Browsing by Subject "attitudes"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Open Access
    Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour with the addition of role-identity to predict lecture attendance behaviour
    (2019) Majudith, Nadira; Bagraim, Jeffrey
    This study aimed to investigate the behaviour of lecture attendance amongst undergraduate students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) by applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). A total of 169 respondents completed either a hard copy or online survey whilst meeting the inclusion criteria. The sample consisted of students from a first-year mathematics course (which had compulsory lecture attendance for registered students) and from a first-year organisational psychology course (which had voluntary lecture attendance for registered students). The study aimed to broaden the limited knowledge which exists around the perceptions of students regarding lecture attendance specifically in a South African context. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and reliability analyses strongly supported the application of the TPB model scales and role-identity scale. Regression analysis showed that only attitudes help to predict intention towards lecture attendance behaviour where subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and role-identity were not significant predictors. Intentions were also seen to be highly correlated to actual attendance behaviour as well as helping to predict actual attendance behaviour. Actual behavioural control (ABC) was not seen as a moderator between intention and actual lecture attendance. Practical and theoretical implications were discussed. The information generated by this study can be used to further understand the occurrence of, and students’ perceptions of lecture attendance.
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    Conversion intentions amongst South African interns in time of COVID-19: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
    (2021) Archary, Kendra; Bagraim, Jeffrey
    Internships provide students with the unique opportunity to experience what working for a particular organisation will entail, while simultaneously giving the organisation a chance to evaluate the students' work capabilities and cultural fit before offering them a full-time employment contract. As a result, internships have necessitated deeper understanding, from researchers and employers alike, of what impacts intern conversion rates within host organisations. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) this study explored the intention toward conversion into full-time employment within host organisations of the South African intern. The study employed a quantitative design to test the hypotheses that behavioural beliefs (attitudinal beliefs, subjective normative beliefs, and perceived behavioural control beliefs) would influence the intention to convert. A total of 210 respondents completed an online survey. The sample consisted of interns from three South African organisations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of the measurement and structural models found that the hypothesised models fit the data moderately well. Results of the regression analysis showed that both attitudes and subjective norms were significant in determining intention towards converting into full-time employment, however, perceived behavioural control and perceptions of COVID-19 were not significant determinants of conversion behaviour. The study makes three contributions to the literature. First, TPB can be a useful framework to explain interns' intention to convert. Second, the utility of the TPB framework for conversion intentions was established. Third, this study contributes to limited research on the topic and the findings call for longer-term research on intern conversion in the South African context with larger sample groups.
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    Entrepreneurship Intentions Amongst South African TVET Students: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour
    (2021) Sundelson, Jamie; Bagraim, Jeffrey
    The primary aim of the investigation was to explore the entrepreneurship intent (EI) of South African TVET students by applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Additional factors (demographics, community valuation, prior exposure to entrepreneurship and COVID-19 perceptions) were included as control variables within the model to assess the utility of the TPB. Student participants (N = 128) completed an online survey administered through two institutions in the Western Cape and made available by a Facebook link. The application of the TPB model scales was strongly supported by the results of the exploratory factor analyses (EFA) conducted as well as reliability analyses. Regression analyses indicated that the Theory of Planned Behaviour explained approximately 80% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention (p < .001). However, only attitudes were a significant determinant of entrepreneurial intention, whereas subjective norms and perceived behavioural control were not significant determinants of EI. Moreover, the control variables (demographic factors, community valuation, prior exposure to entrepreneurship) did not explain significant variance in EI, with the exception of COVID-19 perception, which was a significant determinant (β = .259, t = 3.159, p < .05). Hayes (2018) PROCESS macro was thereby used to investigate the moderation effect of COVID-19 perceptions, which were found to significantly moderate the relationship between perceived behavioural control and entrepreneurial intention. The contributions of the investigation are discussed and recommendations for future research are presented.
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    The impact of two modules on first year occupational therapy students’ knowledge and attitudes to the core constructs of occupation
    (2015-04) Green, Caryn; Hudson, Kerry; Wicht, Minkateko; Willows, Claire; Buchanan, Helen
    Introduction: The first year occupational therapy course at the University of Cape Town focuses on developing an understanding of occupation. Two first semester modules form the foundation for this understanding. This study aimed to describe the impact of these modules on first year students’ knowledge of, and attitudes towards, the core constructs of occupation. Methodology: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was used with a convenience sample recruited from the 2013 first year occupational therapy class. A self-administered questionnaire was developed for the study based on an extensive literature review and consultation with international occupational therapy experts. Data were gathered before and after participating in the modules. Content and construct validity, test-retest and inter-rater reliability were determined using the expert panel and a pilot test. Data were analysed with STATISTICA. Results: Forty-five (N=60) participants completed pre-test and post-test questionnaires and were included in the analysis. Knowledge improved significantly (p<0.001) between pre-test and post-test, and positive attitudinal changes were noted. Conclusion: Knowledge and attitudes improved after completing the modules suggesting that students were equipped with a sound foundational understanding of the core constructs of occupation.
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    Knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nurses towards organ donation and transplantation in a selected campus of a college in the Eastern Cape
    (2016) Gidimisana, Nozibele Dorothy; Fouché, Nicola A; Mayers, Pat
    South Africa has a low organ donation and transplantation rate despite the availability of medical professionals with the expertise to perform such transplants. This can be attributed to various factors, such as knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation and transplantation. Despite the efforts of the Organ Donor Foundation in South Africa by conducting awareness and education campaigns organ donation rates remains low. There is a wide discrepancy in the rate of organ donation among the different ethnic groups in the country, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge or for cultural or religious reasons. Nurses, as health-care providers, have an important role to play in enabling patients and families to deal with the topic of organ donation. This cross-sectional study investigated the knowledge and attitudes of 268 pre-registration nursing students towards organ donation, at a nursing college in Mthatha, using an anonymous, self- administered questionnaire for data collection. A stratified convenient sampling method was used. The data was captured and analysed using the SPSS statistical package, Version 21; thereafter, descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses were performed on the data. Results: The majority of respondents (62.8%) were aware of organ donation with a small number (1.6%) registered as organ donors. Ethnicity and religion did not influence an individual's decision to donate his/her organs, which suggested that the decision was a personal one. There was no association between age group and willingness to donate a kidney to a relative, although younger respondents were willing to donate kidneys as living donors. There was also no clear relationship between gender and willingness to donate an organ (p-values of 0.03). Knowledge about organ donation was seen as a strong predictor of the attitudes towards organ donation. The majority of respondents were willing to donate organs for transplantation to save the lives of others. It is highly recommended from the results of the study that awareness campaigns to promote organ donation using various strategies and emphasising altruistic motives can increase the organs for donation.
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    Millennials' Attitudes Towards Organic Personal Care Products in South Africa: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour
    (2020) Lupindo, Mongezi; Madinga, Nkosivile
    The organic products market has grown worldwide in recent years. Increasing demand for products that are less harmful to the environment and health is one of the factors driving this phenomenon. Consumers are becoming more conscious than ever before about the environmental effects of the products they consume. Specifically, millennials have become environmentally responsible consumers. Although earlier studies have provided insights into factors influencing attitudes towards organic products in various contexts, there is limited research into organic products in the South African context, specifically research focusing on organic personal care products among millennials. Millennials are influential consumers who are environmentally conscious and digitally savvy. Recently, social media has gained increased attention for its ability to amplify environmental concerns and promote sustainable behaviour among young people. As a result, understanding how young consumers develop their purchasing behaviours towards organic personal care products is necessary. Therefore, this study investigated millennials' attitudes towards environmental issues and health consciousness, and the effects of their attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioural controls on their willingness to pay for organic personal care products. The study followed a descriptive, quantitative research design using an online selfadministered survey. A non-probability virtual snowball sample of 433 Facebook users, aged between 18 and 25 years who live in South Africa, was followed. Out of the 433 questionnaires that were collected, 377 were included for analysis. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results reveal that South African millennials' environmental concern and health consciousness had a significantly positive influence on their attitudes towards organic personal care products. The results also showed that attitude towards organic personal care products had a significant positive effect on subjective norms, and attitude was the strongest significant predictor of willingness to pay for organic personal care products. The results provide marketers with insights into how millennials ' attitude and willingness to buy organic personal care products can be influenced. Specifically, marketers should develop marketing strategies that incorporate environmental concerns, health awareness, and social influence to increase customer willingness to pay for organic personal care products. The findings also help policymakers understand the level of customer concern about the environment and their health, develop effective environmental policies necessary to achieve sustainability, and boost green purchasing through legislation. In addition, policymakers should be more constructive to promote ecologically conscious consumer behaviour. Collaborating with the private sector in various campaigns would help to enhance consumers' attitudes regarding the environmental concern.
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    Pain knowledge and attitudes of final year medical students at the University of Cape Town: a cross-sectional survey
    (2021) Mashanda-Tafaune, Blessing; van Nugtere, Janieke; Parker, R E
    Background: Pain is the most common presenting complaint in patients visiting a healthcare facility. Healthcare professionals need adequate knowledge of pain to be able to manage it effectively. Aim: To determine the Pain Knowledge and Attitudes of the 2018 final year medical students at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Setting: The study was conducted by the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa with final year medical students Methods: Unruh's Modified Pain Knowledge and Attitudes (MPKA) questionnaire was utilized to collect data in a cross-sectional survey using an internet-based electronic format. Results: A total of 104 students out of 232 students in the class (44.8%) participated in the study. The total median score on the MPKA questionnaire was 46 (IQR 44- 50.5) out of 57, or 80.7%(IQR 77.2-88.6%).The participants performed worst in the section on the pharmacological management of pain with median scores of 6 (IQR 4- 8) (55%) correct out of 11 questions. Conclusion: Pain knowledge, especially with regards to the pharmacological aspects of pain management, has some important deficiencies in these final year medical students. It appears that the undergraduate curriculum and teaching thereof would benefit from a review of the pain curriculum.
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    "You would be a master of a subject if taught in Xhosa": an investigation into the complexities of bilingual concept development in an English medium university in South Africa
    (Common Ground Publishing, 2007) Paxton, Moragh
    This paper reports on a research project which set out to explore what happens when students at an English medium university in South Africa are given opportunities to negotiate conceptual understanding in their primary languages. The project employed a range of methods, including concept translation, multilingual tutorial groups, interviews and a survey questionnaire to develop a richer understanding of the possibilities for multilingual teaching and learning in English medium tertiary education settings in South Africa. By allowing the student voices in the bilingual tutorial discussions to illustrate the complex difficulties that students face when they negotiate understanding of new concepts in their primary languages, this paper develops a textured understanding of multilingual concept formation. In addition, the study has provided valuable insights into students' attitudes to multilingual teaching and learning which highlight the very complex relationships between language, learning and identity. Therefore this research should add to the body of research that has begun to emerge on shifting language attitudes and identity negotiation in the multilingual tertiary education context of South Africa (de Kadt 2005, Bangeni and Kapp, in press). The paper concludes by looking at ways in which English medium institutions can offer scaffolded support to ESL speakers who are learning through the medium of English.