Browsing by Author "Van der Spuy, H I J"
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessA comparative study of the efficacy of group therapy and remedial reading with retarded readers(1975) Nel, Verna Kathryn; Van der Spuy, H I JThe aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the relative efficacy on reading attainment, personality and adjustment of a group therapy approach, compared with the results obtained by a traditional remedial reading approach with retarded readers. Additionally, to consider the effects on reading attainment, personality and adjustment, irrespective of the treatment approach, of two different therapists. The general hypothesis being investigated was that it would be possible to improve the child's personal and social adjustment and attitudes to reading and school, thereby effecting a change in his approach to learning situations, with a resultant improvement in reading attainment. Furthermore, that there would be a difference in the improvement of the children, between the two therapists' groups.
- ItemOpen AccessHypnotherapy with nocturnal enuretic boys(1974) Edwards, Stephen David; Van der Spuy, H I JThe main objective of the present study was to provide an adequately controlled experimental and clinical study to assess the efficacy of hypnotherapy in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. Hypnotherapy was operationally defined in terms of current research in hypnosis. Subjects were 48 nocturnal enuretic boys, aged 8 to 13. Treatment consisted of six standardised sessions, one hourly session per subject per week. Results indicated that hypnotherapy was significantly more effective in decreasing (a) nocturnal enuresis, compared with both pretreatment base line enuresis frequency and a no treatment control (b) maladjustment. Secondary enuretics were found to be more maladjusted than primary enuretics, responded better to hypnotherapy, yet relapsed more after treatment. Comparisons with other studies indicated that hypnotherapy was a desirable short term clinical alternative to more established psychotherapeutic, psychopharmacological and conditioning methods of treatment.
- ItemOpen AccessAn investigation into the validity and clinical usefulness of the five-element rank order repertory grid with children(1975) Swart, Wessel Cornelius; Van der Spuy, H I JThe main objective of this project was to investigate some aspects of the diagnostic and prognostic validity of the five-element rank order repertory grid (REP 5). This has been attempted at various levels of analysis with 48 nocturnal enuretic boys, aged 8 to 14, undergoing highly standardized hypnotherapy. REP 5, with neutral elements (photographs) and supplied constructs, was administered 5 times over an 8 month period, i.e. at the pretherapy; mid-therapy; end-therapy; 6 week and the 6 month follow-up stages. Each subject acted as his mm control and in addition a nontreatment control group awaiting similar therapy was used. On the basis of current theory and relevant adult research findings, certain hypotheses were formulated to assess the validity of REP 5. This provided a framework within which the task was to determine whether REP 5 could register (a) in a predictable and meaningful way the expected relationships between the relevant variables; and (b) changes in these relationships. The grid performances were also validated against an empirical criterion which was objectively measurable, i.e. nights dry. Results indicated that the REP 5 was reasonably effective in registering in a meaningful way the status and changes in variables during and after therapy. It appeared that the REP 5 has a significant diagnostic and prognostic utility value. Its efficacy as an instrument seems to be mainly limited by the ability of its designer to match the test design with the purposes for which it was intended.
- ItemOpen AccessKliniese neigingstruktuuranalise van die leergestremde kind(1977) Stander, G; Van der Spuy, H I J
- ItemOpen AccessAn MMPI-based study of the personality characteristics of three groups of South African students(1977) Lison, Samuel Malkiel; Van der Spuy, H I JThe aim of this study is to investigate the specific personality characteristics of three groups of South African students, utilising the MMPI as the assessment tool. The study of South African subjects in an investigation of this type is important as it can assist in facilitating the understanding of the influences on personality of the kind of society that South Africa- represents, and it can provide empirical data of the personality characteristics typical to South Africa that can alleviate the stereotyping that ignorance of real characteristics can generate. The study of group personality or national character has never fully been assimilated into the main body of psychology. However, more recent empirical concepts of national character, such as that of the "modal personality", which refers to relatively enduring personality characteristics and patterns that are modal among members of a society, and that of the "social personality", which refers to the notion that any culturally distinctive aggregate of individuals suitably studied with the help of psychological concepts and techniques will reveal a fairly general system of overt and covert behaviours, enables scientific studies to be undertaken. The MMPI is a personality assessment tool which, although primarily intended for clinical diagnosis, has had certain techniques developed that allow for the study of group or national character. These techniques plus further clinical and content scale analysis, where these scales low or high elevation warrant attention, enables full and reliable group personalities to be identified, described and compared.
- ItemOpen AccessSelection criteria and psychological adaptations to the ongoing dialysis and renal transplant programme(1974) Rabinowitz, Stanley; Van der Spuy, H I JThe aims of the study were: - (1) to investigate the criteria of selection for an ongoing dialysis and transplant programme; and (2) to study psychological changes made by patients at various phases of the programme. A total sample of forty-five patients being treated at the Renal Department of Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, were psychologically assessed. In studying the selection process, intellectual factors, social class, educational measures and personality factors were contrasted between a sample of patients accepted and rejected for the programme. In the investigation of the psychological changes occurring within the programme, total and directional hostility, intelligence, anxiety, dependency and self-control measures were contrasted between a predialysis, short-term dialysis, long-term dialysis and transplant sample. Results revealed!( 1) that the accepted sample had significantly higher verbal intelligence, educational and social class scores than the rejected group; (2) no significant differences in general hostility, anxiety, dependency and self-control measures between the patients at the various ongoing phases. However the long-term dialysis sample showed significantly more extra-punitiveness than the transplant sample while the transplant sample showed a significantly higher level of intellectual functioning than the predialysis and long-term dialysis groups. These results show that (1) selection is possibly based on superficial characteristics, with which the selection team can identify; (2) projection of hostility is a possible important defence mechanism used in coping with the rigorous demands of the programme; (3) due to the possible absence of toxic substances after transplantation, the transplant sample showed a higher level of intellectual functioning. Other possible explanations for the findings were provided.
- ItemOpen AccessA study of religious involvement among university students : literal, anti-literal, and mythological religious involvement(1976) Daneel, Marthinus Hugo; Van der Spuy, H I JA sample of 210 university students were clustered into relatively homogenous religious orientations, based on their scores on three scales of religious involvement, delineated by Hunt (1972): Literal, Anti-literal and Mythological. The three groups were compared on the following measures: (i) Background variables; (ii) Thouless (1935): Intensity of Belief Scale; (iii) Rokeach (1960): Dogmatism Scale; (iv) 16 PF by Cattell et al. (1970) and (v) King and Hunt (1972 b): Scales for Basic Religious Dimensions. Hunt's notion that pro-religious subjects of different involvement might differ in terms of personality variables was supported.