Shaping the normative and constitutional landscape of psychometric testing in the workplace in South Africa
- Authors: Antohnie, Paul
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation - South Africa , South Africa. Employment Equity Act, 1998 , Psychometrics , Employees - Psychological testing
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/86934 , uj:19546
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract , LL.M. (Labour Law)
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- Authors: Antohnie, Paul
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation - South Africa , South Africa. Employment Equity Act, 1998 , Psychometrics , Employees - Psychological testing
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/86934 , uj:19546
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract , LL.M. (Labour Law)
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The psychometric assessment of the re-employability (on a labourer level) of the brain-damaged
- Authors: Erasmus, Cindy
- Date: 2012-09-05
- Subjects: Brain damage - Patients - Rehabilitation - Evaluation , Neuropsychological tests , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7032
- Description: M.A. , Certain topics almost have an interdicted status surrounding them. Avoidance of the unknown is a common reaction displayed by people especially when it involves a condition that strips another of normality. One such topic is brain damage. This study was undertaken to provide an alternative method of viewing a condition that is known to affect many individuals. Brain damage may be acquired by anyone at any point in time as a result of the forces of nature, such as illnesses or intervention of mankind, such as motor vehicle accidents. It seems more valuable to research the issue and provide some resolve, than to ignore or avoid it. To ensure that a well-founded study was accomplished one dimension of daily living affected by head injuries, was focused upon. Re-employability of labourers following mild to moderate brain damage was the area selected for this study. To achieve this objective, a psychometric battery which assesses the capabilities of an unskilled or semiskilled labourer with brain damage, has been designed. In order to assess the validity of the battery, it was administered to two groups of individuals. The first group constituted 25 brain-damaged labourers and the second group consisted of 100 normal labourers. By comparing the performance of the two groups, it became possible to determine whether the battery was feasible as an instrument of skill disparity. The data accumulated by the study showed that the battery does have the capability of distinguishing between the groups. A significant result of this study is that there now appears to be a method of differentiating between the jobrelated skills retained by brain-damaged labourers as opposed to normal labourers. This infers that the instrument has the capacity to assess how close to normal the skill competencies of injured persons are. In this setting this invariably implies an evaluation of the reemployability status of a person. Brain-damaged individuals are thereby given some recourse to determine their future work prospects and are provided with some clarity on one dimension of their functioning.
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- Authors: Erasmus, Cindy
- Date: 2012-09-05
- Subjects: Brain damage - Patients - Rehabilitation - Evaluation , Neuropsychological tests , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7032
- Description: M.A. , Certain topics almost have an interdicted status surrounding them. Avoidance of the unknown is a common reaction displayed by people especially when it involves a condition that strips another of normality. One such topic is brain damage. This study was undertaken to provide an alternative method of viewing a condition that is known to affect many individuals. Brain damage may be acquired by anyone at any point in time as a result of the forces of nature, such as illnesses or intervention of mankind, such as motor vehicle accidents. It seems more valuable to research the issue and provide some resolve, than to ignore or avoid it. To ensure that a well-founded study was accomplished one dimension of daily living affected by head injuries, was focused upon. Re-employability of labourers following mild to moderate brain damage was the area selected for this study. To achieve this objective, a psychometric battery which assesses the capabilities of an unskilled or semiskilled labourer with brain damage, has been designed. In order to assess the validity of the battery, it was administered to two groups of individuals. The first group constituted 25 brain-damaged labourers and the second group consisted of 100 normal labourers. By comparing the performance of the two groups, it became possible to determine whether the battery was feasible as an instrument of skill disparity. The data accumulated by the study showed that the battery does have the capability of distinguishing between the groups. A significant result of this study is that there now appears to be a method of differentiating between the jobrelated skills retained by brain-damaged labourers as opposed to normal labourers. This infers that the instrument has the capacity to assess how close to normal the skill competencies of injured persons are. In this setting this invariably implies an evaluation of the reemployability status of a person. Brain-damaged individuals are thereby given some recourse to determine their future work prospects and are provided with some clarity on one dimension of their functioning.
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Multi-dimensionele vlugtaksering
- Authors: Devantier, Marlize
- Date: 2015-10-14
- Subjects: Psychological tests - South Africa - Evaluation , Multidimensional scaling , Psychodiagnostics , Psychometrics , Personality assessment - Data processing
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14295 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14754
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , In recent times the South African society has been subject to rapid and important changes. These changes resulted in new responsibilities placed on social workers and psychologists. This situation has lead to the development of new perspectives and the expansion of knowledge and understanding. Social workers and psychologists are increasingly under pressure to provide cost effective services to an increasing number of clients without reducing accountability. Counsellors have to be able to support their decisions with scientific evidence ...
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- Authors: Devantier, Marlize
- Date: 2015-10-14
- Subjects: Psychological tests - South Africa - Evaluation , Multidimensional scaling , Psychodiagnostics , Psychometrics , Personality assessment - Data processing
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14295 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14754
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , In recent times the South African society has been subject to rapid and important changes. These changes resulted in new responsibilities placed on social workers and psychologists. This situation has lead to the development of new perspectives and the expansion of knowledge and understanding. Social workers and psychologists are increasingly under pressure to provide cost effective services to an increasing number of clients without reducing accountability. Counsellors have to be able to support their decisions with scientific evidence ...
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The construct validity of the FIRO Business™ instrument in the South African context
- Authors: Aimer, Jennifer Lynn
- Date: 2012-06-05
- Subjects: Psychometrics , Human behavior , Behavioral assessment , Psychological tests , Interpersonal relations , Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation Business instrument
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4857
- Description: M. Phil. , The main objective of this research study was to determine whether the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation™1 (FIRO) Business instrument was valid for use in the South African business context. The FIRO Business instrument is a measure of interpersonal needs. In addition, the relationships between interpersonal needs and satisfaction indicators were also examined. The study was conducted using factor analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a sample of 405 participants. The results of the study showed that the FIRO Business instrument is reliable and valid for use within South African organisations. The overall results showed that the FIRO Business instrument does not contain bias towards either gender group. Relationships were also observed between interpersonal needs and Work Satisfaction, indicating that quality interpersonal relationships are important to individual well-being in the workplace. Influence and Connection needs were found to have a stronger influence than Involvement on overall levels of satisfaction.
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- Authors: Aimer, Jennifer Lynn
- Date: 2012-06-05
- Subjects: Psychometrics , Human behavior , Behavioral assessment , Psychological tests , Interpersonal relations , Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation Business instrument
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4857
- Description: M. Phil. , The main objective of this research study was to determine whether the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation™1 (FIRO) Business instrument was valid for use in the South African business context. The FIRO Business instrument is a measure of interpersonal needs. In addition, the relationships between interpersonal needs and satisfaction indicators were also examined. The study was conducted using factor analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a sample of 405 participants. The results of the study showed that the FIRO Business instrument is reliable and valid for use within South African organisations. The overall results showed that the FIRO Business instrument does not contain bias towards either gender group. Relationships were also observed between interpersonal needs and Work Satisfaction, indicating that quality interpersonal relationships are important to individual well-being in the workplace. Influence and Connection needs were found to have a stronger influence than Involvement on overall levels of satisfaction.
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The effects of an anger-expressive cognitive-behavioural intervention programme on HIV-seropositive patients
- Authors: Lamb, Torsten Rainer
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) , AIDS (Disease) - Epidemiology , AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Mental health , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Research - South Africa , Behavior therapy , Group psychotherapy , Cognitive therapy , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/382928 , uj:9573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5997
- Description: D.Phil. , This thesis presents an intervention programme that aims to facilitate anger-expression and takes psychosocial and immunological variables into account. The present research argues that if the effects of the programme are validated, similar programmes may yield similar benefits for other participants in future intervention programmes in a South African context. The nature, course and effects of the HIV disease are described and include specific processes and mechanisms of influence in physical, mental and social terms. Biological processes that result from immunological deficiencies causing AIDS are analyzed and an explication of disease progression is offered. Psychological and social aspects related to immune-system deterioration carry implications for patients and influence their prognosis. The research was conducted in the context of a biopsychosocial conceptualization and was aimed at reducing levels of anger and helping establish recourses in the patients to manage infection and disease, as well as improve or at least retard decrements in immunological functioning. The goal of this intervention programme was to reduce levels of anger, anxiety, depression and social isolation. This would in turn increase the participant's personal sense of self-control, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Changes in these factors would help retard the overall HIV disease progression. An intervention programme was tailored to address the specific needs of HIV- infected patients. The group intervention was focused in such a way that relevant psychological, behavioural and social aspects were addressed. The programme borrowed and used aspects of different models and reformulated an intervention that would best address the specific needs of the participants. It was possible to isolate specific problems and focus the intervention on these specific areas, such as depression, anger, social isolation and hopelessness. For example, it was possible to take into account the participants' low self-efficacy and problems related to a lack of interpersonal coping skills and develop the participants' confidence and assertiveness (Antoni, 1991)
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- Authors: Lamb, Torsten Rainer
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) , AIDS (Disease) - Epidemiology , AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Mental health , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Research - South Africa , Behavior therapy , Group psychotherapy , Cognitive therapy , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/382928 , uj:9573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5997
- Description: D.Phil. , This thesis presents an intervention programme that aims to facilitate anger-expression and takes psychosocial and immunological variables into account. The present research argues that if the effects of the programme are validated, similar programmes may yield similar benefits for other participants in future intervention programmes in a South African context. The nature, course and effects of the HIV disease are described and include specific processes and mechanisms of influence in physical, mental and social terms. Biological processes that result from immunological deficiencies causing AIDS are analyzed and an explication of disease progression is offered. Psychological and social aspects related to immune-system deterioration carry implications for patients and influence their prognosis. The research was conducted in the context of a biopsychosocial conceptualization and was aimed at reducing levels of anger and helping establish recourses in the patients to manage infection and disease, as well as improve or at least retard decrements in immunological functioning. The goal of this intervention programme was to reduce levels of anger, anxiety, depression and social isolation. This would in turn increase the participant's personal sense of self-control, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Changes in these factors would help retard the overall HIV disease progression. An intervention programme was tailored to address the specific needs of HIV- infected patients. The group intervention was focused in such a way that relevant psychological, behavioural and social aspects were addressed. The programme borrowed and used aspects of different models and reformulated an intervention that would best address the specific needs of the participants. It was possible to isolate specific problems and focus the intervention on these specific areas, such as depression, anger, social isolation and hopelessness. For example, it was possible to take into account the participants' low self-efficacy and problems related to a lack of interpersonal coping skills and develop the participants' confidence and assertiveness (Antoni, 1991)
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The suitability of a computer-assisted psychometric system for the assessment of managerial potential in South Africa
- Authors: Boonzaaier, Frik
- Date: 2010-11-23T05:53:27Z
- Subjects: Triage (Medicine) , Psychometrics , Executives , Black executives , Executive ability testing , Leadership , Personality assessment
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3536
- Description: M.A. , Triage is an instrument that is intended to assist in the decision-making process regarding managerial personnel. As such, it purports to measure personality traits that underlie managerial performance. Its information output is applied to assist with managerial selection, managerial development, and team building decisions and exercises. Managerial and other work behaviour is highly influenced by cultural factors, and probably also the accompanying measuring instruments. The current research set out to assess whether Triage is a system that may be fairly applied for individuals from different races and genders. Methodologically the instrument presents huge potential since its computerised technology evaluates managerial traits in an effective and simplified fashion. Although it had been previously researched for a British population, -the minimum requirement for it to be applied fairly across South African groups was that it manifested acceptable levels of validity and reliability for the different South African groups to which the test battery is normally applied. Issues of similarities and differences between different racial and gender groups were hypothesised as part of the research design. In line with theory and previous research results, it was expected that score differences would appear between groups, but that acceptable levels of reliability and construct validity would be indicated for all groups. Cronbach alpha coefficients confinned relatively high reliability for all groups. MANOVA and ANDVA analyses confirmed cross-group differences in test scores. Factor analyses and canonical correlation analysis indicated that three factors have high relevance for all current and previous groups, with the Achiever/ Leader showing very high potential as a measure of managerial competence. Comparability of underlying structure was therefore indicated. The ANDVA and factor analyses did indicate, however, that the Alpha Test of Intelligence and the Levene Activities Preferences Questionnaire do not render cross-cultural equivalence regarding test scores and underlying dimensional structure.
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- Authors: Boonzaaier, Frik
- Date: 2010-11-23T05:53:27Z
- Subjects: Triage (Medicine) , Psychometrics , Executives , Black executives , Executive ability testing , Leadership , Personality assessment
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3536
- Description: M.A. , Triage is an instrument that is intended to assist in the decision-making process regarding managerial personnel. As such, it purports to measure personality traits that underlie managerial performance. Its information output is applied to assist with managerial selection, managerial development, and team building decisions and exercises. Managerial and other work behaviour is highly influenced by cultural factors, and probably also the accompanying measuring instruments. The current research set out to assess whether Triage is a system that may be fairly applied for individuals from different races and genders. Methodologically the instrument presents huge potential since its computerised technology evaluates managerial traits in an effective and simplified fashion. Although it had been previously researched for a British population, -the minimum requirement for it to be applied fairly across South African groups was that it manifested acceptable levels of validity and reliability for the different South African groups to which the test battery is normally applied. Issues of similarities and differences between different racial and gender groups were hypothesised as part of the research design. In line with theory and previous research results, it was expected that score differences would appear between groups, but that acceptable levels of reliability and construct validity would be indicated for all groups. Cronbach alpha coefficients confinned relatively high reliability for all groups. MANOVA and ANDVA analyses confirmed cross-group differences in test scores. Factor analyses and canonical correlation analysis indicated that three factors have high relevance for all current and previous groups, with the Achiever/ Leader showing very high potential as a measure of managerial competence. Comparability of underlying structure was therefore indicated. The ANDVA and factor analyses did indicate, however, that the Alpha Test of Intelligence and the Levene Activities Preferences Questionnaire do not render cross-cultural equivalence regarding test scores and underlying dimensional structure.
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A factor analytic comparison of dichotomous and polytomous response categories
- Authors: Vorster, Paul Petrus
- Date: 2012-06-06
- Subjects: Psychometrics , Psychiatric rating scales , Factor analysis , Factorial experiment designs
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2487 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4941
- Description: M.Comm. , It was investigated whether dichotomous (2-point) or polytomous (5-point) rating scales have superior functioning on the personality construct Soft-Heartedness for the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI). The optimal number of rating scale categories for a personality measure was explored. The participants comprised students of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds at a South African tertiary institution (N =708). Two alternate forms of a test measuring Soft-Heartedness were administered to two alternated groups (n1 = 344; n2 = 364). Either version of the test contained a 2-point and 5-point version. These two formats were then factor analysed and subjected to a tetrachoric/polychoric correlation analysis. They were also tested for reliability using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient and composite reliability coefficient. In addition, the coefficient of congruence was established. It was found that the 2-point scale has more functional psychometric properties than the 5-point scale regarding the factor structure and composite reliability. This was attributed to cultural, perceptual, linguistic, educational, and test-experience components.
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- Authors: Vorster, Paul Petrus
- Date: 2012-06-06
- Subjects: Psychometrics , Psychiatric rating scales , Factor analysis , Factorial experiment designs
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2487 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4941
- Description: M.Comm. , It was investigated whether dichotomous (2-point) or polytomous (5-point) rating scales have superior functioning on the personality construct Soft-Heartedness for the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI). The optimal number of rating scale categories for a personality measure was explored. The participants comprised students of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds at a South African tertiary institution (N =708). Two alternate forms of a test measuring Soft-Heartedness were administered to two alternated groups (n1 = 344; n2 = 364). Either version of the test contained a 2-point and 5-point version. These two formats were then factor analysed and subjected to a tetrachoric/polychoric correlation analysis. They were also tested for reliability using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient and composite reliability coefficient. In addition, the coefficient of congruence was established. It was found that the 2-point scale has more functional psychometric properties than the 5-point scale regarding the factor structure and composite reliability. This was attributed to cultural, perceptual, linguistic, educational, and test-experience components.
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The psychometric properties of the Career Development Questionnaire
- Authors: O'Hare, Patricia Anne
- Date: 2014-09-23
- Subjects: Langley, Ronelle , Career development - South Africa , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:12382 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12165
- Description: M.A. (Psychology) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
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- Authors: O'Hare, Patricia Anne
- Date: 2014-09-23
- Subjects: Langley, Ronelle , Career development - South Africa , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:12382 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12165
- Description: M.A. (Psychology) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
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Electrophysiological concomitants of behavioural intelligence
- Authors: Todd, Angela Elizabeth
- Date: 2012-08-08
- Subjects: Intelligence tests - South Africa , Psychometrics , Brain - Research - South Africa , Neurophysiology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8978 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5448
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , The evoked potential has proved to be one of the most important methods of studying brain function, specifically since it is a non-invasive or non-surgical method. The term evoked potential refers to a change in the pattern of the brain's electrical potential in response to an external stimulus. The external stimulus can be an auditory, visual or somatosensory stimulus. The evoked potential is measured by means of two electrodes connected to a recording apparatus such as the Nicolet Pathfinder. The difference in potential between the two active electrodes (bipolar recording) or the recording and reference electrodes (monopolar recording) is amplified and averaged over time by means of a computer to average transients. The development of the averaging computer was a major breakthrough in evoked potential research. The averaging technique assumes that the brain's sensory responses have an invariant time relationship to the evoking stimulus, whereas the ongoing background activity (EEG) does not. By averaging the electrical activity following the presentation of a stimulus, a small "signal" from the sensory pathway can be separated from the background "noise" of the EEG. Over the past forty years, scalp recording of human sensory evoked responses has emerged as a useful technique for assessing sensory-pathway integrity, and it is now a standard tool in clinical neurology. Basic research on evoked responses has also addressed issues that may be more directly relevant to neuropsychology, such as identifying the evoked response measures corresponding to various stages of information-processing and cognitive functioning in both the intact and damaged brain...
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- Authors: Todd, Angela Elizabeth
- Date: 2012-08-08
- Subjects: Intelligence tests - South Africa , Psychometrics , Brain - Research - South Africa , Neurophysiology
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8978 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5448
- Description: D.Litt. et Phil. , The evoked potential has proved to be one of the most important methods of studying brain function, specifically since it is a non-invasive or non-surgical method. The term evoked potential refers to a change in the pattern of the brain's electrical potential in response to an external stimulus. The external stimulus can be an auditory, visual or somatosensory stimulus. The evoked potential is measured by means of two electrodes connected to a recording apparatus such as the Nicolet Pathfinder. The difference in potential between the two active electrodes (bipolar recording) or the recording and reference electrodes (monopolar recording) is amplified and averaged over time by means of a computer to average transients. The development of the averaging computer was a major breakthrough in evoked potential research. The averaging technique assumes that the brain's sensory responses have an invariant time relationship to the evoking stimulus, whereas the ongoing background activity (EEG) does not. By averaging the electrical activity following the presentation of a stimulus, a small "signal" from the sensory pathway can be separated from the background "noise" of the EEG. Over the past forty years, scalp recording of human sensory evoked responses has emerged as a useful technique for assessing sensory-pathway integrity, and it is now a standard tool in clinical neurology. Basic research on evoked responses has also addressed issues that may be more directly relevant to neuropsychology, such as identifying the evoked response measures corresponding to various stages of information-processing and cognitive functioning in both the intact and damaged brain...
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