Volume 40, Issue 1, 2008
Acta Academica - Volume 40, Issue 1, January 2008
Volume 40, Issue 1, January 2008
Source: Acta Academica 40 (2008)
Met hierdie uitgawe word 'n nuwe kleurvolle ontwerp van die omslag van Acta Academica ingewy. Die verandering dui op meer as bloot viering van veertig jaar in die lewe van die tydskrif. Sedert 1994 het daar jaarliks drie gewone uitgawes van die tydskrif, asook minstens een Supplementum verskyn. Vanjaar egter word teruggekeer na publikasie op kwartaalbasis, terwyl daar steeds Supplementa op aanvraag en volgens die inisiatief van gasredakteurs gepubliseer sal word.
The ethics of responsibility : the ethical philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas
Authors: Willie Van der Merwe and Vida De Voss
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 1 –30 (2008)
Die etiek van verantwoordelikheid : die etiese filosofie van Emmanuel Levinas
Die etiek van Emmanuel Levinas is gegrond in die Ander / ander. Hy argumenteer dat ons in 'n asimmetriese verhouding tot ons naaste staan, deur wie ons (in sy metaforiek) "uitverkies" is tot etiese verantwoordelikheid, selfs voor ons keusevryheid as subjekte of bewussyn van onsself. In die gesig-tot-gesig ontmoeting, die ervaring van die "gelaat van die ander", word die "andersheid" of alteriteit van die ander / Ander (wat Levinas ook "oneindigheid" noem) ontbloot en daardeur word ek gedwing om op hom te antwoord. Hierdie verhouding maak ons mensheid vry, omdat ons solipsistiese allesvir- myself 'n alles-vir-die-ander word. Die ek is onvervangbaar, omdat elkeen van ons eties verantwoordelik is vir ons naaste, selfs tot op die punt van sy materiële ellende. Die bedoeling van hierdie artikel is om 'n inleiding te bied tot hierdie ge-dagtegang van Levinas en dit grotendeels te ondersteun.
Emmanuel Levinas's ethics is based on the Other / other. He argues that we are in an asymmetrical relationship with our neighbour that pre-destines us to ethical responsibility even before consciousness or choice. In the face-to-face encounter an infinity and alterity about our neighbour is revealed, which is irreducible to our ontological grasp, and thereby compels us to respond to him. It is also through this relation that our humanity is released as our solipsistic "all-for-myself" becomes a "being-for-the-other". Furthermore, the "I" is irreplaceable, thereby making each of us ethically responsible for our neighbour, even to the point of responsibility for his material misery. This paper introduces and, in the main, supports this idea of Levinas's.
Die swart Afrikaanse vroueskrywer (1995-2007) : nog steeds 'n literêre minderheid binne 'n demokratiese bestel?
Author Neil Cochrane
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 31 –51 (2008)
The black Afrikaans woman writer (1995-2006) : ever a literary minority in a democratic dispensation?
During the last decade of the twentieth century, two novels by black Afrikaans women writers, Frieda Gygenaar and E K M Dido, were published by mainstream publishers. Since then, the position of black women writers within the Afrikaans literary system has improved significantly. This article investigates the literary production of black Afrikaans women writers over the last twelve years, providing a quantitive and descriptive overview of their literary output. It also discusses the important challenges facing contemporary black Afrikaans women writers: limitations in terms of thematic variety and multidimensional perspectives as well as the lack of literary role-models, a tradition and canonical status. Finally, certain conclusions are drawn about the current and future literary status of black Afrikaans women writers.
Gedurende die laaste dekade van die twintigste eeu word die eerste romans deur twee swart Afrikaanse vroueskrywers, Frieda Gygenaar en E K M Dido gepubliseer. Sedertdien verwerf swart Afrikaanse vroueskrywers 'n toenemend sterker posisie binne die Afrikaanse literêre sisteem. Die artikel ondersoek die literêre produksie van swart Afrikaanse vroueskrywers oor die afgelope twaalf jaar deur 'n kwantitatiewe en deskriptiewe bestekopname te bied van hul literëre produksie. Belangrike uitdagings waarvoor die swart Afrikaanse vroueskrywers tans te staan kom, word bespreek - beperkings betreffende tematiek en multidimensionele perspektiewe en 'n gebrek aan literêre rolmodelle, tradisie en gekanoniseerde status. Laastens sal tot sekere gevolgtrekkings gekom word rakende die huidige en toekomstige literêre status van swart Afrikaanse vroueskrywers.
'New fatherhood' - fact or fiction? The perceptions and experiences of fathers in South Africa
Author Ria Smit
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 52 –77 (2008)
'Nuwe vaderskap' - feit of fiksie? Die persepsies en ervarings van vaders in Suid-Afrika
Vaderskap het gedurende die afgelope twee dekades toenemend meer aandag in beide vakkundige geskrifte en populêre forums in Suid-Afrika begin geniet. Hierdie artikel doen verslag van die bevindige van 'n kwantitatiewe studie wat in die Gauteng-provinsie van Suid-Afrika gedoen is, met die doel om lig te werp op die mate waartoe mans die "nuwe vaderskap" kultuur aanvaar en aktiewe koesterende vaders geword het. Alhoewel mans meer aktief by die versorging van kinders betrokke geraak het, vind talle mans dit steeds moeilik om hoë vlakke van aktiewe vaderlike betrokkenheid te toon. Ten spyte hiervan beskou talle van hierdie mans dit as regverdig om van 'n man te verwag om aktiewe vaderskapwerk te verrig en definieer hulle vaderskap as koesterende vaderlike betrokkenheid. Die navorsingsresultate dui ook aan dat daar 'n positiewe korrelasie bestaan tussen die man se persepsie van sy eie vaderlike betrokkenheid en sy ervaring van huwelikskwaliteit.
During the past two decades, fatherhood has become an increasingly important issue, not only in scholarly debates but also in popular forums in South Africa. This article reports on some findings of a quantitative study, undertaken in the Gauteng province of South Africa, that aimed to shed light on the extent to which men are embracing the "new fatherhood" culture and have become active, nurturant fathers. Although men are becoming more actively involved in child-care, many still find it difficult to manifest high levels of active fatherly involvement, even if they consider it fair to expect a man to perform active fatherwork and define fatherhood as synonymous with nurturant paternal involvement. The research results also indicate the existence of a positive correlation between a man's perception of his paternal involvement and his experience of marital quality.
Authors: Ottilia Brown-Baatjies, Paul Fouche and Awie Greeff
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 78 –126 (2008)
Die ontwikkeling en toepaslikheid van die Veerkragtigheidsmodel van Gesinstres, Skikking en Aanpassing
Die studie van gesinsveerkragtigheid het in die afgelope twee dekades in die veld van gesinsielkunde in momentum toegeneem. Hierdie artikel fokus op die ontwik keling van die Veerkragtigheidsmodel van Gesinstres, Skikking en Aanpassing oor tyd. Hierdie model het 'n lang geskiedenis wat tot 1946 terugdateer en deur navorsing oor dekades heen ondersteun word. Elk van die modelle wat die Veerkragtigheidsmodel voorafgaan word verduidelik. Die faktore waaruit hierdie model bestaan is empiries getoets en verbandhoudende meetinstrumente is ontwikkel om sodoende veerkragtig heidsfaktore binne die gesinskonteks te evalueer. Die moontlike toepaslikheid van hierdie model vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word ook gedebateer.
The study of family resilience has gained momentum within the field of family psychology over the last two decades. This paper focuses on the development of the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation, which has a long history and is substantiated by research dating back to 1946. The factors comprising the model have been empirically tested, and related measuring instruments have been developed in order to evaluate resiliency factors within the family context. Each of the Resiliency Model's antecedent models is outlined here, while its potential relevance to the South African context is also debated.
South African household expenditure patterns : alcohol products in 1995 and 2000
Authors: Marc Ground, Steven Koch and Dylan Van Wyk
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 127 –160 (2008)
Suid-Afrikaanse huishoudelike bestedingspatrone : alkoholiese produkte in 1995 en 2000
Hierdie artikel ondersoek die verskille in die besteding van huishoudings aan alkohol tussen 1995 en 2000, die mees onlangse tydperk waarvoor daar algemeen beskikbare data is. Die ontleding dui dat reële besteding op alle alkoholprodukte, asook die aantal huishoudings wat alkoholiese produkte koop, afgeneem het. Dit dui egter ook op 'n algehele afname in die totale besteding van alle huishoudings, deels vanweë veranderings in die demografiese en sosio-ekonomiese struktuur van die huishoudings onder beskouing tussen 1995 en 2000. Besteding op alkoholprodukte het, veral onder ryker huishoudings, met minder afgeneem as totale besteding, wat gelei het tot 'n toename in die gedeelte van huishoudelike besteding toegeken aan alkoholiese produkaankope.
This research examines differences in household expenditure on alcohol between 1995 and 2000, the most recent years for which data is publicly available. The analysis reveals that both real expenditure on all alcohol products and the number of households purchasing alcoholic beverages have declined. However, it also shows a general decrease in total expenditure in all households, partly due to the change between 1995 and 2000 in the demographic and socio-economic structure of the households surveyed. Alcohol expenditure, particularly in better-off households, dropped by less than total expenditure, leading to an increase in the share of household expenditure allocated to alcoholic beverage purchases.
The stability of test design : measuring differences in performance across several administrations of an academic literacy test
Authors: Albert Weideman and Frans Van der Slik
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 161 –182 (2008)
Stabiliteit in die ontwerp van toetse : die meting van prestasieverskille in 'n akademiese geletterdheidstoets oor verskeie aanwendings heen
Hierdie bydrae verken die stabiliteit of konsistensie van 'n toets van akademiese geletterdheid oor verskeie aanwendings heen. Eerstens word analises aangebied van die betroubaarheid van twee weergawes (die een in Engels, die ander in Afrikaans) van toetse wat aan drie Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite vir plasingsdoeleindes gebruik word. Tweedens analiseer ons die getal potensiële misklassifikasies, dit wil sê die mate waarin die toets nie billik meet nie. Derdens ondersoek ons verskille in die resultate in afsonderlike aanwendings van die toets, en vra spesifiek of sulke verskille beduidend sowel as relevant is.
This study explores the stability or consistency across several administrations of a test designed to determine academic literacy levels. The reliability of two versions (one English, the other Afrikaans) of such a test used for placement purposes at three South African universities will first be analysed. Secondly, the number of potential misclassifications on the test is assessed (ie the extent to which the test does not measure fairly). Thirdly, the differences among the results of the various administrations of the test are explored, with a view to establishing whether such differences are both significant and relevant.
Factors related to throughput in final-year Statistics
Authors: Abduraghiem Latief and Renette Blignaut
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 183 –196 (2008)
Faktore wat grade voltooing van derdejaarsvlak Statistiek studente beïnvloed
Hierdie artikel poog om uit te vind watter faktore beïnvloed suksesvolle voltooiing (in die voorgeskrewe tydperk) van grade deur studente aan die Universiteit van die Weskaap (UWK) in Suid-Afrika. Die studente in hierdie studie het almal ten minste een semesterkursus in derdejaar Statistiek geslaag. Die studente se suksesvolle voltooiing is gemeet ten opsigte van Graad 12 gemiddeld, huistaal en Graad 12 Wiskunde resultate. Die studie volg 'n kwantitiewe benadering en gebruik historiese studente-uitslae. Faktore wat bydra tot of verhinder om suksesvolle voltooiing van studies te bepaal, is geanaliseer. Graad 12 gemiddeld was die mees betekenisvolle faktor om suksesvolle voltooiing te verseker. Daar word dus voorgestel dat die Graad 12 gemiddeld behoue moet bly in die nuwe skoolstelsel omdat dit 'n goeie voorspeller is vir naskoolse sukses.
This article reports on the results of a study examining factors related to throughput at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa between 1975 and 2001. The students in the study all registered for at least one semester of Statistics in their final year. Throughput is defined as the number of years taken by a student to complete an undergraduate degree and is described in terms of the following factors: Grade 12 aggregate, home language and Grade 12 Mathematics result. The study adopted a quantitative approach and used historical student records. The most significant factor was found to be the Grade 12 aggregate. It is therefore suggested that the Grade 12 aggregate be retained as a selection criterion for higher education studies.
Kosgangers se ervarings van bullebakkery : 'n gevallestudie
Authors: Corene De Wet and Lynette Jacobs
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 197 –235 (2008)
Boarders' experiences with regard to bullying : a case study
Despite the many portrayals of bullying at school hostels in biographies, autobiographies, youth and adult fiction, and films, very few research publications deal with violence in general, and bullying in particular, at hostels. The aim of this case study was to address this gap in the South African literature on bullying. This article will report the results of an investigation in 2006 to determine the experiences, observations and perceptions of learners boarding at an Eastern Cape school hostel in relation to the nature and extent of bullying.
Ten spyte van die uitbeelding van bullebakkery in skoolkoshuise in biografieë, outobiografieë, jeug- en volwassefiksie asook rolprente, is daar min navorsingspublikasies oor geweld in die algemeen, en bullebakkery in die besonder, in koshuise. Die doel van hierdie gevallestudie was om dié leemte in die Suid-Afrikaanse bullebakliteratuur aan te spreek. Die artikel rapporteer oor die resultate van 'n ondersoek in 2006 om leerders verbonde aan 'n Oos-Kaapse koshuis se ervaringe, waarnemings, asook persepsies oor die aard en omvang van bullebakkery vas te stel.
A model to increase teacher self-efficacy
Authors: Lesley Wood and Tilla Olivier
Source: Acta Academica 40, pp 236 –252 (2008)
'n Model om die selfbevoegdheid van onderwysers te verhoog
Die artikel bied die hooftrekke van 'n poging om onderwysers te help om meer effektiewe rolmodelle en onderrigters van lewensvaardighede te word, by wyse van die ontwikkeling van 'n selfbevoegdheidsmodel. Die model is gebaseer op die aanname dat onderwysers eers moet glo in hulle eie vermoë om lewensuitdagings die hoof te kan bied, voordat hulle leerders kan leer om dit te doen. Met teoriegenerering as navorsingsontwerp en deur die inisiëring en fasilitering van drie gelyktydige prosesse - naamlik intrinsieke groei, die ontwikkeling van 'n innerlike lokus van beheer, en interaksie met die omgewing, binne die raamwerk van volgehoue reflektiewe praktyk - wil die model onderwysers se selfprobaatheid ontwikkel.
This article outlines an attempt to help teachers to become more effective role models and instructors of life skills via the development of a self-efficacy model. The model is founded on the premise that teachers first have to believe in their own ability to effectively cope with life's challenges before they can teach learners to do so. Based on a theory-generative research design, the model proposes to promote teachers' self-efficacy by initiating and facilitating four simultaneous processes within the framework of continuous reflective practice, namely intrinsic growth, the development of an internal locus of control, and interaction with the environment.