Faculty of Arts and Design

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The accessibility of further education and training colleges to South African sign language users in KwaZulu-Natal
(2018) Sawula, Nqobile Lovable; Makhubu-Badenhorst, R.L.; Pratt, Deirdre Denise
After twenty-four years of democracy, the predicament of people with disabilities has finally become part of the transformation agenda. There has been a growing acceptance that people with disabilities can play active roles in both transforming their own lives and contributing to society. For this to transpire, access to proper education and training opportunities is fundamental. There is thus a need for higher educational institutions to divest themselves of all forms of discrimination against those with disabilities. This requires that people with disabilities be given equal opportunities to enter higher education programmes and to succeed in them. Despite the strong legislative and policy framework for addressing disability in the education sector, access to higher education for disabled students, particularly the South African Sign Language (SASL) users, is believed to be limited. Using the Social Model of disability, this study seeks to investigate the accessibility of Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges to SASL users in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In this investigation, a total number of fifty South African Sign Language users filled in questionnaires and two representatives from Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges in KwaZulu-Natal were interviewed. This study targeted SASL users who were out of school and wanted to further their studies at higher education institutions. The participants were recruited by inviting all d/Deaf and hard of hearing people from the four selected Deaf organizations/associations in KwaZulu-Natal to participate in the study. The study undeniably reveals that FET Colleges are not accessible to SASL users in KwaZulu-Natal. This is because FET Colleges in KwaZulu-Natal do not provide access services like SASL interpreters for the d/Deaf community, which violates d/Deaf people’s right to education and is a barrier to the d/Deaf students who want to further their studies. Furthermore, this research identified that the Deaf community in KwaZulu-Natal is not well informed about devices that can be used to assist them in classrooms in order to access information.
Addressing the skills shortage of computer-aided design pattern-making in the KwaZulu-Natal clothing industry
(2014-11) Coetzee, Minette; Kadwa, Farida; Pratt, Deirdre Denise
Over the past 20 years, it has become necessary for South African clothing companies to raise their operational standards to keep up with international competitiveness. Consequently, it was necessary for companies to invest in technology to improve turnaround time, a case in point being computer-aided design (CAD) pattern-making technology. However, currently, a skills shortage exists in the area of trained CAD pattern-makers. Therefore, the intention of this study was to address the skills shortage of CAD pattern- makers in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) clothing industry. A concurrent-nested mixed-methods research method was carried out within a constructivist worldview. These methods were used to, firstly, establish what skills are necessary for CAD pattern-making, and, secondly, to identify the reasons for the skills shortage of CAD pattern-makers in the KZN clothing industry. Different role players from the clothing industry participated in the study. The participants indicated that CAD pattern-making requires a diverse set of skills, which they ranked in order of importance. These skills can now be used as a guide by lecturers, trainers and clothing companies to identify individuals with the required potential to be trained as CAD pattern-makers. The reasons identified by the industry participants for the skills shortage of CAD pattern-makers, needs to be addressed through education, training and remuneration. Since companies have purchased the necessary CAD software, without skilled pattern-makers, the system is underutilized, thereby affecting their profitability and costing the companies reduced profit margins.
An advanced ensemble approach for detecting fake news
(2021-12-12) Hansrajh, Arvin
The explosive growth in fake news has evolved into a major threat to society, public trust, democracy and justice. The easy dissemination and sharing of information online provide the unabated momentum. As such, it has become crucial to combat the menace of fake news and to mitigate its consequences. Detecting fake news is an intricate problem since it can appear in a multitude of forms, thus making it both automatically and manually very challenging to successfully recognise. Furthermore, fake news is intentionally created to mislead and is often interspersed with real news. Studies have shown that human beings are somewhat unsuccessful in identifying deception. The majority of people accept that information they are presented with in virtually any form is reliable or veracious. The relevant literature reveals that a considerable number of people who read fake news stories report that they find them more believable than the news that is disseminated via mainstream media. Furthermore, there are predictions that by 2022, the greater population within mature economies are likely to consume more false than true information. The importance of combatting fake news has been starkly demonstrated during the current Covid19 crisis. Social media networks are significantly increasing their efforts to develop fake news detection mechanisms, as well as to enlighten subscribers on how to recognise fake news, however most people are naturally predisposed to spreading sensationalist news without any fact-checking process in place. It is therefore evident that the creation of automated solutions is vital and urgent for the detection of untruthful news and as such, the goal of this study is to aid in the detection of fake news. Prior studies have included many machine learning models with varying degrees of success but many non-conventional machine learning models have not yet been exploited despite evidence to suggest that they are the best in several text classification scenarios. Consequently, an ensemble learning approach is suggested to assist in resolving the gap that has been identified. Contemporary studies are validating the efficiency of ensemble learning methods and have provided encouraging outcomes. This study investigates how machine learning and natural language processing methods are pooled together in a blended ensemble in order to build a model that will utilise data from past news articles, to forecast whether a current news article is likely to be false or true. A variety of performance metrics such as roc, roc auc, recall, precision, f1-score and accuracy are used in comparing the proposed model to other machine learning models. The measurements are applied in evaluating and gauging the efficiency of the proposed model. The results obtained show that the proposed model’s performance is better than several other learning models, which is very encouraging.
African graphic systems: a preliminary study, with reference to the history and theory of graphic design
(2004) Carey, Piers Christian; Andrew, Rick; Sutherland, Ian
This project has investigated African graphic systems, both writing systems and systems of symbolic graphics. These systems are commonly used in Graphic Design, but those of African origin have been largely ignored in both the applied discipline, and in its History and Theory. The project has attempted to explain this in historical and theoretical terms: its motivation is described in terms of countering the exclusion of African visual culture in the face of historical and ideological factors such as colonialism and globalisation. The project's research aims were to collect as much information as feasible on these systems; and to classify them according to such criteria as their language or cultural group, their location, and the functional nature of the systems. From this body of information a smaller number of representative systems were selected for further description and discussion, in order to highlight the variety of systems existing in Africa, their historical development, and techniques and materials used. These selected systems were then used as inspiration and raw material for a body of applied Graphic Design work, which is intended to provide a visual introduction to the material, and to promote and advocate the revaluation of this cultural material. Information has mainly been gathered by means of library and internet search, in order to establish approximately the extent of the literature in the public sphere. Because of the obscurity of most of this information, it has been gathered from such other disciplines as Linguistics, Anthropology, or History. The project has established the existence of a large number of graphic symbols and systems, and gathered a body of literature and references about them. Many are poorly documented, if at all, and even those for which extensive literature
Analysing Instagram pages of South African fashion models with Vitiligo using multimodal communication for a practice-based study
(2023-03-01) Sarupdeo, Emilia; Mchunu, Khaya Jean; Rapeane-Mathonsi, Maleshoane
An increase in fashion models with vitiligo are observed from the sharing of representations of themselves and the skin condition on multimodal forms of communication on social media platforms, notably Instagram. The study is located in fashion and focuses on vitiligo that has been widely discussed in the medical field. Vitiligo is a skin condition where the deterioration of melanocyte cells lead to white patches that present in various areas of the body (Vallerand et.al 2019: 1371). The significance of this study is to understand the representations led by fashion models with vitiligo and to join them by using my profession as a fashion designer with vitiligo to shift the beauty narrative through inclusivity and raising awareness about the skin condition. The study is framed by a multimodal discourse analysis and specifically a four-step analytical process of modal transfer (Kress 2000 and 2010). This frame is used to focus on how fashion models with vitiligo use multimodal communication in the form of photographs, captions, and hashtags to communicate themselves, as people with vitiligo through their public Instagram pages. This form of communication is argued to be their practice of challenging and expanding accepted notions of beauty. An analysis is followed by a practical component framed by Sullivan’s (2010) and Skains (2018: 86) creative practice as research. The study results show how the models have represented themselves and their skin condition. Some posts touch on themes that seek to shift the narrative and expand notions of beauty. They share perspectives on inclusivity and diversity, self-love, self-affirmation, body-positivity, perceptions of the gaze, and what should not be regarded as fashion trends. Optimism expressed by such themes resulted as psychological healing and promotes good mental health towards the incurable skin condition. I designed a body of fashion artefacts for this practice-based study as my contribution to using fashion as communication to shed light on vitiligo and body positivity. A new Instagram page has been created to display the practical collection through my own use of multimodal communication. This process has resulted in 6 fashion artefacts that use hashtags as titles to speak about vitiligo. The fashion artefact collection celebrates inclusivity and diversity, depicts the types of formation which vitiligo presents in, and concludes by perceiving all as beauties, expressed in both in practice and theory.
An analysis of some problem areas facing first year typing technology students at technikons, with particular reference to Technikon Mangosuthu, and suggestions for their resolution
(1993) Botha, Martina Alfreda; Dobie, B. A.; Naude, V. J.
Secretaries form a very important component of the labour market in South Africa, therefore appropriate education and training in this field is essential. It is only in the last decade that young black people have entered this career path. ~ ';4~ ,':'l.!. To meet the needs of employers, Technikon Mangosuthu introduced National secretarial courses in 1982. Of the first twenty students ~ho enrolled, only six were successful in completing the course. They were eagerly snapped up by employers who expressed great satisfaction with their work. It became clear during the course of training the students, that they had numerous problems which hampered their progress. Their English ability was not up to the standard required for this level of study. Students had serious difficulties in adapting to the use of electronic office equipment. Socio-economic problems also contributed to the students' inability to succeed in their studies. The problems seemed insurmountable. It was clear that positive steps needed to be taken to improve the situation. This dissertation is concerned with the education of secretarial students at Technikon Mangosuthu and investigates the backgrounds of students at six technikons in an attempt to identify problems and their causes with the aim of alleviating these problems and providing the labour market with well trained, efficient secretaries. Typing Technology is a major subject in the three year National Secretarial Diploma. This subject, in keeping with the development of modern technology, comprises three components: Typing Techniques, Word Processing and Audio Typing. To pass this subject, a high level of proficiency is required. The students at Technikon Mangosuthu come from a non-technological and socially disadvantaged background and the initial introduction to office technology comes as a cultural shock to them. Lecturers need to assist students in making the transition as quickly and easily as possible by identifying problems and adapting methods of teaching to help students overcome the problems.
Artist's block : the creation of a workshop to re-engage visual artists with their creative process by using the natural environment as a facilitator
(2008) Richards, Sarah P.; Roome, John William
The aim of this thesis is to research and create a workshop which will assist artists to engage with their creative process. I explore the possibility that by being in a natural environment the blocked artist can reengage with their creative process and unblock the debilitating effects of artist's block. I chose to complete this study through the Durban University of Technology, to engage myself in the focused task of reengaging myself with my creative process, to create a workshop through experience and related yet varied data that could assist others through my experience and reflections. The term 'artist's block', also known as 'creative block' or 'writer's block', is used to describe a visual artist's or a writer's inability to engage with their creative process. I refer to a variety of literary resources as well as the observations made through interviews, by a selection of South African artists about this debilitating and frustrating situation. I also examine what is meant by being engaged in a creative process, and examine various theories and suggestions from a broad selection of literature. I explore a selection of literary recourses and reflect on personal experiences to ascertain whether the notion that the natural environment can assist an artist in finding the necessary inspiration to reengage them with their creative process and is therefore a suitable environment to facilitate a workshop. To assist with this study I facilitated two workshop, one for Students of the Durban University of Technology and the other for a diverse group of artists. The facilitation ofa workshop needs to be a creative process and I use the analogy of an alchemical process to highlight the unfolding of a workshop experience. This study also takes a look at the skills required by a facilitator, the role of the participant and how a workshop may unfold as a creative process. I observe that Artist's block is part of the creative process, that a workshop can be facilitated to assist artists with 'artist's block' and reengage them with their creative process, and that the natural environment is a suitable facilitator for the creative process. Although not quantifiable, it was established that students could benefit from workshops which gave them a better understanding of their creative process and how to move past artist's block. This thesis reflects briefly on my paralleled experiences over this four year period as I reengaged with my creative process and created a body of work to be exhibited as partial requirement for the Master's qualification.
Arts and censorship in South Africa 1948-2000
(2000) Allard, Raymond H.
This dissertation is concerned with the effects of censorship on the arts community during the apartheid era in South Africa, and in the post apartheid era that followed. Through interviews and various sources, a picture will be presented that examines the contrasts and similarities of the two eras. Chapter One will present an overview of South African history, from its beginnings in 1653 to the first popular election in 1994. It will show how the religious beliefs and accompanying attitudes of the in-coming colonialists created a social atmosphere in which the system of apartheid was able to flourish and grow. It will also show how apartheid ultimately crumbled under pressure from growing resistance and violence among the people it sought to control. Chapter Two is comprised primarily of the results of several interviews with selected artists, showing how the various individuals thought about censorship, how they dealt with all the restrictive laws, and how they were able to pursue their art making under these conditions. Personal experiences illuminate the effects of such censorship, and opinions about the value and necessity of censorship are summarized. Various of the interviewees talk specifically about what actions they took under the apartheid regime, and how they viewed, and continue to view, the role of the artist in society. Chapter Three uses several case studies to illustrate what is currently happening concerning censorship and art in the post-apartheid era. Opinions and reactions to current conditions will be presented, and specific instances of censorship or attempted censorship will offer a comparison with the previous era. This will illustrate how much liberty artists today enjoy in South Africa. Several significant issues are raised by such examples; Issues of potency and importance to any culture. Finally, the artists themselves look ahead, and provide a picture of the future for arts in this society .
Aspects of the construction of a politicised female identity in South African fashion photography
(2006) Madhoo-Chipps, Nirma Dolly; Kethro, Philippa
This dissertation questions and expands currently held notions of traditional fashion identities in South African fashion photography. The impetus for this study stems from observations of a relatively low level of political engagement in local fashion photography as compared to other areas of art and design which seem very enunciative of a politics of identity. Investigation of identity politics in South African fashion photography was informed by a staged investigation. Firstly, accounts of a literature review of fashion theory and key theories of identity allow entrenched constructions of fashion representations to be seen as restrictively politicised. Primary investigation of expert fashion views followed. The concepts of hybridity and fluidity in theories of identity were central to the discovery of alternative politicised fashion identities
Autobiographical narratives : an investigation into the artist as celebrity
(2014) Norval, Anet; Roome, John William
This dissertation introduces and explores the link between the phenomenon of the celebrity artist and autobiographical narratives. It investigates the possibility that artists plan, strategize and embellish or create stories that could gain enough attention from the general public to achieve celebrity status. This enquiry will establish various contexts, that of different artists, the audience, the celebrity artist and my own, locating the research and findings within a historical and contemporary discourse. The research presents several concepts and factors that will contribute to the understanding and contextualization of the hypothesis, as well as possibly substantiate it. Concepts such as celebrity, fame, narcissism, the ego and exhibitionism form the basis of the enquiry while theories based on narrative, autobiography and memory rehearsal provide credible support and background. The nature of this dissertation requires a broad investigation including contemporary social sciences, philosophy and psychology, media studies and history of art. In order to determine whether the aforementioned concepts and theories are employed by certain individuals to gain celebrity status, three celebrity artists are introduced through their biographies, rises to fame and their popularity and relationships with the general public. The artists, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Tracey Emin are introduced chronologically. All three artists have established public identities and in the attempt to substantiate whether these identities are constructed and pre-mediated the final analysis (in form of a causal analysis) presents fluctuating results with several possible causes. As part of this enquiry I introduce my creative output through discussing my autobiography, themes (of my work), mediums (I choose to use), exhibition and the resonance found with the selected artists. In light of the discussions based on the backgrounds, public identities and resonance I have found with each artist I determine whether I embellish my stories to gain fame. The research is conducted through qualitative research methodologies and presented in a consequential order. The methodological approach and process is best described through the term Bricolage, which refers to the use of multiple methodologies in its approach to research, in other words, a hybrid of praxis (Barrett & Bolt ed., 2010). The process of this enquiry includes theoretical research, historical research; studio based and –led research, as well as a causal analysis. As part of the research, many factors have been considered and discussed, as an investigation into autobiography; the research will aid me in progressing as an artist as well as contribute to the greater knowledge of the autobiographical field. Furthermore, introducing and exploring the link between autobiographical narratives and the artist, as celebrity is a discourse that can be developed and further expanded on. Through this research I have attempted to establish a link between high art and popular culture, and the artist and the audience. The findings represent a process of attempting to understand a complex set of possible causes with one ultimate effect and the influence it has on an individual and the general population. Many artists want to be famous and would go through the motions to become a celebrity. It does, however, fully depend on the individual and no ultimate formula can be presented.
The ‘blend’ in blended learning : establishing a balance between face-to-face and online learning in a pattern making and garment construction class
(2020-04-07) Kirby, Luhandra; Cavanagh, Michaella; Pratt, Deirdre Denise
This study explored the use of blended learning in a fashion design class, working within the constructivist orientation with a mixed methods case study and using a sequential exploratory approach in order to focus on the effectiveness of the blended learning design and how it is experienced by the participants. The case study was based on a group of second year fashion design students from a private design institution in South Africa, for the combined subject, pattern making and garment construction. The purpose of this research was to investigate the ways in which face-to-face learning and online learning could best be blended to facilitate instruction in this particular class. The study focused on establishing what combination of online and face-to-face delivery could be seen to be most effective in achieving the project learning outcomes within the time and resource constraints available for the combined pattern making and garment construction subject. A blended learning curriculum model (Huang, Ma and Zhang, 2008) was used to assist in preparation for the blended learning programme, with online learning delivery being effected by means of Google Classroom, the learning management system recommended by the private design institution. The sequential exploratory approach involved two projects, so that insights gained from the first project could be applied to modify the blended learning design for the second project, if and as required. Quantitative data were used to establish a baseline of students’ prior understanding of blended learning, pattern making and garment construction processes. Qualitative data were collected in the form of interviews, questionnaires and observations, allowing for a descriptive understanding of how students as well as the lecturer (who was the researcher) experienced the blended learning classroom, and how effective that blend was in achieving the desired learning outcomes; opportunities were also offered for reflection. The results revealed that, not only did blended learning delivery need to be applied in a developmental way, with ongoing adjustments to accommodate best teaching/learning practice, but also that different fashion ‘briefs’ (that is, the tasks involved) might require modifications to the blended learning delivery design. This suggests that there is no ideal ‘blend’ in blended learning, but that, like other forms of learning, it is exploratory, tentative and constantly evolving. It is hoped that this study will offer insights into how face-to-face and online learning can be combined to best facilitate the learning process in this particular case, where practical assistance with students’ individual design projects traditionally requires a large amount of the instructional time available. As many vocational university subjects have similar time and resource constraints, particularly in facilitating practical application of theory at a professional standard, it is also hoped that, to some extent, the results will be generalizable to other disciplines.
Challenges experienced by women fashion entrepreneurs of Botswana’s Youth Development Fund project
(2022-02) Paya, Kegomoditswe Matshediso; Moyo, Sibusiso; Mbanga, Tando Sisanda
Botswana’s Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture (MYSC) introduced the Youth Development Fund (YDF) with the aim of creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people through the development of sustainable projects. The aim of this study is to investigate challenges experienced by women fashion entrepreneurs of Botswana’s Youth Development Fund project to determine their experiences and the sustainability of their businesses. This study is significant because it attempts to identify the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Botswana who have been funded through the Youth Development Fund (YDF), by allowing the authentic voices of the female youth entrepreneurs to be heard. The study used a qualitative research method and a phenomenological approach. The target population was female fashion entrepreneurs who met specific selection criteria in Kgatleng, Kweneng and South East districts. The sample was eleven (11) participants (ten purposefully-selected fashion entrepreneurs who benefited from the YDF project and one YDF representative). Data collection was conducted using In-depth semi-structured interviews and observations. The in-depth interviews were the main source of data and consisted of a semi-structured interview schedule comprising questions and probes. The observations were supplementary, meant to enhance the interview data. The study used thematic analysis for analysing data, which was then interpreted using the interpretivist approach. The results show that female fashion entrepreneurs of the YDF project face a number of challenges while running their businesses. These challenges, include too many rigid requirements when applying for funding, insufficient funding, cash flow problems, lack of modern machinery, lack of raw materials, lack of retail space, inadequate fashion marketing events, lack of collateral or venture capital investment, tight competition from imports as well as a lack of mentorship and incubator programmes. The study has revealed that female fashion entrepreneurs face a lot of challenges. However, solutions are within reach. For instance, the government, stakeholders, researchers and the female entrepreneurs themselves should work together to try and solve these challenges. A fashion incubator programme, a fashion mentorship programme, a fashion council and an academic alumni network should be established as part of the measures to address these challenges. Additionally, COVID-19 relief strategies should be designed and implemented to help revive small medium enterprises.
A cinematographic survey of a selected alternative sub-culture in various locations
(2005) Gatfield, Rowan Christopher; Andrew, Richard Charles
This document discusses the motivation for and the process of making a 52 minute television Art documentary designed to inform and to create an awareness of the problem of modern culture and its impact on the environment. Drawing on qualitative research from a worldwide research journey, it investigates modern culture's socially conditioned state and how television has assisted to that end. It then explores the philosophical views and constructs behind the Sixties movement and Rainbow - an alternative social collective that evolved out of the Sixties Movement, and uses these findings to serve as the creative basis for the making of the film, The Search for Utopia.
Coloured lens : a study of the socio-cultural context of Wentworth in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, towards a photographic documentary
(2012-09-10) Houston, Natalie; Ojong, Vivian
Social issues are a very real problem in South Africa. Violent protests in poorer communities around South Africa indicate a need to better understand negative social realities impacting on communities. This research examined the sociocultural context of Wentworth in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, as shown on the map on page x. The focus of this study was the social and community realities; and the significance of photography in the context of examining these. The aim was to use photography as a research tool as well as to document the data collected. From the data a 118-page book, as shown on page viii, was conceptualised, which captures this community’s social context. Further, the study questioned the use of design practice to support social change. Because of the distinctly “Coloured” nature of Wentworth, literature was sought for the definition, history, current dynamics and complexities of Coloured identity. The literature review highlighted ethics and the strategies that should be adhered to when considering the social nature of photography. For this inquiry a qualitative analysis was conducted using the Grounded Theory method. A collaborative, or participatory research approach, was used for data collection, by working closely with families and health, church and non-governmental groups in Wentworth. Qualitative data collection methods used to gather primary data were photographic documentation and interviews. This research produced a number of key findings regarding socio-cultural problems plaguing the community. Findings deemed photography a rich tool for researching the social and for accurately recording everyday life. The main conclusions drawn from this research were that in-depth studies be conducted on individual problems, utilising greater manpower and funding. In addition, that further research and documentation be undertaken in the community.
A comparative socio-semiotic perspective of invectives in isiZulu and Yoruba languages
(2016) Oparinde, 'Kunle Musbaudeen; Makhubu, R.L.; Bariki, I.
The diversified ways of language use in different geographic areas of the world present valid reasons for the study of various usages of language. Invectives are a major aspect of language that have been greatly neglected in intellectual discourse. Motivated by the paucity of academic literature on invective-related studies and other stereotypes in human communication, the thrust of this work is to discuss the socio-cultural factors embedded in the two cultures in their approach of invectives. The study examines a comparative taxonomy of invectives in isiZulu and Yoruba languages from a socio-semiotic perspective. Drawing examples from the two languages, the study explores instances of semiotic analysis that are created by the assumption that signs, utterances and messages are situated within the context of social relations and processes. The study indicates that invectives are context and culture-dependent and may be perceived differently in line with the field of discourse, tenor of discourse and mode of discourse. The research tools included observation, interviews, and archival materials. Our research also identified and classified pre-assigned invectives, ritualized insult chants, innovative songs and visual insults. Adeosun’s (2012) proposed model of analyzing written poetry in Yoruba was used in analyzing the insults. The following typologies of insults (among others) were observed in the two languages: ethnophaulism, dehumanization, sexotypes and body parts. The study reveals striking similarities and differences in the invective-related discourses of isiZulu and Yoruba.
Conflict resolution in secondary schools in the Phoenix area : management training strategies
(2000) Biputh, Barathwanth; Prosser, Julia Judith; Sioux McKenna
This study focused on conflict resolution in multi-racial , co-educational schools in the Phoenix region and the development of strategies for the training of management and staff to resolve conflict. It has been observed that principals in the Phoenix region frequently seek the intervention of third party adjudicators to resolve conflicts experienced at schools . This often prevents the timeous and expeditious resolution of conflicts . The inability to resolve conflict judiciously impinges on job satisfaction, productivity and human relationships in schools. A literature survey of conflict revealed that conflict in organisations is endemic and inevitable . Conflicts at work, when dealt with systematically , can have positive rather than destructive effects. It is the writer's belief that conflict can be reduced or eliminated if there is a conflict resolution programme in schools which is designed to train both management and staff in conflict resolution. The writer provided a theoretical understanding of conflict through an analysis of the underlying dynamics of conflict , the effects of organisational conflict and the conflict process. The various levels and areas of conflict in schools were examined. The research examined three approaches to conflict management , evaluated the various conflict handling styles and applied these strategies to conflict situations experienced at schools.
Conflicts of interest in the reporting of biomedical research in mainstream newspapers in Canada
(2013-10-17) Buist, Steven Douglas; Pratt, Deirdre Denise
Ethical behaviour by investigators is the cornerstone of scientific research. Recognizing, declaring and avoiding a conflict of interest are key responsibilities for biomedical researchers, particularly since commercial enterprises, such as pharmaceutical companies, have become major funding sources of research. Proactive disclosure of researchers' financial relationships is now a requirement for publication in most scientific journals. The question that arises is whether this same increased scrutiny of financial disclosure and potential for conflict of interest has extended to the mainstream press in Canada. A content analysis of biomedical research articles that appeared in Canadian daily newspapers from 2001 to 2008 showed that 82 per cent of the articles failed to identify the financial connection that existed between the researcher(s) and the commercial funder, and nearly half of the articles did not even identify the commercial funding source of the research. A text analysis showed that 94 per cent of the articles were positive about the drug/device cited by the research, and positive, optimistic words such as “breakthrough”, “significant”, “hope” and “promising” were often used in the news articles. Reporters frequently frame biomedical research articles using a battle-like template that describes a fight between good and evil. Another common approach was to frame the article as a message of hope for the future. A genre analysis showed that the genre of medical research news articles published in newspapers is highly dissimilar to the genre of medical research articles published in scientific journals. It is likely these two genres have been constructed to appeal to very different target audiences. The study results show overwhelmingly that readers are not provided with key information about potential financial conflicts of interest involving the researchers and the commercial sources of funding for the research. Such lack of transparency thwarts the reader’s ability to reach informed conclusions about whether or not the research has been either explicitly or implicitly influenced by the researcher’s potential conflict.
Connecting technology and sensory design : a collaborative approach to designing university learning environments in a digital age
(2018-11) Parker, Megan; Reynolds, Michelle C.; Gaede, Rolf
This study explores how technology-enhanced learning (TEL) environments may be designed to stimulate the human senses. The research examines how interior designers can improve the design of learning environments to integrate seamlessly with emerging technologies, focusing specifically on how to provide students with an embodied and improved learning experience. The research challenges the notion that a need exists to connect technology and sensory design. The aim was to discover how a collaborative design approach could be used to assist interior designers to overcome the challenges they face when accommodating technology and the senses in university learning environments. The study followed an action research approach, situated in the interpretative inquiry paradigm. The sample population was comprised of various professional specialists from South Africa and the United States of America. Online interviews, focus group discussions, reflection questionnaires and an academic research journal were used to gather data. The findings describe and illustrate the challenges which interior designers face when designing learning environments in the digital age. To connect technology and the senses effectively, interior designers need to find a balance between integrating technology, stimulating the senses and encouraging collaborative learning. The study makes a strong case for a collaborative design approach when designing TEL environments, as the wider range of knowledge and skills leads to more informed decisions.
Controlled shadow in photography : the development of a technique for child portraiture
(2017) Mindry, Mark; Pratt, Deirdre Denise; Pearce, Brian
This research deals with both the cultural and technical aspects of the use of controlled shadow in child portraiture. This study was contextualised by setting it in a theoretical framework of visual culture, and by exploring the connotations of shadow in western culture. The theoretical framework provided by visual culture suggested that the way in which shadow is interpreted is dependent on the context in which it is set, and, in the context of child portraiture in particular, shadow tends to be avoided in commercial shoots. As the commercial viability of photography depends on the public being comfortable with the images produced, child photographs are usually staged or touched up to ensure that no sinister or foreboding connotations might be conveyed by shadow. While the use of harsh shadow is generally not aesthetically pleasing, and obscures the very lineaments which personalise and animate images, it was the contention of this study that use of controlled shadow might add depth and character to portraiture, and has the potential to create aesthetically pleasing effects in child photography. The empirical work explored both the cultural and technical aspects of photography. The cultural aspects, relating to the potentially undesirable aspects of photography, were explored in questionnaires and surveys carried out with groups of practising professional photographers and parents of young children. The technical aspects were explored by developing a technique for achieving pleasing aesthetic effects in child portraiture by use of controlled shadow, using the soft shadows cast by natural objects or those associated with play. The results suggest that photographers would be willing to use a technique such as that developed, provided that the results were acceptable to their clients, and thus commercially viable; the parent responses suggest that clients would find child portraits with controlled shadow aesthetically pleasing.
Converging technologies : the integration of manual design skills in pattern technology within a virtual learning environment (VLE) for South African design students, with particular reference to swimwear
(2004) Sutherland, Beverley; Stewart, Graham Douglas James; Vorster, George
This investigation focuses on the research and development of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) on CD-ROM to prepare Fashion students for a digitally-based industry.