive qualitative analysis (IQA) in a focus group context and thematic analysis (TA) of data collected through semi-structured interviews based on an appreciative inquiry (AI) approach. The...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Clark, Cheryl-Lee
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Albinos and albinism - Psychology , Albinos and albinism - Social aspects , Humanitarianism
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/261925 , uj:27630
- Description: M.Phil. , Abstract: As coaching is an expensive intervention aimed at high-performing individuals, many people who live with albinism don’t have access to this type of intervention. As such, this study builds an argument for humanitarian coaching. In this study, the lived experience of people living with albinism were explored with regard to two aspects, namely, (a) the challenges they experience and, (b) what enables them to transcend these challenges. This study was motivated by three factors, namely, (a) the extent to which albinism influences all aspects of a person’s life, (b) how these aspects have been neglected in the literature and, (c) the prevalence of albinism. The two-sided research problem that guided the research process, is (a) that there is a lack of research on the lived experience of people living with albinism and as such, there is little available literature on the challenges they experience and the strategies they employ to transcend these challenges, and (b) that, in theory, coaching could be used as a development strategy to assist these individuals but is an expensive and exclusive intervention rarely available to individuals who are not identified as high performing individuals or people who haven’t made significant progress in their careers. Based on the problem statement, the theoretical aim of this study is threefold. Firstly, the literature on albinism was explored to gain an understanding of (a) the nature of albinism, (b) the causes of albinism; and (c) what the effect thereof is on people living with the condition. Secondly, the literature on disability in the workplace was reviewed to understand what the possible experience of people living with albinism might be. Thirdly, the literature was explored to understand key aspects of coaching. These key aspects were then applied and integrated with the research findings to establish how coaching can, theoretically, become a pathway for people living with albinism from their current reality to a fulfilled work life. The research study was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and the research strategies used was interactive qualitative analysis (IQA) in a focus group context and thematic analysis (TA) of data collected through semi-structured interviews based on an appreciative inquiry (AI) approach. The...
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The contextualisation of leadership
- Authors: Ditsele, Tshepo John Danny
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283631 , uj:30599
- Description: Ph.D. , Abstract: This study was a deliberate effort to move away from a general leader-centric approach to a more complex (which does not imply complicatedness) contextual approach to the study of leadership. For the purpose of contextualizing leadership, fundamental question: Where is leadership? was crafted to guide the present study. This question implies that leadership should be explained, discovered and approached in a systematic manner in a particular context. Flowing from the aim; two research objectives were developed, namely a theoretical and an empirical objective. On a meta-theoretical level, the objective was to contextualize and therefore systematize the current leadership theory, providing for the meta-contextualisation of leadership. On an empirical level, the objective was to develop a contextual theory of leadership, providing for a micro-contextualization of leadership. These objectives suggest that leadership is context dependent, and as contexts differ, the abilities and competencies required to lead in these contexts will vary. In order to address the first objective of the study, namely to systematize current leadership theory, Pepper’s (1942) meta–structural framework was used to make sense of the current leadership theories. Pepper’s meta-structure offers four adequate world hypotheses, also referred to as structural hypotheses to explain how cognition of knowledge takes place. These are labelled as Formism, Mechanicism, Organicism and Contextualism. Dominant leadership theories were structured in terms of Pepper’s world hypotheses framework. The outcome of this exercise indicated that most leadership theories are eclectic. The purest examples of general leadership theories which adhere to Pepper’s four adequate world hypotheses were identified and interpreted. No pure example for contextualism could be found, providing the reason for the development of a contextual theory of leadership embedded in data - the second objective of the study. Pepper’s contextualist world hypothesis was chosen as the paradigm informing the empirical component of this study. Contextualism is embedded in the philosophic world view of pragmatism. Given the study’s contextual nature a case study approach was adopted as a research strategy. More particularly an instrumental case study was utilized. A qualitative research approach was deemed appropriate for this study as the...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ditsele, Tshepo John Danny
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/283631 , uj:30599
- Description: Ph.D. , Abstract: This study was a deliberate effort to move away from a general leader-centric approach to a more complex (which does not imply complicatedness) contextual approach to the study of leadership. For the purpose of contextualizing leadership, fundamental question: Where is leadership? was crafted to guide the present study. This question implies that leadership should be explained, discovered and approached in a systematic manner in a particular context. Flowing from the aim; two research objectives were developed, namely a theoretical and an empirical objective. On a meta-theoretical level, the objective was to contextualize and therefore systematize the current leadership theory, providing for the meta-contextualisation of leadership. On an empirical level, the objective was to develop a contextual theory of leadership, providing for a micro-contextualization of leadership. These objectives suggest that leadership is context dependent, and as contexts differ, the abilities and competencies required to lead in these contexts will vary. In order to address the first objective of the study, namely to systematize current leadership theory, Pepper’s (1942) meta–structural framework was used to make sense of the current leadership theories. Pepper’s meta-structure offers four adequate world hypotheses, also referred to as structural hypotheses to explain how cognition of knowledge takes place. These are labelled as Formism, Mechanicism, Organicism and Contextualism. Dominant leadership theories were structured in terms of Pepper’s world hypotheses framework. The outcome of this exercise indicated that most leadership theories are eclectic. The purest examples of general leadership theories which adhere to Pepper’s four adequate world hypotheses were identified and interpreted. No pure example for contextualism could be found, providing the reason for the development of a contextual theory of leadership embedded in data - the second objective of the study. Pepper’s contextualist world hypothesis was chosen as the paradigm informing the empirical component of this study. Contextualism is embedded in the philosophic world view of pragmatism. Given the study’s contextual nature a case study approach was adopted as a research strategy. More particularly an instrumental case study was utilized. A qualitative research approach was deemed appropriate for this study as the...
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Towards the development of the neoteny personality questionnaire
- Authors: Leo, Leigh
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Neoteny , Development psychology , Personality questionnaires
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/451476 , uj:39782
- Description: Abstract: Background: Psychological neoteny is broadly defined as the retention of youthful personality characteristics into adulthood and is positioned as a biologically based process that has allowed humans to adapt to an increasingly complex social environment by maintaining youthful characteristics into adulthood. The emergence of psychological neoteny in modern society and its utility in the context of the complexity of human society makes it a valuable concept in understanding emerging human behaviour. Despite this, there is limited research within the field, which evidences a largely theoretically based literature in which a clear conceptual structure of the construct is relatively absent and a strong empirical foundation for the hypotheses put forward is lacking. The dearth of empirical work may be attributed, in part, to the lack of psychometric tools with which to measure aspects of neoteny⎯as the development of measurement scales with desirable reliability and validity properties is a critical element in the evolution of a fundamental body of knowledge in a specific field of study (du Preez et al, 2008)... , D.Phil. (Industrial Psychology)
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- Authors: Leo, Leigh
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Neoteny , Development psychology , Personality questionnaires
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/451476 , uj:39782
- Description: Abstract: Background: Psychological neoteny is broadly defined as the retention of youthful personality characteristics into adulthood and is positioned as a biologically based process that has allowed humans to adapt to an increasingly complex social environment by maintaining youthful characteristics into adulthood. The emergence of psychological neoteny in modern society and its utility in the context of the complexity of human society makes it a valuable concept in understanding emerging human behaviour. Despite this, there is limited research within the field, which evidences a largely theoretically based literature in which a clear conceptual structure of the construct is relatively absent and a strong empirical foundation for the hypotheses put forward is lacking. The dearth of empirical work may be attributed, in part, to the lack of psychometric tools with which to measure aspects of neoteny⎯as the development of measurement scales with desirable reliability and validity properties is a critical element in the evolution of a fundamental body of knowledge in a specific field of study (du Preez et al, 2008)... , D.Phil. (Industrial Psychology)
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