Browsing by Subject "evaluation"
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- ItemOpen AccessAn Evaluation of the Effect of the Fynbos for the Future Programme on Learners Environmental Attitudes at Three Schools in the Western Cape(2021) Burgmer, Nicole; Chapman, SarahThis paper explores the influence of Greenpop's “Fynbos for the Future” Environmental Education (EE) programme on learner's knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards the environment. Although there is vast research on environmental importance and EE programmes specifically, there is very little within the context of South African learners from lower socio-economic areas. Therefore, programme characteristics associated with the most beneficial personal and environmental outcomes are investigated. This study utilised mixed methods and various measures to explore the effect of EE on learners between the ages of 9 and 13, from three schools in the Western Cape. The primary conclusions of the study were that environmental education programmes within this context elicit promising results, such as increased positive attitudes towards and greater awareness of the importance of the environment. However, to facilitate this result, various factors needed to be considered, including consistency, contexts and traditional knowledge systems. This paper further examined the complexity of EE and how various organisations can help play a role in shaping environmental futures - in South Africa and globally. Various recommendations are discussed, some of which include ensuring a greater emphasis on understanding environmental literacy and understandings within specific contexts, as well as putting a greater emphasis on the importance of the influence of teachers on the outcomes. Ultimately, EE programmes play an invaluable role in shaping the future of environmental sustainability and human well-being.
- ItemOpen AccessBayesian analysis of the backreaction models(2010) Kurek, Aleksandra; Bolejko, Krzysztof; Szydłowski, MarekWe present a Bayesian analysis of four different types of backreaction models, which are based on the Buchert equations. In this approach, one considers a solution to the Einstein equations for a general matter distribution and then an average of various observable quantities is taken. Such an approach became of considerable interest when it was shown that it could lead to agreement with observations without resorting to dark energy. In this paper we compare the {Lambda}CDM model and the backreaction models with type Ia supernovae, baryon acoustic oscillations, and cosmic microwave background data, and find that the former is favored. However, the tested models were based on some particular assumptions about the relation between the average spatial curvature and the backreaction, as well as the relation between the curvature and curvature index. In this paper we modified the latter assumption, leaving the former unchanged. We find that, by varying the relation between the curvature and curvature index, we can obtain a better fit. Therefore, some further work is still needed--in particular, the relation between the backreaction and the curvature should be revisited in order to fully determine the feasibility of the backreaction models to mimic dark energy.
- ItemOpen AccessROER4D First Workshop Evaluation(2014-09-08) Walji, SukainaThis report is an evaluation of the success of the ROER4D project's first workshop, held between 9-13 December 2013 in Cape Town. The workshop focused on research skills capacity development, and an evaluation via questionnaire was conducted after the conclusion of workshop activity to determine the success of the workshop. This report contains a summary of the evaluation activity and suggestions on how to improve capacity development in the future.
- ItemOpen AccessStrengthening the science of addressing antimicrobial resistance: a framework for planning, conducting and disseminating antimicrobial resistance intervention research(2020-06-08) Rogers Van Katwyk, S; Hoffman, S J; Mendelson, M; Taljaard, M; Grimshaw, J MAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) has the potential to threaten tens of millions of lives and poses major global economic and development challenges. As the AMR threat grows, it is increasingly important to strengthen the scientific evidence base on AMR policy interventions, to learn from existing policies and programmes, and to integrate scientific evidence into the global AMR response. While rigorous evaluations of AMR policy interventions are the ideal, they are far from the current reality. To strengthen this evidence base, we describe a framework for planning, conducting and disseminating research on AMR policy interventions. The framework identifies challenges in AMR research, areas for enhanced coordination and cooperation with decision-makers, and best practices in the design of impact evaluations for AMR policies. This framework offers a path forward, enabling increased local and global cooperation, and overcoming common limitations in existing research on AMR policy interventions.